Optimizing a base class commoner.

[Kerim]

Alright, so... I'm currently making an application for a Commoner going into the tomb of horrors. Can I get a cheer? No? D'aww...

Anyways, I need to bring out the big guns, I'm thinking. So I am wondering if the people here on GiantITP can help me out a bit.

All D&D WotC sources are allowed, save for the Magazines. (Dragon Compendium, however, is allowed.) Also, DM made an exception for me for the Troll-blooded feat, which I will be certain to take if Human, but not if Necropolitan due to it being impossible.

3.0 that was updated, also those that were updated but only in the Dragon Magazine, are allowed.

40 point buy.

Level 9

Max HP per HD

My current idea is Human/Unseelie Fey, or Changeling/Unseelie Fey/Necropolitan. (We're using the Type Pyramid, so a Changeling Unseelie Fey would still be a Humanoid (Shapechanger), and therefore elegible for Necropolitan.)

For Class: Well, commoner is a must, but as little as possible: Commoner 1/Survivor5(Or at least 4, until you get into territory where you can take other PrC's)/Chameleon


Now, I am asking you guys for ideas. How can I best optimize this character? How can I make a commoner survive the tomb of horrors?

If I get in, I will likely write a campaign log about it, so you guys can follow it.

Sister thread on Myth-weavers (http://www.myth-weavers.com/showthread.php?p=7803585#post7803585)

[Alabenson]

Take the Chicken Infested flaw and fill the entire Tomb with chickens.

[Silva Stormrage]

This might help
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232822

[Chronos]

Oddly enough, Tomb of Horrors is actually relatively well-suited to playing a commoner: The dungeon is largely designed to negate the effectiveness of class features that would otherwise be useful, so it doesn't matter much if you don't actually have class features. Just be paranoid as Hell, and assume that everything you see and most things you can't are continually trying to kill you (because they are).

[Namfuak]

Can Bubs the Commoner tame the things you might find in the Tomb of Horrors? If so, he might be the most useful party member since he can pretty effectively do animal volunteer trapfinding.

[erikun]

Handle Animal is easily your best class skill, although it doesn't really have much competition. Bubs the Commoner (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7097263&postcount=38) can show you just how good it can be, as at 4th level, you can be riding around with three 36 HD Battletitans. Of course, I'm not sure how well they'll fit into the Tomb or Horrors itself, beyond trying to rip the place down brick-by-brick from the outside. Which may be one of the safer methods of dealing with the place.

Wild Cohort (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a), Leadership, and other feats which give you companions would be pretty decent; it doesn't matter how strong or weak your character is, because the companions you get are going to be the same strength. I'd be rather surprised if you don't take the Chicken Infested flaw, as that's one of the main reasons to be a Commoner in the first place. :smallbiggrin:

[Kerim]

The problem with Chicken Infested: I can't take it. It's from a dragon magazine, which means it's off the charts for me.

Also, yeah, I'm planning to take one, if not two, cohorts. Buffguy and meatsheild guy, probably.

And the premise of the build is not really to optimize the Commoner parts. It's more 'how do I make a character that is as good as possible while having a level in commoner.'

[Fouredged Sword]

I would go with the three battle titans and then get a metric ton of trained monkeys for trapfinding.

There is a collar in AaEG that will let you shrink those titans down to small without changing their stats.

[ddude987]

well commoners ARE tier 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285984) so do they really need to be optimized?

[Prime32]

Try raptoran or dragonborn (wings) to save yourself from pit traps. Buy a hand of the mage to interact with things from a distance.

[XmonkTad]

I hate to say this, but you should play an elf. You Really need a method of finding secret doors. Finding traps can be done with handle animal and a lot of animals. You also pretty much need Shape Soulmeld (Blink Shirt). A ring of Xray vision is probably out of your budget, so have your battletitan smack the walls a lot.

Hand of the mage is a great item. Don't forget a fishhook. Try not to touch anything. You'll also want a way to fly (or not fall so fast). Spider Climb or ride something with a climb speed. Acid flasks can melt objects when you have absolutely no idea what to do.

The Tomb can be solved with the above, and paranoia. If you only need to take one level of commoner, go survivor and get good saves.

[bekeleven]

Seems obvious, but consider able learner or something to get skills. You need detection in tomb of horrors, possibly heal, and you can never go wrong with iajutsu focus.

[Zombulian]

This. (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=11066.0) May help.
Also Commoner 1/Survivor 4/Ur Priest 10 would be interesting, even in an RP sense. You could use Divine Power to help make up for the lack of BAB from survivor.