At level 1, the Zerth Cenobite[1] build functions as a Weretiger with a focus on unarmed combat. The character benefits from the following features: Damage Reduction (DR) 10/Silver, Improved Unarmed Strike, Monastic Training, Darkstalker, and Lycanthropy. These features make them a resilient melee combatant with effective stealth capabilities and formidable hand-to-hand skills.
Stat Block Level 1:
Zerth Cenobite[1]: male, Human Weretiger 1; CR 1; Medium Humanoid (Shapechanger[2]); HD 10; hp 50; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +0; Grp +2; Atk Unarmed Strike +2 (1d6+2) or Rifle +0 (1d12); Full Atk Unarmed Strike +2 (1d6+2); SA Improved Unarmed Strike; SQ DR 10/Silver, Lycanthropy; AL LN; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +6; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 10.
At level 5, the build is already well on its way to becoming a formidable force. The character benefits from enhanced physical abilities due to their Weretiger form. Strength, Constitution, and Wisdom are notable highlights, making them tough in combat and adept at utilizing psionic powers. They possess Damage Reduction against non-silver weapons and are proficient in melee and unarmed combat.
Stat Block Level 5:
[Unnamed Warrior]: Male, Human Weretiger 5; CR 5; Medium Humanoid (Shapechanger[2]); HD 5d8+10; hp 32; Init +0; Spd 30 ft. (40 ft. in hybrid form); AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +4; Grp +8; Atk Claw +8 melee (1d8+6) or Bite +8 melee (1d6+6); Full Atk 2 claws +8 melee (1d8+6) and bite +3 melee (1d6+3); SA Lycanthropy, Improved Unarmed Strike; SQ DR 10/silver, Alternate form; AL LN; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +7; Str 20, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Autohypnosis +10, Concentration +10; Monastic Training, Improved Unarmed Strike, Darkstalker. Special Attacks and Qualities: Lycanthropy (Weretiger), Damage Reduction 10/silver.
Possessions: Rifle.
At level 10, this build has optimized melee and ranged combat abilities, benefiting from Psychic Warrior powers and Weretiger’s physical enhancements. Key features include Unarmed Strike at 1d8 damage, Flurry of Blows, and proficiency with firearms for versatile combat options.
Stat Block Level 10:
Zerth Cenobite[1]: female, Human Weretiger 6/Psychic Warrior 4; CR 10; Medium humanoid (shapechanger[2]); HD 6d8+12 plus 4d8+8; hp 74; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +7; Grp +12; Atk +12 melee (1d8+5, unarmed strike) or +7 ranged (rifle); Full Atk +12/+7 melee (1d8+5, unarmed strike) or +7/+2 ranged (rifle); SA psionics, flurry of blows; SQ unarmed strike, lycanthropy, DR 10/silver, AC bonus (Wis); AL LN; SV Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +10; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Autohypnosis +6, Concentration +12; Monastic Training, Improved Unarmed Strike, Darkstalker, Zen Archery, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), Tashalatora. Special Attacks and Qualities: Psionics – various powers up to 4th level, as per Psychic Warrior power list.
Possessions: Rifle.
This character excels as an extremely versatile combatant. At level 15, the hybrid form of a Weretiger boosts their physical abilities to impressive levels. Unarmed strikes and flurry of blows are effective in melee combat, while firearm proficiency ensures lethal ranged attacks. Psionic powers further enhance combat versatility. Stunning Strike and advanced combat feats like Tashalatora and Leap Attack make this build a powerhouse at all ranges of engagement.
Stat Block Level 15:
Zerth Cenobite[1]: female, human hybrid form Weretiger 6/Psychic Warrior 14; CR 15; Medium humanoid (shapechanger[2]); HD 6d8+17d8+40; hp 140; Init +4; Spd 40 ft.; AC 25, touch 19, flat-footed 21; Base Atk +15; Grp +27; Atk Unarmed Strike +26 (1d10+12) or Rifle +18 (1d12+6); Full Atk Unarmed Strike +26/+21/+16 (1d10+12) or Rifle +18/+13/+8 (1d12+6); SA Stunning Strike; SQ Lycanthropy, DR 10/Silver, Darkvision 60 ft., Fast Healing 2, Scent, Psionics (Wisdom-based); AL Chaotic Neutral; SV Fort +14, Ref +10, Will +12; Str 28, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Autohypnosis +20, Concentration +23; Monastic Training, Improved Unarmed Strike, Darkstalker, Zen Archery, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), Tashalatora, Power Attack, Leap Attack, Combat Reflexes, Stunning Strike, Superior Unarmed Strike. Special Attacks and Qualities: Improved Unarmed Strike – 1d10 damage; Flurry of Blows; AC Bonus (Wis); Psionics – (2nd level powers).
Possessions: Rifle, normal adventuring gear.
This build combines the weretiger’s immense physical prowess with the versatility of a Psychic Warrior. It features elevated melee capabilities in both human and tiger forms, robust unarmed combat akin to a monk, formidable ranged attacks with firearms, and powerful psionic abilities for mid-range combat. This hybrid form grants significant combat flexibility, stealth, and rivaling even specialized opponents.
Stat Block Level 20:
Zerth Cenobite[1]: male, Human Weretiger 6/Psychic Warrior 14; CR 20; Medium Humanoid (Shapechanger[2]); HD 6d8+18 plus 14d8+42; hp 157; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 25, touch 17, flat-footed 25; Base Atk +16; Grp +18; Atk Unarmed Strike +18/+13/+8/+3 (2d8+3) or Rifle +18 ranged (varies by ammunition); Full Atk Unarmed Strike +18/+13/+8/+3 (2d8+3) or Rifle +18/+13/+8/+3; SA Psionics, Tiger Form; SQ Damage Reduction 10/Silver, Lycanthropy, AC Bonus (Wis), Flurry of Blows, Improved Unarmed Strike; AL Lawful Neutral; SV Fort +14, Ref +10, Will +16; Str 22, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Autohypnosis +20, Concentration +20; Monastic Training, Improved Unarmed Strike, Darkstalker, Zen Archery, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), Tashalatora, Power Attack, Leap Attack, Combat Reflexes, Stunning Strike, Stand Still, Robilar’s Gambit, Superior Unarmed Strike. Unarmed Strike 2d8, Psionics, Weretiger Hybrid Form, DR 10/Silver, Enhanced physical stats in hybrid/tiger form.
Possessions: A Rifle, assorted ammunition, light armor, various psionic foci.
Milestones Of Character Development
Levels 1-5: The Weretiger’s early levels, gaining Lycanthropy and Darkstalker. By level 5, the character has +1 Wis and Damage Reduction 10/Silver.
Levels 6-10: Transition to Psychic Warrior. Gained Zen Archery, Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), and Tashalatora, adding Unarmed Strike and Flurry of Blows.
Levels 11-15: Enhancing combat capabilities with Power Attack, Leap Attack, and Stunning Strike. Unarmed Strike improves to 1d10, and gains more bonuses to AC.
Levels 16-20: Advanced combat prowess with feats like Stand Still and Robilar’s Gambit. Unarmed Strike reaches 2d8, with improved AC and Wis bonuses.
Core Abilities & Features of the Zerth
Lycanthropy
At level 1, you gain Lycanthropy, which allows you to transform into a weretiger. This brings substantial bonuses to your physical stats. As a hybrid, your Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution get significant boosts, making you a formidable melee combatant.
Damage Reduction (DR 10/Silver)
Your lycanthropy also gives you Damage Reduction (DR 10/Silver), meaning that only silvered weapons or magic can bypass your defenses. This makes you tough to bring down in the heat of battle.
Psionic Powers
Being a Psychic Warrior, you gain access to psionic powers that enhance your combat capabilities. These powers range from physical enhancements to mind-affecting abilities, creating a versatile toolkit for various situations.
Tashalatora
The Tashalatora feat integrates your Psychic Warrior levels with monk abilities. This means you get to use unarmed strikes, Flurry of Blows, and Wisdom-AC bonus, extending your combat efficiency unarmed and unarmored.
Zen Archery
With the Zen Archery feat, your Wisdom bonus applies to your ranged attack rolls with firearms. This synergizes with your naturally high Wisdom to make your ranged attacks deadly accurate.
Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms)
Granting proficiency with firearms early in the build (Exotic Weapon Proficiency) supplements your ranged combat capabilities, ensuring you can handle firearms without incurring penalties.
Superior Unarmed Strike
By level 20, your unarmed strikes deal 2d8 damage, boosted by the Superior Unarmed Strike feat. This guarantees your strikes remain deadly even without weapons.
Feats: Power Attack, Leap Attack, Robilar’s Gambit
The combination of Power Attack, Leap Attack, and Robilar’s Gambit makes you a melee powerhouse. Power Attack adds damage at the cost of accuracy, Leap Attack multiplies this damage when leaping, and Robilar’s Gambit allows counterattacks when opponents hit you.
Stunning Fist
The Stunning Fist feat gives you the option to stun opponents, providing control in combat through incapacitation.
Equipment Progression of a Zerth
Level Range
Equipment
Details
L1-5
Masterwork Rifle
Provides +1 to attack rolls. Essential for early ranged combat efficiency.
Amulet of Natural Armor +1
Grants an additional +1 to AC, very useful for survivability.
Darkwood Composite Longbow (Strength rating +2)
Backup weapon for when firearms are impractical; adds Strength modifier to damage.
L6-10
+1 Adamantine Rifle
Enhances damage, bypasses hardness up to 20; significant attack power boost.
Belt of Giant Strength +2
Increases Strength by +2, crucial for melee and ranged damage.
Cloak of Resistance +2
Improves all saving throws by +2, enhancing overall resilience.
L11-15
+2 Holy Rifle
Deals extra 2d6 damage to evil creatures; critical for dealing with extraplanar threats.
Bracers of Armor +4
Provides an armor bonus of +4, key for improving AC without traditional armor.
Gloves of Dexterity +4
Boosts Dexterity by +4, aiding in both ranged attack rolls and AC via Dexterity modifier.
L16-20
+3 Frost Rifle
Adds 1d6 cold damage on hit; very effective for elemental versatility in combat.
Ring of Protection +3
Grants a deflection bonus of +3 to AC, pivotal for late-game defense.
Belt of Giant Strength +6
Increases Strength by +6, essential for maximizing physical damage output.
Combat Scenarios as a Zerth
Dungeon Crawls:
This build excels in close-quarters combat. As a Weretiger in hybrid form, you utilize your enhanced physical stats for melee dominance. Use your unarmed strikes and psionic powers to clear narrow corridors efficiently.
Open Fields:
Leverage your proficiency in firearms to deal significant damage from a distance. Zen Archery ensures your accuracy. Use your psionic abilities to enhance movement and establish control over the battlefield, steadily picking off enemies before they can close the distance.
Ambushes:
Your stealth from the Weretiger’s abilities allows for surprise attacks. Engage quickly with powerful melee strikes or rapid firearm shots. Use Leap Attack and Combat Reflexes to respond swiftly and effectively to any immediate threats.
Defensive Stands:
Employ Robilar’s Gambit to bait enemies into attacking. Your high AC and damage reduction make you a resilient target. Counter with devastating unarmed strikes or fire your rifle, transforming from defense to aggressive counterattacks seamlessly.
Urban Encounters:
In the tight confines of urban settings, your melee prowess shines. Use Darkstalker to navigate and ambush opponents from shadows. Utilize Stunning Strike to incapacitate foes quickly, ensuring crowd control and swift elimination of threats.
Weaknesses & Counters of the Zerth build
Weakness
Counter
Damage from Silver Weapons: As a Weretiger, silver weapons bypass your damage reduction.
Invest in a Periapt of Proof against Poison to nullify the damage. Alternatively, ensure to carry Adamantine Armor for better protection.
Low Dexterity: Your build has an inherent Dex score of 10, making Reflex saves a potential vulnerability.
Boots of Agile Leaping can help mitigate some of the disadvantages. Utilize the Evasion ability to avoid taking damage on successful Reflex saves, obtainable through psionic powers or items.
Limited Ranged Attack Enhancements: Despite proficiency with firearms, you lack significant investment in ranged combat feats.
Employ items like the Gloves of Endless Javelins and engage psionic powers such as Prescience, Offensive to boost ranged accuracy and damage. Alternatively, invest in the feat Psionic Shot for enhanced ranged capabilities.
Stealth Dependency: As a stealth-reliant build, failing at stealth can lead to exposure.
Maintain a stock of Cloak of Elvenkind and Boots of Elvenkind for regular stealth enhancement. Utilize psionic powers like Chameleon for added security.
High Versatility, Low Specialty: Your build is extremely versatile but may fail to excel in specific fields compared to specialized builds.
Have a range of specific-purpose gear ready. Equip Belt of Battle for extra actions and flexibility in tough situations. Switching to the appropriate psionic powers for given scenarios can also bridge the gap in specialization.
Roleplaying the Zerth
Embrace the Hybrid Duality
Your character is a blend of human and weretiger, representing a constant struggle between their primal instincts and disciplined psychic abilities. Play up this duality. In social situations, reveal glimpses of your animalistic nature—perhaps a growl when cornered or a predatory gaze when assessing threats.
Leverage Psychic Insights
As a Psychic Warrior, you have unique perceptions. Use your psionic abilities to gain insights into other characters and situations. In dialogues, mention how you sensed the truth behind someone’s words or intuited the location of a hidden object. This adds a layer of mystique and depth to your interactions.
The Burden of the Past
Your character likely has a storied past filled with battles, losses, and victories. This can manifest as wisdom in dealing with new threats or a haunted demeanor when old memories resurface. Use your past experiences to inform decisions and guide your party, showing a deep connection to previous events.
Physical Presence
In your hybrid form, you’re an imposing figure. Stand tall and describe your character’s physicality vividly. Talk about your powerful muscles, the way your claws flex, or the predatory grace with which you move. Imagine a scenario where your sheer presence halts a skirmish or intimidates a rival into backing down.
Protector Instincts
Weretigers are natural protectors. Channel this trait into your roleplaying by showing a fierce loyalty to your allies. Describe moments where you physically shield a comrade or instinctively leap between a friend and foe. This protective nature can also inspire your character’s goals and motivations.
Mystical Elements
Given your advanced psionic abilities, imbue your character with an air of mystery. In stressful situations, describe how you draw upon your inner psychic focus, perhaps with a ritualistic gesture or a quiet chant. Highlight the almost otherworldly calm you maintain, drawing strength from your psionic discipline.
Emotional Struggles
The combination of a weretiger’s ferocity and a Psychic Warrior’s discipline can lead to internal conflict. Roleplay moments where these two sides clash—perhaps struggling to maintain control during fierce combat or feeling alienated from regular humans. These struggles can humanize your character and make their journey compelling.
FAQ
What are the primary combat strengths of a Psychic Warrior Zerth?
A Zerth excels in melee combat through their lycanthropy and psionic powers. Their hybrid form boosts Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, making them a powerful fighter. They also have Psionic Powers that enhance physical abilities and control the battlefield. Feats like Power Attack and Leap Attack further amplify their combat prowess.
How does the Tashalatora feat benefit a Zerth?
The Tashalatora feat integrates Psychic Warrior levels with Monk abilities. This grants the Zerth unarmed strikes, Flurry of Blows, and a Wisdom bonus to AC. These abilities allow for high combat efficiency without needing weapons or armor. Additionally, it enhances the versatility of the Zerth in various combat scenarios.
Why should silver weapons be a concern for a Zerth?
As a Weretiger, silver weapons bypass the Zerth’s damage reduction. This makes encounters with enemies wielding silver weapons dangerous. To counter this, consider investing in a Periapt of Proof against Poison or using Adamantine Armor. These items help mitigate the risk posed by silver weapons.
How can a Zerth enhance their ranged combat abilities?
While the Zerth is proficient with firearms, they lack significant ranged combat feats. Items like the Gloves of Endless Javelins can improve ranged accuracy. Additionally, psionic powers like Prescience, Offensive enhance ranged attacks. Investing in Psionic Shot can also boost ranged capabilities.
How do Psionic Powers contribute to a Zerth’s combat effectiveness?
Psionic Powers enhance a Zerth’s physical and mental abilities in combat. They offer a range of capabilities from boosting strength to controlling enemies. Powers like Offensive Prescience can increase attack accuracy. Mind-affecting powers provide additional tools to handle different combat situations.
Try incorporating a Zerth into your next D&D 3.5 game. Do you think the Zerth could be the best build in D&D 3.5? Join the Stellar Dragons Discord server to discuss this and more at https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7.
Writer, Editor, GM, Technologist – Andrew’s been playing TTRPGs since as far back as he can recall… at least sometime in the nineties… or was it the early 2000s?
“I am glad to see you again”. Said a woman clad in thick leathers, furs and feathers, ornament with bone and beads. Her outfit well-suited for traversing the woods and hunting. A sleek rifle slung over her shoulder as she regarded the tall man. His back rested firm against a tree leading to the woods beyond, as he regarded the sisters sternly. He held an simple affair of a rifle, and a cleaning rag.
She turned to her sister, who was dressed in white. “This is the man I told to you about, he can help.”
The sister nodded and intoned, “I heard you know your way around the ruins in that forest.”
The man smirked at her remark, “Yes, I do. Well enough to consider myself able to navigate them without getting overly lost.” He said, as he cleaned his rifle.
He continued, gruffly, “It’s a terrible place, an ancient place. You will need all the help you two can muster, and it just so happens that I owe this young wolf a favor.” He continued, patting the rifle and slinging it over his shoulder and onto his backbefore heading slowly into the forest.
The woman in the leathers smiled at her sister, giving a cheerful smile as she followed the man.
A third woman, appeared as if melding from the very forest, she wore a long, torn black coat with a broken silver sword at her hip and on the other, a mask of a black hound, “Us three you mean?”
The man stopped and realized another smell was coming from behind him. He turned, and saw the woman in the black coat a short distance ahead, as she stared off into the depth of the woods.
“No way…” he trailed off, the gruffness of earlier vacated his voice in his shock.
Race
Human
Class
Weretiger 6/Psychic Warrior 14 (2 LA Buyback)
Ability Scores
Str 14/Dex 10/Con 14/Int 14/Wis 18/Cha 10
Skills
Autohypnosis, Concentration
Equipment
A Rifle.
Goal
As a Weretiger, in hybrid form, your physical stats are raised to insane levels, and in tiger form, you are a deadly melee killing machine. As Tashalatora doesn’t actually require you to have monk levels, you can also fight unarmored with your fists as a monk, and with being proficient with firearms, you can deal severe ranged damage to boot without heavily investing in the combat style. Add to all that already massive combat arsenal psionic powers and you are one of the most versatile combatants out there, extremely capable at all ranges, from melee to sniping to mid distance with your psionic powers, you are stealthy via being a weretiger, and your hybrid form enhances all of those far beyond basic levels, making you rival even specialists in those fields. Not going to lie, probably one of if not the strongest builds in the classes so far without shenanigans, and rivaling some that do use shenanigans.
-“What happened to her after you defeated the beast?” Asked one of the kids, the old man across from them gave a mild chuckle, their curiosity always bringing a smile to him. He scratched his chin slowly, collecting his thoughts as the fire cracked in the fireplace. The whole inn was listening to the half-elf’s story now.
-“Well, as well traveled as I am, there were many things I could teach her, I could teach everything about listening to nature, how to hunt beasts and how to recognize plants and prints. Though, as with all teachers, there were some things I could never teach her. How to be a beast, as she already was, being a werewolf and all. She wanted to learn to better control and use that part of her. So she left too, eventually, in search of the Lady of the Woods.”
There were whispers in the inn when that name came out of the storyteller’s mouth. The traveling woman pulled out a smoke pipe and started cleaning it, and prepared some dried herbs.The half-elf continued unfazed.
-“The Lady is said to be as old as the forest, and its most ancient guardian, capable of taking the form of all the beasts who walk its depths. From the smallest insect to the most majestic dragon, she is one with each of these forms. If someone could teach our young wolf lady how to control her inner beast, it was the Lady.”
Race
Changeling
Class
Wildshaping Ranger 5(Variant)/Master of Many Forms 10/Nature’s Warrior 3/Warshaper 2
You are a ranger capable of Wildshaping like the druid. But you take that ability and crank it to eleven. You have more than ten uses per day, can change your form in the same use of wild shape, and can take nearly any form in the monster manual. This makes you a fantastic swiss army knife of a character, with a form for every situation, and by gaining the Extraordinary abilities of your forms, your toolset only expands even more. Take the form of a fly to spy on a conversation or the form of a friggin’ Dragon to fight virtually any enemy as two examples.
And they say only Tier 1 characters have a backpocket plan for any situation…
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