So for the folks that have played a beguiler, is it really worth it to get Combat Expertise and Improved Feint so that by 6th level you can feint as a free action? It seems like it would be really nice to have so that you can always up the DCs of your spells and still have a Move Action for some move equivalent activities. But in practise does the situation really come up all that much or is it better to get other feats?
So for the folks that have played a beguiler, is it really worth it to get Combat Expertise and Improved Feint so that by 6th level you can feint as a free action? It seems like it would be really nice to have so that you can always up the DCs of your spells and still have a Move Action for some move equivalent activities. But in practise does the situation really come up all that much or is it better to get other feats?
I've played my beguiler up through 11th level now, and invisibility, greater or otherwise, has been a much better way to pump my spell DCs. The bonus of being (thus far) undetectable is a very nice side-effect. Discretion being the better part of valor and all that. :)
I'm the recon/B&E guy in the party, so I also had better things to spend my feats on.
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well, if you're in melee range as a beguiler, you've already lost.
much better, IMO, to focus on your talking/bluffing, survivability, or scouting/perception roles with your feats, and allow the save DC's to go of their own accord.
that being said, invisibility, blinding color surge, and greater invisibility were the most commonly used spells when playing w/ my beguiler.
for real big fun, consider taking a level of mindbender at 6th level, if you can get the Mindsight feat from Lords of Madness, even better. now, you're a telepathic lying machine who's frequently invisible, disguised, or both, who can soundlessly speak to anyone within 100' and knows the location, type, int score, and "mental face" of any thinking creature inside that range.
just a thought, as it's what i did, and i loved it.
also, delaying your advanced learning spells by a spell level is quite nice, indeed.
-the hamster
I'm playing a beguiler right now in the Savage Tide adventure path and I took all 10 levels of Mindbender (currently 15th level). Now I did take a cut in beguiler spell power, but with the Practiced Spell caster feat and greater invisibility, my DCs are still the same as if I'd have gone straight beguiler. That's really what I'd suggest doing. Now I have my melee Thrall that protects me while I'm casting my spells whether invisible or not.
A bit from my Hoarde.
You are a spellcaster, (albeit one with light armor and d6 htdice). If you are in melee, you are toast. You don't want to get sucked into thinking melee is a good thing.
Now, for a long time, improved feint will only give you a +1 to the save DC of your spells (I think, AFB AtM). Why not spend those 2 feats on spell focus (Enchantment and Illusion), and get the same +1 to your DCs, but now it is all the time.
Much better to just stay out of melee.
Now, 6 levels of beguiler on a Rogue build, is a different stor,and makes improved feint, very worthwhile. Feint as a free action with Sneak Attack? Yes Please.
Not to be a pedantic jerk, but Improved Feint does not make feinting a free action.
Prerequisites
Int 13, Combat Expertise.
Benefit
You can make a Bluff check to feint in combat as a move action.
Normal
Feinting in combat is a standard action.A fighter may select Improved Feint as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Trust me - I wish Improved Feint gave feinting as a free action - my shadowdancer/rogue would be using it every freakin' round. But alas - move action.
[/pedantic jerkery]
Now, that being said, I think that Spell Focus would be a better choice for a straight up beguiler. As pointed out, it would give the benefit all the time.
Not to be a pedantic jerk, but Improved Feint does not make feinting a free action.
Ahhh but at level 6, the Beguiler gets an ability allowing it to feint "quicker," so with improved feint it does indeed become a free action for a beguiler. Sorry, can't tell you all the details, I am AFB ATM.
So you actually weren't pedantic enough enough. If you weren't pedantic, does that just make you a jerk? :) (Sorry, couldn't resist).