Author Topic: Wait.... Its still my turn.  (Read 5313 times)

Offline ClayQ

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Wait.... Its still my turn.
« on: January 25, 2012, 10:00:26 PM »
Looking for some input, mostly just thoughts. And strategies for my new Gish.


Human

 1: Factotum 1 - Able Learner, Expeditious Dodge, Flaw (Font of Inspiration), Flaw (Font of Inspiration)
 2: Factotum 2
 3: Factotum 3 - Knowledge Devotion
 4: Factotum 4
 5: Factotum 5
 6: Factotum 6 - Font of Inspiration
 7: Factotum 7
 8: Factotum 8
 9: Chameleon 1 - Mobility
10: Chameleon 2 - Floating Feat (???)
11: Swiftblade 1
12: Swiftblade 2 - ???
13: Swiftblade 3
14: Swiftblade 4
15: Swiftblade 5 - ???
16: Swiftblade 6
17: Swiftblade 7
18: Swiftblade 8 - ???
19: Swiftblade 9
20: ???
Something Funny?

Offline Rebel7284

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2012, 10:04:26 PM »
Two problems:

- It's debatable if Swiftblade can advance Chamelion, Ask your DM. 
- Technically, Factotum uses spell like abilities, not spells, and may not qualify for swiftblade either.

Offline Amechra

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2012, 11:00:39 PM »
This entire build be illegal, mon; as Rebel just said, Factotums use SLAs, not spells.

And as for Chameleons, they can't use any of their class features to qualify for anything, nor can any other PrC advance their class features (with the exception of Legacy Champion and Uncanny Trickster.)
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Offline ClayQ

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2012, 11:37:17 PM »
Two problems:

- It's debatable if Swiftblade can advance Chamelion, Ask your DM. 
- Technically, Factotum uses spell like abilities, not spells, and may not qualify for swiftblade either.

Already fixed to be "the level of spell you gain haste" thus first level through trapsmith. Haste comes from that not factotum. Without that though you take a 3rd level of chameleon to have 3rd level arcane casting and get haste there (the free level at the top becomes Chameleon @ level 11)

This entire build be illegal, mon; as Rebel just said, Factotums use SLAs, not spells.

And as for Chameleons, they can't use any of their class features to qualify for anything, nor can any other PrC advance their class features (with the exception of Legacy Champion and Uncanny Trickster.)

Where? Please. I don't see where or why things can't advance Chameleons spell casting either way that leaves me with only 3rd level casting and nothing beyond that, still technically qualifies for swiftblade unless I'm mistaken? Just doesn't get any advancement on spellcasting. Serious power hit here I'd like to confirm on however not crippling to the core "idea" really.
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Offline Amechra

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2012, 12:12:13 AM »
You don't have levels in Trapsmith; need to be able to CAST Haste. Using an SLA is not casting.

Quote from: Chameleon Class Description
You can't use any abilities gained from your aptitude focus, ability boon, or mimic class feature abilities to qualify for a feat, prestige class, or other option. You can use your bonus feat to qualify for such options, but if you change the feat, you suffer the normal drawbacks for no longer meeting a prerequisite or requirement.

Besides that, Chameleon does not have Spellcasting, strange as that sounds; they have Aptitude Focus, which can emulate spellcasting.
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"Now that everyone's so happy, this is probably a good time to tell you I ate your parents."

Offline Jackinthegreen

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2012, 12:13:18 AM »
A Factotum cannot qualify for Swiftblade on its own because it uses spell-like abilities, not spells.  Yes it blurs the line a bit, but with a strict reading it doesn't qualify.  Swiftblade requires expending every appropriate level spell slot on Haste, and Factotums don't get slots like a Wizard does.  Likewise, Chameleon won't let you qualify for Swiftblade, or anything else really, because of the line
Quote
You can’t use any abilities gained from your aptitude focus, ability boon, or mimic class feature abilities to qualify for a feat, prestige class, or other option.

Depending on how one reads it, that line also prevents using another prestige class to advance certain features of the Chameleon.  If you can't qualify using a certain class, how can you let it be advanced if you qualified through something different?

The other side of the argument is that nothing in RAW states you strictly need to advance the class that granted the abilities to qualify.

Offline shandiris

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2012, 09:38:08 AM »
Go Factotum 8/Trapsmith 1/Swiftblade 10?

Offline Rebel7284

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2012, 11:53:39 AM »
Go Factotum 8/Trapsmith 1/Swiftblade 10?

Meh, Illumian Factotum 8/Swordsage 1/Bard 1/Sublime Chord 1/Swiftblade 9 is better. 

Needs Precocious Apprentice, Heighten Spell, and the interpretation that you use spell slots of whatever level you could cast haste from.

Also, Ruby Knight Vindicator may be easier to abuse than Swiftblade.

Factotum 8/Ur Priest 2/Crusader 1/RKV 7/XX 2
A bit more MAD though.

Also, Ardent 10 with Dominant Ideal debatably can take a huge number of readied actions in one turn only capped by power points, or truly infinite actions with certain recharge techniques.

Offline liquid150

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2012, 08:08:26 PM »
Needs Precocious Apprentice, Heighten Spell, and the interpretation that you use spell slots of whatever level you could cast haste from.
This is arguably an "interpretation," but luckily it has developer support. I don't have links, but I am pretty positive WotC is on the record saying that if they had considered the Trapsmith, they would have written Swiftblade in a way that you must use all your spell slots of the level that Haste appears on your class spell list to cast haste. I know the wording of that sentence sucks, but I hope it makes sense.

Offline Rymosrac

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2012, 11:14:51 AM »
Better than that, it was the exact guy who wrote the swiftblade.

Offline LargePrime

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Re: Wait.... Its still my turn.
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2012, 05:00:00 PM »
It should be pointed out that SLAs are most definitely casting, and count as spells cast by arcane casters.  So says MM1.
Normally SLAs do not work for the special spell slot requirements of swiftblade, but Factotums prepare spells and cast them from prepared slots, so I no reason why it does not work.  A spell slot is a spell slot, after all.

« Last Edit: January 30, 2012, 05:02:39 PM by LargePrime »