This is my first build ever, and I'm not sure if this is even the correct forum to post it in, but I would greatly appreciate any improvements/comments/critiques
Sneaky Wizard Race: Gnome Alignment: True Neutral
Stats Str: 10 (10) Dex: 14 (14) Con: 14 (14) Int: 16 (34) All points to Int Wis: 14 (14) Chr: 8 (8)
Level 21 - 31 Wizard Epic Spell Focus, Improved Combat Casting, Great Intelligence I, II, III, Epic Mage Armor, Greater Ruin
Level 32 Shadowdancer
Level 33 - 39 Wizard Great Intelligence IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, Epic Warding, Epic Spell Penetration
Level 40 Monk
End Game Skills Concentration 43, Discipline 43, Hide 43, Lore 43, Move Silently 43, Spellcraft 42, Tumble 43
89 other spare skill points (I put them in Heal/Persuade)
Saves Fort 20 / Reflex 22 / Will 23
Advantages (IMHO) - High DC for Necromancy spells (through INT and feats) - HiPS - Slightly faster run speed (comes at level 40 though) - Discipline/Tumble maxed - Can get Wis modifier AC buffs
Disadvantages - Lack of HP. - Can't hit anything ever. - Gains HiPS only at level 20.
Spell Focus chosen was Necromancy, and I chose not to take the Auto-Quicken line as I wasn't too sure about their usefulness. I didn't take the Auto-Quicken line as I wasn't too sure of their benefits.
Any comments would be welcome!
Edited By Kail Pendragon on 09/29/09 17:57
Pretty good build, replacing the Wizard levels (and ability point distribution) with a Wisdom-Based caster like a Druid or Cleric would obviously increase the AC a bit, but I can see how a Wizard might be more fun.
Good job.
To start with, I've read the various and heated discussions of why adding Shadowdancer to a Wizard is either great or pointless, depending on which side of the fence you fall on. Personally, I think it is an interesting idea, not because it would be the ideal powergaming build, but because I think it would be fun to play. This is not directed at the original poster, but is an attempt to discourage the flaming I've seen in similar topics. Okay, that's out of the way.
Quote: Posted 01/16/05 11:44:58 (GMT) -- Slimcea
This is my first build ever, and I'm not sure if this is even the correct forum to post it in, but I would greatly appreciate any improvements/comments/critiques
Thanks for posting! I've been thinking about a very similar build, with differences noted below:
Stats Str: 10 (10) Dex: 14 (14) Con: 14 (14) Int: 16 (34) All points to Int Wis: 14 (14) Chr: 8 (8)
I was thinking about Wisdom of 12 and Charisma of 10, but your allocations are probably better - they make more use of the Monk bonuses, and the readily available skill points can make up for the lack of Charisma.
I was thinking about taking monk at levels 1, 4, and 7, and the first Shadowdancer at level 8. (I hadn't decided when to take the second). All other levels Wizard, of course.
Feats would be: 1: Dodge 3: Combat Casting 6: Mobility
(rest of your build snipped)
I liked the idea of getting HIPS earlier, and of getting some earlier monk bonuses. However, that does really delay gaining much ability as a Wizard. I played this to level 5, which gave two levels of Monk and three of Wizard. It played pretty well, but the lack of focus was hurting it some. That wouldn't get much better quickly, but getting HIPS would help make up for it.
One thing I didn't pay any attention to yet was base attack bonus. Generally, the "rule of four" is advised, but I only have experience in combining classes that use different columns in the attack table. As Monk and Shadowdancer share a column, would a 16/3/1 Wizard/Monk/Shadowdancer be in good shape, or could this be improved? Maybe someone who knows more than me will comment.
In any case, I'm pretty sure that taking only three non-Wizard levels by level 20 isn't optimal for BAB. Then again, with this being a Wizard build you may simply not care.
You didn't say where you intended to play this build: player vs. module, player vs. player, leveling straight to a high level or playing all the way up, etc. That can make a big diffenrence. I'm personally planning to do player vs. module all the way from level 1 to 40 (or however high I can get it before being distracted onto something else!) _________________ Disarm? That means chopping the other guy's arms off, right?
Quote: Posted 01/17/05 05:30:16 (GMT) -- bpirkle One thing I didn't pay any attention to yet was base attack bonus. Generally, the "rule of four" is advised, but I only have experience in combining classes that use different columns in the attack table. As Monk and Shadowdancer share a column, would a 16/3/1 Wizard/Monk/Shadowdancer be in good shape, or could this be improved? Maybe someone who knows more than me will comment.
Since no smart people answered, I tried this out myself in a trainer module. Here's what I found:
Wiz 16/Monk 3/SD 1 = +10/+7/+4/+1 or +10/+5 Wiz 15/Monk 4/SD 1 = +10/+7/+4/+1 or +10/+5 Wiz 17/Monk 2/SD 1 = +9/+6/+3 or +9/+4
The first set of numbers is unarmed or with a kama (which gets the monk bonus) the second is with a dagger.
So getting in three Monk levels in pre-epic levels (before BAB progression gets locked) is better than just two, but four doesn't provide any advantage. _________________ Disarm? That means chopping the other guy's arms off, right?
Still just me talking? Hope I didn't scare everyone off with my anti-flaming speech!
I'm thinking of doing my build as: Wiz 35/Monk 3/SD 2
I'll take my first monk level at character level 1, my second monk level somewhere between 10 and 15, and shadowdancer right after my second monk level. I'll take my third monk level at 20.
By banking some skill points before taking the second monk level, I'll have decent ranks in Hide in Shadows and Move Silently before taking Shadowdancer. No point in HIPS if you can't hide well. The third monk level will give me the +10/+7/+4/+1 or +10/+5 BAB, and another opportunity to boost hiding.
The second Shadowdancer level is optional - I could take Wizard to 36 and leave Shadowdancer at 1, but Shadowdancer 2 gives Evasion and Uncanny Dodge, and I suspect I'll want another chance to boost my hiding skills in epic levels. I'll take that if and when I either feel like I need the feats, or I'm having too much trouble hiding.
Comments? _________________ Disarm? That means chopping the other guy's arms off, right?
It's definately an interesting build, I've tried something similar though it was 38sorc/1mnk/1sd. Went sorc over wiz for more spells and because I managed to squeeze out the skill points I needed.
I can see both sides of the arguement but the way I see it, if your fighting a experienced mage the HIPS isn't going to matter much, inwhich case your more or less a pure mage with some nice spell penitration and it comes down to skill and who can last the longest.
And if you fight a inexperienced mage or a melee, the HIPS makes it all the better
