Storm-based Builds?

[Jolt]

I think the title is pretty self-explanatory. For some reason I find it a very cool concept but the stuff out there seems rather crappy. There's no allowed sources etc for the game yet, so I'd like to keep my options open. I'd like it to be playable at lower levels too though.

[Risada]

The PrC Stormcaster, from Stormwrack, is quite good. Some wind powers, extra sonic damage on electricity spells, and free stun on blasts.

To make blasting better, be a dragonblooded race and pick the Draconic Aura (energy - electricity) feat. You can do the same with Snowcasting + Cold Spell Focus...

Aside from these choices, you still are a caster, meaning you keep usefulness in the low levels...

[archangel.arcanis]

Stormlord from the Complete divine is nice too. I like using it with a druid or spirit shaman as the base.

3rd party support the was a path of book that had one too. I think it was daughter of storms but it was 3e and would likely need to be updated.

[littha]

Stormlord from the Complete divine is nice too. I like using it with a druid or spirit shaman as the base.

3rd party support the was a path of book that had one too. I think it was daughter of storms but it was 3e and would likely need to be updated.

Stormlord isn't a great class unlike stormcaster, free enchanted javelins (+3 Thundering Shocking Burst javelins admittedly)  is pretty much the best it has.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

CPsi has the Storm Disciple prc.
The level 3 special ability is worded well nigh bonkers.
And no matter how you go about nerfing it, it still does quite the dish.

Ardent 2 / anything 3 / SD 3 or 4 with Practiced Manifester feat
... (of course) / Ardent up to 10 / Anarchic Initiate X
idrc - what the easy early qualifying is.

[Ithamar]

If you're looking for some storm-flavor, Eberron has the half-elf House Lyrandar which is very much storm focused.  And I recall Magic of Eberron having a thunder / lightning type spell in it that works better if you have a Lyrandar dragonmark.

[Jolt]

Was thinking about something down the line of Half-Elf with the Storm Dragonmark, Mark of the Dauntless and Born of the 3 thunders slapping on one of the Storm-flavored PrC's. Will look for the spell though!

[Jolt]

Are there any ways of earlier entry to a Stormcaster then 5th?

[Ithamar]

Well if your DM allows a bit of cheese, you can be a Warmage 4 and use Versatile Spellcaster to put 2 level 2 slots into casting a 3rd level Lightning Bolt.  Gust of Wind is trickier, but if you already have the Least Dragonmark of Storm, that lets you do Gust of Wind 1/day.  If your DM allows the first trick, perhaps he'll let the Dragonmark qualify you for the PrC.  That gets you in 1 level earlier than using Wizard or Druid.

Though the experts around here might have more tricks up their sleeves.

[Rebel7284]

Why would you use Warmage instead of Sorcerer?

Also, I suggest Tendrils of Agony

[Ithamar]

Because a warmage "knows" their entire spell list from the get go, and thus a 4th level warmage "knows" Lightning Bolt, even though he technically cannot cast it yet.  A 4th level Sorcerer has no known 3rd level spells and so that trick won't work for them.

[jedda]

You'll want the 'Storm Magic' Feat from Frostburn, no prereqs, +1CL for spells cast while you are in a storm.

There's also the Stormsinger prestige class from the same book. requires bardic music but is  full caster and full music advancing and gives storm applications for bardic music up tp storm of vengence at 10th level.

[radionausea]

I like Stormsinger from Frostburn as well.  Advance Sublime Chord casting with it.  [Classxx]/Heartfire Fanner X/Sublime Chord2/Stormsinger8

[Hairygin]

Like Halflings?

How about a whirlwind riding, storm calling, 20lvl caster Halfling Druid


Required:
Knowledge (Planes) 1 Rank
Language (Auran)
Elemental Companion (CM p33)
Halfling Druid substitution level 1 (RotW p157)

Suggested:
Strongheart Halfling (FRCS p18) for the bonus feat

Feats:
There are 2 ways to go here, all depends how soon you want Born of Three Thunders

1 – Companion Spellbond (or other)
1 – Extend Spell (or other metamagic required)
3 – Knowledge Devotion (Arcana) Requires Knowledge Nature 5 Ranks
6 – Natural Spell
9 – Energy Substitution (Electricity) Requires Knowledge Arcana 5 Ranks
12 – Born of the Three Thunders
15 – Summon Elemental or Storm Bolt Reserve Feat *
18 –

OR

1 – Education
1 – Extend Spell (or other metamagic required)
3 – Energy Substitution (Electricity) Requires Knowledge Arcana 5 Ranks
6 – Natural Spell
9 – Born of the Three Thunders
12 – Summon Elemental or Storm Bolt Reserve Feat *
15 – Companion Spellbond (or other)
18 –


* Summon Elemental, you will be able to Summon a Med Air Elemental to always ride while your Companion is free to engage enemies and act as a guard for you, if you aren't wild shaped in melee.
* Storm Bolt, you will always have a short range lighting bolt available, and gain +1 caster level to Electricity spells

Key levels
4th - Air Elemental Companion becomes Medium allowing you to ride it now.
 (Enhanced link from substitution level allows you to ride a companion with no saddle and grants a +4 Ride bonus)
5th – Wild shape (no more fear of falling off mid flight if DM allows actions)
6th – Natural Spell
10th – Large Air Elemental Companion, can now power spells in whirlwind form
9th or 12th – Electricity damage that can stun and knock down enemies


Fly around on your Whirlwind ccing the battlefield, damaging, stunning and knocking down enemies when needed, using your Air Elemental to power storm spells when needed, and in if in melee (and have Knowledge Devotion) use Knowledge Planes, Aracana, or Nature to get a bonus to hit and damage vs constructs, dragons, magical beasts, outsiders, elementals, animals, giants, fey, monstrous humanoids, plants, and vermin … oh my

And possibly no side effect from Born of the Three Thunders if Wild Shaped as a plant grants immunity to being Dazed, if not it can still carry you and keep you from harm.

A fun storm build to play levels 1-20, if you like Halflings

[Kalleo]

I'll cast my vote for Stormsinger as well. One thing they get that the other two didn't mention is the ability to throw a lightning bolt that deals damage equal to their perform check. You can imagine how insane that could be with some perform skill optimization. In fact, one of the funniest builds I've ever seen involved a Stormsinger being followed around by an army of Animated kitchenware, and Awakened fuzzy woodland creatures. He would sing, they would all mass "aid other" him, and he would throw lightning bolts of doom. And yes, they were always singing disney songs. 

[Kremti]

I'll cast my vote for Stormsinger as well. One thing they get that the other two didn't mention is the ability to throw a lightning bolt that deals damage equal to their perform check. You can imagine how insane that could be with some perform skill optimization. In fact, one of the funniest builds I've ever seen involved a Stormsinger being followed around by an army of Animated kitchenware, and Awakened fuzzy woodland creatures. He would sing, they would all mass "aid other" him, and he would throw lightning bolts of doom. And yes, they were always singing disney songs. 

Sweet.  Now I have to go back and watch Sorcerer's Apprentice again.

-K

[Arz]

Very simple bullrush build.

Soulborn 15/ Storm Sentinel 5

Soulborn 1        Least Dragonmark
Soulborn 2     
Soulborn 3        Power Attack, Saphire Smite
Soulborn 4     
Storm Sentry  1
Storm Sentry  2   Lesser Dragonmark
Storm Sentry  3     
Storm Sentry  4   
Storm Sentry  5   Greater Dragonmark
Soulborn  5   
Soulborn  6
Soulborn  7       Cobalt Power, Smiting Power
Soulborn  8   
Soulborn  9
Soulborn  10      Elemental Smite
Soulborn  11      Soultouched Spellcasting
Soulborn  12
Soulborn  13      Dragonmark Smite
Soulborn  14
Soulborn  15

Pick up the Lesser Metamagic Rod of Chaining and bullrush @ least 15 enemies/smite

Soulmelds: Astral Vambraces, Mauling Gauntlets

Items: Incarnum Focus, Armbands of Might, Soulsmite Gauntlets, Mighty Smiting Wpn, Helm of Battle, Noble Pennon

Bullrush: +16 +4 +4 +12 +4 +cha +5 +2 +2 +2 +2 = cha+53

[Culluket]

You'll want the 'Storm Magic' Feat from Frostburn, no prereqs, +1CL for spells cast while you are in a storm.

There's also the Stormsinger prestige class from the same book. requires bardic music but is  full caster and full music advancing and gives storm applications for bardic music up tp storm of vengence at 10th level.

I've been trying to pull together a build along these lines myself. The character is going to need to be the primary archanist for the party, along with the face. I've been thinking about two ways to go:

1. Bard 1/Warmage 3/Bard +1/Stormsinger 5 (advancing Warmage)/Sublime Chord 1/Stormsinger +5 (advancing Sublime Chord)/Spellcasting-Advancing PrC 4 -- Warmage to get the thematically appropriate 3rd level spells (Gust of Wind/Sleet Storm/Ice Storm/Lightning Bolt), as well as the Orb line of spells, 2 levels of Bard to pick up Bardic Music, more offensive weapon options, and skills to get into Stormsinger. Stormsinger for the class abilities and spellcasting progression. Sublime Chord for having spells that do more than go boom. Lyrander Half-Elf to pick up a Dragonmark and potentially the Windwright Captain PrC at later levels. Keeping Perform maxed and taking the Extra Music feat somewhere along the line would mean 4 possible uses of Storm of Vengeance at level 16. You know, in case there was an annoying army of orcs in your way. My take on this guy is an artillerist on a Lyrander airship.

2. Bard 1/Sha'ir 3/Bard +1/Stormsinger 10 (advancing Sha'ir casting)/Spellcasting-Advancing PrC 5 -- This forgoes Sublime Chord because Sha'irs have more utility than you can shake a stick at. The Sha'ir (with an Air Gen, for thematic purposes) could focus on "knowing" weather-related spells to have them available more quickly if need be, while still being able to ad lib whatever spell might be needed in a given day/encounter/whatever. This guy could focus a little more on Diplomacy, since it's a class skill for Sha'ir, but still bring the evocation spells if called for. Also, he or she is spamming Storm of Vengeance at 15th level instead of 16th, as above.

Both these guys would need a decent intelligence score to get the necessary skills soon enough, and in the case of the Warmage, to get extra damage through the Warmage Edge class feature. The last four levels are flexible, although a dip (at least) into Windwright Captain works for a Lyrander heir. Throwing in a level of Mindbender in (getting Charm Person as a Bard spell at Bard2) could add a bit more utility.

[X-Codes]

I wonder... is it possible to get the feats together to make a Cold/Electricity/Sonic multi-caster?  Throwing around severe, thundering hailstorms?  Would such a character have enough feats leftover to make decent use of the Energy Gestalt feat?

[akalsaris]

I'm also a big fan of stormcaster and mark of the dauntless. But I'll point out that a druid 20 such as Hairygin's build, while boring, is also quite adept at storm-based builds, especially when you summon storm elementals.