I've seen a couple of theory crafting threads about building characters with the fastest possible land speed. I even to recall one getting up to Mach 10 with mythic shenanigans!
My question for the board: Have you actually seen any absurdly-fast characters in real games? How fast can you go before the PC trades away too much and becomes a non-functional joke character?
The monk in our game right now has a 100 foot land speed, I think? It's not even that absurd compared to what can be done, but he can already speed in school zones on his morning jog. It's actually one of the things he enjoys most about the character - especially since he's got permanent enlarge person now, his carrying capacity is pretty high, and the few other characters who don't have flight are pretty light, so the party's getaway plan is literally "he picks them up and runs".
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Starting with the standard 30' speed, you can get to 90' with 18 levels of Monk.
There are several ways to bump it up further with dips or VMC. Travel Domain, Metal/Dance of Blades Revelation, Barbarian, Bloodrager... there are plenty of options that could still lead to a fully functional character.
Are there playable races with a higher base speed?
A ranger/barbarian in one of my games a while back hit 80ft with spring attack, the ability to ignore difficult terrain, wind and lightning stance, a wounding weapon, Craft (traps) and a solid Perception/Stealth bonus.
A scout that's super fast, stays fast, helps set the party up with an ambush and tags the enemy once or twice as he kites them into the arms of the rest of the party.
I spent my CRB halfling rogue's precious major magic talent on expeditious retreat. Improving from one of the slower party members (20 ft) to unmatched speed (50 ft) within a standard action is nice, both in and out of combat. Whether you rush from one side of battle to another or be the first at the breakfast table, there are always some applications.
Beyond that, I theorycrafted a bloodrager with speed 100, with moderate cost:
30 base
10 fast movement
30 elemental bloodline (fire) at level 8
30 elemental blood, greater (fire) thanks to primalist archetype at level 12 (you have to take two rage powers at level 4)
For elves, Horror Adventures has the alternate racial trait long-limbed, netting you a 35 ft base speed. If you don't mind losing weapon familiarity, it's basically free.
A ranger/barbarian in one of my games a while back hit 80ft with spring attack, the ability to ignore difficult terrain, wind and lightning stance, a wounding weapon, Craft (traps) and a solid Perception/Stealth bonus.
A scout that's super fast, stays fast, helps set the party up with an ambush and tags the enemy once or twice as he kites them into the arms of the rest of the party.
I feel like barbarians are a good chassis for this. Rage + Power Attack + Greatsword is pretty much a functional build by itself, so there's plenty of room to tinker with speedy shenanigans.
I've found that a character with 30ft movement speed and the occasional use of "Cheetah's Sprint" swift action spell to run/charge up to 10x your normal speed that round is more than enough to satisfy my need for speed. Especially since the speed boost greatly enhances your ability to jump the round its cast.
Reread the spell. You only get 5x not 10x because you go 10x speed per round, but most combat rounds you double move getting 2x speed.
/cevah
I have actually played a halfling druid riding a cheetah. The game folded early though.
Reread the spell. You only get 5x not 10x because you go 10x speed per round, but most combat rounds you double move getting 2x speed.
/cevah
I always liked the idea of pairing cheetah's sprint with urban grace for sudden Spider-Man leaps. I've got a cabalist vigilante that uses that trick in Crimson Throne, and it's been great fun pulling off the "instant maneuverability" trick.
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Reread the spell, it allows 10x speed on a charge action meaning you could take a charge as a standard and use the move for something else before it and it wouldnt be a double move at all. So 10x speed is correct.
/notcevah
Reread charge. you cant charge as a standard unless you ONLY have a standard (surprise round, staggered). Charge is a full round action
I always liked the idea of pairing cheetah's sprint with urban grace for sudden Spider-Man leaps. I've got a cabalist vigilante that uses that trick in Crimson Throne, and it's been great fun pulling off the "instant maneuverability" trick.Reread the spell. You only get 5x not 10x because you go 10x speed per round, but most combat rounds you double move getting 2x speed.
/cevah
I don't remember if it's a feat or a class ability or something else, but I think there is a way to be able to jump from a standstill as if you had a running start. That could combo quite well.
A ninja holding at least 1 ki can do this. Monks have a way also. I seem to recall other ways.
I do recall jumping from my ship's edge onto another ship 80'+ away.
/cebah
Grippili have the Jumper alternative racial feature... and Glider, for that matter, but then you're Small... and a frog. Still starts with a 30' land speed, though.
Rhino Charge allows you to ready a standard action charge.
fastest in an actual game was a Monk who got to about 16th with the Mythic ability Impossible Speed, was like 160 or so. The player was a useless bump though so...
and so nobody thinks I'm being too mean, he was a archer build who when we fought a group of enemies, all of whom had Missile Shield, spent five rounds shooting one arrow at each guy...on the fourth round I asked if he was F'ing with us, and then he did it again on the fifth.
The fastest I've had in a game I've played was a Paladin/Hellkight with a 50ft base plus the ability to do Cheetah Sprint once per day in an urban environment and the ability to ignore difficult terrain several turns per day. While slow by the comparisons here, I think she deserves an honorable mention due to her doing it in heavy armor.
