Spellsword - 4 APR?

[Sockss]

A standard 27/3 spellsword, which is pretty optimal, has CL 30 vs dispels. (32 if you fit Arcane defense which, isn't too rough to do)

A standard battlecleric has CL 21-23.

So your check would be 1d20 + 20 vs 12 + 30/32

It's impossible to dispel a spellsword if you don't have any abj focuses.

You won't have the same problem with a battle cleric.

I think anecdotally people might have different experiences, as is always the case, but on paper they're pretty strong throughout, certainly better than most alternatives at any given point.

Was your dragon experience pre-summon update? That might be a lot to do with it.

[Sailormoon~s No1 Fan]

Admittedly I don't know all the numbers, dispel checks etc. Purely going off my pve experience here.

As for whether I used EDK preupdate.... I don't know! (possibly)

[Nitro]

A 27/3 spellsword loses out on APR though, you'd need at least 4 fighter levels for that. And then on top of that you'd either want monk to max out the APR, or bard for a tumble/UMD dump. The more likely 'standard' spellsword builds now would probably be some mix of 23/4/3.

[Sockss]

New-spellswords, anyway.

They are still significantly less dispellable than clerics, owing to the bonus feats for easier abj taking and the +3.

They have an effective CL of 28. Which is better than most casters.

[flower]

Maybe the bonus +3 CL against dispel should go.

As they are the only ones able to také defense from abjuration on top of that.

[Maladus]

Both dex and str variants are easy for different reasons. The dex variant has so much AC and lifesteal that they slowly chew through everything and never actually lose HP.

Strength variants are a little chancier, but they also start dishing 80+ damage crits by like level 6, and can work their way though the awkward pre-15 lowish AC stages by hitting areas where ghostly visage is superb and nothing has blindfight, which they clear very, very fast.

Can you explain to me how to get crits in the 80+ range? I’m level 11 (8Wiz/3Ftr) and I only see 40+ crits with my scimitar. I must be doing something wrong.

[Ozzy.nl]

I got a SS level 20 dex based and even with a grennsteel using a perma essence +4 and imbue my crits never go higher then 65.

[DarknessOfDespair]

Use a scythe

[Lorkas]

Both dex and str variants are easy for different reasons. The dex variant has so much AC and lifesteal that they slowly chew through everything and never actually lose HP.

Strength variants are a little chancier, but they also start dishing 80+ damage crits by like level 6, and can work their way though the awkward pre-15 lowish AC stages by hitting areas where ghostly visage is superb and nothing has blindfight, which they clear very, very fast.

Can you explain to me how to get crits in the 80+ range? I’m level 11 (8Wiz/3Ftr) and I only see 40+ crits with my scimitar. I must be doing something wrong.

Are you STR based? You aren't gonna see crits anywhere close to those described if you're not.

[One Two Three Five]

hmmm. Str-based, 19? str start, 20 at 6.. 5 str mod, assume +6 mod from exceptional early gearing for an 11 to str. Steel is level 6, right? +2 damage there.. You can probably afford some high-ish level scrolls (especially the weirder ones) for 1d12 (average 6.5?).. Scimitar is.. 3.5 average?

11+2+6.5+3.5.. 23. x2.. 46.
Max rolls puts you at.. 11+2+12+6= 31. x2: 62.
My numbers are probably off, I'm having a numbers-off type of week.
Edit: INT DAMAGE. I forgot int damage!

[Scurvy Cur]

Both dex and str variants are easy for different reasons. The dex variant has so much AC and lifesteal that they slowly chew through everything and never actually lose HP.

Strength variants are a little chancier, but they also start dishing 80+ damage crits by like level 6, and can work their way though the awkward pre-15 lowish AC stages by hitting areas where ghostly visage is superb and nothing has blindfight, which they clear very, very fast.

Can you explain to me how to get crits in the 80+ range? I’m level 11 (8Wiz/3Ftr) and I only see 40+ crits with my scimitar. I must be doing something wrong.

Are you STR based? You aren't gonna see crits anywhere close to those described if you're not.

Yeah, strength based spellsword -twohanding a bastard sword, and toggling the -twohand off when I actually need AC, which isn't too often, since concealment and 5/+1 DR carry you through quite a lot early on.

You toss your GMW onto a scroll, then scroll the weapon for a +5. Your strength mod will be 10 or 11, depending on your build, so -twohand is an extra 5 damage. 1d4 from a t1 imbue, since you're not to the t2 yet. Spellsword damage is 2-3, depending on whether you've dipped fighter yet. So you're sitting at 1d10 + 1d4 +24 damage, plus 2d4 when your imbue procs (which is often enough). Average crit damage looks something like 69, but you'll occasionally sink the fat 80 if you get good rolls on the d10s.

[Dr_Hazard89]

Maybe the bonus +3 CL against dispel should go.

As they are the only ones able to také defense from abjuration on top of that.

Sounds reasonable to me.

[Maladus]

Why would a STR build get less damage from crits than a DEX build?

[Maladus]

While I'm thinking about it, is there any way to know which school you chose to use as your forbidden school without randomly casting a bunch of spells? I THINK that my forbidden school is Enchantment but I don't actually know for sure.

[afreshstart]

Why would a STR build get less damage from crits than a DEX build?

Because str increases your damage while dex dosen't.

[Maladus]

Right....so then it would do more damage?

[Lorkas]

Why would a STR build get less damage from crits than a DEX build?

Who said that? I said the reverse, as did Scurvy. STR will see high crits, DEX will not (in comparison).

[Maladus]

You're right, I misread it.