Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground LII

[Kuulvheysoon]

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef LII. Here in Optimization Colosseum, contestants will endeavor to create an optimized and flavorful character using a specified D&D3.5 prestige class as a "Secret Ingredient".

Contestants: You will need to present a write-up of your build at at least one of the following points: 5th level, 10th level, 15th, 20th, and a "sweet spot" that you feel is the high point of the build, as well as presenting a fully-fleshed out 20-level build in the table below. Feel free to present as many of these as you like, and please give a rundown of the build's abilities and playability at all of the levels you didn't show. The rules are as follows:

Menu: For most challenges, the "special ingredient" will be drawn from Core plus Completes. There will, from time to time, be special challenges that showcase secret ingredients from other books--for example, the XPH.

32 point-buy is the presumed creation method, but we have generally allowed other levels of point-buy.
If you do use a different point-buy, please make your case for its necessity in your entry. Keep in mind that for using exceptionally large or small point-buys may warrant deductions in elegance and/or power.

Kitchen: Competitors will be free to use any official 3.5 rulebook in constructing their builds. Dragon magazine is disallowed, and Unearthed Arcana is allowed; but see Elegance below. Web-exclusive 3.0 or 3.5 materials by WotC are expressly allowed, but take care to verify that an updated version did not appear in print elsewhere, as this may cause an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion. Alternate rule systems from UA such as gestalt are not allowed, as they create a different playing field. Also, item familiars are forbidden because I hate 'em. Please refrain from using Taint unless it's necessary for the Secret Ingredient.

Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 11:59PM GMT on Sunday, December 29th, 2013 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, Kuulvheysoon. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 11:59PM GMT on Sunday, January 12th, 2014 to judge the builds and submit their scores. If no judges have scored by that point, only the scores of the first judge to submit will be counted.

Judging: Judging will be based on the following criteria, with each build rated from 1 (very poor) to 5 (exemplary) in each area: Originality, Power, Elegance, Use of Secret Ingredient.

Power level is up to you. Cheese is acceptable, but should be kept to a sane level unless you're showcasing a new TO build you've discovered. In the words of one of my predecessors, a little cheddar can be nice, but avoid the mature Gruyere unless you're making a cheese fondue.

Elegance could bear a little elaboration. It basically measures how skillfully you put your build together, and whether you sacrificed flavor for power. We're cooking here - if your dish doesn't taste good, it doesn't matter how well-presented it is. Use of flaws is an automatic loss of one point per flaw in this category. Other things that will cause lost points here are excessive multiclassing, and classes that don't fit the concept - using Cloistered Cleric in a front-line melee fighter, for example, will lose you points. Please note the following change: a legal source's relative obscurity should not be considered as penalizing Elegance, excepting the aforementioned issues with Unearthed Arcana. Using too many sources may be an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion, but a book's relative obscurity may not. In that same vein, drawing solely from the Core 3 (and the d20 SRD) should not be punished for lacking Originality.

Presentation: Builds will be posted anonymously, in order to avoid the potential of bias towards a particular competitor. For this reason, please don't put your name in the build, as I'm likely to miss it when reviewing the entries!

Due to concerns about standardizing entry format, I'd like everyone to try to use the following table for their entry.

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NAME OF ENTRY
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

2nd|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

3rd|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

4th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

5th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

6th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

7th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

8th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

9th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

10th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

11th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

12th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

13th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

14th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

15th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

16th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

17th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

18th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

19th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

20th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities[/table]

Code

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[b]NAME OF ENTRY[/b]
{table=head][b]Level[/b]|[b]Class[/b]|[b]Base Attack Bonus[/b]|[b]Fort Save[/b]|[b]Ref Save[/b]|[b]Will Save[/b]|[b]Skills[/b]|[b]Feats[/b]|[b]Class Features[/b]

1st|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

2nd|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

3rd|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

4th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

5th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

6th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

7th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

8th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

9th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

10th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

11th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

12th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

13th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

14th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

15th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

16th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

17th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

18th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

19th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

20th|New Class Level|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|[center]+x[/center]|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities[/table]

For entries with spellcasting, use the following table for Spells per day and Spells Known. (Spells Known only if necessary, i.e. Sorcerer or Bard, but not Wizard or Warmage)

Spoiler

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Spells per day/Spells Known
{table=head]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|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

Code

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[b]Spells per day/Spells Known[/b]
{table=head][b]Level[/b]|[b]0lvl[/b]|[b]1st[/b]|[b]2nd[/b]|[b]3rd[/b]|[b]4th[/b]|[b]5th[/b]|[b]6th[/b]|[b]7th[/b]|[b]8th[/b]|[b]9th[/b]

1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

13th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

14th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

15th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

16th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

17th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

18th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

19th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

20th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

For other systems (Psionics, ToB, Incarnum, etc.) keep track of PP/maneuvers/essentia separately, preferably in a nice neat list.

Speculation: Please don't post or speculate on possible builds until the "reveal," in order to avoid spoiling the surprise if a particular competitor is producing a build along those lines.

Leadership is banned; we're producing a meal, not a seven-course banquet for a hundred diners. If your entry includes a prestige class or ACF that grants Leadership or a Leadership-like ability as a bonus feat, the feat should be ignored and is not eligible to be traded away for another feat or ACF through any means.

So! Who wants to sign up as a contestant, and who wants to sign up as a judge? Looking for as many contestants and judges as feel like playing!

This week's special ingredient is:
Book of Exalted Deed's Anointed Knight!
We will award 1st through 3rd places, as well as a shout-out for honorable mention. The honorable mention prize is given to the most daring or unexpected build. Judges, contestants and guests alike are invited to vote for honorable mention via PM.

Allez, optimiser!

Contestants

Judges

The Builds

Past Competitions

Spoiler: The First Fifty

Show

Iron Chef I: Entropomancer
Iron Chef II: Psibond Agent
Iron Chef III: Cancer Mage
Iron Chef IV: Stonelord
Iron Chef V: War Chanter
Iron Chef VI: Master of Masks
Iron Chef VII: Green Star Adept
Iron Chef VIII: Pyrokineticist
Iron Chef IX: Animal Lord
Iron Chef X: Mythic Exemplar
Iron Chef XI: Blade Bravo
Iron Chef XII: War Mind
Iron Chef XIII: Vigilante
Iron Chef XIV: Seeker of the Song
Iron Chef XV: Drunken Master
Iron Chef XVI: Assassin
Iron Chef XVII: Ardent Dilettante
Iron Chef XVIII: Unseelie Dark Hunter
Iron Chef XIX: Dread Pirate
Iron Chef XX: Incandescent Champion
Iron Chef XXI: Ghostwalker
Iron Chef XXII: Dervish
Iron Chef XXIII: Divine Crusader
Iron Chef XXIV: Tactical Soldier
Iron Chef XXV: Scion of Tem-Et-Nu
Iron Chef XXVI: Shadowdancer
Iron Chef XXVII: Mindbender
Iron Chef XXVIII: Cryokineticist
Iron Chef XXIX: Consecrated Harrier
Iron Chef XXX: Initiate of Pistis Sophia
Iron Chef XXXI: Shadow Sentinel
Iron Chef XXXII: Temple Raider of Olidammara
Iron Chef XXXIII: Drow Judicator
Iron Chef XXXIV: Dragon Disciple
Iron Chef XXXV: Death Delver
Iron Chef XXXVI: Acolyte of the Skin
Iron Chef XXXVII: Justiciar
Iron Chef XXXVIII: Hand of the Winged Master
Iron Chef XXXIX: Renegade Mastermaker
Iron Chef XL: Nightsong Infiltrator
Iron Chef XLI: Geomancer
Iron Chef XLII: Shadowblade
Iron Chef XLIII: Bladesinger
Iron Chef XLIV: Urban Soul
Iron Chef XLV: Talon of Tiamat
Iron Chef XLVI: Cipher Adept
Iron Chef XLVII: Cold Iron Warrior
Iron Chef XLVIII: Shadow Sun Ninja
Iron Chef XLIX: Thrall to Orcus
Iron Chef L: Corrupt Avenger

Iron Chef LI: Black Flame Zealot

[Kuulvheysoon]

FAQ:
What's this even about? I'm glad you asked, actually...

Is Dragon Compendium Allowed? Yes (as well as its Errata), but individual issues of Dragon Magazine are not.

What about 3.0 materials? 3.0 materials, whether online or in printed form, are allowed unless they've been officially updated to a 3.5 edition.

Are Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, or Kingdoms of Kalamar allowable sources? The Dragonlance Campaign Setting is allowed, but the subsequent books for Dragonlance are considered 3rd party, and are therefore not eligible, despite the "WotC approved" status of those books. The same holds for Oriental Adventures (1st party) and the subsequent Rokugan books (3rd party). Materials from Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, and Kingdoms of Kalamar are considered 3rd party for purposes of this contest, and are therefore not allowed.

What about online sources in general? If the online source is a) published by WotC, and b) not replaced by an updated version at a later time, it is eligible. Use it, link it.

Where's the line drawn with "acceptable/unacceptable" for Unearthed Arcana? This will likely vary a bit from Chairman to Chairman. Item Familiars and Gestalt have always been verboten, since before IC migrated to GitP; don't expect that to change. Flaws have similarly always been noted as warranting a deduction; while I am Chairman, I'm extending that to Traits, though they warrant 1/2 the penalty in Elegance that a Flaw would because they're roughly 1/2 as useful. Alternate spell systems, alternate skill systems and alternate crafting rules all create an uneven playing field, and as such, will be disallowed for as long as I am Chairman. Bloodlines and the Retraining options presented in the PHB2 are ripe for abuse, and will be strongly discouraged as long as I am Chairman. Note that judges are allowed to look askance at any use of Unearthed Arcana not specifically mentioned above, at their discretion, and otherwise penalize Elegance according to their preference.

What, exactly, does the ban on Leadership mean? As folks have started to try to work around the edges of this one, I'm forced to spell it out more plainly. No Leadership, Draconic Cohort, or Feats that grant a similar ability are allowed EXCEPT Wild Cohort while Kuulvheysoon is chairman. Any PrC you choose with Leadership or a Leadership-analog has that ability entirely ignored for this contest, as it may neither be used nor traded away via any means whatsoever.

What's the minimum score in a category? Assuming an entry is legal, the minimum score in any category is 1. If a judge is convinced that an entry is mechanically illegal by the RAW, the judge may give the build a score of 0 in Elegance, and proceed to judge the entry as if the offending material was not included. Failing to meet a special requirements for a prestige class does not merit a 0, but may qualify for a penalty, at the judge's discretion. Because this contest focuses on Player Characters, an entry that is not technically allowed for a PC, but is viable as an NPC, counts as a legal entry, but may receive a minimum score at the judges' discretion.

Anoint Ancestral Weapon: Sentient Weapon? If you do decide to use this specific ability/oil, you choose which mentals go where, but let me know and I'll roll you a pair of lesser powers.

Anoint Self: Celestial Strategy? For the purposes of this specific competition, treat it as you would a monk bonus feat (that is, to say, that you receive and may use it regardless of whether or not you should qualify for it. Note that if your Dexterity is not high enough to allow additional Attacks of Opportunity, you can take only 1 per round regardless.

Anoint Ancestral Weapon: Unicorn's Blood? Since there's no Unicorn, assume that the weapon is the donor for the Ravage (because somebody is going to start on about it).

Anoint Self: Divine Clairity? Can be taken once, for a bonus to a single ability score.

Armor/Shield Proficiencies? Yes, it is awesome and true. Since it says 'all' without any sort of limiting factor, it means all, much like the Factotum's class skill list.

Anoint Weapon/Ancestral Relic interaction? Your Ancestral Relic must qualify as a weapon in order to benefit from this class feature.

Ritual Oil costs? No, they are not counted as part of the base value of your Ancestral Relic.

Class level or Character Level? The 'level' referred to in the Anoint Self and Anoint Ancestral Weapon tables is your (Anointed Knight) Class level, not your Character level.

Relic Value and Base Weapon cost? They aren't related at all. Text trumps Table, so the Relic Value presented in the Book of Exalted Deeds table in the Ancestral Relic feat is only the cost of the enhancement. Mind that the weapon must still abide by the normal weapon enhancement rules, and is limited to the +10 equivalent value ceiling.

What does 120' sight and hearing mean? It means that the weapon can only visually/audibly sense things within 120'.

[Venger]

Called it.

Well, I thought it was gonna be warrior of darkness, but that's the same.

I'm in to cook.

[Temotei]

Sweet. Let's see what I can do with my meager skills. I shall cook.

[KrimsonNekros]

*Cracks open the relevant pdf and gets cracking.* This time I'm doing my skill points right!

[Temotei]

Oh, and the link to the BFZ challenge is outside of the spoiler.

[Tim Proctor]

I am in to judge, and here is my metric.

Spoiler

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Note: I started each category at a 3, with players the ability to earn up to a 5.

Note: the term ‘feature’ is used in many of the calculations below and a feature is defined as an aspect of the secret ingredient that is a requirement for entry, or gained through the levels. In the case of Black Flame Zealot the following features are:

Stealth (hide, move silently), Religion (knowledge (religion), Zealous Heart), Weapon use (weapon prof (kukri)), Mental resilience (iron will), Spell Casting (divine casting), Fire (sacred flame, unholy immolation), Assassination (sneak attack, death attack, poison use). There are seven total.

Originality
-(i/x), i = each iteration of a race, class, feat, or maxed skill set (maximum ranks available) being used by another player, x total amount of players.
+.25, if a race, class, feat, or maxed skill set that was not used by another player.

Note: features of the secret ingredient are excluded from the above calculation.

Note: features that are separate from each other regardless how similar are treated separately. Knowledge (religion) is as separate from Knowledge (nature) as a Desert Half-Orc is from a Half-Orc.

Power
+.25, for each feature of the secret ingredient that has been reinforced.
-0.5, for each feature of the secret ingredient missing reinforcement.
+/- x, (offense) x=((average damage output at level 20)*(initiative/10))/100.
+/- x, (defense) x=((HP max 1st average the remainder)*(AC/40))/100.
+/-.25, for each of the following that are not SI features: Spell casting level >= 8, AC (with max mundane available) >= 35, Social modifiers (2 of diplomacy, bluff, sense motive) >= 40, Stealth modifiers (hide and move silently) >= 40, Scouting modifiers (listen and spot) >= 40, Knowledge modifiers (2 or more knowledge) >=40, Crowd Control (3 or more mass CC effects).

Note: max damage output is capped at 500 offering a maximum of +2, there is no need for an orbital charger.

Note: AC is calculated using 4 if limited to wearing light, 6 if limited to wearing medium, and 8 if allowed to wear heavy. AC will be given an addition 2 if allowed to use a shield (meaning not 2 handed).

Note: reinforced can mean a number of things generally maxed skill ranks where appropriate, a feat that is related, racial and class bonuses and/or synergies, etc.

Elegance
-1 per flaw, failure to qualify for a feat, class, etc.
+x, per class 5 or more levels, where X= levels*0.1 (if a 5 level class 0.5 points, if a 10 level class 1 point).
-1 for a 1 level splash, -0.5 for a 2 level splash.
+/-x, discretionary use for alignment issues, cheese, rules interpretations, etc.

Note: failures to qualify will be a cascading cumulative effect, meaning that if failure to qualify for X means that you also would then fail to qualify for Y then you would fail to qualify for both.

Use of Secret Ingredient
+0.5, if the SI class feature is reinforced in a superb manner the combination of three or more reinforcement factors.
+.25, if the SI class feature is reinforced in an good manner the combination of two reinforcement factors.
-.25, if the SI class feature is not reinforced in any manner.
-0.5, if the SI class feature is not reinforced and receives a negative penalty due to something else in the build such as a poor ability score, armor penalties, etc.

Note: see the reinforcement definition above in the power section.

If anyone have any comments, questions, or concerns about it or my judging style please feel free to let me know.

[Tim Proctor]

Oh, and the link to the BFZ challenge is outside of the spoiler.

That's because BFZ was 51, and the spoiler was for the 1st 50.

[Kuulvheysoon]

Oh, and the link to the BFZ challenge is outside of the spoiler.

I am well aware - it's the First of the Second Fifty. I just didn't want the post to stretch halfway to Perdition. I'm going to keep posting them outside so people can easily reference the last few contests.

[Venger]

Chair, I have a question.

I know we cannot pick the same ability from the self or weapon chart.

However, with regards to our "Divine Clarity" ability, since it can improve our wis/int/or cha, is picking it once to say, bump wis, and once again to bump int allowed, or is that also "picking it twice?"

[relytdan]

undecided as of this moment but looks interesting

[Venger]

undecided as of this moment but looks interesting

it's no warrior of darkness, but it'll do.

[Temotei]

That's because BFZ was 51, and the spoiler was for the 1st 50.

I am well aware - it's the First of the Second Fifty. I just didn't want the post to stretch halfway to Perdition. I'm going to keep posting them outside so people can easily reference the last few contests.

Ah. Good call.

[Kuulvheysoon]

Chair, I have a question.

I know we cannot pick the same ability from the self or weapon chart.

However, with regards to our "Divine Clarity" ability, since it can improve our wis/int/or cha, is picking it once to say, bump wis, and once again to bump int allowed, or is that also "picking it twice?"

I would read it as Divine Clarity is a single ability that can only be chosen a single time for a boost to Int/Wis/Cha once.

[WhamBamSam]

Huh. Neat. Not sure I'll actually have time to participate, but I'm damn sure going to try to get a build in.

[Fates]

I've been watching these threads for a good long while now. I figure it's high time I take up the pot and ladle myself. I'm in.

[Dumbledore lives]

I will probably be participating but I have a question. The PrC says it is proficient with all armor and shields. Does this include exotic ones? By RAW it seems it does but I'm unaware if there were any at the time of publication, so I wanted to ask.

[Temotei]

I've got a question about formatting.

Typically in a class table, features after the first character aren't capitalized or italicized unless they're proper nouns or whatever.

In our tables, do you judges prefer to see capitalized text throughout or as in class tables? Some examples:

{table=head]Special
Anoint self (blah)[/table]

{table=head]Special
Anoint Self (Blah)[/table]

[Sian]

okay, appearently i rolled a 1 on book-fu ... where is the rules for point buy placed?

rolled Google-fu and found it ... DMG p169

[Macabaret]

Time to be a fly in the (anointed) oil.

The Anointed Knight PrC has a requirement of the feat Ancestral Relic which states:

Choose an item you own. The item must be of masterwork quality, and it must be an item that once belonged....

The Anointed Knight then gains the ability Anoint Ancestral Weapon which states:

An anointed knight concocts a magic oil with which to coat her ancestral weapon, at a cost of.... If the oil is applied to a weapon other than the anointed knight's ancestral weapon, nothing happens and the oil is wasted...

(All bolding of text above is my own addition for emphasis.)

So, my questions:

• Does an Anointed Knight gain an ancestral weapon that is separate from her ancestral relic? (Though they could be the same item.)
• Does the Anoint Ancestral Weapon ability only work on an anointed relic, even if that relic isn't a weapon?
• Does the Anoint Ancestral Weapon ability only work on an anointed relic that is a weapon?

[OMG PONIES]

Book of Exalted Deed's Annointed Knight!

Annoit Ancestral Weapon: Sentient Weapon?

Annoint Self: Celestial Strategy??

Annoit Ancestral Weapon: Unicorn's Blood?

Sorry to be a stickler for spelling, but can we correct those to "Anoint" and "Anointed" as appropriate?

So, my questions:

• Does an Anointed Knight gain an ancestral weapon that is separate from her ancestral relic? (Though they could be the same item.)
• Does the Anoint Ancestral Weapon ability only work on an anointed relic, even if that relic isn't a weapon?
• Does the Anoint Ancestral Weapon ability only work on an anointed relic that is a weapon?

Let it begin .

[Amphetryon]

My final class of the semester is today; I'll compete.

[Sian]

is Retraining (as per PHB II ) allowed as long as the build, at any time, is legal?

[dysprosium]

Really?

That's a class that was not on my radar.

I'm in of course.

[Thurbane]

Ooh, an Exalted PrC. I can see this getting fun and messy.

Ah, not Exalted as such. Still, should provide some interesting entries. A crafting-esque based PrC - I take it back, this will get fun and messy.

If I get time and motivation, might try and finally get an entry in.

[Rama]

Assuming y'all are willing to suffer my sophomore attempt, I'll happily judge again. I'm reworking my judging methodology after the first go-through (with no offense intended to Ponies who I stole it from) and will follow up with it later.

[Sian]

Yet another question

the Bonus feat that Anointed Knight picks from seem to be nearly all the Fighter bonus feats in PHB (quick overview says only Improved critical and the Mounted line aren't on the list of the PHB fighter feats) ... its it allowed to use it to pick bonus fighter feats from PHB2 (or other books)?

[Tim Proctor]

Yet another question

the Bonus feat that Anointed Knight picks from seem to be nearly all the Fighter bonus feats in PHB (quick overview says only Improved critical and the Mounted line aren't on the list of the PHB fighter feats) ... its it allowed to use it to pick bonus fighter feats from PHB2 (or other books)?

Generally, its RAW so unless its one of the feats listed on BoED pg 51 in the Bonus Feats section its not a legal choice.

is Retraining (as per PHB II ) allowed as long as the build, at any time, is legal?

I haven't seen any real problems from the judges in past competitions, as a judge this round I can say I don't have a problem with it. I can't speak for all judges though.

[Rama]

I haven't seen any real problems from the judges in past competitions, as a judge this round I can say I don't have a problem with it. I can't speak for all judges though.

Same here.

[OMG PONIES]

Assuming y'all are willing to suffer my sophomore attempt, I'll happily judge again. I'm reworking my judging methodology after the first go-through (with no offense intended to Ponies who I stole it from) and will follow up with it later.

Offended? I'm flattered. Also, unless inspiration strikes I may judge this round. The class just feels so...vanilla.