Help on a Different Build - A Versalite Arcane Caster

[AGorgen]

Hi,

I'll be playing a game next sunday and I'm thinking on some different ideas for my character. First of all, my team composition is a barbarian with 2 rogue levels and the other will probably be a paladin or a melee character. One thing to note is that I may but probably I won't reach high levels (12+).

I'm thinking on some ideas to make a different and funny character. I'm not focusing on making the best of the best, but I also don't want to be a burden for my teammates or feel like my actions are worthless. So, I'm thinking in a way that it still viable and decent.

My idea is to be a primary arcane caster, probably focusing on battlefield control. The thing is, I want to be versatile. I want to be able to fight if I have to, to survive without equipments if needed, etc.

My first idea is someone like Dhalsim. I thought about Monk + Sorcerer (I prefer Wizard, but the Sorcerer bloodline for having wisdom as main stat is too good to pass) and make Eldritch Knight later on. Would have to be Sohei Monk, but my unarmed damage would suck and my idea of surving without weapons wouldn't work well. But it's a possibility and I'd like to ask you if something like that is at least decent.

My second idea is a typical Mystic Theurge, Wizard + Cleric.

Another possibility is Wizard + Rogue, making if I reach high level I'd go to Arcane Trickster.

I'm open to another funny combinations. I would like something decent that is a main battlefield controller during teamfights but if needed can go melee and fight, or if for some reason got jailed, he would be able to handle it with a minimum of equipment.

Any ideas?

[Krul]

If your looking at Arcane caster, you may want to consider the Magus, Bard or Witch as well as the Wizard and the Sorcerer.

Mythic Theurge sacrifices power for versatility, I recommend against it, unless that is specifically what you want, in which case, go for it. Still, I think the Elf Oracle option, the Ancient Lorekeeper and the Samsaran Mythic Past Life can serve your better for spells outside of your normal choice then a Mythic Theurge.

Eldritch Knight isn't a bad choice, but generally I believe that the Magus Arcana special abilities blows it completely out of the water, and that the Magus does the whole fighter/mage thing better anyway. If it wasn't for your desire for primary spellcaster I'd recommend this as the Magus as your first choice.

Which brings to mind the other capable fighter arcane class, the Alchemist, who can be a battlefield controller with the right discoveries, but also has some really nice fighting capabilities.

Finally, what I think is your best option for a dedicated combat mixed with magic, the Dragon Disciple, for that purpose, it's a insanely good prestige class, and requires you take the dragon bloodline, but if you really want something from one of the other bloodlines, you can always take Eldritch Bloodline feat. The attribute bonuses are also completely awesome. There is a specific guide for that prestige class that can be found here under the class guides list. Just about the only limitation to this is you can't take it until your 6th level, if you want fighter/magic abilities sooner, I'd look at the magus first.

[AGorgen]

Thanks for the reply.

I didnt make myself clear on my last post, I was too tired to think. Lol
And my Dhalsim example idea is nothing like dhalsim, dont know why i named it.

My idea is to be a primary caster battlefield controller. That Im sure of. I find magus very good, but its not what im looking for this game. What I want is someone who is mainly a battlefield controller but with versatility to be able to do small skirmishes. Of course I dont want to bet a fighter in 1x1. I just want to be more versatile.

I liked the dragon disciple idea. Good give it some thoughts.

The alchemist also would work, but i dont want to play it cuz my gm did last game. And I want something innovate.

[The Quite-big-but-not-BIG Bad]

It sounds like a Transmuter Wizard or Alchemist are you best bets.

IMHO nothing comes even close to a smartly played wizard in terms of versatility. If you use an arcane focus for arcane bond and make as many scrolls as you can, no class even comes close in having options for every scenario. If you're Transmuter (especially an Enchancement Transmuter) you can be quite capable in combat through buffing and polymorphing. You'll never be a fighter but you get a bit of combat to go with your arcane mastery. Additionally, Transmutation is a perfect battlefield control school through buffs and debuffs.

Alchemist is better at covering the melee part but sacrifices a lot of control and spellcasting versatility.

[AGorgen]

What do you mean by arcane focus for arcane bond?

I liked that idea, but I was thinking in maybe get the elven weapon peofficiency, get an elven curved blade, pick weapon finesse and later enchant it with agile. I would have 16 dexterity and 12 strenght at level 4, and soon i could buy a +2 belt.

[The Quite-big-but-not-BIG Bad]

AGorgen wrote:

What do you mean by arcane focus for arcane bond?

I liked that idea, but I was thinking in maybe get the elven weapon peofficiency, get an elven curved blade, pick weapon finesse and later enchant it with agile. I would have 16 dexterity and 12 strenght at level 4, and soon i could buy a +2 belt.

Ah, sorry I confused a few things. I meant a bonded object for arcane bond.

If you've got feats to spare, you could go for an Aldori Dueling Sword and use Dueling Mastery to get +2 initiative and +2 shield bonus.

[AGorgen]

Id need amother 3 feats: w prof, w focus and quick draw. Dont know if its worth... On the other hand, with elven curved blade, i could only get weapon finesse at lvl 5 when ill get craft wondrous and make a +2 dex belt.

Another option im thinking is getting a staff as bonded item and use it as a quarterstaff to hit things aswell. Would I be able to enchant it both as weapon and staff?

Well, i have til sunday to decide it, gonna think about it. Thanls a lot for the replies. If someone else has another nice idea, id be welcome.

[XMorsX]

Take a look at prototype00's thoughts on a Monk 2 / Sorcerer 10 /Dragon Disciple 8. It is a similar concept that you describe and an interesting build to attempt.

[Dragonchess Player]

A wizard (Transmutation/Shapechange school) 8/ranger (natural weapon combat style to pick up Aspect of the Beast) 2/eldritch knight 10 (probably wizard 3/ranger 2/wizard +2/eldritch knight 10/wizard +3) with all of the polymorph spells can also work. Battlefield control and then change into various combat capable forms to rip things apart (Eldritch Claws might also be a good feat to pick up).

The arcane trickster is really more geared toward blasting (Sneak Attack with ranged touch spells) than battlefield control or "fighting if I have to" (poor BAB). Although elf (or half-elf with Ancestral Arms or human using their bonus feat for Martial Weapon Proficiency to pick up longbow) rogue (sniper) 3/wizard (Evocation/Admixture school) 3/arcane trickster 6/arcane archer 2/arcane trickster +4/arcane archer +2 makes a somewhat decent ranged combatant as well as a blaster.