Fighter/Cleric/Mage Archer

Mulligan · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2004, 12:32 PM

Hi, folks

I just wanted to share my thoughts on a good "extra" Pc for a standard Ftr-Ftr/Rog-Cler-Wiz party of 4. On my first try at TOEE i remade a character i played in 2nd ed. D&D and later converted to 3rd ed. as well.

I've noticed many posts on "best archer" and comparisons of classes( Bard vs. F/M and so on) A bard is a great asset if the other roles are taken, and i like them well but IMO they are to limited. A F/C/M can do almost all the things a bard can do + more.

The theeme is Archery and Versailtility (and to be an elf of course)

In 2nd ed. she was tripple classed F/C/M with bow focus and boost spells, so i went for the same build.

I rerolled until i got decent stats and ended up with:
STR 9 DEX 20 CON 14 INT 16 WIS 14 CHA 12

Female Elf, Cleric of Corellon Larethian, Warrior & Mage, AL : CG

She leveled up as follows:
1 C1 -Point Blank Shot + Bonus : Focus L.Sword
2 W1 -Bonus : Scribe Scroll
3 F1 -Rapid Shot & Precise Shot
4 C2 -Dex +1 (21)
5 F2 -Focus : Long Bow
6 C3 -Craft Items
7 W2
8 W3 -Dex +1 (22)
9 W4 -Brew Potion
10 W5 -Craft Wand

At the end she had 3 attacks at +22/+22/+17 (+1 more Point Blank) with Gloves of Dex+6,Dex +6,BAB +6/+1,Greater bracers of Archery, Long Bow +3 & Rapid Shot.

She hardly missed her targets and was hard pressed for arrows + lots of boosters for the rest of the party. She could also scribe lvl 5 scrolls she had in her book.

An Elven Bard with all bow skills will have +1 more to hit but with fewer spells options and no Item feats.

She sure was fun to play with.

Anyway, it was just a thought....

Happy Hunting, folks

Raumoheru · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2004, 02:55 PM

hey i just recently ddiscovered the absolute useless ness of a rouge. in ToEE the wizard needs intelligence but only has 2 class skills. with a wizard that has 18 intelligence, i can have apraise, disable device, open lock, slight of hand, and spell craft, and being an elf she uses bows and longswords. have all her feats go towards archery and her bonus feats towards item creation, she is a wonderful character to have. bows weapons spells the works, and lock picking with masterwork theives tools, the works.

Greywulf · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2004, 03:08 PM

Yeah, rogues are pretty much a non-factor in ToEE - I have used my mage for thievery and currently use my ranger for the same.
there are no traps I've ever been able to disable (the chest in the jeweler's shop goes off no matter what I do) and with masterwork thieves tools and some points in open lock (or knock spells) I've never been locked out of anything.

I did read once (somewhere) that a rogue, via sneaking and such, can actually complete the game solo without ever having to fight anything in less than an hour though. Guess it's all about how you wanna play the game.

Peace out.

Galuf the Dwarf · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2004, 09:36 PM

I don't know why, but I've found a (single-class) Rogue's sneak attack to be pretty deadly when Weapon Finesse and a magical short sword come into play.

Mulligan · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-2004, 05:09 AM

I totally agree on the rouge beeing useless vs traps.

I normally make a F7/R3 and take two-wpn feats and focus : Hand Axe !

A L10 Fighter has +10/+5, a F7/R3 has +9/+4 BAB, only one down. Plus the Great Cleavers (best wpn in the game, IMO) reads as "hand axe" for the purpose of Focus skills.

My Human F7/R3 has:
Wpn Focus : Hand Axe
Gr wpn Focus : hand axe
Wpn Spes. : Hand Axe
Two Wpn-Fighting
Improved Two Wpn Fighting
Two wpn Defense
Improved Critical Hand Axe
Power Attack
Cleave
2d6 sneak attack

Self made Weapons:

Mad Butcher +3 (Great Cleaver)
Holy,Axiomatic,Frost,Flaming,Shocking Burst

Backstabber +3 (Light Hand Axe)
Holy,Axiomatic,Flaming,Frost,Shock

And all the usual stuff - Gloves,necklace etc..

Imagine 4 sneak attacks with these wpns !!

I like Impr.two-wpn better the more i play, 4 attacks is awesome with the right character, 5 with haste !

Into the Fray

Raumoheru · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-2004, 09:44 AM

aside from fruella where else do u get greatcleavers?
btw with the newest patch greatcleaver is a battleaxe not handaxe

Mulligan · #7 (**permalink**) 03-31-2004, 10:25 AM

Which patch is that ?

I'm running 1st Official patch (is there a nr.2 out yet?)
and CO8 ver.2.0, and Great Cleaver is still hand axe. Fruella don't get bonus to hit with it so it's not both types

There are 2 more Great Cleavers in Temple lvl 2.
one in the gnoll/bugbear room to the left of the Air Temple,
and one in the large bugbear room north of the Fire Temple.
(i think it's in the smaller side room at the back, where you'll also find 2 Greater Temple black robes in a chest)

Please reply

For Glory

Mulligan

Raumoheru · #8 (**permalink**) 03-31-2004, 02:40 PM

with the upgraded Co8 patch i had my sorcerer who was not proficient with the cleaver. so i had him take the feat for battleaxe and it said he was proficient.

Mulligan · #9 (**permalink**) 03-31-2004, 09:44 PM

I'm confused..

I checked the forums and i have all the latest patches installed, i think ?

Fruella ia a Fighter with Mart.Wpn.Prof-All and she does't get a bonus from wielding the Cleaver, although she has Wpn Focus : Battle Axe. She get's a +1 due to the Cleaver beeing a +1 Wpn.

I made a party of 4 just to check, and via the F12 save snd F9 load found that my sorceror and wizard, if they took the mart.wpn.feat Battle Axe they could not wield it without a -4 penalty.

A pure Sorceror/Wizard class cannot take the Focus in either Battle axe or Hand axe, they need to "know" the weapon they're gonna focus in, either via multi to Ftr/Rng/Barb or by taking the Martial Weapon Proficiecy Feat for the weapon in question.

I took both hand axe and battle axe for my sorceror and wizard with reloading, and for a fighter and a rouge too.

Conclusion : the Great Cleaver seems to be a hand axe.

At first it doesn't make sense, since it's a mighty weapon. But then again. it does make sense, as it's a Butcher's weapon, with a short handle, light weight and a BIG sharp blade, it's meant to CHOP MEAT. And so it does. It's the ultimate Axe.

You must reply and give more info, Raumoheru, i cannot understad how your mage could wield this great weapon!!

As Always
Onwards, For Glory

Raumoheru · #10 (**permalink**) 04-01-2004, 09:22 PM

i dunno i just wanted to see and i gave him the martial weapon proficiency battle axe and it did not have the red box around it afterwards

oh well if i am wrong its not a big deal maybe i gave the wrong feat i thot i did or maybe not. its not a big deal i dont even got that saved game anymore.

Mulligan · #11 (**permalink**) 04-01-2004, 10:26 PM

Yes you are right

It's not a big deal after all.

I just wanted to check if we were using the same patches in case i had missed something..

Oh well, thanx for replying though.

Happy Hunting