Author Topic: Concept: Ability Drainer  (Read 11594 times)

Offline Dawnmor

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Concept: Ability Drainer
« on: April 27, 2012, 02:17:48 PM »
I am looking for the most efficient class combination to make a Ability drainer.  Level is probly going to be around 13-15.  Going to around level 30 most likely.  Im tired of rolling 50d6 or asking my brother use his laptop to roll the dice for me.  Doesnt feel that great when you resort to that :).  So my new plan is to do insane damage in the least amount of ways with minimal dice rolling.

I did a little research of the books I have on hardback and here is what I came up with....Keep in mind that the DM has been throwing Death effects, Draining attacks at the group and has been sending us up against naughtly things like 30HD crap at level 14 (Blood thirsty group *Rolls eyes*).  So that Soulfire stuff is being attached to Bracers of Armor if you dont wear armor yourself.

The classes I came up with that would suit this was......

Sorcerer (Concentrates on Necro spells primarily with a few utility spells, this one will probably be a Kobold Dragonwrought, with Alterself for obvious dragonform reasons)

Dread Necro (Has alot of the necro feel spells but the spells are kinda limited and has a mix of cleric and wizard spells to help it along and has a AT WILL Attack though it doesnt do much :(.)

Warlock/Sorcerer (Same thing above)/Eldritch Disciple (To combine Warlock and sorcerer attacks)

Warblade or Swordsage (This idea is melee focused but I tired of melee but the manuevers are insanely useful and has a chance if you hit your attack has a chance of draining anyways).

Wizard (Same thing with Sorcerer but less spells)

From what I have read thats what I have found out myself.  I havent researched the books I have on my PC yet.  But I was curious what you guys thought?

Or take the Shade PRC and then take one of the listed paths with LA Buyoff which is allowed.
« Last Edit: April 27, 2012, 02:20:13 PM by Dawnmor »

Offline awaken_D_M_golem

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2012, 04:20:45 PM »
Feeblemind is an oldie but goodie.

Ego Whip psi power with boosters , is still viable.

iirc - the Souleater PrC isn't exactly what you're looking for,
but is in the neighborhood.  Multitouching + level drain = win.
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Offline Dawnmor

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2012, 04:27:06 PM »
Multitouching? and what sort of level draining ?, I know theres Enervation that sucks 2d4 levels.  But requires a Save and is subject to SR I think.

Offline altpersona

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2012, 04:28:17 PM »
souleater w/ hyra shape is mega nega.

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Offline awaken_D_M_golem

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2012, 04:30:50 PM »

Altp has that new app that translates:  aDMg speak to English ...  :D
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Offline Endarire

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2012, 03:20:33 AM »
Book of Vile Darkness 66 has the Soul Eater PrC.  You could be an Elan or Synad Psion (Egoist) with a Psicrystal who uses metamorphosis and the feat Practiced Manifester (due to manifester level loss) to turn into a Hydra (or other creature with lots of attacks) and go to town.  Being a Psion5 or 6/Anarchic Initiate3 or 4 (Complete Psionic 17) lets you enter Soul Eater at level 10.

I chose Psion over Sorcerer due to the better scaling nature of psionic powers, and that Elan are naturally psionic.

Offline Talore

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2012, 03:41:30 AM »
It is hard to beat the raw level-draining power of the focused ray specialist wizard. Using arcane thesis (+Incantatrix) and sticking every metamagic feat known to man on Enervation never ceases to be amazing, providing a hard-to-beat form of debuff and outright slaying. That said, immunity to level drain is a thing, so it is kind of a one trick pony. Fortunately you're still a full caster, and ray focus doesn't stop you from casting things like time stop and shapechange...
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Offline Endarire

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2012, 04:04:48 AM »
Talore: My Enervating Buffer build is what you seek.  By level 10 (maybe 9), you can cast enervation on 1 target per caster level +1 (via Chain) and deal 4d4 negative levels to each target.  That's pretty much just saying, "If I hit, you DIE!"

Watch out for ray deflection ([i}Spell Compendium[/i]) or spell turning!

Offline Unbeliever

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2012, 08:30:13 AM »
Soul Eater is really good.  Annoyingly good, in fact, if you make it right.  I have a Soul Eater/Wildshape Ranger/Swift Hunter lying around somewhere that is kind of horrific.  I think it drains 14-20 levels per round and has really high mobility besides.

Another approach is to go with a Rogue and go with Crippling Strike and Maiming Strike.  You could throw in some more ambush feats for some debuffing, to taste. 

Offline Empirate

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2012, 03:38:16 PM »
My very own ability damage resource for your viewing pleasure!

I swear I'll come back to that project at some point...  :blush

Offline Dawnmor

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2012, 08:54:01 PM »
That.........Was a interesting read, now the issue of why arent there alot of spells that suck down Ability scores?, why cant that Ice Knife and Shivering Touch but Sorcerer/Wizard spells :(.

Offline SorO_Lost

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2012, 05:46:28 AM »
Two absolute musts that I cite in damn near every single thread close to this concept yet people still can't remember.

Life-Drinker and Energy Drain Protection (pretty cheap and common) allows you to bestow 2 negative levels per hit, something Soul Drain requires seven levels of investment to do. And Defender's of Faith have a named Armor Enhancement called "Energy Drain" that adds an Enervation effect to Unarmed Attacks, aka deal 1d4 Negative Levels per hit.

Offline snakeman830

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #12 on: April 29, 2012, 11:18:33 AM »
Two absolute musts that I cite in damn near every single thread close to this concept yet people still can't remember.

Life-Drinker and Energy Drain Protection (pretty cheap and common) allows you to bestow 2 negative levels per hit, something Soul Drain requires seven levels of investment to do. And Defender's of Faith have a named Armor Enhancement called "Energy Drain" that adds an Enervation effect to Unarmed Attacks, aka deal 1d4 Negative Levels per hit.
Necrotic Focus Lifedrinker on a Warforged Souleater 7+ with Energy Drain plating.  I think that could work, dealing 1d4+4 negative levels per hit.  Take a feat or two out of Libris Mortis to net you some benefits from all that crazy draining.
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Offline SorO_Lost

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #13 on: April 29, 2012, 06:35:20 PM »
Two absolute musts that I cite in damn near every single thread close to this concept yet people still can't remember.

Life-Drinker and Energy Drain Protection (pretty cheap and common) allows you to bestow 2 negative levels per hit, something Soul Drain requires seven levels of investment to do. And Defender's of Faith have a named Armor Enhancement called "Energy Drain" that adds an Enervation effect to Unarmed Attacks, aka deal 1d4 Negative Levels per hit.
Necrotic Focus Lifedrinker on a Warforged Souleater 7+ with Energy Drain plating.  I think that could work, dealing 1d4+4 negative levels per hit.  Take a feat or two out of Libris Mortis to net you some benefits from all that crazy draining.
That would be pretty cool.

Also correction on the Unarmed Part, it's any Touch Attack, so with Wraithstrike you can use it with anything.

Offline nijineko

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #14 on: April 29, 2012, 07:28:58 PM »
there are a number of stygian powers which could be of use in boosting these abilities.

Offline Kasz

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #15 on: April 30, 2012, 10:49:34 AM »
Could that warforged souldrinker qualify for 10 levels in bloodstorm blade? I imagine Blade Storm hitting everyone within range and draining levels like nobody's business would be quite effective :P

Also Iron Heart Surge never hurt.

Offline snakeman830

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2012, 09:28:40 PM »
Could that warforged souldrinker qualify for 10 levels in bloodstorm blade? I imagine Blade Storm hitting everyone within range and draining levels like nobody's business would be quite effective :P

Also Iron Heart Surge never hurt.
Not pre-epic, you're talking 17 levels of PrC there.
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Offline Endarire

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2012, 04:16:16 AM »
A Warforged Warblade5/Bloodstorm Blade4 (to get the best stuff)/Soul Eater X works pre-epic.

Offline Kethrian

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2012, 06:28:51 PM »
Try TWF with poison rings - every attack is a touch attack!
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Offline bishop

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Re: Concept: Ability Drainer
« Reply #19 on: May 01, 2012, 11:27:25 PM »
I was actually looking at going with Life drinker on my cleric focused in this. I found the armor you referred to but where are the poison rings at so I can check them out. Thanks