Author Topic: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...  (Read 2913 times)

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Emo_Duck

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So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« on: October 01, 2010, 03:11:19 PM »
I am making a Master Transmogrifist, drawing heavily from the Shifty the Kobold build that I found over on the WotC board. Since he'll be polymorphing into various shapes, I am rather uncertain what sort of gear would be appropriate, taking the following clause into account:

"When the change occurs, your equipment, if any, either remains worn or held by the new form (if it is capable of wearing or holding the item), or melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional." (from Alter Self)

What sorts of equipment are most likely to remain wearable over a wide variety of shapes? I have yet to decide on what favoured shapes to pick, but there's likely to be big, non-humanoid shapes among them.

I am especially considering the Ring of Arming and the Wand Bracelet from the Magic Item Compendium, as they'll allow fairly quick storage and retrieval of items that might otherwise meld into new forms (if the ring and bracelet themselves are not melded). Adding the Sizing property to a weapon would make pretty much anything fit in the Wand Bracelet.

Since most ability score enhancers would probably get melded when changing form, I'm also interested in various long-lasting spells for boosting capabilities.


The build so far makes use of Dragonwrought and Sovereign Archetype cheese - I'm a bit dismayed at how late one can enter Master Transmogrifist otherwise:

Name: Splaffix, the otherkin kobold with the soul of a dragon-nymph-fox-tiger-mermaid. Or whatever he feels like that day.
Race: Kobold (-4 Str, +2 Dex, -2 Con), applying Dragonwrought and the Loredrake Sovereign Archetype
Abilities before racial mods (32 pt. buy): 10 Str, 12 Dex, 12 Con, 14 Int, 14 Wis, 16 Cha
Ability score increases: +2 Cha
Final array: 6 Str, 14 Dex, 10 Con, 14 Int, 14 Wis, 18 Cha

1: Psion (Shaper) 1 (for Disguise class skill and access to Metamorphic Transfer) - Dragonwrought; Practiced Manifester (Psion Bonus Feat)
2: Sorcerer 1 - Alternate Class Feature, Divine Companion; perform the Draconic Rite of Passage
3: Sorcerer 2 - Draconic Reservoir
4: Sorcerer 3
5: Sorcerer 4
6: Sorcerer 5 - Eschew Materials; Alternative Class Feature, Domain Access: Competition; Perform the Greater Draconic Rite of Passage
7: Master Transmogrifist 1
8: Master Transmogrifist 2
9: Master Transmogrifist 3 - Metamorphic Transfer

Spell Selections:
Draconic Rite spell-like ability: Fist of Stone (?)
Level 1: Hoard Gullet, True Strike, Master's Touch, Sticky Floor, Remove Fear (Domain Spell)
Level 2: Alter Self, Fearsome Grapple, Heart of Air, Zeal (Domain Spell)
Level 3: Dragonskin, Golden Dragonmail, Heart of Water, Prayer (Domain Spell)
Level 4: Polymorph, Heart of Earth, Divine Power (Domain Spell)
Level 5: Heart of Fire, Righteous Might (Domain Spell)

Psionic Power Selections (3 PP):
Level 1: Force Screen, Minor Creation

With Loredrake and the Greater Draconic Rite, Splaffix casts as a level 10 sorcerer at level 9. As he gains more levels in Master Transmogrifist, that head start will gradually fall behind, but allows him to just squeeze by into level 9 spells to eventually get Shapechange (if I counted on my fingers correctly).
I've picked the Competition domain for the sorcerer Domain Access ACF, but mostly in order to get Divine Power on my spell list. If there's another way to finagle Divine Power (or anything else that will make me hit things more easily), the Transformation domain might be more relevant. Besides, nobody likes buffing in the first rounds of combat (hence why I picked so many longer-lasting buffs for my sorcerer spells), so any alternatives are welcome.

Anyway, before I derail myself completely, I'm mostly looking for gear suggestions. Thanks in advance for any cool ideas that trickle in. :D

CantripN

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2010, 03:18:07 PM »
Ah, no Draconic Polymorph?
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PhaedrusXY

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2010, 03:20:46 PM »
In general, all items except weapons and armor automagically resize to fit the wearer. Now, you still have to have appropriate appendages to wear such items, but size changes shouldn't be a problem themselves. So all of your items (sans armor and weapons) should continue working if you turn into something that's mostly humanoid shaped. The Ring of Arming should take care of the armor and weapons.

Non-humanoids can still usually wear a lot of items (belts, necklaces, cloaks, etc). So I'd try to get all of your items to fit into those slots. It's also "only" a 50% increase in price to have an item be slotless, or to add the function of an item to another item.
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Emo_Duck

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2010, 03:45:39 PM »
Ah, no Draconic Polymorph?

I hadn't actually read this spell until now. It's definitely going in the list.

Also, as regards Golden Dragonmail: I'm assuming it'll conjure a full plate suit appropriate to the form I'm in at the moment, even if it's a hydra or something, since there are guidelines for making armour for non-standard creatures. Frankly, the visage of some giant, golden-armoured monster is very much part of the spell's appeal for me. :V
« Last Edit: October 01, 2010, 03:47:58 PM by Emo_Duck »

PhaedrusXY

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2010, 04:33:45 PM »
Ah, no Draconic Polymorph?

I hadn't actually read this spell until now. It's definitely going in the list.

Also, as regards Golden Dragonmail: I'm assuming it'll conjure a full plate suit appropriate to the form I'm in at the moment, even if it's a hydra or something, since there are guidelines for making armour for non-standard creatures. Frankly, the visage of some giant, golden-armoured monster is very much part of the spell's appeal for me. :V
It certainly should, because yes you can buy armor to fit basically anything.
[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]

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2010, 04:35:37 PM »
Ah, no Draconic Polymorph?

I hadn't actually read this spell until now. It's definitely going in the list.

Also, as regards Golden Dragonmail: I'm assuming it'll conjure a full plate suit appropriate to the form I'm in at the moment, even if it's a hydra or something, since there are guidelines for making armour for non-standard creatures. Frankly, the visage of some giant, golden-armoured monster is very much part of the spell's appeal for me. :V
It certainly should, because yes you can buy armor to fit basically anything.
Although sometimes people call it barding instead.
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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2010, 05:14:59 PM »
... for the Horse racists and wannabes.
 ;)

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2010, 07:23:34 PM »
Why not go Sorcerer1 (Dragonwrought and Precocious Apprentice) then into Cerebremancer?
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Emo_Duck

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2010, 08:00:29 PM »
Why not go Sorcerer1 (Dragonwrought and Precocious Apprentice) then into Cerebremancer?

I want to focus on Master Transmogrifist as much as possible. Getting 2nd level powers for Cerebremancer would mean putting off the PrC for another two levels, and at that point I might as well have gone straight sorcerer using another race. Unless there's a way to use Ardent instead of Psion while still getting Disguise as a class skill somehow. The build is pretty tight on feats as it is, up until level 12.

Although, skimming through Complete Psionics, I see that the Lurk gets Disguise as a class skill. Maybe one of its Augments would be useful instead of Minor Creation.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2010, 08:16:06 PM by Emo_Duck »

Sohala

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2010, 09:20:10 PM »
For your stats, you are going to age him right?
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Emo_Duck

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2010, 09:29:09 PM »
For your stats, you are going to age him right?

I was planning not to, actually. I think it imposes certain character traits, such as the wisdom of years, if I make it a really old kobold. I think it lacks verisimilitude when a venerable kobold still acts like a young, brash and above all dense kobold - and I do want to keep that option open.

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Re: So a Master Transmogrifist walks into MagicMart...
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2010, 10:38:31 PM »