Results 181 to 210 of 389
-
2014-02-25, 06:32 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2012
- Location
- Necro-equestrian Pugilism
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
I think everything is in order here. Time to await the reveal!
And Happy Birthday Macabaret!Last edited by Deadline; 2014-02-25 at 06:32 PM.
-
2014-02-25, 06:41 PM (ISO 8601)Ogre in the Playground
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Reveal always catches me off guard since I'm in GMT -8 time zone.
- So excited!
Happy Birthday Macabaret
-
2014-02-25, 06:42 PM (ISO 8601)Firbolg in the Playground
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Round about 20 minutes from this post, give or take.
Originally Posted by Eldonauran
Reveal always catches me off guard since I'm in GMT -8 time zone.
- So excited!
Happy Birthday Macabaret
-
2014-02-25, 06:54 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
- Location
- Bellona
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Sent, with less than six minutes to spare. Hope I didn't miss anything - didn't get the chance to proofread as thoroughly as I'd normally have liked!
Optimization Showcase in the Playground
Former projects:
Shadowcaster Handbook
Archer Build Compendium
Iron Chef Awards!
Spoiler
GOLD
IC LXXVI: Talos
IC LXXV: Alphonse Louise Constant
IC XLIX: Babalon, Queen of Bones
IC XLV: Dead Mists
IC XL: Lycus Blackbeak
IC XXXIX: AM-1468
IC XXXV: Parsifal the Fool
IC XXX: Jal Filius
-
2014-02-25, 07:03 PM (ISO 8601)Barbarian in the Playground
- Join Date
- Jun 2012
- Location
- Richland, WA
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Where's the reveal, the Chairman be slipping...
I am what lurks under your bridge, I am the troll...
Not sure about what I said, go back highlight it with your mouse and wham it's magically blue for sarcasm, so like everything on the internet take it with a grain of salt.
-
2014-02-25, 07:06 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Three minutes is slipping, eh? Originally Posted by Tim Proctor
On that note, please refrain from posting until I give the OK.
-
2014-02-25, 07:11 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Shame on you, Altair.
Originally Posted by Rin
-
2014-02-25, 07:14 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Aren't Oozes supposed to be boneless?
Originally Posted by Marrow
-
2014-02-25, 07:16 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
He'll leave you in Holy pieces
Originally Posted by Golden Smilodon
The Golden Smilodon
"For your deeds and accomplishments, we favor you. Continue the fight against evil whenever it rears its ugly head."
Basics
SpoilerNG male longtooth shifter Druid 10/Osteomancer 10
32 point buy
Level 1 (with racials): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 14
Level 4 (level increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 14
Level 7 (exalted increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 16
Level 8 (level increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 16
Level 11 (exalted increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 18
Level 12 (level increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 19
Level 15 (exalted increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 21
Level 16 (level increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 22
Level 19 (exalted increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 22, Cha 24
Level 20 (level increase): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 23, Cha 24
Build
Spoiler{table=head]Level|Class|BAB|Fort|Ref*|Will*|Skills|Feats**|Class Features***
1st|Druid 1|+0|+2|+0|+2|Heal 4, Knowledge (arcana) 2, Knowledge (nature) 4, Listen 1, Spot 1, Survival 2 |Alertness (B), Sacred Vow (E)|ability bonus, beast spirit acf, extend shifting, nature sense, feral empathy
2nd|Druid 2|+1|+3|+0|+3|Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1, Survival +1| |woodland stride
3rd|Druid 3|+2|+3|+1|+3|Knowledge (arcana) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1|Vow of Poverty (E)|endure elements, exalted AC bonus +5, trackless step, will of the spirit
4th|Druid 4|+3|+4|+3|+2|Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1, Survival +1|Touch of Golden Ice (E)|exalted strike +1 (magic), reckless nature acf
5th|Druid 5|+3|+4|+3|+2|Knowledge (arcana) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1| |sustenance, wild shape 1/day
6th|Druid 6|+4|+5|+4|+3|Diplomacy 1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1|Nymph’s Kiss (B, E), Toughness|exalted AC bonus +6, deflection +1, transfer spirit, wild shape 2/day
7th|Druid 7|+5|+5|+4|+3|Diplomacy +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1| |resistance, wild shape 3/day
8th|Druid 8|+6|+6|+4|+4|Diplomacy +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1|Intuitive Attack (B, E)|mind shielding, natural armor +1, wild shape (large)
9th|Osteomancer 1|+6|+8|+4|+6|Disguise 2, Heal +1|Longtooth Elite (S)|boneless, exalted AC bonus +7, immunity to disease
10th|Osteomancer 2|+7|+9|+4|+7|Disguise +2, Heal +1|Exalted Wild Shape (B, E)|exalted strike +2 (good), DR 5/magic, skeletal shift
11th|Osteomancer 3|+8|+9|+5|+7|Disguise +2, Heal +1| |bone spurs, unnerve
12th|Osteomancer 4|+9|+10|+5|+8|Disguise +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1|Natural Spell, Sanctify Natural Attack (B, E)|deflection +2, enlarge/reduce, exalted AC bonus +8, greater sustenance, iron bones
13th|Osteomancer 5|+9|+10|+5|+8|Disguise +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1| |resistance +2, resistance (fire) 5, seize the core, silver bones
14th|Osteomancer 6|+10|+11|+6|+9|Disguise +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1|Exalted Spell Resistance (B, E)|aligned bones, exalted strike +3, freedom of movement
15th|Osteomancer 7|+10|+11|+6|+9|Disguise +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1|Improved Natural Attack (bite) (S)|adamantine bones, exalted AC bonus +9, DR 5/evil
16th|Osteomancer 8|+11|+12|+6|+10|Disguise +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1|Favored of the Companions (B, E)|natural armor +2, sap life
17th|Osteomancer 9|+11|+12|+7|+10|Disguise +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1| |exalted strike +4, resistance +3, regeneration, wield the core
18th|Osteomancer 10|+12|+13|+7|+11|Disguise +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1|Gift of Faith (B, E), Shifter Multiattack (S)|exalted AC bonus +10, deflection +3, osteophage, true seeing
19th|Druid 9|+12|+13|+8|+11|Diplomacy +1, Handle Animal 1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1| |DR 10/evil, prepare spell (3rd or lower)venom immunity
20th|Druid 10|+13|+14|+8|+12|Diplomacy +1, Handle Animal +1, Heal +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1|Animal Friend (B, E)|exalted strike +5, resistance (fire) 15, wild shape 4/day[/table]
* Table includes reckless nature alternate class feature
** B=Bonus, E=Exalted, S=Shifter
*** Italics indicate Vow of Poverty features; Underline indicates beast spirit alternate class feature
Base Skill Ranks at Level 20: Diplomacy 6, Disguise 13, Handle Animal 2, Heal 19, Knowledge (arcana) 4, Knowledge (nature) 18, Listen 10, Spot 10, Survival 4
Spells per day
Spoiler{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
1st|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
2nd|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
3rd|4|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
4th|5|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
5th|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-
6th|5|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
7th|6|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-
8th|6|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-
9th|6|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-
10th|6|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-
11th|6|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-
12th|6|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-
13th|6|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-
14th|6|5|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-
15th|6|5|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-
16th|6|5|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-
17th|6|5|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-
18th|6|5|5|4|4|3|2|1|-|-
19th|6|5|5|4|4|3|3|2|-|-
20th|6|5|5|5|4|4|3|2|1|-[/table]
A note on spells: As the PHB and SRD both state, the Druid may prepare and cast any spell on the Druid spell list provided that he can cast spells of that level. A requirement for the SI is the ability to cast at least three transmutation spells, one of which must be 1st level or higher. Naming spells that the Golden Smilodon can cast will be subject to taste and as a Tier 1 caster these can change daily. The Golden Smilodon enters the SI at Level 9 which means he can cast up to 4th level Druid spells. According to dndtools, there are 244 (non repeated) Transmutation spells on the Druid spell list for spell levels 0-4. I believe that this number alone qualifies the Golden Smilodon for the SI.
Class Features Showcase
SpoilerBoneless: The SI does not progress wild shape but this ability can take the place of wild shape (tiny). Tiny wild shapes can be used for escaping in rather tight places. It can also be used to infiltrate enemy strongholds through similarly tight places. Being boneless allows the Golden Smilodon to squeeze through spaces as small as six inches which is considered diminutive in scale. In comparison, a single classed Druid would have to be epic level and take a feat to emulate this feature on his own.
Skeletal Shift: I have always imagined that a Druid could always be a great infiltrator using his wild shape to become an inconspicuous animal. By using this ability, the Golden Smilodon can take this a step further. Disguise is a class skill for Osteomancer and is based on Charisma and skeletal shift gives an additional bonus. Well the Golden Smilodon can now use his wild shape to actually disguise himself as a specific animal. Does the BBEG have a pet cat that he likes to pet? Do the castle guards train special falcons? Does the enemy general ride a white horse? The Golden Smilodon can use wild shape and skeletal shift to become the animal needed.
Bone Spurs: This is part of the reason why we came here in the first place. It has been said that a shifter and/or Druid is always considered armed with his natural weapons. This ability from the SI insures that the Golden Smilodon always has at least two natural weapons on him at all times. While shifted, the Golden Smilodon can use the spiked gauntlets in conjunction with his bite attack. While in wild shape, the Golden Smilodon can grow the armor spikes to cover his body to add an attack type with a pouncing form. As his favored wild shape is that of a celestial smilodon, he would be able to add the armor spike attack with the full attack pounce.
Unnerve: All classes and all builds benefit from this ability. The Golden Smilodon maximizes his potential here by having a high Charisma score. Whether he decides to fight on the front lines shifted or wild shaped, the Golden Smilodon would be a target of enemies and this ability has the potential to make them miss.
Cold iron/silver/aligned/adamantine Bones: One of the drawbacks of the Vow of Poverty is the lack of overcoming different kinds of damage reduction since such a character cannot have the “golf bag” of different metal weapons. This group of class features overcomes this limitation by making sure that the Golden Smilodon always has an appropriate weapon to overcome creatures’ damage reductions.
Enlarge/reduce: These two spells do not appear on the Druid’s spell list so we can consider these bonus spells for the Golden Smilodon. The benefits of enlarge person are known well documented in the Playground. Reduce person could increase our boneless potential to even escaping or infiltrating through fine sized holes.
Seize the core: With the Chairman’s ruling that this effect is permanent, this ability gets even deadlier. Again this is an ability that benefits all builds and all characters. As with unnerve, the Golden Smilodon maximizes his potential with the high Charisma score. It is an amazing save or lose ability. Become an amazing dragon slayer since this ability says that it specifically bypasses their immunity to paralysis.
Sap life: A touch attack that deals Strength damage? Another SI ability that bases its saving throw on Charisma? When the Golden Smilodon gains this ability, he can use it six times per day and up to seven times per day at Level 20. Remember how he can infiltrate the enemies’ positions by disguising himself as a specific animal? Imagine now the falcon landing on his master’s arm and then losing the Strength to even carry him in the first place. The faithful hound bounds upon his master and weakens him with his playfulness. Of course, it is also useful in combat situations as well.
Wield the core: Here is another ability that is useful for all builds. However, the Golden Smilodon can use this ability while wild shaped as an inconspicuous animal in the enemy camp. Imagine a horse just standing there watching as guards inexplicably start attacking their commanding officer or keeping the battlefield mage from buffing his troops by keeping his mouth shut and keeping his arms at his sides. An even better example is a swooping hawk flying low, taking control of someone and then flying incredibly high all while keeping control as range is not an issue as long as there is line of sight. Possibilities are endless.
Osteophage: The SI’s capstone ability allows the Golden Smilodon to kill or damage a foe. Compare this effect to the Cleric spell destruction, which is also not on the Druid list. Another example of basically having a bonus spell to cast. Again his high Charisma score keeps this ability’s difficulty high enough to keep it competitive against CR appropriate foes.
The Ascension of the Golden Smilodon
SpoilerHumble Beginnings (Levels 1-5)
SpoilerThe longtooth shifter who would become the Golden Smilodon was born to a clan of shifters living in the forested area near the capital of the Empire. He was always happiest while learning skills of the Druidic ancestors. He had hoped to one day join his elders in the Circle of Leadership. But he knew that he had to be worthy of being called to the Circle. So he made a Sacred Vow to give up all wealth and only survive as the Land provides, much like his smilodon ancestors once did.
SpoilerWe start off as a battlefield controller mostly due to lack of real melee strengths. Spellcasting is strong having a high Wisdom score and he can contribute also as a lookout given his Listen and Spot scores in the early part of the build. With the ranks in Heal, he can act as a triage unit as needed too. The Golden Smilodon utilizes the beast spirit druid alternate class feature that sacrifices his animal companion for different benefits as he levels up. Standard Druid equipment until the Vow of Poverty is taken at Level 3. The first exalted feat chosen is Touch of Golden Ice as it is in these early levels when the feat is most effective. The Golden Smilodon also takes the reckless nature Druid alternate class feature that helps out his poor Reflex saves at the cost of his Will saves. This will be made up when he enters the SI as it has both Fortitude and Will as good saving throws. At Level 5 he gains his first taste of wild shape electing not to take the final shifter Druid alternate class feature.
A Sad Homecoming (Levels 6-10)
SpoilerHis oneness with the land attracted the attention of all of the animals and the nature spirits (fey) of the forest. With their help he learns to overcome the limitations that wealth puts on most humanoids. Both the animals and the fey live at peace and in balance with the land and so to can the Golden Smilodon. Having learned how to assume the shape of the ancestors, he hoped to be called to the Circle of Leadership at last but it was not to be. While he was away learning his clan was annihilated by the Empire. Upon learning this terrible fate of their friend, the nature spirits began to teach him the ways of manipulating his skeletal structure to help in his new quest to find out what happened to his people. It was at this time he took the name Golden Smilodon.
SpoilerDear Lord Toughness is a terribad feat. See if you can get your DM to allow Improved Toughness to be interchangeable with the Toughness feat. Improved Toughness is not the best feat ever, but it at least scales with character level. The Golden Smilodon continues with his Druidic training until he enters the SI at Level 9. Though not the earliest that the SI could have been entered, the Golden Smilodon enters with being able to cast 4th level spells and being able to wild shape into large animals. Along with the benefits of the SI class features, the Golden Smilodon gains the Exalted Wild Shape feat which allows him to wild shape into celestial animals, including a celestial smilodon and thereby able take on his namesake. He also takes the shifter feat Longtooth Elite which gives him a wounding bite attack while shifted. Intuitive Attack makes up for a less than average attack bonus by being able to use his much higher Wisdom score for attacking.
Resetting the Balance (Levels 11-15)
SpoilerKnowing how to make this terrible wrong right, the Golden Smilodon infiltrates the Empire itself posing as various animals to gather information and learn what he could. After learning of which General launched the attack, the Golden Smilodon assumed the identity of the General’s horse through skeletal shift and was able to learn of his future plans to launch attacks on other helpless peoples. The Golden Smilodon vowed to protect these people in a way to atone for not being able to protect his own people.
SpoilerSmack dab in the middle of the SI now gaining abilities to protrude spikes and give opponents pause for attacking him. He also learns how to cast his spells while wild shaped (I know it is late for a “standard Druid.”) It is during this time the Golden Smilodon gains a perpetual freedom of movement effect on him at all times along with being able to overcome even adamantine damage reduction. At Level 15 the Golden Smilodon takes the Improved Natural Attack feat which is useful for both his shifted form as well as any wild shape form that has a bite attack (which is nearly all animals).
Righting the Wrongs (Levels 16-20)
SpoilerThe Golden Smilodon settled himself among the people that we the Empire’s next victims. He prepared for the time the army would strike. With mastering the powers over skeletal structures, he was able to sow dissent through the enemy camp. Infiltrating the camp again the Golden Smilodon made enemy unit commanders attack their own soldiers by taking over their own skeletons. He was able to fly high above the camp to make this happen too, far away from those who might be able to stop him before his work was done. When the skirmish amongst themselves was completed, the Golden Smilodon shifted again to his namesake form and was able to dissolve the General’s skeleton away. Upon seeing this the army began to rout but the Golden Smilodon made examples of some of the other commanders by keeping them in place frozen in time unable to move their skeletons.
When it was over, the most important and powerful guardinal Talisid appeared in the sky as a vision to the Golden Smilodon and said unto him, “For your deeds and accomplishments, we favor you. Continue the fight against evil whenever it rears its ugly head.”
SpoilerThe Golden Smilodon completes his pre epic career with more Druid levels which nets him 8th level spells, which is not bad considering a half casting SI. By now he has overcome all of the drawbacks of the Vow of Poverty feat with varying success. The Golden Smilodon can infiltrate and escape from different strongholds either through wild shape or his boneless quality. He has essentially two main battle forms—his fully shifted form complete with bony spiked gauntlet and oversized fangs and his wild shaped celestial smilodon namesake form complete with bony armor spikes protruding from them. He can overcome all kinds of material and alignment damage reduction in either form and can cast spells with all of the bonus abilities of that the SI provides. The SI fits the concept of a tribal Druid perfectly.
Source List
SpoilerBook of Exalted Deeds: all of the exalted feats
Dragon Compendium: Osteomancer prestige class
Eberron Campaign Setting: shifter race
Races of Eberron: shifter druid alternate class features, shifter feats
-
2014-02-25, 07:17 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
A Deal with the Red
WizardsDevil Originally Posted by Esh Pennin Arsh
Last edited by Kuulvheysoon; 2014-02-27 at 03:55 PM.
-
2014-02-25, 07:20 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Arabian Niiiiiiiiights and Arabian Daaaaaaaaaays
Originally Posted by Batal Salman
-
2014-02-25, 07:22 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Burgandy flashlight pentapox
Originally Posted by Hastae
-
2014-02-25, 07:23 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Make it rain
Originally Posted by Spike
-
2014-02-25, 07:24 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
The new Number One Threat to America
Originally Posted by Ossa Ursus
The Ossa Ursus
CG Human Wildshape Ranger 5/Osteomancer 10/Master of Many Forms 5
Foreword
Spoiler
A Treatise on the Ossa Ursus, a Heretofore Unknown Relative of the Dire Bear
In the summer of the 4th year of Otrox, I was approached by a colleague of mine at Stormwind University. He had been part of a lively discussion centered around reports from the north that a new species of animal had been discovered. Apparently there was a great deal of speculation, and the source of the reports was unreliable at best. Still, a core of truth ran through the accounts, and my colleague was intrigued. He immediately sought to put together an expedition and, given my expertise, he asked me to join him.
What we found was impressive, to say the least. The local villagers all had a story about the creature. These ranged from the worst sort of tripe, to some very interesting accounts. There were certain similarities among the accounts: nearly everyone who claimed to have seen the beast swore that it spoke to them, and most accounts described a creature that resembled the more common Dire Bear. My collegue and I gathered up all accounts of the whereabouts of the creature's lair, and set off one morning amid a light snow flurry. I remember our initial encounter with the beast very clearly. One moment we were pleasantly gliding along in our sled, the wind whistling through the armor plates of the pack golems. And the next, an enormous bear-like creature suddenly burst from the snow amidst our group. The beast roared mightily, and then its face ... changed. Protrusions of bone erupted from every part of its body, and its skull seemed to warp in unnatural ways. The majority of our entourage broke and ran back to the village. I myself blacked out.
When I awoke, I found myself in a dimly lit cave. As I peered around in the gloom, I could just make out the form of the creature. At first I was terrified, but eventually my intillectual curiosity won out. It simply sat there quietly, watching me. As I began to mutter to myself and write down my observations in a journal, it leaned in closely, as if to observer me in turn. When it spoke, I nearly jumped out of my skin...
It has been many years since that initial encounter, and despite more than one expedition, I have yet to encounter the beast again.
Contained herein you will find my notes and observations from my initial encounter with the creature known as Ossa Ursus.
Phineas T. Umbrage, Naturalist
Characteristics of the Ossa Ursus
SpoilerThe Ossa Ursus
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Wildshape Ranger 1|+1|+2|+2|+0|Heal 4, Hide 2, Knowledge(Nature) 4, Knowledge(Arcana) (2), Listen 4, Move Silently 3, Spot 4, Survival 4|Improved Initiative(B), Alertness, Track(B)|1st Favored Enemy (Undead), Track, Wild Empathy
2nd|Wildshape Ranger 2|+2|+3|+3|+0|Heal 5, Hide 3, Knowledge(Nature) 5, Listen 5, Move Silently 4, Spot 5, Survival 5| |
3rd|Wildshape Ranger 3|+3|+3|+3|+1|Heal 6, Knowledge(Nature) 6, Knowledge(Arcana) (3), Listen 6, Move Silently 5, Spot 6, Survival 6|Improved Toughness, Endurance(B)|Endurance
4th|Wildshape Ranger 4|+4|+4|+4|+1|Heal 7, Hide 5, Knowledge(Nature) 7, Listen 7, Spot 7, Survival 7| |Distracting Attack
5th|Wildshape Ranger 5|+5|+4|+4|+1|Heal 8, Knowledge(Nature) 8, Knowledge(Arcana) (4), Listen 8, Spot 8, Survival 8| |2nd Favored Enemy (Constructs), Wildshape 1/day
6th|Master of Many Forms 1|+5|+6|+6|+1|Knowledge(Nature) 9, Listen 9, Spot 9, Survival 9, Collector of Stories|Extra Wildshape|Shifter's Speech, Improved Wildshape(Humanoid)
7th|Master of Many Forms 2|+6|+7|+7|+1|Knowledge(Nature) 10, Listen 10, Spot 10, Survival 10, Healing Hands| |Improved Wildshape(Giant; Large)
8th|Osteomancer 1|+6|+9|+7|+3|Heal 9, Knowledge(Arcana) 5, Use Magic Device 2| |Boneless, Immunity to Disease
9th|Osteomancer 2|+7|+10|+7|+4|Heal 10, Knowledge(Arcana) 6, Use Magic Device 4|Skewer Foe|Skeletal Shift, +1 Level of existing spellcasting class
10th|Osteomancer 3|+8|+10|+8|+4|Heal 11, Knowledge(Arcana) 7, Use Magic Device 6| |Bone Spurs, Unnerve
11th|Osteomancer 4|+9|+11|+8|+5|Heal 12, Knowledge(Arcana) 8, Use Magic Device 8| |Enlarge/Reduce, Iron Bones, +1 level of existing spellcasting class
12th|Osteomancer 5|+9|+11|+8|+5|Heal 13, Knowledge(Arcana) 9, Use Magic Device 10|Frozen Wildshape|Sieze the Core, Silver Bones
13th|Osteomancer 6|+10|+12|+9|+6|Knowledge(Arcana) 10, Knowledge(Religion) 2, Use Magic Device 11| |Aligned Bones, +1 level of existing spellcasting class
14th|Osteomancer 7|+11|+12|+9|+6|Knowledge(Religion) 5, Use Magic Device 12| |Adamantine Bones
15th|Osteomancer 8|+12|+13|+9|+7|Knowledge(Religion) 6, Use Magic Device 15|Multiattack|Sap Life, +1 level of existing spellcasting class
16th|Osteomancer 9|+12|+13|+10|+7|Knowledge(Religion) 7, Use Magic Device 18| |Wield the Core
17th|Osteomancer 10|+13|+14|+10|+8|Knowledge(Religion) 9, Use Magic Device 20| |Osteophage, +1 level of existing spellcasting class
18th|Master of Many Forms 3|+14|+14|+10|+9|Knowledge(Religion) (9.5), Listen 11, Spot 11, Survival 11|Improved Natural Attack (Bone Spurs)|Fast Wildshape, Improved Wildshape(Monstrous Humanoid)
19th|Master of Many Forms 4|+15|+15|+11|+9|Knowledge(Religion) (10), Listen 12, Spot 12, Survival 12| |Improved Wildshape(Fey; Tiny)
20th|Master of Many Forms 5|+15|+15|+11|+9|Handle Animal 1, Listen 13, Spot 13, Survival 13| |Improved Wildshape(Vermin)[/table]
Vital Statistics
Spoiler
Stats and Increases
Spoiler
Starting Ability Scores:
Str - 10
Dex - 10
Con - 16
Int - 12
Wis - 12
Cha - 16
Final Ability Scores:
Str - 10
Dex - 10
Con - 16
Int - 12
Wis - 12
Cha - 21 (+5 level bumps)
Spells per day (includes bonus spells)
Spoiler
Spells per day
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
4th|-|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
5th|-|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
6th|-|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
7th|-|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
8th|-|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
9th|-|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
10th|-|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
11th|-|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
12th|-|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
13th|-|2|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
14th|-|2|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
15th|-|2|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
16th|-|2|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
17th|-|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
18th|-|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
19th|-|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
20th|-|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]
Daily habits of the Ossa Ursus
Spoiler
Level 5
At this level, Ossa Ursus is pretty simple to play: Wildshape into a medium sized bear and go to town. While it is only usable once per day (and lasts 5 hours), this provides tremendous versatility for different movement modes, combat shapes, creature abilities, etc. So it can be used effectively as a way to boost scouting or combat. In addition to Wildshape, Ossa Ursus has the Distracting Attack ACF, making him more party friendly in that he counts as flanking any enemy he hits, so the party rogue doesn't have to get into the thick of things to get off those valuable sneak attacks. Ossa Ursus also has access to 1st level Ranger spells to add to his repertoire.
Level 12 "Sweet Spot"
Halfway through Osteomancer, almost all of Ossa Ursus' tricks are online. Wildshape has become your go-to tool for versatility and power, and it is nicely enhanced by two of Osteomancer's abilities, Bone Spurs and Enlarge/Reduce. Bone Spurs provide you with a "weapon" that you can use regardless of form (since they are used like spiked gauntlets and armor spikes), and you can still use your natural weapons (from your Wildshape form) as secondary natural weapon attacks. You are still a valid target for Enlarge/Reduce Person, thanks to the errata'd polymorphing/wildshape rules which state that you are still affected by spells that would target your original type (no matter what shape you've chosen). This means that you can turn into any small to large Animal, Humanoid, Magical Beast(cold subtype only), or Giant and then increase or decrease your size category by one. Extra Wildshape gives you enough shapes to last 15 hours a day, which should cover all of your adventuring needs.
The SI gives a host of other useful abilities for Ossa Ursus. Boneless gives him another form that allows him to slip through even the smallest cracks, Unnerve gives him a flavorful and useful fear effect (turn into giant bear, scare the crap out of foes), and Sieze the Core gives him a fantastic battlefield control ability (which works on one of his favored enemies!). Iron and Silver Bones are some great buffs for Ossa, but the one thing that Osteomancer lacks is any mention of the Bone Spurs having an enhancement bonus. Simple DR/Magic will really put a damper on things, but Ossa has that covered with his ranger spells (specifically, Magic Fang). Skeletal Shift combines with Wildshape (Humanoid) to give Ossa a whopping +13 bonus to Disguise checks (who needs ranks?), which is usable untrained. His excellent Charisma provides him a nice boost here as well. Immunity to Disease gets less love here, but it is still worth mentioning that none of Ossa's Wildshape forms can get it, so it is particularly useful in that regard.
Ossa Ursus continues to be an solid scout and tracker. He's got a good Heal skill (enough to automatically hit the First Aid DC of 15 to trigger the Healing Hands skill trick), and is quite knowledgeable about tons of different types of monsters (Collector of Stories helps here).
Skewer Foe gets a special mention here, as bite, claw, talon, sting, gore, rend (which are claw attacks), and Bone Spurs are all piercing weapons, which means they all trigger Skewer Foe (provided you are in a Wildshape form that has at least 15 Strength). By using Bone Spurs as Armor Spikes, you can get all of your iterative attacks with Bone Spurs, and then all of your natural weapon attacks (as secondary natural weapons) from whatever Wildshape combat form you've chosen.
Lastly, the SI has Use Magic Device on its class list. Given the sheer versatility that this skill grants, it would be a crime not to pump up those ranks, which Ossa does. He finishes out the SI with 20 ranks, enough to hit almost every UMD DC automatically (he needs a 5 or better to hit the DC 30 to emulate an alignment).
Level 20
The last several levels serve mostly to round out or improve Ossa's existing abilities. Aligned Bones and Adamantine Bones finish off the other types of DR mitigation. Sap Life is a potent debuff (and should be usable with a natural weapon attack), and Wield the Core and Osteophage can both be used on the Undead, one of Ossa's favored enemies. Multiattack and Improved Natural Attack (Bone Spurs) bumps Ossa's damage further, and the SI's spellcasting advancement leaves Ossa with access to 2nd level Ranger spells. The build tops off with a few more Master of Many Forms levels to add Monstrous Humanoid, Fey, and Vermin types as well as Tiny size. Sadly, the build falls just shy of hitting the magical +16 BAB, but missing out on that last attack isn't that painful when you've got 3+ natural attacks in addition to your 3 iterative attacks.
Sources
Spoiler
Player's Handbook (Ranger)
Unearthed Arcana (Wildshape Ranger)
Player's Handbook 2 (Distracting Attack ACF)
Complete Adventurer (Master of Many Forms)
Complete Scoundrel (Skill tricks)
Complete Divine (Extra Wildshape)
Complete Warrior (Improved Toughness)
Frostburn (Frozen Wildshape)
Monster Manual (Improved Natural Attack, Multiattack)
Champions of Ruin (Skewer Foe)
-
2014-02-25, 07:26 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Well, he certainly puts Sabretooth to shame.
Originally Posted by Nikolai Leng
Nikolai Leng
Azurin, CE Bear Totem Barbarian 1/Hexblade 4/Black Blood Cultist 5/Osteomancer 10
Spoiler: Blood & Bone
"Who - who are you?" Marvin's every muscle was frozen, eyes wide with terror. He tried to move, tried to do anything. Nothing worked. His very bones were frozen in place.
Nikolai smiled, looking at his claws, at the bony protrusions from his arms. They were stained red - not his blood, thank Pelor, but the blood of his guards. "Why, I'm you," Nikolai said. His voice was surprisingly soft. "I'm Marvin Thistledown, owner of this fine menagerie."
Marvin tried to shake his head, but couldn't. "What do you want from me?"
"Blood and bone," Nikolai said. "Blood and bone. Your creatures here are rare, ones I can't find anywhere else. I'd like a look inside them."
Again that grin, those teeth. Marvin shuddered. "No," he gasped. "I won't let you. I'm dead anyways. You think I don't know that? I won't let you in."
Nikolai shrugged, and Marvin felt his bones jerk within him. His muscles seized violently against the strange motion, but his own bones moved inexorably. Like a puppet, he began to get up, to walk. "You'll do whatever I ask of you, Marvin," Nikolai said. "The things I could make you do... You'll tell me. You'll tell me what I need to know to get in there."
"But you can't!" Marvin was almost sobbing now. "Only I can get in. That's how it works. I can't bring you - even if you try to make me."
"Oh, that's alright," Nikolai said, and the bones in his face began to shift, to flow under his skin. Suddenly it was as though Marvin was looking in a mirror, a strange and bloody reflection of himself. "Like I said, I'm you. Now let's talk about just what I need here..."
Build Details:
SpoilerNIKOLAI LENG
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Bear Totem Barbarian 1|+1|+2|+0|+0|Intimidate 4 ranks, survival 4 ranks, heal 2 ranks, knowledge (nature) 2 ranks, knowledge (arcana) 2 ranks, bluff 2 ranks|ToughnessB, Improved Unarmed Strike, Track|Illiteracy, rage 1/day
2nd|Hexblade 1|+2|+2|+0|+2|Intimidate 5 ranks, knowledge (arcana) 3 ranks, survival 5 ranks||Hexblade’s curse 1/day
3rd|Hexblade 2|+3|+2|+0|+3|Intimidate 6 ranks, knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks, survival 6 ranks|Shape Soulmeld (Dread Carapace)|Arcane resistance
4th|Hexblade 3|+4|+3|+1|+3|Intimidate 7 ranks, survival 7 ranks, bluff 3 ranks||Mettle
5th|Hexblade 4|+5|+3|+1|+4|Intimidate 8 ranks, survival 8 ranks, bluff 4 ranks||Dark companion
6th|Black Blood Cultist 1|+6/+1|+5|+3|+4|Intimidate 9 ranks, survival 9 ranks, knowledge (nature) 4 ranks, bluff 5 ranks|Earth Bloodline|Feral rage (claws), damage reduction 1/silver
7th|Black Blood Cultist 2|+7/+2|+6|+4|+4|Intimidate 10 ranks, survival 10 ranks, heal 4 ranks|Improved GrappleB|Improved Grapple
8th|Osteomancer 1|+7/+2|+8|+4|+6|Intimidate 11 ranks, survival 11 ranks, knowledge (nature) 5 ranks||Boneless, immunity to disease
9th|Osteomancer 2|+8/+3|+9|+4|+7|Intimidate 12 ranks, survival 11.5 ranks, Never Outnumbered skill trick|Extra Rage|Skeletal shift
10th|Osteomancer 3|+9/+4|+9|+5|+7|Intimidate 13 ranks, survival 13 ranks||Bone spurs, unnerve
11th|Osteomancer 4|+10/+5|+10|+5|+8|Intimidate 14 ranks, survival 14 ranks, knowledge (nature) 6 ranks||Enlarge/reduce, iron bones
12th|Osteomancer 5|+10/+5|+10|+5|+8|Intimidate 15 ranks, survival 15 ranks, knowledge (nature) 7 ranks|Imperious Command|Seize the core, silver bones
13th|Black Blood Cultist 3|+11/+6/+1|+10|+5|+9|Intimidate 16 ranks, survival 16 ranks, knowledge (nature) 11 ranks||Feral rage (bite)
14th|Black Blood Cultist 4|+12/+7/+2|+11|+6|+9|Intimidate 17 ranks, survival 17 ranks, knowledge (nature) 15 ranks||Scent, DR 3/silver
15th|Black Blood Cultist 5|+13/+8/+3|+11|+6|+9|Intimidate 18 ranks, survival 18 ranks, knowledge (nature) 18 ranks, knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks|Intimidating Rage|Stranglehold
16th|Osteomancer 6|+14/+9/+4|+12|+7|+10|Intimidate 19 ranks, survival 19 ranks, knowledge (nature) 19 ranks||Aligned bones
17th|Osteomancer 7|+15/+10/+5|+12|+7|+10|Intimidate 20 ranks, survival 20 ranks, knowledge (nature) 20 ranks||Adamantine bones
18th|Osteomancer 8|+16/+11/+6/+1|+13|+7|+11|Intimidate 21 ranks, survival 21 ranks, knowledge (nature) 21 ranks|Bonus Essentia|Sap life
19th|Osteomancer 9|+16/+11/+6/+1|+14|+8|+12|Intimidate 22 ranks, survival 22 ranks, knowledge (nature) 22 ranks||Wield the core
20th|Osteomancer 10|+17/+12/+7/+2|+14|+8|+12|Intimidate 23 ranks, survival 23 ranks, knowledge (nature) 23 ranks||Osteophage[/table]
Build Stub (in case the table formatting changes):
Spoiler
1. Bear Totem Barbarian1- Improved Unarmed Strike, Toughness, Track
2. Hexblade1-
3. Hexblade2- Shape Soulmeld (Dread Carapace)
4. Hexblade3-
5. Hexblade4-
6. Black Blood Cultist1- Earth Bloodline
7. Black Blood Cultist2- Improved Grapple
8. Osteomancer1-
9. Osteomancer2- Extra Rage
10. Osteomancer3-
11. Osteomancer4-
12. Osteomancer5- Imperious Command
13. Black Blood Cultist3-
14. Black Blood Cultist4-
15. Black Blood Cultist5- Intimidating Rage
16. Osteomancer6-
17. Osteomancer7-
18. Osteomancer8- Bonus Essentia
19. Osteomancer9-
20. Osteomancer10-
Skills:
Intimidate 23 ranks, knowledge (nature) 23 ranks, survival 23 ranks, knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, heal 4 ranks, bluff 5 ranks, Never Outnumbered skill trick
Spellcasting:
SpoilerSpells per day/Spells Known
{table=head]Level|1st|2nd|3rd|4th
1st|-|-|-|-
2nd|-|-|-|-
3rd|-|-|-|-
4th|-|-|-|-
5th|0/2|-|-|-
6th|0/3|-|-|-
7th|0/3|-|-|-
8th|0/3|-|-|-
9th|0/3|-|-|
10th|0/3|-|-|-
11th|1/4|-|-|-
12th|1/4|-|-|-
13th|1/4|-|-|-
14th|1/4|-|-|-
15th|1/4|-|-|-
16th|1/4|-|-|-
17th|1/4|-|-|-
18th|1/5|0/3|-|-
19th|1/5|0/3|-|-
20th|1/5|0/3|-|-[/table]
SPELLS:
4- Expeditious Retreat, Treacherous Weapon
6- Enlarge Person
11- Disguise Self
18- Charm Person, Alter Self, Glitterdust, Shatter
Stats:
Spoiler
STARTING STATS: Str 16/Dex 8/Con 12/Int 14/Wis 10/Cha 16
Boost Charisma at every available level.
Suggested Items:
Spoiler
As Nikolai Leng primarily fights with natural weapons, and can augment his abilities with innate spellcasting, items are not a tremendous concern for him. Simply equip him as you would any melee character with a secondary focus on Charisma.
In particular, I would recommend keeping his Strength and Charisma as high as possible. Wands are a reasonable option as well; wands will open up access to spells such as Alter Self several levels before Nikolai gains access to them on his own, and will extend his uses per day. Also, anything that boosts Intimidate checks and grapple checks are obvious boons - although it is worth noting that without a single item, not even a belt of giant's strength, Nikolai Leng has a better grapple check than a tyrannosaurus. You don't need much to go from there to truly extraordinary heights - fearsome armor and gloves of the titan grip will pretty much do it.
Finally, an amulet of mighty fists will consistently add damage to Nikolai's many natural weapons, including his fists, claws, bite and armor spikes.
Level-by-Level Analysis:
SpoilerLEVELS 1-5: You start out as an atypical barbarian, wielding a reach weapon and an unarmed strike for close attacks. You should have excellent hit points and some nice out of combat utility right off the bat thanks to tracking and intimidation. The differences become particularly pronounced once you start taking levels in Hexblade. In addition to providing you with a Charisma-based curse and more intimidate synergy, you get some nice defensive boosts out of arcane resistance and mettle. You’ve given up your familiar for Dark Companion, which helps soften up enemies for your various attacks.
Taking Dread Carapace over Power Attack seems like an odd choice, since its bonus is capped by essentia rather than base attack bonus, but its usefulness will bear out over the next several levels. Unlike Power Attack, Dread Carapace will add damage to your light weapons, and provides 2-to-1 bonuses on bite attacks. Starting next level, you’ll be ditching your weapon in favor of natural attacks, and so Dread Carapace will be the superior option.
LEVELS 6-10: Here you pick up several new attacks. Right off the bat, you get natural attacks when you rage, you pick up Improved Grapple as a bonus feat, and your Earth Bloodline adds on Enlarge Person as a spell known. Enlarged and raging, you’ll be looking at grapple checks of +21 by level 7, putting you just two points shy of a dire bear - without items. Since raging is now an important part of your repertoire, you’re also nabbing Extra Rage at level 9. Enlarge Person helps your intimidate checks as well, so you’ll continue keeping that up.
Your grappling prowess secured, you begin taking levels in Osteomancer. Boneless comes in handy as you relentlessly pursue your foes, allowing you to simply push through most barriers. Skeletal shift gives you a solid untyped bonus to disguise checks, to grow even greater when you pick up Disguise Self as a spell known - with your Charisma focus and without investing a single rank or using a single item, you’ll be looking at a +18 bonus to disguise checks. Most importantly, you pick up bone spurs and unnerve. As your bone spurs count as natural weapons, they benefit from the damage boost of Dread Carapace despite being light weapons. The armor spikes in particular are valuable, as you can use those to deal automatic damage on a successful grapple check. Unnerve provides an easy mass debuff, made better by your Dark Companion and your ability to demoralize enemies.
LEVELS 11-15: Right at level 11, you grab an additional use of Enlarge Person, and you grab Disguise Self to stack with skeletal shift. Since you’re focusing on intimidate, you would be remiss to not pick up Imperious Command, which you get at level 12. You also grab Intimidating Rage at level 15, which allows you to intimidate an enemy as a free action when you enter your rage.
In addition to Imperious Command, level 12 also sees you grabbing seize the core. This is a fantastic mass debuff, letting you paralyze five enemies right off the bat. You’ll be doing a lot with this, but right now enjoy sapping down their Fort save with demoralization and Dark Companion before unleashing a mass paralyzation attempt that can take down a whole swath of enemies.
Once you get seize the core, you’ll take another sojourn into Black Blood Cultist for some additional abilities that have some nice synergy. You get a bite attack to add to your attack routine (and Dread Carapace provides 2-to-1 damage bonuses on bites), some minor DR, scent (which works well with Track), and finally the big one - stranglehold. This lets you make a coup de gras as a move action by snapping with your bite. So now, you can intimidate as a free action with Intimidating Rage, using Never Outnumbered to affect all enemies within 10’ instead of just one. Success means they are cowering for one round and shaken for the next. Then as a standard action, seize the core to paralyze five enemies at once (they get a -4 to their save between cowering and Dark Companion), then as a move action coup de gras the nearest enemy with stranglehold.
LEVELS 16-20: The good continues to get better for you as you finish out Osteomancer. In addition to improved ways to bypass DR with your weapons, you get access to some fantastic new debuffing options. Sap strength deals a sizable penalty to strength, which you can use against high-strength enemies before grappling with them. Wield the core benefits from your extensive save debuffing, and combines with Charm Person to give you even more out of combat utility. You pick up Bonus Essentia, which brings your Dread Carapace damage up to +8 on your bite attack and +4 to all of your other attacks. Finally, you get the wonderful capstone where you can liquify the bones of your foes (or deal significant damage to them on a successful save - although again, your Charisma focus and debuffing makes succeeding on a save difficult). Between that, seize the core and wield the core, you should have a powerful offensive option beyond just grappling at just about every combat.
Your spells improve, too. In addition to the previously referenced Charm Person, you also get Alter Self for a long term buff and more disguise shenanigans and Glitterdust, as an additional debuff and a near-unbeatable defense against invisible foes. Your earth bloodline also gives you Shatter, another insanely versatile spell.
Abilities In and Out of Combat:
SpoilerCOMBAT: You have a variety of options in combat, including grappling, debuffing, fear lockdown and powerful save-or-dies, which should make you a welcome member of any party.
With an itemless grapple check of +31, which improves to a whopping +44 with Strength-boosting items and a fairly cheap set of gloves, you’ll be grappling just about everything you see - to put those numbers into perspective, that puts you on par with a titan, and well above almost everything else in the Monster Manual. You can also sap the strength of enemies before you grapple them to make things even easier. Once grappled, you’ll be automatically damaging with your armor spike bone spurs (as armor spikes automatically damage enemies on a successful grapple), and according to the Rules of the Game, you can also attack with all your natural weapons:
(Emphasis mine.) Originally Posted by ”Rules of the Game”
You also have +17 BAB and several natural attacks to use as secondary weapons, meaning you can attack with your unarmed strike or bone spur four times, and then hit the enemy with your claws and bite as secondary strikes. That’s seven attacks per round before items are taken into account, and every attack you have gets a boost from Dread Carapace. Thanks to your Hexblade spells and Osteomancer abilities, you’ll be large-sized for most of this as well, so you’ll have reach to boot.
You can also demoralize with the best of them - you’re looking at a +34 bonus before items, or a +45 with level-appropriate gear. Intimidating Rage and Never Outnumbered means you can do this as a free action against all enemies within 10’ every time you enter a rage. You can also debuff your enemies with unnerve, sap strength and your Dark Companion, and once per day you can add a curse to the mix as well.
Speaking of debuffing, with most foes taking -4 to their saves and your focus on Charisma, you’ll have several powerful save-or-loses/save-or-dies, including seize the core, which perma-paralyzes up to 10 enemies with a save DC of 25 before items or 31 with level-appropriate gear. Then you can follow that up with stranglehold to coup de gras those paralyzed enemies as a move action.
UTILITY: On the social side, you do quite well - your excellent Charisma and Intimidate focus help you out here, and you also are no slouch at disguises, between Alter Self, Disguise Self and skeletal shift (for a +18 bonus without a single item, or a +26 bonus with Charisma boosters and a masterwork disguise kit). You also get Charm Person and wield the core to take a more… direct approach to influencing NPCs.
Beyond the social encounters, you have scent, which not only helps you sniff out invisible foes to target with Glitterdust but also allows you to follow tracks. Boneless, Alter Self, Expeditious Retreat and Shatter aid with mobility and infiltration, and Shatter also has numerous uses and abuses beyond just breaking locks or doors.
Sources:
Spoiler- Dragon Compendium (Osteomancer, Earth Bloodline)
- Complete Warrior (Hexblade, Intimidating Rage, Extra Rage)
- Magic of Incarnum (Azurin, Shape Soulmeld, Dread Carapace, Bonus Essentia)
- Complete Scoundrel (Never Outnumbered)
- Drow of the Underdark (Imperious Command)
- Champions of Ruin (Black Blood Cultist)
- Player's Handbook 2 (Hexblade dark companion ACF)
- SRD (Bear Totem Barbarian, Improved Unarmed Strike, Track, Toughness, Improved Grapple)
-
2014-02-25, 07:29 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Well, it looks like her puberty was a little bit more scarring than usual...
Originally Posted by Alityra
Alithyra
LE Catfolk Female
5 Duskblade/4 Ghost Faced Killer/ 10 Osteomancer
MAIN STATS
Spoiler
Before Racial or Ability Points
STR 16
DEX 13
CON 14
INT 13
WIS 8
CHA 16
After Racial and Ability Points
STR 18
DEX 18
CON 14
INT 13
WIS 8
CHA 18
HP: Average 116, Max 190, Min 62
AC: 15, touch 14, flatfooted 11
(without armour)
BACKSTORY
SpoilerAlithyra was born to a clan of Druidic Catfolk. Then clan specialized and prided themselves on their Wildshape abilities, using their new forms to hunt larger and larger prey. As Alithyra grew older, she was taught the way, as were all kits. She understood the Spellcasting of their lives with little trouble, though her spells were often different from the others.The true issues occurred when on her first attempt to wildshape, Alithyra instead grew long, barbed spines from her wrist and shoulders. Unable to retract them, she horrified the Elders with her appearance. Holding a council, they decided that she was a bad omen, sent from Malar to punish them for unknown deeds. She was spared, but exiled. Mortified that even her family and childhood friends would shun her, and desperate to prove herself still part of the Tribe, she still lurks in the shadowy corners of her Tribe’s wood, hunting any who would do them harm. She has honed herself into a horrifying predator, striking from nothing and disappearing with her prey.
Unbeknownst to her, her frequent kills of unknowing caravans have sparked tales of a monster in the woods, scaring off all who would enter. The lack of trade has begun to cripple the Catfolk Tribe, who is now hiring anyone who fancies themselves brave enough to fight the monster they created..
BUILD
SpoilerNAME OF ENTRY
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Duskblade 1|+1|+2|+0|+2| Climb 1, Heal 4(cc), Jump 2, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Swim 3|Toughness|Arcane Attunement, Armoured Mage (Light)
2nd|Duskblade 2|+2|+3|+0|+3| Climb 2, Heal 5(cc), Jump 3, Knowledge (Arcana) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Swim 3||Combat Casting
3rd|Duskblade 3|+3|+3|+1|+3| Climb 3, Heal 6(cc), Jump 3, Knowledge (Arcana) 3, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Swim 3|Two Weapon Fighting|Arcane Channeling
4th|Duskblade 4|+4|+4|+1|+4| Climb 3, Heal 6(cc), Jump 3, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Swim 3| |Armoured Mage (Medium)
5th|Duskblade 5|+5|+4|+1|+4| Climb 4, Heal 8(cc), Jump 3, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Swim 3| |Quick Cast 1/Day
6th|Osteomancer 1|+5|+6|+1|+6| Climb 4, Heal 8, Intimidate 3, Jump 3, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Swim 3|Catfolk Pounce|Boneless, Immunity to Disease
7th|Osteomancer 2|+6|+7|+1|+7| Climb 4, Heal 8, Intimidate 3, Jump 3, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 3, Swim 3| |Skeletal Shift
8th|Osteomancer 3|+7|+7|+2|+7| Climb 4, Heal 8, Hide 3, Intimidate 3, Jump 3, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 3, Swim 3| |Bone Spurs, Unnerve
9th|Osteomancer 4|+8|+8|+2|+8| Climb 4, Heal 8, Hide 6, Intimidate 3, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 3, Swim 3|Power Attack|Enlarge/Reduce Person, Iron Bones
10th|Osteomancer 5|+8|+8|+2|+8| Climb 4, Heal 8, Hide 9, Intimidate 6, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 3, Swim 3| |Seize the Core, Silver Bones
11th|Osteomancer 6|+9|+9|+3|+9| Climb 4, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 6, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 3, Swim 3| |Aligned Bones (Lawful)
12th|Osteomancer 7|+10|+9|+3|+9| Climb 4, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 6, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 6, Swim 3|Improved Inititative|Adamantine Bones
13th|Osteomancer 8|+11|+10|+3|+10| Climb 4, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 6, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 9, Swim 3| |Sap Life
14th|Ghost Faced Killer 1|+12|+12|+3|+10| Climb 4, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 6, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 12, Swim 3| |Ghost Step 1/Day
15th|Ghost Faced Killer 2|+13|+13|+3|+10| Climb 9, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 6, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 12, Swim 3|Arcane Strike|Sudden Strike +1d6
16th|Osteomancer 9|+13|+13|+4|+10| Climb 9, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 9, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 12, Swim 3| |Wield the Core
17th|Osteomancer 10|+14|+14|+3|+11| Climb 9, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 12, Jump 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 12, Swim 3| |Osteophage
18th|Ghost Faced Killer 3|+15|+14|+4|+12| Climb 9, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 12, Jump 9, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 12, Swim 3|Improved Two Weapon Fighting|Frightful Attack 1/Day
19th|Ghost Faced Killer 4|+16|+15|+4|+12| Climb 9, Heal 8, Hide 12, Intimidate 17, Jump 9, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Move Silent 12, Swim 3| |Ghost Step 2/Day
[/table]
SPELLCASTING
SpoilerSpells per day
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
2st|3|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
3nd|4|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
4rd|5|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
5th|6|6|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
6th|6|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
7th|6|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
8th|6|7|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
9th|6|7|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
10th|6|7|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
11th|6|7|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
12th|6|8|6|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
13th|6|8|6|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
14th|6|8|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
15th|6|8|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
16th|6|8|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
17th|6|8|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
18th|6|9|8|3|-|-|-|-|-|-
19th|6|9|8|3|-|-|-|-|-|-
20th|6|9|8|3|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]
Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
2st|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
3nd|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
4rd|4|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
5th|4|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
6th|4|6|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
7th|4|6|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
8th|4|7|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
9th|4|7|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
10th|4|8|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
11th|4|8|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
12th|4|9|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
13th|4|9|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
14th|4|10|5|1|-|-|-|-|-|-
15th|4|10|5|1|-|-|-|-|-|-
16th|4|10|5|1|-|-|-|-|-|-
17th|4|10|5|1|-|-|-|-|-|-
18th|4|11|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
19th|4|11|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
20th|4|11|6|2|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]
SPELLSSpoiler
0. Acid Splash, Disrupt Undead, Ray of Frost, Touch of Fatigue
1. Bigby’s Tripping Hand, Cause Fear, Color Spray, Jump, Magic Weapon, Obscuring Mist, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shocking Grasp, Stand, Swift Expeditious Retreat
2. Animalistic Power, Darkvision, See Invisibility, Spider Climb, Swift Fly, Swift Invisibility
3. Crown of Might, Vampiric Touch
LEVELSSpoiler
1. Just starting out, Alithyra has started to learn from her Tribe the way of the Hunt. She is taught the way of Malar, and uses her spells to her advantage. With her Arcane Attunement, she sends the prey running to the others with Ghost Sound and Flare. She uses her catfolk speed to race down prey, her Toughness enabling her to fight animals usually too difficult for even more experienced hunters.
5. Her casting becoming more and more of a necessity, Alithyra has shown to be fast both in and out of Combat, between her speed and Two Weapon Fighting, often backed by her Bigby’s Tripping Hand and Jump. Her ability to deliver her spells through melee is now online, and proves effective, as her clan can now hunt even the mightiest of bears. Her Shocking Grasp and Touch of Fatigue make them hardly a fight.
10. Hunting on her own, Alithyra has to use her newly developed Osteomancer abilities, namely her Enlarge Person to be able to take on bigger and bigger challenges. She’s recently discovered her power to paralyze creatures via her uncanny control of the bones, but it’s still too weak to use on anything bigger than standard prey.
15. She is unstoppable. Nothing enters her realm without her approval. Between her new ability to become invisible, thanks to Ghost Step, and Arcane Strike coupled with [Arcane Channeling[/I], nothing can withstand her assault. She is in and out in a flash, Wielding the powers of her magic through her Bone Spurs as if it were child’s play.
20. There is silence, then there is death. She appears out of nowhere, pouncing upon her prey and channeling Vampiric Touch. When teamed up with her Stunning Strike and Arcane Strike, there is little that survives. Those that do, are mortified by her Unnerve and Frightful Strike abilities. While they stagger, is shock, she whisks herself and her prey away with Swift Invisiblity.
SourcesSpoiler
CLASSES
Spoiler
Duskblade (PHII pg 19)
Ghost Faced Killer (CA pg 51)
Osteomancer (Drag Comp pg 82)
FEATS
Spoiler
Toughness (PH pg 101)
Two Weapon Fighting (PH pg 102)
Power Attack (PH pg 98)
Improved Two Weapon Fighting (PH pg 96)
Arcane Strike (CW pg 96)
Catfolk Pounce (ROtW pg 148)
SpellsSpoilerAll Spells retrieved from the Player's Handbooks I & II
** All stats and Numerical Values are assumed without items or WBL:
Spoiler
Originally Posted by SoraWolf7
Originally Posted by relytdan
Originally Posted by Tim Proctor
-
2014-02-25, 07:30 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Dance, my puppets, DANCE!
Originally Posted by Mavis Parvana
-
2014-02-25, 07:35 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
It'sIt was the Eye of the Tiger Originally Posted by Leo
'Leo'
--Patchfur Wildcub Fluidform Boneweaver Manyshapes
Chaotic Neutral
Tibbit
--Formerly, Anthropomorphic Leopard
Druid 4 / Osteomancer 10 / Shaper of Form 2 / Warshaper 4
--Formerly, Racial Hitdice 2 / Level Adjustment 2 / Druid 4 / Osteomancer 2 / Shaper of Form 1
Theme Art:
Spoiler
Spoiler: Before Renaissance
Trapped in a shape not my own,
Limbs twisted into form unknown.
Each day I search for an escape,
Magics to break, unmake this shape.
Spoiler: After Renaissance
In a shape of my own making,
Freedom no longer worth taking.
In two bodies I now exist,
One or the other, I do not resist.
One for hunting, fighting and play.
The other; to laugh, love and parley.
Who I was, I am and will remain,
In this new form, different perspectives, I will gain.
Disclaimer:
Spoiler
This entry makes use of a rule interpretation. The Shaper of Form's modify self ability: Renaissance. This allows the character to, among other things, change their race with three restrictions; you can not change type (subtype is neither mentioned, nor is it the same as type), your abilities scores do not change and you can not choose to become a race with a level adjustment.
The rule interpretation: An anthropomorphic animal's race includes its Racial Hitdice and Level Adjustment. Changing race to something without a level adjustment removes the Racial Hitdice and Level Adjustment. The only thing the character retains of the original race is the ability scores. Skill points are recalculated for the new 1st level, Druid.
How this affects this entry: The character has had to reallocate skill points. Considering the character retains all other Hitdice, BAB and skills despite losing the ability to progress in the prestige classes, once skill points are reallocated, the character regains the ability to progress in both. The BAB retained from the two levels in Osteomancer fulfills the requirement for itself.
I expect an elegance penalty but do not believe this should prevent me from qualifying for the secret ingredient. This is cheesy. Is it a flavor to your liking?
Druid Variants Used: Druidic Avenger and Druid - swift and deadly hunter
Ability Scores:
Spoiler
32 point buy. (Racial: +6 Str, +8 Dex, +4 Con, Int = 11, +4 Wis)
{table=head]Stat|1st|4th|8th|12th|16th|20th|Final
Str|20|-|21|22|23|24|24
Dex|22|-|-|-|-|-|22
Con|18|-|-|-|-|-|18
Int|11|12|-|-|-|-|12
Wis|16|-|-|-|-|-|16
Cha|16|-|-|-|-|-|16[/table]
The Recipe:
Spoiler
Before Renaissance
Spoiler
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Level Adjustment 1|--|--|--|--|----------|----------|----------
2nd|Level Adjustment 2|--|--|--|--|----------|----------|----------
3rd|Racial HD 1|+0|+2|+2|+0|Craft (Bone Working) +4, Listen +2, Spot +2|Toughness|Improved Grab (bite), Pounce, Scent, Darkvision 60ft, Low-Light Vision, Bite (1d6), 2 Claws (1d3)
4th|Racial HD 2|+1|+3|+3|+0|Craft (Bone Working) +1 (5), Jump +1 (1)|----------|Same as above
5th|Druid 1|+1|+5|+3|+2|Knowledge (Nature) +4 (4)|Spell focus (transmutation)|AC Bonus, Fast Movement +10ft, Rage 1/day, Wild Empathy (-4), Favored Enemy, Track, Nature Sense
6th|Druid 2|+2|+6|+3|+3|Knowledge (Arcana) +2 cc (2), Heal +1|---------|Woodland Stride
7th|Druid 3|+3|+6|+4|+3|Knowledge (Arcana) +2 cc (4), Heal +1 (2)|---------|Trackless Step, Fast Movement +20ft
8th|Druid 4|+4|+7|+4|+4|Heal +2 (4), Craft (alchemy) +3 (3)|Great Fortitude|Resist Nature's Lure
9th|Osteomancer 1|+4|+9|+4|+6|Craft (Alchemy) +2 (5), Knowledge (arcana) +1 (5)|---------|Boneless, Immunity to Disease
10th|Osteomancer 2|+5|+10|+4|+7|Craft (Bone working) +3 (8)|---------|Skeletal Shift, +1 spellcasting
11th|Shaper of Form 1|+5|+12|+4|+9|Craft (Bone Working) +3 (11)|Weapon Finesse|Like Begets Like, Modify Self (Renaissance), +1 spellcasting
[/table]
After Renaissance
Spoiler
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Druid 1|+0|+2|+0|+2|Knowledge (arcana) +2 cc (2), Knowledge (nature) +4 (4), Heal +4 (4), Craft (alchemy) +4 (4),|Toughness|AC Bonus, Fast Movement +10ft, Rage 1/day, Wild Empathy (-4), Favored Enemy, Track, Nature Sense
2nd|Druid 2|+1|+3|+0|+3|Craft (bone working) +4 (4)|---------|Woodland Stride
3rd|Druid 3|+2|+3|+1|+3|Knowledge (arcana) +1 cc (3), Craft (bone working) +2 (6)|Spell Focus (transmutation)|Trackless Step, Fast Movement +20ft
4th|Druid 4|+3|+4|+1|+4|Craft (bone working) +1 (7), Craft (alchemy) +1 (5), Disguise +1 cc (1), Knowledge (nature) +1 (5)|----------|Resist Nature's Lure
5th|Osteomancer 1|+3|+6|+1|+6|Knowledge (arcana) +2 (5), Craft (bone working) +1 (8)|---------|Boneless, Immunity to Disease
6th|Osteomancer 2|+4|+7|+1|+7|Use Magic Device +2 (2), Spellcraft +1 (1)|Great Fortitude|Skeletal Shift, +1 spellcasting
7th|Shaper of Form 1|+4|+9|+1|+9|Concentration +3 (3)|---------|Like Begets Like, Modify Self (Renaissance), +1 spellcasting
8th|Warshaper 1|+4|+11|+1|+9|Concentration +3 (6)|----------|Morphic Immunities, Morphic weapons
9th|Warshaper 2|+5|+12|+1|+9|Concentration +3 (9)|Weapon Finesse|Morphic Body
10th|Warshaper 3|+6|+12|+2|+10|Concentration +3 (12)|----------|Morphic Reach
11th|Warshaper 4|+7|+13|+2|+10|Concentration +2 (14), Disguise +1 (1)|----------|Morphic Healing
12th|Osteomancer 3|+8|+13|+3|+10|Use Magic Device +3 (5)|Multiattack|Bonespurs, Unnerve
13th|Osteomancer 4|+9|+14|+3|+11|Use Magic Device +3 (8)|----------|Enlarge/Reduce, Iron Bones, +1 spellcasting
14th|Osteomancer 5|+9|+14|+3|+11|Use Magic Device +3 (11)|---------|Seize the Core, Silver Bones
15th|Osteomancer 6|+10|+15|+4|+12|Use Magic Device +3 (14)|Improved Multiattack|Aligned Bones, +1 spellcasting
16th|Osteomancer 7|+11|+15|+4|+12|Use Magic Device +3 (17)|---------|Adamantine Bones
17th|Osteomancer 8|+12|+16|+4|+13|Use Magic Device +3 (20)|---------|Sap Life, +1 spellcasting
18th|Osteomancer 9|+12|+16|+5|+13|Spellcraft +2 (3), Use Magic Device +1 (21)|Surrogate Spellcasting|Wield the Core
19th|Osteomancer 10|+13|+17|+5|+14|Spellcraft +2 (5), Use Magic Device +1 (22)|---------|Osteophage, +1 spellcasting
20th|Shaper of Form 2|+14|+18|+5|+15|Spellcraft +2 (7), Use Magic Device +1 (23)|---------|Fortify Item, polymorph 1/day
[/table]
Bolded items are requirements met for prestige class. Tables reflects base saves only.
Spellcasting:
Spoiler
Druid Spells per day
Before Renaissance
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
4th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
5th|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
6th|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
7th|4|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
8th|5|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
9th|5|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
10th|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-
11th|5|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]
After Renaissance
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
1st|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
2nd|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
3rd|4|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
4th|5|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
5th|5|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
6th|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-
7th|5|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
8th|5|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
9th|5|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
10th|5|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
11th|5|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
12th|5|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-
13th|6|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-
14th|6|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-
15th|6|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-
16th|6|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-
17th|6|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-
18th|6|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-
19th|6|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-
20th|6|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-[/table]
When the Past is Shed, Renaissance: ECL 1
Spoiler
I have decided to record my tale before I renounce everything that I am and finally throw off the shackles of my creator. Perhaps it will serve as a warning to those that seek to raise others of my kind to awareness. It does not always end well and we can end resenting those that tore us from our blissful and ignorant existence. For others, my tale may be a blueprint and map to freedom. Let us start at ... well, a beginning...
I have no real 'memories' of my time before the awakening. Animals have only base intelligence, enough to coordinate their bodies, follow their instincts and, at the best of time, learn certain tricks taught to them by more intelligent beings, though only if reinforced constantly enough to become a sort of ... muscle memory. That was my existence. The thrill of the hunt, the taste of blood, ripping of flesh, sharp hunger pains that drove me to kill and the blissful medium of contentment after a full meal.
My story starts in servitude to what I now call a Druid. I would not call it slavery. I had the ability to ignore the summons, if not the knowledge that I could. It was like another instinct, calling me towards it as if another need, such a mating or the hunt. Whatever ritual called me, it awoke me to a level of understanding I previously lacked. I wanted, rather than needed, to protect the source of the call. It was a female. Some ugly, mutated and balding monkey of some sort. Halflings, I think they are called. Even then, I knew the thing was too immature, child-like, to survive very long without protection. ... I am, and was even then, fiercely protective of weak things that don't seem to be food. I still don't understand why this is but it is a part of me, something deep in what is referred to as a soul.
At the side of this halfling, I never did learn her name, I was taken to places far from my territory, faced creatures I would have avoided even if hunger was tearing at my innards, and I grew powerful. Not only that, I tasted real intelligence. Just as I was growing accustomed to this intelligence, it was taken from me. With the death of my Druid, all the power and intelligence, all the cunning and skill ... It was torn from me like the air from the lungs of a deer when its throat is ripped out.
I mourned her loss briefly, I had little capacity for true sorrow, and eventually made my way back to my old territory. My recall of this time is severely limited. Having possessed intelligence left me with a longing for what I had lost and this allowed some sort memories to develop. The next clear thing I remember was another calling. I was not the same as before. Something about it was sinister and caused the hairs on my body to stiffen and raise. I could not resist the call. Something in me remembered the power, the skill and the promise of intelligence. I answered... and regret it to this very day.
This Druid was ... wrong. He stank of death. He smelled of sour fear, terror left so long that it spoiled the blood. That blood, he reeked of the blood of others riddled with that fear smell. His form was twisted and his race ... I can never remember what he was. All I remember of the encounter was the barred teeth, twisted, maddening and ... Evil. I was overcome with blackness and I was not the only one. When I awoke, my form was twisted, humanoid, and so were the other creatures around me. Dozens of others, like myself, had been transformed into monstrosities. I immediately fled and never looked back.
I 'survived' for a time, growing accustomed to my new body and marveling at the level of understanding open to me. I knew that I would have to seek out others. I could not bare all of the questions my mind brought forward without answers. I had dim memories of my Druid and followed once more, the path we had previously travelled. Somewhere, on that path, there were others like her and they would take me in. They would teach me. And they did. They channelled my animalistic nature towards combat and revealed the mysteries of nature to me. I immediately rejected the idea of taking an animal companion, the pain of the loss of my former Druid still fresh in me, and never grew accustomed to the use of armor. Instead, I channelled everything that I was ... animal ... into my walk with nature. I focused on seeking out and destroying that which was unnatural. Aberrations, and to a lesser extent, undead were my focus.
During all of this, I never grew truly comfortable in my now humanoid form. It was unnatural and I began to seek ways to undo what that twisted Druid did to me, though I also sought to retain my intelligence. I knew that other Druids often took the form of animals and, even though that appealed to me on a base level, I would always be tied to this unnatural form. I sought out those that practiced other forms of shapechanging magic, arcane or divine or something else, I had a burning desire to shed my humanoid form. It started with an almost complete focus on the transmutation magics, especially the ones that gave the ability to shift forms. If I could find the secret behind it, I could isolate it and make it permanent.
At first, the secret lead me towards the study of bone manipulation. I was torn about following that path because it seemed too much like what that foul Druid did to me and the other Druids that taught me looked upon it with disfavor. In the end, I took the decision upon myself and walked down that path. If this was the magic that crafted this body of mine, it was also the magic that could reverse that change. I learned to liquify my own bones and even how to reshape them to make myself appear slightly different. My frustration grew when I could not make the change proceed further. I vented my rage in my prayers, beseeching nature to show me what I missed.
... That is when the sleep came over me. Some spirits had heard me and had taken notice. I remember dreaming. I do not remember the dreams. I know that I was tested and was not found wanting. I was ... given an understanding of how things are put together. I ... cannot describe it. I do not possess that level of wisdom to articulate that kind of knowledge to someone of equal intelligence of my own. Whatever gave me the knowledge, it was infinitely wise to be able to teach me this wonder. I learned that I would never be able to return to my previous form, what was done to me could not be undone without immense power but I could leave my current form behind and exist in two bodies, one similar to a halfling and the other, a feline form. I would be smaller than I was, but it would be nearly identical in every other way.
So this brings us to the end of my tale. It is a long one and will be longer yet, should this succeed. I do not know if I will be the same person after the change. I will have new instincts. All I know is that my knowledge and my strength will survive the change. Now that I have put it to parchment, so will my story...
Spoiler: Level Breakdown
ECL 4: We being our adventure with 2 Racial HD and only have somewhat decent HP due to a good CON score afforded to us by our generous ability scores. Due to this, the character will not be much of a presence in melee combat though they can service as a flanking assistant. At this level, we are basically a glorified animal companion.
ECL 5: With our first level of Druid, we can shift more into a support role. With our ability to activate druid wands and other items, we cement ourselves with a definite role. Our choice of druid variants reflect our animalistic nature, forgoing armor, wildshaping and animal companion for more combat oriented features.
ECL 6 - 8: Typical lower level druid progression. We focus on buff spells and battlefield control spells, anything that doesn't really depend on a DC or caster level. We are not a frontline combatant and should enter melee only in a necessity, or when we have sizable buffs working in our favor.
ECL 9 - 10: With the addition of the Osteomancer, our character gains a degree of control over his form that plants the idea for a future change. The ability to squeeze through tight places will add to his usefulness though the character is not built around stealth. We also gain access to 3rd level druid spells.
ECL 11: This level brings us to the point where the character throws off his previous form (and hampering LA + RHD). Being a monstrous humanoid and unable to change his type, one of the only options available his the Tibbit race from the same source book as the Osteomancer. This race gives the character a humanoid form that he can use to interact with others, yet fulfills the wish to return to a feline nature that is an irreplacable part of himself. We also gain the shapechanger subtype. With that and the ability to shift forms, this opens up the Warshaper prestige class and it serves as a much need buff for melee combat.
Twist the Bones and Bend the Back: ECL 10
Spoiler
I look back and my mind wonders at my overpowering need to escape a form that was so powerful and elegant. I certainly remember the desire though the reasoning behind it seems flawed and wasteful. Regardless, I do not believe it was a mistake. I wouldn't be present in my current form if not for the series of events that lead up to this point, and the world would certainly be a more boring place without my presence to liven it up.
I have been traveling with a halfling for some time now, cleverly disguised as her familiar. Our little ruse has fooled most of her companions, though the Druid sees too much. I am quite pampered and fed well, being required only for a certain impression and to serve as a bodyguard when the occasion presents itself. This leaves me all the time I truly require to further my studies of osteomancy. The group leaves a wake of bodies behind it and no one, save the Druid, notices me slipping away to experiment.
Oddly enough, the things I have discovered have little direct impact on my control over my skeleton. As the skeleton is the "core" of my power, I have learned how to twist and shape my entire body during the shifting process from my humanoid form, to my feline form. I have discovered a method of twisting the bones on the simplest level, giving them superior hardness and flexibility. My feline form has every organ encased in a protective cocoon of bone and each nerve cluster shielded by cartilage. My joints stretch and snap back with the greatest ease, extending my reach beyond that which is natural. I am no harmless kitten in my feline form.
Spoiler: Level Breakdown
ECL 7: With the loss of +2 LA and the two racial HD, our ECL drops to 7 and our abilities are now useful for their level. We are only one level behind an actual druid on spellcasting. We are a small character now, tiny in housecat form, and our ability to squeeze through places is all that much better.
ECL 8 - 10: The inclusion of warshaper turns our housecat form into a very useful form, despite the -8 Str from shifting. We pick up Weapon Finesse to use with our attacks. We can grow new natural attacks, such as rake attacks, or make our existing ones better. Morphic reach gives us the ability to attack without moving into another's space (and provoking AoO). Morphic Body offsets the Str penalty to only effectively -4, which a well timed Bull's Strength will eliminate and a Rage will bring higher. During these levels, it is a good idea to have a Necklace of Natural Attacks, to assist with damage output.
Deja Vu and the Return of Power: ECL 15
Spoiler
I recall the drastic reduction of my power after the completion of my transformation. No true change is ever easy, or free. I finally feel that I have returned that point after all this time, though things are different as well. It feels that I have lived these moments twice and have achieved more this second time through. My understanding of my core and my tissues is approaching complete. Through subtle manipulation of my marrow, I have been able to render myself immune to disease. Through an entire different method, I have learned how to excite my metabolism and increase my natural healing a thousand fold.
I have begun to sense the bone structures of those around me and it is a bit unnerving. With enough focus, I believe I could learn to control them as I now control my own. Sometimes I wonder if my bones are in a constant state of flux, neither solid nor liquid, as readily as it responds to my will. With but a thought, spurs of bones erupt from my flesh, coating me in a mane of sharp spikes and even forming rudimentary gauntlets on my forelimbs. Ether form of mine has this ability, though I find most use in feline form. The bonespurs are even as hard as most steel, eliminating my need for a mundane weapon in either form.
-------------
I have made the connection I needed! The bones of others are now my playthings, living, dead and undead alike! At least, I can halt the movement of others with but a thought. Actual manipulation and fine motor control are beyond me at this point. My mental 'touch' is still ham-fisted and tends to cause the bones to fracture and splint if I push too hard. I can even expand or contract my size as I wish, it is a simple thing really. I merely 'borrow' energy from the universe around. Everything is energy, anyway, just like the tune of a song. Mere frequency separates one type from another.
Blast! The Druid is staring at me again. I am certain he knows my secret and doesn't particularly approve of my Osteomancy, though he keeps his silence on the matter on account of how useful I am. Yes, I'm sure of it. Either way, I tolerate him merely because I can learn from him. I watch him when he prepares his spells and, in doing so, I have been able to progress my understanding of the Druidic magic. It does take second place to my Osteomancy, after all.
Spoiler
ECL 11: Our final level of Warshaper gives us fast healing, allowing us to spend any other resources on party members or use our spells solo for buffs.
ECL 12: Now we are progressing Osteomancer full out. With our ability to participate in combat cemented, we focus on the abilities that further shape and mold our form. Bonespurs, being a natural weapon, benefit from the Necklace of Natural Attacks and provide incentive for things not to try and grapple/swallow our character. We gain Multiattack so that an attack with Bonespurs becomes our primary attack, followed by 2 claws and a bite (or more if we grew rake attacks). We have chosen to focus on Use Magical Device to offset our delayed spellcasting, in a few levels it will pay off. This will give us a wider role to take when outside of housecat form.
ECL 13: The ability to shrink and enlarge ourselves makes us more dangerous. Grow to small size in cat form? We have 10ft reach. Shrink to Diminutive size and we still possess 5ft of reach. No one expects a 6 inch little kitten to rip your face off from 5ft away. We also gain a sizeable bonus to our Hide modifier, making up for our lack of ranks in the skill. Overcoming damage reduction is becoming a problem and Iron bones goes a long way to make up for this. 4th level Druid spells assist as well.
ECL 14: Seize the Core is a really good way to set up multiple creatures for Coup de grace attacks, either by yourself or your harder hitting party members. Silver bones assists with further bypassing damage reduction.
ECL 15: Speaking of bypassing damage reduction, we gain the chaotic alignment on our bonespurs. We also gain Improved Multiattack, so we no longer take penalties for attacking with multiple natural weapons. An itty-bitty, tiny, special blender-of-death kitty we are turning into. Also, our Use Magical Device skill has 14 ranks. With our charisma mod (+3 or higher), we have a good chance to activate just about any item we need to.
Fluid Forms, Shifting Power: ECL 16 - 20 Sweet Spot
Spoiler
Things have taken a unexpected turn. I have revealed myself to the Druid. Yes, intentionally. He did not catch me napping and bribe me with catnip. That would be beneath me. Regardless of how it happened, I found an unexpected ally and sympathizer. Not that I needed one, of course.
The Druid has begin to teach me about his wild shaping ability, something that I had been on the cusp of mastering long ago, had I not firmly rejected it due to my prior convictions. Sadly, I would not be able to fully aquire the ability as my Druidic path was one that did not fully embrace it. On a positive note, my natural shape shifting ability, combined with my Osteomancy and understanding of the Morphic traits inherent in it, I could master the magic that allowed other changes.
Regarding my Osteomancy, I am nearing mastery. I am able to increase the density of my bones to such a point that I can cut into adamantine. I can reduce the density of other's bones to the point they become brittle and weak. I can play puppeteer with the skeletons of others, and short of suicidal manipulation, force them to dance to my will. Mostly, I use this ability to keep my sorcerer from harm without revealing myself. Should things go really bad, I can melt the bones of another by sheer willpower, outright killing them or massively damaging their skeletal structure.
I have also discovered a way to cast spells while in my feline form. It was a simple matter of altering a few bone structures and forming a larynx of sufficient complexity to direct the energies around us into spells. It is not a proper replacement for my humanoid form and took quite a lot of practice to perfect, though it does increase the difficulty for other to decrypt which spells I chose to use.
---------
I have finally learned how to shift my form into something other than own own! Currently, I can only perform this feat once before I have to rest. The Druid was correct. My understanding of how muscles, tendons and the body is out together has allowed me to extend my Morphic talents to the other forms. My feline form is a force to be reckoned with though the new heights of power I can attain with this ability is limitless.
This is just the beginning of the greatest adventure.
Spoiler
ECL 16: With the Adamantine Bones, we have very few damage reductions that can't be bypassed by our bonespurs.
ECL 17: We gain access to 5th level druid spells. Getting to some of the really good buffs now. Sap Life allows us to drain an opponents strength to almost nothing. We gain at least 3 uses per day thanks to our CHA score (more with item enhancements).
ECL 18: Ah, Weild the Core. The image of a cat controlling the actions of others through pure telekinetic manipulations of their skeletal structure, as though puppets, just tickles me pink. We had the choice of taking ability focus to make this harder to resist but I eventually settled on Surrogate Spellcasting so that we can can overcome the restriction of the housecat form and cast spells while we are a housecat. This doesn't allow us activate spell completion items.
ECL 19: Oestophage, the capstone. Better late than never and a decent way to deal 10d6 damage in a pinch. Some things will fall to the DC 18 save (higher with cha items) but most won't.
ECL 20: We chose to take another level of Shaper of Form to increase saves, BAB and mostly to get the ability to polymorph 1/day. At the very least, it will give us a different form from the housecat. We gave a caster level of 10 at this point, so there are some decent things we can turn into. Useful in an emergency when the character is caught in the 1 hour downtime between ability to switch to housecat form.
Last notes: Properly equipped, the character can reach an armor class of 50 and an attack bonus of +35 for every attack made while in feline form, thanks to improved Multiattack. That's at least 6 attacks per round. With the right buffs, this can only go higher. I feel this completely offsets he need for high BAB. Damage dealing can (as in 'might') be a problem if certain equipment is not available. The Osteomancer's class abilities go a long way to ensuring this is a minimal risk.
Sources:
Spoiler
Player's Handbook
-Toughness
-Great Fortitude
-Spell Focus
-Weapon Finesse
Monster Manual
-Multiattack
Savage Species
-Anthropomorphic Creatures
-Improved Multiattack (also see Draconomicon)
-Surrogate Spellcasting
Dragon Compendium
-Tibbit
-Osteomancer
-Shaper of Form
d20srd.org
-Druid variants
-
2014-02-25, 07:37 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die.
Originally Posted by Auric Goldbones
-
2014-02-25, 07:38 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
What he wouldn't give to be Spyke...
Originally Posted by Fred
-
2014-02-25, 07:39 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Call him Weapon M
Originally Posted by Nagol
-
2014-02-25, 07:41 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
The sibilant serpent
Bone Spur (spiked gauntlet) Damage : 2d6 Originally Posted by Sashsa Silvertongue
Last edited by Kuulvheysoon; 2014-02-25 at 09:40 PM.
-
2014-02-25, 07:42 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
- Location
- The Great White North
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
...And that should be everything. Thanks for your patience, guys.
-
2014-02-25, 07:44 PM (ISO 8601)Ogre in the Playground
- Join Date
- Jan 2012
- Location
- Secret Lair on Sol c
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
15 builds ... from a very quick scan through including 3 using wildshape and 2 with VoP ...
-
2014-02-25, 07:51 PM (ISO 8601)Ogre in the Playground
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
I might have missed it but I only saw two with wildshape. One Druid that used it and one Ranger. Originally Posted by Sian
I am going to enjoy reading these builds tonight. They all look so interesting.
-
2014-02-25, 07:52 PM (ISO 8601)Dwarf in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2013
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Dang, I didn't realize what timezone the reveal was in! I have most of a Duskblade/Chameleon/Osteomancer build ready too!
-
2014-02-25, 07:56 PM (ISO 8601)Titan in the Playground
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
- Location
- Terra Australis
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Another comp where I missed the deadline...my own fault, of course.
My build wasn't exactly imaginative: Barbarian 2/Hexblade 4 (dark companion)/Suel Arcanamach 4/Osteomancer 10.My winning competition entries: Kinvig Arrumskor | The Great Pumpkinhead | Wynfrith d'Acker
Torn-City - Massively multiplayer online browser based crime RPG
-
2014-02-25, 07:56 PM (ISO 8601)Barbarian in the Playground
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
Unfortunately it looks like real life caught up to me and I couldn't get my build in this round :(
-
2014-02-25, 07:58 PM (ISO 8601)Troll in the Playground
- Join Date
- Sep 2012
- Location
- Necro-equestrian Pugilism
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
I'm looking forward to reading the builds later. I can already spot a couple of builds that I fiddled with but couldn't get rolling, so I'm really interested to see how their chefs made them work.
Good luck to the Chefs, and Bon Appetite to the Judges!
Edit:
Aww shucks, I miss you too. Originally Posted by Thurbane
Another comp where I missed the deadline...my own fault, of course.
Last edited by Deadline; 2014-02-25 at 07:59 PM.
-
2014-02-25, 08:16 PM (ISO 8601)Dwarf in the Playground
- Join Date
- Oct 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LIV
I admit, I had fun with my build, and there's a lot of cool ideas and delicious cotton candy fluff here. Whether the build I submitted wins or loses, this was a learning experience for me.
As of June 2017:Spoiler: Before June 2017I Am A: True Neutral Human Bard (3rd Level)
Ability Scores:
Strength-13
Dexterity-11
Constitution-11
Intelligence-16
Wisdom-12
Charisma-11
I Am A: True Neutral Human Wizard (2nd Level)
Ability Scores:
Strength-12
Dexterity-11
Constitution-12
Intelligence-18
Wisdom-11
Charisma-12
What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?
Reply With Quote
RSS Feeds: 
