Help getting a new player up to speed

Questions About Character Builds, Build Critiques, and Build Sharing

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Dreme
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Help getting a new player up to speed

Unread post by Dreme »

Hello again everyone. I've recently decided to come pay the server a visit again and this time I brought a friend along. They've recently gotten into 5e and after playing that and looking at 3.5, they prefer the extensive customization available in 3.5. I brought them to bgtscc so they can experience what I would at least consider peak RP while also getting to learn more about the game. For now, they have settled on wanting to play an eldritch knight/bladesinger and we are trying to decide on a build. I was hoping that someone more aquatinted with what is currently available could help steer us in the right direction for their character.

Currently we are thinking 4 Fighter/ 6 Wizard/10 Eldritch Knight/ 10 Bladesinger. We're also looking at swapping fighter for swashbuckler. We started with fighter or swashbuckler at level 1-4 to make it more viable at early game when their spells are going to be useless. Currently that would give an ending caster level of 25. They do want to be a high level caster with the understanding that their spells will be focused on buff/blaster. Also being immune or close to immune to greater dispel magic would be ideal. Anyone that has any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! :D
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Ithrinael
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Re: Help getting a new player up to speed

Unread post by Ithrinael »

Warning, not a big builder here :P

The fighter approach will net you more combat feats, while the swashbuckler will give you more skillpoints. From a combat perspective fighter should be stronger.
(3 combat feats, which would also unlock weapon specialization, vs weapon finesse and grace +1). However, there will be some changes in a future patch:

epic prcs will come in the future, which are 10 additional levels for prcs with currently 10 levels, between 20 and 30. I think I read something about a change in the feat progression of the eldritch knight, too, maybe also in the bladesinger class? Not too sure though.

I'd say, approach it from a RP perspective: do you want to play the role of the bladesinger? From what I heard, the bladesinger is also not perceived as the most powerful class, more on the weaker side, but I think the fun in RP is more important.

"Bladesingers are elves who have blended art, swordplay, and arcane magic into a harmonious whole. In battle, a bladesinger’s lithe movements and subtle tactics seem beautiful, belying their deadly martial efficiency. Bladesingers have a treasured place in elf society, balancing the joys of art and magic with the skill of masterful fighting, and so bladesingers are well-respected by other elves. They usually serve as itinerant guardians and champions of the elf community at large rather than tying themselves to one particular settlement. "
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Dreme
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Re: Help getting a new player up to speed

Unread post by Dreme »

They aren't attempting to make the most powerful character ever, but I just want to help tune whatever they play to be as powerful as possible given the classes and play style they are going for. They also want all their stats to be at min 10 base.

Update though, they didn't know Thaumaturge was a playable class on the server and they have changed to

Shield dwarf - wizard 15/ archimage 10/ Thaumaturge 5

So, might have another rarely seen dwarven wizard. :dance:
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Dreme
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Re: Help getting a new player up to speed

Unread post by Dreme »

Also, I overlook that insightful strike was moved to level 5, so 4 levels of swashbuckler wouldn't do. The point of swashbuckler was for the +6 damage from 22 int which I believe is 1.5x to 9 damage since they are using a rapier with nothing in the off hand, which would have made it far better than weapon specialization and perhaps better than the extra feat as well. Regardless, he seems locked on wanting to make a dwarven summoner with decently high DCs.
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Ghost
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Re: Help getting a new player up to speed

Unread post by Ghost »

Hello, Dreme! Welcome back!

I personally would suggest wizard10/bs10/ek10, as that gets 29 CL, which is at least close to immune to dispels.

For the summoner I have no significant improvement to suggest except I would make sure that archmage10 actually gets something useful. It is a heavy cost to the High Arcanas, and it may not be worth it for everyone.

For the sake of versatility I might even suggest wizard11/asoc10/archmage4/thaumaturge5.
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Lockonnow
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Re: Help getting a new player up to speed

Unread post by Lockonnow »

Are you can go for a priest that can heal and Hierophant is the ( Archamge in Divine )and Thaumaturge?
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