Fun idea that I am playing with.

[Lunarambling]

Hey guys. So I had this thought based on the 1-level dips thread. What if I were to make a character that never took more than a single level of any class? I am thinking that this would limit the usefulness of caster class somewhat, but otherwise thought that it might be a fun little exercise.

Any thoughts???

[sirpercival]

It's actually possible to do that and gain 9th-level spells (I think divine).  I don't remember the actual build, it was one I saw on the WotC board somewhere.

[Lunarambling]

Huh. Really? Interesting. So far I was playing around with a mostly mundane Charger since that seemed to be the easiest way to go. Would love to hear others ideas.

[deuxhero]

There was a contest on Giantitp about this once (though it may have had 2 level dips). The winner was a rogue/binder/trapsmith (thats not all, but the levels I remember), plus something with its own divine casting that he used to cast sanctified spells that he healed the ability damage from with the binder dip).

edit: Was actually an IC. He takes 10 levels in the SI, but only 1 level in any other class

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10175478&postcount=147
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10175488&postcount=148

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

I'd imagine a caster build would involve Ur-Priest.

[Bastian]

Meet Mr. Fear of Commitment.

[Lunarambling]

That is actually very cool. Doesn't seem like it would be particularly functional in an actual game. I would ultimately like to try to get something like that which is actually functional for a game and not just at 20th level.

[sirpercival]

OK, how about this.  I haven't verified skill ranks... it's definitely MAD Int/Cha, but whatevs.

Human, 2 flaws or 1 flaw and retraining Precocious Apprentice at 4th level; fractional BAB.

Conjurer 1 (Precocious Apprentice, Spell Focus: Conjuration, Practiced Spellcaster (Wizard), Extend Spell, Scribe Scroll)
Binder 1
Master Specialist 1 (Improved Binding, Skill Focus: Spellcraft)
Anima Mage 1
Divine Bard 1
Escalation Mage 1 (Combat Casting)
Mindbender 1
Human Paragon 1
Beguiler 1 (Spell Focus: Enchantment)
Mystic Theurge 1
Sublime Chord 1
Dweomerkeeper 1 (Skill Focus: Knowledge [Religion])
Paragnostic Apostle 1
Divine Oracle 1
Sacred Exorcist 1 (Combat Casting)
Ruathar 1
Abjurant Champion 1
Incantatrix 1 (Persistent Spell, Free)
Archmage 1
Loremaster 1

You get 1st-level Beguiler casting, 2nd-level Divine Bard casting, 6th-level Conjurer casting, and 10th-level Sublime Chord casting.

[Rebel7284]

OK, how about this.  I haven't verified skill ranks... it's definitely MAD Int/Cha, but whatevs.

Human, 2 flaws or 1 flaw and retraining Precocious Apprentice at 4th level.

Conjurer 1 (Precocious Apprentice, Spell Focus: Conjuration, Practiced Spellcaster (Wizard), Extend Spell, Scribe Scroll)
Binder 1
Master Specialist 1 (Improved Binding, Skill Focus: Spellcraft)
Anima Mage 1
Divine Bard 1
Escalation Mage 1 (Combat Casting)
Mindbender 1
Human Paragon 1
Beguiler 1 (Spell Focus: Enchantment)
Mystic Theurge 1
Sublime Chord 1
Dweomerkeeper 1 (Skill Focus: Knowledge [Religion])
Paragnostic Apostle 1
Divine Oracle 1
Sacred Exorcist 1 (Combat Casting)
Ruathar 1
Abjurant Champion 1
Incantatrix 1 (Persistent Spell, Free)
Archmage 1
Loremaster 1

You get 1st-level Beguiler casting, 2nd-level Divine Bard casting, 6th-level Conjurer casting, and 10th-level Sublime Chord casting.

I assume you're using fractional BAB, otherwise you don't qualify for Abjurant Champion.

[sirpercival]

Um, yes.  I'll edit the post to reflect that.  I don't actually need Abj Champ, there's other stuff I could use, but I figured why not?

[muktidata]

Couldn't you just very easily go for Illumian -> Divine -> Arcane -> Theurge -> PrCs to get 9th level Divine or Arcane casting?

[deuxhero]

Reminds me of Nehrim, except the guy there was an elf.

[Maat Mons]

Assuming some form of heighten trickery for early entry, how about a lesser drow with wizard 1 / drow paragon 1 / master specialist 1 / ruathar 1 / paragnostic apostle 1 to start with?  I don't know if it's possible to get full 20 wizard casting, but it's worth a shot. 

[sirpercival]

Let's try it.

Lesser Drow; 2 flaws, fractional BAB/saves; get Iron Will from Otyugh Hole.

Enchanter 1 (Precocious Apprentice, Primitive Caster, Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (Enchantment))
Drow Paragon 1
Master Specialist 1 (Skill Focus: Spellcraft, Sanctum Spell)
Mindbender 1
Paragnostic Apostle 1
Ruathar 1 (Spell Focus (Abjuration))
Unseen Seer 1
Escalation Mage 1
Incantatrix 1 (Energy Substitution (Acid), Combat Casting)
Abjurant Champion 1
Elemental Savant 1
Fatespinner 1 (Dodge)
Dragonslayer 1
Spellsword 1
Archmage 1 (Skill Focus (Knowledge: Religion))
Loremaster 1 (Greater Spell Focus (Abjuration))
Divine Oracle 1
Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 1 (Cooperative Spell)
Geometer 1
Mage of the Arcane Order 1

Most of these have the same skill prereqs, so you should be okay.  Feats are all good.  You qualify for Mindbender by being able to cast Featherfall, Flare, Hold Portal, etc. with a CL of 5 from Primitive Caster.  You qualify for Paragnostic Apostle with 2nd-level spells and Sanctum Spell.  Need a +7 Int mod by 16th level for Loremaster.

And Wiz 20 casting.

[Maat Mons]

You can get skill focus (knowledge (religion)) from The Frog God's Fane in Complete Scoundrel. 

It will probably be very hard to meet the skill prerequisites of unseen seer. 

Sacred exorcist (Complete Divine), sea witch (Stormwrack), and visionary seeker (Planar Handbook) are easy to get into.  Sacred exorcist and mindbender are incompatible due to alignment restrictions, but sacred exorcist should be less of a strain on skill points.