Iron Chef Optimization Challenge XV

true_shinken · 11-15-2010, 08:49 PM

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef XV. 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 CUT on Monday, November 22th 2010 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, true_shinken. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying.

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.

I am going to have to ask the contestants to PM me about any disagreement with the judges. Under no circumstances is a contestant to defend themselves inside the thread, since it breaks anonymity.

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

NAME OF ENTRY

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

Code

Spoiler

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

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 about 5 judges and as many contestants as feel like playing!

This week's special ingredient is:
Complete Warrior's Drunken Master!
We will have trophies for 1st through 3rd places, as well as a special trophy for honorable mention. Judges, contestants and guests alike are invited to vote for honorable mention via PM.

Allez optimiser!

Judges
Grynning - criteria
DaragosKitsune
Kesnit
T. G. Oskar
Sonugal

Contestants
OMGPonies
Thurbane
Amphetryon
Private-Prinny
gbprime
Akal Saris
kestrel404
Urpriest
SurlySeraph
Dumbledore lives
Heliomance
Critical

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

OMG PONIES · 11-15-2010, 08:52 PM

In as a competitor!

The Vorpal Tribble · 11-15-2010, 08:52 PM

Heh heh heh heh...

Thurbane · 11-15-2010, 08:54 PM

I'm in the middle of moving house at the moment, but if I get some downtime, I might submit an entry.

gallagher · 11-15-2010, 09:02 PM

now i REALLY wish that it was not exam week.

heck, i would use all three of my wishes to not make it exam week just for this competition. i have a really fun build that i have made for a campaign that would surprise EVERYONE MWAHAHAHAHA

but looks like i will have to sit back and watch what everyone else comes up with

Jumilk · 11-15-2010, 09:07 PM

I'm glad that OMG liked my trophies. Such a genki person, isn't he?
I hope you can get the gold this time, sweety. Good Luck!

I like the Drunken Master class because it reminds of Rock Lee from Naruto. I'll start my research to do the trophies so as to make it more original.

Amphetryon · 11-15-2010, 09:10 PM

I'm *hic* in on...in on... *hic* this as a contestantantantant.

Private-Prinny · 11-15-2010, 09:30 PM

Love it. I'm in as a contestant, if I can find the time.

gbprime · 11-15-2010, 09:35 PM

Drunken Master? I am SO in. Contestant spot please.

OMG PONIES · 11-15-2010, 09:37 PM

Already researching, eh Amphetryon?

Grynning · 11-15-2010, 11:59 PM

I was actually thinking about competing in the next one, but this will be too much fun to judge. It's Morphin Time!
IRON CHEF JUDGE!

Edit: and to get in the spirit, I am cracking open a Sierra Nevada Tumbler Ale as I type. mmmmm, ale...

DaragosKitsune · 11-16-2010, 12:08 AM

I think I would like to judge again. Put me down as one please.

Kesnit · 11-16-2010, 08:15 AM

I LOVE this class! Since I suck at building, I'm signing up to judge.

BobVosh · 11-16-2010, 08:32 AM

This ought to be amusing. I'm still very busy as of late, so I'll only snark in my rare free time.

Lots of early completes lately.

Signmaker · 11-16-2010, 09:24 AM

Drunken Master? Oh this should be fun.

Zergrusheddie · 11-16-2010, 10:09 AM

This is the first Monk-type Ingredient, isn't it? Ohh, I will love to see how this turns out.

Grynning · 11-16-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zergrusheddie

This is the first Monk-type Ingredient, isn't it? Ohh, I will love to see how this turns out.

Interestingly enough, while the class requires you to be a monk to enter (since I don't think there's any other way to get the "flurry of blows" ability), it doesn't advance any monk features, and all of its abilities work in armor. Also, unlike the last couple ingredients, it's actually not a terrible class; it can be used to get some real melee power. We could see some real wacky stuff in this one, I'm looking forward to it.

Criteria in the spoiler.

Spoiler

dextercorvia · 11-16-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grynning

Interestingly enough, while the class requires you to be a monk to enter (since I don't think there's any other way to get the "flurry of blows" ability), it doesn't advance any monk features, and all of its abilities work in armor. Also, unlike the last couple ingredients, it's actually not a terrible class; it can be used to get some real melee power. We could see some real wacky stuff in this one, I'm looking forward to it.

Prediction about the wacky stuff follows:

Spoiler

Amphetryon · 11-16-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

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.

A gentle reminder.

dextercorvia · 11-16-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amphetryon

A gentle reminder.

Duly noted.

Akal Saris · 11-16-2010, 04:11 PM

I'm in. I have a pretty silly idea for this one

OMG PONIES · 11-16-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akal Saris

I'm in. I have a pretty silly idea for this one

And all who gazed upon it shook with fear.

kestrel404 · 11-16-2010, 05:51 PM

I'm in. I've got most of the build done already and now I'm working on fluff.

I hope the hangover's not too bad...

Keld Denar · 11-16-2010, 05:54 PM

Mad props if anyone references the Basket Weaver's Handbook...

true_shinken · 11-16-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grynning

since I don't think there's any other way to get the "flurry of blows" ability

There is.

Also, with Akal and OMGPonies competing, this will be veyr interesting. See, Akal won 3 times, OMG won twice. They might tie this time! Of course competition will be steep since we also have one time winners gbprime and Amphetryon on the mix!
This is going to be one explosive Iron Chef, I tell ya.

EDIT: Man, I just saw Jumilk's sketch for the trophy. Awesome does not describe it! It's way beyond awesome!

Urpriest · 11-16-2010, 09:39 PM

Potentially in as a competitor. I had an idea for this class awhile back that deserves its chance in the sun.

Akal Saris · 11-16-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by true_shinken

There is.

Also, with Akal and OMGPonies competing, this will be veyr interesting. See, Akal won 3 times, OMG won twice. They might tie this time! Of course competition will be steep since we also have one time winners gbprime and Amphetryon on the mix!
This is going to be one explosive Iron Chef, I tell ya.

EDIT: Man, I just saw Jumilk's sketch for the trophy. Awesome does not describe it! It's way beyond awesome!

Lots of repeat offenders here!

Glad to hear that the next trophy will live up to the previous one!

T.G. Oskar · 11-16-2010, 11:13 PM

Wow, that many competitors!? Drunken Master sure seems to be popular.

Hmm...I'd think about being a judge, but I'd go with hiding my criteria. Mostly because I want people to surprise me, not please me. Also, it would make people think about interesting stuff without the worry of choosing one thing or another.

However, I'll probably be forced to unleash my criteria one way or another. I'd also be far too verbose as a judge, though that would allow a very stringent analysis of each build and how the fluff supports or bolsters the idea; look it at the full package. I find that, by looking at the judges' criteria, stuff gets lost: I don't recall Iron Chef (the actual Iron Chef TV programs, both in Japan and in America) judges ever reveal their criteria, other than "surprise me" and "this better taste good".

So...I'll let the organizers and the other judges decide whether I can be a mystery judge or if I'll be forced to show my criteria so that people attempt to "amuse" me. I'd rather see a risqué build, done with an idea in mind, rather than something to appease the competition. But then again, I'm not entirely free of guilt in trying to do that, so...

Tvtyrant · 11-16-2010, 11:15 PM

Is the "Sword and Fist" version the same as the Complete Warrior one?

T.G. Oskar · 11-16-2010, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tvtyrant

Is the "Sword and Fist" version the same as the Complete Warrior one?

Nope. Even if it were, the CW version is the official version as it is the updated one. Recall that there may be some skills that changed, and some abilities that may have been nerfed a bit during the transition.