[silverdragon72]

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1st PC:

role: melee-fighter - spellsword - support arcane caster


race: drow male


alignement: chaotic good


stats: STR 18 - DEX 20 - CON 16 - INT 17 - WIS 4 - CHA 5


comment on stats: increase INT early (to 19 or 20) and then max. STR - you don't need WIS that much cause of your SR and +2 will saves (drow) - later you get better will saves from the wiz-levels and you can use protection spells!

alternative: you can start with 18 or even 20 INT to get even more SP on level 1 (but you won't need them) and lower CON for this (but I would increase CON to 16 later then!). Eitherway main focus should be STR for this build!


major class: wizard 20


mix-ins: rogue 3 - fighter 4 - barb 3


order of levels:

1st rogue
after 5th: rogue 2 - fighter 2 - barb 1
after 25th: rogue 2 - fighter 2 - barb 1 - wizard 20
final: rogue 3 - fighter 4 - barb 3 - wizard 20


comment on levelling: I stopped levelling at several points especially after:

rogue 3 - fighter 2 - barb 2 or rogue 3 - fighter 4 - barb 3

- then I stopped levelling until I had enough EXP to take 5 wiz levels in one step
- as the extra wiz levels beyond 5 won't increase the power that much - I waited until he had enough EXP to get tensers and then take the wiz levels!


most important spells: all defensive & stat buffs
in general: spells without a save - as you don't have that high INT nor GSF!


most important feats: imp. critcal, EW:BS (using some of weimars mod BS), power attack, cleave, ambidex, 2-WF, dirty tricks


skills: open lock & dis. dev., concentration - all maxed + hide & move silent as you have free SP


general comments: backbone of the party in normal game - no problems to master battle-square at level 9! does 50% of the kills in the normal game! Due to the defensive arcane buffs very capable in melee-combat even in HOF!


how to play: very versatile build that is great for several tasks:
- very fast movement (barb levels)
- can hide & sneak right away from the start
- when getting the arcane defensive buffs he is close to invincible

-> he's is on scouting duty as a duo with PC 2 or later as a trio with PC 6!
-> together with PC 2 he takes out the most dangerous enemy threat and is
a) fast enough to escape or
b) just stays in the middle of the enemy crowd. Protected through SR, evasion, great reflexes and MI your arcane casters can throw their FBs and DBFB on them without any risk in normal game!
In HOF he has enough arcane self-buffs (MI) to survive in an enemy crowd for quite some time (especially if he keeps close to PC 2 who can cast heal on him if needed)

-> in HOF he has all arcane spells available, but due to the missing SF & GSF feats and "low" INT boni he should focus on (self-) buffs, support spells or offensive spells that don't allow/need a save!

But casting is definetly only his secondary task, his strength is his great melee potential but he is good for buffing the party before battle, but once the battle begins he should only cast self-buffs as needed!

Be aware that if you cast tensers once you can't cast any other spells for several rounds - so cast MI just before tensers and make sure that you won't need another MI for the rest of the battle (as tensers has a duration up to 20 rounds and you can't cancel spells in IWD2!) - or keep close to PC 2 that you can get healed if necessary!

this also means you have to cast M-sword or BBD before tensers!


spell selection:

SL 1: some MM, C.orb & prot. petrification (last one only if needed) there are no must / good spells on L1 for this build!
SL 2: 1 or 2 blur and the rest MI (the stat increasing buffs on L2 should be supported by other casters!)
SL 3: 2 blink, 1 haste & prot. from fire (for party support) are the most important spells
SL 4: several Fire shields (red&blue) 1 malison and/or emotion:despair (for 1st & 2nd combat round if needed) 1 Imp. Inv. (optional)
SL 5: 1 summon spell (optional) rest prot. electricy & acid for party support
SL 6: 2 Tensers, trollish fortitude (optional) or whatever you like
SL 7: 2 M-sword, 2 seven eyes
SL 8: mind blank (party support) if you use weidu: iron body
SL 9: BBD, exec, eyes and/or aegis

comment on spell selection: not many offensive arcane spells, as these are better casted by PC 4 or 6! The focus is on self-buffs and party support spells! This way your more powerfull casters (due to higher boni and casting feats) don't need them!


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