Abe *Core Only* blind-fighting Dragon Disciple (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction[edit]
His name is Abe. He's a Dragon Disciple and he's not a gimp. For real, hear me out, it's actually a cool build. This is for core-only without using the three strongest classes (wiz, cleric, druid). It mechanically looks pretty mild, but in game is very strong. Some DM's won't allow some shenanigans, this one should work.
References[edit]
You will need: Player's Handbook 3.5 DMG 3.5 That's it!
Game Rule Components[edit]
This build is all about limiting sight. How? Mostly pyrotechnics(smoke). Makes life really hard for the baddies.
Items[edit]
No particular items are especially necessary, get what you want.
Progression[edit]
Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): 25 point buy system; Str 14, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 15. If you have more points more strength would really help. You could reduce your cha if not going half-orc. We need to have 14 cha at level 6, other than that it doesn't matter.
Race: Half-Orc
Level 1-2 = Barbarian. Rage and Uncanny dodge are very relevant.
Level 3-6 = Bard. 4 levels of bard loses only 1 Bab but grants level 2 spells *if* you have 14 Cha.
Level 7-16 = Dragon Disciple! I know, WTF is with that, right? Well, we need the spells/day DD gives, and the blind-sense. Don't really need all 10 levels of it, but 2 are really needed.
Highlights[edit]
Fighting when you can't see each other! You will need blind-fighting. Very few creatures can fight effectively in a cloud of smoke from pyrotechnics. You can. Tell your pals what your plan is, they can use area of effect spells or battlefield control spells to synergize, or wait for baddies to run out of the could of smoke and pick them off. Caster level is only 4, so the pyrotechnics will only last 4 rounds. The save DC vs. the chocking on the smoke is 14, which shouldn't be a problem for you. You have a 25% miss chance, they have a 50% miss chance. They lose Dex bonus to AC, you don't. You and they get -2 AC, you can power attack harder. Everyone moves at half speed, you have fast movement from barbarian.
Try it like this:
prep-round: if you anticipate combat before it happens, cast heroism
First round of combat: Move and access fire. Alch fire works, fire breath weapon works, toss a flaming javalin, whatever.
Second round of combat: cast pyrotechnics on the baddies and close with them. Note, there are no attacks of opportunity no one can see.
Third round of combat and beyond: Fight! Use listen to locate enemies until you have blind-sense. Unseen ground is difficult terrain, so can't charge. Use a composite longbow if you like. Falchion works.
Enemies be like: "WTF is going on!" and run around confused, trying to get out of smoke. Some might fail fort save and be weakened by the smoke.
Munchkin-Size Me[edit]
After second level of DD, switch to other broken classes. Could do same thing with obscuring mist, but less flavor because less dragon.
DM Counters[edit]
Some enemies don't need to see you, just have line of effect to you. Enemies without a dex bonus to AC won't be affected by the smoke much. The smoke is better against a few enemies and tends to disorganize them. One BBEG may not care about smoke.
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