Dexterity based meatgrinder. (solo)

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This is the character I am currently soloing with(as of orc fortress)

Deep gnome rogue 3/fighter 4/ illusionist 2 (x)
Str: 16
Dex: 20 (+2)
Con: 16
Int: 16
Wis: 5
Cha: 1

Feats: Armoured Arcana 3, Axe 3, Rapid shot, Precise shot

Weapon: Head over haft? + Shield of Virgin

Notes:
Throwing axe was taken for an extra attack (and it takes advantage of high dex), at the expense of cleave, power attack and expertise. Level squating when able.

How will he do at the higher levels?

Would it be worth it to get more than 12 levels of wizzard? (If I take more than that I will lose an attack and some dex)

Any suggestions on how to make him better?

Edit: The whole purpose of this build was to create a dex-based axe chucking idiot and try to solo with him (maybe duo). Another possibility is a Ghostwise rogue 3/fighter 4/barb x. Rogue lvs were taken in both characters to maximize the benefits of high dex.

Thanks Jukka for the help from the JUPP

[ January 22, 2004, 03:30: Message edited by: Nameless One ]

 

My suggestion is to make sure you find items that protect against Will based attacks (as your Will saving throw will be useless). Your spell resistance will help but there are a few places in the game where non-magic Fear is a risk.

 

There's always the Vghotan's Collar against fear for a solo character, so that's not a problem.

I'd suggest adding (at least) one level of some other caster class, most likely Cleric of some sort, as that'd allow you to scribe & use Necromancy and Abjuration spells. (Ranger doesn't work like this, beware.) Will saves aren't that big of a problem once you learn "Protection from Evil" and especially "Mind Blank".

Level 12 as a wizard is a good one to stop at if you want to continue improving your melee capabilities after that, as it gives you access to the ultimate combat booster Tenser's Transformation. Not to mention that it'll increase your AC even further. Otherwise, be sure to take at least 20 levels as wizard, as this gives you the best 9th level spells with the max amount of castings per day.

 

Unless you consider the access to Abjuration / Necromancy to be a bug that should not be exploited (i.e. it's cheating). It's a grey area.

 

Armoured arcana comes at a dear, dear price. But I've noticed you're using a shield. So, have you come to the same conclusion as I? No armour, just shield spell for armour AC bonus and a shield for shield AC bonus? Niceties.

I would go wizard for the rest of your days. If you really insist on warrior-class levels, let it better be ranger. More skills, more skill points, racial enemey, dual wielding, you know. But that could bar you from 9th level spells. With only 7 non-wizard levels, you'll still have them. Executioner's eyes is worth many warrior levels. Tenser's transmutation grows with levels, giving STR, DEX and even straightforward temporary BAB increase together with more attacks, should it come from the bonus amount. As a matter of trade-off, you will suck more in non-buffed melee while you will suck less in buffed melee. I'm telling you, you can live without several hit points and one or two attack bonus points. Much easier than living without a whole spell rank.

 

I had a doubt regarding something related to the topic though it might be considered slightly OT.

Which shield would be best used for maximum shield AC bonus, with a maximum 15% spell casting failure?

I was thinking a moderate strength, high INT character would make a cool Fighter/Rogue/Wizard, but I need some shield info for that.

 

Shield +2, total AC4 of shield type. Together with shield spell (7), it gets you +11, like a fighter with fullplate and shield of which one is +1. Not so bad.

 

Spiny Black Urchin +4 shield AC at 5% casting failure rate. Unfortunately, it's a HoF mode item, and the normal mode one, +2 AC, has a 15% casting failure rate.

Mind Blank is nearly useless for this character. You can't get it until the Severed Hand, even when you get the ability to cast L8 spells.

 

I am not too worried about my will saves. The wizzard's main save is will and the deep gnome's +2 saving throw helps a little. I am thinking of adding a paladin level later which adds protection from fear and +1~3 will saves (HA Quest, +1 str+wis, gods ring +5wis). But the most important thing is many will spells are resisted or workable. Charm spells have no effect because the enemy will not attack their own and I have no one to attack, its like hitting pause (if non-permanent). Others can be protected by buffs/items, stun terrifies me.

The reason why I built this character was to take advantage of using the throwing axe, getting an extra attack as if dual wielding while wearing a shield and using dexterity to hit without the armor check penalty associated with finesse. This has cost me a lot: loss of expertise and I think the axe is being treated as a distance weapon which causes to hit penalties and gives enemies a to hit bonus when in close range! (I hope im wrong)

A robe is the clothing of choice. Mage armor provides +4 armor and does not cause magic failure or dexterity armor loss. I might consider light armor if I find one with good special properties and a good small shield. But by then I will have super high dexterity so its pointless. Spell 'shield' will have to come from other sources unless another spellcaster is added.

I think I will add 4 levels of paladin after 12 lvs of wizzard than the rest wizzard. Ending at illusionist19/fighter4/paladin4/rogue3. Will have to sacrafice some dexterity for 3 inteligence.

@chevalier: Your right, we do think alike. Especially since many of my ideas were borrowed from your solo paladin/diviner and Jukka's tank/meatgrinder (deep gnome: figter4/rogue4/paladin5/ranger5/illusionist12)

 

Just to correct one misconception, the Shield spell confers an ARMOR bonus, not a SHIELD bonus. So, the best one can get from a shield is +4 AC. Sad Gohji's Cap is +6, but I don't think one can find it in the game.

This also means that going to extremes with WIS AC bonus needs to cover up the shield bonus as well as the difference between Shield spell and the best armor (+8, Chain of Drakka's Fury), so treat the WIS bonus with a virtual -5 AC penalty when considering maximal attainable AC. I.e. it's no use to get only +3 WIS AC bonus, one would be better off by using armor/shield.

 

That's PNP rules, and IIRC 3.5E at that. In IWD2, shield spell gives armour bonus. It should be shield, ignored from flank or behind etc etc, but it's not.

 

One question, isn't thrown damage defined by strength modifier and not dexterity?

 

With thrown weapons, Dexterity is used for to hit and strength is used for damage.

Also, this is a dead thread, please let it die peacefully.