A few questions for Spirit Shaman RP build

[Rhifox]

Hello!

So, right now I'm playing with a very funky build for Tarina. It's a Blood Magic-focused spirit shaman build, where constitution is used in place of charisma (because the character simply is not the high cha sort ICly). It's not designed to be a power build as I prefer to focus on flavor/RP first, but I try to keep it at least moderately capable.

The original build plan was 26 Spirit Shaman / 4 Thaumaturge, but with what appears to be the addition of Summon spells to Thaumaturge 5's cohort ability in the next update, and as a result of some RP developments, it's switched to a rather ungainly Spirit Shaman 15 / Thaumaturge 5 / Sorcerer 10.

The attributes are a thoroughly silly 12 Str / 14 Dex / 15(18) Con / 14(16) Wis / 12(14) Cha. For the purpose of DCs, the build reaches the equivalent of 26 Cha maximum (+4 Eagle's Splendor, +4 Blood Magic). HP is around 370 with Bear's Endurance.

Feats:
[spoiler][list][*]Spell Focus Conjuration
[*]Greater Spell Focus Conjuration
[*]Silent Spell (instead of Extend Spell, for RP and ability to re-order spell slots for both duration and non-duration spells. And I find Extend Spell tends to outlive its usefulness by the time you get around to higher levels)
[*]Telthor Companion (a somewhat wasted feat since it doesn't progress due to sorcerer levels. Was taken for original build plan of 26 SS levels, where PsC feat slots were used instead on Natural Bond/Epic Companion. Keeping it because it's still useful for RP and I CBA to RCR)
[*]Blood Magic
[*]Fiery Burst
[*]Practiced Spellcaster Sorcerer
[*]Practiced Spellcaster Spirit Shaman
[*]Empower Spell
[*]Spell Focus Evocation
[*]Greater Spell Focus Evocation
[*]Epic Spell Focus Conjuration (or maybe Evocation)
[*]Epic Spell (probably Vampiric Feast since it synchronizes well with Blood Magic, but possibly Ruin since SS doesn't get very many good single target damage spells and the shadow summon would mess with Thaumaturge)[/list][/spoiler]

My questions are as follows:

1) This build gets 24/14 CL with Divine/Arcane respectively, bumping up to 28/18 with Blood Magic. With the dispel fix coming in, how many CLs below 30 can you go, if any, while still being tolerably resistant? I can bump the Divine CL up to 30 by taking two less sorcerer levels, but I only want to do this if losing 2 CL is a big enough issue to warrant the change, as I really would like to get the 10 sorc levels (an extra 4th level spell and a 5th level spell).

2) Epic Spell Focus Conjuration, or Evocation? I can't decide. Right now, the build gets, with 9th level spells, Eagle's Splendor, and Blood Magic, 31 DC for Conj/Evocation, with 32 for whichever I give the Epic SF. I may just ditch the Epic SF entirely and get something else instead.

3) I wasn't planning on taking Creeping Doom because I've read is that its AB is based off of your Wisdom score, and my build is only taking the bare minimum for Wisdom. Is it still worth it even with lower Wis? If so I'll reconsider taking it.


*Edit* Adjusted build to drop the sorcerer levels. The RP's tended to focus on the shaman side of Tari rather than her sorcerer side, so I've decided to return to my original plans of a pure SS/Thauma build.

[crimsonrain15]

First, I must say I enjoyed your bio for Tarina. I wasn't going to read it (as I don't read many unless I interact extensively with the character), but I couldn't pull myself away.

Ok, I'm not sure about the rest of your character, but 28 CL seems to be kind of the lower end of safe from what I gathered in my own character help, so you should be safe there without having to sacrifice sorc levels.

[Rhifox]

First, I must say I enjoyed your bio for Tarina. I wasn't going to read it (as I don't read many unless I interact extensively with the character), but I couldn't pull myself away.

Aw, thank you!

[Nomster]

Silent Spell (instead of Extend Spell, for RP and ability to re-order spell slots for both duration and non-duration spells. And I find Extend Spell tends to outlive its usefulness by the time you get around to higher levels)

I know you have already decided on this but when you pick two spellcasting classes, Extend spell becomes quite useful.

Epic Spell (probably Vampiric Feast since it synchronizes well with Blood Magic, but possibly Ruin since SS doesn't get very many good single target damage spells and the shadow summon would mess with Thaumaturge)

Vampric Feast is an evil spell. You may find issues with it if certain people find out your character can cast it. You might still want to pick it for flair but I was not sure if you were aware of that.

2) Epic Spell Focus Conjuration, or Evocation? I can't decide. Right now, the build gets, with 9th level spells, Eagle's Splendor, and Blood Magic, 31 DC for Conj/Evocation, with 32 for whichever I give the Epic SF.

You cannot pick Epic Spell Focus Conjuration unless you pick Spell Focus Conjuration & Greater Spell Focus Conjuration, IIRC


I cannot answer the other stuff

[Rhifox]

I'm aware Vampiric Feast is an Evil spell. It's certainly a factor in my consideration over whether or not to take it, as RP may push me towards or away from it.

You cannot pick Epic Spell Focus Conjuration unless you pick Spell Focus Conjuration & Greater Spell Focus Conjuration, IIRC

Both of which I took at level 1.

I know you have already decided on this but when you pick two spellcasting classes, Extend spell becomes quite useful.

Maybe, but I get 14 (or 18) minute 60s/CL sorcerer spells and 24 (28) minute 60s/CL SS ones, and both classes have large numbers of extra spell slots for multiple castings. I find Extend Spell much more of a necessity on memorization casters, who have less spell slots to afford on recasts.

Mostly though, I just find Extend Spell incredibly boring. <.< Silent, Still, and Quicken all have RP benefits, and Empower/Maximize feel more ICly appropriate for casters of the blaster personality.

[Nomster]

You cannot pick Epic Spell Focus Conjuration unless you pick Spell Focus Conjuration & Greater Spell Focus Conjuration, IIRC

Both of which I took at level 1.

For some reason, I simply did not see that


I can see your view on Extend spell.


Why did you not pick Spellcasting Prodigy...? You have Spell Focuses which serve to increase your DCs so I am a bit confused. It not only ups DCs but gives extra spell slots.
http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Spellcasting_Prodigy


Maybe in the future, if you ever RCR, consider the above feat.

[Invoker]

Hello Rhifox,

first of all, congratulations on your character choice and RP ideas. Mechanically speaking, SS does not get in the spotlight often, but it's much more interesting than many think.

If you want to build a strong caster SS, Blood Magic is a must, and needs to be coupled with 26+ SS levels and a CHA as high as you can get (try to get at least to 24 base, +Splendor, + Blood Magic, + Spellcasting Prodigy, which is also a "must").

My suggestions for the last 4 levels are:

-) Monk (WIS to AC when you have Owl's insight, plus the skills the class opens...) if you wish to stay away from heavy armors

-) Warpriest (detection, warhammer, tower shield, full plate) if you intend to be an ironclad SS

You can obviously take other classes, or go straight SS 30: that's only my suggestion.

As Epic Spells, Vampiric Feast is evil and PvP consent, but it's also by far one of the most powerful "things" (feats, spells, anything...) in the game. Choose wisely.

Ruin is good but not amazing for a natural caster, because you tend to have many spells anyway. If I were you, I'd take save or die like VF, Mass Fowl or Entropic Husk for instance. Fill yourself of bonus SS slots, and remember your CHA.

Also, nothing wrong with SF Conjuration and the Thaumaturge class, but you need neither to make proper use of good summons.

I hope it helps. Have fun!

[Rhifox]

Thank you for the suggestions, Invoker, but the build is staying as it is, as it is an RP build rather than a straight power build. Monk, Warpriest, and super high cha do not mesh with the character concept. The main things I had questions on was a few feat/CL things to make the most out of the build that I am going with.

For the epic spells, Entropic Husk I like and am seriously considering as it makes good IC sense (spirit possession). Melee touch is the main thing that bothers me about it.

Why did you not pick Spellcasting Prodigy...? You have Spell Focuses which serve to increase your DCs so I am a bit confused. It not only ups DCs but gives extra spell slots.
http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Spellcasting_Prodigy


Maybe in the future, if you ever RCR, consider the above feat.

Because Tari is not, character wise, a spellcasting prodigy. It's a great feat, too great in fact considering how it is mandated for any and all spellcaster builds. As I consider it broken for how OP it is I try to avoid it for my caster builds unless it makes sense ICly. It gets nerfed in the 3.5 version of Player's Guide to Faerun for obvious reasons. (It was changed to bonus spells only with no DC increase for 3.5. I'd love to see that change done to the NWN2 version though I can't see it happening.)


Yes, I am difficult. I apologize.

[Invoker]

It gets nerfed in the 3.5 version of Player's Guide to Faerun for obvious reasons. (It was changed to bonus spells only with no DC increase for 3.5. I'd love to see that change done to the NWN2 version though I can't see it happening.)

Me neither, since the entire game is balanced differently from PnP. I don't see that feat changing anytime soon.