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shadowlancer

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Jaunter in a n00b party
« on: October 30, 2008, 06:20:25 PM »
UPDATE: Going with this build. Still need help with feats.
[spoiler]
Fire Elf
Swashbuckler3/Fighter1/Jaunter4/DreadCommando3/Shadowlord6/DreadCommando+2/Fighter+1
Trait: Quick (+10 speed, -1 HP per level)
Flaws: Frail (-1 HP per level), Shaky (-2 on ranged attacks)
Feats so far:
* means PrC prereq
1: *Dodge, Weap. Finesse from Swash
Flaws: EWP: Spiked Chain, Combat Expertise
3: *Mobility
4: *Spring Attack
6: Improved Trip
9: *Blind-Fight
12, 15, 18, 20: open
[/spoiler]

Greetings, all. Long-time lurker, first-time poster.

So I'm about to begin a new D&D3.5 campaign with a group of new gamers. Starting level 3, all 3.5 books available (both WotC and 3rd-party), subject to DM review. Campaign is one big dungeon crawl (kinda like World's Largest Dungeon meets Portal), so I can't count on any specific gear being available.

I can't say yet what the party consists of, but I plan on playing a Jaunter. I have two possible builds, and what I could use some help with is deciding which one is more optimal and fleshing out the build. Since the rest of the party is relatively new to D&D, I'm aiming more for utility than combat prowess. Also, since the DM said that the Jaunter's Plane Shift could cause problems, I'm thinking of requesting Phase Door in its place.

Both builds have this stat array available (before racial modifiers):
18 18 16 16 15 14 (I rolled really well.)

Note: Jaunter requires Knowledge: Planes 4 ranks, which I'm taking cross-class in both builds.

First build:
[spoiler]
Strongheart Halfling
1: Ranger (feats: Dodge, Mobility, Track; Favored Env.: Underground)
2: Ranger (feat: Two-Weapon Fighting)
3: Fighter (feats: Weapon Finesse, Point-blank Shot; ACF Skilled City Dweller: Ride -> Tumble)
4: Fighter (feat: Spring-Attack)
5-8: Jaunter (feat: Precise Shot)
9: Dread Commando (feat: Quick Draw)
10-19: Whisperknife (feats: open)
20: open
[/spoiler]

Second build:
[spoiler]
Strongheart Halfling
1: Ranger (feats: Dodge, Mobility, Track; Favored Env.: Underground)
2: Ranger (feat: Two-Weapon Fighting)
3: Fighter (feats: open, but probably Weapon Finesse and EWP: Spiked Chain; ACF Skilled City Dweller: Ride -> Tumble)
4: Fighter (feat: Spring-Attack)
5-8: Jaunter (feat: open)
9: Dread Commando (feat: Blind-Fight)
10: Dread Commando
11: Dread Commando
12-17: Telflammar Shadowlord (feats: open)
18: Dread Commando (feat: open)
19: Dread Commando
20: open
[/spoiler]

For both builds, does the class progression look reasonable? I'm aiming for playability from level 3 onward. I could also use advice on feats. What's listed is just requirements for the PrCs. Oh, and flaws+traits are allowed.
Also, is there a better class progression after Jaunter?

Thanks in advance for your help.
« Last Edit: October 31, 2008, 03:23:13 PM by shadowlancer »
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carnivore

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Re: Jaunter in a n00b party
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2008, 07:07:52 PM »
will post something later ... try this for starters:

Human
Ranger 2/ Fighter 1/ Swashbuckler 3/ Jaunter 4/ Chameleon 10

lots of DEX and INT synergy.... and will be VERY VERSATILE... at higher levels you wont even need the rest of the Party :smirk

 :D
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shadowlancer

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Re: Jaunter in a n00b party
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2008, 07:19:10 PM »
That was my first thought, actually, but my groups tend to frown on me playing anything with Chameleon levels ever since I played a modified version of Caelic's Roland build in an epic game.  :D

Also, I forgot to mention: the DM dislikes complicated builds, so 2 base classes at most is preferred. The idea is to not scare off the n00bs.

I'll see what I can do about swapping in Swash instead of Ranger for the Shadowlord build, though. That might work... hmm...

So which is better, Whisperknife or Dread Commando + Telflammar Shadowlord?
« Last Edit: October 30, 2008, 09:03:57 PM by shadowlancer »
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"Ugly programs are like ugly suspension bridges: they're much more liable to collapse than pretty ones, because the way humans (especially engineer-humans) perceive beauty is intimately related to our ability to process and understand complexity. A language that makes it hard to write elegant code makes it hard to write good code." --ESR (This applies to RPG systems too.)

shadowlancer

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Re: Jaunter in a n00b party
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2008, 12:04:20 AM »
Decision time. I'm going with:
Fire Elf
Swashbuckler3/Fighter1/Jaunter4/DreadCommando3/Shadowlord6/DreadCommando+2/Fighter+1
Trait: Quick (+10 speed, -1 HP per level)
Flaw: Frail (-1 HP per level)
Feats so far:
* means PrC prereq
1: *Dodge, Weap. Finesse from Swash
Flaw: EWP: Spiked Chain
3: *Mobility
4: *Spring Attack
6: open
9: *Blind-Fight
12, 15, 18, 20: open
« Last Edit: October 31, 2008, 02:42:34 PM by shadowlancer »
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"Ugly programs are like ugly suspension bridges: they're much more liable to collapse than pretty ones, because the way humans (especially engineer-humans) perceive beauty is intimately related to our ability to process and understand complexity. A language that makes it hard to write elegant code makes it hard to write good code." --ESR (This applies to RPG systems too.)

shadowlancer

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Re: Jaunter in a n00b party
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2008, 03:24:31 PM »
Latest build is in the first post.

I'm thinking of going spiked chain tripper. Never done that before... is it viable with this build? Or should I go with the Dragoon feat tree (Battle Jump, Power Attack, Leap attack, etc.)? Or perhaps an archer (swap Shaky for Noncombatant, pick Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, etc.)?
« Last Edit: October 31, 2008, 03:32:27 PM by shadowlancer »
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"Ugly programs are like ugly suspension bridges: they're much more liable to collapse than pretty ones, because the way humans (especially engineer-humans) perceive beauty is intimately related to our ability to process and understand complexity. A language that makes it hard to write elegant code makes it hard to write good code." --ESR (This applies to RPG systems too.)

carnivore

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Re: Jaunter in a n00b party
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2008, 05:07:23 PM »
go with Melee feats..... Swashbuckler is a Melee based Class, and you have already invested many feats for Melee... Shadowlord also is best used with a Melee specialist

also since you need to focus on Dex.... go for many Attacks... thus TWF, Imp TWF, Combat Reflexes, Robilars Gambit

i dont think Imp Trip is very useful since it needs great Strength and Size to be effective.... if you go with TWF.... try this:


Fire Elf
Swashbuckler3/Fighter1/Jaunter4/DreadCommando3/Shadowlord6/DreadCommando+2/Fighter+1
Trait: Quick (+10 speed, -1 HP per level)
Flaws: Frail (-1 HP per level), Shaky (-2 on ranged attacks)
Feats so far:
* means PrC prereq
1: *Dodge, Weap. Finesse from Swash
Flaws: EWP: Spiked Chain, Imp Unarmed Strike
3: *Mobility
4: *Spring Attack
6: Superior Unarmed Strike
9: *Blind-Fight
12: TWF
15: Combat Reflexes
18: Robilars Gambit
20: Double Hit

 :D
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shadowlancer

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Re: Jaunter in a n00b party
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2008, 05:38:15 PM »
Interesting. I like where you're going with this.

Why the Unarmed Strike chain, though? That seems like a better fit for a Cobra Strike Monk opener. Couldn't I just use armor spikes? That would leave a slot for Imp. TWF, which is required for Double Hit, and let me use the spiked chain 2-handed still.
« Last Edit: October 31, 2008, 08:50:56 PM by shadowlancer »
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"Ugly programs are like ugly suspension bridges: they're much more liable to collapse than pretty ones, because the way humans (especially engineer-humans) perceive beauty is intimately related to our ability to process and understand complexity. A language that makes it hard to write elegant code makes it hard to write good code." --ESR (This applies to RPG systems too.)

carnivore

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Re: Jaunter in a n00b party
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2008, 11:22:49 AM »
Quote from: shadowlancer on October 31, 2008, 05:38:15 PM
Interesting. I like where you're going with this.

Why the Unarmed Strike chain, though? That seems like a better fit for a Cobra Strike Monk opener. Couldn't I just use armor spikes? That would leave a slot for Imp. TWF, which is required for Double Hit, and let me use the spiked chain 2-handed still.

Armor spikes are nice... but Superior Unarmed Strike will give 2d6 weapons(either fist interchangeably or even from elbows, knees, and feet)

forgot about the Prereq for Double Hit.... just go back to what you had and use Armor Spikes

 :D
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shadowlancer

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Re: Jaunter in a n00b party
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2008, 05:08:42 PM »
Hmm... I like the idea of a Jaunter martial artist, actually. Maybe another time. For this game, though, I'm thinking that a TWF blender might be worthwhile, especially since Shadow Pounce nets a full attack.

How about:
Flaws: EWP: Spiked Chain, TWF
1: Dodge, Weapon Finesse
3: Mobility
4: Spring-Attack
6: Combat Reflexes
9: Blind-Fight
12: Improved TWF
15: Bounding Assault
18: Greater TWF
20: Double Hit
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"Ugly programs are like ugly suspension bridges: they're much more liable to collapse than pretty ones, because the way humans (especially engineer-humans) perceive beauty is intimately related to our ability to process and understand complexity. A language that makes it hard to write elegant code makes it hard to write good code." --ESR (This applies to RPG systems too.)
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