Zinc Saucier XV: An epic struggle

[mattie_p]

This competition is closed, here were the final results:

{table=head]Place|Competitor|Name|Build|Score

1st|Humble Master|He Who Has No Name (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15573185&postcount=72)|Rogue 3/Psion 17|16.5

2nd|T.G. Oskar|Talia Ruarruil (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15573165&postcount=70)|Binder 11/Zhentarim Spy 4/Scion of Dantalion 5|16

3rd|Kuulvheysoon|Tam (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15573202&postcount=74)|Rogue 3/Urban Ranger 11/Cabinet Trickster 3/Shadowbane Stalker 3|15

3rd|Jeff the Green|Delda Visage (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15573211&postcount=75)|Factotum 8/Psion 1/Slayer 9/Zhentarim Spy 2|15

5th|Forrestfire|Face of Madness (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15573173&postcount=71)|Rogue 5/Spymaster 7/Warshaper Spy 1/Cabinet Trickster 5/Trapsmith 2|14

6th|Svata|The Burglar in Disguise (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15573194&postcount=73)|Psychic Rogue 14/Shadowmind 1/Spymaster 5|13

[/table]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome one and all to the fifteenth Zinc Saucier challenge, where Playgrounders come to test their skill in the art of beautiful and bizarre (and bizarrely beautiful) builds, summoning a savory dish of superb swordplay and sublime sorcery.

The challenge? To come up with a build that has the same abilities and feel as the Secret Ingredient WITHOUT actually using it!

For the fifteenth challenge put on your best disguise, from the Epic Level Handbook, it's the Epic Infiltrator! Note: This class is also available online at d20srd.org (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/prestigeClasses/epicInfiltrator.htm).

Our challengers will have about 2 weeks to build a complete build up to level 20 using a 32 point buy and all official WOTC D&D 3.5 materials (excluding dragon magazine, but including any WOTC online enhancements) with the abilities and feel of an Epic Infiltrator without actually using any levels in it.

Entries must be submitted by Saturday, 11:59pm GMT, 6 July, 2013 Sunday, 11:59pm GMT, 7 July, 2013. As usual, please submit your entries via private message to the chairman, so as not to influence the other sauciers.

Judges will then have until Saturday, 11:59pm GMT, 20 July, 2013, to post scores for all dishes.

Contestants will be judged and awarded a score out of 5 in each of 4 categories;

* Innovation (Uniqueness in character concept, race, class, etc)
* Power (How powerful and versatile it is compared to the base class)
* Elegance (What can only be described as how well the build "flows", i.e not using lots of 1-2lv dips, sacrificing flavour for power or using flaws)
* Ingredient (How well the build captures the abilities and feel of the base class)

Presentation would be best in the style of how the iron chef does their presentations, however any style is allowed so long as it is clear on how the build was made.

Recommended style:NAME OF ENTRY
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Copy and Paste:NAME OF ENTRY
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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). For other systems (Psionics, ToB, Incarnum, etc.) keep track of PP/maneuvers/essentia separately, preferably in a nice neat list, similar to this:
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Please do not post details of your build on the board before it is ready, so as not to spoil the surprise for others.

Sauciers may submit as many builds as they want but please don't use leadership, as we don't want to overfeed the judges.

Previous challenges;
Soulknife (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225187)
Bard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229736)
Monk (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233749)
Assassin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239294)
Barbarian (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243627)
Warlock (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247169)
Paladin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252932)
Warblade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256004)
Pyrokineticist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259654)
Ninja (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263278)
Druid (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265347)
True Necromancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276267)
Dervish (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280212)
Whisperknife (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285337)


This competition is inspired by the Playground Iron Chef Competitions and uses mostly identical rules.

Also it comes with double prize money.

Allez Sauciers!

[mattie_p]

A few administrative notes:

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.

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, may lose you points. Please note the following: 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.

Is Dragon Compendium Allowed? Yes, but individual issues of Dragon Magazine are not.

What about 3.0 materials? 3.0 materials, whether online or in printed form, are allowed unless they've been officially updated to a 3.5 edition.

Are Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, or Kingdoms of Kalamar allowable sources? The Dragonlance Campaign Setting is allowed, but the subsequent books for Dragonlance are considered 3rd party, and are therefore not eligible, despite the "WotC approved" status of those books. The same holds for Oriental Adventures (1st party) and the subsequent Rokugan books (3rd party). Materials from Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, and Kingdoms of Kalamar are considered 3rd party for purposes of this contest, and are therefore not allowed.

What about online sources in general? If the online source is a) published by WotC, and b) not replaced by an updated version at a later time, it is eligible. Use it, link it.

Where's the line drawn with "acceptable/unacceptable" for Unearthed Arcana? This will likely vary a bit from Chairman to Chairman. Item Familiars and Gestalt have always been verboten, since before IC migrated to GitP; don't expect that to change. Flaws have similarly always been noted as warranting a deduction; while I am Chairman, I'm extending that to Traits, though they warrant 1/2 the penalty in Elegance that a Flaw would because they're roughly 1/2 as useful. Alternate spell systems, alternate skill systems and alternate crafting rules all create an uneven playing field, and as such, will be disallowed for as long as I am Chairman. Bloodlines are ripe for abuse, and will be strongly discouraged as long as I am Chairman. Note that judges are allowed to look askance at any use of Unearthed Arcana not specifically mentioned above, at their discretion, and otherwise penalize Elegance according to their preference.

What, exactly, does the ban on Leadership mean? As folks have started to try to work around the edges of this one, I'm forced to spell it out more plainly. No Leadership, Draconic Cohort, or Feats that grant a similar ability are allowed EXCEPT Wild Cohort while I am chairman. Any PrC you choose with Leadership or a Leadership-analog has that ability entirely ignored for this contest, as it may neither be used nor traded away via any means whatsoever.

What's the minimum score in a category? Assuming an entry is legal, the minimum score in any category is 1. If a judge is convinced that an entry is illegal by the RAW, the judge may give a 0 or decline to score a given entry. Because this contest focuses on Player Characters, an entry that is not technically allowed for a PC, but is viable as an NPC, counts as a legal entry, but may receive a minimum score at the judges' discretion.

A thread for your amusement/edification:

Handy Tips for the Iron Chef in the Playground Noob (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287603)

Level adjustment buy-off (from Unearthed Arcana) is expressly permitted in this particular competion, because you are granted a set experience point total of 209,999 to use. What you do with it is up to you.

A Special Note for this particular competion: This ingredient is from the Epic Level Handbook. This competition only allows a build up to level 20. Judges should not require epic level pre-requisites in their judging, however, I know the playground. You can do this. Go forth and be a better Epic Infiltrator at level 20 than a Class X 21 / Epic Infiltrator 10.

[dysprosium]

Wow an epic prestige class.

I will definitely take a stab at this one.

Really I can't help it. I love these competitions too much.

[Kuulvheysoon]

I've got a hilariously bad idea for this.

Let's try to put in more than two hours' work into it this time, though, eh?

[Amidus Drexel]

Heh, I'm tempted to jump in on this one... I see a way to grab each of the class features, I think, but... how to get them all in the same build?

Count me in as a definite maybe. :smallamused:

[mattie_p]

Honestly I've been thinking of doing an epic class since I judged Iron Chef last round and saw a Dispassionate Watcher of Chronepsis. That class could be started within Iron Chef but not completed.

So why not grab a prestige class completely out of the reach of Iron Chef, yet has features that are probably accessible via multiple means by level 20? Yeah, let's do that.

[Kazyan]

This one's gonna be tough to emulate in a unique way. I'll think about it.

[Kuulvheysoon]

This one's gonna be tough to emulate in a unique way. I'll think about it.

Tell me about it. [REDACTED] is an obvious answer, of course, and a [REDACTED] is just perfect for the fluff and supporting [REDACTED].

[mattie_p]

Tell me about it. [REDACTED] is an obvious answer, of course, and a [REDACTED] is just perfect for the fluff and supporting [REDACTED].

If there's anything I know about 3.5, if there is an obvious way of doing something, there are 2-4 other ways of doing the same. Just don't all double-bluff yourselves into all doing the same one.

[Snowbluff]

Yeah, I hit myself with an idea once I read the class features. I hope no one does the same.

[Kuulvheysoon]

If there's anything I know about 3.5, if there is an obvious way of doing something, there are 2-4 other ways of doing the same. Just don't all double-bluff yourselves into all doing the same one.

Nope. Gonna Vizzini the Hell out of it.:smallbiggrin:

[Forrestfire]

I see ways for all but one of the class features. Interesting. :smallamused:

[Svata]

Never done this sort of thing before (heck, I've only been playing for a few months), but I think I have an idea. Probably rather obvious, but it should at least work. Alright, let's give this a try!!

[Emperor Tippy]

God this one is fairly easy.

Like really easy.

EDIT: I'll be a judge.

My judging criteria.

Power: The ability of the build to deliver and solve challenges.
1: Build would have a difficult time against a CR -2 challenge on its own and in a party it would likely be close to dead weight for most such challenges. Think Tier 5-6.
2: Build could contribute to an equal CR challenge within its area of expertise but it needs a party to really stand a chance in such an encounter.
Think Tier 4 (maybe real low Tier 3).
3: Build could carry its own weight in the party and make a decent contribution to most CR appropriate challenges. This is the "average" power level and should be judged in comparison with the ingredients (so something that uses Cipher Adept as its secret ingredient should not be judged the same as something that uses Incantatrix, for example). In other words, this is the power level generally expected from the ingredients and it hasn't been improved but it also hasn't been weakened.
Think high Tier 4 to moderate Tier 3.
4: Build can generally be expected to solo an equal CR challenge, has the versatility to not be shut down by one or two fairly common enemy abilities, build would be accepted without real complaint into a moderately high op game.
Think solid Tier 3.
5: Build is decently high end PO and/or TO and is generally capable of soloing a wide variety of CR appropriate challenges, has enough abilities and tricks to make totally shutting it down pretty much only possible by purpose built opponents, would be considered a powerful component of a moderately high op game.
Think high end Tier 3 or better.

Elegance:
0: Build does not work by at least RAI.
1: Build is at least RAI legal.
2. Build is at least RAW legal.
3. Build uses most features on the sheet and doesn't appear to have extraneous bits and pieces just hanging around.
4. It is obvious why each part of the build (classes, PrC's, feats, etc.) is in the build and what its contribution to the whole is. Synergies between abilities from different classes, feats, and items are created and/or taken advantage of to improve the build.
5. The build just flows together seamlessly and creates a synergistic whole out of the component parts that can not be topped easily, if at all. (Basically, the judge can't look at the build and say "Why not replace X with Y, doing so would make this a lot better?"; that would get you a 4 and not a 5).

Innovation:
0. You copied another persons build whole cloth.
1. You made only minor tweaks to a preexisting build.
2. You pretty much put the build together yourself but its mostly stuff that has been seen before.
3. Your build has at least some unique flair that the judges haven't seen before, it might be a combination of a few different known builds or tricks.
4. Your build is mostly original (or at least mostly new to the judges), it might not have any killer new trick or the like but its definitely new work.
5. You are breaking out things never before seen. This is for new tricks, new cheese, and new capabilities. Said tricks need not be generally applicable.

Ingredient:
0. You made a straight fighter when you were supposed to make something that does what an Incantatrix does.
1. At least you used a caster this time but you barred Abjuration.
2. Well you didn't bar Abjuration but you also didn't include an meta or the like.
3. Meta included but minimal meta reducers and/or not replicating the rest of the abilities.
4. You covered most things but might have missed one or two.
5. You managed to pretty much totally replace the ingredient virtually seamlessly.

[mattie_p]

Well this should be fun. Ya'll better step up your game if you want to score high.

[Walkwalk]

Hmm. I might be interested in giving this a shot, actually.

[mattie_p]

One question for the group. With Tippy as a judge there may be certain ... tricks necessary in order to get the expected level of power. I see two options on how to handle this.

One is that "XP is a river" and that you will get to level 20 eventually. This provides a little more flexibility to everyone, but doesn't reward efficiency.

Option two is to assign a set number of XP to the competition, say, 209,999, which is one shy of going into level 21. This provides a small cushion of XP for whatever tricks you might want to pull, but means that if you go over that cushion there might be a level 19 build in there.

Is there any preference among the potential competitors?

[Snowbluff]

Oh god, not Tippy. :smallsigh:

Well, expect my Elegance to drop to 0. I don't even do this crazy OP.

[Forrestfire]

Looks like I need to make two builds, one with much more thought put into it :smalleek::smalltongue:

[Humble Master]

I shall give this a stab. I notice we have a lot of competitors and only one judge though.

Edit: Will we need to emulate the abilities of only the class itself or also the prerequisites?

[Amidus Drexel]

Is there any preference among the potential competitors?

I've personally got no preference... I'm not sure yet what I'll do with the extra exp, though.


Oh god, not Tippy. :smallsigh:

Well, expect my Elegance to drop to 0. I don't even do this crazy OP.

Yeah, elegance and power are looking pretty low for me right now... I think I can get at least a 2 in each, though. :smalltongue:

[Jeff the Green]

One question for the group. With Tippy as a judge there may be certain ... tricks necessary in order to get the expected level of power. I see two options on how to handle this.

One is that "XP is a river" and that you will get to level 20 eventually. This provides a little more flexibility to everyone, but doesn't reward efficiency.

Option two is to assign a set number of XP to the competition, say, 209,999, which is one shy of going into level 21. This provides a small cushion of XP for whatever tricks you might want to pull, but means that if you go over that cushion there might be a level 19 build in there.

Is there any preference among the potential competitors?

Hmmm. If we go with option two, would that mean LA buyoff would be allowed? That could be nice.

I probably vote for option two.

Edit:
Also, it's really sad that I think I can do this with 18 levels in a base class and 2 in a prestige. And be more effective, too.

[mattie_p]

Hmmm. If we go with option two, would that mean LA buyoff would be allowed? That could be nice.

I probably vote for option two.

Edit:
Also, it's really sad that I think I can do this with 18 levels in a base class and 2 in a prestige. And be more effective, too.

Option two would permit LA buy off, yes.

[Svata]

Yeah, I'm voting for option 2. The LA buyoff just gave me an idea.

[Snowbluff]

Option 2 is just better.

[mattie_p]

Edit: Will we need to emulate the abilities of only the class itself or also the prerequisites?

All I will say on this is "Do Your Best "

[Chronos]

You'd have a hard time emulating all of the prerequisites, given that the Secret Ingredient is epic.

[mattie_p]

You'd have a hard time emulating all of the prerequisites, given that the Secret Ingredient is epic.

There's at least two methods that come to mind of doing that, but they aren't original tricks.

[Forrestfire]

On another note, for making tables, might I suggest using BBer (http://d20tools.ucoz.com/bber.html)?

It's a page that converts copied formatted text into BBcode for you.

{table=head] This | table | was
made | in | Word [/table]

[Emperor Tippy]

Edit:
Also, it's really sad that I think I can do this with 18 levels in a base class and 2 in a prestige. And be more effective, too.

Yeah one reason I decided to judge this was that I could think of about half a dozen ways to do this. One of which is honestly Factotum 19/Exemplar 1 and using magic items to get you Far Sense, Ready Thoughts, and Mindblank. That pretty much does it all.

And that is my "straight 3 score" build that I am judging against for this. That is your benchmark, worse than that in any given category and you are getting a 2 or worse for that category, better and you are getting a 4 or 5 for that category.

[Svata]

Honestly, I have about three possible ideas that I could use, two of which are very similar. One has more overall power, the other doesn't need to use magic items to get so many of the class features. Decisions, decisions...

[Forrestfire]

I had one (fairly obvious) idea, but I think I might have put enough of a twist on it to not completely tank my innovation score.

[Humble Master]

I'm just wondering. For the ability Improved Cover Identity do we just need to emulate the skill bonuses or do we need to emulate the whole have multiple identities fluff?

Edit: Also do we need to get 4d6 Sneak Attack or just some Sneak Attack?

[mattie_p]

I'm just wondering. For the ability Improved Cover Identity do we just need to emulate the skill bonuses or do we need to emulate the whole have multiple identities fluff?

Edit: Also do we need to get 4d6 Sneak Attack or just some Sneak Attack?

I'll answer as I did before:


All I will say on this is "Do Your Best "

And we have our first entry. Looks to be an exciting round. Considering entry requires a minimum of 21 class levels and is finished at level 31, we will see if competitors can do in around 20 levels what WoTC expects in 31.

So based on feedback it looks like option 2 is popular. We'll roll with it. I'll adjust the OP and admin notes to reflect the XP total. I need to think if I will retain this option for future competitions.

[mattie_p]

So, I've been getting some unusual private messages regarding rules questions. I find it interesting that one competitor asked about [Redacted] while another asked about [Withheld]. While [Anonymous] already submitted a build utilizing [Obscured] and [Censored].

Good times.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Hmmm... I had an obvious solution, then I had a more... innovative solution.

If I have time, I'll submit a build. Hell, I might end up submitting more than one.

[Humble Master]

Arg, I'm having a heck of a time trying to find a cool way to emulate having multiple identities prepared. If only the Psionic power Assimilate worked like the Borg...

Edit: In the Skills section of the table do we just put in the ranks we have or the total bonus?

[mattie_p]

Sauciers, how are you doing? I haven't stumped you, have I? As some of you have done, feel free to pm me if you have rules questions. I'll do my best to answer. I don't want to post the questions in the thread for fear of influencing the other competitors or judge(s).

@Humble Master: I've seen both ways done. As a previous judge, both in ZS and IC, I'd prefer if you put your total ranks in the skill at each level. This makes it easy to check qualifications for PrCs and feats. If you want to show off your total bonus/modifier, feel free to put that in a notes page, as the judges will probably appreciate a summary of your abilities.

[Snowbluff]

No. This epic infiltrator is easy. I am just daunted by the epic level stuff and having Tipsy as a judge. I have the easy solutions mapped out in my head, but the Tipsy-worthy ones are builds I don't think should ever see play (read: 0 elegance).

[Humble Master]

I'm so happy with the way my build is turning out.
And yes the Epic Infiltrator is rather easy. I haven't been in other competitions but it's abilities are so easily emulated by [BLUR] or [BLUR] that it is not much of a challenge.

[dysprosium]

Able to put a build together that hopefully does not play on the obvious.

I've never been judged by Tippy before either . . .:smalleek:

[Forrestfire]

I feel like mine was somewhere between obscure and obvious, since it was a fairly unused ████████ in my experience, but I thought of it the moment I read the contest specifications.

But yeah, fairly apprehensive about being judged by Tippy.

[Svata]

I'm almost done. Know I said that before, but I really am this time. I just need to finalize one or two more things. The reason it has taken this long is that I had one build done when my copy of [redacted] fell open and I saw the perfect class to emulate [unknown] which was the one class feature I was having trouble with, and I ended up redoing half my build.

[Kazyan]

I'm uninterested in this PrC and not really capable of overclocking the optimization, so I'll sit this one out and just watch.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Hitting the effective skill ranks wasn't too difficult. Emulating the various class features was fairly easy, since they are tantamount to a couple of low level spells, a high level spell, and more skill bonuses.

I can think of at least one source which virtually every build will be using, though. If anyone can emulate that part without it, I'll be exceedingly impressed.

[Kuulvheysoon]

I've got 2 completely separate build ideas. I'm definitely making the first, but I'm on the fence about the second, especially because it involves [REDACTED]

[mattie_p]

So, we have build number two in. I see some striking similarities, in that both are somehow attempting to replicate the Epic Infiltrator!

[Humble Master]

I found some nice strong gorgonzola for my build. I'm going to put it in a separate section because it is purely optional and probably isn't new. Also half of the gorgonzola is open to interpretation.

[Amidus Drexel]

I think I'm going to have to drop out - I haven't had the time to come up with a full build, and I probably won't have much more before the deadline. I'm looking forward to seeing if any of you used [REDACTED] or [REDACTED]. :smallamused:

[Zonugal]

A few administrative notes:

Level adjustment buy-off (from Unearthed Arcana) is expressly permitted in this particular competion, because you are granted a set experience point total of 209,999 to use. What you do with it is up to you.

Would someone care to explain this to me, be it here or over private message?

Does that basically grant us a "free" level to absorb an LA over throughout the character's career?

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I'm going to have to drop out here. Packing the house is taking up all my time, I just don't have it in me to try and flesh out my builds right now.

[mattie_p]

Would someone care to explain this to me, be it here or over private message?

Does that basically grant us a "free" level to absorb an LA over throughout the character's career?

It takes 190,000 experience points to get to ECL 20 using standard rules. You essentially have an extra 19,999 experience points to buy off LA using UA rules, do the DCFS on yourself, manifest Psychic Chirgurgery on yourself, craft a custom item of X, or whatever. This list of permitted expenditures of XP is not all-inclusive. Feel free to expand to RAW legal uses to expend XP for your benefit. However, anytime you lose XP (for whatever reason) that XP deduction is lost from the bonus XP pool and cannot be regained by any means.

For example: if you start the build with +1 LA and no racial hit dice, you can buy that off at ECL 4 for a cost of 3,000 XP, leaving you with 16,999 bonus XP to spend on whatever you like. Ensure you note this expenditure explicitly, it will certainly be double-checked.

[mattie_p]

So a third entry. This is shaping up to be a world class competition. What will be in the next submission? A [Redacted]? Who knows?

I've been reviewing all submitted builds so far. I really enjoy at least one aspect of each of them. Plus it helps me come up with not-so-witty comments when it comes time for the reveal. Good luck to everyone as you continue to plan and build!

[Humble Master]

World class huh? Well I eagerly await the big reveal.

[mattie_p]

Been quiet the past few days, how is the prep going? Is everyone still cooking up a dish (or another dish, for those who submitted?)

[Humble Master]

I'm done. I was going to make another, similar, build but decided against it.

[Snowbluff]

I've decided against posting a build here. Not enough time, and I want to save what I have for a later challenge.

[Svata]

Backup dish is being cooked, but may not be completed, haven't decided yet.

[Kuulvheysoon]

I've built and rebuilt my build several times, but I just seem to be happy with it. If I fail to get it together by this weekend, I'll let you know what I was thinking.

[mattie_p]

I'm done. I was going to make another, similar, build but decided against it.

Good call, if you think it was too similar, you might be unwittingly punished by a judge.


Backup dish is being cooked, but may not be completed, haven't decided yet.

You know you want to do it.


I've built and rebuilt my build several times, but I just seem to be happy with it. If I fail to get it together by this weekend, I'll let you know what I was thinking.

I'll just mark you down as entering, as this is nearly identical to what you posted last time. And you entered. ::smallwink:

[mattie_p]

By the way, I have just identified the next Zinc Saucier ingredient. This prestige class is yet another one that will never appear in Iron Chef. Oh, the fun of reading through sourcebooks.

[Humble Master]

Hmm, any hints as to what this prestige class will be?

[mattie_p]

Hmm, any hints as to what this prestige class will be?

Not really, I'll post some more hints after the reveal of this SI, which our competitors are still working on for the next two days. At this point the only thing I will say is that it is from a 3.5 Sourcebook (which does rule out 3.0 sources).

[mattie_p]

So, sorry for the double post, but due to a personal event I am attending this evening, I am postponing the reveal for about 24 hours. For those of you still cooking, consider this a temporary reprieve.

[Kuulvheysoon]

So, sorry for the double post, but due to a personal event I am attending this evening, I am postponing the reveal for about 24 hours. For those of you still cooking, consider this a temporary reprieve.

And here I was about to throw in the towel and judge.

I might actually get this thing done. Onwards!

EDIT: And in! Straight ones across the board!

[mattie_p]

EDIT: And in! Straight ones across the board!

Oh, surely not. I found at least three areas where you will get a 0 for an illegal entry. I kid, I kid.

We also had another entry, bringing the tally to 5 this round so far, and by someone who has, if memory serves, not posted in this thread. Interesting selections all around.

[dysprosium]

I apologize. I will not be able to post my build for this competition even with the extra time. Real life has not been kind this week. I will say what my idea was after the reveal.

Good luck everyone! Tippy, be gentle!

[Humble Master]

Wonder what people think of how I emulated multiple identities. It's kind of weird but also kind of cool.

[mattie_p]

All right folks, six amazing and epic entries for this competition. Please refrain from posting until the all clear. Stand by...

[mattie_p]

There's not a chance she'll be forgotten, or will she?


Talia Ruaeruil, NE female half-moon elf Binder 11/Zhentarim Spy 4/Scion of Dantalion 5

Backstory
Born in 1321 DR to a human father from the Dalelands and a moon elf mother, Talia was raised during most of her life in Silverymoon. Since her childhood, Talia had dreams of a starry sky, with an odd constellation forming a rare sigil. She learned, from her youth, to draw the sigil, not knowing what it was.

Curious to know the truth about the sigil, Talia stumbled upon a teacher of the occult, who taught her the secrets of soul binding, and the nature of vestiges. The binder favored Naberius, and thus he was skilled at deceiving people; skills that Talia learned very well. Her skills caught the attention of the Zhentarim, and she became a spy for their organization, using her skill at binding to compliment her innate talent at deception.

Under the banner of the Zhents, Talia took missions relating to occult knowledge, using her guise as "Kalvorn Thular", a moon elf scribe and scholar of arcane lore to search for the meaning of the sigil from her youth's dreams. Eventually, she stumbled upon the sigil of Dantalion, the sigil that she always dreamt of. Seeking all knowledge about the particular vestige, Talia found herself obsessed with gathering all kinds of information. Her dreams returned, and this time, they were more vivid and intense. In her dreams, she saw herself as one of the last scions of an ancient, powerful Empire, older than that of the Nar, and rivaling the kingdoms of the elves, and it was her duty to restore that Empire to its rightful glory. For now, she pays only lip service to the Zhents, for as long as they advance her interests.

Build
Starting ability scores (32 pt. buy): Str 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 8, Cha 16
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features|Vestige Level|Maximum Vestige Level
1st|Binder 1|
+0|
+2|
+0|
+2|Bluff 4 ranks, Disguise 4 ranks, Forgery 4 ranks, Gather Information 4 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks|City Slicker||
1|
1st

2nd|Binder 2|
+1|
+3|
+0|
+3|Bluff 5 ranks, Disguise 5 ranks, Forgery 5 ranks, Gather Information 5 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks||Pact augmentation (1 ability), suppress sign|
1|
1st

3rd|Binder 3|
+2|
+3|
+1|
+3|Bluff 6 ranks, Disguise 6 ranks, Forgery 6 ranks, Gather Information 6 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Profession (sailor) 1 rank|Master Linguist||
1|
2nd

4th|Binder 4|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Bluff 7 ranks, Disguise 7 ranks, Forgery 7 ranks, Gather Information 7 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks|Expel Vestige||
1|
2nd

5th|Binder 5|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Bluff 8 ranks, Disguise 8 ranks, Forgery 8 ranks, Gather Information 8 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Profession (gambler) 1 rank, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks||Pact augmentation (2 abilities)|
1|
3rd

6th|Binder 6|
+4|
+5|
+2|
+5|Bluff 9 ranks, Disguise 9 ranks, Forgery 9 ranks, Gather Information 9 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks|Deceitful|Soul guardian (immune to fear)|
1|
3rd

7th|Binder 7|
+5|
+5|
+2|
+5|Bluff 10 ranks, Disguise 10 ranks, Forgery 10 ranks, Gather Information 10 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 1 rank|||
1|
4th

8th|Binder 8|
+6/+1|
+6|
+2|
+6|Bluff 11 ranks, Disguise 11 ranks, Forgery 11 ranks, Gather Information 11 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks |||
2|
4th

9th|Zhentarim Spy 1|
+6/+1|
+6|
+4|
+8|Bluff 12 ranks, Disguise 12 ranks, Forgery 12 ranks, Gather Information 12 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 1 rank, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 2 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 2 ranks|Knowledge Devotion|Cover identity|
2|
4th

10th|Zhentarim Spy 2|
+7/+2|
+6|
+5|
+9|Bluff 13 ranks, Disguise 13 ranks, Forgery 13 ranks, Gather Information 13 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 2 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 4 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 4 ranks||Sneak attack +1d6, undetectable alignment|
2|
4th

11th|Zhentarim Spy 3|
+8/+3|
+7|
+5|
+9|Bluff 14 ranks, Disguise 14 ranks, Forgery 14 ranks, Gather Information 14 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 3 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 7 ranks||Poison use, unlikely cover|
2|
4th

12th|Zhentarim Spy 4|
+9/+4|
+7|
+5|
+9|Bluff 15 ranks, Disguise 15 ranks, Forgery 15 ranks, Gather Information 15 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 11 ranks|Sickening Strike|Slippery Mind, Sneak Attack +2d6|
2|
4th

13th|Binder 9|
+9/+4|
+7|
+6|
+9|Bluff 16 ranks, Disguise 16 ranks, Forgery 16 ranks, Gather Information 16 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (architect) 1 rank, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 11 ranks||Soul guardian (slippery mind)|
2|
4th

14th|Binder 10|
+10/+5|
+8|
+6|
+10|Bluff 17 ranks, Disguise 17 ranks, Forgery 17 ranks, Gather Information 17 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (architect) 2 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 11 ranks||Pact augmentation (3 abilities)|
2|
5th

15th|Scion of Dantalion 1|
+10/+5|
+10|
+6|
+12|Bluff 18 ranks, Disguise 18 ranks, Forgery 18 ranks, Gather Information 18 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 1 rank, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion)* 5 ranks, Profession (architect) 2 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 11 ranks|Open-Minded*|Favored of Dantalion, scholarship of Dantalion|
2|
5th

16th|Scion of Dantalion 2|
+11/+6/+1|
+11|
+6|
+13|Bluff 19 ranks, Disguise 19 ranks, Forgery 19 ranks, Gather Information 19 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 2 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (architect) 2 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 11 ranks||Improved read thoughts, swift awe of Dantalion|
2|
6th

17th|Scion of Dantalion 3|
+12/+7/+2|
+11|
+7|
+13|Bluff 20 ranks, Disguise 20 ranks, Forgery 20 ranks, Gather Information 20 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 3 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (architect) 2 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 11 ranks||Overwhelming thoughts|
2|
6th

18th|Scion of Dantalion 4|
+13/+8/+3|
+12|
+7|
+14|Bluff 21 ranks, Disguise 21 ranks, Forgery 21 ranks, Gather Information 21 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 4 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (architect) 2 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 11 ranks|Lunatic Insight|Dantalion’s glare, improved thought travel|
3|
6th

19th|Scion of Dantalion 5|
+13/+8/+3|
+12|
+7|
+14|Bluff 22 ranks, Disguise 22 ranks, Forgery 22 ranks, Gather Information 22 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (architect) 2 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 12 ranks||Read multiple thoughts|
3|
6th

20th|Binder 11|
+14/+9/+4|
+12|
+7|
+14|Bluff 23 ranks, Disguise 23 ranks, Forgery 23 ranks, Gather Information 23 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (local - the Moonsea) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks, Profession (architect) 2 ranks, Profession (gambler) 2 ranks, Profession (sailor) 2 ranks, Profession (scribe) 2 ranks, Use Magic Device 12 ranks|Sudden Ability Focus||
3|
7th[/table]

Ability Score Increases per Character Level
4th – Charisma
8th – Charisma
12th – Strength
16th – Strength
20th – Constitution

Skills at 20th level
Bluff +27, Disguise +29 (+2 Deceitful feat; +2 to act in character), Forgery +29 (+2 Deceitful feat), Gather Information +28 (+1 racial), Knowledge (arcana) +13, Knowledge (nature) +8, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +8, Profession (architect) +1, Profession (gambler) +1, Profession (sailor) +1, Profession (scribe) +1, Use Magic Device +15

The Haves
Cover identity: as a Zhentarim spy, Talia has a unique form of cover identity, which is based off her ranks in Craft or Profession. Thus, she can assume cover identities related to architects (great to enter buildings, and with Lunatic Insight and by binding Dantalion, she can work around architectural knowledge), gamblers (excellent way to gain information), sailors (good way to enter new places bound by sea) and scribes (for whenever she needs to enter into palaces and castles). She starts with the base +4 bonus to Disguise and the +2 bonus to Bluff and Gather Information checks (mostly complement her already formidable bonuses). When she assumes her unlikely covers, she doubles her bonuses and makes her disguises harder to figure out, which is the equivalent to improving three of the four cover identities once or twice.
Sneak Attack: again, Zhentarim Spy grants sneak attack for two of the four levels. However, whenever Talia binds Malphas to herself, she adds sudden strike dice alongside her sneak attack dice; furthermore, she can sacrifice one of the sudden strike dice to power up Sickening Strike. All in all, by 19th level she has 2 dice of sneak attack and 4 dice of sudden strike, for a total of 6d6 precision damage.
Read Thoughts: instead of limited uses of Detect Thoughts per day, binding Dantalion grants the ability to read thoughts right from the get-go. The save DC for this ability is also much higher (base 18, plus 4 for Charisma means a DC of 22; since the errata for Tome of Magic changes the benefit of Improved Read Thoughts to grant a further +2 bonus, that means Talia imposes a Will save of DC 24.
Far Senses: again, instead of relying on limited uses of Clairvoyance and Clairaudience, Talia relies on using doves or ravens summoned by binding with Malphas, using them as spies. Ravens have a Listen bonus of +5 and a Spot bonus of +7, which are far better than Talia's own, but Talia relies on her own Knowledge skills (which are, again, boosted by Dantalion and enabled by Lunatic Insight).
Mind Blank: while a late addition, there's two ways in which Talia can defend from divinations and mind-affecting abilities. No matter whether she's bound (or not) to a vestige, Talia has access to a very high bonus to Will saves and slippery mind, plus Undetectable Alignment to block pesky divination spells such as Detect Evil. With Lunatic Insight, she also gains a higher bonus to mind-affecting abilities, and if she's facing enchantment spells or effects, her racial modifier kicks in. Most enchantment spells and effects are mind-affecting abilities, so Talia has a +15 bonus to Will saves (counting the Wisdom penalty, of course). However, this becomes irrelevant after 16th level, as she can bind Haures, who grants Mind Blank for as long as it is bound.
Polyglot: Talia begins by speaking two languages: Common and Elven. Being from the Forgotten Realms, she also adds her regional language, Chondathan, to the list. Being oddly intelligent (Int 16), she speaks three bonus languages, which allows her to speak up to six languages in total. With Master Linguist, Talia learns how to speak a new language every turn, and since she gains the feat extremely early on (3rd level), she learns a total of 18 new languages in her progression. That means 24 languages total; in essence, she counts as if she had spent one point in Speak Language every single round. The Player's Handbook has 20 languages, so in essence she can speak all languages in the Core books, and still have space for 4 more languages on top of that.
Specialist Training: through her racial bonuses and Deceitful, Talia essentially specializes in Concealment and Infiltration. Through Dantalion, she also specializes in virtually all Knowledge skills.

Have-nots
Proficiencies: Talia only keeps proficiencies with simple weapons and up to medium armor, thanks to Zhentarim Spy improving her natural proficiencies. Thus, unless she binds to a vestige that grants them, she has no proficiency with heavy armor or martial weapons.
Alertness, Listen and Spot: part of the requisites involve having at least a decent amount of Spot ranks and the Alertness feat. With her Wisdom penalty, she actually has a penalty to those skills, so she relies greatly on using summoned doves or ravens for their better skills.

...and what the Epic Infiltrator would dream to have:
Vestige flexibility: by the time she finishes gaining levels, Talia can bind up to three vestiges at the same time, with an effective Binder level of 16th. This means 7th level vestiges, shy of having complete access to all. However, most of the best vestiges accessible are 6th level vestiges, which she has access to right from 16th level. This includes vestiges such as Tenebrous (useful to awe undead and deal decent amounts of cold damage), Naberius (an ever-useful vestige for the ability to recover from ability damage faster and to improvise with trained-only skills), Karsus (excellent to use scrolls and wands containing wizard spells), amongst others.
Scion of Dantalion: the prestige class serves to boost all of Dantalion's abilities, which are a decent bunch. For starters, Awe of Dantalion can be done as a swift action, so essentially every 5 rounds Talia can negate hostilities of all opponents, no questions asked, and still keep her actions ready. Read Thoughts is already potent, but when mixed with Overwhelming Thoughts and Multiple Read Thoughts, it becomes a serious threat, adding the rarely-resisted daze to the mix. Finally, with thought travel, Talia can make a swift escape and still make a standard action.

Tactics:
Physical attacks: Talia has a decent amount of Strength, which can work wonders with a two-handed weapon despite not having Power Attack. Naturally, Talia excels when able to apply her sneak attack (and also sudden strike) damage, and because of her unusual approach to combat, she can wield a morningstar, longspear or quarterstaff for up to three decent hits on a full attack. If focusing fully on physical damage, binding Tenebrous and Malphas at the same time allows for large amounts of damage. However, if bound with Dantalion, and thanks to Lunatic Insight, Talia can use Knowledge Devotion on virtually every creature, thus adding even more bonuses to attack and damage.
Debuffs: Ideally, the first thing Talia does in combat is to read the thoughts of her opponents to figure which are the most dangerous, and use awe of Dantalion to diffuse the spellcaster for one turn. Afterwards, Overwhelming Thoughts allows disabling as many opponents as possible through daze, which can last for up to four turns. Even when attacking, Sickening Strike combined with the use of poisons allows weakening Fortitude saves and setting up the opponent to attacks as dangerous as Haures' Phantasmal Killer.
Escape Tactics: despite her fighting skills, sometimes it's necessary for Talia to tail it off. Thanks to Dantalion, she can teleport her way off the area, and as a move action. If she has bound Malphas, she can then use her remaining action to become invisible, and thus harder to detect. If stopped by a mundane wall, Haures grants her the ability to phase through walls and apply miss chances to attacks of opportunity.

Typically bound vestiges:
Naberius: best used for scouting (alongside Malphas) or boosting Bluff.
Malphas: best used for extra damage and invisibility on top.
Andromalius: used for its sneak attack. Usual switch with Malphas.
Dantalion: best used for disabling opponents and boosting Knowledge Devotion, and because of the Scion of Dantalion boosting its class features.
Haures: used for Mind Blank and the ability to become incorporeal while moving.
Zceryll: used for the pseudonatural template, the ability to summon monsters with the pseudonatural template, sensing opponents with telepathy and Mindsight, amongst others. Usual switch with Haures, if Mind Blank is not necessary.

Q&A
How does she qualify for Lunatic Insight?
Talia has a mild Taint score which has left her with a mild depravity, owing to her almost slavish devotion to knowledge of all kinds, including knowledge about the vestiges. Binding to the souls of Dantalion and Haures have strained her mind, and her lunacy has manifested as a mild depravation of prophetic dreams. Because of this, she is capable of accessing knowledge from her connection to her heritage.

How does she deal with constructs, elementals, oozes, plants and undead? She relies on Sneak Attack and Sudden Strike for most of her damage, no?
True, but for the most part she has a strong arm and can deal decent damage (and Knowledge Devotion furthers this). Vestiges such as Andras, Aym and Eurynome further boost her physical prowess, and others such as Amon and Focalor to deal direct damage. Desharis is particularly great against plants, though they're the least, and also good against elementals. With UMD and wands of Golemstrike, Gravestrike or Plantstrike, three of the five opponents still take damage.

Speaking of which; what happens if you're not prepared? Expel Vestige only takes you so far...
Between Malphas and Dantalion, there's enough damage and debuffs to cover up most of the possible combat situations. Expel Vestige exists so that, in the case of 2 minutes (a tough circumstance, but not a difficult one), there's the chance to change that. By definition, it means you've got to be prepared for what's coming. UMD covers part of the unexpected, unprepared situations (and sometimes that's not always necessary if you have Karsus bound). Zceryll also covers by granting the ability to summon a good lot of creatures to assist, which cover a load of options. A well-prepared binder is rarely taken by surprise.

And: how does this make for an "epic" Infiltrator?
Note that the act of "infiltration" doesn't require hiding; entering by means of a good disguise and proper papers is more than enough. However, it helps when you can read the thoughts of people and expect to give the answers they want, cross through barriers, become invisible at-will and transport essentially at the speed of thought.

One more thing: what if you had 760,000 gp at hand? What'd be stuff that Talia would get?
At first instance? A Vestige Phylactery, to have even more vestiges at hand. A good weapon (such as a morningstar, heavy mace or longspear) is also a choice, particularly if it allows for more damage, and so does a good suit of medium armor (a breastplate is fine).

However, Talia may attempt to create magic items of her own, even if she doesn't have item creation feats? How so? By binding to Astaroth, she can choose an item creation feat of her choice, ranging from the ever-useful Craft Magic Arms and Armor to the rare Forge Ring. With Karsus as a second vestige, Talia can use wands or scrolls to provide the required spells. This consumes XP, but essentially halves the cost of GP, and provides for a good amount of spells.

However, Talia can do fine without that much wealth. Ideally, she relies more on her vestiges than on her items, and a clever choice of vestiges reduces the need for magic items to cover up.

Resources
Races of Faerun - Half-drow (p. 62)
Tome of Magic - Binder class (p. 9), Scion of Dantalion prestige class (p. 59), Expel Vestige and Sudden Ability Focus feats (p. 72)
Player's Guide to Faerun - Zhentarim Spy prestige class (p. 77)
Complete Adventurer - Open Minded feat
Races of Destiny - City Slicker feat (p. 150)
Races of Eberron - Master Linguist feat (p. 109)Heroes of Horror - Lunatic Insight feat (p. 123), Taint rules and mild depravities (p. 62), dreams and nightmares (p. 52)

[mattie_p]

And a time for every madness under heaven...





The Face of Madness

http://i.imgur.com/VOAD9jA.jpg
Seen here on an off day

The Fluff

“That guy? Hah! He’s just a bedtime story, told to scare newbies into playing safe with their secrets.” – Dirk Underwood, King's Guard (deceased)

“The Face of Madness is a legend among those who are in the know. It’s a force of nature, not a man. A cautionary tale for royal courts and webs of spies… That thing has made its purpose to sow conflict and end nations wherever it goes.” – Julian the Rat, commander of one such web of spies

“Shut it. It’s bad luck to speak of such things, lest we bring destruction on us all.” – name withheld

“I know of him. Or what little I saw of him. I survived him, see the scars? Don’t go looking into that monster, you’ll only end up just like me.” – Jason the Iron Wall, former general, current bedridden cripple

“OH GOD WHAT IS THAT GET AWAY-“ – unknown (deceased)

The Face of Madness casually strolled back to its chambers, greeting others in the halls as he passed. Today was a good day… his king was edging ever closer to an all-out war with their neighbors, and already murmurs of his involvement were circulating among his circle of unwitting pawns. They'd find the body, and his red herring would throw them off. Soon this nation will descend into glorious destruction.

Today was a good day. He’d even gotten to hunt.


The Crunch

Neutral Evil Changeling Rogue 5/Spymaster 7/Warshaper Spy 1/Cabinet Trickster 5/Trapsmith 2

Armor Class: 25 (+8 armor, +6 dex, +1 deflection)
Hit Points: 133 (fixed hit point gain) (73 naked)

Ability Scores
{table=head] Ability | Initial Score | Permanent Bonuses | Item Bonuses | Final Score (naked) | Final Score (with items)

Strength | 8 | | | 8 | 8

Dexterity | 13 | | +6 (gloves) | 13 | 19

Constitution | 10 | | +6 (amulet) | 10 | 16

Intelligence | 15 | +1 (level) | | 16 | 16

Wisdom | 12 | -4 (madness) | | 8 | 8

Charisma | 14 | +4 (level) | +6 (cloak) | 18 | 24 [/table]


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

1 | Rogue 1 | +0 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Bluff 4, Diplomacy 4, Disguise 4, Forgery 4, Gather Information 4, Sense Motive 4, Disable Device 4, Open Lock 4, Spot 4, Speak Language 4 | Master Linguist | Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding |

2 | Rogue 2 | +1 | +0 | +3 | +0 | Bluff 5, Diplomacy 5, Disguise 5, Forgery 5, Gather Information 5, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 5, Open Lock 5, Spot 5, Speak Language 5 | | Evasion |

3 | Rogue 3 | +2 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Bluff 6, Diplomacy 6, Disguise 6, Forgery 6, Gather Information 6, Sense Motive 6, Disable Device 6, Open Lock 6, Spot 6, Speak Language 6 | Skill Focus: Bluff | Sneak Attack +2d6, Penetrating Strike ACF | Otyugh Hole Iron Will (chaos shuffled to Weapon Finesse)

4 | Rogue 4 | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Bluff 7, Diplomacy 7, Disguise 7, Forgery 7, Gather Information 7, Sense Motive 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 7, Spot 7, Speak Language 8 | | Uncanny Dodge | +1 int (level bonus)

5 | Rogue 5 | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Bluff 8, Diplomacy 8, Disguise 8, Forgery 8, Gather Information 8, Sense Motive 8, Disable Device 8, Open Lock 8, Spot 8, Speak Language 9 | | Sneak Attack +3d6 |

6 | Spymaster 1 | +3 | +1 | +6 | +1 | Bluff 9, Diplomacy 9, Disguise 9, Forgery 9, Gather Information 9, Sense Motive 9, Disable Device 9, Open Lock 9, Spot 9, Speak Language 10 | Craven | Cover Identity (1), Undetectable Alignment |

7 | Spymaster 2 | +4 | +1 | +7 | +1 | Bluff 10, Diplomacy 10, Disguise 10, Forgery 10, Gather Information 10, Sense Motive 10, Disable Device 10, Open Lock 10, Spot 10, Speak Language 11 | | Quick Change, Scrying Defense |

8 | Spymaster 3 | +5 | +2 | +7 | +2 | Bluff 11, Diplomacy 11, Disguise 11, Forgery 11, Gather Information 11, Sense Motive 11, Disable Device 11, Open Lock 11, Spot 11, Speak Language 12 | | Magic Aura, Sneak Attack +4d6 | +1 cha (level bonus)

9 | Warshaper 1 | +5 | +4 | +7 | +2 | Bluff 11, Diplomacy 11, Disguise 12, Forgery 11, Gather Information 11, Sense Motive 11, Disable Device 11, Open Lock 11, Spot 11, Speak Language 16 | Persona Immersion | Morphic Immunities, Morphic Weapons |

10 | Spymaster 4 | +6 | +4 | +8 | +2 | Bluff 13, Diplomacy 12, Disguise 13, Forgery 12, Gather Information 12, Sense Motive 12, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 17 | | Cover Identity (2), Slippery Mind |

11 | Spymaster 8 | +6 | +4 | +8 | +2 | Bluff 14, Diplomacy 14, Disguise 14, Forgery 14, Gather Information 14, Sense Motive 14, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 18 | | Dispel Scrying |

12 | Spymaster 6 | +7 | +5 | +9 | +3 | Bluff 15, Diplomacy 15, Disguise 15, Forgery 15, Gather Information 15, Sense Motive 15, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 18, Search 5 | Willing Deformity | Sneak Attack +5d6 |

13 | Spymaster 7 | +8 | +5 | +9 | +3 | Bluff 16, Diplomacy 16, Disguise 16, Forgery 16, Gather Information 16, Sense Motive 16, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 20, Search 8 | | Cover Identity (3), Deep Cover | +1 cha (level bonus)

14 | Cabinet Trickster 1 | +8 | +5 | +11 | +5 | Bluff 17, Diplomacy 17, Disguise 17, Forgery 16, Gather Information 17, Sense Motive 17, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 24, Search 8 | | Detect Thoughts 2/day, Doppleganger Insights |

15 | Cabinet Trickster 2 | +9 | +5 | +12 | +6 | Bluff 18, Diplomacy 18, Disguise 18, Forgery 16, Gather Information 18, Sense Motive 18, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 28, Search 8 | Deformity (Madness) | Thought Trick (Daze), bonus feat (Quick Change) |

16 | Cabinet Trickster 3 | +10 | +6 | +12 | +6 | Bluff 19, Diplomacy 19, Disguise 19, Forgery 16, Gather Information 19, Sense Motive 19, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 32, Search 8 | | Detect Thoughts 4/day, Thought Trick (Disrupt) | +1 cha (level bonus)

17 | Cabinet Trickster 4 | +11 | +6 | +13 | +7 | Bluff 20, Diplomacy 20, Disguise 20, Forgery 16, Gather Information 20, Sense Motive 20, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 36, Search 8 | | Thought Trick (Confuse), bonus feat (Recognize Imposter) |

18 | Cabinet Trickster 5 | +11 | +6 | +13 | +7 | Bluff 21, Diplomacy 21, Disguise 21, Forgery 16, Gather Information 21, Sense Motive 21, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 40, Search 8 | Alertness | Change Shape, Detect Thoughts at will, Thought Trick (Stun) |

19 | Trapsmith 1 | +11 | +6 | +15 | +7 | Bluff 22, Diplomacy 22, Disguise 22, Forgery 16, Gather Information 21, Sense Motive 22, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 41, Search 8 | | Booby Traps (simple), Master Disarmer, Trap Sense +1 |

20 | Trapsmith 2 | +12 | +6 | +16 | +7 | Bluff 23, Diplomacy 23, Disguise 23, Forgery 16, Gather Information 21, Sense Motive 23, Disable Device 12, Open Lock 12, Spot 12, Speak Language 42, Search 8 | | Arrow Proof, Quick Fingers | +1 cha (level bonus) [/table]



Magic:
Spells Per Day
{table=head] Level | 1st + bonus spells

1 | -

2 | -

3 | -

4 | -

5 | -

6 | -

7 | -

8 | -

9 | -

10 | -

11 | -

12 | -

13 | -

14 | -

15 | -

16 | -

17 | -

18 | -

19 | 1+2 (1 naked)

20 | 2+2 (1 naked) [/table]

Spells Known
{table=head] Level | 1st

1 | -

2 | -

3 | -

4 | -

5 | -

6 | -

7 | -

8 | -

9 | -

10 | -

11 | -

12 | -

13 | -

14 | -

15 | -

16 | -

17 | -

18 | -

19 | 2

20 | 3 [/table]

Spells Known
1st: Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Dispel Magic, Gaseous Form


Skills
{table=head] Skill | Ranks | Bonuses | Total | Conditional Modifiers

Bluff | 23 | +8 (cha), +3 (skill focus), +4 (racial), +2 (tool) | +40 | +4 if detecting thoughts, +2 if in cover identity

Diplomacy | 23 | +8 (cha), +2 (tool) | +33 |

Disguise | 23 | +8 (cha), +2 (tool) | +33 | +4 if detecting thoughts, +10 if shapeshifted, +4 if in cover identity

Forgery | 16 | +3 (int), +2 (tool) | +21 |

Gather Information | 21 | +8 (cha), +2 (tool) | +31 | +2 if in cover identity

Sense Motive | 23 | -1 (wis), +4 (racial), +2 (tool) | +28 | +4 vs bluff

Disable Device | 12 | +3 (int), +2 (tool) | +17 | +2 vs traps

Open Lock | 12 | +3 (int), +2 (tool) | +17 |

Spot | 12 | -1 (wis), +2 (tool) | +13 | +4 vs disguise, +7 vs scrying sensors

Search | 8 | +3 (int), +2 (tool) | +13 | +2 vs traps [/table]

Combat:

The Face of Madness’ morning routine is to spend at least an hour morphing thin, hairlike tentacles inside his clothes. When his “meditation” is done, he has a total of 1200 tentacles morphed per hour spent preparing.

Normally, he prefers to solve things without combat if he can, but if needed, he will fight using his tentacles or other morphed weapons. Generally, he will open with detect thoughts, then try to get the drop on his opponent with surprise or invisibility and full attack with a sneak attack. His full attack is 1200 Tentacles +23 (1d4+4 base +5d6+20 sneak attack).

If the opponent does not drop from the full attack, The Face of Madness tries to stun it with a thought trick before repeating the same action. If the enemy is immune to sneak attacks, he will activate his Desert Wind Cloak to get a distracting ember to allow for the Penetrating Strike ACF. If forced to flee, he turns to gaseous form and flies away, or uses a scroll of dimension door to jump to somewhere safe (or at least away).


Items of Note:

Desert Wind Cloak (Novice – Distracting Ember) of Charisma +6 (59,000gp)
Ghost Shroud (5,000gp)
Amulet of Mighty Fists +5 and Health +6 (206,000gp)
Bracers of Armor +8 (64,000gp)
Ring of Invisibility (20,000gp)
Gloves of Dexterity +6 (36,000gp)
Heward’s Handy Haversack (2,000gp)
Various useful scrolls from the Trapsmith spell list (spending a good amount on his personal stash)
Masterwork Tools of all his skills



The Ingredient

{table=head] Epic Infiltrator Trait | Build’s Substitution

Alertness | Alertness

Polyglot | Speak Language + Master Linguist (total of 65 languages known)

Improved Cover Identity | Spymaster’s Cover Identity, undetectable alignment

Sneak Attack +4d6 | Sneak Attack +5d6

Read Thoughts | Cabinet Trickster’s Detect Thoughts

Mind Blank | Deformity (madness) and Spymaster’s Deep Cover ability

Far Senses | Trapsmith’s spellcasting

Specialist Training | Skill Points, Doppleganger Insight [/table]




Sources

Dungeonscape
Eberron Campaign Setting
Complete Warrior
Complete Scoundrel
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Races of Eberron
The SRD
Magic Item Compendium
Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords
Complete Adventurer
Heroes of Horror
Elder Evils
Champions of Ruin

[mattie_p]

Joining in with He who must not be named, we have...



He Who Has No Name

The Build

Grey Elf Rogue 3/Psion 17

{table=head] Ability | Point Buy (Cost) | Racial | Level | Final

Strength | 8 (0) | -2 | +0 | 6

Dexterity | 8 (0) | +2 | +0 | 10

Constitution | 16 (10) | -2 | +0 | 14

Intelligence | 18 (16) | +2 | +5 | 25

Wisdom | 12 (4) | +0 | +0 | 12

Charisma | 10 (2) | +0 | +0 | 10 [/table]

{table=head]
Level (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Class (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Base Attack Bonus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Fort Save (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Ref Save (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Will Save (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Skills (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Feats (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Class Features (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233)

1st | Rogue |
+0 |
+2 |
+2 |
+1 | Bluff +4, Craft (Trapmaking) +4, Diplomacy +4, Disable Device +4, Disguise +4, Forgery +4, Hide +4, Knowledge (Local) +4, Listen +4, Open Lock +4, Search +4, Sleight of Hand +4, Spot +4 | Wild Talent | Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding

2nd | Rogue |
+1 |
+2 |
+3 |
+1 | Bluff +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Diplomacy +1, Disable Device +1, Disguise +1, Forgery +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (Local) +1, Listen +1, Open Lock +1, Search +1, Sleight of Hand +1, Spot +1 | | Evasion

3rd | Rogue |
+2 |
+3 |
+3 |
+2 | Bluff +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Diplomacy +1, Disable Device +1, Disguise +1, Forgery +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (Local) +1, Listen +1, Open Lock +1, Search +1, Sleight of Hand +1, Spot +1 | Overchannel | Sneak Attack +2d6, Trap Sense +1

4th | Psion(Telepath) |
+2 |
+3 |
+3 |
+4 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Diplomacy +1, Disguise +1, Psicraft +1, Spot +1 | Practiced Manifester | Bonus Feat (Practiced Manifester), Discipline (Telepathy)

5th | Psion |
+3 |
+3 |
+3 |
+5 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Diplomacy +1, Disguise +1, Psicraft +1, Spot +1 | |

6th | Psion |
+3 |
+4 |
+4 |
+5 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Diplomacy +1, Disguise +1, Psicraft +1, Spot +1 | Martial Study (Shadow Jaunt) |

7th | Psion |
+4 |
+4 |
+4 |
+6 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Diplomacy +1, Disguise +1, Psicraft +1, Spot +1 | |

8th | Psion |
+4 |
+4 |
+4 |
+6 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +1, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | Expanded Knowledge (Clairvoyant Senses) | Bonus Feat (Expanded Knowledge)

9th | Psion |
+5 |
+5 |
+5 |
+7 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +1, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | Talented |

10th | Psion |
+5 |
+5 |
+5 |
+7 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +1, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | |

11th | Psion |
+6/+1 |
+5 |
+5 |
+8 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +1, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | |

12th | Psion |
+6/+1 |
+6 |
+6 |
+8 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +1, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | Expanded Knowledge (Metamorphosis) |

13th | Psion |
+7/+2 |
+6 |
+6 |
+9 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +1, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | Extend Power | Bonus Feat (Extend Power)

14th | Psion |
+7/+2 |
+6 |
+6 |
+9 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +1, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | |

15th | Psion |
+8/+3 |
+7 |
+7 |
+10 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +1, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | Martial Stance (Assassin's Stance) |

16th | Psion |
+8/+3 |
+7 |
+7 |
+10 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +2, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | |

17th | Psion |
+9/+4 |
+8 |
+8 |
+11 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +2, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | |

18th | Psion |
+9/+4 |
+8 |
+8 |
+11 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +2, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | Metapower Metapower | Bonus Feat (Metapower)

19th | Psion |
+10/+5 |
+9 |
+9 |
+12 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +2, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | |

20th | Psion |
+11/+6/+1 |
+9 |
+9 |
+12 | Autohypnosis +1, Bluff +1, Concentration +1, Craft (Trapmaking) +1, Disguise +1, Knowledge (Psionics) +2, Psicraft +1, Use Magic Device +1, Use Psionic Device +1 | | [/table] Total Skill Ranks: Authypnosis +17, Bluff +23, Concentration +17, Craft (Trapmaking) +19, Diplomacy +10, Disguise +23, Forgery +6, Hide +6, Knowledge (Local) +6, Knowledge (Psionics) +18, Listen +6, Open Lock +6, Psicraft +17, Search +6, Sleight of Hand +6, Spot +10, Use Magic Device +13, Use Psionic Device +13

Maneuvers and Stances: Maneuvers Known-Shadow Jaunt (Martial Study, usable once per encounter), Stances Known-Assassin's Stance

Psionics

PP (without items): 320

{table=head]
Level (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) |
Powers (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233) Known (Level)

1st | None

2nd | None

3rd | None

4th | Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1)

5th | Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1)

6th | Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2)

7th | Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2)

8th | Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tounges(2), False Sensory Input(3)

9th | Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(2), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3)

10th | Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(2), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Dominate(4), Psionic Modify Memory(4)

11th | Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(2), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Dominate(4), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4)

12th | Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(2), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Dominate(4), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4), Mind Probe(5), Shatter Mind Blank(5)

13th | Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(3), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Dominate(4), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4), Mind Probe(5), Shatter Mind Blank(5), Incarnate(5), Stygian Domination(5)

14th | Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(3), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Dominate(4), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4), Mind Probe(5), Shatter Mind Blank(5), Incarnate(5), Stygian Domination(5), Mass Cloud Mind(6), Temporal Acceleration(6),

15th | Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(3), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Dominate(4), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4), Mind Probe(5), Shatter Mind Blank(5), Incarnate(5), Stygian Domination(5), Mass Cloud Mind(6), Temporal Acceleration(6), Psionic Overland Flight(6), Psionic Contingency(6)

16th | Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(3), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Dominate(4), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4), Mind Probe(5), Shatter Mind Blank(5), Incarnate(5), Stygian Domination(5), Mass Cloud Mind(6), Temporal Acceleration(6), Psionic Overland Flight(6), Psionic Contingency(6), Mind Blank, Personal(7), Crisis of Life(7),

17th | Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(3), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Dominate(4), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4), Mind Probe(5), Shatter Mind Blank(5), Incarnate(5), Stygian Domination(5), Mass Cloud Mind(6), Temporal Acceleration(6), Psionic Overland Flight(6), Psionic Contingency(6), Mind Blank, Personal(7), Crisis of Life(7), Psionic Phase Door(7), Divert Teleport(7)

18th | Extended Psionic Dominate(4) (Metapower), Extended Personal Mind Probe(7) (Metapower), Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(3), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4), Shatter Mind Blank(5), Incarnate(5), Stygian Domination(5), Mass Cloud Mind(6), Temporal Acceleration(6), Psionic Overland Flight(6), Psionic Contingency(6), Personal Mind Blank(7), Crisis of Life(7), Psionic Phase Door(7), Divert Teleport(7), Psionic Greater Teleport(8), Psionic Mind Blank(8)

19th | Extended Psionic Dominate(4) (Metapower), Extended Personal Mind Probe(5) (Metapower), Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(3), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4), Shatter Mind Blank(5), Incarnate(5), Sytgian Domination(5), Mass Cloud Mind(6), Temporal Acceleration(6), Psionic Overland Flight(6), Psionic Contingency(6), Personal Mind Blank(7), Crisis of Life(7), Psionic Phase Door(7), Divert Teleport(7), Psionic Greater Teleport(8), Psionic Mind Blank(8), Decerebrate(7), Shadow Body(8)

20th | Extended Psionic Dominate(4) (Metapower), Extended Mind Probe(5) (Metapower), Metamorphosis (Expanded Knowledge), Clairvoyant Sense (Expanded Knowledge), Psionic Charm(1), Disable(1), Telepathic Projection(1), Mind Link(1), Conceal Thoughts(1), Cloud Mind(2), Read Thoughts(2), Psionic Suggestion(2), Thought Shield(2), Psionic Tongues(3), False Sensory Input(3), Time Hop(3), Touchsight(3), Psionic Modify Memory(4), Schism(4), Detect Remote Viewing(4) Shatter Mind Blank(5), Incarnate(5), Stygian Domination(5), Mass Cloud Mind(6), Temporal Acceleration(6), Psionic Overland Flight(6), Psionic Contingency(6), Personal Mind Blank(7), Crisis of Life(7), Psionic Phase Door(7), Divert Teleport(7), Psionic Greater Teleport(8), Psionic Mind Blank(8), Decerebrate(7), Shadow Body(8), Assimilate(9), Psionic Etherealness(9) [/table] Equipment and Experience Expenditures

{table=head] Item Name | Cost in GP | Cost in XP | Reason for Having

Auto Reset Extended Personal Mind Blank Trap | 70,000 | 7,000 | Free Mind Blank effect on at all times

Auto Reset Extended Metamorphosis Trap | 40,000 | 4,000 | Free Metamorphosis for easy form changing

Incarnate Conceal Thoughts | | 500 | Fits the character and archetype

Incarnate Detect Remote Viewing | | 2,000 | Fits the character and archetype

Incarnate Psionic Tongues | | 1,000 | Emulates Polyglot

Psionic Contingency | | 15 | Extra protection

Bag of Holding III | 7,400 | | Storage for mind raped people

Bottle of Air | 7,250 | | Air for mind raped people

Decanter of Endless Water | 9,000 | | Water for mind raped people

Sustaining Spoon x2 | 5,400 | | Food for mind raped people

Total | 139,050 gp | 14515 xp | [/table]



The Tale

Rayen Soliu: The early years (Levels 1-5)

He Who Has No Name was born with the name Rayen Soliu in the city of Threestreams. His family was poor and his mother, Vereesha Soliu, and father, Jharen Solie, worked as informants for the local gang called The Ravens. Eventually, a rival gang called Three Knives found out about Vereesha and Jharen and killed them. Rayen, having no one else to turn to joined The Ravens as a way to take revenge for his parent's death. In the gang, Rayen met a man named Picks who took Rayen under his wing and mentored him as well as gave him a home. From Picks Rayen learned how to open locks without a key, how to keep a trap from springing and how to make a document look like it had been written by the king. Rayen put his great intellect to work and became prized in the gang as a scout, diplomat, con man and infiltrator. Picks also gave Rayen a book, detailing a mysterious art called Shadow Hand, which Picks felt could aid Rayen in his endeavors. During this time with Picks, Rayen felt a strange power building inside of him. He had no idea as to what it was or how to harness it and kept this secret to himself.

Rayen, who always worked behind the lines for the gang, felt secure with his position and was slowly gaining more experience in the art of subterfuge. The power within Rayen was growing to and he found a way in which to channel his life force into the power to expand its potential. He decided that had better learn to control this power. If it could feed off of his vitality then it could be a threat. Breaking his silence Rayen told Picks about this power. Picks theorized that it might be the result of something known as Psionics but Rayen mentor could offer no more help. However, before Rayen could peruse this new avenue disaster struck. The Three Knives gang finally found Rayen and Picks and attacked them. Picks told Rayen to run and as the you grey elf ran off he could see over his shoulder his mentor getting stabbed to death.

Now distraught Rayen left The Ravens and, using his knowledge of bluffing and forgery, got citizenship papers for himself. He then went to the city guards and gave them the location of the Three Knives in exchange for some money. Rayen used this money to enter into a psionic college where he began to practice the powers of the mind. The art of telepathy seemed to be the most useful to Rayen as he felt that the mind was the thing people guarded the least. He became a telepath and started learning how to manipulate his target's emotions, link two minds together and hide his true thoughts from others.

At this point He Who Has No name isn't really that powerful. His sneak attack would be effective if not for the fact that he has horrid Strength. He has a lot of skills however and could pretty easily be a skill monkey but a Factotem could do it better. His small array of Psionic powers are all rather subtle but he has 11 power points so he can pretty much throw Disable and Psionic Charm everywhere. He also has Practiced Manifester which grants him +3 manifester level so he can use some of the Augments for his powers.

The Path to Paranoia (Levels 6-10)

At the psionic college Rayen met a young elf maiden name Cellador who was also studying psionics. The two fell in love and left the college though they still privately studied psionics. Eventually they got married and Cellador became pregnant with Rayen's child. Rayen, also picked put the book Picks had given him and started to study it. Soon Rayen learned how to jump from shadow to shadow and move between areas of darkness. He also continued on the path of telepathy, learning how to modfiy people's memories and also control their minds.

However, yet again disaster struck when the leader of The Ravens, a human wizard named Grus, broke into Rayen's house while he was away and killed Cellador. Grus left a note explaining of how the members of Three Knives that Rayen sold out had let spill the location of The Ravens in return for being spared from the gallows. As a result The Ravens were captured, save Grus and a few of his close allies, and executed. Rayen, now paranoid about people finding him decided that if being Rayen was trecherous he would simply be someone else.

Yay! Just got Psionic Dominate! At this point He Who Has No Name is a pretty good support manifester. He can pretty easily disable and/or mind rape people with his wide array of telepathic powers. In addition Rayen has Clairvoyant Sense which has a wide range of purposes. He also gets Shadow Jaunt which lets him be a little more 'infiltratory' by teleporting short distances. However a lot of his powers are Mind Effecting making Undead, Plant, Vermin and Constructs a problem. If faced with those He Who Has No Name could just Metamorphosis into something.

Becoming nameless (Levels 11-15)

With this new goal of becoming unknown to the world Rayen delved into his psionic studies. He learned how to alter his form was as to masquerade as someone else. Using the teachings from Picks' book Rayen discovered how to hold himself so as to inflict the most damage with a well placed or surprising attack. He also became adept at making his powers last much longer than normal, enabling him to stay under his protective powers for longer as well as telepathically influence people's actions for multiple weeks.

Ok now things start to get pretty good. He Who Has No Name gets contingencies, Schism, Temporal Acceleration and a number of other goodies. Mind rape is second nature to Rayen now and with Extend Power he can have his Psionic Domination last 30 days. Shatter Mind Blank help with getting past the bane of all mind effecting specialists. Also He Who Has No Name has Stygian Domination so Undead are not as much of a problem anymore. Still has no good way of beating other things naturally immune however.

Forgotten by all (Levels 16-20)

Rayen, now with a potent arsenal of psionic mind warping powers and mundane sneaking knowhow begin to see his plan come to completion. He used his psionic energy to permanently enhance himself with the ability to speak any language, known when others were scrying on him, and hide his true thoughts. Now using his knowledge of magical traps from his yearly days working for The Ravens Rayen constructed two devices. One would enable his to shield his mind from other telepathic powers as well as divination while the other would let him change form at will. With his plan of using mind probes and shape changing to assume any identity Rayen became satisfied that he would never be bothered again. He may still be among us, he may have died. Nobody will probably ever know.

Well, now with 9th level powers and some repeating psionic trap cheese He Who Has No Name is at his peak. Still, those !@#* Constructs are a pain in the butt. At least Assimilate or Decerebrate can be used to get rid of Plants and Vermin and Stygian Domination can be used to deal with Undead. I'll explain the details of how he goes about his day in The Plan section below

The Plan

So here is He Who Has No Name's plan for how to remain more or less undetectable.

Step 1: Use his traps of Personal Mind Blank and Metamorphosis to take a form different than himself and also get a Mind Blank effect. Also have incarnate Conceal Thoughts, Detect Remote Viewing and Tounges (+10 to Bluff and +4 to Will saves vs Mind Effecting stuff, ability to know who is scrying on him and were they are and the ability to speak every language). Use Psionic Contingency to have it manifest Personal Mind Blank should the one from his trap get removed. Put the Bottle of Air, Sustaining Spoons and Decanter of Endless Water in the Bag of Holding III.

Step 2: When He Who Has No Name needs a new identity he manifests Schism and then, next round, manifests Shatter Mind Blank and Extended Psionic Dominate on the person he wants to emulate. He Who Has No Name then puts that person in his bag of holding III and then interviews them (mundane I know but effective). He Who Has No Name uses the interview to find out the basics of that person's life such as close friends, were they live and other things. The dominated person can live in the Bag of Holding III forever thanks to the Bottle of Air, Sustaining Spoons and Decanter of Endless Water. When He Who Has No Name needs to assume that person's identity he manifests Extended Mind Link with the person and uses his Metamorphosis trap to change into the person. While masquerading as the person should anything come up that He Who Has No Name does not know how to respond to as the person he is disguised as He Who Has No Name quickly asks the person in his Bag of Holding with Extended Mind Link. And viola! You now have a near perfect disguise!

Step 2 alternative: Manifest Schism and then just use Shatter Mind Blank and then Extended Mind Probe on someone. Once you have all the info you need manifest Modify Memory so that they don't know you were ever in their head.

Step 3: Amass a large number of people in your Bag of Holding and switch between their identities as you wish. If someone needs killing use Assimilate, Decerabrate or Crisis of Life. If someone sees you, run off and then use Modify Memory to erase yourself from their minds. If you need to escape use Psionic Etherealness, Shadow Body, Psionic Greater Teleport or Psionic Phase Door. Re-manifest Extended Psionic Dominate on your mind raped minions every 40 days.

Step 4: Live however you want, stealing identities and remaining unknown to the world.
The Cheese

So here are some ideas I had but did not include in the because I felt that they too cheesy. I was trying to serve a nice fluffy, strong, flavorful dish. I was not aiming for a 5 course fondue party. So here are the ideas I scrapped that could have fit.



1. Metapower Math: Replace the two Metapower feats at 18th level with Linked Power and Metapower. Metapower a Linked Bestow Power. Now get a Torc of Power Preservation. The Torc reduces the cost to manifest all powers by 1 (minimum 1). It states in Linked Power that the cost of manifesting Linked Power is the cost it would take to manifest the second power. In this case it is 3 PP for Bestow Power. Now it also states in Metapower that the cost of modifying a power with Metapsionics is reduced by 2 (minimum 0). So now the cost of the Linked Power is +1 PP if the second power manifested is Bestow Power. However the Torc of Power Preservation reduces the cost of all powers by -1. So manifest Linked Bestow Power with the second power also Bestow Power for a total cost of 3 PP and a total gain of 4 PP. Net gain of 1 PP and thus infinite PP.



2. Overchanneled into Epic: Replace Psionic Overland Flight with Psychic Reformation. Have someone Greater Metamorphosis you into a creature with 21 or more Hit Dice (max 23)by using Overchannel. Now use Psychic Reformation to reassign your skill points. Now manifest Psychic Reformation which lets you reassign your skill points, feats and powers from past levels (at the cost of some xp). Because of your higher Hit Dice you can put more skill points in to any given skill and thus gain epic level skills. When the Greater Metamorphosis ends you go back to having your normal Hit Dice but you now have epic skills.

The Infiltrator


{table=head] Epic Infiltrator ability/feature | How it was emulated

Epic skills | Overchanneled into Epic trick

Polyglot | Incarnate Psionic Tounges

Alertness | None (though He Who Has No Name could use Psychic Reformation to reassign his feats)

Cover Identify | Bluff and Disguise check bonuses are emulated by Incarnate Conceal Thoughts and Metamorphosis. Multiple identities fluff is emulated with the whole mind rape then interview then Mind Link trick described in The Plan

Sneak Attack | Rouge levels and Assasin's Stance

Specialist Training | Was not emulated

Read Thoughts | Psionic power Read Thoughts

Far Senses | Partially emulated by Clairvoyant Senses

Mind Blank | Auto Reset Extended Personal Mind Blank trap [/table]

The Sources

The System Reference Document: (http://www.d20srd.org/index.htm) Basically everything

Complete Psionic: Practiced Manifester, Metapower, Linked Power, Stygian Domination

Tome of Battle: Martial Study, Martial Stance, Maneuvers and stances

[mattie_p]

You're not just psychic, you're a future psychic!


Abilities @ level 1 before racial mods STR: 8 DEX: 17 CON: 10 INT: 15 WIS: 11 CHA: 14

Race: Draconic Greensnake Naga (LA +2: both levels bought off)- Lv 1 abilities after racial mods STR: 12 DEX: 21 CON: 16 INT: 17 WIS: 13 CHA: 16

Level up bonuses: 4-INT 8-STR 12-DEX 16-DEX 20-DEX

Final ability scores before items: STR: 13 DEX: 24 CON: 16 INT: 18 WIS: 13 CHA: 16

Ability Scores After Items: STR:13 DEX:34 CON:22 INT:22 WIS:13 CHA:22

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

1st|Psychic Rogue 1|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+0|Autohypnosis +4 (3), Balance +6 (1), Bluff +7 (4), Concentration +4 (1), Diplomacy +5 (2), Disguise +7 (4), Hide +9 (4), Forgery +4 (1), Gather Information +5 (2), Knowledge (psionics) +6 (3), Move Silently +9 (4), Psicraft +6 (3), Sense Motive +2 (1), Tumble +6 (1), Use Magic Device +4 (1)|Psycrystal Affinity|Sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding

2nd|Psychic Rogue 2|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+0|Autohypnosis +5 (4), Balance +7 (2), Bluff +8 (5), Concentration +5 (2), Diplomacy +6 (3), Disguise +8 (5), Knowledge (psionics) +7 (4), Move Silently +10 (5), Psicraft +7 (4)|-|Evasion

3rd|Psychic Rogue 3|
+2|
+1|
+3|
+1|Autohypnosis +6 (5), Balance +8 (3), Bluff +9 (6), Concentration +6 (3), Diplomacy +7 (4), Disguise +9 (6), Knowledge (psionics) +8 (5), Move Silently +11 (6), Psicraft +8 (5)|Weapon Finesse|--

4th|Psychic Rogue 4|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+1|Autohypnosis +7 (6), Balance +9 (4), Bluff +10 (7), Concentration +7 (4), Diplomacy +8 (5), Disguise +10 (7), Hide +10 (5), Knowledge (psionics) +10 (6), Move Silently +12 (7), Psicraft +10 (6)|-|Sneak attack +2d6

5th|Psychic Rogue 5|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+1|Autohypnosis +8 (7), Balance +10 (5), Bluff +11 (8), Concentration +8 (5), Diplomacy +9 (6), Disguise +11 (8), Hide +11 (6), Knowledge (psionics) +11 (7), Move Silently +13 (8), Psicraft +11 (7)|-|Danger sense

6th|Psychic Rogue 6|
+4|
+2|
+5|
+2|Autohypnosis +10 (9), Bluff +12 (9), Concentration +9 (6), Diplomacy +10 (7), Disguise +12 (9), Hide +13 (8), Knowledge (psionics) +12 (8), Move Silently +14 (9), Psicraft +12 (8)|Two Weapon Fighting|--

7th|Psychic Rogue 7|
+5|
+2|
+5|
+2|Bluff +13 (10), Concentration +10 (7), Diplomacy +11 (8), Disguise +13 (10), Hide +14 (9), Knowledge (psionics) +13 (9), Move Silently +15 (10), Psicraft +13 (9), Sense Motive +4 (3), Use Magic Device +6 (3) |-|Sneak attack +3d6, Danger sense (uncanny dodge)

8th|Psychic Rogue 8|
+6|
+2|
+6|
+2|Bluff +14 (11), Concentration +11 (8), Diplomacy +13 (10), Disguise +14 (11), Hide +17 (11), Knowledge (psionics) +14 (10), Move Silently +17 (11), Psicraft +14 (10)|-|--

9th|Psychic Rogue 9|
+6|
+3|
+6|
+3|Bluff +15 (12), Concentration +12 (9), Diplomacy +14 (11), Disguise +15 (12), Hide +18 (12), Knowledge (psionics) +15 (11), Move Silently +18 (12), Psicraft +15 (11),Skill Trick:Second Impression |Psionic Weapon|Danger sense (improved uncanny dodge)

10th|Psychic Rogue 10|
+7|
+3|
+7|
+3|Bluff +16 (13), Concentration +13 (10), Diplomacy +15 (12), Disguise +16 (13), Hide +19 (13), Knowledge (psionics) +16 (12), Move Silently +19 (13), Psicraft +16 (12), Skill Trick:Acrobatic Backstab|-|Sneak attack +4d6

11th|Psychic Rogue 11|
+8|
+3|
+7|
+3|Bluff +17 (14), Concentration +14 (11), Diplomacy +16 (13), Disguise +17 (14), Hide +20 (14), Knowledge (psionics) +17 (13), Move Silently +20 (13), Psicraft +17 (13), Use Magic device +5 (2)|-|Special ability (Mind Cripple)

12th|Psychic Rogue 12|
+9|
+4|
+8|
+4|Bluff +21 (15), Concentration +16 (12), Diplomacy +17 (14), Disguise +18 (15), Forgery +7 (3) Knowledge (psionics) +18 (14), Psicraft +18 (14), Sense Motive +5 (4), Skill Trick:Assume Quirk|Skill Focus (Bluff)|--

13th|Psychic Rogue 13|
+9|
+4|
+8|
+4|Bluff +22 (16), Concentration +17 (13), Diplomacy +18 (15), Disguise +19 (16),Gather Information +7 (4), Knowledge (psionics) +19 (15), Psicraft +19 (15)|-|Sneak attack +5d6

14th|Shadowmind 1|
+13|
+5|
+15|
+7|Bluff +23 (17), Concentration +18 (14), Diplomacy +19 (16), Disguise +20 (17), Use Magic Device +15 (12)|-|Read Thoughts

15th|Spymaster 1|
+10|
+4|
+11|
+4|Bluff +24 (18), Diplomacy +20 (17), Disguise +21 (18), Tumble +12 (5), Speak Language (Elven), Speak Language (Dwarven), Speak Language (Draconic), Speak Language (Goblin)|Deep Impact| Cover Identity, Undetectable Alignment

16th|Spymaster 2|
+11|
+4|
+12|
+4|Bluff +25 (19), Diplomacy +21 (18), Disguise +22 (17), Tumble +16 (8), Speak Language (Celestial), Speak Language (Orc), Speak Language (Sylvan), Use Magic Device +7 (4)|-| Quick Change, Scrying Defense

17th|Spymaster 3|
+12|
+5|
+12|
+5|Bluff +26 (20), Disguise +23 (18), Sleight of Hand +8 (3), Tumble +18 (10), Use Magic Device +9 (6) |-| Magic Aura, Sneak attack +6d6

18th|Spymaster 4|
+13|
+5|
+13|
+5|Bluff +27 (21), Disguise +24 (21), Spot +9 (6), Use Magic Device +12 (9) |Psycrystal Containment| Cover Identity, Slippery Mind

19th|Spymaster 5|
+13|
+5|
+13|
+5|Bluff +28 (22), Disguise +25 (22), Forgery +10 (6), Gather Information +9 (6), Spot +12 (9), Use Magic Device +14 (11)|-|Dispel Scrying

20th|Psychic Rogue 14|
+10|
+4|
+9|
+4|Bluff +29 (23),Disguise +26 (23), Spot +13 (10), Forgery +8 (4), Use Magic Device +16 (13)|-|Special ability (Skill Mastery- Autohypnosis, Concentration, Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Hide, Move Silently, Tumble, Psicraft)[/table]


PP per day
{table=head]Level|PP

1st|1|

2nd|4|

3rd|6|

4th|12|

5th|16|

6th|20|

7th|24|

8th|28|

9th|34|

10th|40|

11th|46|

12th|52|

13th|58|

14th|68|

15th|68|

16th|68|

17th|68|

18th|68|

19th|68|

20th|78|[/table]



Powers Known
{table=head]Level|1st|2nd|3rd|4th

1st|1|-|-|-

2nd|2|-|-|-

3rd|3|-|-|-

4th|3|-|-|-

5th|3|1|-|-

6th|3|2|-|-

7th|3|3|-|-

8th|3|3|-|-

9th|3|3|1|-

10th|3|3|2|-

11th|3|3|3|-

12th|3|3|3|-

13th|3|3|3|1

14th|3|3|3|2

15th|3|3|3|2

16th|3|3|3|2

17th|3|3|3|2

18th|3|3|3|2

19th|3|3|3|2

20th|3|3|3|3[/table]


Known Powers

1st: Conceal Thoughts, Detect Psionics, Vigor
2nd: Concealing Amorpha, Feat Leech, Psionic Levitate
3rd: Body Adjustment, Mental Barrier, Psionic Keen Edge
4th: Psionic Dimension Door, Psionic Freedom of Movement


Psycrystal

Uses Feat Leech to grab feats whenever.
Resolved personality.
Feats- Psionic Meditation (1)
Enlarge Power(3)
Psionic Body(6)
Extend Power(9)
Expanded Knowledge(12)
Psionic Talent(15)


Items

Non-Slotted Items

Weapons: +3 Power Storing Prismatic Burst Wounding Rapier (102,320), Rod of Withering (25,000), +1 Quick Loading Seeking Hand Crossbow (18,400), +1 Quick Loading Warning Hand Crossbow (18,400), 150 Mundane Arrows, 50 +1 Corossive Arrows
General: Eternal Wand of Clairaudience/Clairvoyance (10,900), Strand of Acid Pearls (10,700), Handy Haversack (2,000), Skin of Fiendish Embrace (24,000), Masterwork tool of Disguise (50), Masterwork tool of Bluff (50), Masterwork tool of Diplomacy (50), Forger's Paper x3 (30), Focusing Candle (100)
Manuals/Tomes: Manual of quickness in action +4 (110,000), Tome of understanding +4(110,000)
Slotted Items

Arms: Bracers of Lightning (11,000)
Body: +1 Silent Moves Shadow Blurring Leafweave Padded Armor (13,160)
Hands: Gloves of Dexterity +6 (36,000)
Head: Circlet of Persusasion (4,500)
Face: Third Eye Conceal (120,000)
Feet: Boots of Tracklesness (11,000)
Rings: Ring of Chameleon Power (12,700), Ring of Blinking (27,000)
Shoulders: Minor Cloak of Displacement (24,000)
Throat: Amulet of Health +6 (36,000)
Torso: Vest of Resistance +5 (25,000)
Weapon Crystal(s): Greater Truedeath Crystal (on rapier)(10,000)

Backstory
Born in a typical tribe of Greensnakes, Minna was always good at sneaking around and pretending to be other people. When she hit puberty, she started to develop strange abilities, like no one had ever seen before. When she grew up and left her tribe, she took to stealing, always hiding her true identity when she did so. Disguising herself as a human by making her tail into a pair of legs, she would then use her natural knack for disguising herself to pose as a guard anywhere there were valuables being held, then take what she wanted, seeming to disappear into thin air. As she grew more powerful, she also grew more bold. So far she has a list of criminal exploits as long as her tail, and hasn't been caught yet. Currently, she is pretending to be the adviser to a powerful king, and siphoning money away from the treasury. Soon, she plans on replacing him on the throne. No one will ever know the difference.


Sources
DMG, PHB, CAdv, CS, EPH, MiC, OA, RotD, http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b

[mattie_p]

"Who are you? I must know!"



TAM
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130214181726/eberron/images/6/6f/82084.jpg
The Tale of Tam
Tam was a child abandoned after her father discovered her true nature. Apparently, her mother had never told her father that she wasn’t the lithe elf she appeared to be.

She was picked up by a minor changeling gang that was eventually subsumed by the larger gang of the Tyrants. It was them who gave her her initial training in the ways of the street, teaching her to lie like a cheap Karrnathi rug and how to near instantly assess a situation.

After being arrested by House Deneith, she realised what the Tyrants were doing to her, and she swore vengeance on them. She slowly began building her network, using a dozen different identities so as to conceal the fact that she was building a power base. Eventually, her scheming caught the attention of the Cabinet of Faces, who ‘invited’ her to join. Unfortunately, her mentor was slain by the Daask Gang in a crossfire as he was teaching her the theories behind advanced mind skimming techniques.

Years passed, and she became a near-legend in the underworld of Sharn – a vengeful angel that could appear as literally anyone. She could even successfully impersonate someone’s lover long enough to seduce them and kill them in their sleep.

It was only a few years ago, however, that she vanished. A few months later, the Sliver Flame had a new agent on the streets, hitting every metropolis except, suspiciously enough, Sharn. Common rumours claim that they are one and the same, but every now and then they’ll find a corpse of a Tyrant, lanced with a dozen arrows, and hear the tales of Tam resurge all over again.
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Changeling Rogue 1|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+0| Bluff 4, Disguise 4, Forgery 4, Gather Information 4, Hide 4, Knowledge (local) 4, Knowledge (nature) 2, Move Silently 4, Search 4, Sense Motive 4, Speak Language 2, Tumble 4, UMD 4 |Able Learner, Point Blank ShotF, Master LinguistF|Sneak attack +1d6, social intuition

2nd|Rogue 2|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+0|Bluff 5, Disguise 5, Gather Information 5, Hide 5, Knowledge (local) 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 5, UMD 5, Assume QuirkST||Evasion

3rd|Urban Ranger 1|
+2|
+2|
+5|
+0|Bluff 6, Disguise 6, Gather Information 6, Hide 6, Knowledge (local) 6, Move Silently 6, Sense Motive 6, UMD 6|Knowledge Devotion, Urban TrackingB|Divine connection, rival organization (The Tyrants)

4th|Urban Ranger 2|
+3|
+3|
+6|
+0|Bluff 7, Disguise 7, Gather Information 7, Move Silently 7, Sense Motive 7, UMD 7, Second ImpressionST|Rapid ShotB|Combat style (archery)

5th|Urban Ranger 3|
+4|
+3|
+6|
+1|Bluff 8, Disguise 8, Gather Information 8, Hide 7, Knowledge (local) 7, Move Silently 8, Sense Motive 8, UMD 8|EnduranceB|

6th|Urban Ranger 4|
+5|
+4|
+7|
+1|Bluff 9, Disguise 9, Forgery 5, Gather Information 9, Sense Motive 9, UMD 9, Collector of StoriesST|Persona Immersion|Urban companion

7th|Cabinet Trickster 1|
+5|
+4|
+9|
+3| Bluff 10, Disguise 10, Forgery 6, Gather Information 10, Hide 8, Knowledge (local) 8, Sense Motive 10, UMD 10||Detect thoughts 2/day, doppelganger insights

8th|Cabinet Trickster 2|
+6/+1|
+4|
+10|
+4|Bluff 11, Disguise 11, Gather Information 11, Hide 9, Knowledge (local) 9, Move Silently 9, Sense Motive 11, UMD 11|Racial EmulationB|Thought trick (daze)

9th|Cabinet Trickster 3|
+7/+2|
+5|
+10|
+4| Bluff 12, Disguise 12, Gather Information 12, Hide 10, Knowledge (local) 10, Move Silently 10, Sense Motive 12, UMD 12|Precise Shot|Detect thoughts 4/day, thought trick (disrupt)

10th|Urban Ranger 5|
+8/+3|
+5|
+10|
+4| Bluff 13, Disguise 13, Gather Information 13, Hide 11, Knowledge (local) 11, Move Silently 11, Sense Motive 13, UMD 13||Rival organization (Daask Gang)

13th|Urban Ranger 6|
+9/+4|
+6|
+11|
+5| Bluff 14, Disguise 14, Forgery 7, Gather Information 14, Hide 12, Knowledge (local) 12, Move Silently 12, UMD 14 |ManyshotB|Improved combat style

12th|Changeling Rogue 3|
+10/+5|
+7|
+11|
+6| Bluff 15, Disguise 15, Forgery 9, Gather Information 15, Hide 13, Knowledge (dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (local) 13, Move Silently 13, UMD 15 |Darkstalker|Minor lore, sneak attack +2d6

13th|Urban Ranger 7|
+11/+6/+1|
+7|
+11|
+6|Bluff 16, Disguise 16, Forgery 10, Gather Information 16, Hide 14, Knowledge (local) 14, Move Silently 14, UMD 16||

14th|Urban Ranger 8|
+12/+7/+2|
+8|
+12|
+6| Bluff 17, Disguise 17, Forgery 11, Gather Information 17, Hide 15, Knowledge (local) 15, Move Silently 15, UMD 17| |Swift tracker

15th|Urban Ranger 9|
+13/+8/+3|
+8|
+12|
+7| Bluff 18, Disguise 18, Forgery 12, Gather Information 18, Hide 16, Knowledge (local) 16, Move Silently 16, UMD 18|Natural Bond|Feign death

16th|Urban Ranger 10|
+14/+9/+4|
+9|
+13|
+7| Bluff 19, Disguise 19, Forgery 13, Gather Information 19, Hide 17, Knowledge (local) 17, Move Silently 17, UMD 19| |Rival organization (House Tarkanan)

17th|Urban Ranger 11|
+15/+10/+5|
+9|
+13|
+7| Bluff 20, Disguise 20, Forgery 14, Gather Information 20, Hide 18, Knowledge (local) 18, Move Silently 18, UMD 20|Improved Precise ShotB|Combat style mastery

18th|Shadowbane Stalker 1|
+15/+10/+5|
+9|
+15|
+9| Bluff 21, Disguise 21, Forgery 15, Gather Information 21, Hide 19, Knowledge (local) 19, Move Silently 19, UMD 21|Law Devotion|Detect evil, sacred stealth +4

19th|Shadowbane Stalker 2|
+16/+13/+6/+1|
+9|
+16|
+10| Bluff 22, Disguise 22, Forgery 16, Gather Information 22, Hide 20, Knowledge (local) 20, Move Silently 20, UMD 22| |Discover subterfuge +2

20th|Shadowbane Stalker 3|
+17/+12/+7/+2|
+10|
+16|
+10| Bluff 23, Disguise 23, Forgery 17, Gather Information 23, Hide 21, Knowledge (local) 21, Move Silently 21, UMD 23| |Sneak attack +3d6[/table]Flaws: Noncombatant, Vulnerable


Spells per day
{table=head]Level|1st|2nd|3rd|4th

1st|-|-|-|-

2nd|-|-|-|-

3rd|-|-|-|-

4th|-|-|-|-

5th|-|-|-|-

6th|0|-|-|-

7th|0|-|-|-

8th|0|-|-|-

9th|0|-|-|-

10th|0|-|-|-

13th|1|-|-|-

12th|1|-|-|-

13th|1|-|-|-

14th|1|0|-|-

15th|1|0|-|-

16th|1|1|-|-

17th|1|1|0|-

18th|1|1|1|-

19th|1|1|1|-

20th|2|1|1|0[/table]*Note: this does not include any bonus spells thanks to a high Wisdom score

General Information

Tam, female LN (shifts to LG at 17th level) changeling
Rogue 3/Urban Ranger 11/Cabinet Trickster 3/Shadowbane Stalker 3
STR 08, DEX 14, CON 14, INT 14, WIS 15, CHA 14
4th level up point goes into WIS, then everything else into CHA


Playing as Tam

At low levels, you’ll function mainly as a source of ranged damage (within 30ft to get the maximum out of your SA) with some minor skill-monkeying. She really shines when let into a social intrigue starting at about ECL 8 (see below for a more detailed explanantion). As she gains levels, her combat abilities improve with her bonus Ranger feats. She’s simultaneously an excellent and a horrendous scout – she can’t Spot (or Listen) worth a damn, but she can sneak up, observe a guard, then take him out and replace him. Then she doesn’t require perception skills – just her social ones.

She specialises in taking down the various gang members, but she has a small bonus (thanks to Knowledge Devotion) against foes affected by (nature) and (dungeoneering) Knowledge skills, thanks to Changeling Rogue levels and the Devotion feat itself granting her a new class skill of her choice of Knowledge. I picked out those two because they’re the monster types she’s most likely to face in Sharn.

How Tam emulates the Epic Infiltrator

Requirements: Tam naturally speaks 24 different languages (thanks to Master Linguist), benefits from Alertness whenever Hermes is within 5 feet, has maxed out Bluff/Disguise and is Lawful (Neutral). She fulfills the Special requirement often by going undercover in one of her rival organizations (usually the Tyrants, but occasionally the Daask Gang or House Tarkanan).

Improved cover identity: While not as amazing as the Epic Infiltrator, Tam has a potentially endless amount of covers – however, they are nowhere near as flawless as the Epic PrC. With Persona Immersion, she can feed the caster of any spell that tries to confirm her identity whatever answer she wants. Even if she fails the save, she could make a (high) Bluff check to fool them anyways. She’s even got a second shot if she blows it with the Second Impression skill trick. Assume Quirk denies people familiar with her cover (if she’s impersonating someone) their familiarity bonus.

Sneak Attack: +3d6 over 20 levels, as well as hunter’s eye to add more SA upon request (only CL 5, however, so only brings it to +5d6).

Specialist training: Tam has “taken” three specialist trainings; Concealment, Subterfuge and Interaction. She’s got completely maxed out Bluff and Disguise, and 17 ranks in Forgery. Along with Social intuition (changeling rogue ACF), she’s got it pretty well figured out. She’s got good Hide/Move Silently ranks in addition to Darkstalker and knock on her spell list, letting her nab a wand of it without having to UMD it (which she can do anyways, thanks to full UMD). Social intuition comes back to help out with Sense Motive for Interaction – she’s also got Gather Information in full, as well as an additional use for it (Urban Tracking) to help her track down how she’s intending on replacing.

Read thoughs: Hello, Cabinet Trickster. Detect thoughts as an (Su), with CL=ECL four times per day, with two additional uses (including a way to daze, a hard condition to become immune to).

Far senses: I wasn’t able to quite imitate this ability, but I grabbed something else. With Urban Companion, Natural Bond and an effective master level of 7th, I’m able to talk to all creatures of my companion’s type... and Hermes is a rat. Which are going to be nearly everywhere in Sharn. Failing that, I’ve got speak with animals as an SLA 3/day thanks to the divine connection ACF from Complete Champion.

Mind Blank: unfortunately, I’m going to have to buy this one. It also helps out with the Improved cover identity feature, though, given as how Mind Blank protects against mind-affecting spells and abilities.

Nooks and Crannies (sources)

Exemplars of Evil (Feign Death ACF)
Cityscape web enhancement (Urban Companion)
Complete Adventurer (Natural Bond feat, Shadowbane Stalker)
Complete Champion (Divine connection ACF, Devotion feats)
Complete Scoundrel (Skill tricks)
Lords of Madness (Darkstalker feat)
Player’s Handbook (Rogue class)
Races of Destiny (Able Learner feat)
Races of Eberron (Changeling race, feats, Cabinet Trickster PrC)
Sharn: City of Towers (Mainly fluff information, as well as the source for the rival organizations)
Unearthed Arcana (Flaws, Urban Ranger variant class)

[mattie_p]

I'll never tell.





Delda Visage, the Impossibly Insightful (If Irretrievably Insane and Insatiable) Inkeeper
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/eb20070129_changeling.jpg
LE Gravetouched Ghoul Human Factotum 8/Psion 1/Slayer 9/Zhentarim Spy 2


The Devilish Details

{table=head]Ability|Point Buy|Racial|Level|Final
Strength|14|+2|+0|16
Dexterity|12|+4|+0|16
Constitution|8|-|+0|-
Intelligence|18|+2|+4|24
Wisdom|8|+4|+0|12
Charisma|14|+2|+1|15[/table]

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

1st|Factotum 1|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+0|Multiattack, Point Blank Shot* Imperious Command|Inspiration, cunning insight, cunning knowledge

2nd|Factotum 2|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+0|-|Arcane dilettante (1 spell)

3rd|Factotum 3|
+2|
+1|
+3|
+1|Precise Shot* Font of Inspiration|Brains over brawn, cunning defense

4th|Factotum 4|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+1|-|Arcane dilettante (2 spells), cunning strike

5th|Factotum 5|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+1|-|Opportunistic piety

6th|Factotum 6|
+4|
+2|
+5|
+2|Able Learner** Font of Inspiration|-

7th|Factotum 7|
+5|
+2|
+5|
+2|-|Arcane dilettante (3 spells)

8th|Factotum 8|
+6|
+2|
+6|
+2|-|Cunning surge

9th|Erudite 1|
+6|
+2|
+6|
+4|Psicrystal Affinity, Track|Favored Discipline (psychometabolism)

10th|Slayer 1|
+7|
+2|
+6|
+6|-|Enemy sense, favored enemy +2

11th|Slayer 2|
+8|
+2|
+6|
+7|-|Brain nausea

12th|Slayer 3|
+9|
+3|
+7|
+7|Practiced Manifester|Lucid buffer

13th|Slayer 4|
+10|
+3|
+7|
+8|-|Favored enemy +4

14th|Slayer 5|
+11|
+3|
+7|
+8|-|-

15th|Slayer 6|
+12|
+4|
+8|
+9|Font of Inspiration|Cerebral blind

16th|Slayer 7|
+13|
+4|
+8|
+9|-|Favored enemy +6

17th|Slayer 8|
+14|
+4|
+8|
+10|-|Breach power resistance

18th|Slayer 9|
+15|
+5|
+9|
+10|Font of Inspiration|Cerebral immunity

19th|Zhentarim Spy 1|
+15|
+5|
+11|
+12|-|Cover identity

20th|Zhentarim Spy 2|
+16|
+5|
+12|
+13|-|Sneak attack +1d6, undetectable alignment[/table]
Since this build has all skills as class skills at all levels and minimal skill prerequisites (Psicraft 4 by level 9; Knowledge [dungeoneering] 4 by level 10; Bluff, Disguise, Forgery, and Gather Information 5 by level 19), I've omitted which skills should be taken at which levels for simplicity's (and my sanity's) sake.
*Feats removed by psychic reformation at 16
**Feats removed by psychic reformation at 20

Skill Ranks:
{table=head]Skill|Ranks
Autohypnosis|1
Bluff|18
Concentration|20
Craft|2 x 7 subskills = 14
Diplomacy|23
Disguise|20
Forgery|16
Gather Information|17
Intimidate|23
Knowledge (dungeoneering)|2
Knowledge (local)|7
Knowledge (nobility and royalty)|5
Knowledge (religion)|7
Knowledge (the planes)|7
Profession|2 x 2 subskills = 4
Psicraft|6
Sense Motive|18
Spot|10
Use Magic Device|23[/table]

XP budget
{table]Total|209,999
LA Buyoff|-16,000
Discipline Powers|860*
Psychic Reformation|-800
Remaining|192,339[/table]
*RAW, this should be 160, as the build has a single level of Erudite. This is, however, the less sensible ruling and so I've chosen to assume the cost of learning new powers to be equal to 20 x ML.

Power repertoire (level); 117 PP (without items)
Attraction (1)
Conceal Thoughts (1)
Create Sound (1)
Defensive Precognition (1)
Detect Psionics (1)
Empathy (1)
Expansion (1)*
Force Screen (1)
Metaphysical Claw (1)*
Synchronicity (1)CPsi
Thicken Skin (1)*
Vigor (1)
Damp Power (2)
Feat Leech (2)
Psionic Tongues (2)
Read Thoughts (2)*
Share Pain (2)
Psionic Keen Edge (3)
Realized Potential (3)CPsi
Tail of the Dragon (3)SoS*
Touchsight (3)
Ubiquitous Vision (3)
Metamorphosis (4)*
Psionic Dimension Door (4)
Psionic Divination (4)
Psionic Freedom of Movement (4)
Psychic Reformation (4)
Remote Viewing (4)*
Anticipatory Strike (5)CPsi
Empower Weapon (5)CPsi*
Mind Probe (5)*
Psionic True Seeing (5)

*Purchased with XP

A History of Hunger
Delda Visage was an excellent inkeeper. She remembered all her guests and was witty, gracious, and an excellent cook. From a small business by the side of the road from Ghalt to Cragwar she expanded to own a sprawling business of over fifteen inns across Thrane, but she still managed her original place by the side of the road, still served her county-wide famous stew, and still entertained the village's children with her storytelling, changing faces to portray each character in turn.

Sure, she had her faults. She was sometimes too sharp with her help when they were clumsy, and she had a mischievous sense of humor that rubbed some the wrong way. And, sure, sometimes she ate killed and ate her guests, but it was only ever lone travelers, and how else could she make such wonderful stew?

Eventually, of course, her appetites got the best of her. One fine spring day a young paladin rode to town and asked for a room. Big strong muscles he had on him. Tough meat to be sure, but Delda knew how to cook the toughness out of them. So she gave him the keys to her "special" room and gave her some of her "special" damson wine. Soon enough the boy was asleep at his cup, and she and one of her porters helped him into bed. Then in the night she stole in and dragged him from the bed and brought him to her abattoir. His horse she took out into the woods and left for the ravens. And in the morning she mentioned to the patrons that the boy'd gotten a message and rode off in the middle of the night.

Of course, she probably should have learned a bit more about the paladin before choosing him for the next night's meal. By noon a largish caravan could be seen coming down the road, and Delda began preparing for a profitable evening. She broke out her spices and began the night's stew while her maids began turning down beds. No one could be more surprised when the door opened to reveal a 12-year old girl in Silver Flame vestiture, flanked by two Cardinals. "Your holiness," Delda greeted Keeper Jaela Daran.

Evening came and Delda brought Jaela and the Cardinals their meals in a private dining room. She stayed with a disguised smirk on her face as the Cardinals dug into their bowls heartily, but just before the Keeper of the Silver Flame brought spoon to lips, she asked "Mistress Visage, perhaps you know what might have become of Eref Danbur, a young paladin I sent ahead of us."

Delda nearly panicked, but soon regained her composure. "I'm afraid not, your holiness," she lied. "He was indeed our guest last evening, but he left in the middle of the night on some errand."

Jaela frowned. "That cannot possibly be so. I ordered him to remain here."

"I really can't explain it, then, your holiness. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to the kitchen." She turned to leave, but the door opened on her nose to reveal a paladin even more muscular than Eref. Unfortunately for Delda, her knowledge of anatomy of animals other than humanoids was quite limited, and Eref's horse had survived what she thought was a killing blow. Also unfortunately for her, the paladin's mount was considerably more intelligent than a normal beast of burden, and had sought out the other paladins travelling with Jaela. Soon Eref's effects, and later those bits of him that had not been cooked, were found.

Her trial was swift, but her death was not.

Delda's supreme misdeeds must have amused some evil spirit, for her body did not remain inanimate long. She rose anew, with a gnawing hunger and her growing notoriety pushing her to travel far from home.

Levels 1-5
At these levels Delda is fairly fragile since she hasn't yet bought off her LA. However, between her excellent ability scores and her factotum abilities she's still quite able to keep up as an archer and face. She plays essentially the same as any other factotum archer.

Levels 6-10
Ah, now we're getting somewhere. At 6th and again at 9th levels Delda buys off her LA, and with XP as a river she rockets ahead. At 8th level she gains gains Cunning Surge, and after that forever leaves Factotum in favor of developing her psionic powers. She gains a psicrystal, which can scout a bit and boost her already prodigious initiative, as well as some powers to stay hidden, learn secrets, and toughen herself for battle.

Levels 11-10
At this point Delda has gained some very useful abilities, including pulling thoughts out of sleeping enemies' heads, growing a tail to add to her claws and bite, and healing herself using shared vigor and share pain. She will probably want to switch to melee combat now that she has no LA, but that does mean she's wasting two feats. She can somewhat make up for this by learning feats from her psicrystal. Tempting ones include Linked Power, Metapower, Expanded Knowledge, and Psionic Meditation.

Levels 16-20
At level 16, Delda learns psychic reformation, which lets her immediately turn the now useless Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot into Imperious Command and Font of Inspiration (she is immune to Mind-Affecting powers, but can drop this immunity). She also learns metamorphosis, which allows her to take more advantageous forms when she wishes to. She also gains some very useful immunities, such as to divinations, and gains an Extraordinary undetectable alignment effect. Her Craft and Profession skills let her set up nine different cover identities, and her considerable skills let her maintain them without any problems. Not only can she feast on whomever she wants, no one will can figure it out through other than mundane means.

"That stew was amazing! What's your secret?"
How the Hidden Hunger duplicates the Epic Infiltrator's abilities:
{table=head]Epic Infiltrator Ability/Prerequisite|Hidden Hunger Ability
Alertness|Psicrystal
Polyglot|Psionic Tongues (limited)
Improved Cover Identity|Cover Identity
Sneak Attack|Cunning strike, sneak attack
Specialist Training|Cunning insight, brains over brawn
Read Thoughts|Read thoughts power
Far Senses|Remote viewing power
Mind Blank|Cerebral blind, cerebral immunity[/table]

Non-SRD Sources
Class Chronicles (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070606) - Font of Inspiration
Complete Psionic – Erudite, Practiced Manifester, Powers
Drow of the Underdark – Imperious Command
Dungeonscape – Factotum
Eberron Campaign Setting – Changeling
Libris Mortis – Gravetouched Ghoul
Mind's Eye (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a) - Favored Discipline
Player's Guide to Faerun – Zhentarim Spy
Secrets of Sarlona – Power
Races of Destiny – Able Learner

[mattie_p]

That should be all of them. I appreciate your patience. Sauciers, if you see any errors from your submission let me know. Otherwise, let the speculation and judging begin!

[Kuulvheysoon]

I find it amusing that the last two competitors used the same image.

Tippy, you sure you didn't enter? Because that one build looks (almost) like something you'd pull off.

[Snowbluff]

It's a pretty awesome looking changeling. I would even note it as comely.

Also, in hindsight I think my build would have done quite well, and used next to nothing in common with the others.

[mattie_p]

I find it amusing that the last two competitors used the same image. I was tempted to PM the competitors and suggest they select a different image, but I elected not to. Mostly because there needs to be a first time for everything. Has that happened in IC yet?


Tippy, you sure you didn't enter? Because that one build looks (almost) like something you'd pull off.

Unless Tippy has an active pseudonym, he did not. :smallwink:

[Amidus Drexel]

Huh. None of you used void disciple.

...or very many of the other things I was planning on using. Huh.

[mattie_p]

It's a pretty awesome looking changeling. I would even note it as comely.

Also, in hindsight I think my build would have done quite well, and used next to nothing in common with the others.


Huh. None of you used void disciple.

...or very many of the other things I was planning on using. Huh.

All the more reason for both of you to enter next time. :smallbiggrin:

[Snowbluff]

All the more reason for both of you to enter next time. :smallbiggrin:

I think it would detract from the fun if I provide such stiff competition each time. Additionally, I may act as a judge as needed for this competition.

[mattie_p]

I think it would detract from the fun if I provide such stiff competition each time. Additionally, I may act as a judge as needed for this competition.

I think we'd welcome it. The more the merrier, for both competitors and judges.

[Humble Master]

Oh goodness. I would stand no chance against Snowbluff.

[Snowbluff]

Oh goodness. I would stand no chance against Snowbluff.

Not sure if humble or sarcastic. Then again, he does call himself 'master'.


Oh goodness. I would stand no chance against Snowbluff.

FTFY.

[Humble Master]

Not sure if humble or sarcastic. Then again, he does call himself 'master'.



FTFY. Well, it's just that I'm not that good at making optimized characters, just ones that are interesting/weird.

As for my name I like it because it sounds rather poetic and represents my view on achievement: "Do the best you can. Hone your skills and dedicate yourself to a goal. However, don't grow vain from your achievements. Always stay humble."

Also what does FTFY mean?

[Amidus Drexel]

Also what does FTFY mean?

Fixed that for you; Snowbluff's being humble. :smallwink:

[Snowbluff]

Fixed that for you; Snowbluff's being humble. :smallwink:

Ridiculous. I am lacking in all positive qualities. Humility included.

[Jeff the Green]

Tippy, you sure you didn't enter? Because that one build looks (almost) like something you'd pull off.

Which one were you thinking of? The Septuple 'I' matches his fondness for Factotum 8 and Psychic Reformation, but He Who Has No Name is more his level of power. Or was it one of the other ones? :smallconfused:

[Emperor Tippy]

Ok, well since they are all posted its time to judge. I'll be posting all of the scores and my comments on all of the builds at the same time and before the weekened. I plan on trying to get it done later today or tomorrow but it depends on how much free time I end up having (sometimes I actually have to pay attention in meetings ;) ).

At first glance they all look at least moderately good though.

I was surprised that no one grabbed a Third Eye Sense (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#sense) though. Unlimited Clairvoyant Sense (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/clairvoyantSense.htm) at will for only 24,000 GP.

[Snowbluff]

I was surprised that no one grabbed a Third Eye Sense (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#sense) though. Unlimited Clairvoyant Sense (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/clairvoyantSense.htm) at will for only 24,000 GP.

For the record, I would deduct points if the build relied on items to work properly. :smalltongue:

[Forrestfire]

It seemed to be more in the spirit of the challenge to be able to do it all without items if necessary.

[dysprosium]

My build that I was working on was Binder 8/Scion of Dantalion 3/Zhentarim Spy 4/Occult Slayer 5, so eerily similar to the Mad Princess.

That would have been bad for both of us since our builds would have been close . . .

[mattie_p]

So I guess I'll drop a little more of a hint on the next SI. This ingredient comes from a 3.5 book that plays an integral part in a famous (or infamous, as you prefer) TO build. No, I won't say which TO build.

Incidentally, what does everyone think of having a bonus XP budget in the next round? It didn't seem terribly abused in this round, but then again, not everyone took advantage of it.

[dysprosium]

Serpent Kingdoms perhaps?

[mattie_p]

Serpent Kingdoms perhaps?

Well, Pun-pun is a famous TO build, but hardly the only one. :smallwink:

[Snowbluff]

Well, Pun-pun is a famous TO build, but hardly the only one. :smallwink:

Really? Cuz if it is Pun Pun, the build I was going to suggest here could have pulled it off.

[mattie_p]

Really? Cuz if it is Pun Pun, the build I was going to suggest here could have pulled it off.

Well, that applies to a lot of builds. Post or you never thought of it. :smallbiggrin:

Incidentally, are you judging this round?

And no, next round's Secret Ingredient is not Pun-pun. Nor will it ever be on my watch.

[Emperor Tippy]

Well, that applies to a lot of builds. Post or you never thought of it. :smallbiggrin:

Incidentally, are you judging this round?

And no, next round's Secret Ingredient is not Pun-pun. Nor will it ever be on my watch.

I don't know, "replicate Manipulate Form without using it" could be a decent challenge. Although there really are far too many ways to do that already.

[Snowbluff]

I think I'll judge this one. :smallwink:


Well, that applies to a lot of builds. Post or you never thought of it. :smallbiggrin:


How about one I don't give my build secrets and I give you another one to hold you over.

Assume (Su), Yuan Ti Tainted Ones can become snake like creatures as an SLA. Sarrukh are described as often snake-like. There are few steps in between (Tainted Ones are Yuan Ti, but are they scaly enough to be Scaled Ones?) I have to research to find out before I can get the whole thing to work, though.

[Kuulvheysoon]

I think I'll judge this one. :smallwink:



How about one I don't give my build secrets and I give you another one to hold you over.

Assume (Su), Yuan Ti Tainted Ones can become snake like creatures as an SLA. Sarrukh are described as often snake-like. There are few steps in between (Tainted Ones are Yuan Ti, but are they scaly enough to be Scaled Ones?) I have to research to find out before I can get the whole thing to work, though.

Yes. There's a sidebar in Serpent Kingdoms on page five detailing "What is a Scaled One?" and Tainted Ones fall under the Serpentfolk heading.

[Snowbluff]

Yes. There's a sidebar in Serpent Kingdoms on page five detailing "What is a Scaled One?" and Tainted Ones fall under the Serpentfolk heading.

Oh cool. I was looking for that. Page number? :smallsmile:

EDIT: Pge 6? How did I miss this?

[Kuulvheysoon]

Oh cool. I was looking for that. Page number? :smallsmile:

EDIT: Pge 6? How did I miss this?

It is at the very start, not really where you'd expect it to be. So I don't blame you for missing out on it. Fun fact - Humans with the Snake Blood (FRCS) feat also qualify as Scaled Ones.

[mattie_p]

I think I'll judge this one. :smallwink:

My thanks.


How about one I don't give my build secrets and I give you another one to hold you over.

Fair enough, as my dad always said, a good magician never reveals his secrets.

[mattie_p]

Any progress, judges?

[Snowbluff]

I'm pretty busy until friday. I should be able to make some progress then.

[mattie_p]

Tippy, Snowbluff, any progress on judgment?

[Snowbluff]

Looking over the builds. Irritated everyone is insane and wondering if I should even give points for the identity ability.

I mean seriously, it sounds like something you should be able to do normally. :smalltongue:

[mattie_p]

I hate to keep beating the same drum, Snowbluff, but are you nearly done? Judging is scheduled to be complete tomorrow.

[Forrestfire]

Not to be rude, but I was wondering if we were getting judging on this in the near future?

[dysprosium]

Long Live Zinc Saucier!

I had contacted mattie_p about judging since there has not been any as of yet. Since I did not make a build I offered to judge and he said it was ok. Note this is my first time judging and considering how late it's coming please forgive any terseness. And of course, no comment is personal.

One note before starting, I thought it was odd that there were numerous insane/off/crazy characters. No one was penalized for it; just an observation. I imagined the epic infiltrator more like a spy/sneaky type more than a lurky killer type.

Talia Ruarruil 16
Innovation 3.5
Your build was quite similar to what I was coming up with and as such I saw this combination coming. Your build however used more Binder which added to the versatility. Zhentarim Spy and Scion of Dantalion just added to its versatility that much more.
Power 3.5
Yes Talia is not meant for melee but she can if she has to engage. You have numerous augments for sneak attack and of course Binder versatility adds up to lots of possible combinations. Especailly with having three vestiges available.
Elegance 4.5
Qualifies for all prestige classes and feats with no dipping. The build flows well and had a nice backstory that tied it all up in a nice bow.
Emulation of Secret Ingredient 4.5
Skills: Bluff yes, Diplomacy no, Disguise yes, Spot no
Feats: Alertness no, Polyglot yes
Cover Identity: yes
Sneak Attack: yes
Read Thoughts: heck yeah!
Specialist Training: yes
Far Senses: yes
Mind Blank: yes
Face of Madness 14
Innovation 3
Changeling was expected as was Spymaster. Cabinet Trickster was a logical choice as was Warshaper. Trapsmith was a nice addition for spells.
Power 4.5
1200 attacks! Really?!? Seems legit by RAW but expect a sane DM to throw books at you. One note is that your BAB is low (without items) for these tentacles but of course lots of attacks mean lots of hits. You do have a reliance on magic items.
Elegance 2
You do not actually qualify for Trapsmith since you need ranks in Craft (trapmaking) which you do not have. You do qualify for all of your feats. Warshaper is a blatant dip and Trapsmith seems added for emulation of SI. You gain these negatives back by virtue of having two full prestige classes. I have a personal distaste of the Otyugh Hole (and reshuffling).
Emulation of the Secret Ingredient 4.5
Skills: Bluff yes, Diplomacy yes, Disguise yes, Spot yes
Feats: Alertness yes, Polyglot yes
Cover Identity: yes
Sneak Attack: yes
Read Thoughts: yes
Specialist Training: yes
Far Senses: no
Mind Blank: yes
He Who Has No Name 16.5
Innovation 4
Rogue was expected but Psion was not. All of the psion tricks are not new either though the kidnapping of mind raped individuals into bags of holding and then disguise yourself is a neat trick.
Power 4
You have a reliance on magic items for things and your coolest stuff comes online a little late but still earlier than epic. You are not a combat character.
Elegance 4.5
You have two base classes from the SRD. You can't get much more elegant than that. You don't qualify for Practiced Manifester when you take it since you need 4 ranks in Psicraft. Your backstory is very nice as well.
Emulation of the Secret Ingredient 4
Skills: Bluff yes, Diplomacy yes, Disguise yes, Spot yes
Feats: Alertness no, Polyglot yes
Cover Identity: yes
Sneak Attack: yes
Read Thoughts: yes
Specialist Training: no
Far Senses: partially
Mind Blank: yes
The Burglar in Disguise 13
Innovation 3.5
Draconic Greensnake Naga is definitely different as is Shadowmind. Spymaster and Rogue (though not necessarily psychic) was expected.
Power 3
You have a reliance on magic items. You have Two Weapon Fighting but only one melee weapon listed. Claws maybe? You do have two hand crossbows. I'm not quite sure how you are disguising your one tail into two legs. You are a fairly standard roguish type.
Elegance 2.5
I was going to ding you for not qualifying for your prestige classes until I noticed that your build chart seemed out of order. Taking that into account you do qualify. Please check your tables! You do qualify for your feats. You have a sparse story and Shadowmind is a blatant dip.
Emulation of the Secret Ingredient 4
Skills: Bluff yes, Diplomacy yes, Disguise yes, Spot yes
Feats: Alertness yes, Polyglot you have enough to qualify but it's far from all languages
Cover Identity: yes
Sneak Attack: yes
Read Thoughts: yes
Specialist Training: skill mastery
Far Senses: items use
Mind Blank: items use
Tam 15
Innovation 3.5
Changeling Rogue was expected and Cabinet Trickster is a logical step. Urban Ranger and Shadowbane Stalker are different.
Power 3.5
You appear to be a typical ranged combatant with nothing new there. Your ability to add your devotions to combat helps with this.
Elegance 3.5
You qualify for your prestige classes and your feats. Some DMs might not like changelings with Able Learner but it's ok with me. You have no dips and a nice backstory. But you used flaws--I don't like them personally.
Emulation of the Secret Ingredient 4.5
Skills: Bluff yes, Diplomacy no, Disguise yes, Spot no
Feats: Alertness yes, Polyglot yes
Cover Identity: close enough
Sneak Attack: yes
Read Thoughts: yes
Specialist Training: yes
Far Senses: close
Mind Blank: items use
Delda Visage 15
Innovation 3.5
Gravetouched ghoul is very different and Erudite and Slayer were unexpected. Zhentarim Spy and Factotum were expected however and your pyschic reformation tricks are well known.
Power 4.5
Erudite's powers along with Factotum 8 to get muliple actions breaks the action economy. Ghoul paralyzation is nice touch. You have a reliance on your pyschic reformation.
Elegance 2
Oh my. You do not qualify for the Zhentarim Spy prestige class as you do not have the Deceitful feat. Your feats before and after reshufflilng are not legal. Able Learner is a level 1 feat only--you have it at 8th. Imperious Command has a prerequisite of 8 ranks in Intimidate which you cannot have at first level. Should these have been switched? You took the favored discipline alternate class feature for Erudite but that precludes you from having that bonus feat at first level so no Psycrystal Affinity for you. Your Zhentarim Spy seems like a dip for emulation of the SI. You also have no favored enemy listed for your Slayer abilities. You also have some cross setting instances: fluffwise looks like Eberron but Font of Inspiration and Zhentarim Spy are Faerunian. Some DMs don't like that though I would be ok with it.
Emulation of the Secret Ingredient 5
Skills: Bluff yes, Diplomacy yes, Disguise yes, Spot yes
Feats: Alertness yes, Polyglot yes
Cover Identity: yes
Sneak Attack: yes
Read Thoughts: yes
Specialist Training: yes
Far Senses: yes
Mind Blank: yes

Please check my math for the scores. All in all I liked all of these builds.

Edit: Ask and ye shall receive ForrestFire!

Edit 2: Correction made to the Burglar's score.

Edit 3: Correction made to Tam's score.

[Forrestfire]

Nice timing there :smallamused:

[mattie_p]

We've sort of pushed this back a little, thanks for judging, dysprosium. As always, if any competitors have comments on the way they were rated, please pm me and I will re-anonymize you.

[mattie_p]

A small dispute, dysprosium.


Minor points -

Tam gets Alertness from her Urban Companion (whenever it's within 5 ft), and she's liable to buy a familiar pocket (as the urban companion explicitly counts as a familiar).

If we're counting items as a valid way to get Mind Blank, then Tam fully qualifies (I noticed that you gave He Who Has No Name full points for Mind Blank even though he relies on a trap for it).

I'll give the rest of the competitors one more day to pm me with any concerns, and then we'll wrap.

[dysprosium]

A small dispute, dysprosium.

Originally Posted by Tam
Minor points -

Tam gets Alertness from her Urban Companion (whenever it's within 5 ft), and she's liable to buy a familiar pocket (as the urban companion explicitly counts as a familiar).

If we're counting items as a valid way to get Mind Blank, then Tam fully qualifies (I noticed that you gave He Who Has No Name full points for Mind Blank even though he relies on a trap for it).

I did mention that I was new to the judging thing so I knew I would miss something (:smallfrown: for me missing things)

So yes you get the credit for Alertness. As for mind blank, I took what you wrote in a different context. For some reason I read it as that you were not going to bother with it since you had to buy it. I see what your intent was now. Your score shall be adjusted. Watch for the edit.

Incidentally the trap was explicitly mentioned in the write up and had gp and xp costs, so I was able to note that easier. And I did make note of the reliance on items.

[Humble Master]

I hate to thread necro but I am wondering if this competition will be finished.

Also, thank you Dysprosium. I was not expecting that I would score so high on my first Zinc Saucier entry!

[dysprosium]

I hate to thread necro but I am wondering if this competition will be finished.

Also, thank you Dysprosium. I was not expecting that I would score so high on my first Zinc Saucier entry!

You're Welcome? Since I have no idea which one was your entry . . .yet.

I don't think it is thread necro when it is just a couple days.

On a different note, when is the next one starting?

[mattie_p]

The next one will be up tonight. I'm having all my furniture and stuff moved today, so it will be a while. Next ingredient is, in fact, from Serpent Kingdoms.

[Kuulvheysoon]

The next one will be up tonight. I'm having all my furniture and stuff moved today, so it will be a while. Next ingredient is, in fact, from Serpent Kingdoms.

Alright, that is totally awesome. Torn on whether or not to judge or compete.

[mattie_p]

One more comment on judging.


This may be too late, but I have a minor quibble with Dysprosium's score for Delda. Most of the elegance points are valid (:smallsigh:) but erudite gets both a bonus feat and Psicrystal Affinity. It's part of why I went with erudite instead of egoist.

The new SI is Master of Vipers. I'm posting this now so you can get cracking, I'll post the new thread later and link. But Allez Sauciers! Please hold off on too many comments on the new SI until I open the new thread. Or at least make sure you post your interest there.

In the spirit of the competition, you don't have to be a Yuan-ti, but whatever race you select should mimic the racial abilities/traits of a Yuan-ti.

[mattie_p]

And I'm calling it. Moved in enough to get a computer on the internet so I can post properly.

Here are the final tallies
{table=head]Place|Competitor|Name|Score

1st|Humble Master|He Who Has No Name|16.5

2nd|T.G. Oskar|Talia Ruarruil|16

3rd|Kuulvheysoon|Tam|15

3rd|Jeff the Green|Delda Visage|15

5th|Forrestfire|Face of Madness|14

6th|Svata|The Burglar in Disguise|13

[/table]

Congratulations to all who entered, and a special shout out to dysprosium, our honored judge. New competition will be posted shortly.

EDIT: And linked here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295287).

[Svata]

Not too bad, considering that this was my first ever attempt.

[Forrestfire]

I'm still kicking myself for forgetting the trapsmithing ranks somewhere between the word document and the forum message :smallredface:

[Jeff the Green]

Well, I feel absolutely no shame in tying with Kullvheysoon and being beaten by T.G. Okar and Humble Master. Let's see if I can break out of 3rd place next time. Preferably up.

[Humble Master]

WOW! I am really surprised I won, this being my first attempt at a competition and all! Still, could have pulled a 5 on Elegance if I double checked my skill ranks, ah well.

Now then, onward to emulate the Master of Vipers!