Orc RTA Sorc/Frost Mage or Blaster-Lock???

[chad878262]

Hello fellow Chroniclers... So as a part of the idea to try out a bit of (non-pvp) orc storylines I have settled on two potential characters. One is a Sorc/FM/AS/EK focussing on RTA/Blasting and the other is a Warlock/SD focused on HiPS and blasting.

Originally the Frost Mage was S5/FM10/AS5/PM10, but the RTA was atrocious and with Eldritch Knight (which is essentially free since martial weapons gives you SF:Concentration needed for AS) the character gains 4 points of AB (S6/FM10/AS10/EK4). Still not sure the RTA is high enough since quite a few of this PC's spells would require an RTA and the DCs are really low, but 1/2 Orc or Grey Orc can't really do much about that if they want to be an arcane caster. I would be interested in any thoughts on spell selection for this one, though I do have my own ideas on that (i.e. all spells on the FM list will be taken, even if things like cone of cold kinda suck...) Anyway, build 1:
http://nwn2db.com/build/?250758

Build 2 is a pretty basic blaster lock with HiPS (at least, I think it is pretty basic). Even with paying to get to 14 INT the need to max hide/ms doesn't leave a whole lot of room for anything else. Eldritch Master requires 24 spellcraft which is why I had to skimp on tumble as I had no way to reach 30 tumble while getting max stealth and 24 spellcraft (which gives me 27d6 eldritch blast instead of 18d6...) In any case, with this one I am still a bit up in the air as to my selections of invocations so would certainly appreciate feedback here. While the Frost Mage seems more interesting to me, this one definitely strikes me as easier to level and easier to 'keep safe' with HiPS and unlimited blasts that should have decent damage scaling throughout leveling. However, for level 1-17 it is just a straight Warlock so walk unseen will be needed at level 6 and then perhaps can be switched out somewhere between 18-20, if it makes sense to do so and the character lasts that long!
So, build 2:
http://nwn2db.com/build/?250769

Keep in mind that, while I am far from an expert on warlocks or non-gish casters in general... I am aware that Orcs do not make for good arcane casters. However, I imagine their will be plenty of Grey Orc Clerics, Grey and 1/2 Orc Barbarian, Fighter/WM/FB, and Rangers so I figured to create something a bit different. I am simply looking for some feedback on how I could better optimize each character without gutting it (i.e. turning the FM in to a gish would no longer be the same concept).

I would consider a daggerspell mage for the warlock build, by going Warlock/NWN/DSM/SD, but based on the extra 8 points needed in concentration and two feats I think that is a bit of a stretch for a 1/2 orc (happy to be proven wrong though).

[Eclypticon]

Blaster locks do not generally use DC based invocations (and you have no real CHA). Drop everything DC based except maybe noxious blast because it is so powerful when it works right. EDoom is nice, but it is DC based and is only good for healing your undead pet (if it is implemented which I cannot remember right now). Retributive invisibility is much more helpful when it is working (there was a bug or change recently). Also, drop binding blast.

Blaster lock + HiPS = longer staying power than sorc.

[chad878262]

Thanks Eclypticon, good info. I was concerned about the DC's, but my reasoning was having one which required save vs. each type (fort/reflex/will) would allow me to go after a mobs lowest save. However, the DC's would be so low it probably would not be worth it so I updated to take Caustic Web and Retributive Invisibility for greater invocations and Dark Foresight for another Dark invocation. I kept Eldritch Doom because the save still does half damage so if there is a large mob it's still going to do 14d6 to all enemies on a failed save vs. 28d6 to only one. I also reduced CHA down to gain an extra point of DEX increasing my blast to 28d6, which I could get up to 30d6 at the cost of Vampiric Feast. I don't think it's worth losing VF though since a failed save still deals 1/2 the HP of all enemies and heals me so even with low DC it's still a great 'oh $#!^' button.

I agree the HiPS lock is easier and has more staying power and, as I said I have a lot of concerns about the 'fun factor' of the Frost Mage blaster/RTA build for anything besides group play/events. Again, thanks for the feedback!

[Eclypticon]

Consider taking tenacious plague. We have made some changes to it here. It does use CHA, but not as a DC and it does very well from early on to early epics. You cannot keep invisibility anymore though, we fixed that exploit as you already know.

I have found this spell to be quite useful in solo situations where I am slowly breaking down a spawn's HP. I cast TP while invisible, run far away under haste while its damage delay is taking effect and start blasting as invisibility drops. TP continues to do damage and often finishes the spawn for you. You have to be careful how and where you cast this though. You will want the circle to only touch one spawn at a time, in most cases, for full effect while not getting yourself caught in it, so, no auto target casting it.

If you take caustic web, you better take a dispel too.

[chad878262]

very cool...will replace caustic web w/ tenacious plague.

[Karond]

I kept Eldritch Doom because the save still does half damage so if there is a large mob it's still going to do 14d6 to all enemies on a failed save vs. 28d6 to only one.

Use repelling blast. It's full damage to every enemy around you, no save. It has made eldritch doom virtually obsolete. There is a lesser invocation called undead bane blast that does the same thing, but with a different VFX (red cloud instead of green).

[chad878262]

good to know! I did not get that detail from the description...

So would this be a better list of Invocations:

Least:
Eldritch Spear
Entropic Warding
Leaps and Bounds

Lesser:
Walk Unseen to be replaced with Ignore the Pyre
Flee the Scene
The Dead Walk

Greater:
Tenacious Plague
Noxious Blast
Repelling Blast

Dark:
Dark Premonition
Retributive Invisibility
Dark Foresight

[Wyatt]

I always found that vitriolic blast was a must for those with high spell resistance. Has something changed recently regarding this? Last time I played a character, which admittedly was probably 6 months to a year ago, spell resistance was a killer for warlocks without vitriolic blast to bypass it.

[NegInfinity]

Blaster locks do not generally use DC based invocations (and you have no real CHA). Drop everything DC based except maybe noxious blast because it is so powerful when it works right. EDoom is nice, but it is DC based and is only good for healing your undead pet (if it is implemented which I cannot remember right now). Retributive invisibility is much more helpful when it is working (there was a bug or change recently). Also, drop binding blast.

Blaster lock + HiPS = longer staying power than sorc.

Also, at the moment warlock dcs are bugged. You lose at least 4 points on dcs. So there's that.

Speaking of eldritch doom, it has that nice property that it is a fireball, pretty much. You can only dodge it with evasion. Makes it nice for controller spells, assuming you can pull required dcs for that.

Use repelling blast. It's full damage to every enemy around you, no save.

Repelling blast rolls RTA against every enemy and can miss because of that. It also misses on roll of 1.

[Eclypticon]

I always found that vitriolic blast was a must for those with high spell resistance. Has something changed recently regarding this? Last time I played a character, which admittedly was probably 6 months to a year ago, spell resistance was a killer for warlocks without vitriolic blast to bypass it.

I agree. I have never played without this as a backup. Taking spell penetration feats seems like a waste.