Quadratic class features in a linear world

[DavidWL]

Basic idea is that some monster classes give you class features which replace entire progressions.

Example:  Mindstealer Drone 3/Commoner 17 ~ Wizard 19.  It is the gift that keeps on giving.  Playing with this as a concept for a build:

Osle “Optimal” Generic Build

• Oni, Kuwa 4
• Crossbreed 2 (human, strongheart halfling)
• Mindstealer Drone 3
• Death Knight 3
• Evolved Undead 2 (Fallen Control / Fallen Existence)
• Crossbreed +2 (silverbrow human, ???)
• Centaur 3 (Khan)
• Crossbreed +1 (???)

Feats

• 1 Mercantile Background
• 3 Wanderer’s Diplomacy or Hoard
• 5 Extra Followers
• 6 Monster Blooded
• 6 Monster Hybrid
• 9 Leadership
• 12 Undead Leadership
• 15 Improved Cohort
• 15 Monster Blooded (Centaur)
• 16 Monster Hybrid (Centaur)
• 18 Landlord
• 20 Dragon Cohort

Arguably every "set" is worth an entire progression.

• Oni Kuwa ~ level equivalent Mystic Theurge
• Mindstealer Drone ~ level -1 equivalent anything
• Death Knight ~ Thrallherd ~ 1 minion level -1 + perks and it doesn't interfere with leadership and the like
• Evolved Undead ~ more minions level -2
• Centaur 3 (Khan) ~ specialized buffing build

Similarly with feats.

• Oni Kuwa + Mercantile Background ~ Archivist.  Extra followers = *2 expendable gold.  Wanderer's Diplomacy or Hoard to overcome the limitations
• 3 forms of leadership + improved cohort is more leveridging of the quadratic benefit of a linear resource
• Landlord is an extra 800K gold ... nothing to scoff at, even if specialized

I thought about Captured One, but it blocks off the use of leadership, and Death Knight gives the immunites, so it wasn't a clear choice.  I didn't find any other Quadratic returns (God template is close)

I also fudged with feats, assuming I could find additional races for extra bonus feats.  You could always do something like Fighter 2 + Psychic Reformation, etc.  However I wanted to keep to Osle's monster material.

Thoughts?

Best,
David

[DavidWL]

Updating.

Osle “Optimal” Generic Build

• Oni, Kuwa 4
• Crossbreed 2 (human, strongheart halfling)
• Mindstealer Drone 3
• Boss 4
• Crossbreed +2 (silverbrow human, ???)
• Centaur 3 (Khan)
• Crossbreed +2 (???)

Feats

• 1 Mercantile Background
• 3 Wanderer’s Diplomacy or Hoard
• 5 Extra Followers
• 6 Monster Blooded
• 6 Monster Hybrid
• 9 Leadership
• 12 Undead Leadership
• 14 Improved Cohort
• 15 Monster Blooded (Centaur)
• 15 Monster Hybrid (Centaur)
• 18 Landlord
• 19 Dragon Cohort
• 20 ???

Arguably every "set" is worth an entire progression.

• Oni Kuwa 4 ~ level equivalent Mystic Theurge
• Mindstealer Drone 3 ~ level -1 equivalent anything
• Centaur 3 (Khan) ~ specialized buffing build
• Boss 4 ~ now can do the actions of a party of 4 (if careful)

Similarly with feats.

• Oni Kuwa + Mercantile Background ~ Archivist.  Extra followers = *2 expendable gold.  Wanderer's Diplomacy or Hoard to overcome the limitations
• 3 forms of leadership + improved cohort is more leveridging of the quadratic benefit of a linear resource
• Landlord is an extra 800K gold ... nothing to scoff at, even if specialized

A few free levels/feats.  Took out deathknight as there are probably better ways to get immunities, and the leadership isn't worth the levels anymore.  Evolved Undead also only allows CR-2, which, once again, isn't worth the levels.

Possibly the leadership cohort should be a Tatterdemanimal Raggamoffyn, and take 2 levels of captured one for the ability to share saves, mental ability scores, split HP, get immunities.  Costs 2 levels and 1 cohort, but makes you even tougher.  Note probably not worth taking the Recycled Raggamoffyn chain since that gets rid of 3 cohorts (leadership, undead leadership, draconic cohort) for 1 (albeit even better HP, movement, NA).

Best,
David

P.S.  EDIT:

With Flesh Golem instead of crossbreed & realization that Tatterdemanimal Raggamoffyn is fantastic (grants tons of immunities & the possessed gets 2 shadow levels & improved HP & let's either side use some of the other's attributes!).

Flesh Golem 7
Oni Kuwa 4
Mindstealer Drone 3
Tatterdemanimal Raggamoffyn 1
- Cohort is peer (undead leadership / Dvati)
- Intelligent Item (casting)(Leadership) can also target self
- Dragon ... ?
Centaur 3
Boss 2

[DavidWL]

Updated build with "Numan"

• Numan Crossbread (Human) 1 -> lower feat cost for other races
• Oni Kuwa 4 -> caster via GP
• Mindstealer Drone 3 -> anything at -1 level
• Tatterdemanimal Raggamoffyn 1 -> cohort w/ +2 captured one levels
• Centaur 3-> buffer
• Boss 4 -> multi actions + tougher
• Anything that grants bonus feats (Crossbread?) 4 -> more feats

Feats:
7 (level)
5 (classes)
-4 (monster classes)
= 8 net feats

* Mercantile Background
* Wanderer’s Diplomacy or Hoard
* Extra Followers
* Leadership (Intelligent Item)
* Undead Leadership ("Main" cohort)
* Dragon Cohort
* Improved Cohort (for Leadership & Dragon Cohort)
* Landlord