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Hey folks, my RL group is about to start up a new campaign. We've jumped around a bit, 3.5, Mutants & Masterminds, GURPS, etc, but this is going to be a 3.5 campaign in a homebrew world. 3 players, I'm wanting to play a Duskblade. Never played one before, but I like gishes and it seems like one of the better ways to play one in an edition that doesn't have the Magus or Warpriest. The other two are a monk (again, player figured he'd try a class he'd never played) and...something else. Probably with some healing, he's mentioned Bard and Druid as possibilities. Just us 3. I floated the idea of a DMPC to open up some options, but the others wan to hoard all the gold and XP. We're dragons, I guess. lol Anyway, having never played one, and played more PF1 than 3.5, I figured I'd ask for some advice. I'm not necessarily going for the most mechanically powerful options, but I also don't want to get too silly. Our GM likes to push us pretty hard. GM gave us the option of 4d6 drop the lowest or, after we rolled, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8. We all took the set array, I think. I did. I'm thinking elf, which I know isn't necessarily the most optimized to the class, but I like elves, and Duskblade fairly screams Elf! to me, in part because they invented it in the fluff, in part because it just seems like something that fits a race know for their wizards that are also all proficient with rapiers and longswords. So the big question, strength or dex based? I know that it's harder to be dex-based in 3.5 than pathfinder, but I'm leaning that way because elf. Once I grit through the first couple of levels, being able to channel spell damage ought to add plenty of damage potential, I don't *need* strength. But then again, strength-based is a simpler build that doesn't require weapon finesse. I'm definitely planning to pick up Knowledge Devotion at 3rd. Haven't planned too far beyond that. Here's the stat arrays I'm considering (and first feat):
Dex-based: 12, 16+2, 14-2, 18, 10, 8, Weapon Finesse
Str-based: 18, 12+2, 14-2, 16, 10, 8, Power Attack
I also like being able to shift my 18 into INT for the extra skill points, spell DC, etc on the Dex build. But then again, +4 to damage (plus power attack) from level 1 is pretty nice. But so is the better AC of a high Dex. I don't know how high the game will go, potentially 20 I guess. So advice for diverting into PrCs or something later on is appreciated, but I'd like to get a fair amount of Duskblade under my feet first. Also, I've got 150 GP to start. I'm thinking chain shirt, buckler, sword (rapier or longsword depending on build) and...whatever random stuff I can afford with what's left. Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Bomb threats?
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Hey folks, my RL group is about to start up a new campaign. We've jumped around a bit, 3.5, Mutants & Masterminds, GURPS, etc, but this is going to be a 3.5 campaign in a homebrew world. 3 players, I'm wanting to play a Duskblade. Never played one before, but I like gishes and it seems like one of the better ways to play one in an edition that doesn't have the Magus or Warpriest. The other two are a monk (again, player figured he'd try a class he'd never played) and...something else. Probably with some healing, he's mentioned Bard and Druid as possibilities. Just us 3. I floated the idea of a DMPC to open up some options, but the others wan to hoard all the gold and XP. We're dragons, I guess. lol Anyway, having never played one, and played more PF1 than 3.5, I figured I'd ask for some advice. I'm not necessarily going for the most mechanically powerful options, but I also don't want to get too silly. Our GM likes to push us pretty hard. GM gave us the option of 4d6 drop the lowest or, after we rolled, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8. We all took the set array, I think. I did. I'm thinking elf, which I know isn't necessarily the most optimized to the class, but I like elves, and Duskblade fairly screams Elf! to me, in part because they invented it in the fluff, in part because it just seems like something that fits a race know for their wizards that are also all proficient with rapiers and longswords. So the big question, strength or dex based? I know that it's harder to be dex-based in 3.5 than pathfinder, but I'm leaning that way because elf. Once I grit through the first couple of levels, being able to channel spell damage ought to add plenty of damage potential, I don't *need* strength. But then again, strength-based is a simpler build that doesn't require weapon finesse. I'm definitely planning to pick up Knowledge Devotion at 3rd. Haven't planned too far beyond that. Here's the stat arrays I'm considering (and first feat):
Dex-based: 12, 16+2, 14-2, 18, 10, 8, Weapon Finesse
Str-based:...
I personally loved the Duscblade in my 3.5 days! (Elf with a nerfed unicorn mount ;) )
I think both paths can work if you cant decide build both of them and run a couple of simulation scenarios in order to decide. One other option is finding the original Class kit from AD&D called Spellsword and adapting that to 3.5 if you re not 100% on how the Duscblade does things :)
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I loved the Duskblade when I played it.
I suggest strength based over dexterity based
It is very feasible to just go straight classed but it is also with taking a look at multi classing with a level of war blade from book of nine swords and then entering the prestige class Jade Phoenix Mage. Advise you take at least 4 levels of DB first so you can jump into second level maneuvers right away Sith the way other classes act as half class levels for maneuver prerequisites. Getting a second level spell at DB 5 is also a great power up if you don't male level 5 when you start warblade. I suggest DB 6 and WB 1 before JPM at level 8.
Look forward to coming back to read and write more comments about the DB.
As a minor aside, there's a fan-made PF1e version of the Duskblade that's been out for a while now... ;)