Ghost-faced killer/Avenging Executioner build help? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Ghost-faced killer/Avenging Executioner build help?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
angellusmortus
Feb 02, 2010 21:16:04 Alright, so a DM that typically doesn't allow evil characters has finally decided to let us make an evil party...and I wanted to take advantage of it. So the Ghost Faced Killer from the Complete Adventurer caught my eye.

I love the concept, and it seems like properly optimized and with a good Cha score, that could be a pretty viable character build. Basically, there were a few factors I wanted to consider:

1) Making the most of the Frightful Attack ability, which is just so much cooler than a death attack.
2) Taking full advantage of sudden strike and the full BAB progression of the Killer.
3) This could be the most interesting...taking the most advantage of his ability to spread massive fear effects around when using Frightful Attack. I was thinking possibly an Avenging Executioner/Ghostfaced Killer combo could be quite interesting, as they both have the sudden strike and both generate fear effects.

And oh wow, I just noticed something...GFK level 10 means if you kill someone with Frightful Attack, you get another free attack afterwards, and if the target is flatfooted, it's another Frightful Attack. Avenging Executioner 4 allows you to treat any shaken person as flatfooted, and both classes give Shaken AoE effects after Melee. The potential for nigh-infinite Frightful Attack death attacks seems silly...

Any input?
#2
angellusmortus
Feb 02, 2010 21:36:36
Alright, so a DM that typically doesn't allow evil characters has finally decided to let us make an evil party...and I wanted to take advantage of it. So the Ghost Faced Killer from the Complete Adventurer caught my eye.

I love the concept, and it seems like properly optimized and with a good Cha score, that could be a pretty viable character build. Basically, there were a few factors I wanted to consider:

1) Making the most of the Frightful Attack ability, which is just so much cooler than a death attack.
2) Taking full advantage of sudden strike and the full BAB progression of the Killer.
3) This could be the most interesting...taking the most advantage of his ability to spread massive fear effects around when using Frightful Attack. I was thinking possibly an Avenging Executioner/Ghostfaced Killer combo could be quite interesting, as they both have the sudden strike and both generate fear effects.

And oh wow, I just noticed something...GFK level 10 means if you kill someone with Frightful Attack, you get another free attack afterwards, and if the target is flatfooted, it's another Frightful Attack. Avenging Executioner 4 allows you to treat any shaken person as flatfooted, and both classes give Shaken AoE effects after Melee. The potential for nigh-infinite Frightful Attack death attacks seems silly...

Any input?

Ah, another important factor...both require BAB +5 to get in, so that would need to be a consideration for a 20 level build...
#3
NiteCyper
Feb 02, 2010 22:38:36 Threads Links that may help:

A Terror Inducing *Party*: The Fear - Are You Terrified? - (by Caedrus)
community.wizards.com/forumhandler?t=949...

Maximizing the Fear Factor - (by Snow Savant)
boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=298...

archive.org

Otherwise, I have heard no good things about the "Ghost-faced Killer" PrC nor the "Avenging Executioner" PrC; they're just not popular.

addendum: -8 GMT, 02-02-2010, 20:40:00, cool evil-only stuff: God-blooded (Vecna) template, Lolth-touched template, Dark template (more neutral), Mulhorandi Divine Minion template (WE, Sebek), the Ur-Priest PrC, the Assassin PrC (thumbs down), Candle of Invocation -> Gate Efreeti,
#4
angellusmortus
Feb 02, 2010 23:05:05 Yeah, I've seen that both classes have been looked down upon in the past, but I think there may be something to that 4th AE 10th GFK combo. I'll detail it a little better:

3 times a day (at tenth level) the GFK can make a melee attack a Frightful Attack, requiring a Will Save of 10+GFK lvl (10) + CHA modifier, or the target dies instantly after taking the damage from sudden strike etc. At 10th level, the GFK gets Frightful Cleave, meaning that whenever someone dies from a Frightful Attack, they get another attack as an immediate action on another opponent. If that opponent is flatfooted, it counts as another Frightful Attack and requires another Will Save.

What becomes interesting is mixing this with the 4th level Avenging Executioner ability Dread Blade, which makes you treat any opponent who is shaken or worse as flatfooted. Both Avenging Executioner and GFK abilities force opponents to make a will save or be shaken whenever they attack, so there's a pretty good chance that a good number of enemies will be shaken. Thus, in a group, you could have absolutely massive Frightful Cleave chains if you got a high enough FA DC to keep killing people. That seems like it could be thoroughly optimized. Maybe I'll give this concept its own thread?

EDIT: Actually, it becomes better when combined with the AE 5th level ability too. When the AE kills someone, everyone around has to will save or be frightened, and even if they save, they are automatically shaken. So if your first Frightful Attack kills...everyone around you is shaken, and you can Frightful Cleave all day long as long as they keep dropping.
#5
NiteCyper
Feb 02, 2010 23:20:26 Iaijutsu Focus is CHA-based.
Gloom Razor, Clarion Commander,

Are you SAD?

-8 GMT, 02-02-2010, 21:24, I don't know how to say that properly.

Dip Paladin for Divine Grace, Pixie gets a CHA-boost and Greater Invisibility, Primordial Giant (template) Warlock may synergize,

[-8 GMT, 02-02-2010, 21:29] optimize reach

Reference(s):
www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/sprite.htm Pixie
Looking for a cha based fighter class (D&D) [Googled] - forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=...
#6
zaxter
Feb 03, 2010 7:08:01 What level are you starting at? If you can afford it, grab a Ring of Blinking + a Ghost Touch weapon. Suddenly, all attacks are sudden strikes.
#7
angellusmortus
Feb 03, 2010 13:28:28 Probably starting at level 5, but that's an awesome idea that I'll definitely consider for later!

Unfortunately, I just noticed that Frightful Attack only works on creatures with your HD or below...which is total trash...same with all the AE's fear effect attacks. So basically, in any reasonable campaign with upper end monsters...you will never be useful.

So I'm probably scrapping this one. Without the HD limit...it's awesome ^_^
#8
empirate
Feb 03, 2010 18:39:32 Blink transfers you to the Ethereal plane and back. Ghost Touch lets you handle a corporeal weapon while incorporeal and vice versa (thus eliminating the miss chance when attacking incorporeal creatures while being corporeal yourself).

Being on the Ethereal plane and being incorporeal are two different things.

Syllogistic conclusion: wielding a Ghost Touch weapon while blinking does not eliminate the 20% chance of auto-missing due to being ethereal at the moment you attack.

Note: Greater Blink (Sor/Wiz 5) has no miss chance for your attacks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 angellusmortus Feb 02, 2010 21:16:04	Alright, so a DM that typically doesn't allow evil characters has finally decided to let us make an evil party...and I wanted to take advantage of it. So the Ghost Faced Killer from the Complete Adventurer caught my eye. I love the concept, and it seems like properly optimized and with a good Cha score, that could be a pretty viable character build. Basically, there were a few factors I wanted to consider: 1) Making the most of the Frightful Attack ability, which is just so much cooler than a death attack. 2) Taking full advantage of sudden strike and the full BAB progression of the Killer. 3) This could be the most interesting...taking the most advantage of his ability to spread massive fear effects around when using Frightful Attack. I was thinking possibly an Avenging Executioner/Ghostfaced Killer combo could be quite interesting, as they both have the sudden strike and both generate fear effects. And oh wow, I just noticed something...GFK level 10 means if you kill someone with Frightful Attack, you get another free attack afterwards, and if the target is flatfooted, it's another Frightful Attack. Avenging Executioner 4 allows you to treat any shaken person as flatfooted, and both classes give Shaken AoE effects after Melee. The potential for nigh-infinite Frightful Attack death attacks seems silly... Any input?
#2 angellusmortus Feb 02, 2010 21:36:36	Alright, so a DM that typically doesn't allow evil characters has finally decided to let us make an evil party...and I wanted to take advantage of it. So the Ghost Faced Killer from the Complete Adventurer caught my eye. I love the concept, and it seems like properly optimized and with a good Cha score, that could be a pretty viable character build. Basically, there were a few factors I wanted to consider: 1) Making the most of the Frightful Attack ability, which is just so much cooler than a death attack. 2) Taking full advantage of sudden strike and the full BAB progression of the Killer. 3) This could be the most interesting...taking the most advantage of his ability to spread massive fear effects around when using Frightful Attack. I was thinking possibly an Avenging Executioner/Ghostfaced Killer combo could be quite interesting, as they both have the sudden strike and both generate fear effects. And oh wow, I just noticed something...GFK level 10 means if you kill someone with Frightful Attack, you get another free attack afterwards, and if the target is flatfooted, it's another Frightful Attack. Avenging Executioner 4 allows you to treat any shaken person as flatfooted, and both classes give Shaken AoE effects after Melee. The potential for nigh-infinite Frightful Attack death attacks seems silly... Any input? Ah, another important factor...both require BAB +5 to get in, so that would need to be a consideration for a 20 level build...
#3 NiteCyper Feb 02, 2010 22:38:36	Threads Links that may help: A Terror Inducing Party: The Fear - Are You Terrified? - (by Caedrus) community.wizards.com/forumhandler?t=949... Maximizing the Fear Factor - (by Snow Savant) boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=298... archive.org Otherwise, I have heard no good things about the "Ghost-faced Killer" PrC nor the "Avenging Executioner" PrC; they're just not popular. addendum: -8 GMT, 02-02-2010, 20:40:00, cool evil-only stuff: God-blooded (Vecna) template, Lolth-touched template, Dark template (more neutral), Mulhorandi Divine Minion template (WE, Sebek), the Ur-Priest PrC, the Assassin PrC (thumbs down), Candle of Invocation -> Gate Efreeti,
#4 angellusmortus Feb 02, 2010 23:05:05	Yeah, I've seen that both classes have been looked down upon in the past, but I think there may be something to that 4th AE 10th GFK combo. I'll detail it a little better: 3 times a day (at tenth level) the GFK can make a melee attack a Frightful Attack, requiring a Will Save of 10+GFK lvl (10) + CHA modifier, or the target dies instantly after taking the damage from sudden strike etc. At 10th level, the GFK gets Frightful Cleave, meaning that whenever someone dies from a Frightful Attack, they get another attack as an immediate action on another opponent. If that opponent is flatfooted, it counts as another Frightful Attack and requires another Will Save. What becomes interesting is mixing this with the 4th level Avenging Executioner ability Dread Blade, which makes you treat any opponent who is shaken or worse as flatfooted. Both Avenging Executioner and GFK abilities force opponents to make a will save or be shaken whenever they attack, so there's a pretty good chance that a good number of enemies will be shaken. Thus, in a group, you could have absolutely massive Frightful Cleave chains if you got a high enough FA DC to keep killing people. That seems like it could be thoroughly optimized. Maybe I'll give this concept its own thread? EDIT: Actually, it becomes better when combined with the AE 5th level ability too. When the AE kills someone, everyone around has to will save or be frightened, and even if they save, they are automatically shaken. So if your first Frightful Attack kills...everyone around you is shaken, and you can Frightful Cleave all day long as long as they keep dropping.
#5 NiteCyper Feb 02, 2010 23:20:26	Iaijutsu Focus is CHA-based. Gloom Razor, Clarion Commander, Are you SAD? -8 GMT, 02-02-2010, 21:24, I don't know how to say that properly. Dip Paladin for Divine Grace, Pixie gets a CHA-boost and Greater Invisibility, Primordial Giant (template) Warlock may synergize, [-8 GMT, 02-02-2010, 21:29] optimize reach Reference(s): www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/sprite.htm Pixie Looking for a cha based fighter class (D&D) [Googled] - forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=...
#6 zaxter Feb 03, 2010 7:08:01	What level are you starting at? If you can afford it, grab a Ring of Blinking + a Ghost Touch weapon. Suddenly, all attacks are sudden strikes.
#7 angellusmortus Feb 03, 2010 13:28:28	Probably starting at level 5, but that's an awesome idea that I'll definitely consider for later! Unfortunately, I just noticed that Frightful Attack only works on creatures with your HD or below...which is total trash...same with all the AE's fear effect attacks. So basically, in any reasonable campaign with upper end monsters...you will never be useful. So I'm probably scrapping this one. Without the HD limit...it's awesome ^_^
#8 empirate Feb 03, 2010 18:39:32	Blink transfers you to the Ethereal plane and back. Ghost Touch lets you handle a corporeal weapon while incorporeal and vice versa (thus eliminating the miss chance when attacking incorporeal creatures while being corporeal yourself). Being on the Ethereal plane and being incorporeal are two different things. Syllogistic conclusion: wielding a Ghost Touch weapon while blinking does not eliminate the 20% chance of auto-missing due to being ethereal at the moment you attack. Note: Greater Blink (Sor/Wiz 5) has no miss chance for your attacks.