"Free" power [Archive] - Wizards Community

"Free" power [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
El_Machinae
02-23-05, 01:14 PM I'm trying to get a list of things that a PC can do to boost their power in a non-XP way (clearly, by advancing in levels, the PC increases in power).

I'm looking at this from a PC's perspective - NOT the player's perspective. I know that in builds, LA is a big 'no-no' but a character would not feel that way.

My best example is contracting lycanthropy. +2 wis, feats, HD, skills, and a combat form are a GOOD trade-in - especially once you have the form under control. The downside is alignment (which involves choosing wisely) and bane weapons. Are there any other "good" templates that can be gotten for 'free'?

- Lycanthropy - HD, +2 wis, skills, feats
- Polymorph any Object - increased attributes and combat prowess. Including intelligence. This merges well with lycanthropy since you get bonus skills when bitten.
- Other people's experience - you can use this (at no cost) for things like wishes, magic items, permanencies, etc.
- Imbue spell without risking your cleric friend, you can get a clerical spell available for when you're questing.

edit: I'm assuming a somewhat cerebral character for this quest. I don't really want a bunch of idiotifying templates stacked onto my cloistered cleric!
catharz
02-23-05, 02:14 PM Spellstitched, Mineral warrior (sometimes), Lich (sometimes), basically any acquired template qualifies.
Fwib
02-23-05, 02:28 PM Adding templates will only look like a sudden jump in power to a character if the GM isn't using template classes, which (IMHO) he should be, if players want to add templates in mid-game.
El_Machinae
02-23-05, 03:38 PM Ah! Spellstiched is good! Vampire would be good too (maybe). I don't like lich, because it's a huge investment to acquire - and the person paying the investment is the PC. Actually, I do like lich quite a bit, but not as a source of 'free' power - but it's certainly a good deal!

Template classes are tough to decide whether they're 'proper' (they mostly focus on being 'fair'). IMHO, you get dropped by vampire spawn, you've got all the powers of a vampire spawn in 1d4 days - there's no need to 'quest' to find these powers.
catharz
02-23-05, 03:53 PM IMHO, you get dropped by vampire spawn, you've got all the powers of a vampire spawn in 1d4 days - there's no need to 'quest' to find these powers.

Technically speaking, you gain the power of a vampire spawn but loose all of your former powers. This is why there aren't any 'human fighter vampire spawn' in the SRD/MM.

Thankfully, there is the Emancipated spawn class.
El_Machinae
02-23-05, 04:05 PM Well, spawn was just an example. If you're building an army composed of goblin commoners, spawn is a good choice. If you're a 20th level wizard, then maybe straight vampire would be more to your taste.

If that was the case, the wizard would (IMHO) rise in 1d4 days with all the powers of a vampire.

I guess another way of asking the question (but not quite) is ... if you were an overlord, what would you do to your commoner goblins to (cheaply) boost their power as an army?
Vampiredome.
Lycanthropy.
PaO (I don't know into what, though. Pixies? Better than nothing!)
Draconic or fiendish breeding (to acquire templates ... this would be tougher to do to the PC if he's already human).

I really like spellstiched, if a lich could force a slave wizard to wish for it to be done (at huge XP costs), it would be nice. Simulacra would also be a neat choice (but awfully expensive). Clone versions of yourself and force them to waste all their slots casting imbue on you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
El_Machinae 02-23-05, 01:14 PM	I'm trying to get a list of things that a PC can do to boost their power in a non-XP way (clearly, by advancing in levels, the PC increases in power). I'm looking at this from a PC's perspective - NOT the player's perspective. I know that in builds, LA is a big 'no-no' but a character would not feel that way. My best example is contracting lycanthropy. +2 wis, feats, HD, skills, and a combat form are a GOOD trade-in - especially once you have the form under control. The downside is alignment (which involves choosing wisely) and bane weapons. Are there any other "good" templates that can be gotten for 'free'? - Lycanthropy - HD, +2 wis, skills, feats - Polymorph any Object - increased attributes and combat prowess. Including intelligence. This merges well with lycanthropy since you get bonus skills when bitten. - Other people's experience - you can use this (at no cost) for things like wishes, magic items, permanencies, etc. - Imbue spell without risking your cleric friend, you can get a clerical spell available for when you're questing. edit: I'm assuming a somewhat cerebral character for this quest. I don't really want a bunch of idiotifying templates stacked onto my cloistered cleric!
catharz 02-23-05, 02:14 PM	Spellstitched, Mineral warrior (sometimes), Lich (sometimes), basically any acquired template qualifies.
Fwib 02-23-05, 02:28 PM	Adding templates will only look like a sudden jump in power to a character if the GM isn't using template classes, which (IMHO) he should be, if players want to add templates in mid-game.
El_Machinae 02-23-05, 03:38 PM	Ah! Spellstiched is good! Vampire would be good too (maybe). I don't like lich, because it's a huge investment to acquire - and the person paying the investment is the PC. Actually, I do like lich quite a bit, but not as a source of 'free' power - but it's certainly a good deal! Template classes are tough to decide whether they're 'proper' (they mostly focus on being 'fair'). IMHO, you get dropped by vampire spawn, you've got all the powers of a vampire spawn in 1d4 days - there's no need to 'quest' to find these powers.
catharz 02-23-05, 03:53 PM	IMHO, you get dropped by vampire spawn, you've got all the powers of a vampire spawn in 1d4 days - there's no need to 'quest' to find these powers. Technically speaking, you gain the power of a vampire spawn but loose all of your former powers. This is why there aren't any 'human fighter vampire spawn' in the SRD/MM. Thankfully, there is the Emancipated spawn class.
El_Machinae 02-23-05, 04:05 PM	Well, spawn was just an example. If you're building an army composed of goblin commoners, spawn is a good choice. If you're a 20th level wizard, then maybe straight vampire would be more to your taste. If that was the case, the wizard would (IMHO) rise in 1d4 days with all the powers of a vampire. I guess another way of asking the question (but not quite) is ... if you were an overlord, what would you do to your commoner goblins to (cheaply) boost their power as an army? Vampiredome. Lycanthropy. PaO (I don't know into what, though. Pixies? Better than nothing!) Draconic or fiendish breeding (to acquire templates ... this would be tougher to do to the PC if he's already human). I really like spellstiched, if a lich could force a slave wizard to wish for it to be done (at huge XP costs), it would be nice. Simulacra would also be a neat choice (but awfully expensive). Clone versions of yourself and force them to waste all their slots casting imbue on you.