Iron Chef Optimization Challenge in the Playground XXXII

Amphetryon · 04-14-2012, 06:35 PM

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef XXXII. 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 a write-up of 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, as well as presenting a fully-fleshed out 20-level build in the table below. 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. Web-exclusive 3.0 or 3.5 materials by WotC are expressly allowed, but take care to verify that an updated version did not appear in print elsewhere, as this may cause an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion. 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. This comes up often enough to bear mention in the rules: Dragon Compendium is allowed.

Cooking Time: Contestants will have until 11:59PM GMT on Sunday, April 29, 2012 to create their builds and PM them to the Chairman, Amphetryon. Builds will then be posted simultaneously, to avoid copying. Judges will have until 11:59PM GMT on Saturday, May 12th, 2012 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. If you do not have access to the current challenge's Secret Ingredient, please do not volunteer to judge this round.

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. Please note the following change: a legal source's relative obscurity should not be considered as penalizing Elegance, excepting the aforementioned issues with Unearthed Arcana. Using too many sources may be an Elegance deduction at the judges' discretion, but a book's relative obscurity may not.

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 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. If your entry includes a prestige class or ACF that grants Leadership or a Leadership-like ability as a bonus feat, the feat should be ignored and is not eligible to be traded away for another feat or ACF through any means.

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:
Complete Divine's Temple Raider of Olidammara!
We will award 1st through 3rd places, as well as a shout-out 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

Judges

The Builds

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
Iron Chef XXV: Scion of Tem-Et-Nu
Iron Chef XXVI: Shadowdancer
Iron Chef XXVII: Mindbender
Iron Chef XXVIII: Cryokineticist
Iron Chef XXIX: Consecrated Harrier
Iron Chef XXX: Initiate of Pistis Sophia
Iron Chef XXXI: Shadow Sentinel

Amphetryon · 04-14-2012, 06:40 PM

FAQ:
Is Dragon Compendium Allowed? Yes, but individual issues of Dragon Magazine are not.

What about 3.0 materials? 3.0 materials, whether online or in printed form, are allowed unless they've been officially updated to a 3.5 edition.

Are Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, or Kingdoms of Kalamar allowable sources? The Dragonlance Campaign Setting is allowed, but the subsequent books for Dragonlance are considered 3rd party, and are therefore not eligible, despite the "WotC approved" status of those books. The same holds for Oriental Adventures (1st party) and the subsequent Rokugan books (3rd party). Similarly, materials from Ravenloft, Planescape, Dark Sun, and Kingdoms of Kalamar are considered 3rd party for purposes of this contest, and are therefore not allowed.

What about online sources in general? If the online source is a) published by WotC, and b) not replaced by an updated version at a later time, it is eligible. Use it, link it.

Where's the line drawn with "acceptable/unacceptable" for Unearthed Arcana? This will likely vary a bit from Chairman to Chairman. Item Familiars have always been verboten, since before IC migrated to GitP; don't expect that to change. Flaws have similarly always been noted as warranting a deduction; while I am Chairman, I'm extending that to Traits, though they warrant 1/2 the penalty in Elegance that a Flaw would because they're roughly 1/2 as useful. Alternate spell systems, alternate skill systems and alternate crafting rules all create an uneven playing field, and as such, will be disallowed for as long as I am Chairman. Bloodlines are ripe for abuse, and will be strongly discouraged as long as I am Chairman. Note that judges are allowed to look askance at any use of Unearthed Arcana not specifically mentioned above, at their discretion, and otherwise penalize Elegance according to their preference.

What about the Adaptation section for Temple Raider? Because Olidammara is setting-specific, entries may use the Adaptation section, provided their entry has a patron deity who is: 1)Chaotic and 2)Grants access to the Chaos or Trickery Domain(s) AND the Luck Domain. Worship of an ideal along those lines is NOT sufficient because it widens the field too greatly for IC purposes; entries without an appropriate patron deity will not be presented. Unless the setting from which you draw the deities specifically allows for polytheism (such as Eberron's option to worship the Sovereign Host), you may not worship multiple gods in order to circumvent this requirement. In the case of the Sovereign Host specifically, special attention to the given Alignment of the Sovereign Host as a worshiped body should be paid. . . .

Kuulvheysoon · 04-14-2012, 06:44 PM

Dude, Temple Raider?

Awesome. I'll try to put a build together, but if I can't find anything that I like, I'll totally judge this one.

Huh - might be fun to hunt down alternate divine patrons for this one.

Also, Amph, how are Rokugan Campaign Setting materials treated? A-okay?

mattie_p · 04-14-2012, 06:54 PM

I know I just signed up for Zinc Saucier, but I'll be in on this one too. No ideas yet, need to read the PrC again, but I'm certain I'll come up with something.

Amphetryon · 04-14-2012, 06:54 PM

The Oriental Adventures book is 1st party. All the other Rokugan materials are not.

Toy Killer · 04-14-2012, 06:59 PM

I've already got an idea...

Aeryr · 04-14-2012, 07:49 PM

Oh crap... I did a build while thinking on possible ingredients during the last IC. So... I might hold it and decide to judge if there are not to many entries (no promises).

Piggy Knowles · 04-14-2012, 07:56 PM

Hmm... I love skill builds, and this PrC, so hopefully I'll come up with something worth submitting. Got some ideas already, but nothing concrete yet.

Jeriah · 04-14-2012, 09:20 PM

I think I might enter this one.

Venger · 04-15-2012, 01:51 AM

Cool! I've always wanted an excuse to use this class. count me in as a chef.

Fearan · 04-15-2012, 02:00 AM

Well, at least, it's no Lightsaber of Heironius

Zaq · 04-15-2012, 02:01 AM

Once again, I weep for my lack of enough sustained (and not already earmarked) free time to be likely to compete. That said, I approve of the ingredient.

BobVosh · 04-15-2012, 02:14 AM

I don't remember this at all. How do you keep finding stuff in books I never remember.

TroubleBrewing · 04-15-2012, 02:42 AM

Under the "Adaptation" section of the class, it makes note that any deity of "rogues, thieves, or secret knowledge could be a patron of a temple raider".

Are we limited to worshiping Olidammara, or is this note a license to choose another rogue-flavored deity?

Zaq · 04-15-2012, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grey McBannert

Under the "Adaptation" section of the class, it makes note that any deity of "rogues, thieves, or secret knowledge could be a patron of a temple raider".

Are we limited to worshiping Olidammara, or is this note a license to choose another rogue-flavored deity?

Post number two.

TroubleBrewing · 04-15-2012, 02:54 AM

*Facepalm...*

And I always promised myself I'd never be the guy who clearly didn't read through the whole thread...

SilverLeaf167 · 04-15-2012, 04:36 AM

I love IC and the class isn't too bad, I'm in as a contestant.

Golden Ladybug · 04-15-2012, 04:45 AM

Hmm...I think I can do this. Count me in as a Chef

I think I have a pretty cool idea to use as well.

Roguenewb · 04-15-2012, 02:58 PM

I want to try my hand at this. I will devise a Temple Raider

Edit: Are characters allowed to worship multiple deities as long as the alignments don't conflict?

mattie_p · 04-15-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amphetryon

Welcome, contestants, judges, and guests to Iron Chef XXX.

Just noticed this. Need to update to XXXII. Otherwise, Chairman, continue to perform your excellent works! Allez Optimizers!

Menteith · 04-15-2012, 04:52 PM

I'm planning to compete. Looks like an interesting ingredient, here's hoping inspiration strikes!

Amphetryon · 04-15-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roguenewb

I want to try my hand at this. I will devise a Temple Raider

Edit: Are characters allowed to worship multiple deities as long as the alignments don't conflict?

As I've now gotten something like 6 queries about this particular issue, I've addressed it in the FAQ. Please note that the FAQ answer may seem at odds with private conversations I may have had with a contestant; I apologize for any confusion resulting from earlier discussions.

Roguenewb · 04-15-2012, 05:35 PM

Sorry, I hate being the guy who's bad at reading.

Amphetryon · 04-15-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roguenewb

Sorry, I hate being the guy who's bad at reading.

My response should be read as "Since a bunch of y'all asked me about this, let me go edit an official answer into the FAQ. You know, so I have enough room in the PM box for entries and such."

Amechra · 04-15-2012, 08:24 PM

Shall I squee? I shall.

SQUEE!

I'm in, by the way.

OMG PONIES · 04-15-2012, 08:40 PM

I'll say, Amph--I didn't expect this as a Secret Ingredient. Well played, sir. Well played.

gbprime · 04-15-2012, 10:51 PM

I'll volunteer for judging again.

I'm worried about the trend, though. The last 3 contests have seen 1 or 2 judges and a steady increase in entries. I like the idea of lots of entries and even multiple entries per contestant, but how to get more judges? IC works so much better with 3-4 judges.

Empedocles · 04-15-2012, 10:55 PM

Withdrew my interest, and would rather judge.

Venger · 04-15-2012, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbprime

I'll volunteer for judging again.

I'm worried about the trend, though. The last 3 contests have seen 1 or 2 judges and a steady increase in entries. I like the idea of lots of entries and even multiple entries per contestant, but how to get more judges? IC works so much better with 3-4 judges.

I wouldn't worry too much, personally. consecrated harrier and shadow sentinel both had 17 entries which scares a lot of people away, and initiate of pistis sophia is sort of a yucky class, so judges thought they'd just have to read a bunch of monks.

since this is in one of the completes, I dont think we'll get such a large volume of entries, and I think the class's requirements, while sort of steep, don't shoehorn you into one method of entry. one way to incent judges is judging trophies, but we've got that taken care of thanks to hunter killer, so there's always that.

I do agree it works best with a couple of judges since that way the spreads aren't as drastic.

Kuulvheysoon · 04-16-2012, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbprime

I'll volunteer for judging again.

I'm worried about the trend, though. The last 3 contests have seen 1 or 2 judges and a steady increase in entries. I like the idea of lots of entries and even multiple entries per contestant, but how to get more judges? IC works so much better with 3-4 judges.

I'll submit what I have when the deadline rolls around, and I can probably ask Amph to pull my submission if we need more judges, or simply present them as 'bonus' builds.

I doubt that having an ingredient from the Completes will reduce the amount of entries; I could see it affecting the number of judges, though (familiarity with the PrC).