Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXVI

[Heliomance]

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef LXV. 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: The "special ingredient" can be drawn from any legal source. Originally, the plan was to mostly use Core and Completes, but that was 60 threads ago, and we've started running out of interesting classes to use if we restrict ourselves to those.

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 09:59 GMT on Sunday, March 15th, 2015 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, Heliomance. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 09:59 GMT on Sunday, March 29th, 2015 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 on a scale 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 considered in poor taste, and judges are asked to take a dim view of this option, taking it into account while grading. Other things that will cause penalties here are excessive multi-classing, and classes that don't fit the concept - using Cloistered Cleric in a front-line melee fighter, for example, will lose you points.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 result in a penalty to Elegance 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 month's Secret Ingredient is:
Dwarven Chanter! (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a)
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. If there are no votes, Honourable Mention will go to the chairwoman's favourite build.

Allez, optimiser!

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)
Iron Chef LX: Lasher (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?371835-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LX)
Iron Chef LX(II): Acolyte of the Ego (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?372145-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LX)
Iron Chef LXII: Dungeon Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?376810-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXII)
Iron Cheff LXIII: WItchborn Binder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?382632-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXIII)
Iron Chef LXIV: Slime Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?387166-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXIV)
Iron Chef LXV: Thunder Guide (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?394981-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXV)

[Heliomance]

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 Heliomance 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.

Creatures and templates with no listed LA are playable, right? No. No listed LA is equivalent to LA: -. It is not suitable for PCs. If you use it, expect judges to look extremely disfavourably on it.

[Sian]

allready have one of those ... Junkyard VI if i recall correctly ... removing the needed parts from that might go a long way to get to this

[Heliomance]

Genuine Marvel-surplus No-Prize for anyone that actually manages to find a use for Trance!

[Amphetryon]

Trance: such lackluster. Many bland. Wow.

Competing, time permitting.

Edit to add: Are the requirements "Perform 8 ranks (chant AND percussion)," or "Perform 8 ranks (chant OR percussion)"?

[Gwachitallemall]

Looking at the inner parts of chant, it appears to be you need both:

In order to initiate a timing chant, the chanter must chant for a full minute while accompanying himself on a percussion instrument.

[Sian]

that was the conclusion i came to when i made Belina (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18116708&postcount=65), Percussion AND Chant

although Perform (Chant) should probably be Perform (Sing) ... going from the fact that in 3.5 Chant have become a subtype of Sing

[Amphetryon]

I've been cooking for an hour, and two of my delicate souffles have turned to dwarf bread. Grumble

[dysprosium]

I told myself that no matter what I have to participate in Round LXVI since it is the atomic number of dysprosium.

::Looks at ingredient.:: :smalleek:

I remember when this article first came out. I am going to get something going for this.

[Chronos]

Quoth Sian:

although Perform (Chant) should probably be Perform (Sing) ... going from the fact that in 3.5 Chant have become a subtype of Sing
Right, this appears to be using 3.0 rules for Perform. There, there was a single perform skill, and you had as many forms of performance as you had ranks. Since this meant high-level bards would end up with a very large number of forms of performance, they were split very finely, so you could have (singing) and (chanting) and (rapping) and...

It looks like the original expectation was that you have at least 8 ranks total, and that chanting and percussion be among your 8 forms of performance. I'm not sure how best to translate that to 3.5: 8 ranks in at least one of them, and 1 rank in the other, maybe?

Also, what's the caster level for Counter Chant?

[dysprosium]

However the article was written in 2006 which was well into the 3.5 era.

It is a translation of a 2nd edition player's kit too which also may add to the confusion.

[Zaq]

Huh. At first glance, this doesn't look like a bad class. The tricky part will be less about using the abilities and more about making yourself different from every other Dwarven Chanter in the world. Very different from Thunder Guide, that's for sure.

Not sure if I'll be cooking, judging, or watching this round. We'll see if I get inspired one way or the other.

[Heliomance]

I'm reading the skills prereq as requiring 8 ranks in both Chant and Percussion (which is how it appears in a certain spreadsheet). My personal attitude to Perform skills is that the listed ones are only examples, and so Perform (Underwater Kazoo) is a perfectly valid skill. That said, given that it matters in case of other things that have Perform (Sing) as a prereq, feel free to treat Perform (Chant) as identical to Perform (Sing).

[Deadasadoor]

I remember in the last thread where people were speculating about the next SI being something with gnomes. I came across this in the archives and thought there was no way it could be this. Guess I was wrong. This ingredient is fairly interesting, much more than Thunder Guide. The chants actually seem quite powerful... Timing chant especially seems very versatile.

[Zaq]

Hmm. I see a trick. Two tricks, actually. One is easy; one is hard and cheesy. These tricks just might tempt me to enter this round, though I'm worried that someone else will see at least one of them.

I do wonder how many [REDACTED] we'll see this round, as it's one of the only ways of getting around [REDACTED].

[Chronos]

Given that I think I know what both of your redactions were, and there was a thread about it recently, probably a few. On the other hand, the underwhelming but thematically-appropriate [redacted] might also arguably work here, which would probably score some points for originality.

Wait, no, what I was thinking of was from Dragon Magazine. There are still other ways, though.

[Sgt. Cookie]

The rules for the Trance ability state that you must make the save after 4 hours. By default, you must make 4 hours after you start the Trance. The reason for this is a lack of food, water and sleep, but according to the Starvation and Thirst rules, a Medium creature can go a full day without water before it becomes a problem. See the contradiction?

So, with that in mind, I ask the Chairman: How long is it before you must start making checks against Con damage due to Trance.

[Heliomance]

The rules for the Trance ability state that you must make the save after 4 hours. By default, you must make 4 hours after you start the Trance. The reason for this is a lack of food, water and sleep, but according to the Starvation and Thirst rules, a Medium creature can go a full day without water before it becomes a problem. See the contradiction?

So, with that in mind, I ask the Chairman: How long is it before you must start making checks against Con damage due to Trance.

Four hours. It's just that bad.

I did warn you. The casting's about the only good thing here - everything else is garbage. Especially Trance.

[WhamBamSam]

Well, unfortunately, it looks like I was right.

I'm not all that enthused about cooking, since everything I can think to do with this PrC feels a little too obvious. Maybe I'll judge.

[KrimsonNekros]

*ponders ideas*

[The Viscount]

While we're in the early stages I would like to have something clarified.

Are we to assume that continuous spellcasting is usable at will, and the chant covers any and all concentration checks for spells during this time?

[KrimsonNekros]

Wrong thread for that statement, though i do have my concept for this one <<

[The Viscount]

Also, are we supposed to make anything of the fact that the war chant ability says you can fight but not cast spells? I know not casting spells is normal, but are we to take the "fight" to mean it doesn't take a standard to keep concentrating on the ability, or has the writer simply messed up?

[A_S]

So how many mooks do you have to kill before doing so becomes "tedious, repetitive work" and you start getting the Timing Chant bonuses to your attack rolls?

[Thurbane]

Hmm, interesting. I doubt I'll get an entry in (just moved house, no internet at home yet), but 10/10 casting is very tempting...

[OMG PONIES]

Can the chanter benefit from Soothing Chant herself? It says affected characters can't do anything but rest...but can you chant while resting?

[Deadasadoor]

I'm having a hard time pulling any real 'oomph' out of my idea... Without prestiging out my idea is bland, but the fact that the bard prestige class all want different similar-but-different perform skills kind of puts a damper on the ability to do so.

[sideswipe]

i had a great idea, but it has already been shut down by the chairman through PM's..... i might do it anyway and showcase it.

[Heliomance]

Well, one chef's discovered an amazingly cheesy bit of borderline TO. I think we might be getting a fondue this round.

[Deadasadoor]

Well, one chef's discovered an amazingly cheesy bit of borderline TO. I think we might be getting a fondue this round.

Ooh, I'm excited to see what that would be. I have some thoughts, but I'll talk about that after the builds are out.

In other news, I think I've figured out what I'm doing for my dish. I just hope it isn't too similar to what someone else has. How is everyone else doing?

[Venger]

Well, one chef's discovered an amazingly cheesy bit of borderline TO. I think we might be getting a fondue this round.

I wonder what that might be?

Seriously, this SI is the worst :smalltongue:

[Zaq]

Well, one chef's discovered an amazingly cheesy bit of borderline TO. I think we might be getting a fondue this round.

That is not encouraging. I found a trick or two that I also thought was on the high end of power, but if there's TO fondue in the ring this round, my attempt at scoring high in Power might look tame in comparison. That's discouraging.

I've got a build sketched out, and while the main trick is clear, I'm not sure if I'm happy enough with everything else it does to make it not be a one-trick pony. I may or may not actually finish it . . . I'm kind of psyching myself out. (Also, the bulk of the power isn't coming from the SI, so if I don't get a good score in Power, the entire thing might be a real flop. It doesn't ignore the SI entirely, not by a long shot, but . . . I've said enough.)

[Amphetryon]

I wonder what that might be?

Seriously, this SI is the worst :smalltongue:

Go look at Initiate of Pistis Sophia again. :smalltongue:

[KrimsonNekros]

I've got my build and skills figured out, just formatting everything now and then the glorious fun of writeups.

[Chronos]

I'm skipping this one. I can't think of any good way of making a chanter, rather than a full-caster who just happens to be a chanter.

I'm pondering giving judging a try, though.

[Venger]

I'm skipping this one. I can't think of any good way of making a chanter, rather than a full-caster who just happens to be a chanter.

I'm pondering giving judging a try, though.

the everlasting problem with full-casting SIs.

[The Viscount]

Don't be discouraged, Zaq. My build likely won't be cleaning up in power either, but I'm still going for it. Historically the judges have not received TO particularly well, scores in power are usually balanced by those in elegance. The last TO build I can remember did not medal.

[KrimsonNekros]

Don't be discouraged, Zaq. My build likely won't be cleaning up in power either, but I'm still going for it. Historically the judges have not received TO particularly well, scores in power are usually balanced by those in elegance. The last TO build I can remember did not medal.

And this is why i usually just get an idea and run with it, and figure out how to optimize it second.

[Venger]

Don't be discouraged, Zaq. My build likely won't be cleaning up in power either, but I'm still going for it. Historically the judges have not received TO particularly well, scores in power are usually balanced by those in elegance. The last TO build I can remember did not medal.

who're you talking about? the last serious TO I remember is frater omnia back in mindbender, and he medaled.

[dysprosium]

Just realized that I have a week longer than I thought I had. :smallredface:

I have two ideas running around. I have to see how they will play out with the time left.

[Chronos]

Quoth Venger:

the everlasting problem with full-casting SIs.
The everlasting problem with full-casting SIs whose features otherwise suck and/or have nothing to do with casting.

[Amphetryon]

Question for the judges: With this round featuring a full-casting PrC, how much emphasis will your rubric place on which spells we list as typical selections/known spells etc.?

[OMG PONIES]

Don't be discouraged, Zaq. My build likely won't be cleaning up in power either, but I'm still going for it. Historically the judges have not received TO particularly well, scores in power are usually balanced by those in elegance. The last TO build I can remember did not medal.

My 2 cp, for what they're worth, is that the TO showcased in Iron Chef are often based on an illegal chassis due to a failure to qualify for something or a blatant rules violation. Most good TO is dependent upon a solid reading of the rules; for example, the Santa Claus build we had in Nightsong Infiltrator who presented a TO solution to the problem of going around the world in one night. That was pure gold :smallcool:.


Just realized that I have a week longer than I thought I had. :smallredface:

I have two ideas running around. I have to see how they will play out with the time left.

You don't say...I thought the window was closing, too. I may just have a chance to get something in. If not, I'll most likely judge again.


The everlasting problem with full-casting SIs whose features otherwise suck and/or have nothing to do with casting.

QFT. That's why this is Iron Chef, though.

[Heliomance]

I should really make a file where I note down plans for future contests. I know I'd decided what to do for the next three, but I can only remember two of them now.

[samduke]

Clerification please as to source of SI: -
Dwarven Chanter : http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a

OR AD&D - The Complete Bard's Handbook
which do I use?

[Heliomance]

Clerification please as to source of SI: -
Dwarven Chanter : http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a

OR AD&D - The Complete Bard's Handbook
which do I use?

One of those is for D&D 3.5, the other is not.
One of those is linked in the OP, the other is not.

[samduke]

oh did not see it linked that solves that - thanks I will look at this

[CarleyEnd]

Well, I fancy myself a decent character builder having read through all of these Iron Chefs, and a good part of the rest of the forums, but this... my condolences to the chefs. That said if you need a judge, I would be happy to do my part.

[KrimsonNekros]

Entry away!

[Amphetryon]

*grumbles about the spell chart*

[Venger]

*grumbles about the spell chart*

my number 2 reason for preferring noncasting SIs.

[Sian]

bardic music ... probably the least accessable prerequsite

[Deadline]

bardic music ... probably the least accessable prerequsite

Far more accessible than Flurry of Blows. For Bardic Music I can count ... 4 different sources off the top of my head (all of which are legal in Iron Chef). Given how bad my memory is, there are likely more.

[Venger]

I think it's less. I only ended up finding I think 3. we can go through after the reveal.

[The Viscount]

bardic music ... probably the least accessable prerequsite

The leas accessible prerequisite will probably always remain that for Initiate of Pistis Sophia. The feat Sanctify Ki Strike requires Ki strike (lawful). Due to the way this works out, there is literally 1 way to finish this class by level 20: Monk of the Enabled Hand. The other means of entry discussed (like VoP) are not 100% RAW, since feats come before class features. If you do not adhere to the strict order of leveling up there are 2 more (highly similar) means of entry. There might be like 1 more I'm forgetting, but Initiate of Pistis Sophia will probably always remain the least accessible in terms of prerequisites (until we do magelord).

[Venger]

I think the landforged walker found some kind of weird third way to enter that was neither vop nor empty hand monk.

we're not getting magelord, it's too good.

[Troacctid]

How about Crimson Scourge? That's an interesting one. We haven't done it yet, right?

I still like Elocater too.

[Heliomance]

Assuming this one doesn't overrun, the next one will be running over April 1st. That's all I'm sayign ^_^

[WhamBamSam]

I think the landforged walker found some kind of weird third way to enter that was neither vop nor empty hand monk.

we're not getting magelord, it's too good.Ponies' spreadsheet says that it was a Monk of the Enabled Hand as well. It did not finish IoPS.

Beast Heart Adept has made its way up to the top of my list of late, to the point where I've been trying to hammer some ideas out in advance like I was doing for Slime Lord, but I could roll with Elocater, Thief of Life, Shiba Protector, Bayushi Deceiver, or perhaps a few others that are slipping my mind. I still want Rage Mage at some point, but not right after getting a caster SI.


Assuming this one doesn't overrun, the next one will be running over April 1st. That's all I'm saying ^_^Bayushi Deceiver? Deceit is sort of like April Fool's jokes.

[dysprosium]

I am not sure I am going to get my entry in on time but things keep piling up around me.

I will have to find a way.

[Venger]

How about Crimson Scourge? That's an interesting one. We haven't done it yet, right?

I still like Elocater too.

I am in love with crimson scourge, so I'd support that. elocator's pretty cute too.


Assuming this one doesn't overrun, the next one will be running over April 1st. That's all I'm saying ^_^

uhhh divine prankster? seems too good, but I can't think of anything else that fits.

[KrimsonNekros]

I'm still voting for Arachnomancer from DotU.

On the subject of the current round I wonder how much Vizzini will strike.

[A_S]

uhhh divine prankster? seems too good, but I can't think of anything else that fits.
Avenger ( http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070401a)?

[WhamBamSam]

Avenger ( http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070401a)?Avenger is almost identical to Assassin, which has been done. I don't think there's enough non-evil Assassin optimization to sustain a round, especially since Avenger loses all the splat support the Assassin spell list got.

Something cat themed perhaps? Fabulous Cats is the April Fools article that sees the most use.

[sideswipe]

i would of said jester because of the clown aspect and april fools. but its not a prestige.

[KrimsonNekros]

So how's the last minute rush going for people?

[Amphetryon]

So how's the last minute rush going for people?

It's away! *pant pant* Nothing like procrastination.

[KrimsonNekros]

That makes two confirmed entries at least.

[The Viscount]

We'll have three before morning comes, if sleep does not overcome me with all its temptations.

[Zaq]

Still not sure if I'm gonna enter. Since it would involve staying up late, I probably won't.

[Macabaret]

Entry away.
(Hopefully you can understand it all, Heliomance.)
Stupid character limit!

[Heliomance]

That's one of the biger last minute rushes I've seen. I woke up this morning to find 8 PMs in my inbox.

Anyway, I now present the builds. Please refrain from posting till I'm done.

[Heliomance]

And my axe!


tali ozak

http://community.wizards.com/sites/mtgcommunity/files/styles/large/public/Dwarf_Metal_Bard_WIP2_1.jpg?itok=QcfP2saF
bard 3 /fighter 3/ war chanter 5/ seeker of the song 2/ dwarven chanter 7

history

he was born in a decent family in a large city. He lived happily until he was about 13 years old, at that point things began to change.
He lost his parents in a horrible flood and was arrested. He moved in with a friend and started competing in tournaments as a member of the zhentarim.
While haunted by memories of the past, free of trouble, with his wits and cunning, he now works as a musician that pays.
He is strict, hardy, loyal, athletic, sweet, talkative and perhaps a little too rash, though currently still learning, exploring and discovering.
As a good musician he has gained new responsibilities and a little fame, while meeting a lot of influential people.
But with his powers and skills, only time will tell; with determination and some luck, there's nothing to stop him from reaching great success in this world.


racial

gold dwarf (dmg 171), ( forgotten realms campaign setting 11)
dwarf racial traits (phb 14)
+2con -2dex
+1 attack vs aberations
languages: Common, dwarven, giant

al: Ng

32 point buy: Str 14, dex 14, con 12, int 12, wis 12, cha 16
racial: Str 14, dex 12, con 14, int 12, wis 12, cha 16
attributes: Str 15, dex 14, con 12, int 12, wis 12, cha 18
4 cha +1
8 cha +1
12 dex +1
16 str +1
20 dex +1


tali ozak build





level
class

base attack bonus
fort save

ref save
will save
skills

feats

class features





1st
bard 1

+0
+0
+2
+2

bluff 4, concentration 4, diplomacy 4, knowledge (arcana) 4, perform (sing, chant) 4, perform (string) 4, sense motive 4, use magic device 1

nymph's kiss

bardic music, bardic knowledge, countersong, fascinate, inspire courage +1






2nd
bard 2

+1
+0
+3
+3

bluff 5, concentration 5, diplomacy 5, knowledge (arcana) 5, perform (sing, chant) 5, perform (string) 5, sense motive 5, use magic device 2

-

-






3rd
bard 3

+2
+1
+3
+3

concentration 6, diplomacy 6, knowledge (arcana) 6, perform (sing, chant) 6, perform (string) 6, spellcraft 2, use magic device 3

lingering song

inspire competence






4th
fighter 1

+3
+2
+3
+3

concentration 7, knowledge (arcana) 7cc, perform (sing, chant) 7, spellcraft 3cc

combat expertise

bonus feat






5th
fighter 2

+4
+3
+3
+3

concentration 8, knowledge (arcana) 8cc, perform (sing, chant) 8, use magic device 4cc

weapon focus (axe/guitar)

bonus feat






6th
fighter 3

+5
+3
+4
+4

knowledge (arcana) 9cc, perform (sing, chant) 9, perform (string) 7, spellcraft 4cc

skill focus (perform: String)

-






7th
war chanter 1

+6
+5
+4
+4

diplomacy 7, knowledge (arcana) 10cc, perform (sing, chant) 10, perform (string) 9, spellcraft 5cc

-

inspire toughness, war chanter music






8th
war chanter 2

+7
+6
+4
+4

diplomacy 8, knowledge (arcana) 11cc, perform (sing, chant) 11, perform (string) 11, use magic device 5cc

-

-





9th
war chanter 3

+8
+6
+5
+5

diplomacy 10, knowledge (arcana) 12cc, perform (sing, chant) 12, perform (string) 12, use magic device 6cc

melodic casting

inspire recklessness





10th
war chanter 4

+9
+7
+5
+5

diplomacy 12, knowledge (arcana) 13cc, perform (sing, chant) 13, perform (string) 13, use magic device 7cc

-

-





11th
war chanter 5

+10
+7
+5
+5

diplomacy 14, knowledge (arcana) 14cc, perform (sing, chant) 14, perform (string) 14, use magic device 8cc

-

ncombine songs





12th
seeker of the song 1

+10
+9
+5
+7

concentration 9, diplomacy 15, knowledge (arcana) 15, perform (sing, chant) 15, perform (string) 15, use magic device 9cc

great fortitude

rapture of the song (+2 ac), seeker music burning melody





13th
seeker of the song 2

+11
+9
+5
+8

concentration 11, diplomacy 16, perform (sing, chant) 16, perform (string) 16, spellcraft 6cc

-

combine songs song of unmaking





14th
dwarven chanter 1

+11
+11
+5
+10

concentration 13, diplomacy 17, perform (sing, chant) 17, perform (string) 17, spellcraft 7, use magic device 11

-

timing chant, +1 level of existing class





15th
dwarven chanter 2

+12
+12
+5
+11

concentration 15, diplomacy 18, perform (sing, chant) 18, perform (string) 18, spellcraft 8, use magic device 13

master manipulator, endurance

endurance, +1 level of existing class





16th
dwarven chanter 3

+13
+12
+6
+11

concentration 17, diplomacy 19, perform (sing, chant) 19, perform (string) 19, spellcraft 9, use magic device 15

-

+1 level of existing class





17th
dwarven chanter 4

+14
+13
+6
+12

concentration 19, diplomacy 20, perform (sing, chant) 20, perform (string) 20, spellcraft 10, use magic device 17

-

counter chant, +1 level of existing class





18th
dwarven chanter 5

+14
+13
+6
+12


concentration 21, diplomacy 21, perform (sing, chant) 21, perform (string) 21, use magic device 19

wanderer's diplomacy

continuous spellcasting, +1 level of existing class





19th
dwarven chanter 6

+15
+14
+7
+13

concentration 22, diplomacy 22, perform (sing, chant) 22, perform (string) 22, use magic device 21

die hard

die hard, +1 level of existing class





20th
dwarven chanter 7

+16
+14
+7
+13

concentration 23, diplomacy 23, perform (sing, chant) 23, perform (string) 23, use magic device 23

-

trance, +1 level of existing class





bard spells per day / known

bard spells known




level

0lvl

1st

2nd

3rd

4th







1st
4
-
-
-
-



2nd
5
2
-
-
-



3rd
6
3
-
-
-



4th
6
3
2
-
-



5th
6
4
3
-
-



6th
6
4
3
-
-



7th
6
4
4
2
-



8th
6
4
4
3
-



9th
6
4
4
3
-



10th
6
4
4
4
2




bard spells per day




level

0lvl

1st

2nd

3rd

4th







1st
2
-
-
-
-





2nd
3
0
-
-
-





3rd
3
1
-
-
-





4th
3
2
0
-
-





5th
3
3
1
-
-





6th
3
3
2
-
-





7th
3
3
2
0
-





8th
3
3
3
1
-





9th
3
3
3
2
-





10th
3
3
3
2
0




cha bonus spells




score

modifier
0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th







18–19
+4
-
1
1
11



spell list

0-level
lullaby
summon instrument
songbird

1st level
grease
improvisation
inspirational boost
share talents

2nd level
alter self
glitterdust
suggestion
grace

3rd level
dispel magic
haste
slow
summon monster iii

4th level
sirine's grace
celerity


write up

at levels 1-5
as a bard with fighter the overall skills and abilities are on par with most other level 5 characters

at levels 6-10
with war chanter tossed in the music abilities start to come around with options for in and out of combat

at levels 11-15
with seeker and dwarven chanter in prime the characters abilies with music come about with the ability to play 3 bardic musics at once, allowing for multiple affects to occur at once

at levels 16-20
overall: I see 4 attacks, good fort and will saves, average hp and decent social skills to aid in most out of combat situations, the characters primary weapon of choice would be the dwarven waraxe; and as his (axe bass) for his primary music instrament he will always have it on him


sources

bard d6 6+ (phb)
fighter d10 2+ (phb)
war chanter d8 4+ (complete warrior 87)
seeker of the song d6 4+ (complete arcane 56)
dwarven chanter d6 6+ (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a)
nymph's kiss (boed 44)
lingering song (complete adventurer 111)
combat expertise (phb)
weapon focus (phb)
skill focus (perform: String) (phb)
melodic casting (cm 44)
great fortitude (phb)
master manipulator (phb ii)
endurance (phb)
wanderer's diplomacy (phb ii)
die hard (phb)

[Heliomance]

"But we're certainly dwarfs," said the Tiefling.
"We're Certainly Dwarfs," said Dibbler. "Yes, okay. That might work."
-Terry Pratchett, Soul Music (misquoted)



http://th00.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2012/056/4/b/red_the_bard_by_requiemist-d4qwwqt.jpg
Azalin Stonecutter
Tiefling, NG, Dwarven Sorcerer 1/ Spellthief 2/ Stoneblessed 3/ Spellsinger 5/ Dwarven Chanter 8

Abilities:


Strength Dexterity Constitution Intelligence Wisdom Charisma Reason
10 16 11 16 10 15 32-point buy
10 16 12 16 10 15 4th
10 16 14 16 10 15 Stoneblessed
10 16 14 16 10 16 8th
10 16 14 16 10 17 12th
10 16 14 16 10 18 16th





Build:



Level Class BAB Fort Ref Will Skills Feats Features
1 Spellthief +0 + 0 + 0 + 2


Appraise (Int) 4
Balance (Dex) 2
Concentration (Con) 4
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 4
Diplomacy (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 4
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 4
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 2
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 4
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 4

Apprentice Entertainer Sneak Attack +1d6
Steal spell (0 or 1st)
Trapfinding
Speak Language (Terran)
2 Spellthief +1 + 0 + 0 + 3

Appraise (Int) 5 (1)
Balance (Dex) 2.5 (1)
Concentration (Con) 5 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 5 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 5 (1)
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 5 (1)
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 4 (2)
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 5 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 4


- Detect Magic
Spellgrace +1
Steal Spell Effect
3 Stoneblessed +1 + 2 + 0 + 3

Appraise (Int) 6 (1)
Balance (Dex) 2.5
Concentration (Con) 5
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 6 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 6 (1)
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 5
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 5 (1)
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 6 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 4


Skill Focus (Perform (Sing)) Stonebond
4 Stoneblessed +2 + 3 + 0 + 3

Appraise (Int) 7 (1)
Balance (Dex) 2.5
Concentration (Con) 5
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 7 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 6 (1)
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 5
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 6 (1)
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 7 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 4


- Racial Battle Technique
5 Stoneblessed +3 + 3 + 1 + 4

Appraise (Int) 8 (1)
Balance (Dex) 2.5
Concentration (Con) 5
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 8 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 5
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8 (2)
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 8 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 4


- Stoneblessed
6 Dwarven Sorcerer +3 + 3 + 1 + 6

Appraise (Int) 8
Balance (Dex) 3 (1)
Concentration (Con) 5
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 9 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 8 (3)
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 8
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 4


Improved Counterspell
Alertness DR 1/ Adamantine
7 Spellsinger +3 + 3 + 3 + 8

Appraise (Int) 8
Balance (Dex) 3.5 (1)
Concentration (Con) 6 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 10 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 10 (2)
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 10 (2)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 4


- Bardic Music
Compelling Song
Spellsong
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
8 Spellsinger +4 + 3 + 4 + 9

Appraise (Int) 8
Balance (Dex) 4 (1)
Concentration (Con) 8 (2)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 11 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 5 (1)
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 10
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 11 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 4.5 (1)


- + Sorcerer Spellcasting
9 Spellsinger +5 + 4 + 4 + 9

Appraise (Int) 8
Balance (Dex) 4
Concentration (Con) 10 (2)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 12 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 6 (1)
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 11 (1)
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 12 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 5 (1)


Great Fortitude Improved Countersong
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
10 Dwarven Chanter +5 + 6 + 4 + 11

Appraise (Int) 10 (2)
Balance (Dex) 6 (2)
Concentration (Con) 12 (2)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 13 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 6
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 11
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 13 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 5.5 (1)


- Timing Chant
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
11 Dwarven Chanter +6/+1 + 7 + 4 + 12

Appraise (Int) 12 (2)
Balance (Dex) 8 (2)
Concentration (Con) 14 (2)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 14 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 6
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 11
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 14 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 6 (1)


Endurance Soothing Chant
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
12 Spellsinger +7/+2 + 7 + 5 + 13

Appraise (Int) 12
Balance (Dex) 8
Concentration (Con) 15 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 15 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 8 (2)
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 12 (1)
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 15 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 6.5 (1)

Master Spellthief + Sorcerer Spellcasting
13 Dwarven Chanter +8/+3 + 7 + 6 + 13


Appraise (Int) 14 (2)
Balance (Dex) 10 (2)
Concentration (Con) 16 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 16 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 9 (1)
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 12
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 16 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 7 (1)


- War Chant
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
14 Dwarven Chanter +9/+4 + 8 + 6 + 14

Appraise (Int) 16 (2)
Balance (Dex) 12 (2)
Concentration (Con) 17 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 17 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 10 (1)
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 12
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 17 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 7.5 (1)


- Counter Chant
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
15 Spellsinger +9/+4 + 8 + 6 + 14

Appraise (Int) 16
Balance (Dex) 12
Concentration (Con) 18 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 18 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 12(2)
Jump (Str) 6
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 13 (1)
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 18 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 8 (1)


Versatile Performer (Sing, Percussion, Dance) Amplified Music
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
16 Dwarven Chanter +9/+4 + 8 + 6 + 14

Appraise (Int) 17 (1)
Balance (Dex) 13 (1)
Concentration (Con) 19 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 19 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 13 (1)
Jump (Str) 8 (2)
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 13
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 19 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 8.5 (1)


- Continuous Spellcasting
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
17 Dwarven Chanter +10/+5 + 9 + 7 + 15

Appraise (Int) 18 (1)
Balance (Dex) 14 (1)
Concentration (Con) 20 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 20 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 14 (1)
Jump (Str) 10 (2)
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 13
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 20 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 9 (1)


Die Hard + Sorcerer Spellcasting
18 Dwarven Chanter +11/+6/+1 + 9 + 7 + 15

Appraise (Int) 20 (2)
Balance (Dex) 14
Concentration (Con) 21 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 21 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 16 (2)
Jump (Str) 10
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 14 (1)
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 21 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 9.5 (1)


Lingering Song Trance
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting
19 Dwarven Chanter +12/+7/+2 + 10 + 7 + 16

Appraise (Int) 22 (2)
Balance (Dex) 16 (2)
Concentration (Con) 22 (1)
Craft (Stoneworking) (Int) 22 (1)
Diplomacy (Cha) 17 (1)
Jump (Str) 10
Knowledge (Arcana) (Int) 14
Perform (Dance) (Cha) 1
Perform (Percussion) (Cha) 8
Perform (Sing) (Cha) 22 (1)
Speak Language 1
Tumble (Dex) 10 (1)


- Healing Chant
+ Sorcerer Spellcasting




Spells Known / Spells per Day:

Level Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 Level 9
1 - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - -
6 4/5 2/3 - - - - - - - -
7 5/6 2/4 - - - - - - - -
8 5/6 3/5 - - - - - - - -
9 6/6 3/6 1/3 - - - - - - -
10 6/6 4/6 2/4 - - - - - - -
11 7/6 4/6 2/5 1/3 - - - - - -
12 7/6 5/6 3/6 2/4 - - - - - -
13 8/6 5/6 3/6 2/5 1/3 - - - - -
14 8/6 5/6 4/6 3/6 2/4 - - - - -
15 9/6 5/6 4/6 3/6 2/5 1/3 - - - -
16 9/6 5/6 5/6 4/6 3/6 2/4 - - - -
17 9/6 5/6 5/6 4/6 3/6 2/5 1/3 - - -
18 9/6 5/6 5/6 4/6 4/6 3/6 2/4 - - -
19 9/6 5/6 5/6 4/6 4/6 3/6 2/5 1/3 - -



Fluff: Falbere Stonecutter walked along side his horse, returning to the mountains from a successful trading venture. The gems and statuettes had sold well in the market, and with the proceeds he'd been able to assure a good return for his city. The trip had been routine, but it would not remain so.

As he traveled along the road, he heard a mournful song drifting from the woods. Curious, he left the trail to investigate. At it's source, he found a young woman, a half elf by the looks of her, holding a bundle in her arms as she lay sprawled against a tree. One could see from the look in her eyes, that something in her soul had been irreversibly damaged, and she just seemed to be grasping on to life long enough to complete one final task.

Seeing him approach, she raised her arms to give him the bundle. As he took it, the light faded from her eyes, and her body went limp. He felt it move, and examined it more closely to see an infant within. Two nubs of horns were formed on the child's skull, and a small cropping of red hair had begun to grow, a far different shade than the woman who had carried her to this point. Unable to abandon an innocent child, he carried her with him, all the way back to his home, his new daughter.


10 years later...

Azalin skipped after her father humming to herself. Falbere grimaced at the tune. Somehow she remembered the song her mother had sung to her as she lay dying. The memory was still bitter in his mind, and he didn't like recalling it. He'd never told her, all Azalin knew as family was his own. He was her father, his wife her mother, and his other children her siblings. Even if she was a tiefling, her soul was Dwarven, and she had become one with the stone.

She was always cheery about life, never seeming to care about how different she was. Now it was time for her to take her place and learn her trade. He'd taught her a bit of his own craft. How to appraise gems, and shape the stone. But she also showed a strange aptitude for music and the arcane. She was light on her feet and dextrous as well so where she could end up was anyone's guess.

As they walked in the hall, about the only thing he was certain of is that she wasn't going to be a soldier. She was sharp as a tack, but she seemed to lack the focus and discipline really needed to form up in ranks. Still they were before the elders now and it would be their choice.

“Ahh Falbere, you've brought Azalin today? Very well, let us see where she will best serve the community.”

Levels 1-6

Our first five levels are focused on being counted as a dwarf. This requires the Stoneblessed prestige class. We start out with Spellthief in order to get appraise, and a few nice abilities. This also opens the door to the Master Spellthief feat later. We also take the Apprentice Entertainer feat in order to get Perform onto our class skills list. A single level in Sorcerer gives us the ability to cast 1st level arcane spells which we need to enter our first prestige class. Although taking bard would allow for a faster entry, by delaying entry a bit, we end up with a much more powerful caster. Bard's cap out at 6th level spells. By using Spellthief and Sorcerer we finish the build with 7th level spells, have more spells per day/ spells known, a greater selection, and the ability to rob our opponents of high level spells, even if we aren't able to store them.



8 Years later...

Azalin strapped the daggers to her boots. Her apprenticeship was finished. She'd learned all she could from the chanters, and now there was something she had to discover. She looked to her parents and straightened her jacket out. She'd spent 8 years studying under the chanters and now she was leaving. She knelt down and hugged her father.

“Da, no matter where I go, this is my home, and my family.”

“Bah,” Falbere pushed away gently with a sad smile on his face. “Don't be getting overly sentimental on me just yet girl. You just come home once you find your answers. I knew this day was coming sooner or later, so just hurry up about it will you? We need you down here. Balking on tradition left and right, but your still a damn fine chanter whether anyone else wants to admit to it or not.”

Azalin smiled. “I'll be quick about this as I can Da.” Her Hand brushed across the door to her home as she left. She didn't know how long it would be until she came home. But she had to know where she came from.

Levels 7-20
First thing is to get our last prerequisite which is Bardic Music. Spellsinger only requires us to cast 1st level spells, an ability covered by the 1 level dip into Sorcerer. It also builds off our required skills for Dwarven Chanter and provides full casting. Spellsinger also provides a few nice boosts to our mundane Bardic Music abilities.

Spellsinger does have the unusual prerequisite of requiring elven heritage, however it's also generous enough to allow as little as 1/8th elven blood to still meet the requirement. Tieflings are planetouched humans, but this does not strictly prohibit them from having elven ancestry. Half-elves who have children have a chance of producing human offspring. This child would be human, but still have a quarter of it's blood be of elven ancestry, and because it would be human has the chance of being born a tiefling if it's human parent has the necessary corruption in their blood. The next child assuming a human parent was again chosen would have the minimum necessary at 1/8th. This means that there is at least a two generation gap in which a tiefling could have enough elven blood to qualify as a Spellsinger.

Going into Dwarven Chanter, we only take 8 levels. The reason for this is that level 9 is effectively a dead level, only providing a better fort save over taking another level of Sorcerer, and the capstone chant, while interesting has limited usage. Most adventuring parties will have little use for attacking structures, effectively making level 10 close to a dead level as well.

For our feats, we finally manage to get Master Spellthief at level 12. Prior to this all our feat slots were occupied with filling the necessary requirements to enter our prestige classes. Versatile performer makes perform checks easier as we can choose any of the selected styles and use the ranks for our highest ranked perform skill. This frees up skill points for placement in other areas. Finally Lingering Song lets us start off with our full bevy of boosts at the start of the fight, and then slide into a war chant, or continue with one of our defaults as needed.






1 Year Later...

Azalin walked through the slums of Tevin. Her journey had brought her here. Why she wasn't sure, but something told her she needed to be here. As she walked by, a young girl was quietly singing a familiar tune, one that had lingered in her mind for as long as she could remember.

She snapped her head to look at the girl, who quickly stopped seeing her horns under her hood. The girl’s mother picked her up and held her protectively. “Please milady, she doesn't understand. She didn’t' mean anything by it.”

Azalin quickly looked about. “Honestly ma'am that's two of us. I'm not one of the nobles, unless my accent isn't a dead giveaway. Could use a hot meal though if you've the space at your table.”

As they sat about the table, Azalin finally learned the meaning of the song she'd hummed for so long, and the words that went with it. The Tevin had oppressed those who weren't of the tainted blood that made up the nobility. Centuries ago they had made pacts with demons to ensure their power. Now they ruled with an iron fist hanging anyone who dared stand against them. Almost 20 years ago, one of the nobles fell for a commoner. His parents rejected the union, and so he eloped with her. He began to rally as many as he could to rebel against the tyrants. The song had been their rallying cry. Ultimately he had been hung, sacrificing himself so that his love could escape with their child. The woman had been found dead, but no trace of the child she took with her had ever been discovered.

Azalin looked at the woman. “If the people heard that song again, would they rise?”

“I imagine they might, those of us that survived the rebellion still have the desire for freedom, but without someone to lead...”

Azalin cut her off. “Listen for the song in the next six months. Be ready to take up arms when you hear it.” With that she left and disappeared into the night.


Sweet Spot: Level 16

At level 16 we have all of our best abilities finally on the table. We don’t' have a particularly great BaB, but given that our build is more focused towards being a caster, that isn't as important. At level 15 we have 5th level spellcasting, trailing behind the bard slightly, but have a far greater variety of spells available, and more spells to cast to make up for it. The continuous chant allows us to cast in combat without having to worry about making constant concentration checks. Spellsong frees up some of our spell slots by allowing us to cast enchantment spells without actually knowing them as long as they appear on the sorcerer spell list. We also have an increased range to our bardic music effects. Versatile Performer nets us a total modifier of +28 to our perform checks as long as it involves at least 2 our of perform skills. This ensures a high rate of success for anything requiring a perform check.


Dawn rose as the people gathered before the tree. It was the last day of the promised time. Their fragile hope hung on a thread as they waited, praying for a miracle. Curious several of the nobles stood atop the wall to see what would bring the riff raff about the tree other than a hanging. In the distance a faint sound could be heard, a single voice cresting over the hill.

...Coming to the tree
I told you to run
So we would both be free
Strange things have happened there
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you...

As the lone tiefling crested the hill, her lone voice turned into a deafening chorus as an army dwarfs marched behind here ready for the ensuing battle, there voice in perfect harmony with hers.

...Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope
Side by side with me
Strange things have happened there
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the hanging tree

The people turned, joining in the chant, there once fragile hope, strengthened into an iron will against their oppressors. This fight was theirs and they would win it.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
They strung up a man today
They say he murdered three
Strange things have happened there
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the hanging tree





Sources:

Item Source Page
Tiefling Monster Manual 209
Spellthief Complete Adventurer 15
Dwarf Sorcerer Races of Stone 147
Stoneblessed Races of Stone 122
Spellsinger Races of Faerun 185
Apprentice DMG II 175
Master Spellthief Complete Scoundrel 79
Versatile Performer Complete Adventurer 112
Lingering Song Complete Adventurer 109

The Hanging Tree Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins -

[Heliomance]

I... think this might be the single most in-depth write-up I have ever seen O_o
And I think this is the winner of our genuine Marvel-surplus No-Prize for the use of Trance!



Hot Kald Skald

CN White Dragonspawn Desert Dwarf Savage Bard 6 / Dwarven Chanter 7 / Stormsinger 7

http://thumbnails109.imagebam.com/39627/657529396266173.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/657529396266173)

Race: White Dragonspawn (Dragonlance Campaign Setting 222) Desert Dwarf (http:///www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/environmentalRacialVariants.htm#desertDwarves)

Place of Origin: The Blade Desert of the Talenta Plains (Eberron Campaign Setting 202), near the southern extent of the Ironroot mountains, on Khorvaire in Eberron

Patron Deity: Kol Korran, God of Trade and Wealth, of the Sovereign Host

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Classes: Savage Bard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#bardVariantSavageBard) 5 / Dwarven Chanter (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a) 7 / Savage Bard +1 / Stormsinger (Frostburn 70) 7

Languages: Common, Dwarven, Giant, Gnome; Draconic



Ability
32 Point Buy
Desert Dwarf
White Dragonspawn
Increments
Final


Strength
10



10


Dexterity
14
-2
+2

14


Constitution
14
+2
+2

18


Intelligence
14



14


Wisdom
10



10


Charisma
16


+5 (all)
21



Dry air with no cloud cover makes deserts heat up rapidly in the day. Those same conditions make deserts cool down just as quickly at night. Desert life is a constant cycle of hot days and cold nights. Desert Dwarves have Heat Endurance as a racial trait to endure those hot days, but no corresponding capability to deal with the cold. Gifted with racial darkvision, Hot Kald Skald found the cold of night the biggest impediment to exploring in the nearby Boneyard, a fascinating site containing the ancient remains of Colossal Dragons. Dwarves are in the minority in The Talenta Plains, but the Halflings who dominate this nation regard the Boneyard as cursed and avoid it. (Legends claim that to disturb the bones of the dead draws the attention of the living — and no one wants to attract the attention of a living Dragon.) So on many nights Hot Kald, after his shift laboring in the iron mine, would bundle up against the chill and head off alone to go exploring in The Boneyard. There he would gaze at the giant skeletons and dream of what magnificent lives these Dragons had led. White Dragons, those at home in the cold, he found the most fascinating.

While on one of his many explorations in The Boneyard Hot Kald was surprised when he came across someone else in this generally deserted place. Haughty in demeanor and bearing a reptilian crest on his pale, exposed head, the stranger demanded to know what Hot Kald was doing in this natural monument to the great Dragons. Hot Kald, quick of wit and blessed with natural glibness refined with his early Savage Bard training, explained that his intent was not to profane this ancient site; rather, he was there as an act of homage. A strong, sinuous tail emerging from beneath his cloak, and opening his hands to show clawed fingers, the stranger said, "That's a good answer, so I think I'll let you live, Dwarfling. Also, I like your medallion." Hot Kald routinely wore a medal of his patron deity Kol Korran (God of Trade and Wealth, of the Sovereign Host): a white dragon lying on a bed of ice-blue gemstones.

The stranger introduced himself as Lord Garganosh. He said he was a plane-shifting Sorcerer, and spoke of places called Teyr, Ansalon, and Krynn, none of which Hot Kald had ever heard of. He said he was searching for subjects for a project, and he thought the young Dwarf was a good candidate. Not that he had a choice, actually, but his chances of surviving might be improved if Hot Kald was enthusiastic about embracing his inner Dragon. So, in a hidden laboratory on another world, that's how Hot Kald Skald became a White Dragonspawn (Dragonlance Campaign Setting 222). The transformation methods were hideous; nonetheless, Hot Skald was pleased with the result. Testing out his new wings, flying up into the icy air, he relished in the cold which was now intrinsic to his being.

Hot Kald attempted to repay Garganosh by becoming his laboratory assistant. He wasn't well-suited to the task, though; he simply couldn't maintain a focus on one thing for very long. So Lord Garganosh decided to return Hot Kald to his home if he promised to make himself available for future examinations of the Dragonspawn changes. The young Savage Bard eagerly agreed, and Garganosh exercised his mighty arcane magics to return Hot Kald to his family and community. Despite his disturbing new appearance, Hot Kald was embraced by his clan. Their greatest fear was that he had been abducted by bloodthirsty raiding Valenar Elves, and ending up a Dragonspawn was much the lesser Evil.

Hot Kald returned eagerly to his Savage Bard training (where his time away had caused him to drop behind his classmates) and his job in the mines. Having seen that his basic Chaotic nature made holding down some other type of job difficult, while putting in long days in the mines was comparatively easy, Hot Kald started to pay more attention to the working chants the Dwarven miners used. He found there was magic there beyond the Bardic music he had learned about, and thought that a career as a Dwarven Chanter would be interesting to pursue.

As it turned out, Dwarven Chanter wasn't actually an interesting choice, but Hot Kald stuck with it as best he could. He used his Miner's Song Timing Chant to aid himself and other miners to moderate prosperity. He spent his evenings flying, relishing the chill desert air, and thinking about the hot/cold duality of The Blade Desert and of his own self. When he had accumulated enough money he took a vacation to Karrlakton in Karrnath, and paid a Druid spellcaster for Mantle of the Fiery Spirit (Sandstorm 118). Finally feeling that he had properly embraced both the cold and hot sides of his nature, Hot Kald had only his career to put to rights. He managed to learn every major Dwarven Chanter lesson, through the final training in "Trance", though he couldn't take it past that point; with only a couple of new chants on the syllabus, and mostly practice with lessons already learned, Hot Kald decided he had had enough.

Going back to his Savage Bard lessons (plus some time in the gymnasium), he looked for more interesting training prospects. Knowing his fascination with fire and ice, some of his schoolmates recommended Seeker of the Song (Complete Arcane 56). That at first looked very promising, but then Hot Kald noticed that he would have to abandon his spellcasting. His Bardic Music had taken a detour with Dwarven Chanter, with the sole saving grace being continuity as an arcane spellcaster. He couldn't give that up after all the years he had already invested. At last, the solution presented itself: rather than finding one package with everything included, he would pursue cold with Stormsinger (Frostburn 70) and fire with Dragonfire Inspiration (Dragon Magic 17).

While he stopped his Dwarven Chanter training, Hot Kald never abandoned its principles: to bring aid and prosperity to the Dwarves, either in groups or individually. Hot Kald Skald can perform the Miner's Song while he and other Dwarves work the mines. His Profession (miner) checks are boosted by both his Desert Dwarf racial bonus and his Timing Chant. Of course, there's one obvious drawback to that approach: it doesn't work if you don't happen to have a mine around. Timing Chant is very task-specific. After having been in another country and even another world, and acknowledging his Chaotic nature, Hot Kald Skald knew he wasn't going to remain in one place doing one type of job: he had developed an adventuring spirit. Consequently, when not running about to combat Wights (or whatever), Hot Kald needed a job that wasn't dependent on proximity to a mine.

When your basic nature is Chaotic, working steadily through a full day to make your living can be torture. "Trying to earn money by playing in public requires anywhere from an evening’s work to a full day’s performance." There's no Timing Chant song to help you keep singing; the Trance class feature is the only good way to cope. With his Trance active, Hot Kald Skald can skillfully exercise a full day's Perform (sing/chant), and the day (or at least a 4-hour chunk of it at a time) just whizzes by. His average weekly take in a prosperous city significantly exceeds what he can earn as a miner — and of course no mine is required. As it turned out, Dwarven Chanter Trance was the best answer to Hot Kald's quest for individual prosperity.



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


1st
Savage Bard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#bardVariantSavageBard) 1
+0
+2
+0
+2
Bluff 4, Concentration 4, Diplomacy 4, Knowledge (arcana) 4, Perform (percussion) 4, Perform (sing/chant) 4, Profession (miner) 4, Tumble 4
Magical Aptitude (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#magicalAptitude)
Bardic Music, Bardic Knack (Player's Handbook II 35), Mimicking Song (Dungeonscape 8), Healing Hymn (Complete Champion 47), Inspire Courage +1


2nd
Savage Bard 2
+1
+3
+0
+3
Bluff +1(=5), Concentration +1(=5), Diplomacy +1(=5), Knowledge (arcana) +1(=5), Perform (percussion) +1(=5), Perform (sing/chant) +1(=5), Profession (miner) +1(=5), Tumble +1(=5)




3rd
Savage Bard 3
+2
+5†
+1
+3
Balance +1, Concentration +1(=6), Knowledge (arcana) +1(=6), Perform (percussion) +1(=6), Perform (sing/chant) +1(=6), Profession (miner) +1(=6), Sleight of Hand +1, Tumble +1(=6)
Great Fortitude (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#greatFortitude)
Hymn of Fortification (Complete Champion 47)


4th
Savage Bard 4
+3
+6†
+1
+4
Balance +1(=2), Concentration +1(=7), Knowledge (arcana) +1(=7), Open Lock (cc) +½, Perform (percussion) +1(=7), Perform (sing/chant) +1(=7), Profession (miner) +1(=7), Tumble +1(=7)




5th
Savage Bard 5
+3
+6†
+1
+4
Balance +1(=3), Concentration +1(=8), Knowledge (arcana) +1(=8), Open Lock (cc) +½(=1), Perform (percussion) +1(=8), Perform (sing/chant) +1(=8), Profession (miner) +1(=8), Tumble +1(=8)




6th
Dwarven Chanter (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a) 1
+3
+8†
+1
+6
Balance +1(=4), Concentration +1(=9), Knowledge (nature) +3, Perform (sing/chant) +1(=9), Profession (miner) +1(=9), Speak Language (Draconic)
Quick Recovery (Lords of Madness 181)
Timing Chant


7th
Dwarven Chanter 2
+4
+9†
+1
+7
Balance +1(=5), Concentration +1(=10), Knowledge (nature) +1(=4), Perform (sing/chant) +1(=10), Profession (miner) +1(=10), Spellcraft +2, Use Magic Device +1
Endurance (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#endurance)
Endurance (bonus feat)


8th
Dwarven Chanter 3
+5
+9†
+2
+7
Diplomacy +1(=6), Knowledge (geography) +4, Perform (sing/chant) +1(=11), Profession (miner) +1(=11), Spellcraft +1(=3)




9th
Dwarven Chanter 4
+6
+10†
+2
+8
Diplomacy +1(=7), Perform (dance) 4, Perform (sing/chant) +1(=12), Profession (miner) +1(=12), Spellcraft +1(=4)
Requiem (Libris Mortis 29)
Counter Chant


10th
Dwarven Chanter 5
+6
+10†
+2
+8
Diplomacy +1(=8), Perform (dance) +2(=6), Perform (sing/chant) +1(=13), Profession (miner) +1(=13), Spellcraft +3(=7)

Continuous Spellcasting


11th
Dwarven Chanter 6
+7
+11†
+3
+9
Diplomacy +1(=9), Perform (sing/chant) +1(=14), Profession (miner) +1(=14), Spellcraft +5(=12)
Diehard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#diehard)
Diehard (bonus feat)


12th
Dwarven Chanter 7
+8
+11†
+3
+9
Diplomacy +3(=12), Perform (sing/chant) +1(=15), Profession (miner) +1(=15), Spellcraft +3(=15)
Storm Magic (Frostburn 50)
Trance


13th
Savage Bard 6
+9
+12†
+4
+10
Tumble +8(=16)
Haunting Melody (Eberron Campaign Setting 54)
feat in place of Suggestion (Eberron Campaign Setting 34)


14th
Stormsinger (Frostburn 70) 1
+9
+12†
+6
+12
Perform (sing/chant) +2(=17), Spot 4

continued Bardic Music, Stormsong (gust of wind)


15th
Stormsinger 2
+10
+12†
+7
+13
Perform (sing/chant) +1(=18), Spot +5(=9)
Dragonfire Inspiration (Dragon Magic 17)
Stormpower


16th
Stormsinger 3
+10
+13†
+7
+13
Perform (sing/chant) +1(=19), Spot +5(=14)

Stormsong (thunderstrike)


17th
Stormsinger 4
+11
+13†
+8
+14
Perform (sing/chant) +1(=20), Spot +5(=19)

Resist electricity 5


18th
Stormsinger 5
+11
+13†
+8
+14
Perform (sing/chant) +1(=21), Profession (miner) +3(=18), Spot +2(=21)
Snowflake Wardance (Frostburn 50)
Stormsong (control winds)


19th
Stormsinger 6
+12
+14†
+9
+15
Perform (sing/chant) +1(=22), Profession (miner) +4(=22), Spot +1(=22)

Resist electricity 10


20th
Stormsinger 7
+12
+14†
+9
+15
Perform (sing/chant) +1(=23), Profession (miner) +1(=23), Spellcraft +3(=18), Spot +1(=23)

Stormsong (winter’s ballad)


† - reflects Great Fortitude bonus.

Any high-level character will have lots of equipment. (A Vest of Legends (Dungeon Master's Guide II 272) would be very nice for a Bard, for instance.) This lists just the essentials to go with class/feat abilities.

(Savage) Bards can cast in light armor without ASF. The Dwarven Chanter Endurance granted feat lets the character sleep wearing light armor without becoming fatigued. Hot Kald Skald will get the best light armor he can to leverage both class-granted abilities.

A short sword (or some other slashing weapon, of which Bards don't have a lot of proficient options) is necessary for the Snowflake Wardance feat. A Feycraft (Dungeon Master's Guide II 275) short sword would be spiffy.

A masterwork drum (Complete Adventurer 124) for Dwarven Chanter percussion accompaniment.

Both Snowflake Wardance feat and Fire Dance spell use can cause fatigue afterward. Soothing Chant will alleviate fatigue in those who rest while listening, but chanting for a full hour is not resting; Hot Kald can't soothe himself. A friendly fellow caster with an appropriate spell would be the usual solution, but in case one is not avaiable I present a couple of alternatives to needing to sack out right away. The cheaper option is a wand of Ray of Resurgence (Lost Empires of Faerûn 33): Cleric 1 spell; 750 gp. Ray of Resurgence is also on the Sorcerer spell list (though 1 level higher), and Hot Kald acquires the ability to trigger Sorcerer spells with the White Dragonspawn template. The more expensive (9,000 gp) permanent solution is a Breath of the Waves graft (Magic of Eberron 130); it will alleviate fatigue once per hour.

Spellcasting Service
Mantle of the Fiery Spirit spell (Sandstorm 118) instantaneously gives the target creature the fire subtype (16,200 gp total cost). No, this has nothing to do with Dwarven Chanter or any other class in the build. It is a part of the character's "Song of Ice and Fire" flavor theme.

Bard Spells per Day / Spells Known


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


1st
2 / 4
—
—
—
—
—
—


2nd
3 / 5
1 / 2
—
—
—
—
—


3rd
3 / 6
2 / 3
—
—
—
—
—


4th
3 / 6
3 / 3
1 / 2
—
—
—
—


5th
3 / 6
4 / 4
2 / 3
—
—
—
—


6th
3 / 6
4 / 4
3 / 3
—
—
—
—


7th
3 / 6
4 / 4
3 / 4
1 / 2
—
—
—


8th
3 / 6
4 / 4
4 / 4
2 / 3
—
—
—


9th
3 / 6
4 / 4
4 / 4
3 / 3
—
—
—


10th
3 / 6
4 / 4
4 / 4
3 / 4
1 / 2
—
—


11th
3 / 6
4 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
2 / 3
—
—


12th
3 / 6
4 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
3 / 3
—
—


13th
3 / 6
4 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
3 / 3
—
—


14th
4 / 6
4 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
1 / 3
—


15th
4 / 6
5 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
2 / 3
—


16th
4 / 6
6 / 5
5 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
3 / 4
1 / 2


17th
4 / 6
6 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 4
4 / 4
4 / 4
2 / 3


18th
4 / 6
6 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 4
4 / 4
3 / 3


19th
4 / 6
6 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 4
4 / 4


20th
4 / 6
6 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 4



Sorcerer Spells per Day / Spells Known


Level
0lvl
1st


1st
—
—


2nd
—
—


3rd
5 / 4
4 / 2


4th
5 / 4
4 / 2


5th
5 / 4
4 / 2


6th
5 / 4
4 / 2


7th
5 / 4
4 / 2


8th
5 / 4
4 / 2


9th
5 / 4
4 / 2


10th
5 / 4
4 / 2


11th
5 / 4
4 / 2


12th
5 / 4
4 / 2


13th
5 / 4
4 / 2


14th
5 / 4
4 / 2


15th
5 / 4
4 / 2


16th
5 / 4
5 / 2


17th
5 / 4
5 / 2


18th
5 / 4
5 / 2


19th
5 / 4
5 / 2


20th
5 / 4
5 / 2



Level 0 Bard Spells Known
Detect Magic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/detectMagic.htm)
Light (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/light.htm)
Lullaby (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/lullaby.htm)
Open/Close (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/openClose.htm)
Songbird (Spell Compendium 195): perform and gain +1 on next CHA check
Summon Instrument (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/summonInstrument.htm)
Level 1 Bard Spells Known
Combined Talent (Complete Mage 100): 2 characters share skill ranks of 1
Endure Elements (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/endureElements.htm): handy for party members when you're manipulating the weather
Improvisation (Spell Compendium 121): gain 2xCL luck bonus points; spend to improve attack rolls, skill checks, & ability checks
Inspirational Boost (Spell Compendium 124): +1 morale to Inspire Courage
Undersong (Spell Compendium 227): use Perform check in place of Concentration for 10 minutes/level; facilitates longer duration Continuous Spellcasting
Level 2 Bard Spells Known
Alter Self (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/alterSelf.htm)
Sonorous Hum (Spell Compendium 196): maintain Concentration on next spell automatically
Heartfire (Spell Compendium 112): basically 5' radius, damaging version of Glitterdust (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/Glitterdust.htm)
Ice Darts (Frostburn 98): 5 darts do 2d4 each, half cold damage
Pass without Trace (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/passWithoutTrace.htm)
Level 3 Bard Spells Known
Dispel Magic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dispelMagic.htm)
Glibness (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/glibness.htm)
Haste (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/haste.htm)
Summon Nature’s Ally III (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/summonNaturesAllyIII.htm)
Listening Coin (Spell Compendium 133): turns coins into magic listening devices
Level 4 Bard Spells Known
Celerity (Player's Handbook II 105): take standard action immediately, but be dazed for a round
Dimension Door (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dimensionDoor.htm)
Fire Dance (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fw/20031017a): channel fire power into light and morale boost to allies; fiery ray attack or self-healing at end
Shadow Conjuration (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shadowConjuration.htm): imitate many useful spells
Sirine's Grace (Spell Compendium 191): gain bonuses to Charisma and Dexterity, AC, and Perform checks; can breathe water
Level 5 Bard Spells Known
Boreal Wind (Frostburn 89): gust of cold wind deals 1d4 cold damage/level and knocks creatures back
Cacophonic Burst (Spell Compendium 41): noise deals 1d6/level sonic damage to all within area
Commune with Nature (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/communeWithNature.htm)
Dispel Magic, Greater (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dispelMagicGreater.htm)
Blink, Greater (Spell Compendium 32): controlled blinking between Material & Ethereal Planes grants defenses for 1 round/level
Level 6 Bard Spells Known
Snowsong (Frostburn 105): 30' radius snowfall benefits allies and penalizes enemies; 10 min./level
Nixie's Grace (Spell Compendium 148): gain swim speed, water breathing, low-light vision, DR 5/cold iron, and enhancements to Dexterity and Wisdom
Resistance, Superior (Spell Compendium 174): subject gains +6 on saving throws for 24 hours
Sympathetic Vibration (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/sympatheticVibration.htm)

Level 0 Sorcerer Spells Known
Disrupt Undead (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/disruptUndead.htm)
Ray of Frost (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/rayOfFrost.htm)
Read Magic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/readMagic.htm)
Prestidigitation (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/prestidigitation.htm)
Level 1 Sorcerer Spells Known
Benign Transposition (Spell Compendium 27): two willing subjects switch places
Blades of Fire (Spell Compendium 31): your melee weapons deal +1d8 fire damage for 1 round
Throughout the build Hot Kald Skald has full Bard spellcasting and Bardic Music, making for a solid generalist character. A good selection of spells and skills makes for a well-rounded PC at most any level, while an ice & fire theme makes him interesting to play.

At level 5 the Secret Ingredient hasn't been introduced, so the character is merely a young Savage Bard. No snapshot.

At level 10 Hot Kald Skald has picked up Timing Chant, Counter Chant, and Continuous Spellcasting from the SI. He's got maximum ranks in both Profession (mining) and Perform (sing/chant), giving him a couple of ways to fulfill the prosperity aims of the Dwarven Chanter class. He has overcome the potentially deadly drawback of using Timing Chant. The ranks in Perform allow him to use the songs Soothing Chant and War Chant to aid his allies and demoralize his foes. Hot Kald has added to the effectiveness of all his Bardic Music (including Dwarven Chanter songs) by extending them to affect Undead. In terms of personal enrichment he's balanced the icy and hot sides of his nature (acquired both cold and fire subtypes), but hasn't done much with them yet. He's started to get 4th level Bard spells, which include some fine choices.

At level 15 Hot Kald has stopped advancing as a Dwarven Chanter, having picked up all but its last two songs. He's branched into Stormsinger to empower his icy side, and embraced his fiery aspect with Dragonfire Inspiration. His Perform (sing/chant) skill is enough to qualify for "extraordinary performance" as long as he uses Dwarven Chanter Trance to maintain a full day's performance. Stormpower enriches the skill if it's cold or stormy, feeding back into greater effectiveness of Dwarven Chanter Timing Song in those conditions. He's moved up to 5th level Bard spells, and filled in several useful ones with [Fire] and [Cold] descriptors. Haunting Melody lets Hot Kald leverage any Perform (sing/chant) skill use, such as Dragonfire Inspiration, to inspire fear in enemies at the same time (for the cost of an additional Bardic Music use), increasing his effectiveness.

Level 18 is the build's sweet spot. Hot Kald acquires Control Winds (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/controlWinds.htm) as a Stormsinger Bardic Music effect, which he can keep going for as long as he concentrates. (He could go around all day with a standard action for concentration and a move action for tramping at his speed, surrounded by a personal protective hurricane. Or in combat he could keep this Spell-like ability going using Dwarven Chanter Continuous Spellcasting.) He's maxed out at CL 20 for this and other Stormsinger effects (has been since the last level). He's learned his next-to-last 6th level spell. He's gained enough protective/buffing effects to be not only comfortable in melee combat, but using War Chant and Snowflake Wardance simultaneously will make his attacks fearsome and effective. His ice & fire theme is colorful and effectively combines with Dwarven Chanter songs: War Chant stacking with Snowsong spell or Dragonfire Inspiration feat, for instance.

At level 20 Hot Kald Skald has every capability previously noted, augmented by the maximum pre-Epic Bard spellcasting plus a Bardic Music use for every class level. His ice & fire power is fully realized with Stormsinger Winter’s Ballad, casting Control Weather (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/controlWeather.htm) as a Bardic Music effect. This class ability is Supernatural, so the altered weather is not subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or to being dispelled by Dispel Magic. That puts him one power notch above the Druids, who are in turn a big step in effectiveness above Clerics, Sorcerers, and Wizards with this 7th level spell. He's certainly not up to Druids in overall power, but even coming ahead of them in this one aspect is fairly impressive given the relative disparity of Druids and Bards.

Originality
Hot Kald Skald was inspired by "A Song of Ice and Fire", in case that wasn't immediately apparent. I tried to create an interesting and useful character which actually honors the Secret Ingredient rather than ignoring it or working at cross-purposes to it. Given that I had to use some form of Dwarf, Desert Dwarf with racial Heat Endurance was thematically appropriate. (Later gaining the fire subtype was the cherry on top of the sundae.) Dragonfire Inspiraton applies the fire theme to a class feature granted by the SI's usual prerequisite class, with Dwarven Chanter levels adding daily uses. White Dragonspawn starts the ice aspect of the character motif, with Snowflake Wardance and Stormsinger developing it further. I added everything with [Cold] and [Fire] descriptors to Hot Kald Skald's known spells. (There aren't many of them in the Bard list, but they tend to be good options.) Should Hot Kald need to battle Wights (undead raised by the White Walkers in "A Song of Ice and Fire") or other undead, I added the Requiem feat (Libris Mortis 29), which lets Bardic Music affect Undead. This will enable Dwarven Chanter Soothing Chant to heal a Necropolitan character in the party, or War Chant to penalize Undead enemies.

Savage Bard was chosen as the entry to the Secret Ingredient because its Chaotic alignment requirement made a compelling reason for use of Dwarven Chanter Trance. (Other characteristics of the Savage Bard, like illiteracy and the loss of some spells, were annoyances to be overcome. However, I feel strongly that a Chaotic alignment requirement instead of merely a Chaotic aligment choice makes a better justification for the use of Trance.) The various alternative class features were chosen to make the character more effective and fun to play, but if you want to credit them for Originality as well I won't complain. :smallsmile:

Power
My aim here was to keep the Power up to the best qualities of the Secret Ingredient: full Bard spellcasting and Bardic Music. Stormsinger makes for a bit of an uptick, with maximum ranks in Perform (sing/chant) substituting for caster level for its Bardic Music storm effects, which gets Hot Kald to CL 20 at character level 17. (That ought to be enough to counter the drag of Dwarven Chanter.) Bardic Music is usually disadvantaged if you deviate from straight Bard: uses per day can accumulate, as they do in all of Hot Kald's classes, but you don't improve or add to the actual Bard class's Bardic Music effects (Fochlucan Lyrist and Warrior Skald being exceptions). (There's a feat to deal with that, but it's in Dragon magazine and thus disallowed.) You may get other Bardic Music effects instead: either poorer (Dwarven Chanter) or richer (Stormsinger). I think this build's approach, picking up powerful songs like Control Winds (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/controlWinds.htm) and Winter's Ballad (Control Weather (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/controlWeather.htm)), each usable many more times per day than spells would be, was a noticeable improvement.

Normally Timing Chant use sucks the Power out of all participants by making them dazed (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#dazed) (incapable of any actions) until they rest for as many hours as the Timing Chant lasted, with no magical recovery possible. This build addresses the problem; see Use of Secret Ingredient below for how.

Words of Creation [Exalted] (Book of Exalted Deeds 48) would have been an obvious Power-boosting opportunity to pair with Inspire Courage/Dragonfire Inspiration, but it's fairly abusive for a worshiper of Neutral Kol Korran to be so Good (Exalted) it hurts. Dwarven Chanters are supposed to be spiritual, and I thought having an alignment more than one degree different from the Eberron deity most appropriate (God of Trade and Wealth) would be sacrilegious.

I picked spells to maintain Power and the ice & fire theme; see Spells above for the full list. There's not much Power gained with Sorcerer 1 spellcasting (and the White Dragonspawn template wasn't acquired for that reason anyway), but replacing some standard Bard spells lost via the Savage Bard variant while adding spells to fit the theme (Blades of Fire (Spell Compendium 31) and Ray of Frost (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/rayOfFrost.htm)) was nice. Benign Transposition (Spell Compendium 27) is handy (possibly lifesaving) to know; there's likely a small Power boost with that on any spontaneous spellcaster's list even though it's only 1st level.

There are so many useful skills that selecting among them will always involve tradeoffs. Hot Kald maximizes both Perform (sing/chant) and Profession (miner) in keeping with the Dwarven Chanter goals of aid and prosperity. He lets Concentration drop off after getting to guaranteed success for the check to start Continuous Spellcasting, because he can cast Undersong (Spell Compendium 227) to use a Perform skill in place of Concentration for 10 minutes/level. Once that spell's duration might reasonably span a couple of encounters it's worth using, and the unique Dwarven Chanter Continuous Spellcasting ability, which does allow spellcasting (unlike standard Bardic Music), can take it from there. While Listen is a class skill for all three of his classes, Hot Kald doesn't need it to hear himself, and purposely eschews any ranks there to avoid auditory distraction. In contrast, he maximizes Spot when it becomes a class skill for him; it's better to see trouble coming than be surprised. For situations where it's useful to have multiple characters using a skill (say two pockets to pick at the same time), Hot Kald can cast Combined Talent (Complete Mage 100), which lets two characters use the skill ranks of the better. This doesn't override any Trained-Only skill limits, so Hot Kald has 1 rank in each of Open Lock, Sleight of Hand, and Use Magic Device. Having both Bard and Sorcerer spell lists means he'll need Use Magic Device infrequently. Without trapfinding there's not much reason to train in Search or Disable Device; the party Rogue will have to handle those anyway. Hot Kald can help look for trap-type problems with maximized Spot plus Detect Magic. Lastly, the Bardic Knack ACF (Player's Handbook II 35) provides a few virtual ranks to cover any unforseen skill requirement.

When he gets Snowflake Wardance, that feat can combine with War Chant (costing one Bardic Music use for each) so that Hot Kald can make a significant melee presence while keeping up the expected role of a Bard in combat: simultaneously bolstering all his allies.

Elegance
The White Dragonspawn acquired template, picked up by this character before level 3, brings up a few issues.

The Dragonspawn template in Dragonlance Campaign Setting 222-223 (an approved source) makes the character a Monstrous Humanoid. The update in Bestiary of Krynn, Revised 44-45 and repeated in Dragons of Krynn 175 (not approved Iron Chef sources) makes the character a Dragon instead. That's official errata, just not by WotC. It doesn't matter (functionally, anyway) to this character; I'm pointing this change out in the interest of full disclosure. (Though Dragon is rather niftier than Monstrous Humanoid from a "Song of Ice and Fire" perspective.)

The template includes +1 level adjustment. I've chosen to represent this as going away with level adjustment buyoff (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm) at class level 3 for 3,000 XP per those rules; Hot Kald Skald needs 193,000 XP to reach level 20, which is 1.58% more than the minimum requirement. If LA buyoff offends your sensibilities (i.e., this approach is worse in terms of Elegance by your judging criteria), please feel free to consider an Adaptation: disregard the last Savage Bard level instead, and leave the build at 19 levels and LA +1. There's little difference between effective Bard 19 and effective Bard 20 spellcasting, or 19 vs. 20 Bardic Music uses per day.

Savage Bard 5 / Dwarven Chanter 7 / Savage Bard +1 / Stormsinger 7 (LA buyoff)
Savage Bard 5 / Dwarven Chanter 7 / Stormsinger 7 / LA +1 (Adaptation)

White Dragonspawn provides some nice benefits such as +7 natural armor and flight, but both of those can be gotten (bettered, actually) via Alter Self on the Bard spell list. I chose this template because I think it makes for a more interesting character with a better reason to delve into cold-based Stormsinger after acquiring all the special features of the SI.

The rest of the build avoids pushing any hot buttons, I think. I rejected Words of Creation [Exalted] as a cheesy PO feat for the character, as noted above in Power. There's one base class, no dips, and no alignment changes.

Use of Secret Ingredient
I incorporated the Secret Ingredient into the recipe at the earliest possible time for maximum flavor. (Yes, this ingredient's flavor is decidedly bland. Adding it later, when it would be further diluted, wouldn't help.) I picked Savage Bard for entry because its Chaotic alignment requirement gave a fitting reason for use of Trance: its enforced discipline overcomes Hot Kald's natural Chaotic tendencies, and with its aid he can stay focused through a full day's performance for maximum earnings. That's the reason the Dwarven Chanter class is stated to exist: to bring aid and prosperity to the Dwarves.

Let's look at how Timing Chant and Trance contribute to that aid and prosperity.

1) Timing Chant
Hot Kald Skald performs the Miner's Song while he and his fellow Dwarves work the mines. His maximum rank Profession (miner) checks are boosted by both +2 Desert Dwarf racial bonus and +14 from his Timing Chant, and he'll make about 24.5 gp weekly at level 20 if he uses "take 10" on his checks. (Adding the last 3 levels of Dwarven Chanter would have boosted this by 3 gp.) Of course there's one obvious drawback to this Timing Chant aid to prosperity: it requires a mine.

2) Trance
When your basic nature is Chaotic, working steadily through a full day to make your living can be torture. "Trying to earn money by playing in public requires anywhere from an evening’s work to a full day’s performance." There's no Timing Chant song to help you keep singing :smallwink: so the Trance class feature is the only good way to cope. With maximum ranks in Perform (sing/chant) and again using "take 10" rules, Hot Kald can make the "extraordinary performance" DC in a prosperous city for 3d6 gp/day from level 13 on, or about 73.5 gp weekly (no mine needed). Using Trance lets Hot Kald keep focused on his performance all day to gain triple the level 20 income he would from working in the mines.

The rest of this section discusses how various build elements combine with the Secret Ingredient for a tasty meal.

Timing Chant has a huge downside: all affected, the Dwarven Chanter included, are dazed (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#dazed) (can take no actions) until they rest for as many hours as the Timing Chant lasted, with no magical recovery possible. Quick Recovery feat (Lords of Madness 181) provides a nonmagical way to recover from being dazed at the end of Timing Chant. Because the character is the one who created the effect, the Will save DC is the Dwarven Chanter's: 10 + ½ HD + CHA mod. Hot Kald's Quick Recovery save starts out (at level 6) needing a rolled 10+ to make this Timing Chant-caused save, and at level 20 also needs a 10 or better; the character's levels/2 and Charisma mod increase at about the same rate as his Will save modifier. This means even with unlucky dice the character should recover within a minute rather than many hours later. The feat is gained at the same level as Timing Chant so this Dwarven Chanter class feature can be used (safely) from the outset. Using Timing Chant without Quick Recovery makes the character vulnerable for hours at a time, which for an adventurer is basically asking for an early death.

Being a Dwarven Chanter supports adopting the Mimicking Song ACF (Dungeonscape 8). Because Counter Chant is superior in most ways to (Savage) Bard Countersong, Countersong is replaceable. The idea of singing to facilitate silent movement hurts the brain, but giving the whole party a boost to their checks is a fine benefit in keeping with Bardic Music tradition.

Requiem feat (Libris Mortis 29) lets Bardic Music affect Undead. This can be both a boost (letting Soothing Chant heal a Necropolitan character in the party, for instance) and an attack, both with War Chant and when the character picks up Haunting Melody feat (Eberron Campaign Setting 54) in place of Suggestion for a change in Bardic Music abilities.
From Eberron Campaign Setting 34:


Reflecting this connection to the forces of creation, bards have access to a number of feats that extend the powers of their bardic music. A bard can take these feats any time she would normally gain a feat, or can choose one of them as a bonus feat instead of gaining a new form of bardic music at 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, or 18th level.

These bard feats are Haunting Melody, Music of Growth, Music of Making, Song of the Heart, and Soothe the Beast.
Snowflake Wardance, enhanced by Dragonfire Inspiration, puts Hot Kald Skald in melee combat. Normally spellcasting in such situations would provoke attacks of opportunity. Dwarven Chanter Continuous Spellcasting comes to the rescue, because it relieves the spellcaster of the need to make Concentration checks for defensive casting.

Hot Kald fails to acquire the Bardic Music capability Healing Chant due to dropping out of Dwarven Chanter after 7 levels. However, an end benefit of Fire Dance (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fw/20031017a) (theme-appropriate spell used to give allies combat morale bonuses) is self-healing (minimum 8d6 @ level 20, and that's with a rolled 1), so Healing Chant isn't missed. Dragonfire Inspiration replaces the normal Inspire Courage morale boost with fire damage instead, allowing Fire Dance to provide its morale bonuses without any stacking issues. Happy fire all around makes for a well-cooked dish. :smallsmile:

Hot Kald also does not pick up the final chant of the SI, Dwarf Lord's Wrath. This structure-damaging Bardic Music can be replaced by the standard Bard spell Sympathetic Vibration (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/sympatheticVibration.htm). That's not a perfect substitution, but the difference isn't worth paying three class levels for.

The character does learn Soothing Chant, and that lets him skip healing spells like the Cure <x> Wounds (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/cureLightWounds.htm) line. Healing Hymn ACF (Complete Champion 47) replaces Fascinate with the ability to boost allies' healing. The combination with Soothing Chant and a night's sleep will triple the normal daily healing for all his companions, and double it for Hot Kald himself. Given the limited number of spells known for any Bard, being able to omit a few from consideration is real value from Soothing Chant.

Undersong (Spell Compendium 227) lets Hot Kald use his maximized Perform check in place of Concentration for 10 minutes/level, which directly results in a longer duration of Continuous Spellcasting and a zesty aftertaste for this meal.

[Heliomance]

Creamy, yet piquant, Chanter to the stars.



Sono Russhum
CG Dream Dwarf Stalwart Metamagic Specialist Sorcerer 8/Troubadour of the Stars 2/Dwarven Chanter 10
Worships Hlal while paying homage to the Celestial Court
Starting Stats: STR 11 DEX 12 CON 14 INT 14 WIS 8 CHA 17
Race Adjusted: STR 11 DEX 10 CON 16 INT 14 WIS 8 CHA 17
20th Level Stats, before items: STR 9 DEX 10 CON 16 INT 14 WIS 8 CHA 22

”Everyone into the mines! Now! Move it! Move it! The Hobgoblins have taken the Great Hall of the Dwarven Ancestors!”

These words, bellowed by by King Barro Russhum just before a Hobgoblin spear in flight hamstrung him, shook the Hornfels Mountain Dream Dwarves to their core. Everyone scrambled to make a properly defended retreat, but by the time they reached the safety of the mines, their numbers were cut by two-thirds, and their food supplies by half again that amount. In retreating to safety, they had sealed themselves inside the mountain, with no known path to get back to daylight.

The survivors took stock.

“With careful rationing, we have three years worth of supplies here, but the Hall is taken, and we cannot retrace those steps to get back to any other civilization we know. Things do not look good.”

“Have we a true caver left among us? One who can help point us on a path that is true and to the daylight again?” Sono’s deep voice was quiet, but carried the question to every ear.

‘Aye, and you know every dwarf here can work a mine, regardless of what he or she called a day job.’

There were murmurs of assent through the remaining dwarves.

“Then, I will get us out. It won’t be easy, but if you follow me, I can save most of us.”



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


1st
Stalwart Sorcerer (CM 36) 1
+0
+0
+0
+2

Draconic Heritage: Battle Dragon (DrM 17), Martial Weapon Proficiency: Dwarven Waraxe (SRD), Martial Weapon Focus: Dwarven Waraxe (SRD)
Spells, Bonus HP, Bonus Feats, metamagic specialization


2nd
Stalwart Sorcerer 2
+1
+0
+0
+3
Concentration 5, Knowledge: Arcana 5, Perform: Chant 5, Perform: Percussion 5
-
Spells


3rd
Stalwart Sorcerer 3
+1
+1
+1
+3
Concentration 6, Knowledge: Arcana 6, Perform: Chant 6, Perform: Percussion 6
Knight of Stars (BoED 44)
Spells


4th
Stalwart Sorcerer 4
+2
+1
+1
+4
Concentration 7, Knowledge: Arcana 7, Perform: Chant 7, Perform: Percussion 7
-
Spells


5th
Stalwart Sorcerer 5
+2
+1
+1
+4
Concentration 8, Knowledge: Arcana 8, Perform: Chant 8, Perform: Percussion 8
-
Spells


6th
Stalwart Sorcerer 6
+3
+2
+2
+5
Concentration 9, Knowledge: Arcana 9, Perform: Chant 9, Perform: Percussion 9
Transdimensional Spell (CAr 84)
Spells


7th
Stalwart Sorcerer 7
+3
+2
+2
+5
Concentration 10, Knowledge: Arcana 10, Perform: Chant 10, Perform: Percussion 10
-
Spells


8th
Stalwart Sorcerer 8
+4
+2
+2
+6
Concentration 11, Knowledge: Arcana 11, Perform: Chant 11, Perform: Percussion 11
-
Spells


9th
Troubadour of Stars 1
+4
+2
+4
+8
Concentration 12, Diplomacy 2, Knowledge: Arcana 12, Perform: Chant 12, Perform: Percussion 12, Use Magic Device 2
Great Fortitude (SRD)
Bardic Music, Detect Evil at will


10th
Dwarven Chanter 1
+4
+4
+4
+10
Concentration 13, Diplomacy 4, Knowledge: Arcana 13, Perform: Chant 13, Perform: Percussion 13, Use Magic Device 4
-
Timing Chant, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


11th
Dwarven Chanter 2
+5
+5
+4
+11
Concentration 14, Diplomacy 6, Knowledge: Arcana 14, Perform: Chant 14, Perform: Percussion 14, Use Magic Device 6
Endurance
Soothing Chant, Bonus Feat, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


12th
Dwarven Chanter 3
+6
+5
+5
+11
Concentration 15, Diplomacy 8, Knowledge: Arcana 15, Perform: Chant 15, Perform: Percussion 15, Use Magic Device 8
Dragonfire Inspiration (DrM 17)
War Chant, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


13th
Dwarven Chanter 4
+7
+6
+5
+12
Concentration 16, Diplomacy 10, Knowledge: Arcana 16, Perform: Chant 16, Perform: Percussion 16, Use Magic Device 10
-
Counter Chant, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


14th
Dwarven Chanter 5
+7
+6
+5
+12
Concentration 17, Diplomacy 12, Knowledge: Arcana 17, Perform: Chant 17, Perform: Percussion 17, Use Magic Device 12
-
Continuous Spellcasting, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


15th
Dwarven Chanter 6
+8
+7
+6
+13
Concentration 18, Diplomacy 14, Knowledge: Arcana 18, Perform: Chant 18, Perform: Percussion 18, Use Magic Device 14
Diehard (SRD), Extraordinary Concentration (CAd 109)
Bonus Feat, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


16th
Dwarven Chanter 7
+9
+7
+6
+13
Concentration 19, Diplomacy 16, Knowledge: Arcana 19, Perform: Chant 19, Perform: Percussion 19, Use Magic Device 16
-
Trance, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


17th
Troubadour of Stars 2
+10
+7
+7
+14
Concentration 20, Diplomacy 18, Knowledge: Arcana 20, Perform: Chant 20, Perform: Percussion 20, Use Magic Device 18
-
Holy Cacophony, Celestial Spells, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


18th
Dwarven Chanter 8
+11
+8
+7
+15
Concentration 21, Diplomacy 20, Knowledge: Arcana 21, Perform: Chant 21, Perform: Percussion 21, Use Magic Device 20
Earthbound Spell (PH2 91)
Healing Chant, +1 level of existing spellcasting class


19th
Dwarven Chanter 9
+11
+8
+8
+15
Concentration 22, Diplomacy 22, Knowledge: Arcana 22, Perform: Chant 22, Perform: Percussion 22, Use Magic Device 22
-
+1 level of existing spellcasting class


20th
Dwarven Chanter 10
+12
+9
+8
+16
Concentration 23, Diplomacy 23, Gather Information 2, Knowledge: Arcana 23, Perform: Chant 23, Perform: Percussion 23, Use Magic Device 23
-
Dwarf Lord’s Wrath, +1 level of existing spellcasting class




Spell List:
0: Amanuensis, Daze, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Launch Bolt, Message, Prestidigitation, Resistance, Sonic Snap
1: Grease, Hail of Stone, Mage Armor, Nerveskitter, Ray of Enfeeblement
2: Alter Self, Blur, Chain of Eyes, Glitterdust, Rainbow Beam
3: Displacement, Haboob, Karmic Backlash, Ray of Exhaustion
4: Black Tentacles, Greater Mirror Image, Orb of Force, Shout
5: Greater Dimension Door, Hold Monster, Lesser Spell Matrix, Wall of Stone
6: Acid Fog, Greater Dispel Magic, Ray of Light
7: Forcecage, Limited Wish, Plane Shift
8: Excavate, Fierce Pride of the Beastlands, Last Judgment
9: Gate, Time Stop
Spells per Day/Spells Known
Spells per Day/Spells Known


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


1st
5/4
4/2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


2nd
6/5
5/2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


3rd
6/5
6/3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


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


5th
6/6
7/4
5/2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


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


7th
6/7
7/5
7/3
5/2
-
-
-
-
-
-


8th
6/8
7/5
7/3
6/2
4/1
-
-
-
-
-


9th
6/8
7/5
7/3
6/2
4/1
-
-
-
-
-


10th
6/8
7/5
7/4
7/3
5/2
-
-
-
-
-


11th
6/9
7/5
7/4
7/3
6/2
3/1
-
-
-
-


12th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/3
5/2
-
-
-
-


13th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/3
6/2
3/1
-
-
-


14th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/4
7/3
4/2
-
-
-


15th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/4
7/3
5/2
3/1
-
-


16th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/4
7/4
6/3
4/2
-
-


17th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/4
7/4
6/3
5/2
3/1
-


18th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/4
7/4
6/3
6/3
4/2
-


19th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/4
7/4
6/3
6/3
5/2
3/1


20th
6/9
7/5
7/5
7/4
7/4
7/4
7/3
6/3
6/3
4/2



Level Highlights:
At 1st level, Sono is a sturdier Sorcerer than average, thanks to a good, dwarven CON score and the Stalwart Sorcerer ACF, which he selected because of how long he’s planning on sticking with Sorcerer. The MWP/MWF in Dwarven Waraxe is nice, but almost incidental compared to the HP benefit, since he hasn’t the STR to make efficient use of any melee weapon. Still, he’s doing respectable damage at this level, along with being as versatile as you could reasonably expect. All of his skill choices point him firmly toward long-term goals, with Draconic Heritage: Battle Dragon unlocking the vital Perform skill that enables reasonable entry into his intended PrCs. Mage Armor, Hail of Stone, and Grease provide an effective arsenal of spells, along with Ray of Enfeeblement for different sorts of enemies.

Still plugging away as a straight Stalwart Sorcerer, Sono picks up Knight of Stars to prepare for entry into Troubadour of Stars, as well as to give himself a once-daily emergency boost to a die roll, particularly one of his saves, which have yet to pick up much momentum. With Alter Self, Chain of Eyes, and Glitterdust, being added to his spells known, he’s branching out with what sorts of things he can do with his magic, particularly in non-combat situation.

Sono takes advantage of his native Dream Dwarf ability to see into the Ethereal and snags his first Metamagic Feat, Transdimensional Spell, just as Ethereal and Incorporeal foes start to become more common. He continues to try to pick spells with an eye toward versatility, rather than pure damage, though he snags Shout for its thematic appeal for a chanter, as well as Orb of Force, both of which are choices seldom subject to Energy Resistance. Haboob and Black Tentacles give him some good BFC to go with Glitterdust. At 9th level, the earliest possible entry point, he enters Troubadour of Stars, losing his only caster level in exchange for Bardic Music. By taking this route to get Bardic Music, he cribs off a much better spell list than the Bard’s, though he notably expects statistically equal or better HP compared to a Bard at this point. Troubadour of Stars also snags him an at-will Detect Evil, which is a handy little passive ability to have. As he enters Troubadour of Stars, he also picks up Great Fortitude with his 9th level feat, fulfilling all of his requirements for all of his choices for PrC, while boosting R/W by virtue of the progression. This allows him to head directly into Dwarven Chanter at 10th level, which was the earliest entry point he could get using Troubadour of Stars. Entering Dwarven Chanter gives him another boost to Fort, along with full casting, and access to the Timing Chant, allowing his fellow Dwarves to reach the deep places under the mountains more quickly and efficiently. With a 16 CON (more on this later) and back-to-back boosts to Fort, the DC for continuing the chant is quite reasonable. He also adds Diplomacy and UMD to his skill set, both of which rank among the most powerful skills in the game, and both of which key off his stellar CHA.

This is that cheese fondue that Heliomance mentioned in the thread. Before that particular bit of melty goodness comes online though, Sono picks up Dragonfire Inspiration, so that his ability to help his allies in combat gets a serious boost with Sonic damage; the same feat that gave him Perform as a class skill allows him qualification here. His spells continue to augment his powers in and out of combat. He’s gained Endurance, and is about to get Diehard, emphasizing the sturdiness of this particular Sorcerer, along with the Counter Chant ability to give him a different tool with which to mess with his enemies. He also gets more versatile uses of his Timing Chant, with Soothing Chant and War Chant giving him non-spellcasting options to help his allies in combat and out, and an innocent little ability called Continuous Spellcasting, which reduces his need to concentrate during spellcasting to a single, standard action, DC 15 check, regardless of how many spells cast or distractions, for as long as he continues to chant and use this ability., determined by the success of his Concentration check.
And then. . . .
At 15th level, he picks up Extraordinary Concentration. If you haven’t already done so recently, go read that now. By accepting a higher DC Concentration check, the action needed to concentrate on spells gets reduced to a move action, or a swift action, depending on success level. Extraordinary Concentration doesn’t allow Sono to concentrate on multiple spells, but it doesn’t need to; Continuous Concentration already does that. The action economy - already bent to Sono’s will due to spellcasting - just got snapped in half, and this particular trick needed Dwarven Chanter to function. Further, to function at peak efficiency, it needed a better casting chassis than Bard. . . Oh, look! Sono has that taken care of, too.

Sono, having gained the Trance “ability” to focus on clearing a particular mine shaft or winning a particular battle, dips back into Troubadour of Stars to get Holy Cacophony and Celestial Spells; the former adds to his abilities as an anti-caster pseudo-Bard, while the latter gives him access to the stylish Last Judgment Save-or-Die-or-Suck spell. Wall of Stone is a very Dwarven-type BFC spell, while Earthbound Spell is a very Dwarven-type metamagic choice that further shapes the battlefield for him, with Healing Chant giving him another tool in his kit, probably best suited for out of combat but potentially useful within it. By 20th level, Sono casts as a turbo-charged 19th level Sorcerer, while simultaneously serving as a functioning DFI Bard. Lesser Spell Matrix, Limited Wish, Time Stop, and Gate are clearly all game-breaking spells. Finally, he can choose to use Excavate, in conjunction with his other BFC spells, his Chant-boosted mining allies, and his Dwarf Lord’s Wrath (Su) ability to quickly clear new tunnels, or find new veins of gemstones or precious metals. He could do so with enough efficiency that using Trance in conjunction with these techniques isn’t even the most horrible idea ever. With all his other skills maxed out, Sono picks up a couple of ranks in Gather Information, just to marginally improve his ability to function as a Bard if needed.

Sono wants as many boosts to CON and Concentration as he can possibly afford, in order to make his check for Extraordinary Concentration automatic, or nearly so. Any items which provide a discreet boost to one or the other of those abilities get priority over practically anything else, barring specific utility spell items like Identify. Given access to Flaws, he’d take Non-Combatant and Vulnerable without hesitation, using them to gain Versatile Performer (freeing ranks for Intimidate, or Bluff, or even Knowledge: Architecture and Engineering to make the Dwarf Lord’s Wrath more efficient), and Skill Focus: Concentration. It’s just about the least sexy feat in the books, but it would be a tremendous boon to him in making that check. Any money left over improves his spell access via Runestaves and other devices; he likely never uses the Dwarven Waraxe beyond the lowest levels of play.

SRD
online link to Dwarven Chanter
Spell Compendium
Book of Exalted Deeds
Dragon Magic/Draconomicon
Complete Adventurer
Complete Mage
PHB2

[Heliomance]

And the runner-up in both his own competition and the contest for a No-Prize. He was cheated, cheated I say!



Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I'm Dale Winton and this is Win That Castle!! Twenty contestants have been standing with one hand in contact with that castle's wall; the last to be touching the stone will win the castle and the dukedom that goes with it! Let's go and meet some of the contestants.

Hello, dear, you are...Gnelly the Gnome, yes? How have you been doing here so far?

---I'm so excited to be here, Dale. It's absolutely my dream to own my own castle! *clap clap clap*

Oh, I'm sorry to say, love, that your dream will have to wait awhile longer, since you've stopped touching the wall to clap just now. Better luck next time.

Moving along, you must be Danny the Dvati, er, Dvatum? Is that right if there's just one of you around? I see it was a long trip for you to get here. How did that prepare you for the challenge ahead?

---Well, Dale, I think it gave me a chance to clear my mind of the day-to-day, meditate a bit. I'm ready to be here for awhile.

Good, good. Well, good luck to you. That's quite the tattoo you have on your arm, by the way.

And here we have another of our contestants. Derinar the Dwarf. It'll be an interesting note for our viewers, I think, to mention that you are the only contestant here that didn't need to pay the entry fee for this contest. Entry here today was actually a perk for you in designing and building this castle, is that right?

---Yes. Yes, it is.

Kinda gives you a home 'court' advantage that way, hmm? Hehe....

Anyway, ladies and gentlemen, the rules are simple. Keep one hand on the castle wall and stay awake. Everyone gets one ten minute break every three hours, with strict adherance to timing. The last person standing wins it all.

Stay tuned, folks, we'll be bringing you updates periodically throughout this great contest of endurance.


Derinar Penathan
Neutral Dream Dwarf
Bard(ic Sage) 1/Binder 2/Bard +1/Binder +1/Dwarven Chanter 10/Anima Mage 5


Str 12 -- 12
Con 14 +2 16
Dex 12 -2 10
Int 16 -- 16
Wiz 10 -- 10
Cha 14 -- 14

4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th level Increases: Cha



Welcome back, folks. Dale Winton here with the ongoing effort of several people to win their very own dukedom. We've lost several contestants by now, including Helga the Hellbred who lost contact with the wall during a heated argument with a succubus that stopped by to chat with her; Human Harry, who fell out of the contest when his bladder decided that he needed and impromptu break; and Horice the Half-orc, who left in a rush after receiving word that his prized petunia garden was under seige from barbarians from the Northlands. Also missing is a Kender than simply wandered off after getting bored and a Tibbit that has been disqualified after judges ruled that a 'paw' does not, in fact, count as a 'hand'. Rules-lawyers, what can you do, right?

But still with us, among others, are Riley the Raptoran...careful with those wings, please, sir, thank you...Charlie the Changeling...who I think is this halfling here...Danny the Dvati...wasn't that tatoo of yours on the other arm last time we talked, Danny? No? Hmmm, my mistake then...and Derinar the Dwarf, architect of this very castle.

But now here for a quick interview is Larry the...er...I seem to have a typo in my notes here, Larry. It says here that you're a Lich.

---That's correct, Dale. I am.

Doesn't that give you something of an unfair advantage in a contest like this?

---Well, I would certainly hope so, Dale. But the judges of this contest have ruled that I am allowed to participate.

There you have it, folks. An equal-opportunity contest for living and non- alike. Please stay tuned right here for more updates on this amazing contest as the hours roll on.



Green denotes changed class skills.
Red denotes changed cross-class skills.


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


1st
Bard(ic Sage) 1
+0
+0
+0
+2

4 Concentration
4 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
4 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
4 Perform (Chant)
4 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
4 Use Magic Device

1st: Great Fortitude
Bardic Music; Bardic Knowledge +2; Countersong; Facinate; Inspire Courage +1


2nd
Binder 1
+0
+2
+0
+4

5 Concentration
4 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
4 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
5 Perform (Chant)
5 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
4 Use Magic Device

--
Soul Binding


3rd
Binder 2
+1
+3
+0
+5

6 Concentration
4 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
4 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
4 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
5 Perform (Chant)
5 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
4 Use Magic Device

3rd: Skilled Pact Making
Pact Augmentation; Suppress Sign


4th
Bard(ic Sage) 2
+2
+3
+0
+6

7 Concentration
4 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
4 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
7 Perform (Chant)
7 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
7 Use Magic Device

--
--


5th
Binder 3
+3
+3
+1
+6

8 Concentration
4 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
4 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
8 Perform (Chant)
8 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
7 Use Magic Device

--
--


6th
Dwarven Chanter 1
+3
+5
+1
+8

9 Concentration
7 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
5 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
9 Perform (Chant)
9 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
9 Use Magic Device

6th: Extend Spell
Timing Chant


7th
Dwarven Chanter 2
+4
+6
+1
+9

10 Concentration
10 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
7 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
10 Perform (Chant)
10 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
10 Use Magic Device

B: Endurance
Soothing Chant


8th
Dwarven Chanter 3
+5
+6
+2
+9

11 Concentration
11 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
11 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
11 Perform (Chant)
11 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
11 Use Magic Device

--
War Chant


9th
Dwarven Chanter 4
+6/1
+7
+2
+10

3 Appraise
12 Concentration
12 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
12 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
12 Perform (Chant)
12 Perform (Percussion)
4 Spellcraft
12 Use Magic Device

9th: Craft Rune Circle
Counter Chant


10th
Dwarven Chanter 5
+6/1
+7
+2
+10

5 Appraise
13 Concentration
13 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
13 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
13 Perform (Chant)
13 Perform (Percussion)
5 Spellcraft
13 Use Magic Device

--
Continuous Spellcasting


11th
Dwarven Chanter 6
+7/2
+8
+3
+11

5 Appraise
14 Concentration
14 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
14 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
14 Perform (Chant)
14 Perform (Percussion)
8 Spellcraft
14 Use Magic Device


B: Die Hard
--


12th
Dwarven Chanter 7
+8/3
+8
+3
+11

5 Appraise
15 Concentration
15 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
15 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
15 Perform (Chant)
15 Perform (Percussion)
11 Spellcraft
15 Use Magic Device

12: Practiced Caster (Bard)
Trance


13th
Dwarven Chanter 8
+9/4
+9
+3
+12

5 Appraise
16 Concentration
16 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
16 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
16 Perform (Chant)
16 Perform (Percussion)
14 Spellcraft
16 Use Magic Device

--
Healing Chant


14th
Dwarven Chanter 9
+9/4
+9
+4
+12

5 Appraise
17 Concentration
17 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
17 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
17 Perform (Chant)
17 Perform (Percussion)
17 Spellcraft
17 Use Magic Device

--
--


15th
Dwarven Chanter 10
+10/5
+10
+4
+13

7 Appraise
18 Concentration
18 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
18 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
18 Perform (Chant)
18 Perform (Percussion)
18 Spellcraft
18 Use Magic Device

15th: Improved Binding
Dwarf Lord's Wrath


16th
Anima Mage 1
+10/5
+10
+4
+15

7 Appraise
19 Concentration
19 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
19 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
18 Perform (Chant)
19 Perform (Percussion)
18 Spellcraft
18 Use Magic Device

--
--


17th
Anima Mage 2
+11/6/1
+10
+4
+16

7 Appraise
20 Concentration
20 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
20 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
18 Perform (Chant)
20 Perform (Percussion)
18 Spellcraft
18 Use Magic Device

--
Exploit Vestige


18th
Anima Mage 3
+11/6/1
+11
+5
+16

7 Appraise
21 Concentration
21 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
21 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
18 Perform (Chant)
21 Perform (Percussion)
18 Spellcraft
18 Use Magic Device

18: Persistent Spell
Vestigial Awareness


19th
Anima Mage 4
+12/7/2
+11
+5
+17

7 Appraise
22 Concentration
22 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
22 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
18 Perform (Chant)
22 Perform (Percussion)
18 Spellcraft
18 Use Magic Device

--
--


20th
Anima Mage 5
+12/7/2
+11
+5
+17

7 Appraise
23 Concentration
23 Craft (Stonemasonry)
4 Intimidate
23 Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
5 Knowledge (History)
4 Knowledge (the Planes)
18 Perform (Chant)
23 Perform (Percussion)
18 Spellcraft
18 Use Magic Device

--
Vestige Metamagic 1/day; Soul Binding (2 vestiges)





Hello again, folks. Dale Winton here at the site of Win That Castle! with a breaking news update on the contest. Much has happened here, so let's get you all caught up on the recent events.

Firstly, it was discovered that Danny the Dvati was, in fact, two bodies. Danny/Danni would swap out with each other during the breaks, each taking time off to catch up on sleep and food and such while the other stood touching the castle wall. The judges were consulted for an official ruling on this contriversial tactic and ruled that one Dvati with two bodies needed only one hand on the wall at any given time.
This "One Dvati, Two Bodies" Rule thusly inspired Charlie the Changeling to adopt a similar tactic.

The backlash of fans booing the judges over the ruling has pushed each of the judges into a horrific state of depression. It was rumored that every judge on the panel had attempted to commit suicide. I must reiterate, this was only an unconfirmed rumor. But, during our latest ten minute break, Larry the Lich kindly volunteered to offer councel to our judging staff, and reported, just moments ago, that he has raised the spirits of all the judges and all is now fine. Larry went on to state that the judges are not zombified remnents of who they used to be, nor are they in any way under the undo influence of their creator.

Much thanks to you, Larry.

Secondly, in completely unrelated news, the judges have made an unprecidented unanimous decision to overturn their original "One Dvati, Two Bodies" ruling. As such, both Danny/Danni the Dvati and Charlie the Changeling have both been eliminated from the competition.

Yes, it's been a crazy and exciting couple of hours here, folks. As we settle back into it, we have two contestants left: Larry the Lich and Derinar the Dwarf. Good luck to both as we settle in for what seems like the final leg of this amazing contest!





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





1st

2/4+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






2nd

2/4+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






3rd

2/4+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






4th

3/5+1

0/2+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






5th

3/5+1

0/2+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






6th

3/6+1

1/3+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






7th

3/6+1

2/3+1

0/2+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






8th

3/6+1

3/4+1

1/3+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






9th

3/6+1

3/4+1

2/3+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-






10th

3/6+1

3/4+1

2/4+1

0/2+1

-

-

-

-

-

-






11th

3/6+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

1/3+1

-

-

-

-

-

-






12th

3/6+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

2/3+1

-

-

-

-

-

-






13th

3/6+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

2/4+1

0/2+1

-

-

-

-

-






14th

3/6+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

1/3+1

-

-

-

-

-






15th

3/6+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

2/3+1

-

-

-

-

-






16th

3/6+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

2/4+1

0/2+1

-

-

-

-






17th

4/6+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

1/3+1

-

-

-

-






18th

4/6+1

4/4+1
3/4+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

2/3+1

-

-

-

-






19th

4/6+1

4/5+1

4/4+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

2/4+1

0/2+1

-

-

-






20th

4/6+1

4/5+1

4/5+1

4/4+1

3/4+1

3/4+1

1/3+1

-

-

-







Welcome, once again, folks. I'm Dale Winton III, filling in for my father, who had been filling in for my grandfather, as host of this contest started decades ago and continuing in the epic showdown of two stalwart contestants eager to show up the other in this test of endurance.

I had the opportunity to speak in private with each of our contestants during the most recent ten minute break. Both are, in fact, quite interesting people. Let's go now to chat with them, in action, against the wall as we wait for the finale of this fine and entirely fair competition.

At Mr. Larry's Suggestion, I've decided to chat with Derinar the Dwarf first. Hello, Derinar, how have you been holding up during this grueling competition?

---Hey!

I didn't bump you at all. I don't know what you're talking about. But it does seem that your hand has come off of the wall. Too bad, too, after all this time. But that means that Larry the Lich is our winner! Congratulations, Larry.

Wait...wait, folks.... There seems to be an appeal happening. Yes, Derinar the Dwarf seems quite upset about something. But the judges have, I understand, already ruled against the appeal. Unanimously, too, it seems. So, we can call it, officially now, a win for Larry the Lich.

Uh-oh, it looks as though Derinar the Dwarf is not at all happy. In fact, he's seathing, red-faced, and shaking with rage. His lips are moving, mumblling something, almost as though too angry to really speak. His foot is stomping up and down on the ground. Is that steam bursting from his ears? And now... what... what is that? An earthquake? The whole castle seems to be shaking and cracking and--



The trick here is to bind Naberius and use faster ability healing to survive overly-long uses of trance. In this way, you can handle long tests of endurance. Such as going toe-to-toe with a Lich in a contest. Or last long enough to satisfy Mrs. Penathan on Valentine's day. Or....



The sweet spot, if not 12th level with Trance, would be 20th. It has a nice capstone. Not only do you add the ability to bind a second vestige, but you also get Vestige Metamagic.

With 6th level Bard casting, with extra flare for divination spells (both from Bardic Sage and Dream Dwarf), ranks in Use Magic Device enough to handle all wands and quite a few other doo-dads, a few vestiges, and a penchant for creating magic circles in his very own castle, Derinar should be able to gather a crowd of fairly loyal friends and start up his own business. Trance your way to a non-stop celebration of Timing Chants and hammers pounding anvils.
Ah, eternity of dwarven delight!


Dale Winton IV here, folks, reporting live at the scene of a tremendous earthquake. The tremor seems to have been localized to just the upper ramparts of the castle. Giant slabs of stone have broken off, falling amidst the crowd, sending them all into a frenzied panic. As the dust settles now, we can see that both my father, Dale Winton III, and contest winner Larry the Lich have been crushed horribly under one enormous slab of stone. Another giant rock has fallen square on all of the judges.

Which, I suppose, leaves me to decide that... Derinar the Dwarf, as runner-up of the competition, has won the castle! Congratulations, Derinar. You must be thrilled.

And that's that from me, Dale Winton IV, reminding all of you folks out there to remember to DARE TO DREAM!



Dream Dwarf -- Races of Stone
Bardic Sage -- Unearthed Arcana
Binder -- Tome of Magic (ToM)
Skilled Pact Making feat -- ToM
Craft Rune Circle feat -- Races of Stone
Practiced Caster feat -- Complete Arcane
Improved Binding feat -- ToM
Anima Mage -- ToM
Persistent Spell -- Complete Arcane
Dale Winton -- Host of Touch the Truck (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_the_Truck) (Used without permission. Sorry, Dale.)

[Heliomance]

Drop the hammer!


Sergeant Hammer
CN Fireblood Dwarf
14(+2) STR 10 DEX 14+2 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 16-2(+3) CHA
1 bard/1 fighter/3 duskblade/5 war chanter/10 dwarven chanter
"You will fall beneath my banner!"

Born an orphan of war, the Dwarf known as Sergeant Hammer grew up in the streets of a human city. Taken in by a travelling band of musicians, Hammer quickly became a talented bard. Though he was raised among humans and elves, dragons blood ran through his veins, and he unconsciously used it to empower his bardic magic.

As war brewed in his nation, Hammer enlisted, and quickly found that his combination of natural martial prowess and arcane ability made him a terror on the battlefield. Each time he called upon his chants in combat, his voice erupted into a dragons roar. His enemies ran in terror, and his allies pressed the charge, ever sure of victory.



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


1st
Bard 1
+0
+0
+2
+2
4 perform(sing), 4 perform(chant), 4 concentration, 4 spellcraft, 4 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble
Apprentice(Entertainer)
Bardic Music, bardic knowledge, countersong, fascinate, inspire courage


2nd
Fighter 1
+1
+2
+2
+2
5 perform(sing), 5 perform(chant), 4 concentration, 4 spellcraft, 4 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 2 intimidate
Combat Expertise



3rd
Duskblade 1
+2
+4
+2
+4
6 perform(sing), 6 perform(chant), 6 concentration, 4 spellcraft, 4 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 2 intimidate
Weapon Focus
Arcane Attunement, armored mage(light)


4th
Duskblade 2
+3
+5
+2
+5
6 perform(sing), 7 perform(chant), 1 perform(percussion) 7 concentration, 5 spellcraft, 4 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 2 intimidate
Combat Casting
Combat Casting(b)


5th
Duskblade 3
+4
+5
+3
+5
6 perform(sing), 8 perform(chant), 2 perform(percussion), 8 concentration, 6 spellcraft, 5 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 2 intimidate
-
Arcane Channeling


6th
War Chanter 1
+5
+7
+3
+5
6 perform(sing), [B]9 perform(chant), 4 perform(percussion), 9 concentration, 6 spellcraft, 6 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 3 intimidate
Melodic Spellcasting
Inspire toughness, war chanter music


7th
War Chanter 2
+6
+8
+3
+5
6 perform(sing), [B]10 perform(chant), 6 perform(percussion), 10 concentration, 6 spellcraft, 6 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 5 intimidate
-
-


8th
War Chanter 3
+7
+8
+4
+6
6 perform(sing), [B]11 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 11 concentration, 6 spellcraft, 6 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 7 intimidate
-
Inspire Recklessness


9th
War Chanter 4
+8
+9
+4
+6
6 perform(sing), 12 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 12 concentration, 6 spellcraft, 8 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 9 intimidate
Great Fortitude
-


10th
War Chanter 5
+9
+9
+4
+6
6 perform(sing), 13 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 13 concentration, 6 spellcraft, 10 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 11 intimidate
-
Combine Songs


11th
Dwarven Chanter 1
+9
+11
+4
+8
6 perform(sing), 14 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 14 concentration, 8 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 11 intimidate
-
Timing Chant


12th
Dwarven Chanter 2
+10
+12
+4
+9
6 perform(sing), 15 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 15 concentration, 10 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 13 intimidate, never outnumbered
Martial Study(vanguard Strike), endurance
Soothing chant


13th
Dwarven Chanter 3
+11
+12
+5
+9
6 perform(sing), 16 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 16 concentration, 13 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 16 intimidate, never outnumbered
-
War Chant


14th
Dwarven Chanter 4
+12
+12
+5
+9
6 perform(sing), 17 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 17 concentration, 13 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 17 intimidate, 5 UMD, never outnumbered
-
Counter Chant


15th
Dwarven Chanter 5
+12
+13
+5
+10
6 perform(sing), 18 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 18 concentration, 13 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 18 intimidate, 10 UMD, never outnumbered
Frightful Presence
Continuous Spellcaster


16th
Dwarven Chanter 6
+13
+14
+6
+11
6 perform(sing), 19 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 19 concentration, 13 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 19 intimidate, 15 UMD, never outnumbered
Die Hard
-


17th
Dwarven Chanter 7
+14
+14
+6
+11
6 perform(sing), 20 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 20 concentration, 13 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 4 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 20 intimidate, 20 UMD, never outnumbered
-
Trance


18th
Dwarven Chanter 8
+15
+14
+6
+11
6 perform(sing), 21 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 21 concentration, 13 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 8 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 21 intimidate, 21 UMD, never outnumbered
Practiced Spellcaster
Healing Chant


19th
Dwarven Chanter
+15
+14
+7
+11
6 perform(sing), 22 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 22 concentration, 13 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 12 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 22 intimidate, 22 UMD, never outnumbered
-
-


20th
Dwarven Chanter 10
+16
+15
+7
+12
6 perform(sing), 23 perform(chant), 8 perform(percussion), 23 concentration, 13 spellcraft, 12 sense motive, 16 diplomacy, 1 knowledge(arcana), 1 knowledge(geography), 1 knowledge(history), 1 knowledge(nature), 4 listen, 2 tumble, 23 intimidate, 23 UMD, never outnumbered
-
Dwarf Lords Wrath





1-5 1 bard/1 fighter/3 duskblade
We start off with a level of bard at level 1 to get those sweet skill points, as the first few levels have intensive prerequisites, needing a total of 3 different perform skills and most of our feats. Apprentice (musician) is taken at level 1 to keep perform as a class skill without taking more than one level of bard. At level 2 we take a level of fighter to grab weapon focus, needed for War Chanter. At levels 3-5 we take 3 levels of duskblade to grab channeled spell for gishy goodness. We also grab Combat Expertise for pre-reqs at level 3.

6-10 1 bard/1 fighter/3 duskblade/5 war chanter
We take 5 levels of War Chanter to grab a mini shock trooper, a song/chant that gives temporary HP, and a very important ability, Combine Songs. This also becomes very important later on when we get chants. At level 6 we take Melodic Spellcasting to use spells while singing/chanting, and grab Great Fortitude at level 9 for Dwarven Chanter. Melodic spellcasting is very important, since very duskblade spell has a verbal component, and the chants from Dwarven Chanter can go on for hours at a time, we can still fight at full efficiency.

11-15
1 bard/1 fighter/3 duskblade/5 war chanter/5 dwarven chanter
At level 11 we enter the SI. It is important to note that the Dwarven Chanter will be advancing duskblade casting. I feel that while bards definitely have the utility there for casting, this is more of a gish build and the duskblade fits frontline casting much better. Dwarven chanter gives a few more options for bardic music. Since it does state that it functions the same as bardic music, it should be able to be used with Combine Songs. Martial Study is taken to keep intimidate as a class skill, and also to get the useful Vanguard Strike, great for squads . Frightful Presence and Never outnumbered are also grabbed for fear escalation tactics, useful for making squads of lesser enemies run in terror.

15-20
1 bard/1 fighter/3 duskblade/5 war chanter/10 dwarven chanter
We finish off the SI and gain even more chants, and the very situational Trance. The Healing Chant is my favourite of the lot, giving fast healing 1, which combined with Inspire Toughness gives some good staying power. At level 18 we finish off with Practiced Spellcaster at get our CL up to snuff. At this point we finish off with 16 BaB, 13th level duskblade casting, and lots of options for Bardic Music.

Sergeant Hammer works best as a sort of “banner holder”, leading the charge while inspiring his allies. Frightful Presence combined with a high intimidate can make lesser humanoids and other enemies flee in terror.

Timing Chant- As the spell says, it can be used for any boring, repetitive work. Marching is an obvious one, with Hammer being a military man.

Soothing Chant- A decent AoE heal that takes a long time. A good choice in a party without a cleric, there’s nothing stating it can’t be used multiple times in succession. Fatigue removal is a bonus.

War Chant- A replacement for Inspire Courage, since we don’t have enough to optimize Inspire Courage for DFI. Unfortunate that it states spells can’t be cast, but perhaps Melodic Spellcasting gets around that.

Healing Chant- Fast Healing 1 for as long as we maintain the chant? Not bad for a gish. Especially since we can keep it running at the same time as another chant with Combine Songs.

Dward Lord’s Wrath- 10d6 damage a round, 500 feet away? While it doesn’t bypass hardness, it still packs quite a punch.

Endurance/Diehard- Two mediocre feats. Better than nothing.

Counter Chant- Useful for suppressing a battlefield control effect until your other soldiers can deal with it, or dealing with things with a fixed area. Solid Fog got you down? Tell it to go away until you're finished walking past its area.

Continuous Spellcasting- Though it does overlap with Melodic Spellcasting, both still have their uses. Melodic Spellcasting is for when we already have a chant or song running and need to cast without breaking the music. Continuous Spellcasting is for things like being on a mount or being on fire.

Trance- I couldn’t find a use for this. Its so niche, and it doesn’t even have a place in this class.

Putting it all together: Hammer has 13 levels of casting, 16 BaB with spell channeling, loads of skill points, 10 types of music for usage, and the ability to combo music. He can buff, hold his own in melee, and even skillmonkey a bit.

The big question- What does Dwarven Chanter add to the build? Besides full casting, good skill points, and medium BaB, DC works quite well in a military campaign with lots of things to benefit from the chants. It can heal, buff, keep its user alive, and work as a sapper to destroy key points like bridges.

Your multiclassing at the start is gross.
Yes it is. I wouldn’t have included the warblade level if I didn’t have to. Hell, I wouldn’t have included the bard level if warrior skald could fit into my build without replacing a level of the SI. That being said, every level at 1-5 is vital. Without the fighter dip, we wouldn’t get melodic spellcasting until level 12, making the duskblade levels unable to actually use spells in combat without stopping bardic music.

That being said, a level of warblade could replace the fighter level, getting an easy access to Song of the White Raven, for bardic music as a swift action.

A similar but different build would be 5 duskblade/1 warrior skald/9 dwarven chanter/5 war chanter. Since warrior skald gets all of the standard bardic music, we keep the gishy feel while still having loads of options for bardic music. This was actually my original idea, but having something like 40 ranks in just perform skills was brutal on top of not finishing the SI.
Fireblood Dwarf- Races of the Dragon
Duskblade- PHB2
War Chanter- Complete Warrior
Martial study-ToB
Apprentice-DMG2
Frightful Presence- Draconomicon
Practiced Spellcaster- Complete Arcane
Anything else is core

[Heliomance]

A charismatic dwarf? Whatever next.


Bror Broadbeard

NG Dream Dwarf Marshal 7/Court Herald 2/Warrior Skald 1/Dwarven Chanter 10

Stats
Str 14
Dex 10
Con 14
Int 14 (increase here at 12)
Wis 10
Cha 16 (all other increases here)

Build


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


1st
Marshal 1
+0
+2
+0
+2
Bluff 4, Diplomacy 4, Gather Information 4, Knowledge (history) 4, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 4, Sense Motive 4
Power Attack, (B)Skill Focus (Diplomacy)
Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Minor Aura (Motivate Dexterity), Skilled City Dweller (Ride to Tumble, Handle Animal to Gather Information)


2nd
Marshal 2
+1
+3
+0
+3
Diplomacy 5, Gather Information 5, Knowledge (history) 5, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5, Perform (sing) 2

Major Aura (Resilient Troops)


3rd
Marshal 3
+2
+3
+1
+3
Diplomacy 6, Gather Information 6, Knowledge (history) 6, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 6, Perform (sing) 4
Skill Focus (Knowledge (history))
Minor Aura (Motivate Charisma)


4th
Marshal 4
+3
+4
+1
+4
Gather Information 7, Knowledge (history) 7, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 7, Perform (sing) 7

Adrenaline Boost 1/day


5th
Marshal 5
+3
+4
+1
+4
Gather Information 8, Knowledge (history) 8, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 8, Perform (sing) 8, Tumble 2

Major Aura (Motivate Ardor), Minor Aura (Demand Fortitude)


6th
Marshal 6
+4
+5
+2
+5
Knowledge (history) 9, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 9, Perform (sing) 9, Tumble 5
Cleave



7th
Marshal 7
+5
+5
+2
+5
Knowledge (history) 10, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 10, Perform (sing) 10, Tumble 8

Major Aura +2, Minor Aura (Master of Tactics)


8th
Court Herald 1
+5
+5
+4
+7
Concentration 6, (B)Spellcraft 4

Secret (Instant Mastery)


9th
Court Herald 2
+6/+1
+5
+5
+8
Use Magic Device 6
Great Fortitude
Lore, Mindsee


10th
Warrior Skald 1
+7/+2
+7
+7
+8
Concentration 8, Diplomacy 7, Perform (sing) 13

Bardic Music


11th
Dwarven Chanter 1
+7/+2
+9
+7
+10
Perform (sing) 14, Use Magic Device 13

Timing Chant


12th
Dwarven Chanter 2
+8/+3
+10
+7
+11
Balance 5, Perform (sing) 15, Use Magic Device 15
Melodic Casting, (B) Endurance
Soothing Chant, Endurance


13th
Dwarven Chanter 3
+9/+4
+10
+8
+11
Jump 5, Perform (sing) 16, Use Magic Device 16

War Chant


14th
Dwarven Chanter 4
+10/+5
+11
+8
+12
Diplomacy 12, Perform (sing) 17, Use Magic Device 17

Counter Chant


15th
Dwarven Chanter 5
+10/+5
+11
+8
+12
Diplomacy 18, Knowledge (arcana) 1, Perform (sing) 18
Words of Creation
Continuous Spellcasting


16th
Dwarven Chanter 6
+11/+6/+1
+12
+9
+13
Bluff 7, Diplomacy 19, Knowledge (arcana) 4, Perform (sing) 19
(B) Diehard
Diehard


17th
Dwarven Chanter 7
+12/+7/+2
+12
+9
+13
Bluff 13, Diplomacy 20, Perform (sing) 20

Trance


18th
Dwarven Chanter 8
+13/+8/+3
+13
+9
+14
Bluff 19, Diplomacy 21, Perform (sing) 21
Obtain Familiar
Healing Chant


19th
Dwarven Chanter 9
+13/+8/+3
+13
+10
+14
Concentration 11, Bluff 22, Diplomacy 22, Perform (sing) 22




20th
Dwarven Chanter 10
+14/+9/+4
+14
+10
+15
Swift Concentration, Concentration 12, Bluff 23, Diplomacy 23, Perform (sing) 23, Sense Motive 6

Dwarf Lord’s Wrath



Spells per Day


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


8th
2
0*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


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


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


11th
3
1
0*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


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


13th
4
2
1
0*
-
-
-
-
-
-


14th
4
3
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-


15th
4
3
2
1
0*
-
-
-
-
-


16th
5
3
3
2
1
-
-
-
-
-


17th
5
4
3
2
1
0*
-
-
-
-


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


19th
6
4
4
3
2
1
0*
-
-
-


20th
6
4
4
3
3
2
1
-
-
-


Backstory
Bror entered the army at an early age. In basic they quickly realized that he was only average in fighting skill, and he was slower than many to respond, head always up in the clouds (which was especially worrying for a dwarf, who should have his mind rooted to the earth). At the end of long days of training when the men were relaxing more often than not he was the one telling stories or sharing a recently composed ribald song. Before long their superiors realized the importance of a dwarf who had the ears of all the recruits, and started assigning him tasks as squad commander.

Bror was never quite comfortable with directly ordering the others around, but when he made requests or sarcastic quips, the men still responded well enough, and his marching tunes kept them in good spirits. For the really long treks he would take their mind off of things with long sagas of great heroes from before any of their time, sagas he had learned as a child at his grandfather’s knee. After several tours of duty Bror retired as other did, and sought a job in civil service. His experience in dealing with things gently and his skill with entertaining found him a position working in the court of a noble of considerable wealth and influence. The first few years were rather dull dealing with small politics and entertaining visiting dignitaries, but eventually he was able to convince his lord to send him out on emissary missions.

These were where Bror really made a name of himself, because it was a chance to travel with a group again, work around difficult challenges, and chum around with the military escorts at the end of the day. He swapped stories with other skalds, improved his storytelling technique, and finally acquired that most slippery of goals: finding the best of marching chants.
Level 5
Marshal’s a fairly solid base to begin with. It gives you everything you need for the next stage. Dream Dwarf allows you to sidestep the Cha penalty. Auras are pretty straightforward, begin combat with motivate Dex and Ardor, switch to Hardy Soldiers if you think something is coming. It’s a free action to switch so tailor it to your needs because there are more coming. Demand Fortitude will become more useful later when you want to protect against Fort saves, don’t try to stack it with Hardy Soldiers because it won’t. Motivate Charisma turns the dial up to hilarious for most of your social skills, and it does wonders for Perform. Power Attack is helpful enough as prerequisites go, you can use it now and then since your BA is essentially average the whole build.
Level 10
Mo’ levels, mo’ auras. Master of Tactics is situational, but more damage is always good. You have enough ranks in Tumble that with synergy and aura bonus you can hit the normal DC easily. We’ve got two bizarre PrCs to help you on the journey into the SI. Warrior Skald is written in 3.0, and has no update so causes a few weird notes. It says it grants all bardic music abilities, subject to perform requirements, which is a bit odd, but if true means you get everything but Inspire Heroics (which it doesn’t mention and isn’t necessary) but it’s good to be clear on what you have. The requirement for it is 9 ranks in Perform (poetry) which doesn’t exist. In 3.0 skill rules it didn’t matter which category you put points in as long as you had enough, which I do here. If your DM is a stickler and requires you put points in something like oratory take the points from tumble and some of the excess from (sing).

Court Herald provides the spellcasting you’ll be advancing, a unique selection of a variety of useful spells. You happen to know all of your list and cast spontaneously, which is very nice, and it very conveniently casts of Cha. At 12 levels long it means the SI finishes its casting perfectly. Mindsee allows you to take a perfect mental picture you can refer to forever, and you can change it when you want. When you get the SI’s Trance ability, it’s like accessing said frozen moment in time for recreation of something important like a document of vital importance or the look of some enemy structures. Yeah it’s mostly fluff, but so is the SI feature.
Level 15
Now we’re rocking and rolling in the SI. You can run a timing chant for an enormously long number of hours before failure when you have motivate cha up (it should be up almost all the time, only switch to dex right before combat, then go back). Once you reach the zone where you could fail, put hardy soldiers on as a bit of a safety net. Soothing chant’s largest strength is undoing nonlethal which we will get to in a moment. War chant is straight up better than your inspire courage since yours doesn’t scale.

Continuous Spellcasting is either moderately useful or extremely useful depending on how Melodic casting comes into play. If it doesn’t then it’s still a useful ability to avoid having to make more checks later. If it does then it provides a huge safety net that you should freely abuse. Whether or not you can sub a Perform check for this Concentration check is up to DM discretion. I assume from the wording of this feature that you can use it unlimited times per day and that it does not cost a use of bardic music.

Melodic casting allows you to use perform checks in place of Concentration, which cuts down on extraneous skill point expenditure. The really useful ability is the one to cast spells while using bardic music. Normally action economy would limit you as for spells, but you still have ones that have less than 1 standard action to cast (and by extent their wands). Breaking a 1 standard action spell over the course of a turn is more complicated and a bit of a legal gray area, but if it works, run with it.

Words of Creation is a feat with several uses, but the most important here is enhancing bardic music. When you use it, you double the numbers of your bardic music effects. Obviously you must ask your DM how it applies to bardic music effects not listed (like the ones the SI grants) but even if you can only use on what it says, it allows you to inflate your inspire courage for a small amount of nonlethal damage. This damage is annoying and normally would prevent you from using the feat as much as you like. Fortunately Soothing Chant heals all nonlethal damage, so you can go right back to it. The feat is also free extend for (creation) spells, of which you have some, all good ones.

From level 11 onwards, you will auto-succeed on UMD checks for wands when motivate cha is up (which should be basically always). Remember this. Use it to supplement your spells per day when they run out.
Level 20
Obtain Familiar is a feat everyone can benefit from, especially you. A raven is the obvious choice here because it can put your ranks in UMD to use activating wands with the language it speaks. This raven is why you keep putting points in UMD after level 11, so that its modifier with motivate cha is enough to automatically succeed. As a familiar it can also do all the other useful things like being a second set of eyes and aiding with skills, but wand use is by far the best use of a familiar’s time.

Trance can be used as mentioned above, to perfectly recreate something you memorized. Healing Chant is obviously best used out of combat, though it is still highly effective. Dwarf Lord’s Wrath is an impressive amount of damage, especially useful to do things like block of passages to prevent following, or targeting stalactites so they fall on enemies. If Words of Creation doubles this, look out world.
Sources
Marshal: Miniatures Handbook
Warrior Skald: Races of Faerun
Court Herald: Power of Faerun
Dream Dwarf: Races of Stone
Skilled City Dweller: Urban Class Features ACF
Adrenaline Boost: PHBII
Obtain Familiar: Complete Arcane
Melodic Casting: Complete Mage

[Heliomance]

And that's your lot. Cry havoc, and set loose the judges of war!

[Amphetryon]

Bard? Check. Spellsinger? Check. Warrior Skald? Check. Troubadour of Stars? Check. Virtuoso? Huh. I expected to see more of those.

[Sian]

tried making something, somewhere between Bror Broadbeard and Sargeant Hammer, making a military commander (Marshal!) with a splash of spells (either Pious Templar + Battle Blessing or Duskblade), running on Marching Tune (i.e. Timing Chant), War Chant (obvious reasons) and Dwarf Lord's Wrath for Sieging, But had issues finding the proper way to get Bardic Music, as Warrior Skald had to much of a feat tax, and the rest just felt wrong for various reasons

[sideswipe]

i really wanted to do something with dragon song. its very much like bardic music and uses bardic music charges but was shot down in PM's with heliomance, alas i did not enter.

[Deadasadoor]

Quite a bit of variety. I'm surprised we only had one stoneblessed though. At least dwarves have loads of subraces.

While I was trying to round out my build I had a lot of difficulty trying to find a prestige class that would mesh properly with my ideas, but I found that were too many conflicting perform skills. I did find out that bards have loads of neat prestige classes though :smallbiggrin:

[Zaq]

Damn, I should have entered. I was going to use Fiend-Blooded to pick up Favored of the Martyr, then use War Weaver to spread it to myself and my allies before I finished Timing Chant, getting rid of the nasty daze effect. I was going to round it out with Sublime Chord casting.

I talked myself out of it because I was sure that I'd score low in Originality (a full-casting Bard-related SI? That's just screaming for Sublime Chord) and in UoSI (because while I was pretty sure that I'd do well in Power—9th level spells and War Weaver shenanigans, after all—the only aspect of the SI I really used was Timing Chant). But it looks like I wouldn't have done that badly in Originality, at least, as I didn't see anyone using the classes I would have used.

Damn. I should have entered. Let this be a lesson to me.

I may still judge. People wouldn't be too upset if I judged without having posted criteria during the cooking phase, would they?

[The Viscount]

That's usually fine. it's mostly important that you have one so that judgings are consistent.

[KrimsonNekros]

Bard? Check. Spellsinger? Check. Warrior Skald? Check. Troubadour of Stars? Check. Virtuoso? Huh. I expected to see more of those.


No Fochlucan Lyrist either. I'm surprised by the sheer volume of Bard's though.

[Troacctid]

No Fochlucan Lyrist either. I'm surprised by the sheer volume of Bard's though.

Given that Fochlucan Lyrist's prerequisites take up essentially the entire build, I'm not surprised it didn't show up. As for Bard, the prestige class requires bardic music, so I'm surprised you're surprised--how would you have entered the secret ingredient? :smalltongue:

[Thurbane]

If I had time, mine would have been [insert oddball race here] Stoneblessed 3/Bard 1/Wizard X/Urban Savant X/Dwarven Chanter 10...

[Sian]

Fochlucan Lyrist asks for Bardic Knowledge ... which is somewhat easiler to grab.

But it also asks for Perform (string) 13, Speak Language (Druidic) and Evasion so theres that, at at least fluff-wise Druidic demands Druid

[KrimsonNekros]

Given that Fochlucan Lyrist's prerequisites take up essentially the entire build, I'm not surprised it didn't show up. As for Bard, the prestige class requires bardic music, so I'm surprised you're surprised--how would you have entered the secret ingredient? :smalltongue:


I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you ;P

That said, hats off to the Chairwoman for the tribute to Terry Pratchett

[WhamBamSam]

I may still judge. People wouldn't be too upset if I judged without having posted criteria during the cooking phase, would they?Oh right, criteria. Ah well, I use basically the same criteria every time I judge, except for UoSI, which only changes based on the abilities I'm looking at.

So yeah, I'll be trying to get judgings out. We've only got a batch of 7, so it shouldn't be too bad. For criteria, just squint at the ones I used a few rounds back (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18409620&postcount=81) and pretend the various Witchborn Binder abilities are Dwarven Chanter abilities.

[arkangel111]

Interesting lot. trabadour of the stars was the only prc I didn't find when looking at alternative ways to get bardic music. Unfortunately couldn't find a way to make a build that didn't just scream "why dwarven chanter?" My vast amount of research did yield a nice find I plan on using in a future competition when the ingredient will actually compliment the base. As surprised as I was about TotS's, I was more surprised about the amount of people that failed to take the ingredient to 10, must be some new guys that entered this round. After reading trance I found myself trying to find a good use for it, but only came up with dumb idea's, I see at least I wasn't alone in thinking of endurance competitions, but i like the way you used it in the story Derinar.

I am failing to see the TO in sono, but may voice my argument against it in a judging (doubtful since finals are next week) or at least wait till the competition is over so I don't rip points out of his hand from other judges. Anyways good luck to you all.

[Bucky]

Nobody used Timing Chant to hit their enemies with a 1 hour no-save Daze.

I'm disappointed.

[Venger]

Nobody used Timing Chant to hit their enemies with a 1 hour no-save Daze.

I'm disappointed.


During this time, all who wish to be affected must join the chant and continue to accompany the chanter for the duration of the effect.

Nope. Doesn't work that way.

[KrimsonNekros]

Nope. Doesn't work that way.


It could, but it would require shenanigans with compulsion effects.

[Heliomance]

I am failing to see the TO in sono, but may voice my argument against it in a judging (doubtful since finals are next week) or at least wait till the competition is over so I don't rip points out of his hand from other judges. Anyways good luck to you all.

Using Continuous Spellcasting to ignore the concentration checks for Extraordinary Concentration, essentially getting move action concentration for free. I was asked about it by the chef in question and my response was "that's utterly disgusting, but I think it works."

I'm not sure if it lets you get swift action concentration, because you're not beating the DC by 10 or more, you're ignoring the need to make the check, but I think it pretty unambiguously works for move action.

[Troacctid]

I dunno, the highest DC you need to make at level 15 to concentrate as a move action is 32? 18 ranks and +3 Con only leaves you 10 short of auto-succeeding naturally, so the most you'd be accomplishing with the trick is saving 10k gp for a Third Eye Concentrate, right? And you still can't concentrate on multiple spells at once? It's a good use for the ability, and I'd give points for it, but I'd hardly call it cheese or TO.

Edit: Wait...does Sono even have any spells that require concentration?

[dysprosium]

So real life got me again so I have no entry.

Good thing too since one of my ideas was a Sorcerer/Troubadour of Stars entry. The other one was going to be a midgard dwarf that focused on using the chant to make magic items ad nauseum.

But since it is Round LXVI and in honor of dysprosium's atomic number, I will find a way to judge.

[OMG PONIES]

As always, for ease of reference:

Tali Ozak (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18960573&postcount=73):Dwarf Bard 3/Fighter 3/War Chanter 5/Seeker of the Song 2/Dwarven Chanter 7
Azalin Stonecutter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18960579&postcount=74):Tiefling Sorcerer 1/Spellthief 2/Stoneblessed 3/Spellsinger 5/Dwarven Chanter 8
Hot Kald Skald (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18960582&postcount=75):White Dragonspawn Desert Dwarf Bard 6/Dwarven Chanter 7/Stormsinger 7
Sono Russhum (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18960584&postcount=76):Dream Dwarf Sorcerer 8/Troubador of the Stars 2/Dwarven Chanter 10
Derinar Penathan (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18960586&postcount=77):Dream Dwarf Bard 2/Binder 3/Dwarven Chanter 10/Anima Mage 5
Sergeant Hammer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18960591&postcount=78):Fireblood Dwarf Bard 1/Fighter 1/Duskblade 3/War Chanter 5/Dwarven Chanter 10
Bror Broadbeard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18960594&postcount=79):Dream Dwarf Marshal 7/Court Herald 2/Warrior Skald 1/Dwarven Chanter 10

Jury's out on whether I'll judge. More to come.

[Bucky]

It could, but it would require shenanigans with compulsion effects.

Does Bard not have the ability to get enemies to do foolish things as a class feature?

[Zaq]

Does Bard not have the ability to get enemies to do foolish things as a class feature?

It does, but it's difficult to use things like Suggestion while you're using Timing Chant.

Believe me, I thought about it, but short of Dominate or something similar, there's not really an elegant way of forcing an enemy to participate in the Timing Chant . . . and why bother dazing an enemy you've got Dominated?

[WhamBamSam]

Using Continuous Spellcasting to ignore the concentration checks for Extraordinary Concentration, essentially getting move action concentration for free. I was asked about it by the chef in question and my response was "that's utterly disgusting, but I think it works."

I'm not sure if it lets you get swift action concentration, because you're not beating the DC by 10 or more, you're ignoring the need to make the check, but I think it pretty unambiguously works for move action.


I dunno, the highest DC you need to make at level 15 to concentrate as a move action is 32? 18 ranks and +3 Con only leaves you 10 short of auto-succeeding naturally, so the most you'd be accomplishing with the trick is saving 10k gp for a Third Eye Concentrate, right? And you still can't concentrate on multiple spells at once? It's a good use for the ability, and I'd give points for it, but I'd hardly call it cheese or TO.

Edit: Wait...does Sono even have any spells that require concentration?I think he failed to note the difference between Concentration the skill, and concentration the thing you do to maintain spells that require it. Or something. He seems to be operating under the impression that Extraordinary Concentration is giving him a move action Quicken, which it isn't. What he actually has is a decent trick that would allow him to maintain a spell as a move action while using his standard action to cast normally if he had any spells which require concentration, which you're correct, he does not.

Also note that Sonorous Hum is Bard 2, Cleric 3, Sor/Wiz 3, lets you do this with no action, and explicitly lets you use your actions to maintain another spell that requires concentration. Granted, it's a good spell for its level, but that's the power that we're dealing with here (at least until you stack Sonorous Hum and this trick together, and/or start getting things like Familiar Concentration involved, at which point it starts looking better but makes the SI itself as smallish part of a larger combo).

So there probably is an impressive build which somewhat justifies Dwarven Chanter's presence (or at least 5 levels of it) to be constructed around this trick, but I don't think Sono is that build. But we'll see how the judging ends up shaking out.

[Heliomance]

A note from the chef.


All,
Wow, lots of discussion about a single feat choice, and its implications, before judging. It may be helpful to clarify the context in which Extraordinary Concentration and Continuous Spellcasting came into Sono Russhum's build. I was looking through feats, and thought that Extraordinary Concentration might interact . . . oddly with Continuous Spellcasting. This oddness led to the following exchange with Heliomance:



The latter [Extraordinary Concentration] is on page 109 in Complete Adventurer. How do these two abilities interact, if at all?
O_o

Uh...

That's horrible, broken, and cheesy, but I think it works. Good find, try not to get dinged too hard in Elegance!
My intent in asking the Chair's opinion here was merely to see if the abilities worked together in any meaningful way, in her official opinion. I did not initially label or consider the 'trick' to be TO, until her response, both here and in the thread. My write-up of the combination as being TO is merely in keeping with my understanding of the Chair's official opinion on it.

As to whether Sono Russum has spells which require concentration checks, the equipment list indicates runestaves, which - as you know - may have any spells a given DM decides. He also has maxed out UMD with a good CHA, further increasing the odds that he'll be casting spells which require those checks. That I did not list such spells specifically indicates that I have taken to heart the general advice of not getting too specific in equipment listings. I'll also note that at least one contestant asked, before the reveal, how much weight judges were going to put on the listed spell selection. If a judge responded to that query before the reveal, I admit I missed that response.

[arkangel111]

Well I guess since no one is spoiling their responses I'll go ahead and voice my understanding of it, but I will spoiler my response just in case it has an effect on the judging.


Continuous Spellcasting (Ex):
At 5th level, the chanter is able to boost his concentration by focusing his mind on his song, thus ignoring distractions while spellcasting.

While he is reciting this special song, the chanter need not make additional Concentration checks when casting spells for the duration of the chant. In addition, the chant acts as the verbal component of any spell he casts for its duration.

The chanter begins this chant by making a DC 15 Concentration check as a standard action; he is able to maintain incredible focus for one round per point by which he succeeds on this check.


The bold is of course mine, and the point I am making. This concentration is a special action set aside by the ability in question, it is NOT a concentration check for spellcasting, but instead a concentration check for this chant.
If you read extraordinary concentration it states "When concentrating to maintain a spell,...." Thus its reduction of concentration time doesn't work, since you are concentrating for the chant, not the spell.

Now the thing that makes this ability awesome is actually the fact that this one concentration check bypasses the need for any further checks while maintaining the chant, which means duration concentration spells are absolutely amazing with this ability and should likely be in TO builds already that revolve around those spells. The thing I see is that this class is actually a diamond in the rough and might even erase the need for extraordinary concentration and its ilk in future TO builds, of course it's entry of dwarf is sub-optimal but that's a whole other story. The fact I saw is no one made good use of this ability by loading their spell lists with concentration spells, at least i didn't see it called out with my cursory glance.


I did have this story written up for a character that accidentally set an impossible task for his trance and thus was completely unable to stop his trance and continued working on it until his bones turned to dust. The build was utilizing binder for naberius and thus couldn't die from the ability score loss. While the story was funny the build just had no real need for chanter and i couldn't bring myself to enter a build I knew could not place.

[Troacctid]

I did have this story written up for a character that accidentally set an impossible task for his trance and thus was completely unable to stop his trance and continued working on it until his bones turned to dust. The build was utilizing binder for naberius and thus couldn't die from the ability score loss. While the story was funny the build just had no real need for chanter and i couldn't bring myself to enter a build I knew could not place.
I had a similar idea! I was going to have him be a Desert Dwarf with a couple levels in Incarnate, using Strongheart Vest to a similar end. Eventually he would get lost in the desert and go into a trance to survive. But the trance doesn't work that way, so he dies... except his resolve is so strong that it keeps him going, fusing the incarnum of his soulmelds with the sands of the desert to create a Soulfused Dustform creature, still hammering away at the task he assigned himself to do.

Of course, his Constitution gets reset to 10, so... eh...

[arkangel111]

Oh... and sono, about the spell list. I think its vitally important in a character especially when they have 9's. It's like evaluating a fighter without considering his weapons only worse. At least with a fighter you can assume if he has power attack he wields a 2h weapon, and with twf you can assume 2 weapons. the spell list isn't necessarily a major concern to me but the list does give me an idea of his tactics, therefore without the concentration spells I assume you weren't utilizing the tactic. yes the spell list can always be adjusted for the non-spontaneous classes but it is a gauge of your tactics.

[KrimsonNekros]

Any word from our illustrious judges?

[dysprosium]

I have been working on these and should get judgment in before the deadline.

[The Viscount]

We greatly appreciate your toil, dysprosium.

[dysprosium]

Still on target for before the deadline but I believe that I will be able to beat it by a good margin.

[Heliomance]

A note to everyone: The reveal is very likely to be several hours late this round, as I'm away this weekend and may very well not have an opportunity to sort it until Sunday evening.

[dysprosium]

The atomic number for dysprosium is 66. This round’s number is also 66.
One of the last times I judged it was Dwarven Defender. This round’s ingredient is Dwarven Chanter.
Coincidences? I think not!
The Dwarven Chanter was originally a 2nd edition player’s kit, which allowed players to take base concepts and tweak them a little to fit a different style. Kits were the predecessors to both prestige classes and archetypes. So this ingredient is like an homage to editions past. This round produced seven entries with their take on the player’s kit updated to 3.5.

Here is my criteria; some of you are familiar with it already.

First of all, though some may not agree with this assessment, I believe that the four categories are interrelated. It’s more of an observation really. I’ve noticed that by really trying to score high in one category can create a drop in one or more of the others. Second, my scoring style is more organic, that is to say that you might not necessarily be able to say definitively that you were awarded 0.5 for a particular thing or penalized 0.25 for another. All categories start at 3 and are adjusted from there which makes 12 an average score.
Originality: This seems easy enough. Try and come up with an idea that has not been thought up before. However just because you pick some weird monster or race out of Monster Manual Infinity does not necessarily mean that the entire idea is original. Also how does your idea stack against your fellow competitors? Does your story catch my interest and make me want to read more? Do you have more for me to read? Did I roll my eyes as I read the entry?
Power: OK so you’re a powerhouse and can do ungodly amounts of damage. That is not that impressive if you can be easily charmed into OMGsmashing your party by an opposing spellcaster. Also do you rely on other things to make you go? Does your DMM Persist Cleric rely on nightstick stacking or does your Shadowdancer rely on a Mobility feat from his armor to qualify for that class? Also how relevant are you in different situations? Social power is power too. I hope I made my point here. Are you viable and playable at all levels or is there a certain maturation process that has to take place?
Elegance: Call me old fashioned but I believe certain things should stay in certain settings. Please don’t tell me about your warforged Wizard from Sharn studying at the Library in Silverymoon using the Greyhawk Method. Don’t tell me about how you sold your soul to an Elder Evil, a Demon Prince, and an Archdevil (all to gain bonus feats) all while proclaiming your innocence before the Seven Heavens of Celestia for that prestige class you really want to get into. Do you qualify for all of your feats and other prestige classes outside of the SI? Have you provided a list of sources to make judging easier? Are you basing the entire premise of your build on questionable rules?
Use of the Secret Ingredient: Do you qualify for the SI? Note that I give out zeroes if you do not at all. Do you take it to completion and if not is there an explanation? Is the SI an integral part of your build or is it taken to satisfy the parameters of the competition? Does your build showcase the class abilities of the SI? How does it all tie together? Does the build feel like it would be a strong member of the SI?
Please remember that none of the comments are personal.

Tali Ozak 9.25
Originality: 3.75
A plucky dwarf with a series of bad luck events, questionable friendships, and an axe guitar that is going to be somebody. Your entry was the closest to having a “vanilla” dwarf in this round. You also were the only one with Seeker of the Song. You do not really have too much in the way of background so I do not know a lot about Tali. According to the SRD, dwarves reach adulthood at age forty, so the young (thirteen year old) Tali has had quite a harsh life indeed.
Power: 3.5
Your feats and skills make you quite the social butterfly. You can definitely work as the face of the party. You can cast as a 10th level Bard and have a BAB of +16. You do have the gish capability. I can understand why you took the third level of Fighter—BAB increase—but it does nothing for you from an optimization standpoint. Fighter 3 is a level that does not provide a bonus feat and most only take it to at least get Fighter 4 for that next bonus feat (if they even take Fighter at all). Your write up only mentions that you can have three bardic music effects at once but does not mention which ones would be the most useful. I can make guesses as to which music effects you would want to combine but I would have rather heard it from you.
Elegance: 2
You have a few issues here that need mentioning. When I calculate your point buy, I get 34—starting with a 16 score costs 10 in a point buy and not 8. Your final stat array also seems to have your Dexterity and Constitution scores reversed. I also believe that your skill calculations are off somewhat. Concentration is not a skill on the Fighter list so ranks bought would also have to be cross class. You do not qualify for Combat Expertise as you do not have the required Intelligence 13. This means that you also do not qualify for the War Chanter prestige class. You have the exalted feat Nymph’s Kiss but you mention being a “member of the Zhentarim,” which is known to be a highly evil organization. Most DMs will take this feat away from you and I would be one of them. There are also some inconsistencies in the write up itself. Your Skill Focus feat mentions axe guitar but the write up mentions axe bass.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 0
If we were to take your final racial stat array into account, you would not qualify for the SI as you do not have the requisite Constitution score of 13. Putting that aside however, you also do not have any ranks in Perform (percussion). According to this post (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18879921&postcount=13) from the Chair, you needed both Perform (chant/sing) and Perform (percussion) to qualify for the SI. Even if you did qualify, you would not have scored well in this category. You do not take the class to its entirety. None of the abilities of the SI are showcased. In fact I have to ask why Tali would even want to enter the prestige class at all. It seems more likely that Tali would be the lead guitarist (or bassist) in his band, not the drummer .

Azalin Stonecutter 11.25 (and my choice for Honorable Mention)
Originality: 4.5
An orphaned tiefling taken in by a kindly dwarf who becomes proficient in the singing and chanting traditions of both her adopted and (proposed) natural races. I have to say that I was expecting Stoneblessed characters this round but not any Spellthieves or Spellsingers for that matter. The story is also one that I enjoyed, even if others might call out special snowflake tropes. I did like your exploration of elven and dwarven traditions (even though this is normally not a thing). I can appreciate how your skills points are spent developing these heritages. It is the story itself that drew me to naming you as my Honorable Mention choice.
Power: 4.25
You have 7th level spells thanks to both Spellsinger and a full casting SI. And these spells come from the Sorcerer list! Personally I would like to have seen a prospective spell list, but you have Tier 2 casting along with a respectable final BAB. You can make your enchantment spells stronger via Spellsinger but how many of those kind of spells do you have? Your charisma is high enough and though more social skills would be appreciated from my perspective you could play the party face well.
Elegance: 2.5
Spellsinger may not have a requirement that you have bardic music but it does not grant you bardic music if you did not have it before. Compare the wording in the bardic music section of Spellsinger to the bardic music section of the Warrior Skald (it’s from the same book and it is even the next prestige class alphabetically in the book). You could make the argument that 0 Bard levels plus 5 Spellsinger levels equals 5. I made a similar argument during the Zerth Cenobite round and got hammered for it. You also have quite a background and it is one that your DM is going to have to get behind in order to play Azalin. We’ll talk about your dwarven qualifications in the UoSI category below so let’s concentrate on the elven. Azalin’s mother is described as a half elf. It is implied that her father is a demon corrupted human. To me it is a stretch that a tiefling would be born to such a union.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 0
You do not qualify for Stoneblessed as you are an outsider. You have the level adjustment included in your write up so you are most definitely an outsider and not the watered down lesser version. According to the prerequisites of Stoneblessed, only humanoids, giants, and monstrous humanoids can enter that class. Since you cannot be considered a dwarf, you cannot legally enter the SI, which is a shame because you actually came up with a good story to go along with the whole thing. However you do not showcase any of the SI’s class abilities other than to make a couple of passing remarks. I can get behind your reasoning by not taking the full SI however.

Hot Kald Skald 17.25
Originality: 4.5
You are a draconic templated desert dwarf both “Hot Blooded” and “Cold as Ice.” You have an interesting story that tells me about your character and let me root for him over the course of it. I enjoyed the large amount of details that were put into this entry. Only you used Stormsinger and the Savage Bard alternate class. You were also one of the only contestants to do something after your use of the SI was completed.
Power: 4.75
You have full Bard casting and full access to bardic music. No one else this round can say that. Dragonspawn gives you natural weapons, natural flight, natural armor, and Sorcerer spellcasting. Your bardic abilities are combined with the SI and Stormsinger to create a versatile character. You can use your abilities on undead, can rally the party with Dragonfire Inspiration, and can help in melee with Snowflake Wardance. These last two abilities may be considered a bit late in the build to be very effective, but you have plenty of bardic music uses.
Elegance: 3
You qualified for all of your feats and prestige classes outside of the SI. You are going to need the DM’s approval of combining settings like you did. The white dragonspawn from the Dragonlance Campaign Setting is a known power grab. The white dragonspawn is a an absolute steal at only +1 LA. By RAW it looks like your alignment should be Chaotic Evil, as it is supposed to be the same as your draconic lineage, so some DMs are going to look squinty at you when you tell them you are Chaotic Neutral. You also might need a permissive DM to allow you to take all of the different alternate class features, though I don’t really have a problem with these. When I first read the line for base race I initially thought, “Really? A white dragonspawn desert dwarf?” Your explanation of the cold desert nights helps alleviate my first thoughts. Plus you take your hot and cold theme very seriously throughout the build. I can appreciate that.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 5
You qualify for the SI and even though you do not take it to completion, you explain what you take to supplement the missing SI class features. You also have quite a class feature showcase—it was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. You talk about how these features help to make your character go. You use your other prestige class to add to the SI. I like the use of Quick Recovery to counteract the chanting downsides. I could go on but you’ve got us covered here.

Sono Russhum 15.5
Originality: 3.75
Our first dream dwarf of this round’s competition, he is an exalted character taking Troubadour of the Stars to qualify for the SI. (Fun fact—one of my unentered builds was going to use this same chassis, though my breakdown was Sorcerer 8/Troubadour 5/Dwarven Chanter 7.) There was not much of a backstory here at all. I know next to nothing about him other than he can rally his fellow dwarves to action. I would have liked to see something more, considering how greedy I am for such things.
Power: 4.5
You have 9th level spells on Tier 2 casting, even with the loss of one caster level and losses of spells known. You have a list of spells known too which I can appreciate. You have a good Charisma and a high Diplomacy score so you can be the party face as well. Dragonfire Inspiration comes online a little late given the way you acquired bardic music but it is always useful. Earthbound spell is thematic but I would like to have seen how it benefits you.
Elegance: 4.75
You qualify for your prestige classes and feats outside of the SI. There are no cross setting materials nor reliance on controversial rulings. I like the use of the Transdimensional Spell feat to go along with your racial choice. This makes it better thematically and justifies your racial choice as more than “dwarf subrace without a Charisma penalty.” Likewise your choices for spells are very thematic with dwarves in general.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 2.5
You qualify for the SI and take it to completion. There is not much of a showcase for the SI class abilities. None of them are mentioned except in passing. You do take time mentioning your Concentration trick. It could be quite good for the right kind of character, but for Sono, I do not see it being overly useful. From your spell list, only two spells have a duration of concentration, and one of them, gate, you get at the very end of your build. I’m not quite sure how the SI enhances your character outside of it advancing full caster level.

Derinar Penathan 13
Originality: 4
Our second dream dwarf attempts to win a castle in a convoluted decades long game show. I agree with the Chair’s assessment in that he was robbed. Who did the casting for that show anyway? The deck seems to be definitely stacked in the lich’s favor. The game show saga was cute but unfortunately I know little about Derinar himself. I would have liked more in that regard—I’m greedy that way. He is also the only Binder and Anima Mage involved in this round.
Power: 2.75
Binder is known for versatility and Anima Mage is one of the better theurge-like classes out there. A lot of what makes Anima Mage so interesting is the increase of the Binder class features. However by taking that prestige class after the SI, you make your mid levels part of your build a little stagnant. Personally I would have had the Anima Mage earlier to gain all of the advantages of gaining a second vestige earlier, but that is just my style. You earn 6th level Bard casting by Level 20 but like Azalin above, you do not have a list of spells known so it is harder to gauge what you have available. You have an unusual feat in Create Rune Circle. I can guess what you plan on using it for but not hearing it from you in your write up, it appears to be a wasted feat.
Elegance: 4.25
You qualify for all of your prestige classes and feats outside of the SI. You do not have a reliance on RAW rulings or cross settings materials. As mentioned though a list of spells known would have been nice to see. Here I see dream dwarf chosen only because it is a dwarf subrace without a Charisma penalty.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 2
You qualify for the SI and take it to completion. However there is not much in the way of a class feature showcase. In fact the only reference to the SI itself is its trance feature. I like the use of Naberius along with the persisted spell for negating long term effects for abilty damage that you may be taking during a trance. However be aware that soul binding as well as persisted spells are only good for one day so this tactic is not as effective for trances that would last longer than that. In the story, he would have lost sooner because (unfortunately) 1s are a thing. Considering the story and what little you have listed for the class features, it would appear that the entire build is based on winning that castle in some kind of endurance test. Dwarven Chanter does not necessarily need to be in your build to win such a contest.

Sergeant Hammer 13.5
Originality: 3.75
A fireblood dwarf who marches on through all of the pain of being a war orphan. Sadly there is not much more to this description than what I just wrote. I am greedy and would like to know more. I was intrigued to see Duskblade and was curious on how it was going to fit in with your build. War Chanter was used by another entrant this round but I enjoyed your use of it and I felt it went along with your concept better.
Power: 3.25
You fancy yourself as a gish wading into combat with the SI advancing Duskblade casting. I’m going to guess that the Practiced Spellcaster feat also applies to Duskblade casting. Sadly your channeling is going to be limited since it only affects your first attack. War Chanter is thematic but since it does not increase caster level, it is limiting you spellcasting and Duskblades need to be able to cast as many spells as possible to make up for what can be considered a lackluster spell list.
Elegance: 2.5
As our other War Chanter entrant above, you do not qualify for Combat Expertise as your Intelligence score is 10 when it needs to be 13. This means that you too do not qualify for War Chanter. You do not rely on cross setting materials though. As you mentioned the first few levels can be considered dippy.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 4
You qualify for the SI and take it to completion. You give all of the class features a mention, which is more than some of the other contestants this round, though it is not exactly wordy. I do like however the functional use of making the good sergeant a sapper during a military style campaign as well as a banner holder rallying the troops.

Bror Broadbeard 9.75
Originality: 4.25
Our third dream dwarf but this one takes a completely different path to the SI. Marshal and Court Herald? I can’t really say I saw these coming. Warrior Skald rounds out the unusual path by being the provider of bardic music to enter the SI. I mostly like the flavor of this build and if there was more to the story I could really get behind it. I am a greedy bastard when it comes to backstory.
Power: 3
Marshal is solid for what it does and the addition of a (small) spell list helps in the versatility factor. You are not going to solo encounters yourself but you can certainly help the rest of the party achieve their goals. You can also act as the party face with the high Charisma and the social skills listed. Personally I’m not sold on the Obtain Familiar being so great when you get it—a little late for my particular taste.
Elegance: 2.5
First, be aware that some DMs could put the kibosh on this from the start. I see what you are doing here and I used a similar tactic back in the Zerth Cenobite round and got hammered for it. How many Bard levels do you have? Since you have zero Bard levels, the Warrior Skald and Dwarven Chanter bardic music uses would not able to combine like you are using them. It would be that you get one use for Warrior Skald and 10 uses for dwarven chants which are technically two different things. I’m not penalizing you for this tactic, just letting you know that some would dislike your reasoning. I also understand your stance on the Perform skill and how it functions and by RAW it works. However, I see this as being disingenuous to the Warrior Skald flavor. This is a class that uses its bardic music via poetry and not singing and though mechanically the two skills are the same it seems to go against the RAI. It also has the comma in the prerequisites that implies that it needs poetry plus any other Perform skill use, much like the SI itself (see below). And yes indeed bardic music was different in 3.0 as opposed to 3.5 which means that this most likely falls into the “ask your DM how to handle this” territory as you do not actually have any Bard levels to extrapolate the music abilities.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 0
You do not have any ranks in Perform (percussion). According to this post (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18879921&postcount=13) from the Chair, you needed both Perform (chant/sing) and Perform (percussion) to qualify for the SI. An argument can be made that you also do not qualify for the SI because you have no uses of bardic music since you don’t technically qualify for the Warrior Skald prestige class either (see the reasons above). This really is a shame since you have some good uses for some of the SI class abilities. It isn’t exactly a showcase per se but at least there was more than just a passing mention of abilities that you get.

[Amphetryon]

Thanks for judging, dysprosium.

[WhamBamSam]

I've written up judgings for 5/7 entries so far, so I'll hopefully be able to finish before the deadline as well.

[KrimsonNekros]

Thanks for the judging Dys, looking forward to hearing what you have to say as well Sam

[samduke]

Thanks for the judging Dys, looking forward to hearing what you have to say as well Sam

I presume you are referring to me. the judging seems fair overall okay.

[Sian]

nah, obviously it was referring to WhamBamSam

[arkangel111]

Pretty good judging. Overall I think it looks like a fair assessment of the contestants. Personally disagree with the 5 in UOSI for hot skald but only Because he failed to take to completion, I think it sets a dangerous precedent for future competitions. Don't get me wrong high marks are warranted, but a perfect score should have all levels included in my opinion. So many of the SI'S have dead levels or crappy capstones that is easy to decide not to take to completion, the hard part is making those dead levels shine.

Just my 2cp though.

Thanks for the judging though.

[Heliomance]

So we have one response to the judging, but as it isn't looking for a score change (and comes from the highest scoring entry anyway) I won't wait for the reveal.



Hot Kald Skald 17.25
Elegance: 3
By RAW it looks like your alignment should be Chaotic Evil, as it is supposed to be the same as your draconic lineage, so some DMs are going to look squinty at you when you tell them you are Chaotic Neutral.
Believe it or not, the build writeup presented is my pared-down version so it would fit in only 2 PMs to the Chairman. I had noted the alignment issue, but had Hot Kald Skald reverting to his original alignment over time (well within 17 levels) after he returned to his home and family and experienced some friction there. Not only does this change put him within 1 alignment step of Kol Korran, having a Neutral component is more consistent with the general alignment trends of desert races (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/environmentalRacialVariants.htm#desertRaces):
Alignment
The predominant alignment among desert races is neutral. It takes equal parts of law and chaos to survive under the harsh desert sun. Evil folk soon find themselves without friends, and to be isolated in an environment that cannot long support individuals means certain death. In contrast, those who place the principles of goodness over the needs of survival often find themselves in dire straits. Life in the desert often requires one to meet one's own needs before tending to another's.
My thought was that, since alignment on the Good-Evil axis was not an issue in any character requirements, and the change has no mechanical effect, this reversion could be excised from Hot Kald's story. Apparently that was an incorrect assumption.

I'm not seeking any change in my score.

Reveal to follow.

[Heliomance]

In First Place, with 17.25, Hot Kald Skald, by Curmudgeon!
In Second Place, with 15.5, Sono Russhem, by Amphetryon!
In Third Place, with 13.5, Sergeant Hammer, by Deadasadoor!
4th place, with 13, Derinar Penathan by Macabaret!
5th place, with 11.25, Azalin Stonecutter by KrimsonNekros!
6th place, with 9.75, Bror Broadbeard by The Viscount!
7th place, with 9.25, Tali Ozak by samduke!

Honourable mention goes to Azalin Stonecutter! Congratulations to everyone!

[Curmudgeon]

Personally disagree with the 5 in UOSI for hot skald but only Because he failed to take to completion, I think it sets a dangerous precedent for future competitions. Don't get me wrong high marks are warranted, but a perfect score should have all levels included in my opinion.
Requiring all levels of the Secret Ingredient is like requiring (original) Iron Chef judges to eat all parts of the SI, which is (at least in the original) unreasonable. In "Iron Chef Japan - Yellowtail Fish Battle" (part 1/3 here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS8M2mSFCvs)), the chefs use many parts of the fish, including stomach and bones. However, none of the dishes used the tail; the chefs cut that off and threw it away. In other competitions the SI might be honored by approximation: sculpting scales into a faux tail made of fish-flavored eggplant, for example. Hot Kald Skald throws away the tail of this SI (last 3 levels) but approximates the look and feel of what was cut off (Healing Chant and Dwarf Lord's Wrath); see Notes for Use of Secret Ingredent.

I think the relevant questions here are:
Was the best flavor obtained from the Secret Ingredient?
Was that flavor present from first course to last?
Did the meal end up being tasty because of the SI?

This build makes better use of the SI because it stops after 7 levels rather than 10. When Hot Kald Skald acquires Control Winds (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/controlWinds.htm) as a Stormsinger Bardic Music effect, he can keep that Spell-like ability going in combat using Dwarven Chanter Continuous Spellcasting. Hot Kald couldn't have that SLA in a 20-level build with 10 levels in Dwarven Chanter, and thus wouldn't get most effective use of Dwarven Chanter class features (the best flavor from the Secret Ingredient).

Dysprosium noted
You were also one of the only contestants to do something after your use of the SI was completed. and
You use your other prestige class to add to the SI. Do you want to eat fish tail? :smallyuk:

[Deadasadoor]

Congrats to everyone who managed to get a build in. This was a nasty one. Thanks for judging, Dysprosium.

As a note, Sergeant Hammer does have the required INT for Combat Expertise, but my abilities are formatted in a way that makes them hard to read (Numbers before the stat, he has 14 INT). Oops. I'll make sure to fix that for future competitions. As for the backstory, I would've loved to make more, but I barely managed to squeeze the entry in because I was both super busy and flipping my class levels back and forth constantly.

I'm quite excited to see what the next ingredient is.

[dysprosium]

Pretty good judging. Overall I think it looks like a fair assessment of the contestants. Personally disagree with the 5 in UOSI for hot skald but only Because he failed to take to completion, I think it sets a dangerous precedent for future competitions. Don't get me wrong high marks are warranted, but a perfect score should have all levels included in my opinion. So many of the SI'S have dead levels or crappy capstones that is easy to decide not to take to completion, the hard part is making those dead levels shine.

OMG Ponies can give all of the relative stats but there have been winners before that have not used all of the SI. I considered Level 7 to be the breakpoint since it was the last level that actually gave a class feature other than that bardic music dwarf lord's wrath.

Curmudgeon summed it up well with the Iron Chef analogy. And speaking of . . .


Do you want to eat fish tail? :smallyuk:

I gave up fish tail for my diet. :smallwink:


Congrats to everyone who managed to get a build in. This was a nasty one. Thanks for judging, Dysprosium.

As a note, Sergeant Hammer does have the required INT for Combat Expertise, but my abilities are formatted in a way that makes them hard to read (Numbers before the stat, he has 14 INT). Oops. I'll make sure to fix that for future competitions. As for the backstory, I would've loved to make more, but I barely managed to squeeze the entry in because I was both super busy and flipping my class levels back and forth constantly.

Holy crap you are right. My apologies. I am usually good about noticing these things but for some reason I missed it. Looking back I don't think it would adjust your place though. But still this is my fault for missing it.

It was good to get back involved with these competitions again. We'll see how the next round pans out for me.

[WhamBamSam]

Darn. I had 6.5/7 entries done, but I suppose we are past the deadline. Congratulations to the winners.

[The Viscount]

Well done everyone. I can't say I'm surprised by how poorly I did. I tied myself into knots getting into this SI a different way and ran out of room for anything to do with it all.

Curmudgeon, if you don't mind my asking, what made you try your hand at Iron Chef this round, and have you now caught the cooking bug?

[dysprosium]

Curmudgeon has had a couple wins in Zinc Saucier.

[Amphetryon]

Congratulations, Curmudgeon. Glad to move on to the next one.

[Curmudgeon]

Curmudgeon, if you don't mind my asking, what made you try your hand at Iron Chef this round, and have you now caught the cooking bug?
It was the difficulty that caught my interest. I relish a challenge, and this ingredient seemed really tough to cook with.

[KrimsonNekros]

*beats head against deck*

Stupid, stupid mistake. got so used to using the lesser version, I forgot the standard tieflings were outsiders. Still at least snagged an honorable mention this go round so Improvement!

[Heliomance]

*beats head against deck*

Stupid, stupid mistake. got so used to using the lesser version, I forgot the standard tieflings were outsiders. Still at least snagged an honorable mention this go round so Improvement!

From my perspective as chair, a definite improvement. Your entry this round was a lot more polished than your previous entries, with better explanation of what's going on, and just generally a higher quality submission. Azalin was my favourite entry of the lot!