Is a Hurricane (Sandy) build possible?

[awaken_D_M_golem]

  ... aww Dragon Mag, our favorite T.O.  "house"rules.



btw - Staten Island is a wreck.  I've seen damage
from Andrew in south Miami that still wasn't fixed
10 and 15 years after.  Tough times are in store.

[SorO_Lost]

dragon is canonical because wotc said it was. they put the 100% official material stamp on just about every one by paizo. other opinions notwithstanding, whatever wotc says is official, is.

My god, rainbow avatars have a theme here.

A.

Hybrid Horrors
Few creatures or characters prove more dangerous than a necromancer who pairs with a powerful transmuter. Such a duo can combine animate dead and various bizarre breeding experiments to produce a corps of elite undead capable of tearing apart any living creature.
How?
It's simple, really.
The necromancer's level limits the number of zombies and skeletons he can control. Monsters usually don't gain more Hit Dire with the addition of a template, but this generally do gain ability score increases, often to Strength and Dexterity.
For example a 6th-level necromancer can control two ankheg zombies. Alternatively he can control two half-dragon ankheg zombies, two half-fiend ankheg zombies, or even two half-fiend half dragon ankheg zombies (remember, you ran slack multiple templates on the same creature). Of course. your DM might not always present such creatures for your party to slay, but that's why your necromancer has a transmuter ally with access to polymarph any object. The skeleton of a squirrel can become the dead body of a dragon turtle with the casting of a single spell.

Because I don't see any text saying PAO can be used to add templates to creatures, it suggests templated undead are pretty powerful but if the DM isn't throwing them at you it suggests that you turn one object (a corpse) into another un-templated-object (a corpse) using PAO.

B. The books and movie are "D&D" per WotC. Am I to expect some shitty remark that Wizards can cast Somatic spells even if oh idk, grappled by a wall, because screw the rule books? Dragon is 2nd party and I'm certainly not canonizing Warhammer is D&D material because Dragon liked to advertise and reference it. My line is drawn on 1st party resources and yours is clearly at "what-ever-some-one-says-on-some-forums".

C. Errata states any contradictions presented in rules (that's rules btw, suggestions don't count), such as no templated creatures, is prioritized by updated sources first. Which is a chain of like the FAQ, Errata, PAO and all of it's various updates from the RC, PHBII, DMGII?, CM?, the original printing, WotC's online articles, and so on. Long before we ever hit something at Dragon's level. And clear back at PAO it's self we've got rules that say no. So honestly, even if it did say yes and it don't, who the hell cares?

I wish I nipped this one in the bud when ever it was first posted, clearly people are running down hill with it as "fact".

[nijineko]

if wotc says something is official and/or cannon, it doesn't matter how stupid, contradictory, or just plain idiotic it is, it's still official and/or cannon. dragon and dungeon are official and cannon no matter what your opinion is, or what my opinion is. i didn't say i liked it, or even necessarily agreed with it, but it is official and cannon. fact. deal with it or ignore it at your leisure, but you cannot accurately claim it is not official and cannon, regardless of whether it is second party or not.

[FlaminCows]

The movies and books are fluff, which always was disregarded. The magazines, however, are "100% Official Dungeons and Dragons Content." It says so on the cover, Wizards treats it as such, etc etc.

For that matter, I do like it. Yes, there were plenty of things that don't make sense, but what else is new? There is also plenty that is good, and that's enough for me. Disregarding something just because it came from Dragon seems pointlessly fickle and picky. It just another source of content, much of which isn't covered elsewhere.

Quality is subjective, officialness is not. Wizards says the magazine is official, so it is. Whether certain people like the magazines or not is immaterial.

[sirpercival]

SorO is right that the magazines are "2nd party".

1st party: published by WotC.
2nd party: officially licensed by WotC, published by someone else.
3rd party: OGL, not published by WotC.

[SorO_Lost]

Indeed, but I think we're not even arguing the same things.

I say Dragon isn't worth the paper it's printed on while pointing out you cannot PAO into templated creatures, nice opportunity to rip on Dragon so it's not like I can't let it pass. But their rebuttal has nothing to do with Dragon's quality, template abuse, or even how rule priority delegates absolutely no power to Dragon's suggestions or even changes. But rather, omg it says official D&D on the cover so they have to argue about how little I give a shit about it. Proving Dragon has a stupid logo on it isn't going to change why I'm here or that I'm wrong on PAO, and certainly won't improve my outlook on it making it a huge waste of time.

The irony is that this pointless debate of official sources started over a correction of badly misinterpreted forum hearsay. Like, someone wants to talk to me about official sources when moments ago forum hearsay was all they needed for an official ruling. Someone is at the end of their avatar for something, and it's not the gold.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Oh I am because I've seen the Leprechaun ... 


I did link back to the original quote.
He may have been mistaken.
I am away from book, and tend to trust the C.O. board to (eventually) get it right.

So he's wrong, yes?

[phaedrusxy]

But you're not really polymorphing something into something with a template. Corpses don't have templates, they're objects. Only creatures have templates. (what's that? gasoline isn't good to throw on fires? )

Even ignoring the template stuff, it's still a nice trick (DM won't let you go hunt down hydras to make zombies? No problem! )

[SorO_Lost]

So he's wrong, yes?

Yeah, I provided the quote already.

Hybrid Horrors
Few creatures or characters prove more dangerous than a necromancer who pairs with a powerful transmuter. Such a duo can combine animate dead and various bizarre breeding experiments to produce a corps of elite undead capable of tearing apart any living creature.
How?
It's simple, really.
The necromancer's level limits the number of zombies and skeletons he can control. Monsters usually don't gain more Hit Dire with the addition of a template, but this generally do gain ability score increases, often to Strength and Dexterity.
For example a 6th-level necromancer can control two ankheg zombies. Alternatively he can control two half-dragon ankheg zombies, two half-fiend ankheg zombies, or even two half-fiend half dragon ankheg zombies (remember, you ran slack multiple templates on the same creature). Of course. your DM might not always present such creatures for your party to slay, but that's why your necromancer has a transmuter ally with access to polymorph any object. The skeleton of a squirrel can become the dead body of a dragon turtle with the casting of a single spell.

There is nothing in there about PAOing into a Template creature. Then of course, the well known fact PAO it's self is based of the Poly line which in turn inherits Alter Self's no Templates rule.

What it is suggesting is PAOing one corpse into another. Like murder a chicken and PAO it's remains into Hydra. Then Animate it for a nice Bite attack.

[nijineko]

so, how will that become a storm and/or hurricane?

[phaedrusxy]

so, how will that become a storm and/or hurricane?

Is there some monster that can create a hurricane? If so, kill a squirrel, PAO its corpse into that thing, animate+awaken it, then Magic Jar on it. Then use Imprison Possessor (Book of Vile Darkness) to make it permanent (or True Mind Switch, etc).

[FlaminCows]

I wonder: for Polymorph Any Object, just how much value must something have to count as "material of great intrinsic value"? I always figured turning a corpse into a dragon corpse would be forbidden under that rule, simply because so much of a dragon is extremely valuable; the hide, at least, and if you expand your sources a whole lot of other parts as well.

[SorO_Lost]

I think that is a debate into it's self. I personally wouldn't favor PAO'ing a worthless corpse from a Bag-O-Animals into the most powerful Core-Only Zombie.

Dragon hide has a sale value, so that's at least off the table. Through Hydra is a better pick anyway.

Also, still liking the Living Spell Template, Sandstorm is a nice kills-u choice. I mean, who said Player Created only? OP didn't I don't think. Idk, tired of waiting for pages to load...

[123456789blaaa]

I think that is a debate into it's self. I personally wouldn't favor PAO'ing a worthless corpse from a Bag-O-Animals into the most powerful Core-Only Zombie.

Dragon hide has a sale value, so that's at least off the table. Through Hydra is a better pick anyway.

Also, still liking the Living Spell Template, Sandstorm is a nice kills-u choice. I mean, who said Player Created only? OP didn't I don't think. Idk, tired of waiting for pages to load...

The spell sovereign prestige class from Dragon 357 can Awaken a living spell. That could be nice.

[nijineko]

I think that is a debate into it's self. I personally wouldn't favor PAO'ing a worthless corpse from a Bag-O-Animals into the most powerful Core-Only Zombie.

Dragon hide has a sale value, so that's at least off the table. Through Hydra is a better pick anyway.

Also, still liking the Living Spell Template, Sandstorm is a nice kills-u choice. I mean, who said Player Created only? OP didn't I don't think. Idk, tired of waiting for pages to load...

The spell sovereign prestige class from Dragon 357 can Awaken a living spell. That could be nice.

don't forget to maximize and empower the awaken, if it applies to the way the class does it.

[123456789blaaa]

I think that is a debate into it's self. I personally wouldn't favor PAO'ing a worthless corpse from a Bag-O-Animals into the most powerful Core-Only Zombie.

Dragon hide has a sale value, so that's at least off the table. Through Hydra is a better pick anyway.

Also, still liking the Living Spell Template, Sandstorm is a nice kills-u choice. I mean, who said Player Created only? OP didn't I don't think. Idk, tired of waiting for pages to load...

The spell sovereign prestige class from Dragon 357 can Awaken a living spell. That could be nice.

don't forget to maximize and empower the awaken, if it applies to the way the class does it.

You'll have to get the empower/maximize spell-like ability feats because the ability is a spell-like ability.
 
Also, I found the halfling druid elemental riding build. It was by Hairygin:

(click to show/hide)

Like Halflings?

How about a whirlwind riding, storm calling, 20lvl caster Halfling Druid


Required:
Knowledge (Planes) 1 Rank
Language (Auran)
Elemental Companion (CM p33)
Halfling Druid substitution level 1 (RotW p157)

Suggested:
Strongheart Halfling (FRCS p18) for the bonus feat

Feats:
There are 2 ways to go here, all depends how soon you want Born of Three Thunders

1 – Companion Spellbond (or other)
1 – Extend Spell (or other metamagic required)
3 – Knowledge Devotion (Arcana) Requires Knowledge Nature 5 Ranks
6 – Natural Spell
9 – Energy Substitution (Electricity) Requires Knowledge Arcana 5 Ranks
12 – Born of the Three Thunders
15 – Summon Elemental or Storm Bolt Reserve Feat *
18 –

OR

1 – Education
1 – Extend Spell (or other metamagic required)
3 – Energy Substitution (Electricity) Requires Knowledge Arcana 5 Ranks
6 – Natural Spell
9 – Born of the Three Thunders
12 – Summon Elemental or Storm Bolt Reserve Feat *
15 – Companion Spellbond (or other)
18 –


* Summon Elemental, you will be able to Summon a Med Air Elemental to always ride while your Companion is free to engage enemies and act as a guard for you, if you aren't wild shaped in melee.
* Storm Bolt, you will always have a short range lighting bolt available, and gain +1 caster level to Electricity spells

Key levels
4th - Air Elemental Companion becomes Medium allowing you to ride it now.
 (Enhanced link from substitution level allows you to ride a companion with no saddle and grants a +4 Ride bonus)
5th – Wild shape (no more fear of falling off mid flight if DM allows actions)
6th – Natural Spell
10th – Large Air Elemental Companion, can now power spells in whirlwind form
9th or 12th – Electricity damage that can stun and knock down enemies


Fly around on your Whirlwind ccing the battlefield, damaging, stunning and knocking down enemies when needed, using your Air Elemental to power storm spells when needed, and in if in melee (and have Knowledge Devotion) use Knowledge Planes, Aracana, or Nature to get a bonus to hit and damage vs constructs, dragons, magical beasts, outsiders, elementals, animals, giants, fey, monstrous humanoids, plants, and vermin … oh my

And possibly no side effect from Born of the Three Thunders if Wild Shaped as a plant grants immunity to being Dazed, if not it can still carry you and keep you from harm.

A fun storm build to play levels 1-20, if you like Halflings

[awaken_D_M_golem]

That reminds me of Dragonball Z ... like
the lead characters were kids riding around
on clouds.  Medium Air Elemental is bigger,
but the Halfling is about right.

[SorO_Lost]

So... I take it ADM isn't awake and needs a nap.

The famous DBZ the main characters were adults (except gohan) and he barely rode the cloud. The lesser watched DB on the other hand...