Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LX

[Kuulvheysoon]

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef LX. Here in Optimization Colosseum, contestants will endeavor to create an optimized and flavorful character using a specified D&D3.5 prestige class as a "Secret Ingredient".

Contestants: You will need to present a write-up of your build at at least one of the following points: 5th level, 10th level, 15th, 20th, and a "sweet spot" that you feel is the high point of the build, as well as presenting a fully-fleshed out 20-level build in the table below. Feel free to present as many of these as you like, and please give a rundown of the build's abilities and playability at all of the levels you didn't show. The rules are as follows:

Menu: For most challenges, the "special ingredient" will be drawn from Core plus Completes. There will, from time to time, be special challenges that showcase secret ingredients from other books--for example, the XPH.

32 point-buy is the presumed creation method, but we have generally allowed other levels of point-buy.
If you do use a different point-buy, please make your case for its necessity in your entry. Keep in mind that for using exceptionally large or small point-buys may warrant deductions in elegance and/or power.

Kitchen: 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 or Generic Classes are not allowed, as they create a different playing field. Also, item familiars are forbidden because I hate 'em. Please refrain from using Taint unless it's necessary for the Secret Ingredient.

Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 23:59 GMT on Monday, September 29th, 2014 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, Kuulvheysoon. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 23:59 GMT on Monday, October 13th, 2014 to judge the builds and submit their scores. If no judges have scored by that point, only the scores of the first judge to submit will be counted.

Judging: Judging will be based on the following criteria, with each build rated from 1 (very poor) to 5 (exemplary) in each area: Originality, Power, Elegance, Use of Secret Ingredient.

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, will lose you points. Judges, please limit yourself to 0.25 increments or more - going smaller than that has caused... issue in previous rounds. Please note the following change: 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. In that same vein, drawing solely from the Core 3 (and the d20 SRD) should not be punished for lacking Originality.
Presentation: Builds will be posted anonymously, in order to avoid the potential of bias towards a particular competitor. For this reason, please don't put your name in the build, as I'm likely to miss it when reviewing the entries!

Due to concerns about standardizing entry format, I'd like everyone to try to use the following table for their entry.NAME OF ENTRY


Level
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features


1st
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


2nd
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


3rd
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


4th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


5th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


6th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


7th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


8th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


9th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


10th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


11th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


12th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


13th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


14th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


15th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


16th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


17th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


18th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


19th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


20th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities



Code immediately below (spoiler).

Level
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features


1st
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


2nd
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


3rd
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


4th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


5th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


6th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


7th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


8th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


9th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


10th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


11th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


12th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


13th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


14th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


15th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


16th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


17th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


18th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


19th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


20th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities



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)Spells per Day/Spells Known
Spells per Day/Spells Known


Level
0lvl
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th


1st
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


2nd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


3rd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


4th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


5th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


6th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


7th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


8th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


9th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


10th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


11th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


12th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


13th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


14th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


15th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


16th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


17th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


18th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


19th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


20th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Code immediately below (spoiler)Spells per Day/Spells Known
Spells per Day/Spells Known


Level
0lvl
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th


1st
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


2nd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


3rd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


4th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


5th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


6th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


7th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


8th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


9th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


10th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


11th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


12th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


13th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


14th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


15th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


16th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


17th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


18th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


19th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


20th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-



For other systems (Psionics, ToB, Incarnum, etc.) keep track of PP/maneuvers/essentia separately, preferably in a nice neat list.
Speculation: Please don't post or speculate on possible builds until the "reveal," in order to avoid spoiling the surprise if a particular competitor is producing a build along those lines.

Leadership is banned; we're producing a meal, not a seven-course banquet for a hundred diners. If your entry includes a prestige class or ACF that grants Leadership or a Leadership-like ability as a bonus feat, the feat should be ignored and is not eligible to be traded away for another feat or ACF through any means.

So! Who wants to sign up as a contestant, and who wants to sign up as a judge? Looking for as many contestants and judges as feel like playing!

This week's special ingredient is:
Tome of Magic's Acolyte of the Ego!
We will award 1st through 3rd places, as well as a shout-out for honorable mention. The honorable mention prize is given to the most daring or unexpected build. Judges, contestants and guests alike are invited to vote for honorable mention via PM.

Allez, optimiser!

Contestants

Judges

The Builds

Past Competitions

Iron Chef I: Entropomancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142470)
Iron Chef II: Psibond Agent (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146583)
Iron Chef III: Cancer Mage (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148584)
Iron Chef IV: Stonelord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150595)
Iron Chef V: War Chanter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152543)
Iron Chef VI: Master of Masks (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156876)
Iron Chef VII: Green Star Adept (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158633)
Iron Chef VIII: Pyrokineticist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160266)
Iron Chef IX: Animal Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162702)
Iron Chef X: Mythic Exemplar (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164381)
Iron Chef XI: Blade Bravo (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166539)
Iron Chef XII: War Mind (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9426386)
Iron Chef XIII: Vigilante (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172233)
Iron Chef XIV: Seeker of the Song (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174434)
Iron Chef XV: Drunken Master (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176049)
Iron Chef XVI: Assassin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178202)
Iron Chef XVII: Ardent Dilettante (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182492)
Iron Chef XVIII: Unseelie Dark Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186097)
Iron Chef XIX: Dread Pirate (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190607)
Iron Chef XX: Incandescent Champion (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10976416)
Iron Chef XXI: Ghostwalker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198921)
Iron Chef XXII: Dervish (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206576)
Iron Chef XXIII: Divine Crusader (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210071)
Iron Chef XXIV: Tactical Soldier (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214198)
Iron Chef XXV: Scion of Tem-Et-Nu (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217441)
Iron Chef XXVI: Shadowdancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220956)
Iron Chef XXVII: Mindbender (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224008)
Iron Chef XXVIII: Cryokineticist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227304)
Iron Chef XXIX: Consecrated Harrier (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229688)
Iron Chef XXX: Initiate of Pistis Sophia (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233346)
Iron Chef XXXI: Shadow Sentinel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236908)
Iron Chef XXXII: Temple Raider of Olidammara (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239786)
Iron Chef XXXIII: Drow Judicator (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243052)
Iron Chef XXXIV: Dragon Disciple (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246072)
Iron Chef XXXV: Death Delver (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249542)
Iron Chef XXXVI: Acolyte of the Skin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252923)
Iron Chef XXXVII: Justiciar (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13865473)
Iron Chef XXXVIII: Hand of the Winged Master (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255215)
Iron Chef XXXIX: Renegade Mastermaker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260333)
Iron Chef XL: Nightsong Infiltrator (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263173)
Iron Chef XLI: Geomancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266709)
Iron Chef XLII: Shadowblade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=270196)
Iron Chef XLIII: Bladesinger (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274122)
Iron Chef XLIV: Urban Soul (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279116)
Iron Chef XLV: Talon of Tiamat (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15216595)
Iron Chef XLVI: Cipher Adept (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287314)
Iron Chef XLVII: Cold Iron Warrior (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291294)
Iron Chef XLVIII: Shadow Sun Ninja (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297327)
Iron Chef XLIX: Thrall to Orcus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302487)
Iron Chef L: Corrupt Avenger (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307823)
Iron Chef LI: Black Flame Zealot (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312773)
Iron Chef LII: Anointed Knight (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=317934)
Iron Chef LIII: Zerth Cenobite (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325164)
Iron Chef LIV: Osteomancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330890)
Iron Chef LV: Mountebank (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?336373-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LV)
Iron Chef LVI: Dwarven Defender (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?342807-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LVI)
Iron Chef LVII: Darkrunner (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?349040-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LVII)
Iron Chef LVIII: Spellsword ("http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?357412-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LVIII)
Iron Chef LIX: Fleet Runner of Ehlonna ("http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?364667-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LIX)

[Kuulvheysoon]

FAQ:
What's this even about? I'm glad you asked, actually... (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15415117&postcount=1)

Is Dragon Compendium Allowed? Yes (as well as its Errata), 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 and the Retraining options presented in the PHB2 are ripe for abuse, and will be strongly discouraged as long as I am Chairman. Note that judges are allowed to look askance at any use of Unearthed Arcana not specifically mentioned above, at their discretion, and otherwise penalize Elegance according to their preference.

What, exactly, does the ban on Leadership mean? As folks have started to try to work around the edges of this one, I'm forced to spell it out more plainly. No Leadership, Draconic Cohort, or Feats that grant a similar ability are allowed EXCEPT Wild Cohort while Kuulvheysoon is 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 mechanically illegal by the RAW, the judge may give the build a score of 0 in Elegance, and proceed to judge the entry as if the offending material was not included. Failing to meet a special requirements for a prestige class does not merit a 0, but may qualify for a penalty, at the judge's discretion. 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.

Ruling on Generic Classes? It's now tucked away in the OP -
Kitchen: 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 or Generic Classes are not allowed, as they create a different playing field. Also, item familiars are forbidden because I hate 'em. Please refrain from using Taint unless it's necessary for the Secret Ingredient.

Dude, I don't like this. Give me back point-based scores! No problem. Since the experiment was... unconclusive at best, I've reverted my final round (as Chair) to the point-based system that we know (and you apparently love) with a change or two.

What's the deal? Why so long in between rounds? Let's just say, there's a very good reason that I'm choosing to step down. Life is getting crazi(er) lately, and I simply don't have the time to administrate this competition any longer. It's been an honor serving you guys, though, and I'll continue to compete in both a judging and competing role.

[AvatarVecna]

Well, this is awkward... (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?371835-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LX)

[Zaq]

Oh my. This is quite the ingredient. Quite the ingredient indeed.

[AvatarVecna]

Oh my. This is quite the ingredient. Quite the ingredient indeed.

Says the guy whose entire signature is Truenamer.

[relytdan]

looks like kuul failed to see that we moved on- now need to check the other running currently

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?371835-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LX

[Darrin]

Well, there's nothing in the rules that prevents multiple contests to run concurrently... (and Zinc Saucier, Junkyard Wars, other spinoffs have been running concurrently). However, I would suspect that the availability of judges (and time to judge) will be negatively impacted. Looks like there are two options to consider:

Option 1) Run both concurrently. Designate them as LXa and LXb. (This would allow Heliomance to compete and Piggy to both compete+judge.)

Option 2) Delay Kuulvheysoon's LX to LXI. (Heliomance can resume Chairperson duties with LXII.) This gives us extra time to build, but looking at the ingredient... we're probably going to need it.

[OMG PONIES]

I wouldn't say I've moved on; that makes Kuulvheysoon sound more like a spiteful ex than a faithful Chairman. Heliomance has, however, set up her own Round LX. That being said, I highly respect both chairs and love both ingredients, so I'm personally fine keeping either or both active. :smallbiggrin:

[Kevingway]

No, no--guys. Guys. This is Iron Chef Optimization, the other is Iron Chef Optimisation.

We're fine! It was all just some big misunderstanding!

[OMG PONIES]

No, no--guys. Guys. This is Iron Chef Optimization, the other is Iron Chef Optimisation.

We're fine! It was all just some big misunderstanding!

Ah, knew I was mizzing zomething. :smallwink:

[Kevingway]

On a related note, I know how font colors work now!

[Amphetryon]

TWO ICs? Yee-haw. Could be interesting.

[sakuuya]

I'm just glad Kuulv isn't dead. After he and Kazudo both disappeared, I was worried that some maniac (possibly that dastard Real Life) was going around picking off chairmen.

[WhamBamSam]

The fun has been doubled.

I don't even really have an idea for this yet, but I know with total certainty that I am in. This ingredient fascinates me.

[arclance]

This week's special ingredient is:
Tome of Magic's Acolyte of the Ego!
It is worse than Truenamer.... that is impressively terrible.
Bravo on an excellent choice for you final ingredient.


Next on Iron Chef:
How will our contestants optimize skill checks without item familiars?
Stay tuned to find out.

[KrimsonNekros]

I'm fine with with delaying or running concurrent, thoguh at the moment i have no idea what to do with this :durkon:

[Piggy Knowles]

Hmm. I have absolutely zero ideas, but since I agreed to judge the other IC, I might try to get a build together for this one...

[Heliomance]

Special prize for anyone that manages to enter the same build into both competitions.

[sideswipe]

Special prize for anyone that manages to enter the same build into both competitions.

what is this special prize?

[Heliomance]

what is this special prize?

Dunno. If anyone actually manages to pull it off I'll think of something. It has to be an actual competitive entry into both contests though, and I can't see even a little bit of synergy between the two SIs!

[dysprosium]

Are we really doing two competitions?

[KrimsonNekros]

dunno. If anyone actually manages to pull it off i'll think of something. It has to be an actual competitive entry into both contests though, and i can't see even a little bit of synergy between the two sis!

challenge accepted!

[AvatarVecna]

challenge accepted!

I'll throw my hat into this ring as well; in this regard, I do believe I have the advantage, because I know my builds weren't going to be any good anyway!

[relytdan]

well having that challenge from Heliomance - I may have to attempt such a crazy thing

[Deadline]

Wow Kuulv, you really know how to pick 'em. I'll take a look at this, but I may wind up judging instead of competing.

[KrimsonNekros]

I'll throw my hat into this ring as well; in this regard, I do believe I have the advantage, because I know my builds weren't going to be any good anyway!

You're telling this to the guy who's never managed to get better than a 10th place finish IIRC.

[AvatarVecna]

You're telling this to the guy who's never managed to get better than a 10th place finish IIRC.

Of the 6 competitions or so I've attempted to compete in, the only build that was decent enough to meet my personal standards was a VoP Monk that barely scraped by in 16th place. Of the five entries worse than mine, two or three contained broken, terrible, and borderline illegal build elements. The rest of those competitions, I attempted more entries per cookoff than I can count on both hands, before eventually giving up.

[sideswipe]

You're telling this to the guy who's never managed to get better than a 10th place finish IIRC.

i only ever submitted one build. ever (7th place)

[Zaq]

Question for the chair: There is no listed caster level for Morphic Cadence. Is it safe to assume that the effective caster level equals your class level, or are we going with another ruling?

[Darrin]

Question for the chair: There is no listed caster level for Morphic Cadence. Is it safe to assume that the effective caster level equals your class level, or are we going with another ruling?

Morphic Cadence is a Spell-Like Ability (Sp), so as per the MM p. 315:

"If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature's Hit Dice."

[OMG PONIES]

Two Round LXs make me happy, but make my spreadsheet sad. Also, I've got a silly bit of an idea for this one.

[DeAnno]

Assuming both challenges go on, the most equitable solution would seem to be renaming this contest to LXI (it did start afterwards), and having the next contest after these be LXII.

[Gemini476]

I'm finding it hard to beleive, but I'm actually wishing that Morphic Cadences were Utterances.

As is they're not, and thus all the little tricks you can pull with Utterances (meta-truespeak, heightening to get around the Laws etc.) don't apply.

It's somewhat frustrating.

[dysprosium]

Assuming both challenges go on, the most equitable solution would seem to be renaming this contest to LXI (it did start afterwards), and having the next contest after these be LXII.

That would be too easy . . .

[WhamBamSam]

So I've got the semblance of an idea. Nothing like other work that you really should be doing to get the ol' optimization gears spinning.

[KrimsonNekros]

So I've got the semblance of an idea. Nothing like other work that you really should be doing to get the ol' optimization gears spinning.

I've got 2 stubs, one for a serious entry, one as a joke.

[Zaq]

My idea is finally coming together. It's been far too long since I entered one of these. But you know what? I'M IN.

EDIT: Mechanics are done. Now I just need to write the fluff. This is a fun secret ingredient!

[Fax Celestis]

Aaaaaaaaaand entered. Came out way better than I was expecting it to, all things considered. Actually kind of want to play my entry.

[123456789blaaa]

Aaaaaaaaaand entered. Came out way better than I was expecting it to, all things considered. Actually kind of want to play my entry.

Have you entered before?

[Fax Celestis]

Yeah, once. On the Bone Knight contest a few back. …Bone Knight? Thrall of Jubliex? Something like that.

Edit: Osteomancer. I entered Marrow.

[Martimus Prime]

Alright, I want in on this one, if only to toughen my soul with such a difficult ingredient. Heck, if you can optimize this class, you could probably optimize anything...

[WhamBamSam]

Well, the various components of my idea have turned out to be entirely incompatible. Might be able to salvage some portion of it, but I've suddenly run into a very busy week, so we'll just have to see what happens.

[Piggy Knowles]

I have a bunch of ideas that seem like they should combine into one successful build, but I haven't found one I'm happy with yet. Probably won't submit this round, but we shall see.

[Fax Celestis]

I just hope there are more judges this round than the last time I entered. We had all of one.

[Piggy Knowles]

Me too. I've already agreed to judge the other IC, so I don't want to promise to judge this one also even if I don't get a build together, but who knows.

[Zaq]

Entry submitted.

It's been way, way too long since I've done this. This felt good. I love you for picking this ingredient, Kuulv.

[dysprosium]

I'm still working on my build. Mostly the fluff now.

I had planned on combining the two SIs even before Heliomance decided to make it a thing. :smallwink:

[Deadline]

I just hope there are more judges this round than the last time I entered. We had all of one.


I will be judging this round, come hell or high water. This is Kuulv's last rodeo, and I'll be damned if I miss it. :smallbiggrin:

[Martimus Prime]

Out of curiosity, what kinds of items are we allowing to be included in these builds? Obviously item familiar is off the table, but are you allowing masterwork tools (books)? What about custom or enhanced +truespeak items, and are amulets of the silver tongue to be RAW (enhancement) or RAI (competence)? There are technically rules presented in the DMG for enhancing +skill items in the competence range, so I am curious if these could be used to boost the amulet or create some kind of alternate item to alleviate the Item Familiar issue...

[Fax Celestis]

Keep in mind that with full ranks, an amulet of the silver tongue +10, and a +5 INT bonus (low), you're looking at 23+10+5+4 (or +41). The highest the base DC gets for Acolyte of the Ego cadences gets is 57, which means that with that minimum of effort you're looking at hitting the DC on a 16. Throw on, say, Skill Focus (Truespeech) and you're hitting on 13. So you really shouldn't need much boost beyond that. Get your INT higher, maybe another fiddly bonus from one source or another, and you should be fine.

[Heliomance]

Out of curiosity, what kinds of items are we allowing to be included in these builds? Obviously item familiar is off the table, but are you allowing masterwork tools (books)? What about custom or enhanced +truespeak items, and are amulets of the silver tongue to be RAW (enhancement) or RAI (competence)? There are technically rules presented in the DMG for enhancing +skill items in the competence range, so I am curious if these could be used to boost the amulet or create some kind of alternate item to alleviate the Item Familiar issue...

Traditionally, I believe, items haven't been focused on much in the IC challenges. Most times, people don't go beyond giving a few recommended items (the Anointed Knight and Master of Masks rounds spring to mind as exceptions). Over-reliance on items tends to be seen as a faux pas.

[Martimus Prime]

Traditionally, I believe, items haven't been focused on much in the IC challenges. Most times, people don't go beyond giving a few recommended items (the Anointed Knight and Master of Masks rounds spring to mind as exceptions). Over-reliance on items tends to be seen as a faux pas.

I wasn't aware of this; I was under the impression that a full build would necessarily include the expected item load-out at a given level (especially with this particular SI, given truespeak's notoriously poor scaling). I've already written up full character sheets for a number of levels on this build, so yay for extra detail I guess?

[Deadline]

Traditionally, I believe, items haven't been focused on much in the IC challenges. Most times, people don't go beyond giving a few recommended items (the Anointed Knight and Master of Masks rounds spring to mind as exceptions). Over-reliance on items tends to be seen as a faux pas.

Indeed, that is the case.

And since I've dedicated myself to judging this one, here are my criteria:

Judging criteria:

I'm going with the rather standard 3 point baseline in each category, adjusted up or down based on your dish choices. I'm going to judge dishes with the same sort of eye I would GM for them.

You may find a number of commonalities with other judges' criteria here, and that's because I'm a terrible, terrible plagiarist.

Originality


What is it that you've chosen for your dish? Is it surprising, does it do things I haven't seen before? Did you use something completely off-the-wall or unexpected? Did you use a well known trick in a new or different way? All of these things will generally warrant an increase to your score. Well known tricks (I dont' care if you invented it 2 years ago, it's still a 2 year old trick), expected elements, using a well-known build, or using a build very similar to the example build for the SI will generally warrant a decrease in score. Using expected elements in your dish will generally warrant a decrease in score, unless those elements are required by the SI.

All of that said, the general rule of thumb for scoring well in this category is "do something new or fresh with your approach".

And now for the plagiarism. I liked this "Baseline build" section so much, I'm stealing it. Word for word.

BASELINE BUILD: A build that steers clear of known cheese and standard build elements, but doesn't necessarily make me sit up and go "wow." Builds that involve new combinations or focus on unexpected elements will score higher here, while builds that utilize known cheese or that are pretty much stock builds will score lower.


Power


When shooting for power, the main focus is on how well you perform your intended role, how versatile you are with your various tricks, how solid your power is from 1-20, and what happens to you if some or all of your tricks are rendered irrelevant.

Spells are not the only measure of power, and perhaps more importantly, I'll be looking at your dish over its various level breakpoints to determine power. If you can't punch a hole in a wet paper bag from levels 1-19 but gain the power of a 20th level wizard at 20th level, you may get less of an increase than someone who had a solid power curve all the way to 20, assuming you both ended in a similar level of power at 20. As I said earlier, power will be a function of how well you perform your intended role. What tricks are you throwing out, how potent are they, and how do you handle hard counters to your tricks?

WBL Item dependent power will generally mean a decrease here. Everyone gets better with items, I'm interested in what your dish can do without them. That said, if you want to point out where a specific item would enhance one of your tricks beyond the obvious, feel free to point it out.

More plagiarism! Word for word save for an extra sentence at the end.

BASELINE BUILD: A build that can meaningfully contribute to a party in most CR-appropriate encounters. Builds that can't, either because their overall power is too low or because they only function in very specific situations, will score lower here. Builds that are particularly proficient or useful, or that can meaningfully contribute even in over-CR'd encounters, will score higher. Builds that maintain a solid power curve over their 1-20 progression will score higher here.


Elegance


[Citation Needed] - Seriously, don't make me dig through books or guess at what minute detail you used from some obscure source. At the very least, please indicate what came from where. I'm generally familiar with the Completes, Core/SRD, and the Spell Compendium. Beyond that, it would be nice to have an indicator that "Black Blood of the Earth" is a feat from the Complete Guide to Big Trouble in Little China. Especially if this competition churns out 20+ entrants.

Like other judges, I'm not a huge fan of smashing multiple setting specific material together, UNLESS we are talking about something in the Planescape setting. Basically, if it's an obvious power grab that slaps the setting material in the face, you'll probably get points in power, but lose points here.

Did you qualify for everything you took? Does everything flow together well? Did you avoid random dips? Does your fluff justify anything that needs to be justified? These will all generally get you an increase.

Alignment shift shenanigans may result in a decrease here.

Entering the SI as early as possible is generally looked favorably upon. When you enter the SI may result in a score modification.

Your presentation is important here. Is everything clean and easy to read? Did you keep your fluff skirt length (this is not a prose contest)?

I mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating. I'm judging these entries with the same eyes I'd use if I were GMing. So heavy cheese and questionable tricks may score points in originality and power, but those same tactics may cost you here. Since it has been mentioned multiple times in this thread, I'll go on the record as being one of those people who believe that when you don't meet the prerequisites of X, you no longer benefit from X. Feats, prestige classes, etc. And don't try to get smug and ask me what happens to Dragon Disciples with the capstone, I'll do the same thing I'd do at my table - tell you they still work fine and throw a book at your head.

That said, I'm not opposed to your dish being awesome, just to questionable interpretations of the rules. Pure RAW leaves a hilariously unplayable game, so breaking your character with RAW will cost you here (and remember that power can only go to a maximum of 5). As time goes on, I'll try to list out in my future criteria any things that come up in which I'll side against, but given the enormous amount of options out there, I'll only be able to add to this list as I come across them.

Keep in mind that multiclassing penalties are a thing that exist in the RAW, so they will be factored into my judging.

Plagiarism Parrot says that this baseline build paragraph is awesome! Raaawwwk!

BASELINE BUILD: A build that you can pick up and walk over to almost any table, and it won't raise any eyebrows. Builds that are DM-dependent or questionable rules-wise will score lower here, as will builds that are clunky and messy. Builds that are a thing of beauty will score higher here - ones that make even the stuffiest DM sit up and say, hey, that's awesome, I'd love to have you in our group.


Use of Secret Ingredient


First and foremost, if you don't qualify for the SI, you get a 1 here (1 is the minimum score in a category, right?). Make sure your dish qualifies for the SI. Also, given the nature of this contest and its rules, I'm fairly certain I'd be justified in giving you a 1 if you use no levels of the SI. If you want to submit a dish that mimics the SI, the Zinc Saucier competition is a few threads down.

Using less than the full 10 levels of the SI will usually result in a decrease. Exceptions can be made here, but the dish had better really represent the SI.

For the most part, the way to score high here is to make sure your dish really embodies the SI. Have you used all parts of the SI to good effect? Did you really use the SI's abilities, or just "get" them? As an example, Talon of Tiamat gained an immunity to a chosen element at a certain level. Had that been the SI, did you find a way to use that other than, "I took immunity to fire because it's the most common element."? Finding a way to showcase all parts of the SI in an interesting manner will be the path to scoring highly here. Make the SI the focus of your dish, and enhance it. If you overpower the SI with abilities or features from other elements, I'm going to ask the question, "Why did you use the SI, instead of more of that?" That question will cost you points.

Be sure to read the fluff for the SI, because that will be guiding my judgment when I look at these entries. Does your dish feel like the SI?

Plagiarizers gonna plagiarize.

BASELINE BUILD: A build that manages to use the secret ingredient without crying out to me, "HEY, this is only here because of a stupid contest, OK!" Builds that utilize all of the SI's abilities to good effect, and who really sell the idea that only the SI would have worked here, will score higher. Builds that don't really get any use out of the class features or pre-reqs, or that would really obviously just do better with another option, will score lower.

[AvatarVecna]

My builds (for both ICCs) keep crumbling whenever I get close to something manageable. I'm afraid I'm just gonna have to bow out. I'll probably end up judging one competition or the other, though...

[Piggy Knowles]

Keep in mind that with full ranks, an amulet of the silver tongue +10, and a +5 INT bonus (low), you're looking at 23+10+5+4 (or +41). The highest the base DC gets for Acolyte of the Ego cadences gets is 57, which means that with that minimum of effort you're looking at hitting the DC on a 16. Throw on, say, Skill Focus (Truespeech) and you're hitting on 13. So you really shouldn't need much boost beyond that. Get your INT higher, maybe another fiddly bonus from one source or another, and you should be fine.

True... assuming you only want to use the ability once in a day. And needing a 13 or higher means you only have a 40% chance of using your totally non-game breaking ability that you spent ten levels to obtain and that can give you at most something that you could have gotten from a cheap magic item.

I, um, might be a little annoyed with this class right now, if you can't tell :smallredface:

[Gemini476]

True... assuming you only want to use the ability once in a day. And needing a 13 or higher means you only have a 40% chance of using your totally non-game breaking ability that you spent ten levels to obtain and that can give you at most something that you could have gotten from a cheap magic item.

I, um, might be a little annoyed with this class right now, if you can't tell :smallredface:
Write the Paragnostic Assembly into your backstory for +10 Truespeak.:belkar: (Or don't, if you care for Elegance and Originality.)

Optimization for Truespeak checks is somewhat solved by now, I think. There's just not all that many things that give large enough bonuses to generic skillchecks.

And yeah, it still isn't worth it once you get to effectively at-will abilities.

[Piggy Knowles]

Yeah, I've got a few sample build stubs that can reliably make the checks. Im just not that thrilled with them. Having to build around Truespeech DCs is silly enough when you're a Truenamer, and some of your utterances are actually worth a bent penny. When I'm just building for Cadences..... Well, I'm tipping my hat to all you who manage to get in interesting builds. (And this is coming from someone who won his first Gold with Initiate of Pistis Sophia, and who absolutely had a blast during Cipher Adept :smalltongue:)

[Muggins]

My build is functional, yet dry and not terribly interesting. It would've turned out better if Acolyte of the Ego didn't have that dumb Type: Humanoid requirement.

'Cause dragons can't be egotistical at all, can they? :smallsigh:

I also have a small question for the chairman. How does the Law of Resistance apply to Cadence Mastery? Does it apply at all? Does it take the same penalties for both cadences, or the cadence with the highest penalty, or is it tracked separately from the singular cadences? I feel like this might come up at some point.


(Or don't, if you care for Elegance and Originality.)
Alternatively, you could not speculate on builds. I also hardly see why this is an issue, given the material.

[Fax Celestis]

Can we do one of the weird "dragon of 26+ HD" PrCs in Draconomicon next?

[OMG PONIES]

Optimization for Truespeak checks is somewhat solved by now, I think.

My friend, optimization isn't just about solving the problems of this game. It's about twisting them tightly to wring as much juice as possible out of them and making them apologize in tears for acting up in the first place.

[Martimus Prime]

Alright, submitted. Please forgive my wall o' text!

[relytdan]

Alright, submitted. Please forgive my wall o' text!

some judges seem to not like walls of text and others dont seem to mind it ....

[Muggins]

Build submitted. I'll be looking forward to see what everyone else fixed up using this horribly mediocre prestige class. :smallwink:

[WhamBamSam]

Whew, got an entry in. If it looks like we'll get a long delay I might try for a second, but for the time being, I'm happy to just have completed the one. This SI took some work.

[OMG PONIES]

Since I didn't get a build in this round and I've got next week off of work, chances are I'll be judging this round.


some judges seem to not like walls of text and others dont seem to mind it ....

I don't know if it's so much "dont seem to mind it" as it is "don't mention it in their scoring comments." :smallwink:

[WhamBamSam]

Well, I've decided that I don't really like my second idea after all. Its only interesting trick is essentially the same as my first build, except slightly more questionable for a few reasons, and it doesn't really do anything all that novel with it. Plus, there are ZS entries for me to judge now.

So I'll just sit back and wait for the reveal. Kuul hasn't been on since posting the thread. I hope life's not being to rough on him.

[Zaq]

The waiting is always the hardest part.

[relytdan]

Well i don't know what may have happened to the chairman or such..
I do not see entries posted from the chairman...

Contestants will have until 23:59 GMT on Monday, September 29th, 2014

Kuulvheysoon Last Activity 9-30-2014 08:20 PM

Today is: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 5:26 PM Greenwich Mean Time

[Heliomance]

Well i don't know what may have happened to the chairman or such..
I do not see entries posted from the chairman...

Contestants will have until 23:59 GMT on Monday, September 29th, 2014

Kuulvheysoon Last Activity 9-30-2014 08:20 PM

Today is: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 5:26 PM Greenwich Mean Time

{{scrubbed}}

[AvatarVecna]

{{scrubbed}}

{{scrubbed}}

[Muggins]

Well i don't know what may have happened to the chairman or such..
I do not see entries posted from the chairman...

Contestants will have until 23:59 GMT on Monday, September 29th, 2014

Kuulvheysoon Last Activity 9-30-2014 08:20 PM

Today is: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 5:26 PM Greenwich Mean Time
This seems like it's becoming a habit of yours, Relytdan. Perhaps there's a difference between having the time to log on and having the time to post a dozen complete character builds?

[OMG PONIES]

Criticizing relytdan's posts of this nature has also become a habit of these threads. Perhaps we can agree to live and let live?

[Muggins]

Criticizing relytdan's posts of this nature has also become a habit of these threads. Perhaps we can agree to live and let live?
Bah, why would I do that when I could just continue building my reputation as a disreputable sod?

Shall we discuss future ingredients? My bet's on the Unseen Seer, for a shift from "obscure truespeak-powered fighting class" to "core component in almost every Arcanist/Spellthief build ever made." Naturally, originality would be the big player for scoring.

[Heliomance]

My money's on a monster PrC :innocent:

[Venger]

My money's on a monster PrC :innocent:

>your bet

oh god no

I hope it's not sybil

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_TpYH74-qI/TcvlVkYBavI/AAAAAAAAAUw/J2Ja6MvmAZE/s1600/sybil.jpg

[Muggins]

I hope it's not sybil
Sybil/Unseen Seer?

http://www.meboxmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/why-cant-we-have-both.jpg

[Heliomance]

>your bet

oh god no

I hope it's not sybil

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_TpYH74-qI/TcvlVkYBavI/AAAAAAAAAUw/J2Ja6MvmAZE/s1600/sybil.jpg

Why, what's wrong with Sybil? :smalltongue:

(I have a shortlist of three classes I'm trying to decide between. Sybil is on that list ^_^)

(Unless I decide to go for something else entirely)

[Venger]

Why, what's wrong with Sybil? :smalltongue:

(I have a shortlist of three classes I'm trying to decide between. Sybil is on that list ^_^)

(Unless I decide to go for something else entirely)

sybil, slaad broodguard, and siren

I hope you do go with something else. Monster classes make originality sort of... impossible, since it even rules out racial emulation, which is sort of possible with humanoid race-specific stuff.

[dysprosium]

If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion . . .

I have no problem speculating/hoping/planning for future ingredients but should we do this on Heliomance's thread since this thread is Kuulvheysoon's last hurrah?

[Venger]

If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion . . .

I have no problem speculating/hoping/planning for future ingredients but should we do this on Heliomance's thread since this thread is Kuulvheysoon's last hurrah?

Since I saw heliomance posting here, I thought this was her thread. I agree with you though. Moving over there.

[relytdan]

This seems like it's becoming a habit of yours, Relytdan. Perhaps there's a difference between having the time to log on and having the time to post a dozen complete character builds?

1st: Perhapes the would be former chairperson would do as they state and post stuff in due order the formentioned is to show that the chairperson was in fact online and more than capable of posting builds and for what ever unknown reasons chose not to !
2nd: I waited almost 2 full days from time of suposed reveal to say anything about such and as such your comments were and are unwarented
3rd: this thread as far as i am conserned is dead.

[Deadline]

1st: Perhapes the would be former chairperson would do as they state and post stuff in due order the formentioned is to show that the chairperson was in fact online and more than capable of posting builds and for what ever unknown reasons chose not to !
2nd: I waited almost 2 full days from time of suposed reveal to say anything about such and as such your comments were and are unwarented
3rd: this thread as far as i am conserned is dead.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Martimus Prime]

1st: Perhaps the would-be former chairperson would do as they state and post stuff in due order. The aforementioned is to show that the chairperson was in fact online and more than capable of posting builds, and for what ever unknown reasons chose not to!
2nd: I waited almost 2 full days from time of supposed reveal to say anything about such, and as such your comments were and are unwarranted
3rd: this thread as far as i am concerned is dead.

Edited the quote for clarity (took me a minute to parse it lol). That being said:
He did mention at the outset that part of his decision to no longer chair these events were due to life circumstances, so it would seem fair to afford him more patience than you appear to be. Two days is forever in internet time, but it's a blink of an eye in the 9-to-5 world beyond these series of tubes. The final judgement date is still a ways off. I'd like to see the other builds too, of course, but there probably isn't a lot that can be done on our end to hasten the process.

In short, status says thread is still alive, probably just taking a nap, so not time to bust out the Libris Mortis yet.

[relytdan]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

i wonder how some people are treated here by other posters here

hey other posters just a statement - this is a contest for building obsured prestige classes with a set time frame to enter and then a seperate time frame to get judged by fellow builders aka judges.
If you dont relize that I know the chair stated last contest and other RL issues as some would seem to indicate then your wrong i do relize it.. I also hold the chair to a higher standard than judges for doing what they say they would do ESSPECIALLY when I see that they are on several times prior any comments-
so to you who think you want to say otherwise then thats your thing just dont do what deadline has done here - thats just wrong

[Fax Celestis]

That's no excuse to be a jerk.

[amalthia]

as a casual lurker from what I can see the issue at hand seems that if "X" number of people can be bothered to put in the time and effort to submit entries that the person running the show even if they have real life issues as it seems they may, if that person has what ever time to be on several times, then the very least they could do is say hey its going to be a day or so before the entries can be posted because of "real life reason" in this posters opinion you guys should not be so harsh on relytdan for their opinion.

[Martimus Prime]

as a casual lurker from what I can see the issue at hand seems that if "X" number of people can be bothered to put in the time and effort to submit entries that the person running the show even if they have real life issues as it seems they may, if that person has what ever time to be on several times, then the very least they could do is say hey its going to be a day or so before the entries can be posted because of "real life reason" in this posters opinion you guys should not be so harsh on relytdan for their opinion.

To be sure, it would be nice, but we don't have access to all the variables here. Perhaps he isn't actually able to participate in the thread, but he was logged into the site via phone or computer such that merely turning one on makes it look like he's active? We can't know without knowing his circumstances, and speculation won't make the reveal come sooner. Coming across as impatient and declaring the thread dead aren't really constructive, which is where most of the vitriol is coming from from what I've seen. Plus, it hasn't really been all that long since the deadline lapsed, and I'm sure there's a lot to read to get an organized posting done.

Frankly, the hardest part is that now we have time to second-guess our own build choices. Now that it's too late to change things and the builds are already submitted, it's really easy to look back critically and see places where I could have done better, especially since OP's last rodeo is my first and I don't have the reservoir of competition experience that some of these other illustrious IC veterans have. I've still added this build to the list of things to play-test at my own table, but hindsight is 20-20 as they say.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is still not the hardest ingredient that we could have had - that would probably have been brimstone speaker. "Sign me up for that sweet partial caster progression with weaker blasting than even a half progression of my base class and that requires poorly-scaled skill checks to use the special abilities that my spells would normally grant me," said no one ever in the history of things. I could even see where disciple of the word would have more utility than that for certain builds.

Edited for clarity.

[Venger]

I dunno about that. Disciple of the word is pretty heinous since it basically forces you to be a truenamer/monk.

[Martimus Prime]

I dunno about that. Disciple of the word is pretty heinous since it basically forces you to be a truenamer/monk.

My brother and I took a look at it and think it might be possible to make a dynamite build with rogue/paladin/monk (with combo feats) into disciple of the word and witch slayer (from the binder section). That stunning fist/smite/sneak attack combo that also dazes and dispels magic and suppresses future magical ability use would be devastating for a single-hit effect, and you're pulling evasion, mettle, and slippery mind for a combination of classes that nets you awesome saves. Of course, your feat progression and ability score choices are really narrowed, but I really like the flavor. We're going to be play-testing it in a campaign that uses ToM as the only source of magic (as some have suggested to balance the casters with the gishes and skillmonkeys), so I look forward to seeing how he puts it to use.

EDIT: Apparently you would have to use the witch slayer's ability on a different round unless you can somehow net yourself another swift action, but the sentiment is the same and the target can't exactly use those abilities anyways when they're dazed and/or stunned...

[Venger]

My brother and I took a look at it and think it might be possible to make a dynamite build with rogue/paladin/monk (with combo feats) into disciple of the word and witch slayer (from the binder section). That stunning fist/smite/sneak attack combo that also dazes and dispels magic and suppresses future magical ability use would be devastating for a single-hit effect, and you're pulling evasion, mettle, and slippery mind for a combination of classes that nets you awesome saves. Of course, your feat progression and ability score choices are really narrowed, but I really like the flavor. We're going to be play-testing it in a campaign that uses ToM as the only source of magic (as some have suggested to balance the casters with the gishes and skillmonkeys), so I look forward to seeing how he puts it to use.


yikes!

there's no reason to take the combo feats (I assume you mean ascetic knight and ascetic stalker) since they only tabulate your monk+pally and monk+rog lvls, sort of a waste of time in a build with 10 lvls of disciple of the word in it.

that punch would be... okay, I guess? but you are MAD as hell, actually managing to rely on every single ability score, so your cha's not gonna be that high, leading to mediocre smite damage. are you THFing? then your str's not that great either. are you TWFing? good luck, your dex isn't high enough to support the featchain. your SA would be basically nonexistant, contributing maybe 3 or 4 points of damage, so definitely wouldn't be worth the trouble to set up attacks for.

while your saves would be... maybe a little higher than normal, what's it matter if you can't really do anything?

what flavor is that?

this character sounds like a mess to play, not as a diss on your op-fu, but more to say disciple of the word is a plague on everything it touches .

[Martimus Prime]

yikes!

there's no reason to take the combo feats (I assume you mean ascetic knight and ascetic stalker) since they only tabulate your monk+pally and monk+rog lvls, sort of a waste of time in a build with 10 lvls of disciple of the word in it.

that punch would be... okay, I guess? but you are MAD as hell, actually managing to rely on every single ability score, so your cha's not gonna be that high, leading to mediocre smite damage. are you THFing? then your str's not that great either. are you TWFing? good luck, your dex isn't high enough to support the featchain. your SA would be basically nonexistant, contributing maybe 3 or 4 points of damage, so definitely wouldn't be worth the trouble to set up attacks for.

while your saves would be... maybe a little higher than normal, what's it matter if you can't really do anything?

what flavor is that?

this character sounds like a mess to play, not as a diss on your op-fu, but more to say disciple of the word is a plague on everything it touches .

Just going one by one:
Actually, you don't end up getting 10th level disciple abilities until low epic, to make more room for base classes to stack abilities and to get the feats you need. There's a third combo feat in there (devoted inquisitor), which is where the daze effect comes from.

We rolled for ability scores, so MAD wasn't as much an issue, but right now he's more of a skillmonkey with variant combat abilities against caster-types, so mental ability scores are the big focus. Careful battlefield planning and other assorted ways to get the drop on the enemy (acrobatic backstab, hiding, etc) will be the hallmark of this character going forward.

I know there were some ACFs and other shenanigans going on, but it's been awhile since we last played with that party. I'll have to sit down and try to recall how specifically we pieced it together sometime. Something to do for a lark, but definitely not Iron Chef worthy.

Fluff-wise, he was on the boxing team at his truenamer college before surviving a war left him with a drinking problem and zero tolerance for evildoers, which he channels into his post-war work as a detective hunting binders for that setting's version of the Seropaeneans. In the setting it's for (Crimson-Skies-meets-Lovecraft world where binding and truenaming are the only magic and sanity rules apply) it makes for some entertaining RP.

[Venger]

Oh, I see. I thought you were talking about an iron chef build.
sounds like a fun backstory.

if you like pally lark builds, check out A-game paladin. it's something I always thought sounded fun to play.

[Martimus Prime]

Oh, I see. I thought you were talking about an iron chef build.
sounds like a fun backstory.

if you like pally lark builds, check out A-game paladin. it's something I always thought sounded fun to play.

That's a build that focuses charisma and associated abilities really hard, isn't it? I remember seeing a link posted somewhere but I can't remember where.

On a semi-related note, I should make this disciple meet an LG binder/pally/knight of the sacred seal to test his ability to RP a law-versus-good challenge, just because PC tears are sweet nectar for the DM soul.

EDIT: Or what I just submitted, because that would also be entertaining. Clash of the Truespeech PRCs is GO!

[Venger]

found the link (http://community.wizards.com/content/forum-topic/3407376)

it doesn't focus on cha that much. just enough for words of creation. illumian lets you get bonus spls from strength

[Martimus Prime]

found the link (http://community.wizards.com/content/forum-topic/3407376)

it doesn't focus on cha that much. just enough for words of creation. illumian lets you get bonus spls from strength

Interesting, thanks. I've kind of always wanted to try something similar involving devoted performer, but this would be infinitely more entertaining.

[relytdan]

{Scrubbed. Do not edit a mod edited post.}

[Deadline]

so how's everyone enjoying the lack of...

It's kind of nice not to have to stress about it.

But if folks want, I suppose we could go back to being the lovable, horrible human beings we are.

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/90/90c2d2584b4695e90c744bdc9204e252e67c5b413386dbe231 817054062793a6.jpg

[Fax Celestis]

If people are that impatient, we could just ask people to resubmit to someone else and have them act as Kulv-in-proxy. We'd have to go on the honor system for submission dates, though.

[OMG PONIES]

If people are that impatient, we could just ask people to resubmit to someone else and have them act as Kulv-in-proxy. We'd have to go on the honor system for submission dates, though.

But complaining about it is just so much more fun! Volunteering my services as pseudo-Kuul should they be needed. Now to brush up on my Canadian idioms...

[WhamBamSam]

so how's everyone enjoying the lack of...{{scrubbed}}


If people are that impatient, we could just ask people to resubmit to someone else and have them act as Kulv-in-proxy. We'd have to go on the honor system for submission dates, though.
But complaining about it is just so much more fun! Volunteering my services as pseudo-Kuul should they be needed. Now to brush up on my Canadian idioms...It's not so much that "people are that impatient" as it is "relytdan is that impatient." I'm sure the rest of us are eager for people to see our builds too, but I'd rather let Kuul have his last hurrah if at all possible. At least give it another week or thereaboot before we start breaking out the Canadian idioms.

Also, weren't you going to judge this round Ponies? If possible, I'd like the stand-in for Kuul to be someone without an entry or any plans to judge. I'm sure you'd be objective regardless, but if we're going to do the anonymity thing, we might as well do the anonymity thing.

[dysprosium]

Everyone should take another look at the last 4 pages of the last round.

9/7 12:30 Kuulvheysoon reveals winners of Round LIX announces retirement.

But by the last page, see how there were plenty of people ready to start a new round just because it was a Sunday, just one week later. Though people were willing to wait for Kuulvheysoon's last hurrah, people wanted to start a new round.

Heliomance starts new round 9/14 12:11
Kuulvheysoon starts his round 9/15 7:07 (basically a day and a half later from the start of Heliomance's Round LX but only eight days since the last round's reveal).
Without checking all of the previous rounds start and end times, I would hazard a guess that start times have been just as long or longer.
He doesn't see that a round started without him.
When Heliomance's round is pointed out to him, he does not return. (Checking in once since then doesn't really count in this case).

Personally I don't think Kuulvheysoon, a Chairman that has had as long of a run as he had, was not given enough time. My guess? He saw that the thread moved on without him despite people wanting him to have his last hurrah. So with the thread moved on, there was no reason to maintain it especially with his real life responsibilities/situations. He might not even realize that he has entries or that we wanted him to have his last hurrah.

Round LVIII had the problems with the floods in Manitoba which the chef's reveal not happening for almost a week. We waited then. Why would we not wait this time?

Disclaimer: Since I'm sure to get flak for this, I'm just pointing out my observations and personal opinions. You are free to disagree wholly or in part with what I said. Remember that we are supposed to be having fun with these contests.

[relytdan]

{{Scrubbed}}

[Zaq]

I'm on board with setting up someone else as proxy-Chair. Maybe if Kuulv doesn't show up by Monday (which is, of course, the original judging deadline)?

Another alternative would be to just make Acolyte of the Ego the actual ingredient for Round LXI, but that's up to Heliomance.

[WhamBamSam]

Personally I don't think Kuulvheysoon, a Chairman that has had as long of a run as he had, was not given enough time. My guess? He saw that the thread moved on without him despite people wanting him to have his last hurrah. So with the thread moved on, there was no reason to maintain it especially with his real life responsibilities/situations. He might not even realize that he has entries or that we wanted him to have his last hurrah.He'd have seen a bunch of entries in his inbox wouldn't he? I guess with all the PMs he gets as chairman he might've turned the pop up notification off.

You can email people through their accounts here. Checking in on Kuul that way is an option, though maybe it's not worth it to bother him given his real life stuff.

Monday seems okay for bringing in a proxy chair. It's a week after I suggested waiting another week. There's also a chance that seriously planning a transition to a proxy chair will result in the universe conspiring to have Kuul come back. Assuming we do use a proxy, I would once again ask that we have someone neither competing nor judging handle that duty for the sake of anonymity.

[sakuuya]

I volunteer as proxy chair if we still want to go that route. I don't have a build in this one, and I wasn't planning to judge.

[WhamBamSam]

I hate to do it, but I am really proud of my build this round and would like for it to see the light of day. What does everyone else think? If we do send our entries off to sakuuya, how much time should we be given to do so? Since the entries should be ones which are already done, I'm inclined to say a day or two, short enough to not drag this out any more than necessary, but long enough to make sure everyone has time to notice that it's happening.

[Venger]

I hate to do it, but I am really proud of my build this round and would like for it to see the light of day. What does everyone else think? If we do send our entries off to sakuuya, how much time should we be given to do so? Since the entries should be ones which are already done, I'm inclined to say a day or two, short enough to not drag this out any more than necessary, but long enough to make sure everyone has time to notice that it's happening.

seems legit. I'd love to see what everyone cooked.

[Fax Celestis]

Agreed. Is Sakuuya our rep?

[Venger]

she volunteered as tribute and was the only non-judge, non-chef to do so, so I believe so. she's online, so let's wait for her to become aware of this development and post here in case she needs to clear out her PM box.

[sakuuya]

she volunteered as tribute and was the only non-judge, non-chef to do so, so I believe so. she's online, so let's wait for her to become aware of this development and post here in case she needs to clear out her PM box.

I'm not that popular. No inbox cleaning necessary! :smallwink:

Go ahead and send me your builds, and I'll PM everyone else in the thread who said they submitted so they know what's up.

[Zaq]

Build resubmitted. Thanks sakuuya!

[Muggins]

I have also resubmitted my build.

[sakuuya]

Build resubmitted. Thanks sakuuya!


I have also resubmitted my build.

Both received! I have four total builds so far.

EDIT: Five! Thanks, [redacted]!

[OMG PONIES]

Just a heads up, I'm down to judge.

[sakuuya]

Just a heads up, I'm down to judge.

Hooray!

I've gotten builds from everyone I know submitted, but I'm still waiting to hear back from a few people who were active in this thread but didn't explicitly say whether they submitted anything. If no one has any objections, then, I'd like to set a tentative cutoff 'n' reveal date for 11:59 PM GMT on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

[Venger]

Hooray!

I've gotten builds from everyone I know submitted, but I'm still waiting to hear back from a few people who were active in this thread but didn't explicitly say whether they submitted anything. If no one has any objections, then, I'd like to set a tentative cutoff 'n' reveal date for 11:59 PM GMT on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

sounds good to me. I didn't cook this round, so no need to wait on me.

[sakuuya]

Sorry I'm late, everybody, but the long-awaited reveal is finally here! Please refrain from posting until I give the all-clear.

[sakuuya]

He's not someone to mess with. Not by a long shot.


Derleth Cruestus, The Wordsniper
CN Male Human Rogue 2/Truenamer 4/Binder 4/Acolyte of the Ego 10
Starting Ability Scores: str 10, dex 13, con 10 int 18, wis 13, cha 10


Level
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features


1st
Rogue
+0
+0
+2
+0
Hide +4, move silently +4, forgery +4, open lock +4, disable device +4, search +4, bluff +4, sleight of hand +4, use magic device +4, decipher script +4, bluff +4, disguise +4, gather information +4
Able Learner (b), Wild Talent
Sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding


2nd
Rogue
+1
+0
+3
+0
Hide +1, move silently +1, forgery +1, open lock +1, disable device +1, search +1, bluff +1, sleight of hand +1, use magic device +1, decipher script +1, bluff +1, disguise +1, gather information +1
None
Evasion


3rd
Truenamer
+1
+0
+3
+2
Truespeak +6, use magic device +1, knowledge (religion) +1, knowledge (arcana) +1
Rapid Reload (heavy crossbow)
Known personal truename


4th
Binder
+1
+2
+3
+4
Truespeak +1, knowledge (the planes) +5, concentration +1
None
Soul binding (1 vestige)


5th
Truenamer
+2
+2
+3
+5
Truespeak +1, knowledge (religion) +4, knowledge (nature) +1, knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, knowledge (local) +1, concentration +1
Skill Focus (knowledge (religion))(b)
Knowledge focus


6th
Binder
+3
+3
+3
+6
skill trick +2 (collector of stories), concentration +1, knowledge (history) +1, knowledge (nobility and royalty) +1, knowledge (architecture and engineering) +1, knowledge (geography) +1
Knowledge Devotion (religion)
Pact augmentation (1 ability), suppress sign


7th
Truenamer
+4
+4
+4
+6
Truespeak +2, concentration +5, knowledge (local) +2
None
None


8th
Binder
+5
+4
+5
+6
Truespeak +1, search +2, open lock +2, disable device +2
None
None


9th
Truenamer
+6
+4
+5
+7
Truespeak +1, search +2, open lock +2, disable device +2, knowledge (local) +2
Point Blank Shot
None


10th
Binder
+7
+5
+5
+8
Truespeak +1, spot +6
Favored Vestige (Malphas)(b)
Bonus feat


11th
Acolyte of the Ego
+8
+7
+5
+8
truespeak +1, spot +6, skill trick +2 (spot the weak point)
None
Known personal truename


12th
Acolyte of the Ego
+9
+8
+5
+8
truespeak +1, craft (poison) +1, open lock +1, disable device +1, knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, knowledge (religion) +1, knowledge (planes) +1, knowledge (arcana) +1, knowledge (local) +1, knowledge (nature) +1
Psionic Shot
Morphic cadence (distant step)


13th
Acolyte of the Ego
+10
+8
+6
+9
Truespeak +1, craft (poison) +1, spot +2, open lock +2, disable device +2, search +2
None
Resonant voice


14th
Acolyte of the Ego
+11
+9
+6
+9
Truespeak +1, craft (poison) +1, knowledge (religion) +2, knowledge (nature) +2, knowledge (planes) +2, knowledge (arcana) +2
None
Morphic cadence (secret mask)


15th
Acolyte of the Ego
+12
+9
+6
+9
Truespeak +1, craft (poison) +1, hide +2, move silently +2, sleight of hand +2, use magic device +2
Greater Psionic Shot
Cadence mastery


16th
Acolyte of the Ego
+13
+10
+7
+10
Truespeak +1, craft (poison) +1, knowledge (local) +2, knowledge (religion) +2, knowledge (planes) +2, knowledge (arcana) +2
None
Morphic cadence (prowling tiger)


17th
Acolyte of the Ego
+14
+10
+7
+10
Truespeak +1, craft (poison) +1, spot +2, open lock +2, disable device +2, search +2
Recitation of the Mindful State (b)
Recitation feat, alter personal truename (-4)


18th
Acolyte of the Ego
+15
+11
+7
+10
Truespeak +1, craft (poison) +1, hide +2, move silently +2, sleight of hand +2, use magic device +2
Psionic Meditation
Morphic cadence (lucky fool)


19th
Acolyte of the Ego
+16
+11
+8
+11
Truespeak +1, craft (poison) +1, knowledge (local +2), knowledge (nature) +2, knowledge (arcana) +2, knowledge (planes) +2
None
Alter personal truename (-8)


20th
Acolyte of the Ego
+17
+12
+8
+11
Truespeak +1, knowledge (dungeoneering) +2, spot +2, open lock +2, disable device +2, search +2
None
Morphic cadence (lost wound)


Power Points: 2
Utterances: universal aptitude, inertial surge, strike of might, hidden truth, keen weapon
Vestiges: As 4th level binder.


Selected Level Builds:
(Male Human Rogue 2/Truenamer 2/Binder 1)
HP: 2d6+2d6+1d8+0 (21 hp)
Initiative: +3
AC: 18 (+0 size, +3 dex, +5 armor)
Saves: fort +2, ref +6, will +6
Space/Reach: 5ft x 5ft / 5ft
Speed: 30ft ground
Ability Scores: Str 10, dex 14 (16), con 10, int 18, wis 13, cha 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+2
Full Attack: heavy crossbow (1d10+1 fire, 19-20/x2) +6 ranged; crossbow bayonet (1d8, x3) +1 melee; utterances; vestige abilities
Special Qualities: Humanoid traits; sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding, evasion; utterances, known personal truename, knowledge focus (religion); soul binding (1 vestige)
Feats: Able Learner (b), Wild Talent, Rapid Reload (heavy crossbow), Skill Focus (knowledge (religion))(b)
Skills (ranks): bluff +5, concentration +2, decipher script +5, disable device +5, disguise +5, forgery +5, gather information +5, hide +5, knowledge (arcana) +1, knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, knowledge (local) +1, knowledge (nature) +1, knowledge (planes) +5, knowledge (religion) +5, move silently +5, open lock +5, search +5, sleight of hand +5, truespeak +8, use magic device +5,
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Abyssal, Infernal, Draconic
Alignment: True Neutral
Power Points: 2
Vestiges: As 1st level binder.
Bound Vestiges: Focalor
Utterances: As 2nd level truenamer.
Utterances Known (2): 1 – inertial surge, universal aptitude
Equipment*: 1gp, +1 mithril chain shirt, masterwork heavy crossbow, least crystal of energy assault (fire)(MIC), gnome crossbow sight (AEG), masterwork crossbow bayonet (sword)(CS), gloves of dexterity +2, piercer cloak (MIC), 50 crossbow bolts, masterwork thief’s tools, Zaq’s Guide to Truenamers (masterwork tool of truenaming if allowed), backpack, everfull mug (MIC), elixir of hiding.


(Male Human Rogue 2/Truenamer 4/Binder 4)
HP: 2d6+4d6+4d8+0 (41 hp)
Initiative: +3
AC: 20 (+0 size, +3 dex, +6 armor, +1 ring)
Saves: fort +6, ref +9, will +9
Space/Reach: 5ft x 5ft / 5ft
Speed: 30ft ground
Ability Scores: Str 10, dex 14 (16), con 10, int 19, wis 13, cha 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+7
Full Attack: heavy crossbow (1d10+1+1d6 shock+1d6 fire, 19-20/x2) +12 ranged; crossbow bayonet (1d8, x3) +9/4 melee; utterances; vestige abilities
Special Qualities: Humanoid traits; sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding, evasion; utterances, known personal truename, knowledge focus (religion); soul binding (1 vestige), pact augmentation (1 ability), suppress sign, bonus feat (1)
Feats: Able Learner (b), Wild Talent, Rapid Reload (heavy crossbow), Skill Focus (knowledge (religion))(b), Knowledge Devotion, Point Blank Shot, Favored Vestige (Malphas)(b)
Skills (ranks): bluff +5, concentration +8, decipher script +5, disable device +9, disguise +5, forgery +5, gather information +5, hide +5, knowledge (arcana) +1, knowledge (architecture and engineering) +1, knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, knowledge (geography) +1, knowledge (history) +1, knowledge (local) +5, knowledge (nature) +1, knowledge (nobility and royalty) +1, knowledge (planes) +5, knowledge (religion) +5, move silently +5, open lock +9, search +9, skill tricks +2, sleight of hand +5, spot +6 truespeak +13, use magic device +5
Skill Tricks: Collector of Stories
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Abyssal, Infernal, Draconic
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Power Points: 2
Vestiges: As 4th level binder.
Bound Vestiges: Malphas (effective binder level 6th)
Pact Augmentation: +1 to attack rolls
Utterances: As 4th level truenamer.
Evolving Mind Utterances Known (2/2): 1 – inertial surge, universal aptitude. 2 – hidden truth, strike of might.
Crafted Tool Utterances Known (1): 1 – keen weapon.
Equipment*: 21gp, vest of resistance +1 (+2 mithril chain shirt, lesser crystal of arrow deflection (MIC), ring of protection +1, +1 shock distance heavy crossbow, lesser crystal of energy assault (fire)(MIC), gnome crossbow sight (AEG), masterwork crossbow bayonet (sword)(CS), gloves of dexterity +2, piercer cloak (MIC), 50 crossbow bolts, masterwork thief’s tools, Zaq’s Guide to Truenamers (masterwork tool of truenaming if allowed), greater amulet of the silver tongue (ToM), backpack, everfull mug (MIC), elixir of hiding, sassone leaf residue (x3), drow sleep posion (x2).


(Male Human Rogue 2/Truenamer 4/Binder 4/Acolyte of the Ego 5)
HP: 2d6+4d6+4d8+5d8+0 (64 hp)
Initiative: +5
AC: 27 (+0 size, +4 dex, +9 armor, +2 ring, +2 defending)
Saves: fort +11, ref +12, will +11
Space/Reach: 5ft x 5ft / 5ft
Speed: 30ft ground
Ability Scores: Str 10, dex 14 (18), con 10, int 20 (24), wis 13, cha 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+12
Full Attack: heavy crossbow (1d10+3+1d6 shock+1d6 fire plus 1d6 delayed fire damage plus poison, 19-20/x2) +20 ranged; crossbow bayonet (1d8, x3) +14/9/4 melee; utterances; vestige abilities; morphic cadences
Special Qualities: Humanoid traits; sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding, evasion; utterances, known personal truename, knowledge focus (religion); soul binding (1 vestige), pact augmentation (1 ability), suppress sign, bonus feat (1); morphic cadences (2), resonant voice, cadence mastery.
Feats: Able Learner (b), Wild Talent, Rapid Reload, Skill Focus (knowledge (religion))(b), Knowledge Devotion, Point Blank Shot, Favored Vestige (Malphas)(b), Psionic Shot, Greater Psionic Shot
Skills (ranks): bluff +5, concentration +8, craft (poison) +4, decipher script +5, disable device +12, disguise +5, forgery +5, gather information +5, hide +7, knowledge (arcana) +4, knowledge (architecture and engineering) +1, knowledge (dungeoneering) +2, knowledge (geography) +1, knowledge (history) +1, knowledge (local) +6, knowledge (nature) +4, knowledge (nobility and royalty) +1, knowledge (planes) +8, knowledge (religion) +8, move silently +7, open lock +12, search +11, skill tricks +4, sleight of hand +7, spot +14, truespeak +18, use magic device +7
Skill Tricks: Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Abyssal, Infernal, Draconic
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Power Points: 2
Vestiges: As 4th level binder.
Bound Vestiges: Malphas (effective binder level 6th)
Pact Augmentation: +1 to attack rolls
Utterances: As 4th level truenamer.
Evolving Mind Utterances Known (2/2): 1 – inertial surge, universal aptitude. 2 – hidden truth, strike of might.
Crafted Tool Utterances Known (1): 1 – keen weapon.
Morphic Cadences (2) – cadence of the distant step, cadence of the secret mask
Equipment*: 21gp, vest of resistance +2, +5 mithril chain shirt, greater crystal of arrow deflection (MIC), ring of protection +2, +3 shock distance heavy crossbow, greater crystal of energy assault (fire)(MIC), gnome crossbow sight (AEG), +2 defending crossbow bayonet (sword)(CS), gloves of dexterity +4, googles of foefinding (MIC), piercer cloak (MIC), headband of intellect +4, belt of battle (MIC), 50 crossbow bolts, masterwork thief’s tools, Zaq’s Guide to Truenamers (masterwork tool of truenaming if allowed), greater amulet of the silver tongue (ToM), stone of good luck, backpack, everfull mug (MIC), sassone leaf residue (x7), drow sleep posion (x6), wand of true strike, wand of silence.

The Sweet Spot: Human Rogue 2/Truenamer 4/Binder 4/Acolyte of the Ego 8
HP: 2d6+4d6+4d8+8d8+0 (77 hp)
Initiative: +5
AC: 27 (+0 size, +4 dex, +9 armor, +2 ring, +2 defending)
Saves: fort +14, ref +13, will +15
Space/Reach: 5ft x 5ft / 5ft
Speed: 30ft ground
Ability Scores: Str 10, dex 14 (18), con 10, int 21 (27), wis 13, cha 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+15
Full Attack: heavy crossbow (1d10+3+1d6 shock+1d6 cold+1d6 acid+1d6 fire plus 1d6 delayed fire damage plus precision damage plus poison, 19-20/x2) +25 ranged; crossbow bayonet (1d8, x3) +17/12/7 melee; utterances; vestige abilities; morphic cadences
Special Qualities: Humanoid traits; sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding, evasion; utterances, known personal truename, knowledge focus (religion); soul binding (1 vestige), pact augmentation (1 ability), suppress sign, bonus feat (1); morphic cadences (4), resonant voice, cadence mastery, alter personal truename (-4), bonus recitation feat (1).
Feats: Able Learner (b), Wild Talent, Rapid Reload, Skill Focus (knowledge (religion))(b), Knowledge Devotion, Point Blank Shot, Favored Vestige (Malphas)(b), Psionic Shot, Greater Psionic Shot, Recitation of the Mindful State (b), Psionic Meditation
Skills (ranks): bluff +5, concentration +8, craft (poison) +7, decipher script +5, disable device +14, disguise +5, forgery +5, gather information +5, hide +9, knowledge (arcana) +6, knowledge (architecture and engineering) +1, knowledge (dungeoneering) +2, knowledge (geography) +1, knowledge (history) +1, knowledge (local) +8, knowledge (nature) +4, knowledge (nobility and royalty) +1, knowledge (planes) +10, knowledge (religion) +10, move silently +9, open lock +14, search +13, skill tricks +4, sleight of hand +9, spot +16, truespeak +21, use magic device +9
Skill Tricks: Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Abyssal, Infernal, Draconic
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Power Points: 2
Vestiges: As 4th level binder.
Bound Vestiges: Malphas (effective binder level 6th)
Pact Augmentation: +1 to attack rolls
Utterances: As 4th level truenamer.
Evolving Mind Utterances Known (2/2): 1 – inertial surge, universal aptitude. 2 – hidden truth, strike of might.
Crafted Tool Utterances Known (1): 1 – keen weapon.
Morphic Cadences (4) – cadence of the distant step, cadence of the secret mask, cadence of the prowling tiger, cadence of the lucky fool
Equipment*: 214gp, vest of resistance +3, +5 mithril chain shirt, greater crystal of arrow deflection (MIC), ring of protection +2, +5 shock corrosive frost deadly precision distance heavy crossbow, greater crystal of energy assault (fire)(MIC), gnome crossbow sight (AEG), +2 defending crossbow bayonet (sword)(CS), gloves of dexterity +4, googles of foefinding (MIC), piercer cloak (MIC), headband of intellect +6, belt of battle (MIC), boots of elvenkind, 50 crossbow bolts, 50 brilliant energy crossbow bolts, 10 cold iron bolts, 10 adamantine bolts, 10 silver bolts, masterwork thief’s tools, Zaq’s Guide to Truenamers (masterwork tool of truenaming if allowed), greater amulet of the silver tongue (ToM), stone of good luck, climber’s kit, 50ft silk rope, grappling hook, backpack, everful mug (MIC), sassone leaf residue (x7), drow sleep poison (x6), deathblade (x3), wand of true strike, wand of silence.


Final Build: Male Human Rogue 2/Truenamer 4/Binder 4/Acolyte of the Ego 10
HP: 2d6+4d6+4d8+10d8+0 (87 hp)
Initiative: +5
AC: 32 (+0 size, +5 dex, +9 armor, +4 ring, +4 defending)
Saves: fort +17, ref +17, will +18
Space/Reach: 5ft x 5ft / 5ft
Speed: 30ft ground
Ability Scores: Str 10, dex 14 (20), con 10, int 22 (28), wis 13, cha 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +17/+17
Full Attack: heavy crossbow (1d10+3+1d6 shock+1d6 cold+1d6 acid+1d6 fire plus 1d6 delayed fire damage plus precision damage plus poison, 19-20/x2) +28 ranged; crossbow bayonet (1d8, x3) +19/14/9/4 melee; utterances; vestige abilities; morphic cadences
Special Qualities: Humanoid traits; sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding, evasion; utterances, known personal truename, knowledge focus (religion); soul binding (1 vestige), pact augmentation (1 ability), suppress sign, bonus feat (1); morphic cadences (5), resonant voice, cadence mastery, alter personal truename (-8), bonus recitation feat (1).
Feats: Able Learner (b), Wild Talent, Rapid Reload, Skill Focus (knowledge (religion))(b), Knowledge Devotion, Point Blank Shot, Favored Vestige (Malphas)(b), Psionic Shot, Greater Psionic Shot, Recitation of the Mindful State (b), Psionic Meditation
Skills (ranks): bluff +5, concentration +8, craft (poison) +8, decipher script +5, disable device +16, disguise +5, forgery +5, gather information +5, hide +9, knowledge (arcana) +8, knowledge (architecture and engineering) +1, knowledge (dungeoneering) +4, knowledge (geography) +1, knowledge (history) +1, knowledge (local) +10, knowledge (nature) +6, knowledge (nobility and royalty) +1, knowledge (planes) +12, knowledge (religion) +10, move silently +9, open lock +16, search +15, skill tricks +4, sleight of hand +9, spot +18, truespeak +23, use magic device +9
Skill Tricks: Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Abyssal, Infernal, Draconic
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Power Points: 2
Vestiges: As 4th level binder.
Bound Vestiges: Malphas (effective binder level 6th)
Pact Augmentation: +1 to attack rolls
Utterances: As 4th level truenamer.
Evolving Mind Utterances Known (2/2): 1 – inertial surge, universal aptitude. 2 – hidden truth, strike of might.
Crafted Tool Utterances Known (1): 1 – keen weapon.
Morphic Cadences (4) – cadence of the distant step, cadence of the secret mask, cadence of the prowling tiger, cadence of the lucky fool, cadence of the lost wound
Equipment*: 190 gp, vest of resistance +5, +5 freedom mithril chain shirt with greater shadow and masking (MIC), greater crystal of arrow deflection (MIC), ring of protection +4, ring of x-ray vision, +5 shock corrosive frost deadly precision distance heavy crossbow, greater crystal of energy assault (fire)(MIC), gnome crossbow sight (AEG), +4 defending crossbow bayonet (sword)(CS), gloves of dexterity +6, googles of foefinding (MIC), piercer cloak (MIC), headband of intellect +6, belt of battle (MIC), boots of elvenkind, 50 crossbow bolts, 50 brilliant energy crossbow bolts, 20 cold iron bolts, 20 adamantine bolts, 20 silver bolts, masterwork thief’s tools, Zaq’s Guide to Truenamers (masterwork tool of truenaming if allowed), greater amulet of the silver tongue (ToM), stone of good luck, climber’s kit, 50ft silk rope, grappling hook, Heward’s handy haversack, quiver of Ehlonna, rod of viscid globs (MIC), continuous collar of umbral metamorphosis, everful mug (MIC), sassone leaf residue (x10), drow sleep poison (x10), deathblade (x3), wand of true strike, wand of silence.


EX Derleth (epic progression): Either go fully CE and become an assassin or continue to alternate truenamer and binder to get Marchosias as a vestige on top of Malphas, all with an eye of further improving your ability to kill the enemy until he dies from it with the least number of attacks possible. In either event, take Skill Focus (truenaming) at 21 and Ability Focus (death attack) as soon as relevant to the build.


*Theoretical loadout based on average character wealth at corresponding level. Source books are abbreviated for convenience. Actual loadout will obviously vary based on item availability and actual GP gain at each level, but the build should still be workable without the specific gear listed. So… hooray for extra detail, I guess?


Play style:
Derleth is a combat rogue with party utility, skilled at stealthy reconnaissance and ranged hit-and-fade tactics. In combat, he is focused on applying damage on a distant target with a heavy crossbow and then disappearing, only reappearing to strike again if the target is not immediately felled. The goal is to provoke a save vs. massive damage with every attack. Knowledge devotion (Complete Champion) boosted by Collector of Stories (Complete Scoundrel), psionic shot, sneak attack, skirmish damage (from his favored vestige Malphas), strike of might utterance, poison (again due to vestige benefits) and a heavy crossbow enchanted with as many energy damage d6’s as possible all contribute to single-hit damage output. Malphas’s summoned raven provides excellent long-range scouting and target acquisition ability, allowing Derleth to perform his buffs in preparation for the fight long before the enemy realizes where he is or can reach his location. The Spot the Weak Point skill trick (Complete Scoundrel) allows him to sometimes deliver this attack as a ranged touch attack.
A gnome crossbow sight (Arms and Equipment) and distance-enchanted weapon are the best items that Derleth can buy, after an amulet of the silver tongue of course, because RAW the sight allows him to treat targets as if they were two range increments closer so long as they are not within the first two range increments to begin with. YMMV in terms of whether this should allow him to sneak attack or Spot the Weak Point in conjunction with this item, but if it does, adding this to a distance-enchanted heavy crossbow lets him hit targets for precision damage at 0-30, 240-270, and 480-510 (by activating the distance property) foot ranges. Cadence of the distant step and the ability to become invisible grant him range dictation and escape ability, while disguise, bluff, forgery, and cadence of the secret mask help him beguile his way into a place where he can make the shot.
Even if the crossbow sight trick isn’t allowed, he can still be dangerous by lying in wait for opponents after seeing their approach via raven, especially if he’s outdoors and the raven doesn’t draw suspicion. At level twenty, assuming he makes the best of his knowledge checks, throws in a strike of might, and has a +5 distance corrosive frost shock deadly precison (Magic Item Compendium) heavy crossbow, he can deal up to 1d10+21+11d6 points of damage (plus poison, which he can craft himself to save money) to a target within his precision damage range, and become invisible in the same round to prevent reprisal attacks. A ring of x-ray vision and brilliant energy bolts can provide extra entertainment; imagine this guy shooting a target from the alleyway on the other side of a fortress wall, then turning invisible, skulking around to the other side, and using bluff to feign surprise at the target’s sudden loss of cranium.
Outside of combat, Derleth is a utility skillmonkey. As much as possible, Derleth is designed to be able to do his job with minimal contribution to any ability score other than intelligence. He has a number of infiltration skills at his disposal, and retains his rogue functions even if he were denied his vestige and truespeaking abilities thanks to Able Learner (Races of Destiny). Cadence of the lost wound and cadence of the lucky fool let him endure some direct combat if he gets ferreted out, but his best option is to take up the rear of the party when not performing a trapfinding role.
For theme, consider Derleth to be a character that stole a book full of dark occult secrets from a private library at his second rogue level, perhaps the original Tome of Magic, and was never able to go back to being merely a rogue after studying the book in detail. This would work best in settings with a realm of madness that the Tome of Magic can be tied to (e.g. Eberron or any campaign that uses Elder Evils/Lords of Madness rules).

[sakuuya]

If I mess up these entries, I know whose fault it is...



http://i.imgur.com/G9Dnz7b.jpg
Sabine Murkwoods, the Last Word of Krynn

"She used to be a nice girl, Sabine Murkwoods. Born in a little town full of illumians in the Blood Sea Isles, she used to be treasured by her kin as a child prodigy. Would've gone far, that one. Her parents were teaching her truenaming by age twelve. Would've stayed that way, too, had she stayed a regular child. Then it turned out that she had psychic powers just waiting to be unleashed."

"Now, I know what you're thinking; 'psychic powers? Don't be ridiculous, not on Krynn!' But I'm telling you, she had them. She had them something fierce. Her kin done locked her up good when they realised she was doing something strange that nobody knew about. From what I heard, the number of trials and tests they made her go through was something horrific. They did experiments, too - she probably came out worse for wear. All said, though, she probably turned out more sane than the rest of her cabal put together. Especially after they tried to kill her. Honestly, who does that to their own? She apparently had to worm her way out of her cell with little more than her wits and a scrap of steel for a lockpick. Fled the town shortly after, and ended up in this here town of Kalpenthis."

"That's about when I come in. She's homeless, penniless and is barely wearing any clothes, and she walks into our library as though we owed her something. My brothers thought she was crazy, some nutter who couldn't keep her head straight long enough to keep a case, but I had a good feeling about her. She learned quickly, and she didn't look half bad in a suit. We let her in for a few years so she could find her feet, and before we knew it she was one of the best Pragnostic apostle's we'd ever taken on. A keen mind, that one. Sure, she worshiped some occult fellow called Naberius and occasionally wrote down scriptures for a dark patron or two, but we didn't mind. It was all just more knowledge for the library, and she didn't mind leaving the town to go and find more."

"Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Us here at the Pragnostic Assembly don't mind it when she's practicing witchcraft, but more than once we've had to confiscate her notes to stop her from summoning some eldritch horror from beyond the realm of Krynn. She's currently fussing over Zargon, from what I've heard, but we've been keeping her occupied with a heritage project to research personal truenames. Honestly, were it not for the incredibly hazardous and important work she undertakes on the behalf of the Assembly, she probably wouldn't be here anymore. I think everyone else just views her as a scapegoat for when something goes wrong."

"That said, I think I've taken a liking to her. Maybe it's her cryptic knowledge, or maybe it's her stifling personality - or, heck, maybe her truename training. She says she can twist the world to her will, that her cadences change the fabric of reality just for her. I can't even tell if she's telling the truth anymore. How long will it be before we can't control her?"

- Jergal Habersmott, Exalted Philosopher of Pragnostic Truths.
Text dated circa 408 AC, two years before the fall of the Pragnostic Assembly's Blood Sea Isle branch.

SABINE MURKWOODS, THE LAST WORD OF KRYNN
Race: Illumian (Vaulnaen)
Classes: Psychic Rogue 5/Inquisitor 4/Binder 1/Acolyte of the Ego 10
Alignment: Lawful Evil

Ability Scores: 32 Point Buy
Base: 15/11/15/17/8/8
Levels: +5 Intelligence
Total: 15/11/15/22/8/8

Hit Points: 9d6+11d8
Power Points: 6 base, plus 15 from Intelligence at level 20
Languages Known: Common, Illumian, Celestial, Abyssal, Infernal

Level Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Skills Feats Class Features 1st Psychic Rogue 1 +0 +0 +2 +0 Truespeak 4, Gather Information 4, Knowledge (Local) 4, Sense Motive 4, Disable Device 4, Diplomacy 4, Search 4, Open Lock 4, Concentration 4 Truename Training, Willing Deformity Sneak Attack +1d6 2nd Psychic Rogue 2 +1 +0 +3 +0 Truespeak 5, Gather Information 5, Knowledge (Local) 5, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 5, Diplomacy 5, Search 5, Open Lock 5, Concentration 5 Evasion 3rd Psychic Rogue 3 +2 +1 +3 +1 Truespeak 6, Gather Information 6, Knowledge (Local) 6, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 6, Diplomacy 6, Search 6, Open Lock 6, Concentration 6, Autohypnosis 1 Awareness 4th Psychic Rogue 4 +3 +1 +4 +1 Truespeak 7, Gather Information 7, Knowledge (Local) 7, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 7, Diplomacy 7, Search 7, Open Lock 7, Concentration 7, Autohypnosis 3 Sneak Attack +2d6 5th Psychic Rogue 5 +3 +1 +4 +1 Truespeak 8, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 8, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 8, Search 8, Open Lock 8, Concentration 8, Autohypnosis 5 Deformity (Tall) Danger Sense 6th Inquisitor 1 +3 +1 +4 +3 Truespeak 9, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 9, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 9, Search 9, Open Lock 9, Concentration 8, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 5 Power Attack Extreme Focus, Trap Sense (+1) 7th Inquisitor 2 +4 +1 +4 +4 Truespeak 10, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 10, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 8, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10 Erudite Synergy (Religion) 8th Inquisitor 3 +5 +2 +5 +4 Truespeak 11, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 11, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 8, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 8 Uncanny Dodge 9th Inquisitor 4 +6/+1 +2 +5 +5 Truespeak 12, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 12, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 8, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 6 Staggering Strike Trap Sense (+2) 10th Binder 1 +6/+1 +4 +5 +7 Truespeak 13, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 13, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 12, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 6 Chosen of Evil Soul Binding (1 Vestige) 11th Acolyte of the Ego 1 +7/+2 +6 +5 +7 Truespeak 14, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 14, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 14, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10 Known Personal Truename 12th Acolyte of the Ego 2 +8/+3 +7 +5 +7 Truespeak 15, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 15, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 15, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 6 Knowledge Devotion (Religion) Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Mighty Bull) 13th Acolyte of the Ego 3 +9/+4 +7 +6 +8 Truespeak 16, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 16, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 16, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Nature) 2 Resonant Voice 14th Acolyte of the Ego 4 +10/+5 +8 +6 +8 Truespeak 17, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 17, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 17, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Nature) 8 Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Ursine Heart) 15th Acolyte of the Ego 5 +11/+6/+1 +8 +6 +8 Truespeak 18, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 18, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 18, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Nature) 10, Knowledge (Psionics) 4 Insightful Reflexes, Insane Defiance Cadence Mastery 16th Acolyte of the Ego 6 +12/+7/+2 +9 +7 +9 Truespeak 19, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 19, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 19, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Nature) 10, Knowledge (Psionics) 5, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5 Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Lucky Fool) 17th Acolyte of the Ego 7 +13/+8/+3 +9 +7 +9 Truespeak 20, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 20, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 20, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Nature) 10, Knowledge (Psionics) 5, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Knowledge (Geography) 5, Knowledge (History) 1 Recitation of the Meditative State Alter Personal Truename (-4), Recitation Feat 18th Acolyte of the Ego 8 +14/+9/+4 +10 +7 +9 Truespeak 21, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 21, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 21, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Nature) 10, Knowledge (Psionics) 5, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Knowledge (Geography) 5, Knowledge (History) 5, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 2 Skill Focus (Truespeak) Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Distant Step) 19th Acolyte of the Ego 9 +15/+10/+5 +10 +8 +10 Truespeak 22, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 22, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 22, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 13, Knowledge (Nature) 10, Knowledge (Psionics) 5, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Knowledge (Geography) 5, Knowledge (History) 5, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 5 Alter Personal Truename (-8) 20th Acolyte of the Ego 10 +16/+11/+6/+1 +11 +8 +10 Truespeak 23, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local) 10, Sense Motive 5, Disable Device 8, Diplomacy 23, Search 10, Open Lock 10, Concentration 23, Autohypnosis 5, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 20, Knowledge (Nature) 10, Knowledge (Psionics) 5, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Knowledge (Geography) 5, Knowledge (History) 5, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 5 Deformity (Parasite) Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Lost Wound)

Manifesting as a level 5 Psychic Rogue.

Level 1 Powers Known: Compression, Force Screen, Vigor.
Level 2 Powers Known: Concealing Amorpha.

Level 5: Psychic Rogue 5
In Sabine's early days, her skills and expertise are those of a (slightly peculiar) psychic rogue. While she lacks the skills needed to sneak or prowl around her enemies, she can bypass doors, locks and social situations with the best of them. Truename Training will serve as the foundation for her later entry into Acolyte of the Ego, and Awareness will allow us to qualify for Inquisitor later on.

We have +2d6 sneak attack, but given our lack of dexterity we'll likely be using a big, two-handed weapon like a quarterstaff or longspear. As a psychic rogue, Sabine also receives a handful of psionic powers. Compression can compensate for her low dexterity, Vigor can provide some very useful temporary HP, and Force Screen offers a tidy little AC bonus when we need it. Her second level power, Concealing Amorpha, is consistently useful thanks to being a flat 25% miss chance.

Level 10: Psychic Rogue 5/Inquisitor 4/Binder 1
Between levels 6 and 10, Sabine takes a major detour from the typical role of a psychic rogue. Her skills as a trapper and lockpicker are gradually phased out, and we instead take a larger focus on knowledge skills and concentration. We want concentration because of the Investigator's first level ability, Extreme Focus, which gives us a limited ability to apply our concentration skill ranks to other intelligence- or wisdom-based skill checks. We'll use this later for Truespeak, but for now it can easily be used for Disable Device or other knowledge checks. We also get Trap Sense +2, which seems to stack with the psychic rogue's Danger Sense ability for a sizable bonus to Sabine's trapfinding skills.

This is also the level bracket of which we can become aware of Elder Evils using our knowledge ranks. With our skill ranks, intelligence bonus and Erudite Synergy, a DC 25 Knowledge (Religion) check to identify Zargon has more than a 50% chance of success - and if we don't get it the first time, we can make other checks later. By pledging ourselves to Zargon (as described on Page 10 of Elder Evils), we gain a number of Vile feats (1 + 1/5HD) both immediately and in the future. We'll take Willing Deformity and Deformity (Tall) for general melee handiness, and Chosen of Evil for some very handy insight bonuses to whatever we deem relevant at the time. It costs an immediate action and deals 1 point of constitution damage, and the benefit is only +1 per Vile feat, but with the aid of Naberius this feat becomes far more useful.

This is why, at level 10, we take a 1-level dip into Binder. Every day we will summon Naberius, who grants us the following:
At-will Disguise Self
Faster ability healing (1/round and 1/hour)
The ability to make some skill checks untrained (equal to constitution modifier, chosen at the time of binding).
The ability to affect a creature as per the Command spell.
the ability to take 10 on Diplomacy (and bluff) checks even if distracted or threatened, as well as the ability to rush Diplomacy checks as a standard action at no penalty.
These skills are perfect for Sabine, offering easier infiltration and persuasion abilities as well as some extra skills on demand. The most important ability here, however, is the ability to heal ability damage at a rate of 1/round. This allows us to use Chosen of Evil as much as we want, because we'll immediately heal the ability damage it deals. A quick word on multiclassing: While it is a dip, Sabine doesn't take multiclassing penalties for taking a level in binder. Illumians have Favoured Class: Any, so her highest level class (Psychic Rogue) isn't counted for multiclassing penalties.

As for our regular feats, we pick up Power Attack at level 6 and Staggering Strike at level 9. While not immediately useful to us, Power Attack will be useful later when we have the BAB to support it. Meanwhile, Staggering Strike comes online as soon as creatures with full and half BAB are beginning to get iterative attacks, making the staggering property that much more useful.

Level 15: Psychic Rogue 5/Inquisitor 4/Binder 1/Acolyte of the Ego 5
For the remainder of her levels, Raquel branches out further from her psychic rogue roots and adopts the mantle of an Acolyte of the Ego. We pick up Cadence of the Mighty Bull and Cadence of the Ursine Heart as our first cadences, using them to shore up our otherwise mediocre strength and constitution scores. While a piddling +2 bonus for now, they'll become much more useful after we pick up some more cadences and truly begin to see the synergy between Resonant Voice, Cadence Mastery and Extreme Focus.

Our two standard feats are Knowledge Devotion (Religion) and Insightful Reflexes, while our bonus Vile feat is Insane Defiance. Knowledge Devotion is an obvious choice given the knowledge skills of the Acolyte of the Adept, and while it'll doubtlessly be used in other builds the feat's bonuses are simply too useful to pass up. Insightful Reflexes helps us improve our ailing Reflex save by replacing dexterity with intelligence, our highest skill. Lastly, Insane Defiance improved the Chosen of Evil benefit by +1 while giving us a way to avoid mind-affecting effects (which typically target Will, our other less-than-incredible save) through the use of an immediate action. Sure, it deals 1 point of damage to our Wisdom score, but Naberius' faster ability healing takes care of that nicely.

Finally, let's talk about Truespeak DCs. It's no secret that these Truespeak checks are difficult and require optimisation; the only question is how. I'll start with the big stickler, which will likely see near-universal use this round; the Pragnostic Assembly, from Complete Champion. As long as you can meet the guild ranking requirements, the Pragnostic Assembly can offer up to a +10 bonus to Truespeak.
Base ranks equal to half of character level. At level 15, this is +7.
+2 points per Knowledge skill with at least 10 ranks. At level 15, Sabine has 6 such skills; Local, Planes, Religion, Dungeoneering, Arcana and Nature. This is a bonus of +12.
A +1 bonus for having levels in a class with at least three knowledge skills as class skills. Both Inquisitors and Acolytes of the Ego have all knowledge skills as class skills. This is a bonus of +1.
While not enough to receive a +10 bonus to Truespeak, an organisation ranking of 20 is enough to get a +5 bonus on Truespeak.

The base DC for speaking a personal truename is 15+2*HD+2. At level 15, this is a DC of 47. We can, in fact, meet this Truespeak check DC.
18 from Truespeak ranks.
+5 from Intelligence score.
+2 from Illumian (the Naen sigil grants a +2 bonus to all Intelligence checks, including Truespeak).
+5 from Pragnostic Assembly membership.
+4 from reciting your own Personal Truename.
+4 from Chosen of Evil
18+5+2+5+4+4 is a base check bonus of 38. That's about a 50/50 chance of meeting the basic Truespeak DC of a single cadence, assuming no items and assuming that the Law of Resistance isn't in effect. However, up to four times per day, we can improve our chances up to an automatic success - even with both Resonant Voice and Cadence Mastery! Suffice to say, this is our ideal way of entering combat or prebuffing.

As above, but with the following alterations:
The base DC is 57 (Base 47, +5 from Resonant Voice, +5 from Cadence Mastery: Mighty Bull and Ursine Heart).
+18 skill bonus from Concentration ranks (Extreme Focus gives us the limited ability to add our Concentration skill ranks to any other intelligence- or wisdom-based skill check).
Adding a bonus of 18 to our base check bonus of 38 gives a total check bonus of 56. Given a minimum roll of 1, our lowest Truespeak result is 57. This is easily enough to meet the base check DC of 57, and it should be enough to reliably meet Cadence DCs throughout the day regardless of items or the Law of Resistance.

Level 20 (Sweet Spot): Psychic Rogue 5/Inquisitor 4/Binder 1/Acolyte of the Ego 10
Here, Sabine rounds out her levels in the Acolyte of the Ego through additional of cadences and skill check bonuses. She learns three additional cadences; Cadence of the Lucky Fool at level 6, Cadence of the Distant Step at level 8, and Cadence of the Lost Wound at level 10. Lucky Fool offers a convenient boost to all of Sabine's saving throws, Distant Step offers a handy escape or pursuit ability and Lost Wound offers some always-relevant Fast Healing. She also forces other truenamers to take a -8 penalty on checks to speak her personal truename, but that would probably be more useful if there were more truenamers running about.

For feats, she picks up skill Focus (Truespeak) for a flat +3 bonus to Truespeak and also gains a bonus recitation feat. Frankly, recitation feats are nothing special; they're minor bonuses, and the most useful one for Sabine only scales with Truenamer levels which she doesn't have. Recitation of the Meditative State is the only one which is actually useful to Sabine, and only in the narrow niche of an emotion-based effect which doesn't have the mind-affecting descriptor. For her bonus vile feat, Sabine picks up Deformity (Parasite) for the ability to remvoe diseases and poisons from herself at the cost of being staggered for one round. It's a minor bonus, but a bonus all the same - and it also boosts Chosen of Evil by an additional +1.

Speaking of Chosen of Evil, let's look at Sabine's Truespeak DCs and bonuses. She's gained enough ranks in other knowledge skills to achieve a rank of at least 23 in the Pragnostic Assembly, giving her a +10 bonus to Truespeak checks in place of her old +5 bonus. She's got a flat +3 bonus from Skill Focus, and she's gained ranks in both Truespeak and Concentration. The basic DC to beat is 15+2*HD+2, or 57.
[b]23 from Truespeak ranks.
+6 from Intelligence score.
+2 from Illumian Naen sigil.
+10 from Pragnostic Assembly membership.
+4 from reciting your Personal Truename.
+5 from Chosen of Evil.
+3 from Skill Focus.
23+6+2+10+4+5+3 gives a base skill bonus of 53, which is about a 25% chance to hit the required Truespeak DC for a single Cadence with no items or Law of Resistance. If we want to combine Resonant Voice, Cadence Mastery and Extreme Focus again for a powerful start-of-combat buff, the alterations are as follows:
Base DC of 77 (Base of 57, +5 from Resonant Voice, +15 from Cadence Mastery: Mighty Bull, Ursine Heart, Lucky Fool and Lost Wound).
+23 skill bonus from Concentration ranks (via Extreme Focus).
In this case, the base skill bonus is 76 against a Truespeak DC of 77. Even on a 1, Sabine has a 100% chance to successfully make the Truespeak check and activate the effects of four of her Cadences at once with +3 class level to each. Again, this result ahs no consideration for Truespeak-boosting items or for the Law of Resistance, but on the surface it seems that Sabine is able to reliably hit the Truespeak DCs over the course of the day.

"Will do Personal Truename Research for Coin"
Let's be frank; Truespeak needs all the help it can get, and items are the easiest way to do that. In cases where you have access to items or crafting, obtain an Amulet of the Silver Tongue +5/+10 and a Headband of Intelligence +2/+4/+6 as soon as possible, giving you some breathing room when using your Cadences. In this case, you may even be able to drop the Vile feats and the level in Binder, instead picking up a fifth level in Inquisitor for a less evil build. In fact, while we're at it:

Swearing to an Elder Evil is Cheating!
This is a legitimate rule found on page 10 of the Elder Evils book, but the character can be worked around its absence. The build presented here is simply meant to be self-sufficient, having no need for items when making its most crucial shcecks. Under the circumstances of most games, items are not so difficult to obtain; in these cases, it would be wise to pick up whatever Truespeak-boosting items you can find.

Isn't Four Uses a Bit Low?
Extreme Focus had daily uses equal to your number of levels in Inquisitor. While a mere four uses per day may seem insufficient, remember that we're only using it for the pre-round or start-of-combat buffing typical of most mid- and high-level fights. A character should only be fighting about 4 or so equal-level encounters per day, and Sabine is a reasonable combatant even without the boosts from Acolyte of the Ego.

The Mind's Eye (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b): Psychic Rogue
Tome of Magic: Binder, Acolyte of the Ego, Recitation of the Meditative State, Truename Training
Dragonlance Campaign Setting: Inquisitor
Races of Destiny: Illumian
Elder Evils: Willing Deformity, Chosen of Evil, Insane Defiance, Deformity (Parasite)
Book of Vile Darkness: Deformity (Tall)
Complete Champion: Knowledge Devotion, the Pragnostic Assembly
Complete Adventurer: Staggering Strike, Insightful Reflexes

[sakuuya]

Battle not with truenamers, lest ye learn truenaming.


Benjamin Nutt
TN Human
Human Paragon 1 / Cobra Strike Monk 2 / Sneak Attack Thug Fighter 3 / Teflammar Shadowlord 4 / Acolyte of the Ego 10

Stats (32 pts):
STR: 16 (10 pts)
DEX: 14 (6 pts)
CON: 12 (4 pts)
INT: 16 (10 pts)
WIS: 10 (2 pts)
CHA: 8 (0 pts)

Level-up points go into STR.



Level
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features


1st
Human Paragon 1
+0
+0
+0
+2
Tumble +4 (4), Truespeak +4 (4), Use Magic Device +4 (4), Hide +4 (4), Move Silently +4 (4), Concentration +4 (4), Diplomacy +2 (2), Balance +4 (4), Knowledge: Local (Thesk) +2 (2)
Blind-Fight, Darkstalker
Adaptive Learning: Use Magic Device


2nd
Cobra Strike Monk 1
+0
+2
+2
+4
Hide +1 (5), Move Silently +1 (5), Tumble +1 (5), Use Magic Device +1 (5), Truespeak +1 cc (5), Balance +1 (5), Concentration +1 (5)
Dodge (bonus), Improved Unarmed Strike (bonus)
Flurry of Blows, AC Bonus, Monk Unarmed Strike, +2 bonus to Escape Artist


3rd
Cobra Strike Monk 2
+1
+3
+3
+5
Hide +1 (6), Move Silently +1 (6), Tumble +1 (6), Use Magic Device +1 (6), Truespeak +1 cc (6), Concentration +1 (6), Diplomacy +1 (3)
Mobility (Bonus), Craft Wondrous Item
Invisible Fist


4th
Sneak Attack Thug Fighter 1
+2
+5
+3
+5
Hide +1 cc (7), Move Silently +1 cc (7), Truespeak +1 cc (7), Use Magic Device +1 (7), Tumble +1 (7)
No new feats
Sneak Attack +1d6


5th
Sneak Attack Thug Fighter 2
+3
+6
+3
+5
Hide +1 cc (8), Move Silently +1 cc (8), Truespeak +1 cc (8), Use Magic Device +1 (8), Tumble +1 (8)
No new feats
No new class abilities


6th
Sneak Attack Thug Fighter 3
+4
+6
+3
+6
Hide +1 cc (9), Move Silently +1 cc (9), Truespeak +1 cc (9), Use Magic Device +1 (9), Tumble +1 (9)
Spring Attack
Sneak Attack +2d6


7th
Acolyte of the Ego 1
+5
+8
+3
+6
Hide +1 cc (10), Move Silently +1 cc (10), Truespeak +1 (10), Use Magic Device +1 (10), Concentration +1 (7), Diplomacy +1 (4)
No new feats
Known Personal Truename


8th
Acolyte of the Ego 2
+6
+9
+3
+6
Truespeak +1 (11), Use Magic Device +1 (11), Concentration +3 (10), Diplomacy +3 (7)
No new feats
Morphic Cadence: Cadence of the Distant Step


9th
Teflammar Shadowlord 1
+6
+9
+5
+6
Hide +2 (12), Move Silently +2 (12), Truespeak +1 cc (12), Use Magic Device +1 (12), Tumble +1 (10)
Sun School
Spells, Shadowsight, Shadow Jump


10th
Teflammar Shadowlord 2
+7
+9
+6
+6
Hide +1 (13), Move Silently +1 (13), Truespeak +1 cc (13), Use Magic Device +1 (13), Tumble +2 (12), Balance +1 (6)
No new feats
Shadow Blur


11th
Teflammar Shadowlord 3
+8
+10
+6
+7
Hide +1 (14), Move Silently +1 (14), Truespeak +1 cc (14), Use Magic Device +1 (14), Tumble +2 (14), Balance +1 (7)
No new feats
Shadow Walk


12th
Teflammar Shadowlord 4
+9
+10
+7
+7
Hide +1 (15), Move Silently +1 (15), Truespeak +1 cc (15), Use Magic Device +1 (15), Tumble +1 (15), Concentration +1 cc (11)
Power Attack
Shadow Pounce


13th
Acolyte of the Ego 3
+10
+10
+8
+8
Hide +1 cc (16), Move Silently +1 cc (16), Truespeak +1 (16), Use Magic Device +1 (16), Concentration +1 (12), Diplomacy +1 (8)
No new feats
Resonant Voice


14th
Acolyte of the Ego 4
+11
+11
+8
+8
Hide +1 cc (17), Move Silently +1 cc (17), Truespeak +1 (17), Use Magic Device +1 (17), Concentration +1 (13), Diplomacy +1 (9)
No new feats
Morphic Cadence: Cadence of the Mighty Bull


15th
Acolyte of the Ego 5
+12
+11
+8
+8
Hide +1 cc (18), Move Silently +1 cc (18), Truespeak +1 (18), Use Magic Device +1 (18), Concentration +1 (14), Diplomacy +1 (10)
Skill Focus: Truespeak
Cadence Mastery


16th
Acolyte of the Ego 6
+13
+12
+9
+9
Hide +1 cc (19), Move Silently +1 cc (19), Truespeak +1 (19), Use Magic Device +1 (19), Concentration +1 (15), Diplomacy +1 (11)
No new feats
Morphic Cadence: Cadence of the Thunder Drake


17th
Acolyte of the Ego 7
+14
+12
+9
+9
Hide +1 cc (20), Move Silently +1 cc (20), Truespeak +1 (20), Use Magic Device +1 (20), Concentration +1 (16), Diplomacy +1 (12)
Recitation of the Sanguine State (bonus)
Alter Personal Truename (–4)


18th
Acolyte of the Ego 8
+15
+13
+9
+9
Hide +1 cc (21), Move Silently +1 cc (21), Truespeak +1 (21), Use Magic Device +1 (21), Concentration +1 (17), Diplomacy +1 (13)
Martial Study: Shadow Stride
Morphic Cadence: Cadence of the Lucky Fool


19th
Acolyte of the Ego 9
+16
+13
+10
+10
Hide +1 (22), Move Silently +1 cc (22), Truespeak +1 (22), Use Magic Device +1 (22), Concentration +1 (18), Diplomacy +2 (15)
No new feats
Alter Personal Truename (–8)


20th
Acolyte of the Ego 10
+17
+14
+10
+10
Hide +1 (23), Move Silently +1 cc (23), Truespeak +1 (23), Use Magic Device +1 (23), Concentration +1 (19), Diplomacy +2 (17)
No new feats
Morphic Cadence: Cadence of the Living Fortress



(Spells for Teflammar Shadowlord:)
Spells per Day/Spells Known
Spells per Day/Spells Known


Level
0lvl
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th


1st
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


2nd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


3rd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


4th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


5th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


6th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


7th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


8th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


9th
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


10th
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


11th
-
1
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


12th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


13th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


14th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


15th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


16th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


17th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


18th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


19th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


20th
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


(Note: This table does not include bonus spells.)

Story
When Benjamin was young, his hometown was raided by a band of marauding Truenamers. The townsfolk were helpless against the horrible onslaught. The heartless Truenamers did unavoidable damage with Reversed Words of Nurturing. They used and reused and re-reused Skull Talismans with Rebuild Item. They carried around pet bunnies and healed themselves by uttering at the bunnies. They made themselves immune to the city damage that the town guard-mages tried to throw at them. They used their victims to fuel terrifying sacrifices, made all the more hideously powerful with their overbuffed Knowledge: Religion checks. Benjamin wasn't 100% sure what they were after, but from his hiding place, he saw that they stole every single holy book from the local shrine (dedicated to a minor deity not worshiped anywhere else), cackling about how “the Paragnostic Assembly will love to learn about this!” Benjamin only escaped by running and hiding, but he came away from the experience convinced of two things. First, truenames had power. And second, he wasn't going to allow anyone to do that to him again.

The surviving townsfolk were, understandably, skittish about the concept of studying the dreaded truename magic; thankfully for Benjamin, he was accustomed to keeping things concealed, so his studies mostly flew under the radar of those around him. He wasn't interested in becoming a Truenamer himself; to wholeheartedly devote himself to the magic that caused his friends and family so much heartache just seemed blasphemous. But he couldn't deny that there was power in names, and he never let go of his fascination with that power.

His early research revealed that truenames become harder to speak as their owner increases in power. With that in mind, he joined the next adventuring party that came through town. His goal was twofold: he wanted to become powerful enough not only to fight back against anyone else who thought they could come at him with truename magic, but he also wanted to become powerful enough to become harder to utter at in the first place. Benjamin's skills at sneaking around, along with his knack for crafting magical trinkets, made him get along with the adventuring party just fine, and he became a sturdy adventurer in his own right.

After adventuring around for some time, his furtive research into the power of truenames finally bore fruit: he figured out how to say his own truename, and what's more, he figured out how to use that ability to jaunt short distances. His conscience would never let him try to abuse anyone else's truename, but his own was another matter. At once excited and embarrassed by his discovery, he redoubled his studies in the stealthy arts (trying to make sure that no one else would easily notice his reveling in his new power), weaving his new trick into his attack pattern. Eventually, he found that he was able to save so much time by jaunting rather than walking that he was able to make a full attack after teleporting into place—a full attack and then some, even!

Benjamin continued his research into his own truename. He found new ways to say it, he found ways to make it reverberate in his ears, and he found many ways to use it to his advantage. Perhaps the discovery that made him happiest was when he discovered how to make it harder for other people to say—never again would he feel defenseless against an enemy Truenamer!

He never ran into the original band of Truenamers that laid waste to his home, but he stood ready against them nonetheless, ever vigilant in case they should return.

Tactics
Benjamin starts out as a basic sneak. Invisible Fist gives him a reliable way of triggering Sneak Attack, not to mention a way to just plain get out of trouble. With Darkstalker, he's able to sneak up on nearly anything, which serves him well.

The first morphic cadence Benjamin learns is Cadence of the Distant Step, which gives him a dimension door-like ability as often as he can succeed on his Truespeak checks. He uses Craft Wondrous Item to get an item or two to help him make those checks (an Amulet of the Silver Tongue, a competence item if he's allowed, and probably a Headband of Intellect, once he can afford it). The +4 for using his own truename helps with this, of course. Not long after getting Cadence of the Distant Step, Sun School lets him make an attack after teleporting around, which is always handy.

Cadence of the Distant Step also qualifies him for Teflammar Shadowlord. The first three levels of Shadowlord are useful enough—always-on blur, if nothing else, is nothing to be ashamed of—but the fourth level is what really makes Cadence of the Distant Step shine. A full attack after using Cadence of the Distant Step is hugely useful, and Sun School stacks another full-power swing on top of that. Benjamin has, at this point, joined the ranks of the shadowpouncers. Cadence of the Distant Step is a pretty long-range effect for something usable so often, so mobility concerns really become a thing of the past. He can teleport around basically wherever he likes, and then unleash a full attack plus one.

Cadence Mastery allows Benjamin to use his other cadences without missing a beat. He can easily turn on Cadence of the Mighty Bull, Cadence of the Lucky Fool, or whatever other cadence he likes, all while shadowpouncing and making a full attack. Cadence of the Thunder Drake is not awe-inspiring when it's used instead of attacking, and its rather paltry range is usually a bummer, but using it after teleporting into the perfect location and making a full attack is another matter entirely.

When he hits 18th level, Benjamin can use Shadow Stride once per encounter, allowing him to get off two full attack sequences (and two extra Sun School attacks) in one round, once per encounter. Cadence of the Distant Step has a much longer range than Shadow Stride, so he will almost always lead with Cadence of the Distant Step and follow with Shadow Stride.

2d6 Sneak Attack isn't huge, but a final BAB of +17 is enough to get four attacks (plus one) out of his full attack routine, and Power Attack is as good on Benjamin as it is on any other beatstick, eventually becoming his primary source of bonus damage. Benjamin stays good at hiding to the very end (especially, but not only, if he crafts himself a Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis), and he can often catch enemies off-guard, so he's relatively accurate.

Benjamin's non-stealth skills are nothing to be ashamed of. Five ranks in Balance keeps him non-flat-footed on slippery surfaces, he's got enough Tumble to reliably get where he needs to go (when he isn't just teleporting anyway), Diplomacy gives him something good to do outside of combat, and Concentration is used to make sure that his morphic cadences don't provoke. He also has maximum ranks in Use Magic Device, which is highly useful both in and out of combat.

Q and A
Q: How do you qualify for Craft Wondrous Item at 3rd level?
A: Invisible Fist is a supernatural ability without a specified caster level. Per MM pg. 315, a supernatural ability without a specified caster level is assumed to have a caster level of your Hit Dice. Therefore, we have a caster level of 3rd at 3rd level, and we therefore meet the prerequisite for Craft Wondrous Item.

Q: How are you taking Tumble as a class skill with your Sneak Attack Thug Fighter levels?
A: Per the Cityscape web expansion (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a), any class with Ride as a class skill may trade it out in favor of Tumble.

Q: Why don't you take Truespeak as your permanent class skill with Adaptive Learning?
A: That wouldn't be using the secret ingredient to the fullest, now would it? The secret ingredient gets Truespeak as a class skill, so there's no need for us to double up on it. Also, in addition to its normal uses, Use Magic Device can be used to activate scrolls to meet prerequisites for crafting wondrous items, if we can't find a caster willing to help us.

Q: How do you meet Acolyte of the Ego's requirement of speaking four languages?
A: Every point of INT you start the game with allows you to learn one additional language. We speak Common, Elven, Draconic, and Celestial.

Q: Why does Hide stop being cross-class for you at level 19?
A: The feat Martial Study grants you the key skill of the discipline of the maneuver you choose as a class skill. Shadow Stride is a Shadow Hand maneuver, so we get Hide as a class skill at level 18. However, since you pick your feats after you assign your skill points (PHB, pg. 58-59), this doesn't benefit us until level 19.

Q: What are your Teflammar Shadowlord spells known?
A: Teflammar Shadowlord doesn't have a specific number of spells known at each level. It says that “the Shadowlord prepares and casts spells just as a Wizard does” (UE, pg. 36), so it's possible that a spellbook is involved, but the rulebook is otherwise silent on the issue. The spells we would favor the most (and thus would try to get in our spellbook as soon as possible, if that is how it is handled) are Invisibility, Improved Invisibility, Displacement, and Haste.

Q: What kind of items are on your wishlist?
A: An Amulet of the Silver Tongue is critical for keeping up our Truespeak check, and an item that provides a competence bonus to Truespeak is also going to be very handy. A continuous Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis (ToM, pg. 156) can make hiding much, much easier, though we are still functional without it. We do attack, so standard attack-friendly items like a magic weapon and a STR-boosting item are quite useful. Nobody is going to say no to standard numbers-boosting items like enhancement bonuses to stats, a Cloak of Resistance, magic armor, and so on. We can actually craft our own wondrous items, so we should be able to get our hands on quite a few of these as we progress through the levels, meeting the prerequisites either by hiring spellcasters or by buying scrolls to use via UMD.

Q: Do you fight unarmed and unarmored?
A: No, that would be silly. We get proficiency in a martial weapon from Human Paragon, which we use on a greatsword for two-handed fun. Invisible Fist, unlike Evasion, doesn't care if we're armored or not, so we wear the best light armor we can afford (a chain shirt early on, eventually graduating to a mithril breastplate as funds warrant). Our Shadowlord spells do have ASF, so we try to keep that to a minimum (though we have plenty of tricks to fall back upon even without our spells).

Source List
Human Paragon, Cobra Strike Monk, Sneak Attack Thug Fighter—Unearthed Arcana
Darkstalker—Lords of Madness
Invisible Fist—Exemplars of Evil
Skilled City Dweller—Cityscape Web Expansion (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)
Acolyte of the Ego, Recitation of the Sanguine State—Tome of Magic
Teflammar Shadowlord—Unapproachable East
Sun School—Complete Warrior
Martial Study (Shadow Stride)—Tome of Battle

[sakuuya]

All you other slim shadys are just imitating.



The Slender Shadow
LN Heart-Aspect Dragonborn Lesser Tiefling Truenamer 1/Invisible Fist Cobra Strike Monk 2/Martial Focused Conjurer 1/Acolyte of the Ego 2/Swordsage 2/Acolyte of the Ego +1/Telflammar Shadowlord 4/Acolyte of the Ego +7

My name is…
My name is…
My name is…


The WordsAbility ScoresPoint Buy: 14 Str, 14 Dex, 16 Con, 16 Int, 8 Wis, 8 Cha
After Racial Adjustments: 14 Str, 14 Dex, 18 Con, 18 Int, 8 Wis, 6 Cha
Increase Con at level 4 and Int at every opportunity thereafter.
Level Progression


Level
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features


1st
Truenamer 1
+0
+0
+0
+2
Truespeak 4, Concentration 4, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 4, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (History) 4, Knowledge (The Planes) 4, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 4
Kung Fu Genius
Known Personal Truename


2nd
Cobra Strike Monk 1
+0
+2
+2
+4
Truespeak 4, Concentration 5, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (History) 4, Knowledge (The Planes) 4, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 4, Hide 3, Move Silently 3
Improved Unarmed StrikeB, DodgeB
Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike, Bonus Feat, AC Bonus


3rd
Invisible Fist Cobra Strike Monk 2
+1
+3
+3
+5
Truespeak 4, Concentration 6, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (History) 4, Knowledge (The Planes) 4, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 4, Hide 6, Move Silently 6
Darkstalker, MobilityB
Invisible Fist, Bonus Feat


4th
Martial Focused Conjurer 1
+1
+3
+3
+7
Truespeak 6, Concentration 7, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 5, Knowledge (History) 4, Knowledge (The Planes) 4, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 4, Hide 6, Move Silently 6
Blind-FightB
Abrupt Jaunt, Fighter Bonus Feat, Ban Evocation, Necromancy, and Abjuration


5th
Acolyte of the Ego 1
+2
+5
+3
+7
Truespeak 8, Concentration 8, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 5, Knowledge (Religion) 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 6, Knowledge (History) 5, Knowledge (The Planes) 5, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 6, Move Silently 6
-
Known Personal Truename


6th
Acolyte of the Ego 2
+3
+6
+3
+7
Truespeak 9, Concentration 9, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 6, Knowledge (Religion) 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 6, Knowledge (History) 5, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 7, Move Silently 7
Skill Focus (Truespeak)
Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Distant Step)


7th
Swordsage 1
+3
+6
+5
+9
Truespeak 10, Concentration 10, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 6, Knowledge (Religion) 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 6, Knowledge (History) 6, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 10, Move Silently 10
-
Discipline Focus: Weapon Focus (Shadow Hand)


8th
Swordsage 2
+4
+6
+6
+10
Truespeak 11, Concentration 11, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 7, Knowledge (Religion) 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 6, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 11, Move Silently 11
-
AC Bonus


9th
Acolyte of the Ego 3
+5
+6
+7
+11
Truespeak 12, Concentration 12, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 9, Knowledge (Arcana) 6, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 11, Move Silently 11
Desert Wind Dodge, Spring Attack (trade out Dodge per the text of Desert Wind Dodge)
Resonant Voice


10th
Telflammar Shadowlord 1
+5
+6
+9
+11
Truespeak 13, Concentration 12, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 6, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 13, Move Silently 13
-
Shadowsight, Shadow Jump


11th
Telflammar Shadowlord 2
+6
+6
+10
+11
Truespeak 14, Concentration 14, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 6, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 14, Move Silently 14
-
Shadow Blur


12th
Telflammar Shadowlord 3
+7
+7
+10
+12
Truespeak 15, Concentration 15, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 7, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 15, Move Silently 15
Sun School
Shadow Walk


13th
Telflammar Shadowlord 4
+8
+7
+11
+12
Truespeak 16, Concentration 16, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 8, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 16, Move Silently 16
-
Shadow Pounce


14th
Acolyte of the Ego 4
+9
+8
+11
+12
Truespeak 17, Concentration 17, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 16, Move Silently 16
-
Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Thunder Drake)


15th
Acolyte of the Ego 5
+10
+8
+11
+12
Truespeak 18, Concentration 18, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 5, Hide 18, Move Silently 17
Quicken Breath
Cadence Mastery


16th
Acolyte of the Ego 6
+11
+9
+12
+13
Truespeak 19, Concentration 19, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 6, Hide 19, Move Silently 19
-
Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Mighty Bull)


17th
Acolyte of the Ego 7
+12
+9
+12
+13
Truespeak 20, Concentration 20, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 6, Hide 20, Move Silently 20, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 3
Recitation of the Sanguine StateB
Alter Personal Truename -4, Recitation Feat


18th
Acolyte of the Ego 8
+13
+10
+12
+13
Truespeak 21, Concentration 21, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 6, Hide 21, Move Silently 21, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 6
Martial Study (Shadow Stride)
Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Prowling Tiger)


19th
Acolyte of the Ego 9
+14
+11
+13
+14
Truespeak 22, Concentration 22, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 9, Hide 22, Move Silently 22, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 7
-
Alter Personal Truename -8


20th
Acolyte of the Ego 10
+15
+12
+13
+14
Truespeak 23, Concentration 23, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (History) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) 10, Hide 23, Move Silently 23, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 10
-
Morphic Cadence (Cadence of the Living Fortress)


Subsystems
As a Truenamer 1, the Slender Shadow gets a single Lexicon of the Evolving Mind utterance known. As normal for Truenamers, this utterance will be Universal Aptitude.

As a first level Focused Specialist, the Slender Shadow has four cantrips per day plus three Conjuration cantrips, and a single first level spell, plus three first level Conjuration spells, before adding the bonus first level spells for a high Int score.

Swordsage maneuvers actually require a table.


Level
Maneuvers Known
Stances Known
Maneuvers Readied


7
Shadow Jaunt, Moment of the Perfect Mind, Distracting Ember, Cloak of Deception, Mountain Hammer, Cloak of Deception
Island of Blades
4


8
Insightful Strike
Assassin’s Stance
4


The Speech“You wish to know about the real Slender Shadow? I’m afraid that makes two of us, young pupil, but I admire your curiosity. You will make a fine member of our order one day.

It was the need to answer that question that first inspired me to join the Paragnostic Assembly. And even with all the knowledge I have gathered from the world around me, I always have another answer waiting when I turn back inward.

I suppose the easiest way to describe it is by detailing the things I have found within myself in the order I found them. When I first cast my gaze beneath the surface of my psyche, I discovered ancestry from the bowels of the nine hells. The bloodline is now distant and dilute, but still, its fell order was established throughout my consciousness as far as I could tell.

Yet this was but the surface of my self. While it took a good while, and seemed a tremendously difficult problem at the time, in retrospect, it was as if I merely scratched the grime from a single restraining chain, and found the dazzling gleam of platinum just beneath its surface. The call of Bahamut reverberated throughout my mind, and the oppressive horror that had seemed to be my entire being fell apart to reveal the depths beneath it. I am eternally greatful to Lord Bahamut for granting me the insight to take that step, and have served His interests ever since. Fortunately, the chromatic dragons and spawn of Tiamat guard troves of forbidden knowledge jealously, and are a threat to all humanoid civilizations and interests, so the north wind guides me along a path which accommodates my duties to the Assembly and to the Shadowmasters.

The depths beneath were strange, and it was a long while before I could discern rhyme or reason for anything I heard there. I sought my true name in the void, and it seemed to speak a syllable from each direction, one as silent as darkness or from very far away, the next like the roar of a dragon or snort of a bull bearing down upon me. It was a long time before I could even begin to make sense of the noise all around me in my head, but eventually, I could sort them and their placement into a sort of pattern. I heard my name as the disparate facets of my mind and soul spoke it to me from all directions, and finally had a glimpse at who I truly was, and of my place in this strange, wondrous world.

But it was only a glimpse, and as soon as I beheld it, I knew that there was further still to go. As soon as I could process the voices all around me, I knew in my heart the way toward the center toward which the speech was directed. It was like walking across a vast desert barefoot and naked, but I knew the oasis in the distance was not a mirage, and I pressed on. Finally, I reached my goal and found myself at the epicenter of my very being.

The best that I can describe it is thus. I stood directly beneath a brilliant light and looked down towards the shadow cast upon the floor between my feet. I asked for the real Slender Shadow to please stand up, and he obliged.

Understand, young one, that I am not vague out of a desire to preserve my secrets. Concealing knowledge from the order is forbidden, and I take that very seriously. But what I experienced defies explanation and all the knowledge that I have accrued in my years of study. Perhaps one day, I will truly understand and be able to teach this truth, or someone will be able to better articulate what they experience at the focal point of their soul, but for the time being, I do not believe that any living have delved as deep as I. For the present, the best answer that I can give you, is that I am the real Slender Shadow, and all the other slender shadows are merely imitators.”

The MeaningLevel 5No sense in sugarcoating it, the first few levels are a bit of a mess. We’ve got a lot of feat taxes to pay, and a lot of skills to keep up despite the fact that many of them are non-class skills more often than I’d like. I really wanted to make this build a human with Able Learner, but we need Heart Aspect Dragonborn for reasons that will become clear later, so I chose Lesser Tiefling for the stat bonuses. We’re already into the SI, though we’ll be ducking in and out of it for a while rather than rushing to complete it. Since we don’t have a feat slot for Knowledge Devotion, we’re mostly using knowledge skills to improve standing with the Paragnostic Assembly and to a lesser extent covering some of the non-creature related knowledges that are often overlooked. In addition, be sure to do whatever you can with regard to the roleplay options for boosting your Paragnostic Assembly affiliation.

Level 10Things are better, if still not great. We’ve finally made it through the brutal prereqs for Telflammar Shadowlord, with Cadence of the Distant Step filling the Dimension Door requirement and Assassin’s Stance granting the necessary 2d6 of Sneak Attack. Things are looking up, and we’ve at least got some solid stealth and a bit of utility to keep from being too useless.

Level 15 (Sweet Spot)We’ve picked up shadow pounce, and the most important trick in this build, Cadence of the Thunder Drake+Quicken Breath+Cadence Mastery. Here’s how it all shakes out. Cadence of the Thunder Drake is a breath weapon, therefore the never-errata’d Quicken Breath can activate it as a free action. With Cadence Mastery, other cadences can come along for the ride, which means Cadence of the Distant Step shadow pouncing. Incidentally, this is the reason why the Slender Shadow needed to be a Heart Aspect Dragonborn. I needed a breath weapon with a recharge time expressed in rounds to qualify for Quicken Breath, as it’s a [Metabreath] feat. This would be a pretty nifty combo on its own, but there’s one more question that needs asking. What happens when you fail the truespeak check for a Quickened Breath Cadence of the Thunder Drake? It could be argued that you simply can’t attempt a Cadence of the Thunder Drake for 4 rounds, but I would argue that since you haven’t actually used your breath weapon in that case, the increase in recharge time before you can use it again doesn’t come into play and you can just keep trying without any of the Law of Sequence-esque penalties, because of how truespeak checks work. So by my reading, the only thing stopping you from taking 20 on a free action check to turn on all your Morphic Cadence buffs, blast a 20ft cone with a small amount of sonic damage, and teleport yourself up to some enemy for a shadow pounce once per 4 rounds (so basically once per encounter), is your DM limiting the number of free actions you can take. We’ve also got Abrupt Jaunt, Shadow Jaunt, Shadow Jump, and a few low level Wizard Spells with which to generate shadow pounces. The bread and butter option is of course, Benign Transposition, but since we’ve put effort into pumping our truespeak check, we should also give some consideration to Scramble True Position. The randomness is somewhat problematic, but with a longspear and unarmed strikes, you’ll always be able to reach someone who you start out adjacent to if you can get your reach increased another 5 ft, and if you’re on a team of shadow pouncers, the ability to throw a short teleport to everyone in a 10ft circle certainly has potential to be great.

Level 20We pick up a few more buffs through our remaining Morphic Cadences and an extra shadow pounce on our move action through Martial Study (Shadow Stride) - achieving the holy grail that is a four shadow pounce round - to make the Slender Shadow better at what he already does.

Uses of WBLA +10 truespeak item is as high on the wish list as ever for truenamers.

A Necklace of Natural Attacks for your unarmed strikes and maybe a decent longspear to extend your reach. If you can get your reach extended 5 ft further in some fashion (if you subscribe to the interpretation that maneuver items can carry stances, an Iron Heart Vest of Dancing Blade Form and two prereq maneuvers will work), that will give you the reach to shadow pounce reliably with Scramble True Position.

You can use spell trigger items of wizard spells, so enjoy doing so.

Int and Str are the big stats that need boosting. Con and Dex are high enough for qualification purposes, which is the primary concern.

You’ve got to give the Paragnostic Assembly a percentage of your wealth as a truenaming tax, just resign yourself to that fact.

AdaptationsIf you use fractional BAB, the Slender Shadow will get the lauded 4th iterative.

You can get Blind-Fight through the Darkness or Shadow Domains with a Cloistered Cleric dip instead of Martial Wizard if you really want Knowledge Devotion. However, the need for Dragonborn makes getting those domains a little awkward without your backstory involving some manner of deific team up, as Bahamut does not offer them. Hit-and-Run Fighter 1 is another dip I'm fond of for Shadow Pouncing, and that would get your BAB to 16 at level 20. Either of these would cost you access to Benign Transposition and Abrupt Jaunt, though, and I don't really think it's worth it, personally.

If your DM lets you qualify for Craven with Assassin’s Stance (it's technically not a class ability, so RAW is against it), take that instead of Martial Study and use an eternal wand of Heroics or a Shadow Hand item to get the maneuver.

I really, really wanted Able Learner in this build, because so many important skills are cross class so often, but I needed to go Dragonborn for Quicken Breath. If you can get a breath weapon with recharge in rounds through the Metabolic Fire graft in Races of the Dragon, then I’d go with human for Able Learner and just rejigger the point buy a bit (something like 14 Str, 14 Dex, 16 Con, 16 Int, 8 Wis, 8 Cha with Con boosted at 4th, 8th, and 12th or just boosted at 4th then improved to 19 with a +2 item).

If you can take flaws or use the Chaos Shuffle on that damn recitation feat, the I’d really like to have gotten Shadow Blade and a few other feats (maybe Knowledge Devotion with skill points rejiggered for better creature identification) into this build. You could also get Able Learner as a Dragonborn Human with a flaw or by delaying becoming Dragonborn until later levels. If you delayed it all the way until you got the recitation feat, you could trade that out instead, but that's unfortunately after you need dragonborn to qualify for Quicken Breath.

The DictionaryComplete Champion: Paragnostic Assembly
Complete Mage: Focused Specialist
Complete Warrior: Sun School
Draconomicon: Quickened Breath
Dragon Compendium: Kung Fu Genius
Exemplars of Evil: Invisible Fist
Lords of Madness: Darkstalker
Player’s Guide to Faerun: Lesser Planetouched
Player’s Handbook II: Abrupt Jaunt Wizard Variant
Races of the Dragon: Dragonborn of Bahamut
Spell Compendium: Benign Transposition
Tome of Battle: Desert Wind Dodge, Martial Study, Swordsage
Tome of Magic: Acolyte of the Ego, Recitation of the Sanguine State, Truenamer, Scramble True Position
Unapproachable East: Telflammar Shadowlord
Everything else should be in the SRD.

[sakuuya]

Oh, hey! I almost didn't see you there.



Astraea Theodosia, Master of the Passive Way
Kalashtar Arcane Stunt Swashbuckler 3/Passive Way Kalashtar Invisible Fist Monk 3/Acolyte of the Ego 10/Uncanny Trickster 3
Str 10, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 8
All level bonuses go into Intelligence


http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/315/a/1/locks_by_loish-d6tvfel.jpg

source (http://loish.deviantart.com/art/locks-412972221)

Level by Level Progression


Level
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skill Ranks
Feats
Class Features


1st
Swashbuckler 1
+1
+2
+0
+0
Bluff 4, Diplomacy 4, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 2, Sense Motive 4, Truespeak 2, Tumble 4
Skill Focus (Bluff)
Weapon Finesse


2nd
Swashbuckler 2
+2
+3
+0
+0
Bluff 5, Diplomacy 5, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 2, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Sense Motive 5, Truespeak 2.5, Tumble 5
-
Arcane Stunt (blur, 1+Int/day)


3rd
Passive Way Kalashtar Monk 1
+2
+5
+2
+2
Bluff 5.5, Diplomacy 6, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 3, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Sense Motive 6, Truespeak 3, Tumble 6
Carmendine Monk
AC Bonus, Combat Expertise, Psychic Insight, Unarmed Strike


4th
Passive Way Kalashtar Monk 2
+3
+6
+3
+3
Bluff 6, Diplomacy 7, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 4, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Sense Motive 7, Truespeak 3.5, Tumble 7
-
Invisible Fist (1/3 rds)


5th
Passive Way Kalashtar Monk 3
+4
+6
+3
+3
Bluff 6.5, Diplomacy 8, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 5, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Sense Motive 8, Truespeak 4, Tumble 8
-
Fast Movement (+10'), Still Mind


6th
Swashbuckler 3
+5
+6
+4
+4
Bluff 6.5, Diplomacy 9, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 6, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Sense Motive 9, Truespeak 9, Tumble 9
Truename Training
Insightful Strike


7th
Acolyte of the Ego 1
+6
+8
+4
+4
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 10, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 7, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 2, Sense Motive 10, Truespeak 10, Tumble 9
-
Know Personal Truename


8th
Acolyte of the Ego 2
+7
+8
+4
+4
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 11, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 8, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 3, Sense Motive 11, Truespeak 11, Tumble 9
-
Cadence: Thunder Drake (2d6/cadence sonic damage)


9th
Acolyte of the Ego 3
+8
+9
+5
+5
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 12, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 9, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 4, Sense Motive 12, Truespeak 12, Tumble 9
Knowledge Devotion
Resonant Voice


10th
Acolyte of the Ego 4
+9
+9
+5
+5
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 12, Knowledge (Arcana, Religion) 10, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 5, Sense Motive 13, Truespeak 13, Tumble 9
-
Cadence: Swallowed Spell (15+2/cadence SR)


11th
Exemplar 1
+9
+9
+5
+7
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 14, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, Religion) 10, Sense Motive 14, Truespeak 14, Tumble 9
-
Skill Artistry (+4 Truespeak), Skill Mastery (Bluff, Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Sense Motive, Truespeak, Tumble)


12th
Acolyte of the Ego 5
+10
+10
+5
+7
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 15, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, Religion) 10, Knowledge (History) 3, Sense Motive 15, Truespeak 15, Tumble 9.5
Superior Unarmed Strike
Cadence Mastery


13th
Acolyte of the Ego 6
+11
+10
+6
+8
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 16, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, Religion) 10, Knowledge (History) 6, Sense Motive 16, Truespeak 16, Tumble 10
-
Cadence: Distant Step (teleport 100'/cadence), Recitation of the Sanguine State


14th
Acolyte of the Ego 7
+12
+11
+6
+8
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 17, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, Religion) 10, Knowledge (History) 9, Sense Motive 17, Truespeak 17, Tumble 10.5
-
Alter Personal Truename (-4)


15th
Acolyte of the Ego 8
+13
+11
+6
+8
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 18, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, History, Religion) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 2, Sense Motive 18, Truespeak 18, Tumble 11
Snap Kick
Cadence: Living Fortress (20% fortification/cadence)


16th
Acolyte of the Ego 9
+14
+12
+7
+9
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 19, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, History, Religion, The Planes) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 6, Sense Motive 19, Truespeak 19, Tumble 11.5
-
Alter Personal Truename (-8)


17th
Acolyte of the Ego 10
+15
+12
+7
+9
Bluff 8, Diplomacy 20, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, History, Religion, The Planes) 10, Sense Motive 20, Truespeak 20, Tumble 12
-
Cadence: Prowling Tiger (insight to Dex = cadences)


18th
Uncanny Trickster 1
+15
+12
+9
+9
Bluff 12, Diplomacy 21, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, History, Religion, The Planes) 10, Sense Motive 21, Truespeak 21, Tumble 18
Skill Focus (Truespeak)
Bonus Trick (Back On Your Feet), Favorite Trick (Collector of Stories)


19th
Uncanny Trickster 2
+16
+12
+10
+9
Bluff 21, Diplomacy 22, Knowledge Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, History, Religion, The Planes) 10, Sense Motive 22, Truespeak 22, Tumble 19
-
Bonus Trick (Acrobatic Backstab), Favorite Trick (Acrobatic Backstab), +1 level of Acolyte of the Ego features (no effect)


20th
Uncanny Trickster 3
+17
+13
+10
+10
Bluff 22, Diplomacy 22, Knowledge (Arcana, Architecture and Engineering, Dungeoneering, History, Religion, The Planes) 10, Sense Motive 22, Truespeak 23, Tumble 20
-
Bonus Trick (Tumbling Crawl), Favorite Trick (Nimble Stand), +1 level of Acolyte of the Ego features (Cadence: Ursine Heart (insight to CON = cadences))


Note: The skills column is her ranks in a particular skill, not her total bonus.


Adjunct Table: Misc Bonuses


Level
Paragnostic Assembly Rank
Paragnostic Assembly Abilities
Equipment (tabulated)
Skill Tricks
Effective Truespeak Bonus
Initial Cadence DC


1st
1
-
-
-
+6


2nd
2
-
-
-
+6


3rd
2
Paragnostic Assembly
-
-
+7


4th
3
-
-
-
+7


5th
5
-
Circlet of intellect +2
-
+9


6th
6
Paragnostic Scholar
-
-
+19


7th
6
-
Greater amulet of the silver tongue
-
+30


8th
7
-
-
Group Fake-Out
+3229


9th
7
-
-
Collector of Stories
+3331


10th
11
Sage of Worldly Matters
Circlet of intellect +4
Social Recovery
+3533


11th
12
-
-
Nimble Stand
+4035


12th
13
-
-
-
+4137


13th
14
-
Circlet of intellect +6
-
+4239


14th
15
-
-
-
+4441


15th
16
Seeker of Unseen Words
-
-
+4543


16th
18
-
Tome of clear thought +1
-
+4745


17th
19
-
Tome of clear thought +2
-
+4947


18th
20
-
Tome of clear thought +3
-
+5349


19th
20
-
Tome of clear thought +4
-
+5551


20th
23
Master of the Unturned Page
Tome of clear thought +5
-
+5753


EQUIPMENT NOT ON THIS TABLE IS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE ABOVE STATISTICS

Overall: With near full-ranks in Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive, Astraea makes a capable point-of-contact character despite having an average Charisma score. While capable of fighting alone, Astraea really only begins to shine when in a group, as she is able to move to the rear of the enemy's line very easily to take out archers or similar sniping opponents. Alternatively, she can move into a flanking position invisibly to support her allies and is capable of subterfuge despite not having a rank in Hide or Move Silently. She has a better-than-average Base Attack Bonus and strong base values for all saving throws, making her a capable combatant, and she gains rather effective Spell Resistance, crit immunity, and several forms of non-AC defense.

5th Level: At this level, Astraea has just begun her journey down the Path of the Passive Way.She has begun her training in Truespeech, but is so far unable to actually utilize any truename magic. Despite this, her monastic training has shown her how to become invisible for brief periods, defend herself intelligently, and briefly make herself more difficult to hit.

Game statistics: Astraea wields a kama +1 and uses Improved Trip as her primary combat mechanism. When faced with a challenging opponent, she uses blur defensively (up to 5 times per day, activable as a swift action and lasting 1 round). She uses her Dexterity modifier to attack and adds her Intelligence modifier to her unarmored Armor Class. Against multiple opponents, she makes frequent use of Invisible Fist, turning invisible for 1 round out of every three, generally tripping an opponent while invisible if she can. If forced into a grapple, she spends power points to augment her grapple check.

7th Level: At this level, Astraea has started down the path of the Ego, better learning oneself through the understanding of one's truename. She has joined the Paragnostic Assembly to aid her in this path of enlightenment, and they both have much knowledge to offer one another.

Game statistics: Astraea still wields her kama +1, having saved up quite a great deal of money to purchase a greater amulet of the silver tongue. However, she now adds her Intelligence modifier to her damage rolls. She knows her truename, but is unable to speak it with cadences at this point. Her attack patterns remain unchanged.

11th Level: At this level, Astraea has moved down her chosen path of enlightenment, gaining access to the Paragnostic Assembly's libraries of knowledge due to the information she has shared with them. She has learned how to intone her truename with two different cadences, both of which she uses to good effect. In addition, her practice with truespeech has given her some ability to speak it without thought.

Game statistics: Astraea now knows how to speak two cadences, Thunder Drake and Swallowed Spell. Thunder Drake allows her to breathe a cone of sonic damage, inflicting 4d6 sonic to all creatures in a 20' cone (save DC 18 for half), while Swallowed Spell grants her Spell Resistance 19 for 4 rounds. She may speak any cadence twice before she even has to roll a Truespeak check, but she is also allowed to take 10 on Truespeak checks due to her Skill Mastery. As such, she may in reality use both cadences up to eight times per day before she needs to begin making Truespeak checks.

15th Level: Astraea's knowledge of her truename allows her to teleport herself short distances and mitigate potentially lethal attacks. In addition, she has used truespeak enough that her personal truename has begun to warp and shift, making it more difficult for others to make user of it for their own ends.

Game statistics: Astraea may now cleanse poison from her body. She has learned two more cadences: Distant Step and Living Fortress. Thunder Drake now deals 8d6 sonic damage in a 20' cone (save DC 28 for half), Swallowed Spell now grants her Spell Resistance 23 for 8 rounds, Distant Step lets her teleport up to 400', and Living Fortress grants her 80% immunity to crits and precision damage for 8 rounds. Between her ability to blur herself, Living Fortress, and Invisible Fist, she is a very difficult target to pin down. By taking 10 on her Truespeak checks, she may use any of her cadences up to seven times in a day before she needs to roll. Alternatively, she may speak three cadences concurrently if she has not used them earlier in the day without needing to roll her check: when she does so, she usually turns invisible as an immediate action, then concurrently speaks Living Fortress, Distant Step, and Thunder Drake to move into position, increase her defenses, and then unleash an unexpected attack.

20th Level: Having mastered the Passive Way, Astraea requested access to the Paragnostic Assembly's restricted libraries and was granted access. She is smart--very smart--and almost impossible to catch if she doesn't want to be. Her personal truename has continued to warp and shift, making it very difficult for others to utilize it.

Game statistics: Astraea knows six cadences (having learned Prowling Tiger and Ursine Heart), more than the typical Acolyte of the Ego learns. Thunder Drake deals 12d6 damage (save DC 36 for half). Distant Step transports her up to 600'. Living Fortress grants complete immunity to crits and precision damage for 12 rounds. Swallowed Spell provides Spell Resistance 27 for 12 rounds. Prowling Tiger and Ursine Heart provide her a +6 insight bonus to Dexterity and Constitution, respectively. When utilizing Ursine Heart, the save DC for Thunder Drake increases to 39. By taking 10 on her Truespeak checks, she may use any of her cadences up to eight times in a day before she needs to roll. Generally she uses Invisible Fist to turn invisible, then concurrently activates Distant Step, Prowling Tiger, and Ursine Heart to move somewhere hidden, then on her next turn concurrently activates Living Fortress and Swallowed Spell.

Note: Most of Astraea's statistics presented in the preceding paragraphs treat her as largely unequipped: aside from the items mentioned in the adjunct table (greater amulet of the silver tongue, circlet of intellect, and tome of clear thought), Astraea's equipment is fairly fluid. She carries a kama +1 (or better, at higher levels, probably finishing out at a screaming stunning shattermantle kama of collision +1), wears no armor, and could make use of a number of standard adventurer kit items (such as a source of flight) that have not been described here as they are not intrinsic to the character's function.

[sakuuya]

And that's yer lot! If I messed up anyone's build, please let me know and I'll fix it.

[Venger]

hey thanks a lot for posting. looks like a weird round.

[Zaq]

Huh. Everyone has levels in either Binder or Monk. Interesting.

As always, the waiting is the hardest part. I'm looking forward to the judging!

[WhamBamSam]

And, as always, even with all the time I had to potentially edit and fiddle with my build, I noticed a means to improve it immediately after the reveal. Oh well, I'm still pretty happy with it.

[Venger]

And, as always, even with all the time I had to potentially edit and fiddle with my build, I noticed a means to improve it immediately after the reveal. Oh well, I'm still pretty happy with it.

that's the life of an iron chef.

[Troacctid]

Wasn't there one from the other contest that was supposed to be entered in both?

[Venger]

Wasn't there one from the other contest that was supposed to be entered in both?

here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18176108&postcount=129) is a link to Jacamo

[Heliomance]

Aye, relytdan got banned, so she couldn't submit the build again. Here it is:


Jacamo

CN: Human: Jester 6/ Acolyte of the Ego 7/ Lasher 7

Background

Background
I am Jacamo, jester extrodinare! king of jesters & jester of the king. If it would please the court I shall tell you a tale that is without end.
With his oratory & comedic abilities he spun a very good story along with his ability to disguise and alter his appearance it made for a very entertaining night.


Character

Abilities
Languages
Common, Draconic, Sylvan, Dwarven
32 point buy
str 13 dex 13 con 12 int 16 wis 10 cha 14
4 int +1
8 int +1
12 str +1
16 dex +1
20 str +1


Build

Build


Level
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features


1st
Jester 1
0
0
2
2
Climb 4, Craft (Leatherworking) 2cc, Disguise 4, Escape Artist 4, Intimidate 4, Perform (comedy) 4, Perform (oratory) 4, Truespeak 4, Tumble 4, Use Rope 4
Truename Training, Combat Expertise
Jester's audacity +1, jester's performance, fascinate, inspiring quip


2nd
Jester 2
1
0
3
3
Climb 5, Craft (Leatherworking) 2.5cc, Disguise 5, Escape Artist 5, Intimidate 5, Perform (comedy) 5, Perform (oratory) 5, Truespeak 5, Tumble 5, Use Rope 5
Deflect Arrows
Bonus feat


3rd
Jester 3
2
1
3
3
Climb 6, Craft (Leatherworking) 3cc, Disguise 6, Escape Artist 6, Intimidate 6, Perform (comedy) 6, Perform (oratory) 6, Truespeak 6, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6
weapon focus (whip)
Taunt


4th
Jester 4
3
1
4
4
Climb 7, Craft (Leatherworking) 3.5cc, Disguise 7, Escape Artist 7, Intimidate 7, Perform (comedy) 7, Perform (oratory) 7, Truespeak 7, Tumble 7, Use Rope 7
-
-


5th
Jester 5
3
1
4
4
Climb 8, Craft (Leatherworking) 4cc, Disguise 8, Escape Artist 8, Intimidate 8, Perform (comedy) 8, Perform (oratory) 8, Truespeak 8, Tumble 8, Use Rope 8
-
jester's audacity +2


6th
Jester 6
4
2
5
5
Climb 9, Disguise 9, Escape Artist 9, Intimidate 9, Perform (comedy) 9, Perform (oratory) 9, Truespeak 9, Tumble 9, Use Rope 9, Use Magic Device 1
Power Attack, Snatch Arrows
Bonus feat, Calming performance


7th
Acolyte of the Ego 1
5
4
5
5
Climb 10cc, Disguise 10cc, Escape Artist 10cc, Perform (comedy) 10cc, Truespeak 10, Tumble 10cc, Use Rope 10cc, Use Magic Device 2cc
-
know personal truename


8th
Acolyte of the Ego 2
6
5
5
5
Disguise 11cc, Escape Artist 11cc, Perform (oratory) 10cc, Truespeak 11, Tumble 11cc, Use Rope 11cc, Use Magic Device 3cc<ST:Assume Quirk>
-
morphic cadence (cadence of the mighty bull)


9th
Acolyte of the Ego 3
7
5
6
6
Disguise 12cc, Escape Artist 12cc, Truespeak 12, Tumble 12cc, Use Rope 12cc, Use Magic Device 5cc<ST:Whip Climber>
Flay
resonant voice


10th
Acolyte of the Ego 4
8
6
6
6
Disguise 13cc, Escape Artist 13cc, Truespeak 13, Tumble 13cc, Use Rope 13cc, Use Magic Device 7cc<ST:Back on Your Feet>
-
morphic cadence (cadence of the prowling tiger)


11th
Acolyte of the Ego 5
9
6
6
6
Disguise 14cc, Escape Artist 14cc, Truespeak 14, Tumble 14cc, Use Rope 14cc, Use Magic Device 9cc<ST:Acrobatic Backstab>
-
cadence mastery


12th
Acolyte of the Ego 6
10
7
7
7
Disguise 15cc, Escape Artist 15cc, Truespeak 15, Tumble 15cc, Use Rope 15cc, Use Magic Device 13cc
Flay Foe
morphic cadence (cadence of the ursine heart)


13th
Acolyte of the Ego 7
11
7
7
7
Disguise 16cc, Escape Artist 16cc, Intimidate 11, Tumble 16cc, Use Rope 16cc, Use Magic Device 16cc
recitation of the saguine state
alter personal truename(-4), recitation feat


14th
Lasher 1
12
7
9
7
Disguise 17cc, Escape Artist 17, Intimidate 13, Tumble 17cc, Use Rope 17, Use Magic Device 17cc
-
whip sneak attach +1d6, close combat, wound, whip lash


15th
Lasher 2
13
7
10
7
Disguise 18cc, Escape Artist 18, Intimidate 15, Tumble 18cc, Use Rope 18, Use Magic Device 18cc
improved trip, Arterial Strike
improved trip, third hand


16th
Lasher 3
14
8
10
8
Disguise 19cc, Escape Artist 19, Intimidate 17, Tumble 19cc, Use Rope 18, Use Magic Device 18cc
-
crack of fate


17th
Lasher 4
15
8
11
8
Disguise 20cc, Escape Artist 20, Intimidate 19, Tumble 20cc, Use Rope 20, Use Magic Device 20cc
-
lashing whip


18th
Lasher 5
16
8
11
8
Disguise 21cc, Escape Artist 21, Intimidate 21, Tumble 21cc, Use Rope 21, Use Magic Device 21cc
Lunging Strike
sneak attack +2d6


19th
Lasher 6
17
9
12
9
Craft (Leatherworking) 5, Disguise 22cc, Escape Artist 22, Intimidate 22, Tumble 22cc, Use Rope 22, Use Magic Device 22cc
improved disarm
improved disarm


20th
Lasher 7
18
9
12
9
Disguise 23cc, Escape Artist 23, Intimidate 23, Truespeak 16, Tumble 23cc, Use Rope 23, Use Magic Device 23cc
-
stunning snap




Spells per Day

Spells per Day


Level
0lvl
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th


1st
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


2nd
3
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


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


4th
3
2
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


5th
3
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


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




Spells Known

Spells Known


Level
0lvl
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th


1st
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


2nd
5
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


3rd
6
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


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


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


6th
6
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-



0-LEVEL JESTER SPELLS
Create Water
Daze
Detect Magic
Light
Mage Hand
Prestidigitation

1ST-LEVEL JESTER SPELLS
Animate Rope
Disguise Self
Expeditious Retreat
Feather Fall

2ND-LEVEL JESTER SPELLS
Alter Self
Invisibility
Rope Trick


Level Breakdown

Level Breakdown
Jacamo when not entertaining has a great talent with the whip and it is said he can kill a flea on a dog's back from 20 feet away without harming the dog.
Jacamo has limited arcane spells to use along with his skills, tricks, feats and abilities making him fairly rounded with both combat & social skills.
The Jester picks up Weapon Proficiency whip, which with the rope skills, tricks and feats makes it the tool or weapon of choice
This build utilizes two unique SI's the Acolyte of the Ego & Lasher, it is felt that neither SI needs to reach its capstone ability to round out the build as presented which utilizes most of the effects of both SI's abilities.

*OPTIONAL
Elven chain
Whip
Whip-Dagger
Standard Adventure Kit


Sources

Sources
SRD
Jester (dragcomp p36)
Acolyte of the Ego (tom p204)
Lasher (s&f p25)

[Muggins]

It's really interesting to see how some of these builds panned out. I see two shadowpouncers, a ranged skirmisher, a brutish rogue and a magical trickster. There's also Relytdan's whip-cracking bucket of laughter, but Iunno if we should consider that a breach of anonymity.

That might be why Relytdan was so vocal in moving forward.

[Venger]

It's really interesting to see how some of these builds panned out. I see two shadowpouncers, a ranged skirmisher, a brutish rogue and a magical trickster. There's also Relytdan's whip-cracking bucket of laughter, but Iunno if we should consider that a breach of anonymity.

That might be why Relytdan was so vocal in moving forward.

since she's banned and due to circumstances hers wasn't anonymous, we should probably just ignore it.

[Troacctid]

You know, I think I'll try my hand at judging this round. Somebody's gotta do it.

I'm not really one for the fine granularities. 3 is the baseline; it's fine. 4 is good. 2 is poor. 5 means you blew my mind and 1 means you just blew it. There is no 0.

Originality: A good score in originality means you did something unusual or unexpected. A bad score means you did something boring. The fact that all the builds used Acolyte of the Ego means that the scores here flattened out a lot; it's hard to have a build that uses it and still feels "usual" or "expected" because I honestly have no idea what I'm supposed to expect.
Elegance: Questionable rules interpretations, rules errors, cheesiness, and general awkwardness would earn you penalties here. Making everything click in a satisfying way would earn bonus points. There weren't a lot of bonus points this round. Bonus points in Elegance are hard.
Power: If you made it to mid/high-T4, you got a 3. T5 or low T4 is a 2.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: If you qualified, took all 10 levels, were competent enough in truespeaking to make the DCs, and didn't suck so hard that you made the whole thing look bad, you probably got a 3. If you did something nifty that helped justify it, you got a 4. Spoiler alert: nobody got a 5.

Originality: 3
Well...it's not unoriginal, but it doesn't seem terribly unique either. Rogue/Binder/Truenamer is a weird combination of classes, but they also aren't really combining in an interesting way. I dunno. Uh...here, have a 3.

Elegance: 2
Despite being human, you still managed to pick up a multiclass penalty. The Psionic Shot line on a non-psionic character is also awkward--you qualify with Wild Talent, yes, but if that's what you're wasting your racial bonus feat on...well, it's awkward. (You could have at least used the House Adon version from Complete Psionic. Minor Creation is great for a poison-user.) And the move action to regain psionic focus is not a combo with the move action to reload your heavy crossbow. Also, you wrote out your entry in a really annoying way, which I'm not specifically penalizing, but it displeased me. So you get a 2.

Power: 2
You don't really do anything. I mean, you can maybe snipe a little, but you spent a ton of build resources on it and you're still not even very good at it (and I'm not giving you points for using a shocking flaming corrosive frost weapon, anyone can do that). And you have some skills, but you're still only at 4 + Int for most of your levels, so you're below par compared to other skillmonkeys. The Binder levels would help with versatility, but you committed yourself pretty strongly to a single vestige and you never get the ability to bind a second one, so you're making poor use of it. Basically, you can do a few things but don't do any of them well, and you're easily overshadowed by anyone halfway competent. That's bad.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 2
You took all 10 levels and you made the token investment in truespeaking, but the class has little to no synergy with everything else you're doing. I mean, you have abilities, and you can use them, and they do things, but mostly what they do is give you minor, low-impact buffs that you often won't have the actions for. In fact, as far as I can tell, for what your character is doing, it's pretty much worse than taking more levels of Truenamer, and that's saying something. I realize similar things can be said about some of the other entries because of how utterly dreadful Acolyte of the Ego is as a class, but your build falls under the "sucking so hard that you make it look bad" clause and theirs don't, so you get the 2.

Total: 9
Originality: 3
"Knowledge-focused skillmonkey with a pumped-up Truespeak check" isn't exactly breaking new ground, but Inquisitor is something you don't see much of. Overall, it's original enough for a 3.

Elegance: 3
I consider the Elder Evil thing to be on the cheesy side, but you did acknowledge that it's not integral to the build (and I agree with you), and it's not a huge boost in power, so you get a small enough ding in elegance and a small enough bump in power that I didn't bother factoring it into either score at all. I think you're generally on par here; nothing strikes me as especially elegant or inelegant. You get a 3.

Power: 3
Well, you're good at Knowledge checks, you have decent mobility, you're okay with Diplomacy, and you can sort of do melee combat a bit. Acolyte of the Ego is still bad, but you have Knowledge Devotion, Staggering Strike, and Power Attack doing some work for you, and it helps that your checks are easily high enough to simultaneously use all your buffs while teleporting into position. I think you managed to land in tier 4.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3.5
The elusive half-point. I waffled between 3 and 4 here, and I split the difference because your through-the-roof Truespeak checks are enough to put you above the baseline, but the fact that you're doing so little else with the class puts you below the entries that got a 4. (Spoiler: some entries got a 4.)

Total: 12.5
Originality: 3
Lucky for you, I'm not docking points for the Vizzini effect, Mr. Sneak Attacking Shadowpouncer Monk. Unlucky for you, I'm not awarding points for fluff, even though I was cracking up at your backstory. Band of marauding Truenamers. ROFL. But yeah, nothing strikes me here either way, so you get a 3.

Elegance: 3
I thought about docking you for using an obscure technicality to qualify for Craft Wondrous Item, or for putting down a non-Lawful alignment as a Monk, but they seemed so trivial that I couldn't bring myself to do it, especially once you got on my good side with your fluff. So no bonus, but no penalty either.

Power: 3
I think you met the bar in this category. Seems T4 enough. Your Truespeak check isn't as high as some of the other entries, but I don't want this to be a bean-counting competition. You have magic items and skill focus. It's adequate.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 4
Shadowpounce seems like a good use of the secret ingredient. It isn't amazing, but it is definitely a nifty thing that helps justify it. Sure, have an extra point.

Total: 13
Originality: 4
Quicken Breath caught me by surprise, sort of. I wasn't expecting someone to come at it from the breath weapon angle. I want to reward it. I guess there's a case that the extra point could go in Power or Use of the Secret Ingredient, or maybe it's only worth half a point, or maybe it's worth two halves split between categories, but eh.

Elegance: 2
I think using a breath weapon that you don't care about to qualify for Quicken Breath so you can apply it to a totally different breath weapon is inelegant. I also think you overdipped. I wouldn't normally penalize dips when there are no multiclass xp penalties involved, but in this case, it cost you your fourth iterative in a build that's optimized for full attacking, and that is awkward. Oh, power-wise, sure, it's not a huge loss, but elegance-wise, it's definitely awkward. Between the two, I'm docking a point.

Power: 3
Not much to say about this one. It seems on par with the other shadowpouncer. Solid T4.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 4
I'm giving you the same score as the other shadowpouncer because you're using the secret ingredient in the same way. Okay, you had Quicken Breath, but I paid you in Originality for that instead. And I don't want to put this as a 5. It doesn't feel like a 5 to me. Anyway, bottom line, it's good. You get a good score.

Total: 13 12
Originality: 3
Swashbuckler was unexpected, but it's also boring, so meh. I'm calling it a 3.

Elegance: 2
You call yourself a Master of the Passive Way, but you never actually complete the path? You even have the Skill Focus (Bluff) and everything, which could have been doing double duty giving you your Passive Way thingy and qualifying you for Exemplar, but you abandon the style halfway through. What's the deal? Also, there is friction between Weapon Finesse and Improved Trip. You want to be tripping, but you also want to be Dex-based, which doesn't help your tripping. It makes the build feel less cohesive. And using Uncanny Trickster to progress a prestige class past its endpoint is sketchy stuff. All in all, I'm docking you a point.

Power: 3
Well, again, you are not very powerful, but you probably land in T4 near enough to the others. Some melee, some social skills, mobility, knowledges...it seems adequate.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 4
Exemplar is doing for you what Inquisitor is doing for Sabine, more or less. So you get the same credit for having more reliable truespeaking checks. I'll toss in an extra half-point for stretching the secret ingredient further with Uncanny Trickster.

Total: 12

I think I'll skip Jacamo because of the aforementioned anonymity issue, but given that he didn't even bother to max out his Truespeak ranks, it's probably safe to say he would not have scored well, as I'm pretty sure he literally can't use his class features.

[sakuuya]

since she's banned and due to circumstances hers wasn't anonymous, we should probably just ignore it.

Yeah, this. I deliberately didn't present Jacamo for the reasons you specify.

EDIT: Suddenly, judging! Thanks, Troacctid!

[dysprosium]

Even though I did not enter this round I had planned on a build that would have been in both contests. I missed the deadline for the Lasher round so I didn't bother to finish for this Acolyte of the Ego round.

But just the same would that have meant that because the other round is over and done that mine would have been "ignored" because everyone would have known it was mine?

I don't find that reasoning fair.

Just my two cents on that.

[Venger]

Yeah, this. I deliberately didn't present Jacamo for the reasons you specify.

EDIT: Suddenly, judging! Thanks, Troacctid!

sorry, I didn't check whose it was before linking. now everyone's talking about her again. oops!


Even though I did not enter this round I had planned on a build that would have been in both contests. I missed the deadline for the Lasher round so I didn't bother to finish for this Acolyte of the Ego round.

But just the same would that have meant that because the other round is over and done that mine would have been "ignored" because everyone would have known it was mine?

I don't find that reasoning fair.

Just my two cents on that.

the issue isn't anonymity, it's that relytdan was being disruptive and rude to everyone and has been banned, so there's no point in giving her any more attention.

since it sounds like you didn't finish your acolyte, it's not that you want to enter it (if I'm reading you right) it's just the principle of the thing, which I can sort of understand.

this is a weird circumstance, so I wouldn't worry about it setting a precedent.

[sakuuya]

Even though I did not enter this round I had planned on a build that would have been in both contests. I missed the deadline for the Lasher round so I didn't bother to finish for this Acolyte of the Ego round.

But just the same would that have meant that because the other round is over and done that mine would have been "ignored" because everyone would have known it was mine?

I don't find that reasoning fair.

Just my two cents on that.

No. If you had submitted to both contests and then been banned, I would have ignored yours. For me, at least, the latter is more important than the former. Anonymity can sometimes be tenuous in these competitions, so that by itself wouldn't've been enough for me to not post your build. It's this particular weird combination of circumstances.

EDIT: Aaand, Swordsaged.

[dysprosium]

the issue isn't anonymity, it's that relytdan was being disruptive and rude to everyone and has been banned, so there's no point in giving her any more attention.

since it sounds like you didn't finish your acolyte, it's not that you want to enter it (if I'm reading you right) it's just the principle of the thing, which I can sort of understand.

this is a weird circumstance, so I wouldn't worry about it setting a precedent.

You are correct about it being the principle.

Given the long time between I could have easily finished the build but it would have made little sense since I missed one half of the contests. I also had responded to sakuuya when she PMed me about if I had a build that I did not think it right for me to enter a build that I did not finish for the original due date.

It was the way I had read how the build was known so it was ignored that raised my eyebrows.


No. If you had submitted to both contests and then been banned, I would have ignored yours. For me, at least, the latter is more important than the former. Anonymity can sometimes be tenuous in these competitions, so that by itself wouldn't've been enough for me to not post your build. It's this particular weird combination of circumstances.

I do recognize that since she was banned she could not have resubmitted to you--even though you can be pretty sure it was submitted to Kuulvheysoon. She was a very active participant in Zinc Saucier so I know how quickly she submitted builds.

I agree about anonymity too. I'm sure the regular participants/readers of Iron Chef can usually recognize which builds were submitted by the usual suspects.

Thank you both for clarifying.

[Amphetryon]

Might I humbly suggest we move the discussion away from bannings?

Nice entries, folks.

[Venger]

Thank you both for clarifying.
Sure thing. Thanks for listening.


Might I humbly suggest we move the discussion away from bannings?

Nice entries, folks.

Yeah, I'd like that too.

I'm surprised there are two telflammar shadowlords. I honestly didn't see that coming.

[sakuuya]

I do recognize that since she was banned she could not have resubmitted to you--even though you can be pretty sure it was submitted to Kuulvheysoon. She was a very active participant in Zinc Saucier so I know how quickly she submitted builds.

I agree about anonymity too. I'm sure the regular participants/readers of Iron Chef can usually recognize which builds were submitted by the usual suspects.

Thank you both for clarifying.

I should have probably made a note when I put up the builds why I was excluding Jacamo. I didn't because I was trying to avoid discussing banned posters, which, as you can see, worked super well. :smallsigh: Ah, well, this is my first time doing anything like this, and it's a complicated case. I was bound to make a mistake or two. Sorry for the confusion, everybody!


I'm surprised there are two telflammar shadowlords. I honestly didn't see that coming.

Actually, Telflammar Shadowlord was my first thought, too (though, obviously, I never got around to building anything). I'm more surprised by the two Binders, particularly since they don't bind the same vestiges.

[Venger]

I should have probably made a note when I put up the builds why I was excluding Jacamo. I didn't because I was trying to avoid discussing banned posters, which, as you can see, worked super well. :smallsigh: Ah, well, this is my first time doing anything like this, and it's a complicated case. I was bound to make a mistake or two. Sorry for the confusion, everybody!



Actually, Telflammar Shadowlord was my first thought, too (though, obviously, I never got around to building anything). I'm more surprised by the two Binders, particularly since they don't bind the same vestiges.

it's all good. thanks for proxy chairing.

I always expect binders in an iron chef. that and the inevitable druid 10/si 10 and the lycanthrope that everyone inexplicably loves :/

[dysprosium]

It is an interesting crop for this ingredient and not what I was expecting at all.

I can say what I was going to do now. Didn't want to mention in the Lasher thread since this one was in Limbo. The build I was going to enter was going to be a human Ranger 6/Lasher 7/Acolyte of the Ego 7. Dual wielding whips and Ranger was my bridge class for the two SIs--both of them have class skills that the Ranger has as class skills. And the feat at first level Truename Training to make Truespeak a skill from Level 1.

The coolest thing that I had written for the build combined both class features of the SI. The build would have used the Acolyte's cadence that caused fear and combined with Intimidation (since it is a class skill for both SIs). Once the opponents were cowered, the Lasher's third hand would conveniently disarm all of the opponents within reach. And since the build had Two Weapon Fighting already build in, it could have used one of those liberated weapons.

Would it have done well enough in both contests? Can't say for sure. I really wish I did finish it in time. :smallfrown:

[Fax Celestis]

I tried so hard to make a monstrous entry, but I just couldn't get it to come together in a way I liked. I'm fairly happy with my entry, and I actually had some of the same misgivings about it that Troacctid did.

[Venger]

It is an interesting crop for this ingredient and not what I was expecting at all.

I can say what I was going to do now. Didn't want to mention in the Lasher thread since this one was in Limbo. The build I was going to enter was going to be a human Ranger 6/Lasher 7/Acolyte of the Ego 7. Dual wielding whips and Ranger was my bridge class for the two SIs--both of them have class skills that the Ranger has as class skills. And the feat at first level Truename Training to make Truespeak a skill from Level 1.

The coolest thing that I had written for the build combined both class features of the SI. The build would have used the Acolyte's cadence that caused fear and combined with Intimidation (since it is a class skill for both SIs). Once the opponents were cowered, the Lasher's third hand would conveniently disarm all of the opponents within reach. And since the build had Two Weapon Fighting already build in, it could have used one of those liberated weapons.

Would it have done well enough in both contests? Can't say for sure. I really wish I did finish it in time. :smallfrown:

I tried desperately to kludge something together involving cavestalker levels to TWF with spiked chains, but it was too messy and I couldn't figure it out in time for lasher.

[OMG PONIES]

For ease of reference...


Derleth Cruestus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18265473&postcount=118): CN Human Rogue 2/Truenamer 4/Binder 4/Acolyte of the Ego 10
Sabine Murkwoods (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18265495&postcount=119): LE Illumian Psychic Rogue 5/Inquisitor 4/Binder 1/Acolyte of the Ego 10
Benjamin Nutt (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18265521&postcount=120): TN Human Human Paragon 1/Monk 2/Fighter 3/Telflammar Shadowlord 4/Acolyte of the Ego 10
The Slender Shadow (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18265538&postcount=121): LN Dragonborn Lesser Tiefling Truenamer 1/Monk 2/Wizard 1/Acolyte of the Ego 10/Swordsage 2/Telflammar Shadowlord 4
Astraea Theodosia (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18265555&postcount=122): ?? Kalashtar Swashbuckler 3/Monk 3/Acolyte of the Ego 10/Exemplar 1/Uncanny Trickster 3

I haven't read the other judge's awesomely speedy scores so as not to sway my own (which will be much slower coming), so someone else will need to do that if you want a standings table before my scores. Speaking of, sakuuya, what's our new judging deadline? Two weeks from when the builds were posted?

[sakuuya]

I haven't read the other judge's awesomely speedy scores so as not to sway my own (which will be much slower coming), so someone else will need to do that if you want a standings table before my scores. Speaking of, sakuuya, what's our new judging deadline? Two weeks from when the builds were posted?

Oh, yeah, I totally forgot. Judging/dispute deadline is 11:59 PM GMT on Wednesday, October 29, 2014. Thanks for reminding me!

[Troacctid]

It is an interesting crop for this ingredient and not what I was expecting at all.

I can say what I was going to do now. Didn't want to mention in the Lasher thread since this one was in Limbo. The build I was going to enter was going to be a human Ranger 6/Lasher 7/Acolyte of the Ego 7. Dual wielding whips and Ranger was my bridge class for the two SIs--both of them have class skills that the Ranger has as class skills. And the feat at first level Truename Training to make Truespeak a skill from Level 1.

The coolest thing that I had written for the build combined both class features of the SI. The build would have used the Acolyte's cadence that caused fear and combined with Intimidation (since it is a class skill for both SIs). Once the opponents were cowered, the Lasher's third hand would conveniently disarm all of the opponents within reach. And since the build had Two Weapon Fighting already build in, it could have used one of those liberated weapons.

Would it have done well enough in both contests? Can't say for sure. I really wish I did finish it in time. :smallfrown:

I would have gone with an 8/6 split. As long as you're not finishing Acolyte of the Ego, you might as well stop at the more natural break point, right? Not sure how Intimidate helps, though--Cadence of the Frightful Mind goes straight to the highest level of fear, so you can't stack it further.

[Muggins]

Scores!



Name
Judge Troacctid
Total Score


Benjamin Nutt
13
13


The Slender Shadow
13
13


Sabine Murkwoods
12.5
12.5


Astrea Theodosia
12
12


Derleth Cruestus
9
9

[OMG PONIES]

I might as well put these here...

My Criteria
Each entry will start at a base score of 12 (3 in each category), with deductions or bonuses awarded based on the following questions:

Originality:
Does the entry present a compelling backstory, concept, or theme aside from the mechanics of the build?
Does the entry enter the Secret Ingredient through a method unique from the sample character in the source as well as other entries in this round?
Does the entry make use of any unique mechanical tricks/feat chains?
Does the entry avoid known cheese and overused optimization suggestions?
Power:
Does the entry surpass a hypothetical build that continues in the base class used for qualification (i.e. does the entry follow established breakpoints for base classes or make a compelling case for the breakpoint selected)?
Does the entry function at the same power level throughout an entire adventuring day, rather than relying on "nova" powers or limited resources?
Does the entry thrive without an undue emphasis on items, templates, or other "add-ons" for its power?
Does the entry contribute significantly in terms of offense, defense, and utility? Here an answer of "No" denotes that the build thrives in one or fewer of those three categories, "yes and no" denotes that the build thrives in two of those three categories, and "yes" denotes that the build wins the elusive triple crown--pulling its weight in terms of all three of those categories.
Elegance:
Does the entry qualify for all classes taken outside the Secret Ingredient?
Does the entry qualify for all feats taken?
Does the entry avoid reliance on any questionable rules interpretations, as well as providing a list of source material while avoiding cross-setting material or material specifically disallowed from this competition?
Does the entry avoid multi-class penalties and dipping* more than once?
UoSI:
Does the entry qualify for the Secret Ingredient and make use of all entry requirements?
Does the entry complete the Secret Ingredient or present a compelling reason why not doing so is actually a better use of the Secret Ingredient?
Does the entry synergize the unique mechanical abilities of the Secret Ingredient with the rest of the build and/or present a novel use of said mechanical abilities?
Does the entry complement the background, concept, or theme of its chassis through use of the Secret Ingredient?
*Where "dipping" is defined as taking two or fewer levels in a base class or prestige class.
Each of the questions above can be answered in one of three ways. A straight "yes" will earn a +0.5 bonus to the category in question. A straight "no" will suffer a -0.5 penalty to the category, and an ambivalent "yes and no" will wash out with no adjustment to the category. Other scoring rules (like a flat -1 penalty per Flaw used, for instance) will be followed as requested by the Chairman in the thread. If there are any questions about the clarity of my criteria in general, please post them openly so I can address. If there are any disagreements with particular scores, please PM the chairman as part of the regular dispute process.

[sakuuya]

You've got your first dispute, Troacctid!


Hello Troacctid. While I appreciate your prompt judging, I would like to dispute your distaste for "bean-counting" when the Secret Ingredient requires it. Regardless of whether or not you like counting up skill ranks and bonuses, Acolyte of the Ego requires it due to being based on Truespeak checks. Every one of the Acolyte's abilities is tied to these Truespeak checks, from the Cadences themselves to the Resonant Voice and Cadence Mastery abilities. As much as you may wish otherwise, an Acolyte of the Ego who lacks sufficient bonuses and ranks in Truespeak cannot use their class features.

On a more specific note, I feel that Sabine Murkwoods makes far better use of the class than either of the two ranking "shadowpouncers," neither of whom can truly use the abilities that they're fawning over. Indeed, neither of these builds qualify for Acolyte of the Ego when they take it; Benjamin Nutt has far too many skill ranks in everything, and The Slender Shadow doesn't have the 9 ranks in Truespeak needed to qualify for the class when he takes it at level 5.

That said, I feel like the true problem lies in these builds' Truespeak ranks and bonuses, as I feel that only Sabine is capable of consistently meeting the Truespeak checks required by the Acolyte of the Ego prestige class. What good is a build which "has uses for its cadences" when it can't consistently meet the Cadence DCs without the assistance of items (or, in some cases, ever)?

I did a quick breakdown of the Truespeak checks that our three placing builds have at level 20.

Level 20 Truespeak DC: 57

Sabine Murkwoods: 53 base (Truespeak DC is easy without items, and can be made with a +23 bonus when actually needed)

23 from Truespeak ranks.
+6 from Intelligence score.
+2 from Illumian Naen sigil.
+10 from Pragnostic Assembly membership.
+4 from reciting your Personal Truename.
+5 from Chosen of Evil.
+3 from Skill Focus.

Benjamin Nutt: 33 base (Truespeak DC is impossible without items, and Resonant Voice/Cadence Mastery cen never be used)

23 Base
+3 from Int
+3 from Skill Focus
+4 from Personal Truename

The Slender Shadow: 46 (Truespeak DC is unlikely without items, and even with items Resonant Voice/Cadence Mastery are unwieldy)

23 Base
+6 from Int
+3 from Skill Focus
+4 from Personal Truename
+10 from Pragnostic Assembly (he has a minimum rank of 25)

As-is, without items, neither of these builds can consistently use their much-praised "shadowpouncing" to any great effect. Indeed, neither can consistently use either Resonant Voice or Cadence Mastery with the same regularity as Sabine. If they require items to consistently meet their Cadence checks, to say nothing of their difficulty using the Resonant Voice and Cadence Mastery class features, are they truly capable of using Acolyte of the Ego to the same effect?

EDIT: And another one!



Elegance: 2
You call yourself a Master of the Passive Way, but you never actually complete the path? You even have the Skill Focus (Bluff) and everything, which could have been doing double duty giving you your Passive Way thingy and qualifying you for Exemplar, but you abandon the style halfway through. What's the deal? Also, there is friction between Weapon Finesse and Improved Trip. You want to be tripping, but you also want to be Dex-based, which doesn't help your tripping. It makes the build feel less cohesive. And using Uncanny Trickster to progress a prestige class past its endpoint is sketchy stuff. All in all, I'm docking you a point.

Astraea takes Skill Focus: Bluff because she is required to to move into the rest of the path.


Passive Way
The Passive Way focuses on making your opponent overreach himself or underestimate your skill.

1st-Level Skill Bonus: Bluff.
1st-Level Feat: Combat Expertise.
2nd-Level Feat: Improved Trip.
6th-Level Feat: Improved Feint.
6th-Level Bonus Ability: You gain a +4 bonus on Strength checks made to trip an opponent who is denied his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class.
Prerequisites: Bluff 4 ranks, Sense Motive 4 ranks, Skill Focus (Bluff).
Furthermore, while Astraea is capable of tripping, she is by no means required to do so to be a functional combatant. The ability is in her repertoire, but is not the focus of her tactics by any means.

In addition, Skill Focus (Bluff) is doing double duty in qualifying for Passive Way Monk and Exemplar, so I'm not sure why you think it doesn't.

[arclance]

My first though for this was Factorum/Exemplar/Acolyte of the Ego/? but I did not have time to go beyond that.
It was my first thought on how to make the truenaming checks reliably without items.

[Troacctid]

On a more specific note, I feel that Sabine Murkwoods makes far better use of the class than either of the two ranking "shadowpouncers," neither of whom can truly use the abilities that they're fawning over. Indeed, neither of these builds qualify for Acolyte of the Ego when they take it; Benjamin Nutt has far too many skill ranks in everything, and The Slender Shadow doesn't have the 9 ranks in Truespeak needed to qualify for the class when he takes it at level 5.
Hey, you're right! How did I miss that? -1 for Slender Shadow. Sneaky bastard.

Benjamin Nutt qualifies fine by my count though. 8 skill points per level and everything is a class skill for Human Paragon. Unless I'm missing something.


That said, I feel like the true problem lies in these builds' Truespeak ranks and bonuses, as I feel that only Sabine is capable of consistently meeting the Truespeak checks required by the Acolyte of the Ego prestige class. What good is a build which "has uses for its cadences" when it can't consistently meet the Cadence DCs without the assistance of items (or, in some cases, ever)?

I did a quick breakdown of the Truespeak checks that our three placing builds have at level 20.

Level 20 Truespeak DC: 57

Sabine Murkwoods: 53 base (Truespeak DC is easy without items, and can be made with a +23 bonus when actually needed)
23 from Truespeak ranks.
+6 from Intelligence score.
+2 from Illumian Naen sigil.
+10 from Pragnostic Assembly membership.
+4 from reciting your Personal Truename.
+5 from Chosen of Evil.
+3 from Skill Focus.

Benjamin Nutt: 33 base (Truespeak DC is impossible without items, and Resonant Voice/Cadence Mastery cen never be used)
23 Base
+3 from Int
+3 from Skill Focus
+4 from Personal Truename

The Slender Shadow: 46 (Truespeak DC is unlikely without items, and even with items Resonant Voice/Cadence Mastery are unwieldy)
23 Base
+6 from Int
+3 from Skill Focus
+4 from Personal Truename
+10 from Pragnostic Assembly (he has a minimum rank of 25)

As-is, without items, neither of these builds can consistently use their much-praised "shadowpouncing" to any great effect. Indeed, neither can consistently use either Resonant Voice or Cadence Mastery with the same regularity as Sabine. If they require items to consistently meet their Cadence checks, to say nothing of their difficulty using the Resonant Voice and Cadence Mastery class features, are they truly capable of using Acolyte of the Ego to the same effect?
It's well-known that truenaming is dysfunctional and needs items to work. I gave Sabine points for having a high enough check that she doesn't need items, but I'm not taking them away just because a character has to rely on a silvertongue amulet or whatever. The default assumption is that every truename user needs that stuff.

Ultimately, Truespeak checks are only as good as the reason you're making them. Once you're past the baseline, higher checks are more a matter of Power than Use of the Secret Ingredient, and I'm not scoring Power with enough granularity for it to make a difference. For Use of the Secret Ingredient, I'm not looking for builds to solve the dysfunction inherent in the subsystem (that question is pretty much answered already), I'm mostly looking for something that justifies taking such a janky class in the first place. That's what this contest is about--finding creative uses for janky prestige classes--and it's what I want to reward with my scoring.

Anyway, Inquisitor got you to your Originality quota, your high overall check helped you in UotSI, and the extra from worshiping an Elder Evil (the only thing separating your modifier from Slender Shadow's, I might add--okay, racial bonuses, but your race is giving you a measly +2 where Shadow's is letting him quicken all of his class features, so I think he wins that fight) was enough to cancel out the Elegance penalty it would have otherwise earned you. So you did get paid for it, and quite generously, I think. I suppose I could have given you more points in UotSI and put the half-point markdown in Originality instead, but that's not going to help your overall score. No change for Sabine.

Also, for the record, the Paragnostic Assembly really shouldn't count as not relying on items. It costs you 10% of your WBL, and if you don't have research materials, you aren't getting a bonus from it.


Astraea takes Skill Focus: Bluff because she is required to to move into the rest of the path.


Passive Way
The Passive Way focuses on making your opponent overreach himself or underestimate your skill.

1st-Level Skill Bonus: Bluff.
1st-Level Feat: Combat Expertise.
2nd-Level Feat: Improved Trip.
6th-Level Feat: Improved Feint.
6th-Level Bonus Ability: You gain a +4 bonus on Strength checks made to trip an opponent who is denied his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class.
Prerequisites: Bluff 4 ranks, Sense Motive 4 ranks, Skill Focus (Bluff).

You are mistaken, I'm afraid. The prerequisite is only for the 6th level ability. It's not required for the rest of the path. (This is explained in the section above the part you quoted.) Astraea doesn't take Monk up to 6th level, so it's irrelevant for her. Well, besides the Exemplar prerequisite. You know.


Furthermore, while Astraea is capable of tripping, she is by no means required to do so to be a functional combatant. The ability is in her repertoire, but is not the focus of her tactics by any means.
The tripping deficiency is strictly an Elegance issue; it's probably not a big deal in actual gameplay (magic items would compensate for it), but as I said, it makes the build less cohesive from an aesthetic standpoint. Astraea's ability to use other tactics is taken into account in her Power score, which would definitely be lower if tripping were the only thing she could do in combat. No change for Astraea.

[sakuuya]

Got another one for you!


I can't believe I made that mistake on the truespeak ranks needed to get in to Acolyte of the Ego. I somehow read it as 6 every time I looked at the class... I had all that time to edit the entry and I made that mistake. The fix is kind of a mess too.

However, Sabine's dispute is flat out wrong about the Slender Shadow's Truespeak checks, and Troacctid doesn't seem to understand what the Quicken Breath trick is actually doing. The two points of confusion are related.

Quicken Breath isn't really there to quicken Cadence of the Thunder Drake to a free action. It's there to quicken all the cadences that ride the coattails of Cadence of the Thunder Drake through Cadence Mastery. And since the feat's increased time before he can use the breath weapon again doesn't kick in until he's actually used the breath weapon, he can keep trying as a free action until he succeeds unless the DM sets a limit on free actions, effectively allowing him to take 20 on the truespeak check. So the Slender Shadow can actually reliably beat Sabine's average truespeak checks and with items will have no problem activating all his morphic cadences at once if such is his desire.

There's also potentially the +5 from Universal Aptitude that could potentially apply.

Also, while I understand getting a breath weapon with a recharge in rounds to qualify for metabreath feats for a different breath weapon being seen as inelegant, it's standard procedure in Dragonfire Adept optimization and usually seen as a workaround for stupid rules concerning metabreath feats moreso than cheesing entry into feats you shouldn't have access to.

[Troacctid]

Quicken Breath isn't really there to quicken Cadence of the Thunder Drake to a free action. It's there to quicken all the cadences that ride the coattails of Cadence of the Thunder Drake through Cadence Mastery. And since the feat's increased time before he can use the breath weapon again doesn't kick in until he's actually used the breath weapon, he can keep trying as a free action until he succeeds unless the DM sets a limit on free actions, effectively allowing him to take 20 on the truespeak check. So the Slender Shadow can actually reliably beat Sabine's average truespeak checks and with items will have no problem activating all his morphic cadences at once if such is his desire.
Yes, I got that it quickens all the cadences linked to it. That's the part you got the credit for; if it just quickened the breath weapon alone, it would not have been worth points.

I'm not giving you extra credit for that silly rules loophole because it is silly. And also, it does not work. You either "used" the breath weapon or you didn't. If you did, you can't "use" it again for 4 rounds. If you didn't, you couldn't have quickened it, because Quicken Breath quite clearly says it only applies to "using" your breath weapon, so it's either downgraded back to a standard action if you fail the check (bad) or simply doesn't work with Cadence of the Thunder Drake at all, because it can't be applied until after you've already spoken the cadence as a standard action (worse).

Luckily, Quicken Breath is still quite good for your build even without the silly trick, and it managed to help your score regardless.


There's also potentially the +5 from Universal Aptitude that could potentially apply.
See, Sabine? This is another reason why I'm not doing the bean-counting thing, it's way too easy to miss stuff. :smalltongue:


Also, while I understand getting a breath weapon with a recharge in rounds to qualify for metabreath feats for a different breath weapon being seen as inelegant, it's standard procedure in Dragonfire Adept optimization and usually seen as a workaround for stupid rules concerning metabreath feats moreso than cheesing entry into feats you shouldn't have access to.
I'm aware. I consider it inelegant on Dragonfire Adepts as well. I don't consider it cheesy in either case.

For future reference, the way to avoid the penalty here would have been to:
a. Have the rest of the build be elegant enough that it by itself is not enough to make me lower your score (something like this happened with Benjamin Nutt), or
b. Work the Dragonborn breath weapon into the build as well, so that both of them are important and useful--perhaps by taking Entangling Exhalation early on in the build to use it as early battlefield control before Cadence of the Thunder Drake comes online, or by stacking metabreath feats and using your multiple breath weapons to get around recharge timers, or something like that.

[Deadline]

I'm half finished with my judging. I'll try to get the ball rolling and finish up today or tomorrow.

[Deadline]

Truenamer is the obvious entry point here. Humanoid covers a pretty wide range of races, so hopefully we'll see some variety. Remember, proof-read your entries, double check that you qualify for everything (or at least qualify for the SI), and do something to either enhance each element of the SI, or come up with a use for them that isn't obvious or listed in the SI entry.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the Truespeak mechanics, I won't be penalizing for reliance on the Amulet of the Silver Tongue or the Paragnostic Assembly.

My comments aren't meant to be mean, just critical. Also, my apologies for the brevity, my free time just isn't what it used to be.

Derleth Cruestus - 9.25

Originality: 2.75
Let's see. You're one of two humans this round, and you don't do much of interest with the race. You also aren't the only rogue/binder (albeit the only pure rogue), and again, there isn't much of interest done with it. I do like the crossbow sniper angle you took, but you didn't take any of the feats that support such a build (sniping feats or crossbow feats). The Psionic feats were nifty, but with your low Concentration, they are all but guaranteed to be a once and done thing (gambling your move action on a 40% chance seems like a waste, even for a crossbowman). Recitation of the Mindful State was a neat feat that was put to decent use here. All in all, there just ... wasn't much here. About the only thing going for you here is your slightly odd class combo. It's otherwise pretty bland.

Power: 2.5
Ok, so there are some serious issues here. First off, you rely on hit-and-fade tactics but you aren't very good at them. You require multiple turns to shoot (a standard action), teleport (Cadence of the Distant Step is a standard action), and turn invisible (the invisibility ability granted by Malphas requires a full-round). That's a 3-round process before you can repeat it. And if you are dealing with creatures who have any kind of competent detection abilities, you are doomed to fail at your chosen tactic. That said, you can still shoot each round, which would arguably give better results than your hit-and-fade routine. Against foes who aren't immune to it, you can apply your limited Sneak Attack and Sudden Strike (from Malphas, it's not Skirmish) damage, but otherwise your damage output is almost entirely item dependent (Knowledge Devotion is a nice little bump - and would be better if you could reliably hit the DC of 36+ for the top tier, which you can't). Sure, you get one good shot to open the combat, but it won't be enough to pop a CR equivalent target without massive WBL investment. Speaking of opening the combat, you do get some utility from you Raven, but you only have half of the scouting skills (which you don't max), and your stealth skills are very poor. Your rogue skills (Open Lock, Disable Device, and Search) are all sub-par, even after you account for the +1 from Recitation of the Mindful State. You can try to use your utterances to boost some skills, but you will be hard pressed to hit your DCs with any sort of reliability, and the Law of Resistance is going to ensure that yet again, those tricks are going to be 1-2/day. Your Craft skill is low enough that you will require extensive amounts of time to Craft your poisons, because hitting the Craft DC on the more useful ones will be beyond your ability on average. You do hit +17 BAB, which is nice, and your saves are decent.

And at the levels you will be consistently hitting for 50+ damage in a single attack, a DC 15 Fort save is going to be pretty trivial to most equal CR challenges.

You also seem to have missed out on the Paragnostic Assembly from Complete Champion, which really could have boosted your Truespeak checks.

You can't really hold your own in combat, and out of combat your skills are low enough to mean that you are more likely to fail at a given task than to succeed. Derleth knows enough about everything to almost be dangerous at them, and if he's super lucky on his rolls, he can deal a solid, single hit before the gribblies eat his face. Basically, almost all of your power comes from items. In this competition, that's a Bad Thing TM.

Elegance: 2
I'm going to come right out and make the relatively safe guess that you are a new competitor. That's great! The more the merrier! For future reference, you don't generally include items in your build unless you've found what appears to be a neat new trick. And relying on items for anything (with the exception of the Amulet of the Silver Tongue and Paragnostic Assembly for this competition) is going to see you take a hit to Power, at least from me. I would suggest looking back at past winners to see how the builds were put together, sourced, etc. And take a look HERE (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?287603-Handy-Tips-for-the-Iron-Chef-in-the-Playground-Noob), there are some great tips and tricks that will serve you well. That said ...

The build is not well sourced, aside from the extensive item lists. Thankfully, I knew where everything you used was. You qualify for everything you took, and nothing was really questionable here. The entry was not terribly easy to read, and the build doesn't flow well. You jump around between your classes for no apparent reason and you take Skill Focus(Knowledge[Religion]) for no apparent reason. You also take a hit for suffering a multi-class penalty (humans ignore their highest level base class when factoring multi-class penalties, leaving you with Rogue 2/Truenamer or Binder 4, which is enough of a divide to inflict a 10% xp penalty. The Rogue dip stands out. You also enter the SI as late as possible, meaning that for most of your build you aren't an Acolyte of the Ego (and aren't really one after you enter, but we'll get to that below).

On the upshot, it's a pretty portable build with no questionable rules elements.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 2
So, how did you do with the SI? Let's take a look. We'll start with the prerequisites. You max Truespeak, speak at least four languages, and are Humanoid, which is good. You don't really do anything with any of it, aside from taking Able Learner due to being a Human. You also don't do much with any of the SI's class skills, with the notable exception of Knowledge Devotion.

So what about the actual class features? You ... uh ... you don't have any listed use for them. Nothing you have or do builds on or makes use of these abilities in any way. It's pretty hard to argue that you even get much use from the bonus feat, it gives you +1 to a few skills that have nothing to do with the SI. You do take the SI to its completion, though I'm not sure why.

I'm afraid this build makes me ask the dreaded, points reducing question, why did you take the SI instead of ... anything else?


Sabine Murkwoods - 13.25

Originality: 4
I like the idea of Illumians and Truespeak. It all makes a great deal of sense to me, so I'm glad to see one here. This isn't the only Rogue/Binder combo, but Psychic Rogue is a nice twist. Inquisitor kinda came out of left field, and is the real gem here. Insightful reflexes is nice to see on a build that prioritizes Int, and Knowledge Devotion is as welcome here as in any other build. Elder Evil cheese is well known, so nothing really new there. I did like binding Naberius and comboing that with Chosen of Evil though. Truename Training is a neat way to meet the SI prerequisites. The build as a whole feels pretty good. I'm not familiar enough with Krynn to know how badly including Illumians messes with the fluff, but it honestly feels like it fits well, and I like it.

Power: 3.5
So, what can you actually do with all of that? Well, it turns out that in the beating face department, you do ok, but you do much better in out of combat situations. Power Attack and BAB +16 keep your melee damage relevant, and you've got a solid Truespeak check to reliably use your abilities at least once per encounter. Naberius gives you some neat utility alongside your psychic rogue stuff, and you've got a host of skills, however most of them are not terribly relevant unless you sacrifice your reliability with your Truespeak checks. Diplomacy is solid, and you have the flexibility to make a skill check if you absolutely have to with Extreme Effort. Your knowledge skills mostly work well with Knowledge Devotion (the ones at 10+ ranks anyway), and are a good use of your skill points. Your Elder Evil bonus feats give you some good defenses, and Staggering Strike helps you survive full attacks. You have ways of shoring up any weak saves.

Elegance: 2.75
The build is well-sourced and easy to read. You have that glaring Binder dip, but you do put it to good use. You qualify for everything you took, except the Recitation of the Meditative State feat. The recitation feats require the ability to speak Utterances, and despite their similarity Cadences are not the same thing. Cadences work almost exactly like Utterances with the notable exception that the Laws which apply to Utterances don't apply to Cadences. The Law of Resistance is specifically called out to apply to Cadences, but that's it.

The only other thing I need to mention here is that swearing to an Elder Evil may get you the hairy eyeball from a GM, meaning that the build isn't all that portable. That's a minor issue though.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
So, how does this delightful little evil librarian do using the SI? She does ok. You meet the prerequisites, and max 3 of the class skills. You don't do much with Diplomacy, but you get an excellent use out of Concentration with your Inquisitor trick. And your choice of race synergizes nicely with the flavor and mechanics of the class. But aside from that, you don't really do anything with the SI. Yes, you get your Truespeak to a point where you can use the abilities reliably, but then you don't really do anything with those abilities.

That said, I like Sabine, she feels very much like a Truespeak user, and a solid choice for an Acolyte of the Ego.


Benjamin Nutt - 13.25 13.75

Originality: 3.5
A human who fights against Truenamers is interesting, and while Truenamers aren't terribly dangerous to equal CR threats, I can see where they might be deadly to CR 1 commoners (such an easy Truespeak DC!). Human Paragon was a clever way of picking up the ability to get Truespeak as a class skill. Cobra Strike Monk and Sneak Attack Thug Fighter were interesting to see. Your rationale for Craft Wondrous Item is questionable, but clever. Sun School on a Shadowpouncer isn't all that new, but I do like that you picked up Shadow Stride to further utilize it. Recitation of the Sanguine State is neat, but oddly enough, I don't think you qualify for it (see Elegance). You actually do something interesting with your race (Human Paragon to pick up a prerequisite skill), so you don't suffer for being one of two Humans this round. You are also one of two Telflammar Shadowlords. As a whole, it doesn't wow me, but it does a pretty good job of standing out.

Power: 3.5
Let's see, you've got +17 BAB, a couple of sneak attack dice, Invisible Fist, and a reliable 1/encounter Shadow Pounce with Sun School kicker. These are all good. Darkstalker is a solid boost to stealth, and you keep your stealth skills at maximum. You have a decent UMD score and a handful of low level spells for some extra versatility. Power attack with your BAB gives you a decent source of damage, and your saves wind up decent. However, your Diplomacy score is not as good as you advertise, especially with a Charisma penalty. I appreciate your efforts to put points into one of the SI's class skills, but more would have really sold the point. As is, you have enough to succeed sometimes, which you can't reliably count on. You've got a grand total of +43 to your Truespeak checks, meaning you need to roll a 14 to hit the DC for Cadence of the Distant Step. Every use thereafter adds +2 to the DC, leaving you a total of 4 uses per day, most of which aren't very likely to be usable (you're going to fail most of those checks). That means you aren't going to be shadowing pouncing more than once, maybe twice per encounter. It's still potent, but not as potent as most Shadowpouncers. As long as you aren't tumbling through enemy squares, your Tumble is ok, and Balance is taken to it's expected cutoff.

All in all, you make a solid front-line fighter with a small bag of utility tricks.

Elegance: 3 3.5
Your build is well sourced, and you qualify for everything you take with two exceptions one exception. You don't appear to qualify for Recitation of the Sanguine State. It requires the ability to speak Utterances, and despite their similarity Cadences are not the same thing. Cadences work almost exactly like Utterances with the notable exception that the Laws which apply to Utterances don't apply to Cadences. The Law of Resistance is specifically called out to apply to Cadences, but that's it.

The other item you don't qualify for is Telflammar Shadowlord. You must either qualify to select regional feats from Thesk, or have 2 ranks of Knowledge Local. You don't have any knowledge ranks, and You don't have the languages of someone from the region of Thesk. This was a real missed opportunity for a score bump here by adhering to those rules and listing your languages from the Thesk region. I'm not going to hit you too hard on this, but please check and re-check that you qualify for everything you take.

The build flows reasonably well through all levels, the Monk dip comes at an expected break point. 3 levels of Fighter is normally an eyebrow raiser, but here it gets you the Sneak Attack dice needed for Telflammar Shadowlord. You enter the SI as early as possible. The brief exodus for Telflammar Shadowlord serves to enhance an element of the SI. The only other thing that jumps out at me as an elegance problem is your justification for taking Craft Wondrous Item. I can certainly see such a thing being a sticking point for some GMs. That said, you could just swap Power Attack and Craft Wondrous Item around in your build and everything works fine (due to your caster level from Telflammar Shadowlord).

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3.25
Ok, so how did you do with the big question? Well, you cover the bases for qualification, and you take all 10 levels. But how do you make use of the class features? Well, you max Truespeak (and grabbed Skill Focus), as is expected, and you also put a solid investment into two of the other class skills (Concentration and Diplomacy), but focus your efforts on skills that have little to do with the SI. You do make use of Cadences of the Distant Step, with Telflammar Shadowlord and Sun School.

But other than that, you really don't have much use for any of the other Cadences or class abilities. You don't qualify for the bonus feat you selected. I appreciate your fluff reasoning for entering the class (Alter Personal Name), and I can kind of see your idea for Cadence Mastery using Cadence of the Distant Step and Cadence of the Thunder Drake, but given that they are supposed to happen at the same time, you may run into difficulty with assuming that you teleport first and then trigger your breath weapon. You overshadow Cadence of the Distant Step with Shadow Stride. Your fluff and utilization of a small amount of the SI mean that you narrowly escape the Dreaded QuestionTM.

I do like the idea of someone using a marauding force's own strength against them, and got a chuckle out of the marauding force being a crowd of Truenamer's stepping all over everyone in a desperate bid to collect what they need for the Paragnostic Assembly so that their class features will actually matter and work reasonably.


The Slender Shadow - 11

Originality: 3.75
Dragonborn Lesser Tiefling is odd, to be sure. You aren't the only Shadowpouncer, and they also went Invisible Fist Cobra Strike Monk (and picked up Shadow Stride with Martial Study). You do pop in some Martial Focused Conjurer, but man, this is one big ugly soup. I like that you popped in Kung Fu Genius, and Desert Wind Dodge is fun. Recitation of the Sanguine State is neat, and I can honestly say that I didn't expect Quicken Breath. Not bad overall, but my socks remain on and firmly un-rocked.

Power: 3.5
Wow, look at all those knowledges! I'll be you took Knowledge Devo ... what? Let's move on from that missed opportunity right now. You do make an excellent sneak, with maxed stealth, some sources for limited Invisibility, and Darkstalker. You fall short of the much loved +16 BAB, so your shadow pounces are not as impressive as they could be - even with Sun School. You get a little bit of versatility from your very limited selection of low-level spells, and a small number of maneuvers. You have the best saves of the bunch. I'm not sure your Quicken trick works the way you think it does, but assuming it works you do have a nice ability to nova out some damage. I think that you may have been better served focusing less on getting teleportation abilities (in order to sidestep the weaknesses of the SI) and instead focus on making what you had great. Paragnostic Assembly usage helps keep your Truespeak check relevant alongside max ranks and Skill Focus, so you are solid there. You are going to have a hard time contributing much outside of combat, but in combat you can do quite well.

Elegance: 2.75
The build is well-sourced, and reads nicely. But the class progression is a mess. You have four dips, and they just don't gel into a cohesive entity. As stated above, you may have been better served focusing less on getting all those wiz-bang methods for reliable teleportation (and completely overshadowing the SI), and more on the abilities you get from the SI. Using Desert Wind Dodge to replace the Dodge bonus feat from Cobra Strike Monk is very neat, I'll have to remember that one. You manage to avoid multi-class penalties despite your wild mix of classes. You do have another qualification problem though, you don't qualify for Telflammar Shadowlord, because you don't meet the regional requirement (be eligible for taking Thesk regional feats, or have 2 ranks in Knowledge(Local)). It's a super easy mistake to make, but important to remember in competition.

I appreciate the Adaptations section, it's nice to have options to consider. I think the only other issue that jumps out at me is your interpretation of how Cadence of the Thunder Drake works with the Quicken Breath feat. I'm actually fairly convinced that it doesn't, or at least it certainly doesn't work the way you mention. Cadence of the Thunder Drake doesn't grant you a breath weapon, it lets you make a breath weapon attack, which is similar but not quite the same thing. It's sort of similar to a spell that lets you make a breath weapon attack (Like the Dragon Breath spell from the Spell Compendium). You could cast that spell (as a standard action) and then use Quicken Breath on the resulting breath weapon, but Quicken Breath wouldn't effect the casting time of the spell. Likewise here, it won't effect the Standard action required to speak the Cadence.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 1
You don't qualify for the SI. You don't have the required 9 ranks in Truespeak when you take it. You also don't list your known languages (although this is a lesser concern, as you clearly have them based on your Int). Always check and re-check your build to make sure you qualify for the SI.

Had you qualified, you certainly made use of two of the SI's class skills, as well as Cadence of the Distant Step (although you completely overshadow it with your other teleportation abilities). You have enough mods to Truespeak to make your Cadences relevant all day, which is good. You can use the bonus feat you get, but have no particular synergy with it. You don't utilize your Knowledge skills for anything other than as a vehicle to the Paragnostic Assembly - you really could have benefited from having Knowledge Devotion. You make an effort to optimize Cadence of the Thunder Dragon, which is excellent. The rest of the Cadences are left untouched, and unloved.



Astraea Theodosia - 13.5

Originality: 4
Wow, Invisible Fist got a lot of love this competition. Something about the SI apparently drew folks to the Monk class as well. But Kalashtar was different, as was the Arcane Stunt Swashbuckler. I'm not sure why you took Skill Focus(Bluff), as you didn't take enough Passive Way Monk for it to matter. Knowledge Devotion was good to see, and it was nice to see you stick to the theme by devoting some feats to your unarmed combat side. Exemplar was the big win here, and I'm really surprised you were the only person to go for it. It's got excellent synergy with the SI due to the nature of Truespeak being a skill. Also, I like to see skill tricks used, especially when they enhance the SI. Sadly, only one of your tricks enhances the SI, and that's Collector of Stories.

Power: 3.75
How does Astraea function on the power scale? Well, she's a capable front-line combatant, and can reliably hit her Truespeak DCs for the adventuring day thanks to Exemplar. If you count items beyond the Amulet of the Silver Tongue and the Paragnostic Assembly, you alleviate that some, but the reliance on those items for power makes the exchange a wash. You've got some pretty terrific skills here. Solid mobility with Tumble, good social abilities with Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive. You get some reasonable benefit from Knowledge Devotion. You back up several of your skills with solid skill trick choices. You've got some added versatility from Arcane Stunt and Invisible Fist, and you keep your damage relevant with Insightful Strike.

Elegance: 2.75
The build is not sourced at all, but the layout is easy to read, and the build flows well save for three points. The first is that using Uncanny Trickster to advance a Prestige Class beyond 10th level is questionable at best, and may not do anything useful at worst. The other is a far lesser concern, but I'm a bit fuzzy on why you took that 3rd level of monk. You don't appear to have any abilities that function off of movement speed or Still Mind, so it looks like you just took it to avoid a dip. I guess what I'm saying is that it sticks out like a sore thumb. The third is that you don't qualify for Recitation feats, as they require the ability to speak Utterances. Also, you don't qualify for Acolyte of the Ego when you take it, because of the timing between assigning skill points and taking feats (see Use of the Secret Ingredient).

Otherwise, everything here is pretty solid.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
You don't qualify for the SI. The order of leveling up indicates that you spend skill points before you select feats. That means Truename Training comes online too late. You could have simply put Truename Training at first level and gotten rid of the unused Skill Focus(Bluff) feat, which would have conveniently let you drop Skill Focus(Truespeak) earlier into the build.

That said, you utilize several class skills well, with skill tricks, maxed ranks, and Exemplar. The issue here, and you were not alone, is that you didn't do anything with the class abilities. You didn't build on any of them, and so even if the Uncanny Trickster trick works the way you want it to, you just wind up with more class abilities that you don't put to any use.

But I liked Astraea. She really had a solid feel for being an Acolyte of the Ego. In fact, she's my choice for Honorable Mention, as I really think the addition of Exemplar was an excellent way to go for reliability.


So there you have it. Let the wailing and gnashing of teeth commence!

Last Word: I'm really surprised that no one took the Quicken Spell-Like Ability feat from the Monster Manual. Seems like it would have been an awesome way to pre-buff with Cadence Mastery provided you could get your Truespeak check high enough. Am I missing a reason why this feat wouldn't have worked?

[Troacctid]

The other item you don't qualify for is Telflammar Shadowlord. You must either qualify to select regional feats from Thesk, or have 2 ranks of Knowledge Local. You don't have any knowledge ranks, and you don't have the languages of someone from the region of Thesk. This was a real missed opportunity for a score bump here by adhering to those rules and listing your languages from the Thesk region. I'm not going to hit you too hard on this, but please check and re-check that you qualify for everything you take.

Actually, he did list 2 ranks of Knowledge (Local: Thesk) in the skills.

[Deadline]

Actually, he did list 2 ranks of Knowledge (Local: Thesk) in the skills.

I was all set to argue with you, and I just double checked. There it is, sitting right there at level 1. Ok, going back and editing my scores now, expect the modified score to be up in a few minutes.

[sakuuya]

Here's a dispute for you, Deadline!



Elegance: 2.75
The build is not sourced at all, but the layout is easy to read, and the build flows well save for three points. The first is that using Uncanny Trickster to advance a Prestige Class beyond 10th level is questionable at best, and may not do anything useful at worst. The other is a far lesser concern, but I'm a bit fuzzy on why you took that 3rd level of monk. You don't appear to have any abilities that function off of movement speed or Still Mind, so it looks like you just took it to avoid a dip. I guess what I'm saying is that it sticks out like a sore thumb. The third is that you don't qualify for Recitation feats, as they require the ability to speak Utterances. Also, you don't qualify for Acolyte of the Ego when you take it, because of the timing between assigning skill points and taking feats (see Use of the Secret Ingredient).

Otherwise, everything here is pretty solid.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 1
You don't qualify for the SI. The order of leveling up indicates that you spend skill points before you select feats. That means Truename Training comes online too late. You could have simply put this at first level and gotten rid of the unused Skill Focus(Bluff) feat, which would have conveniently let you drop Skill Focus(Truespeak) earlier into the build.

That said, you utilize several class skills well, with skill tricks, maxed ranks, and Exemplar. The issue here, and you were not alone, is that you didn't do anything with the class abilities. You didn't build on any of them, and so even if the Uncanny Trickster trick works the way you want it to, you just wind up with more class abilities that you don't put to any use.

But I liked Astraea. She really had a solid feel for being an Acolyte of the Ego. In fact, she's my choice for Honorable Mention, as I really think the addition of Exemplar was an excellent way to go for reliability.
Astraea takes Truename Training at 6th level, and because of the way Truename Training works is immediately bumped to 9 ranks (well, 8, but then she puts a skill point in it that level).


The Truespeak skill is considered a class skill for you, no matter what class you actually choose. If you purchased ranks in Truespeak as a cross-class skill, you immediately gain additional ranks in Truespeak as if it had always been a class skill for you.

Astraea doesn't enter Acolyte of the Ego until 7th level, when she does qualify.

In addition, the one Recitation feat that Astraea has is given as a bonus feat from the Acolyte of the Ego prestige class itself from its 7th level feature.

Astraea patterned her first few levels to prevent a multiclass penalty: going Swashbuckler 3/Monk 3 would have inflicted an MC penalty for 4th level, and going Monk 2/Swashbuckler 3/Monk 1 would have been illegal due to the "ex-monks" clause on the monk class. As mobility is important to Astraea, that +10' of movement is a big enough deal that taking the level was worthwhile, and it had the class skills she wanted in order to increase her knowledges without cross-classing them.

[Zaq]

Last Word: I'm really surprised that no one took the Quicken Spell-Like Ability feat from the Monster Manual. Seems like it would have been an awesome way to pre-buff with Cadence Mastery provided you could get your Truespeak check high enough. Am I missing a reason why this feat wouldn't have worked?

I thought about it, but yes, there is in fact a reason why it wouldn't work. Morphic cadences don't have effective spell levels, and Quicken SLA is very clear about only working on SLAs with certain effective spell levels. So that's a real dicey gray area, and it seems like it's just asking for a judge to have an issue with it.

[WhamBamSam]

I thought about it, but yes, there is in fact a reason why it wouldn't work. Morphic cadences don't have effective spell levels, and Quicken SLA is very clear about only working on SLAs with certain effective spell levels. So that's a real dicey gray area, and it seems like it's just asking for a judge to have an issue with it.It was basically the same for me. Cadence of the Distant Step might have an effective spell level of 4 since it references dimension door. That means you need to jack up the CL pretty high though, and that's not exactly trivial.

[Deadline]

Astraea takes Truename Training at 6th level, and because of the way Truename Training works is immediately bumped to 9 ranks (well, 8, but then she puts a skill point in it that level).

Ah yes, I completely spaced that Truename Training gives you retroactive ranks. Very good, that means you don't get an automatic 1 in Use of the Secret Ingredient. Use of the Secret Ingredient adjusted.


In addition, the one Recitation feat that Astraea has is given as a bonus feat from the Acolyte of the Ego prestige class itself from its 7th level feature.

And yet, you still don't qualify for it. Monk feats are pretty much the only bonus feats you can get without qualifying for them (because there is specific language stating that you get them even if you don't qualify for them). You were not the only build to suffer because of this. No adjustment.


Astraea patterned her first few levels to prevent a multiclass penalty: going Swashbuckler 3/Monk 3 would have inflicted an MC penalty for 4th level, and going Monk 2/Swashbuckler 3/Monk 1 would have been illegal due to the "ex-monks" clause on the monk class. As mobility is important to Astraea, that +10' of movement is a big enough deal that taking the level was worthwhile, and it had the class skills she wanted in order to increase her knowledges without cross-classing them.

Thanks for explaining your reasoning there. As I said in my judging, it's a minor deal, and you weren't penalized. No adjustment.

[OMG PONIES]

Standings After Two Judges (After Disputes)
EntryPlaceTotalAverage
Benjamin NuttGold26.753.34375
Sabine MurkwoodsSilver25.753.21875
Astraea TheodosiaBronze25.53.1875
The Slender ShadowFourth243
Derleth CruestusFifth18.252.28125


As far as scores of my own, I'm chugging along but unsure if I'll miss the deadline due to RL commitments as well as games that have been missing updates from me as both a DM and player. Time to get back on all of the horses as they all run in separate directions! :smalltongue:

[Deadline]

I'll miss the deadline

D'awwww, I'll miss you too. *yuk* *yuk*

:smallbiggrin:

Yeah, I'll go back to my corner now.


No! Wait, I won't! Has anyone heard from Kuulv recently? I'd kinda like to know how he's doing.

[OMG PONIES]

D'awwww, I'll miss you too. *yuk* *yuk*

Oh, I get it! :smallbiggrin:


No! Wait, I won't! Has anyone heard from Kuulv recently? I'd kinda like to know how he's doing.

Yeah, aside from the competition I've moved from "real life happens" to "I hope everything's okay."

[Zaq]

So it looks like we've passed the judging deadline. Is that it, then?

[sakuuya]

So it looks like we've passed the judging deadline. Is that it, then?

Oh, yeah, sheesh, thanks for reminding me!


In first place with 26.75, Benjamin Nutt by Zaq!
In second place with 25.75, Sabine Murkwoods by Muggins!
In third place with 25.5, Astraea Theodosia by Fax Celestis!
In fourth place with 24, The Slender Shadow by WhamBamSam!
In fifth place with 18.25, Derleth Cruestus by Martimus Prime!


Thanks for putting up with this awkward round, everybody!

[Venger]

thanks for chairing

[WhamBamSam]

I cannot believe I somehow managed to misread 9 ranks as 6 ranks every time I looked at the class. I thought I was being all clever in using the super easy prereq to arrange the placement of the Swordsage dip. Ah well. Serves me right for trying to shoot the moon with the Quickened Breath thing anyway. That was the reason for the Wizard dip that Deadline didn't like too. There's not as much point in getting a free action teleportation effect if you can't squeeze in a swift action one as well.

Congratulations to the winners.

[Zaq]

Woohoo, my first gold!

I mean sure, the contest was basically custom-made for me, but still! Awesome!

Congrats to everyone else, too. We had some fun entries!

Has anyone signed up to make trophies for this round?

[Fax Celestis]

Hot damn, bronze. My first winner's stand.

[Muggins]

I'm sure there's so much more that could be done with the Inquisitor class feature, but I'm honestly just surprised that something like that exists. It's practically an auto-success on any intelligence- or wisdom-based check for a handful of times each day, and that's not something you see often.

Big thanks to our two judges, as well as to Sakuuya as our stand-in Chairman. Troacctid and Deadline, you did a good job. Here's hoping that Kuulvheysoon is alright.