Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CVI

[Venger]

Like any other fundamental aspect of the rules, I'm pretty sure the designers forgot how many feats a normal character actually had access to.

[The Viscount]

Or, like with Faerun divine prestige classes, they assumed you would only take 1 prestige class and that you would dedicate yourself to entering it at character generation with your 1 base class.

Except for the PrCs that require you to multiclass if you want to enter. Those just hate you.

[Wolfem]

Added stub to ICO Spreadsheet for this cook.

[Hiro Quester]

I have a weird idea worth exploring. If it pans out (!) I’ll cook it up.

Some of the requirements are odd. I assume the fluff requirement of “The character must go through a disgusting and humiliating sexual ritual” will have to be handwaved or alluded to, since we’re supposed to be PG over here. but should we assume that the ritual is a particular one, that the PC participates in as part of becoming a Disciple. Not just any humiliating and disgusting sexual experience will count?

And I find it odd that a class whose adherents are described as being “quick to betray her friends and allies” and as having “no honor, shame or scruples” could be any evil, even lawful evil. You’d think that would be describing a non-good non-lawful character.

And you’d think that a PC who specializes in betrayal would be summoning demons rather than devils. But okay....

[Falontani]

A devil will not break their word, but they will lie, cheat, and betray as often as they desire. They just have to word their sentences and promises very precisely.

[Sian]

I have a rather entertaining idea ... which I'm 99% sure doesn't work

[Thurbane]

I'm actually ahead of schedule with my dumb idea, so I should be able to get an entry in with time to spare.

[AvatarVecna]

I have a dumb and bad idea that I will be building on.

[The Viscount]

I have a weird idea worth exploring. If it pans out (!) I’ll cook it up.

Some of the requirements are odd. I assume the fluff requirement of “The character must go through a disgusting and humiliating sexual ritual” will have to be handwaved or alluded to, since we’re supposed to be PG over here. but should we assume that the ritual is a particular one, that the PC participates in as part of becoming a Disciple. Not just any humiliating and disgusting sexual experience will count?

And I find it odd that a class whose adherents are described as being “quick to betray her friends and allies” and as having “no honor, shame or scruples” could be any evil, even lawful evil. You’d think that would be describing a non-good non-lawful character.

And you’d think that a PC who specializes in betrayal would be summoning demons rather than devils. But okay....

Good question. Forum rules are pretty strict about this, and more importantly I don't want to make anyone have to write anything they don't want, so I'm ruling on this.

No build is required to discuss the ritual in their backstory. Judges may not penalize a dish for not discussing the ritual.

You are not prohibited from having it in your backstory, but please practice some discretion with the detail it receives.

As for the alignment thing, it's to match the fact that devils are LE. One could certainly argue that treachery is unlawful since it often involves breaking promises, but the lords of the nine are always betraying each other over stuff, so I got nothing.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

This!? This is the class that gives me my best* idea in... well, in quite some time?! Man, I hope it's not the same wacky idea the others have.

* Well, for a given value of best. It's sure hilarious.

EDIT: Okay, so this idea is either illegal or pretty cheesy. Will I proceed? Maybe.

[The Viscount]

I mean, we had a build delve deep into TO last round and do well, so...

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Holy crap. I just found a feat that makes my idea work with no cheese at all! And gives additional benefits!

EDIT: Well, without straining RAW, at least. "No cheese" is a stretch.

[Zaq]

I've only got one little seed of an idea. It's kind of far out there and it hasn't properly germinated yet. We'll see if I can find a trick that's sufficiently audacious to justify what I'd have to do...

[Venger]

I can’t wait for the fluff on your entry, Venger.

It is done. I hope you enjoy it.

[ExLibrisMortis]

I have submitted a build. Let's see whether I have the time and will to finish my second stub. And before you ask, yes, they were supposed to be one build, but the feats got in the way. Truly, sadness radiates from my every pore, knowing that I will never see their stupidity combined. Unless Iron Chef DCLXVIII is gestalt Disciple of Mammon, in which case I'm cooking.

[daremetoidareyo]

Rules Clarification: The Non-detection cast at 9th level of Disc. of Mammon.

"A 9th-level disciple of Mammon can constantly produce an effect identical to a nondetection spell cast by an 18th-level caster. This ability cannot be dispelled, but it can be suppressed."

Nondetection

"If a divination is attempted against the warded creature or item, the caster of the divination must succeed on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against a DC of 11 + the caster level of the spellcaster who cast nondetection. If you cast nondetection on yourself or on an item currently in your possession, the DC is 15 + your caster level.

If cast on a creature, nondetection wards the creature's gear as well as the creature itself."

It doesn't say that the caster is you, it just says that you produce the effect.

Are we using DC 15 + caster level?

or DC 11+caster level?

[The Viscount]

Use DC 15 + caster level for caster level checks made against your nondetection.

I can give you this much.

[Piggy Knowles]

Build finalized, table done as well as most of the write-up, and I'm happy with my idea. Going to be a race against time, though; busy day at work tomorrow and I'll be traveling without computer Friday through Sunday, so I basically have Thursday to get the fluff together and make it all aesthetically pleasing. We'll see!

[Hiro Quester]

I have a kind of awesome and stupid idea, but I doubt it's a particularly original idea (based on a bad joke, mostly). It seems kind of obvious to me, and I suspect to many of you.

And I have a really busy week ahead. So I'l keep my idea as a bad joke and a (literal) back of an envelope sketch, since I won't be able to make time to pad it all out into a full entry.

I'm desperately curious what you all can do with this though. A few aspects of this class seem to have potential for exploitation in interesting ways, but I can't yet see what they are, beyond the one or two that my build would focus on. (That's why this class is a good SI.)

I can't wait for the reveal.

[H_H_F_F]

I, as well, am anxious to see what y'all came up with. It seems a few people are opting out of submitting this time around - I hope we'll have a nice number of entries (though a small number would certainly make my job easier). Good luck to everyone!

[Venger]

Figured out my build. Excited to see what other people have come up with.

[Falontani]

Skills always give me a headache! I've gotten the table ready, once the headache is gone and I find time I will begin writing the mechanical stuff and fluff. I'm cutting it close to the deadline so it might be.... not the best.

[The Viscount]

Skills always give me a headache! I've gotten the table ready, once the headache is gone and I find time I will begin writing the mechanical stuff and fluff. I'm cutting it close to the deadline so it might be.... not the best.

Let this song encourage you.

[daremetoidareyo]

I submitted a thing. It's a glorious mess. I don't think I need to worry about vizzinni, but considering what I put down, I also don't think I need to worry about winning either.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Real life has caught up to me in a big way. Don't think I'll be able to get mine in. Ah well, I was having trouble thinking of good fluff for it anyway.

[Falontani]

Build Submitted, can't wait to see everyone else's tomorrow!

[Thurbane]

I don't have a lot of confidence that my build will score well, but I'm glad I got it in.

[daremetoidareyo]

I don't have a lot of confidence that my build will score well, but I'm glad I got it in.

There's no way that i dont get last.

[nosborm]

OK, my (first ever Iron Chef!) build is in. It's bad, but at least I got it done. Didn't realize how early builds were due! I apologize in advance to the judge(s) and I'm happy to clarify any/every thing. I wish I had more time to work on the flavor (it could have been so cool!) and filling out all the abilities. At least my core trick is in there, which I hope is original!

[The Viscount]

Hush falls over Optimization Stadium. The reveal begins! (Please don't post until the all clear)