Author Topic: PEACH My Villain (Read 7394 times)

SleepyShadow · « **on:** January 26, 2012, 01:55:42 AM »

I have quite a few characters (or rather, NPCs, as 'characters' implies that I get to be on the other side of the DM screen ...) and I'm always looking for ways to improve them since my players build characters that typically fall in the upper range of optimization. This fellow is a particular favorite of mine, and I would like a bit of help making him stronger, or at least a general consensus of "he's optimized enough". I appreciate the help

Niho
Lawful Evil Human
Class: Battle Sorcerer 6/Spellsword 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Knight Phantom 8
Feats: Power Attack [Human], Still Spell, Improved Bull Rush, Combat Casting, Shock Trooper, Leap Attack, Power Lunge, Force of Personality
AFC: Spell Shield

He ends up with BAB +18 and Caster Level 19. Any thoughts?

ariasderros · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2012, 04:09:53 AM »

A) What would be his spells known?
B) What are his strategems?
C) How will the encounter(s) be set up?
D) Who else will be with him (partners / minions / summons / thralls)?

I realize that some of those overlap, but these things are often as important (or more so) when making the villain than the build.

SleepyShadow · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2012, 05:20:34 AM »

A) His higher level spells known are utility and buff spells, while his low level spells are devoted to worthwhile damage spells to use in his Spell Storing Greatsword.
B) His typical strategy is to take out enemy casters as quickly as possible. Usually that involves using Wraith Strike so he can power attack for all he's worth and hopefully drop the enemy in one charge attack. When the spells become available, he uses the celerity spells to ensure he gets the opportunity to do so.
C) Oh boy ... he's been in a lot of battle situations, ranging from dungeon rooms of various sizes to open desert terrain to battling on a rickety narrow bridge. Personally my favorite was when the battle took place on a rooftop, and I got to remind the cleric that Niho had Improved Bull Rush

D) Niho's party (a.k.a. Team Evil) consists of himself, Shiroko the swordsage/ninja, Tamera the OA samurai, and Mori the arcane hierophant. I can post their full builds if it would help improve team synergy.

shandiris · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2012, 09:32:49 AM »

So if I understand correctly it's a recurring villain?
The feats seem nice although I don't see how Knight Phantom and Leap Attack combine... But since you're the DM I guess that doesn't matter. Apart from that most optimization of gishes comes down to spell selection.

SleepyShadow · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2012, 02:18:42 PM »

Ahh, mostly I just wanted a full BAB class that advanced my casting without dragging my caster level down much. Knight Phantom just seemed a better option than Eldritch Knight. Is there an even better class I'm unaware of?

Aradu · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2012, 05:26:40 PM »

How does that character qualify for Spellsword? He doesn't seem to have the required proficiencies (all armor, all simple and martial weapons).

IMO normal sorcerer casting instead of battle sorcerer casting should easily be worth being one casting level lower (you'd have the same number of 8th and 9th level spells known and per day, but one additional spell known and per day for all lower levels), and you should be able to wig that into something better than the extra point of BAB and the hp you get from your battle sorcerer levels. For example:
Sorcerer4/Crusader 1/Spellsword 1/Jade Phoenix Mage 1/Abjurant Champion 4/Jade Phoenix Mage 2-10. 18 BAB, 17CL (you lose your one 9th level spell, but gain 8th level maneuvers)
Sorcerer4/Crusader 1/Spellsword 1/Jade Phoenix Mage 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Sacred Exorcist 4/Jade Phoenix Mage 2-5 17BAB, 18CL (only 7th level maneuvers, but a 9th level spell and turn evil).

EDIT: Sacred Exorcist and Jade Phoenix Mage wouldn't fit the alignment, sorry.
You could do
Sorcerer4/Human Paragon 3/Eldritch Knight 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Eldritch Knight 2-8
or
Sorcerer4/Human Paragon 3/Eldritch Knight 1/Dragonslayer1/Spellsword1/Abjurant Champion 5/Eldritch Knight 2-6

or if whatever would qualify the original build still works
Sorcerer4/Human Paragon 3/Spellsword 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Knight Phantom 7

Stat boost and extra bonus feat probably are worth a point of BAB, no?

SleepyShadow · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2012, 05:56:17 PM »

How did I miss that? I really and truly missed that bit for qualifying for Spellsword. Um ... crap. I still like Battle Sorcerer for the stepped up hp, but I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do. Also, Jade Mage Phoenix says 'non-evil' for alignment, so Niho can't go into that either. Would something like this work?

Battle Sorcerer 4/Warblade 1/Spellsword 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Knight Phantom 9

Aradu · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2012, 06:05:29 PM »

Sorry, was editing above while you posted. Warblade doesn't get ranged weapon proficiencies so it wouldn't qualify you for Spellsword either.

EDIT: If you really want Battle Sorcerer you could go:

Battle Sorcerer 7/Dragonslayer 1/Spellsword 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Swiftblade 6: BAB 18 CL18
Battle Sorcerer 12/Abjurant Champion 5/Swiftblade 3: BAB 17 CL19
Or even Battle Sorcerer 15/Abjurant Champion 5: BAB 16 CL20

If you get the crappier casting anyway you should at least take proper advantage of it.

SleepyShadow · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2012, 07:03:47 PM »

I realized that Spellsword is completely unnecessary. I qualify for Abjurant Champion by taking another level of battle sorcerer ... I'm getting too old for this

Kremti · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2012, 11:23:59 AM »

Agree with Aradu. I'd rather get more Battle Sorcerer levels than Knight Phantom, I think.

Battle Sorcerer 12/Abjurant Champion 5/Swiftblade 3: BAB 17 CL19 <- I like this assuming you *don't* introduce your NPC at ECL18. The level you lose the casting progression and go "Don't...have...level 9 spell...quite...yet..."

-K

SleepyShadow · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2012, 05:15:47 PM »

I'll check out swiftblade, thanks. Don't worry, they are supposed to meet Team Evil about ECL 9, so the PCs should have a tough fight on their hands against Niho and Co.

Kremti · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2012, 05:33:47 PM »

I think what it is is, we really don't like lost caster-progression

I'd rather lose *a few* BAB, than losing 1 caster-progression (especially when it's a PC that's being played).

-K

KellKheraptis · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2012, 06:20:02 PM »

There's always Arcane Disciple (Hero Domain) and then caster PrC's. 20/20 CL, 20 BAB, and better features than either Knight Phantom or Eldritch Knight. You might also consider Heartfire Fanner for Bardic Music goodness, particularly Snowflake Wardance and Dragonfire Inspiration.

SleepyShadow · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2012, 07:29:33 PM »

I like what Swiftblade gives me, but I'm mildly concerned about how his feats turn out. I was never a fan of Dodge and Mobility even before I was introduced to the concept of heavy-duty optimization (something I claim no mastery of). Would something like this work?

Battle Sorcerer 6/Swiftblade 3/Abjurant Champion 5/Battle Sorcerer +6
Feats: Dodge [Human], Mobility, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Combat Casting, Leap Attack, Shock Trooper, Force of Personality

I know I lose that caster level earlier, but the abilities seem worth getting sooner rather than later. As for the Arcane Disciple suggestion, I can't seem to find the Hero domain. Do you happen to know what book it's in, KellKheraptis?

Aradu · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2012, 08:24:05 PM »

Yeah that works. I'm dubious about force of personality, the best mind affecting spells don't allow a save anyway and this late in the game you could just have mind blank running instead. You could take elusive target since you'd qualify anyway and it looks like it might fit the concept well.

sirpercival · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2012, 08:57:31 PM »

Hero Domain is in Oriental Adventures. Gives you Giant Size

Tenebrous Apostle · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2012, 04:01:11 AM »

Quote from: SleepyShadow on January 26, 2012, 05:56:17 PM

How did I miss that? I really and truly missed that bit for qualifying for Spellsword. Um ... crap. I still like Battle Sorcerer for the stepped up hp, but I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do. Also, Jade Mage Phoenix says 'non-evil' for alignment, so Niho can't go into that either. Would something like this work?

Battle Sorcerer 4/Warblade 1/Spellsword 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Knight Phantom 9

You're the DM.. Maybe Niho (?) was non-evil and became so latter on. Also why don't you have Arcane strike as a feat?

TC X0 Lt 0X · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2012, 04:25:56 AM »

Are you running Wings of Cover?
It should prove to be quite more effective then Spell Shield, if you can spare the Spell known.

If you drop Spell Shield, I have a preference for the Divine Companion (Complete Champion Alternate Class Feature). In exchange for spell levels, it can Heal the Sorcerer or Provide it a heafty Deflection and Resitance bonus to AC and Saves. It takes a swift action to cast it and has a duration equal to your Caster Level. At that level you should have more then enough spare Spell Slots laying around to be able to fill it up to it's max capacity. A great use of your lower level spells per day not going into Wings of Cover.

SleepyShadow · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2012, 04:37:27 AM »

Wings of Cover? What's that?

I like Spell Shield. It's great damage soak

As for arcane strike, I'm pretty feat starved as it is. I could drop force of personality for it, though. Thanks for the idea

TC X0 Lt 0X · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2012, 11:56:07 PM »

Wings of Cover is a 2nd Level Spell from RotD.
It has a immediate casting time, and blocks 1 attack against the character from hitting (specificlly Spells, Psionic Powers, Weapon Attacks, and one other I can't put my finger on). It does not block everything, but it does block most of the stuff that is going to deal damage to the character, and much more.

At the high levels this character is built for, Wings of Cover will likely always out perform Spell Shield sense it completely blocks the damage rather then a certain amount of it, and will always cost a 2nd level spot instead of higher level slots that Spell Shield will use to be effective (unless of course you have run out of 2wnd level slots, in which case you move on to the next higher level slots.)

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Author Topic: PEACH My Villain (Read 7394 times)