Making a monster for the darkness.

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

straw_man

Apr 22, 2008 6:33:27
Grand title aside, I'm making a double, triple if I can fit it, threat for a campaign of mine that has gone horribly, horribly wrong. Some background, a primarily good campaign became a mess of evil characters, attempts at PK'ing and the beginnings of artificer cheese abuse. Made worse its a rotating set of GMs and 2/3's of the GMs seem to actively encourage this.

I tend to play nice unoptimised RP characters, because I hang around here and thats tantamount to having a Death Star on call. But yeah, first season's ended, the entire lot is merrily evil, and if I'm going evil myself I'm doing it in style ;)

I need something that can conceivably take on a party of 3 to 4 players. Since the first campaign ended I'm not sure what the party might be but I'm guessing blaster psion (optimised; I used CO tech for it), artificer (middling optimised) and a druid or wizard (unknown).

All books are open, I'm not wanting theoretical optimisation stuff and the character needs to be evil aligned and a powerhouse for its starting level 3. Stats are : 15, 12, 15, 14, 16, 11.

First attempt. AFB right now, so this build is probably buggy.

Illumian Druid 1/ Conjurer 1/ Arcane Hierophant 1
Int 16, Con 15, Wis 12*, Cha 15, Dex 14, Str 11
1st lvl Improved Summoning
2nd lvl Abrupt Jaunt Feature, Improved Initiative sub.
3rd lvl Augment Summoning
6th level Natural Spell

notes:
- using Illumian sigils to Heighten spells my Druid and Wiz spells to 2nd level I enter AH early.

- Using that Ravenloft feat I've seen float around the boards a few days ago to make my either Int or Con the casting stat for Druid spells.

-considering using the focused Specialist, Precocious Apprentice and Residual Magic combo to achieve 3rd level spells early, but I'm unsure if its worth it.

future build & questions:
- do I progress druid or wiz casting after finishing AH?

- does wildshaping into creatures that have spellcasting as sorceror as an ability I can use with the 4th level druid spell work? Would they stack with my Wiz levels? I'm willing to play a sorceror if thats possible.

- is it worth it to aim at Cloistered Cleric or a PrC that gives me rebuke undead for DMM: Quicken?

- if a reflavoured Dragonborn exists, would it be worth it to take it after AH has bootstrapped me into fulfilling AH prerequisites?

Any comments, or ideas?
#2

hogarth

Apr 22, 2008 8:16:32
Arcane Hierophant needs a +4 Fort save, so no go.

At low levels, I'd go with a super-hider who doesn't need to sleep. Something like a warforged scout (the small-sized warforged), maybe with the Dark template. Then you can kill the others while they're sleeping.
#3

straw_man

Apr 22, 2008 10:17:44
Arrghh, there goes that plan. MT doesn't have enough juice for this. Ideas for a double threat that matures early anyone?
#4

phaedrusxy

Apr 22, 2008 12:10:54
Illumian Dread Necro 1/Cloistered cleric 2/Master of Shrouds. Take Fell Drain, and NaenHoon and kill people with Fell Draining spells. Then Command one of the wights that spawns. You'll need to amp your effective Turning level a bit.

Alternatively, Cloistered cleric 3 with DMM: Fell Animate. Use it while killing some nasties with a spell, and get free zombies. Take Divine Magician for the Command Undead spell, or the Magic Domain (and use scrolls or a wand) so you can control multiple ones. With a precast Desecrate and Death Knell, you can create zombies with 16 HD. You could even use the Death Knell to kill and animate the creature. ;)
#5

straw_man

Apr 22, 2008 12:52:19
Illumian Dread Necro 1/Cloistered cleric 2/Master of Shrouds. Take Fell Drain, and NaenHoon and kill people with Fell Draining spells. Then Command one of the wights that spawns. You'll need to amp your effective Turning level a bit.

Alternatively, Cloistered cleric 3 with DMM: Fell Animate. Use it to kill while killing some nasties with a spell, and get free zombies. Take Divine Magician for the Command Undead spell, or the Magic Domain (and use scrolls or a wand) so you can control multiple ones. With a precast Desecrate and Death Knell, you can create zombies with 16 HD. You could even use the Death Knell to kill and animate the creature. ;)

Sexy. And I'm tempted .. if only that wasn't almost the same build I have as one of the the BBEGs in that world. *wrestles with temptation*