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Total Members Voted: 14

Voting closed: September 20, 2010, 02:28:25 am

[C4lv1n]

The forums is called "Other Games" so I think this fits  , sorry if it doesn't, but, to my problem...

tl;dr D&D 3.5, Playing a caster that gets AC from int, need a race with Level Adjustment 2 or less that adds Int and (possibly) Dex, or a class to take only 2 levels of.

Info on the poll:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I just wanted to know, overall, what people thought of Level Adjustment, not in any way related to my case

I'm going to be playing in a high powered, gesalt game and I'm putting together a char, I already rolled my stats (with DM aproval), they are:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

STR 16
DEX 16
CON 15
INT 20
WIZ 15
CHA 14

We start at level 15 so I have 30 levels to spend. This is my plan:
I take Wizard from level 1-15
I take Monk at level 1 or 1-3 (This is the problem)
I take Master Specilist from 4-13
Then Archmage for 14 and 15
Here's a table:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

01-wiz-monk
02-wiz-monk or LA
03-wiz-monk or LA
04-wiz-Master Specialist (CM)
05-wiz-Master Specialist
06-wiz-Master Specialist
07-wiz-Master Specialist
08-wiz-Master Specialist
09-wiz-Master Specialist
10-wiz-Master Specialist
11-wiz-Master Specialist
12-wiz-Master Specialist
13-wiz-Master Specialist
14-wiz-Arch Mage
15-wiz-Arch Mage

The reason for the level(s) of monk is there is a feat (dm approved) that lets you use Int rather then Wiz for all Monk abilities, IE: Add my int bonus to AC, yay! (Leaves me with 18 AC at this point)

The point of my post, and my dilemma is that I don't really get anying useful to a caster from taking 2 more levels of monk over the first (Evasion, +10 speed and a +2 against enchantments). My other option is that I take a race/template with a LA, one with a bonus to Int and possibly Dex.

All I can think of for races are Grey Elf (0 LA, +2 int, -2 str) and Drow (+2 LA, +2 int, +2 cha, some nice abilites)

Alternatively someone recommends a class that I will only ever take 2 levels of (Not wizard or monk)

[Soulwynd]

No idea...

But as for the level adjustment, it really depends on what race or racemod you're picking. Forgotten Realms races & planar mods (Like the Shadar-Kai or the race mod that attunes you to the shadow plane) are extremely good, even tho sort of expensive in terms of levels.

But it all depends on how specialist you want to be or how cool and fun. If you want to min max, don't take any level adjustment.

[Muz]

I can't really agree on the poll, so just clicked the longest option. IMO, from a combat mechanics perspective, not really, but it depends on the class. Some classes would be worth more at higher levels, I think monk is one of them and rather poor at low levels.

I'm not sure if the extra monk levels are really worth the AC boost. You get some nice defensive spell slots with the three extra wizard levels (or even archmage, IIRC). +5 AC is -25% to hit, so it's definitely nice, but at higher levels people will have ridiculously high attack bonuses and damage that you'll want to stay away from melee combat completely.

I think the beauty of LA races is that you get to play those races at all. It doesn't seem to provide that much of a bonus from a combat perspective.

[Volatar]

Though there are plenty of DnD players here, if you want the motherlode of them, head over to http://www.giantitp.com/forums/

Not advertising, just getting you the help you need 

[C4lv1n]

I can't really agree on the poll, so just clicked the longest option. IMO, from a combat mechanics perspective, not really, but it depends on the class. Some classes would be worth more at higher levels, I think monk is one of them and rather poor at low levels.

I'm not sure if the extra monk levels are really worth the AC boost. You get some nice defensive spell slots with the three extra wizard levels (or even archmage, IIRC). +5 AC is -25% to hit, so it's definitely nice, but at higher levels people will have ridiculously high attack bonuses and damage that you'll want to stay away from melee combat completely.

I think the beauty of LA races is that you get to play those races at all. It doesn't seem to provide that much of a bonus from a combat perspective.

Two things!

1! Thank you other guy for directing me there, I didn't know that they had forums!

2! We're playing gesalt, so we take 2 classes every level, but not the same one at the same time, so tradinging 3 levels of monk for 3 more of wizard isn't possible. I'm already taking wizard to level 15 anyways.

[Muz]

Ah, I had no idea what gestalt was. Well, if you want to min/max, it's not really worth the two levels. Monk/Wizard is not bad, but far more powerful at higher monk levels. You could get a wizard who mostly focuses on a wide range of protective spells (which stack with monk's non armor). An invisible, stoneskinned monk with flaming fists is pretty damn scary.

Or if you still want to focus on wizard, maybe take barbarian? Those d12 hit rolls really help, especially the free starting 12 HP. The saving throw bonuses and BAB is nice and rage can save you if you're trapped in a melee.

[Ioric Kittencuddler]

You also might want to try www.myth-weavers.com

[Eugenitor]

Oh God, a Gestalt game.

Go Wizard/Cleric for 15 straight levels and become Super Batman.

Or Mystic Theurge if it's allowed.

[Akigagak]

Though there are plenty of DnD players here, if you want the motherlode of them, head over to http://www.giantitp.com/forums/

Not advertising, just getting you the help you need 

There was a thread there on this very topic.

Basically: ≥+2 is worth it, if it increases your main attributes by a decent amount (more than +2). Wis/Int/Cha for casters, Str/Con/Dex for melee. Also, Size increases are good for melee. There are a couple of LA+1 that have nice bonuses and increase size (Half-minotaur and Half-ogre.) But they're pretty over the top for LA+1. Even if they are melee-only choices.

+3 to +4 and up? Better be EXTREMELY good. Losing that many class levels is never a good idea, and any caster with a race or template that does this is doing it wrong. Same for any melee, actually, unless the race/template is very very good.

[beorn080]

WHY ARE YOU BOTHERING WITH AC AS A CASTER!?!?!?!?

Touch AC, that's something that is a good thing to boost, but it doesn't need to be too high. 30 is probably good enough.

As for your build.

Wiz X/ Iot7V 7/Wiz X
Cloistered Cleric 13/Monk 2

Take the Knowledge devotion feat. That lets you turn easy Knowledge checks into combat bonuses. With the Cloistered Cleric you get all knowledge skills as a class, and can greatly pump them.

Don't take Wiz and Wizard advancing prestige classes at the same time. It does nothing. If you really wish to be defensive, get early entry into the Initiate of the Sevenfold Veils prestige class and use that one the wizard side. It's in Complete Arcana, and is effectively a You can't touch me button. Let's you raise parts of prismatic walls as a free action. Including the Violet "Destroy everything that touches, no save" part.

If you can, swap out the 16 Str for the 15 Wis. Don't bother with the monk int for wis feat, unless you can find one for cleric spells too. I would swear I saw one, but can't remember where.

Edit: If you don't mind being a Kobold, a Dragontouched Venerable Kobold nets you +3 mental stats at no cost. If you go straight Dragontouched Venerable Kobold, you get -4 str, -2 con, +2 dex, +3 int, wis, cha. That would make your stats

12 str
18 dex
11 con
23 int
18 wis
17 cha

Edit Edit: If you take the Kobold route, NEVER mention a Sarrukh, unless it is a TRULY high powered game.