What’s the strongest level 20 PC you could make if you had 19 Negative Levels (that you can never remove / be immune to)?

[Reksew_Trebla]

Say you are a level 20 PC. You are the top of the top. Then, BAM! The universe itself manifests a sapient form just to curse you with 19 Negative Levels. However, the universe allows you to instantaneously remake yourself, within level 20 PC limits. What do you build to ensure you don’t die with your new curse?

[Kaouse]

Negative levels no longer stop you from casting spells, so...

[Diego Rossi]

Kaouse wrote:

Negative levels no longer stop you from casting spells, so...

But reduce your caster level.

-19 to your caster level, -19 to hit, -19 to all skill and saves, and -95 hit point from your maximum.

A spellcaster with 1d6 and 12 constitution will have a grand total of 7 hit points.

Probably a cleric is the option with the highest chance to survive, as most healing spells do something even if cast at CL 1.

[Valandil Ancalime]

Reincarnation druid, so when you die, you come back to try again, and you get a pet.

[thorin001]

Witch. Your hexes are not affected at all as DCs are not changed by negative levels.

[Richard Lowe]

Beast Bonded Witch (with a Ratling Improved Familiar if you want to be super safe, it can stealth, DD, go invis, burrow, etc) and just possess things forever, who care about bodies when you're effectively an immortal body thief.

[Mysterious Stranger]

Actually a paladin would be the strongest class in this case. You still get all your class abilities so the paladin would still get CHA to save and their immunities. Since they have good fortitude and will saves they might still be able to make some saving throws, and still have all their immunities. Having 1d10 HP and a decent CON is going to mean they will have more HP than a caster. Smite Evil will at least give CHA to hit and AC and bypass DR.

[zza ni]

Richard Lowe wrote:

Beast Bonded Witch (with a Ratling Improved Familiar if you want to be super safe, it can stealth, DD, go invis, burrow, etc) and just possess things forever, who care about bodies when you're effectively an immortal body thief.

^that also take 10 minutes cast clone which doesn't care for the caster level of the spell caster. then kill yourself and move into clone. gratz your a level 20 witch with 2 negative levels. go get restoration or something..

(this can be done by any class that can cast clone but the beast bonded have the security of moving into it's familiar if things go south before hand)

[Mysterious Stranger]

I think the idea was that nothing you can do will remove the negative levels. Kind of like an oracle’s curse so the clone trick will not work.

[Melkiador]

Synthesist summoner?

[zza ni]

Melkiador wrote:

Synthesist summoner?

i thought about it ,but since ur using the eidolon as suit your still with 19 neg levels. which is -19 to attack and saves. even if you are now using the suit's bab etc. only thing good is the blanket hp of the suit to cover for yours.

[Valandil Ancalime]

Whatever class, it would be VERY unbalanced. 20th level class abilities and probably gear, including up to 9th level spells. But -19 to your caster level, hit, all skills and saves, and -95 hit point from your maximum. So the character could steamroll most low level encounters, but would die to most higher level encounters. This would be rocket tag on steroids.

[Reksew_Trebla]

Just throwing my own answer in here: Anything that gets immunity to Energy Drain/Negative Levels. While you won’t be immune to the original 19 Negative Levels, I never said you couldn’t be immune to further Negative Levels. This is very important, because a single NL is all it’ll take to instantly kill you now. Also, you need some way to avoid alignment based equipment, as they usually impose a NL that can’t be overcome while you use it, thus also instantly killing you, so being as good at Spellcraft as you can get would be great as well.

I don’t actually have any specific examples though, off the top of my head that is, so I’ll just leave these ideas as is.

[Belafon]

Depending on how literal we are taking your challenge, I'd suggest something like a Spirit Master monk. They can still take negative levels, and they aren't technically "immune" to those 19 negative levels, they just "don't take any penalties" from negative levels. But that's cheesy word-twisting and I wouldn't really try to claim that.

My real answer would be an oracle with the Life Mystery. They would be immune to (further) negative levels, ability drain, and a host of other ailments. Maybe an Ancient Lorekeeper archetype to add wizard spells to the already impressive array of ways the Life Oracle can grant temporary hit points. Consumed curse for even more temporary HP.

[Temperans]

Construct Crafter that have made a bunch of Trompe-l'œil.

That effectively makes it so you cannot be killed due to having an army of creatures defending you. Specially if you surround yourself in body guards that can act in the surprise round with a number of Contingency spells to block spells. Even taking the contingency feat so you can revive yourself or send you off to an group of Clerics to revive you.