Build Suggestions - Lightning based Air Genasi ex-performer

[Skarain]

Hello.

I have an Old Female Air Genasi, a retired 'dignified entertainer, performer and attendant' character.

Trying to play with the background traits as much as I can: the magical aptitude coming with Air Genasi race, Air and Lightning specifically, and a lifetime of art and entertainment in far-away lands.

so I am in need of a ranged Lightning-based build with the following traits.

Not counting Stormlord. Not a worshipper of Talos.

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I did some reading before writing this post. It could maybe work as a bard/stormsinger/ElementalArcher/???

Or alternatively is any kind of Sorcerer build viable that focuses on Lightning damage, with the Performer background trait if possible.

Any help is appreciated!

-Skarain

[Deathgrowl]

Dragon warrior with either blue dragon or bronze dragon focus gets lightning stuff.

Anointed Knight and Warrior of Darkness gets lightning stuff (or fire or cold, at your choice).

Elemental archer, yeah.

Stormsinger, yeah.

Maybe some kind of sorcerer/bard/stormsinger/asoc (you can pick sorcerer progression for stormsinger) if you feel like going caster based. You could pick a lot of lightning spells. Should be one on almost every level, and if not, you'd get metamagics to fill it out.

[Skarain]

Hmmh. Possibly. How well do Damage Casters fare on this server? I've got the impression that you run out of spells sooner than your Rest timer resets? Hence why I 'think' most people run with Extended Buffs, and then smack em' to the face, if they're Casters.

If going with that Bard/Sorcerer/Stormsinger/ASoC you suggested.


It's a good suggestion, and I think it fits for an "older" character. Just wondering how to get it work in practice.

[Deathgrowl]

Not a fan of blasters, myself.

Mages do tend to be better when they are conservative with magic, though. Use summons or dominated monsters if alone, and otherwise try to party up and help out with aoe spells or whatever when you're close to getting overwhelmed.

Sorcerer is better for this than a wizard, anyways, as they have more spells per day.

[Skarain]

Can work. Did intend to group up most of the time anyways.

Any idea whether they'll have decent AB to be even remotely useful outside spells and summons? Or will I see myself simply leaning to my cane and complaining for the brutes to hurry up between spells?

[Deathgrowl]

Sorcerer and ASoC has low bab progression. Bard and stormsinger has medium. You'd probably want to go something like bard4/sorcerer6/asoc10/stormsinger10 to get 30 CL for sorcerer. That leaves you at 18 BAB at level 30. And if you're a blaster with electrical spells, most of which are save vs reflex, you probably want a bit of charisma to help those DCs up, so you won't have much strength to back that lowish BAB up.

Definitely wouldn't rely on melee for this one.

This is one I made ages ago:
http://nwn2db.com/build/?156801

Notes have spell choices I was using for testing in Jegs. My preferences at the time as far as sorcerer spell selection is concerned. But I eventually realised I don't much like sorcerer!

[Skarain]

Fair do.

What about Elemental Archer builds, with Stormsinger to give the Zap required for the character fantasy?

Something with Bard/Stormsinger/ElementalArcher/OrderoftheBowInitiate?

[Deathgrowl]

Fighter4/Bard11/Stormsinger10/elemental archer5, maybe? With crossbow sniper? (Crossbows are for peasants, though!)

That should work. Not very defensive archers, unfortunately. Usually you'd want to build with HIPS for a bit of defense. Good damage and AB, though.

EDIT: I don't know if OOBI is fixed yet.

[Skarain]

Ah, it's been broken?

I think i'll give the Caster a try, if OotBI doesn't work.

Sure, is a blaster, but I can squeeze some utility and buffs inbetween. I mostly think the char from RP PoV anyways, so being the most effective combatant isn't required.

That Caster build you linked works, or should I go and tweak things?

[Deathgrowl]

Definitely works. You may prefer to make a few changes, though, I don't know.

[Skarain]

Right. Will experiment. Sadly the Charisma score is left to 16 at max at low levels, due to Air Genasi Charisma penalty. That's fine though.

[Skarain]

Righty. The Bard4/Sorc6/Stormsinger10/AsoC10 build works as it is. I did some experimenting around. It is possible to drop Able Learner if going with less Int and having less points to spread in general, but that's also dropping Tumble and I think that's a pretty damn useful skill to have.

I am probably able to leave Wis at 6, and RP that out by being an elder person whose sight and hearing isn't the best, nor memory, and lacking common sense can just be fun to play with.

Leaves the question of itemization and spell-choices though.

12STR/14DEX/12CON/14INT/6WIS/16CHA works, or any better stat-distribution out there?

Spell-wise, I admit myself quite lost. So many to pick from, so few to actually have. I'll do some research but if anyone already playing a sorcerer able to give some suggestions, I am all ears!