Making Amelia - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Making Amelia

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dr_rocktopus
Apr 29, 2009 20:22:14 Well, my players just pulled an NPC out of ravenloft by getting her grandfather to kill her and then raising her dead body on the far side of the rift. Her grandfather is Strahd.

This was not supposed to happen, but I have a strict policy of never punishing players for cleverness. Now she needs stats. I'm looking for an unconventional primary caster of tier 1-2 status, something more along the lines of an anima mage or sublime chord than a traditional wizard. In other words, the source of her power should be somewhat esoteric. She's level 13, currently untemplated human female of good alignment.
#2
SwordDisciple
Apr 29, 2009 20:27:19 How about..

Bard 8 / Arcane Archer 2 / Sublime Chord 2/ Storm Singer 1+ Essentially a primary caster but with an option to do some unusual things with Arcane Archer and Storm Singer?
#3
dr_rocktopus
Apr 29, 2009 20:32:31 That's quite close to what I've been considering and very attractive, but I'd like some other options. I'm willing to use full cheese but no game breaks, so bring the rain.
#4
SwordDisciple
Apr 29, 2009 21:05:47 Can she be Neutral?
#5
dr_rocktopus
Apr 29, 2009 21:20:06 Nope! I know, it's a bother.
#6
SwordDisciple
Apr 29, 2009 21:32:58 Another Idea.. You'll either have to rule that you can have a good alignment and still use Mindbender or there may be something else out there that gives you telepathy..

My own take on the Master of the Unseen Hand

1. Wizard (or Wu Jen): Iron Will, Silent Spell
2. Wizard (or Wu Jen):
3. Wizard (or Wu Jen): Still Spell
4. Wizard (or Wu Jen):
5. Wizard (or Wu Jen): Extend Spell (Wizard Bonus)
6. Mindbender (or something else with telepathy): Free Feat
7. Incantatrix: Free Bonus Feat
8. Incantatrix:
9. Incantatrix: Free Feat
10. Master of the Unseen Hand:
11. Master of the Unseen Hand:
12. Master of the Unseen Hand: Free Feat
13. Master of the Unseen Hand:

Use the spells from the Jean Grey thread to make her seem all mysterious and powerful :D

Edit: Awesome Feats for this build are Mindsight, Lords of Madness (p.126) and Extraordinary Concentration, Complete Adventurer (pg.109)

Get a Ring of Telekinesis for her
#7
empirate
Apr 30, 2009 8:00:12 How about a Beguiler/Warlock/Eldritch Disciple? Not the most powerful combination ever, but with tweaking the entry reqs for ED (say, Sanctum Spell etc.), you might get there. Warlock is there for self-buffs, mostly, and a source of reliable direct damage, while Beguiler provides spellcasting and skills. Add in Fey Heritage feats, a level of Mindbender for Telepathy and Mindsight, and play it mysterious, secretive, playful, and seductive, but ultimately benevolent. Think cat magic for a theme.
Int, Cha, and Dex are priorities, dump Str and Wis. Con 12 will be enough for this one: your goal is not to be in a fight, but either finish it or leave it as quickly as possible. Illusions will be your bread and butter to do both. Have her dominate a burly, stupid fighter first opportunity you get, to do any fighting still necessary for her. Basically, dominate everything in sight, actually. Otherwise, try to be able to outrun/deceive anything you can't outfight/outcast, and vice versa.

Not tier 1, probably, but very flavorful and versatile.
#8
pithica
Apr 30, 2009 8:58:45 The Jean Grey build is definitely tier 1. You could use the exact build, with Wu Jen, and she's going to have non-standard powers. I've never actually seen anyone play a Wu Jen in actual play, so if your group is just as unfamiliar, it'll appear quite different.

I personally don't agree with the mindbender being non-good. Just as the Malconvoker binds/controls demons for good, a mindbender can dominate evil creatures and force them to do good works. Forced penance is a very common thing in LG religions (real and imagined).

You could also go Incarnum. Some of the stuff in there is pretty gross if played right, and unless you're using it, it's quite bizarre. Psionics is also something that may or may not be very familiar to your group.

Sorry I don't have an exact build at the moment, I'll look through my notes and see what I can come up with.
#9
dr_rocktopus
Apr 30, 2009 9:05:17 Contestants so far:
Sublime chord because they've never really seen a bard, much less a sublime chord.
Jean Grey because I've always wanted to use it and it hits like three trucks glued together.
An Ur-priest build using one of the savage species alignment rituals to keep the requirements satisfied while being good aligned.

While the warlock is not a bad plan, I can't say it really fits the character.
I might do some sort of exotic gish, since she's got a strong emphasis on DIY.
#10
SwordDisciple
Apr 30, 2009 16:26:18 Another option could be a variant on my Kobold Sorceror.. Ignore the Kobold & Rituals and go a Dragonblood Mage. Dracolexi is very different and having Draconic words spoken would make her seem very mysterious because they would not understand them..

Oh and thanks for your help on that ;)

An initiate of the Sevenfold Veil build could be interesting too..
Say: Abjurer 3 / Master Specialist 6 / Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7 / Archmage 4?
#11
carnivore
Apr 30, 2009 17:13:02 i like the Arcane Archer... but she doesnt qualify since she is Human(AA req Elf or 1/2 Elf)

try this instead:

Bard 8/ Marshal 1/ Sanctified of Kord 1/ Sublime Chord 2/ Stormsinger 1

:D
#12
carnivore
Apr 30, 2009 17:15:47 even more fun:

Bard 1/ Warlock 3/ Marshal 1/ Eldritch Theurge 5/ Sublime Chord 2/ finish Eldritch theurge(apply to SC casting)

feats:

Versatile Caster
Heighten Spell
Practiced Caster(Sublime Chord)

get great spells and Warlock abilities :P

:D
#13
curufin
Apr 30, 2009 17:20:40 Nothing says good female like Swanmay!

Druid 1/Bard 4/Druid +1/Swanmay 7.

Maybe thrown in some mystic theurge instead of some of the swanmay levels.
#14
casualgatherer
Apr 30, 2009 18:57:48 I would try an Anima mage, but thats because i don't have tome of magic, so it would be new for my players. I'd say that you are the best judge of an "exotic" magic system, depending on what you use most. If you have incarnum in every game, don't use that.
#15
phoenix00
May 01, 2009 10:26:22 Just do the anima mage, but drop the requirement about being non good, you are the dm afterall and silly alingment reqs with no reason are for suckers

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dr_rocktopus Apr 29, 2009 20:22:14	Well, my players just pulled an NPC out of ravenloft by getting her grandfather to kill her and then raising her dead body on the far side of the rift. Her grandfather is Strahd. This was not supposed to happen, but I have a strict policy of never punishing players for cleverness. Now she needs stats. I'm looking for an unconventional primary caster of tier 1-2 status, something more along the lines of an anima mage or sublime chord than a traditional wizard. In other words, the source of her power should be somewhat esoteric. She's level 13, currently untemplated human female of good alignment.
#2 SwordDisciple Apr 29, 2009 20:27:19	How about.. Bard 8 / Arcane Archer 2 / Sublime Chord 2/ Storm Singer 1+ Essentially a primary caster but with an option to do some unusual things with Arcane Archer and Storm Singer?
#3 dr_rocktopus Apr 29, 2009 20:32:31	That's quite close to what I've been considering and very attractive, but I'd like some other options. I'm willing to use full cheese but no game breaks, so bring the rain.
#4 SwordDisciple Apr 29, 2009 21:05:47	Can she be Neutral?
#5 dr_rocktopus Apr 29, 2009 21:20:06	Nope! I know, it's a bother.
#6 SwordDisciple Apr 29, 2009 21:32:58	Another Idea.. You'll either have to rule that you can have a good alignment and still use Mindbender or there may be something else out there that gives you telepathy.. My own take on the Master of the Unseen Hand 1. Wizard (or Wu Jen): Iron Will, Silent Spell 2. Wizard (or Wu Jen): 3. Wizard (or Wu Jen): Still Spell 4. Wizard (or Wu Jen): 5. Wizard (or Wu Jen): Extend Spell (Wizard Bonus) 6. Mindbender (or something else with telepathy): Free Feat 7. Incantatrix: Free Bonus Feat 8. Incantatrix: 9. Incantatrix: Free Feat 10. Master of the Unseen Hand: 11. Master of the Unseen Hand: 12. Master of the Unseen Hand: Free Feat 13. Master of the Unseen Hand: Use the spells from the Jean Grey thread to make her seem all mysterious and powerful :D Edit: Awesome Feats for this build are Mindsight, Lords of Madness (p.126) and Extraordinary Concentration, Complete Adventurer (pg.109) Get a Ring of Telekinesis for her
#7 empirate Apr 30, 2009 8:00:12	How about a Beguiler/Warlock/Eldritch Disciple? Not the most powerful combination ever, but with tweaking the entry reqs for ED (say, Sanctum Spell etc.), you might get there. Warlock is there for self-buffs, mostly, and a source of reliable direct damage, while Beguiler provides spellcasting and skills. Add in Fey Heritage feats, a level of Mindbender for Telepathy and Mindsight, and play it mysterious, secretive, playful, and seductive, but ultimately benevolent. Think cat magic for a theme. Int, Cha, and Dex are priorities, dump Str and Wis. Con 12 will be enough for this one: your goal is not to be in a fight, but either finish it or leave it as quickly as possible. Illusions will be your bread and butter to do both. Have her dominate a burly, stupid fighter first opportunity you get, to do any fighting still necessary for her. Basically, dominate everything in sight, actually. Otherwise, try to be able to outrun/deceive anything you can't outfight/outcast, and vice versa. Not tier 1, probably, but very flavorful and versatile.
#8 pithica Apr 30, 2009 8:58:45	The Jean Grey build is definitely tier 1. You could use the exact build, with Wu Jen, and she's going to have non-standard powers. I've never actually seen anyone play a Wu Jen in actual play, so if your group is just as unfamiliar, it'll appear quite different. I personally don't agree with the mindbender being non-good. Just as the Malconvoker binds/controls demons for good, a mindbender can dominate evil creatures and force them to do good works. Forced penance is a very common thing in LG religions (real and imagined). You could also go Incarnum. Some of the stuff in there is pretty gross if played right, and unless you're using it, it's quite bizarre. Psionics is also something that may or may not be very familiar to your group. Sorry I don't have an exact build at the moment, I'll look through my notes and see what I can come up with.
#9 dr_rocktopus Apr 30, 2009 9:05:17	Contestants so far: Sublime chord because they've never really seen a bard, much less a sublime chord. Jean Grey because I've always wanted to use it and it hits like three trucks glued together. An Ur-priest build using one of the savage species alignment rituals to keep the requirements satisfied while being good aligned. While the warlock is not a bad plan, I can't say it really fits the character. I might do some sort of exotic gish, since she's got a strong emphasis on DIY.
#10 SwordDisciple Apr 30, 2009 16:26:18	Another option could be a variant on my Kobold Sorceror.. Ignore the Kobold & Rituals and go a Dragonblood Mage. Dracolexi is very different and having Draconic words spoken would make her seem very mysterious because they would not understand them.. Oh and thanks for your help on that ;) An initiate of the Sevenfold Veil build could be interesting too.. Say: Abjurer 3 / Master Specialist 6 / Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7 / Archmage 4?
#11 carnivore Apr 30, 2009 17:13:02	i like the Arcane Archer... but she doesnt qualify since she is Human(AA req Elf or 1/2 Elf) try this instead: Bard 8/ Marshal 1/ Sanctified of Kord 1/ Sublime Chord 2/ Stormsinger 1 :D
#12 carnivore Apr 30, 2009 17:15:47	even more fun: Bard 1/ Warlock 3/ Marshal 1/ Eldritch Theurge 5/ Sublime Chord 2/ finish Eldritch theurge(apply to SC casting) feats: Versatile Caster Heighten Spell Practiced Caster(Sublime Chord) get great spells and Warlock abilities :P :D
#13 curufin Apr 30, 2009 17:20:40	Nothing says good female like Swanmay! Druid 1/Bard 4/Druid +1/Swanmay 7. Maybe thrown in some mystic theurge instead of some of the swanmay levels.
#14 casualgatherer Apr 30, 2009 18:57:48	I would try an Anima mage, but thats because i don't have tome of magic, so it would be new for my players. I'd say that you are the best judge of an "exotic" magic system, depending on what you use most. If you have incarnum in every game, don't use that.
#15 phoenix00 May 01, 2009 10:26:22	Just do the anima mage, but drop the requirement about being non good, you are the dm afterall and silly alingment reqs with no reason are for suckers