Best forms for Effigies? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best forms for Effigies? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zemyla
07-07-05, 03:35 PM I'm trying to figure out what forms are good ones for their cost for effigies. I've considered gibbering mouther and will-o-wisp, but they probably aren't the absolute best. I have the SRD, the XPH, the Complete Series, and Lords of Madness.

Also, this question could also apply to elder eidolons.
lostone
07-07-05, 03:51 PM IIRC Effigy strips off any LA and special qualities, so one major abuse is to take whatever creature you decide on and add all sorts of templates such as half-dragon, half-celestial, etc. You get the boosted attributes and natural armor but lose everything else. But it is all free.
Pinky's brain
07-07-05, 04:23 PM It gets pretty crazy once you go there though :)

Still, maybe you have a crazy DM. Will he allow you to create an advanced creatures with multiple inherited and acquired templates before applying the effigy template? (By the RAW it is allowed, but as I said, it gets crazy.)

You didnt mention how many HD. From those sources a plain old Girallon seems okay. Decent stats and 4 arms, which can wield weapons.
Funny Slaughter
07-07-05, 06:04 PM never forget about paragon :D
Fălenganor
07-07-05, 07:59 PM Effigy strips off any LA [...] But it is all free.
Wow! Where is that written?
Shaken, not Stunned
07-07-05, 09:05 PM The price is based on HD.

I made a templated-up effigy that had a strenght of over a hundred and 2 HD. Haha. Man, it is a good thing I DM. Well, if your not my players....

Anyway, start with a lizardman. Add on ferality, half fiend, winged, half fey, phrenic, etc. Just keep going. Keep in mind some templates cannot be applied to some creature types. In general, tack on dragon and undead last, because those two are at the top of the pyrimid. Check SS for a simple (and outdated) explanation.
AlienFromBeyond
07-07-05, 10:58 PM Actually, Outsider, Undead, and Construct are at the top, as I unfortunately found out when trying to do something cool with a Half-Dragon Warforged :(.
Funny Slaughter
07-08-05, 06:00 AM jippie, i found it!

for some basic coolness take a look at my legendary chicken contest (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=132778)
especially the chicken slaad sand witch is often quoted :)

the point to start with is the template pyramid in savage species. now get yourself something as low as possible on that pyramid to start with, animal is a good choice. go and slap templates on it but try not to change the type into something too high on the pyramid as outsider or dragon.

outsider is normally the end of it but there are quite some templates that work on outsiders so try to work as many templates as possible without reaching outsider.

my chicken is a bad example here because you get quite some hitdice but i am quite sure you can do better :)
i used these templates:
titanic, beast of xvim, brass half golem, warbeast, monstrous, shadow, half troll, reptilian, multiheaded lernean cryo, corrupted, fiendish, axiomatic, paragon, pesudonatural chicken.

maybe you can start without titanic, should work quite well. multiheaded adds hitdice but its maybe a good tradeoff.

oh, and i would also like to know where this stuff is written...

gs
Funny
Pinky's brain
07-08-05, 06:45 AM Where what is written? That you are allowed to stack effigy with other templates? What more is needed than the standard rules (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/improvingMonsters.html) for adding more than one template?

I still think using epic content in non epic campaigns isnt kosher.
Funny Slaughter
07-08-05, 07:30 AM Where what is written?

effigy. no clue what this is. maybe i am spending too little money on rulebooks?

gs
Funny
Pinky's brain
07-08-05, 08:08 AM Oh, heh ... complete arcane.
Kaiberon
07-09-05, 04:08 PM The best Effigy i've been able to whip up so far without using the outdated Savage Species and being unable to locate the half illithid template is available as soon as yuo enter the class.

Half-Ogre/Half-Dragon/Mind Flayer Base. Strength is 18 higher than the normal Illithid, it will fly as a large half-dragon (large plus 30 something strength equals awesome grappler) and it keeps that oh so lovely Extract.

I'm sure there are a few other sweet templates i could tack on, feel free to add on, but remember Effigy can't be applied to undead, incorporeal anything(damn) or outsider (which kills half celestials, fiends and the like).

Perhaps lycanthrope... Also please gimme a book/page number for half-illithid.
If a half-flayer gets extract i can use another base creature.
DwarvinJedi
07-09-05, 06:26 PM 1/2 illithid is in FF and Underdark, and 1/2 ogre is not a template.
obrysii
07-09-05, 10:49 PM 1/2 ogre is not a template.

Half-Orge (please spell it out...it's one letter more) is found in a Dragon magazine.
DwarvinJedi
07-09-05, 11:05 PM Half-Orge (please spell it out...it's one letter more) is found in a Dragon magazine.
Ah, I don't get Dragon.
Part-Human2
07-10-05, 03:07 AM Half-Orge (please spell it out...it's one letter more) is found in a Dragon magazine.

Maybe he couldn't spell Half.

(Orge?)

From now on I'm going to spell it 1/2-Orgy.
lostone
07-10-05, 07:59 AM The price is based on HD.

I made a templated-up effigy that had a strenght of over a hundred and 2 HD. Haha. Man, it is a good thing I DM. Well, if your not my players....I don't suppose you made a thread for that anywhere? I'd love to see what templates you used to get the 100 strength. :D
Blarghthepirate
07-17-05, 12:56 AM I am going to be playing in a campaign, as a 7th level sorc/ 3rd level Effigy Master, I am just trying to get some general ideas on what feats/skills I should get, Ive got the sorc part down, the help I need is in choosing my Effigy creatures, I have starting cash for a level 10, (49,000) and can create Effigies of up to 12HD, Just looking for some ideas as to what base creatures I should use, Im trying to make effective combat+defensive types of Effigies.

Please lend your suggestions, all are welcome.
Pinky's brain
07-17-05, 10:49 AM First you are going to have to tell us what books you are allowed and if your DM plays by RAW in regards to templates (if so, that probably wont last long ... but it will be funny to see him realise the horror he unleashed).

BTW the incarnate construct and half-troll templates can break the template pyramid for constructs and outsiders, only undead truely remain the end of the line AFAICS.
Blarghthepirate
07-17-05, 07:39 PM I have access to all core books, if that helps you out any with some Ideas, where is it found about Incarnate Constructs, and half-troll?
Pinky's brain
07-17-05, 09:24 PM The core books are just the MM/PHB/DMG ... so that would leave you with the MM. Disregarding stacking templates and just looking at the MM I like the Girallon as I said before.

The remark about templates was just a general remark, not aimed specifically at you ... but half-troll is in Fiend Folio, and incarnate construct is in Savage Species.
Blarghthepirate
07-17-05, 10:36 PM What I meant about Core rule books is, all official books made, only one I dont have access to in my house is the Miniatures handbook, and the new siegewarfar type book, cant recall the name

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zemyla 07-07-05, 03:35 PM	I'm trying to figure out what forms are good ones for their cost for effigies. I've considered gibbering mouther and will-o-wisp, but they probably aren't the absolute best. I have the SRD, the XPH, the Complete Series, and Lords of Madness. Also, this question could also apply to elder eidolons.
lostone 07-07-05, 03:51 PM	IIRC Effigy strips off any LA and special qualities, so one major abuse is to take whatever creature you decide on and add all sorts of templates such as half-dragon, half-celestial, etc. You get the boosted attributes and natural armor but lose everything else. But it is all free.
Pinky's brain 07-07-05, 04:23 PM	It gets pretty crazy once you go there though :) Still, maybe you have a crazy DM. Will he allow you to create an advanced creatures with multiple inherited and acquired templates before applying the effigy template? (By the RAW it is allowed, but as I said, it gets crazy.) You didnt mention how many HD. From those sources a plain old Girallon seems okay. Decent stats and 4 arms, which can wield weapons.
Funny Slaughter 07-07-05, 06:04 PM	never forget about paragon :D
Fălenganor 07-07-05, 07:59 PM	Effigy strips off any LA [...] But it is all free. Wow! Where is that written?
Shaken, not Stunned 07-07-05, 09:05 PM	The price is based on HD. I made a templated-up effigy that had a strenght of over a hundred and 2 HD. Haha. Man, it is a good thing I DM. Well, if your not my players.... Anyway, start with a lizardman. Add on ferality, half fiend, winged, half fey, phrenic, etc. Just keep going. Keep in mind some templates cannot be applied to some creature types. In general, tack on dragon and undead last, because those two are at the top of the pyrimid. Check SS for a simple (and outdated) explanation.
AlienFromBeyond 07-07-05, 10:58 PM	Actually, Outsider, Undead, and Construct are at the top, as I unfortunately found out when trying to do something cool with a Half-Dragon Warforged :(.
Funny Slaughter 07-08-05, 06:00 AM	jippie, i found it! for some basic coolness take a look at my legendary chicken contest (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=132778) especially the chicken slaad sand witch is often quoted :) the point to start with is the template pyramid in savage species. now get yourself something as low as possible on that pyramid to start with, animal is a good choice. go and slap templates on it but try not to change the type into something too high on the pyramid as outsider or dragon. outsider is normally the end of it but there are quite some templates that work on outsiders so try to work as many templates as possible without reaching outsider. my chicken is a bad example here because you get quite some hitdice but i am quite sure you can do better :) i used these templates: titanic, beast of xvim, brass half golem, warbeast, monstrous, shadow, half troll, reptilian, multiheaded lernean cryo, corrupted, fiendish, axiomatic, paragon, pesudonatural chicken. maybe you can start without titanic, should work quite well. multiheaded adds hitdice but its maybe a good tradeoff. oh, and i would also like to know where this stuff is written... gs Funny
Pinky's brain 07-08-05, 06:45 AM	Where what is written? That you are allowed to stack effigy with other templates? What more is needed than the standard rules (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/improvingMonsters.html) for adding more than one template? I still think using epic content in non epic campaigns isnt kosher.
Funny Slaughter 07-08-05, 07:30 AM	Where what is written? effigy. no clue what this is. maybe i am spending too little money on rulebooks? gs Funny
Pinky's brain 07-08-05, 08:08 AM	Oh, heh ... complete arcane.
Kaiberon 07-09-05, 04:08 PM	The best Effigy i've been able to whip up so far without using the outdated Savage Species and being unable to locate the half illithid template is available as soon as yuo enter the class. Half-Ogre/Half-Dragon/Mind Flayer Base. Strength is 18 higher than the normal Illithid, it will fly as a large half-dragon (large plus 30 something strength equals awesome grappler) and it keeps that oh so lovely Extract. I'm sure there are a few other sweet templates i could tack on, feel free to add on, but remember Effigy can't be applied to undead, incorporeal anything(damn) or outsider (which kills half celestials, fiends and the like). Perhaps lycanthrope... Also please gimme a book/page number for half-illithid. If a half-flayer gets extract i can use another base creature.
DwarvinJedi 07-09-05, 06:26 PM	1/2 illithid is in FF and Underdark, and 1/2 ogre is not a template.
obrysii 07-09-05, 10:49 PM	1/2 ogre is not a template. Half-Orge (please spell it out...it's one letter more) is found in a Dragon magazine.
DwarvinJedi 07-09-05, 11:05 PM	Half-Orge (please spell it out...it's one letter more) is found in a Dragon magazine. Ah, I don't get Dragon.
Part-Human2 07-10-05, 03:07 AM	Half-Orge (please spell it out...it's one letter more) is found in a Dragon magazine. Maybe he couldn't spell Half. (Orge?) From now on I'm going to spell it 1/2-Orgy.
lostone 07-10-05, 07:59 AM	The price is based on HD. I made a templated-up effigy that had a strenght of over a hundred and 2 HD. Haha. Man, it is a good thing I DM. Well, if your not my players....I don't suppose you made a thread for that anywhere? I'd love to see what templates you used to get the 100 strength. :D
Blarghthepirate 07-17-05, 12:56 AM	I am going to be playing in a campaign, as a 7th level sorc/ 3rd level Effigy Master, I am just trying to get some general ideas on what feats/skills I should get, Ive got the sorc part down, the help I need is in choosing my Effigy creatures, I have starting cash for a level 10, (49,000) and can create Effigies of up to 12HD, Just looking for some ideas as to what base creatures I should use, Im trying to make effective combat+defensive types of Effigies. Please lend your suggestions, all are welcome.
Pinky's brain 07-17-05, 10:49 AM	First you are going to have to tell us what books you are allowed and if your DM plays by RAW in regards to templates (if so, that probably wont last long ... but it will be funny to see him realise the horror he unleashed). BTW the incarnate construct and half-troll templates can break the template pyramid for constructs and outsiders, only undead truely remain the end of the line AFAICS.
Blarghthepirate 07-17-05, 07:39 PM	I have access to all core books, if that helps you out any with some Ideas, where is it found about Incarnate Constructs, and half-troll?
Pinky's brain 07-17-05, 09:24 PM	The core books are just the MM/PHB/DMG ... so that would leave you with the MM. Disregarding stacking templates and just looking at the MM I like the Girallon as I said before. The remark about templates was just a general remark, not aimed specifically at you ... but half-troll is in Fiend Folio, and incarnate construct is in Savage Species.
Blarghthepirate 07-17-05, 10:36 PM	What I meant about Core rule books is, all official books made, only one I dont have access to in my house is the Miniatures handbook, and the new siegewarfar type book, cant recall the name