Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In The Playground #XXVIII [Archive]

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Amphetryon

2011-12-30, 07:27 PM

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef XXVIII. Here in Optimization Colosseum, contestants will endeavor to create an optimized and flavorful character using a specified D&D3.5 prestige class as a "Secret Ingredient".

Contestants: You will need to present a write-up of your build at at least one of the following points: 5th level, 10th level, 15th, 20th, and a "sweet spot" that you feel is the high point of the build, as well as presenting a fully-fleshed out 20-level build in the table below. Feel free to present as many of these as you like, and please give a rundown of the build's abilities and playability at all of the levels you didn't show. The rules are as follows:

Menu: For most challenges, the "special ingredient" will be drawn from Core plus Completes. There will, from time to time, be special challenges that showcase secret ingredients from other books--for example, the XPH.

32 point-buy is the presumed creation method, but we have generally allowed other levels of point-buy.
If you do use a different point-buy, please make your case for its necessity in your entry. Keep in mind that for using exceptionally large or small point-buys may warrant deductions in elegance and/or power.

Kitchen: Competitors will be free to use any official 3.5 rulebook in constructing their builds. Dragon magazine is disallowed, and Unearthed Arcana is allowed; but see Elegance below. Web-exclusive 3.0 or 3.5 materials by WotC are expressly allowed, but take care to verify that an updated version did not appear in print elsewhere, as this may cause an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion. Alternate rule systems from UA such as gestalt are not allowed, as they create a different playing field. Also, item familiars are forbidden because I hate 'em. This comes up often enough to bear mention in the rules: Dragon Compendium is allowed.

Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 11:59PM GMT on Friday, January 13th, 2012 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, Amphetryon. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 11:59PM GMT on Friday, January 27th, 2012 to judge the builds and submit their scores. If no judges have scored by that point, only the scores of the first judge to submit will be counted. If you do not have access to the current challenge's Secret Ingredient, please do not volunteer to judge this round.

Judging: Judging will be based on the following criteria, with each build rated from 1 (very poor) to 5 (exemplary) in each area: Originality, Power, Elegance, Use of Secret Ingredient.

Power level is up to you. Cheese is acceptable, but should be kept to a sane level unless you're showcasing a new TO build you've discovered. In the words of one of my predecessors, a little cheddar can be nice, but avoid the mature Gruyere unless you're making a cheese fondue.
Elegance could bear a little elaboration. It basically measures how skillfully you put your build together, and whether you sacrificed flavor for power. We're cooking here - if your dish doesn't taste good, it doesn't matter how well-presented it is. Use of flaws is an automatic loss of one point per flaw in this category. Other things that will cause lost points here are excessive multiclassing, and classes that don't fit the concept - using Cloistered Cleric in a front-line melee fighter, for example, will lose you points. Please note the following change: a legal source's relative obscurity should not be considered as penalizing Elegance, excepting the aforementioned issues with Unearthed Arcana. Using too many sources may be an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion, but a book's relative obscurity may not.
Presentation: Builds will be posted anonymously, in order to avoid the potential of bias towards a particular competitor. For this reason, please don't put your name in the build, as I'm likely to miss it when reviewing the entries!

Due to concerns about standardizing entry format, I'd like everyone to try to use the following table for their entry.NAME OF ENTRY
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

2nd|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

3rd|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

4th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

5th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

6th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

7th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

8th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

9th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

10th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

11th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

12th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

13th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

14th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

15th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

16th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

17th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

18th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

19th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

20th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities[/table]

CodeNAME OF ENTRY
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

2nd|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

3rd|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

4th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

5th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

6th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

7th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

8th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

9th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

10th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

11th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

12th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

13th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

14th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

15th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

16th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

17th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

18th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

19th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

20th|New Class Level|
+x|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities[/table]

For entries with spellcasting, use the following table for Spells per day and Spells Known. (Spells Known only if necessary, i.e. Sorcerer or Bard, but not Wizard or Warmage)Spells per day/Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th

1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

13th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

14th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

15th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

16th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

17th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

18th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

19th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

20th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

CodeSpells per day/Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th

1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

13th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

14th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

15th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

16th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

17th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

18th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

19th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

20th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

For other systems (Psionics, ToB, Incarnum, etc.) keep track of PP/maneuvers/essentia separately, preferably in a nice neat list.
Speculation: Please don't post or speculate on possible builds until the "reveal," in order to avoid spoiling the surprise if a particular competitor is producing a build along those lines.

Leadership is banned; we're producing a meal, not a seven-course banquet for a hundred diners. If your entry includes a prestige class or ACF that grants Leadership or a Leadership-like ability as a bonus feat, the feat should be ignored and is not eligible to be traded away for another feat of ACF through any means.

So! Who wants to sign up as a contestant, and who wants to sign up as a judge? Looking for as many contestants and judges as feel like playing!

This week's special ingredient is:
Frostburn's Cryokineticist!
We will have trophies for 1st through 3rd places, as well as a special trophy for honorable mention. The honorable mention prize is given to the most daring or unexpected build. Judges, contestants and guests alike are invited to vote for honorable mention via PM.

Allez optimiser!

Contestants

Judges

The Builds

Past Competitions

Iron Chef I: Entropomancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142470)
Iron Chef II: Psibond Agent (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146583)
Iron Chef III: Cancer Mage (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148584)
Iron Chef IV: Stonelord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150595)
Iron Chef V: War Chanter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152543)
Iron Chef VI: Master of Masks (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156876)
Iron Chef VII: Green Star Adept (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158633)
Iron Chef VIII: Pyrokineticist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160266)
Iron Chef IX: Animal Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162702)
Iron Chef X: Mythic Exemplar (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164381)
Iron Chef XI: Blade Bravo (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166539)
Iron Chef XII: War Mind (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9426386)
Iron Chef XIII: Vigilante (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172233)
Iron Chef XIV: Seeker of the Song (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174434)
Iron Chef XV: Drunken Master (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176049)
Iron Chef XVI: Assassin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178202)
Iron Chef XVII: Ardent Dilettante (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182492)
Iron Chef XVIII: Unseelie Dark Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186097)
Iron Chef XIX: Dread Pirate (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190607)
Iron Chef XX: Incandescent Champion (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10976416)
Iron Chef XXI: Ghostwalker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198921)
Iron Chef XXII: Dervish (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206576)
Iron Chef XXIII: Divine Crusader (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210071)
Iron Chef XXIV: Tactical Soldier (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214198)
Iron Chef XXV: Scion of Tem-Et-Nu (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217441)
Iron Chef XXVI: Shadowdancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220956)
Iron Chef XXVII: Mindbender (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224008)

Thurbane

2011-12-30, 07:39 PM

Interesting...psionics isn't my bag, but this could be an interesting secret ingredient. :smallcool:

dextercorvia

2011-12-30, 08:19 PM

Zipding

2011-12-30, 08:37 PM

Deadline is Friday the 13th -- how lucky. :smallbiggrin:

I'm shivering with anticipation to try something such a cool secret ingredient. I'm taking the mittens come off, but I hope to not receive an icy reception from the judges.

I saw what you did there.

I may or may not be judging this round. Most likely though, I will just lurk and comment on what is going on.

The Gilded Duke

2011-12-30, 09:10 PM

I dunno, so far secret ingredient is striking me as very so-so.

Amphetryon

2011-12-30, 09:22 PM

As you've no doubt noticed, I've been unable to find someone interested in creating our trophies. Any of you with interest in that area or a friend with said interest, please let me know.

Amechra

2011-12-30, 10:11 PM

I'm participating, by the way...

Zaq

2011-12-30, 11:24 PM

This one makes me sad that realistically, I'm highly unlikely to have the time this really needs. If something changes at work, I'd probably come up with something, but being honest with myself, it's not very likely.

Nifty ingredient, though. I approve.

Gotterdammerung

2011-12-30, 11:35 PM

Piggy Knowles

2011-12-30, 11:42 PM

Huh. Nothing all that groundbreaking springs to mind right off the bat. Hopefully I come up with something, because I'd like to compete, but I'll have to think on this one!

Zaq

2011-12-30, 11:52 PM

wow... that is one of the worst prestige classes I have ever read . . .

Heh. I might regret saying this (on the off chance that I compete at all), but this isn't bad at all by IC standards. Compared to, say, Tactical Soldier? Offhand, it hardly looks bad at all. No, I expect some good things to come from this.

Gotterdammerung

2011-12-31, 12:13 AM

Heh. I might regret saying this (on the off chance that I compete at all), but this isn't bad at all by IC standards. Compared to, say, Tactical Soldier? Offhand, it hardly looks bad at all. No, I expect some good things to come from this.

I only wish I had known about IC when you did tactical soldier. That is an easy one to work with. Without even thinking about it hard half elf 3 hexblade/2 paladin of slaughter/5 outcast champion/10 tactical soldier seems cool.

But this class..... let me put it this way.This class makes me wish that authors signed their prestige classes... just so I would know where to send the hate mail.

TravelLog

2011-12-31, 12:26 AM

I'm thinking this one is going to cause some people trouble in the Power department (especially if they take all 10 levels) seeing as it totally drops any manifesting progression. 0/10 ML has to hurt.

gbprime

2011-12-31, 02:01 AM

Not only a 0/10 advancement of the prerequisites that got you there, but I love the fact that at 5th level they get +2 to hit and damage things that are otherwise totally immune to everything they do. Awesome.

Can't wait to see how this one turns out. In fact, I think I'll judge it. :smallcool:

I'll post judge criteria soon.

ShneekeyTheLost

2011-12-31, 02:03 AM

wow... that is one of the worst prestige classes I have ever read...

This will be interesting. I will try to compete. I need to mull it over and if I don't get hit with a clever idea for pulling that horrible monstrosity out of the fail zone then I will judge instead.

Fundamentally identical to Pyrokeneticist, except for the Powers requirement. Oh, and polar ray rather than flame lash. Other than that... file off the serial numbers, change the flavor, and call it a done deed.

Gotterdammerung

2011-12-31, 03:14 AM

Fundamentally identical to Pyrokeneticist, except for the Powers requirement. Oh, and polar ray rather than flame lash. Other than that... file off the serial numbers, change the flavor, and call it a done deed.

Hardly,

Pyrokineticist can be entered without any psionic class lvls.

Lets compare abilities

flame whip- unique weapon with a good reach that has synergy with the rest of the classes abilities.

vs

Polar ray- at the capstone you can freeze a jug of milk and 2 glasses worth of water... or do 1d12.

hand of fire- 2d6 fire dmg to unarmed strikes, stacks with current unarmed strike damage allowing the possibility of a unarmed strike build.

vs

Frozen fist- 1d6 blunt +1d8 cold damage (later 2d8 cold if you spend 2 move actions). Specifically replaces unarmed dmg. You could have 20d12 unarmed damage but the moment you use frozen fist your punches do 1d6+1d8...

weapon afrost vs aflame- flame does more dmg.

Pyro also gets Nimbus (nifty buff), Heat death (an extra save or die).

Cryo gets a a wall of ice instead (at a set in stone low caster level).

but other than those small differences... sure, just file of the serial numbers.

Little Brother

2011-12-31, 03:45 AM

Also, the flight is worse.

Three months! If frostburn had been done three months earlier, we could use this (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040625e) better, though still awful, Cryokineticist.

motoko's ghost

2011-12-31, 05:35 AM

I try and see if I can submit a build

OMG PONIES

2011-12-31, 07:27 AM

I'm in, and let me just say I'm glad we decided to chill with all the cold puns :smallamused:. Also, should Roman Numerals be proceeded by an octothorp?

TheGeckoKing

2011-12-31, 09:32 AM

I have a plan. Not a very good one, but a plan. I'll do my best to throw something together.

BobVosh

2011-12-31, 04:17 PM

I would love to judge this, but I have to see if I can drum up a copy of frostburn. Mine got water damaged and I never felt like replacing it. Pretty sure a friend has a copy of it floating around. Will let you know if I can further on.

Thurbane

2011-12-31, 08:17 PM

gbprime

2011-12-31, 08:46 PM

If it had been Stormwrack that got water damaged, it would have been quite ironic. :smalltongue:

It still could be. Freeze it. :smallcool:

Skelengar

2011-12-31, 09:49 PM

I'm in, and let me just say I'm glad we decided to chill with all the cold puns :smallamused:. Also, should Roman Numerals be proceeded by an octothorp?

It still could be. Freeze it. :smallcool:

This is just going to be the entire thread, isn't it? Should we get Ahnold in here?

Zaq

2011-12-31, 11:27 PM

Also, should Roman Numerals be proceeded by an octothorp?

It's not typical, and it's certainly not a choice that I would make, but I don't think that the GitP boards have an official manual of style, so even I can't get that worked up over it.

Thumbs up for knowing the word "octothorp," though. It's an excellent word, and it's shameful how few people use it.

gbprime

2012-01-01, 12:14 AM

Thumbs up for knowing the word "octothorp," though. It's an excellent word, and it's shameful how few people use it.

I used it in scrabble the other week. Does that count? :smallcool:

BobVosh

2012-01-01, 12:32 AM

If it had been Stormwrack that got water damaged, it would have been quite ironic. :smalltongue:

And I would have had a great pun without changing any of the words.

Pretty sure a friend has a copy of it floating around.

Amphetryon

2012-01-01, 12:36 AM

Thumbs up for knowing the word "octothorp," though. It's an excellent word, and it's shameful how few people use it.
People are often disincentivized from using the larger or more esoteric words these days, sadly. Octothorp is slightly less well-known than ampersand, and needs more love.

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-01, 06:38 AM

People are often disincentivized from using the larger or more esoteric words these days, sadly. Octothorp is slightly less well-known than ampersand, and needs more love.

Considering the ampersand is found within the title of the game these boards are dedicated to, one would assume that a higher than normal percentage of individuals who are familiar with it are present.

But yes, the use of multisyllabic words tends to brand you as verbose rather than eloquent these days. In particular, on the internet, it is apparently the mark of an erudite to simply use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Indeed, insistence on such is seen as pure snobbery and rather gauche. Pity, of course, but such are the times we live in.

I suppose I should follow this up with some witty repartee, perhaps a pun, so as to not leave the majority out, and in a manner in which they could easily comprehend.

tl;dr version: I need to chill out :smallbiggrin:

motoko's ghost

2012-01-01, 06:42 AM

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-01, 07:19 AM

Considering the ampersand is found within the title of the game these boards are dedicated to, one would assume that a higher than normal percentage of individuals who are familiar with it are present.

But yes, the use of multisyllabic words tends to brand you as verbose rather than eloquent these days. In particular, on the internet, it is apparently the mark of an erudite to simply use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Indeed, insistence on such is seen as pure snobbery and rather gauche. Pity, of course, but such are the times we live in.

I suppose I should follow this up with some witty repartee, perhaps a pun, so as to not leave the majority out, and in a manner in which they could easily comprehend.

tl;dr version: I need to chill out :smallbiggrin:

I concur with your assessment of the internet. Just the other day I was accused of using "stilted language" and "pretentious wording" to make myself look smarter. The accuser continued on saying that she believed I must be using an online dictionary/thesaurus, because normal people don't talk that way.

The comment took me completely off guard. I thought I was speaking naturally and I certainly did not stop to look up words on the internet during our conversation. And yet in her mind it was easier to write me off as a cheat than to admit to her own inadequacies. I found the hole debacle rather interesting from a psychological standpoint, but rather off putting from a personal viewpoint. In hindsight, perhaps I should have expected as much. If I had to guess which word stumped her the most, I would assume "hebetudinous." In the future, I try to especially avoid words that are not in spell checks vocabulary.

BobVosh

2012-01-01, 07:59 AM

Indeed my fine sir, how dare you articulate yourself beyond the mere monosyllabic utterances of our denigrated fellows? Although I must admit to being humored by the word of question being "hebetudinous".

gbprime

2012-01-01, 09:29 AM

Meh, it all went downhill after they relented and added "ain't" to the dictionary.

Alas, Babylon. (Five)

OMG PONIES

2012-01-01, 12:18 PM

Sadly, this state of affairs is not relegated to the darkest corners of the Internet, but has burst open like a squeezed pustule, splashing its discharge of apathy over both the mainstream and academia alike.

flabort

2012-01-01, 02:22 PM

I have accepted the fact that, indeed, I have a tendency for archaic linguals according to my peers and fellows, and my vocabulary is reportedly beyond the norm. But I am still ashamed of the quality of non-oral communication in this era.

I'll see if I can participate in the first IC of 2012, too. Although Frostburn's a harder resource to find, it is.

Diefje

2012-01-01, 03:05 PM

Some people are just non-native speakers, and use more conversational english, because it's not our language.

Contrary to popular belief, the internet is not America.

TroubleBrewing

2012-01-01, 04:51 PM

I think I've been begging for Cryokineticist to show up as the SI for... the past 7 or 8 competitions at least, but it might be as high as 10.

Long story short, I'm competing. :smallbiggrin:

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-01, 05:56 PM

Huh. I was all set to say that nothing was coming to me for this one, and started writing up some criteria as a judge, when I suddenly got an idea that could work with Cryokineticist. I'll have to see if I can turn this idea into a full-fledged build, but if I can, maybe I'll end up competing after all...

Hunter Killer

2012-01-01, 07:18 PM

I must say, gentlemen, that many who frequent the world wide web may find your verbose vernaculars rather vexing. Perhaps we should agree to cease this prideful pontification on the perks of good grammar in order to placate said plebeians?

TLDR: That'll do, pig. That'll do. :smallwink:

dextercorvia

2012-01-01, 08:15 PM

verbose vernaculars rather vexing.

I flind this aborted attempt at alliteration almost alarming.

very

OMG PONIES

2012-01-01, 11:37 PM

Some people are just non-native speakers, and use more conversational english, because it's not our language.

Contrary to popular belief, the internet is not America.

Quite true, though I think there's a broad gap between "made a mistake on one of my many languages" and "too lazy to use my mother tongue correctly." To all non-native speakers, kudos for having the patience to pick up another language. For those in the second boat, tsk tsk.

I flind this aborted attempt at alliteration almost alarming.

Come on now, don't make an assonance out of yourself.

BobVosh

2012-01-01, 11:46 PM

Come on now, don't make an assonance out of yourself.

It hurts. Why does it hurt?!

Zaq

2012-01-01, 11:49 PM

It hurts. Why does it hurt?!

It hurts because your pun fu is weak, while his is strong.

dextercorvia

2012-01-02, 01:09 AM

It hurts. Why does it hurt?!

Perhaps if you reverse the polarity...

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-02, 01:53 AM

Perhaps if you reverse the polarity...

No, I think degauss cannon would hurt worse...

ExemplarofAvg

2012-01-02, 01:20 PM

Not to stop the flow of fun here.
But what requirements are there for Judging, er, requirements to be a judge? Because I think it would be neat to see what people come up with, but I'm not exactly sure I'm qualified.

Kesnit

2012-01-02, 01:21 PM

But what requirements are there for Judging, er, requirements to be a judge? Because I think it would be neat to see what people come up with, but I'm not exactly sure I'm qualified.

Ability to read English. :)

All joking aside, there are no requirements.

ExemplarofAvg

2012-01-02, 01:30 PM

Ability to read English. :)

All joking aside, there are no requirements.

I've read English most of my life, I even speak it too. (Although I mostly use the accepted conversation variant amongst people, and save the expanded vernacular of the intelligencia for notes and what not.)

So I guess I Judge?

Amphetryon

2012-01-02, 01:31 PM

Ability to read English. :)

All joking aside, there are no requirements.

Access to the source material for the secret ingredient helps rather a lot. In this case, access to Frostburn should be considered vital.

ExemplarofAvg

2012-01-02, 01:38 PM

Access to the source material for the secret ingredient helps rather a lot. In this case, access to Frostburn should be considered vital.

It's one of my favourite books, so yeah it's there. Although I've never used the Class in question.

Zipding

2012-01-02, 02:21 PM

It's one of my favourite books, so yeah it's there. Although I've never used the Class in question.

Last round, I was a judge for a class I had never used either. Read through the class, think what would be good with it, and that's your originality requirements there. There are no real requirements, as it is all personal opinion when you judge. Unless you make some minor mistakes like counting errors, which I had some last round, no one will have any problem with your judging.

ExemplarofAvg

2012-01-02, 02:43 PM

Last round, I was a judge for a class I had never used either. Read through the class, think what would be good with it, and that's your originality requirements there. There are no real requirements, as it is all personal opinion when you judge. Unless you make some minor mistakes like counting errors, which I had some last round, no one will have any problem with your judging.

Alright, and thanks for the advice.

Hunter Killer

2012-01-02, 11:49 PM

Unless I can think of something cool in the next few days, I might try judging this time. Criteria in the next few days if I decide to do that.

Feytalist

2012-01-03, 01:55 AM

Wait!

Wait, wait.

I just came back from holiday. The previous challenge's first three places all go to first timers? Surely that's some sort of a first.

Also, I tied for bronze on my first time. Wooo!

I don't have Frostburn. Meh. Guess I'll just watch this one.

dextercorvia

2012-01-03, 07:57 AM

Amphetryon

2012-01-03, 08:06 AM

I imagine it had to happen at least one other time.:smallbiggrin:
You'd think so, but the earliest competitions only had two 'medal' placements. Our archivist, Mr. Ponies, can probably tell us the closest we've come to an "all newbie winners" round that included 3rd and honorable mention.

OMG PONIES

2012-01-03, 01:36 PM

It hurts because your pun fu is weak, while his is strong.

Hey, chill out! That's not cool, man; there's no need to be so frigid towards him.

I just came back from holiday. The previous challenge's first three places all go to first timers? Surely that's some sort of a first.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen this past round. Piggy Knowles (a repeat competitor) tied Feytalist for the bronze medal AND took Honorable Mention.

You'd think so, but the earliest competitions only had two 'medal' placements. Our archivist, Mr. Ponies, can probably tell us the closest we've come to an "all newbie winners" round that included 3rd and honorable mention.

'Twas Round XII: The_Gilded_Duke, Nerdanel, and Rancor1 all took medals without previously competing. Our chairman himself took fourth place, but that was back in the day before Honorable Mention. Therefore, if you want to get technical, we still have not had a round where all three medals and Honorable Mention were taken by first-time competitors. Round XXVIII, perhaps? Now, off to go cherry pick some ranger, paladin, and domain spells...

BobVosh

2012-01-03, 01:51 PM

Hey, chill out! That's not cool, man; there's no need to be so frigid towards him.

My rage towards the puns in here will burn for eternity to kill the cold jokes.

*gets the book finally, cracks it open*
"Why do you have to be lawful" is my first thought on the class.
Second thought is why the heck is it only 3/4 BAB considering how it plays.
This class is pretty bad, anyone else noticed that?

Amphetryon

2012-01-03, 01:53 PM

My rage towards the puns in here will burn for eternity to kill the cold jokes.

*gets the book finally, cracks it open*
"Why do you have to be lawful" is my first thought on the class.
Second thought is why the heck is it only 3/4 BAB considering how it plays.
This class is pretty bad, anyone else noticed that?

Yes. Yes, I did. :smalltongue:

TroubleBrewing

2012-01-03, 04:50 PM

I believe that was the point.

This probably isn't the thread for it, but I'd be curious to see what the consensus was on what the WORST CLASS that ICOCITP has ever used for an SI.

Amphetryon

2012-01-03, 04:59 PM

I believe that was the point.

This probably isn't the thread for it, but I'd be curious to see what the consensus was on what the WORST CLASS that ICOCITP has ever used for an SI.

Tactical Soldier gets my vote. I'd vote for it twice, if I could.

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-03, 05:36 PM

Wait, wait.

I just came back from holiday. The previous challenge's first three places all go to first timers? Surely that's some sort of a first.

No, it wasn't all first-timers - this was my third competition, and I tied with you for bronze.

I'm hoping I can keep up my streak! Thus far, I've submitted five builds to the Iron Chef, and four of them have placed top three, while the last took fourth place but snagged honorable mention.

I'm still waffling on whether or not I will be competing with this one. I have one cool idea that dovetails nicely with some of the cryokineticist's abilities, but it's a little weak on its own. I'm hoping I'll brainstorm something interesting before the deadline, but if I don't, I'll try to judge instead.

BobVosh

2012-01-03, 06:50 PM

I believe that was the point.

This probably isn't the thread for it, but I'd be curious to see what the consensus was on what the WORST CLASS that ICOCITP has ever used for an SI.

Worst class in terms of playing, or in terms of SI?

For the first I would say Green Star Adept simply due to how much you have to work to make it actually do something other than die as a horrible gish.
For the second I would probably say tactical soldier, boring class.

OMG PONIES

2012-01-03, 11:07 PM

No love for the Tactical Soldier? I thought it was actually quite unique, and just the right brand of bad that a little optimization made it pretty good.

Thurbane

2012-01-03, 11:09 PM

No love for the Tactical Soldier? I thought it was actually quite unique, and just the right brand of bad that a little optimization made it pretty good.
I have a soft spot for it as well. I generally play in a pretty low op game, and it's a fairly easy PrC for a Fighter to qualify for.

TroubleBrewing

2012-01-03, 11:31 PM

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-04, 01:58 AM

Honestly, my vote would go to GSA. Tactical Soldier IS terrible, but that contest produced Glinka, and she scares the crud out of me. None of the GSA builds really caught my eye, not to mention that it established the "no arguing in-thread" rule.

That one started ugly, with a messy, terrible PRC, and got UGLIER.

1/2 spellcasting progression classes can be handled with rapid spell progression classes. This is a class which requires some degree of manifestation, and doesn't do anything with it. It's like Arcane Archer... only without Channel Spell to pretend there's some kind of synergy involved.

Zaq

2012-01-04, 03:18 AM

Wiggins

2012-01-04, 03:59 AM

I feel like competing, but I have absolutely no idea yet what I'll do with this. Should I wait until I make some headway first?

Garwain

2012-01-04, 07:07 AM

I feel like competing, but I have absolutely no idea yet what I'll do with this. Should I wait until I make some headway first? Exactly! I'm very curious to see what others can make of it. Because right now, I have no clue...

ExemplarofAvg

2012-01-04, 10:50 AM

Force an Idea?
Write down all classes that could get into the Cryokineticist.
Cross out ones that don't really fit well.
Once you have that, then make an idea.
Reverse Engineer the Build.
Start Creating without any formal idea.

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-04, 11:35 AM

I tend to build for IC in one of two directions.

The first is thematic. Scrub away the given fluff for the class. Just look at the abilities, and imagine what a character who has those abilities would look like. How would he use them? What would be useful? Start creating a picture in your head of this character, and then build around that.

(So, for example, with Frater Omnia, I stopped paying attention to the fluff of mindbender, wrote down a list of all those abilities, and tried to imagine what kind of a person someone with those abilities would be. I got the idea of a pacifistic cult leader with a golden voice, and began building from there. I looked at different ways I could create the character I wanted, and started developing a story simultaneously.)

The second is to find an ability or combo that you think is cool, and then build around that. Sometimes something comes to me as soon as I read the class, and sometimes I'll scan all my other books until something comes to mind. Start by finding a way to make that happen, and then flesh out the rest of the build around that. Nine times out of ten, by the time the build is finished, I've moved beyond that original combo or whatever that inspired it, but that's still what gave me a starting point.

(Vald Lokkur was an example of this. I started out with the idea of using Arcane Archer to channel the Divine Crusader's high level spells. Originally, my plan was to use the Chaos domain, and spend my 8 remaining levels dedicated to boosting my caster level as high as possible, and shooting off super high-level Words of Chaos. However, as I was doing this, I noticed the fact that Arcane Archer's imbue class feature reduced the casting time of spells to a standard action. That made me think of those weather spells with the long casting times, and I changed tracks and instead decided to create a winter-themed character. I needed arcane caster levels to become an AA, so that made me think of Hexblade, and from there I had my final concept of an Asgardian winter witch.)

BobVosh

2012-01-04, 05:18 PM

Ok, I seriously can't get over this. Why is this class lawful only? I can't find a single reason that it states about it.

Thurbane

2012-01-04, 05:41 PM

Ok, I seriously can't get over this. Why is this class lawful only? I can't find a single reason that it states about it.
Maybe because ice is crystalline with an "ordered structure"? That's just a wild stab in the dark... :smalleek:

Urpriest

2012-01-04, 06:01 PM

Ok, I seriously can't get over this. Why is this class lawful only? I can't find a single reason that it states about it.

It's the opposite of Pyrokineticist.

DemonRoach

2012-01-04, 06:05 PM

Ok, I seriously can't get over this. Why is this class lawful only? I can't find a single reason that it states about it.

Because Ice opposes chaos. Blizzards, freezing temperatures, avalanches, all such things are the attempts of the sentient Ice elements to destroy that most obnoxious of chaotic things, living beings. For those that breathe are not content to float upon the water and travel to the lowest nearby centre of gravity, evermore they oppose the natural order and seek to imprint their own insanity upon the world. The Ice Age was a glorious time of peace and contentment, and the world be righted again. Oh yes it will.

Hmm, appear to have lost my anti-crazy pills. Must be the Ice.

I don't think I've got anything for this shocker of a class....

Amphetryon

2012-01-04, 11:10 PM

Got a PM regarding the Spelltouched feats in UA. Officially, I'll stipulate they aren't an "alternate rules set" like Gestalt or Domain Wizard and are therefore available, but there's no proscription against judges imposing Elegance penalties for using materials from Unearthed Arcana, aka The Big Book of House-Rules.

FyreByrd

2012-01-05, 07:41 AM

OK after having an abortive attempt at the mindbender IronChef, I'm pretty certain I can pull a build out of this one, It's power will be pretty meh, but then I'm looking forward to see if anyone can pull a decent power score out of it!

Gullintanni

2012-01-05, 01:21 PM

For my money, I think that Vigilante is the worst class we've had as an ingredient. It just. Doesn't. Do. Anything. Tactical Soldier and Stonelord (my two runners-up for worst class) do things that are easily matched and surpassed by better classes, but Vigilante just doesn't have anything going for it.

Stonelord is one of my favorite PrCs thematically. I love the fluff...I'm perpetually sad at how awful it is mechanically. Although Old-Lob the Were-Snow Spider was awesome.

In any event, does anyone if a homebrew attempt has been made to improve the Stonelord? It's a great idea that could use a serious re-working and if there's quality out there I'd love to see it...

...Sorry for the minor de-rail.

BobVosh

2012-01-06, 12:39 AM

All ICs are 10 pages of derail, and 4 pages on subject. It is just unique in how it always returns to topic.

Also bump to first again.

Feytalist

2012-01-06, 02:11 AM

To be fair, there is only so much to say about the secret ingredient, and while we're waiting for the builds to come in we might as well talk about other stuff, heh. Like previous IC's.

I've glanced at Pyrokineticist, and I've formed a few ideas, but Cryo has a few slight differences apparently. Hmm, perhaps I should stealacquire a Frostburn somewhere.

Rizban

2012-01-06, 02:40 AM

I have a concept I've been wanting to throw together with this class for awhile, so I think I'll add my name to the contestant list.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-06, 03:07 AM

I am through with the "brainstorming" part and the "trouble shooting" part and the "make up the background story" part. I am at the "filling out all the crap" and the "typing out the story" and the "formatting all the info" part.

So I will definitely be competing.

Jeriah

2012-01-06, 03:14 AM

This looks like fun. I want to submit a build too.

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-06, 03:25 AM

What are the rules on web-content? Stuff that was on the WOTC site that isn't Dragon Mag content, but isn't in a published book either?

Thurbane

2012-01-06, 04:36 AM

What are the rules on web-content? Stuff that was on the WOTC site that isn't Dragon Mag content, but isn't in a published book either?
WotC web-only content is kosher, and in fact, appears quite often.

Amphetryon

2012-01-06, 08:20 AM

What are the rules on web-content? Stuff that was on the WOTC site that isn't Dragon Mag content, but isn't in a published book either?

From the OP:

Web-exclusive 3.0 or 3.5 materials by WotC are expressly allowed.

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-06, 10:54 AM

I can't find a single way to bypass cold resistance/immunity with psi-like abilities. Without that... it's pretty much impossible to build a character with this PrC that isn't completely shut down just by having the [Cold] subtype.

Also, Frozen Fist is a huge TRAP for one reason:

"... instead of any other special damage from the unarmed attack".

So it is literally impossible to damage-stack on top of it. Sneak attack? Nope. Monk unarmed damage? Nope... arguabally, not even ToB maneuvers and stances can affect damage, nor even Bardic IC/DFI. Nothing.

I... would be very interested to see how anyone could get any use out of this...

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-06, 11:10 AM

dextercorvia

2012-01-06, 12:07 PM

I can't find a single way to bypass cold resistance/immunity with psi-like abilities.

IIRC, that was a common problem with Pyrokineticist.

Venger

2012-01-06, 12:51 PM

well, I'm somewhat ashamed to say that I can't find anything worthwhile to construct for this IC (coming from the guy who made Claire and Pumpkinhead for shadowdancer, and Monty Took for mindbender) so I'd be more than happy to judge since we always need more judges. criteria below:

scoring overall

Like most of the other judges, I feel the simplest way to judge is to start from 3s in everything and add/subtract from there.

While I greatly enjoy backstory, I know that writing is not everyone's school of specialisation, so while an interesting concept can give you points in originality and a character arc can explain your class choices/transitions for elegance, lack of these things in your backstory can't lose points, so think of it as a "bonus" section.

I am familiar with the rules of the game and know a few tricks and combinations, but I might not be able to fully realise every build's potential for awesomeness by reading its chart alone. if there are any particular tricks/tips that your build can do that are especially important or that you feel would gain you points or lose points if a judge missed them, please explain or mention them in your entry so I don't miss them.

originality

How original is your concept on its own merits? is it a tried and true classic like a diplomancer or a rainbow warsnake or is it something that hasn't been done before? obscurity is not a factor here, just the "I wish I'd thought of that" factor of your build.

Since the builds are submitted simultaneously, I'm not going to deduct for sharing similarities with other contestants. If the idea itself is good enough to throw me, I don't think it's fair for me to deduct from the people who come up later in the order.

power

Having exhaustively examined the capabilities of cryokineticist, my standards for what is a powerful cryokineticist build will obviously be a little less stringent than what would be a powerful build for another more powerful class, the chefs are starting with a handicap as it were.

Can you overcome some of the inherent flaws with cryokineticist in your build? (ex: the frozen fist problem) if so, how do you do so, and how much better is your alternative?

elegance

I do not believe in deductions from elegance due to obscurity or number of sources, so feel free to spread yourselves as thin as you feel appropriate when it comes to number of books.

I don't mind dips in general, some classes are only one or two levels long as far as optimisation is concerned. What I'm interested in is the justification or explanation behind it. This is someplace that your backstory can really help explain transitions from class to class.

A list of books for where you got all your ingredients would also make my fact-checking a lot easier.

use of the secret ingredient

While it may be difficult given the secret ingredient, a good way to score points will definitely be if the build overall feels more like a cryokineticist than anything else. While more levels in the SI are obviously a good thing, you've got to have a reason behind them and the extra levels have to be a help rather than a hindrance to your build.

gbprime

2012-01-06, 02:26 PM

Oh, i owe everyone some judge criteria. Ere ya go.

My Judging Criteria
Originality - Surprise me. I want to see something out of the ordinary, be it Race, Class, PrC, feat combo, or backstory. If there's a simple and straightforward way to get a prerequisite or ability, find some other way. If there isn't another way to get it, then give it a unique spin or synergy. (Please note that Originality is relative. It may very well be original to use a specific race, unless multiple builds in the contest also used the same thing... which will tend to lower the score for all of them.)

Power - What is this build capable of cranking out? My criteria are based on the high side of a moderate power level, something any experienced DM could handle in their game. (See my past entries if you want examples.) If you exceed that power level, you get more points. Fail to exceed it, you get less. But if you exceed it TOO FAR, to the point that this build needs no other party members or renders other party members useless by comparison... well you won't lose points, but you won't get too many bonus ones either. (More power than a DM can handle is actually a BAD thing, IMO.)

Elegance - The classic hero in comic and myth is a capable fellow, does one thing amazingly well, and has one or more glaring weaknesses or tragic flaws. The more of that I see, the higher your score will be. I want to see powers and abilities fit into a seamless concept, not cherry picked to get extra dice or bonuses. (A good back story may help here.) If you need to dip into a class to get an ability, consider staying in it for longer than just a dip to fuel that concept. (Please note that elegance may come into direct conflict with power and/or originality, and it may not be possible for your concept to get high scores in all three. You live with these choices as tradeoffs.)

Use of Secret Ingredient - This one should be pretty obvious, so I'll list out a few specific things to keep in mind. Why did you pick this PrC? What does it do for you that you couldn't have done better by avoiding it? Did you use all 10 PrC levels? Did you keep putting skill ranks into the required skills? Did you get into the PrC so late that it's abilities were nearly obsolete when you gained them? Did you synergize or supercharge those abilities?

Scoring - Since we're going on a scale of 1-5 here, I'll be using 3.0 for each category as the default score. To that I'll add by the quarter point for good stuff and subtract by the quarter point for bad stuff. A dead average build should be around a 12 and the builds that go under 9 or over 15 should be rare. Y'know... in theory. :smallwink:

gbprime

2012-01-06, 02:27 PM

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-06, 06:07 PM

Why did you pick this PrC?

Because the contest told me to.

What does it do for you that you couldn't have done better by avoiding it?

Nothing... it is the worst class ever.

ohhhh God, I am panicking! The sky is falling run for the hills! We are all DOOOMED!

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-06, 06:15 PM

Good lord, my build keeps crumbling. If I don't have a definite build skeleton that is of decent caliber by Monday, I'm going to scratch it and go in as a judge instead.

I mean, Energy Emanation? Really? You're going to require a second level power in order to take the class, and then never advance manifesting, or even tie your abilities into that power in any way, shape or form? I know people have been complaining about Frozen Fist's silliness, and the odd lawful requirement, and so on, but that's the thing that really gets to me about this class.

Amphetryon

2012-01-06, 06:20 PM

Thurbane

2012-01-06, 07:23 PM

Yep, PrCs with reqs that are tangential to the class and not furthered by progression are real Iron Chef meat and potatoes! :smalltongue:

In that respect, even Dragon Disciple makes Cryokineticist seem lame - I mean, at least DD gives bonus spell slots, if not advancing casting. Cryokineticist doesn't even throw that crumb! Of course, DD has shortcomings all of it's own. :smallbiggrin:

Amphetryon

2012-01-06, 07:28 PM

DD has shortcomings all of it's ownSchrödinger's Apotheosis says hi.

TravelLog

2012-01-06, 09:53 PM

I feel like a horrible person for bringing this class up last competition.

*Guilt*

So...

Judging Criteria:

Originality: I want something here I've never seen before and never thought of. Use the Cryokineticist in a way that makes me wonder how on earth you had the idea in the first place. Surprise me. Innovate!

Power: Can you destroy...er, maim...er, harm others in any way? This is a terrible, terrible class, so I'll be a bit lenient on this one. If you can achieve "mildly powerful" that will be a 5.

Elegance: I don't mind dips too much, but if every other level is a dip, you'll probably score low. Basically, just use good judgement. If your theme, story, and build flow then you'll do well in this category.

Use of Secret Ingredient: Did you use the Cryokineticist to its full limited potential? Did you take all 10 levels? Does it synergize well with the rest of your build? Keep the SI as the build's focus and innovate with it and you'll do fine.

General Note: I like things well organized and as complete as possible. The more you annotate and show clarity of thought and in-depth explanation, the more likely you are to get brownie points. I'm also a sucker for good backstory. However, if you have those things but a horrible build it won't help. They serve as my tie-breakers. As for points, I start at a flat 3 and go from there.

Hope this makes it up to everyone. :smallbiggrin:

DeAnno

2012-01-06, 10:09 PM

Love the theme, hate the mechanics (except for one part, which I don't think I can get enough out of). I'll probably continue my recent tradition of avoiding/failing at ICs with mediocre to awful ingredients.

Is it just me, or does this PRC (more than some others) seem to be written by someone who didn't really have a good feel for how 3.5e mechanics usually worked? I mean it isn't just that it's bad, it's kludgy. The manifesting thing, the move action/round limit on the bonus damage, the weird locked caster level on Wall of Ice, the unarmed damage, all of them don't quite seem to follow the usual pattern of how things are done.

The Gilded Duke

2012-01-06, 10:29 PM

Damn it, I have an idea. Finishing it up now. I can see no other way to make this class work though.

dextercorvia

2012-01-07, 12:08 AM

I never thought I'd look at a class and say, "If only they had copied the Pyrokineticist."

Jeriah

2012-01-07, 12:25 AM

I've come up with an idea that I hope works. I've got the last 15 levels of the build codified, but I don't yet know what I'm going to do with the first 5... I think my idea should score high in originality and maybe elegance... I'm just concerned about power.

TroubleBrewing

2012-01-07, 12:31 AM

We had what, two judges last time? We've already got 6-8 people who are posting interest in judging this one. This class just sucks hardcore, I guess.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-07, 01:22 AM

We had what, two judges last time? We've already got 6-8 people who are posting interest in judging this one. This class just sucks hardcore, I guess.

Lol yup. I had thought of doing a point by point listing of all the things inherently fail about this class, but I figured it might give some people build ideas. So I plan on waiting til the deadline is up and then doing my expose of this horrible steaming pile of a PrC.

BobVosh

2012-01-07, 02:07 AM

I think I will just enjoy the ride, since we have so many judges. I have no interest in making something from this thing which pretends to be a prestige class.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-07, 02:21 AM

I hope I don't end up being the only one to finish a build... that would suck after putting this much work into it.

All I got left is a little story fluff and to put in skill points and I am done.

Jeriah

2012-01-07, 04:32 AM

Well, my build is now complete. I just have to finish writing up some fluff for him.

Jeriah

2012-01-07, 04:37 AM

Well, my build is now complete. I just have to finish writing up some fluff for him.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-07, 05:09 AM

Well, my build is now complete. I just have to finish writing up some fluff for him.

Cool, everything is done for me except skill points. I save that bit for last because it is tedious putting them in that darn chart.

Jeriah

2012-01-07, 06:14 AM

I just threw together a spreadsheet to generate the forum code for me. :smalltongue:

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-07, 06:31 AM

I just threw together a spreadsheet to generate the forum code for me. :smalltongue:

:smallfrown: I don't know any computer voodoo :smallfrown:

Jeriah

2012-01-07, 06:43 AM

It isn't voodoo! It's witchcraft.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-07, 06:48 AM

It isn't voodoo! It's witchcraft.

Who do voodoo?????????!

YOU DO VOODOO!!!!

BobVosh

2012-01-07, 07:45 AM

You remind me of the babe.

Venger

2012-01-07, 09:23 AM

You remind me of the babe.
what babe?

We had what, two judges last time? We've already got 6-8 people who are posting interest in judging this one. This class just sucks hardcore, I guess.

we theoretically had 4, but many people were drawn away by christmas things, which is more fun than judging mindbenders, so only 2 ultimately posted before the deadline, partially contributing to the tie for third.

Love the theme, hate the mechanics (except for one part, which I don't think I can get enough out of). I'll probably continue my recent tradition of avoiding/failing at ICs with mediocre to awful ingredients.

Is it just me, or does this PRC (more than some others) seem to be written by someone who didn't really have a good feel for how 3.5e mechanics usually worked? I mean it isn't just that it's bad, it's kludgy. The manifesting thing, the move action/round limit on the bonus damage, the weird locked caster level on Wall of Ice, the unarmed damage, all of them don't quite seem to follow the usual pattern of how things are done.

You are correct, scorponok. This is a common thread in 3.5 in general, especially with bad PrCs, including some of the ones chosen for ICs past (if you're in the mood for a headache, read the pages of debate about the flame lash back in pyrokineticist)

I'm reasonably certain the person who wrote this class thought energy emanation was a 1st level power, so you'd only need a 1 lvl dip in a manifesting class to qualify, which isn't completely unworkable rather than 3. the frozen fist trap seems unintentional, since it's not as though people were breaking the game with pyrokineticist's fire punch hands afire

ExemplarofAvg

2012-01-07, 01:21 PM

Umm, Criteria

So like every other judge before me, I'll start with a Base of three, and plus or minus half points for everything.

Originality: I'm pretty much certain everything coming out of this competition will be original. I will be looking however for Pyro-Cryo connections so just re-fluffing one of the Pyrokineticist builds will not get you places. But if you take like one or two ideas, I won't deduct.

Power: Just maybe make sure it's better than the one line in Frostburn "Some [Cryokineticists] bring their unique control of cold to warm or even hot environments, charging dearly for their cold generating powers" You should be more than a walking-talking air conditioning system.

Elegance: I like flow, and rhythm. The beauty of the universe lies in it's simplicity. Clunk, Clutter and Junk can be an eyesore, try to be effective at all levels. Think of it like taking a road trip, you don't want too many pit stops while you're trying to get to your goal, so you only stop when you need to.

Use of Secret Ingredient: Umm, Think like the three secrets of french cooking (Butter, Butter and Butter) so aim to take at LEAST three levels. Just so you can taste it in the dish. Would prefer to see the flavour and the aroma brought to bold, but with this just a dash of it will suffice.

General Note: I like fluff, I like well written entries. I like flow in writing, Cluttered builds are a little bothersome to read. So Organize, and put time and effort into your writing beyond "They did this, then this and now they're this" I can't give marks for it, but like having a good attendance in a class, if your mark comes along a halfway point, I'll round higher.

That being said, Good Luck, Have Fun, and don't (Frost)burn yourselves in the kitchen.

BobVosh

2012-01-08, 08:15 AM

what babe?

The babe with the power.

I'm starting to think we will have more judges than entries. You have outdone yourself Amp to manage this.

If even Tactical soldier, and Green Star Adept garner more attention...I weep for the poor Cryokineticist.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-08, 08:30 AM

The babe with the power.

I'm starting to think we will have more judges than entries. You have outdone yourself Amp to manage this.

If even Tactical soldier, and Green Star Adept garner more attention...I weep for the poor Cryokineticist.

I don't see the big problems with GSA and Tac Soldier. I mean they certainly aren't uber powered PrC's but they aren't hard to build with and they are certainly playable. I ran a pretty fun epic game with a party of GSA's in an underwater campaign. And I have seen a few tac soldier builds that weren't bad at all.

Cryokineticest is far worse than Tac and GSA to me.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-08, 11:29 AM

Ok :smallbiggrin: after a million proof reads and a lot of filling out tables I am 100% submitted.

I kinda feel guilty. My party is about to poke around in some Narfell Ruins tonight. I had 3 weeks to prepare... procrastinated, then in the crucial time where I should have been coming up with something for them to do... I was 100% distracted with building around this steaming pile PrC.

Oh well, I am glad I am good at impromptu adventures.

P.S. If anyone knows any good links to stories, info, mods about Narfell ruins it would help me pull off tonights adventure.

On a side note, I had a funny moment last night with my roommate. We went to see a movie with some friends. When the movie was over we were walking into the parking complex to leave. Our friends were right behind the 2 of us when we walked through the door and we could hear their excessive chatter. We didn't see anybody else nearby when we went through the door. Suddenly, everything was quiet. We turned around to see what happened to our friends and a bunch of strangers started walking through the door. My roommate and I looked at each other for a few moments. We both seemed to be thinking "Well, this is strange."

My roommate shrugged his shoulders and said, "hmm, I guess they went into a different instance."

Zipding

2012-01-08, 11:35 AM

Hey Amp, how many builds do we have submitted?

Amphetryon

2012-01-08, 11:38 AM

Hey Amp, how many builds do we have submitted?

A whopping 2 so far.

OMG PONIES

2012-01-08, 11:42 AM

We've still got some time; I'm taking every day I can.

ExemplarofAvg

2012-01-08, 12:13 PM

How many Judges?

flabort

2012-01-08, 01:31 PM

Venger

2012-01-08, 02:18 PM

at least 5... I'm not willing to get an accurate count right now.

I can't work with this; Clay is unyeilding, and hard to sculpt with, but me trying to work this PrC is like a Clay-worker trying to work with solid granite. It just won't come. :smallfrown:

I agree with your general sentiment, but I would say that this PrC is more like ice. not only is it rigid and non-malleable, it is slippery and brittle as well. if one small mistake is made, it can ruin the whole sculpture unlike clay where you can score and slip and put on a new addition, if you crack the ice, it's all over.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-08, 02:32 PM

I agree with your general sentiment, but I would say that this PrC is more like ice. not only is it rigid and non-malleable, it is slippery and brittle as well. if one small mistake is made, it can ruin the whole sculpture unlike clay where you can score and slip and put on a new addition, if you crack the ice, it's all over.

That's why I used the secret ingredient to making Ice Sculptures...
CHAINSAWWWWWW!

Jeriah

2012-01-08, 06:51 PM

The babe with the power.

What power?

Urpriest

2012-01-08, 07:59 PM

What power?

Why, the power of voodoo.

Zipding

2012-01-08, 08:12 PM

Why, the power of voodoo.

Who do?

Yeah, I have nothing for this PrC, so I can't compete at all.

Jeriah

2012-01-08, 08:55 PM

Who do?
You do.

I'm glad I came up with something then, even if it is crap.

BobVosh

2012-01-08, 11:49 PM

ExemplarofAvg

2012-01-09, 12:18 AM

Solid granite...or frozen clay?

Do what?

Remind me of a man.

FyreByrd

2012-01-09, 08:33 AM

I have a build, pretty much completely done (formatting needs a bit of work)

My trouble is I did, then gave it a couple of days before having another look at it with fresh eyes, the fresh eyes saw that the build would actually be better with no levels of Cyro in it, so not sure I'll submit...I'll do a bit more thinking, before deadline however!

Garwain

2012-01-09, 10:17 AM

Aah, I have a build submitted. Wanted to burn Frostburn in the process... Seemed like an appropriate ending for that book.

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-09, 10:34 AM

Yeah, I've gone through two build stubs, and scratched both of them. One was a neat trick at best, but was too overly specific and required too much finagling just to make it work at all. The other one wasn't too bad, but it succeeded in spite of Cryokineticist, rather than because of it.

So long story short, I won't be competing. I'll try to post up judging criteria this evening.

BobVosh

2012-01-09, 02:36 PM

If a character is useful in game with levels in this class, it is always in spite of the levels in this class.

Always.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-09, 03:11 PM

What are the rules on 2 or more entries? I sort of just had an idea for another entry and I want to know about the rules on multiple entries before I move past the brainstorm stage.

Amphetryon

2012-01-09, 03:24 PM

What are the rules on 2 or more entries? I sort of just had an idea for another entry and I want to know about the rules on multiple entries before I move past the brainstorm stage.

They're allowed; we've had several who submitted more than one in the past, myself included.

TheGeckoKing

2012-01-09, 03:47 PM

I'll have to bow out of this one. Like Piggy Knowles, my build gives Cryokineticist the finger and works in spite of the terribad class, rather than treat it like a PrC I actually want to take. On top of that, i've grown to dislike it anyway. :smallannoyed:

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-09, 04:17 PM

They're allowed; we've had several who submitted more than one in the past, myself included.

Ok, good to know. I will try to rush in another one. It probably won't happen though. I went through 6 builds before I found the one entry that managed to work with Cryokineticist. It is incredibly tough to build with. Most angles end up either completely overshadowing cryo, or cryo is in direct war with the rest of the build, or it becomes harder and harder for cryo to justify its existance in the build (each draft of the builds had less and less levels of cryo until it was obvious that it just didn't earn the right to be in the build).

I stumbled upon an extra idea. It works on a story and roleplay angle. And it even works on a mechanical lvl. But after doing some light building it looks like it will fall into the last category of fail. I will keep working at it though. It would be nice to get the second entry done.

P.S. I hope you pick a more pleasurable choice for the next IC.

gbprime

2012-01-09, 04:22 PM

P.S. I hope you pick a more pleasurable choice for the next IC.

That would be defeating the point of Iron Chef. Gourmet from slop. :smallbiggrin:

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-09, 04:40 PM

That would be defeating the point of Iron Chef. Gourmet from slop. :smallbiggrin:

Yes, but there is a difference between

"Here, make something tasty out of these left over pieces of meat from the butchers!"

and

"Here, make something tasty out of this rancid maggot-infested dog I found dead on the side of the road!"

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-09, 06:15 PM

OK, here's my judging criteria. Like most folks, I'll start at a 3.0, and then add or subtract from there.

Originality

Let me preface this section by saying that I don't think originality is wholly contingent upon choice of class. Two builds can have the exact same class levels, and yet end up going in completely different directions. I also will not penalize you just because someone else has chosen the same class as you.

So what will gain you points? Use the abilities you have in fresh and interesting ways. Surprise me. Show me new combinations that I've never seen before. Meanwhile, using well-known builds will cause you to lose points.

Power

There are two questions that will define how I rate a build's power. They are...

(1) How good is your build at its intended role?
(2) Will you stay relevant if your main "trick" does not work?

I don't expect every build to have 9th-level casting or manifesting, or to be able to bring the universe to its knees. However, if your build has a specific role or function, I expect you to be at least adequate at it. And if your build is a one-trick pony, it had better be a pretty good trick. I will deduct points if you can't function outside of a very limited set of parameters.

I'll also be looking for obvious ways your build could be improved (other than the most obvious "take fewer levels of Cryokineticist"). There's nothing wrong with sacrificing a little power for flavor, but if a choice makes you worse at your role, I will penalize for it. Just hope you make up the points in elegance or originality, I guess...

Finally, I don't plan to grade on a curve. I know this is a weak ingredient, but don't expect full points in Power if you've managed to just barely become adequate. Everyone's got the same ingredient to work with, after all.

Elegance

Obscurity or using multitude of sources doesn't bother me, but for the love of Pelor, please cite your work! I am very familiar with the system, but I like to have the books in front of me when I'm reviewing a build. I also don't like too much mixing of setting-specific material. (Note that just because a class or feat appears in a setting book doesn't mean that I will consider it setting-specific; I'm referring to things like regional feats, feats and classes that involve certain setting-specific orders, etc.)

Now that that's out of the way... I don't mind dips, as long as they are reasonable and make sense. However, I will not ignore the "fluff" requirements of a class. If a prestige class requires you to be a member of the Wizards of the Unseen University and your build glosses over that requirement, expect to see a small deduction.

In any case, while I won't penalize for dips, I do like nice clean builds, where everything works in harmony, so you can pick up extra points that way. I will also give out small bonuses here if everything is written up cleanly, in an engaging manner. Nothing huge - the build is most important. But presentation DOES matter, and if you do a good job with it, I think you should be rewarded. I don't need three pages of backstory, but I do like to see more than a list of abilities.

I'm mildly cheese-tolerant - I don't mind characters being effective or using abilities in new and exciting ways, as long as the rules do indeed back you up. But this should be something you are willing to sit down with other human beings and actually play, so keep the Vieux Boulougne at home. Also, this should go without saying, but if a build element is illegal (failing to qualify for a feat/PrC, for instance), I will deduct for it.

Use of Secret Ingredient

This one's pretty simple. Do you use the secret ingredient's abilities to good effect, or are they more of a footnote? Is there another class that could have done a better job at what you are trying to do? Your goal here is to highlight the cryokineticist, not to mask it. You will gain points by taking advantage of all the abilities provided, by using them in effective ways (an ability that would have been cool at level 6 won't score points with me if you don't pick it up until level 12), and by demonstrating how the SI brings your build together. You will lose points by dropping too many levels, failing to take advantage of the class's core abilities and pre-requisites, etc. You will automatically get minimum points here if you don't actually qualify for the PrC, so double-check those skill points!

Jeriah

2012-01-10, 02:19 AM

Well, I just submitted my build. I certainly hope that it's unique... I'm concerned about power, because I usually make much more powerful builds. I think, however, that I have enough in there for it to be serviceable if not amazing.

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-10, 02:47 AM

I... I think I actually have a build idea... lemme see if this works out as well as it does in my fevered imagination. If it does... well... it'll be interesting at least.

Garwain

2012-01-10, 05:26 AM

lemme see if this works out as well as it does in my fevered imagination.
If you need to halucinate to come up with a build, it says a lot about the SI.

motoko's ghost

2012-01-10, 09:51 AM

If you need to halucinate to come up with a build, it says a lot about the SI.

It says its amazing, thats what hallucinations are right, things to amazing for the mind to fully comprehend?:smalltongue:

Unfortunately due to a virus wiping out my computer:frown: I wont be able to submit on time, so you'll have to count me out(I have to use a small internet cafe about 3km from my house, its nowhere near the bus routes and I dont own a car)

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-10, 11:21 AM

Unfortunately due to a virus wiping out my computer:frown: I wont be able to submit on time, so you'll have to count me out(I have to use a small internet cafe about 3km from my house, its nowhere near the bus routes and I dont own a car)

It's times like these that make me glad I run a Linux distro...

TroubleBrewing

2012-01-11, 04:55 PM

I am trying so hard to make this class work. SO. HARD.

I've never felt like I was fighting the SI as much as now. Most of the time, finding synergy with halfway decent classes, or even GOOD classes is possible. Not here. No synergy, no easy exploits, no casting/manifesting/maneuvers/soulmelds/binding/mystery progression, NOTHING. I actually like Frostburn less than I did before this challenge.

I will MAKE THIS WORK.

Amphetryon

2012-01-11, 05:00 PM

No synergy, no easy exploits, no casting/manifesting/maneuvers/soulmelds/binding/mystery progression, NOTHING. That factored heavily in why it was chosen.

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-11, 05:16 PM

Well, my idea didn't really pan out, so I'm still clueless. After the Big Reveal, I'll mention what I tried to do, and where I failed.

BobVosh

2012-01-11, 07:39 PM

That factored heavily in why it was chosen.

You...you PLANNED this?! You are pure evil!

:P

gbprime

2012-01-11, 09:16 PM

I've never felt like I was fighting the SI as much as now. Most of the time, finding synergy with halfway decent classes, or even GOOD classes is possible. Not here. No synergy, no easy exploits, no casting/manifesting/maneuvers/soulmelds/binding/mystery progression, NOTHING. I actually like Frostburn less than I did before this challenge.

And lo did the Iron Chef claim another soul. :smallamused:

Hunter Killer

2012-01-11, 09:20 PM

I might have figured out a way to use this beast. I'll know soon. If not, then I might just sit back and watch instead of judging (Since we seem to have a lot now).

TroubleBrewing

2012-01-11, 10:09 PM

And lo did the Iron Chef claim another soul. :smallamused:

That would certainly be the moment.

Damn.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-11, 11:03 PM

Jeriah

2012-01-12, 12:16 AM

ugh I am really feeling the clock on this second entry. Good news is I made it work well enough to justify entering it and it is a pretty cool looking character. Bad News is the clock is ticking and of course it couldn't be a simple character so there is still butt loads of stuff to fill out. I wish I knew this computer voodoo that filled out your charts for you :smallfrown:Who do?

You just need to make a field entry like:
=AD28&"|"&AE3&" "&AG3&"|+"&AU3&"|
+"&AY3&"|
+"&AZ3&"|
+"&BA3&"|"&BH3&"|"&BC3&"|"&BD3and have it reference the correct fields.

Those numbers, in order, refer to fields in the spreadsheet referencing to following: Level, Class, Base Attack Bonus, Fort Save, Ref Save, Will Save, Skills, Feats, Class Features.

I made a chart with each level entry going across then used 20 lines like this underneath to concatenate the information into a single line with the appropriate BBCode to format it, then copy/pasted it here.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-12, 12:28 AM

Jeriah

2012-01-12, 01:23 AM

Do a google search for spreadsheet tutorials then. This isn't really the place to be teaching you, and I'm not a good teacher...

OMG PONIES

2012-01-12, 07:04 AM

Who do?

You just need to make a field entry like:
=AD28&"|"&AE3&" "&AG3&"|+"&AU3&"|
+"&AY3&"|
+"&AZ3&"|
+"&BA3&"|"&BH3&"|"&BC3&"|"&BD3and have it reference the correct fields.

Those numbers, in order, refer to fields in the spreadsheet referencing to following: Level, Class, Base Attack Bonus, Fort Save, Ref Save, Will Save, Skills, Feats, Class Features.

I made a chart with each level entry going across then used 20 lines like this underneath to concatenate the information into a single line with the appropriate BBCode to format it, then copy/pasted it here.

The thing I love about Excel is when people much more versed than myself can point out simple, elegant solutions to replace my awful guerilla tactics. This whole time, I've been typing up the table in Excel with semicolons wherever I intend to have final commas. Then, I save it as a comma delimited file and open in Word. Two quick "find & replace"s change my commas to |s and my semicolons to commas.

But concatenating is just so much simpler. Bless you, Jeriah.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-12, 06:16 PM

YES!

Just finished the second entry, and not a moment too soon. I have something to do tonight and would not have had time to work on it tomorrow before the deadline.

It was a bastard of a challenge for sure but I have to say now that it was over I had a lot of fun. I really can't believe I squeezed 2 pretty cool builds out of such a horribly designed PrC.

Feytalist

2012-01-13, 02:11 AM

Little under a day left, yes?

Seems like people really had some trouble with this one, heh.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-13, 11:27 AM

7 and a half hours til the deadline, I wonder if we will get any last minute entries?

FyreByrd

2012-01-13, 11:35 AM

I've been back and forth over mine so many times and finally decided not to submit...It works totally in spite of Cyro instead of with it, and I'm so busy with a recruit thread in pbp forum that I can't get my head round what I need to change to make it happen.

And I used to love Frostburn too.....:smallfrown:

Hunter Killer

2012-01-13, 01:54 PM

I think I'm in the same boat as FyreByrd. My build works in spite of Cryo and does nothing particularly great with it. It could be a good deal stronger without it too. I probably will not submit. :smallannoyed:

Damn you and your evil prestige-class-pickery, Amphetryon! That's two contests in a row that have stumped me until the last few days, leaving no time to finish an entry! :smallamused:

Jeriah

2012-01-13, 01:55 PM

Well, I'm glad I submitted mine a few days ago. :smallbiggrin:

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-13, 06:59 PM

Deadline in 2 minutes!!

I wonder how long it will be until the BIG REVEAL!

(excited)

I wonder how many entries there ended up being. I know there were at least 3 but I am hoping for more. I don't like the idea of automatically placing simply due to lack of contestants.

*Edit: Apparently, it took 2 minutes to type this message... deadline is now.

Amphetryon

2012-01-13, 07:21 PM

Now it's time for the reveal! Please refrain from posting in the thread until after I give the all-clear. Thanks.

Amphetryon

2012-01-13, 07:25 PM

The old man down the road. . . .

http://ip2.mjv-art.org/jvwall_images/d2f/d2ffd0f370f271222ee762d7f31f967b_bp.jpg
“In the Icewind Dale, a man who does not know the tale of “Old Man Winter” is either new to the region, or has cabbage for ears. In this world, there are powers beyond mortal men. One hundred feet tall, He is one such power. An elemental force whose appearance signals the final breaths of a man, Old Man Winter descends upon the unfortunate.
He summons the storms of the North and rides them down from the heavens. The blizzard is his breath and the ice his skin. He plucks away the lives of men who are foolish enough to tempt his domain. Beware the storms. Beware the Storms.”-Geirham, the Beard; Ten Towns Storyteller-

Some believe the stories to be false, others believe them embellished, and even fewer still claim to have witnessed the legend first hand. Regardless of what men believe, a tracker who can predict the weather gets paid thrice wages. –Ogalard Speart, guide and tracker-

Old Man Winter
(Wulgraf, King of Bones)
Character Information
Race: Human (Illuskan)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Age: 18 levels 1-5; 22 levels 6-10; 25 levels 11-15; 30 levels 16-20
Height: 8 foot
Weight: 370 lbs.
Eyes: Sky Blue
Hair: Coarse Grey/White Hair and Beard (Long Full Beard). Above average white body hair (abnormally thick for a human but not quite as rampant as a beasts fur).
Languages: Illuskan, Giant, Common.

Attributes
Str 14+ 4 inherent+ 6 enhancement=24
Dex 10
Con 14+6 enhancement= 20
Int 12
Wis 12
Cha 16 + 5 level + 5 inherent+ 6 enhancement= 32

Class Chart

Old Man Winter
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Wilder|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Climb 4, Concentration 4, Intimidate 4, Knowledge(Psionics) 4, Psicraft 4, Sense Motive 4|Quick Recovery, Jotunbrud|Wild Surge +1, Psychic Enervation

2nd|Wilder|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3| Climb 5, Concentration 5, Intimidate 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 5, Psicraft 5, Sense Motive 5|-|Elude Touch

3rd|Wilder|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3| Climb 6, Concentration 6, Intimidate 6, Knowledge(Psionics) 6, Psicraft 6, Sense Motive 6|Power Attack|Wild Surge +2

4th| Wilder |
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4| Climb 7, Concentration 7, Intimidate 7, Knowledge(Psionics) 7, Psicraft 7, Sense Motive 7|-|Surging Euphoria +1

5th| Wilder |
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4| Climb 8, Concentration 8, Intimidate 8, Knowledge(Psionics) 8, Psicraft 8, Sense Motive 8|-|Volatile Mind (1 power point)

6th| Wilder |
+4|
+2|
+2|
+5| Climb 9, Concentration 9, Intimidate 9, Knowledge(Psionics) 9, Psicraft 9, Sense Motive 9|Expanded Knowledge (Expansion)|-

7th| Wilder |
+5|
+2|
+2|
+5| Climb 9, Concentration 10, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 10, Knowledge(Psionics) 10, Psicraft 10, Sense Motive 10|-|Wild Surge +3

8th| Wilder |
+6|
+2|
+2|
+6| Climb 10, Concentration 11, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 11, Knowledge(Psionics) 11, Psicraft 11, Sense Motive 11|-|-

9th| Wilder |
+6|
+3|
+3|
+6| Climb 11, Concentration 12, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 12, Knowledge(Psionics) 12, Psicraft 12, Sense Motive 12|Improved Grapple|Volatile Mind (2 Power Points)

10th|Wilder|
+7|
+3|
+3|
+7| Climb 12, Concentration 13, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 13, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 13, Sense Motive 13|-|-

11th| Cryokineticist |
+7|
+5|
+5|
+7| Climb 13, Concentration 14, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 14, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 14, Sense Motive 13|-|Glacial Ray

12th| Cryokineticist |
+8|
+6|
+6|
+7| Climb 14, Concentration 15, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 15, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 15, Sense Motive 13|Practised Manifester| Cold Adaption, Frozen Fist

13th| Cryokineticist |
+9|
+6|
+6|
+8| Climb 15, Concentration 16, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 16, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 16, Sense Motive 13|-|Bolt of Cold

14th| Cryokineticist |
+10|
+7|
+7|
+8| Climb 16, Concentration 17, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 17, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 17, Sense Motive 13|-|Weapon Afrost

15th| Cryokineticist |
+10|
+7|
+7|
+8| Climb 17, Concentration 18, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 18, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 18, Sense Motive 13|Enervation Endurance| Frostfell Creature Insight

16th| Cryokineticist |
+11|
+8|
+8|
+9| Climb 18, Concentration 19, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 19, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 19, Sense Motive 13|-| Coldwalk

17th| Cryokineticist |
+12|
+8|
+8|
+9| Climb 19, Concentration 20, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 20, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 20, Sense Motive 13|-|Fear No Cold

18th| Cryokineticist |
+13|
+9|
+9|
+9| Climb 20, Concentration 21, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 21, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 21, Sense Motive 13|Expanded Knowledge (Dispel Psionics)|Greater Weapon Afrost

19th| Cryokineticist |
+13|
+9|
+9|
+10| Climb 21, Concentration 22, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 22, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 22, Sense Motive 13|-|Wall of Ice

20th|Cryokineticist|
+14|
+10|
+10|
+10| Climb 22, Concentration 23, Craft(Alchemy) 1, Intimidate 23, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Psicraft 23, Sense Motive 13|-|Bone Chill[/table]

Powers
Spells per day/Spells Known
{table=head]Level|Power Points|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th

1st|3pp|Precognition Offensive|-|-|-|-

2nd|9pp|Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive|-|-|-|-

3rd|15pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive |-|-|-|-

4th|23pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive |Energy Emanation|-|-|-

5th|32pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive | Energy Emanation |-|-|-

6th|44pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation |Touchsight|-|-

7th|56pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation |Touchsight|-|-

8th|78pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-|-

9th|94pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-|-

10th|113pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-| Power Resistance

11th|113pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-| Power Resistance

12th|130pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-| Power Resistance

13th|133pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-| Power Resistance

14th|137pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-| Power Resistance

15th|140pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-| Power Resistance

16th|148pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-| Power Resistance

17th|148pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight|-| Power Resistance

18th|148pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight, Dispel Psionics|-| Power Resistance

19th|148pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight, Dispel Psionics|-| Power Resistance

20th|170pp| Precognition Offensive, Precognition Defensive, Expansion | Energy Emanation, Damp Power |Touchsight, Dispel Psionics|-| Power Resistance
[/table]

Grapple breakdown
+4 jotunbrud level 1
+8 expansion level 6
+4 improved grapple level 9
+8Gloves of Titan's Grip (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#glovesofTitansGrip) lvl 10
+2-+9 strength level 1-20
+0-+14 Bab level 1-20

Background Story and Level Breakdown
http://www.paintingsilove.com/uploads/29/29234/old-man.jpg

At this point in the story our hero has no name. He was born out of the arrogant tinkering of a wizard’s laboratory. Bred from slave stock and infused unnaturally with the blood of an obscure primitive giant, the Yeti, he was forced to spend his early years in servitude as a brutish guard. It was during this time that he developed his unusual powers of the mind. Through will alone, he learned to increase his fighting prowess. During these early years his abilities focused on purely offensive and defensive capabilities. Nothing else seemed important.

5th level
At this level, our hero resonates an aura of energy damage that does around 2d6 damage no save, this damage can increase or decrease depending on the element chosen. His to hit and damage are comparable to other 5th level melees. His AC is decent.

His master seemed very pleased with his work on the surface. But in reality, his rapidly growing power actually threatened his master. The wizard had never been strong in the enchanting arts and therefore chose to breed week willed, strong bodied stock and then manipulate them through fear. And while his creation did not show any signs of rebellion, he had a bit too much intelligence and a bit to strong of a presence about him.

The master did not feel secure keeping his creation around much longer, so he decided to sell him to an acquaintance. Word was sent and a few short months later, a caravan arrived to purchase him. He spent the next period in his life guarding the trade caravans of his master, as they snaked their way throughout Faerun. Again, seeking only to fulfill his role, our hero shaped his capabilities to the job at hand, learning new powers of perception and even more ferocious combat capabilities. He even earned a nickname. The traders called him “Bigman”, for obvious reasons. The merchant grew very fond of his purchase and even began to outfit him with magical accoutrements so that he could more effectively do his job.

10th level
Due to expansion and magic items, our grapple check has sky rocketed at this point. Bigman is around a +39 grapple check at 10th level. Also his class ability elude touch allows him to counter the low touch AC from his size and poor dex. Elude touch allows his touch AC to easily keep up with his regular AC. On top of that, due to quick recovery, he can use his wild surge more freely with less fear of repercussion. This means higher augmented powers (13th manifester lvl when surging). This directly translates into higher AC, saves, to hit as well as 25 Power Resistance (assuming transparency that is just as good as 25 SR at 10th level). It also activates his class ability Surging Euphoria for a small boost to hit, damage and saves. His Touchsight automatically allows him to spot anything within 100 feet at this point. And his energy emanation now allows 4d6 damage no save to everything within 5 feet. Also, damp power is now not only a useful defensive tool for Bigman, but it also allows him to protect his allies in the caravan. Typically, his powers of perception allow him to spot an ambush early, this usually allows him and his allies some time to prepare. Bigman does not just rely on grapple, he has a magic melee weapon and power attack and plenty of to hit and damage. He will use whichever he feels is best for the given scenario.

Life flew by and Bigman had lived through countless raids, ambushes, and burglar attempts on his caravan. He had truly lived the life of a traveler. By this time he had visited nearly every establishment worth trading in. However, these experiences were hollow to him, viewed through the lens of slavery. He was like a street urchin staring at pretty things behind a shop window. These emotions sat heavy on his mind as the caravan was making its most recent journey from Luskan to Ten Towns. The North always calmed his mind. Home was a very foreign concept to him but every time he saw the tips of the spine of the world, he always felt a sense of return.

Perhaps it was this daydreaming state of mind that caused him to fail in his duties, or perhaps it can be attributed to the skill of the assailant. But whatever the reason, the beasts set upon the camp like a fog. One second, all was quiet, the next … screams. The caravan had rounded the corner of the spine of the world and was well on the way to Ten Towns when wild beastly giants covered in white fur from head to toe savagely tore into the caravan. They went straight for the pack animals, turned over carts and broke wagon wheels. Then they savagely squeezed the life out of one guardsman after another. Bigman hastily prepared for combat but just as suddenly as it had started, the giants fled. The destruction left in their wake was irreparable. Immovable wagons and dead horses littered the caravan. The entire camp was unsettled. In the distance, strange beastly wails haunted the survivors.

They had lost half the camp in the first raid, and half again died from exposure that following night. Dawn brought a somber sense of dread. The remaining survivors had no hierarchy, no protocol, only a sense of pragmatism. Everything of superficial value was abandoned. Everything of utilitarian value was salvaged. Now down to 6 men, they began the journey on foot to Ten Towns, all the while hoping and praying that the corpses and treasures they left behind would occupy the mysterious predators. After an hour of travel, all hearts fell as the horizon mocked them with brewing clouds and howling winds. Each man resolved himself to the icy death of a snow storm.

The smell of blood and shadowy masses haunted Bigman’s dreams. He lived in the between, dead and alive, floating in the currents of something stronger than himself, something other-worldly. Time was strange. Consciousness was fleeting. And so it was for 3 days. When the fever finally broke he came back to the world of the living. He was weak and confused. He tried to sit up, but forceful hands pushed him back down. They were warm soft hands. He followed those hands to arms and those arms to a body and that body to a face. He should have been afraid, but something was right. There was no aggression in this apelike creatures face. She was tender. Her fangs held no bite. Her sky blue eyes held no hate. And so he gave in to her. He let her nourish him back to health.

In the next year Bigman came to know the truth behind his heritage. He learned that it was his Yeti blood that gave the Yeti raiders cause to save him from the snowstorm. He renounced his slave name and was renamed Wulgraf. He took a place in the tribe and participated in many raids. At first the Yeti were suspicious of his human taint and lack of fur. But his battle prowess and enthusiasm were overwhelming. Each day he became more and more like his kin. He no longer needed to bundle himself in the furs of many other animals to bare the biting cold. Instead, He began to revere the cold of the mountains. And it was clear to everyone that the Spirit of the mountain had blessed him.

15th level
This is an exciting level. Our secret ingredient is up and running, and it fits in wonderfully with both the story and our pre-existing abilities. While glacial ray and bolt of cold are not by themselves incredible, they help to secure the admiration of his yeti brethren and they provide back up ranged capabilities in a pinch. Cold adaption has come online and not only provides some defense against the common Cold oriented attacks of this climate, but it also again helps to win the approval of his kin. Frozen fist and weapon afrost further boost his status as “Spirit Blessed” and while he prefers Frozen fist before wading into some caravan guards, both provide useful options. Frozen fist also synergizes well with expansion finalizing at 2d6+ str bludgeoning and 1d8 cold damage per attack. And given his location, frostfell creature insight gets plenty of use during the day to day natural encounters of his hostile new homeland. It also helps when sparring with his Yeti brethren allowing him to fall higher in the tribes hierarchy.

Also, quick recovery and enervation endurance now allow him to all but ignore the downside of psychic enervation. This allows him to work with an 18 manifester lvl (from lvl 14 on including practiced manifester and an orange prism ioun stone and +3 wild surge) when casting his powers. This translates into these results from fully augmented buffs:

Energy emanation- 6d6 energy damage/ round no save to everything within 5 feet.
Power Resistance (works as SR using magic/psionics transparency)- PR30
Precognition, Defensive- +6 to AC and Saves (insight bonus) as a swift action
Precognition, Offensive- +6 insight bonus to attack rolls as a swift action
Touchsight- Automatically see things within 120 feet.
Expansion- huge size as a swift action for 18 minutes instead of 18 rounds.

These buffs do not have to be fully augmented but he has enough power points to get them all up and rarely has cause for more than 2 fights a day.

While he may seem buff heavy, many of his crucial buffs are action efficient. And given his roll of hunter and not hunted he usually has plenty of time to fully buff. However in extemporaneous circumstances where time is scarce, he can function adequately on a smaller buff set, picking and choosing his buffs carefully and utilizing his ability to buff as a swift. In times where many battles are expected in one day, he can choke back on the power of his buffs to extend his uses per day.

His grapple is now at +41. His to hit and damage are still doing just fine.

Wulgraf is not a team player per se. He usually prefers that his brethren allow him to attack from one side on his own. This allows him to be completely destructive without worrying about hurting an ally.

After 5 years of living with the Yeti, Wulgraf’s commanding presence and his above Yeti intelligence naturally pushed him to the top of the tribe Hierarchy. He has now taken his place as King of the Bone Tribe. He plans the raids and is generally responsible for the welfare of his kin. He has influenced the tribe in many ways. They originally only raided caravans for food and scrimshaw. He has taught them the value of other objects. While they are slow to learn and downright stubborn on the issue, He insists that they strip the raided caravans down and store up these spoils. He has influenced them to follow the weather more closely and usually tries to plan his raids around eminent snowstorms, recreating the devastating combination that almost led to his demise 5 years ago. He also has introduced the idea of letting victims live to spread fear to other caravans. This has led to many easy battles. The hint of a snowstorm now brings a paralyzing fear to caravans of the north and fearful camps are especially easy to overrun. His tribe reveres him as other-worldly and he still has many years before anyone will be brave enough to challenge his lead. He occasionally dresses as a barbarian tribesman and visits Ten Towns to purchase things he can not find in the wild. While there he finds it pleasing to visit local taverns and listen to bards tell stories of “Old Man Winter” the giant spirit of cold who brings blizzards down on wayward merchant caravans.

Level 20
Only one thing has changed on our psionic side. We now have dispel psionics. With transparency this can be used to dispel troublesome magical effects during combat. Our modifier is +20.

Cold walk- helps with mountain travel.

Fear no cold- further helps to thwart the biting cold of the north.

Greater weapon afrost- wewt more damage to weapon afrost and Frozen Fist

Wall of Ice- is useful as an opener to a raid. It helps to separate the caravans forces, further preventing them from obtaining any substantial defensive response.

Bone Chill- This is a wonderful addition to the mythos of Old Man Winter. When King Wulgraf lets loose this blast of cold, it is very devastating. Due to his high charisma the DC is respectable. The damage on the ability is not bad. And the best part is the secondary death effect works even on creatures immune to cold. This further reinforces his decision to stand solo on raids.

Our final grapple check is now at +47 and freedom of movement can be dispelled.
Raid strategy:
For a typical raid, Wulgraf monitors the progress of the caravan from the mountains. He chooses a good location to strike and moves his tribe in place. Wulgraf is not as skilled at hiding as his Yeti kin so he usually finds a location with total cover in a flanking position to his main force and lays in wait. When the caravan approaches his forces spring into action and sprint in to damage the wagons and hurt the pack animals. He puts the finishing touches on his buffs with a swift action expansion and separates the caravan’s forces with an ice wall. He then moves up to confront the most powerful of the caravans forces as his kin seek to kill the weak and retreat. Once the caravan has been severely crippled, he bellows a roar as a signal for an all-retreat. His forces then monitor the status of the crippled caravan for the next few days. Sometimes they seize an opportunity and make a second attack. Other times they allow survivors to make it back to civilization. Either way, they return to the wagons and being the long process of ferrying anything useful back into their mountain caves.

Bone Tribe:
The Bone Tribe gets its name from their fascination with the Scrimshaw (whittled fishbone trinkets and statues) they often steal from caravans coming out of Ten Towns. They braid these trinkets into their fur and decorate their caves with them.

The Frost Giants and the Northern Barbarian tribes have a understood peace treaty with the Bone Tribe. The Frost Giants understand that King Wulgraf is not ambitious. As long they do not encroach upon his mountain home and as long as they do not interfere with his hunt, they are free to do what they want with the rest of the world. The Bone Tribe respects the barbarian tribes of the North for their strength. A raid on them is costly and therefore undesirable.

Why Cryokineticist?
The main reason is for the story. But even though it is a vastly inferior prestige class, it still lends quite a bit of synergy to Wulgraf’s combat style, Frozen fist gives him melee damage for his fists allowing for a source of real damage after a successful grapple as per the grapple rules. If fighting with a real weapon is more advantageous in a situation, weapon afrost adds to damage. Icewall helps strategically in his chosen lifestyle. Bolt of cold and Glacial Ray are wonderful fluff as well as back up ranged damage in a pinch. Cold walk helps him navigate treacherous mountain terrain with ease. Cold Adaption and Fear no Cold allow him to exist as a native in these hostile climates. Frostfell creature insight is not often handy for bandit raids but is very useful in the day to day conflicts with native creatures of the cold. Bone chill is a perfect match fluffwise and with his wilder synergizing charisma it actually has a good save supporting it.

Why Wilder?
Again, it fit the story better. The “Background” Section of the Wilder from the Expanded Psionics Handbook talks about the self-taught nature of wilder’s and the stunted social growth. This really fit in with the story of a slave. Wulgraf’s abilities just awakened naturally. But it also was a more appropriate mechanical choice. Wild surge allowed for some recovery of lost manifester lvls as well as free power points for augmenting. It has a medium BAB and therefore lines up better for the future melee prestige class. Its Elude touch class ability helped to overcome the dismal touch associated with exceptionally large grapplers. And although wilder gets an abysmally low number of powers known, I felt that going overchannel style psion would overwhelm the secret ingredient instead of synergizing with it. And Wulgraf did not really need that many powers to round out his theme. So in short, Wilder just fit perfectly.

Troubleshooting Weaknesses:
Creatures immune to cold
Wulgraf can use the sonic version of energy emanation instead of cold, emulating the howling wind of the mountains. His grapples are still deadly, the cold damage from Frozen fist is gone but the 2d6+ str bludgeoning damage is not. Bone chill will not do damage but creatures immune to cold must still make the fort save or die IF they fail their reflex save regardless of their immunities. If the immunity is from a spell, dispel psionics can remove it if needed.

Creatures immune to grappling
Dispel Psionics can remove freedom of movement and similar effects. Wulgraf can switch to melee weapon with ease. Energy emanation eats away at opponents round by round. Treated as Gargantuan size for grapples due to expansion and Jotunbrud, this allows Wulgraf to grapple Colossal+ size monsters.

Magic Damage
High Power Resistance + damp power+ good touch AC from Elude Touch makes most direct damage spells completely ineffective against Wulgraf.

Magic insta-kill combos
Wulgraf has little defense against the high level great wizard death combos, however, his location offers solid protection from these arcane horrors. Very few seriously deadly batman wizards travel as guards for caravans, and even fewer casually roam the mountain caves of the Spine of the World.

Yeti Army
Wulgraf’s yeti tribe is merely in place for the story. He stands alone in combat and his yetis are just background noise. They are not meant to be leadership in disguise or to be taken that way. If a villain or a party were to happen across Wulgraf and his yeti raiders, they would most certainly fight Wulgraf only.

The Wild Surge, Psychic Enervation, Quick Recovery, Enervation Endurance combination:

Wild surge allows a wilder to raise his manifester level by a certain amount anytime he casts a power. This extra manifester level also provide power point to spend on augmenting the power on a 1 to 1 ratio of manifester boost to free power points. These boosts are listed in the class block and eventually caps for Wulgraf at +3 manifester level when Wild Surge is used.

Psychic Enervation provides the downside to using Wild Surge. Anytime a wilder uses wild surge there is a chance he will become overwhelmed by the process. The chance is 5% per manifester lvl boosted by Wild Surge. So anytime Wulgraf uses Wild surge he has to roll a % chance to see if he succumbs to Psychic Enervation. The penalty for psychic enervation is a loss of power points equal to Wulgraf's wilder lvl and the dazed status until the end of his next turn.

Quick Recovery allows Wulgraf a will save to remove the stun and daze status effects on any round where he starts his turn stunned or dazed. Wulgraf can now use this feat to recover and salvage his next turn from a psychic enervation mishap. The DC for this save to remove this daze actually becomes higher the more charisma Wulgraf has, BUT his will save is very good and it scales evenly with the DC to remove Psychic Enervations Daze effect.

Enervation endurance reduces the loss of power points from a psychic enervation to 1/2 wilder lvl.

With the combo in full swing, Wulgraf has a 15% chance to have a psychic enervation mishap anytime he uses Wild surge to gain his +3 manifester lvl and free power points. If he fails this % chance, he might lose some remaining actions in this turn, but he will almost certainly salvage his next turn. He now only loses 5 power points from a mishap instead of 10. Given the unlikeliness of a mishap and the free 3 power points per use of wild surge, This combo comes out on top to give Wulgraf great power point economy while putting on his buff set.

In Your Game
Wulgraf can be introduced into your game as a villain or NPC very easily. But he can also be a fun character to play. His background story offers some roleplay fuel for faction based roleplaying campaigns.

His theme can also be enhanced easily by custom home brew material to give him a more personal feel. You can build a yeti giant bloodline easily using the guidelines on page 31 of the Unearthed Arcana. Or you can create a custom yeti influenced version of the Half-Giant template in the Expanded Psionics Handbook. Or you could expand upon the idea of bloodline feats by making Jotunbrud the start of a feat chain.

Magic Items Used and Magic Items Recommended:
Used-
Cloak of charisma +6
+5 charisma Tome
+4 strength Tome
+6 belt of Giant Strength
Melee Weapon with Enhancements
Gloves of Titan's Grip (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#glovesofTitansGrip)

Recommended-
Vest of Resistance +5
Light armor with enhancements
Items for AC
Useful Magic items you find yourself re-buying on every character
Etc etc.

Sources:
Player’s Handbook
Expanded Psionics Handbook
Frostburn
Lords of Madness
Complete Psionics
Races of Faerun

Amphetryon

2012-01-13, 07:27 PM

Got the calypso beat down cold. . . .

Calipso the Icicle.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/3125612151_489d966852.jpg
I'm a Small Icicle, a Beauty to Behold, but I Sting like a Needle!

The Build...
CG Pixie Wilder 6/cryokineticist 10

Stats:
{table=head]Stat|32pb|Pixie|lvls|total|mod

STR|8|-4|-|4|-3

DEX|16|+8|-|24|+7

CON|12|-|-|12|+1

INT|10|+6|-|16|+3

WIS|8|+4|-|12|+1

CHA|18|+6|+4|28|+9[/table]

{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Pixie LA|
-|
-|
-|
-|+4 bonus to Hide|Dodge (racial bonus feat)|-

2nd|Pixie LA|
-|
-|
-|
-|-|-|-

3thd|Pixie LA|
-|
-|
-|
-|-|-|-

4th|Pixie LA|
-|
-|
-|
-|-|-|-

5th|Wilder|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Autohypnosis +4(4), Concentration +4(4), Hide +4(6), K:Psionics +4(4), Move Silently +4(2), Psicraft +4(4), Spot +4(4)|Quicken Power|Wild Surge +1, psychic enervation

6th|Wilder|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Autohypnosis +1(5), Concentration +1(5), Hide +0(6), K:Psionics +1(5), Move Silently +0(2), Psicraft +1(5), Spot +1(5), Craft (Alchemy) +2(2)|-|Elude Touch

7th|Wilder|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3|Autohypnosis +1(6), Concentration +1(6), Hide +1(6), K:Psionics +1(6), Move Silently +1(2), Psicraft +1(6), Spot +1(6)|Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Footbow|Wild Surge +2

8th|Wilder|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Autohypnosis +1(7), Concentration +1(7), Hide +1(7), K:Psionics +1(7), Move Silently +1(3), Psicraft +1(7), Spot +1(7)|-|Surging euphoria +1

9th|Wilder|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Autohypnosis +1(8), Concentration +1(8), Hide +1(7), K:Psionics +1(8), Move Silently +1(3), Psicraft +1(8), Spot +1(8)|-|Volatile Mind

10th|Wilder|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+5|Autohypnosis +1(9), Concentration +1(9), Hide +1(8), K:Psionics +1(9), Move Silently +1(4), Psicraft +1(9), Spot +1(9)|Point Blank Shot|-

11th|Cryokineticist|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+5|Autohypnosis +2(10), Concentration +1(10), Hide +1(8), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(4), Psicraft +1(10), Spot +0(9)|-|Glacial Ray

12th|Cryokineticist|
+5|
+5|
+5|
+5|Autohypnosis +2(11), Concentration +1(11), Hide +1(9), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(5), Psicraft +1(11), Spot +0(9)|-|Cold Adaptation, Frozen Fist

13th|Cryokineticist|
+6/+1|
+5|
+5|
+6|Autohypnosis +2(12), Concentration +1(12), Hide +1(9), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(5), Psicraft +1(12), Spot +0(9)|Psionic Shot|Bolt of Colt

14th|Cryokineticist|
+7/+2|
+6|
+6|
+6|Autohypnosis +2(13), Concentration +1(13), Hide +1(10), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(6), Psicraft +1(13), Spot +0(9)|-|Weapon Afrost

15th|Cryokineticist|
+7/+2|
+6|
+6|
+6|Autohypnosis +2(14), Concentration +1(14), Hide +1(10), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(6), Psicraft +1(14), Spot +0(9)|-|Frostfell Creature Insight

16th|Cryokineticist|
+8/+3|
+7|
+7|
+7|Autohypnosis +2(15), Concentration +1(15), Hide +1(11), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(7), Psicraft +1(15), Spot +0(9)|Fell Shot|Cold Walk

17th|Cryokineticist|
+9/+4|
+7|
+7|
+7|Autohypnosis +2(16), Concentration +1(16), Hide +1(11), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(7), Psicraft +1(16), Spot +0(9)|-|Fear no Cold

18th|Cryokineticist|
+10/+5|
+8|
+8|
+7|Autohypnosis +2(17), Concentration +1(17), Hide +1(12), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(8), Psicraft +1(17), Spot +0(9)|-|Greater Weapon Afrost

19th|Cryokineticist|
+10/+5|
+8|
+8|
+8|Autohypnosis +2(18), Concentration +1(18), Hide +1(12), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(8), Psicraft +1(18), Spot +0(9)-|Ability Focus (Bone Chill)|Wall of Ice

20th|Cryokineticist|
+11/+6/+1|
+9|
+9|
+8|Autohypnosis +2(19), Concentration +1(19), Hide +1(13), K:Psionics +0(9), Move Silently +1(9), Psicraft +1(19), Spot +0(9)|-|Bone Chill[/table]

Racial Features:
- Fey type
- Small size. +1 bonus to Armor Class, +1 bonus on attack rolls, +4 bonus on Hide checks, –4 penalty on grapple checks, lifting and - carrying limits 3/4 those of Medium characters.
- A pixie’s base land speed is 20 feet. It also has a fly speed of 60 feet (good).
- Low-light vision.
- Skills: Pixies have a +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
- +1 natural armor bonus.
- Spell-like abilities: 1/day lesser confusion (DC20), dancing lights, detect chaos, detect good, detect evil, detect law, detect thoughts (DC21), dispel magic, entangle (DC20), permanent image (DC25)
- Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/cold iron, greater invisibility, spell resistance equal to 15 + class levels.
- Languages known = Common, Sylvan and all 3 Bonus Languages: Elven, Gnome, Halfling.

Manifester level and Powers

{table=head]Powers|points/day|known|max level

lvl5|2+4|1|1st

lvl6|6+4|2|1st

lvl7|11+4|2|1st

lvl8|17+9|3|2nd

lvl9|25+9|3|2nd

lvl10+|35+13|4|3th[/table]
suggested powers:
1 - Bolt (create 2d4 arrows +1 with +1 augment per 3 power points)
2 - Energy Emanation (1d6+1 cold damage within 5 feet centered around you for rounds/lvl)
2 - conceiling amorpha (grants conceilment 1min/lvl)
3 - Energy Burst (5d6+5 cold damage within 40feet)

Level Breakdown...
Level 1-10

Calipso was never such a playfull character. He never enjoyed the childish games his friend appear to enjoy. His used his Invisibility to escape the turmoil around his head. His innate gift of an evolved mind drives him more and more to contenplate in calm and quiet places. He discovers his psionic talents, and decides to investigate. He trains his mind to use his psionic powers, but this draws the attention of his peers. To excape their prying eyes, he escapes and seeks his spot, higher and higher on the mountain. At last, he meditates so high, that his friends don't bother anymore to disturb him. The snow and cold make it not a nice place to be, and that's when he got his alias 'Calipso'. He didn't bother at all, untill disaster struck...

In game terms...
At low levels, the invisibility and DR10 should be enough to keep him alive. He then takes levels of Wilder to make good use of his Cha and qualify for the SI. At mid levels, this build lacks in raw power, that's why a ranged attacker with hit and run tactics.
Wilder Class features:
- Wild Surge / Psychic Enervation: rarely used in this build as the Cryokineticist has no manifester levels to augment. I wish it did.
- Elude Touch: due to high CHA, the touch AC = AC. Since you stay at range, this means that rays hit you less often.
- Surging Euforia: see wild surge above.

Level 11-20

An avelange! His quick wings could not bring him to complete safety and he gets trapped under the snow. How he realises that with no friends around, there is noone to rescue him. But interestingly, he doesn't really suffer from the cold. In fact, it seems that he manages to harnass the power of the cold, and use it for his own. Lacking real strenght, it takes some time to free himself but at last he climbs out of his snowy prison. This left a lasting impression, as he abandons his lonely hermitage, choosing back for the social life. With his new found cold powers, he protects his comrades from intruders with impressive display of cold. He erects walls of ice, and bursts out in freezing cold when surrounded by enemies. But his normal way of fighting would be to use his invisibility and flight, to pelt down arrows upon his foes.
In game terms...
So, what class feature can we use?
- glacial ray and Bolt of Colt: Ranged touch attacks? Yup, We have the dexterity to do that.
- cold resistance: this feature comes up twice and all it there is to it is the resistance.
- melee weapon enhancement: You sheet your melee weapon in cold, giving it the frost attribute. Races of the Wild p166 mentions Elvencraft Bows to be used as melee weapons, so arguably, you could apply the Weapon Afrost ability to the Footbow. The pixie has no STR bonus, but it would apply up to 2d6 frost damage. Just picture a pixie with a footbow... Some feats enhance his ranged capacity: Psionic shot adds 2d6 and Fell shot makes ranged attacks into ranged touch attacks.
To quote:
Magical enhancements to an elvencraft bow only affect its
use as a bow. Enhancements to the melee capabilities of the
weapon must be added separately.

But that doens't matter as the Cryokineticist does not specify which part of the weapon is sheated, we can thus choose to sheat the melee weapon (the Elvencraft Footbow) with the afrost ability for the bow, not for the melee capability

At 4th level, as a move action,
the cryokineticist can cause a melee weapon he wields to
become sheathed in a layer of intense cold, granting the
weapon the frost special ability. - frostfell creature insight: situational, not elaborated on in this build.
- cold walk: paying to walk the air, but leave traces? Ouch that's totally not what we are trying to do. We're flying undetected!
- Wall of ice: usefull to block when on the retreat with a wall or trap a creature under a hemisphere.
- Bone Chill: The capstone feature! Hope that they fail twice and die.

Items needed:- cha tomes
- +6 Belt of Giant Strenght (36000gp)
- Elvencraft Footbow (+0str)
- High dex light armor: i.e. Leafweave leather (light armor +2AC, max +7dex)
Chef's notes

I really had no idea how to use the SI, except that a 30' area of immeadiate death after 2 failed saves is appealing. But the DC is set in stone, although it can be enhanced by raising Charisma. The Pixie has a nice CHA score, and also brings the way to deliver the attack. With greater invisibility and flight, it can pop up anywhere, release it's blast and fly away. If needed, it can pelt arrows and cold rays from above thanks to the high dexterity as well. Drop an ice wall to block the exit before or after you fly in. And to enter the SI, I choose Wilder for the CHA and saves synergy.

A routine:
- buff with cold emanation = 1d6+1 cold damage
- fly in with greater invisibility and use bone chill = 9d6+21
- follow up with quicken energy burtst 5d6+5 cold damage
--------------------------------------------------
it tallies up to 15d6+27 = 80 cold damage on average in a 30feet radius.
(Note that cold resistance or even immunity will negate the damage, but on 2 failed saves, it will not prevent the immediate death, at least not as written.)

Note: Against mooks, you can make things interesting: create a permant image (DC25) to lure them togheter, and use entangle (DC21) to keep them there. Then blast them for fun times.

To make the Bone Chill a bit more effective, high CHA contributes:
Total Cha:
point buy 18
racial: +6
levels: +5
item: +6
tomes: +5
-----------------
total cha: 40
Base DC = 15 + 15 = DC 30
Ability Focus = DC +2
--------------------------
Total DC = 32 Fort save.

If SR is breached, then some creatures will have a real chance not saving twice against this DC.

Note: It seems that power resistance is easier to overcome than spell resistance using feats. While the spell penetration feat line gives +2 to +4 bonus, the power resistance feat line gives +4 to +8 bonus. Too bad we are not using manifester levels. AAAARRGGggg.... :smallfurious:

PS: I admit that this build lacks in power and suffers from a way to overcome cold resistance. Anyway, now I know I'll never ever play a cryokineticist. Ever.

Sources:(probably SRD if not mentioned)-Races of the Wild: Elvencraft Bow, Footbow, Leafweave leather
-Complete Psionic: Energy Emanation, Psionic Mastery
-Expanded Psionic Handbook: Wilder, Energy Burst, Bolt, Conceiling Amorpha
-Frostburn: Cryokineticist
-Monster Manual: Pixie, Ability Focus

Amphetryon

2012-01-13, 07:29 PM

Ice like a mirror. . . .

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk134/WolvesOnParade/Funny/Hands-Fire-and-Ice.jpg
The Antipode, where two worlds meet
This land where flame and frost do meet,
There elemental heart doth beat.
Here born of ice and fire am I,
Entering in, you now must die.

The StoryFar in the north where ice never melts and the sun rises but half the year a mountain grew from the earth, spitting fire and smoke with every growing inch. Long were the spirits of the cold and the spirits of the heat embattled with one another for the dominance of their element. With the passing eons, the volcano fell dormant, and the spirits of the land fell into an uneasy truce, a truce destined to be shattered by mortal hands in search of wealth.

No one survived to tell what happened. All that is known is that mortal hands broke the truce and provoked the fire spirits into awakening the mountain once more. The wanton destruction slaughtered the adventurers and many of the spirits on both sides. The blood of the mortals mixed with the remnants of the destroyed spirits, and a new being stepped forth, the antipode.

The mixing of ice and fire has given rise to a new guardian, this half mortal touched of the fey now lives secluded on this forgotten mountain guarding it against all who encroach upon it, the powers of its spirit ancestors coursing through it.

The Build
Lawful Good Feytouched - 12, 18, 12, 10, 12, 16 (32pt buy)

THE ANTIPODE
{table=head]Level|Class|Base AttackBonus|FortSave|RefSave|WilSave|Skills +Bonus (Ranks)|Feats|Class Features|PP
1st|Paladin (Harmonious Knight) 1|+1|
+2|
+0|
+0|+5 (4) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +5 (1.5) Intimidate|Hidden Talent (Psychic Whip)|Aura of good, inspire courage, smite evil 1/day|2
2nd|Paladin 2|+2|
+3|
+0|
+0|+6 (5) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +6 (2) Intimidate|-|Divine grace, lay on hands|2
3rd|Ardent 1|+2|
+3|
+0|
+2|+7 (6) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +6 (2) Intimidate, +1 (1) Knowledge (psionics)|Practiced Manifester|Assume psionic mantles (2)|4
4th|Paladin 3|+3|
+3|
+1|
+3|+8 (7) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +6 (2) Intimidate, +1 (1) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Aura of courage, divine health|4
5th|Ardent 2|+4|
+3|
+1|
+4|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +6 (2) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Assume psionic mantle|10
6th|Cryokineticist 1|+5|
+5|
+3|
+4|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +8 (4) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|Ordered Chaos|Glacial ray|10
7th|Pyrokineticist 1|+5|
+7|
+5|
+4|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +10 (6) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Fire lash|10
8th|Cryokineticist 2|+6|
+8|
+6|
+4|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +12 (8) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Cold adaptation, frozen fist|10
9th|Pyrokineticist 2|+7|
+9|
+7|
+4|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +12 (8) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|Imperious Command|Fire adaptation, hand afire|10
10th|Cryokineticist 3|+8|
+9|
+7|
+5|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +14 (10) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Bolt of cold|10
11th|Pyrokineticist 3|+9|
+9|
+7|
+6|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +16 (12) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Bolt of fire|10
12th|Cryokineticist 4|+10|
+10|
+8|
+6|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +17 (14) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|Psionic Meditation|Weapon afrost|10
13th|Pyrokineticist 4|+11|
+11|
+9|
+6|+9 (8) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +19 (16) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Weapon afire|10
14th|Cryokineticist 5|+12|
+11|
+9|
+6|+10 (9) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +20 (17) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Frostfell creature insight|10
15th|Pyrokineticist 5|+12|
+11|
+9|
+6|+11 (10) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +21 (18) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|Water Devotion|Nimbus|10
16th|Cryokineticist 6|+13|
+12|
+10|
+7|+12 (11) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +22 (19) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Cold walk|10
17th|Pyrokineticist 6|+14|
+13|
+11|
+8|+13 (12) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +23 (20) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Firewalk|10
18th|Cryokineticist 7|+15|
+13|
+11|
+8|+14 (13) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +24 (21) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|Fire Devotion|Fear no cold|10
19th|Cryokineticist 8|+16|
+14|
+12|
+8|+15 (14) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +25 (22) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Greater weapon afrost|10
20th|Cryokineticist 9|+17|
+14|
+12|
+9|+16 (15) Concentration, +1 (1) Craft (Alchemy), +26 (23) Intimidate, +2 (2) Knowledge (psionics), +1 (1) Knowledge (religion)|-|Wall of ice|10
[/table]

The ExplanationI came up with the character concept and thought "Hey! I bet I could do it!" Then, I set about trying to make it happen. I spent less time trying to make this a super powerful build and more time trying to find small ways to expand on the theme, selecting feats and abilities to fit.

Note that I did not assign the ability score increases from levels. They will go into either Dexterity of Charisma, depending on how the game goes. Since both are about equally important, I just left them out of the build.

1st - 5th levels
The first few levels of this build represent the character's basic personality and growth towards becoming the guardian of the land.

The three levels of paladin reflect the character's dedication to protecting its home and maintaining the law of nature undefiled by mortal races. However, being a fey, especially one dominated by opposing elements, the character is still a bit capricious by nature. It took the Harmonious Knight substitution level to represent that it is more likely to sing inspirations than to be looking everywhere for evil. Losing out on detect evil also fits thematically, as a guardian doesn't really care about alignment so much as whether or not the enemy is trespassing.

I selected Ardent and used the standard chicanery to stretch Ardent as far as possible, grabbing the second level power of choice (energy emanation) on the first level. I had originally intended only the one level of Ardent, but the Guardian mantle seemed to fit the character too well to simply pass it by, particularly since it gave access to damp power.

1Play at these levels is rather straightforward. The character is a paladin with a few, limited psionic powers to increase potency. Because of later levels and magic items I found, I decided to go with a "whip" theme for the Antipode.

Feats
Hidden Talent grants 2 additional power points and psychic whip (See below)

Practiced Manifester at 3rd for high level power selections.

Mantles and Powers
1st level - Psychic whip is a wonderful weapon-like power which functions as a whip with a reach of Close and doesn't have non-proficiency penalties. It doesn't last all day, but it does have some nice uses.

3rd level - The Antipode's elemental powers begin to awake as it takes the first level of Ardent, taking the Water and Fire mantles. While psionically focused, the Antipode receives +1 fire damage on melee attacks and a swim speed. It takes control object (water) from the Water mantle to control the ice around it and energy emanation (fire) from the Fire mantle to summon the fire of the mountain (and qualify for Cryokineticist).

Damp power, acquired at 5th level via the Guardian mantle, is the opposite of Maximize Spell for any powers/spells cast against the Antipode. This grants it some defense against enemy casters in addition to the divine grace from its paladin levels.
6th-10th levels
At 6th level, the ancestry of the Antipode breaks through, and it begins taking levels in both Cryokineticist and Pyrokineticist.

1The Antipode gains access to the glacial ray and fire whip psi-like powers, allowing it to throw around its fire and ice abilities at will. It also begins to develop its resistances to both cold and fire damage, can sheath its fists with energy, and gains Bolt of Cold.

Feats
The 6th level feat, Ordered Chaos, is the key to this whole build, treating a Lawful character as Chaotic when beneficial, granting immunity to Axiomatic and Anarchic weapons as well as [law] and [chaos] spells that affect the opposite alignment. It also allows the Antipode to qualify for Pyrokineticist.

At 9th level, it picks up Imperious Command and the skill trick Never Outnumbered. While it's never wonderful at Intimidation, it has enough of a modifier to to cower its enemies, threatening them with death for defiling the land.
11th-15th levels
These levels offer more of the same, progressing along the theme of the character. The Antipode picks up two more levels of Cryokineticist and three more levels of Pyrokineticist.

1Bolt of Fire is added to our offensive repertoire, as are weapon afrost and weapon aflame, both of which may be added to a weapon of choice (jut not its frozen fist). Weapon aflame can be added to the fire lash, but weapon afrost requires a melee weapon. Unfortunately, as a ranged touch attack, the fire lash doesn't count. However, that's why the Antipode has a water whip by this level (see equipment below). The Antipode also gains nimbus, allowing it to wreath its body in flame and boosting its Cha.

Feats
By this point, the Antipode has a number of abilities which rely on psionic focus, so I added a bit of Psionic Meditation to the mix.

Water Devotion was added, because it fits the theme of the Antipode summoning the elements to its aid. Having a friendly water elemental in battle definitely helps.
16th to 20th levels
Here we diverge from the previous ten levels only slightly. The volcano has gone dormant once more, and the elements tip in favor of frost. As such, the Antipode takes but one level of Pyromancer and four levels of Cryomancer.

1Because of our location, the Cold Walk ability should always function; however, Fire Walk can work anywhere. Both abilities equate to a limited "flight" mechanism, granting the Antipode better mobility in its environs.

Its cold resistance continues to increase, as does its cold damage. The "capstone" of this build ends at Wall of Ice, allowing the Antipode to reshape the frozen lands of its home in its defense.

Feats
Fire Devotion is the final feat the Antipode acquires, allowing it to further delve into its elemental roots.

The Equipment
The Antipode relies mostly on its abilities granted from Cryo and Pyrokineticist for damage, but it could definitely use a few items.

Obviously, anything that increases its Charisma is good for its saves, and all stat boosters are useful.

The Water Whip found in the Magic Item Compendium is perfect for this build. It not only fits with the whip theme, but it also fits the ice/fire theme by having both a fire and a water elemental bound within it and being able to switch between fire and ice damage. We add the Skillful enhancement (+2) to it so that we don't have to worry about wasting a feat for proficiency. This whip also lets the Antipode utilize its weapon afrost and aflame abilities.

The Belt of Battle is practically necessary for the Antipode, because so many of his abilities are based on using up move actions.

Finally, a pair of Horizon Goggles are invaluable for extending the range of the Antipode's attack options by 50%. They affect the glacial ray, fire lash, the bolt of cold and fire, and the psychic whip power.

The only other item the Antipode needs is a water flask and a source of water for the Water Devotion feat, but since it can create ice and then melt it, all it needs is the flask.

Though there are other items the Antipode could use to be stronger, there isn't really anything more it needs to be effective. The strength of the Antipode is that it has a number of options that it can use at will without need to rely on anything but its own mind.

Adaptation
If using opposing elements doesn't appeal to you, the quickest, easiest adaptation is to switch Pyrokineticist with the Mind's Eye Cryokineticist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040625e), which is exactly the Pyrokineticist but with a cold focus instead of fire. This changes the focus from Ice and Fire to exclusively Ice and could arguably strengthen the build.

The Ingredients
{table=head]Source|Ingredients
Frostburn|Cryokineticist
|
Expanded Psionics Handbook|Pyrokineticist
|Psionic Meditation feat
|Hidden Talent feat
|control object power
|
Complete Psionic|Ardent
|Practiced Manifester feat
|energy emanantion and damp power, powers
|Guardian mantle
|
Secrets of Sarlona|psychic whip power
|
Player's Handbook|Paladin
|
Champion's of Valor Web Enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a)|Harmonious Knight Paladin ACF
|
Level-Adjusted Races (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a)|Feytouched race(Note I did not take the optional LA level)
|
Expanded Classes, Part Four (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a)|Fire and Water mantles
|
Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss|Ordered Chaos feat
|
Drow of the Underdark|Imperious Command feat
|
Complete Champion|Fire Devotion and Water Devotion feats
|
|Complete Scoundrel|Never Outnumbered skill trick
|
Complete Mage|Horizon goggles item
|
Magic Item Compendium|Water whip and belt of battle items
[/table]

And finally:
Antipode - n.
1. a reference to the antipodal points, the diametrically opposite points on a sphere.
2. In chemistry, one of two stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other that are non-superposable (not identical).

Amphetryon

2012-01-13, 07:32 PM

Chilled alphabet soup, anyone?

The Smashing Good Architect of the Curb-Stomping Platinum Dragon

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/407620/1096623-ultimo_dragon_l_large.jpg

Every resource should be used in the battle against the spawn of Tiamat. A true martial artist is not restricted in his use of weapons, a spear, a fist, a staircase, all of them can be used to combat the forces of evil. The Smashing Good Architect of the Curb Stomping Platinum Dragon is such a martial artist. He not only uses his spear to defeat his foes, but also the environment around him. But sometimes, the laws of narrative contrivence just let you down. You are ready to shove the villain out a window, and there is no window there! You are about to smack an Ogre against a wall, but it was made out of cheap drywall!

What's a hero to do?

Manifest a wall.

The Smashing Good Architect of the Curb-Stomping Platinum Dragon (SGACSPD) believes that both destruction and tactical improvisational architecture are essential tools in the war against the Dragonspawn of Tiamat. And when fighting evil, it is best to do so like Fonzie. Fonzie is cool.
Be cool Hunny Bunny.
Be like the SCACSPD.

The Table of Curb-Stomping:

The Smashing Good Architect of the Curb-stomping Platinum Dragon
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Fighter 1|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+0|Craft Alch 1, K. Psion 1, Conc 2, Tumble 4, Jump 4, Swim 2|Jotanbrud, B. Power Attack|

2nd|Fighter 2|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+0|Tumble 5, Jump 5, Swim 4||Dungeoncrasher

3rd|Fighter 3|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+1|Conc 4, Tumble 6, Jump 6|Imp. Bull Rush|
4th|Fighter 4|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+1|Tumble 7, Jump 7, Swim 6|B. Combat Expertise|

5th|Fighter 5|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+1|Conc 5, Tumble 8, Jump 8||

6th|Ardent 1|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+3|Conc 8, K. Psion 2|Practiced Manifester: Ardent, B. Weapon Focus Ranseur|Conflict Mantle, Elements Mantle

7th|Fighter 6|
+6|
+5|
+2|
+4|Tumble 9, Jump 9||Dungeoncrasher II

8th|Cyrokineticist 1|
+6|
+7|
+4|
+4|Jump 10, Craft. Ice Mason 3||Glacial Ray

9th|Cyrokineticist 2|
+7|
+8|
+5|
+4|Jump 11, Craft. Ice Mason 6|Knockback|Cold Adaptation, Frozen Fist

10th|Cyrokineticist 3|
+8|
+8|
+5|
+5|Jump 12, Craft. Ice Mason 9||Bolt of Cold

11th|Cyrokineticist 4|
+9|
+9|
+6|
+5|Jump 13, Craft. Ice Mason 12||Weapon Afrost

12th|Cyrokineticist 5|
+9|
+9|
+6|
+5|Jump 14, Craft. Ice Mason 15|Shocktrooper|Frostfell Creature Insight

13th|Cyrokineticist 6|
+10|
+10|
+7|
+6|Jump 15,Craft Ice Mason 16||Cold Walk

14th|Cyrokineticist 7|
+11|
+10|
+7|
+6|Jump 17, Craft Ice Mason 17, ||Fear No Cold

15th|Cyrokineticist 8|
+12|
+11|
+8|
+6|Jump 18, Craft Ice Mason 18, Tumble 10|Imp. Trip|Greater Weapon Afrost

16th|Cyrokineticist 9|
+12|
+11|
+8|
+7|Jump 19, Craft Ice Mason 19, K. Arcana 1||Wall of Ice

17th|Cyrokineticist 10|
+13|
+12|
+9|
+7|Jump 20, Craft Ice Mason 20, K. Geography 1||Bone Chill

18th|Ardent 2|
+14|
+12|
+9|
+8|Craft Ice Mason 21, Autohypnosis 3|Hover|Creation Mantle

19th|Ardent 3|
+15|
+13|
+10|
+8|Craft Ice Mason 22, Tumble 11||

20th|Ardent 4|
+16|
+13|
+10|
+9|Craft Ice Mason 23, Autohypnosis 6||[/table]
Cityskilled Dungeoncrasher Fighter
Ardent with Substitute Powers
Conflict Mantle (WF Ranseur)
Mantle Substitution, Expansion (replace Metaphysical Weapon)
Elements Mantle (Multiple)
Mantle Substitution, Energy Emanation (replace Control Air)

Craniums and Barriers (ECL 7)

Once Man and Giant.
Now Dragon and Man.
Evil is Hated.
The way is Fated.
Your skull meets wall.

The SCACSPD is focused on one thing, and one thing alone, smashing evil people against solid objects repeatedly. Between his lingering Jotenbrud, and his natural ability to expand the SCACSPD counts as a huge sized creature for the purposes of Bull Rushes and similar abilities. Between that and his very specialized training, very few enemies will be able to resist his bull rushes. Whenever he smacks someone against the wall, they take 8d6 + 3x strength mod damage. The SCACSPD also has the option of bull rushing people off cliffs, out of windows, and if there is no wall available into the floor (when attacking from above). His Energy Emenation doesn't seem so useful, but it will pave his way to his path of power... the Cyrokineticist.

If he can afford a Brute Ring, he can also bull rush people into walls from 30 feet away.

Frozen Justice (ECL 16)

Wretched Wally Warlock wants were worrisome,
When wintry wreathed Warrior wrought wrath,
& Wasted Wally Warlock.

The SCACSPD has finally reached his own personal capstone. The main limitation of dungeoncrashing is that there often isn't a convenient wall. Now however the SCACSPD can construct walls whenever (and pretty much wherever) he wants. Although Walls of Ice have relatively low hit points, they do cover a wide area, and their two main dimensions are adjustable subject to their caps. While they must be anchored, nothing says that they cannot be anchored to another wall. The best two things about Walls of Ice is that they provide cover, and you can bull rush people into them. With this the SCACSPD actually becomes a bit of a battlefield control character. Given a good minute he can make a solidly fortified position for optimal evil curb-stomping.

But Wall of Ice isn't the only thing the SCACSPD gets from Cyrokinetist:
Glacial Ray - Free Ice Cubes at will for refreshing beverages.
Frozen Fist - The SCACSPD can punch adjacent enemies with his Frozen Fist while using his Ranseur as a reach weapon.
Bolt of Cold - For when you really have to hit someone over there.
Weapon Afrost - More damage on the Ranseur!
Fear No Cold - Take less damage, go outside without a coat.
Cold Walk - The SCACSPD can deliberately enter freefall to gain distance, and then use Cold Walk to catch himself before taking falling damage.

But what good is Weapon Afrost if SCACSPD never uses his weapon???
But now he does!
With Knockback the SCACSPD gets a free bull rush whenever he successfully power attacks.

His new usual attack routine is to...
Manifest Lion's Charge through a Dorje.
Dive down on an enemy.
Full attack power attack them with the Ranseur for Double Damage (Triple damage if Valorous)
For each successful power attack he bull rushes them into the ground or wall for an additional 8d6 +3x strength mod damage.
He can even activate Brutal Surge to get in an extra bull rush!

This works even better when fighting groups of enemies.
Shock trooper lets him bull rush people diagonally, and whenever he bull rushes an enemy against another enemy he gets a free trip attack on both of them.
If he succeeds at his trip attack (he is effectively huge sized) then he gets a free attack on each of them from Improved Trip.
He then power attacks with the free attack to get a free bull rush...
To then bull rush both enemies against the wall for bonus damage.

Cool like Fonzie (ECL 20)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/407620/ice-castle-philip-straub.jpg

The SCACSPD can make Ice Fortresses. What more flavor do you need?

There are four things that the SCACSPD has picked up since his own personal capstone:
Bone Chill
Increased Ardent Manifesting
Creation Mantle
Hover

The SCACSPD never really focused on charisma, instead relying on his inherent coolness to pull him through. Because of this the DC on Bone Chill isn't that high. But thats okay, because it isn't a fort save negate ability, it is a fort save for half ability. So in any situation where he wants to put down an area of effect, most people are going to get hurt, how many people run around with Mettle anyway? And if they do take some damage, there is a chance they might flat out die as well. The best part of bone chill is that this isn't a death effect, so it can kill many more people then it could otherwise.

Increased Ardent Manifesting gives the SCACSPD a new mantle, some new powers, and a Manifester Level of 8, letting him cast 4th level powers. This also lets him spend 7 more power points when manifesting expansion, letting him expand up to huge sized. Thanks to his Jotanbrud this means he is treated as Gargantuan size instead. Very few things resist your bull rushes when you are gargantuan size. The only creature he would have trouble bull rushing in the Monster Manual is the Tarrasque... but at the same time, it isn't impossible. (Buffs from party members would help here)

The Creation Mantle gives SCACSPD access to his new favorite power, Psionic Fabricate. With Psionic Fabricate, and his skill as an Ice Mason the SCACSPD can build buildings out of Ice. Ice is a valid building material for building stronghold walls amongst other things. While SCACSPD usually prefers to work with natural ice, he can in a pinch work with his own manifested walls of ice. Normally Fabricate requires a nonmagical material component that is to be crafted into the finished product. The psionic version does not have a material component requirement however. Which means that SCACSPD can use Fabricate on his manifested walls of ice to recraft them into different shapes to suit his need for the coming battle. While the duration of 9 minutes for Ice Wall sounds quite short, that is a full 90 rounds in which SCACSPD can shape the walls to his liking and then bull rush people into them.

And lastly the SCACSPD learns how to Hover. In addition to granting more flying options Hover lets the SCACSPD kick up enormous clouds of debris. These clouds have a 60 foot radius, and all sight is concealed beyond 25 feet. If you cannot see a target, you cannot cast spells on them. True Seeing doesn't see through the cloud, and most alternate sensing methods are not long range enough. As hovering only takes a move action, it can be used as a readied action. A good readied action for this is "If someone casts a spell on me, I beat my wings". The readied action goes off before the triggering action does, blocking the spell. Of course this doesn't do any good against were-dolphin wizards, but truly they are the bane of us all.

Other Tactics

SCACSPD wears a pair of Steadfast Boots. Among other things, these boots allow you to always be readied vs a charge, even without spending an action. If anyone charges SCACSPD first they have to worry about getting past his reach, if they avoid the AOO they then he gets an attack against them with his readied weapon. Against a charge his Ranseur does double damage. He likes to power attack when making this attack, so he gets a free bull rush attack. Most people trying to charge the SCACSPD have to deal with an attack of opportunity, a readied attack, and get bull rushed back negating their own attack.

Statistics and Powers

Dragonborn Human with the Wings Aspect
Before Mods
Str 16
Dex 14
Con 14
int 14
Wis 12
Cha 8
After Mods:
Str 16
Dex 12
Con 16
Int 14
Wis 12
Cha 8
After Leveling:
Str 18
Dex 12
Con 16
Int 14
Wis 14
Cha 8
After Enhancement:
Str 24
Dex 18
Con 22
Int 20
Wis 20
Cha 14
After Inherent:
Str 28
Dex 18
Con 22
Int 20
Wis 20
Cha 14

Powers Known:

Conflict:
Expansion
Psionic Lion's Charge
Dimension Slide

Elements:
Energy Emanation

Creation:
Psionic Fabricate

The Architect's Tools, Sources, and Notes

Equipment:
Belt of Magnificence: Miniature's Handbook
Valorous Ghost Touch Brutal Surge Ranseur with a Wand Chamber
Dorje of Psionic Lion's Charge - Expanded Psionics Handbook
Dorje of Expansion - Expanded Psionics Handbook
Cognizance Crystal - Expanded Psionics Handbook
Valorous - Unapproachable East
Brutal Surge - Magic Item Compendium
Wand Chamber - Dungeonscape
Steadfast Boots - Magic Item Compendium
2 Brute Rings - Magic Item Compendium
Strength Manual

Sources:
Jotanbrud - Races of Faerun
Dragonborn - Races of the Dragon
City Skilled Fighter - http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a
Dungeoncrasher Fighter - Dungeonscape
Ardent - Complete Psion
Practiced Manifester - Complete Psion
Mantle Substitution - http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a
Knockback - Races of Stone
Shocktrooper - Complete Warrior
Hover - Monster Manual
Notes:
Ardent's base what powers they can pick based on their manifester level. Practiced Manifester then lets SCACSPD learn a second level power as a first level Ardent. With the Mantle Substitution Powers I tried to put them into Mantles that seemed to fit, Energy Emanation with Elements, and Expansion with Conflict. The Substitution Power option seems ideally made to let Ardents use powers from other supplements.

Dragonborn count as dragons and as their base race, which means that SCACSPD still counts as human, letting him take Jotanbrud at first level. He does not however keep his bonus feat or extra skills, so they were not added to the table.

Amphetryon

2012-01-13, 07:35 PM

Bjorn, free(ze)

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9zck6JVUn1qcgbsco1_400.gif
-Don’t stand…don’t stand… don’t stand so close to me- Bjorn Doragoniru, Heat Mage of the Ruby Shell Knights

Bjorn Doragoniru
Character Information
Race: Human (Chondathan)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Age: 29
Height: 5’10” foot
Weight: 156 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Bald
Languages: Chondathan, Common.
Deity: Denier

Ability Scores
8 str
12 dex
15 con +5 Inherent+6 enhancement= 26
12 int
18 wis +5 inherent+ 5 lvl + 6 enhancement= 34
8 chr

Bjorn Doragoniru
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Ardent|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Concentration 4, Autohypnosis 4, Knowledge(Psionics) 4, Psicraft 4|Azure Talent, Psicarnum Infusion|Assume Psionic Mantles (Energy Mantle, Fire Mantle)

2nd|Ardent|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3| Concentration 5, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 5, Psicraft 5|-|Assume Psionic Mantle (Knowledge Mantle)

3rd|Ardent|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3| Concentration 6, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 6, Psicraft 6, Craft (Alchemy) 1|Practised Manifester|-

4th|Incarnate|
+2|
+3|
+1|
+5| Concentration 7, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 6, Knowledge(Arcana) 1, Knowledge(Religion) 1, Spellcraft 1, Psicraft 6, Craft (Alchemy) 1|-|Aura, Detect Opposition

5th|Incarnate|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+6| Concentration 8, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 6, Knowledge(Arcana) 2, Knowledge(Religion) 2, Spellcraft 2, Psicraft 6, Craft (Alchemy) 1|-|Chakra Bind (Crown)

6th|Incarnate|
+3|
+4|
+2|
+6| Concentration 9, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 6, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 3, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 6, Craft (Alchemy) 1|Expand Soulmeld Capacity|Expanded Soulmeld Capacity +1, Incarnum Radiance (Lawful) 1/day

7th|Soul Manifester|
+3|
+4|
+2|
+8| Concentration 10, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 7, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 4, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 7, Craft (Alchemy) 1|-|Psionic Investment 1

8th|Soul Manifester|
+4|
+4|
+2|
+9| Concentration 11, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 8, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 5, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 8, Craft (Alchemy) 1|-|-

9th|Soul Manifester|
+4|
+5|
+3|
+9| Concentration 12, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 9, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 6, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 9, Craft (Alchemy) 1|Psionic Meditation|Chakra Binds (Crown, Feet, Hands)

10th|Soul Manifester|
+5|
+5|
+3|
+10| Concentration 13, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 10, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 7, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 10, Craft (Alchemy) 1|-|-

11th|Soul Manifester|
+5|
+5|
+3|
+10| Concentration 14, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 11, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 8, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 11, Craft (Alchemy) 1|-|-

12th|Soul Manifester|
+6|
+6|
+4|
+11| Concentration 15, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 12, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 9, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 12, Craft (Alchemy) 1|Expanded Knowledge (Energy Adaption)|-

13th|Soul Manifester|
+6|
+6|
+4|
+11| Concentration 16, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 13, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 10, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 13, Craft (Alchemy) 1|-|Psionic Investment 2

14th|Soul Manifester|
+7|
+6|
+4|
+12| Concentration 17, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 14, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 11, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 14, Craft (Alchemy) 1|-|Chakra Binds (Arms, Brow, Shoulder)

15th|Soul Manifester|
+7|
+7|
+5|
+12| Concentration 18, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 15, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 12, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 15, Craft (Alchemy) 1|Expanded Knowledge (Mend Wounds)|-

16th|Cryokineticist|
+7|
+9|
+7|
+12| Concentration 19, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 16, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 12, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 16, Craft (Alchemy) 2|-|Glacial Ray

17th|Cryokineticist|
+8|
+10|
+8|
+12| Concentration 20, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 17, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 12, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 17, Craft (Alchemy) 3|-|Cold Adaption, Frozen Fist

18th|Cryokineticist|
+9|
+10|
+8|
+13| Concentration 21, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 18, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 12, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 18, Craft (Alchemy) 4|Open Greater Chakra (Waist)|Bolt of Cold

19th|Cryokineticist|
+10|
+11|
+9|
+13| Concentration 22, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 19, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 12, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 19, Craft (Alchemy) 5|-|Weapon Afrost

20th|Cryokineticist|
+10|
+11|
+9|
+13| Concentration 23, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge(Psionics) 20, Knowledge(Arcana) 3, Knowledge(Religion) 12, Spellcraft 3, Psicraft 20, Craft (Alchemy) 6|-|Frostfell Creature Insight[/table]

Powers Known/Power Points
{table=head]Level|Power Points|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th

1st|4|Energy Ray, Control Flames|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|10| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|17| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|19| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|21| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|23| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|31| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only)|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|49| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|62| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|76| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|-|Energy Current (Fire Only)|-|-|-|-

11th|91| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|-|Energy Current (Fire Only)|Energy Barrage (Fire Only)|-|-|-

12th|114| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only)|-|-|-

13th|133| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only)|Energy Wave|-|-

14th|155| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation, Fiery Discorporation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only)|Energy Wave|-|-

15th|178| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation, Fiery Discorporation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only), Psychometry, Mend Wounds|Energy Wave|-|-

16th|198| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation, Fiery Discorporation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only), Psychometry, Mend Wounds|Energy Wave|-|-

17th|202| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation, Fiery Discorporation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only), Psychometry, Mend Wounds|Energy Wave|-|-

18th|207| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation, Fiery Discorporation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only), Psychometry, Mend Wounds|Energy Wave|-|-

19th|211| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation, Fiery Discorporation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only), Psychometry, Mend Wounds|Energy Wave|-|-

20th|246| Energy Ray, Control Flames, Call to Mind |Energy Emanation (Fire Only)|Energy Wall (Fire Only), Energy Bolt, Touchsight|Energy Adaption|Energy Current (Fire Only), Manipulation, Fiery Discorporation|Energy Barrage (Fire Only), Psychometry, Mend Wounds|Energy Wave|-|- [/table]

Incarnum
{table=head]Level|Soulmelds|Number of Chakra Binds Available|Chakra Bind Locations Available|Essentia|Essentia Capacity of soulmelds|Essentia Capacity of All Other Abilities |Other Essentia Receptacles

1st|None|None|None|1|1|1|Azure Talent

2nd| None|None|None|1|1|1|Azure Talent

3rd| None|None|None|1|1|1|Azure Talent

4th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus|None|None|2|1|1|Azure Talent

5th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots|1|Crown|3|1|1|Azure Talent

6th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots|1|Crown|4|3|2|Azure Talent

7th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces|1|Crown|5|3|2|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

8th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces|1|Crown|6|3|2|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

9th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces|2|Crown, Feet, Hands|7|3|2|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

10th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame|2|Crown, Feet, Hands|8|3|2|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

11th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame|2|Crown, Feet, Hands|9|3|2|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

12th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame|2|Crown, Feet, Hands|10|4|3|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

13th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame, Mages Spectacles|3|Crown, Feet, Hands|11|4|3|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

14th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame, Mages Spectacles|3|Crown, Feet, Hands, Arms, Brow, Shoulder|12|4|3|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

15th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame, Mages Spectacles|3|Crown, Feet, Hands, Arms, Brow, Shoulder|13|4|3|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

16th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame, Mages Spectacles|3|Crown, Feet, Hands, Arms, Brow, Shoulder|13|4|3|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

17th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame, Mages Spectacles|3|Crown, Feet, Hands, Arms, Brow, Shoulder|13|4|3|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

18th|Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame, Mages Spectacles|3|Crown, Feet, Hands, Arms, Brow, Shoulder, Waist|13|5|4|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

19th| Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame, Mages Spectacles|3|Crown, Feet, Hands, Arms, Brow, Shoulder, Waist|13|5|4|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment

20th| Flame Cinture, Psychic Focus, Impulse Boots, Astral Vambraces, Mantle of Flame, Mages Spectacles|3|Crown, Feet, Hands, Arms, Brow, Shoulder, Waist|13|5|4|Azure Talent, Psionic Investment [/table]

Background
Bjorn’s early life showed him to be a consummate pyromaniac. Ever since the lightning strike had caused half of Ogursthurd to burn down to the ground, he spent his childhood stealing coals from the hearth and sneaking off to find something to light up. His fascination soon grew to obsession. When Bjorn thinks back on his life, it is clear this obsession is what unlocked the powers of his mind. And he remembers the overwhelming joy the first time he willed fire into existence with his mind only. The power to call flames into being was perhaps too much power for a little boy. He lacked restraint and after charring Gandir’s best milking cow, he was chased out of Ogursthurd with spear and pitchfork alike. The town eventually came to blame him for every single fire in its history. While Bjorn never apologized for his reckless behavior, the next few years living on his own eradicated his childlike curiosity. It was luck alone that brought him to the Ruby Shell Knights, a sell sword group based out of Sembia. The knights found him wandering the wilderness. They admired his drive to live. They were impressed to find he had been on his own for many years of his childhood. They took him on as a servant. In exchange Bjorn was educated and taught a better way to live. Soon he was a full grown man and had earned a position in the ranks of the Ruby Shell Knights. His time with the knights had left him with a wise head and a deep respect for protocol. His life was now meticulously ordered. But he still felt a reckless glee creep up from inside himself when he watched someone burn.

Even though the knights tried to teach him the art of close combat, Bjorn never quite took to it. It was cause for some ridicule in the early years of manhood. But after a few successful missions, the Knights came to respect his destructive abilities. Bjorn was left to train his prowess as he saw fit. And so he did. He felt a deep sense of responsibility to not just maintain but also improve and strengthen his worth to the group. He rabidly devoured books on magical theory and tried to better understand the nature of his mind magic. He studied the nature of fire in relation to the other elements looking for a way to make his fires burn hotter. This fervor led to an interesting break through. Bjorn began to realize that the power of fire came from its heat. And the power of cold came from its lack of heat. He had a new fascination. He now considered himself a heat mage. When he burned his enemies he thought of it as giving them too much heat. And when he froze his enemies stiff he thought of it as robbing them of their heat. He felt he had transcended the ignorance of other elemental mages. He had met ice mages and fire mages. But he was something greater. And he savored every time one of these ignorant elemental mages were unfortunate enough to stand against him.
I chose to explain lvl 20 as the sweet spot. The other levels are perfectly playable as Bjorn keeps his manifester lvl scaling all the way until 17th lvl. This allows him to fulfill the role of blaster throughout his career. His powers from the energy mantle allow him to easily switch from one energy type to the next as needed so immunities are rarely a problem. However, Bjorn is a very complex character with many, many options in and out of combat. It would take a very long time to list out everything he can do at 5, 10 and 15. And I will barely have enough time to completely and accurately list out all the options he has at lvl 20 much less have time for explaining the other levels.

Level 20 Breakdown
Vision
Bjorn has touchsight power which is a very strong vision buff. It single handedly solves almost every vision problem.

Movement
a little weak in this department but he does have a normal land speed and a 20 ft fly speed average from his bound Astral Vambraces. They allow him to choose a power of the A list for astral constructs. He picks the fly speed.

Healing
Feiry discorporation allows him to have a chance to cheat death and Mend wounds can provide large amounts of healing to himself and/or allies.

Nuking Damage
Bjorn has many nuking options. They can all be augmented up to large amounts of d6’s. His manifester lvl is 17 at this point. He has a wall, line, cone, ray, a power that drops 3 10ft radius spreads, and a power that does fire damage to anything adjacent to him. The line, ray, and cone can be sonic, fire, cold, electricity, or acid damage. The others must be fire damage. His 2 primary elements (cold and fire) both add +1 damage per dice. Also, Psychic Focus with 5 essentia will add a +6 damage bonus to all these powers. This bonus damage applies to everyone hit by the power. Energy Manipulation can be used as an immediate action to add 5 dice of damage to any psionic or magical damaging effect. Essentially, If an anti-magic stops the effect and it does damage in terms of dice, then Energy manipulation can add or take away 5 dice. This power is especially powerful when used on Energy Barrage, as it causes 3 10ft radius bursts of 11d6+11 (11d6+17 if Psychic Focus is up) damage reflex DC 29 for half. These radiuses can be overlapped therefore this makes it one of his strongest offensive choices. It’s worth noting that it is very RISKY to use energy manipulation with his Energy Barrage IF he is planning on using his Fire Eater Combo discussed later, as it will greatly surpass his own fire resistance. Frostfell creature insight adds to damage and to hit of powers manifested versus cold subtype creatures as well as melee and ranged attacks.

Melee
Although weak In this category, Bjorn has a few tricks available. He can use incarnum radiance as a free action to gain a +5 to hit for 11 rounds. Combined with a magic weapon he rises from a pitiful attack to a +19 to hit in a pinch. He can use weapon afrost in conjuction with Energy Manipulation to grant +6d6 cold damage to his melee weapon. For flavor his weapon of choice is a everburning torch that burns with a blue flame used as a masterwork enchanted club. He generally tries to avoid having to try his luck in melee.

Skill Monkey
Bjorn is a knowledge Monkey. He can expend his psionic focus to give himself a +5 bonus to a knowledge check even if it is an untrained knowledge. If it fails he can spend a minute to cast Call to Mind for another save at a +5 bonus and expend his psionic focus again for another 5 again. Bjorn smiles nice and wide anytime the GM says, “Does anyone have Knowledge (X)?” He also has Psychometry which allows him to mine an area for information. His Mage’s Spectacles allow him to fabricate a good Decipher script, spellcraft, and use magic device when needed and it allows him to use these untrained. It is also worth noting that with ranks, ability mod, and synergy Bjorn has a +19 Autohypnosis check. Autohypnosis is a useful skill that does many different things. Bjorn also dabbles in alchemy but mostly as a means of studying the mundane side of heat.

Defense
Bjorn has high, high Hit Points. Also, Impulse boots gives Bjorn Uncanny Dodge and Evasion if needed. He has ER 10 Cold. He has the option of gaining high ER 40 fire. He can use energy adaption to gain ER 30 to another element if needed. Feiry Discorporation allows him a chance to cheat death. Cold adaption gives us a wonderful +4 more to our saves versus cold.
These kinds of defenses are nice considering his weak save is reflex. These defenses take all the risk away from having a low reflex. His fort is very nice due to his CON centric classes and his will is very, very good from the entire class base will save bumps and his WIS centric classes (+25 fort, +15 ref, +34 will with magic items).
Astral Vambraces also provides us with DR 2/magic which can be enhanced up to DR 12/magic if needed. Energy Manipulation can be augmented to an immediate action to reduce the damage of a damaging effect by 5 dice.

Combos:

Fire Eater
Flame Cincture+ Fire damage
Early on Cincture just acts as fire resistance but now at 20th it is bound to Bjorn’s waist chakra. Bjorn uses his expanded soulmeld capacity feat to give himself ER 40, however, all the fire damage Bjorn blocks with this ER in one round can be released as a devastating blast to one target within 60 ft as a swift action (reflex DC 28 for half).
Bjorn often tries to coax the enemy into providing the fire damage for this trick, but he is more than happy to provide the fire damage himself if his enemy is not capable of fire damage or is too prepared to fall for his trick. He loves to stand in his Psionic Firewalls, Arc his energy current fire damage back to himself as a secondary target, and/or drop all 3 blasts from his energy barrage on himself, charring everything in a 10 foot radius and ramping up his stored Cincture damage. Standing in a firewall and laying all blasts from Energy Barrage on himself gives him 78 to 157 stored fire damage in his flame cincture ready for use as a swift action next round as well as a large amount of fire damage for anyone moderately near him. Energy Manipulation can add in a good bit more if tacked on to Fire Wall. Possibly the best part about this combo is its potential for synergy with allies. Any ally capable of doing fire damage can feed Bjorn’s Flame Cincture. An example would be a Swordsage member of the Ruby Shell Knights using Wyrm’s Flame to simultaneously immolate his enemies while fueling Bjorn’s Flame Cincture.

Cloak of the Fire Dragon
Mantle of Flames+ Energy Emanation
This combo can provide a severe deterrent to melee’s without fire immunity or high resistance. If overwhelmed with melee’s, Bjorn can put 5 essentia into Mantle of flames. This equates to a flame shield like effect that does 6d6 fire each time a non-reach weapon hits Bjorn. Meanwhile Energy Emanation will do 5d6+5 fire damage to creatures adjacent to Bjorn every round (5d6+11 damage if Psychic Focus has 5 essentia in it). Energy Manipulation can make this combo even more deadly by adding 5d6 damage to Energy emanation bringing the damage up to 10d6+10 fire (10d6+16 if Psychic Focus has 5 essentia in it). Fire wall can be tacked onto this combo as well if formed into a small ring emanating inward. A fully enhanced firewall will do 6d6+12 fire damage to creatures within 20 ft but outside 10 feet, 7d6+13 to creatures within 10 feet, and 7d6+30 fire damage to any creature who passes through the wall. This combo literally creates a circle of death around Bjorn within 2 rounds. Melee’s won’t live very long standing adjacent to and attacking Bjorn without some serious fire resistance or immunity.

Feed the mind, Fuel the Soul
Psionic Meditation + Psicarnum Infusion
By expending our psychic focus we can treat one of our soulmelds as if it was at maximum essentia. This is generally only usable once per combat early on because it takes a full round to refocus. Psionic meditation lets us refocus for only a move action.
This makes Psicarnum Infusion much more viable and allows us to recover our focus on any round where moving is not needed. This lets us bring more Soulmelds into play in combat.

Tactics

Vs Fire immunity
Relies on his defenses while cycling through elements until one is found that can cause damage.

Vs Cold Immunity
See Above (Fire Immunity)

Vs Melee
Cloak of the Fire Dragon Combo is a good start. But there close proximity to Bjorn sets them up perfectly for Flame Eater combo as well.

Vs Magic
Bjorn attempts to overwhelm with damage.

Vs magic/psionic immunity or high SR
(with souldmeld-magic transparency)
If it has a reasonable AC Bjorn will move action weapon afrost or frozen fist, then immediate action energy manipulation to add 5d6 to the damage of the ability. Then go in to melee. During these scenarios he will take more of a healing role to support allies. And go for the lucky shots for extra damage when no one needs healing.
(Without soulmeld-magic transparency)
Uses his Fire eater combo and nukes with Flame Cincture.

Appearance
Thanks to Soulmelds with blue fire and blue color schemes, and Cryokineticist giving us Icicle spiked hands and/or ice rimed weapons, Bjorn looks like a beast of cold (a ruse that he uses to mislead his enemies). He goes one step further and wears body paint to give his skin a light blue/silver sheen.

Why Cryomancer?
Bjorn originally went into cryomancer to better understand the other side. He had spent most of his career focusing on fire, but now he chose to delve deep into cold to balance out his understanding of heat. But his abilities from cryomancer help greatly as bait. They help to give him a cold mage like appearance. This serves to draw in fire damage from enemies. They see a man with blue bracers, fists of ice, a belt of blue fire, and a cloak of blue flames throwing around icy death and generally decide to burn the crap out of him.
This is definitely a mistake on their part.
Also energy manipulation can cause some of his cryokineticist abilities to become more valuable. Frozen fist becomes 1d6 blunt + 1d8+5d6 cold damage. Weapon afrost becomes 6d6 cold damage. Glacial Ray does becomes 1d12+5d6 cold damage. Bolt of cold becomes 8d6 cold damage.

Magic Items Used
Con, wis item
Con, wis book
Crystal mask of mind armor
Vest of resistance +5
Orange Prism Ioun Stone
Everburning Torch (Blue colored flame)

Magic Items Recommended
Torc of power preservation could be nice.
Amulet of Incarnum Shielding also useful
An Incarnum Focus would be a very good buy. Incarnum belt would add 5 more fire resistance and therefore lots of damage to the Fire Eater Combo.
Using Mages spectacles to gain UMD opens up scrolls, wands, staffs, and other similar magic items as possible purchases.
Other typical purchases will most likely help Bjorn as well.

Sources
Core Books
Frostburn
XPH
Complete Psionics
Magic of Incarnum
Races of Faerun (Background info and fluff choices)
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20060217a
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a
Sting and "The Police"

Amphetryon

2012-01-13, 07:36 PM

That's the last of them, folks. On your mark, get set, JUDGE!

Thurbane

2012-01-13, 07:44 PM

Old Man Winter - Human (Illuskan) Wilder 10/Cryokineticist 10
Calipso the Icicle - Pixie Wilder 6/Cryokineticist 10
The Antipode - Feytouched Paladin (Harmonious Knight) 3/Ardent 2/Cryokineticist 9/Pyrokineticist 6
SGACSPD - Dragonborn Human Fighter (Dungeoncrasher) 6/Ardent 4/Cyrokineticist 10
Bjorn Doragoniru - Human Ardent 3/Icarnate 3/Soul Manifester 9/Cyrokineticist 5

...took me a while to figure out SGACSPD's race! :smalltongue:

Hunter Killer

2012-01-13, 08:00 PM

I wish I would have been able to complete my entry before the deadline. I'll finish it up and post it anyway, but it's disappointing that I'll be out of the running.

TravelLog

2012-01-13, 08:29 PM

Old Man Winter:

Originality: You went with human (-.25), but at least it was a variant human who fit the SI quite well (+.25). You also ended up going with perhaps the most commonly seen “ice/snow” themed winter character in Old Man Winter (-.5), you also use Jotunbrud (-.5) which was used by other competitors. Wilder was also an expected entry (-.5). 1.5

Power: You chose powers that complimented your chosen combat style (+.5), and you have a huge grapple modifier (+.5). Other than that however, you can’t really do much (-.5). 3.5

Elegance: You have a long, and well written backstory that addresses your character’s choices (+.5), you lay out everything clearly, including ideal strategies, tips, tricks, and site your sources (+.5). You also address the question of “Why?” honestly and include a section on troubleshooting (+.5). 4.5

Use of Secret Ingredient: And here is where it looks like most people won’t do that well. I’m going to be a bit lenient on this one, but in the case of a grappler in particular, you might have been much better off with any (or even no) other class (-.5). That said, you use the fluff well, and I wasn’t expecting wonders with this SI (+.5). 3.0

Total: 12.5

Calipso the Icicle:

Originality: I was definitely not expecting a Pixie (+.5). Wilder however, was very much expected (-.5). What I was absolutely not expecting was a ranged combatant (+1.0). 4.0

Power: In perhaps one of the most unusual turn of events I’ve seen, using LA doesn’t actually hurt you very much here. Arguably, it is in fact better than your PrC. Small size and flight are always great, especially for a ranged combatant (+.5). As with Old Man Winter, you chose powers that compliment your style as well (+.5). Better than I was expecting for this PrC. 4.0

Elegance: While your build itself is pretty clean, you don’t have much in the way of backstory (-.25) and didn’t proofread everything (-.25). Other than that, standard fare. 2.5

Use of Secret Ingredient: Very little of your overall power comes from Cryokineticist other than Bone Chill, which doesn’t come online until level 20 (-1.0). Moreover, given your CG alignment, you don't technically qualify for the class, as it requires "Any Lawful" (-.5). Note this is not a full-point deduction as alignment issues with this sort of PrC (as opposed to Ur-Priest, where it is obvious) are debatable. On the whole, this build works despite rather than because of Cryokineticist. 1.5

Total: 12.0

The Antipode:

Originality: Like Old Man Winter, I was expecting someone to try the “Fire and Ice” route (-.5). I recommend the Robert Frost poem of the same name incidentally. That said, you went Paladin, which I was not at all expecting (+1.0), but then Ardent, which I was (-.5). I did very much like the Water Whip though, and I hadn’t seen it before (+.25). 3.25

Power: Imperious Command and Never Outnumbered will help the character out, and factoring in your Water Whip and Devotion feats, this character won’t be too bad (+.5). On the whole, this character is decidedly “meh” on the power scale. 3.5

Elegance: Like Calipso, you went a bit a light on backstory (-.25) and didn’t use all 10 levels (-.25). Your build is simple and you explain it well. I would have liked more, but it was good (+.5). The also showed dedication to the theme with Fire Devotion and Water Devotion (+.25). 3.25

Use of Secret Ingredient: Your build is more or less built around the idea of Fire and Ice, so you use the Cryokineticist relatively well despite it’s flaws, of which there are many (+.5). The end result is a balanced, thematic character. Well done. 3.5

Total: 13.5

The Smashing Good Architect of the Curb-Stomping Platinum Dragon:

Originality: You also went human (-.25), but unfortunately also forgot that to take Jotenbrud you need to be from Damara or Illusk, which is not addressed anywhere either in backstory or in build (-.5). That said, I was not expecting someone using Wall of Ice to help with Bull Rushes. Unfortunately, that was also the shtick of Old Lob (using Wall of Stone) in the Stonelord IC (-1.0). You also went Ardent (-.5). .75

Power: Despite the Originality problems, your character does more or less what it is meant to do: Bull Rush and hurt things (+.5). This is also probably the most damaging of the builds presented (+1.0). However, your character is not great outside his one shtick (-.5). 4.0

Elegance: You have the least background of any build presented (-.5). You do a fairly good job of explaining things (+.25), but that said, you don’t really cover much, presenting only 3 levels (-.5). 2.25

Use of Secret Ingredient: You make good use of a number of the Cryokineticists tricks (+.5), but the tricks used are compliments to your build, rather than its focus (-.5). 3.0

Total: 10.0

Bjorn Doragoniru

Originality: You too went Fire and Ice (-.5), but Incarnum was utterly unexpected (+1.0). You also have a number of very unique combos and can do things no other submitted build can (+.75). You also went human however (-.25), as well as Ardent (-.5) 3.5

Power: Bjorn is in my mind the most versatile of the builds presented (+1.0), has a large number of tricks up it’s sleeve, and has counters to boot (+.5). Great job on this one. 4.5

Elegance: You have a solid backstory (+.25), though it could have been longer, and you have numerous sections to fully address all concerns (+.5). Your progression continually strengthens the build as well (+.5). 4.25

Use of Secret Ingredient: Here’s where you lose points. This build doesn’t incorporate the full SI (-.5), and while your build supports Ardent, the SI itself was utterly vestigial and could have been better replaced by anything else (-1.0). 1.5

Total: 13.75

Calipso gets my Honorable Mention vote.

DeAnno

2012-01-13, 08:49 PM

I might judge later, but I'm surprised we didn't see any Psychic Warriors around, with their compensatory feat progression and decent low level powers.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-13, 09:03 PM

-.5 for super strict judging
+.5 for applying it unbiased and across the board
+1 for super speedy judging

4.0 Judge!!!!!!!!!!

BobVosh

2012-01-13, 09:19 PM

1 hour and 4 minutes from the first posted build to the complete judging. Impressive.

TravelLog

2012-01-13, 09:42 PM

-.5 for super strict judging
+.5 for applying it unbiased and across the board
+1 for super speedy judging

4.0 Judge!!!!!!!!!!

I try, my friends. I try.

Thurbane

2012-01-13, 10:13 PM

I'm going to chime in and say nice job with such expeditious judging. :smallsmile:

My "honorable mention" also goes to Calipso...

Rizban

2012-01-13, 11:17 PM

Old Man Winter - Human (Illuskan) Wilder 10/Cryokineticist 10
Calipso the Icicle - Pixie Wilder 6/Cryokineticist 10
The Antipode - Feytouched Paladin (Harmonious Knight) 3/Ardent 2/Cryokineticist 9/Pyrokineticist 5
SGACSPD - Dragonborn Human Fighter (Dungeoncrasher) 6/Ardent 4/Cyrokineticist 10
Bjorn Doragoniru - Human Ardent 3/Icarnate 3/Soul Manifester 9/Cyrokineticist 5

...took me a while to figure out SGACSPD's race! :smalltongue:On the Antipode, you missed a level of Pyrokineticist. Your count only adds up to 19.

Thurbane

2012-01-14, 12:18 AM

On the Antipode, you missed a level of Pyrokineticist. Your count only adds up to 19.
No, I think I covered all levels - antipode is Feytouched, an LA +1 race, hence only 19 class levels...
You are correct, build must assume LA buyoff.

The Gilded Duke

2012-01-14, 01:49 AM

The other build I was considering was a Cyrokineticist / WE Cyrokineticist, couldn't really figure out a way to make it work though. Although a Weapon Afrost, Weapon Afrost Whip of Frost could be fun.

Rizban

2012-01-14, 02:30 AM

No, I think I covered all levels - antipode is Feytouched, an LA +1 race, hence only 19 class levels...
You are correct, build must assume LA buyoff.

It's a bit hidden, but the build posted the explanation in the Ingredients list. Probably could have gone in a better spot though. I didn't notice it at first either.

{table]Level-Adjusted Races (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a)|Feytouched race(Note I did not take the optional LA level)[/table]

Note: This isn't my build. I got caught up in my birthday a few days ago and totally forgot about the contest. :smalltongue:

Edit:
The other build I was considering was a Cyrokineticist / WE Cyrokineticist, couldn't really figure out a way to make it work though. Although a Weapon Afrost, Weapon Afrost Whip of Frost could be fun.

Funny enough, the build I was talking above about mentions exactly that combination as an adaptation to the build.

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-14, 02:51 AM

From reading over my scores, I'm probably going to end up being the a-hole judge this time around. I did mention in my judging criteria that I would NOT be grading on a curve for Power and UotSI, and I tried to stick to that. That said, this was a VERY difficult ingredient, and I think everyone who competed brought something unique to the table.

In any case, here are my scores:

Old Man Winter

Originality:

I'm not really seeing anything new here. I won't penalize you because someone else happened to use Wilder, or Jotunbrud, but you didn't do anything particularly unique or unexpected here. +0

TOTAL: 3.0

Power:

A lot of power for this build relies on grapple. Unfortunately, grappling is not a strong enough tactic on its own to work here. Furthermore, you don't actually qualify for the Improved Grapple feat (lacking Improved Unarmed Strike or Dex 13), and your Gloves of Titan's Grip have limited uses per day, which means that your grapple check potentially drops to +35 - less than many enemies you'll face at CR 20. Finally, even if you successfully grapple, your damage in a grapple is far below par. You also don't have many effective abilities to fall back on if the grapple fails. -1.5

On the upside, your power renewal trick is solid, and the Charisma synergy of your character does help. However, it's a bit of a one trick pony and will have a lot of trouble outside all but the most ideal circumstances. +.5

TOTAL: 2.0

Elegance:

The build matches the fluff, which is always nice. The dispel psionics/grappler combination isn't perfect (and hence didn't net you much in power), but it does flow well, so bonus to you there. I'm also tossing in an extra quarter point because you used Jotunbrud in a way that actually makes sense flavor-wise, instead of just tossing it on for an extra grapple bonus with no explanation. +.75

On the other hand, you failed to qualify for one of your key feats. Also, your build is both contingent on being in an incredibly remote location, and also relies on specific items to stay relevant. That combination strikes me as inelegant, so I'm knocking off another half-point. -1

TOTAL: 2.75

Use of the Secret Ingredient:

You take all 10 levels. However, the only ability you actively use is Frozen Fist to add some extra damage in grapples, and there are many more effective ways of doing this. Most of the other abilities are afterthoughts more than anything else, and you enter the class so late that the abilities become marginalized as a result. Unfortunately, I fail to see how Cryokineticist really gets used at all. -1.5

TOTAL: 1.5

FINAL TALLY: 9.25

Calipso the Icicle

Originality:

Pixie was unexpected, as was the focus on the footbow. Everything else was pretty much standard, but I'll add in a bonus of +.5 for those two.

TOTAL: 3.5

Power:

You do go to some lengths to max out the DC on your save-or-die, and the pixie brings with it some natural power that exceeds what you could have otherwise gotten from most levels. Although flight and invisibility wane in usefulness at the high levels, they will certainly help you considerably in the early to mid levels. +.5

I'm not going to give you any points for the elvencraft bow/weapon afrost ability, though, because I don't believe it works (see my critique in the elegance section). You rely on Quicken Power, Psionic Shot and Fell Shot to keep your damage up, but don't have any easy way of regaining focus without wasting actions. You don't have the strength to make decent use of a footbow. You have no way of dealing with cold resistance. -1

TOTAL: 2.5

Elegance:

Your listed strategy of using Weapon Afrost on the elvencraft bow is not only a bit cheesy (even if underpowered), it also doesn't really work. RotW explicitly calls out that enhancements to the ranged aspect and the melee aspect of the elvencraft bow must be handled separately.

Magical enhancements to an elvencraft bow only affect its
use as a bow. Enhancements to the melee capabilities of the
weapon must be added separately.

You also take ability focus for an ability that you do not yet have. I suppose that technically it's not spelled out that you need to have the ability to take AF, but I doubt that would fly at most tables. -1

On the other hand, like the previous build, ability synergy and a clean, straightforward build puts you up a half point. +.5

TOTAL: 2.5

Use of the Secret Ingredient:

Like the previous build, you delay taking the secret ingredient until ECL 11, and at that point many of its abilities are marginalized. This is even worse for you, because a lot of your build relies on an ability that you will not pick up until ECL 20.

You do take all ten levels, and you actually do attempt to use some of the ranged elements of the build, in addition to Bone Chill. Ordinarily this would merit you some points. However, you failed to qualify for the build, due to alignment issues. As a result, I'm forced to give you bottom marks here.

TOTAL: 1

FINAL TALLY: 9.5

The Antipode

Originality:

I expected neither Feytouched nor Paladin, but they both work here, as does Harmonious Knight. Kudos to you. I also didn't expect Pyrokineticist, not because it doesn't work with the build, but because it requires a Chaotic alignment. The Ordered Chaos feat was a nice find for this. +1

Ardent was an expect entry class, thanks to how multiclass-friendly it is, but I'm not going to penalize you too heavily for that, since there are a limited number of entry classes for this SI. -.25

TOTAL: 3.75

Power:

You've got some solid defensive abilities, and you attempt to show some signs of versatility - I like that. Playing Fire and Ice off each other works fairly well in combat, as there are almost no monsters that have resistance/immunity to both. +.5

However, your power points remain so low that you will burn through them almost immediately, and you have no real tricks to refresh them. Your abilities also do not scale effectively with level. You take them fairly early, so you will have a lot of options early in the game, but by the end, you will be very limited. -.5

TOTAL: 3.0

Elegance:

You play the fire/water theme very well, tying the principles of law and chaos into it as well. Your build reflects your character to a T. +1

That said, there are a couple of rules issues. First off, let's start with the "standard chicanery to stretch Ardent", where you use Practiced Manifester to get second level powers with your first level of Ardent. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. At first level, an Ardent can only choose first level powers:

An ardent begins play knowing two of the first powers available to her based on her mantles. Each mantle features at least one power or ability with a cost of 1 power point. An ardent selects two of these powers from her two known mantles at 1st level.

Emphasis mine. When you take your first level of Ardent, you MUST select first level powers, with a cost of 1 power point.

Also, by a strict reading, Ordered Chaos only applies to feats and spells. As a DM, I would certainly allow it to work here, but not every DM would. As it is pretty key to your build, I feel like that merits another half point deduction. -1

TOTAL: 3.0

Use of the Secret Ingredient:

You do lose some points for not building off of all its abilities and not sticking through all ten levels. -.5

That being said, what you did use worked very well. You entered the class early enough that its abilities stayed relevant, and you made a compelling case for the Cryokineticist being a vital part of your build. That's no mean feat, considering the ingredient. +1

TOTAL: 3.5

FINAL TALLY: 12.75

SGACSPD

Originality:

Dungeoncrasher definitely came as a surprise to me! I know that in general, there's nothing new about it, but I didn't expect to see it here. I was hoping someone would find a clever way to use the at-will Wall of Ice ability, and you did. +1

Ardent was the number one expected entry, though, due to its multiclass friendliness. -.25

TOTAL: 3.75

Power:

You do a pretty decent job of smashing things, I'll give you that. You're not the most tricked out dungeoncrasher, but you're not bad. +.5

But what do you do when bull rushing isn't appropriate? You don't really have any alternative abilities to fall back on. If you're going to have only one trick, it had better be a really good trick - and dealing moderate damage while bull rushing just doesn't quite cut it. -1

TOTAL: 2.5

Elegance:

I have a problem with Mantle Substitution - namely, it is explicitly DM-dependent. OK, sure, everything in this game is DM-dependent. However, just assuming that you will be able to cherry-pick whatever powers you want sounds about as legitimate to me as assuming that wizards can research cleric spells to add to their spell list. After all, there are rules for both available. It's not unreasonable to add Expansion to the Conflict mantle or Energy Emanation to the Elements mantle, so I'm not going to dock you too hard for this, but its use does bother me, and I think it merits a half-point deduction. -.5

On the upside, your build flows better level-by-level than just about any other build here. It sputters out a bit toward the end, but I think it deserves a bonus. +.5

TOTAL: 3.0

Use of the Secret Ingredient:

Very nice use of the Wall of Ice, one of the few truly unique abilities the Cryokineticist has. And instead of awkwardly trying to leverage the Frozen Fist into a powerful ability on its own, you found a decent secondary use for it - allowing you to threaten adjacent enemies when using a reach weapon. It's not mind-blowing, and you could do the same with armor spikes or a natural weapon, but I liked it anyhow, so I'm adding a quarter point for it. +.75

That said, you left several of the Cryokineticist's abilities untouched. You mentioned using Bone Chill as a damaging attack, but as you also mentioned, your Charisma isn't good enough to expect anyone to fail their save, and it doesn't deal enough damage on a failed save to actually be useful. It seems like other than Weapon Afrost, Frozen Fist and Wall of Ice, the abilities were just sort of shoehorned in. -.5

TOTAL: 3.25

FINAL TALLY: 12.5

Bjorn Doragoniru

Originality:

I was hoping someone would use some Incarnum! In general, it works very well alongside psionics, and I was happy to see its inclusion here. +.5

Again, I expected a lot of Ardent entries, especially with the Fire mantle, so you'll see a slight deduction there. -.25

TOTAL: 3.25

Power:

No question here. With ML 17 on an Ardent and decent meldshaping, you've got a decent number of options (and again, the fire/ice dichotomy isn't bad). That alone merits you a full point. You also have out of combat options that are more than the standard "put a few ranks in Intimidate or Diplomacy, hope for the best." +1.5

My closest thing to a complaint here is that you don't have any one thing that you're particularly good at. If your goal is to be a blaster, you're a bit low on PP (and you don't have a built in recovery-method), and you could probably stand to pick up a few metapsionic feats. If you want to be a better meldshaper, it's tough to see you not take that last level of Soul Manifester for psionic distillation. But I'm not sure that it's enough to merit a deduction, so I'm going to err on the side of caution here and leave it as is.

TOTAL: 4.5

Elegance:

I didn't spot any questionable rules interpretations or similar concerns when reviewing your build. Like most theurge-style character, you have some hiccups in the mid-levels, but you do OK covering them. Your build didn't blind me with its beauty, but it's a good solid ardent/incarnate theurge, and I like it. I'm keeping things even here.

TOTAL: 3.0

Use of the Secret Ingredient:

Sorry, but you had to see this one coming. You don't take a single level in Cryokineticist until ECL 16, and you only take five levels total. You completely miss out on its only unique abilities, and the ones you do get could have easily been reproduced by powers or soulmelds that you already have. You don't even really try to justify its use here, and it makes an otherwise fine build feel awkward. So yeah, if the secret ingredient makes you actively worse at what your build is trying to accomplish, I can't help but give that a hefty deduction. -2

TOTAL: 1.0

FINAL TALLY: 11.25

My vote for honorable mention goes to SGACSPD.

Thurbane

2012-01-14, 03:04 AM

Huh, would you believe I have never noticed Dex 13+ as a req for Improved Grapple before? :smallredface:

cd4

2012-01-14, 09:39 AM

Like the previous Competetion I have gone through and worked out as much as I can about the alignment of the characters and will probably keep on doing it. Here is the table of alignments:

{table]Character|Given|Mechanics
Old Man Winter|LN|LG, LN, LE
Calipso|CG|LNG (Lawful and Neutral Good)
The Antipode|LG|LG
SGACSPD|None|LG, LN, LE, story says LG
Bjorn Doragoniru|LN|LN[/table]

Though the trouble with Calipso made me look again at pixie and realised my half-fiend pixie that I am creating has a few problems with alignment.

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-14, 11:13 AM

My main idea for entry was to use Lurk to enter the class, and use Up the Walls and Battle Jump to run up the Walls of Ice and jump off, dealing double ability damage via Mental Assault. I also planned on adding on Ranged Lurk Augment so I could use Mental Assault on my Glacial Ray, too.

But those were the only two tricks that really had ANYTHING to do with Cryokineticist, and they were iffy at best. Energy Emanation being a second level power, and the lurk's delayed power progression, meant I had to wait way too long to enter Cryokineticst, the build was MAD as all heck, and even its signature trick just didn't work a lot of the time. So I abandoned it...

I also considered a PsyWar zen archer entry, mostly focusing on the ranged elements, and using Peerless Archer to apply a Power Attack-like effect to Glacial Ray. But there were way better ways to pull that off than Cryokineticist, and Peerless Archer would require a lot of updating to bring it up to 3.5.

Amphetryon

2012-01-14, 12:10 PM

Not to worry, folks. The next SI will have more meat than this one. :smallwink:

Venger

2012-01-14, 01:05 PM

Not to worry, folks. The next SI will have more meat than this one. :smallwink:

ah ha! your pun makes me think acolyte of the skin. I hope I'm right.

dextercorvia

2012-01-14, 01:06 PM

The only thing I managed was to find a way around cold immunity/resistance with Weapon Afrost.

Standstill states that the DC is equal to the damage roll, not the damage that would have been dealt, so it ignores DR and immunity.

I was trying to put that into a BFC melee build, maybe using Knight, Unseelie Fey (Winter's Chill), Half-Giant (Stomp), Paladin of Tyranny (Aura of Terror), Polar Chill, Stench of the Dead and a couple of other things. I was having trouble fitting it all in with 4 levels of PsyWarrior, Wilder, or War Mind, in order to get the prereqs for Cryokineticist. I had an almost workable idea a week and a half ago, and then work kicked in to full gear.

Hunter Killer

2012-01-14, 01:15 PM

I found a way to use almost everything that Cryokineticist gave me, but I'm sure that it would have been stronger with something else and it didn't really have a "Lord of Winter" feel. That, and I had no time to complete it (Damn this class... I trashed a dozen builds before this one!)

This was my build minus the fluff, tactics, and equipment advice. I'll write up a highlights reel if anyone is interested, but other than that I'm just about ready to wash my hands of this frozen turd:

Hexad, the Six Fists of Frozen Fury...

Hexad, the Six Fists of Frozen Fury...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/Xeven/octoman-1.jpg

Lawful Evil Male Amphibious Anthropomorphic Giant Octopus
Athropomorphic Giant Octopus, Savage Species -- Page 216; Amphibious Creature, Stormwrack -- Page 135
Base Scores on 32 Point Buy -- 12, 16, 12, 12, 16, 8
After Racial and Template Adjustments -- 14, 20, 10, 12, 20, 4
Int at 4th [13], Int at 8th [14], Int at 12th [15], Str at 16th [15], Str at 20th [16]

Alternate Class Features:
Sleeping Tiger Monk, Unearthed Arcana -- Page 52; Invisible Fist, Exemplars of Evil -- Page 21
Hit-and-Run Tactics Fighter, Drow of the Underdark -- Page 58; Dungeon Crasher Fighter, Dungeonscape -- Page 10

{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Monster Hit Dice|
+1|
+0|
+2|
+2|Hide 4, Knowledge (Local) 4, Knowledge (Psionics) 4|Educated|Constrict (2d8+6), Improved Grab, Tentacle Attacks x 6, Bite Attack x 1, Amphibious, Swim 10ft

2nd|Monster Hit Dice|
+2|
+0|
+3|
+3|Hide +1 (5), Knowledge (Local) +1 (5), Knowledge (Psionics) +1 (5)||

3rd|Sleeping Tiger Monk|
+2|
+2|
+5|
+5|Concentration 3, Hide +1 (6), Knowledge (Psionics) +1 (6)|Darkstalker, Weapon Finesse (Bonus Feat)|Bonus Feat, Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike (1d6), Skill Bonus (Hide)

4th|Sleeping Tiger Monk|
+3|
+3|
+6|
+6|Concentration +1 (4), Hide +1 (7), Knowledge (Psionics) +1 (7), Knowledge (History) 2|Improved Initiative (Bonus Feat)|Bonus Feat, Invisible Fist

5th|Fighter|
+4|
+5|
+6|
+6|Hide +1 (8), Knowledge (Psionics) +1 (8)|Multidexterity (Bonus Feat)|Bonus Feat, Hit-and-Run Tactics

6th|Fighter|
+5|
+6|
+6|
+6|Hide +1 (9), Craft (Alchemy) 1|Wild Talent|Dungeon Crasher Fighter (4d6)

7th|War Mind|
+6/+1|
+8|
+8|
+6|Concentration +1 (5), Hide +1 (10)||Chain of Personal Superiority +2

8th|War Mind|
+7/+2|
+9|
+9|
+6|Concentration +2 (7), Hide +1 (11)||Chain of Defense Posture +2

9th|War Mind|
+8/+3|
+9|
+9|
+7|Autohypnosis 1, Concentration +1 (8), Hide +1 (12)|Multiweapoon Fighting|Enduring Body (DR 1/-)

10th|War Mind|
+9/+4|
+10|
+10|
+7|Autohypnosis +2 (3), Hide +1 (13)||

11th|War Mind|
+10/+5|
+10|
+10|
+7|Autohypnosis +2 (5), Hide +1 (14)||Sweeping Strike

12th|Cryokineticist|
+10/+5|
+12|
+12|
+7|Autohypnosis +.5 (5.5), Concentration +1 (9), Hide +1 (15)|Improved Multiweapon Fighting|Glacial Ray

13th|Cryokineticist|
+11/+6/+1|
+13|
+13|
+7|Autohypnosis +.5 (6), Concentration +1 (10), Hide +1 (16)||Cold Adaption, Frozen Fist

14th|Cryokineticist|
+12/+7/+2|
+13|
+13|
+8|Autohypnosis +.5 (6.5), Concentration +1 (11), Hide +1 (17)||Bolt of Cold

15th|Cryokineticist|
+13/+8/+3|
+14|
+14|
+8|Autohypnosis +.5 (7), Concentration +1 (12), Hide +1 (18)|Multiattack|Weapon Afrost

16th|Cryokineticist|
+13/+8/+3|
+14|
+14|
+8|Autohypnosis +.5 (7.5), Concentration +1 (13), Hide +1 (19)||Frostfell Creature Insight

17th|Cryokineticist|
+14/+9/+4|
+15|
+15|
+9|Autohypnosis +.5 (8), Concentration +1 (14), Hide +1 (20)||Cold Walk

18th|Cryokineticist|
+15/+10/+5|
+15|
+15|
+9|Autohypnosis +.5 (8.5), Concentration +1 (15), Hide +1 (21)|Multitasking|Fear No Cold

19th|Cryokineticist|
+16/+11/+6/+1|
+16|
+16|
+9|Autohypnosis +.5 (9), Concentration +1 (16), Hide +1 (22)||Greater Weapon Afrost

20th|Cryokineticist|
+16/+11/+6/+1|
+16|
+16|
+10|Concentration +2 (18), Hide +1 (23)||Wall of Ice
[/table]

Highlights Reel...

Full Attack at 20th with Light Weapons and Flurry of Blows:
(Without Dex modifier added; That's +5 without any enhancement gear)
+12/+12/+12/+12/+12/+12/+12/+7/+7/+7/+7/+7/+7/+2/-3

That's 15 attacks. With the Sweeping Strike ability from War Mind, we also can attempt those attacks on an opponent in an adjacent square. That's 30 attacks in one round. This is my favorite trick, and comes online at 12th level.

Multitasking allows for even more shenanigans. The abilities Glacial Ray and Bolt of Ice can be used three times in a round instead of just once. That actually makes them somewhat useful as backup ranged attacks. (1d6 x 3 @ 15ft for Glacial Ray, 3d6 x 3 @ 60ft for Bolt of Ice).

Improved Initiative (+4), Hit-and-Run Tactics (+2), and Base Dex (+5) give us +11 to Initiative, meaning we normally go first. With Invisible Fist, Darkstalker, and high Hide we can get hidden easily and attack opponents from hidding (Flatfooted FTW!). This works wonders with the Multitasking trick above.

Dungeon Crasher can be used with Wall of Ice to start a combat, if we want. Beyond that I don't see it as a useful strategy round after round, but it's a cool tactical option.

Also, the character has 22 AC from his very first level in Monk onward (+5 Dex, +5 Wis, +2 Natural Armor). Dex gear would be very, very good for him because it would augment To-Hit, AC, and Damage.

flabort

2012-01-14, 03:49 PM

I'd figured I only needed 3 levels of psion, and some skill points to qualify. Skill points wise, I could not come up with any ways to break the ranks cap (Now I realize, maybe factotum? I can't remember if it does), so the minimum level I could have entered was 6th, so I needed two more levels of something.

Couldn't find anything to fit that 'something', so I got hung up on it, and couldn't complete my build.

In fact, what you see here was ALL I had. I hadn't even settled on race. :smallredface: I thought there was a feat, maybe, that let me advance past the maximum skill ranks, but... the feats I found only gave a bonus to skill checks, or extra points to apply 'normally', meaning it couldn't break the cap. :smallannoyed:

The Gilded Duke

2012-01-14, 03:53 PM

Two feats would let you get in a level early, but I didn't think it was worth it.

FyreByrd

2012-01-14, 03:53 PM

Mine was a wonderful mix of Psyhic Warrior, incarnum and tome of battle, making a solid melee fighter with a few interesting benefits.

Oh yeah it had a few levels of Cyrokineticist in there as well...but we don't like to talk about them!

EDIT: forgot the Psy War(duh)

TheGeckoKing

2012-01-14, 03:56 PM

If I entered, I was basically going to try and abuse Ardent, Kalashtar, Overchannel and Practiced Manifester to ignore the horrible things the PrC did to my ML, but I quit because one, i'd still have a pittance of PP, and two, i'd effectively be treating the PrC as that horrible blight on my nice Ardent and thought that defeated the point of the challenge.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-14, 09:10 PM

I thought there was supposed to be tons of judges lining up for this one.

Amphetryon

2012-01-14, 09:13 PM

I thought there was supposed to be tons of judges lining up for this one.

It's a little early to start complaining that the judges haven't all posted scores, don't you think? Especially given how quickly Travellog and Piggy Knowles got their scores up.

Hunter Killer

2012-01-14, 09:26 PM

I know that I'm not in the running, but could I get the judges to critique the build I posted anyway? I really want to know what anyone things of it.

@Flabort: I ran into the same issue when I was trying to make something work with Arcane Class X / Psionic Class X / Divine Crusader 5 / Arcane Archer 2 / Cryo X

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-14, 09:45 PM

It's a little early to start complaining that the judges haven't all posted scores, don't you think? Especially given how quickly Travellog and Piggy Knowles got their scores up.

Didn't mean it as a complaint. Meant it as a question. Was just curious how many more judges were left to go, basically.

I didn't mean to rush anyone. In fact, I would prefer they didn't rush. The more time they spend the longer they have to get familiar with the builds.

Venger

2012-01-14, 10:43 PM

Judgings finished. I wanted to make sure I had enough time to thoroughly examine everyone's entry. there were certainly more things than I thought you could do with a cryokinetist present in today's contest.

tell me if my math is off, PM disputes through the chairman if applicable. this is my first time judging and I don't want to unfairly penalise anyone due to a mistake on my part.

(EDIT) I made some mistakes about how bjorn's meldshaping worked and how old man winter wanted to use frozen fist, these two characters have had their sections updated. sorry, ponies.

Calipso: 9.75

Originality: 3
-Due to the small pool, you are the only pixie in the contest this time around. however, there seems to be a pixie in every iron chef, so I call this one a wash with no points awarded nor deducted for originality. (+0)

Power: 2
-You make mention of Calipso being a "ranged attacker" and using "hit and run tactics" but I don't see where your damage is coming from in the mid levels with your weapons, or at the later levels for that matter. The damage from a small footbow, even accounting for your psionic shot (which is usable at the very most once every other round) isn't very high, and I don't understand why you sunk your feats into the fell shot chain. with the high racial bonus to dex you have, your to-hit will be through the roof, so making attacks as touch attacks isn't really necessary. also, why did you take EWP footbow? you dumped str, so are getting no particular utility out of that aspect. (-1)

Elegance: 1.75
-You take Ability Focus for Bone Chill, which you do not get until the next level (-0.5)
-You also try to use Weapon Afrost to a bow to put it on your arrows, which is against the rules, it only enhances melee capabilities of weapons, not ranged ones. While it would enhance your bow while it is being used as a quarterstaff, it would confer no special properties onto its arrows in bow form. (-0.5)
-Why do you want a belt of giant strength?
-A +0str footbow imposes a penalty to your attack rolls if you have a str below that threshold which you don't seem to address here (-0.25)

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
-Your use of the "bolt of cold" ability (which is a touch attack) again makes your fell shot redundant. there is no need to make a touch attack for this purpose and also, bolt of cold doesn't count as a weapon attack. (-0.5)
-You take all of the levels of cryokineticist and they definitely feel central to your build. (+0.5)
Overview: I feel that a raptoran may have served your character better due to the interest in ranged combat that you demonstrated, they would also give you more levels to play around with.

Overview
You probably could have made yourself stand out a little more without the pixie levels, and focusing more on cryokineticist than ranged damage dealing.

The Smashing Good Architect of the Curb-Stomping Platinum Dragon: 16.75

Originality: 4.5
-The challenge was to build a cryokineticist and you brought a shock trooper to the fight. I can't say I was even remotely expecting that. You were all over that (+1.5)
-

Power:3.5
-Trippers are good on their own, but you synergize their abilities with what's offered by cryokineticist to make both even stronger. Anything that's trippable and bullrushable is going to be tripped and bullrushed by you.(+0.5)

Elegance: 4.75
-You use dungeon crasher fighter and plan for the contingency of not having walls to slam your enemies into by making your own walls? That is the very definition of Elegance, good sir, well done. (+1)
-Your backstory is written in a fun, engaging style, I liked it a lot (+0.25)
-Max ranks in Craft (Icemasonry) is the classiest thing I've ever seen, especially seeing what you use it for. (+0.25)
-Using Practiced Manifester to get Energy Emanation due to Ardent basing its manifesting off of its effective manifester level instead of being flatly level dependent is a stroke of genius (+0.5)
-You do not qualify for Practiced Manifester due to a lack of any points in psicraft (-0.25)

Use of the Secret Ingredient:4
-cryokineticist 9 is vital to your primary trick of creating walls to slam your opponents into, it doesn't seem at all forced, but since it requires expending psionic focus, you probably can't create more than a couple of walls in any given combat without falling too far behind in the action economy (+1)

Overview:
Individually, bull rush, dungeon crashing, and wall of ice are mediocre at best and useless at worst. by combining the three of them, you were able to build quite a potent character. far greater than the sum of his parts, as they say. the idea of a school of fighting based around this technique entertains me to no end.

Old Man Winter 16

Originality:4
-Going Wilder for a psionic grappler instead of Psychic Warrior is a welcome change. when I caught "expansion" out of the corner of my eye while uncollapsing your spoiler tags, I though you were going psiwar. way to do something different. (+0.5)
-This is the first time that I've seen Jotunbrud play an important role in a character's backstory. well done (+0.5)

Power: 4.5
-The way you cover your low AC is inventive and goes a ways to compensating for one of your primary vulnerabilities when you are huge/gargantuan (depending on which point in your career you are manifesting expansion) (+0.5)
-I am a little confused as to why you took Power Attack. You don't take anything else in any chains starting with it, your BA is not especially high, especially at low levels, so the utility you would reap from it is somewhat minor. This feat could likely have been used for something better. (such as improved unarmed strike to make improved grapple better) (-0.5) (EDIT)upon closer inspection, you are more melee oriented than I originally thought, in which case, PA makes perfect sense for you, helping your damage scale (+0.25)
-I believe one of the combos you built you built in is to manifest energy emanation, grapple a foe, and hold them in the area of effect, which is clever given your elephantine check, but would be more effective with Improved Grapple. (+0.25)
-Quick Recovery is a very slick way of getting around Psychic Enervation, especially with Enervation Endurance which is keyed off of your wilder level rather than your overall ML, so while practiced manifested helps with your ML, it won't make you lose more PP. Since there's no listed DC, you'll be making a save against (10+ your HD/2 +cha mod) so the save will get higher as your cha gets better which is an interesting balancing effect (+0.5) You should be able to reliably wild surge pretty much whenever you want due to your good will saves, although you might consider investing more points in wisdom or a save boosting item since the save you'll have to resist will get really high as your cha goes up (DC 31 at level 20 with only a total +11 to your will save, it is only possible for you to outwit yourself on a natural 20
(EDIT) due to defensive precog and your suggestion of a resistance item, you have this largely taken care of

Elegance: 3.5
-You possess neither Improved Unarmed Strike nor a Dex of 13+, which are prerequisites for Improved Grapple (-0.5) but losing 4 to your enormous grapple check doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things since your mod is so high from other sources (thanks for the breakdown, it made it easy to read)
-You seem to be misinterpreting frozen fist slightly. You only ever get 1d8 bonus cold damage and then whatever the normal unarmed damage is depending on whether you've got expansion on or not. you also do not have improved unarmed strike, so you'd be dealing nonlethal damage with your punches, or taking the -4 penalty to swing lethally with a nonlethal weapon. In either event, you're not stuck with that for long before you get weapon afrost, which is more useful, so (-0) it was I who was interpreting frozen fist incorrectly. you are indeed treated as armed with it, so it does lethal damage, threatens, and damages foes in a grapple, in which case, (+0.25)
-Your backstory is very well written and fun to read. it puts a cool new spin on the escaped slave and rags to riches archetypes. You clearly put lots of effort into this, and it showed. (+0.5)
-You take cryokineticist's most insultingly bad feature, frostfell creature insight and use it in your backstory to beat up other yetis and become the king? damn, that's elegant (+0.25)

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 4
-Cryokineticist gives a lot of neat tricks and helps you with versatility . Rather than say you should use less levels of it (props on using all 10 levels) I think that your feats might be reconsidered to help synergise with your abilities a little more. It definitely doesn't feel tacked on, which is quite a feat. (+1)

Overview
A very clean, interesting build. Great backstory, and inventive use of grappling and psionics together.

Bjorn Doragoniru 12.5

Originality: 3.5
-Incarnate! I can't say I would ever have been expecting that as a way to get into this class. (+0.5)

Power 4
-Your "Fire Eater" Trick relies on your enemies throwing fire damage at you, which is leaving a fair amount up to chance. while your suggested technique of using firewalls or allies' fire spells/attacks to power up his belt, it only lasts for 1 round and has a range of 60 feet. if you are within 60 feet of an enemy and your ally with fire damage can reach you and fire attacks are a good option against your enemy, why doesn't your ally just blast the enemy with fire himself? (or you blast him yourself if you're using your powers as the source of fire damage) If flame cincture were able to retain a charge for more than 1 round, this combo would be quite potent, but as is, it doesn't add much over using some of your other capabilities (+0)
-the damage on cloak of the fire dragon is low without expending essentia into it, in addition to being one of the most commonly resisted/immune types of damage for monsters, the amount of effort completing this trick isn't worth the payoff (-0.25)it is easier for a meldshaper to reallocate essentia than I thought when I posted my original judging, and soul manifester allows you to juice up your psionic powers with essentia as the situation calls for, and you can deal fire or cold as the situation demands due to your psionic investment/energy emanation to make you very hard to get close to. it actually requires a much smaller investment of resources to keep meleers away, so (+0.25)
-feed the mind, fuel the soul suffers from the same problem. you said yourself that you can only do this maybe once a combat. given your capability for inflicting large quantities of HP damage, your resources are likely not best spent prebuffing in the middle of combat, especially since it requires expending your psionic focus. while it does improve versatility, you will likely be set due to the versatility built into the powers you selected with ardent (EDIT) I thought that meldshaping in the way you were suggesting took more actions than it actually did. reality does not reflect this, so your versatility and pull in the action economy is greater than I originally surmised. this is clever since you use psionic focus for a couple of things in your build (+0.25)
-your theurgic prc went a long way towards restoring lost manifester levels (though it's a shame it was at the cost of more of the SI) (+0.5)

Elegance 3.25
-You cited Sting and the police in your list of sources. this is hilarious
-I enjoyed your discussion of entropy and thermodynamics in your backstory and it was a somewhat different approach to a cold/fire build, which I was expecting to see in this challenge (+0.25)

Use of the Secret Ingredient 1.75
-You only took 5 levels of Cryokineticist and 9 of another prestige class. To use the iron chef analogy, the SI is more like a side dish in your meal rather than the focus. (-1)
-while technically your ardent's energy powers do give you the option of cold damage, you focus a lot more on fire damage in a challenge that was supposed to be about cryokineticist. ordinarily this wouldn't be such a big deal, but you built around things that only give you fire damage, like taking Open Greater Chakra to obtain the Flame Cincture, which takes you a pretty big step away from cryokineticist. (-0.25)

Overview
You depart in a somewhat significant way from cryokinetics in the mechanics of your build. your use of soulmelds is interesting, but goes somewhat beyond the spirit (pardon the pun) of the competition.

The Antipode 16.5

Originality 4
- truthfully, I was expecting a hot and cold entry (I was planning on trying out a pyro/cryo myself before I had to surrender to cryokineticist's difficulty of use) but I had no idea it could work so well in practice. I'm very impressed by the versatility and SADness that you achieved (+1)

Power 3.5
-I don't really understand why dex is your highest stat. while I understand you aren't focusing on manifestation, which is reasonable given you only have 2 ardent levels, but I thought you might be better suited making cha your highest stat since the saves for your pyro/cryo abilities are both keyed off it. (-0)
-whacking people with a weapon that's a frost and afire at the same time can deal some big damage at midlevels and it could easily drop a CR-appropriate foe if you could get off a full attack successfully after your prebuff rounds. (+0.5)

Elegance 4
-Ordered Chaos to count as both Lawful for Cryokineticist at the same time as counting as Chaotic for Pyrokineticist is a stroke of genius. (+0.5)
-you do not qualify for practiced manifester due to a lack of any ranks in psicraft (-0.25)
-you calculated your BA incorrectly, it is 14 by the time you are done, not 17. it's
1 paladin 1 1/
2 pal 2 2/
3 ard 1 2/
4 pal 3 3/
5 ard 2 4/
6 cry 4/ (you added 1)
7 pyro 1 4/
8 cry 2 5/
9 pyro 2 6/
10 cry 3 7/
11 pyro 3 8/
12 cry 4 9/
13 pyro 4 10/
14 cry 5 10/ (you added another 1)
15 pyro 5 10/
16 cry 6 11/
17 pyro 6 12/
18 cry 7 13/
19 cry 8 14/
20 cry 9 14 (you added another 1)

this doesn't greatly impact your battlefield strategy, it just means you don't get your 4th attack. (-0)

-taking water and fire devotion shows extreme commitment to the flavor of your build. I heartily approve. (+0.5)

-I like the synergy you create with psychic whip, water whip, and flame lash, it again shows real commitment to your concept (+0.25)

Use of the Secret Ingredient 5
- you take 9 levels of cryokineticist and have it fill in the gaps it leaves with pyrokineticist. while individually, each class begs the question "how do I deal with something highly resistant/immune to my elemental type?" you solve the problem by paradoxically introducing it again. creatures/enemies that are immune/significantly resistant to both fire and cold are quite rare, so I think you use what is normally one of cyrokineticist's biggest weaknesses as a strength, which screams full marks to me. (+2.0)

Overview
Great mingling of the fire and ice motif. They cover each other's backs really well and you show real commitment to the theme of the contest.

I know that I'm not in the running, but could I get the judges to critique the build I posted anyway? I really want to know what anyone things of it.

@Flabort: I ran into the same issue when I was trying to make something work with Arcane Class X / Psionic Class X / Divine Crusader 5 / Arcane Archer 2 / Cryo X

sure, I'd be happy to post a judging for your octopus guy, I'll do it tomorrow in a separate post. I can't wait to dive in! he looks like he's got all kinds of cool stuff going on.

HM for me goes to The Smashing Good Architect of the Curb-Stomping Platinum Dragon

kestrel404

2012-01-15, 06:32 AM

Wow, looking at the builds, now I really wish I'd finished my Monk/Ardent/Tashalatora-Cryokineticist build.

Zipding

2012-01-15, 11:35 AM

Venger, the Elegence section for SCACSPD should be 4.75 instead of 5.
3+1+0.25+0.25+0.5-0.25=4.75, not 5.
Don't worry, I had quite a few math errors when I judged last round.

Venger

2012-01-15, 04:43 PM

Venger, the Elegence section for SCACSPD should be 4.75 instead of 5.
3+1+0.25+0.25+0.5-0.25=4.75, not 5.
Don't worry, I had quite a few math errors when I judged last round.

thank you for your correction. I had originally had him at 5 and then examined his skills and saw he didn't have any ranks in psicraft, which made me sad since I really wanted to give him a perfect score in elegance, that's the source of the error. sorry, chef of SCACSPD!

gbprime

2012-01-15, 05:17 PM

I'm finishing my climb out of my flu-induced coma now. Judging will be complete 24 hours after I have a quorum of brain cells once again. :smallsigh:

OMG PONIES

2012-01-16, 10:58 AM

Sorry I've been MIA, Iron Chefs. It's been a bit of a hectic time, and unfortunately I had to prioritize my real life above my active games above Iron Chef. But I should be back with a vengeance! I was thinking of judging this round (since I was curious to see what others did with this unworkable SI), but it seems we already have a lot of volunteers, so we shall see. Instead, I will step back into my role as archivist, spreadsheet nerd, and table maker.

Tallies after Three Incredibly Quick Judges
{table=head]Entry|Medal/Place|Total|Average*
The Antipode|Gold|42.75|3.56
SGACSPD|Silver|39.25|3.27
Old Man Winter|Bronze|37.25|3.10
Bjorn Doragoniru|Fourth|36.75|3.06
Calipso|Fifth|31.25|2.6[/table]

I was very impressed by our unofficial entry Hexad, as it was the only one to think of qualifying for the manifesting requirement via a prestige class--and a previous round's Secret Ingredient at that!

*rounded to two decimal places

Hunter Killer

2012-01-16, 01:28 PM

I was very impressed by our unofficial entry Hexad, as it was the only one to think of qualifying for the manifesting requirement via a prestige class--and a previous round's Secret Ingredient at that!

Thanks, Ponies. You know, it's sad that I didn't complete it on time. It's probably my best work to date. I'm half tempted to complete the story and tactics sections even though I said I wanted to wash my hands of it...

My personal favorite this round was Old Man Winter. The builder addressed nearly everthing and had a kickass story. To bad he's in 3rd; I'm not super impessed with the current winner (No offense to whoever built it, but a VERY similar build was done in the Pyro IC).

Amphetryon

2012-01-16, 01:45 PM

Pro tip: When you include a parenthetical aside of "no offense to [person]", you're acknowledging you're probably coming off as offensive. I'd prefer to have negative commentary about a particular build in these contests confined to judges' scores and rationales, thanks.

Hunter Killer

2012-01-16, 01:52 PM

Fair enough. I apologize. It won't happen again.

Jeriah

2012-01-16, 03:41 PM

How many judges did we have?

Amphetryon

2012-01-16, 03:51 PM

How many judges did we have?

I think we had two more talk about it, but the only criteria for judging are access to the book (Frostburn, in this case), lack of a submitted entry, and willingness to take the time.

Venger

2012-01-16, 05:18 PM

I made some mistakes regarding bjorn's meldshaping and old man winter's general operations in my original judgings (apologies to both chefs) and have posted an update in my original judging post. I wanted to make sure and do it before the other judges post so no one has to wait on my account.

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-16, 05:36 PM

I was going to try to re-create 'Ice Man' from Marvel fame, using Skate and Ice Wall to make his iconic travel methodology. However, he had absolutely no offensive punch worth a damn, I kept looking for ways to use ice as a weapon, or at least graft some kind of telekenetic thrust to launch ice with, but all for naught.

Incidentally, how can the Antipode take Pyrokeneticist when he doesn't meet the Chaotic alignment requirement?

Piggy Knowles

2012-01-16, 05:38 PM

Incidentally, how can the Antipode take Pyrokeneticist when he doesn't meet the Chaotic alignment requirement?

Via the Ordered Chaos feat, from Fiendish Codex I.

Hunter Killer

2012-01-16, 06:04 PM

I love that feat. The class combinations it opens up are amazing. The interpretation is questionable, because I think RAI it's just supposed to be just Abyssal Heritor feats, but I allow it to be all encompassing in my games.

TroubleBrewing

2012-01-17, 11:17 AM

Venger

2012-01-17, 12:55 PM

Wish I'd gotten my internets hooked up in time, but the cable guy didn't show up until yesterday...

My build wasn't quite finished, but what I had was an Azurin Druidic Avenger 1/Cobra Strike Monk 3/Warblade 2/Fist of Zuoken 4/Cryokineticist 10.

I was having real trouble justifying Cryo levels, even going so far as to include in the backstory that he was so ashamed of his poor level choices that he gave up adventuring and became a bartender, only using his abilities to keep drinks cold.

unfortunately, the source backs you up since "NPC cryokineticists...bring their unique control of cold to warm or even hot environments, charging dearly for their cold-generating [sic] powers."

so the game's telling you to be an ice chest too.

dextercorvia

2012-01-17, 02:13 PM

BobVosh

2012-01-17, 04:17 PM

Awww, that kind of makes me want to make the guy from Outcast as cryokineticist. Just because of the scene on the airplane with the ice.

Feytalist

2012-01-18, 02:59 AM

unfortunately, the source backs you up since "NPC cryokineticists...bring their unique control of cold to warm or even hot environments, charging dearly for their cold-generating [sic] powers."

so the game's telling you to be an ice chest too.

This made me giggle.

I'm already looking forward to the next challenge.

Venger

2012-01-18, 04:45 PM

This made me giggle.

I'm already looking forward to the next challenge.

I'm glad it did :D

me too, can't wait to see what it is.

gbprime

2012-01-19, 12:17 AM

Flu recovered from, brain cells back online, and (more importantly to the lurkers on this board) judging completed. Scores and analysis as follows:

Old Man Winter - 14.0

Originality - 3.5 - Wilder or Ardent to qualify, no surprises there. I do like the giant theme though. (+0.5)

Power - 4.0 - There are few things the Cryokineticist lends itself to, but grappling is one of them. Huge size, maximized grapple, and energy damage make the best of a bad situation (+0.5). The Power Resistance and Dispel options are good additions as well. (+0.5)

Elegance - 3.75 - A ten level class followed by a ten level prestige class gets points for simplicity (+0.5), and the backstory ties everything together smoothly (+0.25).

Use of SI - 2.75 - All ten levels of the prestige class is expected, but it comes online a bit late (-0.5). Of the three required skills, Concentration has maximum ranks by level 20 (+0.25), Knowledge (psi) gets some love, but Craft (Alchemy) stays at the bare minimum (-0.25). You make good use of both Frozen Fist and Greater Weapon Afrost, which I consider kind of baseline for this category, so I'll give a bonus (+0.25) for having a high CHA to work the Bone Chill capstone power.

Calipso - 10.75

Originality - 4.0 - Not every day you see someone work in a +4 Level Adjustment, and the theme fits well (+1.0). Wilder is one of the expected entries though, so no adjustment there.

Power - 2.0 - A ranged attack build with a Tiny bow... you're basically doing energy damage and that's it (-1.0). Yes, you have the pixie invisibility, resistances, and powers going for you (+0.5), but that also means you can't start playing the build before level 5 and you're terminally weak when doing so (-0.5).

Elegance - 2.0 - Why does someone with Ranged Touch attacks need to spend 3 feats to upgrade their shooting to be a Ranged Touch Attack (-0.5)? And for that matter, why spend one of your 2nd level psi powers on Concealment when you have Improved Invisibility at will (-0.5)?

Use of SI - 2.75 - other than the reference to a Jack Frost motif, I can't see too much reason to take Cryokineticist. (But in this Iron Chef, I'm not deducting for that. Go figure.) All ten levels of the prestige class is expected, but it comes online a bit late (-0.5). You maximize the concentration skill (+0.25), apply a few extra ranks to Knowledge (Psi), and neglect Craft (Alchemy) (-0.25). You utilize Bolt of Cold and the weapon enhancements well, and I'm considering that kind of baseline for the Special Ingredient, so putting some extra love onto Bone Chill (Ability focus, high CHA stat) is worth a bonus (+0.5). However, since this character can fly, Cold Walk is a total waste (-0.25).

The Antipode - 12.75

Originality - 3.5 - Fire and ice, nice trick (+0.25), would have been worth more if you were the only one who did it. Harmonious Knight is also unexpected on any build that doesn't require bardly goodness (+0.25).

Power - 3.75 - Frozen Fist plus Hand Afire plus Greater Weapon Afrost is an interesting mix (+0.5), and you're throwing 6d6 fire damage touch attacks at will, making you a mini-warlock (+0.25).

Elegance - 2.75 - You take two devotion feats, but stop just short of taking Turn Undead as a Paladin to power them (-0.25). The build also seems to derive more power from Pyrokineticist than it does from the special ingredient (-0.25), but it blends the two nicely in concept (+0.25).

Use of SI - 2.75 - All ten levels of the special ingredient is expected, so that's a mild hit (-0.25). While the skill synergy between your two prestige classes is beautiful (+0.25), you neglect to maximize any of the prerequisite skills and once you qualify for the PrCs you never take another rank in Knowledge (Psi) (-0.25) or Craft (Alchemy) (-0.25) again. You utilize Frozen Fist and Greater Weapon Afrost well, so that's baseline for UoSI as far as I'm concerned, and I'll give a bonus for finding something excellent to do with Frostfell Creature Insight (all that fire damage) (+0.25).

SGACSPD - 10.75

Originality - 3.25 - Ardent to qualify, expected. Dungeoncrasher... not so expected (+0.25).

Power - 4.0 - Dungeoncrasher (+0.5) that can create walls (+0.5). Awesome.

Elegance - 1.25 - As a Dragonborn fighter with a 14 INT, you get 4 skill points per level, but Concentration is not a class skill for fighters, so as presented, your skill point expenditures (and thus your qualifying for Cryokineticist) are illegal (-2.0). Skill with making Ice sculptures is a classy touch, though. (+0.25)

Use of SI - 2.25 - All ten levels of the prestige class is expected, so no bonus or penalty there. You acquire the concentration skill illegally (penalty in previous category) and then fail to take another rank in it once qualified for the PrC (-0.25). Likewise you take the minimum ranks in Knowledge (Psi) and Craft (Alchemy) and do not develop them further (-0.5). You utilize
Greater Weapon Afrost and the Wall of Ice powers (and I'm giving good use of two powers as a baseline in judging this round), but the rest are not particularly developed in the build and thus warrants no bonus or penalty.

Bjorn Doragoniru - 12.0

Originality - 4.0 - Fire and ice, nice trick (+0.25), would have been worth more if you were the only one who did it. Ardent again, no bonus there. But an incarnum powered build, that's a pleasant surprise (+0.5). Extra bonus for making me discover the existance of the Soul Manifester PrC (+0.25).

Power - 3.75 - Bonus for blending both Psi and Incarnum to a high power level (+0.5) and being able to react to various immunities and resistances is important for a blaster type (+0.25)

Elegance - 2.5 - This build has good flow for a psi/incarnum mystic theurge (+0.5), right up until you interrrupt it for the Special ingredient (-0.5). The backstory likewise just kind of falls apart at that point (I love fire, fire, fire, fire, so I think I'll take a cold PrC now!), like he got tired of being awesome at what he does and decided to experiment with sucking at it instead (-0.5). Pyrokineticist would have been a great fit, but Cryo... is just a roleplaying facepalm.

Use of SI - 1.75 - All ten levels of the prestige class is expected, so penalty for only taking five (-0.5). Cryokineticist prerequisite skills are given some love after you qualify, and one of them (Concentration) is maxxed out (+0.25). But what in the bloody heck are you doing taking levels in Cryokineticist??? A 10th level in Soul Manifester followed by 4 more Ardent levels (or some other Psi PrC) would have been FAR more powerful. Penalty there (-1.0). You maybe get a little use out of Bolt of Cold and Frostfell Creature insight, maybe, so I'll be kind and not penalize you further.

And at the risk of giving my Honorable Mention nod to the build I scored the highest, I have to give it to Old Man Winter because his back story is just excellent.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-19, 01:11 AM

So far

Antipode= 55.5
Old Man Winter= 51.75
Mr. Acronym= 50
Bjorn= 49.50
Calipso= 42

Venger

2012-01-19, 01:54 AM

So far

Antipode= 55.5
Old Man Winter= 51.75
Mr. Acronym= 50
Bjorn= 49.50
Calipso= 42

just to make sure, you're using my updated judgings, right? I wouldn't want bjorn and old man winter to be shortchanged any points on my account.

Thurbane

2012-01-19, 02:33 AM

Cool. So how many judgings are left to come in?

TravelLog

2012-01-19, 02:42 AM

just to make sure, you're using my updated judgings, right? I wouldn't want bjorn and old man winter to be shortchanged any points on my account.

My judgings were also updated the day after I posted.

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-19, 02:57 AM

I added them all up just before I posted, so any changes should be included. But feel free to double check me.

Jeriah

2012-01-19, 03:20 AM

Double checked you. Your totals are correct based on what is posted now.

Venger

2012-01-19, 11:07 AM

I added them all up just before I posted, so any changes should be included. But feel free to double check me.

great, thank you

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-20, 12:17 AM

Cool. So how many judgings are left to come in?

I think that was everybody who said they were going to judge. But we still have 8 days. And as far as I understand it, anybody can just show up and judge as long as they aren't a contestant and as long as they have the Secret Ingredient source book. So maybe, hopefully, we might get another judge to pop in.

TravelLog

2012-01-20, 12:20 AM

Gotterdammerung

2012-01-20, 12:34 AM

Can I recommend Knight of the Sacred Seal for a future contest? I know it's five levels, but there's built in room for customization, and lot's of interesting stuff it can be used for.

Plus everyone is bone-tired from Cryo. :smallbiggrin:

When you are ready to be evil again you can do Great Rift Skyguard.

Edit: or ooo...ooo! CAVELORD! that is an aweful one muhauahua!

Venger

2012-01-20, 12:58 AM

When you are ready to be evil again you can do Great Rift Skyguard.

Edit: or ooo...ooo! CAVELORD! that is an aweful one muhauahua!

I kind of like cavelord. have there been any of the old faerun classes in an IC yet?

"more meat to it" could mean fleshwarper, which would be cool with me, but it's a little more powerful than the norm on these. OTOH, it is really difficult to qualify for (assuming amph doesn't just say that we need 4 ranks in heal as intended instead of 10) but I still think it's acoltye of the skin.

Feytalist

2012-01-20, 03:40 AM

I'm excited about Acolyte of the Skin as well.

A setting-based class might be a bit restrictive, especially as far as backstory is concerned. That and not everyone might have the relevant handbook. But if it ever comes up in the future, I'd want to see Gnome Artificer, from Magic of Faerun. Such a useless class, but with such a huge coolness factor :smallbiggrin:

Jeriah

2012-01-20, 03:58 AM

Second the Gnome Artificer.

Amphetryon

2012-01-20, 06:55 AM

I think that was everybody who said they were going to judge. But we still have 8 days. And as far as I understand it, anybody can just show up and judge as long as they aren't a contestant and as long as they have the Secret Ingredient source book. So maybe, hopefully, we might get another judge to pop in.

I have no problem calling the contest early (thanks to a bunch of super-quick judges!), but only if the contestants are okay with it AND there are no more interested judges. How would folks feel about shutting this one down cold :smallwink: 36 hours from this post? If that's not enough time for any remaining prospective judges, please speak up.

OMG PONIES

2012-01-20, 07:29 AM

I know I rumbled about judging, but that won't be necessary. Please, let's put this wretched ingredient behind us and go onto the next wretched ingredient.

Feytalist

2012-01-20, 08:13 AM

Sounds good to me, but then I'm not a contestant OR a judge :smalltongue:

gbprime

2012-01-20, 09:02 AM

Please, let's put this wretched ingredient behind us and go onto the next wretched ingredient.

Agreed.

I'm excited about Acolyte of the Skin as well.
And its quotes like that one that can ONLY exist in the demiplane that is Iron Chef. :smallamused:

TroubleBrewing

2012-01-20, 11:18 AM

I made some token noises about judging, but I just can't look this prestige class in the face any longer.

I think we can declare the winner of this challenge to be Amphetryon. :smalltongue:

The Gilded Duke

2012-01-20, 02:24 PM

Contestant here, I'm eager to move on to the next ingredient.

flabort

2012-01-20, 02:44 PM

Neither judge nor contestant, though I tried, and am willing for the next one, but also hoping someone judges the Dessert round IV, which is delayed until I get even a single judge, as the clause in the judging section states. If the next round (of the main competition) makes it to the judging period before I get a judge, though, I'll move on.:smallsigh:

Amphetryon

2012-01-20, 09:07 PM

To stir up discussion a bit, I'll let folks know that the next SI also existed in 3.0.

ShneekeyTheLost

2012-01-20, 09:18 PM

To stir up discussion a bit, I'll let folks know that the next SI also existed in 3.0.

Ooohhhh... Elemental Savant? That one stinks pretty high. Although I suppose if that happens, we'll see a few mailman-esque builds with Scorching/Blistering combos or using Piercing Cold/flashfrost going the other way.

Hunter Killer

2012-01-20, 10:12 PM

My guess is Duelist. It got worse from 3.0 to 3.5, and wasn't that great to begin with. It's not terrible in 3.5, but it is pretty boring and requires some crap feats to get into.

The Gilded Duke

2012-01-20, 10:55 PM

Wasn't Dragon Disciple in both? And dragons are made out of meat... *keeps hoping for dragon disciple*

Venger

2012-01-20, 10:59 PM

Ooohhhh... Elemental Savant? That one stinks pretty high. Although I suppose if that happens, we'll see a few mailman-esque builds with Scorching/Blistering combos or using Piercing Cold/flashfrost going the other way.
I don't think so, not right after another elemental based prc

My guess is Duelist. It got worse from 3.0 to 3.5, and wasn't that great to begin with. It's not terrible in 3.5, but it is pretty boring and requires some crap feats to get into.
well, while ICs are many things, they are not usually boring, so I don't think duelist. and I think Amph said it was from one of the completes, which duelist isn't.

To stir up discussion a bit, I'll let folks know that the next SI also existed in 3.0.
acolyte of the skin existed in 3.0! since they're alphabetical, it's the first one in tome and blood with a kickin' picture. hooray!