A lightning based character.

[Incarnate]

As the subject - but let me elaborate a little here.

I'm seeking to play a lightning based character, and I'm not really sure which route to take.
Some of my options could be, maybe with some fighter or monk levels in to increase survivability.

Wizard(Invoker) / Archmage
Sorcerer/Dragon Disciple
****/ Dragon Warrior
Cleric(Talos) / Stormlord
Bard / Stormsinger

Any others I've missed?
Constructive suggestions are also welcome.

Thanks.

//Inc.

[chad878262]

Note that StormSinger can advance spell casting for other class, so you could go Bard/XXX/StormSinger where XXX could be Druid or Sorcerer for example. Speaking of which, Druid should be added to your list as they have lightning based spells. In addition, any Cleric with Air domain gets call lightning and chain lightning so you could do a cleric outside of just Talos.

Personally a Sorc6/B4/SS10/ASoC10 would be good. Loads of metamagic as well as the StormSinger Storm of Vengeance. Should be able to load up with tons of lightning based casting.

Could also go Druid6/B4/SS10/Hierophant 10, but Sorc will have more lightning based spells spread among the spell levels.

[Incarnate]

Note that StormSinger can advance spell casting for other class, so you could go Bard/XXX/StormSinger where XXX could be Druid or Sorcerer for example. Speaking of which, Druid should be added to your list as they have lightning based spells. In addition, any Cleric with Air domain gets call lightning and chain lightning so you could do a cleric outside of just Talos.

Personally a Sorc6/B4/SS10/ASoC10 would be good. Loads of metamagic as well as the StormSinger Storm of Vengeance. Should be able to load up with tons of lightning based casting.

Could also go Druid6/B4/SS10/Hierophant 10, but Sorc will have more lightning based spells spread among the spell levels.

Which class would you recommend that stormsinger advance the spellcasting of?

I'm wondering, why only B4 when the Stormsingers abilities rely on the uses of Bardic Music, which as far as I'm aware, and the number of uses is Bard level/day - which be only 4 uses a day, that don't seem like a whole lot.

The sorceror would be because its a charisma based caster or any other specific reason for choosing that one?

With the choice of the Hierophant I'm assuming its to get access to meta magic feats without having to spend a lot of feats for those - would this be correct?

I was actually considering to put in 5 levels of Thaumaturge - IF I could summon elementals, especially if they had the lightning component - which would be air I guess.

The reason I was thinking the Archmage was due to the High Arcana - Master of Elements, but I think that would be quite late in it for the build to get benefit from it, especially with the overall theme in mind.

One of the reasons I thought of the Dragon Disciple and Warrior was because of lightning breath possibility.

As for race I was considering making it an Elf, and with feats I'm not too sure, but spell casting prodigy, spell penetration, spell focus? Any recommendations?

[chad878262]

You advance the spell casting of Sorc. B4 is because you can still hit CL30 with Practiced Spell Caster. You are primarily a Sorcerer, but have the added bonus of 4 Storms of Vengeance per day, which is not a small thing!

The reason to chose Sorc is because alongside ASoC you will have metamagics that should allow you to fill every spell level with lightning based attacks (improved empower, improved maximize and improved quicken). Thus you are a full sorcerer that can cast loads of lightning based attacks and you also have several casts of storm of vengeance. Throw in taking rune of thunder or something and you can throw down storm based damage all day long!

Hierophant is different, and I would take that because it can get you higher caster level and allow you to make cheaper 'scrolls' (runes) for additional spells per day. There is quite a few neat abilities for them and since you aren't going to be a worthy shifter focusing on storm/lightning based attacks you might as well go for Hierophant.

Archmage is another option, but it is a VERY expensive PRC to go after. Still there are very good reasons to go that route. If it worked with Piercing Cold S/FM/AM/ASoC would likely be the most powerful build on the server, or quite close (that's likely why piercing cold and Master of Elements don't work together...)

I definitely get the breath attack angle and Dragon Disciple or Warrior can work, but it's kind of a one-trick pony for warrior (since it's a melee class, you won't be a caster). For Dragon Disciple, I would likely build as a S6/DD10/ASoC10/AM4 if you can afford the feats (haven't thought it through, so may not be possible in 3b20). However, I think the 4 uses of Storm of Vengeance are overall better than a breath weapon.

Race is an RP choice IMO. You're a blaster (most likely) and thus DCs aren't all that important. If you need the feat go Human or Strongheart Halfling, otherwise any race is fine. Aasimar gives you those couple extra points of CHA if you go Sorc, Sun Elf for INT if you go Wiz. Frankly though I would just pick the race that fits. It's a poor choice mechanically, but Air Genasi might add to the overall feel of the PC.

[Incarnate]

You advance the spell casting of Sorc. B4 is because you can still hit CL30 with Practiced Spell Caster. You are primarily a Sorcerer, but have the added bonus of 4 Storms of Vengeance per day, which is not a small thing!

A B4 only has 4 uses a day of Bardic Music - Storm of Vengeance has a cost 4 PER USE = 1/day. Not quite 4 uses per day, unless I'm mistaken, however from what I read on the wiki its Bard level/day, and Storm of Vengeance cost is set to 4.

Additionally, from what I can see, Storm of Vengeance triggers Acidic Splatter, even though it doesn't fit the lightning theme, its certainly worth to consider as that will come in handy and will be quite devastating.

The reason to chose Sorc is because alongside ASoC you will have metamagics that should allow you to fill every spell level with lightning based attacks (improved empower, improved maximize and improved quicken). Thus you are a full sorcerer that can cast loads of lightning based attacks and you also have several casts of storm of vengeance. Throw in taking rune of thunder or something and you can throw down storm based damage all day long!

This makes a lot of sense and I can definitely see why this would be strong for a blaster build such as that one.

Hierophant is different, and I would take that because it can get you higher caster level and allow you to make cheaper 'scrolls' (runes) for additional spells per day. There is quite a few neat abilities for them and since you aren't going to be a worthy shifter focusing on storm/lightning based attacks you might as well go for Hierophant.

Hm, I didn't even consider the rune part as I was thinking it was the meta magics was the reason to go for it, similar to the ASoC.

Archmage is another option, but it is a VERY expensive PRC to go after. Still there are very good reasons to go that route. If it worked with Piercing Cold S/FM/AM/ASoC would likely be the most powerful build on the server, or quite close (that's likely why piercing cold and Master of Elements don't work together...)

Reasons such as? Spell-like abilities?

I definitely get the breath attack angle and Dragon Disciple or Warrior can work, but it's kind of a one-trick pony for warrior (since it's a melee class, you won't be a caster). For Dragon Disciple, I would likely build as a S6/DD10/ASoC10/AM4 if you can afford the feats (haven't thought it through, so may not be possible in 3b20). However, I think the 4 uses of Storm of Vengeance are overall better than a breath weapon.

Yeah, I think the same with the Dragon Warrior. I've run it through, it seems possible, this is even with a non-human setup. Not sure of its viability, because the breath-weapons is 9d12 at maximum, which is potentially 108 damage - compared to Storm of Vengeance that pontentially can deal 540 damage, not to mention that it can also be coupled with Acidic Splatter. Of course it has to be considered what else it offers and the fact that it doesn't require any levels in another class to function.

Race is an RP choice IMO. You're a blaster (most likely) and thus DCs aren't all that important. If you need the feat go Human or Strongheart Halfling, otherwise any race is fine. Aasimar gives you those couple extra points of CHA if you go Sorc, Sun Elf for INT if you go Wiz. Frankly though I would just pick the race that fits. It's a poor choice mechanically, but Air Genasi might add to the overall feel of the PC.

Doesn't seem like the feats are going to be what will needing the most in any of the builds, even the one that seems to be the most feat hungry one I still have a few left to "have fun" with.

Currently these three are very strong builds:
Sorc6/B4/SS10/ASoC10
Sorc6/DD10/ASoC10/AM4
Sorc6/DD10/B4/SS10

*Note necessarily in that order.

The last one would be lacking the ones from AsoC, however it could still be getting some of these meta magic feats. What do you think of the last two builds compared to the first one? I think combining the Dragon Disciple with the Stormsinger will create a very strong blaster, because it will get the breath weapon and the storm of vengeance.

[wangxiuming]

Stormsinger increases your number of Bard Songs per day by 1 / level, as far as I am aware.

[Incarnate]

Stormsinger increases your number of Bard Songs per day by 1 / level, as far as I am aware.

I also realized that there is extra music feat, if I'm not mistaken.
..and you're right, each level of Stormsinger grants one use of bardic music.

[Thorsson]

Bard4/SS10/Druid6/SL10? Probably not the most powerful, but lots of Lightning.

[Sun Wukong]

If you choose bardic spell casting progression, levels of Storm Singer should improve your inspirations just like levels of bard would. If you do not pick bardic spell casting progression, and go for sorcerer instead, you just get new uses of songs per day.

viewtopic.php?f=64&t=63630 <= Here is a thread about some build ideas too.

[Incarnate]

Some reserve feats that certainly should be considered to make into this build:

Extra Songs (if bard levels present)
Rune of Storms
Thunderbolt
Spell Penetration

Additionally something that just struck me, what happens if you go into DD but have an alignment outside of this list - basically any neutral:

Black Dragon: Chaotic Evil
Blue Dragon: Lawful Evil
Brass Dragon: Chaotic Good
Bronze Dragon: Lawful Good
Copper Dragon: Chaotic Good
Gold Dragon: Lawful Good
Green Dragon: Lawful Evil
Red Dragon: Chaotic Evil
Silver Dragon: Lawful Good
White Dragon: Chaotic Evil

a) you won't get any dragon breath ability?
b) you won't be able to enter the class?
c) Something else happens - what?

[Sun Wukong]

b) you won't be able to enter the class?

I would think that holds true.

Also, Dwarven Defender is DD. DraD is Dragon Disciple. Or then you go RDD, if you wish to follow Red Dragon, and so on.

[Incarnate]

b) you won't be able to enter the class?

I would think that holds true.

Also, Dwarven Defender is DD. DraD is Dragon Disciple. Or then you go RDD, if you wish to follow Red Dragon, and so on.

That was what I was thinking. What would happen if someone changed alignment AFTER the DraD had been entered to one that wasn't in that list and if to one that was in the list.

a) The Dragon Color would remain?
b) The Character would lose the dragon breath?
c) The Dragon Color would change to the new color based on the new alignment?

I made this build.

The weird part is that NWN2DB actually doesn't say anything in regards to the DraD the alignment being set to neutral, specifically it doesn't give any warning or makes any notion of restrictions or limitations.

[Sun Wukong]

The weird part is that NWN2DB actually doesn't say anything in regards to the DraD the alignment being set to neutral, specifically it doesn't give any warning or makes any notion of restrictions or limitations.

The limitation on Dragon Disciple is server specific. But if you really want a neutral Dragon Disciples, I suppose you could go to the suggestions and suggest adding a 'Brown Dragon' as an option. Have a character that really likes horse meat.


As alignment is changed by DM hands, I would assume that they would be reluctant to change the alignment of a Dragon Disciple.

[Incarnate]

The weird part is that NWN2DB actually doesn't say anything in regards to the DraD the alignment being set to neutral, specifically it doesn't give any warning or makes any notion of restrictions or limitations.

The limitation on Dragon Disciple is server specific. But if you really want a neutral Dragon Disciples, I suppose you could go to the suggestions and suggest adding a 'Brown Dragon' as an option. Have a character that really likes horse meat.


As alignment is changed by DM hands, I would assume that they would be reluctant to change the alignment of a Dragon Disciple.

That makes sense that the limitation comes from there. Ideally I wanted a dragon color that gave lightning breath weapon, but none of them are compatible with the bard, neutral was the next logical step.

Haha, have a character really loves horse meat.

What do you think of the build I made?

[Sun Wukong]

What do you think of the build I made?

You have multiclassing experience penalty. A big no-no, and you've taken Automatic: Still spell 0-3 without the feats to extend it to 4-9. Not to mention that you do not have shield or heavier armor proficiency than light. Hence it feels a bit wasted.

And sadly, I do not think it is quite possible, since Bronze dragons are Lawful Good, and Blue Dragons are Lawful Evil.

Anyhow... I did put this together for you: http://nwn2db.com/build/?283358 (It avoids the multiclassing experience penalty.)

Dragon Knight Epic spell: https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title=Dragon_Knight (Might not be released yet, but reaching level 29 takes time anyhow.)