Awesomest Idea Ever

[atemu1234]

A lot of classes, races and things have awesome flavor. Crunch aside, the fluff of it is simply epic, regardless of whether or not it was actually well designed or made.

For example, Truenamer. You literally are the Admin of the universe. You enter your password and blam, the person is gone.

Ur-Priest- c'mon, you're one of the few who know how to literally steal the powers of the gods and get away with it.

Warblade- You're the ultimate weapons master. Let's face it, your training is so complete that you can literally pick up a weapon and in a day have the same mastery with it that someone who spent their lives training with it have, if not better.

These are just a few. I'm not talking crunch at all here (though 2/3s of the above are pretty good), but what do you think? Are there any off the top of your head?

[True believer]

Wizard: You can create your own plane, transform your self to a dragon or stop the time. I think that qualifies it as epic :P


Acolyte of the skin: You are such a bad-ass that you bind your skin with the one of a demon in order to be more bad-ass....

[Blackhawk748]

Shining Blade of Heironius. You are his blade, you are his wrath, you are electrocuting people!! Sadly the class is CW Samurai levels of suck

[IZ42]

Monks: my body is my weapon, your body is my stress ball. (sadly, this does not often happen)

[BowStreetRunner]

The Hellbred race from Fiendish Codex II. You died. On your way to Hell, the gods of good decided to give you a second chance. Now you are back, but you have brought a bit of Hell with you...

[Hiro Quester]

Druid. Ultimate versatility. Wildshape into any form, for whatever need arises; flying, scouting, sneaking, charging, swimming deep, or just tearing bad guys apart with your bare claws.

Plus when you want to be, you're a spell casting tiger, with a tiger friend, throwing more tigers at the bad guys.

[NichG]

I've always been a fan of the idea of concept manipulation and creation.

That is, characters who have the power to edit what a particular concept 'means' in the universe, either temporarily or permanently. Beyond that, the art of the creation of novel concepts and introducing them into the universe as a way in which to address immediate problems is very much in the high epic range for me.

Usually the only way this can get into the hands of the PCs without the campaign falling apart is if it's in the form of very specific artifact-level items which interact this way with a single concept: a sword that cuts ignorance, etc.

[Sir Chuckles]

My bar is set fairly low.
Rage Mage.

"Screaming makes me shoot lightning!"

[Troacctid]

Half-Celestial. You are an angel. Badass.

[Karl Aegis]

Tome of Battle. Dudes who spent a considerable portion of their life learning how to do cool things. At least more than targeting someone's AC and doing hit point damage.

[Killer Angel]

Shining Blade of Heironius. You are his blade, you are his wrath, you are electrocuting people!! Sadly the class is CW Samurai levels of suck

You can say more or less the same for a generic Paladin. :smallfrown:

[avr]

Artificer. You know what makes magic items tick and you can take them apart, put them together and even improve them. You're the master of gadgets and the underpinning of Eberron's steampunk revolution.

Unfortunately it's easy to break an Artificer on the high side. The way 3.5 magical items work, getting too many, especially with open book access to everything printed, makes you overpowered. But if you as a GM lock an artificer down too tightly with house rules their infusions may not be enough to carry them alone.

[goto124]

Back to the Truenamers:

Truenamers talk about it.


... oops, sorry.

[ExLibrisMortis]

True Necromancer is the best! As long as it's necromancy, doesn't matter whether arcane or divine, the true necromancer knows it, and she can do it better than you. At least, if she didn't lose a billion caster levels getting into the bloody class. And for some reason, the actual class features do nothing to tie arcane and divine together, which is a bit disappointing for a thematic theurge. Now Geomancer... that's has what you need, but it's not theurgic.

Geometer and Runesmith are cool, too. And Dweomerkeeper and Incantatrix, of course. They can all do all of their magic in special ways, not just certain spells or abilities. They really get magic like nobody else.

Fochluchan Lyrist is really nice, too.

[(Un)Inspired]

Sublime Chord.

The trivium and quadrivium were the perfect gateway to understanding the universe, now hum a little tune and start casting some magic.

[Zubrowka74]

Half-Celestial. You are an angel. Badass.

Correction: you are half an angel. So at character creation you get to pick if you have either the left or the right wing.

[(Un)Inspired]

Correction: you are half an angel. So at character creation you get to pick if you have either the left or the right wing.

Well, it says you have a pair of wings so maybe your northern hemisphere is an angels and your Southern Hemisphere is human?

[weckar]

The Warlock was always like this to me.

Eldritch power under your control, the likes of you have toppled empires with words and kingdoms with hordes.
Limits? Running out of spells? You laugh at those lesser casters. You have all your power available to you at all times.
And they will all know it by the time you are done.

After which you will probably have lunch. It'd be around that time.

[MrSinister]

My bar is set fairly low.
Rage Mage.

"Screaming makes me shoot lightning!"

Just so you know, I almost spit Dr. Pepper all over my work monitor.

I love the idea of the pumped-up shadowcraft mage/killer gnome concept. Oh, sure, this lion is 100% real, but lemme just smoosh these shadows into the shape of a lion and make it realer with my magic!

This is utterly delightful.

[Sam K]

Druid. Ultimate versatility. Wildshape into any form, for whatever need arises; flying, scouting, sneaking, charging, swimming deep, or just tearing bad guys apart with your bare claws.

Plus when you want to be, you're a spell casting tiger, with a tiger friend, throwing more tigers at the bad guys.

Yo tiger, we heard you like tigers, so we put some tigers with your tigers, to throw tigers at ya!

[McThunderpants]

Binders seem pretty cool to me. You make deals with beings who are outside the reaches of the gods themselves and gain a bit of their power in exchange for letting them take over your body for a while.

[Inevitability]

Correction: you are half an angel. So at character creation you get to pick if you have either the left or the right wing.

Obligatory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7wJ8pE2qKU).

[LoyalPaladin]

I'd tell everyone which class I think has the best fluff, but its probably pretty obvious at this point.

[Vhaidara]

I'd tell everyone which class I think has the best fluff, but its probably pretty obvious at this point.

You're right. Cleric/Crusader/Refluffed Ruby Knight Vindicator (to match your god) does have some pretty awesome fluff.

[LoyalPaladin]

You're right. Cleric/Crusader/Refluffed Ruby Knight Vindicator (to match your god) does have some pretty awesome fluff.
I knew this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18793268&postcount=19) would come back to haunt me.

Did I ever tell you that you are my favorite playgrounder Keledrath.

[Vhaidara]

Did I ever tell you that you are my favorite playgrounder Keledrath.

No actually. Thank you, however. I've been having some pretty bad days lately, and that made me happy.

Permission to sig?

also, in a more serious vibe, I actually do consider Paladin one of my favorite classes, fluffwise. I just can't bring myself to use their terrible crunch, because the badass champion of all things right and good shouldn't be a complete incompetent. That's why I use Crusader, Warder, or a homebrew paladin fix like Grod's or T.G. Oskar's.

[LoyalPaladin]

No actually. Thank you, however. I've been having some pretty bad days lately, and that made me happy.

Permission to sig?

also, in a more serious vibe, I actually do consider Paladin one of my favorite classes, fluffwise. I just can't bring myself to use their terrible crunch, because the badass champion of all things right and good shouldn't be a complete incompetent. That's why I use Crusader, Warder, or a homebrew paladin fix like Grod's or T.G. Oskar's.
Permission granted.

I actually like running 5 in Paladin and then multi-classing/prestiging out. Hence my Paladin/Crusader/Fist of Raziel/Pious Templar build. I'm a holy knight guy though and our group is huge on roleplay. If you don't take levels in Paladin, you aren't a Paladin.

[Vhaidara]

Permission granted.

I actually like running 5 in Paladin and then multi-classing/prestiging out. Hence my Paladin/Crusader/Fist of Raziel/Pious Templar build. I'm a holy knight guy though and our group is huge on roleplay. If you don't take levels in Paladin, you aren't a Paladin.

That sounds like you're bigger on crunch than roleplay. If it looks like a paladin, acts like a paladin, and smites like a paladin, why does it matter if it has Paladin levels? I'd call that a Paladin.

[Arbane]

I've always been a fan of the idea of concept manipulation and creation.

That is, characters who have the power to edit what a particular concept 'means' in the universe, either temporarily or permanently. Beyond that, the art of the creation of novel concepts and introducing them into the universe as a way in which to address immediate problems is very much in the high epic range for me.

You might want to check out Nobilis, which is an entire RPG devoted to this concept.

[ZamielVanWeber]

Death Master is one I enjoy. You are granted death themed powers, even to the point where you get an undead servant and slowly become as the dead themselves, but stay a master of potent magics.

[NichG]

You might want to check out Nobilis, which is an entire RPG devoted to this concept.

Yes, I'm familiar with Nobilis :smallsmile:

[LoyalPaladin]

That sounds like you're bigger on crunch than roleplay. If it looks like a paladin, acts like a paladin, and smites like a paladin, why does it matter if it has Paladin levels? I'd call that a Paladin.
We wouldn't, we'd call that a person pretending to be a Paladin. If you want the title, you've got to pay the price. That price just happens to be the coolest class in the game (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/paladin.htm). On top of all that, we aren't too big on the minmax/munchkin side of the game. We want our theme to be clear as day.

[ben-zayb]

My bar is set fairly low.
Rage Mage.

"Screaming makes me shoot lightning!"

On a similar note: Aeshkrau Illumian Casters
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt310/Kobold-Bard/Demotivators/motivator763372f460fed1de837b059f1e.jpgcredits to Kobold-Bard

Might want to add Cancer Mage with Festering Anger to the mix, for a far more anger-induced reality warping.

[T.G. Oskar]

Permission granted.

I actually like running 5 in Paladin and then multi-classing/prestiging out. Hence my Paladin/Crusader/Fist of Raziel/Pious Templar build. I'm a holy knight guy though and our group is huge on roleplay. If you don't take levels in Paladin, you aren't a Paladin.

Meh. Paladin 4/Cleric 1/Ordained Champion 5/Fist of Raziel 10. That I like more than Cleric/Crusader/RKV, if only because it smites like a boss.

Speaking of which - Fist of Raziel. "Evil arises? Give me that bag of Doritos, I'll make them weapons against evil!" Also, "it's the only way to fly smite..." like a BAWSS!!

[LoyalPaladin]

Speaking of which - Fist of Raziel. "Evil arises? Give me that bag of Doritos, I'll make them weapons against evil!" Also, "it's the only way to fly smite..." like a BAWSS!!
I'm planning on using our blind party member as a weapon if our weapons are ever taken from us. He can set himself on fire. "Yes, I wield a +0 Holy Flaming Burst blind man."

[Eldan]

We wouldn't, we'd call that a person pretending to be a Paladin. If you want the title, you've got to pay the price. That price just happens to be the coolest class in the game (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/paladin.htm). On top of all that, we aren't too big on the minmax/munchkin side of the game. We want our theme to be clear as day.

Honestly, that comes across as very, very crunch heavy.

[LoyalPaladin]

Honestly, that comes across as very, very crunch heavy.
Huh, I'd have never thought it would. I guess we figured to be a Paladin you actually had to be a Paladin. We don't do much refluffing. I'm a big fan of the five levels because it gives you all the main Paladin features. It's a sad day when some NPC Paladin can be more Paladinly than you.

[danzibr]

I agree with anything along the Necromancer line.

And... Sacred Fist! Baddonkey Cleric/Monk hybrid. I love the art for it.

[ben-zayb]

Huh, I'd have never thought it would. I guess we figured to be a Paladin you actually had to be a Paladin. We don't do much refluffing. I'm a big fan of the five levels because it gives you all the main Paladin features. It's a sad day when some NPC Paladin can be more Paladinly than you.

It's a sad day when Miko Miyazaki's logic makes more sense.
:smallamused:

[Jormengand]

Dragon Disciple. You are so good at spellcasting that you are literally turning into a dragon.

A pity that it's basically a slightly odd barbarian, but whatever.

[Lerondiel]

The Malconvoker - sitting in a tavern drinking ale while his hordes from the Abyss/Hells defeat evil.


"I've got the perfect thing to take down that Balor.......two Balors!"

[LoyalPaladin]

It's a sad day when Miko Miyazaki's logic makes more sense.
:smallamused:
We've had a lot of Paladins go through our group. But I can honestly say we had a Paladin just like Miko... who then turned into Belkar. Why our old DM never had him fall is beyond me...

[kellbyb]

We've had a lot of Paladins go through our group. But I can honestly say we had a Paladin just like Miko... who then turned into Belkar. Why our old DM never had him fall is beyond me...

I believe we're referring more to the fact that Miko refers to herself in character as a samurai, despite actually being a multiclassed monk/paladin. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0209.html)

[LoyalPaladin]

I believe we're referring more to the fact that Miko refers to herself in character as a samurai, despite actually being a multiclassed monk/paladin. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0209.html)
Ahhh. I get it. I'll still stand on my island of you need to be of a class to actually be of that class. But if everyone else likes it the other way that's cool too. To each their own! Haha.

I also like a lot of the low tier classes like Paladin/Monk because once you leave them you can't go back. Which really cements their purpose for me.

[Jormengand]

Ahhh. I get it. I'll still stand on my island of you need to be of a class to actually be of that class.

Barbarians fight and are not fighters. Fighters can go to war and not be warriors. Warriors can be from the common people and not be commoners. Commoners can be an expert in something and not be experts. Experts can be adept at something and not be adepts. Adepts can be clergymen and not be clerics. Clerics can receive a knighthood without taking levels in knight. Samurai don't have to be represented by someone who has levels in samurai.

[BowStreetRunner]

I'd tell everyone which class I think has the best fluff, but its probably pretty obvious at this point.

While you may think Paladin has the best fluff and I think Hellbred has the best fluff, the really awesome thing is that Paladin is the favored class for Hellbred. What is more, they can leave and return to the Paladin class without penalty. How cool is the Hellbred Paladin for you? :smallcool:

[LoyalPaladin]

Barbarians fight and are not fighters. Fighters can go to war and not be warriors. Warriors can be from the common people and not be commoners. Commoners can be an expert in something and not be experts. Experts can be adept at something and not be adepts. Adepts can be clergymen and not be clerics. Clerics can receive a knighthood without taking levels in knight. Samurai don't have to be represented by someone who has levels in samurai.
Like I said:

But if everyone else likes it the other way that's cool too. To each their own!


While you may think Paladin has the best fluff and I think Hellbred has the best fluff, the really awesome thing is that Paladin is the favored class for Hellbred. What is more, they can leave and return to the Paladin class without penalty. How cool is the Hellbred Paladin for you? :smallcool:
That is extremely cool! Hey, any race with favored class Paladin is good with me. Our DM is pretty serious about the whole multiclass penalty, so it always helps me to have another race under my belt. :smallwink:

I'm also a large fan of the fluff behind Druids.

[Mr. Thomas]

I think that sorcerers are pretty cool, considering how awesome Xykon is, and all the stuff he's said about how amazing sorcerers are.
"Because yes, I am a sorcerer -- and this magic is in my bones, not cribbed off of 'Magic for Dummies'. And I can keep casting the same friggin' spell at you until you roll over and die. You can have your finely-crafted watch -- give me the sledgehammer to the face any day."

Psions are pretty awesome too, altering the fabric of reality with just a thought, no fancy words or hand gestures needed. As a psion you're basically able to launch blasts of energy through sheer willpower alone.

[Blackhawk748]

That is extremely cool! Hey, any race with favored class Paladin is good with me. Our DM is pretty serious about the whole multiclass penalty, so it always helps me to have another race under my belt. :smallwink:

Wait seriously?? Holy crap i didnt think anyone actually did that.

[Psyren]

Binder/Occultist has some of my favorite fluff and mechanics. "Easy magic, just add chalk!" "No, we don't know why he's doing that, but he's a big help to the team so please just ignore him."


Monks: my body is my weapon, your body is my stress ball. (sadly, this does not often happen)

You can play a Brawler with Pummeling Style for that feel too. Moreso since you don't have to worry about enlightenment... just supremely kicking ass.

[LoyalPaladin]

Wait seriously?? Holy crap i didnt think anyone actually did that.
He's been playing since 1st edition and is the only person I know who can remember every rule, ability, and monster. The guy puts the M in DM. Hence why you never seem me talking about much multi-classing. I really like his DMing style, even though it is rule intense. We don't have many grey areas and there is never any "but you said this" moments. Overall, it is the best D&D experience I've ever had.

[kellbyb]

He's been playing since 1st edition and is the only person I know who can remember every rule, ability, and monster. The guy puts the M in DM. Hence why you never seem me talking about much multi-classing. I really like his DMing style, even though it is rule intense. We don't have many grey areas and there is never any "but you said this" moments. Overall, it is the best D&D experience I've ever had.

I know it's rude, but whenever I see multiclass penalties being used I feel a strong compulsion to come in with Wizard/Incantatrix/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil and break everything into unrecognizable pieces.

[Shining Wrath]

Malconvoker. You are a good guy who tricks the worst creatures in the universe into advancing the cause of good.

Master of Nine. You're the old guy who doesn't talk much in an Anime, until time comes to fight, and then you reveal that Your Power Is All That.

[BowStreetRunner]

I know it's rude, but whenever I see multiclass penalties being used I feel a strong compulsion to come in with Wizard/Incantatrix/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil and break everything into unrecognizable pieces.

Now whenever I am faced with multiclass penalties I am tempted to do this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-292844.html). A character so infinitely powerful that he must never again gain XP or it would completely unbalance the game.

[kellbyb]

Now whenever I am faced with multiclass penalties I am tempted to do this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-292844.html). A character so infinitely powerful that he must never again gain XP or it would completely unbalance the game.

Oh snap, I completely missed that you were in this thread. That would also be a good idea.

[atemu1234]

Now whenever I am faced with multiclass penalties I am tempted to do this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-292844.html). A character so infinitely powerful that he must never again gain XP or it would completely unbalance the game.

This is why I don't like 3.5's favored class system. You shouldn't penalize multiclassing, but incentivize it.