Level Advancement

[Stix]

Rhenai's gaining four levels. Here are some options regarding how to apply them.

• Continue advancing in Rogue-Elementalist. Moderate combat abilities, d6 hit die, high Reflex and Will saves, and of course, spellcasting ability.
  
• Pick up 1 to 3 levels of Genasi Paragon. Moderate combat abilities, plus a d8 hit die and excellent Will save. You won't get quite as much in the way of spellcasting, but you'll get some new spell-like abilities (your choice of Burning Hands, Produce Flame, and Flaming Sphere -- one for the first level of the class, another for the second) and, if you take 3 levels in the class, you'll get a +2 to your Intelligence score.
  
• Pick up one or more levels in a new class. You could add on a level or two of Fighter for high combat abilities, a d10 hit die, a high Fortitude save, and bonus feats. Or maybe Ranger for decent combat abilities, a d8 hit die, high Fortitude and Reflex saves, and some survival-type abilities. Gladiator, Pugilist, or Swashbuckler might be an interesting addition, too.
  
• Spend a level on a bloodline. Bloodlines are more like a long-term investment than a quick route to power, but they make for some very nice options in the long run -- they provide a set of abilities based on your elemental heritage, which give increasing benefits as you gain levels. Is he the child of a fire genasi and an efreet? A human and some other sort of elemental creature? If you're interested in this option, I can give you some more info.
  
• Build toward a Prestige Class. I don't have these up on the site yet; they're basically powerful classes that give new and unique abilities, and there are a whole lot of them. Examples include the Assassin (stealth, a few spell abilities, and the use of poisons) and the Thaumaturgist (an arcane spellcaster who focuses on summoning creatures from other planes). There are many, many more, so if you'd like me to give a look and put together a list, just say so.
  

[celticguy]

Sounds good to me.

[Stix]

Which option(s) do you like best?

[celticguy]

Spend a level on a bloodline. Bloodlines are more like a long-term investment than a quick route to power, but they make for some very nice options in the long run -- they provide a set of abilities based on your elemental heritage, which give increasing benefits as you gain levels. Is he the child of a fire genasi and an efreet? A human and some other sort of elemental creature? If you're interested in this option, I can give you some more info.

I like the sounds of this one.

[Stix]

Okay, here's the breakdown. Minor bloodlines cost 1 level, Intermediate cost 2, Major cost 3. Let me know what you like.



Minor Elemental Fire bloodline (grandchild of a fire creature of some sort)
4th +2 on Tumble checks
8th Dodge
12th Dexterity +1
16th Pyrotechnics 1/day
20th Fire elemental affinity +2

Intermediate Elemental Fire bloodline (child of a fire creature)
2nd +2 on Tumble checks
4th Dodge
6th Dexterity +1
8th Pyrotechnics 1/day
10th Fire elemental affinity +2
12th Mobility
14th +2 on Listen checks
16th Resistance to fire 10
18th Constitution +1
20th Spring Attack

Minor Efreeti bloodline (grandchild of an efreeti)
4th +2 on Bluff checks
8th Improved Initiative
12th Strength +1
16th Resistance to fire 5
20th Efreeti affinity +2

Intermediate Efreeti bloodline (child of an efreeti)
2nd +2 on Bluff checks
4th Improved Initiative
6th Strength +1
8th Resistance to fire 5
10th Efreeti affinity +2
12th +1 to natural armor
14th +2 on Intimidate checks
16th Dodge
18th Charisma +1
20th Produce flame 1/day

Major Efreeti bloodline (child of an efreeti; other parent also has efreeti blood)
1st +2 on Bluff checks
2nd Improved Initiative
3rd Strength +1
4th Resistance to fire 5
5th Efreeti affinity +2
6th +1 to natural armor
7th 2 on Intimidate checks
8th Dodge
9th Charisma +1
10th Produce flame 1/day
11th Efreeti affinity +4
12th Resistance to fire 10
13th +2 on Concentration checks
14th Scorching ray 1/day
15th Dexterity +1
16th Wall of fire 1/week
17th Efreeti affinity +6
18th +1 to natural armor
19th +2 on Sense Motive checks
20th Immunity to fire

[celticguy]

So since I have 4 levels, I can get intermediate efreeti bloodline and intermediate elemental fire bloodline?

[Stix]

You could, in theory, if he were the child of an efreeti-descended fire genasi and some other elemental creature. You'd have to spend one level on each of them now, and one level on each of them between 6th and 12th level.

I'm looking at prestige classes for Rhenai; the ones that stand out so far are the Elemental Savant and the Elemental Warrior. I'll work on putting the details together so you can check them out.

[celticguy]

Okay, in the meantime I'll work on my character for Dark Sun.

[Stix]

Here are the prestige classes Rhenai could be eligible for soon (though some may require a level or two of the Fighter class):

Occult Slayer (bonuses to fighting spellcasters)
Spellsword (channels spells through weapon)
Elemental Savant (gradually transform into elemental)
Streetfighter (well-versed in dirty tricks for combat)
Elemental Warrior (discover combat-related elemental powers)

Anything sound more appealing than the others?

[celticguy]

Elemental Warrior and Streetfighter sound interesting.

[Stix]

Elemental Warrior
Requirements:
Base Attack Bonus +5
Knowledge (planes) 5

Class Features:
Level 1: Bonus Language, Fire Resistance 10
Level 2: Aura of Fire 2/day (lasts 10 rds, anyone who hits you suffers 1d6 fire damage)
Level 3: Elemental Weapon 3/day (lasts 10 rds, weapon deals extra 2d6 fire damage)
Level 4: Increased Speed, Plane Shift 1/day (to/from Elemental Fire)
Level 5: Elemental Strike 1/day (deal 10d6 fire damage by touch)

Streetfighter
Requirements:
Base Attack Bonus +4
Bluff 5, Intimidate 5, Knowledge (Local) 5
Feats -- Combat Expertise, Improved Feint

Class Features:
Level 1: +1 Initiative, +2 Gather Information and Knowledge (Local)
Level 2: Stand Tough 1/day (downgrade normal damage to half, nonlethal)
Level 3: +2 Initiative, Sneak Attack +1d6
Level 4: Stand Tough 2/day
Level 5: +3 Initiative, Uncanny Dodge (you don't lose your Dex bonus to AC when surprised)



To take either class, you'd need some pretty substantial fighting abilities, so you'd have to either switch to something combat-heavy soon (fighter, gladiator, swashbuckler) or take 5-6 levels in Rogue-Elementalist to bring it up to speed.

[celticguy]

I definitely like elemental warrior, and streetfighter has some good traits as well. I think I'll go with gladiator.

[Stix]

In looking at it, I can see a way you could even take both prestige classes, and start one now. You'd have to do the following:

• Buy two levels of Fighter. With both Fighter bonus feats, pick up Combat Expertise and Improved Feint. With your 3rd-level feat, get Combat Prowess. This will give you all the feat-based prerequisites.
  
• Buy one level of Rogue-Elementalist. With skill points, bring yourself up to a total of 5 points each in Bluff, Intimidate, Knowledge (Sigil), and Knowledge (the Planes). This will give you the Base Attack and skill prereqs for Streetfighter.
  
• Buy a level of Streetfighter. This will bring your Base Attack Bonus up to +5, which is the remaining requirement for Elemental Warrior.
  

That'd make Rhenai a Rogue-Elementalist 2, Fighter 2, Streetfighter 1 at 5th level. However, this plan would also limit you to only one Intermediate bloodline (you could still take the other as a Minor bloodline).

[celticguy]

All right, I'll take intermediate efreeti bloodline and the minor fire creature bloodline.