How do you play a Favored Soul?

[Myriad]

Ya know, I love Wizards and Sorcerers, and when someone asks what the difference is, the answer is clear as a bell to me.

It's one thing to build on your Arcane blasting power, but Divinity is a little different. Is the Favored Soul to the Cleric, as a Sorcerer is to a Wizard? And how would you play them?

[Soap]

Favored Soul's can be many things. I had a healer and CC oriented favored soul a long time ago. Almost never used melee on that one, but could still solo quite well due to spells like Order's Wrath and Blade Barrier. I had a lot of fun on that build, but I just rolled a FVS that's completely different.

My current one is melee dagger spec'd with the Blood of Vol diety feat and using Vistani and War Soul enhancements. Not as good a healer for a party, but still can when needed.

FVS is good for multiclassing too, with only a handful or slightly more levels you can add a lot of spell points and healing for other unique melee builds or an arcane archer.

[Taebrythn]

fvs can be a great healer with the new tree more then ever. it also can be a fun caster as well now they get some slas. it just really depends on how you build them as soap said.

[Myriad]

I have a Cleric, that I originally made as a healer, but later made it into a dps spell caster as I always found the healing sufficient with my near unlimited turn charges.

I recently bought the Half Orc class which I haven't used yet. I wonder if that would make a good Melee FVS...

[Soap]

Originally posted by Myriad:

I have a Cleric, that I originally made as a healer, but later made it into a dps spell caster as I always found the healing sufficient with my near unlimited turn charges.

I recently bought the Half Orc class which I haven't used yet. I wonder if that would make a good Melee FVS...

Can't say I've done it as a Half-Orc, but I like to think any/every race/class can be a good Favored Soul combination as long as the synergies are chosen.

For melee: If you don't have a specific class that you want to combine with FVS, then it's really just a matter of first figuring out what sort of melee (weapon) you want. But I would definitely recommend multi-classing if you want the build to be melee focused; at the very least just to get the extra feats and other auto-granted niceties that other, more melee-oriented classes can get.

In perhaps all of the melee builds, I would do the first 4 or 5 levels (which might be all you want) as FVS to get the spells and raise dead scroll use early. Except of course, if taking something like Rogue or Arti where you want grab their higher skill points at lvl 1 for trapping. Otherwise, you could work in 1 level of the other class anywhere in there if you want it's enhancements during those low levels. After that, it's all custom fit to the build and based mainly on what requirements there are for the feats and whatever enhancements you want from the other class/classes.

[Myriad]

Apparently FVS gets a nice capstone. So I'm not sure about multiclassing. My question of, is it the same as a Sorcerer to a Wizard hasn't been answered either, so I'll just assume it is, and I'll build it as a Divine blaster.

This is probably an over asked topic, similar to how I would take a Sorc/Wiz question, which I know like the back of my hand, so I appreciate the replies. Thanks guys.

[Soap]

Originally posted by Myriad:

Apparently FVS gets a nice capstone. So I'm not sure about multiclassing. My question of, is it the same as a Sorcerer to a Wizard hasn't been answered either, so I'll just assume it is, and I'll build it as a Divine blaster.

This is probably an over asked topic, similar to how I would take a Sorc/Wiz question, which I know like the back of my hand, so I appreciate the replies. Thanks guys.

Not completely sure which capstone you're talking about, and I don't want to guess, but yes they get nice things. Nothing wrong with going to 20 as FVS. You'll have a more balance build between melee and spells that way; as opposed to the heavier melee focus you'd get from multi-classing. Unless you're planning to work a universal tree in too, which could cover an amount of that.

As for the relation to the Sorcerer-Wizard dynamic, I wouldn't explain FVS or Cleric that way; but it's not way off imo. One thing of mention: having fewer spells doesn't affect a FVS the way it does a Sorcerer, because most divine spells are support rather than offensive. So you can do things like carring restoration scrolls instead of having the spell in your spellbook, and mostly have the same offensive spells. Not sure at all where to relate the lack of Turn Undead or other divine class differences into that dynamic either.

[Myriad]

Originally posted by Soap:

Not completely sure which capstone you're talking about

Well the level 20 mostly. But a few levels below that you get nice things too.

I'm just gonna run with a pure blaster and see what happens. I could fail miserably, but no better way to learn than experience. lol

[Soap]

Originally posted by Myriad:

Originally posted by Soap:

Not completely sure which capstone you're talking about

Well the level 20 mostly. But a few levels below that you get nice things too.

I'm just gonna run with a pure blaster and see what happens. I could fail miserably, but no better way to learn than experience. lol

The DR 10? There are other sources, but if you won't have one then that's good. Leap of Faith at 17 is great for sure. I'm taking my FVS Vistani to at least 17 just for that :)
The only melee enhancement capstone; the core from War Soul; good for parties I'd think, but not what I'd suggest for a melee focus anyway...spells...

I'm sure you'll do fine, FVS casters are pretty strong atm. As a single-class, probably the only way you could gimp a FVS is intentionally screwing up the starting attributes.

[Myriad]

Originally posted by Soap:

I'm sure you'll do fine, FVS casters are pretty strong atm. As a single-class, probably the only way you could gimp a FVS is intentionally screwing up the starting attributes.

Thanks, do you think I should go any race with Wisdom, or go Drow with Charisma?

[Soap]

Originally posted by Myriad:

Originally posted by Soap:

I'm sure you'll do fine, FVS casters are pretty strong atm. As a single-class, probably the only way you could gimp a FVS is intentionally screwing up the starting attributes.

Thanks, do you think I should go any race with Wisdom, or go Drow with Charisma?

Drow is the stronger choice for offensive casting yeah. I've never focused on that as a FVS, but I don't think it's quite as necessary to min/max a divine caster as an arcane one. So I think another race is fine too if you want a different flavor.

[LeCharles]

Originally posted by Soap:

Originally posted by Myriad:

Thanks, do you think I should go any race with Wisdom, or go Drow with Charisma?

Drow is the stronger choice for offensive casting yeah. I've never focused on that as a FVS, but I don't think it's quite as necessary to min/max a divine caster as an arcane one. So I think another race is fine too if you want a different flavor.

What? Drow stronger cos of cha? Cha only gives u spell points, dcs are wis based. You'll want your dcs to land desctruction, slay living, blade barrier, command, greater command, cometfall, etc.
I'd say Aasimar makes the best fvs, they have a nice racial tree too. And yes, fvs are to clerics what sorcs are to wizards.

[Soap]

Originally posted by oTarUX:

Originally posted by Soap:

Drow is the stronger choice for offensive casting yeah. I've never focused on that as a FVS, but I don't think it's quite as necessary to min/max a divine caster as an arcane one. So I think another race is fine too if you want a different flavor.

What? Drow stronger cos of cha? Cha only gives u spell points, dcs are wis based. You'll want your dcs to land desctruction, slay living, blade barrier, command, greater command, cometfall, etc.
I'd say Aasimar makes the best fvs, they have a nice racial tree too. And yes, fvs are to clerics what sorcs are to wizards.

FVS uses the higher of Wis or Cha for both spell points and spell DC. Also, the skill "Spellcraft," uses Int for which Drow also gets +2, but we're talking about starting with a +1 higher bonus for these--that doesn't matter unless your running on high difficulties. The extra skill points from the +2 Int are always welcome too. I'm not sure if he even has any of the premium races like Aasimar, but sure that's a good option too, of which there are several.

For the free races...some people like Human for the extra feat. Halfling can be just be plain fun imo.

[Myriad]

Originally posted by oTarUX:

What? Drow stronger cos of cha? Cha only gives u spell points

I believe it used to be that way until they changed it in an update. Apparently now the higher of either Wis or Cha are used for both SP and DC.

[Taebrythn]

Originally posted by oTarUX:

Originally posted by Soap:

Drow is the stronger choice for offensive casting yeah. I've never focused on that as a FVS, but I don't think it's quite as necessary to min/max a divine caster as an arcane one. So I think another race is fine too if you want a different flavor.

What? Drow stronger cos of cha? Cha only gives u spell points, dcs are wis based. You'll want your dcs to land desctruction, slay living, blade barrier, command, greater command, cometfall, etc.
I'd say Aasimar makes the best fvs, they have a nice racial tree too. And yes, fvs are to clerics what sorcs are to wizards.

Originally posted by Myriad:

Originally posted by oTarUX:

What? Drow stronger cos of cha? Cha only gives u spell points

I believe it used to be that way until they changed it in an update. Apparently now the higher of either Wis or Cha are used for both SP and DC.

myriad is correct because they did change it to it will use what feat you chose. meaning you can pick one of the two for dc.

[Myriad]

Originally posted by Taebrythn:

myriad is correct because they did change it to it will use what feat you chose. meaning you can pick one of the two for dc.

Well Soap did mention it, but didn't let on that it had been changed.

I have more premium classes than races. I have the Drow, due to favor on one server, and I bought Half-Orc, because it was on sale. And I really ought to reply to these topics when I'm playing, but that's off the top of my head. I'm thinking about the Sun Elf too...

I haven't started a FVS yet, just trying to get my head around it first lol. Might take a month.