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Hear ye! Hear ye! The great and terrible red wyrm, Galtraxis has issued a challenge. Bored in his old age and seeking excitement, he invites any and all comers to conquer him in battle! If you are brave enough, take up sword and spell and travel to the Caldera of Doom. Seek out Galtraxis and defeat him, and the gods themselves will inscribe your name on the Tablet of Heroes to be sung of throughout all the ages. Your reward will not only be glory, but the treasure hoards of countless kings! Who dares to answer his challenge?
This is a unique PBP opportunity. It is essentially an optimization challenge. I am looking for characters who can defeat a great wyrm red dragon in one on one combat. The lower level your build, the more awesome it shall be regarded. I will keep a list of winners and losers, and all can compete for the glory of making the most awesome character.*
*clearly this is subjective, subject to debate etc etc. Don't use my recruitment thread for that please!
Character Creation Rules
Point Buy: 20 point buy
Races: Anything created by Paizo which is up on d20pfsrd.com as a race. RP value is irrelevant, but it will be listed on the leader board with your character. No custom races. No templates. No monsters as PCs unless they are on the race list.
Level: Your choice, anything up to 25 class levels. No single class over 20 levels. The lower you can go and still win, the better!
Classes: Any Paizo on d20pfsrd.com, no 3rd party.
HP: Max at first level, then half hit die+1+con from then on. Companions/eidolons/mounts get half hit die+1+con at every level, no max at first.
Traits: Two, standard rules.
Wealth: Standard wealth by level, capped at 20th level wealth. No crafting other than consumable items.
Gestalt yes/no?: You can play a gestalt character, but there will be a separate Tablet of Heroes for gestalt builds.
Mythic yes/no?: No, because it's still in playtest and I don't know how it works. If you ask about Mythic you will be ignored.
I need your stats in a monster stat-block or Herolab like format, in a paizo.com alias. No links to character sheets on different sites. You need your essentials (HP, AC, saves, CMD, initiative) in the gender line of your alias. Background isn't really necessary, but it's bonus awesome points.
Player Rules
Any number of people can play.
Only one PC per player at any one time, once one combat is over you can make another character if you like.
Once your character is ready, I will approve it and create a gameplay thread and PM you the link for us to fight in.
House/Variant Rules
Commonplace guns
Hero Points (standard rules)
Game Rules
You know you are going to be facing a great wyrm red dragon. At the start of the fight I will roll initiative for both parties (companions go on your initiative). Neither the dragon nor you will get a surprise round. The only buffs you may have active at the start of combat are buffs with a duration of 1 hour/level. If you have an eidolon, you may begin with it summoned/bound. The dragon's stats will be listed on the campaign info tab, you will resolve your own attacks/spells in your own posts to avoid summary posts as much as possible. For example if you roll an attack, look at his AC and see if it hits, if so describe the damage you do appropriately. If he needs to roll a saving throw, I will do that in my next post. You will also roll your own saving throws. If you provoke AOOs you should roll them on yourself, and if he provokes AOOs from you I will roll them for you. This is to streamline PBP play, it does not mean your character knows the dragon's stats. You will still need to make the appropriate monster lore knowledge rolls to learn his abilities in character. If you are obviously metagaming in your actions it will be considered cheating and you will be disqualified along with forfeiting the match.
Once a match is begun, you are required to post once every 48 hours. If you go 48 hours without posting it will be considered a forfeit (a post saying "X real life thing happened, I can't post for a bit" counts as a post).
Other than that everything will be Rules as Written. If there is no clear answer I will try my best to make a fair call, and you will accept it or forfeit the match.
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I'm sure there will be questions. Feel free to ask. Let the submissions begin!
Oh-ho, this sounds quite interesting... I take it we'll be going mano-a-mano with the wyrm?
I need your stats in a monster stat-block or Herolab like format, in a paizo.com alias.
I don't have Hero Lab. How does a Monster Stat Block look and how do I put my character(s) in the alias.
I need your stats in a monster stat-block or Herolab like format, in a paizo.com alias.
I don't have Hero Lab. How does a Monster Stat Block look and how do I put my character(s) in the alias?
I3igAl, I don't use Hero Lab either, but all of my alias' statblocks are apparently like it (so I've been told). I can PM you a template if you like.
An example of those formats would be great.
Also, will you allow someone to get to act in the surprise round if they have an ability that allows them to do so outside of normal circumstances?
My character, Je'grik, uses a monster stat block.
This does look interesting.
Anyone else feel like a Paladin or Ranger archer could do a lot of damage here?
Just a couple questions: Are we allowed to bring cohorts into the fight and at what distance will we be starting from the dragon? (Or is the second one a secret?)
I am interested in trying this. I'm not sure what with, but I'll give it some thought.
Edit: Actually, I might already have some ideas.
Oh, I already have a little sticky note with some basic plans, and I'm working on a submission of an archetypal knight, complete with the mission to go slay the fire-breathing dragon!
I was waiting until I saw some interest to put more work into it, but lets see if I can't answer some questions.
Loup - Yes, one on one.
I3igAL - Just go to www.d20pfsrd.com and copy the stats of any monster in the bestiary, and then paste them in a notepad document and change everything to your character's stats. If you need a section that's not there, just add it in a clearly readable way.
Here's an old character I made for an epic level game. Something like that will work fine.
Hanzhou - Maybe, but the dragon's senses are very hard to overcome. He has darkvision 120 ft. and blindsense 60 ft. They see four times as well as a human in dim light and twice as well in normal light. What ability did you have in mind?
Laughing Storm - No leadership feat, no. I forgot to mention that. Animal companions, summons, eidolons and mounts are fine. As for starting distance you don't know exactly, but probably as soon as you see each other the fight will begin. So several hundred feet.
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I'm excited to see some response. I was worried no one would be up for it :)
The Sword of Valor Paladin's First Into Battle ability.
I'm making a Gold Dragon Disciple for some Dragon vs. Dragon time.
Gold vs. Red. Epic!
That would do nothing, since there won't be a surprise round. The scenario assumes you've gone looking for the dragon, and that he knows people are coming for him. You don't know exactly where he is so you've been wandering around the mountains of his layer until you come across him. Once you see each other the fight starts. You would still get your Cha to initiative though. Going first is going to be a big deal in a one on one fight.
Edit:Actually, he's got an essentially foolproof way of making sure that he's not going to be surprised. So even if you could somehow approach him undetected there wouldn't really be a surprise round.
Erm...missed my edit window but above should say "mountains of his lair..." not layer >_<*
Did my info on just how scary dragons are help influence this? :3 I might have to see about making a character!
:D
Edit: The easiest thing I could think of would be to make a Wizard.. but.. thats kind of boring.. so I'm going to try and make a char thats not a tier-1 class. Hmmm
Well he's not done yet, but he's a level 20 Goblin Commoner, that I think so far might have a chance.
:3
Hah! Nice. If a level 20 goblin commoner can do it I will be seriously impressed. Also, yes, I was inspired by my other thread and everyone saying "The dragon would just kick your ass."
Well, the Dragon will have a seriously hard time if he ever wants to melee this goblin - The Goblin has over a +40 to his Acrobatics skill to use his Roll with it Feat. So even on a 10, thats over a 50 damage hit he can take and 'roll with it', flying 40 feet (his movement) and being staggered for a round. He doesn't take any damage in that case unless he hits a wall, but since he can choose which way to 'fly', he's fine. He can still attack while being staggered, at least.
He has 2 skills he's good at due to his 10 intelligence and 2 skill points per level. Acrobatics and Use Magic Device. You can guess what he uses the latter for. :3
Basically, it means that Goblin Ball is in season. I can imagine that Dragon getting seriously peeved at this goblin if he tries to go in melee against him. This goblin has 8 strength, so its not like he'll be dangerous in melee.
Well finish said goblin up and he can be the first to have his name inscribed in the Tablet of Heroes! I'm working on the map now.
Anyone else feel like a Paladin or Ranger archer could do a lot of damage here?
Yeah, I was looking at some type of ranged Paladin myself.
No one wants to try a Winter Witch?
I have a few ideas I'm playing with, but I think I'm going to start overpowered and work my way down to see just how low I can go.
The first concept I would like to try is a gestalted level 20 Zen Archer Monk/Divine Hunter Paladin.
And unless that goblin has some way to prevent dieing in a wave of fire, I'm not sure how it is going to hold up...
Hmmm, I'll submit something tomorrow I might be able to do it at 9th level I think, but I need to do some rules reading.
Dot
Like Hanzou, I think I'll start from the top and work my way down on levels, but I'm not gonna try gestalting just yet.
I'm thinking my first attempt is going to be a level 20 alchemist focused on bomb throwing. TWF+Rapid Shot for 7 bombs at 10d6+40ish frost damage and the possibility to stagger the wyrm? I like the sound of it :P (Hmm, though perhaps I should add a couple levels of, say, Urban Barbarian to kick his BAB into another iterative and boost Dex for extra accuracy).
Also, is it fine if we just do a catch-all alias like this one? The alchemist in question is already participating in a different arena at a lower level (the active combatant Syken being the alchemist in question). I'll obviously put the level 20 statblock in once it's all finalized though.
As long as I have easy access to your stats in the alias, I don't care if you have multiple characters in different spoilers. That doesn't change the one fight at a time thing though.
I finished the encounter map, it's pretty big outdoor. The terrain is rocky, mountainous, not quite a forest but lots of trees and bushes.
That means the encounter is ready to go whenever you guys are.
I have a few other things I need to finish up before I can finish the goblin - real life crap that I wish I didn't have to do XD He has a ton more scrolls and potions I need to decide on before I can start, anyways. Its surprising how many scrolls you can buy with 15,000 gp remaining.
Might have to get a few extra Scrolls of Time Stop.. :3
A great wrym has rather intimidating stats...
Touch 0
Gotta love it.
Touch 0Gotta love it.
Makes gunslingers and alchemists likely fellows, eh?
Indeed! I might just have an alchemist who can take him out in one round of attacks.
Assuming he doesn't get roasted before that :P
I had an idea for what would essentially be a d*ck move, but it got shut down when it was updated that Leadership isn't allowed.
Thinking that the sheer numbers of followers you get with a high score could be hell to pay if they're all gunslingers...
Get 100 1st level Wizards - tell them to prepare Magic missile all around. 100d4+100 = average of 350 damage to that one target. :P
There's effectively a bottom limit due to the fact that he has access to 9th level spells. If you have less than 100 HP you lose. Power Word Kill. The only way a build that can't withstand PW Kill could win is to win initiative and kill him in one turn.
Edit:I suppose there are also ways to be immune to spells (either temporarily or otherwise).
I've added Galtraxis's stats to the campaign info tab. I've also put up spoilers for what your character will know going into the fight. You've got no way to know what items he has or spells he knows, but other than that you can figure out pretty much everything with a high enough Knowledge (Arcana). I've only given him one magic item. If he had all the loot that a dragon his age would actually have, this would likely be an impossible challenge.
Also, I've created the discussion thread. You guys can discuss possible strategies/builds there. Lets keep the recruitment thread purely for character creation questions/submissions please!
I've only given him one magic item. If he had all the loot that a dragon his age would actually have, this would likely be an impossible challenge.
I saw and was thinking about that. I would actually kind of like to see how he might look fully decked out in appropriate gear. Seems more fair :P
Anyway though, a question: Are we allowed to use Manuals/Tomes for ability score bonuses (or Wish/Miracle for people who might have those), and simply subtract the appropriate amount as spent cash? I would guess probably, but figure it's worth checking.
Yeah sure, as long as you pay for it that's fine.
I should have Sir Lucius the Venerable, Divine Hunter of Erastil up for you by the end of the day. Instead of going gestalt, I went with a level 20 Divine Hunter Paladin.
Would you allow a Azata-Blooded Aasimar to trade out their spell-like ability for the variant ability "Once you've reached adulthood, you never appear to age, although you take aging penalties normally and die when it is your time." from the variant ability chart? It goes well with the flavor of this character.
Hanzou here and here are the stats for Sir Lucius the Venerable. I went ahead and added the variant ability for now as its really more flavorful than anything to do with the game mechanically.
Right now I'm double-checking the numbers and working out his background, which will be something along the lines of...
Despite still appearing as young as his 60th year, Sir Lucius has grown old and recently lost that which is most dear to him when a wave of fire burned across the lands he was tasked to protect by Old Deadeye himself.
The age thing is fine.
Sir Lucius looks good on my initial read over. I will try to get a gameplay thread for him up and running tomorrow.
I really doubt our bout will take long, but unfortunately I will be leaving tomorrow about 6 PM Central time to go LARPing for my first time and will not be back home till Sunday morning. Hopefully we can get it in before that as I think Sir Lucius could earn the honor of being the first person to show up on the list of heroes to defeat a Great Wyrm Red Dragon.
Well, I should have it up in the morning for me, which is about 10-11 hours from now. I'm 12 hours ahead of eastern time.
Ah, I might actually still be up around that time. I'll just have to keep an eye out for the post. And the fact your rolling our initiatives will help make sure things run quickly from that point on.