Master of Masks build ideas?

[danielxcutter]

Not for play or anything, just thought it sounded cool but didn't have any idea how to make something out of it. Dragon magazine and third-party material are allowed, as are all official sources, but no shady rulings, please.

[Thurbane]

You might find some interesting ideas here: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge VI (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?156876)

[danielxcutter]

You might find some interesting ideas here: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge VI (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?156876)

Ah, thank you!

[Troacctid]

The class has a fun dysfunction—you can wear multiple masks starting from level 1. However, starting at level 5, you can only benefit from one of them at a time. So if you take more than 4 levels, you're actually nerfing yourself. (This is probably not the intent.)

[Inevitability]

Check out Haberdash the Masked (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?88633-Haberdash-the-Masked-The-3-5-Kitchen-Sink). I admit it only dips into MoM, but it's a significant dip.

[danielxcutter]

The class has a fun dysfunction—you can wear multiple masks starting from level 1. However, starting at level 5, you can only benefit from one of them at a time. So if you take more than 4 levels, you're actually nerfing yourself. (This is probably not the intent.)

Uh, I thought that you could only get the benefits of one item for one slot. So you'd only be able to use one at a time... right? Even if that's not RAW, I assume that's very RAI.

[Troacctid]

That's what you'd think! But the text explicitly says you can wear multiple masks at a time, and wearing a mask is enough to gain its benefit...until 5th level, when you can only benefit from one mask at a time.

To gain the benefit of a mask, you merely wear it. Putting on a mask is a standard action, and removing one is a move action. Once it is worn, the mask’s benefit immediately applies.
[...]
One or more persona masks can be worn at the same time, occupying the eye lenses/goggles body slot.

[danielxcutter]

Check out Haberdash the Masked (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?88633-Haberdash-the-Masked-The-3-5-Kitchen-Sink). I admit it only dips into MoM, but it's a significant dip.

Yeah, the Gladiator mask is pretty sweet. The attack bonus is good, but proficiency with all exotic weapons... that's basically more than twenty feats for free. Heck, it's not hard to see why someone could make a build around that mask alone, considering the things that you can do with some of them... Haberdash isn't really what I was thinking of, but it's a start.

[Telonius]

Master of Masks is usually best as a one- or two-level dip. The two typical entries (Bard and Rogue) don't lose all that much for having one or two levels off the main progression. But after that, the returns don't just diminish, they plummet. If you're a Rogue, the lower skillpoints will start hurting, especially if you aren't a human with Able Learner. If you're a Bard (or any other full caster), 4/10 casting makes it a big "no" for the full 10 levels. After the first couple of levels, you've already taken the "good" masks. So you're trading away a lot, to get not much in return.

[prufock]

That's what you'd think! But the text explicitly says you can wear multiple masks at a time, and wearing a mask is enough to gain its benefit...until 5th level, when you can only benefit from one mask at a time.
This does result in an interesting problem though: what does your alignment appear to be if wearing 2 at the same time (prior to level 5)?

[Telonius]

This does result in an interesting problem though: what does your alignment appear to be if wearing 2 at the same time (prior to level 5)?

To the DM: Chaotic Annoying. To a detect spell, it probably pings positive on whatever alignments they describe. (Kind of like an [Evil] creature taking levels of Paladin).

[Thurbane]

I'm quite fond of Beguiler entry into MoM - maybe with a 1 level Factotum dip and Able Learner (or an apprentice feat (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?491181)) to get the required Perform ranks.

It's not optimal, by any means, but I like the combo...