babus
2013-07-16, 06:14 AM
So... initially this character had been a Tibbit, but after my DM mumbled unappreciatively at the race's concept, I ended up with an Awakened Cat using these stats (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9090564&postcount=3) with the magical creature hit dice removed via the permanent loss of all but his last hit dice to level drain and then switching that for a class level (arguements for or against that working were made here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132319)). DM did not complain about this because he thought it was a reasonable backstory for a character that will eventually be spending a good portion of its own time devouring souls.
I stated the above right away mostly because I'm here to ask for advice on overcoming that -8 to Strength (weapons finesse helps, but with a -4 to damage, it'll be 1 hit point per thing that lands) with a character that's going to be using fairly low damage natural attacks and 3 RHD would likely make that a exercise in futility barring some rather broken maneuvering, which Wight Out in this particular case is not.
I suppose it's also important to note that the interpretation of Energy Drain's text being used is that it deals its negative level only once per round (so no using Totemist to get natural attacks up to 7 and dealing 7 negative levels a round), but the Drain can be delivered as part of a natural attack.
So far I've considered simply stacking crazy bonuses to strength together via Barbarian Rage shenanigans (Reckless Rage with Power Attack from the Ape Totem is good, but rages only last so long, and that's just breaking even with the penalty), having a Necklace of Natural Weapons made with the Weapon Aptitude Enchantment in order to allow Shadow Blade to apply to my attacks (Costs a good amount for the necklace, and also either 3 feats or a level and a feat, with the actual payoff not being a replacement, but merely an addition), and taking the Wildshape Ranger variant for entry to the Warshaper PrC for its extra natural attack and bonus of +4 to Strength/Constitution (a fun option, but a bit restrictive on levels and thematically problematic, as I'll probably have plenty of reasons to spend my level hours a day as something else besides a cat).
My fear is that I'm going to end up holding the party back by not bringing in sufficient numbers, which is why I thought it would be wise to ask for some advice here. Optimization isn't likely to be especially powergamey in the group, but with these sorts of negatives, I'm not sure how whatever I build will actually play. If you've had experience with overcoming these sorts of stat gaps, Tome of Battle shenanigans included, I'm all ears.
A few feats I've found to help minimize things are Don't Mind Me, which allows cats to enter the square of an enemy without provoking an attack of opportunity and Life Drain, which might help pull in some temporary HP to keep the cat alive. There's also Twining Trip, which forces the target of one of your trip attacks to resist with dex rather than Strength, but I'm not sure if there's enough room to build a real trip character.
Sorry for the long post, but thanks to anyone who read this far.
I stated the above right away mostly because I'm here to ask for advice on overcoming that -8 to Strength (weapons finesse helps, but with a -4 to damage, it'll be 1 hit point per thing that lands) with a character that's going to be using fairly low damage natural attacks and 3 RHD would likely make that a exercise in futility barring some rather broken maneuvering, which Wight Out in this particular case is not.
I suppose it's also important to note that the interpretation of Energy Drain's text being used is that it deals its negative level only once per round (so no using Totemist to get natural attacks up to 7 and dealing 7 negative levels a round), but the Drain can be delivered as part of a natural attack.
So far I've considered simply stacking crazy bonuses to strength together via Barbarian Rage shenanigans (Reckless Rage with Power Attack from the Ape Totem is good, but rages only last so long, and that's just breaking even with the penalty), having a Necklace of Natural Weapons made with the Weapon Aptitude Enchantment in order to allow Shadow Blade to apply to my attacks (Costs a good amount for the necklace, and also either 3 feats or a level and a feat, with the actual payoff not being a replacement, but merely an addition), and taking the Wildshape Ranger variant for entry to the Warshaper PrC for its extra natural attack and bonus of +4 to Strength/Constitution (a fun option, but a bit restrictive on levels and thematically problematic, as I'll probably have plenty of reasons to spend my level hours a day as something else besides a cat).
My fear is that I'm going to end up holding the party back by not bringing in sufficient numbers, which is why I thought it would be wise to ask for some advice here. Optimization isn't likely to be especially powergamey in the group, but with these sorts of negatives, I'm not sure how whatever I build will actually play. If you've had experience with overcoming these sorts of stat gaps, Tome of Battle shenanigans included, I'm all ears.
A few feats I've found to help minimize things are Don't Mind Me, which allows cats to enter the square of an enemy without provoking an attack of opportunity and Life Drain, which might help pull in some temporary HP to keep the cat alive. There's also Twining Trip, which forces the target of one of your trip attacks to resist with dex rather than Strength, but I'm not sure if there's enough room to build a real trip character.
Sorry for the long post, but thanks to anyone who read this far.