My take on a spellsword. I loved how it worked in 1st-2nd edition, FTR/MU or FTR/MU/Thief (elven) where you got the best of all worlds at the cost of a slower progression, but that ain't anymore possible. Good old days.

Anyhow, compromises seem to be a necessity with spellswords, hence the slow caster progression and undispellability reached only at 35th character lvl to achieve a higher BAB and have a better melee presence.

The idea is, of course, of buffing up and go melee, using no save spells (either memorized or scribed/crafted) for attack and using summons for support. Some AoE spells with a save can be used for mobs (wail for example), but there's no room to increase the DC beyond a basic lvl. SP is almost enough to auto penetrate maximum toolset SR (5% chance of failure against SR 32). EW and EMA are there for high lvl play.

Gnome is chosen because of small size (+1 AB, +1 AC and immunity to EBT), no XP penalty, +2 to a necessary stat (CON). EBT immunity is very useful and a wand of EBT works wonders.

Handaxe is a good alternative to shortsword (you keen it yourself and have a higher crit multiplier).

As a side note, I play this guy with green skin, a goblin head and I call him Yoda (and I have made a custom portrait)... and I craft the shortsword to look like a small sized lightsaber



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Boccob's Magic Blade - Wizard(26), Fighter(8), Rogue(6)
Gnome, any alignment
PvM, playable 1-40



ABILITIES (ending)
STR: 10
DEX: 16 (30)
CON: 16
WIS: 8
INT: 16 (20)
CHA: 8


BASIC STATS
Hitpoints: 340
Skillpoints: 295

Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 22/19/29
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +9, Mind Effects: +2, Traps: +1, Evasion

BAB: 23
AB: 37 (melee), 34 (ranged)
AB (self buffed): 43-45 (GMW, BS), 57 (True Strike)

AC (naked/shield only): 31/33
AC (self buffed): 56/59 (EMA, MA, Haste)

Spell Casting: Wizard(9)
Spells/Day: 4/6/5/5/5/5/4/4/4/4


SKILLS
Concentration 43(48), Disable Trap 41(48), Open Lock 25(35), Search 37(42), Set Trap 33(45), Spellcraft 40(45), Tumble 40(50), UMD 36(35), no points leftover


LEVELING GUIDE
01: Rogue(1): Blind Fight
02: Fighter(1): Weapon Finesse
03: Fighter(2): Knockdown, Weapon Focus: Shortsword
04: Wizard(1): DEX+1, {Scribe Scroll}, (DEX=17)
05: Wizard(2)
06: Wizard(3): Spell Penetration
07: Wizard(4)
08: Rogue(2): DEX+1, {Evasion}, (DEX=18)
09: Wizard(5): Greater Spell Penetration, Craft Wand
10: Wizard(6)
11: Wizard(7)
12: Wizard(8): DEX+1, Extend Spell, (DEX=19)
13: Rogue(3): {Uncanny Dodge I}
14: Wizard(9)
15: Wizard(10): Improved Knockdown, Empower Spell
16: Wizard(11): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
17: Wizard(12)
18: Fighter(3): Improved Critical: Shortsword
19: Fighter(4): Weapon Specialization: Shortsword
20: Rogue(4): INT+1, (INT=17)
21: Fighter(5): Epic Weapon Focus: Shortsword
22: Wizard(13)
23: Rogue(5)
24: Fighter(6): INT+1, Great Dexterity I, Epic Weapon Specialization: Shortsword, (DEX=21), (INT=18)
25: Wizard(14)
26: Wizard(15): Great Intelligence I, (INT=19)
27: Wizard(16): Great Dexterity II, (DEX=22)
28: Wizard(17): DEX+1, (DEX=23)
29: Wizard(18)
30: Wizard(19): Great Dexterity III, (DEX=24)
31: Wizard(20): Great Intelligence II, (INT=20)
32: Wizard(21): DEX+1, (DEX=25)
33: Wizard(22): Great Dexterity IV, (DEX=26)
34: Wizard(23): Epic Spell: Epic Mage Armor
35: Wizard(24)
36: Wizard(25): DEX+1, Great Dexterity V, (DEX=28)
37: Wizard(26): Epic Spell: Epic Warding
38: Rogue(6)
39: Fighter(7): Great Dexterity VI, (DEX=29)
40: Fighter(8): DEX+1, Armor Skin, (DEX=30)



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Advantages
•Level 9 spells
•Undispellable
•Craft Wand
•EMA, EW
•EWS
•UMD
•Epic trap skills
•Good AC
•Low but acceptable AB (for a spellsword, that is)
•3 APR
•EBT immunity
•Evasion coupled with a good Ref save


Weaknesses
•Slow caster progression
•Late undispellability (35th lvl)
•5% chance of not penetrating max toolset SR
•EMA, EW come kinda late
•Lowish AB
•Only 3 APR
•Could use more skillpoints
•Low Fort and Will saves (although vs spells they get much better)
•Lowish HPs



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I didn't find any similar builds in the search engine.

Feedback and constructive criticism is, as usual, greatly appreciated.
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Looking for a realm of adventure? Check out World of Greyhawk, you won't regret it.

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 03/19/08 11:37

Quote: Posted 03/19/08 11:30 (GMT) -- Kail Pendragon

My take on a spellsword. I loved how it worked in 1st-2nd edition, FTR/MU or FTR/MU/Thief (elven) where you got the best of all worlds at the cost of a slower progression, but that ain't anymore possible. Good old days.
Anyhow, compromises seem to be a necessity with spellswords...

Sigh, most of us have tried to make a good arcane spellsword by now. You can get good versatility like you do here, but the boss killer factor is lower than in a more specialized build.

Quote: Posted 03/19/08 11:30 (GMT) -- Kail Pendragon

As a side note, I play this guy with green skin, a goblin head and I call him Yoda (and I have made a custom portrait)... and I craft the shortsword to look like a small sized lightsaber

Makes me wonder what kind of familiar he keeps
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I generally avoid temptation, unless I can't resist it... You're not complaining about not having enough skills! I bet you only made this build because of that

It's ok, I don't like much the spellsword type (I always take a Cleric/Monk over a Fighter/Wizard) but I think he can manage, too bad you don't have Epic Dodge.
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"My name is Thaxll'ssyllia, but you simians may refer to me merely as "Sir", if you prefer a less... syllable intensive workout."

Edwin Odesseiron - Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn