Optimization Challenge: Dispater and the Iron Siege

[Daniel]

To be more clear, the ability would only function when you permanently destroy the deity or cosmic being. I could not gain an ability from killing Asmodeus since a dead Asmodeus is merely a small portion of the still existent Overlord. If I did somehow manage to somehow permanently destroy the Overlord then the SDA would function.

After thinking this ability over a little more, it already implied that every deity/cosmic entity can do this to  some degree. On second thought I think I will probably pass on this ability.

*fixed some wording

[TravelLog]

I accidentally linked to an outdated version of the character. I modified my comment but make sure to click on my link and not the one in your quote.

Would you approve Dragonsight (Draconomicon)? It halves distance penalties for sight and grants some other sight related bonuses.

Here is a SDA I would like approved to replace the custom Super Sneaky SDA I have. It will have no in game effect (Unless I happen to kill someone important) but I think it would add a lot of flavor.

Deific PredatorIf you permanently destroy a deity or cosmic being you may absorb their essence to gain a portion of their power. You may replace one of your Salient Divine Abilities with one of their Salient Divine or Cosmic Abilities that you meet the prerequisites for. You may not replace a Salient Divine Ability that is currently being used as a prerequisite. Additionally, if their divine or cosmic rank is greater or equal to yours then you gain a divine rank.

Your dragonsight request is referring to this, correct? The one where "You do not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice creatures within range of your blindsense." I'll probably allow it. Naturally it doesn't apply to other senses though.

Also, I'll simply reiterate that the Deific Predator creates immense confusion since it ignores alignment, portfolios, etc. so forgetting the idea is probably for the best.

[Tshern]

To be more clear, the ability would only function when you permanently destroy the deity or cosmic being. I could not gain an ability from killing Asmodeus since a dead Asmodeus is merely an aspect of the still existent Overlord. If I did somehow manage to somehow permanently destroy the Overlord then the SDA would function.

After thinking this ability over a little more, it already implied that every deity/cosmic entity can do this to  some degree. On second thought I think I will probably pass on this ability.

Not an aspect, but a virtual avatar.

[Daniel]

Here are two rewritten Epic spells.

For the first, I removed a large number of factors to simplify it and I also attempted to clarify the wording to better reflect it's seed.
For the second I added a factor to increase the dispel check bonus at the cost of XP. Being able to sacrificing XP during casting is used in some of the spells in TGoH.

Magical Cloak of Invincibility

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Abjuration
Spellcraft DC: 174
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Target: Touched Creature
Duration: 24 Hours
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: yes
To Develop:
Factors: +14(Seed: Ward), +160(Wards against all spells and spell like effects under 10th level), 
A faintly shimmering ward surrounds the target and excludes all 9th level or lower spell effects. The area or effect of any such spells does not include and fails to effect the target. However any type of spell may be cast through or out of the ward.

Adaptable Dispelling

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Abjuration
Spellcraft DC: 111
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 1200 ft.
Target: One creature or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
To Develop:
Seed: dispel (DC 19)
Factors: additional +70 to dispel check (+70 DC), 1-action casting time (+20 DC),
allow dispel check to be increased by +1 for every 100 XP spent during casting (ad hoc +2),
increase range by 300%
   
As greater dispelling (see Chapter 11: Spells in the Player’s Handbook), except that the initial bonus
on the dispel check is +80 and by sacrificing XP at the time of casting the dispel check can be increased.

[Tshern]

Blanket immunity to all spells, including epics, seems like a relatively powerful effect.

[Daniel]

The original spell was Ok'd here. http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19525830/The_Iron_Siege&post_num=984#331825374

I agree that epic spells should not be prevented by the ward. I should have fixed that while I was originally clarifying the text. The spell can be pierced by heightened spells (and heightened powers if that is allowed) so it does not grant complete immunity. Since the spell is created from the Ward seed it can be brought down by a target spell made from the Destroy seed.

Ward Seed Text

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A ward against magic creates an immobile, faintly shimmering magical sphere (with radius 10 feet) that surrounds you and excludes all spell effects of up to 1st level. Alternatively, you can ward just the target and not create the radius effect. For each additional level of spells to be excluded, increase the Spellcraft DC by +20 (but see below). The area or effect of any such spells does not include the area of the ward, and such spells fail to affect any target within the ward. This includes spell-like abilities and spells or spell-like effects from magic items. However, any type of spell can be cast through or out of the ward. You can leave and return to the protected area without penalty (unless the spell specifically targets a creature and does not provide a radius effect).

[TravelLog]

I still am not sure. You're wording is all "non-epic spells up to 10th level". That implies 10th level spells is fine. Make it 9th level spells.

[Tshern]

The original spell was Ok'd here. http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19525830/The_Iron_Siege&post_num=984#331825374

I agree that epic spells should not be prevented by the ward. I should have fixed that while I was originally clarifying the text. The spell can be pierced by heightened spells (and heightened powers if that is allowed) so it does not grant complete immunity. Since the spell is created from the Ward seed it can be brought down by a target spell made from the Destroy seed.

Ward Seed Text

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A ward against magic creates an immobile, faintly shimmering magical sphere (with radius 10 feet) that surrounds you and excludes all spell effects of up to 1st level. Alternatively, you can ward just the target and not create the radius effect. For each additional level of spells to be excluded, increase the Spellcraft DC by +20 (but see below). The area or effect of any such spells does not include the area of the ward, and such spells fail to affect any target within the ward. This includes spell-like abilities and spells or spell-like effects from magic items. However, any type of spell can be cast through or out of the ward. You can leave and return to the protected area without penalty (unless the spell specifically targets a creature and does not provide a radius effect).

A glaring error on Witch's behalf.

[Daniel]

The spell is not really important to my character so I have removed it.

Here is a small description of my preparations for summoning Dispater.

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Spells: The Circle of Locking the Nine Gates, Dimensional Anchor, Private Sanctum, Summoning Sanctuary, Hallow, Dimensional Lock, Magic Circle Against Evil

Preparations: The spell is performed in a 100 diameter stone hemisphere located 1 mile undergound under an ocean in the material plane. A Private Sanctum and a Dimensional Lock cover entire hemisphere. All metal within 1 mile has been removed. Two Magic Circles against Evil (augmented with dimensional anchor) have been cast in preparation for the CoLtNG These have been surrounded by Hallowed ground and a Summoning Sanctuary. There is 10' gap between the hallowed ground under the CoLtNG and the hallowed ground surrounding it.

While inside the CoLtNG Dispater is prevented from summoning or calling allies and is effected by a dimensional anchor.

To leave the CoLtNG Dispater must succeed on two DC 115 will saves. Each time he fails these he takes 120 damage. To leave the Summoning Sancuary by any means Dispater must succeed on an opposed CL check with a -20 penalty. To physically enter the hallowed ground Dispater must succeed on a DC 123 will save.

I have formatted my character for these boards and posted him under the completed builds.

[Tshern]

How are you becoming a Mindflayer? As your character stands now, it is lacking the Mindflayer LA and racial HD.

[Daniel]

I go into Illithid Savant after I become a mindflayer through PaO at level 9.  Later I use True Shapchange to turn into a mindflayer so that the transformation cannot be dispelled.

[TravelLog]

Again, the point is not to summon Dispater and beat him on the Material. It is the Iron Siege. The goal is to defeat him in Dis, in the Iron Tower.

[Daniel]

Defeating Dispater on the Material would not mean my victory however it would not be meaningless. There are a number of benefits.

1. I would be able to deal damage to him and activate Implacable Hunt/Faultless Hunt which will allow me to find Dispater in the Iron Tower.
2. I would be able to gain information about his defenses.
3. I might be able to take/destroy some of his magical items or artifacts.
4. Cosmic entities require 10d10 days to reform after being destroyed on another plane. I could use this chance to progress with my plans and strike when he is weak.
5. Destruction on another plane prevents a Lord of the Nine from manifesting in a corporeal form for a period of time. This could hinder him greatly.
6. Enemies allies of Dispater might take this opportunity to further their plans at his expense.  This would weaken or distract him.
7. A show of weakness may weaken some of Dispater's alliances.

[Shadowmind]

While the description in Circle of Locking the Nine Gates mentions the mortal coil, could it not be cast on Dis for the purpose of getting Dispater out of his Tower?

[TravelLog]

Daniel, bottom line is that the challenge is meant to be purely in Dis. If you want to do it this way, that's fine. But it doesn't feel like the full challenge.

While the description in Circle of Locking the Nine Gates mentions the mortal coil, could it not be cast on Dis for the purpose of getting Dispater out of his Tower?

Explain?

[Daniel]

That's fine with me. Now I need another way to find Dispater. To that end here is the first draft of a new epic spell. I started with the Metafaculty power, added the tracking of the Consecrated Harrier, and removed the scrying.

[Shadowmind]

Daniel, bottom line is that the challenge is meant to be purely in Dis. If you want to do it this way, that's fine. But it doesn't feel like the full challenge.

While the description in Circle of Locking the Nine Gates mentions the mortal coil, could it not be cast on Dis for the purpose of getting Dispater out of his Tower?

Explain?

There has to be a problem with this or the challenge would of been finished long ago, but:
The biggest challenge for the Iron Siege is finding Dispater.
Arrive at Dis, leave the immediate area and destroy/block all iron.
Having a ability or spell that makes an area count as the Prime.
Cast Circle of Locking the Nine Gates to Summon Dispater, using Supernatural spell ability(Dwemerkeeper ability) and the ring of Free magic(?) to ignore spell resistance and the planar traits of Dis.
End the ability that makes the area count as the Prime.
Move Sphere of Annihilation to where Dispater is the magic circle.

[Tshern]

An addition:  The challengers must start on Dis, yet nothing prevents them from leaving. That is the ruling of the previous DMs. Naturally the details change with an epic challenge.

[zook1shoe]

Daniel, bottom line is that the challenge is meant to be purely in Dis. If you want to do it this way, that's fine. But it doesn't feel like the full challenge.

While the description in Circle of Locking the Nine Gates mentions the mortal coil, could it not be cast on Dis for the purpose of getting Dispater out of his Tower?

Explain?

There has to be a problem with this or the challenge would of been finished long ago, but:
The biggest challenge for the Iron Siege is finding Dispater.
Arrive at Dis, leave the immediate area and destroy/block all iron.
Having a ability or spell that makes an area count as the Prime.
Cast Circle of Locking the Nine Gates to Summon Dispater, using Supernatural spell ability(Dwemerkeeper ability) and the ring of Free magic(?) to ignore spell resistance and the planar traits of Dis.
End the ability that makes the area count as the Prime.
Move Sphere of Annihilation to where Dispater is the magic circle.

Planar Bubble on a Material Plane deity?

[Shadowmind]

Planar Bubble on a Material Plane deity?

I think that was the spell I was thinking of, but wasn't sure and was AFBs.