Optimization Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground XCII [Archive]

View Full Version : Optimization Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground XCII

Heliomance

2018-04-12, 05:11 PM

A dimly-lit library. Rows of bookshelves line the walls, and as the camera slowly pans over them, we see that they are filled with gaming books. From the original brown-cover D&D manuals to the newest fifth edition supplements, we are given a brief but breathtaking history of over four decades of gaming in visual form.

A pair of feet, clad in Converse, appear. The camera pans back to reveal the Chairwoman as she strides out into Optimization Stadium. Slowly, she looks around at the battleground. Rapidly, we are shown shots of the gaming materials here assembled: books, miniatures, maps, dice. The Chairwoman reaches down and picks up a twenty-sided die. She rolls it, then turns to the camera... and smiles.

The camera pulls back from the smile to reveal... the Iron Gamers. Row upon row they stand, clad in the uniform of their trade: t-shirts with fantasy images, buttons with obscure quotes from novels and movies, dice bags at the ready. The shot dissolves into flames and the logo:

Iron Gamer

A montage of the contestants plays, with summaries of their optimization triumphs and achievements. Interspersed are brief interviews. Finally, though, the introductions are over. The contestants stand arrayed before the Chairwoman.

Chairwoman: We unveil the ingredient!

Tense music plays as the pedestal containing the mystery ingredient rises from below. Stacked neatly on the pedestal are copies of the Champions of Ruin web enhancement.

Chairwoman: Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder! This month's theme is... Eye of the Xanathar! (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061107b) ALLEZ OPTIMISER!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef LXXXIV. Here in Optimisation Colosseum, contestants will endeavour to create an optimised and flavourful character using a specified D&D3.5 prestige class as a "Secret Ingredient".

Contestants: You will need to present a full 20-level build for your entry. Also required is a rundown of how your build works at lower levels, to demonstrate that it is a functional character that could be played from 1-20 in a real game. Traditionally contestants give "snapshots" of tactics and abilities at levels 5, 10, 15, and 20, as well as a "sweet spot" of their choosing that represents what they believe to be the high point of the build. The purpose of these snapshots is not just to showcase your use of the SI, it is to demonstrate that your character is playable at every level. For this reason, it's still worth giving a snapshot before you have entered the SI.

Menu: The "special ingredient" can be drawn from any legal source. Originally, the plan was to mostly use Core and Completes, but that was a long time 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.
NB: Official Errata and 3.5 updates to 3.0 content are considered valid regardless of whether their sources would otherwise be legal. This includes the 3.5 update of Oriental Adventures given in Dragon Magazine, and the 3.5 updates of Dragonlance Campaign Setting content given in later third party Dragonlance books.

Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 07:59 GMT on Tuesday, May 1st, 2018 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairwoman, Heliomance. Please put the name of your build in the subject line of your PM. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 07:59 GMT on Tuesday, May 15th, 2018 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!

We will award 1st through 3rd places, as well as a shout-out for honourable mention. The honourable mention prize is given to the most daring or unexpected build. Judges, contestants and guests alike are invited to vote for honourable mention via PM. If there are no votes, Honourable Mention will go to the chairwoman's favourite build.

The Builds

Past Competitions

Courtesy of some wonderful volunteers, there is a handy-dandy spreadsheet guide to all previous builds here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oyjVU5JmeCnC8YTMqDArDqE5PszHl0Ysadz630kuTGk/edit?ts=59a4835f#gid=0).

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)
Iron Chef LXVI: Dwarven Chanter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?400810-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXVI)
Irogn Chef LXVII: Gnome Giant Slayer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?406613-Irogn-Chef-Optimisatiogn-Challegnge-ign-the-Playgrougnd-LXVII)
Iron Chef LXVIII: Fang of Lolth (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?412530-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXVIII)
Iron Chef LXIX: Shiba Protector (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?420165-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXIX)
Iron Chef LXX: Order of the Bow Initiate (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?425634-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXX)
Iron Chef LXXI: Silver Key (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?431484-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXI)
Iron Chef LXXII: Spellfire Channeler (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?439020-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXII)
Iron Chef LXXIII: Flux Adept (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?448596-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXIII)
Iron Chef LXXIV: Crinti Shadow Marauder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?458711-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXIV)
Iron Chef LXXV: Thief of Life (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472831-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXV)
Iron Chef LXXVI: Legacy Champion (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?477153-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXVI)
Iron Chef LXXVII: Great Rift Skyguard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?482249-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXVII)
Iron Chef LXVIII: Risen Martyr (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?487560-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXVIII)
Iron Chef LXXIX: Black Blood Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?492923-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXIX)
Iron Chef LXXX: Master of Many Forms (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?498359-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXX)
Iron Chef LXXXI: Serene Guardian (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?502666-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXI)
Iron Chef LXXXII: Elocator (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?505762-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXII)
Iron Chef LXXXIII: Winterhaunt of Iboorighu (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?510581-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXIII)
Iron Chef LXXXIV: Waverider (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514631-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXIV)
Iron Chef LXXXV: Astral Dancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?519296-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXV)
Iron Chef LXXXVI: Twisted Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?525401-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXVI)
Iron Chef LXXXVII: Shadowsmith (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?528361-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXVII)
Iron Chef LXXXVIII: Arboreal Guardian (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?533367-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXVIII)
Iron Chef LXXXIX: Thrall of Demogorgon (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?536247-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXIX)
Iron Chef XC: Bloodstorm Blade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?542380-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XC)
Iron Chef XCII: Fatemaker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?550203-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCI)

Heliomance

2018-04-12, 05:12 PM

FAQ:
Q: What's this even about?
A: I'm glad you asked, actually... (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15415117&postcount=1)

Q: Is Dragon Compendium Allowed?
A: Yes (as well as its Errata), but individual issues of Dragon Magazine are not.

Q: What about 3.0 materials?
A: 3.0 materials, whether online or in printed form, are allowed unless they've been officially updated to a 3.5 edition.

Q: Are Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, or Kingdoms of Kalamar allowable sources?
A: 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.

Q: What about online sources in general?
A: 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.

Q: 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. In a similar vein, LA buyoff and fractional BAB are also disallowed. 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.

Q: What, exactly, does the ban on Leadership mean?
A: 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.

Q: What's the minimum score in a category?
A: 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 requirement 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.

Q: Creatures and templates with no listed LA are playable, right?
A: 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.

Q: So what's the deal with equipment, anyway?
A: There is no official policy on how much equipment you should list. Historically, judges have frowned upon "item dependent" builds, but unfortunately the definition of that has been applied to mean anything from builds that don't function if you remove one very specific item, to builds that so much as mention a particular weapon. Builds that don't list gear should be assumed to buy useful generics - items to boost their primary stats, cloaks of resistance, appropriate magical weapons and armour, and so forth. If a build would find particular items useful, they should be listed, but experience suggests that the more generic you keep them, the more favourably judges are likely to look upon them, as a build being shut down because the Thundering Bagpipes of Urist McTrumpetbritches were unavailable is considered a weakness. Similarly, requiring items in order to be able to qualify for things tends to be frowned upon.

Q: Do you have any other rules and guidelines on how to judge?
A: We do, actually, designed to try and avoid unpleasantness we've encountered in past contests. The things we've come up with to avoid repeating this are given below.

One Mistake, One Penalty

Judges are only allowed to penalise once for a given mistake. If someone messes up their skills and doesn't qualify for a PrC, ding them as hard as you like. Once. In one category. You don't then get to declare that because they didn't qualify for that PrC, they don't get those levels, and thus don't qualify for anything else. If Ranger is a common ingredient, ding them for Originality. Once. Don't also take off points for Two-Weapon-Fighting being a common ingredient.

Non-exhaustive list of examples:

Skills

Allowed:

Giving a penalty for miscalculating the number of skill points gained
Giving a penalty for not having enough ranks to meet a prerequisite
Increasing the harshness of a skill miscalculation penalty if it affects critical skills including prereqs

Not allowed:

Giving separate penalties for miscalculating skill points and for non-qualification where the non-qualification is solely caused by the miscalculation

Prereqs

Allowed:

Giving a penalty for not meeting prereqs
Scaling the penalty depending on how important the item that the build failed to qualify for is
Giving minimum score in UotSI for not qualifying for the SI
(Trial, may be disallowed later)Not giving credit for (note: not the same as penalising for) tactics using feats or classes other than the SI that were not qualified for (but see below)

Not Allowed:

"Cascading" failures to qualify - declaring that because a build doesn't qualify for a feat, for example, it also doesn't qualify for anything using that feat as a prereq
Treating a build as having fewer levels than it does because of FtQ for classes

Other general things that are no longer allowed:

Penalising because someone has chosen to build a tribute to an existing creative work
Deciding that a backstory has not met a fluff prerequisite well enough, or because its method of meeting it is "unrealistic". You may penalise if a fluff prereq is not addressed at all, but not for how well it is addressed.

Note that these are protections, not licenses. Deliberately taking a feat that you know you don't qualify for hoping to just suck up the judging penalty for a feat that you couldn't normally take is not okay, and may lead to your build being disqualified.

Q: Do you have any contest house rules or clarifications to ambiguous rules?
A: Some that have come up in previous contests and needed answers to:

All creatures are proficient with any natural weapons they may have or acquire.
Bonus feats that are granted even if you do not meet the prerequisites do not require you to meet the prerequisites in order to use.
Able Learner's benefit applies to the level you take it.

Q: Can I submit more than one entry?
A: You may submit up to two entries into a given competition.

Karl Aegis

2018-04-12, 05:17 PM

W-what did you DO!??!

WhamBamSam

2018-04-12, 05:52 PM

Well, I guess it's probably better than straight Rogue. It doesn't seem to have its own spell list though, unless you're talking about the various eye abilities. Not sure if I've got anything for this, but I'll give it a shot.

georgie_leech

2018-04-12, 05:59 PM

I like how to make use of some of these abilities properly, you need to not have basic racial things. For instance, at minimum character level 10, get 60 feet of darkvision, the know alignment a limited number of times per day, and the easing of one of the least restrictive bits of Sneak Attack on a stealthy class that natively gives Sneak Attack enabling abilities. You get most of those by being a Dwarf Cleric :smallamused:

Or maybe Paladin, given that these are lower level spells that are made harder to resist by Charisma but number of uses per day is based on Wisdom :smalltongue:

EDIT: Oh man, the advice section below directly calls out that it weakens your combat abilities, and recommends you snag Leadership for a Fighter or Wizard. That is a refreshing degree of honesty when it comes to terrible Prestige Classes. :smallwink:

Heliomance

2018-04-12, 06:06 PM

georgie_leech

2018-04-12, 06:19 PM

Oh man, be still my heart. Apparently serving as an Eye for a year gets you a fancy set of Masterwork Studded Leather. And Xanathar is such a genius that a Drow got assigned to one of the sunniest places in the world. And the non-Eye parts of the cult apparently distrust and/or hate the Eyes.

Worst. Secret Society. Ever.

I'm almost certainly not gonna be submitting anything, but I'd like to thank our Chairwoman for bringing this thing to my attention and making my afternoon :smallbiggrin:

Thurbane

2018-04-12, 06:19 PM

I'm doing my best to cook for this one. :smallbiggrin:

The Viscount

2018-04-12, 06:30 PM

Oh no. I was afraid this day would come. This will take a lot of doing. The class features are based on Wisdom? Who does that?!

As for the prerequisites of this class, for the purpose of satisfying the 3 ranks in Knowledge local (waterdeep) are we going to say that just 3 ranks in Knowledge (local) is the replacement?
And along the same lines do we say the class grants knowledge (local) as a class skill?

Long_shanks

2018-04-12, 06:38 PM

Oh no. I was afraid this day would come. This will take a lot of doing. The class features are based on Wisdom? Who does that?!

Wisdom for class features, charisma for DCs. Yeah, this is gonna be fun.

Piggy Knowles

2018-04-12, 06:49 PM

The class features are based on Wisdom? Who does that?!

And here I was stuck on the magic scouting eye with a 30' move speed that can only ever be at most 50' from you.

I... oof, this one is a doozy. I have some questions, and wouldn't mind a chair ruling on some of these abilities.

1. "At 5th level, you gain darkvision to a range of 60 ft. and the ability to determine a single creature's alignment once per day per point of Wisdom modifier (min. 1) as the know alignment spell."

Does this mean that you gain darkvision 60', and also Wis/day you can determine a creature's alignment? Or is the darkvision also limited to Wis/day? If the latter, what is its duration?

2. "Perfect Sneak Attack: When your eye of the master is released, it can help you find weaknesses in your opponent's defenses. As a standard action, you can make a sneak attack against an adjacent foe even if you are not flanking them or they have their Dexterity bonus to AC."

Does this mean that you make an attack as part of the standard action? Or is it a standard action to identify weaknesses, and then you subsequently have to make an attack? Is it a single attack? If you have the ability to make multiple attacks as a standard action, can you do so here? If yes to the last question, do you gain sneak attack on all of the attacks, or just one?

3. Is it possible to use multiple eye of the master abilities simultaneously, assuming you have the uses? Can you, for example, get both the spot bonus that is associated with the low-light vision and also get darkvision at the same time?

Venger

2018-04-12, 09:31 PM

I am disgusted with this secret ingredient. well selected, chair.

down to cook.

daremetoidareyo

2018-04-12, 09:43 PM

found a loophole

Zaq

2018-04-12, 09:53 PM

Vecna preserve us, this one’s weird. I feel like they rolled on a table to pick the prereq feats. And what’s with the personality split between “gotta hold the eye” vs. “gotta turn the eye into a tentacle” vs. “gotta let the eye float around”? Just let me use the damned abilities—they really aren’t so powerful that we needed to break them up like that!

At least it has good skill points?

I’m weirdly fascinated by Perfect Sneak Attack. It’s so interesting and so insulting at the same time.

I completely agree that “WIS for uses, CHA for DCs” is beyond unnecessary.

How does the DC on the Poison eye beam work? Is it locked to 10 + class level + CHA, or is the fact that the Poison spell has a weird formula for its save DC taken into consideration?

found a loophole

We’re all doomed. And I’m excited.

Long_shanks

2018-04-12, 10:03 PM

Falontani

2018-04-12, 10:26 PM

i got a premise in my head, I'll see if I can flesh it out; although I'm kind of afraid to now, someone found a loophole?!?

Zaq

2018-04-12, 10:28 PM

What’s the duration on the Eye of the Master vision abilities? They aren’t called out as even being (Su) or (Sp), so we can’t even make assumptions based on implied CL.

Venger

2018-04-12, 10:45 PM

so forgotten realms fluff kind of puts me to sleep. does anyone know if "portal use" actually does anything mechanically?

danielxcutter

2018-04-13, 09:48 AM

At least Nightsong Infiltrator is good at sneaky stuff. This is just eww.:smallyuk:

daremetoidareyo

2018-04-13, 10:25 AM

I love how the first few pages of Iron Chef competitions are griping about how terrible the ingredient is. I do it too.

This thing is an overripe durian dipped in rotten raflesia goop

The Viscount

2018-04-13, 03:57 PM

found a loophole

I have too. If I never enter this class, then it can't make my character terrible!

Jormengand

2018-04-13, 04:48 PM

I've found a couple of interesting things that you can do, neither of which is enough to save this class, both of which are hilarious enough that I'm gonna make a build using them anyway.

danielxcutter

2018-04-13, 05:18 PM

I love how the first few pages of Iron Chef competitions are griping about how terrible the ingredient is. I do it too.

This thing is an overripe durian dipped in rotten raflesia goop

Hey, at least durians apparently taste good.

georgie_leech

2018-04-13, 05:19 PM

Hey, at least durians apparently taste good.

They've got a somewhat creamy texture and hit a good balance for sweetness, IMO. No comment on the flavour of actual rotten durians :smalltongue:

danielxcutter

2018-04-13, 05:22 PM

They've got a somewhat creamy texture and hit a good balance for sweetness, IMO. No comment on the flavour of actual rotten durians :smalltongue:

Perhaps, but maybe "rotten lemons" might be more appropriate. :smalltongue:

Kelb_Panthera

2018-04-13, 06:35 PM

so forgotten realms fluff kind of puts me to sleep. does anyone know if "portal use" actually does anything mechanically?

Not directly. It engages with the rules regarding magic portals from a couple FR sources, MotP, and the planar handbook.

Tentatively in to cook.

Falontani

2018-04-13, 06:49 PM

I have an idea that involves [redacted] and [redacted] with a little bit of [redacted] for some [redacted] flavor

Zaq

2018-04-14, 11:30 AM

What book is “Know Alignment” in? It’s not on the SRD (unless I’m blind, which has happened before), and if it’s 3.0, I don’t see it on the list of 3.0 to 3.5 updates.

Kelb_Panthera

2018-04-14, 11:52 AM

What book is “Know Alignment” in? It’s not on the SRD (unless I’m blind, which has happened before), and if it’s 3.0, I don’t see it on the list of 3.0 to 3.5 updates.

A bit of Google-fu suggests it's a 2e spell that was broken down into the detect <alignment> spells for 3e. Might need a ruling from the chairman on a suitable replacement. Might I suggest the 60ft , conic range and 1st level spell-equivalence of the detect <alignment> spells for rules interaction?

WhamBamSam

2018-04-14, 12:19 PM

Hey, at least durians apparently taste good.Some people like it, but when I tried it last summer in Malaysia it was not a good experience. I found it less than tolerable even on the way down, and the aftertaste is more or less in lockstep with the famous smell of feces. There was crap on my breath for hours which brushing my teeth did only so much to rectify.

https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/lovelace/uploads/275/ac9f1050-4216-0132-0a80-0eae5eefacd9.png
It's a shame I can't find a video of the sketch this is from. It's pretty relevant to most SIs.

I have thoughts on this ingredient but actual builds have thus far eluded me.

remetagross

2018-04-14, 05:00 PM

WhamBamSam

2018-04-14, 06:23 PM

Wow, a class from an online web enhancement?

I have a question folks: I cannot seem to find at which caster level the various spell-like abilities are supposed to be used. Is that, by default, the minimum CL required to cast said spells?If a SLA doesn't have a listed caster level, it defaults to character level.
For creatures with spell-like abilities, a designated caster level defines how difficult it is to dispel their spell-like effects and to define any level-dependent variables (such as range and duration) the abilities might have. The creature’s caster level never affects which spell-like abilities the creature has; sometimes the given caster level is lower than the level a spellcasting character would need to cast the spell of the same name. If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature’s Hit Dice.

Venger

2018-04-14, 10:43 PM

Wow, a class from an online web enhancement?

I have a question folks: I cannot seem to find at which caster level the various spell-like abilities are supposed to be used. Is that, by default, the minimum CL required to cast said spells?

You're not missing anything, it's not in there. Zaq has already asked for clarification whether we treat them as su or sp. WhamBamSam's already cited the sla rules. If they're ruled su, here's (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#supernaturalAbilities) how they work:

Supernatural abilities are magical and go away in an antimagic field but are not subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or to being dispelled by dispel magic. Using a supernatural ability is a standard action unless noted otherwise. Supernatural abilities may have a use limit or be usable at will, just like spell-like abilities. However, supernatural abilities do not provoke attacks of opportunity and never require Concentration checks. Unless otherwise noted, a supernatural ability has an effective caster level equal to the creature’s Hit Dice. The saving throw (if any) against a supernatural ability is:

10 + ½ the creature’s HD + the creature’s ability modifier (usually Charisma).

WhamBamSam

2018-04-15, 12:03 AM

Venger

2018-04-15, 01:10 AM

The Attach The Eye abilities are explicitly SLAs. It's just the Eye of the Master abilities that are ambiguous.

In other news, I'm painfully short on feats. I count at least 5 that feel critical to the build that I can't fit in, so I need to either reign in the scope of the build significantly, or start from scratch.

How foolish of me. That is of course what I meant, but not what I said. Thanks for clarifying.

I know that game. Qualifying for this class is really killing me. I thought I had my entry set up, but I forgot one of the million things on the list. Back to the drawing board.

KrimsonNekros

2018-04-15, 04:17 PM

I'm having a reigning dispute between flavor and power in my build atm.

Venger

2018-04-15, 06:56 PM

I'm having a reigning dispute between flavor and power in my build atm.

>implying they're mutually exclusive

I'm sure you'll work it out. I have to do research on waterdeep to do fluff this time. yuck.

georgie_leech

2018-04-15, 07:12 PM

>implying they're mutually exclusive

I'm sure you'll work it out. I have to do research on waterdeep to do fluff this time. yuck.

They Can be, just like more powerful flavours can drown out the taste of more delicate sensations. And this ingredient has all the robust flavour of a particularly stale cup of water.

KrimsonNekros

2018-04-15, 07:31 PM

>implying they're mutually exclusive

I'm sure you'll work it out. I have to do research on waterdeep to do fluff this time. yuck.

Thank you for reminding me that i actually have to spell out my freaking knowledge local skills >.<

Venger

2018-04-15, 07:48 PM

They Can be, just like more powerful flavours can drown out the taste of more delicate sensations. And this ingredient has all the robust flavour of a particularly stale cup of water.
I guess that's true, but it doesn't have to be the case. stormwind and all. I agree with you there

Thank you for reminding me that i actually have to spell out my freaking knowledge local skills >.<

nah, that rule got changed in 3.5. you don't need knowledge local (detroit) and knowledge local (peoria) anymore, it's all blessedly just one undifferentiated mass called "knowledge local."

KrimsonNekros

2018-04-15, 08:10 PM

nah, that rule got changed in 3.5. you don't need knowledge local (detroit) and knowledge local (peoria) anymore, it's all blessedly just one undifferentiated mass called "knowledge local."

Huh I was looking through the PGtF and thought is still mentioned region specific skills. If not great!

The Viscount

2018-04-15, 08:22 PM

In the companion article they specify the details of the eye of the master, namely that it's flat on one side and concave on the other.
The fact that this type of lens diffuses light instead of focusing or magnifying is something I find both extremely funny and telling about the class in general.

Venger

2018-04-15, 08:29 PM

Huh I was looking through the PGtF and thought is still mentioned region specific skills. If not great!

frcs does, pgtf, being 3.5, shouldn't, but it's possible they missed it somewhere.

Thurbane

2018-04-15, 09:44 PM

MinimanMidget

2018-04-15, 09:55 PM

I'm not planning on entering, but I really hope this one ends up with 11 entries.

KrimsonNekros

2018-04-15, 09:55 PM

So what's the ruling from the chair?

Do we just need Knowledge (local) ranks, or do we specifically need Knowledge (local - Waterdeep)?

I don't even think it's a 3.0 to .3.5 thing, I think FR is the only campaign setting that calls out this level of details.

On a related note: if there are separate Knowledge (local) skills for each area of FR, can you take 5 ranks in a bunch of different areas for a large (stacking) bonus to Gather Information for each 5 ranks?

Geography, Local, Nobility, and history are all split into the regions, and Local provides a bonus to the knowledge skills from the same region.

I'm not planning on entering, but I really hope this one ends up with 11 entries.

That would be hilarious, especially if everyone picks a different number

Piggy Knowles

2018-04-15, 10:19 PM

After coming up with a build that was surprisingly pleasing, I realized that with a fairly minor amount of reshuffling, I could actually duplicate all 10 levels of the SI with the other 10 levels of my build. Perhaps not a good sign?

If I don't get any other inspiration, maybe I'll judge. Been a few years since I've judged; I'll have to shake the rust off.

WhamBamSam

2018-04-18, 01:40 AM

I have a stub that I don't hate, even though I still feel like I could really do with 10 more feats. Skills are sure to be an extensive undertaking this round, but beyond that I've got it all tabled out.

If we need one more entry to get to our 11th Eye, I could throw together a build from one of the stubs that I do hate as well.

Darrin

2018-04-18, 06:58 AM

Do we just need Knowledge (local) ranks, or do we specifically need Knowledge (local - Waterdeep)?

I don't even think it's a 3.0 to .3.5 thing, I think FR is the only campaign setting that calls out this level of details.

As per Player's Guide to Faerun pp. 8-10, Knowledge (Local) is still divided up by regions:

"When you take ranks in Knowledge (local), you must designate the region to which your local knowledge pertains."

On a related note: if there are separate Knowledge (local) skills for each area of FR, can you take 5 ranks in a bunch of different areas for a large (stacking) bonus to Gather Information for each 5 ranks?

Synergy is explained on page 10:

"Knowledge Synergy: If you have at least 5 ranks in Knowledge (local) for a particular region, you gain a +2 bonus on all other Knowledge skill checks pertaining to that region. For example, if you have 5 ranks in Knowledge (Cormyr local), you gain a +2 bonus on Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (nobility and royalty), and all other Knowledge checks made relating to topics or questions that have to do with Cormyr. This rule supersedes the Regional Focus rule on page 9 of the FORGOTTEN REALMS Campaign Setting."

Gather Information isn't mentioned, but I don't see anything that explicitly contradicts the PHB: "If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (local), you get a +2 bonus on Gather Information checks."

The only issue I can see here is there doesn't appear to be any text about whether the +2 bonus only applies when you're actually in that (local) region. By strict RAW, having 5 ranks of Knowledge (Local): Waterdeep gives you a +2 synergy bonus on all Gather Information rolls in any region, regardless of whether that region is the Underdark, Thay, Myth Drannor, etc. The synergy bonus itself is untyped, although an argument could be made that it's a "synergy bonus" instead of an untyped bonus. Untyped bonuses from different sources stack, so we would need to determine if different Knowledge (Local) skills count as "different sources". Even if it does, the DM still has final word on how many synergy bonuses you can use, as per PHB p. 66:

"Your DM may limit certain synergies if desired, or he may add more synergies for specific situations."

So... that's the RAW. If you can figure out something interesting to do with a humongous modifer on Gather Information checks, then you could try your luck with the judges.

Venger

2018-04-18, 02:15 PM

that's so weird. I thought the 3.5 phb had scrapped that rule. thanks for the info darrin.

Darrin

2018-04-18, 03:05 PM

that's so weird. I thought the 3.5 phb had scrapped that rule. thanks for the info darrin.

That might be a common misconception. The PGtF is the primary "3.5 update" for FRCS, and it updated how regional feats work. It got rid of the "you can take additional regional feats if you have at least 2 ranks of Knowledge (Local) for that region" rule. It caps the number of regional feats to one single regional feat at 1st level. After that, you can't take any additional regional feats, even if you meet the other requirements for the feat. The other change is your subrace/ethnicity is supposed to determine which regional feat you can take. Table 1-2 lists each region and the appropriate subraces that qualify for the varies languages, favored deities, regional feats, and bonus equipment. While picking a region and subrace that don't match on that table is not explicitly against the rules, it does put an "ask the DM" clause in there to make sure your backstory is semi-plausible.

The recommended subrace or ethnicity entry on the region table indicates the specific subrace or ethnic group usually found in that region. You should check with your Dungeon Master before you assign your character a region that doesn't fit his subrace. Doing so is not against the rules; indeed, despite the prevalence of certain races in certain areas, Faerun is a diverse land with many well-integrated cities and kingdoms. It would not be unreasonable, for example, for a gold dwarf character to have the human region of Cormyr as his native region. However, such an unusual origin probably deserves some explanation in your character's backstory.
(emphasis added)

This allows the preponderance of non-Taers taking the Battle Jump feat.

It does seem a little odd, though... they divide Knowledge (Local) into umpteen-bazillion sub-skills, but do absolutely nothing about the fact that only three core classes actually get that as a class skill: Bard, Rogue, and Wizard. You can't use Knowledge skills untrained, either, so a human barbarian from Rashemen would have no easy way to determine if his tribe actually lives in that region or even if it includes any humans as members.

Zaq

2018-04-19, 01:00 AM

I have a protest build in mind, but I don't have anything that's an actual real build yet. Not sure if I'll have the motivation to put in the legwork for a protest build, though. I'm going to keep noodling at it, but every time the class gives you something, it has to slap you with some kind of deceptively obnoxious caveat, and that's getting frustrating.

This is another one of those PrCs that wouldn't be overpowered as a base class, and yet it makes you wait until ECL 6+ and light a bunch of build resources on fire before you can even start. And that's terrible. This is very much one of those Forgotten Realms PrCs that's clearly designed towards being one specific NPC in some dev's home game and isn't designed with portability, flexibility, or balance (from a PC perspective) in mind. Forgotten Realms is just plain full of those.

Venger

2018-04-19, 01:20 AM

jdizzlean

2018-04-19, 04:49 PM

I have an idea, it is probably the Vicini in the room, but we'll see...

KrimsonNekros

2018-04-19, 07:11 PM

I've got my build in although [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] proved to be a right pain to get sorted out.

WhamBamSam

2018-04-20, 01:03 AM

EDIT: Had a major issue with my main build, but I think it's resolved now. Disregard any previous version of this post that you saw.

I've had some thoughts on another idea that might be workable, but I'm again running into the problem of feeling like every stub I make desperately needs 5-10 more feats.

Zaq

2018-04-20, 01:41 AM

I swear, every time I think I've found something that is, if not good, at least goofy enough to be funny, there's an average of one word that trips me up and makes this super obnoxious.

KrimsonNekros

2018-04-20, 11:12 AM

I swear, every time I think I've found something that is, if not good, at least goofy enough to be funny, there's an average of one word that trips me up and makes this super obnoxious.

Wouldn't be Xanathar would it?

WhamBamSam

2018-04-20, 03:43 PM

I just realized that the eye has to be released to use Perfect Sneak Attack, meaning you can't use it and the Attach the Eye abilities without spending a standard action in between. Doesn't quite sink either of my builds, but holy crap is that annoying and unnecessary. At least with the Eye of the Master abilities there's some tenuous logic of an in combat/out of combat dichotomy, but with two abilities that are both intended to be used offensively in combat, the effective inability to use them both in the same encounter is just staggeringly bad design.

Selene Sparks

2018-04-21, 01:21 AM

Interesting ingredient. I'm having trouble thinking of anything to use it for, but it's been mentioned that you're having trouble getting judges, so I'll volunteer to judge if that's okay.

jdizzlean

2018-04-22, 12:00 PM

nothing like being basically done, only to reread through it and find out you made a mistake at the beginning of the entire build that now forces you to redo the entire thing.....

Edit:

fixed and in, now the hard part!

Zaq

2018-04-25, 11:38 AM

Ugh. Finally had a semi-serious idea, but I might not have enough free time to get it in under the deadline, especially with all the stylistic flourishes I had in mind. We’ll see.

Kelb_Panthera

2018-04-25, 01:49 PM

Another project jumped up and is eating my time. I'll be stepping out of the competition. Good luck everybody else.

WhamBamSam

2018-04-26, 12:03 AM

One build in. Would like to get a second, but we'll see.

Thurbane

2018-04-26, 12:40 AM

Another project jumped up and is eating my time. I'll be stepping out of the competition. Good luck everybody else.

I know the feels.

It's looking unlikely I'll get an entry in, but I haven't bowed out just yet...

Jormengand

2018-04-26, 03:04 AM

I've got a single real idea, which is taking its time actually making it onto paper, so I might or might not get an entry in.

Zaq

2018-04-27, 01:27 AM

Things I hate, in no particular order:

Regional feats
Formatting
Tables
Unintuitive class skill lists
Formatting
BAB calculations
Restrictive prereqs
Formatting
Feats that can only be taken at 1st level
Forgotten Realms
Formatting

I've got the build itself (classes/feats/skills) done for my less-silly build, but I'm finding it punishingly hard to focus on formatting it. Still gotta do the writeup, as well. My silly build may or may not ever see the light of day, but I haven't given up yet. This would be easier if I hadn't gotten roped into a drum performance on Sunday, but so it goes.

Zaq

2018-04-28, 07:35 PM

Right, finally done. This should be fun. Man, this ingredient is awful.

georgie_leech

2018-04-28, 07:53 PM

Right, finally done. This should be fun. Man, this ingredient is awful.

Mm, our chair really knocked it out of the park on this one. It's making me want to see an actual Iron Chef where they get handed a terrible ingredient like sheep intestines or something. :smallamused:

The Viscount

2018-04-28, 09:36 PM

Mm, our chair really knocked it out of the park on this one. It's making me want to see an actual Iron Chef where they get handed a terrible ingredient like sheep intestines or something. :smallamused:

Chopped is pretty much that in many episodes. The ingredients aren't always awful, but they're consistently difficult to work with.

While we're airing grievances about this class, why does this beholder have to be called the Xanathar? Xanathar isn't a word, so if they wanted it to be a title then they could have said it was. Adding in the "the" just makes me wonder. Are there other Xanathars?

georgie_leech

2018-04-28, 10:18 PM

Chopped is pretty much that in many episodes. The ingredients aren't always awful, but they're consistently difficult to work with.

Also a show I watch semi-regularly. And cutthroat kitchen. But I just want to see Bobby Flay have to just justify why his dishes all contain surströmming or something. :smallamused:

Venger

2018-04-29, 03:51 AM

KrimsonNekros

2018-04-29, 11:22 AM

Chopped is pretty much that in many episodes. The ingredients aren't always awful, but they're consistently difficult to work with.

While we're airing grievances about this class, why does this beholder have to be called the Xanathar? Xanathar isn't a word, so if they wanted it to be a title then they could have said it was. Adding in the "the" just makes me wonder. Are there other Xanathars?

It's like The Dread Pirate Roberts, there's only one, but the successor keeps assuming the same mantle.

Zaq

2018-04-29, 12:11 PM

While we're airing grievances about this class, why does this beholder have to be called the Xanathar? Xanathar isn't a word, so if they wanted it to be a title then they could have said it was. Adding in the "the" just makes me wonder. Are there other Xanathars?

Honestly, of all the complaints I have about the class, this isn't one of them. It's weird and it's not intuitive in standard English, but I kind of feel like that's the point. We're talking about an alien, aberrant entity with a puffed-up sense of self-importance and a guild of followers. "Xanathar," while not a word, is a fine vague fantasy name; tacking "the" onto it creates enough dissonance to trigger my "hmm, this isn't how things are supposed to work; this is weird" reflex without lunging straight for "just mash the keyboard and churn out something unpronounceable." I actually like it as a way of establishing that we're dealing with something very alien and out of the ordinary.

By definition, the trick wouldn't work as well if it were overused, but in this specific context, I'm okay with it. Intentionally using "nonstandard" language is a very powerful effect when done by someone who knows what they're doing.

Venger

2018-04-29, 12:52 PM

Honestly, of all the complaints I have about the class, this isn't one of them. It's weird and it's not intuitive in standard English, but I kind of feel like that's the point. We're talking about an alien, aberrant entity with a puffed-up sense of self-importance and a guild of followers. "Xanathar," while not a word, is a fine vague fantasy name; tacking "the" onto it creates enough dissonance to trigger my "hmm, this isn't how things are supposed to work; this is weird" reflex without lunging straight for "just mash the keyboard and churn out something unpronounceable." I actually like it as a way of establishing that we're dealing with something very alien and out of the ordinary.

By definition, the trick wouldn't work as well if it were overused, but in this specific context, I'm okay with it. Intentionally using "nonstandard" language is a very powerful effect when done by someone who knows what they're doing.

Interesting theory. I didn't read it that way. I assumed Xanathar was simply an insufferable dweeb (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apa0nG1OfUc) that all the other beholders made disparaging comments about when he wasn't around

The Viscount

2018-04-29, 02:09 PM

Honestly, of all the complaints I have about the class, this isn't one of them. It's weird and it's not intuitive in standard English, but I kind of feel like that's the point. We're talking about an alien, aberrant entity with a puffed-up sense of self-importance and a guild of followers. "Xanathar," while not a word, is a fine vague fantasy name; tacking "the" onto it creates enough dissonance to trigger my "hmm, this isn't how things are supposed to work; this is weird" reflex without lunging straight for "just mash the keyboard and churn out something unpronounceable." I actually like it as a way of establishing that we're dealing with something very alien and out of the ordinary.

By definition, the trick wouldn't work as well if it were overused, but in this specific context, I'm okay with it. Intentionally using "nonstandard" language is a very powerful effect when done by someone who knows what they're doing.

Hmm. I can see where you're coming from with that. I hadn't considered it being an expression of beholders' utter alien nature.

That being said, now I'm imagining it talking with a Boris and Natasha accent.
"I am the Xanathar. You are to be doing the stealing for me."

KrimsonNekros

2018-04-29, 07:20 PM

Hmm. I can see where you're coming from with that. I hadn't considered it being an expression of beholders' utter alien nature.

That being said, now I'm imagining it talking with a Boris and Natasha accent.
"I am the Xanathar. You are to be doing the stealing for me."

The Xanathar's a Slav?! No wonder those Russians are so dastardly. They're all aberrations!

WhamBamSam

2018-04-30, 03:24 PM

And my second entry is in. It's perhaps the most Iron Chef build I've ever made.

Zaq

2018-04-30, 05:12 PM

And my second entry is in. It's perhaps the most Iron Chef build I've ever made.

I know that feeling, and it’s a glorious one.

My own work in this round is not quite the same as what I’ve submitted in the past, but I have a good feeling about what everyone else will come up with.

The Viscount

2018-04-30, 05:43 PM

And my second entry is in. It's perhaps the most Iron Chef build I've ever made.

How could you possibly make two dishes with this? I had a hard enough time making my one.

Venger

2018-05-01, 03:11 AM

submitted. what a great experience this was

KrimsonNekros

2018-05-01, 06:31 PM

can't wait to see what the competition has cooked up on this one.

Venger

2018-05-01, 06:34 PM

can't wait to see what the competition has cooked up on this one.

I really hope everyone did pick different numbers for eyes and we get 11 total dishes, that would be funny

Jormengand

2018-05-03, 03:48 PM

Unfortunately, my computer died before I could submit. I'll tell you guys what I had planned after the reveal.

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 08:51 AM

Sorry for the delay, I've been ill this week. Here come some builds! Witty commentary is, sadly, absent.

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 08:52 AM

Build number 1!

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/fragmentsofruin/images/3/37/Rodent.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160519041200

Nehorai, The Seventh Eye
Calimshan Human Wererat
Neutral Evil
Spellthief 1/ Sorcerer 6/ Spellwarp Sniper 3/ Eye of the Xanathar 7

Nehorai struggled against his bonds. The last thing he’d remembered before waking up in this room was sitting in one of the taverns drinking, after a day with his beloved Alya. Things had gotten hazy and his memory had gone black. Now he sat here bound next to a score of other men and women. A group of men walked in, one of them dressed in finery far above that of the common folk. He smiled and dropped a bag of coins into the hand of what appeared to be the leader of the others before walking up to Nehorai.
“I tried to be civilized about this whole matter. A simple matter. Leave the girl who you were far from worthy of. She wasn’t meant for the likes of you, but you just couldn’t see reason. So now here you are, removed from the picture permanently and at no small cost to me.”

He punched Nehorai hard before turning back to the rogues. Nehorai struggled to hold onto consciousness.
“I don’t care what you do with him, but make sure he never returns to Calimport.”
“Of course Lord Azahar-“ It was the last thing he heard before passing out.

A year passed and Nehorai found himself in a pit fight against a wererat. He’d been given a silvered weapon to help, but it wasn’t doing much. His sparse spellcasting had helped him get a few licks in, but the beast was tough. It charged suddenly, and he felt its teeth sink into his arm as he brought it up to guard his throat. Thrown to his back he panicked, and started jamming the knife he held into it as hard and fast as he could. The rat howled, and he continued his relentless assault. Soon the beast lay in a bloody pool and he dropped the knife and made his way to the exit.
Cradling his gnawed arm he was surprised when a woman clipped a length of chain to his steel collar. He hadn’t seen her before and sneered. He was about to say something when she cut him off.
“I am your new owner. You shall either address me as mistress or Lady Avaereene. I can see potential in you, but I will not tolerate insolence. Serve me poorly and you will be punished. Serve me well, and I can see that you attain the power to have your greatest desires.”
His eyebrow perked at that. He had only one thing he wanted, a name, and man attached to it that he wanted dead. That and a woman he longed for if she still waited for him.
“I see I have your attention. Good. Come along then. Skullport and Waterdeep are such wonderful places to call home.” She turned to smile at him wickedly. “However there is the matter of your earlier attitude. I think I’ll let that infection set in. Yes, becoming the beast you just killed will work marvelously.” He narrowed his eyes as he followed. He was going to have to be careful with this one.

Years passed. Nehorai had gotten stronger, and his owner had stopped keeping him in the collar. She knew she didn’t need it to keep him in line. She had taught him, helped him get stronger to claim his vengeance against the one who had wronged him. He shook his head. He had to stop thinking of her that way. Avaereene was powerful, but she didn’t own him anymore. She hadn’t for some time. Not since she’d brought him before the Xanathar. He now served the Xanathar directly as one of its eleven eyes. He’d earned his freedom from the collar, and then when he’d become an eye, his freedom from slavery. Now he pursued his own goals while working to achieve those of his patron. He spent some time under the guidance of one of his senior, but now he worked alone. His network of contacts had grown and he’d been trying to find the man, and his beloved he’d lost all those years ago.
Today he found himself among the merchants brokering some new trade agreement. His job was to keep his ears open and gather what information he could. His ears perked though when an all too familiar name suddenly crossed them.
“Ah Lord and Lady Azahar. A pleasure…” the rest of the conversation was lost to him as he turned. It took all the control he had not to whirl about. But there he saw them. The man had put on considerable weight, but he was unmistakable, as was the beauty beside him. His beloved Alya. A sardonic smile crossed his face when he saw the loathing in her eyes as she looked at the man beside her. There was no love for her husband, and the gears in his mind began to turn as he thought about how to twist this to his own ends and achieve his vengeance while serving his patron.

Abilities:

Strength Dexterity Constitution Intelligence Wisdom Charisma Reason [/tr]
8 14 12 16 10 16 32-point buy
8 14 12 16 12 16 Template
8 15 12 16 12 16 4th
8 16 12 16 12 16 8th
8 17 12 16 12 16 12th
8 18 12 16 12 16 16th

Build:

[th] Level Class BAB Fort Ref Will Skills Feats Features
1 Spellthief +0 +0 +0 +2 Balance (Dex) 4
Concentration (Con) 4
Hide (Dex) 4
Jump (Str) 4
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 2
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 3
Move Silently (Dex) 5
Search (Int) 3
Spellcraft (Int) 4
Spot (Wis) 4
Tumble (Dex) 4 Point Blank Shot, Able Learner, Iron Will, Weapon Finesse Sneak Attack+1d6, Steal Spell (0 or 1st), trapfinding, lycanthropy (wererat, afflicted)
2 Sorcerer +0 +0 +0 +4 Balance (Dex) 4
Concentration (Con) 4
Hide (Dex) 5
Intimidate (Cha) 2
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 2
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 3
Move Silently (Dex) 5
Search (Int) 3
Spellcraft (Int) 4
Spot (Wis) 5
Tumble (Dex) 4 - Summon familiar
3 Sorcerer +1 +0 +0 +5 Balance (Dex) 4
Bluff (Cha) 1
Concentration (Con) 5
Hide (Dex) 6
Intimidate (Cha) 3
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 2
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 3
Move Silently (Dex) 5
Search (Int) 3
Spellcraft (Int) 5
Spot (Wis) 6
Tumble (Dex) 4 Great Fortitude -
4 Sorcerer +1 +1 +1 +5 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 2
Control Shape (Wis) 1
Concentration (Con) 5
Gather Information (Cha) 1
Hide (Dex) 6
Intimidate (Cha) 3
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 2
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 3
Move Silently (Dex) 5
Search (Int) 3
Spellcraft (Int) 6
Spot (Wis) 7
Tumble (Dex) 4 - -
5 Sorcerer +2 +1 +1 +6 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 3
Control Shape (Wis) 2
Concentration (Con) 5
Disable Device (Int) 2
Gather Information (Cha) 1
Hide (Dex) 6
Intimidate (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 2
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 3
Move Silently (Dex) 6
Search (Int) 3
Spellcraft (Int) 7
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 4 - -
6 Eye of the Xanathar +2 +1 +3 +6 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 3
Control Shape (Wis) 3
Concentration (Con) 7
Disable Device (Int) 2
Disguise (Cha) 1
Gather Information (Cha) 1
Hide (Dex) 6
Intimidate (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 1
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 3
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 4
Move Silently (Dex) 6
Open Lock (Dex) 1
Search (Int) 4
Spellcraft (Int) 8
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 4 Master Spellthief Eye of the master (bonus to Spot, low-light vision), portal use, steal spell (2nd)
7 Eye of the Xanathar +3 +1 +4 +6 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 4
Control Shape (Wis) 4
Concentration (Con) 8
Disable Device (Int) 3
Disguise (Cha) 1
Gather Information (Cha) 2
Hide (Dex) 7
Intimidate (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 2
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 4
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 4
Move Silently (Dex) 7
Open Lock (Dex) 2
Search (Int) 5
Spellcraft (Int) 8
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 5 - Eye of the master (detect magic)
8 Sorcerer +3 +2 +5 +6 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 4
Control Shape (Wis) 5
Concentration (Con) 9
Disable Device (Int) 3
Disguise (Cha) 2
Gather Information (Cha) 2
Hide (Dex) 7
Intimidate (Cha) 4
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 3
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 5
Move Silently (Dex) 7
Open Lock (Dex) 2
Search (Int) 5
Spellcraft (Int) 8
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 5 - Steal spell (3rd)
9 Eye of the Xanathar +4 +3 +5 +7 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 4
Control Shape (Wis) 6
Concentration (Con) 10
Disable Device (Int) 4
Disguise (Cha) 3
Gather Information (Cha) 2
Hide (Dex) 8
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 4
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 6
Move Silently (Dex) 7
Open Lock (Dex) 3
Search (Int) 6
Spellcraft (Int) 8
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 7 Weapon Focus (Ray) Release the eye, sneak attack +2d6
10 Eye of the Xanathar +5 +3 +6 +7 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 4
Control Shape (Wis) 7
Concentration (Con) 11
Disable Device (Int) 5
Disguise (Cha) 3
Gather Information (Cha) 3
Hide (Dex) 9
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 7
Move Silently (Dex) 7
Open Lock (Dex) 4
Search (Int) 7
Spellcraft (Int) 9
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 9 - Attach the eye (charm person)
11 Sorcerer +6/+1 +3 +6 +8 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 5
Control Shape (Wis) 8
Concentration (Con) 11
Disable Device (Int) 6
Disguise (Cha) 3
Gather Information (Cha) 4
Hide (Dex) 9
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 7
Move Silently (Dex) 7
Open Lock (Dex) 5
Search (Int) 8
Spellcraft (Int) 9
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 9 - -
12 Spellwarp Sniper +6/+1 +3 +6 +10 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 5
Control Shape (Wis) 9
Concentration (Con) 12
Disable Device (Int) 7
Disguise (Cha) 4
Gather Information (Cha) 4
Hide (Dex) 10
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 7
Move Silently (Dex) 7
Open Lock (Dex) 7
Search (Int) 8
Spellcraft (Int) 9
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 10 Precise Shot Spellwarp, steal spell (4th)
13 Spellwarp Sniper +7/+2 +3 +6 +11 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 6
Control Shape (Wis) 9
Concentration (Con) 12
Disable Device (Int) 8
Disguise (Cha) 4
Gather Information (Cha) 5
Hide (Dex) 11
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 7
Move Silently (Dex) 7
Open Lock (Dex) 8
Search (Int) 8
Spellcraft (Int) 10
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 12 - Sudden Raystrike +1d6
14 Spellwarp Sniper +8/+3 +4 +7 +11 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 6
Control Shape (Wis) 9
Concentration (Con) 13
Disable Device (Int) 9
Disguise (Cha) 5
Gather Information (Cha) 5
Hide (Dex) 11
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 7
Move Silently (Dex) 7
Open Lock (Dex) 9
Search (Int) 8
Spellcraft (Int) 12
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 14 Dead Eye Steal spell (5th)
15 Eye of the Xanathar +8/+3 +4 +7 +11 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 7
Control Shape (Wis) 9
Concentration (Con) 15
Disable Device (Int) 10
Disguise (Cha) 7
Gather Information (Cha) 7
Hide (Dex) 11
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 7
Move Silently (Dex) 8
Open Lock (Dex) 11
Search (Int) 8
Spellcraft (Int) 12
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 15 Ocular Spell Eye of the master (know alignment, darkvision 60 ft.), perfect sneak attack
16 Eye of the Xanathar +9/+4 +5 +8 +12 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 7
Control Shape (Wis) 10
Concentration (Con) 17
Disable Device (Int) 10
Disguise (Cha) 9
Gather Information (Cha) 9
Hide (Dex) 11
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 8
Move Silently (Dex) 10
Open Lock (Dex) 13
Search (Int) 8
Spellcraft (Int) 12
Spot (Wis) 8
Tumble (Dex) 15 - Attach the eye (inflict moderate wounds), sneak attack +3d6
17 Eye of the Xanathar +10/+5 +5 +8 +12 Balance (Dex) 5
Bluff (Cha) 9
Control Shape (Wis) 10
Concentration (Con) 19
Disable Device (Int) 10
Disguise (Cha) 11
Gather Information (Cha) 11
Hide (Dex) 11
Intimidate (Cha) 5
Jump (Str) 5
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Calimport) (Int) 5
Knowledge(Local-Waterdeep) (Int) 9
Move Silently (Dex) 11
Open Lock (Dex) 13
Search (Int) 8
Spellcraft (Int) 12
Spot (Wis) 10
Tumble (Dex) 15 - Send the eye, eye of the master (see invisibility)

Spells/Manuvers Per Day:

Level Cantrips Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 Level 9
1 - - - - - - - - - -
2 5 4 - - - - - - - -
3 6 5 - - - - - - - -
4 6 6 4 - - - - - - -
5 6 7 5 - - - - - - -
6 6 7 5 - - - - - - -
7 6 7 5 - - - - - - -
8 6 7 6 - - - - - - -
9 6 7 6 - - - - - - -
10 6 7 6 - - - - - - -
11 6 7 7 4 - - - - - -
12 6 7 7 5 - - - - - -
13 6 7 7 6 4 - - - - -
14 6 7 7 7 5 - - - - -
15 6 7 7 7 5 - - - - -
16 6 7 7 7 5 - - - - -
17 6 7 7 7 5 - - - - -

Spells/Manuvers Known:

Level List
1 -
2 (0) Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame
3 (0) Amanuensis, Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame
4 (0) Amanuensis, Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self,

5 (0) Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self,
(2) Invisibility

6 (0) Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self,
(2) Invisibility

7 (0) Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self,
(2) Invisibility

8 (0) Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile,
(2) Invisibility, Ray of Ice

9 (0) Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile,
(2) Invisibility, Ray of Ice

10 (0) Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile,
(2) Invisibility, Ray of Ice

11 (0) Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Ray of Frost, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile,
(2) Invisibility, Ray of Ice
(3) Fireball,

12 (0) Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Ray of Frost, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile, Jet of Steam,
(2) Invisibility, Dance of Ruin, Ray of Ice
(3) Fireball, Sepia Snake Sigil

13 (0)Electric Jolt, Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Ray of Frost, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile, Jet of Steam,
(2) Invisibility, Dance of Ruin, Ray of Ice
(3) Fireball, Sepia Snake Sigil
(4) Slashing Dispel
14 (0)Electric Jolt, Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Ray of Frost, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile, Jet of Steam,
(2) Invisibility, Dance of Ruin, Ray of Ice, Scorching Ray,
(3) Fireball, Rainbow Blast, Sepia Snake Sigil
(4) Blast of Flame, Slashing Dispel
15 (0)Electric Jolt, Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Ray of Frost, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile, Jet of Steam,
(2) Invisibility, Dance of Ruin, Ray of Ice, Scorching Ray,
(3) Fireball, Rainbow Blast, Sepia Snake Sigil
(4) Blast of Flame, Slashing Dispel
16 (0)Electric Jolt, Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Ray of Frost, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile, Jet of Steam,
(2) Invisibility, Dance of Ruin, Ray of Ice, Scorching Ray,
(3) Fireball, Rainbow Blast, Sepia Snake Sigil
(4) Blast of Flame, Slashing Dispel
17 (0)Electric Jolt, Amanuensis, Caltrops, Detect Magic, Daze, Ray of Frost, Detect Poison, Read Magic,
(1) Grease, Ray of Flame, Disguise Self, Magic Missile, Jet of Steam,
(2) Invisibility, Dance of Ruin, Ray of Ice, Scorching Ray,
(3) Fireball, Rainbow Blast, Sepia Snake Sigil
(4) Blast of Flame, Slashing Dispel

Write-up:
Setup: Levels 1-5 Spellthief is our first choice for classes. The reason for this being that with the exception of Intimidate, it provides all the class features and skills we need for both our prestige classes. It also allows us to utilize the Master Spellthief feat later to prevent arcane spell failure, and help disable enemy spellcasters by robbing them of spell slots. We’re only taking a one level dip to get the skills, and the ability for the feat later. Sorcerer is going to provide the bread and butter for this class as a much better caster, though it will cost us some skill points, and will allow us to qualify for Spellwarp Sniper sooner. Able Learner helps with the skill points by eliminating the increased cost of cross class skills. We’re also taking the Afflicted Lycanthropy template. This costs us 3 levels in the form of a RHD and a +2 LA, but in exchange we’re getting two feats, Iron Will which is one of our prerequisites for the SI, and Weapon Finesse which allows us to actually hit things with our melee weapons early on when we run out of spells. It also grants us DR5/silver and a natural armor bonus of +2 both of which help with our survival. All over not too bad of a trade.

Progression: Lvl 6-14 At level six we grab Master Spellthief which is where our first level really pays off. This allows us to stack all our spellcasting classes to determine caster level and what level spells we can steal. We can’t hold anything more than one first level spell or two cantrips, but we can still steal spells and keep our enemies from using them up to 5th level. Next on the list is Weapon Focus (Ray), which is a perquisite for Dead Eye which we take at level 14 as a bonus feat. Dead Eye is really nice since it allows us to add our Dex modifier to any ranged weapon attacks we have Weapon Focus for. Complete Arcana allows us to apply feats like this to our spells. Our last Class is Spellwarp Sniper. This class is a fun addition that lets us convert other spells into rays which is good since we can then apply precision damage to them taking better advantage of our sneak attack dice.

Final Build: Lvl 17
At level 17 we have everything we need. Our final feat is Ocular Spell which is nice garnish that allows us to cast a couple spells like our beholder master. We only take 7 levels in the SI. This is because at this point we have all of the unique abilities that we can’t replicate either through our own spellcasting or with the use of a wand or other magic device. We have a few Utility spells like invisibility and disguise self to help us do our usual skulking about, but when things turn nasty our primary focus is our ray attacks. Thanks to our Eye and Spellwarp we have a healthy selection of spells to hurl about on the fly and apply our sneak attacks to if we have position, or with master sneak attack, time to do so.

For equipment with this build, we’d likely have a selection of wands, likely of higher level spells that we aren’t able to cast ourselves, and probably a few knowstones to augment our spell selections. Metamagic rods could also prove useful as we can use them augment our spells on the fly without having to increase the level of slot needed to cast them. Our best option for armor is either a chain shirt or the studded leather provided to us when we become and eye. Both allow us to fully utilize our high dexterity, and with a minimum of a +2 enhancement provide an armor bonus equal to or greater than Mage Armor.

No Lycanthropy and other considerations
Obviously Lycanthropy isn’t a good trade off in everyone’s book. Those extra three levels can be put to good use in a few different ways. The first is to utilize them to finish out Spellwarp Sniper to increase the level of spells we can transform, and get the Ray mastery ability which increases our sneak attack range and gives us a free Empower Spell every day. By also taking another level of sorcerer we get access to 6th level spells giving us more magic to work with.

This build was also designed as a general skulker and rogue and as such is a bit of a jack of all trades in regards to skills. In a more socially oriented campaign we might focus more on social skills such as diplomacy and sense motive. This could also allow us to forgo Able Learner since we’d have a better idea of what skills we’d want to make good use of and wouldn’t need to rely on the skill cost reduction allowing us to take a different feat that would work better with the campaign.

Sources:
Spellthief- Complete Adventurer p. 13
Spellwarp Sniper- Complete Scoundrel p. 64
Able Learner- Races of Destiny p. 150
Master Spellthief- Complete Adventurer p. 79
Ocular Spell- Lords of Madness p. 181

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 08:53 AM

Build number 2

Da’Shiv, Xanathar's Blade, Third Eye

Stub

NE Dragonwrought Desert Kobold Rogue 2/SA Fighter 1/Spellthief 1/Ninja 1/Assassin 1/Eye of Xanathar 5/Swordsage 1/Shadowdancer 1/Nightsong Enforcer 1/Guild Thief 1/Invisible Blade 3/Dread Commando 1/Eye of X +1 (6)
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/32/c8/33/32c83311ad40e0d336100b4143861289.jpg

Build Table

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

1st
Kobold Rogue
+0
+0
+2
+0
Bluff 4, Disguise 4, Gather Info 4, Hide 4, Knowledge Local (waterdeep) 3, Move Silently 3, Perform (dance) 2, Spot 2, Tumble 3, UMD 3
Dragonwrought
+1d6 Sneak Attack (SA), Mimic ACF, Rapid Retreat

2nd
Rogue 2
+1
+0
+3
+0
Disguise 5, Gather 5, Hide 5, Intimidate 1, Move 4, Perform 3, Tumble 4, UMD 4
-
Evasion

3rd
Sneak Attack Fighter1
+2
+3
+3
+0
Intimidate 3
Iron Will
+1d6 SA

4th
Spellthief 1
+2
+3
+3
+2
Bluff 5, Hide 7, Move 6, Tumble 5, UMD 5
Weapon Finesse (B)
Steal Spell, +1d6 SA, Trapfinding

5th
Ninja 1
+2
+3
+5
+2
Intimidate 4(cc), Hide 8, Move 8, Spot 4
-
Ki Power, Sudden Strike +1d6, trapfinding

6th
Assassin 1
+2
+3
+7
+2
Hide 9, Spot 8
Great Fortitude
+1d6 SA, Spells, Poison Use

7th
Eye of Xanathar 1
+2
+3
+9
+2
Disguise 6, Hide 10, Move 10, Perform 4 (cc), Spot 10, UMD 6
-
Eye of the Master (spot/lowlight), Portal Use

8th
Eye of X2
+3
+3
+10
+2
Bluff 6, Hide 11, Move 11, Perform 5 (cc), Sense 2, Spot 12, UMD 9
Combat Reflexes (B)
Eye of the Master (detect magic)

9th
Eye of X3
+4
+4
+10
+3
Bluff 8, Hide 12, Move 12, Sense 4, Spot 12, UMD 9
Improved Initiative
Release the Eye, +1d6 SA

10th
Eye of X4
+5
+4
+11
+3
Bluff 9, Hide 13, Initm 5, Move 13, Sense 6, Spot 13, UMD 11
-
Attach the Eye (charm person)

11th
Eye of X5
+5
+4
+11
+3
Bluff 10, Hide 14, Intim 8, Move 14, Sense 7, Spot 14, UMD 13
-
Eyes of the Master (alignment/Darkvision), Perfect Sneak Attack

12th
Swordsage 1
+5
+4
+13
+5
Hide 15, Move 15, Tumble 10
Dodge, Mobility (B), Weapon Focus-Dagger (B)
Quick to act +1, Manuevers, Stance, Discipline Focus (Shadowhand)

13th
Shadowdancer 1
+5
+4
+15
+5
Disguise 10, Hide 17, Move 17, Spot 16, Tumble 11
-
Hide in Plain Sight

14th
Nightsong Enforcer 1
+6
+4
+17
+5
Disguise 10, Hide 17, Move 17, Spot 16
-
+1d6 SA, Teamwork

15th
Guild Thief 1
+6
+4
+19
+5
Intim 13, Move 18, Spot 17
Point Blank Shot
+1d6 SA, Doublespeak

16th
Invisible Blade 1
+7
+4
+21
+5
Hide 19, Move 19, Spot 18, Tumble 12
Far Shot (B)
+1d6 SA, Unfettered Defense

17th
Invisible Blade 2
+8
+4
+22
+5
Hide 20, Move 20, Spot 20, Tumble 13
-
Bleeding Wound

18th
Invisible Blade 3
+9
+5
+22
+6
Hide 21, Move 21, Spot 21, Tumble 15
Craven
+1d6 SA, Uncanny Feint (move)

19th
Dread Commando 1
+10
+5
+24
+6
Disguise 13, Hide 22, Move 22, Spot 22
-
+1d6 SS, Team Initiative Bonus

20th
Eye of X6
+11
+6
+25
+7
Bluff 11, Disguise 15, Hide 23, Initim 10, Move 23, Spot 23, Tumble 16
Improved Crit (B)
Attach the Eye (inflict moderate) +1d6 SA

Background

For as long as I can remember, and I can remember everything, there has always been The Xanathar. His reach is vast and powerful, and I am but an instrument of his will. Sure I have my own mind, but for now our designs are the same. Besides, my work isn't really work, I do enjoy it so. What is it that I do you ask? Well, that has changed over the years, a Guildmember must first and foremost be flexible. I've always been set on this path from the first day I hatched from the egg.

As you've just found out, I'm very good at sticking things into people who have angered the Guild. A man I once knew told me to 'stick them with the pointy end', I've always found that to be good advice. Sorry, I digress, back to what I was saying. We don't ask nicely, you either do as you're told or face the Eye's Wrath (psst, that's me!). Some of my compatriots have more roundabout ways of dealing with things, they'll bankrupt you, destroy your reputation or livelihood or something else. I prefer a more final resolution to any issues.

My fellow compatriots and I are very busy these days, the family business is growing after all. I've enjoyed this short chat with you, but I do have other pressing matters to attend to, so if you'll excuse me, I must be going.

(( waiting...))

You know, you're being very rude. If I hadn't already killed you, I'd do it again! ((kicks the dead body)) When someone asks you a question, you answer them! ((kicks the body again three more times)) Now, I'd appreciate it if you didn't bleed all over my feet as I walk past you.

RUDE!

Character Info

14d6 SA + manuevers

ssage: 6 manuevers, 4 readied, 1 stance (up to lvl 3 for each)

Desert Wind 52, Diamond Mind 62, Setting Sun 70, Shadow Hand 75, Stone Dragon 81, Tiger Claw86
M: Wind Stride 57: +10 speed til end of turn. Mighty Throw 73: melee touch attack, as trip w/o provoking AoO at +4, success = throw or knock prone. Cloak of Deception 76: turn invisible until the end of your turn. Shadow Jaunt 79: teleport up to 50 ft away in a cloud of shadows. Rabid Wolf Strike 88: on 1 attack, gain +4 to hit, take -4 to AC until start of next turn, deal an extra 2d6 damage. Distracting Ember 52: create a small fire elemental to act as flanking aid until end of turn.
S: Assassin’s Stance 75: gain +2d6 SA

Assassin Spells: 1/day, know 2 (Disguise Self, True Strike)

ACF’s
-Kobold Rogue substitution level 1 d4 HD- ROTD 109: Gain Rapid retreat (bonus 5ft movement speed)
-Mimic ACF- EoE 21: replaces Trapfinding

+2 DEX -4 STR -2 CON
Small (+1 AC, +1 attack/dmg, -4 grapple, +4 Hide) Humanoid (Dragonblood, reptilian)
Speed 30, +1 NA, Darkvision 60ft, Craft (Trapmaking) as class skill, +2 trapmaking, Search, Survival. Speak Draconic. No light sensitivity.
Age 120 ( -0 STR/DEX/CON +3 INT/WIS/CHA)
HP: 1d4+14d6+1d10+4d8+40

32 pt buy
STR 10
DEX 18
CON 14
INT 8
WIS 12
CHA 12

Venerableness applied
STR 6
DEX 20
CON 14
INT 11
WIS 13
CHA 15

4 to INT, 8-20 to DEX

Expanded Char Info:

Obviously, this build is built entirely around exploiting the Perfect Sneak Attack ability of the Secret Ingredient. My sincere apologies to the judges for the number of sources. BAB suffers, as stated below, but 1 solid hit can be much more deadly than multiple weaker ones. Even w/ 4 "dead" levels in the SI included in the build, we're getting HiPs, 14d6 SA every round, poison, and additional damage and abilities from Maneuvers, as well as a plethora of class abilities that all work together. This character is designed for an urban campaign, but could see use in the wild just as easily, you just need to find some other dumb sucker to play with the traps. Still getting 3/day uses of the eye rays which are either for getting some dumb mook to hold still, or finishing them off as they try to limp away. Only getting 1 use per day of the vision modes of the Eye of the Master, but we don't really care about them, everyone in our way is getting shanked regardless. I could've gotten a few more d6 in sneak, but things like Lurk, Psychic Rogue, Swashbuckler and Scarlett Corsair don't make a lot of sense when added to all the rest of this. All of these classes just *Work* together when combined into the fluff of the SI itself.

Trapfinding was dumped in the beginning, and we're getting it back twice after that. Unfortunately there aren't any ACF's for Ninja or Spellthief that don't come from Dragon Mag, so we're stuck with it.

Ki power will never be used, so it's a static +2 to Will Saves, basically doubling Iron Will.

Wind Stride and Rapid Retreat give us 50% more speed when we need it most. Rabid Wolf Strike will almost always be used with SA to give our attack even more damage.

It's sad to say, but in a build w/ 13 feats, i really could've used a few more. A planar touchstone Ochrychulurs (however it's spelled!), Darkstalker (not a requirement as we're an assassin. I'm going to walk next to you on the street and slide my friend into your ribcage and then disappear. I'm not trying to sneak up on you. Multiple ways and uses of disguise help this out.

Draconic Rite of Passage – RotD 43, (pick any 1st lvl sorc spell, can use 1/day as SLA, CL = char lvl)
-Disguise Self SRD - 10 min/lvl: grants +10 to disguise check
(Rite of Passage, Mimic, and the Assassin spell ability gives 3 uses per day of disguise self)

Sovereign Archtype, Wrym of War (Dragons of Eberron 32): proficient w/ all simple/martial weapons, all armor and shields. Gain a bonus feat for each 4HD from fighter bonus list or feat tied to Draconic abilities that you qualify for.

Blind Fight, Combat Expertise/Imp Disarm/Imp Feint/Imp Trip/Whirlwind attack, Combat Reflexes, Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack, Exotic weapon proficiency, Imp Crit, Imp unarmed/Imp Grapple/Deflect Arrows/Snatch Arrows/Stunning Fist, Power Attack/Cleave/Imp Bullrush/Imp Overrun/Imp Sunder, Quick Draw, 2 weap fighting/2 weap defense/imp 2 weap fighting/greater 2 weap fighting, weap finesse, weap focus/weap spec/greater weap focus/greater weap spec

Dragonwrought* - RotD 100: Lose Humanoid, Gain Dragon type, immune to magic sleep/paralysis, low light vision, +2 Hide (Black dragon)

BAB is pretty low for almost the entire build, not really picking up until the end, but Weapon Finesse does provide some relief, adding +5 to the attack roll from 4 until 12, when it’s +6, and +7 at 20, before adding any bonus's from equipment.

Level Breakdown

5 4d6 sneak attack, +8 to hit, Mimic to get close, Evasion if the target tries to fight back. Have steal spell, but an extra d6 of damage could be the difference between death and life. Big boosts to saves at this level from pre-req's. Skill/feat taxes are paid for or well on their way to being so.
10 True Strike and another use of Disguise Self available thanks to assassin. Buried now 4 levels deep into the SI. Depending on our target, the Eye's abilities might be useful, but if anyone gets in our way, we default to sticking them with the pointy end. Dip into our DEX twice, first with improved initiative, second w/ combat reflexes. While primarily a single target fighter, now we can deal w/ pesky hanger's on, or entourages or other schmucks who try to run and get in our way.
15 Here it is, the best ability of the SI, perfect sneak! I almost don't feel mad about having waste 5 levels to get to it, despite only progressing SA 1 die.. After that, stack on a dip in Swordsage for Assassin's stance and a few manuevers. Almost always attack with Rabid Wolf Strike, boosting our damage by 2d6. Pick up Hide in Plain Sight as well. Nightsong and Guild Thief not only progress SA and BAB, but also fit into the theme of a guild assassin quite nicely. 13 is the Sweet Spot.
20 Finish off with Invisible Blade, which seems tailor made for this build. Yes I'm short and small, but I pack a punch. Big and heavily armored also means slow and ponderous. Speed, agility, and precision are far stronger attributes. The last level goes back into the SI, picking up BAB, SA, and Inflict Moderate, which I'd use to snipe someone trying to limp away. Grabbed Craven and Improved Crit to also boost that late game damge some more. 14d6 SA +2d6 (wolf strike) +20 minimum, followed the next round (and on, and on, and on) if neccessary by another 14d6+20 minimum is some serious damage even at this level.
Sources

Comp Adv 11, 13, 62
Comp War 44
DoE 32
EoE 21
FRCS 46
HoB 105
PHB 50, 90-91
RotD 39, 43, 100, 109
ToB 15 (plus maneuvers/stances)
UA 13, 58
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/assassin.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/shadowdancer.htm

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 08:54 AM

Build number 3!

Ttal Piht, the Eye of Madness
NE Thayan Human Rogue 3/Cloistered Cleric 1/Swordsage 2/Eye of the Xanathar 10/Thayan Slaver 4
http://www.realcurriculum.com/scopecurriculum/_show_me_the_money/_images/money-6b.PICT.jpg

Opening“Och, makin’ yer fortune in tha City o’ Splendors ain’t workin’ out quite like ye hoped, is it?”

The stout figure of the dwarf who had posed the question stood at the mouth of a deep dank hole from the bottom of which a young Thayan man looked up contemptuously, saying nothing.

The dwarf continued undeterred. “Can’t say ye’ve made tha best choice of who to steal from, but I can’t fault your taste in what to steal. Ye clearly have an eye for value.”

The Thayan made no indication of emotion toward the compliment but did deign to reply. “Seeing as you’re here talking to me, I’d say that’s a quality you share.”

The dwarf smiled. “Aye, I’ve an eye for eyes,” he replied, chuckling at the bemused look that crossed the prisoner’s face as he parsed the sentence. “I’ll have to toughen you up a bit, but if ye’ve the gumption, yer future could look a lot brighter with tha Xanathar.”

“I’ll look into it.”

View
Ability Scores
14 Str, 13 Dex, 12 Con, 14 Int, 14 Wis, 13 Cha
Increase Cha at 4th level and Wis at all stat increases thereafter.

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

1st
Rogue 1
+0
+0
+2
+0
Appraise 4, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 4, Hide 4, Move Silently 4, Intimidate 4, Sense Motive 4, Spot 4, Tumble 4, Use Rope 4, Sleight of Hand 4, Balance 4
Darkstalker, Dodge
Sneak Attack 1d6, Antiquarian

2nd
Rogue 2
+1
+0
+3
+0
Appraise 5, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Intimidate 5, Sense Motive 5, Spot 5, Tumble 5, Use Rope 5, Sleight of Hand 5, Balance 5
-
Evasion

3rd
Rogue 3
+2
+1
+3
+1
Appraise 6, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 6, Hide 6, Move Silently 6, Intimidate 6, Sense Motive 6, Spot 6, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 1
Combat Expertise, Iron WillOH
Sneak Attack 2d6, Death’s Ruin

4th
Cloistered Cleric 1
+2
+3
+3
+3
Appraise 6, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 6, Hide 6, Move Silently 6, Intimidate 6, Sense Motive 6, Spot 7cc, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 1, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 1, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
Great FortitudeD, Knowledge Devotion (Religion)D
Spontaneous Domain, Blasphemous Invocation, Dwarf Domain, Pride Domain, Knowledge Domain

5th
Swordsage 1
+2
+3
+5
+5
Appraise 6, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 6, Hide 8, Move Silently 8, Intimidate 7, Sense Motive 8, Spot 8cc, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 1, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 1, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
Weapon Focus (Setting Sun)DF
Quick To Act +1

6th
Eye of the Xanathar 1
+2
+3
+7
+5
Appraise 7cc, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 7, Hide 9, Move Silently 9, Intimidate 9, Sense Motive 9, Spot 9, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 1, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 3, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
Deceptive Dodge
Eye of the Master (Bonus to Spot, Low-light Vision), Portal Use

7th
Eye of the Xanathar 2
+3
+3
+8
+5
Appraise 8cc, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 8, Hide 10, Move Silently 10, Intimidate 10, Sense Motive 10, Spot 10, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 1, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 5, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
-
Eye of the Master (Detect Magic)

8th
Eye of the Xanathar 3
+4
+4
+8
+6
Appraise 9cc, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 11, Hide 11, Move Silently 11, Intimidate 11, Sense Motive 11, Spot 11, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 1, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 5, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
-
Release the Eye, Sneak Attack 3d6

9th
Eye of the Xanathar 4
+5
+4
+9
+6
Appraise 10cc, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 12, Hide 12, Move Silently 12, Intimidate 12, Sense Motive 12, Spot 12, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 1, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 8, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
Martial Stance (Assassin’s Stance)
Attach the Eye (Charm Person)

10th
Eye of the Xanathar 5
+5
+4
+9
+6
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 13, Hide 13, Move Silently 13, Intimidate 13, Sense Motive 13, Spot 13, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 1, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 13, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
-
Eye of the Master (Know Alignment, Darkvision 60ft), Perfect Sneak Attack

11th
Eye of the Xanathar 6
+6
+5
+10
+7
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 14, Hide 14, Move Silently 14, Intimidate 14, Sense Motive 14, Spot 14, Tumble 6, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 14, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
-
Attach the Eye (Inflict Moderate Wounds), Sneak Attack 4d6 (6d6 in Assassin’s Stance)

12th
Eye of the Xanathar 7
+7
+5
+10
+7
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 15, Hide 15, Move Silently 15, Intimidate 15, Sense Motive 15, Spot 15, Tumble 10, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 6, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 15, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
Head Shot
Send The Eye, Eye of the Master (See Invisibility)

13th
Eye of the Xanathar 8
+8
+5
+11
+7
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 16, Hide 16, Move Silently 16, Intimidate 16, Sense Motive 16, Spot 16, Tumble 10, Use Rope 6, Sleight of Hand 10, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 16, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories
-
Attach the Eye (Poison)

14th
Eye of the Xanathar 9
+8
+6
+11
+8
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 17, Hide 17, Move Silently 17, Intimidate 17, Sense Motive 17, Spot 17, Tumble 10, Use Rope 8, Sleight of Hand 10, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 17, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
-
Sneak Attack 5d6 (7d6 in Assassin’s Stance)

15th
Thayan Slaver 1
+8
+6
+13
+8
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 17, Hide 18, Move Silently 18, Intimidate 18, Sense Motive 18, Spot 18, Tumble 10, Use Rope 9, Sleight of Hand 10, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 18, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
Contagious Paralysis
Ruthless Beating, Enervating Attack

16th
Eye of the Xanathar 10
+9
+6
+14
+8
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 19, Hide 19, Move Silently 19, Intimidate 19, Sense Motive 19, Spot 19, Tumble 10, Use Rope 9, Sleight of Hand 13, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 19, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
-
Attach the Eye (Paralysis), Eye of the Master (True Seeing)

17th
Thayan Slaver 2
+10
+6
+15
+9
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 19, Hide 20, Move Silently 20, Intimidate 20, Sense Motive 20, Spot 20, Tumble 10, Use Rope 10, Sleight of Hand 13, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 20, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
-
Break Will

18th
Thayan Slaver 3
+11
+7
+15
+10
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 19, Hide 21, Move Silently 21, Intimidate 21, Sense Motive 21, Spot 21, Tumble 10, Use Rope 11, Sleight of Hand 13, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 21, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
Quicken Spell-Like Ability (Hold Monster)
-

19th
Thayan Slaver 4
+12
+7
+16
+10
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 19, Hide 22, Move Silently 22, Intimidate 22, Sense Motive 22, Spot 22, Tumble 10, Use Rope 12, Sleight of Hand 13, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 22, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
-
Sneak Attack 6d6 (8d6 in Assassin’s Stance)

20th
Swordsage 2
+13
+7
+17
+11
Appraise 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 22, Hide 23, Move Silently 23, Intimidate 23, Sense Motive 23, Spot 23cc, Tumble 10, Use Rope 12, Sleight of Hand 13, Balance 5, Bluff 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 22, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Collector of Stories, Spot the Weak Point
-
AC Bonus

D indicates a bonus feat from a domain or a feat from trading in a domain.
OH indicates a feat from the Otyugh Hole.

Maneuvers

Level
Maneuvers Readied
Maneuvers Known
Stances

5
4
Shadow Jaunt, Cloak of Deception, Counter Charge, Baffling Defense, Mountain Hammer, Distracting Ember
Child of Shadow

9
4
Shadow Jaunt, Cloak of Deception, Counter Charge, Baffling Defense, Mountain Hammer, Distracting Ember
Child of Shadow, Assassin’s Stance

20
3
Shadow Jaunt, Cloak of Deception, Counter Charge, Baffling Defense, Mountain Hammer, Distracting Ember, Scorpion Parry
Child of Shadow, Assassin’s Stance, Step of the Dancing Moth

Cleric Spells/Day

Level
0lvl
1st

4th
3
1+1*
*Domain Slot.

Does not count bonus spells for a high Wis score.
Thayan Slaver Spells/Day

Level
1st
2nd

15th
0
-

17th
1
-

18th
1
0

19th
1
1
Does not count bonus spells from a high Int score.

GlimpsesLevel 5Ttal starts his career as a pretty ordinary ne’er do well, having left his homeland of Thay to make a life for himself in Waterdeep. Antiquarian is generally not a favored option among the things that one can trade Trapfinding for, but it’s thematically fitting and gives a little extra use for Wis. He also trades out Trapsense for Death’s Ruin (Penetrating Strike likely not being an option due to alignment) to be a bit less ineffectual against undead. He runs afoul of the Xanathar guild, but rather than snuffing him, a dwarven guild Cleric takes a liking to him, and grooms him as a new Eye of the Xanathar. Ttal is thrown in the good old Otyugh Hole for a week, then trained in rudimentary Clerical magic. The training is centered around a guild-approved ideal, centered in pride (which is both Beholder-esque, and in keeping with Ttal’s character), and steeped in his tutor’s dwarven traditions. Practically speaking, this means that (in addition to the Cloistered Cleric standard of Knowledge Devotion), he gets the Pride and Dwarf Domains. Between the bonus feat granted by the latter and Iron Will from his aforementioned stint in the hole, he’s covered the feat taxes to enter the SI. A Swordsage dip finishes off the early levels with some useful maneuvers, and helps set Ttal up to qualify for things later on.

Level 10Into the SI. Ttal gets some vision/detection abilities, an extra few dice of Sneak Attack between the SI and Assassin’s Stance, and a Charm Person eye ray which can be used in conjunction with Hypnotism from the Pride domain to implant instructions into unfortunate low-level targets which they will then heed as if fanatical, giving new literal and figurative meaning to the phrase “eye in the back of your head.” Charm Person won’t be a go-to option in combat however, so for the moment being Ttal will spend most of his time with his Eye of the Master released, allowing him to freely use the Eye of the Master abilities, and make use of Perfect Sneak Attack when needed. He also picks up Deceptive Dodge during these levels, which will be more important later, but can already be hilarious, especially with Baffling Defense there to help make the enemy miss.

Level 16Obnoxiously, the otherwise delightful Contagious Paralysis feat requires Paralysis as an (Ex) or (Su) ability, which prevents qualifying with Attach the Eye. Fortunately the writing of the ‘Paralysis’ entry in Libris Mortis strongly implies that any paralyzing special attack will serve for qualification, so by dipping out temporarily from the SI, we can still qualify at 15th level by way of Thayan Slaver’s Enervating Attack, and once we have the feat, it works with any paralyzing special attack, so as of ECL 16, when we finish Eye of the Xanathar and pick up our Hold Monster eye ray, those struck by it can spread the paralysis to others who touch them. Deceptive Dodge can help facilitate this by redirecting attacks that miss Ttal. Helping to sow further chaos is the Head Shot feat (which Ttal qualifies for at level 12 between the SI’s Sneak Attack Progression and Assassin’s Stance), which allows Ttal to confuse enemies struck with a Sneak Attack, likely forcing them to either waste an action or swing at him and risk being redirected to a Paralyzed ally by Deceptive Dodge. Perfect Sneak Attack gains a bit more utility in these levels as well, at least when the Eye of the Master is released, as it opens up Head Shots and Enervating Attacks, which, when they work, remove much of the need for the rest of a full attack.
Level 20As SLAs default to the Wizard version of the spell, Hold Monster has an effective level of 5th, and absent any information on its CL, it defaults to character level, and so Ttal can get it Quickened with his 18th level feat. This allows him to Paralyze one target, run up and Head Shot another to attempt to draw the latter into an attack which can be redirected into the first, with the possible end result of both creatures being paralyzed. In addition to Deceptive Dodge, a dip back into Swordsage at 20th level picks up Scorpion Parry as another way of rerouting enemy attacks.

Prior to that, he goes a little further into Thayan Slaver. In addition to a small amount of prepared casting off a decent list, an increased Enervating attack DC, and another dice of Sneak Attack (so he won’t disqualify himself from Head Shot when not in Assassin’s Stance), and Break Will, which he uses on his paralyzed victims after the end of combat to make them easier to control. Contagious Paralysis can be manipulated to keep a ready supply of paralyzed slaves on hand without burning through uses of Hold Monster.

Equipment and AdaptationIf you don’t want to use Thayan Slaver for any number of understandable reasons, Assassin will also work. If going that route, I’d recommend taking 3 levels from 10th-12th, allowing for Contagious Paralysis at 12th level, and for Head Shot at 15th without requiring Assassin’s Stance. This then frees up the 9th level feat for Craven. I ultimately decided that Break Will was useful enough in managing slaves/Contagious Paralysis vectors to justify using Thayan Slaver, and thought it a good thematic fit with the Xanathar guild’s involvement in slave trading.

If flaws are allowed, this build desperately wants more feats. Craven is at the top of the list, naturally. Second would probably be Weapon Finesse, with point buy adjusted to dump Str and alleviate some of the build’s MAD, but having more feats allows for much greater freedom around the core idea if you’re so inclined (for instance if you wanted to get rid of the Cleric level for whatever reason).

Ttal needs to use a Setting Sun bludgeoning weapon to make use of Head Shot. If you do get Weapon Finesse via a flaw, then you can use a Light Mace, but otherwise, a Quarterstaff is the way to go. Ttal can use it two-handed, the second head can be given passive enhancements if so desired, and you can get an extra wand chamber (or two if it also happens to be an Elvencraft Bow).

Per the web article, Eyes of the Xanathar who serve for at least a year get a fancy suit of masterwork studded leather that can be enhanced at a discount by guild wizards. In addition to the usual stealth enhancements, this offers a good way to sink WBL into miss chance (say from Greater Blurring) and other ways of making enemies miss to facilitate Ttal’s schtick.

Since Eye of the Xanathar activities tend to happen indoors where you might be able to get away with less flight, a Talisman of the Disc could be a cheap way of keeping a paralyzed slave next to Ttal to redirect attacks into.

ClosingChampions of Ruin: Craven
Champions of Ruin Web Enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061107b): Eye of the Xanathar
Complete Champion: Antiquarian, Death’s Ruin, Knowledge Devotion
Complete Scoundrel: Collector of Stories, Head Shot, Otyugh Hole, Spot the Weak Point
Dragon Compendium: Deceptive Dodge
Exemplars of Evil: Blasphemous Incantation
Libris Mortis: Contagious Paralysis
Lords of Madness: Darkstalker
Magic Item Compendium: Greater Blurring Enhancement, Talisman of the Disc
Player’s Handbook II: Spontaneous Domain
Unapproachable East: Thayan Slaver
Tome of Battle: Swordsage, Maneuvers, Martial Stance
Everything else should be in the SRD.

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 08:55 AM

Build number 4!

Lurinella d'Jorasco

https://www.syncrpg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Female-halfling-monk-F-c.jpg
Image "Female halfling monk" by Matt Morrow. Used without permission.
https://www.syncrpg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Female-halfling-monk-F-c.jpg

Race: Strongheart Halfling
Build Stub: Monk 2/Rogue 3/Scout 4/Eye of the Xanathar 10/Nosomatic Chirurgeon 1
Multiclass Penalty: Yes, ECL 13 to 20
Languages: Halfling, Common
Alignment: LE
Ability Scores:

Ability
Score
Racial
(Points)

Strength
10
-2
(4)

Dexterity
18
+2
(10)

Constitution
12
-
(4)

Intelligence
10
-
(2)

Wisdom
15
-
(8)

Charisma
12
-
(4)

Ability Score Increases: Wisdom 16 (4th), Wisdom 17 (8th), Wisdom 18 (12th), Wisdom 19 (16th), Wisdom 20 (20th)

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

1st
Halfling Monk 1
+0
+2
+2
+2
Hide 4, Intimidate 2(4cc), Know:LocalWaterdeep 2(4cc), MoveSilently 4, Spot 4, Tumble 4
Great Fortitude, Unbalancing Strike (Strongheart Halfling), Improved Unarmed Strike (Monk), Stunning Fist (Monk)
Skirmish +1d6 (Halfling Monk ACF), Monk AC Bonus, Unarmed Strike

2nd
Halfling Monk 2
+1
+3
+3
+3
Hide 5(+1), Intimidate 2, Know:LocalWaterdeep 2, MoveSilently 5(+1), Spot 5(+1), Tumble 5(+1)
Weapon Finesse (Halfling Monk ACF)
Invisible Fist (EoE ACF)

3rd
Rogue 1
+1
+3
+5
+3
Heal 1(2cc), Hide 6(+1), Intimidate 4 (+2), Know:LocalWaterdeep 3(+1), MoveSilently 6(+1), Spot 6(+1), Tumble 5
Iron Will
Sneak Attack +1d6, Mimic (EoE ACF)

4th
Scout 1
+1
+3
+7
+3
Heal 1.5(+1cc), Hide 7(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 7(+1), Spot 7(+1), Tumble 5

Skirmish +2d6, Trapfinding

5th
Scout 2
+2
+3
+8
+3
Heal 2(+1cc), Hide 8(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 8(+1), Spot 8(+1), Tumble 8(+3)

Battle Fortitude +1, Uncanny Dodge

6th
Scout 3
+3
+4
+8
+4
Heal 4(+4cc), Hide 9(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 9(+1), Spot 9(+1), Tumble 9(+1)
Swift Ambusher
Fast Movement +10 ft., Skirmish +2d6/+1 AC, Trackless Step

7th
Rogue 2
+4
+4
+9
+4
Disguise 2, Heal 5(+2cc), Hide 10(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 10(+1), Spot 10(+1), Tumble 10(+1)

Evasion, Skirmish +3d6/+1 AC

8th
Eye of the Xanathar 1
+4
+4
+11
+4
Disguise 5(+3), Heal 5.5(+1cc), Hide 11(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 11(+1), Spot 11(+1), Tumble 11(+1)

Eye of the Master (bonus to Spot, low-light vision), Portal Use

9th
Eye of the Xanathar 2
+5
+4
+12
+4
Disguise 8(+3), Heal 6(+1cc), Hide 12(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 12(+1), Spot 12(+1), Tumble 12(+1)
Falling Star Strike
Eye of the Master (detect magic)

10th
Eye of the Xanathar 3
+6
+5
+13
+5
Disguise 8, GatherInfo 4, Heal 6.5(+1cc), Hide 13(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 13(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 13(+1)

Release the Eye, Sneak Attack +2d6

11th
Eye of the Xanathar 4
+7
+5
+13
+5
Disguise 8, GatherInfo 6(+2), Heal 7(+1cc), Hide 14(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 14(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 14(+1), Skill Trick: Spot the Weak Point(+2)

Attach the Eye (charm person)

12th
Eye of the Xanathar 5
+7
+5
+13
+5
Balance 2, Disguise 8, GatherInfo 8(+2), Heal 7.5(+1cc), Hide 15(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 15(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 15(+1), Spot the Weak Point
Snap Kick
Eye of the master (know alignment, darkvision 60 ft), Perfect Sneak Attack

13th
Scout 4
+8
+5
+14
+5
Balance 6(+4), Disguise 8, GatherInfo 8, Heal 8(+1cc), Hide 16(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 16(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 16(+1), Spot the Weak Point
Improved Skirmish (Scout)
Bonus Feat

14th
Rogue 3
+9
+6
+14
+6
Balance 8(+2), Disguise 9(+1), GatherInfo 8, Heal 8, Hide 17(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 17(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 17(+1), Skill Trick: Nimble Stand(+2), Spot the Weak Point

Sneak Attack +3d6, Penetrating Strike (Dungeonscape ACF), Skirmish (+3d6/+2AC)

15th
Eye of the Xanathar 6
+10
+7
+15
+7
Balance 10(+2), Disguise 10(+1), GatherInfo 8, Heal 8, Hide 18(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 18(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 18(+1), Skill Trick: Back on Your Feet(+2), Nimble Stand, Spot the Weak Point
Least Dragonmark (Mark of Healing: lesser restoration)
Attach the Eye (inflict moderate wounds), Sneak Attack +4d6

16th
Nosomatic Chirurgeon 1
+10
+9
+15
+9
Balance 10, Disguise 10, GatherInfo 8, Heal 8, Hide 18, Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 18, Spot 12, Tumble 18, Skill Trick: Acrobatic Backstab(+2), Back on Your Feet, Nimble Stand, Spot the Weak Point
Heir's Mark, Nosomatic Chirurgy, Pestilential Touch

17th
Eye of the Xanathar 7
+11
+9
+15
+9
Balance 10, Disguise 10, GatherInfo 10(+2), Heal 8, Hide 20(+2), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 20(+2), Spot 12, Tumble 20(+2), Acrobatic Backstab, Back on Your Feet, Nimble Stand, Spot the Weak Point

Send the Eye, Eye of the Master (see invisibility)

18th
Eye of the Xanathar 8
+12
+9
+16
+9
Balance 11(+1), Disguise 12(+2), GatherInfo 12(+2), Heal 8, Hide 21(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 21(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 21(+1), Acrobatic Backstab, Back on Your Feet, Nimble Stand, Spot the Weak Point
Craven
Attach the Eye (poison)

19th
Eye of the Xanathar 9
+12
+10
+16
+10
Balance 12(+1), Disguise 14(+2), GatherInfo 14(+2), Heal 8, Hide 22(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 22(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 22(+1), Acrobatic Backstab, Back on Your Feet, Nimble Stand, Spot the Weak Point

Sneak Attack +5d6

20th
Eye of the Xanathar 10
+13
+10
+17
+10
Balance 14(+1), Disguise 16(+2), GatherInfo 16(+2), Heal 8, Hide 23(+1), Intimidate 4, Know:LocalWaterdeep 3, Know:Nature 4, MoveSilently 23(+1), Spot 12, Tumble 23(+1), Acrobatic Backstab, Back on Your Feet, Nimble Stand, Spot the Weak Point

Attach the Eye (paralysis), Eye of the Master (true seeing)

EotX offers three main branches (stalks?) of tricks: enhanced vision, Sneak Attack (including Perfect Sneak Attack), and pseudo-eye rays, each of which we’ll address in turn.

Perfect Sneak Attack (henceforth PSA) is fascinating; when is it more useful to get a single guaranteed SA than to get a full attack, considering that it’s not terribly difficult to flank or to deny DEX if we really care? Then it hit me: Swift Ambusher promises fistfuls of dice, but it’s remarkably difficult for a visible character to trigger both Skirmish and Sneak Attack on the same attack. Enter PSA, which solves that problem nicely. But still, we’re only making a single attack, and that’s a little bit unfortunate. How do we get more than one attack? The obvious answer is Snap Kick, which can be tacked onto basically anything. But only the standard action attack from PSA is a guaranteed SA, so we’ll need a way of turning the Snap Kick attack into SA as well. The various OA feats that tack debuffs onto unarmed attacks work nicely, don’t they? So now we need to qualify for them, to get enough Skirmish and Sneak Attack dice to matter, and to somehow still qualify for EotX.

With all of these factors in play, halfling is a natural choice: strongheart halflings get a much-needed bonus feat, the racial sub levels of Monk add Skirmish while still qualifying for the debuffing feats, and halflings don’t even get any baked-in improvements to their vision, so the various Eye of the Master abilities are relevant! Score. Let’s get started.

Lurinella spends some time gathering prereqs, but she’s actually rather comedically hard to kill at this point. Halfling Monk provides extra skill points, extra damage in the form of Skirmish, Weapon Finesse to net a +4 bonus to hit over the alternative, and a ton of prereqs, not to mention some awesome save bonuses. Between Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Battle Fortitude, high DEX/WIS, and her base save bonuses, Lurinella is probably the party member least likely to fail a save against, well, anything. A few dice of Skirmish definitely matter at this level, and if she can get a Sneak Attack in as well, her damage is definitely respectable.

Unbalancing Strike can be tacked onto every single unarmed attack she makes—she’s a city dweller by nature, and therefore humanoids will constitute the bulk of her opponents. While Stunning Fist uses aren’t common enough to spam them, they’re still really effective when used judiciously. Invisible Fist can be used both offensively (to enable Sneak Attack) and defensively (to impose a great miss chance on anything that bothers to swing at her), which is never a bad trait to have in a feature. Her skills are respectable, the occasional odd prereq notwithstanding. The Mimic ACF is taken to blend in when spying or gathering info for the gang; this is one time when the fact that Monks don’t wear armor actually comes in handy, since she can blend very inconspicuously into a crowd without needing to worry about disguising her weapons or armor. And of course, there’s always the classic “halfing disguising self as a human child” ploy. At this stage in her career, she’s probably fallen in with The Xanathar’s crew and started serving as a scout and informant, though she likely hasn’t gotten too high up in the ranks just yet. That’ll come in time.

Things really start coming together here. A few more levels of Scout and Rogue, combined with Swift Ambusher, let more dice of damage come online all at once, which is nice. Falling Star Strike is an excellent debuff that really should be used more often; forcing a multi-round save against blindness on every single attack is excellent for triggering Sneak Attack, for getting away after someone’s cornered her, or for general-purpose debuffing. And there’s no reason that Unbalancing Strike stops working just because Falling Star Strike is a thing, so hey, forcing more saves is better. Evasion, combined with her unreasonably high Reflex save, mean that area damage is a thing of the past far more often than not.

Lurinella has, by this point, found out enough of the truth of the gang to be inducted in as an Eye, so she starts getting some Eye-related tricks. She can gain some benefit from Eye of the Master right away; as discussed earlier, halflings can use the vision boost, and everyone benefits from knowing what kinds of magic are in the area. Charm Person is a little hard to use, but Gather Information isn’t only used on high-level folks, and it can serve as an ace in the hole for doing some face-to-face intel work. I imagine that she’d mostly use it from hiding rather than be blatant about growing a weird tentacle in front of someone, but I guess it depends on how the GM rules disguise self and/or the mundane Disguise skill work with the tentacle.

And here’s the big payoff! Perfect Sneak Attack is timed to come online right with Snap Kick, just when we need it most. The next few levels are spent gathering more and more d6s to dump on the table at once: Improved Skirmish, more Sneak Attack, and more base Skirmish dice. The gang’s assignments mostly send Lurinella on urban missions against humanoids, so Penetrating Strike isn’t as critical as it is on some other builds, but it can be nice when dealing with something with Fortification, I suppose. You’ll have to talk to the GM about how it interacts with PSA if you aren’t flanking, but either way, it’s not like Lurinella was planning on using Trap Sense for anything.

Just to sum up, the plan is basically to zip over to something (ideally something at least 20’ from Lurinella’s starting location), punch it really hard with a PSA boosted by Skirmish/Improved Skirmish, force a couple of saves with Unbalancing Strike and Falling Star Strike, and follow up with a Snap Kick (which will definitely get Skirmish and which will probably get Sneak Attack as well if Unbalancing Strike, Falling Star Strike, or some other potential tricks work). Repeat every round. The debuffs work nicely to justify zipping around between different opponents, as well. It’s really enough damage to matter.

So you remember how I said that EotX has three branches of abilities? Here’s where the pseudo-eye rays come in handy. The eye rays themselves are nice enough when they work, but they’ve got a lot of points of failure; split stat for usage and for save DCs, extra actions required to get the tentacle out and put it back when we care about making PSAs, kinda outdated effective spell level, and so on. Nosomatic Chirurgeon (hey look, another reason to be a halfling! It’s like I did this on purpose or something!) offers a solution: why not funnel the energy from those SLAs into something more generally useful, like straight up hurting people? If Lurinella can get the drop on something (not hard, with her stealthy tricks), she can pre-buff by holding the charge on an inflict SLA before punching someone, or she can just straight up cast one if that ends up being appropriate. Since Pestilential Touch simply eats “uses” of SLAs rather than actually requiring that the SLA be used, Lurinella shouldn’t need to mess around with attaching or detaching her Eye, which is nice.

Oh, and just to clarify, from ECS pg. 8: “if it exists in D&D, it has a place in Eberron.” This isn’t bringing dragonmarks into Forgotten Realms—this is bringing FR material (which “exists in D&D”) into Eberron, where it explicitly, RAW, “has a place.” “Waterdeep” can be a section of a large city, or we can pick up the whole city of Waterdeep and plunk it down somewhere on Khorvaire (https://youtu.be/Iyn-0af_hlI). Just roll with it. It’s legal.

Anyway, Lurinella finally picks up that Craven feat she’s had her eye on for some time, and true seeing with no material component is actually a pretty legitimately nice capstone. Send the Eye is actually perfect for a stealthy character who’s got decent movement skills and who has a reliable form of invisibility on tap; peer around a corner, go invisible if necessary, dart into position, and repeat as necessary. Cool stuff. The main combo from the previous level bracket hasn’t stopped working (and has, in fact, gotten even nicer). Lurinella uses all of EotX’s abilities and blends them into a whole that’s as seamless as possible.

Champions of Ruin: Craven
Complete Adventurer: Scout
Complete Scoundrel: Acrobatic Backstab, Back on Your Feet, Nimble Stand, Spot the Weak Point, Improved Skirmish, Swift Ambusher
Dragonmarked: Nosomatic Chirurgeon
Dungeonscape: Penetrating Strike ACF
Eberron Campaign Setting: Least Dragonmark
Eleven Eyes of Xanathar: (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061107b) Eye of the Xanathar
Exemplars of Evil: Invisible Fist ACF, Mimic ACF
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting: Strongheart Halfling
Oriental Adventures: Falling Star Strike, Unbalancing Strike
Races of the Wild: Halfling Monk racial sub levels
Tome of Battle: Snap Kick

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 08:59 AM

Build number 5-WHAT THE HELL EVEN IS THIS

Thack o’Grugnord

CE Human Rogue/Archivist/EotX/Shaper of Form/Mindbender
Region of Origin: Halruaa
STR 8
DEX 12
CON 14
INT 16
WIS 16 (level-up points here)
CHA 10

https://media.wizards.com/2014/images/dnd/newtodnd/Beholder_1E.jpg

Build table:

CRClassBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveNonweapon ProficienciesFeatsClass Features
1Antiquarian Rogue 1+0+0+2+0Bluff 4, Intimidate 4, Diplomacy 4, Hide 4, MS 4, K: Local Waterdeep 3, Spot 4, K: Arcana 4, C: Alchemy 4, C: Bookbinding 4, Decipher Script 4, Sense Motive 4, Appraise 3Magical Training (Wizard), Apprentice: Spellcaster (K: Arcana and UMD as permanent class skills, +2 skill points)Antiquarian, SA +1d6
2Archivist 1+0+2+2+2Hide +1 cc (5), Spot +1 cc (5), MS +1 cc (5), C: Alchemy +1 (5), C: Bookbinding +1 (5)Scribe ScrollDark Knowledge (tactics) 3/day
3Archivist 2+1+3+2+3Hide +1 cc (6), Spot +1 cc (6), MS +1 cc (6), C: Bookbinding +1 (6), K: Arcana +1 (5)Great FortitudeLore Mastery (Religion)
4Archivist 3+1+3+3+3Spot +1 cc (7), C: Bookbinding +1 (7), Decipher Script +3 (7), Appraise +1 cc (4)Dark Knowledge 4/day
5Archivist 4+2+4+3+4Spot +1 cc (8), C: Bookbinding +1 (8), Decipher Script +1 (8), Appraise +1 cc (5), Spellcraft 2[Mentor]Still Mind
6Archivist 5+2+4+3+4Decipher Script +1 (9), K: Religion +3 (5), Appraise +1 cc (6), Spellcraft +2 (4)Iron WillDark Knowledge (puissance)
7Eye of the Xanathar 1+2+4+5+4Decipher Script +1 cc (10), Forgery 10Eye of the Master (Spot, low-light); portal use
8EotX 2+3+4+6+4Decipher Script +1 cc (11), Forgery +1 (11), K: Arcana +1 (6), K: Religion 4 ccEye of the Master (Detect Magic)
9EotX 3+4+5+6+5Decipher Script +1 cc (12), Forgery +1 (12), K: Arcana +1 (7), Spellcraft +2 cc (6), K: Religion +2 cc (6)Spell Focus: TransmutationRelease the Eye, SA +2d6
10EotX 4+5+5+7+5Decipher Script +1 cc (13), Forgery +1 (13), K: Arcana +1 (8), Spellcraft +2 cc (8), Appraise +1 cc (7), K: Religion +1 cc (7)Attach the Eye (Charm Person)
11EotX 5+5+5+7+5Decipher Script +1 cc (14), Forgery +1 (14), K: Arcana +1 (9), Spellcraft +2 cc (10), Appraise +1 cc (8), K: Religion +1 cc (8)Eye of the Master (Know Alignment, darkvision), Perfect Sneak Attack
12Shaper of Form 1+5+7+7+7Appraise +6 (14)Practiced Spellcaster (Magical Training/Wizard)Like Begets Like, Modify Self (Renaissance: Mulan (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120762/) human)
13Mindbender 1+5+9+7+9Diplomacy +6 (10)Telepathy
14Mindbender 2+6+10+7+10Diplomacy +6 (16)Push the Weak Mind 1/day, Skill Boost
15Mindbender 3+6+10+8+10Diplomacy +2 (18), K: Religion +4 (12)Southern MagicianMindread 2/day
16Mindbender 4+7+11+8+11Diplomacy +1 (19), K: Religion +1 (13), Spellcraft +4 (14)Eternal Charm (1)
17EotX 6+8+12+9+12Forgery +6 (20), Diplomacy +1 (20), K: Arcana +1 (10), Decipher Script +1 cc (15)Attach the Eye (Inflict Moderate), SA +3d6
18EotX 7+9+12+9+12Forgery +1 (21), Diplomacy +1 (21), Spellcraft +2 cc (16), Decipher Script +2 cc (17)Craft Wondrous ItemSend the Eye, Eye of the Master (See Invis)
19EotX 8+10+12+10+12Forgery +1 (22), Diplomacy +1 (22), Spellcraft +2 cc (18), Decipher Script +2 cc (19)Attach the Eye (Poison)
20EotX 9+10+13+10+13Forgery +1 (23), Diplomacy +1 (23), Spellcraft +2 cc (20), Decipher Script +2 cc (21)SA +4d6

Archivist Spells per Day

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

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

2nd
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

3rd
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

4th
4
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

5th
4
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

6th-11th
4
4
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-

12th+
4
4
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
-

PHASE ONE:
Start as an Antiquarian Rogue. Learn that there’s relics of the past that teach us about the Old Ways of doing things. Magical Training and Apprentice: Spellcaster grant some basic magical tricks and indicate that we’re learning from an old master of some kind. Gain a spellbook from Magical Training.
Become reclusive and bitter about the way things are these days. Become incredibly convinced that everything was better in the Before Times. Decide to do what is necessary to bring back system shock rolls, magically induced aging, saving throws against breath weapon, and so on.
Learn about The Xanathar’s guild and decide to become a member. Work to earn a position therein.
Enter Archivist. Learn magic. Focus on Transmutation spells to the extent possible. Be sure to know at least 6 of them, which shouldn’t be hard between having three Wizard cantrips (Mage Hand, Amanuensis, Mending) and a bunch of Cleric spells. Get Druid spells too if possible, because why not.
Do whatever is necessary to attract the attention of Spirits of Form. Your old mentor might be able to help. This may take some time.
Pick up prereqs like crazy. Act like an Archivist with goofy skill points. Get enough buff spells to be useful.
Become a mentor yourself, gaining a young Archivist who doesn’t know any better as an apprentice. Do what’s necessary to keep them around or to gain a new one as needed. Make sure they trust you enough to copy spells out of your prayerbook on the regular.
Enter Eye of the Xanathar once the feat space opens up. Take advantage of the weird skills and Sneak Attack and stuff until you hit 5th level.
Gain Know Alignment as a spell-like ability.
Know Alignment is a 2e spell, not a 3.X spell. Open up the 2e PHB and look through the spells.
Use Scribe Scroll to get a scroll of Know Alignment, providing all the prereqs yourself.
Copy Know Alignment into your prayerbook.
Copy enough other spells into your prayerbook to increase the base value to the necessary level.
Make lots of nonmagical copies of your prayerbook.
Enter Shaper of Form. Use Modify Self to change from a human to a “Mulan human,” whatever the Baator that’s supposed to mean.
Use Shaper of Form’s Like Begets Like on your prayerbook to turn it from a prayerbook containing a 2e spell into a prayerbook containing other 2e spells. The weirder the better. Sticks to Snakes. Duo-Dimension. Tree. Chant. Chariot of Sustarre. Rainbow. Pass Plant. Starshine. Don’t hold back on this—load it up. Repeat each day on a different copy of your prayerbook.
Give these weird 2e spells to your apprentice. Teach him/her/them to cast them. Instruct them to share this crazy knowledge with their friends and peers. Spread these bizarre spells throughout the world. You may want to find other apprentices just to get these weird prayerbooks in as many hands as possible.
Enter Mindbender by means of the Charm Person function of Attach the Eye.
Use Mindbender’s abilities to ensnare other unsuspecting young spellcasters and give them the same instructions to learn your goofy 2e spells and to spread their knowledge around.
You have a spellbook from Magical Training. Know Alignment is both divine and arcane. Just because you can’t cast anything higher than a cantrip out of your spellbook doesn’t mean that you can’t put KA in there. Use Like Begets Like on it as well. Southern Magician might help, but nobody really understands how Southern Magician really works.
Spread these heretical 2e spellbooks by means of Mindbender. Encourage their use. Rookie spellcasters are total suckers for “ancient, forbidden knowledge,” so this should be a piece of cake.
Use Craft Wondrous to make other insane items with these weird spells, because you have nothing better to do while waiting for your spells to spread in popularity.
Repeat the above as necessary.

PHASE THREE:
Profit.

Q: Um, what exactly is the goal here?
A: See Phase Three.

Q: Huh? What exactly is it about your prayerbooks that lets you use LBL to get spells that don’t exist in them?
A: The Xanathar has shown us the way. These spells do exist. If they didn’t exist, the class feature that gives Know Alignment (as the spell) wouldn’t do anything, and WotC would never, ever make a nonsensical class feature that doesn’t do anything. If Know Alignment can only be found in the 2e PHB, then we obviously have access to the other spells in the 2e PHB as well, because the 2e PHB is now a legal source on the table. Ergo, the spells exist.

Q: Wait, that doesn’t follow. The hell are you doing here?
A: We’re turning a prayerbook containing one old 2e spell into a prayerbook containing a different 2e spell. This wouldn’t work on a prayerbook that doesn’t contain 2e spells, so only an Eye of the Xanathar can accomplish this. Like only works on like. We can do this. Other casters cannot, at least until we teach them. But once we open and/or bend their minds and show them these spells, the spells will spread like wildfire, and the masses will once again be rolling saves versus rods/staves/wands before you know it!

Q: Are you serious?
A: Please. I’m an Eye of the Xanathar.

Q: Isn’t this stupid?
A: Eye of the Xanathar needs WIS and CHA. How intelligent do you think anyone involved really is?

Q: Wait, but aren’t you an Archivist with INT?
A: PCs are exceptional by nature!

Q: You do realize that this is Iron Chef and that the Villainous Competition is over thataway, right?
A: One must learn to free one’s mind from meaningless distinctions.

Q: Did you really put in all this effort just for . . . this?
A: Please. I’m an Eye of the Xanathar.

Q: This isn’t how anything at all works. This is stupid and pointless.
A: There is a point! See Phase Three! For The Xanathar’s sake, try to keep up. Away with you!

Sources:
Antiquarian Rogue: Complete Champion
Apprentice, Mentor: DMG2
Archivist: Heroes of Horror
Magical Training: Player’s Guide to Faerun
EotX: Online (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061107b)
Know Alignment and other spells: AD&D 2e Player’s Handbook
Mindbender, Practiced Spellcaster: Complete Arcane
Southern Magician: Races of Faerun
Shaper of Form: Dragon Compendium

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 09:00 AM

Build number 6!

Ol’ Greybrow, First Eye
LE Old Human (Adon Talaire) Rogue 2/Ranger 4/ Fighter 1/Eye of the Xanathar 10/Shiba Protector 1/Deepwood Sniper 2

“To get to First Eye, you’ve got to stick around a long time, let me show you young whippersnappers how it’s done.”

Ability Scores32 Point Buy: 13 Str, 11 Dex, 13 Con, 9 Int, 18 Wis, 10 Cha
Middle Aged: 12 Str, 10 Dex, 12 Con, 10 Int, 19 Wis, 11 Cha
Old: 10 Str, 8 Dex, 10 Con, 11 Int, 20 Wis, 12 Cha
All stat increases go to Wis.

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

1st
Rogue 1
+0
+0
+2
+0
Hide 4, Move Silently 4, Gather Information 4, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 4, Intimidate 4, Spot 4, Tumble 4, Craft (Poisonmaking) 4
1st Level: Darkstalker
Human: Point Blank Shot
Martial Rogue 1: Far Shot
Poison Use ACF, Martial Rogue ACF

2nd
Ranger 1
+1
+2
+4
+0
Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Gather Information 5, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 4, Intimidate 4, Spot 5, Tumble 4, Craft (Poisonmaking) 4, Knowledge (The Planes) 2
Urban Tracker Ranger 1: Urban Tracking
Planar Ranger ACF, Urban Tracker ACF, Favored Enemy: Humanoid (Human), Wild Empathy, Skilled City-Dweller (Ride for Tumble, Handle Animal for Gather Information)

3rd
Ranger 2
+2
+3
+5
+0
Hide 6, Move Silently 6, Gather Information 6, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 4, Intimidate 4, Spot 6, Tumble 4, Craft (Poisonmaking) 4, Knowledge (The Planes) 4
3rd Level: Zen Archery
Ranger 2: Rapid Shot
Otyugh Hole: Iron Will*
Combat Style

4th
Ranger 3
+3
+3
+5
+1
Hide 7, Move Silently 7, Gather Information 7, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 4, Intimidate 4, Spot 7, Tumble 4, Craft (Poisonmaking) 4, Knowledge (The Planes) 6
Ranger 3: Endurance
Talaire Heritage (Lose Endurance): Wild Talent (Adon)**
-

5th
Ranger 4
+4
+4
+6
+1
Hide 8, Move Silently 8, Gather Information 8, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 4, Intimidate 4, Spot 8, Tumble 4, Craft (Poisonmaking) 4, Knowledge (The Planes) 8
Urban Companion: Alertness
Urban Companion ACF

6th
Fighter 1
+5
+6
+6
+1
Hide 8, Move Silently 8, Gather Information 9, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 8, Tumble 5, Craft (Poisonmaking) 5, Knowledge (The Planes) 8
6th Level: Planar Touchstone (Catalogues of Enlightenment: Dwarf Domain)
Dwarf Domain Power: Great Fortitude
Sneak Attack Thug Fighter ACF, Sneak Attack 1d6, Skilled City-Dweller (Ride for Tumble)

7th
Eye of the Xanathar 1
+5
+6
+8
+1
Hide 10, Move Silently 10, Gather Information 10, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 10, Tumble 5, Craft (Poisonmaking) 6, Knowledge (The Planes) 8
-
Eye of the Master (Bonus to Spot, Low-Light Vision), Portal Use

8th
Eye of the Xanathar 2
+6
+6
+9
+1
Hide 11, Move Silently 11, Gather Information 11, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 11, Tumble 5, Craft (Poisonmaking) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 8
-
Eye of the Master (Detect Magic)

9th
Eye of the Xanathar 3
+7
+7
+9
+2
Hide 12, Move Silently 12, Gather Information 12, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 12, Tumble 7, Craft (Poisonmaking) 12, Knowledge (The Planes) 8
9th Level: Craven
Release the Eye, Sneak Attack 2d6

10th
Eye of the Xanathar 4
+8
+7
+10
+2
Hide 13, Move Silently 13, Gather Information 13, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 13, Tumble 10, Craft (Poisonmaking) 13, Knowledge (The Planes) 8
-
Attach the Eye (Charm Person)

11th
Eye of the Xanathar 5
+8
+7
+10
+2
Hide 14, Move Silently 14, Gather Information 14, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 14, Tumble 11, Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 2
-
Eye of the Master (Know Alignment, Darkvision 60ft), Perfect Sneak Attack

12th
Eye of the Xanathar 6
+9
+8
+11
+3
Hide 15, Move Silently 15, Gather Information 15, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 15, Tumble 11, Craft (Poisonmaking) 15, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5
12th Level: Quicken Spell-Like Ability (Inflict Moderate Wounds)
Attach the Eye (Inflict Moderate Wounds), Sneak Attack 3d6

13th
Eye of the Xanathar 7
+10
+8
+11
+3
Hide 16, Move Silently 16, Gather Information 16, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 16, Tumble 12, Craft (Poisonmaking) 16, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5, Knowledge (Local: Westgate) 2
-
Send the Eye, Eye of the Master (See Invisibility)

14th
Eye of the Xanathar 8
+11
+8
+12
+3
Hide 17, Move Silently 17, Gather Information 17, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 17, Tumble 12, Craft (Poisonmaking) 17, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5, Knowledge (Local: Westgate) 5
-
Attach the Eye (Poison)

15th
Eye of the Xanathar 9
+11
+9
+12
+4
Hide 18, Move Silently 18, Gather Information 18, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 18, Tumble 13, Craft (Poisonmaking) 18, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5, Knowledge (Local: Westgate) 5, Knowledge (Religion) 1cc
15th Level: Maiming Strike
Sneak Attack 4d6

16th
Eye of the Xanathar 10
+12
+9
+13
+5
Hide 19, Move Silently 19, Gather Information 19, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 19, Tumble 13, Craft (Poisonmaking) 19, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5, Knowledge (Local: Westgate) 5, Knowledge (Religion) 2.5cc
-
Attach the Eye (Paralysis), Eye of the Master (True Seeing)

17th
Rogue 2
+13
+9
+14
+5
Hide 20, Move Silently 20, Gather Information 20, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 20, Tumble 13, Craft (Poisonmaking) 20, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5, Knowledge (Local: Westgate) 5, Knowledge (Religion) 4cc
Martial Rogue 2: Combat Expertise
Evasion

18th
Shiba Protector 1
+13
+11
+14
+7
Hide 20, Move Silently 20, Gather Information 20.5cc, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 20, Tumble 13, Craft (Poisonmaking) 21, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5, Knowledge (Local: Westgate) 5, Knowledge (Religion) 4
18th Level: Weapon Focus (Longbow)
No Thought

19th
Deepwood Sniper 1
+14
+11
+16
+7
Hide 21, Move Silently 21, Gather Information 21cc, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 20, Tumble 13, Craft (Poisonmaking) 22, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5, Knowledge (Local: Westgate) 5, Knowledge (Religion) 4
-
Keen Arrows, Range Increment Bonus +10ft/level

20th
Deepwood Sniper 2
+15
+11
+17
+7
Hide 23, Move Silently 22, Gather Information 21, Knowledge (Local: Waterdeep) 5, Intimidate 4, Spot 20, Tumble 13, Craft (Poisonmaking) 23, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local: Calimport) 5, Knowledge (Local: Westgate) 5, Knowledge (Religion) 4
-
Concealment Reduction 10%, Magic Weapon, Projectile Improved Critical +1

Greybrow will have slightly more skill points than listed, depending on when he reaches middle age, which will increase his Int score to 10. This will likely allow him to max out a few more of his favorite skills, as the extra skill points will come in later levels where he has the most trouble doing so.
*Can be acquired at any point prior to entry into Eye of the Xanathar
**Can be acquired at any point after gaining the Endurance bonus feat to trade away in its place.

Greybrow can cast a number of 1st level Ranger spells equal to the bonus spells he gets from his Wis score. He will generally prepare some combination of Hunter’s Mercy and Arrow Mind. As these spells are important to his tactics, some Pearls of Power or Wands wouldn’t go amiss.

Level 6“You learn things about yourself in the hole. All alone in the damp and the dark for all that time with nothing to do but listen to the dripping wetness and feel around for stones in the muck, you start to lose it after a certain point. I started to see things by the fourth day or so. I found one little rock that felt strange, clearly worked stone rather than natural, and suddenly pictures were flashing through my mind as if they were directly before my eyes. A land somewhere far away. Silk-robed with bushy eyebrows like mine traveling across mountain passes to consult with dwarves in secluded caves. A phoenix rising out of a green flame.” – Excerpt from the first chapter of A Long Look: A Journal of the life of the First Eye, sourced by the Waterdeep 1st District Library from the Catalogues of the Fortress of Disciplined Enlightenment, Mechanus

“Though there are no surviving records of the early life or parentage of the Xanathar Guild assassin known by the Alias of Greybrow beyond what he has provided in his own writings in the Catalogues of Enlightenment, the fiery mark on his arm and his innate minor psionic talents signify that he is a scion of the Talaire House of Adon. Some extraplanar records speak of ‘Phoenixes of the Emerald Fire’ in connection to House Adon, seemingly in reference to offspring of intermarriage between the house and the people of an unknown nation symbolized by the Phoenix.” – Excerpt from the Westgate City Guard’s files on the Xanathar Guild

If the Xanathar is going to make Iron Will a requirement for his crappy PrC, then the “invasive psychological testing” he conducts had better at least include solitary confinement in the Otyugh Hole. While we’re doing cheesy things for feats, let’s consider Talaire humans from Complete Psionic. Per page 141, one can realize their Talaire heritage sometime after character generation and make room for Wild Talent (or more precisely one of the upgraded Talaire house versions thereof which work a bit more like Hidden Talent), by trading in an existing feat, like the largely worthless Endurance you get from Ranger 3. Psionic Minor Creation will come in handy later in conjunction with the Poison Use Rogue ACF and ranks in Craft (Poisonmaking). That’s just the tip of the iceberg where ACFs are concerned. We’re trading out Rogue’s Sneak Attack for Fighter feats and Fighter’s feats for Sneak Attack. This is partly because Fighter explicitly gets to use the Sneak Attack and Thug variants together despite both taking the first level bonus feat, and partly because we’ll need another Fighter bonus feat later and would rather take Rogue 2 than Fighter 2 to get it. Some Urban Ranger variants from the Cityscape Web Enhancement fit the Waterdhavian flavor of the build and will help with some other things in later levels, and Planar Ranger helps us out in qualifying for Planar Touchstone. Catalogues of Enlightenment offers an upgraded version on our second obnoxious feat tax, as the Dwarf Domain granted power gives us Great Fortitude, and assuming we can find some accommodation for the requisite planar commute, and devote some downtime to one of the recharge conditions, the Higher Order ability allows Greybrow to cast a spell from the domain 1/day in an emergency if you’re of a high enough character level (presumably the level a Cleric would need to be to cast it) and have sufficient Wis. Greybeard does in fact have sufficient Wis, and beyond all this groundwork for future levels, establishes his identity through the Zen Archery feat, with Ranger’s Combat Style essentially removing his need for Dex.
Level 12“When questioned by our extraplanar correspondent, clerks of the Catalogues of Enlightenment declined to comment on recent contributors to the archive, but one did note that there had been significant recent additions on topics pertaining to the Waterdhavian criminal underworld (see pg.10). Perusal revealed significant, and apparently credible, reports primarily on the activities of the Xanathar Guild’s criminal rivals. Law enforcement declined to comment on what action, if any, they will take based on this information.” – Excerpt from an issue of the Waterdeep Gazette

“Given the choice, he’d prefer to get everything done from hiding, take time aiming, get an extra shot from the eye ray, and so on, but he’d have never lasted so long in his line of work without a plan B. Greybrow’s dangerous when he’s cornered. I’ve seen him put an arrow through the major artery under the arm of a man raising an axe to him, point blank.” – Witness statement from a retired former collaborator to Waterdhavian law enforcement

We’re into the SI. The extra skill points help catch a few key skills back up, the Eye of the Master nets a few useful vision abilities. Greybrow’s favored tactic is sniping, ideally making a full attack out of hiding (perhaps bolstered by Hunter’s Mercy to multiply Craven damage on his first shot), but in situations where that isn’t feasible, he can get around the need to catch enemies flat-footed for ranged sneak attacks (flanking not being an option), by using Perfect Sneak Attack. It only works against adjacent foes, but with Arrow Mind from Ranger casting, such an attack can be made without provoking AoOs from the target. If you can spare a round beforehand to get Hunter’s Mercy up as well, that will alleviate the frustration inherent in only being able to make one attack in the round.

Up until level 12, Greybeard will only Attach the Eye for the purpose of using Charm in social situations, but upon getting Inflict Moderate Wounds, it becomes a more attractive option if he has time to attach it in his hiding spot before attacking. At CL12, the 2nd level Inflict Moderate Wounds qualifies for Quicken SLA as soon as it’s acquired, meaning it can be used alongside a full attack as an extra Sneak Attack vector, and as the eye rays are ranged attacks, they also use Wis on the attack roll thanks to Zen Archery.
Level 16 “We have a rap sheet decades long of Greybrow’s crimes. He’s a regular fixture floating around the criminal underbellies of three major cities, overlooking a wide array of criminal enterprises, but that’s not who he really is. He’s the one that goes to send a message for the Xanathar Guild. Arrow wounds are usually pretty clean as murders go, but not with Greybrow. The victims of his assassinations are horribly disfigured in a way that you never quite get used to, their flesh mutilated and discolored by poisoning. I see them more regularly than I care to admit, and they still turn my stomach.” – Quote from a former captain of the Westgate city guard, now deceased from an apparent Xanathar Guild assassination

“In my many years of service, the joke that the master has never tired of is the implication that my victims were disfigured before I ever got to them. That’s Beholder humor for you, but I can see that he’s pleased with my work.” – Excerpt from a reproduction of The Art of the Xanathar: A Look Through the Eye of the Master, copied from the only known original in the Xanathar’s private library by a guild informant

Finishing off the SI, we get Maiming Strike, which as a flat source of damage is multiplied by Hunter’s Mercy crits, unlike standard Sneak Attack dice. The ability damage fun doesn’t end there, as the Craft (Poisonmaking)+Psionic Minor Creation combo is becoming more reliable, and we’ve got an eye ray Poison SLA to use in conjunction with it. As a fun little afterthought, assuming that different Knowledge (Local) skills count as distinct sources of synergy bonuses, Greybrow makes use of the goofy FR rules on that front by taking 5 ranks in all three that Eye of the Xanathar offers for a +6 to his Gather Information checks for Urban Tracking.

Level 20“The order’s operations appear to be above board, but several assassinations of high profile political enemies, the apparent work of the hitman known by the alias ‘Greybrow,’ suggests some Xanathar Guild affiliation.” –Customs file on the Calimport chapter of the Shugenja Order of the All-Seeing Eye

“Father with his special eye, watches out for you and me. If you should ever need his help, you can be sure he’ll see.” – Excerpt from Father’s Special Eye, a children’s book found tucked between the heavy religious tomes in the Calimport study of Phoenicia Adon, Shugenja of the Order of the All-Seeing Eye

After sticking it out with the Xanathar Guild long enough to be the most senior remaining Eye, Greybrow is an old enough man to have children of an age to begin to be characters of consequence in the areas where the Xanathar guild operates. For story purposes (no claims are being made about her as any sort of pseudo-cohort or crafter), his daughter becomes a Shugenja, because it would just be wrong to have a Zen Archer build with Iron Will and not jam in a level of Shiba Protector, setting specificity be damned. After that we finish off with a few levels of Deepwood Sniper, making the Hunter’s Mercy crits (now with another flat damage bonus from Greybrow’s high Wis) more damaging, and other critical hits more prevalent with Keen Arrows.

Champions of Ruin: Craven
Champions of Ruin Web Enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061107b): Eye of the Xanathar
Cityscape: Urban Tracking
Cityscape Web Enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a): Skilled City-Dweller ACF, Urban Companion ACF, Urban Tracker ACF
Complete Psionic: Talaire, Wild Talent (Adon)
Complete Scoundrel: Otyugh Hole
Drow of the Underdark: Poison Use Rogue ACF
Exemplars of Evil: Maiming Strike
Lords of Madness: Darkstalker
Masters of the Wild: Deepwood Sniper
Oriental Adventures: Shiba Protector
Planar Handbook: Planar Touchstone, Catalogues of Enlightenment
Everything else is in the SRD. Note that Planar Ranger refers to the UA variant, not the ACF in Planar Handbook.

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 09:01 AM

Build number 7!

http://i.imgur.com/92L42Nd.jpg
Louis Friend, Fifth Eye and Guardian of Treats

NE Human Psychic Rogue 5/Eye of the Xanathar 10/Ebon Saint 5

Stats
Str 12
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 14 (Increase at 4, 8 and 20)
Wis 14(Increase at 12 and 16)
Cha 12
Build

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

1st
Psychic Rogue 1
+0
+0
+2
+0
Autohypnosis 4, Concentration 4, Handle Animal 0.5(1), Hide 4, Intimidate 4, Knowledge (local (Waterdeep)) 3, Move Silently 4, Spot 4, Tumble 4, Use Psionic Device 4
Darkstalker (B)Great Fortitude
Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding

2nd
Psychic Rogue 2
+1
+0
+3
+0
Autohypnosis 5, Concentration 5, Handle Animal 1.5(2), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Spot 5, Tumble 5, Use Psionic Device 5

Evasion

3rd
Psychic Rogue 3
+2
+1
+3
+1
Autohypnosis 6, Concentration 6, Handle Animal 2.5(2), Hide 6, Move Silently 6, Spot 6, Tumble 6, Use Psionic Device 6
Iron Will

4th
Psychic Rogue 4
+3
+1
+4
+1
Autohypnosis 7, Concentration 7, Handle Animal 3.5(2), Hide 7, Move Silently 7, Spot 7, Tumble 7, Use Psionic Device 7

Sneak Attack +2d6

5th
Psychic Rogue 5
+3
+1
+4
+1
Autohypnosis 8, Concentration 8, Disguise 1, Handle Animal 4(1), Hide 8, Move Silently 8, Spot 8, Tumble 8, Use Psionic Device 8

Danger Sense

6th
Eye of the Xanathar 1
+3
+1
+6
+1
Disguise 9, Hide 9, Move Silently 9, Tumble 9
Wild Cohort (Badger)
Eye of the Master (Spot Bonus, Low-light Vision), Portal Use

7th
Eye of the Xanathar 2
+4
+1
+7
+1
Bluff 7, Disguise 10, Hide 10, Move Silently 10, Tumble 10

Eye of the Master (detect magic)

8th
Eye of the Xanathar 3
+5
+2
+7
+2
Bluff 11, Disguise 11, Gather Information 1, Handle Animal 5.5 (3), Hide 11, Move Silently 11, Tumble 11

Release the Eye, Sneak Attack +3d6

9th
Eye of the Xanathar 4
+6/+1
+2
+8
+2
Bluff 12, Disguise 12, Gather Information 6, Handle Animal 6 (1), Hide 12, Move Silently 12, Tumble 12
Staggering Strike
Attach the Eye (charm person)

10th
Eye of the Xanathar 5
+6/+1
+2
+8
+2
Bluff 13, Disguise 13, Gather Information 8, Hide 13, Intimidate 10, Move Silently 13

Eye of the Master (know alignment, darkvision 60ft), Perfect Sneak Attack

11th
Eye of the Xanathar 6
+7/+2
+3
+9
+3
Bluff 14, Disguise 14, Handle Animal 7 (2), Hide 14, Intimidate 14, Move Silently 14, Use Psionic Device 9(2)

Attach the Eye (inflict moderate wounds, Sneak Attack +4d6

12th
Eye of the Xanathar 7
+8/+3
+3
+9
+3
Bluff 15, Disguise 15, Hide 15, Intimidate 15, Move Silently 15, Use Psionic Device 12.5(7)
Combat Expertise
Send the Eye, Eye of the Master (see invisibility)

13th
Eye of the Xanathar 8
+9/+4
+3
+10
+3
Bluff 16, Disguise 16, Handle Animal 8(2), Hide 16, Intimidate 16, Move Silently 16, Use Psionice Device 15(5)

Attach the Eye (poison)

14th
Eye of the Xanathar 9
+9/+4
+4
+10
+4
Bluff 17, Disguise 17, Hide 17, Intimidate 17, Move Silently 17, Spot 11, Use Psionic Device 17(4)

Sneak Attack +5d6

15th
Eye of the Xanathar 10
+10/+5
+4
+11
+4
Assume Quirk, Spot the Weak Point, Bluff 18, Disguise 18, Hide 18, Intimidate 18, Move Silently 18, Spot 12, Use Psionic Device 18(2)
Improved Feint
Attach the Eye (paralysis), Eye of the Master (true seeing)

16th
Ebon Saint 1
+10/+5
+4
+13
+6
Bluff 19, Disguise 19, Hide 19, Move Silently 19, Psicraft 4

Dire Strike, Shadowfriend

17th
Ebon Saint 2
+11/+6/+1
+4
+14
+7
Bluff 20, Concentration 10, Disguise 20, Hide 20, Intimidate 20, Move Silently 20

Thought Theft

18th
Ebon Saint 3
+12/+7/+2
+5
+14
+7
Bluff 21, Concentration 13, Disguise 21, Hide 21, Intimidate 21, Move Silently 21
Practiced Manifester
Mind Interrogation, Sneak Attack +6d6

19th
Ebon Saint 4
+13/+8/+3
+5
+15
+8
Bluff 22, Concentration 15, Disguise 22, Hide 22, Intimidate 22, Move Silently 22, Spot 13

Steal Form

20th
Ebon Saint 5
+13/+8/+3
+5
+15
+8
Bluff 23, Disguise 23, Hide 23, Intimidate 23, Move Silently 23, Spot 16

Disappear from the Mind

Psionics
1st: Control Light, Conceal Thoughts, Sense Link
2nd: Chameleon, Concealing Amorpha, Wall Walker
3rd: Hustle
Backstory
“Rise and shine, Precious, it’s time to go to work!”
The put-upon badger in question snuffled his irritation as his master picked him up to give him an undignified boop on the nose.
“I know, I know you need your beauty sleep, but I need my special boy’s special nose to help me on my big job. The Xanathar wants us to go have a talk with the dock master. Someone hasn’t been paying his tribute.”
Precious snarled slightly. He didn’t understand the goings-on of the guild (not that Louis knew much more than his individual assignments), but he knew the Xanathar always demanded a meeting after a mission. The Xanathar stank, and it never had any treats.

Louis had finished preparing his gear and donning the persona suit of today’s mission, one of the longshoremen who had drank himself into a stupor and “fell” off the dock instead of collecting his week’s pay. It’d be a few days before he floated up, which was more than enough time for Louis to complete his assignment. He showed up at the perimeter, badger in tow, and set up at a sagging corner of the building.

“OK precious, just like we practiced. Dig a little hole and we’ll take a look around.”
The badger felt the familiar but still uncomfortable presence of Louis Friend’s mind, sharing his eyes through the shiny disc. The earth was soft and a short time later Precious poked his broad head through the floor of the building. He didn’t have to do too much looking around. His nose told him most of what he could see with Louis’s help. Four men, three of them big ones with sharp sticks, and one soft elf playing cards at a table. All of them nursing some foul grog, but none of them had any treats. Disappointing. Precious worked his way back out the way he came, accompanied by the shiny disc to his master’s waiting arms.

“Good boy! Now don’t go far, I’m just going to pop in and I’ll be back before you know it.”
Louis Friend knew the way in and all the right things to say to the men he passed thanks to the longshoremen’s mind being so forthcoming. Once he reached the main office, he snuffed out the lights and set his Eye to float before him to guide his way. He always appreciated this moment, watching his quarry try to decide whether to flee or cower, head darting about as if it made the blackness any more permeable. He took his time to size up the target with his own enhanced vision before descending in a single decisive motion.

Precious had found a rather palatable grub and had just finished eating when his nose alerted him of Louis Friend’s arrival. He was wearing the suit that made him look just like the soft elf from the office, but underneath the disguise he was spattered with blood. Louis hadn’t learned to conceal that, but apparently humans couldn’t really smell anything.

“Looks like I finished early, so we’ve got an hour before we have to meet with the Xanathar. Oh look at you, Precious, you’re covered with mud from all that digging.”
Precious knew where this was going. His claws scrabbled in the earth as he turned to run before he was struck by an invisible ray from the shiny disc that was now attached to Louis Friend.
“No running away, naughty boy. It’s bath time!”
Level 5
Psychic Rogue is the happy medium between lurk and plain rogue. It’s got all the skills we need to enter the SI, along with sneak attack and evasion and most importantly, powers. Unfortunately you can’t ACF away your trapfinding/trapsense as none exist for you, but at least your version of trapsense is that of a 12th level rogue.

We’ve got to pay our taxes like everyone else, and we’re spending our other feat on Darkstalker, pretty much necessary for any sneak.

In the powers department, Control Light can give you the dark you need to hide in. Conceal thoughts is your social lubricant to make bluffs go more smoothly. Sense Link can be used for some spying, will help us later. Concealing Amorpha gives you the concealment you need to hide anywhere.
Level 10
We’ve had our fun, now it’s time to work for the head honcho. The higher skill points are appreciated, and we’ve certainly got places to spend them to make us more socially proficient. Darkvision enables you to use control light to make total darkness, and still see perfectly. Detect magic can guide you to the real valuables to steal, and Know Alignment can help give you an idea of what kind of person you’re impersonating when using your Ebon Saint abilities. Charm Person can help set up a target to lower their weapons so you can get in a perfect sneak attack. At this point we stop investing in tumble because you can reliably hit the DCs

Feats are where we get to the very fun parts of the build. Being able to pop off a perfect sneak attack whenever is good, but it elevates to great when you have riders. To that end, staggering strike enables you to limit your enemies to a single action, for free.
Our other feat is spent on wild cohort. This is why we’ve been sinking ranks into Handle Animal. I’ve selected the badger. It’s small so can squeeze into tight spaces (especially having Escape Artist) and has burrow to get places you can’t. With the boosts to HD, Str, and nat armor from wild cohort he won’t fall apart in combat, but you’re not going to want to throw him on the front lines alone. He can help out for flanking when you want to make full attacks, or to help the rest of the party flank. It’s also got scent, which you can make use of through sense link. We’re not going to be uncharitable to the little guy and leave him in the dark while we smell through his nose, so in return we can grant him access to our vision, enhanced by the eye. The power’s text specifically allows for this. If you are more teamwork minded you can share this with other members of the party instead to double your money, but Louis dotes on his pet (it’s funnier that way).
Level 15
More abilities from the eye. Offensive powers can be used to soften up foes, pretty straightforward. See Invisibility and True Seeing are worth having the extra use (hence the Wis increases) and are definitely something to share with the party via sense link. More interesting is send the eye. You can send the eye to travel with your badger as he burrows or squeezes through tight spaces, and double sense link so you both have maximum information.

At this point we can stop investing in Handle Animal as we can always hit the only DC that will come up under stress, the DC 12 for handling him when he’s wounded. We can similarly stop investing in Use Psionic Device as we can always hit the DC to use dorjes, which you can use to supplement your power list with whatever you like. In the skill tricks department, spot the weak point makes your ranks in spot pull their weight to hit foes as a touch attack, and Assume quirk makes for better disguises as we prepare for our next class.
Level 20
Welcome to Ebon Saint. Made for a lurk but strong enough for a psychic rogue, this will helpfully advance our manifesting and give us some other neat tricks. The first is shadowfriend, which boosts your sneaking more.

For powers we add on Chameleon to boost Hide even more, Wall Walker as your version of Spider Climb, and the game changer of Hustle. Adding a free move action means you can move and full attack for a pseudo-pounce, or have greater mobility in rounds where you perfect sneak attack or manifest powers. You can even try your hand at sniping

Sneak attack goes with more sneak attack, but the main event is dire strike. Don’t miss that dire striking a target gives you a bonus on attack and AC even if you don’t do any of the dire augments. The round of study to prepare is much more palatable since you can perfect sneak attack, so you don’t have to worry about keeping the opponent flanked or flatfooted. There’s no requirements on what you have to do in that round you’re studying them, so you can multitask.
Thought theft can give you a lay of the land, and mind interrogation can give you specific information. Note that while you cannot dire strike an unconscious creature, you can dire strike a paralyzed one, so you can use the hold monster effect to keep them occupied while you study and get answers to several questions. Steal form makes for some easy infiltration as you copy the identities of the targets you take out. Disappear from the Mind means that you can erase memories that you were there. The one round it gives you is enough time to pop on concealing amorpha and hide in it, then move on undetected.
There’s no save on steal form or mind interrogation, so you can still cause a lot of havoc by impersonating the right person and knowing what the passwords are, or what exchanges or inside words are used to trap intruders.

Practiced Manifester, besides increasing the duration on your powers, gives you more bonus pp to fuel all of your tricks.
Sources
Psychic Rogue: Mind’s Eye Article (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b)
Ebon Saint: Complete Psionic
Wild Cohort: Web Enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a)
Darkstalker: Lords of Madness
Staggering Strike: Complete Adventurer
Skill Tricks: Complete Scoundrel
Powers, Badger, Practiced Manifester, Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, Iron Will, Great Fortitude, Autohypnosis: srd

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 09:02 AM

Build number 8!

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQZlLEn-1hQk9Cnk8ax1GRxjnpm0BMGUJh9SDsXY26jdI1eEsDW
Khoris Mesmer: the Third Eye of Xanathar

Danielle stepped through the illusory wall into a narrow retreat. A card table was set up and plates of food lay in the middle, stacked high with various treats. She recognized a half-dozen tropical fruits and even a few bottles of jhuild aside from some species she couldn’t or didn’t want to identify.

“Ugh, finally, her majesty arrives,” squeaked Bhulz from his place inside a crown roast. The eyeball complained unclearly through mouthfuls of beef. “You don’t outrank everyone here, two-eyes.”

Danielle held her tongue. Knowing when not to shoot her mouth off was what’d gotten her to the rank of fourth eye in the first place. No sense in jeopardizing it for some fleeting sense of pride. If she hadn’t seen Bhulz pick a headband of intellect off his former master’s corpse on a mission gone wrong, she wouldn’t have believed it. At meetings where every eye didn’t have to be present, she and the others theorized that Xanathar had allowed this thing to rise to the rank of first as a joke at their expense.

“I had to shake a tail. Don’t want to end up like Korask,” Danielle said.

She removed her gloves and picked up a bunch of grapes. “I take it you called the meeting. What can we do for you?”

Bhulz giggled and spat out a chunk of gristle. “What would I need you jokers for? Nah, it was someone else. I figure since he’s not here yet, th-“ he didn’t have a chance to finish. A flash of light and cloud of smoke filled the tiny space and the spot for the third eye was no longer empty.

“Don’t say it,” Danielle murmured to herself and pocketed a gold table knife, more out of habit and spite than need. One way or another, she wouldn’t let her time here be a total waste.

“You’re probably wondering why I’ve called you here today,” Khoris said from behind the dissipating smoke.

“Not really,” Dorian said from his spot in the fourth chair. “Your dossier was quite comprehensive. At least mine was. I’ve already—“ Khoris sidled behind him and actually covered Dorian’s mouth with his hand. She would’ve liked to see Garag try that and come back with ten fingers.

“Please, don’t speak about anything I’ve already disseminated to you. Plausible deniability is of the utmost importance for this mission. Anyway, as you may or may not know, the temple or Olidammara is having a big to-do in the next few tendays. They’ll be taking bets on the annual horse race to represent the anniversary of Ra blessing the sky by unveiling the sun,” Khoris said.

“Since when’re you an expert on Mulhorandi fairy tales?” Attracius asked.

“It’s all part of the plan. Anyway, the church will be collecting money for the race, so they will need to have enough money to cover everyone’s bet, regardless of who they’re laying out for. What I need all of your help with is stealing this money,” Khoris said.

Garag nodded without a word. Unsurprising. Dorian obviously knew more than he was letting on, but his involvement couldn’t be direct. After all, the man was a slaver.

One by one, the other eyes at the table turned to Danielle, their expert in thievery. Garag opened a bottle of beer on his tusk.

“Well?” he grunted and took a swig.

“What do you need me to do?” Danielle asked.

Khoris smiled and unrolled an enormous map.

“That’s the spirit.”

Lucian showed his identification to the guards milling around the exterior of Olidammara’s temple. He couldn’t make out their exact words, but the tone was anxious. It was seldom he met anyone who sounded any other way.

“Ah, you’re here. High priest Joseph is in his office waiting for you. Would you like to, ah, take my shoulder, sir?” the guard asked, sounding uncomfortable. From the sound of his voice, he was looking over Lucian’s sundark lenses, too opaque to allow any light to pass through.

“No, thank you. Lead the way. I’ll be right behind you.” Lucian prodded at the carpet with his cane.

This place reeked of iniquity. He passed half a dozen whores before the first rattle of knucklebones assaulted his ears. Ignoring their offers for company was second nature at this point. His devotion to Ilmater guided his step, though it did nothing to quash his temptation. After all, there would be no nobility in struggle without some force to oppose.

The guard opened a door for him. “He’s right through here, sir.”

“Right,” Lucian said.

“Before you get started, can I get you some water? It’s a scorcher today,” the guard offered.

Lucian swallowed, his mouth dry. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a drink.

“That’s not necessary.”

With that, he was alone with a priest who, judging by the location of his voice, was a halfling. Unsurprising.

“Ah, glad you’re here, though I wish we were meeting under more pleasant circumstances,” Joseph said and shook Lucian’s first two fingers.

“Before we discuss the reason you called me here, don’t you think your other servant should leave?” Lucian nodded toward the source of breathing. Something his size was sitting and drinking something from a glass.

“Set’s ears, you are good! Aranald bar Shahbaz. I’ll be here serving as a liaison between your two churches,” he said without getting up. Lucian suppressed a frown.

“That won’t be a problem, I trust?” Joseph asked, but Lucian could hear the sneer in his voice. Clearly, he had no real choice in the matter.

“It’s Ilmater’s will that I’m here, so all is as it should be,” Lucian said. “How may I be of service?”

“Splendid. We’ve recently become aware of an attempt to break into our vault,” Joseph said.

“As the owner of a vault, this must be a matter of course for someone like you by now. Why can’t your in-house personnel take care of this?” Lucian asked.

“They’ve been . . . compromised,” Joseph said with the skin on skin sound of wringing hands. “I know you’re someone who isn’t vulnerable in the same way.”

His reputation had preceded him as ever. “His family?” Lucian asked.

Joseph swallowed. “Yeah.”

“That’s terrible!” Aranald said and finally stood up in the presence of a twice-martyred soldier of Ilmater. “Are they all right?”

“We don’t know,” Joseph said. “The kidnappers didn’t ask for a ransom. We figured it wasn’t personal. Gerald has no real wealth of his own, no enemies we know of. It must have been because of his position here. The note was clear about us contacting Waterdhavian ministers of justice. If they heard anything, they’d have the boy killed.”

“Any proof he’s in their possession?” Lucian asked. He would speak to the guard whether they needed to question him or not. If he wasn’t already a believer, the potential loss of a child was as good a motivation as any to receive the truth of Ilmater.

“They sent a finger this morning. Our divinations show it’s legitimate,” Joseph said.

“That poor boy,” Aranald said with the rustle of cloth. Lucian gathered he was drying his eyes with a handkerchief. Not cut out for this sort of work, this one, though Lucian could hardly complain. The suffering he endured with this millstone shackled to his neck while he brought the criminals to justice would only deepen his connection to Ilmater. He should be thankful.

“Do they show anything else?” Lucian asked.

“Yes. The last person in possession of the finger before its delivery was a male, lawful evil human who relinquished ownership by dropping it into Gerald’s grocery delivery early this morning. He’d be, oh, let’s see, 445 moons, by your calendar,” Joseph said.

“Pardon me for intruding, but shouldn’t one of us be writing this down?” Aranald asked sheepishly.

Ilmater give him strength.

“You can if you want to. Get a copy of the note, too,” Lucian said.

With a sound of paper rustling, Lucian gathered Joseph had one handy and gave it to his obligatory partner.

“Nothing turn up on the boy’s current whereabouts?” Lucian asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Joseph said.

“That’s powerful magic, then,” Lucian said. “Come on, you can read me the note while we go question the grocery boy.”

Aranald obliged and the pair left.

There was little else of use in the note. It hadn’t given any directions pertaining to the robbery itself, and didn’t radiate magic, so it was unlikely Gerald was under any kind of mind control, though Lucian could judge for himself later.

Their questioning proved fruitful. The grocery boy had seen a shabby derelict matching the profile gleaned with a gray beard and scar over one eye. He went through the sack and he’d left with an apple and a piece of cheese. The boy figured he wouldn’t report it to the authorities because he felt bad for him. Aranald took down the description.

“Does that sound familiar to you?” Lucian asked once they were on their way.

“Should it?” Aranald asked stupidly.

“Guess you’re not local.” Why would they think to send a local liaison? “Kidnapping young boys is a racket around here. People who aren’t in on the game wouldn’t step on his toes,” Lucian said.

“Whose?” Aranald asked.

“I hope you’re combat trained. We’re going to go question Dorian the Gray.

Dorian hadn’t come quietly. Aranald had been told not to expect him to, but still, the violence that took place within that inn was going to take a while to process.

Aranald was treating his wounds with a few blessed bandages. He still lingered outside the dungeon within Olidammara’s temple. The noises he heard through the door made him confident he’d made the right decision.

Lucian reentered with fresh blood splashed across his shirt. He was holding a sack that presumably held the prisoner’s belongings and weapons. It’d gotten stained as well.

“You’ve got a little,” Aranald gestured vaguely toward his front and then realized what he was doing. “I mean, I’ve got a thing of prestidigitation here if you want me to clean it for you.”

“Hm. The blood of the guilty is unpleasant, so wearing it brings me closer to Ilmater, but it might make me miss a valuable clue if I smell like the inside of a child-seller. Yeah, go ahead. Thanks,” Lucian said. Maybe he was a flesh-and-blood man after all.

Aranald cleaned his clothes and saw he was still wounded. “Potion?” he offered.

“No, thanks. That thing in the cell hurt me badly enough to trigger a breakthrough. I’m at my strongest when I’m closest to Ilmater, you see,” Lucian said. Though of course Aranald didn’t, he didn’t feel like there was much harm in lying this time and kept silent on the issue.

“What was it?” Aranald asked.

“Once he was done acting tough and my zone of truth was up, he said he couldn’t have taken Gerald’s son. He claims to have been out drinking from the time the boy was noticed to be missing last night to the time this morning when his mother got the finger,” Lucian said.

“I don’t envy his liver,” Aranald said.

“Some despicable hole called ‘the Serpent’s Mouth,’” Lucian said.

“You should try their jalapeno poppers. They’re really good,” Aranald said. Lucian’s look of utter disgust communicated his reaction plainly. “I mean, I’ve heard, anyway.”

“No, thanks. I don’t eat,” Lucian said.

“Oh, you’re not hungry?” Aranald asked and got their cloaks.

“That’s not what I said. Where’s the wastebasket in this room?” Lucian asked.

Aranald murmured to himself. “It would be at five o’clock from where you’re standing.”

“Thanks.” Lucian reached into the sack and threw Dorian’s severed hands away. “Let’s go question the witnesses and get you some lunch.”

Aranald was too afraid to say he’d lost his appetite.

They got to the Serpent’s Mouth in short order and didn’t have to wait for a table. Maybe there were certain perks to being twice-martyred, though it did seem damned inconvenient.

“Water?” the barmaid asked. Lucian of course demurred.

“Sure,” Aranald said.

“Still or sparkling?”

“Still”

“Ice?”

“No, thanks.”

“Lemon or lime?”

“Go away,” Lucian said, having lost his patience. She obliged when she saw his suppurating wounds.

“You can ask, you know.” Lucian said once they were alone.

“Only because you told me to. I guess he went for your sword or something in there? You had to do that.” Aranald picked up a roll so he’d have something to do with his hands.

“Nothing like that. He used those hands on the children. Without them, there isn’t a chance for him to lapse back into iniquity. He’ll thank me one day. Or he won’t.” Lucian put the sack on the table before Aranald could protest. Inside there were blessedly no more body parts, just a few small knives, other miscellaneous junk, and a lump of glass.

“I was hoping you’d be good enough to describe this to me,” Lucian said.

Aranald picked the glass up and examined it. “It’s clear. I don’t see any flaws. The clarity’s okay. There’s wear and tear on the round side, like it’s been in someone’s pocket or purse, maybe with money or keys, something harder with an edge. It’s about the size of a Thayan gold piece.”

“Thank you,” Lucian said. “Are you Thayan?”

The barmaid served him his water just in time for him to spit in indignation. She also dished up two bowls of soup and a bottle of real jhuild.

“Compliments of the house,” she said sourly. “The owner’s a believer.”

“Then tell him I accept it with gratitude,” Lucian said. She left.

“I’m Mulhorandi,” Aranald said, pointing to the large turban on his head. “Oh, right. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. People forget things,” Lucian said. “We’re all flawed. He picked up his spoon to take a spoonful of soup when a pregnant woman bumped into him from behind and hit him in the back of the head with her purse, knocking his sundark lenses into his bowl.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, sir,” she said and almost managed to choke back a gasp of horror when she saw his scarred, empty sockets. She pulled her son closely to her skirts.

“It’s fine,” Lucian said.

“What the hell happened to your eyes, mister? Did they get eaten by a monster or something?” the boy said.

“Matthew!” she chided him, but didn’t unask the question.

“They tempted me,” was all Lucian had to say to get the two to flee.

Aranald sipped his jhuild as Lucian cleaned his glasses.

The silence was unbearable.

“I notice you’ve got the mark of Ilmater on the knuckle of your left index finger. How long have you been married?” Aranald asked.

“A hundred moons, twenty of them happy.” Lucian pushed his bowl away and put his sundark lenses back on. “It was after the first time I was martyred things became difficult. I wasn’t important enough for the church to resurrect right away, so things were difficult for my wife and child without me to provide for them. She suffered, I’m sure, but rather than weathering it, she sought to alleviate the pain Ilmater rationed her in this world and took to cutting purses. I don’t know what happened to my son.”

“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry,” Aranald said, feeling inadequate.

“It’s fine. I mean it’s painful, and from time to time, I do miss my Danielle, but it’s just part of Ilmater’s plan for me. It’s like this soup. It smells delicious, and judging from the texture, it’s nice and creamy, but that’s what makes me resisting these pangs of hunger a trial. It’s not temptation if you don’t want it,” Lucian said.

Blessedly, the owner came over to ask how everything was, and they had an opportunity to question him. There was someone matching Dorian’s exact description and the sketch Aranald had made who was in the place last night into the wee hours of the morning. While this obviously wasn’t enough to have Lucian throw Dorian back onto the streets, it at least meant there was someone out there who wanted to throw suspicion on his involvement in all this ugliness.

Aranald left a generous tip and mouthed an apology on their way out.

Lucian parted company with Aranald and filled Joseph in on what he’d learned.

“Anything noteworthy happen while I was away?” Lucian asked.

“One of our high rollers checked in. I was a little nervous, since she usually leaves a lot of money in our vault, but I could hardly turn her away without arousing suspicion.

There was nothing high about people who gambled so much to make it an entire lifestyle, but Lucian kept this to himself. “Is she in debt to your temple?” he asked.

“Not at the moment, no. She’s actually up a considerable amount,” Joseph said.

Then there was no profit for her to be had if the temple was robbed. Lucian was comfortable discarding her as a suspect and put her out of his mind.

“How long until the race?” Lucian asked.

“It’s starting any minute.” Joseph swallowed some pills and poured himself a glass of something out of a crystal decanter. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”

“Aranald and I will be on the floor. Come find us if anything happens. Is your man still at the vault?” Lucian asked.

“Yes. He said he wanted to stay put and I just don’t know who to trust. You’ll find Gerald at his post,” Joseph said.

“Good. I might go spea—“ a terrible racket from outside Joseph’s office interrupted him. “What is that?”

The doors to Joseph’s office burst open and a guard ran in.

“It’s the boy! It’s Gerald’s boy! He’s out!” he said.

Despite himself, Lucian swore and raced out of the office, hoping to beat the news that to the vault.

Ilmater’s favor could only do so much, and blindly fighting the crowd as they rushed in the opposite direction slowed him. By the time he got there, he found himself alone.

“Gerald! Where the hell are you?!” Lucian groped around, unable to zero in on anything in the din.

Someone out of breath approached him from behind. “I’m sorry, sir, I just heard my boy was all right. I had to go and see him. I was only gone for a minute. I told him not to stick around, I sent him straight home to his mother to get cleaned up and get his hand looked at.”

“Open the vault,” Lucian said.

Gerald swallowed. “I’m not supposed to do that unless it’s time for the count. All bets are in.”

Lucian clenched his fist around his cane til his knuckles turned white.

“In the name of Ilmater, open the damn door.”

Gerald spoke the magic word of opening and went through a number of byzantine procedures Lucian didn’t care to catalog. Eventually, he opened the door. He gave a shout and jumped back.

“What the hell?” Gerald cast an alarm to alert the rest of the staff and hunkered outside the door to await backup.

Since Gerald had neglected to tell him what was in the safe, Lucian had to venture in himself. From the sound of his footsteps, the room was still quite full of coin, the stink of wealth thick in the air. Every footstep crunched and clanked. In the center, a creature about the size of his fist grunted with exertion. Beyond that, he was blind.

Lucian leapt forward and grabbed the thing in both hands. It had four tentacles growing out of it and bit his thumb when he found its central mouth. An eyeball?

Joseph ran inside the safe. Lucian smelled his cologne over the gold.

“Snake eyes! It’s gone! It’s all gone! Olidammara have mercy on me, do you have any idea what my creditors are going to do to me?” Joseph grabbed the legs of Lucian’s trousers like you’d grab a man’s lapels to threaten him.

“Fear not, your holiness. I have the culprit right here,” Lucian presented the eyeball.

“Are you drunk? This whole stinking room is empty!” Joseph shouted. He muttered a spell and swore. He dispelled the illusion around them, and Lucian could now understand they were alone.

“The hell is this?” Joseph said. “Oh, here, you tall good-for-nothing.” He put a stone ring about as wide across as Lucian’s palm in his hand.

Lucian tried to probe it for mystical power, but just couldn’t make everything make sense.

“Do you have a weapon on you?” Lucian asked.

“Huh? Yeah, the dagger on my belt. Why?” Joseph said. No time to explain.

“I know you’re frustrated, and I need to use that. I’m close to a breakthrough, but I’m in need of divine intervention. Use that anger and stab me,” Lucian said.

“Listen, if this is some kind of trick—“

“You’ve already lost everything, just stab me, you self-important child in man’s clothing,” Lucian said and kicked Joseph in the groin.

That did it.

Joseph stabbed Lucian in the thigh and made a large, crescent-shaped cut until the wound wouldn’t close. Ilmater’s favor flowed into Lucian as his blood flowed out.

“Of course!” Lucian said, gritting his teeth and ignoring the pain. “This is all that was left behind. Not because it’s worthless, but because they couldn’t take it with them! It’s a portal.”

“Great! I’ll shrink down and you can stick me through it,” Joseph said, the offense forgotten at the promise of wealth. Disgusting.

“No, it’s burnt out now. They made it for a single use so we couldn’t follow. My wife must have been the high roller who left it in your care, so your men would smuggle it into your vault. She must have had spies here to make sure she didn’t arrive to speak to you until after I’d left. It’s despicable, but it’s brilliant. I can see it all now with perfect clarity,” Lucian said.

“Who? Who did this? Tell me, you glorified punching bag,” Joseph demanded.

Brought back to Oerth from his momentary self-indulgence, Lucian broke from his explanation for long enough to evangelize by punching Joseph in the face.

“Say what you will of me, but don’t you ever impugn the god of suffering in my presence again,” Lucian said. He held up the lump of glass he’d confiscated from the child-seller earlier. He held it against his hollow socket. “The eyes have it. The eyes of Xanathar.”

“What good does that do me? How am I going to move against Xanathar? A lot of help you and that idiot liaison of yours were in all this,” Joseph said.

“My liaison? Wasn’t Aranald with Olidammara?” Lucian asked.

“No. Wait, who sent him then?” Joseph asked.

“You stay here. Lock yourself in if you have to. I’m going to find him,” he said.

Once outside, he ran into the porter and demanded Aranald’s whereabouts.

“He’s in his room upstairs, sir. Shall I take you?” he asked.

“Time is of the essence,” Lucian said. His divine insight wouldn’t last long. He had precious little time to figure all this out.

“Then if you’ll forgive the indignity, sir, it may be faster to use the servants’ elevator,” he said. Indignity in addition to a sucking wound in the chest and thigh? Ilmater smiled upon him this day.

“Fine,” Lucian said. The two of them were inside in short order. The porter operated the cranks and levers to move them and they juddered to a halt soon enough.

Lucian reached for his belt to draw his sword so he would be ready when he faced Aranald.

He couldn’t move.

He wanted to reach for the door, but he couldn’t. He wanted to demand the porter explain himself, but could not speak.

A voice spoke to him in his mind, but it was not that of Ilmater.

“If you let me go now, whatever eye of Xanthanar you are, I can promise that I’ll kill you quickly,” Lucian thought.

“It’s Xanathar, and I don’t think I’ll be doing that. I’m not really going to be an eye after tonight, not as far as anyone outside this elevator is concerned. They were just a way to make a few bucks. After tonight, Xanathar’s going to lose another eye, but it’ll just get replaced, same as that idiot Korask. We’re like a shark’s teeth, no one pays too much attention to us. And we’re popular as souvenirs, thank you.” The porter, or whoever he was, snatched the lump of glass from Lucian’s pocket.

“Dorian will appreciate getting this back. I’ll see what the church of Ilmater can do about getting him some new hands, too.”

“They would never aid the likes of him,” Lucian thought.

“I think the order of a twice-martyred might change their mind,” the stranger spoke aloud with Lucian’s voice. He began unceremoniously stripping Lucian and getting dressed in his garments. “I mean I know it’s technically going to be thrice, soon, but that’ll stay between us.

“Using the eyes. You must be a Zhentarim spy. No one else could be so cocky,” Lucian thought.

“I wouldn’t be much of a spy if I confirmed or denied that. You believe what you want to. As far as anyone else is concerned, Lucian of the church of Ilmater killed the third eye. No one’s going to hear from him again. Maybe I’ll reenter some day. I know we still don’t have an eleventh.

“You cannot imagine the power I will wield once you thrice-martyr me. Please, for your own sake, turn back now, you miserable creature,” Lucian thought.

His impostor began working Lucian’s feet into a bag of holding and pulled it up his body. He cut Lucian’s paralyzed throat with his own knife.

“I know. You’re welcome.”

LE changeling rogue 1/totemist 4/eye of xanthanar 10/zhentarim spy 5

str 8
dex 14
con 14 (increase here at 16)
int 16 (increases here at 4, 8, 12, 20)
wis 12
cha 14

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

1st
Changeling Rogue 1
+0
+0
+2
+0
bluff 4, craft (poisonmaking) 4, craft (epic) 1, diplo 4, disable device 4, disguise 4, forgery 4, gather info 4, hide 4, intimidate 4, k (local:waterdeep) 3, listen 4, ms 4, umd 4
great fortitude
Sneak attack +1d6, social intuition

2nd
Totemist 1
+0
+2
+4
+0
spot 2, tumble 5

Wild empathy, illiteracy

3rd
Totemist 2
+1
+3
+5
+0
craft (poisonmaking) 1 (5), hide 2 (5), spot 4 (6)
iron will
Totem chakra bind (+1 capacity)

4th
Totemist 3
+2
+3
+5
+1
craft (poisonmaking) 2 (7), ms 2 (5), spot 1 (7), tumble 2 (7)

Totem’s protection

5th
Totemist 4
+3
+4
+6
+1
craft (poisonmaking) 1 (8), hide 2 (6), ms 2 (6), spot 1 (8), tumble 1 (8)

6th
Eye of Xanathar 1
+3
+4
+8
+1
bluff 3 (7), disguise 5 (9), forgery 1 (5), gather info 1 (5), spot 1 (9), tumble 1 (9)
open least chakra (crown)
Eye of the master (bonus to Spot, low-light vision), portal use

7th
Eye of Xanathar 2
+4
+4
+9
+1
balance 5, disguise 1 (10), listen 3 (7), spot 1 (10), assume quirk

Eye of the master (detect magic)

8th
Eye of Xanathar 3
+5
+5
+9
+2
disguise 1 (11), hide 5 (11), ms 2 (8), tumble 1 (10), nimble charge

Release the eye, sneak attack +2d6

9th
Eye of Xanathar 4
+6/+1
+5
+10
+2
bluff 4 (11), disguise 1 (12), hide 1 (12), ms 2 (10), tumble 2 (12), 2 FREE
mindsight
Attach the eye (charm person)

10th
Eye of Xanathar 5
+6/+1
+5
+10
+2
bluff 2 (13), craft (epic) 5 (6) disguise 1 (13), hide 1 (13), ms 2 (12)

Eye of the master (know alignment, darkvision 60 ft.), perfect sneak attack

11th
Eye of Xanathar 6
+7/+2
+6
+11
+3
bluff 1 (14), craft (epic) 5 (11), diplo 2 (6), disguise 1 (14), hide 1 (14), ms 2 (14)

Attach the eye (inflict moderate wounds), sneak attack +3d6

12th
Eye of Xanathar 7
+8/+3
+6
+11
+3
bluff 1 (15), craft (epic) 1 (12), diplo 7 (13), disguise 1 (15), hide 1 (15), ms 1 (15)
maiming strike
Send the eye, eye of the master (see invisibility)

13th
Eye of Xanathar 8
+9/+4
+6
+12
+3
bluff 1 (16), craft (epic) 1 (13), craft (poisonmaking) 1 (9), diplo 3 (16), disguise 1 (16), hide 1 (16), listen 1 (8), ms 1 (16), spot 2 (12)

Attach the eye (poison)

14th
Eye of Xanathar 9
+9/+4
+7
+12
+4
bluff 1 (17), craft (poisonmaking) 7 (16), diplo 1 (17), disguise 1 (17), hide 1 (17), ms 1 (17)

Sneak attack +4d6

15th
Eye of Xanathar 10
+10/+5
+7
+13
+4
bluff 1 (18), craft (epic) 5 (18), craft (poisonmaking) 2 (18), diplo 1 (18), disguise 1 (18), hide 1 (18), ms 1 (18),
deceitful
Attach the eye (paralysis), eye of the master (true seeing)

16th
Zhentarim Spy 1
+10/+5
+7
+15
+6
umd 10 (14)

cover identity

17th
Zhentarim Spy 2
+11/+6/+1
+7
+16
+7
bluff 2 (20), craft (epic) 2 (20), craft (poisonmaking) 2 (20), diplo 2 (20), umd 3 (17)

sneak attack +5d6, undetectable alignment

18th
Zhentarim Spy 3
+12/+7/+2
+8
+16
+7
bluff 1 (21), craft (epic) 1 (21), craft (poisonmaking) 1 (21), diplo 1 (1), disguise 2 (20), hide 3 (21), ms 1 (19)
open lesser chakra (shoulder)
poison use, unlikely cover

19th
Zhentarim Spy 4
+13/+8/+3
+8
+17
+8
bluff 1 (22), craft (epic) 1 (22), craft (poisonmaking) 1 (22), diplo 1 (22), disguise 1 (21), hide 1 (22), ms 2 (21), spot 2 (14), clarity of vision

slippery mind, sneak attack +2d6

20th
Zhentarim Spy 5
+13/+8/+3
+8
+17
+8
bluff 1 (23), craft (epic) 1 (23), craft (poisonmaking) 1 (23), diplo 1 (23), disguise 2 (23), hide 1 (23), ms 1 (23), spot 4 (18)

deep cover

Skulk around and rip some faces. Social intuition as ever is worth its weight in gold, letting you make speedier gather info and sense motive checks alongside skill mastery with bluff, diplo, gather info, intimidate, and sense motive.

Hanging out with magical beasts (alongside some of your totem binds, such as the phase cloak) provides easy access to poisons, which provide a little extra pocket money, always handy at low levels since unlike most mundane crafting, poison only takes 1/6 the normal cost.

The reason I’m paying attention to the craft skill like some kind of chump is to lay groundwork for zhentarim spy down the line. We’ll get there together.

Skilled city dweller converts totemist’s ride to tumble for you to help avoid aoos and all that other cool stuff.

Congratulations, you’re in the si. Leave that basilisk mask at home, because your eye of the master provides llv from now on. You have plenty of melds that synergize with your eye of the master’s spot bonus, such as the great raptor mask, bloodtalons, threefold mask of the chimera, and manticore belt.

You’ve opened your crown chakra and you can jam your shedu crown on there and enjoy its telepathy, granting mindsight, which again is a useful complement to your eye of the master abilities, letting you know where to direct your ire by zeroing in on creatures with your blindsense-like ability.

You’re wrapping up the si and maiming strike’s up and running. This is a favorite feat of mine, letting you do cha damage with your sneak attacks. Perfect sneak attack means it can be triggered much more often than normal. You’re nearly ready for Zhentarim spy, and all your crafts are maxed. Craft (epic), a fun little feature, again allows you to generate some extra pocket money by the selling of mundane goods, in this case, gripping yarns.

You’ve finished the si and are in Zhentarim spy. Your craft skills, in addition to their use on their own, also provide huge bonuses to your disguise. Your cover identities become more powerful as time progresses, eventually becoming impossible for anyone but the gods themselves to penetrate. Zhentarim spy provides more sneak attack, to synergize with your eye of Xanathar abilities, and provides skulk skills so you can keep your numbers up to snuff.

srd: great fortitude, iron will, deceitful
player’s guide to faerun: zhentarim spy
magic of incarnum: totemist, open least chakra, open lesser chakra
races of eberron: changeling rogue
monster manual 3: changeling
races of stone: craft (epic)
lords of madness: mindsight
complete adventurer: craft (poisonmaking)
exemplars of evil: maiming strike
skilled city dweller: cityscape web enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)

Heliomance

2018-05-04, 09:34 AM

Oh yeah, forgot to say - that's the lot, get judging!

daremetoidareyo

2018-05-04, 09:39 AM

The build I was working on before time ran out was a hairy spider former familiar. I dumped all of the social stats to be somewhere between 4 and 8. Then I use factotum, Paladin of Slaughter, and the eye to exploit the injudicious use of the word modifier in the factotums first level ability cunning surge, the shieldmaidens grace feat, and the uses per day of the eye of xanithar to turn my negative modifiers into bonuses.

Getting sneak attack in there and having enough beats to exploit it became problematic and slowed me down

Venger

2018-05-04, 11:50 AM

Here's a nice neat list for reference:

1. Nehorai, the Seventh Eye: Calimshan Human Wererat Neutral Evil Spellthief 1/ Sorcerer 6/ Spellwarp Sniper 3/ Eye of the Xanathar 7 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23045106&postcount=86)

2. Da’Shiv, Xanathar's Blade, Third Eye NE Dragonwrought Desert Kobold Rogue 2/SA Fighter 1/Spellthief 1/Ninja 1/Assassin 1/Eye of Xanathar 5/Swordsage 1/Shadowdancer 1/Nightsong Enforcer 1/Guild Thief 1/Invisible Blade 3/Dread Commando 1/Eye of X +1 (6) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23045108&postcount=87)

3. Ttal Piht NE Thayan Human Rogue 3/Cloistered Cleric 1/Swordsage 2/Eye of the Xanathar 10/Thayan Slaver 4 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23045108&postcount=88)

4. Lurinella d'Jorasco Monk 2/Rogue 3/Scout 4/Eye of the Xanathar 10/Nosomatic Chirurgeon 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23045108&postcount=89)

5. Thack o’Grugnord CE Human Rogue/Archivist/EotX/Shaper of Form/Mindbender (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23045108&postcount=90 )

6. Ol’ Greybrow, First Eye LE Old Human (Adon Talaire) Rogue 2/Ranger 4/ Fighter 1/Eye of the Xanathar 10/Shiba Protector 1/Deepwood Sniper 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23045108&postcount=91 )

7. Louis Friend, Fifth Eye and Guardian of Treats NE Human Psychic Rogue 5/Eye of the Xanathar 10/Ebon Saint 5 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23045108&postcount=92 )

8. Khoris Mesmer: the Third Eye of Xanathar LE changeling rogue 1/totemist 4/eye of xanthanar 10/zhentarim spy 5 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23045108&postcount=93)

Lots of very interesting dishes!

Can anyone see the image for Lurinella d'Jorasco? I get an error when I try to click on it.

KrimsonNekros

2018-05-04, 11:50 AM

Spellthief 2

ClassUses
Sorcerer 1
Rogue 6
Psychic Rogue 1
Fighter 2
Ninja 1
Swordsage 2
Cloistered Cleric 1
Monk 1
Scout 1
Archivist 1
Ranger 1
Totemist 1
Spellwarp Sniper 1
Assassin 1
Shadowdancer 1
Nightsong Enforcer 1
Guild THief 1
Invisible Blade 1
Dread Commando 1
Thayan Slaver 1
Nosomatic Chiurgeon 1
Shaper of Form 1
Mindbender 1
Shiba Protector 1
Deepwood Sniper 1
Ebon Saint 1
Zhentarim Spy 1

To nobody's great surprise I think, Rogue was in almost every build. That said there's a lot more variety than I was expecting here.

Venger

2018-05-04, 12:03 PM

Thanks for the chart! I love when someone makes one of those. Spellthief was misaligned. Here you go:

ClassUses
Spellthief 2
Sorcerer 1
Rogue 6
Psychic Rogue 1
Fighter 2
Ninja 1
Swordsage 2
Cloistered Cleric 1
Monk 1
Scout 1
Archivist 1
Ranger 1
Totemist 1
Spellwarp Sniper 1
Assassin 1
Shadowdancer 1
Nightsong Enforcer 1
Guild THief 1
Invisible Blade 1
Dread Commando 1
Thayan Slaver 1
Nosomatic Chiurgeon 1
Shaper of Form 1
Mindbender 1
Shiba Protector 1
Deepwood Sniper 1
Ebon Saint 1
Zhentarim Spy 1

To nobody's great surprise I think, Rogue was in almost every build. That said there's a lot more variety than I was expecting here.

Just for fun, distribution of what eyes we have:

Eye NumberInstances
1 1
3 2
5 1
7 1
none specified 3

Wolfem

2018-05-04, 01:18 PM

Venger

2018-05-04, 01:19 PM

Wow, thanks, Wolfem! Looks great.

WhamBamSam

2018-05-04, 01:23 PM

Only two entries with overlapping eye numbers is pretty good, even if we did come up a few builds short of the full 11. Looks like a pretty good lineup. A Waterdeep campaign with this lot running around would probably make for a good time.

Venger

2018-05-04, 01:26 PM

I think the difficulty of entry offset the class being available online. It would be pretty fun.

I had an idea for a second build, but didn't have the time. It looks like someone else had the same idea and ran with it.

Very exciting round. I haven't seen as many classes as dashiv since ardent dilettante.

KrimsonNekros

2018-05-04, 01:38 PM

ICO Spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oyjVU5JmeCnC8YTMqDArDqE5PszHl0Ysadz630kuTGk/edit?ts=59a4835f#gid=0) has been updated with the dishes for this cook. Had to add two extra 'Class' columns in order to fit all the class breakdown for Da'Shiv. :amused:

I think the difficulty of entry offset the class being available online. It would be pretty fun.

I had an idea for a second build, but didn't have the time. It looks like someone else had the same idea and ran with it.

Very exciting round. I haven't seen as many classes as dashiv since ardent dilettante.

I vote we hereby dub Dashiv as Little Dipper

Zaq

2018-05-04, 02:16 PM

Huh. More classes than Aesc Duan Dee or Cocus Ferrea? I guess that’s possible when the SI is left unfinished, but I didn’t expect that.

That class overlap table is fascinating. Rogue is a gimme (hmm, the SI needs one die of SA and then a million different skills? Gee, what do we need to dip to enter?), and then there’s next to no overlap at all. Two Fighters, two Swordsages, and then a ton of unique and special snowflakes. Didn’t see that coming, to be honest. I was expecting at least one of my fundamental class conceits to be repeated, but I won’t say more than that.

Lots of non-SI PrCs this round! I would have thought that needing two garbage feats to enter would discourage too many other PrCs, but I guess having 8+INT skill points makes a difference.

Who’s judging?

Thurbane

2018-05-04, 04:09 PM

Here's my incomplete entry.

It was a combo of running out of time, and also that it felt like the build was made in spite of the SI, not to make use of it:

http://i67.tinypic.com/2ytslud.jpg
Morguldul

NE Male Marrulurk Monstrous Humanoid 3/Swordsage 6/Eye of the Xanathar 10/LA +1

Ability
Point Buy
Racial
4th
8th
12th
16th
Final

Str
12
+2
-
-
-
-
14

Dex
14
+6
-
-
-
-
20

Con
12
+4
-
-
-
-
16

Int
14
-
-
-
-
-
14

Wis
14
+6
+1
+1
-
-
22

Cha
14
+4
-
-
+1
+1
20

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

1st
Monstrous Humanoid 1
+1
+x
+x
+x
Bluff +4, Hide +4, Move Sielntly +4, Spot +4
Great Fortitude, Point Blank ShotB, Rapid ShotB
Darkvision 60 ft., death attack, marruspawn traits (discriminating hearing, resistance to desiccation, resistance to fire 5, low-light vision), nauseating breath, poison use, sneak attack +2d6

2nd
Monstrous Humanoid 2
+2
+x
+x
+x
Bluff +5, Hide +5, Move Sielntly +5, Spot +5
-
-

3rd
Monstrous Humanoid 3
+3
+x
+x
+x
Bluff +6, Hide +6, Move Sielntly +6, Spot +6
Iron Will
-

4th
Swordsage 1
+3
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Quick to act +1, discipline focus (weapon focus)

5th
Swordsage 2
+4
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
AC Bonus

6th
Eye of the Xanathar 1
+4
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Weapon Finesse
Eye of the master (bonus to Spot, low-light vision), portal use

7th
Eye of the Xanathar 2
+5
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Eye of the master (detect magic)

8th
Eye of the Xanathar 3
+6
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Release the eye, sneak attack +1d6

9th
Eye of the Xanathar 4
+7
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Darkstalker
Attach the eye (charm person)

10th
Eye of the Xanathar 5
+7
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Eye of the master (know alignment, darkvision 60 ft.), perfect sneak attack

11th
Eye of the Xanathar 6
+8
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Attach the eye (inflict moderate wounds), sneak attack +2d6

12th
Eye of the Xanathar 7
+9
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Ability Focus (death attack)
Send the eye, eye of the master (see invisibility)

13th
Eye of the Xanathar 8
+10
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Attach the eye (poison)

14th
Eye of the Xanathar 9
+10
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Sneak attack +3d6

15th
Eye of the Xanathar 10
+11
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Craven
Attach the eye (paralysis), eye of the master (true seeing)

16th
Swordsage 3
+12
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Discipline focus (insightful strike)

17th
Swordsage 4
+13
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
Quick to act +2

18th
Swordsage 5
+13
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Staggering Strike
-

19th
Swordsage 6
+14
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
-

20th
LA +1
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
-
-

Level
Initiator Level
Maneuvers Readied
Maneuvers Known
Stances Known

1st
0
-
-
-

2nd
1
-
-
-

3rd
1
-
-
-

4th
2
4
6
1

5th
3
4
7
2

6th
4
4
-
-

7th
5
4
-
-

8th
6
4
-
-

9th
7
4
-
-

10th
8
4
-
-

11th
9
4
-
-

12th
10
4
-
-

13th
11
4
-
-

14th
12
4
-
-

15th
13
4
-
-

16th
14
5
8
2

17th
15
5
9
2

18th
16
6
10
Balance on the Sky

19th
17
6
Five-shadow Creeping Ice Enervation Strike
3

20th
17
-
-
-

Sources:
Marrulurk - Sandstorm
Swordsage, maneuvers, stances - Tome of Battle
Darkstalker - Lords of Madness

The Viscount

2018-05-04, 10:10 PM

Marrulurk is a very fitting choice to qualify. Pretty cool.

I must say I am blown away by the builds in this round. The chefs really made the best of a very difficult ingredient, and I'd be glad to lose to any of these builds.

Zaq

2018-05-06, 11:33 AM

I must say I am blown away by the builds in this round. The chefs really made the best of a very difficult ingredient, and I'd be glad to lose to any of these builds.

I know, right? Isn't that just the best feeling? I'm consistently impressed with everything our collection of optimizers (old and new) comes up with, round after round. I also wouldn't mind losing to what's on display here. And I have to say, I truly value the level of respect we show to each other in general; this may be just a friendly competition, but that's no guarantee that we'd turn out this way, so I want to recognize and appreciate that.

Just for fun, here's the choices that each build made regarding whether to prioritize WIS or CHA, given that the SI uses both:

Nehorai: Ending WIS 12, ending CHA 16
Da'Shiv: Unclear, since starting WIS and CHA are the same and ending CHA is listed as slightly higher than WIS, but the increases mentioned seem to affect WIS and CHA equally?
Ttal Piht: Ending WIS 18, ending CHA 14
Lurinella: Ending WIS 20, ending CHA 12
Thack: Ending WIS 21, ending CHA 10
Ol' Greybrow: Ending WIS 25(?), ending CHA 12
Louis Friend: Ending WIS 16, ending CHA 12
Khoris Mesmer: Ending WIS 12, ending CHA 14

So five builds clearly went for WIS, two builds unambiguously went for CHA at least a little, and one build either kept them equal or slightly prioritized CHA. Interesting split! I hope I didn't misread anyone's entry while compiling this table.

Jormengand

2018-05-07, 03:35 AM

My build was going to self-SA with the inflict wounds and Tomb-Tainted Soul outside of combat, and also use Perfect Sneak Attack with spring attack and a bunch of the "Your sneak attacks nerf stuff" feats so the enemy would end up staggered, unable to cast spells, and with a decent penalty to ranged weapon attacks. Unfortunately, my old computer exploded in a fiery blaze of uselessness before I could finish.

Venger

2018-05-07, 03:54 AM

that's a neat trick. I haven't seen negative energy sneak attack used for healing before. interesting use of perfect sneak attack too.

KrimsonNekros

2018-05-07, 04:11 AM

Yeah sounds like it would've been a real interesting build to see fleshed out. Sad we couldn't see it come in on time.

Selene Sparks

2018-05-12, 09:45 AM

I meant to get this in earlier, but life's been crazy.
Before I get to the actual scores, I thought I should take a moment to go into how I'm scoring things, power and use of the secret ingredient specifically. For power, I am running off the optimization by the numbers. That is, at each stage of the build, at the highest part that tier unless a specific sweet spot is mentioned, I will be comparing how it compares to the numbers it should be hitting. If it meets it adequately, that's going to be a three, if the DC of saves is below 50%, or the damage output below 25% of the average HP, or if immunity to its primary attack(s) are common and it has no outs, that will be a point lost. Fortitude and will saves will fall under a similar system. Similarly, if a build goes notably over that, with 75% chance of failed saves, 50% damage, and so on, that will be a gained point. The power score for the build will be the average of the score at each tier.

Originality: 3
It's a pretty basic Spellwarp Sniper, but with EotX bolted on. Use of wererat was clever, though.
Power: 1
Levels 1-5: 1
Your damage output is far too low. Furthermore, you've got no outs to pretty much any fort save, and you're running off of fire damage and sneak attack. At least you're sitting on a decent will save, but if all saves can't save monks, it's not going to help here
Levels 6-14: 1
Same deal as before, only it's managed to get worse. Beyond this, though, what would have been the only saving grace here, which is stealing spells, doesn't actually progress from advancement PrCs, so you've not even got that.
Level 17: 1
Nothing meaningful has changed at all. Even in absolute magic Christmas land, against enemies not immune to various energies or sneak attack, and assuming that you get it off, you're still sitting on 13d6, which was inadequate levels ago.
Elegance: 2
It's, again, a basic Spellwarp Sniper with EotX bolted on. Wererat's pretty neat, but the waste involved hurts more than it helps.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 1
You have it in your build, and frankly that's all I can really say. You have some sneak attack advancement, but that's it. I'm not even seeing another feature you actually use.

Originality: 3
It's a rather extreme version of the basic stacking of as many sneak attack sources as possible. Using Wyrm of War was somewhat unexpected, though
Power: 1
Level 5: 1
Even in magic christmas land where you get off sneak attack and sudden strike reliably, you're coming out to an average of just over six damage. Additionally, you seem to be giving yourself an extra +1 to fort for no reason I can see, but it doesn't matter, because both of your important saves are far too low.
Level 10: 1
Your hit rate has actually gone down, and your damage hasn't meaningfully improved even ignoring that. Your saves manage to have also not meaningfully improved.
Level 13: 1
Again, AC has gone up more than your to-hit has. Your damage output hasn't improved meaningfully, especially since you can't, in fact, take Assassin's Stance. Defenses again fall into the same pattern. Perfect Sneak Attack is a boon, but as my prior assessments were giving sneak attack anyway, it doesn't actually change anything.
Level 20: 1
You get three attacks at a to-hit that simply won't, or even less if you want to actually get sneak attack off. Even in an ideal world, you're putting out less than 70 damage on a hit and the average flat-footed AC at level 20 is over 34, which puts you well below an acceptable output. Your important saves themselves are unacceptably low as well.
Elegance: 1
This build brings back a lot of rather old memories, but all the class-jumping is very, very inelegant. Using a sovereign archetype, while clever, also hurts here. The worst offender, though, is that you took a stance which you were not allowed to take. Swordsages can only grab a level 1 stance to start.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
Building around PSA was expected, but the lack of anything done with the rays hurts here.

Originality: 4
Using Thayan Slaver was novel, made even more so by the fact that it is worshipping dwarfiness while being a racist human slaver.
Power: 1.25
Level 5: 2
You're short on offensive output, but you've at least got decent enough saves to be on a coin flip for will.
Level 10: 1
Absolutely nothing has changed from my previous assessment, save that Death's Ruin and Mountain Hammer are no longer enough to cover for your use of Sneak Attack.
Level 15: 1
Since you don't qualify for it, I'm discounting Contagious Paralysis. Beyond that, the DCs for your paralysis are too low. Your important saves have also fallen below standard.
Level 20: 1
Nothing meaningful has changed.
Elegance: 1
Your lack of qualification for Contagious Paralysis is a major offender here, as upon reading the text in LM, I see nothing supporting this. Furthermore, magical location feats are poor form at best, especially for prerequisites.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
You only really the sneak attack parts, as Contagious Paralysis seemed to be your plan behind using the Hold ray, but you are still getting good mileage out of PSA, and you finish it.

Originality: 4
While the basic rogue base I was expecting is here, using EotX to fuel Nosomatic Chirurgeon is quite slick.
Power: 1.25
Level 5: 1
Your damage output is simply insufficient at level 5, especially since your rider isn't a game-changer(although it doesn't have a bad DC). That's simply obviously not good enough, made worse by the fact that you're pretty much all precision damage.
Level 11: 1
Your offense has notably degraded in damage output, and your saves fall below the acceptable threshhold at this level. Interestingly, were your cutoff at level 10, you'd actually have qualified for a 2 here.
Level 15: 1
Penetrating Strike helps, but your damage output only reaches acceptable levels in the most extreme layer of Magic Christmas Land, and you have no important save at an acceptable level.
Level 20: 2
Assuming sneak attack, you manage to hit an acceptable damage output this time, assuming you've had a chance to charge or you've gotten a debuff off, and your will save is slightly better than a coin flip.
Elegance: 4
Your use of the OA feats with PSA and Snap Kick was very clever, and everything fits together pretty well. Your only real problem here is how late NC comes online.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 5
You actually notably use both rays and PSA together, and you're just not actually leaving anything notable in the ingredient out of the build.

Originality: 4
Using Shaper of Form, 2e spells, and your desired goal are all funny and clever. The fact that most of what you're proposing doesn't work hurts, but it's clever nonetheless.
Power: 2.5
Since you've not given me a breakdown, I'll be going every 5 levels:
Level 5: 5
You're an archivist, so you can buff up and do pretty much whatever you feel like. I don't really think there's much more to say,
Level 10: 3
You're still an archivist, and so can really do whatever you feel like, but without persistent spell abuse, you really can't keep up for more than a single fight by my estimates.
Level 15: 1
And now you're not even up for that. You've not gotten any real ability that's meaningfully improved since level 6.
Level 20: 1
See above.
Elegance: 1
Practiced Spellcaster cannot target Magical Training. You must choose a spellcasting class you possess. Magical Training is not a spellcasting class, no matter what it casts like. Additionally, I'm honestly unsure as to what you're even going for with Southern Magician, but it doesn't really matter, because I also don't think you can become a Mulan human specifically with Shaper. Beyond that, a mess of multiclassing with no real end goal and no meaningful change past level 6 is inelegant in the extreme.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 1
In all seriousness, I don't see any way you actually use the ingredient.

Originality: 4
I've never seen Talaire Human used in this manner before. It's a very neat trick. Additionally, the Catalogues, rather than just getting the feat itself was clever. All in all, it's a pretty neat build, where it works.
Power: 1.5
Level 6: 3
If you're abusing Minor Creation, you can murder the heck out of a single encounter. That said, without that you're dramatically below par in offense.
Level 12: 1
Your damage has actually risen to the point where you don't need to use Minor Creation to murder everything, but sneak attack and crits don't really age well, and your saves have fallen too low.
Level 16: 1
Nothing has changed at all since last checkup. With a quickened ray, you cross the 50% threshold, but it's still sneak attack and you're still running around with low saves.
Level 20: 2
You've managed to get up to a coin flip on will, so that's a plus. On the downside, your damage level hasn't kept pace with HP, so you're missing out there.
Elegance: 1
Using Otyugh Hole by itself is enough to lose here for me, but the Talaire thing, while a neat trick, hurts even more. Finally, and this one's a big one, you don't seem to actually qualify for Shiba Protector, as you aren't a Human(Phoenix).
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 4
You only lose a point here because of how EotX wants to be in melee, where you very much don't.

Originality: 3
Psychic Rogue and Ebon Saint go together obviously, and there's really nothing terribly creative about this.
Power: 1
Level 5: 1
Damage is incredibly low, especially since you didn't pick up any boosters. You're also sitting on extremely poor saves for your important ones.
Level 10: 1
Nothing has changed at all. You have a built-in flanking buddy, but considering that even flatly setting the die to 20 instead of rolling still wouldn't give you an acceptable amount of damage, it doesn't really matter. Your only real recourse as best I can tell is to buy a ton of dorjes and pretend to be a psion.
Level 15: 1
See above.
Level 20: 1
See above.
Elegance: 3
It's neat and tidy, there's really not much more to say.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
You're really only using the sneak attack elements.

Originality: 2
Pretty bland, really. Changeling rogue as a first level dip and totemist for the intro to a multiclass-heavy build are both pretty much par for the course.
Power: 1.5
Level 5: 2
Your damage output and save DCs are dramatically below par, but you've got a fort save that's just this side of passable.
Level 10: 2
Exact same problem as above.
Level 15: 1
Exact same problem as above. You're sitting on one attack that's even close to appropriate, and that one, like everything else, is super easy to be immune to, and some piddly ability damage. Beyond that, your offense hasn't notably increased since level 5. In even more unhappy news, your fortitude has dropped below a coin flip.
Level 20: 1
An extra 7 damage per attack doesn't matter much when you need to go through over 400HP and hit on a 20, and you're pretty much not going to pass important saves.
Elegance: 3
It's pretty standard stuff. Not much in the way of actively objectionable things, here
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
Melee sneak attack is what I was expecting, but you're not doing much with your rays as best I can tell.

WhamBamSam

2018-05-12, 12:54 PM

Zaq

2018-05-12, 01:16 PM

Thanks for judging. Looks tough but by and large fair. Measuring against Optimization by the Numbers seems to skew Power scores low as it's hard to determine how much WBL would or should be expected to bridge the gap, but it seems to have been applied consistently across the board.

Using Perfect Sneak Attack and an eye ray together would require a second Eye of the Master, as Perfect Sneak Attack requires the eye be released. Fortunately, the item description in the developers notes (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061107a) article say that they grant powers to any Eye of the Xanathar that uses them, so it might be possible to achieve that. Maybe some sort of cover identity ability like Khoris has could allow you to become both the 10th and 11th Eyes or something?

Indeed, thank you for judging, Selene! It's good to have a wide variety of perspectives.

I spent some time trying to think of a way to justify having more than one EotM, but I couldn't find any game elements that explicitly allow you to reverse-engineer something and craft a copy of an existing magic item that you happen to have access to. I didn't want to bring in Artificer for fairly obvious reasons, but I'm not 100% certain if even an Artificer can do it with ironclad RAW alone. Spinning a backstory involving teamkilling other Eyes seemed like it didn't have the right risk/reward ratio, so I let that one drop.

I guess Wish could make another EotM (depending on whether you count that author's notes article to make the item an artifact by RAW), but getting Wish on an EotX without some kind of spell loop would probably involve the sacrifice rules, and I already had my fun there with Thrall of Demogorgon.

Also, that article is kind of awful.

WhamBamSam

2018-05-12, 01:32 PM

Also, that article is kind of awful.Oh yeah, it's real bad. It can either be interpreted as a) this PrC is a lazy translation of a specific NPC from their home game, as you suggested earlier, and they don't have the decency to admit it, or b) this PrC isn't from an NPC in their home game because they'd never stoop to using something so dumb, but it's what you dirty players with your interest in nonstandard races like, right?

I'm not sure which one is worse.

Jormengand

2018-05-12, 04:07 PM

Sian

2018-05-12, 04:19 PM

Oh yeah, it's real bad. It can either be interpreted as a) this PrC is a lazy translation of a specific NPC from their home game, as you suggested earlier, and they don't have the decency to admit it, or b) this PrC isn't from an NPC in their home game because they'd never stoop to using something so dumb, but it's what you dirty players with your interest in nonstandard races like, right?

I'm not sure which one is worse.

my money would be on A ... Forgotten realms have been plagued by such PrC's more than most

WhamBamSam

2018-05-12, 04:58 PM

I was planning to use them separately; if you're not in combat you're arguably flat-footed against all attacks, for a start.Ah, I see. I misread your post. Yeah, you should be able to Sneak Attack yourself without needing Perfect Sneak Attack. Even if your DM is being a stickler about it, you could have an ally tie you up or something.

The Viscount

2018-05-12, 05:26 PM

Thank you for judging, Selene Sparks!

I'm impressed you guys could muddle through that second article. I tried going through it for story inspiration but it's just so dull.

Venger

2018-05-13, 03:53 AM

Using Perfect Sneak Attack and an eye ray together would require a second Eye of the Master, as Perfect Sneak Attack requires the eye be released. Fortunately, the item description in the developers notes (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061107a) article say that they grant powers to any Eye of the Xanathar that uses them, so it might be possible to achieve that. Maybe some sort of cover identity ability like Khoris has could allow you to become both the 10th and 11th Eyes or something?
It is indeed possible. You'd have to make sure all your alts told the xanathar you took separate holy days off, so he didn't wonder why you were never at the meetings at the same time.

Indeed, thank you for judging, Selene! It's good to have a wide variety of perspectives.

I spent some time trying to think of a way to justify having more than one EotM, but I couldn't find any game elements that explicitly allow you to reverse-engineer something and craft a copy of an existing magic item that you happen to have access to. I didn't want to bring in Artificer for fairly obvious reasons, but I'm not 100% certain if even an Artificer can do it with ironclad RAW alone. Spinning a backstory involving teamkilling other Eyes seemed like it didn't have the right risk/reward ratio, so I let that one drop.

Also, that article is kind of awful.
I considered the same thing, but the text saying you have to hold it up to your eye with your hand meant if you wanted to use more than one, you'd need more than 2 hands if you wanted to have a hand free, and you'd need more than 2 eyes if you wanted to use 3 or more eotms. I couldn't find a way to make it work in a cost-effective manner.

This article is the actual worst.

Zaq

2018-05-20, 08:20 AM

So. . . ‘zat it, then? It’s been a week with no disputes and no additional offers to judge, so are we about done here?

jdizzlean

2018-05-20, 08:28 AM

So. . . ‘zat it, then? It’s been a week with no disputes and no additional offers to judge, so are we about done here?

I think Helio's MIA, i put a dispute in on the 13th...

Zaq

2018-05-20, 09:08 AM

I think Helio's MIA, i put a dispute in on the 13th...

Ah. She had mentioned that she’d been ill. I hope she’s okay, and if she’s not, I hope she gets better soon!

Venger

2018-05-20, 09:18 AM

Piggy Knowles mentioned judging.

Sian

2018-05-20, 02:05 PM

[...]

Might want to edify that one, since if there's only one then

jdizzlean

2018-05-20, 02:11 PM

Might want to edify that one, since if there's only one then

eh, no worries. It'd be a hard sell to say i know of one dispute but not name myself as the author anyways lol

Heliomance

2018-05-23, 03:36 AM

Sorry for the delay - I was giving time for disputes to come in, and got distracted. Only two disputes, so it should hopefully be fast to clear and move on to the next round!

Elegance: 1
Your lack of qualification for Contagious Paralysis is a major offender here, as upon reading the text in LM, I see nothing supporting this. Furthermore, magical location feats are poor form at best, especially for prerequisites.Here are relevant passages from sections describing various special attacks that undead might have.

Paralysis
A wide range of undead creatures have paralyzing attacks, from
the ghoul to the lich. The simplest fi x is remove paralysis (which
works on up to four creatures). Freedom works as well, though
it’s a bit of an overkill. The best antiparalysis spell is freedom of
movement. Not only does it free a paralyzed creature, it provides
immunity to paralysis (as well as a wide range of other benefi ts)
for 10 minutes per caster level.

Paralysis
Ghouls (and their more powerful cousins, ghasts) are the “poster
spawn” for paralysis attacks. Despite the short duration of the
paralysis, the risk of being rendered helpless while within arm’s
reach of such feral creatures proves terrifying even to many
high-level adventurers.
The mohrg’s paralyzing tongue works well with its improved
grab ability, since a paralyzed target can’t resist its grapple
attempt. For best effect, a mohrg should begin its attack routine
with a tongue attack, allowing it to use its slam against a
potentially paralyzed foe.
The lich’s paralysis attack is the most insidious of all these
creatures. Not only is the effect permanent, but the target also
appears to be stone dead. Without a DC 20 Spot check or a DC
15 Heal check, paralyzed allies might well be left behind (or
worse yet, buried alive) without their friends ever realizing their
misdeed.
The mummy and nightwalker also utilize paralyzing attacks,
though in their cases, paralysis is a byproduct of a fear effect (see
Fear, above).
Emphasis mine. These passages imply that things like the Paralyzing Touch of a Lich which aren't explicitly named "Paralysis" still fall under the broader category of Paralysis, which should make them good enough to qualify for Contagious Paralysis, and hence, Enervating Attack should work as well. I probably should have just made Ttal a Gravetouched Ghoul to get Paralysis that way (would have helped with his MAD a bit too), but I think that he does qualify as is.

Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
You only really the sneak attack parts, as Contagious Paralysis seemed to be your plan behind using the Hold ray, but you are still getting good mileage out of PSA, and you finish it.[/spoiler]
In addition to using Contagious Paralysis in conjunction with the Hold Monster ray, Ttal can cast Hypnotism for synergy with Charm Person to implant instructions in low level targets which they will obey as if fanatical.

Eye of X Da’Shiv dispute

Originality:
A DWK, sovereign archtype melee fighter only scoring a baseline 3?

First off, on Assassins Stance:
The level of maneuver or stance you can take depends on your initiator level (IL); IL required = maneuver level * 2 - 1. Your IL is the sum of your ToB class levels and half your non-ToB class levels. So a rogue 8/swordsage 1 has an initiator level of 1 + 8/2 = 5, which is enough for a third-level maneuver or stance.

I don’t take Ssage until 12th, far beyond the above example, meaing initiator lvl 1 + 11/2 = 6 initiator level. So I qualify for a third level stance, as well as maneuvers. Also, you dinged me in Power and Elegance for the same thing, you’d have to pick one category if I was in the wrong, which I’m not.

Power breakdowns:
5- I have 4d6 sneak, and a to hit of +7. A PHB rogue at 5th has a BAB of +3 at 3d6 sneak, and probably weapon finesse, but nowhere near the bonus I have. Clearly I’m doing better here. I also don’t see where I’m only averaging 6 damage from all that. Don’t forget that Ki Power and Iron Will mean a +4 to Will saves all the time.

10- I have 6d6 SA and a to hit of +10, can use poison, true strike when needed 1/day, picked up +2 to Fort saves (like everyone else qualifying for this horrible SI). With 4 levels at this point in the SI, my saves and to hit aren’t going to be awesome, they just aren’t. A PHB rogue at 10th has +7 to hit at 5d6 SA, I’m still beating that.

15- (although you list 13, my ‘sweet spot’). At 15, I have a to hit of +12, with 10d6 sa, as well as 2d6 from a maneuver. Have HiPs combined with a hide modifier of +23 so I will in fact be getting off sneaks more often anyways (and hiding afterwards). A rogue doesn’t generally attack unless it can sneak, so why am I being penalized for following that line of reasoning? A PHB rogue has +11 to hit with 8d6 SA, which I’m still beating!

20- now I’m at +18 to hit w/ 14d6 SA, +2d6 from a maneuver, plus craven, plus poison with improved crit, EVERY round. A PHB rogue has a +15 to hit w/ 10d6 SA, which I’m still beating. I may not have chosen to optimize uses of the eye rays, but I do have them available, and Clearly I’m doing more damage outright, and sustained. Average AC may be that high on a meat shield, but a squishy target is much less so, and a fighter type is only that high when wearing their armor. Clearly I’m not interested in going toe to toe with any of them on their terms, that would be stupid for me and every other build in this competition.

I generally dislike equipment dependencies, but standard WBL would allow for a Brilliant Energy dagger, which would bypass all that AC anyways… It’d be a fun argument to have to see if you could apply poisons to that particular weapon, but that’s neither here nor there. And of course all the #’s in these breakdowns are done w/o the benefit of any equipment bonus’s added on, which just further illustrates the disparity between that massive 34+ AC and what my base hit/attack is.

Saves (with feat/Ki added):
ME: 5= F3,R5,W6
10= F6,R11,W7
15= F6,R19,W9
20= F8,R25,W11

(sorry, forum spacing makes this table look wierd when done side by side..)
PHB Rogue 5: F1,R4,W1
PHB Rogue 10: F3,R7,W3
PHB Rogue 15: F5,R9,W5
PHB Rogue 20: F6,R12,W6

Clearly my saves are all better than straight Rogue as well. It does appear I accidentally gave myself an extra +1 to Fort, but I still come out on top at all levels other than 15. Obviously my Power rating should be much higher than a 1.

Elegance rating:
Aside from excessive multi-classing, how is my build inelegant? Everything works together, all pre-reqs are paid for before they need to be used, and everything works together. How does using the Wrym of War as a sovereign archtype HURT me when it grants an extra 5 feats, and full weapon/armor proficiency that no one else has? I don’t think a bajillion classes warrants a 1 in this category either.

Use of SI:
More than anything, I built around PSA, but I also built around the Fluff of the SI as it involves and works with the Fluff of every class I took. I chose to optimize one part of the SI’s crunch, but also utilize the actual background of it. Would having 1-2 more daily uses of a ray be that much more beneficial to this build if I had to sacrifice some of the outright damage output? Unlikely at best.

Selene Sparks

2018-05-23, 01:11 PM

Emphasis mine. These passages imply that things like the Paralyzing Touch of a Lich which aren't explicitly named "Paralysis" still fall under the broader category of Paralysis, which should make them good enough to qualify for Contagious Paralysis, and hence, Enervating Attack should work as well. I probably should have just made Ttal a Gravetouched Ghoul to get Paralysis that way (would have helped with his MAD a bit too), but I think that he does qualify as is.I disagree. The section you're referring to is listing off conditions undead can inflict. All the section does is talk about how a lich can, in fact, inflict paralysis, which was never in dispute.

Sorry, but I require more than implications from a fluff chapter for this kind of pre-req dispute.

In addition to using Contagious Paralysis in conjunction with the Hold Monster ray, Ttal can cast Hypnotism for synergy with Charm Person to implant instructions in low level targets which they will obey as if fanatical.I'm sorry, but I can't really make myself believe that DC13 affects on 5 hit dice of creatures to be relevant at all by level 9. It's neat and all, but not enough to impact scoring.

Originality:
A DWK, sovereign archtype melee fighter only scoring a baseline 3?Yep. If it makes you feel better, Wyrm of War actually helped you here.

First off, on Assassins Stance:
The level of maneuver or stance you can take depends on your initiator level (IL); IL required = maneuver level * 2 - 1. Your IL is the sum of your ToB class levels and half your non-ToB class levels. So a rogue 8/swordsage 1 has an initiator level of 1 + 8/2 = 5, which is enough for a third-level maneuver or stance.

I don’t take Ssage until 12th, far beyond the above example, meaing initiator lvl 1 + 11/2 = 6 initiator level. So I qualify for a third level stance, as well as maneuvers. You are correct that your IL is sufficient to take the stance. That is irrelevant, because your build in particular is unable to take the stance.

Stances: You begin play with knowledge of one 1st-level stance from any discipline available to you.

Also, you dinged me in Power and Elegance for the same thing, you’d have to pick one category if I was in the wrong, which I’m not.I did no such thing. I "dinged" you in elegance for your lack of qualification. I merely gave no credit for the 7 damage you would have gained from assassin's stance, as is expressly allowed in the OP, but, more importantly, it wouldn't have mattered at all because 7 damage wasn't enough to swing you into an acceptable damage range.

Power Breakdown:
*snip*I thought I made my scoring benchmarks pretty clear in my post. Your power score is primarily based on how you measure up against these numbers (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=3472.0) at a CR equal to your level. Your objections regarding your idea of a baseline rogue really don't factor into my scoring at all. If you think I miscalculated things, please let me know, but I'm really not interested in objections that have no connection to how things were scored.

That said, one part of your objection was, in fact, correct. The ki power bonus puts you at exactly high enough to qualify for a point in power at level 5, so DaShiv is sitting on 8.25 points.

Elegance:
Aside from excessive multi-classing, how is my build inelegant? Everything works together, all pre-reqs are paid for before they need to be used, and everything works together. How does using the Wrym of War as a sovereign archtype HURT me when it grants an extra 5 feats, and full weapon/armor proficiency that no one else has? I don’t think a bajillion classes warrants a 1 in this category either.An excessive degree of multiclassing hurts, or more specifically, a massive collection of one-level dips for sneak attack rather than any broad synergy hurts your elegance score, because it's messy. Furthermore, Wyrm of War, like Otyugh Hole, is pretty much a textbook example of something for nothing. They are, by their nature, inelegant. And, finally, you try to take something you don't qualify for, which is the height of inelegance. The weapon and armor proficiencies, were they to matter, would have factored into power, and others' score are entirely irrelevant to your score.

Use of SI:
More than anything, I built around PSA, but I also built around the Fluff of the SI as it involves and works with the Fluff of every class I took. I chose to optimize one part of the SI’s crunch, but also utilize the actual background of it. Would having 1-2 more daily uses of a ray be that much more beneficial to this build if I had to sacrifice some of the outright damage output? Unlikely at best.Maybe. But if you'd done something to use more of the secret ingredient, you would have used more of the secret ingredient by definition, but you elected not to. I don't see what the problem is.

WhamBamSam

2018-05-23, 01:16 PM

Alrighty. That would appear to be that. Are we ready for the reveal then?

The Viscount

2018-05-23, 04:56 PM

Certainly.

Thank you for your rapid response, Selene Sparks.

Troacctid

2018-05-23, 06:01 PM

So, hey, here's something fun, we just had an adventure-building variant of Iron Chef over in another thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?556781-Kitchen-Crashers-an-adventure-building-Iron-Chef), and I am looking for four players to playtest the submission. The plan is to do it live on stream via Roll20 and have all the players showcase builds from past Iron Chef competitions. Probably on Monday, probably in the afternoon (Pacific time). Anyone interested?

Venger

2018-05-23, 06:07 PM

Zaq

2018-05-23, 10:45 PM

Anyone wanna vote on HM?

I vote for Louis Friend simply for making me laugh with the story.

Venger

2018-05-23, 11:11 PM

Anyone wanna vote on HM?

I vote for Louis Friend simply for making me laugh with the story.

I'll happily second that for the same reason.

Wolfem

2018-05-29, 08:01 AM

https://i.redd.it/qpnanx11ste01.jpg

Thurbane

2018-05-29, 02:20 PM

My HM goes to Nehorai, FWIW.

Heliomance

2018-05-30, 04:31 PM

https://i.redd.it/qpnanx11ste01.jpg

Crickets coughing, definitely.

Place
Entry
Chef
Score

1
Lurinella d'Jorasco
Zaq
14.25

2
Ol' Greybrow
WhamBamSam
10.5

3
Ttal Piht
WhamBamSam
10.25

4
Louis Friend
The Viscount
10

5=
Thack O'Grugnord
Zaq
8.5

5=
Khoris Mesmer
Venger
8.5

7
Da'Shiv
jdizzlean
8

8
Nehorai
KrimsonNekros
7

Congratulations to Zaq and WhamBamSam for the podium places!

Thurbane

2018-05-30, 04:50 PM

Congrats to all, especially Zaq and WhamBamSam (2 podium places, wow)!

I kind of wish I'd finished my entry, just to see how it would have placed. I wouldn't have expected a podium finish, but would have been fun to see what judges thought of my Marrulurk...

The Viscount

2018-05-30, 05:16 PM

An excellent round, with excellent builds. Congrats to Sam on double medals, and congrats to Zaq for first.
Now that we've revealed I can say that I found Thack O'Grugnord side-splittingly hilarious.

Venger

2018-05-30, 08:15 PM

An excellent round, with excellent builds. Congrats to Sam on double medals, and congrats to Zaq for first.
Now that we've revealed I can say that I found Thack O'Grugnord side-splittingly hilarious.
Same.

Congrats to the medalists. I didn't do that well, but I had a blast with this ingredient. It was just awful. I could go with another terrible 3.0 class like this soon, though I suspect the next ingredient is already decided on. Something like thrall of eltab, maybe.

Speaking of spelling words backwards, now that the reveal is posted, WhamBamSam, what is "Ttal Piht?" I can't anagram it into anything.

georgie_leech

2018-05-30, 08:23 PM

An excellent round, with excellent builds. Congrats to Sam on double medals, and congrats to Zaq for first.
Now that we've revealed I can say that I found Thack O'Grugnord side-splittingly hilarious.

Right? It clearly wasn't a serious build, but that was some of the tastiest RAW twisting I've ever seen. I don't know if something so specific counts, but I vote it at least gets an honorary mention in Dysfunctional Rules thread. Maybe a statue. A book crying in the corner or something.

WhamBamSam

2018-05-31, 01:03 AM

Good round all. Congrats on the Gold Zaq.

Speaking of spelling words backwards, now that the reveal is posted, WhamBamSam, what is "Ttal Piht?" I can't anagram it into anything.It's "capital," as in money, mangled until I thought it looked vaguely Thayan.

Venger

2018-05-31, 01:45 AM

Good round all. Congrats on the Gold Zaq.

It's "capital," as in money, mangled until I thought it looked vaguely Thayan.

Cool. I don't feel so bad for not getting it now. I dig Thayan names.

Zaq

2018-05-31, 09:43 AM

Thank you all for the kind words! Thack was, obviously, my silly build for this round. I'd offer an explanation, but what more is there to say? The class is so janky that one of its SLAs doesn't even exist anymore, and I knew I needed to talk about that. I was obviously angling for HM, but honestly, as long as I got everyone to laugh (getting a "WHAT THE HELL EVEN IS THIS" rise out of Helio despite her not adding any commentary to the other builds counts, I think), my goal was accomplished.

(Also, I think the skill points on Thack are the most haphazard I've ever laid out, if for no other reason than that I wasn't trying to make a serious build. Gaining 10 ranks in Forgery in one level? Sure, why the hell not?)

Did anyone notice that I was trying to mimic Darrin's style and format with Lurinella? I was really hoping that Darrin would either cook or judge, but I basically just wanted to see if I could do it. It's been years since I was last paid to be a copyeditor/formatter, but those skills don't tend to go away, and I thought it would be amusing to see if I could fool anyone. (I know that we don't play favorites here and I was neither expecting nor intending to necessarily be treated differently if I was disguised as someone else, but for reasons I may be unable to explain, I found the concept to be funny.) I'll be honest—I really didn't expect to take gold with Lurinella. I thought for sure that someone would do a similar trick better, or that the judges would balance Nosomatic Chirurgeon's intended bump to UoSI with a hit to Elegance, or any number of other problems.

This class is pretty embarrassingly bad, so the fact that we had seven serious attempts to put something on the table (plus, y'know, Thack) is impressive in itself. I don't think anyone should be ashamed of what they cooked up here, and every build that wasn't mine had something in it that surprised or impressed me. I commented on this before, but I'm still genuinely surprised how little class overlap we had (outside of the nigh-ubiquitous Rogue, which is obvious)! Congrats to everyone who entered, and many thanks to Selene for judging!

Venger

2018-05-31, 10:14 AM

I did think that build was darrin's.

daremetoidareyo

2018-05-31, 10:36 AM

Next time do my style!

Darrin

2018-05-31, 11:02 AM

Did anyone notice that I was trying to mimic Darrin's style and format with Lurinella? I was really hoping that Darrin would either cook or judge, but I basically just wanted to see if I could do it.

I am flattered. I wasn't paying as much attention to this IC because I'm supposed to be judging the junkyard... yes, like I am supposed to be doing right now, I am totally judging the junkyard thing... But yes, now that I'm looking at it, it looks like *I* submitted Lurinella. (Of course, if it was really my entry, then it would have been submitted a few days after the deadline.)

With this SI, I didn't get very far... I started with, "Ok, Rogue 1/Something 9/Eye of Xanathar 10" gives me nine levels to play around with something really, really weird", but I wasn't able to figure out what that weirdness was. I got as far as, "How about an actual beholder or beholder-kin becomes an Eye?" but as soon as I got to the "Ok, you're a beholder now" part, adding Eye of Xanathar made absolutely no coherent sense. Ooze was my next thought, but I'd already done that. I got as far as, "Maybe something that's blind, like a grey render, so it can see through the Eye thingy?" but at that point I gave up on it.

It's been years since I was last paid to be a copyeditor/formatter, but those skills don't tend to go away, and I thought it would be amusing to see if I could fool anyone. (I know that we don't play favorites here and I was neither expecting nor intending to necessarily be treated differently if I was disguised as someone else, but for reasons I may be unable to explain, I found the concept to be funny.)

I have been worried for a while now that my "format" was giving me away as the cook, and maybe I should consider doing more to disguise that. I suppose I have my answer... although now, maybe it's more of a toss-up... it could be someone copying me!

Anyway. Back to judging... I am totally judging right now.

Next time do my style!

I think he may have already done so... I was thinking Thack was probably yours.

Wolfem

2018-05-31, 03:11 PM

As I was updating the ICO Spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oyjVU5JmeCnC8YTMqDArDqE5PszHl0Ysadz630kuTGk/edit?ts=59a4835f#gid=0) I was having issues matching the #'s in the final chart.

Spoiler: Tlat Piht: 10.25
Hide

Originality: 4
Using Thayan Slaver was novel, made even more so by the fact that it is worshipping dwarfiness while being a racist human slaver.
Power: 1.25
Spoiler
Show

Elegance: 1
Your lack of qualification for Contagious Paralysis is a major offender here, as upon reading the text in LM, I see nothing supporting this. Furthermore, magical location feats are poor form at best, especially for prerequisites.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: 3
You only really the sneak attack parts, as Contagious Paralysis seemed to be your plan behind using the Hold ray, but you are still getting good mileage out of PSA, and you finish it.

How does 4+1.25+1+3= 10.25? That would be 9.25. I didn't see anything in the judges reply to the dispute for this build to indicate the score should change for it. This changes the third place for this cook if I am correct.

Also:

That said, one part of your objection was, in fact, correct. The ki power bonus puts you at exactly high enough to qualify for a point in power at level 5, so DaShiv is sitting on 8.25 points.

Da'Shiv should have a score of 8.25 base on that quote from the judge.

If I am missing something here, please correct me so I can update the spreadsheet accordingly. There are other #'s that don't match up with the original judging.
Below is what I got based on the #'s.

Place
Entry
Chef
Score

1
Lurinella d'Jorasco
Zaq
14.25 (4, 1.25, 4, 5)

2
Ol' Greybrow
WhamBamSam
10.5 (4, 1.5, 1, 4)

3
Louis Friend
The Viscount
10 (3, 1, 3 , 3)

4
Khoris Mesmer
Venger
9.5 (2, 1.5, 3, 3)

5
Tlat Piht
WhamBamSam
9.25 (4, 1.25, 1, 3)

6
Thack O'Grugnord
Zaq
8.5 (4, 2.5, 1, 1)

7
Da'Shiv
jdizzlean
8.25 (3, 1.25, 1, 3)

8
Nehorai
KrimsonNekros
7 (3, 1, 2 ,1)

Venger

2018-05-31, 05:48 PM

Wolfem, I double checked your math and you are indeed correct. Good eye.

Zaq

2018-05-31, 08:51 PM

I did think that build was darrin's.

This feeling—is this what is called "victory"?

Next time do my style!

I think he may have already done so... I was thinking Thack was probably yours.

Yes and no. I can ape the format-based aspects of your style, dare (in-line citations of sources, including page numbers, with "page" abbreviated as "p." with no space between the period and the number; direct quotations for whatever critical and obscure rules text is needed for your delightfully insane argument du jour; often multiple highly whimsical pictures, usually including one near the bottom of your entry; a helpful listing of your race's features at the beginning; usually no capitalization of skill names; usually but not always something slightly nonstandard about the table formatting; a willingness to use items when going really far down a rabbit hole; skill ranks presented simply as new ranks and not as what changed between last level and this one), and I might be able to sorta-kinda approximate your wonderfully breezy and matter-of-fact way of presenting something completely bonkers, but it's a rare class indeed that sends my mind down the kinds of rabbit holes yours seems to dive down so readily.

I admit that Thack was, if not necessarily an attempt to mimic you, at least something that I knew you could appreciate. If I had had more time and more energy, I might have tried to put Thack's build into your format, but by the time I had thought of two builds (I actually thought of Thack first and only came up with Lurinella at what felt like the last minute, so I was kind of scrambling with my submissions) and already spent the time to directly mimic one person's style, I basically just wanted Thack to be done. It is, to be fair, probably the closest I've ever come to submitting a true dare build (Speeloxhuu (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22441645&postcount=106) being runner-up), but I think you wouldn't have put in the wink-at-the-camera Q&A session at the end. You would have just presented it and let it stand on its own. Still, I'll take the fact that someone thought that it was yours to be praise! Your particular flavor of sideways optimization is consistently a true delight.

I realized after the fact that I didn't perfectly nail Darrin's style. I got all (or almost all) of his formatting down, but he always includes a short, usually playfully over-the-top story, whereas I just threw in a quick "here's my thought process, so let's get down to business" section at the start without really including any meaningful fluff. But it's way easier to copy formatting than to copy creativity.

WhamBamSam's style is a bit harder to mimic because he does mix things up a bit, but he has a tendency to make sure that all of the section names are subtly or not-so-subtly related (and usually quite clever). The way he writes up his skills is similar to, but different from, Darrin's. Venger's tell is that he writes a really, really good fiction piece and then puts basically no capital letters in the actual build writeup. The Viscount is a stealthy guy whose style is slippery enough that I haven't been able to pick out a defining feature, which is actually rather fascinating.

My own tells are basically that I can't stay away from a parenthetical comment (sometimes in parentheses, sometimes in em dashes or just in commas) to save my life, and I tend to get almost preemptively defensive about things that seem to require unusual rules interpretations, like I have to ward off any sort of criticism before it happens. And I tend to awkwardly highlight things that make my build unique in language that isn't always natural. And you can tell my "sweet spot" without me pointing it out because it's usually about three or four times as long as the other sections. And I always capitalize class names (Rogue) but never capitalize race names (halfling), at least when I'm not intentionally trying to disguise myself. I tend not to use pictures, though I've been trying to slowly change that. And I think my fiction is usually garbage, though that's possibly me being my own worst critic—but I still think it tends to be better if I make it shorter.

Anyway. Styles. They happen. They're fun to play with. Sometimes more fun than the nonsensical ingredients. Have I mentioned that I love you folks? Because I do. This is a truly awesome community.

Venger

2018-05-31, 09:58 PM

Wow, Zaq, that was a super interesting post. I'd love to see more of your thought process behind this kind of thing when it comes to you in the mind of an iron chef (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?545591-Inside-the-Kitchen-Mind-of-an-Iron-Chef) thread (if we can thaw it from its torpor) or in a similar one if that doesn't end up being allowed.

Heliomance

2018-06-01, 04:50 AM

That is really fascinating, Zaq. I've only done a couple of builds myself, but I'd be very interested in your analysis of my style!

Sorry for the delay in the new contest, I meant to get it up yesterday and failed to. It's coming today, hopefully within the next hour or so.

Darrin

2018-06-01, 08:26 AM

I realized after the fact that I didn't perfectly nail Darrin's style. I got all (or almost all) of his formatting down, but he always includes a short, usually playfully over-the-top story, whereas I just threw in a quick "here's my thought process, so let's get down to business" section at the start without really including any meaningful fluff.

Well, I don't always include a backstory. I try to keep them short because I'm usually trying to scramble at the last minute, and I want something that I can bang out quickly and get the thing submitted. Lately, backstory usually boils down to, "Can I tell a stupid or somewhat light-hearted joke that will hopefully take only a few paragraphs, rather than a much more long-winded character study?"

WhamBamSam's style is a bit harder to mimic because he does mix things up a bit, but he has a tendency to make sure that all of the section names are subtly or not-so-subtly related (and usually quite clever).

WhamBamSam's formatting/style is what I aspire to emulate when I start putting together an entry, where the formatting, mechanics, and fluff all flow together. But usually I don't have enough time to be that clever.

Wow, Zaq, that was a super interesting post. I'd love to see more of your thought process behind this kind of thing when it comes to you in the mind of an iron chef (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?545591-Inside-the-Kitchen-Mind-of-an-Iron-Chef) thread (if we can thaw it from its torpor) or in a similar one if that doesn't end up being allowed.

I liked that thread! I'd be happy to see it de-thawed, although I'm not sure any additional bloviation from me would improve it much. I distinctly remember submitting entries and not medalling, and it was extremely frustrating. Persistence pays off well. And judging... you *really* get a much more in-depth understanding of all the nooks and crannies of the mechanical stuff when you have to take apart multiple builds.

This competition is extremely unique. I'm not sure it could be replicated with any other rules system (well, ok, maybe Pathfinder, but that's an apple still very close to the tree, if not still connected to the branch). Although I guess that's part of the blessing/curse of 3E: Yes, there are diamonds buried in there, but there's a lot of digging through Sturgeon's Law to get at them.

KrimsonNekros

2018-06-01, 09:49 AM

I'm curious about my my stylistic tells now lol.

WhamBamSam

2018-06-01, 10:42 AM

WhamBamSam's style is a bit harder to mimic because he does mix things up a bit, but he has a tendency to make sure that all of the section names are subtly or not-so-subtly related (and usually quite clever). The way he writes up his skills is similar to, but different from, Darrin's.
WhamBamSam's formatting/style is what I aspire to emulate when I start putting together an entry, where the formatting, mechanics, and fluff all flow together. But usually I don't have enough time to be that clever.Interestingly, looking back on my past entries, I use that formatting most often for second entries and others that I threw together more quickly, probably because it's what I default to when I don't feel like doing more to disguise my build. That didn't happen to be the case this round (Ttal was my first build, though I put about the same amount of effort into each), but it's a pretty consistent pattern throughout my time in Iron Chef.

Wow, Zaq, that was a super interesting post. I'd love to see more of your thought process behind this kind of thing when it comes to you in the mind of an iron chef (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?545591-Inside-the-Kitchen-Mind-of-an-Iron-Chef) thread (if we can thaw it from its torpor) or in a similar one if that doesn't end up being allowed.The IC commentary linked in his signature is a good read very much in the spirit of that thread.

Venger

2018-06-01, 10:46 AM

Interestingly, looking back on my past entries, I use that formatting most often for second entries and others that I threw together more quickly, probably because it's what I default to when I don't feel like doing more to disguise my build. That didn't happen to be the case this round (Ttal was my first build, though I put about the same amount of effort into each), but it's a pretty consistent pattern throughout my time in Iron Chef.

The IC commentary linked in his signature is a good read very much in the spirit of that thread.

It certainly is, but I've read that already, unfortunately.