Post by toadstool on Aug 5, 2009 10:54:13 GMT
This is a hypothetical build, not a practical one. I am currently leveling up a Pariah following kingcamaro's build with the intention of reincarnating to this build at double demi. Having crunched the numbers, however, I think that this build would be viable before double demi, given +14 gear and burs.
This build is designed to take advantage of the possibility of receiving +14 to stats using randomized items. The calculations of geared stats below assume +14 to dex, wis and con.
Essentially, this build attempts to use the wisdom boost and conj foci from the Rilmani subrace to create a Pariah with better saves, better defense (thanks to high conceal) and more flexibility than the standard version.
It has one fewer Level 9 spell than other Pariah builds, one lower caster level, and lower physical immunity due to wearing robes and having low strength. It also has low spellcraft, relying mainly on gear. (Casters who counterspell a lot at high levels might like to subtract two points from wisdom at the start and spend them on intelligence instead, sacrificing one AC and one will save for an extra skill.) It relies on rage for spell penetration, and can reach a maximum of 76 with +14 gear, artifact and double demi. It has spell DCs one less than an illus/trans/conj/evoc Genie wizard with legendary foci in all of those schools and a specialization in illusion. Maximum HP is about 2600. AC in BURs should max out at 122 at double demi, or 126 with Girding (118/122 when it first enters hell, 116/120 with +12 gear). Subtract one from these figures if you use the Stygia robes, and add +3 if you plan on use an Asmodeus deflection artifact instead of the Ruby Rod. The absolute maximum is thus 129 AC. It also has 80% conceal from Ethereal Visage.
Stats: Start (Subrace/Pariah edits) (Level 60 in gear as described above)(double demi and arti)
Str: 6 (6) (18) (22)
Dex: 8 (8) (24) (28) (note that there is no point in increasing dex at character creation since Pariah sets it to 6)
Con: 20 (24) (70) (76)
Int: 8 (8) (20) (24)
Wis: 14 (20) (34) (38)
Cha: 15 (19) (31) (35)
Free feats: Autostill 1-3, armor skin, SF and GSF Conj, SF animal empathy, spell penetration
Pre-epic (1 monk, 13 sorc, 6 barb):
Blooded (for LSA Tumble later on)
SF trans
GSF trans
Still spell
GSF illus
Weapon finesse (so as to receive dex instead of str from legendary barbarian)
Empower spell (I may change this once we know the actual damage formula being used for the new Conjuration orb spells)
Epic (14 barb and 6 sorc, being sure that level 40 is taken as sorc for the conc dump):
ESF Illus
ESF Trans
Great Con I through V
Legendary (read evoc book at level 41):
Great Con VI through VIII
LSF Illus
LSA Tumble
ESF conj
Note: since the main offensive transmutation spell is FTS, and Pariahs already have astronomically high FTS DC, you may choose to swap this out for another epic or legendary feat. You could, for example, take Great Con IX and set starting Con to 19, to free up stat points for Int (and hence Spellcraft). This means losing the epic wall.
Skills are concentration (dump at 40), tumble (60 points), discipline, craft armor, and lore. Discipline need not be fully maxed as you are not wearing armor and hence need not fear slag checks. Neither must craft armor, as you cannot hit the +3 bonus in any case. Instead, put as much as you think you need in these skills and spend the rest (if any) on spellcraft.
Saves (at double demi and with +14 gear) are 52 reflex and 61 will. I did not bother to calculate fortitude, as it should be astronomical due to the very high con score. You are safer than most pariahs against arachills, but should still take care to get rid of them as quickly as possibly with your high DC weirds. Will saves are not a problem in spite of the lack of feats spent.
The spellbook should be similar to Kleb's, but be sure to include Ethereal Visage and possibly Premonition. (I am unsure about the latter. Is +14 enough to be useful?) Kickback shields are invaluable at lower levels, especially in Feywild, but lose their utility later on. Plan accordingly.
Be certain to get Mage Armor. It is your only source of Shield AC. Also get Tenser's for 19 natural AC instead of 16 from the Tia amulet (as well as some extra temporary HP). Note that this will make your Level 6 spellslots very tight - you will not be able to get Stone to Flesh, Greater Stoneskin or level 6 Bigby.
This should be a very flexible mage. High HP, 50% critical hits reduction (even without the Ruby Rod), long-lasting Ghostly Visage, decent saves, adequate AC (for a mage) and conceal only 5% less than the maximum should allow you to stay out of limbo in all but the most desperate of circumstances. You have access to some very high-damage spells, one very high-DC instant death spell, and a variety of immobilizing spells, including the very high-DC FTS all pariahs enjoy. You also have spell penetration to rival a PM's while raging.
I await feedback eagerly, and will update this thread when I get around to taking this or a similar build through hell.
This build is designed to take advantage of the possibility of receiving +14 to stats using randomized items. The calculations of geared stats below assume +14 to dex, wis and con.
Essentially, this build attempts to use the wisdom boost and conj foci from the Rilmani subrace to create a Pariah with better saves, better defense (thanks to high conceal) and more flexibility than the standard version.
It has one fewer Level 9 spell than other Pariah builds, one lower caster level, and lower physical immunity due to wearing robes and having low strength. It also has low spellcraft, relying mainly on gear. (Casters who counterspell a lot at high levels might like to subtract two points from wisdom at the start and spend them on intelligence instead, sacrificing one AC and one will save for an extra skill.) It relies on rage for spell penetration, and can reach a maximum of 76 with +14 gear, artifact and double demi. It has spell DCs one less than an illus/trans/conj/evoc Genie wizard with legendary foci in all of those schools and a specialization in illusion. Maximum HP is about 2600. AC in BURs should max out at 122 at double demi, or 126 with Girding (118/122 when it first enters hell, 116/120 with +12 gear). Subtract one from these figures if you use the Stygia robes, and add +3 if you plan on use an Asmodeus deflection artifact instead of the Ruby Rod. The absolute maximum is thus 129 AC. It also has 80% conceal from Ethereal Visage.
Stats: Start (Subrace/Pariah edits) (Level 60 in gear as described above)(double demi and arti)
Str: 6 (6) (18) (22)
Dex: 8 (8) (24) (28) (note that there is no point in increasing dex at character creation since Pariah sets it to 6)
Con: 20 (24) (70) (76)
Int: 8 (8) (20) (24)
Wis: 14 (20) (34) (38)
Cha: 15 (19) (31) (35)
Free feats: Autostill 1-3, armor skin, SF and GSF Conj, SF animal empathy, spell penetration
Pre-epic (1 monk, 13 sorc, 6 barb):
Blooded (for LSA Tumble later on)
SF trans
GSF trans
Still spell
GSF illus
Weapon finesse (so as to receive dex instead of str from legendary barbarian)
Empower spell (I may change this once we know the actual damage formula being used for the new Conjuration orb spells)
Epic (14 barb and 6 sorc, being sure that level 40 is taken as sorc for the conc dump):
ESF Illus
ESF Trans
Great Con I through V
Legendary (read evoc book at level 41):
Great Con VI through VIII
LSF Illus
LSA Tumble
ESF conj
Note: since the main offensive transmutation spell is FTS, and Pariahs already have astronomically high FTS DC, you may choose to swap this out for another epic or legendary feat. You could, for example, take Great Con IX and set starting Con to 19, to free up stat points for Int (and hence Spellcraft). This means losing the epic wall.
Skills are concentration (dump at 40), tumble (60 points), discipline, craft armor, and lore. Discipline need not be fully maxed as you are not wearing armor and hence need not fear slag checks. Neither must craft armor, as you cannot hit the +3 bonus in any case. Instead, put as much as you think you need in these skills and spend the rest (if any) on spellcraft.
Saves (at double demi and with +14 gear) are 52 reflex and 61 will. I did not bother to calculate fortitude, as it should be astronomical due to the very high con score. You are safer than most pariahs against arachills, but should still take care to get rid of them as quickly as possibly with your high DC weirds. Will saves are not a problem in spite of the lack of feats spent.
The spellbook should be similar to Kleb's, but be sure to include Ethereal Visage and possibly Premonition. (I am unsure about the latter. Is +14 enough to be useful?) Kickback shields are invaluable at lower levels, especially in Feywild, but lose their utility later on. Plan accordingly.
Be certain to get Mage Armor. It is your only source of Shield AC. Also get Tenser's for 19 natural AC instead of 16 from the Tia amulet (as well as some extra temporary HP). Note that this will make your Level 6 spellslots very tight - you will not be able to get Stone to Flesh, Greater Stoneskin or level 6 Bigby.
This should be a very flexible mage. High HP, 50% critical hits reduction (even without the Ruby Rod), long-lasting Ghostly Visage, decent saves, adequate AC (for a mage) and conceal only 5% less than the maximum should allow you to stay out of limbo in all but the most desperate of circumstances. You have access to some very high-damage spells, one very high-DC instant death spell, and a variety of immobilizing spells, including the very high-DC FTS all pariahs enjoy. You also have spell penetration to rival a PM's while raging.
I await feedback eagerly, and will update this thread when I get around to taking this or a similar build through hell.