The Totemist Handbook

[Sinfire Titan]

Wait, the only feat that requires is Willing Deformity?


Aside from the Disguise Ranks, that's dirt-cheap for anyone. Elder Evils and all...

[BowenSilverclaw]

[spoiler][/spoiler]
Straight up ridiculous. Every single natural attack becomes Save or Paralyze.

Soul Eater is nice as well

I actually made a gestalt build that went like this

non-psionic thri kin/ Warblade/Soul eater// totemist

Warblade was somewhat of a filler and for some tiger claw manoubers, I couldn't figure out how to get girallon windimil flesh rip thoug...

Nice

I've got a Beguiler (the race) Rogue/Barbarian/Totemist/Soul Eater running around in a PbP

[Sinfire Titan]

So, I was just messing around with my head, and I started thinking about how to really get some mileage out of the Manticore Belt. Then it really hit me: the Necklace of Natural Attacks.

+1 Soulbound Collision Explosive is the starting deal, and we go from there. Considering how many attacks a Manticore Belt Totemist gets, it's fairly easy to optimize. Then I thought of something stupid. The Vampiric enhancement.

Then you add in the Therapeutic Mantle, Rage Claws, and Flyby Attack (which you get for free). Let's have some fun with this.

[Garryl]

So, I was just messing around with my head, and I started thinking about how to really get some mileage out of the Manticore Belt. Then it really hit me: the Necklace of Natural Attacks.

+1 Soulbound Collision Explosive is the starting deal, and we go from there. Considering how many attacks a Manticore Belt Totemist gets, it's fairly easy to optimize. Then I thought of something stupid. The Vampiric enhancement.

Then you add in the Therapeutic Mantle, Rage Claws, and Flyby Attack (which you get for free). Let's have some fun with this.

Necklace of Natural attacks (end of page) would be very expensive with all of those natural attacks, as the cost is multiplied by the number of natural attacks you want it to affect. On the other hand, depending on the wording for Manticore Belt, it might only count as one natural attack. I don't know because I don't have MoI.

[Sinfire Titan]

So, I was just messing around with my head, and I started thinking about how to really get some mileage out of the Manticore Belt. Then it really hit me: the Necklace of Natural Attacks.

+1 Soulbound Collision Explosive is the starting deal, and we go from there. Considering how many attacks a Manticore Belt Totemist gets, it's fairly easy to optimize. Then I thought of something stupid. The Vampiric enhancement.

Then you add in the Therapeutic Mantle, Rage Claws, and Flyby Attack (which you get for free). Let's have some fun with this.

Necklace of Natural attacks (end of page) would be very expensive with all of those natural attacks, as the cost is multiplied by the number of natural attacks you want it to affect. On the other hand, depending on the wording for Manticore Belt, it might only count as one natural attack. I don't know because I don't have MoI.

That's just it, we've previously established that the amulet is perfect for the Manticore Belt because it's a single weapon that launches multiple ranged attacks. The end result is murder on anyone within the range limit.

[Brainpiercing]

So, I was just messing around with my head, and I started thinking about how to really get some mileage out of the Manticore Belt. Then it really hit me: the Necklace of Natural Attacks.

+1 Soulbound Collision Explosive is the starting deal, and we go from there. Considering how many attacks a Manticore Belt Totemist gets, it's fairly easy to optimize. Then I thought of something stupid. The Vampiric enhancement.

Then you add in the Therapeutic Mantle, Rage Claws, and Flyby Attack (which you get for free). Let's have some fun with this.

Splitting is where the money is, too, and Aptitude so you can get any number of feat abilities to apply.

I did a build like that that tried to optimise per shot damage without going too heavy on the Totemist levels, actually. It was stuff like Targetteer H&R Fighter Swift Hunter with Crossbow Sniper. 2.5x Dex plus 6D6 on something like 12 spines per round. And that wasn't even counting bonus damage from enhancements.

[A_Shadow_of_Life]

(Edited, posting elsewhere)

[snakeman830]

Might want to add Soul Eater (BoVD) to the PrC list.  Totemists make extremely terrifying Soul Eaters with barely any effort.

[InnaBinder]

I saw no mention of the Darfellan (Stormwrack) race as an option.  Thoughts?  STR bonus + natural Bite attack + built-in Swim speed seems at least moderately useful for a Build-Your-Own-Monster class.

EDIT: While I'm at it, thoughts on Black Blood Cultist for a Totemist?  No soulmeld progression sucks, but piling up natural attacks alongside INA and Rend seems like good times.

[snakeman830]

I saw no mention of the Darfellan (Stormwrack) race as an option.  Thoughts?  STR bonus + natural Bite attack + built-in Swim speed seems at least moderately useful for a Build-Your-Own-Monster class.

EDIT: While I'm at it, thoughts on Black Blood Cultist for a Totemist?  No soulmeld progression sucks, but piling up natural attacks alongside INA and Rend seems like good times.

And Savage Grapple.  Can't forget Savage Grapple.

[Zemyla]

Changeling is an option for Totemist, specifically because of the Warshaper PrC.  (If you haven't noticed, I really like that PrC.)

[something random]

If it was not for the Endurance prerequisite Steadfast determination looks like a good feat for totemist as it allows you to completely dump Wisdom. I am not sure if it is worth it but I don't consider my self much of an optimiser.

[Xavius]

The Kobold class was mentioned in the beginning... How would I go about optimizing a kobold totemist for a campaign? I have access to all of the books, and am curious as to the exact build to get the most out of the kobold.
Stat distribution, feat choices, advancement ideas.
Basically I want a kobold killing machine. I'd like to see both options of the flyby murder machine and the armed murderer with extra arms... so... who's got ideas?

[Sinfire Titan]

The Kobold class was mentioned in the beginning... How would I go about optimizing a kobold totemist for a campaign? I have access to all of the books, and am curious as to the exact build to get the most out of the kobold.
Stat distribution, feat choices, advancement ideas.
Basically I want a kobold killing machine. I'd like to see both options of the flyby murder machine and the armed murderer with extra arms... so... who's got ideas?

That's sort of a running gag with me, but it can be practical. Use the Unearthed Arcana variant kobold that gets the Con penalty changed to Wis, grab Weapon Finesse, and Bind the Kruthik Claws for their Acid damage (or go Manticore Belt, but that's going to have a lower damage output). Dipping Scout helps if you use the Manticore Belt, while going Swordsage will make the Kruthik Claws better.

[Xavius]

ok... so what's the best race/build to make the completely optimized manticore belt totemist?

[fuinjutsu]

ok... so what's the best race/build to make the completely optimized manticore belt totemist?

Strongheart Water Halfling, if allowed.

[Sinfire Titan]

ok... so what's the best race/build to make the completely optimized manticore belt totemist?

Strongheart Water Halfling, if allowed.

Water isn't a template, it's a variant race. And it's only applicable to the PH+MM races, so there's no Water variant of the Strongheart Halfling.


It's actually between Azurin and Dragonborn Water Orc for the Manticore Belt. Azurin if you need the feat (and are going to dip Scout), Orc if you are going pure Totemist.

[fuinjutsu]

ok... so what's the best race/build to make the completely optimized manticore belt totemist?

Strongheart Water Halfling, if allowed.

Water isn't a template, it's a variant race. And it's only applicable to the PH+MM races, so there's no Water variant of the Strongheart Halfling.

That was my interpretation as well, but I've seen strongheart water halfling used and advocated before,  so YMMV.

It's actually between Azurin and Dragonborn Water Orc for the Manticore Belt. Azurin if you need the feat (and are going to dip Scout), Orc if you are going pure Totemist.

I don't think the STR is really worth it.  You need +4 to STR for a measly +1 damage.  Better to boost DEX for to hit, and get bonus damage elsewhere.

[Brainpiercing]

The Kobold class was mentioned in the beginning... How would I go about optimizing a kobold totemist for a campaign? I have access to all of the books, and am curious as to the exact build to get the most out of the kobold.
Stat distribution, feat choices, advancement ideas.
Basically I want a kobold killing machine. I'd like to see both options of the flyby murder machine and the armed murderer with extra arms... so... who's got ideas?

That's sort of a running gag with me, but it can be practical. Use the Unearthed Arcana variant kobold that gets the Con penalty changed to Wis, grab Weapon Finesse, and Bind the Kruthik Claws for their Acid damage (or go Manticore Belt, but that's going to have a lower damage output). Dipping Scout helps if you use the Manticore Belt, while going Swordsage will make the Kruthik Claws better.

Hmm... Kobold Totemist 2/Ranger1/Scout4/Totemist OR Ranger rest. Bind Landshark boots, get skirmish damage and some other stuff to boost jump checks so you can reliably hit 20 (Leap of the Heavens to be able to do it standing).  But then there is really no point to doing this as a kobold.

Either Azurin for the feat and essentia, or something really meaty is usually better.

[Lunaramblings]

[spoiler][/spoiler]
Straight up ridiculous. Every single natural attack becomes Save or Paralyze.

I know this is kinda old, and I am performing a bit of necromancy here, but I thought it should be pointed out this does not work. The Paralytic slime ability specifies that it works on their psuedopods, not on any natural attack. The wording is explicit that the slime is only on the psuedopod, and there is no reason to think that it would extend to any other attacks. Also it specifies that you change your hands into these psuedopods, hence, you would actually lose any claw attacks that you might have from your hands.

Overall this is a cool class, but it does not really do much to benefit a Totemist.