Can anybody point me to an optimized character build that imposes saving throw penalties?

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Angrygodofmilk

Mar 26, 2011 1:34:30
Delete.
#2

lormador

Mar 27, 2011 9:00:25
Use a Spell-Storing Weapon. Put a Bestow Curse in it- you know which version. Probably also want it Curse-Spewing too, but that's not as good.

Use Sickening Strike from PHBII. Also use Dreadful Wrath. That's sickened and shaken from your melee attack.

Take enough levels of Hexblade to get a Dark Companion, and enough bad-boy Paladin levels to get the -2 aura.

The biggest punch you're going to get is Doomspeak from your Bard levels and Champions of Ruin, which gives a -15.

That's -23 if the attack hits, -27 if they fail vs. the Bestowed Curse. And, actually, you can do it in less than 10 levels.

Bah, who cares if the OP deleted the request, debuffing is fun!
#3

bonzai

Mar 28, 2011 9:37:22

Unseely fey template (dragon magazine compendium): Winter Chill ability gives a penalty to saves against all living, non-fey creatures within 5ft.

Dreadful Wrath (Forgotten Realms Players hnadbook): When you make a charge, full attack, or cast a spell that targets the enemy, each enemy within a 20ft radius must make a Will DC 20, or be shaken for 1 minute. (-2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks).

Bind Vestige +Improved bind vestige (Tome of Magic)
Vestige: Focalor (Aura of Sadness), -2 to attack, saves, Skill Checks

Dark Companion (phb2, alternative hexblade class feature): -2 to saves & AC

Brutal Strike (phb2): opponent makes a fort save, DC 10 + power attack or be sickened for one rd. (-2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.)

Netherese Battle Curse (lost empires of Faerun): Spend a spell, gain an attack bonus equal to the spell sacrificed. If it hits, opponent must make a will save, DC spell level+13, or take -2 on attack, damage, saves, ability check, and skill check rolls for 1 minute.

Greater Hexblade Curse(hexblade class, complete warrior): DC 22 Will save, or -4 attack, damage, saves, ability checks, and skill checks. Free Action

Aura of dispair (Black Guard, DMG): -2 to all saves.

Sample Build:

Human Unseely fey Hexblade 7/Black guard 3/hexblade 10 with all the feats and features listed above.

-2 to attacks, -2 to Ac, -6 +Charisma modifyer to saves to anything within 5ft of you and your dark companion. Let that sink in a moment.

Charge in, use your curse as a free action, use the Netherese battle curse, dreadfull wrath, and brutal strike on your charge attack. If successful, and your opponent fails his saves, he will take an additional -10 to attack rolls, saving throws, ability and skill checks.

For a total debuff of -12 attack, -2 AC, -16+Charisma to saves, and -10 to skill and ability checks. Two more levels of Hexblade will add an additional -2 to it. You could stay Hexblade all the way through 20, and come out the same, but the 3 level dip into Black Guard does a couple things for you. First it gets you to the same amount of debuff, but with no save involved. Second it lets you put your Charismabonus on saves, which is VERY nice with Mettle.