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Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef XXXII. 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. This comes up often enough to bear mention in the rules: Dragon Compendium is allowed.
Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 11:59PM GMT on Sunday, April 29, 2012 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, Amphetryon. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 11:59PM GMT on Saturday, May 12th, 2012 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. If you do not have access to the current challenge's Secret Ingredient, please do not volunteer to judge this round.
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.
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.
Spoiler
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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
Spoiler
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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:
Complete Divine's Temple Raider of Olidammara!
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
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
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
FAQ:
Is Dragon Compendium Allowed? Yes, 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). Similarly, 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 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 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 about the Adaptation section for Temple Raider? Because Olidammara is setting-specific, entries may use the Adaptation section, provided their entry has a patron deity who is: 1)Chaotic and 2)Grants access to the Chaos or Trickery Domain(s) AND the Luck Domain. Worship of an ideal along those lines is NOT sufficient because it widens the field too greatly for IC purposes; entries without an appropriate patron deity will not be presented. Unless the setting from which you draw the deities specifically allows for polytheism (such as Eberron's option to worship the Sovereign Host), you may not worship multiple gods in order to circumvent this requirement. In the case of the Sovereign Host specifically, special attention to the given Alignment of the Sovereign Host as a worshiped body should be paid. . . .
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Dude, Temple Raider?
Awesome. I'll try to put a build together, but if I can't find anything that I like, I'll totally judge this one.
Huh - might be fun to hunt down alternate divine patrons for this one.
Also, Amph, how are Rokugan Campaign Setting materials treated? A-okay?
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I know I just signed up for Zinc Saucier, but I'll be in on this one too. No ideas yet, need to read the PrC again, but I'm certain I'll come up with something.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
The Oriental Adventures book is 1st party. All the other Rokugan materials are not.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I've already got an idea...
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Oh crap... I did a build while thinking on possible ingredients during the last IC. So... I might hold it and decide to judge if there are not to many entries (no promises).
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Hmm... I love skill builds, and this PrC, so hopefully I'll come up with something worth submitting. Got some ideas already, but nothing concrete yet.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I think I might enter this one.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Cool! I've always wanted an excuse to use this class. count me in as a chef.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Well, at least, it's no Lightsaber of Heironius
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Once again, I weep for my lack of enough sustained (and not already earmarked) free time to be likely to compete. That said, I approve of the ingredient.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I don't remember this at all. How do you keep finding stuff in books I never remember.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Under the "Adaptation" section of the class, it makes note that any deity of "rogues, thieves, or secret knowledge could be a patron of a temple raider".
Are we limited to worshiping Olidammara, or is this note a license to choose another rogue-flavored deity?
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Grey McBannert
Under the "Adaptation" section of the class, it makes note that any deity of "rogues, thieves, or secret knowledge could be a patron of a temple raider".
Are we limited to worshiping Olidammara, or is this note a license to choose another rogue-flavored deity?
Post number two.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
*Facepalm...*
And I always promised myself I'd never be the guy who clearly didn't read through the whole thread...
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I love IC and the class isn't too bad, I'm in as a contestant.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Hmm...I think I can do this. Count me in as a Chef :smallsmile:
I think I have a pretty cool idea to use as well.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I want to try my hand at this. I will devise a Temple Raider
Edit: Are characters allowed to worship multiple deities as long as the alignments don't conflict?
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Amphetryon
Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef XXX.
Just noticed this. Need to update to XXXII. Otherwise, Chairman, continue to perform your excellent works! Allez Optimizers!
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I'm planning to compete. Looks like an interesting ingredient, here's hoping inspiration strikes!
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Roguenewb
I want to try my hand at this. I will devise a Temple Raider
Edit: Are characters allowed to worship multiple deities as long as the alignments don't conflict?
As I've now gotten something like 6 queries about this particular issue, I've addressed it in the FAQ. Please note that the FAQ answer may seem at odds with private conversations I may have had with a contestant; I apologize for any confusion resulting from earlier discussions.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Sorry, I hate being the guy who's bad at reading.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Roguenewb
Sorry, I hate being the guy who's bad at reading.
My response should be read as "Since a bunch of y'all asked me about this, let me go edit an official answer into the FAQ. You know, so I have enough room in the PM box for entries and such." :smallwink:
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Shall I squee? I shall.
SQUEE!
I'm in, by the way.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I'll say, Amph--I didn't expect this as a Secret Ingredient. Well played, sir. Well played.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I'll volunteer for judging again.
I'm worried about the trend, though. The last 3 contests have seen 1 or 2 judges and a steady increase in entries. I like the idea of lots of entries and even multiple entries per contestant, but how to get more judges? IC works so much better with 3-4 judges.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Withdrew my interest, and would rather judge.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
gbprime
I'll volunteer for judging again.
I'm worried about the trend, though. The last 3 contests have seen 1 or 2 judges and a steady increase in entries. I like the idea of lots of entries and even multiple entries per contestant, but how to get more judges? IC works so much better with 3-4 judges.
I wouldn't worry too much, personally. consecrated harrier and shadow sentinel both had 17 entries which scares a lot of people away, and initiate of pistis sophia is sort of a yucky class, so judges thought they'd just have to read a bunch of monks.
since this is in one of the completes, I dont think we'll get such a large volume of entries, and I think the class's requirements, while sort of steep, don't shoehorn you into one method of entry. one way to incent judges is judging trophies, but we've got that taken care of thanks to hunter killer, so there's always that.
I do agree it works best with a couple of judges since that way the spreads aren't as drastic.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
gbprime
I'll volunteer for judging again.
I'm worried about the trend, though. The last 3 contests have seen 1 or 2 judges and a steady increase in entries. I like the idea of lots of entries and even multiple entries per contestant, but how to get more judges? IC works so much better with 3-4 judges.
I'll submit what I have when the deadline rolls around, and I can probably ask Amph to pull my submission if we need more judges, or simply present them as 'bonus' builds.
I doubt that having an ingredient from the Completes will reduce the amount of entries; I could see it affecting the number of judges, though (familiarity with the PrC).
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I've got a definite idea in mind for this one...gonna try my best to get an entry in this time.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Sign me up. I already have a couple of ideas floating around. May even get more than one build in.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Ugh, what and ingredient; it's barely rogue+. Putting an original build together is gonna be tough, so I think I'll judge this round. (side note, sorry about not judging last round, I was busy recovering from surgery (I'm OK)).
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Z3ro
Ugh, what and ingredient; it's barely rogue+. Putting an original build together is gonna be tough
I keep making rough builds, then realizing that Temple Raider is there only because I'm forcing it. I really, really wish that their Spell List either had early entry for an interesting spell or was much, much larger.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Yeah, Temple Raider, a class I have not only heard of but really like! I saw this thread last night but didn't get time to post, and I've already nearly finished a build for it. Maybe I'll make more :smallbiggrin:
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Color me interested. I'll work on a submission.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Hmm...Temple Raider, eh? I've had a character build in mind involving it for a long while, though it's probably not terribly original. We'll see what I can do about an entry. In the likely event that my time investment doesn't end up in an entry, I may sidle to making this my 4th judging, which should be the first time since IC:Assassin many moons ago. For now, contemplating whether my submission idea will work and getting it typed up, especially now that the convention I was preparing events for is over as of yesterday...
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
And some judging criteria:
Originality: This category has two main components; was your build similar to any of the other builds submitted, and was it similar to any well-known builds. In addition, I will penalize your build if it uses obvious tricks in obvious ways or well-known exploits in expected ways. Bonus points for things that haven't been thought of before (or at least with respect to the secret ingredient) and for using known tricks in unusual ways.
Power: How does your build stack up, power wise, to other builds focusing on similar objectives. Power in this category includes flexibility and versatility as well as straight combat power. This category will also measure power from level 1-20; a build will be penalized if it is excessively weak or unplayable at lower levels but ramps up later. Bonus points will be given if most or all of a build's power come from tricks involving the secret ingredient. For the purpose of this IC, the baseline power level will be rogue 20; if your build isn't stronger than a plain rogue, it will lose big points.
Elegance: The toughest category to judge and assess. Dipping will be penalized, but dips that make thematic sense (ranger dipping barbarian) will be penalized less than dips that do not (rogue dipping paladin). More importantly, the build should make sense at all levels, 1-20. Abilities that are useless at the level they are taken, but come on line later, will be penalized. Maintaining flavor and flow through the build will be rewarded, while taking out of place levels/abilities will be penalized. This is also the category that will see deductions for questionable use of rules/illegal builds. Expect points lost if you utilize something that most DMs would rule against.
Use of the Secret Ingredient: In the effort of clarity, I'm going to make this category a little simpler. Did you take all 10 levels? How many of the abilities granted did you use, and how essential are they to your build? Would your build be better off achieving its goal with another class, rather than the secret ingredient (using this ingredient for example, would your sneaky thief build be better off as 20 levels of rogue)?
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cieyrin
... especially now that the convention I was preparing events for is over as of yesterday...
You were at C2E2?
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I've already got an idea...
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Grey McBannert
You were at C2E2?
Right state, wrong convention. I was at Egypt Wars 3, a small young con that ran this past Friday through Sunday in Carbondale, IL. We had a smaller than expected turnout, which I blame mostly on gas prices. Despite that, while some events didn't happen (notably all of mine, due to lack of players :smallfrown:), other events had record numbers of players, so mixed results overall.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Hmmm I am not really impressed with Temple Raider, which I guess it is why it was chosen as a SI :smalltongue:; but meh I don't even have an idea in mind so I will wait and see what the chefs can come up with this time.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I have not been here long but i was wondering if you have to write a back story for your character? If not I have a build made up and ready to pm, but if so well yea, so i just wanted to get that clarified. Thank you
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Look at past contests, you will see that people do write backstories. Good luck with that, I am sure you come with something interesting!
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dantiesilva
I have not been here long but i was wondering if you have to write a back story for your character? If not I have a build made up and ready to pm, but if so well yea, so i just wanted to get that clarified. Thank you
Judges appreciate a build to have story behind it and tend to score better if your crunch and fluff blend into a seamless whole. You don't have to write a novella by any means but some fluff isn't a bad thing by any means.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I've tentatively finished the crunch of a build, but I'm still not sure. Temple Raider fits the theme of it really well, and it's not exactly going to under power the build, but it could easily be dropped without a problem and that bugs me. Well, off to stare at it some more and hope that something really unique jumps out.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Oooh, I've actually played a Temple Raider once. (It was underwhelming.) I'm going to review my old build and maybe compete.
What an interesting ingredient.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Are there any limitations on Temple Raider alignment? Is it considered to be like a cleric who must be within one step of the god in question?
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I've nearly finished two builds already, and we've still got a week - is there a limit to how many builds we can enter? I'm running out of good ideas now though. We also seem to have a lack of judges :smallfrown:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Gilded Duke
Are there any limitations on Temple Raider alignment? Is it considered to be like a cleric who must be within one step of the god in question?
You have to be chaotic to qualify for it.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Ahh haha, thought I was missing something.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xodion
I've nearly finished two builds already, and we've still got a week - is there a limit to how many builds we can enter? I'm running out of good ideas now though. We also seem to have a lack of judges :smallfrown:
We haven't limited it before, I don't really see a reason to do so now. Just keep in mind that you'll be competing with yourself, which may negatively reflect on your scores than if you had focused on one build.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cieyrin
We haven't limited it before, I don't really see a reason to do so now. Just keep in mind that you'll be competing with yourself, which may negatively reflect on your scores than if you had focused on one build.
the larger problem is making sure you don't use any of the same elements in your builds so as not to hurt either originality score. I did this with claire and pumpkinhead back in shadowdancer, and it was really difficult. best of luck
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Yeah, the only reason I've done two is because they were such completely different ideas. I won't do any more, we will probably already have lots for the judges to do. I should probably judge a contest soon, then I know what I'm putting people through :smalltongue:
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I've got an idea almost finished now. Just have to polish it and explain the tactics. It is not my best, but should still be pretty unexpected.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I, too, have an idea (though a bit of an underwhelming one).
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I'm struggling to find any ideas for this one. They're like a rogue, but without the skillpoints to support that. They're like a cleric, but only very limited halfcasting. They're quite MAD, requiring Int and Wis now I guess. I especially like the way that their capstone adds Freedom of Movement to their spell list, which already has Freedom of Movement.
Unless I come up with an idea, any idea really, I may sit this one out.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I have an idea that I like, but I'm having trouble getting the last pieces to click together. We'll see how it goes.
If I don't get this build to come together, I will throw in my hat for judging...
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
You know, based on the results on another thread, I was considering running an Iron Chef Optimization Challenge: Fluff Edition! The challenge was to make your builds fluff fit the Campaign Setting Ingredient.
Unfortunately, I will be moving over the next few weeks, so not only will I not be able to participate here, but I will not be able to host such a thing either. But if anyone wants to take that idea and run... go for it.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
I think I am going to enjoy this challenge. I had to go through a few revisions of the build, but all in all I think it will work well.
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII
Just out of curiosity, for future class competitions, can you adapt Forgotten Realms-specific Substitution levels to other settings by changing which gods they use?
I'm just asking because I just thought about how cool some of them are, and how many of them could easily be adapted for other settings.