Villainous Competition XL Negative Nancy

[jdizzlean]

Welcome to Round 40 of the Villainous Competition!

Previous Competitions

Round One: Leader of Armies (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?395046)
Round Two: Nature's Revenger (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?400517)
Round Three: Double Agent (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?406015)
Round Four: Grave Keeper (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?413480)
Round Five: Crime Lord (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?420704)
Round Six: Ultimate Predator (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?430650)
Round Seven: Wicked Witch (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?444478)
Round Eight: Master of the Tundra (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?461482)
Round Nine: The Power of Villainous Thinking (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?474230)
Round Ten: Henchman Are Villains Too (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?478068)
Round Eleven: The Higher They Rise The Harder They Fall (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?483052)
Round Twelve: Power Comes at a Price (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?488846)
Round Thirteen: The Gadgeteer - You Are Not Batman (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?491932)
Round Fourteen: The Thing That Should Not Be (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?496091)
Round Fifteen: The Horsemen Are Drawing Nearer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?500829)
Round Sixteen: Burn Baby Burn (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?503974)
Round Seventeen: It's Alive! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?507768)
Round Eighteen: This is Heresy (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?511933)
Round Nineteen: He Slimed Me! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?516535)
Round Twenty: Elder Evil (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?521560)
Round Twenty-One: Yarr! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?527415-Villainous-Competition-XXI-Yarr!)
Round Twenty-Two: I Am The Night! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?531199-Villainous-Competition-XXII-I-Am-The-Night!)
Round Twenty-Three: Two Heads Are Better Than One! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?535437-Villainous-Competition-XXIII-Two-Heads-Are-Better-Than-One)
Round Twenty-Four: Wrong For The Right Reasons! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?541650-Villainous-Competition-XXIV-Wrong-For-The-Right-Reasons)
Round Twenty-Five: Keeper of the Gate (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?550139-Villainous-Competition-XXV-No-Solicitors!)
Round Twenty-Six: Get In MY BELLY (Swallow Whole) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?556705-Villainous-Competition-XXVI-Swallow-Whole!)
Round Twenty-Seven: Multiple Personality Disorder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?559748-Villainous-Competition-XXVII-Multiple-Personality-Disorder)
Round Twenty-Eight: Tiny Only! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?565176-Villainous-Competition-XXVIII-Bad-Things-Come-in-Small-Packages)
Round Twenty-Nine: Halloween Special (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?573496-Villainous-Competition-XXIX-A-Halloween-Special)
Round Thirty: One Feat to Rule Them ALL (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?577930-Villainous-Competition-XXX-One-Feat-to-Rule-Them-ALL)
Round Thirty-One: In Cold Blood (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?582492-Villainous-Competition-XXXI-In-Cold-Blood)
Round Thirty-Two: oh HELL NO! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?586377-Villainous-Competition-XXXII-Oh-HELL-NO!)
Round Thirty-Three: The Do Over (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?589107-Villainous-Competition-XXXIII-The-Do-Over)
Round Thirty-Four: Sword and Board (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?600139-Villainous-Competition-XXXIV-Sword-and-Board)
Round Thirty-Five: I Shall Call Him Mini Me! (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?605444-Villainous-Competition-XXXV-I-Shall-Call-Him-Mini-Me!)
Round Thirty-Six: The Broken Man (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?612196-Villainous-Competition-XXXVI-The-Broken-Man)
Round Thirty-Seven: Yin and Yang (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?617485-Villainous-Competition-XXXVII-Yin-and-Yang)
Round Thirty Eight: Spooks and Spectres (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?621069-Villainous-Competition-XXXVIII-Spooks-and-Spectres)
Round Thirty Nine: Sorta Psuedo (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?625680-Villainous-Competition-XXXIX-Sorta-Psuedo)


We're a little different than most of the optimization threads. We run on CR instead of ECL.

Contestants:
You will need to present a write-up of your build with at least one of the following points: 5 CR, 10 CR 15 CR, 20 CR, and a "sweet spot" that you feel is the high point of the build, as well as presenting a fully-fleshed out 20 CR build in the table below. Feel free to present as many of these as you like, and please give a rundown of the build's abilities and playability at all of the levels you didn't show. The rules are as follows:

Secret Laboratory:
Competitors will be free to use any official 1st party (WotC) 3.5 rulebook in constructing their builds. Dragon Compendium is allowed, but Dragon magazine is disallowed. Unearthed Arcana is allowed. Unupdated 3.0 materials, as well as web exclusives by WotC are expressly allowed, but take care to verify that an updated version did not appear in print elsewhere, as this may cause an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion. Alternate rule systems from UA such as gestalt or Generic Classes are not allowed, as they create a different playing field. Item Familiars and Taint are also banned from the competition. Leadership and all similar abilities are banned for sanity reasons.
Builds that are fully monstrous are allowed at no penalty. All class levels are to be added on as associated class levels.

Elite array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) is the assumed ability score generation method.
Some monstrous characters can technically qualify for Epic feats as soon as their ECL is over 20. While regular Epic feats will be allowed, Epic Spellcasting and all other Epic feats that affect spells, psionic powers, or item creation are not permitted. Including these would give an unfair advantage over standard characters. For Incarnum characters, Epic Open Chakra feats are allowed; other Epic Incarnum feats are not. The Essentia Capacity increases for Epic capacity as described on p. 212. For all characters, please note that Racial Hit Dice do not count towards Epic Progression; use the regular progression even if the BAB ends up higher than 20.

Deadlines:
Contestants will have until 23:59 MST Friday May 14th to create their builds and PM them to the Supreme Chancellor. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until however long it takes 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. Deadlines are subject to extension as/if required.

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, Build Elegance, Competence and Power, Memorable Villainy.
Keep these questions in mind when judging each category:
Originality - Is it unexpected?
Build Elegance - Is it mechanically pretty?
Competence and Power - Can it do what the concept asks of it? Is this a powerfully-built character?
Memorable Villainy - Is this a villain with style? Will it be the BBEG players long to finally kill and then talk about for weeks?
Unearthed Arcana can be penalized for elegance if the specific feature seems unnecessary or makes the playing field unfair (In this case, you can give a 1 if it makes the field unfair.)
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. As the Iron Chef competition states, a little cheddar can be nice, but avoid the mature Gruyere unless you're making a cheese fondue.
You may not judge if you entered the contest, unless you withdraw your submission.

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!

Note:
There is now a hard limit on two (2) entries per competitor.

Using the table below, the easiest way to use it is to go to the top left of the private message, and click the little a/A icon. It allows you to see what you're writing.
Due to concerns about standardizing entry format, I'd like everyone to try to use the following table for their entry.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Code immediately below (spoiler).

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


You can use the table below for Spells.

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,
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
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-



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.
Once builds are revealed, please do not comment on errors or rules issues on entries unless you are a judge. If you have such a comment, wait until the final reveal to post it.

Get ready to share those Evil thoughts. This edition’s villain is:


Negative Nancy





Limitations



Use Negative Energy and/or
Ability Damage or Drain and/or
Negative Levels
Can be either LG, CG, LE, CE only



We will award 1st through 3rd places, and a possible Honorable Mention.
So, start your evil plotting!

Submission:
To standardize Entries, please use this format when sending it in:

PM: Jdizzlean
Subject: Villainous Competition 40, Name of your Entry
For Revisions and disputes, do the same thing. It makes it easier for me finding the entries in my mail box.
More questions? PM me with Villainous Competition 40 Questions in the header.

Tips for submitting your entry, provided by Weaselguy:




As always: let's keep it nice.

I'll mention that again - LET'S KEEP IT NICE! Bickering, name calling and nasty comments on the entries or other forum members are not tolerated.

New competition rule: if I feel an individual has been overly disruptive during the course of competition discussion, I will not be accepting and revealing any entries from that individual, and they will also not be allowed to judge. Any judging they enter will not be taken into account for the final tally.

It's sad that it had to come to this, but here's a list of permanently banned (from this Villainous Competition) members:

Novolin (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/member.php?148361-Novolin)
Yklikt (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/member.php?133435-Yklikt)

[jdizzlean]

Clarifications

Unearthed Arcana variant rules are limited: The variant character options (such as Wildshape Ranger and Thug Fighter) should not be penalized. Flaws and traits may be penalized by judges, whereas item familiars, gestalt, alternate skill systems, alternate magic systems, alternate crafting rules, generic base classes, LA buyoff, fractional saves/BAB, and bloodlines are banned. Anything not mentioned here is up to individual judges.

d20 Rokugan is not allowed material.

The Dragon Magazine update for Oriental Adventures is in use.

Leadership is banned. Any material that grants you leadership without you specifically taking it should be ignored and may not be traded away for another feat or ACF. Undead Leadership and Dragon Cohort are likewise banned. Wild Cohort and Obtain Familiar are allowed. If you are not sure if a specific feat violates the 'no leadership' rule, err on the side of caution, or ask me.

However, Leadership may be taken to qualify for another feat or class (such as the Great Captain feat or Legendary Leader prestige class), though a character still doesn't get its usual benefit in those cases. This is to allow characters to access unproblematic material that'd otherwise be made unavailable because of the Leadership ban.

On the subject of messaging the chair (me), a few guidelines:
- I am not here to give critiques on your build or guess how the judges might score it!
- For entries, please keep the entry to no more than 2 message, if at all possible.
- For entries, don't expect me to search through your entry and edit in or out material. Entries should be sent to me complete - if there is a later revision, re-submit the full build. PLEASE DON'T INCLUDE TEXT IN YOUR SUBMISSION YOU WANT ME TO EDIT OUT FOR THE POST - SUBMIT IT TO ME EXACTLY HOW I WILL POST THE FINISHED PRODUCT.
- Please make sure the name of your entry is clearly present in the message.

https://i0.wp.com/www.electric-rain.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/igor-ivanovic-energy-drain-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1


Everyone, have fun!

[Thurbane]

Interesting round - just to be clear: must use negative energy, inflict ability damage or drain, OR inflict negative levels...or must be able to do all three?

[NotInventedHere]

Can be either LG, CG, LE, CE only
LG or CG? Interesting.



Tips for submitting your entry, provided by Weaselguy:

The 'tips for submitting' section is still missing, btw.

[nedz]

I have a very interesting concept, but it's strictly CN.
Why the alignment restriction ?

[PrismCat21]

Interesting round - just to be clear: must use negative energy, inflict ability damage or drain, OR inflict negative levels...or must be able to do all three?


Negative Energy
Ability Damage or Drain
Negative Levels
Can be either LG, CG, LE, CE only

It seems like the only choice we have in the limitations is alignment. Though it both says we CAN use those four and we must ONLY use those four.
Negative Energy, Ability Damage or Drain, and Negative Levels don't offer any choice of NOT using any of those three. The only choice is between Ability Damage OR Drain.

[H_H_F_F]

Is there a particular reason for this round specifically being exempt from "evil only" and getting "corner alignments only", or is it just for novelty's sake?

Also, seems cool. Probably in to cook, we'll see.

[jdizzlean]

Interesting round - just to be clear: must use negative energy, inflict ability damage or drain, OR inflict negative levels...or must be able to do all three?

edited to state and/or for all 3. so as you will.


alignment restriction is solely, and largely, to eliminate true neutral villains, and to force an alignment choice between good/evil if it comes to it for spell selection.

[AvatarVecna]

Why not NE?

[nedz]

alignment restriction is solely, and largely, to eliminate true neutral villains, and to force an alignment choice between good/evil if it comes to it for spell selection.

Then why not just say no NN ?

[PrismCat21]

alignment restriction is solely, and largely, to eliminate true neutral villains, and to force an alignment choice between good/evil if it comes to it for spell selection.

There are 6 different alignments that incorporate good or evil.
"to eliminate true neutral villains" True Neutral is only one alignment out of nine. You are banning five alignments in order to restrict just the one. Did you mean any sort of neutral element to the villain's alignment? Cause that includes fully half of the remaining alignments aside from true neutral.
"is solely, and largely," Solely means that is the only reason. Largely implies there are other reasons, but they aren't as important. Which one is it?
To force an alignment choice between good/evil just say that the villain has the option to be good instead of evil, but they must choose between those two.

[jdizzlean]

I refuse to argue semantics. the limitations are set.

[Thurbane]

I've got a few ideas for this one - may try for two entries, time permitting...

[loky1109]

Unupdated 3.0 materials
Does this include "Defenders of the Faith", "Manual Of The Planes", "Tome And Blood", "Masters of the Wild", etc?

[Troacctid]

Does this include "Defenders of the Faith", "Manual Of The Planes", "Tome And Blood", "Masters of the Wild", etc?
Only the parts of them that haven't been updated to 3.5; see this reference (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20050110x) for a list.

[loky1109]

Only the parts of them that haven't been updated to 3.5; see this reference (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20050110x) for a list.

Thanks. Your help is very important.

[Falontani]

ran through two builds, decided not to go with either of them, still looking into different options

[PoeticallyPsyco]

I've got no inspiration so far. Perhaps it's time to go trawling through random sourcebooks...

[loky1109]

I have one idea. Maybe two.

[NotInventedHere]

Welcome to Round 40 of the Villainous Competition!


Um. Chair? Thing I just noticed, and probably should have done before.

XV isn't "40" in Roman numerals. V is 5; L is 50. XV would be 15; you mean XL.

[AvatarVecna]

Um. Chair? Thing I just noticed, and probably should have done before.

XV isn't "40" in Roman numerals. V is 5; L is 50. XV would be 15; you mean XL.

This round should've been for kaiju smh

[jdizzlean]

Um. Chair? Thing I just noticed, and probably should have done before.

XV isn't "40" in Roman numerals. V is 5; L is 50. XV would be 15; you mean XL.

thanks, brain farted :)

[liquidformat]

I have a goofy idea will have to see if I have time to make a good entry.

[Falontani]

thanks, brain farted :)

you could rename this one to XLI or something, and then do XL next one for a kaiju, then go back to regularly scheduled VC...

[jdizzlean]

when I can think of some decent limitations for a kaiju round beyond "make a giant lizard" we'll do one :)

[H_H_F_F]

when I can think of some decent limitations for a kaiju round beyond "make a giant lizard" we'll do one :)

*Has to be colossal
*No casting
*can't be of humanoid shape.
*Should be capable of engaging with a large number of targets - be capable of destroying a city/military within a reasonable amount of time.

Somewhere along these lines seems to catch the spirit, no?

[AvatarVecna]

That all seems pretty solid. Honestly I could even see you cutting out basically everything other than "has to be colossal". I could see a caster kaiju, to a degree. I could see a humanoid one (AoT). I could even see one that maybe doesn't do "mass destruction of city" or whatever. But a Kaiju that is "just" Gargantuan? Booooooo

[Troacctid]

Plenty of kaiju have magic, and humanoid kaiju are not unheard of either (cf. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman). It would be a bit of a sad round without access to the Kaiju template though.

[GreatWyrmGold]

This round should've been for kaiju smh
With we'd realized this was XL before the theme was chosen.



Plenty of kaiju have magic, and humanoid kaiju are not unheard of either (cf. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman).
...depending on your definition of kaiju. Is Clifford a kaiju?


Anyways, I've got an idea for this round. I just need to build it and give it a proper write-up.

[Troacctid]

...depending on your definition of kaiju. Is Clifford a kaiju?
Oh yes. It's well established that pets who grow to incredible size count as kaiju. Remember the Dorats?

[WackyTommyT]

I like the theme this round. Hopefully I can participate in the next one. Been on deployment for the last 8 months and dont have access to my materials. :(

Good luck to all who submit!

[Thurbane]

About 40% done, and quite happy with my entry so far. 15 more days should be plenty. :smallsmile:

Work is kicking my butt at the moment, yet again my duties have been changed, so any dreams of more than one entry are done for, barring a miracle. :smalltongue:

[GrayDeath]

I liked the theme LOT, but since I ahve been too neghative psychiologally tghese past weks, I could not participate without risking worsening my condition.

Which is doubly sad since i, more or less HAVE just such a character as replacement char for a running round.


So I wish you all the non harmful negativity you need!

[Thurbane]

I had a really fun idea for a second build: I'll see if I can get both in.

[3SecondCultist]

I have a fun build that I'll be submitting hopefully just before the deadline.

[Thurbane]

So, my main idea didn't come together the way I wanted (wasn't happy with the end result, it was a little bland, and the chassis might be better suited to a different round)...I'll do my best to get my second idea submitted.

[loky1109]

Submit first. Thinking about second.

[NotInventedHere]

Both my builds have fallen apart. The one that I had a really cool idea for, is just really bad mechanically and I can't make it any better, and the one that's really simple and works mechanically is so bland I can't make the fluff anywhere near satisfactory. I'll try and post them as stubs afterwards.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

and the one that's really simple and works mechanically is so bland I can't make the fluff anywhere near satisfactory. I'll try and post them as stubs afterwards.

My Atriox build actually started like that. I had the mechanics more or less hammered out in time for the previous competition, but couldn't come up with any decent fluff. Then the Do Over competition rolled around, and I was watching some Halo Wars 2 videos, and I went "Hang on, that weird werewolf build I was working on is a perfect fit for the main villain's fighting style!", and that gave me the fluff I needed and also informed the rest of the build choices that weren't core to his CQC schtick. So that was really lucky.

So yeah, it might be worth looking to other sources of fiction for a villain who's a good fit, and then stealing adapting their fluff. But then, while I really like adapting characters from other mediums to RPGs (it's why I like HERO 6E so much), I know at least a few judges consider it unoriginal.

[loky1109]

My second idea is illegal. :frown:

[3SecondCultist]

Well my build collapsed when I tried to put it all together. :smallfrown:

I have another idea, but we'll see how well it works.

[jdizzlean]

i have 2 entries, while we have the rest of today left to the original deadline, how about another week or 2?

[loky1109]

Hw about another week or 2?

Sounds good! I'll have time for another (third idea!) one entry. No rush, extensively.

[3SecondCultist]

A week would be greatly appreciated! I just finished putting together another build and have been scrambling to get it finished. :smallredface:

[liquidformat]

i have 2 entries, while we have the rest of today left to the original deadline, how about another week or 2?

that would be great for me I won't be able to finish today and am gone the rest of the weekend

[Thurbane]

More time would be appreciated, and should mean I get at least one entry in.

[InvisibleBison]

I'm not going to be able to get a build in for this contest, but if I may I'd like to try my hand at judging.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Well what do you know, I've finally stumbled onto some inspiration. Don't know if I'll be able to get it done in time, though (work beckons).

[3SecondCultist]

Should be finished my build and submitting this evening!

[loky1109]

Second submitted.

[Thurbane]

As it turns out, between my job and my wife and I house-hunting to buy our first home, I won't get time for an entry. I'll post my 2nd stub after the reveal (I'll be keeping my 1st stub up my sleeve for future entries).

I'll do my best to judge, time permitting...

[jdizzlean]

ok, builds incoming


1 Nandag, the Soul Render


Nandag, the Soul-Render



Two-headed young adult fang dragon Soul Eater 10

An adolescent dragon in a murderously nihilistic phase, who has accumulated enough power by eating souls to threaten the kingdom—if not the world.



CRStrengthDexterityConstitutionIntelligenceWisdomC harisma

Elite Array15131481210
41713186148
5-61713186148
717(21)13186148
8-1019(23)132081610
11-1220(24)1320(24)81610
14-1524(28)1322(26)81610
1726(30)1422(26)101812
18-2026(30)14(18)22(26)101812

Parenthetical numbers include the bonus from Soul Strength, Soul Agility, or Soul Endurance, abilities which grant a +4 enhancement bonus to ability scores as long as Nandag has used her energy drain ability within the past 24 hours.


Note: “two-headed fang dragon” may be appended to all age categories. But that would make the column very wide.


CRAge category/LevelBase Attack BonusBase Save* BonusFortitudeReflexWillDC†
4Wyrmling+5+4+8+5+611
5Very Young+8+6+10+7+813
6Soul Eater 1+9+8+12+9+1013
7Soul Eater 2+10+9+13+10+1114
8Young+13+10+15+11+1316
9Soul Eater 3+14+10+15+11+1317
10Soul Eater 4+15+11+18+14+1617
11Soul Eater 5+16+11+18+14+1618
12Soul Eater 6+17+12+21+15+1718

14Juvenile+20+14+24+17+1920
15Soul Eater 7+21+14+24+17+1920
17Young Adult+24+15+25+19+2022
18Soul Eater 8+25+16+26+22+2122
19Soul Eater 9+26+16+26+22+2123
20Soul Eater 10+27+17+27+23+2223
*Both dragon racial HD and the Soul Eater class have three good saves. I didn’t want to spend three columns on this.
†Frightful Presence, Sound Imitation, and (apparently) Ability Drain all have saving throw DCs equal to 10+½ HD+Charisma bonus.

Note: Starting at CR 10, saving throw bonuses include bonuses from Soul Enhancement. Starting at CR 11 and 18, they also include bonuses from Soul Endurance and Agility.


CRACNatural attacks*Bite Attack BonusSpecial AbilitiesFeatsSkills
416 (+1 Dexterity, +3 natural, +2 size)2 bites, 2 claws+10Ability Drain, dragon traits, Keen Senses, Spell-Like Abilities (detect magic & read magic @ will), Sound Imitation, TripCombat ReflexesB, Improved InitiativeB, Multiattack, Weapon Focus (bite)Hide 2 ranks (+11), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+3), Listen 8 ranks (+12), Move Silently 2 ranks (+3), Search 4 ranks (+5), Spot 8 ranks (+12)
518 (+1 Dexterity, +6 natural, +1 size)2 bites, 2 claws+13—AlertnessHide 2 ranks (+7), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+3), Listen 9 ranks (+13), Move Silently 3 ranks (+4), Search 4 ranks (+5), Spot 9 ranks (+13)
618 (+1 Dexterity, +6 natural, +1 size)2 bites, 2 claws+14Energy Drain 1Shape Soulmeld (sphinx claws)Hide 3 ranks (+8), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+3), Listen 10 ranks (+14), Move Silently 3 ranks (+4), Search 4 ranks (+5), Spot 9 ranks (+13)
718 (+1 Dexterity, +6 natural, +1 size)2 bites, 2 claws+17Soul Strength—Hide 3 ranks (+8), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+3), Listen 10 ranks (+14), Move Silently 4 ranks (+5), Search 4 ranks (+5), Spot 10 ranks (+14)
820 (+1 Dexterity, +9 natural)2 bites, 2 claws, 2 wings+20Spell-Life Ability (shield 2/day)Open Least Chakra (hands claws)Hide 6 ranks (+7), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+3), Listen 12 ranks (+16), Move Silently 6 ranks (+7), Search 5 ranks (+6), Spot 12 ranks (+16)
920 (+1 Dexterity, +9 natural)2 bites, 2 claws, 2 wings+21Soul Blast—Hide 8 ranks (+9), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+3), Listen 12 ranks (+16), Move Silently 7 ranks (+8), Search 5 ranks (+6), Spot 12 ranks (+16)
1020 (+1 Dexterity, +9 natural)2+1 bites, 2 claws, 2 wings+21Soul EnhancementRapidstrike (bite)Hide 9 ranks (+12), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+5), Listen 12 ranks (+18), Move Silently 9 ranks (+12), Search 5 ranks (+8), Spot 12 ranks (+18)
1120 (+1 Dexterity, +9 natural)2+1 bites, 2 claws, 2 wings+23Soul Endurance—Hide 11 ranks (+14), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+5), Listen 12 ranks (+18), Move Silently 10 ranks (+13), Search 5 ranks (+8), Spot 12 ranks (+18)
1220 (+1 Dexterity, +9 natural)2+1 bites, 2 claws, 2 wings+24Soul Radiance—Hide 13 ranks (+16), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+5), Listen 12 ranks (+18), Move Silently 11 ranks (+14), Search 5 ranks (+8), Spot 12 ranks (+18)
1422 (+1 Dexterity, +12 natural, -1 size)2+3 bites, 2 claws, 2 wings, 1 tail slap+28Spell-Like Ability (dispel magic 1/day), Spell Resistance 16Improved Multistrike (bite)Hide 13 ranks (+12), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+5), Listen 18 ranks (+24), Move Silently 11 ranks (+14), Search 8 ranks (+11), Spot 18 ranks (+24)
1522 (+1 Dexterity, +12 natural, -1 size)2+4 bites, 2+1 claws, 2 wings, 1 tail slap+29Energy Drain 2Rapidstrike (claw)Hide 15 ranks (+14), Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks (+5), Listen 18 ranks (+24), Move Silently 12 ranks (+15), Search 8 ranks (+11), Spot 18 ranks (+24)
1726 (+2 Dexterity, +15 natural, -1 size)2+4 bites, 2+4 claws, 2 wings, 1 tail slap+33Damage Reduction 5/magic, Frightful Presence, Spellcasting, Spell Resistance 18Improved Rapidstrike (claw)Hide 15 ranks (+14), Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks (+10), Listen 23 ranks (+30), Move Silently 12 ranks (+15), Search 10 ranks (+14), Spot 23 ranks (+30)
1828 (+4 Dexterity, +15 natural, -1 size)2+4 bites, 2+4 claws, 2 wings, 1 tail slap+34Soul Agility—Hide 17 ranks (+16), Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks (+9), Listen 24 ranks (+30), Move Silently 13 ranks (+16), Search 8 ranks (+11), Spot 24 ranks (+30)
1928 (+4 Dexterity, +15 natural, -1 size)2+4 bites, 2+4 claws, 2 wings, 1 tail slap+35Soul Slave—Hide 19 ranks (+18), Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks (+9), Listen 24 ranks (+30), Move Silently 15 ranks (+18), Search 8 ranks (+11), Spot 24 ranks (+30)
2028 (+4 Dexterity, +15 natural, -1 size)2+4 bites, 2+4 claws, 2+1 wings, 1 tail slap+36Soul PowerRapidstrike (wing)Hide 21 ranks (+20), Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks (+9), Listen 24 ranks (+30), Move Silently 17 ranks (+20), Search 8 ranks (+11), Spot 24 ranks (+30)

*2+1 means a pair of natural weapons with one additional attack from Rapidstrike. 2+3 and 2+4 indicate additional attacks from Improved Rapidstrike. Note that these extra attacks have -5 to -20 penalty.

Note: The attack bonus for all non-bite natural attacks, before Rapidstrike penalties, is three lower than the bite attack bonus.


Nandag gains spellcasting as a 1st-level sorcerer at CR 17, and it never improves. Hence, no table for spellcasting is required.

When Nandag gains the ability to cast spells, she can cast up to five cantrips and four 1st-level spells per day. She knows the following spells:
0: dancing lights, ghost sound[/], [i]mage hand, prestidigitation
1: blood wind, charm person




Occasionally, two wyrmlings will grow within the same egg. Two wyrmlings in the same egg, sharing the same space and the same yolk, are less likely to hatch and still less likely to survive. Egg-twins who survive past their first year have a strong bond with one another, and are usually respected by their peers for their hardiness and spiritual power.

Nandag was a pair of egg-twins who consumed one another in the womb, becoming a dragon with two heads and five legs. Some of the fang dragons in her home mountain range recognized her as having the same significance as any egg-twin, while others considered her an ill omen. Over the first decade of her life, Nandag slowly became aware of this disagreement, and the uncertainty ate at her.

Shortly after the end of that decade, Nandag discovered unique spiritual powers; her fangs and claws could tear at the souls of those she touched. This supernatural ability to meddle with others’ souls manifested as a bluish light, manifesting primarily over her claws. After this discovery, Nandagknew her path in life: She would master her unique power and use it to become a hero to dragonkind, to save them from the ruin some feared she prophesied.

At this level, Nandag is less a villain than a unique random encounter.


As so often happens when dragons congregate near civilization, dragon-hunters were attracted to the mountain range. Over a few years, thieves and slayers went from occasional nuisances to a constant background threat; then, in less than a month, more organized raiding parties began to slaughter dragons by the lair. Nandag only survived because of her small size and a lucky hiding place.

After this slaughter, Nandag swore vengeance on the humanoids who slew her family. Over the next decade, she grew in power and skill, honing her skills by pouncing on wildlife, devouring them body and soul. Eventually, she gained enough finesse with her powers to be able to extract those souls in effectively one piece, letting her take the forms of the creatures she slew.

With this skill, Nandag could safely investigate humanoid settlements to trace her targets, so she began hunting in earnest. One by one, her leads turned up dead—often literally. The elven ranger had died in a bar brawl, the warlock died in battle, the thief vanished into the night. And so on. Eventually, she managed to find an elderly knight who supervised the dragon-slaying; Nandag slipped into his room in the form of a spider, before returning to her true form and devouring the knight’s soul.

That was it. Most of the perpetrators of the murder of Nandag’s family had escaped her justice, whether by death or just not leaving a trace. The future which gave her life meaning had faded into meaninglessness, and Nandag was left adrift.

For most of these levels, Nandag works as a one-shot villain. Perhaps she’s discovered by and fights a noble party hunting in the woods, and the survivors hire the PCs to fight the dragon in response. Nandag is eager to test her skills against dragon-slayers, but will retreat if she is in danger. If she just dies without accomplishing anything, it means she was nothing but the ill omen she feared she would be.


Thirty years passed—an entire generation, to some races. Nandag lingered on the edge of civilization, hunting wild animals and using their shapes to watch civilization, searching for any scraps of information for dragon-slayers she could fight.

As time wore on, she brooded on her existence thus far. She would have one head voice a thought on what she had done thus far in her life, and the other would voice an opposing thought. Isolated, Nandag eroded any sense of accomplishment she might have once felt. As Nandag’s power over the lives of others grew, her value in her own life shrank.

With nowhere to go and nothing do do, what hope or purpose could a dragon find? And when someone isolated like that watches races of beings who live and die in the time it takes her to grow up, without accomplishing anything she can see, how could she not project that hopelessness onto them?

At these levels, Nandag is too passive to be a good villain. Perhaps the PCs could come across her in the wilderness, or perhaps she rushes into the civilized world chasing a false hint of the dragonslayers she hunter—chasing the future she once hoped for. In any case, Nandag will fight fiercely, largely apathetic to her own safety.


Nandag’s world was bleak. She had no hope; every future she had dreamed of crumbled in her claws, leaving her with nothing. From her isolated perch, without the context or insight to recognize anything the humanoids she watched accomplished before their inevitable deaths, she projected this hopelessness onto the world.

The power of her magic and soul eventually reached a pinnacle, letting her transform the corpses of those whose souls he consumes into shambling undead monstrosities...monsters who also have the power to rend their victims’ souls, transforming them into more undead.

Watching and studying these wights, Nandag sees the first meaningful future she has been able to imagine for decades, and throws herself into bringing it into fruition. A world cleansed of despair, by wiping all life from the planet, ending their suffering and letting them meet with their lost loved ones in the afterlife.

Slowly, she begins transforming hermits, travelers, and wildlife into undead minions, sending groups of them to attack and convert small outlying settlements into more undead. As more rural areas are swallowed by a plague of undead, despair and hunger begin to fester in the strongholds of civilization. Nandang begins gathering powerful wights to her, searching out groups of undead-hunters and crushing them with overwhelming power. Slowly, crudely, efficiently, she carves the world apart.

At these levels, Nandag is finally a campaign-shaping villain. Her powers give her enough reach to meaningfully affect the world beyond her claws, and her character arc has reached a point where her despair crystalizes into a motivation. At this point, discussing Nandag’s place in a campaign is less about giving her and the party reasons to encounter each other and fight, and more to do with finding ways ways for the players to fight back against an apocalyptic threat.
When Nandag does personally get into a fight, she is still pretty reckless, but not as much as she used to be. She will gladly put herself in danger if there’s something to gain, but she has an actual goal now, so she won’t fight to the death for no reason. That said, if there’s something to gain from risking death, she may be willing to take that risk and hope the undead horde she’s created will have enough momentum to free the world from despair.



Nandag isn’t really Nandag at all until CR 6, when she inflicts negative levels with her attacks. There’s no saving throw or anything mentioned; each attack just inflicts a negative level. At this point, she just has two bites and two claws. A low-level character could die in a few rounds if they’re unlucky.
As a fang dragon, her bites also drain Constitution on a failed Fortitude saving throw. This is handy, and seemed even more handy when I assumed the energy drain came with a Fortitude scene. Well, it still fits the contest guidelines.

Speaking of which, inflicting one (or, at CR 15+, two) negative level on every successful natural attack is really dangerous. If you don’t want to murder characters, you should try to spread out natural attacks a bit—a couple bites for the wizard, tail smack the cleric, etc. By contrast, if you want to kill (or at least debilitate) characters, focus fire like normal.

At CR 8, Nandag has her hand claw chakra opened and can bind the Sphinx Claws soulmeld to it. This gives her a +1 competence bonus to Strength-based skill and ability checks, a +1 insight bonus to Climb and Swim checks, and the ability to make full attacks on a charge. You get one guess as to which of these incredible abilities is the primary reason I had her take these feats.
Pounce lets Nandag make full attacks without needing to start within five feet of her target, which is handy when your whole build is centered around touching your enemies a lot to inflict negative levels. In addition, it lets Nandag open a fight with an overwhelming dive—swooping in from hundreds of feet away and striking a target with a full attack before they have a chance to react.

Also, by this point Nandag has some basic buff abilities—at this level, a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength whenever she’s used energy drain within the past 24 hours and the ability to cast shield twice a day. The statistics provided assume that Nandag has drained energy recently—eating souls is kind of her whole thing—but not that she cast shield.

CR 12 sees a couple of extra “if you’ve drained energy recently” buffs, a de facto free action force “ray” (which can only be used once per day), and no other combat abilities. However, it also adds the Soul Radiance ability, which lets Nandag shapechange into any creature whose soul she fully eats.
Since the shapechange spell is specifically referenced, I assume she can transform to and from these forms at will (until the 24-hour limit is passed). However, shapechange also disables all of the user’s supernatural abilities, which means that almost all of Nandag’s abilities are lost; she can still mimic sounds, trip enemies (if her form has claws or a tail attack), use spell-like abilities, and arguably the Increased Damage ability affects any natural weapons her new form has. Oh, and maybe the Superior Two-Weapon Fighting quality she gets from her multiheaded template and can’t use because she doesn’t use weapons would apply?
Yeah, Soul Radiance is a useful plot tool, but it’s pretty much useless for combat.

After that, it’s mostly boosts to the same formula. A size increase (and tail attack), better rapidstrike-ing, a +4 bonus to Dexterity for eating souls, etc. But there are some neat side abilities.
First, the standard dragon defenses that mostly serve to make it impervious to armies of mooks so the players look cooler for being able to beat it. (Well, I guess SR 16 is impressive when a classless dragon picks it up, but at CR 14 a typical player literally just needs to not roll a 1, and it gets worse.)
Spellcasting is hard to make useful for a dragon, but there’s one 1st-level sorcerer spell which seems really handy for Nandag. Blood wind targets a creature with natural attacks, which then makes a full attack at up to a 20-foot range, no action cost (aside from casting the spell). Nothing stops the caster from targeting herself. Granted, Pounce handles most cases where Nandag might want to make a full attack as a standard action, and flight makes ranged attacks less important, but blood wind is a spell that meaningfully builds on Nandag’s combat abilities. (I could replace it with another plot-power spell, but I wanted to do something with spellcasting.)
Frightful Presence is a handy little perk; it can potentially give an entire party a bunch of penalties, if they all fail a DC 22 Will saving throw at level 17. A level 17 fighter with Wisdom 8 and a cloak of resistance +2 has a 75% chance to fail their save, but anyone with moderate optimization will have better odds (up to “only on a natural 1” for a CoDzilla with moderate saving throw investment).
Soul Power sounds cool, but Nandag has so few Su/Sp abilities that it doesn’t do much. Her Constitution-draining bite is more dangerous, she can dispel more things (at CL 5, if she wants to lose a full attack), and most importantly, I don’t take a ding for elegance for grabbing a single level of some unrelated prestige class.

And then there’s Soul Slave, which turns people killed by Nandag’s energy drain into wights which she controls, with no listed cap. That’s not a useful combat ability—wights aren’t a serious threat at level 19—but it fundamentally changes encounter design. You’re not just fighting a two-headed dragon that attacks a dozen times a turn and drains levels like a frat boy chugs jello shots, you’re also fighting a horde of wights.
Nandag is kinda dumb, but she’s wise enough to use this horde in at least a basic fashion. If Nandag has a chance to arrange an ambush or similar, she would command the wights to surround the party and move into melee after her initial dive-pounce. They would give her flanking bonuses, which is about all the support basic undead minions can provide a melee villain.
If you want to make this ability more interesting (and don’t mind bending the rules), try making custom wights as minions. Maybe use the wight template from Savage Species, and maybe apply it to non-humanoids. Or if you’re sticking to RAW, maybe she has some wights who gained class levels after being turned. But this sort of thing is well outside the scope of this contest.


Nandag is a very introverted villain. She has a complicated internal life, and isn’t the type to exposit her motivations to heroes in a climactic confrontation. So how do you make use of this backstory?

The ideal solution would be to stretch the character’s story across multiple campaigns. (Or multiple segments of a single campaign set decades apart, like Fire Emblem 4 (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar).) First, the players participate in a dragon hunt where they spy a young dragon with five legs and two heads, and searching the cave with detect magic notes traces of necromancy on some corpses. Later, the players perhaps come across Nandag in her slow descent into omni-nihilism or hear about a helpful NPC from the dragon-slaying mission dying with those same necromantic traces on his body. Finally, the undead army begins to descend on the world, with those same necromantic traces; add in some hints about Nandag’s projected hopelessness somewhere (maybe they find emo poetry in one of her abandoned lairs?) and the players should be able to put the pieces together.

But stretching a playable backstory into pieces scattered across decades of in-game time is usually impractical. How else can you express the character’s backstory?

The simple method is to just compress everything. Move the big tragedies in Nandag’s life past the first age categories, or handwave her rapid growth as a side effect of eating so many souls. Removing the decades of isolation from her backstory does weaken it, but sacrifices have to be made for play.

Finally, there’s the option of inserting a character who can explain Nandag’s backstory and motivations. That’s tricky, due to the aforementioned isolation. You would need to write someone close enough to understand Nandag, but not close enough to help her out of what amounts to depression mixed with an unfulfillable vengeful anger and an inability to imagine others living a better life. Perhaps a hermit-druid or something who also mostly lives as an animal around the margins of civilization or something?
Once you’ve written such a character into Nandag’s story, killing that character can serve as a more acute catalyst to her apocalyptic self-destruction. To make it clear that this random corpse is important, Nandag makes a monument around it and sets wights to guard it. Eventually, the party follows a lead to this brand-new undead-infested mausoleum in the middle of nowhere and finds either a corpse they can speak with dead on or a mournful ghost the party can more freely chat with.

Complex villain motives are tricky to properly convey in any medium, and the strictly “first-person limited” perspective inherent to TRPGs makes that even harder. (To say nothing of players who will obliviously walk past or obnoxiously talk over major plot points without even realizing it.) At the end of the day, all you can do is find ways to put the pieces in front of the players and hope for the best...or write villains whose motivations can be expressed in a quick pre-combat monologue.


Nandag is a Scottish form of “Nancy”. As in “negati—” Never mind.
I originally called her the Eater of Souls, before I wound up leaning on the parts of her threat that were less about her eating your soul specifically and more about general soul magic.

I gave myself two goals for this round: Don’t use anything undead-y, and include as many of the optional requirements as possible. Turns out that most negative energy stuff is undead-y, and the way I wound up leaning on an undead apocalypse is pretty necromancer-y, but I managed to get ability damage and negative levels in here!

Some of you might wonder why so many skill points are invested in Hide and Move Silently. I’d like to point to the notes in the Tactics section that talk about Nandag surprising her victims with long-distance aerial charges. This kind of ambush works better if the villain has at least some basic stealth capabilities, and one level of sorcerer spellcasting won’t cut it.

I considered adding a Shedu Crown or Gorgon Mask soulmeld, but you can’t open the totem chakra with a feat and it’s probably arguable whether trampling would actually apply the touch effects. I was also going to add the Deepspawn feat for two more tentacle attacks, until I realized that Aberration Blood requires the humanoid type. Oh well. More annoying is that the sickened status effect exists, which gives more save penalties, but I can’t find anything that would inflict it.

In the category “stuff I would have added if I didn’t reread and realize how little it added,” we have the Disciple of the Eye class from Races of the Dragon. I added it entirely because it was another potential source of the shaken condition, and removed it because A. it’s clunky B. it’s weird for a teenage-stereotype dragon to have a monklike mindset and C. dragons don’t get frightful presence (which is a better way to inflict fear) until young-adult age, and that’s a 2-CR addition that adds a lot more. (Also, inflicting a saving throw penalty isn’t as important as I expected because the energy drain doesn’t involve saving throws.)

On things that I’m only mostly sure I got right: You don’t get ability score increases for monster HD, since those are assumed to be incorporated into the racial ability score modifiers. You get ASI’s every fourth HD thereafter. But dragons keep getting more racial hit dice as they add age categories, which makes this simple rule complicated. I kept track of how many multiples-of-four levels the class levels added, which is less complicated than I’m making it sound and which I think is how this is supposed to work.
Also, Nandag’s Ability Drain ability arguably qualifies as a “head-based special attack”. I don’t think so—it doesn’t become more potent like a breath weapon does, it just becomes a rider on more attacks. But if it does, I over-CR’d by one.

Speaking of Ability Drain, is the DC supposed to be Charisma-based? That seems random, and some of the other true dragons have Charisma-based breath weapon DCs (which definitely isn’t right!).


Book of Vile Darkness: Soul Eater
Draconomicon: Fang dragon, Improved/Rapidstrike feats
Magic of Incarnum: Bind Soulmeld, Open Chakra, Sphinx Claws soulmeld
Savage Species: Multiheaded template
Spell Compendium: Blood wind

Core rules: Four feats, five spells, and that’s about it.

[jdizzlean]

2. Creeping Ghoulification

Introduction
For the glory of our lord Bloated goat prince of undeath, master of vampires and lord of specters, Orcus, I, Cordan Thokabayaj, his humble thrall, represent my research in the field of applied necromancy, aimed at amassing of our lord’s power and filling the material plane by undead hordes to his greater glory. I named my creation — “Creeping Ghoulification”.

Methods
The spell “Field of Ghouls” was chosen as the basis of my project. I developed a method to give it a permanent physical form, some autonomy, and even a semblance of intelligence. This is a promising tool for mass ghoulification, which is a stepping stone on the path to total cleansing of the cosmos from life.

Prototype One
Prototype One was created mainly as a proof of concept, and it was crowned with success. The creature was transported to a randomly selected battlefield on the material plane. And as the luck would have it, a field hospital was in the immediate vicinity of the spawn point. Seriously injured soldiers proved to be excellent subjects for the work of the Prototype One. All 54 people present, including patients and personnel, have been ghoulificated in under 5 minutes. Regrettably, Prototype One’s fighting power was not sufficient to neutralize the arriving cavalry reinforcements. In addition, as expected, regular ghouls did not show significant fighting capabilities. In the end, they were destroyed together with Prototype One.


Huge Ooze
Hit Dice: 13d10+65 (136)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +3 Dex, + 7 Deflection), touch 18, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+22
Attack: slam +12 (1d8+7 + Field of Ghouls effect)
Full Attack: slam +12 (1d8+7 + Field of Ghouls effect)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Engulf (Reflex save DC 23), Field of Ghouls (Will save DC 23)
Special Qualities: ooze traits, DR 10/magic, SR 23
Saves: Fort +16, Ref +14, Will +13
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 16, Con 20, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 22
Skills: -
Feats: -
Alignment: Neutral Evil



This is the first time when PCs can meet the creation of Cordan Thokabayaj. It is different from the final version of the monster, and it cannot develop into it; therefore it can’t be part of the challenge. I think it can still be a good addition to the story.
If a war situation isn’t applicable, DM can put Prototype One in a different low-level environment: remote villages, city slums, areas of an epidemic outbreak, etc.

Prototype Two

Design
The next Prototype was given the task to overcome identified weaknesses of the first experiment. Namely, it should increase its fighting power, ensure support for the rising undead and effectively interact with them. For these purposes, I needed to complement the spell “Field of Ghouls” with some direct damaging spell, preferably based on the negative energy. In addition, the “Desecrate” spell looked very promising, because it can considerably enhance the rising ghouls.
After many fruitless attempts, my attention was drawn to the “Blackwater Taint” spell. It does direct negative energy damage and duplicates the “Desecrate” effect. However, there are significant drawbacks. Firstly, it works exclusively via contact with water. Secondly, the damage is dealt only once, and victims are rarely dying because of that. Nevertheless, I decided to follow through with my Prototype Two based on the spells “Field of Ghouls” and “Blackwater Taint”.

Test results
Prototype Two was sent to a randomly chosen coastal area. The results exceeded all expectations! Prototype Two successfully devastated the test site, killing or scattering any living creatures. It successfully ghoulificated one sea elf settlement in the shallows, as well as several fishermen. Also, every Prototype Two’s attack triggered the “Blackwater Taint” spell effect each time anew, thus resolving the issue with the original spell.

Unfortunately, there were some drawbacks. Contrary to our expectations, Prototype Two could not operate efficiently in the aquatic environment — most underwater creatures easily outswam it. Also, there were relatively few humanoids to transform into ghouls; this limited the prototype’s power. Most prominent, however, was its inability to formulate any cohesive tactic. It ended up swimming into a nearby river and then to a port sewerage system, where it was trapped and destroyed by the city guard and hired adventurers.


Huge Ooze
Hit Dice: 13d10+65 (136)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +3 Dex, + 7 Deflection), touch 18, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+22
Attack: slam +12 (1d8+7 + Field of Ghouls effect + Blackwater Taint effects)
Full Attack: slam +12 (1d8+7 + Field of Ghouls effect + Blackwater Taint effects)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Engulf (Reflex save DC 23), Field of Ghouls (Will save DC 23), Blackwater Taint (Fortitude save DC 22)
Special Qualities: ooze traits, DR 10/magic, SR 23
Saves: Fort +16, Ref +14, Will +13
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 16, Con 20, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 22
Skills: -
Feats: -
Alignment: Neutral Evil



This can be the second encounter with Cordan Thokabayaj’s creations. PCs may be hired by the government or the city watch to seek and destroy a monster in the sewers. Alternatively, they can hear some rumors about a new danger in the coastal waters and an unusual amount of dead fish, possibly even animated as undead. Also, PCs can face and interrogate some of the ghouls created by the Prototype — after all, ghouls are intellectual undead, and theoretically, they can try to peacefully communicate with PCs and ask for revenge or warn of danger.
I read MM glossary and I’m wondering about oozes. They can actually drown by RAW. Even living spells. Even living spells created from [water] spells. If the DM wants to create a more balanced encounter, I suggest adding to Prototype Two an amphibious template or use it for the encounter with less EL. Also, it is reasonable for the Prototype to raise lacedons instead of regular ghouls.

Prototype Three

Design
To address the problem of low adaptability in Prototype Three, I took the liberty to mix some raw Chaos matter and fragments of Tomb-Tainted souls and souls with Fiendish Heritage into the spells “Field of Ghouls” and “Blackwater Taint”. This, of course, increased its affinity to negative energy. But more importantly, it created some semblance of a mind in the prototype: primitive, but capable of analyzing its surroundings and strategically controlling the ghouls. This level of intelligence provided enough ground for the improved animation of ghouls, increasing their combat strength.
I found a way to circumnavigate around the water limitation by adding a third spell of “Create Water”: the prototype began producing two dozen gallons of water with each attack. This was enough to use the “Blackwater Taint” spell.

Test results
The metropolis surroundings filled with agricultural facilities were chosen as the test site. Prototype Three excelled as a weapon of terror for the civilian population as well as in clashes with armed guard.
At this stage, the tests are still ongoing. The prototype has been active for a month, and the population of undead in the region has increased by 666 ± 13% due to directly animated ghouls, their victims, as well as other creatures, killed by the negative energy.
I believe the lifetime of Prototype Three to be at least two months more — after all, it is autonomous, adapts to the environment, and improves its strategy on the go. Even against professional troops and mercenary adventurers, its chances are high.


Huge Ooze
Hit Dice: 13d10+65 (136)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +3 Dex, + 7 Deflection), touch 18, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+22
Attack: slam +12 (1d8+7 + Field of Ghouls effect + Blackwater Taint effects)
Full Attack: slam +12 (1d8+7 + Field of Ghouls effect + Blackwater Taint effects)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Engulf (Reflex save DC 23), Field of Ghouls (Will save DC 23), Blackwater Taint (Fortitude save DC 22), Create Water, Smite Law
Special Qualities: ooze traits, DR 10/magic, SR 23, Fast Healing 5, Acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic resistance 5
Saves: Fort +16, Ref +14, Will +13
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 16, Con 20, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 22
Skills: +6 spot, +6 listen
Feats: Tomb-Tainted Soul, Fiendish Heritage, Corpsecrafter, Destruction Retribution, Nimble Bones
Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Field of Ghouls effect: Humanoid creatures in the area with -1 to -9 hit points that fail their saving throws die and immediately rise as ghouls under your control.
Blackwater Taint effects: 6d6 points of damage (unnamed!) and a negative level. Fortitude save to take half damage and avoid the negative level.
All undead in the area are healed of 6d6 points of damage.
Create Water effect: 26 gallons of water.
Smite Law: 1/day +20 damage against a lawful opponent.
Engulf (Ex): A living spell can flow around creatures that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot make a slam attack during a round in which it engulfs. The living spell merely has to move over the opponents, affecting as many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of opportunity against the living spell, but if they do so they are not entitled to a saving throw. Those who do not attempt attacks of opportunity must succeed on a Reflex save (DC 23) or be engulfed; on a success, they are pushed back or aside (opponent's choice) as the spell moves forward. Engulfed creatures are subject to the full normal effect of the spell(s) each round on the living spell's turn, and are considered to be grappled.


Medium Undead
Hit Dice: 2d12+6 (19 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+4
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6+3 plus paralysis)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6+3 plus paralysis) and 2 claws +2 melee (1d3+1 plus paralysis)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Ghoul fever, paralysis
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., undead traits, +2 turn resistance, destruction retribution (2d6)
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +5
Abilities: Str 17, Dex 15, Con —, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 12
Skills: Balance +6, Climb +5, Hide +6, Jump +5, Move Silently +6, Spot +7
Feats: Multiattack
Alignment: Chaotic Evil




This can be the third encounter with the modification of “Creeping Ghoulification”. Prototype Three is a fully developed creature and can do everything it was designed for: dealing serious amounts of damage, bestowing negative levels, animating numerous undead, and healing itself with Destruction Retribution from ghouls.

Conclusion
All three prototypes of the “Creeping Ghoulification” have proved to be great weapons of undead proliferation. They provide a valuable asset for freeing the cosmos from the braying abominations that are all living things.
According to the results stated above I propose:

Adopt the object “Creeping Ghoulification” into the armed forces.
Allocate additional funds for the development of the next generation of “Creeping Ghoulification”.



Verdict

Denied.
For embezzlement of raw Chaos matter, Tomb-Tainted souls and Fiendish Heritage thrall Cordan Thokabayaj is to be tortured until triple replenishment of the expenditure with Liquid Pain.


Orcus


Huge Ooze
Hit Dice: 21d10+105 (220)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +3 Dex, + 7 Deflection), touch 18, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+28
Attack: slam +18 (1d8+7 + Field of Ghouls effect + Blackwater Taint effects)
Full Attack: slam +18 (1d8+7 + Field of Ghouls effect + Blackwater Taint effects)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Engulf (Reflex save DC 24), Field of Ghouls (Will save DC 24), Blackwater Taint (Fortitude save DC 23), Create Water, Smite Law
Special Qualities: ooze traits, DR 10/magic, SR 23, Fast Healing 3, Acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic resistance 5
Saves: Fort +19, Ref +17, Will +16
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 16, Con 20, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 24
Skills: +8 spot, +8 listen
Feats: Tomb-Tainted Soul, Fiendish Heritage, Corpsecrafter, Destruction Retribution, Nimble Bones, Shape Soulmeld (Enigma Helm), Fiendish Presence, Fiendish Legacy
Alignment: Chaotic Evil



Abandoned Prototype Three can be met by PCs after some time has passed and the creature developed. Its main special attack doesn’t improve significantly, but it acquires some new abilities. Enigma Helm can protect Creeping Ghoulification from various divinations. Teleport provides great maneuverability for Prototype Three and can save its life, whatever life means in this case. Unholy Blight and Summon Monster V are alternative sources of damage and combat backup. Detect Thoughts helps to find hiding victims.




Attribute
Base
Racial
Level
Total


Strength
14
+7
-
21 (+5)


Dexterity
12
+4

16 (+3)


Constitution
13
+7
-
20 (+5)


Intelligence
8
Min 3
-
3 (-4)


Wisdom
10
+4
-
14 (+2)


Charisma
15
+7
+2
24 (+7)





Advanced Anarchic Living Spells (Field of Ghouls, Blackwater Taint, Create Water)


CR
HD
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features


18
13
+9
16=4+5+7
14=4+3+7
13=4+2+7
+4 spot, +4 listen
Tomb-Tainted Soul (1st)
Fiendish Heritage (3rd)
Corpsecrafter (6th)
Destruction Retribution (9th)
Nimble Bones (12th)
Blind, Blindsight, Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning.
Immunity to petrification
DR 10/magic
SR 23
Fast Healing 5
Acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic resistance 5
Smite Law
Engulf (Reflex save DC 23)
Spell Effect (Field of Ghouls (Will save DC 23), Blackwater Taint (Fortitude save DC 22), Create Water)



18
14
+10
16=4+5+7
14=4+3+7
13=4+2+7
+0.5 spot

-


18
15
+11
17=5+5+7
15=5+3+7
14=5+2+7
+0.5 listen
Shape Soulmeld (Enigma Helm)
-


18
16
+12
17=5+5+7
15=5+3+7
14=5+2+7
+0.5 spot

-


19
17
+12
17=5+5+7
15=5+3+7
14=5+2+7
+0.5 listen

-


19
18
+13
18=6+5+7
16=6+3+7
15=6+2+7
+0.5 spot
Fiendish Presence
Sp (1/day): cause fear, detect thoughts, and suggestion


19
19
+14
18=6+5+7
16=6+3+7
15=6+2+7
+0.5 listen

-


19
20
+15
18=6+5+7
16=6+3+7
15=6+2+7
+0.5 spot

-


20
21
+15
19=7+5+7
17=7+3+7
16=7+2+7
+0.5 listen
Fiendish Legacy
Sp (1/day): teleport (self plus 50 pounds of objects only), summon monster V (fiendish creatures only), and unholy blight





Core of my villain is the spell “Field of Ghouls”. It is a very interesting and flavour spell, but… for the 7th level spell it looks weak. Very, very weak. You can kill enemies near you that are already dying and raise them as CR 1 monsters… This is just ridiculous. Even using the Corpsecrafter feat-line doesn’t help. If somebody will use my creation in a real game I suggest houserule. Let this spell turn them into something other than regular ghouls: you can use Ghoulish creature template, Gravetouched ghoul template, Ghasts, Ghastly creature template, or even Abyssal Ghoul.


Living spell template - Monster Manual III
Anarchic Creature template - Planar Handbook
Field of Ghouls spell - Spell Compendium
Blackwater Taint spell - Stormwrack
Create Water spell - SRD
Tomb-Tainted Soul - Libris Mortis
Corpsecrafter - Libris Mortis
Destruction Retribution - Libris Mortis
Nimble Bones - Libris Mortis
Fiendish Heritage - Complete Mage
Fiendish Presence - Complete Mage
Fiendish Legacy - Complete Mage
Shape Soulmeld (Enigma Helm) - Magic of Incarnum
Ghoul, Lacedon, Ghast - SRD

Ghoulish creature template - Dragon Compendium
Gravetouched ghoul template - Libris Mortis
Ghastly creature template - Dragon Compendium
Abyssal Ghoul - Fiend Folio

[jdizzlean]

3. Hecate, The Black Queen


Hecate, the Black Queen

https://i.ibb.co/TMRCzWg/Black-Queen.jpg

CE Vampiric Loredrake Adult Shadow Dragon Abjurant Champion 5


"By the dread crown you will know her:
Her touch is the death of men,
her voice the fall of night
and she strives doom unto all the world."
- The Old Verse

It was a good night for hunting.

As had become his habit of late, Criostryx had come down from the mountains with the encroach of the colder months. His mate and offspring had flown off near a decade ago, so he'd hardly had much reason to stay up in the Pillars of the Moon year-round. This gave him more than enough free reign to reclaim and explore the lower steppes and foothills that he'd once soared through in his youth.

As he winged over a frozen river, the ten-ton lizard took a moment to gaze down and marvel at his own silhouette reflected across the open sky. His pearlescent scales glittered under the eyes of the full moon, a coat made up of chips of diamond and ivory. He suppressed a frown at the sight of a few mottled grey-blue scales around his joints. A sign of middle age, this, and hardly a flattering one. The huge white dragon inhaled sharply and let out a petulant huff, casting down a torrent of ice and snow to obliterate the reflection before moving on.

Best not to dwell on it. What he needed was some fresh prey! Casting his gaze about as he surged forward, Criostryx scanned the nearby hills and vales for any sign of movement.

There! Not five minutes in and he'd already caught sight of a small herd of aurochs huddled together for warmth in between some low stone walls. As he approached, Criostryx recognized the barrier as having been erected by the locals about a century ago. The dragon snorted. What was the point of piling rocks together to keep prey in like that when you could just catch them in the wild? He'd never understand these humans.

Yet while navigating upwards on the air currents and preparing for his first dive, Criostryx saw something quite unexpected: a shadow moving at the edge of the enclosure. The white hunter watched as it closed the distance to the nearest aurochs, snatching it up in a matter of seconds.

The horned livestock let out a plaintive moo as the shadow pinned it down, but the noise quickly turned into a scream as its life was unceremoniously extinguished. The rest of the herd was already scattering, all but trampling each other to distance themselves from this new predator.

And then the shadow took off, wings of darkness unfurled, and the dead aurochs clutched in its talons. Though he still couldn't get a good look, under the moonlit glare its silhouette was instantly recognizable to him.

Criostryx's eyes widened. Another dragon, here? Impossible. This was too far west to be anywhere near Gelidon's hunting grounds, and even the upstart Antharyx knew better than to taunt him so openly. After a moment, he decided that it didn’t matter.

Whoever this newcomer was, they were about to learn that this was his territory.

With massive wing beats the white dragon launched himself forward through the air at full speed. The shadow was heading due south with a small head start, but as the chase began Criostryx's lips curled back into a toothy grin. This little dragon might have been a predator elsewhere, but in the air, he was the faster.

He pushed himself down on his trajectory, the better to take advantage of any warmer air currents nearer the ground and blend in with the new-fallen snow. The shadow had evidently noticed his presence however, as it swiftly dropped the aurochs and committed itself entirely to escape.

It would do them no good, thought Criostryx. He had every advantage; speed, size, and he knew the terrain better. At close quarters, he would tear this youngster apart. All he needed to do was funnel them into a good kill zone, and it would be over.

To his bemused surprise, the dark dragon made a sharp left bank, its flight path taking it into a small gap between two rocky promontories. Trying to hide perhaps, or come up with some ambush to turn the tables? Either way, they'd just volunteered for a swift death: there was no way out of that ravine. Letting out a deep chuckle, Criostryx followed.

The walls of ice and rock were perhaps forty feet apart at their most narrow, but it was enough for him to fit with nearly half a wing to spare on either side. As he hurtled onwards, he dodged and weaved between any protruding roots or outcroppings. Directly ahead, he could see his quarry getting larger as the gap between them narrowed.

And then - without warning - they stopped.

Criostryx had to slow to avoid colliding into them unintentionally, fully extending his wings to catch the maximum air drag. His tendons and muscles burned with the sudden force of inertia, but he didn’t acknowledge the discomfort in front of the interloper.

"You want to beg for mercy, is that it?" he gravelled in his native tongue after he'd come to a full stop. "Save your breath. You should have asked before stealing from the territory of Criostryx the Frigid Death."

Up close, he could finally get a good look at his new prey. She - for her body was unmistakably female, the white dragon noticed - was sleek and sinuous, scales of indigo and jet over which played waves of writhing inky shadow. Her wings were so diaphanous as to look nearly transparent save for the way they shrouded the air as they moved. There was not a single scratch or scar on her, nor was she overly muscular - she was at most two thirds his weight, if he had to guess - yet something in Criostryx's brain recognized a power deep beneath her skin.

"Oh darling," she replied in the same language as she turned to face him. Her eyes were orbs of glowing scarlet. "Are you truly still under the impression that you are hunting us?"

Before Criostryx could move to correct her, he caught new shapes moving at the edge of his vision. He tried to duck out of the way, but they were already upon him. Phantasmal creatures: a host of birds and beasts, but also humanoid silhouettes moaning softly as their fingers slipped effortlessly past his hide.

For the first time in his entire two centuries of existence, the white dragon knew cold.

Staggering back and dipping towards the ground, he let out an audible gasp. He felt… empty, like he'd just flown hard for a week without resting. "What was - what are you -"

"Freeze."

And he did. Try as he might to struggle against the command, Criostryx found to his mounting horror that he couldn't move a single muscle. The shadow dragon's gaze locked onto his with something akin to pity.

"So disappointing. You were unfortunately quite predictable, Criostryx." All around him, he saw the spectral figures spread out slowly, cutting off all escape routes behind him. There were at least two dozen here; more than enough to overwhelm him in this state.

"We really do hope you will avail yourself better when you join our collection."

Before he had time to unpack the full implications of those words the spirits were on him again. There were simply too many; each time they touched him the dragon felt a piece of himself being stolen away. He was getting so… so tired. Restrained and unable to fight back, he felt his vision begin to darken as his body gradually gave up the fight for him.

"That's it… just rest now… here, let us help you." He was vaguely aware of the other dragon's approach, of feeling claws and a tail wrapping themselves around him with surprising gentleness and guiding him down to earth.

As they alighted together in the snow, Criostryx immediately collapsed. Though the enchantment had been lifted it was all he could do to even breathe, let alone fly away. Every movement was a labour… maybe she was right, why shouldn't he just rest for a while?

Then suddenly he felt a strange pricking sensation at his throat. When he opened his eyes, all he could see was darkness and teeth. Then the unknown dragon tilted her head back, and Criostryx stared at the streams of black blood in the moonlight. His blood.

She was drinking his blood.

"No - nonono" he tried in vain to get out, but she silenced him with a single claw placed on his chest.

"Shhhhh," she said, licking away a stray droplet from her stained fangs as she leaned in close. "It's alright… it's over, it's already over…"

And then all he knew was emptiness.

Ability Score
Array
Race
Template
20 HD
24 HD
Final


Strength
14
+8
+4


26


Dexterity
13
+0
+6

+1
20


Constitution
8
+6
-


-


Intelligence
10
+10
+2


22


Wisdom
12
+10
+2


24


Charisma
15
+10
+4
+1

30



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


15
Vampiric Loredrake Adult Shadow Dragon
+19
+11
+17
+18
Bluff +28, Concentration +22, Diplomacy +31, Hide +23, Knowledge (Arcana) +20, Knowledge (Local) +25, Knowledge (Planes) +20, Knowledge (Religion) +25, Listen +37, Sense Motive +37, Spellcraft +28, Spot +37, Use Magic Device +31
Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Create Spectral Spawn, Combat Casting, Flyby Attack, Darkstalker, Improved Energy Drain, Spell Drain, Practiced Spellcaster
Shadow Blend, Breath Weapon (40 ft cone, 3 negative levels), DR 5/magic, Spell Resistance 22, Frightful Presence (180 ft), Blindsense 60 ft, Keen Senses, Undead Immunities, Blood Drain (1d4 Con), Charm, Create Spawn (Vampires), Domination, Fast Healing 5, Cold & Electricity Resistance 20, Turn Resistance +4, Vampiric Weaknesses


16
Abjurant Champion 1
+20
+11
+17
+20
Bluff +28, Concentration +23, Diplomacy +31, Hide +23, Knowledge (Arcana) +26, Knowledge (Local) +25, Knowledge (Planes) +20, Knowledge (Religion) +25, Listen +37, Sense Motive +37, Spellcraft +29, Spot +37, Use Magic Device +31

Abjurant Armor +1, Extended Abjuration


17
Abjurant Champion 2
+21
+11
+17
+21
Bluff +28, Concentration +24, Diplomacy +31, Hide +23, Knowledge (Arcana) +30, Knowledge (Local) +25, Knowledge (Planes) +20, Knowledge (Religion) +25, Listen +37, Sense Motive +37, Spellcraft +30, Spot +37, Use Magic Device +32
Life Drain
Abjurant Armor +2, Swift Abjuration (1st level)


18
Abjurant Champion 3
+22
+12
+18
+21
Bluff +29, Concentration +25, Diplomacy +32, Hide +24, Knowledge (Arcana) +30, Knowledge (Local) +25, Knowledge (Planes) +20, Knowledge (Religion) +25, Listen +37, Sense Motive +37, Spellcraft +31, Spot +37, Use Magic Device +32

Abjurant Armor +3, Swift Abjuration (2nd level)


19
Abjurant Champion 4
+23
+12
+18
+22
Bluff +29, Concentration +26, Diplomacy +32, Hide +24, Knowledge (Arcana) +31, Knowledge (Local) +25, Knowledge (Planes) +20, Knowledge (Religion) +25, Listen +38, Sense Motive +38, Spellcraft +32, Spot +38, Use Magic Device +32

Abjurant Armor +4, Arcane Boost


20
Abjurant Champion 5
+24
+12
+19
+22
Bluff +30, Concentration +27, Diplomacy +33, Hide +25, Knowledge (Arcana) +31, Knowledge (Local) +25, Knowledge (Planes) +20, Knowledge (Religion) +25, Listen +38, Sense Motive +38, Spellcraft +33, Spot +38, Use Magic Device +32
Versatile Spellcaster
Abjurant Armor +5, Swift Abjuration (3rd), Martial Arcanist

Sorcerer Spells per Day


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


15th
6
9
8
6
-
-
-


16th
6
9
9
7
5
-
-


17th
6
9
9
8
6
-
-


18th
6
9
9
8
7
5
-


19th
6
9
9
8
8
6
-


20th
6
9
9
8
8
7
5



Sorcerer Spells Known:


CR
Spells Known
Max. Spell Level


15
7/5/3/2
3rd


16
8/5/3/2/1
4th


17
8/5/4/3/2
4th


18
9/5/4/3/2/1
5th


19
9/5/5/4/3/2
5th


20
9/5/5/4/3/2/1
6th


0th level – dancing lights, detect magic, caltrops, launch item, mending, message, prestidigitation, ghost sound, arcane mark
1st level - blood wind, master's touch, mage armor, nerveskitter, quickened extended shield
2nd level - create magic tattoo, quickened extended scintillating scales, wings of cover, glitterdust, invisibility
3rd level - arms of plenty, girallon's blessing, quickened extended nondetection, haste
4th level - quickened extended otiluke's suppressing field, spell enhancer, celerity
5th level - arcane fusion, permanency
6th level - extended greater dispel magic

(Spells are organized alphabetically and by order of acquisition; they also include metamagic tags from Abjurant Champion where applicable)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 19th):
3/day - mirror image
2/day - dimension door
Before getting into either of the build snapshots, it's critical to discuss Hecate's most important asset and ultimately her whole motivation: her spawn. Although she is technically a dragon, the Black Queen works much better across the span of an entire campaign as a chessmaster style villain, lurking in the darkness and using all of the pieces on her side of the board. The chess motif works best when one is considering her various on-theme drain abilities used to create servants to enact her will.

Hecate's servants can be qualified into four groups. First off, there are her pawns that she creates using her Charm and Dominate abilities. These are living creatures (and not just humanoids either, as both are explicitly Charm/Dominate Monster effects at CL 18th) that she has interacted with. Just speaking to any creature can Charm them and looking into her eyes will Dominate them. These pawns can be pretty much anything alive, and on a strategic level a DM should use these as 'soft power'. They aren't really meant to fight PCs - hell, in early levels the PCs might be pawns - but rather give Hecate influence over the affairs of provinces and nations. These pawns are a great way to hook her into the political tapestry of any setting: what if the mayor, city council, or even the generals of a country secretly answer to the Black Queen?

Then we have the knights, her undead foot soldiers that Hecate has direct control over. These would be her Vampires and Vampire Spawn; anyone she has killed with her Energy Drain claws or Blood Drain abilities will come back as one of these. These soldiers play two roles for Hecate. First, they are useful as spies and emissaries, being corporeal agents that she can send to infiltrate living communities and start to secretly convert. Stronger Vampires are also useful in direct confrontation, especially those that gain class levels and have better equipment. It's ultimately up to the DM to flesh out these lieutenants, but for a game starting in the mid levels I would have some of her Vampires as the villains. Give them cool names and personalities as the PCs are forced to fight their way up the 'spawn ladder' to the overarching campaign villain.

After the knights come the bishops: her Spectres and Spectral Creatures. Through the use of the Create Spectral Spawn feat, any creature who is killed by an energy drain ability (which should include her breath weapon as well as her Energy Drain claws, see 'Additional Notes' for more on this) can rise as as a Spectral Creature. Anything other than a humanoid rises as a Spectral Creature, while humanoids just rise as Spectres. In the average campaign setting most people have 3 or less HD, which means it's as easy as visiting a single remote town to amass a few dozen Spectres. Hecate uses these as mobile shock troops, staying underground by day and taking to the skies at night. With an 80 ft flight speed and no need to rest, they can cover a lot of ground and wage brutal Energy Drain guerrilla campaigns.

Finally, we have Hecate's most valuable pieces (besides herself), which are her draconic undead rooks. Through careful ambushes and the use of a spectral air force that drains levels (against the pathetic touch AC of most dragons, incorporeal touch attacks with Energy Drain riders are basically kryptonite), the Black Queen can easily take down weakened adult or younger dragons with her Blood Drain. These would then rise to become either Zombie Dragons or other Vampiric Dragons under her control, both of which she employs as her own personal guard that never leave her side. They are her meat shields and mobile beat-sticks in higher level combats, as she uses them to overpower major threats like PCs as they approach higher levels.

I feel like it's also worth noting that Vampiric Dragons, Vampires, Spectres, and Spectral Creatures also have their own Create Spawn effects that raise perfectly loyal armies of their own as they hit people with Energy Drain and ability drain. This turns Hecate and her spawn into an exponential threat, as her ground and air forces can multiply at alarmingly rapid rates.

But more than the utility and whole bevy of tactical options having an army of spawn offers, I would encourage any DM using her to have this tie into her raison d'etre. As a vampiric dragon, her notion of what is valuable has changed: no longer is her hoard a pile of lifeless rocks and metal. No, to her every soul drained, every new servant added to her roster is another shiny thing she has amassed. In short, her hoard is her collection of undead and living servants. She covets these playthings above all things, and wants to gain as many toys as she can while preserving her existence. This is the true mindset of an immortal undead dragon.
The doors into the inner sanctum - all reinforced noqual well over thirty feet tall - swung open without a sound, and Baron Ebzad was escorted through.

What awaited him beyond the gates was an honour guard beyond the ability of mortals to assemble. The recesses of the hall were filled to the brim with silent dead, bearing arms and armour spanning centuries. Bronze helms in the ancient Terregon style, iron breastplates as were long borne by the Justinians and more than a few longswords of the distinctive Valley make down from the Pillars. Banners from half the continent were stirred by a warm and vaguely noxious breeze, though none stood as tall as that of the Black Queen: ten silver stars on a black background, set in a perfect circle around a bloody crown. Those carrying the latter wore midnight plate, ember eyes visible only through slits in their visors.

By the dread crown you will know her, the old verse went. Her touch is the death of men, her voice the fall of night and she strives doom unto all the world. Villains drew epithets, but none quite as many as the Black Queen. He advanced, all alone surrounded by silence and blasphemy. The very instant he passed the threshold, thousands of dead kneeled in unison.

There had been a single mind at work behind it.

Forcing himself forward, Ebzad could barely stop to gape at the rest of his surroundings. Someone could fit the entire wing of a castle in here. The ceiling stretched at least ninety feet above him, great carved pillars of stone descending like roots to keep the whole place from collapsing. Though most of the walls and ceilings were smooth and unadorned, Ebzad couldn't help but notice the reliefs around the edges of the door and at the bases of the walls. In the glow of the pale mage lights, he could make out scenes of carnage, a great harvesting. He spotted several motifs of a dragon eating the sun, and everywhere he looked there were blank faces carved out of the rock.

No, he realized. Not faces. Death masks, the kind someone might be put in before being buried. And behind each mask, patient eyes followed his footsteps. He tried to count them as he walked forward, but lost count somewhere north of fifty.

A faint stench was wafting from the furthest recesses of the chamber, where steps descended into a pool of suspiciously dark liquid. The surface rippled as something large moved beneath, and he forced himself not to look closer. Though the silent sentinels guarded the chamber, it was bereft of any visible company, yet he knew better than to consider himself alone as he completed his approach. He knew well enough just how outnumbered he was, yet what choice did he have?

There, at the end of the hall, a single platform of jagged stone stood above the pool, upon which rested a dais and a throne of silver and ebony. Every step towards it felt heavier, and at last the Baron fell to his knees in supplication. Pride was of no use here; he had nothing left but concessions.

"Welcome, Honoured Baron of Adrubal," came the sinuous voice from the being that sat upon it, the scales of waiting dusk made flesh gleaming as they moved. "How pleased we are that you have come to your senses. Now, shall we discuss your next declaration of war?"


Though Hecate is playable right from CR 15, I think CR 16 is where her build really takes off in an interesting way. I'll explain why exactly that is below, but I'll start with the setup first.

As mentioned, the Black Queen is a schemer. She'll never fight the PCs on their chosen ground and will always have backup with her. At minimum, she keeps a few other Vampiric Dragons, some Vampires and a squadron of Spectral Creatures along with some living servitors handy for when pesky PCs and other high level threats decide to step to her. Technically this number is arbitrary - she could have as many spawn or servants as needed - but I'd add just enough to make the action economy in her favor rather than the party's. If they bring allies, DMs should adjust her numbers to match.

In a tactical sense, her followers have two main purposes. The first is for them to tangle with the PCs early on, get them committed to a close quarters battle and start draining their resources. Even if the PCs are packing anti-undead measures - which they should be if they're smart - Hecate keeps living pawns around with enough contingency planning that DMs should still be able to keep the players challenged and occupied at least for a round or two. Hecate will remain hidden for the beginning of most fights using Darkstalker and not moving. This ties into her second purpose: observing the field and preparing buffs (see below). Her senses are ridiculously acute, so she watches the PCs to pick her targets. Since she has Permanency, I would suggest for a DM to have had her pick up scrolls of spells like Arcane Sight and/or See Invisibility to include in her stats but it's not strictly necessary.

Once Hecate enters the combat, she's pretty much an Energy Drain nightmare on wings. Vampiric Dragons get around the once per round limitation by placing the penalty as a rider on Hecate's claw attacks. Claws being much easier to get more of than slams, I had her pick up Girallon's Blessing and Arms of Plenty. That's at least 6 primary claw attacks per round (depending on your reading of Girallon's Blessing you might get 8 attacks), each dealing a negative level on top of some already impressive damage and Rend as a nice bonus. With Blood Wind up, she can do a full attack from 20 ft in the air. Because she's also really mean, she has Spell Drain; any prepared casters won't just lose their highest level spell slots, but she'll gain access to them. That means she will prioritize wizards, clerics, archivists, and druids in fights (which honestly is a smart tactic anyway, but the party's casters will learn to fear her when she turns their high level spells against them). What's more, Spell Drain works by RAW on her breath weapon, so if the PCs are tough she will open with a few strafing Flyby Attack runs to hit the whole group with 3 negative levels.

If a DM wants to be really mean, they'd give Hecate a few Draughts of Enervating Breath from Draconomicon to add to her breath weapon. 2d4+3 negative levels in a 40 ft cone would heal Hecate's forces by an average of 25 hp apiece while providing -8 to every meaningful roll and ripping the 8 highest level spells from each PC spellcaster (of which Hecate would gain a total of 10 to use against the party), just generally ruining their players' day.

Now Hecate can do all of the above at 15th level just as effectively. What sets her apart at 16th is access to Otiluke's Suppressing Field, which is of course extended and she will have pre-cast before the battle (it lasts 4.5 hours per casting). Hecate isn't an idiot: she knows that PCs will likely be packing Death Ward effects so she keys the Suppressing Field to the Ectomancy spell subtype (from the Ghostwalk book). Every spell with this descriptor - including Hide from Undead and Astral Projection, another anti-undead buff and high level party tactic, as well as most resurrection magic - is suppressed in a 20 ft emanation around her. This applies equally to armor and items. Soulfire armor? Scarab of Protection? Nuh uh. Mathematically speaking, the Suppressing Field will only have a 40% chance of suppressing Ectomancy spells against what is effectively CL 16, but Hecate can use Flyby Attack to exit and re-enter their areas until enough wards fail. She always stays 20 ft above the ground: this is the perfect range both for the Suppressing Field and for Blood Wind, and gives her room for her cone to still hit multiple PCs.

Once the PCs are stripped of any protection from Energy Drain - or gods help them, if they walk into the fight without negative level protection - they'll get obliterated by the various draining undead mobbing them, followed up by Hecate's breath and then 6 negative levels per round in close combat. They won't be able to run away fast enough!
Fifteen thousand had stood against the legions dark and darkly led. They taught the Black Queen what kind of people got to grow old in these lands. The first wall they lost on the first day, and retreated after setting the houses aflame. They held the second wall for a week, until the dead sent a flock of winged dragons aflight. Wall by wall they have ground, but never without making the Enemy pay for it.

The longer they held the longer the rest of the northerners had to gather their armies, the longer the civilians of Narhold could flee without pursuit. They fought for a month and seven nights, dying in the snow as a sea of dead lapped at the walls. Hundreds of thousands, centuries of corpses marching to bring death to all the world. In the end it came down to the Old Fortress, the solitary mountain that had been turned into a castle jutting out from the plains. The dead never paused in the assault, never tired: day and night they came in silent assault, the banner of the Black Queen flying tall behind them.

And so the defenders died.

Ground away into nothing by numbers and sorcery their few mages could not match. Dead things that had once been heroes climbed the walls, the sky grew dark with falling of arrows and behind them dragons stolen from the grave spewed out clouds of fire and poison that burned lungs and skin. Less than a thousand of them left now, and most of them wounded. They'd retreated to the Coronet, the very highest point of the fortress that could only be accessed by a few narrow paths filled with murderholes. The dead had been met with streams of burning coals and thrown oil, dwarven engines roaring destruction down passages where there could be had no cover. The vampiric knights pushed through, after the horde withdrew, but they found the passages collapsing beneath them and spiked grids of steel awaiting them when they leapt. Now sorcerers that were little more than fanged skulls pounded away at the defences with foul magics, forcing the defenders to stay behind cover until the next wave of dead was ready for assault. Harald passed through the throng of wounded, clasping shoulders and trading grim boasts with what soldiers her had left.

Old men, old women. The last gasps of their generation, dying sword in hand. His eyes grew cloudy with pride. Death came to all, but tonight they would meet it as Alterians should. Holding the wall in the face of the Enemy, for the sake of all the world. Harald's beard was already flecked with blood, and he dipped out of sight when he felt the cough came. It would not do for his soldiers to know he was dying. The wound he'd taken fighting off two of the spectres to make it through the gap, at a guess. Some manner of life-draining energy, he suspected, though it made no difference. None of them would live to see dawn, replenished or not. He wiped his lips clean of blood and returned to the battlements after the cough had passed. The pounding had stopped, he immediately noticed. The assault was coming. Captain Heiserech sought him out, her worn face quivering.

"Commander," she saluted. "At first I thought that the dead had sent an emissary... but it's her."

"Is it now?" Harald grinned despite himself. "Well, let us see what the Black Queen has to say."

Maybe he'd ask for surrender. His people could certainly use the laugh.

Prince Harald strode to the very edge of the battlements, where the passages had been broken, and found a horror awaiting on the other side of the drop. The Black Queen was coiled malice, all sharp edges and razor wings. She stood at least twice as tall as a horse, and nearly double that in length. Quite small, for one of her kin, but the world had paid for underestimating her size. She flicked her tail back and forth as she recognized him.

"A princeling," the Black Queen mildly said. "We should have known. Your entire line is like a nail that refuses to be hammered."

Harald could not deny the stab of pride he felt at that. He was dying, but he would stand straight in the face of the Enemy. Even if his lungs throbbed with pain.

"In the name of Alterian Empire and the Justinian Crown, I bid you to crawl back into the hole that spawned you," Harald said. "And to take your horde of damned with you, old thing."

"You know we rather like this city," the Black Queen said. "You made it very difficult to take. We may yet build a summer palace here."

"And when we chase you back into the dark, claiming it back, we'll raise an eighth wall," the prince replied with bared teeth. "On it will be written: here lie those who broke the back of the Enemy and stand those who will again."

"You fought well," the dead dragon said. "And so were owed the courtesy of this conversation. Should your soldiers wish to take their own lives instead of having them taken, we will allow them the right."

"So that we may rise whole in your service?" he laughed. "I think not. We'll burn, and you with us."

"Once wolves," the Black Queen said, almost fondly, "always wolves. What soldiers you would have made, under our banner. Die proud, then, Justinian. You were an irritation until the end."

The aging soldier smiled.

"My cousins be waiting for you at the passes, Black Queen," he promised. "With a proper royal welcome."

"We would expect no less," she replied.

He turned his back on the Enemy and returned to stand with the last of his soldiers.

When the light of day found Narhold, not a single living soul remained.


At 20th level, Hecate should have clashed with the PCs personally once or twice. She knows some of their tricks, and they know some of hers. Most of what she did at CR 16 she is still doing: bringing varieties of level appropriate spawn to the fight, preparing with her buffs, using the Suppressing Field and Flyby Attack before committing on a weakened opponent with a slew of Blood Wind claw attacks to drain them to death. Of course, she is quite capable of adjusting some of her tactics to match and counter whatever the party brings to the table. Feel free to tailor her spells known to match the exact party composition, but I chose spells that would allow her to pre-empt most enemy action.

The spells in question are, of course, Greater Dispel Magic, Arcane Fusion, and Celerity. These spells all work together to make the most of Hecate's Immediate Action economy. Where before she was holding that in reserve for Swift Action buffing, now she might need to go more on the defensive against 9th level spells. As she doesn't have any herself, she will likely be forced to burn Celerity into Greater Dispel to counterspell any Wishes or Miracles used against her side of the field and then relying on her spawn to screen her while she takes a 6 second nap. While I could have made her immune to Daze, honestly, I don't want to break Celerity that badly; the idea that the boss shuts down the first 9th level spell, but it costs her a whole round of combat would make for a really cool story that your players are guaranteed to talk about later. It shows off her awesome power while still giving the players a small victory to capitalize on. Hecate will also liberally use Greater Dispel to get rid of any negative protections that aren't Death Ward such as Sheltered Vitality. Versatile Spellcaster will help keep her going in fights to keep those 6th level slots coming.

Hecate's other major benefit at CR 20 is Martial Arcanist. Where before she lagged behind the PCs' CL a little bit, now she's jumped ahead to a base CL of 24. With Create Magic Tattoo and Spell Enhancer, the effective caster level DC for the PCs to beat her Suppressing Field is a 38. The PCs have gone from a 60% chance to beat the field to a measly 10% chance. Safe to say that the odds aren't looking too good for them now.

Finally, Hecate has picked up the Life Drain feat and the Haste spell. Haste gives her an extra attack (so 7 negative levels on a full attack routine, which is still enough to absolutely cripple a single PC), and Life Drain means that Hecate deals an extra 10 damage per negative level inflicted. Just like with Spell Drain, this feat isn't tied specifically to her claws so she can use it on her breath as well. Hecate also gains an extra 10 hp per negative level bestowed in the form of temp hp. While they won't stack, it will effectively refill every turn as long as she's draining something so it stacks quite nicely with her Fast Healing and other defences (it only works per instance of negative levels so the best she could do would be 30 temp hp with her breath, or 80 if she got an Enervating Draught).
There are two things to address here about the build as it stands before any judges decide to hit it with an Elegance penalty for illegality: the use of the Master's Touch spell to qualify for Abjurant Champion's martial weapon proficiency pre-req and the application of Create Spectral Spawn to Hecate's breath weapon.

I'll start with the spell. In the DMG (pg 176), all that it says about taking a PrC is that "Unlike the basic classes, characters must meet requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. The rules for level advancement apply to this system, meaning the first step of advancement is always choosing a class." So as long as Hecate is casting Master's Touch to pick up proficiency in, say, a longsword, then she can take that first level in Abjurant Champion. This thread (https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/60089/can-a-character-meet-prerequisites-using-a-magic-item) does a much more eloquent job of arguing on behalf of Master's Touch being a valid way to enter the class right away. Once in the class, Hecate will unfortunately need to keep casting Master's Touch to advance or benefit from its features as per the 3.5 FAQ, but it's a Swift Action cast and lasts for a while so she should have no trouble casting it between fights.

The second potential issue to address is the Create Spectral Spawn feat. This feat is found in the Web Enhancement article for Dragons of Faerun, and it reads thusly:


You have the ability to create undead spawn with ties to the Plane of Shadow with your energy drain ability.
Prerequisite: Energy Drain special ability.
Benefits: Creatures slain with your energy drain ability arise as spawn under your control with the spectral creature template. They remain under your control until your death.

There is no question that Hecate qualifies for the feat by RAW through the Energy Drain claw ability she gets as a Vampiric Dragon. It stands to reason that she can choose to raise anyone she kills with her claws as either a Vampire Spawn or a Spectral Creature. However, I would also argue for the sake of my build that this feat should apply to her Breath Weapon. While it does not technically have the name Energy Drain, there are several pieces of key evidence to support the legality of this. The first is that in the Spectral Creature template (found in Dragons of Faerun), there is a line that states "Spectral creatures are commonly encountered in Chaulssin, City of Wyrmshadows. Shadow dragons and their progeny have transformed many former denizens of that subterranean city into spectral creatures". This to me clearly implies that any Shadow Dragon can take the feat. If that isn't convincing enough, in the same Web Enhancement where the Create Spectral Spawn feat is from there is a stat block of a Dragon type creature that actually includes the feat (pg 18) without any other forms of Energy Drain.

Now onto some adaptations and musings on alternative builds!
When I first came up with the idea for Hecate, she was much more of an ambusher and struck more from the shadows. Though I had to drop some of that to make room for Abjurant Champion and all of the energy drain rider effects, at its bones the build can be retrofit to work as a sneaky AoE monster. Certain items such as a Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis for HiPS would go a long way to making this character a brutal and highly mobile sneaky debuffer. Honestly if items were more liberally allowed in this competition, I might have changed up the build to go that way; I would have taken Strafing Breath and/or Enlarge Breath to drop huge fields of negative levels to entire towns (while swooping down to 20 ft from clerics to hit them with the Suppressing Field). One last addition - assuming that the table permits the odd spell from DragMag - would be the Fly Like An Arrow spell from Dragon 308 to get Hecate up to a 1500 flight speed. Imagine a B2 stealth bomber, but instead of a regular payload the ordinance is negative levels!

As she is, Hecate could definitely make use of some more sophisticated magic items. In her write up I assumed that certain basic spell scrolls or wands would be available in the world with attached core spells like Arcane Sight, See Invisibility, or Greater Magic Fang, but beyond that she could use some treasure from her hoard to make PCs' lives even more of a nightmare. Even if she got half of a PC's effective WBL, she would 100% boost her DCs with Charisma enhancement items and get things like a Ring of Spell-Battle to help her out against enemy casters. She would also prioritize general high level must-haves like a Belt of Battle to help with initiative and optimizing her action economy.

Finally (and I wouldn't be a self-respecting builder if I didn't go here) there are a few more Feats I would've picked up through the use of a few Flaws. Namely, I would have gone for a Widen Spell + Arcane Thesis on Otiluke's Suppressing Field. Another +2 CL and an extra 20 ft radius on the spell would go a long way to making it more effective for both Hecate and her minions to whittle away all the pesky PCs' levels down to nothing. Another way to go would be to drop Darkstalker in favor of Iron Will and use the flaw to pick up Reserves of Strength to boost her Otiluke's Suppressing Field and Nondetection spells even further. Travel Devotion would also work to give her a pseudo-pounce to start a fight, but as she lacks turning attempts it would be a once per day type thing.
Core / Epic - Vampires, Core Feats & Spells
Complete Mage - Abjurant Champion, Otiluke's Suppressing Field
Draconomicon - Shadow Dragon, Vampiric Dragon, Blood Wind
Dragons of Eberron - Loredrake Sovereign Archetype
Dragons of Faerun (& Web Enhancement (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070425a)) – Create Spectral Spawn, Spectral Creature
Ghostwalk - Ectomancy spell descriptor
Libris Mortis - Improved Energy Drain, Spell Drain, Life Drain
Lords of Madness - Arms of Plenty, Darkstalker
Races of the Dragon - Versatile Spellcaster, Wings of Cover
Spell Compendium - Girallon's Blessing, Master's Touch, Nerveskitter, Scintillating Scales

[jdizzlean]

4. Xisairroilth the Kraken's Barber

- Dammit! - Brazhal Kos swore out loud, - We spent three hours capturing this turtle, and we got a freak! Just take a look at these two heads! Well, can we at least make soup out of it?
- Where you see a freak, I see an opportunity, - Ramas Uuthakr objected quietly, - If you really don’t need this turtle, I would like to have it.
- Take it! - Red Wizard just waved off, - But tell me first, what did you find in this dragon turtle?
- Daeron, I am sure you have heard about this newfangled sort of gladiator games - battles between aquatic monsters. I'd like to try my hand at this entertainment.
- Oh! You are very ambitious for your age, aren’t you? - the enchanter was surprised, - How long have you been wearing this red robe? Three years? Five? You're in over your head. But I like you, yes. Still, no dragon turtle can deal with Zulkir Lauzoril’s kraken, especially a freak like this.
- Ten, actually. Anyway, I intend to try. This deformity hides potential. Of course, it would take about three or five years to tame it.
- Well, I’ll sell you this creature for half the price.
- Half the price of five tons of turtle steaks?..


- How was your practice, Xisairroilth? - asked the young Red Wizard, squatting by the pool.
- Excellent! - two huge beaked heads answered to Ramas in one voice.
- All part of the plan! - the left one added. It was more inclined to rational thinking.
- Need a new trainer! - said the right one, - It should be as tasty as the last one!.. And more pork! - It clacked its beak right in front of the wizard’s face. This head was more impulsive and emotional.
- Well, well, - laughed Red without any fear. He was used to his fighter’s temper. Besides, he was not in the habit of neglecting protection spells. A pact is a pact, but a dragon turtle is a wayward beast. You never know what goes on inside its head. Inside any of the heads. Even being able to negotiate with the monster, caught from lake Thaylambar three years ago, was a big deal. It turned out to be that he was pariah because of his deformity, even by the standards of terribly aggressive and solitary dragon turtles. No females were willing to mate with him. If he tried to claim territory, even the worst one, neighbor dragon turtles always expelled him. Sometimes they even fought for a chance to punish the freak. And so, the opportunity to serve the Red Wizard excited him.
- All according to plan, eh? Well, I trust you, and I will honour the pact. New trainers, new enemies, all that you need. And lots of delicious meat for you, of course. Just remember, fights will be at the very end of the year. You must be prepared for what’s coming. I’ll be watching from the lodge, but you’ll be one who fights to the death, so, first of all, training is in your best interest, - said Ramas Uuthakr. It’s not that it was not true, but certainly sly. Of course, he risked a lot, too. He placed all his minor political capital on these games. If Xisairroilth wins, Ramas Uuthakr will elevate his status. In some decades, he’ll be able to seek a seat of tharchion.
- I have to go away for a month, and I’m counting on your conscience. If you need anything just ask the chamberlain, he’ll take care of anything. You can’t eat him, he’s the right man.
- Yes, yes! - heads roared together.
- I know him. Useful, - agreed the left one.


- Dammit! Dammit a thousand times! Abyss and all its demons!!! - Ramas Uuthakr threw an in pointless rage, - How did this happen?!!
- Several slaves have been dominated, - chamberlain keeped his answers short and to the point, - They planted an immobilized mummy in Xisairroilth’s meal. Daeron, you know, it is very indiscriminate in its eating habits. So, the mummy was devoured. Of course, it started rotting. It took us a while to figure it out - this big body showed symptoms slowly. Of course, Xisairroilth stubbornly fought back the disease, but… Without the help from powerful clerics there is only one end. Even with their help, there are no guarantees.
- I can't call for such service right now. Dammit! Alright, it’s time for plan B. Do anything, use all the money, but it must hold out five days more. And don't bother me! Nobody! For any reasons! - Ramas ordered, turned around, and went away mumbling to himself, - I'm almost done with enchantments. It’s like I knew it was gonna be needed… Well, maybe the teacher was right when drilling in my head Brew potions and Craft wondrous items. Now, it comes in handy.


- Oh! Daeron Ramas! I’m surprised to see you here. Didn’t you withdraw your two-headed freak? How’s its health, by the way? - Zulkir Lauzoril smiled graciously, - Do you really expect to win? To tell you the truth, your fighter fared well against sahuagin pack and wereorca last year, but your current bid is not his level. Maybe it’ll swim to the final fight, but my kraken is way out of its league. Surrender before it’s too late, don’t ruin such a wonderful exhibit.
- Well, as sure as you are of your fighter, I am sure of mine. There’s a big surprise for everyone today.

- What is it?! What the hell? You decided to surprise us with the skeleton of your dead fighter? - Zulkir contemptuously exclaimed, - How desperate are you?
- Of course not, Zulkir Lauzoril, it’s not a skeleton at all, - disagreed Ramas Uuthakr, - I mean, it obviously is a skeleton, but not a mundane mindless undead. Keep in mind it isn’t just a turtle, it’s a DRAGON turtle.
- Did you turn it into dracolich? - where’s no way a fool could become Zulkir, and even though necro wasn't his field, but the implication was clear, - This should be completely against the rules.
- Not at all, I specifically checked the rule book and gave the Gamemaster timely notice of the acquisition of my fighter’s necrostatus. Let us enjoy the beautiful fights, - Ramas smirked.




Attribute
Base
Racial
Multiheaded
Dracolich
Level
Total


Strength
13
+16
-
-
-
29 (+9)


Dexterity
14
+0
-
-
-
14 (+2)


Constitution
8
+10
+2
None
-
-


Intelligence
10
+2
-
-
-
12 (+1)


Wisdom
12
+2
-
-
-
14 (+2)


Charisma
15
+2
-
+2
+1
20 (+5)



Two-Headed Dragon Turtle Dracolich, Scaled horror-1/Thayan Gladiator-4


CR
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills (ranks only)
Feats
Class Features


9
12 Dragon HD
+12
+8
+8
+8
Diplomacy +10
Hide +15
Intimidate +10
Listen +15
Move Silently +5 (10)
Search +10
Sense Motive +5
Spot +15
Survival +10
Swim +5
Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (Bite), Improved Sunder, Close-Quarters Fighting
Breath weapon, Capsize, Darkvision 60 ft., Immunity to fire, sleep, and paralysis, Low-light vision, Scent


12
Multiheaded (+2 HD)
+14
+9
+9
+9
Survival +4
Swim +10
Improved Multiattackb, Improved Initiativeb, Combat Reflexesb
Darkvision 90 ft., 1 additional head


13
Scaled horror-1
+14
+11
+9
+9
Move Silently +5
Rapidstrike (Bite)
Improved grab, Keen scent, Spells


14
Thayan Gladiator-1
+15
+13
+9
+9
Intimidate +3
Improved Natural Attack (Bite)
Study opponent


17
Dracolich
+15
+13
+9
+9
Skills
-
+2 natural AC, Control Undead, Frightful Presence, Paralyzing Gaze, Paralyzing Touch, DR 5/bludgeoning, Immunity to polymorph, cold, and electricity, Invulnerability, SR 16, Undead Traits


18
Thayan Gladiator-2
+16
+14
+9
+9
Intimidate +3
Improved critical
+1 natural AC


19
Thayan Gladiator-3
+17
+14
+10
+10
Intimidate +3
Breath of Unlife
Stunning critical, Silver strike


20
Thayan Gladiator-4
+18
+15
+10
+10
Sense Motive +3
-
Natural weapon focus




At this moment Xisairroilth is an almost "regular" two-headed dragon turtle. Most of the differences lie in feats. He needs to protect himself from other dragon turtles, therefore he has Close-Quarter Fighting. Moreover, he survives for a while in the coastal swamps and preys on hydras living there, therefore he has Sunder.


At these levels Xisairroilth trains to be a good gladiator. His master wants to get a fighter specifically aimed against the current champion — kraken, so Xisairroilth’s first step is to improve his bites, their power and numbers. With already existing Combat Reflexes, Close-Quarter Fighting and Sunder Xisairroilth can quickly and totally disarm his main opponent. Additionally, Urchin's spines spell seems like not a bad counter to kraken's multiple attacks. With some luck it can even poison the enemy. Of course he can to confront not only krakens. Smaller and numbered opponents (like PC-party) meet a serious adversary through him, too.


The sabotage changes plans of Xisairroilth progress. Now he is coming to lichdom. Every attack becomes paralyzing, so he can try to paralyze an enemy up to five times per round, and that's not counting the three Attacks of Opportunity.
On 19th CR Xisairroilth takes Breath of Unlife. Before, his breath weapon dealt only fire damage and could be countered by kraken's Resist Energy SLA, and now half of its damage becomes negative energy and is able to overcome this protection.
20th CR is a sweet spot. Xisairroilth gets two more bite attacks up to the total of seven attacks per round. With previously taken breath weapon, paralyzation, couple of immunities, great damage and grapple checks he is a severe threat for any opponent, and his Invulnerability ability makes him an awesome returning enemy.


It isn't clear how Dracolich's advancement interacts with regular rules that prohibit HD-advancement after taking class levels. If it is legal, Xisairroilth can take one more feat without increasing his CR. Good choices are Improved Rapidstrike, Entangling Exhalation, or any metabreath feat. Anyway, I think this trick isn't fair play, so I didn't use it.


The easiest way to add Xisairroilth in your game is to send PCs to gladiatorial competitions in Thay. Alternatively, Xisairroilth may serve Red in another capacity: guard, privateer, terrorist, or any combination of these variations. He even can be free dracolich now. Somehow he stole his filacteria and now hunts on other dragon turtles in order to feed his revenge and secure a reanimation place with backup vessels. PCs can be contracted by Xisairroilth ex-master to return valuable runaway slave. Or by some of his surviving or potential victims: aquatic humanoids, sailors, even by dragon turtle to eliminate the beast.


Monster Manual - Dragon turtle, Improved Natural Attack,
Draconomicon - Rapidstrike, Improved Multiattack, Dracolich,
Dragons of Faerûn - Breath of Unlife
Savage Species - Scaled Horror, Multiheaded,
Stormwrack - Urchin's Spines
Champions of Ruin - Thayan Gladiator
PHB - Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus, Improved Sunder, Improved Initiative, Combat Reflexes, Improved critical
Complete Warrior - Close-Quarters Fighting

[jdizzlean]

5. Sibuna


Lawful Evil Marrutect Anima Mage 10/Binder 3/Wizard 1/Tainted Sorcerer 1

Elite Array: Str 8, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 15, Taint 0

Strength:
CR 5-20: 8

Dexterity:
CR 5-9: 15
CR 10-20: 16

Constitution:
CR 5: 14
CR 6: 14(3)
CR 7-20: 14

Intelligence:
CR 5-20: 20

Charisma:
CR 5: 21
CR 6-13: 22
CR 14-17: 23
CR 18-20: 24

Wisdom, Taint:


CRWisdomTaint
5200
620(9)11
720(9)22
820(8)24
920(7)25
1020(7)26
1120(6)27
1220(6)28
1320(5)29
1420(5)30
1520(4)31
1620(4)32
1720(3)33
1820(3)34
1920(2)35
2020(2)36





CRAdvancementAbilitiesNew Feat(s)Base AttackBase FortitudeBase ReflexBase Will
5MarrutectHowl of Healing, Innate Spellcasting, Marruspawn Traits, Spell Resistance 16Keen Intellect, Empower Spell, Knowledge Devotion+5+1+4+4
6Binder 1Soul Binding—+5+3+4+5
7Tainted Sorcerer 1Blood Component, Tainted Metamagic, Tainted Spellcasting, Taint SuppressionImproved Binding+6/+1+4+5+5
8Anima Mage 1—Improved Binding+7/+2+4+5+5
9Anima Mage 2Exploit Vestige—+7/+2+4+5+5
10Anima Mage 3Vestigial AwarenessQuicken Spell+8/+3+5+6+6
11Anima Mage 4——+8/+3+5+6+7
12Anima Mage 5Vestige Metamagic 1/day—+9/+4+5+6+7
13Anima Mage 6—Extend Supernatural Ability (Awe of Dantalion)+9+6+6+8
14Anima Mage 7Vestige Metamagic 2/day[tf]—[/td]+10/+5+6+7+8
15Anima Mage 8——+10/+5+6+7+9
16Anima Mage 9Vestige Metamagic 3/dayMalign Spell Focus+11/+6/+1+6+7+9
17Anima Mage 10Vestige Casting—+11/+6/+1+7+8+10
18Wizard 1Summon FamiliarScribe Scroll+12/+7/+2+7+8+10
19Binder 2Pact Augmentation, Suppress SignSpell Focus (Necromancy)+12/+7/+2+8+8+11
20Binder 3——+13/+8/+3+8+9+11



CRBluffConcentrationDiplomacyIntimidateListenKnowl edge (arcana)Knowledge (local)Knowledge (plans)Knowledge (religion)Spot
58852488832
69953599842
71010545910962
811115469111082
9121254810121092
101313549101312102
1114145410111413112
1215156411111514122
1316166412121615132
1417176513121716142
1518186514131817152
1619196615131918162
1720206616142019172
1821216717142120182
1922226718152221192
2023236819152322202




CR0123456789
54532——————
64532——————
74553——————
846542—————
946553—————
10466542————
11466553————
124766542———
134766553———
1447766542——
1547766553——
16477766542—
17477766553—
184777766542
194777766542
204877776543




Sibuna was a marrutect like any other, leading his enclave of marruspawn deep in the desert. Adventurers came by and destroyed the enclave, so he ran off to search for new servants. He encountered a band of traveling scholars, and joined them in hopes of swaying them to its service. They turned out to be devoted servants of Bane, but allowed Sibuna to study at their monastery in exchange for Sibuna sharing the secrets of the Marru.

During his research, Sibuna learned how to conjure and channel several spirits, most importantly the many-headed canine Naberius. Sibuna tries to subdue some of these spirits, becoming tainted as some of them create hallows within his body and soul. Despite the taint (or perhaps through it), Sibuna harnessed a wide variety of potent magicks, including a sort of pseudo-lichdom ritual.

He eventually comes up with a plan to take over the Church of Cyric, a target which Bane’s followers encouraged him to pursue. Using the deceptive powers granted by Naberius, Sibuna pretended to be a talented Bane cultist named Sardoric. Sardoric began attracting a horde of followers through impressive displays of power, strategic murder of rival priests, and sheer chutzpah. It’s possible that Cyric allowed Sibuna’s rise because he felt honored by someone undergoing such elaborate deception to become high priest of the Prince of Lies.

Over time, though, Sibuna’s identity withered. On one hand, his near-constant pretense at being a priest of Cyric prevented him from expressing his true self; on the other, the deals he made with Naberius and similar spirits wore away at his private life and self-conception. After years sandwiched between Sardoric and Naberius, Sibuna has withered away to almost nothing—a mask behind a mask, a vessel through which Naberius enacts its enigmatic plots.

Sardoric appears to be a human, tall and thin, with long hair, a short beard, and just a touch of elven blood in his delicate features. If his disguise is penetrated or neutralized (e.g. through an antimagic field or true seeing effect), he appears as a person concealing his true features behind a hyena-like mask and body-concealing clothes (including gloves). If those are removed, he appears as a marruspawn skeleton (distinct from the skeleton of a gnoll or other canine humanoid, to the trained eye, by the silvery tinge to his bones and odd anatomical details).
And if he enters an area tainted by the sorts of sinister, primal forces which Naberius subsists on, the last vestiges of Sibuna are submerged in the truth of his (un)life. In these conditions, he looks like a collection of bones from several different skeletons assembled into a roughly humanoid shape, topped by three skulls—humanoid, canine, and serpentine.


Sardoric, Sibuna, Naberius, or whatever you want to call this stack of disguises is a fairly simple character to integrate into a campaign. He’s the leader of an evil cult; the cult does things; destroy the cult. Integrating him effectively is another matter entirely! If he’s just a creepy masked cult leader who turns into a pile of bones when defeated, he’s just a weird but stereotypical boss.

Three things need to be introduced for S/S/N to make proper sense: The cult of Cyric, the church of Bane, and the existence of beings like Naberius. That last point is the simplest; mention the Tome of Magic is available as a sourcebook in hopes that someone wants to play a binder, and add some low-level binders to the foes your players face. Perhaps their first big quest involves a binder who tried to bind too strong of a vestige and wound up under its control. Add in the odd arcane manuscript about vestiges (especially the mysterious Naberius) and some binder minions to bigger bads, and the players should have vestiges in the back of their heads when they think about the game. (Hopefully not literally.)

The cult of Cyric and the church of Bane are similar in some ways, being religions devoted to evil gods. The big difference is that Bane’s church practices a dictatorial, hierarchical form of evil, while Cyric prefers a more decentralized, self-directed form. (Mussolini vs. Ayn Rand, I guess.) More concretely:

Cyric is just a god of lies, basically Loki without any redeeming qualities. Descriptions of his worshipers are vague and confusing; sometimes they’re willing to give their lives for the cause, sometimes their loyalty is tenuous in the face of personal danger. The one consistent theme is that the worshipers were all evil people before they found a church that let them justify that cruelty.
Cyric’s individual cult cells are lead by the most powerful priest in the area, and don’t coordinate much. Their motivations include spreading evil, destroying rivals (including both do-gooders and other churches to Cyric), and possibly taking over the world; however, the lack of coordination between different cells (c.f. “they destroy rival Cyric cultists”) makes this last goal unlikely. Each local priest probably has some plots they’re trying to achieve, as do their acolytes.
That said, those individual cells are pretty good at recruitment. Doubtless part of the appeal is the cult’s hands-off nature; Cyric accepts every thief, murderer, and politician who isn’t serving another evil god and lets them do more or less as they please. The cult of Cyric is an institution with its own goals, but at the lower levels it’s a networking opportunity for the world’s dark riff-raff.

The cult of Cyric could theoretically muster a great deal of strength, but in practice is terrible at mustering. An individual cell works well as an evil organization that the party dismantles over the course of a few adventures, but the church as a whole isn’t unified enough (by default) to work that way.
If Sibuna is your campaign’s Big Bad, add a cult cell to your party’s hometown, with some members of the town’s noble and mercantile elite in the cult. Have them be the antagonists of a few adventures, with other adventures in between. This lets the players get used to the cult and observe as Sardoric’s influence changes it over time.

Bane is a tyrannical god of ambition and control. His worshipers include dictators, conquerors, and the cruel sheep who gleefully follow such shepherds. His church is a singular, unified organization, almost more like an army or a small nation than a typical religion. It even has its own knightly order, and a fair number of wizards as well.
The church of Bane seems to increase its numbers by indoctrinating the children of existing members and forging alliances with other organizations rather than recruiting outsiders. It’s an insular organization, with the will and direction to accomplish its goals. Those goals are, of course, to rule the world and drive out the other gods.

The church of Bane doesn’t work as a small-scale antagonist, because it isn’t a small-scale threat. Defeating one warpriest trying to forcibly convert a village is as meaningful as cutting off one of a hydra’s heads. That said, there’s nothing wrong with a relatively inconsequential adventure scattered in. Perhaps the church of Bane is sending agents to manipulate the PCs’ hometown one way or another.
You might also consider introducing the church of Bane through an indirectly-connected route. Perhaps the PCs protect refugees from an area which the church has been trying to subjugate, or encounter a rogue warlord who was cast out of the church of Bane for being insufficiently loyal.

This just leaves the plans of the villain himself. But what those plans are depends on who’s driving. Is Sardoric/Sibuna/Naberius just a pawn in Bane’s plans, has he completely lost himself to Naberius, or is Sibuna still in control?
Sibuna’s plans are simple; he wants control. He will focus on consolidating the cult of Cyric under his personal command, focusing on the long-term stability of his organization. His operations will be mostly focused internally, but he will also direct some external operations, particularly those which gather resources he can use (from gold to recruits to magic).
Bane wants to neutralize the threat posed by the cult of Cyric, and ideally control whatever’s left. Likely, he will send infiltrators into the cult to support Sardoric from within. They will likely end up as his most trusted lieutenants. Bane may intentionally spark conflict between Sardoric and other leaders within the cult to weaken it (and make Sibuna less of a threat later on).
Naberius doesn’t care about the cult one way or the other. Instead, he’s interested in gaining a more permanent presence in the material world. Sardoric/Sibuna works for now, but Naberius’s grasp on him is too fragile for his tastes. He instead intends to use the resources of Cyric’s cult and Sibuna’s own magic to create an appropriate vessel for him to inhabit. He starts by just encouraging Sibuna to hoard such resources and keep his true identity hidden from the world, making it easier for him to wear away at Sibuna’s self.
All three have some influence over the situation, and the early stages of all three plots are aligned. Differences only start to crop up at the end of their plots; Bane would plunge the cult into a bloody civil war, Sibuna would quietly execute his remaining political opponents within the cult, and Naberius would sabotage preparations for a lichdom ritual (resulting in Naberius being permanently bound to the “phylactery” and Sibuna being little more than a zombie).

The players would be drawn into this tangle of plots by investigating more mundane activities of the cult of Cyric. Perhaps they discover some infiltrators from the church of Bane while in there. Perhaps they find notes about this new high priest and his boldly naked ambitions. Perhaps they even encounter a priest of Cyric who wants to ally with the PCs against Sardoric!

Once the players are aware of this Sardoric guy and consider him a threat worth fighting, start dropping hints about his true nature. Congregants mention how reclusive he is. Priests correspond about the mysterious people he collaborates with. If you have a player who’s familiar enough with the cleric spell list and a character who knows enough about magic, perhaps run a quick skirmish with Sardoric where he conspicuously doesn’t use a single cleric spell. (The villain should just want to leave, to avoid giving the impression that he’s a pushover while also not seriously endangering any PCs.)

Finally, have the players uncover information clarifying the plots that Sibuna sits in the middle of. Sardoric consolidates power, one of Bane’s agents confesses their plans to sow discord among the cult of Cyric, a lost/stolen private journal makes it clear that Sibuna is not fully in control of his own mind behind his mask. The players realize the threat posed by having so much dark power concentrated at the fingertips of one individual and seek to face it.

This could be as simple as a big brawl; figure out where the Big Bad is, slaughter his minions, and fight him. But if the players deem Sardoric/Sibuna/Naberius and his minions to be too powerful a threat to fight directly, they could turn the various actors against each other. If Sibuna found out about Bane trying to undermine the cult he planned to control, he and the church of Bane would start a violent conflict that weakened both. If presented with proof that Nabeius was exerting more and more influence over his body, he would need to cut himself off from a critical source of power.


I should probably stop calling this miserable little pile of secrets by all three names… But enough talk! Have at you!

At any level, remember Knowledge Devotion. It doesn’t require an action or anything—it happens automatically at the start of combat. Most PCs, being humanoids, will use Knowledge (local).

The sweet spot for this villain starts around CR 14 (or 15), when he can bind a second vestige (instead of just Naberius). I recommend Dantalion—reading thoughts helps with any deceptions that the villain tries to pull off, the +8 untyped bonus to Knowledge checks helps boost Knowledge Devotion, and Awe of Dantalion gives the villain a round of breathing room to heal, buff, monologue, escape, or whatever.
(At CR 15, the feat Extend Supernatural Ability gives two rounds of impunity.)

Alternatively, he can use Vestige Metamagic to temporarily kick Dantalion out of his body and get a free Quicken for his troubles, though this isn’t the only way he can quicken spells. He can also use Tainted Spellcasting to quicken spells for Constitution damage, albeit only ones that are at least four levels lower than the highest-level spell he can cast (3rd-level at CR 15). And, of course, he can just prepare quickened spells in higher-level slots like a loser.

But what spells to use? A high-level wizard can be anything from a divine terror with foreknowledge of their enemies’ actions and enough generalized spells to cover surprises, to a flash-in-the-pan glass cannon. Well, assuming you pick the right/wrong spells, and I’m not enough of a power-gamer to pick the right ones. But I can make some recommendations.

If the villain has minions, spending a turn on buffs can be effective. Throw down some Awe of Dantalion (a move action) round one alongside quickened haste and greater blink. On the other hand, if you want to be cheesy, use something like quickened slow and mass dessicate before using Awe, letting you directly harm the players before preventing them from doing the same for a round.
(Extending the awe lets him either screw with the PCs like that on the first round and then buff the second, or spend two rounds buffing and preparing the battlefield. Good spells for this include greater shadow conjuration, wall of salt, and spiritwall.)

After that opening, keep casting spells. Ideally, the villain wants to cast two spells per turn, through a combination of tainted metamagic, vestige metamagic, pre-quickened spells, and spells with a swift action casting time (e.g. channeled lifetheft).
Tainted metamagic is an extremely handy option, but it obviously has drawbacks to the tune of a few dozen maximum hit points each time it’s used to quicken something. Moreover, four consecutive rounds of tainted quickening (accounting for Naberius’s Faster Ability Healing) will all but kill the villain without input from the heroes! Use in moderation, mixing in other options as needed.

In a pinch, the villain can fire off one last high-level spell and then expel Naberius to quicken a dimension door. (Unlike Tainted Metamagic, Vestige Metamagic is not restricted by your highest-level spell slot.) For greater deception, you can have that last spell be a wall of salt that the players smash through or cleverly dissolve with a large quantity of water...only to discover that the villain teleported away already.
Alternatively, if you don’t want the players to hunt down an escaping villain, just have him Tainted Metamagic himself into an extremely melodramatic grave, leaving only a pile of odd bones behind, topped by three mismatched skulls.



0—arcane mark, mage hand, preserve organ, prestidigitation
1—backbiter x2, 5
2—dessicate x2, false life, invisibility, eay of weakness, stolen breath x2
3—fly, haste, ray of exhaustion x2, 2
4—burning blood, empowered dessicate, dimension door, enervation, wall of salt
5—greater blink, channeled lifetheft x2, quickened backbiter, spiritwall
6—empowered enervation, fleshshiver greater shadow conjuration, mass dessicate, mummify
7—avasculate, quickened slow, waves of exhaustion


For spell sources, please see Spellbook, below. If you lack access to the source(s) for some spells used, replace them with other spells from the spellbook or extra preparations of other spells of the same level (or metamagic-empowered spells from lower levels).


Switch Dantalion for Zceryll (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070718) at CR 16. There’s plenty of alter self shenanigans you can get up to, summon alien gets you a solid minion (and you can technically, probably, use Vestige Metamagic with him while it’s recharging), and such an openly Lovecraftian vestige works really well with the villain’s increasingly unsettling nature as you dig down to his core.

Starting at CR 17, Vestige Casting becomes an option. It lets the villain cast a spell as an immediate action, as well as Still and Silent, for free—no Constitution damage, no loss of vestige powers, nothing. Aside from being another method for quickening spells on the cheap, this lets him effectively cast arbitrary spells as “reactions” on PC turns. One handy trick is to throw a wall of salt in front of a powerful PC attack...ideally something like a fireball, causing it to blow up the party instead of the villains.
You only get one use of this ability; make it count.

And, of course, getting access to 8th- and 9th-level spells is a big game-changer.


At CR 7, the villain is a slightly behind-par wizard with a couple of gimmicks. He can empower 1st-level spells for a couple points of Constitution damage, but is an empowered sunstroke really a better use of his action than a ray of exhaustion?

CR 10 brings the Quicken Spell feat and the 5th-level slots required to make use of it (given the limitations of tainted metamagic). You no longer need to choose; the villain can use, say, shadow evocation and follow it up with a quickened sunstroke. By this point, his anima mage levels also give him an extra spell slot and a small boost to initiative, which...alright

Anima mage pays its way into this build by boosting both caster level and effective binder level, but CR 12 brings us the vestige metamagic, perfect for quickening a spell too high-level for tainted metamagic (or for when his Constitution is too low). And that basically brings us to the ideal point.



There are a few options which I wanted to squeeze into the build, since they play into the theme of self-inflicted ability damage, but which there isn’t a good mechanism for adding. Which stinks, because I planned to use several of them when plotting out this build.

Let’s start with the reason I wrote Sibuna infiltrating the church of Cyric: The Ritual of the Dark Flames. For the low cost of 100 gold, 1,200 XP, and two Wisdom damage per use, you can deal 1d6 points of damage per Hit Die to another creature as a (short-)ranged touch attack. That’s pretty cool...or, well, hot. Probably not as effective as a high-level spell, but it’s supernatural and straightforward.

Symbiotes are a rather obvious choice. The soul tick in particular has great synergy with Tainted Sorcerer, since all a TS’s spells are [evil]. The various psionic symbiotes are also worth bringing up, since they damage an ability score that the villain otherwise has no real use for (since his spellcasting is Taint-based now). Well, not the psionic sinew, but he doesn’t have any Dex-draining abilities either. But it mostly offers martial abilities, so it’s safe to leave out.



I always hated the speeches when I was in school, the preaching in auditoriums, the one-note message. Stuff like saying drugs are bad. It’s wrong. Drugs are fantastic...People wouldn’t do them if they weren’t. They make you feel good, make your day brighter, give you energy...until they don’t.

With Naberius, drugs never stop making you feel good. [Author’s note: Naberius does not exist. Do drugs responsibly, kids.] There’s a wide variety available from the Book of Vile Darkness and Lords of Darkness; they offer a wide variety of benefits (mostly stat boosts), and most of the downsides won’t last a minute. Obviously, avoid exceptions (e.g. dreammist) unless you’re fine paying an actual price for your drug-fueled buffs.

I don’t have a panaeolo problem. I can stop any time I want.

The spell Absorb Strength is actually listed in the villain’s spellbook, but actually using it requires assumptions beyond the scope of this contest to be made. (The Corruption cost might known the villain out, but he’ll get back up soon enough.)

And if all of that is too much...give him a familiar. It seems weird to give a familiar to something that late in the game (right as he gets 9th-level spells), so I didn’t. It’s worth a couple feats...not good feats, but hey, it’ll make this foe (slightly) nastier.


A wizard can learn functionally any and as many spells as they like, if they spend the gold. While I tried not to go too overboard on giving Sibuna(/Sardoric/Naberius) too many spells, I also wanted his spell list to have plenty more low-level spells than high-level ones, because I think all NPC wizard spell books should be like that. By my count, this spellbook is over 200 pages long. Oops.

Obviously, lower-CR versions of the villain will not know all of these spells. But I’m not terribly enthusiastic about making a new arbitrary spellbook for each CR. My apologies.

0—Arcane Mark (core), Detect Magic (core), Ghost Sound (core), Mage Hand (core), Mending (core), Message (core), No Light (BoVD), Preserve Organ (BoVD), Prestidigitation (core), Read Magic (core), Resistance (core), Touch of Fatigue (core)
1—Backbiter (SpCm), Bestow Wound (BoVD), Cause Fear (core), Charm Person (core), Comprehend Languages (core), Detect Vestige (Tome), Drug Resistance (BoVD), Identify (core), Net of Shadows (SpCm), Parching Touch (Sand), Ray of Enfeeblement (core), Seething Eyebane (BoVD), Silent Image (core), Sunstroke (Sand), Unseen Servant (core)
2—Blindness/Deafness (core), Curse of Impending Blades (SpCm), Darkness (core), Delusions of Grandeur (SpCm), Dessicate (Sand), False Life (core), Ghoul Touch (core), Invisibility (core), Mirror Image (core), Phantom Foe (SpCm), Ray of Weakness (SpCm), Stolen Breath (SpCm), Whispering Wind (core)
3—Fly (core), Gentle Repose (core), Haste (core), Love’s Pain (BoVD), Mask of the Ideal (CoMa), Mass Curse of Impending Blades (SpCm), Phantasmal Strangler (CoMa), Ray of Exhaustion (core), Skull Watch (SpCm), Slow (core), Suggestion (core), Vampiric Touch (core)
4—Absorb Strength (BoVD), Animate Dead (core), Bestow Curse (core), Burning Blood (SpCm), Dimension Door (core), Enervation (core), Fear (core), Minor Creation (core), Phantasmal Killer (core), Shadow Conjuration (core), Wall of Salt (sand), Wither (Sand)
5—Channeled Lifetheft (CoMa), Choking Sands (Sand), Greater Blink (SpCm), Magic Jar (core), Permanency (core), Persistent Image (core), Sending (core), Shadow Evocation (core), Spiritwall (SpCm)
6—Consume Likeness (BoVD), Fleshshiver (SpCm), Greater Shadow Conjuration (core), Mass Dessicate (Sand), Mummify (Sand), Permanent Image (core), Veil (core)
7—Avasculate (SpC), Limited Wish (core), Project Image (core), Spell Turning (core), Vitrify (Sand), Waves of Exhaustion (core)
8—Blackfire (SpC), Clone (core), Desert Binding (Sand), Greater Shadow Evocation (core)
9—Energy Drain (core), Mindrape (BoVD), Soul Bind (core)

BoVD: Book of Vile Darkness
CoMa: Complete Mage
core: Player’s Handbook (duh)
Sand: Sandstorm
SpCm: Spell Compendium
Tome: Tome of Magic



I’d originally planned to pick up the Bind Vestige feat for Naberius. Then I double-checked the feat, and realized that it granted a specified ability—ie, I couldn’t bind Naberius for Faster Ability Healing instead of Silver Tongue. That restriction lead to this much more binding-focused build. (Though looking back, centering around Naberius kneecaps the binder’s flexibility...maybe I should have gone with one binder level and more conventional wizard prestige classes?)

The bone-looking thing comes from a version where I made this Sardoric/Sibuna/Naberius undead so he could use negative energy on himself. Then I realized that the whole reason I picked up Tainted Sorcerer wouldn’t work if he was undead, but I liked the description I gave—the way each layer of deception falls away until something chillingly inhuman remained—too much to cut it.

Figuring out the last three levels was tricky. I kept looking for prestige classes that would advance casting, but kept coming up short; they didn’t offer anything worthwhile, or they clashed with the villain’s fluff, or they cut off at inconvenient points. Eventually I decided to stop looking for a dip and just stick a few more levels in Binder. In for a penny in for a dime, I guess.


I went with the fractional saves variant mostly so Sardoric/Sibuna/Naberius didn’t have a ridiculous base Will save due to getting +2’s from three different classes and Monstrous Humanoid HD. I rounded down the bad saves to 0.3/level to fit it into my spreadsheet quicker, so I might have lost a point of base save here or there. I went with fractional BAB as well, mostly to stay consistent.

Taint can be gained and lost in a variety of ways; I just gave my villain what seemed like a sensible progression. It can be changed without affecting too much; it just changes spell DCs, bonus spells, and the Wisdom penalty.

Speaking of that Wisdom penalty, you might think it renders the villain vulnerable to Will-based save-or-dies. Not to worry! Two feats are here to save the day in their own special ways.
First, we have Keen Intellect (specifically the Unapproachable East version, since there are a couple of feats with that name). It lets you use Intelligence in place of Wisdom for a handful of skills and, more importantly, Will saves.
Second, and more interestingly, is Insane Defiance from Elder Evils. That feat lets you take a point of Wisdom damage to redirect any mind-affecting effect to another target. On one hand, if you don’t want to make “sling low-ball mind-affecting effects until he runs out of Wisdom” an effective strategy, this obviously has a limited number of uses; on the other hand, if the players don’t try that, Naberius’s healing ability will probably keep the villain fine.


Book of Vile Darkness: Bone Creature template
Elder Evils: Insane Defiance and other vile feats
Sandstorm: Marrutect
Spell Compendium, Complete Mage: Some spells
Tome of Magic: Binder, Anima Mage, vestige rules in general
Unapproachable East: Keen Intellect feat
Unearthed Arcana: Tainted Sorcerer (and Taint rules in general)

Book of Vile Darkness: drugs
Fiend Folio: Symbiotes
Lords of Darkness: The Ritual of Dark Flames, more drugs, lore inspiration

[jdizzlean]

That's the crop this go around.

I have 3 finals in the next 2 weeks, so i may be a bit scarce should judgements land during that time, but i'll try to at least find some time to post them without to much delay.

[Thurbane]

Congrats to the competitors! As I said, will do my best to judge in the next week or two.

My stub was an Advanced (40 HD) Kraken Monstrous Vampire: I thought it would be funny to have a Colossal creature in the XL round. :smalltongue:

[3SecondCultist]

Oooh, these are all some fun builds! Interesting that 3/5 of them ended up being corrupted or undead Dragons.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Not surprising that we have two undead and four undead-creators in this contest. Surprised that we have three dragons, though. I guess the second D is there for a reason...

I like that all of the entries made a serious attempt at narrative—we don't always get that. Some of them are better than others; in particular, Sibuna strikes me as being overstuffed and underbaked, and Xisairroilth's...unconventional use of dialogue punctuation made it hard to read.

I submitted something this round, so obviously I won't be judging. Should be interesting to see others' judgements, though.

[loky1109]

Oooh, these are all some fun builds! Interesting that 3/5 of them ended up being corrupted or undead Dragons.
With 5 heads in total.

[NotInventedHere]

Some real neat dragons (and other builds, but dragons will always be my favourite) this round.

I note that no-one took advantage of the chair's opening things up to LG and CG entries; this was probably a good idea. The more interesting of my two half-baked builds was an attempt to make use of Ravages; unfortunately, the advantage of ravages (they're not technically poisons, so they skip poison immunity) is also their disadvantage (there's a ton of poison support in other books, but absolutely 0 ravage support even in the same book). In fact there's a grand total of 2 sources of ravages that aren't just 'buy them with cash': the Touch of Golden Ice feat, and one of the ancestral weapon bonuses from the Ancestral Knight PrC. I got as far as LG Unarmed Swordsage 7/ Ancestral Knight 5 / Swordsage 8-13/ Saint, with Intuitive Attack to help slightly reduce my horrible MAD and Sanctify Martial Strike (Unarmed Strike) as a bonus feat from Ancestral Knight to qualify for Saint. Ancestral Relic had to be a Ward Cestus (from Arms & Equipment Guide), as that seems to be the only way to have a weapon that carries over all the special features of your unarmed strike while still being a 'weapon' for Ancestral Knight's 'ancestral weapon' feature, but that just meant squeezing in EWP, and a Charisma of 14 to not waste *too* many initiator levels on Ancestral Knight, and of course all the really good save-reducing abilities aren't available to LG characters so I ended up using Shadow Hand's Assassin Stance to qualify for Sickening Strike, and that's still only a -2 coming online at level 9 *at best* when the base DCs are 14 and 17... the whole thing was just a mess, honestly. Shadow Hand does itself have a few neat ability damage effects, and even a negative level inflicting one, but a handful of manuevers does not a character make (and I wasn't 100% sure they wouldn't break Exalted conduct anyhow).

I had some really cool fluff (which wasn't really tied to any of the actual mechanics, which maybe should have been a red flag earlier but does mean I can save it for the next time we want Good antagonists), but power-wise it was just really, really terrible.

The second build I mentioned was just an Elan Psychic Warrior 5 / Soul Eater 1 / Psychic Warrior 6-10 / Illithid Slayer 9, going into the Rapidstrike line; your bog-standard completely unoriginal King of Smack build with Soul Eater jammed in there. Could maybe have saved it with some really out-there original fluff, but I just couldn't think of anything.

[3SecondCultist]

The second build I mentioned was just an Elan Psychic Warrior 5 / Soul Eater 1 / Psychic Warrior 6-10 / Illithid Slayer 9, going into the Rapidstrike line; your bog-standard completely unoriginal King of Smack build with Soul Eater jammed in there. Could maybe have saved it with some really out-there original fluff, but I just couldn't think of anything.

I have some questions about Soul Eater and Rapidstrike in particular, but given that I submitted a build I will not pose them until after all judgments and the final reveals are finished for risk of being in violation of the contest rules.

I've quite enjoyed reading all of the fluff for the entries! I'll echo GWG in that I'm glad that other entrants opted for a narrative. It makes for a much more dynamic rogues' gallery. :smallamused:

[PoeticallyPsyco]

My plan was to go into Shadowcasting; one of the mysteries is an AOE that gives a negative level as a rider to any damage done in the area. It had some other tricks to support that (some I'm pretty pleased with), but I think I'll hang onto those for a future competition.

[ciopo]

Villainous competition inspires me, but I came in "late" in the "IC and relative games" and I was not at all in time to make a entry for this one.

But a thing confuses me... how do we go about calculating the CR of stuff? do we have a specific guideline?

What I mean is, the appeal of this competition to me is of going nuts with a monster base and templates and maybe play around with the improving monsters, class level would be an afterthought, like a dash of condiment added at the end.


Like, an extremely baseline example of how I'd make an entry for this competition is take a creature with a touch attack that do a drain, apply the celestial template to it , fluff it to be CG or LG and call it a day, easy bake entry done.

But, how does it compute in calculating the CR if I then add class levels and/or increase the HD to make the ECL20 version?

a simple example : Lamia is a 9HD CR6 creature, with a LA of +4

so.. if I didn't give any level at all, but only applied the celestal template, she'd be a 9HD of cr 6+2, so far it's easy.

I give her *one* class level, and suddely the ECL is 9 (racial HD) +4 (LA) +1(class level) +2 (template) = the ECL is now 16! I dont' know how to CR that ?

or should I ignore the LA at all when considering making such a monster? CR 9 if the class is "associated" or CR and 8 and 1/2 is it's not "associated"?

In short, do I stick to the "improving monsters" CR calculation, or do I have to consider ECL too?

Maybe it seems obvious, but it confused me,s orry!

[loky1109]

I give her *one* class level, and suddely the ECL is 9 (racial HD) +4 (LA) +1(class level) +2 (template) = the ECL is now 16! I dont' know how to CR that?
LA doesn't matter. ECL doesn't matter.
Celestial Lamia Wizard-1 has CR 9. Lamia 6 + Celestial 2 (HD 8 or more) + Class levels 1/1 (in this comp all class levels are associated).

[NotInventedHere]

Villainous competition inspires me, but I came in "late" in the "IC and relative games" and I was not at all in time to make a entry for this one.

But a thing confuses me... how do we go about calculating the CR of stuff? do we have a specific guideline?

What I mean is, the appeal of this competition to me is of going nuts with a monster base and templates and maybe play around with the improving monsters, class level would be an afterthought, like a dash of condiment added at the end.


Like, an extremely baseline example of how I'd make an entry for this competition is take a creature with a touch attack that do a drain, apply the celestial template to it , fluff it to be CG or LG and call it a day, easy bake entry done.

But, how does it compute in calculating the CR if I then add class levels and/or increase the HD to make the ECL20 version?

a simple example : Lamia is a 9HD CR6 creature, with a LA of +4

so.. if I didn't give any level at all, but only applied the celestal template, she'd be a 9HD of cr 6+2, so far it's easy.

I give her *one* class level, and suddely the ECL is 9 (racial HD) +4 (LA) +1(class level) +2 (template) = the ECL is now 16! I dont' know how to CR that ?

or should I ignore the LA at all when considering making such a monster? CR 9 if the class is "associated" or CR and 8 and 1/2 is it's not "associated"?

In short, do I stick to the "improving monsters" CR calculation, or do I have to consider ECL too?

Maybe it seems obvious, but it confused me,s orry!

There's a little one-liner you've missed in the opening post:



Builds that are fully monstrous are allowed at no penalty. All class levels are to be added on as associated class levels.


So, since all class levels are to be considered associated class levels, your example is CR 9. ECL is a totally different thing from CR, and in the Villainous Competition, unlike in Iron Chef, we don't consider ECL at all; only CR matters. So you also don't need to worry about LA (which is great, because WotC are terrible at assigning balanced LA).

[AvatarVecna]

I know how one could think otherwise from seeing the entries submitted so frequently, but pure monsters are allowed, you don't have to take class levels even a little bit.

[NotInventedHere]

Yeah, I submitted a pure monster last time and won! (Well, for very specific definitions of the word 'pure'... I did stack 4 templates, but still.)

[AvatarVecna]

Yeah, I submitted a pure monster last time and won! (Well, for very specific definitions of the word 'pure'... I did stack 4 templates, but still.)

Last round was weird, it's true. :smalltongue:

[NotInventedHere]

Last round was weird, it's true. :smalltongue:

Look, look, look. Look. Chair said "the more arms the better". Is it really my fault if I took that as a challenge? (Yes. Yes it is. I'm very sorry. (Not that sorry.))

[ciopo]

thanks for the replies :)

the Villainous Competition feels like hell to judge.

Like, if I'm reading correctly, the contestant decides *one* of CR5 10 15 20, and that's the entry, statting out a cr20 is gravy on top but for the purpose of the competition the chosen CR is the one that should be judged, am I reading this right?

One has to be a vast font of knowledge to be able to adjudicate the power of a given entry at the given CR.

I wouldn't even know where to begin, especially for power. Do I imagine it as an actual villian and so pit against an imaginary party of four CR-2 adventurers? Yikes

[NotInventedHere]

thanks for the replies :)

the Villainous Competition feels like hell to judge.

Like, if I'm reading correctly, the contestant decides *one* of CR5 10 15 20, and that's the entry, statting out a cr20 is gravy on top but for the purpose of the competition the chosen CR is the one that should be judged, am I reading this right?

One has to be a vast font of knowledge to be able to adjudicate the power of a given entry at the given CR.

I wouldn't even know where to begin, especially for power. Do I imagine it as an actual villian and so pit against an imaginary party of four CR-2 adventurers? Yikes

Statting out a full CR20 build is required: the first post does say:



as well as presenting a fully-fleshed out 20 CR build in the table below.


And while only one CR level needs to be really fully highlighted, the rules do also say:



please give a rundown of the build's abilities and playability at all of the levels you didn't show


But, yes, judging a competition like this is incredibly difficult and generally takes quite a long time, and we're all super grateful to anyone who subjects themself to such an undertaking.

[InvisibleBison]

I'm using a modified version of the judging technique outlined by Piggy Knowles in this post (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24179137&postcount=193). For each category, an entry starts with three points, and I ask four questions, the answers to which result in gaining or losing up to half a point each. The questions I'm using are:


Does the entry present a compelling or interesting concept/backstory?
Does the entry find an interesting approach to the limitations and theme?
Does the entry make use of interesting or unique mechanical abilities?
Does the entry avoid commonly known/overused optimization suggestions, within reason?

Does the entry qualify for all classes taken?
Does the entry qualify for all feats taken?
Does the entry avoid any rules errors, questionable rules interpretations, cross-setting material, material specifically disallowed from this competition or generally inelegant build choices?
Does the entry follow the contest rules for presentation, and is it well-presented and easy to read/understand?

Does the entry utilize established power breakpoints and feat taxes for all classes and prestige classes taken?
Does the entry function at the same power level throughout the day, rather than relying on “nova” powers?
Does the entry thrive without requiring specific magic items, templates or other “add-ons” to qualify for anything?
Does the entry present a reasonable challenge for a moderately optimized party?

Does the entry meet all the limitation and theme requirements?
Do the contest limitations and themes complement the entry rather than restricting it?
Does this entry represent an interesting and quintessential take on the theme? (In other words, does this FEEL like it has properly captured the theme, or is the theme just incidental?)
Is the entry a villain with style, the memorable kind of villain that the players will talk about for weeks?


Overall Thoughts: Is Nandag an interesting character? Yes. Is she an interesting encounter? Very much so. Is she an interesting villain? I don't think so. She isn't a villain at all until the very end of her story, at which point she engages in a form of villainy that's far too low-level to be interesting.


Does the entry present a compelling or interesting concept/backstory?

Nandag's story is interesting; however, it's only indirectly connected to her villainy. She's essentially resolved her backstory by the end of Tragedy, and she doesn't actually start engaging in villainy until End. I'm giving you some points because there is a connection between her backstory and her villainy, however tenuous it may be. +0.25
Does the entry find an interesting approach to the limitations and theme?

Dealing ability damage and negative levels with a single action? Just what the doctor ordered. +0.5
Does the entry make use of interesting or unique mechanical abilities?

Soul eater and fang dragon are both straightforwardly appropriate to this round, and I already gave you points for combining them. +0
Does the entry avoid commonly known/overused optimization suggestions, within reason?

Using sphinx claws instead of a spirit lion totem barbarian dip gets you some points; using soul eater to deal negative levels takes them away again. +0



Does the entry qualify for all classes taken?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry qualify for all feats taken?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry avoid any rules errors, questionable rules interpretations, cross-setting material, material specifically disallowed from this competition or generally inelegant build choices?

Incorrect Strength at CR 4 – wyrmling fang dragons have no Strength bonus. This error also appears in the CR 4 attack bonus. -0.1
Does the entry follow the contest rules for presentation, and is it well-presented and easy to read/understand?

Yes. +0.5



Does the entry use the feat taxes for all prestige classes taken?

Soul Eater's feat taxes are fairly minor, but they fit into what Nandag does. +0.5
Does the entry function at the same power level throughout the day, rather than relying on “nova” powers?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry thrive without requiring specific magic items, acquired templates or other “add-ons” to qualify for anything?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry present a reasonable challenge for a moderately optimized party?

If the PCs don't have access to some sort of protection against negative levels, someone's probably going to die. For an even-CR enemy, that seems to be a bit much. But if they do have that protection, she seems on-point to me. +0.25


Does the entry meet all the limitation and theme requirements?

Yes. +0.5
Do the contest limitations and themes complement the entry rather than restricting it?

Yes. +0.5
Does this entry represent an interesting and quintessential take on the theme? (In other words, does this FEEL like it has properly captured the theme, or is the theme just incidental?)

Mechanically, yes. Narratively, not really. I feel like Nandag's tale could work with any sort of strange power, not just soul-tearing. +0.
Is the entry a villain with style, the memorable kind of villain that the players will talk about for weeks?

No, not at all. For most of her life, Nandag is not a villain: In Infancy, she's a child with a mysterious destiny; in Tragedy, she's a vigilante looking to avenge her family's murder; in Stasis, she's a woman struggling with mental illness. Only in End does she fall into actual villainy, and it's a sort of villainy that is simply far too low-level to be memorable. -0.5




Overall Thoughts: I love the idea, I love the presentation, I love the little note from Orcus at the end, but it just doesn't live up to its CR, it's not really a villain, and it only barely engages with the theme.


Does the entry present a compelling or interesting concept/backstory?

Very much so, yes. +0.5
Does the entry find an interesting approach to the limitations and theme?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry make use of interesting or unique mechanical abilities?

Living spells! I did not see that coming at all. +0.5
Does the entry avoid commonly known/overused optimization suggestions, within reason?

I didn't see anything even resembling a common technique here. +0.5




Does the entry qualify for all classes taken?

No classes taken means no qualification problems. +0.5
Does the entry qualify for all feats taken?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry avoid any rules errors, questionable rules interpretations, cross-setting material, material specifically disallowed from this competition or generally inelegant build choices?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry follow the contest rules for presentation, and is it well-presented and easy to read/understand?

Yes. +0.5




Does the entry use the feat taxes for all prestige classes taken?

I can't give points for making good use of feat taxes, since you aren't paying any. +0
Does the entry function at the same power level throughout the day, rather than relying on “nova” powers?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry thrive without requiring specific magic items, acquired templates or other “add-ons” to qualify for anything?

Prototype two arguably can't apply the blackwater taint effect to people who aren't in water, but other than that you're good. +0.4
Does the entry present a reasonable challenge for a moderately optimized party?

No, not at all. Prototype one is basically harmless: Its slam is too weak to be a threat, and while it can engulf people its engulf is harmless. Prototype two can deal some damage by engulfing, but by this point freedom of movement is probably in play, melee types stand a good chance of being able to either escape the grapple or beat the fortitude save if it isn't, and everyone is flying, so opportunities to engulf are limited. Prototype three has all the same problems of prototype two, but more so; I'm not at all sure why you call this your sweet spot. Prototype four, having gained some hit dice, finally has better numbers, but they're too little, too late. -0.5




Does the entry meet all the limitation and theme requirements?

A single negative level per round, save negates, just barely squeaks over this bar. +0.25
Do the contest limitations and themes complement the entry rather than restricting it?

I suspect there are better spells you could put into a creeping ghoulification than blackwater taint if you weren't trying to give it the ability to inflict negative levels. -0.25
Does this entry represent an interesting and quintessential take on the theme? (In other words, does this FEEL like it has properly captured the theme, or is the theme just incidental?)

Not really. It's a ghoul-spawner, not an energy drainer. -0.5
Is the entry a villain with style, the memorable kind of villain that the players will talk about for weeks?

It's a memorable encounter, sure, if it shows up somewhere where it can put its abilities to good use. It's not really a villain, though – Cordan is the villain. -0.5



Overall Thoughts: I quite like Hecate. She's the most compelling villain of the bunch, and I think she'd be the most interesting to actually play against in a campaign. Unfortunately, she's got a number of issues as an actual boss fight that hold her back from the top slot.


Does the entry present a compelling or interesting concept/backstory?

Very much so, yes. +0.5
Does the entry find an interesting approach to the limitations and theme?

Vampiric dragon and shadow dragon are both obvious choices for this theme. +0
Does the entry make use of interesting or unique mechanical abilities?

Amassing an army of minions is par for the course for vampires, though Hecate does diversify her forces more than most bloodsuckers. +0.25
Does the entry avoid commonly known/overused optimization suggestions, within reason?

Abjurant Champion is a fairly common gish prestige class, but other than that I don't see anything typical. +0.25




Does the entry qualify for all classes taken?

My initial reaction was to say that master's touch isn't enough to let Hecate qualify for Abjurant Champion; even if it's happening in the background, the process of leveling up and learning how to use a prestige class's techniques takes time. But then I realized that she can keep the spell active for over four hours a day if she uses all of her spell slots, which seems like it would be enough to let her put in the necessary training. However, relying on a cheesy technicality isn't enough to get you any points. +0
Does the entry qualify for all feats taken?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry avoid any rules errors, questionable rules interpretations, cross-setting material, material specifically disallowed from this competition or generally inelegant build choices?

Your skills are a bit wonky. It looks like you're spending 2 more skill points than you have at CR 15, and you're treating Hide as a class skill when it's cross class, though I can't be sure on either count because you list your final bonuses, not your ranks. -0.1
You can't use a prestige class to advance racial spellcasting. -0.25
You're using both Eberron and Ghostwalk material. -0.25.
(Note that I'm capping the penalty here at -0.5).
Does the entry follow the contest rules for presentation, and is it well-presented and easy to read/understand?

Yes. +0.5




Does the entry use the feat taxes for all prestige classes taken?

No. Abjurant Champion requires Combat Casting, but you repeatedly emphasize that Hecate is going to be trying to stay out of melee. -0.5
Does the entry function at the same power level throughout the day, rather than relying on “nova” powers?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry thrive without requiring specific magic items, acquired templates or other “add-ons” to qualify for anything?

I don't think her rooks being useless in sunlight is enough to cause any problems here. +0.5
Does the entry present a reasonable challenge for a moderately optimized party?

This is a really tough one for me to judge, because the only high-level game I've ever played in was very low-op. I'm inclined to think that, so long as none of her minions are too strong and the PCs are able to get some protection against energy drain, Hecate makes for a tough but winnable encounter. If either of those things aren't the case, she's a TPK waiting to happen. Since she could go either way, I'm going to give her a +0




Does the entry meet all the limitation and theme requirements?

Yes. +0.5
Do the contest limitations and themes complement the entry rather than restricting it?

Hecate's ability to use negative levels and Constitution drain to create various minions is a key component of her operation. +0.5
Does this entry represent an interesting and quintessential take on the theme? (In other words, does this FEEL like it has properly captured the theme, or is the theme just incidental?)

Hecate's all about energy drain. +0.5
Is the entry a villain with style, the memorable kind of villain that the players will talk about for weeks?

Overwhelmingly so! +0.5



Overall Thoughts: An interesting build, but much more of an encounter than a villain, and only tangentially connected to the contest's theme.


Does the entry present a compelling or interesting concept/backstory?

No. His backstory doesn't set him up to serve as the villain of a campaign. Even in a one-shot centered around the arena, the kraken champion or one of the trainers would be a more sensible villain. -0.5
Does the entry find an interesting approach to the limitations and theme?

Breath of Unlife is not at all what I was expecting from this round. +0.5
Does the entry make use of interesting or unique mechanical abilities?

Xisairroilth is the only one who chose to focus on dealing negative energy damage. +0.5
Does the entry avoid commonly known/overused optimization suggestions, within reason?

There's nothing in here I've heard of more than occasionally. +0.5




Does the entry qualify for all classes taken?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry qualify for all feats taken?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry avoid any rules errors, questionable rules interpretations, cross-setting material, material specifically disallowed from this competition or generally inelegant build choices?

Taking an entire prestige class just to gain a single marginally useful spell seems like it deserves an elegance penalty. -0.1
I don't think lesser dragons are eligible to become dracoliches. When the Draconomicon says “dragon”, it generally means true dragons, and the template is clearly written under the assumption that it's going to be applied to a true dragon. -0.25
Does the entry follow the contest rules for presentation, and is it well-presented and easy to read/understand?

Yes. +0.5




Does the entry use the feat taxes for all prestige classes taken?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry function at the same power level throughout the day, rather than relying on “nova” powers?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry thrive without requiring specific magic items, acquired templates or other “add-ons” to qualify for anything?

Becoming a dracolich requires quite a bit of outside help. -0.5
Does the entry present a reasonable challenge for a moderately optimized party?

Xisairroilth seems fairly level-appropriate. Maybe a bit weak towards the end of his career, since he's basically a melee fighter, but the dracolich template helps him there. +0.5




Does the entry meet all the limitation and theme requirements?

You only really meet the requirements once you get Breath of Unlife, and that's most of the way through your build. +0.25
Do the contest limitations and themes complement the entry rather than restricting it?

No. I feel like there are better options you could have taken if you weren't trying to meet the contest's theme. -0.5
Does this entry represent an interesting and quintessential take on the theme? (In other words, does this FEEL like it has properly captured the theme, or is the theme just incidental?)

Not at all. This is more or less an archetypal example of a build that only incidentally uses the theme. -0.5
Is the entry a villain with style, the memorable kind of villain that the players will talk about for weeks?

Xisairroilth is an interesting encounter, not an interesting villain. He has no goals that will bring him into opposition with the players, he has no ability to survive fighting them more than once, and unless you're running a game where the PCs are all aquatic monster gladiators there's not really an opportunity for Xisairroilth to ever come into conflict with them in the first place. -0.5



Overall thoughts: A really interesting build, able to serve as the antagonist of an exciting, intricate campaign. But alas! You chose to use a banned build element.


Does the entry present a compelling or interesting concept/backstory?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry find an interesting approach to the limitations and theme?

I was hoping someone would find a way to profit by dealing ability damage to themselves! +0.5
Does the entry make use of interesting or unique mechanical abilities?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry avoid commonly known/overused optimization suggestions, within reason?

Naberius is one of the two go-to techniques for dealing with ability damage, but the rest of your build is more original. +0.25



Taint is banned from the competition, and it's an integral part of your build, so I have to give you a 0 for elegance.



Does the entry use the feat taxes for all prestige classes taken?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry function at the same power level throughout the day, rather than relying on “nova” powers?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry thrive without requiring specific magic items, acquired templates or other “add-ons” to qualify for anything?

Yes. +0.5
Does the entry present a reasonable challenge for a moderately optimized party?

Yes. +0.5




Does the entry meet all the limitation and theme requirements?

Maybe? If Sibuna is a bone creature, he can't use tainted metamagic. Some of his spells are on-theme, but you don't really emphasize them in the combat brief. +0.25
Do the contest limitations and themes complement the entry rather than restricting it?

Sibuna is build around dealing ability damage to himself. +0.5
Does this entry represent an interesting and quintessential take on the theme? (In other words, does this FEEL like it has properly captured the theme, or is the theme just incidental?)

Yes and no. On the one hand, tainted metamagic is a big part of Sibuna's m.o.; on the other hand, I don't think a player who fought Sibuna would describe the fight as prominently featuring ability damage. +0
Is the entry a villain with style, the memorable kind of villain that the players will talk about for weeks?

Absolutely! +0.5

[ciopo]

Yes, I understood that, but is the CR 20 the one that's judged, or the contestant chosen CR?

both and also the creature as a whole from cr 1 to 20, I suppose, yikes, much not envy on the judge but also much much respect

[NotInventedHere]

Yes, I understood that, but is the CR 20 the one that's judged, or the contestant chosen CR?

both and also the creature as a whole from cr 1 to 20, I suppose, yikes, much not envy on the judge but also much much respect

Well, you've got an example right above you, plus various ones from previous competitions - and it varies from judge to judge - but pretty much always as far as I've seen, the answer is indeed "both, and also the build as a whole". So yes, yikes.

[jdizzlean]

Xisairroilth the Kraken's Barber.Dispute to InvisibleBison

First of all, I want to say thank you for your judging!

Memorability.

Is the entry a villain with style, the memorable kind of villain that the players will talk about for weeks?
Xisairroilth is an interesting encounter, not an interesting villain. He has no goals that will bring him into opposition with the players, he has no ability to survive fighting them more than once, and unless you're running a game where the PCs are all aquatic monster gladiators there's not really an opportunity for Xisairroilth to ever come into conflict with them in the first place. -0.5

I wrote about this in the Xisairroilth entry, didn't I?

The easiest way to add Xisairroilth in your game is to send PCs to gladiatorial competitions in Thay. Alternatively, Xisairroilth may serve Red in another capacity: guard, privateer, terrorist, or any combination of these variations. He even can be free dracolich now. Somehow he stole his filacteria and now hunts on other dragon turtles in order to feed his revenge and secure a reanimation place with backup vessels. PCs can be contracted by Xisairroilth ex-master to return valuable runaway slave. Or by some of his surviving or potential victims: aquatic humanoids, sailors, even by dragon turtle to eliminate the beast.



Does this entry represent an interesting and quintessential take on the theme? (In other words, does this FEEL like it has properly captured the theme, or is the theme just incidental?)
Not at all. This is more or less an archetypal example of a build that only incidentally uses the theme. -0.5
I think undead use negative energy by simply... existing, but I agree, connection is weak.


I don't think lesser dragons are eligible to become dracoliches. When the Draconomicon says “dragon”, it generally means true dragons, and the template is clearly written under the assumption that it's going to be applied to a true dragon. -0.25
I don't see any prohibition. Yes, there is reference to age, but not requirement (such as for Vampiric dragon) only preferement. Never mind. I am withdrawing with this objection. Of course in RAW it could be, but in RAI you're right.


Elegance.

Taking an entire prestige class just to gain a single marginally useful spell seems like it deserves an elegance penalty. -0.1

I don't take this prestige class for gaining spell. Spell is free bonus. I take it for Improved Grab because Snatch feat is going out because of lack of feats. Yes, it isn't work against kraken, but Xisairroilth need fight not only krakens.

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


Creeping Ghoulification. Dispute to InvisibleBison

Thank you for your that swift judging!

My dispute is about Memorable Villainy.

Does this entry represent an interesting and quintessential take on the theme? (In other words, does this FEEL like it has properly captured the theme, or is the theme just incidental?)

Not really. It's a ghoul-spawner, not an energy drainer. -0.5

There is the following sentence in the round limitations


Use Negative Energy and/or
Ability Damage or Drain and/or
Negative Levels
Can be either LG, CG, LE, CE only

Underscore is mine.

Energy drain isn't the only manifestation of using negative energy.
How teach us Libris Mortis, negative energy is a requisite power for undead. So ghoul-spawner definitely uses negative energy. And creature whose essence is creating undead is directly in the theme. And moreover, Creeping Ghoulification has Tomb-Tainted Soul and Destruction Retribution feats, which are about using negative energy, too.


Do the contest limitations and themes complement the entry rather than restricting it?
I suspect there are better spells you could put into a creeping ghoulification than blackwater taint if you weren't trying to give it the ability to inflict negative levels. -0.25
I agree with you, I can choose better spell, but I take blackwater taint due to free Desecrate effect, not for the ability to inflict negative levels.

[InvisibleBison]

Xisairroilth the Kraken's Barber.Dispute to InvisibleBison
I wrote about this in the Xisairroilth entry, didn't I?

The easiest way to add Xisairroilth in your game is to send PCs to gladiatorial competitions in Thay. Alternatively, Xisairroilth may serve Red in another capacity: guard, privateer, terrorist, or any combination of these variations. He even can be free dracolich now. Somehow he stole his filacteria and now hunts on other dragon turtles in order to feed his revenge and secure a reanimation place with backup vessels. PCs can be contracted by Xisairroilth ex-master to return valuable runaway slave. Or by some of his surviving or potential victims: aquatic humanoids, sailors, even by dragon turtle to eliminate the beast.

I'm inclined to give significantly more weight to an entry's default story than to any variants or adaptation ideas. And for the most part, the variants you're proposing here suffer the same flaw as your default story: Xisairroilth isn't the antagonist, he's the antagonist's enforcer. Only in the last variant, where you propose that he has escaped and gone on a rampage, does he seem somewhat villainous, but even then I'm not sure how he could serve as the antagonist of an adventure. Penalty stands.


I think undead use negative energy by simply... existing, but I agree, connection is weak.

As I understand it, to satisfy the negative energy limitation you have to use negative energy to deal damage, or at least as an attack of some sort. Otherwise, it's not really a limitation - just slap necropolitan or tomb-tainted soul on any build and you're good to go. Penalty stands.


I don't take this prestige class for gaining spell. Spell is free bonus. I take it for Improved Grab because Snatch feat is going out because of lack of feats. Yes, it isn't work against kraken, but Xisairroilth need fight not only krakens.

That may have been your intention, but you didn't say anything about using improved grab in your tactical write-ups. I can't give you credit for something that isn't in your entry. Penalty stands.



Creeping Ghoulification. Dispute to InvisibleBison
Energy drain isn't the only manifestation of using negative energy.
How teach us Libris Mortis, negative energy is a requisite power for undead. So ghoul-spawner definitely uses negative energy. And creature whose essence is creating undead is directly in the theme. And moreover, Creeping Ghoulification has Tomb-Tainted Soul and Destruction Retribution feats, which are about using negative energy, too.

As I said above, I don't think simply taking Tomb-Tainted Soul or being associated with undead is enough to meet the "use negative energy" restriction. Destructive Retribution is more on brand, though it relies on having actually created some undead, which strikes me as being fairly unlikely. More importantly, though, this question isn't about whether or not you technically meet the requirements of the contest; it's about whether the entry feels like it fits the theme. Creeping Ghoulification doesn't feel like a master of negative energy. PCs who fight it won't wish that they had thought to prepare Death Ward that morning. Penalty stands.


I agree with you, I can choose better spell, but I take blackwater taint due to free Desecrate effect, not for the ability to inflict negative levels.

I'm not sure this actually qualifies as a dispute, given that you say you agree with my judgement. Regardless, I see no reason to change your score. Penalty stands.

[jdizzlean]

Creeping Ghoulification. Final Dispute to InvisibleBison

Limitation wording is "Use Negative Energy" not "Use Negative Energy damage".
I create my build with this restriction as it was written. Undead creation is negative energy core of Creeping Ghoulification. Blackwater Taint is a small sprinkle of spice, no more.

Undead creation one of most common uses of Negative Energy.
Also I can find Rebuke Undead and half dozen spells (Curse Water, Desecrate, Ghoul Touch, Touch of Fatigue, Waves of Fatigue, Waves of Exhaustion) in PHB only. All these methods work with using negative energy and don't do any damage. Are they not count, too?

I can't even imaging that undead-spawner somehow is out of limitation "Use Negative Energy".

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

Hecate, the Black Queen to InvisibleBison

Hey there! I want to start off by thanking you for the enthusiastic and prompt judging of our various builds. I always appreciate the work that a judge has to put into these competitions, and honestly I may steal these great questions if I decide to judge in the future.

Now as far as Hecate is concerned, honestly I agree mostly with the score you gave her. She's a great story concept, though there are a few small issues with Elegance that I'm not even going to bother trying to contest (I honestly didn't know that we weren't doing ranks in skills, but I think that one's on me).

However, I do have one issue I'd like to raise, and that's Hecate's power. When asked if Hecate would make a challenging encounter, you had this to say.


This is a really tough one for me to judge, because the only high-level game I've ever played in was very low-op. I'm inclined to think that, so long as none of her minions are too strong and the PCs are able to get some protection against energy drain, Hecate makes for a tough but winnable encounter. If either of those things aren't the case, she's a TPK waiting to happen. Since she could go either way, I'm going to give her a +0.

I feel like I may have undersold her power. In the fluff intro that I wrote, Hecate took down a Mature Adult White Dragon (a feat which would work about 90% of the time, given their abysmal touch AC and the Will save DC on her Charm ability), turning it into a Vampiric Dragon. That's a CR 14 threat that she could - and would - easily throw against PCs in any given fight. Even if PCs do manage to keep their energy drain protections, fighting Hecate would be absolutely brutal; they're fighting multiple dragons with buffs and time to prepare for them, on top of the myriad Spectres and Vampires that make up the ground troops. Fighting Hecate head on would be an incredibly difficult task even if they managed to keep their protection against negative levels up.

However, the bit where you put that 'PCs are able to get some protection from energy drain'... that shouldn't happen. Ever. The whole point of the Otiluke's Suppressing Field trick is to shut down Death Ward, the single most common form of energy drain protection in the game. It even shuts down Death Ward items! PCs will need to branch out into spells like Sheltered Vitality, and even then Hecate gets an answer to that later in the form of spontaneous Greater Dispel Magic that she would 100% burn a Celerity for (and as a Sorcerer, she can absolutely get a few scrolls of GDM even at lower levels if absolutely necessary).

Ultimately my point is that I've dedicated a significant chunk of Hecate's resources specifically to deny players access to energy drain protection. To consider her power in a scenario where players are insulated from negative levels is to ignore a key exploit of the build itself, one that I effectively sacrificed Elegance for. I ask that you reconsider her Power in light of that deliberate choice.

[InvisibleBison]

Creeping Ghoulification. Final Dispute to InvisibleBison

Limitation wording is "Use Negative Energy" not "Use Negative Energy damage".
I create my build with this restriction as it was written. Undead creation is negative energy core of Creeping Ghoulification. Blackwater Taint is a small sprinkle of spice, no more.

Undead creation one of most common uses of Negative Energy.
Also I can find Rebuke Undead and half dozen spells (Curse Water, Desecrate, Ghoul Touch, Touch of Fatigue, Waves of Fatigue, Waves of Exhaustion) in PHB only. All these methods work with using negative energy and don't do any damage. Are they not count, too?

I can't even imaging that undead-spawner somehow is out of limitation "Use Negative Energy".

I don't deny that creating undead is a use of negative energy. However, the judgement you're disputing isn't about whether or not you mechanically met the limitation; it's about the thematics of your entry. Creeping ghoulification just doesn't feel negative energy themed to me. This is, I'll admit, an entirely subjective assessment, but that's one of the reasons why these contests work best with multiple judges - the subjectivity cancels out.


Hecate, the Black Queen to InvisibleBison

I feel like I may have undersold her power. In the fluff intro that I wrote, Hecate took down a Mature Adult White Dragon (a feat which would work about 90% of the time, given their abysmal touch AC and the Will save DC on her Charm ability), turning it into a Vampiric Dragon. That's a CR 14 threat that she could - and would - easily throw against PCs in any given fight. Even if PCs do manage to keep their energy drain protections, fighting Hecate would be absolutely brutal; they're fighting multiple dragons with buffs and time to prepare for them, on top of the myriad Spectres and Vampires that make up the ground troops. Fighting Hecate head on would be an incredibly difficult task even if they managed to keep their protection against negative levels up.

However, the bit where you put that 'PCs are able to get some protection from energy drain'... that shouldn't happen. Ever. The whole point of the Otiluke's Suppressing Field trick is to shut down Death Ward, the single most common form of energy drain protection in the game. It even shuts down Death Ward items! PCs will need to branch out into spells like Sheltered Vitality, and even then Hecate gets an answer to that later in the form of spontaneous Greater Dispel Magic that she would 100% burn a Celerity for (and as a Sorcerer, she can absolutely get a few scrolls of GDM even at lower levels if absolutely necessary).

Ultimately my point is that I've dedicated a significant chunk of Hecate's resources specifically to deny players access to energy drain protection. To consider her power in a scenario where players are insulated from negative levels is to ignore a key exploit of the build itself, one that I effectively sacrificed Elegance for. I ask that you reconsider her Power in light of that deliberate choice.

The question is, is Hecate a reasonable challenge for a moderately optimized party? My initial assessment was maybe, kinda sorta, if they're lucky. Now you come along and make some good points about how I'm underestimating Hecate's power. I just don't see how that is supposed to convince me to award her more points. If anything, I'm tempted to take away some points, though out of a vague and inchoate sense of fair play I'll refrain from doing so.

[jdizzlean]

Sibuna, to InvisibleBison

I kind of rushed this one out, and it shows in little details like apparently not removing every reference to being a bone creature after I realized it broke the build and completely missing that Taint was banned. It doesn't help that I wound up making a tier 1 spellcaster with benefits despite not having much idea what spells to pick, heh.

I guess this isn't really a dispute? My dispute is that I'm shocked that I got such good scores in non-elegance categories. Also, I feel like a moron for missing the taint thing. Thanks.

[GreatWyrmGold]

I know how one could think otherwise from seeing the entries submitted so frequently, but pure monsters are allowed, you don't have to take class levels even a little bit.
Assuming you have a list of templates and whatnot that increase CR to exactly 20. Whether or not you use class levels, it's always a pain when you have a CR of ~17-19 and no good choices for those last few levels. A couple more levels in the class I wanted for its level 1 ability? A dip in a new prestige class? Some petty template that kinda arguably fits the theme but doesn't do much mechanically?



Yes, I understood that, but is the CR 20 the one that's judged, or the contestant chosen CR?

both and also the creature as a whole from cr 1 to 20, I suppose, yikes, much not envy on the judge but also much much respect
I mostly eyeball the personal combat power part and hope other people know what they're doing enough to compensate, heh. Luckily, not many builds fluctuate a ton in power, aside from pretty standard periods of taking a while to get everything they need or not having much left to add (see above).

My methodology docks points for numbers either obviously too low or way too high, and adds points for having a decent strategy/gimmick. (Sort of—it's not very formalized.)
Examples:
Last round, one of the things I docked Zoidberg for was not having a clear strategy or combat gimmick; it seemed pretty okay in melee, but didn't stand out in raw power or have a very clear strategy.
This round, Creeping Ghoulification is almost literally a living combat gimmick. It makes powerful ghouls! The problem is that desecrated ghouls aren't a big threat at CR 13, let alone 18 or 20. (Also that the conditions for turning people into ghouls are pretty stringent.) It could work as a nifty plot catalyst if you ignored the rules, but this isn't a contest
Sibuna has two pretty clear combat gimmicks—self-inflicted ability damage and quickened spells. (Free metamagic in general, but the author keeps emphasizing quickened spells.) The former is neat but obviously doesn't help its power; the latter is more distinctive, and casting two spells every round would probably help more if the author gave a better idea of how that would be used.
Hecate has well-detailed tactics, with focus on energy-draining claws and opportunistic exploitation of drained spells. Most importantly, Hecate has specific, plausible preparations for the most straightforward countermeasure to her energy drain focus; that's a lot. I'm torn; it's probably too much for a typical party to be able to handle, even if you leave out her minions (which you probably should), but it's also very well-planned "too much to handle". Like dang.

I'm not very good at judging power. Hopefully this revelation doesn't blacklist me from judging in the future.

[3SecondCultist]

Apparently I'm not very good at gauging power either. :smallbiggrin:

[ciopo]

Thanks for the breakdown!

Out of curiosity, is there a list of "softbanned" elements? Kinda like how you wouldn't use Akuma in old street figther tournaments despite it not being esplicitly banned by the tournament rules. Because there are some stuff I'd expect to pop up now and then but I'm never seeing them and I wonder if it's some sorta of gentlemen agreement us new blood just doesn't know about. I understand most of it might fall under the umbrella of "well known optimization, I don't want to get docked in originality", but it's kinda weird on "never" seeing a shocktrooper, to use an example that actually pop up now and then

[NotInventedHere]

Thanks for the breakdown!

Out of curiosity, is there a list of "softbanned" elements? Kinda like how you wouldn't use Akuma in old street figther tournaments despite it not being esplicitly banned by the tournament rules. Because there are some stuff I'd expect to pop up now and then but I'm never seeing them and I wonder if it's some sorta of gentlemen agreement us new blood just doesn't know about. I understand most of it might fall under the umbrella of "well known optimization, I don't want to get docked in originality", but it's kinda weird on "never" seeing a shocktrooper, to use an example that actually pop up now and then

I did actually use Shock Trooper last round, on the CR20 version of Shadow Of The World. It was a thing I tacked on with some spare feats rather than a focus of the build, though. (Also I am also 'new blood' I guess.)

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Thanks for the breakdown!

Out of curiosity, is there a list of "softbanned" elements? Kinda like how you wouldn't use Akuma in old street figther tournaments despite it not being esplicitly banned by the tournament rules. Because there are some stuff I'd expect to pop up now and then but I'm never seeing them and I wonder if it's some sorta of gentlemen agreement us new blood just doesn't know about. I understand most of it might fall under the umbrella of "well known optimization, I don't want to get docked in originality", but it's kinda weird on "never" seeing a shocktrooper, to use an example that actually pop up now and then

Let me see, here are the ones off the top of my head:


Shock-trooper used for charging (if you're using the other two maneuvers instead, you're fine)
Spirit Totem (lion) Barbarian for pounce
Warshaper 1 to abuse Morphic Weapons
Maybe metamagic optimization (Arcane Thesis, Practical Metamagic, Divine Metamagic)
Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil, Incantatrix, Planar Shepherd (not as much in Villainous)
Silverbrow Human
Human, Dragonborn, and Strongheart Halfling are starting to get there, but aren't there yet for most judges
For a Villainous-specific one, Lycanthropy as a method of getting loads of HD for very little CR
Ur-Priest
Anthropomorphic Bat (maybe)
Gnomish Quickrazor combined with Iaijutsu Focus
Swift Hunter
Symbiotic Creature (honestly, overuse of this one can be laid mostly at my feet; sorry)


Of course, all of these are subjective, and what's more, usually fine to include as long as they aren't the center of your build or you're using them in a clever way. For most of them, I've entered with a build that used it and still medaled or even won. As a general rule of thumb, if you're using one of these, ask if you're using it because it fits the character or because it's powerful; if it's because it's a perfect fit for the character, you're probably fine (for example, the first build in my signature used Spirit Totem (lion) Barbarian and Wolf Totem Barbarian, which is a well-known combo but made perfect sense on a character all about harnessing and channeling the power of animals and magical animals).

EDIT: What do you guys think? I miss any?

EDIT II: To clarify, these are all things that are likely to receive a penalty in Originality, due to being strategies that are already well-known and well-explored. Most of them won't see a penalty in other categories.

[GreatWyrmGold]

1. Why Silverbrow Human? They're humans with feather fall, dragon blood, and a Disguise bonus instead of skill points. That's probably stronger than baseline human, but it doesn't seem that much stronger?
2. Ooh, I forgot about Symbiotic Creature. I should see if I can find a cool, non-cheesy way to use that...

[PoeticallyPsyco]

1. Why Silverbrow Human? They're humans with feather fall, dragon blood, and a Disguise bonus instead of skill points. That's probably stronger than baseline human, but it doesn't seem that much stronger?

It's not that they're stronger, it's that they're the go-to for the (dragonblood) subtype. If someone wants to use (dragonblood) for a competition, 90% of the time they'll go Silverbrow Human, and the judges tend to ding them for that in Originality. (I believe vanilla Human escapes the same stigma, despite its popularity, because it's a PHB race.)

[jdizzlean]

anyone still judging or shall i shut this down and start a new round?

[Thurbane]

anyone still judging or shall i shut this down and start a new round?

From me - maybe time for new round: I've made a start on judging a few times, but never really got anywhere. Wife and I are currently looking at buying our first home, and dealings with real estate agents, financial institutions and various advisors are seriously eating into my downtime.

Good news is house we really love goes up for auction this weekend, so wish us luck! :smallsmile:

[ciopo]

good luck! It was a rollercoaster of emotions when I bought my house!

[jdizzlean]

Entry
Competitor
Description
Score 1
Total
Placing


Nandag, the Soul Reaver (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25048992&postcount=52)
GreatWrymGold

16.4
16.4
GOLD



Hecate, the Black Queen (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25048995&postcount=54)
3SecondCultist

16
16
SILVER



Creeping Ghoulification (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25048993&postcount=53)
loky1109

15.4
15.4
BRONZE



Sibuna (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25048999&postcount=56)
GreatWrymGold

14
14
4th


[ (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=24240849&postcount=101)url=https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25048996&postcount=55]Xisairroilth the Kraken's Barber[/url]
loky1109

13.9
13.9
5th












i have a busy week, but i'll try to get a new round up no later than this weekend. patience is appreciated.


congrats to the medalists, I don't *think* there is a HM this round, although voting is open until the new round is posted, or if i'm mistaken, kindly point it out, life has been *interesting* lately...

[3SecondCultist]

Well I am perfectly okay with my second place result for the Black Queen. Of course it would seem as though I went a bit overboard on my character’s power...

What can I say? I’m used to higher optimization at my table, so I anticipated a player counter to Hecate and turned a weakness into a strength. :smallbiggrin:

I was glad to read that the judge enjoyed the fluff of my character. I really had a blast putting everything together.

[loky1109]

This is, I'll admit, an entirely subjective assessment, but that's one of the reasons why these contests work best with multiple judges - the subjectivity cancels out.

they said. ))))

After all... You surprised me.


UPD: What about next round theme?

[Thurbane]

Congrats to all entrants, especially the winners.

I feel a bit weird giving HM after competitors have been anounced, but if I were to award one, it would probably go to Sibuna.


good luck! It was a rollercoaster of emotions when I bought my house!

Thank you.

Bit of a setback: my city has just entered a new COVID lockdown, so no idea if/when the auction will go ahead; or if it will be online or IRL. :smalleek:

[PoeticallyPsyco]

I was glad to read that the judge enjoyed the fluff of my character. I really had a blast putting everything together.

On the subject of fluff, next time make sure to include a citation if you're doing that big of an homage. Taking inspiration is one thing, but an almost word for word copy of a large body of text needs to have credit given, even if only in the Sources section; anything else is plagiarism.

[3SecondCultist]

On the subject of fluff, next time make sure to include a citation if you're doing that big of an homage. Taking inspiration is one thing, but an almost word for word copy of a large body of text needs to have credit given, even if only in the Sources section; anything else is plagiarism.

Oh aye, fair enough. I will make a note of that for next time.

For reference, the last bit of fluff (specifically the write up for the CR 20 section) was taken from A Practical Guide to Evil.

[GreatWyrmGold]

For reference, the last bit of fluff (specifically the write up for the CR 20 section) was taken from A Practical Guide to Evil.
I really need to read that story again. I fell off it when Book...5, I think, started.



I feel a bit weird giving HM after competitors have been anounced, but if I were to award one, it would probably go to Sibuna.
Thank you!


Might as well say something, since I kind of won. I initially made a joke about how I had both the highest- and lowest-scoring entry, but deleted it after realizing it was inaccurate.
I'm pleasantly surprised by how much our single judge liked both of my entries; I never figured out how to make Nandag into a villain villain and Sibuna was rushed all around. (Plus, I'm just not very good at optimization.) I'm glad InvisibleBison enjoyed both of my submissions anyways.