Ask a Simple Question: Losing the Game Edition

[weenog]

Q 95: What inexpensive options exist to increase one's effective cleric level for purposes of rebuking undead? 

Looking to make an early-entry master of shrouds for a level 5-12 game, I want to rebuke as a high enough level cleric to permanently command my summons' spawn and can't afford a scepter of the netherworld to start out with, running low on other ideas besides Improved Turning, too.

[kevin_video]

A 93: The ascetic mage feat, from Complete Adventurer, does that.  It requires the ability to spontaneously cast 2nd level arcane spells though. 

Hadn't really thought of being a mage too, but that works too. If I remember correctly, either Mage or Arcane has a PrC that combines that two of them, no?

Enlightened Fist, complete arcane.  It's nothing special, but if you weren't intending to be a mage anyway, the dropped caster levels shouldn't hurt you too much.

Practiced Spellcaster would help getting the levels back, but the spells would be lost, unfortunately. If you did it right, you'd only need the two levels of monk for evasion, and the prereqs (stunning fist), and only lose four (which PS gives back) levels. Needless to say your BAB would suck pretty badly, you could always make an item with the Divine Power spell.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q 95: What inexpensive options exist to increase one's effective cleric level for purposes of rebuking undead? 

Looking to make an early-entry master of shrouds for a level 5-12 game, I want to rebuke as a high enough level cleric to permanently command my summons' spawn and can't afford a scepter of the netherworld to start out with, running low on other ideas besides Improved Turning, too.

Turning stuff enchances rebuking as well.  A flametouched iron holy symbol should work.

[Kuroimaken]

Rainbow Servant doesn't work that way. What it does is add all the cleric's spells to your arcane list. It does NOT make you a divine spellcaster in any way, shape, or form. For all effects and purposes, the line "spells count as divine if not from the Cleric/Wizard/Bard lists" doesn't make you a divine spellcaster because you're still using arcane spell slots to cast them.

Clean and simple.

\
Actually, it does let you cast spells not already on your list as divine spells.  Read the class feature

Yes, TML, but you're still using arcane spell slots to cast them. You don't actually gain divine spell slots. Therefore, no progression with MT.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Rainbow Servant doesn't work that way. What it does is add all the cleric's spells to your arcane list. It does NOT make you a divine spellcaster in any way, shape, or form. For all effects and purposes, the line "spells count as divine if not from the Cleric/Wizard/Bard lists" doesn't make you a divine spellcaster because you're still using arcane spell slots to cast them.

Clean and simple.

\
Actually, it does let you cast spells not already on your list as divine spells.  Read the class feature

Yes, TML, but you're still using arcane spell slots to cast them. You don't actually gain divine spell slots. Therefore, no progression with MT.

Is there any RAW distinction between kinds of spell slots? 

If you cast it as a divine spell you're a divine spellcaster

[Sobolev]

Q96: What are some good Cleric spells that require concentration to maintain?

[weenog]

Q96: What are some good Cleric spells that require concentration to maintain?

Good spells don't require concentration to maintain.

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

Q97
Is there a way which requires little investment to get a Dragonborn Raptoran Large Size or Powerful Build in order to Qualify for Knockback?

[Sobolev]

Q96: What are some good Cleric spells that require concentration to maintain?

Good spells don't require concentration to maintain.

Asking so as to pair something with the skill trick swift concentration.

[Kuroimaken]

Rainbow Servant doesn't work that way. What it does is add all the cleric's spells to your arcane list. It does NOT make you a divine spellcaster in any way, shape, or form. For all effects and purposes, the line "spells count as divine if not from the Cleric/Wizard/Bard lists" doesn't make you a divine spellcaster because you're still using arcane spell slots to cast them.

Clean and simple.

\
Actually, it does let you cast spells not already on your list as divine spells.  Read the class feature

Yes, TML, but you're still using arcane spell slots to cast them. You don't actually gain divine spell slots. Therefore, no progression with MT.

Is there any RAW distinction between kinds of spell slots? 

If you cast it as a divine spell you're a divine spellcaster

There are. Arcane spells are, by default, subject to ASF (unless the class specifies otherwise, like Bard), whereas divine spells aren't. That's the only basic distinction between them, but it IS a distinction. It's not unlike the Archmage's ability to use SLAs by using his spell slots to fuel them. Yeah, they behave as SLAs for the most part, but their source is still an arcane spell slot.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

[GawainBS]

A 93: The ascetic mage feat, from Complete Adventurer, does that.  It requires the ability to spontaneously cast 2nd level arcane spells though. 

Hadn't really thought of being a mage too, but that works too. If I remember correctly, either Mage or Arcane has a PrC that combines that two of them, no?

Enlightened Fist, complete arcane.  It's nothing special, but if you weren't intending to be a mage anyway, the dropped caster levels shouldn't hurt you too much.

Practiced Spellcaster would help getting the levels back, but the spells would be lost, unfortunately. If you did it right, you'd only need the two levels of monk for evasion, and the prereqs (stunning fist), and only lose four (which PS gives back) levels. Needless to say your BAB would suck pretty badly, you could always make an item with the Divine Power spell.

And add in some Abjurant Champion, combined with Arcane Strike.

[kevin_video]

And add in some Abjurant Champion, combined with Arcane Strike.

That definitely covers the last five levels you'd have open.

[snakeman830]

Q97
Is there a way which requires little investment to get a Dragonborn Raptoran Large Size or Powerful Build in order to Qualify for Knockback?

Enlarge Person + Permanancy.  They're still Humanoids.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q97
Is there a way which requires little investment to get a Dragonborn Raptoran Large Size or Powerful Build in order to Qualify for Knockback?

Enlarge Person + Permanancy.  They're still Humanoids.

Enlarging before the ritual might make your increased size stick...

[weenog]

Q 98:  Is there any base class other than Bard or Monk that has a strong Will progression, and Perform on its list of class skills?  Making good use of Wis and/or Cha is a plus.

[Beltendu]

Q 98:  Is there any base class other than Bard or Monk that has a strong Will progression, and Perform on its list of class skills?  Making good use of Wis and/or Cha is a plus.

Paladin with Harmonious Knight (I think that's the name) gets perform and the ability to use smites to do Inspire Courage, and while you don't have strong will progression, you do have Divine Grace to get Cha to saves.  That may or may not get you what you need, but I figured it was worth mentioning. 

I want to say there's a Domain that clerics can get that will get them Perform, but I could be hallucinating that one, so don't quote me on it.

[weenog]

Q 98:  Is there any base class other than Bard or Monk that has a strong Will progression, and Perform on its list of class skills?  Making good use of Wis and/or Cha is a plus.

Paladin with Harmonious Knight (I think that's the name) gets perform and the ability to use smites to do Inspire Courage, and while you don't have strong will progression, you do have Divine Grace to get Cha to saves.  That may or may not get you what you need, but I figured it was worth mentioning. 

I want to say there's a Domain that clerics can get that will get them Perform, but I could be hallucinating that one, so don't quote me on it.

I need a +2 Will dip class for Master of Shrouds early entry, and I want to be able to make the DC 15 Perform (string instruments) check to activate the Lyre of the Restful Soul reliably even if I roll low.

[Agita]

Q 98:  Is there any base class other than Bard or Monk that has a strong Will progression, and Perform on its list of class skills?  Making good use of Wis and/or Cha is a plus.

Paladin with Harmonious Knight (I think that's the name) gets perform and the ability to use smites to do Inspire Courage, and while you don't have strong will progression, you do have Divine Grace to get Cha to saves.  That may or may not get you what you need, but I figured it was worth mentioning. 

I want to say there's a Domain that clerics can get that will get them Perform, but I could be hallucinating that one, so don't quote me on it.

I need a +2 Will dip class for Master of Shrouds early entry, and I want to be able to make the DC 15 Perform (string instruments) check to activate the Lyre of the Restful Soul reliably even if I roll low.

Can you simply get the Apprentice feat? There's one that gives Perform as a class skill for all your classes.

[Beltendu]

Q 98:  Is there any base class other than Bard or Monk that has a strong Will progression, and Perform on its list of class skills?  Making good use of Wis and/or Cha is a plus.

Paladin with Harmonious Knight (I think that's the name) gets perform and the ability to use smites to do Inspire Courage, and while you don't have strong will progression, you do have Divine Grace to get Cha to saves.  That may or may not get you what you need, but I figured it was worth mentioning. 

I want to say there's a Domain that clerics can get that will get them Perform, but I could be hallucinating that one, so don't quote me on it.

I need a +2 Will dip class for Master of Shrouds early entry, and I want to be able to make the DC 15 Perform (string instruments) check to activate the Lyre of the Restful Soul reliably even if I roll low.

Ok, at this point I'd mostly be digging through the SRD or pulling stuff out of my ass, so I'll leave this to the people with a better memory of their books ...   I think the first place I'd look would be Factotum (since all skills are class skills, but I don't remember the saves).

However, after a quick glance, it looks like Expert will give you the good Will save and your choice of 10 skills as class skills ...