Need an Interesting/Quirky/Unique Build for an upcoming campaign?

[IIzak]

So a group I'm in is going to be running the Undermountain in a big ol' hack n slash campaign and I want to play something interesting and unique thats going to be able to succeed in this setting. Idk exactly what everyone else is but I think that we're going to have a dragonfire adept and a shifter ranger>master of many forms or something along those lines. I'm looking for really interesting classes that aren't played as much but are still powerful, good/interesting races to go with them (No LA buyoff, flaws, psionics, and the DM isn't a fan of Unearthed Arcana :smallfrown:) and just something that is interesting that I would have fun playing. I'm really having trouble coming up with some stuff, so any ideas you could offer me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Additional Info: as far as direction, nothing that would compete too heavily with the above classes mentioned, something that can do magic, but something outside the realm of what you'd see in a standard dnd campaign. And something that can survive the undermountain and would not be Killed on Sight by other people when he came back out. Also, I'm trying to find something thats going to stand up in conbat and out of combat as well, so suggestions on what direction to take it would be appreciated.

[iTreeby]

i would go to the iron chef optimization page and try out one of those builds for example, Old Lob Many-eyes (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?150595-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-IV/page4)

[nedz]

Some idea of what sort of character you are looking for would be good. We, the playground, have lots of ideas — but we need some direction.

There are probably close to a 1,000 interesting builds from the various Iron Chef competitions. There's an index at the bottom of post #1 here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?357412-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LVIII).

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Human, Beguiler 2/ Wizard 3/ Ultimate Magus. Get Able Learner, Practiced Spellcaster: Beguiler, Fell Frighten, Versatile Spellcaster, and whatever else you think you'll need. Preferably trade Scribe Scroll for Improved Initiative (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizard), but that's from UA.

With this build and Practiced Spellcaster: Beguiler at 1st or 3rd, you'll be able to put all ten levels of UM toward your Wizard casting. You'll have 2nd level Beguiler spell slots at 8th level, and Fell Frighten with Kelgore's Grave Mist and similar is superb for controlling multiple opponents. Specialize in Conjuration with Wizard and get Abrupt Jaunt in PH2 for survivability.

With Versatile Spellcaster you can spend two Beguiler spell slots of the same level to cast any spell you know of one level higher, including Wizard spells you've learned. This should also give you early knowledge of the next higher level of the Beguiler spell list for even more versatility.

You'll have all the capabilities of a Wizard, tons of utility from Beguiler, and you'll even be able to find and disable traps.

[John Longarrow]

Mongrelfolk (Races of Destiny) Crusader (Tomb of Battle), with some levels in Rogue (favored class for Mongrelfolk). Odds are you will start at lvl 5ish. No LA on this build and it gets a healthy +4 to CON.

You get to be the heavy armor wearing front liner who can also find and disable traps. Don't worry about locks, that's what mountain hammer is for... :roy:

Play almost like a straight tank, but then you break out search and disable device when called for. Should help avoiding some damage while giving a unique flavor. Who expects the guy in plate with a great sword to be disarming traps??

[nedz]

All of my interesting builds seem to use Unearthed Arcana :smallfrown:

Is there anything in particular about UA your DM doesn't like ? It's a very versatile source. What about the ACFs ?

[WeaselGuy]

I built a rather interesting Lesser Aasimar Shadowcaster/Warlock theurge build a little while back... It's unique, that's for sure.

[IIzak]

All of my interesting builds seem to use Unearthed Arcana :smallfrown:

Is there anything in particular about UA your DM doesn't like ? It's a very versatile source. What about the ACFs ?

I need to talk with him more because I don't know exactly what he doesn't like from it, I would say though I don't mind hearing them. Probably just avoid excessive cheese yah know? The better argument I can make, the more likely he is to accept it.

[Vorandril]

Play a half farspawn human. And specialize in arcane shapeshifting. Because you could troll so much and have yourself a grand time.

Play an Insectoid Elf, 2 levels in rogue, Warrior dip(The weird fighter class where you can change your class features and where your good save is) for bonus feats, and the rest in Barbarian. Specialize in TWF and monkey grip. Use Rogue as a source of skill points, Warrior for feats, and Barbarian for being a rampaging elfbug of death.

Alternatively, Awakened Cat, insectoid template. Introduce yourself as Catbug every time you meet someone. Go pure rogue for lulz.

Just my ideas.

[Psyren]

Seems like you guys could use a skillmonkey - I would either go Factotum or Beguiler, or Psychic Rogue if psionics are allowed.

[supersonic29]

The mongrelfolk tank/rogue thing is something I've thought a lot about. You could probably get away with full rogue if you can get a high dex score considering you'll later get uncanny dodge and all that. Past that +4 con added onto a high con means lotsa health behind your douchey-rogue AC. In combat I imagine you'd go front lines and move without fearing attacks of opportunity, setting up flanks and doing hella sneak-attack damage. If I recommended any kind of dip for a build like that it would involve DR.

I also had a really dry build that made for a lot of fun where you take fighter levels using the bonus feats to tech into (in order of importance) Improved Crit (Scimitar), Two Weapon Fighting, and the many weapon focus stems for Scimitar. Then once you have your fighter feat pool established you take a luck feat (Complete Scoundrel) and use that to become a Fortune's Friend. In luck feats make sure you get the one that turns a natural 1 into a natural 20, rerolls to confirm crit, and rerolls attacks in general. Congratulations, you effectively reach 1 & 15-20 (35%) chance to crit on any attack, between BAB and the Two Weapon Fighting tree you take plenty of attacks, and you get luck feat cheese to sway the statistic likelihood even further in your favor. It's not amazingly unique nor is it extremely clever from a build perspective, but the flavor for this character that just always gets the perfect swing at their jugular or at the beholder's big eye is just too much fun and you more than sufficiently fill the party's fighter slot. :smallsmile:

[Ellowryn]

How about something that never has to stop? This was posted in a different thread but Warforged Crusader 5/Binder 1/Hell Reaver 10/Crusader 4. You never have to sleep, eat, or breath, and with crusader strike line + Divine Succor you never really need to heal either, and if you do happen to come across anything evil you will smash its face in. Think colossus, the juggernaught, and wolverine all in one character!

[IIzak]

I was thinking something with a bit more of a magic'y feel to it, and I already am playing a factotum so I don't really want to play a skill monkey or anything. I was debating going with something kinda cheesy, and trying to go either Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil or Incantatrix (or both mwahahaha) but idk, I want something with that magic flavor and spellcasting that other people in a campaign would be like "Wow, how interesting and not stereotypical, yet still effective". I know I'm asking for the moon here, but just interesting things to play would be cool. I've played the beatstick, skill monkey, and party face, so an interesting primary caster would be alot of fun for me I think

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Then how about a +0 LA Aasimar (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) Sorcerer 5/ Paragnostic Apostle 1/ Incantatrix 10/ Paragnostic Apostle 4, and never spend a level on the +1 LA (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20030824a). Say you visited the Otyugh Hole in Complete Scoundrel to get Iron will for Incantatrix without spending a feat on it, or try to pay it a visit during play or between adventures if starting at a lower level. You could switch it to Incantatrix 4/ Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7/ Archmage 3, but only your 12th and 18th level feats won't be spent on your prerequisites. Get the Metamagic Specialist ACF in PH2 for Sorcerer.

Take Ancestral Relic (BoED) at 3rd level and make it an Elvencraft (RotW) Composite Longbow, which counts as a quarterstaff and a bow. You'll need to get masterwork three times but you can also put three wand chambers in it from Dungeonscape. The base mundane item will cost 1600 gp without any Str bonus on the bow portion, but it will be worth it in the long run. Keep in mind your outsider creature type (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#outsiderType) will give you proficiency in all martial weapons, bows included. Make the staff portion a custom Runestaff from MIC p224 and you can put whatever spells you want on it. If the party would sell junk loot for half value you can buy it from the party pool for that price and then get back a cut of that cost, and sacrifice the loot's full value into your relic to upgrade it. Get a few Incense of Consecration (BoED) and a jar of Unguent of Timelessness (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#unguentofTimelessness), apply a dose of the unguent to each of the incense so they burn 365 times longer than normal (91 days), and you can extinguish it to preserve its remaining duration or just have one burning for the whole adventure. This will ensure you have a suitable place to meditate to upgrade your relic when needed. Every time you modify the relic you can completely change what magical properties it has, including just swapping out runestaff spells for different ones. Just switching a spell to a different one of the same level is a value increase of zero, so it takes zero days (not even a free action) of meditation to do that. You can switch a spell in it to any spell you need of the same level and then immediately cast it, even during combat as long as you have consecrate active. Later you can also make all three weapon portions +1 Defending and put Greater Magic Weapon on them to add the bonuses to your AC, which stack with each other because defending stacks with all other bonuses. You can also put Warning, Eager, Parrying, and similar abilities on those. It can also be made a magical staff that uses charges, though each charge used will reduce the item's value by 1/50th the staff cost per charge used. Also put a Competence bonus to Spellcraft checks on that so you can use Incantatrix's 2nd and 3rd level abilities to add Persistent Spell to your buffs and succeed by taking ten on the checks.

I would definitely get Extend and Persistent Spell, along with Fell Drain and/or Fell Frighten, Split Ray, probably Invisible Spell, maybe even Residual Magic in CM and possibly Arcane Thesis for a specific spell you plan to use a lot. You can use Cooperative Metamagic on your own spells when not in combat since the action economy system only exists during initiative. Cloud of Knives in PH2 with Persistent Spell and Fell Drain and/or Fell Frighten is extremely powerful, especially if you cast it multiple times. If you can't have multiple instances of it active, then take Repeat Spell and Twin Spell so you'll have four, and get Obtain Familiar in CA possibly with Improved Familiar for a Pseudodragon and share it with that for eight total. Three hits with Fell Frighten will automatically make the target panicked, and a negative level per hit is an extremely effective debuff.

[Ellowryn]

The problem is Stereotypical is generally synonymous with proven effective, you see it so often because it works the best. The above mentioned beguiler/wizard/ulitmate magus is an example of a non-stereotypical caster that does most of the same things as a pure wizard but isnt a pure wizard. The best i got is to go God Wizard/Cleric/Druid, but aim more towards the support side than usual. Or for magical but without the bookwork Warlock 20 is about as simple as you can get.

[IIzak]

I took a second look at that beguiler build and I actually misinterpreted it and thought it was something else. Could someone possibly clarify for me how the Practiced spellcaster thing works and how it lets me up spellcasting for wizard on all 10 levels of Ultimate Magus?

[Ellowryn]

I took a second look at that beguiler build and I actually misinterpreted it and thought it was something else. Could someone possibly clarify for me how the Practiced spellcaster thing works and how it lets me up spellcasting for wizard on all 10 levels of Ultimate Magus?

Practiced Spellcaster increases the caster level, and caster level only, of one spellcasting class, to a maximum of your HD. Ultimate Magus at levels 1,4,7,and 10 increases your spellcasting level of your lowest CASTER LEVEL class. So basically you are using preacticed spellcaster to increase your caster level in your lower class (Beguiler) to allow you to increase your spellcaster level in wizard. Some cheese is involved.

[IIzak]

ahhhh okay I get it now. Thanks for the clarification