Help me make my friend cry...

[Crow]

My buddy has a level 20 barbarian who is way over WBL due to the other DM he plays with (He's even got Breasplate that comes out to a +16 item). Fine by me, I just want him to have fun playing the game when he hangs with us. But he is always talking about this idiot and his toys and it's getting annoying. I've told him that his character is not all that good, and that his items are the crutch that holds up his character (I know, that was mean). He got all pissed and so now we're going to settle it in-game.

I set the terms for the character I'm building to challenge his barb; 190,000xp, 760,000gp. Any books I need.

I want to utterly humiliate this guy. I was thinking straight wizard to begin with, but I want to "beat him at his own game" a little too, in order to really rub it in, while still showing him how one-dimensional his barbarian is. For this reason, I decided on a gish (with the added benefit that I'm not too bad at making them).

I had a few questions;

I'm looking at a wiz5/AbChamp5/EldKnt10.

Is there a way to get armor proficiencies in there so i can squeeze in a level of spellsword? This would allow me to avoid having to shell out for a twilight enchantment. I believe the Militia feat I will be taking only gives proficiency in martial weapons. Is this correct?

Are there any spells that I can use to get the +9 armor bonus I would get from the +5 mithral chain, and thus avoid that expense altogether?

Are there any useful PrC's that a wizard can get into at or before ECL5? Just for that extra little punch...

Thanks in advance. I can't wait to hit this bastard with a Disjunction.

[Zim]

No need to get too fancy. Fly, Greater Invisibility and magic missile should do it...eventually. You can also rapid summon some monsters (rust monsters that is) to wear him down.

[Ganurath]

I looks to me as though you haven't decided on class and levels. It'd be easy for him to argue that you only won because you were an arcanist and they're insane at higher levels, and he'd be right. That's why you're going to use a combat oriented build of your own to serve him a helping of humble pie. I advise the Masked Avenger Build.

The Birth of a Monster
Advice for Feats and Skills

I'd need to see what sort of equipment barbarian boy is packing before I can advise you on what sort of equipment to take, but Cloak of Charisma is a must. Your barbarian buddy is looking at a 20+Cha modifier Will save to avoid dying, and that's assuming 6d6 sudden strike, base bonus damage from Strength and Power Attack, and whatever fun enchantments you intend to put on your weapon. Spell Storing is naturally a must, and you will cast Distract Assailant into it after the initial round of combat.

[Kaelik]

Okay.

First, you build doesn't work, or rather, you'll have to take Eldritch Knight levels before Abjurant Champion since you don't have the BAB at level 5.

As for gishes though, I assume you want 9th level spells so that you can Disjunction him, so I'll only make suggestions of that type.

Wizard 2/Human Paragon 3/Ruathar 3 (RoW)/Spellsword 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Phantom Blade 6 (Web enhancement, or use Eldritch Knight).

Level 18 casting. BAB of 17.

Human Paragon gives Martial Weapons I think, or maybe Ruathar.

Take pre-req feats. Then take Power Attack. Use Wriathstrike or the Phantom Blade ability to hit.

Another alternative is:

Wizard 2/Human Paragon 3/Ruathar 3/Spellsword 3/Abjurant Champion 5/Phantom Blade 4.

This still gives 17th casting (9th level) to disjunction him.

Then use a Power Attack full, Leap Attack, Channel (Combust? Disintegrate? whatever.) To kill him in one attack.

As for armor, search around, someone once explained good armor spells to get AC with Abjurant Champion (IE, something that stacks your Abjurant level on top of it, so give like +11 AC or something.)

[Fhaolan]

EDIT: Sorry, was interrupted while posting, so I wasn't completely thinking things through. Let me admend:

I can't really help much, as I'm not a build-meister, but if I may make a recommendation?

I think it would drive the point home better if you beat him with another barbarian, or part barbarian. Beating him with a non-barbarian gish or primary spellcaster is basically changing the rules he normally plays under. Beating him with another barbarian is beating him with his own rules.

I don't really have any clear idea how to do that, that you haven't already thought of. Sorry.

[Crow]

First, you build doesn't work, or rather, you'll have to take Eldritch Knight levels before Abjurant Champion since you don't have the BAB at level 5.

I understand this. I was just listing the classes and total levels, not trying to show the order I would take them in. EK is split up.

[Ganurath]

EDIT: Sorry, was interrupted while posting, so I wasn't completely thinking things through. Let me admend:

I can't really help much, as I'm not a build-meister, but if I may make a recommendation?

I think it would drive the point home better if you beat him with another barbarian, or part barbarian. Beating him with a non-barbarian gish or primary spellcaster is basically changing the rules he normally plays under. Beating him with another barbarian is beating him with his own rules.

I don't really have any clear idea how to do that, that you haven't already thought of. Sorry.

The Masked Avenger could start off with Barbarian, but he'd have to put more effort into accumulating the ranks in Concentration to qualify for the Ghost-Faced Killer PrC.

[RTGoodman]

For PrCs that you can enter under ECL 5, Complete Mage has the Master Specialist. You have to be a specialist wizard (in your case, most likely Abjuration), but it gives full casting and small special abilities depending on school. I think you can enter it as your 4th level.

[Worira]

Why are you putting random words in italics?

[Crow]

Why are you putting random words in italics?

I try to put names of classes, feats and spells (or enchantments) in italics.

I accidentally highlighted "enchantment" where I meant to highlight "twilight". But it is fixed now. Do you have any more useful comments to add?

[Azerian Kelimon]

My suggestion? Use an ubercharger to show him he sucks ass. It'll drive the point home, but if it doesn't, start doing the "I beat you" conga.

[Worira]

Well, there's always the good old spiked chain build.

[sikyon]

You could just optimize a barbarian far more than his character is. Power attack, shock trooper, leap something or the other, basically just 1 hit kill him

[Azerian Kelimon]

That's nice, but it's a bit sadistic for someone who's only an idiot.

Edit: This refers to the spiked chain.

[OOTS_Rules.]

Play as a rust monster with a Cloak of Greater Invisibility, a Necklace of Fireballs, and some AC-increasing items. Rust away his loot, show the fireballs down his throat, and run.

[Azerian Kelimon]

Didn't barbs get evasion? That stops that trick.

[OOTS_Rules.]

You can't evade something inside of your throat. He could, in theory, disembowel himself, but that is suicide.

[graymachine]

Well, as much a fan as I am of making people cry I'd say that this situation would be quicker resolved by taking a ruler and each of you going into a bathroom to take measurements. Honestly, this method of handling this kind of situation almost always ends badly. Talking about it outside of the game is really the best way to go.

All that said, if you are still set on this then the best way is to keep it simple: something with straight levels out of ToB should do the trick. If you are wanting to keep it to core books, then build a simple cleric focused on fighting. Fighting clerics beat base fighting classes almost every time.

[Azerian Kelimon]

You provoke an attack of opportunity and he'll make mincemeat o' you, you know. And you have to win a grapple, have a lenient DM, and even then, evasion should still apply.

[OOTS_Rules.]

You provoke an attack of opportunity and he'll make mincemeat o' you, you know. And you have to win a grapple, have a lenient DM, and even then, evasion should still apply.

A: Greater Invisibility should deny it.

B: Greater Invisibility helps.

C: Evasion probably shouldn't apply to your internal organs until you were epic-level. Like an epic skill.

[Ganurath]

For fighting a Barbarian on his own terms:

1-5 Human Barbarian: Invest in high Charisma, and make sure your Int is high enough so you can get 4 skill points per level at minimum. Go with Intimidate, Hide, Move Silently, and Concentration for skills, whatever if you get more than 4 per level. By fifth level you'll have Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush, and the qualifications for Avenging Executioner.
6-10 Avenging Executioner: Continue investing skills as you will, maxing out Intimidate, Move Silently, and Hide. At sixth level you're taking Improved Sunder, and at 9th you take Combat Brute.
11+ Ghost-Faced Killer: At 12th level you take Shock Trooper. After that, it doesn't really matter. Perhaps something to help you ensure initiative so you can get two rounds of sudden strikes and frightful blows in. Of course, if you come to the combat with a hostage that you coup de grace within 30 feet of the barbarian, that won't matter as he'll be scared enough by Bloody Murder that Dread Blade lets you go wild for a good, long time. Perhaps Extend Rage for flavor?

[lord_khaine]

on the other hand there isnt anything that lets you shove a fireball down someones throat either so it doesnt matter if evasion wont work.

[graymachine]

Alternatively, you could build a Conjurer into Alienist. Summoning large+ things that want hugs, then sprout tentacles leads to all sorts of humiliating defeats.

[Fuzzy_Juan]

If you wanna beat him at his own game...permanent enlarge, feats up through knockdown, 'large and in charge', use two handed play to just beat the crap out of him.

If you think you have the skills to do it, sunder his main weapon. With the knockdown/large and in charge build, any time you get an attack of oppertunity you pretty much knock them down and shove them back 5'...it is much fun. Obviously you know his character as well, so make sure you have contingencies for his oddball effects...

in addition to the 'normal' combat buffs(strength, freedom of movement, other stuff), make sure you also get yoursef fireshield somehow (probably the cold varient). I would also recommend 1 level of assasin if you can swing it and use poison...a healthy dose of some strong stuff...always good for a laugh.

[OOTS_Rules.]

on the other hand there isnt anything that lets you shove a fireball down someones throat either so it doesnt matter if evasion wont work.

An attack roll against his mouth might work, but with a high AC.

[Crow]

This guy is so far over WBL that he has items to counter most of the "easy" ways that casters can screw him. Also, his gear is way too good. Even a highly optimized barb (though he could probably win) isn't going to to give me quite the effect I need. Not with 760,000gp.

When I said he was way over WBL, we're talking millions of gp. This is why I've decided that I need a wizard. The class is pretty well decided, but the questions I asked near the end of the post are the ones I'm looking for help with (proficiencies, gear, maybe a spel for armor). I wish I could provide a list of this guy's gear, but I don't keep the character, the other DM has his sheet so I won't be seeing it until we next meet.

Though that Ghost-faced Killer build looks fun. I may make two characters on this. One with "Magic", and then the Ghost-Face.

This isn't a "measuring" contest. It's in good spirits, but I still want to annihilate him.

[Darrin]

Is there a way to get armor proficiencies in there so i can squeeze in a level of spellsword? This would allow me to avoid having to shell out for a twilight enchantment. I believe the Militia feat I will be taking only gives proficiency in martial weapons. Is this correct?

Otherworldly from Player's Guide to Faerun makes you an Outsider, which gives you proficiency with all martial weapons. Also makes you eligible for Alter Self cheese (Dwarven Ancestor, anyone?). Armor proficiency is a little trickier.

If you want to one-shot him... BassetKing's infinite damage Crusader weighs in around ECL 12, although that probably wouldn't be all that satisfying.

[Fixer]

I built a dwarven warblade you could use (Besturn Hammerstorm in the signature). I didn't equip him to that high of a level but the biggest items you'd want to get is an anti-magic field to neuter his magical equipment. If not, perhaps a few custom items that are Disjunction on a ranged touch attack (disposable items).

From your description you want to first take his character's gear out of the picture. The build I created was primarily defensive but at higher levels dealing massive damage (and hoping for crits when dealing all that damage). His strategy is to use Stone Power as often as possible to gain temp HP per round to act as pseudo damage resistance and otherwise strike as often as possible. He doesn't require magical gear (adamantine full plate and adamantine greataxe are death in his hands).

Or you could take the sunder route.

[OOTS_Rules.]

This guy is so far over WBL that he has items to counter most of the "easy" ways that casters can screw him. Also, his gear is way too good. Even a highly optimized barb (though he could probably win) isn't going to to give me quite the effect I need. Not with 760,000gp.

When I said he was way over WBL, we're talking millions of gp. This is why I've decided that I need a wizard. The class is pretty well decided, but the questions I asked near the end of the post are the ones I'm looking for help with (proficiencies, gear, maybe a spel for armor). I wish I could provide a list of this guy's gear, but I don't keep the character, the other DM has his sheet so I won't be seeing it until we next meet.

This isn't a "measuring" contest. It's in good spirits, but I still want to annihilate him.

Polymorph Any Object, anyone? Just like CLEESH in KoL. Turn him into a frog and stomp him into the dust.

[Fixer]

It would really help if we knew WHAT that +16 armor of his actually did. If it is Major Spell Resistance this could be a lot more difficult.