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2012-10-20, 06:07 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Clearance required beyond this point. Please present papers.
Originally Posted by SCP
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2012-10-20, 06:09 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Prepare for a frosty reception.
Originally Posted by Dokar
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2012-10-20, 06:11 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
This one chose to be chosen. . . or so it seems.
Originally Posted by Long ShaLast edited by Amphetryon; 2012-10-20 at 06:12 PM.
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2012-10-20, 06:15 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
"No, I didn't say he was RAGING. . ."
Originally Posted by Raijin
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2012-10-20, 06:19 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
"The target's a Wizard." 'I don't think that will be a problem.'
Originally Posted by SsejternockLast edited by Amphetryon; 2012-10-20 at 06:40 PM.
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2012-10-20, 06:21 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
I'd love to change the world. . . .
[center]Fergal, Death on Dark Wings
Fergal, Death on Dark Wings
Build:
Spoiler{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Rogue 1|+0|+0|+2|+0|Max ranks Bluff, Disguise, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Spot, Sense Motive, Tumble, Use Magic Device; 2 ranks (4 points) Knowledge: Arcana|Skill Knowledge (Knowledge: Arcana)|Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding, (note: gain Draconic as a bonus language due to high Int)
2nd|Rogue 2|+1|+0|+3|+0|Max ranks Bluff, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Spot, Sense Motive, Tumble, Use Magic Device; 4 ranks Knowledge: Arcana| |Evasion
3rd|Rogue 3|+2|+1|+3|+1|Max ranks Bluff, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Spot, Sense Motive, Tumble, Use Magic Device; 6 ranks Knowledge: Arcana|Craven|Sneak Attack +2d6, Trap Sense +1
4th|Swashbuckler 1|+3|+3|+3|+1|7 ranks Hide and Move Silently (2 points each), 7 ranks Bluff, Sense Motive, Tumble|Weapon Finesse (bonus)|
5th|Swashbuckler 2|+4|+4|+3|+1|8 ranks Hide and Move Silently (2 points each), 8 ranks Bluff, Sense Motive, Tumble| |Grace +1
6th|Swashbuckler 3|+5|+4|+4|+2|9 ranks Hide and Move Silently (2 points each), 9 ranks Bluff, Sense Motive, Tumble|Dragontouched|Insightful Strike
7th|Assassin 1|+5|+4|+6|+2|10 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 7 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Use Magic Device| |Sneak attack +3d6, death attack, poison use, spells
8th|Assassin 2|+6|+4|+7|+2|11 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 8 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Use Magic Device| |+1 save against poison, uncanny dodge
9th|Assassin 3|+7|+5|+7|+3|12 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 9 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Use Magic Device|Obtain Familiar (Swapped with Animal Companion as UA Wizard variant)|Sneak attack +4d6
10th|Hand of the Winged Masters 1|+7|+5|+9|+5|13 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 10 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 7 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 1 rank Knowledge: Local|Draconic Senses (bonus)|
11th|Hand of the Winged Masters 2|+8|+5|+10|+6|14 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 11 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 8 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 2 rank Knowledge: Local| |Sneak Attack +5d6
12th|Hand of the Winged Masters 3|+9|+6|+10|+6|15 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 12 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 9 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 3 rank Knowledge: Local|Two Weapon Fighting, Dragonfire Strike (bonus)|
13th|Hand of the Winged Masters 4|+10|+6|+11|+7|16 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 13 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 10 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 4 rank Knowledge: Local| |
14th|Hand of the Winged Masters 5|+10|+6|+11|+7|17 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 14 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 11 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 5 rank Knowledge: Local| |Sneak Attack +6d6
15th|Hand of the Winged Masters 6|+11|+7|+12|+8|18 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 15 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 12 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 6 rank Knowledge: Local|Improved Two Weapon Fighting|
16th|Hand of the Winged Masters 7|+12|+7|+12|+8|19 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 16 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 13 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 7 rank Knowledge: Local| |Master's Gift
17th|Hand of the Winged Masters 8|+13|+7|+13|+9|20 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 17 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 14 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 8 rank Knowledge: Local| |Sneak Attack +7d6
18th|Hand of the Winged Masters 9|+13|+8|+13|+9|21 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 18 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 15 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 9 rank Knowledge: Local|Greater Two Weapon Fighting|Improved Dragonfire Strike
19th|Hand of the Winged Masters 10|+14|+8|+14|+10|22 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 19 ranks Listen, Search, Spot, Sense Motive; 16 ranks Knowledge: Arcana, 10 rank Knowledge: Local| |True Stealth
20th|Rogue 4|+15|+8|+15|+10|23 ranks Bluff, Hide, Move Silently; 17 ranks Use Magic Device| |Improved Uncanny Dodge[/table]
Base Stats 11/16/12/16/8/13
With race: 9/18/14/16/8/11
With level 10/22/14/16/8/11
With items 16/32/14/26/8/11
HP: 118
6+3.5(x2)+5.5(x2) +10 CON= 34 @L5
+5.5+3.5(x3)+4.5 +10 CON= 54.5 = 54 @L10
+4.5(x5) +10 CON= 87 @L15
+4.5(x4)+3.5 +10 CON= 118.5 = 118 @L20
The distribution of skills, feats and abilities is such that this build is playable at pretty much every level. At low levels, it's a standard rogue with melee SA focus. At mid levels it starts getting into DPS territory. At high levels (i.e. 15 onward), when you can afford eg. an umbral collar, it becomes an absolutely insane scout and damage dealer. I think it gains the most power at levels 9, when it gets a animal companion that can double as a flanker, and 19, when the True Stealth capstone allows it to hide from everyone, plus it has the TWF line to boot.
But obviously it becomes the most powerful at level 20, when it gets the incredible capstone Improved Uncanny Dodge
Spells:
SpoilerSLAs: 1/day: Silence, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Message
Spells Known: (1st) Disguise Self, Obscuring Mist, True Strike, (2nd) Fox's Cunning (since it adds damage at low levels), Invisibility
Spells per day
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
4th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
5th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
6th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
7th|-|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
8th|-|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
9th|-|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
10th|-|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
11th|-|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
12th|-|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
13th|-|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
14th|-|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
15th|-|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
16th|-|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
17th|-|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
18th|-|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
19th|-|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
20th|-|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]
Note: table accounts for bonus spells from high int, incl. Headband of Intellect at level 15
Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th|9th
1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
2nd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
3rd|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
4th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
5th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
6th|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
7th|-|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
8th|-|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
9th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
10th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
11th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
12th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
13th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
14th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
15th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
16th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
17th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
18th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
19th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
20th|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]
Animal Compantion:
SpoilerYama the small viper
Size/Type: Diminutive Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 20 ft (4 squares), climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Armor Class: 17 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-6
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d2-2 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Scent, see list
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +11, Climb +11, Hide +13, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +6, Survival +1
Feats: Skill Focus (Hide), Track
Special Abilities: Link, share spells
Tactics:
SpoilerWith the collar and a tattoo activated, Fergal has the following skill modifiers:
Hide: 23 (ranks) + 11 (Dex) + 15 (Greater Shadow) + 4 (size) + 12 (racial) + 10 (Chameleon tattoo) = +75, with Hide In Plain Sight
Move Silently: 23 (ranks) + 11 (Dex) + 15 (Greater Silent Moves) + 10 (racial) = +59...before casting Silence.
With such a high Hide modifier, Fergal can afford to use True Stealth pretty much all the time. Not even a Great Wyrm Black Dragon, with +45 Spot, can pierce his +65 Hide modifier (unless it's very lucky).
Yama has his own collar, and when it is activated his skill modifiers are as follows:
Hide: 11 (ranks) + 3 (Dex) + 4 (size) + 8 (racial) +3 (SF) = +29, with HIPS
Move Silently: 3 (Dex) + 6 (racial) = +9
Since they're nowhere near Fergal's, Fergal usually shares Invisibility and Silence with Yama to make him harder to detect before venturing into combat or scouting.
The Gnome/snake pair are exceptional scouts, and almost always have the drop on the enemy.
Before engaging, Fergal's tactics depend on his enemy:
* If facing a dragon or otherwise spellcasting enemy, Fergal will activate a scroll of Anti-Magic Field.
* Otherwise, Fergal will activate the pair's collars, activate a tattoo, cast silence on himself, and share Invisibility and Silence with Yama.
The pair will fly in (with Yama hiding under Fergal's cloak to benefit from his True Stealth).
Yama will take up a flanking position. Every round, Fergal's wings allow him to make a bluff check for +2 to hit before an attack. He will do so, then unleash the wrath of the dragons on his target.
Melee: +35/+30/+25/+35/+30/+25 (1d3 + 13d6 fire SA + 20 Craven + 13 Dragonfire Strike + 8 Int + 5 Magic), Avg. 561
As long as Yama remains undetected, Fergal can continue Sneak Attacking his target, assuming they survive the first attack.
Level 9 write-up
SpoilerStats: 10/19 (21 Gloves +2)/14/16/8/11
HP 82
AC 18 (10 + 4 Dex + 4 Mithril Chain Shirt), Touch 14, Flat-Footed 14
Saves +7/+12/+2
Skills: Bluff +12, Hide +17 (+27 with tattoo), Move Silently +17
Items: Umbral Awn, 5x Psionic Tattoo of Chameleon, Deathstrike Bracers
Special: Animal Companion (see stats above), Spells (see above).
Melee: +7/+2 (1d3 + 6d6 SA + 9 craven + 5 Int), Avg. 74
Possibly drop Solid Fog on the field. Cast Fox's Int on self.
Share invisibility with animal companion and have it flank.
Cast True Strike. Sic 'em.
Story
Spoiler"But mom, I don't want to go to school today!"
"Fergal, don't say such things or the masters will eat you!"
For as long as anyone could remember, the whisper gnomes had been the slaves of the black dragons. Being famous for stealth gets you a lot of allies, but when an entire race of powerful spellcasters decides they want you to run their errands for them, all the stealth in the world isn't enough to stay hidden. And when "the masters" took over, life got a lot harder.
Black dragons live on secrecy the way most people live on bread. Most people except the gnomes, who were forced to live on water and anything they could scavenge while acting as scouts, spies, and assassins for the dragons. Adult whisper gnomes are usually hard to find, but now they simply weren't around. The masters had them performing jobs for them constantly. Only children and mothers were allowed to stay in one place. The elderly were simply eaten.
Not that the children were much better off. The masters taught them to eat raw meat from fresh kills, in order to sharpen them for living in the wild. Their education consisted of training for the various tasks that could serve the dragons. The best a gnome could hope for was to be picked to serve a dragon who didn't give them too much work. No one wanted to graduate without being picked.
Thus Fergal was born bound for suffering. He even turned out to be an excellent dragon's servant, partly due to his speed and cunning, and partly from his mother's constant advice.
"Don't cause trouble, Fergal! You'll be eaten!"
"Always look for a way out, Fergal."
"Remember: silence is golden."
She repeated the last one the most. When Fergal asked about anything, the answer was always to be silent.
Then one day an adult came to their village. He looked haggard, but he had fire in his eyes. He told people about a way out, a place the dragons could never find them. He visited home after home, talking about how they could rally, escape the masters, never be found again.
Fergal's mother ignored him, and whenever Fergal tried to talk to him she would shush him and send him inside. Then the masters came, and the adult left. Fergal never heard from him again, or even learned his name.
"Why didn't we go with him?" He asked his mother, a few days afterward. "We could have escaped! Lived off of real food, instead of mouse guts and leaves! Why?"
A tear ran down his mother's cheek. Fergal saw the tear and his arguments crumpled. He knew there had to be a good reason, or she would have carried him off long ago. He hugged her and she returned it fiercly.
"We can't trust people like that Fergal." She said. "People who talk have to be strong, but whisper gnomes aren't. People who talk start to change things, and the masters don't want things to change. So they'll kill anyone who talks and anyone with them. Remember: for a whisper gnome, silence is golden."
Fergal guessed what he meant, and buried his plans. But they never left.
As he continued his education, anger built up in Fergal. The masters liked how he ran quickly and quietly, how he broke things by accident. He was picked early and put through the training: the program to turn a whisper gnome into the most lethal combination of spy and killer his master could conceive. He had to fight for his life several times, and survive the deadliest traps, and even kill a fellow gnome, just to prove his obedience to his master. When the dragon was convinced Fergal was ready, he was initiated into the ranks of the Hands.
Fergal was sent on missions, which he executed brutally, when possible. More than once he would have been sacrificed as punishment for killing a target if his master hadn't liked his attitude.
Slowly, Fergal was taught the secrets of the black dragons. Creating fire. Magic. And eventually, a whole new level of stealth beyond what even a whisper gnome is capable of. The secrets made Fergal more powerful, but also bonded him to his master, as a student bonds to a teacher.
But it couldn't last. The rage inside Fergal, built up over years, exploded like the acid mist from a master's lungs. On one of his missions he found an wizard, capable of creating a place the dragons couldn't find - an anti-magic zone, and Fergal remembered the adult he had never seen again. The temptation was too strong. Fergal took a scroll, and tested it on his master. It turned out that dragons really are soft on their belly.
After that, Fergal made it his mission to end the masters' domination of his race, one dragon at a time. The words of his mother burned into his heart. "People who talk start to change things. Silence is golden."
Well, I'm going to change things too.
Sources
[/spoiler][/QUOTE][/QUOTE]SpoilerDMG, PHB, XPH (Psychic Reformation, Psionic Tattoo), Unearthed Arcana (Skill Knowledge), Complete Warrior (Swashbuckler), Complete Arcane (Obtain Familiar), Tome of Magic, Dragon Magic (special ingredient), Complete Adventurer (Deadly Precision), Tome of Battle (Rogue's Vest), Magic Item Compendium (Deathstrike Bracers)Last edited by Amphetryon; 2012-10-20 at 06:41 PM.
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2012-10-20, 06:22 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2006
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
That should be the last of them, folks. Seven entries in total, assuming I can still count. Ready, set, JUDGE!
EDIT: You folks did realize that when I made the (joking) comment about people sending in multiple, edited copies, I was referring to the period before the builds are revealed, right?Last edited by Amphetryon; 2012-10-20 at 06:33 PM.
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2012-10-20, 07:37 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Apr 2011
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2012-10-20, 08:03 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2006
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
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2012-10-20, 08:49 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
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- Bellona
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Some very nice builds!
My plan, which did not come together, was a synad scout/totemist/dragon devotee, using the Manticore Belt soulmeld to fire off a flurry of spines as a standard action:
Spoiler
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Scout 1|+0|+0|+2|+0|Skills|Hidden Talent (Chameleon)|Skirmish (+1d6), trapfinding
2nd|Totemist 1|+0|+2|+4|+0|Skills||Wild empathy
3rd|Totemist 2|+1|+3|+5|+0|Skills|Dragontouched|Totem chakra bind (+1 capacity)
4th|Scout 2|+2|+3|+6|+0|Skills||Battle fortitude +1, uncanny dodge
5th|Scout 3|+3|+4|+6|+1|Skills||Fast movement +10 ft., skirmish (+1d6, +1 AC), trackless step
6th|Scout 4|+4|+4|+7|+1|Skills|Psionic Meditation, Improved Initiative|
7th|Scout 5|+4|+4|+7|+1|Skills||Evasion, skirmish (+2d6, +1 AC)
8th|Hand of the Winged Masters 1|+4|+4|+9|+3|Skills|Draconic Senses|
9th|Hand of the Winged Masters 2|+5|+4|+10|+4|Skills|Psycarnum Infusion|Skirmish (+3d6, +1 AC)
10th|Hand of the Winged Masters 3|+6/+1|+5|+10|+4|Skills|Dragonfire Strike|
11th|Dragon Devotee 1|+6/+1|+7|+10|+4|Skills||Ability increase (+2 Cha), natural armor
12th|Dragon Devotee 2|+7/+2|+8|+10|+4|Skills|Psicrystal Affinity|Skirmish (+4d6, +1 AC), draconic resistance
13th|Dragon Devotee 3|+8/+3|+8|+11|+5|Skills||Ability increase (+2 Con), spellcasting, ignore spell failure
14th|Hand of the Winged Masters 4|+9/+4|+8|+12|+6|Skills||
15th|Hand of the Winged Masters 5|+9/+4|+8|+12|+6|Skills|Psicrystal Containment|Skirmish (+5d6, +1 AC)
16th|Hand of the Winged Masters 6|+10/+5|+9|+13|+7|Skills||
17th|Hand of the Winged Masters 7|+11/+6/+1|+9|+13|+7|Skills||Master's gift
18th|Hand of the Winged Masters 8|+12/+7/+2|+9|+14|+8|Skills|Improved Skirmish|Skirmish (+6d6, +1 AC)
19th|Hand of the Winged Masters 9|+12/+7/+2|+10|+14|+8|Skills||Improved dragonfire strike
20th|Hand of the Winged Masters 10|+13/+8/+3|+10|+15|+9|Skills||True stealth[/table]
The basic deal was to use psycarnum infusion to max out essentia in the Manticore Belt, making five ranged attacks that each dealt 10d6+10+1/2 strength damage as a standard action. Between synad multitask and psicrystal containment, the idea was to be able to use psycarnum infusion several rounds in a row to keep the Manticore Belt maxed out.
But most of the build's tricks relied on scout, psycarnum infusion and totemist levels. The only parts of the SI the build really utilized were the damage boosts from the special attack and dragonfire strike/improved dragonfire strike. I tried to half-heartedly pull in benefits from master's gift via the single level of sorcerer casting Dragon Devotee gave me, but it was a pretty poor attempt. And I kept running into stumbling blocks with the actual backstory, so I decided not to submit.
And I'm glad I didn't - several of these builds are way more interesting than what I was planning! I can't wait to read them all over in more detail!Optimization Showcase in the Playground
Former projects:
Shadowcaster Handbook
Archer Build Compendium
Iron Chef Awards!
Spoiler
GOLD
IC LXXVI: Talos
IC LXXV: Alphonse Louise Constant
IC XLIX: Babalon, Queen of Bones
IC XLV: Dead Mists
IC XL: Lycus Blackbeak
IC XXXIX: AM-1468
IC XXXV: Parsifal the Fool
IC XXX: Jal Filius
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2012-10-20, 09:19 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
- Location
- <<Undetected>>
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Unfortunately way to much RL interfered with my ability to build, but it was something like Rogue/Wizard -> Unseen Seer 2 / Daggerspell Mage X -> Hand of the Winged Master. Guy would have picked up Mineral Warrior after the first level of HotWM, reducing CHA below 11, but still qualifying because he had the feat even if he couldn't use it, but still getting draconic feats, and confusing the dragonblooded subtype all up. Casting harmless buffs on himself with free extend.
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.
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2012-10-20, 10:04 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2012
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Since you bring this up, and I've been puzzling over this recently, is there a way around the Rules Compendium volley limit*?
*"A form of attack that enables an attacker to make multiple attacks during an action other than a full-round action, such as the Manyshot feat (standard action) or a quickened scorching ray (swift action), allows precision damage to be applied only to the first attack in the group"
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2012-10-20, 10:45 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
- Location
- Bellona
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Hmm, that's a good question. I was under the impression that, since you make separate attack rolls for each spine, it doesn't count as a volley in the same way that Manyshot (which makes one attack roll) does. But that Rules Comp quote seems to imply that ANYTHING that makes multiple attacks and isn't a full round action can't benefit from precision damage.
Optimization Showcase in the Playground
Former projects:
Shadowcaster Handbook
Archer Build Compendium
Iron Chef Awards!
Spoiler
GOLD
IC LXXVI: Talos
IC LXXV: Alphonse Louise Constant
IC XLIX: Babalon, Queen of Bones
IC XLV: Dead Mists
IC XL: Lycus Blackbeak
IC XXXIX: AM-1468
IC XXXV: Parsifal the Fool
IC XXX: Jal Filius
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2012-10-21, 12:43 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2012
- Location
- Brazil
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Wish I was on land so I could have submitted a build. My idea was to run a (lesser) tiefling incarnate/umbral disciple/hand of the winged masters, dipping Swordsage for assassin's stance and getting Draconic Heritage with one of the lung dragons.
Well, it wasn't meant to be. My judgings.
Phillius Formulus
SpoilerOriginality: 3
Nothing special. Changeling is expected for any stealth class, the backstory is a pile of clichés.
Power: 2.5
Pretty much what's expected from the class. Buckets of d6 damage, a few spells here and there. Your choice of Changeling Rogue makes you versatile, but you lose on Penetrating Strike. Since don't have a way of ignoring fire (or acid) immunity, between enemies immune to criticals and immune to fire (or acid), your fistful of d6 is going to remain unused during several battles. I don't see why Ebon Eyes is there without Darkness or Deeper Darkness to compliment it, you could have chosen a better spell. With so few caster levels, Practiced Spellcaster feels like a waste.
Elegance: 2.5
Avenger plus Daggerspell Mage seems like it was just tacked onto to build to fill out space. No consideration is given to refluffing Daggerspell Mage, normally part of a guild.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 3
It is the focus of the build alright, but you don't do much with it.
SCP
SpoilerOriginality: 3.5
I did not like the fluff about her not being in a fantasy world, but I have to admit it's original. Intimidate shenanigans are a bit overdone on IC, though.
Power: 3.5
All usual sneak attack tricks, crammed into a single build. She deals a load of damage. Debuffs between Staggering Strike and intimidation. Lion Tribe Warrior allows skirmish to trigger reliably. Low Str and Dex hurt the build considerably, since she deals a lot of damage, but can't hit reliably. Never Outnumbered skill trick would have been a good addition, I think.
Elegance: 2.5
Fluff clashes all around. She is not from a fantasy world, but has tribal feats. Dragons only get a passing reference in the backstory. The progression feels a bit stunted at times, but I like the idea of the 'pain train' caused by forcing them into panicking then charging behind. Your crunch focuses on draconic fear, your fluff focuses on her being a crazy person that's not on fantasyland.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 4
You managed to make the SI really the core of your build. Other resources increase upon what you can do, but you can clearly tell it's a Hand of the Winged Masters build.
Dokar
SpoilerOriginality: 4
I had forgotten Frostblood Half-orcs even existed. It's Bahamut, not Bahumat. Also, being the hand of Bahamut himself is almost refuge in audacity. You use a few tricks that though questioned in their legality were unexpected (see Elegance below)
Elegance: 2.5
You use the hooks in the class itself, integrating it well with the fluff, very good. There is a disconnection between fluff and crunch, with all those unexplained Knowledge (the planes) levels and Planar Ranger. The Sun Domain trick is debatable at best. The 'bait and switch' trick with Endurance is also debatable. On the other hand, I like the trick swapping Track out. I doubt it was intended you could swap bonus feats this way, but the RAW is clear here (unlike the other tricks).
Power: 3.5
Reliable damage output, lots of attacks, respectable base attack bonus with the Dex to back it up. Depending on feycraft weapons is a big letdown, though. The character has little versatility compared to other contestants, even though he's better at damage dealing.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 3.5
The SI is necessary for your build, but you don't do anything spectacular with it.
Long Sha
SpoilerOriginality: 4
Monk/Factotum with Power Attack? Did not see that coming. Kudos for picking Touch of Golden Ice as a feat without VoP, that's the first time I've ever seen this.
Power: 3
Snap Kick allows you to get multiple attacks even while moving.
Elegance: 1.5
As a whole, the build is fairly synergistic, however... Iaijutsu Focus with unarmed strikes?! No, just no. Unless you're only breaking boards instead of fighting creatures.
The whole 'wait, then attack' tactic does not work very well with a party.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 3
Vanilla. You get some damage bonuses from the SI.
Raijin
SpoilerOriginality: 4
Mindblow Number 1: CW samurai?!
Mindblow Number 2: Master of Masks?!
Power: 4.5
Finally Penetrating Strike! Finally sonic damage (btw, slaadi are also immune to sonic)! Yeah, I like what I see. Two Weapon Pounce is more useful than I remembered, so no bonus nor deduction here. You deal a ton of damage and you have debuffing covered and utility from skills and masks.
Elegance: 2
The last few Ronin levels feel tacked on. Changing alignment midway through is kinda bad.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 4
I like how you add snippets from other classes but the SI remains the core of your build.
Ssejternock
SpoilerOriginality: 3.5
Poison Dusk lizardfolk, good surprise.
Power: 4
Dragonstalker is a pretty weak class. Your stealth is pretty good, though. Sonic damage is a plus. Some debuffing.
Elegance: 1
You don't qualify for Dragontouched, making the build illegal.
Use of Secret Ingredient: 3
Vanilla, vanilla.
Fergal
SpoilerOriginality: 2
Rogue/Swashbuckler was very telegraphed, as was whisper gnome.
Power: 3
I don't see anything specially interesting, but nothing specially sucky as well.
Elegance: 1.5
Weird, weird progression. A wizard variant is a wizard variant. You can't use it without levels in wizard and specially, you can't use it without gaining a familiar as a class feature. A shame, since you could have used Wild Cohort for basically the same effect and no deduction. I only learned he was a whisper gnome in the backstory, presentation is awkward.
Use of Secreting Ingredient: 3
I'm repeating myself, but - vanilla, vanilla.Last edited by ThiagoMartell; 2012-10-21 at 02:06 AM.
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2012-10-21, 02:03 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
ThiagoMartell, it looks like you forgot to paste in the judging on SCP's Use of the Secret Ingredient.
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2012-10-21, 02:07 AM (ISO 8601)
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2012-10-21, 04:09 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Where I live.
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2012-10-21, 12:16 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Four down, three to go. I'm going to take a break from judging for a while to give my eyes a rest, but hopefully I'll have these finished by Tuesday night.
Optimization Showcase in the Playground
Former projects:
Shadowcaster Handbook
Archer Build Compendium
Iron Chef Awards!
Spoiler
GOLD
IC LXXVI: Talos
IC LXXV: Alphonse Louise Constant
IC XLIX: Babalon, Queen of Bones
IC XLV: Dead Mists
IC XL: Lycus Blackbeak
IC XXXIX: AM-1468
IC XXXV: Parsifal the Fool
IC XXX: Jal Filius
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2012-10-22, 12:38 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
I really like this idea, and I really like the implementation...but when I went back through the old threads, very few had builds linked into first posts...instead I was faced with the prospect of wading through 5-10 pages to try to find them, which made me very sad. Even some recent ones didn't have it done. Can I generally expect to find builds on pages 2-3 of each thread if I try to go back and find them all? Also, is this a regular monthly thing? Weekly?
Last edited by Ikeren; 2012-10-22 at 12:39 AM.
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2012-10-22, 12:55 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
best advice I can give is to use the ''search this thread" tool for "the reveal" since the builds are all posted after the chairman says it's time for the reveal.
if that doesn't work, just open every page as a new tab, you'll find 'em eventually. builds usually are around page 5 or 6. there's usually a lot more chatter before the builds than there was this time around (then again the SIs usually give us more to talk about)
iron chef usually takes place roughly every month with extensions being made usually for the december/january one since people have family stuff.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
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2012-10-22, 02:33 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
The Reveal, eh? I'll give that a shot. Thanks for the tip.
Edit: I don't use this forum much -- can't seem to search this thread. It's not under thread tools, where I'd expect it to be; I only have
"Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Show Printable Version
Email this Page Email this Page
Subscription Subscribe to this Thread"Last edited by Ikeren; 2012-10-22 at 02:38 AM.
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2012-10-22, 03:22 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
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
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2012-10-22, 03:25 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
I believe search is off.
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2012-10-22, 04:05 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
Damn it. I got super excited for this, had a great idea for a build AND a character to go with that build, pulled an all nighter specifically to get it together....and then thought to check the due date. I am just so incredibly smart >.> maybe next time.
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2012-10-22, 08:21 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
My failed idea was a Rogue 2/Bard 3/Unseen Seer 2/Nightsong Infiltrator 4/Hand of the Winged Master 9 with Darkstalker to replace the capstone. The idea was to be the ultimate ally buffer, capable of handing out sneak attack or sonic damage to all allies thanks to Dragonfire Inspiration, Teamwork Sneak Attack, and Dragonfire Strike. However, it didn't make sense to take HotWM...even for 16d6 sonic damage to all flanking allies' attacks.
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2012-10-22, 08:31 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
The site's search function is currently down. The administrator Rawhide made a thread explaining the 3 day down-time a few weeks ago, that also addressed this, in the board issues subforum. It's not currently known when or if the search function will be turned back on.
Last edited by Kelb_Panthera; 2012-10-22 at 08:32 AM.
I am not seaweed. That's a B.
Praise I've received A quick outline on building a homebrew campaign
Avatar by Tiffanie Lirle
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2012-10-22, 08:35 AM (ISO 8601)
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2012-10-22, 08:38 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII
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2012-10-22, 08:46 AM (ISO 8601)
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2012-10-22, 10:25 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXVIII