Author Topic: PhaedrusXY's Playground  (Read 75441 times)

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #120 on: March 17, 2014, 01:10:44 PM »
OK... ubercheese time...

Before getting this whole ball of wax rolling, we'll manifest about 70 Twinned, Extended Astral Constructs. They're all going to be standing around in our Affinity Field, too. Our cleric thrall will cast a Sanctum Spell Delay Death into the Affinity Field, so no one can die from hit point damage. He'll also cast a Sanctum Favor of the Martyr, so we're not incapacitated when at -1 hit points and below, and we're even immune to daze. How convenient.

Then we go through our insane loop above, but we'll use something that the Astral Constructs aren't immune to as the damage delivery vehicle. (Our Energy Conversion + Wall of Energy combo should work just fine now...).

So let's Split Ray that bad boy, for 80 damage per shot. 80*73 = 5840 damage... Yeah, that's way overkill... Even if she deflects that somehow (picked up a Wings of Flurry spell, etc), we can do that at least 8 times via our shared Celerity/Anticipatory Strike + Schism actions (excluding actions used for other things).

We'll use Gate (travel version) + Lesser Celerity to get our little army within range of Shar in the shortest amount of time possible. So I guess I better map out these actions...

1) We're sitting in X (Sigil? Can you cast Gate out from there?). We have already summoned our boatload of weenie astral constructs, and have our Affinity Field + Sanctum Spell Delay Death + SS FotM going on everyone (plus Schism on the guys who will actually be acting as more than damage sponge/amplifiers). We also have a few guys in the forms of Jovocs through Shapechange/Gr. Metamorphosis. Finally, Psion 1 + 2, and his thralls (who are fused with Psicrystals to benefit from Share Powers) have our Energy Conversion loaded up with a bazillion points of damage. So basically everything is set up to go before we leave our safehouse.

2) Thrall 1 casts Gate. Some random Believer casts Lesser Celerity to interrupt Shar, who is no doubt about to kill all of our asses. Everyone steps through the Gate and surrounds her using our new Move action. We're all immune to Daze, and so suffer no penalty.

3) Psion 1 manifests Anticipatory Strike, and lets loose a Split Ray from Energy Conversion. This hits everyone, ricocheting off the jovocs, and ultimately dealing over 5000 damage to Shar, bypassing all resistances, etc.

4) If she somehow survives, Psion 1 still has his Schism action. So he fires off another one.

5) If she's still alive, the Psion's clone (Psion 2), repeats steps 3 and 4.

6) Thrall 2 still has his actions, just in case.

?) Everyone walks back through the Gate, falls over dead, and some of the believers who were left in Sigil pull out scrolls of Revivify and bring back the Thrallherd, and his Thralls. I guess his psicrystal is still dead. Oh well.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2014, 01:27:01 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Stratovarius

  • Forum Host
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7678
  • Arhosan Emperor
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #121 on: March 17, 2014, 01:43:06 PM »
So... 20,000 odd damage as a immediate action.  :clap :lmao.

Would the damage ricochet around as an NI loop between the various Jovocs, or are they immune to other Jovoc auras? Or via the Astral Construct -> Affinity Field -> Jovoc -> Astral Construct loop?

Also, I must bow to your Op-Fu. It's far above mine :) :clap

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #122 on: March 17, 2014, 01:46:07 PM »
So... 20,000 odd damage as a immediate action.  :clap :lmao.

Would the damage ricochet around as an NI loop between the various Jovocs, or are they immune to other Jovoc auras? Or via the Astral Construct -> Affinity Field -> Jovoc -> Astral Construct loop?

Also, I must bow to your Op-Fu. It's far above mine :) :clap
I wasn't even considering the option of having it bounce around... The jovocs are immune to each other's auras, but the rest of the "army" isn't, and so it could bounce back and forth between them and the jovocs repeatedly... I think that might possibly go infinite, or at least NI. That's why I said this was a very conservative interpretation. :p I was only using the jovocs to bypass any immunities/resistances Shar has, but they actually aren't really needed for this whole thing to work. 5000+ damage should be fine, as long as we don't target something she's completely immune to...
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Stratovarius

  • Forum Host
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7678
  • Arhosan Emperor
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #123 on: March 17, 2014, 02:11:33 PM »
She's immune to Acid, Electricty and Cold (and Ability) as damage types, so there's plenty of holes to walk through. Fire Resistance 38,  DR 53/+4, Evasion (not improved, oddly. Shame on you, Shar!), SR 50, and that about does it.

Doesn't really sound like there's much in the way of proper defences there.

Oddly enough, looks like the basic way to take her down is good old Fire damage, the favourite of every wizard since 1e.

Offline awaken_D_M_golem

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 7639
  • classique style , invisible tail
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #124 on: March 17, 2014, 05:24:44 PM »
However, her portfolio includes herself
so she sees this coming way ahead of time.
Buffs up and running.
Your codpiece is a mimic.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #125 on: March 17, 2014, 10:13:59 PM »
I still had one Thrall who hadn't done anything. He casts Mordenkainen's Disjunction. :P There was something in the challenge about her not knowing/being able to stop me already due to the PC starting in Sigil, also.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline nijineko

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 2408
  • two strange quarks short of a graviton....
    • View Profile
    • TwinSeraphim
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #126 on: March 21, 2014, 05:02:40 PM »
um...

what about the rule that only one astral construct can exist at a time?

which is excepted by only two prestige classes in the game, one of which allows you a mac of two simultaneous constructs, the other of which allows you a max of four simultaneous constructs?


or did i just miss something obvious in your concept chain that would override that?

Offline Garryl

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 4503
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #127 on: March 21, 2014, 08:38:11 PM »
um...

what about the rule that only one astral construct can exist at a time?

which is excepted by only two prestige classes in the game, one of which allows you a mac of two simultaneous constructs, the other of which allows you a max of four simultaneous constructs?


or did i just miss something obvious in your concept chain that would override that?

That's only the case if you're using CPsi. If you don't have CPsi, or if you follow the implicit assumption that CPsi is a crappy book and that its various nerfs should be ignored, the problem ceases to exist. Phaedrus falls into the latter category, I believe.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #128 on: March 22, 2014, 03:12:52 PM »
um...

what about the rule that only one astral construct can exist at a time?

which is excepted by only two prestige classes in the game, one of which allows you a mac of two simultaneous constructs, the other of which allows you a max of four simultaneous constructs?


or did i just miss something obvious in your concept chain that would override that?

That's only the case if you're using CPsi. If you don't have CPsi, or if you follow the implicit assumption that CPsi is a crappy book and that its various nerfs should be ignored, the problem ceases to exist. Phaedrus falls into the latter category, I believe.
Yeah... F CPsi. I've ignored that rule for so long that I actually forgot it exists...

I guess since this is more of a theoretical exercise, that I should actually make a point to follow the RAW, though. So instead of spamming AC, your cohort 2 (which should be an archivist) could instead spam SM I.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #129 on: March 31, 2014, 09:52:07 PM »
A name that I must use sometime... which is actually the name of a medical condition. :P

Nevus of Ota
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #130 on: April 03, 2014, 12:08:00 AM »
Nevus of Ota

Water Orc Crusader 1/Awakened Zombie 1/JuJu Zombie 1

Later classes: Evolved Undead (Fallen Warrior Nega Evolution),  Titanic Creature (for Growth + Send Flying), Spellstiched

Feats: Extra Granted Maneuver (1st), Power Attack (JuJu1), Improved Bull Rush (3rd)
Later feats: Pick up Shock Trooper later (and Leap Attack).

Disciplines: Unquiet Twilight, Raging Dragon, Infernal Monster!!

Stance: Storm's Fury (RD1, basically Whirling Frenzy ACF as a stance but also can make an extra attack after a strike)
Maneuvers: Raging Behemoth Charge (IM1, full-round action/charge, hit two adjacent enemies), Terrific Blow (RD1 strike, -4 hit, +12 dmg), Claw of the Grave (UQ1 boost, +1d4+IL neg en till next turn), Steal Vitality (UQ1 strike, +2 to saves, -2 to enemies, for 1 round), Winged Feet (RD1 boost, +10' to all movements for 1/2 ranks in Intimidate)

Racial stat mods (starting out): Str +7, Con +2, Int/Wis/Cha -2 each

Gear: Guisarme + slam/armor spikes (to threaten at 5')
« Last Edit: April 06, 2014, 03:46:42 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #131 on: April 27, 2014, 11:05:18 AM »
Tomas Tynan Tierney

Race: Flonha
Classes: Gallant

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: April 28, 2014, 08:20:27 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #132 on: April 30, 2014, 09:46:15 AM »
Human Barbarian 2 (Whirling Frenzy, Wolf and Lion Totem)/Ranger 2/Swordsage 1/Fighter 2/SS +1
Feats: Power Attack (H), Wolf Berzerker (not required) (1), Improved Trip (Bar2 bonus), TWF (Ranger 2), Weapon Focus (virtual SS feat), Oversized TWF (3), Improved Bull Rush (Ftr1), High Sword Low Axe (6), Shock Trooper (Ftr2)

Get an aptitude weapon, allowing the SS virtual Wpn Focus feat to apply to both your axe and sword (DM permitting), and you qualify for High Sword Low Axe. If your DM won't let you be both a Lion and Wolf totem barbarian, drop the second barbarian level and take another fighter level. Pick up a pair of Gloves of the Balanced Hands ASAP.

What this build gets:
At 7th level: Pounce, TWF+Power Attack, free trip attacks if hits with both weapons, 2nd level maneuvers, can dump AC to fuel Power Attack bonus.
At 8th level: Picks up a 2nd level stance, which could be Assassin's Stance.

If it is ruled you can't use the Aptitude enhancement to make the SS's ability qualify you for High Sword Low Axe, trade out the Wolf Berzerker feat for Weapon Focus. You'll lose a +4 to trip, but that's all.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2014, 03:01:33 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #133 on: May 28, 2014, 12:00:06 PM »
« Last Edit: May 28, 2014, 04:35:05 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Force Choke
« Reply #134 on: June 18, 2014, 01:24:04 PM »
I just had an idea to combine Telekinesis with the Choke Hold feat, and had to follow up on it... The obvious thing to do is take a level of monk, and then get into Master of the Unseen Hand ASAP... although I have no idea WTH the abilities of the last two levels of that PrC are about... Those both seem like things that anyone using Telekinesis should be able to do!

I might develop this more later...

If homebrew is allowed, a Telekinetic Warlock could be a good entry for this also. Maybe throw on the Scorpion's Grasp feat... but that's getting to be a lot of resources invested into a niche/gimmick attack mode... Still... depending on how it was interpreted, being able to attack 15 different creatures with weapons via Telekinesis, and then start free grapples with them all at once, could be pretty hilarious... That would even make Darth Vader proud, I think.  :lmao

Arena Build WIP
Dark primordial half-giant ghost (LA reduced by 2 with 1 component) /Monk 2 (OA feats)//Wilder 7
(click to show/hide)
(click to show/hide)
(click to show/hide)
Monk Bonus Feats: IUS, Stunning Fist, Improved Grapple
Other feats: Choke Hold, Flyby Attack, Psicrystal Affinity
Skill Tricks: ?
Items (19k): Ring of Diamond Mind (3 6k), Cloak of Charisma +2 (4k), Vest of Resistance +1 (1k), +1 heavy darkwood shield (1256? gp), Ring of Protection +1 (2k), dorjes of Hustle and Chameleon, Anklet of Translocation (1.4k), wand of a SHITLOAD of alchemical items... (acid flasks, etc)
Skills: UPD?, Hide, Concentration

Ghost special attacks chosen: Frightful Moan (or maybe the Major Image from Libris Mortis), Horrific Appearance, Telekinesis

Wilder Powers: Touchsight (3rd), Share Pain (2nd), Vigor (1st), Inertial Armor (1st)

Tactics: Use Telekinesis to grapple (modifier at least +29, w/Choke Hold) or fling 13 (splash) weapons at them. Flyby Attack and massive hide to try and remain untargetable. Touchsight to find enemies.
Weakness: enemies he can't get LoS/LoE to (I especially worry about Iot7V types). Maybe I should invest in some way to put an AMF at/on them?
Energy resistance shuts down the alchemical items.

(click to show/hide)

If cloistered cleric doesn't cost more components, it will likely be X. If it does, X will be Evolved Undead, and I'll take the -20% hit to wealth for an extra component to help pay for it.
« Last Edit: June 26, 2014, 10:07:22 AM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Garryl

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 4503
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #135 on: June 18, 2014, 01:58:56 PM »
Neat find on Choke Hold. It's like Reaping Mauler as a feat (but better).

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #136 on: June 18, 2014, 02:06:54 PM »
Neat find on Choke Hold. It's like Reaping Mauler as a feat (but better).
Yeah. It's a bit too bad the save is based on Wisdom... It would work fine in an actual monk/grappler build, but for a Telekinesis build, it adds some MAD... (as I don't know how to make Telekinesis key off Wisdom).
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #137 on: July 02, 2014, 06:32:32 PM »
Yak Folk Savage Bard 1/Ur-Priest with Mother Cyst
At ECL 15 (but only CR ~12 if an NPC), he can cast 7th level spells, one of which allows him to permanently enslave things.

Suel Arcanamach, Nar Demonbinder, Sublime Chord are other PrCs to look into. A martial adept dip might be good, also, since the racial HD will boost the starting IL by 2 (allowing a yak folk MA1 to start out with 2nd level maneuvers).

Another interesting direction... X 1 (with Practiced Manifester)/Thrallherd. You can use the Thralls as bodies, and this kind of character seems like it would make a fun manipulator/mastermind, anyway. :) If X is Ardent, you might even be able to "catch up" a bit on the level of powers you know, depending on DM interpretation of how the class works with Practiced Manifester.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2014, 12:49:06 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Garryl

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 4503
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #138 on: July 03, 2014, 12:08:19 AM »
5 RHD = +2 IL = IL 3rd after you take your first martial adept level = 2nd level maneuvers, not 3rd level.

Ardent + Practiced Manifester + LA buyoff actually fits with Thrallherd for a single 9th level power at level 20. Without LA buyoff, you obviously can't afford to lose another 2 levels from Thrallherd, although you might as well just get a 17th level thrall to manifest 9th level powers if you want them. With the interpretation commonly used on these boards, you can lose out on 7 manifesting class levels and still get ML 17 at level 20, so the 5 RHD and 2 more lost levels just makes it.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: PhaedrusXY's Playground
« Reply #139 on: July 03, 2014, 12:48:45 PM »
5 RHD = +2 IL = IL 3rd after you take your first martial adept level = 2nd level maneuvers, not 3rd level.
I meant that... :p
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.