Pun-Pun
Encyclopedia : P : PU : PUN : Pun-Pun
Pun-Pun is a fictional character build in the fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, using the supplemental resource book Serpent Kingdoms. The character was purportedly invented solely as a demonstration of "character optimization" – that is, using the rule system in Dungeons and Dragons to create an extremely powerful character.
Character Build
The key to Pun-Pun's power lies in the abilities of the sarrukh, a progenitor race of serpents (Scaled Ones). The sarrukh have access to the powerful ability Manipulate Form which allows them to, at will, change the physical features and powers of other Scaled Ones. A Scaled One is defined, for the purposes of Serpent Kingdoms and the Manipulate Form ability, as being any creature which can be categorised as "scalykind", "lizards", "serpent constructs", "serpents" or "serpentfolk".
While powerful in the hands of the sarrukh, the Manipulate Form ability has far more potential than can be safely assumed was ever intended. It describes having the power to bestow upon a Scaled One virtually any sort of ability in existence. A literal interpretation of this grants the sarrukh the power to grant other Scaled Ones Manipulate Form, as well as the powers granted by every single class, prestige class and feat in every single core and supplemental Dungeons and Dragons game – as well as the powers of the gods themselves, as outlined in the supplemental book Deities and Demigods.
By playing a character which falls under the character of a Scaled One – in the original build, this was a kobold – it is possible for a character to use a shapechanging effect, combined with some sort of ability which allows them to adopt supernatural powers of the new form, to become a sarrukh and thus gain access to Manipulate Form. Given how even under the example uses of Manipulate Form in Serpent Kingdoms the ability is in a completely different league to expected player character strength, this is almost certainly an unintended use of the D&D rules.
The exact steps to creating what is colloquially referred to as "a Pun-Pun" can be found on the official Dungeons and Dragons discussion forums, namely the [Character Optimization Boards]. Note that access to supplemental books as well as the core Dungeons and Dragons books are required for this character build.
The result of this build is a character with virtually limitless potential power – limited only, in truth, by preparation time in-game. To date, the Pun-Pun build can have any desired score in any of the ability scores (Including infinity itself), may adopt any ability (which, through the use of three supplemental books for verification has been taken to include divine powers), and may become a deity himself. The only area in which Pun-Pun is incapable of acquiring a potentially limitless score is in his size. Pun-Pun is not at all bothered by this limit, however, and recently acquired the ability to increase his own reach to an infinite amount, even crossing the threshold into reaching into other planes. It seems that even running away is pointless against him.
The purpose of Pun-Pun
It should be noted that Pun-Pun is not intended for play in any reasonable campaign or adventure. The concept of creating a character in Dungeons and Dragons solely for the purpose of becoming powerful is not generally the goal of D&D, role-playing is, although certainly one could still tell a compelling story about such a character. The designer of the Pun-Pun build (known as Khan the Destroyer on the Character Optimization forums) has repeatedly explained that the build is never to be used, and rather that it expresses that Wizards of the Coast should take more care editting their material before publishing it.
To date, Pun-Pun represents the ultimate goal of the Character Optimization forums on the official D&D forums. There have been attempts to surpass this character build, but more often than not they focus on reversing time to the stage that Pun-Pun has not yet become powerful.
Reference
[Pun-pun full details thread]
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.