Warrior Mage (Fighter 13 / Wizard 26 / Bard 1)

[unifiedworld]

The tried and true – old faithful….

It’s hard to go wrong with all the goodies you get from a single-level dip in bard: Discipline, Tumble, UMD, Taunt

This build may be harder to level all the way up to level 40 compared to the other two builds I posted today, but it will surely shine once it gets to level 40.

Pros:

1. Four attacks per round
2. 25+ wizard levels for eventual immunity to Greater Dispelling
3. Can freely cast while wearing armor and using a shield (the three autostill feats)
4. Spell penetration power of a level 30 mage (two spell penetration feats)
5. Devastating Critical (however, the DC won’t compare to that of a Red Dragon Disciple build)
6. Full Tumble, Taunt & UMD
7. Epic Warding
8. Decent hitpoints for a spellsword (400)

Cons:

1. Unimpressive AB of 38 – however, True Strike can help immensely, as well as various spells sequenced or cast from items via UMD, such as Bless, Aid, Divine Favor, Divine Power, etc… And if you can’t hit something, you always have spells to fall back on.
2. No Evasion
3. Tough leveling process – no Tumble AC or UMD until level 40.
4. Lowish saves – the reflex save in particular could become an issue, though the +11 bonus to saves vs. spells will help

Why might I play this character: If I want to suffer through leveling so I can experience the munchkin greatness that full UMD and full Tumble, etc, will give me at level 40, I’ll go for this build. However, I have played so many UMD builds lately that it’s more likely that I will try out a non-UMD build, partially for a challenge but also just to see what it’s like when I don’t have UMD to fall back on. Is this the “best” of the three builds I posted today? Probably, but I could be wrong. After trying one of the other builds I posted (the weapon master one), I realized that this one is much better (details in reply below).

Note about Devastating Critical: With 13 Fighter levels and lots of feat slots available, I felt that I needed to put those feat slots to good use, and I had more feat slots left after adding the spell penetration feats, so I looked for a way to fit Devastating Critical into the build. I think I’m happy with how the build turned out but I am open to suggestions. (I have decided to cut Dev. Crit in favor of other helpful feats -> see reply below.)

Note about Taunt: The original build I used for inspiration for this build (Weave Warrior by Mithdradates https://world-of-greyhawk.github.io/builds/data/build247664.html) had the Taunt skill added but I couldn’t make Taunt work for me, partially because I was using feat slots for Dev.Crit. and partially because I needed to invest skill points into the crafting skills. I added Taunt after all but not the Epic Skill Focus: Taunt feat (and edited this post).

Final note: I think the adventuring environment is always relevant in every build, and in my case, I build for Swordflight. There are annoying enemies with Greater Dispelling who make having at least 25 wizard levels really important in my view. Craft armor and craft weapon skills are quite valuable in Swordflight, which is why skill points are invested there. Also, we have a pure bard companion so Bard Song is quite unnecessary.

Feel free to comment and let me know what you think of the build. Thanks!

Fighter(13), Wizard(26), Bard(1), Dwarf

STR: 15 (26)
DEX: 8
CON: 16
WIS: 8
INT: 18 (20)
CHA: 6

Dwarf: (Darkvision, Defensive Training vs. Giants, Stonecunning, Hardiness vs. Poison, Hardiness vs. Spells, Offensive Training vs. Goblinoids, Offensive Training vs. Orcs, Skill Affinity: Lore)
01: Wizard(1): Toughness, {Scribe Scroll}
02: Fighter(1): Weapon Focus: Scimitar
03: Wizard(2): Blind Fight
04: Wizard(3): STR+1, (STR=16)
05: Wizard(4)
06: Wizard(5): Extend Spell, Empower Spell
07: Wizard(6)
08: Wizard(7): STR+1, (STR=17)
09: Fighter(2): Spell Penetration, Knockdown
10: Fighter(3)
11: Fighter(4): Weapon Specialization: Scimitar
12: Fighter(5): STR+1, Improved Knockdown, (STR=18)
13: Fighter(6): Improved Critical: Scimitar
14: Wizard(8)
15: Fighter(7): Greater Spell Penetration
16: Fighter(8): STR+1, Power Attack, (STR=19)
17: Fighter(9)
18: Fighter(10): Still Spell, Cleave
19: Fighter(11)
20: Fighter(12): STR+1, Great Cleave, (STR=20)
21: Wizard(9): Epic Weapon Focus: Scimitar
22: Wizard(10): Great Intelligence I, (INT=19)
23: Wizard(11)
24: Wizard(12): STR+1, Great Strength I, (STR=22)
25: Wizard(13)
26: Wizard(14)
27: Fighter(13): Epic Weapon Specialization: Scimitar
28: Wizard(15): STR+1, Great Intelligence II, (STR=23), (INT=20)
29: Wizard(16)
30: Wizard(17): Automatic Still Spell I
31: Wizard(18)
32: Wizard(19): STR+1, (STR=24)
33: Wizard(20): Overwhelming Critical: Scimitar, Automatic Still Spell II
34: Wizard(21)
35: Wizard(22)
36: Wizard(23): STR+1, Devastating Critical: Scimitar, Automatic Still Spell III, (STR=25)
37: Wizard(24)
38: Wizard(25)
39: Wizard(26): Epic Prowess, Epic Spell: Epic Warding
40: Bard(1): STR+1, (STR=26)

Hitpoints: 400
Skillpoints: 272
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 23/19/15
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +11, Poison: +2
BAB: 26
AB (max, naked): 38 (melee), 26 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane items only): 17/28
Spell Casting: Wizard(9)
Alignment Changes: 0

Concentration 43(46), Craft Armor 7(12), Craft Weapon 7(12), Disable Trap 1(6), Discipline 43(51), Open Lock 1(0), Spellcraft 43(48), Taunt 43(41), Tumble 40(39), UMD 42(40)

01: Concentration(4), Craft Armor(4), Craft Weapon(4), Disable Trap(1), Open Lock(1), Spellcraft(4), Save(4),
02: Concentration(1), Craft Armor(1), Craft Weapon(1), Discipline(5), Save(2),
03: Concentration(1), Craft Armor(1), Craft Weapon(1), Spellcraft(2), Save(3),
04: Concentration(1), Craft Armor(1), Craft Weapon(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(5),
05: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(9),
06: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(13),
07: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(17),
08: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(21),
09: Concentration(1), Discipline(7), Save(19),
10: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(23),
11: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(27),
12: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(31),
13: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(35),
14: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(6), Save(34),
15: Concentration(1), Discipline(2), Save(37),
16: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(41),
17: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(45),
18: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(49),
19: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(53),
20: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(57),
21: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(7), Save(55),
22: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(59),
23: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(63),
24: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(67),
25: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(71),
26: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(75),
27: Concentration(1), Discipline(7), Save(73),
28: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(2), Save(76),
29: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(81),
30: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(86),
31: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(91),
32: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(96),
33: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(101),
34: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(106),
35: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(111),
36: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(116),
37: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(121),
38: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(126),
39: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(131),
40: Concentration(1), Discipline(13), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(43), Tumble(40), UMD(42),

[unifiedworld]

I recently started a playthrough with my Magical Dwarven Scimitar Master build and realized several things as a result.

1. The general feat slots in pre-epic should be used for magic-related feats, such as Spell Penetration and Spell Focus line feats. Investing in the feat requirements for Weapon Master makes that very difficult, which I don’t like. Another very relevant feat for spellswords is Toughness, which my weapon master build couldn’t fit. The Dex13 requirement for Dodge is also unfortunate for a build that plans to wear heavy armor while able to self-cast Cat’s Grace.

2. Investing in Taunt is a really good idea, and to do so, 20 intelligence is needed (for the extra skill points). Raising the starting intelligence to 18 also helps with skill points. (Expertise is nice to use together with Taunt as well, and it just so happens that it fits if you cut Dev. Crit.) It’s notable that Taunting is less dangerous (from going flat-footed) when you have damage shields and Epic Warding available.

3. Devastating Critical isn’t that important when we have magic at our disposal.

4. I really want Epic Mage Armor in the build and more spell penetration is quite valuable when it will determine whether my spells will hit or not.

Thus, I decided to switch from the Magical Dwarven Scimitar Master to the Warrior Mage and to make some changes to the build, as follows:

Fighter(13), Wizard(26), Bard(1), Dwarf

STR: 15 (26)
DEX: 8
CON: 16
WIS: 8
INT: 18 (20)
CHA: 6

Dwarf: (Darkvision, Defensive Training vs. Giants, Stonecunning, Hardiness vs. Poison, Hardiness vs. Spells, Offensive Training vs. Goblinoids, Offensive Training vs. Orcs, Skill Affinity: Lore)
01: Wizard(1): Toughness, {Scribe Scroll}
02: Fighter(1): Weapon Focus: Scimitar
03: Wizard(2): Extend Spell
04: Wizard(3): STR+1, (STR=16)
05: Wizard(4)
06: Wizard(5): Spell Focus: Evocation, Empower Spell
07: Wizard(6)
08: Wizard(7): STR+1, (STR=17)
09: Fighter(2): Greater Spell Focus: Evocation, Knockdown
10: Fighter(3)
11: Fighter(4): Weapon Specialization: Scimitar
12: Fighter(5): STR+1, Spell Penetration, (STR=18)
13: Fighter(6): Improved Critical: Scimitar
14: Wizard(8)
15: Fighter(7): Greater Spell Penetration
16: Fighter(8): STR+1, Improved Knockdown, (STR=19)
17: Fighter(9)
18: Fighter(10): Still Spell, Blind Fight
19: Fighter(11)
20: Fighter(12): STR+1, Expertise, (STR=20)
21: Wizard(9): Great Intelligence I, (INT=19)
22: Wizard(10): Great Intelligence II, (INT=20)
23: Wizard(11)
24: Wizard(12): STR+1, Epic Weapon Focus: Scimitar, (STR=21)
25: Wizard(13)
26: Wizard(14)
27: Fighter(13): Epic Weapon Specialization: Scimitar
28: Wizard(15): STR+1, Epic Spell Penetration, (STR=22)
29: Wizard(16)
30: Wizard(17): Automatic Still Spell I
31: Wizard(18)
32: Wizard(19): STR+1, (STR=23)
33: Wizard(20): Automatic Still Spell II, Automatic Still Spell III
34: Wizard(21)
35: Wizard(22)
36: Wizard(23): STR+1, Epic Prowess, Epic Spell: Epic Mage Armor, (STR=24)
37: Wizard(24)
38: Wizard(25)
39: Wizard(26): Great Strength I, Epic Spell: Epic Warding, (STR=25)
40: Bard(1): STR+1, (STR=26)

Hitpoints: 400
Skillpoints: 278
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 23/19/15
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +11, Poison: +2
BAB: 26
AB (max, naked): 38 (melee), 26 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane items only): 17/28
Spell Casting: Wizard(9)
Alignment Changes: 0

Concentration 43(46), Craft Armor 8(13), Craft Weapon 7(12), Disable Trap 1(6), Discipline 43(51), Open Lock 1(0), Perform 5(3), Spellcraft 43(48), Taunt 43(41), Tumble 40(39), UMD 42(40)

01: Concentration(4), Craft Armor(4), Craft Weapon(4), Disable Trap(1), Open Lock(1), Spellcraft(4), Save(4),
02: Concentration(1), Craft Armor(1), Craft Weapon(1), Discipline(5), Save(2),
03: Concentration(1), Craft Armor(1), Craft Weapon(1), Spellcraft(2), Save(3),
04: Concentration(1), Craft Armor(1), Craft Weapon(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(5),
05: Concentration(1), Craft Armor(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(8),
06: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(12),
07: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(16),
08: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(20),
09: Concentration(1), Discipline(7), Save(18),
10: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(22),
11: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(26),
12: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(30),
13: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(34),
14: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(6), Save(33),
15: Concentration(1), Discipline(2), Save(36),
16: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(40),
17: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(44),
18: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(48),
19: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(52),
20: Concentration(1), Discipline(1), Save(56),
21: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(7), Save(54),
22: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(58),
23: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(63),
24: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(68),
25: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(73),
26: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(78),
27: Concentration(1), Discipline(7), Save(77),
28: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(2), Save(81),
29: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(86),
30: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(91),
31: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(96),
32: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(101),
33: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(106),
34: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(111),
35: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(116),
36: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(121),
37: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(126),
38: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(131),
39: Concentration(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(136),
40: Concentration(1), Discipline(13), Perform(5), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(43), Tumble(40), UMD(42)

This version has cut Dev. Crit (original post retains the Dev. Crit version.) Instead, it has Epic Mage Armor, Epic Spell Penetration (which could be switched to Armor Skin or Epic Spell Focus: Evocation if the player wishes), Spell Focus: Evocation, Greater Spell Focus: Evocation and Expertise (useful for a mage that sometimes wants to cast spells during combat and for Taunting).

Basically, since I’ll be playing a mage, I want to be good at doing mage things.

(Minor side-note: I was able to move feats around to get 6 more skill points, allowing for Bard Song after all.)

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