Junkyard Wars XIX: IB + EWM - SC

[Macabaret]

Welcome to Junkyard Stadium! It is in this hallowed pile of miscellaneous parts that we will hold a competition of Practical Optimization with three components. The catch? Competitors may not use the third item in their builds!

Goal: Create a build that showcases the selected ingredients while steering clear of the Forbidden Ingredient.

This competition has two Necessary Components and one Forbidden Component. This round's components are...


Necessary: Incarnum Blade PrC (from Magic of Incarnum p.121)
Necessary: Exotic Weapon Master PrC (from Complete Warrior p.30)
Forbidden: Spiked Chains



Contestants:

The rules are as follows:

Creation: 32 point-buy is the presumed creation method. You may assume that you will have enough exp to reach ECL 20, and that the occasional bit of crafting, use of spells with exp components, or the like won't prevent you from doing so. However, LA buyoff is an alternate rule which is not in play.
Workshop: Competitors will be free to use any official 3.5 rulebook in constructing their builds. Dragon Magazine is disallowed, and Unearthed Arcana is allowed; but see below. Web-exclusive 3.0 or 3.5 materials by WotC are expressly allowed, but take care to verify that an updated version did not appear in print elsewhere as this may cause an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion. If you use web material, please link it. Dragon Magazine Compendium is allowed, as are Oriental Adventures and the Dragonlance Campaign Setting. Alternate rule systems from UA such as gestalt and fractional saves are not allowed, as they create a different playing field.
Speculation: Please don't post or speculate on possible builds until after the reveal in order to avoid spoiling the surprise if a particular competitor is producing a build along those lines.
Disputes: Any scoring disputes should be sent to the Chair via PM. Valid disputes include RAW misreadings, arithmetic errors, things missed that are present in the entry, and inconsistently applied criteria. Invalid disputes include disagreements on matters of opinion, a judge not catching something not explicitly presented in the entry, and the like. Invalid disputes will be responded to via PM by the Chair, but valid disputes will be posted in-thread for the judge to review. When disputing, please indicate the judge the dispute is intended for and provide a quote of the disputed comment or comments. Note: the Chair may edit or paraphrase any disputes in presenting them to the judges.
Leadership is banned: We're creating one thing, not all of the things. If your entry includes a prestige class or ACF that grants Leadership or a Leadership-like ability as a bonus feat, the feat should be ignored and is not eligible to be traded away for another feat or ACF through any means.
Presentation: You will need to present a write-up of your build at at least one of the following points: 5th level, 10th level, 15th, 20th, and a "sweet spot" that you feel is the high point of the build, as well as presenting a fully-fleshed out 20-level build in the table below. Please give a rundown of the build's abilities and playability throughout its life. Builds will be posted anonymously, in order to avoid the potential of bias towards a particular competitor. For this reason, please don't put your name in the build as I'm likely to miss it when reviewing the entries. Also for this reason, PLEASE do not include any material that may or may not offend any potential viewers/judges/competitors OR break forum rules. Any builds which violate forum rules WILL be withheld from posting.


Due to concerns about standardizing entry format, please use the following table for their entry.
NAME OF ENTRY


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


1st
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


2nd
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


3rd
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


4th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


5th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


6th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


7th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


8th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


9th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


10th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


11th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


12th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


13th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


14th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


15th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


16th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


17th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


18th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


19th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


20th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities



Code immediately below (spoiler).

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


1st
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


2nd
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


3rd
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


4th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


5th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


6th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


7th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


8th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


9th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


10th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


11th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


12th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


13th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


14th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


15th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


16th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


17th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


18th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


19th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


20th
New Class Level
+x
+x
+x
+x
Skills
Feats
New Class Abilities


For entries with spellcasting, use the following table for Spells per day and Spells Known. (Spells Known only if necessary, i.e. Sorcerer or Bard, but not Wizard or Warmage)
Spells per Day/Spells Known


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


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


2nd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


3rd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


4th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


5th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


6th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


7th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


8th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


9th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


10th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


11th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


12th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


13th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


14th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


15th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


16th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


17th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


18th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


19th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


20th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Code immediately below (spoiler)Spells per Day/Spells Known


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


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


2nd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


3rd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


4th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


5th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


6th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


7th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


8th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


9th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


10th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


11th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


12th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


13th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


14th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


15th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


16th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


17th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


18th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


19th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


20th
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


For other systems (Psionics, ToB, Incarnum, etc.) keep track of PP/maneuvers/essentia separately, preferably in a nice neat list.

Judges:


Scoring: Each judge is required to provide the criteria by which they are judging the builds. By "criteria," we mean a simple explanation of what the judge is looking for in each of the below categories and what kind of scoring we can expect. If a judge deems a build to be illegal, they may provide a 0 in Elegance but may not refuse to judge any build presented by the Chairman.
The Categories: Judging will be based on the following criteria, with each build rated from 1 (very poor) to 5 (exemplary) in each area: Originality, Power, Elegance, Use of Components.


Originality: Is the build unique? Does it deviate from the obvious? Does it forge its own path, or does it fall back on common, established optimization tricks? Some judges score entries for the quality of their concept & backstory as well, though not all do. Providing at least some backstory is heavily encouraged, as it helps the judges figure out who the entry is. Note that the purpose of this category is not to penalize entries that independently came up with the same idea as another entry, but rather to reward entries that explore underutilized and non-obvious areas of optimization, so, judges, try not to base your judging in this category too heavily on what other builds are doing. Multiple entries using the same element may certainly be evidence that the element is unoriginal, but you shouldn't impose anything like a "-1 for each other build using the same class" penalty.
Power: Power level is up to you. Cheese is acceptable, but should be kept to a sane level unless you're showcasing a new TO build you've discovered. In the words of one of my predecessors, a little cheddar can be nice, but avoid the mature Gruyere unless you're making a cheese fondue.
Elegance: This category was formerly titled "Build Stability." Here, we're essentially measuring how skillfully you put your build together and how you balanced flavor with power. We're cooking here - if your dish doesn't taste good, it doesn't matter how well-presented it is. Use of flaws is an automatic loss of one point per flaw in this category. Other things that will cause lost points here are excessive multiclassing (meaning any multiclassing that results in an xp penalty), and classes that don't fit the concept - using Cloistered Cleric in a front-line melee fighter, for example, may lose you points. Rule adherence and legality of sources is scored under this category; additionally, reliance on a questionable, controversial, or ambiguous ruling can and should result in a deduction. Neither the number of sources nor their relative obscurity should be penalized--contestants should feel free to use any books they like. Dipping should not be penalized unless it results in a multiclass xp penalty; if the system won't penalize it, neither should judges.
Use of Components: Was the Forbidden Component avoided? Were the Necessary Components showcased, or simply used because they were necessary?



Disputes: Any scoring disputes will be posted by the Chairman in-thread after reviewing them privately. Valid disputes include
RAW misreadings,
arithmetic errors,
things missed that are present in the entry,
and inconsistently applied criteria.
Invalid disputes include
disagreements on matters of opinion,
a judge not catching something not explicitly presented in the entry,
and the like.
Invalid disputes will be responded to via PM by the Chair, but valid disputes should be responded to by each individual judge. Judges are obligated to respond to disputes to ensure that everyone gets a fair shake. A judge's scores will only be recognized if they have recognized all disputes. In the absence of any other judges, the entries will be judged by the chairman.


Completion Time:

Contestants will have until 20:59 PM CST Wednesday July 18, 2018 to create their builds and PM them to the chairman.
Builds will then be posted simultaneously to avoid copying.
Judges will have until 20:59 PM CST Wednesday August 1st, 2018 to judge the builds and submit their scores. Judging deadline is subject to extension as required.
As the precedent has been set from Episode 2, should all prospective judges have posted their rulings in a neat, timely fashion and all disputes have been settled satisfactorily (to either judges, contestants, or the Chairperson), the judging period may end prematurely to give way to a new episode. No reason to keep working on a finished building and avoid moving onto the next one.


Looking for as many contestants and judges as feel like playing! We will award 1st through 3rd places, as well as a shout-out for honorable mention. The honorable mention prize is given to the most daring or unexpected build that doesn't gain a medal. Contestants are invited to vote for honorable mention via PM. Everyone else can vote in-thread. Ready? Set? Get to the junkyard and start building!

Previous Competitions:

Junkyard Wars in the Playground I: Shadowdancer + Sneak Attack - Rogue (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?337864)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground II: Healing Spells + Ruby Knight Vindicator - Cleric (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?342896)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground III: Dragons + Theurges - Kobolds (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?347412)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground IV: BoED + Undead Type - Completes (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?355278)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground V: Dread Witch + Reaping Mauler - Fighter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?360271)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground VI: Wonderworker + Profession Skill - Factotum (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?369604)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground VII: Metamagic Feats + LA - Metamagic Reducers! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?374504)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground VIII: Pounce+Small Size-Barbarian (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?388151)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground IX: Earth Dreamer + Ordained Champion - Cleric (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?395791)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground X: Meldshaping + Natural Attacks - Totemist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?403880)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XI: Magical Darkness + Improved Familiar - Wizard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?409650)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XII: Dragonmark Heirs + Touchstones - Martial Weapons (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?430214)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XIII: Mulhorandi Divine Minion + Monk - Any Other Wildshaping (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?465901)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XIV: Racial Paragon Classes + Spellcasting - Base Classes (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?479427)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XV: Ruathar + Stoneblessed - Human (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?497904)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XVI: Trapsmith + Combat Trapsmith - Rogue (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?540521)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XVII: Elemental Warrior + Jaunter - Fighter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?552569)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XVIII: Argent Savant + Holy Scourge - Wizard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?555404)

[Macabaret]

Current round specific FAQ:


Can we get a chair ruling on how "Uncanny Blow" works?
For this competition, we will consider the two sentences of the Uncanny Blow ability to be meant to be read continuously. In other words, both sentences refer to using an exotic one-handed melee weapon with two hands. So, when a character with Uncanny Blow wields an exotic one-handed melee weapon (with which s/he is proficient and has the appropriate Weapon Focus feat) in two hands, s/he adds twice the Strength damage and, if s/he also has the Power Attack feat, treats the weapon as two-handed. (i.e. Option #1 in Darren's post below.)
I won't go into specifics (in order to avoid speculation), but do note that this is different from what's mentioned in the Power Attack feat itself, if only slightly.

[Venger]

So much for starting us out with a softball.

I'd like to say that the idea of having 12 levels to play around with aside from the featured ingredients is a decision I heartily support.

Down to cook.

[Troacctid]

I feel proud of myself for figuring out two of the three abbreviations.

[WhamBamSam]

EWM - SC is a delightful challenge. Incarnum Blade amounts to 5 levels that we have to set on fire, but hey. I'll see if I can put something together.

[Thurbane]

Interesting. Incarnum is one of the subsytems I'm not very good on, but I may read up and get an entry in.

[Venger]

Interesting. Incarnum is one of the subsytems I'm not very good on, but I may read up and get an entry in.

Well, never you fret, because incarnum blade really has nothing to do with incarnum.

[WhamBamSam]

Interesting. Incarnum is one of the subsytems I'm not very good on, but I may read up and get an entry in.Worry not! Incarnum Blade isn't really Incarnum, or indeed much of anything at all. The Blademeld feature only bears passing resemblance to actual soulmelds.

EDIT: Hah, beat me to it almost verbatim.

[Zaq]

I have seen someone attempt to use Incarnum Blade exactly once. It was, well, pretty much as awful as it looks.

So your blademeld (wretched name) explicitly does not close the body slot you “bind” it to. Does that mean that you can still have an actual soulmeld there? Your blademeld doesn’t grant the ability to shape or bind real soulmelds, but if you have that ability already, does the blademeld interfere?

[Venger]

I have seen someone attempt to use Incarnum Blade exactly once. It was, well, pretty much as awful as it looks.

So your blademeld (wretched name) explicitly does not close the body slot you “bind” it to. Does that mean that you can still have an actual soulmeld there? Your blademeld doesn’t grant the ability to shape or bind real soulmelds, but if you have that ability already, does the blademeld interfere?

Did he lose a bet?

Correct. Yes, if you have the ability to bind a soulmeld there from some other source (since incarnum blade DOESN'T LET YOU BIND ANYTHING) then you can bind it to the chakra you've got your blademeld (ugh) bound to. The writer clearly didn't actually read the rest of the book, he just used some of the terminology. No, the blademeld does not interfere.

[Darrin]

Can we get a chair ruling on how "Uncanny Blow" works? More specifically, this sentence:

"If he has the Power Attack feat, he treats the weapon as two-handed for purposes of determining his bonus on damage rolls."

It's not clear if this sentence is referring to the first (which discusses gripping an exotic one-handed weapon in two hands), or if it's a separate effect entirely.

Option 1) It is referring to the first sentence, and is thus pointlessly redundant, because gripping a one-handed weapon with two hands is *already* treated as a two-handed weapon due to the text in Power Attack.

Option 2) It refers to any instance where the owner is gripping any one-handed exotic weapon and also has the Power Attack feat. This allows a one-handed exotic weapon gripped in one hand to be treated as two-handed for damage purposes.

As some of you can no doubt imagine, Option 2) is more interesting.

If we go with Option 2), however, there is an additional wrinkle... since one-handed exotic weapons + Power Attack = treat as two-handed, what is the Str damage multiplier? Normally this would be x1.0, but now that they are gripped two-handed, it should be x1.5... and now that it's x1.5, the first sentence of "Uncanny Blow" should now make it x2.0.

[Macabaret]

Can we get a chair ruling on how "Uncanny Blow" works?

You most certainly can! And thanks for asking. The question (and answer) has been added to this round's FAQ (see the second post of the thread.)

[Thurbane]

I'm very confused by Blademeld Chakra Bind , being almost entirely unfamiliar with chakra binds and Incarnum in general. Can I utilize this class feature without some external source of charka binding, or not?

Sorry if this is a blindingly obviously question, or was already answered above, but quite frankly Incarnum in general confuses me greatly.

[Zaq]

Incarnum Blade has approximately zero overlap with the general incarnum system. It appropriates some of the terminology (which is probably a source of confusion for you!), but it uses basically nothing of the mechanics. Like, at all.

The "binds" talked about in the blademeld section (I cannot get over how dumb a name "blademeld" is!) have, so far as I can tell, no interaction with actual soulmelds or your actual chakras.

It's basically easier to think of it as just a list of abilities that you can pick from. There's no connection to the chakra slots themselves.

[Thurbane]

It's basically easier to think of it as just a list of abilities that you can pick from. There's no connection to the chakra slots themselves.

OK, that helps, thank you.

[Venger]

I'm very confused by Blademeld Chakra Bind , being almost entirely unfamiliar with chakra binds and Incarnum in general. Can I utilize this class feature without some external source of charka binding, or not?

Sorry if this is a blindingly obviously question, or was already answered above, but quite frankly Incarnum in general confuses me greatly.

Yes, you can utilize the class feature even without other meldshaping. Best of luck to you.

[RaiKirah]

Wow is Incarnum Blade garbage!

I came up with an entertaining idea, but it has approximately zero to do with either Incarnum Blade or Exotic Weapon Master, so....

In to Cook if I can come up with something different that actually uses the classes!

[daremetoidareyo]

I found an exploit on incarnum blade, but can't really use it.

[RaiKirah]

Not sure if there's anything that can be done right now, but I'm relatively certain this should be Junkyard Wars number XIX, not XIV.

[Venger]

Not sure if there's anything that can be done right now, but I'm relatively certain this should be Junkyard Wars number XIX, not XIV.

Yes, that is correct.

[Macabaret]

Not sure if there's anything that can be done right now, but I'm relatively certain this should be Junkyard Wars number XIX, not XIV.

Yes, yes it should be. I've gone through and fixed what I can (I think, who knows what I may have missed). Thank you for keeping me on my toes!

[RaiKirah]

I didn't realize you could change the thread title, nice! And thanks for accommodating my OCD in fixing this!

[Ursus Spelaeus]

I have an idea for a build that makes use of Exotic Weapon Master, at least. It basically amounts to a bonus feat. A level in fighter would accomplish the same thing for this build (in fact, the level in fighter would be preferable.)
I can do nothing with Incarnum Blade, however.
It's pretty much going to be six levels of good stuff, two levels of garbage, then twelve more levels of good stuff.

[jdizzlean]

have an idea that actually makes both classes work together with panache, but can't seem to find the relevant rules listings to make it work...

[redacted] speculation here as to mechanics.


boo.

[PunBlake]

I've come up with a build that does cool things, but I don't know if I'll have time to fully write it up before the deadline.

[daremetoidareyo]

I got a weapon to abuse the heck out of. Just figuring out how...

[RaiKirah]

Crud. I just came up with a third idea I like :/

[PunBlake]

Well, I've done more fleshing-out than I thought I'd have time to perform. I am now much more likely to enter; I just need to format and add backstory. Even if I don't, I'll post what I've got eventually.
After multiple iterations, this path feels very obvious, so hopefully I'll have some... differentiating factors from similar entries. Making decent use of both ingredients was challenging.

[jdizzlean]

you know whats fun?

when you're half way done entering your build into the table, and then you lose internet for 4 hours... when it comes back up, the table is gone and you get to start all over (for the 4th time or so)

ahh the joys of optimizing !

[Venger]

try going to your browser history and reopening the page that way. that's worked for me in the past, since when you're drafting a long post, your data is saved locally in cookies. for iron chef and similar activities, I use wordpad for this reason. plus it means I can cook on airplanes.

[jdizzlean]

I used to just copy the build code into a separate word document and transfer it across that way. But after discovering the a/A button finally, i've taken to just doing it in the browser as it's much much faster.

the good thing about revising it for now the 5th time in browser is that i caught an error in skill points, that while minor, offends my sense of OCD and had to be fixed.

right now i'm down to background, so should be done by this morning when i get off work.

[PunBlake]

I do all my formatting (and character brewing, for that matter) in Notepad, mostly because it works everywhere and most of my work is on a thumb drive.

Mechanical formatting complete. I'm down to backstory. I'll try to finish this within the next 10 hours because of how close the deadline is.

Edit: Tactics/magic items/citations complete; too tired to write backstory. Will submit tomorrow.

[daremetoidareyo]

In well before the deadline. May the competition be fierce.

[Falontani]

Just got mine in! Looking forward to the judging. Hoping it is slightly swifter than last time, however if anyone does judge then it will be much appreciated!

[PunBlake]

Submitted. C'mon, no Vizzinis, no Vizzinis...

[Macabaret]

Approximately 6 1/2 hours until the deadline.


I will say, however, that I've got company coming tonight and we're going out. I don't know when I'll return and I don't know how tired I might be when I do. So, it's likely that postings won't be made until tomorrow morning. I will allow entry until such time as submissions get posted, of course.

TLDR:
The deadline has been extended by an unknown period of time. Feel free to play with fire, if you'd like....

[Falontani]

Submitted. C'mon, no Vizzinis, no Vizzinis...

that has been the hardest part about this round! I found that designing a character around this one lied almost solely on weapon choice and how to pimp that weapon, which makes Vizzini come about much more often it seems. That said I eagerly await the reveal

[PunBlake]

that has been the hardest part about this round! I found that designing a character around this one lied almost solely on weapon choice and how to pimp that weapon, which makes Vizzini come about much more often it seems. That said I eagerly await the reveal

I kinda want the builds to be posted just so we can make jokes about the weapons involved. I considered two or three weapons while I was brewing, all of them joke-worthy.

[Venger]

Approximately 6 1/2 hours until the deadline.


I will say, however, that I've got company coming tonight and we're going out. I don't know when I'll return and I don't know how tired I might be when I do. So, it's likely that postings won't be made until tomorrow morning. I will allow entry until such time as submissions get posted, of course.

TLDR:
The deadline has been extended by an unknown period of time. Feel free to play with fire, if you'd like....

That would be great. Thanks.

[Zaq]

I kinda want the builds to be posted just so we can make jokes about the weapons involved. I considered two or three weapons while I was brewing, all of them joke-worthy.

I once had a villain encounter called the League of Silly Weapons where each one used a more stupidly ridiculous (but RAW) weapon than the last one. The leader, naturally, had a gyrspike.

. . . The party didn't think it was as funny as I did, but oh well.

[Macabaret]

Okay, kids. This is it.
Please refrain from posting until the submissions are up.

[Macabaret]

Fianin
Chaotic Good Wood Elf Ranger 6/Revenant Blade 5/Incarnum Blade 5/Warblade 1/Eternal Blade 1/Exotic Weapon Master 2



Stat
Base
Racial
Level Up
Final Total


Strength
16
+2
12, 16
20


Dexterity
14
+2
20
17


Constitution
14
-2
4, 8
14


Intelligence
10
-2

8


Wisdom
12


12


Charisma
12


12




On the horizon lies a single mounted elf. Usually nothing to fear, however this was just a scout. Like all of the elves of this region their horses are fast, faster than any but the Vadalis bred horses. There was no way I was going to catch him, keep him from reporting. So I reported to our officer, Deadbolt. A Warforged Mage. However did it turn out like this, those soulless slaves holding positions of authority over normal soldiers like me. I sighed, as I headed towards him. He’d be where he always is. Not in a commander’s tent, no, nothing like that. He stands stock still in the mess hall. He says “It makes the fleshed ones more at piece,” gorgon crap.
“Report.” No questioning what he means by that.
“The Valenar are coming, I saw one of their scouts.”
“You did not intervene.” A statement, not a question, no inflection of any emotion in his voice.
“He was too far afield, mounted on one of their ancestral mounts.”
“You and Lucky scout.” You know, I understand why he talks like that, it's efficient, but its down right annoying.
“Yes sir.”
Lucky the warforged warrior with entirely too much luck on his side was already ready. I haven’t slept in 33 hours. By the Host I’d just like to sleep, I don’t think that Deadbolt remembers that we “fleshed ones” require sleep. Thank the Host my uncle in Sharn knows how to get stuff. I go to my tent telling Lucky, “I need 5 minutes to get my gear.” I grab my mug. It’s cold now, but that is okay. I drink some of my dreamlily tea from the day before. Then I brace myself. I cut my palm. As usual there is only a vague tugging sensation. I put some of the powdered Luhix on the wound, and then quickly bandage it up. Immediately I have to suppress a scream. Damn this stuff burns. The dreamlily finishes taking effect, and the pain subsides. See now I feel like I’ve slept a full night. I slowly grab my crossbow, a case of bolts, and my riding cloak. I walk out of my tent. Lucky can tell something is up, but as usual he stays silent.
I mount up and he jogs aside my horse. Damn forged, why can’t they ever get tired? We head to where I saw the scout, and begin moving forward. At least luck is on my side, I might not die today. After a half hours run we make out the dust cloud.
“By the host…”
“There are roughly… four thousand calvary. This does not bode well.”
“Dhurinda’s nuts you’re telling me! We have all of five hundred of us, and another camp of forged east a few miles. We’re going to be killed!”
“You are correct. We must warn Deadbolt.” And he’s off. When a forged sprints at full speed you know that there is trouble somewhere. Well screw this. I’m getting out of here. Maybe Karnath will take a defector. I doubt it. Sharn is too far. The Talenta Plains! Maybe I’ll be able to find a nice halfling lass… Yea that’s good. I begin riding away from incoming horde. Damn Valenar. Huh.. that mist is coming in fast.
“By the Ho-”
I look towards Deadbolt.
“I knew Aren was using, unfortunately this node did not garner any new information. Other than Lucky the others are still lost.”
“Yup, and to think that Aren thought he could defect to Karnath. He’d have been a blood bank in Atur within the week, and I doubt he’d have even minded.”
“Amaranth, do we need this one’s body anymore? I am really hungry,” explains the ghoul needlessly.
“You are always hungry Garen. Go ahead.”




Level


Class


Base Attack Bonus


Fort Save


Ref Save


Will Save


Skills


Feats


Class Features



1st
Ranger
+1
+2
+2
+0
Handle Animal +4, Ride +4, Hide +4, Survival +4, Move Silently +4
Bladebearer of the Valenar
Favored Enemy: Giant, Track, Wild Empathy


2nd
Ranger
+2
+3
+3
+0
Handle Animal +5, Ride +5, Hide +5, Survival +5, Move Silently +5
Two Weapon Fighting(B)



3rd
Ranger
+3
+3
+3
+1
Handle Animal +6, Ride +6, Hide +5, Survival +6, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +1
Weapon Focus: Valenar Double Scimitar
Endurance


4th
Ranger
+4
+4
+4
+1
Handle Animal +7, Ride +7, Hide +5, Survival +7, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2

Animal Companion


5th
Ranger
+5
+4
+4
+1
Handle Animal +8, Ride +8, Hide +5, Survival +8, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +2

Arcane Hunter


6th
Ranger
+6
+5
+5
+2
Handle Animal +9, Ride +9, Hide +5, Survival +9, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +4
Improved Two Weapon Fighting(B), Mounted Combat



7th
Revenant Blade
+7
+5
+5
+4
Handle Animal +10, Ride +10, Hide +5, Survival +10, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +4

Ancestral Guidance (Power Attack), hero of the Vales Tairn, Ranger Class Features


8th
Revenant Blade
+8
+5
+5
+5
Handle Animal +11, Ride +11, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +4

Shadow of the Past


9th
Revenant Blade
+9
+6
+6
+5
Handle Animal +12, Ride +12, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +4, Craft Weaponsmithing +2
Valenar Trample
Ancestral Guidance (Improved Critical: Valenar Double Scimitar)


10th
Revenant Blade
+10
+6
+6
+6
Handle Animal +13, Ride +13, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +4, Craft Weaponsmithing +2

Giant Slayer


11th
Revenant Blade
+11
+6
+6
+6
Handle Animal +14, Ride +14, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +4, Craft Weaponsmithing +3

Ancestral Guidance (Weapon Specialization: Valenar Double Scimitar), Legendary Force


12th
Exotic Weapon Master
+12
+8
+6
+6
Handle Animal +14, Ride +14.5, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +4, Craft Weaponsmithing +3
Ride by Attack
Flurry of Strikes


13th
Exotic Weapon Master
+13
+9
+6
+6
Handle Animal +14, Ride +15, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +4, Craft Weaponsmithing +3

Double Weapon Defense


14th
Incarnum Blade
+14
+11
+6
+6
Handle Animal +14, Ride +15, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +5, Craft Weaponsmithing +3

Shape Blademeld, Blademeld Chakra Binds


15th
Incarnum Blade
+15
+12
+6
+6
Handle Animal +14, Ride +15, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +6, Craft Weaponsmithing +3
Two Weapon Pounce
Blademeld Chakra Binds


16th
Incarnum Blade
+16
+12
+7
+7
Handle Animal +14, Ride +15, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +7, Craft Weaponsmithing +3

Rebind Blademeld, Blademeld Chakra Binds


17th
Warblade
+17
+14
+7
+7
Handle Animal +14, Ride +15, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +10, Craft Weaponsmithing +3

Battle Clarity, Weapon Aptitude


18th
Incarnum Blade
+18
+15
+7
+7
Handle Animal +14, Ride +15, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +11, Craft Weaponsmithing +3
Two Weapon Rend
Blademeld Chakra Bind


19th
Incarnum Blade
+19
+15
+7
+7
Handle Animal +14, Ride +15, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +12, Craft Weaponsmithing +3

Dual Chakra Bind, Blademeld Chakra Bind


20th
Eternal Blade
+20
+17
+7
+7
Handle Animal +14, Ride +15, Hide +5, Survival +11, Move Silently +5, Knowledge History +2, Concentration +13, Craft Weaponsmithing +3

Blade Guide, Eternal Training 1/day






At level 5 we’ve already busted open the gate. We’re running around on a Valenar Riding Horse¹. We are using the Valenar Double Scimitar with weapon focus, proficiency, and two weapon fighting. We have ranger spells, and the skills to make us an effective tracker. Using Handle Animal we have trained our Valenar Riding Horse for war, granting it the Warbeast Template.

Alright, we have finished both ranger and Revenant Blade, and we have some fun things to play around with! First of all we are effectively an 11th level ranger for animal companion and spells, however we didn’t gain additional spells/day past 6th. It’s a shame but we’ll live! Now for the actual fun. We got to ignore prerequisites on 3 bonus feats. We got Power Attack, Improved Critical: Valenar Double Scimitar, and Weapon Specialization: Valenar Double Scimitar. But most importantly we got Legendary Force. Legendary Force counts both ends of the Valenar Double Scimitar as two handed weapons for purposes of power attack and str. We are dual wielding two handed (albeit low damage dice) weapons! Best of both worlds.

Ah, it's coming together. With Valenar Trample, Ride By Attack, and Two Weapon Pounce we get to have some fun! When our Valenar Riding Warhorse makes a Trample attack the enemy can’t choose to get out of the way. If they are knocked down then both me and my horse gets a free attack with a +4 bonus due to attacking a prone target. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not I get to make an attack due to Ride By Attack. Since this is part of a charge Two Weapon Pounce comes into play allowing me to make an offhand attack as part of the charge. So when we overrun an enemy I get to swing main hand twice, offhand once, and hoof em in the face all with a +4 bonus! And then after the attacks are through we keep on running out of the way. Now this is all fine and dandy, but as a swift action we cast Rhino’s Rush on ourself, giving us 2* damage on our first main hand attack. Exotic Weapon Master gives us some bonuses when we stand our ground, which will happen whenever we are facing large and larger enemies, because trampling isn’t as fun then. At this point we will usually be running the Arms Blademeld, giving us +4 to confirm critical hits, because we have a 30% chance to critically hit in any given swing.

We haven’t stopped gaining things by any measure of the word! We have gained Two Weapon Rend, which allows us to get an additional automatic hit whenever we have hit a creature twice in one round. We gained Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Rapid Counter, and Ruby Nightmare Blade. Sapphire and Ruby Nightmare Blade are both for when we move (whether mounted or not) and do not charge Rapid Counter allows us to have a chance at Two Weapon Rend just from a single provoked attack. With our Incarnum Blade finished we get two blademelds, one of them obviously being Hands or Feet Chakra. +1 damage or +2 initiative is nothing to scoff at. Finally we end it all with a level of Eternal Blade, much more for completing thematics than power, however completing with full BAB is lovely. Also we wear green light armor and name our horse Epona? Wait wrong character...


Eberron Campaign Setting - Valenar Double Scimitar, Valenar Riding Horse, Valenar Riding Horse animal companion (page 37)
Races of Eberron - Bladebearer of Valenar, Proficiency with Valenar Double Scimitar (page 81)
Player’s Guide to Eberron - Revenant Blade, Valenar Trample
Player’s Handbook II - Two Weapon Pounce, Two Weapon Rend
Magic of Incarnum - Incarnum Blade
Tome of Battle - Warblade, Eternal Blade
Player’s Handbook - Ranger, Two Weapon Fighting, Endurance, Weapon Focus, Improved Two Weapon Fighting, Mounted Combat, Ride by Attack, Power Attack, Improved Critical, Weapon Specialization
Complete Mage - Arcane Hunter
Complete Warrior - Exotic Weapon Master
Monster Manual 2 - Warbeast

[Macabaret]

Tog Tordus
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/phaeselis/images/2/2c/Kobold-1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140807131606

Racial Goodness

LG DWK Kobold Fighter4/Swashbuckler1/Kobold Paragon2/Incarnum Blade5/EWM3/Kensai 5

Venerable Dragonwrought Desert Kobold – change type to Dragon, retain subtypes, immune to magic sleep/paralysis. Small - +1 AC, +1 to attack, +4 Hide Darkvision 60ft, lowlight vision. +2 racial bonus to a skill on page 103 (Platinum Dragon +2 Concentration). -4 STR, +2 DEX, +3 INT, +1 WIS, +3 CHA

Draconic Rite of Passage – choose any 1st lvl Sorceror spell, castable 1/day as SLA, CL = Char lvl (Mage Armor +4AC 1hr/lvl)

Wrym of War archetype 1 bonus feat/4HD (fighter or combat-related draconic). Simple/martial proficient, all armor/shields proficient.

Point Buy:
S 14, D 16, C 14, I 12, W 12, C 10
Racial:
S 10, D 18, C 14, I 15, W 13, C 13
Class changes:
S 12, D 18, C 16, I 15, W 13, C 13

4-DEX, 8-20-STR

18d10+2d6+58+(40) HPs

Weapons:
Shortspear
Spear
Dwarven Double Spear


Build Table




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


1st
Kobold Paragon
+0
+0
+2
+2
Concentration 4, Craft (weaponsmithing) 4, cc-Diplomacy 2, cc-Ride 2, cc-Tumble 2, cc-UMD 2
Dragonwrought
Manual Expertise, Tunnel Defense


2nd
Kobold Fighter
+1
+2
+2
+2
Ride 5, Craft 5
(B) Dodge
Spear Focus (Weapon Focus)


3rd
Kobold Fighter 2
+2
+3
+2
+2
Craft 6, cc-Diplomacy 3, Ride 6
Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Dwarven Double Spear)
CON +2


4th
Kobold Paragon 2
+3
+3
+3
+3
Concentration 6, Craft 7, Escape 2, Spot 1
(B) Combat Expertise
Darkvision +30


5th
Swashbuckler
+4
+5
+3
+3
Concentration 7, Diplomacy 5, Escape 3, Tumble 3
(B) Weapon Finesse
-


6th
Kobold Fighter 3
+5
+5
+4
+4
Craft 9, Ride 8
Two Weapon Fighting
-


7th
Incarnum Blade
+6
+7
+4
+4
Concentration 9, cc-Diplomacy 6
-
Blademeld (crown,feet*,hands)


8th
Exotic Weapon Master
+7
+9
+4
+4
cc-Concentration 10, cc-Diplomacy 7
(B) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Stunt (Double Weapon Defense)


9th
Kensai
+7
+9
+4
+6
Concentration 12, Diplomacy 9, cc-UMD 3
Combat Reflexes
Signature Weapon (Dwarven Double Spear)


10th
Kensai 2
+8
+9
+4
+7
Concentration 13, Diplomacy 12, cc-UMD 4
-
Power Surge


11th
Kensai 3
+9
+10
+5
+7
Concentration 14, Diplomacy 13, cc-Tumble 4, cc-UMD 5
-
-


12th
Kensai 4
+10
+10
+5
+8
Concentration 15, Diplomacy 15, Ride 10, cc-Tumble 4.5
Draconic Aura - Resistance, (B) Melee Evasion
Ki Projection


13th
Kensai 5
+10
+10
+5
+8
Concentration 16, cc-UMD 6, cc-Spot 2, cc-Tumble 5
-
Withstand


14th
Kobold Fighter 4
+11
+11
+6
+9
cc-Concentration 17, Ride 12
-
STR +2


15th
Incarnum Blade 2
+12
+12
+6
+9
Concentration 18, Craft 10, cc-UMD 7
Double Hit
Blademeld (arms*,brow,shoulder)


16th
Incarnum Blade 3
+13
+12
+7
+10
Concentration 19, Craft 11, cc-UMD 8
(B) Two Weapon Rend
Rebind Blademeld (throat, waist**)


17th
Exotic Weapon Master 2
+14
+13
+7
+10
Concentration 20, Craft 12, cc-UMD 9
-
Stunt (Trip Attack)


18th
Incarnum Blade 4
+15
+14
+7
+10
Concentration 21, Craft 13, cc-UMD 10
Steady Concentration
Blademeld (heart**)


19th
Incarnum Blade 5
+16
+14
+7
+10
Concentration 22, Craft 14, cc-UMD 11
-
Dual Blademeld (soul)


20th
Exotic Weapon Master 3
+17
+14
+8
+11
cc-Concentration 23, cc-Spot 3
(B) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Stunt (Flurry of Strikes)



Misc Build Stuff


Feats:
1-Dragonwrought
2- (B) Dodge: +1 AC vs single target
2- (B) Weapon Focus (Spear Focus): +1 to attack
3-Exotic Weapon Proficiency –Dwarven double spear: no penalty to attacks
4- (B) Combat Expertise: Power attack for dodge bonus
5- (B) Weapon Finesse: with light/rapier/whip/spiky chain, use DEX instead of STR to attack
6- Two Weapon Fighting: lessen penalty by -2/-6 (meaning its now -2/-2 for both)
8- (B) Improved Two Weapon Fighting: gain a 2nd offhand attack at -5
9- Combat Reflexes: Extra AoO/round
12- Draconic Aura – Resistance: grants resistance to elemental damage, 10 at 7th, 15 at 14th, 20 at 20th
12- (B) Melee Evasion: d20+BAB = AC vs specific attack
15- Double Hit: can make AoO’s with both weapons
16- (B) Two-Weapon Rend: if hit w/ both weapons in a round, deal 1d6+1.5xSTR bonus damage
18- Steady Concentration: can always take 10 on checks
20- (B) Greater Two Weapon Fighting: Gain a 3rd offhand attack at -10

Build Explained:
At first level, a DWK enters the game. As a DWK, he’s an example of what a kobold should be, so clearly he’s a Paragon. Unfortunately, we’re not taking advantage of the bonuses to spellcasting, or building upon the skills that Manual Expertise grants us in this build. Rite of Passage however will grant Mage Armor that will scale with the build. Kobold Fighter loses out on 3 bonus feats from straight Fighter, but Wrym of War gives us back 5. Kobold Fighter does however grant Spear Focus, which is essentially Weapon Focus for EVERY spear weapon in the game, and also counts as qualifying for things that require weapon focus (EWM). As the character progresses we’ll pick up +2 CON/STR from Kobold Fighter as well, and push Darkvision out an additional 30ft. Swashbuckler is strictly speaking better overall than another rank in Fighter, it grants full BAB, and a bonus feat. Weapon Finesse doesn’t hurt or hinder this build, but might grant another option if we need to unlimber another weapon if we’re disarmed, options are never bad. Beyond that, a better skill selection, and more points to spend on them for 1 level are also not bad.

6-10: start off both SI’s, and get into Kensai which allows for relatively low cost weapon enhancements up to +5 to our signature weapon, the dwarven double spear. The *’s in the build table for Incarnum Blade represent which ‘bind we’d favor when it becomes available, and ** denotes what will be active full time once it’s available. Power Surge allows a DC 15 concentration check (auto succeed the first time) as a move action, if successful, gain +8 STR for ½ class levels rounds (1-2). Each successive activation is at a +5 DC in the same 24 hour period. Later on pairing this with Flurry of Strikes will negate the penalty from that ability.

10-15 pick up Draconic Aura, granting scaling Resistances, a +2 bonus to Diplomacy checks (ki), and replacing the REF save (the bane of all fighters everywhere) with a straight concentration check instead via Withstand. At the point this becomes available, our Concentration modifier is 16 ranks + 3 (CON) +2 racial. Withstand + Draconic Aura essentially means most AoE spells will be outright ignored damage-wise. I laugh at your maximized, twinned, empowered (etc, etc) fireball. Of course, single target spells will then face the resistance. Melee Evasion grants a d20 +full BAB to apply to AC vs any 1 melee attack/touch attack each round while fighting Defensively. Double Hit allows both ends of the double spear to be used on any AoO’s. 13 is our Sweet Spot.

16-20: Finishing off both SI’s as well as picking up Two Weapon Rend, which when both ends of the spear hit in a round deals bonus damage (this pairs w/ double hit!). Steady Concentration means that more often that naught, Withstand will be an auto success REF save (35). (Think Luke Skywalker vs a fleet of Imperial Walkers) Greater TWF grants a 3rd iterative offhand attack. Finishing off we’re at BAB +17/+12/+7/+2 main hand, and -2/-5/-10 offhand (+15/+12/+7). Flurry of Strikes adds another bonus full attack at -2 (as well as all other attacks). Near Diplomancer level of persuasion, and a better than naught chance of using UMD. An additional +5 in weapon enhancements (to each end of the spear imbuing double weapons!) to what will likely be at least a +5 dwarven double spear at this level as well means a whole lot of room for adding bonus damage, or other abilities, to every single attack.


some weapon enhancements from Kensai to use:
+1: Chargebreaker, Corrosive, Magebane, Rusting, Screaming, Shattermantle, Sure Striking
+2: Eager, Energy Aura, Fierce, Metalline, Subjugating
+3: Clouting, Force, Marrowcrushing, Speed, Weakening
+4: Souldrinking
+5: Vorpal

Background


I was raised in one of Moradin’s Temples. My egg was found by an initiate of the Anvil of Creation, and I was raised as one of their own. From birth, I was treated as just another member of the church, perhaps the platinum sheen to my scales led weight to this ideal. I was indoctrinated into the church of course, and took a natural aptitude for tinkering with things, and applied it to the creation of weapons for the church and myself.

Of particular note, my Temple’s guardians all used an exotic weapon known to them as simply a Double Spear. I was trained in its use, and would carry one with me for the rest of my days. Often when an agent outgrew his Double Spear, he would exchange it for a stronger one from the armory. Thus were they able to maintain growing pressure on the enemies of the church.

In time, I was granted leave to myself pursue the enemies of the church beyond our borders. As I stood in the Oath Chamber surrounded by my Brothers and Sisters, I let the sound of the oath wash over me.

“… as you go out into the world, to take the long walk, and bring the law of the church to the faithless and abhorrent…”

It has been many years since I first left home. Word of my deeds has spread throughout the Anvil, and wherever my wanderings take me, I’m never far from home.

Whenever I need a few days of rest, the hammer and anvil call to me, as they did in my youth. There is something magical about the rhythmic work that soothes me.

Anvil of Creation

at level 20, base affiliation score of +15 prior to any role playing applications from leveling up. Perhaps a quest to cleanse a Cold Forge of Moradin might be in the party’s early future, which of course would boost this score dramatically.

Affiliation bonus’s:
Rank 1 (4-12) Initiate of the Forge: 1/day gain +5 land speed for 1 minute
Rank 2 (13-21) Tempered Steel: +1 bonus on saves against chaotic spells and effects
Rank 3 (22-29) Adamantine Shield: Ready a shield as a free action
Rank 4 (30+) Mithral Hammer: 1/day +2 attack/dmg against an enemy of the Church for 1 min. +4 if orc, goblinoid, or giant.


Sources

Complete Champion – 7, 152
Complete Warrior – 11, 30, 49
Dragons of Eberron – 31
Dragon Magic - 86
Magic of Incarnum – 121
Miniature’s Handbook - 25
Players Handbook – 38, Feats
Players Handbook II – 81, 84
Races of the Dragon – 39, 43, 100, 108
Races of Stone – 144, 155
Unearthed Arcana - 13
http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060127a Kobold Paragon
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#twoWeaponFighting : meaning the offhand end of the double spear is considered a light weapon, reducing the original penalties by 2 each (primary to -4, offhand to -8.)

[Macabaret]

Drek Vril
Lawful Good Vril Barbarian 7/Incarnum Blade 4/Justicar 8/Exotic Weapon Master 1



Stat
Base
Racial
Level Up
Final Total


Strength
16

4, 8, 16, 20
20


Dexterity
12


12


Constitution
16
+2

18


Intelligence
14
-2
12
13


Wisdom
10


10


Charisma
8
-2

6








Level


Class


Base Attack Bonus


Fort Save


Ref Save


Will Save


Skills


Feats


Class Features



1st
Barbarian
+1
+2
+0
+0
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +4, Gather Information +2, Use Rope +2
Power Attack
Bear Spirit Totem Improved Grab, Berserker Strength, Illiteracy


2nd
Barbarian
+2
+3
+0
+0
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +5, Gather Information +2.5, Use Rope +2.5, Concentration +1

Uncanny Bravery


3rd
Barbarian
+3
+3
+1
+1
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +6, Gather Information +3, Use Rope +3, Concentration +2
Dazing Shriek
Spell Sense +1


4th
Barbarian
+4
+4
+1
+1
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +7, Gather Information +3.5, Use Rope +3.5, Concentration +2, Search +1




5th
Barbarian
+5
+4
+1
+1
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +8, Gather Information +4, Use Rope +4, Concentration +2, Search +2
Blazing Berserker(B)
Blazing Berserker


6th
Barbarian
+6
+5
+2
+2
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +9, Gather Information +4.5, Use Rope +4.5, Concentration +2, Search +3
Skill Focus Gather Information
Spell Sense +2


7th
Barbarian
+7
+5
+2
+2
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +10, Gather Information +5, Use Rope +5, Concentration +2, Search +4
Track(B)
Wolf Totem


8th
Incarnum Blade
+8
+7
+2
+2
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +10, Gather Information +5, Use Rope +5, Concentration +3, Search +5

Shape Blademeld, Blademeld Chakra Binds


9th
Justicar
+9
+7
+2
+4
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +12, Gather Information +7, Use Rope +6, Concentration +3, Search +5
Great Shriek
Bring em Back Alive, Nonlethal Strike +1d6


10th
Justicar
+10
+7
+2
+5
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +13, Gather Information +9, Use Rope +8, Concentration +3, Search +5

Improved Grapple, Crippling Strike


11th
Justicar
+11
+8
+3
+5
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +14, Gather Information +11, Use Rope +10, Concentration +3, Search +5

Street Savvy +2, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Manacles)


12th
Justicar
+12
+8
+3
+6
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +15, Gather Information +13, Use Rope +12, Concentration +3, Search +5
Weapon Focus (Manacles)
Nonlethal Strike +2d6


13th
Justicar
+13

+8
+3
+6
Craft Weaponsmith +4, Handle Animal +4, Survival +16, Gather Information +15, Use Rope +14, Concentration +3, Search +5

Hog-Tie


14th
Exotic Weapon Master
+14
+10
+3
+6
Craft Weaponsmith +5, Handle Animal +4, Survival +17, Gather Information +15, Use Rope +14, Concentration +3, Search +5

Uncanny Blow


15th
Justicar
+15
+11
+4
+7
Craft Weaponsmith +5, Handle Animal +4, Survival +18, Gather Information +17, Use Rope +16, Concentration +3, Search +5
Quick Draw
Street Savvy +4


16th
Justicar
+16
+11
+4
+7
Craft Weaponsmith +5, Handle Animal +4, Survival +19, Gather Information +19, Use Rope +18, Concentration +3, Search +5

Nonlethal Strike +3d6


17th
Justicar
+17
+11
+4
+8
Craft Weaponsmith +5, Handle Animal +4, Survival +20, Gather Information +20, Use Rope +20, Concentration +3, Search +6

Improved Hog-Tie


18th
Incarnum Blade
+18
+12
+4
+8
Craft Weaponsmith +5, Handle Animal +4, Survival +20, Gather Information +20, Use Rope +21, Concentration +4, Search +6
Pulverize Foe
Blademeld Chakra Binds


19th
Incarnum Blade
+19
+12
+5
+9
Craft Weaponsmith +5, Handle Animal +4, Survival +20, Gather Information +20, Use Rope +22, Concentration +5, Search +6

Blademeld Chakra Binds, Rebind Chakra


20th
Incarnum Blade
+20
+13
+5
+9
Craft Weaponsmith +5, Handle Animal +4, Survival +20, Gather Information +20, Use Rope +23, Concentration +6, Search +6

Blademeld Chakra Bind





Drek Vril was born a slave. He worked hard and never thought of anything. This was as the drow wanted Drek. Drek at times despised his slavers, and at other times resented them. Drek’s slavers were killed and he was freed by a group of adventurers. A halfling thief, a human paladin, a dwarf priest, and an elven monk. It was lucky for the Vril that the halfling spoke Goblin.
The halfling spoke to the vril, and freed them, “Even goblinkind deserve freedom,” she said. Drek admired this halfling and her mates.
Drek as naive as one kept in slavery from birth asked the halfling, “Are there slaves elsewhere in the world? Do they require freedom?”
The halfing replied to Drek’s curious question, “There are in fact slaves all across the world, and there are not enough heroes to save them all, be grateful we were able to save yourself.” The halfling obviously trying to collect more loot as ‘gratuity’.
Drek took this to mean that there needed to be more heroes in the world, and responded, “Teach me to be a hero, so I may save the other slaves of the world. I beg of you.”
The paladin took the time to notice the halfling chatting with the Vril, and chose that time to ask what the Vril was saying. The halfling having never lied to the paladin’s face before answered honestly. “An evil goblin wishes to be a hero. I may regret my decision, but we will teach him ethics and heroism. We will show him the ways of a good civilization.”
And so Drek Vril accompanied the group of heroes. He worked hard and did as the halfling instructed. The halfling translating everything. From time to time the halfling would try to twist their words, however that stopped quickly enough. The goblin was a natural tracker, and great with a club. The monk attempted to teach the goblin meditation, but learned quickly that the goblin lacked even concentration. The Vril traveled with this group for three long years, before they finally left the Underdark. A strange new world awaited Drek.

The first 7 levels Drek is your standard barbarian. Using a greatclub he bludgeons creatures to death. He is a willing learner, and very impressionable. He will put his shriek to use infrequently, mainly when he is in danger at this point. He uses his skinshift whenever he believes a major fight is about to be joined, which to say the least means that he used it nearly every encounter during the beginning of his training.

The surface world is a strange place for the Vril, a glaring ball of blindness in the sky all the time. The halfling quickly learned of the problem that Drek was having. By this point Drek owned only the armor and weaponry that he had been given to learn heroism, not a copper to his name. The halfling consulted the group, and they were all in agreement. They traveled to a city, and taught Drek what a true city was. While in town they picked up a Pearl of Speech and Sundark Goggles. (really this is more for storytelling than actual needed equipment, Drek is able to function without these, however his story makes less sense) Drek now able to speak and tolerate the sunlight began speaking more fully to the monk and paladin. They taught him law, taught him order, and taught him inner reflection. Drek focused inward, to learn of himself, his true desires, and his soul. After their teachings Drek learned to harness his soul’s energy and imbue it into the weapon he is wielding, causing it to glow. The party very much enjoyed Drek now, he was no longer an outsider, and a true addition to the group.
Drek went by Drek Vril, as most didn’t know what a Vril was and he had no family name, which he learned was required in many legal forms. Drek was taught about prisons. He learned that if he kept prisoners and brought them to human settlements he could bring justice to the world. The group took his idea in stride, and began taking prisoners whenever they could. For a solid three months the group was able to not have to kill a single person.
The group was sought out by an Aasimar by the name of Elindel. Elindel explained to the group that he was a Justicar, and that the actions of the group had garnered attention from the upper planes. Many of the prisoners taken changed their ways. They were actually having an impact on the planar scale. Drek was in awe.
Impressionable little Drek learned the ways of the Justicar and began adopting their methods. He swung a pair of manacles around like a flail, great at knocking people out.

At this point Drek Vril gets to have some fun. He gets his weapon of choice, a magical pair of manacles (magical due to blademeld). Using Uncanny Blow we two hand our manacles (which albeit considered a “light” flail is still a one handed weapon and not a light one handed weapon) smacking people for 3d6+2x str mod non lethal damage. Immediately after hitting someone we get to use our Improved Grab. If you have additional iterative attacks after you use your improved grab you may immediately attempt to pin using your next strike. If you succeed in pinning your opponent you may use a final iterative to attempt to Hog-Tie. Hog-Tie is a special grapple check that uses your Use Rope or your Grapple check, your preference. It is opposed by their grapple or escape artist as usual. If you succeed with Hog Tie then they are tied up and helpless!

Story… this is honestly where I would feature Drek Vril. His prime. And I’ll admit, I’m stumped on where to progress his story from this point.

Combat wise he only improved these last three levels. He now has quick draw allowing him to grab rope or manacles as a free action as needed. He now only needs two iteratives in order to hog tie.


We finally get to the Blademeld Chakra Bind that we like the most! An effective +40 hit points teaches Epic Toughness, Toughness, and Improved Toughness that toughness isn’t where it’s at.


Vril - Drow of the Underdark & The Errata http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20070504a (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20070504a)
Drow of the Underdark: Great Shriek, Dazing Shriek
Complete Warrior: Justicar, Exotic Weapon Master
Champions of Ruin: Pulverize Foe
Magic of Incarnum: Incarnum Blade

Barbarian Alternate Class Features Used:
Spirit Bear Totem - Complete Champion
Berserker Strength - Player’s Handbook II (note that since it is not the Barbarian Rage class feature it is not lost upon changing to Lawful)
Spell Sense - Complete Mage
Blazing Berserker - Sandstorm
Totem Manifestation - Complete Champion
Uncanny Bravery - Dragon Magic

[Macabaret]

Garou Tuh


https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11121/111215016/4353670-anakain+ability+tk+force+choke+%281%29.png

Chaotic Neutral kalashtar

Soulbound weapon psychic warrior 5/crafty hunter bear totem barbarian 2/exotic weapon master 1/incarnum blade 1/ psychic warrior +1/exotic weapon master +1/incarnum blade +4/ totemist 1/ psychic warrior +2/soul manifester 2

Abilities
Str 16
Dex 10
Con 13
Int 10
Wis 17
Cha 8
Level 4: +1 wis
All other ability bonuses go to Strength

+2 racial bonus on saving throws against mind affecting spells and abilities, including possession: The kalashtar's dual spirits help them resist spells that target their minds.

+2 racial bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks: Kalashtar are masters of social interaction, influencing others through their commanding presence and subtle psychic powers.

+2 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to impersonate a human: Kalashtar have a close physical resemblance to humans.

Kalashtar sleep but they do not dream. As such, they have immunity to the dream and nightmare spells, as well as any other effect that relies on the target's ability to dream.

Naturally Psionic: Kalashtar gain 1 extra power point per character level, regardless of whether they choose a psionic class.

Psi-Like Abilities: Mindlink (1/day). This ability is like the psionic power manifested by a wilder of 1/2 the kalashtar's Hit Dice (minimum 1st level).




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


1
Soulbound weapon psywar
0
2
0
0
8: concentration 4, knowledge psionics 4,
B: exotic weapon proficiency(locking garrote), B: weapon focus locking garrotte, 1: Hidden talent synchronicity
Bonus feat, manifesting, Bonus feat (Weapon focus), manifesting


2
soulbound weapon psywar
1
3
0
0
2: concentration 5, knowledge psionics 5

Soulbound weapon, +1 level of manifesting


3
soulbound weapon psywar
2
3
1
1
2: concentration 6, knowledge psionics 6
3: Linked Power
+1 level of manifesting


4
soulbound weapon psywar
3
4
1
1
2: concentration 7, knowledge psionics 7

+1 level of manifesting


5
soulbound weapon psywar
3
4
1
1
2: concentration 8, psicraft .5
B: psionic meditation
Bonus feat, +1 level of manifesting


6
Crafty hunter bear totem barbarian 1
4
6
1
1
4: craft (weaponsmithing) 3, psicraft 1
6: Brutal throw
B: Toughness
Favored Enemy, Toughness


7
Crafty hunter bear totem barbarian 2
5
7
1
1
4: psicraft 3
B: rapid shot
B: Improved grapple
Archery Combat Style (rapid shot), improved grapple


8
exotic weapon master 1
6
9
1
1
2: psicraft 4

exotic weapon stunt: Throw Exotic Weapon


9
incarnum blade 1
7
11
1
1
2: concentration 10
9: practiced manifester
Shape blademeld, blademeld chakra bind (crown, feet, hands)


10
psychic warrior 6
8
12
2
2
2: concentration 12

+1 level of manifesting


11
exotic weapon master 2
9
13
2
2
2: concentration 13

Exotic Weapon stunt: Uncanny Blow


12
incarnum blade 2
10
14
2
2
2: concentration 15
12: azure talent
Blademeld chakra binds (arms, brow, shoulders)


13
incarnum blade 3
11
14
3
3
2: concentration 16, knowledge psionics 7.5

Rebind blademeld, blademeld chakra binds (throat, waist)


14
incarnum blade 4
12
15
3
3
2: concentration 17, knowledge psionics 8

Blademeld chakra bind (heart)


15
incarnum blade 5
13
15
3
3
2: concentration 18, jump 1
15: psycarnum infusion
Dual chakra binding, blademeld chakra bind (soul)


16
totemist
13
17
5
3
4: knowledge the planes 4

Wild empathy


17
psychic warrior 7
14
17
5
3
2: concentration 20

+1 level of manifesting


18
pyschic warrior 8
15
18
5
3
2 concentration 21, autohypnosis 1
18: psicrystal affinity B: psicrystal containment
Bonus feat, +1 level of manifesting


19
soul manifester 1
15
18
5
5
2: autohypnosis 3

Psionic investment 1, +1 level of meldshaping/manifesting classes


20
soul manifester 2
16
18
5
6
2: autohypnosis 5

+1 level of meldshaping/manifesting classes





Level
PP from class
PP from race
PP from feats
PP from Wis
Total PP
Essencia


1
0
1
2
1
4
0


2
1
2
2
3
8
0


3
3
3
2
4
12
0


4
5
4
2
8
19
0


5
7
5
2
10
24
0


6
7
6
2
10
25
0


7
7
7
2
10
26
0


8
7
8
2
10
27
0


9
7
9
2
10
28
0


10
11
10
2
12
35
0


11
11
11
2
12
36
0


12
11
12
6
12
41
1


13
11
13
6
12
42
1


14
11
14
6
12
43
1


15
11
15
6
12
44
1


16
11
16
6
12
45
2


17
15
17
6
14
52
2


18
19
18
6
16
59
2


19
23
19
6
18
66
3


20
27
20
6
20
73
3



Powers:
1st: call weaponry, grip of iron, expansion, synchronicity (complete psionics p.103)
2nd: Hustle, Perfect Archery (complete psionics p.83), Animal Affinity, dissonant touch (Players guide to eberron p.149)
3rd: exhalation of the bronze dragon (complete psionic p.89), Hostile Empathic transfer (complete psionics p.85)
4th: Open Chakra (MoI p.107)


Background
Years ago, neogi slavers kidnapped and young kalashtar boy and sold him into inter-planar slavery. He wound up as part of an inter planer Zoo controlled by a slaadi Lord. Unfamiliar with the biological needs of humanoids in general, and kalashtar in particular, this young boy was locked in a small demiplane that had a small Forest with a river running through it. To feed the young boy, this zookeeper provided him with one live Goblin per day, probably because the cost of goblin slaves was extraordinarily cheap. The Zookeeper was proud of the young boy and thought he was thriving as he had to kill the only other sentient creatures he could interact with in order to eat. The boy spent his time looking inward. During these years he developed his psionic talent to manifest the weapon capable of silencing the shrieks of pain and dismay as they were slain for food. The Locking garrote. He had to kill those goblins everyday, or they would outnumber him and eat him instead. Eventually The Zookeeper Bored of is now adult kalashtar and he simply released him Into the Wild.

Separated from social interaction, true social interaction, for years of his development, the boy struggled to interact with other people. The only thing that kept him from the maws of Madness was his two spirit duality with his quori host.

Garou slowly reintegrated in a cosmopolitan town on a prime material world. Psychologically, he cannot abide slavery or confinement and will fight to the death to free those in bondage or to prevent his own capture. He has a long lasting and the biting fear of capture, an extraordinarily poor social graces. Seemingly incapable of lying, Garou just speaks the truth as he sees it and requires significant coaching to lie with any believability.

Foreground
When I read exotic weapon master (Complete Warrior p.30) and incarnum blade (Magic of Incarnum p.121), I immediately gravitated to the incarnum blade’s ability to bind a Soulmeld called the blademeld to the heart and soul chakra. This opens up some incarnum feat benefits. But when you look up those feats that get a benefit from an open soul or heart chakra, they aren’t very good. As a side note, azure talent (Magic of Incarnum, p. 34) grants extra pp if you can bind a soulmeld to your brow chakra, and as noted before, the incarnum blade’s blademeld is described as a soulmeld.

But what I did notice was the curious text about binding the blademeld to the heart chakra. You gain and lose real hit points. My first idea that revolved around this was using persisted sadism (BOVD p.103) and masochism (BOVD p.99) spells to gain benefits from dropping up to 40 hp a round when you unbound and rebound the blademeld to your heart chakra. That also opened up the possibility to combining with pain mastery (savage species p.37). The problem with all of this was that it didn’t really address what to do with exotic weapon master. Also, the loss of hitpoints from rebinding the chakra wasn’t “hp damage” per se. It was hp point loss. And when you look up the definition of hit points and damage in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/injuryandDeath.htm), it has this curious line of “The most common way that your character gets hurt is to take lethal damage and lose hit points.” That clearly was not the wiggle room needed to pull this off: Because this exploit is definitely a case of hp loss that isn’t lethal damage. I even had a stub that used the chameleon and spelldancer with peristent spell to get into incarnum blade. But that was too gaping of a RAW hole to build around.

Also, although it probably won't be featured in this build, did you know that psionic feats are supernatural abilities (http://”http://dndsrd.net/psionicFeats.html”)? That means the supernatural boosting feats from tome of magic are applicable. That's neat.

The other idea that caught my eye was the incarnum blade’s ability to grant more hardness and hp to the blademelded weapon. I thought, what weapon would actually benefit from that?

The Lasso (BOED p.34, Races of Faerun p.156) of course. It’s limited to being rope or if you have expedition to undermountain, that desmodu cable, which you can use use rope to turn into a lasso. If you boost your lasso’s hp and hardness, the enemy won’t be able to slice their way out. But they could use their strength score to burst their way out. I scoured the sources I could, but there are no rules about increasing the break DC of an item with a list break DC...even if you increase its hp and hardness. And even though, unlike the last idea, the lasso would get some weird neat benefits from exotic weapon master, (you could throw it, or flurry with it, or channel stuns through it) the static Burst DC to escape was not a good enough option.

So, obviously, I needed a more integrative approach to the two classes. When I look at this challenge, I notice that exotic weapon master is really offering ONE thing to incarnum blade. A blademeld can only be made with a melee weapon. An exotic weapon master can turn a melee weapon into a ranged weapon. So really, this is a challenge of finding the best possible exotic weapon to turn into a thrown weapon and then building around that. The first thing I thought was justicar, with their manacles exotic weapon proficiency, but that pushes the use of the ingredients back by 5 levels and it still has the burst dc problem. Maybe miser’s fortune (Complete Scoundrel, p. 80) is the way to go to make that work, forcing the opponent to reroll those strength checks. But it seems like a non-starter.

So back to the drawing board. Is there another weapon that would benefit from increased hp and hardness? Yes. the locking garrotte from song and silence (p.52) with Garrotting special attack actions being on page 86. You may have a hard time grappling with it if you encounter a grapple built monster, but an exotic weapon master can throw it, and the additional hp and hardness make it really rough to get off. It has a hardness of 7 and 2 hp to start. But with 5 incarnum blade levels, it gets a hardness of 12 and 27hp. It leaves the opponent stuck in a state of grapple, taking damage each round that it doesn’t beat your optimized grapple check. One idea that is on the back burner is to further increase the hp of the garrotte with uncanny trickster or legacy champion.

So I started building that. I looked up grappling (http://”http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=585.0”) handbooks. I decided on psychic warrior with the soulbound weapon acf (http://”http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a”) from the mind’s eye article. Psychic warrior gets bonus feats, grapple boosters from psychic powers, armor proficiency, and with the soulbound weapon ability, the opportunity to put cool weapon enchantments on your locking garrotte depending on your needs. Conjure up a smoking (Lords of darkness p.180) garrotte to nauseate your opponent. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn. That’s fantastic, cuz fighting the grapple check is a standard action. So just choke on 1d8+1.5 X str bonus per round. Exotic weapon master allows us to increase that to double your strength bonus. But. BUT! Locking garrotte is a light weapon. But to use it, the text calls out the fact that you get a two handed bonus on your damage. Anyways, here are some soulbound enchantments that you can put on your garrotte at level 5.

If you want the enemy to die faster while you fight them, just manifest a bane (DMG p.230) locking garrotte specific to whom you’re facing, with the following exceptions
*use a dragondoom (MIC p.33) garrotte against dragons,
*use a last resort weapon (CW p.135) against creatures 3 sizes larger than you
*use a magebane (MIC p.38) against an arcane caster or invocation users
*use shadowscourge (Power of Faerun p.60) against creatures native to the plane of shadow

Use a binding (MIC p.29) weapon for creatures that are skittish.
A bloodstone (MIC p.29) locking garrote yields you one maximized vampiric touch hp bonus, so use it if you need 20 hp or so. Call multiples to heal yourself.
Brutal surge (MIC p.30) is hilarious as it initiates a bull rush every round it deals damage.
A dispelling (MIC p.33) locking garrotte is useful in it’s own right.
A ghost strike (MIC p.35) locking garrotte is useful against ghosts and stuff, but incorporeal binding (MIC p.38) is better.
Intercepting (Forge of War p.120) is good for getting garrottes on those who charge you.
Use a morphing (MIC p.39) weapon if you don’t want to garrotte your enemies for some reason.
Use a shrinking (A&EG p.98) garrotte to sever their heads?
A soulbound (MoI p.111) weapon is neat because you can bind it to your chakra for lame bonuses, and if you have essencia, you can up the enchantment bonus.
Use the throwing (DMG p.226) ability at level 5, before you get it permanently from exotic weapon master.
Whirling (MIC p.46) is amazing. You can garrotte everyone you reach with the same locking garrotte.

So. Let’s start building this guy. Let’s do kalashtar (Races of Eberron p.55) for an extra pp per level. At least for now, we might change race later.

Soulbound psychic warrior 2. First level feats, exotic weapon proficiency locking garrote, weapon focus (locking garrotte), and Hidden talent (XPH p. 67)(Syncronicity (complete psionic p.103)). We get call weapon (XPH p.88) for first level, synchronicity for extra standard actions, and at second level take grip of iron (XPH p.111) as your second power.

Let’s do 3 more levels of psychic warrior to get the sweet +1 bonus abilities added to our locking garrote. At level 3, take expansion (XPH p.105) power and the linked power (Complete Psionic p.62) feat. Sweet mighty. Now you can call weapon linked to syncronicity, and use bonus standard action to expansion link grip of iron. You’ll be buffed up by round 2! At fourth level, get hustle (XPH 111) so you can preserve your full attacks and move towards your opponent. At fifth level, take psionic meditation (XPH p. 50) so that you can get your psionic focus on a move action. But as for the power you select at 5th level, you have some real options. Pick one and get power stones or dorjes of the others.
*Strength of my enemy activates on hits, not damage, so it isn’t great with a locking garrotte. But if you have a morphing locking garrotte…
*animal affinity can yield you a +2 to grapple, or other ability scores i guess
*feat leach is amazing. If you have a psionic buddy on your team.
*constrictors touch pairs super well with a power storing garrotte
*power weapon obviates the need for ghost touch gear.
*concealing amorpha is great for just watching them choke to death. And avoiding that garrotting attack of Opportunity the opponent gets that can spoil your attack.

So, now we are at a crossroads. We need 5 BAB to get into either incarnum blade or exotic weapon master. We need to get the throw exotic weapon ability so that we become awesome. Throwing the locking garrotte nixes the attack of opportunity issue somewhat. We also want to get the improved grapple feat. That leaves two options: monk or bear totem barbarian. Two levels of monk would net us the ability to get improved grapple and stunning fist if we use OA monk rules as well as flurry and wis to AC. the problem is that we need that BAB! A crafty hunter (UA p.58) bear totem (UA p.48) barbarian gets improved grapple at level 2, rapid shot at level 2, toughness at level 1, and enough BAB, but no stunning synergy or flurry with exotic weapon master. We are getting rid of rage with the crafty hunter variant because you can’t manifest during a rage. The barbarian also gets favored enemy. If you can further swap that for favored enemy arcanist (complete mage p.32), that is a better trade. But if not, no sweat.

On analysis, flurry and rapid shot will ultimately be the same thing, -2 to attacks as a full round action for 1 extra attacks. So it comes down to a choice of stun attacks but later entry, or a flurry that only works on ranged attacks and early entry? At level 6, you have a choice between brutal throw (MMV p.134) or zen archery (Complete Warrior p.106) as your sixth level feat. Brutal throw makes way more sense, and it is easier to boost your str score. So let’s do that. Zen archery offers a plausible narrative explanation on how the heck a thrown locking garrotte can grapple the opponent from a distance: it’s done psychically. Use that if you're worried about accusations of minmaxing.

At level 8, we take exotic weapon master to get the throw exoric weapon ability. Incarnum blade at 9 grants some hardness and go to the garrotte. Here, we take practiced manifester (Complete psionic p.97) for the ability to spend more pp per power.

Prestige classes that progress manifesting all kinda screw with psychic warrior, and the best prestige classes for psywar don't advance manifestation, they instead grant duplicate psychic warrior manifestation. So war mind, the best of the options is lamely redundant in the powers department. So...
At level 10, another level of psychic warrior boosts our manifester level to 10! This opens up call weapon augments for weapon enchantment of a +2 bonus! This is probably the peak of the build. Here’s a list of +2 enchantments that are good enough to consider blowing pp on.

Fleshgrinder (MIC p.35)
strength sapping (BOVD p.112)
illusion theft (MIC p.37)
Subjugating (Heroes of Battle p.130) pair with throat chakra blademeld ability
Transmuting (MIC p.45) deal with damage reduction greater than 7 here, otherwise use bane.

While we're here, does the soulbound weapon ability have boundaries on simple cost increase magic weapon enhancements? We are going to assume they are off limits…

At level 11, we take our second level of exoric weapon master for uncanny blow. So, let's talk. The locking garrotte is a light weapon. A garrotte special attack has language about needing two hands to be used for choking. So...uncanny blow then becomes a neat way of boosting damage.

I've considered adding a level of binder for 2 levels now. Mostly for lerajes ricochet ability. Choke two opponents for the price of one! The problem is elegance, and how necessary is that? Especially if you just get a whirling garrotte instead. The cool thing about leraje is the precise shot feat too. So one could add ranged grapple to pin your opponents to the ambient terrain...but that is feat intensive and a bit redundant...especially if you have called a whirling locking garrotte…

So now we have to contend with feat choice paralysis. Feats for 12, 15, and 18 levels need to decided. Battle jump offers another +4 grapple bonus, but we are also a bit anemic on power points per day (roughly 30ish at level 10). We are also going to be weak against opponents with high DR. Additionally, the only incarnum blade use we are enjoying is the bonus to weapon hp and hardness.

If we finish up incarnum blade, that leaves 5 more levels, which is probably best to just fill in with psychic warrior. The problem with that is that what we’ve done is make a weak, weird psychic warrior. So we need to come up with a plan.

So...read the entries again.
At each level, an exotic weapon master learns a special trick that he can use with any exotic weapon for which he has the Weapon Focus feat

So we could blow feats on weapon focus and exotic weapon proficiency. Or, we can dip warblade (http://”http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060802a&page=2”) and use their aptitude ability to switch our reliance on exotic weapon stunts on the locking garrote onto other exotic weapons.

If you look at the soulbound weapon ability really slantwise:

You must choose a soulbound weapon at 1st level and you gain the Weapon Focus feat with this weapon. Also, the first power you learn must be call weaponry. You can summon your chosen soulbound weapon to your hand using call weaponry.

You can argue that the soulbound weapon ability is tied to that weapon focus bonus feat. So theoretically, all that work you saw above, cherry picking the best +1 enchantments and whatnot, could be redone everyday on a different exotic melee weapon of your choice, if you are convincing your DM to allow you to use the warblade’s aptitude to shift your soulbound weapon around.

Either way your DM rules on that, a warblade dip that rounds out your exotic weapon mastery optimization. And it helps with some of the garrotte tactics: take bonecrusher for a nice standard action damage booster and to have a stone dragon maneuver. Take wall of blades, because you can use it every round that you aren’t using a full round action or initiating a maneuver, especially when the waist chakra guarantees that you always have dex to AC. Take iron heart surge for the helpfulness of it all. The stonefoot stance allows a +2 to str if you don’t move more than 5’ during a round. That’s fine and all, but if you take martial stance, you can get crushing weight of the mountain, and if you really wanted to get weird with it, you could find a way to get ranged pin and do extra grapple checks against the same opponent that you garrotted by throwing riitiks or harpoons at them. If we are getting initiator levels, we could also do psionic renewal and instant clarity to abuse the heck out of reduced action psionic focuses... We are going to call that, option A…

We still have to contend with incarnum blade and how we are using but a single class ability, and just passively accepting the other weird nonbonus bonus class features. The waist chakra is handy for the dex to AC even when flat footed. We could use legacy champion or uncanny trickster to get even more garrotte hp...but that seems ridiculous.

So azure talent is the obvious choice, as it would grant 4 pp because you capable of binding your blademeld onto your crown or brow chakra. Considering that we also have psychic powers and a nice concentration score, psycarnum infusion will allow us to get up to 8-10 temporary pp, by just blowing our psionic focus, depending on character level, This will really help with the anemic number of pp this character has. If we link hustle to our power use, we can just get that focus back for some more psycarnum infusion shenanigans. And psychic meditation reduces the time to get psionic focus down to a move action, so you can supplement your powers during combat if you hit rock bottom of pp. We’ll call that option B. With that last feat, you could get instant clarity and get a focus back after a strike if you have a martial strike.

If we can shape two more soulmelds, and free up some skill points, we can go into soul manifester, which allows us to increase the save DC on the throat chakra bind, while also getting more powers and power points. Although if we really wanted to be ironclad, we would have to take shape soulmeld twice so that we don’t have any meldshaping base classes. We’ll call that option C.

Actually, looking back, is there any reason to be a crafty hunter for two levels and not a warblade? Like, is the +4 of improved grapple worth that side route? The other question is, does the non-occurrence of an attack of opportunity for initiating a grapple check that you get from the improved grapple feat, does that protect against the attack of opportunity for the garrotte attack? Cuz that’s worth the effort. Oooh it falls in the grey zone. Let’s do a grapple check analysis for level 10:

+4 str
+5 or +10 expansion at 1 or 7pp
+4 or +6 grip of iron at 1 or 5 pp
+BAB
So at level 10, the grapple check is +22, with improved grapple it would be +26. Contrasting with that wild chart in the grapple handbook, 26 is preferable for CR10 monsters.

Ugh. This build decision rests upon how to read the improved grapple feat in relationship to the garotte special attack entry in song and silence. Errrg. Negating attacks of opportunity for using the garrotte is a really sweet get, especially without having to sink point buy into raising dex.

Nevermind, we’re sticking to the crafty hunter. But let us not forget the warblade dip that almost was!

So let’s do the azure talent and psycarnum infusion cheese with our 12th and 15th level feats. That uses the incarnum blade’s ability to bind to the crown chakra

To keep up with the grapple issues, the most obvious solution is to dip totemist to get access to girallion arms and the kraken mantle. If we have psycarnum infusion anyway, we can get another +10 for the girallion arms. And if we’re dipping totemist, soul manifester becomes a better option...we just have to figure out the skill point allotment and what powers to add. Incarnate adds more essencia for those levels, but doesn’t have the relevant soulmelds.

The problem that arises with soul manifester is the loss of BAB, which, in turn, affects our grapple checks. What we'll do is split the difference with psychic warrior to get a bonus feat, and we'll get 4th level psywar powers to open our chakras to allow the kraken mantle to be bound to our arms. That will offset the loss of BAB pretty well, and with the two psionic foci thanks to our psycrystal focus, we can just use psycarnum infusion to lift our girallion arms.

We'll get the bronze dragon exhalation power to limit our choking victims to run away for up to 4 rounds and then we can hit them with the shaken effect of our incarnum blade throat chakra bind. Hostile empathic transfer works in tandem with binding your blade meld to your heart chakra. Lose up to 40 hp, spend 8 PP, and make them lose 40 hp or 20hp if they make their save. Get all your hp back when you rebind to the heart chakra.

Further, girallion arms gives us extra arms, and therefor extra shoulders and or arms chakras. As per page 170 of magic of incarnum

A creature’s access to chakras depends on its current physical form, not its natural form. Thus, a character who uses polymorph to turn into a snake loses access to his hands chakra. If he takes on a form that lacks a chakra to which he currently has a soulmeld bound, that bind is lost until the character assumes a form that allows it. At that point, the character must unshape and reshape the meld in order to bind it to the chakra again.

So arguably, you could open multiple arm chakras with your psycarnum infused temporary power points from psycarnum infusion in the morning and bind multiple kraken mantles to them. Or bind your blademeld to your shoulder chakra twice, as it may stack with itself to give you a 50% fortification against crit fishers. Only make this argument if you have the social lattitude to actually make it. If you've been accused of being a munchkin or something roughly parallel in the last year, don't do it.


Ok. Now we need a backstory and a level 18 feat. Do we want a psicrystal? Sure, let’s get a psicrystal and then let’s make it hold a psionic focus. That’ll allow us to use a linked power and psycarnum infusion in the same round. We’ll just move some psychic warrior levels around. And that is that!

For backstory: we need to address the kalashtar thing, the fact that this guy has specialized in choking the life out of people to death, and the fact that he summons these garrottes to choke people to death, and then he specializes in choking people to death through weapon training in addition to using the energy of souls to help strengthen his ability to choke things to death. Can’t be lawful due to the barbarian levels. Intense self reflection to the point of developing psychic powers… And let’s not go whole hog and make him evil. All tallied, That looks like a traumatic backstory. I’m going to go to the top, hunt down a vaguely relevant pic and write this traumatic backstory about a chaotic neutral psychic warrior kalashtar who prefers to choke people to death rather than use a sword.

Done. You, probably couldn't even tell that I wrote the backstory last, unless you're really really smart and perceptive (give me points!)

A couple of notes. I'm gonna put favored enemy goblinoid in there for the crafty hunter levels. That is completely arbitrary, so feel free to change that depending on the campaign. Remember, always ask the DM which favored enemies are likely to be useless in their campaign, so that way you dont choose them. For example, when i run the game as DM, i rarely use undead. I don't like them. Change the backstory to reflect any changes in favored enemy that you need to actually utilize the class feature.

[Macabaret]

Lin-Tao, the Dread Blue-Blade Sage
Race: Human
Build Stub: Monk 1 / Unarmed Swordsage 1 / Monk +1 / Unarmed Swordsage +2 / Assassin 3 / IB 1 / EWM 2 / Assassin +4 / IB +4 / EWM +1
Multiclass Penalty: No
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Draconic
Alignment: LE




Ability
Base
4th
8th
12th
16th
20th
Total


Str
14
-
-
-
-
-
14


Dex
14
-
-
-
-
-
14


Con
14
-
-
-
-
-
14


Int
14
-
+1
+1
+1
+1
18


Wis
10
-
-
-
-
-
10


Cha
14
+1
-
-
-
-
15

Priority for Stat Increase with Items: Int > Con > Str/Dex > Cha (+1 only); Ignore Wis





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


1st
Monk 1
+0
+2
+2
+2
7*4
Balance 4, Concentration 4, Disguise Self 2 (4cc), Hide 4, Jump 4, Move Silently 4, Tumble 4
Carmendine Monk (1st), Darkstalker (Human), Improved Unarmed Strike (Monk), Stunning Fist (Monk)
Flurry of Blows -2/-2


2nd
Unarmed Swordsage 1
+0
+2
+2
+4
9
Balance +1 (5), Concentration +1 (5), Intimidate 3, Hide +1 (5), Jump +1 (5), Move Silently +1 (5), Tumble +1 (5)
Discipline Focus (Tiger Claw): Weapon Focus (Kama)
Quick to Act +1, Adaptation: Unarmed: Gain Monk Unarmed Damage Progression, Lose Armor Proficiency; Unarmed Monk Damage 2


3rd
Monk 2
+1
+3
+5
+5
7
Concentration +1 (6), Craft Weaponsmithing 1, Hide +1 (6), Jump +1 (6), Move Silently +1 (6), Tumble +1 (6), Disguise Self +1 (3, 2cc)
Adaptive Style (3rd), Flensing Strike (Monk)
Unarmed Monk Damage 3, ACF: Invisible Fist, lose Evasion


4th
Unarmed Swordsage 2
+2
+3
+6
+6
9
Concentration +1 (7), Hide +1 (7), Intimidate +3 (6), Move Silently +1 (7), Tumble +1 (7)
-
Unarmed Monk Damage 4, AC Bonus*


5th
Unarmed Swordsage 3
+3
+4
+6
+6
9
Concentration +1 (8), Disguise Self +1 (4, 2cc), Hide +1 (8), Intimidate +2 (8), Jump +1 (8), Move Silently +1 (8), Tumble +1 (8)
-
Unarmed Monk Damage 5


6th
Assassin 1
+3
+4
+8
+6
7
Concentration +1 (9), Hide +1 (9), Intimidate +1 (9), Jump +1 (9), Move Silently +1 (9), Tumble +1 (9), UMD 1
Imperious Command
Sneak Attack +1d6, Death Attack, Poison Use


7th
Assassin 2
+4
+4
+9
+6
7
Concentration +1 (10), Hide +1 (10), Intimidate +1 (10), Jump +1 (10), Move Silently +1 (10), Tumble +1 (10), UMD +1 (2)
-
+1 saves vs poison, Uncanny Dodge


8th
Assassin 3
+5
+5
+9
+7
7
UMD +4 (6), Jump +1 (11), Hide +1 (11), Move Silently +1 (11)
-
Sneak Attack +2d6


9th
Incarnum Blade 1
+6
+7
+9
+7
5
Craft Weaponsmithing +2 (3), Intimidate +2 (12), Jump +1 (12)
Craven
Shape Blademeld, Blademeld Chakra Binds (crown, <feet>, hands)


10th
Exotic Weapon Master 1
+7
+9
+9
+7
5
5 Intimidate +1 (13), UMD +1 (7, 2cc), Skill Trick: Never Outnumbered
-
Stunning Blow


11th
Exotic Weapon Master 2
+8
+10
+9
+7
5
Intimidate +1 (14), UMD +1 (8, 2cc), Skill Trick: Extreme Leap
-
Twin Exotic Weapon Fighting


12th
Assassin 4
+9
+10
+10
+7
8
Hide +1 (12), Move Silently +1 (12), Tumble +2 (12), UMD +4 (12)
Reaping Talons
+2 saves vs poison


13th
Assassin 5
+9
+10
+10
+7
8
Hide +2 (14), Jump +1 (13), Move Silently +2 (14), Tumble +2 (14), UMD +1 (13)
-
Improved Uncanny Dodge, Sneak Attack +3d6


14th
Assassin 6
+10
+11
+11
+8
8
Hide +2 (16), Jump +1 (14), Move Silently +2 (16), Tumble +2 (16), UMD +1 (14)
-
+3 saves vs poison


15th
Assassin 7
+11
+11
+11
+8
8
Hide +2 (18), Jump +1 (15), Move Silently +2 (18), Tumble +2 (18), UMD +1 (15)
Snap Kick
Sneak Attack +4d6


16th
Incarnum Blade 2
+12
+12
+11
+8
6*
Intimidate +2 (16), Jump +2 (17), Tumble +1 (19, 2cc)
-
Blademeld Chakra Binds (crown, <feet>, hands, arms, brow, shoulders)


17th
Incarnum Blade 3
+13
+12
+12
+9
6*
Intimidate +2 (18), Jump +2 (19), Move Silently +1 (19, 2cc)
-
Rebind Blademeld, Blademeld Chakra Binds (crown, feet, hands, arms, brow, shoulders, <throat>, waist)


18th
Incarnum Blade 4
+14
+13
+12
+9
6*
Intimidate +2 (20), Jump +2 (21), Hide +1 (19, 2cc)
Sun School
Blademeld Chakra Binds (crown, feet, hands, arms, brow, shoulders, <throat>, waist, heart)


19th
Incarnum Blade 5
+15
+13
+12
+9
6*
Concentration +1 (12), Intimidate +2 (22), Jump +1 (22), Move Silently +1 (20, 2cc)
-
Dual Chakra Binding, Blademeld Chakra Binds (crown, feet, hands, arms, brow, shoulders, <throat>, waist, <heart>, soul)


20th
Exotic Weapon Master 3
+16
+13
+13
+10
7
Intimidate +1 (23), Jump +1 (23, 2cc), Hide +1 (20, 2cc), Skill Trick: Acrobatic Backstab
-
Show Off


*Note: AC Bonus from Swordsage applies only in light armor by RAW, so this is not applicable.
*Skill Ranks: Currently calculated without items. Assuming use of Tome of Clear Thought, spend additional ranks on CC Hide or Move Silently (if even) or Craft Weaponsmithing (if odd).




Swordsage Maneuvers


Level
# Known
Max Level Known
List Known


2
6
1
Sapphire Nightmare Blade (DM 1 strike), Burning Blade (DW 1 strike), Distracting Ember (DW 1 boost), Sudden Leap (TC1 boost), Wolf Fang Strike (TC1 strike), Mighty Throw (SS 1 strike)


4
7
1
+ Shadow Blade Technique (SH1 strike)


5
8
2
+ Emerald Razor (DM 2 strike)



Swordsage Maneuvers Readied


Level
# Readied
Default Readied List



2nd
4
Burning Blade, Distracting Ember, Wolf Fang Strike, Sudden Leap


4th
4
Burning Blade, Distracting Ember, Wolf Fang Strike, Sudden Leap


5th
5
Burning Blade, Distracting Ember, Wolf Fang Strike, Sudden Leap, Emerald Razor


8th+
5
Burning Blade, Distracting Ember, Mighty Throw, Sudden Leap, Emerald Razor




Swordsage Stances


Level
# Known
Max Level Known
List Known


2
1
1
Island of Blades (SH 1)


4
2
1
Island of Blades (SH 1), Flame's Blessing (DW 1)

[tr]
5
2
1
Island of Blades (SH 1), Flame's Blessing (DW 1)


Default Stance: Island of Blades



Assassin Spells per Day


Level
1st
2nd
3rd
4th


6th
0+1
-
-
-


7th
1+1
-
-
-


8th
2+1
0+1
-
-


12th
3+1
1+1
-
-


13th
3+1
2+1
0+1
-


14th
3+1
3+1
1+1
-


15th
3+1
3+1
2+1
0


16th+*
3+1
3+1
2+1
0+1


*Hopefully by this point I will have used at least one Tome of Clear Thought to learn spells.

Assassin Spells Known


Level
#
Spells Known, in Order Learned


1st
4
Ebon Eyes, Shock and Awe, Feather Fall, Obscuring Mist


2nd
4
Alter Self, Invisibility, Fire Shuriken, Undetectable Alignment


3rd
3
Find the Gap, Sadism, Deeper Darkness


4th
2
Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement






Lin-tao started life as an unnamed orphan. Raised at a Carmendine order monastery, she trained in both unarmed and armed combat, trying to follow the teachings of Zealots of the Written Word. The Zealots, however, pushed their good philosophies a little too hard. Lin-Tao was found to be training herself to master the Flensing Strike, a dual kama attack that skins flesh from an opponent, and this both shocked and disgusted her good masters. For the crime of perverting the texts of Carmendine, she was banished from the monastery.

Luckily, Deneir does not want information lost; one of her former masters met with Lin-Tao outside the temple and sent her to her future mentor, Ekard, a hardened ex-monk (and unknown to her masters, an assassin with underworld contacts). Ekard appreciated Lin-Tao's talents and decided to train her as his successor while travelling the countryside.

Every assassin remembers their first kill. Lin-Tao's was a bandit leader who, with a band of 20 brigands, was terrorizing a small village encountered on her travels. Ekard set up payment from the frightened villagers; she snuck past the guards and slit his throat in the night, leaving a note: "If you keep threatening the village, your next leader will die in one week." The panic the following day was fun to watch. The brigands retreated. The village celebrated and paid what was due. Once a week passed with no attacks from the brigands, they moved on.

Ekard trained Lin-Tao in the art of using intimidation and wit to see the best way to profit from bad situations. After Ekard's untimely demise (a hit on a noble gone terribly wrong), Lin-Tao taught herself mastery of her chosen weapons, dual scorpion kamas, and joined a thieves' guild in Waterdeep. Here, she learned a bit of the art of incarnum, adding a bit of her soul to one of her one blades, but again, she twists the teachings of the Warriors Eternal to her own ends; she just wants power and plans to never join herself with the Eternal Host.

The thieves' guild gives Lin-Tao assignments and pays well enough, but Lin-Tao keeps her distance and calls herself a freelancer. When the guild inevitably collapses (Lin-Tao's killings are easily linked to her; flensing is considered uncommon and cruel), she has enough underworld reputation to set herself up as an assassin for hire. Maybe Lin-Tao will one day leave the city to found or usurp a dark monastery of the Long Death, but for now, torturing and killing hard targets is what she enjoys.



In the early game, the goal is to (1) get up close and flurry or (2) throw shuriken / use a light crossbow. After level 1, maneuvers help a lot with the "get close" part, and adding Flensing Strike is cruel, cold gravy. An Invisible Flensing Strike into Stunning Fist can kill things; don't forget that if you're weilding two Kamas, you get +2 on the Flensing Strike DC, and this can be used with Wolf Fang Strike for a std-act flurry. Levels 4-5 mainly are to gain a couple more maneuvers, the best of which is Emerald Razor; however, it will not come into play until we become an assassin.
Aside: Invisible Fist + Sudden Leap gives us one round of flurry sneak attack out of every four, and Distracting Ember + Island of Blades gives us a second. The other rounds will be spent debuffing with Stunning Fist (drop a kama to do this) or Flensing Strike or moving and full attacking with Wolf Fang Strike. We're no front-line fighter early (14 AC; I hope we have friends with wand of mage armor), but we are a brutal damage-dealer.

We now begin prestiging with Assassin. We take a lot of ranks in UMD to play catch-up, while using Assassin's BAB to qualify for the SIs. Use Emerald Razor to make Death Attacks. Each spell brings utility, with Ebon Eyes, Shock and Awe, and Alter Self being stand-outs. Alter Self can be cheesed for +6 NA, bite, and multiattack (troglodyte) or 50' avg fly speed (Avariel, winged elf).
By Assassin 3, our Kamas should have wand chambers for easy use of wands of spells on your Assassin list (Wraithstrike, Alter Self, others); later, when UMD gets higher, we'll go for more interesting spells. Island of Blades stance makes it easier to get into flanking for sneak attacks. The first level of IB gives chakra bind (feet) for a boost to initiative, which is nice, and allows entry into EWM. EWM allows us to stun without dropping a Kama with Stunning Blow. We take Imperious Command now for tricks later, but using it with Never Outnumbered is not a bad use of a standard act. We are starting to come into our own as a combination debuffer and striker; flensing strike into imperious command into a stunning blow full attack is brutal lockdown.

Now EWM gives TWF via Twin Exotic Weapon Fighting. We use this to qualify for Reaping Talons and to use Gloves of the Balanced Hand (for ITWF) later. Reaping talons gives us a nice bonus in [Cornered Predator]; after hitting with both kamas, we get +2 to attack for each adjacent foe. We can also Fight Defensively to use [Talon Shield] for effective -4 atk / +4 AC Combat Expertise to trigger [Focused Assault] in the following round, but this doesn not seem likely to be used.
Given the terrible class skills of EWM, it is only reasonable to use these levels for skill tricks. Back into Assassin, we work our way up to Snap Kick for more attacks. By 15, we should be using dual Assassination Virulent Scorpion Kamas with a triple Weapon Capsule Containers for holding Wyvern Poison; this is for stubborn foes. The goal is to flensing strike and imperious command to drop saves, then force a bunch of saves via full attacks with poison, death attacks, etc until the target is dead. New spells: Find the Path is great for setup / making maneuvers / flensing strike / stunning blow / death attacks hit. We're good enough at hide and move silently that with darkstalker, we can afford to scout with invisibility, set up death attack and cast Find the Path in the surprise round.
We can even Dimension Door to people; at this point, we may want to get a wand of DD for later. It would also be nice to have a slotless monk's belt; I'll talk about that in the items section.

We start taking capstones here. Blademeld (brow, shoulders) are both situationally useful. Once we can rebind chakras, we can do this from hiding when necessary before combat. However, level 17 provides the main reason I took Imperious Command in the early game: Chakra Bind (throat) is an AoE demoralize that doesn't have the once per encounter limitation of frightening prescence. Let that sink in. We can intinitely [fear] people as long as they fail a high-DC fort save. Sun School at 18 provides an even more deadly death attack: Start watching your target, cast Find the Path, use a Wand of Dimension Door in you poisoned Kama's wand chamber, get a free touch-death-attack. Use a wand of Greater Invisibilty before this if you don't want the crowd to notice. Dimension Door away assuming the target is dead.
Note: Because of how Sun School is written, any teleportation effect, even magic items, may trigger [Flash of Sunset] (at DM's discretion). Level 19, the capstone of IB, gives a free ~38-40 HP; we can unbind and rebind the chakra to get it back as well. We take those. Level 20 gives Show Off as an even more unbeatable demoralize: 1d20 +16 BAB +23 ranks +2 Cha-Mod +items. We also hit BAB 16 for the last iterative here, along with (another) 4th level spell.

Choosing a sweet spot here is hard. Once an Assassin, everything consistently gets better every level. I think level 15 serves, though; we get BAB 11 here for iterative #3; snap kick, bite (alter self), and ITWF grow that to 7 on a full attack. A use of a wraithstrike wand here means a big chunk of damage from a flanked enemy.



Ideally, we're upping AC to stay competitive with Bracers of Armor early. After UMD access, this changes to a Wand of Greater Mage Armor. After we're rich, this changes to a black robe of the archmagi.
Increasing Sneak Attack Dice: Bracers of Murder +1d6, Rogue's Vest +1d6, Assassination Weapon Quality +1d6,
Ring of Int +6 as early as possible.
Tome of Clear Thought +1 at around 16th.
Custom Item: Slotless Monk's Belt. Remember the Monk's Tatoo from Magic of Faerun? It's way overpriced. A Slotless Monk's Belt should cost 26000g. Call it a magical tattoo for fluff.
Weapons of Choice: dual Scorpion Kamas, which will eventually deal 2d6 from our unarmed strike of monk 12 (unarmed monk 5 + slotless monk's belt 5 + Carmendine feat bonus 2).
Weapon add ons (in order) Wand Chambers (City, 100g), Least Crystal of Return (MIC, 300g), Triple Alchemical Weapon Capsule (CAdv, 450g, swift act poison weapon), Shadow Hand (+1, Discipline in use +3), Assassination (+1, +1d6 sneak attack, bonus to poison DC = weapon enhance bonus), Toxic (+1, Each poison use takes 2 hits to be consumed), Shadowstrike (+5000g); One gets Illusionbane; Other gets Warning. Alternate adding +1 enhancement and extra effects.




Slot
Item
Cost


Head
Scout's Headband (MIC)
3400g


Face
Third Eye Clarity (MIC)
3000g


Throat
Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis (ToM)
22000g


Torso
Rogue's Vest (MIC)
18000g


Body
Black Robe of the Archmagi (DMG)
75000g


[tr]
Waist
Belt of Hidden Pouches (MIC) +4 Con
5000(1.5)+16000 = 23500g


Shoulders
Shadow Cloak (DotU)
5500g


Arms
Bracers of Murder (DotU)
8000g


Hands
Gloves of the Balanced Hand (MIC) +4 Str
8000(1.5) +16000 = 28000


Ring 1
Ring of Anticipation (DotU)
6000g


Ring 2
Ring of +6 Int
36000g


Feet
Boots of Big Stepping (MIC)
6000g


Slotless
Monk's Tattoo (Slotless Monk's Belt)
26000g


Slotless 2
Tome of Clear Thought +1 (DMG)
27500g



The remainder will be spent on consumable items (additional tomes, poisons, wands) and utility (haversack, bag of holding, troll gut rope, silent portal disc, ect).

Default Wands in Wand Chambers: Wraithstrike, Dimension Door
Secondaries, in belt for swapping: Golemstrike, Gravestrike, Vinestrike, Whirling Blade, Enlarge Person, Phantom Assailant (DotU), Cursed Blade, Remove Fear
Eternal Wands: Greater Magic Armor, sold once bought black robe of the archmagi
Late-Game Poison: Wyvern Venom, likely via a milked adult wyvern from a paid NPC handler (in a vain attempt to save money).




Carmendine Monk: Champions of Valor
ACF: Invisible Fist: Exemplars of Evil p21
Adaptation: Unarmed Swordsage: Tome of Battle p20
Darkstalker: Lords of Madness
Flensing Strike: Eberron Campaign Setting
Imperious Command: Drow of the Underdark
Assassin: Dungeon Master's Guide
Craven: Champions of Ruin
Adaptive Style, Reaping Talons, Snap Kick: Tome of Battle
Sun School: Complete Warrior
Troglodyte: MM1
Avarial (Winged Elves): Races of Faerun
Non-Core Assassin Spells: Spell Compendium, except Sadism: Book of Vile Darkness
Assassination Weapon Quality: Cityscape Web Enhancement 3 (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070314a)
Other Items: See Items Section

[Macabaret]

And that's what my inbox holds for you today.
If you submitted something for entry and don't see it here, speak up and we'll try to figure out what went wrong and get your build in for judging.
If you didn't submit something for entry, please feel free to judge!

Speaking of judging... I'll be out of internet connection range starting on the 21st and running through the 29th. Hopefully, we'll have some judges post judgements during that time; and, probably, knowing these contests, we'll have some disputes. Obviously, I won't be able to post such disputes until after I'm back online, so don't freak out in my absence. :smallcool:

[daremetoidareyo]

Lin-Tao - Kamas
Garou Tuh - Locking Garrotte
Drek Vril - manacles
Tog Tordus - Dwarven double spear
Wood elf ranger - Valenar Scimitar

[PunBlake]

I'll be out of internet connection range starting on the 21st and running through the 29th. ...don't freak out in my absence. :smallcool:

Have a nice trip and/or vacation!

All I have to say otherwise is... Woo! No Vizzinis! Good job, everyone! We even used (almost completely) different classes as entry points. :smallbiggrin:

EDIT: Let the weapon jokes begin.
Let me just start with how sexual our weapons are. Manacles? Garrote? Double spear? I hope I'm not the only one who sees this.

[Thurbane]

Nice entries all!

My build stub was looking like Warblade 2/Martial Rogue 2/Warblade +1/Master of Masks 2/Incarnum Blade 5/EWM 3/Warblade +5; getting all EWPs through MoM. Then using Ancestral Relic or similar to have a Shifting weapon that could change into different forms...

[daremetoidareyo]

Nice entries all!

My build stub was looking like Warblade 2/Martial Rogue 2/Warblade +1/Master of Masks 2/Incarnum Blade 5/EWM 3/Warblade +5; getting all EWPs through MoM. Then using Ancestral Relic or similar to have a Shifting weapon that could change into different forms...

That's solid. It's like the quintessential build for this round also. Why settle for one when you can have All of the exotic weapons!

[Macabaret]

Of note to judges (and all other viewers):
The first entry does have a name: Fianin. This information was, unfortunately, left out of the post above. Edits will be made.

[Darkcouch]

I didn't have time to write it up, but my idea revolved around extending the fear effect of Show Off by getting more levels of Exotic Weapon Master (EMW) via Legacy Champ. The problem I ran into was that I also had to make the tricks I got from EMW relevant and ended up taking only 5, Uncanny blow, exotic sunder, show off, trip attack, and throw exotic weapon. The build was rather feat starved needing Sunder, Fear, and Trip feats, so the final build was Fighter 2/ Psychic Warrior 2/ Warblade 3/ EWM 3/ Incarnum Blade 5/ Ronin 2/ Legacy Champ 3. I used Shishi-O as my legacy weapon replacing charm animal with returning to help when dropping the weapon during a trip and when it's thrown. I went back and forth between EWM 2 + Legacy Champ 4 vs EWM 3 + Legacy Champ 3, but figured using the 3rd level of EMW was better for Use of SI than the extra Legacy feat was for my power score.

[Sian]

Had two weapons that i were considering, but simply couldn't get enough value out of the ingredients that i felt it was worth it in terms of showcasing them. First was Ramhammer from Planar Handbook paired with Dungeoncrasher Fighter, since that's one of the few weapons where you get a bonus to Bull Rushing, the other weapon that i was considering was the Eagle Claw (from Sandstorm) and using that to stack as many attacks as possible (via Eagle's Fury, gaining extra attacks)

[RaiKirah]

Really like what everyone presented! Really wish I'd liked my builds enough to fully write them up.

I had three ideas that I found interesting, but the builds wouldn't come together in a way that was at all compelling - mostly they all needed to do too many things.

One idea was to focus on a Whip as my weapon, specifically the pyrokineticist's fire lash. Using a Warforged gets rid of the need to sleep, so you can have the lash out always to shape it as your Blademeld, and later levels of Kensai can make use of the same thing.

The second idea was to use the Longstaff with the Waist Chakra bind to be immune to SA and Sudden Strike, with Spinning Defense to deflect all missiles, throw in Elusive Target to get rid of Power Attack. Then it required Roof Jumper to get full attacks while using Combat Expertise, but I couldn't get that to come online before lvl18.

Final idea was to use the Monk unarmed strike as your Blademeld (a la Fistbeard Beardfist) to get an additional 25hp and +5 to saving throws. But then I had to tack on an EWP and it felt awkward.

Next time!

[daremetoidareyo]

Final idea was to use the Monk unarmed strike as your Blademeld (a la Fistbeard Beardfist) to get an additional 25hp and +5 to saving throws. But then I had to tack on an EWP and it felt awkward.

Lol. Monks aren't proficient in their unarmed strikes, so if you took exotic weapon proficiency (anything) and dipped warblade, you could redirect the exotic weapon proficiency to your unarmed strike through the battle aptitude ability. And then you could literally throw your fists as weapons.

And if you took the trip attack stunt, you would automatize your own fists if you failed your trip attack. You'de be like the black knight from monty pythons holy grail! The weird thing is, you're proficiency is in unarmed strikes, so you could still kick or headbutt, or whathaveyou.

What a glitch!

[RaiKirah]

Lol. Monks aren't proficient in their unarmed strikes, so if you took exotic weapon proficiency (anything) and dipped warblade, you could redirect the exotic weapon proficiency to your unarmed strike through the battle aptitude ability. And then you could literally throw your fists as weapons.

And if you took the trip attack stunt, you would automatize your own fists if you failed your trip attack. You'de be like the black knight from monty pythons holy grail! The weird thing is, you're proficiency is in unarmed strikes, so you could still kick or headbutt, or whathaveyou.

What a glitch!


Heh, I like that. Not sure if it quite works as I can't tell if Weapon aptitude allows you to make illegal target selections (unarmed strikes are not exotic), but I'd like to think you could!

[Falontani]

Do we have any judges yet?

[jdizzlean]

bump for a new week

[Thurbane]

I'd love to judge, but my downtime is very limited right now. I'm in the middle of building two competition entries, among other things...

[weckar]

My mindblademeld just did not come together.

[Thurbane]

Anyone up for judging?

If no one else is, I might put my hand up, but not until I'm back from holidays after 16th August...

[jdizzlean]

bump and obligatory extra characters :)

[Macabaret]

Okay, folks...
First off, my sincere apologies. Due to a mission trip that took me away from internet for awhile and an ensuing illness, this round has lapsed for awhile. I'm sorry that's happened.

Second, I need information. Is anyone currently judging? Is there anyone willing? I'm loathe to slap some Chair-based judgings on the round if there's someone else doing the job. If you are judging, let us know and (if you can) include a ballpark timeline for completion.

Third, to spark discussion (and because I'm interested in people's views on this): for those who have judged in the past (either Junkyard or Iron Chef or Villainous or ...), is there something about the Junkyard Wars competition that makes judging more difficult/more time consuming/more ??? than other competitions here on GITP?

[PunBlake]

1) No need to apologize; you told us you'd be away in advance.

2) No one has stated intention to judge as of yet. Thurbane is the closest at maybe.

3) I don't think so. I think it's just a busy time of year: back to school, ect.

Both this competition and the current Iron Chef with Doomlord have no judge declared with builds posted.
Both the others with judges (Iron Chef E6 with Soulknife and Villainous Competition with Tiny Terror) have one judge working on each, with the potential for long timelines before scores on both.

I have no experience judging and am entered in both competitions with no judges, unfortunately. I would have judged this one if I weren't entered, as 3-4 builds is not a terrible load.
I have no experience with E6, which makes me loathe to judge it, and Villainous I haven't really had a chance to read yet. I didn't realize builds were posted within the past 5 days; I've been spending that time doing DM prep and IRL stuff.

[jdizzlean]

i've posted about it before, but there is always 50 people willing to cook a dish, and maybe 4-5 willing to judge. In a given round where the ingredient is something "special", and the few regular judges enter, there is no one left to judge and so we end up in the predicament where you go a month or more while trying to convince people they can just as easily judge. I would encourage everyone to take a shot at judging, I know that I personally dispute very little now that i've done it from both sides. You don't have to be god's gift to D&D to judge, just be enthusiastic and reasonable, and hopefully have access to all the material.

in e6, luckily, lately someone has volunteered to judge the next round during the current round, so you go into it knowing that there will be a judge at least. sure you might miss out on a really great ingredient, but you could also get stuck w/ one you have to judge that is horrid :) however, it's better overall that way. This is a trend i hope makes its way into the other competitions.

judging e6 is actually much easier and faster than the rest of these, all you have is 6 levels and 10 additional feats to figure out.

I would likewise judge here, but I entered, and pompously believe i have a chance at winning something lol, although that's rarely the case in reality, oh well.

I'll go ahead and volunteer to judge this comp TWO rounds from now, so that i'm not judging e6 and JYW at the same time and getting confused ;/

[Darkcouch]

I wanted to judge this one, but my vacation was going to interfere so I didn't say anything, but I got back and saw there were still no judges, so...

Fianin
Originality 3.25
Nothing exciting to see here with races, classes, or abilities, but I was surprised to see a Revenant Blade that was not an uber charger.

Power 2.25
The points you gained in Originality come back to bit you here because the reason most Revenant Blades are chargers is because it is powerful. You use 4 of your scarce feats on mounted combat and still come away worse than if your tactics involved just running into the fray and swinging away and much worse than a character with pounce. You also took Warblade and Eternal Blade which do almost nothing for you. Warblade gives weapon aptitude which you can't use if you want to stay in Revenant Blade and battle clarity which you can't use due to negative intelligence. You do get a few maneuvers but of the ones you highlighted Rapid Counter is the only one that is reliable as you will fail your concentration checks around 50% of the time. You do get a stance that might be helpful, but I don't see which one you picked anywhere in your writeup so can't take it into account. Eternal Blade only gives you a 1/day intelligence to your attack which you can't use or another maneuver, but you don't tell me which you would choose. You are able to put out decent damage on the attacks you make

Elegance 2.25
Some GMs might question if the Blade Bearer of Valenar feat actually qualifies you for Exotic Weapon master as it specifically says that it changes the Valenar Double Scimitar into a martial weapon for you and the only exception Exotic Weapon Master gives for not having the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat is Racial Familiarity. At level 12 you take a feat and a class ability that are at cross-purposes which is a bit inelegant and you take a couple of dips that serve little purpose.

Use of Components 2.25
You only took two levels of Exotic Weapon Master and you don't tell me how you are using Flurry of Strikes, everything I read tells me you are primarily using Ride-by-Attack with which you can't use Flurry. You do make good use of the crit confirmation blademeld.



Tog Tordus
Originality 2.75
I was not expecting a Venerable Dragonwrought Kobold but they are old (see what I did there) and done to death in optimization circles. I definitely was expecting to see a Kensai.

Power 4
You didn't spell it out for me, but I think what you were trying to do in combat was set for a charge then full attack once they get in range. Unfortunately if you set for a charge to get the x2 to damage you won't be able to utilize Double Hit. Kensi really saved you here because without the additional +5 in weapon modifiers your damage is really subpar, but you have pretty good survivability.

Elegance 2.25
Some GMs might argue that Spear Focus did not cover Exotic spears especially because you don't learn to use the Dwarven Double Spear until after you have Spear Focus. You take a multiclass xp penalty for level 6 forward for GMs who take that into account.

Use of Components 2.75
You use all levels of the component classes and make good use of the waist blademeld, but I'm not sure you can use the Trip Attack stunt with a double weapon and you have nothing else to support tripping. You also state that the sweet spot of the build is level 13 when you are still missing 6 levels of the component classes which does not speak highly of their integration into the build.



Drek Vril
Originality 4
Vril and Justicar are a bit out of the box.

Power 2.25
You can smack some folks good with your manacles however most of the rest of your routine doesn't work. Improved Grab only works on enemies one size smaller than you, so that is almost never initiating a grapple you being small and if you do manually initiate a grapple you are at a size disadvantage and you don't have any other abilities to help you out other than Improved Grapple. Because of some mechanical things I'll touch on in Elegance you definitely will not have rage. Shriek will help you out once a day, but you could be in some trouble if you have more than one fight.

Elegance 2.25
You do qualify for all your feats and classes however you have made a mess of your alternate class features. In order to continue to qualify for Justicar you have to be a Wolf Totem Barbarian which trades away Uncanny Dodge, Improved Uncanny Dodge, and Trap Sense so you don't get Blazing Berserker, Uncanny Bravery, or Spell Sense, but you do pick up Improved Trip at lvl 5 and Track at levl 5 rather than 7. Berserker Strength is a rage equivalent (you were going to apply Blazing Berserker to it and that specifies rage) so you do lose it when you become Lawful. Speaking of Lawful, going from Chaotic to Lawful between one level is a bit of a stretch for most GMs even though you've addressed it in your backstory.

Use of Components 1.75
You make good use of Uncanny Blow with your manacles, but you only take one level of Exotic Weapon Master and miss the last and most important level of Incarnum Blade so are missing out on the second blademeld bind.



Garou Tuh
Originality 4.5
I didn't even know Soulbound Weapon or Soul Manifester were a thing and I've never seen a build with only a single level of Totemist. The Kalashtar race was also unexpected.

Power 2.75
There are a few issues that make you not as powerful as you had hoped. First, you can't combine Incarnum Blade's garotte with the Psychic Warrior garotte. Manifest Weapon lasts for 1 min/lvl, but it takes and hour to shape a blademeld so you are not getting the improved hardness and hps on your tricked out garottes. Second, you have to keep hold of your manifested garottes or they will disappear in 2 rounds so throwing is less optimal. Third, throwing is even less optimal because you only have the two garottes, the blademeld and the one which takes 1 full round to manifest, so you are only getting max 2 of your 6 potential ranged attacks. Fourth, [i]Hostile Empathic Transfer[i/] will not work like you want it to because rebinding the heart blademeld reduces the max hps along with the current hps. If you keep to melee and use your manifested garotte, you still have a reasonable damage output as long as your target isn't two or more sizes larger than you

Elegance 1.5
You do not qualify for Exotic Weapon Master when you take it as it requires +6 BAB, but that is easy to fix by switching your first levels of Exotic Weapon Master and Incarnum Blade. What is not so easy to fix is that you don't qualify for Exotic Weapon Proficiency because it requires +1 BAB. You could switch your Barbarian levels first to fix it, but that's going to jack up all your skills. You also take a multiclass xp penalty after level 6 for DMs that worry about such things.

Use of Components 3.25
You only take 2 levels of Exotic Weapon Master and throw exotic weapon is of questionable help to you, but you make good use of uncanny blow with the garotte when in melee. You make use of the brow blademeld to get extra power points and using the blademeld bind to help qualify for Soul Manifester was inspired.



Lin-Tao
Originality 3.5
I wasn't expecting and Assassin, but everything else is ordinary.

Power 3.5
You get fairly reliable sneak attack can poison and use other debuffs and also have the potential for a death attack. It would be nice to somehow debuff before the death attack, but we can't have everything. It does take a few rounds to get all the debuffs applied, but Stunning Blow help with that.

Elegance 4
You qualify for everything but because you jump around in your class progression I can't give out full marks.

Use of Components 4.25
You used all levels of the component classes. I like the potential synergy between Showoff and the throat blademeld. I also like the Stunning Blow stunt negating the need to drop one of you kamas. Twin Exotic Weapon Fighting was organically integrated into the build and could be useful.

[daremetoidareyo]

Thank you! No disputes here

[PunBlake]

Thank you for judging, Darkcouch. No disputes here.

EDIT: I think I'll volunteer to judge next round. I'm sick now (sinus infection?), so by the time next round is built and submitted, I should be better, right?

[Thurbane]

Thank you Darkcouch! I was hoping to judge as well but RL has been kicking my butt.

My HM goes to Drek Vril.

[Falontani]

No disputes here.

[Thurbane]

Entry
Competitor
Description
Judge 1 Score
Final Score


Lin-Tao (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233758&postcount=46)

???
LE Human Monk 1 /Unarmed Swordsage 1/Monk +1/Unarmed Swordsage +2/Assassin 3/IB 1/EWM 2/Assassin +4/IB +4/EWM +1
15.25
15.25


Garou Tuh (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233752&postcount=45)

???
CN Kalashtar Soulbound Weapon Psychic Warrior 5/Crafty Hunter Bear Totem Barbarian 2/Exotic Weapon Master 1/Incarnum Blade 1/Psychic Warrior +1/Exotic Weapon Master +1/Incarnum Blade +4/Totemist 1/Psychic Warrior +2/Soul Manifester 2
12
12


Tog Tordus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233738&postcount=43)

???
LG DWK Kobold Fighter4/Swashbuckler1/Kobold Paragon2/Incarnum Blade5/EWM3/Kensai 5
11.75
11.75


Fianin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233732&postcount=42)

???
CG Wood Elf Ranger 6/Revenant Blade 5/Incarnum Blade 5/Warblade 1/Eternal Blade 1/Exotic Weapon Master 2
11
11


Drek Vril (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233743&postcount=44)

???
LG Vril Barbarian 7/Incarnum Blade 4/Justicar 8/Exotic Weapon Master 1
10.25
10.25



...any errors let me know...

[Macabaret]

May I offer my great thanks to Darkcouch for judging. Much appreciated!
Likewise, a thank you to Thurbane for the table.

More than half of the field has declared themselves to not have disputes. I'll leave it open a little while longer yet for the others, until I've figured out what the next round will be, anyway. Expect something soon.

[Macabaret]

Entry
Competitor
Description
Judge 1 Score
Final Score


Lin-Tao (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233758&postcount=46)

PunBlake
LE Human Monk 1 /Unarmed Swordsage 1/Monk +1/Unarmed Swordsage +2/Assassin 3/IB 1/EWM 2/Assassin +4/IB +4/EWM +1
15.25
15.25


Garou Tuh (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233752&postcount=45)

daremetoidareyo
CN Kalashtar Soulbound Weapon Psychic Warrior 5/Crafty Hunter Bear Totem Barbarian 2/Exotic Weapon Master 1/Incarnum Blade 1/Psychic Warrior +1/Exotic Weapon Master +1/Incarnum Blade +4/Totemist 1/Psychic Warrior +2/Soul Manifester 2
12
12


Tog Tordus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233738&postcount=43)

jdizzlean
LG DWK Kobold Fighter4/Swashbuckler1/Kobold Paragon2/Incarnum Blade5/EWM3/Kensai 5
11.75
11.75


Fianin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233732&postcount=42)

Falontani
CG Wood Elf Ranger 6/Revenant Blade 5/Incarnum Blade 5/Warblade 1/Eternal Blade 1/Exotic Weapon Master 2
11
11


Drek Vril (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=23233743&postcount=44)

Falontani
LG Vril Barbarian 7/Incarnum Blade 4/Justicar 8/Exotic Weapon Master 1
10.25
10.25



Congratulations to PunBlake, daremetoidareyo, and jdizzlean for their medal placements.
Thank you, again, to Darkcouch for judging (without the need for disputes, no less!)

The next round will be up shortly.

[Thurbane]

Congrats to PunBlake and all the other competitors!