Character Name: Tetsuo! (not my REAL name)Player: Nuclear Dan
Race: Human +1 feat at level one, +4 skill points at level one and +1/level thereafer
ExoticWeaponProficiency: Bastard Sword (houserule for human 'racial' weapon)
Lvl Class BaB F/ R/ W HP PP FEATURES (F=feat):
1 Wilder 0 0/ 0/+2 6 2 Education(F), Inquisitor(F),
Wildsurge +1, PsychicEnervation
2 Wilder +1 0/ 0/+1 46 EludeTouch(Cha to touch AC)
3 Wilder +1+1/+1/ 0 4 11 PostponeEnervation(F), Wildsurge +2
4 Wilder +1 0/ 0/+1 4 17 SurgingEuphoria(+1 to hit, dmg, saves)
5 Wilder +0 0/ 0/ 0 4 25 VolatileMind(1pp)
6 Wilder +1+1/+1/+1 4 35 ExpandedKnowledge[Mindlink](F),
7 Wilder +1 0/ 0/ 0 4 46 Wildsurge +3
8 Thrallherd +0 0/ 0/+2 3 - Thrallherd
9 AnarchicInit +0 0/ 0/+2 4 58 ExpandedKnowledge[DispelPsionics](F), ChaoticSurge
10 AnarchicInit +1 0/ 0/+1 4 72 AnarchicGrace(1/day)
11 AnarchicInit +1+1/+1/ 0 4 88 Wildsurge +4
BASE TOTAL:+7/+2+3/+3/+10 45 88
(Thrallherd Prereqs: Inquisitor, Diplomacy 4, Knowledge[Psionics] 4, Manifestor Lvl 5, Mindlink)
(AnarchicInitiate Prereqs: Chaotic, Knowledge[Psionics] 8, Knowledge[the Planes] 8, Wild Surge)
STR: 8 -1HP: 69 (45 + 2x11)
DEX:10 0REF: +0 +3 /+3
CON:14 +2FORT: +2 +3 /+5
WIS: 14 +2WILL: +2 +10 /+12
INT: 10 0LEADERSHIP: 20 (IGNORES modifiers from DMG pg106)
CHA:20/26 +8PP:128 (88 + 40)
AC: 18(10 +5[Armor] +3[Shield] +1[Deflection]
Touch: 18*(10 +8[Cha*] +1[Deflect])
*EludeTouch adds Cha to touch AC, but cannot cause touch AC to exceed normal AC
PSIONICSCL: 10PP: 128 (88+4x10)
L1(1)EmptyMind, Vigor, Mindlink
L2(3)EnergyStun(1d6 DC 20/12d6 DC 31) - Avg: 42/67/91 (+1 if Fire/Cold)
L3(5)Dispel, EnergyBurst (3d6 DC 21/14d6 DC 25) - Avg: 49/74/98 (+14 if Fire/Cold)
L4(7)DimensionDoor
L5(9)-none known-
FEATS: Education, Inquisitor, PostponeEnervation, ExpandedKnowledge(Mindlink),
EmpowerPower
ABILITIES: WildSurge +4, SurgingEuphoria(+1 atk,dmg,saves), EludeTouch(Cha to Touch AC),
AnarchicSurge[1d100; 1-25 = 100%, 26-50 = 50%, 51-75 = 150%, 76-100 = 200%]
SKILLS: Concentration 14(16), Diplomacy 4(12), Tumble 14(14), Knowledge[ThePlanes] 8(9),
Knowledge[Psionics] 8(9), Spellcraft 14(14), Spot 0(2), Bluff 0(8), Intimidate 0(8),
Listen 6(8)
FOLLOWERS:
L10 ThrallRogue 10HP: 62Base: +7/+2AC: 18REF: +14(16)/FORT: +6/WILL: +4
+1 Bastardsword: +8/+3, 1d10+2 (+5d6 SA)Gear: +1 sword,armor,resist cloak
ImprovedEvasion, ImprovedUncannyDodge, Feats: LightningReflexes, DiveForCover, HeatEndurance, ImpHeatEndurance
Lvl5: 1Lvl4: 2Lvl3:3Lvl2:5
Lvl1: 50Barbarians /Sorcerors /Wilders
Magical Equipment:
4200Circlet of wild surging (3/day)
3000ThirdEyeClarity(1/day)
36000+6 Cloak of Charisma
+3750+VanisherCloak (3c/day) <- Item combining rules from Magic Item Compendium pg 233
9250+1 GreaterBlurring Chain Shirt
1150+1 Large Shield
2000+1 Deflection Ring
6650 <-- assorted scrolls and wands
------
66000<- Level 11 Starting wealth
Min/Max Notes: Dan wanted to move towards psionics this time, if nothing other than making himself less predictable. After reading the material, he quickly gravitated to the Wilder who (despite a CRIPPLING shortage of powers known) could Wild Surge for extra damage dice, and still had a couple good AoEs. His interest was piqued by the Anarchic Initiate's even more powerful (and super-random) version of the Wild Surge, allowing for excessive damage spikes. Seven levels in Wilder and 3 in Anarchic gave him the maximum amount of Wild Surge he could get at level 11, so Dan started looking around for a one-level splash. Though he almost skipped it entirely, he ended up reading and going with the Thrallherd – firstly, because he decided that “lack of meat-wall” was one of his problems in the Old Evil Campaign (that and being the “designated mind-control gimp”), and secondly, “he gets his whole class at the first level!” By maxxing his Cha (which he would do anyway for his casting), he could get a cohort only one level lower than himself, plus a veritable army of meat-shields, all of whom would follow him no matter how he treated them and would replace themselves on a daily basis if they happened to die in the line of duty (or “accidental” Energy Bursts). He was somewhat miffed when he learned that his “free” army would cost not only a character level but TWO feats, because Inquisitor was a prereq (and forcing him to have 13+ Wis) and the Mindlink power was not on his list. He was already hurting for feats because Anarchic needed 8 ranks of Arcana (not a class skill, thus Education), and because Postpone Enervation was more or less essential for a functional Wilder. As far as his Level 10 Rogue Cohort, Davros wouldn't let Dan minmax him as he wanted, nor did he get PC starting wealth, but as a compromise (for making him mono-class with standard array stats), Davros did let Dan choose his Cohort's feat selection, allowing him to build a “fireball-resistant” minion.
Story: No one knows where he came from, but Tetsuo surfaced several years ago and has become known throughout many nations as a psycho with unmatched Pyrokinetic powers. Commoners flee at the sight of him, many recognizing him from Wanted posters after his death was ordered by several governments for the flaming destruction of multiple towns. The impact of his acts has had the perverse effect of encouraging 'copycat' pyromaniacs and anarchists of all kinds, who have begun causing problems all over the southern half of the continent. Though they have no organization or command structure, many have started calling themselves the Cult of the Endbringer, and when Tetsuo appears in an area, he is always followed by a horde of violent, random barbarians, vandals, minor spellcasters and other pyromaniacs and anarchists. In fact, otherwise normal (though often maladjusted or socially awkward) people have been known to spontaneously begin setting fire to buildings and running off to join his cult, baffling all those who knew them.
(Note: These character backstories are somewhat paraphrased from what the players wrote for themselves. For example, what Dan actually wrote was: “I like to burn things again (finally!!1!). I burn things WITH MY MIND! Isn't that awesome?”, though he did suggest that “[his] minions should like call [Tetsuo] the Endbringer while they cheer for [him] to burn the world”.)
Character Name: RugaruPlayer: Nazi Jill
Race: Changeling+2 vs Sleep and CharmSpeakLanguage always a class skill
+2 Bluff, Intimidate, SenseMotiveMinorShapechange(Su, Full-round action)
Lvl Class BaB F/ R/ W HP FEATURES (F=feat):
1Totemist+0+2/+2/ 0 8ImprovedInitiative(F), WildEmpathy, Illiteracy
2Totemist+1+1/+1/ 0 5Totem Chakra Bind (+1 capacity)
3Barbarian+1+2/ 0/ 0 7CombatReflexes(F), +10 Spd(Med armor), Rage 1/day
4Fighter+1+2/ 0/ 0 6WeaponFocus(Claw)(F)
5Warblade+1+2/ 0/+0 7WeaponAptitude,BattleClarity(+Int to Ref)
6Warshaper+0+2/ 0/ 0 5BonusEssentia(F), MorphicImmunity(Stuns/Criticals)(Ex)
7Warshaper+1+1/ 0/ 0 5MorphicWeapons(Su), MorphicBody(Su, +4 Str and Con)
8Warshaper+1 0/+1/+1 5MorphicReach(Su, +5 foot reach)
9Warshaper+1+1/ 0/ 0 5SteadfastConcentration(F), MorphicHealing(Su, FastHeal 2)
10OccultSlayer+1 0/ 0/+2 5MagicalDefense(+1 saves vs spell), WeaponBond(Su, +1d6 dmg)
11 OccultSlayer+1 0/ 0/+1 5ViciousStrike(Ex), MindOverMagic(Su, 1/day)
BASE TOTAL:+9/+4 +13/+4/+4 53
STR:22/26 +8HP: 118 (63 + 5x11)
DEX:14/12 +1REF: +1 +4 /+6 [+1 VS Spell]
CON:20 +5FORT: +5 +13 /+18 [+1 VS Spell]
WIS: 10 +0WILL: +0 +4 /+4 [+2 VS Sleep/Charm][+1 VS Spell]
INT: 10 +0
CHA: 8 -1SPD: 50
(Warshaper Prereqs: +4 Base Attack, Shapeshift as an SU ability)
(OccultSlayer Pereqs: +5 Base Attack, ImprovedInitiative, WpFocus, Spellcraft 3, Knowledge[Arcana] 4)
AC: 25/23(10 +9[armor] +3[Shield] +2[Nat] +2[Dex] -1[Size])
TOUCH: 11 (10 +2[Dex] -1[Size])
[-2 when in PunishingStance-2 when Raging]
2xClaws:+20/+20(+9[Base] +3[Enh] +8[Str] +1[WPfocus] -1[Size])
3d6+11 (1d8 > 2d6[enlarge] > 3d6[morphic] +3[Enh] +8[Str])
+1d6 vs casters
+1d6 in PunishingStance
+2 to hit, +2 damage when Raging
WARBLADE MANEUVERS (ML : 6)MomentOfPerfectMind*, ActionBeforeThought*, DisarmingStrike*
STANCE:PunishingStance(-2 AC, +1d6 damage)-not “on” by default
SOULMELDING:Melds: 3Bind: 1(Totem)Essentia: 4Capacity: 2(Totem 3)
SphynxClaws (3)[Totem]2x1d8 claw, +E enhancement bonus, +1+E to Str-skills
WymtailBelt (0)[]+2+E NaturalArmor
BasiliskMask(1)[]LowLight vision, 30xE foot Darkvision
ABILITIES: FastHealing(2), MorphicBody(+4 Str, +4 Con, SU), MorphicImmunity(Crits,Stun),
MorphicReach(+5 feet), MorphicWeapons(nat wpn +1 size, Move action SU),
FastMovement(+10 in Med armor), ViciousStrike, SpellReflect(CL 7, 1d6+4 1/day),
+1d6 damage VS casters, +1 saves VS spell
SKILLS:Literacy, Concentration 14(19), Survival 4(4), Spot 13(13), Spellcraft 3(3),
Knowledge[Arcana] 4(4), Jump 3(25 [3+8[str]+5[boots]+4[sphynx]+8[spd]-3[armor])
TRICKS:ExtremeLeap
FEATS: ImprovedInitiative, CombatReflexes, WeaponFocus[claws], BonusEssentia,
SteadyConcentration
Magical Equipment:
GEAR:
14350+1 Glammered Mithril Full Plate
500+Restful Armor Augment Crystal
9150+1 Animated Shield
4000+2 Str Gloves
20000Ring of Enlargement
2000RingOfSilentSpells 1/day
3000Corsair's Eyepatch (3c/day)
5500BootsOfStridingAndSpringing
+2100 +AnkletsOfTranslocation <- Item combining rules from Magic Item Compendium pg 233
750HealingBelt (3c/day)
2500VanisherCloak (3c/day)
500Chronocharm of the Horizon Walker (1/day)
1650
-----
66000
Min/Max Notes: Jill wasted no time trying to squeeze some concessions out of the GM. Davros had no problem agreeing that Weapon Focus in a natural weapon could be used to qualify for OccultSlayer, even though it specifies a masterwork weapon. But he had to think hard about her argument that if you could buy a Ring of Reduction (pg 130 of Lords of Madness) for 20k gold, that a ring of Enlarge Person (the “reverse” of the spell) should be the same price, particularly since the Ring of Reduction is not even limited to humanoids the way the spells are. The former is stronger for casters (especially small casters), the latter is obviously stronger for melee. With persistent large size thus secured, Jill used the Sphinx Claws soulmeld to get two d8 'natural' attacks at max BAB including a +3 enhancement bonus (for no gold cost), bumped the die cole up twice from size and from MorphicWeapons, then focused the rest of her build around survivability (nigh invincible Diamond Mind saving throw maneuvers since Streadfast Concentration let her 'take a ten' on concentration checks, Warshaper fast heal and immunities) so her character could be an intimidating semi-tank, looming over the battlefield with his 15-foot reach.
Story: Raised in a mixed forestdwelling band of Changelings and Shifters, the man who would become Rugaru ('roo-GAR-roo', a name meaning “Red Wolf” in one elven dialect) was trained as a totemic shaman tapping into the power of Incarnum – the life energy of the cosmos, of all things that live, have lived or ever will live, along with harnessing the Essentia energy of his own soul. As a totemist, he learned to meld bestial soul energy into phantom claws and chitinous armor, and eventually, he would be counted on to help defend the tribe. However, as his mind was opened to this power, he heard more than the whispers of the great totem beasts like the Basilisk and the Sphynx... the young changeling began to hear the whispers of other souls, of gladiators and conquerors, of sinister warriors, and he began to lust after power far different from what his mentor sought to teach him.
Discovering how to harness barbaric rage, he soon abandoned his community to seek more opportunities to battle and exercise his might. And in the world at large, he quickly became lost in the thrill of combat. To challenge a foe, and to overpower them in a fight to the death... this was the greatest thing, and soon he wanted nothing more in life than to become more powerful and to test the limits of that power. He traveled far and wide, seeking techniques to make him deadlier in combat, and dug deep within himself, using secrets whispered to him by past and future spirits to unlock his own powers. He learned advanced martial arts, devising ways to enhance his shapeshifting through those arts, then using his shapeshifting to enhance his martial skills until he became reknown – he had become a monster.
Now, he is known by many names: Rugaru the Bloody, Rugaru of the Claw, The Hundred-Faced Wind, The Monster Rugaru, and no less than two different monastic orders refer to him as 'the Dark One'. He is feared by peasants as a sort of 'bogey-man', whose appearance changes with every sighting, but he is usually recognized by long hair and facial hair, an inhumanly large height and build, and wearing large ornate coats. Even more than by appearance, he is recognized by his demeanor, a calm man with a dominating, looming presence, who kills for any or no reason and has been known even to continue talking as though nothing (or nothing important) has happened.