Limb Manifesto (3.5e Guide)/Shiva

Introduction

You are wrong, Quantity over Quality! As the name suggests, the shiva build is all about being a many-limbed creature. Players that want to acquire more than six arms, are not troubled as much by how to get more arms, but more so, how to balance weapons with arms, and what feats exploit extra arms the best. The below build is one of many potential way to do so. Gaining eighteen arms, all with equally powerful weapons, and an average damage per round of 2,803.5!

References

This build uses this very short list of homebrew (with balance points in parentheses):

1. Lesser Thri-Kreen (3.5e Race)
2. Sivatar (3.5e Prestige Class)(VH)
3. Extra Rage, Variant (3.5e Feat)(M)
4. Practiced Attacker (3.5e Feat)(H)
5. Product of Infernal Dalliance (3.5e Feat)(VH)
6. Weapon Focus Eiji Variant (3.5e Feat)(H)
7. Extra Arms (3.5e Feat)(VH)

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): Str18, Dex14, Con12, Int8, Wis14, Cha8 (32 point buy)

Lesser Thri-Kreen:

• +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, -2 Intelligence, -4 Charisma:
• Ek-Zoh Subspecies: Gain an additional +1 bonus to natural armor.

Traits:

• Hardy: +1 bonus on Fortitude saves; but, -1 penalty on Reflex saves.

Flaws:

• Shaky: You take a −2 penalty on all ranged attack rolls.
• Weak Will: You take a −3 penalty on Will saves.

ECL	Class	Ability Scores						BAB	AC/Flat/Touch	Saving Throws			Feats	Gold and Gear
		Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha			Fort	Ref	Will		Pre	Transaction	Post
1st	Boar-Barbarian 1	21	16	12	6	14	4	+1	15/12/13	+4	+2	-1	Diehard1, Practiced Attacker, Product of Infernal Dalliance, Variant Extra Rage	140	two Scimitars(-30)	110
2nd	Fighter 1	21	16	12	6	14	4	+2	15/12/13	+6	+2	-1	Two-Weapon Fighting1	2030		2030
3rd	Fighter 2	21	16	12	6	14	4	+3	15/12/13	+7	+2	-1	Combat Reflexes, Two-Weapon Defense1	4590		4590
4th	Fighter 3	22	16	12	6	14	4	+4	15/12/13	+7	+3	+0		7790		7790
5th	Fighter 4	22	16	12	6	14	4	+5	15/12/13	+7	+3	+0	Psionic Weapon	12,270	one +2Scimitar(-8315)	3955
6th	Cleric 1	22	16	12	6	14	4	+6/+1	15/12/13	+9	+3	+2	Greater Psionic Weapon, Variant Weapon Focus1	10,355	one +2Scimitar(-8315)	2040
7th	Sivatar 1	22	16	12	6	14	4	+7/+2	15/12/13	+11	+5	+2	Multiweapon Fighting1	11,640	one +2Scimitar(-8315)	3325
8th	Sivatar 2	25	16	12	6	14	4	+8/+3	15/12/13	+12	+6	+2		16,125	Gauntlets of Ogre Power(-4000), one +2Scimitar(-8315)	3810
9th	Sivatar 3	25	16	12	6	14	4	+9/+4	15/12/13	+12	+6	+3	Improved Multiweapon Fighting	19,810		19,810
10th	Sivatar 4	31	16	12	6	14	4	+10/+5	15/12/13	+13	+7	+3		42,210	Belt of Giant Strength+6(-36,000)	6210
11th	Sivatar 5	31	16	12	6	14	4	+11/+6/+1	15/12/13	+13	+7	+3		38,210	one +4Scimitar(-32,315)	5895
12th	Sivatar 6	34	16	12	6	14	4	+12/+7/+2	15/12/13	+14	+8	+4	Extra Arms	53,895	Ioun Stone, pale blue(-8000), one +4Scimitar(-32,315)	13,580
13th	Sivatar 7	34	16	12	6	14	4	+13/+8/+3	15/12/13	+14	+8	+4		77,580	one +6Scimitar(-72,315)	5265
14th	Sivatar 8	34	16	12	6	16	4	+14/+9/+4	15/12/13	+15	+9	+5	Greater Multiweapon Fighting1	85,265	Ioun Stone, incandescent blue(-8000), one +6Scimitar(-72,315)	4950
15th	Sivatar 9	34	16	16	6	16	4	+15/+10/+5	15/12/13	+17	+9	+6	Extra Arms	116,950	Amulet of Health+4(-16,000), one +6Scimitar(-72,315)	28,635
16th	Sivatar 10	39	16	16	6	16	4	+16/+11/+6/+1	15/12/13	+18	+10	+6		188,635	Manual of Gainful Exercise+4(-110,000), one +6Scimitar(-72,315)	6320
17th	Nataraja 1	39	16	18	6	20	4	+16/+11/+6/+1	20/12/18	+19	+12	+10		246,320	Periapt of Wisdom+4(-16,000), Ioun Stone, pink(-8000), three +6Scimitars(-216,945)	5375
18th	Nataraja 2	39	20	18	6	20	4	+17/+12/+7/+2	22/12/20	+19	+15	+11	Extra Arms	325,375	sell: two Scimitars(+15); buy: Gloves of Dexterity+4(-16,000), four +6Scimitars(-289,260)	20,130
19th	Nataraja 3	39	20	22	6	20	4	+18/+13/+8/+3	22/12/20	+22	+15	+11		420,130	sell: four +2Scimitars(+16,630); buy: Manual of Bodily Health+4(-110,000), four +6Scimitars(-433,890)	35,185
20th	Nataraja 4	40	24	22	6	20	4	+19/+14/+9/+4	24/12/22	+22	+18	+12		595,185	sell: two +4Scimitars(+32,315); buy: Manual of Quickness in Action(-110,000), three +6Scimitars(-72,315)	412,870
Bonus feat from class

Class Features of Note

Cleric

Select the Trickery and War cleric domains

Highlights

Stats

Skills

Skills: +14 Balance (5r+7Dex+2sy) -5 Bluff (1r-6Cha) +16 Climb (1r+15Str) +0 Disguise (4r-6Cha+2kit) +8 Hide (1r+7Dex) -3 Intimidate (1r-6Cha+2sy) +18 Jump (1r+15Str+2sy) +1 Knowledge(religion) (5r-4Int) +15 Perform(dance) (8r+7Dex) +16 Swim +16(1r+15Str) +15 Tumble (8r+7Dex)

Ability Scores: Str40, Dex24, Con22, Int6, Wis20, Cha4

• Str and Con are raised by 4 when in a rage

HP: 15d8+4d10+1d12+40(136)

• +40 temp HP when raging
• fast healing 14 (Lasya Dance)

AC: 10Base+7Dex+5Wis(see nataraja)+2natural+18(multiweapon defense) = 42

• -2 to AC when raging
• +2 to AC when in trance

BAB: +19/+14/+9/+4

Saves: fort+23, ref+18, will+12

• +2 to Will saves when raging

Rage 12/day

Speed: 30’

Limbs

Arms (4natural+4class A+6feat+2spell+2class B), 18 total:

• Attack: 19BAB+6(weapon)+15(Str)+2(rage)+2(weapon focus)+1(synchronicity)-2(multi attack)= +43/+38/+33/+28
• Damage: 1d6(base)+6(weapon)+15(Str)+2(rage)+4(weapon focus)+4d6(greater psionic weapon)= 44.5 Slashing
  • all arms wield +6Scimitars (homogeny exists to reduce the amount of math after every minor change, you are encouraged to buy more variety).

DPR, against AC 40: 2,803.5

• Arms 1 through 18 Deal: ca. 155.75 per round (each)
  • Math: 1st(5d6+27)=44.5x.80=35.6, 1stcrit(44.5x2)=89x.15=13.35; 2nd(5d6+27)=44.5x.75=33.375, 2ndcrit(44.5x2)=89x.15=13.35; 3rd(5d6+27)=44.5x.50=22.25, 3rdcrit(44.5x2)=89x.15=13.35; 4th(5d6+27)=44.5x.25=11.125, 4thcrit(44.5x2)=89x.15=13.35

Limb Break Down by Level

Level	Arms	Arm notes	Weapons	Weapons Available
1st	2	Has two additional very weak arms (cannot attack).	2	two Scimitars
2nd	2		2	two Scimitars
3rd	4	Two arms weak (can use weapons one size smaller).	2	two Scimitars
4th	4		2	two Scimitars
5th	4		3	two Scimitars, one +2Scimitar
6th	4	All arms are at full strength.	4	two Scimitars, two +2Scimitars
7th	5		5	two Scimitars, three +2Scimitars
8th	5		6	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars
9th	5		6	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars
10th	6		6	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars
11th	6		7	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars, one +4Scimitar
12th	8		8	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars, two +4Scimitars
13th	9		9	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars, two +4Scimitars, one +6Scimitar
14th	9		10	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars, two +4Scimitars, two +6Scimitars
15th	11		11	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars, two +4Scimitars, three +6Scimitars
16th	12	The cleric spell dopple arms gives two temporary arms.	12	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars, two +4Scimitars, four +6Scimitars
17th	13		15	two Scimitars, four +2Scimitars, two +4Scimitars, seven +6Scimitars
18th	15		17	four +2Scimitars, two +4Scimitars, eleven +6Scimitars
19th	15		17	two +4Scimitars, fifteen +6Scimitars
20th	16		18	eighteen +6Scimitars

Disguise

Skills:

• Bluff -5
• Disguise +0
• Hide +8

Spells:

• Disguise Self(1st): +10 to disguise
• Obscuring Mist(1st): Fog surrounds you.
• Darkness(2nd): 20-ft. radius of supernatural shadow.
• Invisibility(2nd): Become invisible 1 min./level or until you attack.

Side Notes

Limitations

Unless in a completely unnatural environment, this build will receive more than the occasional stare. Disguises and invisibility can help keep off the mobs, but of course, impend the builds ability to deal damage. The party will more than likely see the builds true form after the first battle. This does not mean they will know it is your true form (you can always fool them into thinking it is a monstrous wildshape, cursed form, etc.); but it may be to your advantage to inform at least one of your party members of your “ailment” – letting them know that you need their help making a disguise in public areas.

Anything with more than 2750HP, will have to patiently wait another round. This amounts to about 10 level 20 characters, with high hit points or AC.

Variants

The harmless form feat helps one become more sociable without depending on outside support.

The berserker class is much better than the traditional barbarian.