Epic Character Builds – Chaos Harbinger

Written and Created by: Imna Lias

Chaos HarbingerAfter a century of war that, through attrition, had reduced the once proud kingdoms of Khorsa and Marduk to wasted specters of their former glory, peace was at hand. Regent Torin of Khorsa and Emperor Hessek of Marduk declared an armistice, putting aside their latent enmity, to forge a peace accord that would bring prosperity to the two kingdoms. For many, this was a joyous occasion. However, this would not do for the Chaos Harbinger. He would offer these two kingdoms as grist for the wheel of time. In the beginning there was chaos, and in the end there would be chaos. All the unnatural order that man strove to create must be destroyed. That was his goal; that was the cause to which he had devoted his life. If he could disrupt the peace accords, the two empires would crash against each other and crumble, vanishing forever from the face of Faerun. Read more…

The war between good and evil has been fought for millennia, but another war of ideologies has been waged even longer. The war between order and chaos has been fought since the instant of creation, and like any war, it has its champions. The Chaos Harbinger is a champion of chaos, and ultimately, he knows he is fighting for his own destruction, but for some reason he has judged civilization and structure unworthy of existence and he pursues its destruction above all else.

Chaos Harbinger

Overview
Cleric: 15
Fighter: 8
Rogue: 17

Race: Human
Alignment: Any
Domains: War, Trickery

Starting Stats
Str: 16
Dex: 10
Con: 14
Int: 14
Wis: 14
Cha: 8

Final Stats
Str: 26
Dex: 10
Con: 14
Int: 14
Wis: 18
Cha: 8

Final Skills
Concentration: 42
Craft Trap: 21
Discipline: 42
Hide: 43
Move Silently: 43
Set Trap: 21
Spellcraft: 40
Tumble: 40
Use Magic Devices: 43

Equipment
Full Plate
Greatsword
Trap Kits
Chaos Harbinger Advantages
Chaos Harbinger

Devastating Critical. As a warrior against the forces of order, the Chaos Harbinger has become a master swordsman, capable of killing an opponent with one blow.
Good AC for an armored character. The Harbinger recognizes the need for a good defense.
10D6 Sneak Attack. Assassination is a tool of political change. The Harbinger uses assassination to plot the downfall of governments.
Level 8 Cleric Spells. His devotion to chaos has earned him the favour of the gods of chaos. He can draw upon their power to augment his abilities or smite an opponent with harm or word of faith (really nice with the sneak attack).
High Use Magic Device. Mages often serve as advisors to kings and priests. The Harbinger has learned to duplicate their abilities to implicate them in his schemes.
Can set and craft traps. Warriors of Chaos are an independent lot; they do not work well with others. As such, they must rely on other means to deal with large numbers of opponents.
Improved Evasion. Though his saves are low, he will either take half damage or no damage against damage spells.

Chaos Harbinger Disadvantages

Low saves. With the +8 from Spellcraft and some additional bonuses from cleric spells they’re better, but a save-boosting item should be a priority for the Harbinger.
Low AB. He only has a base AB of 38; the cleric buffs can raise it to 62. In a low magic world that should be plenty, but as magic items start getting more powerful this won’t be enough.

Favoured Spells

Level 0: Light, Resistance
Level 1: Bless, Divine Favour, Protection From Alignment, Sanctuary, Sheild of Faith
Level 2: Bull’s Strength, Darkness, Endurance, Silence
Level 3: Darkfire, Invisibility Purge, Prayer, Magic Vestment, Negative Energy Protection
Level 4: Death Ward, Dismissal, Divine Power, Greater Magic Weapon
Level 5: True Seeing, Battletide, Circle of Doom, Improved Invisibility
Level 6: Harm, Heal, Greater Sanctuary
Level 7: Word of Faith, Aura of Vitality
Level 8: Aura vs. Alignment, Mass Heal

Magic Item Wish-List

Immunity to critical hits item. The Harbinger realizes the need for defense from rogues and warriors with Devastating Critical.
Saving throw boosting item. This will give the Harbinger extra defense against magical attacks.
An item with haste or scrolls of haste.
A powerful greatsword, preferably keen. With greater magic weapon and darkfire, he can turn a normal greatsword into a powerful weapon, but some extra power is always useful.
AC boosting items. He has some AC buffing spells, but magical armor can exceed his abilities.

Key Stats
Final Saves (Vs. Spells)

Fortitude 25 (33)
Reflexes 19 (27)
Will 24 (32)

AB and Damage

With no buffs, regular greatsword:
38/33/28/23 18+2D6 (+10D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 x2)
Devastating Critical DC 38
Darkfire, Greater Magic Weapon, Bull’s Strength. Aura of Vitality, Divine Might, Divine Favor, War Domain Power, Battletide, Normal Greatsword)
62/57/52/47 26+2D6 (+5 Magic) (+6-11 Fire) (+10D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 x2)
Devastating Critical DC 40

26 (Normal full plate, no buffs)
41 (Aura of Vitality, Sheild of Faith, Magical Vestments, Full Plate, Haste (rogue UMD))

Character Advancement History

Following is the path of the Chaos Harbinger during the first forty levels of his life.

Character Level	Class	Skill Increases	Feat Selection	Attribute Increase
1	Rogue	Craft Trap 4, Hide 4, Move Silently 4, Set Trap 4, Tumble 4, Use Magic Devices 4, Save 20	Toughness, Power Attack
2	Cleric	Concentration 5, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 5, Save 14
3	Cleric	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 1, Save 16	Cleave
4	Cleric	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 1, Save 18		Wisdom
5	Fighter	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Discipline 8, Save 13	Weapon Focus (Greatsword)
6	Fighter	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Discipline 1, Save 15	Knockdown, Blind Fight
7	Fighter	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Discipline 1, Save 17
8	Fighter	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Discipline 1, Save 19	Weapon Specialization (Greatsword)	Wisdom
9	Rogue	Craft Trap 1, Hide 6, Move Silently 6, Set Trap 5, Tumble 6, Use Magic Devices 6	Great Cleave
10	Rogue	Craft Trap 1, Hide 2, Move Silently 2, Set Trap 2, Tumble 2, Use Magic Devices 2
11	Rogue	Craft Trap 1, Hide 2, Move Silently 2, Set Trap 2, Tumble 2, Use Magic Devices 2
12	Cleric	Concentration 2, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 2	Improved Critical (Greatsword)	Wisdom
13	Cleric	Concentration 2, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 2
14	Cleric	Concentration 2, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 2
15	Cleric	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 3	Improved Knockdown
16	Cleric	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 3		Wisdom
17	Cleric	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 1, Save 2
18	Cleric	Concentration 1, Craft Trap 1, Spellcraft 1, Save 4	Extend Spell
19	Cleric	Concentration 1, Spellcraft 1, Save 7
20	Cleric	Concentration 1, Spellcraft 1, Save 10		Strength
21	Fighter	Concentration 1, Discipline 13, Save 1	Great Strength I
22	Fighter	Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Save 4	Epic Weapon Focus (Greatsword)
23	Fighter	Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Save 7
24	Cleric	Concentration 1, Spellcraft 4, Save 7	Great Strength II	Strength
25	Cleric	Concentration 1, Spellcraft 1, Save 10
26	Rogue	Hide 4, Move Silently 4, Set Trap 5, Tumble 4, Use Magic Devices 4
27	Rogue	Hide 2, Move Silently 2, Set Trap 3, Tumble 2, Use Magic Devices 2	Great Strength III
28	Rogue	Hide 3, Move Silently 3, Tumble 3, Use Magic Devices 2		Strength
29	Rogue	Hide 3, Move Silently 3, Tumble 3, Use Magic Devices 2
30	Rogue	Hide 3, Move Silently 3, Tumble 3, Use Magic Devices 2	Great Strength IV
31	Rogue	Hide 3, Move Silently 3, Tumble 3, Use Magic Devices 2	Improved Evasion
32	Rogue	Hide 3, Move Silently 3, Tumble 3, Use Magic Devices 2		Strength
33	Rogue	Hide 1, Move Silently 1, Tumble 1, Use Magic Devices 6, Save 2	Epic Prowess
34	Rogue	Hide 1, Move Silently 1, Tumble 1, Use Magic Devices 1, Save 9	Critical Strike
35	Rogue	Hide 1, Move Silently 1, Tumble 1, Use Magic Devices 1, Save 16
36	Rogue	Hide 1, Move Silently 1, Tumble 1, Save 24	Overwhelming Critical (Greatsword)	Strength
37	Rogue	Hide 1, Move Silently 1, Tumble 1, Save 32	Improved Sneak Attack I
38	Cleric	Concentration 13, Spellcraft 12, Save 12
39	Fighter	Concentration 1, Discipline 16	Devastating Critical (Greatsword), Epic Weapon Specialization (Greatsword)
40	Rogue	Hide 3, Move Silently 3, Use Magic Devices 5		Strength