Yes, you read the title right. I am working on a character for an epic gestalt game at level 23. Rules of note:
- 1 Prestige Class
- 1 Flaw allowed
- Racial HD and LA go on one side of the gestalt
- "Virtually all material is available" (don't ask me what isn't, I don't know)
- no psionics
The game is for three groups: one good, one neutral, and one evil. The DM obviously favors the Good side (Good side gets 150% of standard Wealth, Neutral gets 100%, Evil gets 50%), but I'm applying for Evil anyway.
The current character is a bloodthirsty egomaniac who takes extreme pride in the fact most things meant to harm him just end up making him stronger. He relishes in melee combat and knows of virtually nothing that can bring him down.
The (unfinished) sheet is here in case any of you want to look at it. My idea is that he activates his Antimagic Torc (command-activated Antimagic Field item) and grabs people in grapples, literally tearing them to shreds. When the AMF isn't active, the Spellwarped template protects him from most mook magic and has surprises for unlucky foes.
The class build is this:
CE Spellwarped Human Natural Dire Werewolf
Bear Totem Barbarian 1/Fighter 2/Crusader 20//Cloistered Cleric (Pride and Competition domains)1/Dire Werewolf 9/Spellwarped 3/Bear Totem Barbarian 2/Black-Blood Cultist 9
Grapple modifier is +45, and I auto-hit with all of my natural attacks with a successful Grapple check thanks to the Cultist's Savage Grapple.
Any suggestions to make it better? A Masterwork Composite Longbow is in the shopping future. Remember that the plan is to be activating the AMF often, but it won't always be up.
Make the item that grants you the AMF intelligent, so that it can activate itself and it will still function inside the AMF.
If that torc works like a normal AMF, it will make your (Su) lycanthrope abilities disappear, leaving you weak and defenseless. Perhaps consider using the Tauric template or one of the Anthro animals from Savage Species?
If that torc works like a normal AMF, it will make your (Su) lycanthrope abilities disappear, leaving you weak and defenseless. Perhaps consider using the Tauric template or one of the Anthro animals from Savage Species?
Only the Change Shape and Curse of Lycanthropy are (Su). Change Shape cannot be dispelled, so I would simply be locked into the one form until the field was deactivated (which is fine with me, he's best in hybrid form and spends all his time in it anyway). Curse of Lycanthropy is useless anyway at this point.
That said, this entire premise is questionable as the DM's (yes, there are multiples) haven't seemed to come to an agreement on custom magic items. I may have to completely rebuild.
I would disagree. The ability:
A werewolf lord can assume a bipedal hybrid form or the form of a dire wolf.
In an AMF you lose this ability entirely, which means no hybrid or animal form. You aren't locked into a form, you simply become a regular person
Well, wether AMF forces me into human form or not I'll leave to the DM's agreement.
Is there any other way to get around Freedom of Movement? That is such a rediculously common buff at these levels grappling will be useless if I can't find a way around it.
Is there any other way to get around Freedom of Movement? That is such a rediculously common buff at these levels grappling will be useless if I can't find a way around it.
No, other than dispelling/disjoining it. This is precisely why grappling is not a favored tactic on these boards. Of course, before FoM becomes common, it can be decent.
Hmm, looks like I may have to rebuild for the ability to cast AMF myself (and maybe DMM Persist it). I suppose I could trade either Pride or Competition domains for Protection/Magic so I need the fewest casting levels.
Here's an idea: Initiate of Mystra. I can dump Crusdaer levels for more Cleric and then cast Divine Power and use that BAB to grapple inside the AMF.
Hmm, looks like I may have to rebuild for the ability to cast AMF myself (and maybe DMM Persist it). I suppose I could trade either Pride or Competition domains for Protection/Magic so I need the fewest casting levels.
Here's an idea: Initiate of Mystra. I can dump Crusdaer levels for more Cleric and then cast Divine Power and use that BAB to grapple inside the AMF.
Sounds like a great idea. The Spellguard Rings from the MiC would also work, if you get an ally to cast the AMF somehow.
Don't forget that AMF does not automatically shut down Epic spells. And I know for a fact (as a Co-DM of the game), that at least one spellcaster is making an Epic spell to completely protect them from AMF's and dispelling.
Don't forget that AMF does not automatically shut down Epic spells. And I know for a fact (as a Co-DM of the game), that at least one spellcaster is making an Epic spell to completely protect them from AMF's and dispelling.
Hey, one person being immune I can deal with. Other than that, it's just high-level scouts and Spider Eaters. Of course if I do this, I should probably drop Spellwarped as the spell resistance is going to be kinda useless.
IMO antimagic field is a bad idea at epic because it undermines your magic items which become very importent and numerous at those levels.
I think I've figured it out. I'm changing the build to the following:
Dropping Spellwarped (doesn't do much good when SR:Yes spells are blocked by one of my constant defenses), adding Half Pyroclastic Dragon (greater strength, lower Con , larger HD for Dire Wolf, higher Cha, but most importantly, I still qualify for Rapid Strike)
Bear Totem Barbarian 1,Cleric 10,Fighter 2,Crusader 10//Cleric 1, Dire Wolf 9, Half Dragon 3, Barbarian 1, Black-Blood Cultist 9
Cleric domains: Planning and Magic (unsure if I should trade the Magic Domain ability for Magic Devotion, my gut says no)
I shuffled feats around so I have Divine Metamagic (Persist) and lost basically nothing but a bit of speed (which can easily be made up for).
Grabbed Rings of Spellgaurding (never realized they were so cheap).
At the start of each day, I cast a Persisted Anti-magic Field, activating the Rings to render myself immune. The rest of my slots are filled with spells such as Divine Power and other personal buffs of 6th-level and lower.
I also changed race to Raptoran for flight, but if the DM's rule that Half-dragon flight is granted at least in hybrid form, then I will switch this back to Human. Currently, there's one DM saying yes and another saying no. It will be interesting to see which way it goes.
Choker/monk/fist of the forest///druid 20
in my opinion
Changed slightly: going with Initiate of Mystra instead. I might pick up a Metamagic Rod of Extend and Persist AMF for 2 days at a time, with a 50/50 chance of being able to Extend/Persist Divine Power on the days that I don't persist AMF. This will likely get better at the next level as I will be able to grab Practiced Spellcaster (Cleric). I cast AMF at caster level 11th persisted and using the metamagic rod to extend it and the next day I use Extend Spell on Divine Power and have a 70% chance of being able to get it Persisted. Additional levels of Cleric in the future will also increase the chance of success.
Choker/monk/fist of the forest///druid 20
in my opinion
win. +1
Changed slightly: going with Initiate of Mystra instead. I might pick up a Metamagic Rod of Extend and Persist AMF for 2 days at a time, with a 50/50 chance of being able to Extend/Persist Divine Power on the days that I don't persist AMF. This will likely get better at the next level as I will be able to grab Practiced Spellcaster (Cleric). I cast AMF at caster level 11th persisted and using the metamagic rod to extend it and the next day I use Extend Spell on Divine Power and have a 70% chance of being able to get it Persisted. Additional levels of Cleric in the future will also increase the chance of success.
Are you having trouble with a caster level check? Did you invest in ways to boost it temporarily? It is really easy at that level...
Don't forget that to beat the caster level check, I have to do so without magic items, but yes, that is the problem. Occasionally I could get some extra caster levels via a success with Death Knell or Consumpitve Field, but I won't be counting on that. The idea is to stagger which Persisted spell I cast each day between AMF (no problem, using Rod of Extend to make it last 2 days) and Divine Power (which requires the caster level check). I only have enough turning attempts to do one each day unless I can find a way to come up with another 7 turning attempts.
I could go with the Reliquary Holy Symbol for an additional 2 turning attempts and cast Eagle's Splendor for another 2, but I'm still lacking 3. All of these I would have to spend on the AMF and use my normal 7 turning attempts to attempt to Persist Divine Power. This way I would be able to attempt to Persist every day (lasting 2 days each success).
Don't forget that to beat the caster level check, I have to do so without magic items, but yes, that is the problem. Occasionally I could get some extra caster levels via a success with Death Knell or Consumpitve Field, but I won't be counting on that.
You can Persist Consumptive Field.
Well, I said screw it all and just grabbed Extraordinary Spell Aim (I was sick of asking rules questions). Now my personal spells are unhindered and all of my items work when I persist (and extend via metamagic rod) Antimagic Field. This lasts for 2 days at a time, so the other days I can persist (and extend) Divine Power, again for 2 days at a time. Or Righteous Might, but I figure it would be better to always have the full BAB than it would be to always be Huge.
In addition, it means alignment/diety concerns are thrown out the window. Thanks for suggesting it earlier folks.
Well, I said screw it all and just grabbed Extraordinary Spell Aim (I was sick of asking rules questions). Now my personal spells are unhindered and all of my items work when I persist (and extend via metamagic rod) Antimagic Field. This lasts for 2 days at a time, so the other days I can persist (and extend) Divine Power, again for 2 days at a time. Or Righteous Might, but I figure it would be better to always have the full BAB than it would be to always be Huge.
You have to be careful with the radius of AMF, also. If you're too big, it won't even cover you.
Note to self: get ability to cast 7th level spells and pick up a Rod of Widen ASAP.
EDIT: Never mind, there is no Rod of Widen and only an emenation would move with me so Sculpt Spell is out. Guess I'll drop Extra Granted Manuver for now and grab Sudden Widen in its place.