Stupid player trying a 1 hp build.

[LOLC2k]

Yeah. That's right. The quick trait, (-2 con, +10 to move speed). A gray elf. And starting 8 con. That means, with a point buy system, we have him. The wizard with 1 hp a level no matter what he rolls. He insists on giving it a try. And suggestions on how to survive?

[Eldariel]

Be a Wizard. Don't get hit. Ever. That means lots of illusions, lots of contingencies, Abrupt Jaunt, lots of staying back, skulking and flying and overall, just never letting opponents target him in the first place.

EDIT: Low levels: Tower Shield used for full cover constantly.

[The_JJ]

Kite, play smart, remember that you're still alive until -10.

[LOLC2k]

Be a Wizard. Don't get hit. Ever. That means lots of illusions, lots of contingencies, Abrupt Jaunt, lots of staying back, skulking and flying and overall, just never letting opponents target him in the first place.

I told him that, but at low-mid levels, all it takes is one failed spot check. You can't take an immediate action if you're flat footed. You also can't abrupt jaunt out of the fireball. 1d6/level is intimidating when even rolling all 1's knocks you to zero.

[josh13905]

If you/he has the complete scoundrel, Luck Feats, one of them uses a luck reroll to automatically put you to -9 instead of dying, and it auto stabilizes you, Assuming the enemy doesn't have time to Coup De Grace, and you teamates can get to you in time, you should be fine.

the feat requires at least char level 6 I believe along with another luck feat but I may be wrong on those.

[Eldariel]

I told him that, but at low-mid levels, all it takes is one failed spot check. You can't take an immediate action if you're flat footed. You also can't abrupt jaunt out of the fireball. 1d6/level is intimidating when even rolling all 1's knocks you to zero.

You can Abrupt Jaunt out of a Fireball if you can tell where it's gonna land; it's only a 20' radius sphere so if you happen to be 15' - 20' from the center (or near an obstacle - definitely something to stay near at all times), you can get out. Also, Wings of Cover a - level 2 spell from Races of the Dragon that grants you with total cover against a single thing. Great for this.

Other than that, the mentioned Tower Shield used for total cover. But this really is a sorta suicide on low levels. On higher levels, it becomes ironically easier as the amount of "no, you didn't hit" effects increases. On low levels, you have little to work with. But with enough abuse and party support, I could see this working out.

[Flickerdart]

Nothing is 1d6 per level, damage scales (SA, Eldritch Blast, stock Fireballs) as 1d6/2 levels, or 3.5/2, or 1.75 per level. So even 2 HP would pull him through...unfortunately, he's got just one. Get that DEX sky-high for AC and Reflex saves. Will and Fortitude aren't as much of a threat due to the effect usually being independent of HP.

So he should either buff his AC (Shield, Mage Armor), concealment (Displacement) and Reflex saves (Rat familiar? whichever) sky-high and hope for the best (Flying up also works), or focus on taking enemies out fast. Nerveskitter, Hummingbird familiar and such will help, as well as spells such as Web that hold his enemies in place, where they can't get to him.

[LOLC2k]

Nothing is 1d6 per level, damage scales (SA, Eldritch Blast, stock Fireballs) as 1d6/2 levels, or 3.5/2, or 1.75 per level. So even 2 HP would pull him through...unfortunately, he's got just one. Get that DEX sky-high for AC and Reflex saves. Will and Fortitude aren't as much of a threat due to the effect usually being independent of HP.

So he should either buff his AC (Shield, Mage Armor), concealment (Displacement) and Reflex saves (Rat familiar? whichever) sky-high and hope for the best (Flying up also works), or focus on taking enemies out fast. Nerveskitter, Hummingbird familiar and such will help, as well as spells such as Web that hold his enemies in place, where they can't get to him.

Fireball might not be 1d6 per level all the way up until 20, but it's 1d6/level, max 10d6. So until level 10, the fact that it caps at 20 doesn't help. Same with lightning bolt. I believe Vampiric Touch scales as you wrote, though, at 1d6/2 levels.

Also, abrupt jaunt only lets you teleport 10 feet. How does that get you out of a 20 foot radius spread?

[Mando Knight]

Nothing is 1d6 per level, damage scales (SA, Eldritch Blast, stock Fireballs) as 1d6/2 levels, or 3.5/2, or 1.75 per level.

Fireballs are (CL)d6, max 10d6; Delayed Blast Fireballs move the cap up to 20d6; and Disintegrate is (2*CL)d6, max 40d6. The rather-maligned damage-dealer wizard still has significant offensive capabilities.


Anyway, be Evil, get a Caster Level of 11, and save up 120,000 gp and 4,800 XP and get the Craft Wondrous Item feat. That should solve all of your bad-Con problems.

[Greengiant]

Get a toad familiar! Complete arcane or something. Or the book that has the guides for sorcerer and wizard. I can't really remember. But anyway, one of them has a toad familiar that gives plus HP. Maybe this can help you?

[Douglas]

And here I thought he was going for a 1 hp, total, at any level, build. Tell him to start at middle-aged and take toughness, and he'll have just 3 hp forever. Now you just need to find a way to sacrifice 2 hp...

Oh wait, you were trying to stop him from doing this.

[LOLC2k]

And here I thought he was going for a 1 hp, total, at any level, build. Tell him to start at middle-aged and take toughness, and he'll have just 3 hp forever. Now you just need to find a way to sacrifice 2 hp...

Oh wait, you were trying to stop him from doing this.

Doesn't work anyhow, because regardless of modifiers, you ALWAYS gain 1 HP a level.

[JellyPooga]

Doesn't work anyhow, because regardless of modifiers, you ALWAYS gain 1 HP a level.

Unless you have the 'Frail' Flaw...that deducts 1 from all your HP rolls even if it takes that to 0.

[LOLC2k]

Unless you have the 'Frail' Flaw...that deducts 1 from all your HP rolls even if it takes that to 0.

...I'll let him know. Will it technically let him start with zero hp? He might actually go for it.

[Flickerdart]

...I'll let him know. Will it technically let him start with zero hp? He might actually go for it.

Yep. For his entire short life, he will be at 0hp. Without temporary HP, he will always be disabled.

[LOLC2k]

Yep. For his entire short life, he will be at 0hp. Without temporary HP, he will always be disabled.

....hm. In a low magic campaign, would almost be cool. All his spells cause him to knock himself out they're so powerful. But it loses some cool factor once they notice the same thing happens when he shoots a bow. Or. You know. Jogs.

[Flickerdart]

Or. You know. Jogs.

Nah, move actions are fine.

[LOLC2k]

Nah, move actions are fine.

LOL. I meant double move. Which I guess is a bit more than jogging, but close.

[AgentPaper]

Let him take 2 free feats in exchange for never going above 1 HP. Diehard and whatever luck feat is required for that luck feat to avoid going below -9.

[Douglas]

The quick trait has that clause too.

Subtract 1 from your hit points gained at each level, including 1st (a result of 0 is possible).

Either Quick or Frail can let you make a character with maximum hp of 0. Such a character is disabled even at full health, unable to safely take any standard action without first getting a buff that either increases constitution or gives temporary hp. I thought your player would be unlikely to want quite that much of a handicap, which is why I suggested Toughness to bring it from 0 to 3 hp. Still so low a mere standard goblin has a 1/3 change of knocking him unconscious in one hit even when he's level 50, but at least he can cast spells without knocking himself unconscious.

[LOLC2k]

LOL yeah. course, this will all fall apart when disintegrate comes.
"It hit me..? I make my save."
"Okay, you take only 4 damage."
"Woot, I'm at -3! (Or 0 if he takes toughness)."
"Yup. And, a pile of ash."

Never-the-less, I assume he'll HAVE to be a conj specialist with abrupt jaunt, yes? We are starting at first level. The good news is, that means with 20 int, 5 abrupts a day.

[Saph]

Well, it's amusing, anyway.

I'd treat it kind of like a multiplayer FPS; you know he's going to die, the only question is when. Might make for quite an entertaining betting game. "Aw, I had him down for three sessions. Can't you get to him in time so that he stabilises?"

- Saph

[maniakmastah]

lol, i can see it now

Your traveling through the forest and your hear some noise, sounds like buzzing, gimme a spot check. *player fails* you suddenly feel something on your shoulder. A honeybee stings you for 1d2 damage. Your unconscious.

But in all seriousness, if done right, and getting enough spells ( blur and displacement are good for low to mid levels) and items to up AC and having a decent Dex score, it could work. I so wanna hear more on this.

[JoshuaZ]

Yeah. That's right. The quick trait, (-2 con, +10 to move speed). A gray elf. And starting 8 con. That means, with a point buy system, we have him. The wizard with 1 hp a level no matter what he rolls. He insists on giving it a try. And suggestions on how to survive?

Um, precocious apprentice allows him to once a day cast a level 2 spell. Maybe take that and use it to cast False Life? It will only last one hour unless he boosts caster level but it could help.

I seem to remember somewhere seeing a lesser version of False Life that was level 1, only gave 1d6 temporary hit points 1 per caster level (maximum +5). and lasted 1 minute per a level. Not sure if that was homebrewed or in an official book. That would at least help if he is expecting a battle.

Maybe he should take toughness as his level 1 feat?

Edited for spelling, grammar.

[Crow]

I did this. Played a wizard. 1 hp per level, baby.

[FoE]

Yeah. That's right. The quick trait, (-2 con, +10 to move speed). A gray elf. And starting 8 con. That means, with a point buy system, we have him. The wizard with 1 hp a level no matter what he rolls. He insists on giving it a try.

You know, if it were me, the only reason I would attempt a build like this was if I intended to disrupt the game. As a one-time joke, it might work, but if he insists on bringing the guy back, I would start to wonder. Is that a possibility?

[sonofzeal]

Why has nobody mentioned Psionics and the Vigor power? Might save this kid's butt, being able to buff himself with ML*5 temp hp!

[Devils_Advocate]

Get a toad familiar! Complete arcane or something. Or the book that has the guides for sorcerer and wizard. I can't really remember. But anyway, one of them has a toad familiar that gives plus HP. Maybe this can help you?

Dude, toad familiars are in the PHB. They give + 3 hit points.

With one of them, or just the Toughness feat, you could theoretically take Quick or Frail and only ever have three hit points. Still impressive, but limits your options less than zero.

[shadowfox]

Although it will only actually affect his Fortitude Save modifier...

The Quick trait gives you -1 HP, not -2 Con.

Just saying...

[Zeful]

lol, i can see it now

Your traveling through the forest and your hear some noise, sounds like buzzing, gimme a spot check. *player fails* you suddenly feel something on your shoulder. A honeybee stings you for 1d2 damage. Your unconscious.

A character deathly allergic to everything? That sounds cool.