Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CV

[The Viscount]

Welcome to Optimization Stadium, the field of combat for our storied competition. Here the contestants will be transmuting lead into gold as we showcase the overlooked, underused, weird, wild, and wonky prestige classes.

This round we turn to Frostburn. I'm trying something a little different this round. Scream to the skies and dance under the moonlight, it's time for Primeval!

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef. Here in Optimization Colosseum, contestants will endeavor to create an optimized and flavorful character using a specified D&D 3.5 prestige class as a "Secret Ingredient".

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

Menu: The "special ingredient" can be drawn from any legal source. Originally, the plan was to mostly use Core and Completes, but that was a long time ago, and we've started running out of interesting classes to use if we restrict ourselves to those.

32 point-buy is the presumed creation method.
If you do use a different point-buy, please make your case for its necessity in your entry. Keep in mind that for using exceptionally large or small point-buys may warrant deductions in elegance and/or power.

Kitchen: Competitors will be free to use any official 3.5 rulebook in constructing their builds. Dragon magazine is disallowed, and Unearthed Arcana is allowed; but see Elegance below. Web-exclusive 3.0 or 3.5 materials by WotC are expressly allowed, but take care to verify that an updated version did not appear in print elsewhere, as this may cause an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion. Here's a guide to most of what has and hasn't been updated. (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20050110x) Alternate rule systems from UA such as gestalt or Generic Classes are not allowed, as they create a different playing field. Also, item familiars are forbidden. Please refrain from using Taint unless it's necessary for the Secret Ingredient.
NB: Official Errata and 3.5 updates to 3.0 content are considered valid regardless of whether their sources would otherwise be legal. This includes the 3.5 update of Oriental Adventures given in Dragon Magazine, and the 3.5 updates of Dragonlance Campaign Setting content given in later third party Dragonlance books.

Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 13:59 GMT on Saturday, September 19th, 2020 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, The Viscount. You may submit build by email if it is too large for a single PM. Please put the name of your build in the subject line of your PM. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 13:59 GMT on Sunday, October 4th, 2020 to judge the builds and submit their scores. If no judges have scored by that point, only the scores of the first judge to submit will be counted.

Judging: Judging will be based on the following criteria, with each build rated on a scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (exemplary) in each area: Originality, Power, Elegance, Use of Secret Ingredient.

Power level is up to you. Cheese is acceptable, but should be kept to a sane level unless you're showcasing a new TO build you've discovered. In the words of one of my predecessors, a little cheddar can be nice, but avoid the mature Gruyere unless you're making a cheese fondue.
Elegance could bear a little elaboration. It basically measures how skillfully you put your build together, and whether you sacrificed flavor for power. We're cooking here - if your dish doesn't taste good, it doesn't matter how well-presented it is. Use of flaws is considered in poor taste, and judges are asked to take a dim view of this option, taking it into account while grading. Other things that will cause penalties here are excessive multi-classing, and classes that don't fit the concept.Please note the following: a legal source's relative obscurity should not be considered as penalizing Elegance, excepting the aforementioned issues with Unearthed Arcana. Using conflicting setting material may result in a penalty to Elegance at the judges' discretion, but a book's relative obscurity may not. In that same vein, drawing solely from the Core 3 (and the d20 SRD) should not be punished for lacking Originality.
Presentation: Builds will be posted anonymously, in order to avoid the potential of bias towards a particular competitor. For this reason, please don't put your name in the build, as I'm likely to miss it when reviewing the entries!

Due to concerns about standardizing entry format, I'd like everyone to try to use the following table for their entry.NAME OF ENTRY


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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



Code immediately below (spoiler).

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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



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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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



For other systems (Psionics, ToB, Incarnum, etc.) keep track of PP/maneuvers/essentia separately, preferably in a nice neat list.
Speculation: Please don't post or speculate on possible builds until the "reveal," in order to avoid spoiling the surprise if a particular competitor is producing a build along those lines.

Leadership is banned; we're producing a meal, not a seven-course banquet for a hundred diners. If your entry includes a prestige class or ACF that grants Leadership or a Leadership-like ability as a bonus feat, the feat should be ignored and is not eligible to be traded away for another feat or ACF through any means.

So! Who wants to sign up as a contestant, and who wants to sign up as a judge? Looking for as many contestants and judges as feel like playing!

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

Past Competitions

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

Iron Chef I: Entropomancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142470)
Iron Chef II: Psibond Agent (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146583)
Iron Chef III: Cancer Mage (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148584)
Iron Chef IV: Stonelord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150595)
Iron Chef V: War Chanter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152543)
Iron Chef VI: Master of Masks (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156876)
Iron Chef VII: Green Star Adept (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158633)
Iron Chef VIII: Pyrokineticist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160266)
Iron Chef IX: Animal Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162702)
Iron Chef X: Mythic Exemplar (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164381)
Iron Chef XI: Blade Bravo (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166539)
Iron Chef XII: War Mind (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9426386)
Iron Chef XIII: Vigilante (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172233)
Iron Chef XIV: Seeker of the Song (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174434)
Iron Chef XV: Drunken Master (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176049)
Iron Chef XVI: Assassin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178202)
Iron Chef XVII: Ardent Dilettante (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182492)
Iron Chef XVIII: Unseelie Dark Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186097)
Iron Chef XIX: Dread Pirate (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190607)
Iron Chef XX: Incandescent Champion (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10976416)
Iron Chef XXI: Ghostwalker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198921)
Iron Chef XXII: Dervish (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206576)
Iron Chef XXIII: Divine Crusader (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210071)
Iron Chef XXIV: Tactical Soldier (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214198)
Iron Chef XXV: Scion of Tem-Et-Nu (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217441)
Iron Chef XXVI: Shadowdancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220956)
Iron Chef XXVII: Mindbender (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224008)
Iron Chef XXVIII: Cryokineticist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227304)
Iron Chef XXIX: Consecrated Harrier (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229688)
Iron Chef XXX: Initiate of Pistis Sophia (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233346)
Iron Chef XXXI: Shadow Sentinel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236908)
Iron Chef XXXII: Temple Raider of Olidammara (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239786)
Iron Chef XXXIII: Drow Judicator (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243052)
Iron Chef XXXIV: Dragon Disciple (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246072)
Iron Chef XXXV: Death Delver (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249542)
Iron Chef XXXVI: Acolyte of the Skin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252923)
Iron Chef XXXVII: Justiciar (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13865473)
Iron Chef XXXVIII: Hand of the Winged Master (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255215)
Iron Chef XXXIX: Renegade Mastermaker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260333)
Iron Chef XL: Nightsong Infiltrator (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263173)
Iron Chef XLI: Geomancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266709)
Iron Chef XLII: Shadowblade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=270196)
Iron Chef XLIII: Bladesinger (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274122)
Iron Chef XLIV: Urban Soul (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279116)
Iron Chef XLV: Talon of Tiamat (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15216595)
Iron Chef XLVI: Cipher Adept (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287314)
Iron Chef XLVII: Cold Iron Warrior (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291294)
Iron Chef XLVIII: Shadow Sun Ninja (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297327)
Iron Chef XLIX: Thrall of Orcus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302487)
Iron Chef L: Corrupt Avenger (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307823)
Iron Chef LI: Black Flame Zealot (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312773)
Iron Chef LII: Anointed Knight (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=317934)
Iron Chef LIII: Zerth Cenobite (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325164)
Iron Chef LIV: Osteomancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330890)
Iron Chef LV: Mountebank (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?336373-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LV)
Iron Chef LVI: Dwarven Defender (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?342807-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LVI)
Iron Chef LVII: Darkrunner (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?349040-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LVII)
Iron Chef LVIII: Spellsword (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?357412-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LVIII)
Iron Chef LIX: Fleet Runner of Ehlonna (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?364667-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LIX)
Iron Chef LX: Lasher (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?371835-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LX)
Iron Chef LX(II): Acolyte of the Ego (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?372145-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LX)
Iron Chef LXII: Dungeon Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?376810-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXII)
Iron Chef LXIII: Witchborn Binder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?382632-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXIII)
Iron Chef LXIV: Slime Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?387166-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXIV)
Iron Chef LXV: Thunder Guide (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?394981-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXV)
Iron Chef LXVI: Dwarven Chanter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?400810-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXVI)
Irogn Chef LXVII: Gnome Giant Slayer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?406613-Irogn-Chef-Optimisatiogn-Challegnge-ign-the-Playgrougnd-LXVII)
Iron Chef LXVIII: Fang of Lolth (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?412530-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXVIII)
Iron Chef LXIX: Shiba Protector (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?420165-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXIX)
Iron Chef LXX: Order of the Bow Initiate (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?425634-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXX)
Iron Chef LXXI: Silver Key (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?431484-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXI)
Iron Chef LXXII: Spellfire Channeler (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?439020-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXII)
Iron Chef LXXIII: Flux Adept (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?448596-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXIII)
Iron Chef LXXIV: Crinti Shadow Marauder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?458711-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXIV)
Iron Chef LXXV: Thief of Life (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472831-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXV)
Iron Chef LXXVI: Legacy Champion (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?477153-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXVI)
Iron Chef LXXVII: Great Rift Skyguard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?482249-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXVII)
Iron Chef LXVIII: Risen Martyr (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?487560-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXVIII)
Iron Chef LXXIX: Black Blood Hunter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?492923-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXIX)
Iron Chef LXXX: Master of Many Forms (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?498359-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXX)
Iron Chef LXXXI: Serene Guardian (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?502666-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXI)
Iron Chef LXXXII: Elocator (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?505762-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXII)
Iron Chef LXXXIII: Winterhaunt of Iboorighu (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?510581-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXIII)
Iron Chef LXXXIV: Waverider (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514631-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXIV)
Iron Chef LXXXV: Astral Dancer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?519296-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXV)
Iron Chef LXXXVI: Twisted Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?525401-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXVI)
Iron Chef LXXXVII: Shadowsmith (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?528361-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXVII)
Iron Chef LXXXVIII: Arboreal Guardian (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?533367-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXVIII)
Iron Chef LXXXIX: Thrall of Demogorgon (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?536247-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-LXXXIX)
Iron Chef XC: Bloodstorm Blade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?542380-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XC)
Iron Chef XCI: Fatemaker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?550203-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCI)
Iron Chef XCII: Eye of the Xanathar (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?556092-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCII)
Iron Chef XCIII: Hoardstealer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?560330-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCIII)
Iron Chef XCIV: Doomlord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?564804-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCIV)
Iron Chef XCV: Gnomish Artificer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?571065-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCV)
Iron Chef XCVI: Oozemaster (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?576075-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCVI)
Iron Chef XCVII: Aerial Avenger (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?579553-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCVII)
Iron Chef XCVIII: Visionary Seeker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?583331-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCVIII)
Iron Chef XCIX: Life Eater (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?589964-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-XCIX)
Iron Chef C: Swiftblade (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?601292-Iron-Chef-Optimisation-Challenge-in-the-Playground-C)

Iron Chef CI: Night Mask Deathbringer (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?610308-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-CI)
Iron Chef CII: Blade Dancer (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?613031-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-CII)
Iron Chef CIII: Psion Uncarnate (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?614461-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-CIII)
Iron Chef CIV: Atavist (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?615697-Iron-Chef-Optimization-Challenge-in-the-Playground-CIV)

[The Viscount]

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

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

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

Q: Are Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, or Kingdoms of Kalamar allowable sources?
A: The Dragonlance Campaign Setting is allowed, but the subsequent books for Dragonlance are considered 3rd party, and are therefore not eligible, despite the "WotC approved" status of those books. The same holds for Oriental Adventures (1st party) and the subsequent Rokugan books (3rd party). Materials from Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, and Kingdoms of Kalamar are considered 3rd party for purposes of this contest, and are therefore not allowed.

Q: What about online sources in general?
A: If the online source is a) published by WotC, and b) not replaced by an updated version at a later time, it is eligible. Use it, link it.

Q: Where's the line drawn with "acceptable/unacceptable" for Unearthed Arcana? This will likely vary a bit from Chairman to Chairman. Item Familiars and Gestalt have always been verboten, since before IC migrated to GitP; don't expect that to change. Flaws have similarly always been noted as warranting a deduction; while I am Chairman, I'm extending that to Traits, though they warrant 1/2 the penalty in Elegance that a Flaw would because they're roughly 1/2 as useful. Alternate spell systems, alternate skill systems and alternate crafting rules all create an uneven playing field, and as such, will be disallowed for as long as I am Chairman. In a similar vein, LA buyoff and fractional BAB are also disallowed. Bloodlines and the Retraining options presented in the PHB2 are ripe for abuse, and will be strongly discouraged as long as I am Chairman. Note that judges are allowed to look askance at any use of Unearthed Arcana not specifically mentioned above, at their discretion, and otherwise penalize Elegance according to their preference.

Q: What, exactly, does the ban on Leadership mean?
A: As folks have started to try to work around the edges of this one, I'm forced to spell it out more plainly. No Leadership, Draconic Cohort, or Feats that grant a similar ability are allowed EXCEPT Wild Cohort. Any PrC you choose with Leadership or a Leadership-analog has that ability entirely ignored for this contest, as it may neither be used nor traded away via any means whatsoever.

Q: What's the minimum score in a category?
A: Assuming an entry is legal, the minimum score in any category is 1. If a judge is convinced that an entry is mechanically illegal by the RAW, the judge may give the build a score of 0 in Elegance, and proceed to judge the entry as if the offending material was not included. Failing to meet a special requirement for a prestige class does not merit a 0, but may qualify for a penalty, at the judge's discretion. Because this contest focuses on Player Characters, an entry that is not technically allowed for a PC, but is viable as an NPC, counts as a legal entry, but may receive a minimum score at the judges' discretion.

Q: Creatures and templates with no listed LA are playable, right?
A: No. No listed LA is equivalent to LA: -. It is not suitable for PCs. If you use it, expect judges to look extremely disfavorably on it.

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

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

One Mistake, One Penalty

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

Non-exhaustive list of examples:

Skills

Allowed:

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


Not allowed:

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



Prereqs

Allowed:

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


Not Allowed:

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



Other general things that are no longer allowed:

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


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

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

All creatures are proficient with any natural weapons they may have or acquire.
Bonus feats that are granted even if you do not meet the prerequisites do not require you to meet the prerequisites in order to use.
Able Learner's benefit applies to the level you take it.
Weapons from soulmelds are considered to be magic weapons.
Unarmed Swordsage grants Improved Unarmed Strike at level 1.
Not finishing Savage Progression is subject to a penalty to Elegance
One dispute per entry. Submit disputes by PM to the Chair.
Ghostwalk ghost is banned
Gold, silver, and bronze are awarded regardless of ties (e.g., 2 silvers does not preclude bronze)
Spelltouched feats are legal and can be taken just like any other feat when you meet the prerequisites and have the feat slot available.

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

Q: What is and isn't a prehistoric animal?
A: In addition to the ones mentioned in the class, Ice age animals and other animal from dinosaur times are good. The definitions are a little hazy, so if you have a question about a specific creature, you can PM for a ruling.

Q: Can I use Primeval Form to qualify for things with wild shape as a prerequisite?
A: Yes. Stuff that benefits wild shape also benefits primeval form. Benefits in primeval form do not extend to wildshape, and you cannot simultaneously be in a wild shape form and a primeval form.

Q:How does the capstone changing your type to magical beast interact with primeval form changing your type because it's polymorph based?
A: You retain the capstone class feature even when in other forms, and because it's "always on" it supersedes the type change from polymorph, and you remain a magical beast.

[Venger]

Oh hell yeah. I'm down to cook.

[WhamBamSam]

Wild. Definitely gonna try cooking for this.

[H_H_F_F]

Seems interesting. I'll try.

[WhamBamSam]

Does Primeval Form count as Wild Shape for the purpose of meeting prerequisites?

[The Viscount]

Given how they reference wild shape right away, and the interaction it has with wild shape, I'm going to say yes. If whatever you're using it for references wild shape benefits and you qualify with primeval form, assume it gives the benefit to primeval form.

[DeAnno]

If the primeval has the wild shape ability from other class levels, he may use wild shape to assume his primeval form.

Does this just mean you use Wild Shape uses to assume it for 1 min/level, or do you actually get the full normal Wild Shape duration as well?

EDIT: Also, can you use your Wildshape ability to go to your Primeval form even if it would normally be disqualified? For example for being out of your prescribed size range, like a level 5 Druid going to a Large form.

[TerrickTerran]

This is one of the few PrCs I've actually done a character for (though sadly, never got to play it) Looking forward to seeing what people create.

[H_H_F_F]

Given how they reference wild shape right away, and the interaction it has with wild shape, I'm going to say yes. If whatever you're using it for references wild shape benefits and you qualify with primeval form, assume it gives the benefit to primeval form.

What does that mean for characters who have both? Do they pick to which one a benefit applies when they get it? Does it apply to both?

[Sian]

I have a very fun idea ... but i need 21 levels to pull it off.

Lets see if i can squize it into fitting a 20 level build without feeling akward or 'obviously' missing something

[The Viscount]

Does this just mean you use Wild Shape uses to assume it for 1 min/level, or do you actually get the full normal Wild Shape duration as well?

EDIT: Also, can you use your Wildshape ability to go to your Primeval form even if it would normally be disqualified? For example for being out of your prescribed size range, like a level 5 Druid going to a Large form.
If you use Wild shape uses, it's still 1 min/level just like if you normally used primeval form.

In the example of a Level 5 Druid going to a Large primeval form, they would be able to do it only if "converting" those wild shape uses to primeval form, so only for 1 min/level. It doesn't add the primeval form to your wild shape list.


What does that mean for characters who have both? Do they pick to which one a benefit applies when they get it? Does it apply to both?

It applies to both.

[Edea]

Very curious to see the builds for this one.

[Sian]

It's actually been quite a while since i actually cooked so if someone could help me out with a rule I can't remember

Can you chain Alternate class features? by that i mean trade into something from another class, and then trade that into something that would've been legal for the other class to trade it into. As an example, go Druid, variant into Druidic Avenger which, among other things, gives Rage (as barbarian), trade Rage for Ferocity

My faint memory suggests no, but I'm too uncertain

[Hiro Quester]

Elegance penalty question. How strongly should this phrase restrict casting?


Primevals completely eschew spells and special training, instead embracing the inherent strength and quickness of their animal nature.

A natural base for this would be classes like Druid and Ranger that grant some spell casting. Some such spells could very much enhance a primeval’s embrace of their animal strength and quickness.

The ability modifiers that enhance wisdom, along with the physical abilities, would enhance wisdom-based casting.

This class does not progress spellcasting. Is that enough to “completely eschew” casting?

I guess I’m basically asking if we should expect an elegance penalty if your build kept using the spells you already knew before becoming a primeval?

[The Viscount]

It's actually been quite a while since i actually cooked so if someone could help me out with a rule I can't remember

Can you chain Alternate class features? by that i mean trade into something from another class, and then trade that into something that would've been legal for the other class to trade it into. As an example, go Druid, variant into Druidic Avenger which, among other things, gives Rage (as barbarian), trade Rage for Ferocity

My faint memory suggests no, but I'm too uncertain

It's theoretically possible, but almost all Alternative class features list the class as part of it. If you have something that mentions multiple classes, such as skilled city dweller, you might be able to do something, but it's going to be a rare case when it works.


Elegance penalty question. How strongly should this phrase restrict casting?



A natural base for this would be classes like Druid and Ranger that grant some spell casting. Some such spells could very much enhance a primeval’s embrace of their animal strength and quickness.

The ability modifiers that enhance wisdom, along with the physical abilities, would enhance wisdom-based casting.

This class does not progress spellcasting. Is that enough to “completely eschew” casting?

I guess I’m basically asking if we should expect an elegance penalty if your build kept using the spells you already knew before becoming a primeval?

The class eschews magic in that it doesn't advance casting. It's not anti-casting, and doesn't necessarily hurt you if you cast. A judge may penalize if the classes used don't "go together", as we've sometimes seen, but that statement alone is not enough to justify penalizing casters.

[jdizzlean]

definitely down to tinker with this

[Zaq]

Hmmmm. I think this might be fun to watch but I'm not immediately coming up with any particular ideas. I really don't like those prereqs and I hate "you're awesome for a couple minutes a day and your class levels don't matter for the rest of the day" design...

That said, I've had stranger inspirations before. You never know.

Do things that affect wild shape affect primeval form, given that we're treating primeval form as wild shape for prereqs?

[The Viscount]

Do things that affect wild shape affect primeval form, given that we're treating primeval form as wild shape for prereqs?

Yes. I might as well let you have a little fun.

[H_H_F_F]

I think I have something.

It's very weird.

[DeAnno]

There's lots of weird phrasing happening in this class.


Fast Movement (Ex): As he grows closer to his animal spirit, the primeval becomes quicker in his humanoid form. At 8th level, his base land speed improves by 10 feet. This benefit does not apply if the primeval is wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load.

The (flavor?) text at the start of the ability suggests its humanoid form only, but then when it goes on to describe the ability mechanically, that effect should work in both forms, I think. It probably doesn't matter very much for anyone, but for the sake of consistent writeups I'd like to know if it actually affects the primeval form or not.

[The Viscount]

It applies to both forms, since you retain class features when polymorphed.

[Empyreal Dragon]

Once again I am offering my services as a judge if nobody else steps forward. I do not think I have anything revolutionary to contribute to this round.

[The Viscount]

Thank you very much for your offer!

EDIT: I've updated the FAQ with some more rulings, check them out.

[Hiro Quester]

I’m really looking forward to seeing the builds on this one.

I’ve been flailing about for days with far too many options and possibilities. This morning I had a flash of inspiration, though.

I know I have a promising idea when I can’t stop laughing to myself at the ridiculous/awesomeness I think I have figured out.

i just hope I can make time to write it all up this week

[H_H_F_F]

This ended up being very interesting. This class is weird and kind of weak, but in a fun way - unlike, say, Atavist :smallredface:.

The dish I'm ending up with is perhaps not as interesting or as powerful as I first hoped it would be, but I find it very compelling. I grew strangely attached to this character. I heavily doubt it'll score very good, but I'm thankful for an interesting and challenging ingredient nonetheless.

How is everyone else's cooking going?

[jdizzlean]

other than a final review, i think mine is done done. unfortunately, it'll be friday night before i can review it

[H_H_F_F]

I tried to think about a second dish, since I have some free time tomorrow, but I really couldn't think of anything that didn't seem obvious and boring.

I'm really excited to see what everyone else came up with!

[Sian]

Right... drifted out of focus, so I won't be able to submit, but I'll certainly share the bits I've built as of yet, after the builds are presented

[Heavenblade]

Is there any chance to get a small push to the deadline? I got a build but I havent done the formatting yet.

[Hiro Quester]

I'm happy I got mine done, and submitted just now. I have another idea, but it's not as original, and not possible to complete in time. I wonder if anyone also had something like that idea? I hope so, and they did it better than I would have.

[H_H_F_F]

I already sent mine, but I would have no objection to extending the deadline by a two or three days if it means more people get to participate.

[The Viscount]

Is there any chance to get a small push to the deadline? I got a build but I havent done the formatting yet.

What kind of push are we talking about? I'm open to the idea, more competition is always better. Due to my work schedule I can't really predict if I'll have time to do the reveal during weekdays. I can probably manage a weekday reveal, but it wouldn't be til around 01:00 or 02:00 GMT.

[DeAnno]

I wasn't sure if I'd make it, but I put my nose to the grindstone today and finished up. I'll be interested to see what people did here, there was at least one other interesting path I saw that I ultimately discarded.

[Hiro Quester]

Mine is in. But I have no problem if y'all want to extend the deadline a bit.

But I don't want to ad to the Viscount's weekday workload.

[Empyreal Dragon]

I would appreciate the deadline being extended.

[RaiKirah]

I also would appreciate a deadline extension, though I am willing to pull an allnighter if it's not.

[The Viscount]

I'll push the deadline back at least 12 hours. If we're still not all in then, we can push it back again.

[Empyreal Dragon]

I am very excited for this round. Primeval is one of my favorite PrCs

[Hiro Quester]

I would appreciate the deadline being extended.

just to be clear, Empyreal Dragon, you are Judging this, right? Or are you submitting an entry? Will that leave us judgeless?

[RaiKirah]

I'll push the deadline back at least 12 hours. If we're still not all in then, we can push it back again.

Much obliged!

[H_H_F_F]

Just to be clear - the reveal is currently scheduled for September 14th, 1:59 GMT?

[The Viscount]

Yes, but if that's not enough I'm prepared to push it back again.

[Hiro Quester]

Thanks for extra time. I just used it to improve mine significantly (tighten explanations and stories, explain a few things, and fix an error I'm glad I had time to catch). Resubmitted just now.

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks for extra time. I just used it to improve mine significantly (tighten explanations and stories, explain a few things, and fix an error I'm glad I had time to catch). Resubmitted just now.

I should have probably done that...

[The Viscount]

I should have probably done that...

There's still time.

[RaiKirah]

Write up was slightly too long when I finished it at 156GMT. If still possible to get to you at length I would love to submit it. Editing would put me well beyond the deadline however.

[The Viscount]

I'll give folks another day or two to finish up builds.

[ZamielVanWeber]

I would like to judge if it is alright. I love this PrC so would love a chance to judge it.

[The Viscount]

I would like to judge if it is alright. I love this PrC so would love a chance to judge it.

More than all right, it is wholeheartedly welcomed!

[Hiro Quester]

Write up was slightly too long when I finished it at 156GMT. If still possible to get to you at length I would love to submit it. Editing would put me well beyond the deadline however.

FYI, with the previous JudgeChair, I had an entry that had to span two posts. (I squeezed it to exactly 50,000 characters, but with editorial comment, it would not fit.)

However, every time I read over my (submitted) entry I find things to improve. I find it very hard to stop tweaking the explanations, if I have time to do so).

I hope it won't bug you too much if I again revise my submission, Viscount.

I'm sure some others (H_H_F_F ??) would like to do so as well.

[The Viscount]

I don't mind. I've certainly been there myself.

[H_H_F_F]

I'm sure some others (H_H_F_F ??) would like to do so as well.

Unfortunately, I completely ran out of significant amounts of free time for the next week or so. Thank you for your thoughts!

[daremetoidareyo]

Im excited for the reveal!

[Hiro Quester]

Im excited for the reveal!
Me too. Not trying to put any pressure on you Viscount. You said you had a busy week. Don’t let our excitement mess up your priorities.

But I’m refreshing this page several times a day, also to see if builds have been posted yet.

[ZamielVanWeber]

Y'all mean folks got me thinking that they were being posted. Rude :smalltongue: I am busy this weekend so if they get posted then forgive a delay.

[H_H_F_F]

Is anyone still working on their dish?

[The Viscount]

Sorry guys, realistically I won't be able to post until Saturday, so I'll move deadline to 11:59 GMT Saturday the 19th.

[Hiro Quester]

Not a problem for me.

It’s nice to know I won’t need to shirk weekday responsibilities to hurriedly read over the builds, and to be able to make plans to read them Saturday, when I know I can more easily take time to enjoy them.

[ZamielVanWeber]

Change of plans means no matter what I will have free time come Saturday at least.

[H_H_F_F]

Despite my erratic schedule lately, I somehow find myself checking this page at least once or twice a day, even though I know the reveal is scheduled for Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else came up with!

[Hiro Quester]

Haha. Me too. I find myself more curious and excited to see the results about this ingredient than about many others.

There are just so many possibilities, not only for complementary classes and feats and such, but when you have to pick one "primeval" creature to build around, there is a lot of weirdness and ideas that follow from that choice alone.

I'm expecting a full menagerie of interesting options to be revealed tomorrow.

I'm really keen to talk about the other options not taken, once we can do so without spoiling things.

[H_H_F_F]

Is the reveal happening today?

[The Viscount]

It's happening today, and it's happening right now!
Please refrain from posting until I give the all clear.

[The Viscount]

Oh, wyrm? You found the bonus text! Good for you! (I needed to make the message longer)


Lu’ung, The Dragon's Fury

Neutral Evil Human Barbarian 1/Druid 6/Fighter 1/Swordsage 3/Primeval 9

He’d been fighting the Beast for hours, outlasting the others one by one, until only the greatest remained. As the battle raged his powers grew, making him stronger, faster, more resilient and deadlier. Muscle tore and reknit in new configurations. Bone shattered and reformed larger and stronger than before, until the man known as Lu’ung, Fury of the Dragon became nigh unrecognizable, jaws elongating, scales bursting through to cover skin, even vast wings bursting forth from his spine until he resembled nothing so much as a nightmare of his namesake. Even the greatest of his current allies had started to avoid him on the field, fearing Lu’ung’s might nearly as much as that of the Beast. Lu’ung roared in savage joy, fires of his own making raging around him through battlefield, as the Beast’s motions became desperate rather than deadly until it too fled, leaving Lu’ung standing alone on the battlefield, uncontested.

First, it must be stated that this is an Homage build, and hopefully those familiar with Wildbow’s epic web serial Worm can recognize within Lu’ung, the Dragon’s Fury the villain known as Lung. For those who aren’t familiar with the character, Lung is the codename of a supervillain whose power set involves elevated strength, durability, regeneration, and some pyrokinesis. The name Lung is itself an anglicized phonetic spelling of ‘Dragon’ in Chinese (apologies; I do not speak any of the languages or dialects, and cannot find where exactly the word comes from) and is a reference to the most interesting part of Lung’s powerset; the longer he fights, the more powerful he becomes, accompanied by increasing morphological changes into a draconic form. This build was an attempt to replicate that dynamic; escalating enhancements that stack over the course of an encounter based on needed power and length of time to stack them. Let’s take a look on h
ow that works.



Ability
Initial
ECL 4
ECL 8
ECL 12
ECL 13
ECL 16
ECL 19
ECL 20
Final


Strength
16



+1
+1
+1

19


Dexterity
14



+1
+1
+1

17


Constitution
15

+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
22


Intelligence
10



-1
-1
-1

7


Wisdom
12
+1


+1
+1
+1

16


Charisma
10



-1
-1
-1

7







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


1st
Barbarian 1
+1
+2
+0
+0
Balance 2(4cc), Handle Animal 4, Jump 4, Survival 4, Tumble 4
Toughness, Self Sufficient (H)
Illiteracy, Pounce, Berserker Strength
Lose Fast Movement, gain Pounce ability (MM 313)
Lose Rage, gain Berserker Strength. When HP is 5xBarbarian level below full, enter a Rage-like state: +4 STR, +2 Bonus on Saves, DR 2/-, -2 AC/
Replace Ride with Tumble as a Class Skill. http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a”](Web) (”(Web) (”[url) Lose Nature Sense, +2 on Knowledge (Local) and Sense Motive. http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a”](Web) (”
Lose Wild Empathy, gain ability to communicate with those without a shared language. http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a”](Web) (”[url)


3rd
Druid 2
+2
+5
+0
+3
Jump 6(1), Knowledge (Nature) 2(1), Spot 1(1), Survival 6(1), Tumble 6(1), Balance 2, Handle Animal 5
Extra Rage (CW 98)
Crowd-Walker
Lose Woodland Stride, gain ability to move through crowds at a normal pace. http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a”](Web) (”


4th
Druid 3
+3
+5
+1
+3
Jump 7(1), Knowledge (Nature) 3(1), Spot 2(1), Survival 7(1), Tumble 7(1), Balance 2, Handle Animal 5

Go To Ground
Lose Trackless Step, Urban Tracking fails to find you. http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a”](Web) (”[url)[/URL ]


5th
Druid 4
+4
+6
+1
+4
Jump 8(1), Knowledge (Nature) 4(1), Spot 3(1), Survival 8(1), Tumble 8(1), Balance 2, Handle Animal 5
Strong Stomach (Cs 64)
Iron Constitution
Lose Resist Nature’s Lure, Gain Strong Stomach (Cs 64), +2 saves vs disease. http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a”](Web) (”[url)[/URL ]


6th
Druid 5
+4
+6
+1
+4
Jump 9(1), Knowledge (Nature) 5(1), Spot 4(1), Survival 9(1), Tumble 9(1), Balance 2, Handle Animal 5
Extra Wild Shape (CD 81)
Aspect of the Dragon 1/day
Lose Wild Shape, gain ability to take on Draconic Aspects


7th
Druid 6
+5
+7
+2
+5
Jump 10(1), Knowledge (Nature) 6(1), Spot 5(1), Survival 10(1), Tumble 10(1), Balance 2, Handle Animal 5

Aspect of the Dragon 2/day, Rage 2/day



8th
Fighter 1
+6
+9
+2
+5
Craft (Basketweaving) 1(1), Jump 11(1), Tumble 11(1), Balance 2, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Jump 10, Knowledge (Nature) 6, Spot 5, Survival 10
Combat Reflexes (B)
Dragonscale Husk, Bonus Feat
Lose Heavy Armor Proficiency, gain ability to grow Breastplate that scales with character level
Replace Ride with Tumble as a Class Skill. http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a”](Web) (”[url)


9th
Swordsage 1 (ToB 15)
+6
+9
+4
+7
Balance 5(3), Jump 12(1), Knowledge (Nature) 7(1), Survival 11(1), Tumble 12(1), Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5
Endurance, Improved Unarmed Strike (B)
Quick To Act +1, Discipline Focus (Tiger Claw)
Maneuvers: Burning Blade (DW, Boost), Distracting Ember (DW, Boost), Death Mark (DW, Strike), Shadow Jaunt (SH, Standard), Mountain Hammer (SD, Strike), Sudden Leap (TC, Boost)
Stance: Flame’s Blessing (DW, Stance)
Swordsage gains Improved Unarmed Strike and Monk Unarmed Strike damage progression.


10th
Swordsage 2
+7
+9
+5
+8
Jump 13(1), Knowledge (Nature) 10(3), Survival 13(2), Tumble 13(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5
Maneuvers: Fan The Flames (DW, Strike)
AC Bonus (WIS)



11th
Swordsage 3
+8
+10
+5
+8
Jump 14(1), Knowledge (Nature) 14(4), Survival 14(1), Tumble 14(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5

Maneuvers: Searing Charge (DW, Full Round)



12th
Primeval 1 (Fr 65)
+9
+12
+5
+8
Jump 15(1), Knowledge (Nature) 15(1), Survival 15(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5, Tumble 14
Snap Kick (ToB 32)
Primeval Form (Megaraptor (MM 60) 1/day, Animal Empathy



13th
Primeval 2
+10
+13
+6
+9
Jump 16(1), Knowledge (Nature) 16(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5, Survival 15, Tumble 14

Regression 1 (+1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON, +1 WIS, -1 INT, -1 CHA), Low-Light Vision



14th
Primeval 3
+11
+13
+6
+9
Jump 17(1), Knowledge (Nature) 17(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5, Survival 15, Tumble 14

Feral Power 1 (Primeval Form gains +2 STR, +2 DEX, +2 CON, +2 NA)



15th
Primeval 4
+12
+14
+6
+9
Jump 18(1), Knowledge (Nature) 18(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5, Survival 15, Tumble 14
Robilar’s Gambit (PHB2 82)
Primeval Form 2/day



16th
Primeval 5
+13
+14
+6
+9
Jump 19(1), Knowledge (Nature) 19(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5, Survival 15, Tumble 14

Regression 2 (+1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON, +1 WIS, -1 INT, -1 CHA), Scent



17th
Primeval 6
+14
+15
+7
+10
Jump 20(1), Knowledge (Nature) 20(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5, Survival 15, Tumble 14

Feral Power 2 (Primeval Form gains +4 STR, +2 DEX, +4 CON, +4 NA)



18th
Primeval 7
+15
+15
+7
+10
Jump 21(1), Knowledge (Nature) 21(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Spot 5, Survival 15, Tumble 14
Pain Mastery (SS 37)
Primeval Form 3/day



19th
Primeval 8
+16
+16
+7
+10
Knowledge (Nature) 22(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Jump 21, Spot 5, Survival 15, Tumble 14

Regression 3 (+1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON, +1 WIS, -1 INT, -1 CHA), Fast Movement (+10’)



20th
Primeval 9
+17
+16
+8
+11
Knowledge (Nature) 23(1), Balance 5, Craft (Basket Weaving) 1, Handle Animal 5, Jump 21, Spot 5, Survival 15, Tumble 14

Feral Power 3 (Primeval Form gains +6 STR, +2 DEX, +4 CON, +8 NA)





Druid Spells Per Day


ECL
0th
1st
2nd
3rd


1st
-
-
-
-


2nd
3
1+1
-
-

3rd
4
2+1
-
-

4th
4
2+1
1
-

5th
5
3+1
2
-


6th
5
3+1
2
1


7th-12th
5
3+1
3
2


13th-18th
5
3+1
3+1
2


19th-20th
5
3+1
3+1
2+1





Primeval Form: Megaraptor
Size/Type: Large Animal
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Mod: +5 (-1 size, +6 natural)
Attack: Talons (2d6+5)
Full Attack: Talons (2d6+5) and 2 foreclaws (1d4+2) and bite (1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Pounce
Ability Mods: STR +10, DEX +4, CON +10
Skills: +8 racial bonus on Hide, Jump, Listen, Spot, and Survival checks.
This creature is a larger version of the deinonychus, standing about 12 feet tall with a total length of 24 feet. It has the same appearance, habits, and abilities of the smaller version.
Pounce (Ex): If a megaraptor charges, it can make a full attack.



Rage/Wild Shape Modifiers


ECL
Modifier Source
STR Mod
DEX Mod
CON Mod
MISC Mods


1
Berserker Strength
+4


+2 to Saves, DR 2/-, -2 AC


2
Rage
+4

+4
+2 to Will Saves (Morale), -2 AC


6
Aspect of the Dragon
Claws of the Dragon:+4 STR, Grow Claws (1d6 medium)

Heart of the Dragon:+4, Immune to Paralysis
Mind of the Dragon: +4 WIS, Darkvision 60’, Low-Light, Immunity to Sleep Effects
Breath of the Dragon: 30’ Cone Breath Attack 1d6/2 Druid Levels, 1d4 rounds, DC (10+1/2 Druid Level + CON) for half.
Wings of the Dragon: Grow wings to gain flight speed equal land speed, maneuverability Good.


12
Primeval Form (Megaraptor)
+10
+4
+10
+5 AC (+6 NA, -1 Size), Natural Weapons, Pounce, Racial Skill Bonuses


14
Primeval Form (Feral 1)
+12
+6
+12
+7 AC (+8 NA, -1 Size), Natural Weapons, Pounce, Racial Skill Bonuses


17
Primeval Form (Feral 2)
+14
+6
+14
+11 AC (+12 NA, -1 Size), Natural Weapons, Pounce, Racial Skill Bonuses

20
Primeval Form (Feral 3)
+16
+6
+14
+11 AC (+12 NA, -1 Size), Natural Weapons, Pounce, Racial Skill Bonuses
[/tr]







Lu’ung starts as a street criminal who, while cunning and decently capable, is more bruiser than anything else. Here we start out with the most bruiser-y of bruiser beginnings: Barbarian. We take a number of ACFs; the ever-ubiquitous Lion Spirit Totem to pick up Pounce because it’s too good not to, Skilled City Dweller to swap out Ride for Tumble, and we’ve also decided to go with Berserker Strength instead of normal Rage. Now, normally this is an absolutely terrible ACF, as the lack of use limitations is eclipsed by worse bonuses and the inability to choose not to enter the rage-state. Combine that with in a straight classed Barbarian Berserker Strength only turns on after losing approximately 50% of your HP, and it is terrible. However, with only a single level of Barbarian, this will always turn on after 5hp of damage, making it absolutely reliable, and it fits well with our theme; as Lu’ung starts fighting, he starts getting stronger. Feat-wise we’re filling prereqs for Primeval, though with Toughness, d12 HD, and CON 16 we start with a respectable 18 hp. Skills wise we’re also mostly filling prereqs, but aside from Handle Animal, all of these skills are actually pretty useful and will be maintained as best we’re able.

Rather than the usual ECL 5 breakpoint, we’re going to be taking a look at ECL 6 because this is where the build really starts to coalesce. We’ve followed up Barbarian with a change-all-the-things druid. We take all of the Cityscape ACFs to localize Lu’ung in the city rather than the wild, but of much more importance are the first and fifth level ACFs: Druidic Avenger and Aspect of the Dragon. The first trades away the Animal Companion and Spontaneous Casting for Rage. This represents our second level of power escalation, as both Berserker Strength and Rage are untyped bonuses, allowing us to stack them for +8 STR, +4 CON, DR 2/-, +2 to all saves, +2 more to Will saves, and -4 AC. Extra Rage lets us do this 3/day. Aspect of the Dragon replaces Wild Shape, and give us our first draconic themed enhancements as well as our first pyrokinetic ability. While this ACF is categorically worse than Wild Shape, it is thematically appropriate, and I think quite interesting. We can use Wild Shape charges to take on different draconic traits, though only one at a time and only for an hour. It can alternately be used to give Lu’ung a breath attack, claws and +4 STR, immunity to paralysis and +4 CON, Darkvision and immunity to Sleep effects as well as +4 WIL, or even Wings with a flight speed equal to our land speed at good maneuverability. These stat bonuses are also untyped and will stack with the previous Rage bonuses. Extra Wild Shape at ECL 6 lets us do this 3/day (if your DM doesn’t accept Aspect of the Dragon to qualify for Extra Wild Shape, you can shuffle the feats around to take it once you’ve entered Primeval, which for the purposes of this competition explicitly qualifies). Our Druid spellcasting is in a bit of an odd place; since we will be going into a rage-state after taking 5 damage, casting as part of combat is basically entirely off the table. That said, the Druid list has fantastic utility and long duration buff spells and even the limited casting we have available will serve us well. Since we’re going to Primeval anyways, casting was never going to scale into the late game, so we’re not missing out much anyways.

These levels are here primarily to further develop the pyrokinesis aspect of Lu’ung’s build with the introduction of Swordsage and Desert Wind maneuvers. First though, the sixth level of Druid give another use each to Aspect of the Dragon and Rage, giving us 4 uses per day of each. The level of Fighter is sadly here because the other option was to take a Flaw, but it does give us the opportunity to take the Dragonscale Husk ACF, which allows us to grow a set of armor out of scales, furthering the draconic flavor, and since it’s not metallic we can wear it without losing our Druid class abilities. Taking the Unarmed Swordsage ACF gives us a bunch of benefits; Improved Unarmed Strike means we can get back to source material and not use a weapon, but more importantly when we get to Primeval it will allow us to take iterative attacks in addition to our natural attack routine while in the Primal Form. Discipline Focus (Tiger Claw) gives us Weapon Focus in both Unarmed Strike and Claws, which we will benefit from quite a bit. The WIS to AC bonus at level two is outpaced by Dragonscale Husk, but when we get to Primeval it will be beneficial in Primeval Form, since the Husk likely does not transfer over. For maneuvers we’ll be focusing heavily on Desert Wind with Burning Blade, Distracting Ember, Death Mark, Fan the Flames, and Searing Charge letting us pretend to be pyrokinetic, while we’re also going to pick up the staples of Shadow Jaunt, Mountain Hammer, and Sudden Leap because they’re too good not to. I wasn’t able to fit Adaptive Style in without Flaws, so we’ll have to be a little careful on our readied maneuver choices, but so be it. The two stances chosen (I believe pretty strongly that the Swordsage 1 stance must be a level 1 stance) are both taking more for thematics than power. Flame’s blessing takes advantage of one of our few skills to give us up to 20 Fire Resistance if needed, and Holocaust Cloak lets use be literally on fire all the time, which is just too cool. For our level 9 feat we’ve picked up Combat Reflexes, which is largely an attempt to rectify our intentional action economy issues; since we’re trying to make a build that gets stronger throughout a fight, we’re losing actions to activation. Extra AoOs helps make up for this, and later on we’ll be getting better at triggering them. With some pyro skills under our belt, it’s time to move on to furthering our draconic evolution.

Into the SI at last! At level 12 we finally take our first level of Primeval, and it comes online fast. For our Primeval Form we choose the Megaraptor, because what’s more like a dragon (aside, of course, from a dragon) than a Large velociraptor analog? We can even have wings with the Wings of the Dragon Aspect if we want. At first we only have access to our Primeval Form 1/day, but we’ve taken Extra Wild Shape already, and as per the Chairman’s statement this will effect both Primeval Form and Wild Shapes. Whether this gives us 2 more uses for both Primeval Form and Aspect of the Dragon to pull from, or whether it give them both 2 more uses, we still have access to our pseudo-draconic form often enough to be a Megaraptor often. These first four levels also give our first Regression, increasing physical stats and WIL while reducing INT and CHA, as well as the first upgrade to the Primeval Form. We also pick up both Snap Kick and Robilar’s Gambit during these levels, which gives some action economy back. Anyone that attacks us takes two attacks in return, and 5 damage from the Holocaust Cloak. Let’s take a quick look at our buff stacking. Fully online without any items whatsoever we have STR 41 (17 Base, +4 Berserker Strength, +4 Rage, +4 Claws of the Dragon, +10 Primeval Form, +2 Feral 1), DEX 21 (15 Base, +4 Primeval Form, +2 Feral 1), CON 34 (18 Base, +4 Rage, +10 Primeval Form, +2 Feral 1) and AC 20 (10 -1 Size +8 NA, + 5 DEX +2 WIS -4 Rage). This gives a full attack of: Unarmed Strike +26/+21/+16 (1d6+15), Snap Kick +26 (1d6+15), Talons +20 (2d6+7), 2 Foreclaws +21/+21 (1d4+7), Bite +20 (1d8+7), and we have and average of 253.5hp (12 + 5d8 + 1d10 + 3d8 + 4d10 + 15xCON). Not too shabby.

Primeval is kind to us throughout the later levels; it just keeps giving us more of what we wanted. All of the stats we care about get better through two more rounds of Regression (even WIS is good, as we get to add that to AC in Primeval Form, though we don’t really care about AC with a straight -8 from Robilar’s Gambit, Rage, and Berserker Strength), two more improvements to the Primeval Form from Feral, and the addition of Scent and Fast Movement when if Primeval Form. The level 18 feat chosen was Pain Mastery, which fits into our intended play pattern of getting stronger the longer a fight goes on, as every 50 damage we take gives us another +2 STR. Fully stacked without any items we now have STR 47 (19 Base, +4 Berserker Strength, +4 Rage, +4 Claws of the Dragon, +10 Primeval Form, +6 Feral 3), CON 40 (Base 22, +4 Rage, +10 Primeval Form, +4 Feral 3), and AC 24 (10, -1 Size, + 6 DEX, +3 WIS, +14 NA, -4 Robilar’s Gambit, -4 Rage). This give a Full Attack of: Unarmed Strike +34/+29/+24/+19 (1d6+18), Snap Kick +34 (1d6+18), Talons +28 (2d6+9), Foreclaws +29/+29 (1d4+9), Bite +28 (1d8+9), and we have an average of 405hp (12+ 5d8 + 1d10 + 3d8 + 9d10 + 20xCON). We can also lose 4 STR to gain either +4 CON, +4 WILL, or a Fly Speed of 80’ with Good Maneuverability.

[The Viscount]

We've all got our demons, but these ones take the cake. (1/2)


Derlek, Unwitting Minion of the Great Dreamer
(aka “The Chump”, “Our Man”, “that fool”, “Stinkyman”, “Holy crap, what the Hells is that thing!!”)

https://t.facdn.net/[email protected]

“Cthulhu fhtagn!” https://www.furaffinity.net/view/6244563/ by Barguest


Race: Human
Alignment: It’s complicated (see narrative). Eventually NE.
Monk (Undying Way) 2
Druidic Avenger 5 (Whirling Frenzy, Aspect of Nature Variants)
Warshaper 2
Nature’s Warrior 3
Primeval 8 (Giant Octopus)



Message from The High Demon Screwtape to Minion Wormwood:
Seriously? This is your suggestion? A blessing monk? A lawful neutral human monk? Nephew, I got you this job of finding a new minion for our Great and Awful Master, to curry favor with my sister. Your mother has something I want, and giving you this job was her price. But I didn’t get to my place in the Lowerarchy by tolerating incompetence in my assistants. Just like any other flunky, I’ll have you tortured in the most painful ways I can imagine if you fail me here. You should know that I have a very devious and cruel imagination.

Minion Wormwood: Trust me, most Unholy Uncle. This orphaned chump has just the right personality and tragic history. Just needs a push towards the deep end of the alignment pool. And I’ve set up Hastur’s minions to start the process. Watch what happens just as he finishes Monk 2.
From HDS: Okay. That was promising. You manipulated those minions of Hastur the Unspeakable to sack the temple, and torture everyone. And on graduation day, ruining their pathetic celebration; that’s just adds insult to injury. And all those Dead Monks practiced the “Undying Way” style. How deliciously ironic. Awfully well done. It all helps our cause, while shifting the blame to the Other Side.

They tortured his master for days while he was forced to watch! That was diabolically funny. Throwing him into the oubliette with the younglings and leaving him to starve, then killing the youngling monks was masterful. Having to eat dead younglings to survive will really mess him up, psychologically. He seemed to be really tortured in his soul, examining his whole belief system as he chewed. I delight when that happens.

But this does not seem to help push him to become a minion for the Great Dreamer. Justify yourself, before I turn you into a tapeworm and feed you to a vegetarian commoner!

MW: You see, Your Despicableness, there’s this prestige class we will steer him towards. The class involves taking a different Primordial form than his human one. If we cast a few spells to implant dreams and nightmares we can steer this one easily to adopt a Primeval form to honor the Great Dreamer, and that will enable him to completely dominate his opponents while doing so.

And he’s pathetically easy to steer. He’s strong and tough and stupid; only 10 intelligence. He’s also an 8 Charisma social outcast (you should smell him up close; it’s like he has a personal Stinking Cloud wherever he goes). That makes him both an anti-social nihilistic loner, but also desperate for companionship. Being orphaned at a young age left him feeling alone and abandoned. If we magnify that feeling, like we did in massacring his monk temple while he watched, and then give him just a few more such experiences, the right dreams, and a couple of convincing suggestions, he will become completely under our control.

His mind and self are now twisted into knots. If we untie the right knots, at the right time, we can keep him easily influenced and weak-minded (and eventually even weaker-minded).

The bloodcream on top of this despicable pudding, is that this prestige class makes him even more stupid and anti-social! It’s despicably perfect for our purposes, Your Flatulence.

Another factor suggested this human as a candidate. He took one rank in Knowledge Religion as a first level Monk. That was the opening we needed. We gave him a scroll about the Great Dreamer, which piqued his curiosity. And he started believing he knew more than everyone about Him.

The human sages have a term for a psychological effect, they named for the Bard who discovered it, Dunning Kruger. This “Dunning Kruger Effect” can be used to manipulate the unwitting. You see, people (especially arrogant humans) with a tiny bit of knowledge about an issue, are unaware of how much they don’t know, and so vastly overestimate their knowledge. They act over-confidently on that knowledge (which is often a misunderstanding; one we can subtly manipulate). You need at least five ranks of knowledge before you comprehend how much you don’t know. He will never have enough intelligence or skill points to pursue such understanding.

I have sent our diabolical Bard to disguise himself as a human and help him escape; the demon bard who was so helpful centuries ago, telling Lovecraft the stories that promote our Cult.

He'll tell him a few more stories of The Great Dreamer. The chump doesn’t need to know the Full Truth, that the Great Dreamer has been trapped sleeping in his prison in R’yleh for millennia. He’ll just tell him that an Elder God of Water, who communicates through dreams, has a plan for him. If he just follows his dreams, literally, it will lead him to fulfill that great plan. Of course, we will supply the dreams. And nightmares. Our bard knows both of those spells.

It will take time to get him ready. But it will be worth the wait. You can depend on it, Your Insidiousness.

HDS: You sniveling fool!!! A druid? What the Celestia are you playing at? I should disintegrate you where you grovel and mix your dust into the slaves’ latrine.

Credit where it’s due, though. The Cult’s Bard convincing him out of his lawful neutral stance, is indeed rather diabolical. His adopting a true neutral nihilistic perspective is promising. I see the point of the torture and cannibalism. It seriously destabilized his sense of self and control.

But that fool bard convinced him to be a ”peace and love to all creatures” treehugger? A blessed hippie isn’t going to become what we need. Explain yourself, imbecile!

MW: Your Awfulness, he’s not just a treehugging hippie druid. He’s an angry, nihilistic Druidic Avenger. He's alone. He has no company at all. He does not even have an animal companion. The bard even convinced him to take the Self Sufficient feat!! It’s hilarious. He’s rationalizing that he doesn’t need anybody, anyway. He can’t even spontaneously convert spells to summon an animal, like most druids. He has to prepare SNA spells, and he is not in the mood to prepare for friendly company. Instead he now wanders around aimlessly, angrily punching things (mostly people) that he believes are “hurting nature’s balance”. Druid wildshape and casting, and his whirling frenzied rage, will be important for him later on. The plan is progressing as you always knew it would, in your wicked wisdom.

HDS: But what about his alignment? Druids have to be neutral or lose their powers. We’re chaotic evil. Oh… Are you planning to make him some sort of Blighter or something? That’s always funny.

MW: Your Supreme Awfulness, while the Bard was transporting him, he discussed morality and alignment with Our Man. He convinced him that the problem with lawfulness is that those human-made laws are nonsense. Laws only stop good people, who believe in the laws, from doing things. They didn’t protect his temple from the bad demons. And he can’t eliminate all the bad people. So the bard made the very devious move of convincing him simply to revere balance. Balance between good and evil, law and chaos. And he sneaked in the idea that balance between the four elements is important too. And he bought it. He’s well on the path towards wanting to represent our Watery Master.

We will convince him that the water elements are out of balance. He will soon be unwittingly helping in our centuries-long project to mend the acrimony between our Elder Gods. Hastur the Unspeakable and his forces of Air can’t stay mad at the Great Dreamer’s damp dominion forever. When the Great Sleeper eventually awakes from his watery prison, our subtle efforts will have made Hastur more willing to ally himself with his half-brother and form the Evil Alliance our Cult is dedicated to realizing. And Our Man will have played his small part in that long-term goal. As is your great and cunning plan, Your Deviousness.

The Cult’s Bard also improvised the seed of an idea that we will grow over time, and eventually shift his alignment to a more suitable one. He planted the idea that the stability of the ecosystem depends on a food chain in which brutality and domination are necessary. “Nature is red in tooth and claw”, “survival of the fiercest”, and all that. As I said, a little knowledge is dangerous. This belief was implanted before he knows better, and will hopefully shape his research into nature from now on.

So this fool believes that being the predator instead of the prey, the dominator instead of the dominated, is how he can properly maintain a “healthy” ecosystem. It’s hilarious! Within a few levels, as his ability to dominate and control others increases, he will have become so dominating an apex predator (a raging, angry one at that), that he will align himself with our Evil perspective. He’ll be Neutral Evil (and keep his druid status). But that’s only one step away from Chaotic Evil. We can work with that, and it will fit his role in our Sect’s objective of an alliance with our Master’s Lawful Evil half-brother. The best part is that this chump will think it was his own idea!!

It's fitting that Our Bard sent him that dream in which he had claws and bite, like a feral animal, and was flying. That dream steered him to an overlooked option for druids. The Aspect of Nature variant wildshape makes a pathetic druid, compared to the normal wildshape. The druid sage Eggynack once advised all aspiring druids to “avoid this, and do so with as much of your heart as you can”. Yet Our Man fell for it. He’s convinced himself that this wildshape option is best for him.

We know it will be best for us, though. It means he won’t actually change form when he gets wildshape, but can just grow wings, or gills, or claws and bite, or at higher levels add strength, constitution or dexterity, all without changing form. So he will be able to use wildshape while also adopting a Primeval Form.

We’re setting him up to be the strongest minion for Great and Awful Master. This wildshape variant means he will be able to have the extra strength, and wings, that his wildshape grants while in our Great Master’s preferred Primeval form. That would normally be incompatible with a regular druid’s wildshape.

The Bard also sent Our Man a nightmare about our Great Slumbering Master’s form. He's already styling his beard as long curling braids, so he resembles The Great One's tentacles.

He’s also getting used to trusting his dreams, as I—ahem, I mean you, Great Devious One—always insightfully planned. The more we give him dreams and then make them come true, the more he will be willing to trust them. And with his relatively pathetic will save, we’ll soon be able to give him dreams and nightmares that he will act on like orders, while believing he’s making his own decisions!

I can’t help but feel a level of despicable pride that our Bard set up this psychological transformation just before he dropped Our Man off in the tundra.

HDS: Tundra? That’s deliciously evil. People always associate we demons with fiery places. But the bleak loneliness and biting cold of the tundra suit our nefarious purposes extremely well. Desperate and cold people will do some awful things to one another, and they are melancholy enough to hate themselves afterwards. I approve of the destination. But how does it help him become a minion for our Underwater Master?

MW: There is a Snow Tiger Berserker Lodge in the Rashemi part of the tundra, that will help push him in the right direction. But we will need to send him a dream of a snow tiger as a helpful totem. I know they are despicably clean and white and unfortunately majestic. But they represent an ability we are going to need him to have, if he is to dominate others in Our Master’s service. And he will hunt and kill it, after all.
MW: Your Awesomeness, the plan is progressing well. He has been wandering in the frigid wilderness for a couple of levels now.


At 5th level, he has 3rd level druid buff and BFC spells (Kelpstrand and Entangle are good for separating creatures to take each on individually). Using Snowsight with Obscuring Snow means he can see while others can’t.

Until 5th level, has been using Shillelagh cast on a quarterstaff as his preferred weapon. Now 1/day he uses NA wildshape to grow claws and bite. Or to grow wings. He has a 19 strength (23 with bull’s strength, 27 if he’s in a frenzy), and can use an unarmed strike (+11) with bite and claws as secondary attacks (+6). He’s a decent grappler, too (+16). He often uses all his natural weapons to begin a full round attack, and then his iterative UAS attack as a touch to begin a grapple.

He has also started seeing the advantage of tentacles, sometimes casting Menacing Tentacles for two more natural weapons that use his strength, as his third level spell. This is very promising, Your despicableness.

I got our Cult Bard, who has returned to the area posing as a story-trader to the Rashemi berserkers of the area, to send him a dream of the location of the right Snow Tiger, and suggested that he should prove himself by defeating this apex predator. He fell for it and is now hunting it.

This will set him up for the next stage. Unfortunately, it will involve giving him some obnoxious berserker friends for a while.

HDS: “Friends”?!?! You said he was an antisocial loner. We don’t want him to have friends who will give him hope and support. It’s disgusting the way these humanoids do that to each other. This is regress not progress, you obsequious worm.

MW: There is no need for concern, Your Noxiousness. It will be nauseatingly friendly for a short time. But we’ll take these comrades away, brutally, just as soon as they have served our purpose. This is going to be hilarious!


MW: As we planned, Your Awesomeness, he encountered the berserkers, just after defeating the Snow Tiger as the dream we sent him suggested. Thank evilness I got the snowsight add-on for the scrying pool so we could watch him dominate. With tentacles and bite and claws active, he challenged the berserkers to send their best fighter for single combat for the snow tiger’s corpse. While they were deciding who to send, he cast a strength spell and a natural armor spell, and went into his frenzy. He punched, clawed and grappled their lead scout into unconsciousness in three rounds.

Perversely, these Berserkers seem to see combat as a bonding exercise, not a test of who can be more brutal and murderous. The others in the party took as a sign the defeated Snow Tiger, his winning combat, and the fact that he gained enough XP to gain 6th level from this encounter. They actually cheered and welcomed Our Man to join their Berserker lodge. It was sickeningly affable.

The celebration at their lodge was depressingly cheerful. It involved far too much ale and merriment. The fact that they celebrate outdoors, in the snow, even made his usual stench almost tolerable for them. I refused to stand to scry the whole ceremony. I eventually stepped away from my scrying pool, disgorging my stomach contents all over my slave.

The upside, is that during the celebration’s drunken brawls, they taught him their Snow Tiger Berserker pouncing technique as his 6th level feat, which he will need later on.

HDS: Such cheerful non-lethal brawling and hail-fellow-well-met drunken fellowship is indeed disgusting. After scrying that scene, I sacrificed my favorite slave to the Great Dreamer, and then bathed in his blood, to get that conviviality out of my mind. Now they have served their purpose, I suggest you send a team to murder them all. At least that will leave him alone in the cold again.

Make sure you alert me when you send the team, Worm, so I can scry it. Make sure it’s outdoors. Blood in the snow is one of my favorite sights; it can be chillingly beautiful to watch it seep in.


MW: The berserker massacre was hilarious, Your Hideousness. I hope you also took malevolent delight in the insanity spell my team put in their stew. A group of erstwhile best friends fighting to the death! Brutally magnificent. And the Cult Bard’s merry reel, as the musical instigator to, and soundtrack of, the massacre was a Masterstroke. He implanted so many suggestions about who to fight, while using his disguise spell feat to hide his machinations, that he made Our Man the last man standing (besides himself).

And of course, we had our demonic Cult Bard there at the moment of his tragedy, to help him “process” it in ways favorable to our Cult. We’ll make sure this is the last time he sees that Bard, though. We would not want him to think he still has a friend in the world.

HDS: That was hilariously brutal. Getting him to kill his new friends, was impressive manipulation. That was the best entertainment I have had this week. And it seems to have seriously messed with his self-conception. Again!

But what is this “Warshaper” nonsense he’s now getting into? And why is he at the beach now? If you have lost control of this pet project, you dretch’s turd, I will flay your miserable hide entirely off, randomly ten times a day, for a century. Your mother can’t protect you from my wrath! I’ll find another way to get her cooperation.

MW: This is just as you planned, Your Fiendishness. Our Bard pointed out the critical hits the berserkers suffered in the Massacre, and how there’s a way to be immune to them. He told him a tale about a Warshaper he knew, who used his wildshape ability to move his organs about to avoid critical hits, as well as to grow larger natural weapons, and get stronger and tougher.

This Human is so easy to manipulate. Someone suggests a way to be more physically powerful, and Our Man just does it. And he still believes that he’s “protecting the balance of nature” by becoming more of an apex predator. He is well on the path to Domination.

And his path was always going to lead to the coast, so he could encounter the Primeval form we have chosen for him. We planted in him a dream of waves and sand, hinting that water is at a disadvantage. So the bard teleported him to the coast.

The bard also picked a fight, deliberately failing to implant a suggestion to him to go North. Then pretended to teleport away in fear. His only occasional ally has abandoned him. And he’s heading South along the coast, out of spite, thinking it’s by his own choice.

We’ll throw some “wandering” monsters at him to develop XP as he goes. One will be our Master’s preferred form for him, a Giant Octopus. When he’s ready for it.

First, we must make him dream about being a Nature’s Warrior, which will progress his wildshape and give him crucial abilities, Your Fearsomeness.

And might I humbly suggest that allowing him to find a Monk’s Belt would help his ability to hit and to protect himself. Perhaps also an Amulet of Mighty Fists might also be appropriate, to enhance all his unarmed strikes and natural weapons? I leave that to your malevolent capriciousness, of course.



At 10th level, he is Monk2/Druidic Avenger5/Warshaper2/Nature’s Warrior1.

He has 3rd level druid buff and BFC spells, and good hunting and tracking skills (+13 survival). Thanks to warshaper2, he now has a 24 strength (28 with bull’s strength, 32 if he’s in a frenzy). He’s also enchanting all his strikes and natural weapons with Greater Magic Fang. Fully buffed, he can use two unarmed strikes (+18/+13) and then use bite and two claws as secondary attacks (+13). He can now use wildshape 2/day. He’s becoming an effective grappler, too (+22).

Warshaper1 made him immune to critical hits, and made one type of natural weapons damage as one size larger.

And he has also taken Nature’s Armaments “Wings of the Hurricane”, so when he grows wings, he has a 70 ft speed and good maneuverability.
HDS: This is getting tedious. I admit that he’s gaining some awesome abilities. But he’s still acting like a treehugger, even if one who believes he should be the dominant predator. Dominating the ecosystem and believing he’s doing it for the ecosystem’s own good is just twisted enough to be mildly amusing, while preserving his druid powers.

But he’s still not revering our Master. And you want him to take three levels of this Nature’s Warrior nonsense. What are you doing to steer him towards Our Master’s Service, you miserable flatulent pustule?

MW: Your harsh and wounding judgment is deserved as usual, Your Malevolence. But the dreams we send him are steering him just where he should be. Nature’s Warrior progresses his Aspect of Nature wildshape. At NW 3 he’ll use it to add +8 Strength (with -4 dex).

He’s also getting better at intimidating, since it’s a class skill for Druid and NW. He charisma is execrable, but with enough ranks, he becomes able to succeed. I think he’s learning to use his natural stench to intimidate others. The local parents have started scaring their children with tales of the “stinkyman”, who will “get them” if they stray. Children all over the area, and some grown men, are running in fear from any bad smell. It’s hilarious!

He nearly died in that encounter with the Giant Octopus. It’s a good thing we made it abandon the combat and retreat back to the water. He thinks he narrowly defeated it. One creature being able to “outnumber” Our Man with its eight tentacles, rightly put the fear of all that’s unholy into him. We’ve been replaying that scene in his nightmares, suggesting he must become the octopus.

He’s already taken Natural Spell to prepare for it. He also took the Serpent’s Coils ability as his latest version of Nature’s Armaments. He’s preparing to adopt a tentacled form, which will honor our Great Slumbering Master, when he takes Primeval class next.

By the way, Your Acrimoniousness, I know they are hard to come by, but if we could plant a Mantle of the Beast in his path, it would enable him to wildshape (and adopt a primeval form) as a swift action. But of course, I leave this to your capricious discretion.


MW: do you see what I intended now, your Awesome Maliciousness? The team from Hastur’s Temple was meeting with our Cult’s representatives, and those four minions of the Cult of the Earthen Elder God Shub-Niggurath were on their way to interfere. I sent Our Tentacled Minion to stop them and he did not disappoint.

He loves to appear menacingly out of unexpected obscuring snow (which he alone can see through), Giant tentacles extended, large bat wings flapping as he hovers, appearing rather closely to resemble our Malevolent Great Sleeper.

He's better at intimidating (+13).

Pounce and 70 ft fly speed means he can charge no matter the terrain, and still make a full attack.

And what an attack routine! With 53 (+21) strength (21, +2 regression1,+4 Warshaper, raging +4, AN+8, Primeval Giant Octopus +10 and Bull’s Strength +4) and 20 ft reach, he dominates combat.

Monastic unarmed strikes at +32 (using the backs of three of his eight extra-large tentacles), followed by natural attacks from all eight tentacles (+30 thanks to multiattack), each of which can grapple if it hits. He can also bite for 1d8+10.

He’s a large +44 grappling beast (+21 str, 11BAB, large +4, Improved Grapple +4, Serpent’s Coils +4 to Improved Grab). SC also adds +1d8 to his normal 2d8+str constrict damage.

Morphic Weapons makes tentacle and constrict damage as one size larger at 4d8+str. And another tentacle can attack or grapple an already grappled opponent. (If he takes Improved Natural Attack at 18, then his constrict will do 5d8+str damage!)

He proved he is more than a match for a team of four or more opponents.

HDS: He’s not going to get too big a head about this, is he? That unfortunate Darfallen your cousin tried to convert decided he was too awesome and started making his own decisions, and killing our Sahuagin allies. You don’t want to join your cousin, being tortured in the soul mines!

MW: But he’s chosen (so he thinks) to join our Cult! A Giant Octopus we dominated approached him and explained that he should be a bridge between Hastur the Unspeakable’s air domain and The Great Dreamer’s watery dominion. He agreed! He now knows his flying octopus form both honors the Great Dreamer and embodies a fusion of air and water.

He knows that the Great Dreamer wants balance between the elements, especially air and water. And he believes his dreams should guide his actions. And he believes, fervently that his ability to Dominate whoever we send him to dominate, is still maintaining balance between the elements and balance in the ecosystem.

Two factors work to our advantage, Your Fiendishness. This prestige class is making him more stupid and easier to manipulate. Also, he took another cross class rank in knowledge Religion, but his skill check is worse! He’s even less intelligent than when he first heard the idea, yet he’s too full of himself to admit he doesn’t fully understand. He just acts like he understands, and doesn’t want to admit, even to himself, that he doesn’t.


And as he progresses, he will become even less intelligent, understand less, and will just obey the dreams we send him. We have the Minion of the Great Cthulhu we needed.

And he still has five more levels of Primeval to more fully dominant.

A humble favor, your Awfulness. If you can arrange for him to find a Mantle of the Beast to make activating his wildshape and primal form a swift action, Your Maliciousness, then he won't need Fast Wildshape, and can take Improve Natural Attack at 18. Perhaps the Armor of the Beast, also? That and a druid’s vestment would give him better AC and two more uses of wildshape each day.


Everything he was doing at level 15, but more so.

Fully buffed, he has 20 ft reach, flying, with 70ft speed and good maneuverability. 60 Str, and 28 Con. He attacks with four UASs (+42/37/32/27, 1d8+25 each), 8 tentacle attacks (+40,1d6+10), each of which can grapple (+53), and constrict for 5d8+25. Also a bite attack at +40, for 1d8+13.

His increased wisdom has granted extra Druid spells up to 3rd level.

He can also track by scent (Survival +27) the targets we send him after. And Intimidate +15 (even with 5 CHA).

We have our raging, spell-slinging, grappling, kung-fu fighting, flying Giant Octopus Minion, your Awesomeness.

We hope his ability to Dominate a combat continues to serve our Great and Fearsome Sleeping Master’s interests malevolently well, Your Arbitrariness.

HDS: Well done indeed, my prized Malicious Underling. You have shaped him into a twisted but incredibly powerful chump. He will hunt down and kill whatever we instruct him in a dream to hunt. Keep him under control and perhaps I won’t need to torture you to death after all.

I hope it’s clear that Derleth, like all PCs, is part of a game the PC is unaware of, their life story and future manipulated by a railroading DM and an optimizing player, each of which can have plans for the PC that the PC has no clue about and thinks are their own choices.


I've grounded this in the Cthulhu Mythos. But my knowledge of this is shallow; deep enough to use a couple of aspects I have learned over the last few days, but so shallow as to be worried that I’m warping some things for my own purposes. It seems that Lovecraft intended others to write new components of the Mythos, though. Apologies if my use is sacrilege to some “canon” aspects that I don’t know are so.

Much of this is based on Derleth’s adaptation of the Mythos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu_Mythos), that was less nihilistic chaotic evil, and instead based it around the four elements (air, earth fire, water). Here, Cthulhu is water and Hastur is air. That’s druidic enough to give me a hook for this character.

This PC as an (unwitting at first) minion of Cthulhu, manipulated to believe he needs to help connect and make peace between Hastur (air) and his half-brother Cthulhu (water), by becoming an embodiment of the combination of water and air.

But, honestly, I just wanted to make a playable super-strong, grappling, unarmed striking, angry, flying giant octopus, with enlarged tentacles and Druid spells.


Chair’s Rulings: The Chair, in PM, confirmed that a Giant Octopus is a valid Primeval form (cephalopods have been around for 500 million years). And he confirmed that Nature’s Avatar Wildshape variant can be used with Primeval form.

Variant Rage: It might be challenged that a Druidic Avenger, who gets rage, as a barbarian, can’t then trade that Rage for the barbarian’s Whirling Frenzy rage variant. In Primeval form, Derleth is going to have a decent AC thanks to Natural Armor boosts (Primal Form, Feral Power, Barkskin), but could probably benefit from more AC than from more Con. Even less important if he can find a decent set of wild light armor (like the Armor of the Beast). He would not often use the extra attack, since it reduces all of his attack rolls by 2.

If this is a sticking point, though, the regular Barbarian rage is fine, too. Nothing really crucial about the whirling variant. I just like the image of writhing tentacles dodging about.

BTW, I'm claiming credit for resisting making a "Wet Dream" joke here. Perhaps I just lost that credit.

Derlek, Unwitting Minion of the Great Dreamer


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


1st
Monk (Undying Way) 1
0
2
2
2
20:
Balance 2
Concentration 4
Handle Animal 2(cc)
Knowledge Nature 2
Knowledge Religion 1
(cc)
Survival 2(cc)
Tumble 1
B: Toughness
Improved Unarmed Strike
H: Track
Improved Grapple
Flurry of Blows


2nd
Monk (Undying Way) 2
1
3
3
3
5:
Balance 3
Concentration 4
Handle Animal 2(cc)
Knowledge Nature 3(cc)
Knowledge Religion 1
Survival 3(cc)
Tumble 1
Endurance
Evasion


3rd
Druidic Avenger 1
1
5
3
5
5:
Balance 3
Concentration 5
Handle Animal 3
Knowledge Nature 4
Knowledge Religion 1
Knowledge Planes .5(cc)
Survival 5
Tumble 1
Self Sufficient
Druid Spells (CL1)
Rage (Whirling Frenzy), Fast Movement, Nature Sense, Wild Empathy
Druid Spells (CL1)


4th
Druidic Avenger 2
2
6
3
6
5:
Balance 3
Concentration 6
Handle Animal 4
Knowledge Nature 5
Knowledge Religion 1
Knowledge Planes 1(cc)
Survival 6
Tumble 1

Woodland Stride
Druid Spells (CL2)


5th
Druidic Avenger 3
3
6
4
6
5:
Balance 3
Concentration 7
Handle Animal 4
Intimidate 1
Knowledge Nature 7
Knowledge Religion 1
Knowledge Planes 1.5(cc)
Survival 7
Tumble 1

Trackless Step


6th
Druidic Avenger 4
4
7
4
7
5:
Balance 3
Concentration 8
Handle Animal 4
Intimidate 2
Knowledge Nature 8
Knowledge Religion 1
Knowledge Planes 2(cc)
Survival 8
Tumble 1
Snow Tiger Berserker
Resist nature’s lure
Druid Spells (CL4)


7th
Druidic Avenger 5
4
7
4
7
5:
Balance 3
Concentration 9
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 3
Knowledge Nature 9
Knowledge Religion 1
Knowledge Planes 2
Survival 8
Tumble 1

Aspect of Nature Wildshape 1/day (Options: Tooth and Claw, Wings, Speed, Scent, Aquatic, etc.)
Druid Spells (CL5)


8th
Warshaper 1
Prereq: wildshape, BAB4
4
9
4
7
3:
Balance 4
Concentration 10
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 3
Knowledge Nature 9.5 (cc)
Knowledge Religion 1
Knowledge Planes 2
Survival 8
Tumble 1

Morphic Immunities, Morphic Weapons


9th
Warshaper 2
5
10
5
8
3:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 3
Knowledge Nature 10(cc)
Knowledge Religion 1
Knowledge Planes 2
Survival 8
Tumble 1
Extra Wildshape
Morphic Body
(+4Str, +4 Con)


10th
Nature's Warrior1
Prereq: wildshape, BAB4,
Track, Knowl Nature 8, Knowl Planes 2, Survival 8
6
12
5
8
5:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 5
Knowledge Nature 11
Knowledge Religion 1
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Survival 10
Tumble 1

Nature’s Armament: Wings of the Hurricane (+30 fly speed),
AN 2/day


11th
Nature's Warrior2
7
13
5
8
5:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate6, 7
Knowledge Nature 12
Knowledge Religion1.5 (cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Survival 11
Tumble 1

AN 3/day Druid Spells (CL6)


12th
Nature's Warrior3
8
13
6
9
5:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 9
Knowledge Nature 13
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Survival 12
Tumble 1
Natural Spell
AN (2 simultaneous) Nature's Armament: Serpent's Coils


13th
Primeval 1
Prereq: wildshape, BAB8,
Endurance, Self Sufficient, toughness, Knowl Nature 5, Handle Animal 5, Survival 5
9
15
6
9
3:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 10
Knowledge Nature 13
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Spot 1
Survival 13
Tumble 1

Primeval shape: Giant Octopus Animal Empathy (talk to cephalopods)


14th
Primeval 2
10
16
6
9
3:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 11
Knowledge Nature 14
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Spot 1
Survival 14
Tumble 1

Regression1**, Low light vision


15th
Primeval 3
11
16
7
10
2:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 12
Knowledge Nature 14
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Spot 1
Survival 15
Tumble 1
Multiattack
Feral Power 1 (+2 to str, dex, con, NA)


16th
Primeval 4
12
17
7
10
2:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 13
Knowledge Nature 14
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen1
Spot 1
Survival 16
Tumble 1

Primeval Form 2/day


17th
Primeval 5
13
17
7
10
2:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 14
Knowledge Nature 14
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Spot 1
Survival 17
Tumble 1

Regression 2**, Scent


18th
Primeval 6
14
18
8
11
2:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 15
Knowledge Nature 15
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Spot 1
Survival 18
Tumble 1
Improve Natural Attack (Tentacles another size larger)
Feral Power 2 (another +2 to str, con, NA)


19th
Primeval 7
15
18
9
12
2:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 16
Knowledge Nature 15
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Spot 1
Survival 19
Tumble 1

Primeval Form 3/day


20th
Primeval 8
16
18
9
12
2:
Balance 5
Concentration 11
Handle Animal 5
Intimidate 17
Knowledge Nature 15
Knowledge Religion 2(cc)
Knowledge Planes 2
Listen 1
Spot 1
Survival 20
Tumble 1

Regression 3**, Fast Movement***


Notes:
*He gains IUAS, the prerequisite for Improved Grapple, at the same level he takes the feat. This isn’t strictly legal (you take feats before adding class features), and is done only for comedic effect. I wanted him to take the Self Sufficient feat after his worldview is shaken and he convinces himself that other people are a source of pain and misery and to be a loner. Reverse the order of these two feats if you want it to be strictly legal but less funny.
** You adjust skill points before apply class features, so Skills are adjusted before you lose a point of intelligence (PH p.57-8)
*** It’s unclear whether two different sources of fast movement stack. It’s worded as an untyped bonus to land speed. This would make his basic land speed 50. It’s probably irrelevant, since in Primal and wildshaped encounters, he’ll use a 70 ft flight speed anyway.





Points
Point Buy
Racial Human
Level
Class: Primal Regression, Warshaper 2
Base at 20


STR
16
18
0
5
3+4
30 (+10)


DEX
4
11
0

3
14 (+2)


CON
6
14
0

3+4
21(+5)


INT
4
10
0

-3
7 (-2)


WIS
8
13
0

3
16(+3)


CHA
0
8
0

-3
5(-3)







Primeval Human 20
Aspect of Nature Wildshape (Vigor, Tooth and claw)
Primal Form (Giant Octopus, Feral Power 2)
Primal form and Aspect of Nature (Flying Vigorous Giant Octopus)
Frenzied Flying Vigorous Giant Octopus
Nova: (Primal, AN Vigor, Bite of the Werewolf, Bull’s strength (or +4 Str item) and Frenzy)


STR
30 (+10)
+8 str
38 (+14)
+10+4
44(+17)
+10+4+8
52 (+21)
+10+4+8+4
56 (+23)
+10+4+8+4+4
60 (+25)


DEX
13 (+1)
9 (-1)
18(+4)
14(+2)
14(+2)
18 (+4)


CON
21(+5)
21(+5)
24(+7)
24(+7)
24(+7)
28(+9)


INT
7 (-2)
7 (-2)
7 (-2)
7 (-2)
7 (-2)
7(-2)


WIS
16(+3)
16(+3)
16(+3)
16(+3)
16(+3)
16(+3)


CHA
5(-3)
5(-3)
5(-3)
5(-3)
5(-3)
5(-3)


Attack
UAS: Bab16
Str: +10
Gtr Magic Fang +1
= +27/22/17/12
UAS: 31/26/21/16
2 Claws and a Bite +29 (with Multiattack feat)
UAS:34/29/24/19
8 tentacle attacks and a bite: +32 each
UAS:38/33/28/24,
8 tentacles and a bite: +36 each
UAS:40/35/30/25,
8 tentacles and a bite: +38 each
UAS: 42/37/32/27,
8 tentacles and a bite: +40 each


Grapple
=16BAB
Imp Grpl+4
Str:+10
= +30 Grapple check
+34
Grab with each tentacle that hits
Serpent’s coils+4, large +4
Str+3 more
=+45
+49
+51
+53


Damage
10 Str
Gtr M. Fang +1
1d6+11
4xUAS; 1d6+15
2Claws 1d8+8
Bite 1d6+8
4xUAS: 1d8+18
8xTent. 1d8+9,
8xConstrict* 5d8+18
Bite 1d8+9
4xUAS: 1d8+22
8xTent. 1d8+10
Constrict 5d8+22
Bite 1d8+10
4xUAS: 1d8+24
8xTent. 1d8+11
Constrict 5d8+24
Bite 1d8+11
4xUAS: 1d8+25
8xTent. 1d8+13
Constrict 5d8+26
Bite 1d8+13




The Octopus has a natural constrict damage of 2d8+str, +1 for greater magic fang.
Nature’s Armament Serpent’s Coils adds 1d8+str constrict damage to improved grab: 3d8+str+1.
Morphic Weapons makes a type of natural weapon damage as one category larger: 4d8+str+1 (using bastard sword resizing).
INA(constrict) increases damage one size again
Total damage for constrict with each of his 8 tentacles is 5d8+str+1
(+1 for Greater Magic Fang)

In Nova form, a single target with less than 39 AC, and less than 43 Grapple (taking 10 for argument’s sake only) would be automatically hit by at least one Unarmed Strike (probably more), tentacles for 8x(1d6+10), plus 8x(5d8+25) constrict damage. Plus a bite.

That’s a total of 8d6+80+40d8+200, plus 1-4x(1d8+25) UAS, if it’s all directed at one target. And all this can be spread around up to 8 targets, that are within 20 ft of his long reach.

[The Viscount]

Only one clever comment per entry, this one's long enough I had to break it into parts. (2/2)




Spells per Day


Level
Class
0lvl
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th


1st
Monk (Undying Way) 1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


2nd
Monk (Undying Way) 2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


3rd
Druidic Avenger 1 (CL1,13 Wis)
3
2
—
—
—
—



4th
Druidic Avenger 2 (CL2)
4
3
—
—
—
—



5th
Druidic Avenger 3 (CL3)
4
3
1
—
—
—



6th
Druidic Avenger 4 (CL4)
5
4
2
—
—
—



7th
Druidic Avenger 5 (CL5)
5
4
2
1
—
—



8th
Warshaper 1
5
4
2
1
—
—



9th
Warshaper 2
5
4
2
1
—
—



10th
Nature's Warrior1
5
4
2
1
—
—



11th
Nature's Warrior2 (CL6)
5
4
3
2
—
—



12th
Nature's Warrior3
5
4
3
2
—
—



13th
Primeval 1
5
4
3
2
—
—



14th
Primeval 2 (14 Wis)
5
4
4
2
—
—



15th
Primeval 3
5
4
4
2
—
—



16th
Primeval 4
5
4
4
2
—
—



17th
Primeval 5 (15 Wis)
5
4
4
2
—
—



18th
Primeval 6
5
4
4
2
—
—



19th
Primeval 7
5
4
4
2
—
—



20th
Primeval 8 (16 Wis)
5
4
4
3
—
—




Spells often prepared (*Usually Prepared)
Level 0:
*Create Water
*Cure Minor Wounds
Detect Magic
*Guidance
*Mending
Read Magic
*Resistance

Level 1:
*Entangle
Aquatic Escape (CS)
Conjure Ice Beast (FB)
Cure Light Wounds
Goodberry
Obscuring Mist
Shilllelagh
Snowshoes (FB)
*Snowsight (FB)
SNA 1
Wall of Smoke (SpC)

Level 2:
*Barkskin (maxes at +3)
Bull’s Strength
Bear’s Endurance
Blood Snow (FB)
Cloudwings (SpC)
Fog cloud
Gust of Wind
Heart of Air (CM)
Kelpstrand (SW)
*Lesser Restoration
Master Air (SpC)
*Obscuring Snow(FB)
*Primal Hunter(DM)
Resist energy
SNA II
Warp wood
Wood Shape

Level 3:
Alter Fortune
Bite of the Werewolf
Crumble
Call lightning
Cure Moderate Wounds
Dominate Animal
Favorable Wind
Heart of Water (CM)
*Greater Magic Fang
Menacing Tentacles (PH2)
Plant Growth
*Primal Instinct (DM)
*Sleet Storm
Snowshoes (FB)
Stone Shape
SNA III



With a Monk2/Druid5 base, BAB can’t get to 8 before level 11, so he can’t take all 10 levels. Barbarian2 instead of Monk2 would help, but then he can’t use UAS in Primal shape; you need the monk’s ability for that. And Primeval 9 and 10 is mostly things he already has. Taking Warshaper earlier gave him a better +4 Str and Con boost than Primeval 9’s +2 in Primeval form. And he already has Extra wildshape, and magic natural weapons (greater magic fang). DR 10 would be useful, but his skin is so tough with Natural armor boosts that it probably won’t matter.

You could gain Primeval 9, and have different initial bonus feats, by taking one level of Ranger or Barbarian (bear totem), instead of Monk at 1st level. Monk 2 feels less like “dipping” though. But it lowers your eventual BAB (though you still reach BAB16).

Wildshape Ranger 5/Nature’s Warrior 3/Warshaper2/Primeval 10 is possible. You get higher BAB, and Track and Endurance as bonus feats, but then you lose Druid Casting, and you do not get the extra Strength aspect at level 8, though, since it requires “Druid 8”.

Holding breath lasts 2x Con score rounds. That’s Con 24 min, so 48 rounds or 8 minutes at lvl20. His wildshape is at most 8 minutes. An octopus can last an hour out of water (https://www.qries.com/Can-octopus-breathe-if-taken-out-of-water). They absorb oxygen through their skin when wet. This means he probably can last up to 8 minutes of vigorous combat while not breathing through its gills. (But air breathing 3rd level spell, Create Water keeps you wet. Obscuring Snow might also wet you sufficiently.)
Endurance protects against cold, and improves fort saves vs. “drowning on dry land” when in Octopus form. Great Fortitude also helps with that save. Self Sufficient helps with survival (his primary role is a hunter) and heal checks. It’s also justified by his antisocial loner perspective. He uses Knowledge Nature and Survival for hunting his assigned targets.

Human’s bonus feat and extra skill points helps a lot. Otherwise the feat taxes for PrCs are crippling. He’s strong enough, perhaps. You could go for Water Orc, Neanderthal, or Arctic Dwarf, possibly even Darfallen for fewer feats and skills and more strength.

But 60 strength at his human-based peak is probably plenty.



CC (Mantle and Armor of the Beast)
CM(Spells)
CS (Spells)
CW (Nature’s Warrior, Warshaper)
DM (Spells)
FB (Primeval, Spell)
SpC (Spells)
PH2(Spells)
SW (Kelpstrand, Darfallen)
UE (Snow Tiger Berserker)
UA (Variants: Nature’s Avatar, Whirling Frenzy, Undying Way)
Rest is Core

HP Lovecraft (1928) “Call of Cthulhu”
CS Lewis (1942) “The Screwtape Letters”

[The Viscount]

Do you even shift, bro?



The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval

GHURG: Bro, how many levels of Primeval are you on?

GHARG: Check it bro. I’m running around in nature and rearing animals and crap.

GHURG: Pshh. Might as well talk about primal rites where you drink dragon blood. Everyone in the tribe’s done that for generations. Check this out. While you were being a fancy boy on the high seas, I’ve been getting my primal fury and the totem spirits on!

GHARG: You’re full of it, bro. The seas are full of elder deep things. They’re primeval as hell. I’m seeing the ever-churning depths, offering blood sacrifice to ancient horrors and becoming one with the primordial ooze! I’m getting goop. Getting slime! What’re the totems getting you, huh?

GHURG: Man, you ain’t even got the ferocity of the lion without turning into one. Keep your soft-ass slime, I got the hard armor of the Ankylosaur.

GHARG: For a few minutes. I can be dino for long time after run out of lion.

GHURG: You are like little baby. Like little, newborn, not primeval baby. And letting psionic entity inside you. Kinda sus bro.

GHARG: It do thinking so I no have to! Rely on INSTINCT!

GHURG: You do stink, bro!

GHARG: It’s called being Primeval, bro!

GHURG: Man whatever. At true form. Can strike fast!

GHARG: Me too, bro!

GHURG: Can strike fast with tails AND claws!

GHARG: Bro, I have powers of magic beasts! Can ’port and move through buildings. Make enemy miss! Ride storms! No need even understand fire! Just stick hand in and heal!

GHURG: GURRRR

GHARG: ROAR

BOTH: GRRRRAURRRAAAUUHHHRARAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHH

The following are two distinct builds to be judged separately, but as they have a fair bit of overlap in their construction I’ve decided to present them together to show different takes on some of the same ideas and hopefully keep them from torpedoing one another’s Originality scores.

Ghurg
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Barbarian 5/Warblade 2/Primeval 10

Ability Scores
32 Point Buy: 18 Str, 15 Dex, 13 Con, 8 Int, 11 Wis, 6 Cha
Frostblood Orc Mods: 22 Str, 15 Dex, 13 Con, 6 Int, 11 Wis, 6 Cha
4th Level: 23 Str, 15 Dex, 13 Con, 6 Int, 11 Wis, 6 Cha
8th Level: 24 Str, 15 Dex, 13 Con, 6 Int, 11 Wis, 6 Cha
Regression 1: 25 Str, 16 Dex, 14 Con, 5 Int, 12 Wis, 5 Cha
12th Level: 26 Str, 16 Dex, 14 Con, 5 Int, 12 Wis, 5 Cha
Regression 2: 27 Str, 17 Dex, 15 Con, 4 Int, 13 Wis, 4 Cha
16th Level: 28 Str, 17 Dex, 15 Con, 4 Int, 13 Wis, 4 Cha
Regression 3: 29 Str, 18 Dex, 16 Con, 3 Int, 14 Wis, 3 Cha
20th Level: 30 Str, 18 Dex, 16 Con, 3 Int, 14 Wis, 3 Cha

Build Table


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


1st
Wild Shape Ranger 1
+1
+2
+2
+0
Handle Animal 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Survival 4, Knowledge (Arcana) 1cc, Jump 2
EnduranceF, Shape Soulmeld (Claws of the Wyrm), TrackB
Fast Movement, Favored Enemy (Arcanists), Wild Empathy


2nd
Ranger 2
+2
+3
+3
+0
Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 3
-
-


3rd
Whirling Frenzy Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian 1
+3
+5
+3
+0
Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 5
Azure Toughness
Pounce, Illiteracy, Whirling Frenzy 1/day


4th
Horse Totem Barbarian 2
+4
+6
+3
+0
Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 7
RunB
-


5th
Horse Totem Barbarian 3
+5
+6
+4
+1
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 8
-
+2 on Ride/Handle Animal checks for horses


6th
Barbarian 4
+6
+7
+4
+1
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 8, Balance 1cc
Self-Sufficient
Whirling Frenzy 2/day


7th
Warblade 1
+7
+9
+4
+1
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 8, Balance 3
-
Battle Clarity (Reflex Saves), Weapon Aptitude


8th
Warblade 2
+8
+10
+4
+1
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 8, Balance 5
-
Uncanny Dodge


9th
Primeval 1
+9
+12
+4
+1
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 9, Balance 5
Headlong Rush
Primeval Form 1/day


10th
Primeval 2
+10
+13
+4
+1
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 10, Balance 5
-
Regression 1, Low-light Vison


11th
Primeval 3
+11
+13
+5
+2
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 11, Balance 5
-
Feral Power


12th
Primeval 4
+12
+14
+5
+2
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 12, Balance 5
Multiattack
Primeval Form 2/day


13th
Primeval 5
+13
+14
+5
+2
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 13, Balance 5
-
Regression 2, Scent


14th
Primeval 6
+14
+15
+6
+3
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 14, Balance 5
-
Feral Power 2


15th
Primeval 7
+15
+15
+6
+3
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 15, Balance 5
Shape Soulmeld (Dragon Tail)
Primeval Form 3/day


16th
Primeval 8
+16
+16
+6
+3
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 16, Balance 5
-
Regression 3, Fast Movement


17th
Primeval 9
+17
+16
+7
+4
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 17, Balance 5
-
Feral Power 3


18th
Primeval 10
+18
+17
+7
+4
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 18, Balance 5
Rapidstrike (Tails*)
Primeval Form 4/day, Primeval Shapechanger


19th
Ranger 3
+19
+17
+7
+5
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 20, Balance 5
Improved Rapidstrike (Tails*)F
-


20th
Horse Totem Barbarian 5
+20
+17
+7
+5
Handle Animal 6, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Jump 21, Balance 5
Improved Rapidstrike (Claws*)F
-

F denotes Frostblood Orc’s racial Endurance, and feats gained where Endurance would ordinarily be gained as a bonus feat.
B denotes a bonus feat from class levels.
*The choice of natural weapon pair for Rapidstrike and Improved Rapidstrike can be changed each day with Warblade’s Weapon Aptitude. As Improved Rapidstrike does not require that Rapidstrike choose the same pair of natural weapons to qualify, at level 19, Ghurg will default to Rapidstrike (Claws) and Improved Rapidstrike (Tails), unless he expects to face enemies with significant DR/slashing or similar that day.

Maneuvers


Level
Maneuvers Known
Maneuvers Readied
Stances Known


7
Mountain Hammer, Claw at the Moon, Sudden Leap
3
Leading the Charge


8
Mountain Hammer, Claw at the Moon, Sudden Leap, White Raven Tactics
3
Leading the Charge



Level 5A spoonful of Ranger makes the prerequisites go down. Even with a measly 6 Int, it provides the skill points and class skills necessary to meet the requirements for the SI, and even leaves room for the cross-class rank to nab the best Favored Enemy (and most flavorful for a Primeval). Frostblood Orc provides Endurance as a racial bonus feat, and the Dragonblood subtype opens up access to draconic soulmelds, like Claws of the Wyrm, giving Ghurg two claw attacks from level 1. For a character with any Incarnum at all, Azure Toughness is preferable to the standard version, getting another tax out of the way. The Pouncebarian that we all know and love is compatible with the Horse Totem variant from UA, as they replace different things. Horse Totem’s real chance to shine will come later, but for now the Handle Animal bonus is nice (Wild Shape Ranger lists it as a Wis-based skill, and while it’s kinda shaky, it’s worth asking your DM) and you’re at a level where you might find a reason to use Run.
Level 10Warblade adds some swift action movement in the form of Sudden Leap, out of combat utility from initiator’s lockpick Mountain Hammer, a nice damage boost for a pouncer from Leading the Charge, and the always welcome White Raven Tactics. With that, we enter the SI. Cave Ankylosaurus comes with a Tail attack and a massive +17 natural armor. Whirling Frenzy and Claws of the Wyrm expand the natural attack routine with Leading the Charge and Headlong Rush boosting damage. Primeval Form is only a couple minutes per day at this level, but things are looking pretty good.
Level 15Primeval Form is up to 3/day with a longer duration and hence much more reliable. With Feral Power and Regression bolstering Dex and natural armor, we’re looking at an AC of 32 before items (charging knocks it down to 30, but Whirling Frenzy gives an equivalent dodge bonus twice per day), which, given that Primeval Form plays nicely with the usual suite of Druid protective gear, should put you in a good place. With Multiattack, attack bonuses stay high even during a Whirling Frenzy, and another draconic soulmeld grants a second tail, ensuring that we get the full value out of it.
Level 20With a fourth use of Primeval Form, we can put a full use toward each individual encounter of the Standard Adventuring Day if necessary, and AC bumps up to 37 before items. Additionally Primeval Shapechanger puts Ghurg in the special class of creature types that qualify for Rapidstrike. With a second tail from Dragon Tail and two claws from Claws of the Wyrm, he’s got two pairs of natural attacks, and because Improved Rapidstrike doesn’t actually require that the prerequisite Rapidstrike to be for the same pair of natural weapons, it can be applied to both pairs for a mere three feats total. Of course, this still poses a problem when Primeval Shapechanger only comes online at level 18, but by returning to Ranger and Horse Totem Barbarian at just the right time, we get what would ordinarily be Endurance as a bonus feat at 19th and 20th levels, but for a Frostblood Orc like Ghurg explicitly can be any feat that he qualifies for instead, in this case Improved Rapidstrike. This significantly expands Ghurg’s attack routine to rival that of any conventional blender form, making him formidable on both offense and defense.

Gharg
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Swashbuckler 2/Thrall of Juiblex 5/Primeval 10
Dedicated to Zargon the Returner

Ability Scores
32 Point Buy: 18 Str, 13 Dex, 14 Con, 8 Int, 13 Wis, 6 Cha
Frostblood Orc Mods: 22 Str, 13 Dex, 14 Con, 6 Int, 11 Wis, 6 Cha
4th Level: 23 Str, 13 Dex, 14 Con, 6 Int, 11 Wis, 6 Cha
8th Level: 24 Str, 13 Dex, 14 Con, 6 Int, 11 Wis, 6 Cha
Regression 1: 25 Str, 14 Dex, 15 Con, 5 Int, 12 Wis, 5 Cha
12th Level: 26 Str, 14 Dex, 15 Con, 5 Int, 12 Wis, 5 Cha
Regression 2: 27 Str, 15 Dex, 16 Con, 4 Int, 13 Wis, 4 Cha
16th Level: 28 Str, 15 Dex, 16 Con, 4 Int, 13 Wis, 4 Cha
Regression 3: 29 Str, 16 Dex, 17 Con, 3 Int, 14 Wis, 3 Cha
20th Level: 30 Str, 16 Dex, 17 Con, 3 Int, 14 Wis, 3 Cha

Build Table


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


1st
Wild Shape Ranger 1
+1
+2
+2
+0
Handle Animal 4, Survival 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Escape Artist 1cc, Knowledge (Arcana) 1cc
EnduranceF, Toughness, TrackB, Thrall to DemonV
Fast Movement, Favored Enemy (Arcanists), Wild Empathy


2nd
Ranger 2
+2
+3
+3
+0
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 1, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 1
-
-


3rd
Swashbuckler 1
+3
+5
+3
+0
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5[/b], Escape Artist 3, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 1
Willing Deformity, Weapon FinesseB
Arcane Stunt (Expeditious Retreat)


4th
Swashbuckler 2
+4
+6
+3
+0
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5[/b], Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 1
-
-


5th
Thrall of Juiblex 1
+5
+8
+5
+2
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5[/b], Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 2
Deformity (Tall)V
Sickening Slime


6th
Thrall of Juiblex 2
+6
+9
+6
+3
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 3
Self-Sufficient
Corrosive Touch


7th
Thrall of Juiblex 3
+7
+9
+6
+3
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 4
-
Summon Ooze


8th
Thrall of Juiblex 4
+8
+10
+7
+4
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 5
-
Contagion, Alter Self


9th
Primeval 1
+9
+12
+7
+4
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 6
Headlong Rush
Primeval Form (Dire Lion) 1/day, Animal Empathy


10th
Primeval 2
+10
+13
+7
+4
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 7
Evil BrandV
Regression 1, Low-light Vision


11th
Primeval 3
+11
+13
+8
+5
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 8
-
Feral Power


12th
Primeval 4
+12
+14
+8
+5
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 9
Defensive Shell
Primeval Form 2/day


13th
Primeval 5
+13
+14
+8
+5
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 10
-
Regression 2, Scent


14th
Primeval 6
+14
+15
+9
+6
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 11
-
Feral Power 2


15th
Primeval 7
+15
+15
+9
+6
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 12
Metamorphic Transfer, Blood War ConscriptV
Primeval Form 3/day


16th
Primeval 8
+16
+16
+9
+6
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 13
-
Regression 3, Fast Movement


17th
Primeval 9
+17
+16
+10
+7
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 14
-
Feral Power 3


18th
Primeval 10
+18
+17
+10
+7
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 15
Rapidstrike (Claws)
Primeval Form 4/day, Primeval Shapechanger


19th
Ranger 3
+19
+17
+10
+8
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 17
Improved Rapidstrike (Claws)F
-


20th
Thrall of Juiblex 5
+20
+17
+10
+8
Handle Animal 5, Survival 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Escape Artist 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 1, Spot 18
Abyss-Bound Soul (Juiblex)V
Summon Minor Demon

F denotes Frostblood Orc’s racial Endurance, and feats gained where Endurance would ordinarily be gained as a bonus feat.
B denotes a bonus feat from class levels.
V denotes a bonus Vile feat for Dedication to an Elder Evil.

Level 5Gharg starts off his career much like Ghurg, with Ranger getting the Primeval skill reqs out of the way. The Knowledge (Arcana) rank for Arcane Hunter pulls double duty by also qualifying him for the Arcane Duelist Swashbuckler ACF, giving him a swift action Expeditious Retreat for an extra 30 ft burst (on top of the 10 ft of Fast Movement from Ranger) once per day. More importantly, Swashbuckler is as far as I can tell unique in having full BAB, a good Fort save, and Escape Artist as a class skill. Between that and a little boost from Zargon to cover one of the Vile feat taxes, Gharg manages to enter Thrall of Juiblex at 5th level. It’s a tight squeeze, but once we’re through, the Faceless Lord’s slime slicks a nice smooth glide path the rest of the way.
Level 10Appropriately for a character diving headlong into his connection with the primordial ooze, these levels see a number of transitions in abilities and tactics. Thrall of Juiblex’s Corrosive Touch has only a few uses/day, but gives a way to threaten adjacent squares alongside a reach weapon, Deformity (Tall), and Summoned Oozes for some battlefield control. Alter Self comes online at 8, initially granting the usual favorite humanoid forms like Avariel Elves for flight and Crucians for natural armor but starts to get a little more interesting when the SI comes into the picture. Primeval Form is essentially a nova ability at that point, with only a minute or two per day as a Dire Lion, but because Primeval Form is based on Polymorph, it changes his type to animal, opening up longer duration access to forms of that type of up to 4 HD via Alter Self. So that one minute of Dire Lion can be extended with 40 subsequent minutes of Fleshraker by using Alter Self just as Primeval Form is about to expire. The Lion form is really nice for the time spent in it though, especially with Headlong Rush doubling pounce damage and the Con increase boosting the save DC against Thrall of Juiblex’s Sickening Slime.

Note that Deformity (Tall) may or may not work when in a large form, as it has Medium size as a prerequisite, which could either mean that specifically or refer to a minimum size as with, for example Area Attack. It’s still worth taking either way, for the time spent in forms other than Dire Lion.
Level 15More uses of Primeval Form means Gharg is now fighting most encounters in his full, resplendent leonine glory, and/or can afford to branch out into utility forms when using Alter Self on the back end. His glory is also fuller and more resplendent with Regression and Feral Power boosting his numbers. Defensive Shell gives either a few minutes of shield bonus if you don’t feel like shelling out for an Animated Shield with Force Screen, or shores up a Will save once per day with Empty Mind, either of which, as a PLA is augmented fully up to its ML of ½ character level. More importantly, that ML qualifies us for Metamorphic Transfer. It’s not doing anything too crazy just yet, as animals tend not to have (Su) abilities, though humanoids sometimes do, and those forms are also still accessible.
Level 20As with Ghurg, Primeval Shapechanger means Rapidstrike, and a delayed Ranger 3 grants another feat with which to take Improved Rapidstrike. For Gharg, the magical beast type also means magical beast Alter Self forms in place of the previous humanoid and animal forms he had been using, and their (Su) abilities via Metamorphic Transfer. Since Polymorph retains supernatural abilities, a relevant ability from assuming a magical beast form can always be undergirding the Dire Lion Primeval Form as well. You can also put Primeval Form stats onto an Alter Self form for Primeval Form’s duration by assuming Primeval Form first, if, say, being Large is going to be inconvenient for some reason, but generally the Dire Lion’s attack routine, Pounce, and Improved Grab is going to be favorable as the outermost layer.

Supernatural abilities that can be acquired via Alter Self into a magical beast include:
Aranea’s Change Shape keeping humanoid disguise on the table.
Blink Dog’s free action Dimension Door (excellent for positioning charges in addition to the usual reasons tactical teleportation is good) or no-downside Blink.
Ethereal Marauder’s Ethereal Jaunt. While you likely need to be in Ethereal Marauder form to take advantage of the ability to return to the material as a free action, the 15 round duration offers the opportunity to cycle through the rolodex of other useful magical beast abilities as is useful.
Spider Eater’s always-on Freedom of Movement.
Unicorn’s Magic Circle Against Evil, which is perfectly fine for even someone as Evil as Gharg to be at the center of, though his summons will be unable to pass through it.
Asperi’s Ride the Wind Air Walk ability which allows you to run around freely in or even be sped up by strong winds or 60 ft Telepathy.
Phoera’s Fire Healing. Benefit from allies’ AoE fire attacks in combat, and better still, unlimited out of combat healing by simply touching an open flame for long enough. What’s more, healing beyond max HP produces temporary hit points with no apparent limit other than your DM’s cheese tolerance.
Spectral Panther’s Ghost Touch on all attacks or Spectral Form for 10 minutes of incorporeality. As with Ethereal Marauder, feel free to shift through other forms while incorporeal as is useful, including back to Spectral Panther form for Ghost Touch to take advantage of both abilities at once.
Black Unicorn’s Teleport, potentially bringing an ally along on your back.
Beguiler’s constant True Seeing.
Displacer Serpent’s Displacement, which will work in a few edge cases where Blink wouldn’t and vice-versa.
Bluespawn Ambusher’s Electricity Burst scales damage with HD, so it’s not a bad AoE even with Metamorphic Transfter making the save Cha-based and therefore low.
Seawolf’s Curse. The low DC makes it only useful against captured human enemies out of combat or people who want to become Seawolves, but if you chew on them long enough, they will eventually fail their save, thus losing all of their class levels and being transformed into a Seawolf.


We finish things off with another level of Thrall of Juiblex. Even at 20th level, Summon Minor Demon is still open-ended enough to have some gems, and it bumps the DC for Sickening Slime another point.

Book of Vile Darkness: Thrall of Juiblex
Champions of Ruin: Thrall to Demon
Complete Champion: Spirit Lion Totem
Complete Mage: Arcane Hunter, Arcane Stunt
Complete Psionic: Defensive Shell
Complete Warrior: Swashbuckler
Draconomicon: Rapidstrike, Improved Rapidstrike
Dragon Magic: Frostblood Orc, Draconic Soulmelds
Elder Evils: Dedication to an Elder Evil
Fiendish Codex I: Abyss-Bound Soul, Blood-War Conscript, Evil Brand
Frostburn: Primeval
Heroes of Horror: Willing Deformity, Deformity (Tall)
Magic of Incarnum: Azure Toughness
Miniatures Handbook: Cave Ankylosaurus, Crucian, Displacer Serpent
Monster Manual II: Asperi
Monster Manual III: Fleshraker, Phoera
Monster Manual IV: Bluespawn Ambusher
Monsters of Faerun: Black Unicorn, Spectral Panther
Races of Faerun: Headlong Rush, Avariel Elf
Shining South: Beguiler
Stromwrack: Sea Wolf
Everything else is SRD.

[The Viscount]

You are a regression/You're my regression



Primo Valendino Starchild

Strongheart Halfling

Str 14
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 14
Wis 14
Cha 8

Languages: Halfling, common, dwarven, gnome.



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


1st
Passive Way Halfling Monk
+0
+2
+2
+2
Balance 4, concentration 1, craft (stoneworking) 4, Sense motive 4, Tumble 1, Listen 4, profession (pilot) 1, profession (sailor) 1, profession (siege engineer) 1, profession (merchant) 1, profession (miner) 1, profession (barrister) 1, Knowledge (planes) 2 (cc), escape artist 1, k. Religion 1, speak language (infernal)
Improved Unarmed strike (b), Combat Expertise(b), Improved feint (b), undo resistance (Fiendish Codex 2)
Bonus Feat (combat expertise), Unarmed Strike, skirmish 1d6, monk wis to AC bonus


2nd
Undying Way Invisible Fist Monk
+1
+3
+3
+3
Balance 5, sense motive 5, k. Religion 2, Tumble 2, Bluff 1 (cc)
Endurance (b)
Bonus feat (endurance), invisible fist


3rd
Antiquarian Halfling Wilderness Rogue
+1
+3
+5
+3
Bluff 6, knowledge (planes) 4(cc), sense motive 6, Sleight of hand 1, Open lock 1
Ancestral relic (BOED)
Ranged sneak attack +2d6, antiquarian


4th
Wilderness Rogue
+2
+3
+6
+3
Bluff 7, sense motive 7, Survival 3, Knowledge nature 3, Handle animal 2

Evasion


5th
Penetrating Shot Wilderness Rogue
+3
+4
+6
+4
Bluff 8, Sense Motive 8, Survival 5, Knowledge nature 5, handle animal 5, Ride 1

ranged sneak attack 3d6, sneak attack 1d6, penetrating strike


6th
Hellbreaker
+3
+4
+8
+6
Hide 4, spot 4, tumble 6
Toughness
Mantle of darkness, Telepathic static


7th
Hellbreaker
+4
+4
+9
+7
Hide 5, tumble 9, move silently 4

Steal spell like ability


8th
Hellbreaker
+5
+5
+9
+7
Hide 7, Tumble 11, move silently 8

ranged sneak attack 4d6, melee sneak attack 2d6


9th
Hellbreaker
+6
+5
+10
+8
craft (stoneworking) 5 (cc), Hide 10, Tumble 12, Move Silently 10
Self sufficient
Stowaway


10th
Hellbreaker
+6
+5
+10
+8
Hide 12, Tumble 13, Move silently 13, Heal 1(cc)

Neutralize spell like abilities


11th
Hellbreaker
+7
+6
+11
+9
Hide 14, Tumble 14, move silently 14, spot 8

ranged sneak attack 5d6, melee sneak attack 3d6


12th
Hellbreaker
+8
+6
+11
+9
appraise 8
survivors luck (complete scoundrel p.81)
Foil Summoning


13th
Hellbreaker
+9
+6
+12
+10
sense motive 14, speak language (terran)

Steal Supernatural Ability


14th
Primeval
+10
+8
+12
+10
Concentration 5

Primeval form (swindlespitter), wild empathy


15th
Primeval
+11
+9
+12
+10
Concentration 6
Spirit sense (heroes of horror p.124)
regression


16th
Stoneblessed (dwarf)
+11
+11
+12
+12
profession (comedian) 1

Stonebond


17th
Stoneblessed
+12
+12
+12
+13
profession (butler) 1

Racial fighting techniquess


18th
stoneblessed
+13
+12
+13
+13
profession (accountant) 1
Ancestral knowledge (Races of stone p.136)
Stoneborn


19th
fighter
+14
+14
+13
+13
ride 2
combat reflexes
bonus fighter feat


20th
wilderness rogue
+15
+14
+13
+13
profession (brewer) 1, profession (teacher) 1, profession (Magitech nuclear physicist) 1

uncanny dodge




Backstory:
We begin our tale with a dissatisfied halfling under the throws of a cultural disease called wanderlust. It afflicts all young halfling to some degree. In this case, a halfling boy sought his fortunes in the dwarves military mines, which led to an opportunity to join a trade caravan, which led to unfortunate dalliances in law, which led to absconding across the sea on a gnomish vessel which led to an opportunity to pilot an air dirigible for a bit, landing him at a monastery where he tried, legitimately tried, to settle down. Our story for one shortlings' quest for enlightenment as a means to address this restlessness begins here. Every halflings' wayward cousin, Primo Valendino Starchild.

...

The ancestors say that the key to enlightenment is to suppress what you know, what your ego “knows” and to observe your role in the present. The irony of looking into the past for this wisdom is not lost upon me.

Level 1
Strongheart halfling
Lawful Good
Passive way (Unearthed Arcana p.52) Halfling (Races of the Wild p.158) monk
Feats: Improved Unarmed strike (b), Combat Expertise(b), Improved feint (b), undo resistance (Fiendish Codex 2, p. 85)
Skills: (6+int) ×4: 32
Balance 4, concentration 1, craft (stoneworking) 4, Sense motive 4, Tumble 1, Listen 4, profession (pilot) 1, profession (sailor) 1, profession (siege engineer) 1, profession (merchant) 1, profession (miner) 1, profession (barrister) 1, Knowledge (planes) 2 (cc), escape artist 1, k. Religion 1, speak language (infernal)
Class Abilities: Bonus Feat (combat expertise), Unarmed Strike, skirmish 1d6

I spent a lot of time trying to tame my restless mind, which feels at times like it’s affixed to 8 horses who all want to go different directions. It’s a lack of discipline I’m told.

Level 2
Undying way (Unearthed Arcana p.52) Invisible Fist (Exemplars of Evil p.21) monk
Feats: Endurance (b)
Skills: 4 + int: 6
Balance 5, sense motive 5, k. Religion 2, Tumble 2, Bluff 1 (cc)
Class Abilities: Bonus Feat (endurance), immediate action invisibility 1 per 3 rounds

I need to leave the cerebral space of these seekers of enlightenment. I tried the life of a monk, it was no different than any of the other trades I tried. There is no peace in struggling to force yourself to find peace. Perhaps a life amongst the living things that live free is where i must go

Level 3
Wilderness (UA p.56) Antiquarian (Complete champion p.51) Halfling (Races of the Wild p.160) Rogue
Feats: Ancestral relic (Book of Exalted Deeds p.39)
Skills: 10+int: 12
Bluff 6, knowledge (planes) 4(cc), sense motive 6, Sleight of hand 1, Open lock 1
Class Abilities: Ranged Sneak Attack 2d6, Antiquarian

I am finding peace amongst the simpler creatures of the world. Though my mind still races, I see some order of this chaos that comports with my soul.

Level 4
Wilderness Rogue
Ability score increase +1 con
Skills: 8+int: 10
Bluff 7, sense motive 7, Survival 3, Knowledge nature 3, Handle animal 2
Class abilities: Evasion

The ancestors delivered me unto this moment, and I think that I am ready to bear the cursed family crest. The elders of my village said that the curse isn’t bad nor good, it just opens your eyes to who you aren’t anymore.

Level 5
Alignment changes to CE: Ancestral Relic (Helm of opposite alignment) 4000gp.
Penetrating Strike (Dungeonscape p.13) Wilderness rogue
Skills: 8 + int: 10
Bluff 8, Sense Motive 8, Survival 5, Knowledge nature 5, handle animal 5, Ride 1
Class Abilities: ranged sneak attack 3d6, sneak attack 1d6, penetrating strike

EARLY GAME SNAPSHOT
We got a potent little thrower here, with shurikens and invisibility and sneak attack, and a nice even stat array and in some cases some skirmish damage. I loaded up on single skill ranks of trained only skills because they will be useful in 10 levels. All of the pre-reqs are pre-reqqed for hellbreaker, and we need two more feats and BAB for primeval. We start with monk and move into rogue, taking halfling sub levels to nab more skill points and a favorable distribution of feats to meet prereqs: skirmish to get undo resistance with the halfling bonus feat, combat expertise bonus feat to get improved feint, endurance bonus feat from monk 2 from abandoning a style serves as a primeval prereq, and an open feat slot at 3 for ancestral relic (helm of alignment change) which you can feed money into by level 5 using standard wealth by level to allow for a forced alignment change to get into hellbreaker (next level) and then primeval.

Again, halfling monk and rogue sub levels get 2 more skill points than standard. Penetrating strike allows us to do sneak damage while flanking against things immune to precision damage, and, it doesn't have to be a melee sneak attack, so when hellbreakers steal spell-like ability comes on, you can nab goodies from undead and oozes and stuff, though you might have to eat an attack of opportunity, unless you're invisible. We get evasion twice and trade one for invisible fist which facilitates sneak attacks. Wilderness Rogue gives the skills needed for primeval while dumping the int and cha based skills. It's a tight little package.

The reason I can’t find peace is because everything is an infuriatingly half-improvised sham. As much as I don't want it to be true, Order is an illusion. And I think i knew it all along. A static buzzes over my mind all of the time with this realization, and the only thing that makes me happy is demonstrating how it’s all...the world, the gods, you, me...it’s all uncaring chaos if not evil and can’t nor wont be anything less than that.

Level 6
Hellbreaker 1 (Fiendish codex 2 p.86)
Feat: Toughness
Skills: 6+int: 8
Hide 4, spot 4, tumble 6
Class abilities: Mantle of darkness, Telepathic static

I'm understanding more about how all of this thing called existence works. I feel like I'm slowly stumbling across a landscape of epiphanies, each lending me a new trick to carry me towards some goal that I cannot yet define.

Level 7
Hellbreaker 2
Skills: Hide 5, tumble 9, move silently 4
Class abilities: Steal spell like ability

i wonder about the role of my ancestors in creating all of the dissonance that shapes our lives, were they pawns or puppeteers? Or are the puppeteers the people-of-now telling us, before we know any better, to revere a past that readily abandons us after affecting us?

Level 8
Hellbreaker 3
Ability Increase: +1 to con
Skills: Hide 7, Tumble 11, move silently 8
Class abilities: ranged sneak attack 4d6, melee sneak attack 2d6

I find that much of my time spent angry is really about time spent mourning the loss of power to make conditions for myself that are likely to make myself happy. Not mourning over the loss of control paradoxically takes away the power others use to control you and who you are.

Level 9
Hellbreaker 4
Feat: Self Sufficient
Skills: craft (stoneworking) 5 (cc), Hide 10, Tumble 12, Move Silently 10
Class Abilities: Stowaway

Sometimes I like to envision living things as basically bags of experiences and ghosts or spirits as experiences stuck together without the bag. I feel this perspective helps in a way. Add stuff to the bag and that act changes the collection, changes the entity, like dropping a hammer into a bag of eggs changes the nature of that bag.

Level 10
Hellbreaker 5
Skills: Hide 12, Tumble 13, Move silently 13, Heal 1(cc)
Class abilities: Neutralize spell like abilities

I worry that I've become stagnant in my move towards enlightenment, but hope that this feeling is part of the journey.

Level 11
Hellbreaker 6
Skills: Hide 14, Tumble 14, move silently 14, spot 8
Class Abilities: ranged sneak attack 5d6, melee sneak attack 3d6

an apotheosis of self draws near as some vague but persistent ancestral memory vibrates within me. Some intuition is driving me to seek an ancient, pre-intellectual, pre-ego driven state. The answer to why this particular yawn of time reverberates my soul eludes me.

Level 12
Hellbreaker 7
Ability increase: +1 dex
Feat: survivors luck (complete scoundrel p.81)
Skills: appraise 8,
Class abilities: foil summoning

I think I need to take something from myself, remove something from this bag of experience, but I know not of what.

Level 13
Hellbreaker 8
Skills: sense motive 14, speak language (terran)
Class abilities: Steal supernatural ability

it occurs to me that if my ancestors listened to their ancestors, that perhaps I haven't been radical enough in the lessons of enlightenment. Maybe, I need to delve into what-eventually-became-us to live the most freely in the present.

Level 14
Primeval
Skills: concentration 5
Class abilities: Primeval form (Swindlespitter), wild empathy

this better. Total peace. Total power. Now… I am.

Level 15
Primeval
Feat: Spirit sense (Heroes of Horror p.124)
Skills: concentration 6
Class ability: Regression

SNAPSHOT TIME!
Here we are. The apex of the build.
We have regression. A supernatural ability. As a su ability, it has an activation time of a standard action. What if we stole it from ourselves using hellbreakers' steal supernatural ability, and then used it? Are you ready for a rules wormhole? Welcome to theoretical optimization theatre.

Firstly, why is this a SU ability? Walk into an anti-magic field, and boom, you smart again.

Let's spoiler the abilities referenced and dig into this.
Regression (Su) As a primeval gains levels, he begins to physically regress into a more primal, feral version of himself. At 2nd level, the primeval reduces his Intelligence and Charisma scores by 1 point (to a minimum of 3) and gains 1 point of Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom. At 5th level, he repeats his regression, losing an additional point of Intelligence and Charisma, and gaining an additional point to the rest of his ability scores. At 8th level, the primeval regresses again, losing a third point of Intelligence and Charisma but gaining a third point to the rest of his ability scores.

Steal Spell-Like Ability (Su): Starting at 2nd level, you can use a sneak attack to temporarily steal a creature's spelllike ability. If you hit an opponent with a sneak attack, you can choose to forgo 2d6 dice of sneak attack damage and instead gain one use of one of the target's spell-like abilities. If the target is willing, you can steal a spell-like ability with a touch as a standard action (you do not need to damage a willing target).This spell-like ability can originate from the target's class, race, template, or any other source, and can be of any spell level up to a maximum of 1/2 your class level. You can select a specific spell-like ability to borrow; otherwise, the DM chooses the ability at random.

If the ability has a limited number of uses per day, the target must have at least one such use left, or you can't steal the ability. If the target can't use its ability (such as a summoned devil's summon ability), you can't steal it. If you steal and use an ability with limited uses per day, your use of the ability also counts as one use for the target creature.

You can use a stolen spell-like ability once. For all purposes (caster level, save DC, and so on), treat the spell-like ability as if the creature whose ability you stole were using it. You must use the stolen spell-like ability within 1 minute of acquiring it, or it is lost. Until you use the ability (or until 1 minute elapses), the target cannot use the stolen ability. If you have a similar ability, such as the spellthief's steal spell-like ability (Complete Adventurer 19), you can steal two spell-like abilities at once, but each is subject to its respective spell level restriction. Once you have stolen a spell-like ability, you cannot use neutralize spell-like ability (see below) until you have used the stolen ability.

Steal Supernatural Ability (Su): From 8th level on, you can steal supernatural abilities. This ability functions like the steal spell-like ability class feature. While in possession of a stolen spell-like or supernatural ability, you cannot use steal spell-like ability, steal supernatural ability, or neutralize spell-like ability again until you lose access to the stolen ability (by discharging it or after 1 minute, whichever comes first).

The regression ability has a minimum level that it drops your intelligence and charisma to: 3. Judging by the wording, it appears that if you're already at 3 in those scores, they won't drop further, but you'll continue to gain boosts to the other 4 scores.

Which means that if you can find a way to have multiple regressions, you can just keep boosting those 4 scores.

You might think that bonuses of the same origin don't stack. These ability gains and losses aren't bonuses or penalties, despite being numerical modifications to game stats. They aren't typed. And the language about the ability scores says to "reduce by 1", and to "gain" 1.

Then, there's the issue of continued qualification for the prestige class of hellbreaker. If your intelligence dips below 13, your combat expertise and improved feint are rendered inoperable. (A halfling passive way monk 6/halfling rogue 1/hellbreaker 8/primeval 2 doesn't have to worry at all because monk bonus feats ignore prerequisites.) But, you still have those feats, you just can't use them, so you don't lose your prestige class abilities. Add to that the exclusionary language of complete warrior's prestige class continuous qualification, hellbreaker has no need to worry.

Can you steal this ability, though? Steal supernatural ability is predicated on steal spell-like ability.
I've bolded the clauses that pertain to this question in the spoiler above. In line refutation to follow:

If the ability has a limited number of uses per day, the target must have at least one such use left, or you can't steal the ability. If you steal and use an ability with limited uses per day, your use of the ability also counts as one use for the target creature.

Regression is not measured in uses per day. This makes it a valid target.

If the target can't use its ability (such as a summoned devil's summon ability), you can't steal it.

This one is trickier. Regression does have "uses" per se, once per three levels. But you may say, "yeah when you gain 2nd level, it's used." Excuse me mister, this has an SU tag, it takes a standard action unless indicated elsewhere, and there is no language about immediacy, it just has to happen when he gains second level. Use all of your standard actions when you gain second level to steal it from yourself, and then use it, as your con score increases, you'll be able to outpace the fatigue saves for not sleeping.

Further, the condition listed above, when he can't use his ability, seems to indicate something like an anti magic field affecting the target. Not because it violates an unsaid expectation that a continuous SU ability capable of stacking with itself would deviate from the once per 3 class level expectation.

If you steal and use an ability with limited uses per day, your use of the ability also counts as one use for the target creature.

Again, it's not measured per day, so using it on yourself doesn't use up your "use" of the ability. It's like, a state of being, man.

And it's not even necessary to get this pedantic about it. Even if the SU ability works on you immediately with no action cost, you haven't used up a use of it. You're just using a continuous ability. Which can be stolen, used, and then returned to you, where the effects just accumulate.

There it is: infinite STR, DEX, CON, and WIS.

You can do this 5 times a minute if you assume that you have activate regression as a standard. 300 times an hour. 2400 times in an 8 hour regression day.

Infinite HP, initiative, to hit, damage, AC (wis and dex pumping it) and saves. All of the epic skills are yours to exploit so long as you're trained. Dumb as a rock, but he's the best pilot, sailor, siege engineer, lawyer, merchant, miner, pickpocket, lock opener, spotter, climber, swimmer, motive senser, and tumbler the world has ever seen. Walk on clouds with balance. Animate rope with use rope. Sense illusions with spot. Squeeze through a force wall with escape artist. Steal everything as a free action. Hide your friends from sight against their will after sleight of handing them into a better position. Use appraise for detect magic at will. Climb on a glass ceiling at full speed. Use that heal skill for a week's bed rest in an hour (you get +2 from self sufficient! Heck yes that's elegant). Open locks as free actions. Discern surface thoughts with sense motive, track anything anywhere across planes with just a description from survival. Swim up a waterfall. Ignore falling damage, not that it matters. Always take 10' steps.

And because we have spirit sense, we can talk to the dead, of those who have been dead for up to our wisdom modifier in minutes. If we don't sleep (like we'll fail that save), we could regress around the clock. And for every 11ish hour block, we can add about a day into the spirits of the past we can see. The world will just get populated with oodles of ghosts. With epic sense motive we can read their surface thoughts if they're visible and within 30 feet. With these out of the world spot checks, that's a lot of stimuli.

Our eyes become capable of what modern telescopes are able to do with spot checks. We can hear any corporeal non darkstalker walking with listen checks. So we're hard to sneak up on.

Good thing we dumb.

Thanks Dino power.

So, that leaves the real weakness to be rolling 1 on saves, particularly will saves. To shore up this weakness, a luck feat has been added to reroll 1s. One could pledge themselves to an elder evil for deformity madness, but really - we are an elder evil at this point.

Going forward from here is difficult. A wisdom based caster would have infinite spell slots and super high DCs. An ardent would have infinite pp. But those options seem cheesey. ;)

From here we go forward with 3 levels of stoneblessed dwarf. What?!

……

Me strong. Me see dead. Me transcend. Need more ancestors. Transcend more.

Level 16
Class: stoneblessed (Races of Stone p.122)
Skills: profession (comedian) 1
Class abilities: stonebond

Me need beard for more ancestors. Beards have foes

Level 17
Class: stoneblessed 2
Skills: profession (butler) 1
Class abilities: racial fighting technique

ancestors find me. Teach me knowledge. Now me smart again. Happy!

Level 18
Class: stoneblessed 3
Feats: Ancestral knowledge (Races of stone p.136)
Skills: profession (accountant) 1
Class abilities: stoneborn

Snapshot from here:
Now we can make knowledge checks untrained. With a -5 int modifier, that isn't all that impressive. But with a wisdom score in the thousands, that we can use to make knowledge checks, we know everything. K. History for the craziest bit of deep time trivia, going all the way back. K. Local for understanding how everywhere works. K. Engineering for making huge boats in amazing time. K. Nature to understand how to cure cancer. K. Nobility for the latest pop culture. K. Dungeoneering for the same useless things Dungeoneering does. K. Arcana for weird knowledge about magic despite knowing none. This is all saying nothing of being able to identify supernatural and spell like abilities to steal via those hellbreaker levels.

Usually, stoneblessed is a niche little way to stack some racial feats, but on this build, it works with k. Religion to give us a wish via sacrifice rules. Three levels for a wish is pretty sweet. And with a check in the thousands, you might not even actually need to sacrifice anyone. The evil power just might like, want you to be its friend. And you'll know, with your EX detect surface thoughts via epic sense motive.]

We finish up the rest with a fighter dip for combat reflexes, so we can go in the surprise round and have infinite attacks of opportunity. Then to 1 more level of rogue for uncanny dodge, so our dex and wisdom to AC are there when flat footed.

I am the end. All past is me. And I live fully in the present. Content.


If you wanted an alternative regression based exploit that isn't halfling race locked and that comes online warrior, you only need 2 things: death devotion and iron heart surge. When you hit primeval 2, you get regression. Death devotion allows you to lose a level. Then you iron heart surge away your negative level, thereby triggering another regression. Repeat ad nauseum and the trick should be online by level 11 or 12 depending on feats/race/class choices.

[The Viscount]

Talk about crazy 8s!


CE Lolth-Touched Anthropomorphic Giant Octopus
Monstrous Humanoid 2 / Rogue 1 / Fighter 1 / Ranger 4 / Barbarian 1 / Primeval 10

"Floppy Floppy Spider of the Sea"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st8-EY71K84


Valindra


Ability
Point Buy
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Template
Total


STR
16
2
6
24


DEX
17
6
0
23


CON
14
-2
6
18


INT
9
0
0
9


WIS
8
4
0
12


CHA
10
-4
0
6





Valindra


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


LA+1
Lolth-Touched Template
-
-
-
-
Hide 0+4 and Move Silently 0+4
-
Fearless, STR +6, CON +6


2nd
Monstrous Humanoid 1
+1
+0
+3
+3
Escape Artist 1+10, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Move Silently 0+4, Swim 1+8
Multidexterity
Land speed 20ft, Swim 30ft, Natural Armor +2, 6 Tentacles (1d3+STR) (20ft* reach) and a Bite (1d6+STR/2), Constrict (2d8+6), Improved Grab, Ink Cloud, Jet


3rd
Monstrous Humanoid 2
+2
+0
+3
+3
Escape Artist 2+10, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Move Silently 0+4, Swim 1+8
-
-


4th
Drow Fighter
+3
+2
+3
+3
Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 1, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Move Silently 0+4, Swim 1+8
Point Blank Shot
Hit-and-Run Tactics, Rapid Reload


5th
UA Variant Drow Rogue
+3
+2
+5
+3
Craft (Poisonmaking) 7, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 1, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Move Silently 0+4, Swim 1+8
DEX+1
Poison Use, Precise Shot


6th
Stormwrack Arcane Hunter Champion of the Wild Ranger 1
+4
+4
+7
+3
Craft (Poisonmaking) 7, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 1, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
-
Favored Enemy Arcanist, Track in water, Wild Empathy


7th
Stormwrack Arcane Hunter Champion of the Wild Ranger 2
+5
+5
+8
+3
Craft (Poisonmaking) 7, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 1, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
Self-Sufficient
Multiweapon Fighting


8th
Stormwrack Arcane Hunter Champion of the Wild Ranger 3
+6
+5
+8
+4
Craft (Poisonmaking) 7, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 6, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
-
Endurance


9th
Stormwrack Arcane Hunter Champion of the Wild Ranger 4
+7
+6
+9
+4
Craft (Poisonmaking) 11, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 7, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
DEX+1
Improved Multiweapon Fighting, Stingray Animal Companion


10th
Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian 1
+8
+8
+9
+4
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 7, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
Toughness
Pounce, Rage


11th
Primeval 1
+9
+10
+9
+4
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 8, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
-
Primeval Form (Giant Octopus 1/D), Animal Empathy


12th
Primeval 2
+10
+11
+9
+4
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 9, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
-
Regression 1, Low-Light Vision


13th
Primeval 3
+11
+11
+10
+5
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 10, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
Ranged Pin, CON+1
Feral Power 1


14th
Primeval 4
+12
+12
+10
+5
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 11, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
-
Primeval Form (Giant Octopus 2/D)


15th
Primeval 5
+13
+12
+10
+5
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 12, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
-
Regression 2, Scent


16th
Primeval 6
+14
+13
+11
+6
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 13, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
Combat Reflexes
Feral Power 2


17th
Primeval 7
+15
+13
+11
+6
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 14, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8
CHA+1
Primeval Form (Giant Octopus 3/D)


18th
Primeval 8
+16
+14
+11
+6
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 14, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8, Spot 1
-
Regression 3, Fast Movement


19th
Primeval 9
+17
+14
+12
+7
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 14, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Listen 1, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8, Spot 1
Greater Multiweapon Fighting
Feral Power 3


20th
Primeval 10
+18
+15
+12
+7
Craft (Poisonmaking) 14, Escape Artist 2+10, Handle Animal 14, Hide 1+8, Knowledge Arcana 1, Knowledge Nature 5, Listen 1, Move Silently 0+4, Survival 5, Swim 1+8, Spot 2
-
Primeval Form (Giant Octopus 4/D), Primeval Shapechanger





There was once a young octopus who lived along a shoreline of jagged cliffs and rocky caverns. Her name was Cephala and she was blessed with boundless curiosity. Cephala loved to explore the land that rose out of her aquatic home and one day chanced upon an exceptional creature. A being whose form was both like and unlike her own. It had eight limbs just as she did and at times even appeared to swim through the air of its habitat grotto the same way that Cephala swam amongst the reef. Cephala loved to watch the tiny creature go about its small adventures, climbing walls and hunting prey. One day she decided to try it for herself. She lay in wait and bid her time, just like a spider, until a land walker with a slight build and pointed ears happened by. The elf had only a moment to scream as Cephala seemed to melt out of the rocky wall and wrap her strangling tentacles around his neck. As Cephala’s beak pierced the flesh of the fallen elf something touched her deep within, wracking her body in agony and filling her mind with darkness…

“Silence!” Imveni hissed, cutting off her brother’s remark on the interesting octopus that she’d taken him to see. “I did not bring you hear to insult the air with your voice. Get the net ready and stay quiet.” Imveni had been watching this particular creature for some time now and with any luck today she would gain a truly exotic slave. One good enough to secure her selection as the youngest member of House Shiphrin’s naval special warfare group. She waved her brother further back into the shadows as a wood elf appeared from around a bend and her eyes opened wide in astonishment as the young octopus leapt from its perch and slew the elf.

Imveni smiled as she approached the writhing form of the octopus next to the dead elf. “Come, brother. No need to be shy, and you can leave the net.” Imveni placed a gentle hand upon the creature and felt the power of her Goddess at work. “This is a gift.”


Cephala stepped up to the firing line and tugged nervously at her magical armor, a gift from her friend Imveni. It had been several moons since her friend had rescued her from suffocating on land when that mysterious power had washed over her. She had awoken wearing fantastic gilled armor that allowed her to breath the surface air and embraced in the arms of her new friend. In the months since, Cephala had spent almost every moment of her existence enraptured by the world that Imveni introduced her to. And she had grown strong under her friend’s tutelage. But now she stood in the presence of Imveni’s superiors and peers and all around her critical eyes glared. Their faces were smug as they perceived her nervousness but one last glance at Imveni and the confidence in her eyes filled Cephala with resolve. Cephala stood on the line and she drew her weapons.

Imveni’s eyes narrowed and she grinned fiercely as the smug looks of her squad mates gave way. Their faces dumbstruck as Cephala drew one hand crossbow after another, poison dripping from their bolts, and fired all six into the struggling humans bound to posts placed down range. Their mouths were agape as Cephala advanced forward and Imvani couldn’t help but giggle. Her own expression had been much the same the first time her most loyal slave had demonstrated her true strength. Imvani savored every moment of her squadmates’ reactions at Caphala’s tentacles shot out twenty feet to constrict around the now unconscious human targets and squeeze each of them to death in mere moments.
“Ladies, I present my Cephala as my candidate for 1st Squad’s official mascot.”


At ELC 5 Cephala is an absolute powerhouse on land and supreme in the water. As an anthropomorphic animal she keeps 6 of her tentacle attacks with their full range as well as her bite attack. Her size change from large to medium only affects the damage, not the reach. Improved grab lets her take advantage of an excellent 2d8+6 constrict and with 24 STR and 3 BAB she’s going to get that grapple.
Drow Rogue gives Hand Crossbow proficiency for which she has multidexterity to reduce the penalties and 23 DEX to hit with. 6 HCs mean 6 potential poisonings per round. Point blank shot and precise shot increase her effectiveness especially in concert with her Drow special forces allies. Hit-and-Run tactics from Drow Fighter is especially nice because she was never going to use heavy armor anyways and it not only boosts her initiative bonus but also allows her to capitalize on that by adding DEX to damage against FF opponents which is just one more thing that benefits from her multiple ranged attacks. The racial skill bonuses for hide and move silently from the Lolth-touched template and Anthropomorphic Giant Octopus race combine to make her impressively sneaky at this level make surprise rounds a lot more reliable.

Chronocharm of the Horizon Walker is a clearance pounce for 500gp and when you have 6 20-foot-long tentacles then it’s a must. Gilled Armor is very expensive for what it does but it is the ascetic method when compared with Dukar hand coral. Either way the main drawback of playing an anthropomorphic aquatic race; not being able to breath air, is easily bought off within wealth by level.


As the caravan continued to roll across the plains, moonlight gently illuminating the sandy road that stretched out to the horizon, Cephala considered her life. Years had passed since she’d met Imvani and Cephala had become a strong young woman. War had made her powerful and she had savored every second of it. Cephala cared not what circumstances made Imvani and the other members of 1st Squad war upon others of their race but she relished the opportunity. It seemed that with every male Drow she slew her friends celebrated her more and more. She had become very good at slaying those mages. So good in fact that she now found herself on a vacation of sorts. Imvani and a few of her closest compatriots had taken Cephala on this safari to see how true beasts hunted prey as a reward for her performance. Cephala’s thoughts continued to drift through her memories as she idly played with her prized poison bolts.

Imvani squinted through her goggles and pulled her hood firmly down as she squinted through the morning daylight. This journey was a gambit, Cephala was her most valuable amphibious assault asset and bringing her so far inland was a risk. Any harm that befell her slave would weaken her position. Yet if the information she’d pried from the dying lips of the adventurers her brother had hired to kill her were true, then the ancestral lands of a tribe of their Barbarian were somewhere around here. He had been an especially formidable foe for a male and if her Cephala could harness the same ferocity then Imvani’s own rise in power would be assured.

There! In the distance Imvani could barely make out the silhouette of her target. A lion, regal and proud, lounged atop a tree-shaded rock. “Cephala, Darling wake up, we’ve found one!” she shouted to her most prized slave.

Cephala emerged from the rear of the covered wagon and her eyes snapped to the figure Imvani was pointing to. Some kind of feeling deep within her began to stir as if she could feel the lion’s own anticipation as it watched a herd of antelopes with a lazy eye. Cephala’s hunger began to build as their wagon approached and the lion rose as if to greet them. Imvani watched eagerly as Cephala lay down her crossbows and stretched her tentacles. The big cat arched his back almost simultaneously and Imvani was sure that there was an empathic connection between the two. She laid her hand gently on Cephala’s shoulder and imbued her with sweet magic and whispered, “Run, my child.”

Cephala and the lion shot off and the antelope fled. The chase was wild and hot blood and adrenaline coursed through Cephala’s veins. Something core to her nature awoke and she pounced upon her prey.


Days later, young Drow members of House Shiphrin’s conventional forces were overheard complaining about a rumor that a mere slave had larger and more lavish quarters than they. Their gripes continued until they saw the name emblazoned above its door: “Cephala Leoidea, Maw of House Shiphrin.”


ELC 10 is the last time we see Cephala without Primeval. Arcane Hunter isn’t hard to qualify for and fits in with her narrative in that most male Drow tend towards the arcane arts. 4 levels of Champion of the Wild Ranger let her pick up improved multiweapon fighting by giving up spell casting that she was never going to use anyways. That’s 6 attacks at +13 and 6 at +8.
Taking a stingray as her animal companion provides ready access to a fantastic poison. Drow of the Underdark basically says that it’s DC15 Handle Animal and Craft(Poisonmaking) checks to convince the creature to let itself be milked for poison. For an ability related to Vermin Handler we substitute Wild Empathy and the fact that it’s her companion. Stingray poison causes the nauseated condition for hours at a time on a failed save and sickened even on a successful save. Cephala considered taking Distracting Shot here instead in order to help out all of her rouge allies but decided that she’d rather be personally powerful than rely on others and obviously endurance is an SI prerequisite.

Taking Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian is a little outside of her normal scope, but Barbarian is the favored class for her race sadly there is no Spirit Octopus Barbarian. Pounce is great with all of her attacks and rage gives her a boost when she needs it.

With wealth by level Cephala can definitely afford 6 magic hand crossbows as well as a necklace of natural weapons and items that increase her land movement speed. Throw in some grappling items like Gloves of Titan’s Grip and Cloak of Quills too.


Some had said that it was inevitable. Imvani’s meteoric rise to power on the back of her slave could only end one way. 1st Squad was ambushed in the halls of their own home by all manner of attackers. Hordes of monstrous slaves flooded the corridors and chambers determined to kill the arrogant star of the House Shiphrin. At the height of the combat Imvani's cry of pain was heard above the clamor and a deafening roar erupted from Cephala as she grew large and even more monstrous in her rage. Her two legs morphed back into the primordial tentacles that they once were and struck out in every direction crushing foes all around her as she desperately carved a path towards her friend. When the fighting had ceased Cephala and the handful of 1st Squad survivors rose wearily from a sea of corpses. Imvani was not one of them.

As Cephala returned to her natural form she was incensed with rage, and broken with grief. She wanted nothing more than to seek revenge for her friend but years by Imvani’s side had taught her many things. Without her patron 'master,' Cephala was in danger. The first thing that Cephala did was throw off the remaining fragments of her slave facade. The powerful members of House Shiphrin had known for years that Imvani had truly loved the octopus child that she had adopted so many seasons ago and had been struggling to convince herself otherwise all this time. Cephala had known as well but Imvani was dead and Cephala was not Drow, the time for theatrics was over. The nobles of House Shiphrin were shocked by Cephala’s audacity when she claimed the Shiphrin name for herself as Imvani’s heir. They were awed when Cephala invaded a temple of Lolth and forced the Priestess to declare the holy sanctity of Cephala’s body as a physical embodiment of Lolth’s power in the material realm. And they were cowed when Cephala gathered the remnants of 1st Squad and approached her Matriarch with an offer: place 1st Squad under Cephala’s command and unleash her upon the world. Do this, and Cephala vowed that all the riches that sailed the seas would belong to House Shiphrin.

Cephala unleashed her grief as a tidal wave of destruction that crashed over the ocean. Her every assault growing more primal and reckless. Cephala soon abandoned the cunning and subterfuge that characterized most Drow engagements in favor of lightning fast assaults against any enemy wherever they could be found. And enemies were plentiful for every vessel the sailed without the Shiphrin flag was her target. Even those who flew that friendly flag were wary of the Giant Octopus leaving a trail of sunken wrecks behind her. Cephala gave in to her most base instincts in order to accomplish two things. The first was to hurt whomever had killed Imvani. Their identity may be unknown but surely even they would be touched by the horror that Cephala brought to sea. The second was to that identity; the individual that truly deserved her wrath. All knew that Cephala would pay for that information with coin from every flag under the stars. Trade dried up and economies withered, Cephala “Lockdown” Leoidea ruled the waves.


Cephala is half-way through the SI by ELC 15. In an interesting twist she actually looses her Giant Octopus special qualities when she transforms from giant octopus-person into actual giant octopus. Thankfully jet and ink cloud are generally meant for running away and that’s the last thing Cephala intends to do. With 8 fully functional limbs she can wield 2 additional hand crossbows for 8 ranged attacks at +20, 8 at +17, and 1 at +12. Couple all of those with Ranged Pin to eat up enemy actions and also deliver constrict damage and also stingray venom to keep enemies sickened or worse. With 17 attacks in a round there’s a good chance that some of those fortitude saves will fail.

Alternatively that could be 8 melee attacks at +26, 8 at 24, and 1 at 19. All of those can be at a +2 from charging and each deal 15 damage from STR and 11 from DEX with Hit-and-Run Tactics.
Animal Empathy and Wild Empathy earn Cephala some good repour with other giant octopi which open up some interesting options in the water with mass ink clouds and the like. Primeval’s low-light vision improves what Cephala already had.

For items, Cephala needs 2 more hand crossbows. All weapons should be sizing as well. Savage Species specifically uses octopus-people when discussing natural attacks, so we know that Cephala did in fact wield weapons with her tentacles in monstrous humanoid form. Seeing as Cephala was already wielding weapons with her tentacles there should be no reason to need Gloves of Man. What she will need are plenty of Wild clasps or other flavor of wild shape friendly armor enchantments and a pearl of speech. I’ll also argue that Primeval Form should be affected by Mantle of the Beast so that Cephala can transform as a swift action. For melee I’m of the opinion that the 20ft reach of the tentacles should also apply when wielding manufactured weapons such as Guisarmes which, as a large creature, would extend reach by another 20ft. So imagine trip attacks out at 40ft.


Legends of the monster that lay waste to the seas endure to this day. It was a test from Lolth herself when Cephala Leoidea Shiphrin flooded the underdark and drowned thousands. Cephala transformed those dark tunnels into a crucible for the survivors and terrorized the Drow for an era now enshrined in holy text across the entire race. History never revealed the name of whomsoever begat Cephala’s rage and the suffering that followed nor was her body ever found. Most believe that when her purpose was achieved, Lolth honored Cephala as one of the champions of her realm. But that doesn’t dissuade some Drow adventurers from seeking out Cephala’s remains to present to the temple as sacred artifact… not all of those adventurers return.


ELC 20 Cephala the Monstrous. Combat reflexes is a long time coming for this build but she’s had to deal with a lot of prerequisites, so anyways here it is. Greater multiweapon fighting gets Cephala up to 25 attacks per round with even bigger bonuses than before from the completed regression and feral powers. Fast movement helps with that charge distance just in case she can’t reach. The capstone ability of the SI reduces reliance on necklace of natural weapons.

With wealth by level; at this point collar of umbral metamorphosis isn’t even expensive anymore and brings some utility back to hide and move silently and the increased movement helps with charge ranges. Vampiric fangs could be fun here if ranged pin allows you to suck blood from across the room.


PHB: Lots
Complete Champion: Barbarian ACF, Ranger ACF
Complete Mage: Ranger ACF
Complete Warrior: Ranged Pin
Drow of the Underdark: Fighter ACF, Rogue ACF
Frostburn: Primeval
Monster Manual 3.5: Giant Octopus
Monster Manual II: Multidexterity, Multiweapon Fighting
Monster Manual IV: Lolth-Touched Template
Savage Species: Anthropomorphic Creature, Improved Multiweapon Fighting, Greater Multiweapon Fighting
Stormwrack: Ranger ACF and Alternative animal companion
Unearthed Arcana: Rogue Variant ACF

[The Viscount]

Somewhere, Diogenes is smiling.



Free
Liege;

The essence of my report is this: I see no imminent risk, and am inclined to leave the region.

The reports here have been confusing, to say the least. Reports of the dragon have obviously been abundant, and reports of elven strangers behaving… well, strangely, could probably be attributed to a dragon as well. However, there have also been other reports - reports of giants, as well as ones of lions, and tigers, and bears. There was also one report mentioning a Lammasu, but the source has been identified as unreliable by other locals. Mapping the reports, I could clearly see an unusual pattern - that is to say, they were all in close proximity to the mountain itself, never straying as far as one could expect of a Dragon.

Armed with this knowledge, I gathered my men and we made our way to the summit. We found a cave entrance, and I thought we may have encountered the foul beast’s lair - but the cavern was shallow, and we found nothing but a small pile of cloth and a torn booklet filled with gibberish composed of many forms of writing. My guess would be an arcane code of some sort - though the letters were written awkwardly, as if by a child.

We camped in the cave for two days. No trace of lions, or tigers, or bears - and no trace of this hidden dragon.

During this time, no one could decipher the booklet. It is attached to this report, in case one of your scholars would be interested in attempting its translation. I would not be surprised if it turns out to be the work of an illusionist or conjurer who once worked from this cave to terrify the locals.

With devotion, etcetera.

Translator’s note: Gullytalk is notoriously difficult to translate, especially from writing. I made a deliberate choice to preserve as much as possible of the unique sentence structure, limited vocabulary, and meandering style of the original text. Unlike other scholars, I have chosen to correctly spell every word and to mostly use correct grammar and punctuation - since to a native speaker of Gullytalk, the text would have appeared completely natural and correct. I feel the tradition of doing otherwise stems from the common errors made by Aghars attempting to speak our language, and is therefore patently unfair and terribly condescending.

I’m writing this down so I can always remember. Always remember the me that I was. If I forget who I was, it will be bad. Because then, I will forget the people who loved me.

And my dad deserves to be remembered.

He was always very good. There was never enough food for us. Always beaten and taken advantage of. My dad gave me his food. He would come back from work with bruises on his face. He always smiled when he saw I was looking, but I could see he was hurt. Hurt, hungry, and afraid. He gave me his food, so I was never hungry. He hugged me tight, so I was never hurt. He smiled at me, but I was still afraid, Because I could see that he was afraid. But I know he tried very hard. He was good.

The tall people were not.

One time, he didn’t come back. I waited all night. It was almost daytime when he came back. He was bleeding from his face, bleeding from everywhere. I cried. I helped him lie down. He didn’t speak for a time. I feared he was dead. Then he spoke. His voice was weak, and he coughed. Dad told me:

“My son. They will beat you, and lie to you, and make fun of you. They will try to make you ashamed. They believe that because they can think faster than us, we should be ashamed. They think because we don’t know how to make soap or how to build houses, we should be ashamed. They think because we have to live in filth, we are filth - and we should be ashamed.
“All of them say this, all of them think it. They all make fun of us, no matter which temple they go to. No matter which colour of dragon they like. They think we should be ashamed. They think we are filth.
“Never be ashamed, my son. You are not filth. It is them who should be ashamed, for the way they treat us. You should be proud. They all wanted to kill us. Elves, humans, dragons, gods. They all hate us. We are proud. We survive.”

He coughed two times after that, coughed and coughed and coughed. and then he went to sleep.

They came mid-day, came when he was sleeping. Rounded all of us up. My dad was still very tired. His skin was very hot, and he couldn’t look straight. All of the others were scared too. Elder spoke in their language. “Why did you come? what do you want?”

“Built without permit”, they said. “Clean up time.”

Elder begged, but they laughed. They brought fire forward. Elder stood in front of their horses. Raised his arms to the sides. “You will not burn down our homes. Please. We have nowhere else to go. Please.”
“No permit, maggot, and it’s a public hygiene infringement. It’s all illegal, and disgusting. Move.”
“Please…”
“Move.”
“Please!”
“Move! Now!”

“No.”

Quiet.

“No?” One asked. They brought their horses closer to him. One of them reached down and grabbed Elder by the back of his neck.

Elder bit his arm.

They hit Elder with swords. He fell down. I ran.
I run.
I am terrified. Screams everywhere. Horses, fire, magic, blood. I don’t know where I am. A big horse running straight towards me. I can’t move. I can’t move.

Out of the smoke, a roar. My dad leaped. He grabbed the horse’s leg, and pulled. The horse fell down on top of the rider, just two feet away from me.

Dad looked at me with tired, tired eyes.

“Run. Hide. Survive.”

A sword came down.

Dad’s head came down with it.

I ran.


*


I ran as far as I could run. I only stopped running when I had to sleep, or drink, or find food. I ran until I could see no trace of smoke in the sky, no road or house on the horizon. I ran until I had no memory of civilization.

I learned to stay alive in the wild. Survive, like dad taught me. Some of the animals tried to bite me. I fought back. Two days passed by. Day after day, I grew. I grew long hair from my chin, I became strong like my dad. I did not fear the animals. Even those who attacked me. They attack because they are hungry and afraid. Like me. Not like the tall people. They were good. I looked at the lions run, and at the eagles fly. I wanted to be like them. Free.

I learned to fight, learned to survive. Fighting animals, and monsters, and giants, and dead things. Many dead things in this land are not really dead. I became closer to everything. No words can explain. I became closer and closer, until one day, I could run with the lions, and fly with the eagles. I can fly with the eagles.

I CAN FLY!

First, I could become a lion, a tiger, or a bear. Then, an Aghar or a tall person, or a giant. I could become anything I wanted to, but I always liked the birds best of all. All of my best friends were birds. My best friend of all is a hawk. She is very funny and smart. She is good. Her name is Secret.

The birds of the sky, flying free. And the big chickens of the land, with their sharp teeth and hard scales. Such power. Such majesty. Such freedom. I grew closer and closer to them, talking to them and learning to be like them. I could still be whatever I needed to be, but I spent more and more time as an eagle, or as a land-chicken. These were my favorite. Always. If only, I thought. If only the chickens could FLY.

But I couldn’t. I couldn’t fly as a land-chicken.

Until I could.

I sprouted wings and flew into the sky. The birds surrounded me. I was me. I was me.

I finally knew who I am. I am a winged land chicken, And I found the form of the chicken deeper within me. I become the chicken. I forget more and more. No need to remember the city. I am proud. I am free. I survive. I am free. I am happy. I am free.

I am Free.

I’m writing this down so I can always remember. Always remember the me that I was. Once you write something down, you always remember - even if you don’t read it again. My dad taught me that.

I love you, dad.

Free, the winged land chicken. CN male Aghar (gully dwarf).
32 PB: Str 18 / Dex 13/ Con 14 / Int 8 / Wis 13/ Cha 8
Racial modifiers: Str 18/ Dex 15/ Con 16/ Int 4/ Wis 13/ Cha 4
At 20 (post regression): Str 25/ Dex 18/ Con 20/ Int 3/ Wis 16/ Cha 3.
Advance Con at 12. The rest goes to Str.



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


1st
Arcane hunter wild shape ranger 1
+1
+2
+2
+0
Survival 4, Knowledge (nature) 4, Spot 4.
Toughness, B: Track.
Favored enemy: Arcanists +2, Wild empathy, Fast movement


2nd
Ranger 2
+2
+3
+3
+0
Survival 5, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 1.
-
-


3rd
Ranger 3
+3
+3
+3
+1
Survival 6, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 1, Handle animal 2.
Alertness, B:Endurance
-


4th
Ranger 4
+4
+4
+4
+1
Survival 7, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 1, Handle animal 4.
-
Animal companion (Hawk), spells.


5th
Ranger 5
+5
+4
+4
+1
Survival 8, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Favored enemy: Arcanists +4/ Undead +2, Wild shape.


6th
Master of many forms 1
+5
+6
+6
+1
Survival 9, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
Improved flight
Shifter’s speech, Improved wild shape (humanoid)


7th
MoMF 2
+6
+7
+7
+1
Survival 10, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Improved wild shape (Giant; large)


8th
Animal lord (Birdlord) 1
+7
+9
+9
+1
Survival 11, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Animal bond (birds), Detect birds, +Wild empathy.


9th
Birdlord 2
+8
+10
+10
+1
Survival 12, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
Self-Sufficient
First totem (+4 spot)


10th
Birdlord 3
+9
+10
+10
+2
Survival 13, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Wild aspect 1/day (wings).


11th
Primeval 1
+10
+12
+10
+2
Survival 14, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Primeval form 1/day (Megaraptor), Dinosaur empathy


12th
Primeval 2
+11
+13
+10
+2
Survival 15, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
Steadfast determination
Regression 1


13th
Primeval 3
+12
+13
+11
+3
Survival 16, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Feral power 1


14th
Primeval 4
+13
+14
+11
+3
Survival 17, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Primeval form 2/day


15th
Primeval 5
+14
+14
+11
+3
Survival 18, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
Multiattack
Regression 2, Scent


16th
Primeval 6
+15
+15
+12
+4
Survival 19, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Feral power 2


17th
Primeval 7
+16
+15
+12
+4
Survival 20, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Primeval form 3/day.


18th
Primeval 8
+17
+16
+12
+4
Survival 21, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
Power attack
Regression 3, Fast movement


19th
Primeval 9
+18
+16
+13
+5
Survival 22, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Feral power 4


20th
Primeval 10
+19
+17
+13
+5
Survival 23, Knowledge (nature) 5, Spot 4, Heal 2, Handle animal 5.
-
Primeval form 4/day, Primeval shapeshifter.




A note on spellcasting: From level 4 onward, Free can cast 0 1st level ranger spells per day before his wisdom bonus spell.

Level 5: Free (Who at this point has another name) is played mainly as a melee frontline. His hawk, Secret, makes a decent scout. Wild shape could be used for flying or aquatic forms if necessary, or for Fleshraker/leopard as his fighting form. He makes an excellent tracker, and always will.

Level 10: Free now has access to stone giant form, humanoid forms, and to the megaraptor (land chicken) form. He also has Wild Aspect now, which he can use on top of his wild shape to gain flight with forms that don’t have it. It is at this level that he becomes Free, the winged land chicken. He also gains a slight advancement to animal empathy, spot, and his effective druid level for Secret.

Level 15: Primeval form, the defining feature, comes online - with wings, if necessary. At this point, it can be used to go megaraptor 2 to 5 times a day, depending on wild shape use allocation. Regression is very useful, and only hurts the first time. Scent is useful for tracking.
Steadfast determination goes online despite a good Wis score, because in primeval form the Con advantage is just too good to give up. When in this form, Free’s will save becomes pretty good (+13 at this level) despite his low base save.

Level 20: 4-7 uses of Primeval form, depending on allocation. Power attack, when combined with a Str score of 41 in that form, allows for decent damage. 19/20 BAB, great ability scores all around, same main flying dinosaur shtick. Free is the hidden dragon, the winged land chicken.
A cute little synergy is humanoid wild shape from MoMF and the Primeval’s fast movement “for humanoid shape.” Should get him to 50 feet when in a medium humanoids shape.

Free is built to account for the strengths and weaknesses of the Primeval, and to lean into them both mechanically and thematically. He starts out with a score of 4 in both Int and Cha, and they’re both completely irrelevant to him by the time regression shifts them to 3. He has very high physical attributes, and is focused first and foremost on Survival. As an Aghar, he has ample reason to reject civilization and revert back to a more primitive state.

Free uses the combination of Primeval form and Birdlord’s wild aspect to become the hidden dragon - a flying dinosaur. The flight speed is identical to the ground speed, which for a megaraptor with fast movement (from wild shape ranger) is 70 feet. This alone helps him get over one of the main hurdles of primeval form.

Master of many forms is not only helpful for the variety it offers to the limited by nature primeval - it is also completely necessary for Free to work to begin with. Without MoMF’s ability to allow for large wild shapes, which applies to primeval form as well, Free would be stuck with only medium options for his primeval form. It also gives him 2 more uses of wild shape per day, for 3 uses total. These could be used by themselves to become a giant, a humanoid, or an animal - but they can also be used to fuel more uses of either primeval form or wild aspect.

In conclusion, Free is meant to be able to get the most out of his primeval form with high physical attributes and the option of flying while in raptor form, get the most out of his scent by having maxed out survival with racial bonuses on top, barely be hurt by regression by only losing 1 point from each attribute, and having the flexibility that Primeval so clearly lacks.

Low light vision, unfortunately, is redundant.

Dragonlance campaign setting: The Aghar (gully dwarves).
Complete Mage: Arcane hunter ranger ACF.
Unearthed Arcana: Variant (Wild Shape) ranger.
Complete Adventurer: Animal lord and Master of many forms classes. Improved flight (feat).
Player’s handbook II: Steadfast determination.
Monster’s Manual: Megaraptor (erattaed), Multiattack.
Frostburn: The Primeval.

[The Viscount]

"Can I have wildshape uses?"
"For wildshape?"
"Yeeeeees"
[Actually uses for primeval]


Jakkan Ha’gar
CN Minion 1/Ranger 3/Fighter 2/Barbarian 1/ Warshaper 3/ primeval 10


3d6+3d8+12d10+1d12+an ever changing amount of hp’s.
32 point buy:
STR 12 DEX 12 CON 12 INT 12 WIS 16 CHA 14
racial:
STR 10 DEX 14 CON 12 INT 12 WIS 16 CHA 14
Warshaper:
STR 14 DEX 14 CON 16 INT 12 WIS 16 CHA 14
Primeval:
12th STR 15 DEX 15 CON 17 INT 11 WIS 17 CHA 13
15th STR 16 DEX 16 CON 18 INT 10 WIS 18 CHA 12
18th STR 17 DEX 17 CON 19 INT 9 WIS 19 CHA 11

Level ups
5- STR 9- CON 13- WIS 17- DEX
FINAL:
STR 18 DEX 18 CON 20 INT 9 WIS 20 CHA 11
Ghostwise Halfling (FRCS 18): As phb except: Speak w/o Sound (Su) communicate telepathically to any creature in 20ft, must share language), don’t get +1 to saves. +2 DEX, -2 STR, Small (+1 AC/attack, +4 Hide) speed 20, +2 climb/jump/move silently/listen. +2 saves vs fear, +1 attacks w/ slings/thrown weapons. Automatically speak common/Halfling.
Arcane Hunter acf (CMage 32) as favored enemy but for anything capable of arcane spells/sla’s or invocaitons
Dragonscale Husk acf: (DrM 12) lose armor prof from fighter, gain scaly hide 6+ 1/3 of all class levels that grant you heavy armor prof. Scaling energy resistance. (acid/cold/fire/elec 5 @ 6th, 10 @ 11th, 15 @ 16th.) Since it’s not treated as armor, it doesn’t disappear when you wild/primeval shape.
Spiritual Connection acf (ranger) (CC 50): lose wild empathy, gain speak w/ animals/plants as sla’s of ranger level up to 3/day total.

Mulhorandi Divine Minion: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20050209a LA +1 Template: gain wild shape as 11th lvl druid (tiny, small, med, large), at will as a free action, no time limit. Change type to outsider, (extraplanar)
-Anhur: Lion
Also gain fear immunity
“as 11th lvl druid” do you take that to still have the HD restriction in place, or as an 11th meaning up to 11hd forms. It could go both ways. If the HD restriction is still in place, you can become a lion at 5th, and a dire lion at 8th. If the HD restriction isn’t in place, you could do so immediately at 2nd level. Then of course apply all the things below to your lion forms.
Warshaper:
Immune to stunning/critical hits, increase natural attacks one step, grow others appropriate to size. +4 STR/CON, gain 5ft of reach for all attacks.


Dire Badger:
Medium
Speed 30, Burrow 10
AC 16 (touch 3, flat 3)
BAB/Grapple +2/+4
Full Attack 2 claws +4 melee (1d4+2) and bite -1 melee (1d6+1)
Lowlight, Scent
F+7, R+6, W+4
Str 14 Dex 17 Con 19 Int 2 Wis 12 Cha 10
Listen/Spot +6
Alertness, Toughness, (B) Track
Horrid Template (ECS 289)
add to any dire animal as inherited template
Increase NA by+5
Acidic Attack (Ex) primary attack deals an extra 1d6 acid per 4hd (max 5d6)
Ill Tempered (Ex) Handle Animal checks involving a horrid animal suffer -4 penalty.
Immunity to Acid (Ex)
Improved Natural Healing (Ex) recover 3hp/HD with a full nights rest
Increase Con +4
(B) Improved Natural Attack for all natural weapons
LA +0
Magebred Template (ECS 295)
+2 Natural Armor
+4 to either STR, DEX, or CON, +2 to the others
Thick Skinned: Increase Natural Armor a further +2
Gain one of the following as a bonus feat: Alertness, Athletic, Endurance, Imp Nat Attack, Multiattack*
Primeval Form:
Magebred Horrid Dire Badger
Medium, Speed 60/Burrow 10/Fly 60 avg
STR 18 DEX 19 CON 25
AC 32 (nat 12, dex 4, dragonscale 6) (flat 22, touch 14)
2x Claws (1d8+8 +1d6 acid) bite 2d6+4)
Immune to acid/fear/stunning/critical hits, Lowlight 4x, Scent
Acidic Attack, Improved Natural Healing, Lowlight, Scent
(B) Multiattack, (B) Improved Natural Attack (B) Track, Alertness, Toughness
At 11th:
Add to your STR +8, DEX +8, CON +14
STR 23 (+6) DEX 22 (+6) CON 31 (+10) in primeval form
At 13th LV:
Increase STR/DEX/CON/NA +2
Add to your STR +10, DEX +10, CON +16
STR 25 (+7) DEX 25 (+7) CON 33 (+11) NA 14 in primeval form
At 16th LVL
Increase STR/CON/NA a further +2
Add to your STR +12, CON +18
STR 28 (+9) DEX 26 (+8) CON 37 (+13) NA 16 in primeval form
At 19th LVL:
Increase STR a further +2, NA a further +4
Add to your STR +14
STR 31 (+10) DEX 28 (+9) CON 38 (+14) NA 20 in primeval form

Per the chair’s decision: You can use wild shape uses to change into your primeval form, still at 1min/lvl. Since you have unlimited Wild Shape Uses, you can Primeval at will. Further, things that affect Wild Shape, can affect your Primeval Form.


Life as one of Anhur’s Chosen is never a dull affair. There is no such thing as a routine day. Dawn could see me standing guard duty outside the temple walls, and nightfall could see me ranging far out into the wilderness for any number of reasons. I have travelled far and wide in His service. From the frozen tundra of the far north, to the desert wastelands of the deep south. To the lands of Eberron in the east, and the wilds of Rasheman in the west. I have seen all manner of men, beasts, and all things in between on my journey.
I don’t know why I was Chosen, perhaps in His infinite wisdom, the Great Anhur saw in me a glorious destiny that I would one day fulfill as his servant upon this plane. For certain, there is a strength in me that rises to the surface when the need for it appears. For certain there is a great, and undying affinity I share with his totem animal. Perhaps it is because that is not the only affinity I have, for I share that loyalty with the bear and the tiger as well. I am a man of many facets. I could be standing next to you in the bread line, I could be whipping you for poor work, I could be begging upon the ground, I could be ripping your throat out with tooth and claw. I could be anywhere, and anything. As inevitable as the ocean tide, a constant yet quiet reminder of the vastness that is the Great Anhur.
I have embraced the animal within, pray you do the same, before it is to late.





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


1st
Mulhorandi Divine Minion Template






Wild Shape as 11th lvl druid at will, free action, no time limit, lions only. Fear Immunity


2nd
Ranger
+1
+2
+2
+0
Handle 3, Listen 4, Move 4, Know Nature 4, Spot 4, Survival 3, cc-Know Arcana 1, cc-Know Local (Rasheman) 2
Eagle’s Wings
Arcane Hunter ACF, Track, Spiritual Connection ACF


3rd
Ranger 2
+2
+3
+3
+0
Handle 5, Listen 5, Move 5, Know Nature 5, Spot 5, Survival 4
(B) Rapid Shot
Combat Style (Archery)


4th
Ranger 3
+3
+3
+3
+1
Hide 1, Listen 6, Move 6, Know Nature 6, Spot 6, Survival 6
Dragontouched, (B) Endurance



5th
Bear Totem Barbarian
+4
+5
+3
+1
Listen 7, Survival 7, Swim 3
(B) Toughness
Illeteracy, Rage 1/day


6th
Fighter
+5
+7
+3
+1
Swim 4, cc-Know Nature 7
(B)Combat Reflexes
Dragonscale Husk ACF


7th
Fighter 2
+6
+8
+3
+1
Climb 3
Wolverine’s Rage, (B)Snow Tiger Berserker



8th
Warshaper
+6
+10
+3
+1
Swim 5, cc-Know Nature 8
-
Morphic Immunities, Morphic Weapons


9th
Warshaper 2
+7
+11
+4
+2
Escape Artist 3

Morphic Body


10th
Warshaper 3
+8
+11
+4
+2
Escape Artist 4, cc-Know Nature 9
Self Sufficient
Morphic Reach


11th
Primeval
+9
+13
+4
+2
Know Nature 10, Spot 8
-
Primeval Form, Animal Empathy


12th
Primeval 2
+10
+14
+4
+2
Know Nature 11, Spot 9

Regression 1, Lowlight Vision


13th
Primeval 3
+11
+14
+5
+3
Know Nature 12, Spot 10
Cheetah’s Speed
Feral Power 1


14th
Primeval 4
+12
+15
+5
+3
Know Nature 13, Survival 8

Primeval Form 2/day


15th
Primeval 5
+13
+15
+5
+3
Know Nature 14, Survival 9

Regression 2, Scent


16th
Primeval 6
+14
+16
+6
+4
Know Nature 15, Survival 10
Dragon Wild Shape
Feral Power 2


17th
Primeval 7
+15
+16
+6
+4
Listen 9

Primeval Form 3/day


18th
Primeval 8
+16
+17
+6
+4
Listen 11

Regression 3, Fast Movement


19th
Primeval 9
+17
+17
+7
+5
Spot 11
Diving Charge
Feral Power 3


20th
Primeval 10
+18
+18
+7
+5
Survival 11

Primeval Form 4/day, Primeval Shapechanger



Feats:
2: Eagle’s Wings- spend a wild shape to grow feathery wings, gain flying 60/avg for 1hr
3: (B) Rapid Shot
4: Dragontouched- gain dragonblood subtype, +1 HP, +1 Listen/Search/Spot, +1 saves vs paralysis/sleep. (B) Endurance- feat tax
5: (B) Toughness – feat tax, but hey, +3 hp!
6: (B) Combat Reflexes – additional AoO’s for our ever growing DEX score/Warshaper’s Reach
7: Wolverine’s Rage- after taking damage, spend a wild shape use as free action to enter rage for 5 rounds, +2 str/con, -2 AC. (B) Snow Tiger Berserker- make a full attack as part of a charge with light weapons (natural weapons are light weapons https://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#weaponFinesse ).
10: Self Sufficient – feat tax
13: Cheetah’s Speed- spend wild shape use to set base land speed to 50 for 1 hour, and can charge at 10x normal speed 1/hr. Minimum 500ft.
16: Dragon Wild Shape- any small or med dragon, gain all (Ex) and (Su) abilities other than spellcasting,
completely and utterly broken. Paired with high speed forms, Cheetah’s speed/Snow Tiger above could be as high as 1500ft plus on a charge in one round. Ludicrous! http://web.archive.org/web/20080919131238/http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-404381
19: Diving Charge- you’re almost always gonna be at the max damage bonus of 3d6.


https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/340c109d-7c0c-4e0b-bdda-5ff5aad715ea/d3jnjyh-6ddd38f5-171b-45dd-8d60-49fc4757a880.jpg/v1/fill/w_900,h_1200,q_75,strp/flying_lion_by_bisanti_d3jnjyh-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI 1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6 Iiwib2JqIjpbW3siaGVpZ2h0IjoiPD0xMjAwIiwicGF0aCI6Il wvZlwvMzQwYzEwOWQtN2MwYy00ZTBiLWJkZGEtNWZmNWFhZDcx NWVhXC9kM2puanloLTZkZGQzOGY1LTE3MWItNDVkZC04ZDYwLT Q5ZmM0NzU3YTg4MC5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9OTAwIn1dXSwi YXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX 0.aB5HnRxh4IhJ1pMnRdxz505Wc-DqbYitfneWeBgQ1Fk

Since you can wild shape/primeval at will as a free action, and both work like polymorph (regain hp as if you had rested a night) each time you do it, and Horrid provides 3hp/HD, you can do so repeatedly for essentially unlimited healing, in or out of combat. So depending on how many free actions you can take in a round, or how permissive your DM might be on allowing you to flicker back and forth, determines the cheese factor you have for nearly limitless instantaneous free healing. There is no hard restriction other than that mentioned below on the number of free actions you can take in a round however, so it’s a big grey area. Even if only restricted to 1/rd, that’s still 57 HP’s a round (at 20th) in free healing by reshaping yourself. Fast Healing xHD, and later 3xHD for the entire build is pretty epic…

https://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm
You have unlimited Wild Shapes, so at 2nd level, you have free flight, 60ft avg forever. At 7th, you can rage for 5 rounds anytime you take damage forever (+2 STR/CON -2 AC). At 13th you can increase your land speed to 50, and make a charge at 500ft 1/hr. Paired with Snow Tiger gives you a full attack at the end of this massive charge as well.(https://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#charge which should pretty much be a surprise attack..). Fast Movement at 18th then makes this a 600ft charge! All these benefits work in any form you’re in. It’s important to note it simply says “normal speed” not base land speed, not flying speed, normal speed. So pick a movement type/speed, and charge away. Question, would activating the feat by spending another of your endless wild shapes reset the timer on the charge ability from distance? While not optimal, imagine a flying Halfling charging you from 500ft away, then free action into primeval form right before impact

https://blog.gskinner.com/blog/assets/AIRBadger.jpg

Spiritual Connections gives you 3/day of any combination of speak with plants or animals. Primeval would have you lose the ability to speak, but your racial ability grants you telepathic communication to anything w/in 20 ft as long as you share a language. These SLA’s grant you those languages outright.

You have only 1/day of Barbarian rage, but you have unlimited Wolverine’s Rage as long as you take damage. So you can stack them if needed for some extra boost, but otherwise Wolverine’s is strictly superior as you aren’t fatigued afterwards.

Free action dragon wild shape is even more broken, be absolutely anything every single round, there is nothing that you aren’t immune to (immediately as a free action!) or can’t damage in some way. You have every movement mode available, and when you stack on all the other wild shape shenaniganery going on here, it gets even more ludicrous. There are plenty of dragons that get spell effects as (Su) abilities. This of course includes the myriad number of dragons that have Alternate Form as a (Su) ability. So free action become dragon, alternate form into primeval form, stack any number of special abilities/attacks (Su) and (Ex) things together. Min/max your stats to have an insane Primeval form at the end of this chain.
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/d07f1244-09f6-4638-8b94-84b181ddac54/d9gk3qr-1aa9d2da-4e4d-43d1-beb0-9f782bb9c320.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJ IUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjph cHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3sicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZDA3ZjEyNDQtMD lmNi00NjM4LThiOTQtODRiMTgxZGRhYzU0XC9kOWdrM3FyLTFh YTlkMmRhLTRlNGQtNDNkMS1iZWIwLTlmNzgyYmI5YzMyMC5qcG cifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6ZmlsZS5kb3dubG9h ZCJdfQ.6N7JZkeaRTEUrzkkOdkVGAB_Xf8xzJYUcoStIlCYpF8
https://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/speakWithAnimals.htm
https://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/speakWithPlants.htm
https://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm



https://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/direBadger.htm
http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20050209a
Complete Champion: Spiritual Connection 50
Complete Divine: Cheetah’s Speed 79, Eagle’s Wings 80, Wolverine’s Rage 86
Complete Mage: Arcane Hunter 32
Complete Warrior: Warshaper 89
Draconomicon: Dragon Wild Shape 105
Dragon Magic: Dragonscale Husk 12, Dragontouched 18
Eberron Campaign Setting: Horrid Creature 289, Magebred 295
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting: Ghostwise Halfling 18
Frostburn: Primeval 65
Player’s Handbook: Barbarian 24, Druid 33, Feats 90-91, Fighter 37, Ranger 46
Races of the Wild: Diving Charge 150
Unapproachable East: Snow Tiger Berserker 45
Unearthed Arcana: Bear Totem Barbarian 49

[The Viscount]

This image makes me very uncomfortable. (The forum is currently hiding the image, link here (http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/pictures/FRGTTH.jpg))




http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/pictures/FRGTTH.jpg


Liz: Daughter of Ragnorra



“You’re probably wondering why I’ve gathered you all here today,” the sheriff said and indulgently lit his pipe with a spark of magic. The doors were barred, and no one was getting out without being noticed.

Liz sat on the wooden chair nearest the fire. It was draped in a warm fur. The mortal skin she hid herself inside was an elderly woman. Humans tended to give them the most comfortable seats.

“The body was found shortly after sunrise. There had been no attempt at all to conceal her.” The sheriff dabbed theatrically at his dry eyes with a handkerchief.

Liz gummed around her corncob pipe. She’d had quite the time laying out that corpse. Once she’d enjoyed all the juicy bits, that was. It was hard to suppress a laugh escaping her tiny human mouth, but she muscled it down nonetheless.

A fluttering from the rafters of the inn was her cue. She glanced up at a bright, green macaw and squinted through her grandmotherly spectacles.

“Eh, what’s that, then?” Liz gestured at it with her cane, and everyone turned away from the sheriff just as he began his next point. He looked quite annoyed.

“Yes, sir, I’ll take care of the girl. Leave her at the crossroads just like you said. Won’t that be a surprise! I’ll do it or my name’s not Josiah Baker!” it squawked.

All eyes turned to a man still dressed in the rude, floury apron that exposed his profession.

“That’s a damned lie!” he shouted. “What reason would I have for it?”

“I saw your light on a’fore dawn, Joe,” someone said.

“I’m the baker, you simpleton!” Josiah took off one of his boots and threw it at the macaw, which dodged with a flick of its wings.

“It’s just an animal, Joe. Well, I guess that’s that, then. Bailiff, tie him up. I’ll go round to the town hall and find that whosit to build up a gallows and you lot can draw to see who’s hangman this time.” The sheriff put his cards away as surreptitiously as he could. He’d had a speech planned, poor thing.

The bailiff glanced at Josiah and ensconced him in a block of translucent force. “Ain’t we got the gallows from last time shrunk down, sheriff?” he asked.

The sheriff got a bit red in the face and unbarred the door. “We have, but it got lost. Back in two shakes. Next round’s mine on account of the unpleasantness.” After that, it was a simple enough matter for Liz to slip out. No one paid much attention when the macaw followed her once the door was left open.

“Hardly seems sportsmanlike, does it?” the bird said once it perched on her shoulder and she was quite sure she was alone.

Liz reached into her borrowed shape’s pockets and gave him a barley sugar, tougher than a lump of iron, to chew on for a while.

“Contract was to kill the baker, Cruz. Didn’t say how. Why bother getting my own hands dirty?” she said. They’d been walking a while now.

“Speaking of dirty, where the hell you taking us?” Cruz complained, having crushed the thing in his curved beak.

“Patron said he’d arrange for payment to be left here once it was done.” Liz nudged at a large, flat rock with her walking stick to flip it over, still strong as ever despite her wizened mortal guise.

“And if it’s not?” Cruz teased. He hopped off her shoulder and stood on a branch at eye level.

“Then I’m going to collect another pelt is what.” Liz grunted and flipped over the rock. Sure enough, a bag of gold was where it belonged, albeit slightly muddy.

“Speaking of, you want to get out of the old lady now? I’m hungry.” Cruz whistled to hurry her along.

“I guess I don’t need it anymore.” Liz hooked her thumb into the edge of the human’s lower lip where it stuck to her own and peeled herself. She tossed the limp, empty skin over a branch where Cruz could pick at it and concerned herself with the creepies and crawlies she’d exposed beneath the stone.

“Sure you’re not having any? It’s where all the vitamins are,” Cruz said in between pecks.

Liz shot out her tongue and caught a crunchy centipede. “Nah.”


Liz dipped her wolf maw into a stream to rinse the blood and gristle off it.

Cruz swept in and perched on a stone nearby to peck at fish who swum by him too slowly. “I thought the brief for this one said to make it look like an accident.”

Once her reflection was clean, or clean enough, Liz shrugged off the beast shape and rested in her natural froggish glory. She lined up her foot with the boots of her latest quarry to check their size. Damn. She never could get a target who was the right size. Humans had such ridiculously narrow feet.

“Yeah, accident. As in, he accidentally went into the woods without checking hisself, and was consequently mauled to death by a wolf.” Liz patted at his pockets for rings and coins.

“Check if he’s got any seeds or anything in his purse,” Cruz chirped.

“I’ve seen you untie knots before. Can’t you do it?” Liz felt something made of hide in the jacket pocket and opened it. A book detailing the unfathomable form of a creature called Ragnorra.

“No, but, you see, you don’t understand. I wanted you to do it for me,” Cruz grumbled and bit through the man’s purse himself to pick at a few dried figs.

“Check this out. This fellow was researching a thing called a Ragnorra. Says all monsters around today and even some that aren’t sprung from her loins. Imagine that. I could just turn into her and have the swiftness of a wolf, the strength of a bear—“

“The cleverness of a parrot,” Cruz mumbled, nibbling at the purse itself now that it was empty.

“And more. I think we might’ve broken even on this one after all. Sure took us long enough,” Liz said.

“I guess. Where to now? Got any more work?” Cruz alighted on her shoulder.

Liz checked the calendar in the back of her target’s journal and compared it to his final entry.

“Looks like we have time for some play. This fellow was expected in the town cross the river in two days’ time. Meeting a professor of antiquities. You know what that means.” Liz knelt and opened her target’s vest.

“Old crap mammals will pay ten times as much for?” Cruz asked, cocking his head to the side.

“Exactly. It’d be terribly rude of him to keep the professor waiting, wouldn’t it?” Liz drew a dotted line from the edge of her target’s beard with a wax crayon and began down his chest. “Get me my skinnin’ knife.”

For once, Cruz didn’t argue.

The professor hadn’t exactly put up much of a fight. Liz barely got to give him one good crack across the back of the head with a rock filled with quartz he’d said was called a “geode” and he very cooperatively fell over and died.

“Watching you kill these old farts is so boring,” Cruz whined. He perched atop a wingback chair and looked around the professor’s study at a variety of stuffed and mounted specimens. Some were animals that still stalked the woods and deserts and moors today. Some were things that hadn’t ventured out of the primordial muck in centuries, or perhaps even longer.

“Yeah, I’m sure you’d like to see me fight a bear or something. Bears don’t tend to have the kinds of enemies what pay.” Liz was already elbow deep in the professor’s desk looking for
things that shone, sparkled, or jingled.

“If one did, I’m sure it’d be enough where we didn’t go round knocking down old men for pennies. What kind of enemies you think this ugly brute had? Other dragons or something?” Cruz, impatient, hopped off the chair and onto an enormous, broad skull, festooned with spikes. Liz stepped away from the desk, finding little of interest, and examined it. There was a sketch beneath it, showing what its body might have looked like. It was like a great turtle with a club for a tail and long feet like an elephant’s.

“Doesn’t look like any dragon I’ve ever seen. Hang on.” She rifled through her bag and compared some of the illustrations of the Ragnorra. She spotted an armor plate here, a spine there.

“I think I could turn into this, y’know,” she said.

Cruz whistled. “That’d be a hell of a calling card. Might bump you up a pay grade or two.”

Liz ran her thumb along the edge of the beast’s skull. “Might.”


Cruz had been right, of course. He always was. He surveyed the grim scene before him. The rich, coppery tang of mammalian blood thick in the air wafted up into his beak. There was good eating to be had here, if his mistress ever stopped grinding it into pulp.

The target this time hadn’t been alone, but stealth was a four letter word to his mistress these days. The armored brute that was stomping on the survivors of this ill-fated caravan hadn’t had its enormous columnar feet and tons of armor plated spines honed through countless generations to catfoot around its prey.

Speaking of, he’d thought it looked like a plant eater, but Liz’d figured out how to turn into one of these things with teeth and claws. Really put the fear of Ragnorra in whatever it was she’d been tasked against.

Almost as an afterthought, Liz tread upon the head of the man she’d actually been hired to kill and crushed it like a really soft blueberry. Once her mark had been dispatched, the projection of a hooded figure sprang forth from a magic stone in Liz’s purse. She’d left Cruz to look after it while she worked.

“Hell, I asked her to send a message with this one, not write a treatise,” the figure said. “Where is that lousy frog anyway?” It shooed Cruz away with an insubstantial hand that passed straight through him.

The figure seemed reluctant but he soon changed his tune as he saw the bloody-footed creature dissolve into a neraph once more, jagged shards of bone jutting through her fingertips, sharpened through painful devotion into claws. Her jaw hung slack as she panted, exposing a mouthful of mismatched teeth, worked through some trial and error into the flesh of her gums into something she thought was appropriate for a devotee of Ragnorra: a true apex predator. A ridge of bone above each eye kept the worst of the sweat and gore from getting in the way.

“I didn’t know frogs had teeth,” the figure said and despite not really being there, took a step away from Liz nonetheless.

She grunted and Cruz landed on her bare shoulder, picking a scrap of flesh off her cheek on the way.

“This one does. Relax, fella. She’s with me. Who you want us to bump off next?”
NE neraph ranger 5/mortal hunter 3/primeval 10/mortal hunter 5


starting (normal form)
str 15 (increases here at 4 and 20)
dex 13
con 13
int 10
wis 10
cha 16 (increases here at 8, 12, and 16)

finishing (normal form)
str 18
dex 16
con 16
int 7
wis 13
cha 16

finishing (primeval form)
str 34
dex 14
con 30
int 7
wis 13
cha 16





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


1st
Ranger 1
+1
+2
+2
+0
handle animal 4, k (arcana) 2 (1), k (nature) 2, listen 4, ms 4, survival 4, tumble 4
Mortalbane, Track (bonus), Willing Deformity (elder evil)
1st favored enemy (arcanists), wild empathy, fast movement


2nd
Ranger 2
+2
+3
+3
+0
handle animal 1 (5), k (nature) 1 (3), listen 1 (5), ms 1 (5), survival 1 (5), tumble 1 (5)




3rd
Ranger 3
+3
+3
+3
+1
handle animal 1 (6), k (nature) 1 (4), listen 1 (6), speak language 2 (1) (common), tumble 1 (6)
Self-Sufficient, Endurance (bonus)



4th
Ranger 4
+4
+4
+4
+1
handle animal 1 (7), k (nature) 1 (5), listen 1 (6), survival 2 (7), tumble 1 (7)
Alertness (bonus)
urban companion (parrot)


5th
Ranger 5
+5
+4
+4
+1
handle animal 1 (8), k (nature) 1 (6), listen 1 (7), ms 1 (6), survival 1 (8), tumble 1 (8)
Deformity: clawed hands (elder evil)
2nd favored enemy (humanoid: human), wild shape 1/day (small and medium animals)


6th
Mortal Hunter 1
+6/+1
+6
+4
+1
disguise 4
azure toughness
Mortal hunting +1, mortal skin (any humanoid)


7th
Mortal Hunter 2
+7/+2
+7
+4
+1
disguise 4 (8)

Detect mortals, Boost Spell-Like Ability


8th
Mortal Hunter 3
+8/+3
+7
+5
+2
disguise 3 (11), listen 1 (8)

Mortal hunting +2


9th
Primeval 1
+9/+4
+9
+5
+2
listen 2 (10)
shape soulmeld (sphinx claws)
Primeval form (cave ankylosaurus) 1/day, animal empathy


10th
Primeval 2
+10/+5
+10
+5
+2
listen 1 (11)
Murderous Intent (elder evil)
Regression 1, low-light vision


11th
Primeval 3
+11/+6/+1
+10
+6
+3
listen 1 (12)

Feral power


12th
Primeval 4
+12/+7/+2
+11
+6
+3
listen 1 (13)
open least chakra (hand)
Primeval form 2/day


13th
Primeval 5
+13/+8/+3
+11
+6
+3
listen 1 (14)

Regression 2, scent


14th
Primeval 6
+14/+9/+4
+12
+7
+4
listen 1 (15)

Feral power 2


15th
Primeval 7
+15/+10/+5
+12
+7
+4
listen 1 (16)
power attack, Deformity: madness (elder evil)
Primeval form 3/day


16th
Primeval 8
+16/+11/+6/+1
+13
+7
+4
listen 1 (17)

Regression 3, fast movement


17th
Primeval 9
+17/+12/+7/+2
+13
+8
+5
listen 1 (18)

Feral power 3


18th
Primeval 10
+18/+13/+8/+3
+14
+8
+5
listen 1 (19)
steadfast determination
Primeval form 4/day, primeval shapechanger


19th
Mortal Hunter 4
+19/+14/+9/+4
+15
+8
+5
listen 3 (22)

smite mortals


20th
Mortal Hunter 5
+20/+15/+10/+5
+15
+8
+5
handle animal 2 (10), listen 1 (23)
deformity: teeth (elder evil)
spurn mortal magic, mortal skin (any nondragon)





Spells per Day


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


4th
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


5th
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

No advancement after 5th.



Spells per Day


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


6th
-
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


7th
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


8th
-
1
0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


[tr]
19th
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


20th
-
1
1
0
-
-
-
-
-
-


No advancement from 9-18




Welcome to the world. You are up and running as a brutal ranger. Track comes baked in to ranger to help pay taxes for mortal hunter, as does mortalbane, and your devotion to Ragnorra has rewarded you with willing deformity, which opens many doors.

Arcanists is by far the best favored enemy type, and arcane hunter allows you to pick on them. Since primeval dictates that you will seldom benefit from two weapon fighting or archery, trading combat styles away via shape-changing ranger for wild shape makes sense. It provides fast movement, alongside wild shape which provides more daily uses of primeval form once you are in primeval.

Urban companion replaces the ranger’s traditional companion. Since primeval does not progress animal companion, a smaller, more intelligent companion such as a parrot (uses the stats for raven) to aid in scouting/recon for mortal hunter since it can fly, talk and benefit from wands makes more sense. It also has the benefit of conferring alertness, paying another tax for mortal hunter.

Ranger provides endurance, shepherding you into primeval alongside self-sufficient, which is taken in the conventional fashion. Ragnorra also grants claws dealing 1d6 damage. Since vile feats are supernatural, they stick with you even in wild shape, and later in primeval form, so if you turn into a form without claws, you can tack them on for additional attacks.

You’re also in ranger long enough to unlock your spellcasting which grants you access to wands. The ranger list is quite good and you can augment your martial abilities handily with its spells.

Kite around and kill mortals. Your favored enemies stack, so when possible, you are especially effective against human arcanists, and only grow more so later on when you throw on your bonus hunting mortals.


You have entered primeval as early as possible, and have gotten your feet wet in mortal hunter as well, entering as the frog-like neraph. Azure toughness (which explicitly counts as toughness for the purpose of prerequisites) pays the final tax for primeval, alongside providing some essentia for later.

Mortal hunter allows you to do a number of cool things. Mortal hunting juices your favored enemy stuff against all mortals (non-outsiders, constructs, undead, or fey) alongside tracking them with detect mortals, which fits nicely with primeval and will help you stalk your prey until your scent special ability from primeval is up.

Mortal skin allows you to transform into any humanoid to blend in to any environment, and remain in it indefinitely as long as you’re wearing that particular sheep’s clothing to impersonate them. Your spells will also aid you in your hunt, granting access to goodies like charm person and protection from good to shield you from unfriendly effects.

Your primeval form of cave ankylosaurus is now online, providing an unbeatable AC alongside a powerful trample attack and tail. Ragnorra’s claws stick with you, making you more dangerous. The sphinx claws provide assistance to strength checks, and lay groundwork for you to pounce later, attacking with all natural attacks in scenarios where trampling isn’t needed. Murderous intent is also online, and since you have so many attacks, you will have many chances to crit against enemies. Taking a full-round to stagger enemies is also useful when dealing with single foes.


You’re further along in primeval, and have unlocked your hand chakra. Sphinx claws’s hand bind gives you pounce with natural attacks, letting you claw and tail at the end of a charge with murderous intent automatically confirming crits. Your scent is online, making it easier for you to snif out mortals, and feral power is making you hardier. Your regression has progressed, and Ragnorra has granted you madness to protect you from most effects that would otherwise influence your mind.


You’re moving around more quickly now and have completed primeval. Steadfast determination allows your prodigious con to protect you from the will save effects that are not mind-affecting, letting you use con instead of wis if you want to.

You get to a great breakpoint in mortal hunter, providing useful offensive and utility options when you are outside of primeval form or it’s not the best one to accomplish your goals. Any non-dragon form is now on the table for you, alongside a smite to deal extra damage to mortals. You also gain access to your 2nds and 3rds, opening up things like hold person, see invisibility, suggestion, and nondetection to aid your hunt. Ragnorra has granted you a bite, making you more dangerous in any form, so enjoy the hunt.



srd: ranger, shape-changing ranger, power attack, self-sufficient, track, endurance, alertness, raven
planar handbook: neraph
complete mage: arcane hunter
stormwrack: parrot
book of vile darkness: mortal hunter, mortalbane
frostburn: primeval
elder evils: murderous intent, willing deformity, deformity (clawed hands), deformity (madness), deformity (teeth), elder evil devotion
miniatures handbook: cave ankylosaurus
skilled city dweller (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)
phb 2: steadfast determination
magic of incarnum: shape soulmeld, open least chakra, azure toughness
urban companion (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)

[The Viscount]

Now toads? Oh, they're much worse.


“Watch out for anything out of the ordinary,” whispered one of the sellswords behind me. “Any broken branches, any loose fur.”

“F-f-f-f-fur?” replied his younger friend. I could practically hear his eyes widen with fear. “Why fur?”

“They say she picked the bear as her totem animal when she first came here. They say she was so devoted to the bear, that she became one.” The sellsword paused. “A giant. Angry. Dire. Bear.”

I sighed.

“Got anything to say, dwarf?” Asked the sellsword, more than a hint of anger in his voice. I guess I ruined his show.

“Yes actually.” I replied. “Everything you just said is wrong.”

“Excuse me? I’ll have you know, I heard it from a very, very reliable source, you little savage. A cleric of Tiamat, in fact.”

“I’m sure you did.” I replied. “Thing is, people think Dwarven and Wild Dwarven are the same language. They’re not. They’re very similar, but they’re not. It’s all a translation issue.”

“What do you mean?” Less angry than confused, now.

“The story you told, it’s all true. Except for the name of the animal. She’s not a bear.”

“Well, what is she, then?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but the words turned to a scream on my tongue.





A green flash of death.



NG female wild dwarf dragonborn of Bahamut (Heart). Ranger 1/ Barbarian 4/ fist of the forest 1/ deepwarden 2/ warblade 2/ primeval 10.
Ability scores: Str 17/ Dex 6 (8)/ Con 22 (18)/ Int 11/ Wis 8/ Cha 6 (8).
All level advancements go to Con.



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


1st
ACF (see below) Ranger 1
+1
+2
+2
+0
Knowledge (nature) 4, knowledge (dungeoneering) 4, handle animal 4, survival 4, heal 4, concentration 4.
Power attack
Trapfinding, fast movement, Favored environment (jungle), spiritual connection.


2nd
Toad (bear) totem Barbarian 1
+1
+4
+2
+0
Knowledge (nature) 4, knowledge (dungeoneering) 4, handle animal 4, survival 4, heal 4, concentration 4, jump 4.
B: toughness
Rage


3rd
Barbarian 2
+3
+5
+2
+0
Knowledge (nature) 4, knowledge (dungeoneering) 4, handle animal 4, survival 4, heal 4, concentration 4, jump 4, climb 4.
Improved unarmed strike, B: improved grapple
-


4th
Barbarian 3
+4
+5
+3
+1
Knowledge (nature) 4, knowledge (dungeoneering) 4, handle animal 5, survival 5, heal 4, concentration 4, jump 5, climb 5.
B: Great fortitude.
-


5th
Fist of the forest 1
+5
+7
+5
+1
Knowledge (nature) 4, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 5, heal 4, concentration 4, jump 5, climb 5.
-
Fast movement (+), AC bonus (con) Feral trance 1/day, Unarmed damage.


6th
Barbarian 4
+6
+8
+5
+1
Knowledge (nature) 4, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 5, heal 5, concentration 4, jump 7, climb 5.
Endurance
Rage 2/day


7th
Deepwarden 1
+7
+10
+5
+3
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 5, heal 5, concentration 5, jump 10, climb 5.
B: track
Trap sense +1


8th
Deepwarden 2
+8
+11
+5
+4
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 8, jump 11, climb 5.
-
Stone warden


9th
Warblade 1
+9
+13
+5
+4
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 12, jump 11, climb 5.
Self sufficient
Maneuvers, Weapon aptitude


10th
Primeval 1
+10
+15
+5
+4
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 13, jump 12, climb 5.
-
Primeval (dire toad) form, Toad empathy


11th
Primeval 2
+11
+16
+5
+4
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 14, jump 13, climb 5.
-
Regression 1, low-light vision


12th
Primeval 3
+12
+16
+6
+5
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 15, jump 14, climb 5.
Steady concentration
Feral power 1


13th
Primeval 4
+13
+17
+6
+5
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 16, jump 15, climb 5.
-
Primeval form 2/day


14th
Primeval 5
+14
+17
+6
+5
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 17, jump 15, climb 5.
-
Regression 2, scent


15th
Primeval 6
+15
+18
+7
+6
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 18, jump 15, climb 5.
Defensive Sweep
Feral Power 2


16th
Primeval 7
+16
+18
+7
+6
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 19, jump 15, climb 5.
-
Primeval form 3/day


17th
Primeval 8
+17
+19
+7
+6
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 20, jump 15, climb 5.
-
Regression 3, fast movement


18th
Primeval 9
+18
+19
+8
+7
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 20, jump 16, climb 5.
Reckless rage
Feral power 3


19th
Primeval 10
+19
+20
+8
+7
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 20, jump 17, climb 5.
-
Primeval form 4/day, primeval shapechanger


20th
Warblade 2
+20
+21
+8
+7
Knowledge (nature) 5, knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, handle animal 5, survival 7, heal 5, concentration 23, jump 17, climb 5.
-
Uncanny dodge




Ranger ACFs:Frough-Gee is a variant (wildshape) ranger with the trap expert, favored environment, and spiritual connection ACFs. The sources for all of those are given in the sources tab.

Maneuvers and stances: At level 9, Frough-Gee takes the Diamond Mind maneuvers Moment of Perfect Mind and Insightful Strike, and the Stone Dragon maneuver Mountain Hammer. She also takes the Stone Dragon stance Crushing Weight of The Mountain.
At 20th level, she takes the Diamond Mind maneuver Greater Insightful Strike.

Level 5: Frough-Gee, at this point, is a pretty run of the mill frontline. She’s slightly more skilled than most, and she can find some moderately hidden traps if she gets very lucky. She has a LOT of HP, a theme that’ll stay relevant throughout her life, and as a fist of the forest her AC is fine. She has Feral trance and rage to get her through the day, and her Str is pretty good at 17. She has a breath weapon for appropriate circumstances.
She’s also pretty quick, at 40 feet as a small creature, and she grapples OK despite her size.

Level 10: ALL HAIL THE TOAD OF WRATH
All of the ingredients are now online. Constitution can be very high - starting at 22, and getting boosted through levels, The toad form itself (+4), and rage. Not all of those count for HP, but they all count for fortitude saves, the breath weapon save DC, the toad poison save DC, and Concentration checks - which can be used as will saves or as damage. Since the toad form’s full attack is just one attack anyway, always using a strike makes perfect sense.
With the stance online as well, a typical melee attack by the toad of wrath will look like a strike+grab+constrict, with swallow whole as an option for small creatures. She can do all of that with a standard action, meaning she can reposition whenever. Against some foes, attacking and moving away may be a superior option - leaving them unable to perform a full attack.

Level 15: 6th level of primeval. Regression and Feral power have joined the party, increasing the all-important Con, among other things. Steady concentration gives a lot of breathing space for saves, and could be useful for insightful strike. Defensive sweep is always useful, and gives another chance to use poison and constrict.

Level 20: 4 primeval forms per day, 2 rage uses per day, and greater insightful strike. When the toad of wrath is in full capacity, she has a Con score of 44 without any items. That means a DC of 37 for her poison or breath weapon, and a reliable roll of 50 on concentration - which can translate to a 100 damage on a greater insightful strike. It also means an AC of 51, and ungodly amounts of HP - even without rage or primeval form, her Con stands at a very respectable 30.
Not having rage makes those numbers drop very slightly - though it should be mentioned, her rage lasts for 20 rounds when in her true form. Not having Primeval form is significantly worse, but still manageable, and should be pretty rare.

Frough-Gee can leap around doing respectable damage, grappling enemies and constricting them/swallowing them whole while being nearly untouchable and having a moment of perfect mind for cases of emergency. If there happens to be a good position for a line, well, she can always belch acid instead. If and when she runs out of maneuvers, she’ll just power attack - but even then, constrict and poison follow.
Fear the Toad of Wrath.

Complete Champion: Spiritual connection ranger ACF. Fist of the forest.
Dungeonscape: Trap expert ranger ACF.
Frostburn: Primeval.
MM II: Dire Toad.
PHBII: Defensive sweep.
Races of Faerun: Wild dwarf.
Races of the Dragon: Dragonborn of Bahamut.
Races of Stone: Deepwarden, steady concentration, reckless rage.
Tome of Battle: Warblade, maneuvers.
Unearthed Arcana: Variant ranger, bear {toad} totem barbarian, Favored environment ACF.

[The Viscount]

Praise Helix!



Ocavo, the Weeping Warrior
CN Desert Orc Warblade 6/Binder 4/Giant Octopus Primeval 10

https://i.imgur.com/hwALqyh.jpeg


“Just admit it! You don’t even have a spirit animal!” Latran yelled. The rest of the kids all laughed with him.

Ocavo struggled to hold back the tears, and as usual, he failed. “I do! I’m sure I do! I just don’t know what it is yet.”

Serpa wouldn’t leave it alone though, “How can you not know what it is! All the rest of us can already transform. We’ve been able to for months, look!” Her flesh bubbled and then hardened into scales as her body rolled up and lengthened into the form of a Viper.

She snapped out at him to bite and he yelped and stumbled back, tripping over his own feet in surprise and landing in the dirt. Before even getting up, he used his Iron Heart Surge to clear the poison from his body, afraid it might be lethal. He wasn’t sure why he bothered since she could just bite him again anyway, but no other attack came.

“Look at how pathetic he is,” Latran said, Serpa’s form now coiling up around his shoulders. “He doesn’t even fight back. He didn’t even do half the fighting training, and what he did learn he wasted on boring stuff!”

“Ocavo isn’t even a challenge,” Leo said in a surly tone. Leo was the leader of their group, even if Latran was usually the one egging them on. “This is boring, and it’s always a bummer being around him anyway. Let’s go spar with the ‘zerker kids instead.”

None of his followers argued, even if Latran looked like he wanted to, and they left. Ocavo remembered when he was one of them, but those days were long gone. Mojave Academy was where all the desert orcs grew up and learned to fight, and his hopes had been high when he first arrived, years ago.

He’d liked the idea of turning into an animal when he was younger, so he’d gotten on the Primeval track from the start. Like most tracks, it involved a lot of combat training, and that was where things started to go wrong. Ocavo had tried to buckle down and learn with the other kids, but often found his attention slipping, and routinely fell into trances where he met new “friends”.

His drillers hadn’t been troubled at first, thinking he was just ahead of the game on learning about his spirit animal. But Ocavo was pretty sure none of the people he found in his trances were spirit animals. They had some animal parts, which had confused the matter at first: ram’s heads and a snake for a tail, or worm legs with a bull and lion head, or turning into a big swarm of doves, lots of things like that. He’d told the drillers about them, and they’d thought he was right on track.

He wasn’t, not at all. All the animal people were more people than animal, and they didn’t really teach him about the animal forms at all. They had a lot of other weird lessons, things that took a while to learn but generally weren’t very useful. That was pretty bad, because with all the time he missed in combat training tranced out he got super behind. And without any real progress on his animal form, he never made up his missing time.

He did manage to still pick up some martial techniques, but he wasn’t as good a fighter as any of his old friends. Even worse, once they all started actually learning their animal forms, he still couldn’t manage anything but his weird animal people, leaving him even further behind. His only real friend these days was Focalor, another one of the animal people.

Focalor had tried to teach him some cool stuff about lightning and thunder, but he hadn’t been much good at either. He’d experimented with the water breathing in a bathtub and succeeded easily, but the desert meant he wouldn’t ever get much use out of that. But even if the rest wasn’t so hot, the aura of sadness came naturally to him. He’d been working with it a lot lately, trying to see if he could figure out any extra tricks with it.

He didn’t have to summon Focalor yet today, but he decided he had nothing better to do anyway. Maybe he’d have some advice. He used some blood from his snakebite wound to start the sigil, and when that ran out, he finished it with some tears. It wasn’t a very good job, but Focalor always came anyway. That’s how Ocavo knew he was a friend.

As usual, Focalor was weepy, appearing in a little rainstorm of tears that coalesced into sad eyes and feathery wings. He moaned and screamed, but that was nothing out of the ordinary either. The normalcy of it was a comfort to Ocavo, who spent a few minutes telling Focalor about his day and his troubles. Focalor was such a good listener. As the tear-water from his eternally crying friend washed past his feet Ocavo felt his spirits lift a little bit. Maybe things would still be OK, somehow.

Focalor disappeared back to wherever the animal people went when not giving him trances or being summoned, and Ocavo was about to head back to his drillers for more instruction, but his eye caught a weird shape in the sand, exposed by the torrent of tears Focalor had unleashed. He knelt down to dig it out, and it was some kind of spiral shell. He didn’t know things like that lived in the desert. He decided he would bring it to the Professor; maybe it would be a lead on his spirit animal!


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

“Quite a find you have there. Really quite a find, I say!” It was usually pretty hard for anyone to get the Professor’s attention away from his experiments, but Ocavo’s shell had managed it. He’d shoved the skeletons he’d been working on aside and immediately inspected it with his big magnifier.

Nobody actually knew the Professor’s name, at least nobody Ocavo’s age, but he’d been around at Mojave Academy forever and always seemed to be doing big things. Sometimes he supplied the students with potions to help them train, or monstrous skeletons to get them used to battle. Other times he helped orc society as a whole, like with his big machine that controlled the weather and stopped the flooding last year. Most of the time he just did his own thing, creating strange potions and crystals that littered his lab unexplained.

The Professor had never been mean to Ocavo, not like most people at the Academy, but he’d never actually noticed him either. In fact, it seemed like he barely noticed him now. He wasn’t elaborating on the shell, apparently lost in studying the patterns on it, so Ocavo decided to remind him that he existed.

“Umm, what kind of find is it?” Ocavo asked.

“Oh! That’s right, there you are. It’s the shell of an Ammonite!” he said.
Ocavo was confused, not that that was anything new. “It doesn’t look much like Amon.” Amon was the one with the ram head and snake tail. Maybe it was a part of him he hadn’t seen yet.

The Professor chuckled. “Haha, that’s a good one my boy! No, no, an ammonite. This is the shell of an ancient sea creature. They’re quite rare.”

“A sea creature?” Ocavo had never even seen the sea. “But this is a desert. Do you think someone brought it here?” Maybe his friend Focalor had brought it on the sly. He was always trying to cheer Ocavo up, after all.

“Hmm. I suppose that’d be one explanation, from your perspective. But what if I told you that this isn’t the only fossil like this that has been found in our desert? I believe I have another somewhere here I came across a little while ago.” The Professor rooted around in a couple of his cabinets before pulling it out. “Ah, here we go!” It looked a lot like the shell Ocavo had found, though it was bigger, and the patterning was different, with sharper ridges.

“Maybe someone brought that one too?” The Professor was definitely weird at times, Ocavo had no idea what he was trying to say.

“Maybe. But what if there were more? Dozens, hundreds of finds? Would you think they were all brought here?”

“That does seem like a big coincidence,” Ocavo admitted. “Maybe they were all brought here at once?”

“Heh! You’re an original thinker! But that’s not my theory. I think that this entire valley was once an ocean floor.” The Professor waved his arms out grandly, the effect of his pronouncement a little spoiled by them both being inside a dank lab and not outside in the actual desert.

Ocavo was hesitant to just tell the Professor he sounded crazy, but it did sound pretty crazy. “Really? That seems… extreme, compared to thinking some guy just brought a bunch of fossils here.”

“It’s not the only evidence I have,” the Professor said. “Why do you think I built the weather machine? Without it the floods would still be going on! And I’ve had to improve it once already to keep them away. I believe the climate is changing. Without continued action, this valley may flood again, and could eventually even reconnect to the ocean! As before, so afterwards.”

Well, if anyone knew about weather, it was the Professor. It was worrying, and Ocavo let loose a few tears to think the whole Academy might be washed away. But then he had a thought. “If this place wasn’t always a desert, do you think my Primeval ancestor might’ve been a sea creature and not a desert creature?”

“Could be, could be. But I’m not sure why that makes you so excited. You could hardly survive out in the desert, transformed into some creature of the sea’s past.” His eyes drifted to his weather machine.

Maybe some of those lessons from the animal people wouldn’t be so useless after all. “Don’t worry about me wanting to restart the floods, Professor. I’ve got a better plan, you’ll see! But I need your help; do you have a big book of ancient sea animals?”


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

Hours later, Ocavo had a spring in his step, though he still had tears on his face. He waved to the rest of the prime kids as he approached. The group looked glum compared to earlier this morning; they were covered in bruises and cuts, so the fight probably hadn’t gone too well.

“Ugh, as if this day couldn’t get any worse,” Latran complained.

“Seems like a pretty good day to me,” Ocavo said.

“Are you here looking for trouble, Ocavo?” Leo growled. “We may have lost to the ‘zerkers, but that doesn’t mean we can’t beat you up if you’re here to gloat.”

“Yeah Leo!” Serpa cheered. “Go spread your doom and gloom elsewhere, squirt.”

“You guys have it all wrong.” Ocavo said. “I’m here to help. Are you ready to go and give the ‘zerkers round two?”

“I guess that’s brave of you,” Leo said. “But it doesn’t matter, they’re too tough to take down when they frenzy, and there aren’t enough of us to hold them off until the frenzies end. Even if you did finally manage your transformation, one more pair of claws won’t be enough to do any good.”

“You’re probably right,” Ocavo said. “That’s why it’s a good thing I have four pairs.” His former friends looked on in surprise as he took on his Giant Octopus form. It felt a little weird to be a creature of the sea in the middle of the desert, but he knew from some experimenting that it worked well enough, and even synergized with some of the fighting techniques he’d already learned for jumping around. Of course, the Professor had been surprised he could even survive in the air, but it turned out Focalor’s water breathing technique had a wrinkle that most people overlooked.

It worked in reverse too.



Ocavo is a Desert Orc; he gets Endurance as a bonus feat, as well as the usual Orc stat modifiers of +4 str, -2 int, -2 wis, -2 cha. Additionally, he has the Heat Endurance trait, Low Light Vision (but no Darkvision), a 30 foot land speed, and oddly, Light Sensitivity. These addtional racial features mostly don't matter in Primeval form.

He starts his career using a 32 point buy of 10s/6d/6c/10i/0w/0c. Because Regression changes the parity frequently in the latter half of the build, the stats are more optimized to be even in the first 10 levels.

Ability Scores [Primeval Form]


Level
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
Natural Armor


1st
20
14
14
14
6
6
-


2nd
20
14
14
14
6
6
-


3rd
20
14
14
14
6
6
-


4th
21
14
14
14
6
6
-


5th
21
14
14
14
6
6
-


6th
21
14
14
14
6
6
-


7th
21
14
14
14
6
6
-


8th
22
14
14
14
6
6
-


9th
22
14
14
14
6
6
-


10th
22 [32]
14 [18]
14 [16]
14
6
6
- [7]


11th
23 [33]
15 [19]
15 [17]
13
7
5
- [7]


12th
24 [36]
15 [21]
15 [19]
13
7
5
- [9]


13th
24 [36]
15 [21]
15 [19]
13
7
5
- [9]


14th
25 [37]
16 [22]
16 [20]
12
8
4
- [9]


[tr]
15th
25 [39]
16 [22]
16 [22]
12
8
4
- [11]


16th
26 [40]
16 [22]
16 [22]
12
8
4
- [11]


17th
27 [41]
17 [23]
17 [23]
11
9
3
- [11]


18th
27 [43]
17 [23]
17 [23]
11
9
3
- [15]


19th
27 [43]
17 [23]
17 [23]
11
9
3
- [15]


20th
28 [44]
17 [23]
17 [23]
11
9
3
- [15]





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


1st
Warblade 1
+1
+2
+0
+0
Concentration 4, Jump 4, Tumble 4, Spellcraft 2*, Handle Animal 2*, Knowledge (Nature) 1*, Survival 1*
Endurance, Toughness
Battle Clarity, Weapon Aptitude


2nd
Binder 1
+1
+4
+0
+2
Concentration 5 (+1), Jump 4, Tumble 4, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 2, Knowledge (Nature) 2 (+1*), Survival 1.5 (+0.5*)
-
Soul Binding (1 vestige)


3rd
Binder 2
+2
+5
+0
+3
Concentration 6 (+1), Jump 4, Tumble 4, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 2, Knowledge (Nature) 3 (+1*), Survival 2 (+0.5*)
Power Attack
Pact Augmentation (1 ability), Suppress sign


4th
Warblade 2
+3
+6
+0
+3
Concentration 7 (+1), Jump 7 (+3), Tumble 6 (+2), Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 2, Knowledge (Nature) 3, Survival 2
-
Uncanny Dodge


5th
Warblade 3
+4
+6
+1
+4
Concentration 8 (+1), Jump 8 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 3 (+1*), Knowledge (Nature) 3, Survival 3 (+1*)
-
Battle Ardor


6th
Binder 3
+5
+6
+2
+4
Concentration 9 (+1), Jump 8, Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 4 (+1*), Knowledge (Nature) 3, Survival 3.5 (+0.5*)
Mage Slayer
-


7th
Warblade 4
+6/+1
+7
+2
+4
Concentration 10 (+1), Jump 10 (+2), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5 (+1*), Knowledge (Nature) 3, Survival 4 (+0.5*)
-
-


8th
Binder 4
+7/+2
+8
+2
+5
Concentration 11 (+1), Jump 10, Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 4 (+1*), Survival 4.5 (+0.5*)
Improved Binding
-


9th
Warblade 5
+8/+3
+8
+2
+5
Concentration 12 (+1), Jump 12 (+2), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 5 (+1*), Survival 5 (+0.5*)
Combat Reflexes, Self Sufficient
-


10th
Primeval 1
+9/+4
+10
+2
+5
Concentration 13 (+1), Jump 13 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 7 (+2), Survival 5
-
Primeval Form (1/day), Animal Empathy


11th
Primeval 2
+10/+5
+11
+2
+5
Concentration 14 (+1), Jump 14 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 9 (+2), Survival 5
-
Regression 1, Low Light Vision


12th
Primeval 3
+11/+6/+1
+11
+3
+6
Concentration 15 (+1), Jump 15 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 10 (+1), Survival 5
Extra Wild Shape
Feral Power


13th
Primeval 4
+12/+7/+2
+12
+3
+6
Concentration 16 (+1), Jump 16 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 11 (+1), Survival 5
-
Primeval Form (2/day)


14th
Primeval 5
+13/+8/+3
+12
+3
+6
Concentration 17 (+1), Jump 17 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 12 (+1), Survival 5
-
Regression 2, Scent


15th
Primeval 6
+14/+9/+4
+13
+4
+7
Concentration 18 (+1), Jump 18 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 13 (+1), Survival 5
Multigrab
Feral Power 2


16th
Primeval 7
+15/+10/+5
+13
+4
+7
Concentration 19 (+1), Jump 19 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 14 (+1), Survival 5
-
Primeval Form (3/day)


17th
Primeval 8
+16/+11/+6/+1
+14
+4
+7
Concentration 20 (+1), Jump 20 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 15 (+1), Survival 5
-
Regression 3, Fast Movement


18th
Primeval 9
+17/+12/+7/+2
+14
+5
+8
Concentration 21 (+1), Jump 21 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 15, Survival 5
Greater Multigrab
Feral Power 3


19th
Primeval 10
+18/+13/+8/+3
+15
+5
+8
Concentration 22 (+1), Jump 22 (+1), Tumble 6, Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 15, Survival 5
-
Primeval Form (4/day), Primeval Shapechanger


20th
Warblade 6
+19/+14/+9/+4
+16
+6
+9
Concentration 23 (+1), Jump 23 (+1), Tumble 8 (+2), Spellcraft 2, Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 15, Survival 5
-
Improved Uncanny Dodge





Level
Maneuvers & Stances
Readied


1st
Moment of Perfect Mind, Leading the Attack, Steel Wind, Punishing Stance
3


4th
Rabid Wolf Strike
3


5th
Sudden Leap
3


7th
Leaping Dragon Stance, White Raven Tactics, Steel Wind
4


9th
Iron Heart Surge
4


20th
Pouncing Charge, Leading the Attack
4





Ocavo’s build is completely focused around using the powerful Giant Octopus (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/octopusGiant.htm) form with the Primeval class. The Giant Octopus has many advantages over other Large animals with 8 HD or less, reflected by its high CR of 8: it has 20 feet of reach, 8 primary natural weapons in its full attack, and an improved grab ability that works against any size creature and has constrict. It has decent numerical stats too, though it’s somewhat hampered by 20 foot land speed.

Unfortunately for it, it also has the aquatic subtype, which means it can’t breathe air. Ocavo works around this by spending 4 levels on Binder to bind Focalor, whose Water Breathing ability reads: “You can breathe both air and water easily.” While this seems an expensive way to solve the problem, it’s a very reliable way of doing it; vestiges grant supernatural abilities, and those are very hard to suppress or get rid of (and anything that did would get rid of the Primeval form too.) A Water Breathing spell or item might be easily dispelled or suppressed, giving the whole build a glass jaw that Binder avoids. It’s not a bad deal overall, losing only one point of BaB.

Ocavo’s other base class is Warblade, which mainly helps cover the defensive and mobility issues the build has. Together with using feats to improve on the offense and fully exploit the Giant Octopus form, it makes Ocavo a potent and resilient battlefield controller, capable of both locking down foes and dishing out a lot of damage at once.



There are a lot of fairly necessary skills and neither early class gives any of the prereq skills so Intelligence had to be high. Jump and Concentration are kept maxed as they’re used for maneuvers. Tumble is useful to have and provides a +2 synergy bonus to Jump. Survival, Handle Animal, and Knowledge (Nature) are required for the SI, and Spellcraft for Mage Slayer. Some additional Knowledge (Nature) ranks represent Ocavo learning more about the ancient seas from the Professor as his career progresses. It should be noted that Regression Int drops take place after skills are handed out during level up, meaning there’s a last rank he gets from a higher Int bonus before it goes away.

The Giant Octopus gives a lot of skill bonuses you can see in the statblock examples, most of them only slightly useful: Escape Artist +10, Hide +4, and of course the typical Swim +8.



Ocavo’s first 9 levels do the groundwork, qualifying him for Primeval while setting up everything needed to make the Giant Octopus work. In spite of these goals, he’s actually quite playable for this whole stretch, having high strength to use in melee, Warblade maneuvers to help in fights, and some Binding for additional versatility.
From the very first level, Steel Wind and Punishing Stance are a solid combination that can carry things, while Leading the Attack complements Steel Wind by helping the party focus fire. Moment of Perfect Mind (and maxed concentration) is available from the first level too, patching Ocavo’s low Wis with a strong first line of defense. Toughness is actually a good feat at level 1 too, further helping the early days.

From here, Ocavo has to weave back and forth between Binder and Warblade to avoid multiclass penalties. The Binder levels struggle a bit to be useful with the low Charisma, but he doesn’t have to commit to any specific vestige, so he can pick and choose from what will be useful on given days. Up until Binder 3 at CL 6, he’s limited to Level 1 Vestiges, but they still do some work; Naberius can give him Disguise Self or heal ability damage, Leraje can let him fight from range, even Aym’s fire Aura can be significant at CL 2 when he first gets it. The Binder’s Pact Augmentation ability can provide even more HP to make a very beefy level 2 possible (12+1d8+3+5+2*2 = 28 hp.)

Warblade 2 and 3 at CL 4-5 mostly just fill out his abilities, with Rabid Wolf Strike being a bit of extra offense and Sudden Leap some extra mobility. Binder 3 at CL 6 gives him level 2 Vestiges, of which Malphas is probably the most interesting, giving Sudden Strike damage, Limited Invisibility, and a handy bird Scouting technique that works especially well in Ocavo’s native desert terrain. Power Attack starts being useful around this point (he probably wants a two handed weapon for it) and Mage Slayer is nice for causing moderate difficulties though it won’t trigger much yet.

CL 7 with Warblade 4 finally retires Steel Wind, trading it in for White Raven Tactics to support the party better while he's in a bit of a weak stretch. Leaping Dragon Stance synergizes with Sudden Leap, though he’ll often stick in Punishing Stance for now. CL 8 with Binder gives Improved Binding as a bonus feat, finally allowing 3rd level Vestiges. Ocavo can experiment some with these until level 10, though Malphas will still be dominant. Finally Warblade 5 at CL 9 gives Iron Heart Surge right at the time when conditions are becoming more and more prevalent.

Overall, Ocavo starts strong and then peters out over the course of these early levels, but all that will change when he gets his Primeval Form.



The Giant Octopus transformation is truly fearsome, and the Ocavo suits it well. From the start his high strength makes the raw full attack damage very fearsome, and in many situations target ACs will be low enough to make Power Attacking for even more reasonable. Even though it doesn’t seem intuitive to focus on Power Attack with 1:1 natural weapons, their multiplicity means the actual ratio is 8:1, even 9:1 if the secondary bite attack is in range. Note that from this point on in his career, Ocavo should be using his Pact Augmentation to get a +1 bonus to attack rolls (or perhaps in some cases, +2 to initiative.) Even without Power Attack or Punishing Stance active, a Full Attack at level 10 will deal over 100 damage if all the hits land. At level 20 with max Power Attack Ocavo might break 300.

Positioning to get these full attacks can be a little challenging. If attacked untransformed, Ocavo will usually spend his first round moving into position, transforming, and using White Raven Tactics to help an ally and soften the blow of a weak first turn. Even though he doesn’t get his own attacks on the first round, he will start threatening an impressive 30’x30’ area with his 20’ reach and combat reflexes as well as mage slayer, which will generate a lot of inconvenience or opportunity attacks for the enemy. Leaping Dragon Stance with Sudden Leap help make sure that Ocavo will get a full attack in the next round, even if his opponents try to create some separation.

Improved Grab does a lot with all of Ocavo’s tentacles, strength, and available opportunity attacks. In particular, since opportunity attacks interrupt actions, he can often foil a creature’s turn with it, either grabbing them in the middle of their movement or just before they cast a spell. Spellcasters especially can be frustrated, since they will be unable to use somatic components while grappled and this will often make them lose their spells entirely. Remember that Ocavo can Improved Grab creatures of any size, and also that any creature grabbed and moved into his space will suffer from his Aura of Sadness, giving them a -2 penalty on further grapple checks among other things.

One part of Improved Grab that is often forgotten is that one can use it to grapple with only one limb at a -20 penalty, remaining ungrappled themselves. This is especially useful as it allows Ocavo to keep threatening an area, and will possibly allow him to grapple very large groups of foes at once, dealing constrict damage to all of them.

One issue the Giant Octopus has is that its tentacles can be Sundered. Ocavo is pretty well set up to deal with this since he will oppose the Sunder with a very high attack roll. Even beyond that, opportunistic sunderers that don’t actually have the feat will be subject to an opportunity attack, and if they get grappled and their weapon is too big their attack may be foiled automatically. Combat Reflexes is great so they can’t overwhelm him with attempts, and get punished for each one. Even beyond this, since the Giant Octopus is a temporary polymorph, many DMs will rule that the arms regrow as new each time, meaning that being sundered is just an inconvenience for the battle, not a long term issue.

Since the Primeval Form is obviously Supernatural, most Primevals run into trouble with Antimagic fields. Ocavo has an ace in the hole for these with Iron Heart Surge; even though it takes up his standard action it’s usually completely worth it to tear down an AMF. Iron Heart Surge also deals with a lot of debilitating effects that might bypass his HP, and is generally a good insurance policy to carry.

In the rare case Ocavo has a water adventure, he probably still wants to bind Focalor so that he can breathe underwater easily as an orc. But in the event he thinks he doesn’t need to bind Focalor for this or some other reason (either a spell or an item or somesuch), binding Ronove to ignore DR/magic is a strong alternate option until Primeval Shapechanger at CL19.

Statblocks of the Primeval form have been included at level 10 and level 20 to give the full range for how Ocavo’s statistics evolve as a Giant Octopus. His tactics will generally be the same as time goes on, he merely gets better at doing what he already did.



Ocavo’s choices let him get a lot out of the Primeval class all the way through. He even exploits the skill list; both Concentration and Jump advancement are very important to his maneuvers, and Primeval provides them. He also makes a point of taking Extra Wild Shape as soon as he can, to have a reasonable amount of Primeval transformations available per day from Level 12 onward. By the end of his career, he has it 6/day, which should be enough to even do it preemptively in a lot of cases without much fear they will run out over the course of a day. Transforming before a fight with the slack provided here can make a huge difference, with Sudden Leap to position easily it can often amount to an entire extra turn.

The Primeval Form and Regression stat bonuses help a lot, allowing Ocavo’s melee bonuses to really keep up in a way that most other characters would require extensive gear for. He doesn’t use Charisma for much of anything, and he keeps his Intelligence up just enough to keep his important maneuver enabling skills maxed. Ocavo’s other two late Multigrab feats give him more help in keeping up statistically by eventually completely removing the -20 penalty for grappling with a single limb. What was once an option mainly useful for frailer enemies is now something that he can now outgrapple a Pit Fiend. Once he has Greater Multigrab, there’s more incentive to split his full attacks to try to keep the whole enemy force grappled at once.

Ocavo’s racial Low Light Vision serves him well, making the Primeval version into the coveted 4x distance LLV, which by the wording will serve him in both forms. Scent gives him another perception option to complement it. The bonus speed is particularly appreciated as the difference between 20’ and 30’ is a lot, and it removes the awkward -6 penalty to Jump from the lower speed. Primeval Shapechanger is a nice finish, making him immune to a lot of various spells that affect Animals or Humanoids, and giving him a way through damage reduction if he didn’t have it already (An Amulet of Mighty Fists and a way to use it in Primeval form should be a #1 gear priority until level 19.)

Ocavo’s career finishes with a last level of Warblade, granting him a Pounce maneuver which is great offensively at the times when he feels safe trading one of his others out, and also Improved Uncanny Dodge. Technically, this level activates multiclass penalties, but as Ocavo has reached his build’s end at level 20 at the same time they are meaningless to him.



Size/Type: Large Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 12+4d12+4d8+1d10+30+3 (94 HP)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 20 ft., Swim: 30 ft.
AC: 20, Touch: 13, Flat: 16
BaB/Grapple: +9/+24 (+4 One Tentacle)
Attack: Tentacle: +20 melee (1d4+11)
Full Attack: 8 Tentacles: +20 melee (1d4+11) and Bite +15 (1d8+5)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft. (20 ft. with tentacle)
Special Attacks: Improved Grab (Any Size), Constrict (2d8+11), Aura of Sadness (-2 attacks/saves/checks when adjacent)
Special Qualities: Primeval Form (1/day), Uncanny Dodge, Water Breathing (air and water), Maneuvers & Stances, Battle Clarity (when not flatfooted), Battle Ardor (+2 to Crit Confirmation)
Saves: Fort: +13, Ref: +8 (w/Battle Clarity), Will: +4 (MoPM: +16)
Ability Scores: STR: 32 DEX: 18 CON: 16 INT: 14 WIS: 6 CHA: 6
Skills: Concentration +16, Escape Artist +14, Handle Animal +3, Jump +30 (always running), Hide +4, Knowledge (Nature) +9, Spellcraft +4, Survival +5, Swim +19, Tumble +10
Feats: Endurance, Toughness, Power Attack, Mage Slayer, Improved Binding, Combat Reflexes, Self-Sufficient
Maneuvers: Iron Heart Surge, White Raven Tactics, Sudden Leap, Moment of Perfect Mind, <Rabid Wolf Strike>, <Leading the Attack>
Stances: Leaping Dragon Stance, <Punishing Stance>



Size/Type: Large Magical Beast (Augmented Animal, Aquatic, Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 12+5d12+4d8+10d10+120+3 (240 HP)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft., Swim: 30 ft.
AC: 30, Touch: 15, Flat: 24
BaB/Grapple: +19/+40 (+40 One Tentacle)
Attack: Tentacle: +36 melee (1d4+17)
Full Attack: 8 Tentacles: +36 melee (1d4+17) and Bite +31 (1d8+8)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft. (20 ft. with tentacle)
Special Attacks: Improved Grab (Any Size), Constrict (2d8+17), Aura of Sadness (-2 attacks/saves/checks when adjacent)
Special Qualities: Damage Reduction (10/magic), Primeval Form (6/day), Low Light Vision (x4), Uncanny Dodge, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Water Breathing (air and water), Maneuvers & Stances
Saves: Fort: +22, Ref: +12, Will: +9 (MoPM: +29)
Ability Scores: STR: 44 DEX: 23 CON: 23 INT: 11 WIS: 9 CHA: 3
Skills: Concentration +29, Escape Artist +16, Handle Animal +1, Jump +52 (always running), Hide +6, Knowledge (Nature) +15, Spellcraft +2, Survival +6, Swim +25, Tumble +14
Feats: Endurance, Toughness, Power Attack, Mage Slayer, Improved Binding, Combat Reflexes, Self-Sufficient, Extra Wild Shape, Multigrab, Greater Multigrab
Maneuvers: Iron Heart Surge, White Raven Tactics, Sudden Leap, Moment of Perfect Mind, <Pouncing Charge>, <Rabid Wolf Strike>
Stances: Leaping Dragon Stance, <Punishing Stance>



Tome of Battle: Warblade
Tome of Magic: Binder, Improved Binding
Frostburn: Primeval
SRD: (https://www.d20srd.org/index.htm) Giant Octopus (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/octopusGiant.htm), Orc, Endurance, Toughness, Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Self Sufficient
Complete Arcane: Mage Slayer
Complete Divine: Extra Wild Shape
Savage Species: Multigrab, Greater Multigrab
Unearthed Arcana: Desert Orc

[The Viscount]

He said "I'm gonna be like you, dad"/"You know I'm gonna be like you"



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VNKHLbwj8DU/X12kcPWrY-I/AAAAAAAAXxs/6lS__w5XcPAgUTyPqVEnU5yrUxYkyZhgACK8BGAsYHg/s0/2020-09-12.png
Son of Keyrock, Heir to the Skies

CE Neanderthal Totemist 7/Soulborn 3/Primeval 10

Stats (with racial adjustments) [at level 20]
Str 16 (18) [21]
Dex 16 (14) [17]
Con 16 (18) [25]
Int 8 (6) [3]
Wis 10 [13]
Cha 8 [5]
Backstory
“My father was an unfrozen caveman who overcame enormous hardship to become a lawyer, and even run for US Senate. He was even awarded for his optimization skill. (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=22192901&postcount=80) But before he was unfrozen, he fought many a dinosaur. But lately I’ve heard people say that caveman never saw dinosaurs. We all know that’s preposterous. We’ve all seen documentaries about cavemen and their pet dinosaurs. But far more importantly, I’ve heard my father himself talk about these encounters. I heard that snooty expert talking about how ‘current research’ showed what dinosaurs looked like, with feathers like a giant turkey! I showed him feathers, all right. If anybody tries to call my father a liar, I’ll make them regret it!”

“Watch your tone, Mr. Keyrock.“

“My legal name is Son of Keyrock, your Honor.”

“Yes, well, I’d still advise you to change your decision to represent yourself at a murder trial.”

“Don’t worry, your Honor, my father’s wisdom and his charismatic spirit guide me.”

“The record shows that your father is still alive and in fact offered to represent you.”

“Clearly your Honor is uninformed about how Incarnum works. I channel the souls of the living as well as the dead. While we’re on the subject, how am I supposed to know what the record shows? Like my father, I’m a simple caveman, and as such I’m illiterate.”

“Objection! Illiterate characters such as barbarians gain literacy when they take any class that doesn’t mention illiteracy.”

“Nice try, slick, but Neanderthal illiteracy is stronger than that. Your written words are suspicious and demonic, and I won’t have them poisoning my mind. If I can read, then I can be compelled to sign and become entrapped in the reality of being the legal person.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m a sovereign citizen, your Honor. This courtroom called Son of Keyrock the humanoid person to this court, but I am no longer a humanoid person. I am now a magical beast, and am thus no longer beholden to any laws or liens put upon my former humanoid person. I have risen above that. I have risen above even bird law! Behold my powerful form!”

“What is that smell?!”

“It’s burning my eyes!”

“Eww, I got it in my mouth!”

[Various screams and general noises of havoc]

- Recovered stenographer’s transcript, 85th district municipal courthouse
Build


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


1st
Totemist 1
+0
+2
+2
+0
Handle Animal 3, Knowledge (nature) 3, Survival 2
Self-Sufficient
Wild Empathy, Illiteracy


2nd
Totemist 2
+1
+3
+3
+0
Handle Animal 4, Knowledge (nature) 4, Survival 2

Totem Chakra Bind (+1 capacity)


3rd
Totemist 3
+2
+3
+3
+1
Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 2
Endurance
Totem’s Protection


4th
Totemist 4
+3
+4
+4
+1
Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 4




5th
Totemist 5
+3
+4
+4
+1
Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 1

Chakra Binds (Crown, Feet, Hands)


6th
Totemist 6
+4
+5
+5
+2
Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (nature) 5, Listen 1, Survival 5, Spot 2
Strong Stomach
Totem Chakra Bind (+1 Meldshaper Level)


7th
Totemist 7
+5
+5
+5
+2
Handle Animal 5, Knowledge (nature) 5, Listen 2, Survival 5, Spot 3




8th
Soulborn 1
+6/+1
+7
+5
+1
Handle Animal 5, Heal 1, Knowledge (nature) 5, Listen 2, Survival 5, Spot 3

Aura, Smite Opposition 1/day


9th
Soulborn 2
+7/+2
+8
+5
+2
Handle Animal 5, Heal 2, Knowledge (nature) 5, Listen 2, Survival 5, Spot 3
Iron Will
Incarnum Defense


10th
Soulborn 3
+8/+3
+8
+6
+3
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Knowledge (nature) 5, Listen 2, Survival 5, Spot 3
(B) Azure Toughness
Bonus Feat


11th
Primeval 1
+9/+4
+10
+6
+3
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 3, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 3

Primeval form 1/day (Dire Vulture), Animal Empathy


12th
Primeval 2
+10/+5
+11
+6
+3
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 3, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 4
Indomitable Soul
Regression 1, Low-light Vision


13th
Primeval 3
+11/+6/+1
+11
+7
+4
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 4, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 4

Feral Power


14th
Primeval 4
+12/+7/+2
+12
+7
+4
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 5, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 4

Primeval Form 2/day


15th
Primeval 5
+13/+8/+3
+12
+7
+4
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 5, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 5
Improved Scent
Regression 2, Scent


16th
Primeval 6
+14/+9/+4
+13
+8
+5
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 6, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 5

Feral Power 2


17th
Primeval 7
+15/+10/+5
+13
+8
+5
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 6, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 6

Primeval Form 3/day


18th
Primeval 8
+16/+11/+6/+1
+14
+8
+5
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 7, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 6
Uncanny Scent
Regression 3, Fast Movement


19th
Primeval 9
+17/+12/+7/+2
+14
+9
+6
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 7, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 6

Feral Power 3


20th
Primeval 10
+18/+13/+8/+3
+15
+9
+6
Handle Animal 5, Heal 3, Listen 7, Knowledge (nature) 5, Survival 5, Spot 7

Primeval Form 4/day, Primeval Shapechanger


Level 5
This time we pay homage to what has gone before, and what better way to do that than with incarnum? Keyrock was a Neanderthal, so naturally Son of Keyrock is, too. Totemist is a good class, and it starts off pretty strong. In place of breaking objects like a forsaker, I’d go for temporarily removing their frightening demon magic with the disenchanter mask. Otherwise, pick some melds you like, bind them where you want, have fun.
Level 10
Soulborn’s a necessary stepping stone to keep BA from falling any lower, and it helpfully provides a Toughness equivalent. Blessedly the smite only adds bonus, not modifier. You are better off putting that essential into your melds. One of your binds is basically always going to be totem, it’ll be a matter of choosing what you want for the other. Shedu crown is a good one for communicating when in your primeval form or just in general since you don’t have bonus languages. Strong Stomach is a natural choice in preparation to become like the mighty dire vulture.
Level 15
We start stupid and only get dumber, but fortunately you always get at least 1 skill point per level. Primeval form provides many choices, but I have selected the dire vulture. It grants flight, which totemist normally isn’t great at (Pegasus Cloak’s totem bind doesn’t let you stay in the air, and we don’t have the waist or shoulder binds for the others). It gives a bite which we can pair with the Worg Pelt, while maintaining the basic body shape to keep all the chakras. Melds are class features, so will stay with you when you change shape. Dire vulture also provides stench, which is a nice debuff and also funny to me, mostly because it means that you shapeshift into a dire vulture that is already dripping with carrion. The save is Con-based, which is great for you since you’re Con-focused as a Totemist, and it only gets stronger with regression and feral power. The dire vulture is pretty beefy, and helpfully its stats add to your own, so it can only reward you for already being buff. Now that we have scent, we can set about improving it.
Level 20
Now that we’ve finished, we become a magical beast just like all the creatures we so love to emulate. The natural weapons being treated as magic weapons is helpful for a totemist, since MoI doesn’t explicitly say that weapons from soulmelds are magic weapons. Uncanny scent gives a nice anti-stealth ability that works out to 20 feet, so you can find enemies faster.
Sources
Totemist, Soulborn, Azure Toughness: Magic of Incarnum
Strong Stomach: Cityscape
Indomitable Soul: PHBII
Improved Scent, Uncanny Scent
Dire Vulture: Sandstorm
Iron Will, Endurance, Self Sufficient: srd

[The Viscount]

That's our entries for this round! Please let me know if I messed up the formatting on any of the builds. Judges, do your thing!

[Venger]

What a turnout! Since there are so many exciting looking dishes, I made a table for ease of navigation. Let me know if I missed anything. Good luck, everyone.

Name of Dish
Stub
Primeval Form
Score Judge 1
Chef


Lu'ung, The Dragon's Fury (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717294&postcount=65)
Neutral Evil Human Barbarian 1/Druid 6/Fighter 1/Swordsage 3/Primeval 9
megaraptor
-
-


Derlek, Unwitting Minion of the Great Dreamer (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717307&postcount=66)
NE human undying way monk 2/druidic avenger 5/warshaper 2/nature's warrior 3/primeval 8
giant octopus
-
-


The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval (Ghurg) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717313&postcount=68)
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Barbarian 5/Warblade 2/Primeval 10
cave ankylosaurus
-
-


The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval (Gharg) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717313&postcount=68)
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Swashbuckler 2/Thrall of Jubilex 5/Primeval 10
dire lion
-
-


Primo Valendino Star (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717324&postcount=69)
LG > CE strongheart halfling passive way halfling monk 2/wilderness rogue 3/hellbreaker 8/ primeval 2/stoneblessed 3/fighter 1/wilderness rogue 4
swindlespitter
-
-


Valindra (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717325&postcount=70)
CE Lolth-Touched Anthropomorphic Giant Octopus
Monstrous Humanoid 2 / Rogue 1 / Fighter 1 / Ranger 4 / Barbarian 1 / Primeval 10
giant octopus
-
-


Free (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717327&postcount=71)
CN gully dwarf ranger 5/momf2/birdlord 3/ primeval 10
megaraptor
-
-


Jakkan Ha'gar (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717333&postcount=72)
CN ghostwise halfling Minion 1/Ranger 3/Fighter 2/Barbarian 1/ Warshaper 3/ primeval 10
horrid magebred dire badger
-
-


Liz (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717337&postcount=73)
NE neraph ranger 5/mortal hunter 3/primeval 10/mortal hunter 5
cave ankylosaurus
-
-


Frough-Gee (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717343&postcount=74)
NG female wild dwarf dragonborn of Bahamut (Heart). Ranger 1/ Barbarian 4/ fist of the forest 1/ deepwarden 2/ warblade 2/ primeval 10
dire toad
-
-


Ocavo, the Weeping Warrior (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717349&postcount=75)
CN Desert Orc Warblade 6/Binder 4/Giant Octopus Primeval 10

giant octopus
-
-


Son of Keyrock (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717352&postcount=76)
CE Neanderthal Totemist 7/Soulborn 3/Primeval 10

dire vulture
-
-

[Zaq]

Impressive set! I’m glad I didn’t enter. I didn’t have any clever ideas and I wouldn’t have stood out.

Excellent fluff on display, too!

[Venger]

Finished reading the dishes on display, some entertaining fluff all around. I added a column on the table displaying everyone's primeval form because I was curious what people would go with.

[Hiro Quester]

Some very interesting builds here. That was fun to read. Lots of variation, some commonalities. Some expected classes, some surprising. Lots of good fluff, too.

well done everyone!

[daremetoidareyo]

The average number of "arms" per primeval form entry is greater than 2, despite many primeval form entries having no arms.

[DeAnno]

The little kid in me is disappointed that nobody went for Large->Huge size. I had the wisp of a plan to go Half Ogre into something Huge, but all I could find were Crocs and Snakes and neither really wowed me.

I'm also a little surprised nobody went Dire Boar for the non-hp delimited Diehard, and then tried to mix that with something that could cast Delay Death. I actually tried to put that build together a few times but I could never really make it as impressive as I wanted.

[Venger]

It is quite difficult to find a good animal form that's huge which also has 8 or fewer HD. I know because I also looked for one and couldn't find one that was so much better than the options available at large that it seemed worth losing level(s) especially since there's little wiggle room to finish this class before 20 as is.

[Zaq]

My only ideas were not very good. I was toying with the idea of taking a very very small primeval form and basically treating my base stats as a way to end up with a remarkably burly Tiny or smaller critter, but that wasn't interesting. Then I thought about trying to mess around with the rules to turn into something with the swarm subtype, but I didn't feel like I had anything new to offer that particular branch of weirdness. I also thought about the fact that birds are dinosaurs and just using the "dinosaurs = okay" clause to have my primeval form be a (modern) bird of some kind, but that was the entire joke, and as you can tell from the fact that you're not laughing, it wasn't worth pursuing unless I could come up with follow-up angle, which I obviously didn't.

Seriously loving the fluff here, though. I really liked the presentation on Derlek, the dialogue between Ghurg and Gharg made me chuckle, Liz was delightful as always, Ocavo's format reminded me a lot of my own Char Sorrel build (which was admittedly a poor build, but I was pleased with the format), and I always appreciate a well-done callback joke like Son of Keyrock.

[Hiro Quester]

I was playing with the idea of a primeval form that was really small, with high dexterity, since there is no minimum size on primeval forms.

i was considering using monk/rogue for weapon finesse sneak attack, fist of the forest for dex-enhancing fury, con to AC, d10 unarmed strike damage, and confound the big folk, for flat-footed big enemies whose space you occupy, etc. A tiny creature punching for big damage, like Atom Ant seemed funny to try.

I couldn’t find a way to make it all fit with the feat taxes, and I could not think of a suitable very small primal form, with high dex and con. I didn’t try very hard, though.

Another build Idea I did not really try to make work, would have locust swarm wild shape from Master of Flies (SS) 5, and a similar swarm primal form. But I could not find anything interesting to do with it, power-wise. Centipede swarm is 9 HD, and Hellwasps are D12. Spider swarm Con-based poison seemed like a promising idea, but I didn’t get time to think that through.

Edit: Zaq just posted about similar ideas while I was writing this. I’m sure Zaq’s tiny brawler or swarm would have been funnier and more powerful than mine.

[H_H_F_F]

So many dishes! And all of them unique and awesome!
I really don't think I'll be getting a medal this round, but I'm not disappointed. I was having a hard time thinking of something creative to do with this class, but everyone had wonderful ideas. Good job to all, and good luck to our esteemed judges with this massive workload!

[Hiro Quester]

"Floppy Floppy Spider of the Sea"

if you have not watched this, you missed out. That was hilarious.

[WhamBamSam]

I sorta figured if we got anyone going for a huge form, they'd be an Anthro-whale to avoid losing BAB, given that that prereq is not very forgiving. But as Venger said, there aren't a lot of terribly interesting options (Dire Snake, Dragonhawk, not sure what else) within Primeval's parameters to incentivize getting over that hurdle.

[Sian]

looks like my idea wouldn't be missed

Feral Shalarin Wildshape Ranger 7 / Warshaper 2 / Primeval 10 with Giant Octopus ...

Guess that Giant Octopus was a lower-hanging fruit than I thought it was

[Darrin]

I sorta figured if we got anyone going for a huge form, they'd be an Anthro-whale to avoid losing BAB, given that that prereq is not very forgiving. But as Venger said, there aren't a lot of terribly interesting options (Dire Snake, Dragonhawk, not sure what else) within Primeval's parameters to incentivize getting over that hurdle.

I was working on a stub: Anthro Giant Constrictor Snake 3/Warblade 5/Fighter 1/Primeval 10. Starts large, gets to huge via Dire Snake form. It was really good at constricting things. But... that's all it did, so I lost interest in it.

Anthro giant snake was LA +1, Anthro whale would have been LA +0, but... whale turning into a snake? Didn't make any coherent sense. What I *really* wanted was Anthro giant viper snake, also LA +0, but for some bizarre reason, that one gets a -8 Str adjustment. Constrict damage is based off of your Str bonus, and with a Str bonus of +0, it would have been laughably inept at the one thing it was supposed to be *good* at.

[WhamBamSam]

I was working on a stub: Anthro Giant Constrictor Snake 3/Warblade 5/Fighter 1/Primeval 10. Starts large, gets to huge via Dire Snake form. It was really good at constricting things. But... that's all it did, so I lost interest in it.

Anthro giant snake was LA +1, Anthro whale would have been LA +0, but... whale turning into a snake? Didn't make any coherent sense. What I *really* wanted was Anthro giant viper snake, also LA +0, but for some bizarre reason, that one gets a -8 Str adjustment. Constrict damage is based off of your Str bonus, and with a Str bonus of +0, it would have been laughably inept at the one thing it was supposed to be *good* at.I probably would have gone Dragonhawk, but "whale turning into a big bird" is similarly incongruous, and I think I accomplished what I would have done with it better with what I actually ended up doing.

[daremetoidareyo]

Obviously anthro whales evolved from dragonhawks, not seeing any ingongruity /s

[Empyreal Dragon]

So excited, going over these right now. Will present judgement ASAP

[Thurbane]

Great entries all around.

A little surprised no one went Primeval (giant octopus)/Soul Eater, using the reading you get to inflict negative levels on all natural attacks. Primeval 10 charges your type to magical Beast, so you could enter Soul Eater even if you were originally a Humanoid.

[Venger]

I considered it, but this class has so many taxes it didn't seem worth it, especially since the soul eater level could only be taken at the end due to the ba req if you wanted to showcase magical beast type as a gain from primeval versus entering as something already nonhumanoid, plus the likely deduction in elegance for a 1 level dip.

[WhamBamSam]

Great entries all around.

A little surprised no one went Primeval (giant octopus)/Soul Eater, using the reading you get to inflict negative levels on all natural attacks. Primeval 10 charges your type to magical Beast, so you could enter Soul Eater even if you were originally a Humanoid.The popular Wild Shape Ranger entry could've paid the Alertness tax with Urban Companion too. I did basically the same idea back in Fang of Llolth, but ended up latching onto something different early on for this one. I do have a Primeval Soul Eater stub that I quite like now that you've said it, but it might give away the game as to which build is mine, so I'll hold off until after the reveal.

[Heavenblade]

I had a really neat idea for a landforged walker/warshaper who used dire badger form in order to snag rage, and then go frostrager and attack people from undergroudn with reach and +gazillion to strength/con/Na, but I didnt manage to format it in time....great entries everyone!

[H_H_F_F]

I probably would have gone Dragonhawk, but "whale turning into a big bird" is similarly incongruous, and I think I accomplished what I would have done with it better with what I actually ended up doing.
I'd say a sea creature dreaming of flight in the air and sun makes perfect sense.

So excited, going over these right now. Will present judgement ASAP
Good luck, Empyreal Dragon! And thank you!

[Empyreal Dragon]

Judging is still underway, I'm having to do a lot more in depth research and consideration of many of these builds.

Good show all around but I havent had to verify the details of a build to this extent in awhile.

[daremetoidareyo]

Judging is still underway, I'm having to do a lot more in depth research and consideration of many of these builds.

Good show all around but I havent had to verify the details of a build to this extent in awhile.

There's a lot of book diving involved in this.

[ZamielVanWeber]

I am also still working and I hope I can get the bulk of it done come Friday, when I should have a load of free time.

[Piggy Knowles]

I didn’t end up finding a build that I loved, so I sat out of this one, but I had a few ideas.

I had two main issues with this class. The first was how heavily the primeval form was outclassed by similar abilities (wild shape in particular) that come online with even less investment. The second was that the main class feature worth building around, primeval form, comes online late and has embarrassingly few uses per day, meaning you either build something that benefits from primeval form but doesn’t require it (in which case another class is almost always a better option), or you build something that really properly takes advantage of primeval form and end up being really subpar outside of the one or two encounters per day where you can use your form for between 15 and 17 of your 20 levels.

My main idea for how to get around the first issue was similar to Zaq’s: get small. The fact that unlike wild shape, primeval form had no lower size limit, meant that if I could find an appropriate creature for my primeval form, I could go down to tiny, diminutive or even fine well before a druid or MoMF wild shape ranger. Since the primeval gave a penalty to Strength for these forms rather than just setting your Strength at the Strength of your form, as wild shape would, my thought was to use a chaotic evil soulborn, whose incarnum defense at level 2 eliminates any Strength penalties. Then I’d take standard killer gnome tactics, find the smallest possible primeval animal, and hope for the best.

As for the second issue, my thought was to go with some sort of divine minion for wild shape at will, which I could use to power my primeval form. Unfortunately, the wording on primeval nixed this a bit, since it required me to get wild shape from my class levels in order to use wild shape to assume primeval form. So, I briefly considered some way of getting wild shape as a class feature PLUS divine minion without fully outclassing the secret ingredient.

The best I could do with all of this was a divine minion soulborn 4/wild shape ranger 5/primeval 10. That would give me wild shape at will that I could channel into primeval form, a bonus feat to ease the pre-req requirements, immunity to Strength penalties and some (very) limited meldshaping. I couldn’t find any fine-sized animals at all, but a prehistoric bat or toad got me to diminutive, which wasn’t too bad. It was about the best I could do under the circumstances… but in the end, I just wasn’t in love with the build, and decided not to submit.

And in the end I’m glad I didn’t, because it turns out other people had WAY cooler ideas. Hats off especially to Primo Valendine Starchild, which is delightfully evil in all the right ways. Who knew that the keys to infinite strength and wisdom were buried in the unlikely combination of hellbreaker and primeval? Certainly not me! That one gets my HM vote.

[daremetoidareyo]

What special ingredient do you think is next?

[RaiKirah]

No idea, but I'm rather hoping for Rage Mage at some point; it's on the cusp between steaming garbage and absolute greatness, and I am deeply curious to see if anyone can get it there :)

[H_H_F_F]

Rage Mage would be cool. I'd like to see Bloodhound (Cadv) as well at some point, though maybe it's too limited.

I would be fascinated to see if anyone can pull off a Ravager (CW) build, though there's no way I'd try that one myself.

[Wildstag]

It's interesting seeing so many unusual takes on a class that I love playing. I was kinda surprised to see so little Warshaper mixing, and only one dip into Fist of the Forest, but I guess getting all three or any two into the mix is pretty feat-taxing.

Lately, I've used creatures that overlap in prehistory/modern-history that are Animals in D&D to get higher Strength/Constitution as options, specifically the Brown or Polar Bear are good options for higher strength potential than the Dire Lion.

Also of interest is how evil-weighted the options here are.

As for what the next one will be, are there specific limitations on the niche-ness or type of PrC? For example, a racial one with an "adaptation" statement that suggests how to limit it less (in regards to race), is such a PrC on/off the table? As a wild example, are PrCs like "Peregrine Runner" completely off the table?

[Thurbane]

I keep forgetting about the Dragonhawk, because of the somewhat obscure source. One of the few 8HD Huge animals out there. Does it count as a "prehistoric animal"? I guess it's a DM call, but I would say yes.

[daremetoidareyo]

Rage mage would be cool.

[RaiKirah]

On another (related) note: I'm also kind of interested in repeating some from the first 75 or so before I joined the boards. Would be kinda fund to build some of those classes.

[H_H_F_F]

On another (related) note: I'm also kind of interested in repeating some from the first 75 or so before I joined the boards. Would be kinda fund to build some of those classes.


I've been reading here on and off for a few years, but I'm very new to the Iron Chef. Still, I wouldn't be in favour of repeating old competitions. Too many people here were there when those happened and too many creative options were already used. Also, it would make it less interesting for future readers.

Maybe when we somehow really run out of appropriate PRCs, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

[WhamBamSam]

I've wanted Rage Mage for a while, but I kinda think it'll be a Halloween round for October. Either something out of BoVD (Viscount's said he considers Mortal Hunter too good and that'd be two shape-shifting ingredients in a row, but maybe Demonologist or Thrall of Grazz't), Thrall of Etlab (basically a BoVD PrC from a different book), something that otherwise fits the theme somehow like Beast Heart Adept with its monsters, or going for real terror by finally inflicting Shining Blade on us.

[Venger]

Watch it be like gondian techsmith or something.

[The Viscount]

Rage Mage would be cool. I'd like to see Bloodhound (Cadv) as well at some point, though maybe it's too limited.

I would be fascinated to see if anyone can pull off a Ravager (CW) build, though there's no way I'd try that one myself.

I doubt I'll do Ravager. That class is real bad, and not in a way that I can see making for a good ingredient.


It's interesting seeing so many unusual takes on a class that I love playing. I was kinda surprised to see so little Warshaper mixing, and only one dip into Fist of the Forest, but I guess getting all three or any two into the mix is pretty feat-taxing.

Lately, I've used creatures that overlap in prehistory/modern-history that are Animals in D&D to get higher Strength/Constitution as options, specifically the Brown or Polar Bear are good options for higher strength potential than the Dire Lion.

Also of interest is how evil-weighted the options here are.

As for what the next one will be, are there specific limitations on the niche-ness or type of PrC? For example, a racial one with an "adaptation" statement that suggests how to limit it less (in regards to race), is such a PrC on/off the table? As a wild example, are PrCs like "Peregrine Runner" completely off the table?

We've done racial PrCs before, like the one two rounds ago. Peregrine Runner is definitely not off the table, though I've given some thought about it, since the LA +1 is a little different than your average racial PrC.


Watch it be like gondian techsmith or something.

I'm not inclined to use 10/10 casting PrCs.

[H_H_F_F]

I hope judging is going well! Do you guys think you'll make it for the deadline?

[Empyreal Dragon]

Tonight is my night off so the plan was to post my judgement overnight. This was a hard one to evaluate.

[Hiro Quester]

Tonight is my night off so the plan was to post my judgement overnight. This was a hard one to evaluate.

we are all looking forward to see your evaluations. Thanks for taking the time and headaches to judge. (There are a few decisions to make as a judge here, that I would not know how to make.)

[Empyreal Dragon]

Lu'ung 14.5
Originality3.5
starting off with a skilled city dweller pouncebarian is sadly one of the most common tactics in optimization, so i did have to ding you a bit here, however... moving right off of that you took berserker strength, and i have to say the idea of berserker strength on a level dip to get a double strength rage early on? clever, and i havent seen berserker strength used for.... nearly anything. then we move into druid, where.... im not sure ive ever seen that much effort put into a replace all the things druid focused on urban use, so i gave a nice bonus here, especially the choice to forgo both wildshape, an animal companion, and a druidic avenger isnt.... something im accustomed to especially PAIRED with urban druid traits. then you take dragonscale husk, a lovely little choice, and something i pretty much never see actually made good use of, so compliments to the chef right there, unfortunately the choice of a tiger claw unarmed swordsage is.... sadly worn out, but then IMMEDIATELY made up for by the pyromantic focus of desert wind. i cannot REMEMBER the last time i saw a desert wind focused build. and sadly, i have seen many a "Dragon emulation" build before. due to the constant back and forth between common and unusual tactics, the emotional whiplash left you with a better than average score but not exceptional

Power3.5
and away we go off into adventure, the damage potential on this is HUGE on a charge, and charging is a great way for this build to work, more importantly is the fact that it just KEEPS getting stronger. start a battle off, first hit gives you power, then you rage, then you turn into a dinosaur and the more they hurt you the tougher you get. i gotta say, usually im hesitant with a build that needs to get hurt to get strong, but in this case ill make an exception due to just how much damage potential it puts out, which brings me to the other point of view... while your strength is massive and you do have a truly STAGGERING attack routine, the fact is, your power doesnt begin to approach the standard of damage output i come to expect until you're already taking massive amounts of damage, and while the fire damage is a lovely addition that adds up quickly, fire is the most resisted type in the game, so unfortunately while an impressive melee combatant, the SOURCE of your power does offset the score.


Elegance3.5
i almost feel wierd giving the same score for three categories? but here we are. ill make this one very simple, you didnt lose anything as far as pre-requisites, but the only issue is the fact that you needed four whole classes before you got into the SI, two distinct dips, and then splashing into both swordsage and druid. then the sheer number of alternative class features? its almost like none of the classes you took are actually part of the build? but altogether, i gave another middling score here.


UotSI4
short and simple, you were just short of a perfect score, but since you didnt finish the SI, i had to give you a small hit here.




Derlek 13
Originality4
alright lets crack into this and.... undying monk? WHAT?! i guess thats one way to meet your pre-requisites, definitely not one i expected to see for sure,then we dip into druid and... once again you shock and stun me, not only do you snag druidic avenger, but the choice to take snow tiger berserker for your pouncing needs instead of a barbarian dip, and not only that but avoid barbarian altogether, very nicely done, unfortunately druid was an expected and almost assumed base for me coming into this round, mild downturn on warshaper, its the quintessential dip for pretty much any class with shapeshifting of some sort, but then we're back to the good, natures warrior is something that i see so little that i actually FORGOT it was a class that existed, so this definitely earned you some points right there, the presentation was.... oddly entertaining, and the theme of a fully "self sufficient" entity was absolutely delightful, notably while i came in expecting many "emulation" builds with this.... actually creating your own cthulhu was delightful to see, all of this leading up to a heavy focused constrict build was definitely an uncommong and interesting decision. gonna repeat here, the idea of a great old one as your "prehistoric" form was clever as heck, cant get much more primeval than that, so I'm gonna give you this lovely score here.

Power4
and here we delve into some interesting territory, on the one hand, HOLY COW thats one hell of a constrict routine, with the buffs from your spells, paired alongside the tremendously powerful primeval form you've constructred, which again, emulating a great old one is apparently not only cool but DAMN strong, in melee combat, an attack routine like thai, with constrict, on THAT statline? now that is one heck of a combatant. a 70 foot flight speed on 20 foot reach, this guy is a very hard, and very annoying to deal with enemy. I'll give you a high score here.


elegance1
hoo boy, here comes the hard part, while tracking pre-requisites, despite the mild note on changing the order, you did build the actual writeup with self-sufficient and improved grapple where they were, this on its own gave you a minor ding, then we get to the major part of why your build in particular was hard for me to judge, Whirling frenzy, i have decided that yes, your decision was valid, and will judge as if ACF chaining is allowed, but i have decided to penalize it for elgance on that, then we get into the fact that you not only dipped monk, then took druid, then you also dipped both natures warrior and warshaper, then picked up primeval, so you did get a small ding right here for excessive multiclassing, then we get to the part where, while i didnt deduct anything from your score for it, your entry was hard for me to break down exactly what was going on at first. that didnt affect your values, but the rest of it did leave you with the unfortunate minimum score in this category

UotSI4
and thus we come forth to redemption, you managed to get exceptional use of the SI, your build is not only practically ENTIRELY focused on powering the SI, but vastly improves every aspect, bringing an otherwise disparate whole into a sublime dish as proper SI use should, the one penalty i had to give was for not finishing the SI.



Ghurg16.5
Originality3.5
wildshape ranger with FE:arcanists, bog standard classic, but it gets a bit sad to see on every ranger base, so this did dock you a little bit, then we went into.... whirling frenzy poucnebarian.... yet another sadly unfortunate standard base to a build, but whats this undertone of flavor i see? is that... DOUBLE TOTEMS?! AND A HORSE TOTEM AT THAT! this earned you a slight touch of a bonus here, but sadly we moved on to warblade, which, a two level dip, with pretty much the quintessential discipline layout, like... to a T, pairing up with this was a slightly blander flavor, but oh my lord the FEATS frostblood orc to qualify for dragonblood soulmelds and rapidstrike is just *mwah*, and i have to admit, purposely setting up your SI to not be the capstone so you could convert the endurance feats for late game rapidstrike was very clever, and then i have to mention the SOULMELDS again. that was just a delightful little spice to the build. i was torn here from the horse toem and incarnum choices paired with your racial decision, and the clever use of endurance, but unfortunately the blandness of yet another whirling pouncebarian and arcanist enemy shaperanger offset this, especially with the ever so common warblade dip. so all in all i gave you an above average score in this department, but not a phenomenal one


Power3.5
this ones fairly easy to sum up, you've got a solid enough AC, even while frenzied, you have a strong nine fold attack routine, with headlong rush, leading the charge, and a strength of 30, it nets you several HUNDRED points of damage on top, pairing up with your white raven tactics nets you some solid action economy to go through another nine attacks, and thats all you got, primeval can get some hefty power behind it, and this just felt lackluster, as a charger you fall behind a bit, you dont make a fantastic tank, so a midling score for a midling power

Edit:due to considering dispute and a misstep on my part, I have chosen to expand the power score here to accommodate greater damage potential, but lack of utility.


Elegance4.5
short sweet and to the point, you met all your prerequisites, you avoided any dodgy ways of qualification, you even avoided jumping through awkward hoops, with one exception, while it got you points on originality, the endurance trick to qualify for rapid strike as your capstone did lose you out a bit on elegance just for the clunky feel of it, and the small detour into warblade on an otherwise smooth transitioning build while it didnt penalize you for points on its own, did come to mind on this category. all in all though you got a high rating in elegance for how well it all came together, and the delightful use of incarnum, double totem, wildshape ranger and primeval for a solid thematic "totem spirits" idea was a delicious blend.


UotSI[5]
it's perfect, your build not only synergizes mechanically, but aesthetically and thematically, you make exceptional use of the primeval class features and not only build up for them but improve UPON them, using them to achieve a difficult to manage feat kit as an outstanding capstone, altogether i couldnt complain for use of the SI. 5/5



Gharg18.5
Orginality4
Much like his brother before him, Gharg takes similar penalty right here for the ever so commonly sprung wildshape ranger with FE:arcanists, additionaly, the use of elder evils is not just a regular occurence in optimizing in general, but also pops up dang near every round of this contest, the sheer commonality of it got you dinged for another penalty, but then you swung it around me, with the arcane stunt swashbuckler, that. was definitely not something i thought i'd come across here, and it definitely added a surprising undertone to the bulild, then we move onto your choice of thrall to juiblex which, i'll give you this, for a primeval, going so far back as the raw protoplasm of life itself is definitely a surprising choice, and the decision to abuse the combination of both wildshape AND polymorph traits granted by primeval is something i really had to scratch my head at, i havent seen much use done with shenanigans like that before, and i applaud it, furthering that, the choice of using primeval to ACQUIRE magical capability was... a surprising element. and for these interesting ideas i gave a rather high score in this category


Power4.5
Now here we get to the wierdness, as common as wildshape ranger is, it's very good, and your build is.... surprisingly tricky, where a typical primeval build would focus heavily on being a sheer melee bruiser, you chose to instead accentuate the shapeshifting power in a strange way, using it to open up a tremendous toolkit of buffs, with the option of applying your phenomenal base stats to a more supernaturally potent form, or choosing to swap out into
your primeval state but maintain large numbers of magical capabilities, and the other fringe benefits of your power, low HD demons and oozes arent the cream of the crop for summoning, but it adds yet more utility to your build, while lacking in the raw power department, and you are lacking behind just a tad, i have to give this points for the sheer useage of it's versatility. the lack of raw damage potential, and the low grade of forms available to you did take you down a bit, so i settled for the average score. but after some further consideration while having neat tricks to do, it just doesnt bring a lot of strength to bear, feeling very lackluster even at its own game

Edit:upon considering dispute and my miscalculation on some key factors, I have to give the utility benefit TO your charging capability, and adjust for my mistake on the statline. For this you get the rare joy of a full 2 point jump.


Elegance5
this build in a word was.... seamless, it went on the palate smoother than a fresh jar of skippy, while the endurance trick would have cost points, it was a singular feat in this case, and i made an exception for the simple fact that everything ties together so perfectly, with your ranger base being used to qualify for your duelist dip, while utilizing the two together to qualify into your thrall of juiblex for a seamless transition into primeval, which synergizes back into your thrall of juiblex and wildshape ranger, then all of them transitioning back into thrall at the end for a perfect cherry on top of the build was just delectable, i didnt see any issues as far as pre-requisites and i have to give this a solid perfect score


UotSI5
Once again its just so perfectly tied together, the thematic connection, the mechanical useage, and everything. i dont have anything to say about this. good job.



Primo Valendino Starchild12.5
Originality5
i honestly was so confused here, but lets get into what i finally came to conclude. passive way monk as a starter? classic way monk starter. invisibile fist? you can always see it coming. but! a lot of people often forget you can abandon a style partway through, and i give you credit for that little trick,then... antiquarian.... that's uncommon, and whats this im tasting.... undertones of wilderness rogue.... the halfling racial levels.... and penetrating strike? now thats a lovely spice to an already strange mix of flavors and then HELLBREAKER. that right there netted you yet another bonus, and just went from there, now while hellbreaker was already an interesting twist, holy crud i wasnt ready for that dive down the rabbit hole, and good god man, you made me go for a dive down my books, and after a LONG duration of cross referencing, sampling, and in depth reasearch i have to conclude that not only does this idea work, but it has not been done before. and then further combining this with ancestral knowledge and stone blessed, just amusingly a good idea.
perfect score for just.... blowing my mind


Power5
I didnt want to give this to you, I really didnt, but the simple fact is, you're practically omniscient, you can casually do.... anything within the bounds of skills, access epic skillchecks, slap the tarrasque into 0 HP and then autosucceed on BoVD sacrifice to wish it dead, this is a casual act for you at this point. It's frankly ridiculous. You wanted theory Op, you got Theory op.


Elegance1
you not only fall under way too much dipping, but you also go a step BEYOND normal, replace all the things ACF use, losing points for the monk style change trick, and while you flawlessly meet all prerequisites, your build is like throwing all the things in your pantry into a stew and hoping it works out, but....unfortunately i cant deny that you did manage to get everything exactly as it needs to be. but, the sheer hoops you jump through in ORDER to qualify, the flagrant abuse of rules, and the absurd ways of meeting all your methods is just.... i gave you the minimum here.

UotSI1.5
ill make this part as quick as i can, you barely touched the SI, and definitely did not complete it, these were two severe penalties, BUT, unfortunately it is EXTREMELY centric to the entire build, with every last detail focused on use of its class feature or designed to work from it, keyword, feature, while you make great use of it, truly i applaud your madness, you completely disregard the entire rest of the class, and so i could not give a better score here,


Valindra18
Originality4
I will make it clear that i dont penalize for fluff, but i do give points for it, and i must admit, the idea of a lolth-touched monster being taken as a slave to justify the drow ACFs is.... unusually something i havent strolled across before. the entire story and everything brought it together nicely and i have to admit, i loved reading it. you netted a small bonus here for a genuinely creative background, champion of the wild is definitely an interesting choice for a ranger, and the decision to use primeval for a RANGED build.... i didnt see that coming but dang. this was, unfortunately mildly impacted by the omnipresence of both arcane hunter and lion totem barbarian. due to this you netted a less than perfect score, but the creativity was deserving of better than average


Power4
ranged builds are notoriously difficult to build for, volley archery moreso, but between your use of animal companion for a decent poison, the ranged pin, and the hilarious image of an octopus wielding an array of pole-arms and crossbows being actually effective.... i gotta give you this, and with a 25 attack routine pouncing, with strength AND dex to damage, you make up for your lackluster damage output and the low ability of poison at high levels through SHEER VOLUME. all in all its a solid build but just short of a perfect score.


Elegance:5
no wierd an unusual stuff here, a monstrous humanoid lolth-touched drow slave? that lines up perfectly, anthropomorphic animal transitioning into its normal self? again, good choice, double drow racial ACFs? looking good... no pre-requisite problems.... nice.... im gonna give you the elegance stamp of approval here.

UotSI5
finished the entire class? check. made use of every feature? check. ties in to the build? check. no complaints here.



Free15
Originality2
arcane hunter, wildshape ranger, seen it so many times. master of many forms on a wildshape ranger? that was another penalty just because it is such a common direction for a wildshape ranger. animal lord though? really pushing into that shapeshifting ideal, but animal lord in and of itself is extremely uncommon, and ive literally never seen a birdlord when it does come up, so this is already turning your score upwards, but... all told, it's a power attacking natural attack charger, It's a tried and true method, and not honestly that creative of one unfortunately. birdlord was your saving grace, but i gave you a minimal score here.

Power3
short sweet and to the point, 40+ strength with power attack on 19 BaB, with a five attack routine, giant forms and humanoid forms. it's decent, but not fantastic, this build was.... alright? It's a little lacklustre.


Elegance5
I'll make this short too, you avoided massive quantity of dipping, all your PrCs are built off of your base, and everything flows perfectly. i dont have any comments on a simple perfect score

UotSI5
as elegance above, your entire build synergizes with itself with a solid focus on the winged land chicken, you finish the SI. no comments.



jakkan ha'gar11
Originality3
I was not entirely sure where to go with this one, but I'll start by giving you props on the free action healing abuse. past that.... a ranger barbarian warshaper, seen it, so much, i had to dock you here for that one. past that.... i just really didnt see anything innovative? but i liked the use of divine minion and dragon wildshape. so i gave you a middling score


Power5
i was very confused on where to rate this one, while dragon wildshape forms are cool, and infinite in-combat and out-of combat healing is nice, you dont have much in the way of combat power, but you raised a good point on defense. so i had to go, through every, single, dragon of small or medium size. in the game. thanks by the way for that, and evaluate EXACTLY what your sheer tanking capacity was. so, for nothing else than the fact that you can casually pick up damn near any and every immunity, as well as movement type, and change an unlimited number of times, i gave you this.


Elegance1
ranger, barbarian, fighter, warshaper, divine minion, i definitely docked you for just a touch too much going on here, then we got into.... your use of divine minion. picking up dragon touched as your third level feat, and then.... i could keep going but altogether the build just felt.... so clunky. but given that you met all your prequisites, i couldnt drop you majorly here. but.... then we get into the fact that you are a mage-bred, horrid, creature.... you.... cant apply templates to polymorph forms, or wildshape forms. so..... that did take a rather major hit for the two templates.


UotSI2
you finished the entire class, which was off to a good start, your build definitely works to function around its abilities, which is nice, but.... while you were doing good, altogether the entire dish feels like primeval was added.... because it had to be, rather than because it was central to the build? it seemes like ana fterthought and not actually necesarry for the build as a whole, and then while you took the entire class, your entire gimmick actually.... doesnt need it at all? so i gave just above the minimum here.




Liz17
Originality4
Arcane hunter ranger was a slight ding, just for the sheer commonality of it, but immediately forgiven for the sheer surprise at mortal bane, only to then be hit by the commonality of an elder evil devotion, but.... i enjoyed the clever idea of using a parrot as the talking brains of the operation so to speak. and then i never thought id come across mortal hunter anytime soon, i definitely enjoyed that subtle undertone flavoring the build.


Power3.5
while i absolutely loved this build, i was wary at first, mortal hunter was definitely interesting, and the normal flaws of smite, and it's effective favored enemy were... less than stellar, and this is further compounded by a pretty standard ranger base. but with cave ankylosaurus, your prodigious strength, and lovely attack routine, plus the use of power attack, you can be a decent enough attacker. altogether though, the build is a bit lacklustre against non-mortal, non-arcanist enemies. but.... for the sheer fact that you make a highly effective caster killer, i gave a small bonus here. altogether the build was decent at what it did, but not amazing.


Elegance5
I would almost never give a perfect score on elegegance, really its rare, but your build was just so... perfectly tied together, i had to give you this. a full ranger base moving into a ranger prestige class with polymorphing features, a devout follower of ragnora moving into primeval from that, honestly it just fit so smoothly i couldnt afford to let it go.


UotSI4.5
short and simple, the only penalty you took here was for the small favoring of your mortal hunter side over your primeval, had a greater focus been given to the SI, it would have been perfect.



frough-gee16.5
originality4.5
i was going to penalize you for the arcane hunter barbarian entry, but the favored enviroment and spiritual connection saved you right here, after that it was just one thing after another, deep warden? heck yeah. but best of all, YOURE A TOAD! I never guess at a toad primeval form this entire round, and i've never even seen a toad as any favored form. i gotta say that right there got you this just for the sheer novelty of a toad, and a build built for swallow whole is just uncommong enough to get you this beautiful score right here.


power3
Alas, the good times couldnt keep hopping along, while an interesting build to be sure, your massive con gives your great survivability, and your benefits to will saves are nice, but sadly swallow whole is not a strong force, nor is your grappling of exceptional use here either, while all of this is good in and of itself, the build fails to make strong use of any of it's features, leaving it a bit lackluster.


Elegance4
then we move on to.... elegance. you did take a penalty for the multiclassing sadly, but past that... i got nothing.


UotSI5
no comments


Ocavo17
Originality3.5
I'm just gonna start straight into it, I did not expect a binder warblade base, definitely not. but beyond the initial surprise, and the cleverness of using binder to fight in an aquatic form, it's.... not honestly stunning. i wish i had a more complex evaluation. but i gave a slightly above average score for the odd binder base

Power3.5
How to make this short and sweet.... its.... darn good with the reach, the combat reflexes and mage slayer mean you produce a LOT of AoO, and your multigrab potential with 20 foot reach.... you ARE the CC. i love it, but beyond that one initial nicety.... the build itself doesnt get much?


Elegance5
ive seen more perfect elegance scores this round than i ever thought id give. and you continue to contribute.


UotSI5

You my friend, have no complaints on my end



Son of Keyrock17.5
originality4 good god, i have only ever seen one person use a STINK based build, and it was just a side feature, building yourself around a dire vulture stench with incarnum for totemist is..... odd enough as is, and on its own this would have netted you above average. go ahead and take it.

Power3.5your early totemist levels did you a lot of favors, but unfortunately, soulborn is bad even for a dip, but you managed to redeem yourself just by how beefy a dire vulture form can actually be with your base of incarnum. i had to relearn and memorize all the soulmelds for this.


Elegance5continuing a trend, thank you by the way, this is the single most elegant round ive ever judge, and your build is absolutely perfect, i made the exception for the minor dip because of the incarnum theme synergy.

UotSI5
oh gods.... the smell is killing me.... please just take this score and go.

please do not post yet, still doing the judgement.

[Empyreal Dragon]

I apologize for the delay, I had to learn and memorize.... so many things for this judgement. and then life got in my way. HOWEVER. this has been the single most elegant round ive ever had to judge. and i saw a lot of great creativity this round that i wasnt expecting. i loved every entry, thank you all so much. except jakkan because while i enjoyed your build, having to memorize the statblock of every dragon in the game was not as fun as it sounds

[DeAnno]

It's nice to see one set of scores in! Are we still hoping for judgements from ZamielVanWeber as well, or are we going to ship with what we have and start moving on to the next round?

[PrismCat21]

Looks like there's a tie for Bronze so far.
Empyeal Dragon, think you can edit the last three judgements to show the score by the name like the others?

[RaiKirah]

Empyreal Dragon - Thank you for judging! This was a monumental task this round, and I for one am grateful. On my part I have no disputes. Thanks again!

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks for judging, Empyreal!

I, too, would like to know if we're still waiting on a second judge.

[The Viscount]

Thank you for judging Empyreal Dragon. Your efforts as always are greatly appreciated. In the interests of keeping things moving, I will give our chefs 48 hours for any disputes (assuming we are not receiving additional judging, if we are we will obviously extend) after which I will post the reveal and the next round.

Speaking of disputes, here are 2:


Thanks for judging Empyreal Dragon. I think that most of what you said about Ghurg and Gharg is fair, but that you underrated their ability as melee brutes.

Both have Pounce, massive Str (counting Ghurg's Whirling Frenzy bonus, they both hit 50 in Primeval Form before items - it seems like you may have only noticed the 30 which they have in natural form), long attack routines (by my count, Ghurg actually tops out at 13 attacks, not 9, if that makes a difference, while Gharg's Pounce routine ends up with 9 attacks counting the two Rakes), and Headlong Rush doubling everything. I would say that both of them have damage output that's comparable to or even better than other builds which received higher scores in Power, seemingly mostly on that basis.

Regarding Gharg in particular, optimized charge damage tends to become overkill past a certain point, and being able to reliably execute a charge ends up mattering more than further bonuses. As things that prevent charging include physical barriers, movement restrictions, and not being able to see the target, having native access to Ethereal Movement, Tactical Teleportation, Freedom of Movement, and True Seeing, will ultimately probably make his damage output more consistent and, practically speaking, likely actually better than that of his peers with similar charging shticks.


Thanks for judging, Empyreal Dragon. While I think that overall Froggy’s scores have been more than fair, I do have a small dispute regarding her “power”.

The power section only mentions swallow whole offense wise, and attributes to Con only defensive value (for HP,(obviously) will saves, and double Con to AC.) While swallow whole is certainly a cherry on top, Froggy's attack routine is based on Con as well as on grapple. A usual standard action is either:

an insightful strike / greater insightful strike, (concentration, based on Con, to damage) with her bite, which has poison (save DC based on con) on top of which come the improved grab+constrict (weight of the mountain stance) + maybe swallow whole, or:

Her breath weapon, doing damage depending on level, the DC of which is based on Con.

Again, the score seems fair enough if that's what you think she deserves. I just wanted to make sure you noted that her attacks are more powerful than described, are entirely based around her pumped Con, and also utilize the poison of the toad and compensate for its single natural attack. It's not just the grapple aspects.

Also, just as an aside, the originality section says she's an arcane hunter, which she isn't. It might be just a copy/paste error, though, and probably isn't a big deal.

Again, thanks for judging!

[Venger]

Updated table



Name of Dish
Stub
Primeval Form
Score Judge 1
Chef


Lu'ung, The Dragon's Fury (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717294&postcount=65)
Neutral Evil Human Barbarian 1/Druid 6/Fighter 1/Swordsage 3/Primeval 9
megaraptor
14.5
-


Derlek, Unwitting Minion of the Great Dreamer (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717307&postcount=66)
NE human undying way monk 2/druidic avenger 5/warshaper 2/nature's warrior 3/primeval 8
giant octopus
13
-


The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval (Ghurg) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717313&postcount=68)
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Barbarian 5/Warblade 2/Primeval 10
cave ankylosaurus
16
-


The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval (Gharg) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717313&postcount=68)
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Swashbuckler 2/Thrall of Jubilex 5/Primeval 10
dire lion
16.5
-


Primo Valendino Star (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717324&postcount=69)
LG > CE strongheart halfling passive way halfling monk 2/wilderness rogue 3/hellbreaker 8/ primeval 2/stoneblessed 3/fighter 1/wilderness rogue 4
swindlespitter
12.5
-


Valindra (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717325&postcount=70)
CE Lolth-Touched Anthropomorphic Giant Octopus
Monstrous Humanoid 2 / Rogue 1 / Fighter 1 / Ranger 4 / Barbarian 1 / Primeval 10
giant octopus
18
-


Free (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717327&postcount=71)
CN gully dwarf ranger 5/momf2/birdlord 3/ primeval 10
megaraptor
15
-


Jakkan Ha'gar (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717333&postcount=72)
CN ghostwise halfling Minion 1/Ranger 3/Fighter 2/Barbarian 1/ Warshaper 3/ primeval 10
horrid magebred dire badger
11
-


Liz (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717337&postcount=73)
NE neraph ranger 5/mortal hunter 3/primeval 10/mortal hunter 5
cave ankylosaurus
17
-


Frough-Gee (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717343&postcount=74)
NG female wild dwarf dragonborn of Bahamut (Heart). Ranger 1/ Barbarian 4/ fist of the forest 1/ deepwarden 2/ warblade 2/ primeval 10
dire toad
16.5
-


Ocavo, the Weeping Warrior (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717349&postcount=75)
CN Desert Orc Warblade 6/Binder 4/Giant Octopus Primeval 10

giant octopus
17
-


Son of Keyrock (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717352&postcount=76)
CE Neanderthal Totemist 7/Soulborn 3/Primeval 10

dire vulture
17.5
-

[Empyreal Dragon]

Due to disputes I have chosen to reevaluate the frost orc bros. And edited their scores to account for that. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.


Frough-gee, I apologize, arcane hunter was a mistake on my part, I meant it to be wild shape ranger, but either way, I did notice her other capabilities, I just enfolded them under grapple and felt the breath weapon was not enough to improve the score. Due to her limitations, I stand by my judgement. Thank you.

[Venger]

Thanks for the quick turnaround on those disputes, Empyreal Dragon.

Updated table below.



Name of Dish
Stub
Primeval Form
Score Judge 1
Chef


Lu'ung, The Dragon's Fury (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717294&postcount=65)
Neutral Evil Human Barbarian 1/Druid 6/Fighter 1/Swordsage 3/Primeval 9
megaraptor
14.5
-


Derlek, Unwitting Minion of the Great Dreamer (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717307&postcount=66)
NE human undying way monk 2/druidic avenger 5/warshaper 2/nature's warrior 3/primeval 8
giant octopus
13
-


The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval (Ghurg) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717313&postcount=68)
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Barbarian 5/Warblade 2/Primeval 10
cave ankylosaurus
16
-


The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval (Gharg) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717313&postcount=68)
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Swashbuckler 2/Thrall of Jubilex 5/Primeval 10
dire lion
18.5
-


Primo Valendino Star (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717324&postcount=69)
LG > CE strongheart halfling passive way halfling monk 2/wilderness rogue 3/hellbreaker 8/ primeval 2/stoneblessed 3/fighter 1/wilderness rogue 4
swindlespitter
12.5
-


Cephala (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717325&postcount=70)
CE Lolth-Touched Anthropomorphic Giant Octopus
Monstrous Humanoid 2 / Rogue 1 / Fighter 1 / Ranger 4 / Barbarian 1 / Primeval 10
giant octopus
18
-


Free (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717327&postcount=71)
CN gully dwarf ranger 5/momf2/birdlord 3/ primeval 10
megaraptor
15
-


Jakkan Ha'gar (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717333&postcount=72)
CN ghostwise halfling Minion 1/Ranger 3/Fighter 2/Barbarian 1/ Warshaper 3/ primeval 10
horrid magebred dire badger
11
-


Liz (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717337&postcount=73)
NE neraph ranger 5/mortal hunter 3/primeval 10/mortal hunter 5
cave ankylosaurus
17
-


Frough-Gee (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717343&postcount=74)
NG female wild dwarf dragonborn of Bahamut (Heart). Ranger 1/ Barbarian 4/ fist of the forest 1/ deepwarden 2/ warblade 2/ primeval 10
dire toad
16.5
-


Ocavo, the Weeping Warrior (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717349&postcount=75)
CN Desert Orc Warblade 6/Binder 4/Giant Octopus Primeval 10

giant octopus
17
-


Son of Keyrock (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717352&postcount=76)
CE Neanderthal Totemist 7/Soulborn 3/Primeval 10

dire vulture
17.5
-

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks for the table, Venger.

[Empyreal Dragon]

Apologies for the long judgement. This was a hell of a round, and it taught me some new tricks.

[daremetoidareyo]

Apologies for the long judgement. This was a hell of a round, and it taught me some new tricks.

This round was tougher to judge than most. On top of all of the books that entries typically use, every single entry had a monster statblock attached to it. And some of the builds expanded the repertoire of monster statblocks significantly.

The thing i liked most about your judgment was your reassessment with the disputes. That layer of the contest gets tricky and emotional, but you handled it superbly, and it's worthy of pointing that out.

[Empyreal Dragon]

There's no reason for it to be emotional, the dispute is either valid or it isnt. I'm merely a dragon, we make mistakes. And if one is pointed out, we fix it.


Sometimes you can stand by your initial point. Other times the dispute makes you reconsider. Its nothing to get upset about. And they were right, my math was off

[H_H_F_F]

You are of course right, Empyreal, but I think having your work questioned by strangers can get emotional - and you handled it excellently.

[The Viscount]

Here is one more.


A comment for Empyreal Dragon’s consideration, on behalf of Derlek:

Thanks for your thoughtful and thorough judging, Empyreal dragon. We all appreciate the time and effort involved.

I want to ask about consistency across entries. Particularly Derlek’s scores, though it might apply to others. Particularly on elegance and power.

On Elegance you penalize Derlek for the order of feats and for the whirling frenzy ACF, and for excessive multiclassing. But each of those first two were described as optional (feats only ordered that way for comedic effect, and the idea of whirling tentacles just seems funny). Neither is essential to the build and both, it was noted, can be changed without significant consequence.

And on multiclassing, none of Derlek’s dips were a single level, while many other builds that scored high on elegance included many single-level dips, and some also had as many different classes (or more). You describe the build as well-designed to advantage power the SI. It seems perhaps overly harsh, then, that this build earns the same minimal elegance score as another build with what you describe as “way too much dipping” and “flagrant abuse of rules”.

On power, you don’t seem to give anything but praise for how challenging a combatant Derlek could be. But the rating seems lower than the description seems to suggest you might have intended.

So I’m humbly and respectfully asking whether it might be fair to please check whether the ratings are correct, and consistent between submissions.

[Empyreal Dragon]

Addressing the most recent dispute, after consideration I have chosen to leave the ratings as is.


Part of my judgement was based on the dipping and multiclassing of prestige classes, which I do put a slightly harsher penalty for excessive multiclassing for.

Additionally, I judge writeups as presented, regardless of alternatives given, in keeping with consistency with past judges and with my own prior judgements.

More to the point, primo valedino starchild only received the minimum score because it is, the minimum, and I cannot go below it, elsewise the two dishes would not have received the same score in elegance. The build you used as comparison, the starchild again, did in fact have greater multiclassing than you, and a much less elegant build. But the iron chef challenge presents a minimum score in the category, thus why his rating is on par with your own.


As far as power, while your build was delightfully aggravating to consider as an opponent, I don't believe it to be worth a full 5 star rating, the closest rating to your own recieved an equivalent rank in this score. The ones surpassing you were capable of unbelievable polymorph and wild shape shenanigans, or having a TO level statline.


If my scoring seemed inconsistent I apologize. But on reevaluating the dishes. I believe Derlek is deserving the ratings in power and elegance I gave him for the reasons mentioned above.

[Thurbane]

Have we ever had a ToB PrC as an ingredient?

Never mind: Bloodstorm Blade (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?542380)

[WhamBamSam]

Have we ever had a ToB PrC as an ingredient?We've had Shadow Sun Ninja and Bloodstorm Blade. The other 10 level PrCs are all sorta too good and Eternal Blade especially really restricts entry with its BAB+10 requirement.

[Thurbane]

Thanks. I'm gonna just keep spruiking Dragon Samurai (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030906c) then :smallbiggrin:

It might just be in the "so bad it's bad" category, but I can think of one op tactic to focus around...

[The Viscount]

Sam has taken the words from my mouth. Eternal Blade is good, and quite hard to enter with its BA requirement. Jade Phoenix Mage and Ruby Knight Vindicator have advancement of spells and maneuvers, so the entry is even narrower.

While we await scores from our second judge, here is one more dispute for you, Empyreal Dragon. Name change is on me, didn't slow down to do it properly and grabbed the name above the table.


Cephala is sad that her name was changed to Valindra and that her "near perfect" power rating was only a 4. With a 25 attack routine on the charge or at range and a poison effect regardless of save she was hoping for a 4.5. Also sorry if this dispute was late.

[Venger]

Edited Cephala's name onto the table accordingly.

[WhamBamSam]

Thanks. I'm gonna just keep spruiking Dragon Samurai (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030906c) then :smallbiggrin:

It might just be in the "so bad it's bad" category, but I can think of one op tactic to focus around...I have a rough, very inelegant idea for Dragon Samurai.

[The Viscount]

While you were getting useful class features, Dragon Samurai studied the blade.

[H_H_F_F]

So, a second judging is surely on its way? That's fantastic!

Also, Dragon Samurai seems sort of... Bland? Boring? Maybe I'm just not creative enough.

[daremetoidareyo]

So, a second judging is surely on its way? That's fantastic!

Also, Dragon Samurai seems sort of... Bland? Boring? Maybe I'm just not creative enough.
Dragon samurai is trash.

[H_H_F_F]

Dragon samurai is trash.

Well, clearly. But being boring is worse than being trash, in the context of this endeavour.

[The Viscount]

Dragon samurai is trash.

It is, which is why we must face it one day.

[Nihilarian]

I was expecting more wildshape ranger since that seems kinda like the "natural" entry into this class. But then i guess natural can be a downside in this kinda competition.

The only even vaguely interesting ability Dragon Samurai gets is a stackable breath weapon you can use exactly once a day. What else are you going to build around? +4 bonus to charisma checks when talking to dragons? Blind-fight?

[The Viscount]

I was expecting more wildshape ranger since that seems kinda like the "natural" entry into this class. But then i guess natural can be a downside in this kinda competition.

The only even vaguely interesting ability Dragon Samurai gets is a stackable breath weapon you can use exactly once a day. What else are you going to build around? +4 bonus to charisma checks when talking to dragons? Blind-fight?

Vizzini strikes again.

Yes, Dragon Samurai gives you infuriatingly little, which is why we talk about it for IC. We've done some extremely challenging rounds in the past, and chefs have always risen to the occasion.

[Nihilarian]

Am I allowed to offer a critique on a build?

[daremetoidareyo]

Am I allowed to offer a critique on a build?

It should probably wait until the reveal of the entrants. There's another judge judging, and possibly a round of disputes, and we don't need to muddy the waters of objectivity.

[Hiro Quester]

Sam has taken the words from my mouth. Eternal Blade is good, and quite hard to enter with its BA requirement.

We could always relax the Use of SI portion of the grading, to reflect interesting and skillful use of SI, rather than simply using all of SI.

(When cooking a dish with squid, a skilled and original chef might find a use for the ink. But many excellent dishes would be forgone if one required that the ink be used. )

There seem to be some cool things one could do with classes like Eternal Blade, if one accepted that one might not have to use all 10 levels. Even when its capstone is such an awesomely useful ability.

[The Viscount]

The larger problem is that Eternal Blade does good stuff all by itself. It's pretty obvious what you're going to do with an Eternal Blade entry, you're going to make an initiator. I prefer ingredients that are more open and less straightforward.

[Heavenblade]

Perhaps one of the less powerful racial prcs for gnomes/goliaths/dwarves? That way people could also try to fit in the build 3 stoneblessed levels, and thatll give more place for creativity

[PrismCat21]

We could always relax the Use of SI portion of the grading, to reflect interesting and skillful use of SI, rather than simply using all of SI.

Why would you only score on if someone used all the levels or not? Interesting and skillful use of the Secret Ingredient is very much already a part of the category.

[Hiro Quester]

Why would you only score on if someone used all the levels or not? Interesting and skillful use of the Secret Ingredient is very much already a part of the category.

I meant that the expectation seems to be that you ought to use the whole SI, and that a build that leaves out the last few levels , no matter how detrimental they would be to the overall dish (and no matter how much more tasty the dish is with another ingredient instead, in those levels), you would always get a deduction for not using it all.

But yeah, eternal blade has a very well-defined expected initiator build, if you use all 10 levels.

That's why I was thinking that an interesting challenge might be to see what interesting deviations from those expectations might be found if people were encouraged to be very creative, and use --without penalty-- only the early part of a class like that, to build something unexpected.

[Piggy Knowles]

I haven't judged in a while, but when I judged, just taking the ingredient without doing anything with it never earned you any points from me. If you take all 10 levels but do absolutely nothing with levels 8-10, I don't see why you should get a better score than someone who only took 7 levels but successfully used them. The category is use of secret ingredient, after all; just sticking it onto a build without using it isn't doing anything interesting for me.

[WhamBamSam]

Yeah. I similarly have graded on use of features when I've judged. While I've sometimes given credit just for getting to late features (particularly ones where the ability functions as Limited Wish or something and doesn't require much further optimization), I've also left the door open for getting some credit for those abilities without actually taking enough of the SI to get them if you've made a compelling case that that somehow makes for better use of the SI (you needed those levels for something really impressive with other features, or in some cases with some SIs, those abilities actively work at cross purposes with what you're trying to do, or whatever), and that was something I got from OMG PONIES' scoring rubric, so it's not exactly an uncommon scoring philosophy.

It'd be a harder case to make with Eternal Blade, though since the higher level features are so good, and do mostly the same thing as the lower level ones only more so. The only reason you'd stop at Eternal Blade 7 or whatever is that you're an initiator who qualifies, but can't finish it for whatever reason, or it isn't the focus of the build.

[Nihilarian]

So far the only judge who has posted their rulings already took off points for not finishing the SI even if it otherwise uses it perfectly (and on a class with a BAB+8 requirement, too). Hiro Quester has every reason to believe that finishing the SI plays a part in judging entries, because it clearly does, at least in this round

[DeTess]

Whether or not finishing the ingredient matters (much) is generally up to the individual judge, but its highly unlikely to ever hurt your 'use of SI' scoring to finish the dish, while not finishing it is a perfectly valid reason to penalize, even if not every judge actually does so.

[Piggy Knowles]

So far the only judge who has posted their rulings already took off points for not finishing the SI even if it otherwise uses it perfectly (and on a class with a BAB+8 requirement, too). Hiro Quester has every reason to believe that finishing the SI plays a part in judging entries, because it clearly does, at least in this round


Whether or not finishing the ingredient matters (much) is generally up to the individual judge, but its highly unlikely to ever hurt your 'use of SI' scoring to finish the dish, while not finishing it is a perfectly valid reason to penalize, even if not every judge actually does so.

Oh definitely. And for what it's worth, I'd also penalize for not finishing the SI! After all, you're not fully utilizing it if you don't even take it all. I'd just penalize equally for finishing the SI but not actually doing anything with the final levels.

[WhamBamSam]

So far the only judge who has posted their rulings already took off points for not finishing the SI even if it otherwise uses it perfectly (and on a class with a BAB+8 requirement, too). Hiro Quester has every reason to believe that finishing the SI plays a part in judging entries, because it clearly does, at least in this roundI don't want to litigate this round's judging too much outside of disputes while it's still ongoing, but it's worth pointing out that included in the SI's 10th level is the 4th daily use of the SI's signature ability, that like Eternal Blade, Primeval is essentially coherent as a class with its abilities largely serving a unified purpose, and that no one really attempted to make a case that they made better use of the SI by not finishing it except the TO Starchild.

[Nihilarian]

To be clear i wasn't criticizing the judge with that statement, just noting that Hiro was correct about the judging criteria

As far as the importance of Primeval level 10: a fourth use of the signature abiluty would be very important if you couldn't get +2 uses with a feat.

[PrismCat21]

I meant that the expectation seems to be that you ought to use the whole SI, and that a build that leaves out the last few levels , no matter how detrimental they would be to the overall dish (and no matter how much more tasty the dish is with another ingredient instead, in those levels), you would always get a deduction for not using it all.

That seems like a dispute for the individual Judge. They have the right to Judge it how they wish.


So far the only judge who has posted their rulings already took off points for not finishing the SI even if it otherwise uses it perfectly (and on a class with a BAB+8 requirement, too). Hiro Quester has every reason to believe that finishing the SI plays a part in judging entries, because it clearly does, at least in this round

Sure it plays a part. It is not the only part. Others have already chimed in on why it's not the only part.

You've already asked if you could offer a critique of a build. What's stopping you from becoming a Judge and scoring have you see fit?

[Nihilarian]

That seems like a dispute for the individual Judge. They have the right to Judge it how they wish.



Sure it plays a part. It is not the only part. Others have already chimed in on why it's not the only part.

You've already asked if you could offer a critique of a build. What's stopping you from becoming a Judge and scoring have you see fit?probably not a good idea since i just came back after a long time away from the system lol

Also isn't it a bit late to put in as a judge?

[H_H_F_F]

probably not a good idea since i just came back after a long time away from the system lol

Also isn't it a bit late to put in as a judge?

I'd say it is, unless you've got a lot of free time right now and you think you can get it done very quickly. If you're interested, I'd recommend talking it over with the chairman.

[Venger]

probably not a good idea since i just came back after a long time away from the system lol

Also isn't it a bit late to put in as a judge?

Yeah, we're ideally closing soon. There's always next round which will be, but don't feel pressured.

[Hiro Quester]

That seems like a dispute for the individual Judge. They have the right to Judge it how they wish.


I’m really not trying to raise a dispute. I was more suggesting that some contests might get more interesting if, with an SI that has an “obvious” optimal way to use it, chefs were expressly encouraged to not use the whole SI without penalty to get contestants thinking more creatively.

Though with EB, the capstone is so good that it seems you would have to be trying to get something very different done, such that this goal could justify forgoing the capstone for a couple of levels in something better (at achieving that goal).

I think it might be cool to encourage creativity at the expense of complete use of the SI, sometimes.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

I’m really not trying to raise a dispute. I was more suggesting that some contests might get more interesting if, with an SI that has an “obvious” optimal way to use it, chefs were expressly encouraged to not use the whole SI without penalty to get contestants thinking more creatively.

That's actually one of the big ideas behind the Junkyard Wars competition. One of the most common formats is two ingredients that suggest a certain optimization path, and a forbidden ingredient that makes the most obvious build impossible. (E.g. One round (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?590622-Junkyard-Wars-XXV-SA-SS-S) was Silverwood Arcanist + Share Soulmelds, but the arcane/incarnum theurge Soulcaster was forbidden).

[The Viscount]

I’m really not trying to raise a dispute. I was more suggesting that some contests might get more interesting if, with an SI that has an “obvious” optimal way to use it, chefs were expressly encouraged to not use the whole SI without penalty to get contestants thinking more creatively.

Though with EB, the capstone is so good that it seems you would have to be trying to get something very different done, such that this goal could justify forgoing the capstone for a couple of levels in something better (at achieving that goal).

I think it might be cool to encourage creativity at the expense of complete use of the SI, sometimes.

It's a trend that has its higher and lower points, some of it depending on judges, entrant style, and honestly ingredient. We've still had rounds relatively recently where chefs chose not to complete, and it was a valid choice. I'm hoping variance in ingredient helps with this.

[Venger]

After looking at that live my nightmare thread, I was wondering are spelltouched feats kosher for iron chef? I can't remember if it's come up.

[The Viscount]

After looking at that live my nightmare thread, I was wondering are spelltouched feats kosher for iron chef? I can't remember if it's come up.

I don't know that it's come up, either. Most of the UA alternate stuff is banned, but Spelltouched feats are only really set aside because they're magical. Given the abundance of magical feats introduced in supplemental books, it doesn't really make sense for them to be treated different. Therefore, I will pass ruling(added to the OP): Spelltouched feats are legal and can be taken just like any other feat when you meet the prerequisites and have the feat slot available.

[Venger]

Great, thanks for the ruling. Maybe I'll get to use one in the next round. Might we be getting a spoopy ingredient for Halloween?

[H_H_F_F]

Might we be getting a spoopy ingredient for Halloween?

Some would say, the ghost faced killer is the perfect embodiment of a good halloween movie. Others, of course, would point to the alienist, or to BoVD. But I say, no movie is more terrifying than the shining.

And we all know what "shining" has to mean when it comes to the iron chef.

There is nothing scarier.




(I'm kidding please don't)

[The Viscount]

It won't be Ghost-Faced Killer, since I like to rotate between full BAB classes. Perhaps someday.
Alienist is fascinatingly bad at what it does, though it is still full casting, so I doubt we'll see it.
The Shining is truly too scary to be next round, but it will have its day in the sun.

I'm definitely thinking of something spooky for next round.
I'm currently trying to narrow it down between an ingredient that has a singular vision it executes poorly, and an ingredient where I don't know what it's supposed to be doing.

I welcome the playground's input and speculation.

[Venger]

I like ones where I don't know what it's doing because it lets chefs search for meaning in many places. I think the last one we had like this was eye of the xanathar. I'd love another one like that, personally, versus an ingredient that tries to be a mage killer without advancing spells or whatever. Maybe the unfocused one is one of those ones that gives you a bunch of disparate 1/day slas.

[daremetoidareyo]

I so wish alienist was good

[WhamBamSam]

Not doing two full BAB classes in a row eliminates the possibility of Thrall of Etlab as well as a Beast Heart Adept monster mash (hope springs eternal for round CVII) along with Shining Blade and Ghost-Faced Killer.

I missed Disciple of Mammon when I listed off spooky BoVD classes earlier in the thread. I could definitely see it as a Haloween ingredient. That might be my guess for the one that doesn't seem to know what it's supposed to be doing. Dunno that I have a good guess for what the one that does is, but especially given that as I said earlier today, Primeval is a very focused, coherent class, I'm with Venger in having a hankering for getting some baffling hodge-podge of abilities and trying to bring them together into some sort of coherence.

[H_H_F_F]

Since we're off topic and talking about future competitions, I'd like to say something not directly relating to this contest as well.

I first ran into the Iron Chef by reading past competitions with PRCs I knew. Through this experience, I have expanded my knowledge of splatbooks vastly, and had a lot of fun. I sensed that here was a community of enthusiasts, working together to make cool things for everyone to enjoy.

When I jumped to the present day and decided to start judging and competing myself, I had fun as well, but I did feel some disappointment. There was very little discussion, only a few entries, etc. When I looked at the profile pages of prolific members in past competetions, I saw many of them were no longer on the forum. I felt like I missed out on the heyday of the contest.

This round had a lot of participants, has multiple judges, and had a diverse and lively discussion following the reveal. I'm really enjoying experiencing the community aspect of the contest first hand.

It appears I can't find the right words, so I'll wrap up and say I greatly appreciate everyone for participating - judges, chefs, and others. Thank you all, and here's to a 100 more.

[Zaq]

I am not looking forward to dragon samurai. I'm firmly in the camp of "dragon samurai is too bad to be any fun."

Based on your hints, Viscount, I could probably go for either of those but I think the "has a concept that it does poorly" is likely to be more fun. A class where it doesn't know what it's doing has, as Venger noted, the most room for crazy stuff, but it needs to have at least something active and interesting (and ideally not super late) or else you end up with, like, atavist, which I declined to enter.

That said, eh, we won't know until we see it! Inspiration strikes in the weirdest places sometimes.

[Hiro Quester]

This round had a lot of participants, has multiple judges, and had a diverse and lively discussion following the reveal. I'm really enjoying experiencing the community aspect of the contest first hand.

It appears I can't find the right words, so I'll wrap up and say I greatly appreciate everyone for participating - judges, chefs, and others. Thank you all, and here's to a 100 more.

Me too. I would like to have a more lively discussion, even, about the builds. But that should wait until after judging is done.

[daremetoidareyo]

Me too. I would like to have a more lively discussion, even, about the builds. But that should wait until after judging is done.

It's the speculation rules that nix the discourse. And then it's the potential judge contamination rules that nix the discourse post reveal. And then...a new entry gets posted after the medals, so energy for convo on the old dish gets subsumed by the next dish, which chills further elaboration.

I don't know if there's an elegant solution to it all.

[Piggy Knowles]

I'd be in favor of relaxing the speculation rules in general. We've gotten so strict about it that nobody can ever say anything interesting about the SI at all. Honestly, the contest is way more fun for me when we can chat about things, talk about the builds after the reveal, etc.

[H_H_F_F]

I don't know if there's an elegant solution to it all.

Well, besides Piggy's suggestion (on which I feel unqualified to have an opinion) I'd say waiting 48 hours between medals and the next contest could give some time for discussions and congratulations, as well as some extra suspense for the new ingredient. More than 2 days is probably overkill and will slow down the process considerably, but two days seem like a great amount of time to unwind, discuss, internalise, and so on. Then, we can all move on with a clear head to the next contest.

[The Viscount]

I'd be in favor of relaxing the speculation rules in general. We've gotten so strict about it that nobody can ever say anything interesting about the SI at all. Honestly, the contest is way more fun for me when we can chat about things, talk about the builds after the reveal, etc.

It was always more self or peer-enforced than chair-enforced. I'm fine with discussion, I'd just like to avoid people saying "man x is the perfect entry class for y ingredient."

[PrismCat21]

More than 2 days is probably overkill and will slow down the process considerably, but two days seem like a great amount of time to unwind, discuss, internalise, and so on.

There are always plenty of people that are eagerly awaiting for the next round to begin. Including ones that actively participated in that round. It wouldn't just be two days, it's two days 'in addition to...', that aren't needed/wanted by most.
If people want to discuss builds after the reveal, I know of nothing that would prevent them from doing so.
Forcing everybody else to wait while others discuss the builds (outside of the competition) would be uncool.

[H_H_F_F]

There are always plenty of people that are eagerly awaiting for the next round to begin. Including ones that actively participated in that round. It wouldn't just be two days, it's two days 'in addition to...', that aren't needed/wanted by most.
If people want to discuss builds after the reveal, I know of nothing that would prevent them from doing so.
Forcing everybody else to wait while others discuss the builds (outside of the competition) would be uncool.

I can see where you're coming from. I wouldn't have thought two days would make a difference (after all, we've been at this one for a month and a half,) but it's true that people shouldn't be made to wait so other people can discuss things.

I just honestly thought that this would be to the benefit of everyone. Getting to wrap things up, congratulate victors, explaining their builds, whatever. Every competition I can think of in the world of sports follows this rule - people get to be the champions, discuss the contest, before moving on to the next season. Adding around 3-5% to the waiting time seemed worth it.

However, if it just makes people frustrated as they wait silently while others discuss, it's probably not worth it.

[PrismCat21]

However, if it just makes people frustrated as they wait silently while others discuss, it's probably not worth it.

Especially since the people that want to discuss it can do so freely when the round is over. Both ends get what they want.

[H_H_F_F]

Especially since the people that want to discuss it can do so freely when the round is over. Both ends get what they want.

As i said, I'm not going to push for it if it's so controversial. However, I feel like you're missing my point. Yes, people can talk now - which is why I said it's not worth it - but it does take away from it. The attention, focus and energy are shifted.

Just imagine 2 soccer games back to back. Sure, you can talk about game 1, but your head isn't there anymore. Likewise, you get a break from a TV series after every season finale. It's not just about schedule nowadays, it's also about understanding that people benefit from having no new content to distract them from the piece they just finished experiencing.

I know I would certainly benefit from what I've offered. I agree it's not worth it if you will be majorly annoyed by it, but that doesn't mean it's a worthless suggestion addressing a non-problem, as your posts seemed to imply.

[Hiro Quester]

Serious question, especially for those who have judged:

Would it taint or bias judging unfairly, or would it help judging, if we lifted the norm to not discuss builds while judging is happening?

It seems we would all benefit from having the playground discuss (preserving anonymity of chefs) the merits and questionable aspects of builds. Part of what makes the competition fun and interesting, perhaps, is thinking and talking about the surprises, the skillful use of an unanticipated option, the creativity of a write-up, and so on.

And it might help crowdsource some of the heavy lifting parts of judging, by having the playground discuss whether a particular trick is cool and insightful or serious abuse of the rules. [Edit: redacted examples].

Would such discussions interfere with judging, or help judges by explore the arguments for or against a particular build’s questionable tricks or insightful surprises?

[Venger]

Yes, it would. Please refrain from discussing builds until the reveal. It would be nice if you could edit your comments about those dishes out of your post as well in case ZamielVanWeber hasn't gotten to those yet.

[Thurbane]

I once had an anonymous tipster PM the chair about a perceived error in one of my entries (which ended up not being an error at all, as it happens), in what I thought was one of the worst cases of poor sportsmanship I've witnessed.

If you feel so strongly on an error in a build, step up and judge! Or if you were a competitor, just keep your mouth shut, and don't be a brat.

I strongly discourage spectator commentary on entries until final judging and reveal has been completed - anything else can skew scores and cause issues.

As for speculation on potential builds before entries have been revealed: it can be very disappointing to have what you thought was an original and clever idea for a build you were thinking of submitting, only to see someone postulating the same thing before (or after) you've entered.

All in all, I'll take a bit of inactive silence over ruining entries or the comp any day of the week.

[Empyreal Dragon]

I forgot to post this when I wrote it the first time.


In spite of cephalas despute, while she is exceptionally powerful, I have no basis for a power score of 4.5 for this particular ingredient, I will be sticking to me 4 in that score, as in spite of the use of poison and a massive attack routine, I dont think it deserves a 5, and I can't think of a good middle ground between the full 5 and a rating of 4.

For the time being I have no intention of any score between 4 and 5.

[Piggy Knowles]

Re: discussion of builds during the judging phase, I tend to feel a little more lax about it than Thurbane and Venger, but overall I agree with them. Basically I'm OK with people talking about builds, especially if they're discussing the cool things they liked about what they saw, but a lot of times I feel like more negative comments seem like they're aimed at trying to influence judges. My general MO when I discuss builds is to just keep it positive, and not bring up anything that might be potentially influencing a judge's scoring or try to tear anyone else's build down. Personally I don't think there's too much harm in that, but like I said others might not be as casual about it as I am.

[DeAnno]

Similar to there being nothing stopping discussion of this ingredient once the next is going, there's nothing stopping anyone from poking holes in builds after the judging is fully completed. Once it stops being about stealing the victory and starts being about seeking the truth I think it's actually productive, if only to maximize relevant information circulating to those using the thread as reference in the future.

After all it would be a shame if for example, a judge made a decision that didn't cleave with the majority view, and then in the future another judge made the same decision after using the previous one as reference and not seeing any counterargument. When seeking information about edge cases in 3.5 I often search through old GITP threads to get a feel of the settled "case law" myself.

[daremetoidareyo]

Any word Zamiel?

[The Viscount]

I've not heard anything, and I can tell people are getting antsy for the reveal, so in the interest of keeping things moving, here's the reveal!



Name of Dish
Stub
Primeval Form
Score Judge 1
Chef


Lu'ung, The Dragon's Fury (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717294&postcount=65)
Neutral Evil Human Barbarian 1/Druid 6/Fighter 1/Swordsage 3/Primeval 9
megaraptor
14.5
RaiKirah


Derlek, Unwitting Minion of the Great Dreamer (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717307&postcount=66)
NE human undying way monk 2/druidic avenger 5/warshaper 2/nature's warrior 3/primeval 8
giant octopus
13
Hiro Quester


The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval (Ghurg) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717313&postcount=68)
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Barbarian 5/Warblade 2/Primeval 10
cave ankylosaurus
16
WhamBamSam


The Brothers Ghurg and Gharg
The Twin-Pac Primeval (Gharg) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717313&postcount=68)
CE Frostblood Orc Ranger 3/Swashbuckler 2/Thrall of Jubilex 5/Primeval 10
dire lion
18.5
WhamBamSam


Primo Valendino Starchild (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717324&postcount=69)
LG > CE strongheart halfling passive way halfling monk 2/wilderness rogue 3/hellbreaker 8/ primeval 2/stoneblessed 3/fighter 1/wilderness rogue 4
swindlespitter
12.5
daremetoidareyou


Cephala (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717325&postcount=70)
CE Lolth-Touched Anthropomorphic Giant Octopus
Monstrous Humanoid 2 / Rogue 1 / Fighter 1 / Ranger 4 / Barbarian 1 / Primeval 10
giant octopus
18
Aplaytpus


Free (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717327&postcount=71)
CN gully dwarf ranger 5/momf2/birdlord 3/ primeval 10
megaraptor
15
H_H_F_F


Jakkan Ha'gar (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717333&postcount=72)
CN ghostwise halfling Minion 1/Ranger 3/Fighter 2/Barbarian 1/ Warshaper 3/ primeval 10
horrid magebred dire badger
11
jdizzlean


Liz (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717337&postcount=73)
NE neraph ranger 5/mortal hunter 3/primeval 10/mortal hunter 5
cave ankylosaurus
17
Venger


Frough-Gee (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717343&postcount=74)
NG female wild dwarf dragonborn of Bahamut (Heart). Ranger 1/ Barbarian 4/ fist of the forest 1/ deepwarden 2/ warblade 2/ primeval 10
dire toad
16.5
H_H_F_F


Ocavo, the Weeping Warrior (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717349&postcount=75)
CN Desert Orc Warblade 6/Binder 4/Giant Octopus Primeval 10

giant octopus
17
DeAnno


Son of Keyrock (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24717352&postcount=76)
CE Neanderthal Totemist 7/Soulborn 3/Primeval 10

dire vulture
17.5
The Viscount



Of course as chair I'm ineligible for places. I hope people don't mind my having a little fun with an homage build. Congratulations to all, and especially our medal winners and honorable mention! I'm very pleased with the turnout this round. Next round up shortly.

[Thurbane]

Congrats all around!

If anyone wants to volunteer as a judge, Villainous Competition XXXVII: Yin and Yang (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?617485) would be very grateful! :smallsmile:

[Venger]

Congrats to all the other medalists. This was a really fun round.

[daremetoidareyo]

Woohoo! honorable mention!

I didn't even look up the stats for my primeval shape. I was just like, "whats a small dinosaur?" and my memory kicked out swindlespitter, and I was like "Gee, thanks, memory! I'm gonna get to writing this here legal briefing of an entry. I hope that's a good choice."

[WhamBamSam]

Good round all. Gharg was my favorite IC build that I've done for a while, so I'm glad he was able to pull it out.


I mentioned having a Soul Eater Giant Octopus idea earlier, but didn't post it because it uses a variation on Ghurg and Gharg's Rapidstrike trick. The stub is Wild Shape Ranger 5/Thrall of Orcus or Demogorgon 3/Primeval 10/Soul Eater 1/Thrall of Orcus or Demogorgon +1. Urban Companion nabs Alertness to pay the Soul Eater tax, and as with the brothers, entering Primeval at the earliest possible point opens the 18th level feat to Rapidstrike, with the delayed 4th Thrall level giving an unspecified bonus feat for Improved Rapidstrike.

[H_H_F_F]

Well, this was a very fun round. I was astounded especially by the audacity of Valentino Starchild and by the creativity of Ocavo, but there were good dishes all around. I really liked this ingredient. I'd like to share my process with my builds, and I'd love to hear how you guys came around to yours:

Free was my original dish for this event. I thought it'd be really cool to modify an existing form, and being able to use the same resource for several purposes always appeals to me. I also wanted full BAB. This is how Animal lord came into the fray - I'm sure there are far better ways to do this, but my system mastery is still pretty limited. I still have to look up a lot of the things you guys are doing.

So, my original chassis was just "Ranger 5/ Primeval 10 with a large, powerful form/ Animal lord 3", and I was off trying to figure out the right race. I was looking for something to really tank Cha and Int, and the second I looked at the gully dwarf stats they really appealed to me. -4 to Int AND Cha? Bonus to the survival skill? It seemed like it would be perfect for the idea of the Primeval as the ultimate feral survivalist, and it seemed efficient in a way I enjoyed - only lose the relevant abilities once. I also thought it was pretty original - nobody ever does a serious take on a Gully Dwarf, and I don't believe I've ever seen one on the Iron Chef before. I was somewhat disappointed to not get it mentioned in my originality score, but such is life.

Then, it dawned on me - I was a small creature, and was limited only to really ****ty forms. I needed to get bigger. I spent some time desperately trying to find a legal template that was cheap enough to make me medium, to no avail. I was already too in love with the idea of Free and the essence of his story to let go of the Gully Dwarf idea. I didn't know what to do. Then came the chair's ruling that anything that applied to wildshape would also apply to Primeval form, and I had my solution. I had exactly 2 levels to spend, and I had to spend them on MOMF. No other choice.

I settled on my modification being wings for a dinosaur (I also enjoyed the thought of a birdlord's Primeval form being a primeval bird). I debated with myself for a while about Urban companion - It would be stronger, and would save me a feat - but I just couldn't. It didn't fit. I wrote the final version of the fluff, which was comforting with my father going through a hard time (all better now), and I was done.

I tried to think of a new idea for a few days, but I couldn't. I felt like I couldn't think of anything better to do with this class than getting a massive Str score and **** **** up. Then, very shortly before the deadline, it came to me:

"Con stacking, and poison. Who the hell uses poison? like, ever? So, fist of the forest, and deepwarden. Which means another dwarf. cool. Bear barbarian 4 is perfect for this build, feats-wise, and also rarely used as far as I can tell. 4 levels of that will get me going. Unfortunately, I need the Ranger level for the skills, otherwise I'll never make it without really pumping my int. So, I need a dwarf with either Barb or Ranger as a favored class. Jungle Dwarf? Oh, come on, Low light vision is redundant again? No. Not this time. Wild Dwarf? Oof, they're small. Okay, We'll get back to that. In the meantime, what else can I do with Con? Dragonborn of Bahamut, obviously. What else? Is there any other way to cause damage with Con? I bet there are maneuvers for this. Let's check. Insightful strike. Okay. Is concentration on the primeval list? YES! let's go! Ranger, Barbarian, Fist of the forest, Deepwarden, Primeval, 2 levels of Warblade. If I do it just right, I can get exactly the initiator level I need for each of the levels. I'm golden, baby!

"Okay, back to the race issue. I'm NOT going jungle dwarf. I don't feel like it. Besides, I already found a way to get over the small issue. Wouldn't it be cool to find a medium form, with poison, that doesn't suck? I'll bet no one else is going that route.

"Wait.

"How about a medium form, with poison, that does suck? Or at least, is deeply, deeply unimpressive?

"Time to book dive.

...

"Oh, HELL yeah.

"Okay, what else does it get? Grapple? I can do grapple, I have maneuvers to spend. Actually, I need grapple, it gives me something to do with my iteratives, if needed. Okay, cool, get a constrict attack. I need a stance, anyway. Besides, mountain hammer is cool, so no worries about the requirements. Now just, to get some weird ranger vibes with my one level, and I'm done. Submitted, very shortly before the deadline. Yes!

"I bet I made like, a billion errors. Oh god."

It's been a blast! See you on the next round!

[H_H_F_F]

Congrats all around!

If anyone wants to volunteer as a judge, Villainous Competition XXXVII: Yin and Yang (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?617485) would be very grateful! :smallsmile:

You got it.

[DeAnno]

Imagine the egg on my face when after all the fuss I made about being able to breathe, someone else just looked up the holding breath rules and discovered it was ConScore*2 rounds. I admit I was aware there was some kind of rule, but I didn't for a second believe it could possibly be so generous. I think there's still some value in breathing (especially in the DM-might-get-up-to-hijinx sense), but the trick really falls flat with such an easy workaround available.

It's an extra shame because the only things that really can make use of an aquatic form for hour+ type durations and NEED the breathing can already get it from spells, so I'm not sure what real use this Octopus-enabling Binder dip has for anyone. Maybe a race that's naturally aquatic? Though why you're playing one in a land campaign is a bit of a stumper to begin with.

[Hiro Quester]

I was thinking the same about not bothering to worry much about breathing for Derlek.

When I figured that the Primeval form would last 8 minutes max, and his CON score would enable him to hold his breath that long, it seemed too Easy. DM would rule that you could hold your breath that long if you were quiet and calm, but not in vigorous combat or whatever.

When I found that an octopus can breathe through its skin, when wet, it seemed enough of a fun real-world detail that I decided not to worry further about breathing. If I was playing this guy, that's a detail I would use to try to persuade the DM to just not worry about the breathing thing, so neither of us have to bother about it.

I did worry about this seeming just a little inelegant, though.

The druid spell Air Breathing fixes this. But it's a third level spell, and he does not get many of them. Maybe he's get a few scrolls for weird situations. That's plan C.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

One problem I noticed with Lu'ung has been bugging me. The build uses Berserker Strength, but that doesn't activate until your current HP = Barbarian level * 5, rather than until you've lost those 5 HP. Normally I wouldn't bother to post, but it's really been bugging me for some reason.

Anyway, great builds everyone! As someone not competing, I really appreciate the effort put into the backstories and fluff; this round in particular made for excellent reads all around!

[RaiKirah]

One problem I noticed with Lu'ung has been bugging me. The build uses Berserker Strength, but that doesn't activate until your current HP = Barbarian level * 5, rather than until you've lost those 5 HP. Normally I wouldn't bother to post, but it's really been bugging me for some reason.

Anyway, great builds everyone! As someone not competing, I really appreciate the effort put into the backstories and fluff; this round in particular made for excellent reads all around!

Holy balls, you're right! :smallmad: I checked that at least three times, because I also thought that was the case when I went to look at it the first time, but apparently I cannot read. That's embarrassing.

[H_H_F_F]

One problem I noticed with Lu'ung has been bugging me. The build uses Berserker Strength, but that doesn't activate until your current HP = Barbarian level * 5, rather than until you've lost those 5 HP. Normally I wouldn't bother to post, but it's really been bugging me for some reason.

Anyway, great builds everyone! As someone not competing, I really appreciate the effort put into the backstories and fluff; this round in particular made for excellent reads all around!

Bothered me as well, but I didn't point it out because part of me is still convinced I made a 100 mistakes with Froggy. Amusingly, the only mistake I caught after the reveal in my builds was actually in Free's table - I forgot the point of knowledge required for Arcane hunter.

[DeAnno]

I did a silly in my description where 10' size + 20' reach made a 30x30' zone (instead of 50x50'.) Wasn't terribly important but still made me feel bad.

[Nihilarian]

One problem I noticed with Lu'ung has been bugging me. The build uses Berserker Strength, but that doesn't activate until your current HP = Barbarian level * 5, rather than until you've lost those 5 HP. Normally I wouldn't bother to post, but it's really been bugging me for some reason.

Anyway, great builds everyone! As someone not competing, I really appreciate the effort put into the backstories and fluff; this round in particular made for excellent reads all around!this is the critique I had

It's not a huge deal because you have other sources of rage and it technically fits your vision of Lu'ung being more dangerous as the fight goes on, but 4hp seemed a bit late to matter

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Holy balls, you're right! :smallmad: I checked that at least three times, because I also thought that was the case when I went to look at it the first time, but apparently I cannot read. That's embarrassing.

I know that feeling! I can't tell you how many times I double-checked telekinesis to make sure it didn't have a CL cap on the number of items you can launch... but it was at least 10 times. Then I submitted my build (this was for Junkyard Wars, not this comp.), went to close the tab, and sure enough there was a cap of 15 items. *headdesk*

[The Viscount]

Sometimes I still kick myself over an entry from 60 rounds ago where on final revisions I shuffled points out of Dex, forgetting that I needed to qualify for Dodge to enter the SI.

[daremetoidareyo]

Sometimes I still kick myself over an entry from 60 rounds ago where on final revisions I shuffled points out of Dex, forgetting that I needed to qualify for Dodge to enter the SI.

Back in hoardstealer i missed that bards don't get 3rds until 7th level thinking they got them at 6th. I still feel shame.

[WhamBamSam]

On separate past occasions I've let my eyes glaze over and misread a requirement of 9 skill ranks as 6 and "Psion/Wilder" as "Psychic Warrior."

[RaiKirah]

Well, I'm glad to know I'm in good company :)

This oversight feels particularly egregious, as I knew how poorly regarded Berserker Strength is but rather than assuming I was misreading it and figuring out what was wrong I simply shrugged and moved on. I suspect I simply wanted it to work the way I thought it did because it fit so nicely.

[Hiro Quester]

I made a similar (IMHO worse) mistake in Swiftblade. I started with some kind of early entry shenanigans to get into War weaver with second level spells and Earth Spell, then rebuilt because it seemed inelegant. But still assumed that I could get into War Weaver with second level spells. That was embarrassing.

Minor critique/question about Cephala. How does she load all those crossbows? Even if they are always loaded (dangerous) how long does it take her to reload them for second and third attacks?

And I’ve been itching to talk about whether Primo can really steal an ability from himself.

And whether it’s possible to steal a once every few levels ability and then use it an infinite number of times. That seems cool, but a serious stretch of Hellbreaker’s ability that is usually limited by the number of uses available to the creature the ability is stolen from.

[DeAnno]

Minor critique/question about Cephala. How does she load all those crossbows? Even if they are always loaded (dangerous) how long does it take her to reload them for second and third attacks?

If worst comes to worst there is an enchantment for it in MiC, but the cost of that many magic crossbows would be ruinous until the late levels.

[daremetoidareyo]

In my opinion, Regression is a continuous supernatural quality. The SU qualifier is there to show that it is negated in an Anti Magic Field. It's a magical, supernatural connection to the primal force of dinosaurs and apparently octopi.

Hellbreaker doesn't differentiate supernatural abilities that are special qualities from su abilities that are use activated. Neither does primeval, apparently.

So, when you steal it from yourself, use it, and then you get back the original, but each affects your score permenantly.

For it to work as if the ability had "uses" at a rate of "per three levels" no less, the su ability would be a voluntary standard action to activate, like a breath weapon. And the wording of the ability makes it seem like it's involuntary. Cuz narratively, It's a thing that gradually happens to you over a level.

The dysfunction stems from the permenancy of the effect. And yeah, it's Rules as written abuse, no DM will ever allow it. But it arguably works.

And if it works like you postulate, that it's an ability that happens at level up, with an involuntary use, the alternative exploit I wrote at the bottom of the build would work. The death devotion warblade can iron heart surge away his negative level from death devotion and just ping back and forth across the primeval 1/primeval 2 level boundary, racking up stat changes.

[RaiKirah]

The death devotion warblade can iron heart surge away his negative level from death devotion and just ping back and forth across the primeval 1/primeval 2 level boundary, racking up stat changes.

Unless I'm misunderstanding something (recently proven to be likely) you don't truly lose the level (and thus class abilities to regain through Iron Heart Surge) until you fail a Fort save 24 hours after receiving the Negative Level, which means you're restricted to at most one use of the trick a day, though I agree this pretty unequivocally works from what I can tell. You can still reach NI stats if you can get some form of immortality and access to an accelerated time demiplane.

[daremetoidareyo]

Unless I'm misunderstanding something (recently proven to be likely) you don't truly lose the level (and thus class abilities to regain through Iron Heart Surge) until you fail a Fort save 24 hours after receiving the Negative Level, which means you're restricted to at most one use of the trick a day, though I agree this pretty unequivocally works from what I can tell. You can still reach NI stats if you can get some form of immortality and access to an accelerated time demiplane.

Just be a killoren, even if it's 1 per day, that's a net gain of +4 stat points per day. And you're immortal.

[Wolfem]

Apologies for the late update on this, last couple of months have been crazy. Updated the ICO Spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oyjVU5JmeCnC8YTMqDArDqE5PszHl0Ysadz630kuTGk/edit?ts=59a4835f#gid=0&range=A1069:A1080) with this cook, its dishes, the judging, and the chefs to their dishes.

[Venger]

No apology necessary. Looks great as always. Thanks, Wolfem!

[Thurbane]

My two big derps were in VC.

One of my entries used the Tainted Raver template, which requires taint - I had never noticed in the history of the comp that taint is banned! :smalleek:

The other, worse one, was my entry using Dvati with the Monster of Legend template. I was 100% sure Dvati were Monstrous Humanoids - they aren't, they are Humanoids, and thus ineligible for the template. :smallredface: