The Adroit Adept is very good at two things; high unbuffed AC, and spellcasting. The AC is accomplished via the interesting fact that a pre-epic Duelist gets a point of AC for every Intelligence modifier, but the Epic Duelist gets DOUBLE that. The AC given is Dodge AC.

So by concentrating on Int, this build maximizes Wizard spells and AC at the same time, much like a Monk/Cleric build can. But this build doesnt stop there; it has the Expertise feats, 3 stats it can buff to raise AC (Dex,Int,Wis), and even can use a shield should the need arise.

And for the Wizard aspect, we've got:
- All Spell Pen feats, plus the PRC "Focused Spell Pen"
- All Spell Focus feats in your chosen school.
- the PRC "Practised caster" feat, to increase your casting levels by 4.
- Epic Skill Focus in Lore and Spellcraft; allowing the casting of 6 Epic spells/day.
- Epic Skill Focus in Discipline, just to make sure Knockdown doesnt happen much.

On the down side, he cant hit the broad side of a barn.


"Adroit Adept" Elf 26/13/1 Wizard Duelist Monk
Lawful Neutral

Str 10
Dex 16
Con 10
Wis 10
Int 18 (28)
Cha 8

1 Wizard - Dodge
2 Wizard
3 Wizard - Extend Spell
4 Wizard Int19
5 Wizard5 - Craft Wand
6 Wizard - Maximize Spell
7 Wizard
8 Wizard Int20
9 Wizard Mobility
10 Wizard10 - Spell Pen
11 Wizard
12 Wizard - Int21 Ambidexterity
13 Duelist << Duelist Int AC Bonus AC=21
14 Duelist
15 Duelist - Expertise
16 Duelist Int22
17 Duelist
18 Duelist - Practised Spellcaster (Wizard)
19 Duelist
20 Duelist Int23

BAB=14 3 attacks/round.

21 Duelist - Greater Spell Pen
22 Wizard << Max Concen, Spellcraft, Lore
23 Duelist
24 Duelist Int24 ImpExpertise << Epic Duelist = Extra Int AC Bonus AC=32
25 Wizard
26 Wizard15 Spell Focus (School)
27 Wizard Epic Skill Focus (Spellcraft)
28 Duelist Int25
29 Wizard
30 Wizard - Epic Skill Focus(Lore)
31 Wizard
32 Wizard20 Int26 Greater Spell Focus (school)
33 Duelist13 - ArmorSkin, Shield Proficiency
34 Wizard
35 Wizard
36 Wizard23 Int27 Epic Spell Focus(School), Epic Spell Pen
37 Wizard
38 Wizard
39 Monk Epic Skill Focus(Discipline)
40 Wizard Int28 Focused Spell Penetration(School)

Ubuffed ACs
------------------
AC 41 naked (30 Int via feats would have been 43)
AC 51 ImpExpertise
AC 54 ImpExpertise and Tower Shield (wont be casting, but allows extra AC bonuses, useful when out of spells)

AC can be inced +6 more via Wisdom items, and 1-2 more from Great Wisdom
AC can be inced +6 more via Dexterity items, and 1-2 more from buffing spells
AC can be inced +2 more via Int items or buffing spells (30 Int is max Dodge bonus, no more)
Note that Haste will not add AC bonuses once max Dodge bonus is reached.

AB
------------
Rapier Crit (18-20x2)
AB 24/19/14
Damage d6 + 2d6 Slashing

Not bad damage, but the AB is horrible! If spells run out, should either run or put on all the AC, and swing for 20's.


Saves (add +8 versus magic for Spellcraft)
---------
Fort 16
Reflex 27
Will 20

Concentration 43
Discipline 42 (52) <-- Enhanced by Epic Skill Focus
Heal 13
Hide 42
Move Silent 42
Spot 25
Listen 25
Perform 3
Spellcraft 43 (62) <-- Enhanced by Epic Skill Focus
Lore 43 (62) <-- Enhanced by Epic Skill Focus
Tumble 42

Spells
------
Level 9 spells: 5
Epic Spells: 6/day (thanks to 60+ Lore)

Unbuffed Spellcraft for learning epic spells: 62
You can add 10 to that if its an epic spell of the Focus school. . .
With this, most Epic spells are within reach with no need of Spellcraft-enhancing items.


Spell Resistance
----------
SR = CasterLvl + d20 + Penfeats
Practised Spellcaster adds +4 to caster level. So. . .

+10 bonus for non-focussed spells (EpicSpellPen+Practised Caster)
or
+14 for focussed spell (above + Focused Spell Pen)

So can break 36+d20 SR with any spell
Can break 40+d20 SR for a focussed spell.

Spell DC
-----------
Spell DC = 10 + spelllvl + IntMod + DCfeats
DCFeats= +6 for chosen school (Epic Spell Focus)
So for 9th level spell:
Spell DC = 28 with non-focussed spell.
Spell DC = 34 for focussed spell


Build Comments
----------- ------------
Sorry, I usually dont make blatantly munchkin builds with only one level of Monk at the end, but I really wanted to push AC possibilities as far as I could. A version with 6 levels of Monk spread over the build for stat increases is much more survivable (and faster!) from level 1, but has 2 fewer feats.

Pushing Int for AC will only do good up to 30 Int; any more beyond that helps spells, but not AC, since the +20 Dodge bonus is maxed at that point (engine limitation).

You can get higher than this AC in another build; I built a Wizard/PM/Duelist version with 53AC, but didnt like his lower spellcasting abilities (he could do 5 Epic Spells though). Other versions of the theme:
Wiz/EK/Duelist
Wiz/Archmage/Duelist
Wiz/Duelist/BladeSinger <<-- Mediocre; the BSingers Int AC benefits are Dodge too, so you max out early.

I think melee was a lost cause for this build in any normal way, so I didnt even try to enhance AB. Instead, just learn the Epic Spell "DeadEye Sense", which grants +20 to AB for 20 Hours, and use it in emergencies.

Other Epic Spells besides DeadEye Sense to look into:
- Greater Timestop - 3 rounds of TimeStop at once.
- Battle Bounding - auto-teleports moves caster if any enemy gets close.
- Epic Warding - you know it. . .

PS: I would love to hear others opinions on the best Fort, Reflex, and Will-save Epic spells that can be gotten with a Spellcraft of 70 or below. . .

If ImpExpertise doesnt work with casting in your PW, consider swapping those feats out for Combat Casting and Imp Combat Casting. Or use Defensive Casting, and get 2 free feats.


Pros
------
- High, high AC (as high as Undead Lord, who is in Plate Mail with Tower Shield).
- A fairly powerful spellcaster.

Cons
-----
- No melee to speak of.
- Weak Fort and Will saves; use Epic spells and buffs to keep safe.
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Shifter kids play IronGolem-RustMonster-MindFlayer. . .

Edited By xitooner on 09/01/04 03:05

A little note: I *think* I changed the Bladesinger to Shield AC, but I'm not certain, for 2.2. Reason for this is a Bladesinger can't wield a shield, so its an either or thing. If it works, you can get up to 40 AC from a Bladesinger/Duelist combo (need 20 BS levels though). Munchkin, anyone?
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Quote: A little note: I *think* I changed the Bladesinger to Shield AC, but I'm not certain, for 2.2. Reason for this is a Bladesinger can't wield a shield, so its an either or thing. If it works, you can get up to 40 AC from a Bladesinger/Duelist combo (need 20 BS levels though). Munchkin, anyone?

Nice! I cant wait! Too bad a BladeSinger/Tempest wouldnt work, since a BladeSinger cant dual-wield. It would have been nice to get Shield AC and all those mega-attacks too. Ah well. . .
_________________
Normal kids play rock-paper-scissors.
Shifter kids play IronGolem-RustMonster-MindFlayer. . .