Bear Ninja [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Bear Ninja [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Egarb
02-20-06, 05:03 PM My character (A 10th level human ninja) died and was reincarnated as a black bear. we used the 3.0 reincarnation table, but are playing 3.5. I wanted to know if theres anyhthing I should get as a bear, what prestiege classes i can take now, etc.

stats

Iranus Slipnife, 9th level ninja, Black Bear, Vecna, Lawful evil.

str 24
dex 22
con 15
int 16
wis 18
chla 14

we ruled that bears cant use weapons easily, and as such can weild one handed weapons with two hands (excluding bows and whatnot).
HiQKid
02-20-06, 05:21 PM Get the gloves of man (Savage Species) so you can wield normally and a constant item of size reduction (Bears are large, right) so you don't take a penalty to hide. Otherwise, I've got nothing...
Reinhart
02-20-06, 06:34 PM Is your type actually animal? Or are you technically a magical beast because of your intelligence and supernatural origin? Because there are some darn spiffy templates for those critters. I think you should be glad that most of the Ninja class features still function well with a bear body.
Kurama Youko
02-20-06, 11:39 PM Ninja Bear!
Black Ninja to Black Bear Ninja!

*Sign carved into Forest Tree Bark*
"Beware he who stalks the forest folds, beware the one who fishes with his claws and nose, beware my silent paws as a pounce from within the shadows, I am Black Bear Ninja!"

Craven from Champions of Ruin is a good feat
ninjarabbit
02-21-06, 08:13 AM What feats do you have now so we know what we're working with
big bear
02-21-06, 08:36 AM Bears do not have opposable thumbs and as such, cannot wield weapons at all. That being said, you have a 10" reach that you can use at close range (which beats a spear). As an awakened animal, you should still be able to have animal growth cast on you. What you need is an item or someone to case Invis or improved invis. At this point, I would think you have to go to a prestige class because you aren't human and don't have the multi-class freedom anymore. (he still has a bear's brain, which is NOT a human's brain).
Shaggy_Shaggs
02-21-06, 08:47 AM My character (A 10th level human ninja) died and was reincarnated as a black bear.
Black bears are Medium. He won't have a Hide penalty. :)

Also, unless this was changed in an eratta, even the Large brown bears don't get 10' reach (being long rather than tall), right?

Edit: If none of this applied back in 3.0, feel free to mock me, I would deserve it for making an assumption it's the same as 3.5 and being wrong. :blush:

Edit 2: 3.0 reincarnation table, but playing 3.5. I must stop posting things while too sleepy to clearly remember what I read. :banghead:
hogarth
02-21-06, 10:58 AM Bears do not have opposable thumbs and as such, cannot wield weapons at all. That being said, you have a 10" reach that you can use at close range (which beats a spear). As an awakened animal, you should still be able to have animal growth cast on you. What you need is an item or someone to case Invis or improved invis. At this point, I would think you have to go to a prestige class because you aren't human and don't have the multi-class freedom anymore. (he still has a bear's brain, which is NOT a human's brain).
(A) Black bears do not have reach.
(B) His type is Magical Beast, not Animal, so Animal Growth would not work.

As for suggestions, it takes a couple of feats (Weapon Focus and Alertness) but Soul Eater (from the Book of Vile Darkness) is a powerful class. It even sort of fits your situation -- an evil power offers you a deal when you get sent back to life. Here's the Soul Eater handbook:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=513069
PhaedrusXY
02-21-06, 11:24 AM What books do you have? What feats do you have, and can you change any of them? The biggest problems you'll have will be using your old equipment, and even that shouldn't be a problem for most of it, as magical gear normally resizes itself to fit the wearer (excluding armor and weapons).

Do you have a druid in your party? If not, I'd work on getting Greater Magic Fang made permanent on your claws and teeth. I'd also look into taking Multiattack, Improved Multiattack and the Rapidstrike series of feats. I think you qualify for them all as a magical beast.
Egarb
02-21-06, 03:02 PM Sorry for being rather vague, I'll give more details.

Black Bears are medium creatures (brown bears are large)
Magical Beast

Feats:
Quickdraw
Weapon Finesse(essentially useless now)
Dodge
Combat Expertise
Improved Feint

Probably wont let me change anything.

Books I have access to:
PHB
DMG
MM 1-3
Entire "Complete" series
XPH
Savage Species
Races of the Wild
Anything from the 3.5 srd

My DM would probably let me use stuff from other books with his approval.

Things my DM will most certainly NOT let me use:
BOVD
BOED
Libris Mortis

Didn't use armor before so its not a problem (ninjas lose a bunch of abilities when wearing armor)

thanks for all the suggestions
hogarth
02-21-06, 03:16 PM The Kensai might be a good fit with your character; you have the right alignment and one of the necessary feats. All you would need would be 5 ranks in Concentration, Diplomacy and Ride and Weapon Focus (claw). Then you can enchant your natural weapons.

I'm trying to imagine how you could get 5 ranks in Ride, though. Maybe you could get really good at riding around on a tricycle or in a little car? <play circus music here>
PhaedrusXY
02-21-06, 03:19 PM Probably wont let me change anything.Well, that's too bad, because several of your feats are pretty much worthless now (Quickdraw and Weapon Finesse being the worst. Improved Feint stinks also, IMO). If you think it would be feasible to find a psion or wilder that you can trust in the game, you could pay them to use Psychic Reformation (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/psychicReformation.htm) on you.

Otherwise, you could also just try to get your hands on a Wish or Polymorph Any Object to change you back (or into something else). How/why did you get Reincarnated, anyway? Died somewhere without any friends to Raise you, and the DM took pity on you, but also wanted to get a laugh out of bringing you back? I've done that as a DM. :D

Hmm... you could also try to get the ability to cast Alter Self. With that, you could take the form of a magical beast that is more "normal" and which would allow you to use your old equipment, but still keep your great physical ability scores from being a bear. Three levels of wizard is the simplest way to get it, but might not be the best. If you have ranks in Use Magic Device, just buy a wand.

Edit: Ethereal Maurauder looks like the only really reasonable Alter Self form for you from the SRD. It isn't bad at all, though, as it would get you Improved Initiative, +3 natural armor, a bite secondary attack, and a +2 to a few skills.

Edit2: Oh yeah, the Ninja Spy PrC from Oriental Adventures gets Alter Self at will, and it would make a great fit thematically for your character as well. I don't remember much about it as far as prereqs and how the benefits are spaced out, though. You'll have to check that out yourself.
Khazra Reborn
02-21-06, 03:50 PM I suggest moving out of ninja and into a more melee orientated prc. The ghostfaced killer is a good choice for better BaB and HD.
hogarth
02-21-06, 04:18 PM Hmm... you could also try to get the ability to cast Alter Self. With that, you could take the form of a magical beast that is more "normal" and which would allow you to use your old equipment, but still keep your great physical ability scores from being a bear. Three levels of wizard is the simplest way to get it, but might not be the best. If you have ranks in Use Magic Device, just buy a wand.

Edit: Ethereal Maurauder looks like the only really reasonable Alter Self form for you from the SRD. It isn't bad at all, though, as it would get you Improved Initiative, +3 natural armor, a bite secondary attack, and a +2 to a few skills.

The ethereal marauder seems pretty crappy; I think the ankheg (+9 natural armor), spider eater (flight) and unicorn (60' speed, +6 natural armor, not likely to get shot on sight) are all at least as good. However, the best low-HD Magical Beast is probably the aranea because it has hands!

Your ninja is probably 90% qualified for the assassin PrC, so you could be using Alter Self in 3 or 4 levels.
PhaedrusXY
02-21-06, 04:22 PM The ethereal marauder seems pretty crappy; I think the ankheg (+9 natural armor), spider eater (flight) and unicorn (60' speed, +6 natural armor, not likely to get shot on sight) are all at least as good. However, the best low-HD Magical Beast is probably the aranea because it has hands!

Your ninja is probably 90% qualified for the assassin PrC, so you could be using Alter Self in 3 or 4 levels.I was suggesting the Ethereal Maurader because it has "hands" (well... something passing for them, anyway). The Aranea's natural form is a large spider. Assassin wouldn't be a bad way to go, either, but you'd be limited in how often you could use Alter Self.

Edit: Ah crap, I was thinking of the Ethereal Filcher, and it isn't a magical beast. Sorry.
hogarth
02-21-06, 04:28 PM I was suggesting the Ethereal Maurader because it has "hands" (well... something passing for them, anyway). The Aranea's natural form is a large spider. Assassin wouldn't be a bad way to go, either, but you'd be limited in how often you could use Alter Self.
You're thinking of the Ethereal _Filcher_ which is an Aberration, not a Magical Beast. Also, read the description of the Aranea:
"An aranea is an intelligent, shapechanging spider with sorcerous powers. In its natural form, an aranea resembles a big spider, with a humpbacked body a little bigger than a human torso. It has fanged mandibles like a normal spider. Two small arms, each about 2 feet long, lie below the mandibles. Each arm has a hand with four many-jointed fingers and a double-jointed thumb."
I don't know if the arms are big enough to hold weapons, though.
ninjarabbit
02-21-06, 04:49 PM Since you have combat expertise, a good str score, and 4 legs, you might want to consider improved trip.
neilthrun
02-21-06, 06:07 PM Do you gain the racial HD of a bear with the reincarnation? See if your DM will allow you to take savage grapple from complete adventurer. And let me say, this has got to be one of the coolest characters ever. It reminds me of the Wujen/Barb/Bear Warrior build I have been rolling around in my head, but ALOT cooler. Really try to convince your dm to switch some of those feats. Quick draw, especially. Perhaps a small XP cost or something. I would take some levels in bard. You will become a singing, ninja bear. How cool is that? Assuming there is a druid in the party(thus how you became reincarnated), make sure he creates an item of speak with animals.
hogarth
02-22-06, 09:01 AM Here's what I would suggest. First, convince your DM that (1) you should still be able to have "ninja" as your favored class and (2) that you should be able to take the "Paladin of Tyranny" class because it's in the SRD (sort of).
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#paladinofTyr annyClassFeatures

Then, take three levels of the Paladin of Tyranny, take the feat Weapon Focus (claw) at level 12, and take 8 levels of Kensai (with "claw" as your signature weapon). The Paladin of Tyranny has Concentration, Diplomacy and Ride as class skills, so take 5 ranks in each to qualify for Kensai. You might consider taking two levels of Paladin and one more level of Ninja if you want the etherealness power; it's up to you.

Final build:
Black bear ninja 9/paladin of tyranny 3/kensai 8
Egarb
02-22-06, 10:33 PM Paladin of tyrrany is out, my party has a normal lawful good paladin (I have a mask of lies, go undetectable alignment!) and as soon as I rejoin they're likely to notice I'm evil (Not being able to wear my mask and all) but kensai looks good.

If I get one more level in Ninja I could go etherial for my ghost step, but I'm not sure it's worth it, seeing that anti magic jacks it up. Also, no racial HD, class HD (bears con bonus WAS retroactive though, a small blessing)

So would ninja 10/2 levels of somthing else to qualify for -->/kensai 8 be a decent build.

might go for 2 levels of bard just because its funny. You end up with a singing/killing/climbibg bear.

Side note, could a ninja of 3rd level or higher apply poison to a natural weapon with no chance to poison himself (because of poison use class feature)?
neilthrun
02-22-06, 10:45 PM might go for 2 levels of bard just because its funny. You end up with a singing/killing/climbibg bear.

Hell YEAH! After that you need some levels in dread pirate.
NekoWorldOrder
02-22-06, 11:12 PM Bear is not anime! How can this be?

Monk/Shou Discipline perhaps? Then you could combo natural attacks and your unarmed strikes. Not to mention a karate bear reminds me of the goofy commercial for John Denver Salmon. :D

My real suggestion is Totemist though; a lot of the soulmelds affect all of your natural attacks. The Kensai route would be pretty nice too.

Of course, you could always take some barbarian levels and go Bear Warrior.

...Yeah, you can slap me for that one. :D
hogarth
02-23-06, 08:23 AM Paladin of tyrrany is out, my party has a normal lawful good paladin (I have a mask of lies, go undetectable alignment!) and as soon as I rejoin they're likely to notice I'm evil (Not being able to wear my mask and all) but kensai looks good.

If I get one more level in Ninja I could go etherial for my ghost step, but I'm not sure it's worth it, seeing that anti magic jacks it up. Also, no racial HD, class HD (bears con bonus WAS retroactive though, a small blessing)

So would ninja 10/2 levels of somthing else to qualify for -->/kensai 8 be a decent build.

Another level of ninja will allow you to get Concentration 5. If you could take the Marshal class from the Miniatures Handbook (and available on the Wizards web site here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030906b), that would give you Ride and Diplomacy as class skills (and some other nice abilities, too). If not, then maybe a level of fighter/ranger and a level of bard would give you the skills you need.

Side note, could a ninja of 3rd level or higher apply poison to a natural weapon with no chance to poison himself (because of poison use class feature)?
Just be careful not to scratch your nose or bite your tongue!
Che
02-23-06, 09:43 AM Bear is not anime! How can this be?
Wow... I thought I was the only man on earth that watched that show...

Unfortunately, your bear/ninja is going to be very difficult to play. A bear can't hold weapons very well (if at all) and will have trouble using most weapons. Since you're not likely to make much use of weapons or items, a few levels of Monk would allow you to make Unnarmed Strikes in lieu of the bear's rather weak claw attacks and the Improved Natural Attack feat (Savage Species) will go a long way in improving your ability to deal damage. Barbarian is another possibility, since they are generally lightly armored as it is, and the extra HP will be more important now than ever.

As an aside... I believe we may have found the reason that the 3.5 reincarnation table is all Humanoid...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Egarb 02-20-06, 05:03 PM	My character (A 10th level human ninja) died and was reincarnated as a black bear. we used the 3.0 reincarnation table, but are playing 3.5. I wanted to know if theres anyhthing I should get as a bear, what prestiege classes i can take now, etc. stats Iranus Slipnife, 9th level ninja, Black Bear, Vecna, Lawful evil. str 24 dex 22 con 15 int 16 wis 18 chla 14 we ruled that bears cant use weapons easily, and as such can weild one handed weapons with two hands (excluding bows and whatnot).
HiQKid 02-20-06, 05:21 PM	Get the gloves of man (Savage Species) so you can wield normally and a constant item of size reduction (Bears are large, right) so you don't take a penalty to hide. Otherwise, I've got nothing...
Reinhart 02-20-06, 06:34 PM	Is your type actually animal? Or are you technically a magical beast because of your intelligence and supernatural origin? Because there are some darn spiffy templates for those critters. I think you should be glad that most of the Ninja class features still function well with a bear body.
Kurama Youko 02-20-06, 11:39 PM	Ninja Bear! Black Ninja to Black Bear Ninja! Sign carved into Forest Tree Bark "Beware he who stalks the forest folds, beware the one who fishes with his claws and nose, beware my silent paws as a pounce from within the shadows, I am Black Bear Ninja!" Craven from Champions of Ruin is a good feat
ninjarabbit 02-21-06, 08:13 AM	What feats do you have now so we know what we're working with
big bear 02-21-06, 08:36 AM	Bears do not have opposable thumbs and as such, cannot wield weapons at all. That being said, you have a 10" reach that you can use at close range (which beats a spear). As an awakened animal, you should still be able to have animal growth cast on you. What you need is an item or someone to case Invis or improved invis. At this point, I would think you have to go to a prestige class because you aren't human and don't have the multi-class freedom anymore. (he still has a bear's brain, which is NOT a human's brain).
Shaggy_Shaggs 02-21-06, 08:47 AM	My character (A 10th level human ninja) died and was reincarnated as a black bear. Black bears are Medium. He won't have a Hide penalty. :) Also, unless this was changed in an eratta, even the Large brown bears don't get 10' reach (being long rather than tall), right? Edit: If none of this applied back in 3.0, feel free to mock me, I would deserve it for making an assumption it's the same as 3.5 and being wrong. :blush: Edit 2: 3.0 reincarnation table, but playing 3.5. I must stop posting things while too sleepy to clearly remember what I read. :banghead:
hogarth 02-21-06, 10:58 AM	Bears do not have opposable thumbs and as such, cannot wield weapons at all. That being said, you have a 10" reach that you can use at close range (which beats a spear). As an awakened animal, you should still be able to have animal growth cast on you. What you need is an item or someone to case Invis or improved invis. At this point, I would think you have to go to a prestige class because you aren't human and don't have the multi-class freedom anymore. (he still has a bear's brain, which is NOT a human's brain). (A) Black bears do not have reach. (B) His type is Magical Beast, not Animal, so Animal Growth would not work. As for suggestions, it takes a couple of feats (Weapon Focus and Alertness) but Soul Eater (from the Book of Vile Darkness) is a powerful class. It even sort of fits your situation -- an evil power offers you a deal when you get sent back to life. Here's the Soul Eater handbook: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=513069
PhaedrusXY 02-21-06, 11:24 AM	What books do you have? What feats do you have, and can you change any of them? The biggest problems you'll have will be using your old equipment, and even that shouldn't be a problem for most of it, as magical gear normally resizes itself to fit the wearer (excluding armor and weapons). Do you have a druid in your party? If not, I'd work on getting Greater Magic Fang made permanent on your claws and teeth. I'd also look into taking Multiattack, Improved Multiattack and the Rapidstrike series of feats. I think you qualify for them all as a magical beast.
Egarb 02-21-06, 03:02 PM	Sorry for being rather vague, I'll give more details. Black Bears are medium creatures (brown bears are large) Magical Beast Feats: Quickdraw Weapon Finesse(essentially useless now) Dodge Combat Expertise Improved Feint Probably wont let me change anything. Books I have access to: PHB DMG MM 1-3 Entire "Complete" series XPH Savage Species Races of the Wild Anything from the 3.5 srd My DM would probably let me use stuff from other books with his approval. Things my DM will most certainly NOT let me use: BOVD BOED Libris Mortis Didn't use armor before so its not a problem (ninjas lose a bunch of abilities when wearing armor) thanks for all the suggestions
hogarth 02-21-06, 03:16 PM	The Kensai might be a good fit with your character; you have the right alignment and one of the necessary feats. All you would need would be 5 ranks in Concentration, Diplomacy and Ride and Weapon Focus (claw). Then you can enchant your natural weapons. I'm trying to imagine how you could get 5 ranks in Ride, though. Maybe you could get really good at riding around on a tricycle or in a little car? <play circus music here>
PhaedrusXY 02-21-06, 03:19 PM	Probably wont let me change anything.Well, that's too bad, because several of your feats are pretty much worthless now (Quickdraw and Weapon Finesse being the worst. Improved Feint stinks also, IMO). If you think it would be feasible to find a psion or wilder that you can trust in the game, you could pay them to use Psychic Reformation (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/psychicReformation.htm) on you. Otherwise, you could also just try to get your hands on a Wish or Polymorph Any Object to change you back (or into something else). How/why did you get Reincarnated, anyway? Died somewhere without any friends to Raise you, and the DM took pity on you, but also wanted to get a laugh out of bringing you back? I've done that as a DM. :D Hmm... you could also try to get the ability to cast Alter Self. With that, you could take the form of a magical beast that is more "normal" and which would allow you to use your old equipment, but still keep your great physical ability scores from being a bear. Three levels of wizard is the simplest way to get it, but might not be the best. If you have ranks in Use Magic Device, just buy a wand. Edit: Ethereal Maurauder looks like the only really reasonable Alter Self form for you from the SRD. It isn't bad at all, though, as it would get you Improved Initiative, +3 natural armor, a bite secondary attack, and a +2 to a few skills. Edit2: Oh yeah, the Ninja Spy PrC from Oriental Adventures gets Alter Self at will, and it would make a great fit thematically for your character as well. I don't remember much about it as far as prereqs and how the benefits are spaced out, though. You'll have to check that out yourself.
Khazra Reborn 02-21-06, 03:50 PM	I suggest moving out of ninja and into a more melee orientated prc. The ghostfaced killer is a good choice for better BaB and HD.
hogarth 02-21-06, 04:18 PM	Hmm... you could also try to get the ability to cast Alter Self. With that, you could take the form of a magical beast that is more "normal" and which would allow you to use your old equipment, but still keep your great physical ability scores from being a bear. Three levels of wizard is the simplest way to get it, but might not be the best. If you have ranks in Use Magic Device, just buy a wand. Edit: Ethereal Maurauder looks like the only really reasonable Alter Self form for you from the SRD. It isn't bad at all, though, as it would get you Improved Initiative, +3 natural armor, a bite secondary attack, and a +2 to a few skills. The ethereal marauder seems pretty crappy; I think the ankheg (+9 natural armor), spider eater (flight) and unicorn (60' speed, +6 natural armor, not likely to get shot on sight) are all at least as good. However, the best low-HD Magical Beast is probably the aranea because it has hands! Your ninja is probably 90% qualified for the assassin PrC, so you could be using Alter Self in 3 or 4 levels.
PhaedrusXY 02-21-06, 04:22 PM	The ethereal marauder seems pretty crappy; I think the ankheg (+9 natural armor), spider eater (flight) and unicorn (60' speed, +6 natural armor, not likely to get shot on sight) are all at least as good. However, the best low-HD Magical Beast is probably the aranea because it has hands! Your ninja is probably 90% qualified for the assassin PrC, so you could be using Alter Self in 3 or 4 levels.I was suggesting the Ethereal Maurader because it has "hands" (well... something passing for them, anyway). The Aranea's natural form is a large spider. Assassin wouldn't be a bad way to go, either, but you'd be limited in how often you could use Alter Self. Edit: Ah crap, I was thinking of the Ethereal Filcher, and it isn't a magical beast. Sorry.
hogarth 02-21-06, 04:28 PM	I was suggesting the Ethereal Maurader because it has "hands" (well... something passing for them, anyway). The Aranea's natural form is a large spider. Assassin wouldn't be a bad way to go, either, but you'd be limited in how often you could use Alter Self. You're thinking of the Ethereal _Filcher_ which is an Aberration, not a Magical Beast. Also, read the description of the Aranea: "An aranea is an intelligent, shapechanging spider with sorcerous powers. In its natural form, an aranea resembles a big spider, with a humpbacked body a little bigger than a human torso. It has fanged mandibles like a normal spider. Two small arms, each about 2 feet long, lie below the mandibles. Each arm has a hand with four many-jointed fingers and a double-jointed thumb." I don't know if the arms are big enough to hold weapons, though.
ninjarabbit 02-21-06, 04:49 PM	Since you have combat expertise, a good str score, and 4 legs, you might want to consider improved trip.
neilthrun 02-21-06, 06:07 PM	Do you gain the racial HD of a bear with the reincarnation? See if your DM will allow you to take savage grapple from complete adventurer. And let me say, this has got to be one of the coolest characters ever. It reminds me of the Wujen/Barb/Bear Warrior build I have been rolling around in my head, but ALOT cooler. Really try to convince your dm to switch some of those feats. Quick draw, especially. Perhaps a small XP cost or something. I would take some levels in bard. You will become a singing, ninja bear. How cool is that? Assuming there is a druid in the party(thus how you became reincarnated), make sure he creates an item of speak with animals.
hogarth 02-22-06, 09:01 AM	Here's what I would suggest. First, convince your DM that (1) you should still be able to have "ninja" as your favored class and (2) that you should be able to take the "Paladin of Tyranny" class because it's in the SRD (sort of). http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#paladinofTyr annyClassFeatures Then, take three levels of the Paladin of Tyranny, take the feat Weapon Focus (claw) at level 12, and take 8 levels of Kensai (with "claw" as your signature weapon). The Paladin of Tyranny has Concentration, Diplomacy and Ride as class skills, so take 5 ranks in each to qualify for Kensai. You might consider taking two levels of Paladin and one more level of Ninja if you want the etherealness power; it's up to you. Final build: Black bear ninja 9/paladin of tyranny 3/kensai 8
Egarb 02-22-06, 10:33 PM	Paladin of tyrrany is out, my party has a normal lawful good paladin (I have a mask of lies, go undetectable alignment!) and as soon as I rejoin they're likely to notice I'm evil (Not being able to wear my mask and all) but kensai looks good. If I get one more level in Ninja I could go etherial for my ghost step, but I'm not sure it's worth it, seeing that anti magic jacks it up. Also, no racial HD, class HD (bears con bonus WAS retroactive though, a small blessing) So would ninja 10/2 levels of somthing else to qualify for -->/kensai 8 be a decent build. might go for 2 levels of bard just because its funny. You end up with a singing/killing/climbibg bear. Side note, could a ninja of 3rd level or higher apply poison to a natural weapon with no chance to poison himself (because of poison use class feature)?
neilthrun 02-22-06, 10:45 PM	might go for 2 levels of bard just because its funny. You end up with a singing/killing/climbibg bear. Hell YEAH! After that you need some levels in dread pirate.
NekoWorldOrder 02-22-06, 11:12 PM	Bear is not anime! How can this be? Monk/Shou Discipline perhaps? Then you could combo natural attacks and your unarmed strikes. Not to mention a karate bear reminds me of the goofy commercial for John Denver Salmon. :D My real suggestion is Totemist though; a lot of the soulmelds affect all of your natural attacks. The Kensai route would be pretty nice too. Of course, you could always take some barbarian levels and go Bear Warrior. ...Yeah, you can slap me for that one. :D
hogarth 02-23-06, 08:23 AM	Paladin of tyrrany is out, my party has a normal lawful good paladin (I have a mask of lies, go undetectable alignment!) and as soon as I rejoin they're likely to notice I'm evil (Not being able to wear my mask and all) but kensai looks good. If I get one more level in Ninja I could go etherial for my ghost step, but I'm not sure it's worth it, seeing that anti magic jacks it up. Also, no racial HD, class HD (bears con bonus WAS retroactive though, a small blessing) So would ninja 10/2 levels of somthing else to qualify for -->/kensai 8 be a decent build. Another level of ninja will allow you to get Concentration 5. If you could take the Marshal class from the Miniatures Handbook (and available on the Wizards web site here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030906b), that would give you Ride and Diplomacy as class skills (and some other nice abilities, too). If not, then maybe a level of fighter/ranger and a level of bard would give you the skills you need. Side note, could a ninja of 3rd level or higher apply poison to a natural weapon with no chance to poison himself (because of poison use class feature)? Just be careful not to scratch your nose or bite your tongue!
Che 02-23-06, 09:43 AM	Bear is not anime! How can this be? Wow... I thought I was the only man on earth that watched that show... Unfortunately, your bear/ninja is going to be very difficult to play. A bear can't hold weapons very well (if at all) and will have trouble using most weapons. Since you're not likely to make much use of weapons or items, a few levels of Monk would allow you to make Unnarmed Strikes in lieu of the bear's rather weak claw attacks and the Improved Natural Attack feat (Savage Species) will go a long way in improving your ability to deal damage. Barbarian is another possibility, since they are generally lightly armored as it is, and the extra HP will be more important now than ever. As an aside... I believe we may have found the reason that the 3.5 reincarnation table is all Humanoid...