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Gaming Discussion => General D&D Discussion => Topic started by: SorO_Lost on October 28, 2016, 06:52:26 PM

Title: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: SorO_Lost on October 28, 2016, 06:52:26 PM
So I have a question for you all, if you had to be a D&D Class what one would you be?
The simple answer is the one you like right? Well feel free to mention for favorite Class but...
What if I told you you'll be on Earth, and a Jew, in Germany, and it's February 1933?
Well it's not really any of those things so your knowledge of WW2 is worthless.
But the idea of being alone, hunted, and starting with essentially nothing in a world full of gun toting guards.


So the world you spawn in is kind of close to that. Guns cars, planes exist but pre-Internet so information isn't globally shared in a split second. You're in a city under martial law that's declared it's hatred of your kind. Maybe your D&D powers no one else has violate laws, maybe a previous transplant raised an army of undead, who knows (or cares). The the vast majority of locals will turn you into the authorities who will imprison and study you assuming immediate off-the-record execution isn't an option.

But there is a win condition, if you take over a country with the military might and inbred hatred of your people like Nazi Germany, you can flip the local region back to friendly. In such a case you need to prove to them you're a productive member of society and not just built for war. So what would you offer to the job market?

And I'm going to throw some other curve balls at you.
* Human only, no other Races or Templates unless you personally have a way to self-grant it (like dragon disciple or wish).
* Druids and Leadership are banned, everyone will want to exploit them otherwise.
* Does having a closer to standard 8~12 in your Ability Scores change your choice?
* Level 20 cap but at the first level you can choose to gestalt, if you do it takes x2 the XP to level.
* The list is subjective and may change over time.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: altpersona on October 28, 2016, 07:46:31 PM
lol, this is pretty close to how i approach most characters... plan on no items, no 'help' and your trying not to die...

i like warlock for all day range blasts

precocious wizard sounds appealing but not real practical

same w/ spell to power erudite



Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Nifft on October 28, 2016, 08:09:57 PM
So I have a question for you all, if you had to be a D&D Class what one would you be?
The simple answer is the one you like right? Well feel free to mention that...

But what if I told you you'll be on Earth, and a Jew, in Germany, and it's February 1933.
That's one of those rare situations where doing the sorts of things that earn XP would actually be rather acceptable.

I mean, under most circumstances I'd feel reluctant to start murdering my way through an army of humans, but those people...

...Oh, and the Druid is banned.
Goddamn it.

Druid was absolutely my first choice.

The plan would have been: escape to Russia, create an elite bear cavalry unit, and then lead them for honor, duty to humanity, freeing the hell out of Europe, and earning XP.

Also: Stalin would get some mental adjustments and/or bears to the face. Let's see how the world fares with Trotsky in power.

- - -

Second Choice: Binder 1 / Easy Bake Wizard / Anima Mage

Starting out with at-will Disguise Self is a good way to get away from my former identity, and escape pursuit in an urban area. At-will Command is pretty spiffy as a surprise tactic to put people in a worse position, and taking 10 on Bluff checks is absolutely key to lying about my identity over the long term.

Then, after that, add on the perks of being a Wizard.

Finally, the perks of being a Wizard with a free rotating item creation feat.


- - -

Gestalt Choice: Warblade // Egoist (with the ACF that grants the Changeling's shape-change power)

As above, the key is face-changing to escape attention.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Solo on October 28, 2016, 08:11:02 PM
Expert with ranks in diplomacy
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: altpersona on October 28, 2016, 08:15:56 PM
So I have a question for you all, if you had to be a D&D Class what one would you be?
The simple answer is the one you like right? Well feel free to mention that...

But what if I told you you'll be on Earth, and a Jew, in Germany, and it's February 1933.
That's one of those rare situations where doing the sorts of things that earn XP would actually be rather acceptable.

I mean, under most circumstances I'd feel reluctant to start murdering my way through an army of humans, but those people...

...Oh, and the Druid is banned.
Goddamn it.

Druid was absolutely my first choice.

The plan would have been: escape to Russia, create an elite bear cavalry unit, and then lead them for honor, duty to humanity, freeing the hell out of Europe, and earning XP.

Also: Stalin would get some mental adjustments and/or bears to the face. Let's see how the world fares with Trotsky in power.

- - -

Second Choice: Binder 1 / Easy Bake Wizard / Anima Mage

Starting out with at-will Disguise Self is a good way to get away from my former identity, and escape pursuit in an urban area. At-will Command is pretty spiffy as a surprise tactic to put people in a worse position, and taking 10 on Bluff checks is absolutely key to lying about my identity over the long term.

Then, after that, add on the perks of being a Wizard.

Finally, the perks of being a Wizard with a free rotating item creation feat.


- - -

Gestalt Choice: Warblade // Egoist (with the ACF that grants the Changeling's shape-change power)

As above, the key is face-changing to escape attention.


Germany has wolves, wolves get Trip

Binder is a feat (2 feats) Not a class, i thought...
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Necrosnoop110 on October 29, 2016, 11:23:56 AM
Gestalt: Psion(Telepath) 20 // Monk 2/ Marshal 1/ Ardent 2/ Thrallherd 10/ Cognition Thief 5

Why do the work when you can have others do it for you?
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: SorO_Lost on October 29, 2016, 11:38:42 AM
same w/ spell to power erudite
Yeah learning Discipline Powers (aka spells) requires a world full of casters.

Warlock would be pretty helpful. But would you gestalt and what would you later employment? An army of undead Nazi's? :o
I know your secret! Do you like war? No, Alt, do you love war?

Druid was absolutely my first choice.
Yeah but it's too obvious of a pick to your inner optimizer.

Also per Modern 1gp equals twenty bucks. So a +1 Dagger costs forty six thousand four hundred dollars on the open market. Even a single Hat of Disguise will run you a raw material investment of eighteen thousand. It's definitely a after war rich guy trinket thing.

Gestalt: Psion(Telepath) 20 // Monk 2/ Marshal 1/ Ardent 2/ Thrallherd 10/ Cognition Thief 5
Why do the work when you can have others do it for you?
Genius.


I personally vary day to day. Bard or Sorcerer, I hate singing but Bard has survivability. Monk//Psion for much the same reasons but I hate the Vancian system and Spellpower Sorcerers get like 80% of points their Psion counterparts get dispite having the same required Augmentation traits. But in the context of the setting Favored Soul comes to mind. Yeah it's be a huge pain in the ass to level but being a Jew walking around healing people would bound to convince some people to follow me. Like twelve at least I'm sure.  :P
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: ketaro on October 29, 2016, 12:26:52 PM
Artificer.

Self-explanatory.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: altpersona on October 29, 2016, 01:39:23 PM
same w/ spell to power erudite
Yeah learning Discipline Powers (aka spells) requires a world full of casters.

Warlock would be pretty helpful. But would you gestalt and what would you later employment? An army of undead Nazi's? :o
I know your secret! Do you like war? No, Alt, do you love war?


in the OP scenario a necromancer could have a lot of fun.

gestalt always struck me as playing a different game...

if experience is a river, then gestalting makes sense.

if we are talking practical / mistakes are lethal, then i want level 20 coming as fast as possible.

overall, in that 'real world' style game, i want invis, fly, and some alter self thing asap.

that necro keeps scratching at the back of my brain

as for employments, artificer is the win right?

otherwise its standard dnd loot and pillage
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: altpersona on October 29, 2016, 01:50:11 PM
also seems like a good place for the Halloween contest monster that i periodically rave about and can never find the right version of that possesses orphans and hands you your ass.

the point of that being that Possession is brutal, and telekinesis while we're at it
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: TenaciousJ on October 29, 2016, 02:40:20 PM
Artificer.

Self-explanatory.

Defect to the US to work on the atomic bomb and the space program?
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: SorO_Lost on October 29, 2016, 03:11:10 PM
Defect to the US to work on the atomic bomb and the space program?
Nah, probably end up as a Hydra scientist that uses the Ark to open a hole to Cthulhu and bring his red stone handed son to our world shortly before inventing the Pretender whom will later dress in a Guy Fawkes mask. But it all comes crumbling down as a British 007 agent, a transforming car, and a guy with a phone booth all show up to protest the over usage of this trope.

Artificer.
Self-explanatory.
How would you obtain tools? The raw materials? A safe place that'll last weeks by avoiding detection or be secure enough to withstand siege from modern-ish weapons? What would you eat since you'll take days to months to make anything?
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: ketaro on October 29, 2016, 03:15:03 PM
Defect to the US to work on the atomic bomb and the space program?
Nah, probably end up as a Hydra scientist that uses the Ark to open a hole to Cthulhu and bring his red stone handed son to our world shortly before inventing the Pretender whom will later dress in a Guy Fawkes mask. But it all comes crumbling down as a British 007 agent, a transforming car, and a guy with a phone booth all show up to protest the over usage of this trope.

And that's when I defect.  :cool
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Necrosnoop110 on October 29, 2016, 05:10:27 PM
Defect to the US to work on the atomic bomb and the space program?
Nah, probably end up as a Hydra scientist that uses the Ark to open a hole to Cthulhu and bring his red stone handed son to our world shortly before inventing the Pretender whom will later dress in a Guy Fawkes mask. But it all comes crumbling down as a British 007 agent, a transforming car, and a guy with a phone booth all show up to protest the over usage of this trope.
:lmao
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Nifft on October 29, 2016, 06:24:44 PM
Artificer is a great idea ... at high levels, with lots of money.

Getting there is going to be the tough part.

I would only pick Artificer as half of a Gestalt with something that could get me through the low levels: Binder, Egoist, Warlock, that sort of class.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: ketaro on October 29, 2016, 06:35:39 PM
In the realm of Earth, even a 1st lvl artificer would have enough knowledge and applicable ability to make themselves valuable to some one who'll keep them alive.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: linklord231 on October 29, 2016, 06:38:49 PM
Some kind of divine gish.  Probably Cloistered Cleric/Crusader/RKV or Cloistered Cleric//Crusader.  XP isn't an issue if you're the only one earning it (you never "fall behind" your party mates), and life (presumably) doesn't end just because you hit 20th level, so maybe Epic isn't out of the question. 

Important things are that it's useful and fun from level 1 on, and Cloistered Cleric gives lots of useful skill points for "real life" applications.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: SorO_Lost on October 29, 2016, 08:00:18 PM
In the realm of Earth, even a 1st lvl artificer would have enough knowledge and applicable ability to make themselves valuable to some one who'll keep them alive.
fify.

It's one thing to show off magical talents they can never use, it's another to entirely rely off inventing weapons anyone can use. You only get one Tony Stark moment, and it's not going to be like the movies either. Heaven forbid you fail...
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: ketaro on October 29, 2016, 08:44:24 PM
In the specific setting you spelled out, I would very much not want to be the super special snowflake they could never be and flaunt it unless I was the diplomancer that takes over that shit. ;)
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Nifft on October 29, 2016, 08:47:50 PM
So I have a question for you all, if you had to be a D&D Class what one would you be?
The simple answer is the one you like right? Well feel free to mention that...

But what if I told you you'll be on Earth, and a Jew, in Germany, and it's February 1933.
You can pretty much replace the flavor with whatever but the point is most people around you won't be helpful and quite a few will even go so far as being harmful.
In the realm of Earth, even a 1st lvl artificer would have enough knowledge and applicable ability to make themselves valuable to some one who'll keep them alive.
I'd suggest re-reading the first post in this thread.

You are playing someone who starts off with an army built up for the express purpose of murdering you (and taking your stuff), right at 1st level.

You're not starting play in a peaceful, modern nation -- that would be a very different thread.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: ketaro on October 29, 2016, 09:20:50 PM
Spec bluff, work towards a hat of disguise, and live on the farthest western border. He didn't say where in Germany ya would live.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Vladeshi on October 29, 2016, 09:52:29 PM
So I have a question for you all, if you had to be a D&D Class what one would you be?
The simple answer is the one you like right? Well feel free to mention that...

But what if I told you you'll be on Earth, and a Jew, in Germany, and it's February 1933.
You can pretty much replace the flavor with whatever but the point is most people around you won't be helpful and quite a few will even go so far as being harmful.
In the realm of Earth, even a 1st lvl artificer would have enough knowledge and applicable ability to make themselves valuable to some one who'll keep them alive.
I'd suggest re-reading the first post in this thread.

You are playing someone who starts off with an army built up for the express purpose of murdering you (and taking your stuff), right at 1st level.

You're not starting play in a peaceful, modern nation -- that would be a very different thread.

There were a fair number of higher ups in Nazi Germany that were perfectly willing to overlook such minor things as you being a Jew if you were useful enough and willing to work with for them.
Also remember that a good number of the Jews that escaped before the war broke out got away because someone 'looked the other way', in fact if you are starting in Feb '33 and you know what is about to happen you have decent odds of getting away.

same w/ spell to power erudite
Yeah learning Discipline Powers (aka spells) requires a world full of casters.

Warlock would be pretty helpful. But would you gestalt and what would you later employment? An army of undead Nazi's? :o
I know your secret! Do you like war? No, Alt, do you love war?


in the OP scenario a necromancer could have a lot of fun.

that necro keeps scratching at the back of my brain

This was my first thought, then I thought about the differences between pseudo-medieval setting and 30's tech, your skellies may slaughter infantry fine but that moment when the tank commander orders ramming speed is going to cost you a lot of onyx.
Made even worse by the lack of of amazing creatures to animate, animals and humans only(time to go bear hunting).
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: SorO_Lost on October 29, 2016, 11:12:52 PM
It appears everyone is skipped the world is after you to focus on Germany so they can use their hindsight, and google, to find fun exploitations. So, no more Germany.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: ketaro on October 29, 2016, 11:34:28 PM
Hey, I totally didn't use hindsight and Google when I answered until after people started looking holes in my answer with said things!

In an Earth where DnD classes are a thing and magic roams about even at a low level of influence, the whole ww2 thing might not even go the same; it might not even happen. Or it'd be way worse because necromancers ;)
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Samwise on October 29, 2016, 11:44:36 PM
Guns cars, planes exist but pre-Internet so information isn't globally shared in a split second.

So then information "technology" is going to be at a premium.
Anything that can simulate a computer, as well as anything relating to encryption, is going to be at a premium.

Quote
You're in a city under martial law that's declared it's hatred of your kind. Maybe your D&D powers violate laws, maybe a previous transplant raised an army of undead, who knows (or cares). The the vast majority of locals will turn you into the authorities who will imprison and study you assuming immediate off-the-record execution isn't an option.

That means alter self is going to be critical, probably why druid got banned. Other alteration abilities, up to outright shapechange are going to be similarly valuable.
The thing is, once you've escaped, they decrease in value; UNLESS . . .

Quote
But there is a win condition, if you take over a country with the military might and inbred hatred of your people like Nazi Germany, you can flip the local region back to friendly. In such a case you need to prove to them you're a productive member of society and not just built for war. So what would you offer to the job market?

This seems a bit confusing:

I have to take over the country I am in?
Why not just a neighboring country that is stronger?
Meanwhile, why exactly do I need to prove I'm of value other than in war? Don't they have other enemies that need destroying? Clearly I could help with that if I'm purely spec-ed for war.

Of course, that skips over the much simpler solution: remember those alteration, aka "shapechanging" powers that become obsolete when I escape?
Well . . .
I don't escape; that is not my plan.
Never mind killing Hitler, I will to "replace" Hitler, as "Hitler".
Or as Himmler or Goebbels or Bormann or Goering if I must settle for "inheriting" things. (Based on the usual factors and all that.)
Depending on how quickly I can manage that, I can switch "extermination" to ""subversion"/incorporation", or just "expulsion" (go Madagascar Plan!).
Well, unless I simply don't care about my people, in which case, whatever.
If it is too late for my people, then you can just call this the "Riddick Plan" - become Lord Marshal and retire to the battlefield.

I'm thinking something along the lines of a Beguiler here, with some telepathy based prestige class, and some shapeshifting feats.
You'll have your skill monkey for deception and subversion, your illusion powers as a fall back for your shapeshifting, and your telepathy for more subversion and communication.
Overall, just go at the whole thing sideways instead of frontal assault on the problem.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Solo on October 30, 2016, 05:08:18 AM
In the specific setting you spelled out, I would very much not want to be the super special snowflake they could never be and flaunt it unless I was the diplomancer that takes over that shit. ;)

Expert with ranks in diplomacy

Come up with your own damn ideas.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: SorO_Lost on October 30, 2016, 10:15:40 AM
So then information "technology" is going to be at a premium.
It also means a cheap hand held device isn't ten times better than most Divinations :p

I have to take over the country I am in? Why not just a neighboring country that is stronger?
All counties are equal and if your plan is to rule the world then on a world scale your country must be able to compete with others. Specially considering you know there have been other D&D people, hiding in the center of the Earth using Scry and die as a Wizard may actually have been the last guy's plan and what happened to him hmm? On the global scale, you need followers and for that you need money.

The replacement idea is a very nice way to quickly secure resources. :)
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Samwise on October 30, 2016, 02:20:26 PM
It also means a cheap hand held device isn't ten times better than most Divinations :p

That's why I used the quotation marks - Clarke's Law and Foglio's Corollary:

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
Any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology

Set up a bunch of sending stones like in Eberron, based around networks of changelings (or reasonable facsimile thereof), and you've got your super spies plus enigma machines.
Throw in a bunch of mimir's (from Planescape), and you have your computer databases.
Make them intelligent magic items and you skip right to AI.

Quote
All counties are equal and if your plan is to rule the world then on a world scale your country must be able to compete with others.

So another factor - the countries being equal.
A bit of a stretch, but okay.
However . . . does that include equal in hatred for my people?

Further, I thought my plan was to survive, not to rule the world.
Is that another change I need to account for?

Quote
Specially considering you know there have been other D&D people, hiding in the center of the Earth using Scry and die as a Wizard may actually have been the last guy's plan and what happened to him hmm? On the global scale, you need followers and for that you need money.

Screw scry and die. I have always despised that concept, as it is predicated on "somehow" being left alone long enough to reach epic level without anyone else ever deciding to bother you. It sounds good, but indeed, what happened to the last guy?

As for followers, you excluded leadership, so of course, thrallherd suggests itself.
However, you do not need money for followers. It certainly helps, but as cynical Machiavelli noted, gold may not always get your good soldiers, but good soldiers will always get you gold. Give me the fanatics first and the phat lewt will take care of itself in due course.

Quote
The replacement idea is a very nice way to quickly secure resources. :)

Which of course is why it is my first choice.
Why bother building when you can simply annex?
Particularly if it means skipping the destruction and rebuilding part.
In particular, it saves money that can be immediately spent on more useful purposes.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: awaken_D_M_golem on October 30, 2016, 02:28:18 PM
hmm , can't go Omniscificer ... that's what late 1944-ish right?


Stathan the Promethean Transporter
Bamboo Spirit Folk --- for Trackless Step right away
Marshal 1 and 2 , perhaps Bard 1 for the semi-gestalt 1st level
level 1 ... go find Einstein
level 2 ... re-enact The Sound Of Music ending escape scene but with him
might need a retrain or a handwave to work

then Ardent 3 / UrPriest 2 / Dual X given what you + Ein'y yacked about, climbing ev'ry mountain.
Stick around afterward, with Motivate Intelligence on Ein'y and "the" gang, on out.

Wis = Con = Dex = Cha early, all Wis later.
"We stole Fire from the gawds, eh?"
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: SorO_Lost on October 30, 2016, 03:05:08 PM
Here let me fix the order of you post for a second.
Further, I thought my plan was to survive, not to rule the world.
Is that another change I need to account for?
Quote
All counties are equal and if your plan is to rule the world then on a world scale your country must be able to compete with others.
Is that better?

And yeah they all hate you but luckily there are no nuclear weapons in this scenario. But if you wish to retire into the workforce once the country realizes you're a friend, or indispensable ally, or someone they cannot push around, you don't have to rule anything. You just need some kind of afterwards plan.

It sounds good, but indeed, what happened to the last guy?
Who knows, maybe they developed a way to counter it, maybe he didn't live long enough to make it to a secure enough location, maybe he is still alive and feeding propaganda to ensure the entire world was against the next one that shows up.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Samwise on October 30, 2016, 08:41:28 PM
Is that better?

Yep.
And . . .
That won't be my plan.
I don't need to rule everything to be happy. :D

Quote
And yeah they all hate you but luckily there are no nuclear weapons in this scenario. But if you wish to retire into the workforce once the country realizes you're a friend, or indispensable ally, or someone they cannot push around, you don't have to rule anything. You just need some kind of afterwards plan.

However, I may need to kill off a sizable portion of what I don't rule merely to be secure.

Quote
Who knows, maybe they developed a way to counter it, maybe he didn't live long enough to make it to a secure enough location, maybe he is still alive and feeding propaganda to ensure the entire world was against the next one that shows up.

That was intended as a rhetorical question to highlight how I dismiss the concept.
Well, if he is there, he can rest easy knowing I have no intention of replacing him.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: SorO_Lost on October 30, 2016, 08:50:07 PM

So
altpersona: Warlock for all day EB.
Nifft: Druid, Binder/Wizard, Warblade/Psion.
Solo: Expert focused on Diplomacy.
Necrosnoop110: Psion/Monk to Thrallherd.
SorO: Bard, Sorcerer/Favored Soul.
ketaro: Artificer.
linklord231: Cleric/Crusader/RVK.
Vladeshi: N/A.
Samwise: Beguiler.
ADM: Ardent/Marshal/UrPriest.
Hmm, anyone else?
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: linklord231 on October 30, 2016, 11:17:10 PM
linklord231: Cleric/Crusader/RVK.

More specifically:  Cloistered Cleric/Divine Oracle/Contemplative//Crusader.  Gives a more balanced development, where I don't have that weird pre-theurge gap for a couple levels.  Take Travel, Trickery, and Knowledge as my domains, then get Oracle and one more from PrC's later on.  Travel domain gives Freedom of Movement for when it matters, which means I basically can't be captured.  Trickery adds important skills to my class list, plus Disguise Self and Invisibility at low levels.  Having both Knowledge and Oracle means my Diviniation spells are at +3 caster level, and there's actually surprisingly little overlap in the spell list.  Detect Secret Doors probably won't see much use, but Detect Thoughts, Divination, and Commune sure will. 

I would act as the Next Great Prophet, working miracles and Smiting my enemies - when I choose to reveal myself, anyway.  I have Disguise Self and Disguise as a class skill, so I should be a slippery guy to track down. 
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Vizzerdrix on November 04, 2016, 08:56:53 PM
My thoughs are a bit disjointed at the moment. Sorry if my post is a mess.

I could go commoner-1 and provide enough food to feed a nation AND get free lycanthropy. Id get a net gain of 2 extra starting feats too! But I think being a sheep part of the time could work against me. Hmm...

Artificer isnt going to cut it. Too rough of a start. I assume UA generic classes are out. Id just gestalt Arcane and Divine caster otherwise. That would provide minions to carve out a safe space and enough feats to make even me happy.

Early survival is key. I know a combo that can go a long way in the early levels, so that is what I will do.

Martial wilderness rogue-1
Feats/Flaws (5/2)-  Flaws-Noncombatant, Vulnerable. Feats- Toughness, Trollblooded, Aberant Dragonmark-Shield, Mark of Madness, Mark of Xoriat.

I have DR5 vs. something that does not exist in our world and Regeneration 1. Access to the survival skill and the 1/day ability to inflict temporary confusion on someone so I can get away. Light is a problem but if I am being hunted then moving at night is best anyways, plus it can be taken care of if I hit level 6. I dont think I have the stats for a caster, but if Im the only person leveling up then saves arent an issue. If I could get into Chamelion that would be great. Low stats wouldnt be such an issue then. Maybe human paragon for another stat boost? Lack of a spellbook would hurt though. StP Erudite for the gestalt would be handy, or just Psion.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: ketaro on November 04, 2016, 09:23:19 PM
Quote
I could go commoner-1 and provide enough food to feed a nation

Immediately thought you were going to say chicken-infested  :lmao
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Vizzerdrix on November 05, 2016, 07:12:12 AM
Quote
I could go commoner-1 and provide enough food to feed a nation

Immediately thought you were going to say chicken-infested  :lmao

Didnt need to say it. How else would I feed everyone? Of course, with the right bard build after commoner1, I could turn those chickens into an unstopable killing force.

Commoner1 with chicken infested, weresheep, toughness, troll blooded, Skill Focus Know Religion and an open feat. Then I could set myself up as a living god.
Excerpts from the book of Donny-
"Come my children, eat of my flesh. Today I am best served lightly broiled with mint jelly and cranberry sauce."
"Lo, and he doth smote his enemies with a fowl rain of burning livestock that they may come to know his wrath in time, amen."
"And the people spoke unto him. Lord Dude on high, please reach deep into thy sack that we may feast not on the hormone infused meat of KFC, but on that wich is organic and tastey. And the lord sayith, Okay. And the thing was done. And in this way fried chicken was had by all. Amen."
"And he proclaimed to all. Oh yea who shiver in the night, or suffer the feel of poyester on thy supple skin, come. Shear my wool that you may make fine garments for yourselves. And the people did. And it was good."

All that and free lycanthropy. I could turn my priests into weresheep as well. Whats not to love.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: ketaro on November 05, 2016, 08:01:25 AM
That is one of the most inspirational builds I've ever seen hahaha.

The only thing I don't get is is there something special about weresheep over other lycanthropes here?

Edit: At the same time, because of the chicken-infested bard inspiration, I went and JUST learned (with over a decade playing this game) that you don't need to understand the bard to gain the bonuses of Inspire Courage, you simply need to not be mindless/immune to mind-affecting shit.

For all these years, I've been neglecting so many animal companions  :bigeyes
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Vizzerdrix on November 05, 2016, 11:41:11 AM
Weresheep is (1) granted by a flaw and (2) the only case of a hebivore lycanthrope. I would argue that as it adds a third flaw (tastey) it is meant to not add the LA.

But those are just joke flaws and not really useable. But it is fun to play around with them.

If you want something without the commoner level, try gnome DFI bard with the animal friend feat. Take a bunch of stuff with fractional hd (small birds or bats) and obtain familiar for something that can talk to them and lead the troops so to speak.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: awaken_D_M_golem on November 05, 2016, 03:03:41 PM
ooooh , you mean like the Jupiter Ascending bees scene :

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Vizzerdrix on November 05, 2016, 06:09:32 PM
ooooh , you mean like the Jupiter Ascending bees scene :

(click to show/hide)

I dont know what that is.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Dr_emperor on November 06, 2016, 05:50:59 PM
I'm trying to figure out if soulmelds could be hidden/bluffed.  So Incarnate its basically what Solo said though.  +8 to random skills assuming Improved essentia capacity 15 con might not be possible with the rules though.  If Gestalt you'd want to add beguiler in normal you'd level in that.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Kajhera on November 07, 2016, 01:18:48 AM
Psionics can be pretty difficult to identify without using psionics, and if this is actually *me* Int is pretty much the only score I can rely on being a positive modifier ...  All of my physical scores are more in the realm of 8. :p Though if this is again *actually me*, Constitution and Strength are still going to be better than Dexterity by some amount, and an 8/10/10/11/11/12 array would put them average enough.

Shaper (possibly Tashalatora Shaper), creative application and subtle manifestation. Gestalt with ... Beguiling Influence would come in handy in a pinch, but I have no dexterity, so Dragonfire Adept possibly makes more sense for ... one level, depending how obvious the Dragonblooded is with just one level. Not sure if I can meet the alignment requirements for Warlock. Dragonblooded does open up draconic auras, which could be used for some subtly helpful things. I'd probably lay low and dabble in dips like 'cloistered cleric of an ideal', human paragon to get that int up, bard, warblade and whatnot with the spare levels if I avoided enough dying to earn XP.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: PlzBreakMyCampaign on November 25, 2016, 04:15:27 PM
Godwin's Law Inception here...


How much do the Nazi's know about you? Most all level 1 PCs would die if you start out vs knowledgeable army. You have to start out as a base class's first level, and most just around that strong. I suppose the "answer" is just become a Tier 1 in RAW or high Tier 3 in fixed 3e. Conjurer ACF with escapy, hidy spells and you can buy the time to level. Once you're leveled go for the standard sources of PrC power. If all the +2 tiers are fixed (cough cough), then settle on a +1 tier (level-drain/rebuilding for Chameleon is probably the best way to gather power). Triple 7's would be doable after a "plug-in" for psionics I never bothered to post.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: WarlockLord on December 11, 2016, 06:09:12 AM
My original plan was to go with a telepath, as you can mentally alter people with no indication that that's what your actually doing, but that appears to be taken, and I am dubious of success with 12 int.

Therefore we go with a much cooler/eviler route: Master of Shrouds.  Specifically, the early entry build where you take a good will save class for a level to get in - in this case, our hero starts with a level of Telepath for the aforementioned Undetectable Charm Skills.  We then multiclass to cleric until level 3, at which point we start grabbing all the Master of Shrouds levels we can get our evil little hands on.

The wonderful thing about Master of Shrouds is that your summons, in addition to being immune to guns and callable at a moment's notice, create permanent spawn you can rebuke and order to hide in walls and whatnot.  Therefore, once you get the ability to summon shadows, your new game plan is luring Nazis to your Basement of Evil where they get murdered by undead and turned into your personal army that is immune to guns, artillery strikes, aircraft, whatever...that can also fly and is intelligent enough to carry out orders without your direct instruction.  Remember, most of your interaction is going to be with regular dudes with guns instead of level appropriate opposition (and this is a character that can chump most of that normally) - and if people get ideas about fighting you you can send a shadow squad with orders to kill them and not expose your vulnerable self. 

As far as the job market goes, you have an army of self-replicating shadows that can act as your personal spies and assassins and are immune to gunfire.  If conflict with other D&D transplants is a problem, you can seriously just turn your dominion into a scorched wasteland of undead as a last resort to prevent anyone else from getting value from it.  There's not much in the game that can stop an infinite army of shadows.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Chemus on April 15, 2017, 03:04:35 AM
*Sigh* Late to the party as usual.

Assuming retraining with gestalt (to fill one side with PrC's):
Psion (Egoist)5/Monk15//Psion Uncarnate10/Cloud Anchorite10 | Feats: Ghostly Grasp, Monastic Training (Psion), Tashalatora, Mountaineer, Psionic Body

Has the Change Shape ability from The Mind's Eye (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070314a), for low level disguise. ML 11.
PsiUnc ==Telekinesis, Incorp (no need to eat sleep or breathe) but can use eq. and items, CA == Eternal life, Monk==No physical deterioration. Kinda can't die.


Sans retraining:
Psion (Egoist)20//Monk5/Tattoed Monk5/Cloud Anchorite10 | Feats: Monastic Training (Psion), Tashalatora, Mountaineer, I. GrappleB
Has Crane Tattoo(TM 1st), Either Crab or White Mask Tattoo (TM 3rd), and Ocean Tattoo (TM 5th).

As above, but no Incorporeality (Unless Wis can get to be really high, then Improved Assume Su Abil (Phantom Jaunt, MMV, p131) and Ghostly Grasp would be great here too, but with no incorporeal touch attack, I'd be reduced to using ranged weapons. Boo Hoo.)
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Endarire on July 04, 2017, 02:39:52 AM
If somehow I could swing it, Human Paladin who uses the Pazuzu, Pazuzu, Pazuzu trick to get a Candle of Invocation and start using simulacrum after simulacrum (from a custom item or a Ring of Three Wishes or such) to get what I wanted.

Assuming that worked.

Otherwise, pick the best option(s).
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Archon on July 04, 2017, 07:38:57 AM

Changling Bard would be a decent solution, wouldn't it?

Shapeshift, diplomancy, a little mind control for grease.

If you can't get changeling, the I guess go gestalt (Xp is a river), with warlock//bard for the alter self.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Kerrus on July 10, 2017, 09:24:45 PM
Probably some kind of Diplomancer would be the most efficient route. Either a Jumplomancer or an Arseplomancer- the latter would ensure I can escape any prison, while the former would let me evade those who want to kill me all day long while converting vast swathes of the countryside into my adoring followers.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Chemus on July 10, 2017, 10:28:10 PM
And if you were a bikini-clad girl with your own mobile trampoline...
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Nifft on July 11, 2017, 02:04:25 AM

Changling Bard would be a decent solution, wouldn't it?

Shapeshift, diplomancy, a little mind control for grease.

If you can't get changeling, the I guess go gestalt (Xp is a river), with warlock//bard for the alter self.
If you can't be a Changeling, you can still get unlimited disguises at level 1:
- Binder 1 (with Naberius), for disguise self at-will. Changes your clothes, too.
- Egoist 1 (with the online ACF), same power as Changelings.

The nice thing about those is they have better growth than a solo Bard.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: Endarire on November 03, 2019, 10:06:18 PM
If you're trying to basically solo World War II, you don't do it through raw strength.  Mind control/social skills and minions are simply the best way to go.

How does leveling work in this game?  How does EXP accumulate?  What level could we reach considering that, even slaughtering animals, we probably won't reach level 20 due to CR-based EXP alone.
Title: Re: If you had to be, what would you be?
Post by: crazypunk86 on April 25, 2022, 08:18:39 AM
Psion for sure