Author Topic: Iron Chef Character Optimization  (Read 75663 times)

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PhoenixInferno

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #160 on: September 14, 2008, 09:30:44 PM »
No, I thought we were limited in books to Core + Complete.

woodenbandman

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #161 on: September 14, 2008, 09:33:59 PM »
How lucky I am that I've been thinking about using this ingredient for quite some time!

I know what I'll be sinking my feats into...


dman11235

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #163 on: September 15, 2008, 12:22:13 AM »
Point buy would be best.  First off it give an even canvas to work on.  Secondly the build itself is largely independent of stats.  Sure it makes you better, but it doesn't really define the build other than priorities.....which point buy expresses perfectly.

And frankly, I like point buy for campaigns too....
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woodenbandman

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #164 on: September 15, 2008, 12:47:52 AM »
Well, if point buy is the case, let's make 25 the standard, since that's what I did. By default I assume that flaws and traits are out and that anything that requires a huge stretch is not considered optimization. Little stretchtes are okay, I guess, though.

How's this as a reward for the winner? They get to choose the secret ingredient for the next contest. Good idea?

EDIT: And can we all collectively agree that Leadership is banned in general? Unless, of course, that's the secret ingredient.

TheWordSlinger

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #165 on: September 15, 2008, 02:16:42 AM »
Would using multiple variants from Unearthed Arcana be acceptable? I'm specifically looking at Savage Bard and the "Other Variants/Fey-Touched" Bard.
Currently playing:
Forte Lulz, Chaotic EVIL Bard bent on world domination;
Canere Potentia, to sing of power.
Aralaxax, Warforged Osteomancer, Machines are my people, I wield bones as other wield swords.
Randall Gray, she's not sexually confused, honest!
Zion "I can make followers, but why bother when people line up for me?"
Currently DMing: Real Men Use Their Hands, World's Largest Dungeon
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woodenbandman

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #166 on: September 15, 2008, 11:23:26 AM »
I also would like to know this, since UA is core, after all.

This contest entry has gone by lightning-fast for me. I'm nearly done with my entry.

TheWordSlinger

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #167 on: September 15, 2008, 01:01:51 PM »
And I'm going to ask because there seems to be some confusion. For the builds can we use material from non Core/Complete books? My understanding was that only the secret ingredient was restricted to those books...
Currently playing:
Forte Lulz, Chaotic EVIL Bard bent on world domination;
Canere Potentia, to sing of power.
Aralaxax, Warforged Osteomancer, Machines are my people, I wield bones as other wield swords.
Randall Gray, she's not sexually confused, honest!
Zion "I can make followers, but why bother when people line up for me?"
Currently DMing: Real Men Use Their Hands, World's Largest Dungeon
"If you can pretend to be a half-orc barbarian or a dwarf wizard then you can pretend to be an alpha male."-Ninjarabbit
"The hotel shop only had two decent books, and I'd written both of them."-Douglas Adams
"It's funny how the Earth never opens up and swallows you when you want it to." Xander Harris, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

AfterCrescent

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #168 on: September 15, 2008, 04:19:48 PM »
From my understanding (Caelic can correct me if I'm wrong) but you are not limited to Core/Complete. The secret ingredient will always come from those, but you can expand out. The less sources you use, however, the higher the score you can get for making a relatively smooth/clean build.

Also, last I checked, for the reward, we're discussing setting up a thread for contest winners somewhere (Meta Board, probably), making a "Contest Winner" group to put the winners in and another surprise that Kai and I have been working on. :D
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Caelic

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #169 on: September 15, 2008, 08:17:15 PM »
Let me explain.  No, is too much; let me sum up:

1. The secret ingredient will come from Core plus Complete, at least for the first several competitions.
2. Any 3.5 book can be used in creating builds.
3. I'd strongly prefer to avoid Dragon, since access is much more limited.
4. Likewise, I'd prefer to avoid 3.0 books with no official 3.5 update. 
5. While I'm a big fan of UA, again, I'd prefer to avoid it because of the mutually-contradictory nature of some of the variant rules presented within.  It just tends to lead to too many questionable situations, like folks trying to combine Generic Spellcaster with normal base classes.
6. Note that I'm not saying "Absolutely no" for any of the above.  If there's a really, really good reason for bringing them in, I'm willing to listen--it's just my opinion that they're going to muddy the waters more than they're generally worth.
7. 25 PB for stats
8. I hadn't thought about it, but banning Leadership is probably a good idea just for logistical reasons...unless, of course, we're doing "Battle Leadership."
9. For this one, let's try mailing the entries to me, and I'll post them.  If that winds up being a horrible mess, we can do it differently next time.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2008, 12:34:21 AM by Caelic »

TheWordSlinger

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #170 on: September 15, 2008, 09:23:31 PM »
Is just the fey-touched bard too much from UA?
Currently playing:
Forte Lulz, Chaotic EVIL Bard bent on world domination;
Canere Potentia, to sing of power.
Aralaxax, Warforged Osteomancer, Machines are my people, I wield bones as other wield swords.
Randall Gray, she's not sexually confused, honest!
Zion "I can make followers, but why bother when people line up for me?"
Currently DMing: Real Men Use Their Hands, World's Largest Dungeon
"If you can pretend to be a half-orc barbarian or a dwarf wizard then you can pretend to be an alpha male."-Ninjarabbit
"The hotel shop only had two decent books, and I'd written both of them."-Douglas Adams
"It's funny how the Earth never opens up and swallows you when you want it to." Xander Harris, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

woodenbandman

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #171 on: September 16, 2008, 01:22:17 AM »
Well the build turned out worse than I had planned since I misread a few things. It's all good, though. I just hope that my interpretation of certain rules is just the right amount of literal.

dark_samuari

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #172 on: September 16, 2008, 01:42:48 AM »
*After a day of looking over Complete Adventurer*
Man, I don't like Beast Master...

PhoenixInferno

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #173 on: September 16, 2008, 02:50:12 AM »
The chef is running around frantically - but he's got nothing in the oven yet!

RabidPirateMan

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #174 on: September 16, 2008, 04:14:51 AM »
What the hell?  I thought this was dancing with the stars.

Akalsaris

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #175 on: September 16, 2008, 05:46:39 AM »
?????????PhoenixInferno???????????????

???????????????

(Before the terrible dubbing!)

Callix

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #176 on: September 16, 2008, 07:16:58 AM »
Hmm... This looks like it could work. Have to be careful, though. Beastmaster's a delicate flavour, and all this cheese could overpower it...
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Tshern

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #177 on: September 16, 2008, 07:44:39 AM »
Good thing you didn't have to challenge Chen Kenichi.

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TheChrisWaits

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #178 on: September 16, 2008, 09:24:34 AM »
6. Note that I'm not saying "Absolutely no" for any of the above.  If there's a really, really good reason for bringing them in, I'm willing to listen--it's just my opinion that they're going to muddy the waters more than they're generally worth.
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Soda

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Re: Iron Chef Character Optimization
« Reply #179 on: September 17, 2008, 12:40:01 AM »
Like using the ice cream machine. :)
Oh, well they always use the ice cream machine!