Build Challenge: Kankuro from Naruto

[EastbySoutheast]

So the build I'm looking for is basically a master puppeteer that can control inanimate objects, puppets and possibly other people.
I have no idea how to do it so I hope the playground can

Limits:
Any 3.5 materials preferably 3.0 is acceptable but 3.5 is preferred
You can take 1 flaw if you have to
WBL as an NPC of 12 level
And if possible have the build become useful by 12th level

Good luck guys

[Ger. Bessa]

Basic option :

Play a wizard 12
-At level 7, planar bind a Ravid (MM1).
-Nickname him/her/it "Chakra"
-???
-profit !

You can animate puppets with your "chakra" !

Otherwise you can look at "effigy master" (Complete Something) (but I think it requires being a gnome) or maybe artificer (ECS) but I have no idea what that class can do (they are about crafting, no ?)

Maybe a binder/meldshaper can get animate object with their classe abilities. I'm not familiar enough with ToM.

So first select what your puppets are going to be (animated objects, crafted constructs, something else) then build around. If you go for Ravid Binding (and animated objects) you can use pretty much any wiz/sor build and prestige into anything you want.

Hoping it helps !

[illyahr]

Effigy Master is a good PrC for what you want to do. You basically make mechanical versions of living creatures that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The effigy doesn't get any Su or Sp abilities of the creature, but gets all of its Ex abilities. You don't need to be a gnome but you do need Craft Construct (and its prerequisites). I think it's in Complete Arcane but I could be wrong.

[Heliomance]

Alternatively, a Pathfinder Summoner could very easily be fluffed this way. Or a Psion Shaper.

[Flickerdart]

Psion (Kineticist) is an excellent option - control object (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/controlObject.htm) lets you animate an object and attack with it as early as level 1. At level 7, control body (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/controlBody.htm) lets you do the same thing to other people. You can use solicit psicrystal (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/solicitPsicrystal.htm) and schism (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/schism.htm) to concentrate on more than one of these at a time.

Effigy Master doesn't really fit here since Kankuro's puppets cannot act independently of his influence.

[Extra Anchovies]

Like most cases where you're adapting a specific character from nontraditional fantasy to D&D, psionics is probably your best bet. Just play a Shaper, and make the puppets astral constructs.

[icefractal]

Psion (Shaper or Kineticist) is the simplest way to go. You want powers from both of them (Astral Construct, Control Object, Control Body), but you can get those via Expanded Knowledge.

You definitely want Ectoplasmic Creation (aka Psionic Minor Creation) if you're doing this as a PC; it'll let you use the copious amounts of poison you want without spending all your cash on it.

Ger. Bessa's idea is pretty amusing though. :smallbiggrin: You could do a similar thing using Haunt Shift, which can yield some extremely potent results (mind of a Rogue in an adamantine body with many limbs, for example).

If you want a good reason why you're spending your turns controlling the puppet instead of having it attack while you do other stuff, then fill your slots with Snake's Swiftness (or Shared Power Synchronicity, as a Psion) and spam that every turn once the puppet is on the field.