Getting the Most from my Gear - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Getting the Most from my Gear

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
vangrue
Mar 02, 2009 11:08:27 So, soon I'll be starting up in a PbP game run by Sinfire Titan over at BG as a Shifter Barbarian/Totemist. Eventually the build will be Rebalanced Barbarian 1/Totemist 8/Bear Warrior 1/Warshaper 3/BW +4/Totemist +3. I'm also using a custom variant of the Shifter, but that's neither here nor there.

What is important is that the DM's handling treasure in a different way. He's asked us to give him a list of gear that we would want to have at Level 20, using standard lvl 20 WBL, which he will then parcel out over the adventue. We're starting at level 3, so I'm not entirely sure how this will work, but I need to figure out what gear I would need as a Barb 1/Totemist 11/Bear Warrior 5/Warshaper 3. Since my shtick is natural weapons, I don't need much as far as weapons go, though a necklace of natural weapons might be a good idea (not sure on the best combo of enchantments, though), possibly with a wilding clasp when I go to Bear Form. Same thing for armor, I suppose.

The other issue is that as a Totemist, I'll have soulmelds bound to most of my chakras, meaning I can't make use of magic items in those locations. As a level 11 Totemist, I won't have access to the Throat, Waist, or Heart chakras, so there's no conflict with necklaces or belts, only with the other chakra locations (hands, arms, feet, etc.). My feats are set, and I really don't have room for Split Chakra anyway.

At this level (3), I'd like to have a +1 Chain shirt (possibly Everlasting Rations, Everfull Mug, and Healing Belt since we have little reliable healing, to round out this level), so I suppose I need to factor that into the wealth as well. Beyond those things, I've got no clue what else I should have beyond stat boosters. We are, though, also allowed to use the MIC rules for swapping magic item properties to items using other body slots. However, no custom magic items.

As a side note, the adventure has been described as having a heavy undead, aberration, and outsider presence.
Sinfire has allowed as sources all published WotC books, as well as approved homebrew content from BG, WotC, and GitP forums. Other sources are subject to approval by the DM.

I'm stuck here. I would greatly appreciate any help and suggestions in figuring this out!
#2
vangrue
Mar 04, 2009 23:35:24 So on other forums, I've gotten fairly limited responses. Those generally boiled down to two things: heavy use of grafts, or Vow of Poverty.

Grafts really don't fit the character, and besides, they won't work in bear form.

Vow of Poverty is tricky all in all. On the one hand, it gives me benefits which apply in bear form or anything else for that matter, frees me from worrying about soulmeld binding issues, and even fits the character concept.

The problem is it costs two all-purpose feats to get (which are not made up for by any amount of Exalted feats), and benefits gained by this aren't nearly as powerful as those potentially gained from magic items.

Everyone already knows the limiitations of VoP. But I'm just as limited by magic items since I can only use certain ones of certain types (usable/wearable in bear form, or otherwise not taking up a chakra slot).

Again, if anyone's got any ideas or suggestions, I'd be more than grateful.
---------------------------------------------
For reference, the feats I've got planned are as follows:

1) (shifter trait) Elite, Healing Factor (flaw), Power Attack (flaw)
3) Multiattack
6) Bonus Essentia
9) Extra Shifter Trait (shifter trait)
12) Shifter Savagery
15) Cobalt Rage
18) Improved Multiattack

I need the shifter feats to give me more shifts/day. I don't need Cobalt Rage since I'm not going Totem Rager, and I've got limited essentia as it is. I could swap Cobalt Rage, maybe even IMA if need-be, but that's way too late to get VoP if I wanted it. We're starting at level 3, and this is a PbP game, so it's unlikely I'd see any benefit by then.
#3
jenos
Mar 05, 2009 0:23:51 Is your DM allowing Wilding Clasps to work in Bear Form? Technically they don't, but its up to your DM.
#4
cru
Mar 05, 2009 4:02:43 I'm not an expert on the latest errata, but CW says bear form is like polymorph. d20srd says polymorph is like alter self. Alter self says that equipment remains worn/ held by the new form (if capable). Arguably, bears have the same slots as humanoids.

I know nothing about MoI stuff, but here some stuff that my human barb 18 uses or would like to:

Cloak/Vest of Resistance
Animated Shield
Boots of Speed
Composite Longbow
Freedom of Movement item
Flight item
buff to will save (if necessary)
Con and Str item
Belt of Battle

For weapon enhancements, Transmuting, Holy, Magebane...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 vangrue Mar 02, 2009 11:08:27	So, soon I'll be starting up in a PbP game run by Sinfire Titan over at BG as a Shifter Barbarian/Totemist. Eventually the build will be Rebalanced Barbarian 1/Totemist 8/Bear Warrior 1/Warshaper 3/BW +4/Totemist +3. I'm also using a custom variant of the Shifter, but that's neither here nor there. What is important is that the DM's handling treasure in a different way. He's asked us to give him a list of gear that we would want to have at Level 20, using standard lvl 20 WBL, which he will then parcel out over the adventue. We're starting at level 3, so I'm not entirely sure how this will work, but I need to figure out what gear I would need as a Barb 1/Totemist 11/Bear Warrior 5/Warshaper 3. Since my shtick is natural weapons, I don't need much as far as weapons go, though a necklace of natural weapons might be a good idea (not sure on the best combo of enchantments, though), possibly with a wilding clasp when I go to Bear Form. Same thing for armor, I suppose. The other issue is that as a Totemist, I'll have soulmelds bound to most of my chakras, meaning I can't make use of magic items in those locations. As a level 11 Totemist, I won't have access to the Throat, Waist, or Heart chakras, so there's no conflict with necklaces or belts, only with the other chakra locations (hands, arms, feet, etc.). My feats are set, and I really don't have room for Split Chakra anyway. At this level (3), I'd like to have a +1 Chain shirt (possibly Everlasting Rations, Everfull Mug, and Healing Belt since we have little reliable healing, to round out this level), so I suppose I need to factor that into the wealth as well. Beyond those things, I've got no clue what else I should have beyond stat boosters. We are, though, also allowed to use the MIC rules for swapping magic item properties to items using other body slots. However, no custom magic items. As a side note, the adventure has been described as having a heavy undead, aberration, and outsider presence. Sinfire has allowed as sources all published WotC books, as well as approved homebrew content from BG, WotC, and GitP forums. Other sources are subject to approval by the DM. I'm stuck here. I would greatly appreciate any help and suggestions in figuring this out!
#2 vangrue Mar 04, 2009 23:35:24	So on other forums, I've gotten fairly limited responses. Those generally boiled down to two things: heavy use of grafts, or Vow of Poverty. Grafts really don't fit the character, and besides, they won't work in bear form. Vow of Poverty is tricky all in all. On the one hand, it gives me benefits which apply in bear form or anything else for that matter, frees me from worrying about soulmeld binding issues, and even fits the character concept. The problem is it costs two all-purpose feats to get (which are not made up for by any amount of Exalted feats), and benefits gained by this aren't nearly as powerful as those potentially gained from magic items. Everyone already knows the limiitations of VoP. But I'm just as limited by magic items since I can only use certain ones of certain types (usable/wearable in bear form, or otherwise not taking up a chakra slot). Again, if anyone's got any ideas or suggestions, I'd be more than grateful. --------------------------------------------- For reference, the feats I've got planned are as follows: 1) (shifter trait) Elite, Healing Factor (flaw), Power Attack (flaw) 3) Multiattack 6) Bonus Essentia 9) Extra Shifter Trait (shifter trait) 12) Shifter Savagery 15) Cobalt Rage 18) Improved Multiattack I need the shifter feats to give me more shifts/day. I don't need Cobalt Rage since I'm not going Totem Rager, and I've got limited essentia as it is. I could swap Cobalt Rage, maybe even IMA if need-be, but that's way too late to get VoP if I wanted it. We're starting at level 3, and this is a PbP game, so it's unlikely I'd see any benefit by then.
#3 jenos Mar 05, 2009 0:23:51	Is your DM allowing Wilding Clasps to work in Bear Form? Technically they don't, but its up to your DM.
#4 cru Mar 05, 2009 4:02:43	I'm not an expert on the latest errata, but CW says bear form is like polymorph. d20srd says polymorph is like alter self. Alter self says that equipment remains worn/ held by the new form (if capable). Arguably, bears have the same slots as humanoids. I know nothing about MoI stuff, but here some stuff that my human barb 18 uses or would like to: Cloak/Vest of Resistance Animated Shield Boots of Speed Composite Longbow Freedom of Movement item Flight item buff to will save (if necessary) Con and Str item Belt of Battle For weapon enhancements, Transmuting, Holy, Magebane...