Beguiler: How important is having all 20 levels?

[genuine]

It's been mentioned in passing above, but I'm going to add my two cents.

Why do you want Beguiler 20? To deal with monsters with high spell resistance.

So, two questions must be asked:

First, how important is it to deal with monsters with high spell resistance? Do you have party members who you can trust to be capable if the situation comes up? Is your DM going to go out of his way to throw them at you? Will it be a serious problem at levels 1-19?

Second (and perhaps more importantly): Does the potential PrC give you ways to deal with that high spell resistance? Does it give it to you sooner? Does it give it to you in a better way? The rant about Rainbow Servant was answering this question and living there: Rainbow Servant gives you lots of spells that won't worry about spell resistance, and gives it you you sooner, and gives you a bunch of other fun stuff too).

It seems to me that with Erudite on the other side of a gestalt you should have more than enough options to deal with spell-resistant enemies. So go nuts, get a dip into mindbender, grab fun class features, you'll be fine.

[charleskoz]

Thanks for the replies.

Not sure what the great appeal is of Rainbow Servant.. is it just access to the cleric spell list? We do have a cleric, and as a gestalt I'm already going to have so many spells/powers that I'm not sure I need more...

[weenog]

Thanks for the replies.

Not sure what the great appeal is of Rainbow Servant.. is it just access to the cleric spell list? We do have a cleric, and as a gestalt I'm already going to have so many spells/powers that I'm not sure I need more...

It's not just access to the cleric spell list.  It's access to the cleric spell list, coupled with spontaneous casting and the ability to know all spells on your class spell list as soon as you gain access to that level of spells.  In other words, it's casting any cleric spell in any book ever, any time you want (except domain spells).  A genuine cleric has to predict what's going to come up and prepare accordingly.  You don't, if an obscure challenge comes up you're ready right now.

[Shiki]

Thanks for the replies.

Not sure what the great appeal is of Rainbow Servant.. is it just access to the cleric spell list? We do have a cleric, and as a gestalt I'm already going to have so many spells/powers that I'm not sure I need more...

It's not just access to the cleric spell list.  It's access to the cleric spell list, coupled with spontaneous casting and the ability to know all spells on your class spell list as soon as you gain access to that level of spells.  In other words, it's casting any cleric spell in any book ever, any time you want (except domain spells).  A genuine cleric has to predict what's going to come up and prepare accordingly.  You don't, if an obscure challenge comes up you're ready right now.

Which is, frankly, better than the entire cleric class IMO.

[weenog]

The cleric still has its place.  Especially in the lower levels the cleric will have a much easier time stepping up to the front line if that's needed.  And if you're getting into rainbow servant via Warmage instead of Beguiler you're always gonna be kinda squishy.  Beguiler will too, honestly, but at least they can use illusions to reduce the need for AC and hp.

[Lycanthromancer]

Dread necromancer/rainbow servant would be nice.

Rainbows and undeath: the perfect combination.

[weenog]

Dread necromancer/rainbow servant would be nice.

Rainbows and undeath: the perfect combination.

Reminds me of my party's illusionist trying to come across all menacing against some shadowy figure and then casting a rainbow-related spell.

"I am the true master of darkness!" *care bear stare*

[Lycanthromancer]

Dread necromancer/rainbow servant would be nice.

Rainbows and undeath: the perfect combination.

Reminds me of my party's illusionist trying to come across all menacing against some shadowy figure and then casting a rainbow-related spell.

"I am the true master of darkness!" *care bear stare*

Care bears are, quite frankly, terrifying.

[weenog]

No shit.  He ended up burning down the inn and getting us in trouble in the kingdom's capital city again.

[awaken DM golem]

Care Bear + Beguiler 19 says: "One more level and you'll call me Cute."