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ScottG · 12-18-2003, 06:46 PM

Here is what I did...

Play through SOU with the character I mentioned in the post. (or something else)

Then I made a character in the leveler mod I linked to in the post below "Concerning Prestige Classes". I then very carefully leveled that character up to level 20. (see below.)

Then I saved that character and then opened up my own "treasure" module to equip the character with items I made.. (items that also look a LOT better).

(For making your own treasure module: just follow the module wizard on making the smallest module possible in the Toolset, then use the item wizards to make your items, then use the placeable wizard to make your chests, then place the custom items you made into the inventory of the chests. It may take an hour or two to figure it out the basics here of the Toolset, but the time expenditure is WELL worth it. BTW, you really shouldn't go beyond level 20 for any of your items when you create them.)

Then I saved the character with the equiped items.

Then I played HOTU with the saved character with the equiped items. (though HOTU does strip your items at the beginning of the game - you'll get them back again near the end of chap. 1. ... However only so many items are allowed to be retrived - for my character that translated into everthing worn + an extra set of gauntlets, but no weapons (though a monk doesn't need them).

The reason I went to level 20 (and also why I suggest playing SOU as itself) is that the character you optimize for SOU vs. the character you optimize for HOTU really won't be the same because of the RDD expert class. The RDD by itself is a nice add-on for getting extra attributes, immunity to fire, and wings - otherwise it really isn't a "class". Because of this (and the fact that it takes 10 levels to max the thing) you shouldn't play it for SOU. Its also one reason I have no problems taking a level 20 character into HOTU, (the other is that I want to see the character up at around level 30 by the end of HOTU). Remember the key class levels are still your 2 levels in Monk and the rest in Sorceror - thats where the real power lies.

For info on the Shifter class see the post below "Concerning Prestige Classes".

For the leveler mod I did this:

Create a new character Monk Human (subclass designation Half-Dragon)
Starting attributes:
14 str., 15 dex., 14 con., 8 int., 10 wis., 15 char.
(note: notice the attributes are VERY different than the SOU character, there are multiple reasons for this.)
Plow as many points into Lore skill as you can and keep on doing this until you hit 8 points in this skill (to qualify for a RDD), the other points save until much latter.
Starting Feats: power attack (for greater cleave latter), and combat casting (so you can choose the epic version much latter).
2nd level: Sorceror
3rd level: Sorceror; Feat Improved Intiative
4th level: Sorceror; attribute str.
5th level: Sorceror
6th level: RDD; Feat Weapon Focus unarmed strike (see level 21 below for reasons)
7th level: RDD
8th level: RDD; attribute str.
9th level: RDD; Feat Circle Kick (which was the reason we started with an attribute level of 15 in dex.)
10th level: RDD
11th level: RDD
12th level: RDD; Feat Great Cleave; attribute str.
13th level: RDD
14th level: RDD
15th level: Sorceror; Feat Improved Critical unarmed strike (see level 24 below)
16th level: Sorceror; attribute str.
17th level: Sorceror
18th level: Sorceror Feat (up to you but my preference is for Blind Fighting)
19th level: RDD; (If you want to increase your level in Discipline then go ahead and do it now, in my opinion though you should simply place the misc. immunity to Knockdown into one of your wearable items properties and save the skill points for your next level.*)
20th level: Monk; attribute dex. (which gives you another +1 to AC); (NOW put in 20 points in Tumble skill to give you a +4 AC, and plow in 20 points into concentration - for much latter getting the expert level Greater Combat Casting. Also place what you can evenly in hide and move silently.)

Attribute levels at character level 20 should be:
str. 26, dex. 16, con. 14, int. 10, wis. 10, cha. 17
Base AC should be 21 and of course your magic buffs (and barkskin potions) can increase this - as well as dex. or wis attribute increases from magical items or AC increases from magical items.

21st level: Achieved in HOTU; Sorceror; Feat Overwhelming Critical (see level 24 below)
22nd level: " "; Sorceror
23rd level: " "; Sorceror
24th level: " "; Sorceror; attribute char.; Feat Devistating Critical (Note: This is prob. the best single epic feat in the game (see the HOTU site for the info. on it) and this character is one of the few that can select it. Its just one of the reasons we kept "upping" the attribute str., it is also the reason for the feats weapon focus, improved critical, and overwhelming critical - which are all prequisites to Devistating Critical. Additionally this feat works EXTREMELY well with the Cleave feats and Circle Kick - in fact it makes both Whirlwinds look pathetic by comparison.

25th level and beyond - continue with Sorceror untill at least Sorceror level 18. Also continue on with attribute char. until you reach 19 (for your 9th level Sorceror spells). Consider the epic level feat of combat casting for your next feat at level 27 - though make sure you have enough points in the skill Concentration. Latter Feats should probably be the 3 types of Spell penetration for overcoming DC checks when casting spells.

*note however that it is VERY usefull should you enter a null magic zone where all of your extras from equipment don't work (like immunity to Knockdown).

[ 12-19-2003, 02:59 AM: Message edited by: ScottG ]

12-18-2003, 06:46 PM	#8
ScottG Drow Warrior Join Date: June 13, 2003 Location: Never Never Land Age: 55 Posts: 267	Here is what I did... Play through SOU with the character I mentioned in the post. (or something else) Then I made a character in the leveler mod I linked to in the post below "Concerning Prestige Classes". I then very carefully leveled that character up to level 20. (see below.) Then I saved that character and then opened up my own "treasure" module to equip the character with items I made.. (items that also look a LOT better). (For making your own treasure module: just follow the module wizard on making the smallest module possible in the Toolset, then use the item wizards to make your items, then use the placeable wizard to make your chests, then place the custom items you made into the inventory of the chests. It may take an hour or two to figure it out the basics here of the Toolset, but the time expenditure is WELL worth it. BTW, you really shouldn't go beyond level 20 for any of your items when you create them.) Then I saved the character with the equiped items. Then I played HOTU with the saved character with the equiped items. (though HOTU does strip your items at the beginning of the game - you'll get them back again near the end of chap. 1. ... However only so many items are allowed to be retrived - for my character that translated into everthing worn + an extra set of gauntlets, but no weapons (though a monk doesn't need them). The reason I went to level 20 (and also why I suggest playing SOU as itself) is that the character you optimize for SOU vs. the character you optimize for HOTU really won't be the same because of the RDD expert class. The RDD by itself is a nice add-on for getting extra attributes, immunity to fire, and wings - otherwise it really isn't a "class". Because of this (and the fact that it takes 10 levels to max the thing) you shouldn't play it for SOU. Its also one reason I have no problems taking a level 20 character into HOTU, (the other is that I want to see the character up at around level 30 by the end of HOTU). Remember the key class levels are still your 2 levels in Monk and the rest in Sorceror - thats where the real power lies. For info on the Shifter class see the post below "Concerning Prestige Classes". For the leveler mod I did this: Create a new character Monk Human (subclass designation Half-Dragon) Starting attributes: 14 str., 15 dex., 14 con., 8 int., 10 wis., 15 char. (note: notice the attributes are VERY different than the SOU character, there are multiple reasons for this.) Plow as many points into Lore skill as you can and keep on doing this until you hit 8 points in this skill (to qualify for a RDD), the other points save until much latter. Starting Feats: power attack (for greater cleave latter), and combat casting (so you can choose the epic version much latter). 2nd level: Sorceror 3rd level: Sorceror; Feat Improved Intiative 4th level: Sorceror; attribute str. 5th level: Sorceror 6th level: RDD; Feat Weapon Focus unarmed strike (see level 21 below for reasons) 7th level: RDD 8th level: RDD; attribute str. 9th level: RDD; Feat Circle Kick (which was the reason we started with an attribute level of 15 in dex.) 10th level: RDD 11th level: RDD 12th level: RDD; Feat Great Cleave; attribute str. 13th level: RDD 14th level: RDD 15th level: Sorceror; Feat Improved Critical unarmed strike (see level 24 below) 16th level: Sorceror; attribute str. 17th level: Sorceror 18th level: Sorceror Feat (up to you but my preference is for Blind Fighting) 19th level: RDD; (If you want to increase your level in Discipline then go ahead and do it now, in my opinion though you should simply place the misc. immunity to Knockdown into one of your wearable items properties and save the skill points for your next level.) 20th level: Monk; attribute dex. (which gives you another +1 to AC); (NOW put in 20 points in Tumble skill to give you a +4 AC, and plow in 20 points into concentration - for much latter getting the expert level Greater Combat Casting. Also place what you can evenly in hide and move silently.) Attribute levels at character level 20 should be: str. 26, dex. 16, con. 14, int. 10, wis. 10, cha. 17 Base AC should be 21 and of course your magic buffs (and barkskin potions) can increase this - as well as dex. or wis attribute increases from magical items or AC increases from magical items. 21st level: Achieved in HOTU; Sorceror; Feat Overwhelming Critical (see level 24 below) 22nd level: " "; Sorceror 23rd level: " "; Sorceror 24th level: " "; Sorceror; attribute char.; Feat Devistating Critical (Note: This is prob. the best single epic feat in the game (see the HOTU site for the info. on it) and this character is one of the few that can select it. Its just one of the reasons we kept "upping" the attribute str., it is also the reason for the feats weapon focus, improved critical, and overwhelming critical - which are all prequisites to Devistating Critical. Additionally this feat works EXTREMELY well with the Cleave feats and Circle Kick - in fact it makes both Whirlwinds look pathetic by comparison. 25th level and beyond - continue with Sorceror untill at least Sorceror level 18. Also continue on with attribute char. until you reach 19 (for your 9th level Sorceror spells). Consider the epic level feat of combat casting for your next feat at level 27 - though make sure you have enough points in the skill Concentration. Latter Feats should probably be the 3 types of Spell penetration for overcoming DC checks when casting spells. note however that it is VERY usefull should you enter a null magic zone where all of your extras from equipment don't work (like immunity to Knockdown). [ 12-19-2003, 02:59 AM: Message edited by: ScottG ]