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2017-10-03, 11:04 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Note: I've just posted an update to Marcus Armstrong. Apparently part of the backstory got lost somewhere along the line. Now fixed, hopefully.
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Avatar by Rain Dragon
Wish building characters for D&D 3.5 was simpler? Try HeroForge Anew! An Excel-based, highly automated character builder. v7.4 now out!
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2017-10-03, 11:07 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2008
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- Lake Jackson, TX
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I didn't know of the honorary two entry limit gentleperson's agreement until right now.
There's a few of these 'traditions' that some judges take into account, that newer contestants just don't know about. Between IC and VC I've seen it happen a few times to other builds, and I believe to my own once.
Thank you Heliomance for not penalising the person that did submit more than two. :)
I don't suppose someone has a list of these sort of traditions, that are not yet yet official rules, so we all can know about them? Or perhaps go through them to put them in the rules?The beatings will continue until morale improves!
Vaz approval for the best backstory. Villainous Competition 16: Burn Baby Burn
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/shows...&postcount=114
Honorable Mention Villainous Competition 22: I Am The Night
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showt...e-Night!/page6 Xihu Ayame
Click my Vulpix to feed it yummy berries!
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2017-10-03, 11:13 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2011
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- Texas
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I've got a new fantasy TTRPG about running your own fencing school in a 3 musketeers pastiche setting. Book coming soon.
Check out my NEW sci-fi TTRPG about first contact. Cool alien races, murderous AIs, and more. New expansion featuring rules for ships! New book here NOW!
Iron Chef Medals!
Amazing Princess Mononoke avatar by Dispozition
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2017-10-03, 11:18 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jun 2016
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
So, please don't feel bad Thurbane, but you accidentally pre-empted my entire build in the Villainous Competition thread. >_>
I was planning on making a Sharn Crusader 1/Thrall of Demogorgon 10 whose whole goal was to find a way to split themselves back apart, because one of the heads was straight up insane, and so they allied themselves with the one being who would facilitate such a thing. However it was more depression that caused me to not submit it, not any other reason.
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2017-10-03, 12:40 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2011
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- Michigan
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Disappointed I didn't finish my build. I was only struck by inspiration with 24 hours or so to go and didn't have time to get it in. Here's what I had so far.
Spoiler: table
CE Human Crusader 3/Sneak Attack Fighter 1/Warblade 6/Thrall of Demogorgon 10 Dedicated to Father Llymic
H denotes the extra feat for being Human.Level Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Skills Feats Class Features 1 Crusader 1 +1 +2 +0 +0 Skills Aberrant Dragonmark (Charm Person), Combat ReflexesH, Willing DeformityV Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5 2 Warblade 1 +2 +4 +0 +0 Skills - Battle Clarity (Reflex Saves), Weapon Aptitude 3 Hit-and-Run Sneak Attack Fighter 1 +3 +6 +0 +0 Skills Thrall To Demon (Demogorgon) Skilled City-Dweller (Trade Ride for Tumble) 4 Warblade 2 +4 +7 +0 +0 Skills - Uncanny Dodge 5 Thrall of Demogorgon 1 + + + + Skills Inhuman ReachToD, Deformity (Tall)V Scaly Flesh +1, Hypnosis 6 Thrall of Demogorgon 2 + + + + Skills Lesser Aberrant Dragonmark (Bestow Curse) Touch of Fear 7 Thrall of Demogorgon 3 + + + + Skills - Reaching Touch 8 Thrall of Demogorgon 4 + + + + Skills Power AttackToD Dual Actions, Scaly Flesh +2 9 Thrall of Demogorgon 5 + + + + Skills Greater Aberrant Dragonmark (Cloudkill) Summon Minor Demon 10 Thrall of Demogorgon 6 + + + + Skills Deformity (Tongue)V Rotting Touch 11 Thrall of Demogorgon 7 + + + + Skills DeepspawnToD Scaly Flesh +3 12 Thrall of Demogorgon 8 + + + + Skills Extend Reach Two Personas, Death Touch 13 Thrall of Demogorgon 9 + + + + Skills - Summon Major Demon 14 Thrall of Demogorgon 10 + + + + Skills CravenToD Demogorgon’s Will 15 Crusader 2 + + + + Skills Martial Study (Ruby Nightmare Blade), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Kaorti Resin Longspear), or Death Blow
Deformity (Teeth)VIndomitable Soul 16 Warblade 3 + + + +x Skills - Battle Ardor (Critical Confirmation) 17 Warblade 4 + + + + Skills - - 18 Warblade 5 +x +x +x +x Skills Ironheart AuraW, Stormguard Warrior - 19 Crusader 3 + +x +x +x Skills - Zealous Surge 20 Warblade 6 +x +x +x +x Skills Demonsworn KnightV Improved Uncanny Dodge
V denotes a bonus Vile feat for being dedicated to an Elder Evil.
ToD denotes a bonus feat from Thrall of Demogorgon
W denotes a bonus feat from Warblade
Uses Aberrant Dragonmark per this article, to qualify for Aberrant feats and to pick up a few uses of Charm Person for Hypnotism synergy on a Sneak Attack Fighter entry (Bestow Curse and Cloudkill are also somewhat synergistic with the Con damage from Rotting Touch). Other tricks that I thought were noteworthy were...
1) charging up Stormguard Warrior with Combat Rhythm (using a full attack, or Avalanche of Blades at 20) and forgoing AoOs from his huge reach+Thicket of Blades for Channel the Storm, then getting twice the bang for his buck using Dual Actions on the following round.
2) Between Reaching Touch, Inhuman Reach, Extend Reach, Deformity (Tall), and Dancing Blade Form, his reach can exceed 30ft even if your DM rules that a reach weapon only adds 5 ft to your reach rather than doubling it. What does this mean? It means that you can perform a coup de grace on a Jovoc summoned with Summon Minor Demon from outside the radius of its Aura of Retribution and so deal an auto-hitting full Power Attack crit plus Craven to a large area of enemies (even ones that you can't see but can detect with the Blindsense from Deformity (Tongue) or know are there under the Cloudkill you just dropped or something). With Dual Actions (or if Death Blow is chosen as the 15th level feat) you can use Order Forged From Chaos to position the Jovoc and clear friendlies from the blast radius or perform two CDGs if you've got an allied Cleric willing to cast Delay Death on the Jovoc. You can also charge up Stormguard Warrior first if you really want to and have a turn with which to do so.
The fluff would have been a Demogorgon cultist with Father Llymic whispering dark fragments of the Draconic Prophecy through his aberrant mark until those fragments ultimately developed into a distinct personality. That would have also been part of my justification for his killing of other beings dedicated to Demogorgon, as in the awkwardly written prereq (not that Demogorgon really minds infighting, but still).
Anyhow, since I didn't get the build done, I'm judging like I originally planned. I'll do a preliminary read through of the entries today and try to get started soon.
Iron Chef Medals
SpoilerSir Driscoll Conia - Silver - IC L
Nick Snarespan - Gold - IC LIII
Lucy "Legs" Silvertail - Bronze - IC LXVIII
Bolfarg of Knoss - Gold - IC LXXVII
Ivarr Deathborn - Bronze - IC LXXVII
Ahmtel - Silver - IC LXXVIII
Tocke of Nessus - Gold - IC LXXIX
The Blessed Third - Silver - IC LXXXI
Galahad Galapagos - Gold - IC LXXXIV
Sai-don, Knight of the Tide - Bronze - IC LXXXIV
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2017-10-03, 01:19 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2012
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- Secret Lair on Sol c
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
My idea was CE Human (following the Elder Evil Ragnorra) Hexblade 4 / Thrall 3 / Ur-Priest 2 / Thrall +7 / Ur-Priest +4 ... with an alternate idea replacing Hexblade with LionTotemBarbarian 1 / Duskblade 1 / Fighter 2, to gain Pounce, but it felt too clunky to keep me inspired
Given the number of Hexblades (3 at a glance?) I'm not that sad I never got around doing more than the base table
Spoiler
Spoiler: Table
Level Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Skills Feats Class Features 1st Hexblade 1 +1 +0 +0 +2 4*2+ Iron Will, Willing DeformityHuman, Thrall To Demon (Demogorgon)Elder Evil Hexblade's Curse 1/day 2nd Hexblade 2 +2 +0 +0 +3 2+ Arcane Resistance 3rd Hexblade 3 +3 +1 +1 +3 2+ Power Attack Mettle 4th Hexblade 4 +4 +1 +1 +4 2+ Dark Companion 5th Thrall of Demogorgon 1 +5 +3 +1 +4 4+ Spell Focus (Evil)Bonus Feat, Deformity (Tall)Elder Evil Scaly Flesh +1, Hypnosis, Bonus Feat 6th Thrall of Demogorgon 2 +6 +4 +1 +4 4+ Iron Will Touch of Fear 7th Thrall of Demogorgon 3 +7 +4 +2 +5 4+ Reaching Touch 8th Ur-Priest 1 +7 +4 +2 +7 2+ 9th Ur-Priest 2 +8 +4 +2 +8 2+ Travel Devotion Rebuke Undead 10th Thrall of Demogorgon 4 +9 +4 +2 +8 4+ Evil BrandElder Evil Dual Actions, Scaly Flesh +2 11th Thrall of Demogorgon 5 +10 +4 +2 +8 4+ Summon Minor Demon 12th Thrall of Demogorgon 6 +11 +5 +3 +9 4+ Improved Bull Rush Rotting Touch 13th Thrall of Demogorgon 7 +12 +5 +3 +9 4+ Scaly Flesh +3 14th Thrall of Demogorgon 8 +13 +6 +3 +9 4+ Two Personas, Death Touch 15th Thrall of demogorgon 9 +14 +6 +4 +10 4+ Shock Trooper, Abyss-Bound SoulElder Evil Summon Major Demon 16th Thrall of Demogorgon 10 +15 +7 +4 +10 4+ Demogorgon's Wish, Scaly Flesh +4 17th Ur-Priest 3 +16 +8 +5 +10 2+ 18th Ur-Priest 4 +17 +8 +5 +11 2+ Leap Attack Divine Spell Resistance 15 19th Ur-Priest 5 +17 +8 +5 +11 2+ 20th Ur-Priest 6 +18 +9 +6 +12 2+ Demon-sworn KnightElder Evil Siphon Spell Power
Spoiler: Spellcasting
Hexblade Casting:
Level 1st 4th 0
Ur-Priest Casting:
Level 0th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 8th 4 2 - - - - - - - - 9th 5 3 0 - - - - - - - 10th 5 3 1 0 - - - - - - 13th 6 3 2 1 0 - - - - - 16th 6 3 3 2 1 0 - - - - 17th 6 3 3 3 2 1 0 - - - 18th 6 4 3 3 3 2 1 0 - - 19th 6 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 0 - 20th 6 5 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 Last edited by Sian; 2017-10-03 at 01:22 PM.
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2017-10-03, 05:19 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2007
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- Terra Australis
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Aww...I awlays look forward to your entry comments.
Stats for this round...(assuming I haven't messed up):
Spoiler
Base Classes:
- Crusader 3
- Fighter 3
- Hexblade 3
- Rogue 3
- Totemist 3
- Warblade 3
- Barbarian 2
- Binder 2
- Cleric 1
- Factotum 1
- Incarnate 1
- Marshal 1
- Noble 1
- Paladin 1
- Shugenja 1
- Sorcerer 1
- Soulborn 1
- Swashbuckler 1
- Swordsage 1
- Truenamer 1
- Wizard 1
PrCs:
- Assassin x1
- Battle Trickster x1
- Fatespinner x1
- Fiend-Blooded x1
- Hexer x1
- Justiciar of Taiia x1
- Master of Nine x1
- Outcast Champion x1
- Slime Lord x1
- Warshaper x1
Races:
- Human x3
- Neraph x2
- ??? (Half-Elf or Half-Orc) x1
- Daelkyr Half-blood x1
- Elf, Wood x1
- Human, Silverbrow x1
- Muckdweller x1
- Shifter, Longtooth x1
- Vanara x1
Templates:
- Feral x1
- Unseelie fey x1
Base Classes Prestige Classes Races Templates Crusader x3 Assassin x1 Human x3 Feral x1 Fighter x3 Battle Trickster x1 Neraph x2 Unseelie Fey x1 Hexblade x3 Fatespinner x1 ??? (Half-Elf or Half-Orc) x1 Rogue x3 Fiend-Blooded x1 Daelkyr Half-blood x1 Totemist x3 Hexer x1 Elf, Wood x1 Warblade x3 Justiciar of Taiia x1 Human, Silverbrow x1 Barbarian x2 Master of Nine x1 Muckdweller x1 Binder x2 Outcast Champion x1 Shifter, Longtooth x1 Cleric x1 Slime Lord x1 Vanara x1 Factotum x1 Warshaper x1 Incarnate x1 Marshal x1 Noble x1 Paladin x1 Shugenja x1 Sorcerer x1 Soulborn x1 Swashbuckler x1 Swordsage x1 Truenamer x1 Wizard x1 Last edited by Thurbane; 2017-10-03 at 08:30 PM.
My winning competition entries: Kinvig Arrumskor | The Great Pumpkinhead | Wynfrith d'Acker
Torn-City - Massively multiplayer online browser based crime RPG
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2017-10-03, 06:35 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Originally Posted by Peelee
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2017-10-03, 06:42 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2013
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I am sad moving consumed so much of my time (it was a lot easier when I moved into my apartment than into this house). I had a mostly done white dragon spawn vasharan hit and run fighter 4/Thrall 10/Abjurant Champion 5. Ended up with 19 BAB, CL 19, and Sorcerer 10 casting. I used the entry reqs to grab some choice deformity feats ,such as madness and tall, and tried to only grab spells that had no save or fort saves to syerngize with the Con damage. I had not finished picking spells or finalizing some tidbits when I just got too busy.
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2017-10-03, 06:56 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Frozen City
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
You would think there would have been a Xeph entry. Xeph Celerity is the only feat I could think of that had synergy with standard action dual actions that couldn't be accomplished with pounce, hustle or travel devotion.
"Movement speed is the most important statistic in this game."
"Give them no mercy for they give no mercy to us."
"I see one of those I kill it!"
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2017-10-04, 04:58 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Drake Carmine has been updated to add some missing sources.
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Wish building characters for D&D 3.5 was simpler? Try HeroForge Anew! An Excel-based, highly automated character builder. v7.4 now out!
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2017-10-04, 06:28 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2007
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
My winning competition entries: Kinvig Arrumskor | The Great Pumpkinhead | Wynfrith d'Acker
Torn-City - Massively multiplayer online browser based crime RPG
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2017-10-04, 07:51 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
As long as it's minor stuff like "I saw the version that got posted and realised that the sources section got cut off, here you go" not "I thought of this thing I wanted to add after they were posted", and it's done rapidly after the reveal so that entries aren't changing once judges have started to get to grips with them, I'm OK with posting a correction here or there. If I think this is getting abused, though, I reserve the right to change my policy on it at any time. It's also entirely subject to me having the time and energy to do it - this is me being nice, not a guaranteed service.
Last edited by Heliomance; 2017-10-04 at 07:52 AM.
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Avatar by Rain Dragon
Wish building characters for D&D 3.5 was simpler? Try HeroForge Anew! An Excel-based, highly automated character builder. v7.4 now out!
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2017-10-04, 03:53 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2007
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- Terra Australis
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
My winning competition entries: Kinvig Arrumskor | The Great Pumpkinhead | Wynfrith d'Acker
Torn-City - Massively multiplayer online browser based crime RPG
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2017-10-04, 08:13 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2011
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Heliomance mercifully ruled Dual Actions to be a non-action, so it's not surprising that people didn't get into the weeds in that way, but there is some synergy there in that you can get an extra attack on both your full attacks. I had planned on using Dancing Mongoose to a similar end, but didn't get the build done.
Last edited by WhamBamSam; 2017-10-04 at 08:14 PM.
Iron Chef Medals
SpoilerSir Driscoll Conia - Silver - IC L
Nick Snarespan - Gold - IC LIII
Lucy "Legs" Silvertail - Bronze - IC LXVIII
Bolfarg of Knoss - Gold - IC LXXVII
Ivarr Deathborn - Bronze - IC LXXVII
Ahmtel - Silver - IC LXXVIII
Tocke of Nessus - Gold - IC LXXIX
The Blessed Third - Silver - IC LXXXI
Galahad Galapagos - Gold - IC LXXXIV
Sai-don, Knight of the Tide - Bronze - IC LXXXIV
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2017-10-04, 09:00 PM (ISO 8601)
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- May 2009
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I had a build cooked up, but unfortunately Hurricane Maria ruined the plans. One of the entries was eerily similar, and it was such a superb build...
Build was Dvati Hexblade 4 (for Dark Companion)/Fighter 2/Blackguard 3 (for Aura of Despair)/Thrall of Demogorgon 10. Idea was to stack DC, Aura of Despair and Focalor's Aura of Sadness (through feats) to stack penalties, using the twins as aura hubs. The backstop would have been hilarious as well. I feel the build had hopes, particularly since it used pretty much everything from the PrC and the entry classes almost completely.
Unfortunately, the loss of the communications grid meant I couldn't post the build on time; I was just about to write the background when I got absorbed by the hurricane preparations and lost the chance. No wireless connection for my laptop pretty much sealed the deal.Retooler of D&D 3.5 (and 5e/Next) content. See here for more.
Now with a comprehensive guide for 3.5 Paladin players porting to Pathfinder. Also available for 5th Edition
On Lawful Good:
T.G. Oskar profile by Specter.
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2017-10-04, 11:40 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I think I have a shot at making a decent showing, but if I lose, I know which build I want to lose to.
In the Beginning Was the Word, and the Word Was Suck: A Guide to Truenamers
My compiled Iron Chef stuff!
~ Gay all day, queer all year ~
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2017-10-05, 09:22 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
ICO Spreadsheet has been updated with they build info for this cook.
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2017-10-05, 12:15 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2011
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- Texas
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I've got a new fantasy TTRPG about running your own fencing school in a 3 musketeers pastiche setting. Book coming soon.
Check out my NEW sci-fi TTRPG about first contact. Cool alien races, murderous AIs, and more. New expansion featuring rules for ships! New book here NOW!
Iron Chef Medals!
Amazing Princess Mononoke avatar by Dispozition
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2017-10-08, 11:51 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2006
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Posting my judging criteria, with sincere apologies for not having them in the thread before entries were submitted.
SpoilerMY CRITERIA: When more than a single example is given for a score, not all examples need be met to warrant that score.
Originality: Originality looks in part at the established archetypes and builds that the community at large has produced over the years. Characters attempting to perform, yet less adept at performing, as a well-established archetype - for instance, a charger - than typical for that archetype will score lower here than characters attempting to break new ground. Examples of a given score:
5 - A new concept, necessitating the Thrall of Demogorgon PrC.
4 - A new concept, using Thrall of Demogorgon without requiring it to tick.
3 - An unusual concept that has been showcased on gaming forums before, or that is featured in other contest entrants. It’s not new, but it’s not stock standard either.
2 - An old reliable concept, substituting Thrall of Demogorgon for the one typically used in discussions of builds of this type.
1 - A build either cut and pasted or cobbled together entirely from extant handbooks and other known works. No new ideas are presented.
Power: Power is measured assuming a 1st - 20th campaign. Characters that come to power very late in the progression, or that are somehow ineligible to play at low levels, can expect a deduction here as surely as characters whose power peaks at low-to-mid levels and then relatively diminishes. I judge Casters on a different Power scale than non-Casters, to avoid a "T1 or go home" rubric. Examples of a given score, relative to other entrants in the contest:
5 - Easily the most powerful, flexible build presented here, relative to role.
4 - A powerful character that might need help or additional preparation in specific circumstances to continue to do its job well.
3 - A build that is of average power for the contest, neither significantly stronger nor appreciably weaker overall. It may dominate in niche cases or be rendered weak in other niche cases.
2 - While less powerful than the typical entry for this contest, the character manages to contribute reasonably without relying on help from other party members.
1 - The build struggles to perform to the expectations typical for a character in the role assigned. Either the character relies heavily on help from other party members or requires specific equipment not restricted to the given role in order to be useful.
Elegance: Note that I tie the Elegance score closely to the Secret Ingredient. Shifter Druid 18/Moonspeaker 2 may be simple, but it is not an elegant use of Moonspeaker, to my mind. Note also that my default assumption is that characters presented are being inserted into an already-established world. A character that requires the DM to rewrite or ignore large swaths of existing fluff for your concept to work is unlikely to score highly in Elegance. References to Unearthed Arcana include those aspects of Unearthed Arcana that are included in the Variant section of the SRD. If I have to go hunting through books just to figure out where you got a particular feat, item, template, or obscure skill usage, expect no more than a 2 in Elegance. Examples of a given score:
5 - Thrall of Demogorgon is entered appropriately early and taken to completion. All class levels, feats, skills, and disclosed items are smoothly tied together and progress the whole concept seamlessly and in a logical order. Favored Class rules are adhered to, and single-level dips are kept to a bare minimum - no more than one. No Unearthed Arcana, templates, LA or Racial HD, or other obvious power-oriented shenanigans were used. One could reasonably expect a majority of DMs to allow both the concept and progression to happen in a typical game.
4 - Thrall of Demogorgon is entered reasonably early, perhaps delayed a bit or taken piecemeal, but finished. All class levels, feats, skills, and disclosed items are useful, but may not be intuitive choices to augment the presented concept. No Unearthed Arcana, templates, LA or Racial HD, or other obvious shenanigans were used, though Favored Class rules may have been ignored. One might expect to have to explain some bits of the build fairly carefully to a DM and possibly work out some accommodations, but flying books or dice bags are unlikely.
3 - Thrall of Demogorgon is taken to completion, but entered later than expected or typical of this contest. Class levels, feats, skills, and disclosed items are taken in a disjointed fashion, perhaps indicating power is more important than concept. This character may use a race with a level adjustment for thematic reasons, or be forced to take a flaw or two to fit everything in, or use some other method of grabbing more feats or spells or other features than one would typically expect. One would have to work closely with the DM for some features of the presented build to be available, work as described in the build presented, or come online in a timely fashion, and wouldn’t necessarily expect to get this character approved by a DM that doesn’t know the player well.
2 - Thrall of Demogorgon is abandoned before reaching its capstone or entered too late to finish before Epic levels. Class levels, feats, skills, and disclosed items do not share a unifying theme or work toward a more powerful whole. A template and LA are both included, possibly with flaws. Without an established rapport with a DM, one would expect the concept to meet with enough resistance that having a Plan B is advised when pitching the idea.
1 - Vivacious Anthropomorphic Dire Were-Squid Half-Fiend Domain Wizard with Frail and Inattentive and. . . no. Just no. So many discordant templates and feats and ideas have been slapped together that ‘a Wizard did it’ is the only viable explanation for the character’s existence. Thrall of Demogorgon appears to have been an afterthought to the overall design. You would fully expect the character idea either to be rejected by the DM, or to have come into being entirely through the DM’s meddling with your character, and wouldn’t broach the subject with the DM if dice, books or other potential projectiles were within easy reach.
Use of Secret Ingredient: This is a conglomeration of how well, and how thoroughly, you incorporate the abilities of the Secret Ingredient into the build. Examples of a given score, relative to other entrants:
5 - A fresh, original usage maximizing the particular strengths and minimizing the particular weaknesses of the Thrall of Demogorgon. Every aspect of Thrall of Demogorgon is utilized in the best way of any entry presented.
4 - A solid, complete usage of Thrall of Demogorgon. Specific strengths of the Secret Ingredient were emphasized with minimal emphasis taken away from other strengths, or without negating known weaknesses.
3 - Use of Thrall of Demogorgon was typical for the contest. Synergies were not emphasized especially, and some features of the Thrall of Demogorgon were ignored for the sake of maximizing a particular trick or two.
2 - Others used the Thrall of Demogorgon more thoroughly, but this entry’s usage wasn’t bad. The overall concept works but doesn’t especially synergize with the Thrall of Demogorgon's strengths well. If the main trick you're highlighting is based on your other class(es), don't expect higher than a 2 here.
1 - The Thrall of Demogorgon is actively hindering the concept presented. Clearly the character would have been stronger with a different Prestige Class, and the Thrall of Demogorgon got shoe-horned in there because of the contest.
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2017-10-08, 03:14 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2011
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I don't know if that's necessarily true. I remember a time... many years ago, when I lost like 5 points from Elegance from one judge for using minionmancy, which nobody had mentioned as an issue prior to that. Although that may have resolved itself in the years since.
Edit: I only bring this up since I was looking at my old build thing, which I still think was awesome.Last edited by AMFV; 2017-10-08 at 03:14 PM.
My Avatar is Glimtwizzle, a Gnomish Fighter/Illusionist by Cuthalion.
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2017-10-09, 05:31 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
That's an issue of judging criteria, not of contest rules. The contest intentionally does not put many restrictions on how the judges are to score builds, so they are free to use their own judgement for the most part.
Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
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2017-10-11, 07:51 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Apr 2017
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Loving the amount of variety we've gotten this time!
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2017-10-11, 03:44 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2007
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- Terra Australis
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Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
My winning competition entries: Kinvig Arrumskor | The Great Pumpkinhead | Wynfrith d'Acker
Torn-City - Massively multiplayer online browser based crime RPG
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2017-10-11, 11:03 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
It also definitely helped that entry into this ingredient was not particularly restrictive; that usually makes for more variety.
Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
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2017-10-12, 11:07 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
It's a weirdly inspiring ingredient. It genuinely doesn't do a ton on its own, but (building on what The Viscount said) partly because its prereqs are less costly than those of a lot of other ingredients, it doesn't feel like it's necessarily interfering with the rest of your build.
It also doesn't have a super obvious baseline to compare itself to (though with full BAB, generous proficiencies, and 4 bonus feats, it's vaguely Fighteresque). Compare it to our last ingredient, Arboreal Guardian. AG cost a ton to get into, and it was very obviously "eh, kinda a specialized Ranger with gimped BAB." It was insanely hard to not constantly draw comparisons between AG and Ranger, and it was also hard to not feel like AG was just plopped in the middle of a stronger build. (This isn't a slight against anyone who cooked last round, mind you. The reason that I didn't cook last time is because I felt like I couldn't overcome that hurdle, but at least failing means you're trying, which is more than I could say!) ToD doesn't have that same feel. I can't give a one-sentence explanation of why that's the case, but that's still how I feel.
Also, the cartoonish Eeeeevul factor that pervades BoVD may have inspired more than a few of us to get a little goofy.In the Beginning Was the Word, and the Word Was Suck: A Guide to Truenamers
My compiled Iron Chef stuff!
~ Gay all day, queer all year ~
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2017-10-13, 08:32 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I think it possible to play BoVD fluff straight, like one of my old favorites, Leery Lilly, but I agree that when the class is both this evil and this brainless, it's best to go at least a little silly so that the reader has something to come away enjoying.
Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
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2017-10-13, 10:02 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Texas
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
I've got a new fantasy TTRPG about running your own fencing school in a 3 musketeers pastiche setting. Book coming soon.
Check out my NEW sci-fi TTRPG about first contact. Cool alien races, murderous AIs, and more. New expansion featuring rules for ships! New book here NOW!
Iron Chef Medals!
Amazing Princess Mononoke avatar by Dispozition
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2017-10-14, 06:44 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- Cleveland, OH
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
Gah. I really want to explain some things in my build... but no judging yet. =P
Handbooks:
Shax's Indispensable Haversack, TWF OffHandbook
Builds:
Archon of Nine, Jellobomber, King of Pong, Lightning Thief
Spells:
Druidzilla, Healbot, Gish
Iron Chef:
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2017-10-16, 08:03 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2016
- Location
- Colorado, USA
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXXXIX
so,
how's everyone doing?
Originally Posted by Peelee