Sinvyl was already casting protective magic on herself before the first droplets of green rain hit the ground...
The other three also felt the disturbance in the air. Sinvyl saw it first - behind Gromph - a ghostly silhouette of an elven woman.
"BEHIND YOU!" she yelled. Reading between the lines, Gromph drew his rapier in a reverse grip and stabbed in the appropiate direction...
...but there was no impact. Not even the vibration and red flash that comes from plunging the enchanted rapier through a spectre of the underdark. Just fine smoky strands of shadow still hovering over the blade's path, and then quickly reforming. The blade had gone through her...but she was unhurt.
Just as Gromph finished his swing, Sinvyl saw the elven woman place her hand on Gromph's forehead. A pillar of red light rose from Gromph as he screamed in pain, and Sinvyl could tell that this was necromancy; Gromph's vitality pouring out like a burst river dam, his dark skin cracking and drying rapidly. At that moment, Sinvyl understood: this was no paranormal being, the apparition drew upon divine magic to cast 'Harm'... a powerful spell, but easily countered with 'Heal'...she's a spellcaster, the ghostly form probably an after effect from an invisibility spell. But as Sinvyl raised her hands to cast 'Heal', a lightning bolt struck Gromph...and he was dead.
How could she forget the green rain, the clouds they fall from are swirling with divine magic! Her hands now pointing at the elven attacker, Sinvyl casts the first lethal spell that came to mind...'finger of death'. To her astonisment, a blue barrier materialized around the elf...a spell mantle. How could someone who just conjured a maelstorm of divine magic create an equally powerful arcane barrier!
Before Sinvyl could arrive at an answer, darkness decended upon the party. This was also arcane magic, for Sinvyl's Drow eyes could not penetrate it. As she casted 'ultravision', she heard Mizzyrm scream, followed by a wet thud...and then silence.
And then Sinvyl saw the towering silhouette of a dragon moving towards Ilueph.
Sinvyl didn't bother casting protective magic on Ilueph, the attacker is far too strange, a shapeshifter, and a wielder of both divine and arcane magic...as the dragon clawed through Ilueph's heavy armor, she instead took the opportunity to prepare to cast Mordenkainen's Disjunction on the dragon. As an exalted sorceress, her spell would definitely purge whatever magical defenses the attacker had cast. And Sinvyl let out an amused huff when the dragon suddenly became corporeal. She could sense all the layers of protection collapsing under the sheer power of her spell.
But her mirth was short-lived...Sinvyl soon realized that Ilueph was dead. And the dragon still unhurt, had already swung a claw at her. There was a deafening clang as the claw bounced off Sinvyl's protective wards. Relieved that her wards were strong enough, Sinvyl continued to bolster her protection...'elemental shield'...'acid sheath'...'shadow shield'...whatever spells were left over from her mission.
The dragon stopped attacking. It understood the destructive nature of those barriers. With a sigh of relief, Sinvyl took her time in summoning a Balor.
The ground cracked and shook violently. Out of the pits of hell, came forth the Balor. With a mighty roar, the demonic general descended upon the dragon and swung his vorpal sword at the dragon's neck...
...and the dragon evaded it with unerring grace. The second swing was countered by the dragon's claws. There never was a third swing, for the dragon followed up from its counter, plunging its claws into the Balor's head, and dismissing it back into the dephts of hell. Unfortunate that the dragon remained unhurt, but the Balor bought Sinvyl enough time to cast her ultimate spell...the wail of the banshee...
...and then as the summoned banshee cried, the tree leaves turned brown and fell, the birds in the air fell, the fish in the river floated belly up, the grass wilted and blackened...and the dragon faded into thin air. All was quiet. Sinvyl congratulated herself. Only then did Sinvyl notice the pain she was in...again she had forgotten about the acidic rain, even now the green droplets eat into her skin...
..and a bolt of lightning struck her...she didn't have time to shield her mind from paralyzation, the lightning bolt fried her nerves, her senses scrambled, her head in a daze...
...the last thing she saw: the shadow of an elven lady before the shadow of the forest, her hand reaching for Sinvyl's forehead, the seal of The Harpers in the palm of that hand...
"Long Live the Valsharess" she thought as the world faded out...
Gah...should have been reviewing for SAT IIs...
BTW, I have nothing against exalted sorceresses, I just thought it'd add to the awesomeness effect (^_^)
Similar Builds Click Here
...posted by Thax 3 years ago though, and ain't legal anymore...
Well, it sure is nice that my final dragon build is somewhat original (^_^).
It started with getting concealment on a dragon, to avoid devastating critical and AB freaks and the like. Of course, the easiest way to do that is Improved Invisibility. Problem was that taking 10 levels of wizard, sorcerer, or anything that gave improved invisibility, sacrificed all those druid levels that i'm not willing to part with (benefits buff durations, spell resistance, etc.)
The assassin however...provided both improved invisibility and the UMD skill, thus allowing access to other defensive buffs and spells, thus making up for the loss of spell resistance. Thus the following build was concieved:
ABILITIES(ending) STR 8 DEX 10 CON 10 INT 16 WIS 18(34) CHA 8
LEVELING GUIDE 01:Druid 1: Blindfight 02:Druid 2 03:Druid 3: Extend Spell 04:Druid 4: WIS +1 (WIS 19) 05:Druid 5 06:Druid 6: Maximize Spell 07:Druid 7 08:Druid 8: WIS +1 (WIS 20) 09:Druid 9: Knockdown 10:Druid 10 11:Druid 11 12:Druid 12: Improved Critical Unarmed, WIS +1 (WIS 21) 13:Druid 13 14:Druid 14 15:Druid 15: Weapon Finesse For the Air Elemental Shape, very useful primary shape 16:Druid 16: WIS +1 (WIS 22) 17:Druid 17 18:Druid 18: Toughness 19:Druid 19 20:Druid 20: WIS +1 (WIS 23) 21:Druid 21: Great Wisdom 1 (WIS 24) 22:Monk 1: 8 Hide and 8 Move Silently 23:Druid 22 24:Druid 23: Great Wisdom 2, WIS +1 (WIS 26) 25:Druid 24: Great Wisdom 3 (WIS 27) 26:Druid 25 27:Druid 26: Great Wisdom 4 (WIS 28) 28:Druid 27: WIS +1 (WIS 29) 29:Druid 28: Great Wisdom 5 (WIS 30) 30:Druid 29: Dragon Shape - Alignment change to any EVIL 31:Assassin 1 32:Assassin 2: WIS +1 (WIS 31) 33:Assassin 3: Epic Prowess 34:Assassin 4 35:Assassin 5 36:Assassin 6: Great Wisdom 6, WIS +1 (WIS 33) 37:Assassin 7 38:Assassin 8 39:Assassin 9: Armor Skin - Alignment change to any NEUTRAL 40:Druid 30: WIS +1 (WIS 34)
END GAME DRUID FORM NAKED STATS Buffed values in brackets. All buffs last for at least 30 turns (30 minutes), except for blood frenzy and aura of vitality, which last for 3 minutes
STR 8 [19] DEX 10 [14] CON 10 [16] INT 16 WIS 34 [46] CHA 8
Other Buff Effects: Elemental Damage Resistance Immunity to Death Magic, Paralysis, Entangle, Slow Regeneration
The Druid is already immune to poisons.
END GAME DRAGON FORM STATS Buffed values in Brackets. Same buffs as above.
STR 48 [59] DEX 36 [40] CON 32 [38] INT 14 WIS 34 [46] CHA 10
Spell Resistance: 20 [42]
Fortitude: 33 [36] Reflex: 29 [31] Will: 34 [41]
AB (claws/bite): +45/+42 [+50/+47]
HP: 804/704[924/824]
AC: 65 [77]
Spellbook Storm of Vengeance Nature's Balance Extended Aura of Vitality Extended Regeneration Harm Energy Buffer Stonehold Spell Resistance Owl's Insight Death Ward Maximized Bull's Strength Flame Strike - for taking weak hordes out quickly Freedom of Movement Call lightning - for taking weak hordes out quickly Barkskin
Her Pros
Quote: It should be really funny to cast Improved Invisibility in the middle of a fight, "where the heck did that dragon go?", big stuff don't tend to dissapear like that... - Thaxll'ssyllia
...darn straight it's funny!
High AC even among dragon builds
High AB even among dragon builds
42 spell resistance, pretty solid
30 druid levels, also pretty solid for penetration and dispel check
DC 37 for Storm of Vengeance...solid
She's a dragon
Don't underestimate breath attack
Nature sense
Blindfight
Death Attack 5d6, an average of 15 extra damage per hit
Darkness to compliment Death Attack
Improved Invisibility (concealment), along with a backup normal invisibility
Elf with search...mostly put this in for the 'Sands of Fate' custom module (^_^)
*drumroll* UMD!!! Cast greater spell mantle before facing exalted sorceress, timestop when running, battletide to boost AB, etc. etc. Sure gives you a lot of flexibilty.
Her cons
True seeing...is a pain...
Watch out for hordes of pure casters
Can only cast improved invisibility once, and darkness once, in dragon shape
She ain't the best caster out there...i guess you can drop toughness, impr. crit. and epic prowess for Epic Spell Focus: Conjuration.
She can't recast her buffs in dragon shape...can't use scrolls in dragon shape...but heck, she's an assassin! She *prepares* and *plans*!
Sure she's practically invincible against spells for a short duration after casting spell mantle, but she stands up poorly against heavy spellcasters...then again, she's an assassin, she seeks out the right time to strike, and leaves quickly...
She's *chinese accent* soooo fat, when shee jump for joooy, she got stuck!
Dragon builds don't benefit much from items
She is not immune to critical hits (I'd love to see you crit this dragon though)
You have to buy your scrolls and crud...then again you sell most of your equipment so you have lots of money...
I dunno about dragon builds in multiplayer, but in DotA (warcraft III custom map), people hate zeus because he can nuke every hero at once no matter where they are...the perfect kill stealer...
That attack bonus ain't gonna go up very much
A good breath attack is so helpful in so many different situations...and you don't have a good breath attack
Tips
Read the short story
Potions are your best friend
Oh, and btw
Does greater spell mantle counter Mord's disjunction? Like, does the first mord's disjunction only get rid of spell mantle, and the second mord's disjunction dispels everything?
How would this build fare in multiplayer?
I've been hearing a lot about Clerics having high AB and high AC after buffing; I do not see how this can be achieved, at least not through the long term buffs...help?
Does greater spell mantle counter Mord's disjunction? Like, does the first mord's disjunction only get rid of spell mantle, and the second mord's disjunction dispels everything?
How would this build fare in multiplayer?
I've been hearing a lot about Clerics having high AB and high AC after buffing; I do not see how this can be achieved, at least not through the long term buffs...help?
Comments anyone?
Nope the spell mantle will be breached and then the dispel will occur (even if you could retain a mantle, it doesn't protect from the dispel). Also if the spell is cast as an area of effect, the mantle for sure would be breached as well as one other breachable buff, and then the highest remaining buff will get a dispel check. So, no spell mantle doesn't help much against the exalted sorceress.
Clerics have a lot of AB buffs: divine power, bless, aid, prayer, divine favor, battletide, war domain. For strength there is aura of vitality (war domain spell), bull's strength, and strength domain.
Quote: Posted 10/08/09 14:09 (GMT) -- WhiZard Clerics have a lot of AB buffs: divine power, bless, aid, prayer, divine favor, battletide, war domain. For strength there is aura of vitality (war domain spell), bull's strength, and strength domain.
But most of these buffs are really short...like 1 round per caster level, and war domain can only be used once a day...not a problem for clerics?
Prayer, Battletide, Divine Power are rounds per level; Divine Favor is 10 rounds. All other buffs are long lasting (turns or hours/level). With extend spell the short term buffs will last from 20 rounds (2 minutes real time) for DF to 80 rounds (8 minutes real time) for the other spells and at Cleric 40; 40 rounds for the short term buffs is most often more than enough.
Mord is not as overpowered as it is in PnP, btw. Your protection against it is to have a high caster level yourself and to buff up with anything at your disposal, including redundancies (eg, greater spell mantle+spell mantle+lesser spell mantle or premonition+greater stoneskin+stoneskin) so that the breach effect will affect only a minor and known part of your buffs. In fact breach affects breachable spells in a very specific order, up to its limit (2-4-6).
Quote: Posted 10/08/09 14:09 (GMT) -- WhiZard Clerics have a lot of AB buffs: divine power, bless, aid, prayer, divine favor, battletide, war domain. For strength there is aura of vitality (war domain spell), bull's strength, and strength domain.
But most of these buffs are really short...like 1 round per caster level, and war domain can only be used once a day...not a problem for clerics?
again, this is where the cleric gets the idea of being only a healer! Like kail says, extend is your friend.
Regardless, this is a Dragon build, and you only have 3 shapes per rest. The idea of buffin and switching, GENERALLY, isnt the smartest thing in the world, cuz all someone has to do is last for 3 changes, then you're dragonburgers! That's what god made narrow hallways for
*edit: the EASIEST way in nwn to avoid Dev crit ISNT concealment! IT is PM10, which was mentioned to you on one of your other dragon builds... but who's counting
*edit2: high ab? You are pure druid (3/4 ab) which means 25bab not 26 (which is 4apr) 25 is 3 apr.. but you show 2 attacks.. Honestly, i built a devastating critical dragon one time in PRC which had 4 apr and such, but i dont see how your numbers stack correctly?
Alas, it is good that Thax' guide is being worked over! Druids are really the most under appreciated class in the game
Edited By avado on 10/08/09 22:02
Quote: Posted 10/08/09 21:53 (GMT) -- avado
*edit2: high ab? You are pure druid (3/4 ab) which means 25bab not 26 (which is 4apr) 25 is 3 apr.. but you show 2 attacks..
Those numbers do not represent 2 attacks per round but rather the full AB figure for claws (which are +6 weapon) and bite (which is not). _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Quote: Posted 10/08/09 21:53 (GMT) -- avado
*edit: the EASIEST way in nwn to avoid Dev crit ISNT concealment! IT is PM10, which was mentioned to you on one of your other dragon builds... but who's counting
Didn't consider palemaster because i lose the Monk AC bonus, and a lot of Druid levels too...
Just had an idea, but need to verify game mechanics...
If a cleric casts silence on themselves, and they have high spell penetration...does that mean that they have a silence aura that could SILENCE AN EXALTED SORCERER ! (and they'd just have to take automatic silent spell to make use of silence aura)
Also, please keep commenting on my dragon builds (^_^)
Just had an idea, but need to verify game mechanics...
If a cleric casts silence on themselves, and they have high spell penetration...does that mean that they have a silence aura that could SILENCE AN EXALTED SORCERER ! (and they'd just have to take automatic silent spell to make use of silence aura)
Also, please keep commenting on my dragon builds (^_^)
Sorcerers would be silenced by the aura, however, since the sorcerer can spontaneously cast spell, merely the silence spell feat is enough that the sorcerer can readily adapt to a silence situation by casting many spells at one slot higher.
but i thought exalted sorcs would rather choose something like spell focus or automatic still spell over the silent spell feat......or are most usually prepared for silent spell?
I guess wizards would take it hard since that have to prepare their spells...
but i thought exalted sorcs would rather choose something like spell focus or automatic still spell over the silent spell feat......or are most usually prepared for silent spell?
I guess wizards would take it hard since that have to prepare their spells...
The Exalted Sorceress would be screwed. No silent spell feat. _________________ We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind Sons of Odin fights to die and live again
If you mean the specific Exalted Sorceress posted here on this site, yes. However, there are numerous variations of 38/1/1 for sorcerer which would still wipe the floor with you...heck, any 30+ mage will wipe the floor with you under base rules. Probably 20+ mage, actually. Or...dare I say 18+ mage?
*edit: the EASIEST way in nwn to avoid Dev crit ISNT concealment! IT is PM10, which was mentioned to you on one of your other dragon builds... but who's counting
Didn't consider palemaster because i lose the Monk AC bonus, and a lot of Druid levels too...
Just had an idea, but need to verify game mechanics...
If a cleric casts silence on themselves, and they have high spell penetration...does that mean that they have a silence aura that could SILENCE AN EXALTED SORCERER ! (and they'd just have to take automatic silent spell to make use of silence aura)
Also, please keep commenting on my dragon builds (^_^)
didnt i put that trick in my guide!!! LOL That was a way we used to kill a dragon way back on ol' Amon servers. That bugger used to CAST heal, so we would have the cleric cast silence on self (AFTER buffin!! Learnd that the hard way) and it worked every time. About exalted... she probably wont let you close enough before the max igms comes at you. Remember, she could have timestop too _________________
If you mean the specific Exalted Sorceress posted here on this site, yes. However, there are numerous variations of 38/1/1 for sorcerer which would still wipe the floor with you...heck, any 30+ mage will wipe the floor with you under base rules. Probably 20+ mage, actually. Or...dare I say 18+ mage?
Time stop scrolls, wand of lesser spell breach or mord scrolls and a wand of ILMS and a lvl 1 rogue can wipe the floor with you. Add a couple of potion of haste to make it faster. _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Wipe the floor with who? The silencing cleric or the forest shadow?
Wipe the floor with who? The silencing cleric or the forest shadow?
With anything, basically. There's not much you can do against TS+whatever combos but firing it off first. _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Now that you mention it, the Forest Shadow can use a time stop scroll, run up to the exalted sorc, cast harm, dragon shape and then whack her and lol at the rest of the party...
Now that you mention it, the Forest Shadow can use a time stop scroll, run up to the exalted sorc, cast harm, dragon shape and then whack her and lol at the rest of the party...
insecure much?? Dude, the exalted sorc most probably wont be harmed. Infact, it is sort of an unwritten rule with caster types NOT to rely on a spell to deal damage to them. You actually want to KD them OR hit them in order to hopefully break concentration. Relying on harm is NOT a good idea cuz, unlike the idea that it is automatic, I have had it resisted with ALOT higher DC's than this druid has!
Also, time stop isnt a good spell to rely on either as many PW's have taken it out cuz of servrr lag or fairness or whatever their reason!
Besides that, sure! I still put my money on the 24 max IGMS hittin you square on the face and dying! Remember, IF we are talking exalted vs your dragon, you'd have to get the designer of exalted to use her (afterall, in this hypothetical match its only fair), and cd was a nwn genius, meanwhile, you have NEVER played online.. exalted 10 forest 0 but who really cares :{
Now that you mention it, the Forest Shadow can use a time stop scroll, run up to the exalted sorc, cast harm, dragon shape and then whack her and lol at the rest of the party...
You time stop...and get 3 seconds to use your harm.
You run over and cast harm...Sorceress is immune via shadow shield.
Time stop ends.
Sorceress starts casting Time Stop, you cast Dragon Shape.
Time stop starts...double missile storm + time stop + double missile storm + ...
You lose.
NWN is *not* balanced around PvP.
Quote: Posted 10/11/09 15:07 (GMT) -- avado Relying on harm is NOT a good idea cuz, unlike the idea that it is automatic, I have had it resisted with ALOT higher DC's than this druid has!
Harm doesn't have a DC, actually
Quote: Posted 10/11/09 15:07 (GMT) -- avado Also, time stop isnt a good spell to rely on either as many PW's have taken it out cuz of servrr lag or fairness or whatever their reason!
Also true.
Quote: Posted 10/11/09 15:07 (GMT) -- avado Besides that, sure! I still put my money on the 24 max IGMS hittin you square on the face and dying!
Don't forget the acid and/or elemental shield up for the sorc as well.
Quote: Posted 10/11/09 15:07 (GMT) -- avado Remember, IF we are talking exalted vs your dragon, you'd have to get the designer of exalted to use her (afterall, in this hypothetical match its only fair), and cd was a nwn genius, meanwhile, you have NEVER played online.. exalted 10 forest 0 but who really cares :{
Nah, don't need anyone close to a genius, just someone competent at playing a mage.
!
didnt i put that trick in my guide!!! LOL That was a way we used to kill a dragon way back on ol' Amon servers. That bugger used to CAST heal, so we would have the cleric cast silence on self (AFTER buffin!! Learnd that the hard way) and it worked every time. About exalted... she probably wont let you close enough before the max igms comes at you. Remember, she could have timestop too