[Ithamar]

The Arena of Ascension is a gestalt PvP game that has been running for nearly a year and a half. During that time we have had lots of great players come and go. And while the Arena is still as active as ever, there is definitely room for a few more brave souls willing to waste a lot of time and brain power trying to come up with creative ways to decimate their foes. There is no role playing required, though the one prerequisite is that you be a good natured sort of individual that won't storm out in a tantrum when your gladiator gets vaporized on the first round.

There is a rather extensive set of rules that govern not only character creation, but also the inner workings of the Arena. If you're interested, I would highly recommend giving the rules thread a thorough once over.

Character Creation:
All new gladiators start as level 10 Gestalt. You can choose to either create a Monstrous Gladiator (with HD and LA), or Non-Monstrous. One way or the other you compete in the same arena, but the Non-Monstrous fighters have a slightly different rules set for character creation to help them keep up with their bigger, tougher counterparts. But because I know how hard it can be to click a link and actually find the rules...

Character Creation

Rules for All Gladiators

• All gladiators will be Gestalt Characters.
• Max HP at every level.
• No gladiator can have more than three base classes, and no more than two prestige classes total. "Racial Classes" do not count towards this limit.
• As per normal Gestalt rules, only one prestige class may be taken at a time.
• Saves and BAB will not be calculated fractionally. Take the best progression of both at each level of the gestalt build.
• Exact progression choices must be listed in the notes section of each character sheet, like this:
  
  Stats:
  STR - 16 +2 Half-Giant +6 Lycan +2 Levels 4 & 8 +4 Morphic Body = 30
  DEX - 14 -2 Half-Giant +8 Lycan = 20
  CON - 16 +2 Half-Giant +4 Lycan +4 Morphic Body = 26
  INT - 14
  WIS - 14 +2 Lycan = 16
  CHA - 8
  
  Level 1 - Half-Giant LA1 // Fighter 1 - +1 BAB, +2 Fort, 1d10+CON HP
  Feat: Power Attack
  Fighter Feat: Improved Bull Rush
  Skills (16):
  Concentration - 2
  Jump - 4
  Listen - 2
  Spot - 2
  
  Level 2 - Fleshraker 1 HD // Monk 1 - +1 BAB, +2 Fort, Ref & Will, 1d8+CON HP
  Unarmed Strike, Flurry of Blows, AC Bonus
  Monk Feat: Improved Grapple
  Skills (6):
  Jump - 1
  Tumble - 5
  
  Level 3 - Fleshraker 2 HD // Fighter 2 - +1 BAB, +1 Fort & Ref, 1d10+CON HP
  Feat: Great Fortitude
  Fighter Feat: Dungeon Crasher
  Skills (4):
  Extreme Leap - 2
  Jump - 1
  Knowledge (Arcana) - 1
  
  Level 4 - Fleshraker 3 HD // Monk 2 - +1 BAB, +1 Fort, Ref & Will, 1d8+CON HP
  +1 STR
  Monk Feat: Combat Reflexes
  Monk Ability: Spell Reflection
  Skills (6):
  Jump - 1
  Tumble - 5
  
  Level 5 - Fleshraker 4 HD // War Shaper 1 - +1 BAB, +2 Fort, +1 Ref 1d8+CON HP
  Morphic Immunities
  Morphic Weapons
  Skills (4):
  Balance - 2
  Concentration - 1
  Jump - 1
  
  Level 6 - Lycan LA // War Shaper 2 - +1 BAB, +1 Fort, 1d8+CON HP
  Morphic Body
  Feat: Multiattack
  Skills (4):
  Balance - 3
  Jump - 1
  
  Level 7 - Lycan LA // Fighter 3 - +1 BAB, +1 Ref & Will, 1d10+CON HP
  Skills (4):
  Jump - 1
  Listen - 0.5
  Twisted Charge - 2
  
  8 - Lycan LA // Fighter 4 - +1 BAB, +1 Fort, 1d10+CON HP
  Fighter Feat: Knockback
  +1 STR
  Skills (4):
  Jump - 1
  Listen - 0.5
  Spot - 1
• Each gladiator must choose to walk one of three paths: Ironman, Standard, Sissy Boy. Once chosen, your path can never be changed.
  
  1) Ironman – You fight 4 fights in a single day, each one is 4 hours apart
  2) Standard – You fight 2 fights in a single day, each one is 12 hours apart
  3) Sissy Boy – You fight 1 fight every 24 hours
  
  Even though different paths might be chosen, all gladiators will be placed in the same pool of fights. For example, an Ironman on his third fight of the day might be up against a Standard fighter on his first fight of the day

Monstrous Gladiators

• A 'Monstrous Gladiator' is any base race with a level adjustment. Racial hit dice alone shall not be enough to qualify as 'monstrous'.
• ECL 10 ~ 38 Point Buy ~ 50,000 GP
• Level Adjustments and Racial HD can, and must, be taken on a single "side" of the gestalt.
• When constructing the Gestalt, Racial HD are applied first, and then "empty" LA levels are added.
• For "pure" LA builds, all abilities, feats, etc. are gained at the very last level of that specific creature / template's LA.
  
  Vampire (+8 LA) // Sorcerer 8 - The character gains 8 levels of normal sorcerer casting, and at level 8 also gain ALL of the benefits of the Vampire template (such as the bonus feats). Thus the bonus feat of Dodge could not be used to qualify for Mobility until the character hits level 9.
  
  
  The only exception to this is pure LA races with no racial HD, such as the Half-Ogre, Half-Giant, Goliath, Pixie, etc. LA for only the race is applied first, then other templates are applied. For example, if constructing a Half-Dragon Goliath, the +1 LA from the Goliath (and all racial traits, attributes, etc.) are gained at level 1, Half-Dragon LA (and associated traits, attritbutes, etc.) are gained in levels 2 through 4.
• Acquired Templates do not need to be taken at character creation and may be utilized throughout a gladiator's career. However, if a template is greater than +1 LA, the full benefits of the template are only gained when the entire LA is completed.
• All monstrous HD, templates, LA, etc. must be able to be completed in 20 levels (or less). Once you start a race and/or template, you must complete it before taking any other levels in another class, race or template.
• Monstrous gladiators have access to the Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide and Monster Manual I. At the time of character creation you can choose up to four more sources from the following list. Once selected, you may never change your sources.

Non-Monstrous Gladiators

• A 'Non-Monstrous Gladiator' is any base race without any level adjustment.
• ECL 10 ~ 42 Point Buy ~ 50,000 GP
• Non-Monstrous gladiators only have the option of using Point Buy to purchase stats above 18. A 19 costs 20 points, and a 20 costs 24 points.
• Non-Monstrous gladiators have access to the Players Handbook, Players Handbook II, Dungeon Masters Guide, Dungeon Masters Guide II, and Monster Manual I. At the time of character creation you can choose up to six more sources from the following list. Once selected, you may never change your sources.

Character Creation Options

• By willingly giving up one source, you may have one additional base class.
• By willingly giving up one source, you may have one additional one additional prestige class.
• By limiting your number of base classes to two, you may choose one additional source.
• By limiting your number of prestige classes to one, you may choose one additional source.
• You may 'purchase' one additional base class by taking a 10% penalty on

  This includes starting wealth, awards for individual fights, and GP gained at each level.

  all GP values.

  This option cannot be combined with Vow of Poverty.

  Note 1

  You cannot purchase an extra class, then trade it in for an extra source as a means of avoiding the 20% penalty for purchasing extra sources.

  Note 2
• You may 'purchase' one additional source by taking a 20% penalty

  This includes starting wealth, awards for individual fights, and GP gained at each level.

  all GP values.

  This option cannot be combined with Vow of Poverty.

  Note

Each of these options may only be selected once.

These options obviously create an additional degree of bookkeeping for the DM, but we will be relying largely on the honor system. However, if you are found to be abusing these options, you will be kindly escorted from the arena.

Feel free to nose about the forum, pop into the Green Room and say high, or generally ask any questions you might have.

To those brave enough to try their hand at the Arena: Welcome!