My build is based on this thread: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=852524
Chuck the ruby knight windicator is a build that combines deliriously high speed and thornado throw to reach astronomical damage. The problem is, this can only be done at level 20, 19 at best. I wanted to see what would happened if someone played this kind of build from the very low levels, to level 20, would he be sub par, on par, or clearly better as he goes up. This is the thread to find this out
I started this table top game with a friend as the DM, he is aware of what i'm doing and cool with it, we don't plan to go epic anyways, so I'll maybe be able to throw 1-2 people tops at level 20. The game started at level 3, but we played a bit and the startings of the campaign are not very clear in my mind, so i'll start with the last session, last week.
Campaign information
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The campaign is set in faerun, in a city surrounded by a humongus forest, the city is called bastion.
Recently, a coalition of trolls, orcs, gnolls, and clerics of talona have joined together to rule the region and are attempting to invade bastion, the elven city in the forest, and to throw aside the loose domination the green dragons have over this forest land.
Recently, a coalition of trolls, orcs, gnolls, and clerics of talona have joined together to rule the region and are attempting to invade bastion, the elven city in the forest, and to throw aside the loose domination the green dragons have over this forest land.
Also, any comments, suggestions, other, on the build?
And has anyone already posted or played something similar?
Could be fun to know.
Meh, apparently i was wrong, i'm still having fun playing that guy.
Then again, the "Diary of Chuck" has an odd sort of ring to it. Something like a bad horror movie title.
It suffers from "Big Block of Text" syndrome. Check out the CO diary I keep (in my sig).
Agreed ... eyes hurt ...
A 'conclusion' section would be nice - to see what your overall thoughts were regarding the playability of the build during x play session.
Though for a lvl 20 optimized build I can't see it being anything special at lower levels (certainly not horrible, not with ToB, but nothing special either).
Also, it seems the entire group is more or less optimized, which is interesting aswell.
Gogo broken VOP Gitzerai Monk!
Can anyone tell me how to do the spoiler blocks, i'll try to minimise this, and next installements will be shorter.
I thought it was too big too.
I DO read your CO diary PI.
Thanks for the comments.
I put the spoiler's to good use, if you think it's too much to put them on the fight as well, just tell me.
Thanks for the advice, even if no one reads i'll keep updating, it helps me think of the game and helps me prep for next one.
We got a big boost in cash, and i went from 20 AC to 27 throught a ring of prot +2, mithral breastplate +2 (Had mwk chain shirt before), and periapt of wisdom +4
I have the flaw wich gives -1 to AC
Co diary: Makings of a monster build part 2: Of zergs and elves
A.K.A
Diary of Chuck Part 2
The game starts where we left off, in the middle of a forest that is lightly covered with a creep kinda thing that reminds us of Starcraft Zergs (and is actively described by the DM as being the same thing)
The abjurer has catched up with our group, and so has the dwarven fighter, unfortunately, it is meditationweek for our Githzerai monk, so he cannot help us (the player was unreachable). I decide to give the dwarf the gloves of ogre power, since i can persist bull’s strength for just about the same effects as divine favour+ gloves. +2 to hit +3 to damage with bull’s strength, +3 to hit, +3 to damage with gloves +divine favour.
We venture deeper into the corrupted and sick forest, and come upon a sort of small swamp, that is more corrupted than the rest, mostly because the disease seems to spread itself more easily in water than on the ground. We decide to stop a bit and conduct some tests. First we cast detect magic, and learn that the creep is indeed magical in nature. The psion tells us that he can detect some kind of vague thoughts process inside the creep, and it’s freaking us out. Then i cast augury, yet again!!, to see if analysing this substance will be beneficial, and i get WEALTH!!!! By now we know better than not to listen to the augury, and we try to think of everything at our disposal to analyse it. I try to strike the creep with a burning blade maneuver, and we see that the creep is VERY susceptible to fire, that’s good to know.
That is when the dwarf says something like: if only we had someone who could cast deathwatch, we could see what is living and not. I then remember that along my crappy lvl 1 domain spells, i had a choice between deathwatch and detect undead. I took deathwatch. I then cast it and analyse the swamp. The DM tells me that i detect some sort of muted life force in just about anything i see, but i also detect a very strong life-force in a mound, a very big and strong life force. And then the colossal centipede pops out of the water and attacks us.
The Lurker in the Swamp Fight
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Round 1: FIGHT
We roll initiative and the centipede goes first (don’t ask me why) and comes up to us and strikes the dwarf for around 17 damage, plus a fort save vs. poison, which he happily makes (He’s a fighter dwarf with 20 constitution) My turn, I then go next to him and perform flashing sun+burning blade while power attacking. Now I must say that I am incredibly unlucky when I perform those maneuvers and I always miss at least one, if not both. This is the case this time, I miss both my attacks due to crappy dice rolls, and the fact I’m power attacking like a madman. The dwarf has little more luck with his power attacking ventures, and misses his two attacks, but at least he does it while performing combat expertise, which explains why he missed, but raises his AC a lot. The wizard cast’s orb of acid, lesser, after remembering that vermin don’t have an intelligence score, so he can’t cast ray of stupidity at it. The orb of acid does no damage, being reduced by the acid energy resistance that the centipede has. Hmmm a different bread of centipede, creep oriented. The psion than cast’s an energy bolt with fire, and does a rousing 39 damage, due to the fire vulnerability of the centipede. Now we’re in business. Too bad I missed with my burning blade...
Round 2
Centipede attacks the dwarf again and misses. I power attack in a more conservative way, and use crusader strike to heal a bit of damage to the dwarf. I strike and deal 20ish damage, healing 7 points of damage to the dwarf, who is grateful. The dwarf attacks and misses again. The wizard casts a ray of enfeeblement on the centipede, and takes 7 points of strength, reducing its offensive power a lot. The psion ends the fight with another fire bolt. End of battle
Round 1: FIGHT
We roll initiative and the centipede goes first (don’t ask me why) and comes up to us and strikes the dwarf for around 17 damage, plus a fort save vs. poison, which he happily makes (He’s a fighter dwarf with 20 constitution) My turn, I then go next to him and perform flashing sun+burning blade while power attacking. Now I must say that I am incredibly unlucky when I perform those maneuvers and I always miss at least one, if not both. This is the case this time, I miss both my attacks due to crappy dice rolls, and the fact I’m power attacking like a madman. The dwarf has little more luck with his power attacking ventures, and misses his two attacks, but at least he does it while performing combat expertise, which explains why he missed, but raises his AC a lot. The wizard cast’s orb of acid, lesser, after remembering that vermin don’t have an intelligence score, so he can’t cast ray of stupidity at it. The orb of acid does no damage, being reduced by the acid energy resistance that the centipede has. Hmmm a different bread of centipede, creep oriented. The psion than cast’s an energy bolt with fire, and does a rousing 39 damage, due to the fire vulnerability of the centipede. Now we’re in business. Too bad I missed with my burning blade...
Round 2
Centipede attacks the dwarf again and misses. I power attack in a more conservative way, and use crusader strike to heal a bit of damage to the dwarf. I strike and deal 20ish damage, healing 7 points of damage to the dwarf, who is grateful. The dwarf attacks and misses again. The wizard casts a ray of enfeeblement on the centipede, and takes 7 points of strength, reducing its offensive power a lot. The psion ends the fight with another fire bolt. End of battle
There won't be a game for the next 2 weeks, as we switched campaigns for a while, but I'd like people to comment on the build or other things in the campaign.
Feel free to ask!
The Cleric class is also very capable of mitigating it's lower attack bonus even before Divine Power; once Divine Power is acquired, you're a CoDzilla with maneuvers. There will be no question of viability at that point-it's very nice that the central power source of Chuck and CoDzilla are the same:
DMM: Persistant Spell
Basically, you say low attack bonus, i answer buffs.
But you're right, i will calm my damaging urges.
--S
We have 2 temporary players tonight, a halfling rogue and a sorcerer, and also the wizard isn't there.
God, so many people to heal.... I think me and the dwarf fighter are going to be the ones doing the work !
A.K.A
A story of 2 chucks
But first, a bit about the DM.
The DM is a childhood friend of mine, who is, ironically, nicknamed chuck (his real name is Charles). The main reason i get to play this build is because it's named Chuck. Chuck asks me to tell you that he is 6ft.5 with kickass abs and a badass scar on his face. Now you know.
Now to move on to the game. Pimped out in my new gear, i look forward to this, we're going to defend a fort in the woods, this is going to KICK. ASS!! But I learn that we have 2 ''temps'' this game, one of witch i have to make a build for (the halfling dagger thrower on another thread). Way to kill my eagerness (I hate games with too much people) at least the abjurer isn't there.....
WHO AM I KIDDING, WE HAVE NO GOD, THERE IS NO GOD.
Ahem, that's passed, whew...
The other ''temp'' is a sorcerer, but the player is ..... let's say that his conception of D&D is usually rolling.... medicinal herbs..... and smoking them one after the other during the game, occasionally participating in the battle. But he was ok this time.
Our brave group of adventurers set forth in a caravan pulled by dire horses (hun hun, dire horses, you heard me right, we ridin' in style brotha) towards our fortified ''avant-poste'', the palce where it's about to go down, our mighty keep, the bastion of the north. Finally we arrive.....it's a cave in the woods.
Not kidding, it is, literally, a cave, in the woods. Like, with a big entrance and all. At least there's a wall. It's made out of wood and rocks. At this point, a bit of the military commander in me died. We meet up with the rag tag group of soldier's in there, and are taken around. It's.... rocky..... and.... stony....
We go down in the cave to see some iron bars baring the way to a deeper tunnel. The iron bars are also protected by a permanent wall of force. We learn that this is why the fort is built in a cave, as this is an underdark route to the middle of bastion. Or something.
At this point i wanted to build a collapsing system on the roof, or dig up some trenches, but all my ideas were turned down by the captain of the place. And so we started taking encounter after encounter in there. First one was a group of 20 or so orc warriors. We had 50 fighters on our side. It was a massacre. The monk and me sat this one out, as there was no honor in that fight.
**WARNING, THERE WERE MANY BATTLES IN THIS SESSION, SO I WILL ONLY REPORT 1 OF THEM ROUND BY ROUND, THE OTHERS I CAN'T RECALL CLEARLY, MOSTLY BECAUSE I HAD TIRED OF THE WAVES AFTER WAVE OF BATTLE**
The next wave were gnolls who threw a Stinking Cloud Arrow inside our wall, we had to get out of there to face them in the open. I got hit by 3-4 arrows and survived barely, mostly due to roots of the mountain. The sorcerer threw some fireballs and the psion some energy lines, clearing most of them, the gnoll tripper who was with the archers did not even try to trip me once
i was so sad I had my stance for that and everything.... The dwarf, the monk and me cleaned up the rest, helped by the halfling and his ''hail of knives''.After that, we were informed that there was a team of Ogres coming this way with a Ram, they were accompanied by an Ogre Magi. Quickly we departed to take care of those, after being healed by a wand of lesser vigor. We hid in the forest, looking at the road. But the monk would have none of it, it was not honorable he said, and honor is an important thing. I'm not THAT honorable, so i hid (gotta use that cloak of elvenkind sometimes). Two Ogres turned round the bend and charged our delicate little monk. Or so they thaught
THE OGRE FIGHT
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SURPRISE ROUND:
Ogre 1&2: charge the monk
As they pass by the rest of the party, our readied actions proc:
Me: Charge the passing Ogre as a standard action (half move) and crit him, dealing 52 damage, and laying him low.
Dwarf: Charge the other ogre as a leap attack, landing the hit, dealing 60ish damage, laying him low too.
We're quickly disposing of the body's for the main corp of Ogres sure to come, when we're all hit by a cone of cold, and two Ogre's pop out of invisibility next to me and the dwarf. Luckily mine misses me, but the dwarf is hit.
IT'S A TRAP
ROUND 1:
James Bard: Cast Inspirational Boost, Start singing (Inspire Courage)¸
Sorcerer: Cast Haste
Me: 5 foot step, Power Attack, Flashing Sun, Burning Blade Hit 2 times, confirmed crit once, scratch one boggy. (haha, i feel like peppy in star fox, but, you know.... less gay....)
Monk: charge other ogre, kicking him in the face for mucho damage, ogre is still standing.
Psion: Mind thrust the ogre, knocking him out.
Ogre Magi: Charges Dwarf from Flight, and hits him with his Brilliant Greatsword.
***********************************PAUSE IN THE GAME******************************
At this point, imagine all of our eyes going towards the DM and lighting up. We ask: did you say the sword was brilliant. The DM answers: yes. We ask: You realise that's a +4 enchantment on it, we make instant appraise checks and estimate it at:50 000 gp. At this point, the ogre magi becomes a top priority to kill.
***********************************RETURN TO GAME *******************************
Halfling: We didn't know palm throw was a volley, so the halfling threw 10 knives at the ogre magi, sneak attacking because he was hidden. The Ogre Magi dies.
Ogre 1&2: charge the monk
As they pass by the rest of the party, our readied actions proc:
Me: Charge the passing Ogre as a standard action (half move) and crit him, dealing 52 damage, and laying him low.
Dwarf: Charge the other ogre as a leap attack, landing the hit, dealing 60ish damage, laying him low too.
We're quickly disposing of the body's for the main corp of Ogres sure to come, when we're all hit by a cone of cold, and two Ogre's pop out of invisibility next to me and the dwarf. Luckily mine misses me, but the dwarf is hit.
IT'S A TRAP
ROUND 1:
James Bard: Cast Inspirational Boost, Start singing (Inspire Courage)¸
Sorcerer: Cast Haste
Me: 5 foot step, Power Attack, Flashing Sun, Burning Blade Hit 2 times, confirmed crit once, scratch one boggy. (haha, i feel like peppy in star fox, but, you know.... less gay....)
Monk: charge other ogre, kicking him in the face for mucho damage, ogre is still standing.
Psion: Mind thrust the ogre, knocking him out.
Ogre Magi: Charges Dwarf from Flight, and hits him with his Brilliant Greatsword.
***********************************PAUSE IN THE GAME******************************
At this point, imagine all of our eyes going towards the DM and lighting up. We ask: did you say the sword was brilliant. The DM answers: yes. We ask: You realise that's a +4 enchantment on it, we make instant appraise checks and estimate it at:50 000 gp. At this point, the ogre magi becomes a top priority to kill.
***********************************RETURN TO GAME *******************************
Halfling: We didn't know palm throw was a volley, so the halfling threw 10 knives at the ogre magi, sneak attacking because he was hidden. The Ogre Magi dies.
Done Updating, Sorry if this lacked the certain ''je ne sais quoi'' of the others, but i actually fell asleep at one time during the game, so it's all blurry.
In most gaming circles I go by Charlie from my middle name Charles and quite a few people call me "Chuck", so yes I understand the pride of being equated to a Titan like Chuck.
Yes, Alastar, the irony is not lost on me either--I actually didn't name Chuck. Another poster in the thread did. But the name stuck and I had no complaints. :D
In most gaming circles I go by Charlie from my middle name Charles and quite a few people call me "Chuck", so yes I understand the pride of being equated to a Titan like Chuck.
Yes, Alastar, the irony is not lost on me either--I actually didn't name Chuck. Another poster in the thread did. But the name stuck and I had no complaints. :D
Ok,this is funny beyond words.... just.... wow man!
Well, just to say a little: this is not over yet
THIS IS NOT OVER YET
There
It was finals time for our group here in quebec, so we took a break from this campaign for a while, but tonight, WE DINE IN HELL. As in.... we return to the adventures of chuck a.k.a beren the ruby knight .... dude....
I should have another page of this diary added up soon enough. Sorry for the time it took.
Hope you guys are still eagerly waiting for this!!!
If not.... well... i'm a persistent guy.
If not.... well... i'm a persistent guy.
Yeah. Chuck's pretty Persistent too. ;)
Woah there, forums are acting up.
Well, just to say a little: this is not over yet
THIS IS NOT OVER YET
There
It was finals time for our group here in quebec, so we took a break from this campaign for a while, but tonight, WE DINE IN HELL. As in.... we return to the adventures of chuck a.k.a beren the ruby knight .... dude....
I should have another page of this diary added up soon enough. Sorry for the time it took.
Hope you guys are still eagerly waiting for this!!!
If not.... well... i'm a persistent guy.
Definitely looking forward to it
.it's time for another installment of: Diary of Chuck
CO DIARY: Makings of a monster Build Part 4, Draconic Ewoks and Scorpion/man Crossbreed
A.K.A
Chuck's on crack
Level 3 spells are a big thing for me, that I must say!! Despite my 28 AC, i'm still lacking ANY sort of natural armor bonus AND shield bonus to AC, making me mad. I resolve to change that as soon as possible, maybe an animated shield and a pearl of power 3 (so the wizard can cast spiderskin on me) that would get me an additional 6 ac, more if i cast magic vestment. Nevertheless.
Check out the spells section in the first post, it's new and I need help with my spells.
We wake up the morning following the successfully repelled attack of the cave. Our Abjurer is coming towards us, after disembarking from a horse, he seems to have come with an escort. He gives us our new orders, we are to intercept a shipment of goods that is heavily guarded, and is within our vicinity. It's basically why we were chosen, we're near. Unfortunately, the halfling the monk and the dwarf are dispatched somewhere else. So it's me, the wizard, the sorcerer, and the psion. Making me the tank. CRAP!!!!
I cast persistent lesser aspect of the deity, making my turning attempts go from 12-14, then I cast persistent Footsteps of the Divine. Basically I just gained a free +4 charisma and some energy resistance. Let me tell you something, Footsteps of the divine persistent (borrowing farlanghs +50 to move) coupled with step of the wind stance is GODLY, your just prancing around in the forest, coering in one round of walk what the others take 5 rounds to do. GODLY!!!! We finally get to the ''ambush point''. I decide to go scout from where they come to get an assessment of how we should do this. I get into the forest and hide, moving at half speed (40ft.) and quickly reach the advancing caravan. There are about 20 Gnolls, archers and spider riders combined, and 12 scropion folk. These are new, so we can't assess they're threat level yet, and 32 to 4 seems a bit overwhelming. We're gonna have to come up with a very SOLID strategy. The night is coming soon, so I figure we have until tomorrow until they arrive. Blowing my remaining 5 hours on footsteps of the divine, I zip back to the camp and stop roadrunner style in the midst of they're stunned looks. I even go **MEEP MEEP**. I tell them of reckon and we walk up and down the road, trying to find a good ambush spot and sicussing wether we should conduct a night raid or not, when suddenly a net closes around us.
Surprise!
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Yeah
You guessed it
You guessed it
It looks like Chuck is easily playable however, which makes me think more of the build than I used to.