Heavy Herald (18 drood / 21 sorc / 1 pally)

[simpetar]

This is the build I am running with, posted due to popular demand, mainly by newer players. Usually it goes something like: "What (the heck) is this build?"
To those new players: this is a herald. It is a niche build, a wild card at best. It is NOT a core class. If you are looking to be invited in parties with ease, please make a core class (sorc, bard, cleric or druid).
Consider this build a beta, I made it out of boredom and for fun Its distinguishing trait from other heralds is that this one is running around in heavy (later on medium) armor and with shield - this is to better mitigate any kickback (or which there is plenty), while still reaching acceptable AC.

subrace: Half-Janni (human)
str 8 / 8
dex 8 / 6
con 12 / turns into 8
int 14 / 14
wis 12 / 18
cha 18 / 26 - all stat points go here

class progression: 16 druid - 21 sorc - 2 druid - 1 paladin
alignment: NG, at level 39 switch to LG for the paladin level

pre-epic

Blooded, SF: Enchantment (ESF: Abjuration, 1x Great Charisma for free)
GSF: Enchantment
SF: Conjuration
GSF: Conjuration
Extended Spell
Empowered Spell
Still Spell

epic

4x Great Charisma
Auto-still Spell 1-3
(ESF: Enchantment, ESF: Conjuration, Epic Spell Penetration, 2x Great Charisma, 2x Great Wisdom for free)

LLs

LSA: Tumble
Legendary Spell Penetration
LSF: Enchantment
LSF: Conjuration
LSF: Illusion (read the book before)
2x Great Charisma

PLs

PSF: Enchantment
Paragon Spell Penetration
PSF: Conjuration
PSF: Illusion
Armor Skin (that is correct, every bit counts)
1x Great Charisma

skills

Concentration: max
Craft Armor: max
Tumble: 60
Discipline: 43 (pally splash)
Spellcraft: 27 (req for Auto-still Spell)
Animal Empathy: 42 (i.e. max at lvl 39)
Heal: the rest

skills in PLs: Concentration, Craft Armor, Heal

saves
ZOMG through the roof

spell tome: Illusion
pandect: Craft Armor
artifact: SP (pretty much mandatory)

sorc spells

level 1: Mage Armor, Sleep, Grease, Endure Elements, Protection From Alignment
level 2: Fox's Cunning, Web, Vocalize, Endurance, Ghostly Visage
level 3: Displacement, GMW, Stinking CLoud, Clarity
level 4: Everard's, Elemental Shield, Confuse, Remove Curse
level 5: Cloudkill, Lesser Mind Blank, Mind Fog, Break Enchantment
level 6: Acid Fog, Mass Cat's Grace, Mass Bull's Strength
level 7: Rebuke, Static Field, Energy Immunity
level 8: Greater Planar Binding, Horrid Wilting, Mass Charm
level 9: Gate, Dominate Moster, Mordekianen's Disjunction

notes (mostly about spells)

1. Buffing with SP arti active - that way sorc CL becomes 44 and stat spells (Mass Bull's Strength / Cat Grace, Endurance and Fox's Cunning) give the max of +3 to stat checks. Could make some exceptions in certain circumstances though.
2. I did not bother with fire or electric weapon buffs, there is nearly always somebody who does better job with those. GMW however is +16 and acid weapon gives full 4 dice, it is a conjuration spell.
3. All utility spells reach at least CL 41: Clarity, Remove Curse, Remove Disease, Break Enchantment, (Mass) Heal.
4. Some spells are seemingly missing in the sorc book, but they are present in druid book: Hold Monster and Antipathy.
5. Animal Empathy (also buffed by Charm Person or Animal in autocaster) is there for the top notch Creeping Doom - it will deal its damage faster and be better at overcoming damage resistance.
6. Freezing Fog is missing - its damage is pathetic and it competes for slots with the very important Cloudkill and Mind Fog. Break Enchantment took its place.

[woqued]

New players ask -> subrace: Half-Janni -> huehuehuehue

Seems like a fun build

[desocupado]

I suppose Air Ruvoka is viable, although not optimal:

Air Ruvoka" (secret eXtremely Rare)

- requires Human

FCs: Druid, Sorcerer

WIS +4
CHA +8
Free Feats: SF/GSF: Conjuration, SF/GSF: Enchantment
Other: +50% Electrical Immunity, Survival: Levitation

Pros:
Additional regular feats (combat casting? saves+2? toughness?)
Elec dmg imm
Levitation (may use immunity/misc ring instead of planewalker)

"Half-Janni" (secret eXtremely Rare)

- requires Human

FC: Cleric

DEX -2
WIS +6
CHA +8
Free Feats: SF/GSF/ESF: Abjuration, Extra Turning, Improved Initiative, Great Charisma I
Other: Undeath to Death becomes Abjuration, Survival: Levitation, Survival: Firewalk

Pros:
extra LL feat (room for LSF: Illusion)
+2 Wisdom (turns into +2 Con)

[simpetar]

Jul 14, 2019 9:05:10 GMT woqued said:

New players ask -> subrace: Half-Janni -> huehuehuehue

Yes, little bit ironic, isn't it. I suppose you could roll something similar with Half-celestial or Fallen Angel, but these have higher wis than cha, so wisdom base makes more sense, paired with monk splash instead of pally and you have an entire new build.

Jul 14, 2019 12:02:45 GMT desocupado said:

I suppose Air Ruvoka is viable, although not optimal

Alas, that is the fate of many XR races, they are suboptimal for the builds they were designed to be good at. The only reason why I would consider Air Ruvoka over Half-Janni in this particular build is that the horrendous 40% xp penalty becomes less horrendous 20%.

Pros:
Additional regular feats (combat casting? saves+2? toughness?)
Elec dmg imm
Levitation (may use immunity/misc ring instead of planewalker)

Combat casting is worthless if you are proficient with defensive casting. Higher saves aren't necessary, they already are in mid-high 80s. Toughness makes some sense when you can't feed on enemies with Cloudkill (like in Thana), but when you can cast it, it's not uncommon to maintain 4-5k ish temporary HP at all times. The only feat I would consider is Maximize Spell, to get little more punch from damage clouds, but even empowered spells have their perks.

Pros:
extra LL feat (room for LSF: Illusion)
+2 Wisdom (turns into +2 Con)

I consider Illusion the best off-school for heralds. Main reason is 25% physical vulnerability on Creeping Doom. It also helps with GV duration and (in this case) small boost to Displacement, which surpasses Mass Camo (and has no side effects).

[Yojimbo]

Reviewing and revising my old builds and just finished updating my CHA Herald and saw this it is cool very similar I went more typical robed caster and mostly ignored my AC. This is cool build idea also mine is built on Radiance Genasi might be more attainable race for newer players.