Zinc Saucier XLII: The Second Half of the Name!

[loky1109]

I said Zinc Saucier will return (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25488296&postcount=29) and it returns! Yeah, it was long break - almost one-and-a-half years, sorry for that, but now time has come!


Welcome one and all to the Forty-Second round of Zinc Saucier challenge!

Here Playgrounders come to test their skill in, so to say, making cupcakes of fish or T-bone steak of green beans.

What exactly do you need to do? To make a build that has the same abilities and feel as the Secret Ingredient WITHOUT actually using it!

For this round I want to look at something new, but also go back to the roots. Our game calls Dungeons & Dragons. So I want to ask you to make some True Dragon for this round (details in the FAQ post).

Our challengers will have about 1 month to build a complete build up to Effective Character Level 20 using a 32 point buy and all official WotC D&D 3.5 materials (excluding Dragon Magazine, but including any WotC online enhancements) with the abilities and feel of a True Dragon without actually being it.

Entries must be submitted by Saturday, 00:00 (12:00 am) GMT November 11, 2023 As usual, please submit your entries via private message to the chairman. Extensions are available.
Presentation would be best in the style of how the iron chef does their presentations, however any style is allowed so long as it is clear on how the build was made.

Judges will then have as many time as they needed to post scores for all dishes.

Contestants will be judged and awarded a score of 1 through 5 in each of 4 categories:
Innovation (Uniqueness in character concept, race, class, etc)
Power (How powerful and versatile it is compared to the base class)
Elegance (What can only be described as how well the build "flows", i.e not using lots of 1-2lv dips, sacrificing flavour for power or using flaws)
Ingredient (How well the build captures the abilities and feel of the base class)

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

PM: loky1109
Subject: Zinc Saucier 42, Name of your Entry

For revisions and disputes, do the same thing. It makes it easier for me finding the entries in my mail box.

If you have questions about the contest that feel inappropriate to ask in the main thread, please PM me with "Zinc Saucier 42 Questions". Keep in mind that I am not a judge, and so questions about how acceptable X or Y might be to judges will get (at best) a guess on my part due to my somewhat limited familiarity with the competitive community.

Recommended style is as the spoilers below. The end of the second post has a link to a Google Sheet that helps show the layout, if that will help you with planning out your build.

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
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-



Please do not post details of your build on the board before it is ready, so as not to spoil the surprise for others. Similarly, please try to refrain from speculating on possible builds too much even if you don't intend to use them yourself.


Soulknife
Bard
Monk
Assassin
Barbarian
Warlock
Paladin *
Warblade
Pyrokineticist
Ninja *
Druid
True Necromancer
Dervish
Whisperknife
Epic Infiltrator *
Master of Vipers
Ranger *
Flayerspawn Psychic
Totemist
Walker in the Waste
Drunken Master
Cleric
Duskblade
Psibond Agent
Argent Fist
Fighter
Artificier
Knight
Spellthief
Factorum no cooks submitted
Dragonfire Adept
Battle Dancer
Illithid Slayer one cook submitted
Swashbuckler
Chameleon
Dread Necromancer one cook submitted
Warmage
Kensai one cook submitted
Dread Pirate
Familiar
Life Eater

*: Classes marked with an asterisk have had their original posts updated to reflect the final results.

This competition is inspired by the Playground Iron Chef Competitions and uses mostly identical rules.

[loky1109]

FAQ:
Round section.
Q: True Dragon? What do you mean?
A: I hope you don't ask me "what is a dragon in general?" ) True dragons are dragons listed in the Races of the Dragon book at page 103. It is possible that some true dragon didn't make the list, for example - Incarnum Dragon. If you aren't sure about specific dragon - ask me via PM.

Q: Okay. What exactly am I supposed to emulate?
A: Well. True Dragon has wings and can fly (mostly), has claws, fangs and tail, has breath weapons, has arcane magic or psionic abilities, has other special abilities depends on specific dragon species.

Q: What exact Dragon am I supposed to emulate?
A: It's up to you. You could make True Dragon of any species and age or ages.

Q: About Dragonwrought kobold...
A: No, Dragonwrought kobold isn't True Dragon. You could use it, you shouldn't emulate it.


General section.
Q: How the heck do I even do this?
A: Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to select a combination of race, templates, classes, alternate class features, prestige classes, skills, and feats, meld them into a single character that progresses from ECL 1 to ECL 20, that is as close as possible to the secret ingredient as possible in look, feel, class/race features. How you do it is up to you, I recommend you read previous competitions if you are interested in seeing how others have done it before you. Capture the essence!

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

Q: What about 3.0 materials?
A: 3.0 materials, whether online or in printed form, are allowed unless they've been officially updated to a 3.5 edition. Here's a guide to most of what has and hasn't been updated (https://web.archive.org/web/20150620123627/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20050110x). I strongly dislike how WotC "updated" Master of Chains, Master Samurai and Weapon Master and you are free to use 3.0 version of them. It's specific exception.
NB: Official Errata and 3.5 updates to 3.0 content are considered valid regardless of whether their sources would otherwise be legal. This includes the 3.5 update of Oriental Adventures given in Dragon Magazine #318, and the 3.5 updates of Dragonlance Campaign Setting content given in later third party Dragonlance books.

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

Q: What about online sources in general?
A: If the online source is a) published by WotC, and b) not replaced by an updated version at a later time, it is eligible. Use it, link it.
I know at this moment WotC archive is shut down. You can use archive copy currently accessible via the Wayback Machine (https://web.archive.org/web/20161031211045/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/dnd).

Q: Where's the line drawn with "acceptable/unacceptable" for Unearthed Arcana?
A: A few specific things are explicitly acceptable. The elemental/environmental races, spelltouched feats, variant character classes, specialist wizard variants, whirling frenzy, aspect of nature, and racial paragon classes are legal. Item Familiars and Gestalt have always been verboten. Use of flaws to take free feats is an automatic loss of one point per flaw in this category (penalty for use of flaws for some other reasons is up to judges). Traits are -0.5 each. Alternate spell systems, alternate skill systems and alternate crafting rules all create an uneven playing field, and as such, will be disallowed. In a similar vein, LA buyoff and fractional BAB are also disallowed. Bloodlines and the Retraining options presented in the PHB2 are ripe for abuse, and will be strongly discouraged as long as I am Chairman. Note that judges are allowed to look askance at any use of Unearthed Arcana not specifically mentioned above, at their discretion, and otherwise penalize Elegance according to their preference.

Q: What, exactly, does the ban on Leadership mean?
A: As folks have started to try to work around the edges of this one, I'm forced to spell it out more plainly. No Leadership, Draconic Cohort, or Feats that grant a similar ability are allowed EXCEPT Wild Cohort. Any PrC you choose with Leadership or a Leadership-analog has that ability entirely ignored for this contest, as it may neither be used nor traded away via any means whatsoever.
However, Leadership may be taken to qualify for another feat or class (such as the Great Captain feat or Legendary Leader prestige class), though a character still doesn't get its usual benefit in those cases. This is to allow characters to access unproblematic material that'd otherwise be made unavailable because of the Leadership ban.

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

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

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

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

One Mistake, One Penalty

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

Non-exhaustive list of examples:

Skills

Allowed:

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


Not allowed:

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



Prereqs

Allowed:

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


Not Allowed:

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



Other general things that are no longer allowed:

Penalizing because someone has chosen to build a tribute to an existing creative work
Deciding that a backstory has not met a fluff prerequisite well enough, or because its method of meeting it is "unrealistic". You may penalize if a fluff prereq is not addressed at all, but not for how well it is addressed.
Please don't base your scores off the scores of another judge.
Note that these are protections, not licenses. Deliberately taking a feat that you know you don't qualify for hoping to just suck up the judging penalty for a feat that you couldn't normally take is not okay, and may lead to your build being disqualified.
And some competition specific moments.

Since the goal is to emulate the Secret Ingredient, achieving much higher power than the Secret Ingredient is capable of is overkill and should be marked accordingly. Likewise if the build cannot match the power of the Secret Ingredient it should be marked accordingly. Individual judges can decide how much is too much, as each judge will have different tastes. The goal here is to prevent all entries being Wizard 20 because "they do it better."
For creature-SI rounds just polymorphing into SI isn't enough. Of course shape changing magic isn't banned, but using such straightforward approach should be penalized in the Innovation part.

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.
NB: If you just don't understand what did judge mean you are free to ask (also by PM to the Chair). It isn't count as dispute.
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.
The Variant Classes in Unearthed Arcana are considered ACFs.

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

Q: Can I make edits or revisions to my submission?
A: As long as it is before the dishes have been posted in the reveal, you are welcome to revise or make edits to your entry. Please do so by sending a new PM with the changes incorporated.

Q: What is the chair's stance on builds with an "adaptation/variants" section?
A: If chefs have adaptations or variations on the build they want to present, they are strongly encouraged to put them together in a single section in the entry writeup. If you have a large enough variation, consider something like this linked build (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25514412&postcount=108) which presents two similar concepts to be judged separately.
In a build where major adaptations or variants are presented that would alter the score, judges are free to score the entry based only on the "central" or "main" build.

Links amusement/edification:
Handy Tips for the Iron Chef in the Playground Noob
GitP Blank Iron Chef Entry (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BG0-5sq4dL9Ooh7-QfXuyHzO4rXSz-CRcj29t6BeUVE/edit#gid=0) (credit to mattie_p)
All you want to know about the [table] code

[Inevitability]

It's been a good while since I last built for this; in to cook! I already have a couple ideas.

[FactualArcher]

I have some ideas as well. I'm probably in to cook.

[Chronos]

There are some possibilities that seem extremely obvious... I'm curious whether everyone will embrace them, or avoid them precisely because they're so obvious.

[quetzalcoatl5]

I have some ideas, but I think this might be the time for me to try judging...

It would be my first time judging though, so feel free to tell me to STFU

[Beni-Kujaku]

I have some ideas, but I think this might be the time for me to try judging...

It would be my first time judging though, so feel free to tell me to STFU

I am pretty sure nobody will seriously tell you that. Welcome to the wonderful world of wondering what the hell you're looking at and if having fish scales should warrant a bonus point on a True Dragon competition because of Oriental Adventures Li dragons!

[loky1109]

I have some ideas, but I think this might be the time for me to try judging...

It would be my first time judging though, so feel free to tell me to STFU

No way I say you this! Judges are always welcome! Everybody had first time somewhere.

[loky1109]

I have a question.
If I'll make a chair's entry what do you prefer: I should open what entry is mine or I could keep it private. Anyway chair's entry isn't assumed to get medals and will be ignored in placing.

[quetzalcoatl5]

Ooh interesting! All the contest I've seen, the chair entries were explicit but I kind of enjoy the idea that it could be mixed in there...

[Inevitability]

I have a question.
If I'll make a chair's entry what do you prefer: I should open what entry is mine or I could keep it private. Anyway chair's entry isn't assumed to get medals and will be ignored in placing.

Typically it seems like chair's entries are explicitly presented as such (see the last iron chef). Given how much these competitions often struggle to attract judges, I don't think it'd be a good idea to make them perform judgements that aren't going to be used for anything anyway.

[pabelfly]

I have a question.
If I'll make a chair's entry what do you prefer: I should open what entry is mine or I could keep it private. Anyway chair's entry isn't assumed to get medals and will be ignored in placing.

I think a Chair entry should be explicitly noted as chair entry. Judging can take a while for a single entry, so doing that for something not in the running would not be something I'd appreciate if I were a judge.

If you actually want your entry judged, I'd write it up and do a separate showcase thread for it.

[loky1109]

I see your point. It sounds reasonable.

[loky1109]

Add several new lines in the FAQ post.
Marked with deep blue.

[Inevitability]

Some very complicated feelings about this round so far.

On the one hand it's really open-ended, there's a lot of room to explore things, and I've genuinely been learning a lot of new things scouring books for dragons to emulate / build elements to do that with, and it's genuinely fun!


But on the other hand... I feel like I'm forced to go against my typical build style here, and it's not the easiest thing for me? I like to make very dense, coherent builds, where every ability shows up and does something, and where you're never left saying "Sure, you can do X, but when would you ever want to?".

And unfortunately, dragons are big natural weapons-bruisers stapled to a breath weapon stapled to sorcerer casting stapled to highly unique spell-likes; even if I -could- get squeeze of those on the same build, I'd just end up with three or four key abilities all competing for my one standard action.

It makes the whole building process a bit tricky, to say the least.

[loky1109]

Yeah, it's hard to be a dragon. )


I feel like I'm forced to go against my typical build style here, and it's not the easiest thing for me?
...
It makes the whole building process a bit tricky, to say the least.
I see what you are talking about, yes, it's tricky. But... isn't that a purpose? More effort - more fun at the end?

[loky1109]

One third of time is gone. I have couple of entries in my inbox, but not very many.
How is it going, folks?

[FactualArcher]

I’m still working. I’ve got my build working mechanically and the flavor is coming into place. I mostly just need to work out formatting.

[loky1109]

And it's less than a week till deadline. How is it doing, folks?
I have several entries, but I really will be glad to see more.

Maybe somebody need an extension?

[FactualArcher]

My entry is basically finished, just need to format it and sent it in.

Edit: And sent

Edit footnote: I've always wanted to say that

[loky1109]

Great!

Does anybody also work on?

[loky1109]

Deadline is almost here, it's last chance to ask for extension if you need it

[loky1109]

Time to reveal. Please don't post until I'll finish.

[loky1109]

First Dragon.



Urolk Sandstone

https://i.postimg.cc/pT9DXpgD/bbe4404b-6514-47b3-b96e-c7cd48df6899.jpg

A voice came from the wilderness
It shared forgotten lore
The prophet lacked the flesh of life
But lived on at death's door.

CN Mineral Warrior Baaz Draconian (2 RHD, +2 LA) Crusader 3 / Knight of the Weave 3 / Jade Phoenix Mage 4 / Sand Shaper 2 / Jade Phoenix Mage +4

Urolk had been like all the other Baaz, a long time ago. Lost and leaderless after the dragonarmies' destruction, small-minded, cruel, petty. He'd ended up serving a slightly more ambitious draconian, tagging along an expedition in some buried necropolis in search of mysterious magic.

They found it, but the magic hailed from further back than even they could have expected: the chaotic time before the moons, before the orders of sorcery, before mortal mages even lived. Bolts of energy burst forth, slaying the party of desecrators. All the expedition's Baaz were turned to stone, while the death throes of more powerful draconians shook the room.

Urolk, too, was struck dead - or so he thought. After what seemed like an eternity, the draconian carefully opened his (strangely heavy) eyes, and found himself a lone survivor... and yet his body had turned to stone. An impossibility - everyone knew Baaz would only turn to stone upon death, and not a moment sooner, and yet here he was, moving and thinking as if he was still alive. Nor did it crumble with time, as his allies' corpses already had - his body seemed frozen in the minute after death.

There was only one explanation: Urolk had died and been reborn. The magic had killed all, and shown its ability to kill him just as easily - but it had returned him to life while his body still lingered. For what purpose? Urolk did not know. But as he fought his way out of the necropolis, he found new powers flare up inside him - magic, the same primal, wild magic that had almost been his doom. It had let him live so he could carry it from its tomb.

And so Urolk did just that. Armed with magical powers that few could replicate, possessed of a body that inspired fright and awe alike, he came forth from the desert and preached his gospel, attracting more and more followers to his strange sort of religion. The Orders opposed him, first privately, then publicly, but their hold on the draconic races had never been strong, and Urolk survived any attempt to assassinate him.

In time, the draconian began to claim he was no mere mortal, but the reincarnation of an ancient draconic soul, hailing from a prehistorical time. Others, too, he identified as such, and they formed the core of a rapidly spreading cult - a cult whose beliefs were as insane as they were strangely accurate. What to make of it?


A chill ran down Renegade Hunter Kuvoc's spine, but he took pains not to show it. The draconians surrounding him were cruel, hateful things - but he needn't be afraid of them quite yet. In fact, a few of the dumber ones seemed to think he was actually here to support that insane cult leader of theirs. A madman, a fool who thought himself inheritor of this-or-that lost tradition. There were no lost traditions anymore - the Orders had made sure of that.

The doors to the inner sanctum swung open, and the subject of his thoughts walked out. Tall, proud, gray chest scarred (chipped?) with impossibly deep gouges, wings tucked in, tail held high, the whole body seemingly made out of living, breathing, stone.

The rumors, it seemed, hadn't been entirely false. Kuvoc knew what a dead Baaz looked like, and he had to admit the leader bore an uncanny resemblance. As far as glamers went, it was a lifelike one. Cleverly found, too - death was so shockingly close to those Baaz, so uncomfortably permanent - of course they'd be awed by a form that evoked mastery over it. A chorus of 'aahs' and 'oohs' went up around him.

Kuvoc wasn't as easily impressed.

"DRACONIAN BY THE NAME OF UROLK," he bellowed. "THE ORDERS OF HIGH SORCERY HAVE CONVENED AND CHARGE YOU WITH CRIMES AGAINST MAGIC, STABILITY, AND PEACE. YOU ARE CALLED UPON TO DISBAND YOUR UNAUTHORIZED SCHOOL AND STAND TRIAL."

Several draconians snarled around him in indignation - that was to be expected. Their leader remained calm, outstretched a hand, smiled.

"Oh child of this wayward age. Why do you cling to these meager teachings? Why not turn to the practice of a newer, truer magic, which I practiced in my last life as I do today, and which transcends time and death?"

"Your magic is feeble, and all you have to show for it a mere trick. The power you hold cannot match that commanded by the Orders of High Sorcery."

"Then let us match our might, messenger. You may cast any spell you like upon me, and afterwards I shall cast any spell I like upon you. I proclaim now, with confidence, that I shall weather your assault, no matter its nature. We may repeat this until one of us is slain, at which point the matter shall be settled."

Bingo. He'd been hoping for this. Insult the guy in front of his people, provoke a duel, win decisively and get rid of the need for a messy trial. He accepted, they took up positions, the flock looking on eagerly, and a small gong signalled the start of the test.

Kuvoc didn't spend much time choosing his opener. "DISINTEGRATE!" he bellowed, thrusting his left hand forward. A thin green line linked him with his enemy for the barest of seconds - and then it was over. Before his eyes, the cult leader crumbled into dust. He kept smiling all the while - it gave Kuvoc the creeps. Around him, the draconians erupted in cacophony.

It was to be expected. He'd chosen this spell for maximum effect. Baaz turn to stone upon death, then crumble minutes after - so what better spell to prove the leader's mortality than one with exactly that effect? Kuvoc turned to address the cultists, his speech about the Orders' superiority already at the ready, when the room went strangely quiet.

Kuvoc became aware of a number of things in very quick succession.

A cry from the crowd: "He is reborn!". The groan of shifting stone. A single heavy footstep behind him. A rocky hand, clamping down upon his shoulder.

And then nothing.

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

In the common room of the Sandstone Brotherhood stands a statue. It is not particularly well-crafted, nor pleasant to look upon, and the human mage it depicts was not of particular import to the world. The only notable thing about it is its material: the whole thing is crafted out of salt, and glimmers like water when the light hits it right.

Venerable Urolk, the Wyrm Reborn, takes a great liking to it. After all, how many of one's foes have the courtesy to turn into monuments to their own defeat?

Point buy:
STR: 14
DEX: 12
CON: 10
INT: 16
WIS: 12
CHA: 14

Baaz Draconian:
STR: 14
DEX: 12
CON: 12
INT: 14
WIS: 10
CHA: 14

Mineral Warrior:
STR: 16
DEX: 12
CON: 16
INT: 12
WIS: 8
CHA: 12

ASIs:
STR: 16
DEX: 12
CON: 16
INT: 12
WIS: 8
CHA: 16



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


3rd
Baaz Draconian (2 HD)
+2
+3
+3
+3
Bluff +5 (5), Concentration +5cc (2.5), Intimidate +5 (5), Knowledge (Arcana) +4cc (2), Knowledge (History) +2cc (1), Knowledge (Nature) +5cc (2.5), Knowledge (Religion) +2cc (1), Spellcraft +2cc (1), Survival +5cc (2.5), Tumble +5cc (2.5)
Dragon Tail, RunB
Dragon Type, Claw Attacks, Bite Attack, +2 Natural Armor, Death Throes, Disease Immunity, Glide, Inspired by Dragons, Low Metabolism, SR 8 + level, speaks Common, Nerakese, and Ogre


4th
Mineral Warrior
+2
+3
+3
+3
-
-
Earth Subtype, Burrow Speed, +3 Natural Armor, Earth Strike, DR 8/Adamantine


5th
Crusader 1
+3
+5
+3
+3
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (3.5), Intimidate 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) +1 (2), Knowledge (Nature) 2.5, Knowledge (Religion) +1 (2), Spellcraft 1, Survival 2.5, Tumble 2.5
Multiattack
Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Maneuvers, Stances, Skilled City-Dweller (Ride -> Tumble)


6th
Crusader 2
+4
+6
+3
+3
Bluff 5, Concentration +1.5 (5), Intimidate 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 2.5, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 2.5, Tumble +1.5 (4)
-
Indomitable Soul


7th
Crusader 3
+5
+6
+4
+4
Bluff 5, Concentration 5, Intimidate 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 2.5, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 2.5, Tumble +3 (7)
-
Zealous Surge


8th
Knight of the Weave 1
+5
+8
+4
+6
Bluff 5, Concentration +2 (7), Intimidate +1 (6), Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 2.5, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 2.5, Tumble 6
Improved Dragon Wings
Detect Magic, Read Magic, Spellcasting


9th
Knight of the Weave 2
+6
+9
+4
+7
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (8), Intimidate 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) +1cc (3), Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival +1cc (3), Tumble 6
-
Armored Mage (Light)


10th
Knight of the Weave 3
+7
+9
+5
+7
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (9), Intimidate 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 3, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival +2cc (4), Tumble 6
-
-


11th
Jade Phoenix Mage 1
+8
+11
+5
+7
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (10), Intimidate 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) +2cc (4), Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble 6
Touchstone (City of the Dead)
Arcane Wrath, Rite of Waking


12th
Jade Phoenix Mage 2
+9
+12
+5
+7
Bluff 5, Concentration 10, Intimidate 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble +3 (9)
-
Mystic Phoenix Stance


13th
Jade Phoenix Mage 3
+10
+13
+6
+8
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (11), Intimidate +2 (8), Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble 9
-
-


14th
Jade Phoenix Mage 4
+11
+14
+6
+8
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (12), Intimidate 8, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble 9, Never Outnumbered Skill Trick (2)
Rapidstrike (Claw)
Empowering Strike


15th
Sand Shaper 1
+11
+14
+6
+10
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (13), Intimidate +2 (10), Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble 9, Never Outnumbered Skill Trick
-
Desert Insight, Dust Magic, Sand Shape


16th
Sand Shaper 2
+12
+14
+6
+11
Bluff 5, Concentration +2 (15), Intimidate +1 (11), Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble 9, Never Outnumbered Skill Trick
-
Sandform


17th
Jade Phoenix Mage 5
+13
+14
+6
+11
Bluff 5, Concentration 15, Intimidate 11, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble +3 (12), Never Outnumbered Skill Trick
Arcane Strike
-


18th
Jade Phoenix Mage 6
+14
+15
+7
+12
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (16), Intimidate 11, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble +2 (14), Never Outnumbered Skill Trick
-
Firebird Stance, Jade Phoenix Master


19th
Jade Phoenix Mage 7
+15
+15
+7
+12
Bluff 5, Concentration +1 (17), Intimidate 11, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble +2 (16), Never Outnumbered Skill Trick
-
-


20th
Jade Phoenix Mage 8
+16
+16
+7
+12
Bluff 5, Concentration 17, Intimidate 11, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (History) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 2, Spellcraft 1, Survival 4, Tumble +3 (19), Never Outnumbered Skill Trick
Improved Rapidstrike (Claw)
Quickening Strike



ECL (initiator level) / maneuvers gained
5 (2): Charging Minotaur, Crusader's Strike, Douse the Flames, Leading the Attack, Vanguard Strike
7 (4): Mountain Hammer
11 (6): Burning Blade
13 (8): Defensive Rebuke
17 (11): Daunting Strike
19 (13): Inferno Blade

Stances:
5: Martial Spirit
6: Iron Guard's Glare
15: Flame's Blessing



Spells Per Day:
Spells per Day/Spells Known


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


8th
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


9th
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


10th
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


12th
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


13th
5
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-


14th
5
4
2
2
-
-
-
-
-


16th
5
5
3
2
2
-
-
-
-


17th
5
5
3
3
2
2
-
-
-


19th
5
5
5
3
3
2
-
-
-


20th
5
5
5
3
3
3
-
-
-



Spells Known (ECL 20):
Sand shaper spells:
1: Bear’s endurance, bull’s strength, cat’s grace, endure elements, parching touch, speak with animals, summon desert ally I
2: Eagle’s splendor, fox’s cunning, heat metal, owl’s wisdom, resist energy, summon desert ally II†, summon swarm.
3: Control sand, desiccate, dispel magic, dominate animal, haboob, slipsand, summon desert ally III, sunstroke, tormenting thirst, wind wall.
4: Blast of sand, summon desert ally IV, wall of sand, wither
5: Choking sands, flaywind burst, flesh to salt, summon desert ally V, transmute sand to stone, transmute stone to sand
6: Awaken sand, mummify, sandstorm, summon desert ally VI

Other spells (listed in order learned):
1: Divine Favor, Lesser Restoration, Charm Person, Comprehend Languages
2: See Invisibility, Shield Other, Delay Poison, Darkvision
3: Arcane Sight, Remove Curse, Greater Magic Weapon, Phantom Steed
4: Break Enchantment, Death Ward, Restoration
5: True Seeing, Dimension Door, Cure Critical Wounds
6: Greater Dispel Magic, Teleport, Banishment



CR 5: Flesh to Stone
Despite having only 3 actual levels, we're more than tanky enough to survive at this point; 33 HP, DR 8/adamantine, spell resistance, +5 natural armor complemented by heavy armor, crusader's delayed damage pool, and disease immunity as a cherry on top.

Offensively, we have four natural attacks (or three natural attacks and a longsword strike) with Multiattack keeping to-hit at a respectable level and Earth Strike adding +3 to hit and +2 damage once per day. By RAW, 'inspired by dragons' should trigger if you consider yourself to be a 'dragon commander', so ask your DM about that - every +1 to hit and saves counts. By the way, note that each of our four hits is healing someone for 2 HP.

Out of combat, our burrow speed is our main contribution for now, though we also have a smattering of knowledge skills in preparation for our PrCs (picked up by spending time among the ruin-delvers). We also have a remarkably useful glide speed.

CR 10: Stone Shape
We grab Improved Dragon Wings using the 'dragons autoqualify for anything requiring the dragonblood subtype' rule. In my defense, being a Baaz draconian gives us exactly the sort of nonfunctional wings that Improved Dragon Wings wants us to acquire first, so we've got more of a case than the typical abuser of this wording.

Our utility is expanded with at-will Detect Magic, and at-will Read Magic, and we radically alter our combat loadout by switching to Tumble and light armor. Crusader further boosts our survivability with charisma to Will and a 1/day saving throw reroll, and we get an iterative to bump us up to five attacks per turn. Iron Guard's Glare lets us use our great bulk for the party's benefit, and Mountain Hammer serves to break through DR and pesky noncombat obstacles.

As far as spells go, we boast Charm Person for slightly easier social encounters, Divine Favor to buff our flurry, See Invisibility to not get burned by common parlor tricks, and Resist Energy/Lesser Restoration to act as a discount cleric.

CR 15: Stone to Sand
An extra iterative, an extra claw attack per turn with Rapidstrike, two +1 CL boosts from our prestige classes, and all the list-expanding goodness of Sand Shaper - plus a free +2 boost on our saves against some of the nastiest effects out there!

Our list has ballooned, and now contains gems like first-level Bull's Strength/Bear's Endurance, Wind Wall, and Summon Desert Ally. From the KotW side of things, we get Death Ward, Break Enchantment, Arcane Sight, Remove Curse, Greater Magic Weapon... Shield Other is another very nice spell to have on someone with bulk like us - cast it on the wizard and watch the gratitude (and damage) flow in.

CR 20: Sunburst
Improved Rapidstrike means we're now looking at an attack routine of four weapon attacks, four claw attacks, a bite attack, and a tail attack. We can use various JPM maneuvers to boost all ten of those by up to 3d6+14 damage, or we can spend arcane strike to boost all claw or all longsword attacks with a single spell slot. Bonus damage alone easily gets in the hundreds, before considering your actual base attacks. If we have Divine Favor up, that's another +3 to attack and damage on all ten of our hits.

We also get the 19 Tumble ranks for Flame's Blessing to render us totally immune to fire; a welcome defensive boon given how common of an energy type it is and how much more than usual we struggle versus fire-immune enemies. Our other notable maneuver is Daunting Strike, which is near-guaranteed to leave a foe shaken with our damage output - if this happens, going for a Never Outnumbered demoralize to escalate the fear might be a smart move.

Spells now include short- and long-range teleportation (and Phantom Steed to help with Teleport's inaccuracy), True Seeing, Banishment, powerful save-or-dies in Choking Sands, solid single-target damage with Flesh to Salt (a nice Empower target), and the battlefield-disrupting Sandstorm. Note that most of these can be cast as free actions with Quickening Strike. Out of combat, Transmute Rock to Sand has great synergy with your burrow speed.

The final character is a remarkably well-rounded and self-sufficient individual, capable of removing almost any nasty status or affliction, navigating across the map, altering and navigating terrain, efficiently tanking, and dealing insane nova damage. Plus, we can pull the shenanigans from our piece of intro fiction!


Like the Sand Dragons (Sandstorm) that Urolk's build imitates, he has the dragon type, a tail, two claws, a bite, DR, immunity to fire, scaling SR, and charisma-based spontaneous casting that includes almost all spells that Sand Dragons get as SLAs (the exception is Dispel Water, which is largely imitated by Dismissal or Greater Dispel Magic). He also has a burrow speed, a fly speed, and the Earth subtype, and imitates the sand dragon's breath weapon (said to be 'similar to a flay wind') with the flaywind burst spell, which is even cone-shaped.

The build doesn't have frightful presence, but it's worth pointing out that at 18 HD a dragon-style Frightful Presence would barely affect any level-appropriate foes. Intimidate ranks and Never Outnumbered give Urolk a shot at replicating its effects, though.

All this also serves a role within the build: everything mentioned above will see use or qualifies us for something, and even seemingly contradictory elements (the natural weapon focus on one hand and the casting on the other) complement each other well thanks to Jade Phoenix mage (which after all rewards alternating attacks and spells).


Baaz Draconian - Dragonlance Campaign Setting
Mineral Warrior - Underdark
Crusader, Jade Phoenix Mage - Tome of Battle
Knight of the Weave - Champions of Valor
Sand Shaper, Touchstone - Sandstorm
Dragon Tail, Improved Dragon Wings - Races of the Dragon
(Improved) Rapidstrike - Draconomicon
Arcane Strike - Complete Warrior
Skilled City-Dweller - Cityscape Web Enhancement (https://web.archive.org/web/20160612142357/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)

[loky1109]

Second Dragon.



Twirven D’Lyrandar

NG Half Elf Paragon 1/ Fighter 2/ Human Paragon 2/Dragonmarked Heir 4/Barbarian 1/ Chameleon 10
Str 14
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 14
Wis 10
Cha 14
Increases at 4-20 go to Con

Level Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Reflex Save Will Save Skills Feats Class Features
1st Half-Elf Paragon 1 0 0 2 0 Bluff 4 (+4), Jump 4 (+4), Balance 2 (+2), Disguise 2 (+2), Hide 4 (+4), Move Silently 4 (+4), Sense Motive 2 (+2), Spellcraft 2 (+2), Perform (Stand up Comedy) 4 (+4), Human Heritage, Able Learner (B) Divided Ancestry
2nd Fighter 1 1 2 2 0 Bluff 5 (+1), Jump 5 (+1), Balance 2, Disguise 2, Hide 5 (+1), Move Silently 5 (+1), Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 4, Dodge (B)
3rd Fighter 2 2 3 2 0 Bluff 6 (+1), Jump 6 (+1), Balance 3 (+1), Disguise 3 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Mobility (B), Mark of Storm (Least, Fog Cloud)
4th Human Paragon 1 2 3 2 2 Bluff 7 (+1), Jump 7 (+1), Balance 5 (+2), Disguise 5 (+2), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Adaptive Learning (Disguise)
5th Human Paragon 2 3 3 2 3 Bluff 8 (+1), Jump 8 (+1), Balance 7 (+2), Disguise 7 (+2), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Favored in House Lyrandar (B)
6th Dragonmark Heir 1 3 5 4 5 Bluff 9 (+1), Jump 9 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 9 (+2), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Assume Quirk Unlock Dragonmark, Mark of Storm (Lesser, Sleet Storm) (B) House Status, Heir's Mark
7th Dragonmark Heir 2 4 6 5 6 Bluff 10 (+1), Jump 10 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 10 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 1 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression Additional Action Points, Improved Least Dragonmark (Fog Cloud)
8th Dragonmark Heir 3 5 6 5 6 Bluff 11 (+1), Jump 11 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 11 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 3 (+1), Hanle Animal 4 (+2), Assume Quirk, Second Impression Improved Lesser Mark (Wind's Favor)
9th Dragonmark Heir 4 6 7 6 7 Bluff 12 (+1), Jump 12 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 12 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 5 (+2), Hanle Animal 5 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression Roofwalker, Mark of Storm (Greater, Control Winds) (B)
10th Barbarian 1 7 9 6 7 Bluff 13 (+1), Jump 13 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 13 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 5, Hanle Animal 5, Survival 3 (+3), Assume Quirk, Second Impression Rage 1/day, Fast Movement,
11th Chameleon 1 7 9 6 7 Bluff 14 (+1), Jump 14 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 14 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 5, Hanle Animal 5, Survival 4 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap Aptitude Focus 1/day (+2)
12th Chameleon 2 8 9 6 7 Bluff 15 (+1), Jump 15 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 15 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 5, Hanle Animal 5, Survival 5 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Wild Cohort, Floating Feat (Usually Roof-jumper) (B) Floating Feat
13th Chameleon 3 9 10 7 8 Bluff 16 (+1), Jump 16 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 16 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 6 (+1), Hanle Animal 6 (+1), Survival 6 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Mimic Class Feature (1/day)
14th Chameleon 4 10 10 7 8 Bluff 17 (+1), Jump 17 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 17 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 7 (+1), Hanle Animal 7 (+1), Survival 7 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Ability Boon (+2)
15th Chameleon 5 10 10 7 8 Bluff 18 (+1), Jump 18 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 18 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 8 (+1), Hanle Animal 8 (+1), Survival 8 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Raging Luck Aptitude Focus 2/day (+4)
16th Chameleon 6 11 11 8 9 Bluff 19 (+1), Jump 19 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 19 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 9 (+1), Hanle Animal 9 (+1), Survival 9 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Mimic Class Feature (2/day)
17th Chameleon 7 12 11 8 9 Bluff 20 (+1), Jump 20 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 20 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 10 (+1), Hanle Animal 10 (+1), Survival 10 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Double Aptitude, Ability Boon +4
18th Chameleon 8 13 11 8 9 Bluff 21 (+1), Jump 21 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 21 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 11 (+1), Hanle Animal 11 (+1), Survival 11 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Dragonmark Rage Rapid Refocus
19th Chameleon 9 13 12 9 10 Bluff 22 (+1), Jump 22 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 22 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 12 (+1), Hanle Animal 12 (+1), Survival 12(+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Mimic Class Feature (3/day)
20th Chameleon 10 14 12 9 10 Bluff 23 (+1), Jump 23 (+1), Balance 7, Disguise 23 (+1), Hide 5, Move Silently 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2, Perform (Stand up Comedy) 5, Ride 13 (+1), Hanle Animal 13 (+1), Survival 13 (+1), Assume Quirk, Second Impression, Extreme Leap, Timely Misdirection Ability Boon (+6), Aptitude Focus 3/day (+4)

Chameleon Level 0th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
1st 4 3 1 - - - -
2nd 4 4 2 - - - -
3rd 4 4 3 - - - -
4th 4 5 4 2 - - -
5th 4 5 4 3 - - -
6th 4 5 5 4 1 - -
7th 4 5 5 5 3 - -
8th 4 5 5 5 4 1 -
9th 4 5 5 5 5 2 -
10th 4 6 5 5 5 4 1
*Spells per day include bonus from intelligence score and ability boon

Rethil slashed through the undergrowth cutting a trail for her companions. They’d landed on Argonnessen thirteen days ago, but had only made it forty miles inland since then. Still, they were nearing their goal; Mount Kelkraneth, home to the draconic sage Placinus, purportedly one of the friendlier dragons on Argonnessen. Rethil’s friend Fatren, a dwarven warrior, had recently manifested a siberys dragonmark, despite being unrelated, as far as he knew, to house Kundarak. Since then, they’d been on the run from various groups who wanted to control Fatren’s mark. They’d gone to Argonessen to try to figure out what was wrong, and to get whoever was following them off their tail. That last part didn’t seem to have worked. Vertis, their warforged scout, was sure he’d seen a group following them. Rethil hoped it was nothing, but she doubted that. It was probably another group of adventurers, likely hired by the Aurum or by a front for the Lords of Dust to hunt them down. To make matters worse, Freath had been injured by some sort of giant scorpion, and Earl, their healer, said the poison was spreading despite his best efforts. Hopefully Placinus would be helpful.
Rethil hacked through another bush and heaved a sigh of relief. In front of her the path was clear down to a swiftly flowing stream. Based on the map, which had proved accurate so far, this was the headwater of the river Gewen, which came off of Mount Kelkraneth. Her suspicion was proven correct as she looked inland to see the mountain rising up above the jungle. The top was blanketed by storm clouds, matching the reports Rethil had read of the peak. The path along the river was fairly clear, but it was getting dark.
“Let’s set up camp here,” Rethil yelled. “We’ll make a push for the mountain in the morning.”
The party set up camp, with Earl making sure Freath was comfortable, Rethil setting up tents, Fatren cooking, and Vertis making sure their tracks were covered. As usual, Fatren didn’t use a fire, but the warm jungle air meant sleeping was still comfortable enough. After she finished setting up the tents, Rethil got ready to take first watch. Rethil trusted Vertis to cover their tracks, but you could never be too careful. After a minute, Rethil realized Vertis was taking much longer than usual to cover their last few tracks. Her worries were piqued as she heard a tremendous bellowing sound from the jungle. Rethil quickly strung her bow, and the other reached for their weapons as well. Even Freath gripped his staff. About a minute after the roar, Vertis came running out of the jungle, twin knives in hand. Behind him a massive creature crashed through the foliage. Some thirty feet long, and covered in thick scales and spikes, the creature could only be a Battletitan. It let out a massive, bellowing roar and then resumed its chase of Vertis, gaining swiftly on the small scout.
Rethil cursed. “Fatren!” she yelled. “Use your mark!”
Fatren stuck out his hands and closed his eyes. The Battletitan came closer and closer, then suddenly, a shifting wall of many colors came into being just a few feet behind Vertis and encircled the whole group.
“The wall should hold it back.” Fatren declared. “Vertis, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Vertis declared. “But how are we going to get out?”
“I don’t know,” Rethil admitted. “I didn’t think that far ahead.”
As the group considered their options, they heard another roar from the beast. Suddenly, through the wall, the head of the Battletitan appeared, burned in some places and frozen in others from the wall, but somehow still moving forward. Vertis fired a crossbow bolt, but the Battletitan didn’t even slow down. It would be on them in moments. Then, Rethil heard the beating of wings from off to her left. The Battletitan turned towards the sound as well. Rethil watched as a winged shape, covered in silver. The dragon, for that must have been what it was, let out a blast of frost into the face of the Battletitan and then soared away. The Battletitan watched it go, and then shook its head and then bore down on the party again.
The dragon turned back around, but surely it was too high and far to reach them before the Battletitan did. As the dinosaur got closer and closer, the dragon closed in as well, but it was already a couple hundred feet in the air. Then a figure appeared on the dragon’s head, seemingly having climbed up from a saddle on its back, and leapt off. As the Battletitan came within thirty feet, the figure, who Rethil could see was wearing silver scaled armor and seemed to have claws on their hands, landed on the head of the Battletitan in an explosion of blood. The creature crumpled, but in the slick river mud, it continued to slide forward. A few feet from Rethil, the creature came to a halt. The silver armored figure, who was covered in blood, vaulted off the head of the Battletitan to land perfectly in a bow. Rethil noticed the figure was wearing a mask seemingly set with silver dragon scales, but as they came out of the bow, the figure raised up their mask, revealing hazel eyes and pointed ears.
“Hello,” the figure said, speaking in an accent Rethil associated with rich Aundairians. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Twirven D’Lyrandar. What else can I do for you?”
The party stared at him, confused. Vertis sheathed his knives, but didn’t seem to know what to say. Finally, Vertis broke the silence.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I’m Twirven D’Lyrandar,” he replied. “I already said that. But I suppose who I really am is what you’re asking. I’ve been many things. Warrior, heir, mage, failed standup comedian, but now I consider myself an adventure. I suppose next you’ll be wondering why I’m here and why I was riding a dragon. You probably want to ask a whole bunch of other whys. I’ll start with those two. First of all, why I'm here is rather a long story, so I'll spare you the details. In short, I was stranded here when my airship crashed. We were searching for Placinus too, you see. Oh, don't look so surprised," he added, seeing the look of surprise on their faces. "They're isn't much else worth coming this far inland for. Anyways, the ship went down in the storm. A little embarrassing for us, what with the marks of storm and all that, but so it goes. As for the dragon, well, Hiso-Juuni isn't actually a dragon. He's just my pet bat, in disguise. As to why my bat is disguised for a dragon- that’s a longer story. Why don’t we go back to my palace so we can discuss it in more detail? I don’t like being on the ground out here. There are many dangers to the jungle.”
“Where exactly do you have a palace?” Vertix asked.
“Oh, it’s up on the mountain,” Twirven replied. “I took up Placinus’ palace after the old fellow bit it.”
“Did you kill him?” Rethil asked angrily, reaching for the sword she’d put away moments earlier. They’d come so close. If this strange half elf had-
“No, no,” Twirven replied hastily, holding up his hands, claw bracers and all, in what Rethil thought was an attempt to placate them. “A big gold knocked the old codger off. A right nasty brute. Didn’t get to know them well, though. They tried to eat me and I had to kill them. First time I’d fallen that far, but it worked like a charm.”
“How do I know any of this is the truth?” Rethil asked. “If you can make a bat seem like a dragon, surely you can lie well.”
“The arts of disguise and bluff lie farther asunder than you might assume,” Twirven replied. “But I am, of course, a master of both. Anyway, I’ll gladly submit to a zone of truth if your cleric has one ready.”
“I do have one,” Earl added. He looked a little confused by the sudden turns the conversation had taken. “Here we go, I suppose.”
Earl took out his holy symbol, an octogram of the Sovereign host, and mumbled a short phrase. Rethil felt the spell wash over her, but shook off its effects.
“It did indeed work on Twirven,” Earl confirmed.
“Thankfully, the zone of truth doesn’t cover metaphors,” Twirven began, “so I can weave the tale in my usual style. Where shall I begin? We can walk and talk, eh?”
“At the beginning,” Rethil replied. Twirven’s easy manner was starting to grate on her, but he did save them from the Battletitan.
“Very well. Three years ago, I was on a Lyrandar airship. We had been hired by an Aundairian general to seek out Placinus and consult him on how to win the war. On our way to the mountain however, we ran into the fiercest storm any of us had ever seen, and since several of us, including me, by the way, can conjure up gale force winds with a snap of our fingers, that's saying something. Anyways, the ship went down hundreds of feet in the air. As far as I know, I was one of only a few to survive the fall, and the only one to survive the attack of the big old gold I mentioned earlier. It seems they were the one to kill Placinus. On my own, the jungle was too dangerous, and while hiding near the mountain, I was able to keep the gold grounded with my summoned wind till my wounds healed. Then I leapt upon the gold and slew them with a single blow. Since then, things have been fairly boring. I learned to survive in the jungle; I kept up the storm to keep unwanted visitors away, I tamed the bats who live on the mountain, I learned to use claw bracers that make the wounds I leave look like those of dragons, and I improved my magic. I always was able to use my mark to cast a spell or two but I learned a lot from the library of Placinus. By the by, your mage seems injured. Was it cursed scorpion venom, by any chance?"
"I think so," Freath interjected. "Can you cure it?"
“Of course,” Twirven replied. “I have the remedy at my base. Me and some of my bats have been poisoned by scorpions before. Since I’ve been gone, what’s been happening in Khorvaire? Is the war over?"
"The war ended two years ago." Rethil answered.
"That's great," Twirven responded. "Did Aundair emerge victorious? Aurala seemed sure they would."
"No." Rethil replied.
"Ah well, I was mostly a mercenary. I was always sort of fond of Thrane anyway. I respect the audacity of putting a six year old in power during wartime. So who did win? I can't carry the conversation by myself, you know."
"No one really won. Cyre was destroyed, and no one knows why. After that, even Karnnath was ready for peace."
Twirven finally shut up at that, and the rest of the walk passed in silence. At the base of the mount, Twirven opened a concealed door, and they followed the passageway up. The stairs ended in the middle of a richly furnished room, one that wouldn't be out of place in Skyway, save for the view of the storm raging above the jungle through the room's large bay windows.
“I’ll fetch the medicine,” Twirven said. “You can wait here, or follow me if you’d like.”
He opened a door on the far side of the room. Beyond it, Rethil could see a laboratory outfitted with a variety of alchemical ingredients. Twirven returned a few seconds later with a green vial.
“Drink this, and the poison will start healing naturally.” Twirven added, handing the potion to Freath. “So, what’s your plan from here, now that Placinus is dead? Look for another dragon or return to Khorvaire?”
“We’ll have to return,” Rethil replied. “Our ship pickup is due in two weeks. There’s not enough time for another search. I don’t know what we’ll do then.”
“When you leave, would you mind taking me with you?” Twirven asked. “It’s awfully lonely here, even with the bats to keep me company.”
“The road we walk is dangerous.” Rethil replied. “Are you sure you want to come with us?”
“I’ve literally only been able to talk to bats for the past three years,” Twirven answered. “I don’t care. Please just take me with you.”
“You can come if you want,” Vertis added. “You did save us all from that Battletitan. Still, we’re fighting the Lords of Dust: fiends more ancient than any living dragon.”
“Again, don’t really care who we’re fighting.” Twirven said. “Let’s just go back to Khorvaire, where I can jump on things other than dragons and dinosaurs.”
Suddenly, a large ringing sound filled the cave. It seemed to be coming from a mirror mounted on a wall.
“That’s the perimeter alarm at the base of the peak.” Twirven stated, sounding concerned. “Did someone follow you here?”
“We may have been followed.” Vertis replied. “We were being pursued earlier.”
Twirven walked over to the mirror, and mumbled a few words. The image shifted to show a huge, humanoid tiger-like figure walking through the jungle with several armored warriors behind it. As he saw the figures, Vertis muttered a curse. “It’s them. How did they get a Rakshasa here?”
“I’ll handle it.” Twirven stated. He let out a sharp whistle and then flexed his claw bracers and then ran towards a window, reciting something under his breath.
Rethil watched as he leapt out the window, his right claw glowing with magic. He disappeared from view, only to reappear moments later on the mirror as it showed him fall towards the Rakshasa. As he approached, he held out his claw gauntlet and cut into the Rakshasa. As he hit the ground, he left a trio of deep cuts in the Rakshasa, which fell over dead.
The soldiers rushed towards Twirven, only for him to blast a cloud of gas from his mouth. Most of the warriors were frozen as the gas touched them, but three rushed in and stabbed Twirven, who was still staggered from his fall. He just roared and slashed back, holding the warriors at bay. Still, there was only so much he could do against three at once. He killed one, but as another prepared to stab him through the heart, a shadow appeared over the battle as Hiso-juuni appeared and bit off the head of a soldier. Twirven grabbed the other one and stabbed him through the heart and then paused and struck a pose among the dead and paralyzed soldiers.
“Did I get the job?” he asked, somehow looking straight at the mirror.
Rethil was stunned. His attack was reckless, but well timed. Still, it left little doubt as to his skill.
“Welcome aboard,” she said. “We’ll be happy to take you back.”


For the first few levels, Twirven is mostly about skills. He’s extremely split between stats and is mostly filled with pre req feats. His favored weapon is probably a greatsword and bow, but he isn’t particularly proficient with either. His saves are ok, but he’s mostly forced to rely on his bluffing skills and stand up comedy routines. His fighter levels give him some melee ability, but Dodge and Mobility are mostly there for pre-reqs. At 3rd, his mark starts to manifest, giving him some utility, but he doesn’t really start to come together until Dragonmark heir. Fourth and fifth level mostly round out his skills and let him meet pre-reqs for Heir and Chameleon.

With Dragonmark Heir online, Twirven gains several new abilities. First of all, his saves start to improve a lot and he starts to get better at disguise with Assume Quirk and Second Impression. More Importantly, Sleet Storm once per day, another use of Fog Cloud, and Unlock Dragonmark make him much better at his admittedly limited battle field control abilities. Extra action points and another usage of Fog Cloud next level also help him control the battlefield, though his damage is still extremely sub par. Next level lets Twirven cast Wind’s Favor, which is of admittedly limited usage other than on a long ship voyage. 9th brings Greater Mark of Storm, which is extremely welcome. It’s the first ability Twirven has which is really above the curve. Control Winds just became available for Druids, but Twirven’s caster level is above level at 14. Unlock Dragonmark also lets him use Control Weather a few times per level, another ability which full casters won’t have for a while. Roofwalker isn’t amazing, but it provides a few niche bonuses, allowing Twirven to hold his own when fighting on hard to balance surfaces. 10th level brings a classic barbarian dip, though Twirven doesn’t use any class features. The dip is mostly for Raging Luck later on, but for now fast movement and rage 1/day is as helpful for Twirven as it is for anyone else. His new focus on various naturey skills will come in handy later. For those of you paying careful attention to Twirven’s far too long backstory, this is when he became marooned on Argonnessen.

Chameleon is here for Twirven, and boy is it exciting for him. First level brings the fewest new abilities, but the ability to adapt to whatever is going on in the day is quite useful. Second level of chameleon/twelfth level is where Twiriven’s two main tricks come into play. First of all, he takes Wild Cohort, giving him Hiso-juuni. His combat stats are fairly unimpressive, but he is a flying mount specifically called out as having a wingspan “larger than a dragon”. How that works when the dragon you’re emulating is size colossal is an exercise left to the reader. Still, with his quite high disguise modifier, Twirven and Hiso-juuni look like a dragon with pretty solid reliability. In addition, Twirven gets his floating feat, which on days when he intends to go into battle he leaves as Roof Jumper. Outside of combat he can switch it to crafting feats due to his Dragonmark caster level. Roof Jumper provides an uncapped damage boost depending on how high you’re jumping from. While this leaves Twirven vulnerable, by this level he has more than enough damage to survive max falling damage, which does have a cap. To make sure he hits with his one attack, he uses Arcane Focus to gain True Strike, which remains his main Aptitude Focus from now on. To help make people believe that he’s a dragon, Twirven uses either claw bracers or magic claws. While he isn’t proficient in bracers, his spells should allow him to hit reliably regardless. Next level unlocks Mimic Class feature, which gives Twirven another useful array of options, though its full potential isn’t there yet. Fourth level gets Ability Boon which helps ameliorate Twirven’s mediocre intelligence when using spells, or bolster his con on the rare days he’s using a different focus. Fifth level gives Raging Luck, which gives Twirven another use for his rage, whether from Chameleon or Barbarian. By spending the action point from Raging Luck he can use Unlock Dragonmark, avoiding the restriction casting restriction from rage because rage also includes the line a barbarian “can use any feat he has except Combat Expertise, item creation feats, and metamagic feats.” Unlock Dragonmark is none of these, so Twirven should be able to use it while raging.
Twirven’s spell’s memorized vary widely depending on what spells are available. The only really necessary spells for his build are True Strike and or Wraithstrike. He’ll use various defensive buffs, or spells that buff his skill checks. Once he gets third level spells, Girallon Arms lets him get claw attacks without using claw bracers.


By now, all of Twirven’s main tricks are online, and he can emulate most of a dragon’s abilities. The breath and fear he cannot match without spells, however. Frightful Presence will have to wait until 20th level with Aura of Terror, but by 16th Twirven can cast the spell Dragon Breath. Dragon Breath is actually a good spell for Twirven as he needs a way to handle multiple enemies while skirmishing. Dragon Breath is helpful because it lasts for several uses, giving him time to whittle down his foes before his final diving charge. Otherwise, his tactics stay mostly the same. More rages from Mimic Class Feature as well as more Intelligence from ability boon give him more power, and more levels of spells. Once Twirven unlocks his second aptitude focus, he gets even more versatile. His wisdom isn’t really high enough to use divine focus, though with ability boon he can theoretically make it work. The other three aren’t that great, but combat focus is helpful and wild focus is nice if your DM wants you to roleplay Wild Cohort stuff. Twirven’s last few levels unlock a few more spell levels, another use of rage, and another level of ability boon. While sixth level spells from any arcane list is great, Twirven is already a deadly combatant with only a few low level spell slots, so most of his spells should be used to boost his skills outside of combat.


Hiso-juuni stats (At 20th level, adjust appropriately at lower levels)
Hit Dice: 13d8+52 (110 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 40 ft. (good)
Armor Class: 30 (–1 size, +7 Dex, +14 natural), touch 16, flat-footed 23
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+18
Attack: Bite +15 melee (1d8+7)
Full Attack: Bite +15 melee (1d8+7)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Blindsense 40 ft., Evasion, Devotion
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +16, Will +10
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 27, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +5, Listen +21, Move Silently +13, Spot +8
Feats: Alertness, Stealthy, Hover, Flyby Attack, Weapon Finesse

Twirven is designed to mimic a silver dragon. By 20th level, he can mimic nearly all of a silver dragon’s features. His Mark of Storm gives him the dragon’s random extra spell-like abilities, his Roof-jumping gives him a dragon's damage output with claws. His spells can fill in the rest of a dragon’s major abilities namely frightful presence and a breath weapon, and with Hiso-juuni they even look like a dragon. While it’s impossible to predict the skills a silver dragon will take, Twirven is best at the three that all silver dragons have as class skills, bluff, disguise, and jump.

Sources:
Half-elven and Human Paragon- Unearthed Arcana
Human Heritage, Able Learner, Chameleon- Races of Destiny
Dragonmark feats, dragonmark heir, raging luck, favored in house-ECS
Unlock Dragonmark- Dragonmarked
Wild Cohort-Web
Roofwalker, Roof-jumper- Cityscape
Dragon Breath, Girallon Claws, Aura of Terror- Spell Compendium
Wraithstrike- Complete Adventurer

[loky1109]

Third Dragon.


Ladies, gentlemen, miscellaneous options! The builds around me may have armor like tenfold shields, teeth like swords, claws like spears, a breath weapon that shakes nations, casting enough to make the gods weep - but it does not matter. Traditional optimization, in this round, is its own undoing.

Playing a dragon isn't about teeth or claws or fiery breath, playing a dragon isn't about sorcerer casting or frightful presence. One trait of dragons trumps all those, one thing is immediately called to mind when someone says they want to play one, one question comes before all others:

"What about all the LA?"

So I alone, in keeping with the spirit of playable true dragons, am bold enough to give you...


Mad Bat Dead (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhV62V7PhXE)

CE Shade Nycter (3 RHD, +6 LA) Feign Death Bonus Feat Poison Use Rogue 2 / Siren 9

If at first you don't succeed, die again.

Starting array: 10 STR / 12 DEX / 16 CON / 12 INT / 10 WIS / 16 CHA
Racial: +4 Dexterity, –2 Strength, +2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
ASIs: +3 charisma
Shade: +2 charisma, +2 constitution
Siren: +5 charisma
Final: 8 STR / 16 DEX / 18 CON / 12 INT / 12 WIS / 24 CHA



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


5th
Nycter
+3
+1
+3
+3
Bluff +2cc (1), Craft (Poisonmaking) +6 (6), Intimidate +2cc (1), Listen +6 (6), Perform (Ballad) +2cc (1)
Hidden Talent (Control Light), Shape Soulmeld (Dissolving Spittle)
Blindsense 60 ft., Darkvision 60 ft., Vulnerability to Sonic, Hunting Cry


6th
Poison Use Bonus Feat Rogue 1
+3
+1
+5
+3
Bluff +3 (4), Craft (Poisonmaking) 6, Intimidate +3 (4), Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) +3 (4)
Constant GuardianB
Poison Use


7th
Feign Death Bonus Feat Rogue 2
+4
+1
+6
+3
Bluff +2 (6), Craft (Poisonmaking) +1 (7), Intimidate +2 (6), Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) +4 (8)
Martial Study (Moment of Perfect Mind)B
Feign Death


8th
Siren 1
+4
+1
+6
+5
Concentration +5 (5), Bluff 6, Craft (Poisonmaking) 7, Intimidate 7, Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) 8
Psycarnum Infusion, ReverberationB



9th
Siren 2
+5
+1
+6
+6
Concentration +5 (10), Bluff 6, Craft (Poisonmaking) 7, Intimidate 7, Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) 8
-
Song of Despair


10th
Siren 3
+6
+2
+7
+6
Concentration +1 (11), Bluff +2 (8), Craft (Poisonmaking) +1 (8), Intimidate 7, Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) 8, Sense Motive +1 (1)
-
+2 charisma


11th
Siren 4
+7
+2
+7
+7
Concentration +1 (12), Bluff +1 (9), Craft (Poisonmaking) +1 (9), Intimidate 7, Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) 8, Sense Motive +2 (3)
Dutiful Guardian
Song of Nightmare


15th
Shade template
+7
+2
+7
+7
-
-
+2 Constitution, +2 Charisma, Speed Increase, +4 Deflection to AC, +4 to all saving throws, +2 to attack and damage rolls, +4 to Listen and Spot, +8 to Hide and Move Silently, Fast Healing 2, Control Light, Invisibility, Shadesight, Shadow Image, Shadow Stride, Shadow Travel, SR 11+level


16th
Siren 5
+7
+2
+7
+7
Concentration +1 (14), Bluff +1 (10), Craft (Poisonmaking) +1 (11), Intimidate 7, Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) 8, Sense Motive +2 (5)
-
Song of Idiocy


17th
Siren 6
+8
+3
+8
+8
Skills
-
+4 Charisma


18th
Siren 7
+9
+3
+8
+8
Concentration +1 (15), Bluff +1 (11), Craft (Poisonmaking) +1 (12), Intimidate 7, Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) 8, Sense Motive +2 (7)
Open Lesser Chakra (Shoulders)
Song of Weakness


19th
Siren 8
+10
+3
+8
+9
Concentration +1 (16), Bluff +1 (12), Craft (Poisonmaking) +1 (13), Intimidate 7, Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) 8, Sense Motive +2 (9)
-
+5 Charisma


20th
Siren 9
+10
+4
+9
+9
Concentration +1 (17), Bluff +1 (13), Craft (Poisonmaking) +1 (14), Intimidate 7, Listen 6, Perform (Ballad) 8, Sense Motive +2 (11)
-
Song of Stone



ECL 5
Just a plain unadorned nycter here. We're actually solid compared to 5th-level tier 3/4 PCs; at-will flight solves a lot of issues at these levels, and Hunting Cry is a remarkably nasty DC 14 AoE save-or-lose. Twice per day you can plunge a room in darkness to screw over any enemies that lack darkvision - kind of like the old No Light trick, except we make the darkness appear in discrete cubes rather than an untargeted spread, so we can even try and pull this trick if some of our allies are boring humans.

Dissolving Spittle isn't the most powerful attack, but it'll break through any barrier and gives you something to do while Hunting Cry recharges. Remember, if your first turn takes out several foes in one go, it doesn't really matter that your second and third are going to be a bit lackluster.

ECL 10
Feign Death is up and running, doing what it does best: giving us immediate-speed immunity against most things that aren't damage. Poison, mind-affecting, stuns, ability drain, death effects, paralysis, sleep? We're immune to all of it if we need be! Our base fortitude and will are, I admit, not great right now, so it's nice to have something backing them up.

Dutiful Guardian lets us help out the party a little by giving +2 AC to whoever needs it most, and the -2 penalty to our own attack rolls is almost irrelevant. Moment of Perfect Mind is another tool to shore up our Will, and Psycarnum Infusion lets us supercharge our . This is going to be our main tool against undead and other creatures immune to the debuffs and poisons we can throw out, and though it'll take some time we'll eventually get it to a respectable level of damage.

Now, the fun thing about Hunting Cry is that it's one of the few 'innate sonic mind-affecting' abilities in the game, and by far the cheapest one to obtain as a PC. This gets us into Siren, which is the only reason this build can function with all this LA - siren is incredibly powerful and also doesn't synergize with anything but itself, which kind of removes the point in avoiding LA as long as we can squeeze in all the siren levels we want.

ECL 15
The nice thing about Siren is that it doesn't prevent you from stacking multiple effects on your Hunting Cry at once - we're now starting combat with a save-or-lose Hunting Cry (DC 16) that also comes with a Crushing Despair and a Phantasmal Killer (both DC 20) attached. That's a big opener to throw at every foe in the encounter, and it's only going to get nastier as we advance in level.

First, though, we take a bit of a detour to become a Shade, giving us utility and mobility that's going to mesh really well with our strategy. At-will Invisibility allows us to let ourselves and our allies enter each combat cloaked, SR helps protect us from enemy casters, and Fast Healing tops us up between bouts. We also get +2 to attack and damage rolls, which presumably boosts Hunting Cry and definitely boosts Dissolving Spittle.

Most importantly, we can move-action teleport 300 feet every two turns, letting us pop into an encounter, target some foes with a Hunting Cry (presumably killing or disabling some), bamf away, and then return once our hunting cry has recharged and we can use it all over again.

(some semantics: hunting cry says 'a creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by
the same nycter’s hunting cry for 24 hours', but most of the Siren abilities say 'she can overlay [an effect] on her sonic attack' which affects 'all creatures within range of the siren's sonic attack'. The way I read this, if we target someone with a hunting cry and then later with a Hunting Cry Of Weakness And Nightmare And Idiocy, they'll be immune to the hunting cry in the second case but not to all the add-ons, because they are still 'within range' of Hunting Cry even if they are not 'affected' by it)

Even if our enemies can regain the lost HP, the effects that Siren inflicts are very difficult to heal, with few monsters having on-demand access to Raise Dead, Stone to Flesh or Heal. Raw damage would have to drain our entire health bar in one turn - otherwise we just zap away and heal it all back within a few minutes, and nearly all instant-death or ability damage/drain effects are blocked by Feign Death (emerging from this feigned death is a standard action, so you can do it and port out on the same turn).

Also, with how Races of Faerun presents shades, you'd be forgiven to assume it's a race, but careful reading will reveal it's a template - lines like 'speed increases by 20 ft.' are dead giveaways, and there's some sample NPCs that keep human racial traits as well (not all, but it's WotC sample NPCs so that's to be expected). It's a bit unclear who this template can be applied to, but Lords of Darkness page 86 helpfully tells us that 'it is well within [the High Prince]'s power to transform any living creature into a shade'.

Shade powers don't work in bright light, but that's what we got Hidden Talent for - it lets you blanket an entire area in darkness as a standard action, letting you teleport away with your move. Note that Control Light is a [Light] power, not a [Darkness] one, so RAW you could even negate high-level light spells with it without the dispel clause kicking in.

We also grab Dutiful Guardian, so if a nearby ally is ever hit while you've got your Mirror Image or Invisibility up, switching places with them to take the hit instead isn't the worst thing you could do. It's minor, but this build is very front-loaded in combat, and it's nice to have things to do while your Hunting Cry isn't back yet.

ECL 20
More effects to throw onto our hunting cry - Feeblemind (with a -4 save penalty to arcane casters) will completely annihilate some of the most dangerous foes in the game, Enervation lowers saves for your next pass, and Flesh to Stone is a solid save-or-die when all else fails. Nine times per day, we can let loose a hunting cry with a save-or-die, a two-saves-or-die, two save-or-loses, and two save-or-sucks - most, if not all enemies, in that AoE will most likely fail one of those.

Open Lesser Chakra gives us the shoulder bind for Dissolving Spittle, so every time we hit we're going to roll for damage again next turn (getting Shade's +2 to damage a second time). It also gives us +1 reflex, which isn't our weakest save but -is- the one where we can't easily become immune to most results.

To be clear, against most enemies we simply dart in and out of combat, using our enemies' inability to heal the status conditions we can inflict to spam repeated save-or-dies while teleporting safely away to heal and recharge, and using Feign Death to leave ourselves immune to most non-damaging debuffs and instakill effects.

If we cannot fight this way, we instead spend turns between recharges protecting allies with Invisibility and Mirror Image + Dutiful Guardian, as well as using our power over light to cloak our allies in shadow.

Against undead foes, we rely on Dissolving Spittle, which deals a solid 10d6+4 damage with a single attack. Again, against foes that cannot heal we simply teleport in and out of combat to slowly wear them down, regaining our psionic focus while we do so.

Out of combat, we help out as taxicab, poison creator, scout, and door melter, as well as half-decent face



The presence of only 14 HD in the final build should raise some red flags, but we compare just fine to other ECL 20 PCs. Remember, we dislike LA because it takes away skill ranks, saving throw bonuses, HP, BAB, feats, and class features - these are everything you could get from having levels instead of LA. But on all these metrics, we either don't care or are ahead of similar PCs!

Limited skill ranks are a genuine problem, but Shade buys us a lot of general utility, so I'm tempted to say it's a win on net. We don't have any -super- critical skills that always have to be maxed, except perhaps concentration which our huge constitution modifier helps compensate for.

Our saves get a +4 bonus across the board thanks to Shade, so our modifiers before items are +12 fort, +17 reflex, +14 will. That's again quite impressive - better than most PCs could manage for sure, and without a notable weak point.

Our HP is 8+9+7+22+14*4 = 102, which is on the frail side even when compared to a rogue, but note that being a nycter shade comes with a +8 AC bonus (+1 size, +3 natural, +4 deflection), we can fly to avoid many foes, we're almost constantly invisible (and when we become visible, we usually immediately teleport away), and we have fast healing 2. Something like a Greater Shout or Meteor Swarm will still take off most of our health, but being able to teleport away afterwards really helps (plus, most people capable of using such spells are arcane casters, and thus extra-vulnerable to our Feeblemind cry).

Our BAB is low (only +10) but we don't really need it.

And lastly, our feats and class features. As stated before, Siren doesn't really synergize with any other class, so losing out on a few more levels doesn't hurt it all that much. And as for the feats, well, obviously we'd like to have two more feats, but I'd argue that a shade's innate magic is worth much more.

Overall, becoming a shade doesn't really cost us anything except feats and skills - and we become a more well-rounded, powerful, and dragon-like character because of it, so that's a trade worth making.


We are, obviously, emulating a shadow dragon here. I challenged myself to use nothing with an explicitly draconic flavor - no dragon disciple, no swift wing, no draconic heritage, no dragonfire adet, etc, and I think I managed to approximate the goal quite well.

Dragons in general have the following abilities:
Flight - Nycter and shade combine to give us a fly speed of 60 ft.

Natural weapons - Like small dragons, we're not much of a melee force, but our bite notably helps us deliver poison (applying poison in-combat is hard, and retrieving poisoned sheathed weapons is both implausible and action-hungry, so being able to simply poison our own teeth is quite useful).

Natural Armor - We possess a few points of innate natural armor.

Spell Resistance - The shade template gives us level-scaling SR.

Magical sleep and paralysis immunity - Feign Death lets us become immune to those effects the moment they come our way.

Blindsense 60 ft. - Courtesy of Nycter.

Frightful Presence - We don't have this, but then again the dragons that do (young adults and up) are almost universally outside of PC range anyway.

Casting - We don't have this, though we do have access to quite a few spell effects through indirect means.

Tactics - An all-time favorite trick of dragons is to swoop in, deploy a breath weapon, fly away, wait for the recharge, and come back around. We refine this strategy by replacing the clumsy flight with smooth teleportation and layering the 'breath' with all sorts of dangerous and difficult-to-heal effects.

-------

The abilities specifically possessed by shadow dragons are:
High land speed - It's easy to miss this one, but while nearly all dragons walk at a rate of 40 or 60 feet, shadow dragons move at 80 ft. We perfectly mirror this by moving at 40 feet where other small humanoids move at 20 or 30.

Shadow Blend - At-will Invisibility that can be used whenever we're not in bright light functionally duplicates the effects of this ability.

Create Shadows - Both the Control Light ability from Shade and the Control Light power duplicate this, with our at-will invisibility covering the total concealment portion.

Energy Drain Immunity - Feign Death gives us immunity to negative levels, which includes energy drain.

SLAs (Mirror Image 3/day, Nondetection 3/day, Dimension Door 2/day, Shadow Walk 1/day) - Mirror Image is castable 3/day thanks to the shade template, and the Dimension Door-like Shadow Stride is usable every two rounds (as a move action, to boot). All functions of shadow walk (accessing the plane of shadow, traversing the material plane quickly, reaching other planes) are duplicated by our 1/day Greater Teleport or Plane Shift, which additionally boasts superior accuracy, safety and speed.

Only Nondetection is missing here, but Feign Death can foil divinations ('spells and other effects that assess your current condition, such as status and deathwatch, indicate that you are dead') and we have regular SR.

Breath Weapon - Once we obtain Song of Weakness, we can reliably inflict negative levels in a cone, which is as close to a shadow dragon's breath weapon as you're going to get without the 9th-level Enervating Breath (trust me - I looked).

Alignment
Like shadow dragons, we're chaotic evil.



Nycter - Monster Manual III
Shade - Races of Faerun

Rogue - Player's Handbook
Bonus Feat rogue - Unearthed Arcana
Feign Death - Exemplars of Evil

Siren - Savage Species

Constant + Dutiful Guardian - Drow of the Underdark
Shape Soulmeld + Psicarnum Infusion + Open Lesser Chakra - Magic of Incarnum
Hidden Talent - Expanded Psionics Handbook
Martial Study - Tome of Battle

SHADOW DRAGON - draconomicon

[loky1109]

Chair's Fourth Dragon.


The Dragon Games comes around only once every century. And Bob know next Games is his only chance. Only chance to win. He is only human, azurin actually, but anyway, he can't staying alive until the next Games.
What is the Dragon Games? It's competition where dragons compete to find out which of them is the most Dragon. Of course Games' rules doesn't limit race of competitors - that would be offensive to assume that some non-dragon could win.
Bob knew it's difficult task. He clearly couldn't win any dragon in his discipline, but... Very few dragons could beat each other in not their own discipline. Best Red Dragon is Red, no Green Dragon could challenge him. But Bob... He decided to participate all disciplines and to win in the overall standings. He has only thirty-five years to ready...



TN* Azurin Binder 20
*- actually he could be of any alignment.
Abilities Initial Amphibious ASI Total
STR 10 10
DEX 12 -2 10
CON 15 3 18
INT 14 14
WIS 14 14
CHA 14 2 16
Level Class BAB Fort Reflex Will Skills Feats Class Features
1st Binder 1 0 2 0 2 16: {+1} Concentration: 1; {+4} Intimidate: 4; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 1; {+1} Knowledge (history): 1; {+1} Knowledge (religion): 1; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+2 CC} Listen: 1; {+4 CC} Use Magic Device: 2; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 0.5; Hidden Talent (Claws of the Beast) (1), Dragontouched (Azurin) Soul binding (1 vestige)
2nd Binder 2 1 3 0 3 4: Concentration: 1; {+1} Intimidate: 5; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+1 CC} Listen: 1.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 2.5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 1; Pact augmentation (1 ability), suppress sign
3rd Binder 3 2 3 1 3 4: {+1} Concentration: 2; {+1} Intimidate: 6; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 1.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 3; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 1.5; Shape Soulmeld (Dragon Tail) (3)
4th Binder 4 3 4 1 4 4: Concentration: 2; {+1} Intimidate: 7; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+1 CC} Listen: 2; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 3.5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 2; Expel Vestige (B) Bonus feat
5th Binder 5 3 4 1 4 4: {+1} Concentration: 3; {+1} Intimidate: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 2; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 4; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 2.5; Pact augmentation (2 abilities)
6th Binder 6 4 5 2 5 4: Concentration: 3; {+1} Intimidate: 9; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+1 CC} Listen: 2.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 4.5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 3; Aberrant Dragonmark (Charm Person) (6) Soul guardian (immune to fear)
7th Binder 7 5 5 2 5 4: {+1} Concentration: 4; {+1} Intimidate: 10; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 2.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 3.5;
8th Binder 8 6 6 2 6 4: Concentration: 4; {+1} Intimidate: 11; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+1 CC} Listen: 3; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 5.5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 4; Soul binding (2 vestiges)
9th Binder 9 6 6 3 6 4: {+1} Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 12; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 3; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 6; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 4.5; Warped Mind (9) Soul guardian (slippery mind)
10th Binder 10 7 7 3 7 4: Concentration: 5; {+1} Intimidate: 13; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+1 CC} Listen: 3.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 6.5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 5; Pact augmentation (3 abilities)
11th Binder 11 8 7 3 7 4: {+1} Concentration: 6; {+1} Intimidate: 14; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 3.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 7; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 5.5; Ignore Special Requirements (B) Bonus feat
12th Binder 12 9 8 4 8 4: Concentration: 6; {+1} Intimidate: 15; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+1 CC} Listen: 4; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 7.5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 6; Starspawn (12)
13th Binder 13 9 8 4 8 4: {+1} Concentration: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 16; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 4; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 8; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 6.5; Soul guardian (immune to energy drain and negative levels)
14th Binder 14 10 9 4 9 4: Concentration: 7; {+1} Intimidate: 17; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+1 CC} Listen: 4.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 8.5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 7; Soul binding (3 vestiges)
15th Binder 15 11 9 5 9 4: {+1} Concentration: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 18; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 4.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 9; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 7.5; Speed of Thought (15)
16th Binder 16 12 10 5 10 4: Concentration: 8; {+1} Intimidate: 19; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; {+1 CC} Listen: 5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 9.5; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 8; Pact augmentation (4 abilities)
17th Binder 17 12 10 5 10 4: {+1} Concentration: 9; {+1} Intimidate: 20; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 10; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 8.5;
18th Binder 18 13 11 6 11 4: Concentration: 9; {+1} Intimidate: 21; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 10.5; Use Psionic Device: 8.5; {+2} Listen to This; Open Greater Chakra (Waist) (18), Rapid Pact Making (B) Bonus feat
19th Binder 19 14 11 6 11 4: {+1} Concentration: 10; {+1} Intimidate: 22; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 11; {+1 CC} Use Psionic Device: 9; Listen to This; Soul guardian (mind blank)
20th Binder 20 15 12 6 12 4: {+1} Concentration: 11; {+1} Intimidate: 23; Knowledge (arcana): 1; Knowledge (history): 1; Knowledge (religion): 1; Knowledge (the planes): 1; Listen: 5; Use Magic Device: 11; {+2 CC} Use Psionic Device: 10; Listen to This; Pact augmentation (5 abilities), soul binding (4 vestiges)

Type Dragon's Ability What can I do? Why isn't it enough?
General Fly Starspawn and Gerion and Feather Fall from Ronove Speed is too low even with Gerion's fly. But at least with Gerion I can fly uninterrupted.
Swim Shax or Amphibious For some dragons speed isn't enough.
Burrow Nothing -
Bite Chupoclops Maybe I want slightly bigger damage dice. In other respects it's ok.
Claw Claws of the Beast It's ok.
Tail Dragon Tail It's ok.
Frightful Presence Vanus or Ashardalon It is very similar.
Damage Reduction Pact Augmentation or Ashardalon or Arete or Halphax or Zceryll Zceryll looks most similar option for the most of dragons, but actually others are better.
Sleep Immunity Soul Guardian (mind blank) It's ok.
Paralysis Immunity Freedom of Movement from Shax It's ok.
Elemental Immunity or Resistance Pact Augmentation (Energy resistance) For immunity it is enough obviously, but still isn't nothing.
Spell Resistance Zceryll Not best numbers.
Blindsense Orthos or Chupoclops Distanse is something low, but it's all.
Keen Senses Amon and Leraje Again, distance in the case of Amon's darkvision and Leraje... Leraje isn't useful for dragon emulation. Low-light is the sole ability.
Spellcasting Zceryll Well, it isn't direct emulation. It's emulation via mediator - Zceryll lets me summon any summonable monster, these monsters have SLA and even sometimes actual spellcasting. Also Zceryll helps with many SLAs in the same way. But it's mediator.
Alternate Form Naberius Illusion is bad alternative for real alternate form, but at least something.
Amethyst Poison Immunity Buer It's ok.
Fire resistance 15 Ashardalon It's ok.
Stomp (SLA) Agares No damage and different shape.
Amethyst Telekinesis (SLA) Ronove Far hand is much weaker and has some limitations.
Body Equilibrium (SLA) Eurynome Water dancing works only with liquids.
Invisibility (SLA) Malphas It's ok.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Force Resistant, Planar Travel, Line of Force (breath weapon), Explosive Gem (SLA) Nothing -
Battle All Nothing -
Black Line of Acid (breath weapon) Geryon Acidic gaze is, y'know, gase and its damage is low.
Acid Immunity Zceryll It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Darkness (SLA) Tenebrous It's ok.
Charm Reptiles (SLA) Eurynome Animak friend is much better than SLA.
Insect Plague (SLA), Corrupt Water (SLA), Plant Growth (SLA) Nothing -
Blue Line of Lightning (breath weapon) Focalor's Lightning Strike It's single target.
Electricity Immunity Acererak or Shax It's ok.
Sound Imitation Listen to This It's ok.
Create/Destroy Water (SLA), Ventriloquism (SLA), Hallucinatory Terrain (SLA), Veil (SLA), Mirage Arcana (SLA) Nothing -
Brass Line of Fire (breath weapon) Amon It's ok.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Summon Djinni (SLA) Zceryll It's ok.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Endure Elements (SLA) Pact Augmentation (Energy resistance (fire)) and Starspawn It's ok.
Speak with Animals (SLA), Endure Elements (SLA), Control Winds (SLA), Control Weather (SLA), Cone of Sleep (breath weapon) Nothing -
Bronze Line of Lightning (breath weapon) Focalor's Lightning Strike It's single target.
Electricity Immunity Acererak or Shax It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Create Food and Water (SLA) Sustenance from Arete It's self only.
Fog Cloud (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Detect Thoughts (SLA) Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Speak with Animals (SLA), Control Water (SLA, Control Weather (SLA) Nothing -
Brown Line of Acid (breath weapon) Geryon Acidic gaze is, y'know, gase and its damage is low.
Acid Immunity Zceryll It's ok.
Summon Huge Air Elemental (SLA) Zceryll It's ok.
Summon Greater Air Elemental (SLA) Zceryll It's ok.
Create Water (SLA), Sandstorm (SLA), Disintegrate (SLA), Tremorsense Nothing -
Chaos Cone of Confusion (breath weapon) Haagenti or Sow Discord from Andras Sow Discord is single target and it emulates only one of Confusion options, Haagenti's Confusion touch is touch.
Compulsion Immunity Soul guardian (mind blank) It's ok.
Entropic Shield (SLA), Protection from Law (SLA), Chaos Hammer (SLA), Cloak of Chaos (SLA), Dispel Law (SLA), Mind Fog (SLA), Mislead (SLA), Word of Chaos (SLA), Line of Random Energy (breath weapon) Nothing -
Chiang lung Detect Thoughts Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Invisibility Malphas It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Control Water (SLA), Augury (SLA), Bane (SLA), Bless (SLA), Control Weather (SLA), Control Winds (SLA), Dispel Evil (SLA), Divination (SLA), Master of the Rolling River (SLA), Remove Curse (SLA), Polymorph (SLA), Major Creation (SLA), Plane Shift (SLA), Cause Rain Nothing -
Copper Line of Acid (breath weapon) Geryon Acidic gaze is, y'know, gase and its damage is low.
Acid Immunity Zceryll It's ok.
Stone Shape (SLA), Transmute Rock to Mud/Mud to Rock (SLA), Wall of Stone (SLA), Move Earth (SLA), Spider Climb, Cone of Slow (breath weapon) Nothing -
Crystal Cone of Blinding Light (breath weapon) Focalor Focalor's breath only blinds, without damage.
Cold Immunity Acererak It's ok.
Fire Resistance 15 Ashardalon It's ok.
Charm Person (SLA) Aberrant Dragonmark It's ok.
Color Spray (SLA), Control Winds (SLA), Domination (SLA), Planar Travel Nothing -
Deep Cone of Acid (breath weapon) Geryon Acidic gaze is, y'know, gase and its damage is low.
Charm Immunity Soul guardian (mind blank) It's ok.
Fire Resistance 10 Ashardalon It's ok.
Cold Resistance 10 Acererak It's ok.
True Seeing Ipos It's ok.
Snake Form Constrict from Ipos Constrict isn't all snake's features.
Humanoid Form Naberius Illusion is bad alternative for real alternate form, but at least something.
Detect Magic (SLA) Karsus It's ok.
Freedom of Movement (SLA) Shax and Vanus It's 1 round per 5 rounds.
Transmute Rock to Mud (SLA), Passwall (SLA), Stone Shape (SLA) Nothing -
Ectoplasmic Burst of Whitefire (breath weapon) Amon Different shape.
Whitefire Aura Aym Low damage.
Energy Barrier (PLA) Ashardalon or Acererak or Zceryll or Pact Augmentation (Energy resistance) It's ok.
Manifesting Arete and The Triad and Abysm It is limited.
Chameleon (PLA) Marchosias It's ok.
Planar Travel, Dismiss Ectoplasm (PLA), Ectoplasmic Cocoon (PLA), Negate Psionics (PLA), Catapsi (PLA), Mass Cocoon (PLA), Ectoplasm Immunity Nothing -
Emerald Fire Resistance 15 Ashardalon It's ok.
Improved Invisibility (SLA) Malphas Malphas's Invisibility isn't Improved.
Nondetection (SLA) Haures It's ok.
Clairaudience/Clairvoyance (SLA) Clairvoyant Sense from Abysm It's ok.
Fog Cloud (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Legend Lore/Object Reading (SLA) Bardic Knowledge from The Triad or Angelic Lore from Astaroth Well, these abilities aren't the same, but could give similar information about topic of interest.
Sculpt Sound/Control Sound (SLA), Shield of Prudence (SLA), Planar Travel, Cone of Sonic (breath weapon), Sonic Immunity Nothing -
Ethereal Ethereal Jaunt (SLA) Chupoclops It's ok.
Blink (SLA) Orthos Displacement is even better.
Dimensional Anchor (SLA), Etherealness (SLA), Cone of Force (breath weapon), Ethereal Cyclone Immunity, Ethereal Vision, See Ethereal, Strike Ethereal Creatures, Summon Ethereal Cyclone Nothing -
Fang Increased Damage Claws of the Beast and Dragon Tail Claws of the Beast manifested at 19 ML (via any psionic vestige) has 5d6 damage. Dragon Tail binded to Waist is 2d6.
Sound Imitation Listen to This It's ok.
Detect Magic (SLA) Karsus It's ok.
Telekinesis (SLA) Ronove Far hand is weaker and has some limitations.
Dispel Magic (SLA) Karsus It's touch.
Ability Drain Bite, Trip, Read Magic (SLA), Shield (SLA), Spell Turning (SLA), Globe of Invulnerability (SLA) Nothing -
Force Invisibility Malphas It's ok.
Maze (SLA) Confusing Touch from Haagenti It's ok, while it's touch and not close.
Displacement Orthos It's ok.
Blur Orthos Displacement is even better.
Cone of Force (breath weapon), Force Immunity, Deflecting Force, Forcecage (SLA), Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere (SLA), Otiluke’s Telekinetic Sphere (SLA), Wall of Force (SLA) Nothing -
Gold Cone of Fire (breath weapon) Amon Different shape.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Detect Gems (SLA), Bless (SLA), Luck Bonus (SLA), Geas/Quest (SLA), Sunburst (SLA), Foresight (SLA), Cone of Weakening (breath weapon) Nothing -
Green Cone of Acid (breath weapon) Geryon Acidic gaze is, y'know, gase and its damage is low.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Acid Immunity Zceryll It's ok.
Dominate Person (SLA), Plant Growth (SLA), Command Plants (SLA) Nothing -
Howling Tasha’s Hideous Laughter (SLA) Andromalius It's ok.
Confusion (SLA) Haagenti or Sow Discord from Andras Sow Discord emulates only one of Confusion options, Haagenti's Confusion touch is touch.
Phantasmal Killer (SLA) Haures It's ok.
Wind Wall (SLA), Gust of Wind (SLA), Insanity (SLA), Shatter (SLA), Shout (SLA), Sound Burst (SLA), Symbol of Insanity (SLA), Weird (SLA), Whirlwind (SLA), Cone of Sonic (breath weapon), Cone of Wisdom Drain (breath weapon) Nothing -
Incarnum Meldshaping Shape Soulmeld and Open Greater Chakra Very limited.
Cone of Incarnum Energy (breath weapon), Consume Soulmeld Nothing -
Li lung Detect Thoughts Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Invisibility Malphas It's ok.
Plane Shift, Roar, Tunneling, Earthquake Immunity, Earthquake, Move Earth (SLA), Stone Shape (SLA), Wall of Stone (SLA), Disintegrate (SLA), Flesh to Stone (SLA) Nothing -
Lung wang Cone of Steam (Fire) (breath weapon) Amon Different shape.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Detect Thoughts Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Invisibility Malphas It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Fog Cloud (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Obscuring Mist (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Plane Shift, Scaly Command, Capsize, Solid Fog (SLA), Horrid Wilting (SLA) Nothing -
Mercury Line of Light (breath weapon) Amon Different shape.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Telekinesis (SLA) Ronove Far hand is weaker and has some limitations.
Color Spray (SLA), Mirror Image (SLA), Project Image (SLA), Prismatic Spray (SLA), Protected Sight Nothing -
Mist Cone of Fire (breath weapon) Amon Different shape.
Line of Sickness (breath weapon) Astaroth Different shape.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Acid Immunity Zceryll It's ok.
Mist Form Marchosias It's ok.
Fog Cloud (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Gust of Wind (SLA) Orthos Whirlwind breath has different shape and is instanteous effect.
Wind Wall (SLA), Sleet Storm (SLA), Solid Fog (SLA), Control Water (SLA), Control Weather (SLA) Nothing -
Obsidian Cone of Fire (breath weapon) Amon Different shape.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Biofeedback (PLA) Pact augmentation (DR) It's ok.
Burning Ray (PLA) Energy Missile from Abysm Similar effect in different shape.
Flaming Shroud (PLA) Amon Only similarity is it's fire damage with Relf half.
Whitefire (PLA) Amon Different shape.
Firefall (PLA) Amon Different shape.
Ectoplasmic Armor (PLA) Aym and Savnok Even with dwarven step Savnok's armor is heavy armor.
Planar Travel, Plane Shift (PLA), Wall of Ectoplasm (PLA), Genesis (PLA), Mind Store (PLA) Nothing -
Oceanus Line of Lightning (breath weapon) Focalor's Lightning Strike It's single target.
Cone of Daze (breath weapon) Dahlver-Nar or Zceryll
Amphibious Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Smite Evil Andras or The Triad It's ok.
Water Breathing (SLA) Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Detect Evil (SLA), Control Water (SLA), Holy Smite (SLA), Control Winds (SLA), Dispel Evil (SLA), Holy Word (SLA) Nothing -
Orange Poison Immunity Buer It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Pass Without Trace (SLA), Control Water (SLA), Heat Metal (SLA), Hallucinatory Terran (SLA), Explosive Salva (breath weapon) Nothing -
Pan lung Detect Thoughts Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Invisibility Malphas It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Constrict Ipos It's ok.
Major Image (SLA) Haures It's ok.
Silent Image (SLA) Haures It's ok.
Phantasmal Killer (SLA) Haures It's ok.
Water Fire Aym Lower damage and some details differ.
Plane Shift, Scaly Command, Minion, Bane (SLA), Bless (SLA), Charm Monster (SLA), Ventriloquism (SLA), Mirage Arcana (SLA) Nothing -
Prismatic All Nothing -
Purple Burst of Blinding (breath weapon) Focalor Different shape and blinding isn't permanent.
Cone of Energy (breath weapon) Orthos It's unnamed damage, but source clearly is different.
Night Flier Marchosias It's ok.
Fire Shield (SLA) Aym Only fire version.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Gust of Wind (SLA), Pyrothenics (SLA), Heat Metal (SLA), Wall of Force (SLA), Cone of Energy (breath weapon), Blade of Energy (breath weapon) Nothing -
Pyroclastic Cone of Sonic and Fire (breath weapon) Amon Only fire and different shape.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Line of Disentegrating (breath weapon), Sonic Immunity, Produce Flame (SLA), Sound Burst (SLA), Fire Storm (SLA), Incendiary Cloud (SLA), Meteor Swarm (SLA), Power Word Stun (SLA), Pyrotechnics (SLA), Shatter (SLA), Shout (SLA), Wall of Fire (SLA), Wall of Stone (SLA) Nothing -
Radiant Cone of Blinding Light (breath weapon) Focalor There is no effect on successful save.
Healing Touch Buer Only some effects (no regenerate, remove blindness/deafness, remove paralysis, or restoration), disease isn't actually remove, but delay.
Dispel Darkness, Line of Force (breath weapon), Daylight (SLA), Searing Light (SLA), Prismatic Sphere (SLA), Sunburst (SLA) Nothing -
Rattelyr Cone of Fire (breath weapon) Amon Different shape.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Electricity Resistance 20 Acererak or Shax It's ok.
Tremorsense, Rattle, Hood Extension Nothing -
Red Cone of Fire (breath weapon) Amon Different shape.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Locate Object (SLA) Ashardalon or Andromalius It's ok.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Find the Path (SLA), Discern Location (SLA) Nothing -
Rust Line of Acid (breath weapon) Geryon Acidic gaze is, y'know, gase and its damage is low.
Wall of Iron (SLA) Halphax It's ok.
Metal Resistance Arete or Pact Augmentation Well, it's the same DR.
Rusting Bite, Rusting Scales, Acid Fog (SLA), Repel Metal or Stone (SLA), Cone of Rust (breath weapon) Nothing -
Sand Cone of Flaw Wind (breath weapon) Orthos It's ok.
Fire Immunity Ashardalon Fire Resistance 30 is worse, but something.
Tremorsense, Haboob (SLA), Dispel Water (SLA), Wall of Sand (SLA), Choking Sands (SLA), Sandstorm (SLA) Nothing -
Sapphire Cone of Sonic and Panick (breath weapon) Vanus and Ashardalon and Nothing (maybe Shax ) Vanus's fear aura doesn't allow panick. Shax's storm strike isn't breath weapon at all and cause too few damage.
Electricity Immunity Acererak or Shax It's ok.
Fire Resistance 15 Ashardalon It's ok.
Spider Climb, Planar Travel, Sense Psychoportation, Skate (SLA), Stone Shape (SLA), Move Earth (SLA), Wall of Stone (SLA), Teleport (SLA) Nothing -
Shadow Energy Drain Immunity Soul guardian (immune to energy drain and negative levels) It's ok.
Nondetection (SLA) Haures It's ok.
Dimension Door (SLA) Tenebrous or Dantalion It's ok.
Shadow Blend Tenebrous Deeper darkness doesn't give total concealment.
Create Shadows Tenebrous No total concealment, no hide bonus, different size.
Mirror Image (SLA), Shadow Walk (SLA), Cone of Energy Drain (breath weapon) Nothing -
Shen lung Electricity Immunity Acererak or Shax It's ok.
Poison Immunity Buer It's ok.
Detect Thoughts Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Invisibility Malphas It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Long Tail Dragon Tail It's ok.
Water Fire Aym Lower damage and some details differ.
Cone of Cold (SLA) Balam Icy glare has lower damage.
Plane Shift, Scaly Command, Vermin Barrier, Control Weather (SLA), Ice Storm (SLA), Bane (SLA), Bless (SLA), Horrid Wilting (SLA) Nothing -
Silver Cone of Cold (breath weapon) Balam Low damage.
Cone of Paralizing (breath weapon) Acererak It's touch.
Feather Fall (SLA) Ronove It's ok.
Fog Cloud (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Cloudwalking, Control Winds (SLA), Control Weather (SLA), Reverse Gravity (SLA) Nothing -
Song Cone of Lightning (breath weapon) Focalor's Lightning Strike It's single target.
Electricity Immunity Acererak or Shax It's ok.
Poison Immunity Buer It's ok.
True Seeing Ipos Only single round.
Tongues Desharis or Agares It's ok.
Darkness (SLA) Tenebrous It's ok.
Blink (SLA) Orthos Dispacement is better.
Feather Fall (SLA) Ronove It's ok.
Heal (SLA) Buer Only hp healing and it's less.
Teleport (SLA) Desharis 3000 ft. is less than 100 miles/CL.
Light (SLA), Polymorph Any Object (SLA), Plane Shift (SLA) Nothing -
Steel Line of Acid (breath weapon) Geryon Acidic gaze is, y'know, gase and its damage is low.
Acid Immunity Zceryll It's ok.
Poison Resistance Buer It's ok.
Charm Person (SLA) Aberrant Dragonmark It's ok.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Enthrall (SLA), Mass Suggestion (SLA), Mass Charm (SLA), Moderate Arcane Shield, Cone of Poison (breath weapon) Nothing -
Styx Line of Acid (breath weapon) Geryon Acidic gaze is, y'know, gase and its damage is low.
Poison Immunity Buer It's ok.
Disease Immunity Buer It's ok.
Amphibious Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Constrict Ipos It's ok.
Improved Grab Ipos It's ok.
Deeper Darkness (SLA) Tenebrous It's ok.
Fog Cloud (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Summon Monster VIII (SLA) Zceryll It's ok.
Hold Monster (SLA) Acererak Paralyzing touch is only touch.
Stinking Cloud (SLA) Astaroth Astaroth's breath is instantaneous with different range and shape.
Styx Adaptation, Disease, Curse Water (SLA), Control Water (SLA), Feeblemind (SLA), Horrid Wilting (SLA), Mind Fog (SLA), Cone of Intellegence Drain (breath weapon) Nothing -
Tarterian Cone of Crushing Despair (breath weapon) Chupoclops or Focalor Both options are auras.
Freedom of Movement Shax It's ok.
Strength of Will Soul guardian (mind blank) It's ok.
Imprisonment (SLA) Halphax Has duration.
Maze (SLA) Confusing Touch from Haagenti It's ok, while it's touch and not close.
Force Resistance, Forcecage (SLA), Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere (SLA), Line of Force (breath weapon) Nothing -
T’ien lung Cone of Fire (breath weapon) Amon It's ok.
Detect Thoughts Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Invisibility Malphas It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Plane Shift, Control Weather (SLA), Fire Storm (SLA), Pyrotechnics (SLA), Meteor Swarm (SLA), Sunburst (SLA) Nothing -
Tun mi lung Detect Thoughts Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Invisibility Malphas It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Suggestion (SLA) Naberius or Astaroth It's ok.
Darkness (SLA) Tenebrous It's ok.
Lightning Bolt (SLA) Lightning Strike from Focalor's It's single target.
Plane Shift, Divine Wind (SLA), Chain Lightning (SLA), Power Word Stun (SLA), Repulsion (SLA), Air and Water Immunity Nothing -
Topaz Cold Immunity Acererak It's ok.
Fire resistance 15 Ashardalon It's ok.
Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Fog Cloud (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Feather Fall (SLA) Ronove It's ok.
Planar Travel, Control Winds (SLA), Shapechange (SLA), Control Weather (SLA), Cone of Dehydration (breath weapon) Nothing -
White Cone of Cold (breath weapon) Balam Low damage.
Cold Immunity Acererak It's ok.
Fog Cloud (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Icewalking, Freezing Fog (SLA), Gust of Wind (SLA), Wall of Ice (SLA), Control Weather (SLA) Nothing -
Yellow Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Obscuring Mist (SLA) Otiax Concealing mist has limitations, but looks slightly similar.
Whirlwind (SLA) Orthos It's instantaneous, has different shape.
Control Water (SLA), Control Winds (SLA), Control Weather (SLA), Cone of Salt (breath weapon) Nothing -
Yu lung Water Breathing Focalor or Amphibious It's ok.
Detect Thoughts Dantalion or Read Thoughts from Arete It's ok.
Plane Shift Nothing -

Type Name Book Page
Race Azurin Magic of Incarnum 7
Class Binder Tome of Magic 9
Feat Hidden Talent Expanded Psionics Handbook 67
Feat Dragontouched Dragon Magic 18
Feat Shape Soulmeld Magic of Incarnum 40
Feat Expel Vestige Tome of Magic 73
Feat Aberrant Dragonmark Eberron Campaign Setting 47
Feat Warped Mind Lords of Madness 182
Feat Ignore Special Requirements Tome of Magic 74
Feat Starspawn Lords of Madness 181
Feat Speed of Thought Expanded Psionics Handbook 51
Feat Open Greater Chakra Magic of Incarnum 39
Feat Rapid Pact Making Tome of Magic 74
Power Claws of the Beast Expanded Psionics Handbook 83
Soulmeld Dragon Tail Dragon Magic 84
Vestige Ashardalon Dragon Magic 85
Vestige Zceryll Class Chronicles Binders (https://web.archive.org/web/20211001135258/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Ffrcc%2F20070718)
Vestiges Arete, The Triad, Abysm The Mind's Eye Three Psionic Vestiges (https://web.archive.org/web/20200831001836/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070119a)
Vestiges Astaroth, Desharis Web Enhancements Cityscape, Part 2 (https://web.archive.org/web/20201108031054/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070307a)
Vestiges All others Tome of Magic varies
Skill Trick Listen to This Complete Scoundrel 87

[loky1109]

And that's all folks. Three (and one who will join us later) interesting true dragons!

Judges, you are welcome!

And of course - table is here.
# Name Alignment / Race Class Levels Dragon Type Chef Judge 1 Total Place
1 Urolk Sandstone (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905078&postcount=24) CN Mineral Warrior Baaz Draconian Skilled City-Dweller Crusader 3/Knight of the Weave 3/Jade Phoenix Mage 8/Sand Shaper 2 Sand
2 Twirven D’Lyrandar (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905081&postcount=25) NG Half Elf Half Elf Paragon 1/Fighter 2/Human Paragon 2/Dragonmarked Heir 4/Barbarian 1/Chameleon 10 Silver
3 Mad Bat Dead (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905082&postcount=26) CE Shade Nycter Feign Death Bonus Feat Poison Use Rogue 2/Siren 9 Shadow
4 Bob "Dragon Games Champion" (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905083&postcount=27) TN Azurin Binder 20 All

[H_H_F_F]

Fun read! Well done, guys.

[Inevitability]

A bit disappointed to only see 3 entries: could people who ended up not submitting shed some light on this? Lack of interest in this specific ingredient, too complex of an ingredient, no interest in the competition as a whole?


And related: what are some ingredients people would get excited about for future rounds?

[FactualArcher]

I did submit, though it took me quite a long time to make my entry. For me what made it difficult was the complexity of dragons and the huge variety of possibilities. I think that in general classes, whether prestige or base, are more accessible because they give you a much more defined set of options, but that might just be me.

[loky1109]

A bit disappointed to only see 3 entries: could people who ended up not submitting shed some light on this? Lack of interest in this specific ingredient, too complex of an ingredient, no interest in the competition as a whole?
I have the same questions and the same disappointing.


I did submit, though it took me quite a long time to make my entry. For me what made it difficult was the complexity of dragons and the huge variety of possibilities.
Hmm... I saw variety of possibilities as positive feature not negative. If you didn't found how make Black dragon you can move to the Red one.

By the way, Chair's entry is on its place.

[quetzalcoatl5]

I did not submit out of concern for sufficiently capturing the goal, but I did volunteer to judge. I'm working on my judging rubric and will get that out shortly

[Chronos]

I could have spent about a half-hour to throw together a completely obvious entry, but I figured it was too obvious. But nobody used any trace of what I was thinking of, so maybe everyone thought it was too obvious?

[loky1109]

I could have spent about a half-hour to throw together a completely obvious entry, but I figured it was too obvious. But nobody used any trace of what I was thinking of, so maybe everyone thought it was too obvious?
What was that?


I did not submit out of concern for sufficiently capturing the goal, but I did volunteer to judge. I'm working on my judging rubric and will get that out shortly
It's great! Thank you again!

[Chronos]

Pure dragonfire adept. You get the breath weapon and scales automatically, invocations can give you wings, fear aura, and a few other distinctively draconic abilities, and claws and bite can be had from any of a variety of races (many of them even reptilian).

[pabelfly]

It was this or Monster Mash, and I had an inspired idea for Monster Mash. So I spent a bunch of time on that.

I'd also like to do a judging for Zinc Saucier one time to hone my skills for the comp before entering again, but it's not going to be this one.

[Inevitability]

Also, I suppose I should share some build stubs that didn't end up making it.


Raptoran Beloved of Demons Favored Soul 5 with Initiate of Bane popped out to me as a very intriguing chassis. You get claws, wings, bite, frightful presence, and a ton of casting; imitating any particular dragon from that point is mostly a matter of picking the right spells and grabbing a breath weapon somewhere.

I also considered a sort of Bard/Barbarian/Rage Mage to imitate a Battle Dragon, with Arcane Disciple to get some of the SLAs and Shout/Fear as spells known to imitate the breath weapon, plus some general fear synergy with Doomspeak + Intimidating Rage. Getting claws, wings, and a bite on there proved tricky, though, though I did come up with a Dragonborn Star Elf Dragon Disciple variant at some point. I didn't end up going with it because I expected dragonborn and DD to be way too obvious.

One of my earlier ideas was to replicate a red dragon using some sort of bard build, but between wanting to get 16 BAB for gishing, wanting to get 6ths for Find the Path, needing wings, and trying to squeeze in Seeker of the Song 2 for the fire cone and Heir of Siberys for Discern Location, I couldn't make the build work. I should probably have been less of a perfectionist about it, in retrospect.

I also came up with a whole mess of a build after realizing that Apostle of Peace lets you imitate a Bronze Dragon pretty well - NG Rashemi Human Ranger 4 / Unarmed Swordsage 1 / Swanmay +1 / Abolisher 1 / Apostle of Peace 2 / Wavekeeper 3 / Windwalker 3 / Swanmay +4 / Unarmed Swordsage 1, serving Shaundakul.

Gets +16 BAB, 9ths, continuous Air Walk, continuous Speak with Animals, water breathing, the Travel and Air domains (the latter gives you Chain Lightning to imitate a breath weapon), Dreadful Wrath for the frightful presence bit, Wild Shape for the alternate form, and Greater Command as a fair approximation of the repulsion gas. No natural weapons outside of wild shape, though, and no Detect Thoughts - plus the whole mess of exalted feats and vow restrictions, and the awkward element of being Exalted NG with a CN deity.



Outside of that, I had some odd ideas like imitating a Rattlyr (no wings, no SLAs, but tremorsense, spell turning, and long-range fear), or using Wearer of Purple to imitate a dracolich, or even imitating an Oceanus Dragon with a weird paladin / divine crusader / scion of tem-et-nu build. I also briefly looked at fang dragons, but turns out a breath weapon is much easier to get than a constitution drain attack, and eventually wondered if I could replicate it with a ghost (who do, after all, drain constitution with a touch and get Telekinesis, which they can also use for tripping). Then I thought better of it. In retrospect, the fact that ghostly dragons exist means it might've warranted a second look.

[loky1109]

Talking about not used ideas. Firstly I thought make as chair's entry something like this:
Abilities Initial Ogre Mage Primordial Giant Green Dragonspawn 4th 6th 7th 9th (ASI) 10th 12th 13th 14th 17th (ASI) Total
STR 14 2 -4 2 2 2 2 2 22
DEX 10 10
CON 15 -2 2 2 2 2 21
INT 12 4 2 2 20
WIS 10 2 12
CHA 16 2 4 2 2 1 2 1 30

ECL HD Class BAB Fort Reflex Will Skills Feats Class Features
- - Primordial Giant Spell-like ability (levitate at will), magical knack
1st 1 Ogre Mage 1 0 2 0 0 20: {+4} Concentration: 4; {+4 CC} Diplomacy: 2; {+4 CC} Intimidate: 2; {+4} Knowledge (arcana): 4; {+4} Spellcraft: 4; Shape Soulmeld (Astral Vambraces) (1) Spell-like abilities (charm person 1/day, sleep 1/day), +1 NatAC
3rd 1 Green Dragonspawn Breath weapon, death throes, fly 80 ft. (average) spellcasting, +7 NatAC, immunity to acid, sleep and paralysis
4th 2 Ogre Mage 2 1 5 2 2 9: {+1} Concentration: 5; {+1 CC} Diplomacy: 2.5; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 2.5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 5; {+2} Listen: 2; {+1} Spellcraft: 5; {+2} Spot: 2; +2 NatAC, +2 Con
5th 2 Ogre Mage 3 +2 Wis, spell-like abilities (darkness 1/day, invisibility 1/day)
6th 3 Ogre Mage 4 2 6 3 3 9: {+1} Concentration: 6; {+1 CC} Diplomacy: 3; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 3; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 6; {+2} Listen: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 6; {+2} Spot: 4; Improved Speed (3) Fly 40 ft. (good), +2 Str, +2 Cha
7th 3 Ogre Mage 5 +2 Int, spell-like abilities (gaseous form 1/day), +3 NatAC
8th 3 Ogre Mage 6 Regeneration 1, spell-like abilities (darkness 3/day, invisibility 3/day)
9th 4 Ogre Mage 7 3 6 3 3 10: {+1} Concentration: 7; Diplomacy: 3; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 3.5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 7; {+3} Listen: 7; {+1} Spellcraft: 7; {+3} Spot: 7; Spell-like abilities (polymorph 1/day), change shape, +4 NatAC, +2 Str
10th 4 Ogre Mage 8 +2 Con, +2 Wis, spell resistance
11th 4 Ogre Mage 9 Spell-like abilities (cone of cold 1/day, darkness at will, invisibility at will)
12th 5 Ogre Mage 10 4 7 4 4 10: {+1} Concentration: 8; {+2 CC} Diplomacy: 4; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 4; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 8; {+1} Listen: 8; {+1} Spellcraft: 8; {+1} Spot: 8; {+2 CC} Use Magic Device: 1; Large size, reach 10 ft., +2 Str, +2 Int, +5 NatAC
13th 5 Ogre Mage 11 Regeneration 2, +2 Con
14th 5 Ogre Mage 12 +2 Str, +2 Cha
15th 6 Totemist 1 4 9 6 4 9: Concentration: 8; Diplomacy: 4; Intimidate: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 8; {+2} Knowledge (nature): 2; {+1} Listen: 9; {+4 CC} Sense Motive: 2; {+1} Spellcraft: 9; {+1} Spot: 9; Use Magic Device: 1; Entangling Exhalation (6) Wild empathy, illiteracy
16th 7 Totemist 2 5 10 7 4 9: Concentration: 8; {+2 CC} Diplomacy: 5; Intimidate: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 8; {+2} Knowledge (nature): 4; Listen: 9; {+4 CC} Sense Motive: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 10; Spot: 9; Use Magic Device: 1; Totem chakra bind (+1 capacity)
17th 8 Dragonblood Sorcerer 1 5 10 7 6 7: {+4} Bluff: 4; Concentration: 8; Diplomacy: 5; Intimidate: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 8; Knowledge (nature): 4; Listen: 9; Sense Motive: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 11; Spot: 9; {+2} Use Magic Device: 3; Draconic Heritage (Green) (B) Arcane insight +2, Draconic Heritage
18th 9 Mindbender 1 5 12 7 8 7: Bluff: 4; Concentration: 8; Diplomacy: 5; {+5} Intimidate: 9; Knowledge (arcana): 8; Knowledge (nature): 4; Listen: 9; Sense Motive: 4; Spellcraft: 11; Spot: 9; Use Magic Device: 3; {+2} Never Outnumbered; Imperious Command (9) Telepathy
19th 10 Mindbender 2 6 13 7 9 7: Bluff: 4; Concentration: 8; Diplomacy: 5; {+3} Intimidate: 12; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 9; Knowledge (nature): 4; Listen: 9; {+3} Sense Motive: 7; Spellcraft: 11; Spot: 9; Use Magic Device: 3; Never Outnumbered; Push the weak mind 1/day, skill boost
20th 11 Mindbender 3 6 13 8 9 7: Bluff: 4; Concentration: 8; Diplomacy: 5; {+2} Intimidate: 14; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 10; Knowledge (nature): 4; Listen: 9; {+3} Sense Motive: 10; {+1} Spellcraft: 12; Spot: 9; Use Magic Device: 3; Never Outnumbered; Mindread 2/day
or this
Ogre Mage
Abilities Initial Stone Giant Amphibious Primordial Giant 3rd (Black Dragonspawn) 4th 5th 7th 9th 10th 12th 13th 14th 15th 17th 18th 19th 20th Total
STR 14 4 -4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 28 19 23 27
DEX 10 -2 2 2 12 10 10 10
CON 15 -2 2 2 2 1 2 2 24 17 19 21
INT 14 4 18 14 14 16
WIS 12 12 15 15 17
CHA 14 4 2 1 1 22 14 14 16

ECL HD Class BAB Fort Reflex Will Skills Feats Class Features
- - Primordial Giant Spell-like ability (darkness at will), magical knack
- - Amphibious Amphibious, swim speed
1st 1 (Giant HD) Stone Giant 1 0 2 0 0 24: {+4 CC} Intimidate: 2; {+4} Jump: 4; {+4} Knowledge (arcana): 4; {+4 CC} Spellcraft: 2; {+4} Spot: 4; {+4 CC} Use Magic Device: 2; Shape Soulmeld (Astral Vambraces) (1) Earth subtype, feat, +3 natural armor
3rd 1 Black Dragonspawn Breath weapon, death throes, fly 80 ft. (average) spellcasting, +7 natural armor, immunity to acid, sleep and paralysis
4th 2 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 2 1 4 2 2 10: {+1} Climb: 1; Intimidate: 2; {+1} Jump: 5; {+1 CC} Hide: 0.5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 5; {+1 CC} Listen: 0.5; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 0.5; {+1 CC} Spellcraft: 2.5; {+1} Spot: 5; {+1 CC} Swim: 0.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 2.5; +2 Con
5th 3 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 3 2 5 3 3 10: {+1} Climb: 2; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 2.5; {+1} Jump: 6; {+1 CC} Hide: 1; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 6; {+1 CC} Listen: 1; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 1; Spellcraft: 2.5; {+1} Spot: 6; {+1 CC} Swim: 1; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 3; Improved Speed (3) +2 Str
6th 3 Stone Giant 4 Rock throwing (1d8, 60-ft. range increment), +5 natural armor
7th 4 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 5 3 5 3 3 10: {+1} Climb: 3; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 3; {+1} Jump: 7; {+1 CC} Hide: 1.5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 7; {+1 CC} Listen: 1.5; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 1.5; {+1 CC} Spellcraft: 3; {+1} Spot: 7; Swim: 1; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 3.5; +2 Str
8th 5 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 6 4 6 4 4 10: {+1} Climb: 4; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 3.5; {+1} Jump: 8; {+1 CC} Hide: 2; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 8; {+1 CC} Listen: 2; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 2; {+1 CC} Spellcraft: 3.5; {+1} Spot: 8; {+1 CC} Swim: 1.5; Use Magic Device: 3.5; Rock catching
9th 5 Stone Giant 7 +2 Str, +7 natural armor
10th 6 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 8 5 6 4 4 10: {+1} Climb: 5; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 4; {+1} Jump: 9; Hide: 2; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 9; {+1 CC} Listen: 2.5; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 2.5; {+1 CC} Spellcraft: 4; {+1} Spot: 9; {+1 CC} Swim: 2; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 4; Awaken Spell Resistance (6) +2 Dex
11th 7 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 9 6 7 5 5 10: {+1} Climb: 6; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 4.5; {+1} Jump: 10; {+1 CC} Hide: 2.5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 10; {+1 CC} Listen: 3; Move Silently: 2.5; {+1 CC} Spellcraft: 4.5; {+1} Spot: 10; {+1 CC} Swim: 2.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 4.5; Rock throwing (2d6, 120-ft. range increment)
12th 8 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 10 7 7 5 5 10: {+1} Climb: 7; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 5; {+1} Jump: 11; {+1 CC} Hide: 3; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 11; Listen: 3; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 3; {+1 CC} Spellcraft: 5; {+1} Spot: 11; {+1 CC} Swim: 3; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 5; +9 natural armor
13th 8 Stone Giant 11 Large size, reach 10 ft., +2 Con
14th 9 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 12 8 8 6 6 10: {+1} Climb: 8; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 5.5; Jump: 11; {+1 CC} Hide: 3.5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 12; {+1 CC} Listen: 3.5; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 3.5; {+1 CC} Spellcraft: 5.5; {+1} Spot: 12; {+1 CC} Swim: 3.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 5.5; Bonus Essentia (9) +2 Str
15th 10 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 13 9 8 6 6 10: {+1} Climb: 9; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 6; {+1} Jump: 12; {+1 CC} Hide: 4; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 13; {+1 CC} Listen: 4; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 4; Spellcraft: 5.5; {+1} Spot: 13; {+1 CC} Swim: 4; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 6; +2 Dex, +11 natural armor
16th 11 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 14 10 9 7 7 10: {+1} Climb: 10; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 6.5; {+1} Jump: 13; {+1 CC} Hide: 4.5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 14; {+1 CC} Listen: 4.5; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 4.5; Spellcraft: 5.5; {+1} Spot: 14; {+1 CC} Swim: 4.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 6.5; Rock throwing (2d8, 180-ft. range increment)
17th 12 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 15 11 9 7 7 10: {+1} Climb: 11; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 7; {+1} Jump: 14; {+1 CC} Hide: 5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 15; Listen: 4.5; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 5; {+1 CC} Spellcraft: 6; {+1} Spot: 15; {+1 CC} Swim: 5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 7; Open Lesser Chakra (Hands) (12) +2 Str
18th 13 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 16 12 10 8 8 10: {+1} Climb: 12; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 7.5; {+1} Jump: 15; {+1 CC} Hide: 5.5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 16; {+1 CC} Listen: 5; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 5.5; Spellcraft: 6; {+1} Spot: 16; {+1 CC} Swim: 5.5; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 7.5; +2 Con
19th 14 (Dragon HD) Stone Giant 17 13 10 8 8 10: {+1} Climb: 13; {+1 CC} Intimidate: 8; {+1} Jump: 16; {+1 CC} Hide: 6; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 17; Listen: 5; {+1 CC} Move Silently: 6; Spellcraft: 6; Spot: 16; {+1 CC} Swim: 6; {+1 CC} Use Magic Device: 8; {+2} Never Outnumbered; +2 Str
20th 14 Stone Giant 18 +2 Con
using Dragonspawn from Dragonlance.

quetzalcoatl5, how’s it going with judging?

[quetzalcoatl5]

Work has been crazy, but I have the back half of this week off. I should have them finished this weekend.

[loky1109]

Sounds great!
Not the part about crazy work.

[quetzalcoatl5]

Appreciate it. It's my first time judging so I don't want to do a cavalierly

[quetzalcoatl5]

Still working on judging. Will have it in by Wednesday. In the meantime, here's my rubric (as much as it is)


Innovation
(Uniqueness in character concept, race, class, etc)
I’m looking at what it means to be a True Dragon and how it’s executed here.
Scores start at 3 and will be deducted for violating the spirit of the contest and for going obvious routes. Half a point for a minor example and a full point for an egregious one. Meanwhile, builds that I could predict but are functional will receive a half a point, builds that somewhat surprise me will receive a half a point, builds that pleasantly surprise me will receive a full point. Builds that use elements that I have to look up will get the final half point.

Power
(How powerful and versatile it is compared to the base class)
Scores start at 3.
I value game breaking power less than enjoyably applied power. If I feel like a DM wouldn’t allow the interaction of abilities, I will deduct a half a point.
Builds that won’t contribute for large stretches of the build will have half a point deducted.
Builds that won’t contribute to the party at all will have a point subtracted.
Builds that don’t actually work mechanically will have a point subtracted.
Conversely, builds that offer lots of options throughout most or all levels will receive a point.
For those familiar with the 3.5 Tier system from JaronK (https://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=658.0), I will award 1 point if the class lands in Tiers 2 or 3 and a half point if it lands in Tiers 1 or 4. I do not like when players detract from the overall party's enjoyment and I find Tier 4 forces the DM to present situations to cater to those players, while Tier 1 requires the DM to devise situations that negate the Tier 1 player. Neither of those are as rewarding for the party so they won’t be here.

Elegance
(What can only be described as how well the build "flows", i.e not using lots of 1-2lv dips, sacrificing flavour for power or using flaws)
Does this build work? Do the disparate elements fit together behind the scenes? This one is going to be a little subjective, but minimum 4 if everything is functional and maximum 2 if there are prerequisites or build elements that are not met.

Ingredient
(How well the build captures the abilities and feel of the base class)
This one is totally subjective. Sorry. Wish I could provide better criteria, however it’s a good space for predictable but effective builds to shine.

[quetzalcoatl5]

Judgement (For the First Time)

Are you me? Did I blackout and enter this contest? I ask this because this is INCREDIBLY close to a Draconian I ran in Dragonlance recently in a 5e game. From his combat abilities to his backstory, right down to him being named the very similar Ulric. Regardless, this gets my Honorable Mention simply due to being exactly what I was thinking would be a path for back converting my character to 3.5 and that is because…

While we’ll get to some issues I have with this build as it pertains to the contest itself, this is an incredibly solid Initiator/Gish build using some very clean and thematically justified elements. While there’s some cross setting blah-dy blah going on, I rather like Knight of the Weave, I love the Crusader, I am very happy with the design of the Jade Phoenix Mage, and you incorporate the Sand Shaper (an excellent choice of seasoning on the relatively bland but vitamin rich Knight of the Weave) extremely well with your backstory. I’m actually rather impressed with taking the Baaz Draconian death throe and making it part of his rebirth as a Sand Shaper. You even meld sorcerous style casting with beastly martial power at high levels. Honestly, the only real gripe I have is that I don’t understand why you took Arcane Strike when Arcane Wrath from Jade Phoenix Mage does mostly the same thing, certainly enough to discourage wasting a feat slot.

Rating: 4.25


However, given the admiration for the fundamentals expressed in this build, it should be no surprised that the pendulum swings the other way when it comes to…

As much as I love this build, it feels… obvious. Sorry. It’s just taking the workaround that WOTC provided players for building a Dragon PC without being a True Dragon and that feels like skirting the spirit of the contest here. Again, I really like this build and would allow it a thousand times over at my table, but it’s also EXTREMELY close to just being a Dragon that is scaled to a PC level. In that regard, I do consider this an affront to the spirit of the contest.

Rating: 2


That said, we’re certainly looking at a capable Gish build here and that’s going to matter when it comes to…

This is pretty close to textbook Tier 3: a solid performer in several categories that contributes meaningfully in most situations without outshining anyone. Goddamn exactly what I want to see here. While your BAB trails the pure martials (or even the ¾ BAB, 6th level casters) at low levels, your maneuvers will make up for those at low levels and you catch up and end with a respectable 16, thus getting that 4th iterative if you need it. You’ve got a good size tool kit and solid hitting power. You can heal and you can summon and you can buff and you can dispel harmful effects. This is a solid video game protagonist. Your biggest weaknesses are skills and hp, which means some of your early game strategies of taking the hits to fuel your attacks with your righteous fury will fall off mid game and you’ll never be point for any non-combat encounters (though spells will quickly offer utility there so you can contribute). You bring solid contributions to your party at most levels, with only a few where the entry into new prestige classes causes a hiccup in your progression. There are definitely Judges who would see many weaknesses in what I see as strengths here, but I like what I see here and I give it…

Rating: 4.25


Lastly, let’s talk about how well you meet the vibe check of a True Dragon when we discuss…

Well… you address a lot of the feel of a Dragon by basically being a Dragon, so that’s nice. You can scare people at high levels with Never Outnumbered. You have powerful magics and crazy martial powers, like a Sorcerer King of Dark Sun, and like… if you had started as a Mortal it wouldn’t feel like cutting corners so much… honestly even just being a humanoid turned Dragonborn would have made that aspect less overshadowing here. That said, you nail a lot of the feel of being a True Dragon and are technically not a True Dragon, the best kind of not a True Dragon.

Rating: 4



Final Total: 14.5





Twirven D’Lyrandar

Oh, hey, look! Eberron! My favorite setting. Love the relatively subtle Dragon name too. Feels like what you'd make for a movie character that represents a dragon in a realistic or at least non fantasy setting. However…

What am I supposed to say here? It’s a Chameleon build, which means everything is an option. The problem is that it’s as much a Dragon build as it is any other build.

Rating: 3

OK, so this is a generalist build which means that there are certain expectations for…

I’m not convinced this is a big contributing build for the first 6 levels. You've got skills though so it's not dead weight and the low levels go fast so it's not a big knock. After that, it seems like everything progresses pretty well. At later levels this hangs with even the best optimized builds but doesn’t overshadow, making for a…

Rating: 4


Now this brings us to the build itself, which has…

Does the build succeed? Yeah! I really like the Chameleon Prestige Class and it works wonderfully here to capture the broad range of abilities that the flagship beast of the franchise is known for. And kudos on bringing in a nominal connection via the Dragonmark of Storms.

Rating: 4


Lastly, we're here to talk about the great wyrms of myth. Does this build match the dactylic hexameter of the old epics? Well, we'll get to that in...

This is hard to judge here. The build being a Chameleon focus means that it CAN do anything a Dragon is looking to do, but probably not all at once.
Rating: 3.5


Final Total: 14.5


Well, christ, I guess someone had to make a build that nailed the…

Let’s start with the following statement, I love how Non-Dragon this build is considering how perfectly it captures the feel of a Shadow Dragon. This takes me back to the days of Warcraft III’s expansion pack and arguing about what just a dragon actually was. Didn’t see this coming and had to research quite a bit.

Rating: 5

Now, while being unexpected is a source of strength, we need to have a real discussion about…

For as many hit die as you’d expect to have at every level, this character is a little frail, particularly for a dragon themed character. However, I like a character that works as part of a group. I can picture funny scenes involving Feign Death and there’s a lot of utility in this build. I feel like it will require a certain synergy between player and DM to really shine, but it clearly isn’t holding the party back nor outshining.

Rating: 4

That brings us to how well this is actually built and that frankly is going to be a positive going into…

You justify a level adjustment and make a complicated series of build decisions flow pretty well. This doesn’t drown out other players as a simple candle dramatically reduces the efficacy of the character. It does land in Tier 3, so that merits a…

Rating: 4

Now how is this doing when it comes to...


Jesus… Christ… This is QUITE the Shadow Dragon. Is it what you think of when you think of a a dragon? Probably not. But it still merits a…

Rating: 4

Final Total: 17




Thank you for giving me the time to work on this and for bearing with me as I judge these for my first time. I hope it all makes sense and is fair. I really liked all these and appreciate the work put into each! Great job, y'all!

Lastly, for you podcast fans, one I listened to recently did an episode on Dragons! It's a good listen!
https://maximumfun.org/episodes/secretly-incredibly-fascinating/secretly-incredibly-fascinating-dragons/

[loky1109]

quetzalcoatl5, thank you for your work, and I have dispute for you.


Whoa, crazy coincidence on the names and concepts there. I promise you I'm not you, but rather me, who isn't as far as I know you.

I took Arcane Strike because it's a free action rather than a swift one and it applies to all attacks with a certain weapon rather than one attack. We get five claw attacks (one + 4 from rapidstrike) and four longsword attacks, so that quickly adds up.

Sacrificing a single 4th-level spell slot, we can either get +4 to-hit and +4d10 damage, or +4 to hit and +4d4 damage on five attacks - 20d4 damage total. That's an expected 22 extra damage compared to an average of 50, maybe adjusted down a little for the decreased to-hit of the iteratives, but if 3 out of 5 attacks hit we're still looking at 30 rather than 20.

And that's just 'routine' damage - if we want to nova then Arcane Strike becomes much better. Two fourth-level slots turn into +4 to hit on nine attacks and 36d4 (90) extra damage, and we can use a swift action to throw a Burning Brand on there too - or heck, even a regular Arcane Wrath. Taking Arcane Strike really does help our build out a massive amount!

Also, I'm a bit confused about what is costing me points in UoSI. It feels like being a baaz draconian is getting me penalized twice - once for being an obvious choice in itself, and once for making my final build feel like it's 'cutting corners'. What would you have expected from this build for it to deserve a perfect 5? I feel like I imitated a sand dragon pretty dang well.



Also, if it isn't a trouble, I'd be glad to hear couple words about chair's dragon. I don't ask about full judging it or exact numbers, just something in general terms.

[quetzalcoatl5]

Also, if it isn't a trouble, I'd be glad to hear couple words about chair's dragon. I don't ask about full judging it or exact numbers, just something in general terms.

Yes. I'll give more thoughts tomorrow on your build. My apologies for not giving them upfront.

[quetzalcoatl5]

Urolk, excellent rebuttal regarding Arcane Strike. I always feel feat starved so I'm usually looking to be wary of redundancies but you make a solid point about the potency. I'll bump the total to 4.5 for Elegance

Regarding use of the Secret Ingredient, I apologize if it feels like I'm double penalizing you. Frankly I was just looking for something to say regarding what was a better than good representation. I stand by the 4 here. You did great! 4 is a really good score!

As it is, that nudges you to second place.

[loky1109]

If we have no other judges I give you 24 hours for further disputes.

Table for now:

# Name Alignment / Race Class Levels Dragon Type Chef quetzalcoatl5 Total Place
1 Urolk Sandstone (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905078&postcount=24) CN Mineral Warrior Baaz Draconian Skilled City-Dweller Crusader 3/Knight of the Weave 3/Jade Phoenix Mage 8/Sand Shaper 2 Sand 14.75 14.75 2nd
2 Twirven D’Lyrandar (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905081&postcount=25) NG Half Elf Half Elf Paragon 1/Fighter 2/Human Paragon 2/Dragonmarked Heir 4/Barbarian 1/Chameleon 10 Silver 14.50 14.50 3rd
3 Mad Bat Dead (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905082&postcount=26) CE Shade Nycter Feign Death Bonus Feat Poison Use Rogue 2/Siren 9 Shadow 17.00 17.00 1st
4 Bob "Dragon Games Champion" (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905083&postcount=27) TN Azurin Binder 20 All loky1109 N/A N/A N/A

quetzalcoatl5, is Urolk's total correct?

[quetzalcoatl5]

quetzalcoatl5, is Urolk's total correct?

Yes! Sorry, should have said so before.

[quetzalcoatl5]

OK, so loky1109, I have to be honest, I was reluctant to delve too deep into your build because I have never really explored Binding beyond an initial skim of the sourcebook and a few handbooks back when I was getting into 3.5. HOWEVER...


Yo! I love this sort of shonen style tournament arc! (See my entry from the last Junkyard Wars, Jas'Quinn Liadon, who was Street Fighter based!) I dig the story and the idea of making kind of a modular entity assembling the right mix of abilities to build to being a Dragon was super on point!

It helped that your...

Was on ****ing point! Laying out your Vestiges and Bindings as if you the character were making your own checklist was a brilliant bit of metathinking that served to help me understand the potential. It creates a game for you to play as the character to best get the concoction right, making me think of a Dragon themed version of Centurions!

But then we come to...
And I have no idea what I'm looking at. While I love the self assessments of the individual abilities, this is a spot where the level snapshots really help for me to see how effective you envision the character as being and what strategies you hope to employ!

Then it all comes down to...
And like this nails it. It's kind of like that je ne sais quoi that I felt like Urolk was missing. (Urolk, I'm not trying to pick on you, I swear. You might still be me after all. Maybe I have more than one account!). The QUEST to become a Dragon feels so perfect here and it makes the Secret Ingredient your story! Love it!

[loky1109]

Time to reveal

# Name Alignment / Race Class Levels Dragon Type Chef quetzalcoatl5 Total Place
1 Urolk Sandstone (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905078&postcount=24) CN Mineral Warrior Baaz Draconian Skilled City-Dweller Crusader 3/Knight of the Weave 3/Jade Phoenix Mage 8/Sand Shaper 2 Sand Inevitability 14.75 14.75 2nd
2 Twirven D’Lyrandar (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905081&postcount=25) NG Half Elf Half Elf Paragon 1/Fighter 2/Human Paragon 2/Dragonmarked Heir 4/Barbarian 1/Chameleon 10 Silver FactualArcher 14.50 14.50 3rd
3 Mad Bat Dead (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905082&postcount=26) CE Shade Nycter Feign Death Bonus Feat Poison Use Rogue 2/Siren 9 Shadow Inevitability 17.00 17.00 1st
4 Bob "Dragon Games Champion" (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25905083&postcount=27) TN Azurin Binder 20 All loky1109 N/A N/A N/A

Congratulations to all contestants and especially to Inevitability.
Thanks to quetzalcoatl5 for judging!

I hope next round will start tomorrow.

[Inevitability]

Thank you to our judge and host!

Not gonna lie, I was expecting Urolk to do better and MBD to get heavily slapped down for being, well, a mess. Like sure, I had faith in that little build, but I didn't expect the judge to agree. I guess between this and Junkyard Wars I -did- learn that using JPM is probably not going to be worth the originality hit. Which isn't a complaint, JPM is really good and I'm glad to know I'm not hurting myself if I choose to avoid it.

Do we have a theme for the next competition? Are we going to draw on player input or does the chair have something already?

[loky1109]

Do we have a theme for the next competition? Are we going to draw on player input or does the chair have something already?

Yes, I have. Firstly I wanted to make voting, but I didn't found prestige classes that fit enough in all themes I had in mind:
1) Дедушка Мороз - he is Russian Christmas gift-bringer, direct translate is Grandfather Frost.
2) Снегурочка - she is Grandfather Frost's granddaughter. Her name could be translated as Snow Girl or Snow Maiden.
3) Ёлочка - it's diminutive-cute (is this a word?) form of spruce or another meaning - Christmas tree.

I really wasn't happy with all I found for first and second. But now I looked at them one more time... And actually they look okay.

So let's vote!

[quetzalcoatl5]

Like sure, I had faith in that little build, but I didn't expect the judge to agree.

Is there anything more draconic than hutzpah?

[loky1109]

Voting will be open until 7th December 21:00, then if nobody will vote I'll select SI myself.

[quetzalcoatl5]

Can I say either 1 or 2? If I need a set answer, 2.

[FactualArcher]

I'll vote number 2 as well.

[loky1109]

I have unstable internet right now, maybe I'll be forced to open new post later.