DM issued challenge

[Exthalion]

I was recently playing a spell to power Erudite in a campaign over skype.

However, when explaining why I could cast arcane spells to one of the other players (and inevitably explaining the whole class) they cried foul.

I was not optimizing, or using any tricks, just using the class for the flavor.

The DM, in order to placate the others is having me make a new character using only core classes.

In order to prove to both him and the others that I was being far far less broken then I could have been I propose to make an optimized character to show them what I could really have played if I was trying to powergame.

We just hit lv 10. Core rulebooks and anything by wizard allows besides dragon magazine. However I can not use variant classes such as Erudite (though no other's come to mind).

I have heard that core D&D has enough to make a wizard broken to all hell. I humbly ask your help in creating this optimized character.

 

[Jack Simth]

I was recently playing a spell to power Erudite in a campaign over skype.

However, when explaining why I could cast arcane spells to one of the other players (and inevitably explaining the whole class) they cried foul.

I was not optimizing, or using any tricks, just using the class for the flavor.

The DM, in order to placate the others is having me make a new character using only core classes.

In order to prove to both him and the others that I was being far far less broken then I could have been I propose to make an optimized character to show them what I could really have played if I was trying to powergame.

We just hit lv 10. Core rulebooks and anything by wizard allows besides dragon magazine. However I can not use variant classes such as Erudite (though no other's come to mind).

I have heard that core D&D has enough to make a wizard broken to all hell. I humbly ask your help in creating this optimized character.

Yes it does, although it's easier at 11th (Planar Binding. Hello Mr. Efreeti! Three Wishes, please! Or would you prefer that you remain trapped in that Calling Diagram I Took Ten on while I pelt you with Magic Missiles and Ray of Frost until you die?)

But generally, the broken wizard isn't obvious about it (buffs, debuffs, and combat control give the limelight to the other characters), and you need "obvious about it" for this challenge.

You want:
1) Things that increase your spell save DC for Conjouration (Robe of the Archmagi, Spell Focus, Improved Spell Focus, Headband of Intellect, et cetera)
2) Save-or-Suck Conjuration spells (Grease, Web, Glitterdust, Could of Bewilderment [Spell Compendium], Stinking Cloud, et cetera)
3) Dimension Door (get out of grapple cheap)
4) A few spells from the Orb line (Spell Compendium - Conjouration direct-damage effects - SR: No)
5) Celerity (PHB II)

A Druid is simpler to build for it, though. Natural Spell, Wildshape, and Bite of the WearX (Spell Compendium, I think) make for a cheesiriffic combo.

 

[Dandu]

Spells to Powers Erudite is broken, you know.

Also, use Lesser Planar Binding to get a Nightmare. And abuse Polymorph.

Non-core advice: For Polymorph purposes, I hear good things about the War Troll (MM).

The Anklets of Translocation (1,400 gp, MiC) are a great way to get out of grapple for cheap.

Go Transmutation Specialist Wizard 3/Master Specialist2/Incantatrix 5, banning Evocation, Enchantment, and Necromancy. Be sure to boost spellcraft and use Persist Spell.

Or Specialist Wizard 3/Master Specialist 6/ItoSV 4, unless you qualify for the Initiate sooner.

 

[Vegepygmy]

(Planar Binding. Hello Mr. Efreeti! Three Wishes, please! Or would you prefer that you remain trapped in that Calling Diagram I Took Ten on while I pelt you with Magic Missiles and Ray of Frost until you die?)

Hi, Mr. Wizard! Enjoy your three wishes. Make sure one of them is for a permanent Protection from Flaming Sodomy ward, because I'm not only known for my invisibility, polymorphing, plane-shifting, and grapple modifier that beats yours all to hell, but also my "hatred of servitude, desire for revenge, cruel nature, and ability to beguile and mislead." Sleep lightly, wigglefingers!

 

[Dandu]

Hi, Mr. Wizard! Enjoy your three wishes. Make sure one of them is for a permanent Protection from Flaming Sodomy ward, because I'm not only known for my invisibility, polymorphing, plane-shifting, and grapple modifier that beats yours all to hell, but also my "hatred of servitude, desire for revenge, cruel nature, and ability to beguile and mislead." Sleep lightly, wigglefingers!

Ooh, a fearsome CR 8. I'm sure the wizard will be quaking in his CL 10 boots. Which are probably a decent magical item by now.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Ooh, a fearsome CR 8. I'm sure the wizard will be quaking in his CL 10 boots. Which are probably a decent magical item by now.

If he's smart, he's cool. If he forgets to put various alarms and wards around his sleeping space, then the first he'll learn in when he has to make a fort save or die to coup de grace.

Of course, any DM that CdG characters without a fair warning is a rat bastard.


To the OP: Good luck and check out some of the character optimization boards. Dandu has some good links, if you ask.

 

[Jack Simth]

Hi, Mr. Wizard! Enjoy your three wishes. Make sure one of them is for a permanent Protection from Flaming Sodomy ward, because I'm not only known for my invisibility, polymorphing, plane-shifting, and grapple modifier that beats yours all to hell, but also my "hatred of servitude, desire for revenge, cruel nature, and ability to beguile and mislead." Sleep lightly, wigglefingers!

Oh yes, I'm very much aware of that aspect. I'm also aware of methods by which the Efreeti could take rather nasty revenge despite Wizard-20 paranoia precautions. However, not all DM's are, so a lot of players can get away with it.

Ooh, a fearsome CR 8. I'm sure the wizard will be quaking in his CL 10 boots. Which are probably a decent magical item by now.

CL 11; Planar Binding is, unfortunately, a 6th level spell, and out of easy reach in this particular challenge (obtainable under the rules listed in the OP, but that requires certain levels of cheese).

 

[Exthalion]

Thank you for all the advice everyone.

Looking around the charop boards here and elsewhere it seems I understand very little about melee rules. Then again, no character of mine has ever tried to hit something in melee so I suppose there is some call for that.

I also seem to understand clerics very little.

The build I found that seemed most appealing was the Cheater of Mystra.

However, even in the example at a given level I found, I am unable to make sense of how it does what it does.

Here is the Link:Cheater of Mystra

and here is the relevant portion I am confused on
without magic equipment:

AC: 63 (10 + 12 (fullplate) + 6 (animated shield) + 6 (deflection) + 21 (natural) - 2 (size) + 10 (circumstance))
Attack: +30/+25 ( 9 (BAB) +11 (str) + 6 (divine favor) + 4 (gmw)) [smile into the face of ANY monster]
Damage: 4d6 (huge darkwood greatsword) + 36

Specifically:
*where is that 6 deflection 21 natural, and that 10 circumstance coming from
*Why are the two attacks +30 and +25 (The given numbers add to 30)
*This is the big one, Where is that +36 coming from on damage

Thank you for any help you can give me.

Also, I understand that bonuses can be had to the to hit roll from Magic (+x) weapons and to Ac from Magic (+x) Armor. Is there any way to do the same for damage?

 

[Vegepygmy]

Ooh, a fearsome CR 8. I'm sure the wizard will be quaking in his CL 10 boots. Which are probably a decent magical item by now.

If he's smart, he's cool. If he forgets to put various alarms and wards around his sleeping space, then the first he'll learn in when he has to make a fort save or die to coup de grace.

Or, you know, if the efreeti is smart enough to wait for a moment when the wizard is low on spells, hit points, and/or otherwise disadvantaged. (And he is.)

Of course, any DM that CdG characters without a fair warning is a rat bastard.

IMO, the fair warning is when the very first words of the spell description are: "Casting this spell attempts a dangerous act..." Especially when it then goes on to warn you: "The creature might later seek revenge."

But maybe I only think that because I'm a rat-bastard DM.

 

[Exthalion]

bump, or should I start a new thread for that second question?