Brain in a Jar ECL

[Nifft]

Oh, gotcha... I figured he was just doing a critter-to-NPC acid test. Sorry for skimming & misrepresenting. But still, you get the point: it's a comparison of power levels, not a PC build proposal.

Anyway here's how I'd do the BiaJ: drop most powers, narrow down the smallest ability set that defines what makes a BiaJ different from, say, a Human.

Here's my first stab at a PC race BiaJ:
- Size & Type: Tiny Undead
- Body Slots: Armor (jar can be upgraded), Amulet (around the neck of the jar), Hat or Crown (on top of the jar), "3rd Eye" slot. No potions, rings, rods, weapons, shield, tattoos or slotted wonderous items. Ioun stones work fine.
- Senses: darkvision 60 ft. (from undead package), otherwise normal
- Communication: telepathy 100 ft. to any subject with whom the BiaJ shares a common language.
- Manipulation: far hand at will.
- Movement: fly 20 ft. (perfect).
- Ability Scores: Str -6, Dex +0, Con --, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +2
- Natural Attack Sequence: 1 Slam (whacking someone with your Jar), deals 1d2 bludgeoning (for a tiny weapon).
- Combat Actions: You can make grapple checks, but only to break or escape from a grapple. You can bull rush. You may not trip, sunder, or disarm with your slam attack.
- Naturally Psionic: You gain +3 Power Points.

What's the LA on this version?

-- N

 

[the Jester]

I'd guess +2, calling everything but the flying a wash.

 

[Nifft]

I'd guess +2, calling everything but the flying a wash.

20 ft. (perfect) is worth +2? I'd've guessed that's only worth +1. Perhaps over 30 ft. would be worth +2.

Maybe substitute "Scorn Earth" (like what an Elocator does -- 30 ft. move when within 5 ft. of a surface, 1 ft. movement above that), to make it LA +0?

-- N

 

[B4cchus]

+6 int and cha, +4 dex, +2 wis

Is it just me? or do a +6 to cha and a +4 to dex seem a little bit silly for an undead brain sitting in a jar?
I fail to see how an organ in a bottle the least bit attractive or charismatic.. and don't get me started on the dexterity of a flying jar (it already gets an ac bonus due its size)

Sorry,
Just thought it was rather funny

 

[Frostmane]

Charisma also represents 'Strength of will or personality'. I'd guess one has to have a powerful will to cling to existance in such a fashion as the rationale.

 

[B4cchus]

Strength of will should be represented in wisdom.. by my book.

Furthermore an undead brain in a jar has little empathy with other creatures, moreso the living. I think this should be represented by a negative charisme modifier.
The only part which could grant the brain a positive modifier would be a strong peronality, although this would only reflect the personality of the person the brain origianlly belonged to. By making this a template you could solve that.

 

[ThirdWizard]

+3 LA seems good to me, making the ECL 6. Even then, I think the BiaJ will be quickly outpaced by other PCs. By level 10, a BiaJ Psionicist 4 still won't match up to a full classed spellcaster or a warrior type.

The blindsight is its only mode of detection, correct? I'm away from my books. If that's the case, then that's going to be either a wash or a penalty. The flying is nice, but at starting ECL 6 not anything you won't be seeing out of other PCs within a few levels through magical items (which is will have a very difficult time using!).

Mind Thrust is pretty weak. 2d10 (average 6) isn't that great compared to a sorcerer's magic missile (average damage 10.5) or a fighter's 2d6+6 damage with a greatsword (average damage 13)

Madness and rebuke aren't going to see much game time. Madness only occurs when someone tries to read your mind, and who's going to try to read the mind of a floating undead brain? Rebuke at 3rd level? Heh, right.

The undead bonuses and the dominate person are of consequence. I'm teetering on a +4 ECL to this, so I could see it going either way. It's just that a BiaJ at ECL 7 looks fairly weak to me, personally. Especially considering he won't be using magical items. WYSIWYG for the most part with this character. Except Ioun Stones. Those will work.

 

[the Jester]

Mind Thrust is pretty weak. 2d10 (average 6) isn't that great compared to a sorcerer's magic missile (average damage 10.5) or a fighter's 2d6+6 damage with a greatsword (average damage 13)

Er, 2d10 averages 11 hp of damage.

Note that it's not subject to DR, energy resistance, etc. but is completely useless against mindless creatures.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Oops, right you are.

But, as an attack is still fairly weak. At ECL 6, I doubt the BiaJ will be any kind of offensive powerhouse with this ability. Would a PC trade their arms to be able to do 2d10 damage as a Standard Action? I mean really? I can't recall the exact figure that the enlarged barbarian I DM for does while raging and hasted, but he normally does 2d4+5 damage in a normal state which averages 11 damage per attack (not round, and with an 18-20 crit range), and the DC to negate Mind Thrustis only 11 + Cha mod (equivalent to a 1st level spell).

 

[interwyrm]

You might be better off just redesigning the monster from the ground up.

I would get rid of the racial hit die, undead type and undead immunities.
Get rid of fly speed.
Get rid of suggestion and dominate person.
Give telekinesis at will (this will be used for flight and movement, but gives the significant disadvantage of only being able to take standard actions.
Telekinesis will use cha for saves.
During a round in which telekinesis was used to move, apply cha modifier to ac. Otherwise, -4 penalty to ac for having 0 dexterity.
Stat mods, str --, dex --, con --, int +2, wis +2, cha +2, if using point buy, only get 2/3 of normal available points.
No madness ability.
Telepathy with any creature who has a mind.


That's pretty much how I'd do it, and then I'd give it a +1 LA