Grig Optimization - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Grig Optimization

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
angellusmortus
Jun 26, 2010 3:21:53 After a look at the ever-amazing Trixie the Party Booster, I started wondering if there was equal possibility for another fey race, the Grig. With stat boosts not nearly as amazing, a worse fly speed, and weaker SLAs, I was beginning to wonder if there was any hope for them...and then I saw this:

Fiddle (Su)

One grig in each band carries a tiny, grig-sized fiddle. When the fiddler plays, any nonsprite within 30 feet of the instrument must succeed on a DC 12 Will save or be affected as though by irresistible dance for as long as the playing continues. The save DC is Charisma-based.

A 10 + 1/2 HD + CHA, no SR save-or-die at will?! Absolutely amazing.

This erased any doubt I had about the optimization potential of a Grig. Now I'm just wondering how to make one truly killer. Some considerations:

1) What would be the best way to take advantage of/optimize the Fiddle ability?
2) How could you make it viable outside of being a 1 trick pony? I was drawing some inspiration from the Killer Gnome thread, in terms of taking Confound the Big Folk to abuse the Grigs Tiny size and trip people like mad if the need arose.
3) What builds would suit this well? (Aside from the blatantly obvious Wiz17 for 9th lvl spells...I'd rather not just go full caster progression). My personal preference would be to somehow go some kind of Bard, as this fits the flavor/persona of the Fiddler and allows you to be a party buffer and battlefield controller simultaneously, but I'm unsure of how to best accomplish this.

Books allowed are all Completes, all Races, all Core, all Weather (Frostburn, Sandstorm, etc.) No setting specific, like UE, SK, or anything from Faerun/Eberron.

Thanks! Oh, and special thanks to Carnivore for the inspiration for this optimization!
#2
urpriest
Jun 26, 2010 5:43:53 Ability Focus is basic and fun. +2 to DC beats what characters can generally get for spells.
#3
phoenix00
Jun 26, 2010 9:35:41 The Unseelie Fey Template with the winter aspect would be great. You want to be boosting your charisma since that boosts the save dc, well Unseelie Fey makes all creatures within 5 feet of you have lower saves equal to your charisma modifier. Thus effectively you get your charisma modifier to the dc twice if the enemy is within 5 feet of you.

Veil of Alure +2 DC
Ability Focus (+2 to one ability)
Sudden Ability Focus (+2 once per day)
Chupoclops's Aura of Despair (-2 to other's saves when Chupoclops is bound)
Focalor's Aura of Sadness (-2 to other's saves when Focalor is bound)
Blackguard 3, ecl 9, DMG - aura of despair 10'
Paladin of Tyranny 3 - aura of despair 10'-
Fear effects lower saves
Sickness lower saves
Hexblade's curses
Hexblade's shadow companion
Harbringer Bard
That awesome feat from Champions of Ruin that makes enemys take a -10 penalty to saves via a bardic music that scales with level instead of 1/2 level...
#4
angellusmortus
Jun 26, 2010 13:28:23 Excellent suggestions! Unfortunately, this Grig is going to be a good guy...apologies, I should've mentioned that before. So a fewof those suggestions won't make it into the character...but some certainly will!
#5
phoenix00
Jun 26, 2010 22:46:07 Vow of Nonviolence would boost your save dc by 4 against humanoids and monstrous humanoids
The Sait Template would boost your save dc by 2.
#6
lormador
Jun 27, 2010 12:40:10 That -10 to saving throw feat, requiring Bardic music, is Doomspeak, from Champions of Ruin.

Sickened can be applied via Sickening Strike, or the Stench of the Dead feat. I think that's what it's called.

Shaken can be applied via any number of well-known methods, such as Frightful Presence or Dreadful Wrath.

#7
Balthanon
Jun 28, 2010 7:34:10
The Unseelie Fey Template with the winter aspect would be great. You want to be boosting your charisma since that boosts the save dc, well Unseelie Fey makes all creatures within 5 feet of you have lower saves equal to your charisma modifier. Thus effectively you get your charisma modifier to the dc twice if the enemy is within 5 feet of you.

I'm not sure how they tried to say that template is a level adjustment of +0... Flight at 2 times your land speed, a decent special ability, damage reduction, and special vision? That's at least a bump of +1 or +2 to LA. Not quite as bad as half-minotaur, but Dragon does seem to have some issues with LA at times. (Nice template thematically and mechanically though.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 angellusmortus Jun 26, 2010 3:21:53	After a look at the ever-amazing Trixie the Party Booster, I started wondering if there was equal possibility for another fey race, the Grig. With stat boosts not nearly as amazing, a worse fly speed, and weaker SLAs, I was beginning to wonder if there was any hope for them...and then I saw this: Fiddle (Su) One grig in each band carries a tiny, grig-sized fiddle. When the fiddler plays, any nonsprite within 30 feet of the instrument must succeed on a DC 12 Will save or be affected as though by irresistible dance for as long as the playing continues. The save DC is Charisma-based. A 10 + 1/2 HD + CHA, no SR save-or-die at will?! Absolutely amazing. This erased any doubt I had about the optimization potential of a Grig. Now I'm just wondering how to make one truly killer. Some considerations: 1) What would be the best way to take advantage of/optimize the Fiddle ability? 2) How could you make it viable outside of being a 1 trick pony? I was drawing some inspiration from the Killer Gnome thread, in terms of taking Confound the Big Folk to abuse the Grigs Tiny size and trip people like mad if the need arose. 3) What builds would suit this well? (Aside from the blatantly obvious Wiz17 for 9th lvl spells...I'd rather not just go full caster progression). My personal preference would be to somehow go some kind of Bard, as this fits the flavor/persona of the Fiddler and allows you to be a party buffer and battlefield controller simultaneously, but I'm unsure of how to best accomplish this. Books allowed are all Completes, all Races, all Core, all Weather (Frostburn, Sandstorm, etc.) No setting specific, like UE, SK, or anything from Faerun/Eberron. Thanks! Oh, and special thanks to Carnivore for the inspiration for this optimization!
#2 urpriest Jun 26, 2010 5:43:53	Ability Focus is basic and fun. +2 to DC beats what characters can generally get for spells.
#3 phoenix00 Jun 26, 2010 9:35:41	The Unseelie Fey Template with the winter aspect would be great. You want to be boosting your charisma since that boosts the save dc, well Unseelie Fey makes all creatures within 5 feet of you have lower saves equal to your charisma modifier. Thus effectively you get your charisma modifier to the dc twice if the enemy is within 5 feet of you. Veil of Alure +2 DC Ability Focus (+2 to one ability) Sudden Ability Focus (+2 once per day) Chupoclops's Aura of Despair (-2 to other's saves when Chupoclops is bound) Focalor's Aura of Sadness (-2 to other's saves when Focalor is bound) Blackguard 3, ecl 9, DMG - aura of despair 10' Paladin of Tyranny 3 - aura of despair 10'- Fear effects lower saves Sickness lower saves Hexblade's curses Hexblade's shadow companion Harbringer Bard That awesome feat from Champions of Ruin that makes enemys take a -10 penalty to saves via a bardic music that scales with level instead of 1/2 level...
#4 angellusmortus Jun 26, 2010 13:28:23	Excellent suggestions! Unfortunately, this Grig is going to be a good guy...apologies, I should've mentioned that before. So a fewof those suggestions won't make it into the character...but some certainly will!
#5 phoenix00 Jun 26, 2010 22:46:07	Vow of Nonviolence would boost your save dc by 4 against humanoids and monstrous humanoids The Sait Template would boost your save dc by 2.
#6 lormador Jun 27, 2010 12:40:10	That -10 to saving throw feat, requiring Bardic music, is Doomspeak, from Champions of Ruin. Sickened can be applied via Sickening Strike, or the Stench of the Dead feat. I think that's what it's called. Shaken can be applied via any number of well-known methods, such as Frightful Presence or Dreadful Wrath.
#7 Balthanon Jun 28, 2010 7:34:10	The Unseelie Fey Template with the winter aspect would be great. You want to be boosting your charisma since that boosts the save dc, well Unseelie Fey makes all creatures within 5 feet of you have lower saves equal to your charisma modifier. Thus effectively you get your charisma modifier to the dc twice if the enemy is within 5 feet of you. I'm not sure how they tried to say that template is a level adjustment of +0... Flight at 2 times your land speed, a decent special ability, damage reduction, and special vision? That's at least a bump of +1 or +2 to LA. Not quite as bad as half-minotaur, but Dragon does seem to have some issues with LA at times. (Nice template thematically and mechanically though.)