Arcane Light Tank (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

Everything started trying to bring an Elf Wizard/Fighter from the AD&D to the D&D 3.5.

We need a character that casts spells up to level 9th and has a decent Base Attack Bonus and Armor Class at the end.

References

• Bard, Power Attack, Cleave: Player Handbook;
• Battle Howler of Gruumsh: Dragon Magazine 311 page 69;
• Education: Eberron Campaign Setting;
• Eldritch Knight: Dungeon Master Guide;
• Spellsword: Complete Warrior;
• Sublime Chord, Battle Caster: Complete Arcane.

Game Rule Components

Spells, Powers, Soulmelds, Stances, etc...

At the end our character will be a Bard 6/Battle Howler of Gruumsh 3/Sublime Chord 2/Spellsword 1/Eldritch knight 8.

Items

Best Bow you can get, best Medium Armor (or Mithral Heavy Armor) you can get, best Charisma and Dexterity enhancers you can get, array as vast you can of Scrolls, Wands and similar.

Progression

Starting Ability Scores: You need Strength 13, try to keep your Charisma to at least 14 and an high Dexterity. An high Constitution helps.

Race (Templates): Any.

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Bard	+0	+0	+2	+2	Education
2nd	Bard	+1	+0	+3	+3
3rd	Bard	+2	+1	+3	+3	Power Attack
4th	Bard	+3	+1	+4	+4
5th	Bard	+3	+1	+4	+4
6th	Bard	+4	+2	+5	+5	Cleave
7th	Battle Howler of Gruumsh	+5	+4	+5	+5		Martial Weapon Proficiences, Shield Proficiency (no Tower Shield)	This class continues Bard progression for songs and spells.
8th	Battle Howler of Gruumsh	+6	+5	+5	+5		Rage 1/day
9th	Eldrich Knight	+7	+7	+5	+5	Weapon Finesse	Bonus Feat
10th	Battle Howler of Gruumsh	+8	+7	+6	+6		War Cry (Improved Inspire Courage)
11th	Sublime Chord	+8	+7	+6	+8
12th	Spellsword	+9	+9	+6	+10	Battle Caster	-10% Arcane Failure from armor and shields	And no failure chance at all with Medium armors.
13th	Sublime Chord	+10	+9	+6	+11		Song of arcane power
14th	Eldrich Knight	+11	+9	+6	+11			This class now continues the Sublime Chord spell progression.
15th	Eldrich Knight	+12	+9	+7	+12
16th	Eldrich Knight	+13	+10	+7	+12
17th	Eldrich Knight	+14	+10	+7	+12
18th	Eldrich Knight	+15	+11	+8	+13
19th	Eldrich Knight	+16	+11	+8	+13
20th	Eldrich Knight	+17	+12	+8	+13

Other Components

This build can easily arranged with a character with at least 10 of Intelligence of any race.

Highlights

The character can wear any Medium Armor and any Shield with arcane failure at most 10% without any deficit.

As base he can cast spontaneously this number of spells per day, from level 0 to 9: 3 3 3 2 5 4 4 3 3 2;

The spell list is the union of the Sorcerer list with Bard list: so it is fairly comprehensive. The character will be very capable with scrolls and wands.

The BAB of 17 puts you between the Fighter and the Cleric, as expected from an Arcane Tank.

If forced in melee combat the character can rage (HP boost) and use some kind of light weapon while screaming for help: yet he is not squeezable as the average Sorcerer.

You are considered a caster of level 19 at the end: it is important when using spell like Dispel Magic.

You have the Bardic songs up to Inspire greatness, plus Song of Arcane power.

Limitations

Not many HP, slight MAD.

DM Counters

There should be not need to keep the abuse to minimum, this is a decent spellcaster and a decent archer; but he is still a support character.

Miscellaneous

I find fairly interesting that the Sorcerer/Fighter does not have a single level of the Fighter class and of the Sorcerer class.

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