Junkyard Wars XXXIV: SE + HoS - Soulmelds

[Thurbane]

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

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

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


HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR


Necessary: Soul Eater (BoVD p.66)
Necessary: Harvester of Souls (Elder Evils p.13)
Forbidden: Soulmelds (MoI)




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



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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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



Code immediately below (spoiler).

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

mattie_p has also kindly made a Google Document that greatly assists with creating and formatting tables: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BG0-5sq4dL9Ooh7-QfXuyHzO4rXSz-CRcj29t6BeUVE/edit?usp=sharing




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


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



Note on scoring: if you are going to penalize an entry for something specific, it is strongly recommend that it only be penalized in one of the four categories for this - the one you feel is the most relevant. It is OK to put different penalties for different instances in their own category, but if, say, someone fails to qualify for a PrC, try not to ping them in Elegance and Power, for instance.
Disputes: Any scoring disputes will be posted by the Chairman in-thread after reviewing them privately. Valid disputes include

RAW misreadings,
arithmetic errors,
things missed that are present in the entry,
and inconsistently applied criteria.

Invalid disputes include

disagreements on matters of opinion,
a judge not catching something not explicitly presented in the entry,
and the like.

Invalid disputes will be responded to via PM by the Chair, but valid disputes should be responded to by each individual judge. Judges are obligated to respond to disputes to ensure that everyone gets a fair shake. A judge's scores will only be recognized if they have recognized all disputes. In the absence of any other judges, the entries will be judged by the chairman.



Completion Time:

Contestants will have until 23:59 GMT Monday November 8, 2021 to create their builds and PM them to the chairman (note: you are free to submit builds up until I start posting entries, even if this deadline has passed).
Builds will then be posted simultaneously to avoid copying.
Judges will have until 23:59 GMT Monday November 22, 2021 to judge the builds and submit their scores. Judging deadline is subject to extension as required.
As the precedent has been set from Episode 2, should all prospective judges have posted their rulings in a neat, timely fashion and all disputes have been settled satisfactorily (to either judges, contestants, or the Chairperson), the judging period may end prematurely to give way to a new episode. No reason to keep working on a finished building and avoid moving onto the next one.


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

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 messages, 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.



Junkyard Wars in the Playground I: Shadowdancer + Sneak Attack - Rogue (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?337864)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground II: Healing Spells + Ruby Knight Vindicator - Cleric (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?342896)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground III: Dragons + Theurges - Kobolds (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?347412)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground IV: BoED + Undead Type - Completes (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?355278)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground V: Dread Witch + Reaping Mauler - Fighter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?360271)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground VI: Wonderworker + Profession Skill - Factotum (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?369604)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground VII: Metamagic Feats + LA - Metamagic Reducers! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?374504)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground VIII: Pounce+Small Size-Barbarian (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?388151)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground IX: Earth Dreamer + Ordained Champion - Cleric (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?395791)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground X: Meldshaping + Natural Attacks - Totemist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?403880)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XI: Magical Darkness + Improved Familiar - Wizard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?409650)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XII: Dragonmark Heirs + Touchstones - Martial Weapons (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?430214)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XIII: Mulhorandi Divine Minion + Monk - Any Other Wildshaping (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?465901)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XIV: Racial Paragon Classes + Spellcasting - Base Classes (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?479427)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XV: Ruathar + Stoneblessed - Human (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?497904)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XVI: Trapsmith + Combat Trapsmith - Rogue (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?540521)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XVII: Elemental Warrior + Jaunter - Fighter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?552569)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XVIII: Argent Savant + Holy Scourge - Wizard (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?555404)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XIX: Incarnum Blade + Exotic Weapon Master - Spiked Chain (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?562523-Junkyard-Wars-XIX-IB-EWM-SC)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XX: Xorvintaal Exarch + The Pact-Bound Adept - Sorcerer (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?568541-Junkyard-Wars-XX-XE-PBA(a)-S)
Junkyard Wars in the Playground XXI: Rebuke Undead + Teamwork Benefits - [Divine] feats (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?572680-Junkyard-Wars-XXI-Halloween-Round!)
Junkyard Wars XXII: Battle Trickster + Magical Trickster - Uncanny Trickster (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?577512-Junkyard-Wars-XXII-Show-Me-Your-Skillz)
Junkyard Wars XXIII: Spellwarp Sniper + Silver Pyromancer - Energy Substitution (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?581736-Junkyard-Wars-XXIII-Ready-Aim-Fire)
Junkyard Wars XXIV: Vow of Peace + Saint - Divine casting (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?585567-Junkyard-Wars-XXIV-VoPe-S-DC)
Junkyard Wars XXV: Silverwood Arcanist + Share Soulmeld - Soulcaster (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?590622-Junkyard-Wars-XXV-SA-SS-S)
Junkyard Wars XXVI: RSL + ACF - PrCs (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?593374-Junkyard-Wars-XXVI-RSL-ACF-PrCs)
Junkyard Wars XXVII: Unholy Scion + Mark - Affiliation (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?598151-Junkyard-Wars-XXVII-US-M-A)
Junkyard Wars XXVII: 1MF + CPA&A - T (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?603826-Junkyard-Wars-XXVIII-1MF-CPA-amp-A-T)
Junkyard Wars XXIX: Social Distancing Edition! (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?610153-Junkyard-Wars-XXIX-Social-Distancing-Edition!)
Junkyard Wars XXX: Something a Little Spicy (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?631758-Junkyard-Wars-XXX-Something-a-Little-Spicy)
Junkyard Wars XXXI: Giddy-Up! (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?633325)
Junkyard Wars XXXII: Theurge Without Theurge (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?634803)
Junkyard Wars XXXIII: LotD + AF - Necropolitan (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?636185)

[Thurbane]

Q&A:

Q1. How are we ruling the Soul Eater's Energy Drain to work? Is it a standard action touch special attack, or does it apply on every natural attack?
A1. This will be up to each judge to rule as they see fit. The debate has never been resolved 100% one way or the other, and I'm not going to attempt to do that here.
A1. For this comp, energy drain is assumed to work on all natural attacks, as well as being deliverable as a supernatural touch attack.

[RaiKirah]

I've got an idea that I might put together, though my recent egregious mistakes in other comps have me doubting myself. We shall see

[loky1109]

I don't understand why you forbid Favored Soul. Only because name?


Q1. How are we ruling the Soul Eater's Energy Drain to work? Is it a standard action touch special attack, or does it apply on every natural attack?
A1. This will be up to each judge to rule as they see fit. The debate has never been resolved 100% one way or the other, and I'm not going to attempt to do that here.
Yes, this debate will be forever, but you can determine right answer for this round. I think this decision will make it easier on everyone. Doesn't matter what exactly decision it will be. Anyone will be better.

[Eurus]

Although I certainly understand not wanting to open that can of worms, the ambiguity of how Soul Eater works seems like a pretty big deal for a contest focused on the PrC. Hmm.

I guess if I make a build assuming the more limited interpretation, it would still function even if the judge holds to the other possibility. Better than having a build with a fifty-fifty chance of just not working, I guess?

[Thurbane]

I have updated the 2nd post, to allow the more permissive reading of energy drain.

Note: this is no reflection of the RAW status of this or my personal position on the matter, this is simply the ruling for this comp.

[Beni-Kujaku]

Wouldn't it be more relevant to forbid Soulmelds? Both in terms of relevance to the theme (there is "soul" in the name, but they don't use souls spookily), and to make it more interesting and diverse (probably nobody was going to use Favored Soul anyway, but a Totemist/Soul Eater is kind of expected).

[Thurbane]

..........

[Beni-Kujaku]

Maybe? I'm not overly familiar with Icnarnum. I'm not going to change the reqs now, but point noted.

Starting to get the feeling I've really dropped the ball on this round... :smallfrown:

It's just that this almost feels like Iron Chef at this point. Also I doubt anybody has seriously started cooking yet, changing reqs may still be feasible (maybe with a poll or something?)

[loky1109]

Agree with Beni. Both paragraphs.

[loky1109]

I have an idea. Suddenly.

[H_H_F_F]

Popping in to say I'm on the same page as Beni as well. I don't think you've dropped the ball at all with the theme, Thurbane, as well as with the class and feat - but such an insignificant limitation does make it feel more like an Iron Chef round focused on Soul Eater. "No soulmelds" seems better as a theme appropriate, broader and more relevant limitation. I hardly think anyone would mind, at this point - but it's your show, and if you wish to keep it this way that's fine.

[Beni-Kujaku]

I am impressed by how scarce the support for coup de grace is. Very rare are the actions that cannot be put as a rider on something else, or reduced to less than a standard action by any way I can find (apart from Pathfinder, which has a feat for immediate action CdG, which all in all would absolutely not be broken)

Edit: Wait, no, not even that. It was pathfinder 3rd party.

[loky1109]

One day (ok, one and a half) remaining. How goes your work?

[H_H_F_F]

Wanted to submit for this one, but my attention has been focused on judging the current IC round.

[Beni-Kujaku]

One day (ok, one and a half) remaining. How goes your work?

I submitted one build. Maybe I will make another, but probably not.

[Thurbane]

Wanted to submit for this one, but my attention has been focused on judging the current IC round.

If anyone needs an extension, happy to give one.

[H_H_F_F]

I'm wary of asking for an extension myself, as I only have a couple of vague ideas and am currently preoccupied with judgement. However, if one will be granted for other competitors, I would try to get something in.

[Thurbane]

Let's call it an extra week.

Happy Halloween everyone!

[Beni-Kujaku]

Yay! I'll try to put something together. Happy Halloween, boysengirls! (Well, mostly boys here it seems, but still)

[loky1109]

Let's call it an extra week.
And why I didn't go sleep? )))

Submitted.

More entries is better. )))

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Still haven't come up with anything I think would be reasonable to submit, but these restraints have led me down a surprising number of productive build paths. One or two in particular I think I'll sit on until a comp. where they wouldn't be just ignoring one of the requirements.

[Beni-Kujaku]

Aaaaaand submitted my second build. Good luck to PPsycho to finish your builds in time! Even if it ignores a bit one of the requirements, go for it, the more builds the merrier (also I doubt many people will do much of HoS anyways)

[loky1109]

I fixed some mistakes in my entries and resend them.
Extra week is goooood!

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Aaaaaand submitted my second build. Good luck to PPsycho to finish your builds in time! Even if it ignores a bit one of the requirements, go for it, the more builds the merrier (also I doubt many people will do much of HoS anyways)

You make a compelling argument. I'll see what I can cobble together.

[Yan Korlat]

Depending on exactly how many builds there are, I might be in to judge.

[H_H_F_F]

Iron Chef round is done, and I'm working on this. Would it be possible to get 48 more hours of extension, if needed? I hope to make it by the current deadline, but I'm not sure I'll make it, and tuesday is jam packed for me.

[Beni-Kujaku]

Iron Chef round is done, and I'm working on this. Would it be possible to get 48 more hours of extension, if needed? I hope to make it by the current deadline, but I'm not sure I'll make it, and tuesday is jam packed for me.

Great! Let the spook shine within you! (and thank you again for Iron Chef)

[Thurbane]

Iron Chef round is done, and I'm working on this. Would it be possible to get 48 more hours of extension, if needed? I hope to make it by the current deadline, but I'm not sure I'll make it, and tuesday is jam packed for me.

Absolutely - if you need an extra 48 once it gets close to current deadline, let me know. Always happy to delay a little for more entries.

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks, Thurbane.

I'm currently trying to whip two ideas into shape.

Why are there never enough feats?

[Beni-Kujaku]

Thanks, Thurbane.

I'm currently trying to whip to ideas into shape.

Why are there never enough feats?

Because we're playing 3.5 and not Pathfinder 1e. A shame, really.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Hah! I just realized why I was so frustrated. I miscounted, and was try to work with only 15 class levels instead of 20!

[H_H_F_F]

Absolutely - if you need an extra 48 once it gets close to current deadline, let me know. Always happy to delay a little for more entries.



I believe I'll be able to submit one entry in time, but not the other. I'm fine with proceeding with only one entry, but I'd also be happy to submit another one.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

All done except for the sources. And maybe I'll try to find a picture for it, too.

[H_H_F_F]

My submission is in! As I've said, I think I could get a 2nd one in with another 48 hours, but that's not a top priority. Thanks for the week long delay!

[Thurbane]

Iniital deadline coming up in just over 3 hours - if anyone needs an extension, please message me, otherwise reveal will be at some point in the next 3-9 hours or so depending on my work day.

[Thurbane]

Time for the reveal, please refrain from posting until I give the all clear.

[Thurbane]

The Warrior Philosopher

NE Gravetouched Ghoul Longtooth Shifter Ranger 1/ Warblade 8/ Weretouched Master 4/ Black Blood Cultist 5

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518k9InNbHL._AC_SY450_.jpg
“That which does not kill me only makes me stronger. That which does kill me… also makes me stronger.
And that which kills you… you had best believe that it makes me stronger still.”



Abilities Initial Race / Template 4th 8th Gravetouched Ghoul (8th) 14th 18th
STR 16 17 18 20
DEX 14 16 20
CON 8 --
INT 14 12 10
WIS 8 12
CHA 16 14 16 17 18


NE Medium Undead (augmented, shapechanger, shifter)
Longtooth Shifter Arcane Hunter Ranger 1/ Warblade 4/ Weretouched Master (wolverine) 3/ Gravetouched Ghoul +2 LA/ Weretouched Master +1/ Black Blood Cultist 5/ Warblade +4
ECL Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Reflex Save Will Save Skills Feats Features
1st Arcane Hunter Ranger 1 1 2 2 0 28: {+2 CC} Balance: 1; {+4} Climb: 4; {+4 CC} Concentration: 2; {+4 CC} Intimidate: 2; {+4} Jump: 4; {+2 CC} Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+4} Knowledge (nature): 4; {+4} Survival: 4; Longtooth Elite, Track (B) 1st Favored Enemy (arcanists), Track, Wild Empathy
2nd Warblade 1 2 4 2 0 5: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1} Concentration: 3; {+1} Intimidate: 3; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1 CC} Knowledge (nature): 4.5; {+2 CC} Survival: 5; Battle Clarity (Reflex), Weapon Aptitude
3rd Warblade 2 3 5 2 0 5: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+2} Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 4; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (nature): 4.5; {+2 CC} Survival: 6; Power Attack Uncanny Dodge
4th Warblade 3 4 5 3 1 5: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1} Concentration: 6; {+1} Intimidate: 5; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1 CC} Knowledge (nature): 5; {+2 CC} Survival: 7; Battle Ardor (critical confirmation)
5th Warblade 4 5 6 3 1 5: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1} Concentration: 7; {+2} Intimidate: 7; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (nature): 5; {+2 CC} Survival: 8;
6th Weretouched Master (wolverine) 1 5 8 5 1 3: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; Concentration: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 8; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 6; {+1} Survival: 9; Improved Unarmed Strike Weretouched I (Con, fangs)
7th Weretouched Master 2 6 9 6 1 3: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; Concentration: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 9; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 7; {+1} Survival: 10; Great Bite (B) Bonus Shifter Feat, Wild Empathy
8th Weretouched Master 3 7 9 6 2 3: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; Concentration: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 10; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 8; {+1} Survival: 11; Weretouched II (Rage)
9th
10th Gravetouched Ghoul (+2 LA) 8 10 7 2 0: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; Concentration: 7; Intimidate: 10; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (nature): 8; Survival: 11; Multiattack (B) Natural armor +2, claws (1d4), bite (1d6), Ghoul Fever, Paralysis, Turn Resistance +2, Diet Dependent (flesh), Multiattack
11th Weretouched Master 4 8 10 7 2 2: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; Concentration: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 11; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 9; Survival: 11; Ability Focus (Paralysis), Shifter Savagery (B) Bonus Shifter Feat, Frightful Shifting
12th Blackblood Cultist 1 8 12 9 2 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1 CC} Concentration: 7.5; {+1} Intimidate: 12; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 10; {+1} Survival: 12; Feral Rage (claws), Damage Reduction 1/silver
13th Blackblood Cultist 2 9 13 10 2 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1 CC} Concentration: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 13; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 11; {+1} Survival: 13; Improved Grapple (B) Improved Grapple
14th Blackblood Cultist 3 10 13 10 3 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1 CC} Concentration: 8.5; {+1} Intimidate: 14; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 12; {+1} Survival: 14; Improved Paralysis Feral Rage (bite)
15th Blackblood Cultist 4 11 14 11 3 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1 CC} Concentration: 9; {+1} Intimidate: 15; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 13; {+1} Survival: 15; DR 3/silver, Scent
16th Blackblood Cultist 5 11 14 11 3 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; Concentration: 9; {+2} Intimidate: 17; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (nature): 14; {+1} Survival: 16; Stranglehold
17th Warblade 5 12 14 11 3 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1} Concentration: 10; {+1} Intimidate: 18; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1 CC} Knowledge (nature): 14.5; {+1 CC} Survival: 16.5; Combat Reflexes (B), Harvester of Souls Bonus Feat
18th Warblade 6 13 15 12 4 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1} Concentration: 11; {+1} Intimidate: 19; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1 CC} Knowledge (nature): 15; {+1 CC} Survival: 17; Improved Uncanny Dodge
19th Warblade 7 14 15 12 4 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1} Concentration: 12; {+1} Intimidate: 20; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1 CC} Knowledge (nature): 15.5; {+1 CC} Survival: 17.5; Battle Cunning (damage)
20th Warblade 8 15 16 12 4 4: Balance: 1; Climb: 4; {+1} Concentration: 13; {+1} Intimidate: 21; Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1 CC} Knowledge (nature): 16; {+1 CC} Survival: 18; Robilar's Gambit



ECL Class Maneuvers Known Maneuvers Readied Stances Known Initiator Level
1st 0 0
2nd Warblade 1 Moment of Perfect Mind, Steel Wind, Wolf Fang Strike 3 Punishing Stance 1
3rd Warblade 2 Charging Minotaur 3 2
4th Warblade 3 Emerald Razor 3 3
5th Warblade 4 Charging Minotaur => Action Before Thought 4 Blood in the Water 4
6th 4 5
7th 4 6
8th 4 7
9th
10th 4 8
11th 4 8
12th 4 9
13th 4 10
14th 4 11
15th 4 12
16th 4 13
17th Warblade 5 Quicksilver Motion 4 14
18th Warblade 6 4 15
19th Warblade 7 Mithral Tornado 4 16
20th Warblade 8 Action Before Thought => Adamantine Hurricane 4 17


ECL Class Maneuvers Known Maneuvers Readied Stances Known Initiator Level
1st 0 0
2nd Warblade 1 Moment of Perfect Mind, Steel Wind, Wolf Fang Strike 3 Punishing Stance 1
3rd Warblade 2 Charging Minotaur 3 2
4th Warblade 3 Emerald Razor 3 3
5th Warblade 4 4 Blood in the Water 4
6th 4 5
7th 4 5
8th 4 6
9th
10th 4 6
11th 4 6
12th 4 7
13th 4 7
14th 4 8
15th 4 8
16th 4 9
17th Warblade 5 Mithral Tornado 4 10
18th Warblade 6 4 11
19th Warblade 7 Disrupting Blow 4 12
20th Warblade 8 Mountain Hammer => Quicksilver Motion 4 13




"For a while, I thought that I loved nature. It wasn’t until I had mastered the hunt that I realized it was the challenge I took joy in, pitting myself against the beasts and hazards in a clash no less magnificent for its mundanity. I suppose I really did love nature, but as a sword loves the anvil on which it is hammered; a love meant to be outgrown."


Like most Shifters (presumably, since it's their favored class), we start in Ranger. Lots of skills, most importantly Knowledge (nature) and Survival (prerequisites for both of our prestige classes) and Track to put them to good use. Favored Enemy (arcanists) is by far the most versatile option, and well worth spending two of our excess skill points for.

For weapons, you probably want a two handed weapon and armor spikes, but you could also use a one-hander and a shield if you want more AC.

You can Shift 1/day, and while you do you gain +2 STR and a 1d6 (+1 per 4 levels) bite that also does 1 Con damage (no save). Pretty sweet.

Warblade gives us some lovely abilities to hit multiple times per turn as a standard action. Steel Wind will let you attack two separate foes (you can use your bite for this, too), while Wolf Fang Strike hits the same foe once each with two different weapons (you can't use your bite with this one, but I think you can use your claws in the next bracket). Moment of Perfect Mind lets you replace your (bad) Will save with your (decent) Concentration skill. And Punishing Stance lets you add some juicy extra damage to all your attacks.

A few levels later, you pick up Power Attack, Emerald Razor, and a few other maneuvers that won't make the cut for getting readied on most adventuring days, but are nice to have.


"I once fought an actual lycanthrope, you know. Such beauty! Shifting, flowing, danger and grace united; poetry in motion! As I buried my fallen comrades alongside him and the pups he was protecting, I vowed that I would one day master my body as he had his."


Weretouched Master is doing some real work for us. Improved bite damage is nice to have, but the real benefits are two bonus feats, always-on Scent, and a Rage ability that activates whenever we take damage while shifting (which also activates Shifter Savagery, increasing our damage and critical threat range with natural weapons).

The other big thing to happen in this bracket is, of course, dying and coming back as a Gravetouched Ghoul. We can take this template at any point before level 9 (or even after if you’re willing to mess with the feats), but I think level 8 fits best with the story, giving us a little bit of time (one level) to process before diving fully into our new combat style in the next bracket.

That combat style is focusing on our Paralysis, a lethal threat that we can spread between two foes or concentrate on a single one with a full attack or maneuvers. Not even freedom of movement will protect an enemy from it, as that only protects from “magical paralysis” and other external restraints, while a Ghoul’s paralysis is (Ex) and internal. For finishing off our paralyzed prey, a coup de grace with our bite is an automatic hit and an automatic critical, for 3x normal damage (which includes full Power Attack) and a Fort save with their newly damaged Con for 10 + that damage to avoid immediate death. Don’t forget that you can sacrifice your damage with your claw attacks to make them as touch attacks instead.


“Always, I have loved beauty, but it was not until I finally fell in battle that I truly understood it. A sunset on a winter day, a flower in bloom, a vista encapsulating a season, a butterfly alighting upon a finger, the kiss of a beautiful person; these are all aesthetically pleasing to be sure, but do you know what gives them beauty? It is their transience. Without night, the sun would bring no joy; without cold, fire would not soothe; without hunger, food would not delight. For months after I rose from my grave, I pondered this, until my purpose clarified: I would bring about the beauty I so desired in the world. For what meaning does the miracle of life hold… without something like me to end it?”


Now into Black Blood Cultist, which we qualify for via Weretouched II’s Rage. By strictest RAW, we get an addition set of claws and bite while raging, but good luck getting a DM to sign off on that one. No, the real reason we’re here is for Stranglehold, letting us coup de grace as a move action (amusingly, by RAW this is still a move action even against a foe with total concealment). Our combat routine now looks like: Shift as a free action, two claw touch attacks as a standard action (Steel Wind or Wolf Fang Strike), pick a paralyzed opponent, and as a move action execute them with a bite attack (3d8 + PAx3 + HD/4x3 + STRx3). Since we’re using touch attacks, we can dump quite a bit of our BAB into Power Attack safely.

DR/Silver gives us a little more durability, too, which helps against the attacks of opportunity our coup de graces will be provoking.

Also, way back at ECL 5 we grabbed Blood in the Water, a stance that gives us stacking bonuses to attack and damage with each successful critical. With Stranglehold giving us a guaranteed critical every turn we can activate it and Shifter Savagery doubling the threat range on our claw attacks, Blood in the Water is most likely a better pick for most encounters than Punishing Stance.

Last but not least, I’d like to draw attention to just how amazing the DC is to resist paralysis. Once turned, we start pumping Charisma, but we almost don’t need to, with a DC of 10 + HD/2 + CHA + an additional 6 from feats. Against foes immune to paralysis (and elves), we suffer a little, but we’ve still got plenty of natural attacks, and Power Attack + Emerald Razor covers a multitude of sins. For utility, we’ve got lots of Knowledge (nature), Survival (+Track), and Intimidate (which synergizes nicely with Frightful Shifting).


But my speech drags on; a failing of mine, I must confess, to tell instead of showing. Come, heroes! Our clash will be beautiful, a meeting of warriors as honed as their weapons, like paints mixing so wonderfully on the canvas… but not until you die before me will we truly appreciate the beauty of the lives you have lived!


There is, so far as I know, no consensus as to whether prestige classes fully progress initiator level or not. Personally, I tend towards not, but the only table I’ve played at where it came up allowed it, so I drew up two tables for available maneuvers, one for each reading.

With a favorable reading, we get Quicksilver Motion immediately, for swift action coup de graces, and later on get both Mithral Tornado and Adamantine Hurricane for mass paralysis awesomeness. With the conservative reading, we grab Mithral Tornado immediately, and Quicksilver Motion at ECL 20.

ECL 17 is the earliest we can grab Harvester of Souls, but by the gods is it worth the wait. With Stranglehold, we should be landing at least one coup de grace every round (except the first if the unfavorable reading leaves us without Quicksilver Motion). Barring something like an opponent with Mercurial Strike, the temporary HP we get from this should easily outstrip the damage taken from attacks of opportunity, with some left over as a buffer for the next round.

Our last feat slot is pretty flexible, but I went with Robilar’s Gambit, so any enemy that strikes us risks paralysis.



Champions of Ruin – Classes: Black Blood Cultist.
Complete Mage – Classes: Arcane Hunter Ranger ACF.
Eberron Campaign Setting – Races: Shifter. Classes: Weretouched Master. Feats: Great Bite.
Elder Evils – Feats: Harvester of Souls.
Libris Mortis – Races: Gravetouched Ghoul. Feats: Improved Paralysis.
PHB II – Feats: Robilar’s Gambit.
Races of Eberron – Feats: Longtooth Elite, Shifter Savagery
SRD – Classes: Ranger. Feats: Ability Focus, Combat Reflexes, Improved Grapple, Improved Unarmed Strike, Multiattack, Power Attack, Track.
Tome of Battle – Classes: Warblade. Subsystems: Action Before Thought, Adamantine Hurricane, Charging Minotaur, Emerald Razor, Mithral Tornado, Moment of Perfect Mind, Steel Wind, Wolf Fang Strike.

[Thurbane]

I remember everything.

I remember the slow pulsing of the other brood in the egg sack, their bodies moving while their minds stayed still. My body was still, as my egg lacked nutrition – but my mind, my mind was awake. I could remember the outside, the sun and the soft sand. I could remember mating, and relishing in the taste of flesh. I could remember laying the egg sack I now laid in. Laid slowly dying, as my brethren robbed me of the nutrition I required to ever see the sun with my own eyes. I was their sister, but they robbed me of life. One by one, I lashed out at the others, extinguishing the dim lights of their sleeping minds. My body was nourished, and I grew strong.

I remember tearing my way out of the egg, proud and fierce, only to discover fear and hatred surround me. I was a survivor, but that earned me no love. The adults of the clutch spoke ill of me, thinking I would not understand their tongue. Why would I not? My mother knew how to speak. I remembered.

They said I was unlike them. I was like those in the forests of the east, those with the power of mind. They bundled out my body, still white and brittle, and sent me away. I looked into my mother's eyes, eyes I could remember looking through, and saw no compassion. I had no one.

I was given to those who were believed to be like me. Their bloodline was tainted by the song of the forest they lived in, awakened by the wild dream. But they were not like me. They were old, but they were like children. They knew I was unlike them, and they never loved me. They did not share the flesh of the hunt, and I had to hunt on my own, dazed by the flickering lights of the mocking forest, dancing enslaved to the music only I could hear. The whisperers told me not to worry, for I will forget this nightmare come dawn. They were just having some fun.

I didn't forget. I remember everything.

Two things I knew of life from my mother's memories. One must care for their own, and one must hunt those that are not of their own. But none were my own, and all around me were foes. I could not hunt the Fae, the cruel whisperers who tormented me in my dreams. But I could hunt those who ostracized me, those who took the nutrition I deserved. I learned discipline, and my mind grew with my body. I hunted those who did not love me, for they were like children before my wrath, like my brethren extinguished by my flame. I hunted all who came to the forest, hunting their bodies, their minds, their very souls.

And I swore myself a vow, to study the cruel masters of this forest, and to turn their cruelty against them. I will make this forest their nightmare, like they have made it mine. I shall become the cruel trickster ruling this forest, and they will helplessly dance to my drum. They must think I've forgotten the terrors of my childhood, as they see me hunt in these woods, a proud and powerful predator. They must think their souls are safe, as like all their victims, I let the nightmares fade away into the abyss.



But I remember everything.



https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a5fxiap4gx4/maxresdefault.jpg


The Nightmare of The Iridescent Grove


A CE female phrenic (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/phrenicCreature.htm) non-psionic Thri-Kreen (SS p.222) Battle dancer 1 (Dragon Compendium p.26)/ Fighter 2/ Soul Eater 10 (BoVD p.66) Half Fey (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) savage progression 2.


Abilities:



Abilities
Initial
Thri-Kreen / Phrenic
ECL 7
ECL 11
ECL 15
ECL 19 (Half fey 1)
ECL 20 (Half fey 2)


STR
14
16
16
16
16
16
16


DEX
12
16
16
16
16
18
18


CON
12
12
12
12
12
10
10


INT
13
15
15
15
15
15
15


WIS
8
12
12
12
12
12
14


CHA
17
17
18
19
20
22
24





ECL
HD
Class
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Reflex Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features


1st
0
Thri-Kreen LA
-
-
-
-

Deflect Arrows (racial)
4 claws, bite, +3 natural armor, darkvision.


2nd
0
Phrenic LA
-
-
-
-


Poison (paralasys), Immunity to sleep, Leap (+30 on jump, increased max distance), +4 for hiding in sand, Weapon Familiarity.


3rd
0
Phrenic LA
-
-
-
-


Psi-like abilities, Power resistance 10+HD, Naturally psionic


4th
1
Racial HD 1
1
0
2
2
Hide 4, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 4, Spot 4.
Alertness*, Multiweapon fighting



5th
2
Racial HD 2
2
0
3
3
Hide 5, Jump 1, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 5, Spot 5.




6th
3
Battle Dancer 1
3
0
5
3
Hide 5, Jump 1, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 5, Spot 5, Tumble 6.
Multiattack
Ac Bonus, Unarmed Strike


7th
4
Fighter 1
4
2
5
3
Hide 5, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 5, Spot 5, Tumble 6.
Improved initative
Hit-and-run tactics (DotU p.58)


8th
5
Fighter 2
5
3
5
3
Hide 5, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 5, Spot 5, Tumble 8 (cc).
Weapon Focus: claw



9th
6
Soul Eater 1
6
5
7
5
Hide 6, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 5, Move silently 5, Spot 5, Tumble 8.
Death Blow (CAdv p.106)
Energy Drain 1


10th
7
Soul Eater 2
7
6
8
6
Hide 9, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 5, Move silently 3, Spot 5, Tumble 8.

Soul Strength


11th
8
Soul Eater 3
8
6
8
6
Hide 11, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 5, Move silently 11, Spot 6, Tumble 8.

Soul Blast


12th
9
Soul Eater 4
9
7
9
7
Hide 12, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 5, Move silently 12, Spot 10, Tumble 8.
Improved Multiweapon Fighting (SS p.36)
Soul Enhancement


13th
10
Soul Eater 5
10
7
9
7
Hide 13, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 6, Move silently 13, Spot 13, Tumble 8.

Soul Endurance


14th
11
Soul Eater 6
11
8
10
8
Hide 14, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 9, Move silently 14, Spot 14, Tumble 8.

Soul Radiance


15th
12
Soul Eater 7
12
8
10
8
Hide 15, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 12, Move silently 15, Spot 15, Tumble 8.
Harvester of Souls (EE p.13)
Energy Drain 2


16th
13
Soul Eater 8
13
9
11
9
Hide 16, Jump 5, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 15, Move silently 16, Spot 16, Tumble 8.

Soul Agility


17th
14
Soul Eater 9
14
9
11
9
Hide 17, Jump 6, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 17, Move silently 17, Spot 17, Tumble 8.

Soul Slave


18th
15
Soul Eater 10
15
10
12
10
Hide 18, Jump 6, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 18, Move silently 18, Spot 18, Tumble 9 (cc).
Multitasking (SS p.37)
Soul Power


19th
15
Half Fey (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) 1
15
10
12
10
Hide 18, Jump 6, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 18, Move silently 18, Spot 18, Tumble 9.

fey type, low-light vision, saving throw bonuses, spell-like abilities (1)


20th
15
Half Fey 2
15
10
12
10
Hide 18, Jump 6, K. (arcana) 2, Listen 18, Move silently 18, Spot 18, Tumble 9.

immunity to enchantment, wings, spell-like abilities (2)


Alertness is needed before ecl 9. I noted it here at first level, assuming I'd have to take shaky to get it. It could also be gained through the blue ioun stone, which she can easily afford by ECL 8. That is the solution I'd prefer in an actual game. If a judge considers this less inelegant, I'd appreciate it if the build could be judged according to that – but I understand if you'd still rather judge it as taking shaky, given that is the "official" solution to the issue.
ECL 5:

with +3 LA and two racial hit dice, not much to say at this point. So much LA is a hard start, I'm not going to pretend it's not. Monstrous humanoid HD are not that bad, and natural armor, force screen + defensive precognition help survivability, together with deflect arrows and a scaling power resistance. That power resistance is also spell resistance, of course, due to the magic-psionics transparency rule.
Nightmare can be a decent archer at this point, and between her paralyzing bite and multiweapon fighting she can pile some damage in a full attack. If she's having a hard time hitting, her claws are a more reliable option – they all count as primary weapons, and don't suffer from multiweapon penalties. If she manages to paralyze someone, she can coup de grace them very effectively by grabbing a scythe with all of her four hands for increased Str damage to get multiplied.


ECL 6-10:

Things improve drastically and quickly. Her time enslaved in the wild dance of the Fae gave Nightmare a decent AC and an unarmed attack she can utilize in the same round with her claws. She can also utilize multiweapon fighting to strike with a two handed weapon and an unarmed strike on top of two claws and a bite, if that's necessary. Fighter levels grant her useful feats, and hit-and-run tactics give her a nice damage bonus and an initiative bonus to further advance her already good initiative from taking improved initiative. A good initiative is very helpful to her, with defensive options like force screen and offensive options like brain lock or mind thrust from being phrenic. As psi-like abilities, all of those keep scaling with her level – they get automatically augmented to the max, with her HD functioning as her ML. This means most of these abilities get better and better, gaining more utility and often better action economy.

**** hits the fan at ECL 9. Like everyone else on this field (probably) getting to do energy drain is very impactful. Between her 7 BaB, okay Str (further enhanced by soul strength at ECL 10), multiattack and a monk-like unarmed strike, Nightmare has a decent to-hit, and she can be attacking with 2 unarmed strikes, 4 claws and a bite. So, if an enemy can be harmed by negative level, they're likely going down hard from this point forward. Even if they can't, Nightmare still has plenty of options – multifighting with appropriate manufactured weapons, sure, as well as aversion and psionic blast joining her repertoire – a 30 foot cone save or stun lasting for two rounds is good, and it's just going to keep getting better. All of her psilike abilities, as has been said, keep being augmented – Defensive precognition can now be activated as a swift action, for example.


ECL 15:

Things keep improving. Soul eater is kind of obvious in that way – it's mostly just passive bonuses. Soul blast is paid proper respect through Nightmare's Cha investment, and is a decent long range option expanding her daily reservoir of long range attacks, saves and Con are always nice. Con gets additional utility due to determining her poison DC, while soul enhancement gets additional use through being a sneak/spy, making skill checks regularly. Energy drain 2 is obviously phenomenal, with a full attack routine of 8 attacks that can transfer it. 16 potential negative levels per round. Soul radiance is incredibly potent, but there's no real way to optimize for it – you can't decide to run into powerful monsters you can energy drain. All you can do is make sure you can energy drain quickly and effectively, and as already covered, Nightmare does that.

Harvester of souls comes online at this level, making her coup de grace a much scarier threat. She can do it on a target paralyzed by her poison, one dying from her 1/day psychic crush, or one she dominates and commands to lie down and close their eyes. Psionic dominate usually has better uses, of course, but sometimes you just want someone dead forever. Due to augmentation, it can apply to any creature type for an hour, 2 humanoids for a day, and a plethora of other options – and it's just going to keep getting better. Intellect fortress is a 6 round party buffer against damage from spells, powers, psi-like and spell-like abilities (again, magic-psionics transparency is a rule, not a variant) as an immediate action, 3 times per day. Add that to previous defensive abilities, and Nightmare's frontline survivability becomes very apparent, allowing her to freely engage enemies and unload buckets of negative levels on them.


ECL 20:

Level 8 of the class is another passive benefit, useful to Nightmare for initative, for sneaking, and because she's not limited by armor limitations on Dex to AC. Soul slave, like soul radiance, is incredibly useful by itself, and is optimized by having a high chance of fully energy draining oponnents, which again, done. It's also a terrible ability balance wise, allowing for infinite slaves very quickly, and since this isn't TO we're not going to pay too much attention to that. Nightmare probably has a couple of wights most of the time, and that's that. She also has energy current and tower of iron will.

Once she reaches ECL 18 and finishes the SI, three important things happen. Number 1, she gets psionic teleport, opening up the campaign in ways usually accessible only to true casters. Number 2, she gets soul power, doubling her uses of every single one of her psi like abilities, which are all augmented to ML 15. Dominate twice a day, teleport 6 times a day – the world is her oister. Number three, she gets multitasking, allowing her to perform two standard actions in one turn. If she's not pummeling someone to death, she could use those to manifest a psi like ability and coup de grace an enemy on the same round, making harvester of soul's action economy fully worth it, not just against paralyzed opponents but against dying ones or otherwise long-term helpless foes as well. Because she can move, she can also coup de grace two enemies in the same round if the opportunity ever presents itself.

At this peek of power, Nightmare has nowhere else to go. All she wanted to be was a soul eater, and there's no class that'll be as effective for her build. So, instead of taking a class, she fully focuses herself on her mortal enemies, the Fae of the iridescent forest. The half fey savage progression class states:
Certain mortals who are obsessed with the fey study fey magic and dwell in sylvan places in hopes of gaining power, and a few actually do manage to acquire the half-fey template. Such beings can advance in the half-fey template class, just as natural-born half-fey can if they wish to develop their powers more slowly.

Well, "obsessed" is perhaps not a strong enough word to describe the depth of Nightmare's fascination and hatred to the forest and its creatures, her crushing need to make it hers and turn it against her foes. With her last two levels, Nightmare fulfils her childhood vows. Her charisma further increases by 4, powering her AC, all of her special abilities, and even the only ability-dependent feature of soul eater, soul blast. She becomes immune to all enchantment spells and effects and sprouts a pair of bug wings. Most importantly, she gets a whole bunch of spell like abilities. Those include hold monster (Can hold monster, fly towards it and coup de grace all in the same round!) but also eyebite, mass invisibility, mass suggestion, glitterdust, and more and more. Multitask makes the action economy of all of those more valuable, and she gets to double the times per day she can use them with soul power.

Starting out as an afraid and meek bug, Nightmare has quickly progressed to become a true terror. She has a vast array of very powerful options and incredible action economy, uses every single part of soul eater (especially energy drain and soul power are optimized) and can afford to coup de grace her enemies while still being impactful in combat.

All of that, without a single soulmeld!:tongue:
This build has attempted to completely abide by RAI. This means I should mention a few things:

BaB and saves?

RAW, the savage progression class does not specifically say that racial BaB and save bonuses should be recalculated. The original template, however, strongly implies so. It's obviously too late to increase skill points, but if Nightmare ends up with 14 instead of 15 BaB and tweaks her will/fortitude save, that's fine and doesn't impact anything too much. All of the important BaB thresholds were met in time, losing 1 BaB at ECL 19 is fine.

Hit-and-run tactics?

So, hit and run tactics are an ACF from drow of the underdark, under the "drow fighter" category. It is generally accepted that they're nor unique to the drow, and can be used by anyone. I'm willing to recognize that some DMs might prefer them to be unique to the drow, in which case, no biggy: it's a small boost to power, but Nightmare can easily manage without it. It's mainly there to further enhance improved initiative.

Non-psionic phrenic?

Yes. This is perfectly legal from a RAW perspective, and I believe it also works thematically and RAI. Nightmare was born to a strand of Thri-Kreen who were not psionic creatures, but she was born a freak of nature – a creature with immense mental power where none should've been. The fact that another strand of her species just happens to have completely different innate psionic powers has nothing to do with it. Just like an albino child of a dark skin family can be born, without any connection to the typical brighter skin of other members of our species. The powers are there for a different reason, and they are different powers. It's just convergence, and a surface-level convergence at that. This all works, in my opinion.

Partial actions? What the hell?

Yeah, I get it, I'm not a fan of 3.0 stuff too a lot of the time. That being said, this is official content and as far as I can tell, I'm using it exactly as intended. Lots of the time partial action stuff has been updated, it's been updated to extra attacks, not extra standard actions. Here, however the examples given of actions include attacks, using a magic item or casting a spell – so using SLAs and death blow coup de grace seems to be perfectly within intended use.

Where is multidexterity?

So, one of the reasons it was important to me not to pull off any silly RAW nonsense in this build was this: multidexterity is stupid and I didn't want to have to take it, so I wanted this build to be able to make an argument from "reasonable DM" and "faithful interpretation of the rules" perspectives.

Mutiweapon fighting is explicitly called out in its "special" section as "replacing" twf for creatures with more than 2 arms. Improved multiweapon fighting has the exact same stipulation, referring to improved two weapon fighting. It also requires having multidexterity, which again calls itself a replacement for ambidexterity.

Here's the thing: if multitasking itself required ambidexterity, I would swallow the dead feat and shut up. Since the only time I'm required to take the feat is for a feat that is explicitly replacing ITWF, and it requires a feat that explicitly replaces ambidexterity, it seems reasonable to say that since ambidexterity is no longer a feat, and since two weapon fighting feats no longer require it, the replacements for both of them would follow. I can see and understand a sensible elegance reduction for this, but I don't think this should be thought of as illegal, or as a failure to qualify for improved multiweapon fighting.

Now, assuming a DM (or a judge, I guess) would reject this argument, Nightmare would have to resort to taking the feeble flaw, and use the granted feat from that to take multidexterity. That would suck, of course, but c'est la vie.

All sources have either been noted/linked in-text or are in the SRD.

[Thurbane]

Maybe somebody say this images are scary. Maybe say - disgust. I think they are cute and piteous.
Warning. Under spoiler images of eyeless cat. Open and look at your peril!
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/uploads/2020/09/5n22k-real-life-halloween-cat-5.jpg
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/uploads/2020/09/w26bk-real-life-halloween-cat-4.jpg

This cat was born in a mid-winter and all were wrong from the very outset. Her lack of eyes, her humanoid’s form's vestigial wings, her hairlessness, her chill… No wonder that the next spring there was one more homeless kitten.
This was good for her because cat form matures faster. If it wasn’t so… Blind child can’t survive without help. Blind kitten with humanlike mind by contrast can and Winter was able. She stole, she killed, she did all that were needed. Birds, rodents, other cats, Winter hunted and ate all. It was a terrible childhood.
But she not only hunted, she also was watching with her weird eyeless vision and studying. To talk, to write, to know. She had dreams. Very strange and scary dreams. She saw some symbols in these dreams. Symbols wanted to be drawn. And Winter drew one.
This was the main decision in her life. Powers that had been open behind Signs were very usefulness. Winter was able to disguise her appearance and to be more convincing. She understanded value of gold and the power of lies to this moment. And she started taking another's money and, if it was needed, another's life. Stealing, death antecedents, scam, Winter’s life started to get better.

Binder 13/Soul Eater 7 Unseelie Tibbit

Abilities Initial Tibbit Unseelie Fey Levels Total
STR 9 -2 -2 5
DEX 10 2 2 14
CON 14 -2 12
INT 12 12
WIS 14 14
CHA 17 2 5 24

Level Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Reflex Save Will Save Skills Feats Class Features Favorite Vestiges (Max level)
1st Binder-1 0 2 0 2 12: {+4} Bluff: 4; {+1} Intimidate: 1; {+2} Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Knowledge (religion): 1; {+4} Knowledge (the planes): 4; Don't Mind Me (1st) Darkvision, Feline Transformation, Unusable Insectlike Wings, Winter Chill, Damage Reduction, Iron Vulnerability, Blindsight 30 ft., Soul binding (1 vestige) Naberius, Ronove (1st)
2nd Binder-2 1 3 0 3 3: {+1} Bluff: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 2; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Knowledge (religion): 1; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 5; Pact augmentation (1 ability), suppress sign Naberius, Ronove (1st)
3rd Binder-3 2 3 1 3 3: {+1} Bluff: 6; {+1} Intimidate: 3; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 5; {+1} Sense Motive: 1; Weapon Focus (Claw) (3th) Malphas (2nd)
4th Binder-4 3 4 1 4 3: {+1} Bluff: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 5; {+1} Sense Motive: 2; Improved Binding (Bonus) Bonus feat Malphas (3rd)
5th Binder-5 3 4 1 4 3: {+1} Bluff: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 5; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Knowledge (religion): 2; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 2; Pact augmentation (2 abilities) Malphas, Astaroth (4th)
6th Binder-6 4 5 2 5 3: {+1} Bluff: 9; {+1} Intimidate: 6; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Knowledge (religion): 3; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 2; Travel Devotion (6th) Soul guardian (immune to fear) Tenebrous, Astaroth (4th)
7th Binder-7 5 5 2 5 3: {+1} Bluff: 10; {+1} Intimidate: 7; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 3; Knowledge (religion): 3; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 2; Tenebrous, Astaroth (4th)
8th Binder-8 6 6 2 6 3: Bluff: 10; {+1} Intimidate: 8; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 4; {+1} Knowledge (religion): 4; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 2; Soul binding (2 vestiges) Acererak, Tenebrous (5th)
9th Binder-9 6 6 3 6 3: Bluff: 10; {+1} Intimidate: 9; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 5; {+1} Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 2; Alertness (9th) Soul guardian (slippery mind) Acererak, Tenebrous (5th)
10th Binder-10 7 7 3 7 3: Bluff: 10; {+1} Concentration: 1; {+1} Intimidate: 10; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; {+1} Sense Motive: 3; Pact augmentation (3 abilities) Zceryl, Desharis (6th)
11th Binder-11 8 7 3 7 3: Bluff: 10; {+1} Concentration: 2; {+1} Intimidate: 11; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; {+1} Sense Motive: 4; Favored Vestige (Zceryll) (Bonus) Bonus feat Zceryl, Desharis (6th)
12th Binder-12 9 8 4 8 3: Bluff: 10; {+1} Concentration: 3; {+1} Intimidate: 12; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; {+1} Sense Motive: 5; Rapid Recovery (Zceryll) (12th) Zceryl, Desharis (6th)
13th Binder-13 9 8 4 8 3: Bluff: 10; {+1} Concentration: 4; {+1} Intimidate: 13; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; {+1} Sense Motive: 6; Soul guardian (immune to energy drain and negative levels) Zceryl, Marchosias (7th)
14th Soul Eater-1 10 10 6 10 5: Bluff: 10; {+1} Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 14; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 6; {+1} Move Silently: 1; {+1} Listen: 1; {+1} Spot: 1; Energy drain 1 Zceryl, Chupoclops (7th)
15th Soul Eater-2 11 11 7 11 5: Bluff: 10; Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 15; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 6; {+1} Hide: 1; Move Silently: 1; {+1} Listen: 2; {+1} Spot: 2; {+1} Jump: 1; Harvester of Souls (15th) Soul strength Zceryl, Chupoclops (7th)
16th Soul Eater-3 12 11 7 11 5: Bluff: 10; Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 16; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 6; Hide: 1; {+1} Move Silently: 2; {+1} Listen: 3; {+1} Spot: 3; {+1} Jump: 2; Soul blast Zceryl, Chupoclops (7th)
17th Soul Eater-4 13 12 8 12 5: Bluff: 10; Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 17; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 6; {+1} Hide: 2; Move Silently: 2; {+1} Listen: 4; {+1} Spot: 4; {+1} Jump: 3; Soul enhancement Zceryl, Chupoclops (7th)
18th Soul Eater-5 14 12 8 12 5: Bluff: 10; Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 18; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 6; Hide: 2; {+1} Move Silently: 3; {+1} Listen: 5; {+1} Spot: 5; {+1} Jump: 4; Life Drain (18th) Soul endurance Zceryl, Chupoclops (7th)
19th Soul Eater-6 15 13 9 13 5: Bluff: 10; Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 19; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 6; {+1} Hide: 3; Move Silently: 3; {+1} Listen: 6; {+1} Spot: 6; {+1} Jump: 5; Soul radiance Zceryl, Chupoclops (7th)
20th Soul Eater-7 16 13 9 13 5: Bluff: 10; Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 20; Knowledge (arcana): 5; Knowledge (religion): 5; Knowledge (the planes): 5; Sense Motive: 6; Hide: 3; {+1} Move Silently: 4; {+1} Listen: 7; {+1} Spot: 7; {+1} Jump: 6; Energy drain 2 Zceryl, Chupoclops (7th)


First levels Winter was almost a regular binder. When she often changed favorite vestiges.
Naberius for humanoid form. It helped in social interactions and when Winter was needed to escape.
Ronove for cat form. Far hand for manipulating objects. Steal something, drop something on her victim, push somebody. And the sprint was helpful in running away.
Malphas is amazing! With him Winter was able to see! It can be useful until 19 ECL when Winter will obtain an alternative way to take see. But after a short time she was disappointed in a see and used this vestige only for utilitarian purposes.
Astaroth on the other hand is always only useful. But his usefulness is ultimate. Ability to create magic items is one of the best abilities in the game. It is tricky to provide necessary spells for binder, but this is a solvable problem. Especially with Zceryl's summons that will come latter.

Tenebrous gives his deeper darkness - let enemies feel what it means be not able to see. And he works as unlimited fuel for Travel Devotion.
Acererak’s paralyzing touch with the unseelie fey’s Winter Chill is a combination that gives the best opportunity to do coup de grace.
Zceryl is the main weapon starting with 10th level. Winter summons almost infinite numbers of creatures. And with Desharis’s animated objects this can be a serious power.

With every level Zceryl can do more and more. New summons aren’t all. With the first level of Soul Eater infinite summons means a very big amount of temporal HP. As like with Harvester of Souls.
Chupoclops gives a pounce, ghost touch and -2 for attacks, damage, and saves. Cool!

Six level of Soul Eater and Zceryl. Winter can be anything that she can summon. And, as I read, she can change forms every round with selection from every creatures that she killed via Energy drain during last 24 hours. More cruel reading is forcing Winter to kill summons immediately before shapechange. It gives less flexibly, but still is useful.
There are several very valuable options.
First and the main.
Souleater from Magic of Incarnum (p. 194). Its Consume Soul ability with infinite summons, for example, 12 HD Huge Monstrous Crab (Stormwrack, p. 142), isn’t only many temporal hp, but also a big bonus to attack and saves. If Winter spends an hour preparing she’ll have ~+15900 hp (3 attacks for 6 level drain - +72 hp; Consume Soul - +10 hp; Harvester of Souls - +24 hp; repeat 150 times) and +150 to attacks and saves.

Second form - for fighting needs.
Piscoloth from Fiend Folio (p. 196). 10 natural attacks - 10 or 20 negative levels. If somebody survives - 8 of attacks have a Paralysis rider effect with DC up to 24 or 27 (I don’t know if DC is Cha based or Con based).

Other commonly used forms.
Solamith is Tanar’ri from MM5 (p. 28). He can trade his hp for damage via Soulfire ability. 24 damage in 40 ft with price of 20 hp. Damage isn’t very big, but against bug numbers of weak enemies this is a good option.
Justice Archon from MM4 (p. 80) - supernatural Teleport!
Arrow Demon - MM3 (p. 34) for obvious reasons. Sometimes everyone needs to shoot several arrows in somebody.
Invisible Stalker and his Natural Invisibility from MM1 (p. 160).
Artaaglith from Ghostwalk (p. 157) gives Rebuke Undead for Travel Devotion and maybe spellcasting as 5th level cleric (this is debatable).
Amnizu from Fiendish Codex II (p. 112). Stupefying Touch is a very good option against wizards as against creatures with low Int.
Equinal from Book of Exalted Deeds (p. 173) gives Lay on Hands if Winter needs to heal somebody and a good speed of 60 ft.

Honorable mentions.
Skulvyn - Fiend Folio (p. 54) - swim 50 ft.
Aoa Droplet - Fiend Folio (p. 15) - fly 50 ft. (perfect).
Coure - Book of Exalted Deeds (p. 168) - incorporeal Alternate Form.
Musteval - Book of Exalted Deeds (p. 173) - tiny size.
Kaorti - Fiend Folio (p. 108) - kaorti resin.
Shadow Mastiff - Monster Manual (p. 222) - Shadow Blend.
Guardinal, Cervidal - MM2 (p. 42) - Horn Powers: neutralize poison, remove disease, dispel illusion, and dismissal. May be useful.
Gulthir - MM5 (p. 32) - Swallow of Domination. No save until victim is inside!
Achaierai - MM1 (p. 9) - Black Cloud - 3 hours insanity.
And two levels drain instead of one, of course!

Tome of Magic - Binder, Binder's feats, Vestiges
Web (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070718) - Zceryll
Web (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070307a) - Astaroth, Desharis
Web (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fools/20030401c) - Don't Mind Me
PHB - Weapon Focus, Alertness
Dragon Compendium - Tibbit, Unseelie Fey
Complete Champion - Travel Devotion
Selected Ingredients - Harvester of Souls, Soul Eater
Libris Mortis: The Book of the Dead - Life Drain

[Thurbane]

Ash the Badger

Unseelie Fey Hengeyokai (Badger) Duskblade 5, Black Blood Cultist 5, Soul Eater 10

https://loginportal.funnyjunk.com/pictures/Evil_7d34bb_258071.jpg


Ash was born a misfit, rejected and beaten by his father after his mother got impregnated by a fey one time she was out too long in the forest. From birth, he was a deformed mess, half-human, half-animal, and half fey. Yes that makes three halves.
At the age of 5, he decided that the society didn't deserve him. He departed and decided to live in the forest with his real father, while swearing to one day put a sword through his father's chest. His father, the fey king, welcomed him and decided to teach him spellcasting so that he integrate bette with other fey. But Ash always kept some time for himself to learn the way of the sword by himself. But the fey king used him for weird and painful experiment, until he noticed that he got the power and the curse to kill everyone he merely touches. After he realized that even the fey would never fully accept him because of his nature, he fled once again and decided to instead embrace his third half to become a savage black blood cultist. But the heritage of the king's experiments didn't vanish, and when he killed his opponent, he couldn't help but eat their souls in a swift movement. With this, he came back to his village and, in no more than 6 seconds, as a badger, he entered his old house, paralysed his father with a single claw strike, then ate his soul. He then went back to the forest, hoping to taste many more delicious souls.

The legend says that when children don't listen to their parent, Ash the badger may come to them on the night of Halloween and eat their soul in one swift motion, leaving no time to anybody to react.


Abilities Initial Race / Template 4th 8th 12th 16th 20th
STR 8 8 8 8 8 8
DEX 8 8 8 8 8 8
CON 14 2 16 16 16 16 16
INT 18 19* 20* 21* 22* 22
WIS 10 -2 8 10 10 10 10
CHA 15 15 15 15 15 16*

Level Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Reflex Save Will Save Skills Feats Class Features
1st Duskblade 1 1 2 0 2 24: {+4} Knowledge (Arcana): 4; {+4} Knowledge (Nature): 4; {+4 CC} Survival: 2; {+4} Spellcraft: 4; {+4} Concentration: 4; {+4 CC} Sleight of Hand: 2; Weapon Focus (Claw), Weapon Finesse (Badger form), Track (Badger form) Arcane attunement, armored mage (light)
2nd Duskblade 2 2 3 0 3 6: {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 5; {+1} Knowledge (Nature): 5; {+1 CC} Survival: 2.5; {+1} Spellcraft: 5; {+1} Concentration: 5; {+1 CC} Sleight of Hand: 2.5; Combat Casting (Duskblade)
3rd Duskblade 3 3 3 1 3 6: {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 6; {+1} Knowledge (Nature): 6; {+1 CC} Survival: 3; {+1} Spellcraft: 6; {+1} Concentration: 6; {+1 CC} Sleight of Hand: 3; Alertness Arcane channeling
4th Duskblade 4 4 4 1 4 6: {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 7; {+1} Knowledge (Nature): 7; {+1 CC} Survival: 3.5; {+1} Spellcraft: 7; {+1} Concentration: 7; {+1 CC} Sleight of Hand: 3.5; Armored Mage (Medium)
5th Duskblade 5 5 4 1 4 6: {+1} Knowledge (Arcana): 8; {+1} Knowledge (Nature): 8; {+1 CC} Survival: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 8; {+1} Concentration: 8; {+1 CC} Sleight of Hand: 4; Quick Cast (1/day)
6th Soul Eater 1 6 6 3 6 8: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 4; {+5} Intimidate: 5; {+1} Spellcraft: 9; {+1} Concentration: 9; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Search: 1; Improved Unarmed Strike Energy Drain 1
7th Soul Eater 2 7 7 4 7 8: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 4; {+4} Intimidate: 9; {+1} Spellcraft: 10; {+1} Concentration: 10; Sleight of Hand: 4; Search: 1; {+2} Never Outnumbered; Soul Strength
8th Soul Eater 3 8 7 4 7 9: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 4; {+2} Intimidate: 11; {+1} Spellcraft: 11; {+1} Concentration: 11; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+5} Search: 6; Never Outnumbered; Soul Blast
9th Soul Eater 4 9 8 5 8 9: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; {+4 CC} Survival: 6; {+1} Intimidate: 12; Spellcraft: 11; Concentration: 11; {+2 CC} Sleight of Hand: 5; Search: 6; {+2} Hide: 2; Never Outnumbered; Improved Energy Drain Soul Enhancement
10th Soul Eater 5 10 8 5 8 9: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 6; {+1} Intimidate: 13; {+2} Spellcraft: 13; Concentration: 11; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+4} Move Silently: 4; Search: 6; {+2} Hide: 4; Never Outnumbered; Soul Endurance
11th Soul Eater 6 11 9 6 9 9: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; {+2 CC} Survival: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 14; Spellcraft: 13; Concentration: 11; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+4} Move Silently: 8; Search: 6; {+2} Hide: 6; Never Outnumbered; Soul Radiance
12th Soul Eater 7 12 9 6 9 9: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 15; Spellcraft: 13; Concentration: 11; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+4} Move Silently: 12; {+3} Search: 9; {+1} Hide: 7; Never Outnumbered; Snap Kick Energy Drain 2
13th Soul Eater 8 13 10 7 10 9: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; {+2 CC} Survival: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 16; Spellcraft: 13; Concentration: 11; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+4} Move Silently: 16; Search: 9; Hide: 7; {+2} Conceal Spellcasting, Never Outnumbered; Soul Agility
14th Black Blood Cultist 1 13 12 9 10 9: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 17; Spellcraft: 13; {+3} Concentration: 14; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+1} Move Silently: 17; {+4} Search: 13; Hide: 7; Conceal Spellcasting, Never Outnumbered; Feral rage (claws), damage reduction 1/silver
15th Black Blood Cultist 2 14 13 10 10 9: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 18; Spellcraft: 13; {+3} Concentration: 17; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+1} Move Silently: 18; {+4} Search: 17; Hide: 7; Conceal Spellcasting, Never Outnumbered; Travel Devotion, Improved Grapple (Black Blood Cultist)
16th Black Blood Cultist 3 15 13 10 10 10: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 19; Spellcraft: 13; {+2} Concentration: 19; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+1} Move Silently: 19; {+1} Search: 18; {+3} Hide: 10; {+2} Swift Concentration, Conceal Spellcasting, Never Outnumbered; Feral rage (bite)
17th Black Blood Cultist 4 16 14 11 11 10: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 20; Spellcraft: 13; {+1} Concentration: 20; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+1} Move Silently: 20; {+1} Search: 19; {+6} Hide: 16; Swift Concentration, Conceal Spellcasting, Never Outnumbered; Scent, DR 3/silver
18th Black Blood Cultist 5 16 14 11 11 10: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 21; Spellcraft: 13; {+1} Concentration: 21; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+1} Move Silently: 21; {+2} Search: 21; {+5} Hide: 21; Swift Concentration, Conceal Spellcasting, Never Outnumbered; Harvester of Souls Stranglehold
19th Soul Eater 9 17 14 11 11 10: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 22; {+8} Spellcraft: 21; {+1} Concentration: 22; Sleight of Hand: 5; Move Silently: 21; Search: 21; Hide: 21; Swift Concentration, Conceal Spellcasting, Never Outnumbered; Soul Slave
20th Soul Eater 10 18 15 12 12 10: Knowledge (Arcana): 8; Knowledge (Nature): 8; Survival: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 23; {+2} Spellcraft: 23; {+1} Concentration: 23; Sleight of Hand: 5; {+2} Move Silently: 23; {+2} Search: 23; {+2} Hide: 23; Swift Concentration, Conceal Spellcasting, Never Outnumbered; Soul Power

Spells: 0th: All of them, but mostly touch of fatigue
1st: Blade of Blood, Chill Touch, Swift expeditious retreat, True Strike
2nd: Ghoul Touch




Ash is a badger hengeyokai and spends most of his time as a badger to take advantage of Weapon Finesse. He acts like a normal Duskblade, but also uses Blade of Blood to start his badger rage (to note is that the badger rage is distinct from the barbarian's and doesn't restrict spellcasting). Swift expeditious retreat can help him chase enemies with mobility options.

Ash can now apply some energy drain to each and every one of his natural weapon attacks, greatly increasing his damage output. Improved Energy Drain allows him to be even more dangerous as the fight goes on. Soul Strength and Endurance make the badger's stats stay relevant. Improved Unarmed Strike can probably be argued to be made with the rear legs of the badger, which allows to stack them with claw attacks.
More Soul Eaterness is as good as ever, with twice the energy drain, soul radiance, soul agility... Nothing much to see here, it's just increasing the power. Snap kick gives Ash another attack per round to inflict negative levels with and Travel Devotion is a nice tool to get into melee and full attack anyway. The badger rage allows Ash to enter Black Blood cultist, but apart from giving him another pool of rage (possibly stackable, but not allowing spellcasting) and some DR that, added to Unseelie Fey's one, will be very hard to completely bypass, BBC doesn't give him much.
The level 5 of BBC give Ash the Stranglehold ability. It's also the moment where Ash takes the Harvester of Souls feat. If all goes well, Ash can now, in one round: use a swift action to Travel Devotion into melee, use a standard action to hit the opponent while channeling a ghoul touch, then use a move action to eat the poor person's soul with Harvester of Souls, making him a reasonably dangerous ambush predator for adventurers (who's gonna suspect a badger anyway?). Maxed Move Silently and Hide with the badger stats and Soul Agility will make the surprise round almost a certainty (barring Foresight spells).


Complete Champion: Travel Devotion
ToB: Snap Kick
Libris Mortis: Improved Energy Drain
BoVD: Soul Eater
Elder Evils: Harvester of Souls
PHBII: Duskblade, Swift Expeditious Retreat
Dragon Compendium: Unseelie Fey
Oriental Adventures: Hengeyokai
Champions of Ruin variant: Black Blood Cultist
Complete Scoundrel: Skill tricks (and this is the only source I've taken more than one thing from)

[Thurbane]

https://www.desktopbackground.org/download/800x600/2012/06/20/408434_samurai-wallpapers-by-nihilusdesigns-on-deviantart_1920x1080_h.jpg

Tsujigiri was an orphan. He was found near one of the Crane clan village. He was a scary infant. With sharp teeth, hard nails and covered in dark, dark scales. The flip side of his terribleness were his power and vitality. He was born to be a fighter and he became a fighter. Powerful strikes and ultra violence are his two main distinguishing features. And they amazingly were combined with total loyalty to the clan. It is not surprising that he was noticed by one of Crane aristocrats and promoted to the samurai.
He entered a new role with all his desire to serve and showed promise. But his dark legacy had manifested itself. It was not only teeth and scales, but a strong connection with negative energy dimension. He started to die. His suzerain, though, didn’t want to lose such a warrior. And a solution had been found. Dark ritual, that gave Tsujigiri ability to feed on souls. Mainly souls of enemies. So he went from warrior to assassin and saboteur. It isn't an approved way for true samurai, but every overlord needs men like that.
He killed. Many, many people. Thousands and thousands of them. Enemies and random defenseless passers-by. But he never forgot his sword. He was despised by all who know about him, everybody believes that bushido isn’t for him, not his way. But you don’t need anybody's belief to go this path.


Half Shadow Dragon Human of Crane clan Fighter 4/Samurai 2/Soul Eater 10/Warblade 1

Abilities Initial Half-Dragon 4th 8th 12th 16th Total
STR 16 8 24
DEX 14 14
CON 16 2 1 1 1 1 22
INT 12 2 14
WIS 10 10
CHA 8 2 10

Level Class BAB Fort Reflex Will Skills Feats Class Features
1st Fighter-1 1 2 0 2 16: {+2} Diplomacy: 2; {+2} Intimidate: 2; {+4} Jump: 4; {+4 CC} Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+4} Tumble: 4; Improved Initiative (1st), Alertness (Hum), Weapon Focus (Bite) (B), Power Attack (Flaw - Frail) Bonus feat
2nd Fighter-2 2 3 0 3 4: {+1} Diplomacy: 3; {+1} Intimidate: 3; {+1} Jump: 5; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Tumble: 5; Combat Reflexes (B) Bonus feat
3rd Fighter-3 3 4 0 3 4: {+1} Diplomacy: 4; {+1} Intimidate: 4; {+1} Jump: 6; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Tumble: 6; Death Blow (3rd)
4th Samurai-1 4 5 0 3 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+5} Iaijutsu Focus: 5; Intimidate: 4; Jump: 6; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Tumble: 7; Ancestral daisho
5th Samurai-2 5 5 1 4 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+3} Iaijutsu Focus: 8; Intimidate: 4; {+2} Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Tumble: 8; Quick Draw (B) Bonus feat
6th Soul Eater-1 6 6 1 4 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 9; {+1} Intimidate: 5; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+2} Move Silently: 2; {+1 CC} Tumble: 8.5; Dragon Breath (6th) Energy drain 1
7th Soul Eater-2 7 8 3 6 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 10; Intimidate: 5; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Move Silently: 2; {+2} Spot: 2; {+2 CC} Tumble: 9.5; Soul strength
8th Soul Eater-3 8 9 4 7 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 11; {+2} Hide: 2; Intimidate: 5; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Move Silently: 2; Spot: 2; {+2 CC} Tumble: 10.5; Soul blast
9th Soul Eater-4 9 9 4 7 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 12; Hide: 2; Intimidate: 5; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Listen: 1; Move Silently: 2; Spot: 2; {+3 CC} Tumble: 12; Cleave (9th) Soul enhancement
10th Soul Eater-5 10 10 5 8 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 13; {+1} Hide: 3; Intimidate: 5; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Listen: 1; {+1} Move Silently: 3; Spot: 2; Tumble: 12; {+2} Acrobatic Backstab; Soul endurance
11th Soul Eater-6 11 10 5 8 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 14; Hide: 3; Intimidate: 5; {+2} Jump: 10; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+1} Listen: 2; Move Silently: 3; {+1} Spot: 3; Tumble: 12; Acrobatic Backstab; Soul radiance
12th Soul Eater-7 12 11 6 9 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 15; {+2} Hide: 5; Intimidate: 5; Jump: 10; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Listen: 2; {+2} Move Silently: 5; Spot: 3; Tumble: 12; Acrobatic Backstab; Harvester of Souls (12th) Energy drain 2
13th Soul Eater-8 13 11 6 9 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 16; Hide: 5; Intimidate: 5; Jump: 10; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+2} Listen: 4; Move Silently: 5; {+2} Spot: 5; Tumble: 12; Acrobatic Backstab; Soul agility
14th Soul Eater-9 14 12 7 10 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 17; {+2} Hide: 7; Intimidate: 5; Jump: 10; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Listen: 4; {+2} Move Silently: 7; Spot: 5; Tumble: 12; Acrobatic Backstab; Soul slave
15th Fighter-4 15 12 7 10 4: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 18; Hide: 7; Intimidate: 5; {+2} Jump: 12; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Listen: 4; Move Silently: 7; Spot: 5; Tumble: 12; Acrobatic Backstab; Mercurial Strike (15th), Robilar's Gambit (B) Bonus feat
16th Soul Eater-10 16 13 8 11 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 19; Hide: 7; Intimidate: 5; Jump: 12; Knowledge (arcana): 2; {+2} Listen: 6; Move Silently: 7; {+2} Spot: 7; Tumble: 12; Acrobatic Backstab; Soul power
17th Warblade-1 17 15 8 11 6: Diplomacy: 4; {+2 CC} Iaijutsu Focus: 20; Hide: 7; {+2} Intimidate: 7; {+2} Jump: 14; Knowledge (arcana): 2; Listen: 6; Move Silently: 7; Spot: 7; Tumble: 12; Acrobatic Backstab; Battle clarity (Reflex saves), Weapon aptitude

Warblade's Maneuvers (IL 9): Death from Above, Pouncing Charge, Claw at the Moon.
Warblade's Stances: Blood in the Water.

Tumble is class instead of Ride due to Skilled City-Dweller ACF from Urban Class Features (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)
Diplomacy is class due to Human (Crane).

I can take 2 levels feat rouge instead of fighter's 3rd and 4th and flaw. But, first, this is -1 BAB, second, out of character theme.

ECL Ancestral daisho New Abilities Max Weapon Bonus
7th +1 +1 +2
9th +1 - +3
11th +1 Necrotic Focus Necrotic Focus +4
13th +1 Necrotic Focus Ghost Touch Ghost Touch +5
14th +1 Necrotic Focus Ghost Strike Ghost Strike +6
15th +1 Necrotic Focus Ghost Strike Keen Keen +7
16th +1 Necrotic Focus Ghost Strike Keen - +8
17th +1 Necrotic Focus Ghost Strike Keen Paralytic burst Paralytic burst +9
18th +1 Necrotic Focus Ghost Strike Keen Paralytic burst Merciful Merciful +10
If Tsujigiri can find way to get Focus (enchantment gives +4 for Iaijutsu Focus checks) for 2400 gp only it'll be great!



Tsujigiri is a regular Fighter/Samurai now. Of course as regular as can be half-dragon. Most of his abilities are only at the start.

Tsujigiri became a Soul Eater and awakened his dragon heritage. He can do full attack for 3 negative levels and use Breath every 1d4 rounds. First SI levels Tsujigiri keeps his sword in his sheath, but since 11th ECL can channel Energy drain through it and daitō became the main and almost single weapon from this day forward.
Soul Eater’s features give Tsujigiri some brutal power, but also infiltration option with Soul radiance, too.
Before entering battle Tsujigiri quite often feeds his sword with the soul-another of very unlucky passers-by. This gives him temporal HP via Energy drain and possibly Harvester of Souls plus to ability enchantments.

Now all gets together.
First. Soul slave. Wights under Tsujigiri’s command aren’t only cannon fodder. And Tsujigiri doesn’t hide from the battle. Wights are combat advantage. When Tsujigiri and at least one wight are near the enemy, Tsujigiri commands to wight: “Freeze!” Next, he tries to do a coup de grace with bare claws against it. His daitō is in the sheath. CdG provokes AoO. Due to Robilar's Gambit and Mercurial Strike, Tsujigiri responds to attack with his own AoO using Iaijutsu Focus (+22 check (+26 with Focus) - up to +8d6 damage). Next, he completes CdG with his Ghost Strike daitō and drops the wight (only 24 hp, this isn’t hard) and due to Cleave strikes the enemy again. One standard action - two attacks. And he still has move to sheathe his blade and be able to AoO with Iaijutsu Focus again or repeat combination on the next round.
Extra +4 damage from Robilar's Gambit overlapped by temp HPs from successful using Harvester of Souls feat in spades.
Second. Soul Power.

Further, any and all spell-like or supernatural abilities the soul eater possesses may be used twice as often as normal during that 24-hour period
Twice as often. Not two times more or double the number of uses. Twice as often. Breath Weapon is a supernatural ability and can be used with frequency of d4 rounds. This means Tsujigiri can use his Cone of energy drain every d4/2 rounds. It’s not clear which way to round, but anyway maximum is 2 rounds. Minimum 0 or 1, depends on.
Third. Wight slave + Blood in the Water + Merciful Ghost Strike weapon + Coup de Grace. Infinity bonus on attack and damage rolls. Limited only by the Tsujigiri’s need to sleep.

In addition to all things above, Tsujigiri has four daitō attacks (+27/+22/+17/+12) and one bite attack (+23).

And, this are worth mentioning:
Warblade’s Death from Above is another way to catch an enemy flat-footed.
Pouncing Charge always is good.


PHB - Fighter, Improved Initiative, Alertness, Weapon Focus, Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Quick Draw, Cleave
DMG - Ghost Touch, Merciful, Keen
MIC - Ghost Strike, Paralytic burst, Necrotic Focus
BoVD - Soul Eater
RoD - Dragon Breath, Shadow half-dragon,
OA (Dr#318) - Samurai, Human (Crane), Focus
UA - Frail
CS - Acrobatic Backstab
CAdv - Death Blow
EE - Harvester of Souls
DC - Mercurial Strike
PHBII - Robilar's Gambit
ToB - Warblade, Death from Above, Pouncing Charge, Claw at the Moon, Blood in the Water

[Thurbane]

... ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ Dorn Tan Maka Nilda Olbu Iva Sniggi Furdeim Shassi Nhehned Hulal John Smith Brau Fusedreamer Fido Nullun RainshoutDerek II Mi Cheim Om Du Gorkor the Great Bloupsi Hodruz Estornus Furbog Vemmy, Gentle Mind Nymurrh Galglentor?

"I like your body. Give it to me."


"I", CE venerable dragonwrought variant kobold (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a), Psion 5 Anarchic Initiate 4 Battledancer 1 Soul Eater 10

Abilities Initial Race / Template 4th 8th 12th 16th 20th
STR 14 10 10 10 10 10 10
DEX 10 12 12 12 12 12 12
CON 14 12 13 14 14 14 14
INT 15 18 18 18 19 20 21
WIS 9 12 12 12 12 12 12
CHA 15 18 18 18 18 18 18



Galglentor, ancient gold dragon, struggling to stand, looked at the one he thought of as a friend: ”Nymurrh, you traitor… Why did you turn against me like that? You were my brother, my partner! How could you... No, that’s not it, is it? Nymurrh had no reason to ambush me, he wouldn’t gain anything of it and knew better than most the punishment for a bronze dragon attacking a gold one. No, you’re not him, are you? I saw him last week, and you spied on us. You thought you could reach me if you wore his guise. But since you knew of this meeting, you must have gotten the information I Sent him last sunday. You monster… Did you kill my friend during the last three days? Answer me!!”

The old bronze dragon had a joyless smile: “Well deducted. Nymurrh is indeed dead, but was it really me who killed him? I do remember my claws draining the last drop of energy out of his soul, but was it really me? Or just somebody that happened to look like me and share my memories?”

“… You’re crazy.", the gold dragon uttered when he understood the question was genuine.

“I have a question to ask you. As you are now, defeated, with more blood on your scales than you should be able to live without, surrounded by my wraiths and with most of your energy drained, you should be well-placed to answer it. You’re one of the most intelligent creatures on this earth, you should know that, don’t you? The slightest touch from me would stop that little heart of yours, so you are probably thinking about it right now. When… does somebody truly die?”
“I’m not gonna…!”
“Your answer doesn’t matter. It’s almost funny, in a sense, but I’ve heard so many answers. For commoners, it’s when you bleed out or get sick. For generals, it’s when your expertise isn’t worth spending diamonds on resurrection anymore. For rich lazy merchants, it’s when they lose their domain and wealth and you have nobody left to raise your corpse. For kings, and dragons, they usually say that you can only die when your natural time has come. Some truly amazing people believe they don’t really die before they’re forgotten, and it’s actually true for gods. And of course, the most common answer is that you don’t really die until your soul is destroyed in the Outer Planes after you died once in the Prime.
As I said, your answer doesn’t matter, because today, you’ll die in every way possible. You’ll die because all your energy will be drained. You’ll die because no one will bother resurrecting you. You’ll die because there will be no soul left for resurrecting. And finally, you’ll die because in a few years, the only one they will remember… is me.

Say hello to Anukka for me, Gal!”

At these words, Galglentor opened wide eyes: “Anukka? But… Nymurrh kept his old human wife a secret for more than 50 years after she died! How do you know about her!?”

“And now, a much simpler question for you: for how long do you think I was Nymurrh?”

Nymurrh put his claw on the shoulder of the much bigger gold dragon, almost gently, and sipped the last level Galglentor possessed. And suddenly, there was two gold dragons in the room. One healthy, and one dead. But the new Galglentor wasn’t finished yet. With a thought, the corpse started breathing again. Galglentor ceremoniously ripped the beating heart out of the dragon’s chest. In this heart, he could hear the screaming soul of the ancient dragon. And in a crunch, it was over. Tomorrow, he’d have to send people searching for Nymurrh, and to mourn the disappearance of his friend. Maybe even gather other dragons from the senate for a ceremonial resurrection. It would not work, of course. Even if Nymurrh hadn’t had his soul eaten, there was no corpse to resurrect, and the one most dragons remembered as Nymurrh was still alive anyway. The only conclusion would be that he was gone. So completely as to not leave a single clue as to what happened to him, not even a memory of who he truly was. That was the answer he came up with. When does somebody truly die?

But was that really the answer he sought? Or even the right question? Galglentor remembered last night. When he was created. “I” used fission to split his mind into two. “I” was Nymurrh, and there was a kobold in front of him, weak, unprotected. And then the kobold that would become Galglentor killed “I”, draining all his energy to become Nymurrh himself. A psionic restoration, and he was now the new “I”, complete with body, memories, powers, and mind. But who was the true one? Who was that kobold that decided one day to kill himself to expend a disguise one more day? Galglentor had all his memories, and he was the only one alive right now. Didn’t it mean he was the true one? But he saw this body being created, and the memories before that moment belonged to another body. He was the one who came into existence as a weaker version of someone else. And… He saw the flicker of fear in “I”’s eyes just before he landed the final blow. An emotion he didn’t remember as his own.

What would happen tonight? When he would split his soul, as always, and the new one would kill him to become the new “I”. Would they become one again? Would he feel, and live, and control the new body as one soul? Or would he simply… Disappear, like a fake. The fake he was already, in a sense. The impostor killing the original to become him. Would he feel fear before dying? Can half a soul go to heaven? Can half a soul dream?

He could escape it. Just had to not cast fission. Let the radiance extinguish. Let Galglentor die, never to return. But what would that accomplish? If he remained “I” after the end of the fission, then this would only make him weaker and risk having himself killed, especially so soon after becoming Galglentor, after killing Galglentor. But otherwise, if he was to die tonight and pass the torch to the next “I”, was it worth dying just for his “descendant” to keep power a bit longer? How many of himself did he kill? One? Or thousands? Or none? Is it still worth living if you know the rest of your life has no meaning, no point that you can experience yourself?

....

What would happen if he harvested his own soul?



Level Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Reflex Save Will Save Skills Feats Class Features
1st Psion 1 0 0 0 2 24: {+4} Concentration: 4; {+4} Autohypnosis: 4; {+4} Knowledge (the Planes): 4; {+4} Knowledge (Arcana): 4; {+4} Knowledge (psionics): 4; {+4} Balance: 4; Dragonwrought (Silver), Psicrystal affinity (Psion), Alterness (Psicrystal)
2nd Psion 2 1 0 0 3 6: {+1} Concentration: 5; {+1} Autohypnosis: 5; {+1} Knowledge (the Planes): 5; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; {+1} Knowledge (psionics): 5; {+2} Psicraft: 2; Balance: 4;
3rd Psion 3 1 1 1 3 6: {+1} Concentration: 6; {+1} Autohypnosis: 6; {+1} Knowledge (the Planes): 6; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; {+1} Knowledge (psionics): 6; {+2} Psicraft: 4; Balance: 4; Heighten Power
4th Psion 4 2 1 1 4 6: {+1} Concentration: 7; {+1} Autohypnosis: 7; {+1} Knowledge (the Planes): 7; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; {+1} Knowledge (psionics): 7; {+2} Psicraft: 6; Balance: 4;
5th Psion 5 2 1 1 4 6: {+1} Concentration: 8; {+1} Autohypnosis: 8; {+1} Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; {+1} Knowledge (psionics): 8; {+2} Psicraft: 8; Balance: 4; Overchannel (Psion)
6th Anarchic Initiate 1 2 1 1 6 8: Concentration: 8; Autohypnosis: 8; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 8; Balance: 4; {+8} Bluff: 8; Practiced Manifester Chaotic surge
7th Anarchic Initiate 2 3 1 1 7 8: {+2} Concentration: 10; Autohypnosis: 8; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 8; Balance: 4; {+2} Bluff: 10; {+4} Diplomacy: 4; Anarchic grace
8th Anarchic Initiate 3 4 2 2 7 8: {+1} Concentration: 11; Autohypnosis: 8; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 8; Balance: 4; {+1} Bluff: 11; {+6} Diplomacy: 10; Wild surge +1, psychic enervation
9th Battledancer 1 5 2 4 7 8: {+1} Concentration: 12; {+1} Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; {+4} Psicraft: 12; Balance: 4; {+1} Bluff: 12; {+1} Diplomacy: 11; Improved Unarmed Strike (Battledancer), Weapon Focus-Unarmed Strike) Unarmed Strike, AC bonus
10th Anarchic Initiate 4 6 2 4 8 8: Concentration: 12; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 12; Balance: 4; Bluff: 12; Diplomacy: 11; {+8 CC} Disguise: 4; Clarity of confusion
11th Soul Eater 1 7 4 6 10 8: {+2} Concentration: 14; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; {+2} Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2} Bluff: 14; {+2} Diplomacy: 13; Disguise: 4; Energy drain 1
12th Soul Eater 2 8 5 7 11 8: {+1} Concentration: 15; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 15; Diplomacy: 13; {+2 CC} Disguise: 5; {+1} Spellcraft: 1; {+2} Hide: 2; Extra Power (Psionic Restoration) Soul strength
13th Soul Eater 3 9 5 7 11 8: {+1} Concentration: 16; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 16; Diplomacy: 13; Disguise: 5; {+1} Spellcraft: 2; {+2} Hide: 4; Assume Quirk Skill Trick Soul blast
14th Soul Eater 4 10 6 8 12 8: {+1} Concentration: 17; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 17; Diplomacy: 13; Disguise: 5; {+3} Spellcraft: 5; {+2} Hide: 6; Soul enhancement
15th Soul Eater 5 11 6 8 12 8: {+1} Concentration: 18; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 18; Diplomacy: 13; Disguise: 5; {+3} Spellcraft: 8; {+2} Hide: 8; Extra Power (Fission) Soul endurance
16th Soul Eater 6 12 7 9 13 9: {+1} Concentration: 19; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 19; Diplomacy: 13; Disguise: 5; {+3} Spellcraft: 11; {+3} Hide: 11; Soul radiance
17th Soul Eater 7 13 7 9 13 9: {+1} Concentration: 20; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 20; Diplomacy: 13; Disguise: 5; {+3} Spellcraft: 14; {+3} Hide: 14; Energy drain 2
18th Soul Eater 8 14 8 10 14 9: {+1} Concentration: 21; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 21; Diplomacy: 13; Disguise: 5; {+3} Spellcraft: 17; {+3} Hide: 17; Harvester of Souls Soul agility
19th Soul Eater 9 15 8 10 14 9: {+1} Concentration: 22; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 22; Diplomacy: 13; {+2 CC} Disguise: 6; {+3} Spellcraft: 20; {+1} Hide: 18; Soul slave
20th Soul Eater 10 16 9 11 15 9: {+1} Concentration: 23; Autohypnosis: 9; Knowledge (the Planes): 8; Knowledge (Arcana): 4; Knowledge (psionics): 8; Psicraft: 14; Balance: 4; {+2 CC} Bluff: 23; Diplomacy: 13; {+2 CC} Disguise: 7; {+3} Spellcraft: 23; {+1} Hide: 19; Soul power


Powers Known :
1 (5): Conceal Thoughts, Déjà Vu, Offensive Preconition, Empathy, Psionic Grease
2 (4): Share Pain, Energy Adaptation, Ego whip, Cloud Mind
3 (4): Hustle, Body Adjustment, Dispel Psionics, Solicit Psicrystal,
4 (4): Metamorphosis, Psychic Reformation, Psionic Freedom of Movement, Psionic Dimension Door
5 (2): Psionic Revivify, Tower of Iron Will
6 : Psionic Restoration
7 : Fission

(to note is that Psychic Reformation can change known powers if "I" ever needs something else)




At this point in his life, "I" was just a kobold psion like any other. It's not the reason I chose it (not many nonhumanoid creatures with LA+0 and several natural attacks), but I would lie if I said the +3 to Int from venerable Dragonwrought doesn't help. Overchannel allows him to reach the first augmentation of Ego Whip, which can be pretty devastating (even in later levels)
Even more psionics! Anarchic Initiate is a surprisingly good class, with Chaotic Surge giving an average of +25% on the effect of any power that "I" use Overchannel on. At level 8 and with Overchannel, that's an average of 9 Charisma damage if Ego Whip isn't saved against. Practiced Manifester and Battledancer are preparations for the entry into Soul Eater next level, and improving BAB and Unarmed Strike can be pretty useful after a Metamorphosis.
That's where the build really shines (literally, because... you know. Soul Radiance). Before level 15, "I" really enjoys using three natural weapons plus unarmed strikes to deal negative levels, but will often use Metamorphosis to get more strength and more natural attacks. He can use Heighten Power with Overchannel to be able to manifest 8th level powers (ML=9+4 (Practiced Manifester)+2 (Overchannel)=15), hence being able to use Extra Power to learn Psionic Restoration and especially Fission (even the basic use, doubling your number of negative level per round or using two Ego whips thrice-augmented is pretty good). But level 16 is where everything comes together. Soul Radiance is an incredible ability, but only being able to keep a body for 1 day is too short. Well, "I" can use fission to create a duplicate of himself with no effect on him, who can then drain the original and use Soul Radiance to take on the original's form (which, at the moment, is shapechanged), basically extending Soul Radiance by one day each day (the duplicate has no effect on him when he appears, but only effects from powers disappear at the end of the fission. The only thing remaining are two negative level, easily curable with a psionic restoration before they change into real lost levels. Note that Psionic Restoration doesn't even cost XP). It requires "I" to kill himself everyday and know that he will die every night, but hey. What don't you do for power? "I" also took some bluff and some theater classes (Assume Quirk skill trick) so that nobody should be able to tell he's not really the one he impersonates. This allows "I" to be able to choose the best body he ever encounters and keep it forever. He can even shapechange into a summoned creature, since he doesn't need to actually kill the creature, only drain it completely. If you have one caster in the party, a scroll of Summon Elemental Monolith costs a measly 3825 gp, and you get a permanent CR 17 body while keeping your psionics and your Soul Eater levels. That's pretty strong. If you really have absolutely no other better choice, you can at least create a shadow eft (Complete Psionics) via Psychic Reformation, which at least gives you decent stats and Hide in Plain Sight
Mostly more of the same, "I" now has wights under his command, deals twice the number of negative levels, and gets Harvester of Souls, finally granting true death to his enemies and suppressing any way the friends of the previous possessor of his body could ever hope to notice something was wrong, since they couldn't even resurrect the poor guy.

Now, I usually don't like Elder Evils feats since they impose such a heavy RP burden on the character, and are generally just a way to get a mechanical advantage in most builds that use them. But for "I", I really feel like that makes a lot of sense. He is kind of suicidal, and it would make some measure of sense for him to just embrace Elder Evils out of desperation and in the search of a meaning for his life, or the end of it. Also, just for one thing: Deformity(Madness). Because if you willingly killed your own reflection everyday and lived as another person and ate people's soul on a regular basis, your sanity is absolutely not going to last long. So, Elder Evils feats are not essential to the build, but they would make a lot to flavour it. So, if "I" finds an Elder Evil to submit to, he would probably take something like : Chosen of Evil (1), Willing Deformity (5), Vile Ki Strike (10), Deformity (Madness) (15), Harvester of Souls (20), and replace Harvester of Souls by Rapidstrike in the actual build.


BoVD: Soul Eater
Elder Evils: Vile Feats

Expanded Psionic Handbook: Psion, most powers except shadow eft, Overchannel, Psicrystal affinity
Complete Psionic: Anarchic Initiate, Practiced Manifester, shadow eft
Psionic Handbook: Heighten Power
http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20020426b : Extra Power
Dragon Compendium: Battle Dancer
Races of the Dragon: Dragonwrought
http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a : Kobold variant

[Thurbane]

Haliax Thrice-Bound, Lord of the Creeping Host

Lawful Evil Unseelie Fey Silverbrow Human Warblade 1/Passive Way Monk 2/Warlock 6/Soul Eater 10/Warblade +1


Ebon wings tear across the velvet sky, bringing tidings from the Queen of Air and Darkness out of Winter bound for the ever-gloom of Twilight and the Keep of Eyes standing eternal sentinel on the borders of the Court of the Unseelie Fey. The Raven Emissary banked over the ramparts, instinctively shying from the dark iron portcullis gate and up the sweeping staircase through the vaulted doors which creaked open just ahead of its flight. The Raven’s path takes it through empty halls of smooth-cut stone, ancient doors on rust hinges creaking open before it and the oppressive weight of unseen eyes spurring it onwards to at last reach a vaulted open space, empty frames of once stained-glass windows letting the dim glow of Twilight illuminate a raised dais at the far end, upon which sits a throne of obsidian. The back of the throne reaches high, as if to compensate for its slender aspect which accommodates the half-furled wings of the being ensconced upon it.

The dark figure on the throne sits forward, ragged membranous wings mantling with the shift in weight. The creature’s form is lightly obscured by a softly moving mass of tiny creatures enshrouding it, Twilight seeping in through the broken windows glinting off the many unblinking eyes within the swarm.

The Emissary alights at the foot of the dais and croaks in greeting. “The Queen of Air and Darkness, Heart of Winter, Master of the Court of the Unseelie Fey greets thee, Haliax Thrice-Bound, Lord of the Creeping Host, Master of the Keep of Eyes. She bids thee recall the oaths you swore and once more bend your power to her design. Summer does seek to encroach upon the rime-wrought wastes of Winter and take that which does not belong beneath their verdant boughs. Seek out the sortie of the Seelie Court as they make their way from Day through Twilight towards Night and seek another passage into Winter, and remind them of the price of breaking with the ancient Truce. Remind them that nothing is beyond the Sight of the Queen.”

Haliax shifts and stands while dark tendrils slip from the lids of the Lord of the Creeping Host’s left eye before pressing deeply into the skin around the socket and with a wet squelch the orb pops free of the socket upon spindly legs. The ragged end of the torn optic nerve slides limply down his cheek. The trailing flesh shivers and splits, shaking out into tiny wings rapidly drying as the crawling eyeball launches itself off Haliax’s cheek. A hand shoots out and grasps the tiny eye before it gets far, and dark energies gather as he slowly crushes the eyeball and drops it before the Raven, dark veins of power spreading up his arm as the Master of the Keep of Eyes strides from the throne room and out into Twilight to execute the Queen’s will.

The Emissary hops forward to peck at the eyeball, picks it up and tilts it head back to swallow the morsel whole, then spreads it wings to take back to the skies. Its leap is aborted with a squawk, the beak opening unnaturally wide as dark legs force themselves back out of the Raven, grasping its head with impossible strength. Wherever the legs touch glossy black feathers fade, vitality fleeing, as the no longer dead eyeball creature sucks the life from the Emissary, tearing free and leaving the mauled remains behind as it crawls from the Raven’s corpse and trails after it’s master.

On the floor of the throne room of the Keep of Eyes the corpse of the Emissary of the Queen of Air and Darkness twitches and rises.




Ability
Score
Unseelie Fey
Inherent
Final


Strength
12
-2

10


Dexterity
15
+2
+1 (4HD)
18


Constitution
14
-2

12


Intelligence
10


10


Wisdom
12


12


Charisma
16
+2
+4 (8HD/12HD/16HD/20HD)
22








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


1st
Warblade 1
+1
+2
+0
+0
Balance 4, Concentration 4, Tumble 4, Use Magic Device 2(4cc)
Weapon Finesse, Dragon Tail (Human)
Battle Clarity (Reflex Saves), Weapon Aptitude, Manuevers: Punishing Stance, Steel Wind, Twin Fang Strike, Leading the Attack


2nd
Passive Way Monk 1
+1
+4
+2
+2
Balance 5(1), Concentration 5(1), Know (Arcana) 1, Tumble 5(1), Use Magic Device 2
Combat Expertise (Bonus), Improved Unarmed Strike (Bonus)
Bonus Feat (Combat Expertise), Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike

ACF: Passive Way Monk - +2 Bluff, Bonus Feat (Combat Expertise)


3rd
Passive Way Monk 2
+2
+5
+3
+3
Concentration 6(1), Know (Arcana) 3(2), Tumble 6(1), Balance 5, Use Magic Device 2
Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike), Improved Trip (Bonus)
Bonus Feat (Improved Trip), Evasion

ACF: Passive Way Monk – Bonus Feat (Improved Trip)


4th
Warlock 1
+2
+5
+3
+5
Concentration 7(1), Know (Arcana) 4(1), Balance 5, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 2

Eldritch Blast 1d6, Invocations (Least): Summon Swarm


5th
Warlock 2
+3
+5
+3
+6
Concentration 8(1), Use Magic Device 3(1), Balance 5, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6
-
Detect Magic, Invocation: See the Unseen


6th
Warlock 3
+4
+6
+4
+6
Concentration 9(1), Use Magic Device 4(1), Balance 5, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6
Obtain Familiar, Alertness (Familiar Bonus)
Damage Reduction 1/cold Iron, Eldritch Blast 2d6


7th
Warlock 4
+5
+6
+4
+7
Concentration 10(1), Use Magic Device 5(1), Balance 5, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6

Deceive Item, Invocation: Dark One’s Own Luck


8th
Warlock 5
+5
+6
+4
+7
Concentration 11(1), Use Magic Device 6(1), Balance 5, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6
-
Eldritch Blast 3d6


9th
Warlock 6
+6
+7
+5
+8
Concentration 12(1), Use Magic Device 7(1), Balance 5, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6
Ironheart Aura
Invocations (Lesser): Crawling Eye


10th
Soul Eater 1
+7
+9
+7
+10
Concentration 13(1), Move Silently 3 Balance 5, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7

Energy Drain 1


11th
Soul Eater 2
+8
+8
+10
+11
Concentration 14(1), Move Silently 6(3), Balance 5, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7
-
Soul Strength


12th
Soul Eater 3
+9
+10
+9
+11
Hide 1, Move Silently 9(3), Balance 5, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7
Stormguard Warrior
Soul Blast


13th
Soul Eater 4
+10
+11
+10
+12
Hide 3(2), Move Silently 11(2), Balance 5, Concentration 14, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7

Soul Enhancement


14th
Soul Eater 5
+11
+11
+10
+12
Hide 5(2), Move Silently 13(2), Balance 5, Concentration 14, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7
-
Soul Endurance


15th
Soul Eater 6
+12
+12
+11
+13
Hide 7(2), Move Silently 15(2), Balance 5, Concentration 14, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7
Harvester of Souls
Soul Radiance


16th
Soul Eater 7
+13
+12
+11
+13
Hide 9(2), Move Silently 17(2), Balance 5, Concentration 14, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7

Energy Drain 2


17th
Soul Eater 8
+14
+13
+12
+14
Hide 11(2), Move Silently 19(2), Balance 5, Concentration 14, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7
-
Soul Agility


18th
Soul Eater 9
+15
+13
+12
+14
Hide 13(2), Move Silently 21(2), Balance 5, Concentration 14, Know (Arcana) 4, Tumble 6, Use Magic Device 7
Allied Defense
Soul Slave


19th
Soul Eater 10
+16
+14
+13
+15
Hide 14(1), Move Silently 22(1), Tumble 7(2cc), Balance 5, Concentration 14, Know (Arcana) 4, Use Magic Device 7

Soul Power


20th
Warblade 2
+17
+15
+13
+15
Tumble 11(4), Balance 5, Concentration 14, Hide 14, Know (Arcana) 4, Move Silently 22, Use Magic Device 7
-
Uncanny Dodge, Manuevers: Tactical Strike


* - While Familiar is within 5ft.




Least: Summon Swarm (ECL 4), See the Unseen (ECL 5), Dark One’s Own Luck (ECL 7)
Lesser: Crawling Eye (ECL 9)



Size/Type: Fine Undead
Hit Dice:* 2/20d12 (2/130 hp) +40 temp hp
Initiative: +7
Speed: 20 ft./20 ft. climb/40 ft. fly
Armor Class:** 20/ 29(+7 Dex, +4 natural, +8 Size), 25 touch , 22 flat-footed
Base Attack/Grapple: +17/+4 (-16 fine)
Attack: Slam +32 melee (1d4+3 plus energy drain)
Full Attack: Slam +32/+27/+22/+17 melee (1d4+3 plus energy drain), Flurry of Blows -2/-2
Space/Reach: 1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Create Spawn, Energy Drain, Everything Except Invocations from CHARNAME
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., undead traits, Same as CHARNAME
Saves:*** Fort +17, Ref +22, Will +25
Abilities:*** Str 16, Dex 24, Con Ø, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 26
Skills: Same as CHARNAME, Size Modifiers
Feats: Same as CHARNAME

* Depends on if Wight Template overwrites Crawling Eye description
** Depends on if applying Wight Template supersedes Crawling Eye description
*** Assumes fully buffed on Soul Eater buffs





Haliax starts out strong out the gate with the frankly overpowered Unseelie Fey template on a Silverbrow Human base. Besides changing our type to Fey in preparation for Soul Eater down the line, this template gives us wings (choosing Draconic to be on theme), one of four fantastic Seasonally themed abilities (Winter Chill to give adjacent enemies -Cha to saves), Damage Reduction (Scaling on HD up to 15/Cold Iron at 12+HD), a fairly ignorable Iron Vulnerability, and Vision changes (Randomly assigned usually, I have chosen Low-Light since the build needs eyes to function). After that things get a little dodgy. Our first five levels involve a fairly substantial mechanical about face, going from a strong martial start into not-a-Glaivelock. At this point, and for most of our career, we are a dex-based melee fighter without Combat Reflexes (unless you take a flaw for it…). Punishing Stance from Warblade offsets our low damage somewhat, and Improved Trip gives us a good way to contribute to combats that’s not damage. Two of our three Martial Strikes let us make two attacks as a standard, and our full attack with flurry of blows gives three attempts to trip with Dragon Tail as a secondary natural attack. Two levels of Warlock gives us something to do at range with Eldritch Blast, and we pick up two invocations; Summon Swarm gives us another option in combat and will later be useful, I promise, and See Invisibility will be useful forever as well as upgrading our vision above low-light only. Skill-wise we’re mostly picking up selfish skills and prereqs, though at low levels our high Charisma bonus can let us operate as an off-face.

We enter one of the SI’s! But before we get into Soul Eater there’s four more levels of Warlock to get through. There’s some good stuff in those levels though, namely Deceive Item at ECL 7, letting us Take 10 on Use Magic Device and automatically succeed on wands and low level scrolls. Eldritch Blast goes up to 3d6 damage, and we pick up two more Invocations. Dark One’s Own Luck allows us to add +5 (Charisma Bonus) to any save and will scale throughout the game as our Charisma keeps going up. The Crawling Eye Invocation allows us to pop an eye out and have it wander around. The Eye is a Fine creature with 2 hp, AC 20, Hide and Move Silently modifiers equal to Warlock Level, and ‘for all other purposes, its statistics are equal to yours.’ That last line is going to be critically important in a few levels. For now, the Eye can be used as a low-risk scout since See the Unseen and Detect Magic both work through it (though other invocations and spells do not) and it getting smushed only results in being dazzled for 1d4 hours until the eye grows back. It may or may not get wings via inheriting the Unseelie Fey template, and it can also be lent to an ally to have them benefit from Ironheart Aura (picked up at level 9) and the Winter Chill debuff. The other feat picked up in these levels is Obtain Familiar because it gives us Alertness while within 5ft. of the familiar, and I couldn’t make myself just take Alertness. If you have an issue with using this to qualify for Soul Eater, assume I actually just took Alertness as no part of the build relies on a Familiar. Speaking of potential rules issues for entry into Soul Eater, if Unarmed Strikes are not considered Natural Weapons via Monk rules for the purposes of entry, we can make use of Warblade Weapon Aptitude to swap Weapon Focus to our Tail attack. At level 10, we finally enter Soul Eater and get Energy Drain 1. As per the competition rules this is an always-on rider effect so every time we touch someone they take a negative level (no save is specified, but going off the Wight Template it is likely meant to be 10+1/2HD+Cha, and recall that Winters Chill gives adjacent enemies -Cha to saves). Since we only need to touch, we’re now always going to make trip attacks to make melee touch attacks and if we succeed we get another attack which can then apply another negative level. Our full attack at this point while flurrying and a tail attack is now: +9/+9/+4/+4, giving us four melee touch attacks to apply negative levels, with up to four more regular attacks if the trip attempts are successful (the rules are notably silent on tripping already tripped characters).

Things really start to come together here. Five levels of Soul Eater gives five cool abilities. Soul Strength, Soul Enhancement, and Soul Endurance give nice all day passive bonuses when you Energy Drain someone, and with both Summon Swarm and Crawling Eye you always have something at hand to power them, though since Crawling Eye’s ‘statistics are equal to yours’ it may also be a Soul Eater at this point, so it behooves you to get permanent protection from Energy Drain, such as with a Mithral Soulfire Breastplate or a wand of Death Ward. Soul Blast lets you get a free ray of damage off once per day when you Energy Drain something, which with ready sources to hand is pretty easy to trigger when you want to. Soul Radiance is where it starts to get interesting; now able to Shapechange into any creature you drain to death, in addition to whatever falls afoul of your wrath, you always have available Summon Swarm to turn into a swarm of bats, rats, or spiders or a Crawling Eye. Since this works like Shapechange, you keep your hit points and levels, making these forms much less vulnerable than the base creature. Crawling Eye becomes an especially nice target, because you are not subject to its restrictions, as none of them are actually Ex, Su, or Sp abilities, so you get to recalculate HP, AC, and use skills as normal, which is why we’ve been putting points into Hide and Move Silently. A Fine creature works really well as a scout. The two feats we get these levels are working well for us too. At level 12 we pick up Stormguard Warrior for its Combat Rhythm option, as this allows us to make touch attacks in place of regular attacks in exchange for +5 damage the next round. We don’t care about damage, but what this does is make it so that our Improved Trip follow-up attack is also a melee touch attack, improving our chances of Energy Draining significantly. At level 15 we have three iteratives, one flurry, and one tail attack, for a total of 10 opportunities to drain energy using melee touch attacks. Also at this level we pick up the second SI, Harvester of Souls, which allows us to coup de grace a creature for twice its HD in temp HP for an hour. Luckily for us, we have access to a Crawling Eye every 1d4 hours, and since its ‘statistics are equal to yours’ it is also a 15HD creature we can coup de grace at will.

We’re dialing up to eleven here. Energy Drain increases to two levels per instance, increasing our full attack routine to being capable of bestowing 24 negative levels with melee touch attacks (4 iteratives, 1 flurry, 1 tail Trip Attempts followed by Combat Rhythm attacks, x2 negative levels each). Soul Agility gives a nice buff to Dex. The capstone Soul Power is a weird one; not only giving +2 to save DCs of everything, it also doubles uses of all Su or Sp abilities. Does this mean Eldritch Blast (which technically has 14,400 uses per day if you use it every round) can now fire twice per standard? Who knows, but could be fun to base a build around that. Where the real craziness is though, is in Soul Slave. This fun little ability turns any creature you kill with Energy Drain into a wight. The ability doesn’t specify a limit to the number of wights you can command, but for the sake of sanity let’s say it’s the same as for the wight itself, or 2xHD. Weirdly, unlike a real wight, the Soul Eater isn’t restricted to Humanoids in what they can turn into a wight. Now, what do we have available to start the wight-apocalypse with? Crawling Eyes seem like they’ll fit the bill nicely. As previously stated, ‘for all other purposes, [a Crawling Eye]’s statistics are equal to yours,’ so every time we drain one and let Soul Slave do its thing we’re creating a Fine copy of ourself with all class levels and ability scores and skill ranks and feats, etc. Thus we can use Summon Swarm to charge their Soul Eater abilities. The only caveats are what happens with the AC and HP; does the wight stop being subject to the restrictions of the Crawling Eye, or is it bound by them? In the worst-case scenario, the creatures are AC 20 with 2 hp. Though they also have Evasion, DR 15/Cold Iron, and can coup de grace each other to pick up 2xHD Temp HP. Let’s get a little weirder. A Fine creature can freely move through a Medium creature’s space, and takes up ½ ft. by itself. Thus, we should be able to fit up to 100 Crawling Eyewights into our space. At level 18 we picked up Allied Defense, which states that when using Combat Expertise all adjacent allies benefit from the dodge bonus. If we have each of our 40 Eyewights climb on board, and full attack each other using only touch attacks via the same methodology we use and utilizing Combat Expertise we can give ourselves a +200 dodge bonus to AC since

“Dodge bonuses and circumstance bonuses however, do stack with one another unless otherwise specified.”
and Allied Defense does not, in fact, specify. Other uses for our swarm of Eyewights: we can do some Nanobots shenanigans with Aid Another. We can use Summon Swarm onto ourselves to have three (only 3HD swarms) Eyewights use Soul Blast to get three 10d6 rays in an action, or emerge a new Crawling Eye to have twenty go off. We could use them as improvised weapons and throw them at folks. We could also just send them off on their own to get exponential and usher in the Wight Apocalypse; they’re a little fragile (or not depending on rules interpretations) but they’re sneaky af and technically CR22 creatures so they’ll get the job done. The possibilities are endless. The final level of the build is taken for one purpose only: to pick up the Tactical Strike maneuver, which we can use to let every single Eyewight clinging to us jump onto our target as a free action. Alternately they can whack each other to let you move around for free. And that’s it, that’s the build!

If you can bring yourself to do so, Anthropomorphic Animals from Savage Species both give Weapon Finesse and a Natural Attack form, neatly replacing Silverbrow Human and freeing up a feat. It would also let you move the first Warblade level around for more optimal maneuver choices. (If you take it at 9 you can get both Iron Heart Surge and White Raven Tactics without messing up prereqs)

If flaws are available, I would recommend picking up Darkstalker and Combat Reflexes, but really there’s a lot of right options here, so season to taste.

The Unseelie Fey Season abilities are all pretty fantastic. In a low magic item availability game, I would swap to Vernal Touch, for the ability to have your Eyewights remove the Dazed condition from you.

This build also works as a Strength melee build, which would help with the early levels. However, Dexterity is just much more useful and after level 10 we stop really caring about doing hit point damage. If you’re starting early a Strength version might be more viable.




Races of the Dragon (RoD) – Dragon Tail (p98)
Dragon Magic (DrM) – Silverbrow Human (p6)
Tome of Battle (ToB) – Warblade (p20), Ironheart Aura (p31), Stormguard Warrior (p36)
Unearthed Arcana (UA) – Passive Way Monk (p52)
Dragon Compendium (DrC) – Unseelie Fey (p222)
Complete Arcane (CAr) – Warlock (p5)
Complete Mage (CM) – Crawling Eye (p123)
Elder Evils (EE) – Harvester of Souls (p13)
Shining South (SS) – Allied Defense (P19)

Items not called out are either in the PHB or sub-items of higher level callouts (e.g. Warlock Invocations)

[Thurbane]

...and that's it.

7 entries: nice work everyone. Enough to make things interesting, but hopefully not enough to scare off judges.

As always, if I have made any errors posting your entries, please message me and I will amend, but I think I posted latest revisions and didn't miss anything.

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks, Thurbane!

A variety of fascinating entries. Well done, guys! Do we have any confirmed judges? Yan Korlat said she might judge, IIRC.

My other idea was a half giant grappler justiciar, going for hog-tie to execute enemies reliably woth a coup de grace. The base I wasn't happy with was ranger 1/monk 2/ psychic warrior 4. Going for expansion for efficient grappling without soulmelds, bonus improved grapple to dump dex, and unarmed strike for energy drain. The rest would've been soul eater.

[loky1109]

I had an third idea.

Tiefling Shadowcaster 7/Full BAB 2/Soul Eater 10

With feats Mortalbane, Godsight (LEoF).
Mysteries: Clinging Darkness (and all Dark Terrain path), Piercing Sight, Fearful Gloom (with favorite mystery).

[loky1109]

Name Alignment / Race Class Levels Chef Judge 1 Judge 2 Judge 3 Total Place
The Warrior Philosopher (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262847&postcount=38) NE Gravetouched Ghoul Longtooth Shifter Ranger 1/Warblade 8/Weretouched Master 4/Black Blood Cultist 5
The Nightmare of The Iridescent Grove (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262848&postcount=39) CE Phrenic non-psionic Thri-Kreen Battle dancer 1/ Fighter 2/Soul Eater 10/Half Fey savage progression 2
Winter (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262849&postcount=40) ?E Unseelie Fey Tibbit Binder 13/Soul Eater 7
Ash the Badger (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262850&postcount=41) ?E Unseelie Fey Hengeyokai (Badger) Duskblade 5/Black Blood Cultist 5/Soul Eater 10
Tsujigiri (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262852&postcount=42) LE Half Shadow Dragon Human of Crane clan Fighter 4/Samurai 2/Soul Eater 10/Warblade 1
I (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262855&postcount=43) CE Venerable Dragonwrought variant Kobold Psion 5/Anarchic Initiate 4/Battledancer 1/Soul Eater 10
Haliax Thrice-Bound (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262856&postcount=44) LE Unseelie Fey Silverbrow Human Warblade 2/Passive Way Monk 2/Warlock 6/Soul Eater 10

There are no listed alinement in three entries. I restored obvious, but not all.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E8KOqU2VIAc3C0_?format=jpg&name=900x900

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks for the table, Loky!

[Beni-Kujaku]

Three unseelie feys. It really do be like that sometimes. But well, what were WotC expecting when they published a +0 LA template which changed your type. Thank you everyone, I'll read these soon!

And loky, cheese is the best seasoning. It goes with everything, and even when it's old, it becomes even better! Truly the king of ingredients.

[H_H_F_F]

Three unseelie feys. It really do be like that sometimes. But well, what were WotC expecting when they published a +0 LA template which changed your type. Thank you everyone, I'll read these soon!

Well, there's an arguement to be made that this template wasn't intended as LA +0, given the only source of a listed LA is the example character, which could be a mistake.


And loky, cheese is the best seasoning. It goes with everything, and even when it's old, it becomes even better! Truly the king of ingredients.

Of course this comes from the Frenchman...

[Beni-Kujaku]

Well, there's an arguement to be made that this template wasn't intended as LA +1, given the only source of a listed LA is the example character, which could be a mistake.

Yes, it should most definitely be at least +1. But it's always nice to have in these comps if it's not abused too much.


Of course this comes from the Frenchman...

Sorry, can't hear you over the taste of my ravioles du Dauphiné plate :)

[loky1109]

And loky, cheese is the best seasoning. It goes with everything, and even when it's old, it becomes even better! Truly the king of ingredients.

Of course! My point was about numbers. Exactly 4 types of cheese, no more, no less. )))

[H_H_F_F]

So... Any judges?

[Quentinas]

I can try but I'm not so sure about that , I should study these builds quite welll (many of the elements are obscure for me)

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks for giving it a shot, Quentinas! Let us know when you make a final decision.

[Beni-Kujaku]

I can try but I'm not so sure about that , I should study these builds quite welll (many of the elements are obscure for me)

Excellent! Thank you for judging

[Quentinas]

Okay let's try to judge this round here are some criterias

I work with 0.25 increases to keep the math easy I don't have any example of what is a -0.25 penalty or a +0.25 bonus but if some elements in differents build will have the same value even if there is a little difference on power it will because that difference wasn't enough to reach the next quarter point. Minimum in each category will be 1 by the contest rule

Originality Starts at 3 and it is an highly subjective category ,it will be divided in three for "race&templates", "feats and skills", and "classes" with the first two categories giving a ± of 0.5 for each one while "classes" giving up a ± of 1 point

Power Even this start at 3 and it will be evaluated for offensive power, defensive power, and flexibility . No hard limit for how many point/penalty a category can do

Elegance Start at 4.5 and each mistake will take out some points. If a build is quite elegant in the progression up to 0.5 point will be given

Use of ComponentsStart at 3 -0.25 for each level missed of the Soul eater and penalties if the components are ignored during the build but there will be bonus for the focus on Soul eater and Harvester of Soul and an additional bonus for tactics that favor the synergy of these two elements

I'm not the best in english so sorry if my grammar will be bad. But anyone has something to say about the criterias? I didn't judged so many times so say something if these criterias are not fine for you and say why wouldn't be fine

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks a lot, Quentinas! Good luck with your judgement.

I would recommend you expand or articulate your stance on what counts as a "mistake" for elegance, as that feels a bit narrow. When I judge, I often deduct elegance for stuff that is questionable, redundant, counter-synergistic, etc. I also deduct points in either elegance or originality (depending on competition and context) for very well known cheesy tricks. "Mistakes" seems a bit narrow - if you only deduct points for rules-errors, you might find you have to give a very high elegance score to builds you don't think are elegant at all. Up to you, of course.

I have a couple of other notes, but I feel like bringing them up might make it obvious which entry is mine, so we'll avoid that.

Again, thank you! I hope you enjoy our builds.

[Quentinas]

Yeah my bad on the word mistake let's say some of what I think i will be mainly penalisin

Questionable working is penalisied in elegance . Anti synergy can be here or in power as penalty but a good synergy on the requirement side will be here. There will be a penalisation even for the style of the build especially if is hard to read. Redunancy of elements (for example taking two classes that give you the same feat) will not be penalised if it abide to the rules. Flaw and traits will be penaliseid by the contest rule, and banned thing will give a big penalty (for example item familiars) Illegal choice , miscalculation (that give a boost to the character so for example having less skill points than the normal will be not) and missing sources will be penalized. Miscalculation that doesn't boost the character (opposite example of before) will be not . Depending on the quantity of cheese there could be a penalty in elegeance

[H_H_F_F]

That's very clear. Thanks!

[Quentinas]

First build done , the most difficult part is the power rating but somehow I'm judging that

[Quentinas]

I'm still judging I'm slow but doing it they are only 7 but they are not easy (and there are so many thing to control other than taking in account the weirdness of the Soul Eater)

[H_H_F_F]

Judging is a lot of work. Thanks for the update!

[Thurbane]

I'm still judging I'm slow but doing it they are only 7 but they are not easy (and there are so many thing to control other than taking in account the weirdness of the Soul Eater)

All good, take your time, and we definitely appreciate your efforts. :smallsmile:

[loky1109]

I'm ok waiting!
Better good than fast.

[H_H_F_F]

In the meantime, Thurbane, can we get any hints regarding the next round?

[Thurbane]

In the meantime, Thurbane, can we get any hints regarding the next round?

You know what, I'm throwing it open for suggestions - if you have anything you'd like to see, either specific, or general ideas. now's a good time to post it here! :smallsmile:

I have an idea, but that may go on the backburner depending what you guys come up with.

[loky1109]

DMM without clerics and Dread Necros.

Or something nonupdated 3.0

[Beni-Kujaku]

You know what, I'm throwing it open for suggestions - if you have anything you'd like to see, either specific, or general ideas. now's a good time to post it here! :smallsmile:

I have an idea, but that may go on the backburner depending what you guys come up with.

This will be the Christmas round, won't it? Why not some Santa Claus themed restrictions:

-Snowcasting, Frostburn
-Zhentarim Skymage (https://www.realmshelps.net/charbuild/classes/prestige/realms/zhentskymage.shtml), Lords of Darkness (it's an invisible guy who flies on weird creatures and has lots of magic items. I don't know what could be more Santa-esque)
-No arcane spellcasting class. Christmas is a religious holiday, Coca-Cola be damned!

[Thurbane]

Hmm, Christmas theme round might be good.

Just as an aside, I have a milestone birthday on December 25th. :smallsmile:

[Beni-Kujaku]

Hmm, Christmas theme round might be good.

Just as an aside, I have a milestone birthday on December 25th. :smallsmile:

Yay! Double presents!

[PoeticallyPsyco]

I like the idea of a Christmas themed round, but at some point I want to see a round where Symbiotic Creature is a required ingredient and the forbidden ingredient is "cheese".

[H_H_F_F]

A way worse version of the Santa theme would be something I mentioned (in jest) last round of IC: knight of the iron glacier, from frostburn. The only prc that's strictly about having a deer.

No pally would be the obvious restriction.

[loky1109]

This will be the Christmas round, won't it? Why not some Santa Claus themed restrictions:

-Snowcasting, Frostburn
-Zhentarim Skymage (https://www.realmshelps.net/charbuild/classes/prestige/realms/zhentskymage.shtml), Lords of Darkness (it's an invisible guy who flies on weird creatures and has lots of magic items. I don't know what could be more Santa-esque)
-No arcane spellcasting class. Christmas is a religious holiday, Coca-Cola be damned!
I already have an idea... )))

[Thurbane]

While we are awaiting judgement, any other suggestions for next round? I'm pretty sold on a Christmas theme, but a variation to the previous suggestion might be worth looking at?

[H_H_F_F]

Elf Maesters, no arcane spellcasting?
Reindeer form, flight, no wildshape?

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Something to do with gift-giving? Stealthy gift-giving? Craft Wondrous Items + Darkstalker -- ... I don't know a good ingredient to forbid.

[H_H_F_F]

How are you doing, Quentinas? Hopefully things are going well?

Thurbane, have you settled on a decision for next round, or should we still be looking for ideas?

[Thurbane]

Thurbane, have you settled on a decision for next round, or should we still be looking for ideas?

I've got an idea locked in, but still happy to hear requests/suggestions.

[Yan Korlat]

If this is still open by ~Christmas, there's a chance I'll be able to hop in as a judge!

[H_H_F_F]

I don't know how Quentinas is doing, but I hope we'll be done by Christmass... but even if we aren't, I'd personally still be against that.

Of course I think 2 judges is always far better, and I would honestly love to have you judge, but by Christmas it'll be a full month and a half since the reveal, and a chance you'll start judging around then is just too many factors dragging this context for too long, IMO.

If you can't start work now, which is completely understandable, you're always welcome to judge next round!

That's my two copper on the matter, anyway.

[Beni-Kujaku]

I agree with H_H_F_F. Either start judging now or wait for next round. It would be a problem if Quentinas finishes judging and we have to wait another two or three weeks for you. But if you have time to judge, be it this round or the next, it would be very much appreciated.

By the way, Quentinas, where are you at?

[Yan Korlat]

Yeah, I certainly don't need to—I was offering in case we got to a place where we needed a judge still by then—if we get a judgement beforehand, I'd more than happily wait for competing/judging in the next round. I unfortunately can't start until around Dec. 20, hence the "still open by Christmas"—I could probably finish by around then. Hopefully, things are all wrapped up by then!

[H_H_F_F]

Well, if we get near that date with no conclusion and you'll feel confident in finishing judgement in that span of time, I'd be very happy to recieve your judgement as well.

[Thurbane]

I'm still judging I'm slow but doing it they are only 7 but they are not easy (and there are so many thing to control other than taking in account the weirdness of the Soul Eater)

Yeah, I certainly don't need to—I was offering in case we got to a place where we needed a judge still by then—if we get a judgement beforehand, I'd more than happily wait for competing/judging in the next round. I unfortunately can't start until around Dec. 20, hence the "still open by Christmas"—I could probably finish by around then. Hopefully, things are all wrapped up by then!

Any judging updates?

I would offer to move on to next round pending judging, but historically that means judging never gets completed.

[loky1109]

Quentinas answered me that that he has some irl problems, but only 1 build to do.
It was 12-07-2021.

[H_H_F_F]

Best wishes to Quentinas, I'm sure he'll get around to it when he can.

Edit: If we could get an update about the anticipated time of completion, Yan Korlat could know whether or not she can start judging (if still interested).

[H_H_F_F]

Well, we haven't wrapped up, it seems. Yan Korlat, does your kind offer to judge still stand? Do you still feel confident you can do it in around a week?

[Thurbane]

If I don't get a reply or update from either potential judge in the next day or two, I think I'm going to call it.

How would the competitors feel about PMing me their ranking for the entries, best to worst, excluding their own?

[H_H_F_F]

If I don't get a reply or update from either potential judge in the next day or two, I think I'm going to call it.

How would the competitors feel about PMing me their ranking for the entries, best to worst, excluding their own?

It's holiday time in the US and Europe, I'd say give the judges a few more days to give us an update.

If we don't get one (which I doubt) the idea of ranking each other's entries sounds like fun.

[Quentinas]

As I said in iron chef today my in real life problem finished so i should wrap soon, and sorry to everyone if this judgement was procrastinated

[Thurbane]

As I said in iron chef today my in real life problem finished so i should wrap soon, and sorry to everyone if this judgement was procrastinated

All good, so long as we know it's in the pipeline, no problem.

[H_H_F_F]

Glad to hear you're doing better, Quentinas. Looking forward to reading your judgement.

[Yan Korlat]

I'm able to judge as well, and should be able to do so fairly quickly! Unless someone objects, I'll get started right away. Draft judging rubric:



Starts at 3 by default, will be adjusted up/down from there
Unusual entry methods, clever (in-flavor) uses of class abilities that I wouldn't expect at first glance, and new synergies will be heavily rewarded here.
Unusual, but appropriate, feats, races, etc. will be somewhat rewarded here.
Overused character optimization tricks that do not merit elegance deductions will merit penalties in this category.
Repetition of base classes will result in moderate penalties here.
Particularly overused or novel fluff will be taken into account, although I expect the numerical contribution to be fairly minimal.




In general, I'll reward flexibility, utility, and raw combat power.
I'll attempt to only reward what's written in the entry in terms of power—a few wizard levels will not dramatically boost your power score, unless you explain roughly how you're using them to be powerful. However, a few wizard levels will almost certainly do more for your power score than a few levels of samurai. Casters will, generally speaking, do well, however.
This category will be judged without illegal parts of the entry. I'll try not to be punishing here, though—if you don't qualify for a certain set of levels, I won't assume your BAB is 0 for those levels.




Unlike the other categories, this category will start at 4 and be mostly adjusted downwards, with potential bonuses for particularly elegant builds. I've done this because there are fewer ways to merit an elegance bonus than malus, and I wanted to keep scores on the same scale. Further, an empty build is quite elegant in my eyes, so a skew towards the negative is appropriate here.
Illegal components will be heavily penalized here.
Ambiguously legal components will be mildly penalized here—if I'm unsure, expect a small penalty.
Ways of gaining free feats or other "something-for-nothing" trades, especially those that have weight in a traditional campaign but not in these types of competitions, will merit a penalty here as well. These penalties can be mitigated by good justifications for why these components fit with the narrative of your character.
Item-dependence will be penalized here in proportion to how necessary an item is and how rare it is. I'll penalize you less for requiring an Int booster than a specific relic, for instance.
Vow of Poverty will merit a minor elegance penalty as a way to skirt the prior points taken in conjunction.
A particularly clever and unambiguously legal tactic is likely to merit a bonus in this category, as will a particularly clean build.
Extraordinarily poor formatting will result in penalties.
I will not deduct points for multi-classing XP penalties.
Faliure to qualify for a competition component that is not easily rectified will result in a near-total deduction here.





Starts at 3 by default, will be adjusted up/down from there.
Taking the full ingredients will be credited.
I'll reward you for seeking to make use of and highlight even the more obscure features of the class, and further reward you for building around these types of abilities: for instance, I'm likely to smile upon builds built to pierce spell resistance in this competition
As this is JW, taking the prohibited ingredient will also merit extremely substantial deductions.
Further, although it may benefit you in Originality and Power, utilizing loopholes or ambiguous readings to shoehorn the ingredients into doing things either against the spirit of the round or against their own natures is likely to be frowned upon. Penalties to Elegance will be accrued separately, and will not necessarily correlate particularly well: extreme rules abuse to enter early, for instance, would be met with at worst nothing and at best a bonus in this category, despite likely meriting substantial elegance penalties. On the other hand, I will assess penalties for relatively elegant misuse of the ingredients in this category.
If your power seems to drop as a result of taking the PrC (i.e. you would prefer not to take it and are only taking it to meet requirements), expect penalties here.



All categories except for power will be broken out into discrete adjustments. Please let me know (via dispute) if my math is wrong. The increments will either be multiples of 0.25 for "substantive" points, or 0.1 for raised eyebrows/minor notes.

[H_H_F_F]

Awesome. Thank you, Yan Korlat!

[mattie_p]

Thanks for stepping up, Yan Korlat. I'm not a participant but appreciate your volunteerism nonetheless.

[Beni-Kujaku]

I will definitely not object. Many thanks Yan, and good judging!

[Yan Korlat]

I'm getting close—2 more builds, then final checks.

My average scores are shaping up to be quite low, particularly in Power and Elegance.

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks for the update! And for the advanced warning...

[Yan Korlat]

As loky pointed out, there was ample cheese sprinkled through the builds in this round….:p

[Yan Korlat]

Judgements are tentatively complete. Please let me know if my math doesn't check out. I expect many disputes, but we will see. I did dip below 1 once, Thurbane, if you'd prefer, I can avoid that.



Overall, I really like this build, and normally, it would be making out like a bandit in the UoC category. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have Soul Eater at all, which means you’re lucky to get any points in UoC.
Originality (3.25):
[+0.25] Shifter isn’t very common, particularly leaning this heavily into it. It’s not unheard of either.
[+0.5]: GTG in a non-undead comp isn’t common at all.
[-0.5]: Black Blood Cultist, while not exactly everyday, is obvious for this competition.

Power (3): This is challenging to rate—the build is quite good at what it does (paralyzing and then CdGing enemies), but it’s very narrowly focused, and I’m not sure what it’s narrowly focused on is good enough, particularly in the 10-17 range. The saving throw is pretty good, but not astounding (at level 20, you’re hitting 30, which is fine, but by no means exceptional—you’re going to paralyze most enemies ~1/3rd of the time. At 11, that’s not any better—you only have a DC of 20, which is again only about 7 more than the average save bonus). Even assuming that your coup de grace is always lethal, that is not exceptional for your lethality. You also have very poor mobility, and very little out of combat utility. Your defenses are also thoroughly …fine—you have d12 hit die and undead immunities, but no other defensive effort. However, for a melee, you’re not doing awfully at your primary role of killing things, so I’m giving you a 3.

Elegance (3.65):
[-0.5]: I think you made a mistake with your BAB with Gravetouched Ghoul—you don’t get a bonus there. Same thing for saves.
[+0.25]: This build fits together really nicely—every prestige class you take makes sense, the warblade base is clever to enable coup de grace on the same turn you attack, and the integration of Harvester of Souls, while late, makes a lot of sense.
[-0.1] I’m not sure if involuntarily triggered rages count as the ability to rage. I think it probably works, but it’s an eyebrow raise.

UoC (0.5):
[-2.5] You don’t use soul eater. I’m not missing something here, right? If not, I’m comfortable setting this category very low because Soul Eater is by far the bigger component of the required components. This is unfortunate, because you do a quite good job building around Harvester of Souls, even if it’s a touch late.



Originality 3.75 (4):
[+0.5] Phrenic is clever with Soul Eater, and not where my mind first goes.
[-0.25] Thri-Kreen in a contest that screams natural weapons is not particularly original.
[+0.5] I barely knew Battle Dancer existed.
[-0.5] Death blow is obvious for this competition, although you don’t use it particularly well.
[+0.5] Multitasking, while occasionally bandied around in optimization discussions, is rarely actually used.
[+0.25] Half-fey template class is cool!

Power (2) 2.25:
This is a really neat character; with that said, I’m not sure it’s a very powerful one. As you admit, you flat-out suck at level 5. Over all 20 levels, you’re burning a lot of ECL on LA—you only have 15 HD at 20, and while they’re good HD, that hurts as a martial. Your strength is thoroughly unimpressive for a melee, and barely improves. Your PLA’s are neat, but they’re more useful for out-of-combat utility than playing a caster light in combat—your DCs are not exceptional, and you don’t get any of the other goodness that comes with being a real caster, plus you can’t spam anything. Your full attack is pretty solid, but as far as I can tell, you have no way of consistently getting to that full attack, meaning that “walk 10 feet away from you” kills most of your combat prowess. Multitasking is pretty neat, but it comes online at ECL 18, so “I get to use two SLAs on my turn” isn’t exactly game breaking. I’m not sure what Nightmare does against undead—as far as I can tell, you have very very few combat options there. See dispute.

Elegance (2.75) (3.0):
[0]: I found your explanation for why you don’t need multidexterity a little confusing, but luckily for you, I argued the exact same thing in my last IC build! Specifically, because the update guide explicitly lists MWF and multiattack as renamed replacements for multidexterity, you’re fine satisfying multidex prereqs with MWF.
[-0.75] Phrenic non-psionic bothers me. Savage species does not say there exist both psionic and non-psionic thri-kreen, but instead says that if you use the XPH, thri-kreen are psionic. Phrenic is from the XPH, so I’m not sure phrenic template and non-psionic thri-kreen even exist in the same world, much less can be applied to one another. I will not be receptive to disputes arguing that you aren’t using the XPH because phrenic comes from the SRD, for hopefully obvious reasons.
[+0.5] This is a surprisingly elegant build: your race+template, a few levels of initial class, the required component, and then a template that’s in flavor.
[-0.25] [-0.5] Partial actions. I have no clue how they’re supposed to work—your interpretation seems not-unreasonable, but also a little generous, because standard actions also existed in 3.0. I’m going to err somewhere in the middle and mount a moderate elegance penalty for the use of poorly-updated and ambiguous material, but agree that it works.
[-0.5] Whether you buy a feat or get it via a flaw, it still deserves an elegance hit.

Use of Components (4.0) (4.25):
[+0.5] You take Soul Eater to completion.
[+0.5]You take Harvester of Souls as soon as you can, which is reasonably early.
[+0.75] This is an exceptionally good use of Soul Eater—every single part of the subclass fits you well, and you put effort (through getting a crap ton of S/PLAs, high Cha, and good natural attacks) into making them work for you. Your build is thematically centered around Soul Eater as well.
[0] You have a plausible lore justification for Soul Eater—I’d have liked to see it explicitly called out, because it is a prereq, but it makes sense with your character.
[-0.5] [-0.75] Coup de grace is not a first-class combat tactic for you, and it shows—your Thri-Kreen poison is 1/day (and not doubled by soul eater), your psionic crush is 1/day, and your psionic dominate is also 1/day. Getting someone paralyzed can happen at most 3/day before ECL 18 with saving throws, then, one of them sketchy (your poison in a single application is probably not going to paralyze anyone).



Originality (2.25):
[+0.5] Hengeyokai are a bit unusual, and typically, they’re sparrows and not badgers.
[-0.5] Unseelie Fey is obvious and cheesy.
[+0.25] I think Duskblade is substantially underused.
[-0.5]: Black Blood Cultist, while not exactly everyday, is obvious for this competition.
[-0.5] Your tactics are literally just “I fight like I would be expected to for this PRC combination.” That’s not a bad thing, but it’s not an original thing either.

Power (1.25):

Fighting as a badger is not as good of an idea as you seem to think it is: Polymorph Other, the spell the transformation is explicitly based off of, makes you lose all supernatural abilities. This includes effectively all Soul Eater abilities and Arcane Channeling. In Human form, you’re awful at fighting, because you have no access to Weapon Finesse, a strength of 8, and no natural weapons. In other words, your combat ability is either severely constrained or non-existent. Your duskblade spells would be a saving grace, but they don’t work either, because your badger doesn’t have a humanlike voice or humanlike components. A mostly-full-BAB badger with a fair number of hit dice and Travel devotion, however, is not the worst combat option ever, so you get some (minor) points for that. You do not qualify for Black Blood Cultist (see below), but even if you did, the natural weapons from Rage wouldn’t do much for you, because you’d need to be a badger to trigger it.


Elegance (1) 1.4:
[-0.75]: None of your badger tactics actually work. See above.
[-0.25] I’m not sure if you actually can take Weapon Focus (claw) as a Hengeyokai—it seems like you’d need to be in Badger form to do so, and stay in Badger form when you level into Soul Eater. This poses special problems, because as I mentioned above, a Duskblade Badger is not a good idea.
[-0.1] [-0.5] More importantly, I’m fairly sure you cannot take Weapon Focus (claw), because you’re not proficient in the use of claws. Neither fey nor monstrous humanoid grants natural weapon proficiency. I’m not penalizing you harshly for this because it’s is so bizarre that I don’t know if it’s even correct, and I believe harsh penalties would be cascading penalties in violation of judging rules. Penalty reduced to 0.1 for assuming house rules from IC transfer
[-1.5] Polymorph Other does not grant you the extraordinary abilities of the form you Polymorph into, meaning you have no ability to rage, and thus don’t qualify for Black Blood Cultist. Additionally, you likely don’t gain the bonus feats of the target form (Polymorph Other does not reference Alter Self, and feats are almost certainly either extraordinary or supernatural), which means you don’t qualify for Soul Eater either. However, I’m not positive about this, so I’m judging the rest as if you do.

Use of Components (3.9)
[+0.5] You take Soul Eater to completion.
[-0.1] I don’t see any lore justification for the ritual prereq for Soul Eater.
[+0.75] You attempt to integrate Harvester of Souls into your main high-level combat tactics, and have well-thought-out ways to paralyze and kill.
[-0.25] You barely think about most of Soul Eater: the level drain is quite useful for you, but Soul Strength is not, the wights are not, doubling supernatural abilities are not, you don’t mention the rays, etc. etc. etc.



Originality (3.5):
[+0.5] Binder was not obvious.
[+0.25] Nice use of CE tibbet—evil tibbets are mentioned briefly in fluff.
[-0.5] Unseelie Fey is obvious, cheesy, and actually not necessary for your build, unless I’m missing something major.
[+0.25] Cool use of Life Drain feat—I was hoping for more of that.

Power (1.5) 1.75:
Your main cheesy combat tactic does not work—Harvester of Souls is one source, so the temporary hit points from that source do not stack with each other, and the same is true with Life Drain. Therefore, you’re limited to non-stratospheric temporary HP. Transforming into a Soul Eater would work, but it’s not on any Summon Monster list that I can find. In fact, as far as I can tell, only the invisible stalker can be summoned by Zceryll out of the monsters you list. You also can’t have infinite on the battlefield at once, because they only last for binder level rounds, so if you’re willing to burn actions every 5 turns, that’s ~2 summons. However, Zceryll is admittedly still quite useful. See dispute

However, I do not understand your combat tactics. Travel devotion with Tenebrous into Pounce implies you’re a melee full attacker, but I don’t see any optimization for that—although your BAB hits 16, which is nice, your STR is 5, and your DEX is only 14. Level drain from Soul Eater is of course nice, but you don’t really optimize for that either—you have a fairly limited number of attacks. I’m not sure whether you intend to fight in your cat or human form—if Human, I don’t understand why you went Tibbit, if cat, then at least you get natural attacks and 16 dex, but you suffer all the downsides of having 3 str and being a cat, most notably that your carrying capacity is 7.5 lbs, your natural weapon damage is unimpressive, and you have no iteratives.

Elegance (2.15) (3.3):
[-0.25] What feat is “Don’t Mind Me?”
[-0.5] Some [-1] None of your cheesy combat tactics work—see above.
[-0.1] I’m not sure if you actually can take Weapon Focus (claw) as a Tibbit—it seems like you’d need to be in cat form to do so, and stay in cat form when you level into Soul Eater.
[-0.1] [-0.5] More importantly, I’m fairly sure you cannot take Weapon Focus (claw), because you’re not proficient in the use of claws. Neither fey nor monstrous humanoid grants natural weapon proficiency. I’m not penalizing you harshly for this because it’s is so bizarre that I don’t know if it’s even correct, and I believe harsh penalties would be cascading penalties in violation of judging rules. Penalty reduced to 0.1 for assuming house rules from IC transfer

Use of Components (2.65) (3.4):
[+0.5] You take Harvester of Souls as soon as you can, which is reasonably early.
[-0.1] I don’t see any lore justification for the ritual prereq for Soul Eater.
[+0.5][+0.25] You make a solid effort to use Soul Radiance thoroughly, and you pump CHA, and Life Drain helps you quite a bit. However, Soul Strength is awful for you, because you appear to be dex-based, and you don’t really look for extra natural attacks. See dispute
[-0.5][-0.1] You can never use Harvester of Souls, as far as I can tell—the levels where you bind Acerack do not overlap with the levels where you use Harvester of Souls, and you have no other way of getting coup de grace as far as I can tell. Further, you don’t do anything to mitigate the action cost of coup de grace, meaning it’s not a very effective tactic even if you can use it.



Originality (3.65) 3.85:
[+0.5] A half dragon is an unusual template for an optimization contest.
[+0.5] Samurai was not on my bingo card for this competition!
[+0.1] Crane clan racial variant is neat! Look at Elegance, though…
[-0.5] Death blow is obvious for this competition.
[+0.25] Infinite attack/damage from blood in the water is quite clever.

Power (3.5) (3.6):
This is my interpretation of your CdG tactic: if the positioning starts like so
E
T W
Then T can make a claw CdG against a helpless wight. This provokes an AoO from both the enemy. Assuming it chooses to take an AoO, you choose to hit the enemy with your Iaijutsu Focus attack. Then you resolve the CdG against the wight, which triggers a cleave on the main enemy. Your move action then resheathes the weapon.
Let’s run the numbers on what you’ve actually done. You’ve spent a standard and a move (in other words, a full attack equivalent) on getting two attacks against an opponent, one of which has (at most) +8d6 to damage, or an average of 28. You’ve also sacrificed a wight. This seems just worse than full attacking to me: 3 more attacks is almost certainly better than 28 damage on one attack, especially because you have a reasonable attack bonus and power attack.

Your Coup de Grace ideas with Blood in the Water are also clever. However, neither of these ideas actually work, because “You can’t deliver a coup de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits.”

In the scope of this contest, however, you’re actually an excellent full attacker: you have 24 strength, 17 BAB, an extra natural attack (which means 10 levels drained a turn), power attack, and can make use of Soul Strength, etc. You even have pouncing charge, which gets you into melee.

If you can’t get into melee, you have your breath weapon, which I actually buy does work—you can use it most rounds, especially because of the global round-down rule. This gives you a very nice AoE option.

Elegance (1.3) (1.8):
[-0.25] Crane clan racial variant is a something-for-nothing over Human in this case.
[-1] You take a flaw. Your proposed substitution does not work, because it leaves you with only 4 BaB, which is insufficient for Soul Eater.
[-0.25] OA Samurai may or may not exist in 3.5.
[-0.25] Ancestral Daisho skirts the edges of the no items guideline. This is particularly problematic because you somewhat-rely on it for your main combat tactics.
[-0.25] If I’m reading the OA entry right, you can only enhance one, not both, of your daito. This puts your combat style in some tension.
[-0.25] I am fairly sure creatures cannot choose to become helpless.
[-0.1] I dislike the build flow created by fighter 3/samurai 2.
[-0.1] Cleave does not seem to work nicely with CdG: it specifies the attack is at the same attack bonus, but CdG does not have a bonus, it auto-hits.
[-0.25] Your Coup de Grace tactics do not work against undead.

Use of Components (4.1) (4.35):
[-0.5] You can never use Harvester of Souls, as far as I can tell—you have no way to make enemies helpless. I’m mitigating this penalty because you kind of try (saving your HP from the Robilar retaliation)
[+0.5] You take Harvester of Souls as soon as you can, which is reasonably early.
[+0.1] A justification for the ritual prereq for Soul Eater!
[+0.5] You take Soul Eater to completion.
[+0.75] You use Soul Eater quite well—Soul Strength, negative levels, the wights, and the capstone are all well fit to your build.



Originality (3.75):
[-0.5] Dragonwrought Kobold—you don’t truly abuse it, so this penalty is lighter than it could be.
[+0.5] I barely knew Battle Dancer existed.
[-0.25] Anarchic initiate is the default psion PrC
[+1] Using Fission in order to abuse Soul Radiance is most certainly original and creative.

Power (2.5):
I am deeply skeptical of whether your described tactics work (see below), which makes this category quite difficult to judge, because you are thoroughly unimpressive without them. Your Ego Whip strat is quite nice. I appreciate your attempt to get credit as a melee, but “three natural weapons+an unarmed strike” is not really doing it for me with a strength of 10 and bad BAB. You at least have Hustle, so you can actually get full attacks, and Metamorphosis is cool. Notably, in order to trigger your fancy tactics, you do actually need to kill your enemies, which I’m not entirely convinced that you can, especially if they’re protected against negative levels. Even with your shape changing, permanent shapechange is cool, but not unique at level 17, so getting limited permanent shapechange and not much else at 15 is fine but not overwhelming.

On top of everything else, I believe you are 100% useless (other than Metamorphosis) against Mindless Undead and anything else immune to mind affecting and negative levels (say high-level mages), which is a fairly large weakness.

Elegance (1):
[-0.5]: You technically fail to qualify for Soul Eater—your unarmed strike is not a natural weapon. With that said, I don’t see why you aren’t just taking Weapon Focus (claw), so I’m not penalizing you very harshly for this.
[-0.75] I have a whole lot of questions about your Extra Power use, detailed below, but the first issue is that it just doesn’t work: Extra Power explicitly stipulates your class power list. Egoist powers are not on your class power list.
[-0.5] My other objections: I am deeply suspicious of being able to choose your Extra Power based on a tier of Overchannel you gain at that level: to me, that seems like it might fall under Class Abilities gained, which come after feats, but I’m not positive about this and it seems ambiguous. Further, I’m not actually sure you can use Overchannel with Heighten: Overchannel specifies that you can use it when manifesting a power, so to use it before you have chosen a power to manifest seems questionable. Finally, I’m not sure if “Heightened Tower of Iron Will” is a “power” for Extra Power to key off of. I’m not convinced any of these objections are correct, but they all make me skeptical.
[-0.75] Unfortunately, Fission has an annoying component specifying what happens if you die and your duplicate lives: one of the levels becomes a lost level when the spell expires. This means you will rapidly lose every level you have. You specifically cannot remove these levels by any means before the spell ends.
[-0.5] Your duplicate cannot actually cast psionic restoration: the two highest-level powers you can cast are Fission and Psionic Restoration, both of which are disabled by the two negative levels you take.

UoC (3.65):
[+0.5] You take Soul Eater to completion.
[-0.1] I don’t see any lore justification for the ritual prereq for Soul Eater.
[-0.5] Your use of Harvester of Souls is very minor.
[+1] That is an impressive and unique use of Soul Radiance, and while I may quibble with everything else about your build, the central insight actually seems to work.
[-0.25] You make no real effort to use either the capstone or Soul Strength of Soul Eater, and the wights are merely incidental.


Originality (4.75):
[+0.25] Cool fluff (is the name from Rothfuss?)!
[-0.5] Unseelie Fey is obvious and cheesy.
[+0.5] Stormguard Warrior is criminally underused.
[+0.5] Trip attacks are very clever.
{+0.5] Monk! That’s not something that you see everyday.
[+0.5] I like the idea of going for nigh-infinite undead crawling eyes.

Power (3):

I get the impression that you were trying to curve from “solid warlock” to “OP Wightlord.” However, I don’t think the “OP Wightlord” part of that actually works, making you very weak at high levels. Shapechanging into a random swarm seems supremely unattractive, given that you lose all your supernatural abilities, and while you do have access to many, many wights, I don’t think they’re very useful in high-level combat without your trick. You also don’t have access to uniquely more wights than any other Soul Eater because of Wightpocolypse.

You’re admittedly quite good at your midlevel tactic of level drain. The touch attacks you generate are quite useful, and doubling your attacks with improved trip is clever. However, I can’t tell why you think that you’ll consistently win a Trip check: you have a +0 Str modifier, which makes this tactic a fair bit worse. I do appreciate the monk dip for more attacks, and your BAB is decent, but your defenses against melee attackers seem fairly awful, especially if they’re undead or otherwise immune to level drain.

I like the warlock portion of the build, but it comes online late and is not super combat-optimized.

Elegance (1.15):

[+0.1]: I appreciate your effort to qualify for Soul Eater in terms of your natural attack!
[-0.1] Multiple “if you have a problem, do this instead” earn a slight elegance penalty because they represent a slight contingent increase in your power: you can take more risks, and indeed you do: your use of a familiar to qualify represents a failure to qualify for Soul Eater (see below).
[-0.5] Relying on eyes and taking Unseelie Fey is a wee bit of a gamble outside of CharOp.
[-0.75] Your eye tactics do not work, for multiple reasons. First, “statistics” are not defined, but implicitly do not include special attacks and other abilities: the lycanthrope template refers to statistics AND special attacks (see here (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?450651-3-5-Question-about-Crawling-Eye) for more discussion). This makes your shapechange form substantially less attractive, because you lose all your SU abilities, and don’t gain them back. It also renders your trick with the hundreds of eyes rather moot. Second, you seem to be assuming that the eyes gain some sort of wight template. Unfortunately, the only wight template published is in Dragon, whereas the wight creature is in the Monster Manual. Soul Eater does not specify, meaning that it defaults to the primary source, meaning that as bizarre as it may seem, your eyes turn into full-fledged wights when they are drained, without any of your special abilities. This is unfortunate for you.
[-0.25] Undead cannot CdG eachother, because CdG specifies that it does not work against creatures not subject to critical hits.
[-0.1] I’m pretty sure your Allied Defense independently doesn’t work because you’re not adjacent to yourself.
[-0.5] Obtain familiar ambiguously works with Warlock, because it requires an Arcane Spellcasting Level. More importantly, your effective familiar level is 0, as Warlock does not grant you the ability to cast arcane spells, which means your familiar does not grant Alertness. Because you could switch your feat to Alertness, I am dinging you only mildly for this. Normally, I’d give -0.5 for FtQ with an easy fix. Because you call it out, I’m giving only -0.25 for that: the other -0.25 is for taking a feat that you may not qualify for.
[-0.75] You fail to qualify for Passive Way Monk: you’d need Skill Focus: Bluff, and to invest in the relevant skills.

Use of Components (4.15):
[+0.5] You take Soul Eater to completion.
[-0.1] I don’t see any lore justification for the ritual prereq for Soul Eater.
[+0.5] You take Harvester of Souls as soon as you can, which is reasonably early.
[-0.5] Your use of Harvester of Souls is very minor, mechanically challenged, and not really in-keeping with the intent of the feat—you have no way to CdG enemies, and as far as I can tell, you can’t easily render your eyes helpless to be CdG’d, which means your bonus HP (which only apply every 1d4 hours for 1 hour) are challenging to get.
[+1] Despite me having some issues with the execution of your build, I like the central concept, and it takes Soul Eater wights in a new direction, which is neat. It also heavily relies on level drain, which is at the core of the prestige class.
[-0.25] You make no real effort to use either the capstone or Soul Strength of Soul Eater, and the energy blast feels incidental and a bit redundant with eldritch blast.

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks so much for your judgements, Yan Korlat! I'm overall happy with your judgement of my entry and agree with you on most things. I have a few qualms, but I'm not sure whether or not they justify a dispute - I'll look into it more closely later.

Thank you!

[Beni-Kujaku]

Hi Yan, thank you again for your judging, it was very clear! Especially on such short notice. I was going to dispute, but after rereading everything, turned out I did miss a few key points in the abilities I'm using and your points were almost all valid. The rest wasn't worth making you lose your time. Frustrating, but that's the name of the game. Congrats on pinpointing those, and I would like to see you judge again someday!

[H_H_F_F]

Quentinas, can you give us an estimate for your judgement?

[mattie_p]

As a non participant, but as one who knows this sort of competition, I feel I can say this.

I know once judging is posted, especially when delayed, one might be eager to explain, expand, or otherwise justify. But please if you are a competitor and want to make a point directly with the judge, please do so via pm to the chair.

[H_H_F_F]

As a non participant, but as one who knows this sort of competition, I feel I can say this.

I know once judging is posted, especially when delayed, one might be eager to explain, expand, or otherwise justify. But please if you are a competitor and want to make a point directly with the judge, please do so via pm to the chair.

I often write down my non-disputes and post them once the round is concluded.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

I've got a couple of gripes, but all so small they wouldn't affect my build's standing. Thanks for the judgment, no dispute here!

[RaiKirah]

Thanks for the judgements! No disputes worth our time.

[Beni-Kujaku]

But please if you are a competitor and want to make a point directly with the judge, please do so via pm to the chair.

'kay. Edited out

[loky1109]

Thanks for judging Yan Korlat!

I'll update table later today.

Table.

Name Alignment / Race Class Levels Chef Yan Korlat Judge 2 Judge 3 Total Place
The Warrior Philosopher (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262847&postcount=38) NE Gravetouched Ghoul Longtooth Shifter Ranger 1/ Warblade 8/ Weretouched Master 4/ Black Blood Cultist 5 10.4 6th
The Nightmare of The Iridescent Grove (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262848&postcount=39) CE Phrenic non-psionic Thri-Kreen Battle dancer 1/ Fighter 2/Soul Eater 10/Half Fey savage progression 2 13.5 2nd
Winter (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262849&postcount=40) ?E Unseelie Fey Tibbit Binder 13/Soul Eater 7 11.95 4th
Ash the Badger (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262850&postcount=41) ?E Unseelie Fey Hengeyokai (Badger) Duskblade 5/Black Blood Cultist 5/Soul Eater 10 8.8 7th
Tsujigiri (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262852&postcount=42) LE Half Shadow Dragon Human of Crane clan Fighter 4/Samurai 2/Soul Eater 10/Warblade 1 13.85 1st
I (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262855&postcount=43) CE Venerable Dragonwrought variant Kobold Psion 5/Anarchic Initiate 4/Battledancer 1/Soul Eater 10 10.9 5th
Haliax Thrice-Bound (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262856&postcount=44) LE Unseelie Fey Silverbrow Human Warblade 2/Passive Way Monk 2/Warlock 6/Soul Eater 10 13.05 3rd

[loky1109]

Judgements are tentatively complete. Please let me know if my math doesn't check out.
I find only one math mistake.


Originality (3.65):
[+0.5] A half dragon is an unusual template for an optimization contest.
[+0.5] Samurai was not on my bingo card for this competition!
[+0.1] Crane clan racial variant is neat! Look at Elegance, though…
[-0.5] Death blow is obvious for this competition.
[+0.25] Infinite attack/damage from blood in the water is quite clever.


Should be 3.85.

All other numbers are good.

[Yan Korlat]

Oops, thanks!

[Thurbane]

Sorry, been very busy and away from forums for a few days.

Thank you for judging Yan.

Here's some disputes:


First, I want to thank you, Yan Korlat, for you work!
I have some question for you about it, but you did it quick and in general good.

Before I ask you about particular issues I found in judging my entry, I want to broach the general subject, not for my entry only, but for most. I maybe wrong - there aren't numbers in the Power sections, but it looks like you did double penalization for some build parts that you decide illegal - in the Elegance and in the Power both. It is against judging recommendations.
______________________


Originality (3.65):
[+0.5] A half dragon is an unusual template for an optimization contest.
[+0.5] Samurai was not on my bingo card for this competition!
[+0.1] Crane clan racial variant is neat! Look at Elegance, though…
[-0.5] Death blow is obvious for this competition.
[+0.25] Infinite attack/damage from blood in the water is quite clever.
I can't not ask you. Cleave. How often do you see optimizing around this feat? :)


This is my interpretation of your CdG tactic: if the positioning starts like so
E
T W
Then T can make a claw CdG against a helpless wight. This provokes an AoO from both the enemy. Assuming it chooses to take an AoO, you choose to hit the enemy with your Iaijutsu Focus attack. Then you resolve the CdG against the wight, which triggers a cleave on the main enemy. Your move action then resheathes the weapon.
Let’s run the numbers on what you’ve actually done. You’ve spent a standard and a move (in other words, a full attack equivalent) on getting two attacks against an opponent, one of which has (at most) +8d6 to damage, or an average of 28. You’ve also sacrificed a wight. This seems just worse than full attacking to me: 3 more attacks is almost certainly better than 28 damage on one attack, especially because you have a reasonable attack bonus and power attack.

Your interpretation is right. The only inaccuracy is wight. It isn't enemy, but this doesn't do any changes.

Yes, if I should choose between Full attack and this maneuver... I looks not better choice. But. Starting turn in this position isn't guaranteed. More likely I and my slave should move to enemy, so full attack isn't option. Plus, this can be good option against enemy who strongly relies on Dodge AC - flat-footed isn't only for Iaijutsu Focus.
And one more. Two attack with full attack bonus may be more important than four iterative attacks.
"Rapid shot give you opportunity to miss two times in one turn." (C) :)


Your Coup de Grace ideas with Blood in the Water are also clever. However, neither of these ideas actually work, because “You can’t deliver a coup de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits.”
But these ideas work.



In addition, sneak attack and critical hits made with a ghost strike weapon against an undead creature affect it as if it were a living creature.
See? I can crit undead. Them aren't immune to my critical hits.
______________________


[-0.25] Crane clan racial variant is a something-for-nothing over Human in this case.
Sorry, I didn't understand you. What was a problem?


[-0.25] OA Samurai may or may not exist in 3.5.
It definitely exists. It was updated in Dragon #318. Only one paragraph, but it is. And this update to 3.5 is allowed material.


[-0.25] Ancestral Daisho skirts the edges of the no items guideline. This is particularly problematic because you somewhat-rely on it for your main combat tactics.
I slightly agree with you, but Ancestral Daisho first of all is class feature, not regular item bought in magic shop.


[-0.25] If I’m reading the OA entry right, you can only enhance one, not both, of your daito. This puts your combat style in some tension.
Yes, only one. Only daito (a.k.a. katana). My shoto (a.k.a. wakizashi) almost always is in sheath, I don't use it at all.
I don't see how this puts my combat style in tension.


only enhance one, not both, of your daito
Daisho is pair of swords: big - daito and small - shoto.


[-0.25] I am fairly sure creatures cannot choose to become helpless.
I am sure creatures can willingly stay and totally not move. Peoples on scaffolds not always were bonded or chained, but executioners can do their job.


[-0.1] I dislike the build flow created by fighter 3/samurai 2.
What exactly did you dislike?
Two-level Samurai dip or third level of fighter? If second - I surprised. First, I took forth level later, second, I opposite look on this as on pretty elegant decision - I saved feat I so needed until level when I can take it.


[-0.1] Cleave does not seem to work nicely with CdG: it specifies the attack is at the same attack bonus, but CdG does not have a bonus, it auto-hits.
I don't see any contradiction. Fact of auto-hit doesn't mean that attack has no attack bonus.


[-0.25] Your Coup de Grace tactics do not work against undead.
I already responded to this in Power section.
______________________


[-0.75] You can never use Harvester of Souls, as far as I can tell—you have no way to make enemies helpless. I’m mitigating this penalty because you kind of try (saving your HP from the Robilar retaliation)
First. I have Paralytic burst enchantment on my Ancestral daisho (and Keen).
Second. My Ancestral daisho is Merciful (yes, on 18th level, but is!) and if I need to kill somebody and prevent his resurrections, I'll use subdual damage option until he'll passes out and CdG him after. Or kill him with energy drain and harvest his soul from my new soul slave. Second option is debatable.


Hey, Yan Korlat. Thanks for judging!

I'm glad you found The Nightmare of The Iridescent Grove to be a neat character. I (perhaps obviously :smalltongue:) feel the same way.

There are aspects of your criticism I completely accept (Such as non-Psionic Thri-Kreen being incompatible with XPH and therefore Phrenic, or Nightmare's weakness against undead) and others that, while I disagree with personally, I recognize are a matter of personal opinion and taste (such as Thri-Kreen with their HD and LA being expected enough to deserve a penalty, appreciating Nightmare's out-of-combat versatility less than I do, or the unusual choice of the template class not deserving as much as a nod in originality). I don't dispute any of these.

There are, however, a couple of elements I find to be worthy of disputing. While I don't find any of them to be worth disputing on their own, I think all together they're perhaps worth your time. More importantly, since I have to do a shoot-myself-in-the-foot math dispute anyway, I might as well try to salvage points where I actually think I deserve them.

This isn't to say I am at all unhappy with your judgement – just that there are a couple of small points I'd like your input on. Forgive me if this feels pedantic or unwarranted.

So, math dispute: extremely unfortunately for me, I believe you elegance math was mistaken in my favor. Unless I'm missing something: 3 (base) +0.5 (surprisingly elegant) -0.75 (Phrenic-non-psionic) -0.5 (partial actions) -0.5 (buying a feat) = 1.75. I'm a full point over where I should be. Now that that's over, let's get to my substantive disputes:

First, partial actions. While I find the penalty itself to be within the reasonable magnitude, I disagree with your reasoning: my copy of the 3.0 PHB specifically notes Standard Actions to be actions in which you do something and move / use a move-equivalent action, while partial actions can be used to do the same things (attack, cast a spell, whatever) but not move – or move/move-equivalent, but not act. In other words, exactly what a standard action allows you to do in 3.5. Therefore, partial actions are clearly the equivalent of 3.5 standard actions, while so called "standard actions" are actually the equivalent of 3.5 move action + standard action turns. While they share a name, mechanically they are far from the same. Granting extra 3.0 standard actions would grant extra standard actions and extra move actions in 3.5.

Second, save DCs. When we compare Nightmare's "casting" stat to that of an 18 Int human wizard putting all of her points into Int, we find it to be 1 point behind for most of her career, and becoming better by level 20. Now, of course, the wizard has access to higher level spells than Nightmare, I'm not saying she completely compares to a full caster – but her DCs are still good enough to be useful for her entire career (an area of effect stun with a dc 17 will save before items is certainly useful when she gets it) and by the end some of them are straight up better than many casters. Her psionic dominate at ECL 20 for example: useful twice per day, has a 25 save DC before items – same as an 18-base-23-final int wizard's spell dc for their ninth level spells. This is also the DC for mind thrust, her energy current, and her aversion. Again, this is obviously far from being on par with the power level of a full caster – but what the hell is? Unless you're willing to say casting spells of lower levels is pointless for a caster, you can't rule out something like hold monster or psychic crush just because it's equivalent to 5th level when Nightmare has full Cha investment, not to speak of the truly nasty standard-action Geas.

Third, regarding your comments about my unexceptional use of death blow and my usage of CdGs in general: Nightmare is a late bloomer, and while I recognize that this fact can be penalized unto itself, I think characterizing her as not caring or not being built around CdGs is somewhat unfair. Here's why:

Early in her career, round 1 (poison) to round 2 (Four-Handed Scythe CdG) is a decent enough combo. While for her mid-career it's doable but not as important or as likely to succeed, I feel that just ignoring the huge investment this build has made into being able to render someone helpless and CdGing them in the same turn is wrong. Nightmare is built to be able to do exactly that. I wouldn't have even gone for multitasking if it wasn't for wanting to invest in death blow, in conjunction with soul-powered S/PLAs. I explicitly called this combo out in my breakdown: hold monster into CdG, Dominate into CdG, psychic crush into CdG. Single turn, perma-dead enemy. Next turn, perhaps another perma-dead enemy (if the situation allows), while still contributing to combat. Due to soul power, she can do this enough times per day to make it far more than a nova move – and it'd be excellent even if it was. Does this deserve full credit in power? Probably not. It fully develops very late in the build and should only get partial or very partial credit. But does it deserve to be punished so very harshly in UoC, as if I basically didn't care about CdGs? When my build has made such a huge investment in trying to make them usable and worth the action economy price? In my opinion, no.

That's that from me. Apologies for the wall of text, and again – absolutely no hard feelings on my part, even if you disagree with my non-math disputes. I thought your judgement was overall very fair and thoughtful, and very well done. Please let me know what you think!


First of all: Merry Christmas for all! And my big gratitude to Yan Korlat for her judge job!
But I want to give my opposition for some of your judgements about meow.



[-0.5] Unseelie Fey is obvious, cheesy, and actually not necessary for your build, unless I’m missing something major.
Two words: Winter Chill. -4 to -7 on all saves. Including against CdG.
And it is very thematic. Blind, small, weak kitty that transform into Lovecraftian Tentaclly Monster and eat enemies' souls.


Your main cheesy combat tactic does not work—Harvester of Souls is one source, so the temporary hit points from that source do not stack with each other, and the same is true with Life Drain.
Ok. I agree about Harvester of Souls. But, about Life Drain and tactic overall - no.

Step by step.

Tactic overall.
I anyway have Souleater (yes, I have it, but latter...) and its wording is following:

Consume Soul (Su): A souleater automatically draws in the soul energy of all creatures that die within 30 feet of it. From each soul captured in this manner, it gains +10 hp and a +1 bonus on attack rolls and saving throws. These bonuses fade after a period of 10 minutes per character level of the creature that died. At the end of this period, the soul has been entirely consumed.
This hp don't designated as temporary and about them doesn't say "cure" or "heal". Plus, look at word "each." So it works. Maybe not so good, not 16K hp, but 3K will be (crab's 12 HD means 2 hours - 300 crabs can be recycled by Winter). And +300 on attack rolls and saving throws.

Life Drain and Energy Drain. This isn't strong RAW, but...
I take the liberty of quoting Zaq

RAI, it seems to me that they should be able to gain multiple sets of temp HP. For proof, I offer the Dream Vestige (Libris Mortis): Whenever it uses its ability draining attack (in this case, it's called "Form Consumption"), it gains temp HP. It also has the ability "Self Spawn," which causes it to split into two identical Dream Vestiges when it has temp HP equal to its normal max HP. Since the only way it has to gain temp HP is Form Consumption, it seems to me that it would be impossible for Self Spawn to ever activate if Form Consumption couldn't stack with itself. The intent, then, seems to be that the temp HP that undead gain from draining your delicious life force should stack.
link (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=7668739&postcount=6)
Form Consumption isn't Energy Drain, yes, but we can easily see intention.


Transforming into a Soul Eater would work, but it’s not on any Summon Monster list that I can find. In fact, as far as I can tell, only the invisible stalker can be summoned by Zceryll out of the monsters you list.
You didn't look at the monsters themselves, did you?


Summoning Souleaters
An evil spellcaster who knows the summon monster VII spell can choose to permanently remove the huge fiendish monstrous scorpion from the list of creatures that he can summon either with summon monster VII or with higher-level summoning spells. If he does so, he can replace it with the souleater. Once the spellcaster learns higher-level summoning spells, he can use them to summon multiple souleaters if he has chosen this option.


Combat
...
A piscoloth can be summoned using a summon monster VII spell.


For Player Characters
An evil spellcaster can summon a solamith using summon monster VIII or a higher-level summon monster spell. Treat the solamith as if it were on the 8th-level list on the Summon Monster table (PH 287).


FOR PLAYER CHARACTERS
A justice archon can be summoned using summon monster VII or a higher-level summon monster spell. Treat the justice archon as if it were on the 7th-level list on the Summon Monster table (PH 287).


SUMMONING AN ARROW DEMON
An evil spellcaster who knows the summon monster VII spell can choose to permanently remove the babau from the list of creatures that he can summon (either with summon monster VII or with higher level summoning spells). If he does so, he can replace the babau with the arrow demon, adding it to the list of creatures that he can summon with the spell.
Once the spellcaster learns higher-level summoning spells, he can use them to summon multiple arrow demons if he has chosen this option.


Artaagliths are commonly called goat demons, although that is a misnomer, since they are ram-headed rather than goat-headed. An artaaglith can be summoned with summon monster VI or called with lesser planar ally or similar spells.


FOR PLAYER CHARACTERS
A lawful evil spellcaster can permanently replace a xill with an amnizu among his choices for summon monster VI.


EXPANDED SUMMONING TABLES
Several of the monsters presented in this chapter can be added to the list of creatures that can be summoned using the summon monster spells.
Summon monster III: Bariaur (CG), coure eladrin (CG), musteval guardinal (NG)
Summon monster IV: Cervidal guardinal (NG), rhek (LG)
Summon monster V: Leskylor (NG)
Summon monster VI: Equinal (NG)
Summon monster VII: Asura (CG), three-headed leskylor (NG)
Summon monster VIII: Hollyphant (NG), lupinal guardinal (NG), warden archon (CG)
Summon monster IX: Firre eladrin (CG), moon dog (NG), owl archon (LG), quesar (N), sword archon (LG), ursinal guardinal (NG)


Combat
...
Skulvyns can be summoned using a summon monster IV spell.


Combat
...
Droplets can be summoned using a summon monster IV spell.


COMBAT
...
Kaorti can be summoned using a summon monster II spell.


For Player Characters
An evil spellcaster can summon a gulthir using summon monster VI or a higher-level summon monster spell.

Achaierai is in PHB list (5th level), Shadow Mastiff, too (same 5th level).

Books and pages are in the entry.


You also can’t have infinite on the battlefield at once, because they only last for binder level rounds, so if you’re willing to burn actions every 5 turns, that’s ~2 summons.
Where did I tell I want?
I need at least one of every summons that I can summon every day. To kill them. Not simultaneously, one by one.
And every 4 turns since 12th level.
Plus, there are no mention of duration in Zceryll's description. Your interpretation (1 round/binder level) liked by me, and I think it is right, but "full day" interpretation can exists, too.


However, I do not understand your combat tactics.
I see. Sorry for my bad explanation.

I don't want to fight as a cat or as a humanoid. I want to fight as something from my summons I killed before in this day. Generally as Piscoloth as I outlined.

Second form - for fighting needs.
Piscoloth from Fiend Folio (p. 196). 10 natural attacks - 10 or 20 negative levels. If somebody survives - 8 of attacks have a Paralysis rider effect with DC up to 24 or 27 (I don’t know if DC is Cha based or Con based).
Don't forget about +300 on attack rolls.

The other forms give me many options in fights and out fights. I mentioned main.

Yes, before I take Soul radiance, Winter looked very weak in direct combat. And she try to avoid. But if she forced to fight, she can enter an opponent's square without AoO (due Don't Mind Me) and her attacks, yes, there aren't much damage, but who care about damage if we have Energy drain? This is the main weapon of Soul Eater, not some kind of "damage".


[-0.25] What feat is “Don’t Mind Me?”
It is in Sources

Web (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fools/20030401c) - Don't Mind Me



[-1] None of your cheesy combat tactics work—see above.
It's look like double penalty for one mistake. I ask you remind.


[-0.1] I’m not sure if you actually can take Weapon Focus (claw) as a Tibbit—it seems like you’d need to be in cat form to do so, and stay in cat form when you level into Soul Eater.
I can't agree that "when I level into Soul Eater" is specific point in time. I look at level-up as long time process, not push button and select new abilities.
And Winter anyway most time is in cat form.


[-0.5] More importantly, I’m fairly sure you cannot take Weapon Focus (claw), because you’re not proficient in the use of claws. Neither fey nor monstrous humanoid grants natural weapon proficiency. I’m not penalizing you harshly for this because it’s is so bizarre that I don’t know if it’s even correct, and I believe harsh penalties would be cascading penalties in violation of judging rules.
Yes, it is problem. RAW this is true. And I totally forget about this because accustomed to IC house rule:

All creatures are proficient with any natural weapons they may have or acquire.

RAW is pretty dysfunctional and I ask chair's judgement here, for me and Ash.


[-1] You can never use Harvester of Souls, as far as I can tell—the levels where you bind Acerack do not overlap with the levels where you use Harvester of Souls, and you have no other way of getting coup de grace as far as I can tell. Further, you don’t do anything to mitigate the action cost of coup de grace, meaning it’s not a very effective tactic even if you can use it.

Zero, I'm cat! I can sleep on your head!!!
First, I can bind Acerack every time after 7th ECL. It isn't my favorite vestige for long time, but isn't forbidden, too.
Second, Winter Chill. Always with me.
Third, I try to use it for farm many temporary hit points. Yes, I see now, it doesn't work, and I don't ask many, but it looks like triple penalty for one mistake.
Forth, Piscoloth has eight paralysis attacks! DC 24+ plus Winter Chill (up to -7 on saves). And crit multiplier x3 as cherry on top.

I think I can use Harvester of Souls very often.


[+0.25] You make a solid effort to use Soul Radiance thoroughly, and you pump CHA, and Life Drain helps you quite a bit. However, Soul Strength is awful for you, because you appear to be dex-based, and you don’t really look for extra natural attacks.
You still looking at the cat, but you should look at monster with ten natural attacks and Str 19.

Even if Piscoloth somehow will be unavailable I always can use Fiendish giant octopus from PHB.

Thurbane, please, look at bottom of Elegance part of my dispute.

[H_H_F_F]

Hey Thurbane, good to hear from you! just in case you haven't noticed, it seems one of our chefs has asked for a ruling from you on the issue of monsterous races being proficient with their own natural weapon - are we going by RAW, are we accepting the Iron Chef house rule on the matter, or are we leaving it up to the judges' discretion?

[loky1109]

To Nightmare about Elegance.
Your math is correct, but start was from 4, no 3, so 2.75 is correct, too.
Say this, because I checked all math yesterday.

[Thurbane]

Hey Thurbane, good to hear from you! just in case you haven't noticed, it seems one of our chefs has asked for a ruling from you on the issue of monsterous races being proficient with their own natural weapon - are we going by RAW, are we accepting the Iron Chef house rule on the matter, or are we leaving it up to the judges' discretion?

I always lean towards judges discretion...

[Yan Korlat]

I knew the no-disputes wouldn’t last :). I’ll get to those soon.

H_H_F_F, is there somewhere I can find the standing Iron Chef house rule you’re referring to?

loky is indeed correct on the math. I very much appreciate Nightmare’s chef’s honesty though, and am actually glad I got to see the rest of your dispute!

[H_H_F_F]

H_H_F_F, is there somewhere I can find the standing Iron Chef house rule you’re referring to?

It's the one Winter's Chef mentioned in their dispute: if you go to the first reply of any Iron Chef post, you'll see a Q&A by the chair. One of the Q's is about any house rules or judgement calls, and the first point mentioned is that all creatures are proficient with any natural weapons they have or got, or something to that spirit.

[Edit] This is the text:

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

Thurbane ruled judges have discretion, so until further notice it's your call whether or not you'll apply this standard here. For the record, my entry won't be affected by this ruling, but I personally would uphold this standard here as well.

[/edit.]

[H_H_F_F]

While Yan Korlat is at work on her disputes: any news from your side, Quentinas?

[Yan Korlat]

Ok, dispute responses incoming.

A few top-level things:

I should have thought to look in that post. Thanks for doing that legwork, H_H_F_F. I will be bringing that rule across, so I'm reducing both of those penalties to 0.1 for proceeding as though rules from a different optimization contest applied.
One dispute objected to me judging power without illegal material. In my understanding, judges are free to judge power and/or UoC without illegal material, even under OMOP. I've generally tried to do so for power but not UoC this round. My logic for this is twofold: 1. Power is fundementally a question of how well your build works, wheras in my mind, UoC is a much more conceptual category, and 2. You should not be able to submit silly infinite combo tricks that don't work and get rewarded for them. This means that my judging breaks down roughly in the following way: ambigiously legal material earns a hit in elegance, but not in power or UoC. Illegal tactics, etc. earn a hit in power AND elegance, but generally won't affect your UoC score. The one exception to this is if your entire use of the required component is based around flat-out illegal tactics, in which case I reserve the right to ding you under the logic of "you shouldn't be able to make only illegal use of the required ingredients, because that opens the door for awful builds (ur priest 10/soul eater 10 anyone?) (see some of the below, though, for more on how this actually plays out).
I have really struggled to rate the "can't be resurrected" part of Harvester of Souls in terms of power. I've basiclaly excluded it from all of these judgements on the grounds that if you can kill someone, you can probably knock them unconcious as well, meaning that all of the entrants in this competition can probably do the "kill permenantly" thing. To prevent power inflation, I've therefore mostly ignored it.

If anybody, especially Thurbane, objects to any of the above, please let me know.




Before I ask you about particular issues I found in judging my entry, I want to broach the general subject, not for my entry only, but for most. I maybe wrong - there aren't numbers in the Power sections, but it looks like you did double penalization for some build parts that you decide illegal - in the Elegance and in the Power both. It is against judging recommendations.
See above. Methodology stands barring objection from Thurbane or general public outcry.


I can't not ask you. Cleave. How often do you see optimizing around this feat? :)

Maybe it's just me, but I've actually seen a fair bit of Cleave attempts to get extra attacks. I also have a pretty high threshold for disputes on originality because every contestant has something they could tell me is original. Score stands, but I appreciate the attempt.


Your interpretation is right. The only inaccuracy is wight. It isn't enemy, but this doesn't do any changes.

Yes, if I should choose between Full attack and this maneuver... I looks not better choice. But. Starting turn in this position isn't guaranteed. More likely I and my slave should move to enemy, so full attack isn't option. Plus, this can be good option against enemy who strongly relies on Dodge AC - flat-footed isn't only for Iaijutsu Focus.
And one more. Two attack with full attack bonus may be more important than four iterative attacks.
"Rapid shot give you opportunity to miss two times in one turn." (C) :)

Fair. This wasn't hugely significant to my power score—I actually gave you a pretty high power score on "killing things." +0.1 in Power.

Your Coup de Grace ideas with Blood in the Water are also clever. However, neither of these ideas actually work, because “You can’t deliver a coup de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits.”

But these ideas work.

In addition, sneak attack and critical hits made with a ghost strike weapon against an undead creature affect it as if it were a living creature.
See? I can crit undead. Them aren't immune to my critical hits.

Unfortunately, you still cannot. I agree that if you could deliver a Coup de Grace, the enemy would be subject to the critical damage. However, Coup de Grace specifies that
You can’t deliver a coup de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits. Score stands barring a specific source saying that Ghost Touch bypasses this immunity.


Sorry, I didn't understand you. What was a problem?
You're getting a free class skill from Crane Clan without giving anything up, because you (and only you) are starting in Rokugan rather than a more typical 5e setting. I am grumpy about this in the context of optimization classes.


It definitely exists. It was updated in Dragon #318. Only one paragraph, but it is. And this update to 3.5 is allowed material.
The issue is that CW Samurai may have overwrote it. However, the Dragon update logic is compelling. Penalty removed.



I slightly agree with you, but Ancestral Daisho first of all is class feature, not regular item bought in magic shop
This is true, but it still is inelegant in this case: I cannot judge your build well against your competitors when you spend your WBL on turning on your combat tactics, and they have an unspent chunk of WBL. However, you are correct that it doesn't require magic shop syndrome. However, I did not realize the extent to which you were relying on these enchantments. (see above, Ghost Touch, and below, Paralytic Burst). Score stands: contest guidelines infringement reduced, unequal playing field increased.


Yes, only one. Only daito (a.k.a. katana). My shoto (a.k.a. wakizashi) almost always is in sheath, I don't use it at all.
I don't see how this puts my combat style in tension.

only enhance one, not both, of your daito
Daisho is pair of swords: big - daito and small - shoto.
Oops, sorry about the typo. I was complaining that the Samurai class feature strongly implies that you use both of your weapons. However, I don't actually know what I meant when I was writing this, because this is true for any Samurai, which seems wrong. Penalty Removed


I am sure creatures can willingly stay and totally not move. Peoples on scaffolds not always were bonded or chained, but executioners can do their job.
Sorry, this doesn't work. Executions have rules, and they don't involve the helpless condition—they involved the pinned condition. I'd be more likely to grant you "creatures can act pinned" then "creatures can act helpless"—I think helpless is a lack of reflexes. Score Stands.




What exactly did you dislike?

Two-level Samurai dip or third level of fighter? If second - I surprised. First, I took forth level later, second, I opposite look on this as on pretty elegant decision - I saved feat I so needed until level when I can take it. Having two martial classes that serve basically substitute purposes in the same setting strikes me as odd. Not particularly important, hence the 0.1 Score stands


I don't see any contradiction. Fact of auto-hit doesn't mean that attack has no attack bonus.
I am still not convinced that CdG attacks actually have attack bonuses—they're not even referred to as attacks. Regardless, I recognize this is really pedantic, which is why this is such a small hit. Score stands



I already responded to this in Power section. See above. Score Stands
______________________


First. I have Paralytic burst enchantment on my Ancestral daisho (and Keen).
Second. My Ancestral daisho is Merciful (yes, on 18th level, but is!) and if I need to kill somebody and prevent his resurrections, I'll use subdual damage option until he'll passes out and CdG him after. Or kill him with energy drain and harvest his soul from my new soul slave. Second option is debatable.
Hmm. These don't seem very unique to you (see top of post), but I was incorrect. Penalty reduced to 0.5.






There are aspects of your criticism I completely accept (Such as non-Psionic Thri-Kreen being incompatible with XPH and therefore Phrenic, or Nightmare's weakness against undead) and others that, while I disagree with personally, I recognize are a matter of personal opinion and taste (such as Thri-Kreen with their HD and LA being expected enough to deserve a penalty, appreciating Nightmare's out-of-combat versatility less than I do, or the unusual choice of the template class not deserving as much as a nod in originality). I don't dispute any of these.

Thanks! With that said, I said above my threshold for originality disputes is high, but you're right about the template class. Originality +0.25




This isn't to say I am at all unhappy with your judgement – just that there are a couple of small points I'd like your input on. Forgive me if this feels pedantic or unwarranted.
I'm actually still glad to recieve disputes—I'm not convinced I'm doing everything right!! You're totally fine.


So, math dispute: extremely unfortunately for me, I believe you elegance math was mistaken in my favor. Unless I'm missing something: 3 (base) +0.5 (surprisingly elegant) -0.75 (Phrenic-non-psionic) -0.5 (partial actions) -0.5 (buying a feat) = 1.75. I'm a full point over where I should be. Now that that's over, let's get to my substantive disputes:

Lucky for you, I start at 4, as loky pointed out. As the scores in this round suggest, this gives me room to be a little more discerning on elegance, because empty builds should be pretty elegant.


First, partial actions. While I find the penalty itself to be within the reasonable magnitude, I disagree with your reasoning: my copy of the 3.0 PHB specifically notes Standard Actions to be actions in which you do something and move / use a move-equivalent action, while partial actions can be used to do the same things (attack, cast a spell, whatever) but not move – or move/move-equivalent, but not act. In other words, exactly what a standard action allows you to do in 3.5. Therefore, partial actions are clearly the equivalent of 3.5 standard actions, while so called "standard actions" are actually the equivalent of 3.5 move action + standard action turns. While they share a name, mechanically they are far from the same. Granting extra 3.0 standard actions would grant extra standard actions and extra move actions in 3.5.
I did not play 3.0, and admittedly could have gone deeper book diving. They still are not explicitly updated, though, although your reasoning is compelling. Penalty reduced to 0.25


Second, save DCs. When we compare Nightmare's "casting" stat to that of an 18 Int human wizard putting all of her points into Int, we find it to be 1 point behind for most of her career, and becoming better by level 20. Now, of course, the wizard has access to higher level spells than Nightmare, I'm not saying she completely compares to a full caster – but her DCs are still good enough to be useful for her entire career (an area of effect stun with a dc 17 will save before items is certainly useful when she gets it) and by the end some of them are straight up better than many casters. Her psionic dominate at ECL 20 for example: useful twice per day, has a 25 save DC before items – same as an 18-base-23-final int wizard's spell dc for their ninth level spells. This is also the DC for mind thrust, her energy current, and her aversion. Again, this is obviously far from being on par with the power level of a full caster – but what the hell is? Unless you're willing to say casting spells of lower levels is pointless for a caster, you can't rule out something like hold monster or psychic crush just because it's equivalent to 5th level when Nightmare has full Cha investment, not to speak of the truly nasty standard-action Geas.

On DCs, I didn't phrase it very clearly—I literally just meant that your DCs are not exceptional, meaning (in this case) no better than a wizard putting in the bare minimum. My main complaint with your spellcasting is not your DCs, it's that a. you have a pretty strict limit on the number of times you can use your useful abilities a day, meaning monsters succeeding saving throws is more punishing than normal, b. you can't effectively choose spells to hit weaknesses, c. you don't have dispel or other similar utility spells to help you in those situations, d. you're locked into mind effecting for most of your useful effects (not energy current), and e. you have fewer opportunities to improve your DCs or not DC cast than a real caster. However, you're probably right that I'm underestimating how useful any casting at all is—you're one of very few casters in this round, and I think my power scores crept slightly upwards as I judged. However, I also have to consider that you are a very late bloomer, are down a bunch of HD, and have poor mobility and general defenses. Power score increased by 0.25


Third, regarding your comments about my unexceptional use of death blow and my usage of CdGs in general: Nightmare is a late bloomer, and while I recognize that this fact can be penalized unto itself, I think characterizing her as not caring or not being built around CdGs is somewhat unfair. Here's why:

Early in her career, round 1 (poison) to round 2 (Four-Handed Scythe CdG) is a decent enough combo. While for her mid-career it's doable but not as important or as likely to succeed, I feel that just ignoring the huge investment this build has made into being able to render someone helpless and CdGing them in the same turn is wrong. Nightmare is built to be able to do exactly that. I wouldn't have even gone for multitasking if it wasn't for wanting to invest in death blow, in conjunction with soul-powered S/PLAs. I explicitly called this combo out in my breakdown: hold monster into CdG, Dominate into CdG, psychic crush into CdG. Single turn, perma-dead enemy. Next turn, perhaps another perma-dead enemy (if the situation allows), while still contributing to combat. Due to soul power, she can do this enough times per day to make it far more than a nova move – and it'd be excellent even if it was. Does this deserve full credit in power? Probably not. It fully develops very late in the build and should only get partial or very partial credit. But does it deserve to be punished so very harshly in UoC, as if I basically didn't care about CdGs? When my build has made such a huge investment in trying to make them usable and worth the action economy price? In my opinion, no.

I didn't consider your early career CdG, because that's not turning on Harvester of Souls, or interacting with it. It is also still pretty sketchy—you get one poisoned bite a day, which deals 1d6 ability damage initially (very unlikely to trigger helplessness) and paralysis after a minute on a fairly low save (fairly unlikely to be relevant, and if it is, sufficient to remove the creature from combat).

However, you're somewhat correct about Soul Power. You're probably getting at least one successful CdG off each day, which is enough that it seems relevant. I still think having only a maximum of 6 realistic paralysis attempts in a day is a bit low, but I understand that defined some of your build choices. It also, as you say, comes online very late. Penalty reduced to 0.5.


That's that from me. Apologies for the wall of text, and again – absolutely no hard feelings on my part, even if you disagree with my non-math disputes. I thought your judgement was overall very fair and thoughtful, and very well done. Please let me know what you think!

Thanks again! This was a very easy dispute to go through, and I appreciate your attempted self-policing in Elegance.




I'm sorry for dropping the ball on some of the book diving for this build. Thank you for disputing this—I screwed up in a few key places
Originality:
Unseelie fey is still cheesy and predictable. Score stands.
Power:

There are three relevant issues. First, your summoning:

Oops. I clearly screwed up on this one. Thank you for pointing this out.

I do think that your Soul Eater trick works. You do need a way to consistently kill the monsters you summon, which might not be trivial, but because they're under your control you can probably figure it out. However, I don't think you get to carry Soul Eater bonuses over into any other form you shape change into, because the bonuses are part of the Consume Soul ability, which you lose when you Shapechange.

The other issue is that when you're in piscolith form, I don't think you have Soul Eater abilities, because shapechange loses Su abilities. This means you're basically fighting as a pseudonatural piscolith only, which while fine, is not exceptional. Your best combat trick seems to be fighting as a Souleater with +300 bonuses and a ton of HP if you have enough continuous preptime before the fight. This is still not overpowering—it comes online at level 18, is fundamentally still a martial character that is just really hard to kill via HP loss and always hits 3 natural attacks/turn if it gets a full attack for meh damage, and requires 2 hours of near-continuous prep.

Most of your summons are not super appealing to fight as, because summons are designed to not overpower level-appropriate encounters, and level 18 is decidedly higher than level-appopriate. However, this flexibility is nice.

Second, whether life drain works:

This RAI argument applies only to a different ability. RAW on one ability trumps RAI on a similar ability any day, especially because FAQ confirms my reading is correct on energy drain, which is RAI for this ability Score stands.

Third, your kitty combat prowess:

I know that damage barely matters, but I'm still not very convinced you can actually hit things well with only 16 dex and no optimization, and you're throwing away the advantages of a good BAB by fighting only with natural weapons. You're also just not doing that many negative levels worth of damage—3/turn at level 10 and above, assuming you get a full attack where everything connects, is going to kill things very very slowly.

Power bumped to 1.75 in consideration of buffed Souleater and flexible combat forms


Elegance:

It is in Sources
Web - Don't Mind Me
I don't know how I missed that! Penalty removed.



It's look like double penalty for one mistake. I ask you remind. Score stands on this objection, see above. However, more of your tricks work then I thought. Penalty mitigated to 0.5 on the merits



I can't agree that "when I level into Soul Eater" is specific point in time. I look at level-up as long time process, not push button and select new abilities.
And Winter anyway most time is in cat form.
This seems to hurt, not help, you—if you don't continuously meet prereqs as you level, that is bad. It's still a raised eyebrow from me. Score stands.



Yes, it is problem. RAW this is true. And I totally forget about this because accustomed to IC house rule:
All creatures are proficient with any natural weapons they may have or acquire.
RAW is pretty dysfunctional and I ask chair's judgement here, for me and Ash.

See above. Penalty reduced to 0.1


Use of Components:


Zero, I'm cat! I can sleep on your head!!!
First, I can bind Acerack every time after 7th ECL. It isn't my favorite vestige for long time, but isn't forbidden, too.
Second, Winter Chill. Always with me.
Third, I try to use it for farm many temporary hit points. Yes, I see now, it doesn't work, and I don't ask many, but it looks like triple penalty for one mistake.
Forth, Piscoloth has eight paralysis attacks! DC 24+ plus Winter Chill (up to -7 on saves). And crit multiplier x3 as cherry on top.

I think I can use Harvester of Souls very often.
On Acerack: I'm judging you on the tactics presented in the entry, which include not binding Acerack when you have harvester of souls. On Winter Chill: I don't see that it paralyzes anyone? On temporary hit points: this is a fair complaint, but this also isn't a particularly compelling use of Harvester of Souls (it only uses 1 part of the feat in a clearly non-thematic way), and it's pretty flat-out illegal. Penalty reduced by 0.25 On Piscolith: You're right about this. However, there's a substantial action cost to you using Harvester of Souls in this way, which I don't see an attempt to mitigate. Penalty reduced by 0.25


You still looking at the cat, but you should look at monster with ten natural attacks and Str 19.

Even if Piscoloth somehow will be unavailable I always can use Fiendish giant octopus from PHB.
See above—this doesn't actually work. However, it is a good concept for using Soul Eater. Bonus increased to 0.5


Ash also gets a net of +0.4 because of the proficiency issue.

I'll update my original judgement post soon.

[H_H_F_F]

Thanks for the quick response, Yan Korlat!

[loky1109]

Table updated.

[Thurbane]

I'll try to get in touch with Quentinas , but if no updates soon, I'd like to call it and post a new comp before years end.

Quentinas has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space.

Also, one further reply on judging.



You're getting a free class skill from Crane Clan without giving anything up, because you (and only you) are starting in Rokugan rather than a more typical 5e setting. I am grumpy about this in the context of optimization classes.
I see. But... I used this for roleplay purpose only. 4 ranks in Diplomacy gives me nothing. It isn't prec and doesn't some valuable for me. It even doesn't give me synergy.
Plus I gave up "favored class: Any" (instead take "favored class: Samurai:"). This isn't big deal, too, but isn't nothing.

I don't dispute more about things that was answered by you, while I still disagree with some points. But one entry - one dispute. We can discus this after revealing.

[Yan Korlat]

That’s a very fair point. I was too knee-jerk in that penalty and didn’t realize there was no mechanical effect. Penalty Removed.

[H_H_F_F]

I'll try to get in touch with Quentinas , but if no updates soon, I'd like to call it and post a new comp before years end.

Quentinas has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space.

Also, one further reply on judging.

So... It's a new year (happy 2022, everyone!)

Have you heard from Quentinas?

[Thurbane]

Sorry for my recent extended absences, but things should be returning to normal now.

I don't think there will be any further judging, so here's the final reveal:



Name
Alignment / Race
Class Levels
Chef
Yan Korlat
Total
Place


The Warrior Philosopher (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262847&postcount=38)
NE Gravetouched Ghoul Longtooth Shifter
Ranger 1/ Warblade 8/ Weretouched Master 4/ Black Blood Cultist 5
PoeticallyPsyco
10.4
10.4
6th


The Nightmare of The Iridescent Grove (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262848&postcount=39)
CE Phrenic non-psionic Thri-Kreen
Battle dancer 1/ Fighter 2/Soul Eater 10/Half Fey savage progression 2
H_H_F_F
13.5
13.5
2nd Silver


Winter (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262849&postcount=40)
?E Unseelie Fey Tibbit
Binder 13/Soul Eater 7
loky1109
11.95
11.95
4th


Ash the Badger (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262850&postcount=41)
?E Unseelie Fey Hengeyokai (Badger)
Duskblade 5/Black Blood Cultist 5/Soul Eater 10
Beni-Kujaku
8.8
8.8
7th


Tsujigiri (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262852&postcount=42)
LE Half Shadow Dragon Human of Crane clan
Fighter 4/Samurai 2/Soul Eater 10/Warblade 1
loky1109
13.85
13.85
1st Gold


I (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262855&postcount=43)
CE Venerable Dragonwrought variant Kobold
Psion 5/Anarchic Initiate 4/Battledancer 1/Soul Eater 10
Beni-Kujaku
10.9
10.9
5th


Haliax Thrice-Bound (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25262856&postcount=44)
LE Unseelie Fey Silverbrow Human
Warblade 2/Passive Way Monk 2/Warlock 6/Soul Eater 10
RaiKirah
13.05
13.05
3rd Bronze



Congrats to loky1109, H_H_F_F and RaiKirah, as well as everyone else who got an entry in.

I hope to have the new comp up in next 24 hours.

[H_H_F_F]

Whoo, silver! Very happy with that, though I do feel a bit dirty scooting over Raikirah with a dispute. Also feel tremendously silly for forgetting that elegance started at 4 and not checking the math on other entries.

Congrats on the win, Loky!

Special shout-out number 1 goes to PoeticallyPsyco, who decided that if their build didn't need the damn SI, it won't have the damn SI. I was very confused by the gravetouched ghoul entry before I realized the warrior philosopher was straight up not a soul eater.

Number 2 goes to Beni-Kujaku, for making what I thought were the 2 most impressive entries on the playing field. Our judge disagreed, and if I was in her shoes perhaps I'd have to penalize you as well - but at a more superficial look I was deeply impressed by both.

I like phrenic, and I like half fey, and I've been sitting on the idea of making a soul eater with one of them for VC for a while. I'm glad I got to build 1 for both, in a way that also stemmed from the other component.

Anyhow, thanks for chairing Thurbane, and thanks for judging Yan Korlat! Shame we didn't get Quentinas to judge at the end... Then again, I think his metric wouldn't have been kind to The Nightmare, so good for me I guess.

See y'all next round, and anybody who feels like popping over to the new villainous competition and take part in the discussion is very welcomed to do so!

[Yan Korlat]

This was honestly a really tough round to judge—the builds here were bizarre, and I found myself really struggling especially with power, because a lot of these builds leaned hard into gimmicks. Lke H_H_F_F, Beni's builds were some of my favorite, but Ash just had too many mechanical issues to work, and "I," while a really cool concept and my HM vote if I had remembered that that was a thing in time, just didn't quite get over the line. I also would have liked to see your disputes, Beni, especially if the competition had been slightly less protracted—because the judging was so odd, being fair across entries was challenging, and I'm not positive I did that well.

Congrats to all our medalists, and everyone who participated.

[loky1109]

I'm very happy to achieve gold!

But I should to say...
I saw valuable mistake in judging. It at the end don't give me gold undeservedly, but it was close. My last dispute calmed me down. And, plus, I saw that RaiKirah voluntary didn't send disputes. It calmed me, too.


[-0.75] You fail to qualify for Passive Way Monk: you’d need Skill Focus: Bluff, and to invest in the relevant skills.
This was wrong. Monk's Fighting Styles don't require thier prec to entry, precs needs to take 6th level bonus ability.


Monk Variant: Fighting Styles
In literature and lore, the combat styles and aptitudes of a monk depend greatly on where (or by whom) she was trained. The standard monk, however, presents only a relatively limited variety of options to personalize your monk.

A 1st-level monk (regardless of character level) may select one of the fighting styles described below. By selecting one of these fighting styles, she dictates which bonus feats she gains at 1st, 2nd, and 6th level (when a standard monk normally gains one of two bonus feats). In addition, at 1st level she gets a +2 bonus on checks involving a skill of her selection (in exchange for the freedom of choice she gives up by preselecting her bonus feats). Finally, she gains a bonus ability at 6th level if she has met the listed prerequisites by that time. If the character hasn't yet met the prerequisites, she doesn't gain the bonus ability, even if she meets the prerequisites at some later time.

It is not blaming, Yan, you did all well, and I liked your judging (not only because I won)))), but anybody can mistake. I did mine once judging, for undeservedly extra -2, I guess (E6 fly?). For this there are disputes. And if challenger didn't debate... well... it can happens.

I just saw this and can't be silent. I saw this and it eating me. Conflict of interest...

[Yan Korlat]

Darn :(. I'm sorry about that. I should have looked more closely. Oops.

[H_H_F_F]

That would bump me down to bronze. No objections from me if we decide to make things right post-judgement, but that may be a can of worms we don't wish to open.

Thurbane's call. No objections from me either way.

[loky1109]

I should have looked more closely. Oops.
I think RaiKirah should have more.

[Yan Korlat]

Eh, given how protracted this contest is, I understand people wanting to get it over with. Because that was a fairly significant and easy to rectify error, I'm happy to fix it if you'd prefer, Thurbane, but it's entirely up to you. I should have noticed the full description, I just saw pre-req and assumed it meant PRE-req, not during-req -_-.

[Thurbane]

I think it best to leave as is: unless the competitor in question raises the issue, sometimes things slip by the judges, them being human and all, so I don't think we need to revisit.

[Yan Korlat]

Sounds good to me. Thank you!

[loky1109]

I have the rule for myself about our competitions. I always try to dispute. Exactly because of similar cases. If I don't - I don't care about entry.
If I only read judging once... well, I can miss something, but when I write dispute... Oh, I reread all times and times. If there is mistake I'll find it.

[loky1109]

And let step back.

About this round.
I said all early. Cheese-party as it is. )))
I like it. Every time I see something new in D&D 3.5 I'm glad!

Finally I take gold! I almost every time aim in gold, but... And it is valuable that I take it in such difficult round, with so good competitors. Thank you all!

And great thank for Yan Korlat! I said it and I say it again!

About entries.

The Warrior Philosopher surprised me very much. I think this is precedent. )))

The Nightmare. I thought about Phrenic. Soul Eater 10 and this template. They are parts of integrated whole. Bread and butter. )))
Glad to see this idea not vizzined. )))

Ash the Badger. Looks too straight for me. It isn't bad, but amid cheese mountains he was pale.

I. Well. It is amazing! I thought do something like and I gave up immediately. But Beni was able to manage this unapproachable for me idea!

Haliax Thrice-Bound. I didn't understand this build fully. But character looks unnatural. Exactly for this round! "HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR", remember? *looking at calendar* Uh...

My builds. I was betting on Winter. It is shame for me she doesn't work well. Shapechange is broken, but not so broken as I thought.
Tsujigiri. He was second build. Second idea. Not so... Original as Winter. But... I created his not around idea, I just try to do good entry and used things that I needed. Firstly, I want give him level of warrior, not Warblade, and he had no name, but he evolve. Tsujigiri is more adult than Winter. Winter still is a child. Born from one idea and stay idem. I like she, but now I look on Tsujigiri and he looks more high-quality than I gave him credit.

Do you know what means Tsujigiri's name?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsujigiri
Name gave him most of his backstory.

[Thurbane]

New comp is up: https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?641168

[RaiKirah]

Congrats to the other competitors, and thanks for the judgements. On the topic of the potential points - I chose not to dispute even seeing that issue, so slipping to Bronze is on me :P

[Beni-Kujaku]

I. Well. It is amazing! I thought do something like and I gave up immediately. But Beni was able to manage this unapproachable for me idea!

Thank you! If you want to create "I", it doesn't work due to how Extra Power works, but does if you just replace it by Expanded Knowledge. I just forgot Expanded Knowledge does what I want but better, specifically including disciplines. I got caught up in the "using unupdated 3.0 psionics just because it's way more fun than using something intended" but that hurt me.

The rest should work by RAW. Unarmed Strike from the Battledancer mentions that your unarmed strike are counted as natural weapons for the purpose of things that improve it. Weapon Focus improves the thing it's applied to, so it counts as a natural weapon, and you qualify for Soul Eater.
If metamagic-reduced-Heighten can be used to qualify for prestige classes (which it does, if we're going by most of the early entry in this forum and elsewhere), then I don't see why Overchannelled-accessed-Heighten wouldn't work for Expanded Knowledge.
The issue with losing a level is (probably) not one, since Restoration specifically restores a drained level, and the only thing I can think of that they could mean for that is a negative level turned into a lost level at the end of the duration, which is almost identical wording as the lost level from Fission. And the fact that you lose Restoration is also wrong, since after the end of the Fission duration, you only have one negative level left. The other one is a "lost" level, which doesn't make you lose your highest-level power.

[Yan Korlat]

Hmph. I understand the lack of disputes because of this very long competition, but I'd have probably granted at least some of that in a dispute—some of the dings (e.g. overchannel) I ultimately agree with you but find them inelegant, but some I was just wrong on (Weapon Focus—i missed battledancer). The rest I'd have to sit down with and take some time, but I'd have liked to see them if it didn't delay things. Welp, that's for another time. Sorry for the judging mistakes—i hope I'll do better next time, and y'all won't hold them against me :).