How Gimped Would I Be If....?

[*Gazoo]

46 with the boots bugging out daily

This is pretty easy to double-equip/relog and rid yourself of this bug.


Unless you are actually relying on it....I wouldn't count on it lasting. Some of it is due to the server entry script moving the character when you log in. I can remember another server where players were actually building towards this bug and the shock when it got intentionally fixed was pretty big for some.

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Now back to OP discussion...

I run a no-Hips rogue type, which never has a lot of AC. I recently speed-relevelled.
(To reallocate my Set Trap skills investment; after thoroughly testing Scod's traps and finding them to be rather pointless for this PW, mechanically, and imho).

At ~45AC, a few helper wands, a bit of tactics (SA on pre-occupied abyss fighting, moving around to exploit battles, summon distractions, focusing on the high CR/xp enemies, etc), I was able to run the abyss from about lvl 15 through 25, solo, and quite quickly. Dispel is something to watch out for at lower levels, though.

So you actually don't need tremendous AC. I also went in to Carceri in party with ~46 AC/lvl 26 and it went well.

As for AB: 40+ is decent enough for one-hand fighting. And for a caster the 20 AB magical cap is pretty easy to achieve. There are some helper spells/scrolls/wands (bless+1, aid+1, prayer+1, Herosim+2, Gr H+4, tensors+?, recitation+3, battletide +2, etc). With Hips, even less AB is required to land the hit.

If you are mostly planning to use spells, than ICE (improved cbt expertise) is worth looking at for +6 AC, as long as you pay attention to the number of mobs surrounding you.

For a low CL caster mage, Orbs can be very useful end-game. But ranged touch attacks are mitigated by conceal (normal and ranged), so the Blindfight feat might also be attractive for TAs.

Thus, lots of interesting feats to look at, but you don't have a lot to spend.

Finally, I find it's enjoyable to target ~lvl 27LA for a competent build. This way you have most of what you need and you can just sit back and enjoy the character. Building in this way means that the final 2-3 levels will add things but you don't feel like you are missing something critical. The RP just takes care of the rest (A few adventures, some events, some scheming...no rush)

It really does depends on what style of play you are looking for.


Edit: actually ~40-42 AB will work ok, end-game. For a fighting caster that means aiming for ~20-22 BAB.

[*Lucadia]

46 ac means you wasnt the main tank in carceri.

Also the vrocks in Grand Abyss on gatecrasher have 42 attack bonus. needing a whopping 62 ac to be hit on criticals

[*Mick64]

Soulknife is really a class that requires you to take a lot of levels to be useful.

Personally, I like a 1-level dip of Pale Master to get some extra protection. It gives you a very useful +2 stacking AC while not costing you anything outside the class slot.

[*Pellease]

Yeah, Soul Knife actually has really low HP, it has some nice saves, but that's about all. If you are trying to help reduce squishiness I'd go fighter or something of the sort. However, with Cleric buffs you really don't need to worry about that too much.

There's a couple options here. either 10/10/10 Cleric/Wizard/MT so that you get all the spells you can in each. This can be nice as it allows some really nice persistent buffs such as haste, and all the vigors giving you regen and haste affect. This will also mean that you are getting the max from your spells so spells like Tensor's Transformation will give you +10 AB, which is pretty huge.

You could also do as was suggested and get a class that helps both like Arcane Scholar. (Not MT requires Lore Focus, not Spell Focus.)

Or you could try and up your bab and arcane magics by going 5 wizard/10MT/7Cleric/8 Eldritch Knight or 5/10/10/5 for better bab and slightly less squishiness.