I need to do a dreadful RCR please help!!!!

[Calodan]

Okay as many of you know Koryeneer has been adventuring for some time now. I have gotten by and been able to do many things but my lack of understanding of feat and game mechanics has led to my build showing some glaring defects that just do not fit with how I wish to play him. So I am posting the build that I intend to use for his RCR. He is not switching his vocation suddenly just the feats and skills are slightly different to fit what I like to play him as. One of the major things I changed is giving up shield bash for Blindfight. Then I am giving up Heavy shield specialization which give me 1 extra AC on a Heavy shield for Knockdown. Here is the build. Fellow builders please show me your talent and optimize this and show me what you would do with the build. Only requirement is that it have 12 Fighter/ 8 Wiz/ 10 Dragon slayer. Everything else is changeable for a better mechanically sound build within the parameters set. I would consider dropping Dragon Slayer for Eldritch Knight just show me your ideas!!!

http://nwn2db.com/build/?198945

[mrieder79]

You have access to bears so you should end con on an even number. You might consider substituting epic toughness for one of your great con.

[Calodan]

^^^^With that being said should I just dump the Con entirely for 2 str and Imp Knockdown?

[Karond]

Some tips:

1.) Perhaps you can live with less skillpoints. To cast spells you need 17 INT, but it doesn't have to be base INT. By having for example 14 INT and then using a +3 INT item, you would be able to cast level 7 spells anyway. The difference to wearing a +3 INT item with 14 INT and 17 INT is one level 1, 4 and 5 slot. For that rather cheap tradeoff you could increase your STR making you a better fighter, or more CON if that's your wish.

2.) Pick a background feat? It's virtually no drawback to it. The background feat Veteran is particularly useful.

3.) What are you trying to accomplish with the ability point spread? Are you going to wear a breastplate? Consider trying to spend the ability points on just STR and CON as you level up. 14 DEX can be paired with an item that gives +2 dex and extras and a mithral fullplate, or just the more common 13 DEX and a +3 DEX item. The ring of the wood elves might be interesting to try and find (+3 DEX, +2 reflex saves and some stealth skills)

[Calodan]

^^^^Originally I did wear a Mithril BP. I have since decided that is just folly really since I never use any offensive spells. I use defensive spells. I am planning on using Mithril FP now so the point spread is pretty useless.

Okay big question. With the build I have Int the way it is because I will get up to 7th circle arcane spells. If I do not have the Int when my spell selection comes up will I still be able to select the spells and just not cast them if I drop the Int? If so I am game to pump Str even more since that is the main thing a great fighter really needs.

[mrieder79]

You could drop your int to 14 and still have access to 7th level spells with a +3 int item.

[Calodan]

The build itself messes with skills and I kind of like the skills I picked I am partial to for mechanical purposes. I am considering dropping Dex down to 12 but then I lose 1 AC from Dodge feat. I think this build here will be the final build for Kory. http://nwn2db.com/build/?199026

I keep my Skills and gain Strength for better fighter. I sacrifice some hit points but it has been my experience AC and being able to hit the monster are far more important in the long run.

[Karond]

You can't drop DEX to 12. You need a minimum of 13 to qualify for dodge, which in turns qualifies you for the dragonslayer. Since you cut toughness out, 14 DEX is the perfect number. It enables you to wear a ring of the knight (+2 DEX, +2 CON, toughness feat) that pairs well with a mithral fullplate.

Here are some differences:

14 INT with +3 item - standard base line

16 INT with +3 item - one more level 4 slot

17 INT with +3 item - one level 1, 4 and 5 slot

To me this tells me that if you give up 17 INT, just go down to 14 INT. The extra level 4 slot isn't worth 4 ability points. I would do your statline as such, going for more AB and DMG for a moderate tradeoff:

STR: 18 (all ability points here)
DEX: 14
CON: 12
INT: 14
WIS: 8
CHA: 8

[Calodan]

I love what you are doing there. I am having a hard time giving up some skills. However I think I can ditch the open lock and disable device. They really only afforded me minimal mechanical advantage in the first place. I want to keep the listen and spot. I am going to play around a little bit with the stat line that way and see if I can give up the skills.

[Calodan]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?199044

This is what I finally came up with in the end. It makes a lot sense considering the feats chosen throughout the build. Looking forward to that RCR........

[AC81]

Is it just me or are you missing the fact that you won't be able to cast any spells at all due to arcane spell failure? No autostill feats, not even still spell metamagic ... I guess you won't be completely defenceless if dispelled, but still ... you can COMPLETELY rule out using your spells offensively, which would be an awesome trick up your sleeve. To me this is a glaring weakness with the build.

[NegInfinity]

Is it just me or are you missing the fact that you won't be able to cast any spells at all due to arcane spell failure? No autostill feats, not even still spell metamagic ... I guess you won't be completely defenceless if dispelled, but still ... you can COMPLETELY rule out using your spells offensively, which would be an awesome trick up your sleeve. To me this is a glaring weakness with the build.

I suspect he knows about it. (asked him about that IC months ago)

Two ways around it:
1. First cast, then wear armor
2. Make wands, use them.

Seeing that build has very low dc and maximum available spell level is 5, I doubt that offensive magic use is even an option here. (well, you can throw a fireball for 10d6 damage)

I think you would be restricted to self-buffing (which would require precise timing, because CL17 is very close to high-level resting timer for 1-minute spells), long term spells (like protection from evil) and making stuff like wands of enervation.

[Calodan]

Max spell level actually winds up as 7 with gear. I thought about still spell but since it is really only for wards then I really do not need it. I took extend spell for the 1 min spells to be doubled. Other than that the spear and shield build should probably be more pure fighter with weapon master but as I expressed I am not changing vocations with Koryeneer just optimizing as much as possible his build on the melee side with magic for defense spells pre casted most times.

[Thorsson]

You are wasting a Feat on Improved Critical since you have the Keen spell.

[Tsidkenu]

I thought Keen Edge (spell) only worked on slashing, which spears are not. Although I have never actually tested this on a piercing weapon like a spear before.