Zinc Saucier XVII: This one has favored enemies

[mattie_p]

This competition is now closed. Here are the results.

Zinc Ranger
{table=head]Place|Competitor|Name|Race|Build|Scores

1st|Curmudgeon|Barbara Backaway (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985181&postcount=128)|Shadow Creature Greensnake Naga | Barbarian 6 / Forest Reeve 4 / Consecrated Harrier 10|16.65

2nd|Newcomer|Ashta Sharkfin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985239&postcount=136)|Aquatic Elf | WolfShark* Totem Barbarian (Favored Enemy Variant) 5 / Spirit Shaman 7 / Horizon Walker 3 / Leviathan Hunter 5|16.5

3rd|Svata|The Holy Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985255&postcount=138)|Dark Aasimar|Scout 1 / Planar Paladin of Freedom 6 / Wild Plains Outrider 3 / Highland Stalker 7 / Mythic Exemplar 3|15.85

4th|dysprosium|Zolag (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985198&postcount=130)|Desert Orc|Scout 5 / Fighter 4 / Forest Reeve 4 / Stalker of Kharash 4 / Abolisher 1 |15.3

5th|ericp65|Erysseril Gwaethorien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985222&postcount=133)|Copper Elf| Wilderness Rogue 3 / Druid 3 / Prestige Ranger 2 / Forest Reeve 5 / Shadowdancer 1 / Lion of Talisid 4 / Warblade 1 / Bloodclaw Master 1|13.7

6th|Jurai|Amira Danallis (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985205&postcount=132)|Seelie Court Fey Forestlord Elf|Cleric 6 / Totemist 3 / Prestige Paladin of Freedom 7 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 |13.55

7th|Chronos|Jharet (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985202&postcount=131)|Wood Elf | Scout 5 / Stalker of Kharash 8 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 / Holt Warden 3|13.1

8th|GreenETC|The Titan-Feller (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985246&postcount=137)|Half-Elf | Fighter 2 / Stoneblessed 3 / Goliath Barbarian 1 / Peregrine Runner 4 / Goliath Liberator 5 / Forest Reeve 5|12.75

8th|Segev|Eltin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985227&postcount=134)|Two-Headed Grey Elf|Humanoid 2 / Combat Wizard 1 / Archivist 9 / Mystic Theurge 8|12.75

10th|relytdan|Aishera (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985193&postcount=129)|Halfling | Deadly Hunter Druid 17 / Halfling Outrider 3|11.8

11th|nedz|Aramore (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985231&postcount=135)|Elf|Monk 2 / Spirit Shaman 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 9 / Shadowdancer 1 / Ruather 3|11.6

N/A|Cyberdrag|Half Blooded Mongrel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985265&postcount=139)|Half Fey - Daelkyr Half Blood|Divine Bard 6 / Abolisher 8 / Impure Prince 6|N/A[/table]

Cyberdrag's scores. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16023606&postcount=178)

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Welcome one and all to the seventeenth 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 seventeenth challenge, get ready to handle some animals and stalk your prey, from the PHB/SRD it's the Ranger! (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/ranger.htm)

Our challengers will have about 3 weeks to build a complete build up to Effective Character 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 a Ranger without actually using any levels in it. Competitors will receive a total of 209,999 experience points, expressly permitting LA buy-off or other tricks.

Entries must be submitted by Sunday, 11:59pm GMT, 8 September, 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 Sunday, 11:59pm GMT, 22 September, 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
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

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Copy and Paste:NAME OF ENTRY
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

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

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Copy and Paste:Spells per day/Spells Known
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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)
Epic Infiltrator * (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289233)
Master of Vipers (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295287)


* Classes marked with an asterisk have had their original posts updated to reflect the final results.

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.

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. Mitigating EXP loss via thought bottle or other shenanigans is prohibited, though. Once you spend XP, you cannot get it back under any circumstances, nor can you claim "XP is a river," etc.

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.

What does ECL (Effective Character Level) 20 mean again? It means that the sum of Racial Hit Dice, Class Levels, and Level Adjustment equals 20. Normally ECL 20 characters have 190,000 exp, you have a slightly higher total to permit level adjustment buy-off (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm) in accordance with the rules in Unearthed Arcana.

Can I just use a Prestige Ranger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm#prestigeRanger) and be done with this whole thing? I'd have to say this is up to you. Prestige Bard, Paladin, and Ranger are permitted for the general competition. However, judges are free to apply penalties to Innovation and/or Elegance scores as they see fit. Remember that those variant prestige classes exist in worlds where Ranger is unavailable to level 1 characters - it is essentially the only Ranger class available.

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)

[ZamielVanWeber]

Imma judge this baby. Yea, gonna be fun times up in here.

[mattie_p]

Imma judge this baby. Yea, gonna be fun times up in here.

As a suggestion, please post your judging criteria soon, so that sauciers can ensure they tickle your judging bone.

[ZamielVanWeber]

It will be up by Tuesday night.

[mattie_p]

My thanks, and presumably, all of the competitors, as well.

Do note the extended time frame, this is due to short judging in the previous competition, my interest in timing this to be mostly alternate to the Iron Chef competition, and my life in general.

[CyberThread]

My brain is numb, what is the EXP level for a default level 20 character? Just so I know how much wiggle room I have with LA.

[Humble Master]

Count me in as a competitor.

[Svata]

I may make a character for this.

[ZamielVanWeber]

My brain is numb, what is the EXP level for a default level 20 character? Just so I know how much wiggle room I have with LA.

This contest assumes 209,999 exp. Default is 200,000. You have enough for +2 LA safely.

[mattie_p]

Actually, ECL 20 characters have 190,000 exp. You should have plenty for shenanigans.

[ericp65]

Most exciting competition SI I've seen so far, as I'm extremely fond of rangery/outdoorsy characters :smallbiggrin: Hoping to make a submission, as I already have a suitably themed character for it; the only thing I'd need to alter for the competition would be her ability scores.

Might be a no-go, unless I can swap out six levels of the very class that serves as my character's base with some roughly equivalent combination, and gimp her ability scores drastically. I'll play with it a bit, and see if anything worth submitting emerges.

[CyberThread]

Hmm... I think I got my build generally layout already then, I just need to milk a few feat choices , but my 1-20 classes choices are pretty much decided.

[Segev]

I have a few conceptual thoughts on how to approach this, but want a clarification on the rules. It says "a build complete to level 20" and explicitly offers bonus XP over the minimum for 20 for level buy-off. If one wishes to use something with an LA or RHD that cannot be bought off, is ECL 20 still acceptably meeting the challenge's parameters?

(Since this isn't what I'm using, I'll use it as an example:) For instance, if one were to use a Juvenile Green Dragon with a careful selection of feats and spells to "emulate" the Ranger (an ECL 20 character at 14 RHD and LA +6), would this be a valid entry by the rules (leaving out that it's not likely to be a successful use of the ingredient)?

[mattie_p]

I have a few conceptual thoughts on how to approach this, but want a clarification on the rules. It says "a build complete to level 20" and explicitly offers bonus XP over the minimum for 20 for level buy-off. If one wishes to use something with an LA or RHD that cannot be bought off, is ECL 20 still acceptably meeting the challenge's parameters?

(Since this isn't what I'm using, I'll use it as an example:) For instance, if one were to use a Juvenile Green Dragon with a careful selection of feats and spells to "emulate" the Ranger (an ECL 20 character at 14 RHD and LA +6), would this be a valid entry by the rules (leaving out that it's not likely to be a successful use of the ingredient)?

Yes, your example dragon would meet the criteria for ECL 20. I should edit something to address this and specify ECL 20, not just "level 20." Thanks.

I had a pm as well on another subject, so I'll address that as well.

[Segev]

Alright, thanks! Only one of my conceptual ideas so far would use that, but it's nice to know it's a valid option. ^_^

[Jurai]

I wonder how many people considered [Redacted]?

[Humble Master]

I wonder how many people considered [Redacted]?Probably the same number of people who considered [Censored].

Also, have a heck of a time emulating a certain ability without use a rather obvious class choice.

[Segev]

Probably the same number of people who considered [Censored].

Also, have a heck of a time emulating a certain ability without use a rather obvious class choice.

I can think of [classified].

[CyberThread]

I can think of [classified].


Well maybe, also [Buy the Bureau , fight the aliens] ?

[mattie_p]

I've been saving this one for a while, so I'm very excited to see what everyone comes up with. I have a good feeling about this one.

[Chronos]

Hm, I'm pretty sure I have access to the book this Secret Ingredient is in. Yeah, I might give this one a try.

[Segev]

...and I just came up with a non-PrC way to emulate the title-of-this-thread class feature. >_> <_<

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Now, if only Alton Brown would leave me to my cooking...

[ericp65]

I think I'll be able to play :smallbiggrin: Got ability scores and a level progression sorted. Just have to add skills, feats, and whatever else would round out the character for submission (gear, background, favorite flowers *L*). Should be ready to submit within a few days.

[ZamielVanWeber]

Judging criteria, a general guideline:

Innovation
Surprise me. Literally, surprise me. The more unexpected the better off you will be. Second to that, nail the flavor. An some-what unique way of doing ranger that nails the essence of ranger will do nearly as well, if not as well as, someone who is totally unique.

Power
This one is simple: meet or exceed the comparative power of the ingredient. Also make sure you don't start off strong and suddenly throw power out the window to make your ingredient work; you will lose points for that.

Elegance
Dips bad unless there is a fantastic reason for them. Multiple base/prestige classes are also frowned upon, theurges being an exception. I am fairly lenient on Unearthed Arcana, probably more so than I should be, but please don't take that as a carte blanche. Also not a fan of items, so please use them judiciously; use them to accent and enhance your build, not to do the basics.

Ingredient
Flavor is king here folks, followed closely by mechanics. Both, ideally.

[Firechanter]

Yeah, cool beans - for once, I had an idea as soon as I read the challenge. I love this "Be X without actually being X" concept.
So now let's just see if I can get it to work...

[nedz]

Hmmm, I've been waiting for this one to come up for a while.
Now do I submit build X or build Y ?
Y is a bit obvious, but you won't see X coming :smallbiggrin:

[mattie_p]

Hmmm, I've been waiting for this one to come up for a while.
Now do I submit build X or build Y ?
Y is a bit obvious, but you won't see X coming :smallbiggrin:

You could always do both. With three weeks to build, you could probably do two. Iron Chef competitors have been known to do three in two weeks.

By the way, and just saying, we've had our first entry already.

Are there any other interested judges, besides Zamiel? This is shaping up to be a record-setting competition, in my opinion.

[ericp65]

This is also a great opportunity to gain more experience in rebuilding/retooling an existing character. Transforming my own existing Ranger-themed character who doesn't have any Ranger base class levels has ended up requiring more effort than I'd anticipated, but in the spirit of a challenge, I'm forging ahead, and the result will be sort of an "alternate universe" version of one of my most beloved characters. I've already done similar work in reverse-engineering the character as a mod NPC for Baldur's Gate II, anyway, so why not create an additional alternate for this competition? :smallbiggrin:

Other submissions will likely be more interesting than mine, especially since this is my first time out, so mostly I look forward to seeing what various approaches are.

Good luck, all!

[mattie_p]

By the way, having answered a couple of pms on various topics, I am open to questions regarding the rules of the competition. If you don't want to post them openly for fear of giving away your idea, pm and I will answer. (Not rules of D&D, I advise you to take those to the Simple RAW Q&A thread if you wish).

If I deem it appropriate, I'll address the topic in the first or second post.

[Firechanter]

Meh, I realized that there really is an absolutely obvious, super-effective and mindbogglingly simple way to do it. Feels kinda moot to even write it down. :/

[Segev]

Meh, I realized that there really is an absolutely obvious, super-effective and mindbogglingly simple way to do it. Feels kinda moot to even write it down. :/

If it's easy to do, may as well enter it. We may not have figured it out, which makes your absolutely obvious solution absolutely brilliant. Worst case, we all agree that it's blindingly obvious.

[Kuulvheysoon]

I've got a couple of ideas for this one, but I might bow out so Zamiel's not left alone (again). We'll see how the ideas pan out.

[Chronos]

Yeah, I'm working on what I think is a clever entry, but in the process, I'm stumbling across a few things that are really obvious but annoyingly don't work with my clever idea. So I might do two entries, too.

[ericp65]

Nearly finished with my character already. Just have to pick three more feats, sort out skills/spells/gear, copy her description and backstory, and she'll be ready to submit :smallsmile: Doesn't even bother me that I had to really gimp one of her ability scores. Everything worked out in my build to give her the features she needs while remaining true to character concept. I might even play this version of her in a game at some point!

Thank goodness for ACFs *L*

[Chronos]

OK, I have a question for the judges: I have a build that manages to replicate most of the ranger's abilities, but some of them come at vastly different levels (earlier or later). Will this impact the judging?

Also, how necessary is a detailed backstory? I admit that I can't think of much beyond "So-and-so started off as one of those guys, but then joined such-and-such elite order of foresty-folk, and after training with them for a while honed his skills with those other guys", which is pretty bland.

[Jurai]

Chronos, I'd make your backstory into a legend, told by storytellers long after your entry's death has happened, in that case. Oral tradition tends to mutate stories to impress its audience, after all.

[CyberThread]

Nearly finished with my character already. Just have to pick three more feats, sort out skills/spells/gear, copy her description and backstory, and she'll be ready to submit :smallsmile: Doesn't even bother me that I had to really gimp one of her ability scores. Everything worked out in my build to give her the features she needs while remaining true to character concept. I might even play this version of her in a game at some point!

Thank goodness for ACFs *L*


You don't get to consider gear I think for qualifying the build.

[Kuulvheysoon]

You don't get to consider gear I think for qualifying the build.

I don't know about other judges, but if I end up judging, I'll likely end up rewarding you for getting all the class features, but penalize you in Elegance for having to use an item.

[ericp65]

You don't get to consider gear I think for qualifying the build.

Understood. I'm just fleshing out the character to be complete. I have considerable notes on her, far more than is needed for the competition, but I won't include wildly extraneous data (I have her complete astrological natal chart worked up, for example). On the side of building her level progression, I'm condensing the story of her upbringing, and working on a framework for providing that information.

She'll be outfitted decently enough for an outdoorsperson without a small treasury of gear who's accumulated a small selection of powerful items that, while helpful, she's not dependent on for any class abilities.

[mattie_p]

...


...


...

Ahem,

Much as I like seeing many posts in a Zinc Saucier thread, you should consider using the multiquote button. Click the icon that looks like this -> http://www.giantitp.com/forums/images/buttons/multiquote_off.gif on each post you would like to quote, then when you click the http://www.giantitp.com/forums/images/buttons/quote.gif button all of them are conveniently quoted for you, with line breaks so you can write your response in between.

Thank you.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by the Letter 4, the Number G, and the Red Wizards of Thay.

[Red Rubber Band]

*snip*

Oh. My. God. Thank you.

Multi-quote ftw!

[mattie_p]

Despite the interest in this competition, I am not feeling inspired to make an "exhibition" entry this round. At least not yet. I might come up with something unique by the time the round expires.

I've always liked the ranger, but the last (and only) exhibition entry I made was Mom from Futurama during the true necromancer round. But you never know when inspiration will strike.

[CyberThread]

I think I will judge and submit, but will have my submission not count for grading, just let my creative juices flow :)

[mattie_p]

I think I will judge and submit, but will have my submission not count for grading, just let my creative juices flow :)

Up to you. I'll allow a submission marked as "exhibition only" if you post judging criteria prior to the reveal. If you post no judging criteria, then I'll consider your submission (if any) to be a true entry.

[ZamielVanWeber]

I've got a couple of ideas for this one, but I might bow out so Zamiel's not left alone (again). We'll see how the ideas pan out.

Zami's got this! Dear sweet Heaven having another judge would be great thank you.

Edit: I need to put into my criteria that me no like items.

[mattie_p]

Zami's got this! Dear sweet Heaven having another judge would be great thank you.

Edit: I need to put into my criteria that me no like items.

Well, don't dislike items too much. I can understand a penalty for requiring items in order to be a "Ranger" but please don't assess such a large penalty so that competitors mention no items at all.

WBL is a large part of the power of a level 20 character, so entries should mention items that would be important to that character.

[CyberThread]

Innovation: How innovative is the build? For Ranger, 2 points will be deducted for prestige ranger, this is about mimicking the ranger, and even the UA Fluff says you would use this sort of thing if rangers do not exist as a class. So it is almost tutorial level of building, if the book tells you use to use it.

I love unique races, and I have grown very tired of humans, you will gain more of my attention if you use this to your advantage.

Power: Power compared to what a ranger would be, if you only match 1/4 of what the class "is" and shoot for straight tier 1 or tier 2 type class/builds, it will be noticed and deducted. If you shoot even or below ranger power level, it will be acknowledged+ and rewarded for being more like the ranger.

Fluff: I don't have time to read a novel , this will not be judged on if you take to long, tell me a short paragraph about your character if you feel the need, to help describe how he/she interacts with abilities.

Elegance: I will only penalize for 1 or 2 level dips, I own most books, and with google nothing is obscure, go with what you need to. This is my most forgiving judgment stat, as innovation is the more demanding factor rather then elegance.

I do not hold penalties, if you use various ACF's of classes.

Ingredient: How well do you fill the role that the ranger would fill? How many of his iconic abilities do you have a counterpart to? I will judge this simply as a check mark system

Bow or sword style mastery 1.0
Spells 0.5/Divine Spells 1.0
Hunting & Hiding Ability 1.0
Favored Enemy 1.0
Animal Companion 1.0
Feels like a Ranger Bonus Points as I determine

[ZamielVanWeber]

Well, don't dislike items too much. I can understand a penalty for requiring items in order to be a "Ranger" but please don't assess such a large penalty so that competitors mention no items at all.

Items should enhance and accent a build. If you need items to make it work, I will not be forth coming with points. If you use items to make your ranger shtick more ranger like that is cool (just supposing you have the ranger abilities already covered).

[Segev]

A "ranger" with a cool bow is cool. A "ranger" who only can use a bow because it's Skillful is not. Right?

[mattie_p]

Items should enhance and accent a build. If you need items to make it work, I will not be forth coming with points. If you use items to make your ranger shtick more ranger like that is cool (just supposing you have the ranger abilities already covered).


A "ranger" with a cool bow is cool. A "ranger" who only can use a bow because it's Skillful is not. Right?

Both of these are about right on the money for where I see the competition as the chairman.

[CyberThread]

Ranger named HAnk....

[Humble Master]

I'm not finding any good ways to actually emulate Ranger. I might not submit a build, and if I do it certainly won't get a good score.

[ericp65]

I found it most helpful to use the list of Ranger class features as a checklist, then casting about among class options to build them all into one level progression. Only one or two class features are a bit tricky to include, but it can definitely be done (and I'm sure in more ways than I've imagined).

Heh, I stand to take a hit on judging points, but I'll be mostly interested in where I went right, and where I could have done better.

Looking forward to everyone's reveals :)

[mattie_p]

And we have a second entry. This one is surprising in some respects. All I'm going to say is that if you are entering, you better step up your game...

[dysprosium]

Well now that I got my Iron Chef entries in, I can focus on the next competition -- this one.

Interesting indgredient we have here . . .

[Segev]

I'm slow building characters, I'm afraid, but I have my level progression chosen and about 2/3 of the feats spoken for. Need to work on equipment (and pay attention to WBL as it's acquired). Have the "story," which is even more closely tied to the process I went through coming up with this build than is normal. Do need to write the "story," too, though. Should be able to do it in a paragraph or two, I hope.

[mattie_p]

Plenty of time left, so hopefully some of the interest expressed will materialize into entries. I don't think we've had a story that expresses the process of making the entry, Segev, so perhaps you should refrain from submitting that as part of your entry. Maybe post a redacted version after the unveiling, and a full version after the judging closes.

[Segev]

Thanks for the advice. I'm hoping to get mine in by Friday night. (Work and other activities eat into my time during the week, sadly.)

[Nightraiderx]

interested but i have a question: how would feats affect our score if we use some to make part of the build? Such as using character feats to emulate the fighting style?

[mattie_p]

interested but i have a question: how would feats affect our score if we use some to make part of the build? Such as using character feats to emulate the fighting style?

Considering that bonus feats are part of being a ranger, I'd imagine that you'd have to get those feats in some fashion. :smallwink:

[dysprosium]

Got a build mostly done -- just a matter of table formatting and getting the free time . . .

[Chronos]

My group just finished up an adventure and are making new characters, so I might not have time to finish both of the builds I was thinking of. I should still get the simpler one in, though.

[Newcomer]

I've never entered anything like this, and I don't consider myself to be good at optimization, but I have a unique concept in mind that should be an interesting entry, at least. I don't expect to win, but I do expect to enjoy the process!! :smallbiggrin:

[ericp65]

I've never entered anything like this, and I don't consider myself to be good at optimization, but I have a unique concept in mind that should be an interesting entry, at least. I don't expect to win, but I do expect to enjoy the process!! :smallbiggrin:

We're in the same boat. It's a great exercise, no matter the outcome!

One tasty sauce submitted. I just hope it keeps well until judging and reveal time...

[Humble Master]

I might not enter this one. I just can't find the drive to really work through and find a powerful, innovative build. Don't know why, I am sorry.

[mattie_p]

And we have our third entry. Plenty of time left, I extended the competition this time to re-synch this competition to run opposite of Iron Chef. 10 days left, I believe. Despite what I told a competitor earlier, I will not be posting a blooper reel, so feel free to submit something and then change it later.

[CyberThread]

as I am exhibition, may I freely post mine ?

[mattie_p]

as I am exhibition, may I freely post mine ?

No, please submit as normal, via pm to me. I will mark it as exhibition only. I actually entered a build of my own a few rounds ago as an exhibition.

[Rosstin]

ZS confuses me. I get that you're making these builds, but looking at the threads, I don't see links to any of these builds. Everything is submitted by... private messages? It's very inaccessible. I spent 15 minutes trying to actually read an entry across the different threads and couldn't.

Maybe make it a little clearer?

[Newcomer]

ZS confuses me. I get that you're making these builds, but looking at the threads, I don't see links to any of these builds. Everything is submitted by... private messages? It's very inaccessible. I spent 15 minutes trying to actually read an entry across the different threads and couldn't.

Maybe make it a little clearer?

It did take quite a bit of digging for me, too.. the submissions are revealed in a post after the deadline, but that post is usually a page or two into the discussion. Perhaps it would be a good idea to add links to the submitted builds and the judging results on the first post, once everything is finished.

[mattie_p]

I could probably clean that up. If I had time. I keep thinking I'll get to it one of these days, and never seem to. I'm off Monday, perhaps then.

But yes, entries are generally submitted via PM to me. I post them all, then we discuss them and people judge them. A winner is picked and then we start a new one.

[Chronos]

Part of the reason it's done this way is for anonymity: If the judges don't know who submitted what, the authorship won't have any influence on their judging.

[Rosstin]

It would be more fun and inspire more people to participate if the builds were linked on the front page. Considering the small number of participants, I'd lean more towards accessibility than fairness.

[Newcomer]

Part of the reason it's done this way is for anonymity: If the judges don't know who submitted what, the authorship won't have any influence on their judging.


It would be more fun and inspire more people to participate if the builds were linked on the front page. Considering the small number of participants, I'd lean more towards accessibility than fairness.

My suggestion, though, is for balance. Run it the same way, and the current challenge maintains its anonymity. But once the judging is done, add the builds (via linking to the post, most likely) to the top of the thread for everyone to see. If that could be done retroactively to some of the previous threads, that would be grand, but it would be an improvement even if it only starts now.

Friendly, constructive criticism here. Thanks for doing the work in organizing these opportunities. :smallsmile:

[mattie_p]

My suggestion, though, is for balance. Run it the same way, and the current challenge maintains its anonymity. But once the judging is done, add the builds (via linking to the post, most likely) to the top of the thread for everyone to see. If that could be done retroactively to some of the previous threads, that would be grand, but it would be an improvement even if it only starts now.

Friendly, constructive criticism here. Thanks for doing the work in organizing these opportunities. :smallsmile:

I just modified the original post in Zinc Saucier 7: Paladin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252932), to reflect this suggestion. Would something like that be satisfactory? As I said, I've meant to do it for some time, but never got around to it.

[Newcomer]

I just modified the original post in Zinc Saucier 7: Paladin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252932), to reflect this suggestion. Would something like that be satisfactory? As I said, I've meant to do it for some time, but never got around to it.

That seems perfect to me! It makes it a lot easier for new entrants to get a taste of what the submissions are usually like.

[Svata]

Almost done with mine, just need to finish gear selection.

[dysprosium]

Got my build submitted -- Thank you Labor Day!

I think this is going to be quite an interesting Zinc Saucier. Can't wait to see what everyone else is presenting.

[ericp65]

Even after submitting, it pays to pass your eyes over your submission once or twice more. I found and corrected an error and an oversight in mine, so fixed and resubmitted...twice *LOL* The balance of flavors in my sauce wasn't quite right. Should be a better blend now.

[Segev]

Getting skill numbers right proved more time-consuming than I expected, and I'm fiddling with equipment now, which likely will require re-calculating certain ones again.

But I think I should still make the deadline. Sorry it's taking so long!

[ZamielVanWeber]

Just make it yummy for me to judge.

[dysprosium]

Just make it yummy for me to judge.

Mine is the one that emulates the Ranger.

[ericp65]

Mine is the one that emulates the Ranger.

Interesting koinkidink!

[Jurai]

Mine is the one with the classes and the feats and the skills.

[Chronos]

Man, dysprosium and Jurai, you're stealing all my best ideas!

[CyberThread]

yeah I admit, I don't have the time for the finer details, and as am exhibition only anyways, I will just make a skeletons detail for most things, skill points,feats,and the class selections.

[Chronos]

OK, I've got mine submitted. It's tough writing it all up at once, without a chance to answer questions.

EDIT: Since I'm not going to have a chance to put together my more complicated one, would it be appropriate to tell everyone what I was thinking for it, or should I save that for after the judging?

[mattie_p]

EDIT: Since I'm not going to have a chance to put together my more complicated one, would it be appropriate to tell everyone what I was thinking for it, or should I save that for after the judging?

Save it for after the judging, please. There are still a couple of days, someone might have a lot of free time and steal your idea if you aren't careful.

[Segev]

Or, worse, already have a similar idea, and have it look like they stole yours when their submission is seen.

[ericp65]

Save it for after the judging, please. There are still a couple of days, someone might have a lot of free time and steal your idea if you aren't careful.


Or, worse, already have a similar idea, and have it look like they stole yours when their submission is seen.

Wow, I learned how to use multiquote! *L* Yes, very sound advice! I suspect there will be many similar points in the submissions, but that just means that great/demented minds think alike :smallyuk:

[dysprosium]

Looks like there are going to be quite a few entries for this one -- and by some new faces too.

The reveal can't come fast enough -- like to see what we were all cooking.

[Segev]

Well, I'm building a spandex-clad primary-colored monk/druid whose dinosaur companion has a compartment from which I can ride inside, and which can use Psionic Fusion with 5 of my closest friends' dinosaur companions to make a giant humanoid-shaped fighting colossus.

...wait, wrong kind of "ranger." Even if psionics give him "power"s.

[Jurai]

I had an idea for a second build, but I couldn't think of a way to get it to work.

[nedz]

I've submitted build X, I won't have time for build Y — besides it's very similar only with a more obvious choice of [Redacted].

[mattie_p]

Well, I'm building a spandex-clad primary-colored monk/druid whose dinosaur companion has a compartment from which I can ride inside, and which can use Psionic Fusion with 5 of my closest friends' dinosaur companions to make a giant humanoid-shaped fighting colossus.

...wait, wrong kind of "ranger." Even if psionics give him "power"s.

You know, as an exhibition in True Necromancer I built a construct horde-ificer and tied for first in raw points (I did self-identify, so it didn't count). Having a totally weird perspective isn't always bad.

[Segev]

You know, as an exhibition in True Necromancer I built a construct horde-ificer and tied for first in raw points (I did self-identify, so it didn't count). Having a totally weird perspective isn't always bad.

Perhaps, but your build was still capturing a key feel of "necromancer," namely the hordes of minions. Even if they weren't undead.

The Power Rangers aren't really "rangers" in the D&D sense. At all.

[ericp65]

I had an idea for a second build, but I couldn't think of a way to get it to work.

I drafted up at least three different builds, but submitted the one that brought all the class features together the best out of them. figured the other builds were too similar, and not just because they're all based on the same character concept. Had I not been so focused/obsessed, I'd have chosen some of my other PnP Ranger characters to retool for this, but I'll leave that as an exercise for my own pleasure/torture in the future :smallsmile:

[Jurai]

Mine involved a PrC from Dragon Compendium and another from Unapproachable East. I couldn't find a Base Class shenanigan-ish enough to meet the necessary prerequisites without eating Elegance like a slice of tarmac.

[mattie_p]

Well, I'm glad I almost completely emptied my pm box before I started this competition, as in the past several weeks I've received 14 complete entries (some of those are duplicates with minor changes, but I'd rather not delete them yet) and about 50 inquiries of various sorts. Had I not done so, I'd be at full capacity and overflowing by now.

With a little over two days left, this should be quite the competition.

[Newcomer]

I'm still planning to submit, and have the build figured out. Presentation, gear, and character will make it a race to the finish!

[Segev]

Presentation, gear, and finalizing numbers is my challenge, here. I even know, roughly, the presentation. Just...writing it well takes some effort!

[mattie_p]

@Aster Azul and @Newcomer (as well as anyone else interested) I've updated my original post to indicate the competitions where I've updated the original posts of closed competitions to show the results, hyperlinked to the entries.

[Chronos]

I actually didn't include anything about gear-- I basically just assumed that he'd have about the same gear as a standard ranger, but I turned out not to need any items to make anything work.

[Segev]

I have some specific items in mind, and a stat booster or two will make things work a bit easier, but I doubt I'll spend all the gp. Just enough to show the flavor and leave room for customization to taste if anybody actually chose to use it.

[mattie_p]

I actually didn't include anything about gear-- I basically just assumed that he'd have about the same gear as a standard ranger, but I turned out not to need any items to make anything work.


I have some specific items in mind, and a stat booster or two will make things work a bit easier, but I doubt I'll spend all the gp. Just enough to show the flavor and leave room for customization to taste if anybody actually chose to use it.

You don't actually have to mention gear. If it makes you feel better, you can assume that all entries have the same gear as an NPC Ranger of level 20, unless specifically mentioned otherwise.

About 36 hours to go for those of you still working on your entries, I have plenty of space left in my pm box for them.

[Segev]

There we go! I've submitted my entry! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA!

[Newcomer]

There we go! I've submitted my entry! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA!

Me too!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!! And ya'll goin' down!!!!1!

I mean... that was fun. :smallcool:

[mattie_p]

And if I've done my addition and subtraction correctly (adding all the entry pms, subtracting the double, triple, and quadruple (in one case!) entries with minor changes), we now have 10 entries so far, setting a new record. Incredible effort so far, gang, I've found some features of every single one that I enjoy. Good luck in the next day, and best of luck to all.

[ericp65]

And if I've done my addition and subtraction correctly (adding all the entry pms, subtracting the double, triple, and quadruple (in one case!) entries with minor changes), we now have 10 entries so far, setting a new record. Incredible effort so far, gang, I've found some features of every single one that I enjoy. Good luck in the next day, and best of luck to all.

Fantastic! Oh, and sorry for my many pms...also thanks for being so understanding and helpful with this, my first-ever competition.

May the judging go smoothly and quickly. I'm beyond eager to see all the concepts and builds!

[ZamielVanWeber]

And if I've done my addition and subtraction correctly (adding all the entry pms, subtracting the double, triple, and quadruple (in one case!) entries with minor changes), we now have 10 entries so far, setting a new record. Incredible effort so far, gang, I've found some features of every single one that I enjoy. Good luck in the next day, and best of luck to all.

I am SO excited right now... *pulls out detonator button* GIVE ME MY BUILDS OR PERISH!


Fantastic! Oh, and sorry for my many pms...also thanks for being so understanding and helpful with this, my first-ever competition.

May the judging go smoothly and quickly. I'm beyond eager to see all the concepts and builds!

Could not go worse than last time... I lost my notes and was the only judge.

[relytdan]

well I got a build in under the wire - will see how it goes.

[mattie_p]

I am SO excited right now... *pulls out detonator button* GIVE ME MY BUILDS OR PERISH!


Is it a thermal detonator? I only provide an evil chuckle if its a thermal detonator.

[Segev]

Is it a thermal detonator? I only provide an evil chuckle if its a thermal detonator.

Do you not see the beauty, elegance, and sheer grace of the device? Clearly, it is a thermal detonatrix.

[mattie_p]

Do you not see the beauty, elegance, and sheer grace of the device? Clearly, it is a thermal detonatrix.

Both my wife and I got a chuckle out of this. It wasn't an evil chuckle, but mine was interrupted by a coughing fit so it might have ended up that way.

[Segev]

Since this is my first go-'round with either of these competitions while they're going on (as opposed to coming to the board and reading them having already happened), I'm curious about a few timing-related things. Most centrally, when do the entries go up for public viewing? Is it as soon as the deadline passes, so we all can look at them while the Judges compute their scores, or do only the Judges get to see them before all scoring is complete, and then all of it goes up at once?

I admit to being curious how my entry differs from those of others. I won't say more than that lest I give away my approach and thus which is my submission, but the curiosity remains, and is coupled with an impatience to sate it. Still, I am not asking for any changes to policy. Just curious what to set my expectations for, temporally.

[ericp65]

Since this is my first go-'round with either of these competitions while they're going on (as opposed to coming to the board and reading them having already happened), I'm curious about a few timing-related things. Most centrally, when do the entries go up for public viewing? Is it as soon as the deadline passes, so we all can look at them while the Judges compute their scores, or do only the Judges get to see them before all scoring is complete, and then all of it goes up at once?

I admit to being curious how my entry differs from those of others. I won't say more than that lest I give away my approach and thus which is my submission, but the curiosity remains, and is coupled with an impatience to sate it. Still, I am not asking for any changes to policy. Just curious what to set my expectations for, temporally.

We'll have to endure the torture of waiting until the judging is concluded to see the scores, and then the submissions.

[dysprosium]

After the first deadline, the Chairman will post the builds anonymously for all to see -- judges, competitors, and spectators alike.

We all get to see what we created though we can't take any credit for them until after the judging deadline when the Chairman will reveal who did what build.

[mattie_p]

Most centrally, when do the entries go up for public viewing? Is it as soon as the deadline passes, so we all can look at them while the Judges compute their scores, or do only the Judges get to see them before all scoring is complete, and then all of it goes up at once?

I'm actually starting right now to prepare the submissions for posting. I will actually post them shortly after the deadline for entry.

What I do as chairman is copy all the submissions (ensuring I've included the latest version) into separate notepad documents. I then come up with some witty remark (or snide, or something. I can't promise wittiness in every single submission. That says nothing about my preferences, just about my ability to be witty.) to describe the submission, and in order to meet forum rules that I post at least 10 characters of non-quoted text.

I do not post the submissions in the order received. I number them from 1 - whatever, then use a random number generator to determine the order in which I post them. So for example, we have 11 submissions so far. I'll generate a number between 1-11, then 1-10, and etc. This ensures that the first to submit does not get that "prime" location as the first entry posted.

Once all the posts are up, feel free to discuss options that didn't quite work out for you, but while preserving your anonymity. For example, say "I considered a build that had Base Class X 5 / Prestige Class Y 7 / Prestige Class Z 8, but I found it didn't work for Reasons A, B, and C." Don't say, "So an early draft had Base Class X 5 / Prestige Class Y 7 / Prestige Class Z 8, but I found if I added an extra 3 levels of X it worked so much better."

Avoid criticizing the builds directly, as that might indirectly reveal your identity.

Any questions?

[Newcomer]

How many judges do we have? And are you still accepting judges (obviously I'm not offering to judge myself, since I submitted a build)?

[CyberThread]

I have submitted mine, but it will be clearly easy to see what it is haha.

<-< I thought it was rather unique, even if not aiming for ultimate rangerness.

[mattie_p]

How many judges do we have? And are you still accepting judges (obviously I'm not offering to judge myself, since I submitted a build)?


As of now, we have ZamielVanWeber (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15859365&postcount=25) and CyberDrag (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15889435&postcount=48) confirmed as judges. Kuulvheysoon frequently judges if we need one, and expressed interest earlier without committing himself.

As for new judges, there is no criteria. If anyone (and I do mean anyone) wishes to judge, they are free to do so. I only ask they do adequate research on the secret ingredient and do due diligence on each entry.

[Segev]

Good to hear, and thanks for the hard work, Chairman!

[ericp65]

After the first deadline, the Chairman will post the builds anonymously for all to see -- judges, competitors, and spectators alike.

We all get to see what we created though we can't take any credit for them until after the judging deadline when the Chairman will reveal who did what build.

That's much better than how I thought it'd go! :smallsmile:

[mattie_p]

Posting the entries will be a little delayed, but certainly by no more than 30 minutes or so. Basically, about 1 hour left from this posting. We are about to sit down to eat, and I am not about to insult my wife by asking her to wait while I post some stuff on a forum she doesn't read. Nothing personal, but I have to pick my priorities.

[CyberThread]

http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/extra2/Demonstration.gif


Ladies and Gentleman please wait, we will get to the contest soon, we are in a interlude due to hunger needs.


http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/extra2/Demonstration.gifhttp://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/extra2/Demonstration.gif
http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/extra2/Demonstration.gif


Quick! Someone get Mat on the phone, the riots are increasing!

[mattie_p]

Hold your animal companions, mates. The grand reveal is here. Please refrain from posting while I unveil our 12 entries.

[mattie_p]

The similarities are more than I can bear...





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

1st|Barbarian (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/barbarian.htm) 1 (Crafty variant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#barbarian), Unearthed Arcana 58; Bear Totem (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#boarTotemClassFeatures ), Unearthed Arcana 49)|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+0|Disguise 2 (cc), Handle Animal 4, Knowledge (nature) 2 (cc), Listen 4, Ride 4, Spot 2 (cc), Survival 4 |Track, Toughness† (Bear totem)|1st favored enemy, Track, illiteracy

2nd|Barbarian 2 |
+2|
+3|
+0|
+0|Disguise 2½ (cc), Handle Animal 5, Jump 1, Listen 5, Ride 5, Spot 2½ (cc), Survival 5|Rapid Shot (combat style), Improved Grapple (Bear totem)|Combat style (archery)

3rd|Barbarian 3|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+1|Disguise 3 (cc), Handle Animal 6, Jump 2, Listen 6, Ride 6, Spot 3 (cc), Survival 6|Endurance, Great Fortitude§ (Bear totem)|Endurance

4th|Barbarian 4|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+1|Disguise 3½ (cc), Handle Animal 6, Jump 3, Listen 6, Ride 6, Spot 3½ (cc), Survival 7||—

5th|Barbarian 5|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+1|Disguise 4 (cc), Handle Animal 8, Jump 4, Listen 8, Ride 8, Spot 4 (cc), Survival 8||2nd favored enemy

—|Shadow Creature template (Lords of Madness 167)|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+1||| Resist cold 10, darkvision 60', low-light vision, Shadow Blend, mirror image 1/day

6th|Forest Reeve 1 (Complete Champion 82) w/ Skilled City-Dweller (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a) for Handle Animal->Gather Information|
+6|
+4|
+3|
+1|Gather Information 5, Spot 8|Wild Cohort (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a)|Earth's defender +1, fast movement, nature's rejuvenation 1/day, literacy, animal companion, Resist cold 11 (Shadow Creature)

7th|Forest Reeve 2|
+7|
+4|
+4|
+1|Move Silently 9||Woodland stride, Resist cold 12 (Shadow Creature)

8th|Forest Reeve 3|
+8|
+5|
+4|
+2|Balance 5, Move Silently 10, Spot 11||Earth's defender +2, nature's rejuvenation 2/day, swift tracker, evasion (Shadow Creature), Resist cold 13 (Shadow Creature)

9th|Barbarian 6|
+9|
+6|
+5|
+3|Disguise 5 (cc), Handle Animal 12, Listen 9|Manyshot (improved combat style), Extra Favored Enemy (Ghostwalk 32)|Improved combat style (archery), 3rd favored enemy, Resist cold 14 (Shadow Creature)

10th|Consecrated Harrier 1 (Complete Divine 28)|
+10|
+6|
+5|
+5|Bluff 5, Diplomacy 2||Blessing of scripture +2, detect chaos, Resist cold 15 (Shadow Creature)

11th|Consecrated Harrier 2|
+11|
+6|
+5|
+6|Diplomacy 9||Sanctified sight

12th|Consecrated Harrier 3|
+12|
+7|
+6|
+6|Diplomacy 15, Ride 9|Improved Precise Shot|Dispel magic, combat style mastery (archery), fast healing 2 (Shadow Creature)

13th|Forest Reeve 4|
+13|
+7|
+7|
+6|Move Silently 12, Spot 16||Camouflage (also covers hide in plain sight)

14th|Consecrated Harrier 4|
+14|
+7|
+7|
+7|Diplomacy 17, Ride 14||Crushing despair

15th|Consecrated Harrier 5|
+15|
+7|
+7|
+7|Diplomacy 18, Ride 18, Search 2|Extra Favored Enemy|Blessing of scripture +4, 4th favored enemy

16th|Consecrated Harrier 6|
+16|
+10|
+10|
+10|Diplomacy 19, Search 8||False vision, +2 luck to all saves (Shadow Creature)

17th|Consecrated Harrier 7|
+17|
+10|
+10|
+10|Diplomacy 20, Search 14||—

18th|Consecrated Harrier 8|
+18|
+10|
+10|
+11|Diplomacy 21, Search 20|Extra Favored Enemy|Implacable hunt, 5th favored enemy

19th|Consecrated Harrier 9|
+19|
+11|
+11|
+11|Diplomacy 22, Search 22, Climb 4||—

20th|Consecrated Harrier 10|
+20|
+11|
+11|
+12|Diplomacy 23, Search 23, Climb 9||Blessing of scripture +6, faultless hunt, plane shift 1/day (Shadow Creature)[/table]
Green = class feature matched in both name and function
Red = class feature simulated
† - Feat swapped for Point Blank Shot via Dark Chaos Shuffle
§ - Feat swapped for Precise Shot via Dark Chaos Shuffle
Spells per Day
{table=head]Level|1st|2nd|3rd|4th

1st|—|—|—|—

2nd|—|—|—|—

3rd|—|—|—|—

4th|—|—|—|—

5th|—|—|—|—

6th|—|—|—|—

7th|—|—|—|—

8th|—|—|—|—

9th|—|—|—|—

10th|0|—|—|—

11th|1|—|—|—

12th|1|0|—|—

13th|1|0|—|—

14th|1|1|—|—

15th|1|1|0|—

16th|1|1|1|—

17th|2|1|1|0

18th|2|1|1|1

19th|2|2|1|1

20th|2|2|2|1[/table]
Character Details
Name: Barbara Backaway
Sex: Female
Race: Greensnake Naga (Oriental Adventures, pages 172-174)
Medium Humanoid (Reptilian)
Space/Reach: 5'/5'
Base Speed: 30'
Abilities: +2 STR, +4 DEX, +4 CON, +2 INT, +2 WIS
Racial Traits:
Poison (Ex): Bite or weapon, Fort save DC 12; initial and secondary damage 1d3 CON.
Telepathy (Ex): Nagas only.
Taint Immunity (Ex): Immune to Shadowlands Taint.
Alternate Form (Su): Serpent tail or 2-legged Humanoid.
Level Adjustment: +1

Shadow Creature template (Lords of Madness, pages 167-168):
Size and Type: Unchanged; extraplanar subtype added when not on Plane of Shadow.
Speed: As base creature × 1½.
Special Qualities: Add the following:
Resistance to cold equal to 5 + 1 per HD, to a maximum of 15.
Darkvision out to 60'.
Low-light vision.
Shadow Blend (Su): In any conditions other than full daylight, a shadow creature can disappear into the shadows, giving it total concealment.
One additional special ability for every 4 HD they possess. Barbara has:
mirror image 1/day
evasion
fast healing 2
+2 luck to all saves
plane shift 1/day
Skills: Same as base creature, and gain a +6 Move Silently racial bonus.
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +2.

Alignment: True Neutral initially; Lawful Neutral after level 9
Speed: 55'
Wild Cohort: Brown Bear

{table="head"]32 Point Buy | Racial | Increments | End Result
STR 14 | +2 | — | 16
DEX 14 | +4 | +1 | 19
CON 14 | +4 | — | 18
INT 14 | +2 | — | 16
WIS 14 | +2 | +4 | 20
CHA 10 | — | — | 10[/table]

Short But Adequate Warrior/Mage Tale
She started simply: some shortbow shots, some shortspear stabbing. Serpent-sliding, sometimes she saw some scattered savage settlers. Specifically stimulated, she sought such similar standing. Born brainy but basically brash, Barbara Backaway became bow-bearing Bearclan Barbarian. Bashing beasts, Barbara's brilliant bowmanship brought Bearclan bountiful bacon. But backwoods basics belie broader bases; beneath bold bravery, betimes boredom bothered Barbara. Bolstering brute beginnings, as an aware adherent at associate assistance, able archer added an awesome Animal ally. And also an addition augments achievement and amusement, alleviating any anger and anxiety. Altering an alignment allowed additional advantage: warrior woman wanted wilderness whet with weird wonder. (When wandering, wilderness warden would watch/witness wretched worry where witchy woe would wrongfully wrest wealth; while warriors would wrestle with Web, Wizards would win.) Mostly managing mystery mastery meant many marvelous magics; mainly mundane martial matters missed mediocrity meanwhile. Taming tempers, then telling tall tales to tigers, the talented trouper tactically turns trouble toward truly treasured triumph. This, then, totals the tale.
Gear
Several level 1 Pearls of Power, allowing repeated use of Speak with Animals (or other level 1 spells, as needed).
Composite longbow with splitting and seeking enhancements — what any good archer wants, basically.
Other items suitable for a woodlands archer. This build isn't really equipment-dependent.

Execution Details
The chosen race — Greensnake Naga (Oriental Adventures, pages 172-174) — has a level adjustment of +1, which is bought off for 3,000 XP at class level 3. The build adds the Shadow Creature template (Lords of Madness, pages 167-168) with a +2 level adjustment before level 6. The character can then buy off that newly-acquired +2 LA on the standard schedule: 1 at class level 6 (for 7,000 XP) and the last 1 at class level 9 (for another 9,000 XP) using 19,000 XP total of the 19,999 XP "surplus" specified over the level 20 floor.

Two feats are obtained by paying an NPC spellcaster for the "Dark Chaos Shuffle" sometime before level 12. (Embrace the Dark Chaos (Fiendish Codex I, page 92) swaps an existing feat for an Abyssal Heritor feat (see Fiendish Codex I, page 82) the subject qualifies for. Shun the Dark Chaos (Fiendish Codex I, page 95) then swaps that temporary Abyssal Heritor feat for any other feat the subject qualifies for.) This replaces the Toughness and Great Fortitude Bear Totem Barbarian feats with Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot. Those are the feat prerequisites for Improved Precise Shot, which prerequisites are normally bypassed when this feat is obtained via the Ranger's combat style mastery (archery).

One alignment shift is involved, from initial True Neutral to Lawful Neutral after level 9.

Notes
Some details (comparisons with the emulated Ranger class, & c.) of how this build attempts to satisfy the contest criteria.

Innovation
A Medium-size Greensnake Naga with Humanoid/Serpent Alternate Form functions like a rather more limited (1 alternate shape) version of what the Wild Shape Ranger (Unearthed Arcana, page 58) features (that variant is limited to Small and Medium Animals only), but without giving up combat style and improved combat style class features. Barbara also has (via Forest Reeve) the fast movement normally gained through that Wild Shape Ranger variant. In effect, this build simultaneously emulates both the normal Ranger and Wild Shape Ranger variant.

This character does not have wild empathy. However, she does have Calm Emotions (not on Ranger class list), Speak with Animals (on the Ranger list), and Diplomacy as a (Consecrated Harrier) class skill. Wild empathy functions just like Diplomacy for Animals only. Using Speak with Animals, the character can use actual Diplomacy with Animals instead. Wild empathy is a Charisma check + Ranger level (d20 + CHA mod + 20); Diplomacy is a Charisma check + Diplomacy mod (d20 + CHA mod + 25). (A number of level 1 Pearls of Power allow repeated use of Speak with Animals, or other useful level 1 spells, as needed for greater versatility.) Barbara can not only improve Animals' attitudes somewhat better than a level 20 Ranger, she can then gain useful information and/or services from them as well.
Power
All 3 classes used have full BAB, matching BAB +20 @ Ranger 20.

Saving Throw Comparison
{table=head]Source | Fortitude | Reflex | Will
Greensnake Naga racial | +2 (+4 CON) | +2 (+4 DEX) | +1 (+2 WIS)
Barbarian 6 | +5 | +2 | +2
Forest Reeve 4 | +1 | +4 | +1
Consecrated Harrier 10 | +3 | +3 | +7
Shadow Creature Luck bonus | +2 | +2 | +2
Total | +13 | +13 | +13
Ranger 20 base | +12 | +12 | +6[/table]

Barbara Backaway has the same weapon and armor proficiencies as a Ranger, plus Medium armor proficiency.

Her Wild Cohort functions similarly to an animal companion at effective Druid level 17 (class levels - 3) instead of Ranger animal companion at effective Druid level 10 (Ranger level / 2).

Consecrated Harrier 10 gives the same spellcasting as Ranger 17, but with the addition of 17 non-Ranger spells to the character's list and 4 Spell-like abilities duplicating spells not on the Ranger spell list (each usable WIS mod times/day, meaning 20 daily SLAs with WIS 20). Caster level is 10 (CL = Consecrated Harrier level), identically matching Ranger 20 (CL = Ranger level / 2). Forest Reeve adds 2/day use of a Spell-like ability duplicating any of 3 spells, 2 of which are on the Ranger spell list; CL = character level. The Shadow Creature template adds a couple of 1/day Spell-like abilities (not matching Ranger class spells). Some Pearls of Power are included in the character's gear as well. When the 2 dozen daily Spell-like abilities are added, the daily spells available to the character markedly exceed those of a straight Ranger 20.

Total skill points are behind the Ranger norm, but the +2 INT racial bonus gets the skill point difference down to just 15 points (192 vs. 207 @ INT 16, an 8% shortfall).

18 of 20 Ranger class skills are matched; 8 class skills beyond those on the Ranger list are added.

Barbarian d12, Forest Reeve d10, and Consecrated Harrier d10 all exceed Ranger d8 hit dice. Additionally, Greensnake Naga provides a +4 CON racial bonus. Hit points surpass the Ranger 20 norm.
Elegance
Only one base class. Two prestige classes, including one 10-level PrC taken to completion. One nominal "dip" in that the 20-level build doesn't use the very last level of Forest Reeve. Two feats swapped for others via Dark Chaos Shuffle. (Neither of the feats obtained in this way are on the list of Ranger class features. Instead, they're prerequisites needed to simulate a class feature which, for an actual Ranger, bypasses those prerequisites.)

One alignment shift occurs in Barbara's history, from initial True Neutral to Lawful Neutral after level 9. (This corresponds to her desire to become more diligent about learning and using magic.)

Ingredient
Level Match Comparison
{table=head]Class Feature | Ranger level | Barbara Backaway
1st favored enemy | 1 | 1
Track | 1 | 1
Wild empathy | 1 | — (approximated via Speak with Animals + Diplomacy after level 10)
Combat style | 2 | 2
Endurance | 3 | 3
Animal companion | 4 | 6 (approximated via Wild Cohort)
2nd favored enemy | 5 | 5
Improved combat style | 6 | 9
Woodland stride | 7 | 7
Swift tracker | 8 | 8
Evasion | 9 | 8
3rd favored enemy | 10 | 9 (via Extra Favored Enemy)
Combat style mastery | 11 | 12 (identical feat, but no prerequisites bypass)
Camouflage | 13 | 13
4th favored enemy | 15 | 15 (via Extra Favored Enemy)
Hide in plain sight | 17 | 13 (functionality from more powerful Camouflage)
5th favored enemy | 20 | 18 (via Extra Favored Enemy)[/table]
Bold = matched exactly on schedule
Green = matched early
Red = matched late

Ranger Spell List Spells per Day Comparison
{table=head]Ranger Level | Matched At
1-3 | 1-9
4-5 | 10
6-7 | 11
8-9 | 12-13
10 | 14
11 | 15
12-13 | 16
14 | 17
15 | 18
16 | 19
17 | 20
18 | —
19 | —
20 | —[/table]

[mattie_p]

A druidic heritage, a ranger at heart.


Name: Aishera
Race: Halfling (PHB 20)
–2 Strength, +2 Dexterity

32 point buy
Str 15 Dex 12 Con 12 Int 12 Wis 16 Cha 10

Abilities: Str 13 Dex 14 Con 12 Int 12 Wis 16 Cha 10

lvl 4: +1 Str
lvl 8: +1 Wis
lvl 12: +1 Cha
lvl 16: +1 Wis
lvl 20: +1 Cha

lvl 20 Abilities with Items: Str 16 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 14 Wis 18 Cha 14

Magic Items:( 140,860 gp spent over 20 levels)
Head: Headband of intellect +2 enhancement bonus to Int (Dmg 258 4,000)
Face: Panther Mask provides the benefits of the Run feat (MIC 201 2,700)
Throat: Amulet of health +2 +2 enhancement bonus to Con (Dmg 246 4,000)
Shoulders: Cloak of Charisma +2 enhancement bonus to Cha (Dmg 253 4,000)
Arms: Deathstrike bracers 3/day deal critical hits or sneak attacks to creatures immune to such attacks for 1 round (Mic 93

5,000)
Hands: Gloves of Dexterity +2 enhancement bonus to Dex (Dmg 257 4,000)
Ring: Ring of sustenance Nourished, 2 hours, gives benefit of 8 hours of sleep (Dmg 233 2,500)
Ring: Ring of protection +5 deflection bonus to AC (Dmg 232 50,000)
Torso: Vest of resistance +5 on all saving throws (Mic 147 25,000)
Body: Serpent Armor +3 leather, 15 lb., +2 Ref saves; wearer gains Combat Reflexes feat (Savage Species 48 21,660)
Waist: Belt of priestly might +1 enhancement bonus to natural armor, +2 enhancement bonus to Strength (Mic 74 6,000)
Feet: Boots of speed Haste self 10 rounds total per day (Dmg 250 12,000)


Druid (PHB 33)
Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis),
Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str)
Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the spell level
1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Animal companion, nature sense, wild empathy <D,ACF> 3 1 — — — — — — — —
2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Woodland stride 4 2 — — — — — — — —
3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Trackless step 4 2 1 — — — — — — —
4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Resist nature’s lure 5 3 2 — — — — — — —
5th +3 +4 +1 +4 <D,ACF> 5 3 2 1 — — — — — —
6th +4 +5 +2 +5 <DHd,ACF> 5 3 3 2 — — — — — —
7th +5 +5 +2 +5 <DHd,ACF> 6 4 3 2 1 — — — — —
8th +6/+1 +6 +2 +6 <DHd,ACF> 6 4 3 3 2 — — — — —
9th +6/+1 +6 +3 +6 Venom immunity 6 4 4 3 2 1 — — — —
10th +7/+2 +7 +3 +7 <DHd,ACF> 6 4 4 3 3 2 — — — —
11th +8/+3 +7 +3 +7 <DHd,ACF> 6 5 4 4 3 2 1 — — —
12th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8 <DHd,ACF> 6 5 4 4 3 3 2 — — —
13th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8 <D,ACF> 6 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 — —
14th +10/+5 +9 +4 +9 Wild shape (5/day) 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 — —
15th +11/+6/+1 +9 +5 +9 Timeless body, wild shape (Huge)6 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 —
16th +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +10 Wild shape (elemental 1/day)6 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 —
17th +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +10 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1


Deadly Hunter <DHd,ACF> (UA 58)
Druid
The druid might choose to give up her wild shape ability in exchange for becoming a swift and deadly hunter.
Gain: favored enemy (as ranger), swift tracker (as ranger), Track feat (as ranger).
Lose: Armor and shield proficiency, wild shape (all versions).


Halfling Druid Substitution Levels <D,ACF> (RotW 157)
Hit Die: d8. Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier (or four times this number as a beginning character).
grant the same class skills as the standard druid class, plus Climb, Hide, Jump, and Move Silently.
1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Animal companion, enhanced link, As standard druid nature sense, spontaneous casting, wild empathy
5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Undersized wild shape (2/day) As standard druid
13th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8 Camouflage As standard druid


Halfling Outrider (CW 38)
Race: Halfling.
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Listen: 3 ranks, Ride 6 ranks, Spot 3 ranks.
Feats: Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery
Handle Animal (Cha), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int
Halfling outrider class levels stack with druid levels for determining the characteristics of a animal companion.
1st +1 +1 +0 +2 +0 Mount, Alertness, Ride bonus
2nd +2 +1 +0 +3 +0 Defensive riding
3rd +3 +2 +1 +3 +1 Unbroken charge


Druid Animal companion at level 7
DIRE WOLF -Large Animal (MM 65)

Halfling Outrider Animal companion
DIRE WOLF -Large Animal (MM 65)

Will use a <SLED (PHB 129)> and have both Dire Wolfs pull it( where they have Str 25 each, pulling a 300lb sled should be no

problem)

Feats
BF: Alertness
0 Armor Proficiency (light)
3 Mounted Combat
6 Mounted Archery
9 Ride-By Attack
12 Spirited Charge
15 Trample
18 Great Fortitude

Skills 90 points spent on ranks <without the x4 or int mod applied to each level>
Climb 6 Ranks
Concentration 6 Ranks
Diplomacy 6 Ranks
Handle Animal 6 Ranks
Heal 6 Ranks
Hide 6 Ranks
Jump 6 Ranks
Knowledge (nature) 6 Ranks
Listen 6 Ranks
Move Silently 6 Ranks
Ride 6 Ranks
Spellcraft 6 Ranks
Spot 6 Ranks
Survival 6 Ranks
Swim 6 Ranks

[mattie_p]

He stalks the unwary


Zolag

Basics

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i407/MarcoALopez/LOTR/Orcs/Units/GundabadPathfinder.jpg
Zolag was not like the other desert orcs of his tribe. Senseless bullying was unnecessary to survive. He also favored the bow and arrow compared to the sword and shield. Eventually Zolag would leave his tribe and embark on a journey to become what his tribe would call a Pathfinder . . .
NG desert orc Scout 5/Fighter 4/Beastmaster 2/Forest Reeve 4/Stalker of Kharash 4/Abolisher 1
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
all ability increases go to Dexterity

Build
{table=head]Level|Class|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Scout 1|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+0|Knowledge (dungeoneering) 4, Knowledge (nature) 4, Handle Animal 2, Hide 4, Listen 4, Move Silently 4, Search 2, Spot 4, Survival 2|Bane of Infidels, Endurance (RB)|desert orc traits, skirmish (+1d6),trapfinding

2nd|Fighter 1|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+0|Handle Animal +2|Point Blank Shot (FB)|

3rd|Scout 2|
+2|
+2|
+3|
+0|Hide +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Search +1, Spot +1, Survival +1|Skill Focus (handle animal)|battle fortitude +1, uncanny dodge

4th|Scout 3|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+1|Handle Animal +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |fast movement +10 ft, skirmish (+1d6, +1 AC), trackless step

5th|Fighter 2|
+4|
+4|
+3|
+1|Handle Animal +2|Rapid Shot (FB)|

6th|Scout 4|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+1|Handle Animal +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1|Manyshot, Track (B)|

7th|Beastmaster 1|
+6|
+6|
+6|
+1|Handle Animal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |animal companion, wild empathy

8th|Beastmaster 2|
+7|
+7|
+7|
+1|Handle Animal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Spot +1, Survival +1|Alertness (B)|

9th|Scout 5|
+7|
+7|
+7|
+1|Handle Animal +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1|Extra Favored Enemy|evasion, skirmish (+2d6, +1 AC)

10th|Fighter 3|
+8|
+7|
+8|
+2|Handle Animal +2| |

11th|Forest Reeve 1|
+9|
+7|
+10|
+2|Handle Animal +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |earth’s defender +1, fast movement +10 ft, nature’s rejuvenation 1/day

12th|Forest Reeve 2|
+10|
+7|
+11|
+2|Handle Animal +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1|Favored of the Companions|woodland stride

13th|Forest Reeve 3|
+11|
+8|
+11|
+3|Handle Animal +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |earth’s defender +2, nature’s rejuvenation 2/day, swift tracker

14th|Forest Reeve 4|
+12|
+8|
+12|
+3|Handle Animal +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |camouflage

15th|Stalker of Kharash 1|
+13|
+8|
+14|
+3|Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1|Precise Shot|scent of evil

16th|Stalker of Kharash 2|
+14|
+8|
+15|
+3|Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |favored enemy (evil)

17th|Stalker of Kharash 3|
+15|
+9|
+15|
+4|Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |

18th|Stalker of Kharash 4|
+16|
+9|
+16|
+4|Hide +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1|Extra Favored Enemy|hide in plain sight

19th|Fighter 4|
+17|
+10|
+16|
+4|Handle Animal +2|Improved Precise Shot (FB)|

20th|Abolisher 1|
+17|
+10|
+16|
+6x|Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |animal companion, favored enemy (aberrations), wild shape 1/day[/table]

Final Skill Totals: Handle Animal 19, Hide 16, Knowledge (dungeoneering) 6, Knowledge (nature) 19, Listen 12, Move Silently 16, Search 3, Spot 19, Survival 17


Ranger Emulations
{table=head]Ranger ability|Emulated by
full BAB|BAB +17 (very close)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
saving throws|saves -2/+4/0 (better Reflex offsets worse Fortitude)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
favored enemy (5)|Bane of Infidels and Extra Favored Enemy (x2) feats, Stalker of Kharash 2, Abolisher 1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
Track|Scout 4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
wild empathy|Beastmaster 1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
combat style|Fighter 1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
Endurance|desert orc racial feat|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
animal companion|Beastmaster 1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
improved combat style|Fighter 2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
woodland stride|Forest Reeve 2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
swift tracker|Forest Reeve 3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
evasion|Scout 5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
combat style mastery|Fighter 4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
camouflage|Forest Reeve 4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
hide in plain sight|Stalker of Kharash 4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
spellcasting|see below (design notes)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|- [/table]

Design Notes
Zolag as our Ranger wannabe would not be able to cast spells as a standard Ranger. However thanks to our various class and prestige class choices, Zolag can emulate spellcasting as a Ranger in quite a few ways. Note also that the Stalker of Kharash prestige class actually grants Ranger spellcasting if the entry into the class did not have Ranger spellcasting before. In Zolag’s case, he would be able to cast as a 4th level Ranger once he reached his fourth level of Stalker of Kharash. He would need a Wisdom enhancing item to actually benefit from this however.
{table=head]Class ability|Spell emulation
trapfinding|detect snares and pits
scent of evil|scent
trackless step|pass without trace
nature’s rejuvenation|bear’s endurance, cure moderate wounds, lesser restoration* (* not on Ranger list)
earth’s defender|magic weapon
fast movement|longstrider
heat endurance (racial)|endure elements
low light vision (racial)|low light vision
wild shape|better than any Ranger spell[/table]
For equipment needs, Zolag would like to have the best light armor available per level. He is a bow using skirmisher so his composite longbow should likewise be the best it can be. Melee is secondary so any masterwork martial weapon would do there. Of course Zolag would like any of the standard ability and saving throw boosting items available. His animal companion can be to taste but this designer likes the wolf or dire wolf if available. Likewise his extra favored enemy choices can also be seasoned to taste. The other choices are already set with the Stalker of Kharash and the Abolisher classes and the Bane of Infidels feat.

Source List
Book of Exalted Deeds: Stalker of Kharash prestige class, Favored of the Companions feat
Complete Adventurer: Scout base class, Beastmaster prestige class
Complete Champion: Forest Reeve prestige class
Ghostwalk: Extra Favored Enemy feat
Lords of Madness: Abolisher prestige class
Power of Faerun: Bane of Infidels feat

[mattie_p]

A seeker who found the journey was his destination.



Jharet, who Wandered Far

Story:
Long ago, the elf sages say, there lived a young wood elf named Jharet. He grew up on stories of the great guardinal champion Kharesh, and aspired to match his prowess and moral courage. When he came of age, he dedicated himself to the service of the Companions of Talisid, where his superiors soon realized that the best use of his aptitude was in scouting at the periphery of their territory, looking out for threats. While on duty, he engaged many foes, but never directly, preferring instead to use skirmish tactics that kept him always on the move. Eventually, his deeds earned him recognition, and official membership in the ranks of the Stalkers, where he learned the vulnerabilities of evil creatures of all sorts.

During his struggles to make the world a better place, he began to hear rumors that others had once succeeded at that goal, and had actually made a better place, but that the Misty Isle where this had been done had been hidden away from the eyes of the Elves. Inpspired, he began to search for this fabled land, to try to bring its wisdom to the rest of the world. Although he never found the object of his quest, he became convinced that one essential element to the paradise of the Misty Isle was that its inhabitants lived in harmony to nature. To this end, he began working with the Guardians of the Green to bring the visible world, as well, into greater harmony. He never gave up the quest entirely, but it was to this goal that he devoted most of his last years.

To this day, Jharet and his adventures have served as inspiration to many elves, and even to those of other races. Though few have managed to replicate his accomplishments and abilities exactly, and not all share his moral stance, many have come close. These followers of Jharet's way now call themselves "rangers".

The Build:
Wood elf Scout 5/Stalker of Kharash 8/Seeker of the Misty Isle 3/Holt Warden 3/Seeker of the Misty Isle 1

Abilities:
Str 15+2 (8 pts), plus level-up points at 4 and 20
Dex 14+2 (6 pts), plus level-up point at 12
Con 14-2 (6 pts)
Int 14-2 (6 pts)
Wis 14 (6 pts), plus level-up points at 8 and 16
Cha 8 (0 pts)

Feats:
1 Favored of the Companions
3 Alertness
4 Track (bonus feat from Scout)
6 Wild Cohort
9 Swift Hunter
12 Two-Weapon Fighting
15 Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
18 Endurance

Books used:
Core (Alertness, Track, TWF, Improved TWF, Endurance)
Complete Adventurer (Scout)
Book of Exalted Deeds (Stalker of Kharash, Favored of the Companions)
Complete Divine (Seeker of the Misty Isle)
Complete Champion (Holt Warden, Travel Devotion)
Complete Scoundrel (Swift Hunter)
Web: Random Encounters: Wild Life (Wild Cohort)

How it mimics Ranger:
Skills: More total skill points than a ranger, with Handle Animal, Hide, Knowledge (Nature), Listen, Move Silently, Spot, and Survival all as class skills. Unfortunately the skill points are a bit front-loaded, so he can't keep them all maxed.
Full BAB: Jharet doesn't have full BAB, but he does have +16, enough for all four iteratives
Good Fort and Ref: Mixed bag; Scout and Stalker have good Ref, Seeker has Fort and Ref, Warden has Fort and Will

Favored Enemy: He has a particularly good version starting at level 7, with all evil creatures counting as favored enemies. When he takes the Swift Hunter feat, he gains two additional favored enemies from his five Scout levels, and applies the additional bonus to Favored Enemy:Evil, for a +5 bonus vs. all evil creatures, and an additional stacking +2 against two types of creatures.
Wild Empathy: He does not have anything similar to this ability.
Track: He has this feat, at level 4
Endurance: He has this feat, at level 18
Combat Style: He has two of the three feats, at levels 12 and 15.
Animal Companion: He has the Wild Cohort feat, at level 6
Spells: He mimics this near-perfectly starting at level 9 (from Stalker), with spells drawn from exactly the ranger list, and eventually getting fourth-level spells (though he has fewer spells than a true ranger would have)
Woodland Stride: He gets this at level 18 from Holt Warden
Swift Tracker: He gets Swiftfooted at level 20 from Seeker, which is like Swift Tracker but also applies to Balance, Climb, Hide, and Move Silently.
Evasion: He gets this at level 5 (4 levels before Ranger), from Scout
Camouflage: He does not get this ability, but he would with three more Scout levels
Hide in Plain Sight: He gets this at level 10 (7 levels before Ranger), from Stalker

Other abilities the ranger lacks:
Skirmish Level 1 (Scout), +2d6, +1 AC, applies to all evil creatures even if they would be immune
Trapfinding Level 1 (Scout)
Battle Fortitude Level 2 (Scout), +1 to initiative and Fort saves
Uncanny Dodge Level 2 (Scout)
Fast Movement Level 3 (Scout), +10'
Trackless Step Level 3 (Scout)
Scent of Evil Level 6 (Stalker), combination of Detect Evil and scent
Track Evil Level 10 (Stalker), track evil creatures by scent
Smite Evil Level 11 (Stalker), +4 attack, +8 damage, 2/day
Travel Domain Level 14 (Seeker), can be traded for Travel Devotion
Nature Sense Level 17 (Warden), +2 Knowledge (Nature) and Survival
Plant Affinity Level 17 (Warden), spontaneously cast spells of Plant domain
Rebuke Plants Level 18 (Warden), as Plant Domain power
Earth's Communion Level 19 (Warden), Heal spell that can be shared with others
Hide/Move Silently bonus Level 19 (Warden), since he already has Trackless Step (+4 each)

[mattie_p]

Is this the archetypical the paladin ranger?


Build
Amira Danallis, Seelie Court Traveler
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Cleric 1|
+0|
+2|
+0|
+2|Knowledge (Religion) 4 ranks, Ride 2 ranks, Survival 4 ranks|Cosmopolitan (Survival)|Turn Undead, Animal and Plant Domains, Spontaneous Casting

2nd|Cleric 2|
+1|
+3|
+0|
+3|Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 1 rank, Survival 5 ranks|--|--

3rd|Cleric 3|
+2|
+3|
+1|
+3|Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 2 ranks, Survival 6 ranks|LA Buyoff (209,999-2,000=207,999), Mounted Combat|--

4th|Cleric 4|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Knowledge (Religion) 7 ranks, Survival 7 ranks|+1 to Constitution|--

5th|Cleric 5|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Knowledge (Religion) 8 ranks, Survival 8 ranks, Ride 2.5 ranks|--|--

6th|Totemist 1|
+3|
+6|
+3|
+4|Knowledge (Religion) 9 ranks, Survival 9 ranks, Concentration 3 ranks|Nymph's Kiss|Wild Empathy, Illiteracy

7th|Cleric 6|
+4|
+7|
+4|
+5|Knowledge (Religion) 10 ranks, Survival 10 ranks, Concentration 4 ranks|--|--

8th|Prestige Paladin of Freedom 1|
+5|
+9|
+4|
+5|Knowledge (Religion) 11 ranks, Survival 11 ranks, Concentration 6 ranks|+1 to Constitution|Favored Enemy (Aberration +2), Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/d,

9th|Prestige Paladin of Freedom 2|
+6|
+10|
+4|
+5|Knowledge (Religion) 12 ranks, Survival 12 ranks, Concentration 8 ranks|Extra Favored Enemy (Undead)|Favored Enemy (Aberration +4, Undead +2), Divine Grace, Special Mount

10th|Prestige Paladin of Freedom 3|
+7|
+10|
+5|
+6|Knowledge (Religion) 13 ranks, Survival 13 ranks, Concentration 10 ranks|--|Aura of Resolve, Divine Health

11th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 1|
+7|
+12|
+7|
+6|Knowledge (Religion) 14 ranks, Survival 14 ranks, Concentration 14 ranks, Spot 2 ranks|Travel Devotion|Travel Domain (trade power for Travel Devotion)

12th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 2|
+8|
+13|
+8|
+6|Knowledge (Religion) 15 ranks, Survival 15 ranks, Concentration 15 ranks, Spot 7 ranks ranks|+1 to Wisdom, Serenity|--

13th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 3|
+9|
+13|
+8|
+7|Knowledge (Religion) 16 ranks, Survival 16 ranks, Concentration 16 ranks, Spot 12 ranks|--|--

14th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 4|
+10|
+14|
+9|
+7|Knowledge (Religion) 17 ranks, Survival 17 ranks, Concentration 17 ranks, Spot 17 ranks|--|Swiftfooted

15th|Totemist 2|
+11|
+15|
+10|
+7|Knowledge (Religion) 18 ranks, Survival 18 ranks, Concentration 18 ranks, Spot 18 ranks, Ride 3.5 ranks|Bonus Essentia|Totem Chakra Bind (+1 Capacity)

16th|Totemist 3|
+12|
+15|
+10|
+8|Knowledge (Religion) 19 ranks, Survival 19 ranks, Concentration 19 ranks, Spot 19 ranks, Ride 4.5 ranks|+1 to Wisdom|--

17th|Prestige Paladin of Freedom 4|
+13|
+16|
+11|
+8|Knowledge (Religion) 20 ranks, Survival 20 ranks, Concentration 20 ranks, Handle Animal 1|--|--

18th|Prestige Paladin of Freedom 5|
+14|
+16|
+11|
+8|Knowledge (Religion) 21 ranks, Survival 21 ranks, Concentration 21 ranks, Handle Animal 2|Sapphire Smite|Smite Evil 2/d, Favored Enemy (Aberration +4, Undead +4, Monstrous Humanoid +2)

19th|Prestige Paladin of Freedom 6|
+15|
+17|
+12|
+9|Knowledge (Religion) 22 ranks, Survival 22 ranks, Concentration 22 ranks, Handle Animal 3|--|--

20th|Prestige Paladin of Freedom 7|
+16|
+17|
+12|
+9|Knowledge (Religion) 23 ranks, Survival 23 ranks, Concentration 23 ranks, Handle Animal 4|+1 to Wisdom|--[/table]


Race and Template

Seelie Court Fey Forestlord Elf

Dragonblood Subtype: Forestlord elves and half-elves are of the dragonblood subtype (see page 4).


Treewalk (Su): A forestlord elf or half-elf can transport herself between trees in much the same way that dryads and druids can. Once per day, a forestlord elf can enter a tree by touching it as a move action; once inside the tree, she instantly transports to any other tree within 60 feet. The forestlord elf appears in a square adjacent to the second tree at the beginning of her next turn. When a forestlors elf or half-elf reaches 5 Hit Dice, and for every 5 HD thereafter, she gains one additional use of this ability per day.


Class Skills: Hide is a class skill for forestlord elves and half-elves.


No bonus on saves against enchantment spells or effects. A costly part of the ancient pacts required the elves to forgo their innate resistance to enchantments.


Forestlord elves do not have proficiency with the longsword, rapier, longbow, or shortbow. They spend more time communing with nature and less time practicing with these traditional weapons.


Forestlord Pact: Any forestlord elf or half-elf who attacks or otherwise attempts to harm a green dragon loses her treewalk ability for 24 hours. During that time, the character also takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls, caster level or manifester level, and saving throws.


Favored Class: Sorcerer. A multiclass forestlord elf or half-elf’s sorcerer class does not count when determining whether she takes an experience point penalty (see XP for Multiclass Characters, PH 60). This class replaces the standard elf’s favored class, wizard.

CREATING A SEELIE COURT FEY "Seelie court fey" is a template that can be added to any fey creature (referred to hereafter as the "base creature") if it has exclusively fey ancestry. Creatures who have become fey through any means other than having been born fey from purely fey parents are not welcome in the seelie court. A seelie court fey uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Special Attacks: A seelie court fey retains all the special attacks of the base creature and also gains vernal touch.

Spell-Like Abilities: Seelie court fey with an Intelligence or Wisdom score of 8 or higher possess the following spell-like abilities, using their HD as the caster level, as specified in the table below. Each ability is useable once per day.
Vernal Touch (Su): To receive a vernal touch is like being kissed by springtime itself, full of life and promise. At will, as a standard action, the seelie fey can touch a creature with a vernal touch. This touch removes dazed, nauseated, fatigued, and exhausted conditions from living creatures. For undead creatures, a seelie court fey's touch attack acts like a cleric's ability to turn
undead as a cleric of two levels lower would. Unlike a cleric's turn ability, each use of vernal touch affects only the touched undead.
Special Qualities: A seelie court fey retains all the special qualities of the base creature and gains the following abilities.

Aura of Glory (Su): A seelie court fey radiates calm. She is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Allies within 10 feet of her gain a morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects equal to the seelie court fey's Charisma bonus.
Damage Reduction: Wood and silver weapons have little effect against seelie court creatures, but cold iron weapons harm them as normal.
Iron Vulnerability (Ex): The mere touch of iron (including steel) deals 1 point of damage to the seelie court fey. A hit with an iron or steel weapon deals an additional +1d6 points of damage. The fey's DR protects it from this damage. Roll the damage as normal and apply DR, unless the weapon can defeat the fey's DR.
Sanctuary (Sp): Once per day, a seelie court fey can cast sanctuary on herself Unlike a normal casting of the spell, this ability affects only the seelie court fey. Caster level equal to HD; DC 11 + Charisma bonus. Spell Resistance: SR equal to 10 + base creature's HD. If the creature has better spell resistance already, use that value instead.

Skills: A seelie court fey receives a +4 racial bonus on Bluff, Craft, or Perform (one only, chosen at the time the template is applied), and Diplomacy checks. Self- absorbed, they also receive a -4 penalty on Listen and Spot checks.
Environment: Any land and underground.
Challenge Rating: As base creature +1 .
Alignment: Any.

{table]HD|Spell-like Abilities|Damage Reduction
1|Command, Disrupt Undead, Prestidigitation|5/Cold Iron
2-3|Charm Person, Unseen Servant|5/Cold Iron
4-5|Create Food and Water, Enthrall|5/Cold Iron
6-7|Minor Creation, Suggestion|5/Cold Iron
8-9|Charm Monster, Leomund's Secure Shelter|5/Cold Iron
10-11|Major Creation|10/Cold Iron
12+|Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion, Mass Suggestion|10/Cold Iron[/table]


Prestige Paladin

Prestige Paladin of Freedom, Favored Enemy Variant
Prerequisites:
Alignment: Chaotic good
Base Attack Bonus: +4
Skills: Knowledge (religion) 2 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 2 ranks, Ride 4 ranks
Feats: Mounted Combat
Spellcasting: Ability to cast protection from evil as a divine spell
Special: Ability to turn undead

Hit Die: D10
Class Skills: The prestige paladin's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier
Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fortitude Save|Reflex Save|Will Save|Special|Spells per Day
1|0|2|0|2|Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/d, First Favored Enemy (Aberration, Dragon, Giant, Monstrous Humanoid, Outsider (Evil), or Undead)|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
2|1||0|3|Divine Grace, Special Mount|--
3|2|3|1|3|Aura of Resolve, Divine Health|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
4|3|4|1|4|--|--
5|3|4|1|4|Smite Evil 2/d, Second Favored Enemy (Aberration, Dragon, Giant, Monstrous Humanoid, Outsider (Evil), or Undead)|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
6|4|5|2|5|--|--
7|5|5|2|5|--|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
8|6|6|2|6|--|--
9|6|6|3|6|--|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10|7|7|3|7|Smite Evil 3/d, Third Favored Enemy (Aberration, Dragon, Giant, Monstrous Humanoid, Outsider (Evil), or Undead)|--
11|8|7|3|7|--|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
12|9|8|4|8|--|--
13|9|8|4|8|--|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
14|10|9|4|9|--|--
15|11|9|5|9|Smite Evil 4/d, Fourth Favored Enemy (Aberration, Dragon, Giant, Monstrous Humanoid, Outsider (Evil), or Undead)|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

Spellcasting: Remove the following spells from the paladin's spell list: death ward, discern lies, dispel chaos, magic circle against chaos, protection from chaos.

Add the following spells to the paladin's spell list: 1st: protection from law
3rd: magic circle against law, remove curse
4th: dispel law, freedom of movement

Stat Block

Amira Danallis
Female Chaotic Good Seelie Court Forestlord Elf Cleric 7//Prestige Paladin of Freedom 7/Seeker of the Misty Isle 4/Totemist 3, Level 20, Init +3, HP 177/177, Speed
AC 42, Touch 17, Flat-footed 41, Fort +30, Ref +24, Will +22, Base Attack Bonus 16
+5 Keen Speed Shocking Burst Bite (--) +25/25 (1d8+9+1d6 Electric+(1d10 Electric Crit), 19-20/x2)
Bite (--) +25 (1d6+4, 20/x2)
Gore (--) +25 (1d6+4, 20/x2)
+5 Mithril Full Plate, +5 Mithril Heavy Shield (+13 Armor, +7 Shield, +1 Dex, +5 Natural, +5 Deflect, +1 Misc)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 19, Cha 8
Condition None


Spells per Day and Essentia Distribution Table
Spells per day/Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
1st|3|2+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|1
2nd|4|3+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|2
3rd|4|3+1|2+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|3
4th|5|4+1|3+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|4
5th|5|4+1|3+1|2+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|5
6th|5|4+1|3+1|2+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|5
7th|6|4+1|4+1|3+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|6
8th|6|4+1|4+1|3+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|6
9th|6|5+1|4+1|3+1|2+1|-|-|-|-|-|7
10th|6|5+1|5+1|4+1|3+1|-|-|-|-|-|8
11th|6|5+1|5+1|5+1|3+1|1+1|-|-|-|-|9
12th|6|5+1|5+1|5+1|4+1|2+1|-|-|-|-|10
13th|6|6+1|5+1|5+1|4+1|2+1|1+1|-|-|-|11
14th|6|6+1|5+1|5+1|4+1|3+1|2+1|-|-|-|12
15th|6|6+1|5+1|5+1|4+1|3+1|2+1|-|-|-|12
16th|6|6+1|5+1|5+1|4+1|3+1|2+1|-|-|-|12
17th|6|6+1|5+1|5+1|4+1|3+1|2+1|-|-|-|12
18th|6|6+1|6+1|5+1|5+1|3+1|2+1|1+1|-|-|13
19th|6|6+1|6+1|5+1|5+1|3+1|2+1|1+1|-|-|13
20th|6|6+1|6+1|5+1|5+1|3+1|3+1|2+1|-|-|14[/table]

{table]Incarnum Feats and Soulmelds|Bound to|Essentia Invested
Sapphire Smite|n/a|4
Dragon Tail|Unbound|0
Great Raptor Mask|Unbound|0
Threefold Mask of the Chimera|Totem|1[/table]

Ability Scores Along the Way
Buildup
{table]Levels|Ability Scores
1-3|Strength 12, Dexterity 10, Constitution 16, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 16, Charisma 8
4-7|Strength 12, Dexterity 10, Constitution 17, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 16, Charisma 8
8-11|Strength 12, Dexterity 10, Constitution 18, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 16, Charisma 8
12-15|Strength 12, Dexterity 10, Constitution 18, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 17, Charisma 8
16-19|Strength 12, Dexterity 10, Constitution 18, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 18, Charisma 8
20|Strength 12, Dexterity 10, Constitution 18, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 19, Charisma 8
Fully Geared Up| Strength 18, Dexterity 16, Constitution 18, Intelligence 12, Charisma 8
[/table]

Gear

Amulet of Natural Armor/Natural Attacks +5 Keen Speed Shocking Burst (250,600 GP) (Bite 1d8 from Threefold Mask of the Chimera)
Orange Prism Ioun Stone (+1 Caster Level, 30K GP)
Dusty Rose Prism Ioun Stone (+1 Insight to AC, 5K GP)
Ring of Protection +5 (50K GP)
Cloak of Resistance +5 (25K GP)
Gauntlets of Strength +6 Dexterity +6 Strength (72K GP)
+5 Animated Mithril Heavy Shield (26,170 GP)
+5 Mithril Full Plate (35,650 GP)


Weaknesses


AC: Her touch AC is HORRIFIC. 17 vs. a base of 42 (10 Base+13 Armor+7 Shield+1 Dexterity+5 Natural+5 Deflection+1 Insight)
No 9th level spells
Poor Meldshaping ability- Only 3rd level Totemist, not actually bad, but not as good as it could be.
Takes a while to get rolling- Really gets off the ground after fifth level, and then soars at about 14th Character level.


Strengths


Melee- 4 Iteratives, or four natural attacks
Tanking- RIDICULOUS AC and acceptable HP
What spellcasting is available- Resurrection, Buffing, Debuffing, Blasting, Killing.
Versatility- Divine Magic, Melee, Meldshaping, Wilderness Guide, slices, dices, and minces vegetables.


Backstory
Amira was born to two Seelie Court Fey Wood Elves, her green skin, hair, and eyes seen as a throwback to an ancient, more desperate time. The nobles of the court gossiped about her parents and her, and the Queen, intending to protect Amira from harm from within the court, asked that she be sent to a family upon the Material Plane. So her mother wrapped her in a blanket, and her father took her to an elf village, to be raised by cousins of his, Uriah Danallis and Liriel Danallis.

Level 1-5
Amira grew swiftly, and once she attained adulthood, she was trained in the priesthood of Corellon Larethian. It is here that she became a Cleric, her natural talent with divine magic making itself known at this point. She plays like a low-level Cleric: Buffing, Healing, Smacking. Her Mounted Combat and Ride give her ways to handle tournaments without looking like a complete goober, while her Cleric Armor Proficiencies protect her should she end up on the front line.

Eventually, though, she developed new talents: Meldshaping. She manifested an azure tail, that was her advantage in combat training with the Paladinate of the temple. It is here her Fey heritage makes itself known, causing her to be blessed with the love of a local satyr. Eventually, she was inducted into the Knighthood of Corellon Larethian, as well as the Seekers of the Misty Isle.
Levels 5-10
Ah, yes, Meldshaping. Now we get Wild Empathy, inapplicable Illiteracy, and some nice soulmelds, although they aren't as strong as they could be just yet. At this point, it seems like Totemist is merely a dip, something to flavor the chip that is Cleric/Paladin. That will change a little later on in her career. She picks up Divine Grace, Resolute Aura, her Special Mount (Which she uses more as a companion), As well as Detect Evil, Smite Evil, and Favored Enemy all come online at this point. This will pop up later as well., Serenity hits, moving all of my Paladin goodies to Wisdom, as well as Extra Favored Enemy. I went with Undead, since she's a paladin.

One evening, she was called to the temple, and told of her lineage. She understood, and told them that her devotion to Corellon came before relations that had abandoned her. The High Priest sent her on a mission: Seek the Misty Isle elves, as your order does, and return in retirement or success. She saluted, and left with her mount, and she galloped off to the west, seeking knowledge of her powers. She rode until she was engulfed in a mist. She got off, and when the fog dissipated, she was on a barren island with a cave. She dismissed her mount, and entered the cave.
Levels 11-15 SWEET SPOT 14th level
Right now, Seeker of the Misty Isle comes online. That nets her the Travel Domain, and with it, and Complete Champion, Travel Devotion. Now she can get in and out of battle with ease, making up for her reduced speed from her armor. She picks up another level of Totemist (See, I told you it was coming back. But no, you didn't believe me. WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?) nets her the Totem Chakra, granting her awesomeness: Threefold Mask of the Chimera and it's Bite/Bite/Gore routine. Next up comes Bonus Essentia, which becomes far more useful in the next level bracket.

In here, she met an aged elf, who spoke without speaking. He trained her in Meldshaping, teaching the many creatures of the world that could give her more power. A few years later, she left, and continued her journey to find the Misty Isle elves.
Levels 16-20
Her last level of Totemist comes online, and now she finishes this part of her career as a Paladin, her devotion to Corellon Larethian unquestioned, her desire to succeed unmatched. She picks up Sapphire Smite, to which most of her essentia is invested, as well as her second Smite Evil per day, as well as Favored Enemy Number 3: Monstrous Humanoids. Now she is fighting quite a few foes of both elvenkind and mortals in general.The Saga of Amira Danallis, as sung by Donald Smythe, Bard and Rock GOD!

Use of Secret Ingredient

Favored Enemy: From her Prestige Paladin of Freedom levels, she gains access to favored enemy by giving up Remove Disease, Lay on Hands, and Turn Undead. She can only take Aberrations, Dragons, Giants, Monstrous Humanoids, Evil Outsiders, or Undead, all of which synergize with her Smite Evil and Detect Evil, since there are very few Good Aberrations and Undead, and her Monstrous Humanoid is there to represent her people's ancient enemies: Gnolls, Gargoyles, and other things.

Animal Companion: Prestige Paladin saves the day again, by getting me a Special Mount. It's not the same thing, but it's close enough to scrape by in a pinch.

Combat Style: Sword and Shield is her weapon style of choice until she goes Totemist, and then goes Natural Attacks all the way. This represents Wild Shape Ranger, since WSR has to sacrifice it's combat style.

Spellcasting: Cleric. 7th level spells. End of story.

Tracking: This one's a clincher, since I couldn't find space in the build without tanking skill points or feat synergies. Perhaps hire a tracker to work for me? Train my horse to be a bloodhound?

Woodland Stride, Camouflage, and Hide in Plain Sight: Woodland Stride I can mimic with Cleric spells, and Camouflage and Hide in Plain Sight can be mimicked as well, although, as a Paladin, she wouldn't use those on herself.

Evasion: Granted by Great Raptor Mask, which I can bind to my totem if expect to encounter ranged spellcasting.

Wild Empathy: Totemist, first level.

Sweet Mother O'Malley, it's finished! Huzzah!

[mattie_p]

Is she a Ranger, or just an elf? We report, you decide!




Erysseril Gwaethorien, dedicated servant of Mielikki

http://imageshack.us/a/img5/3307/1k49.jpg

Basic Information:
NG female elf (Copper) from Cormanthor forest (Elven Court area), Forgotten Realms.
Wilderness Rogue 3/Druid 3/Prestige Ranger 2/Forest Reeve 5/Shadowdancer 1/Lion of Talisid 4/Warblade 1/Bloodclaw Master 1


Physical description:
HT: 5'6"
WT: 122 lbs.
Hair: strawberry blonde, wild, hanging halfway down her back
Eyes: sea-green
Skin: coppery with green accents around ears and chin.
Starting age: 114
Current Age: 136 (1371 DR)

Erysseril is physically strong and solidly built, with broad shoulders, a slightly heavy chest, and a heavy yet long torso, tapering to narrow hips. She appears dense with stoutness for an elf, with long, thick, muscular legs. She's athletic, yet feminine, and her stride resembles that of a lioness.

Meet Erysseril (Backstory):
Beware, traveler... dangerous beasts prowl these wilds.

I call myself Erysseril, and I hunt evil skin-changers, those who appear as men but change into vicious beasts.

It is my joy to meet you! A cunning forester am I... know the ways of dangerous beasts, and the best ways to deal with them. I have a keen eye for the lay of the land, and experience with underground lairs. I know of herb lore that's helpful when healing is needed. I also work with leather, should you need anything made or mended.

We can link our causes easily enough. I need to form a hunting party to track and destroy a cult of skin-changers known as the People of the Black Blood. A lone traveler makes tempting prey, and I cannot take the pack down on my own. If you help me, I will help you in your hunt, as well. Lady Mielikki grants me the ability to wield divine power, the way many warriors of the wild do, if that will help. I know how to follow orders, and I will see to our security as we travel. Whatever useful gear I find, that you don't need, I'll consider fair payment for service. I seek no coin.

I fight best with a scimitar and an axe together. I also hunt with the longbow, and I am a fair hand with a dagger.

I serve with joy! Your eyes and ears I shall be. Let us hunt together!

(When asked about her upgringing)
I was happy growing up. My parents raised me in their joint home for ten years, and then my mother, Hinaeareth, took me into her private home. For 20 years, she taught me the ways of stealth, of the wild places and how we can look after the natural balance to help them thrive, the way of sword and bow, and to track and hunt.

My uncle Cellinor let me live and learn with him for my next score of years. He taught me to sing, and to play the birdpipes. I discovered a deep love of music. I find it a powerful and usually beautiful expression of a person's thoughts and feelings.

After that, I lived with my father, Gwaethoron, in his private home. Being a druid, he taught me to further commune and be at one with nature, to explore the spiritual aspects and deepen my connection to the wild places. He also taught me to gather and prepare food from the wild, and the lore of plants, especially healing herbs. That's why it's so easy for me to find useful plants while traveling about. After my 60th birthday, I left my father's home.

My cousin Lormireth let me live and study with her until I reached 80 years of age. We mostly played together, having so much fun that we didn't realize we were developing our bodies and physical abilities simply by climbing, jumping, and swimming!

Next, I lived with my grandfather, Rhawon. He taught me to treat animal hides, and to use the leathers to make useful items of all sorts. He also taught me to make weapons, mostly of wood, stone, and bone. A very handy skill for one who spends much time in the wild.

Lastly, I lived in my grandmother's private home, to study under her. Elanoreth taught me the history of our people, the Copper elves. I stayed with her until I felt ready to find my own way in the world. In my 114th year, I began my own life as a dedicated forester.

While I was a young maiden, I rode a unicorn during a Wild Ride. I felt so wild and free, riding a spirited and intelligent creature. That was one of the times I felt most alive, full of energy, and at one with the natural world around me.

I once saved a unicorn from being sacrificed to Malar, the Great Beast, during a foul ritual, and destroyed the cultists involved. They hunt and kill viciously and destructively, often sending captured victims into the wild to hunt them down and devour them. The People of the Black Blood openly work against Mielikki's faithful. Rescuing the noble creature was what turned the Lady of the Forest's attention to me. I felt her call to serve, and was honored to take up her cause.

No higher honor could I imagine than to become Hawk of the Lady for the forest of Cormanthor. I hope to be found so worthy one day.

Ability Scores:
After FR racial ability modifiers:
STR: 12
DEX: 16
CON: 13 -> 16
INT: 12
WIS: 14 -> 16
CHA: 8

With items:
STR: 18
DEX: 22
CON: 18
INT: 14
WIS: 16
CHA: 12

The Build:

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

1st|Wilderness Rogue 1|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+0|Bluff 1, Climb 1, Craft (leatherworking 1, bone weapons 1, stone weapons 1, wood weapons 1), Disable device 1, Handle Animal 1, Hide 2, Intimidate 1, Jump 1, Knowledge (history (Copper elves 1, High Forest local 1), High Forest local 1, geography 1, nature 1), Listen 2, Move Silently 2, Perform (sing 1, wind instruments 1), Profession (guide) 1, Search 2, Spot 2, Survival 1, Swim 1, Tumble 1, Use Magic Device 1|(Regional Feat: Treetopper) Martial Weapon Proficiency (scimitar), Weapon Focus (scimitar)|Trade Appraise, Diplomacy, Decipher Script, Forgery, and Gather Information for Handle Animal, Knowledge (geography, nature), Ride, and Survival. Trade Sneak Attack for bonus feats as Fighter. Proficient with all simple weapons, hand crossbow, and sap, and with light armor. Trapfinding.

2nd|Wilderness Rogue 2|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+0|Disable device 2, Hide 3, Listen 3, Move Silently 3, Search 3, Spot 3, Survival 2|Two-Weapon Fighting|Evasion.

3rd|Wilderness Rogue 3|
+2|
+1|
+3|
+1|Disable device 3, Escape Artist 1, Handle Animal 2, Hide 4, Listen 4, Move Silently 4, Search 4, Spot 4, Survival 4|Endurance|Trap sense +1.

4th|Druid 1|
+2|
+2|
+3|
+2|Hide 5, Listen 5, Move Silently 5, Search 5, Spot 5|(Martial Weapon Poficiency (scimitar) retrained to Favored of the Companions)|Proficient with scimitar and sickle. Proficient with medium armor, and with shields (except tower). Trade Wild Shape for bonus to AC when unarmored (as Monk, incl. WIS bonus to AC), fast movement (as Monk), Favored Enemy (Malarites) as Ranger, Swift Tracker as Ranger, Track as Ranger. Divine spells. Spontaneous casting. Bonus Language (druidic). Animal Companion. Nature Sense. Wild Empathy.

5th|Druid 2|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+3|Hide 6, Listen 6, Move Silently 6, Spot 6|-|Woodland Stride.

6th|Druid 3|
+4|
+3|
+4|
+3|Disable device 4, Handle Animal 3, Search 6, Survival 5|Dodge|Trackless Step.

7th|Prestige Ranger 1|
+5|
+5|
+6|
+3|Disable device 5, Handle Animal 4, Hide 7, Listen 7, Move Silently 7, Search 7, Spot 7|-|Proficient with all martial weapons. Favored Enemy (magical beasts) as Ranger. Animal Companion (stacks with Druid). Wild Empathy (stacks with Druid).

8th|Prestige Ranger 2|
+6/+1|
+6|
+7|
+3|Disable device 6, Hide 8, Listen 8, Move Silently 8, Search 8, Spot 8, Survival 6|-|Spells (as though Druid level gained), Bonus Feat (Impr. Two-Weapon Fighting).

9th|Forest Reeve 1|
+7/+2|
+6|
+9|
+3|Disable device 7, Hide 9, Listen 9, Move Silently 9, Search 9, Spot 9, Survival 7|Power Attack|Earth's Defender +1, Fast Movement, Nature's Rejuvenation 1/day.

10th|Forest Reeve 2|
+8/+3|
+6|
+10|
+3|Diplomacy 1, Disable device 8, Handle Animal 5, Heal 1, Hide 10, Listen 10, Move Silently 10, Search 10, Spot 10, Survival 8|-|Woodland Stride (+10' bonus to land speed).

11th|Forest Reeve 3|
+9/+4|
+7|
+10|
+4|Disable device 9, Handle Animal 6, Hide 11, Listen 11, Move Silently 11, Search 11, Spot 11, Survival 9|-|Earth's Defender +2, Nature's Rejuvenation 2/day, Swift Tracker (penalties lessened an additional 5').

12th|Forest Reeve 4|
+10/+5|
+7|
+11|
+4|Disable Device 10, Hide 12, Listen 12, Move Silently 12, Search 12, Spot 12, Survival 10|Mobility|Camouflage.

13th|Shadowdancer 1|
+10/+5|
+7|
+13|
+4|Handle Animal 7, Hide 13, Listen 13, Move Silently 13, Search 13, Spot 13, Survival 11|-|Hide in Plain Sight.

14th|Forest Reeve 5|
+11/+6/+1|
+8|
+13|
+5|Hide 14, Listen 14, Move Silently 14, Search 14, Spot 14, Survival 12|-|Earth's Defender +3, Nature's Rejuvenation 3/day, Whispers of the Forest.

15th|Lion of Talisid 1|
+11/+6/+1|
+10|
+13|
+7|Hide 15, Listen 15, Move Silently 15, Search 15, Spot 15|Alertness|Spells (as though Druid level gained), Animal Companion (stacks with Druid), Lion's Courage.

16th|Warblade 1|
+12/+7/+2|
+12|
+13|
+7|Listen 16, Move Silently 16, Search 16, Spot 16|-|Maneuvers (3), Stance (1), Battle Clarity, Weapon Aptitude.

17th|Bloodclaw Master 1|
+12/+7/+2|
+14|
+15|
+7|Hide 16, Open Lock 1, Survival 13|-|Maneuvers (gain Tiger Claw maneuver), Shifting 1/day, Claws of the Beast.

18th|Lion of Talisid 2|
+13/+8/+3|
+15|
+15|
+8|Handle Animal 8, Profession (guide) 2, Survival 14|Spells (as though Druid level gained), Sudden Recovery|Scent.

19th|Lion of Talisid 3|
+14/+9/+4|
+15|
+16|
+8|Escape Artist 1, Handle Animal 9, Sense Motive 1, Spellcraft 1, Spot 16, Survival 14, Tumble 2, Use Magic Device 2, Use Rope 2|-|Spells (as though Druid level gained), Earth's Defender +3. Nature's Rejuvenation 3/day. Wild Shape (stacks at level - 2 with Druid, 1/day).

20th|Lion of Talisid 4|
+15/+10/+5|
+16|
+16|
+9|Concentration 2, Escape Artist 2, Hide 17, Jump 2, Listen 17, Move Silently 17, Spot 17, Survival 15|-|Spells (as though Druid level gained), Exalted Companion, Wild Shape (stacks at level -2 with Druid, 2/day).[/table]

Spellcasting
(includes bonus spells for WIS: 15 at character level 4, 16 at character level 8)
Druid Spells per day/Spells Known at each Druid Caster Level
{table=head]Caster Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th

1st|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|4|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|5|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|5|4|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|5|4|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|6|5|4|3|1|-|-|-|-|-

8th|6|5|4|4|2|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

Gear:
Scimitar +3 "Dagnir en Tigin" (Bane of the Beast), bane (Malarites), holy
Battle axe +2, keen, speed
Elven Lightblade +1, keen
Elven Thinblade +1, keen
Combosite longbow +2 (+1 STR), Elvencraft, distance, speed
Leafweave leather armor +5, invulnerability
Daggers +1 (2), throwing, returning, distance; fiercebane, throwing
Greater slaying arrows (5) +1: dragons, magical beasts, evil outsiders, undead, vermin
Belt of Priestly Might and Warding
Phylactery of the Priesthood
Bracers of Archery (greater)
Boots of Speed
Gloves of Dexterity +4
Rings (Protection +3; Fire Resistance, Major)
Ioun stones (pale blue, deep red, pink, scarlet and blue)
Eyes of the Eagle
Cloak of Charisma +4

Exalted Companion:
Celestial Dire Hawk

Sources:
PHB, DMG, UA, CC, BoED, ToB

[mattie_p]

Two heads are better than one.


Eltin began life as a typical Ettin, but became fascinated with and eventually the cohort of a powerful elven ranger dedicated to Ehlonna. Eltin even began to learn the arts of the Ranger, himself. But his master ran afoul of a powerful Demon Cult, and their conflict with this cult led to his master's death and a demonic curse upon Eltin such that he would never enjoy a connection to nature again. Eltin prayed daily to Ehlonna, and finally found a way into the Abyss itself, where he sought his friend's stolen soul.

Alas, he died there, his soul tormented and tortured, without ever finding his elven friend. Yet, Ehlonna was impressed with the dedication of this creature, whose sort is so commonly unkind towards the natural world. At her urging, a druidic circle Reincarnated Eltin. Whether quirk of fate, Ehlonna's influence, or something else, Eltin returned as a humble but strange two-headed Gray Elf.

His soul stained by the torments it had endured, he had an unnatural proclivity for knowledge of the Planes and of Spellcraft, and could not regain his connection to the natural world. His quests became focused on learning how to rectify this. While he eventually managed to transform the stain on his soul into greater arcane knowledge with the spiritual guidance of elven priests, the strange two-headed elf could never regain his Ranger skills. Yet, he would not give up the path. His natural Ettin-like dual wielding and the magics he learned, plus a special spiritual bond with a blink dog, have helped him achieve much that Rangers spend their careers mastering.

In all, he is happy, and a devout follower of Ehlonna, wielding her relics in defense of the hills and forests of the countryside.

Race: Two-Headed Grey Elf. (The Multi-Headed template can be found on page 125 of Savage Species; primary take-away in this build is the Superior Two-Weapon Fighting, which Eltin uses in lieu of two-weapon fighting the feat.)

Classes: Wizard and Archivist with two racial (humanoid, elf) HD.

Summary: Uses Superior Two-weapon Fighting and the Heroics spell to get both fighting styles of the Ranger, and has a small puppy familiar that grows into a Blink Dog. The familiar, using its Scent and Track feats with its master's Survival skill, allows Elton to track things through the wilderness. Eltin's Knowledge Devotion and his Dark Knowledge combine with his selection of Knowledge skills to give him and his allies combat advantages against foes based on his long study and understanding of them. It's not "favored enemy," but it's in many ways superior. The ability to dual-wield Greatswords with full attack and to dual-wield bows should fit nicely with the classic combat styles.

Finally, he has Archivist access to the full Ranger spell list, for any particular tricks the player might wish to pull that require it.

Eltin
Ability Scores
{table=head]32 Points|Raw Ability Scores|Grey Elf|Two-Headed|Total at 1st level|Ability Mod||Level 20, full buffed|Stat mod
4|ST: 12| -2 | | 10 | -0 | P.morph to Ettin: Base to 23; Divine Power & Righteous Might: +10 |ST: 33 | +11
2|DX: 10| +2 | | 12 | +1 | P.morph to Ettin: Base to 8; Cat's Grace: +4 |DX: 12 | + 1
2|CN: 10| -2 | +2 | 10 | -0 | P.morph to Ettin: base to 15; Righteous Might: +2 |CN: 17 | + 3
13|IT: 17| +2 | | 19 | +4 | All level-up bonuses go here: +5; +6 item |IT: 30 | +10
10|WS: 16| | | 16 | +3 | +6 item |WS: 22 | + 6
1|CH: 9| | | 9 | -1 | +1 book |CH: 10 | - 0[/table]
Level Progression

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

1st|Humanoid HD (Elf) 1|
+0.75|
+0.33|
+2.50|
+0.33|+1 Handle Animal*, +10 Knowledge: The Planes, +11 Listen, +12 Search, +6 Spellcraft*, +11 Spot, +5 Survival*|Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge|Simple Weapon Proficiency

2nd|Humanoid HD (Elf) 2|
+1.5|
+0.66|
+3.00|
+0.66|+1.5 Handle Animal*,+11 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +13 Search, +6 Spellcraft*, +12 Spot, +5.5 Survival*||New Class Abilities

3rd|Combat Wizard 1|
+2.0|
+1.00|
+3.33|
+3.16|+2 Handle Animal*, +5 Knowledge: Arcana, +5 Knowledge: Local, +5 Knowledge: Nature, +5 Knowledge: Religion, +11 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +13 Search, +6 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +6 Survival*|Knowledge Devotion, Point-Blank Shot (Combat Wizard Bonus)|Familiar: Blink Dog Puppy (mechanics as "cat")

4th|Archivist 1|
+2.5|
+3.50|
+3.66|
+5.66|+2 Handle Animal*, +8 Knowledge: Arcana, +6 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +8 Knowledge: Local, +8 Knowledge: Nature, +8 Knowledge: Religion, +12 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +14 Search, +7 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +6 Survival*|Scribe Scroll (Archivist Bonus)|Dark Knowledge (Tactics) 3/day

5th|Archivist 2|
+3.0|
+4.00|
+4.00|
+6.16|+8 Decipher Script, +3 Handle Animal*, +8 Knowledge: Arcana, +6 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +8 Knowledge: Local, +9 Knowledge: Nature, +9 Knowledge: Religion, +12 Knowledge: The Planes (+2 Lore Mastery, -2 loss of feat), +12 Listen, +14 Search, +7 Spellcraft (+2 ranks, -2 loss of feat), +12 Spot, +7 Survival*|Pay for Shun the Dark Chaos: swap Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge for Precocious Apprentice (Heroics)|Lore Mastery (+2 to Decipher Script, Knowledge: the Planes)

6th|Archivist 3|
+3.5|
+4.50|
+4.33|
+6.66|+8 Decipher Script, +3 Handle Animal*, +8 Knowledge: Arcana, +6 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +10 Knowledge: Local, +14 Knowledge: Nature, +9 Knowledge: Religion, +14 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +14 Search, +7 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +7 Survival*|Practiced Spellcaster (Wizard)|Dark Knowledge 4/day

7th|Mystic Theurge 1|
+4.0|
+4.83|
+4.66|
+9.16|+8 Decipher Script, +4 Handle Animal*, +10 Knowledge: Arcana, +6 Knowledge: Dungeoneering*, +10 Knowledge: Local*, +14 Knowledge: Nature*, +10 Knowledge: Religion, +14 Knowledge: The Planes*, +12 Listen, +14 Search, +7 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +8 Survival*||Cast as Wizard 2 (CL 6), Archivist 4

8th|Mystic Theurge 2|
+4.5|
+5.16|
+5.00|
+9.66|+8 Decipher Script, +4 Handle Animal*, +14 Knowledge: Arcana, +6 Knowledge: Dungeoneering*, +10 Knowledge: Local*, +14 Knowledge: Nature*, +13 Knowledge: Religion, +14 Knowledge: The Planes*, +12 Listen, +14 Search, +7 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +8 Survival*||Cast as Wizard 3 (CL 7), Archivist 5

9th|Mystic Theurge 3|
+5.0|
+5.5|
+5.33|
+10.16|+8 Decipher Script, +5 Handle Animal*, +15 Knowledge: Arcana, +6 Knowledge: Dungeoneering*, +10 Knowledge: Local*, +14 Knowledge: Nature*, +15 Knowledge: Religion, +14 Knowledge: The Planes*, +12 Listen, +14 Search, +7 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +9 Survival*|Improved Familiar: Blink Dog|Cast as Wizard 4 (CL 8), Archivist 6

10th|Mystic Theurge 4|
+5.5|
+6.83|
+5.66|
+10.66|+8 Decipher Script, +5 Handle Animal*, +18 Knowledge: Arcana, +6 Knowledge: Dungeoneering*, +10 Knowledge: Local*, +14 Knowledge: Nature*, +18 Knowledge: Religion, +14 Knowledge: The Planes*, +12 Listen, +14 Search, +4 Sense Motive, +7 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +9 Survival*||Cast as Wizard 5 (CL 9), Archivist 7

11th|Mystic Theurge 5|
+6.0|
+7.16|
+6.00|
+11.16|+8 Decipher Script, +6 Handle Animal*, +19 Knowledge: Arcana, +6 Knowledge: Dungeoneering*, +10 Knowledge: Local*, +14 Knowledge: Nature*, +19 Knowledge: Religion, +14 Knowledge: The Planes*, +12 Listen, +14 Search, +5 Sense Motive, +7 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +10 Survival*||Cast as Wizard 6 (CL 10), Archivist 8

12th|Mystic Theurge 6|
+6.5|
+7.5|
+6.33|
+11.66|+9 Decipher Script, +6 Handle Animal*, +21 Knowledge: Arcana, +7 Knowledge: Dungeoneering*, +11 Knowledge: Local*, +13 Knowledge: Nature*, +21 Knowledge: Religion, +15 Knowledge: The Planes*, +12 Listen, +15 Search, +11 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +10 Survival*|True Faith: Ehlonna|Cast as Wizard 7 (CL 11), Archivist 9

13th|Mystic Theurge 7|
+7.0|
+7.83|
+6.66|
+12.16|+9 Decipher Script, +7 Handle Animal*, +22 Knowledge: Arcana, +7 Knowledge: Dungeoneering*, +11 Knowledge: Local*, +13 Knowledge: Nature*, +22 Knowledge: Religion, +15 Knowledge: The Planes*, +12 Listen, +15 Search, +13 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +11 Survival*||Cast as Wizard 8 (CL 12), Archivist 10

14th|Mystic Theurge 8|
+7.5|
+8.16|
+7.00|
+12.66|+9 Decipher Script, +7 Handle Animal*, +23 Knowledge: Arcana, +7 Knowledge: Dungeoneering*, +11 Knowledge: Local*, +13 Knowledge: Nature*, +23 Knowledge: Religion, +15 Knowledge: The Planes*, +12 Listen, +15 Search, +19 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +11 Survival*||Cast as Wizard 9 (CL 13), Archivist 11

15th|Archivist 4|
+8.0|
+8.66|
+7.33|
+13.16|+9 Decipher Script, +8 Handle Animal*, +23 Knowledge: Arcana, +7 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +13 Knowledge: Local, +15 Knowledge: Nature, +23 Knowledge: Religion, +17 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +15 Search, +19 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +12 Survival*|Craft Staff|Still Mind (+2 on Saves v. Enchantments)

16th|Archivist 5|
+8.5|
+9.16|
+7.66|
+13.66|+9 Decipher Script, +8 Handle Animal*, +23 Knowledge: Arcana, +7 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +15 Knowledge: Local, +19 Knowledge: Nature, +23 Knowledge: Religion, +21 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +15 Search, +19 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +12 Survival*||Dark Knowledge (Puissance)

17th|Archivist 6|
+9.0|
+9.66|
+8.00|
+14.16|+9 Decipher Script, +8 Handle Animal*, +23 Knowledge: Arcana, +7 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +17 Knowledge: Local, +21 Knowledge: Nature, +23 Knowledge: Religion, +25 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +17 Search, +19 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +12 Survival*||Dark Knowledge 5/da7

18th|Archivist 7|
+9.5|
+10.16|
+8.33|
+14.66|+9 Decipher Script, +9 Handle Animal*, +23 Knowledge: Arcana, +7 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +21 Knowledge: Local, +21 Knowledge: Nature, +23 Knowledge: Religion, +29 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +17 Search, +19 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +13 Survival*|Practiced Spellcaster: Archivist|Lore Mastery (+2 to Knowledge: Local)

19th|Archivist 8|
+10.0|
+10.66|
+8.66|
+15.16|+9 Decipher Script, +10 Handle Animal*, +23 Knowledge: Arcana, +7 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +23 Knowledge: Local, +21 Knowledge: Nature, +23 Knowledge: Religion, +30 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +20 Search, +19 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +14 Survival*||Dark Knowledge (Foe)

20th|Archivist 9|
+10.5|
+11.16|
+9.00|
+15.66|+10 Decipher Script, +10 Handle Animal*, +30 Knowledge: Arcana, +8 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +25 Knowledge: Local, +24 Knowledge: Nature, +24 Knowledge: Religion, +32 Knowledge: The Planes, +12 Listen, +21 Search, +19 Sense Motive, +9 Spellcraft, +12 Spot, +14 Survival*||Dark Knowledge 6/day[/table]

This does not show the Multi-Headed level adjustment. The first gets bought off at ECL 8, reducing to ECL 7. The second is bought off at ECL 10, reducing to ECL 9, at which point Eltin has 9 HD as well, as shown in this table.

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

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

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

3rd|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|3|1|1*|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|3|1|1*|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|4|2|1*|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|4|2|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|4|3|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|4|3|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|4|3|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|4|4|4|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

13th|4|4|4|3|2|-|-|-|-|-

14th|4|4|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-

15th|4|4|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-

16th|4|4|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-

17th|4|4|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-

18th|4|4|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-

19th|4|4|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-

20th|4|4|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-[/table]
*Precocious Apprentice: Heroics

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

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

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

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

4th|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|4|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|4|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|4|4|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|4|4|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|4|5|4|3|2|-|-|-|-|-

11th|4|5|4|4|3|-|-|-|-|-

12th|4|5|5|4|3|2|-|-|-|-

13th|4|5|5|4|4|3|-|-|-|-

14th|4|5|5|5|4|3|2|-|-|-

15th|4|5|5|5|4|4|3|-|-|-

16th|4|5|5|5|5|4|3|2|-|-

17th|4|5|5|5|5|4|4|3|-|-

18th|4|5|5|5|5|5|4|3|2|-

19th|4|5|5|5|5|5|4|4|3|-

20th|4|5|5|5|5|5|5|4|3|2[/table]

Notable Items (261,232 gp, leaving 498,768 gp for spending on other things):

12x Raptor Arrows (72,072 gp = 12x 6,006 gp)
2x Bows of the Winterymoon (6,800 gp = 2x 3,400 gp)
+6 items for Int and Wis (72,000 gp together)
+1 Charisma book (27,500 gp)
Ring of Wizardry II (40,000 gp; for all of the Heroics!)
Metamagic Rod: Greater Extend (24,500)
2x +1 Animated Tower Shield (18,360 gp = 2x 9,180 gp) (one's for the dog)

Notable Spells:

Divine Power
Rightous Might
Polymorph (into an ettin)
Loads of Heroics for archery feats to taste; at least up through Rapid Shot
Girallon's Blessing
Greater Magic Weapon, for all greatswords and the dog's Composit Longbow
Divine Favor
Mage Armor
Magic Vestment (on shirt and shield)
Haste

Note: Most of these will be shared with the blink dog, who will have a Greatsword and a Composit Longbow that can handle a +5 str mod

How it plays out over 20 levels

At ECL 4, the first level he can be played legitimately, Eltin is a pretty sorry Ranger. He's got the skills to tame animals, and to navigate the woods, and his soul's taint from the Abyss fills him with unholy knowledge of the planes and spellcraft, but he's mainly nursing his spiritual wounds and struggling to find a way to live without the conection to Nature he had as an Ettin ranger.

Still, he is an elf with two heads, and can dual-wield longswords with no penalties. So he does. He also is proficient with the bow, though not spectacular. His ability to see threats and find hidden things makes him a valuable member to an adventuring party or a city's guards, if they'll put up with his oddity.

During this time, he discovers a small puppy, with whom he bonds mystically at ECL 5. This Blink Dog Pup uses the "cat" entry on the Familiar table, but replaces Improved Initiative with Track. Eltin will largely rely on his familiar for tracking capability (thank goodness for Scent!) for the rest of his career. He picks up Combat Wizard from Unearthed Arcana for the bonus feat Point Blank Shot, and his intense study of various creatures begins to give him combat advantage against them through Knowledge Devotion. Some might even call this a "favored enemy," though it's less enmity and more intense study. He really piles on the Knowledges. Notably, throughout his career, he remains focused on Planes so he can hunt those evil Abyss-dwelling fiends who so hurt him and stole his friend. But he doesn't let it consume him. Even without an interest in it, he picks up a little on Dungeoneering, eventually, though never really has the intense focus for massive bonuses.

As he gets into Archivist, his Dark Knowledge of how to harm foes of specific natures becomes more developed, and his methodical study of magic and religion start to bear fruit. He remains devoted to Elhonna, and prays to her and occasionally - at the behest of elven priests whose spiritual guidance he seeks - Corellan Loratheon. Soon, he receives a blessing that lets him Shun the Dark Chaos that stains his soul from its sojourn into the Abyss, allowing him to unlock greater Heroics through his arcane studies.

This breakthrough enables him to study a mix of arcane and divine magics from a scholarly standpoint, but he never ceases to do so with a firm eye towards ranging the forests and hills and defending them against interlopers who would do them harm. By mid-levels and early teens, Eltin is able to empower himself with Divine Favor, Power, and Righteous Might while using magic to re-assume his once-form of an Ettin. The Girallon's Blessing empowers him to dual-wield Bows of the Winterymoon as well as greatswords, and his magical enchantments enable his greatswords to be all the mightier. His dedication to Ehlonna is rewarded by sacred visions for quests to rescue her Raptor Arrows from various scoundrels who have held them unworthily, and his devotion is such that they not only will never forsake him when he fires them, but smite his enemies as if they were their personal Bane.

So great is his desire to turn his arcane studies towards Heroics that he invests in staff creation and a ring that lets him cast spells of the appropriate power many more times per day.

By high level, he is a non-inconsequential spellcaster of arcane and particularly divine might, and fights as a mighty warrior. His Blink Dog familiar, all grown up, wields its own natural weapons as well as the shared Divine Favor, Power, and Righteous Might, and can wield a greatsword of its own or a Composite Longbow with its arms granted by Girallon's Blessing. In combat, both benefit from Haste.

Note: the stats below include GMW, Huge size, Weapon Focus: Greatsword (from Heroics, because why not?), Haste, and all buffs to Str and Dex from spells, as well as full BAB from Divine Power.
Level 20 Combat Stats (No Resistance bonuses to saves included)
{table=head]Character|Melee Attack Routine|Ranged Attack Routine|AC|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills
Eltin|
2 Greatswords +39/+34/+29/+24 plus 1 Greatsword +39(haste) (4d6+25)|
2 Bows of the Wintermoon w/ Bane-active Raptor Arrows +29/+29(rapid shot/Haste)/+24/+19/+14 (5d6+22)|24 (-2 Size, +1 Dex, +7 Natural, +9 armor, +9 shield), 23 flat-footed, 9 touch|
+14|
+10|
+21|+13 Decipher Script, +11 Handle Animal, +33 Knowledge: Arcana, +11 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +28 Knowledge: Local, +27 Knowledge: Nature, +27 Knowledge: Religion, +35 Knowledge: The Planes, +15 Listen, +24 Search, +21 Sense Motive, +12 Spellcraft, +15 Spot, +17 Survival
Blink Dog Familiar|
Greatsword +34/+34(haste)/+29/+24/+19 (3d6+15), Bite +23 (Magic Fang, 1d8+10)|
+5 Str Composite Longbow +29/+29(haste)/+29(rapid shot)/+24/+19/+14 (1d8+14)|25 (-1 Size, +5 Dex, +3 Natural, +9 armor, +9 shield), 20 flat-footed, 14 touch|
+14|
+10|
+21|+3 Decipher Script, +11 Handle Animal, +23 Knowledge: Arcana, +1 Knowledge: Dungeoneering, +18 Knowledge: Local, +17 Knowledge: Nature, +17 Knowledge: Religion, +25 Knowledge: The Planes, +10 Listen, +14 Search, +16 Sense Motive, +2 Spellcraft, +10 Spot, +12 Survival[/table]
Note that the above stats do not include any of the Knowledge Devotion bonuses, which will often by another +3 to +5 to hit and damage for Eltin, depending on the creature type.

Level 20 Wizard Spells per day w/ all bonuses
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
20th|4|7|16*|5|4|3|-|-|-|-[/table]
*Ring of Wizardry II and Precocious Apprentice give bonus 2nd level spells

Level 20 Archivist Spells per day w/ all bonuses
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
20th|4|7|7|6|6|6|6|4|3|2[/table]

[mattie_p]

Quoth the monk, "Aramore!"


Aramore Elven Ranger
Monk 2 / Spirit Shaman 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 9/ Shadowdancer 1 / Ruather 3

Aramore grew up in a monastery in the forest. He was always drawn to the Spiritual side of the way which drew him into the path of the Shaman. Many of his friends in the forest were learning the way of the Ranger so he picked up tracking from them. He was introduced to the mystical search for the lost homeland of the Elves by an older Elf called Eradno and so later set out on this path of discovery. He was always interested in dancing, which led him to explore, albeit briefly, the spiritual aspects of dancing.

This is a multi-threat build which is arguable Tier 1.
It can do almost all of the Ranger stuff, function as the party healer and use Arcane spell completion items.
It is pretty useful in combat and has excellent stealth and perception skills.
I actually prefer the build option which gives 9ths, but that does lose HiPS — you can't have everything though this comes fairly close.

{table=head]Stat||

Str|14|14

Dex|12+2|14

Con|14-2|12

Int|14|14

Wis|16|16

Cha|8|8[/table]

Wis boosts at all levels

Level 5

Flurry of blows is mechanically identical to TWF. Unfortunately we will never be able to advance this to match ITWF and GTWF unless we were playing PF, in which case we could.

Track is just a feat and we have the Survival skill to use this.

We have Dodge and Mobility which we will need later for HiPS.

We get Evasion seven levels early.

Our Animal companion lives on the Spirit plane so it can't take part in combat. It does gives us Alertness which stacks with the similar Elven racial abilities. One of a Ranger's jobs in the party is to Spot ambushes: with high Wisdom, max ranks and a net +4 we excel at this task.

We have Wild Empathy, now we are not very good at this but that's typical for most Rangers.

We have Endurance. Now this is a poor feat which could be swapped for something else, unlike normal Rangers.

Chastise Spirits and Detect Spirits. Remember how Aragorn drives off the Wraiths at Weathertop ? This is how he did it (He was more Cha focussed).

We have some spellcasting from the Druid list. Well the Druid list has a lot of overlap with the Ranger list and our spellcasting is actually better already. Our options here and Shillelagh and Brambles for combat, Lesser Vigor and Lesser Restoration for healing, Camouflage or mass Camouflage for stealth. Aspect of the Wolf and Embrace the Wild are also interesting choices.


Level 10

Practised Spellcaster is a feat all Rangers should consider, though we get a lot more mileage out of it.

We also get the Travel domain, which is very thematic. It's granted power is useful in avoiding various spells and we have the ability to retrieve Fly and Dimension door, which are always useful.

Our spells continue to improve. There are many good choices for combat, stealth and healing.

At 9th we get BAB 6 for a second attack, and our buffs make up for the weakness here.

We take Knowledge Devotion based on Knowledge (Religion) and Knowledge (Nature) to simulate the combat aspect of Favoured Enemy.

Swiftfooted allows us to ignore the -5 penalty for using the following skills at full speed: Balance, Climb, Hide, Move Silently, and Survival (for following tracks). The last one partially simulates Swift Tracker only 1 level late.

Corellon's Perception boosts our racial bonuses to Spot, Listen and Search to +5. These are core Ranger skills.

Surefooted allows us to ignore DC modifiers on Balance, Move Silently, and Tumble checks derived from the surface or terrain, which emulates aspects of Woodland stride in any terrain — though we could just as easily retrieve and cast Easy Trail.


Level 15

We get Find the Path at 11th, well Ranger's are not meant to get lost so this is thematic.

Combat Reflexes is moderately useful but is mainly a feat tax.

The Magic Domain is interesting. This is not quite Sword of the Arcane Order, but it is close.

Arcane Sight is a bit strange for a Ranger, but it has uses for scouting.

Hide in Plain sight two levels early. It's a different type of HiPS, but still.

We have Spirit Shaman 12 casting, which gives us 6th level Druid spells.

Our Concentration is now becoming useful for casting Defensively.



Level 20

Ruather gives us Word of friendship and Gift of the elves. Aragorn was very friendly with the elves and they gave him a nice sword too. Sadly these class features are mainly fluffy things.

Blessing of the Spirits is just Protection from Spirits. This helps with those pesky Ringwraiths and the dead men of Dunharrow too.

Improved Low-Light Vision is useful for a Ranger

Elfwise, another +2 bonus on Search, Spot, and Listen.

Follow the Guide is a Will save re-roll; with our +16 Will save and high Wisdom we should not be failing will saves.

Star Blessing: +1 sacred bonus on attack rolls and saving throws while under the night sky. Ah the Evenstar!

Arvandor’s Grace: Aragorn was granted a longer than human lifespan, and now you have been too.

We have Spirit Shaman 16 casting, which gives us 8th level Druid spells.


Options

Choose some other feat at 3rd. Endurance is really a terrible feat. Silent Spell would be a good choice, the uses of this for a stealthy character are obvious; or you could just take Practised Spellcaster earlier leaving space for taking Quicken sooner.

Use the Passive Way Monk variant to grab Combat Expertise and Improved Trip. We won't be able to enter Shadowdancer to grab HiPS, but we could take Sun School at 9th, Retrieve Dimension Door from the Travel domain and do the Horizon Tripper thing at 9th. Without the Shadowdancer dip we get 9th level spells from an extra level of Spirit Shaman.



Checklist

{table=head]Class Feature|Notes
BAB|12. We lose 8 BAB, but our Buff spells help make up for this.
Fort|+11 (We lose 1)
Reflex|+15 (We gain 3)
Will|+16 (We gain 10)
Spellcasting|We get 8ths, which is way ahead of Ranger.
Favoured enemy|No but our Knowledge Devotion covers Animals, Fey, Giants, Monsterous Humanoids, Plants and Undead
Track (Ranger 1)|Level 1 Feat
Wild empathy (Ranger 1)|Level 3, Spirit Shaman 1
Combat style (Ranger 1)|Flurry instead of TWF. Mechanically identical with a quarter staff, oh and we can buff this easily.
Endurance (Ranger 3)|Level 3 Feat, but we have the option to change this for something useful.
Animal companion (Ranger 4)|Not really, but we do have an animal Spirit Guide
Improved combat style (Ranger 6)|No, unless we are playing Pathfinder
Woodland stride (Ranger 7)|Surefooted gives partial emulation from level 10. Easy Trail gives full emulation, and for the whole party, available from level 5.
Swift tracker (Ranger 8)|Swiftfooted gives partial emulation from Level 9
Evasion (Ranger 9)|From Level 2
Combat style mastery (Ranger 11)|No, unless we are playing Pathfinder
Camouflage (Ranger 13)|No
Hide in plain sight (Ranger 17)|Yes, and at level 15. It is a different type of HiPS though.
[/table]

We also get vastly improved Spot and Listen, which are classic Ranger skills.

We also have a number of classic Ranger features, which do not feature in the standard class. Most of these are fluff, but our abilities relating to spirits are quite reminiscent of Aragorn.



Aramore
{table=head]Level|Class|BAB|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Monk 1 (Cobra Strike)|
+0|
+2|
+2|
+2|Knowledge (Religion) [4+2], Perform (Dance) [4-1], Hide [4+2], Move Silently [4+2], Spot [4+5], Listen [4+5]|Track|Dodge, Flurry, Improved Unarmed Strike

2nd|Monk 2 (Cobra Strike)|
+1|
+3|
+3|
+3|Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [5+2], Move Silently [5+2], Spot [5+5], Listen [5+5]||Mobility, Evasion

3rd|Spirit Shamen 1|
+1|
+5|
+3|
+5|Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [5+2], Move Silently [5+2], Spot [6+7], Listen [6+7], Survival [3+3], Spellcraft [1+2]|Endurance|Spirit guide (Alertness), Wild empathy

4th|Spirit Shamen 2|
+2|
+6|
+3|
+6|Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [5+2], Move Silently [5+2], Spot [7+7], Listen [7+7], Survival [6+3], Spellcraft [2+2]||Chastise spirits

5th|Spirit Shamen 3|
+3|
+6|
+4|
+6|Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [5+2], Move Silently [5+2], Spot [8+7], Listen [8+7], Survival [8+3], Spellcraft [4+2]||Detect spirits

6th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 1|
+3|
+8|
+6|
+6|Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [8+2], Move Silently [7+2], Spot [9+7], Listen [9+7], Survival [9+3], Spellcraft [4+2]|Practiced Spellcaster|Domain (Travel)

7th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 2|
+4|
+9|
+7|
+6|Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [10+2], Move Silently [10+2], Spot [10+7], Listen [10+7], Survival [10+3], Spellcraft [4+2]||

8th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 3|
+5|
+9|
+7|
+7|Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [3+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [11+2], Move Silently [11+2], Spot [11+8], Listen [11+8], Survival [11+4], Spellcraft [4+2]||

9th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 4|
+6|
+10|
+8|
+7|Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [4+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [12+2], Move Silently [12+2], Spot [12+8], Listen [12+8], Survival [12+4], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories|Knowledge Devotion|Swiftfooted

10th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 5|
+6|
+10|
+8|
+7|Concentration [2+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [13+2], Move Silently [13+2], Spot [13+11], Listen [13+11], Survival [13+6], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories||Corellon's Perception, Surefooted

11th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 6|
+7|
+11|
+9|
+8|Concentration [5+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [14+2], Move Silently [14+2], Spot [14+11], Listen [14+11], Survival [14+5], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories||Find the Path

12th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 7|
+8|
+11|
+9|
+8|Concentration [8+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [15+2], Move Silently [15+2], Spot [15+11], Listen [15+11], Survival [15+5], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories|Combat Reflexes|Domain(Magic)

13th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 8|
+9|
+12|
+10|
+8|Concentration [11+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [16+2], Move Silently [16+2], Spot [16+11], Listen [16+11], Survival [16+5], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories||

14th|Seeker of the Misty Isle 9|
+9|
+12|
+10|
+9|Concentration [14+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [17+2], Move Silently [17+2], Spot [17+11], Listen [17+11], Survival [17+5], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories||Arcane Sight

15th|Shadowdancer 1|
+9|
+12|
+12|
+9|Concentration [15+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [18+2], Move Silently [18+2], Spot [18+11], Listen [18+11], Survival [18+5], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories|Darkstalker|Hide in Plain Sight

16th|Ruather 1|
+9|
+9|
+14|
+14|Concentration [16+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [19+2], Move Silently [19+2], Spot [19+12], Listen [19+12], Survival [19+6], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories||Word of friendship, Gift of the Elves

17th|Spirit Shamen 4|
+10|
+10|
+14|
+15|Concentration [19+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [19+2], Move Silently [19+2], Spot [20+12], Listen [20+12], Survival [20+6], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories||Blessing of the Spirits

18th|Ruather 2|
+11|
+10|
+15|
+16|Concentration [19+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [21+2], Move Silently [21+2], Spot [21+14], Listen [20+14], Survival [21+6], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories|Quicken|Improved Low-Light Vision, Elfwise

19th|Spirit Shamen 5|
+11|
+10|
+15|
+16|Concentration [21+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [21+2], Move Silently [21+2], Spot [22+14], Listen [22+14], Survival [22+6], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories||Follow the Guide

20th|Ruather 3|
+12|
+11|
+15|
+16|Concentration [21+1], Knowledge (Religion) [5+2], Knowledge (Nature) [5+4], Perform (Dance) [5-1], Hide [23+2], Move Silently [23+2], Spot [23+14], Listen [22+14], Survival [23+6], Spellcraft [4+2], Collector of Stories||Star Blessing, Arvandor’s Grace[/table]

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

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

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

3rd|3/3|2/1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|4/3|3/2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|5/3|4/2|2/1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|6/3|5/3|3/1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|6/3|6/3|4/1|2/1|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|6/3|6/3|5/2|3/1|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|6/3|6/3|6/2|4/1|2/1|-|-|-|-|-

10th|6/3|6/3|6/2|4/1|2/1|-|-|-|-|-

11th|6/3|6/3|6/2|5/2|3/1|-|-|-|-|-

12th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|4/1|2/1|-|-|-|-

13th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|5/2|3/1|-|-|-|-

14th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|4/1|2/1|-|-|-

15th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|4/1|2/1|-|-|-

16th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|5/2|3/1|-|-|-

17th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|4/1|2/1|-|-

18th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|5/2|3/1|-|-

19th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|4/1|2/1|-

20th|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/3|6/2|5/2|3/1|-

[/table]

References
Classes
Monk(PH), ACFs in SRD
Spirit Shaman(CDiv)
Seeker of the Misty Isle(CDiv)
Shadowdancer(DMG)
Ruather(Races of the Wild p122)

Feats
Combat Reflexes(PH)
Darkstalker(Lords of Madness)
Dodge(PH)
Endurance(PH)
Improved Unarmed Strike(PH)
Knowledge Devotion(CChamp)
Mobility(PH)
Practised Spellcaster(CArcane)
Quicken(PH)
Track(PH)

Skilltrick
Collector of Stories(CSco)

[mattie_p]

So you can be a surface ranger. What about... underwater?


Ashta Sharkfin of the Greenweed Tribe
Female Aquatic Elf
WolfShark* Totem Barbarian (Favored Enemy Variant) 5/Spirit Shaman 7/Horizon Walker 3/Leviathan Hunter 5
Alignment: Neutral Good

What This Build Is Not
This build is not the prototypical ranger, the character that immediately comes to mind when one hears the word "ranger." Everyone thinks of Aragorn and Legolas—a ranger of the forest, using swords and/or bows while tracking through trees and plains. Everyone thinks of the animal companion as a horse or a wolf, or at least a common terrestrial animal.

What This Build Is:
This build is a ranger, a character who, for her environment, represents what most rangers might become. When one hears the word "ranger," one does not immediately think of the dwarven "cavers" (straight from the PHB Ranger class description!), or rangers of exotic environments such as the arctic or the sea. In fact, when one thinks of any kind of character, one rarely considers building for an underwater campaign, but it is a legitimate option. This character is built for that campaign. She is a ranger of the sea, with a seaworthy animal companion, who is devoted to the pursuit of her chosen enemies through the terrains of the oceans, islands, and marshes.

Ability Scores
{table=head]Ability|Point Buy|Racial|Level 1|Improvement|Level 20
Strength|12||12||12
Dexterity|15|+2|17|4, 16, 20|20
Constitution|12||12||12
Intelligence|12|-2|10||10
Wisdom|14||14||14
Charisma|14||14|8, 12|16[/table]

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

1st|Wolf Totem Barbarian 1|d12|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+0|*see below|Point Blank Shot|1st favored enemy (animals); fast movement; illiteracy

2nd|Wolf Totem Barbarian 2|d12|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+0||Rapid Shot (B); Improved Trip (B)|

3rd|Wolf Totem Barbarian 3|d12|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+1||Aquatic Shot|

4th|Wolf Totem Barbarian 4|d12|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+1|||

5th|Wolf Totem Barbarian 5|d12|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+1||Track (B)|2nd favored enemy (magical beasts)

6th|Spirit Shaman 1|d8|
+5|
+6|
+1|
+3|Knowledge (Nature) 2|Wild Cohort|Wild empathy; spirit guide

7th|Spirit Shaman 2|d8|
+6/+1|
+7|
+1|
+4|Knowledge (Nature) 3||Chastise spirits

8th|Spirit Shaman 3|d8|
+7/+2|
+7|
+2|
+4|Knowledge (Nature) 4||Detect spirits

9th|Spirit Shaman 4|d8|
+8/+3|
+8|
+2|
+5|Knowledge (Geography) 2|Endurance|Blessing of the spirits

10th|Spirit Shaman 5|d8|
+8/+3|
+8|
+2|
+5|Knowledge (Geography) 4||Follow the guide

11th|Spirit Shaman 6|d8|
+9/+4|
+9|
+3|
+6|Knowledge (Geography) 6||Ghost warrior

12th|Spirit Shaman 7|d8|
+10/+5|
+9|
+3|
+6|Knowledge (Geography) 8|Landwalker|Warding of the spirits

13th|Horizon Walker 1|d8|
+11/+6/+1|
+11|
+3|
+6|||Terrain mastery (aquatic)

14th|Horizon Walker 2|d8|
+12/+7/+2|
+12|
+3|
+6|||Terrain mastery (marsh)

15th|Horizon Walker 3|d8|
+13/+8/+3|
+12|
+4|
+7||Iron Will|Terrain mastery (forest)

16th|Leviathan Hunter 1|d10|
+14/+9/+4|
+14|
+4|
+7|||Hunter's insight; trophy +2

17th|Leviathan Hunter 2|d10|
+15/+10/+5|
+15|
+4|
+7|||Fell the leviathan +1d6

18th|Leviathan Hunter 3|d10|
+16/+11/+6/+1|
+15|
+5|
+8||Lightning Reflexes; Clever Wrestling (B)|

19th|Leviathan Hunter 4|d10|
+17/+12/+7/+2|
+16|
+5|
+8|||Fell the leviathan +2d6

20th|Leviathan Hunter 5|d10|
+18/+13/+8/+3|
+16|
+5|
+8|||Immunity to fear; trophy +4[/table]

*I only listed skills required as prerequisites. This build has only 4 skill points per level throughout, but there are many options for how to spend those points.
Barbarian offers Handle Animal, Listen, Ride, Survival, and Swim as relevant class skills. I would also recommend taking Hide and Move Silently as cross-class skills.
Spirit Shaman offers Concentration, Handle Animal, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (nature), Listen, Ride, Spot, Survival and Swim as relevant class skills. Hide and Move Silently are unfortunately still cross-class skills.
Horizon Walker offers Handle Animal, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Spot, and Survival.
Leviathan Hunter offers Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Survival, and Swim.

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

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

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

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

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

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

6th|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|5|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-

13th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-

14th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-

15th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-

16th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-

17th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-

18th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-

19th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-

20th|6|6|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

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

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

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

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

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

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

6th|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|3|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|3|3|1|1|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|3|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-

13th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-

14th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-

15th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-

16th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-

17th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-

18th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-

19th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-

20th|3|3|2|1|1|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

Character
Origin
The Greenweed Tribe makes its home along a semitropical archipelago, in a large underwater canyon system marked by lush "forests" of seaweed. The tribe is somewhat primitive in culture, led by its warrior chieftains and shamans. The canyons allow the tribe a convenient home base with easy access (and protection from) both the surface islands and the deeps of the sea.

Tribal Hunter (Shark Totem Barbarian 3)
With her exceptional speed and skill with the aquatic longbow, Ashta has begun to prove herself in the ranks of the Greenweed warriors, earning the moniker Sharkfin. She leads patrols of the Greenweed canyon, displaying an uncanny knack for hunting down dangerous sharks and other animals that threaten the tribe's waters.

Called by the Spirits (Barbarian 5/Spirit Shaman 1)
Already an accomplished captain, Ashta is singled out by the elder shaman as favored by the spirits. Ashta somewhat reluctantly undertakes several months of apprenticeship under the venerated master of spirits, but she retains the heart of a warrior. With an unseen spirit guide and a very conspicuous shark companion, she continues to serve her tribe as a fierce and powerful protector.

Spirit Warrior (Barbarian 5/Spirit Shaman 5)
Ashta has embraced her role as a spirit shaman, without relinquishing her role as a warrior. Having saved her tribe from its gravest threats, Ashta is called by the spirits to travel the sea in pursuit of those who threaten the weak and the innocent. With her tracking skills and her special abilities against animals, magical beasts, incorporeal undead, elementals, fey, and other beings of spirit, few threats can elude Sharkfin's chase. Her already impressive combat abilities are aided by her growing spellcasting prowess.

Answering the Call (Barbarian 5/Spirit Shaman 7/Horizon Walker 3)
Ashta has taken to answering the call of the spirits—to protect the weak and the innocent from grave threats and powerful monsters—wherever that call may take her. Aquatic elf tribes, merfolk cities, human villages, and even elven forests call out in aid when in peril, and Ashta answers those calls. After each adventure, she immediately scours the horizon for the next place in need. While she is most at home in the water, Ashta has almost instinctively learned how to use marsh and forest environments to her benefit as well.

Bane of Legends (Barbarian 5/Spirit Shaman 7/Horizon Walker 3/Leviathan Hunter 5)
Wherever the most foul, most dangerous, and most terrifying beasts of legend lurk, Ashta Sharkfin is soon to be found. Aboleth mages, sea serpents, and even great wyrms cannot escape once this dread hunter catches wind of their evil machinations. Not content to wait for great monsters to emerge from their lairs, Ashta tracks them down wherever they abide, to put an end to their existence in this world.

The Feast
First Course: Barbarian (SRD, including variants)
I diligently sought to avoid the most obvious ranger analogues—druid, scout, wilderness rogue—but in the end, I felt it was necessary to start with the favored enemy variant of barbarian for one unavoidable reason: favored enemy, by name, is a prerequisite for leviathan hunter. Still, barbarian is not the same thing as ranger, and note that the explicit favored enemies from this class are only one of many sources in this build for bonuses against specific enemies. This variant of barbarian offers two favored enemies and the beginnings of the archery combat style. With the Aquatic Shot feat, that combat style has effectively been altered into a style more appropriate for an aquatic ranger-type character. Fast movement helps cover for the lack of Swift Hunter and Trackless Step in this build. Grabbing Track through the wolf totem, re-branded as the shark totem, was a no-brainer.

Second Course: Spirit Shaman (Complete Divine)
Ah, now here the character becomes something truly unique. Seven levels of spirit shaman offer spellcasting comparable to that of twenty levels of ranger. Like a ranger, she casts divine spells. The spells are selected from the nature-oriented druid list, and while only a small number of spells can be retrieved each day, those spells can be changed daily. This compares well to the prepared spellcasting of the ranger, who can prepare a greater variety of spells from a more limited list.
A spirit shaman also gains wild empathy.
Spirit shaman also offers a variety of benefits against spirits, which are defined as:

All incorporeal undead
All fey
All elementals
Creatures in astral form or with astral bodies (but not a creature physically present on the Astral Plane)
All creatures of the spirit subtype
Spirit folk and telthors
Spirit creatures created by spells such as dream sight or wood wose.
Through the chastise spirits, detect spirits, blessing of the spirits, ghost warrior, and warding of the spirits special abilities, she gains damage, protection, and magic circle effects against spirits, as well as ghost touch and full AC against incorporeal foes. While not identical to the ranger's favored enemy ability, it fits the favored enemy niche nicely.

Third Course: Horizon Walker (SRD/DMG)
Horizon walker is a very rangery prestige class that resumes full BAB while providing a range of terrain abilities. This build does not provide Camouflage or Hide in Plain Sight, but terrain mastery grants bonuses to Hide and Move Silently, as well as an improved Swim speed and attack/damage bonuses against creatures from each terrain. These bonuses serve to further the favored enemy emulation of the build.
Originally, I planned to take this class after Leviathan Hunter, but I moved it to earlier in order to better fit the timing of ranger special abilities.

Fourth Course: Leviathan Hunter (Stormwrack)
This is the other cornerstone of this build, after spirit shaman. The leviathan hunter gains expanded favored enemy abilities against aberrations, animals, dragons, and magical beasts, particularly against Huge and larger creatures. By this stage, Ashta is a fearsome hunter of her foes.

Sides: Feats
Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot (through Barbarian) and Aquatic Shot complete an aquatic archery combat style.
Endurance and Iron Will fulfill prerequisites, while Endurance is a ranger ability in its own right.
Wild Cohort offers an animal companion, which will begin as a shark (medium) but eventually become a dire shark.
Landwalker allows the aquatic elf to function more effectively in non-aquatic environments; she can survive out of water for 36 hours before making Fortitude saves.
Lightning Reflexes helps cover for the weaker Reflex saves.

Garnishes: Equipment

I won't detail most of her equipment; assume she has appropriate (mostly aquatic!) weapons and armor by level, and other appropriate items for her missions. She'll use the aquatic longbow and perhaps a trident, favoring ranged attacks.
Ring of Evasion, because unfortunately I couldn't pick up evasion.
Ring of Vanishing, and possibly a backup Ring of Invisibility (depending on how often she uses the ability), to make up for the lack of camouflage and hide in plain sight.
She will, of course, gain bonuses from wearing trophies, as a leviathan hunter.

Sources

Aquatic Elf: SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/elf.htm#aquaticElf) and Stormwrack p. 39
Wolf Totem Barbarian: SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wolfTotemClassFeatures ), with rebranding allowed via this:

The list of totems discussed here is by no means exhaustive. If you prefer to use other totems, you can either substitute the totem name for that of a similar creature (such as changing the Lion Totem to the Tiger Totem) or create a new set of totem abilities, using the information here as a guide.
Favored enemy variant: SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#barbarian)
Spirit Shaman: Complete Divine p. 14
Horizon Walker: SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/horizonWalker.htm)
Leviathan Hunter: Stormwrack p. 61
Aquatic Shot: Stormwrack p. 90
Wild Cohort: web (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a)
Landwalker: Stormwrack p. 92
Ring of Evasion: SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/rings.htm#evasion)
Ring of Vanishing: Magic Item Compendium p. 128
Ring of Invisibility: SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/rings.htm#invisibility)

[mattie_p]

A true giant among men elves, or is he?


The Titan-Feller
Stats
Half-Elf
Str 16 +
Dex 16 ++++
Con 14 (++)
Int 12
Wis 10
Cha 8

Books Used: PHB, RoS (Peregrine Runner, Stoneblessed, Goliath Liberator, Goliath Barbarian), RoD (Half-Elf Fighter), CC (Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian, Forest Reeve), DotU (Hit-and-Run Fighter)
Level Progression, BaB, and Saves.
Half-Elf Fighter 2:
2 BaB +2 Fort +2 Ref +0 Will +0
Stoneblessed 3:
3 BaB +2 Fort +3 Ref +1 Will +1
Goliath Barbarian 1:
1 BaB +1 Fort +2 Ref +0 Will +0
Peregrine Runner 4:
4 BaB +3 Fort +4 Ref +4 Will +1
Goliath Liberator 5:
5 BaB +5 Fort +4 Ref +1 Will +1
Forest Reeve 5:
5 BaB +5 Fort +1 Ref +4 Will +1
Total:
20 BaB +18 Fort +16 Ref +10 Will +4
Skills by Level
Languages: Common, Elven, Gol-ka
Skill Tricks may be taken any time after level 10.
1. Diplomacy 2, Climb 4, Jump 4, Appraise 2, Craft (Stone) 4, Handle Animal 2
2. Climb 5, Jump 5, Craft (Stone) 5, Handle Animal 4
3. Climb 6, Jump 6, Diplomacy 3
4. Climb 7, Jump 7, Diplomacy 4
5. Climb 8, Jump 8, Survival 1
6. Climb 9, Jump 9, Survival 3
7. Hide 3, Move Silently 3, Survival 6
8. Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Know: Nature 1
9. Know: Nature 2, Listen 3, Spot 3
10 Listen 4, Spot 4, Balance 5
11 Hide 7, Move Silently 7, Survival 7
12 Hide 9, Move Silently 9, Survival 8
13 Hide 11, Move Silently 11, Survival 9
14 Hide 13, Move Silently 13, Survival 10
15 Hide 15, Move Silently 15, Survival 11
16 Hide 18, Move Silently 18, Survival 12
17 Hide 20, Move Silently 20, Survival 15
18 Hide 21, Move Silently 21, Survival 20
19 Hide 22, Move Silently 22, Survival 22, Know: Nature 3, Nimble Charge
20 Hide 23, Move Silently 23, Survival 23, Know: Nature 5, Leaping Climber
Feats
1. Run
3. Endurance
B. Toughness
6. Track
9. Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
12 Darkstalker
B. Improved Trip
15 Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
18 Extra Rage
Abilities by Level
1. Blade Focus (Weapon Focus with Rapier and Longsword)
Hit-and-Run Fighter (DotU, +Dex to damage vs flat footed opponents, +2 Initiative, lose heavy armor proficiency and tower shield proficiency.)
2. Main-gauche (Count as having TWF while wielding a Rapier and a Dagger, get +1 AC when Fighting Defensively with a Rapier and Dagger.)
3. Stonebond (Can Accelerated Climb without the -5, and +2 Sense Motive.)
4. Racial Battle Technique (+1 to attack rolls vs Giants, +4 Dodge to AC vs Giants.)
5. Stoneborn (+2 Constitution, count as a Goliath racially, Toughness as a bonus feat.)
6. Mountain Rage (Grow Large when Raging, +2 Str on top of Rage benefits) Lion Spiritual Totem (Gain Pounce ability, lose fast movement.)
7. Mountain Stride (Move through rubble and stairs at normal speed.) Peregrine Companion (Animal Companion Hawk, PrC levels=Druid levels.)
8. Skirmish +1d6 (Deal extra damage/AC if moved at least 10ft in the round.)
9. Great Stamina (Cannot be Fatigued, Exhausted becomes Fatigued.) Slow Fall 20ft (While up against a wall, like a Monk.)
10 Climb Speed 20ft, Skirmish +1/+1d6
11 Favored Enemy: Giants +2 (Bonus to Bluff/Listen/Spot/Sense Motive/Survival/Damage.)
12 Avoid Thrown Weapons (+2 Dodge Bonus vs Thrown Weapons.)
13 Equal Footing (Improved Trip as a bonus feat, and +4 to Str checks while tripping creatures larger than you.)
14 Avoid Reach (+2 Dodge to AC vs melee attacks from creatures not adjacent.)
15 Favored Enemy: Giants +4
16 Earth's Defender +1 (1/day grant a weapon an enhancement bonus equal to the bonus for 1 minute/character level.) Fast Movement, Nature's Rejuvenation 1/day (Can cast Bear Endurance/Cure Moderate Wounds/Lesser Restoration on self with a CL = to character level after touching plants/fertile ground for 1 minute.)
17 Woodland Stride (Move normally through brush and overgrown areas without damage or speed reduction.)
18 Earth's Defender +2, Nature's Rejuvenation 2/day, Swift Tracker (Track at normal speed without penalty.)
19 Camoflage (Hide in natural terrain while being observed.)
20 Earth's Defender +3, Nature's Rejuvenation 3/day, Whispers of the Forest (Can ask the wilderness a simple question about the wilderness in any area on your land mass, and they may speak to you without being asked if it is incredibly important.
Good Items
Stat boosters for Str/Con/Dex
Valorous Weapons
Initiative boosters
Different Movement Modes
Skill Boosters for Spot/Listen/Survival/Hide/Move Silently
Items that increase stealth in general

Basically anything you might want for any melee character would be good, leaving a lot of flexibility for any sort of drop from any kind of DM.
The Legend of the Mountain Man
Tahlir "Titan-Feller" Sehran started his career as an ordinary Half-Elf fencer, constantly being mocked for his lack of skill and Elvish name, and he was known to be more fast than he was strong. Dejected with his horrible life after running out of gold and being forced out on the streets, he left the city and moved up to the mountains, where he decided he would end his life. Just as he was about to jump off a cliff to his untimely demise, he noticed a bleeding body lying at the bottom of the cliffs. He climbed down and dragged the body into a cave, just narrowly avoiding a passing Hill Giant. As he slowly nursed the man back to health, he proceeded to teach Tahlir his language, "Gol-ka."

When he was ready, the Goliath brought Tahlir back to his tribe, where he was celebrated for his apparent valor. They took him in, and he truly found his home among the people of the mountains. And with that home he found enemies in the Giants that roamed the mountains as well. After some training with his newfound friends, Tahlir moved out to aid the tribe in fighting off these towering threats, and his fear began to wear away as he pushed himself beyond his limits to become one of the strongest fighters in the tribe. At the end of one decisive defense, he sat to do his daily prayer to the Ram-Lord, only to hear the mountain and trees themselves call out to him.

Tahlir found a sage among the tribe who knew of the Guardians of the Green, and he began tapping into the spirits of the mountains, woods, and rivers. In turn, they granted him divine powers as thanks for all the service he had done for the land and its inhabitants. To this day he is said to keep watch over the mountains, defending them from ne'er-do-wells who would venture out of the city and into his wilderness.

[mattie_p]

It was a dark and holy outsider.


The Holy Hunter


Abilities @ level 1 before racial mods STR: 15 DEX: 14 CON: 14 INT: 12 WIS: 10 CHA: 14

Race: Dark Aasimar (LA+2, both bought off) Lv 1 abilities after racial mods STR: 15 DEX: 14 CON: 14 INT: 12 WIS: 12 CHA: 16

Level up bonuses: 4-STR 8-CON 12-CON 16-STR 20-STR

Final ability scores before items: STR: 18 DEX: 14 CON: 16 INT: 12 WIS: 12 CHA: 16

Ability Scores After Items: STR: 22 DEX: 18 CON: 22 INT: 12 WIS: 14 CHA: 20

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

1st|Scout 1|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+0|Balance +5 (4), Hide +14 (4), Listen +7 (4), Move Silently +12 (4), Ride +6 (4), Sense Motive +5 (4), Spot +7 (4), Survival +6 (4)|Power Attack|Skirmish (1d6), Trapfinding

2nd|Paladin of Freedom 1|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+0|Ride +7 (5), Spot +8 (5)|-|Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/Day|

3rd|Paladin of Freedom 2|
+2|
+3|
+2|
+0|Ride +8 (6), Spot +9 (6)|Track|-|Divine Grace, Favored Enemy (Giants) +2|

4th|Paladin of Freedom 3|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+1|Ride +9 (7), Spot +10 (7)|-|Aura of Resolve, Divine Health|

5th|Paladin of Freedom 4|
+4|
+4|
+3|
+1|Ride +10 (8), Spot +11 (8)|-|-|

6th|Paladin of Freedom 5|
+5|
+4|
+3|
+1|Ride +11 (9), Spot +12 (9)|Mounted Combat|Smite Evil 2/day, Special Mount, Favored Enemy (Giants) +4|

7th|Paladin (planar substution) 6|
+6|
+5|
+4|
+2|Listen +8 (5), Ride +12 (10)|-|-|Celestial Mount

8th|Wild Plains Outrider 1|
+7|
+10|
+4|
+3|Listen +11 (8), Ride +13 (11), Survival +6 (5)|-|Animal Companion/Special Mount, Ride Bonus, Wild Plains Stalker|

9th|Wild Plains Outrider 2|
+8|
+11|
+4|
+3|Balance +7 (5), Ride +14 (12), Survival +9 (8)|Point Blank Shot|Wild Plains Swiftness|

10th|Wild Plains Outrider 3|
+9|
+11|
+5|
+3|Knowledge (history) +4 (3), Move Silently +13 (5), Ride +15 (13)|-|Wild Plains Offensive|

11th|Highland Stalker 1|
+10|
+13|
+5|
+3|Knowledge (nature) +3 (2), Move Silently +14 (6), Ride +16 (14)|-|Mountain Stride|

12th|Highland Stalker 2|
+11|
+14|
+5|
+3|Knowledge (nature) +4 (3), Move Silently +16 (8), Ride +17 (15)|Rapid Shot|Skirmish (+2d6)|

13th|Highland Stalker 3|
+12|
+14|
+6|
+4|Knowledge (nature) +5 (4), Move Silently +17 (9), Ride +18 (16)|-|Swift Tracker|

14th|Highland Stalker 4|
+13|
+15|
+6|
+4|Knowledge (nature) +6 (5), Move Silently +19 (11), Ride +19 (17)|-|Skirmish (+2d6, +1 AC)|

15th|Highland Stalker 5|
+14|
+15|
+6|
+4|Knowledge (nature) +8 (7), Move Silently +20 (12), Ride +20 (18)|Mounted Archery|Surefooted|

16th|Highland Stalker 6|
+15|
+16|
+7|
+5|Knowledge (nature) +11 (10), Ride +21 (19)|-|Skirmish (+3d6, +1 AC)|

17th|Highland Stalker 7|
+16|
+16|
+7|
+5|Knowledge (nature) +14 (13), Ride +22 (20)|-|Camoflauge|

18th|Mythic Exemplar 1|
+16|
+16|
+7|
+6|Knowledge (nature) +18 (17), Ride +23 (21)|True Believer|Paragon's Path (Imadrasti), Save Bonus +1 (Will)|

19th|Mythic Exemplar 2|
+17|
+16|
+7|
+6|Knowledge (nature) +22 (21), Ride +24 (22)|-|Least Paragon's Gift|

20th|Mythic Exemplar 3|
+18|
+17|
+8|
+8|Knowledge (nature) +24 (23), Move Silently +22 (14), Ride +27 (23)|-|Archetype Advancement, Save Bonus +2 (Will)|[/table]


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

1st|-|-|-|-

2nd|-|-|-|-

3rd|-|-|-|-

4th|-|-|-|-

5th|0|-|-|-

6th|0|-|-|-

7th|1|-|-|-

8th|1|-|-|-

9th|1|-|-|-

10th|1|-|-|-

11th|1|-|-|-

12th|1|-|-|-

13th|1|-|-|-

14th|1|-|-|-

15th|1|-|-|-

16th|1|-|-|-

17th|1|-|-|-

18th|1|-|-|-

19th|1|-|-|-

20th|1|0|-|-[/table]


Items

Non-Slotted Items
[Spoiler]
Weapon(s): Charging Fleshgrinding Forceful Skylance (72,310), Splitting Stunning Surge Precise Energy Bow (+4 moore than energy bow.), 4 Raptor Arrows (24,024)
General: Handy Haversack (2,000), Dusty Rose Prism Ioun Stone (5,000), 173,066 gold pieces
Manuals/Tomes:
Slotted Items
[spoiler]
Arms: Bracers of Archery, Greater (25,000)
Body: +1 Death Ward Greater Blurring Mithral Breastplate (29,200)
Face: Third Eye Aware (10,000)
Feet: Boots of Tracklessness (11,000)
Hands: Gloves of Dexterity +4 (16,000)
Head: Helm of the Hunter (9,000)
Ring(s): Ring of Protection +5 (50,000), Ring of Freedom of Movement (40,000)
Shoulders: Cloak of Charisma +4 (16,000)
Throat: Amulet of Health +6 (36,000)
Torso: Vest of Resistance +5 (25,000)
Waist: Belt of Giant Strength +4 (16,000)


Backstory:An oddity among Aasimar, Lozar always seemed to naturally blend with the shadows, and when he was young he used this to his advantage to become a scout, but, inevitably, he felt the call rowards paladinhood, as do most all
of his kind. Given that he didn't care overmuch for law and order, he became a rather different sort of paladin. While a champion of good, he always strove for personal freedoms over upholding the law. He became very attached to the mount
that the powers of good gave him, bonding with it more closely than many friends he had made. Later he abandoned this path to become closer to nature, striving to have a connection that he had long lacked, and began worshipping Elohanna, quickly
becoming one of her most devout worshippers. On orders from the cleric/druid who lead the worship of his godess, he set out to learn the deeper secrets of nature, spending a decade exploring the forests at the base of the greatest mountain range
on the prime material. Over time he became as much of a warrior of nature as a champion of good. He roams those mountains and forests still, slaying the horrible giants that live there and threaten both all good creatures in existance, and the
forests themselves.


What replicates what:
[spoiler]Using the Paladin variant on page 58 of unearthed Arcana that gives you Favored enemy advancement as a ranger (can only choose aberrations, dragons, giants, monstrous humanoids, evil outsiders, or undead)
in exchange for lay on hands, turn undead, and remove disease. Using Pally of Freedom just because. The paladin's Special Mount basically serves as the Animal Companion.
Using feats to get the ranged combat style (albeit imperfectly). Using Dark template to gain HiPS, and Highland Stalker to get Camoflauge. Paladin also gives Divine Spellcasting. Scout gives some Ranger-y flavor,
desperately needed skill points, and lets me get into Highland Stalker, for aforementioned Camoflauge ability and further Ranger-y flavor. Wild Plains Outrider gives more Ranger-likeness, as it is a prestige class only
Paladins and Rangers will ever take (druids CAN, but never would if they had any modiucm of intellegence, unless it was a gestalt game or something).


Other Important Info
Vital Stats, 241 HP (average), 18 BAB, +27 Fort save bonus, +18 Reflex/Will save bonus, Darkvision, Resistance to Acid 5, Cold 10, and Electricity 5, Daylight 1/day (as caster of Class level),Hide in Plain Sight (Ex), Superior Low-light vision.
Paladin mount is a (Celestial) Rhinocerous w/ following stats, special attacks/qualities: 27 STR, 6 INT, 10 HD, 95 HP, AC 20 (touch 9, Flat-footed 20), Resistance to Acid, Cold, and Electricity 10, DR 5/Magic, SR 15, Darkvision (60 feet), Smite Evil, Powerful Charge.


Sources:
DMG, PHB, CAdv, CC, ToM, EPH, MiC, MMI, UA, PlH

[mattie_p]

An exhibition entry by our esteemed judge, Cyberdrag. This is for exhibition only.


Divine Fey Bard =DFB
Ablosher = A
Impure Prince = IP

Half Blooded Mongrel Neutral Evil Half Fey - Daelkyr Half Blood
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|DFB|
+0|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Animal companion (as druid), nature sense (as druid), resist nature's lure (as druid), wild empathy (as druid). Healing Hymn(As bard),Mimicking Song(as bard),Repel Domination(As Bard),Bard Spells as Divine

2nd|DFB|
+1|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Divine Spells

3rd|DFB|
+2|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Divine Spells

4th|DFB|
+3|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Divine Spells

5th|DFB|
+3|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|+4 mimicking song, Divine Spells

6th|DFB|
+4|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Divine Spells,Repel Domination

7th|A |
+4|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Favored Enemy (aberrations +2), Wild Shape +1/Day, Animal Companion(Continues on)

8th|A|
+5|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Winds of Nature's Grace , Divine Spell

9th|A|
+6|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Pierce Aberrant Defence +1,Divine Spell

10th|A|
+7|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Favored Enemy (aberrations +4), Wild Shape +2/Day, Divine Spell

11th|A|
+7|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Crystals of Natures Rage, Divine Spells

12th|A|
+8|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Pierce Aberrant Defence +2,

13th|A|
+9|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Waves of Nature's Purity,Divine Spells

14th|A|
+10|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Favored Enemy (aberrations +6), Wild Shape +3/Day, Divine Spells

15th|IP|
+11|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Expanded spell list, lure symbiont

16th|IP|
+12|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Favored enemy aberrations +2, Divine Spells

17th|IP|
+13|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Aberrant anatomy (25%) Divine Spells

18th|IP|
+14|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Aberrant fortitude , Divine Spells

19th|IP|
+15|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Otherworldly surge, Divine Spells

20th|IP|
+16|
+x|
+x|
+x|Skills|New Feats|Aberrant anatomy (50%), favored enemy aberrations +4, Divine Spell[/table]

List of Info

Divine Fey Bard =DFB
Ablosher = A
Impure Prince = IP

Skills Focused : Perform, Concentrate, Move Silently, knowledge (Dungeonering,Nature,Gather Information, Spot, Listen, Disguise, Hide,Sense Motive, Survival)




Explanation of build and strengths.


Hello folks, this is just an exhibition build, so please excuse the lack of feats and skill breakdown, but I will spend some time to explain what is going on in the build.

Divine Bard = Divine Spells
Fey Bard=The various druid functions.
Half Fey Template = Changes Aberration Type to Fey Type Qualifying for Abolisher

16th level bard casting
14th level Druid Animal Companion
8HD l Druid Wild Shaping 3/day Limited to Medium Animals
Charm Person At Will (Various Half Fey given spells)

Class Abilities, focus very strongly on killing aberrations, sneaking around, and altering the situation around you to the favor of whoever you are with.

Daelkyr Half Blood benefits from Tentacle Whip, for always being armed, and a soft defense against anyone that tries to read his mind , causing those that fail a save to be dazed. Which while we are on the subject Impure Prince grants access to the SHADOW SIBLING 50% cover as an immediate action against an attack.




This build has a +10 favored enemy status against aberrations, several factors that will daze or stun an aberrations plus defenses against them.

Now for factors when not fighting aberrations, we do have the various bard/half fey spells at our disposal plus a decent BAB and a 6d6+14d8 for HP.

50% immunity to sneak attack or critical hits

Even if stripped of all your gear and weapons, you still have options to you, wild shaping for stealth, the various bard spells for your advantage, and the tentacle whip so that you are never disarmed.

[mattie_p]

Whew. That concludes our 12 entries.

Competitors, if you see formatting errors with your post, please let me know via pm and I will correct it as soon as I can.

Judges, please start reviewing the entries for your tasting and judgement.

Everyone else, all clear, feel free to discuss as you desire.

[Newcomer]

Thank you, chairman!

Great stuff, everyone!!

[Segev]

Yay! Awesome to see the variety here. ^_^

[ericp65]

Fascinating variety of entries, and within each entry! I think any of the characters presented would be great fun and highly effective to play :smallsmile:

Judging should be quite interesting.

Best of luck to us all! I'm on the edge of my seat here :smallbiggrin:

[mattie_p]

If someone could please make a hyperlinked table with the entries, I'd be happy to cross-post it to the first post of the thread.

Judges, if you have rules questions regarding specific entries, please feel free to send me a pm, post in this thread, or ask in the Simple 3.5 RAW Q/A thread.

[nedz]

A table, shout out if there are any errors.

Zinc Ranger
{table=head]Name|Race|Build|
Barbara Backaway (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985181&postcount=128)|Shadow Creature Greensnake Naga | Barbarian 6 / Forest Reeve 4 / Consecrated Harrier 10|

Aishera (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985193&postcount=129)|Halfling | Deadly Hunter Druid 17 / Halfling Outrider 3|

Zolag (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985198&postcount=130)|Desert Orc|Scout 5 / Fighter 4 / Forest Reeve 4 / Stalker of Kharash 4 / Abolisher 1 |

Jharet (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985202&postcount=131)|Wood Elf | Scout 5 / Stalker of Kharash 8 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 / Holt Warden 3|

Amira Danallis (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985205&postcount=132)|Seelie Court Fey Forestlord Elf|Cleric 6 / Totemist 3 / Prestige Paladin of Freedom 7 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 |

Erysseril Gwaethorien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985222&postcount=133)|Copper Elf| Wilderness Rogue 3 / Druid 3 / Prestige Ranger 2 / Forest Reeve 5 / Shadowdancer 1 / Lion of Talisid 4 / Warblade 1 / Bloodclaw Master 1|

Eltin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985227&postcount=134)|Two-Headed Grey Elf|Humanoid 2 / Combat Wizard 1 / Archivist 9 / Mystic Theurge 8|

Aramore (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985231&postcount=135)|Elf|Monk 2 / Spirit Shaman 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 9/ Shadowdancer 1 / Ruather 3|

Ashta Sharkfin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985239&postcount=136)|Aquatic Elf | WolfShark* Totem Barbarian (Favored Enemy Variant) 5 / Spirit Shaman 7 / Horizon Walker 3 / Leviathan Hunter 5|

The Tital-Feller (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985246&postcount=137)|Half-Elf | Fighter 2 / Stoneblessed 3 / Goliath Barbarian 1 / Peregrine Runner 4 / Goliath Liberator 5 / Forest Reeve 5|

The Holy Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985255&postcount=138)|Dark Aasimar|Scout 1 / Planar Paladin of Freedom 6 / Wild Plains Outrider 3 / Highland Stalker 7 / Mythic Exemplar 3|

[/table]

[Jurai]

Seven Elves, one Prestige Ranger, and lots of Seeker of the Misty Isle.

My other idea involved Fleet Runner of Ehlonna, Barbarian, and Runescarred Berserker, but I couldn't figure out shenanigans to enter and alternate both.

[Chronos]

OK, the other build idea I was thinking of was a psionic ranger: Basically, start with Egoist psion (or maybe psychic warrior), pick up Favored Enemy and BAB through Slayer, buff up my psicrystal to resemble an animal companion, and emulate most of the ranger's other class features and spellcasting through powers known (Concealing Amorpha for Camouflage, Astral Construct instead of SNA, Entangling Ectoplasm instead of Entangle, etc.). Maybe a bit of Elocator, too, for the skills. But I didn't have enough time to put all the pieces together.

[Chronos]

Oh, and a tip to the Chairman: random.org has an option to randomize the order of a list, which is less work (for the human) than rolling d10, then d9, then d8, etc. Just put all the names in the list and hit one button.

[Segev]

One of my earliest ideas was similar in core to Chronos's: I was going to use the Phrenic template on an otherwise-nonpsionic framework. Psionic Dominate would eventually get the "animal companion" for him. Use the innate pp of the template to qualify for Slayer to get a Favored Enemy. I was contemplating slipping a single War Mind level in right before or right after the Slayer level 1 in order to give a psionic class to advance as well. Alternatively, I was considering having the Slayer's +1 to manifester level apply to the Phrenic template's "HD = ML" progression, gaining ML 30 by level 20. But that felt like it was slipping too deep into cheese without being quite innovative enough to be a "showcase a new trick."

The very limited nature of the Favored Enemy and the lack of real "fighting style" options also made me rethink it, especially since my go-to for a psi "fighting style" option would've been Soulknife. Soulknife would have required too many levels to get to the "style" options, and I probably would've needed soulbow on there, too. Add in that Wild Talent (even freebie on Soulknife) feels purpose-defeating when I've taken the Phrenic template to get into Slayer, and I just thought the whole idea too inelegant to really want to put together.

[mattie_p]

OK, the other build idea I was thinking of was a psionic ranger: Basically, start with Egoist psion (or maybe psychic warrior), pick up Favored Enemy and BAB through Slayer, buff up my psicrystal to resemble an animal companion, and emulate most of the ranger's other class features and spellcasting through powers known (Concealing Amorpha for Camouflage, Astral Construct instead of SNA, Entangling Ectoplasm instead of Entangle, etc.). Maybe a bit of Elocator, too, for the skills. But I didn't have enough time to put all the pieces together.

Yeah, I was surprised no one went with a psionic ranger. (Maybe it was just my first thought because I helped build a ranger/ardent/slayer recently.) The Natural World Mantle grabs wild empathy, and there are a lot of nifty powers that could be refluffed as "ranger-y".

[ericp65]

Yeah, I was surprised no one went with a psionic ranger. (Maybe it was just my first thought because I helped build a ranger/ardent/slayer recently.) The Natural World Mantle grabs wild empathy, and there are a lot of nifty powers that could be refluffed as "ranger-y".

Wish I'd thought of that, but I was too focused on the various spins on my own character. I love psionics! (I consider it closer to reality than magic, but that's just me) Maybe I'll work up a psi pseudo-ranger just for my own pleasure :smallsmile:

[ericp65]

A table, shout out if there are any errors.

Zinc Ranger
{table=head]Name|Race|Build|
Barbara Backaway (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985181&postcount=128)|Shadow Creature Greensnake Naga | Barbarian 6 / Forest Reeve 4 / Consecrated Harrier 10|

Aishera (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985193&postcount=129)|Halfling | Deadly Hunter Druid 17 / Halfling Outrider 3|

Zolag (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985198&postcount=130)|Desert Orc|Scout 5 / Fighter 4 / Forest Reeve 4 / Stalker of Kharash 4 / Abolisher 1 |

Jharet (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985202&postcount=131)|Wood Elf | Scout 5 / Stalker of Kharash 8 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 / Holt Warden 3|

Amira Danallis (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985205&postcount=132)|Seelie Court Fey Forestlord Elf|Cleric 6 / Totemist 3 / Prestige Paladin of Freedom 7 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 |

Erysseril Gwaethorien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985222&postcount=133)|Copper Elf| Wilderness Rogue 3 / Druid 3 / Prestige Ranger 2 / Forest Reeve 5 / Shadowdancer 1 / Lion of Talisid 4 / Warblade 1 / Bloodclaw Master 1|

Eltin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985227&postcount=134)|Two-Headed Grey Elf|Humanoid 2 / Combat Wizard 1 / Archivist 9 / Mystic Theurge 8|

Aramore (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985231&postcount=135)|Elf|Monk 2 / Spirit Shaman 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 9/ Shadowdancer 1 / Ruather 3|

Ashta Sharkfin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985239&postcount=136)|Aquatic Elf | WolfShark* Totem Barbarian (Favored Enemy Variant) 5 / Spirit Shaman 7 / Horizon Walker 3 / Leviathan Hunter 5|

The Tital-Feller (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985246&postcount=137)|Half-Elf | Fighter 2 / Stoneblessed 3 / Goliath Barbarian 1 / Peregrine Runner 4 / Goliath Liberator 5 / Forest Reeve 5|

The Holy Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985255&postcount=138)|Dark Aasimar|Scout 1 / Planar Paladin of Freedom 6 / Wild Plains Outrider 3 / Highland Stalker 7 / Mythic Exemplar 3|

[/table]

There's a typo, I think, where it says Tital-Feller instead of Titan-Feller (but check with the author to make sure).

[mattie_p]

There's a typo, I think, where it says Tital-Feller instead of Titan-Feller (but check with the author to make sure).

That was my typo. :smallredface: I corrected it this morning once I saw the table. That was the only change I made to that post. "Titan-Feller" is the correct name.

[nedz]

There's a typo, I think, where it says Tital-Feller instead of Titan-Feller (but check with the author to make sure).

Since I just cut and pasted the names: All such errors are down to Microsoft (unlikely) or the original poster.

[Kuulvheysoon]

Yeah, I was surprised no one went with a psionic ranger. (Maybe it was just my first thought because I helped build a ranger/ardent/slayer recently.) The Natural World Mantle grabs wild empathy, and there are a lot of nifty powers that could be refluffed as "ranger-y".

That was one of my original ideas before dropping out.

I can't judge today, but I should be able to toss something together before September 22nd.

[Svata]

I thought about it as well, but I did a psi-type last time, and didn't want it to end up being the only thing I could think of to replicate stuff with.

[ZamielVanWeber]

This... could get tricky. I wrote my criteria, so that should help. Remind me to update them for the next time I should judge though.

[Segev]

Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed that I've met your criteria as well as I think I have. (I will make no comment more than that, because I don't want to give away which is my entry.) ^_^_x

[ericp65]

I'll be content regardless of the outcome, just for the opportunity to participate and to share a character concept :smallsmile:

[nedz]

I'll be content regardless of the outcome, just for the opportunity to participate and to share a character concept :smallsmile:

Likewise really. It's also interesting to see other Zinc Ranger builds.

[Segev]

I'm competitive, so I do hope to win, but in truth it's fun just to see all the approaches.

[Svata]

Completely agreed, Segev.

[Chronos]

But of course, the entry you find most interesting to see is mine, right?

[CyberThread]

Just to have fun and be fair, I will be grading all these items in batches of three everynight after tonight.

To show what I think already among those posted, if I had done the feats and ranks of my own build and compared it to others, I would say fairly that I would rank 6th out of the 10 or so entries I think. Good job folks.

[ZamielVanWeber]

I am stuck working a double so my judging has been slowed down. I could see this havibg a tight cluster up top. A lot of nifty ideas.

[mattie_p]

Just to have fun and be fair, I will be grading all these items in batches of three everynight after tonight.

To show what I think already among those posted, if I had done the feats and ranks of my own build and compared it to others, I would say fairly that I would rank 6th out of the 10 or so entries I think. Good job folks.


I am stuck working a double so my judging has been slowed down. I could see this havibg a tight cluster up top. A lot of nifty ideas.

No worries, for either of you. We have plenty of time to judge. I do my best to give everyone two weeks to judge, which you will have by the deadline.

Also, this gives me a chance to clear out my pm box and to work on selecting the next secret ingredient. I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it is feasible as a theme ingredient. I need to review it at least once more.

[CyberThread]

I vote for an exotic weapon build without PRCS that focus on exotic weapons

[mattie_p]

I vote for an exotic weapon build without PRCS that focus on exotic weapons

That's ... not really Zinc Saucier's schtick. I think that is a little more like the Scrap-Iron Chef that was around for a round or two.

Here we pick a class, either a base class or prestige class, and emulate it.

[relytdan]

just to get this back - all of them look interesting

[Svata]

That they do.

[mattie_p]

So, any progress from our esteemed crew of judges? I'm not worried yet, there is more than a week until the deadline, but I'd like to know where we sit.

[CyberThread]

I have like two or three left to do , in the sake of fairness of folks who are using static PRC's and choices. I would like to request a dice roll for the Amira Danallis build, the template chosen unseelie fey has some rather large random factor to it, and would seem unfair if a builder automatically assumes to get a choice.

[mattie_p]

I have like two or three left to do , in the sake of fairness of folks who are using static PRC's and choices. I would like to request a dice roll for the Amira Danallis build, the template chosen unseelie fey has some rather large random factor to it, and would seem unfair if a builder automatically assumes to get a choice.

Amira's creator has chosed the Seelie Court Fey template, as opposed to the Unseelie Fey. The template has no variable abilities that depend on any random factor. This template appears in Dragon Magazine Compendium, pages 214-216, and has no variable abilities (as opposed to the Unseelie Fey template). (It originally appeared in Dragon #304, if it matters.)

Seelie Court Fey, as opposed to the Unseelie Fey, has no listed Level Adjustment. As such, Judges might consider following the Iron Chef rules for such an occasion. This has not occurred in Zinc Saucier to this point, and I will ensure that this is part of the rules for future competitions.


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.

In other words, it is up to the judges what to do with this entry. Do read the template prerequisites carefully (as you should all templates, classes, and prestige classes).

[CyberThread]

aww okay, sorry for the confusion.

[mattie_p]

aww okay, sorry for the confusion.

No worries, thanks for bringing it up. Like I said, I'll ensure that part of the IC rules is listed in the future. In the meantime, I'd rather not move the official goalposts. I'll let the judges determine what is best in this instance.

[CyberThread]

Aye as it is not part of the rules, probably will just be a minor hit to elegance

[ZamielVanWeber]

Since it fell into a rules hole I will leave it be personally.

[CyberThread]

Okay All done, will consider these scores in two days, and see how I feel about them. I feel overall we had three or so builds that were overly unique, and several that had similar ideas that are good but suffered from others thinking about it also, and sadly a few I had to grade lower as they forgot that a ranger isn't tier 1 and I feel went for a druid feel instead of ranger.

Edits at the end of my two days, will be done in bold so they can be easily traced.

My results

Holy Hunter 15.85



Overall Notes - I enjoy the fact you are one of two persons using a paladin class. The choice on using dark template is a lovely counter to the "holy" motif that does so much with bright light rather then crawling around.

Innovation -4 I will give you a 4 on this, as almost all your choices were not redone by someone else, you picked totally different PRC's then everyone , but the scout was widely used, and paladin did reach someone else thoughts also.


Power- 3.75 The power on this build seems to come online rather late, you gave up having higher level spells for not much in skirmishing, also you take access to True Believer late in the game, but I don't see a reason for it, and you take the effort to list items but I see no relic that true believer allows you to buy, If am wrong on the item, please feel free to state and I will change the score slightly. I am a fan of mythic exemplar so no hit on that
the sneaking about and skill choices also gives you some advantage.

Elegance - 4.5 Good solid choices , you take most classes for longer then a dip, besides scout.

Ingredient 3.6 Bow Mastery 1.0, divine spells .2 , Hunting & Hiding 1.0 , Favored Enemy 0.5 , Mount as an "Animal Companion " .4 , Feels like a ranger bonus points .5



The Titan Feller 12.75

Overall Notes - This took longer then some of the others the formating was a bit unkind to my eyes, after reading text all day. I like that you went from half-elf to Goliath, it gave your build a flavor that was different from the others, but it does suffer slightly of having choices others seem to used also.


Innovation - 3.5 You get major points for being the only "Goliath ", but you lose out a little bit for barbarian strain that was so popular in this contest, you do not get hit for being an elf, as you are really a "goliath". Most of the score rides on going for the Goliath Motif and gets hindered on others choosing similar feats and barbarian.


Power - 3.0 You do focus on trying to kill giants, you focus on tactics and efforts, TWF fighting has major penalties to it, which you seem to offset if you happen to be raging, but you give up potential skirmish damage and seem to focus on defensive feats. You would kill them eventually with a thousand cuts, this seems better if the party is fighting a boss rather then a swarm.


Elegance - 3.25 You do well with the PRC's you take them for solid length of time, but the start of your build suffers from major dips and obvious dips like fighter.

Ingredient -3 Sword Mastery 1.0, Spells 0 , Hunting & Hiding .7 , Favored Enemy 0.5 , Animal Companion .5 , Feels Like a Ranger bonus points .3


Amira Danallis 13.55

Overall Notes- I love the theme, I love how much everything flows together and the effort taken to sort everything out and easily judge this. I do not like how this sort of breaks the power level of the ranger, and a few rules issues as far as the template goes. As I don't know MOI that well, I will be leaving a space open so some of your scores may be lower, when I see the other judges postings on the subject, I will raise the score once I see how bad or well they take that segment

Innovation - 3.5 No one else used MOI system,You did use elf though which is very popular in this round, seeker was used by others,no one else used cleric , and you tortured a few things not normally open to a player without DM choice like prestige paladin for a CG and the seelie court fey, so these will not sink or raise your score.

Power - 4 I can clearly see the power of the build, it does cut a little high and I said I would judge based on if the build was to powerful, overall this goes high without being full tier 1 or 2 due to lower casting, but will respond to this in the other segments

Elegance - 3.25 You do break up the build to not just be a flat 5 classes in a row and bounce the PRC levels about to make it look like you thought of how every level would interact, also we are pushing some acceptable rules here, as you are forcing the DM to accept both the modified PRC paladin and a template not meant for players.

Ingredient - 2.8 I would like to make a side comment here, to me your build feels more like a druid then a ranger, while I honor that you went for a variant of the ranger, I feel that we were not competing for a variant of the ranger, but rather the ranger core in all its wonder.

Bow or sword style mastery 0 ,Divine Spells 1.0 , Hunting & Hiding .6, Favored Enemy .8 , Animal Companion (Mount) .4, Bonus points on ranger feel 0

Final Comment - I would like to say that you do honestly have a good build, I can see the power and purpose behind it, but to me, it just does not feel like a Ranger, it feels like a druid.


Ashta Sharkfin 16.5

Overall Notes- I do like that you build for an aquatic environment and went for a more martial caster, instead of the easy top tier choices. One thing you should note on where you put those skill points, as it makes all the difference for me to judge on if your stealthy, tracker, hunter, or someone that knows everything about nature.

Innovation- 4.2 You went Aquatic, no one else did that, you went elf....I am really starting to hate elfs more then humans in this competition. Another did go for the spirit shaman and the barbarian was also a very popular choice. Horizon walker and leviathan hunter are good unique choices though.

Power - 4.5 Am going to give you a soild score on this,you took into account your aquatic limitations and worked around them, and included spells that are comparable to a ranger, without going over the power limit I asked to be respected. An you get all the wonders of fighting against the usual elemental that you face through spirit shaman.

Elegance - 4 The choices are simple and work , you can connect the dots, and nothing is dipped just to to dip. The background matches the the intent, and you can clearly see what the build is meant for without stretching any major function.

Ingredient - 3.8 Bow Style Mastery 1 , Divine Spells 1, Hunting & Hiding You didn't list skills, so I have to give 0 , Favored Enemy .8 , Animal Companion 1 , Feels like a ranger bonus points It does feel like a ranger, but I don't want to overwrite the skill points segment, others took time into doing so no bonus points.

Final Comment - Very well done but the lack of skill points made you lose some luster that others took time to do. Skill points allotment are very important to a ranger as they help define what type of ranger it is. Put that little final touch on a creation in the future and it would secure your place near the top or possibly winning.



Aramore 11.6

Overall Notes - I like where this went, no one else did a monk like theme, I don't like how the spells blow up the power scaling you do cover the bases of a ranger pretty well.

Innovation -3.2 OI ...those elves, one other used spirit shaman, another used seeker, no one used ruathar, another used shadow dancer. You did use a monk which others did not, but you used it for feats instead of a fighter or barbarian like others.

Power - 3.5 You used high level spells, and defensive combative onslaughts but something I think you forgot to account for is that flurry goes up with a monks level, you still need TWF feats for a quarterstaff if you are using both ends. The fact you have no TWF feats on top of not leveling monk flurry , you really hurt yourself and fall into the flurry of misses. Without buffs your at level 20 is swinging at -1 bab not the +12 the rest of the build uses.


Elegance -2.0 I can SEE what you intended, but I just can't match it even with the spells you gain, this feels like caster gish, not a ranger. You fell into what I fee like is a druid instead of ranger category, that other contestants did.

Ingredient -2.9 No Combat Style 0 , Divine Spells 1 , Hunting & Hiding 1 , Animal Companion (Spirit) .4 , Using Knowledge for favored enemy .5 , Feels like a ranger 0


Eltin 12.75

Overall Notes - Uhg an elf...oooh wait an elf with two heads! and we lose out some on a heavy caster

Innovation -3 You took a very unusual route, that no one else came close to but you also suffer from mostly caster affects to match ranger affects. You get a high score on the simple fact of the two headed elf.

Power -3 You have the power, but it isn't really a rangers power, it feels like a mystic thurge that wanted to be a ranger so they didn't upset the family business of being rangers.

Elegance 2.75 -You don't really dip all that much, and the build is doing what it wants to do, but you arn't using class features for things as much as you are using spells. The archivist knowledge abilities saves you from fully tanking the build.

Ingredient 4 - Weapon Mastery 1 , Spells 1 , Hunting & Hiding .4 , Animal Companion .7 , Using Knowledge for favored enemy .5 Feels like a ranger I would normal do 0 because of the spells but you do have a blink dog and knowledge issues .4








Erysseril Gwaethorien 13.7

Overall Notes - I like you did something different but it came at the cost of dipping all over the place, and going for the forbidden fruit of prestige ranger that I had given warning over

Innovation 3 but due to penalty 1- You took this were no one else did but it cost you going all over the place to find it. I did put a price tag on that prestige ranger, so am sorry to the concept.


Power -3.5 So the power is a little bit of everything it seems, and it "does" seem to work, I am in hard spot to pick in what way. You do limit yourself to the rangers modest 4th level casting, and will give you points on it. You gain the ranger stuff due to your prestige ranger dipping.

Elegance - 2.5 You do dip around the place, this build to me is not that elegant, but it does get the job done in the feel of a ranger, even with you going druid, you don't really fall into the caster druid trap that some have.

Ingredients -4.7 .7 Sword Mastery ,Spells 1.0 , Hunting & Hiding 1.0 ,Favored Enemy .5 , Animal Companion 1.0 , Feels like a ranger bonus points .5


Jharet 13.1
Overall Notes - I feel you went classic ranger to your benefit but also your bane, you feel in the middle of unique and what everyone else is doing for the competition

Innovation - 3.0 You went for a slayer of evil but fell slightly in that this sort of build felt the most done in this competition, hold warden is to your advantage thou but another elf.

Power -3.0 I feel the power of this class is set and good against evil and does the purpose well and used a spell list from a PRC instead of a base class, good decision

Elegance -4 The build does not bounce everywhere you have a good HP and easy to tell progression of logic

Ingredients 3.1 .7 sword mastery, Spells 1.0 , Hunting & Hiding 0 no skills , favored enemy 1.0 , feels like a ranger bonus points .4


Zolag 15.3


Innovation -3.5 oh look another elf...wait..what ...you are ugly not pretty. You are an ORC! An ORC!!!!!!! The build itself is unique in that only one other chose stalker, but a few others chose reeve. Also good on the beast master.

Power -3.7 I Like the power but the class seems to come on a little late in the growth, giving some focus on your animal companion was a nice touch.


Elegance 4 I see no major dips, and you link everything together for what you need and want.

Ingredients- 4.1 bow mastery .7 , spells .7, Hunting & Hiding 1.0, animal companion .5 favored enemy .7, feels like a ranger bonus points .5


Aishera 11.8

Overall Notes- You sort of cheated, you went almost full druid and blow a ranger out of the water

Innovation - 2 I like that you did some halfling stuff and mounts, but you kind of cheated with the huge casting and druid out of the box dominance

Power 4 - It is a druid, it comes pre planned powerful but it is not the rangers power

Elegance - 2 It is very elegant, no doubt but that elegance gave you the wrong type, this is sort of like doing prestige ranger.

Ingredients -3.8 .3 Bow mastery 1.0 spells , Hunting & Hiding 1.0, Animal Companion 1.0 , Favored Enemy .5 , Feels like a ranger bonus points 0


Barbara Backaway 16.65

Overall Notes - *Hugs* I love this race , but I also know that you are taking a 3.0 advantage that due to rules protects you from the errata that would not let you start off so powerfully


Innovation -4 The race is a nice touch, but your build choice is very down the middle of what others have done, but consecrated harrier saves you from that fate. As did being a grappler with bow focus.

Power -3.5 I will be truthful I had trouble judging the power of this item, I see high level of diplomacy good bow , ranger spell casting, animal companion and a bunch of favored enemies, I think ultimately you are near the top 3 of being an actual ranger, but you wasted feats to become it

Elegance -4.15 The build is simple and straight forward
Ingredients- 5 Bow Mastery 1.0 , Spells 1.0 , Hunting & Hiding .5 , Animal Companion 1.0 , Favored Enemy 1.0 , Bonus points for feeling like a ranger .5

[mattie_p]

Cyberdrag, thank you for judging. I have a few comments as chairman:

Holy Hunter: Use of Secret Ingredient totals did not sum correctly. Please revise either the category score or your component scores.

Erysseril Gwaethorien: Use of Secret Ingredient totals did not sum correctly. Please revise either the category score or your component scores.

Zolag: Use of Secret Ingredient totals did not sum correctly. Please revise either the category score or your component scores.

Aishera: Use of Secret Ingredient totals did not sum correctly. Please revise either the category score or your component scores.

Barbara Backaway: As far as I can tell, Barbara's creator correctly applied the LA buy-off in accordance with both the rules of the competition and the rules within Unearthed Arcana. Request clarification on your elegance penalty as applied to this entry.



To all competitors: if you have comments for the judge, please send them to me via private message, and I will post them as your entry, to preserve anonymity.

[CyberThread]

I believe you said in a later post that la buyoff is an alternative rule system and can be considered for a hit to elegance?

I will readd the totals when not on my phone.

[mattie_p]

I believe you said in a later post that la buyoff is an alternative rule system and can be considered for a hit to elegance?

I will readd the totals when not on my phone.

LA Buy-off is explicitly permitted in this competition, as specified in both posts opening the competition. Competitors have extra XP in order to accommodate LA Buy-off. I'm sorry for any confusion I may have inadvertently caused. Please review both opening posts and let me know where I can modify my words to be more clear.

[CyberThread]

Will review the in the thread where you made those statements, so I can reconfirm my own statement.


As several got hit with the LA penalty, they have been reviewed and a flat .75 was added to all scores dealing with the template flaw on my part.


All totals have also been recalculated, dealing with the names mentioned, pesky wordwrap .

[mattie_p]

Cyberdrag, there are some questions from several competitors regarding specifics of your judging. Please review them. I'd ask you to consider responding to each of them in the thread, explaining your rationale. You do not have to adjust your scoring at all. If, however, you see fit to make a scoring adjustment, provide an update. Thank you.

(Also, comments from the competitors to the judges are often standard fare, don't take it personally that they are questioning your judgement).

Eltin:
While I'm a bit disappointed in other areas, it is obviously the judge's taste to which things must be catered. However, I would like to point out that the whole point of the two heads, mechanically, is to cover the fighting styles. Both are achieved: two-weapon and (through wielding two of them) bow mastery. While Giralon's Blessing is used to get up to great swords and to manage to wield two bows at all, the Superior Two-Weapon Fighting achieves the ranger dual-wielding and the normal "rapid shot/many shot" effect of pin cushioning targets with numerous bolts of death.

Knowledge Devotion was also used along with the Archivist's Dark Knowledge, but I suspect that was already accounted for.

Skills were very carefully chosen for bonuses to accommodate a Ranger-esq feel. I do think I fall a bit short on stealth, but tracking and detection are both solid foci.

As I said, the rest - particularly the distaste for elf and spells - is the judge's choice.


Barbara Backaway:
Judging Criteria post:

Power: Power compared to what a ranger would be, if you only match 1/4 of what the class "is" and shoot for straight tier 1 or tier 2 type class/builds, it will be noticed and deducted. If you shoot even or below ranger power level, it will be acknowledged+ and rewarded for being more like the ranger.
Judgement for Barbara Backaway:

Power -3.5 I will be truthful I had trouble judging the power of this item, I see high level of diplomacy good bow , ranger spell casting, animal companion and a bunch of favored enemies, I think ultimately you are near the top 3 of being an actual ranger, but you wasted feats to become it
I don't understand this section. Was Barbara Backaway too strong compared to a standard Ranger? There's no mention of feats in the judging criteria post. How is "wasted feats" a Power measure, if feats "wasted" to match Ranger class features are offset by a number of different class features gained instead? A standard Ranger 20 would have the usual 7 general feats freely selectable from the thousands of available options, and this character has about that many extra (beyond Ranger emulation) abilities roughly comparable in power to feats.

I'm seeking clarification on this particular score.


Erysseril Gwaethorien:
Wow, this judge has a real hang-up with Prestige Ranger, and I feel my submission is being judged harshly for it. The only reason I included it was to get Improved TWF, as I saw no other way to get it besides burning a feat, which I tried hard to avoid doing while placing each Ranger class ability as close to the level in which a Ranger gains it as I could manage. So, the perception that my submission relies too heavily on Prestige Ranger is, in my view, inaccurate.

Chairman's note on this. This is referenced in post two, the administrative notes:


Can I just use a Prestige Ranger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm#prestigeRanger) and be done with this whole thing? I'd have to say this is up to you. Prestige Bard, Paladin, and Ranger are permitted for the general competition. However, judges are free to apply penalties to Innovation and/or Elegance scores as they see fit. Remember that those variant prestige classes exist in worlds where Ranger is unavailable to level 1 characters - it is essentially the only Ranger class available.


Holy Hunter:
Cyber Drag asked what the relic was, and it was the Raptor Arrows.

While I'm at it, updated table based on the first judging, before comments are taken into account:

Zinc Ranger
{table=head]Place|Name|Race|Build|Scores

1st|Barbara Backaway (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985181&postcount=128)|Shadow Creature Greensnake Naga | Barbarian 6 / Forest Reeve 4 / Consecrated Harrier 10|16.65

2nd|Ashta Sharkfin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985239&postcount=136)|Aquatic Elf | WolfShark* Totem Barbarian (Favored Enemy Variant) 5 / Spirit Shaman 7 / Horizon Walker 3 / Leviathan Hunter 5|16.5

3rd|The Holy Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985255&postcount=138)|Dark Aasimar|Scout 1 / Planar Paladin of Freedom 6 / Wild Plains Outrider 3 / Highland Stalker 7 / Mythic Exemplar 3|15.35

4th|Zolag (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985198&postcount=130)|Desert Orc|Scout 5 / Fighter 4 / Forest Reeve 4 / Stalker of Kharash 4 / Abolisher 1 |15.3

5th|Erysseril Gwaethorien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985222&postcount=133)|Copper Elf| Wilderness Rogue 3 / Druid 3 / Prestige Ranger 2 / Forest Reeve 5 / Shadowdancer 1 / Lion of Talisid 4 / Warblade 1 / Bloodclaw Master 1|13.7

6th|Amira Danallis (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985205&postcount=132)|Seelie Court Fey Forestlord Elf|Cleric 6 / Totemist 3 / Prestige Paladin of Freedom 7 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 |13.55

7th|Jharet (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985202&postcount=131)|Wood Elf | Scout 5 / Stalker of Kharash 8 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 / Holt Warden 3|13.1

8th|The Titan-Feller (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985246&postcount=137)|Half-Elf | Fighter 2 / Stoneblessed 3 / Goliath Barbarian 1 / Peregrine Runner 4 / Goliath Liberator 5 / Forest Reeve 5|12.75

9th|Eltin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985227&postcount=134)|Two-Headed Grey Elf|Humanoid 2 / Combat Wizard 1 / Archivist 9 / Mystic Theurge 8|12.25

10th|Aishera (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985193&postcount=129)|Halfling | Deadly Hunter Druid 17 / Halfling Outrider 3|11.8

11th|Aramore (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985231&postcount=135)|Elf|Monk 2 / Spirit Shaman 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 9 / Shadowdancer 1 / Ruather 3|11.6

N/A|Half Blooded Mongrel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985265&postcount=139)|Half Fey - Daelkyr Half Blood|Divine Bard 6 / Abolisher 8 / Impure Prince 6|N/A


[/table]

[relytdan]

just a question here mattie - your showing scores for all builds but spoilers for only some - are we waiting on a scoring review for those?

[Jurai]

I have like two or three left to do , in the sake of fairness of folks who are using static PRC's and choices. I would like to request a dice roll for the Amira Danallis build, the template chosen unseelie fey has some rather large random factor to it, and would seem unfair if a builder automatically assumes to get a choice.

Seelie Court doesn't require dice rolling, since the fey are eugenicist racist goons.

I had another build idea involving Runescarred Berserker and Fleet Runner of Ehlonna, but I couldn't figure out how to juggle both classes and not make it feel completely suck.

[mattie_p]

Jurai, please censor your comment so you do not inadvertently reveal which submission is yours. - Thanks. Incidentally, I referred to that in a post upthread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16022918&postcount=173).

Also, relytdan, the builds that I have comments on in spoilers are where the competitor had questions or comments directly for the judge. They sent me a pm and I posted it on their behalf, in order to preserve anonymity.

Should Cyberdrag decide to modify his scores based on reconsidering his assessment (either because of those comments or because he said he was going to do so anyway) I will modify the scoring table to reflect the new scores.

[dysprosium]

Thanks for judging CyberDrag!

Do we have updates from the other judges?

[ZamielVanWeber]

Judge! I should be done by Thursday. I am taking my time here. Don't be surprised if it is sooner, but it won't be later.

[CyberThread]

I will make official responses tomorrow, right now am to tired form work to pick things apart and make a fair decision on any amount.

As for statements that I may have judged a few things based on rules that are not part of the competition I will have to reassess, so I can make sure I did a fair judgment. On that same statement in my statement on how I would judge things, I said if someone used prestige ranger, I would to a flat 2 point deduction , and I stated that it is pretty much for use in a realm that ranger does not normally exists in, and to be introduced as a PRC. Using it on a build to me is sort of cheating, and I stated that when I offered to become a judge.



Innovation: How innovative is the build? For Ranger, 2 points will be deducted for prestige ranger, this is about mimicking the ranger, and even the UA Fluff says you would use this sort of thing if rangers do not exist as a class. So it is almost tutorial level of building, if the book tells you use to use it.


oh and half blooded mongrel is the title of the build, Half Fey - Daelkyr Half Blood is the race :P, an not really meant for judging I got to lazy towards the end and never got around to finishing the project.

[ericp65]

Criteria for judging being subjective to a given judge, we'll have to tough it out. No sweat off this saucier's brow :smallsmile: Glad to have further clarification.

[mattie_p]

I've been thinking on this for a while. I have narrowed the candidates for the next class down to something in the Complete Series. Discuss.

[Chronos]

Have we done Spellthief yet? Because I have no idea how one would mimic one of them... Which would make the attempts all the more interesting.

[mattie_p]

Have we done Spellthief yet? Because I have no idea how one would mimic one of them... Which would make the attempts all the more interesting.

We have not. I do intend to do that class at some point.

However, Spellthief is not one of the candidates for the next round that I had in mind. I'm looking at a prestige class this next round.

On another subject, why are there no prestige classes that advance spell-thievery? I has a real sad at that.

[Newcomer]

How about Daggerspell Shaper, Spymaster, or Malconvoker? Actually, we just did a druid-y class with Ranger, so Daggerspell Shaper might be a poor choice. How about Spymaster or Malconvoker? :smallamused:

[mattie_p]

How about Daggerspell Shaper, Spymaster, or Malconvoker? Actually, we just did a druid-y class with Ranger, so Daggerspell Shaper might be a poor choice. How about Spymaster or Malconvoker? :smallamused:

You cite the druid, yet everyone and their brother used spymaster as we were making the epic infiltrator... :smallwink:

[Newcomer]

You cite the druid, yet everyone and their brother used spymaster as we were making the epic infiltrator... :smallwink:

Ahh.. I didn't check out the epic infiltrator thread. :smallredface:

Well, I do like Malconvoker.

[CyberThread]

Replicate master of masks....without factotum...

[Segev]

Complete series...hm.

How about the Soul Bow? We gave its parent a go right at the inception of this contest, but how might people capture the feel of the PrC?

I'd suggest the Mindbender, but it seems almost too easy, as there are near-parallels and the class itself has only one signature (to my mind) ability.

Warshaper (a favorite of mine) has similar problems. And Invisible Blade is one I'd actually rather see an Iron Chef competition around more than Zinc Saucier.



Ooh, how about Wild Mage?

[relytdan]

Judge! I should be done by Thursday. I am taking my time here. Don't be surprised if it is sooner, but it won't be later.


We have not. I do intend to do that class at some point.

However, Spellthief is not one of the candidates for the next round that I had in mind. I'm looking at a prestige class this next round.

On another subject, why are there no prestige classes that advance spell-thievery? I has a real sad at that.

ZamielVanWeber - cant wait to see scoreing.
Mattie - a PRC from one of the completes interesting choice - I know its not in the completes so I will suggest Hellfire warlock - for giggles

[Jurai]

Probably not Wild Mage, since it's class features are INCREDIBLY specific. Got it! RAGE MAGE!

[mattie_p]

Hrm, some very interesting suggestions, both in the thread and via pm. I'm going to refrain from dropping another hint until we get another judge.

[mattie_p]

*Ahem* I said I won't drop another hint until we get another judge.

Hint, hint. :smallwink:

[Newcomer]

*Ahem* I said I won't drop another hint until we get another judge.

Hint, hint. :smallwink:

I'd offer to judge if I were more experienced with optimization, but I don't really lack the knowledge needed to judge well.

[mattie_p]

I'd offer to judge if I were more experienced with optimization, but I don't really lack the knowledge needed to judge well.

No experience is needed, but you submitted a build and cannot judge yourself. I think Zamiel should be done shortly.

[Newcomer]

No experience is needed, but you submitted a build and cannot judge yourself. I think Zamiel should be done shortly.

Ah. Since it was connected to the hints, I thought you were seeking judges for the next one.

[mattie_p]

No, I was referring to the current competition regarding judging. I'll post the new competition on Sunday, I'd prefer having another judge though (and I'd also like Cyberdrag to respond to the competitor questions, at a minimum, even if he doesn't change his scores).

[relytdan]

think we are waiting on the 1 other judge still for this round...

[mattie_p]

think we are waiting on the 1 other judge still for this round...

Zamielvanweber said he would judge, I'd like Cyberdrag to respond to the private messages, and there are two possible judges that might participate. I'd like to see something from any of them...

[CyberThread]

I really underestimated on how much time this competition would demand, I will be brief but hope to answer questions. If I don't answer your question , it is because I don't have an answer, not because I ignored it.


Eltin- Your mastery score has been raised, but nearly everyone was some sort of elf and suffered for it across the board.


Barbara - Rangers only get 5 favored enemies, while you do get feats to do with as you wish , at the time of writing, I think you focused on it overly much . I will not make suggestions on what could have replaced those feats, but you were also my highest rated person, even if I personally love Ashta Sharkfin build more ( those damn skill points).

Overall you met the build requirements, but you gave me no detail on which favored enemies you took , which depending on which you took, you could have had some real fun on favored enemy feats that enhance against those that are normally immune to things, through concentrated harrier.


Holy Hunter- Noted, not the most impressive arrow, but noted. I would advise in the future for weapon focuses for neatness, and not so expensive arrows. Name yourself hank, and look up hanks energy bow.

[Vaz]

I've spent the last few hours at work reading through the entries (Derby day makes things slow in a bar which doesn't show it), and have a fairly good idea. I finish in a few hours, so will try and get some judging up later if that will belp you out? I keep wanting to judge the IC but I'm too full of ideas for them, so i'll pay back the judging deficit with the ZC.

[mattie_p]

Vaz, that would be great. The more the merrier.

In the meantime, Cyberdrag updated some scores and here are the current results. No significant changes, just a few points here and there and created a tie for 8th place.

Zinc Ranger
{table=head]Place|Name|Race|Build|Scores

1st|Barbara Backaway (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985181&postcount=128)|Shadow Creature Greensnake Naga | Barbarian 6 / Forest Reeve 4 / Consecrated Harrier 10|16.65

2nd|Ashta Sharkfin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985239&postcount=136)|Aquatic Elf | WolfShark* Totem Barbarian (Favored Enemy Variant) 5 / Spirit Shaman 7 / Horizon Walker 3 / Leviathan Hunter 5|16.5

3rd|The Holy Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985255&postcount=138)|Dark Aasimar|Scout 1 / Planar Paladin of Freedom 6 / Wild Plains Outrider 3 / Highland Stalker 7 / Mythic Exemplar 3|15.85

4th|Zolag (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985198&postcount=130)|Desert Orc|Scout 5 / Fighter 4 / Forest Reeve 4 / Stalker of Kharash 4 / Abolisher 1 |15.3

5th|Erysseril Gwaethorien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985222&postcount=133)|Copper Elf| Wilderness Rogue 3 / Druid 3 / Prestige Ranger 2 / Forest Reeve 5 / Shadowdancer 1 / Lion of Talisid 4 / Warblade 1 / Bloodclaw Master 1|13.7

6th|Amira Danallis (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985205&postcount=132)|Seelie Court Fey Forestlord Elf|Cleric 6 / Totemist 3 / Prestige Paladin of Freedom 7 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 |13.55

7th|Jharet (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985202&postcount=131)|Wood Elf | Scout 5 / Stalker of Kharash 8 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 / Holt Warden 3|13.1

8th|The Titan-Feller (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985246&postcount=137)|Half-Elf | Fighter 2 / Stoneblessed 3 / Goliath Barbarian 1 / Peregrine Runner 4 / Goliath Liberator 5 / Forest Reeve 5|12.75

8th|Eltin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985227&postcount=134)|Two-Headed Grey Elf|Humanoid 2 / Combat Wizard 1 / Archivist 9 / Mystic Theurge 8|12.75

10th|Aishera (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985193&postcount=129)|Halfling | Deadly Hunter Druid 17 / Halfling Outrider 3|11.8

11th|Aramore (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985231&postcount=135)|Elf|Monk 2 / Spirit Shaman 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 9 / Shadowdancer 1 / Ruather 3|11.6

N/A|Half Blooded Mongrel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985265&postcount=139)|Half Fey - Daelkyr Half Blood|Divine Bard 6 / Abolisher 8 / Impure Prince 6|N/A


[/table]

[CyberThread]

what happen to our thursday judge :S

[mattie_p]

what happen to our thursday judge :S

I got a pm, life happened. Zamielvanweber still might judge, we'll have to see. If we get another judge by the deadline, I'll still post the new competition, I just won't close this one out quite yet (giving time for Q&A with the competitors).

[Humble Master]

Some interesting builds out there. I'm kind of wishing I submitted something now actually. Ah well there is the next competition.

[Vaz]

Not sure I'm going to be able to make the Midnight time limit, if that's still standing. Will finish and post regardless.

[CyberThread]

eh save time by not giving reasons why just grade them and come back if you have time.

[mattie_p]

So, I'll leave this open for judges for a few more hours. Zamiel has dropped out, but the new competition is open (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304862). I'll close it down soon if we don't have any additional judges.

[mattie_p]

Time to reveal our great competitors based on the sole judging.

Zinc Ranger
{table=head]Place|Competitor|Name|Race|Build|Scores

1st|Curmudgeon|Barbara Backaway (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985181&postcount=128)|Shadow Creature Greensnake Naga | Barbarian 6 / Forest Reeve 4 / Consecrated Harrier 10|16.65

2nd|Newcomer|Ashta Sharkfin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985239&postcount=136)|Aquatic Elf | WolfShark* Totem Barbarian (Favored Enemy Variant) 5 / Spirit Shaman 7 / Horizon Walker 3 / Leviathan Hunter 5|16.5

3rd|Svata|The Holy Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985255&postcount=138)|Dark Aasimar|Scout 1 / Planar Paladin of Freedom 6 / Wild Plains Outrider 3 / Highland Stalker 7 / Mythic Exemplar 3|15.85

4th|dysprosium|Zolag (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985198&postcount=130)|Desert Orc|Scout 5 / Fighter 4 / Forest Reeve 4 / Stalker of Kharash 4 / Abolisher 1 |15.3

5th|ericp65|Erysseril Gwaethorien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985222&postcount=133)|Copper Elf| Wilderness Rogue 3 / Druid 3 / Prestige Ranger 2 / Forest Reeve 5 / Shadowdancer 1 / Lion of Talisid 4 / Warblade 1 / Bloodclaw Master 1|13.7

6th|Jurai|Amira Danallis (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985205&postcount=132)|Seelie Court Fey Forestlord Elf|Cleric 6 / Totemist 3 / Prestige Paladin of Freedom 7 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 |13.55

7th|Chronos|Jharet (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985202&postcount=131)|Wood Elf | Scout 5 / Stalker of Kharash 8 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4 / Holt Warden 3|13.1

8th|GreenETC|The Titan-Feller (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985246&postcount=137)|Half-Elf | Fighter 2 / Stoneblessed 3 / Goliath Barbarian 1 / Peregrine Runner 4 / Goliath Liberator 5 / Forest Reeve 5|12.75

8th|Segev|Eltin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985227&postcount=134)|Two-Headed Grey Elf|Humanoid 2 / Combat Wizard 1 / Archivist 9 / Mystic Theurge 8|12.75

10th|relytdan|Aishera (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985193&postcount=129)|Halfling | Deadly Hunter Druid 17 / Halfling Outrider 3|11.8

11th|nedz|Aramore (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985231&postcount=135)|Elf|Monk 2 / Spirit Shaman 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 9 / Shadowdancer 1 / Ruather 3|11.6

N/A|Cyberdrag|Half Blooded Mongrel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15985265&postcount=139)|Half Fey - Daelkyr Half Blood|Divine Bard 6 / Abolisher 8 / Impure Prince 6|N/A[/table]

Please feel free to continue to discuss the entries as you like, or even judge them some more. I want all of our esteemed competitors to be able to brag about their entries and compliment their peers.

Don't forget about our new competition, the Flayerspawn Psychic (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304862).

[Segev]

A quick comment on Eltin: I was originally going to build a full-on Ettin, but couldn't work the animal companion in in a way that satisfied me. Wild Cohort is an option, of course, but it just felt...hollow, to me. Five levels just wasn't quite enough to work with. I could have gone straight Archivist with them and gotten most things, though I would've had to focus on the melee fighting style (given by the Superior TWF) and not concerned myself with the lack-of-familiar. Or gone Wild Cohort.

Multi-headed as a template struck me as an interesting alternate solution, and is what I ultimately went with. Pity "everybody went elf;" I chose it mainly for the weapon proficiencies at low level. Still, it was an interesting challenge. I might well try for the next one, too. See if I learned anything about how the judging goes.

[Vaz]

About 3/4 of the way through now; I'll finish judging tonight or tomorrow morning. Didn't realise how hard it was. =/. Sorry it's taking me so long, but I also have to pop out today, which isn't helping.

As an aside, here was my buildstub (I was too late to enter);

My personal idea for an entry was;

Necropolitan Aquatic Elf Totemist 2/Archivist 10/Sacred Exorcist 1/Contemplative 1/Seeker of the Misty Isle 6 (Archivist 17 casting).

Use Archivist to pick up Ranger spells, Sacred Exorcist for Turn Undead, and Craft Rod to be a self sufficient, and craft my own Nightsticks. Max out my Taint score to gain bonus feats, Bane of Infidels and Extra Favoured Enemy. Persistent Divine Power for Full Iteratives, Persistent Shapechange for Wild Shape; including gaining things like Track and Scent. Dark Knowledge for Favoured Enemies. All spells ever to keep myself hidden. Find the Path and Divination for Track. Camouflage replicated by a Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis. Wild Empathy from Totemist. Binding Great Raptor Mask for Evasion.

Feats used;

7 Normal; Bane of Infidels, Persistent Spell, Extra Turning, Wild Cohort, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot
Bonus from Archivist; Craft Rod
Contemplative; Extend Spell
Seeker of the Misty Isle; Travel Devotion
4x Taint; 4x Extra Favoured Enemy
Additional cheese for Flaws and Dark Chaos Shuffle

Maximise damage by Shapechanging into an Arrow Demon for Symmetrical Archery, doing Rapid Shot + Haste for 12 Arrow attacks a turn; use with Splitting Force Raptor Arrows for fun and profit.

[mattie_p]

Multi-headed as a template struck me as an interesting alternate solution, and is what I ultimately went with. Pity "everybody went elf;" I chose it mainly for the weapon proficiencies at low level. Still, it was an interesting challenge. I might well try for the next one, too. See if I learned anything about how the judging goes.

I was really impressed with the two-headed Eltin. I thought it was a brilliant way to pull off superior two-weapon fighting. My jaw dropped when I first read through your pm.

@ Vaz, more judging is welcome. We've moved on but it's always interesting to get another perspective.

[Segev]

Thanks! In a perhaps typical "once you see it, you think it obvious" sort of sense, I was honestly worried that there'd be 2-3 more "multi-headed" approaches. I'm glad, in a selfish sort of way, to see there weren't.


While fiddling with the design, it occurred to me that the multi-headed template and the dvati race would interact...interestingly. Would each twin have an extra head per application of the template, or would you get +1 head per application, leading to possibly uneven distributions of heads between bodies?

Of course, the dvati are already somewhat ill-defined, so that's not a shocking issue.

But yeah, the two-headed, Superior Two-Weapon Fighting were the core of this design. And, after LA buy-off, it only cost two Humanoid HD!

[ericp65]

Retooling my PnP version of Erysseril for this competition turned out to be more work than I'd anticipated going in, but it was a great learning exercise. The PnP version is a 26th level character, and uses the Swift Hunter class, but I had to avoid that class for this competition. One of my build attempts included Stalker of Kharash, but since the theme for that PrC is lupine, it conflicts with Erysseril's character concept, so I kept all her shapechanging centered on big cats for consistency. Also, her most hated enemies include evil lycanthropes, so that was more incentive to avoid canine forms. The PnP character also has a great deal more character detail (psychology, personality, astrological details), but I didn't want to add extraneous information.

I wanted to avoid Prestige Ranger, but I saw no other way to give the character a Ranger's Combat Style class feature except to use a feat, and I wanted to minimize my reliance on feats to supply class features. There are probably some other builds that would work, while preserving the character concept, but what I arrived at satisfied me. The progression goes the way it does because I wanted to give the character each of the Ranger class features at or near the same level in which the Ranger gains them. After 13th level, this was all accomplished, so I filled in levels 14 - 20 with consistent and thematically appropriate class levels.

There's yet another version of Erysseril that I'm using to write a mod for Baldur's Gate II (SoA/ToB) as a joinable NPC with a romance option. That version is far more limited, as BGII is a 2nd edition AD&D game, and I've long since gotten rid of her original 2nd ed character sheet.

[Chronos]

And I was surprised that nobody else went with a Scout base. I mean, as-is, the class is already pretty close to Ranger: They're outdoorsy skillmonkeys with about the same set of class skills, plus things like Evasion, Camouflage, and Hide in Plain Sight.

[nedz]

The build I didn't submit was based on Druid — I just thought that it was too obvious.

[Newcomer]

Elves are just so useful for rangers!! I considered other aquatic races, but that Aquatic Shot feat, with its aquatic elf prerequisite, won me over.

[Segev]

Yeah, without Elf, Eltin'd have had to dual-wield clubs until he could get 2nd level Wizard spells.

[mattie_p]

Elves are just so useful for rangers!! I considered other aquatic races, but that Aquatic Shot feat, with its aquatic elf prerequisite, won me over.

Ashta Sharkfin was another favorite of mine. I just loved the alternate combat style that you developed for her. I'm totally going to steal the idea if my campaign ever goes underwater.

Regarding elves - yes they are useful, but as Cyberdrag pointed out, it is an obvious choice. Innovation/originality is a concern. You seemed to pull it out well enough, though.

[Newcomer]

:smallbiggrin: I've had the aquatic campaign thought on my mind for a good while now. And I was definitely going for flavor over power, so I'm glad it tasted delicious.

[Svata]

Third place, not bad at all. Honestly surprised I did so well. Any comments on mine, anyone?

[ericp65]

Third place, not bad at all. Honestly surprised I did so well. Any comments on mine, anyone?

Yours has some interesting surprises, at least from my perspective (choice of race, and Paladin class), and you intergrated them well! Also a cool mount. I like the character theme :smallsmile:

[dysprosium]

It is nice to see the growth of Zinc Saucier (even if I didn't place this time).:smallmad:

Too bad we only had one judge though, but more participants should lead to more judges down the line.

[Chronos]

I was sort of forced into Elf by my decision to use Seeker of the Misty Isle, and Wood Elf helped with my ability score decisions. Plus, I figured that it was within the spirit of the thing to use a race that has Ranger as its favored class.

[ericp65]

I was sort of forced into Elf by my decision to use Seeker of the Misty Isle, and Wood Elf helped with my ability score decisions. Plus, I figured that it was within the spirit of the thing to use a race that has Ranger as its favored class.

Elves are, after all, the master race :smallwink:

[Curmudgeon]

This being my first foray into one of these contests, I've got to admit I'm a bit disappointed by the paucity of judges; I'd hoped for a more thorough vetting by the Playground. I rather expected that with a good showing of competitors there would also be substantial interest from Playgrounders who wanted to kick the tires taste the dishes. Oh, well. :smallsigh:

[dysprosium]

Welcome to the current state of optimization contests, Curmudgeon.

It's worse over in IC where plenty of people threaten to judge and then ______.

[CyberThread]

This being my first foray into one of these contests, I've got to admit I'm a bit disappointed by the paucity of judges; I'd hoped for a more thorough vetting by the Playground. I rather expected that with a good showing of competitors there would also be substantial interest from Playgrounders who wanted to kick the tires taste the dishes. Oh, well. :smallsigh:



<-< don't make me poke you with a fork . You can't complain about judges and then not volunteer.

[Vaz]

He's entirely within his right to complain. Especially so when he went to the effort of putting together a build.

[Curmudgeon]

<-< don't make me poke you with a fork . You can't complain about judges and then not volunteer.
:confused:

I did volunteer; I volunteered to be a competitor. I can hardly volunteer to judge my own entry, after all.

[ericp65]

I was hoping for more judges, too, just to see how some others would assess each character. The end result feels anticlimactic, but perhaps that's my own fault for building up so much antici...pation :smallwink: Thanks very much to CyberDrag for holding the line, especially with so many builds to judge!

[Newcomer]

Yeah, I think the sheer number of builds to judge made it difficult to judge this one—big time commitment. Thank you, CyberDrag. :smallsmile: