Author Topic: Some advice on an ultimate magus.  (Read 2473 times)

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CountArioch

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Some advice on an ultimate magus.
« on: November 04, 2009, 02:18:51 PM »
I'm trying to make a villain.  She's going to be an unholy scion (HoH) beguiler/Focused Transmuter/ultimate magus.

Here are some things I wand:

1.  I want a CR 12 villain.  So, as per the template, I only have 10 levels to play with (I'm hoping the +6 int the template gives will be a help)

2.  I will be using the Practiced Spellcaster cheat to up wizard levels as high as possible.  

3.  I was thinking a spellstitched quasit raven familiar, usually polymorphed into a human as an advisor of some sort.  I will take flaws if I have to to free up feats.

What are some good spells that will synergize with that?  The idea is that she has to be a challenge to an entire party.  I don't like Save or Die type spells, but I do like spells that just take people out of a fight.
« Last Edit: November 04, 2009, 02:37:35 PM by CountArioch »
She hasn't come to crush your bones, nor tear your flesh
She has come to steal your sanity with just one glance

Sacrapos - At First Glance, Eluveitie

snakeman830

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Re: Soem advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2009, 02:26:29 PM »
Keep in mind Spellstiched can only be applied to undead, so you would need the Stiched-flesh familiar feat.  That's already 2 feats gone (Improved Familiar and Stitched-Flesh Familiar).  I'd reccommend dropping the spell-stiched idea unless you have some very good spells to put in.

Most of the nonlethal removal spells are enchantment or necromancy, most likely two of your three banned schools.  Enchantment and Illusion you have partially covered via Beguiler.  I hope you didn't ban Conjuration too or that would take Evard's Black Tentacles out (a pretty effective battlefield control spell at these levels).

If you didn't ban necromancy, then perhaps the Mother Cyst feat will be worthwhile.  Make sure you have a way of implanting a Necrotic Cyst ahead of time as that makes protecting against the other spells in the line much more difficult to resist.  For that matter, it makes alot of Necromancy spells more difficult to resist.

Minor Shapechange is only useful if you have Polymorph (or a higher level Polymorph subschool spell) prepared, but it gives multiple benefits you can activate without breaking stride (you won't get much milage out of Quicken Spell at this point).  This one is up for debate as to how good it is, but I think it's the most useful of the reserve feats.
« Last Edit: November 04, 2009, 02:31:03 PM by snakeman830 »
I am constantly amazed by how many DM's ban Tomb of Battle.  The book doesn't even exist!

Quotes:[spoiler]
By yes, she means no.
That explains so much about my life.
hiicantcomeupwithacharacterthatisntaghostwhyisthatamijustretardedorsomething
Why would you even do this? It hurts my eyes and looks like you ate your keyboard before suffering an attack of explosive diarrhea.
[/spoiler]

If using Genesis to hide your phylactry, set it at -300 degrees farenheit.  See how do-gooders fare with a liquid atmosphere.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Soem advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2009, 02:30:55 PM »
Keep in mind Spellstiched can only be applied to undead, so you would need the Stiched-flesh familiar feat.  That's already 2 feats gone (Improved Familiar and Stitched-Flesh Familiar).  I'd reccommend dropping the spell-stiched idea unless you have some very good spells to put in.
Or use a scroll of this: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/sb/sb20011209a

And how about a nar demonbinder/UM build, as they get an imp familiar at 1st level and higher level spontaneous spells?
« Last Edit: November 04, 2009, 02:34:58 PM by PhaedrusXY »
[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]

CountArioch

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Re: Soem advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2009, 02:34:24 PM »
I'm inclined to ban Evocation first.  There aren't a lot of really good spells in that school.

Feats I'm less worried about.  Human + 2 flaws + 10 levels + 1 bonus feat =7 feats.  I think I'm cool with feats.

Also:  I'm using the Frank and Keith "Tome" revision for polymorph and alter self, if it's relevant.

EDIT:  Changed quasit to raven due to better wisdom.  Also, gives back one feat.
« Last Edit: November 04, 2009, 02:38:22 PM by CountArioch »
She hasn't come to crush your bones, nor tear your flesh
She has come to steal your sanity with just one glance

Sacrapos - At First Glance, Eluveitie

snakeman830

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Re: Soem advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2009, 02:39:41 PM »
I'm inclined to ban Evocation first.  There aren't a lot of really good spells in that school.

Feats I'm less worried about.  Human + 2 flaws + 10 levels + 1 bonus feat =7 feats.  I think I'm cool with feats.

Also:  I'm using the Frank and Keith "Tome" revision for polymorph and alter self, if it's relevant.
Evocation is a good one to ban.  Normally I would reccommend banning enchantment (probably one you should ban, since you have Beguiler) and Necromancy in this case, but you specifically said you wanted to have nonlethal methods of control.  In this case, I suggest Illusion as your third banned school because, again, you have some from Beguiler.

What version of Polymorph doesn't matter for the feat so long as it still is 4th level (or higher).
I am constantly amazed by how many DM's ban Tomb of Battle.  The book doesn't even exist!

Quotes:[spoiler]
By yes, she means no.
That explains so much about my life.
hiicantcomeupwithacharacterthatisntaghostwhyisthatamijustretardedorsomething
Why would you even do this? It hurts my eyes and looks like you ate your keyboard before suffering an attack of explosive diarrhea.
[/spoiler]

If using Genesis to hide your phylactry, set it at -300 degrees farenheit.  See how do-gooders fare with a liquid atmosphere.

KellKheraptis

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Re: Some advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #5 on: November 04, 2009, 09:02:32 PM »
If you play a Kobold you can enter UM as a single classed Wizard ;)
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snakeman830

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Re: Some advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #6 on: November 04, 2009, 09:39:51 PM »
No you can't, unfortunately.  You need the spontaneous casting level and Greater Rite of Draconic Passage requires a Sorcerer level and 6 HD.
I am constantly amazed by how many DM's ban Tomb of Battle.  The book doesn't even exist!

Quotes:[spoiler]
By yes, she means no.
That explains so much about my life.
hiicantcomeupwithacharacterthatisntaghostwhyisthatamijustretardedorsomething
Why would you even do this? It hurts my eyes and looks like you ate your keyboard before suffering an attack of explosive diarrhea.
[/spoiler]

If using Genesis to hide your phylactry, set it at -300 degrees farenheit.  See how do-gooders fare with a liquid atmosphere.

Hitoshura

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Re: Some advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2009, 12:41:04 PM »
I suppose he means to qualify with Loredrake [Dragons of Eberron]

KellKheraptis

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Re: Some advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2009, 12:56:29 PM »
No you can't, unfortunately.  You need the spontaneous casting level and Greater Rite of Draconic Passage requires a Sorcerer level and 6 HD.

White Dragonspawn = +1 level
Loredrake = +2 levels
Greater Rite = +1 level

In that order if possible.  This was FULLY hashed out on the Ultimate Mage thread, as it was an initial entry.  Loredrake doesn't have requirements other than "be a dragon" which Dragonwrought handily satisfies.  Free metamagic without losing class levels was REALLY tempting, but still didn't hold up to spontaneous circle magic endowed with weaving capabilities and auto-persisting.  To the OP, if you don't mind another +1 (should be able to be bought off seperately too, since it's a different source of LA), this would give you one hell of a semi-gestalt without actually making a gestalt villain.

EDIT : Cleaned up sloppy code :P
« Last Edit: November 05, 2009, 01:02:41 PM by KellKheraptis »
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ninjarabbit

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Re: Some advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #9 on: November 05, 2009, 06:01:41 PM »
Assuming beguiler1/wizard4/UM5 one question is what 1st and 2nd level wizard spells do you want to add to you beguiler spell list?

A few good ones include nervesketter, grease, and web if the environment is good for it.

CountArioch

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Re: Some advice on an ultimate magus.
« Reply #10 on: November 05, 2009, 10:32:28 PM »
2nd level spells would be less relevant, as she wouldn't have 2nd level beguiler spells. 

Nerveskitter isn't a bad idea though.
She hasn't come to crush your bones, nor tear your flesh
She has come to steal your sanity with just one glance

Sacrapos - At First Glance, Eluveitie