In the elder days PnP days, long ere WotC was even dreamed of, there were a group of Paladins who represented each alignment. There were the Myrrakhans of the Neutral Good order, and Ilriggers of the Lawful/Evil, Lyons of the Lawful/Neutral, and there were the dreaded Arrikhans of the Neutral Evil gods. These knights were skilled in poisons, torture, received save bonuses in much the same way CoTs receive theirs, and could generate extra damage through their faith and divine grants. This was my homage to those knights of yesteryear. This is a unique build and has not been done before, and it presents many RP possibilities. It is by far from a powerbuild, but it has enough weapons in its arsenal to deal with most situations. Strong in hitpoints, lordly in saves, Terrifying Rage and Dev Crit to deal with the riff-raff, and some fun Divine powers to quell the damage resistant. There is a slight alignment change along the way, but should be doable in many environments.
The Arrikhan: Glorius Hellsword Class: Barbarian16/Blackguard4/CoT20 Title: Arrikhan Race: Human Alignment: Neutral Evil to Neutral Or Chaotic Evil to Chaotic Neutral Playable: 1-40, mid-magic environments
Special Abilities: Terrifying Rage: DC: 49-58 (55-63 buffed) Divine Wrath: DR 15/+3, +9AB/Damage, +9 saves Divine Shield for +5 to +11 AC Divine Might for +5 to +11 damage Devastating Crit DC: 38, (44 buffed, 46 buffed and if victim is terrified) Grearer Rage & Bulls Strength Smite Evil x3: +5-11 AB, +20 divine damage Smite Goodx3: +5-11AB Strong Saves
Weaknesses No UMD or Exotic Weaponry No Knockdown feats Mediocre AC Requires a brief Alignment change in the teens
Notes on Playing Remember to start either Neutral or Chaotic Evil at creation. As one progresses through the pre-epic career, you gradually want to start shifting towards the Neutral Axis. After the last BG level is taken at 15th, one will need to make the push towards either Chaotic Neutral or just Neutral (if Neutral Evil was your base). Before the 17th level is taken, one will need to be one of those two alignements, and stay there after that. One can continue to become more good, one just can’t backslide once the CoT levels are progressing.
Also, Scimitar was chosen for crit range, but one can choose freely here. Likewise, I chose to invest in Listen both skill and featwise to help out a bit against the sneak attacks. If that’s not an issue you may choose freely among other skills and feats. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Edited By Kail Pendragon on 09/26/08 19:53
Thank you for this one. I automatically love any build that uses Barbarian and Blackguard. I always wished I could have the "Divine Champion" class to pair with Blackguard as well. The way you make use of CoT in this build does not make it too painful of an experience, even if one were wishing to role play it.
I dont use Dev Crit, but I wouldnt know what to do with all of those epic bonus feats from CoT without it in the build.
I'm sure most people on here will know this, but this character will not be able to wear Heavy Armor until the first level of Blackguard is achieved at character level 8. _________________
Quote: Posted 09/13/08 16:58 (GMT) by The_Krit
That is a mouthful, but it is still better than acronymizing "frequently unasked questions".
A fearsome warrior with its rage, wrath, dev crit, smites and high saves! The way you combine BG and CoT to compensate for missing classes is a good and original idea! As you pointed out it lacks knockdown, and I miss it, but I know you can't have everything.
Quote: Playable: 1-40,low to mid-magic environments
This build will work fine in a mid magic environment.The self buffing of the strength will also be great in a low magic setting But I will still not recommend the build as is in a low magic setting. The reason is that you have no ways of self buffing charisma. Cha 20 gives a +5 modifier for 5 rounds with the divine might/shield feats. That means they are not practical to use in fight, stopping to buff up every 5th round. You want all the charisma boosting items you can get. In a mid magic setting it should be possible to collect enough items to cap cha at 32 with a +11 modifier. Then these feats start to be worth it!
If you want to activate both DM and DS before fights on a regular basis you may also want extra turning, but that takes a paladin or cleric, unless you get it on an item.
Bottom line: I like the build
It's so good, it's evil!
Quote: Posted 09/25/08 10:22 (GMT) -- Mick Dagger
As you pointed out it lacks knockdown, and I miss it, but I know you can't have everything.
Agreed. Originally I had him with KD, but then decided I liked having the Extra Smiting more for extra punishment against high hit die undead (liches, et al).
Quote: But I will still not recommend the build as is in a low magic setting.
Agreed. I usually type that in all my builds out of habit. After I posted it I realized that it really isn't suited for low magic environments, and that mid-magic would be best getting the necessary equipment. Too late to edit at that point, but thanks for clarifying.
Quote: If you want to activate both DM and DS before fights on a regular basis you may also want extra turning, but that takes a paladin or cleric, unless you get it on an item.
That's one of those things that still bugs me about BGs. It's bad enough that they don't get Summon Mount, or Unholy Sword spells, and that they can only Smite Good, but no Extra Turning is just a slap in the face. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
That's one of those things that still bugs me about BGs. It's bad enough that they don't get Summon Mount, or Unholy Sword spells, and that they can only Smite Good, but no Extra Turning is just a slap in the face.
You know, we could be holding out for another patch
Griz, i cannot believe how creative you are! After ALL these years of playing, to come up with originals.. wow. Though, this does have one of those nasty alignment shifts (i say that only cuz all the servers i played never allowed them).
This post is for general information purposes only, and does not constitute a legal opinion or render any legal advice. It may not be relied on for any purpose, and gives rise to
Quote: Posted 09/25/08 18:45 (GMT) -- avado
Though, this does have one of those nasty alignment shifts (i say that only cuz all the servers i played never allowed them).
*bows*
Well, there are a few. Honestly, I think life is too short for people to be fretting about alignment shifts. While I think Pally/BGs are a bit egregious, I think there should be room for other type alignment shifts less egregious, like your reformed bad guys, or your born-again bastards. Characters in fiction and literature are ripe with such stories, and it is the growth and development of such characters that makes it worthwhile to read/watch. And that works both ways-- watching the hero de-evolve into something darker and menacing, when he throws away his ideals and hallmarks of good-guy-ism (Dark Knight anyone?), or the young bloodthirsty warmonger who, after years of weary war and battle, finds his soul in the eyes of one of his victims, a child perhaps, and the light inside him suddenly "turns on."
I'm not for the exploitation posed by alignment shifts, but I think alignment shifts in general are a reflection of life itself, brought about by experience, environment, and love itself. DMs should allow for such changes, and not be consigned to an "all or nothing" approach. Ironically, it is the RP servers where the alignment nazis are most vigilant. I enjoy playing the tormented character, the haunted soul, even in those characters where an alignment shift won't bring you anything but, well, an alignment shift (plain fighter, e.g). If somebody can't find a place where such things are accepted, well, you should just come sit beside me. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Edited By grizzled_dwarflord on 09/26/08 13:37
You need to repost that on a different board.
Just a comment, since you have terrifying rage, ESF: Intimidate might be more up your league than ESF: Listen. Both will serve well no doubt.
Quote: Posted 09/26/08 20:14 (GMT) -- WhiZard
Just a comment, since you have terrifying rage, ESF: Intimidate might be more up your league than ESF: Listen. Both will serve well no doubt.
Terrifying Rage: DC: 49-58 (55-63 buffed). That looks high enough to me. I would stick with ESF: Listen.
Good write up in regards to alignment grizzled. There is a reason that characters arent "locked in" to alignments when they are first created. Characters can change as they grow older and experience different situations.
Just as in real life... my alignment has shifted quite a bit since the time I was a rebellious teenager to now. _________________
Quote: Posted 09/13/08 16:58 (GMT) by The_Krit
That is a mouthful, but it is still better than acronymizing "frequently unasked questions".
Quote: Posted 09/26/08 23:37 (GMT) -- galelabriel
Quote: Posted 09/26/08 20:14 (GMT) -- WhiZard
Just a comment, since you have terrifying rage, ESF: Intimidate might be more up your league than ESF: Listen. Both will serve well no doubt.
Terrifying Rage: DC: 49-58 (55-63 buffed). That looks high enough to me. I would stick with ESF: Listen.
If you're getting any PvP out of him you assume the enemies will stack as much as you do. The +12 Cha bonus counted on the buffs will be a +6 to DC is countered item-wise by the opponents +12 Wisdom bonus and +20 to saves. That is like using their raw pre-epic will save score vs. a DC of 19-28 (assuming they aren't increasing wisdom in the epic levels, nor have saves increased by COT etc.), granted its likely they will fail but their is a significant chance of success. If it's against monsters then there is no practical limit as to how high the saves are.
Quote: Posted 09/26/08 20:14 (GMT) -- WhiZard
Just a comment, since you have terrifying rage, ESF: Intimidate might be more up your league than ESF: Listen. Both will serve well no doubt.
It's a thought, but then, it's not a PvP build, nor do I design for high magic environments where there are "+20" saves gear rolling around. Suffice it to say that the DC for the Will save is going to approach if not beat the highest Will DC save cast by an Epic Wizard with maxed casting stat and Spell Foci. The TR DC will be 48+6 with Chr boosting gear followed by another 1d10 (and that's not counting Intimidate Skill boosting gear). The average DC at 40th level would be 58. If they can beat that, then they probably were going to be Fear immune anyway, or only receive the -2 aspect of it. TR, in my view, is more of a mob control than it is a boss neutralizer.
Quote: Posted 09/27/08 04:05 (GMT) -- WhiZard
If you're getting any PvP out of him you assume the enemies will stack as much as you do. The +12 Cha bonus counted on the buffs will be a +6 to DC is countered item-wise by the opponents +12 Wisdom bonus and +20 to saves. That is like using their raw pre-epic will save score vs. a DC of 19-28 (assuming they aren't increasing wisdom in the epic levels, nor have saves increased by COT etc.)
Just to clarify, if they already have +20 to saves, CoT levels won't add to that, for they count against the cap. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
It's so good, it's evil!
You need to repost that on a different board. 
Just a comment, since you have terrifying rage, ESF: Intimidate might be more up your league than ESF: Listen. Both will serve well no doubt.
