Gish = Multi-class melee fighter / caster.
And yes, the term is indeed derived from the Githyanki Gish, a special class of warrior they had with both caster and fighter levels.
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I wouldn't say this is better than the EK. It doesn't really help all that much for melee type caster. It does well for a Caster. I mean what wizard wouldn't want to take this class? You lose a bit on the school powers as the class doesn't stack. You trade for more hit points, +2 BAB, and the ability to wear Mitheral Full Plate as an Immediate action and the feat for free. Really I'd just take 5 levels of this class and 15 of wizard. 10 levels doesn't hurt just measure the loss in School powers vs the gains.
Gish = Multi-class melee fighter / caster.
And yes, the term is indeed derived from the Githyanki Gish, a special class of warrior they had with both caster and fighter levels.
So that's where it comes from! That's been bugging me for a long time. Guess I'm not an old/mature/experienced-enough Roleplayer to know much about Githyanki
So that's where it comes from! That's been bugging me for a long time. Guess I'm not an old/mature/experienced-enough Roleplayer to know much about GithyankiGish = Multi-class melee fighter / caster.
And yes, the term is indeed derived from the Githyanki Gish, a special class of warrior they had with both caster and fighter levels.
I started gaming in the 70s an never really got what GISH meant until the last couple of years. I saw but didn't really care and it wasn't till the Magus play test that figured it out.
But then back in the day Fighter/Wizards were elves in the red box D&D and you could multiclass as fighter/wizard in AD&D and 2E in the way that GISH describes.
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Githyanki fighter/magic-users of 4th/4th level were specifically called "gish" back in the original Fiend Folio (page 43). The githzerai had their own fighter/magic-users of 3rd/3rd level called "zerths" (p.45).
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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If you are a wizard, you have to take Light Armor Proficiency, Medium Armor Proficiency, and Arcane Armor Training just to get into the class. That's a pretty sizable feat investment. Seems like it's a good prestige class if wearing Hellknight armor is high on your priority list, but not so much for the normal run of the mill wizard.
Maybe someone can help me with something that is baffling me. What is the point of being able to use Arcane Armor Training as an immediate action?
Dex Wizard+ Haramaki+Armored Kilt.
Ftr1/Wiz5/EK10/AA4
That's BAB 16/CL17. (Still 9th level spells)
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This is kind of unrelated but I can see the potential for a mostly Wizard PC dipping a divine caster before entering Hellknight Signifier with Warrior Priest for levelled up domains or mysteries.
Maybe someone can help me with something that is baffling me. What is the point of being able to use Arcane Armor Training as an immediate action?
It allows you to burst cast a bit better. You can utilize the Immediate action first, which consumes next round's Swift, allowing you to hit both a Standard and Swift cast in the current round.
At least, that's my guess.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Using an immediate action on your turn is the same as using a swift action and counts as your swift action for that turn. (linky)
You cannot use an immediate and a swift in the same turn.
If you are a wizard, you have to take Light Armor Proficiency, Medium Armor Proficiency, and Arcane Armor Training just to get into the class. That's a pretty sizable feat investment. Seems like it's a good prestige class if wearing Hellknight armor is high on your priority list, but not so much for the normal run of the mill wizard.
Maybe someone can help me with something that is baffling me. What is the point of being able to use Arcane Armor Training as an immediate action?
I read it as the book saying you get "Arcane Armor Expertise" as a free feat, and at 5th level that feat is usable as an immediate action. My problem is that I can't find that feat anywhere.
Arcane Armor Expertise: At 2nd level, if a Hellknight signifer has the Arcane Armor Training feat, he gains Arcane Armor Expertise as a bonus feat. At 5th level, the action required to use this feat changes from a swift action to an immediate action.
edit:Of course that does not change the fact that the feat and the spell(swift or immediate action), assuming "Arcane Armor Expertise" is an improved version of Arcane Armor Training, can't be used together.
It's supposed to be Arcane Armour Mastery.
It's supposed to be Arcane Armour Mastery.
OK. I see it now, but they still have the issue with the immediate action not being useful.
I'd rather have an EK with Still Spell. One feat tax rather than 2.
I'd rather have an EK with Still Spell. One feat tax rather than 2.
But then you have a Spell Level tax.
Is it that bad a tax?
In my opinion, no.
The very first thing you do is you buy a Lesser Ring of Spell Storing and stuff three of your first level spells into it. You always look for spells with no S components that are useful for the rest, and your spells are going to be about equal to a wizard who's a little behind.
Focus on spells with hour/level or 10 min/level durations so that you can cast them when not in armor, armor up and go with god and arcane strike at your side.
Pick your most useful combat spell for most of your career early on and take the Magical Lineage trait; consider taking Spontaneous Metafocus with it as well so that you're casting it as a standard action if you're a Fighter/Sorc/EK.
I just got my Fighter/Sorc to level 5 en route to EK, so he's gotten through the Valley of Suck (Level 3 of Sorcerer is particularly suckful as a Fighter/Sorcerer.)
His usual spin up in a fight is to cast Expeditious Retreat, then True Strike, then go wading in with a two handed sword for 2d6+6+3+1+1 damage.
Or Scorching Ray from a distance.
Really the most useful level of any Arcane class is the first for a multi-classer. You can pick up and use wands...
If you are a wizard, you have to take Light Armor Proficiency, Medium Armor Proficiency, and Arcane Armor Training just to get into the class. That's a pretty sizable feat investment. Seems like it's a good prestige class if wearing Hellknight armor is high on your priority list, but not so much for the normal run of the mill wizard.
Maybe someone can help me with something that is baffling me. What is the point of being able to use Arcane Armor Training as an immediate action?
I think it has to do with Counter spelling and possible spell duels. Swift actions have to be taken on your turn, immediate can happen any time in the round. I wonder if it is also to give more flexibility for ready actions as well.