I'll be posting the full build later, but here's the deal: I've got a character who is a sentient 20 HD Brixashulty (from Races of Stone), with its type changed to "Magical Beast", in an ECL 12 campaign. He has no class levels, but high str+dex, and should be able to function just fine by using his many feats instead of the class features everyone else has. Martial Study is going to feature prominently, especially revolving around Setting Sun for thematic reasons, and because a goat butting things hundreds of feet in the air is awesome.
But... he has access to Alter Self. Now, normally Alter Self caps out at 5 HD, but that can get bypassed via a houserule feat. I've seen the recommended "Alter Form" list, but that only goes up to 5 HD, and the only useful things there are flight and size. I'd think that with a 20 HD ceiling, there'd be all sorts of useful options, but I can't really think of any. Kraken for water is obvious, but Tarrasque has too many HD, and the rest of the heavy SRD hitters (cryohydra, frost worm, celestial charger) lose too much. Behir is possible, but there isn't any major motivation there.
So! All books open; cannot rely on any active buffs ever; must stay within the rules for Alter Self; must be of type "Magical Beast"; must have 20 HD or less; major character themes are "earth" and "air". All suggestions appreciated!
(edit) Character Info - this concept amused me, I hope it amuses you too.
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CrunchECL12, Halfling Racial.Druid3/Variant.Wizard3/Beastmaster1/Variant.Bard1/
Arcane.Heirophant1/Djinni.Bloodline3
The Druid levels are using the Halfling Racial Substitutions from RotW, and the Wizard and Bard are using the Animal Companion variant. Bloodline levels stack on all three (plus Beastmaster and Arcane Heirophant) to get the Animal Companion level up to 27.
Now he takes the Obtain Familiar feat, which gives him one based on his Wizard, Bard, and Heirophant levels, +3 for Bloodline on each of those, adding up to 14. He then takes Theurgic Bond to transfer his Druid caster level into his Familiar levels, getting him up to 24.
Then, with Arcane Heirophant, he melds the two into one creature, who is now a quite-intelligent (Int 17, specifically) animal, with the Magical Beast type. I call this new creature "Avatar".
Then, he curls up in a corner somewhere, while his Avatar goes off adventuring.
Stats(note - there's three known deviations from RAW: the custom metamagic feat, the animal companion getting the druid's spontanious spells at a distance, and the number of Martial Study feats. I'm working with the DM on these.)
AVATAR
Brixashultystr 30 (13base +9druid +4ap +4[6points]) +10
dex 28 (17base +9druid +2[4points]) +9
con 18 (16base +2[4points]) +4
int 17 (17wiz) +3
wis 18 (13base +1ap +4[6points]) +4
cha 6 (4base +2[4points]) -2
HD: 20d10+72 = 195
Init: +9
Speed: 40'
AC: 42 (+9dex +33nat) touch 19, ff33
BAB/grap: +20/+30
Darkvision 60', lowlight vision.
Attack: Gore +30/+25(1d6+15)
plus knockback (str check +16)
SR: 29
SAVES
Fort 16 (12base +4con)
Refl 21 (12base +9dex)
Will 10 (6base +4wis)
- Imp Evasion (x2!)
- +4 vs Enchant
SKILLS
Balance 11 (0rank +9dex +2race)
Jump 39 (23rank +10str +2race +4speed)
Listen 31 (23rank +4wis +2alert +2race)
Spot 29 (23rank +4wis +2alert)
K: Arcana 31 (23rank +8int)
Survival 27 (23rank +4wis)
SPELLS
Jump - 5/day, +20 on check, 7 minutes
Spider Climb - 4/day, 70 minutes
Alter Self!!!
AVATAR'S FEATS - Throw opposed str +20
Alertness (bonus)
Familiar Spell x3 (virtual feat from high Familiar level)
Counter Charge - 1 - opposed str/dex vs redirect 2 squares
Step of the Wind - stance - ignore difficultterrain
- +2 atk, +4 trip/knockback
Devastating Throw - 3 - move 15', throw 10', do 2d6
Comet Throw - 4 - throw 10', 4d6, ref 24 half to cushion
Soaring Throw - 5 - throw 20', +5' for 5 on check, 8d6
Mirrored Pursuit - 5 - immediate follow moving enemy
Strike of Broken Shield - 4 - +4d6 damage, Ref 24 vs flatfoot
MASTER'S FEATS - 2 LEFT
Obtain Familiar
Theurgic Bond
*Homebrew Metamagic Feat to remove CL limit on spells*
FluffBackstory involves a Noble Djinni who screws up the balance of reality trying to get itself reincarnated, ends up being reborn as this commoner dude. Dude is totally unaware though, and DREAMS this crazy beast. But 'cause his subconscious is powered by Noble Djinnitude, the dream becomes reality.
So you've got this Avatar, which is only subliminally aware of the Djinni, which is trying to get itself restored out of the body of this commoner, who is just trying to earn an honest living making shoes. Except the DUDE gets captured 'cause they want to use the AVATAR as living weapon but are totally unaware of the DJINNI, who guides the AVATAR into busting the DUDE out so now all three are wandering around this crazy Outer Plane with no clue... (Well, the DUDE has no clue, the DJINNI has a clue 'cause its spiffy like that, and the AVATAR has a vague intuitive version of a clue 'cause it lacks the context known by the DJINNI but responds in a general fashion to its guidance anyway)........
And yeah. It's the Avatar I'm playing. The Dude will be pure background most of the time, and the Djinni can't actually do anything on its own. lulz abound.
ContextThis is going to be used in an ECL12+, high arcane campaign. The rest of the party is an Evoker Red Wizard, Favoured Soul using artifact gauntlets, and a Dread Necromancer with a whole army of skeletons. I want the Avatar to be
differerent but still able to contribute effectively in that context, without being "omg wtf pwn" in either direction. Future advancement involves mostly Arcane Heirophant to improve the quality of the possible Familiar Spells, a dip into "Animal Companion Bard" for a AC+4/F+8 boost when needed, and a dip into Ranger for an AC+4/F+4 boost is possible too. It should also technically be possible to switch which animal I'm using if the current Avatar dies, but the choice for Brixashulty is locked in for now. The DM is highly flexible here in working it out in a way that will be fun for everyone involved.
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