drow gish

[aaron22]

i am looking for a critique on my defensive based drow gish build.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?262832

[chad878262]

So long as you are aware of a few glaring issues:

- CL is 26 with no HiPS. You may want to carry wands of invisibility and lesser mantle in order to have a little protection (they will go off faster than a spell since you do not have quicken).

- AB is low. All gish are defensive, but about the only damage you will do is via clouds and walls of fire. However, you'd be more efficient as an armored blaster (see below). Simply put, if you can't get to at least 30 pre-buff you will struggle against top tier opponents, not that they're are many in the Underdark, but what their is will give you fits. 27 + 2 (Bulls) +5 (GMW) + 4 (Greater Heroism) = 38 with no feint/HiPS. Non-HiPS melee PC's aim for mid 40's minimum, you need short term UMD wands/potions/scrolls (aid/prayer/bless) to get over 40.

- Your giving up a lot to get 9 uses (assuming eagles splendor) of +6 AC for 30 seconds via Divine Shield. You don't really need it anyway and can avoid Power Attack and Cleave by going another direction.

- If you are opting for more defense you should really consider an armored blaster type since your AB is great for RTA/MTA spells. Something like Sorcerer7/EK 10/ASOC 10/Dragonslayer 3 would make a solid armored blaster sorc that will be very safe defensively and have loads of meta magic including Quicken, Empower and Maximize. If for some reason you have to drop Extend I don't think you will miss it much as a Sorcerer, but you should still be able to fit it.

Short story is you are a skilled player so I'm sure you will find ways to make it work (and it definitely can), but it does not do anything exceptionally well which I think will be a bit frustrating. I would either want to lower INT to get EDM and try to pick up 2 BAB points somewhere, or I would go armored blaster. Either would be more 'fun' IMO then standing there not being all that great at fighting and having fewer slots to play with for blasting.

[Nachti]

Elven Gish? -> Bladesinger/Deathsinger.

[Sun Wukong]

Why have you taken Divine Shield without going for '30+' charisma? With your ability scores, Divine Might and Epic Divine Might would make more sense. You wouldn't even have to drop your Intelligence by much to get 21 in STR and CHA.

Moreover, since you are going for Automatic: Still Spell III, you can use spells like Stone/Iron body for the critical hit immunity and bunch of other immunities you get from Pale Master. Which means that you might be far better off with some levels of Arcane Scholar (7). You know, use those Improved Empowered and Maximise metamagic feats to get more mileage out of your limited spell selection for some 'no-save' blaster fun?.

Heck, even a Sorcerer 17/Blackguard 3/Eldritch Knight 10 might be an improvement if you think about it. For example, no need to spend a feat on Martial Weapon Proficiency, you are just going to stay pure Sorcerer until level 12 to get BAB of 6, which allows you to go pick Blackguard, and maintain caster level of 30.

[aaron22]

i was actually going for a build that can have an AC and immunities to allow me to stand against any foe for extended periods. i have not had a ton of success with wizard types. but i was thinking EK and PM gave 9/10 CL's and with the PS that would give me CL29. melee would be rough, but there are weapons out there that give feats like focus and specialization. that would stack with the GMW. getting feats like fiery burst would assist but quicken would be more desirable if i had an open feat. wait... i can reorder some PRC's to open a feat.

[Vogar Eol]

For the class combo you were trying to do, and the potential RP value of the combo, this works out better:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?262840

You wasted the martial proficiency of blackguard by taking EK first. You also really should have pushed for charisma instead of Int. EDM is very reachable while still having Auto-still, as you can see.

[aaron22]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?262832

yea noticed that taking BG before EK opens a feat for quicken

[aaron22]

yes tampered with that same setup. was thinking the quicken spell instead of LoH would save my tail more often.

[chad878262]

Wiz (or sorc) / Palemaster / Eldritch knight

Wiz (or sorc) / EK / DeathSinger

Wiz (or sorc) / EK / DS / ASoC

All of these can reach 50 AC or close enough. Add in mirror images and concealment and you can stand in there all day. Plus you will either be able to hit things better or can focus on blasting. I would recommend starting with one of the above as a base.

[mrm3ntalist]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?262842 CL27

The idea is for a High AC/AB 2 hander dealing decent Damage. Using only buffs and Debuffs. No damaging spells other than Avasculate maybe. You have the option to go Full PM and drop some EK levels.

Hidden: show

Bladesinger bonus feat: 2 hander

Equipment: Gloves with Power Attack ( USE PA or CE depending the situation )

AC

10 +3 tumble +5DEX +5Mith Breastplate +4PM + 2Bladesinger +1LoH +1Armor skin + 6IMA + 5Shadow Shield + 4Shield +4Dodge +4Deflection = 54

In Combat +2AC from 2 hander = 56+ - 59+ with CE on

AB

35 +5GMW + 2Bulls +4GH = 46

Damage

15STR + 5EB +4,5Longsowrd +6PA = 30,5 + Weapon bonus damage

Spell List ( this is an old spell list, might need updating with new spells )

1 Shield, Protection From Alignment, Ray of enfiblement, Enlarge Person or Grease

2, Cats, Bears, Bulls, Blind Sight, Mirrors

3 Imp. Mage Armor, Greater Weapon, Haste, Keen or Spiderskin

4 Greater Invisibility, Spell Breach Lesser, 2 from Enervation, Spell mantle least, Assay resistance

5 Spell Mantle, Lesser, Bigbys, Deez, Mind blank or another spell if you pick mind blank on 8

6 Greater Heroism, Tensers, Superior Resistance

7 Shadow shield, Energy Immunity, Avasculate

8 Premonition, Iron Body, mind blank?

9 Mords, Shadow Simulacrum, Greater Sactuary? Dominate Monster ( used after a couple enervations )?

[Sun Wukong]

What is this two-hander bonus feat?

[chad878262]

He means One-Hander, but with a two handed weapon, basically (One Hander will work with two handed/large weapons.)

[Vogar Eol]

I personally really like the Sorc/EK/ASoC combo Chad posted, and have made several for others. You can go Dragonslayer like he suggested, 3 rogue with EW, or can push for EDM with 3 levels of Cleric. The last is something like this, if you find a deity that gives free martial:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?262845

I picked Garagos, only because the drow pantheon lacked a war domain that grants martial proficiency. The late Extend Spell is painful, but the Still Spell is early.... and you will be using that anyway.

Added bonus? Weapon Focus in Longswords, and Slippery Mind. Cleric scrolls/items will also work with absolutely no UMD.

///edit, downside is the leveling up

[Sun Wukong]

He means One-Hander, but with a two handed weapon, basically (One Hander will work with two handed/large weapons.)

Ah, okay, so it is basically the same as a 'Spear Duelist.'