The most powerful class?

[Dannyalcatraz]

Depends on the campaign and the player. A twinked cleric in the hands of a noob is virtually useless, and a suboptimal Ftr in the hands of a vet can be deadly.

Besides, "power" is vague. Mass Combat? Personal combat? Roleplay potential (political power)?

Lets just say you don't want to be on the recieving end of a Bard's ire if he swings the King's opinion of you to the negative...

 

[Wormwood]

3.5 is a love letter to the Druid class.

 

[Khayman]

3.5 is a love letter to the Druid class.

Tell them to get a room.

 

[Sejs]

Druid.

 

[Romnipotent]

Cleric for straight up power on their lonesome

Bard for anything with a large group of many many many kobolds

Vermin Lord (BoVD) for the most powerful PrC printed in a WotC book.

 

[Testament]

Cleric for straight up power on their lonesome

Bard for anything with a large group of many many many kobolds

Vermin Lord (BoVD) for the most powerful PrC printed in a WotC book.

I'm trying to remember Romers, what was your record with Vermin Lord? Caster Level 2,800+ or something?

 

[Telas]

Interesting discussion, as usual. Although it's getting a bit predictable (everyone always pick Cleric or Druid). The real weakness of the Divine Spellcaster is not obvious. His options are strictly limited by his religion and alignment, moreso than almost any other class.

Let me throw something out there: Having a character that forces the DM to change the campaign is powerful.

IME, nothing can blow the doors off a campaign like a character focused on diplomacy. His people skills can be twinked to almost 20 by 5th level, and can put a DM in conniption fits (in the right campaign). Remember: 'Hostile' to 'Friendly' is a DC35. For a low CHA critter or NPC, that's about a 50% chance.

Another example is the Psion. I've never been a big fan of psionics, but I occasionally fill in for another player in a campaign that includes a Psion with the mind-lock ability (I'm not familiar with the terminology). Combat with a sentient being basically involves running around and soaking up damage until he seizes its mind. So the DM has had to resort to a lot of constructs and such...

Again, real power is having a character that can force the DM to change the campaign.

Telas

 

[Romnipotent]

I'm trying to remember Romers, what was your record with Vermin Lord? Caster Level 2,800+ or something?

If I use a Excel spreasheet I can figure it out to the digit. But the key is finding the smallest vermin you can, say an ant or something. The next step is making a 5ft radius orb with shape stone and add a lid in the top. Fill
Awaken the hive of millions and use Wish (quite accurately worded) from the hive to imprint your conciousness on them too. Then a body swap....

Its one of those ways of working it that needs a DM to either say Can or Cannot to it working. Of course its entirely unwritten and is more a creative flux of power and ritualism, than a pure key to power.

Im not saying its perfect, but most DM's I've spoken to acknowledge that swarms dont stop at a number, its just easier that way.

and I give the 2800 number as the target because over that you're not looking for much else but divine ranks
1Million "Ants": Int 20007(+9998), Cha 20004 (+9997) Sorcerer Caster Level 19987
10,000 "Ants": Int 207 (+98), Cha 204 (+97) Sorcerer Caster Level 187
140650 "Ants": Int 2820 (+1405), Cha 2817 (+1403) Sorcerer Caster Level 2800

yes, its munchkinnny and wholely a game to game thing.
but most people dont count it as a class for PC's, and good thing too

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

It's true that a diplomatically minded character can switch things around rather handilly, but I included that in my analysis. It's very possible to make highly effective diplomats out of clerics and druids and not all of them will be terribly limited by their alignment and religion.

I hadn't considered the Psionic classes. My temptation is to say they're pretty balanced but I'm certain you could engineer some insanely powerful tweaked out combos.

 

[Testament]

Brain Lock cuts off higher brain function, preventing the manifestation of powers or the casting of spells. That's about it. That said, a twinked out telepath is dangerous, owing largely to a combination of their class skills and Psionic Dominate.