The Chrono-Trancer (Tri-fold Challenge Destroyer and Chrono-Legionaire Prodigy)

[KellKheraptis]

Build Goals: Take out the Twice-Betrayer of Shar without the need to dispel his AMFs (that with a build shuffle are Su anyhow).  Take out a Hecatoncheires with little to no risk to self, dragoon style (the goal of the original Chrono-Legionnaire).  Take on and succeed at the 10^100 challenge.

Further Limitations:
-No Unearthed Arcana or Dragon Magazine material will be used.

-No questionable rules from Master Spellthief and Sublime Chord, or chintzy Mind Mage stacking (which is Dragon mag anyhow).

-No form altering magic used in any of the three challenges - not even the 10^100 for Jumplomancy.

-No abjectly custom magical items - only item stacking at 50% additional price per MiC/DMG item creation rules (e.g. to add Sandals of Springing effect to Boots of Skating, add 9,000gp to the cost of the boots - 150% the cost of the sandals).

-No Leadership used.  Minions are squishy, and while this guy can become a Nasty Gentleman (tm), he won't need to

-Psicrystal Feat Progression left out/vague.  The build certainly gets a few more tricks if this is allowed, but for maximum coverage, works as is using its own feats only.  Feat Leech is included as a power known, however.

Other Notes:
-With the FR specific exceptions to Psi-Magic Transparency (which really don't matter, as there won't be a dead magic zone, only AMF and NPF), standard transparency is assumed.  Magic mantle is not in use, so no questionable rules from that, either.

-The regional feat Battle Jump is taken at 1st level to ensure no quibbles about taking a regional feat using Knowledge (local) ranks, and the 'Boing, Boing, Battle Jump!' trick is not used, though it is certainly an option, should we wish to go down the TO road...

-A time-trait modified demiplane is only utilized as a time-saver for growing the node.  There is no need for planar trait abuse, and with the myriad ways of gaining immortality available to this guy, it's ultimately not even a necessity, just a convenience (though it would take an incredibly long time to grow a Class 18 Earth Node...).

The Build:

(click to show/hide)

Human Ranger 1/Telepath 6/Anarchic Initiate 2/Fighter 1/Slayer 10

Feats: 1st: Battle Jump | Human Bonus: Power Attack | Ranger Bonus: Track | Psion Bonus: Psicrystal Affinity | 3rd: Practiced Manifester | 6th: Overchannel | Psion Bonus: Psicrystal Containment | 9th: Node Manifesting | Fighter Bonus: Leap Attack | 12th: Metanode Power | 15th: Linked Power | 18th: Widen Power

Abilities
Str: 14 Base + 6 Enhancement = 20
Dex: 12 Base =12
Con: 14 Base + 6 Enhancement = 20
Int: 16 Base + 6 Enhancement + 5 Level = 27
Wis: 14 Base + 6 Enhancement = 20
Cha: 8 Base = 12
All stats increased by 4 when buffed via assimilate.  Strength is also buffed by an additional 2 when using a vial of the last breath.

HP: 8 + 12 (6d4) + 5 (1d10) + 6 (2d6) + 40 (10d8) + 40 Con + 30 Bonus Con = 141 hp before vigor.

Gear:

(click to show/hide)

• Orange Ioun Stone - 30,000gp
• Pale Green Ioun Stone - 30,000gp
• Bead of Karma - 20,000gp
• Otyugh Hole - 3,000gp
• Feathered Wings Graft - 10,000gp
• Torc of Power Preservation and Greater Umbral Metamorphosis (+6 Wis and Con) - 177,000gp
• Boots of Skating and Springing - 16,000gp
• Standard of Heroes - 40,000gp
• 55 Quori Power Link Shards - 165,000gp
• 10 Vials of Dying Breath - 22,000gp
• Band of Spell Enhancement - 10,080gp
• Eternal Wand of Create Magic Tattoo - 15,940gp
• Eternal Wand of Adept Spirit - 21,700gp
• Schema of Spell Enhancer - 11,200gp
• Power Stone of Node Genesis - 28,825gp
• Schema of Greater Consumptive Field - 11,200gp
• +2 Valorous Cold Iron Halberd of Vaulting - 36,620gp
• 10 Oil of Bless Weapon - 1,000gp
• Luckstone - 20,000gp
• Belt of Strength +6 - 36,000gp
• Headband of Intellect +6 - 36,000gp
• Schema of Acorn of Far Travel - 2,400gp
• 10 Bottles of Terran Brandy - 5,000gp
• Scroll of Superior Resistance - 1,650gp

Total Cost: 750,615gp - this leaves 9,385gp for incidental expenses.

Notable Powers:
Offensive Prescience, Offensive Precognition, Defensive Precognition, Force Screen, Inertia Armor, Assimilate, Metaphysical Weapon, Energy Adaptation, Biofeedback, Vigor, Share Pain, Schism, Hustle, Moment of Prescience.  All remaining slots are free for customizing to taste (total 31 from levels, and 18 from a Class 18 Node).

The Buff Sequence

(click to show/hide)

The Node
Moment of Prescience used liberally on all UMD/UPD checks, and max ranks possible taken.  Activate the Schemas, Bead, Bands, Eternal Wands, and drink the Vial and Bottle of Terran Brandy.  You will need to repeat a few times to ensure you're able to embed all 55 Quori Shards over time (most can be had with just the non-burnable items above, as those two only add +3).  Once you have them all going, fire off one more round.

ML Calc: 20 Base + 1 Vial (also adds +2 Str) +2 Terran Brandy + 1 Magic Tattoo + 1 Adept Spirit + 2 Spell Enhancer+ 4 Bead of Karma + 2 Bands +1 Ioun Stone +3 Overchanneling = 37 ML * 1.5 Greater Consumptive Field = 55 ML (55 Total Shards)

55 ML + 1 Effective from the Torc + 110 Power Link Shards - 4 Widen Power = 162pp Node Genesis.  This generates a Node of Class 18 and a size of 6,480ft (over a mile radius!).  This buff routine will only need to be used for a couple of things later on, as burning expendables is expensive!

The class 18 Node provides us from now on with 36 free pp of augmentation and 18 additional powers known.

While buffed and after our Node has matured, we will need a few powers at absolute capacity for the 10^100, and also as high of an ML as possible to shut down the TBoS.

The Twice Betrayer of Shar

(click to show/hide)

Remember our ML buff from before?  Once our ML is at this level (likely while the smug bastard is wondering what the hell we're doing, as he admires the piles of bodies around him), we manifest an ML 55 Widened Null Psionic Field from 15ft away.  This ensures he's within the radius, thus suppressing his buffs and making an impossible CL check to cast out of (even if he happens to cast Greater Consumptive Field somehow when he won't win initiative and ALSO boil an anthill, his CL of 28, 42 under GCF, can get at best a 62...against a DC of 55+11, or 66).  After that, we use our move action to jump at him, triggering a charge and power attacking for half our BAB, inflicting more than enough to annihilate him with nonmagical gear, even (1d8+3 Str +32 Power Attack)*2 at +10 to hit.  Against his crap AC, we basically need to not roll a 1, and roll above a 5 on the second swing.

The Heca

(click to show/hide)

We get to actually USE our crazy-high buffing capability!  Make sure to manifest vigor first, as even with less than a 1 in 20 chance of hitting us, we will still likely get smacked a few times.  A 1pp vigor alone though will give us 185 temp hp, and a single mental action manifestation can renew this (yay Schism).  The maths:

166 effective points from before + 36 freebie points from the Node = 202pp to burn on our main buff.  Spend the extra 6pp to make Metaphysical weapon last for hours/level (which will be DAYS), and the rest on augmentation.  This makes our weapon a +49 Stick of Death (tm).  Make sure to Assimilate as well, for the stat buff.  Manifest Offensive Precognition and Offensive Prescience, each at ML 53 (Spell enhancer only works for one spell, remember!) +36 freebie = +29 to-hit and +30 damage.

Add in our bless oil, and we have a good, epic, cold iron weapon.  So much for fat ass' regeneration!

Buffed Str of 24 means we're at 49 Enh + 29 Ins + 7 Str +1 Comp +1 Luck +2 Morale = +89 to hit at full power attack.  Damage is 1d8 + 64 Power Attack + 10 Str + 49 Enh + 30 Ins, or 1d8+153, times 4 (Battle Jump x2, Valorous x2, Vaulting x2, doubling into tripling, into quadrupling).  First hit might as well be autohit, as is the second, inflicting on the first blow average of 628 damage.  We can even ensure this is an autokill by swift-action DDoor after the drop, and rinse and repeat on round 2, though with our temp hp capabilities, it's likely not necessary.

The 10^100

(click to show/hide)

• We'll be recycling our main buff from before, to the weapon, minus 1 enh, as well as the to-hit and damage buffs.  Next (and this is likely a good idea against Fat Ass), we manifest a 201 pt  (full stack buff, we need the +2 Spell Enhancer here) Defensive Precognition.  This grants a total of +67 Insight to AC and Saves.
• 1pt with 36pts free augmentation Biofeedback makes us immune to the physical damage of the challenge, as does Endure Elements for the energy damage.  That leaves 20 points of untyped damage, that we can soak with our temp hp from vigor, recasting it as needed from our Schism.
• Manifest a 1pt Inertia Armor for +18 AC.

The Totals:
100 AC: 10 Base + 67 Insight + 22 Inertia Armor + 3 Dex = 102 AC
100 To-Hit: 48 Enh + 29 Ins + 7 Str +1 Comp +1 Luck +2 Morale + 16 BAB = +104/+99 - two of our attacks will roll 100 or more.
100 Damage: 1d8 + 48 Enh + 30 Ins + 10 Str = 92 Avg, 2 hits = over 100.  It's also trivial to fire Crystal Shards at over 100 damage if we'd rather
100 To A Skill Check: 7 Str + 23 Ranks + 30 Untyped (vaulting) + 15 Boots + 32 Speed Bonus (double move at 80 or more over 30ft) + 1 Luck + 1 Competence = +101 Jump.  Dragoons gotta have hops!
100 Ft Move: Base 30 + 15ft Boots of Skating + 10ft Dark template = 55ft, 110ft when double moving to charge (every round) or using hustle (also an option every round) or flying (also an option...every round).
100 To A Save: Base Will of 15 + 67 Insight + 6 Resistance (we need the scroll just for today - odds are nothing else will require this level of Op-fu!) + 1 Comp + 1 Luck + 2 Morale +2 Iron Will + 7 Wis = 101 Will
100 Castable Levels/PP: Full manifester at well over 300 base pp, with easy recharge.  And we're renewing Vigor + using Hustle, so well over the 'use 10' as well.
100 Hit Points: Base of 141 hp, buffed with even a single decent vigor with (53ML+1 Torc + 36 Node) 450 Temp HP.
100 Damage per Round: Energy Adaptation negates the 50 elemental points, Biofeedback negates the 30 physical, and we can eat the remaining 20/round, or 340 pts and laugh
100 Second Duration :Even our super short duration buffs will last twice the duration of the challenge or more.

EDIT: Cross posted as well into the 10^100 challenge thread on You Break It.

[Endarire]

What about using a Torc of Psionic Might (unupdated from 3.0's Psionics Handbook) for 10K instead of the Torc of Power Preservation?

I'm also considering using this sort of character as an end boss to a campaign at level 20ish.  What would this person's/being's motivations be?  Why would they greatly want to destroy/save the world?  How would they be a threat to the world @level 20?

[KellKheraptis]

What about using a Torc of Psionic Might (unupdated from 3.0's Psionics Handbook) for 10K instead of the Torc of Power Preservation?

One of the challenges rules that out I -think-, but I'm not certain.  I'll check into it.  I was deliberately avoiding the big offenders, like Persistent Power, though frankly if Magic can have it, I don't see why Psionics can't (not that we need it...).

I'm also considering using this sort of character as an end boss to a campaign at level 20ish.  What would this person's/being's motivations be?  Why would they greatly want to destroy/save the world?  How would they be a threat to the world @level 20?

If their node is on the planet, that's a very real reason, especially given that it would take centuries to form.  Even if it's not, odds are the lure of power (to right wrongs if good, to rule if not, or to generally act on impulse if neutral) would probably be irresistable at that point - the dude literally can ice a god killer.

And as for being a threat to the world (or anyone else) - you have a honey pot of actions available at the flick of the wrist.  As in infinite if you so desire (just add affinity field).  That alone with teleportation and his damage capability means he could level the planet with impunity.

[PlzBreakMyCampaign]

chintzy Mind Mage stacking (which is Dragon mag anyhow).

If you mean running multiple iterations of gaining the ability (one bumps the other which bumps the other which...), that's not the fault of the PrC. It would be like claiming you get multiple iterations of the toughness feat for infinite HP because toughness takes your HP and "sets" it equal to your HP+3. No. It sets it equal to your old HP +3. Also I disproved the "arcane dilettante" / master spellthief abuse in an earlier thread. The feat itself is very balanced and its one of my favorite feats of all time (when changed with variants).

Psi-Magic Transparency (which really don't matter, as there won't be a dead magic zone, only AMF and NPF), standard transparency is assumed.  Magic mantle is not in use, so no questionable rules from that, either.

Although powerful, the magic mantle with a nerfed psi-magic transparency is not as strong as full blown psi-magic transparency missing magic mantle. CL->ML abuse is just crazy in psionics.

A time-trait modified demiplane is only utilized as a time-saver for growing the node.  There is no need for planar trait abuse, and with the myriad ways of gaining immortality available to this guy, it's ultimately not even a necessity, just a convenience (though it would take an incredibly long time to grow a Class 18 Earth Node...).

Anything longer than a year is a red flag. Nodes are red flags as well. Also, I thought the highest number nodes were 9 pre-epic [Und50], certainly not 18. Care to cite otherwise?

• Standard of Heroes - 40,000gp
• 10 Vials of Dying Breath - 22,000gp
• Band of Spell Enhancement - 10,080gp

Source for these?

• Node Genesis
• Greater Consumptive Field - 11,200gp

9th level power and a double helping of ew. So, 4 red flags.

I have nothing to say about the buff routine, other than that using temporary ML to implant shards is a bad idea because they won't be available unless you are buffed enough to activate them. Otherwise they become inaccessible, just like anything else with a prerequisite. And then I noticed that you are abusing default transparency. Yeah that's the single reason unknowledgeable DMs ban psionics. It's like bringing IHS, whiteraven tactics, d2crusader + crusader infinite heals, and shadowhand maneuvers to teleport out of an AMF to the table of a DM who's never used tome of battle before. He'll ban ToB DM without realizing that those are the only 5 broken things in the book.

Psionics is so balanced it really just has 1 flaw and the book dances around the fact that you probably should think long and hard about transparency. Why? Because the authors knew it was broken, but were too wimpy to fix it. You'll note that there is no hand-wringing over transparency with shadowmagic or incarnum.

Let me summarize your attack strategies (all of which were known in their prospective threads):
TBoS: get higher CL + widened AMF + ubercharge
Heca: overcome regneration + High hit + damage
100's: various powers w/ high ML. Do yourself a favor and show PP usage so you can take out the TO "with easy recharge" reference.

Basically, this build is the poster child for why every DM ever should nerf magic-psionics transparency. Without 9ths, nodes, and ML abuse, its a rather tame build. Here's what my upcoming dump has to say about transparency:

(click to show/hide)

Psionics should not affect magic unless it says they do. Magic should not effect psionics unless it says it does. Antimagic (dispel magic, AMF, SR, etc) does affect psionics although antipsionics (APF, PR, dispel psionics, etc) only affects psionics unless there is a specific rule that says otherwise (magic mantle, etc).

Thus UPD does not help for emulating things on magic items but UMD can't help for emulating psionic items. Characters with both could emulate two different things using both skills in ways they could not if one skill allowed emulation for both magical and psionic items.

aka since CL/ML don't say they interact, they don't.

[KellKheraptis]

I'll have to track down the sources for the items - I believe the standard was Heroes of Battle, off the top of my head.

As for the Node, good potential catch - that would require a major retooling, unfortunately, and I was trying to avoid using a Nasty Gentleman/Thrallherd trick as it's been done before.

As for the ML/CL and Node time flags, those parts to this extreme are purely for the purpose of the challenges - I don't see any sane DM allowing a level 18 Node any time soon, but provided it checks out on the Node 9 Pre-Epic above, remains RAW legal if as usual for Node tech the cheesiest part of the build (but come on, what part of these ISN'T - the 10^100 is in YBIYBI for a reason).

[Endarire]

From my understanding of Node Magic, nodes of 10+ exist if you're using Epic Handbook content.  You don't have to use epic content from that book.

[KellKheraptis]

Vial of the Last Gasp (CV) - wrong name, same effect
Band of Spell Enhancement (Ravenloft) - This can also be replaced with Suffer the Flesh easily enough

Trying to find the Standard of Heroes again - it's for morale bonuses.

[Azrael]

I think I can do it, but it needs to be 21st level; and I assume by "form altering magic" you mean shapechange and the like. It's really fucking difficult to do this without using shapechange at least during some point in the process.

Also...how does consumptive field apply to ML? Even under transparency rules it shouldn't apply since CL and ML are distinctly different (e.g. They don't stack with each other if you're multi classed so they should be treated as separate stats even under transparency rules).

[KellKheraptis]

I think I can do it, but it needs to be 21st level; and I assume by "form altering magic" you mean shapechange and the like. It's really fucking difficult to do this without using shapechange at least during some point in the process.

Also...how does consumptive field apply to ML? Even under transparency rules it shouldn't apply since CL and ML are distinctly different (e.g. They don't stack with each other if you're multi classed so they should be treated as separate stats even under transparency rules).

The most efficient way to beat all 3 challenges to be totally honest is with a Spelldancer, similar to the Archivist entry to the Gish challenge (that basically turned into an Atlas BattleMech).  I just wanted to see if it can be done with psionics without using Thrallherd.

Any of the circle mages can also annihilate all 3 challenges, and as noted before, several weaknesses in the TBoS were never discussed until these threads here, such as his inability to function (or his buffs) if you make the check on an AMF impossible for him to make to cast out of.  Gotta say, I do like the brute force method of batch-hosing all his buffs though

[Azrael]

Well I can certainly do it at 20th with thrallherd, as you well know. Otherwise, the only other original way I can think of beating all 3 is at 21st level. Unless of course you can get primary contact twice somehow without fusioning thralls, or if you know of some other way to get epic spell casting prior to 21st level that doesn't involve psionics.   

In any case TBoS was never the issue for me. It's the 10^100 part that gets me.

[KellKheraptis]

Well I can certainly do it at 20th with thrallherd, as you well know. Otherwise, the only other original way I can think of beating all 3 is at 21st level. Unless of course you can get primary contact twice somehow without fusioning thralls, or if you know of some other way to get epic spell casting prior to 21st level that doesn't involve psionics.   

In any case TBoS was never the issue for me. It's the 10^100 part that gets me.

Look into Circle Magic + GCF with a few buffs   One quick MDJ later and the TBoS is toast, but that same CL is beastly with stuff like Algid Enhancement.  Hell, I have a sorc build somewhere that blows the 10^100 away - that one is more a buff test than anything for a caster.

[Azrael]

I said "original build".       

How the hell do you get your ability scores over 100 with a regular sorc build?

[KellKheraptis]

If shape shifting is allowed during that part, it's Str as a Colossal Legendary Ape + Enhancement.  If not, by using the CL trick and UMD/Wyrm Wizard/however you wanna snag it Owl's Insight.

EDIT: An ability score isn't part of the 10^100 FYI, so those would only be used for buffing Jump checks and Will saves, which a skill check and a save ARE part of the 10^100

[Azrael]

Oh, I haven't looked at the thing in forever so I forgot.         

Edit: yeah, going back and looking at it it's far simpler than I remembered. I thought it required you to be able to pass these checks an unlimited number of times per day, or required you to have +100 to all skill checks, saves, etc.

[KellKheraptis]

Oh, I haven't looked at the thing in forever so I forgot.         

Edit: yeah, going back and looking at it it's far simpler than I remembered. I thought it required you to be able to pass these checks an unlimited number of times per day, or required you to have +100 to all skill checks, saves, etc.

Like I said, beating any of the three really isn't too difficult.  It's beating all three with the restrictions of all three that became challenging, with the self-imposed restriction of doing it with a full-manifester type and no Thrallherd.

That being said, I am tempted to post up a "Raistlin-style" build that does it as a Wizard, though it's kinda annoying as there's already one Incantatrix (Mr. Roboto).  It'll be doing it a far different way, though, so shouldn't be a big deal in that department.

EDIT: AMF is a fixed range spell...what has stopped us from slapping Reach Spell on it and dropping one with a high CL on the TBoS, by the way?  AMF his ass then nuke with Spell Matrix/Arcane Fusion Macross Missle Massacre of Lesser Orbs?

[SorO_Lost]

Oh, I haven't looked at the thing in forever so I forgot.
Edit: yeah, going back and looking at it it's far simpler than I remembered.

The "10^100" challenge is more of a joke than anything. Immunity or the ability to totally avoid the need to even use a statistic isn't even taken into account in the system even through it's superior in every way. Like

Do you have 100 attack? Nope, I target Flat-Footed Touch while unseen which averages like AC 8.
Do you have 100 damage? Nope, because that's a digit short of basic spellcasting, charging, martial adepts, etc.
Do you have 100 AC? Nope, I ignore damage, reflect all ranged attacks, and keep Total-Concealment up when possible negating targeting which is infinity far superior than Armor Class.
Do you have 100 Move Speed? 30ft Move Speed + (Rapid Wrath + Horned Helm applied to land & fly) + Feathered Wings = Fly 540ft. *snore*
Do you have 100 to a Skill Check? Expeditious Retreat +Rapid/Horned/30base gives you +60 Jump without even trying.
Do you have 100 Fort? Nope, immune to Fort Saves in all that matters which is vastly superior.
Do you have 100 Reflex? Nope, I ignore damage & have Heart of Water to Freedom of Movement which is vastly superior.
Do you have 100 Will? Yep thanks to a Diamond Mind Maneuver, but also Mind Blank & Protection from [All].
Do you have 100 Spell Levels? 34 in a casting attribute adds 91 Spell Levels if you have access to 9th level Spells.
Do you have 100 HP? Necropolition does this without any effort. 20d12=135.5.
Do you have 100 resistance to damage? Immunity to damage via a Wand of Favored of the Martyr & Regeneration.
~Every single high level Necropolition Wizard.

And then you hit the rules/FAQ of it, like you only need 17 rounds in a day to pull any given value, you can use Cohorts, custom magic items, infinite buff/campaign time, any infinite loop, and heck it tries to ban 3.0 Material but thanks to the MMII having an Errata document the one 3.0 that seriously needs banned off the table for it's Shapechange options is perfectly legal. It's not a big deal these days, maybe years ago before we all joined the community and WotC printed so many broken options it might have been.

[KellKheraptis]

En passant, the CL method of brute-forcing the TBoS' AMF is rendered moot by casting it as a Su instead of a normal spell.  That being said, AMF-ing his ass in  higher CL AMF works just fine.

[Azrael]

EDIT: AMF is a fixed range spell...what has stopped us from slapping Reach Spell on it and dropping one with a high CL on the TBoS, by the way?  AMF his ass then nuke with Spell Matrix/Arcane Fusion Macross Missle Massacre of Lesser Orbs?

Don't we need Abj Master Specialist for casting AMFs on others?

The "10^100" challenge is more of a joke than anything. Immunity or the ability to totally avoid the need to even use a statistic isn't even taken into account in the system even through it's superior in every way.

Obviously that's the case, immunities are always better and it's how I always operated from day 1. The point is that it's still an exercise in technical skill though. Optimizing within constraints still requires you to think outside the box. Honestly, these days, it's the only joy I can derive from the system anymore; since having completely mastered it.

[SorO_Lost]

You could start up our own version of the Iron Chef Challenge, but I think you'd have to specific an OP threshold. Like challenge 1 make a crit-based killer who doesn't cast Spells, can murder CR 30s, but should die if he faces a CR 40 Deity and no ubercharging. Otherwise the same very reliable tricks will just keep getting posted.

The chief problem with optimization is as the more clear your understanding of which options are the most powerful the more you'll trend towards them creating a stagnation.

[KellKheraptis]

You could start up our own version of the Iron Chef Challenge, but I think you'd have to specific an OP threshold. Like challenge 1 make a crit-based killer who doesn't cast Spells, can murder CR 30s, but should die if he faces a CR 40 Deity and no ubercharging. Otherwise the same very reliable tricks will just keep getting posted.

The chief problem with optimization is as the more clear your understanding of which options are the most powerful the more you'll trend towards them creating a stagnation.

I can't force the bile down long enough to post an Iron Chef challenge on GitP.