The Harper Adept (playable levels 1-40, PvM/PvP)

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A sorcerer build using the HS's bonus feats and stackable buffs to maximize spell DCs. The only other build in the search engine with the same class split is christian.schnabel's Harper Spellsword ( Click Here ), which is obviously a different sort of build.

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Race: Human

Alignment: Lawful Good

Starting Stats:
Str: 14
Dex: 8
Con: 12
Int: 12
Wis: 8
Cha: 18

1 - Sorcerer 1 - Still Spell, Power Attack
2 - Paladin 1
3 - Sorcerer 2 - Iron Will
4 - Sorcerer 3 - Cha 19
5 - Paladin 2
6 - Paladin 3 - Divine Shield
7 - Sorcerer 4
8 - Sorcerer 5 - Cha 20
9 - Sorcerer 6 - Maximize Spell
10 - Sorcerer 7
11 - Sorcerer 8
12 - Sorcerer 9 - Spell Focus, Cha 21
13 - Sorcerer 10
14 - Sorcerer 11
15 - Sorcerer 12 - Greater Spell Focus
16 - Sorcerer 13 - Cha 22
17 - Sorcerer 14
18 - Sorcerer 15 - Alertness
19 - Sorcerer 16
20 - Sorcerer 17 - Cha 23

21 - Sorcerer 18 - Epic Spell Focus
22 - Harper Scout 1 - GC I (24)*
23 - Sorcerer 19
24 - Sorcerer 20 - Autostill I, Cha 25
25 - Sorcerer 21
26 - Sorcerer 22
27 - Sorcerer 23 - Autostill II, Autostill III**
28 - Harper Scout 2 - Cha 26
29 - Sorcerer 24
30 - Sorcerer 25 - GC II (27)
31 - Sorcerer 26 - Epic Spell (Epic Warding)**
32 - Harper Scout 3 - Cha 28
33 - Sorcerer 27 - GC III (29)
34 - Sorcerer 28
35 - Sorcerer 29 - GC IV (30)**
36 - Sorcerer 30 - GC V (31), Cha 32
37 - Harper Scout 4
38 - Sorcerer 31
39 - Sorcerer 32 - GC VI (33), GC VII (34)**
40 - Harper Scout 5 - GC VIII (35)*, Cha 36

Skills (full plate, tower shield): Concentration 42(43), Discipline 43(45), Lore 6(7), Persuade 8(21), Search 4(5), Spellcraft 34(35), Tumble 40(21), 1 left over

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Ending Stats:
Str: 14
Dex: 8
Con: 12
Int: 12
Wis: 8
Cha: 36

AB (scimitar): +23/+18/+13

Damage (scimitar): 1d6+2 (critical 18-20/x2)

AC (full plate, tower shield): 28
+2 from maximized Cat’s Grace and Cat’s Grace (Harper Scout)
+2 from Mage Armor
+4 from shield
+4 from Haste
+5 from Shadow Shield
+15 from Divine Shield with maximized Eagle’s Splendor
Buffed AC (full plate, tower shield): 60

Max HP: 226
+80 from maximized Endurance
Buffed Max HP: 306

Saves:
Fortitude: 32 (+8 vs. spells)
Reflex: 28 (+8 vs. spells, +2 vs. traps)
Will: 35 (+8 vs. spells, +2 vs. mind affecting)
+1 to all from Resistance
+2 to all from Tymora’s Smile
+3 (at least) to all from maximized Eagle’s Splendor and Eagle’s Splendor (Harper Scout)
+3 (at least) to Reflex from maximized Cat’s Grace and Cat’s Grace (Harper Scout)
+2 to Fortitude from maximized Endurance
Buffed Saves:
Fortitude: 40 (+8 vs. spells)
Reflex: 37 (+8 vs. spells, +2 vs. traps)
Will: 41 (+8 vs. spells, +2 vs. mind affecting)

Divine Shield uses/day: 16

Spell DCs in chosen school: 29 + spell level
+3 (at least) from maximized Eagle’s Splendor and Eagle’s Splendor (Harper Scout)
Buffed Spell DCs in chosen school: 32 + spell level

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Strengths:
-Sorcerer in epic levels with spell DCs in chosen school only 1 less than the maximum
-High AC in low-magic settings, can max Dodge bonus with no items whatsoever
-Stackable Eagle's Splendor for even more Cha goodness in low-magic settings
-Insane saves

Weaknesses:
-Fewer caster levels than most pure caster builds, might have trouble with some high SR
-Low HP
-No Evasion
-Slightly feat-starved

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This build should do well as a high AC, high DC caster in any setting where you can't max your Dodge bonus too easily. A variant to make it even more low-magic focused would be to drop two Great Charisma feats for Armor Skin and Epic Mage Armor. This would net you 10 AC in a no-magic setting, but once you hit +5, EMA is worth precisely nothing to you, so it becomes a waste of a feat, which is why I did not include it in this version of the build.

As for which school to focus in, I personally would go with Enchantment for this build, to fit in with the Harper mystique, but Necromancy is, as always, the preferred powergaming option, and it's as viable here as always. I haven't included a spellbook because it would vary based on which school you picked; you all know which spells are worth having, though.

Edited spell DC's and AC calculation. Grim

Edited By Grimnir77 on 08/18/06 04:16

Nicely done!

I think this one deserves the quote, "Harper scout, only class soo powerful that it had to be capped at 5!"

THanks for showin me the beautiful synergy of harpers and sorcs! sorc/pal and pal/hs were a given. Funny i never thought of it myself! Guess im not that good afterall...
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Quote: Posted 07/24/06 22:47:54 (GMT) -- FinneousPJ

You should listen to avado

Edited By avado on 08/17/06 04:24

Looks like a really nice Sorc build. I wouldn't worry about SR, if it's a cleric MD will breach it, if it's a monk a pure caster probably couldn't touch it (so cast a GS followed by a BBoD against an AI monk, or cast GS and run from a PC monk.) I'd take paladin at level 1, so I could wear armor off the bat, but that's the only change I would make.

Since it is a sorcerer (can't change spells), you might want to add a spell list either complete or short to help players who might want to play this build but are unfamiliar with arcane casters.
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Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do. Your spell DC's in chosen school seemed off to me, so I did a quick calculation.
10 + 13(CHA bonus) + 6 (feats)= 29. Add to that buffs and items it's 32-35. You cheat yourself of 6 DC here.

Not bad, eh. The DC's you give us are for non-focused school.

Good build. Definitely a sorcerer I could be tempted to try.
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Quote: Posted 08/17/06 08:11:29 (GMT) -- Mithdradates

I'd take paladin at level 1, so I could wear armor off the bat, but that's the only change I would make.

Yeah, but then he would have to have WIS = 11 at start. Looks really good to me. Nice job. If I were to play it, I might drop Chr to 17 and Str to 13 to raise Con and Int by 2 more each. I would even be tempted at that point to drop PA and DS for Exp and Imp Exp. But I think it rocks, either way you look at it.
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Quote: Posted 08/17/06 16:43:39 (GMT) -- GoVols

Quote: Posted 08/17/06 08:11:29 (GMT) -- Mithdradates

I'd take paladin at level 1, so I could wear armor off the bat, but that's the only change I would make.

Yeah, but then he would have to have WIS = 11 at start.

Doh!
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Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do. Thanks for the compliments, all.

Quote: Posted 08/17/06 14:42:25 (GMT) -- Grimnir77

Your spell DC's in chosen school seemed off to me, so I did a quick calculation.
10 + 13(CHA bonus) + 6 (feats)= 29. Add to that buffs and items it's 32-35. You cheat yourself of 6 DC here.

Not bad, eh. The DC's you give us are for non-focused school.

Whoops! Yep, you got it, I forgot to add feat bonuses. Don't suppose I could get an edit on that, Grim? And too late to edit, here are a couple sample spellbooks (subject, as always, to change according to personal taste), one for Enchantment and one for Necromancy:

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Spellbook (Enchantment):
0: Flare, Light, Ray of Frost, Resistance, Daze, Acid Splash, Electric Jolt
1: Protection from Alignment, Mage Armor, Charm Person, Magic Missile, Shield
2: Eagle’s Splendor, Cat’s Grace, Endurance, Melf’s Acid Arrow, Ultravision
3: Hold Person, Haste, Negative Energy Burst, Flame Arrow
4: Confusion, Ice Storm, Improved Invisibility, Evard’s Black Tentacles
5: Dominate Person, Mind Fog, Hold Monster, Bigby’s Interposing Hand
6: Isaac’s Greater Missile Storm, True Seeing, Bigby’s Forceful Hand
7: Shadow Shield, Spell Mantle, Finger of Death
8: Horrid Wilting, Greater Sanctuary, Mass Charm
9: Dominate Monster, Mordenkain’s Disjunction, Black Blade of Disaster

Spellbook (Necromancy):
0: Flare, Light, Ray of Frost, Resistance, Daze, Acid Splash, Electric Jolt
1: Protection from Alignment, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Shield, Grease
2: Eagle’s Splendor, Cat’s Grace, Endurance, Melf’s Acid Arrow, Ultravision
3: Haste, Negative Energy Burst, Flame Arrow, Vampiric Touch
4: Fear, Ice Storm, Improved Invisibility, Evard’s Black Tentacles
5: Energy Buffer, Lesser Mind Blank, Dismissal, Bigby’s Interposing Hand
6: Isaac’s Greater Missile Storm, True Seeing, Bigby’s Forceful Hand
7: Shadow Shield, Spell Mantle, Finger of Death
8: Horrid Wilting, Greater Sanctuary, Premonition
9: Wail of the Banshee, Mordenkain’s Disjunction, Black Blade of Disaster

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I also forgot to include the AC bonus from Shield in my AC calculations, they should read:

AC (full plate, tower shield): 28
+2 from maximized Cat’s Grace and Cat’s Grace (Harper Scout)
+2 from Mage Armor
+4 from Shield
+4 from Haste
+5 from Shadow Shield
+15 from Divine Shield with maximized Eagle’s Splendor
Buffed AC (full plate, tower shield): 60 Very nice combo: well done, Nimueh