Results 61 to 90 of 149
-
2021-11-22, 06:32 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2020
- Location
- Moscow
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Cheap, fast, well done.
Select any two.If you could make anything and everything welcome to the Zinc Saucier XLV: Figaro
My competition's medals.
Spoiler: For purposes of clarity1109 is September, 11 - my birthday.
-
2021-11-22, 07:51 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2020
- Location
- Jerusalem
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
I agree to a degree. I think this is true for most of us most of the time. I do think, however, that we often get to see entries that transcend this struggle.
I think this is also why I don't like "uncontreversial" as the default for elegance. Elegance is defined as mechanically pretty. Can a warblade 10 / tattooed monk 10 not doing anything interesting really be said to be "prettier" than an entry using elven longsword proficiency to qualify for a prc, or an enrty qualifying for half thr build with a single bonus feat?
To me, once you let "oh, that's clever" be needed for a good elegance score, things change. "Completely straightforward and uncontreversial" can only get you so far. You need to tickle my aesthetic senses in order to get better than a 4. Granted, that increases the subjectivity of the category, but I think it's worth it.
It's also why I don't approach UoSI with "how much of the SI did you use", but with "how well did you use the SI". Oh, you expectedly used everything efficiently? That's no more than good. To do great, you need to show me something I didn't realize the SI could do, or a way to overcome its issues without losing its benefits.
I still tend to agree that the metric is hard sometimes. Many of ny favourite entries as a judge never placed because I had to trash their elegance. And though I think elegance needs to include more than a lack of issues to incentevize good entries, I recognize that my definition of the "good" entry we want to encourage isn't universal.
So, overall, I think we're still allowed enough freedom within the metric to make it function. The goal, after all, isn't to get a 20. The fact that different styles of entries win on different rounds is probably a good thing, even if I'd like to see my favorites win every round.Screaming defiance with the last breath
It would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
My judgments and medals!
The Iron Chef Optimization spreadsheet!
Song, Sword, and Sorcery: my 5E homebrew half-caster bard (Version 2.0!)
-
2021-11-22, 11:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2013
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
I have a soft spot for taking unpopular classes or approaches and making them effective. (I did the same thing with deck design 20 years ago when I played CCGs, and do this in all sorts of computer games as well as tabletop)
In tabletop play it lets me play the character creation puzzle game without ending up with something that overshadows the party routinely, although in Organized play I usually have a little extra under the hood if a weak table gets into trouble.
Or to put it another way
"What do we have at this expected character level 12 table?"
Bard
Support/Heal cleric
Rogue/bard mutt
Heal/support cleric
A level 5 melee cause all other tables were full
My level 13 TK themed sorceress opened up a chest that had followed her around the entire convention, never opened except when camping for mundane supplies. Out of that chest of holding she dropped 13 size large greatswords, cast chain Greater Magic Weapon on them, cast Servant Horde to carry them behind me and instructed all those support dudes to buff me like an archer and to put everything the could on keeping Melee alive. And also to pray to any deity that if we encountered any bad guys that also had TK that I won initiative.
I had to be basically 90% of the offense with a character whose focus was utility-action economy stuff that normally is used to frustrate opposition and set up martials for success. Spell slots drain like water through a sieve when she has to do her own killing, although the massive party buffs did help, with 13 attacks to apply them to.
So with that...I like the idea of these challenges. Take something unpopular and try to do something good with it. I'm so rusty at 3.5 I probably wouldn't do well in a power competition anyway, but I can make something useful at a typical table with damn near anything. This secret ingredient provides only skillmonkey-type offensive perks, so it will fall behind in offense when those perks don't work. The main defensive perks are air-barrier and ambush stuff (take advantage of bad terrain and mobility plus scouting skills as an option to build on) which again means the power expectation I shot for was more like my rogueish characters than my light infantry or archer builds.Last edited by Seward; 2021-11-22 at 11:34 PM.
-
2021-11-23, 12:33 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Sorry to do this again guys. Work is stupid busy right now. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 01:31 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2020
- Location
- Jerusalem
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
These things happen. Thanks for the update!
Screaming defiance with the last breath
It would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
My judgments and medals!
The Iron Chef Optimization spreadsheet!
Song, Sword, and Sorcery: my 5E homebrew half-caster bard (Version 2.0!)
-
2021-11-23, 10:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
And now it's time for the reveal! (Please hold off on posting until the all clear.)
Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
I am.... the claw!
Originally Posted by SlyKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:32 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Two heads are better than one.
Originally Posted by Kul-noaKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:33 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
I wonder about the physics, but I don't want to draw the free body diagram.
Originally Posted by WanderKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:36 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
You have to run fast as you can if you want to stay in place.
Originally Posted by Feng ChongkunKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:38 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
As easy as falling off a cliff.
Originally Posted by PaddyKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:39 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
I'm the type of guy that likes to roam around.
Originally Posted by Diving HawkKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:40 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
A useful primer on the distinction between big cats and little cats.
Originally Posted by Leσn "Blacktip" Giantbiter (Formerly: Mouser, Sneakyscout, Fleetfoot, Staghunter)Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
There are of course, no regular Garguns.
Originally Posted by Bear-egrines RunnerKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
The build can lead you to water, but it can't make you drink. No, wait, that's not right...
Originally Posted by Aquashed GeognosicKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:47 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night.
Originally Posted by Murray d'CivisKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:48 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
This one is the chair's non-entry, not to be judged in the contest.
Originally Posted by The GoogiemanKolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:49 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
There's our entries for the round! Judges, over to you.
Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-23, 10:59 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
- Location
- Terra Australis
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
So, this is about as far as my entry got before I ran out of time (and enthusiasm for the build):
Sivakk the Swift
Male CG Desert Half-Orc Swordsage 3/Stonebelssed (goliath) 3/Peregrine Runner 10/Swordsage +4
Level Class Base Attack Bonus IL Man. Stn. Feats Class Features 1st Swordsage 1 0 1 6 1 Endurance, Run Quick to act +1, discipline focus (weapon focus) 2nd Swordsage 2 1 2 7 2 AC Bonus 3rd Swordsage 3 2 3 8 2 Power Attack - 4th Stoneblessed 1 2 3 Stonebond 5th Stoneblessed 2 3 4 Racial battle technique 6th Stoneblessed 3 4 4 Strong Stomach, Toughness Stoneborn 7th Peregrine Runner 1 5 5 Mountain stride, peregrine companion 8th Peregrine Runner 2 6 5 Skirmish +1d6 9th Peregrine Runner 3 7 6 Leap Attack Great stamina, slow fall 20 ft. 10th Peregrine Runner 4 8 6 Climb 20 ft., skirmish +1/+1d6 11th Peregrine Runner 5 9 7 Fast movement, slow fall 30 ft. 12th Peregrine Runner 6 10 7 Penetrating Strike Skirmish +1/+2d6 13th Peregrine Runner 7 11 8 Slow fall 40 ft. 14th Peregrine Runner 8 12 8 Climb 40 ft., skirmish +2/+2d6 15th Peregrine Runner 9 13 9 Improved Skirmish Inexhaustible stamina, slow fall 50 ft. 16th Peregrine Runner 10 14 9 Skirmish +2/+3d6 17th Swordsage 4 15 10 9 2 Discipline focus (insightful strike) 18th Swordsage 5 15 11 10 3 Fleet of Foot Quick to act +2 19th Swordsage 6 16 12 11 3 - 20th Swordsage 7 17 13 12 3 Sense magic My winning competition entries: Kinvig Arrumskor | The Great Pumpkinhead | Wynfrith d'Acker
Torn-City - Massively multiplayer online browser based crime RPG
-
2021-11-24, 02:30 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2020
- Location
- Jerusalem
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Phenomenal work everyone! I'll get to entering your submissions into the spreadsheet shortly.
Spoiler: My none entryMy bad joke build was going to be a goliath half vampire with the blood drain ability, who realized at some point that drinking people's blood was wrong and went vegan. The wording of blood dependency makes it arguable that even immunity to fatigue won't stop you from becoming exhausted once you fail a couple of saves, so blanket immunity to exhaustion, coming incredibly late in the build, would be the only thing that'd let her function.
I intended to lean further into it by taking pain mastery, which is helped by the natural healing from half vamp. That made me consider crusader, but the stupidity of it all just wore me down at some point, and I didn't feel like wasting the judges' time.Screaming defiance with the last breath
It would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
My judgments and medals!
The Iron Chef Optimization spreadsheet!
Song, Sword, and Sorcery: my 5E homebrew half-caster bard (Version 2.0!)
-
2021-11-24, 03:50 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2018
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
while youre waiting for the judges, for entertainments purposes Things kinda got away from me irl so never got around to send my submission in even though I had the idea in seconds of seeing the class, sorry folks.
My idea was stupid and inelegant too anyway: undying way ex-Monk 2/Barbarian with acf 1/Peregrine runner 2/warblade 7/bloodstorm blade 6/drunken master 2.
Built around hucking the falcon at people whod then fly back to the users hands as an improvised (possibly dead) weapon, which seems pretty gianty. The monk is in there mainly to represent the idea of weathering all hits stoically being the philosophy they eventually decide this bird exemplify and though nobody condones it hucking a seemingly dead bird at people is the purest form of the Undying Way
Dumb drawing below:
Spoiler
Last edited by Malphegor; 2021-11-24 at 07:32 AM.
-
2021-11-24, 06:44 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2020
- Location
- Jerusalem
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
I've updated the spreadsheet, you're all in there. Another Viscount Pure Soulborn x / SI 10 joins the ranks. How many more will there be?
Screaming defiance with the last breath
It would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
My judgments and medals!
The Iron Chef Optimization spreadsheet!
Song, Sword, and Sorcery: my 5E homebrew half-caster bard (Version 2.0!)
-
2021-11-24, 06:48 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Texas
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Someone has to love the soulborn.
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
-
2021-11-24, 10:47 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- Michigan
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
This is the build I wanted to do, but it unfortunately doesn't work, as Broken One's Sacrifice requires you not be immune to fatigue.
Goliath Spirit Lion Horse Totem Barbarian 5/Peregrine Runner 8/Uncanny Trickster 3/Shadowdancer 3
1. Barb 1 Expeditious Dodge
2. Barb 2 Run
3. Barb 3 Combat Reflexes
4. Barb 4
5. Barb 5 Endurance
6. Peregrine Runner 1 Mobility
7. Peregrine Runner 2
8. Peregrine Runner 3
9. Peregrine Runner 4 Broken Ones Sacrifice
10. Shadowdancer 1
11. Peregrine Runner 5
12. Peregrine Runner 6 Darkstalker
13. Peregrine Runner 7
14. Peregrine Runner 8
15. Shadowdancer 2 Robilars Gambit
16. Uncanny Trickster 1
17. Uncanny Trickster 2
18. Uncanny Trickster 3 Extra Rage
19. Shadowdancer 3
The idea was to use Broken One's Sacrifice with immunity to the fatigue downside to interpose with an adjacent ally while large from Mountain Rage, so that the only way to 'switch' positions (being in the ally's square and no longer any of the ones I had previously occupied) would involve moving 10 ft, triggering Skirmish on the Robilar's Gambit attack and on your coming turn if that can be said to be in the same round, an extra 10 ft of movement from Speedy Ascent twice per encounter if I'm climbing, and Shadowdancer HiPS for good measure. But, again, Broken One's Sacrifice requires that you actually suffer its downside, so no dice.
I also had this, which does work but which I didn't have the motivation to finish or write up.
Goliath Fey Bard 4/Marshal 3/Peregrine Runner 10
1. Fey Bard 1 Skill Focus (Diplomacy)
2. Bard 2
3. Marshal 1 Snowflake Wardance, Run
4. Marshal 2
5. Marshal 3
6. Bard 3 Endurance
7. Bard 4
8. Peregrine Runner 1
9. PR 2 Combat Expertise
10. PR 3
11. PR 4
12. PR 5 Improved Disarm
13. PR 6
14. PR 7
15. PR 8 Snatch Weapon
16. PR 9
17. PR 10
18. X 1 Feat
19. X 2
Uses Snowflake Wardance and the Art of War Marshal Aura to add Cha to disarm checks twice with a rapier (which is already better than a 2-handed weapon wielded by a medium creature, thanks to Powerful Build), steals their weapon with Snatch Weapon (possibly at range via Whirling Blade) and then possibly just runs away.
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
-
2021-11-24, 01:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
- Location
- <<Undetected>>
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Alrighty. I'll start working on this. Most likely will not make progress until the weekend. Not only do I have a holiday tomorrow but I'm also the host and cook.
Blank 3.5 Character Creator Iron Chef Style Tables (in Google Sheets)
Chairman Emeritus of Zinc Saucier.
Avatar by Derjuin, sing her praises to Elysium.
-
2021-11-24, 04:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2020
- Location
- Jerusalem
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Have fun, Mattie. And thanks!
Screaming defiance with the last breath
It would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
My judgments and medals!
The Iron Chef Optimization spreadsheet!
Song, Sword, and Sorcery: my 5E homebrew half-caster bard (Version 2.0!)
-
2021-11-24, 07:29 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards
-
2021-11-24, 07:37 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2013
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
I kinda met that guy in one adventure. His opening move is to steal the most expensive looking weapon from a likely PC (avoiding the massively burly types if such is an option) and flee, taunting you as he runs. His minions are supposed to slow you down and string the party out, possibly opening up other theft opportunities. It is in a major city while shopping so party tends not to have mounts or willingness to fire destructive aoe effects.
Unfortunatly for him, he is usually one of those dudes who didn't correctly estimate the party's power. No matter how good he is at running, PC's have no sense of humor about losing gear and he tends to run smack into top-tier battlfield control effects or an angry party dimension doored in front of him, depending on party level. To credit his wisdom, he will surrender rather than commit suicide-by-PC when the situation becomes clear.
I do like the image of a highish lvl party's panic at losing an expensive weapon to an extremely mobile mini-giant. People burn massive resources to prevent falling under wbl.Last edited by Seward; 2021-11-24 at 07:39 PM.
-
2021-11-24, 09:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2015
- Location
- Alamogordo
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Characters I've enjoyed playing for more than four sessions:
Falgar the Swiftblade
Revain Sumeth, Whip Fighter Extraordinaire
Malvin Firel, Cleric of Corellon, Destroyer of Undeath
Vongur Dorent, Primeval Champion of Poverty
In defense of the Vow of Poverty
-
2021-11-24, 11:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground CXVI
Neither. It's a consequence of a few things. The first is that as the chair, I get to see the builds as they come in, cutting down on Vizzini. Even though my build isn't being judged, I still don't want to make my build too similar to other entries. Granted, it takes some time for me to make my build, so I don't see all the entries when I make it.
Because the build isn't judged, I can also go all out in pursuing wild concepts, even if they aren't as powerful. Soulborn gives paladin-type flavor without a restrictive code of conduct, and I thought fearsome mask with share soulmeld is a fun way to make use of the SI and pursue my concept. For similar reasons I used Feral Gargun as my race. I didn't think anybody else would use, and thought I could showcase it as a third means of qualification. I was wrong.
A third reason is that once I had the levels I needed to shape the fearsome mask, I had 2 levels left and nothing I could really think of to do with them. I was running out of time, so I decided to add more soulborn levels, since this ingredient is more of a conceptual than a mechanical showcase.Kolyarut Avatar by Potatocubed.
Awards