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2013-02-16, 07:05 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Xen'kar Torkak: Is a stinging shadow a thing?
Originally Posted by Xen'kar Torkak
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2013-02-16, 07:08 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Saleed: Thug Life
Originally Posted by Saleed
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2013-02-16, 07:10 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Hamond Shadowstrike: Pouncing Shadow, Hidden Blade
Originally Posted by Hamond Shadowstrike
Hamond Shadowstrike
The StorySpoiler
"No, No, No," shouted Gorish "you have to focus and suppress your ferocity. You will have to depend on stealth if you ever intend to put the fear of the gods into those bastards who burned your town. Again! If you are ever going to be obscured from the sight of your enemies, you first have to convince yourself that you can't be seen."
Hamond felt that Gorish was a tough but fair teacher and was grateful that he understood Hamond's need to destroy the kingdom of Toi for burning his home town along with all his friends and family. Hamond decided on the spot that he would do anything that Gorish told him to do. He would attempt to disappear, embrace his ansestral abilities, and even learn to manipulate the shadow composing Gorish's mysterious casting technique, until he was ready to kill the military and nobility of Toi one by one. He just wished his tail would stop getting in the way of the maneuvers that Gorish was trying to teach him.
General InfoSpoiler
Name: Hamond Shadowstrike
Race: Silverbrow Human
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Languages: Common, Draconic, Dwarven
Stats
STR 14, DEX 16, CON 12, WIS 8, INT 14, CHA 14
Stat bumps go to DEX at 4,8,12 and CHA at 16,20
Class Progression
Feat Rogue 4/Lion Totem Barbarian 1/Warblade 1/Avenging Executioner 4/Shadowblade 10
The BuildSpoiler
Hamond Shadowstrike
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Feat Rogue1|+0|+0|+2|+0|Hide(4)4, Move Silently(4)4, UMD(4)4, Tumble(4)4, Balance(4)4, Intimidate(4)4, Bluff(4)4, Search(4)4, Disable Device(4)4, Open Lock(4)4 |Two Weapon Fighting(R), Hidden Talent (Bite of the Wolf), Dragon Tail|Trapfinding
2nd|Feat Rogue2|+1|+0|+3|+0|Hide(1)5, Move Silently(1)5, UMD(1)5, Tumble(1)5, Balance(1)5, Intimidate(1)5, Bluff(1)5, Search(1)5, Disable Device(1)5, Open Lock(1)5 |Weapon Finesse(R)|Evasion
3rd|Feat Rogue3|+2|+1|+3|+1|Hide(1)6, Move Silently(1)6, UMD(1)6, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)6, Bluff 5, Search(1)6, Disable Device(1)6, Open Lock(1)6, Disguise(3)3 |Dark Stalker|Penetrating Strike
4th|Feat Rogue4|+3|+1|+4|+1|Hide(1)7, Move Silently(1)7, UMD(1)7, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)7, Bluff 5, Search(1)7, Disable Device(1)7, Open Lock(1)7, Disguise(3)6 |Blind Fighting(R)|Uncanny Dodge
5th|Lion Totem Barbarian1|+4|+3|+4|+1|Hide 7, Move Silently(1)7.5, UMD(2)8, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)8, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 7, Disguise 6, (2)Twisted Charge (skill trick) ||Ferocity 1/day
6th|Warblade1|+5|+5|+4|+1|Hide(2)8, Move Silently(1)8, UMD(2)9, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)9, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 7, Disguise 6, Twisted Charge (skill trick) |Martial Study: Cloak of Deception|Battle Clarity (Reflex Saves), Weapon Aptitude
7th|Avenging Executioner1|+5|+5|+6|+3|Hide(2)10, Move Silently(2)10, UMD(2)10, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)10, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock(1)8, Disguise 6, Twisted Charge (skill trick) ||Bloody Blade, Sudden Strike +1d6
8th|Avenging Executioner2|+6/+1|+5|+7|+4|Hide(1)11, Move Silently(1)11, UMD(2)11, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)11, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock(1)9, Disguise 6, Twisted Charge (skill trick), (2)Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||Rapid Intimidation
9th|Avenging Executioner3|+7/+2|+6|+7|+4|Hide(1)12, Move Silently(1)12, UMD(2)12, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)12, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock(2)11, Disguise(1)7, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)|Improved Two Weapon Fighting|Sudden Strike +2d6
10th|Avenging Executioner4|+8/+3|+6|+8|+5|Hide(1)13, Move Silently(1)13, UMD(2)13, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)13, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock(2)13, Disguise(1)8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||Dread Blade
11th|Shadow Blade1|+8/+3|+8|+8|+5|Hide(1)14, Move Silently(1)14, UMD(1)13.5, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)14, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||Unseen Weapon (unerring strike)
12th|Shadow Blade2|+9/+4|+9|+8|+5|Hide(1)15, Move Silently(1)15, UMD(1)14, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)15, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)|Martial Stance: Assassin Stance|Shadow and Stealth, Sudden Strike +3d6
13th|Shadow Blade3|+10/+5|+9|+9|+6|Hide(1)16, Move Silently(1)16, UMD(1)14.5, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)16, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||Shadow Vision, Unseen Weapon (unexpected strike)
14th|Shadow Blade4|+11/+6/+1|+10|+9|+6|Hide(1)17, Move Silently(1)17, UMD(1)15, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)17, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||Sudden Strike +4d6
15th|Shadow Blade5|+11/+6/+1|+10|+9|+6|Hide(1)18, Move Silently(1)18, UMD(1)15.5, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)18, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)|Greater Two Weapon Fighting|Unseen Weapon (ephemeral weapon)
16th|Shadow Blade6|+12/+7/+2|+11|+10|+7|Hide(1)19, Move Silently(1)19, UMD(1)16, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)19, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||Sudden Strike +5d6
17th|Shadow Blade7|+13/+8/+3|+11|+10|+7|Hide(1)20, Move Silently(1)20, UMD(1)16.5, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)20, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||See in Darkness, Unseen Weapon (shadowy strike)
18th|Shadow Blade8|+14/+9/+4|+12|+10|+7|Hide(1)21, Move Silently(1)21, UMD(1)17, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)21, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)|Shadow Blade|Sudden Strike +6d6
19th|Shadow Blade9|+14/+9/+4|+12|+11|+8|Hide(1)22, Move Silently(1)22, UMD(1)17.5, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)22, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||Unseen Weapon (far shadow)
20th|Shadow Blade10|+15/+10/+5|+13|+11|+8|Hide(1)23, Move Silently(1)23, UMD(1)18, Tumble 5, Balance 5, Intimidate(1)23, Bluff 5, Search 7, Disable Device 7, Open Lock 13, Disguise 8, Twisted Charge (skill trick), Never Outnumbered (skill trick)||Unseen Weapon (free action), Sudden Strike +7d6[/table]
Maneuvers Known:
level 6: Claw at the Moon, Blood in the Water, Wall of Blades, Mountain Hammer, Cloak of Deception*
level 12: Assassin Stance*
*Learned via Feat
Level BreakdownSpoiler
Level 5Spoiler
Hamond is a two weapon fighting rogue that can pounce into combat, even at odd angles(Twisted Charge), and he can use ferocity if he wants to end an encounter quickly. If he has any preparation time, he can manifest his hidden talent and gain a seconrady bite attack along with his constant secondary tail attack. He's using his better Dex modifier to attack with short swords and natural attack(s)(Weapon Finesse). He's at home fighting in the dark(Blind Fight) and his ability to hide is not hindered by those pesky enemies with Blindsense, Blindsight, Tremorsense, or Scent(Darkstalker). He also has a reasonable AC and can cast Feather Fall once per day(Silverbrow).
Level 10Spoiler
Hamond can now go invisible(due to Cloak of Deception), as greater invisibility, every other round as a swift action. This helps to ensure that his newly acquired sudden strike ability will be applied to all attacks in the rounds he is invisible unless there are extenuating circumstances or his enemies can see invisible. When he does hit someone with sudden strike, they and all other enemies within 30 feet have to make a DC 16 will save or become shaken(Bloody Blade). Because Hamond now has up to 8 attacks per round, if Bite of the wolf, Cloud of Knives, and Haste are active, there is a good chance that all enemies in the area will be at least shaken and some may even be cowering by the end of the round. The following round when Hamond is refreshing his Cloak of Deception any enemy with a fear effect is treated as flat footed to Hamond and he can still apply sudden strike damage(Dread Blade), which gives a fresh batch of saves against fear to enemies in the area. If enemies happen to make all their saves or are immune to fear affects Hamond can still apply his sudden strike every other round due to his refreshed invisibility. If an enemy is continually saving against the middling fear DC Hamond can attempt to demoralize all enemies within 10 feet(Never Outnumbered) as a move action(Rapid Intimidation) at a higher DC. If Hamond gets a surprise round or wins initiative, he can even save his invisibility for the second round.
Hamond now has a better chance than not of being able to activate items using UMD so he can stock up on any scrolls, wands, or staves that might come in handy, especially good buff spells such as Cloud of knives* Haste*, Hunter's Eye*, Bless, Divine Favor, Cure/vigor, Barkskin, Grease, Enlarge, Bite of the Were. Hamond can also use Mountain Hammer to ignore DR every other round if an enemy seems to be snaking off all damage or if he needs to break down and adamantine door. Plus Hamond gets a nice little bonus to hit and damage when he scores a critical hit(Blood in the water)
*Most Beneficial Wands for damage output.
Level 15Spoiler
Hamond now has up to 10 attacks, and he has gained 2 more sudden strike dice and a couple of sneak attack dice(assassin stance). He can also ignore concealment(Unerring Strike), deny an enemy Dex(Unexpected Strike), or add 2d6 damage(Ephemeral Strike) to the first attack in any round. Hamond will not be using these abilities much yet due to it taking away his ability to go invisible and/or refresh his maneuvers in that round, but for those enemies that are not surprised, win initiative, and are not hindered by invisible he can use Unexpected strike in order to apply sudden strike and hopefully get fear in place. Also if he already has fear in place and does not need to be invisible in order to get his sudden strike damage he can use Ephemeral strike to get an additional 2d6 damage. He gets a bonus to Hide and Move Silently checks(Shadow and Stealth), so he can surprise his foes more often. He can also see in shadowy illumination(Shadow Vision). If Hamond can get his hands on a wand, scroll, or staff of darkness, he can cast it on an object he carries via UMD and become a 20 foot radius sphere of shadow that may further hinder enemies without hindering Hamond and allow him to apply his sudden strike damage.
Level 20Spoiler
This is Hamond's sweet spot. In addition to all his previous routines, he has some additional sudden strike dice, he can now apply his Unseen Weapon abilities, including resolving an attack as a touch attack(Shadowy Strike) and increasing his reach by 10 feet for a round(Far Reach), as a free action, so he can use them in the same round as invisibility or refreshing his maneuvers. He will use them all situationally, but most likely be using Ephemeral weapon and Shadowy Strike the most. Hamond now gets his Dex bonus to damage, and can use a wand of Deeper Darkness just like the regular Darkness wand and he's enhanced to a 60 foot radius sphere of dark and the duration is much better.
OptionsSpoiler
Ask your DM if Penetrating Strike applies to Sudden Strike as well as Sneak Attack. Even if it does not you still have a few sneak attack dice via Assassin Stance and possibly Hunter's Eye to which it might apply or you could go back to Trapsense or Spell Sense(with a little skill point shuffling). As always deck yourself out in the best equipment you can find and/or afford. Grab a Mithral shirt preferably with an enhancement bonus for nice light armor that doesn't restrict your Dex bonus too much and any finessable weapons with enhancements and fire/cold/shock/sonic/acid applied per hit not just on crits. Get plus stat items as you can, DEX and CHA being the most important, because Dex increases attack and damage and Cha increases Fear DC and UMD checks.
SourcesSpoiler
Cityscape - ferocity
Complete Champion - Lion Totem Barbarian
Complete Scoundrel - Avenging Executioner
Dragon Magic - Silverbrow Humans
Dungeonscape - Penetrating Strike
Expanded Psionics Handbook - Hidden Talent, Bite of the Wolf
Lords of Madness - Darkstalker
Players Handbook - Barbarian, Rogue, various Feats, skills, and spells
Players Handbook II - Cloud of Knives, Hunter's Eye
Races of the Dragon - Dragon Tail
Spell Compendium - Bite of the Were line
Tome of Battle - Warblade, maneuvers, Martial Study, Martial Stance, Shadow Blade(feat)
Tome of Magic - Shadow Blade(class)
Unearth Arcana - Feat Rogue
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2013-02-16, 07:14 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Krkitckl, Champion of Mab: As Quagmire would say - Griggity
Originally Posted by Krckitckl
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2013-02-16, 07:16 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Munemasa: An Exemplary Paladin
Originally Posted by Munemasa
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2013-02-16, 07:18 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Jef Costello: Ninja or Samurai, Who's on first?
Originally Posted by Jef Costello
Il n'y a pas de plus profonde solitude que celle de samouraï si ce n'est celle d'un tigre dans la jungle... peut-être...
(There is no greater solitude than that of the samurai unless it is that of the tiger in the jungle... Perhaps...)
Jef Costello
Human, Ninja 8/Totemist 1/Cleric 1/Shadowblade 10
Act I
Spoiler
Jef Costello drew in a deep lungful of smoke and slowly exhaled. The smoke billowed through his sparse room. His pigeon fluttered nervously in her cage.
A bed, a cage, and four white walls. Jef had lived in this lonely room for months, and but for the bird it could have been empty.
He went over the plans in his mind, thinking about every angle, every possibility. A job such as this was an easy one, the target a mere merchant, but still Jef planned. He always planned.
He could trail the man, poison him or slit his throat and no one would ever see him or know what happened. He could make the man disappear from town without a trace. But Seigneur Rey, Jef’s lord and master, had different ideas. Jef was to send a message. The death was to be public, and messy, and let every other merchant in the city know what their fate would be if they chose to openly defy Le Milieu.
Jef put his pipe away, cleaned any trace of ash, and slipped from the room like a ghost. Finding the merchant was easy. He closed his eyes and opened his mind, and could feel the merchant’s mind thrumming like a harp string. From there he shadowed, unseen, unheard, as the merchant entered a taproom.
The taproom was crowded, with a bard playing in the corner. I know that voice, thought Jef, but he put it out of his mind. He ghosted through the ground into the taproom’s basement, watching the scene from below with his mind’s eye. Then, aiming not at his heart but his face, he struck upwards with his spear, through the taproom floor, and drew a gruesome gash across the merchant’s face.
There was a sharp cry, followed by more screams. Jef ghosted upwards, into the room. People were fleeing the bar. In the corner of his eye, Jef saw Valerie, the bard, hiding behind a chair. She caught his eye, and in an instant, he knew she had recognized him.
The merchant’s face was a bloody mess, but most of the damage had been superficial. Jef lowered his spear and placed its tip on the man’s heart.
The merchant sputtered through bloody lips. “Who are you?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“What do you want?”
“To kill you,” Jef said, and as the last of the bargoers fled, Jef drove his spear through the merchant’s heart.
Le Samourai, Jef Costello
Spoiler
LE Human, Ninja 8/Totemist 1/Cleric 1/Shadowblade 10
Domains: Darkness, Animal (traded for Animal Devotion)
JEF COSTELLO
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Ninja 1|+0|+0|+2|+0|Balance 4 ranks, bluff 4 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 4 ranks, hide 4 ranks, jump 2 ranks, listen 4 ranks, move silently 4 ranks, sleight of hand 1 rank, spot 4 ranks, tumble 1 rank|Enduring Ki, Darkstalker|Ki power, sudden strike +1d6, trapfinding, AC bonus
2nd|Totemist 1|+0|+2|+4|+0|Craft (poisonmaking) 5 ranks, hide 4.5 ranks, knowledge (nature) 1 rank, listen 5 ranks, move silently 4.5 ranks, spot 5 ranks||Wild empathy
3rd|Cleric 1|+0|+4|+4|+2|Craft (poisonmaking) 6 ranks, hide 5 ranks, listen 5.5 ranks, move silently 5 ranks|Blind-Fight, Animal Devotion, Flyby Attack|Rebuke undead
4th|Ninja 2|+1|+4|+5|+2|Balance 5 ranks, bluff 5 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 7 ranks, hide 6 ranks, jump 3 ranks, listen 6.5 ranks, move silently 6 ranks, spot 6 ranks||Ghost step (invisible)
5th|Ninja 3|+2|+5|+5|+3|Bluff 6 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 8 ranks, hide 7 ranks, jump 4 ranks, listen 7.5 ranks, move silently 7 ranks, spot 7 ranks, tumble 2 ranks||Sudden strike +2d6, poison use
6th|Ninja 4|+3|+5|+6|+3|Bluff 7 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 9 ranks, hide 8 ranks, jump 5 ranks, listen 8.5 ranks, move silently 8 ranks, spot 8 ranks, tumble 3 ranks|Open Least Chakra (Crown)|Great leap
7th|Ninja 5|+3|+5|+6|+3|Bluff 8 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 10 ranks, hide 9 ranks, listen 9.5 ranks, move silently 9 ranks, spot 9 ranks, tumble 5 ranks||Sudden strike +3d6, +1 AC
8th|Ninja 6|+4|+6|+7|+4|Bluff 9 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 11 ranks, hide 10 ranks, listen 10.5 ranks, move silently 11 ranks, spot 11 ranks||Acrobatics +2, ki dodge
9th|Ninja 7|+5|+6|+7|+4|Bluff 11 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 12 ranks, hide 12 ranks, listen 11.5 ranks, move silently 12 ranks, spot 12 ranks|Mindsight|Sudden strike +4d6, speed climb
10th|Shadowblade 1|+5|+8|+7|+4|Craft (poisonmaking) 13 ranks, hide 13 ranks, listen 12 ranks, move silently 13 ranks||Unseen weapon (unerring strike)
11th|Shadowblade 2|+6/+1|+9|+7|+4|Bluff 12 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 14 ranks, hide 14 ranks, move silently 14 ranks||Shadow and stealth, sudden strike +5d6
12th|Ninja 8|+7/+2|+9|+8|+4|Bluff 15 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 15 ranks, hide 15 ranks, move silently 15 ranks, Spot the Weak Point skill trick|Open Lesser Chakra (Shoulders)|Ghost strike
13th|Shadowblade 3|+8/+3|+9|+9|+5|Bluff 16 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 16 ranks, hide 16 ranks, move silently 16 ranks||Shadow vision, unseen weapon (unexpected strike)
14th|Shadowblade 4|+9/+4|+10|+9|+5|Bluff 17 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 17 ranks, hide 17 ranks, move silently 17 ranks||Sudden strike +6d6
15th|Shadowblade 5|+9/+4|+10|+9|+5|Bluff 18 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 18 ranks, hide 18 ranks, move silently 18 ranks|Maiming Strike|Unseen weapon (ephemeral weapon)
16th|Shadowblade 6|+10/+5|+11|+10|+6|Bluff 19 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 19 ranks, hide 19 ranks, move silently 19 ranks||Sudden strike +7d6
17th|Shadowblade 7|+11/+6/+1|+11|+10|+6|Bluff 20 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 20 ranks, hide 20 ranks, move silently 20 ranks||See in darkness, unseen weapon (shadowy strike)
18th|Shadowblade 8|+12/+7/+2|+12|+10|+6|Bluff 21 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 21 ranks, hide 21 ranks, move silently 21 ranks|Craven|Sudden strike +8d6
19th|Shadowblade 9|+12/+7/+2|+12|+11|+7|Bluff 22 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 22 ranks, hide 22 ranks, move silently 22 ranks||Unseen weapon (far shadow)
20th|Shadowblade 10|+13/+8/+3|+13|+11|+7|Bluff 23 ranks, craft (poisonmaking) 23 ranks, hide 23 ranks, move silently 23 ranks||Sudden strike +9d6, unseen weapon (free action)[/table]
Starting Stats:
Str 16/Dex 14/Con 14/Int 12/Wis 14/Cha 8
Level 4: Str +1
Level 8: Str +1
Level 12: Con +1
Level 16: Str +1
Level 20: Str +1
Spellcasting
As a first level cleric, Jef casts divine spells from the cleric list and from the Darkness domain. He gets three orisons and one first level spell per day, as well as a domain spell and bonus spells for high Wisdom.
Act II
Spoiler
Jef lowered himself to his knees and bowed his head. Seigneur Rey looked down at him and smiled. As per custom, there were no words - they spoke only through the mind, where they could not be overheard.
Rey: You did well, Jef, but too many saw you. The inquisitors are stirring.
Jef: You asked for witnesses, Seigneur.
Rey: I asked for witnesses, yes, but not a crowded taproom. Thirty people must have watched you attack him. A bard was there, and gave the inquisitors a near-perfect description of you.
Jef hesitated. It was only for an instant, not even a full second, but when speaking with the mind, even an instant’s hesitation felt like a chasm of silence had opened up.
Jef: A bard, Seigneur?
Rey: A young woman by the name of Valerie. She said she was singing when you approached. She described you down to the color of your eyes.
Jef: Did she name me, Seigneur?
Rey: She told the inquisitors that she did not know you. This is messy, Jef. Le Milieu will not back you in this. I highly recommend that you clean up any loose threads. With the inquisitors this upset, we can’t operate freely, and won’t be able to until they put this matter to rest. If our hands are forced, we may need to give you up.
Again the chasm of silence opened up, threatening to swallow both speakers. Finally, Jef responded. “Yes, Seigneur,” he said aloud, and ghosted away.
Valerie was easy to find. She was staying in the same place, a three copper a night room above a seedy tavern. Jef stepped inside and waited, hidden in the room’s deep shadows.
Valerie came in a few hours later. She looked tired, bone tired, and it was several more moments before she noticed him. When she did, she didn’t gasp, but merely sat down on her bed.
“Is this how it’s going to be, Jef? You’re going to sneak into my room and kill me?” She sighed. “You know, when you refused to tell me what it is you do, I thought it might be something like this,” she said. “Men with normal jobs don’t live like you.” She shook her head. “You don’t seem like you belong in the city, Jef.”
“I don’t,” he said. “I grew up in the jungles of Q’Barran, among the birds and the beasts. I worshipped the jungle, the darkness, the thrumming life. This dead city, with its wooden houses and stone towers - it scares me, Val. I don’t understand it.”
“Then why don’t you leave?”
“You know I can’t do that,” he said. Jef moved forward and put his hand on her shoulder. “Why did you tell the inquisitors you didn’t recognize me?”
"I don't know," she said, and pulled away. “Why did you kill that man?”
“I was paid to,” he said.
“What had he done to you?”
“Not a thing. I only met him yesterday.”
There was a long pause, and Valerie looked at Jef levelly. Finally she dropped her gaze. “What sort of a man are you, Jef?”
The Way of the Samurai - Level by Level Progression
Spoiler
Level 1: You start things off as a typical ninja. You don’t have any ki powers yet, so right now you’re just using your ki to beef up your Will saves. Darkstalker lets you stealth past guard dogs and other animals with scent that are so common at these levels. Keep a couple of sets of marbles on you to help trigger sudden strike when not surprising enemies - basically nothing you face will have 5 ranks in balance at this stage of the game.
Level 2: And with a single level of totemist, you gain access to every totemist soulmeld. Your two go-to soulmelds at this level are Claws of the Wyrm and Worg Pelt. The former gives you two claw attacks, making up for your low BAB, while the latter boosts your already decent stealth skills. However, you can also use this to up your defenses or boost other skills as needed.
Level 3: Cleric comes online. The animal domain gets traded out for Animal Devotion, which is huge - a decent offensive buff, natural attacks, or excellent flight for one minute per use. Now that you have a flight speed you also go ahead and pick up Flyby Attack, so you can make skirmishing attacks at level 3. During downtime, you can harvest your venom for use on your weapons (and detect poison plus the Hunter's Circlet for Survival can also give you more poison sources). Your first level spell slots will probably be used for Obscuring Mist, to give you concealment for hiding, and Ice Slick, to help make enemies flat-footed. Grave Strike can also come in handy for undead opponents, and Rhino's Rush will eventually be essential as well..
Level 5: After picking up two more levels of ninja, you’ve got several new abilities. Ghost step (invisible) combined with Enduring Ki gives you two rounds of invisibility. Poison use means you can really take advantage of that poison you’ve been harvesting via Animal Devotion. Thanks to Flyby Attack you can invisibly strafe your enemy from above with a longspear, or you can close to melee range and use Claws of the Wyrm and Dragon Tail to make three attacks per round (or four, if Animal Devotion is used for a bite attack).
Level 6: You open up your crown chakra. Eventually you’ll want to more or less staple on the Shedu Crown, but right now you can also use this to pick up Track and bonuses to Survival for when you need to find someone, or the Frost Helm if you want to become a ranged attacker for the day.
Level 9: Whoo, boy. Two big things happened here. First, you pick up Mindsight, which combines with the Shedu Crown for a nearly unbeatable new sense that works through walls and more. You won’t be able to sense mindless enemies, but mindless enemies tend to be bad at hiding, and with 12 ranks in listen and spot plus a good Wisdom, this shouldn’t be a problem. Of course, while you can pinpoint enemies, if you can’t see them otherwise they still have total concealment versus you - Blind-Fight helps, but doesn't eliminate the penalty altogether. Which brings us to your second boon - you now have +5 BAB, qualifying you for...
Level 10: ...Shadowblade! The very first ability you pick up, unerring strike, lets you ignore the miss chance from concealment, even total concealment. This is a handy ability to have in general, but it is going to become especially important in a couple of levels.
Level 12: And with a quick hop back into ninja, the build comes together. You just picked up ghost strike, which not only lets you hit incorporeal or ethereal opponents, it also lets you attack while ethereal. You also open up your shoulders chakra bind here. You’ll want to bind Phase Cloak, which turns you and your equipment ethereal whenever you move. Now, remember Flyby Attack? Instead of taking a standard action before or after your move, it lets you take one at any point during your move.
Now let’s put this all together. You can stay completely out of sight of your enemy (even behind a wall, or underneath the floor), tracking her by mindsight. Activate your ghost strike ability (for two rounds thanks to Enduring Ki). Make a Flyby Attack. If you’re coming from another room and can’t see her she might have total concealment, but unerring strike lets you ignore the miss chance. Fly through ethereally, sudden strike her, and continue on into another room or behind other obstacles.
In fact, if you’re fighting in a dungeon with multiple floors, you don’t even need to enter the same room as your opponent. Your equipment turns ethereal with Phase Cloak as well, meaning that you can fly underneath your enemy in the room below her, striking ethereally with your longspear through the ceiling. You can’t see her, but mindsight and unerring strike take care of that.
In addition, you have Spot the Weak Point for triggering touch attacks, and Shadow and Stealth for a sizeable boost to stealth.
Level 15: Over the last few levels things have only gotten better. Your stealth is excellent, between Darkstalker, max ranks in hide/MS, and the Shadowblade’s Shadow and Stealth ability. Overall you’ll be spending most of your unseen weapon uses on unerring strike, but if you’re facing an opponent who can travel ethereally themselves, you can instead use unexpected strike on them. You also pick up Maiming Strike at this level. Right now you can deal 3 points of Charisma damage instead of your sudden strike damage. This is brutal against many enemies, including the undead when used alongside Grave Strike. It’s also fixed damage, so if you cast Rhino’s Rush or manage to pick up a Valorous spear, it will double on a charge. 6 points of Charisma damage is rough - that can take out the average enemy in two hits.
Level 18: You’re now packing Craven, and +8d6 sudden strike. Like the Charisma damage from Maiming Strike, Craven is fixed and therefore will double with effects like Valorous or diving charges. With a Rhino’s Rush and either a Valorous longspear or a diving Claws of the Wyrm attack, that’s 12 points of Charisma damage and 54 points of bonus Craven damage on each hit. Strafe your enemies ethereally a couple of times, then charge through everything to take out the most dangerous one.
Level 20: Over the last two levels you picked up two excellent abilities. First is far shadow, which can extend the reach of your longspear to 20’ (or your claws to 15’, for dive attacks). This is nice for anyone but particularly nice for you, since you can ethereally attack from behind walls, ceilings or floors. With 20’ reach, unless you’re outdoors, you can almost certainly hit your enemy without even being in the same room as her. Second, you can now use your unseen weapon as a free action. This lets you use multiple effects in a single attack, and also frees up your swift action for spells such as Rhino’s Rush and Grave Strike.
A Blade in a Dark Room - On the Use of Shadowblade
Spoiler
In addition to its flavor perfectly fitting the build, as a shadowy assassin with links to divine and animalistic forces of darkness, the shadowblade offers quite a bit for you. Unerring strike in particular is essential to this build, but all of its abilities are quite useful:
Sudden strike progression: Thanks to full sudden strike progression, you end up with +9d6 sudden strike, only one die behind a straight ninja or rogue.
Unseen weapon (unerring strike)*: One of the biggest boons to your build. Your goal is to locate enemies with mindsight and attack them from afar, but they still have total concealment against you if you can’t see them otherwise (such as when you attack them from behind a wall or from below). Unerring strike eliminates this miss chance entirely.
Shadow and stealth: For a stealth-focused Darkstalker build, it’s hard to ask for a better boon than a +5 bonus to Hide and Move Silently.
Shadow vision: Although mindsight helps you locate living enemies, for a build that spends so much time in the dark you don’t have a natural way of piercing it. This fixes that.
Unseen weapon (unexpected strike): This will be your go-to shadowblade ability against enemies who can see the ethereal, or when you are blocked from ethereal travel. It’s a handy way to trigger sneak attack/Maiming Strike/Craven damage, especially on a charge.
Unseen weapon (ephemeral strike): When you need spike damage against a particular enemy, this helps ramp things up. Especially handy at 20th level, when you can combine it with other abilities for massive charges.
See in darkness: Your affinity with the shadow is such that you can see even through magical darkness. You’re a cleric of the darkness domain, nab yourself a wand of deeper darkness and enjoy spending the day in concealment without drawbacks.
Unseen weapon (shadowy strike): Between this and Spot the Weak Point, you’ve got a variety of ways to take on enemies with absurdly high AC. Most of your attacks will occur while ethereal (and hence invisible), so you can expect ACs of 10 or less for the most part - that means you only miss on a 1. Especially potent when charging to deal lots of Maiming Strike damage.
Unseen weapon (far shadow): This is tied with unerring strike as your most useful unseen weapon ability. With 20’ reach from your longspear, or 15’ reach from your Claws, your strafing and charging attacks become incredibly potent, and can frequently happen from entirely different rooms...
Unseen weapon (free action): Excellent capstone. Not only does this let you stack on multiple types of unseen weapon attacks, it also lets you use your abilities alongside rhino’s rush, grave strike and other swift action spells.
*A NOTE ON UNERRING STRIKE: Check with your DM to see if he will treat unerring strike as ignoring concealment entirely, rather than merely eliminating the miss chance. This will mean that you can even gain sudden strike damage while attacking from other rooms. As written it only eliminates the miss chance, but doesn’t technically take away the “concealment” condition, so this build combines attacking from other rooms with strafing attacks and charges. However, if your DM rules that unerring strike allows you to sudden strike enemies with concealment, this build becomes even more powerful.
Act III
Spoiler
Valerie’s voice was like birdsong, and it tugged at the heart. Jef listened from the back, nursing his drink. Three inquisitors entered the bar and sat down at a table near the stage. That was fine. Jef knew they were coming, had sensed them with his mind’s eye from far off. He knew, too, why they were there.
They wouldn’t see him until he wanted them to. Jef was very good at remaining unseen.
Finally he finished his drink, stood up, and walked over to the stage. He made no attempt to hide anymore. Valerie saw him and stopped singing.
“Get out of here, Jef,” she said. Her eyes glanced over at the table of inquisitors, who were pushing their chairs back and drawing crossbows. “Go! You shouldn’t be here.”
Jef drew his own small hand crossbow and pointed it toward her, the tiny bolt’s tip almost brushing her pale skin. “Don’t move,” he said. “The bolt is poisoned. Even a scratch will kill you.” Behind him, Jef could feel the inquisitors forming a circle. He didn’t need to turn around. He could see them in his mind’s eye.
“Why, Jef?” Valerie spoke in a small, soft voice.
“I was paid to,” he said.
Suddenly there was a sharp snap, the unmistakable sound of a crossbow firing, followed by several more. Valerie looked down, expecting to see a bolt protruding from her breast, but she was unharmed. A few feet away, Jef staggered and dropped his small bow. Three large bolts feathered his back. As his blood drained from his body, Jef caught Valerie’s eye and grinned.
One of the inquisitors stepped over and gingerly picked up Jef’s fallen crossbow. “You’re lucky we were here,” he said to Valerie. “He would have killed you in an instant. We think we can tie him to a dozen deaths in the past three months alone.” He sniffed at the crossbow bolt, and then his eyes glowed green as he muttered under his breath. “That’s odd,” he finally said. “He claimed the bolt was poisoned, but I don’t see any trace of poison here at all. Why would he say it was?”
Valerie looked down at Jef’s bloody body. Even in death he grinned up at her. Valerie sat down on the stage and began to cry.
Sources Used
Spoiler
Champions of Ruin (Craven)
Complete Adventurer (Ninja)
Complete Champion (Animal Devotion)
Complete Scoundrel (Enduring Ki, Spot the Weak Point skill trick)
Exemplars of Evil (Maiming Strike)
Lords of Madness (Mindsight)
Magic of Incarnum (Totemist, Open Chakra, assorted soulmelds)
Monster Manual (Flyby Attack)
Spell Compendium (Darkness domain, Grave Strike, Rhino's Rush)
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2013-02-16, 07:20 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Mortumdal: We're in grave danger
Originally Posted by Mortumdal
Last edited by Amphetryon; 2013-02-16 at 07:23 PM.
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2013-02-16, 07:23 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Geula Abishag: Stealing Spells and Breaking Hell
Originally Posted by Geula Abishag
The Build:"...so I finished the deal, got the guy's soul and stabbed him in the back within 5 seconds."
"Nice. I love mortals who can't tell the difference between us and the devils."
"It just got dark too fast."
"Some idiot cast a spell! Who do they think-gkt..."
"Who the &%#@ did that?! Agh..."
"..."
"..."
"Forgive me, ancestor. Mother, father, you can rest in peace."
SpoilerGeula Abishag
Chaotic Good Lesser Tiefling Spellthief 1/Duskblade 5/Shadowblade 10/Hellbreaker 4
Point Buy: Str 10/Dex 18/Con 14/Int 12/Wis 8/Cha 10
Final Stats: Str 10/Dex 20/Con 14/Int 14/Wis 8/Cha 10
All bonuses go to Dexterity.
Bonus Languages: Abyssal, Infernal
Level Breakdown:
Spoiler{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Spellthief 1|+0|+0|+0|+2|4 Bluff, 4 Concentration, 4 DD, 4 GI, 4 Hide, 4 MS, 4 Search, 4 Tumble|Blind-Fight|Sneak attack +1d6, steal spell (0 or 1st), trapfinding
2nd|Duskblade 1|+1|+2|+0|+4|4.5 Hide, 1 K(Planes), 2 Sense Motive| |Arcane attunement, armored mage (light)
3rd|Duskblade 2|+2|+3|+0|+5|5 Hide, 2 K(Planes), 4 Sense Motive|Weapon Finesse, Combat CastingB|
4th|Duskblade 3|+3|+3|+1|+5|4.5 MS, 3 K(Planes), 6 Sense Motive| |Arcane channeling
5th|Duskblade 4|+4|+4|+1|+6|5 MS, 4 K(Planes), 8 Sense Motive| |Armored mage (medium)
6th|Duskblade 5|+5|+4|+1|+6|5 Bluff, 5 Concentration, 1 K(Arcana)|Master Spellthief|Quick cast 1/day
7th|Shadowblade 1|+5|+6|+1|+6|8 Hide, 8 MS| |Unseen weapon (unerring strike)
8th|Shadowblade 2|+6|+7|+1|+6|10 Hide, 10 MS| |Shadow and stealth, sudden strike +1d6
9th|Shadowblade 3|+7|+7|+2|+7|12 Hide, 12 MS|Undo Resistance|Shadow vision, unseen weapon (unexpected strike)
10th|Shadowblade 4|+8|+8|+2|+7|6 Bluff, 13 Hide, 13 MS, 5.5 Tumble| |Sudden strike +2d6
11th|Shadowblade 5|+8|+8|+2|+7|7 Bluff, 14 Hide, 14 MS, 6 Tumble| |Unseen weapon (ephemeral weapon)
12th|Shadowblade 6|+9|+9|+3|+8|8 Bluff, 15 Hide, 15 MS, 6.5 Tumble|Combat Expertise|Sudden strike +3d6
13th|Shadowblade 7|+10|+9|+3|+8|9 Bluff, 16 Hide, 16 MS, 7 Tumble| |See in darkness, unseen weapon (shadowy strike)
14th|Shadowblade 8|+11|+10|+3|+8|10 Bluff, 17 Hide, 17 MS, 7.5 Tumble| |Sudden strike +4d6
15th|Shadowblade 9|+11|+10|+4|+9|11 Bluff, 18 Hide, 18 MS, 8 Tumble|Improved Feint|Unseen weapon (far shadow)
16th|Shadowblade 10|+12|+11|+4|+9|13 Bluff, 19 Hide, 19 MS| |Sudden strike +5d6, unseen weapon (free action)
17th|Hellbreaker 1|+12|+11|+6|+11|17 Bluff, 20 Hide, 20 MS, Collector Of Stories| |Mantle of darkness, telepathic static
18th|Hellbreaker 2|+13|+11|+7|+12|21 Bluff, 21 Hide, 21 MS, 10 Tumble|Martial Study (Mountain Tombstone Strike)|Steal spell-like ability
19th|Hellbreaker 3|+14|+12|+7|+12|22 Bluff, 22 Hide, 22 MS, 15 Tumble| |Sneak attack +1d6
20th|Hellbreaker 4|+15|+12|+8|+13|23 Bluff, 23 Hide, 23 MS, 20 Tumble| |Stowaway[/table]
BBonus feat granted by class.
Spells
SpoilerDuskblade Spells/day
{table=head]Level|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th
1st|-|-|-|-|-|-
2nd|3|2|-|-|-|-
3rd|4|3|-|-|-|-
4th|5|4|-|-|-|-
5th|6|5|-|-|-|-
6th|6|5|2|-|-|-
7th|6|5|2|-|-|-
8th|6|5|2|-|-|-
9th|6|5|2|-|-|-
10th|6|5|2|-|-|-
11th|6|5|2|-|-|-
12th|6|5|2|-|-|-
13th|6|5|2|-|-|-
14th|6|5|2|-|-|-
15th|6|5|2|-|-|-
16th|6|5|2|-|-|-
17th|6|5|2|-|-|-
18th|6|5|2|-|-|-
19th|6|5|2|-|-|-
20th|6|5|2|-|-|-[/table]
Duskblade Spells Known
{table=head]Level|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th
1st|-|-|-|-|-|-
2nd|4|2|-|-|-|-
3rd|4|3|-|-|-|-
4th|4|4|-|-|-|-
5th|4|5|-|-|-|-
6th|4|5|1|-|-|-
7th|4|5|1|-|-|-
8th|4|5|1|-|-|-
9th|4|5|1|-|-|-
10th|4|5|1|-|-|-
11th|4|5|1|-|-|-
12th|4|5|1|-|-|-
13th|4|5|1|-|-|-
14th|4|5|1|-|-|-
15th|4|5|1|-|-|-
16th|4|5|1|-|-|-
17th|4|5|1|-|-|-
18th|4|5|1|-|-|-
19th|4|5|1|-|-|-
20th|4|5|1|-|-|-[/table]
In order chosen:
0th: Acid Splash, Disrupt Undead, Ray of Frost, Touch of Fatigue
1st: Chill Touch, Obscuring Mist, Resist Energy, Shocking Grasp, True Strike
2nd: Dimension Hop
Suggested Items
SpoilerA cold iron weapon is required for Undo Resistance.
A Fey-craft weapon applies Geula's high Dexterity modifier to damage.
A Collar Of Umbral Metamorphosis, Greater Shadow armor, or Gloves of Dexterity helps improve her hide skill to take full advantage of the darkness.
Naturally, a Ring of Wizardry I gives her more channelling.
Highlights
SpoilerLevel 5:
Geula has 4/5 BAB, can steal spells and then channel them back and steal more spells, plus scout and find traps as needed. She's what a rogue/gish should look like.
Level 10:
Thanks in part to Master Spellthief, Geula is better at all of the above. She got back to max ranks in hide and move silently last level, plus has access to Stealth and Shadows for even better scouting and combat utility. She is a serious combat debuffer, blocking enemy sight, stripping buffs, and dropping enemy SR, in addition to dealing out sudden strike damage.
Level 15:
Geula is a hardcore debuffer now, walking around inside Darkness for the entire combat, making every hit a touch attack with Shadowy Strike, stealing a spell and dropping SR by 7 with every attack. She has also trained her ability to feint for a backup source of flat-footedness.
Level 20:
Geula has sworn a vow of revenge on her demon ancestors and will stalk them from the shadows that hide her so well even they can't find her. Enemies can't escape by teleporting, can't talk to each other with telepathy, and can't resist Geula's spells with SR after she debuffs them into the ground by stealing spells and SLAs, hiding from their sight, and dropping them by 2d6 Con. Assuming an enemy's HD are equal to Geula's level, that's 70 damage on average. For a dragon, it's more like double that.
Tricks
SpoilerSneak attack + Sudden Strike + Undo Resistance + Steal Spell/SLA + Arcane Channeling/Mountain Tombstone Strike + Unseen Weapon
Sneak attack and Sudden strike stack when the opponent is denied their dexterity bonus (such as when attacking unseen), meaning Geula effectively has 7d6 sneak attack at level 19. In addition to that she drops opponents' spell resistance by 7 with each successful sneak attack and she can steal a spell while doing so and can channel a spell or hit her enemy with 2d6 Con damage. And the unseen weapon abilities are the cherry on top.
Steal Spell/SLA + Arcane Channeling/Quick Cast
Instead of merely casting a stolen spell, Geula can channel it through her weapon as part of an attack, or quicken it thanks to her duskblade ability. That also means that steal spell + quick cast isn't just like quicken spell for the party wizard, it is for you too.
Darkness/Obscuring Mist + Unerring Strike
Opponents get miss chance and Geula doesn't.
Steal Spell/SLA + Unexpected Strike
Being alone, running out of Darkness SLA and Obscuring Mist doesn't stop Geula from stealing spells (and dealing a bunch of sudden strike damage on the side).
Lesser Tiefling + Shadow and Stealth + Mantle of Darkness + See in Darkness
Being a lesser tiefling means Geula can cast Darkness as an SLA and gets +2 to Hide checks. Shadow and Stealth gives her another +5 on hide and move silently. Added to her ranks in hide and dex modifier, at level 20 Geula has +37 hide before equipment. Mantle of Darkness allows her to use that hide check under the effect of her Darkness SLA even when being observed by her demon ancestors, and See in Darkness means that while no one else can see her, she can see them just fine.
Unseen Weapon (free action) + Quick Cast
When you absolutely need to hit an someone, there's nothing like being able to activate your Unseen Weapon for Shadowy Strike as a free action and cast a quickened True Strike for +20 Insight Bonus to a touch attack.
Lesser Tiefling + Caster Level 1 Shocking Grasp
No effect on combat, but shocking yourself for no damage is a neat trick at parties.
Sources:
SpoilerCore: Blind-Fight, weapon Finesse, Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, most spells
Complete Adventurer: Spellthief, Swift Expiditious Retreat
Complete Scoundrel: Master Spellthief
Fiendish Codex II: Hellbreaker, Undo Resistance
Lords of Madness: Darkstalker
PHB II: Duskblade, Dimension Hop
ToM: Shadowblade
Dragon Age Origins: the picture
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2013-02-16, 07:25 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Keeliani Amaruak: Stitched together from many parts
Originally Posted by Keeliani Amaruak
Keeliani Amaruak; the Nightsand Rider
The Story;
SpoilerKeeliani Amaruak is a legend among us Zephyr Riders. He was once one of us, one of our greatest. He lead us in our time of need against the Necromancer. What her name was, we have now lost to time and a willingness to forget her evils.
We Zephyr Riders are a fearsome group in battle; soaring on wing the myriad colours of the rainbow, and lit by inner fire, blinding those not quick enough to avert their eyes. From up high, we unleash hell with our Javelins, skewering those too slow and tripping those too quick. Out darkest hour against the Necromancer saw us trapped at the Black Sands; we were being decimated by the unnatural land, our light inhibited by its evil.
We were crushed, scattered in individual pockets that were lost to the world at large. But Keeliani was captured. The Necromancer wanted to spin her evil with him.
Tortured with the black sands, and kept alive by foul magics, each time he was claimed by the dark land, he was brought back, a mishapen sand-form at first, eventually coalescing into the skeletal form of what he once was, more pleasing to the Necromancer's twisted mind.
Why he was kept alive, other than for torture and sick pleasure, he doesn't know, but over those hundreds of years of pain and agony, he was eventually reborn for a final time, but risen as an un-living, his bones made of the foul black sand and emanating darkness.
Initially slaved to the will of his creator, he longed for forgiveness, and Elishar answered his calls. Breaking his bonds of servitude, his new found power enabled the dark-son of the Zephyr riders to enact his revenge on the forces of the Necromancer, though she was too powerful to face him alone.
She however fled all the same, her forces weakened, and the tales of her greatest toy-general destroying her hordes meaning she was vulnerable to attack.
To this day he hunts her, but still she cannot be found. All know she is growing her army once more, and all know she will be aimed at Keeliani and the Zephyr Riders. But the Dark-son is one with the shadows, the night and the desert now hold no terror for him.
"Let them come..."
The Build;
SpoilerKeeliani Amaruak, the Nightsand Rider
Race; Spellstitched Necropolitan Incarnate Dustform Unseelie Fey Lesser Aasimar
Stats; Point Buy
Strength; 8 (0)
Dexterity; 8 (0)
Constitution; 8 (0)
Intelligence; 8 (0)
Wisdom; 18 (16) +2 Racial = 20
Charisma; 18 (16) +2 Racial = 20 (All levelling goes here).
After Templates (at level 2)
Str; ∞
Dex; 7
Con; -
Int; 18
Wis; 20
Cha; 20
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Totemist 1|+0.75|+2|+2|+0|[n/a]|[n/a]|[n/a] - Template Application, see below
2nd|Marshal 1|+1.5|+2|+2|+2|Bluff 1 Rank [+1]; Knowledge (Religion) 3 Ranks [+3]||Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Minor Aura
3rd|Thug Fighter 1|+2.5|+4|+2|+2|Bluff 2 Ranks [+1]; Knowledge (Religion) 3 Ranks|Blind Fight|Sneak Attack +1d6
4th|Rogue 1|+3.25|+4|+4|+2|Bluff 3 Ranks [+1]; Hide 3 Ranks [+3]; Knowledge (Religion) 3 Ranks; Move Silently 3 Ranks [+3]||Sneak Attack +2d6, Trapfinding
5th|Crusader 1|+4.25|+6|+4|+2|Bluff 3 Ranks; Hide 3 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 6 Ranks [+3]; Move Silently 3 Ranks||Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5
6th|Totemist 2|+5|+7|+5|+2|Bluff 3 Ranks; Hide 3 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 6 Ranks; Move Silently 3 Ranks|Brutal Throw|Totem Chakra Bind (+1 Capacity)
7th|Soldier of Light|+6|+9|+5|+2|Bluff 3 Ranks; Hide 3 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks [+2]; Move Silently 3 Ranks||Detect Undead, Turn Undead
8th|Skullclan Hunter 1|+6.75|+9|+7|+4|Bluff 5 Ranks [+2]; Hide 5 Ranks [+2]; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks [+2]||Track Undead
9th|Crusader 2|+7.75|+10|+7|+4|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks|Divine Shield|Indomitable Soul
10th|Skullclan Hunter 2|+8.5|+10|+8|+5|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks||Divine Strike
11th|Shadowblade 1|+9.25|+12|+8|+5|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks||Unseen Weapon (Unerring Strike)
12th|Totemist 3|+10|+12|+8|+6|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks|Undead Meldshaping|Totem's Protection
13th|Totemist 4|+10.75|+13|+9|+6|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks||
14th|Totemist 5|+11.5|+13|+9|+6|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks||Chakra Binds (Crown, Feet, Hands)
15th|Shadowblade 2|+12.25|+14|+9|+6|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks|Mindsight|Shadow and Stealth, Sudden Strike +1d6
16th|Shadowblade 3|+13|+15|+10|+7|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks||Shadow Vision, Unseen Weapon (Unexpected Strike)
17th|Shadowblade 4|+13.75|+16|+10|+7|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks||Sudden Strike +2d6
18th|Shadowblade 5|+14.5|+16|+10|+7|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks|Staggering Strike|Unseen Weapon (Ephemeral Weapon)
19th|Shadowblade 6|+15.25|+17|+11|+8|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks||Sudden Strike +3d6
20th|Shadowblade 7|+16|+17|+11|+8|Bluff 5 Ranks; Hide 5 Ranks; Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks; Move Silently 5 Ranks||See in darkness, Unseen Weapon (Shadowy Strike)[/table]
Highlights;
SpoilerSpoilerECL 1-5
Spoiler
ECL 1-2. At this moment, the character is only an Unseelie Fey Lesser Aasimar. Its battle tactics rely on staying out of range using Javelins with its Wings. When they run out, it gets close to other members in the party who rely on attacks to get through enemy saves, and uses its Winter Chill Aura for -7 to enemy saves (Lesser Aasimar +2, Unseelie Fey +2, Middle Aged +2). However, I've got to be careful of using that against armed foes - I take a further 1d6 against iron or steel weapons; it is more of use against animals and unarmed foes. Totemist 1 does only a little for me here, but it does mesh well with the idea of messed-up nature of Unseelie Fey being half-breed fools, resembling Mad Wizard spells. It has a mechanical feature as well; it doesn't have a huge amount of Skill Points, so when I apply Dustform and Incarnate Template at Level 2, I don't lose too much. I do lose Feats from Templates, though. Which is initially a pain, but it's not so bad - it's an odd build in that I struggled to find feats that were not particularly useable. Even if I do get another one, I can't think of one much better at level one than Iron Will; any meldshaping feats would be lost when I got Dustform, which also costs me skills (Con and Int -), and the same for Necropolitan with regards to Constitution. However, there are no skills which are considered class skills by a Totemist which are important to the Prestige Class, and with only 2+Int Skill Points (and an Initial Intelligence of 8), that's no loss. They can continue to stack, as Incarnate makes all Ability Scores less than 3 to be set to 3, while Dustform reduces Dexterity by -2; hence, permanently at 3. I do lose all the nice benefits of Unseelie Fey outside of Fly and the Charisma Boost; of but considering that there's no LA for that, it's one which is essentially free. Dustform does lose its Tremorsense <60ft range/Blindness >60ft range, as well as its major glaring weakness; the Critical Hits from Bludgeoning Weapons thanks to Incarnate Construct template, though, as well as negating the +2 LA, so that's all good.
ECL 2This is the Template Application; and where it can become a little bit screwy. While only ever in a game I would only ever apply it once, I can apply Dustform+Incarnate Construct templates as many times as I like; either to get 18 Intelligence (and Con, but that's irrelevant for this build) and/or to get Infinity Strength.
Necropolitan gets added; and assuming it's made through the Corpsecrafter Feats used by a Dread Necromancer (as per the backstory), I get the following
With Necropolitan added in, I can do some modifications to him. My first thought is to under-go some surgery, or Osteopathy, and actually insert Black Sand into his the Necropolitan's Bones; even if it's ruled that the Black Sand's deeper darkness effect doesn't work, I still gain Fast Healing d4. Originally Posted by Corpsecrafted Feats
Spellstitched is also applied; I have a Wisdom of 22 by
that stage (Lesser Aasimar +2, Venerable +2); so that gives me spell likes per day as the following; 1st (4, split between 2 known), 2nd (4, split between 2 known), 3rd (2, split between 2 known), 4th (2, split between 2 known), 5th (2, split between 2 known), 6th (1, only 1 known). These all come from the Conjuration, Evocation or Necromancy spell-lists; for fluff reasons, I'll stay away from evil spells and Necromancy spells; he's turned a new leaf. I also gain a further +2 to Turn Resistance (current total = +8 Turn Resistance), and a +2 to all saves.
Level-wise, I take a level of Marshal so I can apply my still huge Charisma Modifier to my allies through the Motivate; ability. Later on, the ability to do as such to Fortitude Saves will make up for my lack of Constitution against annoying spells like Disintegration. I also took this level to follow up what I had as a level before trading one away due to becoming a Necropolitan.
ECL3;
Thug Fighter; Full BAB, decent skill points and skill list. Blindsight for qualification for Prestige Classes; reasoning, he's fighting Undead a bit more, so taking something to give him better chances at fighting any Invisible threats, the better. I've taken the Sneak Attack variant here as well; this helps with qualification for Skullclan Hunter, and meshes reasonably with Sudden Strike.
As a quick aside, if I was playing this character from 1st or 2nd level onwards, I wouldn't do this, but the Evolved Undead Template can be broken wide, without Level Adjustment (provided buy off is included). For the purposes of this thread, I'm not including this, but merely highlighting the opportunity to break it. As it's applied every 100 years or so, you can use the LA Buy Off to remove the LA penalty to 0. As you have no LA penalty 100 years later, provided you have the XP, you can buy off the template through that stage. Each time, I get NA Bonus +1, 1 of 12 Powers (requires HD to cast all the spells as if I was a Wizard as per the SLA rules defaulting to Wiz/Sor if not mentioned.), Fast Healing 3 (so Fast Healing d4+3), +2 Strength (useless), +2 Charisma (wahay!). All for free, essentially.
ECL 4
Rogue 1; skill points and Sneak attack here. By this stage, I'm beginning to enhance my throwing technique by this stage, but very little else of benefit here.
ECL 5
Crusader 1; this is a level tax to get Charisma to Saves. Outside of that, +1 BAB, whoo! Yeah, Infinite Strength, but still, helps with prestige class entry; too many +5's by half.
ECL 6-10
SpoilerECL 6
Totemist 2; advancing Totemist only, Brutal Throw gets me Strength to Attack bonuses with Ranged weapons. Outstanding; I can now Two Weapon Fight with them; as I have infinite strength, this results in an unimportant penalty; essentially outside of concealment with thrown weapons, I'm hitting 95% of shots.
ECL 7
Soldier of Light eh? If you don't know where this is, it's in Deities and Demigods. It's not brilliant outside of +1 BAB, Divine Magic (own spell slots, not progression), and a Turn Undead Pool. It's not that useful; I'm only a first level cleric after all. The true benefit comes at ECL 9 for Divine Shield, as ah aside to the passive benefit of qualifying for Skullclan Hunter.
ECL 8 and 10
Skullclan Hunter; what's not to love about this 2 level dip in an anti-undead campaign? Track Undead is thematically decent, and Divine Strike allows me the always on ability to Sneak Attack Undead. By this stage as well, I can start affording some more decent magic items; a set of Gauntlets of Endless Javelins are a snap at 7K from the MIC, and give me 3 Force Javelins a turn, which 95% of the time hit at this level; 4 if I'm hasted. Decent bonuses to my weaker saves as well. Good niceGracieGhosty.
ECL 9
Crusader 2 and Divine Shield; gives me the ability to swap Turn Undead attempts for Divine Shield for Charisma to AC; typically by this stage it's got a further two from levelling up; so 10 Times a day for 4-5 Rounds a time (upping to 10 Rounds at 20th), I get a +7 to AC. As I'm typically two weapon fighting throwing my Javelins, a Buckler is most at home here; switching to it whenever I need to get up close and personal.
ECL10-20
SpoilerThis is where the build really begins to kick off.
Shadowblade comes online, and provides the See in Darkness perfectly ability (which does well with the Black Sands that make up his form), along with some more useful abilities here and there for my melee attacks. This is less useful as a primarily ranged attacker, and my huge strength bonus from stacking templates means that anything I want to throw gets hit. However, if you choose that the build can't run with all those templates (as a DM), then they o become useful.
Totemist 5 is there for Shedu Crown to give me Mindsight, and a few more useful abilities.
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2013-02-16, 07:27 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Tacgnol: Dark Knight, sans bat fetish
Originally Posted by Tacgnol
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2013-02-16, 07:30 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Briggs: Bound to the shadows by blood
Originally Posted by Briggs
Briggs "The Shadow Demon"
General Info
SpoilerName: Briggs “The Shadow Demon”
Race: Human
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Size: Medium
Age: 28
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black
Setting:Generic
Stats:
Str 15-
Dex10
Con 12-
Int 12
Wis 12
Cha 16*-
*Stat bump per four levels will raise Charisma
-Bloodline will raise Strength (lvl 3), Constitution (lvl 9), and Charisma (lvl 15) by 1
Briggs
Spoiler{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Binder|+0|+2|+0|+2|Bluff 4, Intimidate 4, Hide 2, Move Silently 2|Improved Binding, Death Devotion|Soul Binding (1 Vestige), +2 move silently checks, EBL 1 (EBL 3 for determining highest lvl bind)
2nd| Binder |+1|+3|+0|+3|Intimidate 5,Bluff 5, Hide 2.5, Move Silently 2.5|Power Attack| Pact Augmentation (1 ability), Suppress Sign, Power attack Bonus feat, EBL 2 (EBL 4 for determining highest lvl bind)
3rd|Demon Bloodline |+1|+3|+0|+3| Intimidate 5,Bluff 5, Hide 2.5, Move Silently 2.5|Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Spiked Chain)|Strength +1 unnamed bonus, EBL 3 (EBL 5 for determining highest level bind)
4th| Binder |+2|+3|+1|+3| Intimidate 5,Bluff 5, Hide 3.5, Move Silently 3.5|-|EBL 4 (EBL 6 for determining highest level bind), ER 5 Electricity (Ex)
5th| Binder |+3|+4|+1|+4| Intimidate 5,Bluff 8, Hide 4, Move Silently 4|Ignore Special Requirements| Bonus feat (see binder- Ignore Special Requirements chosen for bonus feat), EBL 5 (EBL 7 for determining highest level bind), Demon Affinity +2 (bonus to social skills when interacting with demons)
6th|Demon Bloodline |+3|+4|+1|+4| Intimidate 5,Bluff 8, Hide 4, Move Silently 4|Blind-fight| EBL 6 (EBL 8 for determining highest level bind), Smite Good with a melee attack 1/day as a blackguard equal to character level (Su)
7th| Binder |+3|+4|+1|+4| Intimidate 5,Bluff 8, Hide 5, Move Silently 5|-| Pact Augmentation (2 abilities), EBL 7 (EBL 9 for determining highest level bind), +2 on hide checks
8th| Binder |+4|+5|+2|+5| Intimidate 5,Bluff 10, Hide 5.5, Move Silently 5.5|-|Soul Guardian (Immune to fear), Soul Binding (2 Vestiges), EBL 8 (EBL 10 for determining highest level bind), ER Acid 5 (Ex)
9th| Binder |+5|+5|+2|+5| Intimidate 5,Bluff 12, Hide 6, Move Silently 6|Extra Smiting| EBL 9 (EBL 11 for determining highest level bind), Constitution +1 Unnamed bonus
10th|Shadowblade|+5|+7|+2|+5| Intimidate 5,Bluff 13, Hide 8, Move Silently 7|-| Unseen Weapon (Unerring Strike) [2 extra uses per day from bloodline levels], +2 on saves vs poison
11th| Shadowblade |+6|+8|+2|+5| Intimidate 5,Bluff 14, Hide 9, Move Silently 9|-| Shadow and Stealth (Class is treated 2 higher from bloodline for determining this skill bonus, at lvl 12 it will be treated 3 higher), Sudden Strike 1d6, Demon Affinity +4
12th|Demon Bloodline|+6|+8|+2|+5| Intimidate 5,Bluff 14, Hide 9, Move Silently 9|Precise Strike| EBL 10 (EBL 12 for determining highest level bind), ER Fire 5 (Ex), Unseen Weapon (+3 uses from bloodline levels)
13th| Shadowblade |+7|+8|+3|+6| Intimidate 5,Bluff 14, Hide 11, Move Silently 11|-| Shadow Vision, Unseen Weapon (Unexpected Strike), +2 on Intimidate Checks
14th| Shadowblade |+8|+9|+3|+6| Intimidate 5,Bluff 14, Hide 13, Move Silently 13|Cleave| Sudden Strike 2d6, Cleave Bonus feat
15th| Shadowblade |+8|+9|+3|+6| Intimidate 5,Bluff 14, Hide 15, Move Silently 15|Ability Focus (Death Devotion)| Unseen Weapon (Ephemeral Weapon), Charisma +1 unnamed bonus
16th| Shadowblade |+9|+10|+4|+7| Intimidate 5,Bluff 14, Hide 17, Move Silently 17|-| Sudden Strike 3d6, ER 5 Cold (ex)
17th| Shadowblade |+10|+10|+4|+7| Intimidate 5,Bluff 14, Hide 19, Move Silently 19|-| See In Darkness, Unseen Weapon (Shadowy Strike), Unseen Weapon (Free Action) Demon Affinity +6
18th| Shadowblade |+11|+11|+4|+7| Intimidate 5,Bluff 14, Hide 21, Move Silently 21|Sudden Ability Focus| Sudden Strike 4d6, +1 Natural Armor unnamed bonus
19th| Shadowblade |+11|+11|+5|+8| Intimidate 5,Bluff 16, Hide 22, Move Silently 22|-| Unseen Weapon (Far Shadow), +2 on Spot checks
20th| Shadowblade |+12|+12|+5|+8| Intimidate 5,Bluff 18, Hide 23, Move Silently 23|-|Sudden Strike 5d6, DR 5/good[/table]
Soul Binding
SpoilerEBL/Maximum Vestige Level/Maximum Number of Vestiges Bound
Spoiler{table=head]Level|EBL|Maximum Vestige Level|Maximum Number of Vestiges Bound At Once
1st|1|2nd|1
2nd|2|2nd|1
3rd|3|3rd|1
4th|4|3rd|1
5th|5|4th|1
6th|6|4th|1
7th|7|4th|1
8th|8|5th|2
9th|9|5th|2
10th|9|5th|2
11th|9|5th|2
12th|10|6th|2[/table]
List of Vestiges By Level
Spoiler1st Level
SpoilerAmon - Darkvision, Fire Breath*, Ram Attack
Aym - Dwarven Step, Halo of Fire, Improved Sunder, Medium Armor Proficiency, Resistance to Fire, Ruinous Attack
Leraje - Hide Bonus, Low-Light Vision, Precise Shot, Ricochet, Weapon Proficiency
Naberius - Disguise Self, Faster Ability Healing, Naberius’s Skills, Persuasive Words*, Silver Tongue
Ronove - Cold Iron and Magic Attacks, Far Hand*, Feather Fall, Ronove’s Fists, Sprint
2nd Level
SpoilerDahlver-Nar - Mad Soul, Maddening Moan*, Natural Armor, Shield Self
Haagenti - Confusing Touch*, Immunity to Transformation, Shield Proficiency, Weapon Proficiency
Malphas - Bird’s Eye Viewing, Invisibility*, Poison Use, Sudden Strike
Savnok - Call Armor, Heavy Armor Proficiency, Move Ally*, Savnok’s Armor
3rd Level
SpoilerAndromalius - Jester’s Mirth*, Locate Item, See the Unseen, Sense Trickery, Sneak Attack
Focalor - Aura of Sadness, Focalor’s Breath*, Lightning Strike, Water Breathing
Karsus - Heavy Magic, Karsus’s Senses, Karsus’s Touch*, Karsus’s Will
Paimon - Dance of Death*, Paimon’s Blade, Paimon’s Dexterity, Paimon’s Skills, Uncanny Dodge, Whirlwind Attack
4th Level
SpoilerAgares - Earth and Air Mastery, Earthshaking Step*, Elemental Companion, Fear Immunity, True Speech
Andras - Weapon Proficiency, Mount, Saddle Sure, Smite Good or Evil*, Sow Discord*, Sure Blows
Buer - Buer’s Knowledge, Buer’s Purity, Delay Diseases and Poisons, Fast Healing, Healing Gift*, Track
Eurynome - Animal Friend, Damage Reduction, Eurynome’s Maul, Poison Blood, Water Dancing
Tenebrous - Deeper Darkness, See in Darkness, Touch of the Void*, Turn/ Rebuke Undead*, Vessel of Emptiness
Arete (Mind’s Eye WotC article) – Psionic Boon, Resistance, Damage Reduction, Repletion
Astaroth (Cityscape Web Enhancement) - Angelic Lore, Asaroth's Breath, Honeyed Toungue, Master Craftsman, Word of Astaroth
5th Level
SpoilerAcererak - Detect Undead, Hide from Undead, Lich’s Energy Immunities, Paralyzing Touch*, Speak with Dead, Undead Healing
Balam - Balam’s Cunning*, Icy Glare, Prescience, Weapon Finesse
Dantalion - Awe of Dantalion*, Dantalion Knows, Read Thoughts, Thought Travel*
Geryon - Acidic Gaze, All-Around Vision, See in Darkness, Swift Flight*
Otiax - Air Blast, Combat Reflexes, Concealing Mist, Open Portal, Unlock*
6th Level
SpoilerChupoclops - Aura of Despair, Ethereal Watcher*, Ghost Touch, Poison Bite, Pounce, Soul Sense
Haures - Inaccessible Mind, Incorporeal Movement, Major Image*, Phantasmal Killer*
Ipos - Cold Iron Claws, Flash of Insight*, Ipos’s Influence, Planar Attenuation, Rend
Shax - Freedom of Movement*, Immunity to Electricity, Storm Strike, Swim Speed
Zagan - Aversion*, Improved Grapple, Scent, Constrict, Snake Bane
Vanus (Design and Development WotC article) - Fear Aura, Free Ally*, Noble Disdain, Vanus’s Ears
The Triad (Mind’s Eye WotC article) – Psionic Boon, Call to Mind, Psicraft Bonus, Bardic Knowledge, Empathy, Diplomacy Bonus, Smite Evil, Detect Hostile Intent, Sense Motive Bonus, Weapon Proficiency
Desharis (Cityscape Web Enhancement) - City Dweller, Infinite Doors, Language of the City, Smite Natural Soul, Spirits of the City
Zceryll (Class Chronicles web article) - Alien Form, Alien Mind, Bolts of Madness, Summon Alien, Telepathy
* useable once every 5 rounds
Story
SpoilerThe heathens of the north are known for many wicked things, but the vilest among them happens to be consorting carnally with Demons. These Northmen take pride in the tainted bloodline that results from these unholy unions, celebrating when demonic power manifests itself in their offspring.
Briggs was born into a family known particularly amongst his people for consorting with a powerful demon of shadow. When his demonic bloodline manifested he was elevated to a place of leadership among his clan and taught the ways of his peoples magic. Unlike most that show demonic sign, Briggs held no devotion to his people. As he learned his peoples art of pact magic he began to lust for power beyond what his clan could teach him. He left his clan without a word, slipping into the shadows never to be seen by kin.
Now a traveler of the world, Briggs searched for powerful creatures to bind in pact. As his journey continues he is drawn deeper and deeper into his lineage of shadow, slowly learning how to truly master the power of darkness.
Level Breakdown
SpoilerPact Magic is very versatile and so it would take pages and pages to explain all the options available to Briggs through pact magic. I will go into detail for Paimon and Tenebrous as those are Briggs’ main go to pacts, but Briggs is not against preparing alternate pacts if they are more suited to the challenges at hand.
It is worth noting that Briggs has a large list of options for his swift per turn. He can only choose one of these options, however they are all relevant because each one represents a different solution to different problems. When he gains 17th lvl his Unseen Weapon becomes a free action to activate, this will free up a large source of his swift options allowing him to perform more advanced combos, bringing more of his abilities to bare at once. A good first round standard would be to activate death devotion as a swift and then either make a dance of death to position for whirlwind attack or use flicker to have the teleportation option available in the combat.
Level 5
SpoilerBriggs has a very strong early game. Being able to bind Paimon at lvl 3 gives him both dance of death and whirlwind attack. Whirlwind attack alone is very powerful at early levels, but in conjunction with Death devotions ability both dance of death and whirlwind are devastating. Briggs can easily hit multiple targets in a round with his Spiked Chain and give them all a chance to gain negative levels. Pact Augmentation gives a handy to hit boost for him, and power attack from his bloodline allows for some nice damage options. By 5th he has access to up to 4th lvl binds, and while Paimon is his favorite vestige, the other vestiges give him adequate versatility for other types of challenges. Once activated, Death devotion will give a chance to bestow 1 negative level to anyone hit by his spiked chain for 1 minute. At lvl 8 it will become 2 negative lvls, 3 negative lvls @ lvl 12, 4 negative lvls @ lvl 16 and 5 negative lvls @ lvl 20. This scaling negative level mechanic will be relevant throughout all levels.
Level 10
SpoilerBriggs can now bind Tenebrous and Paimon. Tenebrous adds turning attempts to fuel extra uses per day of the death devotion feat, provides a dmg steroid from touch of the void, the ability to surround himself in a permanent cloak of darkness (as deeper darkness), see through all darkness (even magical), and the flicker mystery 1/day (provides very helpful options for advantageous combat positioning). Shadowblade has come online and our bloodline gives us a boost to uses per day of Unseen weapon (3 uses total at lvl 10). Unerring strike gives great synergy with whirlwind attack because WWA gives you an attack on every enemy in your reach. This means Briggs is entitled to swings even on enemies he isn’t aware off. When he makes the attack roll on an unseen enemy he can trigger Unerring strike to ignore their concealment. Extra Smiting gives him a total 3 smite goods per day. These can be situationally used to bring his large charisma to bear against high AC good targets, as well as add his character level in dmg. Pact Augmentation now applies a +2 to hit giving a little bit more leeway for power attack or just helping with regular to hits.
Level 15
SpoilerBriggs hide and move silently bonuses from ranks, stats, bloodline bonuses, and Shadow and Stealth have really started to add up. He is a competent skulk. Unseen weapon has increased drastically in value. He now has 8 uses per day (5 from class + 3 from bloodline). Ephemeral weapon gives a dmg steroid option that is a hard to resist dmg type making it a nice alternative to touch of the void. Unexpected strike is very handy for forcing sudden strike dmg on a target. The addition of the Precise Strike feat allows Briggs to trade in sudden strike dice for a +2 to hit per dice traded. Unexpected strike can force the sudden strike which can then be traded in for a +4 to hit. This is a useful combination for hard to hit opponents or just for getting more power attack dmg out of a swing. Ability focus feat and the charisma bump from bloodlines help to give Briggs a respectable Death devotion save DC making it an almost auto win against any opponent not immune to level drain. Paimon's Dexterity is being used to make the dex prerequisite for the Precise Strike feat and therefore is unavailable for use if Paimon is not bound for some reason (a +4 gloves of dexterity would also suffice), but Briggs will always bind paimon if there is even a chance of melee combat at this level.
Level 20
SpoilerFrom 17 on Briggs is the combo king. Briggs bloodline levels allow him to be treated as a 10th lvl shadowblade for the purposes of unseen weapon. This gives us the ability to activate our unseen weapon abilities as a free action 3 levels early. We end with 13 uses per day of unseen weapon. The addition of shadowy strike makes hitting tricky targets a breeze. Far shadow makes both dance of death and whirlwind attack much easier to use and more powerful. All of the unseen weapon abilities can be used when necessary to create interesting and reliable attack rounds. And now that our swift actions are freed up, we can also combo our other swift action abilities with unseen weapon abilities. Touch of the void with far shadow for instance would provide a nice dmg steroid while simultaneously doubling the area of your whirlwind attack, allowing you to potentially apply touch of the void and death devotion to extra enemies. We now have access to some other powerful vestiges, capping out at 6th lvl vestiges. This again gives invaluable versatility. If for instance, Briggs knows he will be fighting undead, he might choose to bind Zceryll to gain summons and other useful abilities instead of Tenebrous, since many of Tenebrous abilities will be countered and the death devotion will be useless and therefore does not need Tenebrous’ support. Precise strike can now provide a maximum +10 to hit if all the sudden strike dice are traded in. Sudden ability focus is a versatile feat that can improve a vestige DC or be used to further spike the death devotion save to better ensure the 5 negative levels per hit go through. With magic items this would cap the fort save to resist the negative levls at a whopping DC 35 fort save. This is so deadly with far shadow combining with whirlwind attack to give you an attack on every target in your now 20 ft reach. You could potentially force a whole room full of enemies to save or take 5 negative lvls on top of the potentially massive dmg from your touch of the void full power attack with the occasionally smite good when applicable. And the enemy better be able to see in magical darkness because everyone you can reach will be standing in your permanent deeper darkness. Also worth noting, our bloodline capstone ability has given us DR 5/good.
[Shadow vision, See in darkness are both redundant and while that might seem wasteful, I kind of liked it. The levels were still worth taking for the extra unseen weapon uses and abilities and gaining see in darkness from the class as well as tenebrous helps make me feel devoted to the cause of darkness. Other folks might call themselves lords of darkness, but can they see in darkness twice?! I didn’t think so.]
Bloodlines
SpoilerI know using bloodlines from the unearthed arcana puts me at the mercy of the judges. But I would like to say that I constructed the build very carefully for this reason. My goal was to only gain an equivalent benefit to make up for the loss of the 3 levels of hit dice, skills, bab, and saves. I feel I was successful in maintaining a balance and ultimately feel that using bloodlines gives the build a unique and flavorful taste. I do not feel that I abused bloodlines in any way. It is worth noting, I could of used Binder 2/ Bloodline 1/Heterodoxy paladin of slaughter2/Bloodline 1/Heterodoxy paladin of slaughter 1/ Knight of the sacred seal 1/ Tenebrous Apostate 1/ Shadow blade 2/ Bloodline 1/ Shadow blade 8 to completely abuse and break bloodlines gaining largely the exact same build but ending with an EBL of 20 instead. I felt this kind of abuse and cheese was exactly why bloodlines are frowned upon, and my goal was to use it tastefully and flavorfully while still being fair to the build.
Magic Items
SpoilerThis build does not rely on magic items. It works fine in a campaign without any magic items. If you have access to magic items, Charisma and strength are your primary stats. Buy items to raise those scores. (tome of charisma +4, cloak of charisma +6, tome of str +5, Belt of giant’s strength +6)
Given your natural stealth capabilities, items that enhance hide and move silently could make your hide and move silently checks nigh unbeatable.
Normal purchases will work fine from here.
Some noteworthy items- Veil of allure from sandstorm will raise the DC’s of your save based vestige powers by 2.
Nightsticks- There are 2 interpretations of Tenebrous’ Turn Undead ability. In one camp, the words “You can turn or rebuke undead as a cleric of your effective binder level” are taken to mean exactly as a cleric, meaning you gain 3+charisma modifier turning attempts/ day as described in the turn/rebuke undead class ability of cleric with the added restriction of only being able to activate the ability once every 5 rounds. The second camp, interprets that the quoted text is only intended to copy the turning mechanics of cleric and the uses are unlimited per day but only 1 every 5 rounds. Both are reasonable interpretations so ultimately resolution requires a GM call. For this build, I assumed the first interpretation was correct. I built it with the belief that tenebrous gave you a finite number of turning attempts per day. If your GM feels that the second interpretation is correct, then nightsticks become important. Buying nightsticks will allow you to fuel your death devotion feat for multiple uses in the day if your GM goes with the second interpretation. You shouldn’t need more than 1 or 2 of them.
Sources
SpoilerComplete Warrior
Tome of Magic
Player’s handbook
Unearthed Arcana
Dragon Compendium
Complete Adventure
Complete Champion
DMG
Monster Manual
Sandstorm
Mind’s Eye WotC article https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070119a
Class Chronicles web article https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070718
Cityscape Web Enhancement http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070307a
Design and Development WotC article http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dd/20060407a
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2013-02-16, 07:32 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Ynolar Darkheart: Unseelie, Unseemly, Unseen
Originally Posted by Ynolar Darkheart
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2013-02-16, 07:35 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Nightman: Dark Days and Hard Nights
Originally Posted by Nightman
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2013-02-16, 07:39 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Assuming I didn't miss anything in my inbox, that's the last of them. Good luck, contestants, and good luck, judges.
REMINDER: If I did miss your submission in my inbox, send me a PM! Announcing your build's absence from the thread will effectively prohibit its entrance as a build to be judged, because it's likely you'll have forfeited anonymity. Thank you.
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2013-02-16, 07:57 PM (ISO 8601)Ogre in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Right, so: how to fake a Shadowblade.
Spoiler1: Combine equal parts Lurk and Umbral Disciple.
2: Add Azure Talent for qualifying, Martial Study (Emerald Razor) to add taste, and Practiced Manifester (Lurk) to give it some kick.
Aaaaand you're done.
Unseen Weapon:
- Unerring Strike: Available as a Lurk augment, with nearly-the-same mechanics.
- Unexpected Strike: Lurk augment.
- Ephemeral Weapon: Lurk augment. Don't be stingy; blow that PP like you have recharge tricks.
- Shadowy Stirke: Emerald Razor.
- Far Shadow: Kiss of the shadows. Just so happens to be a swift action to activate, too.
- Fluffy visual effect: Blurstrike enhancement? Useful anyway.
- Free Action capstone: Two lurk augments at a time. You can use almost all of the "Unseen Weapon" abilities simultaneously.
Sneak Attack:
- Shadowblades can get up to +10d6, normally. Lurk 10/UD 10 has +5d6, but the Additional Sneak Attack augment means you don't care.
Shadow and Stealth:
- Camouflage and Skate powers. Not quite the same mechanics, but if someone figures out how you're hiding, you're not very good at hiding, now are you?
Shadow Vision/See in Darkness:
- Collor of Umbral Metamorphosis grants Superior Low-light Vision (I hereby deduct points from myself!), followed by Sight of the Eyeless later. If you're nitpicky, Planar Touchstone (Catalogues of Enlightenment [Baator domain]) copies See in Darkness and more.
Shadow Shadow Bo Badow Sneaky Guy Fluff:
- Lurk/Umbral Disciple.
Anyway. Judging! Oh dear, that's a lot...
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2013-02-16, 09:45 PM (ISO 8601)Bugbear in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
My second build was a jermlaine lurk10/ Shadowblade 10 who used compression to gain fine size.
Craven and the Shadow blade feat gave him good dmg on his attacks. The unseen weapon augments provided interesting options, including a character the size of a cricket suddenly being able to stabby stabby from 10 feet away.
Weapon finesse and the shadow blade feat made great use of his high natural dex
His hide and move silently checks could break 100 with magic items included!
His story was basically, the ole thieves guild story, part of a novelty guild in Skullport that only accepted pint sized members.
I was excited to get a chance to build another jermlaine, I love the itty bitty adventurer archetype. I got to stop being such a dirty procrastinator =)
GL everyone, thank you judges
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2013-02-16, 11:51 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
The only build I was seriously considering was a Marrusault War Hulk 2/Shadowblade 10, hoping to score originality for both a unique race and the absence of any base classes. Basically the unseen sentinel of the wastes, able to use his "next attack" abilities on up to three adjacent foes at once thanks to Mighty Swing. Alternatively, pounce with sudden strike and great cleave or Imperious Command/Never Outnumbered. However, I was hard-pressed to find anything for him to do besides the old "HULK SMASH AND DEMORALIZE" route.
It looks like folks went in a few separate directions; I'm really amped to read deeper into the entries. I've got some RL stuff I must prepare for on Wed/Thurs this week, but will commence thereafter.
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2013-02-16, 11:57 PM (ISO 8601)Bugbear in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Funny, the first build I considered had a similar functionality. I was looking hard at a psychic warrior/war mind/ shadow blade. The same "next attack" abilities on multiple opponents trick. Even had the pounce from the psionic power. Originally Posted by OMG PONIES
I actually turned the idea down because I honestly thought the entries would be inundated with psionics. Was real surprised that psionic entries weren't extremely popular this round.
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2013-02-17, 12:08 AM (ISO 8601)Dwarf in the Playground
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
- Location
- Minnesota
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Xen’kar Torkak and Briggs are my favorites after a quick glance at the builds. I was thinking about trying those ideas (Scorpion Wraith and/or Binder) as well, though I couldn't quite piece things together because I lacked both the time and inclination to do so. Kudos to the chefs on those!
Last edited by Hunter Killer; 2013-02-17 at 12:09 AM.
"What is Sanity? Madness put to good use. What is our waking life? A dream controlled."
-George Santayana
Spoiler
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2013-02-17, 12:48 AM (ISO 8601)Ogre in the Playground
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Stillwater
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Funny, my first plan was Soulknife. I dejectedly scrapped it because I felt it had no real synergy with the class (and would have eaten up a lot of feat slots too). I'm very happy with the final result though. Originally Posted by Gotterdammerung
And your jemlaine idea is exactly the kind of build I would love to play - a fine size creature with a use for that +8 melee bonus. Would you be willing to build it up to whatever sweet spot it has and pm it to me for use as an NPC/possible PC?
On another note: wow, 13 entries! My compassion and praise goes out to the judges for this round.
I have a feeling I can guess Amechra's build, because one of them really knocked my socks off (name hidden for anonymity).
Also: nice Kazyan
Last edited by rockdeworld; 2013-02-17 at 12:51 AM.
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2013-02-17, 01:58 AM (ISO 8601)Bugbear in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Yeh I can build it up but I ain't fillin out that gerdam chart! Originally Posted by rockdeworld
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2013-02-17, 02:36 AM (ISO 8601)Bugbear in the Playground
- Join Date
- Jan 2013
- Location
- GMT + 12
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
just as a note, I tend to build mine in HTML and then try an convert them over, its a real pain.
Does anyone know how i can either use html in the post, or know of a decent converter that can deal with tables
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2013-02-17, 03:23 AM (ISO 8601)Ettin in the Playground
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
I just make my chart in a word document. The formatting holds if you copy/paste it.
Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards Originally Posted by willpell
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2013-02-17, 03:25 AM (ISO 8601)Bugbear in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Yeh and you can use preview post to double check what its going to look like. Makes it easy to find mistakes. Originally Posted by The Viscount
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2013-02-17, 03:34 AM (ISO 8601)Titan in the Playground
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Texas
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
I use textedit/wordpad. it doesn't mess up the formatting. it keeps it all chunked up. preview post early and often. if you misplace a bracket or have an errant spoiler, it's better to figure it out when you only have 2 or 3 handy then when you're almost finished. Originally Posted by Gotterdammerung
I've got a new fantasy TTRPG about running your own fencing school in a 3 musketeers pastiche setting. Book coming soon.
Check out my NEW sci-fi TTRPG about first contact. Cool alien races, murderous AIs, and more. New expansion featuring rules for ships! New book here NOW!
Iron Chef Medals! Originally Posted by weckar
Amazing Princess Mononoke avatar by Dispozition
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2013-02-17, 03:35 AM (ISO 8601)Titan in the Playground
- Join Date
- Dec 2004
- Location
- I wish I knew...
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
I was trying to figure out how to get enough Shadowcaster casting levels to snag Flicker, then start Shadowpouncing with it. That didn't end up with enough levels left over for much of the Secret Ingredient, and didn't really focus much on it.
The next build was a Totemist entry, with a focus on the Shadow Mantle shoulder bind. This would synergize well with the See In Darkness ability of the Shadowblade to be able to ignore the limitation of the Shadow Mantle's shoulder bind. However, getting that shoulder bind means 9th level Totemist. While he can get the skills, even cross class, by that time, it would be a fairly cookie-cutter build.
Then I thought of your generic tripper area-effect-denial build, using the capstone from shadowblade to further increase the area of 'sit down and shut up'. Of course, that completely ignores the other nine levels of the SI class.
I then thought about a Swordsage build. But then I realized that it would mostly be a Swordsage build with Shadowblade tacked into the middle of it, rather than anything really interesting. I mean, sure, there's a lot of synergy to be had there, the sudden strike damage boost comes in very handy, and shadow hand provides a lot of flavor synergy, but really... I don't think there's a more obvious entry point, so the Originality score would've tanked. Originally Posted by The Underlord
All hail great Shneekeythulhu! Ia Ia Shneeky fthagnSpoilerQuite possibly, the best rebuttal I have ever witnessed.
Joker Bard - the DM's solution to the Batman Wizard.
Takahashi no Onisan - The scariest Samurai alive
Incarnum and YOU: a reference guide
Soulmelds, by class and slot: Another Incarnum reference
Multiclassing for Newbies: A reference guide for the rest of us
My homebrew world in progress: Falcora
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2013-02-17, 05:26 AM (ISO 8601)Banned
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
My second build was going to be a Druid 5/Planar Shpherd/Shadowblade 10, with Dragon Wild Shape and all the Wild Shape HD boosting items around for 15 HD Dragons, including a Shadow Dragon, using Unseen Weapon to amplify its Combat Stats.
Good luck everyone and, for the judges as well.
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2013-02-17, 05:55 AM (ISO 8601)Bugbear in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
An interesting idea but I don't think it would work. Unseen weapon is only usable on a wielded melee weapon that is in hand. It didn't seem to me that it worked on natural attacks. Originally Posted by Vaz
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2013-02-17, 06:07 AM (ISO 8601)Banned
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
Depends what your definition of wield is I suppose. The definition here http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wield suggests it should be fine.
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2013-02-17, 06:33 AM (ISO 8601)Ettin in the Playground
- Join Date
- Jan 2013
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII
On table building Frathe did a great job bringing this up.
On builds I considered:
Factotum 4 / Warblade 1 / Shadow hunter (Dragonmarked) 2 / Shadowblade 10 / Shadow hunter +2 / Warblade +1
Feats were to meet prerequisites, advance the dragonmark, font of inspiration and high level diamond mind strikes. I was also going to make the bonked reading of PrCs giving full advancement of initiator level. Also far shadow can be combined with time stands still (I find that amusing).
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