Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXV

Private-Prinny · 10-02-2011, 06:16 PM

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef XXV. 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, October 16th, 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, October 30th, 2011~~ 17:12 GMT on Monday, October 31st 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

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 as many contestants and judges as feel like playing!

This week's special ingredient is:
Sandstorm's Scion of Tem-Et-Nu!
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!

Contestants
Amphetryon
DonutBoy12321
The Gilded Duke
Zipding
gbprime
Hecuba
Hunter Killer
The_Werebear
Grey McBannert
Diefje

The Builds
Nefrati Praefectus
Shui Dao Ye
Lindir Al Tiafi
Damash Olbereth
Casting Crusader
Khefra
Orcinus Fei
Jemaine the Hiphopopotomas
Malon Redfeather
Melody

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
Iron Chef XXII: Dervish
Iron Chef XXIII: Divine Crusader
Iron Chef XXIV: Tactical Soldier

Private-Prinny · 10-02-2011, 06:17 PM

I've gotten many requests for this in the past, probably at least half of which were from Amphetryon, so I figured I'd break out something special for round XXV.

Amphetryon · 10-02-2011, 06:24 PM

Competing.

Waker · 10-02-2011, 06:26 PM

Bit of an odd bird, but I think I've got something in mind for the class. I'll toss my hat into the ring.

Z3ro · 10-02-2011, 06:44 PM

Interesting...

I'll look at what I can put together for the class, but I'm not hopeful. If I can't figure something out, I'll judge this round.

Essence_of_War · 10-02-2011, 06:48 PM

I think I'll finally be tossing my hat into the ring for this one!

Lateral · 10-02-2011, 07:38 PM

My god. It's the hippo god class.

I'm in.

DeAnno · 10-02-2011, 07:47 PM

I've always been curious about optimizing half-caster gishy classes, so this should be cool.

Jade Dragon · 10-02-2011, 09:06 PM

I don't have Sandstorm.

DonutBoy12321 · 10-02-2011, 09:16 PM

The Donut-based superhero wannabe wants to optimize the hippo god prestige class. Count me in.

Lateral · 10-02-2011, 10:31 PM

Hmm. There's got to be a way to optimize this thing, but from what I'm seeing its abilities are all durability boosts on your Paladin or whatever.

I had a great entry, too, but I just realized it won't work without some heavy justification. Pity.

Zaq · 10-02-2011, 10:48 PM

I'm gonna try.

gbprime · 10-02-2011, 11:18 PM

Competing. This is one of my favorite PrCs! <squee!>

Greyfell · 10-03-2011, 12:20 AM

I'm not even sure I know where my copy of that book is....

DaragosKitsune · 10-03-2011, 02:01 AM

The hippo-worshiper class?

You've got yourself a judge.

Zaq · 10-03-2011, 02:03 AM

Hmmmmm. Very interesting class this time. Lots of, shall we say, unique obstacles to overcome. Seems like it has potential, but I don't see any tricks to it just yet. I'll keep trying, but at this point I'm torn between building and judging. We'll see if inspiration strikes before the cutoff.

Tam_OConnor · 10-03-2011, 02:30 AM

Looks interesting, but I'm a little burned out. I can serve as a judge if we're short, but I'll just watch for now.

Coidzor · 10-03-2011, 02:41 AM

This should be good.

Dumbledore lives · 10-03-2011, 03:41 AM

I will probably participate, but remind me, is Wizard website allowed as a source if you link to it?

TroubleBrewing · 10-03-2011, 03:50 AM

Competing for realz this time, I promise.

The_Werebear · 10-03-2011, 05:12 AM

I'll go for it. Hopefully, I'll have my stuff together this time and actually finish it.

Kefkafreak · 10-03-2011, 07:51 AM

What a random PrC... it's basically the Warrior npc class with a good Will save. Unless you happen to be close to a river.

I'll try to think of something

BlueInc · 10-03-2011, 08:22 AM

I've always wanted to compete in one of these...I don't remember the prestige class, but I'll look it up and try to come up with something fun :D

Edit: Huh. That's a really mediocre prestige class; I can think of things that go thematically well with it, but I can't think of anyone who would gain from taking levels in it. Certainly a challenge!

Urpriest · 10-03-2011, 09:17 AM

Yes!

I...I'm not sure I can compete, but I'll certainly watch!

dextercorvia · 10-03-2011, 10:37 AM

I might have something.

yugi24862 · 10-03-2011, 10:48 AM

Once again I curse the lack of mystic ranger in Iron Chief

OMG PONIES · 10-03-2011, 10:51 AM

I'll give it a crack; I have a few horrible ideas to start with, and that's more than I've had before. If I can't work anything out, I may judge instead.

Cieyrin · 10-03-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private-Prinny

I've gotten many requests for this in the past, probably at least half of which were from Amphetryon, so I figured I'd break out something special for round XXV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amphetryon

Competing.

Wow, first Tactical Soldier, now Scion of Tem-Et-Nu? My requests are finally heard!

Finally participating or at worst judging if I can't get something awesomely hippo out the door on time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dumbledore lives

I will probably participate, but remind me, is Wizard website allowed as a source if you link to it?

Yes, yes it is. The only things not viable are Dragon or Dungeon Magazine (Dragon Compendium is fair game) or 3rd party/homebrew. And providing a list of sources makes judges less likely to hate you for looking through their library trying to figure out where you got stuff, regardless of whether it's on the WotC site or not. We should have a clause for this in the intro or something, since I swear I've answered this the last 3 contests...

Piggy Knowles · 10-03-2011, 02:37 PM

Hmm... I have an idea that is thematically very intriguing, and I'm curious if I can tweak it into an actual character. I'll have to give some thought to this one!

Zipding · 10-03-2011, 04:10 PM

I'm thinking of joining this competition, I've read through the class and I might have some ideas for a build that might work.