DnD 3.5 Gestalt Duskblade

[Randomguy]

You could take Arcane Disciple for a domain that grants haste, like the Time domain, but you wouldn't be able to cast it until level 9, since that's when duskblades get 3rd level spells.

[Talionis]

Elf - 10 Warblades 10 Eternal Blade // 13 Duskblade

But I think Ordained Champion makes for a slightly better use of channeling and Manuevers.

[Keld Denar]

Haste is on the Celerity domain lists, so...yea, you can learn it as a Dusk/Archivist. It is 4th level, IIRC, though, so there is that. But it IS available.

[Snowbluff]

Haste is on the Celerity domain lists, so...yea, you can learn it as a Dusk/Archivist. It is 4th level, IIRC, though, so there is that. But it IS available.

It's a first level Trapmaster spell, IIRC.

[Randomguy]

You could take Arcane Disciple for a domain that grants haste, like the Time domain, but you wouldn't be able to cast it until level 9, since that's when duskblades get 3rd level spells.

*facepalm*. Or you could just get it from a scroll scribed by a cleric with the time domain and not bother wasting a feat. I can't believe I missed that. And it's 3rd level on the Time Domain, so you don't need to get it as 4th level on the Celerity domain.

[Xaragos]

Ahaa, that is money! Time Domain. That allows for a perfect addition of Haste to the collection. Its too bad that Spellforge (at least the version I have) does not really account for the totality of spells you can have.

Also good suggestions with Rainbow servant, spellsword, warblade and the like. There are a lot of good combinations here. These choices will definitely help if the DM has any issues with my first proposal! Thank you all, and if you can think of anything else please let me know. Character creation can be so much fun :)

[JohnDaBarr]

Can the Duskblade channel spells from other classes if they are not on his spell list? If that is true then you can unlock some nice stuff with the wizard, all those touch spells you normally can not channel because the limited spell list.

[animewatcha]

You can channel any melee touch spell ( actual range or enlightened fist shenanigans ) that you can cast. Not limited by class or arcane/divine type. You can arcane channel http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/etherealness.htm to give to all your party members. Or heck, http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/imprisonment.htm

[Xaragos]

Ok so here is what I have worked on thusfar. (Would have loved to go with Dread Necro but no evil PCs in this campaign) Please feel free to comment on

Race: Human

Stats:

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Str 14
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 18 (After bumps both at level 4 and 8)
Wis 10
Cha 10

Traits:

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Absent Minded
Aggressive

Flaws:

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Vulnerable

Skill Tricks:

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Collector of Stories

Feats:

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Academic Priest
Dodge
Mobility
Power Attack
Knowledge Devotion
Practiced Spellcaster (Duskblade)

Gained from classes:
Combat Casting
Scribe Scroll
Spring Attack

Skill Ranks:

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Concentration 14
Diplomacy 5
GI 5
K Arcana 14
K A&E 1
K Dung 14
K Geo 1
K Hist 1
K Local 1
K Nat 2
K Nob 1
K Rel 14
K Plan 14
Sk Tri 2 (to get 1)
SpCr 14
Tmbl 5

Classes:

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1 Duskblade/Archivist
2 Duskblade/Archivist
3 Duskblade/Archivist
4 Duskblade/Archivist
5 Duskblade/Archivist
6 Swiftblade/Archivist
7 Swiftblade/Archivist
8 Swiftblade/Archivist
9 Swiftblade/Archivist
10 Swiftblade/Archivist
11 Swiftblade/Archivist

Access to Swiftblade comes from Time Domain Haste Spell

Looking for comments on the progress so far and any ideas. I will also be posting spell ideas as well. One thing that concerned me was whether or not it was more favorable to max out Swiftblade for the level 10 Innervated Speed or is it more important to do a minor dip into Swiftblade and get the full attack ability from Duskblade earlier?

Once I have the classes down then the fun part will be targeting the right spells :)

[hex0]

But you need Duskblade 13 for full attack channeling...This is like...mandatory.

[Fable Wright]

Ok so here is what I have worked on thusfar. (Would have loved to go with Dread Necro but no evil PCs in this campaign) Please feel free to comment on

Race: Human

Stats:

-snip-

Access to Swiftblade comes from Time Domain Haste Spell

Looking for comments on the progress so far and any ideas. I will also be posting spell ideas as well. One thing that concerned me was whether or not it was more favorable to max out Swiftblade for the level 10 Innervated Speed or is it more important to do a minor dip into Swiftblade and get the full attack ability from Duskblade earlier?

Once I have the classes down then the fun part will be targeting the right spells :)

Dread Necromancers actually don't have to be Evil- they just have to be nongood when they start taking the class. They can be Neutral, and they never actually suffer any penalties from becoming Good.

[LTwerewolf]

I'd go with warblade. You need the same stats as duskblade. Could also try ranger for free twf instead of 2h.

[Xaragos]

Dread Necromancers actually don't have to be Evil- they just have to be nongood when they start taking the class. They can be Neutral, and they never actually suffer any penalties from becoming Good.

I didn't know that. I will have to keep that in mind and check with the DM.

[Xaragos]

But you need Duskblade 13 for full attack channeling...This is like...mandatory.

That is the big question I have with my current build. As I see it I have three basica options without completely changing this concept.

1) Full swiftblade on the duskblade side of gestalt to get the level 10 timestop and all the other nifty abilities that swiftblade had relatively early. This enables me to level up Archivist on the other side of gestalt and gain access to level 9 spells.

2) I could swap and do Swiftblade on the Archivist side, sacrificing getting high level divine spells, but being able to get both full attack channel and the benefits of SWB.

3)I also considered going 13 Duskblade and Swiftblade 7/Archivist 20.

What do you think?

*Note I will have to look into Warblade. Not too familiar with the class, and yes Psionics are out :(*

[Xaragos]

But you need Duskblade 13 for full attack channeling...This is like...mandatory.

That is the big question I have with my current build. As I see it I have three basic options without completely changing this concept.

1) Full swiftblade on the duskblade side of gestalt to get the level 10 timestop and all the other nifty abilities that swiftblade had relatively early. This enables me to level up Archivist on the other side of gestalt and gain access to level 9 spells.

2) I could swap and do Swiftblade on the Archivist side, sacrificing getting high level divine spells, but being able to get both full attack channel and the benefits of SWB.

3)I also considered going 13 Duskblade and Swiftblade 7/Archivist 20.

What do you think?

*Note I will have to look into Warblade. Not too familiar with the class, and yes Psionics are out :(*

[Xaragos]

I did think about Factotum instead of Archivist....and getting knowledge devotion, etc. The biggest drawback to that was the lack of spell selection available to channel.

On that note though, as you have a good point on the factotum's extra standard actions. How does that function when doing a full attack (in order to take advantage of the full attack option of Duskblade at level 13 to channel spells)? Can you do multiple full attacks if you add lets say...2 standard actions to your turn?

[hex0]

How does that function when doing a full attack (in order to take advantage of the full attack option of Duskblade at level 13 to channel spells)? Can you do multiple full attacks if you add lets say...2 standard actions to your turn?

99% sure you can't. Although you could use it to make a standard attack, which would still be channeling the spell you were attacking with. The channeled spell lasts till the end of the round.

Or at high level you could full attack channel attack in melee, take a 5 foot step, Quick Cast Disintegrate, use Font and blast another Disintegrate. Yesh. Going nova, much?

[LTwerewolf]

I did think about Factotum instead of Archivist....and getting knowledge devotion, etc. The biggest drawback to that was the lack of spell selection available to channel.

On that note though, as you have a good point on the factotum's extra standard actions. How does that function when doing a full attack (in order to take advantage of the full attack option of Duskblade at level 13 to channel spells)? Can you do multiple full attacks if you add lets say...2 standard actions to your turn?

No, you need a belt of battle to grant yourself another full action, and additional standard would only be enough for 1 attack or 1 spell.

99% sure you can't. Although you could use it to make a standard attack, which would still be channeling the spell you were attacking with. The channeled spell lasts till the end of the round.

Or at high level you could full attack channel attack in melee, take a 5 foot step, Quick Cast Disintegrate, use Font and blast another Disintegrate. Yesh. Going nova, much?

He's got archivist, why not have him cast flesh to salt instead?

[hex0]

He's got archivist, why not have him cast flesh to salt instead?

I like this idea a LOT more!

There is also the idea of getting Spellwarp Sniper and Enlightened Fist in there to channel rays into touch attacks...

[Psyren]

I'd actually say psychic warrior. He lets you buff yourself up, then duskblade drops megatons of damage.

Psion is better if you go this route; Int synergy and better powers.

But I agree that Archivist is the most powerful option here, while Factotum may well be the coolest. Action economy is less of a concern since the player will be full-attack-casting pretty soon.

[hex0]

Action economy is less of a concern since the player will be full-attack-casting pretty soon.

Though you can also use cunning surge to pounce as well, among other things.

[Xaragos]

Psion is better if you go this route; Int synergy and better powers.

But I agree that Archivist is the most powerful option here, while Factotum may well be the coolest. Action economy is less of a concern since the player will be full-attack-casting pretty soon.

I wish Psionics was an option here as well. Thats a no no with the DM.

So would you recommend getting Duskblade 13 first for full attack casting before dipping into Swiftblade? Or would you recommend another PRC altogether?

[hex0]

I wish Psionics was an option here as well. Thats a no no with the DM.

So would you recommend getting Duskblade 13 first for full attack casting before dipping into Swiftblade? Or would you recommend another PRC altogether?

I'm not too familiar with Archivist, when could they caste haste?

You could do something like:

Spellthief 5/Duskblade 5
Trapsmith 1/Duskblade 1
Swiftblade 7/Duskblade 7
etc.

This is my general SwiftDuskblade build. Play a Neraph (to auto-steal spells) and take Master Spellthief (for amazing caster level).

Edit: okay, looked up Archivist. If you can get Haste at level 5, I would do:

Archivist 5/Duskblade 5
Swiftblade 8/Duskblade 8
Swiftblade 2/Archivist 2
Abjurant Champion 5/Archivist 5 (or whatever)