Optimization Levers

[kitcik]

I am a long-time D&D player, but relatively new to 3.5. The more I read on this forum, the more I wonder - how many levers are there to push? What I mean to say is - 3.5 has a limited source of rules since it is no longer being published, setting aside homebrew and Pathfinder. Nonetheless, there seem to be a large number of levers available for optimization and I would like to make a complete list.

To start off, here are the ones I could think of (in no particular order):

Ability Scores
Age

Class / PrC / Paragon
Variant or Alternative Class Features
Scions

Race
Race Template (i.e. Dragonborn, Feral, etc.)
Race Variant
Race Bloodline

Feats
Traits / Flaws
Domain Devotions (i.e. Travel Devotion, etc.)
Stances / Maneuvers (for ToB classes)

Teamwork benefits
Companion Spirits
Martial Arts Styles (i.e. the bonuses you can get in OA if you meet certain prerequisites)
Organizations / affiliations (some of which offer bonuses with your affiliation)
Rituals (from Lords of Darkness)
Apprenticeship (Mentorship)
Leadership (cohorts)

Skills
Skill Tricks

Equipment
Legendary items / Item familiars

Spells / Powers (for casters / psionicists)
Domains (for divine casters)
Metamagic
Incantations

Now I've edited it a few times and added a bunch more. Still looking for completeness though.

 

[Ahnehnois]

how many levers are there to push?

More than anyone could ever need. That's the beauty of the game: its modularity and the number of options available.

I'd check out Unearthed Arcana (also available free online) for a lot of "levers". Flaws and traits especially are simple but powerful tools.

Also alternate class features (later pathfinderized into "archetypes") are a big deal and appear in several sources.

Temwork benefits (PHBII, DMGII, and others) and companion spirits (DMGII) affect the entire party.

Skill tricks (CSc) are halfway between skills and feats.

 

[Alexander123]

You can find more about character optimization here The Seven Facets of Character Optimization.

 

[kitcik]

Thanks. That's a cool thread on what's important for a character, but does not really get at the levers beyond the basics (race, class, skill, feats).