Author Topic: A very hard choice. (Other players in FR - The Darkening don't read please)  (Read 3325 times)

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Smudgy

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My DM is handling Racial HD and LA differently in this game, so I decided to be a Half-Dragon Goliath. I got some dragon HD and Monstrous Humanoid HD instead of LA, adjusted of course, so the character isn't garbage or anything. But in his dealing with the Racial HD stuff, my DM seems to feel that I got the short straw compared to some of the other party members (One's a Barghest, so perhaps it's him).

By the way, here's the character.

Anyways, my DM gave me the option of either getting Fast Healing equal to my HD/4, rounded down. Not bad at all I'd say. But the other option is what gets me. I can have Fast Healing, OR I can have one Spell-Like Ability of up to 6th level usable a number of times a day. The ability is usable a number of times per day, 7 times minus the spell's level. Also, the spell cannot have expensive components or XP cost I would think, so those kind of spells are out.

This is what I have so far for ideas. They include
  • Righteous Might
  • Superior Resistance
  • Geas
  • Antimagic Field
  • Energy Immunity

A nice list I think, though I'm not sure if the DM will allow some of them, I'll let you know on that. But my questions to you guys are, which option is better? Which of those spells do you think would be the best? Or are there any others you can think of?  Fast Healing is nice, but I'm getting the feeling that the SLA is the better one.

Any and all help is appreciated. My thanks in advance.  :D
« Last Edit: August 13, 2008, 09:09:42 PM by Smudgyhandsman »

ZeroSum

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What's the caster level of the SLA and what's your starting ECL?

Brainpiercing

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His ECL is 10 and the CL for the SLA is equal to his HD.

It'll be interesting to hear suggestions, here.

PhaedrusXY

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AMF would certainly be nice for such a character, but you can potentially get that in a magic item (Antimagic Torc, Underdark book).
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

ninjarabbit

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I think fly-by attack should be your next feat.


Some interesting SLAs to consider are:

-Wraithstrike

-Haste (assuming you can use the trapsmith's spell list since it's a 1st level spell for them)

-Heal (as a 5th level spell since it's a 5th level spell for adepts)

-Shadow evocation or shadow conjuration

-Greater dispel magic

-Antilife shell


PhaedrusXY

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I like Stone Body, but it might not be as optimized as some other choices. It gives alot of nice immunities and resistances, but also has some drawbacks.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Smudgy

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Sorry for the late response, I had work.

Anyways, thanks PhaedrusXY, I had totally forgotten about the Antimagic Torc, so that cuts out one option. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to take Righteous Might either, just because of the duration. I'd rather have something that lasts longer. Superior Resistance is really just a fallback if nothing else can be found. Energy Immunity I feel is too situational for my tastes, but maybe... And Geas is one of the most appealing I think, because there are so many possibilities.

Brainpiercing pointed out Teleport, which is always useful, and Major Creation, which normally takes 10 minutes to cast, but only a standard action as a SLA. Greater Dispelling is also always there too.

So, anyone have any other ideas that'd be a great choice, or just a general consensus of what's better here?

Also, anyone have any ideas on how I should advance my character? I had been thinking taking four more levels in Fighter to maximize the benefits of dungeoncrashing, then a level in Barbarian for pounce, then finishing it out with a mix of Warblade and Crusader. But I was also thinking of getting an extra pair of arms, or maybe two...

Consolidated PAO Infos
Change Creature

Target is one creature, powered by either positive or negative energy, or one construct.

Duration is Instantaneous. The spell cannot be dispelled in any way, nor undone except by another CC or by a Wish or Miracle spell with special requirements.

Casting time is increased to 24 hours, +24 per HD added and casting the spell takes the form of a ritual. Resting is permitted during the casting period.

The Change Creature spells effectively creates a new racial progression for a character or creature. It can also create Substitution Levels for existing class progressions, even retroactively. (Want to get rid of that third level of fighter?) Any character wishing to receive a casting of Change Creature must have XP to advance one level immediately, unless the change carries no HD cost, or only retroactively creates a sub-level.
If the change carries a HD cost the character then advances with the first HD of the new progression immediately, and from then on can decide at any level to advance either a class level or a level of his creature progression.

...


A pair of limbs (arms, legs) will add one RHD and carry a minor stat boost of +2 to Str OR Dex.


...

Likely as not the spell will require material components that require a bit of adventuring to aquire. For instance, a change in Type to Dragon might require the heart of a dragon.

If I did this, I'd switch out the third and fifth level of fighter to gain 4 more arms and a +4 to strength. Also, Brainpiercing, would this still let me qualify for the 6th lvl dungeoncrashing if I got the levels first then switched them out?

Also, do you guys think this would be worth it? I'd lose out on 2 levels, but it's only fighter, and the racial HD that I'd gain are Dragon HD, so I'd say it'd be worth it. Plus, I think Savage Species stuff is in, so that extra multiplying when you add more arms is go.

Damn, after finishing this large post, two more people post! Not that I mind at all.  :D

@ninjarabbit: Fly-by-Attack was one of my top choices for the next feat I get. But the spot is being fought for by that, Shock Trooper, and Leap Attack. Which do you think would be the most useful? I had also been thinking Rampaging Bullrush in Races of Stone, but I feel the others are more vital.

Those are also great spells, geez, I forgot about adepts and trapsmiths! Brainpiercing, will you let me use any spell list? Sheesh, this choice is even harder than I had first thought...

@PhaedrusXY: Stone Body is not one that I had considered, but looking at it now, I really do like it too. The -4 Dex and halved movement hurts a lot, but that is a juicy list of immunities. I'll add it to the list I'm making of spells to choose. Maybe I'll add a poll once enough spells, have been suggested.

Sorry for the large post, please attempt to dodge it's crushing size.

edit: 200th! Hurrah!

AfterCrescent

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I doubt you can use any spell list, Smudgy.
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Smudgy

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Aha, that makes it clearer then. I'm not really familiar with SLAs, so I wasn't sure what class to base it off of. So Haste is 3rd level then, and Heal would be 6th. Not as good as before, but still viable options.

Blade2718

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How about draconic polymorph, polymorph, or alter self? =)

PhaedrusXY

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How about draconic polymorph, polymorph, or alter self? =)
His natural form is powerful enough that these wouldn't be as good for him as for alot of characters.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Blade2718

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How about draconic polymorph, polymorph, or alter self? =)
His natural form is powerful enough that these wouldn't be as good for him as for alot of characters.
What the crap?  Okay, try wings of flurry.  I think it's Dragon Magic.

Brainpiercing

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To make things more clear:

Sor/Wiz list.

Any SLA is a standard action, unless you make a specific effort to get them quickened, etc, which you can't do this time. This significantly reduces the attractiveness of wraitstrike.

Greater Enlarge is an option, and it's even range:touch, or else your second casting would be hardly worthwhile after a while. It stacks with Powerful build in the sense that you would count as Huge for certain things, unfortunately your weapon would stay Large, because the weapon only grows to fit, and it fits at large. :(. But a simple sizing enchantment could make it grow.

IMHO he will be better off with buffs than with blasts. He can do a whole lot of blasting and killing on his own.

cru

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Ideas:
Bloodwind (throw those claws!) (spell is a swift action, SLA=?)
Quickened true strike (lvl 5 spell) 2x day
Metabreath spell

Smudgy

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Any SLA is a standard action, unless you make a specific effort to get them quickened, etc, which you can't do this time. This significantly reduces the attractiveness of wraitstrike.

Actually, it says right here in the Rules Compendium. "If the spell-like ability duplicates a spell that has a casting time of less  than 1 standard action, the spell-like ability has that cast time." So if I'm reading that right, then Wraithstrike as a SLA does have a casting time of 1 swift action. But I'm still not taking the spell, my to hit is already high enough for me not to worry about hitting really.

I am pretty sure I've decided, and my choice is Greater Dispel Magic. All of the other spells are nice, but I feel that I'd get the most out of GDM. Thanks for all of the feedback guys!

Lastly, what do you guys think of the 4 extra arms? Worth it? I mean, replacing 2 empty fighter levels for more arms and dragon HD sounds good to me, right? Also, Brainpiercing, will I still get the full dungeoncrashing if I take all 6 levels of fighter, but replace the two empty levels with the arm HD?

Brainpiercing

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Well, in my world CLASS-levels should have features. Levels without features are just a bit of meat, i.e. worth very little. Casters get something every level, why not non-casters?

So, yes, you can replace those two useless levels with something else, either in advance or retroactively. Does that seriously change the balance of the game? OH yes.

As to whether six arms are good, well, that depends on whether you just want to do more damage, or be able to do something useful :). (J/k)

IMHO being able to cast Giant Size is a must at some point, so I would spend my second HD on that, instead of arms. I'd also probably advance an initiator class over fighter, because it would add more versatility. But that's just me, and you can do as you wish.

anomalousman

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If I did this, I'd switch out the third and fifth level of fighter to gain 4 more arms and a +4 to strength. Also, Brainpiercing, would this still let me qualify for the 6th lvl dungeoncrashing if I got the levels first then switched them out?

Also, do you guys think this would be worth it? I'd lose out on 2 levels, but it's only fighter, and the racial HD that I'd gain are Dragon HD, so I'd say it'd be worth it. Plus, I think Savage Species stuff is in, so that extra multiplying when you add more arms is go.

If you can get extra arms, take multiweapon fighting, which is TWF on steroids for a single feat, and then take bloodclaw master 2.  That doubles your number of attacks for free.

As far as SLAs, go, I'd vote Dimension Door or Teleport.