Author Topic: Ur-Priest Options  (Read 14600 times)

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Ur-Priest Options
« on: April 23, 2009, 10:45:53 PM »
In my D&D group we all made characters of our fantasy selves.  They would be primarily used on days where not enough players showed up to run a normal campaign, so we could switch to the light-hearted, 4th-wall breaking, mostly improvised "Us" campaign.  Right now we're exploring the ghostly apparition of our city's old demolished shopping mall that has reappeared.

Anyway, a good friend of mine in the group wants to make a character, and he wants it to be primarily an Ur-Priest.  He is still debating, however, what do do with his class levels before and after the Ur-Priest levels.  He isn't looking for anything earth-shattering in power, but would like something cohesive for the build.  He isn't married to taking all 10 levels in the PrC, but he certainly wants ten levels of it's casting and really likes the flavor of the Steal Spell-Like Ability ability.  My first suggestion was some sort of arcane caster so the Ur-Priest caster level would stay up (and for the skills needed), and then go into Mystic Theurge and finish off any remaining levels with more Beguiler.  So far he's a level 3 Beguiler.  None of this is set in stone.

My question is what kind of set-ups would make for a fun Ur-Priest?  I was thinking about classes that need Wisdom as a stat and could mesh okay, but all I came up with was Psychic Warrior.  I also thought it would be cool to squeeze in Chameleon levels just for shits and floating feat fun (item creation feats came to mind).  I know the question seems really broad, but I'm not looking for exact build suggestions; just general guidelines.  So in conclusion, what classes and PrCs do you find that mesh well with the Ur-Priest?

AfterCrescent

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2009, 10:49:04 PM »
I like warlock.

There are, of course, other options, is he focusing on casting, or using the cleric casting for buffing/something else and going another route?
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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2009, 01:25:35 AM »

Chemus

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2009, 01:50:14 AM »
Binder offers some nice options and earlier entry (for the fort save req.) without other PrC's (Like the 1-level PrC: Mindbender). And it fits pretty well with the Ur-Priest flavor.
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streakster

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2009, 01:55:38 AM »
Oooh, good point.  I will have to ask.  I'll talk to him shortly.  Warlock is a good option though.  Combining it with Eldritch disciple... wait, doesn't that specifically require one to worship a deity? Well, with Ur-Priest I'm sure the DM would let it slide. 

Worship the god of atheism. Problem solved. :thumb

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2009, 02:26:12 AM »
Oooh, good point.  I will have to ask.  I'll talk to him shortly.  Warlock is a good option though.  Combining it with Eldritch disciple... wait, doesn't that specifically require one to worship a deity? Well, with Ur-Priest I'm sure the DM would let it slide. 

Worship the god of atheism. Problem solved. :thumb
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Ur-Priest is awesome for a would-be god.
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Chemus

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2009, 02:59:29 AM »
About eldritch theurge, in the adaptation section, ur-priest suggests worshiping a dead deity could be a less evil-centric flavor...
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woodenbandman

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2009, 03:36:26 AM »
See if Tenebrous Apostate will fly. You have to "Worship Tenebrous as a god" but he specifically isn't a god, so you can hit requirements of both classes.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2009, 02:34:57 PM »
Binder offers some nice options and earlier entry (for the fort save req.) without other PrC's (Like the 1-level PrC: Mindbender). And it fits pretty well with the Ur-Priest flavor.
See if Tenebrous Apostate will fly. You have to "Worship Tenebrous as a god" but he specifically isn't a god, so you can hit requirements of both classes.
+11

I'm playing Sorcerer/Binder/Anima Mage/Ur-Priest in Tshern's PbP on here right now, and the flavor of all that stuff combined is great. Tenebrous Apostate would be a nice addition, but I am taking levels in a homebrew PrC instead, and we're all working for Dispater. So worshiping a fallen demon lord probably wouldn't be a good idea...
[spoiler]
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Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
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Prak, the Mad

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2009, 04:49:01 PM »
Oooh, good point.  I will have to ask.  I'll talk to him shortly.  Warlock is a good option though.  Combining it with Eldritch disciple... wait, doesn't that specifically require one to worship a deity? Well, with Ur-Priest I'm sure the DM would let it slide. 

Worship the god of atheism. Problem solved. :thumb
Priest of the glory of himself.
Ur-Priest is awesome for a would-be god.
You could just go out and pick up the Satanic Bible for him. The Ur Priest is basically the Laveyan Satanist of D&D. In other words, yes, the glory of himself.

Phaedrus (and Wooden) raises an interesting idea, the arch-fiends aren't gods, so an Ur Priest could, conceivably, worship a fiend.

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2009, 11:56:50 PM »
Thanks for the replies, everyone.  My friend said he wanted the Ur-Priest Casting to be pretty central to his shtick.  He loved the idea of combining it with the Binder, but it would end up being a bit too much to handle (paperwork-wise).  He's only been playing for a little while and wants this character to be as elegantly-made as possible.
He is most likely going for Warlock -> Something --> Ur-Priest ---> Eldritch Disciple.  It's shaping up to be pretty close, flavor-wise, to the Binder combo(s) but a little easier for him to work with.  The question now becomes what to put in the build early to get any skill ranks and save requirements needed to get into Ur-Priest a.s.a.p.  Suggestions? 

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #11 on: April 28, 2009, 12:40:47 AM »
Also, the Crystal Keep Invocation list isn't up to date.  Anyone know where to find a more current version or happen to know which books it has omitted (i.e. Complete Mage)?

Chemus

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #12 on: April 28, 2009, 02:01:33 AM »
The Warlock Information Compilation has most invocations that I know of. AFAIK, CrystalKeep only has CArc. The ones from Dragon Magic and Complete Mage aren't represented. Cityscape has a couple. As does Magic of Incarnum. Those are all the books that I can think of off the top of my head.

I can't think of any way to get in any earlier than warlock 6/Mindbender 1; the +3 Fort save is a killer. So Ur-Priest would be his 8th level.

http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2915.0
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 02:06:05 AM by Chemus »
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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2009, 03:06:47 AM »
Duskblade makes an interesting entry.  You get Arcane Channeling, which, despite the name, doesn't specify that you can only channel arcane spells.  Thus, you can channel cleric touch spells like Slay Living and Harm.  Duskblade also gives you both a strong Fort and Will save, which makes getting into Urpriest pretty easy.  You also get a free Combat Casting feat, which is useful if you ever have plans for Abjurant Champion.  Duskblade3/X2 should be able to get into Urpriest just fine.  Maybe Duskblade3/Warlock2/Urpriest2/EldritchDisciple8/EldritchTheurge5 or Duskblade3/Warlock2/Urpriest2/EldritchDisciple8/AbjurantChamp5 which would set your Duskblade CL equal to your BAB which would be 16, which would spike your Urpriest CL.

Just some musings.

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2009, 03:07:36 AM »
Thanks!  That link really helped.

The build I am thinking of for him is something like Warlock6 / Mindbender1 / Ur-Priest2 / Eldritch Disciple8 / Chameleon2 / X1 (Maybe another Eldritch Disciple level or some Hellfire Warlock).  That floating feat is sick-house for Warlocks, IMO.  

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #15 on: April 28, 2009, 03:18:28 AM »
Duskblade makes an interesting entry.  You get Arcane Channeling, which, despite the name, doesn't specify that you can only channel arcane spells.  Thus, you can channel cleric touch spells like Slay Living and Harm.  Duskblade also gives you both a strong Fort and Will save, which makes getting into Urpriest pretty easy.  You also get a free Combat Casting feat, which is useful if you ever have plans for Abjurant Champion.  Duskblade3/X2 should be able to get into Urpriest just fine.  Maybe Duskblade3/Warlock2/Urpriest2/EldritchDisciple8/EldritchTheurge5 or Duskblade3/Warlock2/Urpriest2/EldritchDisciple8/AbjurantChamp5 which would set your Duskblade CL equal to your BAB which would be 16, which would spike your Urpriest CL.

Just some musings.

Some really interesting musings...  I'll run it by my friend.  The CL shenanigans please me to no end but I don't know if he'll see it the same way.

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #16 on: May 01, 2009, 07:39:59 PM »
Eh, Binder is actually very easy to play. Pick out a few vestiges that you like, and leave them bound all the time. Most of their abilities are either at will, or once every 5 rounds, which is really easy to keep up with. It is a bit daunting learning the system, but the Binder Handbook is a huge help with that.
[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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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2009, 08:18:44 PM »
Another build I like is factotum3/duskblade3/ur-priest10/hierophant4

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2009, 09:33:16 PM »
I'm sorry, but could you explain the advantages of that build to me?  I do like mixing Hierophant in, since the lack of advancement doesn't hurt an Ur-Priest so much.  Which powers would be optimal in such a case?

woodenbandman

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Re: Ur-Priest Options
« Reply #19 on: May 01, 2009, 09:44:47 PM »
That build is also a bit MAD, and it doesn't take advantage of all the cool buffs that an Ur-Priest gets.