Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Edymnion 03-02-05, 04:00 PM	Since it comes up from time to time, I thought I'd post up my build for a Batman type character in Eberron (in Sharn, to be exact). The base class is Ranger, using the Urban Ranger varient presented in Unearthed Arcana (it progresses seamlessly into the PrC). The PrC is Vigilante from Complete Adventurer. This build is ment to get him into Vigilante ASAP, which means he'll only need 5 levels of Urban Ranger. As long as you don't mind delaying getting into the PrC, I would suggest sticking 5 levels of monk in there to fill in the missing levels. In that case, Monastic Training would be the feat of choice at lvl 1, followed by Alertness and Endurance at lvl 3, and Xen'Drik Boomerang Prof at lvl 6. Alertness and Endurance are required to get into the PrC, so you have to take them. Skills are listed as the cumulative total that I would take, which will result in meeting the PrC prereqs after taking your 5th level in Urban Ranger. That also leaves a fair share of left over skillpoints, which I've (hopefully wisely) spent to flesh out a batman type character. (also means ya can't tell which skills are prereqs, and which are for flavor unless you already own CAdv) Base Class: Urban Ranger, 5 levels. PrC: Vigilante, 10 levels. Race: Half-Elf Lvl 1: Urban Ranger Feat: Alertness Skills: Gather Info: 4 ranks Intimidate: 2 ranks Knowledge (Local): 4 ranks Search: 2 ranks Sense Motive: 4 ranks Hide: 4 Ranks Move Silent: 4 Ranks Favored Enemy: Boromar Clan (the biggest crime syndicate in Sharn) Lvl 2: Urban Ranger Abilities: Combat Style (Archery[Rapid Shot]) Skills: Gather Info: 5 ranks Intimidate: 3 ranks Knowledge (Local): 5 ranks Search: 2 ranks Sense Motive: 5 ranks Hide: 5 Ranks Move Silent: 5 Ranks Lvl 3: Urban Ranger Feats: Exotic Weapon Prof (Xen’Drik Boomerang) Endurance (bonus feat) Skills: Gather Info: 6 ranks Intimidate: 3 ranks Knowledge (Local): 6 ranks Search: 3 ranks Sense Motive: 6 ranks Hide: 6 Ranks Move Silent: 6 Ranks Lvl 4: Urban Ranger Animal Companion: Wolf (everyone that remembers Batdog, pat yourselves on the back) Skills: Gather Info: 7 ranks Intimidate: 4 ranks Knowledge (Local): 7 ranks Search: 3 ranks Sense Motive: 7 ranks Hide: 7 Ranks Move Silent: 7 Ranks Lvl 5: Urban Ranger Favored Enemy: Daask (second biggest crime syndicate in Sharn) Skills: Gather Info: 8 ranks Intimidate: 4 ranks Knowledge (Local): 8 ranks Search: 4 ranks Sense Motive: 8 ranks Hide: 8 Ranks Move Silent: 8 Ranks Lvl 6: Vigilante Feats: Heroic Spirit Skills: Gather Info: 9 ranks Intimidate: 4 ranks Knowledge (Local): 9 ranks Search: 5 ranks Sense Motive: 9 ranks Hide: 9 Ranks Move Silent: 9 Ranks
zambuka 03-02-05, 05:06 PM	I'd throw in a few levels of artificer. After all, most of the gadgets and goodies in that Batbelt (Edit: I think that should be Utility Belt) were designed by Batman himself.
talion09 03-02-05, 05:07 PM	I like the build, but I have to ask one question... why half-elf?
Dagda Mor 03-02-05, 05:39 PM	Very nice; I second the Artificer suggestion.
Altaris 03-02-05, 06:00 PM	Perhaps because half-elves are cool, and gain low-light vision along with various skill bonuses appropriate to the build. I'd put these benefits against the bonus feat and extra skill points in this build. As for the Artificer levels, I'd suggest taking Leadership and having an artificer cohort. Of course, this would also be a good slot for another player to fill.
Edymnion 03-02-05, 07:16 PM	Well, it should be remembered that Bruce did not actually make his bat-equipment himself. He was head of Wayne Enterprises, which included all the high tech and industrial plants he needed. Its more likely that he had differant areas produce differant pieces of the equipment, and either assembled the pieces himself, or had someone he could trust to do it for him. He doesn't actually have to do it himself. He just had huge amounts of money to throw around. However, I do think he needs the Monk levels, at least a few of them. He is supposed to be very good at martial arts (and in Eberron, a 5th level monk is exceedingly good). And if some Artificer levels are thrown in, you have to start worrying about multiclassing penalties. As for why I chose half-elf: Low Light Vision, he's hanging out in dark areas a lot, he needs to be able to see. Longer Life Span, its better when the legend is a generation or two old, and still going strong. Half Elf lives nearly twice as long as a human. Half-Elves in Eberron have that nice system of give and take going on, which can be used to gain information. Favored Class: Any, good for when you want to stick in the Monk levels +1 to Listen, Spot, and Search +2 to Diplomacy and Gather Information Immunity to sleep and resistance to enchantmentAnd frankly, Half-Elves are cool :P I also have his Sharn incarnation for spooking the thieves. In Eberron, what is big and scarey and mythical? Dragons. Forget The Batman, say hello to The Black Dragon. Wears scale mail laquered glossy black, has a leather cape with the dragonwing pattern on them, etc. If you dump enough into Intelligence to have extra skillpoints (I just did the default sp for the Urban Ranger), and you can get the ranks in Jump and Knowledge (The Planes), you can have him take Manifest Leap from S:CoT, and really have him getting around Sharn in style. Remember how Batman would clip his grappler to his belt, lift up his cape, and pretend he was flying up? Same deal here, except Black Dragon really is spreading his "wings" and leaping into the air.
Ricohard_Draconis 03-02-05, 07:34 PM	i'd have picked up leadership for the bat with cohort: Robin. and one follower: alfred(now he might have artificer levels)
Edymnion 03-02-05, 07:42 PM	Yeah, but you can't get Leadership until at least lvl 6, and getting a cohort at the same time you become a Vigilante is cutting it a little too close, IMO. Better save that until lvl 9 or 12.
Isran_Imrador 03-02-05, 07:52 PM	As for why I chose half-elf: half elf are cool! And the Batmobil is, yep you guessed it a small Elemental power black-dragon looking Airship! Wayne Enterprises A brach of the lyrandar Tree!? Anyway, nice build :)
PoeticJustice 03-02-05, 11:25 PM	Nice work! Got any builds for some villains? I think Ra's al Ghul would be right at home on Eberron (OH OH, maybe he led the abjurers that destroyed the crystal tower. :eek: I think I just figured out who caused the mourning in my campaign!)
Beleriphon 03-02-05, 11:46 PM	Nice work! Got any builds for some villains? I think Ra's al Ghul would be right at home on Eberron (OH OH, maybe he led the abjurers that destroyed the crystal tower. :eek: I think I just figured out who caused the mourning in my campaign!) Hello to Ra's al Ghu the low level raasasha. A Joker like character needs to akin to a crazed bard with a penchant for deadly jokes, I mean as villians go he is one of the more creative and nutty. If you want a good scare factor I'd be in favour of throwing in a good old fashioned scare the Scarecrow uses arcane magic to induce horror in his victims. Either a sorcerer that focuses mostly on the Fear/Nightmare type spells or an Enchanter doing the same.
jnosh 03-02-05, 11:52 PM	I don't think half elf works well for Bruce, it'll take too long for him to get to his Dark Knight Returns phase.I think that the Joker could very well be a rogue with a few ranks in perform, his jokes aren't that funny so a few will suffice.
zambuka 03-03-05, 12:02 AM	Well, it should be remembered that Bruce did not actually make his bat-equipment himself. He was head of Wayne Enterprises, which included all the high tech and industrial plants he needed. Its more likely that he had differant areas produce differant pieces of the equipment, and either assembled the pieces himself, or had someone he could trust to do it for him. He doesn't actually have to do it himself. He just had huge amounts of money to throw around. That is exactly how the comics portrayed it all (IIRC). He did do the assembly himself and all those goodies were designed by bruce himself. While he doesn't make all the components himself he is still quite capable, given access to suitable workshops, of doing so. Most of the best batman builds I have seen when I have played in supers campaigns have had BM with plenty of gadgeteering skills as well as the massive fortune and the good H2H combat skills (ever noticed how his weapons are typically designed for subdueing rather than killing?). This is why I can't see BM with out some gadgeteering... er artificer levels. Although it would kind of work by making alfred the gadgeteer.
Beleriphon 03-03-05, 12:25 AM	Most of the best batman builds I have seen when I have played in supers campaigns have had BM with plenty of gadgeteering skills as well as the massive fortune and the good H2H combat skills (ever noticed how his weapons are typically designed for subdueing rather than killing?). This is why I can't see BM with out some gadgeteering... er artificer levels. Although it would kind of work by making alfred the gadgeteer. That certainly works, although one of Batman's best toys, the Batmobile, was originally just a heavily reinforced car. As time went on and Batman saved more people the good ole' rust bucket wouldn't suffice, so a special effects/stunt man built the Batmobile for Batman and it was always left at a warehouse owned by a dummy corporation, thus meaning Wayne Enterprises would pay for the Batmobile and nobody was the wiser. Anyhoo, I like this Batman style character. Yes he had plenty of nifty gadgets but Batman has always been the Dark Knight, the World's Greatest Detective, not the World's Greatest Science Geek (that title more properly belongs to Reed Richards).
collinf 03-03-05, 09:42 AM	However, I do think he needs the Monk levels, at least a few of them. He is supposed to be very good at martial arts (and in Eberron, a 5th level monk is exceedingly good). And if some Artificer levels are thrown in, you have to start worrying about multiclassing penalties. I agree. When I originally saw this post, I was thinking of Batman as a Monk/Fighter. The Urban Ranger does fit well, too, I must admit. collinf
Edymnion 03-03-05, 10:10 AM	I don't think half elf works well for Bruce, it'll take too long for him to get to his Dark Knight Returns phase.Wait, what? You don't have to put in any batman backstory you don't want to. If you want to make him jump right into the style you like, then go ahead and do it. Especially considering that if you're actually playing him as a character, you'll likely get most of your levels in a very short period of time, which means he can stay the Dark Knight for even longer (without needing to hire a whiney teenager with a techno suit :P). As an NPC, well, the DM can set him wherever he wants, so its not really an issue there either. I also like the Half-Elf because it gives him sharp features. None of the trouble of trying to justify why an elf is doing this, but not the round face of a human either. Nice sharp cheekbones, pointy ears, all that stuff which leads to giving him a sharp, angular face.
Tengu1958 03-03-05, 10:31 AM	Don't forget the man behind the bat. Alfred. I would give him some Artificer and Expert levels. Enough to support BM. Would he another half-elf or even a full elf?
Kid SixXx 03-03-05, 10:52 AM	It's a very good build, but shouldn't Batman have some levels of Master Inquisitive? After all, he's the Dark Detective. I would deal with the Artificer hitch by giving "Batman" either a Gnomish Artificer manservant to act as "Alfred," or perhaps even take a page from Failin's book in SoTLW and have a disgraced House Cannith member to become "Batman's" butler.
Altaris 03-03-05, 11:18 AM	Monk would certainly fit, but I think Vigilante would cover for Master Inquisitive. If we include too many classes, then our levels in each are are going to suffer. The Dark Dragon? That has a nice ring to it. :D
m15a 03-03-05, 01:27 PM	Most of the best batman builds I have seen when I have played in supers campaigns have had BM with plenty of gadgeteering skills as well as the massive fortune and the good H2H combat skills (ever noticed how his weapons are typically designed for subdueing rather than killing?). This is why I can't see BM with out some gadgeteering... er artificer levels. "gadgeteering" could easily just be a few ranks in various craft skills. batman could do a whole bunch of things, which is why it's good to keep the skill points up (as urban ranger does). but devoting even two levels of artificer (so he could craft potions) would take up a full 1/3 of this 6 level build. though not a batman expert, seems like he spent more time honing his skills and fighting prowess.
Darth Teddybear 03-07-05, 04:41 PM	Cool build, me likes....but (I know, there's always a but :))... How about a few levels of Inquisitive. Batman is supposed to be the world's greatest detective after all. This kinda gets eclipsed by the new-fangled kung-fu Batman, but he's at heart a crime solver. And, completely off subject, what's with the funky hat on the otherwise really cool picture of the Vigilante? :)
nyysjan 03-07-05, 04:56 PM	at this point remembering that Batman pretty much was best that humanity had to offer before going to superpowered heroes (Bats has sweeped the floor with Superman atleast three times to my knowledge) i'd use Gestalt Monk/Artificer and ad master Inquisitive at later point extreme explorer level would possibly be somwhere around level 7 or 8 go Bats