Iron Chef Optimization Challenge In the Playground XLII

[Amphetryon]

The easiest thing for the table, I've found, is to use notepad. The program's too dumb to mess anything up for you.

[Piggy Knowles]

I typically just use Google Docs. This way I can work on my build from home, work or on my phone.

I'm pretty used to the tables by now, so I usually do a rough build outline and then finish the build itself in table format. I write up each section separately, and then decide how to make it pretty when I'm submitting it to the chairman.

My other main idea was a mounted Crinti Shadow Marauder build, but it wasn't doing anything new or exciting. I think the build I submitted was the right choice.

(I also considered a build VERY close to another build here, although I won't say which one yet for fear of giving myself away...)

[Soranar]

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.

had that problem for so many of my build ideas.

wanted to do an elditch glaive but

-is it a weapon?
-am I wielding it?

then I thought of a dagger thrower but again

-when you let go of the weapon the effect stops

Just a really frustrating class feature to work with

[The Viscount]

I had also considered going the natural attack route, but wasn't sure about the legality of it. I considered going Dread Commando as it would compliment the SI without overshadowing it, but it just didn't work out. I'm rather surprised nobody entered the SI at 6.

[OMG PONIES]

And now, for ease of reference:

• Xen'kar Torkak: Lesser Drow Swordsage 2/Fighter 2/Ranger 1/Scorpion Wraith 5/Shadowblade 10
• Saleed: Human Rogue 5/Fighter 2/Shadowblade 10/Assassin 3
• Hamond Shadowstrike: Silverbrow Human Rogue 4/Barbarian 1/Warblade 1/Avenging Executioner 4/Shadowblade 10
• Krckitckl: Grig Ninja 3/Wizard 3/Combat Trapsmith 3/Rogue 1/Shadowblade 10
• Munemasa: Human Savant 1/Paladin 3/Fighter 2/Shadowblade 10/Exemplar 4
• Jef Costelo: Human Ninja 8/Totemist 1/Cleric 1/Shadowblade 10
• Mortumdal: Killoren Gravetouched Ghoul Ranger 2/Swashbuckler 3/Shadowblade 10/Lurking Terror 3
• Geula Abishag: Lesser Tielfling Spellthief 1/Duskblade 5/Shadowblade 10/Hellbreaker 4
• Keeliani Amaruak: Spellstitched Necropolitan Incarnate Dustform Unseelie Fey Lesser Aasimar Totemist 5/Marshal 1/Fighter 1/Rogue 1/Crusader 2/Soldier of Light 1/Skullclan Hunter 2/Shadowblade 7
• Tacgnol: Dark Shifter Ranger 4/Knight 3/Fighter 2/Shadowblade 10
• Briggs: Demon Bloodline Human Binder 7/Shadowblade 10
• Ynolar Darkheart: Unseelie Fey Whisper Gnome Paladin 6/Shadowblade 10/Swordsage 4
• Nightman: Skarn Monk 7/Umbral Disciple 3/Shadowblade 10

[Dusk Eclipse]

Curiously enough I saw many of the tricks I thought to use for this contest; but in different builds, sadly college decided to load up the work and couldn't get my entry on time.

If anyone is interested it was

Spoiler

Show

Human Invisible Fist monk 2/Warblade 4/Shadowblade 10/Dread Commando 4 going, using spring attack in conjunction with snap kick and Planar Touchstone: Oxyrhynchus to get a pseudo pounce.

[Amphetryon]

From Geula Abishag:

Hi Amph,
I just saw my entry and realized the stat array was wrong. It should be:
Point Buy: Str 10/Dex 18/Con 14/Int 12/Wis 8/Cha 12
With Racial Adjustments: Str 10/Dex 20/Con 14/Int 14/Wis 8/Cha 10

[foolofsound]

Halfway done with judging, and I have to say, I love most of these builds. I'm absolutely shocked that nobody went for Warlock 1+Blend into Shadow to get hide as a swift action; it was the first thing I thought of.

[Draz74]

Halfway done with judging, and I have to say, I love most of these builds. I'm absolutely shocked that nobody went for Warlock 1+Blend into Shadow to get hide as a swift action; it was the first thing I thought of.

I did think of Blend Into Shadow, but I had a different idea (which I totally can't remember right now) for how to get the Darkness effect. In any case, I didn't have time to brew up a build anyway.

[8wGremlin]

I did think of Blend Into Shadow, but I had a different idea (which I totally can't remember right now) for how to get the Darkness effect. In any case, I didn't have time to brew up a build anyway.

That's s cool idea, I like that, I think I could do a really good version now... hum.. might look in to that for other builds....

Glavelock entry... interesting...

[OMG PONIES]

Halfway done with judging, and I have to say, I love most of these builds. I'm absolutely shocked that nobody went for Warlock 1+Blend into Shadow to get hide as a swift action; it was the first thing I thought of.

I did think of Blend Into Shadow, but I had a different idea (which I totally can't remember right now) for how to get the Darkness effect. In any case, I didn't have time to brew up a build anyway.

In my early stages of development, I thought about a Drow Ranger 3/Kinslayer 4/Shadowblade 10/Drow Paragon 1 with a huge emphasis on darkness and feats from DotU to expand its uses like Blend into Shadows and Intensify Darkness, but it felt very much like a one-trick pony which I think can be overcome by a simple casting of Ebon Eyes. Took up more resources than a simple warlock dip...should have thought of that.

[The Viscount]

In my early stages of development, I thought about a Drow Ranger 3/Kinslayer 4/Shadowblade 10/Drow Paragon 1 with a huge emphasis on darkness and feats from DotU to expand its uses like Blend into Shadows and Intensify Darkness, but it felt very much like a one-trick pony.

Just use Handle Animal more times!

Your build wouldn't have been that out of place. Some of the builds seem rather focused themselves.

[Draz74]

Oh, I remember what I was thinking of: A Shadow Sun Ninja dip. But I was AFB, so I actually don't even remember for sure whether Shadow Sun Ninja gives you a Darkness ability.

[Venger]

Oh, I remember what I was thinking of: A Shadow Sun Ninja dip. But I was AFB, so I actually don't even remember for sure whether Shadow Sun Ninja gives you a Darkness ability.

shadow sun ninja's "child of shadow and light" ability at 8th level allows you to emit darkness equivalent to a 9th level spell, which means that it being nullified is hardly likely, but 8 levels isn't exactly a "dip"

[OMG PONIES]

Starting on my judging now. This round has been full of dips (and really tested the limits of what I consider a "dip"). I'll abide by my posted definition of "excessive dipping" for this round, but starting the next time I judge I may reduce my definition to two or more dips.

[Kuulvheysoon]

Interesting builds, guys.

I had a couple of ideas for this that never got fully realised - One of which was a Dragon Shaman (Green) 8/Heir of Siberys 2/Shadowblade 10, making full use of the [dragonmark] feats like Breath of Siberys and Mark of Stars. Green Dragon totem actually gives all of the prerequisite skills as class skills, and with Entangling/Clinging/Heighten breath, it actually remained fairly useful.

I was also considering a Ghostwise Halfling Totemist/Umbral Disciple/Shadowblade with the Improved Speak without Sound feat, giving me 100ft telepathy (and once you add Mindsight...)

I might have to drop out of judging - my computer's power source died over this weekend as I survived the Louis Riel Day blizzard, and it'll take a while to get a new one. I'll try my best, but I have limited access to an computer.

[Gotterdammerung]

I am so sad. I was about to suggest renegade mastermaker for a SI, when I noticed it already had a round! How did i miss it ; ; *cry*

I have a perfect renegade mastermaker build for this contest. I am so bummed I missed that round.

[123456789blaaa]

I am so sad. I was about to suggest renegade mastermaker for a SI, when I noticed it already had a round! How did i miss it ; ; *cry*

I have a perfect renegade mastermaker build for this contest. I am so bummed I missed that round.

C'mon man you can't just leave us hanging! . Give us some details!

[Gotterdammerung]

C'mon man you can't just leave us hanging! . Give us some details!

Um, I will probably post it in its own thread, I just want to take some time to augment and expound upon it. I had it written up as an Iron chef entry, ready to submit on the off chance that one day renegade mastermaker was chosen as SI. And then in some cruel twist of fate, I completely missed that round.

It is a shame but since it no longer has to fill the guidelines of the competition I want to take some time to expand upon it and even list some 3rd party augmentations. Basically, turning into a mini-guide.

Essentially, it was an alchemy build. I want to expound on the build and post it as a mini-guide for 2 reasons.

#1 I don't want to waste the work I already put into it.

#2 I see requests for a working Grenadier alchemy build frequently in the forums and it would be nice to finally have a link to a complete, working and amazing build to give them.

[Vaz]

speaking of builds, I think kuul has a wip Wu Jen guide, I have a couple of builds that work around Wu Jen spellcasting (one which allows all spells, and one which gives Body Outside Body fun). Completely unrelated to IC apart from it was the IC SI last round that I made the build with, but if he is still working in his guide I'd be happpy to pass them over for use. Reasonably well known one of them is, but even so.

[Piggy Knowles]

Essentially, it was an alchemy build. I want to expound on the build and post it as a mini-guide for 2 reasons.

#1 I don't want to waste the work I already put into it.

#2 I see requests for a working Grenadier alchemy build frequently in the forums and it would be nice to finally have a link to a complete, working and amazing build to give them.

Cool, I'd be interested in seeing that. I've also got an alchemy-focused build I've been working on for a while, although it doesn't use Renegade Mastermaker. (It does use Alchemist Savant, though.) Mine is set up more as a stealth-focused assassin/jack of all trades, with a lot of quickly fabricated alchemical items and poisonous splash bombs making up a sizable portion of his offense. I'd like to see some other takes on Grenadier-style builds.

[Amphetryon]

Any updates, judges?

[Kazyan]

Any updates, judges?

As it is Saturday, I'm judging right now instead of doing my homework. 3/13 done.

[8wGremlin]

As it is Saturday, I'm judging right now instead of doing my homework. 3/13 done.

Whooo hoo!

[Piggy Knowles]

While we're waiting on the judges...

Kuulvheysoon, anything you plan on changing when you take over as Chairman? Any ideas as far as the next SI?

[Kazyan]

10/13. I don't know if I'll finish tonight, but you can expect your evaluations very soon. So far, I have two scores above 15, and am pleasantly surprised how many of you actually care about multiclassing penalties on a forum that ignores them out of spite.

EDIT: Yeah, wait until tomorrow or Wednesday, because I am tired at the moment.

[rockdeworld]

Speaking of the next contest, I just saw the Dysfunctional Rules Handbook, which looks like it has some great potential SIs.

"Order of the Bow Initiate: Pre-req feat that's useless with main feature, class feature that's inferior to one granted at same level by usual entry base class. Terrible skills, but usual entry and customary use requires lots of skills"

"Reaping Mauler: Capstone grants save-or-die that could be accomplished easier and faster with CdG and auto-sleep"

"Fiend-Blooded: Inappropriate pre-reqs"

Fiend-blooded is rated a +1 PRC, but OotBI is -1 and Reaping Mauler is -2. Lovely

[OMG PONIES]

One entry done. Before you judge the lack of judging, RL has been densely packed lately. Hopefully it eases off a bit this week and I'll be able to complete my thoughts.

[Vaz]

This is a past time mate, RL obviously comes first, so don't worry about it.

[Kuulvheysoon]

Any updates, judges?

My power supply should be arriving tomorrow (fingers crossed), so I'll probably blitz-judge them. I'm expecting to miss things, so contestants, feel free to let me know if I've missed something.

While we're waiting on the judges...

Kuulvheysoon, anything you plan on changing when you take over as Chairman? Any ideas as far as the next SI?

I'm keeping most of Amph's (excellent) guidelines. One thing that I'm tempted to do, however, is a "Special" bonus round. Hint - it may very well have something in common with Reaping Mauler...

As for the ingredient... while waiting for my power supply, I've been book-diving. The only question is how obscure to get. I've got a couple options on the table right now, though. One is decidedly cruel, and another is absolutely delicious as SI.