Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXII

[Private-Prinny]

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

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

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

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

Kitchen: Competitors will be free to use any official 3.5 rulebook in constructing their builds. Dragon magazine is disallowed, and Unearthed Arcana is allowed; but see Elegance below. Alternate rule systems from UA such as gestalt are not allowed, as they create a different playing field. Also, item familiars are forbidden because I hate 'em.

Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 11:59PM GMT on Sunday, July 17th, 2011 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, Private-Prinny. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 11:59PM GMT on Sunday, July 31st, 2011 to judge the builds and submit their scores. If no judges have scored by that point, only the scores of the first judge to submit will be counted.

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

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

Elegance could bear a little elaboration. It basically measures how skillfully you put your build together, and whether you sacrificed flavor for power. We're cooking here - if your dish doesn't taste good, it doesn't matter how well-presented it is. Use of flaws is an automatic loss of one point per flaw in this category. Other things that will cause lost points here are excessive multiclassing, and classes that don't fit the concept - using Cloistered Cleric in a front-line melee fighter, for example, will lose you points.

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

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

Spoiler

Show

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

1st|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

2nd|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

3rd|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

4th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

5th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

6th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

7th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

8th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

9th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

10th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

11th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

12th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

13th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

14th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

15th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

16th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

17th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

18th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

19th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|Skills|New Feats|New Class Abilities

20th|New Class Level|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

|

+x

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

Code

Spoiler

Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spoiler

Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Code

Spoiler

Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leadership is banned; we're producing a meal, not a seven-course banquet for a hundred diners.

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

This week's special ingredient is:
Complete Warrior's Dervish!
We will have trophies for 1st through 3rd places, as well as a special trophy for honorable mention. The honorable mention prize is given to the most daring or unexpected build. Judges, contestants and guests alike are invited to vote for honorable mention via PM.

Allez optimiser!

Judges

Contestants
term1nally s1ck
Amphetryon
Urpriest
kestrel404
yugi24862
The Gilded Duke
Z3ro
DeAnno
BillyBobJoe

The Builds
The Bloodstained Hurricane
Avander Shellivathan
Weylin
Sanavakri, the Dancing Kalashtar
The Death of Xen'drik
Devlin Bladehands
Elrond Aldarion
Salvatore Serafines
Kaycha

Past Competitions

Iron Chef I: Entropomancer
Iron Chef II: Psibond Agent
Iron Chef III: Cancer Mage
Iron Chef IV: Stonelord
Iron Chef V: War Chanter
Iron Chef VI: Master of Masks
Iron Chef VII: Green Star Adept
Iron Chef VIII: Pyrokineticist
Iron Chef IX: Animal Lord
Iron Chef X: Mythic Exemplar
Iron Chef XI: Blade Bravo
Iron Chef XII: War Mind
Iron Chef XIII: Vigilante
Iron Chef XIV: Seeker of the Song
Iron Chef XV: Drunken Master
Iron Chef XVI: Assassin
Iron Chef XVII: Ardent Dilettante
Iron Chef XVIII: Unseelie Dark Hunter
Iron Chef XIX: Dread Pirate
Iron Chef XX: Incandescent Champion
Iron Chef XXI: Ghostwalker

[Zaq]

Huh. Dervish. Very interesting. I'm going to have to think about this, since I love the concept. Kind of well-trodden ground, though . . . most interesting. Just watching for now, but if inspiration strikes, entering is not out of the question.

[Zonugal]

Ooh Dervish...

[Private-Prinny]

As for the rule changes, only 2 are of any significance, and they are both in a desperate attempt to speed up the competition.

The first is the elimination of judging disputes. The entire dispute process was a relic left from my run as chair in an attempt to stop the events of Iron Chef VII from happening again, and all it has done since is slow things down. As a contestant, it is your job to convey what you want your build to do, and all of the pieces that do it. Even if you have to create a separate section in plain English saying what does what, it should not fall upon the judges to fit together the fragments you pulled from several different sourcebooks.

The second is a limit on the time taken for the judging period. I myself am guilty of taking quite a bit to judge, but if the contestants are kept to a tight schedule, the judges should have some sort of hard limit on what we should put up with. This shouldn't alienate anyone who wants to judge, but if you have a sudden crash and lose that precious Word document (which happens with alarming regularity here ) simply own up to it and sit this round out. The entire process shouldn't come to a grinding halt because of a single person, whether or not it is actually their fault.

I hope you can all put up with me, but I really want this whole process to run more smoothly than it has for the last few competitions.

[mootoall]

I think I want to compete! Here's hoping I have some beginners' luck ...

[Lord Ruby34]

I wouldn't mind judging this, I have to much to do to compete but I can probably spend a few hours judging the builds.

[Amphetryon]

Competing. Big shock.

[term1nally s1ck]

May well compete. Intrigued by this.

[BillyBobJoe]

I would like to compete, for my first time in one of these.

[mootoall]

Question: Is qualifying for prereqs through items disallowed, or simply docked for Style?

[Zaq]

Well, I've already come up with and scrapped two ideas. This might be fun. MAN this class takes a lot of feats, though . . .

Question: Is qualifying for prereqs through items disallowed, or simply docked for Style?

Let's just say that it's frowned upon. Probably legal, but you're almost sure to lose at least as many points as you gain.

I can't speak for all (or probably any) of the judges, of course, but historically, judges tend to not be too happy with people assuming they can get any magic item they want. Add in the squidginess of qualifying with items and . . . you can try it, but I can't see it ending well.

[Lonely Tylenol]

Forgive my ignorance, but is Dragon Compendium allowed (as it is a published book), or is it excluded under the "Dragon Magazine is disallowed" clause?

[Hand_of_Vecna]

My mind is a-glow with whirling transient nodes of thought, careening through a cosmic vapor of invention.

Oh, and ya Dragon Compedium is considered an official WotC book despite being reprinted from DM.

[yugi24862]

Oh damnit, mystic ranger is'nt in the Dragon Compendium. There goes that idea.

[kardar233]

I have an idea, but it relies on Dragon material.

Does anyone have a link that will tell me what is in Dragon Compendium so I know what is kosher?

[Amphetryon]

Forgive my ignorance, but is Dragon Compendium allowed (as it is a published book), or is it excluded under the "Dragon Magazine is disallowed" clause?

Dragon Compendium is explicitly allowed, and has been used before. Be warned that some judges have historically deducted for its use based on "obscurity".

[Wings of Peace]

In a bid to reintegrate myself into the community after a long (work induced) absence I am throwing my hat into the ring.

[mootoall]

Hmm, well, should we list under "Feats" what feats they might get from an item? I no longer need it for qualification purposes, but it's still nice to have.

[Cog]

Does anyone have a link that will tell me what is in Dragon Compendium so I know what is kosher?

Some things were edited as they were folded into the Compendium (for example, the requirements on Bloodlines were eased), so if you don't have access to the book you probably shouldn't rely on the material in it.

[Z3ro]

Dervish has always been one of my favorite classes, but the builds I usually use tend to be too generic for this kind of contest. I'll judge this time around (it's time to give something back to the community).

[Urpriest]

Hmm, well, should we list under "Feats" what feats they might get from an item? I no longer need it for qualification purposes, but it's still nice to have.

I'd advise putting it in the item wishlist, or an adaptation section.

[gbprime]

Question: Is qualifying for prereqs through items disallowed, or simply docked for Style?

Personally, that would be a HUGE hit to Elegance. Seriously, someone disarms or dispels you and you lose your CLASS? Ouch.

[gbprime]

Once again, I'll probably judge. I love entering, but we never have enough judges...

[Lord Ruby34]

Question: Is qualifying for prereqs through items disallowed, or simply docked for Style?

I'd agree with gbprime, if you do so make sure that you can make up for it in power.

[arguskos]

You know what, I think I will return for a single competition. I haven't judged since IC VIII, but I feel like coming back for a single round of judgment.

Prinny, put me down as a judge, please. I know Amphetryon should be pleased.

[DefKab]

Not really too good of an optimizer. If you don't mind a newbie, I'll help Judge.

[Z3ro]

Wow, we really ballooned with the judges there. Wondering now if I should enter a build instead; I suppose it depends on how many total people want to enter.

[dextercorvia]

I've always wanted to make this class work. I'll give competing a go.

[Cieyrin]

I've always wanted to make this class work. I'll give competing a go.

Wait, it doesn't work? Since when?

Anyways, I approve of the new rules in hopes that the competition gets back on its feet, as the side competition is reeling from the same problems which will hopefully be instituted if a third incarnation shows. Also watching for now, as I can't think of something really innovative for entry (though this shouldn't be any surprise to anyone ).

[dextercorvia]

Wait, it doesn't work? Since when?

I don't mean that it is particularly bad, just that I always had the feeling we could squeeze a little more out of it.