Questions tagged [optimization]
For questions pertaining to the positive aspects of character optimization, often abbreviated as CharOp. (If dealing with player problems relating to optimization, use the [powergaming] tag instead.)
1,105
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How can I optimize my familiar as a pack-mule?
Low strength spellcasters could use a strong, loyal companion to carry any loot and excess equipment. They can fairly easily get a loyal companion in a familiar, but most familiars aren't exactly ...
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When is Animate Objects more effective than Fireball?
My wizard has both fireball, and animate objects.
Animate objects at first sight is such a cool and flavorful spell. I was excited when I got it because it is considered one of the highest output ...
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1
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help with optimizing an effective character level 8 barbarian soulknife build [closed]
everything good? A while ago I saw a guy on a forum saying that he had a prestige class that could create an energy blade that all attacks were directed at touch AC, I found this idea very interesting ...
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Optimizing Animate Objects spell against nonmagical damage immunities
Suppose I am a Wizard who likes to cast Animate Objects in combat. At my present level, I am likely to encounter foes with resistance or immunity to nonmagical physical damage. As detailed in this ...
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What Options are Available to Utilize High Strength as a Squishy Character?
Something that I recently have been puzzling over in my choices for my character has been the decision to give him character high strength (18), despite being a bard. I like the idea, but I'm having ...
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Shortest path from Shieldbreaker to Engineer
Playing as a Shieldbreaker, I found a distinct lack of Dwarf-only advancements that would lead to other Dwarfy classes but for Runebearer, which would lead to the Runesmith classes. There ain't no ...
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Can the Path of the Beast Barbarian match Path of the Zealot for damage?
The premise:
Damage comparison between 2 different builds, with no prep, no help, no magic items, only standard equipment and class features. No class features that get expended and can't be used each ...
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What is the maximum amount of reusable spells a character can have at the same time that do not require spell slots to cast?
I enjoy casting spells in D&D, but spell slots have always felt big and important to me. Regardless of the build I make, I always feel some compulsion to save them for a more important and pivotal ...
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Can the Faerie Fire spell be oriented in a small space to not affect allies?
Many AOE spells use a point as their origin, and from this point, area is calculated. Faerie Fire doesn't state where spells start. Often, AOE spells are cast in rooms near walls to avoid friendly ...
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As a half-orc barbarian, how can you increase your chance of getting a critical hit? [duplicate]
I noticed that barbarians have a Brutal Critical feature, and half-orcs also have a similar trait (Savage Attacks).
As a half-orc barbarian, how can you increase your crit chance?
I'm looking for ...
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At what AC does GWM become ineffective? [closed]
For the mathematically challenged (me), is there a general, simple, easy-to-remember rule of thumb for when a monster's AC is high enough that you should not use GWM because the -5 to hit becomes too ...
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Is there wide agreement on what an optimised Wizard should use Craft Contingent Spell for?
Craft Contingent Spell is ridiculously powerful, so much so that I feel no need to even cite that claim. It is generally assumed that any optimised Wizard will have a long list of contingencies ...
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Is Fighter a better option for unarmed fighting compare with Monk?
This is under the case of single classing only.
I see in a optimising site saying that Fighter is a better option than Monk even if you are building a dedicated bare hand warrior. I wonder how does ...
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Which roguish archetype and build will deliver maximum melee damage for a Bugbear rogue?
I'm an old school D&D player returning to the game with a vengeance after an absence of a few years and trying to process all the new races, class features and options that are currently available ...
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Can a Dex-based Aberrant Mind sorcerer/paladin do better than Mage Armor?
A friend of mine is building an Eladrin Aberrant Mind sorcerer/Oath of Devotion paladin, but has decided to be Dex-based and not wear heavy armor. Most sorcadin guides we can find just assume heavy ...
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Would a Tressym's detect invisibility be able to see through an Ice Mephits false appearance of the ice mephit doesn't move?
I have a barbarian who is using his beast sense to see through his pet Tressym's eyes. The room in question is an icy lodge and has many ice Mephits that are watching but not moving. Do we think he ...
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How do I maximize the damage of a single, unarmed attack?
I've noticed that monks favor many, smaller attacks which grow to a set limit of strength after a period of time, but I was wondering if you could somehow get a different build setup that favors a few,...
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Building a Cleric (Persist and Turn Undead Optimization)
I'm looking to develop the progression for my cleric character. The concept involves a cleric with multiple domains (Sovereign Speaker and an additional 1-level dip into Divine Disciple, Contenplative ...
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What's the maximum amount of Constructs you can have active at one time?
I'm on a bit of a Construct schtick right now, and my character is aiming specifically to make the most constructs possible. The roadmap is Lvl 13 College of Creation Bard/Lvl 3 Battle Smith Artificer,...
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What's the price of blood?
The class Tainted Sorcerer from Unearthed Arcana (p. 191) has, among other abilities, the class feature "Blood Component":
Blood Component
A tainted sorcerer must use blood in place of any ...
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Dnd 3.5 - Cleric / Chameleon Build
I need help interpreting some things. I want to create a character for an upcoming game as follows:
Cloistered 4 levels,
Church Inquisitor 1 level,
Sovereign Speaker 9 levels,
Chameleon at least 2 ...
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Are the save-boosting feats really worth it?
I see in some mix/max guides saying that "since your warrior will have a poor Will save, take Iron Will at this level to boost it up a little".
But I feel the Will save will be in the trash ...
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Would absorb elements once per short rest be balanced vs psychic damage vulnerability for a monk?
I plan to make my character an astral self monk and plan to later on take rogue and possibly fighter for the psionic subclasses. For roleplay/backstory purposes I asked the DM if I could have ...
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What is a good second (off) hand option for someone who doesn't use shields? And probably uses most bonus actions?
I am new to D&D, and my DM is letting me play the Mystic, as long as I am not a butt about it. I have chosen the Order of the Immortal subclass, which has unarmored AC calculated like a barbarian, ...
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Rate my build - 5e New to DND need advice [closed]
Point Spread:
Attribute /Ability Score/ Racial Bonus/ Total Score/ Ability Modifier/
Strength /8/ /0/ /8/ /-1/
Dexterity /15/ /2/ /17/ /+3/
Constitution /15/ /0/ /15/ /+2/
Intelligence /10/ /0/ /10/ /...
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How much damage can a character deal in a single round using a ranged weapon?
Rules and restrictions:
Spells are allowed, as long as it doesn't deal damage on their own (e.g shooting one arrow and using your bonus action to deal damage with a Blade of Disaster);
Damage can't ...
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How can I optimize my net/dart wielder?
I'm optimizing a character that uses nets to immobilize and darts to deal damage.
The character will be holding a shield, so bonus action offhand throwing is not really a consideration.
What is the ...
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How to break the sound barrier without a heavily restricted character?
I've seen a number of TikTok and YouTube videos recently about breaking the sound barrier in D&D. The builds proposed by these videos are very restrictive, so I was wondering if this feat could be ...
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Does the buckler make other shield options irrelevant?
Years ago in our group we came to the conclusion that the buckler is a shield that leads itself to help player optimization as it allows most character to have shield empowered with magical armour ...
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What is the lowest possible level that a PC get an AC of 39 without any magic items and with help from only one ally?
What is the lowest level AC a Player Character can have an AC of 39 (so a Tarrasque can't hit them without a critical hit) with help from at most one same-level ally?
No magic items may be used that ...
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15th-level gestalt stealth master build help
I am trying to make a character for a combat heavy, largely PvP game, with 15th-level gestalt characters. The concept that I have in mind is some sort of Jack-of-All-Trades-y Wizard/Rogue class, with ...
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How to optimize existing PC for max level damage output
I have a multiclass character that I'm interested in optimizing for endgame (level 20) damage output. The character in question is basically an archer-type built around crit-fishing and dumping ...
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Pathfinder 2e help with a kobold draconic instinct barbarian build [closed]
Hello all I'm new to Pathfinder 2e and wanted to make a melee kobold barbarian with Dragon Instinct for the Crown of the Kobold King adventure. I'm not sure if its viable? We are using point by in the ...
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How does Anarchomancer handle a high Leadership score?
In Dragon Magazine #315, a prestige class called
Anarchomancer
was introduced.. It comes with a class feature called "Ritual of the Dark Infiltrator", which is described thusly:
Ritual of ...
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Optimizing fatal/demolition setups during long Time Stop with strict RAW rules against targeting creatures
I'm in a 9th level high-powered gestalt game in a Tippyverse setting with a fairly permissive DM that allows for highly optimized shenanigans. Game rules are PF as a base with 3.5 content to ...
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Can a Beguiler benefit from Greyhawk Method?
Beguiler
The Beguiler class is a fixed-list spontaneous arcane caster; a Beguiler PC gets access to spells from the Beguiler list as it levels up and can cast them spontaneously.
A beguiler casts ...
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What is the lowest-level character that can unfailingly beat the Beginner Box starting encounter?
This is the PF2e version of my similar question on D&D 5e's Starter Set.
For a lot of players, the Pathfinder Beginner Box was their first 2e adventure. The first encounter from the included ...
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What is the greatest number of flowers I can create within a week?
After I had some issues following the and perhaps driven by visits of my mother-in-law (and again), this year she decided to pay me a visit on valentines day, which means I have a whole week (7 days) ...
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Is it a viable tactic to use a flurry of blows monk to mass grapple a single target?
Can anyone help illustrate or explain the statistical advantages or disadvantages in using flurry of blows to make multiple grapple attempts against a target in the hopes of overwhelming them and &...
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What kind of disadvantages can I expect while building a supporting Player Character with low Dexterity?
I am building a Duegar Alchemist with a Folk Hero background who's inspired by the support/utility role builds I have been hearing and reading about. In other words, a character who focuses more on ...
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Adding more spells to champion of Gwynharwyf spell list
I have an interest in the champion of Gwynharwyf’s ability to cast its spells while raging.
Furious Casting (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a champion of Gwynharwyf can cast her champion spells even ...
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"Free" Metamagic for necromantic incantatrixes?
Weird, weird combination with many splat-books and Dragon magazine, with a heavy focus on Libris Mortis.
Preface
Fell Frighten (Libris Mortis, p27) feat:
You can alter a spell that deals damage to ...
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What is the highest single-target damage possible in a nova round by a solo character at level 7?
Assuming the following;
No magic items
No pre-combat preparation outside of very-long duration buffs
No aid by party members
The character starts within movement range of the target
The target has 16 ...
- 29.7k
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Optimizing challenge: Oozemorph - Making the most of Fluidic Body and only 1 level of Shifter
I'm playing an unconventional Oozemorph, specifically the rules are:
No house rules.
A maximum of 1 level of Oozemorph Shifter.
1st party Paizo Pathfinder releases, no 3rd party.
The Oozemorph ...
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How quickly can a Plant Companion of a Druid manifest new abilities through Natural Selection?
The Natural Selection of the Plant Companion ACF reads, in part:
Each new ability has a delay in levels between when you select it and when your plant companion gains it. You may select a new ability ...
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Is this armor the best my character can get?
I have an epic character in a game where epic armors and shields can go up to a +20 effective bonus and up to a +10 enhancement bonus at most, with enough money to buy a +20 armor and eventually a +20 ...
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Which spells should my level 3 divination wizard focused on crowd control and/or disabling take to achieve those goals?
I'm starting a new campaign with a level 3 divination wizard. My race is custom lineage with fey touched feat and I selected gift of alacrity as the free first level spell to cast (together with misty ...
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Could both sides of a multi-caster gestalt use Cleric Spell Access from the Rainbow Servant PrC?
The capstone ability of the Rainbow Servant prestige class states:
Cleric Spell Access: A 10th-level rainbow servant can learn and cast spells from the cleric list, even if they don't appear on the ...
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What is the highest level 1 persuasion bonus you can have?
I'm going to start playing a one shot where the DM told us to make the most annoying level 1 characters we could, so I thought that you guys could help me out with finding the highest possible level 1 ...
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What are the best "Gatekeeping" feats to take for use with the Chameleons Floating Bonus Feat?
Context:
So my old group finished our last short campaign and I'm in the process of doing character planning - this time I'm leaning towards a Chameleon. Either a Human Chameleon or a Changeling ...
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