Some while back, before all the discussions about how early one could kill a Lich, we had a topic involving how early one could solo an Erkling. This is the topic where I was first introduced to the Neckbreak Wizard, which literally is as awesome as it is hilarious. But inside that Erkling thread, was also this gem of a Kobold caster... an 8th level Arcanist dropping DC's not seen below CR 30. Lol.
I'm not a very good GM, and I don't play spellcasters too well... don't know the high level tricks that make spellcasters immortal gods... regardless, I gave Nyrissa at the end of Kingmaker her "missing" levels of Sorcerer... gave her the Lich template... put her in a Coven with some of her minions... and I think I was throwing DC ~34 spells at a 19th level party... the capstone/extra credit dragon at the end of Kingmaker has is CR25 with a DC 35 breath weapon... for reference.
I am not trying to poke holes in this, nor am I calling anything out as dubious. I simply want someone to walk me through this Kobold build like I am really freaking stupid. Please just help me understand what is all going on with this, because it seems like if it's possible to pump up magics to these levels so early... I'm doing something way wrong, or magic is way scarier than I thought, and it just seems that there would be all kinds of super horrible things happening all over all the time. Lol.
I get that it is this one specific race, worshipping a specific god, blah blah blah... but lots of races and lots of gods have little bonuses to spell DC's... and this particular example is with just a 4th-level spell...
LordKailas wrote:
Base Stats: Str 6, Dex 10, Con 8, Int 18(+2), Wis 10, Cha 10
Diety: Mahathallah
Race: Kobold
Racial Traits: Frightener, Spell Caster Sneak
Traits: Magical Lineage[Phantasmal Killer], Wayang Spellhunter[Phantasmal Killer], Rich Parents
Drawback: Loner
Class: Arcanist(8)
Archetype(s): Blood Arcanist
Bloodlines: Kobold
Exploits: Potent Magic, Metamagic Knowledge(Persistent Spell)
Feats: Spell Focus (Illusion)(1st), Greater Spell Focus(3rd ), Craft Wonderous Item(5th), deific Obediance(7th)
Spells: Bloody Tears and Jagged Smile, greater invisibility, phantasmal killer
Wealth: 23,500+(900-70) -> 24,330
Gear: Robe of Runes[22,000gp], Deadman’s Headband[1,800gp]
Key Features: Save DC for Phantasmal killer (4th) is 10(base)+4(spell lvl)+7(stat)+2(bloodline kobold)+1(racial)+2(g spl fcs) +2(Diefic Ob)+2(Potent Magic)+4(bldy tears)+2 Robe of Runes+1(Deadman’s) =37 will and fort
Fight Sequence: Pre-fight Round(s): cast 4 random 1st level spells (can be done hrs before the fight)
Round -1: Cast Bloody Tears and Jagged Smile (can be done up to an hour before the fight)
Round 0: Cast Greater Invisibility, move up to 180 foot range
Round 1: Recover 1 one of the random 1st level spells as a free action(via robe of runes) and then Cast Persistent Phantasmal Killer (DC 37) as a silent spell via arcane spellcaster sneak
Bloody tears and jagged smile is a spell specific to followers of Szuriel, this character has deific obedience (Mahathallah). Also the build uses content from 3 different adventure paths (rise of the runelords, reign of winter, hell's rebels). And the robe would normally be over 1/2 WBL until 12th. Wayang spellhunter is limited to spells 3rd level and lower, phantasmal killer is 4th.
But the simple DC numbers add up - phantasmal killer is an illusion and a fear effect and none of the bonus types clash.
18 Int at L1, +2 at 4 & 8 HD, +4 enhancement = 24, which is +7
The kobold sorcerer bloodline gives +2 save DC when the target is denied its dex bonus against you. Greater invisibility does that.
Frightener gives +1 save DC to fear effects.
Spell focus/greater gives +2 save DC to illusions.
Deific obedience (Mahathallah) also gives +2 save DC to illusions, assuming you've spent an hour today thinking about how great you are.
Potent magic gives +2 save DC when you spend an arcane reservoir point.
Bloody tears and jagged smile gives +4 save DC (profane type) to [fear] spells.
Robe of runes gives +2 save DC (enhancement type) when you use its once/day free action ability to recall spells.
Dead man's headband gives +1 save DC to your fear effects.
Because of 2 metamagic reducing traits, adding persistent spell is free. That doesn't work as noted above but you hardly need it on a DC 37 spell.
Then it's just a matter of adding everything up as Lord Kailas did.
Kobolds are closely related to dragons, and there are undead creatures that are draconic in nature like the Ravener. While I'm not aware of a Draconic death deity in Pathfinder (as opposed to D&D), you can easily reshape your Kobold's spells with dragon-like features.
Pahntasmal Killer could easily be a biting undead dragon head ;)
Back in the days, there was D&D's Draconomicon, and there were templates for dragon lichs, ghosts, sketelons, zombies and vampires :)
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If the kobold get to prepare everything right;
if the GM allows him to be a kobold from Minata;
if he can sink most of his money in a single magic item;
if the target isn't a creature that is immune to mind-affecting, emotions, or fear effects;
if the kobold survives till level 8 practically without magic items because he is piling up money to craft the robe of runes;
if he knows how to craft the robe;
it more or less works.
To put it another way: a level 7 Wizard, level 3 Cleric, and level 10 Mystic Theurge is a viable character.
Being 3 levels behind as a wizard for all of his career isn't a problem ....
;-)
Essentially: theory crafting, not an actual viable character.
I realize that anyone can super focus on anything, but even if you take away any one piece of that build so the rest works... it's still quite scary.
Take away Deific Obedience, so Bloody Tears & Jagged Smile works... DC 35... at level 8.
Give them a few levels to rightfully afford/craft the Robe (and pick up the crafting feat), this would also give them the spell slots to add Persistent without the trait (since it is limited to 3rd-level spells). Still swinging above weight class for level 11 where the Robe could just be bought outright.
Maybe it's because I killed a PC with Phantasmal Killer once, and kind of feel bad about it... so seeing something specialize in Phantasmal Killer, I find it a certain kind of evil. Like a car crash, I just can't look away from... I want to make this monster legit, just have it in the back pocket... save it for a rainy day... name him Justin Case.