Author Topic: Is their a factotum handbook?  (Read 4551 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

plaguewraith

  • Ring-Tailed Lemur
  • **
  • Posts: 44
Is their a factotum handbook?
« on: November 08, 2008, 07:24:28 PM »
If there is could you post a link, if not, could someone come up with one

JaronK

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4039
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2008, 07:26:42 PM »
There's one, but it's pretty darn inaccurate and incomplete and needs a lot of work.  Dictum is in theory working on one, and if he doesn't make it I might.

JaronK

Ubernoob

  • Man in Gorilla Suit
  • *****
  • Posts: 2217
  • Happy Panda
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2008, 07:32:13 PM »
Fuck, I'll toss one up if I get bored enough.
Ubernoob is a happy panda.

Eldariel

  • Bi-Curious George
  • ****
  • Posts: 459
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2008, 07:42:11 PM »
As it happens, GiantITP-forums have a build that just happens to list a number of the basic tricks. That said, it's no handbook, but it covers a number of esoteric skills, feats and company that are of interest to Factotums. So the information exists, but the compilation of a handbook does not.

JaronK

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4039
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2008, 07:45:39 PM »
Play one first, Uber.

JaronK

Ubernoob

  • Man in Gorilla Suit
  • *****
  • Posts: 2217
  • Happy Panda
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2008, 07:46:49 PM »
Play one first, Uber.

JaronK
I'm about to see an optimized factotum in action  :)
Ubernoob is a happy panda.

JaronK

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4039
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2008, 07:56:35 PM »
...how about you just let the person playing it write the handbook, then?  :)

JaronK

Ubernoob

  • Man in Gorilla Suit
  • *****
  • Posts: 2217
  • Happy Panda
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2008, 08:03:28 PM »
...how about you just let the person playing it write the handbook, then?  :)

JaronK
That's it.  Race you to the handbook.  First person to have a 90% complete handbook gets 5 days of fu from the loser.

Agreed?
Ubernoob is a happy panda.

JaronK

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4039
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2008, 08:08:44 PM »
Nope.  You know darn well it's not about fu or credit for me.  It's about the quality of work, and spreading good and useful information. Someone writing a handbook on a class is passing themselves off as an expert on the class.  That means they should have, at the very least, played the class, lest they pass on false information.  Don't write a handbook just for the sake of... well, anything other than spreading around useful information.

Besides, I'm working 16 hour days right now and going out of town shortly.

JaronK

Ubernoob

  • Man in Gorilla Suit
  • *****
  • Posts: 2217
  • Happy Panda
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2008, 08:10:41 PM »
Nope.  You know darn well it's not about fu or credit for me.  It's about the quality of work, and spreading good and useful information. Someone writing a handbook on a class is passing themselves off as an expert on the class.  That means they should have, at the very least, played the class, lest they pass on false information.  Don't write a handbook just for the sake of... well, anything other than spreading around useful information.

Besides, I'm working 16 hour days right now and going out of town shortly.

JaronK
That doesn't mean you can't beat me to it.  Don't do it for the fu then.  Do it to prove your knowledge.
Ubernoob is a happy panda.

Elennsar

  • Grape ape
  • *****
  • Posts: 1944
  • The Emperor is watching, the Emperor knows.
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #10 on: November 08, 2008, 08:11:56 PM »
Well, if someone creates a really bad handbook, and recognizes it after someone shows how it is a really bad one, then that would be better than nothing...you'd know how NOT to play one.

I am too ignorant to even begin. But one or both of you two should if only for that reason, damnit.
Faith can move mountains. It still can't deflect bullets.



"Communication with humans." is a cross-class skill for me. Please bear this in mind.

Straw_Man

  • Hong Kong
  • ****
  • Posts: 1145
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #11 on: November 08, 2008, 08:37:37 PM »
Well, if someone creates a really bad handbook, and recognizes it after someone shows how it is a really bad one, then that would be better than nothing...you'd know how NOT to play one.

I am too ignorant to even begin. But one or both of you two should if only for that reason, damnit.

Good show. I'm not really sure you want fu at this point, but there you go.
"No, no, don't think, Maya." Ritsuko chided. "We will not gattai the Evas or their pilots.

Such thoughts lead inevitably to transformation sequences."

JaronK

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4039
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #12 on: November 09, 2008, 12:30:15 AM »
If you want a bad one, it's here:  http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=791436

JaronK

Treantmonklvl20

  • Curious George
  • ****
  • Posts: 310
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2008, 09:58:07 AM »
There is a feat that they added online called "Font of inspiration" I believe - not only does it stack with itself - it is progressive each time it is taken.  First time you take it, you get 1 extra inspiration point, the second time you get two, the third time three etc.  They added a limit later on that you could only take the feat as many times as your Int modifier - which makes Int even MORE important for Factotum.

Generally your best option is +2 int race (such as grey elf) get a 20 int and take Font of Inspiration exclusively.  If you raise your Int every 4 levels - you are good doing that until level 20.

Human is a pretty good option too - take 18 int to start and you can take Font of Inspiration to level 12 - at that point you could need to take something else until Int catches up.  Depends on whether your DM allows enhancement Int bonus to count towards qualifying (usually Enhancement bonuses don't work towards such things).

As for Skills - take one rank in everything (minus infinite variety craft/proffession skills).  Then max out just a few - generally I like Spot and Use Magic Device.  Then your factotum, by using one Inspiration point can do anything with a skill modifier of Level+1, which is only a couple less than anyone else maxing out the skill.

Generally - PrC'ing is a bad idea - though Factotum/Chameleon wasn't terrible (though not as good as straight Factotum).  My recommendation is to go straight Factotum.
If at first you don't succeed - maybe failure is your style.

Treantmonklvl20

  • Curious George
  • ****
  • Posts: 310
    • Email
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2008, 10:01:42 AM »
If at first you don't succeed - maybe failure is your style.

Emy

  • Bi-Curious George
  • ****
  • Posts: 489
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #15 on: November 14, 2008, 10:13:20 PM »
Would Zeal (from Dragon Magazine) be a good domain choice for a Factotum with a Cloistered Cleric dip? It looks pretty great, especially if you're doing any (speed)crafting. Or Forgery. Or Disguise. Or Use Rope. Or Escape Artist.

Also, has it been printed anywhere other than Dragon, or am I out of luck looking for a "better" source? I've heard disallowing Dragon content is pretty common.

JaronK

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4039
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #16 on: November 15, 2008, 03:04:25 PM »
Zeal won't help for crafting, as there's a penalty for failure (losing the materials) and you can never take 20 if there's a penalty for failure.  There are certainly a few good uses for it (escape artist is an obvious one), but that's about it.

Also, you don't really need it for forgery anyway.  A single rank in that skill and then taking 10 is enough, with Cunning Knowledge.  Remember, it's Int based and Forgery is always opposed by a Forgery check... have you noticed how few NPCs have ranks in that skill?  So a 10th level Factotum with, for example, a 22 in Int (very reasonable) and a single rank in Forgery, plus a Forger's Kit (+2) can, once per day, create a forged thingy and automatically get a 29.  Virtually no one is going to even have a chance of beating that.  As such, you can forgery your way through virtually anything... it's always fun to forge orders that the weapons wearhouse guards have to equip you and your men appropriately, for example.

JaronK

Emy

  • Bi-Curious George
  • ****
  • Posts: 489
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #17 on: November 17, 2008, 03:52:47 AM »
Ugh, I completely forgot about that part of taking 20. Whoops.

Which domain would be a better choice then? Are there others that give general skill boosts or abilities that would be good for a Factotum?

Rebel7284

  • Grape ape
  • *****
  • Posts: 1585
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #18 on: November 18, 2008, 03:35:41 PM »
Ugh, I completely forgot about that part of taking 20. Whoops.

Which domain would be a better choice then? Are there others that give general skill boosts or abilities that would be good for a Factotum?

Travel domain to trade for travel devotion.
Negative level on a chicken would make it a wight the next day.  Chicken the other wight meat. -borg286

PhaedrusXY

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Is their a factotum handbook?
« Reply #19 on: November 18, 2008, 03:51:13 PM »
Zeal won't help for crafting, as there's a penalty for failure (losing the materials) and you can never take 20 if there's a penalty for failure.  There are certainly a few good uses for it (escape artist is an obvious one), but that's about it.
There is only a penalty if you fail by 5 or more. So as long as your check is high enough to never fail by 5 or more, you should be able to take 20.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]