Results 211 to 224 of 224
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2010-08-16, 10:20 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
I might. It could be a good bench test of how balanced a class is. It is not quite playtesting, but should help iron out a few potential imbalances before playtesting.
I suggest you start another thread though. You may also be able to solicit more interest & feedback regarding the idea.
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2010-08-16, 10:23 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
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Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
The final standings are:
In 1st, WinWin's Sway!
In 2nd, The Vorpal Tribble's Brolly!
In 3rd, Chineselegolas's Urog!
In 4th, Eldariel's Fistbear Bearfist!
In 5th, OMG PONIES's Felix!
In 6th, Draz74's Ruszel!
In 7th, Amphetryon's Bertram Urrni!
Congratulations to all who entered, especially our 2 winners!
New thread will be up momentarily.Quotebox
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2010-08-16, 11:16 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
Good competition, y'all! I'm surprised, I expected to be dead last by a long shot for my first entry. My hat goes off to the other competitors, who actually found interesting uses for the class (sick birds?! Dog church?!!!!) beside my idea to grab a leopard, make him big, and sneak around.
Also, my build may need to be docked a few points. I just now realized that I can only use my arcane dilettante spell 1/day. I thought I could drop reduce person every encounter, but knowing it's once a day would mean I need a permanent scroll of it or somesuch.
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2010-08-16, 11:18 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2004
- Location
- The Mindfields
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
Way to win, WinWin
Btw, what happened to the tie?
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2010-08-16, 11:19 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
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2010-08-16, 11:36 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Seattle, WA
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
Ah, but I wasn't going by the 15/10 CL increase. I was going with the +5 CL increase and +5 spellcaster level increase in between. I had 8 levels, which gives 4 spellcaster levels and a +4 CL bonus.
AbjChamp set CL to BAB (which finished 17/20), then Illumian Krau sigil set the CL to BAB +2 (to a max of HD), then GSA gave its +4 CL bonus, for a CL that is 3 points higher than your HD (or 23 at ECL20). Then tack on Tenacious Spellcasting from Suel and you have a CL 9 higher than your HD to resist dispels. You can apply things in the order you choose. You simply apply GSA's caster level increase AFTER AbjChamp does its work (17 BAB + 2 Krau + 4 GSA = CL23). GSA's CL increase is worded similar to Archmage's CL, or Master Specialist's CL increase, or similar. And while it did slow down Suel casting, it still finished all 10 levels of Suel casting by ECL20 so nothing was left unfinished.
If I had included a better write up of that little math trick, I think it would have helped my UoSI score at least.
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2010-08-16, 12:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2006
- Location
- Utah
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
Oh, I know that. There are a number of things I had all written out in my mind about the build, which I literally just didn't have time to type out. The deadline for this contest came awfully fast, somehow, and during a few awfully busy days ...
EDIT: That said, I was very puzzled by your comment that Heroics is a terrible use of the Factotum's Arcane Dilettante ability. I've always seen it as a very strong combo ... what's wrong with it?Last edited by Draz74; 2010-08-16 at 01:34 PM.
You can call me Draz.
Trophies:
Spoiler
Also of note:
- Winning Entry of Gestalt Build Challenge IV
- 3rd Place in Iron Chef XI (Blade Bravo)
- Judge of Iron Chef XXIII (Divine Champion)
I have a number of ongoing projects that I manically jump between to spend my free time ... so don't be surprised when I post a lot about something for a few days, then burn out and abandon it.
... yes, I need to be tested for ADHD.
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2010-08-16, 01:12 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
- Location
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
That's what I meant. You slow down Suel A LOT for very little benefit. The same build with BAB 19 and no GSA would have CL 21, faster spellcasting and extra class features. If you used Master Spellthief (say, Spellthief 4/Duskblade 6/Suel 4/Abjurant Champion 5/Spellsword 1), you'd actually get HIGHER base attack (18) and higher caster level (18+2 Krau +10 Master Spellthief = 30).
It simply looks like a subpar choice. GSA is really bringing the build down a lot.
Yeah, I agree.Last edited by true_shinken; 2010-08-16 at 01:13 PM.
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2010-08-16, 01:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Seattle, WA
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
Mostly that duration is way too short and it takes an action. You can't really use it out of combat , especially in this case since your CL is lowish, you can't Extend it because its a SLA. If you use it in combat to grab a feat, it eats up your standard action for a round, giving you a rather limited return. And its only once a day.
Yea, its really versatile, but not that amazing. Most uses of Heroics I've seen generally involve a free grab at Improved Init or Improved Toughness for a touch of extra speed/resiliance. Everything else, if you are basing your character around it, you are better off spending the feat. The only REALLY circumstantial time I could see this being really useful is if you ran into a Hydra, and wanted to pick up Imp Sunder for a little while. Then again, 9/10 times its easier to just KILL THE HYDRA WITH DAMAGE than try to chop off/cauterize the heads.
Ah, but it brings it down MUCH less than it brought down every other build. Thats worth something, right? Otherwise you could just say that any build that contains 0 levels of GSA is the best GSA build, which kinda defeats the purpose.
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2010-08-16, 02:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2006
- Location
- Utah
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
Hmmm ... it's 10/minutes per level, which is better than most buffs. Seems like that could cover at least a couple encounters per day (especially in a dungeon crawl-style). Admittedly it's a lot better on a single-class Factotum than on a multiclasser.
And you can Extend it, since the Factotum description includes a special exception for its SLAs (interacting with Metamagic), in contrast with other SLAs.
Yea, its really versatile, but not that amazing. Most uses of Heroics I've seen generally involve a free grab at Improved Init or Improved Toughness for a touch of extra speed/resiliance. Everything else, if you are basing your character around it, you are better off spending the feat.
The only REALLY circumstantial time I could see this being really useful is if you ran into a Hydra, and wanted to pick up Imp Sunder for a little while. Then again, 9/10 times its easier to just KILL THE HYDRA WITH DAMAGE than try to chop off/cauterize the heads.
You need to think a lot more creatively with Heroics, though. Improved Toughness and Improved Initiative are far from the best it can do ... try Martial Study and Martial Stance, just to name two very versatile choices.You can call me Draz.
Trophies:
Spoiler
Also of note:
- Winning Entry of Gestalt Build Challenge IV
- 3rd Place in Iron Chef XI (Blade Bravo)
- Judge of Iron Chef XXIII (Divine Champion)
I have a number of ongoing projects that I manically jump between to spend my free time ... so don't be surprised when I post a lot about something for a few days, then burn out and abandon it.
... yes, I need to be tested for ADHD.
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2010-08-16, 08:58 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2006
- Location
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Gender
Still here, just a little busy to social post
You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til you understand who's in ruttin' command here. ~ Jayne Cobb
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Avatars by: drKarling, The_Chilli_God and The_Chilli_God
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2010-08-23, 09:12 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
- Gender
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
Trophies are here at last, courtesy of the illustrious Strategos!
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2010-08-23, 09:32 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2004
- Location
- The Mindfields
- Gender
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2010-08-23, 10:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
Re: Iron Chef Optimization Challenge IX
Awesome. Thank you Strategos. Thanks everyone.