Post by brine on Mar 10, 2016 20:42:56 GMT -5
So, with people finally trickling up into 5th level, I've started looking at some longer-term builds for Illath. Of particular interest, I was considering bolstering his magical and protective abilities with a dip into Wizard (specifically, School of Abjuration). I came up with two broad possibilities for how to shape it.
Combat Guardian: Fighter 14/Wizard 6
Benefits: 7 feat/ASI slots, second-tier Extra Attack, second use of Indomitable, 112+20*con mod HP
Drawbacks: Lessened spellcasting (access only to 3rd-level spells, strongest spell slots are of 5th level, CL 10), weaker Arcane Barrier (12+int mod absorption), no access to Improved Abjuration, 3 levels of slots from Arcane Recovery
Hits like a train, gets three attacks in a round, gets an extra feat or +2 ability score to play with. Gets access to 3rd-level spells on both the fighter and wizard sides, meaning two always-prepared level 3 spells (can you say "Fireball/Counterspell on demand?") Six levels of Wizard allows him to project his barrier, but it's weaker than the other build. More of a melee focus with a splash of arcane protective abilities.
Arcane Sentinel: Fighter 10/Wizard 10
Benefits: Improved Abjuration (add proficiency bonus to ability checks made for Counterspell or Dispel Magic), stronger spellcasting (access to 5th-level spells, 1 each of 6th and 7th-level slots, CL 13), more powerful barrier (20+int mod absorption), 5 levels of slots from Arcane Recovery
Drawbacks: 6 feat/ASI slots, only one extra attack/round, one use of Indomitable, 104+20*con mod HP, only gains 2nd-level always-prepared spells via fighter levels
Not as much of a melee beast, but gets access to fifth-level spells as a melee combatant. Also gains Improved Abjuration, which is -glorious- at late levels for utterly ruining an enemy spellcaster's day (up to a +11 to ability checks; an 8 or higher can nullify Meteor Swarm!) His barrier is also significantly stronger and he gets more and stronger abjuration spells to replenish it. Unfortunately his sorceror-type spells from his fighter levels only hit second level, so higher-level bread-and-butter spells like Dispel/Counterspell/WHY IN THE NINE HELLS IS THAT DUDE IN ARMOR THROWING FIREBALLS AT ME have to take up prepared slots every day. Then again, he gets -fifteen- of those...
So, I find myself at a deciding point. Do I aim towards the even split, or keep my focus more towards fightan good? And, in either case, since Illath is burning those downtime days for a level 4->5 boost, and I just got my level four stuff, do I want to take this fifth level in fighter as well (grabs me Extra Attack and puts me within one level of another feat/ASI), or do I want to peel off now and start taking Wizard levels to pick up new spells and work towards Arcane Barrier?
*Arcane Barrier: The first time after a long rest you cast an abjuration spell of 1st level or higher, you can create an arcane ward that absorbs damage equal to twice your wizard level, plus your spellcasting modifier. The barrier forms at maximum strength and continues to exist after reaching zero buffer; each time you cast an abjuration spell of 1st level or higher, the ward regenerates twice the level of the expended spell slot in damage prevention. At 6th level, you may project this barrier as a reaction to prevent damage to anyone within 30 ft.
Extra question: Do you still get a spellbook with six spells upon taking your first level of wizard if you -multiclass- into wizard, as opposed to -starting as- a wizard?
Combat Guardian: Fighter 14/Wizard 6
Benefits: 7 feat/ASI slots, second-tier Extra Attack, second use of Indomitable, 112+20*con mod HP
Drawbacks: Lessened spellcasting (access only to 3rd-level spells, strongest spell slots are of 5th level, CL 10), weaker Arcane Barrier (12+int mod absorption), no access to Improved Abjuration, 3 levels of slots from Arcane Recovery
Hits like a train, gets three attacks in a round, gets an extra feat or +2 ability score to play with. Gets access to 3rd-level spells on both the fighter and wizard sides, meaning two always-prepared level 3 spells (can you say "Fireball/Counterspell on demand?") Six levels of Wizard allows him to project his barrier, but it's weaker than the other build. More of a melee focus with a splash of arcane protective abilities.
Arcane Sentinel: Fighter 10/Wizard 10
Benefits: Improved Abjuration (add proficiency bonus to ability checks made for Counterspell or Dispel Magic), stronger spellcasting (access to 5th-level spells, 1 each of 6th and 7th-level slots, CL 13), more powerful barrier (20+int mod absorption), 5 levels of slots from Arcane Recovery
Drawbacks: 6 feat/ASI slots, only one extra attack/round, one use of Indomitable, 104+20*con mod HP, only gains 2nd-level always-prepared spells via fighter levels
Not as much of a melee beast, but gets access to fifth-level spells as a melee combatant. Also gains Improved Abjuration, which is -glorious- at late levels for utterly ruining an enemy spellcaster's day (up to a +11 to ability checks; an 8 or higher can nullify Meteor Swarm!) His barrier is also significantly stronger and he gets more and stronger abjuration spells to replenish it. Unfortunately his sorceror-type spells from his fighter levels only hit second level, so higher-level bread-and-butter spells like Dispel/Counterspell/WHY IN THE NINE HELLS IS THAT DUDE IN ARMOR THROWING FIREBALLS AT ME have to take up prepared slots every day. Then again, he gets -fifteen- of those...
So, I find myself at a deciding point. Do I aim towards the even split, or keep my focus more towards fightan good? And, in either case, since Illath is burning those downtime days for a level 4->5 boost, and I just got my level four stuff, do I want to take this fifth level in fighter as well (grabs me Extra Attack and puts me within one level of another feat/ASI), or do I want to peel off now and start taking Wizard levels to pick up new spells and work towards Arcane Barrier?
*Arcane Barrier: The first time after a long rest you cast an abjuration spell of 1st level or higher, you can create an arcane ward that absorbs damage equal to twice your wizard level, plus your spellcasting modifier. The barrier forms at maximum strength and continues to exist after reaching zero buffer; each time you cast an abjuration spell of 1st level or higher, the ward regenerates twice the level of the expended spell slot in damage prevention. At 6th level, you may project this barrier as a reaction to prevent damage to anyone within 30 ft.
Extra question: Do you still get a spellbook with six spells upon taking your first level of wizard if you -multiclass- into wizard, as opposed to -starting as- a wizard?