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Yeah, I think this is the logical choice. I'm torn because I have Ekun loaded up on all of that sweet ranged gear and I would have to spread it out so it would be a slight nerf to him. I could bench him though and just use Nok-Nok or something.
I also have done really well with having my bard loaded up with mirror image, displacement, and defensive crap and running into the middle of the fray. Hard to resist a character with mirror image not absorbing some of the incoming threats.
Yeah, I think this is the logical choice. I'm torn because I have Ekun loaded up on all of that sweet ranged gear and I would have to spread it out so it would be a slight nerf to him. I could bench him though and just use Nok-Nok or something.
I also have done really well with having my bard loaded up with mirror image, displacement, and defensive crap and running into the middle of the fray. Hard to resist a character with mirror image not absorbing some of the incoming threats.
Really only need mirror image tanks on unfair. Anyway just need bracers of archery and the three feats. Get some enchantment spell focus and go after those will saves. I believe that caster classes should have no more than a one lvl dip so you don't nerf spell progression. And bards and Alchemists seem like the best 20 lvl classes.
But I'm not an autistic builder like some people here so I'm sure one of them will tell us why I'm wrong.
While I’m sperging, Freebooter/Archaeologist seems like it could be pretty decent if you already have a bard? You can use luck as a swift action so you can add it to the pile of bond/bane/courage bonuses. It gives you uncanny dodge and some decent buffs, too.
Apologies for breaking up momentarily the matter of building up Linzi (which I agree that it is not straightforward if you decide not to go full Bard).
I have eventually agreed with Desiderius' comment that my previous Eldritch Knight build was "all over the place", and I am now taking a different approach. Two Weapon Fighting is out, and the Wizard part is going to be fully focused on Illusion. Given that I have decided to go with Wizard instead of Sorcerer, there are two different builds I am trying to choose from. Note that this is theorycrafting, I have not tried these builds yet.
The expectation here is that this build can do both Wizard and melee. Not as good as a Magus for melee (I do not have Magus Arcana), but much better than a Magus in spellcasting.
Here are the builds. Which one would YOU choose?
Human Eldritch Knight/Illusionist
STR 7, DEX 18, CON 12, INT 18++, WIS 10, CHA 10
Viper familiar
Opposition Schools: Divination / Necromancy
Build#1: Aldori Defender(1)/ Illusionist(5)/ EK(10)/ Illusionist(4)
Pros: Has 2 more feats, wields a Dueling Sword.
Cons: Lags 2lvls behind in spells in comparison to a full Wizard.
11 EK(5)
Improved Crit(Dueling Sword)/ Shake it Off
12 EK(6)
13 EK(7)
Gr. Weapon Focus(Dueling Sword)
14 EK(8)
15 EK(9)
Allied Spellcaster/ Dazzling Display?
16 EK(10)
17 Illusionist(6)
?
18 Illusionist(7)
19 Illusionist(8)
?
20 Illusionist(9)
The 2 last feats can be used to specialize in an additional school.
Build#2: Illusionist(5)/ Ek(10)/ Illusionist(5)
Pros: Lags just 1lvl behind in spells in comparison to a full Wizard.
Cons: Has 2 less feats, does not wield a Dueling Sword (because that would require to burn an additional feat), I wonder whether it is going to be able to hit anything in melee.
1 Illusionist(1)
Spell Focus(Illusion)/ Gr. Spell Focus(Illusion)/ Spell Specialization
I haven’t built an Eldritch Knight yet but I’ve been toying around with a concept focused on criticals and spewing out spells as swift actions. Not sure if it’s the most optimal but it sounds like a fun mini game.
Anyways, with that in mind I think I would be trying to focus on a weapon with an eventual crit range of 15-20
Rapiers are like that, but Dueling Swords are like that too if you take out the Lonely Barrow lich early! And Dueling Swords have a much better progression than Rapiers in general (may be the best progression in the game).
oldmanpaco, I am kinda worried that my AC is going to suck balls if I invest in STR instead of DEX. I am going to have mirror image and other goodies available, of course, but I am wondering whether the mirror images will need constant renewals due to my low AC.
Fwiw, my Reflex saves are going to suck balls, too. Still, Greataxes are awesome, and I do see why one might want to try that.
oldmanpaco, I am kinda worried that my AC is going to suck balls if I invest in STR instead of DEX. I am going to have mirror image and other goodies available, of course, but I am wondering whether the mirror images will need constant renewals due to my low AC.
Fwiw, my Reflex saves are going to suck balls, too. Still, Greataxes are awesome, and I do see why one might want to try that.
Well with enlarge you won't be in direct combat that often and MI/blur will tide you over when you do get targeted. I'd rather have +2 to hit than +2 to AC. You also won't provoke aoo casting. Get the extend metamagic feat and run mirror, shield, blur, and enlarge for 20+ minutes by mid game. An alchemist can also give you shit like shield and barkskin so you don't need to cast it yourself.
If you want to be the main tank magus is the way to go anyway.
No, I won't be the main tank, I will be like the 4rth off-tank in the party I am envisioning
Jaethal tank
Okbo/Ekun
Harrim
Jubilost
Reggie
EK
Reggie is going to be replaced every time I need to get someone else in.
But this is still the MC we are talking about, and if he dies it is automatically a reload, which has me worried.
However, I am noticing that with a STR build I can get rid of the Weapon Finesse feat, which is important in such a feat-starved build. Hmmm... I am returning soon with a STR build design.
No, I do not agree that STR build are always better. Several reason for that:
- Several available frontliners are already STR
- No Touch AC
- No Reflex saves
- In the case of unarmored characters, awful AC
- Legendary Proportions is awesome, but it only comes at around Ch5.
However, in this case with all the mirror images and whatnot, I might give it a try for a part-time offtank.
Human Eldritch Knight/Illusionist Build#3 (STR): Illusionist(5)/ EK(10)/ Illusionist(5)
STR 18, DEX 7, CON 12, INT 18++, WIS 10, CHA 10
Viper familiar
Opposition Schools: Divination / Necromancy
Pros: Lags just 1lvl behind in spells in comparison to a full Wizard. Can use Greataxes. Does not need Weapon Finesse.
Cons: Terrible AC. Terrible Reflex saves.
1 Illusionist(1)
Spell Focus(Illusion)/ Gr. Spell Focus(Illusion)/ Spell Specialization
Goddamnit CotW mod nerfs bards hard. Takes away five (5!) feats and replaces them with shitty skill bonuses. What the hell. Now I need to rethink my whole party.
edit: It also "fixes" lingering performance.
edit2: Well going to try a dirge bard. See if crap like Cacophonous Call or Confusion really effect the undead.
Not just skill bonuses (they're far from shitty), masterpieces. Mass Longstrider (Triple Step) is one of the most powerful things you can do and you get it really early where it matters. Jesus, you people have no imagination.
But yeah, try out dirge for us. Arrowsong is cool too.
All mind effecting spells from Dirge Bard effect undead as does the song. Doubling down on shatter defenses to carry me through Unfair. Oh and triple step can be taken as a regular feat and its pretty damn good as you said.
Eh, while STR has Enlarge, DEX has Reduce.
No, I am not accepting the "the best defense is offense" . If you do not die, you win. If you die, you lose, no matter the damage dealing potential. Obviously, in practice you need a combination of both.
I would say that the major advantage of STR builds is the plethora of good STR weapons (while there are very few good options for DEX). And Legendary Proportions from Ch5 on, but that's kinda late.
Shake it Off is awesome, it stays in no matter what. For Allied Spellcaster, I will have to watch to see how much it actually helped.
Dazzling Display is probably going to be taken by another party member (Reggie probably), not much space here. Shatter Defenses... hmm... not a bad idea. May have to come late, though.
Shake it Off is awesome, it stays in no matter what. For Allied Spellcaster, I will have to watch to see how much it actually helped.
Dazzling Display is probably going to be taken by another party member (Reggie probably), not much space here. Shatter Defenses... hmm... not a bad idea. May have to come late, though.
Well an 8lvl bard can fire dirge and bufff song the same round. Some classes like the slayer also benefit tremendously from shatter especially if you play with mods that alter the flanking rules to be closer to tabletop.
