Help with an archer incarnate/cleric/sapphire hierarch/legacy champion. Please.

[Volfogg]

Hi All,

I am looking for some help with the following build. Basic premise will be the party buffer/healer and long ranged support. Also the group will be composed of mostly evil individuals. Here's the build so far (also included a pic of my toon):

(click to show/hide)

incarnate 2¹/clr 3(incarnum/undeath)/sapphire hierarch 10/legacy champ 5
¹Please note: all alignment requirements/restrictions for incarnate/meldshaping/etc are removed

Overall I am happy with the build. Based on what I have read from the various handbooks this seems to be an effective build. However, I am having a bit of difficulty choosing feats. This is what I have so far:

• we're also allowed 1 flaw if needed(I would probably take inattentive)
• divine metamagic (quicken spell)
• practised spellcaster
• extra turning (b)
• crossbow sniper
• bonus essentia
• quicken spell
• rapid reload
• wf (xbow)
• free
• free
• free

I guess what I have is pretty straightforward. The divine metamagic is for quick buffing and the ranged feats make me a competent ranged attacker. I have 3 open feat slots and have no idea what I should take (we receive 10 lvl based feats instead of the usual 7). I would appreciate any input/suggestions for the remaining open slots. Also, all books/magazines allowed.

For reference ... the following are going to be my key soulmelds:

• sighting gloves
• incarnate avatar (chaos)
• necrocarnum circlet (the necrocarnum zombie seems pretty handy)
• keeneye lenses
• fellmist robes
• bluesteel bracers

I am also wondering what race I should be. Would a necropolitan work for this (is it possible to bolster oneself)? I believe the DM is allowing as much as +2 LA for free so I am open to suggestions.

Any and all thoughts/comments/ideas are welcome.

Cheers
Volf

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Refluffing is fine.
You could easily say the dead have souls, and
evil dead souls are just chewed on a little more.
The other alignments have souls too, and who
says they have to end up / stay on just 1 plane?

Cleric side is getting awfully close to loosing
too many CLs.  Heighten + Extra Slot (retraining)
can take care of that problem.
Incarnate Domain level 8 spell item = full essentia (!!)
Can come in at or before level 15 w/ Heighten+Slot.

Incarnate is more skills oriented than party buffing
and healing.  Buff yourself = yes.  This is more
of a Codzilla build, than what exactly you want.

[Volfogg]

Refluffing is fine.
You could easily say the dead have souls, and
evil dead souls are just chewed on a little more.
The other alignments have souls too, and who
says they have to end up / stay on just 1 plane?

That is pretty much exactly how I explained my character concept to my DM.

Cleric side is getting awfully close to loosing
too many CLs.  Heighten + Extra Slot (retraining)
can take care of that problem.
Incarnate Domain level 8 spell item = full essentia (!!)
Can come in at or before level 15 w/ Heighten+Slot.

Should I go with incarnate 2/cleric 8/sapphire hierarch 10 instead?

Incarnate is more skills oriented than party buffing
and healing.  Buff yourself = yes.  This is more
of a Codzilla build, than what exactly you want.

I wouldn't mind a Codzilla build. It would be the first time that I am actually able to play such a build as this DM is more comfortable with such game play.

Thanks for the input awaken_D_M_golem!

Edit: Just found out that the DM is removing the smiting ability of the sapphire hierarch and is instead adding some chakra binds! The rest of the abilities are simply being reflavoured to commanding/interacting with dead souls etc.

Cheers
Volf

[Arz]

Look at going Inc 10/Ur-priest 1/SH 9 and leave those cleric levels behind. Ur has an enlightened counterpart to choose from too.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

UrP is usually good, though in this case, it
would lose the Incarnum Domain level 8 spell.

I just reread the " ... long ranged support ... "
so maybe: Incarnate 1 / Cleric 4 / SH 10 / LC 5
... and go a Cleric Archer build.
Use some of the moi feats to qualify for the moi prc.
1 spell level behind the usual cleric archer,
but more of what you want.

[Volfogg]

Look at going Inc 10/Ur-priest 1/SH 9 and leave those cleric levels behind. Ur has an enlightened counterpart to choose from too.

Great idea Arz. I totally forgot about the ur-priest! However, cleric levels give me two much needed feats and as awaken_D_M_golem listed below a pretty damn uber spell.

UrP is usually good, though in this case, it
would lose the Incarnum Domain level 8 spell.

I just reread the " ... long ranged support ... "
so maybe: Incarnate 1 / Cleric 4 / SH 10 / LC 5
... and go a Cleric Archer build.
Use some of the moi feats to qualify for the moi prc.
1 spell level behind the usual cleric archer,
but more of what you want.

Arighty ... I think this is perfect. Slightly tweaked build while only being 1 spell level behind the norm. Thanks for the help dude! So, this is what it shall look like now:

incarnate 1/cleric 4/SH 10/LG 5

Feats as follows:

• inattentive (flaw)
• divine metamagic (quicken spell)
• shape soulmeld (??????)
• practised spellcaster
• extra turning (b)
• crossbow sniper
• divine soultouch
• bonus essentia
• quicken spell
• rapid reload
• wf (xbow)
• free
• free

I have to take shape soulmeld and divine soultouch in order to gain entrance into SH with only 1 level of incarnate. I would appreciate any ideas on which soulmeld I should choose as the feat specifies any!

As far as melds are concerned I will stick to what I have listed above as my main ones. I will bind Lifebond Vestments when needed for unlimited healing (when bound). I have to say this bind is pretty damn awesome! I love not having to worry overly much about healing resources.

I am still somewhat unsure of my race I was thinking possibly a deathtouched human for excellent bonuses to both wisdom and charisma. The only kicker is the freaking -2 to con. So, any ideas on this front would be greatly appreciated!

Lastly, has anybody posted some homebrew legacy items which deal with incarnum if so please link them so that I can take a gander at them.

Thanks again for all the help folks!!

Cheers
Volf

[rot42]

* Threefold Mask of the Chimera gets you out of being flanked because screw you Rogues; goes great with the Impulse Boots (available to an Incarnate) for Uncanny Dodge. The binds give a Celerity-like ability.

* Blink Shirt is always nice. So is Phase Cloak if you like being ethereal.

* Displacer Mantle gives Blur once you can make a Shoulders bind.

* Shedu Crown might let you qualify for Mindsight.

[Arz]

Check out surreal's list for all the ways to get domains, but if you are taking them for the spells = domain staff. Really you have a fair number of open feat slots so its not like that's a problem for you. If its its an early/late problem ask your DM about rebuilding later to toss off cleric levels.

[Surreal]

One of my pet builds is to tack on Landforged Walker onto a Sapphire Hierarch build. There are a couple plant forms that have some really wacky ranged support abilities (like throwing branches that turn into little minions or something).