Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge in the Playground LXIII

[Heliomance]

Well. . . So much for getting up this AM to finish before the scheduled reveal.

Sorry! Damn, I must have woken up earlier than normal. I didn't think to check the time on the post, I thought I'd set it to some point before I'd normally be awake on a Sunday. You only lost half an hour or so, but if you (or anyone else) wants to send in entries today, I'll post them.

For future reference: If I mess up like this again, PM me your entry and point out that I derped. Then I can post it without you breaking anonymity.

[Venger]

it's so early in america (where I think all our current judges are) that if you delete your post and heliomance edits hers, anonymity might not be an issue.

[Sian]

I know that. I love soul manifester. I just... misread you as saying soulcaster. I have no idea why.

Likely because i miswrote it as Soulcaster, noticing it as soon as i posted, going back and editing it

[Venger]

Likely because i miswrote it as Soulcaster, noticing it as soon as i posted, going back and editing it

and there we are

[Kesnit]

it's so early in america (where I think all our current judges are) that if you delete your post and heliomance edits hers, anonymity might not be an issue.

Too late. I saw the posts.

[Venger]

Too late. I saw the posts.

oh well. I tried. what should we do, chair? proceed as normal?

[Heliomance]

If I get a completed build today (from anyone) I'll post it. Otherwise, proceed as normal.

[Fax Celestis]

I wanted so very badly to do a incarnum dragon entry, but I realized that I'd have to be juvenile because of how their natural ML works, which would've meant I couldn't finish until epic even if I took no other classes. If MLs from multiple sources stacked, I could've done something with a wyrmling and incarnate to get the ML to enter, but they don't stack that way. Ah well.

[Zipding]

I would have had an original build too! If only I could have qualified for the SI.

My idea was Duskling Totemist/Witchborn Binder/Occult Slayer.

Except Totemist didn't have the required skills, so I went into Incarnate to get Knowledge (religion), then I realized that I didn't actually qualify for the SI too late to edit the build and submit it.

[KrimsonNekros]

only five entries. man this isn't going to feel as awesome if i finally place in this one.

[Venger]

only five entries. man this isn't going to feel as awesome if i finally place in this one.

imagine how the chefs for tactical soldier felt: there were only four of them.

[Deadasadoor]

Wow, I thought there would be a few more entries. The ones that are in are pretty neat though. I entered this round, but the other one I kicked around was a karsite totemist for built in spell resist and anti-magic flavor, but the +2 LA was gross. Feral was considered but I forgot that pounce is only granted based on RHD.

[Venger]

Feral was considered but I forgot that pounce is only granted based on RHD.

What on oerth are you talking about? it's just based on HD. that counts class levels.

you were right not to go with feral though, it would've tanked your score for being old, stale cheese.

karsite's LA blows too. you were wise not to go with it.

[Deadasadoor]

What on oerth are you talking about? it's just based on HD. that counts class levels.

you were right not to go with feral though, it would've tanked your score for being old, stale cheese.

It gains the special attacks indicated in the row corresponding to its monster Hit Dice

I'm probably wrong, but this part makes me assume it's monster hit dice, but I've never been 100% sure about it. Anyways yeah, it was gross cheese, and the WBB levels would have handicapped it more than going straight totemist, probably with major reductions in the UoSI and elegance fields.

[Venger]

I'm probably wrong, but this part makes me assume it's monster hit dice, but I've never been 100% sure about it. Anyways yeah, it was gross cheese, and the WBB levels would have handicapped it more than going straight totemist, probably with major reductions in the UoSI and elegance fields.

You are wrong. "monster hit dice" is not a rules term, so ignore it. all characters are monsters: human, orc, or gibbering mouther. it means "HD" which is the sum of your RHD + your class levels

[Zaq]

imagine how the chefs for tactical soldier felt: there were only four of them.

No, there were a lot of builds for Tactical Soldier. Eight, I believe. I was one of them.

There were only five builds for Acolyte of the Ego, though.

[Venger]

No, there were a lot of builds for Tactical Soldier. Eight, I believe. I was one of them.

There were only five builds for Acolyte of the Ego, though.

there... were 8 builds in tactical soldier. why did I think there were 4?

there were indeed. I just forgot about it because I wasn't in it.

[Heliomance]

We have another entry!

such incarnum
very antimagic
wow

Good Afternoon Chairman,

I would like to thank you for giving an unofficial extension for those who could not enter before the original deadline.

Limier du Sorcier

I have been appointed by both the Society and by Taiia Herself to root out all unlawful use of magic.

Background

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There is only one correct way of life. There is only one Goddess--Taiia both the Creator and the Destroyer. All of existence goes through both creation and destruction. Taiia is there to oversee it. She watches all. She is the Most Holy. She is the One.

There are those who would believe themselves to be better than Taiia. There are those who would believe they are Her equal. These arcane spellcasters would have the masses believe that they are also like gods. Their arrogance leads them to try to imbalance the correct way of life. This cannot be allowed.

I am Limier du Sorcier. It is my duty to protect the masses from those arcane spellcasters that would try to usurp the Theological Authority. I am part of the Society, a group of like minded individuals appointed by Taiia Herself to seek out and nullify these traitorous beings. I am also a lupin, a being that is well suited for this task for I can use my natural abilities to help with my theological duties.

Training began with learning how to track and deal with spellcasters on a very basic level. This training would continue to build upon what I learned. Soon I gained an ability to help neutralize my spellcaster marks even before they can start. I also learned how to work with soul stuff to further enhance my abilities. Of course I learned more about Taiia and through Her I became blessed to be one of her Justiciars. Then I became truly ready to defeat and take down those arcane spellcasters that would dare to put themselves above their Goddess.

I very rarely work alone. My compatriots take advantage of the openings I can provide for them when he face our foes. We continue to strive for the correct way of life. We strive to keep all of Society where it belongs--worshiping the One True Goddess.

Basics

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LN male lupin Ranger 6/Bloodhound 2/Justiciar of Taiia 4/Witchborn Binder 8
32 point buy
Str 14, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 10
All level increases go to Constitution

Build

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Level	Class	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Skills	Feats	Class Features
1st	Ranger 1	+1	+2	+2	+0	Gather Information 2, Hide 4, Knowledge (religion) 4, Listen 2, Move Silently 4, Search 4, Spot 2, Survival 4	Education (knowledge [religion]), Track (B)	favored enemy (arcanists), lupin traits, voice of the city acf
2nd	Ranger 2	+2	+3	+3	+0	Hide +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) 1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Move Silently +1, Search +1, Survival +1, Use Rope 1	Rapid Shot (B)	combat style (archery)
3rd	Ranger 3	+3	+3	+3	+1	Gather Information +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Move Silently +1, Survival +1	Darkstalker, Endurance (B)
4th	Ranger 4	+4	+4	+4	+1	Hide +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1, Survival +1, Use Rope +1		distracting attack acf
5th	Ranger 5	+5	+4	+4	+1	Gather Information +1, Hide +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Move Silently +1, Survival +1		second favored enemy (humanoid [shapechanger])
6th	Ranger 6	+6	+5	+5	+2	Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (relgiion) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Spot +1, Survival +1, Use Rope +1	Manyshot (B), Shape Soulmeld (sighting gloves)	improved combat style
7th	Bloodhound 1	+7	+7	+7	+2	Hide +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Sense Motive 2, Spot +1, Survival +1		mark (1), swift tracker
8th	Bloodhound 2	+8	+8	+8	+2	Hide +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Sense Motive +2, Spot +1, Survival +1		non lethal force, ready and waiting
9th	Justiciar of Taiia 1	+8	+8	+10	+4	Hide +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Search +1, Spellcraft 1, Spot +1	Exotic Weapon Proficiency (composite greatbow) (B), Knowledge Devotion	sneak attack +1d6
10th	Justiciar of Taiia 2	+9	+8	+11	+5	Hide +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Search +1, Spellcraft +1, Spot +1		combat sense +2
11th	Justiciar of Taiia 3	+10	+9	+11	+5	Hide +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Search +1, Spellcraft +1, Spot +1		augury 1/day
12th	Justiciar of Taiia 4	+11	+9	+12	+6	Hide +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Move Silently +1, Search +1, Spellcraft +1, Spot +1	Alertness	sneak attack +2d6
13th	Witchborn Binder 1	+11	+9	+12	+8	Knowledge (arcana) 1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1		detect magic, mindshield, royal purse
14th	Witchborn Binder 2	+12	+9	+12	+9	Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1, Survival +1		dispelling orb, +1 essentia
15th	Witchborn Binder 3	+13	+10	+13	+9	Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1	Azure Enmity
16th	Witchborn Binder 4	+14	+10	+13	+10	Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1, Survival +1		mage shackles
17th	Witchborn Binder 5	+14	+10	+13	+10	Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1
18th	Witchborn Binder 6	+15	+11	+14	+11	Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1, Survival +1	Indigo Strike	word of abrogation, +1 essentia
19th	Witchborn Binder 7	+16	+11	+14	+11	Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1
20th	Witchborn Binder 8	+17	+11	+14	+12	Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Listen +1, Spot +1, Survival +1		spiritflay

Skill Ranks at Level 20: Gather Information 4, Hide 14, Knowledge (arcana) 8, Knowledge (dungeoneering) 5, Knowledge (religion) 23, Listen 18, Move Silently 14, Search 9, Sense Motive 8, Spellcraft 4, Spot 18, Survival 15, Use Rope 3

Typical Justiciar of Taiia spells prepared
1: divine favor
2: hold person

Class Features Showcase

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Building on the Prerequisites: One of the feats needed for the SI is Track, which is provided free from our Ranger levels. It also is needed for the Bloodhound prestige class. The Survival skill is also needed for both of these classes. Thanks to the Education feat, Knowledge (religion) becomes a class skill, which is necessary for both the SI and the Justiciar of Taiia as well as the Knowledge Devotion feat, both qualifying and powering.
Meldshaping: This designer will admit it—Limier does not get anything from this class feature since he has no levels of an incarnum base class. It is the designer’s belief that the SI itself does not necessarily lend itself to making an incarnum base class better and that Limier is better off with the other class features gained from his base class Ranger and his two other prestige classes Bloodhound and Justiciar of Taiia.
Detect Magic: This feature is essential for any would be mage slayer. Since it is an at will ability, there is no reason not to spam it when after your mark. Here is a point to consider. In the case of having to track the mark, Limier can use his detect magic to follow the trail. As the spell describes, there is a lingering aura after a spell is cast. It is easy to imagine using this ability to follow a spellcaster mark on the run, casting spells along the way. Detect magic can be used to find where a possible trail ends too.
Meldshield: Thankfully Limier's base saving throws are quite competitive even before he gains this class feature. Having these bonuses be insight bonuses mean that they will most likely not interfere with magic items or other temporary buffs. So if Limier really needs to make a saving throw, he can invest essentia into this ability.
Royal Purse: This class feature may not shatter the WBL but it can be useful. Limier can spend his royal purse on different kinds of arrows that he may need during the course of his career and the campaign itself. If he comes across certain types of enemies or knows that there will be many of a certain kind of enemy he can gain bane arrows, or other special types of arrows to fill his quiver. It's just one way Limier can have a quiver full of arrows like Marvel's Hawkeye or DC's Green Arrow.
Dispelling Orb: This is one of the early signature abilities of the SI and Limier can use this to his advantage. Considering that this is a ranged attack, Limier can take advantage of his preferred combat style. Further he can use his ready and waiting ability gained from his Bloodhound levels to strike before the spellcaster can take any actions.
Essentia: Any increase to the essentia pool is welcome as Limier has only incarnum feats as a source for gaining these precious points. However, he can use his points to fuel his SI class features rather than other soulmelds as other members of the SI would have to.
Mage Shackles: So if Limier and his party are able to defeat the enemies and the spellcaster needs to be brought in alive what is to stop that spellcaster from starting up again? This class feature is the answer. Even though it is a touch attack, it is a melee touch attack. Limier prefers fighting at range but if for some reason, he comes face to face with a spellcaster, he can utilize this class feature to shut him down. More often than not however, the mage shackles are for the safe transport of his quarry to face proper justice.
Word of Abrogation: So in order to use this feature, Limier needs to ready an action. Normally this can be a terrible use of an action. Thanks to our levels in Bloodhound, action economy swings in his favor. The ready and waiting feature of Bloodhound allows Limier to use his ready action against his mark even outside of the initiative sequence and can carry out this ready action at any time within the next ten minutes. The ability to strike down an enemy spellcaster even before he casts a spell and even before that spellcaster knows it is huge. A notable downside is that the Bloodhound ability only is usable against a mark, but if Limier is made aware that his target is a well known spellcaster, he can make the preparations. Another bonus to this ability is the fact that it can be used at range, which falls into Limier's preferred combat style.
Spiritflay: Speaking of combat style, this is another ability that can be used at range and a potentially powerful one at that. It also serves as a decent capstone to the build as well. Though the damage is laughable, the condition it causes is potentially devastating. Even at high levels, nauseated is still a condition that can affect the outcome of battles. And spellcasters can ill afford to lose a round of throwing up or having dry heaves and it targets their usually worst save. Limier's unmodified base difficulty for this ability is 23 and still potentially dangerous for spellcasters. A nauseated spellcaster cannot do anything and can easily be eliminated by the rest of Limier's party. From the distance that he can use this ability, the party can close in with impunity.

Design Notes and Questions Answered

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How did you qualify again? You don’t have any incarnum classes. Limier qualified by use of the Shape Soulmeld feat. According to the feat, Limier gains the ability to shape any one soulmeld from any one class. His meldshaper level for this one soulmeld is one half of his character level. At character level 12, Limier has a meldshaper level of 6 and thus qualifies for the SI.
But you didn’t finish the SI! You are correct. One of the reasons that Limier cannot finish the SI is the fact that he is using a back door entry method for the SI. Since he uses the Shape Soulmeld feat, Having a meldshaper level 6 cannot be accomplished without incarnum classes before Level 12. Besides the last two levels of the SI do next to nothing for our canine friend. Since he has no meldshaper class, an increase in class features do nothing. Add to this that fact that Level 9 provides no other class features at all. Level 10 gives a lackluster increase to royal purse but 5,000 gp/year is not going to provide much. Plus certain campaigns do not progress in years so that feature is tenuous at best. The use of grim integument would hinder our hero more than help him. He needs all of the essentia he can get and investing any into this feature would be a risk that he could not afford to take.
Why a lupin and why Taiia? Lupins are a +0 LA monstrous humanoid race that does not get enough love. As a race they are great natural trackers and seemed a natural choice for an SI that is about tracking and nullifying their quarry. Yes the fluff in the Dragon Compendium speaks of a lupin pantheon but Limier comes from a setting all of his own. Taiia a goddess from Deities and Demigods that serves as an example for a game setting/world that follows a monotheistic pantheon. The prestige class dedicated to her helps Limier make up for some shortcomings for his general build, namely gaining sneak attack, some divine spellcasting ability, and insight bonuses. It even gives him a free Exotic Weapon Proficiency for which Limier chose the composite greatbow, another source of increased damage.
So what does Limier do? Limier is first and foremost a scout, tracker, and ranged combat character. Thanks to his Ranger levels and by specializing in arcanists, he becomes especially deadly against these favored enemies. Bloodhound allows him to become even more specialized in this role but gives him the all important ready and waiting class feature described above. Darkstalker is necessary for any scout/sneaky type and helps with defeating nearly all kinds of detections that spellcasters could possibly have.

Sources

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Cityscape web enhancement: voice of the city Ranger alternate class feature
Complete Adventurer: Bloodhound prestige class
Complete Champion: Knowledge Devotion feat
Complete Mage: arcane hunter Ranger alternate class feature
Deities & Demigods: Justiciar of Taiia prestige class
Dragon Compendium: lupin race
Eberron Campaign Setting: Education feat
Magic of Incarnum: anything incarnum
Players' Handbook II: distracting attack Ranger alternate class feature

[Darkcouch]

I was trying to work up a Skarn Ranger 5 / Spinemeld Warrior 7 / Witchborn Binder 8, but couldn't find much synergy between the classes.

[WhamBamSam]

I wanted so very badly to do a incarnum dragon entry, but I realized that I'd have to be juvenile because of how their natural ML works, which would've meant I couldn't finish until epic even if I took no other classes. If MLs from multiple sources stacked, I could've done something with a wyrmling and incarnate to get the ML to enter, but they don't stack that way. Ah well.

Well, young. Still, that's ECL 14. An ultracheese reading of Crown of the North Wind might do what you want.

For effects that depend on the age category of the breather, use the wearer's age category (if he or she has one) or assume an age category of young, whichever is more favorable to the wearer.

If you read that as applying to "effects" (a notoriously ill-defined term in 3.5) other than those pertaining to breath weapons, then an Incarnum Wyrmling wearing a Crown of the North Wind would have an effective age category of young (3) and therefore a meldshaper level of 6. It'd be hammered in IC for questionable rules interpretations and item reliance of course, but it might actually work by RAW even if it does seem like it probably should be bs in context.

My idea was a Lesser Tiefling Swift and Deadly Hunter Urban Companion Druid 1/Tiefling Incarnate 7/Witchborn Binder 6-10/Tiefling Incarnate +2-6. The big idea was that this line...

Some spell-like abilities duplicate spells that work differently when cast by characters of different classes. A monster’s spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions. If the spell in question is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, then default to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, and ranger, in that order.

makes SLA caster levels default to Arcane and therefore the Tiefling's Darkness SLA has an Arcane CL, qualifying it for Obtain Familiar. So the character itself would have been focused on dispelling, counterspelling, and maybe shackling enemy casters, while his familiars used Shared Dissolving Spittle to deal damage. If Spiritflay were sharable with Share Soulmeld, I might have submitted it, but as it stood, the fact that I was really only using 6 levels of class features, the cheese required, multiclass penalties, and the fact that Mindsight was overshadowing the Detect Magic class ability, I decided to scrap it. I was surprised not to see Swift and Deadly Hunter on the build that used a Druid dip though, as it'd have saved them a feat on Track.

I'll get started on my judgings tonight or tomorrow.

[daremetoidareyo]

My other idea was a cg dwarf dragon born totemist 6/dwarf paragon 3/witchborn binder 10. Getting like a 26 constitution...

[Venger]

My other idea was a cg dwarf dragon born totemist 6/dwarf paragon 3/witchborn binder 10. Getting like a 26 constitution...

lolth-touched mineral warrior mongrelfolk

[arkangel111]

So glad I didn't get my build in, mark 4456 is almost identical to mine. That would have been horrible for both of us. Looking at the others.

[Venger]

So glad I didn't get my build in, mark 4456 is almost identical to mine. That would have been horrible for both of us. Looking at the others.

originality is always my bete noire. I still remember when kuulv and I shared all 20 of our class levels back in shadow sentinel. good times.

[Amphetryon]

My concept - completed but for the backstory - was Duskling Totemist 6/Witchborn Binder 5/Witch Slayer 4/Witchborn Binder +5, using Displacer Mantle, Rageclaws, Landshark Boots, Frost Helm, Dread Carapace, and a Wormtail Belt, hunting casters and possessed beings of various stripes due to the monstrosity he saw himself to be.

[OMG PONIES]

I wanted so very badly to do a incarnum dragon entry, but I realized that I'd have to be juvenile because of how their natural ML works, which would've meant I couldn't finish until epic even if I took no other classes. If MLs from multiple sources stacked, I could've done something with a wyrmling and incarnate to get the ML to enter, but they don't stack that way. Ah well.

I was toying around with an Incarnum Dragon as well, but figured we'd see a few of them and Vizzini'd myself right out of it. Another thing I expected to see a ton of were non-meldshaper monstrous entries based on the following:

A creature with no classes has a meldshaper level equal to its Hit Dice unless otherwise specified.

[Venger]

I was toying around with an Incarnum Dragon as well, but figured we'd see a few of them and Vizzini'd myself right out of it. Another thing I expected to see a ton of were non-meldshaper monstrous entries based on the following:

I'm not surprised we didn't. Personally, I'm rather glad to have a round without the mandatory monster entry.

[Troacctid]

I was toying around with an Incarnum Dragon as well, but figured we'd see a few of them and Vizzini'd myself right out of it. Another thing I expected to see a ton of were non-meldshaper monstrous entries based on the following:

A creature with no classes has a meldshaper level equal to its Hit Dice unless otherwise specified.

There are only two playable incarnum races with racial hit dice: incarnum dragons and totem giants. The one is "otherwise specified" and the other is ECL 17.

[Venger]

There are only two playable incarnum races with racial hit dice: incarnum dragons and totem giants. The one is "otherwise specified" and the other is ECL 17.

page 54 does not specify that this rule only applies to creatures with the incarnum subtype. it was likely the intent, but that's not what it actually says.

[Troacctid]

No, but it does say "for the purpose of shaping of a particular soulmeld", which is not applicable to creatures without meldshaping.