Character Build Thought-Experiment: The PC

[Flay Crimsonwind]

For when your character needs to be VERY genre savvy to survive a particularly cruel dungeon master.

For when you want to make that DM even more dangerous by taunting him.

The PC is the character that is the typical meta-conscious adventurer. He's played too many videogames to give a shit. He stuns the paladin by worshiping a sentient and fickle heathen god, sometimes named Icosahedron. He's Marvel's Deadpool meets 8-Bit Theater's Red Mage.

I for fun wanted to build a character that emulates videogamers and their characters. I have a few ability ideas he needs to have, but i'm always open for other pointers as to classics that I missed. I'd love to see how much can be achieved pre-20th in a semi-optimal build. And because this is simply for fun, let's assume Wiz 20 is too boring. So , trolls.

Abilities the character would need:

• "Z"-targeting - The character can lock-on to a foe, usually for enhanced combat efficacy, but also to interact at a distance. No idea, here.
  [ii] Found(mostly)! Faery Fire for constant shot at foe + Mindsight abuse to always know where foe is (mostly)
  
• View Health bars - the character can always see when a companion or foe is "in the red".

[ii] Deathwatch means you can see the dying (blinking red), and combat awareness means everyone near you has their HP revealed.

• Reload - Cause sometimes, you just need to load from the last save.

[ii] From last save point? Contingent Word of Recall
[ii] With an actual save point? Save-game Trick

• Hammer-Space Inventory - I will carry ALL of my things ALL of the time!

[ii]Easy, Handy haversack, done.

• Extra lives - Floating hearts in the upper left not required

[ii] Clone abuse; combo with Arcane mark + Instant summons?
[ii] Hmmmm, Phylactery? Psionic lich? Would make sense for powergamers....
[ii] Tattoo of fresh life, or whatever the hell it might be called!

And obviously, maxing out Gather Info is a must (because how else do you get quests?). What am I missing? I know there must be something I'm not thinking of.

[Shadowstalker]

Looks like you want a psionic character of some sort.

• "Z"-targeting - The character can lock-on to a foe, usually for enhanced combat efficacy, but also to interact at a distance. No idea, here.

The Telepath can get telepathy as a level 5 ACF, which leads to Mindsight.

• Reload - Cause sometimes, you just need to load from the last save. I'm thinking a way of getting a lot of rerolls on failed saves and such. Luck feats?

You can get an actual reload ability using a combination of psionic powers. There's an amulet which lets you go back one round, too.

[bruceleeroy]

The Save game trick is well documented here: http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=1187.0

Yea, I really see Psionics doing this. Psychic reformation sounds a lot like Red Mage modifying his character sheet.

Hmm..Someone was just mentioned a metagaming PrC... lemme see..  Right, the Urban Savant out of Cityscape (pg 101). Can get the base attack bonus, Armor Class, and combat-related feats; target’s Hit Dice, damage reduction and saving throws. Against nonhumanoids, it imparts all of the above information plus any special weaknesses the foe might have. Also gains bonuses on damage and a protection from whatever spell.

Archivist going into Urban Savant has a lot of knowledge synergy. Psion would work with a psionic adaptation (simply change the advancement to psionic).

[Kasz]

What about extra lives? Abilities that either heal you to full when you hit 0 or like a Clone that would spring into action with your consciousness if your current body dies.... or a Phylactery.

[Prime32]

• "Z"-targeting - The character can lock-on to a foe, usually for enhanced combat efficacy, but also to interact at a distance. No idea, here.

Faerie fire

• View Health bars - the character can always see when a companion or foe is "in the red". Deathwatch kind of works here, though I recall a spell that let's you know exact numbers...

Combat Awareness feat.

• Reload - Cause sometimes, you just need to load from the last save. I'm thinking a way of getting a lot of rerolls on failed saves and such. Luck feats?

Word of recall? I think NWN used a contingent version for that.

[Gazzien]

Taken from This Thread, a quick auto-Res effect is possible....

Psionic Revivify tattoo (2 slots, 1400+1000 gp, or 1400 + 200 XP)
Capacitor (1250 gp)
Relay (50 gp)
Dimension Slide tattoo (or could use Ectoplasmic Cocoon on yourself, basically you just want to get out of harm's way)(750 gp)
Body Adjustment tattoo (augmented with 2 power points, making it count as 3rd level)(750 gp)
Inducer (2 slots, 2400 gp)
Transducer (1250 gp)(optional, allows you to recharge this with your own power points. You can also use this to recharge other tattoos, if you get more)

Total: 9/20 slots and 8850 gp

This circuit will do the following:

1) Activate Dimension Slide or Ectoplasmic Coccoon (on yourself) immediately upon your death.
2) The next round, you will be brought back to life with no XP loss, but at -1 hit points and stable.
3) The round after that, you'll be healed for 2d12 hit points (this amount could be increased for more money).

The whole thing is reusable. It naturally recharges after 19 days, or you can recharge it yourself for 38 power points. While recharging, it drains 1 power point per day from you.

Only useable about once per three weeks, but you could get two, or use your own points to charge it.

[Nytemare3701]

Taken from This Thread, a quick auto-Res effect is possible....

Psionic Revivify tattoo (2 slots, 1400+1000 gp, or 1400 + 200 XP)
Capacitor (1250 gp)
Relay (50 gp)
Dimension Slide tattoo (or could use Ectoplasmic Cocoon on yourself, basically you just want to get out of harm's way)(750 gp)
Body Adjustment tattoo (augmented with 2 power points, making it count as 3rd level)(750 gp)
Inducer (2 slots, 2400 gp)
Transducer (1250 gp)(optional, allows you to recharge this with your own power points. You can also use this to recharge other tattoos, if you get more)

Total: 9/20 slots and 8850 gp

This circuit will do the following:

1) Activate Dimension Slide or Ectoplasmic Coccoon (on yourself) immediately upon your death.
2) The next round, you will be brought back to life with no XP loss, but at -1 hit points and stable.
3) The round after that, you'll be healed for 2d12 hit points (this amount could be increased for more money).

The whole thing is reusable. It naturally recharges after 19 days, or you can recharge it yourself for 38 power points. While recharging, it drains 1 power point per day from you.

Only useable about once per three weeks, but you could get two, or use your own points to charge it.

...and people complain about ToB being anime? That's a HUGE cliche of anime, taking a fatal wound, then having your mysterious aesthetic character feature (tattoos, scars, mask, whatever) glow and heal you, giving you a second wind.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

The Save game trick is well documented here: http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=1187.0

Wow, that's awesome trickiness! I'm going to have to read that over, see how many books might get thrown at me for using that, but it looks awesome.

Yea, I really see Psionics doing this. Psychic reformation sounds a lot like Red Mage modifying his character sheet.

Can't believe I forgot that! Added.

Hmm..Someone was just mentioned a metagaming PrC... lemme see..  Right, the Urban Savant out of Cityscape (pg 101). Can get the base attack bonus, Armor Class, and combat-related feats; target’s Hit Dice, damage reduction and saving throws. Against nonhumanoids, it imparts all of the above information plus any special weaknesses the foe might have. Also gains bonuses on damage and a protection from whatever spell.

Archivist going into Urban Savant has a lot of knowledge synergy. Psion would work with a psionic adaptation (simply change the advancement to psionic).

Hmmm, going to have to dig up a copy of cityscape and check it out! The more meta(non-magic, maybe) the better!

Looks like you want a psionic character of some sort.

The Telepath can get telepathy as a level 5 ACF, which leads to Mindsight.

You can get an actual reload ability using a combination of psionic powers. There's an amulet which lets you go back one round, too.

Mindsight could be fun just for the sake of having it (I do love me some telepathy!). I know I'm remembering this amulet too; I'll scour through the MIC; hopefully it's there.

What about extra lives? Abilities that either heal you to full when you hit 0 or like a Clone that would spring into action with your consciousness if your current body dies.... or a Phylactery.

You can store clones in a haversack, right? To just jump out whenever you die? Or maybe an arcane mark/spell that calls things that have the mark... This is good though, hadn't given that much thought! Also makes the PC appear creepy through the realism of these abilities we'd never questioned. Fucking with the other PCs is totally a plus.

• "Z"-targeting - The character can lock-on to a foe, usually for enhanced combat efficacy, but also to interact at a distance. No idea, here.

Faerie fire

• View Health bars - the character can always see when a companion or foe is "in the red". Deathwatch kind of works here, though I recall a spell that let's you know exact numbers...

Combat Awareness feat.

• Reload - Cause sometimes, you just need to load from the last save. I'm thinking a way of getting a lot of rerolls on failed saves and such. Luck feats?

Word of recall? I think NWN used a contingent version for that.

Faerie fire is good; targeting is obviously going to be a whole bunch of abilities. I'm down.




OOOOOOOH MAN Yeah this needs to be psi and that needs to be in there.

That feat was what I was thinking of! Wonder if there's a way to make the range extend past adjacent....

Word of recall might be another good idea. Nice and simple. Though on that same line of thinking, a contingent resurrection or something would be an easy fresh life...

[Tonymitsu]

• View Health bars - the character can always see when a companion or foe is "in the red".

Status from the PHB.  For 1 creature touched/3 levels you are instantly aware at all times of their general location and distance from you, their general hit point level (unharmed, wounded, staggered, disabled, dying) and any condition affecting them.  They list many examples such as nauseated, diseased, poisoned, panicked, stunned and confused, but it does say any condition and doesn't preclude positive effects (mind-blanked, heroism, morale boosts, energy resistance).
This lasts 1 hour per level as long as you are on the same plane of existence.
Theoretically you could use this to gauge nonlethal damage as well as regular damage.

EDIT:  Contingent Resurrection is also a printed epic level spell.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Bah to epic! But good to note, danke danke. Status, seems like it should have been more obvious, so thank you there too.

So, two new points,

1 - How best to represent a dodge roll? High ranks in tumble? Some sort of immediate interrupt teleporting move? Afb, but will be coming up with ideas tomorrow.

2 - More than damage negation / meta knowledge, what kinds of stereotypical damage to PCs do? Aside from oversized swords and fire?

[JohnnyMayHymn]

Constantly ask the DM if you get an achievement every time the PC succeeds at anything. 

I know I mention thrallherd a lot; but, damn is it useful (and you're already looking at the save game trick, I mean .. shit dude).  So the PC is a thrallherd, sends his minions to do the dirty work, thats an extra life every day, plus the PC can "rebuild his 'Toon'" every day. ( i can't fucking believe I just typed toon)
 

EDIT: if the thrall dies, send in followers, one at a time b/c the PCs 'guy gets weaker after dying', he looses his powerups or whatever