Pimp my Commoner

[Reshy]

Alright, so I'm being given a commoner at level 1 as a starting class. It can be whatever race I want within reason as well as prestige/multiclass so long as I as the first level is commoner. So I was wondering if there were any powerful builds you can make with a commoner. I know they get Survivor at level 2 with their prestige class but I wanted to know if that was the most viable path and what I could go on from there. I recall seeing some pretty interesting builds in the past but I cannot locate them anymore. Hoping someone here can help with this.

[Xerlith]

Chicken Infested feat,
this handbook.

[JeminiZero]

Let me put it this way. You basically have one major decision to make: Will you take Chicken Infested or not.

If yes, then you should try and build around your limitless supply of chickens (Consumptive Field Cleric, Destructive Retribution Warlock, Infinite Blood in the Water Warblade).

If not, then the commoner is basically a dead level, and you can build whatever else you want on top of it.

[Inevitability]

Well, commoners are the weakest class in the game, unless you're using chicken-infested, but here's a trick that can be used if you're going human, elf or half-elf. With magical training + Precocious apprentice (animate dead) + arcane mastery, you can animate zombies or skeletons at first level. You now have a small undead army, as well as the ability to cast some spells.

Also, if you can be any race you want, take something with innate casting ability or other strong features.

[John Longarrow]

Dire Stirge,

Now I'm picturing the Crazy Cat Lady, but with zombie chickens instead of cats... Very creepy concept...

Reshy,

I'd check with the DM to see if you can take a level in Racial HD instead of commoner. Far more options, especially if you go with something that's an outsider.

[toapat]

If not, then the commoner is basically a dead level, and you can build whatever else you want on top of it.

Commoner is not a dead level, its the Fastest way into Savage Species' Survivor class.

[Ruethgar]

There is of course the optithorp if you want to take from that.

A dragonwrought white dragonspawn abomination desert uwe magic blooded kobold is a race well within reason right?

[Lightlawbliss]

Chicken Infested feat...

it is actually a flaw, don't ask me why. It is also dragmag material. (330 iirc)

[toapat]

it is actually a flaw, don't ask me why. It is also dragmag material. (330 iirc)

Its a flaw that is so awesome it doubles as one of the most powerful feats in the game

[FullStop]

Get a Glove of Storing and be a chicken-infested bloodstorm blade.

[XmonkTad]

Your DM is letting you play the most powerful class ever conceived of? What does the rest of the party look like?

Survivor is the PrC that takes best advantage of what a level 1 commoner gives you. You might want to go halfling and start raising dinosaurs (a la hubs the commoner). Handle Animal is one of the best class skills a commoner gets.

[Zubrowka74]

Wasn't there some shenanigans involving Basketweaving somewhere? There's this one but it's mostly (again) about chicken infestation. Which, BTW, comes from an april's fool issue. It's like playing unglued/unhinged cards in a regular MTG deck...

[Inevitability]

The thing with 3.5 is, even if you're forced into playing the weakest class one can think off, a couple of skills are strong enough to break the game all by themself. (diplomacy gives you an army, UMD gives you casting, handle animal gives you dinosaurs...)

[toapat]

Wasn't there some shenanigans involving Basketweaving somewhere? There's this one but it's mostly (again) about chicken infestation. Which, BTW, comes from an april's fool issue. It's like playing unglued/unhinged cards in a regular MTG deck...

basketweaving is a time sink, not actually the enabler of Burning Rage lad. you need to be a natively Unaging race to take advantage of it. You weave baskets to the end of time, at which point you get up, pick up your Wicker Halberd, and instagib for 1d2+Infinite damage.