Help Optimizing a Special Forces Char? [3.5e, DreadCmdo, Sivak]

[Raenir Salazar]

Alrighty I think I've settled on a Dread Commando with Ftr and Rogue levels, my race is going to be a sivak draconian with its details and level progression detailed below in a post on this page, does anyone have any suggestions for optimizing it? It's for a dragonlance campaign and magic items will be sparse.

[Zonugal]

What about Ranger?

[Raenir Salazar]

Like I mean more specifically are there useful prestige classes for characters of a military background?

[eggs]

Dread Commando (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20050407b&page=6) seems appropriate. It's in Heroes of Battle.

But this also seems like something that's more in the character's fiction than build.

[Kuulvheysoon]

A slightly refluffed Nightsong Enforcer (CAdv) might be cool.

[Raenir Salazar]

Dread Commando (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20050407b&page=6) seems appropriate. It's in Heroes of Battle.

But this also seems like something that's more in the character's fiction than build.

Well clearly I want the build to match and enhance it as much as possible.

[gorfnab]

How about just using Factotum?

[Raenir Salazar]

What's Factoctum?

[Gavinfoxx]

It's a highly skillful class in Dungeonscape.

[Raenir Salazar]

DM says its a no go, too high tier.

[gorfnab]

DM says its a no go, too high tier.
Tier 3 is too high?

[Gavinfoxx]

Then use the Tier 4 version in Dragon Compendium Volume 1, which is the Savant.

[Raenir Salazar]

Found some homebrew stuff for Draconians:



Sivak
The sivak is the largest type of draconian created. Made from the un-hatched eggs of silver dragons, they are natural fighters and the only draconian that can actually fly, if poorly.

Racial Traits
Starting Ability Score Adjustments: +2 Str, +2 Con, -2 Wis. Sivak draconians are larger and physically strong as well as natural leaders. However, they have a tendency to bite off more than they can chew sometimes when they are younger.
Speed: Sivak land speed is 30 feet.
Dragon: Sivaks are immune to sleep and paralysis effects. They have low-light vision, as well as darkvision to 60ft. Draconians may take the Scent special quality as a feat at any time as one of their normal feat choices.
Draconian Traits: Sivaks are immune to all diseases, have a low metabolism (they need only 1/10th the food and water humans need to sustain themselves), and are Inspired by Dragons (Quoted from the Dragonlance Campaign Setting: "Draconians are drawn to evil dragons and revere them. When under the command of a dragon, draconians receive a +1 morale bonus on all attack rolls and saving throws.")
Automatic Languages: Common.
Favored Class: Sivak first, then Fighter.
Class Skills
The sivak's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), and Listen (Wis).

Class Features
All the following are class features of the sivak draconian monster class.

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Sivaks gain all simple and martial weapon proficiencies. They can also use light armor (to start) if they wish.

Feats: A sivak receives one feat at 1st level, and additional feats at 5th and 10th level. They also gain bonus Armor Proficiency feats at 3rd level (Medium) and 9th level (Heavy).

Bonus Feat (Run): At 2nd level, sivaks learn how to gallop like most draconians, gaining the equivalent of the Run feat.

Draconian Bonuses: Natural claw (2 claws, 1d4 + Str damage) and bite attacks (1d6 + 1/2 Str damage at -5 to hit). Sivaks often take the Multiattack feat. When sivaks reach Large size, their claw and bite damage increases by one die category (1d6 for claws, and 1d8 for bite).

Death Throes (Su): When a male sivak character reaches -10 hit points, its body transforms into a perfect copy of its humanoid killer. This death shape lasts for three days, then the body quickly decomposes into black soot. If the killer is larger than the sivak or non-humanoid in shape, it instead bursts into flame dealing 2d4 points of fire damage to all creatures within a 10 foot radius. A successful Reflex save (DC 17) negates this damage. Female sivaks always burst into flame when they die, as above. Resurrection and true resurrection will work on a dead male sivak before its body turns to soot, but after that (or if the body bursts into flame) only a miracle or wish can return the draconian to life.

Blend (females) (Su): Sivak females have the ability to blend in with their surroundings. This gives them a +10 bonus to Hide checks, and allows them to disguise self at will.

Shapeshift (males) (Su): A male sivak can assume the form of any Large or smaller humanoid that it has just killed. This is a standard action that must be performed within one round of killing the victim. Only appearance and vocal similarities are gained. This new form can be held for as long as the sivak wishes to, or until it assumes a new form.

Tail (Ex): At 4th level, the sivak has learned to use its tail as a weapon. Damage is 2d4 plus the sivak's Strength modifier. At 8th level the sivak can perform a trip attempt as a free action whenever its tail strikes successfully. If the attempt fails, the target cannot attempt to trip the sivak in return. This ability does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Glide (Ex): At 6th level, a sivak's wings mature enough to support his size and weight during falls (no damage). It also allows the character to glide horizontally four times the vertical distance it descends.

Large Size: At 6th level, sivaks reach large size. They gain the standard benefits and penalties for their new size, such as a -1 size penalty to AC and attack rolls, a -4 penalty to Hide checks, etc.

Spell Resistance (Su): At 7th level, sivaks gain spell resistance of 6 + its total class levels.

Fly (Ex): When a sivak reaches 9th level, its wings are large enough to support full flight. Flight speed is 60 feet, but they are awkward in the air with very little maneuverability (poor).



The Sivak
Level Hit Dice BAB Fort/Ref/Will Saves Skill Points CR Special
1 1d12 +1 +2/+2/+2 (6 + Int) x 5 1 Feat, +2 natural armor, death throes, draconian bonuses
2 1d12 +1 +2/+2/+2 - 1 +2 Con, bonus feat (Run)
3 2d12 +2 +3/+3/+3 6 + Int 2 Blend (females), shapeshift (males), Armor Proficiency (medium)
4 2d12 +2 +3/+3/+3 - 2 +2 Str, tail attack
5 3d12 +3 +3/+3/+3 6 + Int 3 +2 Wis, feat, +4 natural armor
6 3d12 +3 +3/+3/+3 - 3 Large size, glide (wings)
7 4d12 +4 +4/+4/+4 6 + Int 4 Spell resistance
8 4d12 +4 +4/+4/+4 - 4 +2 Str, trip attack (tail)
9 5d12 +5 +4/+4/+4 6 + Int 5 Fly (wings), Armor Proficiency (heavy)
10 6d12 +6/+1 +5/+5/+5 6 + Int 6 Feat



Any suggestions to optimize this for using a Dread Commando?

[Raenir Salazar]

Here's a Kapak which has been suggested might be more optimal.



Kapak
The kapak is one of the more numerous draconians created. Made from the un-hatched eggs of copper dragons, they are natural sneaks and assassins.

Racial Traits
Starting Ability Score Adjustments: +2 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Wis. Kapak draconians are slight of build yet tough with a natural cunning, yet their capacity to think for themselves is limited.
Speed: Kapak land speed is 30 feet.
Dragon: Kapaks are immune to sleep and paralysis effects. They have low-light vision, as well as darkvision to 60ft. Draconians may take the Scent special quality as a feat at any time as one of their normal feat choices.
Draconian Traits: Kapaks are immune to all diseases, have a low metabolism (they need only 1/10th the food and water humans need to sustain themselves), and are Inspired by Dragons (Quoted from the Dragonlance Campaign Setting: "Draconians are drawn to evil dragons and revere them. When under the command of a dragon, draconians receive a +1 morale bonus on all attack rolls and saving throws.")
Automatic Languages: Common.
Favored Class: Kapak first, then Rogue.
Class Skills
The kapak's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Hide (Dex), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Search (Int), and Spot (Wis).

Class Features
All the following are class features of the kapak draconian monster class.

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Kapak draconians gain proficiency with all simple weapons and the Martial Weapon Proficiencies in shortbow and shortsword. They also gain Armor Proficiency (light).

Feats: A kapak receives one feat at 1st level.

Bonus Feat (Run): At 3rd level, kapaks learn how to gallop like most draconians, gaining the equivalent of the Run feat.

Draconian Bonuses: Natural bite attack (1d4 + Str).

Death Throes (Su): When a kapak character reaches -10 hit points, its body dissolves into a 5-foot radius pool of acid. Creatures suffer 1d6 damage each round they remain in the pool. The acid evaporates in 1d6 rounds. This requires that the individual be resurrected by such spells as miracle, true resurrection, and wish if any attempt is even made to do so.

Skill Bonuses: At 1st level, kapaks gain a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks. At 3rd level, this increases to +8.

Kapak Saliva (males) (Su): At 2nd level, male kapaks start producing a paralytic poison which it can deliver with its bite attack or apply to a piercing or slashing weapon. (Fort DC 11 + Con modifier / initial 1d6 Dex, secondary 1d6 Dex). Applying it to a weapon is a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. The venom lasts 3 rounds on the weapon, or until it strikes someone, whichever comes first.

Kapak Saliva (females) (Su): At 2nd level, female kapaks start producing a saliva that cures wounds! Licking a wounded person heals 2d6 points of damage. This can be accomplished once per person per four hours. A bite attack does not confer any healing benefit from a female kapak.

Sneak Attack (Ex): At 2nd level, a kapak gains the ability to sneak attack (+1d6). This is identical to a rogue's sneak attack ability (see the Player's Handbook and stacks with similar abilities if later class abilities do the same thing.

Glide (Ex): At 4th level, a kapak's wings mature enough to support his size and weight during falls (no damage). It also allows the character to glide horizontally four times the vertical distance it descends.

Spell Resistance (Su): At 4th level, kapaks gain spell resistance of 7 + its total class levels.

[Raenir Salazar]

Woops forgot to add in the level chart:



1 1d12 +1 +2/+2/+2 (6 + Int) x 5 1 Feat, +1 natural armor, skill bonus (+4), draconian bonuses
2 1d12 +1 +2/+2/+2 - 2 Kapak saliva, sneak attack +1d6
3 2d12 +2 +3/+3/+3 6 + Int 3 +2 natural armor, bonus feat (Run), skill bonus (+8)
4 2d12 +2 +3/+3/+3 - 4 Glide (wings), spell resistance