Hello everyone
Long time lurker, first time poster
Disclaimer: You can claim powergaming all you like but, please do not derail this topic.
Having relocated to China for work nearly two years ago I felt lucky to have found a RPG, and converting from D&D was rather seemless having had most of my experience with version 3.5
Now I play in a group that contain a few overpowering personalities, where they can sometimes dominate the table and forget to share so when I hesitantly asked my DM if I could play a Pact Exploiter Wizard ( I grew tired of my limited spellcasting in the last campaign as a Bard) that has an awesome backstory (His words not mine) he was over the moon, having a character that could quiet them up once and while.
Now I want to Dip Crossblooded Sorcerer at level 1, I am thinking of taking Accursed and Arcane Bloodlines (and the Bloodline Development exploit). The Accursed I can combo well with Army Accross Time spell, the Arcane 1st level bloodline power gets me a familiar.
I will be taking the Shadowbound-Shadow Patron, and the Shattered Psyche curse later on
What other Bloodline combination do you think would be good?
Honestly, I wouldn't take any dip. A wizard is all about the spells and every level not in wizard reduces the number of spells you get. Half the time a dip reduces the highest spell level you get too.
That said - serpentine and/or undead can expand the usefulness of some very good spells, and fey gives a +2 to their DC. Any two of those three makes a useful combo.
Astral/div would be handy for increasing save DCs in general.
Destined/verdant would be useful for your defence.
I follow what you're doing and I like it. I will be re-evaluating some of my builds with exploiter wizard.
As for your bloodline choices. What is it that you're looking to do?
blaster?
utility?
crowd control?
for example
If you're looking at being a blaster I would recommend the orc bloodline and the draconic bloodlines as your two bloodlines.
The one issue I see with the accursed bloodline is that you'll have to take leadership or use simulacrum to have coven members that you can directly control. Otherwise, you're making agreements with npcs who likely won't want to go on dangerous adventures without getting an equal share of loot. If your coven is at home while you're out adventuring you aren't getting much benefit from having them.
as for arcane, why do you want a familiar? unless you're planning on spending feats on it or have a specific synergy in mind they have limited usefulness. One of the last times I played a wizard I took the bonded object option and then built a Homunculus with the voice modification(so it could talk) for scouting via Marionette Possession. Otherwise I just kept it in my backpack.
I am a bit confused about how playing an exploiter wizard rather than a bard would have any effect on players with 'overpowering personalities' and getting them to 'shut up'.
Sure, objectively the wizard has more power, but it certainly doesn't have more ability to be social, display personality or be vocal. Indeed, generally the opposite is true.
My concern is that you (and the GM) are trying to solve an out-of-game problem (players not waiting their turn and not letting other players participate) with an in-game solution (a more powerful character) and that seldom works, and often even backfires.
Being a regular board member on other sites, I usually try to be more active in my own threads, so for the delay I apologies, having internet issues on my end
Honestly, I wouldn't take any dip. A wizard is all about the spells and every level not in wizard reduces the number of spells you get. Half the time a dip reduces the highest spell level you get too.
That said - serpentine and/or undead can expand the usefulness of some very good spells, and fey gives a +2 to their DC. Any two of those three makes a useful combo.
Astral/div would be handy for increasing save DCs in general.
Destined/verdant would be useful for your defence.
Thank you for your suggestions, do you have any that you would suggest partnering with Accursed?
If you want to do the Coven thing, I'd actually suggest being a Witch. As in 100% witch, because you'll end up more powerful. Raise your UMD skill so you can use a scroll to cast Simulacrum someday to get your very own Winter Hag to start your coven. Then add more (free) Simulacrum as desired using the coven's ability to cast simulacrum.
Actually this is far more broken than what you're thinking. Start by adding a few more types of Hags to improve the coven's spell selection. Grab leadership to add more witches to your coven. When you grow enough start using simulacrum to start creating outsiders as bodyguards. While they have half the normal HD they will retain most of their SLAs so you could grab some very interesting and completely loyal 'summons'. Once you get this snowball rolling it should make everybody else as the table complain bitterly about you exploiting.
I am aware of the Witch combo, I have no interest in it but, thank you for your input
I follow what you're doing and I like it. I will be re-evaluating some of my builds with exploiter wizard.
As for your bloodline choices. What is it that you're looking to do?
blaster?
utility?
crowd control?for example
If you're looking at being a blaster I would recommend the orc bloodline and the draconic bloodlines as your two bloodlines.The one issue I see with the accursed bloodline is that you'll have to take leadership or use simulacrum to have coven members that you can directly control. Otherwise, you're making agreements with npcs who likely won't want to go on dangerous adventures without getting an equal share of loot. If your coven is at home while you're out adventuring you aren't getting much benefit from having them.
as for arcane, why do you want a familiar? unless you're planning on spending feats on it or have a specific synergy in mind they have limited usefulness. One of the last times I played a wizard I took the bonded object option and then built a Homunculus with the voice modification(so it could talk) for scouting via Marionette Possession. Otherwise I just kept it in my backpack.
Utility and Crowd Control is the aim of the game.
I want(ed) to take the Accursed just to combo off with Army Accross Time, Fools for Friends, and the Ring of Percision. I know it is not the mile radius the witch combo gets but, a 60ft diameter circle can still pack a punch. The Perception class skill is also a nice cherry on the top.
I am in no way attached to the Arcane Bloodline, I just saw it as an opportunity to combine two Arcanist Exploits into one
I am a bit confused about how playing an exploiter wizard rather than a bard would have any effect on players with 'overpowering personalities' and getting them to 'shut up'.
Sure, objectively the wizard has more power, but it certainly doesn't have more ability to be social, display personality or be vocal. Indeed, generally the opposite is true.
My concern is that you (and the GM) are trying to solve an out-of-game problem (players not waiting their turn and not letting other players participate) with an in-game solution (a more powerful character) and that seldom works, and often even backfires.
I am guessing what I wrote has not been read as intended. My DM has no problem with me having a powerful character because I get less spotlight time. We as a table have talked during our last campaign, and generally speaking they have improved but, do on occassion need reminding. My DM is very strong willed at getting the rest of the table involved, and immersed. I personally want to stay away from bard aswell because as a bard last time, not getting any real roleplay opportunities sucks.
If accursed is a done deal then arcane isn't terrible, though a familiar limited to 1st level abilities (so never an improved familiar) and with the BAB etc of a wizard/sorcerer isn't going to amount to much. Orc would be more generally useful IMO.
If accursed is a done deal then arcane isn't terrible, though a familiar limited to 1st level abilities (so never an improved familiar) and with the BAB etc of a wizard/sorcerer isn't going to amount to much. Orc would be more generally useful IMO.
Well with the Bloodline Development Exploit surely the familiar will now progress surely
Another option I forgot to mention is the Esoteric Dragon Bloodline for some lovely Psychic spells