Character Builder Thread

[Shadow]

Here's a little project for the build-minded;
I'm putting together an ALT character for a War-themed Gestalt campaign (ECL10), and am working on an effective build for a character themed off of Fearsome Stabbity Death.

The idea: This character is one steeped in violence and shadow, name of Jack Whisper. I'd like someone whom no one in their right mind would want to face toe-to-toe, with the capability of being in your fries before you even know what's coming.
So far, ideas that seem promising are Ninja/Hexblade/Ghost-Faced Killer, or perhaps Fighter/Warlock/Ravager possibly with things like intimidating strike or similar feats. The idea is to be a horribly-demorilizing opponent to face on the battlefield, combining the worst traits of a "black knight" and Shinobi.

Crunchy Stuff:
-ECL 10, almost any book allowed.
-Almost any race, and LA is reduced by one to a minimum of +0. racial HD can take up a single side of Gestalt progression.
-66,000 gp
- 36-point buy
- No alignment restrictions

I'm working on something here for you, but it involves the Oriental Adventures Ninja. I could easily just use Rogue instead if that's not allowed.
Let me know before I actually work it all out.

[edit] Actually it's quite similar to Calista, but with some caster levels as well (as well as a few other changes). Since you're familiar with her, what are your thoughts?

[The Great Skenardo]

Sounds good, but I think rogue would have to be used instead of ninja. Also, no pixies, kay?

[Shadow]

Human.
The pixie thing was just for that game.
I think you'll like him.
I'll get started.

[edit] The concept that I had doesn't seem to be working with the whole "Black Knight" ideal.
The character that I was working on ended wearing no armor.
Doesn't really fit with the idea you had going.

[Helgraf]

Looking for a level by level build; including indication of which stats you bump at levels 4, 8 and 12. End result to level 12. Hit Points average per HD (So max at 1st, then, if using d6s 3,4,3,4,3,4 and so on; adding in Con bonus normally, of course)

* * A. Books: Core + Complete 5 + EPsiHandbook + PHBII + Eberron Campaign Setting. The Spell Compendium is debatable; some of the spells are frankly broken or broken for their assigned caster level, but if you feel it provides something must have for the build, point it out for me.

Clarification : Complete 5 = Arcane, Divine, Warrior, Adventurer, Psionic

* * B. Race: Core + Eberron (the main book only)
* * C. Class: Must be able to get maximum ranks of Bluff. Must have sneak attack or sudden strike, preferably the former. Ideally, trapfinding, but not crucial.
* * D. Ability Scores: 30 point build. Dex 13+, a high Cha (ideally 16) and if workable with rest of build, a 14 Int. Str, Con, Wis to taste.
* * E. Alignment: Non-Evil. Good is nice, but if detremental to the build can be discarded.
* * F. House Rules: None
* * G. Concept: Ultimate Bluffer, with utility skills and feats to assist in maximizing the advantage of Feinting your opponents in combat.
* * H. Other: The most probable build would be a rogue; but if you find something else that you feel works as well or better, or a multiclass or class+prestige brew that works, I'd be interested in seeing it too. Equippage should include a +4 Cha item, and if there are any equipments that raise Bluff directly, get 'em. If WBL is feasable enough to get a luckstone without leaving the character shorthanded on cash, that'd be good also.

[Annarrkkii]

Helgraf, I'm taking your build for a spin. I want to try out some builds from Complete Adventurer and Complete Scoundrel I've been considering. Assuming the Complete 5 includes Complete Scoundrel...

NEVERMIND. Essay to do...

[jkdjr25]

Ok I'm in need of assistance on a character build.

I'm trying to build an Illumian wizard that gets as many bonuses as possible to language dependant spells.

I have a friend that has Races of Destiny but I haven't been able to look through it.

The build is this
20th level, the stat spread is 18 18 16 16 14 12
Most likely a wizard class
I have one feat selected already from Dragon Magic and that's Words of Draconic Power.

Books usable are all core books, the complete series, Dragon Magic, the Races series

any ideas?

[Taren]

This is more a challenge than anything else, but seeing as how I'm gonna be joining an epic-level campaign pretty soon, if I see something I like I'll use it.

My question is this: Is there a viable level 20 build for a pure fighter?

To clairify: What would other people do to make a pure fighter (no prestige classes) that can lay down the hurt at level 20? Here are the base stats I rolled up for said character, unmodified by anything else:

18
16
13
8
12
14

(Yeah, I didn't do too badly on rolls)

Under the rules of the GM I'm playing under, we can move up to 3 points from any stat or mix of stats. I don't really have a care either way if he's a melee build or a ranged build, BTW. Also bare in mind that I'm not taking into account magical equipment, but merely pure abilty. Adding *A* template is allowed, but the GM won't let us play anything with an ECL greater than 2

Can anyone make a monster out of this?

[Chavik]

Looking for a pair of NPCs

Books: Anything i guess... heavy on the A&E Guide (se below)
Race: Human
Class: Ranger/Rogue/Master Thrower
Level: 12 - 16ish.... work around the fact he has the PrC
Ability Scores: 10, 14, 14, 15, 18, 18
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Cash and Possessions: lots of stuff... has favors with the merchant guild... gets good prices
Concept: Hunter background, lived on the streets with his half-brother (see even further below) as a teen... stole alot... got good at throwing knives around and stuff. Compulsively collects all his fallen enemies stuff... has a hoard of yoinked weapons and such


(see avatar)
Books: Anything
Race: Half-Elf
Class: Ranger/Rogue
Level: 8-13
Ability Scores: 12, 16, 13, 10, 18, 12
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Cash and Possessions: whatever tidbits his half-brother let him have.
Prized possessions: Fathers Longsword
Concept: Grew up under the wing of his half-brother, same story

thanks in advance to whoever does them up

[Shadow]

Anyone want to build a BBEG?
Actually, we're looking for quite a few.
Anything from 6th level to 20th level would be useful.
Gestalt or not. Either is Fine.
Check out the character build rules here.
We'll obviously be looking for lower level characters first.
As quite a few of the characters made for this will be recurring characters, please offer level by level advancement of builds.

DO NOT POST THE BUILDS HERE!
DO NOT SEND THE BUILDS TO ME!

PM THE BUILDS TO FULLPLATEJACKET HERE!

**Instead simply send me a PM of the final character skeleton so that I may edit this post in hopes of staving off double or triple or quadruple identical characters.**

And if, when you check out the build rules and read the idea, you get interested in joining....
By all means do so!

**EXAMPLES of possible character skeleton**

Sneaky warrior type
Built level by level from 6 through 14

OR

Dark magic user
Built level by level from 9 through 17

(Try not to give too much away in the skeleton. I don't want to know much, just enough so that I can post the concepts here without giving anything away and to try to ensure that we don't end up with 19 necromancers and nothing else)

[EDIT] Also, as the campaign wil be fleshed out as we go, feel free to provide as much or as little of a history to your charaters a you want!
If you have an idea ABOUT ANYTHING that you think would be cool to add to the world, throw a paragraph in your PM to FullPlateJacket.

[Neek]

Request for Big Bad Evil Guy.
Books: Core, 3.0/3.5, Book of Vile Darkness, Libris Mortis, &c.
Race: Human.
Class: Cleric, &c.
Alignment: Lawful or Chaotic Evil.
Ability score generation: 28-point buy.
Level request: Minimum level 11, Maximum 15.

Concept: Deranged, self-centered priest whose actions struck a war between an island colony and its natives, and enslaved all those who died in the battle as servants in their undeath.

Other than that, fairly flexible with the idea.

[Verruckt]

Been trolling this site for a while but this is my first post, anywho...
I need some help designing a 20th lvl melee specialist with a focus on grappling and non-conventional tactics

Books: Any core + the complete books
Race: Yuanti-Abomination + Half-Celestial (half celstial given for free)
Class: Was thinking 8 fighter / 5 reaping mauler but open to suggestions
Ability Scores:
Alignment: Either LG or LN (Cuthbert)
House Rules: This is a high power for the sake of power gaming itself, all characters get the half celestial package free of level adjustment, slight editing of class abilities and reqs is allowed do to the inevitably odd racial combinations, all characters start with 20th lvl gold and are considered to have acess to anything from the above books, excluding epic items and artifacts.
Concept: our DM's got one of his ideas again and so decided to set us on an adventure with the tagline, "you are lvl 20, prepare to advance quickly" to that end i'm hoping to create an utterly cheesy character with some feindishly clever class/item combinations htat'll make him whish he hadn't asked us to try power gaming.
Other: If it gives you any further inspiration, the character is one of a set of highly improbable twins, if you are familiar with Alan Moore's Promethea, the two characters are based off of the snakes on Promethea's Caduesses, Mike & Mack. I'll be playing Mack, and the other will be Mike.

[Knolan]

Looking for a level by level build; including indication of which stats you bump at levels 4, 8 and 12. End result to level 12. Hit Points average per HD (So max at 1st, then, if using d6s 3,4,3,4,3,4 and so on; adding in Con bonus normally, of course)

* * A. Books: Core + Complete 5 + EPsiHandbook + PHBII + Eberron Campaign Setting. The Spell Compendium is debatable; some of the spells are frankly broken or broken for their assigned caster level, but if you feel it provides something must have for the build, point it out for me.

Clarification : Complete 5 = Arcane, Divine, Warrior, Adventurer, Psionic

* * B. Race: Core + Eberron (the main book only)
* * C. Class: Must be able to get maximum ranks of Bluff. Must have sneak attack or sudden strike, preferably the former. Ideally, trapfinding, but not crucial.
* * D. Ability Scores: 30 point build. Dex 13+, a high Cha (ideally 16) and if workable with rest of build, a 14 Int. Str, Con, Wis to taste.
* * E. Alignment: Non-Evil. Good is nice, but if detremental to the build can be discarded.
* * F. House Rules: None
* * G. Concept: Ultimate Bluffer, with utility skills and feats to assist in maximizing the advantage of Feinting your opponents in combat.
* * H. Other: The most probable build would be a rogue; but if you find something else that you feel works as well or better, or a multiclass or class+prestige brew that works, I'd be interested in seeing it too. Equippage should include a +4 Cha item, and if there are any equipments that raise Bluff directly, get 'em. If WBL is feasable enough to get a luckstone without leaving the character shorthanded on cash, that'd be good also.

I'm assuming the 5th complete you have is the scoundrel. If not, the Daring Outlaw feat was published on a list on wizards site and can be found here

The build would be:
High dex, little str (only if you want extra dmg), some con (HP), for minmax you cha is too high for sneak attacker/bluffer, sorry to tell...
K let's do this =D
Race: Any, I would go some with dex bonus.
RQ = Requirements

1) level - Swash buckler (max HD) - Classe feat: Weapon finesse (dagger)/Initial feat Weapon Focus dagger (bonus and RQ). Bab +1
2) Rogue (In order to get trap finding faster and + 1d6 sneak attack)
3) Swashbuckler. feat: Far Shot (RQ) (Swashbuckler here to get more HP)
4) Rogue (evasion)
5) Swashbuckler
6) Swashbuckler - Point blank shot (RQ).
7) Swashbuckler
8) Invisible Blade
9) Invisible Blade - Daring Outlaw
10) Invisible Blade
11) Invisible Blade
12) Invisible Blade - Two weapon fighting

Features:

- Total HP = 10 + 3 + 6 + 3 + 6 + 5 + 6 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 = 56 + 12 * const
- Sneak Attack (dagger) +7d6.
- Base attack bonus: +11
- Add Int to damage.
- Add int to AC.
- Can bluff as a free action.
- Can always take a 10 on bluff.
- Gains +4 on flanking instead of +2
- +1 to Ac while using light armor
- Base Saves: +7/+9/+3
- Can charge through difficult terrain.

Good points:
- Ultimate bluffer, can take 10, can get full ranks and can feint as free action.
- Great flanker, getting a flanked opponent and you will make 4 attacks with +4 bonus, if you hit them all you add 28d6 of sneak attack.

Bad points:
- Your will save sucks.
- If you are fighting something immune to critical hits and feinting (e.g: mindless undeads and golems) ... you are pretty much dead.*


* If you want, you may take the rogues levels (At 5 and 7, in order to not lose HP) later and max out use magic device. There are spell compedium spells (e.g: grave strike) that allows you to make sneak attacks against a creature that takes no damage from it.

Future progression?

Go swashbuckler all the away, take the improved and greater Two weapon fighting feats at level 15 and 18.

Hope you enjoy =D~

[kolvar]

May I request your friendly and competent help for a lowly swordsage lv. 10 build?

Books: Anything d20 (everything from WotC except Eberron specific stuff + green ronin, mongoose, malhavoc, aeg, etc. ... you get the idea)
Race: human
Class: Swordsage 10th
Ability Scores: St 12, Co 13, Dx 18, In 14, Wi 18, Ch 10 (that is the distribution and I can not change it)
Alignment: Any non-evil
Concept: I want him/her to have the Iiatsu Skill, and if there is room (skill-point-wise) some skill tricks.
Other: The party got: duskblade, ilithid slayer, dervish-tempest-aspirant, arcane-hierophant, ranger, clerik.

Thank you in advance

[Sutremaine]

Q15

[request deleted]

I changed my mind about the build, introducing the Duelist class and doing more back-and-forth levelling at low levels. So I'm just going to keep at it until I settle on how to execute the character idea.

[Nahal]

Alright I'm looking for a rewrite of my wizard build, since it was definitely sub-optimal and I'd like to see what someone else's idea would be like.

Stats (after racial adjustments and level-up)
STR 10, DEX 16, CON 14, INT 23, WIS 14, CHA 12

Concept: Batman, essentially. Combat tends to be sparse, and when it happens is often against superior foes. So we do a fair bit of running, occasionally we're able to identify a weakness and bring it down. Downtime is rare as well, really only enough time to refresh spells. Consequently we find a number of magic items to cover ourselves, so WBL is more or less maintained. In fact I believe we each had a minor artifact over and above WBL.

Other: Spells aren't limited, though it's not necessary to put down an entire spellbook's worth. But I would like input on key utility, crowd-control and defensive spells.

Build required: Level 16 elf (race required by campaign background) wizard-based caster, full progression. Items as per WBL, bearing in mind that most of the time we're travelling or running from high-to-epic level opponents that see us as a nuisance rather than serious threat. Very little time is spent in cities.

Long-term Growth: I want the wizard to be a master strategist, able if not to bring down superior foes then certainly to hold them long enough for the party to escape.

Please PM builds if anyone's interested.

[VaporGecko]

I humble ask for pointers with my Gray Elf Wizard. My GM is running a kick the door down style campaign and I'm looking to build an effective and potent Transmuter.

1. I'm looking for spell lists and feat arrays to make a Transmuter built for dungeon crawls. Vital Stats are:

Transmuter lvl2
Strength: 9
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 8

Feats: Improved Initiative, Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (Transmutation)

Flaws: Noncombatant (-2 on melee attack rolls)

Skills: Concentration +5, Decipher Script +5, Know(Arcana) +5, Know(Dungeoneering) +5, Spellcraft +5

2. Here's the template:
a. Books: Any Wizards of the Coast book published post 3.5 revision.
b. Race: Gray Elf, +0EL
c. Class: Transmuter (Evocation and Necromancy Prohibited)
e. Alignment: Lawful Evil
g. Concept: I'm looking to not build a blaster. I'm thinking of running with field control Conjuration and Illusion spells with Transmutation buffs. Lastly, I'm thinking of taking the Master Specialist (Transmuter) prestige class from Complete Mage up until I can take levels in Archmage. So I'll be Transmuter3/Master Transmuter10/Archmage5 by CL18.
h. Other: Any equipment could be made available within two game weeks. All the adventuring will occur beneath the city in a maze of catacombs with steady progression of difficulty at each basement level. Healing is readily available in the city for a price, so are magic services. My party will usually, but not always, consist of a Fighter/Barbarian, a Cleric/Druid, and some Rogue variant (Ninja, Beguiler, etc.).

Thanks for whatever help you guys can offer me. I appreciate it.

[Wraithy]

Request for sneaky evil b*st*rd
Books: Core, DM manual, complete warrior (all 3.5)
Race: any
Class: swashbuckler, exotic weapon master, assasin
Alignment: Lawful or neutral evil (preferably lawful).
Ability score generation: 28-point buy.
Level request: 8-14
Special: dual wielder of Saingam or nunchuku.

[Person_Man]

Okay, build-meisters, here's a challenge: This is a classic fictional-type character that has been done to death in other venues. The character enters play as a violent Chaotic Evil warlord, and ends as a pacifist Lawful Good diplomat/paladin. However, the goal is to have a still playable D&D character at the end, despite the 'minimum violence' clause of the pacifist creed.

Rules: 3.5, only WotC publications. Standard point-buy stats. Classes, races, levels, etc. are all based off of the fluff. The class 'Paladin' is mentioned in the fluff, that does not restrict you to an actual paladin. Avoid epic-level stuff if possible, as I have a serious dislike for that ruleset.

Fluff: Parcifael Stalhk, known to his minions as Commander Steel, is an evil mercenary warlord-type. Has no interest in running his own feifdom, he just wants to command in battle because of the adrenaline rush or ordering all those lives around. In one battle, however, something horrible happens that causes him to have the D&D equivalent of a mental breakdown. Confused and lost (both physically and emotionally), he stumbles into a religious monastary which takes him in.

Years later, Brother Gray is a devout pacifist, and servant of a God of Healing (Not necessarily a true priest, could be a lay-brother type). However, events conspire against him and he takes up his old sword and armor to defend the monastary and surrounding village from an approaching warband, and a mercenary warlord that is almost a carbon-copy of his younger self.

His efforts, and his refusal to kill simply because it's expedient, causes the God to bless him, and Brother Gray is sent out into the world again to crusade for Good as a nonviolent Paladin. He now leans heavily on diplomacy rather than violence, but he is quite capable of defending the defenceless with the sword if there is no other choice.

Ranger variant 1/Half Orc Paragon 3/Marshal 3/Justicar 8/Exemplar 1/Marshal 4-7

Levels 1-4: Basically a Barbarian with more Skills, and without the Barbarian's Chaotic restriction, so you won't lose the ability to Rage when you become Lawful. You also pick up Track, which is needed for Justicar.

Levels 5-8: As your reputation increases, bloodthirsty warriors flock to your banner. Pick the Motivate Str and Art of War auras.

Levels 9-15: Your band of bloodthirsty warriors begin hunting and killing individual marks. But as you do so, you start to see the moral implications of what you do, and eventually convert to Lawful Good. Improved Hogtie lets you Grapple on every hit, and allows you to use your Use Rope Skill as the opposed check.

Levels 16: You've devoted your life to pacifism and diplomacy, and perfect your Skills. You can now Take 10 on Int+1 Skills - be sure to choose Diplomacy and Use Rope.

Levels 17-20: You become a true pacifist leader. Pick up Motive Dex (applies to Use Rope) and Motivate Cha aura's.

Features:

Insanely high Skills, especially Diplomacy, Gather Info, and Use Rope.
Ability to Grapple and Hogtie almost anything.
Ability to deal subdual damage without penalty.
Playable at at every level, with a logical progression.

[Kiero]

Right, I'm playing a Viridian Lords-associated character in a Ptolus one-shot. Before we get started, it's actually with a different system (Wushu), but I like having a little bit of crunch for inspirational material in what my character can do.

What I have in mind is a 10th-12th level character, who is probably a Ranger/Monk combo. Specifically a two-weapon fighting type (uses twin hand axes) who is also an unarmed combatant with a little magic on the side. Probably doesn't wear armour, possibly using barkskin instead (if he's got the Ranger levels to do it). Inspired by Mani from Le Pacte de Loups/Brotherhood of the Wolf.

I'm not necessarily after an ultra-optimised super-combo, and I don't need anything more than class mix and Feats. What I am set on is that they'll be human, use the weapon and style I've outlined (so no unusual weapons or armour combos), and no PrCs. I suspect it might be "optimal" to put some Fighter levels into the mix, just no 'caster or any others. What I don't want to do is skimp too many on the Ranger levels just for the sake of additional Feats (especially since that means less spellcasting ability). Pretend for argument's sake it's a game without Attacks of Opportunity. And using nothing more than the Corebook/SRD.

I rolled some scores (old-school 3d6 method) and got: 16, 15, 14, 13, 11, 10. I'm guessing that means he'll get two raises (at 4th and 8th).

So what do you got?

Also, anyone more familiar with Ptolus-the-setting than me (since I've only read the free Players' Guide PDF), does a Ranger/Monk combo make sense for someone affiliated with the Viridian Lords? Do Monk levels need some kind of "story" justification?

[quotemyname]

I had a longer post about what i am going to say here:

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37375

but after i wrote all that i discovered this thread. ill summarize it all here.

Could someone help me build a 1st level (not counting HD bonus) Human barbarian-werewolf character?
Books: The core books are fair game, as long as its 3.5. this is up to and including PHBII

Race: In the concept that i have in my head, i kind of have human tacked down already.

Class: Barbarian seems to be the logical choice given the lycanthrope stat bumps and the backround that i have drawn up.

Ability scores: 32 point buy, (16,14,16,10,8,12 before any stat bumps? i will get +2str,+4dex,+4con in hybrid and wolf forms, and +2wis in all forms)

Alignment: CN

House Rules: Dm allows holding of feat slots until prerequisits are met. i plan to utilize this for his custom feat which is as follows:

additional +2 to all lycanthrope bumped stats, additional 1 round of rage. *during full moon: must take hybrid form. if attacked during this time: will save DC 10 + damage dealt or enter berserker rage (attacking anything that is closest). prerequisites: BAB+4 existing lycanthropy.

since i plan to hold for this feat, i will be able to take it two levels after the campaign begins

Concept: i am thinking of the keep to himself kind of warrior that has nothing of his old life left to go back to. human barbarian to support the lycanthropy, preferably using natural attacks (but will this be effective at higher levels?)

Other: so far i am the first character in the party, i plan to be one of the staple fighters of the group. i have been informed that werewolves are somewhat common in the campaign setting, and that some enemies will be packing silver. so i cannot fully rely on my DR 10/silver to get me through things.

Thanks for all your help :D

[Meat Shield]

I have a monster game one-shot coming up and have zero experience at playing something other than your normal PHB race. So any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

ECL: 15
Books: Core, any Completes, PHBII, DMGII, Book of Nine Swords, any Kalamar source books
Race: Humanoids, Monstrous Humanoids, Giants, Fey, 1/2 Dragons, 1/2 fiends, and Native Outsiders
Class: Any to make him a tank
Ability Scores: Distribute 90 points among ability scores, then add racial adjustments
Alignment: As the DM says, "Evil or morally ambiguous."
House Rules: None that I think are applicable
Concept: I'm wanting a tank, something roughly equivalent to a walking wrecking ball. I'm liking fire giant, but I am not married to it. I was thinking going up fighter, with potentially a level dip in something with a full BAB (to give three attacks at 11th level).
Other: Its a one-shot with a lot of combat, so long term viability is not important. We will be facing all kinds of high power clerics, but no undead. I like the thought of a large flaming adamantine maul or war mace, something roughly equivalent to a washing machine on a telephone pole. Sundering should be factored into the build, as well as doing structural damage (which I can't remember but I think is also under Sundering). Also, anyway to reduce the effect of cold-attacks or increase resistance to mind-affecting spells would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance everyone.

[The Mormegil]

Alright I'm looking for a rewrite of my wizard build, since it was definitely sub-optimal and I'd like to see what someone else's idea would be like.

Stats (after racial adjustments and level-up)
STR 10, DEX 16, CON 14, INT 23, WIS 14, CHA 12

Concept: Batman, essentially. Combat tends to be sparse, and when it happens is often against superior foes. So we do a fair bit of running, occasionally we're able to identify a weakness and bring it down. Downtime is rare as well, really only enough time to refresh spells. Consequently we find a number of magic items to cover ourselves, so WBL is more or less maintained. In fact I believe we each had a minor artifact over and above WBL.

Other: Spells aren't limited, though it's not necessary to put down an entire spellbook's worth. But I would like input on key utility, crowd-control and defensive spells.

Build required: Level 16 elf (race required by campaign background) wizard-based caster, full progression. Items as per WBL, bearing in mind that most of the time we're travelling or running from high-to-epic level opponents that see us as a nuisance rather than serious threat. Very little time is spent in cities.

Long-term Growth: I want the wizard to be a master strategist, able if not to bring down superior foes then certainly to hold them long enough for the party to escape.

Please PM builds if anyone's interested.

I like this. Let’s see… I think you’ll need some Prestige Classes. Let’s start with one from Complete Arcane: it’s a specialist of Force magic (sorry I can’t post you the name ‘cause I don’t know it). Essentially it’s a class that keep you advancing with your spells and gives you some specials with force spells: useful in many ways, from defence to offence (keep in mind that your best spell against an enemy more powerful than you is still magic missle). With a 11th lvl mage and 5th lvl Silver Sage (maybe this is right) you have a good spellcaster level and some special abilities. I think a 2nd level archmage is also better.
Ok, here we go:
Gray Elf Mage 9 Silver Sage 5 Archmage 2
HD 16d4+32 (pf 72 average roll)
Initiative +3
AC 13 (10+3Dex)
Bab+7
Special: Spells, elf traits, force specialization, force armour, endured force, remove force, delete force, master of counterspells, master of shapes.
Saves: Fortitude +6 Reflexes +7 Will +15
STR 10 DEX 16 COS 14 INT 23 WIS 14 CHA 12
Skills and Feats:
As you like but if it is for me I’ll take Profession (tactician) and Knowledge (monsters). You have to take care of the requirements for the classes you take, so Spellcraft and Knowledge (arcane) are musts.
For the feats: Spell Focus (illusion and necromancy), Scribe Scrolls, Improved Spell Focus (illusion and necromancy), Quicken Spell, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Mobile Spellcaster.
Spells:
(4/6/6/5/5/5/4/3/2; DC 16+lvl)
I won’t write down all the spell book (also because I don’t know half the names of the spells…); I will instead hint some good spells.
1) Of course wall of force: it is the main reason I have chosen the Silver Sage. It hasn’t got any save, which will be most useful against epic level characters. If it’s a non-caster you’re trying to fight it is absolutely impossible for him to dodge it or escape from it. If it’s a caster he’ll need a 6th level spell (both dispel magic+ or disintegrate) ‘cause (thanks to SS) you have a total DC of 31(!!) to dispel it.
2) Focus on buffs (Superior Magic Armour from CAr gives you a +8 to AC for 25gp). It will be useful to take the magic circles to avoid contacts with the enemies; take also Leather Fall(a little jump is a good way to avoid a big fight) and the always useful Expeditious retreat. I love Jump also: it is like Fly in many ways, but it lasts more and it is a 1st level spell. I’ll take also Haste, Protection from arrows, Invisibility, See Invisibility, Mirror Image (again, no saves allowed), Distortion, Gas Shape, Improved Invisibility, Stone Flash, Repulse, Reflect Spell...
3)The always helpfuls: Morph, Dispel magic, Teleport, Dimensional door etc. Conjunction (this name I’ve completely guessed it: it is the spell that launches another spell) is a must.
Now let’s talk about tactics: I know a way to kill a lich with a single shot and you’re able to do it.
Buy a metamagic wand of maximize, then cast Conjunction-Accurate hit and force globe maximized (70 damage for sure) and Quicken Magic Missle Maximized (another 30 damages). It is a hundred damages, maybe not much, but they are almost unblockable.
I offer my humble apologies with Thy for my foreign accent and terrible English, I hope Thy will guess right what I tried to expose to your attention…

[Zirael]

I'm looking for some help with developing the character I actually play (D&D 3.0). It's a pixie, which during the campaign changed from cheerful and child-like chaotic good character to a lawfull evil half-fiendish leader of a dark cult (a wrong answer to a riddle, deal with the devil...) Anyway, my whole idea of the character was ruined and I don't have a new one. So here's the job for you
What I want is a level by level build

race-pixie with half-fiend template (LA+5; no additional LA for half-fiend but no pixie powers)
ECL 5 -> 20
class- something sneaky; any combinations welcomed

books-Book of Vile Darkness, Book of Exalted Deeds, Complete Adventurer, Complete Arcane, Complete Divine, Complete Warrior, Defenders of the Faith, Deities and Demigods, Dungeon Masters Guide, Masters of the Wild, Savage Species, Song and Silence, Sword and Fist, Tome and Blood

up till now the character looks like that:
stats: str 8, dex 24, con 16, int 19, wis 16, cha 16
feats:toughness, dodge

thanks in advance

[TheSultan]

So this is a little off topic, but:

Was there at one time a thread devoted to "character builds" that was more like... "to be a spiked chain weilding sorcerer take these feats at these levels" or "the optimized dual-wielding theif build looks like this"? When I saw this thread I thought it was that thread. And now I can't find that thread.
Anyone? Bueler?

[Maerok]

Stabbity Death from 30' (Looking for critique)
I'm working on a Knife-thrower build that can hold its own in a fight. He needs knives, lots of knives. This is the guy who tests the limits of Sleight of Hand to see how many sharp pointy objects he can stash in his sleeves, coat, pockets, arm bandoliers, and chest bandoliers. Wizards spent eight hours preparing spells, he spends eight hours pulling his daggers out of his targets and returning them to their holsters.

Key Abilities: Dex and Str
Key Skills: Sleight of Hand, Tumble

Books: PHB, PHB2, CAdv, CWar

MELEE
Scout 5/Master Thrower 5/Fighter 4/Scout 6
H: Weapon Focus (Dagger)
1: Point Blank Shot
3: Precise Shot
Scout 4 (4): Rapid Shot
6: Power Attack
9: Brutal Throw
Fighter 1 (10): Power Critical (Dagger)
Fighter 2 (11): Improved Rapid-Shot
12: Brutal (Ranged? CWar) Power Attack
Fighter 4 (13): Weapon Specialization (Dagger)
15: Ranged Weapon Mastery (Piercing)
Scout 8 (16): Improved Initiative
18: Manyshot (why not for daggers?)

Master Thrower abilities:
1: Defensive Throw
3: Palm Throw
5: Tumbling Toss

~OR~

SPELLCASTER
Warmage 5/Master Thrower 5/Arcane Archer (dagger-thrower variant) 10
This would have a horrific CL, and AA would need some tailoring and a variant to help fix that.

[otokokitsune]

Are there any prestige classes with full manesfesting other than the chaos one in Complete Psioncs? Becuase I'm working on a character who is looking at prestige classes but all but one that I've found sacrifice manefester levels.

[NemoUtopia]

Are there any prestige classes with full manesfesting other than the chaos one in Complete Psioncs? Becuase I'm working on a character who is looking at prestige classes but all but one that I've found sacrifice manefester levels.

While technically the Cerebremancer doesn't, you have to take Wizard levels, so I don't count it. The only near-full progression class I know of other than the one you mention is the Illithid Slayer which only loses a single manifesting level, but is pretty martially focused and may not be right. That said, if you have access to Dungeon/Dragon magazine back issues, I'm pretty sure you can find some material.

[GunslingerR]

Please pimp my Dragon Descendant ;)

I've descided to start with a human Monk. Then to take the full 10 levels of the Dragon Descendant (DD) PrC (Dragon Magic book).
Other than that I thought I'd take some Kensai levels but I'm not sure if that's the best choice.
How many Monk levels should I take? 4? 6?
What other PrC's should I take?
Since I'm not gonna level Monk very high I won't be using a lot of my Flurry ability, so a BAP 16 would be nice.
Should I try to coax my DM into giving me Gauntlets of Talon ;) ?

We are just starting our Campaign so I can basically still change everything.
We're playing 29point-buy.
Material I can use: 3.5 wotc material without eberron campaign material and also without unearthed arcana.
And I'm not allowed to make any sick builds like pun-pun oder hivemind ;)

Thanks in advance everyone!

[GunslingerR]

Maybe I should take Mnk4/fighter1/Shou5/DD10 ... but when should I take which class?
First 4 Monk, then the fight level and then a Shou level to get the Impr. Natural Attack feat at 6th level. But after that it's not easy to decide :-(
On the one hand I'd get High BAB, 2 bonus feats and the flurry with all melee weapons (including the katana .. see below) from the Shou.
On the other hand: the DD levels stack with monk for unarmed damage, AC bonus and speed bonus AND the Ancestors are to good to be left waiting until the end.
To become a Shou disciple I have to "qualify to select regional feats from the shou expatriate or Thesk".
So I my character comes from the Shou Expatriate he get's as bonus equipment either a Masterwork Katana (bastard sword) or a Masterwork Nunchaku. For the Katana I'd need the exotic weapons profitiency feat to use it properly.
I get feats at the folowing char levels:

1) Dragontouched
1) ..... [extra Human feat]
1) (impr. unarmed strike [Mnk])
1) Stunning fist [Mnk]
2) Combat reflexes [Mnk]
3) .....
5) ..... [Fighter]
6) impr. natural attack
9) .....
12) .....
15) .....
18) .....
?) [Shou]
?) [Shou]

I wrote down some feats I'd take, but I'm not sure when I should take them nor if they are the best choice:
exotic weap prof (bastard sword) [If i'm gonna take this feat, I'll take it at first level because if I come from Shou and own a Katana I should be able to use it :-) ]
dodge [Shou prereq]
weap focus (unarmed strike) [Shou prereq]
weap finess
two weapon fighting
impr. Grapple
powerattack
stealthy [good for the sneak attack ability of one of the ancestors]

With the 29-point-buy I came up with:
STR 14
DEX 14
CON 12
INT 12
WIS 14
CHA 11
I'm doing this for the first time, so I don't know if this is any good!

So everybody please tell me what I'm doing wrong, what I'm doing wright or what would be better!
Any and all advice is really appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance!

[PinkysBrain]

Gunslinger try this framework (full build given later on to comply with rules) :
Human decisive strike monk 4/full BAB 1/dragon descendant 2/crusader 2/dragon descendant 8/full BAB 3

Feats : stunning fist, combat reflexes, dragontouched, TWF, stand still, mage slayer, snap kick, ITWF, Robilar's gambit, double hit

Basically it's an AoO build to make use of the 9th level ancestor from dragon descendant, for each time you get attacked in melee you can hit back 4 times. Often at double damage. You can even do the same if your opponent tries to get away because of the thicket of blade stance you get with your crusader levels, at which point you can use stand still. Also you can make life really hard on casters simply by standing next to them. I left out karmic strike since it's a bit suicidal and feat intensive, I went for double hit instead.

Example build :
Human decisive strike monk 4/fighter 1/dragon descendant 2/crusader 2/dragon descendant 8/warblade 1/fighter 1/warblade 1

Fighter bonus feats : blind fight, defensive sweep

The ability scores are okay, although you could consider dumping charisma for more con.

Warblade 2 gets you uncanny dodge, which is always handy. Also maneuvers of course. Blind fight is so you have decent odds against casters with mirror image (pierce magical concealment would be better, but fitting it in is tough ... you could sacrifice snap kick, an illusion bane weapon also helps a little).

Get a flight item/buff and get a greater dispelling weapon from PGtF to make your anti-caster abilities complete. Also have the party caster cast anticipate teleport on you, those casters who think a quickened dimension door will help them get rid of you will get a nasty surprise.

Sources :
PHB2, ToB, PGtF, DMG2, CArc, DrM, MiHB, XPH

PS. gauntlets of the talon are nice, but probably not worth the feat ... a monk's belt is a given though.

PPS. in epic take a single level of monk ... it increases your monk level for damage to 20 with the belt and decreases your attack penalty for decisive hit.