D&D Shenanigans

[tacticslion]

I find this one of the most humorous things in this thread:

Originally Posted by google adds

* Bee Removal - Florida Honey Bees, Yellowjackets, Hornets Entomologists on staff 800-343-5317
AllFloridaBeeRemoval.com
* Bee Exterminator Fast, Safe, Effective serving the local area since 1994
ultimatepest.com
* Live Bee Removal Florida Cheaper, humane, save the bees! Central Florida Ph 352 617 3673
www.ecobeeremoval.

Joe now has three new enemies, and they've advertised themselves to him!

Originally Posted by TDK

This class, in particular, the Lurker in the Swarm, was only slightly overpowered and silly. So I fixed it and detracted some of the silly. You can see it here: http://sansrandom.com/blog/main/2010...the-swarm.html

There's also a link to the original class there.

At the DM's approval, I'm taking levels in it. I can do so next level. >:3

As far as the class goes, I like it! It's a neat, well-developed concept, and it fits character theme excellently.

Two thoughts on balance, however (which you might want to consider either for your campaign, or, if not, for general consumption). First, as written, neither Healing Honey nor Royal Jelly abilities have a limit, or commensurate cost - at all. It's basically getting free healing potions and restoration potions, at will (granted only one each per hour, but still). While it's admittedly a stupid cost, you might want to make either a bit more 'expensive'* (some ideas include an extra-cheap potion, as in a 75% discount on normal potion creation costs; putting a maximum of 1/week per 2 class levels plus 1/week per highest single relevant ability modifier, such as Constitution - probably the best bet for you -, Wisdom, or Charisma; requiring a craft (honey) check to pay for it - this could be used in conjunction with the extra-cheap potion ability above -; or even something as simple as "using up" <insert given summon ability here> for a day), simply to prevent unmanageable money-growth that can come from that stuff. Second, the original class required one spell to gain access to that you do not. Replacing it with another spell or class ability (such as animal companion <giant bee>, or similar) might help balance the ease of getting into the class.

Or perhaps you and the GM like the mad-cap pace, which is cool too!

On that note, however...

Originally Posted by TDK

My stats were STR 9, DEX 9, CON 14, INT 8, WIS 10, CHA 10

How do you cast druid spells other than orisons? Warlocks don't require a high ability score to use their stuff, but druids do (spells, anyway).

One other thing, if you'd like, I had some ideas on how you could become even more bee-like or take steps toward truly being a god of bees: here's several!From the book "Complete Adventurer": the prestige classes "Animal Lord" (adapted so it's now the "Bee Lord"), and "Beast Master" (it gives you extra animal companions! giant bees ahoy!). From the book "Underdark": the prestige class Vermin Keeper (renamed to Bee Keeper, allows you to use your Wildshape from your druid to turn into a Giant Bee or a swarm, and summon more swarms and giant bees). From the book "Epic Level Handbook": the epic spell "Gathering of Maggots" (found under the monster entry "Worm who Walks") could be altered to become a "Gathering of the Hive Mind" and Joe could literally become a hive mind/swarm (a "Swarm who Walks" or something - and he flies, due to his template interacting with his class). Even if you're not interested in becoming a literal swarm with no physical features, you could still use the ELH to learn about, possibly summon and control a) a Devastation Bee [a variant of the Devastation Vermin], b) a Ruin Swarm [you want this], and c) a Vermiurge [effectively a demigod of vermin/swarms - drain his power dry, baby, or make him your own!]. Anyhoo, there's some ideas if you want them. Feel free to completely ignore them if you don't. If you need details, I could PM them at you, should you like.

Originally Posted by Nikose Tyris

Tricked the enemy into hating themselves.

This is a perfectly valid tactic which I wholeheartedly support.

Originally Posted by Nikose Tyris

We have an army of dogs and dog-likes.

I love your game.

Originally Posted by Nikose Tyris

This fight is beginning to get interesting.

Yes!

[Freefall]

The most memorable DnD moment I had was when I played Molly a half-doppelgänger assassin/mage. The party we played where called the ace hearts.

The the team was made of a Half-orc paladin with a sunblade and identity crisis, an Amazon(warrior/priest)/mage with fashion problems(warpaint don't go well with pointy hat and robe). And of course our ranger, with a +2/+4 magical, sentient, indestructible magebane longsword, who could talk(and scream)cast light, strength, and were afraid of the dark(us and it being in a country ruled by mages, it haven't seen much use), and me. The party had a pair of Gauntlets of ogre power str 18/00 that Molly where using in this fight.

So what happened was this:
Our party was travelling was home to the capital after a job of evils butt well kicked, when it had gotten dark, and we were planning on making camp we got ambushed by a Gargan priest(Evil evil) and 10 skeleton warriors(just to avoid confusion, this is ADnD, and skeleton warriors are tough). Still no sweat, this is a pretty hardcore team, and usually, we could haste all and keep the caster locked down with MM, especially priests.
Except first round goes something like this, Amazon casts haste, Rangerbob charges skeletons, along with palle, and I try for MM but rolls very poorly on ini. The priest however rolls good and Gates a Pit fiend buddy his to join the fun.
round 2 goes to the lines of Amazon charging pitboy(remember this is ADnD and devils are pushovers, more or less) me and Rangerbob charges the skeletons, Viggo missing in spite of getting +4, and palle duking it out with evil prist.
round 3-4 is to the lines of Amazon wasting a wall of force forgetting pit fiends can teleport at will, me dealing very little damage on very many attacks with my daggers, and Rangerbob missing a lot and spraining his foot, and Palle doing what he does best.
The next 2-3 rounds it goes Really bad, I drop my dagger a few times, on some 1's, but Rangerbob manages to drop his sword twice, hit me, and in an unprecedented case of bad luck, throws his sword away, of the road, over a cliff and down the dark mountain, the sword screaming all the way. at this point everyone has taken heavy damage, and is chugging PoEH.

We win narrowly some rounds later thanks to our Palle, who finishes of the priest, and the pit fiend not wanting to taste sunblade poofs away.

Our DM told us that he did not intend the encounter to be that hard, and have to this day always calculated with the Ranger Factor.

Of course there where also that time this team pissed of that red dragon with the lame wing, because we freed/stole his involuntary girlfriend/Maid/thief/gold-digger(actually my character was nearly raped by pretending to be her), and gave him dating advice. The battle abruptly ended when a wishing ring was used to dispel his fly and apparently also his bag of holding with his hoard in. it's incredible how reluctant a dragon can be to roast you when it has to burn it's hoard to slags as well.

P.S. The thief and the dragon later married and became PCs

[TDK]

Originally Posted by tacticslion

On that note, however...
How do you cast druid spells other than orisons? Warlocks don't require a high ability score to use their stuff, but druids do (spells, anyway).

I couldn't, at first. I have since raised my wis to 11 so now I can cast first level ones. I also got my hands on a periapt of wisdom so I can cast level three spells next level.

Those classes you recommended should prove interesting. :3