Spellsword build request

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VainWSADa
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Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:23 pm

Spellsword build request

Post by VainWSADa » Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:48 pm

Hi im a really fresh player to nwn that came streight to Arelith but i like it and plan to stay so i messed up my first char and now i want to make a new one. I found this build online but dunno if its any good. I intend on playing pvp.
1 Spellsword: Expertise
2 Spellsword:
3 Spellsword: Weapon Focus
4 Spellsword:
5 Spellsword: Extend spell
6 Spellsword: Improved expertise
7 Spellsword:
8 Spellsword:
9 Spellsword: Maximise Spell
10 Spellsword: SF: Transmutation
11 Spellsword:
12 Spellsword: GSF: Transmutation
13 Spellsword:
14 Spellsword:
15 Spellsword: Blind fight; SF: Abjuration
16 Spellsword: +1INT
17 Spellsword:
18 Spellsword: Imp. Critical
19: Spellsword:
20 Spellsword: GSF: Abjuration
21 Spellsword: Epic weapon focus: 1h edge
22 Spellsword:
23 Spellsword: EMA
24 Spellsword: Epic Prowess
25 Spellsword:
26 Spellsword: ESF: Transmutation
27 Spellsword: Sf: Disc
28 Specialist:
29 Specialist:
30 Specialist: Armor Skin; ESF: UMD
If anyone can help with better builds race choice and mendatory spells for class I would really appreciate it.

Char: Zaafiel Van Syl


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God_In_Action
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by God_In_Action » Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:47 pm

At level 27 you can take Epic Skill Focus: Discipline rather than regular SF: Disc.

Drop ESF: UMD because Spellsword can't take UMD skill ranks and you can't cross-class UMD (i.e. spend 2 skill points to get 1 point in the skill. Swap that last feat for something else nice. Maybe swap that for the ESF: Discipline and keep SK: Discipline for a +13 total between the two.

As for race, you literally can't go wrong with human. Either Luck of Heroes feat for +1 saves, or Toughness as the free feat at level 1.


satan
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by satan » Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:14 pm

How old is that build? Afaik spellsword hasn't gotten Ema since the class was separated from wizard

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VainWSADa
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by VainWSADa » Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:40 pm

Race Moon Elf
Stats
Str 10 Dex 17 Con 14 Wis 8 Int 16 Cha 8
Gifts Dex Int
So high dex should give me high AC and more tanky but i loose so dmg on start to get it later from buffs and so on like bulls strenght. But dunno if its really viable and how my stats on lvl 30 should look like. Really confused with how stats work it this game. Also Elf should let me take Bladesinger path but also dont know if its worth it or i even can do it or it would require loosing some feat? Should i go sword and board two handed or just sword. Im sorry i ask so basic questions but I dont want mess a character that i will invest hours into :). Any feedback welcome.
About EMA i dont really know it was hard to find anything about builds for this class so it can be quite dated thats why I ask for help :)

Char: Zaafiel Van Syl


Good Character
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by Good Character » Tue Mar 21, 2023 12:19 am

satan wrote:
Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:14 pm

How old is that build? Afaik spellsword hasn't gotten Ema since the class was separated from wizard

Incredibly old. The first rendition of a spellsword build went ESF: Trans to quad-stat STR, DEX, CON, and INT.

Will drop a build later once I'm home.

Edit: Here is a build that's catered to your race and the Bladesinger path.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... p=drivesdk

The build centers around relatively high AC, critting often, and a higher reflex save.


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Skibbles
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by Skibbles » Tue Mar 21, 2023 4:59 am

Looks like a really old build with the reg skill focus and specialist multiclass with an int investment too - epic mage armor being unavailable also.

Spellsword is pretty great as just a pure class with 2 str and 2 int gifts. You only need 18 int (start with 16 and then gift to 18) not 19 like this build seems planned for, and should put all your ability points in str.

You can multiclass if you want but in my opinion it just sacrifices those real nice level 28-30 bonuses (breach resistance!) and you end up with less than it may appear.

UMD do be nice tho.

Irongron wrote: [...] the super-secret Arelith development roadmap is a post apocalyptic wasteland populated with competing tribes of hand-bombard wielding techno-giants, and strewn with the bones of long dead elves.

So we're very much on track.

VainWSADa
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by VainWSADa » Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:54 pm

Good Character wrote:
Tue Mar 21, 2023 12:19 am
satan wrote:
Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:14 pm

How old is that build? Afaik spellsword hasn't gotten Ema since the class was separated from wizard

Incredibly old. The first rendition of a spellsword build went ESF: Trans to quad-stat STR, DEX, CON, and INT.

Will drop a build later once I'm home.

Edit: Here is a build that's catered to your race and the Bladesinger path.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... p=drivesdk

The build centers around relatively high AC, critting often, and a higher reflex save.

Thx build looks great im going to use it. Can i also ask what familiar should i choose and must have spells. Also thanks everyone for insight and help.

Char: Zaafiel Van Syl


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God_In_Action
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by God_In_Action » Fri Mar 24, 2023 11:31 am

Regarding familiar, the only useful one right now is the pixie and the majority of mages seem to pick it because it can open locks and disarm traps so that you can access treasure chests. However, the Devs has stated their intention to change this so it might not last for long. Otherwise, none of the familiars seem particularly useful (although panther does get high sneak attack damage but is not very durable). For purely mechanical reasons I'd suggest pixie or panther, but both are still weak reasons. You could pick whichever one you want to have for RP purposes. The wiki has a list of what appearance each familiar can be re-skinned as.


Good Character
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by Good Character » Fri Mar 24, 2023 3:08 pm

VainWSADa wrote:
Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:54 pm

Thx build looks great im going to use it. Can i also ask what familiar should i choose and must have spells. Also thanks everyone for insight and help.

Pretty much what God_In_Action said above, however there's a few others to possibly consider; admittedly I only remember the pseudoragon getting nerfed (i.e. no more true seeing), so take my suggestions with a grain of salt.

  1. Panther - with -guard now possible to be used on summons and familiars. It means that the sneak attack damage is always guaranteed so long as you can properly manage their health pool by keeping them away from AoE attack/spells or traps.

  2. Faerie Dragon - it has a confusion bolt that is saveless and is based on a ranged touch attack. It also casts improved invisibility which is useful early on but falls off after level 15 as it doesn't scale any higher. Lastly, it has a +5 enhancement weapon at level 30, so it can chew past premonition.

  3. Eyeball - has a knockdown, daze, and slow bolt. The issue is that they also have a slew of other spells it'll try to use.

The rest just currently suck. Arguments made for bat and raven as spot/listen "hounds" but they're only useful against sneakers with mild investment and no gear.

Spells you'll want (not in level, just by my memory): mage armor, ironguts, shield, entropic shield, improved invisibility, lesser mind blank, blackstaff, greater mage armor, shadow shield, ultravision, bull's strength, cat's grace, bear's endurance, haste, protection for alignment, see invisibility, flame and/or frost shield, mestil's acid sheath, true seeing, protection from spells, spell mantle, lesser spell mantle, war cry, timestop, and mordenkainen's disjunction.

Special mentions: acid fog, cloudkill, wall of fire/ice, lightning shield, greater spell breach, greater dispelling, mass haste, isaac's greater missile storm, stoneskin, greater stoneskin, premonition (get a sequencer staff for this ASAP), knock, web, true strike, grease, and negative energy burst.

Kind in mind you can learn all spells through scrolls, so focus on the necessary section first.


VainWSADa
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by VainWSADa » Mon Mar 27, 2023 12:03 am

Thanks for all reply I learned a lot from you guys and Im on the right track. Now I have a few more questions about gear that I should look for or craft. What stats should I get from gear + STR or DEX I know i can have both but its quite tricky to craft so what is more important as i already should get 30 dex from build so my guess i STR first. Also is it worth it to Dweomercraft stats like discipline or spellcraft to items will it really matter or only later on in PVP? And my last question is about weapon choice cuz when i try to cast Keen spell on my rapier(Steel) it says it cant be cast on upgraded/magic weapons even tho its just plain weapon without even imbue? So best rapier as far as Ive seen on wiki is damask one but it dont have keen stat and I cant cast keen on it so should I rather use greensteel rapier that have the keen bonus but dont have bonus pircing dmg? Or should I just forget about a rapier and try to get Anarchic Razor longsword with all those fancy bonus dmg but lower threat range. Really confused what will work better longterm.

Char: Zaafiel Van Syl


Good Character
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Re: Spellsword build request

Post by Good Character » Wed Mar 29, 2023 9:20 pm

VainWSADa wrote:
Mon Mar 27, 2023 12:03 am

Thanks for all reply I learned a lot from you guys and Im on the right track. Now I have a few more questions about gear that I should look for or craft. What stats should I get from gear + STR or DEX I know i can have both but its quite tricky to craft so what is more important as i already should get 30 dex from build so my guess i STR first. Also is it worth it to Dweomercraft stats like discipline or spellcraft to items will it really matter or only later on in PVP? And my last question is about weapon choice cuz when i try to cast Keen spell on my rapier(Steel) it says it cant be cast on upgraded/magic weapons even tho its just plain weapon without even imbue? So best rapier as far as Ive seen on wiki is damask one but it dont have keen stat and I cant cast keen on it so should I rather use greensteel rapier that have the keen bonus but dont have bonus pircing dmg? Or should I just forget about a rapier and try to get Anarchic Razor longsword with all those fancy bonus dmg but lower threat range. Really confused what will work better longterm.

Any weapon with additional properties is considered a "restricted" weapon. Read more here: https://wiki.nwnarelith.com/Category:Sp ... chantments

You want to go with a keened masterly damask rapier or scimitar in the end, if your intent is to maximize your average damage output. It will set you back an easy 500K to 700K.


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