“He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.” —Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil
Surprisingly, there are no combinations of these classes in the Guild.
Blade of the Inquisition Paladin2 Cleric35 Blackguard3 Playable 1-40, PvM
Saves Fort: 38, (56)*, (61)**, (66)*** Will: 41, (59)*, (64)**, (69)*** Reflex: 27, (45)*, (50)**, (55)*** * Indicates baseline save with +12 to stats, which this build can easily achieve ** Indicates Baseline + Prayer, Prot from Align, Battletide *** Indicates saves vs. spells with the above enabled Note: there is still room for +9 more in the Save cap.
AB Enhancements: -Battle Mastery +8AB, +8Dex, +8Con -Divine Power: +5AB, 1 Extra Attack, +4 Strength -Aura of Vitality: +4Con, +4Dex, +4 Strength -Battletide: +2AB -Greater Magic Weapon: +5 -Divine Favor: +5 -Strength Buffs: +6 (Divine Power, Aura of Vitality, Bulls) -(still other things like Prayer and Bless that weren’t added because AB cap was hit) Final: 57AB (note, this hits the AB Cap)
AC Enhancements: -Magic Vestment: +5 -Undeath's Eternal Foe: +4 -Maxed Divine Shield: +12 -Shield of Faith+5 -Cat's Grace/Battle Mastery or Aura of Vitality: +2 -Mage Armor+1 -+5Full Plate -+5Natural -+3Dodge AC(any source) Final: 69AC (Haste not included)
Hit Point Enhancements: Buffed Con: +240 Divine Power: +35 Final: 685
Notes: Discipline was pretty much abandoned. It is so long between Discipline drops, why bother? Plus, he can jack his AC pretty damn high, and I felt Spellcraft and Tumble were more valuable than anything that Discipline brought to the table. If PvP, I would consider cannabilzing Spellcraft (and the other utility skills) to get Discipline maxed to combat Called Shots and Disarms.
Domains: War is definitely a must. Charisma synergizes well with it, as Battle Mastery is based in duration on your Charisma. I felt Magic was a good runner-up because it offers both Stoneskin and Icestorm. At 35 levels of Cleric, he can wreak havoc on the mobs with Icestorms and save his other powers for bosses and quasi-bosses. But Trickery works well by adding more defense with Improved Invisibility.
Alignment Shift: There’s just one, and there are 18 levels to make the adjustment. One of the easiest ones to make, too. Can probably even be accomplished in the RP- bereft OCs. I envision an inquisitor, a zealot of sorts. In his pursuit of the monster, he has become the very thing he sought.
Charisma: One has to ask, why not just go Strength and Wisdom, or just Wisdom? I wanted to abuse the Paladin/Blackguard exploit, so in pumping charisma, I essentially am doubling my save bonuses. It also synergizes with Divine Might and Divine Shield, Turn Undead, is used for spell durations on several spells (Battle Mastery), also gives advantages in Taunt skill, and fulfills the role play image of the Zealot Inquistor who, in spite of his twisted logic, is able to win over the the masses to his will (think of Mr. Talkinghorn from Dicken’s Bleak House)
Saves: Yes, they’re disgustingly good. If Autofail 1 is disabled, someone is going to have to whip up some pretty nasty mojo for you to fail. You should never ever fail a Fort or Will save (1s excepting of course).
Fixed buffed AB - Kail Pendragon _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Edited By Kail Pendragon on 10/14/07 13:49
Ye gods, what a monster!
How could anyone possibly kill this thing? I'd be afraid of him coming back to life...
I'm disappointed Grizz. A Paladin and Cleric?! You redeem yourself with the BG levels though. Nice build; this guy's one helluva monster.
Ah, yes. I'd like to add a thought:
"'Bad men have no songs'. — How is it the Russians have songs?" —Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, or How to Philosophize with a Hammer: Maxims and Arrows, 22.
Err, wait, that's not really relevant, is it? No matter...
Great build, master Dwarf! _________________ "... C'est un pays plus nu que la terre polaire — Ni bêtes, ni ruisseaux, ni verdure, ni bois!
Or il n'est pas d'horreur au monde qui surpasse La froide cruauté de ce soleil de glace Et cette immense nuit semblable au vieux Chaos; ..."
"'Bad men have no songs'. — How is it the Russians have songs?" —Friedrich Nietzsche
Indeed, it was fashionable in the 19th century to talk badly of the Russians. Then it became fashionable again in the 20th Century....
As for the build, since no one else posted the question, I'll post a few:
1. What if one stopped at Wis22 and raised Str by 4? Is what is gained outweighed by what is lost? Are spell DCs really even an issue with build like this? I was just pumping Wis for more spell slots, basically.
2. If there is one feat you would drop, what would it be and with what would you replace it? _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
1. What if one stopped at Wis22 and raised Str by 4? Is what is gained outweighed by what is lost? Are spell DCs really even an issue with build like this? I was just pumping Wis for more spell slots, basically.
2. If there is one feat you would drop, what would it be and with what would you replace it?
Seems kind of wrong for me to answer the suggestions made by the builder himself, but whatever.
1. IMO the main advantage would be that your max buffed AB would be two points higher, which, in itself is not worth the loss of spell slots. This is mainly because this build is obviously best suited for low magic, and his buffed AB is good enough for that. In high magic, however, his AB is too low. And no, the +2 from the STR will not be enough to make it worthwhile.
2. Extend Spell. With 35 casters levels the durations should be long enough -- I'd maybe replace it with Maximize. With the Rakshasa builds I grew to love Maximized Ice Storms and, for this build, one would dish out 100 damage (I figure, my math might fail me at this latest of hours). [3 * 6 +(2 + 35 / 3) * 6] for the damage I'd recall using that formula with the Raks builds, heh
BTW, I wonder why you list your buffed AB at 62 while your max is, by all logic, at 31 +20 +6 = 57? _________________ "... C'est un pays plus nu que la terre polaire — Ni bêtes, ni ruisseaux, ni verdure, ni bois!
Or il n'est pas d'horreur au monde qui surpasse La froide cruauté de ce soleil de glace Et cette immense nuit semblable au vieux Chaos; ..."
BTW, I wonder why you list your buffed AB at 62 while your max is, by all logic, at 31 +20 +6 = 57?
I think I was adding the BAB increase from Divine Power, which was +5. Wasn't 100% sure, but I assumed that since it increased BAB and not AB, then there was still +20 room in the cap.
I suppose one could also add a further +12 AB on either Smite Good or Smite Evil (assuming Charisma is maxed), but that's stretching it.
His Taunt would be good for another +5-6, but I try not to count something that leaves me flatfooted. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
I think I was adding the BAB increase from Divine Power, which was +5. Wasn't 100% sure, but I assumed that since it increased BAB and not AB, then there was still +20 room in the cap.
Nah, it counts towards the cap, I'm afraid. It's applied as a simple attack bonus, just like all the others.
His Taunt would be good for another +5-6, but I try not to count something that leaves me flatfooted.
What kind of thinking is that for a Dwarf? If it makes it easier for you to cleave his head, you can surely accept a couple of hits. _________________ "... C'est un pays plus nu que la terre polaire — Ni bêtes, ni ruisseaux, ni verdure, ni bois!
Or il n'est pas d'horreur au monde qui surpasse La froide cruauté de ce soleil de glace Et cette immense nuit semblable au vieux Chaos; ..."
BTW, I wonder why you list your buffed AB at 62 while your max is, by all logic, at 31 +20 +6 = 57?
I think I was adding the BAB increase from Divine Power, which was +5. Wasn't 100% sure, but I assumed that since it increased BAB and not AB, then there was still +20 room in the cap.
You been here this long and never learnt that? Shame on you. Oh, divine power eats off your +20 CAP allright.
His Taunt would be good for another +5-6, but I try not to count something that leaves me flatfooted.
Why? Taunt lasts 6 rounds, you just Knockdown, then taunt. (Have quick fingers.) Also in builds where smite is a good weapon (not in this one, mind you) you should take that round of flat-footedness just to assure you will connect your smite, perhaps even Crit. It's also good vs someone that's already engaged in combat with someone else. Oh, and being flat-footed "only" loses DEX and Dodge AC which might not be a helluva lot in all builds.
Taunt has it's uses, just don't do it in 1 on 1(unless you prepare Mighty Nuclear Smiting Armageddon Blast) or when outnumbered.
Rant over. _________________ I see the fear you have inside, you can run but never hide. I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb.
I run the Pre-Epic Builders guild. Join and share your experience.
Edited By Grimnir77 on 06/09/06 23:34
Nietzsche is also attributed with saying that a casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything; however, it would appear that he was wrong, as would seem from your build. As the son of a Lutheran pastor, he should have known better; truly, is religion the opiate of the masses? as was postulated by Marx (writing originally about Germany, or rather, wrote did his student, but which the Germans had the good sense to ignore either way). Well, your build speaks to this, too. Well done, and love the use of quotes . . . such a nice touch.
You been here this long and never learnt that? Shame on you. Oh, divine power eats off your +20 CAP allright.
Thanks for rubbing it in. I've played NWN for 3 years and never so much as looked at a cleric unless I was sliding him off the end of my blade. I always thought they were cheesy. Now that I'm in the twilight of the NWN Universe, I've decided to open up a whole case of cheese, and what better way than with a Cleric with Pally and BG levels tossed in? _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Well, Grizz, I'm with you on that, but we've yet to plumb the depths of the PRC if you want to go into the dairy business...
Anyone using a Dickens' character, especially one from Bleak House, as a reference gets 1,000 style points from me. I like the build, but probably would not play it myself, as I tend to play on higher magic worlds. I would also keep the wisdom instead of putting the other 4 points into strength; imo more spell slots is better on this guy. _________________ If everyone is thinking alike, then someone is failing to think.
Nice build. I did a paladin/blackguard too, and I have to say they can be pretty scary.
You've got some nice no-save spells to handle the offensive slack in higher magic environments or when your buffed AB doesn't cut it... but I'd actually recommend plant domain for creeping doom (and to a lesser degree, barkskin) instead of war - war's domain power is great but it's once per day. _________________ Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience.
I'm disappointed Grizz. A Paladin and Cleric?! You redeem yourself with the BG levels though. Nice build; this guy's one helluva monster.
Ah, yes. I'd like to add a thought:
Oh, divine power eats off your +20 CAP allright.