Iron Chef Optimization Challenge XIV

**OMG PONIES** · 2010-11-06, 10:31 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Bakkan

I'll sign up as a contestant, got the skeleton of a build done.

EDIT: I assume that in the description of the Song of Life's refrain, we're ignoring the reference to the "Dirge of Frozen Loss" and replacing it with "Song of Life"? Otherwise, things just got a little more interesting

Originally Posted by Pechvarry

Don't forget the reference to Spelldeath in the Songdeath refrain description.

So what are we doing about these inconsistencies?

**Grynning** · 2010-11-06, 11:03 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by OMG PONIES

So what are we doing about these inconsistencies?

Text trumps table. As far as I can tell, the table is the only thing that's actually wrong. The stuff about DC's is just a design flaw, which won't really be held against anyone since it's just part of the ingredient.

**Pechvarry** · 2010-11-07, 12:14 AM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Grynning

Text trumps table. As far as I can tell, the table is the only thing that's actually wrong. The stuff about DC's is just a design flaw, which won't really be held against anyone since it's just part of the ingredient.

What Bakkan and I pointed out were wording issues in the text; not the table. Still, they're very obviously errors. For completeness:

Originally Posted by Seeker

Song of Life, Refrain: When she uses the refrain with her dirge of frozen loss, a seeker...

annnnd

Originally Posted by Seeker

Dirge of Songdeath, Refrain: When she uses the refrain with her hymn of spelldeath...

You COULD assume they want you to only be able to refrain these 2 songs when also singing a specific other song via Combine Songs. e.g. You need Song of Life in order to use Song of Life's refrain. If it's an additional benefit appended to your dirge of frozen loss refrain, you'd need to be already singing frozen loss and song of life.

It's more obviously copy/pasta mistakes. Song of Life Refrain happens from using Song of Life Refrain; Dirge of Songdeath Refrain triggers from Songdeath Refrain.

The end.

**kestrel404** · 2010-11-07, 01:34 PM (ISO 8601)

Build submitted. I really like mine this time. I just hope the judges agree.

**true_shinken** · 2010-11-07, 04:51 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Grynning

Text trumps table. As far as I can tell, the table is the only thing that's actually wrong. The stuff about DC's is just a design flaw, which won't really be held against anyone since it's just part of the ingredient.

Exactly that. Obvious editing mistakes don't need rulings, I believe.
As for the rank/check thing, I believe the judges should rule whichever way they want. I advise contestants to state which ruling they are using and why and to know that not using RAW might get you a hit on Elegance.

**OMG PONIES** · 2010-11-07, 06:17 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by kestrel404

Build submitted. I really like mine this time. I just hope the judges agree.

Nice and early, eh? I've just today settled on the majority of my build, but I still have some gaps to fill in. I expect that doing so, editing my backstory, and formatting for submission will take until the deadline.

I've found a particularly nasty trick, one that I hope is not readily apparent to and/or duplicated by my fellow competitors.

**Amphetryon** · 2010-11-09, 11:00 AM (ISO 8601)

One more day...

**OMG PONIES** · 2010-11-09, 11:29 AM (ISO 8601)

Formatting my submission now!

**kestrel404** · 2010-11-09, 11:42 AM (ISO 8601)

Wow, this thread's been quiet. I was half expecting to just see it pop up on Thursday with all the builds posted or something.

**true_shinken** · 2010-11-09, 11:51 AM (ISO 8601)

Waiting on the builds.

Go, go, go! Allez, allez, allez!

**Gametime** · 2010-11-09, 12:16 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Amphetryon

One more day...

...I couldn't resist.

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To the tune of Wicked's "One Short Day."

One more day in the Iron Chef contest,
One more day full of so much to do.
Every book that I read for this contest
Has something cheesy to use for my PC before the day's through.

There are Perform skills high as epic Jump checks,
Bard spell lists and feat prereqs,
Typos in the table, one hundred strong.
There are wondrous items I've got to buy,
That cost a grand to let me fly,
I've finally built a Seeker of the Song.

I wanna get a fancy forum trophy
So I'll be back to post some more
To dispute rulings and raise my score
But for today I'll ponder my XP.

One more day in the Iron Chef contest,
One more day to build 20 levels of fun.
One more day, and we're warning the judges
That this prestige class
will be polished like fine glass
before we are done.

**Amphetryon** · 2010-11-09, 12:25 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Gametime

...I couldn't resist.

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To the tune of Wicked's "One Short Day."

One more day in the Iron Chef contest,
One more day full of so much to do.
Every book that I read for this contest
Has something cheesy to use for my PC before the day's through.

There are Perform skills high as epic Jump checks,
Bard spell lists and feat prereqs,
Typos in the table, one hundred strong.
There are wondrous items I've got to buy,
That cost a grand to let me fly,
I've finally built a Seeker of the Song.

I wanna get a fancy forum trophy
So I'll be back to post some more
To dispute rulings and raise my score
But for today I'll ponder my XP.

One more day in the Iron Chef contest,
One more day to build 20 levels of fun.
One more day, and we're warning the judges
That this prestige class
will be polished like fine glass
before we are done.

I was expecting a 'Les Miserables' parody...

**Quietus** · 2010-11-09, 01:47 PM (ISO 8601)

Wow, I JUST noticed this one. I wish I knew when they went up, but clearly I don't pay enough attention.

I've got some ideas I'm playing with, and if I can put them together by tomorrow evening, I'll submit. First time chef, ALLEZ! Viva la musique!

**cd4** · 2010-11-09, 04:48 PM (ISO 8601)

I have managed to create a build so have sent it now because I suspect that if I wait to tomorrow I will go past the deadline.

**darbythegambler** · 2010-11-09, 08:18 PM (ISO 8601)

I'm sorry to say, I must drop out of this contest, my attempt to finish at the last second isn't going to work again, something's come up tonight so my character will not be finished on time. Best of luck to the current contestants.

**Quietus** · 2010-11-09, 09:59 PM (ISO 8601)

Yeah, looks like I'm going to have to drop out, too. My idea won't work, due to some wonky wording I wasn't aware of. Kinda sad.. if I'd noticed earlier I might have time to do a backup, but I've got other things that need doing tomorrow. Oh well.

**gbprime** · 2010-11-10, 01:48 AM (ISO 8601)

Okay, submission is in. Twice. Due to format fail. (Mental note, never copy code into MS Word and expect it to come back out again...)

**OMG PONIES** · 2010-11-10, 05:18 PM (ISO 8601)

Build submitted earlier than expected, thanks to a half-day caused by the flu. Sympathy points from the judges are encouraged

.

**Amphetryon** · 2010-11-10, 05:27 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by OMG PONIES

Build submitted earlier than expected, thanks to a half-day caused by the flu. Sympathy points from the judges are encouraged

.

Feel better, OMG. Sympathy points would require us to figure out which one is yours, and, obviously, we wouldn't want to do that now, would we?

**Amphetryon** · 2010-11-10, 10:55 PM (ISO 8601)

SUSPENSE! Last call seems nigh.

**true_shinken** · 2010-11-11, 06:27 AM (ISO 8601)

Now for the big reveal!

Hearts on fire...

Originally Posted by Kestrel Hath

Story

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Kestrel Hath was born in the city of Aramanth. Aramanth was at that time in the grip of testing and knowledge was the only way to improve your life. Kestrel hated that and eventually ran away on a quest to put an end to the stifling testing. She found an old device that used the power of the song to help improve the city. Hearing the song she tried to learn it but didn’t get far before the city was burned and the people were made into slaves. Once again she started crusading for freedoms this time it took force but she managed to free the people. Heading off with her people towards a new homeland she remembered the song more and more and learnt even more about singing. Her search for the song eventually took her to Sirene there she was taught how to use the song to affect the world and she decided to sing the song until the end.

Stats

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Assuming a 32 point buy then these are the inital stats:
Strength 8
Dexterity 14
Constitution 14
Intelligence 12
Wisdom 14
Charisma 16

I have placed all Bonus points into Charisma during this build.

Build Progression

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Race = Human
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Paladin of Mystra and Freedom 1|

+1

|

+2

|

+0

|

+2

|Bluff +4, Sense Motive +4, Knowledge (Nobility) +4, Knowledge (Religion) +4|Weapon Finesse, Skill Focus (Sing)|Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/day

2nd|Paladinof Mystra and Freedom 2|

+2

|

+3

|

+0

|

+0

+2

|

+3

|

+2

|

+2

+2

|

+3

|

+3

|

+3

+3

|

+3

|

+4

|

+4

+4

|

+4

|

+4

|

+4

|Bluff +1, Sense Motive +1, Knowledge (Nobility) +1, Knowledge (Religion) +1|Battle Blessing|Bonus Spell, Caster Level = Paladin/2+Bard+2, Level 1 spells

7th|Paladin of Mystra and Freedom 5|

+5

|

+4

|

+4

|

+4

|Bluff +1, Sense Motive +1, Knowledge (Nobility) +1, Knowledge (Religion) +1|None|Smite Evil 2/day, If successfully smite someone they need to make a concentration check to cast spells, use spell like abilities and use magic devices to cast spells, Spirit of Healing

8th|Paladin of Mystra and Freedom 6|

+6

|

+5

|

+5

|

+5

+7

|

+6

|

+5

|

+5

+8

|

+6

|

+6

|

+6

+8

|

+6

|

+6

|

+8

+9

|

+6

|

+6

|

+9

+10

|

+7

|

+7

|

+9

+11

|

+7

|

+7

|

+10

+11

|

+7

|

+7

|

+10

+12

|

+8

|

+8

|

+11

+13

|

+8

|

+8

|

+11

+14

|

+8

|

+8

|

+12

+14

|

+9

|

+9

|

+12

+15

|

+9

|

+9

|

+13

|Perform (Sing) +1, Knowledge (Arcana) +1, Sense Motive +1, Diplomacy +1, Bluff(CC) +1|None|Rapture of the Song (freedom of movement), Hymn of Revealing[/table]

Paladin Spells

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Spells per day
{table=head]Level|1st|2nd|3rd|4th
1st|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

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

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

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

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

6th|0+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|0+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

13th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

14th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

15th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

16th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

17th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

18th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

19th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

20th|1+2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

Bard Spells

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Spells per day
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th

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

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

3rd|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|3|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|3|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|3|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|3|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|3|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|3|1+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|3|2+1|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|3|2+1|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|3|2+1|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

13th|3|2+1|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

14th|3|2+1|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

15th|3|2+1|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

16th|3|2+2|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

17th|3|2+2|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

18th|3|2+2|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

19th|3|2+2|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

20th|3|2+2|0+1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th

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

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

3rd|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|5|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|5|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|5|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|5|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|5|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|6|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

11th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

12th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

13th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

14th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

15th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

16th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

17th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

18th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

19th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

20th|6|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-[/table]

Level Discussion

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Level 1 and 2

Andante

Standard front line paladin with the non standard weapon finesse and paladin of freedom to help with the alignment issues

Level 3 and 4

Divisi

Now she joins singing buffs with the staying power of a front line finesser. She will need light armour to work best. Her healing hymn will help the party when healing, even before the nightly rest.

Level 5 and 6

Incanto Duet

New paladin spells and a spirit to help healing, plus smiting a spellcaster or UMD user can cause them to lose the spell. Caster level for Paladin spells becomes Paladin/2 + Bard + 2

Level 7 and 8

Fermata Simile

Paladin runs out of new things but this level gives greater dispel magic 1/day, Bard gives new spells.

Level 9 and 10

Crescendo

Improving the bard buffs and preparing for the next stage.

Level 11 and 12

Con Fuoco

Adding a fiery attack and defence to her choices.

Level 13 and 14

Freddo

Adding cold attacks and defence to her choices, the healing song means that losing remove disease earlier is replaced here.

Level 15 and 16

Eccitato

Adding electrical attacks and defence to her choices

Level 17 and 18

Aspramente

Acid damage over time is a useful ability to have.

Level 19 and 20

Forte Coda

Sonic attacks and defence, not many have defences against them. The banishment ability is useful but there are other methods to do that.

Other Possibilities

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This combination uses several different alternate class features but it could be done with the standard classes.

Sources

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System Resource Document
Unearthed Arcana
Complete Adventurer
Complete Champion
Complete Mage
Complete Arcane
Champions of Valor
Dungeonscape
The Wind on Fire Triology

**true_shinken** · 2010-11-11, 06:28 AM (ISO 8601)

Strong desire...

Originally Posted by Primal Vagabond

“I was lost once. I still am, I suppose… only now I know that’s where I want to be.”

Markus VanDerHomme (of the Lower South Side VanDerHommes) never really fit in well, even amongst his fellow ne’er-do-wells. He was well schooled in the family trades of acquisitions and security, and even showed a knack for the arcane arts, but he just never applied himself to any one thing. He drifted from uncle to uncle, taking the odd job when he had to, but he found that scowling at people and pointing sharp things in their general direction was far less rewarding than literally singing for his supper.

And he did have a marvelous singing voice. He had been approached by one of the region’s bards, but Markus had waived the fellow off, claiming he was nothing more than a talented hack with no real future in it. Still, he continued to sing for some spare coppers now and again… which is what got him drummed out of the family business. He was late for a job, and would have been forgiven had he been drunk in a bar someplace, but having been found SOBER in a bar and having a go at entertaining the patrons… that was the last straw. He would never amount to anything, and was sent packing.

And so his life went for the next few years. City to city, job to job, he was the scallywag, the tomb robber, the sell sword. His life nearly came to an end with that last job, as one of a small handful of caravan guards on a lonely stretch of road, staring down a charging pack of gnolls and outnumbered several times over.

But it didn’t end that day. Instead, it began... with one clear note. A soprano voice so pure it filled his heart with unnatural vigor, split the very fabric of reality, and laid many of the gnolls low with fire. As the remaining gnolls fled into the distance, Markus turned to the woman whose voice had such power and got out only a clumsy “How… ?”

“With practice,” she smiled. “Become a bard, and I could teach you.”

So when the caravan job ended, Markus wasted no time tracking down the bard who had once offered to teach him, and then the simple caravan traveler years after that. Life, it seems, had been telling him what his calling was all along, and Markus had finally learned how to listen.

Male Human Rogue 2 / Duskblade 3 / Prestige Bard 5 / Seeker of the Song 10 Chaotic Neutral or Chaotic Good

Characteristics

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s14 d14 c12 i14 w8 ch16

Increases into Charisma

Level Progression

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Primal Vagabond
Level
Class
Base Attack<br>Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Skills
Feats
Class Features

1st Rogue 1 +0 +0 +2 +0 Bluff 4, Climb 2, Hide 4, Intimidate 2, Listen 2, Knowledge (Local) 4, Move Silently 4, Perform (Sing) 4, Search 4, Sense Motive 4, Sleight of Hand 2, Spot 4, UMD 4 Artist, Craven Trapfinding, Sneak Attack +1d6
2nd Duskblade 1 +1 +2 +2 +2 Climb +1, Knowledge (Local) +1, Knowledge (Arcane) +2, Sense Motive +1 Arcane Attunement, Armored Mage (Light)
3rd Duskblade 2 +2 +3 +2 +3 Knowledge (Local) +1, Knowledge (Arcane) +2, Ride +1, Sense Motive +1 Combat Expertise Combat Casting
4th Duskblade 3 +3 +3 +3 +3 Knowledge (Local) +1, Knowledge (Arcane) +2, Ride +1, Sense Motive +1 Arcane Channeling
5th Rogue 2 +4 +3 +4 +3 Bluff +4, Perform (Sing) +4, UMD +3 Evasion
6th Prestige Bard 1 +4 +3 +6 +5 Knowledge (Local) +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +3, Knowledge (Religion) +2, Perform +1, Speak Language +1 Deadly Defense Bardic Music (Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +1), Bardic Knowledge
7th Prestige Bard 2 +5 +3 +7 +6 Gather Information +2, Knowledge (Local) +1, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Knowledge (Religion) +3, Perform +1, Speak Language +1
8th Prestige Bard 3 +6 +4 +7 +6 Gather Information +2, Knowledge (Local) +1, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Knowledge (Religion) +3, Perform +1, Speak Language +1 Inspire Competence
9th Prestige Bard 4 +7 +4 +8 +7 Gather Information +2, Knowledge (Local) +1, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Knowledge (Religion) +3, Perform +1, Speak Language +1 Skill Focus (Perform)
10th Prestige Bard 5 +7 +4 +8 +7 Gather Information +3, Knowledge (Local) +1, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Knowledge (Religion) +2, Perform +1, Speak Language +1 Inspire Courage +2
11th Seeker o’ Song 1 +7 +4 +8 +9 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Rapture of the Song (+2 AC), Seeker Music, Burning Melody
12th Seeker o’ Song 2 +8 +4 +8 +10 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Knowledge Devotion Combine Songs, Song of Unmaking
13th Seeker o’ Song 3 +9 +5 +9 +10 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Dirge of Frozen Loss
14th Seeker o’ Song 4 +10 +5 +9 +11 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Rapture of the Song (+2 saves), Song of Life
15th Seeker o’ Song 5 +10 +5 +9 +11 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Extra Music Subvocalize, Anthem of Thunder and Pain
16th Seeker o’ Song 6 +11 +6 +10 +12 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Hymn of Spelldeath
17th Seeker o’ Song 7 +12 +6 +10 +12 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Rapture of the Song (DR 2/-), Ballad of Agony Reborn
18th Seeker o’ Song 8 +13 +6 +10 +13 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Versatile Performer Aria of Everywhere
19th Seeker o’ Song 9 +13 +7 +11 +13 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Dirge of Songdeath
20th Seeker o’ Song 10 +14 +7 +11 +14 Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (Arcane) +1, Listen +1, Perform +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1 Rapture of the Song (Freedom of Movement), Hymn of Revealing

Spells per day/Spells Known (Duskblade)
Level
0 1st
2nd
Spells Known

1st - - - -
2nd 3 2 - Ray of Frost, Touch of Fatigue, Color Spray, True Strike
3rd 4 3 - Shocking Grasp
4th 5 4 - Rouse
5th 5 4 - -
6th 5 4 - -
7th 6 5 - Inspirational Boost (If DM allows expansion book bard spell, per description in Prestige Bard class)
8th 6 5 -
9th 6 5 2 Spider Climb
10th 6 6 3 See Invisibility

Level Highlights

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Level 2 - This is where Markus starts his “career”. With a die of sneak attack and his craven bonus plus the occasional Color Spray, he’s scrappy in a fight, but lacks focus. A rogue with no trap skills, he’s more of a highwayman, and is rather unwilling to lay his life down for anything no mater the cause or the payoff. (The Craven feat at work again.)

Level 6 – After his epiphany, Markus is apprenticed to a bard, and has begun his studies in understanding people (speak language, knowledge religion, etc). But he’s not to be underestimated. With a Shocking Grasp to channel into a melee attack and an extra die out of Deadly Defense, he can add 5d6+6 to any damage roll, and thanks to his Artist Feat, he’s already looking at 4 uses of Bardic Music per day. Not bad for a newbie.

Level 10 – His bardic training caps out with +3 worth of inspire courage (+2 if DM does not allow Inspirational Boost Spell, see spoiler above), and he’s capable of adding 7d6+10 to any melee attack thanks to sneak attack, deadly defense, a channeled shocking grasp, and his trusty (!?) craven feat.

Level 15 – While his melee damage curve has long since capped itselt, Markus can now throw around 10 dice of directed damage and serve as an emergency backup healer. And with 17 uses of Bardic mojo per day, he’s not short on battery power.

Level 20 - At the pinnacle of his career, Markus has taken Versatile Performer to round out his repetoire as a bard, rather than taking another Extra Music feat for even more Bardic music per day. He's also patiently waiting for the universe to sort out his broken Note of Solitude song. =)

Sources

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Rogue (PHB)
Duskblade (PHB II)
Prestige Bard (UA)
Seeker of the Song (CArc)

Artist (PGtF)
Craven (CoR)
Combat Expertise (PHB)
Deadly Defense (CScoundrel)
Skill Focus (PHB)
Knowledge Devotion (CChamp)
Extra Music (CAdv)
Versatile Performer (CAdv)

**true_shinken** · 2010-11-11, 06:30 AM (ISO 8601)

Getting stronger... getting stronger...

Originally Posted by Santana

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The Story of Santana

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Dear Diary,
Hi. My name's Santana. An old Gith taught me a cantrip for keeping a deadjournal on the ethereal plane. I wonder how many ghosts are reading this?
Anyway, I just want everyone to know that my brood parents just can't understand me! They think that just because the Matriarch has taken an interest in me, I should stop with all of the 'silly singing and prancing around' as they call it.
But I can't just forget. Ever since I heard that otherwordly music while hunting in the outer maelstrom, I haven't been able to forget. It's not silly! It's beautiful, and important!
I've managed to find a Gith bar at the edge of the territory, and I've been sneaking off to meet with one of the men working at the bar as an entertainer. I just hope my clanmates don't find out...
Mood: Annoyed
Music: "Sing, sing a song,
Let the world, sing along
Sing of love there could be
Sing for you and for me"

Dear Diary,
The Matriarch has decided that I'm going to be trained as a wizard. Not my first choice, but the Clan would never understand my desire to be a bard, and a wizard is like a bard, right?
And I can sing and dance too - Sir Cedric is teaching me all of the finer points of Song, Dance and Acting. He says that I'm the most naturally talented Neraph he's ever met and he might even be able to find me a troupe I could play with on the Material plane with a bit more training!
Mood: Excited
Music: "All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playin'
And dancin' in the streets"

Dear Diary,
Oh god, this is terrible! My clan, they found out about Sir Cedric! They're saying all these awful things about how he's stolen the Matriarch's prodigy away, as though my learning how to be a singer has somehow stopped me from being a wizard!
I've been forbidden from ever seeing him again, on pain of exile. But I heard my brood parents talking when they thought I went to sleep. The clan is planning to hunt and kill Sir Cedric! I just can't let that happen. Not because of me! I'm going to save him, no matter what it costs. If I don't write to you again, diary, you'll know why...
Mood: Anxious
Music: "Hey jude, don't let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better."

Spoiler

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Dear Diary,
I'm...I'm...I'm an EXILE! I can't believe this happened to me! My life is just over!
After I went and warned Sir Cedric, the clan cast me out. I managed to meet up with him again before he left Limbo and I've gone with him to his home plane. Now I'm surrounded by all these weird smooth skinned pink things called 'humans' and 'elves' and Sir Cedric says that Dragonborn like himself are pretty rare.
At least Sir Cedric is willing to take me on as his full-time apprentice. He says that if I keep a cloak on I can pass as a Dragonborn like himself.
Mood: Devastated
Music: "All the vampires, walkin' through the valley
Move west down, Ventural Boullevard.
And all the bad boys, are standing in the shadows.
All the good girls, are home with broken hearts.
And I'm Free, I'm free fallin'
Yeah I'm free, free fallin'"

Dear Diary,
It's been a few years since I've started writing in here, but I've made a big decision. I've been helping Sir Cedric with his quest against that nasty chaos-dragon he was in Limbo to fight. I've decided that it's more important than my singing career. I'm going to take up wizardry again - I was pretty good at it. And more importantly, I'm going to pledge myself to Bahamut.
I've heard that the songs dragons sing are almost as nice as the Celestial Chorus. I'm still looking for that perfect music I heard so long ago in Limbo, but there are other things that have to be done first. Eventually, I'll start questing for that again, but until then...Bahamut shall guide my voice.
Mood: Determined
Music: "That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight, I'm
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try"

Dear Diary,
I think I may have finally found a lead. It's been a long time since I heard that music out in the maelstrom of limbo, but it still haunts my dreams and memories. But my research into the arcane has lead me to a discipline which may lead me to the music again. It's called Binding.
There are beings who have existed for eons in the spaces between the planes, in the darkness of nothing, waiting for people to let them back into the world. They are ancient, and they've shared the minds and bodies of countless others. One of those beings MUST know something about the music I'm seeking. They simply must!
Mood: Curious
Music: "Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or Without you
With or Without you
I can't live
With or Without you"

Dear Diary,
I've found it! I've finally found it! Oh, I'm so happy! Ever since I started taking on the shape of a Firre, one of those singing angels, I've been having much more vivid dreams about what I actually heard out there in the Maelstrom.
It was primal, and it was perfect, and it was powerful. I remembered all that. But now I can kind of sing along, or at least I can try to sometimes. I've finally found the path - the one I've been looking for my entire life it seems. The song that I've been searching for is finally within my grasp!
Mood: Excited!
Music: "Sing, sing a song,
Keep it simple, To last your whole life long!
Don't worry that it's not good enough
for anyone else to hear
Just sing, sing a song!"

The Build

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Name: Santana the Exile
Race: Dragonborn Neraph
Attributes: 8 8 14 16 14 16
NAME OF ENTRY
{table=head]Level|Class|BAB|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Conjurer 1|

+0

|

+0

|

+0

|

+2

+1

|

+0

|

+0

|

+3

|Perform(Sing) 5, Know(Arcana) 5, Know(Planes) 5, Spellcraft 1, Diplomacy 5||
3rd|Binder 1|

+1

|

+2

|

+0

|

+5

+2

|

+3

|

+0

|

+6

|Perform(Sing) 7, Know(Arcana) 7, Intimidate 5, Diplomacy 6||Pact Augmentation(1 ability), suppress sign, +2 Int
5th|Conjurer 3|

+2

|

+4

|

+1

|

+6

|Perform(Sing) 8, Know(Arcana) 8, Diplomacy 8, Spellcraft 2||
6th|Binder 3|

+3

|

+4

|

+2

|

+6

+4

|

+5

|

+2

|

+7

+4

|

+5

|

+2

|

+9

|Perform(Sing) 11, Know(Arcana) 11, Spellcraft 6||+1 Int
9th|Anima Mage 2|

+5

|

+5

|

+2

|

+10

+5

|

+6

|

+3

|

+10

|Perform(Sing) 13, Know(Arcana) 13, Spellcraft 13||Vestigal Awareness
11th|Anima Mage 4|

+6

|

+6

|

+3

|

+11

|Perform(Sing) 14, Spellcraft 14, Perform(Dance) 8, Perform(Act) 5||Soul Binding (2 vestiges)
12th|Anima Mage 5|

+6

|

+6

|

+3

|

+11

+6

|

+6

|

+3

|

+13

|Perform(Sing) 16, Perform(Dance) 10, Perform(Act) 8, Diplomacy 15||Seeker Music, Rapture(+2 AC), Burning Melody
14th|Seeker of the Song 2|

+7

|

+6

|

+3

|

+14

|Perform(Sing) 17, Perform(Dance) 17||Combine Songs, Song of Unmaking
15th|Seeker of the Song 3|

+8

|

+7

|

+4

|

+14

+9

|

+7

|

+4

|

+15

|Perform(Sing) 19, Perform(Dance) 19, Spellcraft 19, Perform(Act) 16 ||Rapture(+2 Saves), Song of Life, +1 Cha
17th|Seeker of the Song 5|

+9

|

+7

|

+4

|

+15

|Perform(Sing) 20, Perform(Dance) 20, Spellcraft 20, Perform(Act) 20, Diplomacy 16||Subvocalize, Anthem of Thunder and Pain
18th|Seeker of the Song 6|

+10

|

+8

|

+5

|

+16

+11

|

+8

|

+5

|

+16

|Perform(Sing) 22, Perform(Dance) 22, Spellcraft 22, Perform(Act) 22, Diplomacy 22, Sense Motive 7||Rapture(DR 2/-), Ballad of Agony Reborn
20th|Seeker of the Song 8|

+12

|

+8

|

+5

|

+17

|Perform(Sing) 23, Perform(Dance) 23, Spellcraft 23, Perform(Act) 23, Diplomacy 23, Sense Motive 10||Aria of Everywhere, +1 Cha[/table]

Alternate Class Features:
Wizard: Specialist(Conjurer with banned evocation and necromancy), Abrupt Jaunt

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Spells per day
{table=head]Level|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th
1st|3|1|-|-|-
2nd|4|2|-|-|-
3rd|4|2|-|-|-
4th|4|2|-|-|-
5th|4|2|1|-|-
6th|4|2|1|-|-
7th|4|2|1|-|-
8th|4|3|2|-|-
9th|4|3|2|1|-
10th|4|3|3|2|-
11th|4|4|3|2|1
12th|4|4|3|3|2[/table]
Note: Does not include bonus spells or specialist spells

Tactics

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Level 5 - "You shoulda been in Showbiz" You've got 2nd level spells and 1st level vestiges, as well as a useful set of skills. A number of useful knowledge skills help in researching new spells and vestiges and a breath weapon for a backup weapon, a handful of social skills to keep you out of trouble, and even the various performance abilities will let you entertain a crowd. You get to use Alter Self for the Outsider type, which is very nice. And being a Dragonborn, not many will be able to tell your species of origin, so getting confused with a Slaad is unlikely to happen.
Level 10 - "The show must go on" You're up to 3rd level spells and 4th level vestiges. Versatility is the name of the game at this stage - relatively speaking you're a bit behind the power curve but you can fill just about any party role short of frontline melee fighter (and then only because you lack the HP for it). Alter Self is probably the only self-buff you need, your breath weapon is still going strong as your primary attack, and everything else is handled by your vestige powers or your spellcasting.
Level 15 - "Triple Threat of the Outer Planes" This is the truly high-point in this build. Thanks to vestige metamagic, you can cast a Persistent polymorph on yourself to become a Firre all day long - giving you 20 strength, 14 dex, 12 con, +12 natural armor, and an excellent fly speed. Thanks to Assume Supernatural Ability, you also get unlimited bardic music uses and the Firre's gaze attack, which does 2d6 fire damage resisted by a DC 14+cha fort save. You've got level 9 binding and can bind 2 5th level vestiges - this means you can bind both Balam and Geryon. Balam gives you a gaze attack that does 2d6 cold damage, resisted by DC 15+Cha will save, gives you the Luck domain's re-roll ability once every five rounds, and grants a +2 insight bonus to various abilities (some of which overlap with the seeker's Rapture bonuses). Geryon gives 360 degree vision, a 2d6 acid damage gaze attack resisted by a DC 15+cha fort save, and the ability to see in all darkness, including magical dark. So, 3 gaze attacks, in 360 degrees (since you literally have eyes in the back of your head)! Next, you can use the Inspire Courage or Greatness song combined with either the fire or ice song, giving you a nice buff while allowing you a swift-action area attack every round. Since the save DC is based on the 'number of ranks you have in the perform skill', the save DC should be is either 44 or 26 (depending on your GM's interpretation). And the penalties from Assume Supernatural Ability are pretty much cancelled out with the bonuses granted by Balam and the Seeker's Rapture ability. Between blasting with your seeker songs, using a breath weapon, casting spells and using your numerous gaze attacks and vestige-granted powers, there's not much that can stand up to you anymore. If a bit more power is needed, several vestiges other than Geryon can provide more options.
Level 20 - "Choir of One" At this point, you're a singing, dancing, superman. You've got either 69 or 23 ranks in perform, but now you've got so many options for what to do with your at-will music that it hardly matters. At-will healing, dispelling, fire, acid, cold or electric damage, and teleportation. And those are just your options for SWIFT ACTIONS (teleportation via Subvocalize)! Snowflake Wardance will give you an all-combat bonus to your attacks. Your non-combat versatility has taken a back seat to your combat effectiveness, but you're certainly not any worse, and between unlimited healing and short range teleportation you have definitely gained.

Secret Ingredient

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The Seeker of the Song class is very focused. There is literally only two things that any of the class features care about:
*Uses of the Bardic Music ability and how long you can keep singing (keeping that Rapture ability going)
*Ranks in the Perform skill
This build maximizes both of those things:
*You can't get more uses of bardic music than 1/round, forever - or at least all day, every day.
*At entry into the Seeker class, we've got 34 ranks in the perform skill (or 16, depending on how you're counting).
As for the other class features, Combine Songs and Subvocalize are both extremely useful abilities, and can be used to excellent effect by pretty much any build. Merely meeting the entry requirements for the class and getting seeker music is sufficient to make use of these class features, and the practice of 'braiding songs' will become a staple of any seeker build. This build still beats out most others in using these abilities since unlimited singing means that using twice as many bardic music attempts has far less impact. From my own reading of these abilities and the Song power on Firre, you would probably need to spend a seeker music to activate two songs at once, but using subvocalize to start a second song after the first one you could use the Firre's infinite music on both activations.

Equipment

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There's not a lot of specialty equipment that you need.
Perhaps your most important piece of equipment is a Belt of Magnificence. While not dependent on any stats, per se, most of your abilities tend to grant saving throws, which would be nice to raise by having generally higher stats. The fact that the Firre has a relatively low constitution score (though no lower than your own) just reinforces the need for stat boosting items. For the same reason, manuals and wishes to boost your key abilities would also be money well spent.
After that, a ring of counterspelling set to dispel magic or greater dispel (if you can get someone else to charge it for you). Any item you can get to prevent your polymorph spell from being dispelled. A scroll of Polymorph any object will permanently turn you into a Firre, so if your willing to go that route, it's a good idea.
A set of Twilight Mithril Chain when you've got the money will provide sufficient armor without impeding your spellcasting abilities. A harmonic weapon would be nice, but by the time you can use it, you're already able to sing continuously so it's not essential. Otherwise, scrolls, wands and other situation-specific items are a good idea to keep your versatility up to any challenge.

Build Notes

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There are a few potentially controversial aspects of this build. The big one is that it gets bardic music via a persistent polymorph/assume supernatural ability. This concept is not going to be an easy sell with most GMs because Polymorph shenanigans is a known source of overpoweredness. However, in this case the polymorph shenanigans are limited to taking the form of a single entity - the Firre - a creature that has very modest physical abilities, no EX attack powers to take, and a slew of supernatural powers that simply aren't being accessed. Having to polymorph into this creature every day is both a weakness that the GM can exploit and a stable set of abilities that the GM can plan on the character always having - which eliminates many of the most broken aspects of polymorph. Plus, this doesn't even come up as an issue until 12th level, by which time most of the other players can be expected to have similarly powerful abilities.
The seeker requirement is Bardic Music Ability, not Bardic Music class feature, and the Firre's Song ability states that it "can use bardic music just as a bard can" for Inspire courage, fascinate, inspire competence and suggestiong, an unlimited number of times per day. So by RAW, there's no doubt that the Firre's Song ability qualifies as the special ability of bardic music. It is because the build gets Bardic Music as an ability and not a class feature that the only bardic music feat taken is Snowflake wardance - which also requires the bardic music ability.
If your GM can't be convinced that this is a workable idea, then taking level 7 as Prestige Bard in place of a level of Binder will give you 4 extra skill points and won't take away anything from the build - as long as you can get a flaw for Improved Binding. This will also prevent you from losing your seeker class features if your polymorph goes away (since you will STILL be polymorphing into the Firre to get unlimited bardic music).
If the GM is allowing LA buyoff, this build works even better with an Aasimar or Dragonborn Aasimar. If flaws are allowed, Both Extend and Skill focus could be taken at first level, and other feats moved around to allow Melodic casting if it is allowed, and otherwise both Silent spell and a metamagic reducer (Easy Metamagic) which would allow casting while singing. Minor shapeshift is also nice, as it would give significant survivability. If the GM does not allow ranks in perform to stack for calculating DCs (which is likely), then Acting and Dance ranks can be traded for other skills - Concentration, various knowledge skills, etc. Acting 5 and dance 10 should be kept just for flavor, though.

**true_shinken** · 2010-11-11, 06:31 AM (ISO 8601)

I can get no satisfaction...

Originally Posted by Mich J. Ranna

Mich J. Rana
Neraph Sorcerer 5/Ardent Dilletante 4/Warrior Skald 1/Seeker of the Song 10

The neraphim know but one sound--that of the hunt. One croak if you don't see any prey, two if you do. They see but one sight, the everchanging landscape of Limbo. Never have they journeyed beyond its bounds, nor do they care to. Their only smell is the stale dryness of their dirt huts, they touch naught but thick, though neraphim hide. But their greatest grievance is that they eat only one dish--the chaos beast. Contrary to its name, its flesh is flavorless and ordinary, yet it provides just enough sustenance to continue their senseless life.

And such was my life, until my eyes were greeted by the sight of a confused band of travelers, lost in Limbo as the result of planar travel gone awry. They carried with them the foul aromas of travel and fear, which swelled in my nostrils like sweet perfume. I offered to help their leader, who extended a hand that was so strangely soft I fear my handshake lingered. All of them had silken skin, and wore a variety of hides and other materials whose foreign textures were drugs for my fingertips. As I guided them through the plane, the leader pulled a strange little stringed device from his pack and began to pinch the strings. The sound that emerged--something so unlike croaking as to be its complete opposite--made me feel compelled to move my body in strange and untoward ways, as dancing is not a habit enjoyed by the Neraphim. And the rations they carried with them! Turkey legs, loaves of bread, and jug after jug of ale...it's enough to make a neraph swear off chaos beast entirely!

My house heard that I had not shown for the daily hunt because I was cavorting with these extraplanar misfits, and they were properly steamed. My matriarch croaked for hours on end about how the neraphim are meant to suppress the chaos within us, but I knew what was right for me. My entire life had been spent chasing after bland and flavorless beasts, I told her, but no more. She exiled me on the spot, stripping me of my name among the neraphim. It mattered not, as I had no plans to return.

Once we found a portal out of Limbo, the travelers and I began to adventure together, becoming fast friends. I developed some slight magical prowess, but longed to replicate the music of our group's leader. However, my voice will always be that of a neraphim, and my hands are not dextrous enough to strum a lute or any other instrument. Instead, I began to dance. My awkward movements gave way to elegant lines, but I still felt something missing. This is when my friend the bard informed me that others must be able to hear you to be emboldened by your art. Taking his advice to heart, I began to write poems, hoping to express through speech what his songs had stirred in me. As I studied, he regaled me with various legends and myths, dwelling on the firre eladrin--angels of song. He recounted how he had the rare privilege of meeting one, and he sang me a mere fragment of its melody. The music seemed to vibrate my very bones; I do not exaggerate when I say it was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.

In my hours of writing and honing my magical arts, I realized that, with enough concentration, I was able to change my form into various creatures. Drawing upon the legends I had heard about the frighteningly beautiful eladrin, I focused myself on taking their form. Wings emerged from my back, and my eyes glowed with the fire of the heavens. Much to my surprise, my poems rang out in the melodious voice of an angel, rather than the muted croak of a frog. I had a taste of their glorious song, and now I take their form as much as I can so that I might enjoy but a few more bars.

Ever since, I have supported my band of friends through my poems, developing them to the point where my words can bring healing, cause pain, or transport us to a different place entirely. I've recently discovered a poem that can banish creatures to their home planes, and I feel that I could use it on myself if I ever wanted to. However, home holds nothing for me beyond the promise of squandered joy, long hours hunting, and more chaos beast. I think I quite prefer things the way they are.

The Build

{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features
1st|Sorcerer 1|+0|+0|+0|+2|Concentration 4, Know (arcana) 4, Perform (dance) 0.5cc, Spellcraft 3|Versatile Spellcaster|Summon Familiar
2nd|Sorcerer 2|+1|+0|+0|+3|Bluff 1, Concentration 4, Know (arcana) 5, Perform (dance) 0.5cc, Perform (poetry) 0.5cc, Spellcraft 3||
3rd|Sorcerer 3|+1|+1|+1|+3|Bluff 1, Concentration 4, Know (arcana) 6, Perform (dance) 1cc, Perform (poetry) 1cc, Spellcraft 3|Power Attack|
4th|Sorcerer 4|+2|+1|+1|+4|Bluff 1, Concentration 4, Know (arcana) 7, Perform (dance) 1.5cc, Perform (poetry) 1cc, Spellcraft 4||
5th|Sorcerer 5|+2|+1|+1|+4|Bluff 1, Concentration 4, Know (arcana) 8, Perform (dance) 2cc, Perform (poetry) 1cc, Spellcraft 4||
6th|Ardent Dilletante 1|+2|+1|+3|+4|Bluff 1, Concentration 6, Know (arcana) 8, Perfom (dance) 4, Perform (poetry) 4, Spellcraft 4|Cleave|Heightened Senses, Lore
7th|Ardent Dilletante 2|+3|+1|+4|+4|Bluff 1, Concentration 6, Know (arcana) 8, Perform (dance) 8, Perform (poetry) 7, Spellcraft 4||Enthrall
8th|Ardent Dilletante 3|+3|+2|+4|+5|Bluff 1, Concentration 6, Intimidate 1, Know (arcana) 10, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 10, Spellcraft 4||Joie de vivre
9th|Warrior Skald 1|+4|+4|+6|+5|Bluff 1, Concentration 8, Intimidate 1.5, Know (arcana) 10, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 12, Spellcraft 4|Skill Focus (Perform)|Bardic music (countersong, fascinate, inspire competence, inspire courage, inspire greatness, suggestion)
10th|Ardent Dilletante 4|+5|+4|+7|+5|Bluff 1, Concentration 10, Intimidate 2.5, Know (arcana) 13, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 13, Spellcraft 4|Assume Supernatural Ability|Bonus feat, sense link
11th|Seeker of the Song 1|+5|+4|+7|+7|Bluff 1, Concentration 11, Intimidate 3, Know (arcana) 14, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 14, Spellcraft 4||Rapture of the Song (+2 AC), Seeker Music (Burning Melody)
12th|Seeker of the Song 2|+6/+1|+4|+7|+8|Bluff 1, Concentration 12, Intimidate 4, Know (arcana) 15, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 15, Spellcraft 4|Lyric Spell|Combine Songs, Seeker Music (Song of Unmaking)
13th|Seeker of the Song 3|+7/+2|+5|+8|+8|Bluff 1, Concentration 13, Intimidate 5, Know (arcana) 16, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 16, Spellcraft 4||Seeker Music (Dirge of Frozen Loss)
14th|Seeker of the Song 4|+8/+3|+5|+8|+9|Bluff 1, Concentration 14, Intimidate 6, Know (arcana) 17, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 17, Spellcraft 4||Rapture of the Song (+2 saves), Seeker Music (Song of Life)
15th|Seeker of the Song 5|+8/+3|+5|+8|+9|Bluff 1, Concentration 15, Intimidate 7, Know (arcana) 18, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 18, Spellcraft 4|Haunting Melody|Subvocalize, Seeker Music (Anthem of Thunder and Pain)
16th|Seeker of the Song 6|+9/+4|+6|+9|+10|Bluff 1, Concentration 16, Intimidate 8, Know (arcana) 19, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 19, Spellcraft 4||Seeker Music (Hymn of Spelldeath)
17th|Seeker of the Song 7|+10/+5|+6|+9|+10|Bluff 1, Concentration 17, Intimidate 9, Know (arcana) 20, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 20, Spellcraft 4||Rapture of the Song (DR 2/-), Seeker Music (Ballad of Agony Reborn)
18th|Seeker of the Song 8|+11/+6/+1|+6|+9|+11|Bluff 1, Concentration 18, Intimidate 10, Know (arcana) 21, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 21, Spellcraft 4|Doomspeak|Seeker Music (Aria of Everywhere)
19th|Seeker of the Song 9|+11/+6/+1|+7|+10|+11|Bluff 1, Concentration 19, Intimidate 11, Know (arcana) 22, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 22, Spellcraft 4||Seeker Music (Dirge of Songdeath)
20th|Seeker of the Song 10|+12/+7/+2|+7|+10|+12|Bluff 1, Concentration 20, Intimidate 12, Know (arcana) 23, Perform (dance) 9, Perform (poetry) 23, Spellcraft 4||Rapture of the Song (freedom of movement), Seeker Music (Note of Solitude)[/table]

{table=head]Ability|Points|Base|Levels|Enhancement|Inherent|To tal|Mod
STR|6|14|0|0|0|14|+2
DEX|2|10|0|0|0|10|+0
CON|2|10|0|0|0|10|+0
INT|4|12|0|0|0|12|+1
WIS|5|13|2|6|5|26|+8
CHA|13|17|3|6|4|30|+10[/table]

Spellcasting

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

1st|5|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|6|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|6|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|6|6|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|6|6|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|6|6|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|6|6|6|4|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|6|6|6|4|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

11th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

12th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

13th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

14th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

15th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

16th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

17th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

18th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

19th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-

20th|6|6|6|5|3|-|-|-|-|-
[/table]

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

1st|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

2nd|5|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

3rd|5|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

4th|6|3|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

5th|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

6th|6|4|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

7th|7|4|2|1|-|-|-|-|-|-

8th|7|5|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-

9th|7|5|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-

10th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

11th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

12th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

13th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

14th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

15th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

16th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

17th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

18th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

19th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-

20th|8|5|3|2|1|-|-|-|-|-
[/table]

{table=head]Spell Level|Spells Known
0|Daze, Light, Read Magic, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Message, Prestidigitation
1|Charm Person, Magic Missile, Grease, Mount, Mage Armor
2|Chain of Eyes, Alter Self, Wings of Cover
3|Great Thunderclap, Summon Monster III
4|Polymorph[/table]

The Secret Ingredient

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Rapture of the Song: This ability actually gave me the foundational idea for the character. Though the bonuses are relatively minor, together they provide a nice suite of buffs. However, they last only as long as your bardic music uses for the day. Because of that, I was determined to create a build that can use bardic music all day, thus giving the character a persistent set of benefits. For more information on the all-day music, see Tricks/Combos below.
Seeker Music: blasting, healing, dispelling, teleporting, countersong, and energy resistance are all interesting alternative uses for bardic music, but they are usually not the clear-cut choice. For instance, why create a bard who can spend a music use to possibly do 10d6 damage when there are Dragonfire Inspiration builds out there that can add +10d6 damage to ALL of your allies' attacks? However, when resource management is no longer an issue, the question above becomes moot. Instead, infinite music uses means infinite resistance, blasting, healing, teleporting, etc. Even the capstone ability, Note of Solitude, becomes a bit more enticing with infinite uses of bardic music. By itself, it seems a weak way to shift a creature back to its homeplane. However, the "Back from Whence You Came" combo (below), provides the effect with a rather heavy debuff at the cost of 3 bardic music uses. While some might scoff at the cost, it becomes meaningless when you have infinite music uses.
Combine Songs: Originally, this seemed like a trap to burn through music uses at breakneck speed. However, upon further investigation, I realized that it's a rather handy combat buff--you can choose two bardic/seeker musics that you have the Perform ranks for (see my notes on Warrior Skald, below) and activate them together. You can use this offensively (inspire courage+Haunting Melody to give your allies a boost and debuff your foes), defensively (Song of Life+teleporting yourself out of danger), or as an anti-caster utility (teleport into range of a distant enemy caster and activate Hymn of Spelldeath).
Subvocalize: This can be used with the above to great effect. While not explicitly mentioned anywhere, I would argue that bardic music (especially a vocal use such as poetry) can be stopped as a free action. If so, you can use a standard action to begin two bardic/seeker musics, then stop one as a free action. You now have only one bardic/seeker music active, so you are free to use your swift action to subvocalize a third effect within the same round. Furthermore, most of your effects linger for 5 rounds after you cease performing, allowing you some interesting combinations. For instance, the Back From Whence You Came combo (below) uses this trick to counterbalance some of the nerfing that Note of Solitude has built in.

Tricks/Combos

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Versatile Spellcaster: While it's not exactly a trick per se, this feat is so stupid good that I try to make sure I can use it on every one of my spontaneous spellcasters. Trade in two spell slots for one of the next level? Yes please! I love using it to trade (usually) worthless 0-level spells for 1-st level ones, though it never sees much use at higher levels. However, this character makes use of it for his primary shtick. Mich tries to polymorph into a firre eladrin as many times per day as possible (for the reason why, see my next note), and Versatile Spellcaster provides us with two extra 4th-level spells at higher levels. Adding that to the 3 base spells per day and the bonus spells for a high CHA ensures that he'll at least be able to take firre form in every encounter. Also, the long duration ensures that he can use his infinite music (see below) to heal his allies after the combat ends.
This is the Song that Doesn't End...: As it is, polymorph is a ridiculous spell. However, when you add in the Assume Supernatural Ability feat from Savage Species, it takes it to a higher level. You get to pick one Su ability of your alternate form to use, and the firre eladrin has one worth noting--Song. It mentions that this creature can use bardic music as many times per day as it would like. Of course, it requires a Will save in stressful situations like combat, but we can ensure that our Will saves are plenty high (cloak of resistance, decent WIS, etc.). Congratulations, you now have an endless bardic music battery to fuel your bardic/seeker music abilities. That's not good enough, though--if we add in Lyric Spell, we can burn some of our (infinite) bardic music uses to cast (infinite) spells. Though the effect will end eventually, and it can be dispelled, being a sorcerer with Versatile Spellcaster ensures that we'll be able to re-polymorph at the drop of a hat. Of course, we still have the bardic music class feature from Warrior Skald, ensuring two things:
1. We still qualify for Seeker of the Song in natural form.
2. Even when caught unaware or when out of polymorphs, we have a supply of bardic music to draw from.
Back From Whence You Came: As has already been pointed out, Note of Solitude nerfs itself by having a DC of 10+perform ranks, and shoots itself in the foot by providing your targets a bonus on their save equal to their Hit Dice. As written, it may be great to send away a horde of minor demons, but it won't do squat against bigger baddies unless they roll a one. Two things help to change all of that--Haunting Melody and Doomspeak. Using Combine Songs, we activate both Haunting Melody and Doomspeak (which I argue is a "bardic music ability" since it uses bardic music uses). Creatures within 30 feet have to save vs being shaken (a -2 to saves, among other things), and one creature within 120 feet has to make a higher save vs being "mega-shaken" (-10 to saves, among other things, for one round). Then, you drop one bardic music as a free action, meaning that you have only one active. Because of this, you can subvocalize Note of Solitude as a swift action, forcing creatures within 30 feet to save with (hopefully) a -2 penalty, whereas one creature must save with a -12 penalty. Also worth noting is that, as an extraplanar creature, Mich can choose to use Note of Solitude (a bardic music ability) on himself if he desires/needs to travel to Limbo, effectively making this ability a miniature version of Plane Shift.

Misc. Build Notes

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While the original idea was to take all 4 levels of Ardent Dilletante before going into Warrior Skald, the only way to do so was to take both the Battle Sorcerer and Stalwart Sorcerer variants. Not only is it messy to take multiple variants, but the character would be losing out on some of his spellcasting. Only later did I realize that Warrior Skald provided the martial weapon proficiency I needed the whole time!
Speaking of Warrior Skald, I never realized how great this PrC was until recently. Though it requires Power Attack and Cleave, Mich still has some Strength to put them to use. However, the reason why I chose it over another PrC (like Troubador of the Stars) is that it grants all forms of bardic music, as long as you have the ranks for it. Others granted only inspire courage, or stacked with bard to determine which uses were available, but not the Skald. Instead, one level grants you all forms!
If your DM rules that Doomspeak does not work as above, switch the feat with Melodic Casting. That way, you can cast spells (like Wings of Cover) while using bardic music. Haunting Melody would mean that targets of Note of Solitude could still be at a -2.
Another alternative, especially if flaws are allowed, is to find a way to wedge in two metamagic feats and Metamagic Song, giving your infinite music yet another benefit. However, keep in mind that Metamagic Song only lets you boost a spell to the highest level you can cast. Still, tossing around Empowered Scorching Rays all day never gets old.

Gear to Consider

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CHA-boosting items (+6 enhancement, +4 tome)
WIS-boosting items (+6 enhancement, +5 tome)
Slippers of Battledancing
Vest of Resistance
Songbow
Harmonizing Echoblade

Sources

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Races of the Dragon
PHB
Planar Handbook
Races of Faerun
Savage Species
Complete Arcane
Complete Adventurer
Heroes of Horror
Champions of Ruin
Magic Item Compendium

**true_shinken** · 2010-11-11, 06:32 AM (ISO 8601)

Dragons are always relevant.

Originally Posted by Tsornaml, part 1

TSORMAL SPELLBANE
"The Wyrm demands reverence, and you shall give it!"

This is the song of the Spellbane, Tsormal
Who was hunted and hated and feared by all
The mages and sorcerers, wizards et al.
Who did not revere the Wyrm of Tsormal.

The Dragon forgotten, great Phylerron he
Did speak unto Tsormal when he was but three
And told him of all of the things he could be
If only he'd slave to great Phylerron be.

When Tsormal was eight, learning hunting and war
He asked his patron what his purpose was for.
With his deep and sad voice, the dragon swore
That he would be so forgotten no more.

"I made this world's magic,
Yet I'm not adored.
Your men have forgot me
And claimed as their hoard
My gift, for which I
Ask only thanks."

Tsormal was fifteen, his voice had improved
Not an eye was dry, not a heart unmoved
When he sang by the fire, as he did every night
With the music resounding in warm firelight

Said he to Phylerron "is this your boon?"
The Wyrm was pleased that Tsormal had so soon
Come to his talents. That night, 'pon the moon
Shone a sign to the student: a musical rune.

Hunting and war, Tsormal left such base things
And turned to the sound of the mountain streams,
The cawing of birds and the flapping of wings
His voice, the tool of Phylerron's calling.

His voice grwew strong, and his power too
And he asked Phylerron what he could do
To further the Wyrm's ultimate quest
Of being acknowledged the best of the best.

Phylerron taught Tsormal of mages' flaws
How to beat them, and keep them from waving their claws
And Tsormal he learned to further the cause
But it drained his power: such are the laws.

At the Wyrm's instruction, he started to train
With the sword and the axe and the spear and the cane
The Way Sublime to Tsormal was plain
And he learned how to take and to recieve pain.

Soon he found out that he could use
The power of song strongly to infuse
His martial attacks with arcane wrath
Surely this, this was his path

In a city one night, hunting more of the same
Who said Phylerron wasn't all that he claimed
He heard a song sung that set him aflame
Primal music, the music that needed no name

Forgetting his quest, he sought out the bard
Who had been singing. Though he had heard
The sound very close, his search was hard
But he finally found him, aged and scarred

"Teach me this music," cried Tsormal, near wild
The old bard smiled and said "You're beguiled
By the music which built the earth and the sea
And predates the gods, the dragons, and me."

Tsormal didn't know if this bard spoke the truth
But he leapt into study with the vigor of youth
The sought out those places where the music was strong
He absorbed it, enjoyed it, and turned it to song.

Phylerron was worried: his earthly slave
Seemed far to involved in this thought depraved
A music 'fore dragons? Surely never be!
And yet Tsormal was not forced to agree.

Despite best efforts, Tsormal trained the more
And learned how to use this earth-making roar
The elements he learned how to use and avoid
Healing and health were later employed

But Tsormal had not yet forgotten the Wyrm
As so many others before him had done
And he turned his thoughts often to how he might do
Phylerron's work by this new avenue

He discovered that, if he played well,
He could disrupt the mages as they cast their spells
The better he played, the harder they fell
At Phylerron's work he now greately excelled

Yet Phylerron was not pleased with his slave
For the Wyrm had studied, and found that save
Bahamut the Platinum, the dragons were made
By this very music. The Wyrm was grave.

By this time Tsormal had mastered them all:
Fire Cold and Lightning were at his call
Acid and Sonic were weapons to him
And he traveled with no need to walk or to swim.

Phylerron appeared as Tsormal was in bed
Tsormal opened his eyes and he lifted his head
He asked "Aren't you proud? All the world knows your name!"
But the Wyrm bared his teeth, incensed by his shame.

Together they fought for a night and a day
Tsormal's strange music held the Wyrm at bay
And though he did not know why they fought,
Tsormal was the victor, and Phylerron was naught.

Fluff:

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Tsormal was raised by a human tribe of barbarians. When he was a child, he was contacted by a dragon claiming to be Phylerron, the creator of magic, who aked him to seek out and punish those who used magic without the dragon's blessing.

Tsormal stands tall and this, but carries himself with a strength that is seen by all. His face is tanned and scarred. His hair was once blond but has faded to near white. His eyes glow with a golden light.

Tsormal wears a suit of armor that looks like green snake skales that allows him to move very rapidly, almost faster than the eye can see. Crossed on his back are two identical-looking glaives, whose sharp blades gleam in the light. A shield floats beside him, embossed with Phylerron's crest: a fire-snake and an ice-snake battling over a spellbook. Tsarmal is friendly to all who do not practice magic and to all who revere Phylerron. To all others, he is a deadly enemy, allowing only the briefiest of oppotunities to convert to the order of Phylerron.

Crunch:

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Human Barbarian 1/Bard 5/Crusader 2/Jade Phoenix Mage 2/Seeker of the Song 10
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st|Dragon Totem Barbarian 1|

+1

|

+2

|

+0

|

+0

+1

|

+3

|

+0

|

+2

+2

|

+3

|

+1

|

+3

+3

|

+4

|

+1

|

+3

+4

|

+4

|

+1

|

+4

|Perform(sing) +1(8), Concentration 6| - | -

6th|Savage Bard 5|

+4

|

+5

|

+2

|

+4

+5

|

+5

|

+2

|

+4

+6

|

+6

|

+2

|

+5

+7

|

+6

|

+3

|

+5

+8

|

+7

|

+3

|

+5

+9

|

+7

|

+3

|

+6

+10

|

+7

|

+4

|

+6

+11

|

+8

|

+4

|

+7

+11

|

+8

|

+4

|

+7

+12

|

+8

|

+5

|

+8

+13

|

+9

|

+5

|

+8

+14

|

+9

|

+5

|

+9

+14

|

+9

|

+6

|

+9

+15

|

+10

|

+6

|

+10

+16

|

+10

|

+6

|

+10

|Perform(sing) +1(23)| - |Rapture of the Song (freedom of movement), Note of Solitude, Strength +1[/table]

Class Variants
Barbarian: As a Dragon Totem Barbarian, traded Fast Movement, Uncanny Dodge, and trap sense for the Blind-Fight feat
Barbarian: Traded rage (and improvements) for favored enemy and archery combat style, per UA. Then traded normal favored enemy for favored enemy (arcanists), using the Arcane Hunter ACF from Complete Mage p 32.
Bard: Used the Savage Bard variant

Bard Spells Per Day
{table=head]Level|0th|1st|2nd

1st|-|-|-

2nd|2|-|-

3rd|3|0|-

4th|3|1|-

5th|3|2|0

6th|3|3|1

7th|3|3|1

8th|3|3|1

9th|3|3|1

10th|3|3|2

11th-20th|3|3|2

[/table]

Bard Spells Known
{table=head]Level|0th|1st|2nd|Suggested Spells

1st|-|-|-|-

2nd|4|-|-| Know direction, minor disguise^SpC, open/close, stick^SpC

3rd|5|2|-| Dancing lights, endure elements, swift invisibility^SpC

4th|6|3|-| Detect magic, swift expeditious retreat^SpC

5th|6|3|2| Dissonant chant^SpC, swift fly^SpC

6th|6|4|3| Identify, know vulnerabilities^SpC

7th|6|4|3| -

8th|6|4|3|-

9th|6|4|3|-

10th|6|4|3|-

11th-20th|6|4|3|-
[/table]

Crusader Maneuvers and StancesKnown:
{table=head]Level | Maneuvers| Stances
7 | Crusader's Strike (Devoted Spirit), Foehammer (Devoted Spirit), Leading the Attack (White Raven), Stone Vise (Stone Dragon), Tactical Strike (White Raven)| Martial Stance (Devoted Spirit)
8 | - | Thicket of Blades (Devoted Spirit)
9 | Death Mark (Desert Wind) | -
10| - | Mystic Phoenix Stance (Special)
[/table]

Starting Ability Scores: Strength 16, Dexerity 16, Constitution 12, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 10, Charisma 14 (32 pt buy)
Ending Ability Scores (no items): Strength 19, Dexterity 16, Constitution 14, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 10, Charisma 14

**true_shinken** · 2010-11-11, 06:34 AM (ISO 8601)

Now for the second part...

Originally Posted by Tsormal, part 2

Tactics

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Level 1: To begin with, Tsormal is a mix of Barbarian and Ranger, with Stand Still and Combat Reflexes to carry the day. At this point, Tsormal can force enemy spellcasters to make concnetration checks to cast defensively by moving adjacent to them while wielding a reach weapon, since they cannot move away without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Levels 2-5:Tsormal gains Bard casting and bardic music, allowing him to buff his party as well as himself. The spell choices made for Tsormal depend heavily on whether the campaign will include these levels, as at this point he still has full caster levels.

Level 6: First Sweet Spot At this point Tsormal starts to specialize. He takes a -4 penalty to his caster level, making his level-dependent spells far less valuable. If possible, he should start retraining his spells to ones that do not have a caster level component (the Swift versions of spells like expeditious retreat, invisibility, and fly are excellent choies). However, he gains his first caster lockdown ability, namely the ability to prevent casters from casting defensively. By getting armor spikes and wielding a reach weapon, he can move next to a caster and enure that the caster will either provoke an AoO from casting, provoke an AoO from moving out of Tsormal's threatened area, or be unable to cast that round.
Stat Block

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Tsormal Spellbane
Medium Humanoid(human)
Initiative+3; Speed 30 ft.
AC 19 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +1 Deflection)
HP 35 (5d6+18)
Fortitude +6 Reflex +5 Will +5
Base Attack/Grapple +4/+7
Attack Glaive +8 (1d10+5) and Armor Spikes +8 (1d6+1)
SQ Bardic Music 5/day, Inspire Greatness +1, Inspire Competence, Bardic Knowledge, Countersong, Fascinate
Skills Concentration +8, Perform([sing]) +14
Feats Stand Still, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Mage Slayer, Skill Focus(Perform[sing])
Abilities Str 16, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 14
Possessions +1 Chain Shirt with masterwork armor spikes, +1 Glaive, Ring of Protection +1

Levels 7-8: Tsormal starts getting a little more serious about his melee capabilities, He gains some maneuvers to help his allies and him. At level 8 he picks up the Thicket of Blades stance, which means taht he can now lock down even more spellcasters. Now, if he's wielding a reach weapon and armor spikes, he can keep casters up to 10 feet away from casting, since they can't 5-foot step out of his threatened area.

Levels 9-10: Second Sweet Spot By entering into Jade Phoenix Mage, Tsormal takes advantage of another channel for his spell slots (especially since he just took another -4 hit to his caster level). Now he can burn any of his spells to gain a +4 on one attack roll and an extra 1d10 points of damage on one attack. Even his cantrips give him a +4 bonus on his attack roll, which he can use to fuel Power Attack if he as located a set of Serpent Armor by this point. This option, combined with his Pierce Magical Protection feat, more than makes up for his medium-high BAB. For added fun, alter self, polymorph, and similar spells, when used to transform into a creature with a natural armor bonus, might be dispelled by the use of this feat, depending on the DM's interpretaion.

Tsarmal can Power Attack essentially every attack versus a mage wince he will be ignoring all magical AC boosts from spells.

Stat Block

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Tsormal Spellbane
Medium Humanoid(human)
Initiative+3; Speed 30 ft.
AC 17 (+3 armor, +3 Dex, +1 Deflection)
HP 67 (5d6+2d10+2d6+32)
Fortitude +8 Reflex +6 Will +6
Base Attack/Grapple +8/+11
Attack Glaive +12 (1d10+5) and Armor Spikes +12 (1d6+2)
SQ Bardic Music 5/day, Inspire Greatness +1, Inspire Competence, Bardic Knowledge, Countersong, Fascinate, Furoius Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Indomitable Soul, Arcane Wrath, Rite of Waking, Mystic Phoenix Stance
Skills Concentration +10, Perform([sing]) +18
Feats Stand Still, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes^item, Mage Slayer, Skill Focus(Perform[sing]), Pierce Magical Protection
Abilities Str 16, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 14
Possessions Serpent Armor with +1 armor spikes, +1 Binding Glaive, Ring of Protection +1

Levels 11-15: Now Tsormal enters Seeker of the Song and starts using his special abilities. He begins gaining songs that will protect from elemental damage. While the amount resisted is not particularly high, it is useful when facing multiple small creatures of the same type. His Rapture of the Song abilities have the advantage of being completely passive, and since Tsormal will practically always be singing one song or another, they can be thought of as permanent bonuses. His Song of Unmaking, like his resistance songs, work best asgainst large groups of smaller constructs, which are sometimes found as servants of mages. The Song of Life is great when fighting powerful undead or animals with diseases and poisons and essentially negates their abilities. The Song of Life refrain is problematic in that it requires a stadard action to touch the target and a swift action to activate the refrain, leaving no action to maintain the Song of Life. Tsormal avoids this by using Harmonizing Armor Spikes that vibrate with his singing and maintain the Song of Life for him. This, combined with Combine Songs, allows Tsormal to maintain up to three bardic music effects at once, with Subvocalize at level 5 allowing him to switch out some of the effects if he needs to. The Pierce Magical Concealment feat helps to avoid common magical defenses, such as mirror image, blur, and displacement. Finally, his eeker music refains give him plenty of attack options, once again keyed toward dealing with lots of little creatures.

Level 16: Third Sweet Spot It is at this point that Tsormal truly becomes dangerous to spellcasters by using his Hymn of Spelldeath. He can use his Perform check as the DC for casting any spell, even silent, quickened, stilled, or defensively cast spells. Since the Hymn does not require castign defensively, COmbat Casting (a common prereq feat) is of no help. Between Skill Focus, his Harmonizing armor spikes, and likely having a higher Cha than his opponent has Con, Tsormal will have around a +8 advantage in the skill check, corresponding to an 80.5% chance of causing the enemy caster to fail. Furthermore, there is no range limit except that the caster must be able to hear Tsomal perform. This leaves two ways of avoiding Tsormal's Hymn: Deafness or immunity to mind-affecting abilities. Deafness carries its own penalty including a 20% chance of spell failure for verbal-component spells. Tsormal has no way of avoiding general mind-affecting immunity, but his Requiem feat allows him to affect all undead, including the Lichs and Necropolitans that are so common among spellcasters.

In summary, as long as Tsarmal is within melee range of a caster, the mage cannot cast unless it first succeeds on a Concentration check that he ahas a very good chance of failing, then avoiding Tsarmal's Attack of Opportunity, wich none of his magical enhancments to AC or miss chances will apply against, or making a concentration check against Tsarmal's damage. He can't move away without provoking an attack of opportunity, either. In short, Tsarmal makes casting hard.

The Hymn's requiem gives another means of dealing with magical defenses. Between Tsarmal's Greater Dispelling Glaives and this refrain, magical barriers are only a temporary problem.

His other seeker music abilities help him deal with the spellcaster's minions, incluing elementals and constructs. His area of effect attacks can take ouot multiple enemies, and his Anthem of Thunder and Pain refreain is an exremely reliable 10d6 points of damage with the capability of taking out many smaller creatures.

At this point Tsarmal can benefit from a few key team members. A cleric to cast Greater Magic Weapon and Greater Magic Vestments will be extremely helpful, and the stat block below assumes Tsarmal is able to get +4 versions of both. Warlocks, Dragonfire Adepts, and Meldshapers are in Tsarmal's party, as none of their abilities are affected by his Hymn of Spelldeath. If Tsarmal gets Enlarge person on him, things get even better, as not only will his damage increase but his reach will make it even harder for mages to get away from him.

Note that Tsarmal is still a viable combatant when not facing mages. He has multiple Supernatural abilities that protect him and his allies or deal damage to their enemies.

Stat Block

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Tsormal Spellbane
Medium Humanoid(human)
Initiative+4; Speed 30 ft.
AC 28 (+6 armor, +4 Dex, +3 Natural +3 Deflection +2 insight)
HP 116 (13d6+2d10+60)
Fortitude +19 Reflex +16 Will +16
Base Attack/Grapple +13/+20
Attack Glaive +23/+18/+13 (1d10+13) or Armor Spikes +24 (1d6+6)
Attack vs. Mages Glaive +25/+20/+15 (1d10+2d6+17) or Armor Spikes +23 (1d6+8)
Attack OptionsBurning Melody Refrain (DC 29), Dirge of Frozen Loss Refrain (DC 29), Anthem of Thunder and Pain Refrain (+17 ranged touch attack), Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Peirce MAgical Protection, Pierce Magical Concealment
SQ Bardic Music 11/day, Inspire Greatness +1, Inspire Competence, Bardic Knowledge, Countersong, Fascinate, Furoius Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Indomitable Soul, Arcane Wrath, Rite of Waking, Mystic Phoenix Stance, Rapture of the Song (+2 AC, +2 saves), Combine Songs, Subvocalize
[b]Seeker Music[b] Burning Melody, Song of Unmaking, Dirge of Frozen Loss, Song of Life, Anthem of Tunder and Pain, Hymn of Spelldeath
Skills Perform([sing]) +29
Feats Power Attack, Stand Still, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes^item, Mage Slayer, Skill Focus(Perform[sing]), Pierce Magical Protection, Pierce Magical Concealment, Requiem
Abilities Str 22, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 20
Possessions Serpent Armor (+4 GMV) with +1 (+4 GMW) Harmonizing Binding Armor Spikes, 2 +1 (+4 GMW) Greater Dispelling Binding Magebane Glaives, Cloak of Charisma +6, Belt of Strength +4 and Health +2, Gloves of Dexterity +2, Amulet of Natural Armor +3, Ring of Protection +3, Vest of Resistance +5, 2 Anklets of Translocation,
Perform([Sing]) Check:
+29 = 19 ranks + 5 Cha + 2 competence + 3 Skill Focus

Levels 17-19: At these levels Tsormal picks up his last two energy defenses as well as his best single-target refrain (Ballad of Agony Reborn) and the ability to teleport. The ability to teleport will be useful in the case that the mage is farther away from Tsarmal than he can get to in one move action. Teleporting will end Tsormal's turn, as per dimension door, but once he is there, the caster will have a tough time casting any spells. At 18th level, Tsarmal takes Favored Power Attack, allowing him to get a 1:3 ratio on hims Power Attack damage.

Level 20: Finally, Tsarmal reaches the final level of Seeker of the Song and gains the Note of Solitude. This ability is difficult to use, hence the significant boost to the enemy's save. However, it is still useful to Tsormal because many of the mage's summoned creatures will be extraplanar, as well as all of his called creatures. The Note is not useful when fighting one lage creature, but when facing many smaller creatures, such as the 5 Babaus or Invisible stalkers summoned by a Maximized Summon Monster IX, each of whom has only a 5% chance of making the DC 33 Will save necessary to avoid being sent back home.

Stat Block

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Tsormal Spellbane
Medium Humanoid(human)
Initiative+6; Speed 30 ft.
AC 42 (+7 armor, +7 shield, +6 Dex, +5 Natural +5 Deflection +2 insight)
HP 222 (17d6+2d10+152); DR 2/-
Fortitude +24 Reflex +19 Will +20
Base Attack/Grapple +16/+26
Attack Glaive +31/+26/+21 (1d10+20) or Armor Spikes +31 (1d6+10)
Attack vs. Mages Glaive +33/+28/+23 (1d10+2d6+24) or Armor Spikes +23 (3d6+14)
Full Power Attack vs. Mages Glaive +17/+12/+7 (1d10+2d6+72)
Attack OptionsBurning Melody Refrain (DC 33), Dirge of Frozen Loss Refrain (DC 33), Anthem of Thunder and Pain Refrain (+22 ranged touch attack), Bllad of Agony Reborn Refrain (+22 ranged touch attack), Dirge of Songdeath Refrain (+22 ranged touch attack), Note of Solitude (DC 33) Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Peirce Magical Protection, Pierce Magical Concealment
SQ Bardic Music 15/day, Inspire Greatness +1, Inspire Competence, Bardic Knowledge, Countersong, Fascinate, Furoius Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5, Indomitable Soul, Arcane Wrath, Rite of Waking, Mystic Phoenix Stance, Rapture of the Song (+2 AC, +2 saves, DR 2/-, freedom of movement), Combine Songs, Subvocalize
[b]Seeker Music[b] Burning Melody, Song of Unmaking, Dirge of Frozen Loss, Song of Life, Anthem of Tunder and Pain, Hymn of Spelldeath, Ballad of Agony Reborn, Aria of Everywhere, Dirge of Songdeath, Note of Solitude
Skills Perform([sing]) +33
Feats Power Attack, Stand Still, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes^item, Mage Slayer, Skill Focus(Perform[sing]), Pierce Magical Protection, Pierce Magical Concealment, Requiem, Favored Power Attack
Abilities Str 30, Dex 22, Con 24, Int 28, Wis 16, Cha 20
Possessions Serpent Armor (+5 GMV) with +1 (+5 GMW) Harmonizing Binding Armor Spikes, +1 (+5 GMV) Animaed Heavy Steel Shield, 2 +1 (+5 GMW) Greater Dispelling Binding Magebane Glaives, Belt of Magnificnce, Amulet of Natural Armor +5, Ring of Protection +5, Vest of Resistance +5, 2 Anklets of Translocation, Manual of Gainful Exercise +5 (read), Manual of Bodily Health +4 (read)

Perform([Sing]) Check:
+33 = 23 ranks + 5 Cha + 2 competence + 3 Skill Focus

Variations

Spoiler

Show

For an Exalted version, the Nemesis feat (BoED p44) makes for an excellent choice as early as 1st level if the DM interprets it to mean that you can detect any arcane caster or invoker within 60 feet.

You can avoid using armor spikes by picking up a spiked chain, though this requires another feat

An alternate build with a slightly more grapple-focused skill set, but requiring a mid-campagin alignment change, would be Monk 2/Bard 4/Crusader 2/Jade Phoenix Mage 2/Seeker of the Song 10.

A build without the barbaric influence, but unable to take Pierce Magical Concealment as effectively, is given by Bard 6/Crusader 2/Jade Phoenix Mage 2/Seeker of the Song 10. This build has the advantage of having third-level slots to get an extra 1d10 damage a few times a day.

**The Vorpal Tribble** · 2010-11-11, 08:37 AM (ISO 8601)

Wow, only five entrants?

*starts to look over*

**Kesnit** · 2010-11-11, 09:11 AM (ISO 8601)

I'm rather sad Santana and Mich used such similar builds since they were both such great ideas.

**Quietus** · 2010-11-11, 09:55 AM (ISO 8601)

Since the builds are up now, I'd love to hear people's thoughts on what I was *going* to enter - the plan was bard8/dread pirate3/seeker9, with as much Inspire Courage boosting as I could get in there - With Song of the White Raven, a Badge of Valor, and Words of Creation, I'd be looking at +9 inspire courage, turned into 9d6 fire via dragonfire inspiration (silverbrow human base). With TWF from Dread Pirate, and 15 BAB at level 20, I'd be quite decent in melee, and I was hoping to channel the dragonfire down the Seeker's rays, particularly the Anthem of Thunder and Pain's refrain - 10d6 lightning+9d6 fire to initial, then 5d6 lightning+9d6 fire against up to three secondary targets is scary. The Acid one would be 10d6+9d6, followed by another 10d6 next round, and sonic 15d6+9d6 - and all of these rays would be as touch attacks.

On top of these, I'd also be carrying third level Bard spells, mostly buff or utility types. As far as flavor, I was going to use Princess Bride's "Dread Pirate Roberts", with a healthy heaping of Disney, to make a singing, dancing Disney pirate that had the ability to shoot people with rays of electricity, acid, and sound that were also on fire.

The problem I found with my build was that the closest ruling I could find for whether or not these rays would carry Dragonfire was as "Weaponlike Spells", which are specifically called out as not being viable for bonus damage from Inspire Courage. As a DM, if a player brought the build I was working on to me, I'd have laughed, told them it was a great idea, but the rules didn't support it.. so I couldn't feel right about bringing it to this competition. I'd love to hear thoughts on that build, though.

**Amphetryon** · 2010-11-11, 10:07 AM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by The Vorpal Tribble

Wow, only five entrants?

*starts to look over*

We had at least two late scratches, according to the posts. There's also an outside chance that TS had some connection issue and has another build or three waiting to be posted.

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