How would you build this fighter? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How would you build this fighter? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Myer Lynk
09-24-03, 02:18 PM I am looking at creating a human fighter and I would like to know how you would build a fighter that specialized in the bastard sword and shield... I would like to know what feats you would take and how you would progress in skills??

I am looking at taking him to 30th level by the end of the campaign.

Thanks all and give me what you got!?
Meldorian
09-24-03, 03:54 PM You will want to visit the Character Optimization board.
Campeador
09-24-03, 04:00 PM This indeed belongs at Character Optimization.

But let me still give you some ideas. Of course you need Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword). If you want to go for slightly defensive, you could take Expertise (one of my favourite feats, actually). Then there's Weapon Focus (Bastard Sword) that's always good. You may want to go the tankway of Power Attack and Cleave as well. It depends which way you want to go with your fighter. Think about that, and then look at feats that fit the image...:):)
Meldorian
09-24-03, 04:34 PM Damn! I was not going to write this here, but what can you do?

Don't go for exotic weapons, at least not the bastard sword. It only does one point of damage more on average than the long sword. That is not worth a feat, IMO at least.
Myer Lynk
09-25-03, 12:55 AM well I thought about that but you can also use it two handed for the extra punch there and I didn't think about expertise so that would rule out a shield for me :o)...............

I was thinking of making this character like a free roaming knight for the story line
jonstryder
09-25-03, 04:15 AM Well personally I'd swap the Bastard Sword for a katana..just a personal preferance. A high strength would be optimal for the character but I would also make his Dexterity secondary followed by Intelligence & Wisdom. I personally like characters who aren't just tanks, but are smarter than they look. So if starting a game at level 5, I would give the character 1-2 levels as a Rogue. Then build up their fighter levels.

I would then give the character a mithril chain shirt, a katana (bastard sword, besides most characters often have a preferance to weapons that the like to use), and a shield guantlet (my own creation, essentially a buckler, but is a re-enforced guantlet allowing it to take direct hits from weapons with out harm to the wielder, the guantlet runs up the length of the persons arm, and hinders their movement as much as having an actual buckler on their arm.)

Feat wise (using a Human, with 2 levels as a Rogue) I'd give the character: Exotic Weapon Prof (Katana), Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Focus (katana). And if the character has 1 level as a rogue, and 4 as a fighter then they would also have: Weapon Specialization (Katana).

After that I'd have the character progress feat wise mostly in combative feats, primarily gaining Expertise, Spring Attack, and Whirlwind Attack. After this I'd have at least 1-2 feats geared toward improving skills, and AC.

When the character gets to epic levels I'd get feats to improve the character's AC first as well as gaining DR. Combative feats would still have a high priority as well as feats for improving Strength.
Trydan
09-25-03, 04:38 AM Either the wrong board (you wanted Character Optimisation) or the wrong question.

Just in case it's the later, think of why the character wanted to use a hand-and-a-half sword (1.5h) in the first place. Well, there could be several reasons.

Firstly, it could be to impress. "I've got a bigger sword!". Or, it could be because it's inherited: "This is my grand-sire's sword, and although I was the runt of the family, I'm still going to use it!". Or perhaps it was a treasure haul... "Hey look! A Giant's short sword... I'm going to use it!".

Either way, there are lots of reasons for going the 1.5h + shield path. Let us know if you'd like some more suggestions for developing the background to this character :)
PhaedrusXY
09-27-03, 07:08 AM Take the two-weapon fighting feats and Improved Shield Bash and use your shield as your off-hand weapon. If you're taking lots of fighter levels, there's nothing wrong with taking EWP: Bastard Sword, since you'll have plenty of feats. The way to get the most milage out of this fighting style is to take a some levels in a class that gives you Turn Undead, then get Power Attack and Divine Might, and boost your Charisma with items. Also, enchant your weapon and shield with all the extra damage abilities you can get. Some levels of Rogue for sneak attack and Barbarian for Rage would be good too.

So maybe Fighter4/Barb2/Rogue3/X, with X being levels in something that gives Turn Undead and good Will saves. Not sure where you'd want to go after that. Depends on what direction you'd want the character to take after that.

Actually, I think EWP: Kopesh would be better than bastard sword, since you can use the Kopesh to make trip attacks. It is in the FRCS book. It has the same stats as a longsword, but you can trip with it because the blade is curved into a hook at the end. You could also use it in two hands if you wanted, just like you can with a longsword. If you go this route, get Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes and Improved Trip into the build. I'd get Improved Disarm too, and would probably advance more fighter levels so you can get all these feats.

It's kind of spread out as far as classes, so alot of people might not like it, but how about:

1 Rog1 TWF, Combat Reflexes
2 Fighter1 Improved Shield Bash
3 Barb1 EWP: Kopesh
4 Cleric?1
5 Rog2
6 Fighter2 Combat Expertise, Power Attack
7 Barb2 Improved Trip
8 Rog3
9 Fighter3 Divine Might
10 Fighter4 Improved Disarm
11 Cleric?2
12 ? Divine Shield

You'd be better off swapping the cleric levels for a PrC that grants Turn Undead and Divine Grace, like Holy Liberator or Soldier of Light. I just put them in there for an example build.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Myer Lynk 09-24-03, 02:18 PM	I am looking at creating a human fighter and I would like to know how you would build a fighter that specialized in the bastard sword and shield... I would like to know what feats you would take and how you would progress in skills?? I am looking at taking him to 30th level by the end of the campaign. Thanks all and give me what you got!?
Meldorian 09-24-03, 03:54 PM	You will want to visit the Character Optimization board.
Campeador 09-24-03, 04:00 PM	This indeed belongs at Character Optimization. But let me still give you some ideas. Of course you need Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword). If you want to go for slightly defensive, you could take Expertise (one of my favourite feats, actually). Then there's Weapon Focus (Bastard Sword) that's always good. You may want to go the tankway of Power Attack and Cleave as well. It depends which way you want to go with your fighter. Think about that, and then look at feats that fit the image...:):)
Meldorian 09-24-03, 04:34 PM	Damn! I was not going to write this here, but what can you do? Don't go for exotic weapons, at least not the bastard sword. It only does one point of damage more on average than the long sword. That is not worth a feat, IMO at least.
Myer Lynk 09-25-03, 12:55 AM	well I thought about that but you can also use it two handed for the extra punch there and I didn't think about expertise so that would rule out a shield for me :o)............... I was thinking of making this character like a free roaming knight for the story line
jonstryder 09-25-03, 04:15 AM	Well personally I'd swap the Bastard Sword for a katana..just a personal preferance. A high strength would be optimal for the character but I would also make his Dexterity secondary followed by Intelligence & Wisdom. I personally like characters who aren't just tanks, but are smarter than they look. So if starting a game at level 5, I would give the character 1-2 levels as a Rogue. Then build up their fighter levels. I would then give the character a mithril chain shirt, a katana (bastard sword, besides most characters often have a preferance to weapons that the like to use), and a shield guantlet (my own creation, essentially a buckler, but is a re-enforced guantlet allowing it to take direct hits from weapons with out harm to the wielder, the guantlet runs up the length of the persons arm, and hinders their movement as much as having an actual buckler on their arm.) Feat wise (using a Human, with 2 levels as a Rogue) I'd give the character: Exotic Weapon Prof (Katana), Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Focus (katana). And if the character has 1 level as a rogue, and 4 as a fighter then they would also have: Weapon Specialization (Katana). After that I'd have the character progress feat wise mostly in combative feats, primarily gaining Expertise, Spring Attack, and Whirlwind Attack. After this I'd have at least 1-2 feats geared toward improving skills, and AC. When the character gets to epic levels I'd get feats to improve the character's AC first as well as gaining DR. Combative feats would still have a high priority as well as feats for improving Strength.
Trydan 09-25-03, 04:38 AM	Either the wrong board (you wanted Character Optimisation) or the wrong question. Just in case it's the later, think of why the character wanted to use a hand-and-a-half sword (1.5h) in the first place. Well, there could be several reasons. Firstly, it could be to impress. "I've got a bigger sword!". Or, it could be because it's inherited: "This is my grand-sire's sword, and although I was the runt of the family, I'm still going to use it!". Or perhaps it was a treasure haul... "Hey look! A Giant's short sword... I'm going to use it!". Either way, there are lots of reasons for going the 1.5h + shield path. Let us know if you'd like some more suggestions for developing the background to this character :)
PhaedrusXY 09-27-03, 07:08 AM	Take the two-weapon fighting feats and Improved Shield Bash and use your shield as your off-hand weapon. If you're taking lots of fighter levels, there's nothing wrong with taking EWP: Bastard Sword, since you'll have plenty of feats. The way to get the most milage out of this fighting style is to take a some levels in a class that gives you Turn Undead, then get Power Attack and Divine Might, and boost your Charisma with items. Also, enchant your weapon and shield with all the extra damage abilities you can get. Some levels of Rogue for sneak attack and Barbarian for Rage would be good too. So maybe Fighter4/Barb2/Rogue3/X, with X being levels in something that gives Turn Undead and good Will saves. Not sure where you'd want to go after that. Depends on what direction you'd want the character to take after that. Actually, I think EWP: Kopesh would be better than bastard sword, since you can use the Kopesh to make trip attacks. It is in the FRCS book. It has the same stats as a longsword, but you can trip with it because the blade is curved into a hook at the end. You could also use it in two hands if you wanted, just like you can with a longsword. If you go this route, get Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes and Improved Trip into the build. I'd get Improved Disarm too, and would probably advance more fighter levels so you can get all these feats. It's kind of spread out as far as classes, so alot of people might not like it, but how about: 1 Rog1 TWF, Combat Reflexes 2 Fighter1 Improved Shield Bash 3 Barb1 EWP: Kopesh 4 Cleric?1 5 Rog2 6 Fighter2 Combat Expertise, Power Attack 7 Barb2 Improved Trip 8 Rog3 9 Fighter3 Divine Might 10 Fighter4 Improved Disarm 11 Cleric?2 12 ? Divine Shield You'd be better off swapping the cleric levels for a PrC that grants Turn Undead and Divine Grace, like Holy Liberator or Soldier of Light. I just put them in there for an example build.