Raolin_Fenix
2007-08-08, 04:17 PM
Man. Is it possible to be both a huge noob and a huge munch? Yes, yes it is. Looking for proof? Look no farther, for I am living proof. BEHOLD! I shall call it the nubmunch.
So we're playing a Planescape setting with gestalt rules. I started off (from level one) as a Chaotic Neutral human wizard/warlock, and planned to take him to Archmage. As a human, I don't have to worry about multiclass penalties, so ultimately, we're talking about Wizard 15 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 20.
Then I found the Loremaster PrC, and decided it would be worth taking and fit my character fairly well. So I shuffled my skills and fiddled with my planned feat progression to make room for an early Loremaster jump. But then I discovered that another party-member (a fighter/wizard) is also shooting for Loremaster and Archmage both. I don't want to be a bloody copycat. So I scrap the idea for Loremaster a few levels into the game, fortunately before I started taking prereqs for it.
Then I found the Geometer PrC, which suited my character even better. Well, not really, but insofar as he casts spells in an unusual way and his spellbook probably should be irritating for other casters to figure out, it fits. Cosmetic changes, same mechanical deal. And he's very interested in learning and knowledge and all that stuff, so I have no reason not to justify him being interested in all the other Geometer abilities. So I scramble my skills and juggle my feats (skills being the problem, with two cross-class and another 9 ranks in a skill I hadn't taken; feats, I just put back into their proper order now that Loremaster wasn't an issue). So ultimately, I'm looking at Wizard 10 / Geometer 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 20.
But then I'm like, "You know, I could get more mileage out of Fatespinner than I could out of one metamagic feat. What if I take that after Geometer?" This is the first truly munchy decision I've made thus far; Fatespinner sort of suits the idea behind my character's creation, but only by sort of twisting the idea (even worse than I did for Geometer). Fatespinner requires five more ranks in a skill I haven't, up to this point, bothered with. It's tough to justify. Wizard 5 / Geometer 5 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 20.
But then I'm like, "Huh, the last level of Fatespinner is nice, but I've read TLN's Guide to Being Batman (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18500), and I'm just not sure I'm willing to give up my caster level for it." So then I decide to take the last level alongside Wizard (gestalt, remember), and give up a level of Warlock for it. That'll cost me 1d6 Eldritch Blast damage, five points of energy resistance, and a Dark invocation, but for an eighth- and ninth-level spell slot in exchange, it's worth it -- especially since I'm taking Archmage eventually as well, and I need my spell slots. And that way I'll also get my Seal Fate ability for the Fatespinner. Joy. Wizard 6 / Geometer 5 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 19.
Oh, wait. I can't take Geometer at level six, the way I'd planned to. I forgot that rule where the class is the first thing you pick, and it has a prereq of 9 ranks in both Decipher Script and Knowledge: Arcana -- so technically, I can't take it until level seven. Stupid noobliness and its insistence on making me forget rules. Oh well -- I don't need the last level of Geometer anyway. Wizard 7 / Geometer 4 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 19.
So what do you think, looking at that last lineup? Well, if you're a munch like me, you're thinking, "Dude, those last two levels of Wizard don't really do anything for you. No new class abilities... totally worthless, all you get out of it is the familiar advancement. Why not pick another PrC with the '+1 level of existing spellcasting class" feature?' That way you get a couple more class abilities for your buck." But I can't afford to lose any more feats; my progression is pretty important to my ability to Excel. "You know," said I, "the Mindbender doesn't have any feat prereqs, and I'd only have to shuffle my skill points a little more than I already have, to pick up the 4 ranks in two class skills I haven't been bothering with and 4 cross-class ranks. And I can take it at level six! And if I only take the first level of it, I'll still get my wizard class progression. Although I eventually plan to turn my character Good, but maybe at that time, the DM will rule that since the only Special ability isn't evil yet, I can keep it. So then I'll get Telepathy out to 100 feet. Good communication, everyone will really like me for that!" I mean, there's no reason it suits my character, not even if I twist the idea around like a slinky, but hey -- if my character heard that there were people who knew how to speak with their minds over a hundred feet whenever they wanted to, he'd be interested in learning it too!" Notice, by the way, the order in which I think about "things I want" and "things my character wants, or reasons I can justify it." Wizard 6 / Mindbender 1 / Geometer 4 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 19.
"But Raolin," wheedled a voice, "you've still got a level of Wizard that isn't helping you in any way, shape, or form. Level 6 is pointless for a Wizard except as a means to continue to level 7, which you won't be." "You're right," I answered it. "Do you suppose there's a local Wayfarers Union office in Sigil?"
FINAL OUTCOME:
Wizard 5 / Mindbender 1 / Geometer 4 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Wayfarer Guide 1 / Warlock 19
Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to mention. My character is now, between sessions, in the process of leveling up. Next session, I'll officially be level three.
So we're playing a Planescape setting with gestalt rules. I started off (from level one) as a Chaotic Neutral human wizard/warlock, and planned to take him to Archmage. As a human, I don't have to worry about multiclass penalties, so ultimately, we're talking about Wizard 15 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 20.
Then I found the Loremaster PrC, and decided it would be worth taking and fit my character fairly well. So I shuffled my skills and fiddled with my planned feat progression to make room for an early Loremaster jump. But then I discovered that another party-member (a fighter/wizard) is also shooting for Loremaster and Archmage both. I don't want to be a bloody copycat. So I scrap the idea for Loremaster a few levels into the game, fortunately before I started taking prereqs for it.
Then I found the Geometer PrC, which suited my character even better. Well, not really, but insofar as he casts spells in an unusual way and his spellbook probably should be irritating for other casters to figure out, it fits. Cosmetic changes, same mechanical deal. And he's very interested in learning and knowledge and all that stuff, so I have no reason not to justify him being interested in all the other Geometer abilities. So I scramble my skills and juggle my feats (skills being the problem, with two cross-class and another 9 ranks in a skill I hadn't taken; feats, I just put back into their proper order now that Loremaster wasn't an issue). So ultimately, I'm looking at Wizard 10 / Geometer 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 20.
But then I'm like, "You know, I could get more mileage out of Fatespinner than I could out of one metamagic feat. What if I take that after Geometer?" This is the first truly munchy decision I've made thus far; Fatespinner sort of suits the idea behind my character's creation, but only by sort of twisting the idea (even worse than I did for Geometer). Fatespinner requires five more ranks in a skill I haven't, up to this point, bothered with. It's tough to justify. Wizard 5 / Geometer 5 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 20.
But then I'm like, "Huh, the last level of Fatespinner is nice, but I've read TLN's Guide to Being Batman (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18500), and I'm just not sure I'm willing to give up my caster level for it." So then I decide to take the last level alongside Wizard (gestalt, remember), and give up a level of Warlock for it. That'll cost me 1d6 Eldritch Blast damage, five points of energy resistance, and a Dark invocation, but for an eighth- and ninth-level spell slot in exchange, it's worth it -- especially since I'm taking Archmage eventually as well, and I need my spell slots. And that way I'll also get my Seal Fate ability for the Fatespinner. Joy. Wizard 6 / Geometer 5 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 19.
Oh, wait. I can't take Geometer at level six, the way I'd planned to. I forgot that rule where the class is the first thing you pick, and it has a prereq of 9 ranks in both Decipher Script and Knowledge: Arcana -- so technically, I can't take it until level seven. Stupid noobliness and its insistence on making me forget rules. Oh well -- I don't need the last level of Geometer anyway. Wizard 7 / Geometer 4 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 19.
So what do you think, looking at that last lineup? Well, if you're a munch like me, you're thinking, "Dude, those last two levels of Wizard don't really do anything for you. No new class abilities... totally worthless, all you get out of it is the familiar advancement. Why not pick another PrC with the '+1 level of existing spellcasting class" feature?' That way you get a couple more class abilities for your buck." But I can't afford to lose any more feats; my progression is pretty important to my ability to Excel. "You know," said I, "the Mindbender doesn't have any feat prereqs, and I'd only have to shuffle my skill points a little more than I already have, to pick up the 4 ranks in two class skills I haven't been bothering with and 4 cross-class ranks. And I can take it at level six! And if I only take the first level of it, I'll still get my wizard class progression. Although I eventually plan to turn my character Good, but maybe at that time, the DM will rule that since the only Special ability isn't evil yet, I can keep it. So then I'll get Telepathy out to 100 feet. Good communication, everyone will really like me for that!" I mean, there's no reason it suits my character, not even if I twist the idea around like a slinky, but hey -- if my character heard that there were people who knew how to speak with their minds over a hundred feet whenever they wanted to, he'd be interested in learning it too!" Notice, by the way, the order in which I think about "things I want" and "things my character wants, or reasons I can justify it." Wizard 6 / Mindbender 1 / Geometer 4 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Warlock 19.
"But Raolin," wheedled a voice, "you've still got a level of Wizard that isn't helping you in any way, shape, or form. Level 6 is pointless for a Wizard except as a means to continue to level 7, which you won't be." "You're right," I answered it. "Do you suppose there's a local Wayfarers Union office in Sigil?"
FINAL OUTCOME:
Wizard 5 / Mindbender 1 / Geometer 4 / Fatespinner 5 / Archmage 5 / Wayfarer Guide 1 / Warlock 19
Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to mention. My character is now, between sessions, in the process of leveling up. Next session, I'll officially be level three.