Iron Chef Optimization Challenge: E6 Appetizer Edition (Round X) [Archive]

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Zaq

2018-06-24, 04:29 PM

Welcome back to the Iron Chef Optimization Challenge E6 Appetizer Edition! This is round 10, so we're going to mix things up a bit. This round's ingredient will be genuinely good, but we're going to change how we handle scoring for this round and this round only, so please pay attention!

The form of this challenge is to take a particular D&D 3.5 base class (our "secret ingredient," or SI) and turn it into a functional E6 (https://esix.pbworks.com/f/E6v041.pdf) build, which must feature the SI as heavily as possible. (The only hard rule about this is that you must take at least one level in the SI, though judges are encouraged to look favorably on builds that take all or almost all of their levels in said SI.) Your final build submission should consist of your 6 regular levels and your first 10 epic bonus feats, though providing a snapshot at earlier points through the progression is heartily encouraged. Entries are to be PM'd to the Chair (that would be me!), and they will be posted anonymously; our volunteer judges will then grade each build on a 1-5 point scale in three categories: Power, Elegance, and Use of the Secret Ingredient, and on a 1-10 point scale in Originality. (The change to how Originality is scored shall only apply to round 10!) The builds with the highest three scores will be awarded medals, with the Honorable Mention award going to the non-medaling build that the Chair likes best and/or that receives the most votes for HM in this thread. (HM may not always be awarded, particularly if the number of builds is very small.) And then we all have cake!*

*Note: You must provide your own cake.

This is basically like the regular Iron Chef, and let's be brutally honest with ourselves here: this isn't a gargantuan community, and we basically all know what we're talking about at this point. Make the builds, send 'em in, post some scores, and have fun. If you've got questions, lemme know. Still, let's lay out a few rules!

Cooking Time: Builds must be submitted via PM to the Chair by 4:59 PM GMT - 8 on Thursday, July 12, 2018 (12:59 AM GMT on Friday, July 13). The reveal shall be on the first evening the Chair has free following the cooking deadline, which is hoped to be that evening or the immediately subsequent one. Judging is then expected (*cough*) to take no more than two weeks, so we'll put the judging deadline at approximately two weeks after that, with adjustments as necessary. (You can do the math yourselves; I don't want to put two dates here and confuse people.) Notice that this is slightly earlier in the day than previous deadlines; the goal is to have the deadline be around the time the Chair gets off of work on that particular day, thereby allowing him to post the builds without having to stay up super late or wait until the next day.

Kitchen: Let's break this one down a bit.

ALLOWED: Almost all D&D 3.5 material published by WotC: Core, Completes, monster books, Races Of books, alternate power source books (Expanded Psionics Handbook, Magic of Incarnum, Tome of Battle, Tome of Magic, etc.), Spell Compendium, Book of Exalted Deeds, Book of Vile Darkness, Eberron material, Forgotten Realms material, and other WotC-published 3.5 material. (This list is NOT exhaustive and there are many other legal books that I did not mention by name!)

ALLOWED: Material from the 3.5 archives of the Wizards of the Coast website (including, but not limited to, the Mind's Eye articles). If you use it, link it.

ALLOWED: Official errata from WotC. If you're relying on this in a material fashion, it's a good idea to link it and to discuss it.

NOT ALLOWED: Unofficial errata, including "class fixes" (regardless of the source, including from the original author if not published in a WotC book) or fan-created content.

ALLOWED: Unupdated WotC-published 3.0 material (e.g., Sword and Fist, Masters of the Wild, etc.) except for 3.0 psionics. No 3.0 psionics allowed. If you are using 3.0 material, use the general-purpose skill updates (Wilderness Lore becomes Survival, Innuendo becomes Bluff, etc.) and the general-purpose rules updates (spells with a casting time of "1 action" become "1 standard action," etc.) when appropriate.

NOT ALLOWED: 3.0 material for which a direct 3.5 update exists. Use the updated material instead.

ALLOWED: Dragon Compendium and its errata (http://paizo.com/download/dragon/compendium/DragonCompendiumVolumeIErrata.pdf).

NOT ALLOWED: Content from Dragon Magazine and/or Dungeon Magazine unless said content appears in an otherwise allowed source.

ALLOWED: Oriental Adventures, including the 3.5 update to Oriental Adventures from Dragon Magazine #318. This is a specific exception to the "no Dragon" rule!

NOT ALLOWED: Pathfinder content, regardless of whether it is "D&D 3.5 OGL" or not. If it didn't come from WotC, we don't want it.

ALLOWED: From Unearthed Arcana: racial paragon classes, alternate class features/variant classes, spelltouched feats, and variant races. (Traits and flaws are technically legal, but traits warrant a -0.5 point penalty in Elegance, and flaws warrant a -1 penalty in Elegance.)

NOT ALLOWED: Other Unearthed Arcana content, including (but not limited to) bloodlines, LA buyoff, fractional BAB/saves, alternate casting systems, alternate skill systems, item familiars, prestigious character classes, generic classes, gestalt, etc.

NOT ALLOWED: Leadership, regardless of source. Game elements functionally equivalent to Leadership (including, but not limited to, Dragon Cohort, Undead Leadership, and Thrallherd) are similarly banned. (Familiars, Improved Familiar, animal companions, Wild Cohort, psicrystals, elemental envoys, and similar game elements are allowed, and they are not considered to be "Leadership." If the difference isn't obvious, feel free to contact the Chair with specific questions.)

NOT ALLOWED: Third-party content, homebrew, or other non-WotC content.

NOT ALLOWED: Epic feats from the Epic Level Handbook. Just because you're "epic" in E6 after 6th level doesn't mean that you're that kind of epic.

NOT ALLOWED: Any race or template with a level adjustment other than +0. (Or any other source of LA other than a race or template, if any such things exist.)

NOT ALLOWED: For our judges: penalizing solely based on legal sources used, regardless of whether those sources are plentiful, sparse, common, obscure, or something in between. If the material is legal, then it doesn't matter how many or how few books it came out of.

ALLOWED: Also for our judges: penalizing for using a source (other than material in Core; don't be vindictive about genuinely obvious stuff) that isn't listed in the build writeup. The chef may choose to present the sources in-line with the text, in a consolidated source list, or somewhere else, but if the source is listed (and is otherwise legal), it counts. If the source is not listed, you may choose to penalize for that.

If you have questions about anything in this section (or hell, in this ruleset), feel free to ask the Chair.

Character Creation: 32 point buy is assumed. For the purposes of this contest, Level Adjustment greater than +0 is banned. (This may be revised at a later point, but I don't feel that the E6 LA rules are conducive to fun in the context of this contest.) No more than two entries per chef per contest, please; if you submit two builds and somehow are so overcome with inspiration for a third that you can't help yourself, PM me and tell me which two you care about the most.

Speculation: Please do not post any form of speculation before the reveal. Just don't do it, guys. It's not cool. This means NOT posting any of the following or anything substantially similar: what you think is going to be common, significant elements of your planned build or of other potential builds, or anything else that could directly influence someone else's build choices for good or for ill. (It's acceptable to ask for rules clarifications as appropriate, but try to avoid tipping your hand too much.) Speculation is bad because it can discourage people from posting builds and can also "taint the judging pool" when it comes to Originality, so please just try to be aware of how other people might react to your speculation.

E6: Here's how E6 works for the purposes of this contest. Build your character normally for the first six levels. After you reach level 6, you stop gaining levels and start gaining bonus feats every time you would gain 5,000 XP. Since we aren't actually tracking XP, you'll basically list your first ten epic bonus feats in the order that you take them, and we think of them as being kind of like levels. We will not use the LA-equals-reduced-point-buy rules, instead preferring to just ban races with LA, at least for now. We will not use the "capstone feats"; all feats that you take must be normal legal 3.5 feats, not homebrew E6 ones. You may not use the Epic feats from the Epic Level Handbook, though if for some reason there are non-Epic feats from the ELH that you qualify for, you may take those. (I don't think there are any, but I'm sure someone will prove me wrong.) It is up to the discretion of each judge whether this is a "hard E6" (magic above 3rd level spells is simply beyond mortal reach, items that have a listed CL above 6th are just plain not available, etc.) or a "soft E6" (if you can somehow get the magic on your character, it's yours, regardless of level), though I honestly don't expect it to come up. Don't go crazy with making assumptions about items and we probably won't have to find out.

Presentation: Please use the table found below in the spoiler. List your epic bonus feats (in clear order) after the table. If you find a clever way of formatting that that isn't annoying and that doesn't break anything, have fun; if it's portable, I may steal it for the next round. When sending your build or any disputes to the Chair, clearly include your build's name in the subject of the PM, and please present your build exactly as you want the Chair to copy and paste it into the thread.
If you're using a picture, cite the source and follow any relevant citation rules. Because we have had issues with this in the past, when listing your skills, please make it very clear how many ranks you have at each level. There are multiple ways to do this and we do not wish to cramp anyone's individual style by dictating exactly how this must look, but make sure that somewhere in your entry there's an explanation of how many actual skill ranks you have. It's still fine to list total skill bonuses, if that's your style, but don't only list bonuses; make sure that there is a clear listing somewhere of your ranks alone.

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

Code for the table:

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

Contest houserules: Nearly the same as the main contest's rules here: all creatures are proficient with natural weapons they have or may acquire, bonus feats that are explicitly granted without meeting prereqs are usable even without those prereqs, and feats that affect which skills are class skills for you and/or how you spend your skill points (Able Learner, Martial Study, Truename Training, Apprentice, etc.) apply immediately at the level at which you take them (even though you normally spend skill points before taking a feat).

Judging guidelines: The minimum score in a category is 1, and the maximum is 5 (except in Originality, where for round 10 only, the maximum is 10). Judges are expected to be fair, consistent, and open-minded, and they are expected to make a good-faith effort to engage with any reasonable disputes that arise, especially when RAW is in question. That said, contestants are asked to not dispute more than necessary; let's do everything in good faith and really only dispute when a judge is being inconsistent, being unfair, or is otherwise grossly misinterpreting a build.
Judges may not penalize Originality solely because a build is a tribute or homage to an existing creative work (in or out of D&D canon; note that this is not the same thing as penalizing Originality for using well-known optimization tactics), nor may judges penalize based solely on sources used (whether those sources are plentiful, sparse, common, obscure, or something in between, you should judge the build elements and how they work together rather than what book or what books they came out of, as long as those books are legal for this contest and are cited in the entry).
As with the main contest, we will follow the "One Mistake, One Penalty" guideline, and it is very important that the judges adhere to it. I'm going to directly copy and paste this from the main thread, and hopefully the original author won't mind too much:
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
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.

Other bits and bobs: If there's something major and relevant I haven't mentioned, assume that the way I handle it will probably be the same as the main contest unless stated otherwise or unless doing so would be an obviously absurd result. If you've got questions, I'll give you answers.

This round's secret ingredient: the CRUSADER, from Tome of Battle! Allez Optimizer!

Just because I haven't said this enough, FOR THIS ROUND ONLY, JUDGE ORIGINALITY ON A 10-POINT SCALE RATHER THAN A 5-POINT SCALE. Other categories are to be judged as usual.

The Builds:

Name
Alignment/Race
Class Stub
Score
Place
Chef

Cray the Gnarled (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217370&postcount=28)
LE Krynn Minotaur
Crusader 4 / Cleric 1 / Marshal 1
14.5
Bronze
jdizzlean

Meran 'The Hammer' Torson (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217374&postcount=29)
CG Maenad
Crusader 5 / Warblade 1
16
Gold
Randuir

Justarius (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217377&postcount=30)
LN Body Hellbred
Crusader 4 / Divine Mind 1 / Incarnate 1
16
Gold
thorr-kan

Talon (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217378&postcount=31)
? (nonlawful?) Razorclaw Shifter
Crusader 4 / Barbarian 1 / Berserk 1
10.5
4th
tterreb

Round 4: Knight (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?542333-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-E6-Appetizer-Edition-(IV))
Round 5: Ninja (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?548763-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-E6-Appetizer-Edition-(Round-V))
Round 6: Racial Paragon Classes (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?551174-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-E6-Appetizer-Edition-(Round-VI))
Round 7: Hexblade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?553767-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-E6-Appetizer-Edition-(Round-VII))
Round 8: Shugenja (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?555626-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-E6-Appetizer-Edition-(Round-VIII))
Round 9: Swashbuckler (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?559135-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-E6-Appetizer-Edition-(Round-IX)")

Round 1: Divine Mind (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?197000-Iron-Chef-Appetizer-Edition!-(e6))
Round 2: Monk (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?201548-Iron-Chef-Appetizer-Edition!-(e6)-II)
Round 3: Marshal (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?235221-Iron-Chef-Appetizer-Edition-(E6)-III)

Zaq

2018-06-24, 04:34 PM

The Crusader is a fantastic class, especially in an E6 environment where martial characters haven't been totally scaled out of relevance yet. It's very easy to make a powerful and fun Crusader.

What's a little tougher is differentiating Crusaders from each other, especially at the level range we're talking about. They have a very high power floor partly because they don't have that many options yet. Most of the options they do have up to level 6 are pretty good! But your challenge is not just to make something good. Your challenge is to make something unique. What makes your Crusader different from the next one? How do you stand out from the pack?

Originality is now weighted higher than the other categories, but of course, it's not the only category. The other three combined are still worth more than Originality alone. But the point of this round is to pay special attention to Originality and to really encourage you to show off how you can make something special even when playing in a similar space to everyone else.

Round 11 will be scored normally, with each category being the usual 1-5 point scale. But let's have some fun going a little bit sideways here.

As a reminder, we'll also always need judges!

Long_shanks

2018-06-24, 04:53 PM

Oh wow! It,s been a long time since I've delved in ToB (and when I do it's almost always for Warblade or Swordsage, my absolute favorite class). Let's see if I can unearth something fun for the crusader.

jdizzlean

2018-06-24, 05:59 PM

maybe for me.

it's not a reflection on the SI, but that my brain is so toast from trying to figure out my current Hoardstealer build.

MinimanMidget

2018-06-24, 11:04 PM

I have an idea for this, I'll try to get a build in.

WhamBamSam

2018-06-25, 01:06 AM

I'll be getting something in for this. I've already got one idea. Whether it's considered original will depend largely on the judge, but that's often the way of things.

DeTess

2018-06-25, 01:13 AM

Heh, this is indeed an unambiguously good ingredient. I've got one idea already, but Vizzini probably has a thing or two to say about this one.

Hish

2018-06-25, 11:50 AM

This round I should be able to put together a build. I've got some ideas brewing now.

Zaq

2018-07-04, 10:51 PM

How’s everyone doing?

tterreb

2018-07-04, 10:55 PM

How’s everyone doing?

I'm almost done with a build that I think should get me at least a solid 9. Hopefully. We'll see how it goes.

DeTess

2018-07-05, 01:03 AM

I'm pretty much done. I want to slightly refine my fluff a bit more, and then it's just formatting. I expect to send it in today or tomorrow.

Long_shanks

2018-07-05, 07:35 AM

Work hit me hard for the last days/weeks. Plus, I read and re-read Crusader, all the maneuvers, and just drew a complete blank on doing something original.

MinimanMidget

2018-07-05, 04:31 PM

My idea 100% did not pan out.

RaiKirah

2018-07-05, 05:54 PM

First off, I want to apologize for disappearing off the face of the Boards for the last month when I had promised judging for Round 9; that was Not Cool, and I'm sorry. Real life got a little hectic, but I should still have taken a moment to log on and let you all know I would not be able to judge.

In partial reparations (and because there really isn't time to build a good entry at this point any more), I would like to offer my services judging for this round. If that's acceptable, let me know. Looking forward to what y'all come up with!

~RaiKirah

Zaq

2018-07-05, 05:55 PM

Zaq

2018-07-06, 08:21 PM

Friendly reminder: fewer than 72 hours remain!

RaiKirah

2018-07-06, 11:17 PM

Hello Folks!

I figure that it might behoove us all if I post some thoughts on my intended judging criteria. As this is my first time judging, these criteria are somewhat preliminary, and definitely malleable – part of the hope from posting these is to get feedback on any area that seems poorly defined or inconsistent with the spirit/law of the judging aspect of these competitions. My approach to judging is going to be more qualitative rather than quantitative, and certainly not granular on the level of some I’ve seen (.25 points will be vanishingly rare, and most likely only show up in disputes). This might change in future as I get a better sense of what specifically I’m looking for.

A general note on build write ups: Please be as clear and obvious as possible with any and all tricks/combos/cool things you’re including in your build. While you may be able to clearly see a four part combo and all of its implications clearly, I may not be able to do so. The clearer and more specific you are the more I can appreciate and award the awesomeness you have put together.

With the various disclaimers out of the way, let’s take a look at the categories.

This category is difficult to define normally, and with its double weighting in this round it becomes more so. Seeing as Originality is the focus of this round, a neutral build will be scored lower than it might in a regular round. For example, a Human Crusader 6 with only Fighter Bonus feats – which might be considered neutral in a regular round – will get a solid “meh” and be scored as a 3-4. Lower scores will happen based on over-used optimization staples without a twist (Power Attack/Leap Attack/Shocktrooper as your only trick would fall under this category, but if it happens to be an aspect of your build I’m not going to penalize it), blatant Originality grabs without a thematic or mechanical reason, and obvious build plagiarism. An example of a 1 might be an Aquatic Necropolitan Anthropomorphic Bat Crusader wielding a Sugiin (why yes, I have been researching for the Junkyard Wars competition). On the other end, scores go up as my interest/surprise/curiosity go up. Getting a reaction of ‘hmmm’ might get into the 4-5 realm, ‘oh, interesting’ could be 4-6, ‘wait, you did what now?’ might be ~7-8, etcetera. A note on backstory: I will never penalize for backstory, unless it breaks forum rules or is clear plagiarism (of the verbatim type). Homages and parodies are certainly welcome. A particularly excellent backstory might net a point, but it almost certainly won’t do more than that. That said, backstory can turn an originality grab type choice into a positive score modifier, as I can then follow the reasoning.

To me, Power has two primary axis upon which to judge; Power with respect to the class’ baseline competence, and Power with respect to the overall game mechanics. The first is fairly straightforward: the Crusader is a primary melee combatant, which means all builds will be judged on their ability do combat. If you make your build stronger than a standard Crusader you’ll get a bump. If you somehow manage to make your build weaker in combat than a standard Crusader, you better believe you’ll get a scoring demerit. The second realm of power judging comes with respect to the holistic game system. When you break it down, DnD gameplay roughly falls into three categories: combat, social, and what I’ll call utility (skillmonkey, knowledge bank, etc.). Crusaders are designed to be good in combat, so any true competence in the other realms that come without expense to fighting will be rewarded. True competence that comes at the expense of combat capability will also be rewarded, though the lack of combat capability will be penalized as above. So, to summarize, if you can strike a pose and crack the world in two with your muscles, you’ll be getting a 5. Similarly, if you can rule the battlefield, ballroom, and have a solution to ‘that,’ whatever ‘that’ may be, you’ll also get a 5. On the other end of the spectrum if your character spends his time alone in a sickbed unable to do anything at all you’ll get a 1. A final note: Power will be judged as if all prerequisites have been met, and where mechanics are questionable tie goes to the Chef. These issues will be covered in Elegance.

As with Power, Elegance has two primary aspects on which I will judge; a mechanical one, and – for lack of a better term – a metaphysical one. Mechanical is pretty straightforward: if prereqs are missed and/or there are errors in the build you’ll get dinged for that. If everything is copacetic you get a baseline score here (3). The second aspect is where things get subjective. You’ll get points for particularly interesting usages and mechanical interactions, whereas you’ll lose points for questionable/misinterpreted rules and clunky mechanics. This one may be fairly opaque in my awarding of points, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and I’m willing to discuss with you.

This category is also fairly nebulous. I am not going to make any hard rules about how many levels of the SI you should use; that’s dependent on your build, and I will judge based on how integral the SI is to what you’re doing. That said, you should probably have a really good reason to use only one or two levels of Crusader. Taking levels in the class is not going to be enough by itself of course, as if you don’t use the class features you’re not going to get full marks. You do not have to showcase everything, but you should be showcasing some of it, otherwise why bother with Crusader? A score of 5 will incorporate enough Crusader to be unquestionably one in play, utilize most if not all of the class features in important and interesting ways, and have that certain je ne c'est qua and eau de Crusader. I suspect 5s will be rare, but 4s will not be.

One of the reasons I’ve avoided judging in the past is that the dispute process can get very personal and vitriolic (I myself have been guilty of this) and that is rather off-putting. I would like to take a moment to ask you all to be gracious and kind in your communications to all the judges and in return we (or at least I) will attempt to do the same. In addition, as you may have noticed from my descriptions above, quite a lot of my judging is going to be gut based. If you have a dispute that is based on a difference of opinion we have, please try to refrain, unless you believe that it has its roots in a genuine misunderstanding on my part. In which case, point it out and its applicability, and I’ll reevaluate. If you also tell me I’m wrong and an idiot, I’m probably going to ignore you. For purely mechanical disputes please speak up. I don’t want to shortchange your build; I think these competitions are awesome and I love seeing builds succeed. My goal is to appreciate what you’ve built, not tear into it’s failings.

Please let me know if you have any issues/questions/concerns with anything I’ve put here. Looking forward to the builds!

~RaiKirah

DeTess

2018-07-07, 02:59 AM

That seems like a fair approach, RaiKirah. Don't worry about using your gut for a lot of judgings, just about everyone does that for the more nebulous categories, afaik. The only things you can judge 100% mathematically are build mistakes, everything else require some subjective interpretation ('Hmmm, build A has more Power than Build B, but is it 0.5 points stronger, or maybe a full point?').

jdizzlean

2018-07-08, 09:08 PM

I only just now have time to devote to this, and the deadline being tomorrow means either i rush something in, or don't partake this round.

I have 11 hours right now to decide either way..

Zaq

2018-07-09, 12:22 PM

DeTess

2018-07-09, 01:05 PM

I don’t have enough builds yet, and I’ve been asked for an extension. I’ll be busy tomorrow and Wednesday, so how about a 72-hour extension? Builds are due at the same time on Thursday. I’ll go update the OP. Go make more Crusaders!

That's surprising. I had enough inspiration for 4 distinct builds, and I'm not generally that inspired. If I've got time I'll finish my secondary build.

thorr-kan

2018-07-09, 01:30 PM

Huh. I thought I had a few more hours. Musta messed the GMT conversion up.

Oh, well. Submission sent. It will make the new deadline.

Zaq

2018-07-09, 02:10 PM

Huh. I thought I had a few more hours. Musta messed the GMT conversion up.

Oh, well. Submission sent. It will make the new deadline.

You did have a few more hours. The original deadline is in about 5 hours. The new deadline is 3 days after that.

The time is supposed to be 5 PM US Pacific time. Pretty sure I got the GMT calculations right for that. But if you’re in the States or close enough to recognize the time zones, that’s what I’m aiming for.

jdizzlean

2018-07-10, 02:35 AM

thanks for the extension, finalized and submitted!

Falontani

2018-07-10, 09:49 AM

Now I have no excuse not to get one in, other than I thought I might judge

Zaq

2018-07-12, 03:15 PM

Deadline’s in about four hours! I have things to accomplish tonight so I won’t be heading STRAIGHT home from work, but I do plan to post the builds pretty soon after I get home for the night. If you’ve got anything else to submit, get it in ASAP!

Zaq

2018-07-12, 09:03 PM

"You approach the crowd. What do you do?"

I tell them that I'm definitely good at allocating my time and at figuring out how long things will take me!

"Okay, roll Bluff."

I got a 12. I'm pretty sure they'll buy it.

You're buying it, right? You're totally buying it.

Builds incoming!

Zaq

2018-07-12, 09:04 PM

Things are getting a little bit cray-cray.

Cray the Gnarled

LE Krynn Minotaur crusader 4/cleric 1/marshal 1

Krynn Minotaur
+4 STR, -2 DEX/INT/CHA
Medium, +2 NA, Gore attack 1d6+STR (on a charge, 2d6+1.5x STR)(as secondary attack at -5 penalty ½ STR), +2 intimidate/swim/use rope. May take Scent special ability as a feat. Common/Kothian.

Blasphemous Incantation ACF (Cleric 1): evil alignment. Lose Rebuke Undead, gain Blasphemous Incantation (Su) 3+CHA/day. All good aligned in a 30ft radius must succeed on DC 10+1/2 char lvl+CHA FORT (17) or become sickened for CHA rounds. If 5 ranks in Know Rel, DC increases by +2. (19)
Elder Evil Devotion – Sertous (grants all domains) +2 vile feats
Pt buy:
S 13, D 12, C 14, I 12, W 11, C 16

Racial:
S 17, D 10, C 14, I 10, W 11, C 14
level up into Cha

4d10+2d8+12 HP

Maneuvers/Stances (IL = 5, so 3rd lvls granted)
1- Crusaders Strike, Charging Minotaur (exchange for Mountain Hammer at 4th), Vanguard Strike, Douse the Flames, Leading the Attack
1- Martial Spirit Stance
2- Mountain Hammer, Tactical Strike
3- Revitalizing Strike
3- Thicket of Blades Stance

Pestilence Domain (SpC 278):
GP: immunity to all diseases
1- Doom

Cleric Casting: from 2nd lvl on: 0-3, 1-1+1

A few lvl 1 cleric spells we might use:
Angry Ache, Bane, Blade of Blood, Curse Water, Protection from Good, Sorrow

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNOBFYrurowlB3ql27e7rV6XmHXkCtH EE15N9F8GB9Yyr7FwLgHg

The Wise One often spoke out against the so-called Gods. These supposed super beings who held sway over all things. Malarkey and poppycock, all swirled into a swill that the weak consumed to give their lives meaning. True Power, and True Strength only came from one place, within yourself.

I once stood in a shrine, which honored one of these so-called Gods. I shattered the stone likeness some weakling had put up to pay homage to this being into a thousand thousand pieces. I called for the god to show himself, and prove his might. Of course nothing happened, because the Gods are just the lie fed to the weak to keep them servile. One of their priests sent a vision to attack me. After laughing it off, I slew that priest and wore his head afterwards as a trophy for a 50-day.

The Wise One spoke of the great Sertous, who cast down the Gods and showed them all for what they really are, charlatans of the highest order. The wheat was separated from the chaff that day. A pile of useless peons lay by the wayside, shorn free from all their petty misconceptions about their sundry paltry religions.

The Way was merely the obvious extension to this. Only through inner study and reflection, and the application of force could one become stronger. The means by which one chose in life to either lead or follow was set forth. I marked myself, not only once, but twice. My black fur, and blacker eyes and mane bore into the strong and weak alike. The Way allowed me to stand steadfast, to equally absorb and deal out pain.

The Wise One gifted me with the Touch shortly after. I took its power into myself, and again grew stronger still. Now the weak recoil by my mere presence. My voice, my being, my strength, my power, all these things manifest to cause them pause. I feast on their horror, and strike them all down. I revel in their inability to stand up, and so I help to keep them knocked down.

One day perhaps, one among them will find the strength within to fight back. On that day, I will meet them with horn and pike and hoof in glorious battle. I cannot wait.

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

1st
Crusader

+1

+2

+0

+0

Balance 4, Concentration 4, Inimidate 4, Knowledge Religion 4

Extra Granted Manuever, (B) Willing Deformity

Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Manuevers, Stance

2nd
Cleric

+1

+4

+0

+2

Conc 5, Know Rel 5

(B) Healing Devotion

Blasphemous Incantation ACF, Spells

3rd
Crusader 2

+2

+5

+2

+2

Balance 5, Conc 6, Intim 5, Know Rel 6

Blessing of the Godless

Indomitable Soul

4th
Crusader 3

+3

+5

+3

+3

Conc 7, Intim 7, Know Rel 7

-

Zealous Surge

5th
Crusader 4

+4

+6

+3

+3

Balance 6, Conc 8, Intim 8, Know rel 8

(B) Willing Deformity: Tall

Steely Resolve 10

6th
Marshal

+4

+8

+3

+5

Conc 9, Intim 9, Never Outnumbered

Otherworldly Countenance

Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Minor Aura (Motivate CHA)

Epic Feats:
1- Adaptive Style
2- Live My Nightmare
3- Daunting Presence
4- Power Attack
5- Intimidating Strike
6- Reckless Charge
7- Force of Personality
8- Stench of the Dead
9- Powerful Charge
10- Greater Powerful Charge

Total Intimidation Check:

9 skill ranks
3 from Willing Deformity
1 from Deformity: Tall
2 from Minotaur
2 from CHA
2 from Motivate CHA
3 from Skill Focus (in most cases, evil characters will exchange Diplomacy for Intimidate)
2 possibly from Doom
3 possibly from Sorrow
2 possibly from Shaken condition
2 possibly from Sickened condition

19-31 total depending on situational bonus’s.

At all levels, we will engage in a duel of wills in order to gain an advantage over our enemies in combat. (ToB 27). At 2nd level trade out the healing domain for healing devotion to grant fast healing 1 for 1 min. At 3rd, Blessing of the Godless grants Class level x number of participants (up to 6 including yourself) in reserved hit points that lasts 24 hours. Each participant can pull their class level in HP’s from this pool as an immediate action. At 5th, having combined Willing Deformity (+3 Intimidate) and Willing Deformity: Tall, while still technically Medium, can threaten as though Large (10ft reach). At 6th, Otherworldly Countenance both grants another +1 to Intimidate, but also as a full round action you can distract any target w/in 30ft by forcing a Will DC 10+1/2 char lvl + CHA (17) or be sickened as long as the target remains in sight of you.

Adaptive Style allows for rearranging our readied maneuvers, and pairs with extra granted to allow more choices earlier in the fight.

Live my Nightmare sends a phantasmal killer back at anyone foolish enough to cast divinations against you. DC Will 14+CHA (18) to disbelieve, followed by DC Fort 14+CHA (18) to avoid dying from fear. Even if the Fort save succeeds, the subject will still take 3d6 damage.

Daunting Presence is a standard action Will DC 10 +1/2 char lvl+Cha (17) or be shaken for 10 mins

Intimidating strike is power attack for intimidate, causing a successful hit to make opponent shaken for the duration of the encounter.

Force of Personality stacks the CHA bonus onto will saves, which doubles up on the Indomitable Soul class ability. Meaning the total bonus to will saves is now +8. If that doesn’t fly, replace this with Frightful Presence which would force yet another Will save, DC 10+1/2 char lvl+CHA (17) or become shaken. In a long term E6 game, this might lose functionality as you won’t be facing to many things that have less HD/Levels than you, meaning Improved Initiative might be a good option for this slot.

Stench of the Dead causes anything around you to make a FORT DC 10+CHA (14) or become sickened as long as it remains adjacent to you, and for 1d4 rounds thereafter. This dovetails nicely into your charging maneuver, and the charging feats that follow as anyone you charge past, or attack must also make this additional save every time.

Reckless charge means a -4 AC and a +4 to attack. Powerful Charge adds an additional 1d8 damage, Greater PC increases that to 2d6.
To maximize damage, of course either use a 2h weapon, or a 1h weapon w/ 2 hands. Every attack is accompanied by a bonus Gore attack, albeit at a -5 to hit, or as a charge at 2d6+6.

Any magic gear should be +CHA if possible to increase the DC’s of all these abilities accordingly.

Complete Adventurer – Force of Personality
Complete Scoundrel – Never Outnumbered
Dragonlance Campaign Setting – Krynn Minotaur
Elder Evils- Sertous, Vile Feats
Exemplars of Evil – Blessing of the Godless
Fiendish Codex 1- Otherworldly Countenance
Heroes of Horror – Willing Deformity Line
Miniatures Handbook – Daunting Presence, Greater/Powerful/Reckless Charge, Marshal
Player’s Handbook – Cleric, Power Attack
Player’s Handbook 2 – Intimidating Strike
Tome of Battle – Adaptive Style, Crusader, Extra Granted Maneuver, Maneuvers, Stances
Unearthed Arcana – Live my Nightmare, Stench of the Dead

Zaq

2018-07-12, 09:05 PM

This kind of thing is why I get scared using kashi bachi. That's meaningful to someone who isn't me, right? Oh, just look at the build already.

Meran 'The Hammer' Torson

Host: Welcome back to Valhalla live! We’ve got a lot of exciting features, previews and reviews planned for you tonight. But first, to talk about his new album, we’ve got the legendary drummer of Valkyrie’s hammer, Meran ‘The Hammer’ Torson!

*Applause as the man himself strides onto stage, opening of his ‘new song ‘Drums of War’playing in the background*

Host: It’s great to have you here, Meran! Now, before we get to the new Album, I’ve got a question for you. We’d originally arranged for the entirety of ‘Valkyrie’s Hammer’ to join us here. Unfortunately, the rest had to cancel at the last minute, something related to Cormok the Craven having escaped from the Abyss again. What’s the story behind this, Meran?

Meran: Oh, that poser. He’s this minor Demon that we encountered during our first tour. He’s a real bore, didn’t accept our challenge to a Metal showdown and proceeded to try to kill the owner of the venue we were playing at. We dealt with him right quickly then, but he keeps coming back for more, and he gets meaner every time. We make it a point to hunt him down immediately whenever we hear he’s on the prowl again these days. The guy’s weak though, the boys’ll hardly need my help putting him down.

Host: Sticking to conventional Bardic wisdom for returning villains, I see.

Meran: Yep, kill the ****ers before they do something you’ll have to make tem regret.

Host: Not quite how I’d have worded it, but quite true nonetheless. It’s probably for the best that you haven’t all joined us here as there’s apparently a local law against more than two of you being on a show like this at the same time. Anyway, back to why you’re here in the first place. Your new album, Stomrlord’s fury, is set to release next week and is already getting great reviews.

Meran: As it should, this is a chronicle of our finest hour. Got our inspiration right from where it matters most, the path of adventure.

Host: Right, it’s clear from every song that you aren’t just singing about heroic deeds and adventure, you’ve lived it. The 5-star review given to your album by the temple of Thor mentioned that the hammer on the cover bears a striking resemblance to Mjölnir, and there’s been rumours that it’s the real thing ever since. Care to comment on that?

Meran: There’s a bonus track on the album that we’ve kept under wraps so far that should answer that particular question. *grins*

Host: I’m looking forward to hearing it. I’ve got time for one last question, and it’s about a rumour that has dogged you for the last couple of years. Is it true that you go through drums at an alarming rate?

Meran: They don’t build them like they used to. My first set lasted a couple of years until that demon trashed it out of spite. These days I count myself lucky if they last through a single gig.

Host: You’re sure it’s the drums, and not you?

Meran: Nah, they just build them to crappy standards these days. Any other object can withstand a proper solo, it’s just the man trying to weasel more money out of honest musicians. Watch!

*Meran proceeds to pound a surprisingly decent sounding rhythm out of the table between him and the host. The table promptly collapses on the final blow.*

Meran: …That proves nothing.

Host: I’m sure it doesn’t. Thanks for being on the show today, and all you folks back home and in the audience can pick up Valkyrie’s hammer’s next album, fury of the Stormlord, in your local store on July 16!

Meran 'The Hammer' Torson, CG Crusader 5/Warblade 1
race: Maenad
Ability scores (number in brackets is points spend from point-buy)
str 16 (10)
dex13 (includes +1 at level 4) (4)
con 14 (6)
int 14 (6)
wis 8 (0)
cha 14 (6)

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

1st
Crusader 1
+1
+2
+0
+0
Perform(drums) 4, diplomacy 4, intimidate 4, balance 4, concentration 4, martial lore 4, ride 2 (note that apprentice: entertainer adds 2 skill-points to spend on diplomacy or perform)
Apprentice: entertainer
Furious counterstrike, steely resolve 5

2nd
crusader 2
+2
+3
+0
+0
Perform(drums) 5, diplomacy 5, intimidate 5, balance 5, concentration 5, martial lore 5, ride 2
-
Indomitable Soul

3rd
Crusader 3
+3
+3
+1
+1
Perform(drums) 6, diplomacy 6, intimidate 6, balance 6, concentration 6, martial lore 6, ride 2
Combat Expertise
Zealous surge

4th
Crusader 4
+4
+4
+1
+1
Perform(drums) 7, diplomacy 7, intimidate 7, balance 7, concentration 7, martial lore 7, ride 2
-
steely resolve 10

5th
crusader 5
+5
+4
+1
+1
Perform(drums) 8, diplomacy 8, intimidate 8, balance 8, concentration 8, martial lore 8, ride 2
-
-

6th
Warblade 1
+6
+6
+1
+1
Perform(drums) 9, diplomacy 9, intimidate 9, balance 9, concentration 9, martial lore 9, ride 2
Ironheart Aura
battle clarity, weapon aptitude

Feats
stormguard warrior
martial stance(thicket of blades)
power attack
riposte
extra granted maneuver
dodge
karmic strike
stone power
improved unarmed strike
snap kick

Crusader
Maneuevers
Crusader's strike
battle leader's charge
stone bones
mountain hammer
douse the flames
leading the attack
defensive rebuke

stances
Iron guard's glare
martial spirit
Thicket of Blades

Warblade
Maneuevers
disarming strike
moment of perfect mind
action before thought

stances
Punishing stance

Other numbers
HP:22+4d10+1d12

You've got a lot of ways to trigger AoO's against opponents (thicket of blades let you hit them even if they 5-foot step away, karmic strike lets you hit them if they hit you, and riposte lets you hit the first guy to miss you (if you use combat expertise, which you should for a single point in most situations). Make sure to not take any of the AoO's so you can do some massive damage on the next turn.

On your own turn, cash in on your bonus from channel the storm with a strike or normal attack. If you've got a big channel the storm bonus, use snap kick to add to the pain, otherwise use it (and any iterative you might be able to use) to load extra damage on your main attack by making touch attacks to fuel combat rythm.

Defensively, you've got a strike and stance that restores health, another one that gives DR, stone power allows you to gain some temporary hp by sacrificing BaB (Balance this with power attack and combat expertise as the situation demands). Two of your maneuvers from warblade allow you to replace one of your weak saves with a concentration check and as you should be psionically focused at the start of each battle (Meran's race is psionic, after all), you can take 15 on one of these per battle, which should guarantee success in most cases.

Expanded psionics handbook: Maenad
DMG2: Apprentice: entertainer
ToB: Crusader, Warblade, all maneuvers and stances, feats: martial stance, ironheart aura,s otrmguard warrior, stone power, snap kick, extra granted maneuver
PHB: improved unarmed strike, snap kick, power attack, combat expertise, dodge
dragon compendium: riposte
complete warrior: karmic strike

This magnificent Iron Chef build (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=16084344&postcount=270) Inspired the general idea for this builds background, and therefore deserves a shout-out.

Zaq

2018-07-12, 09:07 PM

"Squandered knowledge for power"? Now I want to build a character based off of Fossik. (I'm just chock-full of references no one else will get today! WhamBamSam should get it, at least.)

Justarius, Paladin of Wee Jas

He was a phenomenal archmage. He commanded legions of undead, summoned hellish hordes, and charmed armies. His soul was a trifle for the power he commanded. Justarius remembers that.

Justarius also remembers the moment the paladin's blade mortally wounded him.

There was no recovering from that divine judgement. But in his final minutes, a priest of Wee Jas from among his victorious opponents took time to comfort the fallen mage and offer him counsel. Justarius had been granted great gifts by the Ruby Sorceress, but he had squandered knowledge for power. His lone pursuit of temporal power meant everything he had accomplished, everything he had learned, was lost to the sands of time. Justarius wishes he could remember the priest's name.

Justarius took heed of the priest's words, repented his actions, squarely faced his consquences, and died.

But even Death may be defeated.

Justarius awoke in his funeral crypt. He was alive, body strengthened but mind scoured. His beloved magic was no longer his to command. No matter; second chances were so rarely granted. Remembering the paladin's blade, Justarius picked up a sword and sought the nearest temple of Wee Jas. It was time to make amends.

Lacking any remaining facility for arcane magic and having no inclination for divine magic, his death by the blade seems to have awoken an ability with the blade. Ironically, Justarius has been trained in blade magic. As his training progressed, he continued unlocked powers of the mind and powers of the soul. Justarius has begun fusing his teachings and abilities into some new, something powerful, something completely new to the church.

This time, the knowledge will not be lost. The church will have his legacy, the Ruby Goddess will have a champion, and Justarius may just have his soul.

Justarius stands 5'7" and weighs 165#. He has black hair, olive skin, pleasing but not striking features, and well muscled and balanced. But his eyes, his red, red, eyes, hint that the man before is not quite as plain as he seems. He is dressed in darkened chainmail, decorated with the holy symbol of Wee Jas and is holding a well cared-for falchion.

Level
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features
Maneuvers
Stances
Psionic Powers
Soulmelds

1st
Crusader 1
+3
+4
+1
+1
(Skill points, ability bonuses, and racial bonuses, 4+1/level/crusader)
Concentration (Con) +6, Diplomacy (Cha) +6, Intimidate (Cha) +8, Knowledge (religion) (Int) +5, Martial Lore (Int) +5
Simple Weapon Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency (all), Armor Proficiecy (light, medium, heavy), Shield Proficiency
(all), Adaptive Style (1st), Devil's Favor (bonus feat)
Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5
Maneuvers (5) - Crusader's Strike (1st), Vanguard Strike (2nd), Leading the Attack (3rd), Douse the Flames (4th), Charging Minotaur (5th)
Stances (1) - Iron Guard's Glare (1st)

2nd
Crusader 1/Divine Mind 1
+3
+6
+1
+3
(Skill points, ability bonuses, and racial bonuses, 4+1/level/crusader, 2+1/level/divine mind)
Autohypnosis (Wis) +2, Concentration (Con) +6, Diplomacy (Cha) +6, Intimidate (Cha) +8, Knowledge (psionics) (Int) +2,
Knowledge (religion) (Int) +5, Martial Lore (Int) +5, Use Magic Device (Cha) +3
Simple Weapon Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency (all), Armor Proficiecy (light, medium, heavy), Shield Proficiency
(all), Adaptive Style (1st), Devil's Favor (bonus feat), Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon, bonus feat)
Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Mantle (Magic), Psychic Aura 5', Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon)
Maneuvers (5) - Crusader's Strike (1st), Vanguard Strike (2nd), Leading the Attack (3rd), Douse the Flames (4th), Charging Minotaur (5th)
Stances (1) - Iron Guard's Glare (1st)
Psionic Powers (1) - Metaphysical Weapon

3rd
Crusader 2/Divine Mind 1
+4
+7
+1
+3
(Skill points, ability bonuses, and racial bonuses, 4+1/level/crusader, 2+1/level/divine mind)
Autohypnosis (Wis) +4, Concentration (Con) +7, Diplomacy (Cha) +7, Intimidate (Cha) +9, Knowledge (psionics) (Int) +2,
Knowledge (religion) (Int) +6, Martial Lore (Int) +6, Use Magic Device (Cha) +3
Simple Weapon Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency (all), Armor Proficiecy (light, medium, heavy), Shield Proficiency
(all), Adaptive Style (1st), Devil's Favor (bonus feat), Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon, bonus feat), Psychic Renewal
(3rd)
Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Indomitable Soul, Psychic Aura 5', Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon)
Maneuvers (5) - Crusader's Strike (1st), Vanguard Strike (2nd), Leading the Attack (3rd), Douse the Flames (4th), Charging Minotaur (5th)
Stances (2) - Iron Guard's Glare (1st), Bolstering Voice (2nd)
Psionic Powers (1) - Metaphysical Weapon

4th
Crusader 3/Divine Mind 1
+5
+7
+2
+4
(Skill points, ability bonuses, and racial bonuses, 4+1/level/crusader, 2+1/level/divine mind)
Autohypnosis (Wis) +4, Concentration (Con) +8, Diplomacy (Cha) +8, Intimidate (Cha) +10, Knowledge (psionics) (Int) +2,
Knowledge (religion) (Int) +7, Martial Lore (Int) +7, Use Magic Device (Cha) +3
Simple Weapon Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency (all), Armor Proficiecy (light, medium, heavy), Shield Proficiency
(all), Adaptive Style (1st), Devil's Favor (bonus feat), Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon, bonus feat), Psychic Renewal
(3rd), Devil's Stamina (bonus feat)
Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Indomitable Soul, Zealous Surge, Psychic Aura 5', Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon)
Maneuvers (6) - Crusader's Strike (1st), Vanguard Strike (2nd), Leading the Attack (3rd), Douse the Flames (4th), Charging Minotaur (5th), Foehammer (6th)
Stances (2) - Iron Guard's Glare (1st), Bolstering Voice (2nd)
Psionic Powers (1) - Metaphysical Weapon

5th
Crusader 3/Divine Mind 1/Incarnate 1
+5
+9
+2
+6
(Skill points, ability bonuses, and racial bonuses, 4+1/level/crusader, 2+1/level/divine mind, 2+1/level/incarnate)
Autohypnosis (Wis) +4, Concentration (Con) +9, Diplomacy (Cha) +8, Intimidate (Cha) +10, Knowledge (arcana) (Int) +2,
Knowledge (psionics) (Int) +2, Knowledge (religion) (Int) +7, Knowledge (the planes) (Int) +2, Martial Lore (Int) +7, Use
Magic Device (Cha) +3
Simple Weapon Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency (all), Armor Proficiecy (light, medium, heavy), Shield Proficiency
(all), Adaptive Style (1st), Devil's Favor (bonus feat), Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon, bonus feat), Psychic Renewal
(3rd), Devil's Stamina (bonus feat)
Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Indomitable Soul, Zealous Surge, Psychic Aura 5', Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon), Aura, Detect Opposition
Maneuvers (6) - Crusader's Strike (1st), Vanguard Strike (2nd), Leading the Attack (3rd), Douse the Flames (4th), Charging Minotaur (5th), Foehammer (6th)
Stances (2) - Iron Guard's Glare (1st), Bolstering Voice (2nd)
Psionic Powers (1) - Metaphysical Weapon
Soulmelds (2) - Airstep Sandals (1st), Astral Vambraces (2nd)

6th
Crusader 4/Divine Mind 1/Incarnate 1
+6
+10
+2
+6
(Skill points, ability bonuses, and racial bonuses, 4+1/level/crusader, 2+1/level/divine mind, 2+1/level/incarnate)
Autohypnosis (Wis) +4, Concentration (Con) +10, Diplomacy (Cha) +9, Intimidate (Cha) +11, Knowledge (arcana) (Int) +2,
Knowledge (psionics) (Int) +2, Knowledge (religion) (Int) +8, Knowledge (the planes) (Int) +2, Martial Lore (Int) +8, Use
Magic Device (Cha) +3
Simple Weapon Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency (all), Armor Proficiecy (light, medium, heavy), Shield Proficiency
(all), Adaptive Style (1st), Devil's Favor (bonus feat), Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon, bonus feat), Psychic Renewal
(3rd), Devil's Stamina (bonus feat), Blade Meditation (6th)
Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 10, Indomitable Soul, Zealous Surge, Psychic Aura 5', Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon), Aura, Detect Opposition
Maneuvers (6) - Crusader's Strike (1st), Vanguard Strike (2nd), Leading the Attack (3rd), Douse the Flames (4th), Charging Minotaur (5th), Foehammer (6th)
Stances (2) - Iron Guard's Glare (1st), Bolstering Voice (2nd)
Psionic Powers (1) - Metaphysical Weapon
Soulmelds (2) - Airstep Sandals (1st), Astral Vambraces (2nd)

LN Humanoid (Hellbred (Body))
Crusader 4/Divine Mind (Wee Jas)1/Incarnate 1
S-14
D-12
C-15 (+1 at 4th level)
I-12
W-12
Ch-14

HP: 44 (10 +12(Con bonus) +(3.5*3(Cru) + 3.5*1(DivMind) +3.5*1(Inc)) +4 (Devil's Stamina))
AC: 16 (chainmail+Dex), flat-footed 10, touch 11
Init: +1
Damage: 2d4+3 (falchion, two-handed)
Initiator Level: 5
Manifester Level: 4
Power Points: 2
Meldshaper Level: 1
Essentia Pool: 3
Essentia Capacity: 1

(Skill points, ability bonuses, and racial bonuses, 41 (4+1/level/crusader, 2+1/level/divine mind, 2+1/level/incarnate))
Autohypnosis (Wis) +4, Concentration (Con) +10, Diplomacy (Cha) +9, Intimidate (Cha) +11, Knowledge (arcana) (Int) +2, Knowledge (psionics) (Int) +2, Knowledge (religion) (Int) +8, Knowledge (the planes) (Int) +2, Listen (Wis) +1, Martial Lore (Int) +8, , Search (Int) +1, Spot (Wis) +1, Use Magic Device (Cha) +3

(Feats, in order granted and sources)
1 - Cr1 - Adaptive Style (1st), Devil's Favor (bonus feat)
2 - DM1 - Hidden Talent for Wild Talent ACF (bonus feat)
3 - Cr2 - Psychic Renewal (3rd)
4 - Cr3 - Devil's Stamina (bonus feat)
5 - Inc1 - N/A
6 - Cr4 - Blade Meditation
Epic (10) - Instant Clarity, Vital Recover, Open Least Chakra (hands), Psionic Meditation, Psionic Weapon, Practiced Manifester, Devoted Bulwark, Speed of Thought, Open Least Chakra (feet), Bonus Essentia

Adaptive Style, Tome of Battle, p28
Devil's Favor, Fiendish Codex 2, p81
Hidden Talent, Expanded Psionics Handbook, p67
Psychic Renewal, Tome of Battle, p32
Devil's Stamina, Fiendish Codex 2, p83
Blade Meditation, Tome of Battle, p28

Instant Clarity, Tome of Battle, p31
Vital Recover, Tome of Battel, p33
Open Least Chakra (hands), Magic of Incarnum, p39
Psionic Meditation, Expanded Psionics Handbook, p50
Psionic Weapon, Expanded Psionics Handbook, p50
Practiced Manifester, Complete Psionics, p57
Devoted Bulwark, Tome of Battle, p29
Speed of Thought, Expanded Psionics Handbook, p51
Open Least Chakra (feet), Magic of Incarnum, p39
Bonus Essentia, Magic of Incarnum, p35

All hellbred share the following racial traits:
• Humanoid (Hellbred): Hellbred are humanoid creatures, despite their monstrous appearance.
• Infernal Mien (Ex): Hellbred have a sinister presence. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate checks.
• Evil Exception (Ex): Regardless of alignment or class restrictions, a hellbred can cast spells with the evil descriptor and never gains negative levels while wielding evil magic items, such as unholy weapons or demon armor. This ability does not shield a hellbred from losing access to class features if he violates a class’s code of conduct. For example, using a +1 unholy longsword to slay orcs would not violate a hellbred paladin’s code of conduct, though using the weapon to kill another paladin would.
• Hellbound (Su): A devil has a claim on a hellbred’s soul. As a result, a hellbred can be restored to life only by a resurrection spell or greater magic.
• Devil’s Favor: A hellbred gains Devil’s Favor as a bonus feat for which it does not need to meet the prerequisite. See the new feats section later in this chapter for information on devil-touched feats.
• Infernal Aspect: Upon completing the Scourging, a hellbred chooses one of the following aspects to manifest. Once the choice is made, it cannot be changed.
Body (Ex): A hellbred who chooses body as his infernal aspect gains a +4 bonus on saves against poison. In addition, he gains a +2 bonus to Constitution and takes a –2 penalty to Intelligence. The process of the Scourging strengthens his body but weakens his mind.
At 4 HD, he gains a bonus devil-touched feat.
• Automatic Languages: Infernal. Hellbred gain the ability to speak Infernal upon their transformation, but they do not lose the ability to speak languages they previously knew before the Scourging.
• Favored Class: Paladin. A multiclass hellbred’s paladin class does not count when determining whether he takes an experience point penalty for multiclassing. Furthermore, hellbred paladins can leave that class and return to it without penalty.

Discipline: Devoted Spirit, Stone Dragon, White Raven
Key Skill: Intimidate, Balance, Diplomacy
Associated Weapons: falchion, greatclub, longsword, maul; greatsword, greataxe, heavy mace, unarmed strike; longsword, battleaxe, warhammer, greatsword, halberd

Maneuvers: Crusader's Strike (1st), Vanguard Strike (2nd), Leading the Attack (3rd), Douse the Flames (4th), Charging Minotaur (5th), Foehammer (6th)

Stances: Iron Guard's Glare (1st), Bolstering Voice (2nd)

Expanded Classes, Part Four - Divine Mind - http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?
x=dnd/psm/20070629a
Hidden Talent
If your campaign has an established history of psionics, you can replace the Wild Talent bonus feat with the Hidden Talent feat (see page 67 of the Expanded Psionic Handbook).
Replaces: You lose the free Wild Talent feat at 1st level.
Benefits: You gain the Hidden Talent feat, but with the following modifications. The 1st-level power gained must come from your first mantle's list and the power is manifested using your Wisdom instead of your Charisma.

Mantle:
Magic
Manifester Level: 4 (Divine Mind level - 4 + 4 (Practiced Manifester)
Psychic Auras (Complete Psionic, p10): Attack, Defense, Perception, Magic: Weapons treated as Magic for overcoming DR.
Granted Ability (Complete Psionic, p70): You gain Use Magic Device as a class skill. If you purchased ranks in Use Magic Device or Use Psionic Device at the cross-class rate, you get additional ranks in Use Magic Device or Use Psionic Device as if it had always been a class skill for you. In addition, you always treat magic and psionics as identical. Therefore, powers such as dispel psionics work for both magic and psionics. Most campaigns already treat them in this manner, so this mantle is most useful in campaigns where they are considered different systems.
Power: (Expanded Psionic Handbook, p118)
Metaphysical Weapon
Metacreativity
Level: Divine Mind 1
Display: Auditory
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Weapon touched
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless, object)
Power Resistance: Yes (harmless, object)
Power Points: 1
Metaphysical weapon gives a weapon a +1 enhancement bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls. (An enhancement bonus does not stack with a masterwork weapon’s +1 bonus on attack rolls.)

Alternatively, you can affect up to fifty arrows, bolts, or bullets. The projectiles must be of the same type, and they have to be together (such as in the same quiver). Projectiles, but not thrown weapons, lose their enhancement when used. (Treat shuriken as projectiles, rather than thrown weapons, for the purpose of this power.)

You can’t manifest this power on most natural weapons, including a psychic warrior’s claw strike. This power does work on a weapon brought into being by the graft weapon power.

Augment
If you spend 4 additional power points, this power’s duration increases to 1 hour per level.

In addition, for every 4 additional power points you spend, this power improves the weapon’s enhancement bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls by 1.

Airstep Sandals - Magic of Incarnum, p55.
Descriptors: None
Chakra: Feet
Saving Throw: None
You shape incarnum into a pair of sky-blue sandals. They surround your feet without quite touching them, fitting over any boots or shoes you wear. When you use the flight ability of the sandals, you leave a faint trail of blue vapor behind you, which disperses after a few seconds.

Many creatures have the gift of flight, and with this soulmeld, you channel soul energy derived from such creatures to borrow that gift. The rilkan incarnate Davi the Trickster was rarely seen without this soulmeld shaped, and she claimed that she could communicate with the djinn whose soul energy she borrowed to form it.
While worn, the airstep sandals allow you to fly up to 10 feet (good maneuverability) as a move action once per round. You must end the flight solidly supported or you fall.
Essentia: Every point of essentia you invest in your airstep sandals increases the distance you can fl y by 10 feet.

Chakra Bind (Feet)
Your airstep sandals merge into your feet, turning your legs sky blue from your knees down to your toes. You become capable of aerial acrobatics, turning on a dime in midair with a soft burst of pale blue mist.

You fly with perfect maneuverability. In practical terms, this means that you can reverse direction without paying a movement cost, you can turn freely without spending any extra movement, and you can ascend at full speed.

Astral Vambraces - http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20060217a
Descriptors: None
Classes: Incarnate, soulborn
Chakra: Arms or hands
Saving Throw: None

You form vambraces from ectoplasm, and their shimmering silver color is highlighted with glints of azure blue.

Your astral vambraces infuse you with the fortitude of an astral construct, granting you damage reduction 2/magic.

Astral vambraces are not affected by dismiss ectoplasm.

Essentia: Every point of essentia you invest in your astral vambraces increases the damage reduction by 2.

Chakra Bind (Hands)

The vambraces extend down and cover your hands in ectoplasm.

You gain two slam attacks, which act as primary natural weapons. The slam attacks deal 1d4 points of damage if you are Small, 1d6 points of damage if you are Medium, or 1d8 points of damage if you are Large, plus your Strength bonus. If you use a weapon in one hand, you can use your other hand to deal a slam attack as a secondary natural weapon (with a -5 penalty on the attack roll and applying only half your Strength bonus on your damage roll).

Zaq

2018-07-12, 09:08 PM

I dunno about this guy. He looks pretty shifty.

Talon

Razorclaw Shifter

STR 17
+1 level up
18

DEX 12

12

CON 16

16

INT 8

8

WIS 13

13

CHA 6

6

Level

Class

BAB

Fort

Ref

Will

Skills

Feats

Features

1

Crusader 1
1
2
0
0
Balance 4, Intimidate 4, Jump 4
Snatch
Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5

2

Crusader 2
2
3
0
0
Balance 5, Intimidate 5, Jump 5

Indomitable Soul

3

Crusader 3
3
3
1
1
Balance 5, Climb 1 Intimidate 6, Jump 5
Razorclaw Elite
Zealous Surge

4

Crusader 4
4
4
1
1
Balance 5, Climb 2 Intimidate 7, Jump 5

Steely resolve 10

5

Barbarian
5
6
1
1
Balance 5, Climb 4 Intimidate 8, Jump 5

Rage 1/day, Fast Movement 10

6

Berserk
5
8
1
1
Balance 5, Climb 4 Intimidate 9, Jump 5
Martial Stance: Crushing Weight of the Mountain
Battle Fury 1/day, Movement Bonus 10

Epic Feats
1 Reckless Rage
2 Shifter Savagery
3 Mad Foam Rager
4 Ettercap Berserker
5 Great Rend
6 Extra Shifter Trait: Longstride
7 Longstride Elite
8 Shifter Defense
9 Greater Shifter Defense
10 Extra Rage

Stances/Maneuvers
1 Martial Spirit, Crusader’s Strike, Charging Minotaur, Douse the Flames, Leading the Attack, Stone Bones
2 Stonefoot Stance, Vanguard Strike
3 Battle Leader’s Charge,

6 (feat) Crushing Weight of the Mountain

Sources:

Barbarin, Improved Grapple: Player’s Handbook
Crusader, Martial Stance: Tome of Battle
Scorpion’s Grasp: Sandstorm
Mad Foam Rager: Player’s Handbook II
Reckless Rage: Races of Stone
Berserk: Deities and Demigods
Shifter Defense, Greater Shifter Defense, Great Rend, Longstride Elite, Extra Shifter Trait: Eberron Campaign Setting
Razorclaw Shifter, Shifter Savagery, Razorclaw Elite: Races of Eberron
Snatch: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Ettercap Berserker: Unapproachable East
Extra Rage: Complete Warrior

Talon, a razorclaw shifter, gains a natural claw attack while in hybrid form, qualifying him for the feat snatch. As such, he can make a free grapple check on a successful claw attack. He also picks up Razorclaw elite, allowing him to make two claw attacks at the end of a charge at full bab with the +2 charge bonus on both, meaning a higher chance to start a grapple.

While shifted and with both rage and battle fury active Talon has +14 str, +14 con, and -6 ac (shifting +2 str, rage +4 str and con -2 ac, battle fury +6 str and con -2 ac, reckless rage +2 str and con -2 ac, Ettercap Berserker +2 con) for a total of 32 str and 30 con. Crushing weight of the mountain stance, allows him to deal 2d6 + 1 ½ str mod (or 2d6 + 16) to a grappled opponent.

Talon also has picked up 7 shifter feats, giving an additional 3 shifts/day and 7 rounds per shift.

Zaq

2018-07-12, 09:09 PM

And for some reason, that's all of 'em.

On your marks, get set, JUDGE!

Name
Alignment/Race
Class Stub

Cray the Gnarled (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217370&postcount=28)
LE Krynn Minotaur
Crusader 4 / Cleric 1 / Marshal 1

Meran 'The Hammer' Torson (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217374&postcount=29)
CG Maenad
Crusader 5 / Warblade 1

Justarius (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217377&postcount=30)
LN Body Hellbred
Crusader 4 / Divine Mind 1 / Incarnate 1

Talon (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217378&postcount=31)
? (nonlawful?) Razorclaw Shifter
Crusader 4 / Barbarian 1 / Berserk 1

WhamBamSam

2018-07-12, 11:04 PM

My computer was destroyed by a wine spill, so I didn't get my build done. Here's the stub I had...

Venerable Dragonwrought Desert Kobold Crusader 6 dedicated to some Elder Evil
1. Dragonwrought, Willing Deformity
3. Mortalbane
5. Deformity (Gaunt)
6. Evasive Reflexes or Combat Reflexes

E1. Improved Combat Reflexes or Weapon Finesse
E2. Point Blank Shot
E3. Rapid Shot
E4. Quick Draw
E5. Storm of Throws
E6. Maximize SLA
E7. Empower SLA
E8. Martial Stance (Thicket of Blades)
E9. Draconic Resevoir
E10. Weapon Finesse or Extra Smiting

It was a Ghostly Tail build using the Draconic Rite SLA very similar to what I did back in the Bloodstorm Blade IC round. Would have held a non-proficient kusuri-gama (for reach to open up more Ghostly Tail AoOs) or tower shield (for Shield Block) and thrown javelins with Storm of Throws to set up Defensive Rebuke+Maximized Empowered Mortalbane Ghostly Tail.

I may try to judge from the ancient computer that I'm now working from. There are only four builds so I ought to be able to find some time.

RaiKirah

2018-07-13, 09:17 AM

Excited to start judging this weekend! At first blush I quite liked all the builds, so it will be interesting to see how this pans out as I go deeper. Will keep you all updated with my progress

MinimanMidget

2018-07-13, 07:44 PM

Zaq

2018-07-13, 07:47 PM

MinimanMidget

2018-07-13, 09:32 PM

Yeah, but it's not enough to make Leading the Charge a good stance to be in, which is what I was aiming for.

thorr-kan

2018-07-16, 02:29 PM

*Now* inspiration strikes.

I shoulda submitted a full on anime villain warrior build: psyhic focus, iajitsu focus, Extra Smite x a lot, pledge to an elder evil, improbable weapon of legacy....

thorr-kan

2018-07-17, 09:48 AM

I was trying to build a leader, but a leader needs followers, so I was trying to get as many as possible within the confines of e6. But an animal companion, a dragonnel steed, and a monstrous animal companion was about the best I could do, so I threw in the towel.
Wild Cohort for the animal companion, I assume?

There's Psycrystal Affinity, Hidden Talent (Astral Construct), Practiced Manifester; Share Soulmeld (Soulspark Familiar); Magical Training, Practice Spell Caster, Obtain Familiar, Improved Familiar. But that gets real feat intensive, really quick.

It's too bad d20 Past's Sidekick and Minion feats never made it into DnD. Really, I find them more thematic than Leadership without the DM headaches.

You gain loyal, but not suicidal, followers. Number based on your leader score = Level + Reputation Bonus + Charisma Modifier.

You gain a loyal, but not suicidal, companion. Level based on your leader score = Level + Reputation Bonus + Charisma Modifier.

Zombulian

2018-07-17, 05:00 PM

WhamBamSam

2018-07-17, 08:32 PM

Wait but Storm of Throws is an Epic Feat. I was confused for a second about if the e6 epic feats could be actually epic... but I guess this is assuming that Dragonwroughts qualify for epic feats?

Edit: Went back over the Epic Dragon rules. I thought there was more contention to this, but this doesn't even require the True Dragon assumption huh.Yeah. Not to derail the thread with more rehashing of this, but most Dragonwrought cheese doesn't actually require them to be True Dragons. The only non-Dragon Mag (so competition legal) things that do are Dragon Pacts and Sovereign Archetypes. Sovereign Archetypes are admittedly a big freaking deal, but yeah, the True Dragon argument tends to obscure how non-controversial most Kobold cheese is by RAW.

thorr-kan

2018-07-19, 11:47 AM

Judges? Anyone? Bueller?

Falontani

2018-07-19, 12:00 PM

I will start working on judging on my next day off. Iirc that's Friday (depends on the sitter)

Zaq

2018-07-19, 12:03 PM

Thank you, Falontani (and everyone else who steps up to the plate)!

Falontani

2018-07-20, 01:02 PM

would people rather I post them one at a time as I finish them or would they rather I post them all at once?

DeTess

2018-07-20, 01:18 PM

would people rather I post them one at a time as I finish them or would they rather I post them all at once?

If I was participating, and I'm not saying I am, as that might break a rule somewhere, but if I was, I'd prefer to see all at once.

thorr-kan

2018-07-20, 01:37 PM

All at once, definitely.

thorr-kan

2018-07-20, 01:38 PM

I will start working on judging on my next day off. Iirc that's Friday (depends on the sitter)
Thanks, Falontani.

Falontani

2018-07-21, 01:16 AM

Something came up (a player needed to run a solo session with me) and I was only able to get one of them done. I'll continue working when I have time and I'll keep you updated. If someone else would like to step in please don't let me stop you.

RaiKirah

2018-07-24, 09:18 AM

Judging update:
First pass done, as is mechanical review. Hoping to have time to finish this week, hopefully no later than this weekend.

I apologise for the delay.

DeTess

2018-07-24, 09:46 AM

Judging update:
First pass done, as is mechanical review. Hoping to have time to finish this week, hopefully no later than this weekend.

I apologise for the delay.

No problem, I know ow much time doing a good judging pass can cost. I'm looking forward to seeing your results!

RaiKirah

2018-07-31, 10:05 PM

Judgements Incoming (apologies for delay - life's hard).

First a note to all the competitors, current and future:

Your build discussion is incredibly important. Without one a judge is left using circumstantial evidence to reconstruct the intended functionality of a dish. This makes judging YOUR build, as opposed to a random collection of mechanics, remarkably difficult. When you are putting together a build description remember that each competition has a Secret Ingredient and that it should be showcased - you can have a remarkable build, but if you don't show why it's a [X Ingredient] build, and how it uses [X Ingredient] you're going to lose out on points.

Without further ado, here's my judgements:

I am conflicted about this build. On the one hand you have an evil Crusader, both mechanically and ideologically and you sell it with the build really fitting your fluff remarkably well. I think you’ve crafted a really nifty character that holistically works for what it’s supposed to do and be, and for that you have my admiration. In addition there are a number of feats you’ve used (mostly Exemplars of Evil and the Spelltouched feats) that I haven’t seen or considered before, and that’s also great. On the other hand, every aspect of your build aside from the SI is a well-known optimization trick: Krynn Minotaur is known to be broken, Devotion to an Elder Evil is nothing but free power, Marshall 1 is a staple of any CHA build for Motivate Charisma, a single level Cleric dip for Devotion feats is likewise tried and true (though kudos for not using Cloistered Cleric for free Knowledge Devotion) and Sertrous to pick whatever domains you want is normal for that as well. In short, your build feels like a statement to the effect of ‘let’s tack Crusader onto baseline Optimization tricks.’ You get a lot of benefit from my instinctual reaction to the build, which was very positive from a holistic perspective with the guidance of the fluff, but I wish you had managed it without the power grabs.
Of the builds presented I believe yours is the most powerful. In combat you have all the Crusader tricks, plus you’ve done a good job optimizing your charge damage. With only BAB +4 you don’t lose anything from not having a way to Pounce, so your single target two-handed Power Attack with Reckless Charge, Powerful Charge, and Greater Powerful Charge is about the best that can be done. Your damage could have been improved by taking ranks in Jump to get Leap Attack, but with limited Skill points (Int 10 hurts you there) I understand you prioritized Know(religion) for the Blessing of the Godless. I approve of that choice from a thematic perspective, but your overall power would likely have been higher with Leap Attack. While we’re talking about ways your damage could be increased, you lack a way to charge every turn. While you were dipping cleric you might as well have picked up Travel Devotion, either by swapping the Pestilence Domain for Travel, or simply taking the Feat. That way if you don’t 1-shot each round you can guarantee a charge. If your damage was the only aspect you had you would have gotten a 3.5, but you also did some good Debuff Optimization, as well as adding in additional defensive options. Your debuffing takes the form of the Stench of the Dead aura and Blasphemous Incantation for two chances to sicken everyone around you, as well as decent Intimidate Optimization. Your intimidate is hurt by the lack of the Imperious Command Feat, which is basically a requirement of Intimidate builds in the way Darkstalker is of sneak builds. Daunting Presence and Intimidating Strike more or less overlap in your action economy, so swapping one of those for Imperious Command would be mostly a straight upgrade. Out of combat you maintain some social ability with your Intimidate, though the Stench of the Dead means you basically never get to have a positive conversation with anyone. Even one level of Cleric casting opens up some utility options for you as well. Putting it together, you’re a combat machine with some out of combat social ability.
On a mechanics side you were mostly rules legal. All of your skills are legal and logical. You qualify for all of your Feats, though in the case of Live My Nightmare you will 100% need DM buy in as Phantasmal Killer is a lvl4 spell and you’re in E6 so PCs can’t access it at all, which means it will be vanishingly rare for NPCs as well. You will also need DM buy in to swap Skill Focus (Diplomacy) for SF(Intimidate) as that is not a called-out adaptation. Unfortunately you don’t qualify for 3rd level maneuvers at the levels at which you take them. You qualify for your second Stance at ECL 3 which is IL 2, so you don’t qualify for Thicket of Blades. Similarly, you learn your 6th maneuver at ECL 4 which is IL 3 so you don’t qualify for Revitalizing Strike. You do end up with IL 5 but you achieve it only at ECL 6, which is too late for your class progression. The rest of your mechanics work correctly as far as I can tell, but there’s nothing particularly slick about them so no bonus.
You use four levels of the SI and jump ship at what I consider to be an appropriate point. Your write up mentions only one class feature at all (Indomitable Soul), and all of your tricks are based on your feats and high-level build choices (Cleric, Elder Evil Devotion, Marshal). Your stated combat pattern is as a charger, which doesn’t work well with the strikes you chose (the only charge compatible strike you traded away). Your other choices of maneuvers are standard Crusader fare. While your fluff is fantastic as a crusader of an Elder Evil, and your mechanics back that up, they don’t do so by means of the Crusader class.
This is a solid build, and the fluff was an entertaining read. I quite enjoyed the idea of a Heavy Metal Crusader out there bringing justice to the world by sonic storm, rocking so hard he destroys all his drum kits. That’s a fun fantasy, and would be a blast to RP, so kudos there. However, the mechanics don’t entirely jive with the fluff you’ve put together, and so I can’t really give you much of a boost to your score for a wonderful bit of characterization. You have ranks in Perform(drums), but you don’t actually do anything with them, and for a character that is described as a band member having no combat mechanics associate with song seems a shame. Your race choice surprised me somewhat; it’s not often you see a Maenad in any build. I suspect it was chosen largely because it fits your fluff (though had you been lead singer that would have been slightly more aligned as Maenads scream. Aside from the ability to become psionically focused for a minor defensive buff you don’t seem to make use of the Maenad racial choice, so again, I’m forced to treat this choice as fairly neutral where Originality is concerned. Where you do come through though is in your mechanics; I don’t think I’ve ever seen a deliberate AoO build that not only doesn’t want to take AoOs, but actively cannot. Not only that but it actually seems to work, so congratulations on that, I’m impressed. You call out the ICOC build from Round 49 (which really should have been written IL, but that’s neither here nor there) Derek “Baelfire” Bragg as an inspiration for your build. Thank you for your honesty on that, and know that you get a pass on this one – mechanically you’re dissimilar enough to be influenced by but not a copy of. Overall, you’ve got a solid build with nice fluff that surprised me mechanically in one aspect. You’re still basically a standard Crusader in feel but with a little extra spice.
Up until your Epic feats you function as vanilla Crusader, so your combat functionality hits the baseline. Your write-up doesn’t mention most of the class features so I will assume that you use them in the regular manner. None of your mechanical choices reduce your ability to function as a regular Crusader, and you picked up the only required melee feat: Power Attack, so you’re good (being a strike based Martial Character without easy access to charge-based maneuvers you don’t need the multipliers). Your one level of Warblade gives you a little extra oomph. By granting access to Iron Heart maneuvers you get to take the Stormguard Warrior feat, which starts you down the path of becoming differentiated from all the other Crusaders out there. With your Epic feats you start becoming an AoO build, and here is where I would normally ding you extremely hard for not having Combat Reflexes as part of an AoO build, but you found a way for it to work anyways through the Channel the Storm tactical option from Stormguard Warrior. You don’t say this explicitly in your write-up, but the text of Channel the Storm, allows you to ‘refrain from making one or more available attacks of opportunity’ which means that all you really need is the baseline one; you never use it so it’s always available. And you set up a lot of ways to trigger AoOs to fuel Channel the Storm: If they run away (Thicket of Blades), if they attack (Karmic Strike), if they miss (Riposte). The fact that you basically can’t use the other tactical options while benefitting from Channel the Storm doesn’t really matter, because your use of Channel the Storm is fantastic. Pretty much the entirety of your Epic feats are used to fuel this trick up until the last two. Improved Unarmed Strike and Snap Kick are in my opinion slightly sub-optimal in this build. Snap Kick is used in most AoO builds because it doubles your attacks from AoOs, which can result in an addition 4-6 attacks from AoOs in a typical such build. You however are never going to take your AoOs which means at most you’re going to get 1 extra attack from it in a round. You mention using this attack for fueling the Combat Rhythm tactical option from Stormguard Warrior, but really doing so reduces your damage output significantly; +5 damage every other turn is probably less than the +n*4 from the Snap Kick each turn (n = number of foregone AoOs). Your defensive options are standard Crusader with the addition of the Diamond Mind maneuvers as a nice bonus, and the Psionic Focus helps that as well. All told you are an effective combatant, but have no out of combat utility.
I don’t have a whole lot to say here. You meet every pre-requisite and your build is entirely legal. There are several points that deserve discussion. Your creation of an AoO build that can’t AoO is what I would consider to be mechanically elegant and will be rewarded (since there’s no ‘One Awsomeness, One Reward’ clause in the judging guidelines you get this for both being Original and for being Elegant). The orphaned Ride skill points might normally be cause for concern, but you really didn’t have any other use for those points, so I’ll let it slide. The lack of mechanical support for your fluff hurts my soul, but that’s already been addressed in Originality, so it causes no loss in points here.
You are, without a doubt, a Crusader. There are, however, caveats to that statement. Five of six levels in class are all utilized – your fifth level is to pick up Defensive Rebuke, the only one of your Crusader maneuvers that directly ties into your AoO build and thus justifying the otherwise dead level. This is a good Use of the SI. The previous four levels are all excellent mechanically and make your character function as a normal Crusader, which justifies my first statement. Unfortunately, your primary trick centers around Stormguard Warrior, which in the build presented is only made possible by the level of Warblade. You could have used Epic Feats with Martial Study to pick up the necessary Iron Heart Maneuvers (trade out the not entirely utilized IUS and Snap Kick maybe) and then gone all six levels as Crusader, but you didn’t. It is unfortunate that the only indispensable part of this build comes from another class, and that hurts your USoI. You function as a Crusader by default, but your primary trick doesn’t depend on it. In all, you make adequate USoI, but nothing extraordinary.
Real Talk Friend: your build was hard to parse. Your build table had everything in it, which was nice, but you had a lot of visual clutter that made reading it somewhat difficult. Here’s what should change in future: only keep a running total of Class, BAB, Saves, and Skills – everything else is easy enough to keep track of. Provide separate tables for Manuevers/Spells/Powers/Melds. Please, for the love of all that is holy/unholy/important to you do not include modifiers in your table: only include base values and/or ranks. Modifiers make it very difficult to keep track of base values, which is all that matters for prereqs, and modifiers are mutable with magic/items, and thus less interesting. Please indicate which skills are getting points at each level, how many, and if they are cross class. Thanks.

I freaking love this build conceptually! A reincarnated champion of evil devoted now to the cause that struck him down, striving to right the half-remembered wrongs of his past self is a gold mine of RP potential and story hooks, not to mention being awesome by itself. Not only do you have an awesome fluff concept, but your crunch fully aligns with it as well. Hellbred are literally repentant incarnations of the blackest souls searching for redemption through the worldly actions. Incarnates are physical embodiments of an ideal through the manifestation of the raw force of souls, in this case the literal reification of Law. The Divine Mind lends a direct channel to the new divinity of Justarious, using the power of his very will to commune with Wee Jas. A Crusader is quite literally a champion of a cause, usually divinely inspired. I love the melding of fluff and mechanics, well done! On top of being deeply impressed with the thematic melding of your backstory and build, I was not at all expecting either Incarnate or Divine Mind, and while I wasn’t precisely expecting Hellbred, we’ve seen a lot of them recently so I am less surprised. That, and the fact that your mechanics don’t do anything particularly novel is what kept this build from having an even higher Originality score.
Here I think your build suffered for its thematic cohesion. Four levels of Crusader put you on par with everyone else, and your choices of maneuvers are the usual suspects. With two levels of non-full BAB you end up with a BAB of +4, which doesn’t really matter that much since the real difference is at +6, but is still a loss, particularly since you don’t actually gain that much from your non-Crusader levels. Incarnate is a pretty decent level dip, and you invest three feats later on to make the most of it, but you end up with only three essentia, which allows you to not fully invest your two Soulmelds. Since you only mention the two Soulmelds I will assume that is your default kit-out. Airstep Sandals are excellent, particularly once you can bind them to your feet Chakra, though you will be capped at a fly speed of 20ft. Astral Vambraces I find a bit suspect however, as they only provide DR 2-4/magic, which will become irrelevant rather quickly. Once you bind them to your hands you do get slam attacks, but they are natural weapons and Martial Strike generally don’t allow secondary attacks, and they cannot be enhanced by Metaphysical Weapon, which you pick up through the Divine Mind dip. Speaking of Divine Mind, this level gets you two things; Hidden Talent (Metaphysical Weapon) and the Magic Mantle. Metaphysical Weapon is a sub-par choice for Hidden Talent, as until you pick up Practiced Manifester you can only use it once per day (debatably still only once per day afterwards, but more on that later). At 1pp Metaphysical Weapon gives +1 attack and damage to one weapon, whereas Expansion gives +1 attack and damage to all weapons (+2 Str size increase) plus all the other associated benefits of being large. Granted the duration is nicer on Metaphysical Weapon, but it’s still 1/day and it cannot apply to your slam attacks. Practiced Manifester should give you additional pp to fuel this ability, but I’m having a hard time parsing the wording of Hidden Talent and Divine Mind. It’s possible that Hidden Talent uses the Divine Mind manifester level, which is Class-4, which would neatly cancel out the bonus from Practiced Manifester. I hope that’s not what happens, but it seems possible or even likely. The second thing you get from Divine Mind is the Magic Mantle, which allows you to overcome DR/magic (which you can do with a +1 weapon), and more importantly it gives you access to UMD. Strangely you seem to only put one rank into UMD, making this choice of Mantle do next to nothing for you. The other Mantles of Wee Jas (Death, Law, Mental Power) all seem like they would have given you more benefit. Your Feat choices are coherent, and make you significantly more consistent as a Martial Adept as well as adding small defensive options and improving your class abilities from all three of your classes. Your only real source of bonus damage is Psionic Weapon, but among all your abilities and feats you have a lot of Swift actions, meaning most of your tools are going to be mutually exclusive in a fight. In short, I think you make a decent Crusader base, but may have been better served in a combat role by continuing to full six levels and devoting feats to improving your damage. Without any real out of combat support (UMD +3 isn’t enough, and your social skills aren’t really optimized) you fall onto the lower end of the power spectrum.
Mechanically I’m honestly not sure how legal you are; your build was difficult enough to read I may have missed things, and I wasn’t as thorough as I probably should have been. The only outright rules violation I found was that you fail to qualify for Speed of Thought, as you do not have Wis 13. Your Maneuver choices are legal, and the rest of your feats are as well. Skills I honestly don’t have a clue. In future please make your build a little more legible.
I think you hit this one on the nose. You take four levels of the SI which is all you should take unless you go to 6, and you made a thematically seamless crusader using it. While your power level might be slightly below average, you nailed the intent of the class I believe. You miss out on a five due to no discussion of the class features
I really like Shifters. I really, really wish you had given me a more complete write up so I could do more than guess at what this character does and who it is. Shifters are pretty unique among the races in that they more or less force you to build a character as a Shifter, rather than whatever class you choose. As such, the class selection is more an accent for a Shifter build, and without a lot of context to influence my read of this build that is what I’m seeing here. I did not at all see a Shifter being part of this competition, and I would love to justify it as anything other than an Originality grab, but without more to go on I can’t.
You do one thing only: you to turn into a raging murder-beast, and you do it phenomenally. As seems to be the case with this SI you take the Crusader base ingredient and let it do its thing. Everything the Crusader does is good and you make use of it. The build however revolves around Shifter, so let’s talk about that. Your building a pretty classic Rage Shifter: Razorclaw is pretty clearly the best Shifter trait, and if you’re not Ubercharging rises to the top uncontested. If you’re a Shifter with Rage and you don’t take Shifter Savagery you’re doing it wrong, so it’s good that you have it. The rest of your Shifter feats are basically the best of the rest, with the single baffling exception of Extra Sifter Trait (Longstride) and Longstride Elite. Picked up with Extra Shifter Trait you get only the movespeed increase which is basically irrelevant. The classic pick-up here is the Longtooth trait, which gives you a secondary bite attack to use on your grappling attacks. Anyways, with your seven Shifter Feats you can shift 4 times a day for a minimum of 13 rounds a time, giving you a baseline combat competence that’s pretty reliable. Extra Rage (which should have been taken at Lvl6, rather than Epic 10), means you can rage as often as you shift, which you can either double up on or use interchangeably if you need more encounters worth of buffs. Your physical stats are nuts and you’ll be dishing out the damage. One potential pitfall however comes from the wording of your Lvl1 feat Snatch from the MM2 onwards, which doesn’t give the creature the option to not start a Grapple attempt. I doubt any DM would enforce that, but you never know. Now, let’s talk about the one bit of write-up you gave us: your Berserk Battle Fury-fueled 1/day Nova. This trick gives you an insane amount of damage, but it comes with an equally insane drawback: you cannot stop attacking a target until it’s dead, and you cannot stop attacking things until it wears off. The first part isn’t that bad in conjunction with Snatch – you grab a thing and maul it until it’s dead. Fair enough. The issue comes when there are no longer any enemies left – you attack your friends until it is over. As all of your buffs use your new con mod +3 rounds, you are a ragemonster for at least 13 rounds. To not attack your friends you need to hit a DC 15+(1-13) Will save. With a base Will save of +1, even your +5 from rage modifiers means you have a 50/50 chance at round 1. The Crusader’s Indomitable Soul class feature would help, but you have a Cha of 6, so no dice. This is a rather dangerous drawback. However, you are a dangerous combatant; you do one thing really well despite your limitations.
You qualify for everything, and have no errors in your build table. The only questionable legal choice is qualifying for Ettercap Berserker, as there is a setting mis-match between Rashemen and Eberron, but that’s manageable. The choice of waiting on Extra Rage until Epic Feat 10 hurts me profoundly, but there’s nothing technically wrong with it.
This is a Shifter build, not a Crusader (at least not thematically). You use four levels of the SI and choose maneuvers that compliment your playstyle, which is all that saves you from a 1. I would love to hear how this is a Crusader build rather than a Shifter Rage/Grapple build that happens to have Crusader levels, because I would love to be convinced, but I don’t see it.

Alright, that's it. I really enjoyed judging these dishes, and a big thank you and congratulations to the Chefs! Now bring on the Disputes! Remember, we're all trying to have fun here, so please keep disputes cordial - I was trying to be fair and not be offensive, so hopefully no one feels hurt by what I've provided. If anyone spots any inaccuracies or failures on my part to adhere to the judging guidelines please do let me know.

Zaq

2018-08-01, 12:01 AM

Thank you very much for judging, RaiKirah! We’ll keep the window for disputes open for a couple of days or until I get word from each chef that you don’t wish to file any disputes. I’ll try to put together a table when I’m not on mobile.

Falontani, are you still judging? If you are, please send up a signal flare and we’ll have multiple judges, which is usually a preferable situation; if not, we’ll wrap up once everyone involved has had a chance to respond.

Falontani

2018-08-01, 09:10 AM

I'll try to finish up my judging today before I okay dnd tonight. If I'm unable to them it probably would be another week of work, so if is not out today just go without me (unless disputes take a while)

Zaq

2018-08-02, 11:46 PM

If I don't hear anything by tomorrow, we'll wrap up and start the new contest then.

Zaq

2018-08-03, 08:43 PM

Hello? Is this thing on? Is anyone still paying attention to this contest? Don't you dare die on me!

Name
Alignment/Race
Class Stub
Score
Place
Chef

Cray the Gnarled (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217370&postcount=28)
LE Krynn Minotaur
Crusader 4 / Cleric 1 / Marshal 1
14.5
Bronze
jdizzlean

Meran 'The Hammer' Torson (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217374&postcount=29)
CG Maenad
Crusader 5 / Warblade 1
16
Gold
Randuir

Justarius (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217377&postcount=30)
LN Body Hellbred
Crusader 4 / Divine Mind 1 / Incarnate 1
16
Gold
thorr-kan

Talon (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23217378&postcount=31)
? (nonlawful?) Razorclaw Shifter
Crusader 4 / Barbarian 1 / Berserk 1
10.5
4th
tterreb

Thank you to RaiKirah for judging, for our contestants for entering, and for everyone as you put up with me changing the rules on you. Next round, which will be up presently, is going to be back to basics. Congrats to everyone who entered!

In all seriousness, though, if there's something I can do to keep the engagement levels here a bit closer to what we had in, like, Ninja, let me know. I truly don't want this to die for lack of interest. I'll have the new round up in a few minutes!

RaiKirah

2018-08-03, 08:53 PM

Congratulations Randuir and throrr-kan, and to jdizzlean and tterreb for putting together excellent Dishes! I really enjoyed diving into the nitty-gritty of these builds, so thanks for the opportunity!

On another note, this may go without saying but I personally really enjoy this competition and hope to see it continue. Thanks for running it Zaq!

Falontani

2018-08-03, 09:05 PM

my scoring wasn't done, and I feel about about that; Honorable Mention goes to Talon for using Berserk. Never thought I'd see it be used until the Berserk was the SI

Long_shanks

2018-08-03, 10:44 PM

I started a surprise judging last week, until my girlfriend got a bike accident (she is perfectly fine now, but it kinda threw a wrench in the plan and ate up some free time for a while). If the next ingredient tickle my fancies, I will try to enter or maybe judge!

DeTess

2018-08-04, 02:08 AM

Raikirah, thanks for judging! I had nothing to dispute (but I'll make sure to tell the chairman so next time :P), and I think your judging as a whole was very fair. I expected most of your comments, but I just couldn't find a way to get hidden talent and perform as a class skill without either sacrificing a point of BaB (which would have broken the main mechanical theme) or taking a flaw. I'd also initially envisioned taking lightning maces in the build to further the drummer theme, but I had a lot of trouble getting the prerequisites for that to fit in my ability scores. One day I'll hopefully be good enough to have my cake and eat it too, though I did do alright in the end.

Zaq, I suspect that the reduction in engagement towards the end had to do with the time it took for a judging to arrive. This is not a criticism aimed at the judge, as I know how much time it takes to judge properly, but I don't think there's much that can be done about it unless some people pop up that are super motivated to judge and have enormous amounts of free time to dedicate to it.

lylsyly

2018-08-04, 09:22 AM

Some ingredients are going to draw more interest than others, that's just the way it goes.

thorr-kan

2018-08-07, 02:10 PM

A long judging time seems to make it hard to maintain engagement. That's an observation, not a criticism. I fully understand how real life trumps, and I appreciate the efforts.

And to put my money where my mouth is, I'll judge the next round, secret ingredient sight unseen.

Zaq

2018-08-07, 06:54 PM

That's the spirit, thorr-kan! Thanks in advance!

Seems like most people found it already, but the new thread is here. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?565669-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-E6-Appetizer-Edition-(Round-XI))