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2015-05-20, 09:24 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
See my Extended Signature for my list of silly shenanigans.
Anyone is welcome to use or critique my 3.5 Fighter homebrew: The Vanguard.
I am a Dungeon Master for Hire that creates custom content for people and programs d20 content for the HeroLab character system. Please donate to my Patreon and visit the HeroLab forums.
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2015-05-21, 09:58 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
By the way, if we don't get enough, we'll have to figure something else out. I'd hope for at least two more entries.
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-21, 10:33 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2014
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Mine will be done by sunday, just have to do my Background and Spells list.
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2015-05-22, 03:53 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2007
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- Sweden
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Sorry, my D&D interest has hit a low recently, so my motivation to put something together isn't very strong at the moment. We'll see if I can find the inspiration this weekend, I do have a pretty cool concept. Maybe I could hire a sub-contractor to do the actual writing up!
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2015-05-24, 07:40 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2014
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Ok, mine's submitted. Thanks again for the extension!
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2015-05-24, 01:53 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2011
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- Michigan
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
I'm still hoping to get an entry in. I've been banging my head against some rules issues, but I think it'll all resolve into something really memorable.
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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2015-05-26, 05:34 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Alright, well just 12 hours left, 3 entrants so far. I'm probably going to take a break from making these after this one.
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 07:12 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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- Shield Lands (GMT -5)
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
I'm pretty sure there are enough builds for a reveal.
Contest Medals
SpoilerAyesha: Gold, Junkyard Wars I
The Last Warder: Silver, Junkyard Wars IV
Princess Pufflebutt: Silver, Junkyard Wars VII
Gren Beastclaws: Silver, Junkyard Wars VIII
Mother Halfbreed: Silver, Iron Chef Home Cooking I
Vathoa Frostspeaker Kualavoaka: Gold, Junkyard Wars IX
Sanna Blackfish: Bronze, Villainous Competition II
Annabelle: Gold, Villainous Competition IV
Nulara of the Evil Eye: Gold, Villainous Competition IX
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2015-05-26, 07:16 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
There are definitely enough builds now, hah. I'm a little preoccupied, but I'll get them up soon. Hold off posting until I'm finished.
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 07:19 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
The Undead Knight.
Originally Posted by Geroldt BrandLike being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 07:22 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Dragons for the darkness, dragons for the shadows.
Originally Posted by Razlyn'susselsathraLast edited by Gwachitallemall; 2015-05-27 at 04:52 AM.
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 07:24 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Annie seems a little more decayed here..
Originally Posted by AnnabelleLike being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 07:26 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
The Wightcalypse has come.
Originally Posted by AtaliaLike being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 07:28 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Wood can be undead as well.
Originally Posted by Malcanth WoodrueLike being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 07:30 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Alright, that's everyone. It's a pretty small showing this time, but at least we have enough for a post. It does mean the entrants can have a good chance to win this time.
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 07:33 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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- Shield Lands (GMT -5)
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Contest Medals
SpoilerAyesha: Gold, Junkyard Wars I
The Last Warder: Silver, Junkyard Wars IV
Princess Pufflebutt: Silver, Junkyard Wars VII
Gren Beastclaws: Silver, Junkyard Wars VIII
Mother Halfbreed: Silver, Iron Chef Home Cooking I
Vathoa Frostspeaker Kualavoaka: Gold, Junkyard Wars IX
Sanna Blackfish: Bronze, Villainous Competition II
Annabelle: Gold, Villainous Competition IV
Nulara of the Evil Eye: Gold, Villainous Competition IX
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2015-05-26, 07:50 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
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- Sovereign State of Denial
Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Did I agree to judge this one? I hope I did.
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2015-05-26, 07:54 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-26, 10:42 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2014
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- Sovereign State of Denial
Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
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2015-05-27, 12:00 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2007
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- Sweden
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Very cool turnout!
My idea was a RKV tasked with defending the undead followers of Wee Jas, hunting down those who transgress against them, and "replentishing the ranks" by turning them into undead. I kept stumbling at the fact that I wanted to add an undead template to it, but then I felt I was gimping my chances to win because I wouldn't have lvl9 spells and it would cost me too much power.
I would offer to judge, but in all fairness I cannot. There's a creepy undead kid among the entries, I would be biased!
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2015-05-27, 02:06 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2011
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- Michigan
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Well, I procrastinate too much on these. Between that and other issues, I didn't get it done. Having taken a few extra hours to finish the level write ups (though it's still missing the spells table and sources list which would have taken still more time), here's my build for your viewing pleasure. I obviously don't expect it to be judged, but I would be interested in hearing any thoughts people have on it.
Abraxin Maure, Black Knight of the White Kingdom
CE Gravetouched Ghoul Human Martial Enhanced Undead Wizard 5/Master Specialist 6/Dragonslayer 1/ /Spellsword 5/Fatespinner 2
The GhoulSpoilerI feel I should warn readers that the blood and guts get to be a bit much here. If that sort of thing is going to be a problem, it might be best not to read on in the fluff section. I’ll endeavor to give some idea of Abraxin’s identity as a character in the descriptions of his tactics as well. In my defense, Abraxin’s general setup wouldn’t have to be nearly so gruesome if whoever wrote the Contagious Paralysis feat had made it so a Lich could qualify by RAW. Had I been able to use a lich, the resulting character would have been a nice, orderly Hextorian tyrant, instead of a slavering butcher.
***
Sir John Lear rode out the city gates to where the horde waited. The smell alone would have threatened to make a lesser man sick and any ordinary horse would have balked before going near, but John and his mount were made of sterner stuff. Sir John rode on in stoic silence, offering nothing more than cold distaste in response to the hyena-laughter of the gnolls, the moaning of the dead, or even the sounds of voracious feeding from all around him.
At the center of the horde a pavilion, above which two flags were displayed proudly, overlooking the various crude sigils of minor gnoll warlords and undead of small repute which were scattered throughout the horde. Highest flew a banner bearing the three-headed flail of Yeenoghu, Demon Prince of Gnolls, and beneath it, another showing a decomposed skull on a backdrop of bones, representing Doresain, the King of Ghouls. But puffed up Demon Lords and the petty demigods enthralled to them were a worry for another day. Bringing low their cultists on the material plane would suffice for the time being, and Sir John knew that he could do it. Abraxin Maure’s atrocities might have succeeded in terrifying some of his comrades, but Sir John had cut down this “Black Knight of the White Kingdom” or whatever pretentious styling the necromancer had assumed of late back when he was just another minor cult leader that the locals in the area he terrorized had called the “Cannibal Count.” He hadn’t really been a count then, no more than he was a knight now, just some by-blow that had been fired off from House Maure in the time before the cultists’ destruction and had somehow managed to resurface. And resurface again, it would seem. The scion of the old house had, most unfortunately, not stayed dead when Sir John killed him the first time, but risen again in undeath, touched by the King of Ghouls himself at the Beast of Butchery’s behest if tales were to be believed. This time, Sir John resolved, he would ensure that the monster never returned from the abyssal backwaters of his masters’ dominion.
Sir John’s horse cantered into the center of the pavilion, coming to a stop before a seat made of what seemed to be gnawed and shattered bones, with what little grease and viscera the ghouls had been unable to strip off still clinging to them. Seated atop it was a creature that had once been human, but whose skin was now pallid with death. He wore robes and furs that Sir John had seen to have the ugly brown and mangy yellow of Yeenoghu’s cultists, but had been covered in so much filth and stained with the blood of so many different creatures as to be black. In one hand, Maure held a clawed, greenish finger which might once have belonged to a troll, or perhaps still did. The cultist was gnawing absent-mindedly at the finger, but every bit of flesh his ghoulish teeth pulled off seemed to grow back a moment later. Beside the throne of bones was the body of some manner of giant. The giant was stiff as a board and an eye not unlike those gnoll warriors painted on their weapons, that Yeenoghu might see the butchery perpetrated in his name, had been slashed across its gut, but a keen eye revealed it to be clearly alive, and seemingly unlikely to succumb to its injuries anytime soon. Rows of other creatures of all varieties, all of which had been similarly subdued and marked, arrayed the area behind the chair, each one touching the next. Maure dipped the finger into the blood that the eye of Yeenoghu was weeping before returning it to his mouth and a wave of stiffness seemed to spread across the bodies.
“Well, well,” Abraxin said between bites. “If it isn’t Sir John Lear. How lovely to see a familiar face.”
“Pleasantries should be reserved for the pleasant, Maure,” replied Sir John acidly. “My King, in his great folly, has sent me to treat with your rabble before I destroy you. But I know that you are disinclined to march away, and I am disinclined to allow, let alone persuade, you to do so, so if you don’t mind, let us have an end to this farce as soon as may be. Your camp reeks of death.”
The ghoulish face smiled in response. “Your king?” he asked with feigned ignorance. “But he is no king at all. In the sight of Yeenoghu the Destroyer, Demon Prince of Gnolls, Beast of Butchery, and Ruler of Ruin,” he pointed toward the eye upon the giant’s stomach with his troll finger, dunked the flesh once more into the blood, and lifted it back to his mouth to tear off a chunk, “and in the name of Doresain, the King of Ghouls, I have established an earthly incarnation of the White Kingdom and annexed what was once the dominion of your masters. You would do well to surrender and submit yourself to the rule of the gnolls, rather than force me to take the city by force.”
Sir John would not give Maure the satisfaction of his outrage, and merely sneered at the proclamation. “You shall never take this city while I yet live. I’ve killed you once before, and this time I intend to make certain that you stay dead.”
“You will find that more difficult than you might imagine, and the time while you yet live may be shorter than you think, unless I decide to keep you with the rest,” Maure waived his free hand at his paralyzed victims. “Perhaps I need to make this more plain. I will have your city by the time this day is out one way or another. The only choice that is left to you is whether you prefer it to be in the hands of gnolls or ghouls come nightfall. Gnolls are not the gentlest of slave masters, and sacrifices to Yeenoghu will be necessary… but they will only eat those of you who look particularly delicious. The ghouls on the other hand…” his pallid face split into a horrible, ravenous grin. “If you force me to take the city by force, and I give you over to them and this shall truly become the White Kingdom on earth. We shall devour every one of you save those needed to maintain the supplies of paralyzed flesh, who will wish for the dignity and painlessness of cannibalization before their lives end, and what skin we flay off to make the white flag you have denied us in your stubbornness.”
This time, the horror and revulsion did show on Sir John’s face, though they were quickly taken over by a look of righteous fury. He reached for his sword and moved to spur his mount into a charge, aiming to slay the necromancer though it cost him his own life. But the necromancer moved more quickly than seemed possible. In a flash of light he had grown into some enormous monster, large enough to pick up the giant beside him bodily and swing it at his adversary. There was no escape from the path of the creature and horse and rider alike were struck with a sickening crunch and a burst of stinging black blood. Sir John felt a wave of stiffness pass over him, though he managed to resist it. His horse was not so fortunate, and stopped dead in its tracks. Sir John tried to extricate himself from the saddle, to make his attack on foot if need be, but as his hand brushed his horse’s neck, the rigidity passed over him again, this time succeeding in taking hold. He fell from the saddle, unable to move a muscle under his own power. Abraxin Maure dropped his giant back to its original place and resumed his normal form, laughing, as a pair of enormous undead lifted Sir John and his horse and tossed them down adjoining the other frozen victims.
“Have one of the catapults send him over the wall,” Maure said. “If he survives he can inform them that they have one hour to make their decision.”
The GutsSpoilerAbility ScoresSpoilerElite Array: Str 13, Dex 10, Con 8, Int 15, Wis 12, Cha 14
CR 4: Str 13, Dex 10, Con 8, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha
CR 6 (Gravetouched Ghoul): Str 15, Dex 14, Con –, Int 18, Wis 16, Cha 16
CR9: Str 15, Dex 14, Con –, Int 19, Wis 16, Cha 16
CR13: Str 15, Dex 14, Con –, Int 20, Wis 16, Cha 16
CR17: Str 15, Dex 14, Con –, Int 21, Wis 16, Cha 16
The BuildSpoiler
*Abraxin only qualifies for Area Attack while polymorphed into a suitable form.Level Class Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Skills Feats Class Features 1st Martial Enhanced Undead Wizard 1 +0 +0 +0 +2 Tumble 2 (cc), Spellcraft 4, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Knowledge (Religion) 4, Concentration 4 Spell Focus (Necromancy), Arcane Disciple (Evil), Power AttackB Necromancy Specialization (Ban Illusion and Enchantment), Enhanced Undead variant, Martial Wizard variant, Summon Familiar 2nd Wizard 2 +1 +0 +0 +3 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 5, Knowledge (Arcana) 5, Knowledge (Religion) 5, Concentration 5, Profession (Gambler) 1 - - 3rd Wizard 3 +1 +1 +1 +3 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 6, Knowledge (Arcana) 6, Knowledge (Religion) 6, Concentration 6, Profession (Gambler) 2 Fell Animate, Iron WillOH - 4th Wizard 4 +2 +1 +1 +4 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 7, Knowledge (Arcana) 7, Knowledge (Religion) 7, Knowledge (The Planes) 1, Concentration 7, Profession (Gambler) 3 - - 5th Master Specialist 1 +2 +1 +1 +6 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 8, Knowledge (Arcana) 8, Knowledge (Religion) 8, Knowledge (The Planes) 2, Concentration 8, Profession (Gambler) 4 Skill Focus(Spellcraft)B - 6th Gravetouched Ghoul CR+1 +2 +1 +1 +6 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 8, Knowledge (Arcana) 8, Knowledge (Religion) 8, Knowledge (The Planes) 2, Concentration 8, Profession (Gambler) 4 MultiattackB Bite, two claws, ability score adjustments, HD increase to d12, Ghoul Fever, Paralysis, Turn Resistance +2, Diet Dependent (Flesh) 7th Wizard 5 +2 +1 +1 +6 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 9, Knowledge (Arcana) 9, Knowledge (Religion) 9, Knowledge (The Planes) 4, Concentration 9, Profession (Gambler) 5 Contagious Paralysis, DodgeB - 8th Master Specialist 2 +3 +1 +1 +7 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 10, Knowledge (Arcana) 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (The Planes) 5, Knowledge (Local) 1, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Concentration 10, Profession (Gambler) 5 - Expanded Spellbook (Animate Dead) 9th Master Specialist 3 +3 +2 +2 +7 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 11, Knowledge (Arcana) 11, Knowledge (Religion) 11, Knowledge (The Planes) 8, Knowledge (Local) 1, Knowledge (Nature) 1, Concentration 11, Profession (Gambler) 5 Greater Spell Focus (Necromancy)B - 10th Master Specialist 4 +4 +2 +2 +8 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 12, Knowledge (Arcana) 11, Knowledge (Religion) 12, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Local) 3, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Concentration 12, Profession (Gambler) 5 Black Lore of Moil Minor School Esoterica 11th Master Specialist 5 +4 +2 +2 +8 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 13, Knowledge (Arcana) 11, Knowledge (Religion) 13, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Local) 5, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 1, Concentration 13, Profession (Gambler) 5 - Expanded Spellbook (Create Undead) 12th Master Specialist 6 +5 +3 +3 +9 Tumble 2, Spellcraft 13, Knowledge (Arcana) 11, Knowledge (Religion) 13, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Local) 5, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 1, Concentration 13, Profession (Gambler) 5 - Caster Level Increase 13th Dragonslayer 1 +6 +5 +3 +11 Tumble 3, Spellcraft 13, Knowledge (Arcana) 14, Knowledge (Religion) 13, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Knowledge (Local) 5, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 1, Concentration 14 (cc), Profession (Gambler) 5, Collector of Stories Area Attack* Aura of Courage, Damage Bonus 14th Spellsword 1 +7 +7 +3 +13 Tumble 3, Spellcraft 15, Knowledge (Arcana) 15, Knowledge (Religion) 15, Knowledge (The Planes) 12, Knowledge (Local) 5, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 1, Concentration 15, Profession (Gambler) 5, Collector of Stories - Ignore Spell Failure 10% 15th Spellsword 2 +8 +8 +3 +14 Tumble 3, Spellcraft 16, Knowledge (Arcana) 16, Knowledge (Religion) 16, Knowledge (The Planes) 13, Knowledge (Local) 6, Knowledge (Nature) 3, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 2, Concentration 16, Profession (Gambler) 5, Collector of Stories Fell DrainB - 16th Spellsword 3 +9 +8 +4 +14 Tumble 3, Spellcraft 17, Knowledge (Arcana) 17, Knowledge (Religion) 17, Knowledge (The Planes) 14, Knowledge (Local) 7, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 3, Concentration 17, Profession (Gambler) 5, Collector of Stories Ability Focus (Paralysis) New Class Abilities 17th Spellsword 4 +10 +9 +4 +15 Tumble 3, Spellcraft 18, Knowledge (Arcana) 18, Knowledge (Religion) 18, Knowledge (The Planes) 15, Knowledge (Local) 8, Knowledge (Nature) 5, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 4, Concentration 18, Profession (Gambler) 5, Collector of Stories - Channel Spell 3/day 18th Spellsword 5 +11 +9 +4 +15 Tumble 3, Spellcraft 19, Knowledge (Arcana) 19, Knowledge (Religion) 19, Knowledge (The Planes) 16, Knowledge (Local) 9, Knowledge (Nature) 6, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 5, Concentration 19, Profession (Gambler) 5, Collector of Stories - Ignore Spell Failure 20% 19th Fatespinner 1 +11 +9 +4 +17 Tumble 3, Spellcraft 20, Knowledge (Arcana) 20, Knowledge (Religion) 20 (cc), Knowledge (The Planes) 16 ½(cc), Knowledge (Local) 10(cc), Knowledge (Nature) 6, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 5, Concentration 20, Profession (Gambler) 5, Collector of Stories Improved Paralysis or Practiced Spellcaster Spin Fate 20th Fatespinner 2 +12 +9 +4 +18 Tumble 3, Spellcraft 21, Knowledge (Arcana) 21, Knowledge (Religion) 21 (cc), Knowledge (The Planes) 17cc), Knowledge (Local) 11(cc), Knowledge (Nature) 6, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) 5, Concentration 21, Profession (Gambler) 5, Collector of Stories - Fickle Finger of Fate
B denotes a bonus feat. OH denotes that Iron Will is obtained through the Otyugh Hole.
SpellsSpoilerSpells per Day
*Does not account for bonus spells for a high ability score.Level 0lvl 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 1st - - - - - - - - - - 2nd - - - - - - - - - - 3rd - - - - - - - - - - 4th - - - - - - - - - - 5th - - - - - - - - - - 6th - - - - - - - - - - 7th - - - - - - - - - - 8th - - - - - - - - - - 9th - - - - - - - - - - 10th - - - - - - - - - - 11th - - - - - - - - - - 12th - - - - - - - - - - 13th - - - - - - - - - - 14th - - - - - - - - - - 15th - - - - - - - - - - 16th - - - - - - - - - - 17th - - - - - - - - - - 18th - - - - - - - - - - 19th - - - - - - - - - - 20th - - - - - - - - - -
The GlorySpoilerCR5SpoilerAt this point Abraxin Maure is just your garden variety human necromancer. As a scion of House Maure (a family of human cultists of Yeenoghu from some old adventure modules in Dungeon, at least some of which were 2e, information about Yeenoghu and Doresain is sort of thin on the ground), he worships Yeenoghu (or Doresain if you don’t believe that Demon Princes count as deities for Arcane Disciple, they both offer the Evil Domain, and despite being subordinate to Yeenoghu, the King of Ghouls is a demigod per Libris Mortis), and goes about the general business you’d expect of an evil cultist. Despite not being a high enough level to cast Animate Dead, he can raise zombie/skeleton minions through Fell Animate spells, and indeed can raise rather a lot of them, thanks to having Desecrate from Arcane Disciple. The bonus HP from Enhanced Undead and Desecrate (possibly Fell Energy Desecrate if you can get your hands on a Metamagic Rod of Fell Energy Spell) stack, so Abraxin’s minions will be pretty hale and hardy. The same can’t be said for Maure himself however. He’s a squishy wizard and has dumped Con in the lead up to becoming undead. Wizards also don’t have the same knack for wriggling out of sticky situations at level 5 that they do at later levels, so expect the PCs to kill him in this encounter.
He’ll also pick up Iron Will from the Otyugh Hole during these levels (I have it marked at 3, but any time will do), as we’ll need it later. To fit it into his fluff, perhaps we could say that he’s somehow trapped down in some dank pit and needs to consume human flesh to survive. We’ll need Dodge for the same reason, so we use Master Specialist to delay the 5th level Martial Wizard bonus feat until after getting the Dex bonus from Gravetouched Ghoul.
CR13SpoilerWhen a person of particular interest to Doresain, the King of Ghouls dies (say a particularly evil, cannibalistic cultist in service Doresain’s liege), they are sometimes “touched by the King” and rise again as a Gravetouched Ghoul. Such is the case for our villain, who will rise again in undeath after his initial defeat at the PCs’ hands (for good measure, if the PCs aren’t thorough about his destruction, have some of his subordinates bury him on desecrated ground). Over the course of these levels, Abraxin also picks up the main ingredients to his primary trick; the Contagious Paralysis feat, the Area Attack feat, and the ability to cast Draconic Polymorph and Brilliant Blade. Draconic Polymorph is mostly here to make him big and strong enough to use Area Attack (I’m fond of the Ibradlin, a 10HD gargantuan dragon in Monsters of Faerun, as a mid-level, high-size form), which you then use to swing the paralyzed bodies of Maure’s previous victims, delivering Paralysis and damage to a large area via Contagious Paralysis. Changing form will disqualify you from Contagious Paralysis, but the Supreme Chancellor said (and I agree), that already paralyzed creatures will stay contagious. Brilliant Blade makes your (improvised) weapon pass harmlessly through undead, which means that you can swing away without worrying about your animated minions. For added fun, have a Contingency at the ready to ensure that the necessary buffs get up on time, and consider throwing a Blade of Blood on
Most unfortunately, Liches do not qualify for Contagious Paralysis, as they have “Paralyzing Touch” rather than “Paralysis” and the prerequisites are obnoxiously specific. Dealing with the shorter duration on Gravetouched Ghoul paralysis is irksome, but manageable. I gave a “cinematic” rendition in the fluff, but for those who did not read it or want a more explanatory description, the setup that I’ve come up with is as follows. Cut a finger off of a troll, then destroy the rest with acid or fire. Each round, Abraxin will take a bite out of that finger (the average damage is close enough to the 5 points regenerated that that shouldn’t be an issue), delivering paralysis to the still-living troll, then touch the finger to the body that you want to use as a paralysis vector. This body can, of course, be touching others, which can in turn be touching more others, and so on, inductively. Thus, contagious paralysis does not only make Abraxin’s Area Attack weapon into a paralysis vector, but also does so for Telekinesis shenanigans, the area attack weapons of any sufficiently large servants who also have the feat, the ammunition of your Hulking Hurler servants, the improvised weapons of your Drunken Master servants, ammunition for your army’s trebuchets, or anything else that you might think of. Of course, there are still inconveniences with this setup, so you will also likely want to smooth things out with various means of Fort save tanking (Bestow Curse and its greater version, Con damage/drain such as from your Ghoul Fever without actually killing them), ensuring that they stay subdued even if a paralysis duration runs out (reducing their Dex to 0 with Ghoul Fever, having an Allip reduce their Wis to 0, various forms of non-fatal mutilation) and will occasionally want to use Smoky Confinement to be able to hold the paralysis duration on a victim without keeping them path connected to the big bad.
Note also that even though you’re transforming from a creature that’s paralysis immune into a creature that’s paralysis immune, polymorph will lose your paralysis immunity in translation. However, Contagious Paralysis gives creatures who save once against the contagious effect immunity to the paralyzing attack for 24 hours. The simplest way to achieve this is probably to simply use a Diamond Mind ring of Mind Over Body and a low level polymorph effect early in the day to get that concern out of the way, but Abraxin is a wizard and this is a thing for which he can specifically prepared. It shouldn’t be an issue.
CR20SpoilerSpell Chanelling and Area Attack are two great tastes that go great together (Area Attack is explicitly an attack per the benefit description, so the area that you Area Attack is a “target of a successful attack”). Maure only gets 3 uses/day, but he’s a BBEG, and hasn’t had to work a full adventuring day in his life or his unlife, and not finishing out Spellsword means that we can scrape 9th level spells. We also finally pick up Fell Drain which in conjunction with Black Lore of Moil can be applied to any Necromancy spell, including some of the really nasty ones like Shivering Touch, Enervation, and Energy Drain. Pack a few (possibly Moilan) Fell Drain Blade of Blood castings as well, and deliver a chunk of damage, a targeted spell, and a paralysis effect (now with a much higher save DC thanks to Ability Focus and Improved Paralysis), with an extra negative level on top to a decent-sized area in one fell swoop. Beyond the nasty necromancy effects, fun spells for Area Attack channeling include Baleful Polymorph, Disintigrate, and Reaving Dispel.
The GristleSpoilerSources list goes here.
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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2015-05-27, 04:50 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-27, 04:54 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Razlyn just notified me that they built off of 32 point buy instead of elite array. Being a merciful Supreme Chancellor, I've accepted the changes this time, but it just is a notification for everyone, double check your build, make sure everything is correct. I'll accept changes before hand, but not after the fact anymore.
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge
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2015-05-27, 06:00 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Question about the shadow dragon build: What, at CR20, is its Ur-Priest Caster Level?
Normally, Ur-Priest gets 1/2 caster level from other casting class levels, so that would make CL = 1+4,5 = 5,5 at CR 18 for Ur-Priest, I think. But what effect does the Dispassionate Watcher's Divine Conversion have on CL? Would it become 5,5+9 = 14,5 or 5,5-4,5+9 = 10?My homebrew:Reborn Necromancer and Feats
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2015-05-27, 07:34 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2012
- Location
- In the Playground, duh.
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2015-05-27, 07:38 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
My homebrew:Reborn Necromancer and Feats
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2015-05-27, 07:59 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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- Shield Lands (GMT -5)
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
Is this just a ruse so we don't suspect that the creepy undead kid is your build?
Anyway, here's a summary for atemu and anyone else who feels like judging:
Geroldt Brand: ? Human Bard 1/Paladin 5/Dirgesinger 5/Bone Knight 9
Razlyn’susselsathra, the Shadow of Death: NE? Mature Adult Loredrake Shadow Dragon Ur-Priest 1/Soul Eater 1/Dispassionate Watcher of Chronepsis 1
Annabelle: LE Slaymate Wizard 8/Pale Master 10
Atalia, the Wight Queen: CE Spellscale Sorcerer 20
Malcanth Woodrue: NE Wood Elf Ranger 1/Druid 5/Blighter 10/Warshaper 4Last edited by sakuuya; 2015-05-27 at 11:20 AM.
Contest Medals
SpoilerAyesha: Gold, Junkyard Wars I
The Last Warder: Silver, Junkyard Wars IV
Princess Pufflebutt: Silver, Junkyard Wars VII
Gren Beastclaws: Silver, Junkyard Wars VIII
Mother Halfbreed: Silver, Iron Chef Home Cooking I
Vathoa Frostspeaker Kualavoaka: Gold, Junkyard Wars IX
Sanna Blackfish: Bronze, Villainous Competition II
Annabelle: Gold, Villainous Competition IV
Nulara of the Evil Eye: Gold, Villainous Competition IX
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2015-05-27, 02:23 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2011
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- Michigan
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
It loses all Sorcerer casting from Divine Conversion and converts it into Ur-Priest casting. Its caster level is 10, just as it would be for an Ur-Priest 10 entered from a non-caster base.
I'm really kicking myself for not getting my build done on time. There was another Wizard, but I think the Contagious Paralysis shenanigans would have been pretty novel.
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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2015-05-27, 03:36 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
- Location
- Sweden
- Gender
Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
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2015-05-29, 06:34 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2013
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Re: Villainous Competition IV, or, The Truth is in the (Blood) Pudding
How are all our judges doing?
Like being evil? You should check my optimization challenge