1 on 1 Combat [Archive] - Wizards Community

1 on 1 Combat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
VanRiper
05-18-05, 02:04 PM I'm in a one on one gladiator PBEM game. The rules are that you have to start at level 1 (ECL 1) and only non-casters/manifesters can apply. Currently, no supernatural or spell-like abilities as well. 200 gold to start.

Obviously, my initial choices are quite limited, but I was wondering what the CO board has to say about optimizing someone who could take out any non-caster in single combat. It seems that most people are either going for grappling monk builds or half-orc raging greatsword wielding barbarian builds so far. Any ideas?
lostone
05-18-05, 02:17 PM Are you limited to any specific books?

Warforged are a cool race for melee builds, although at level 1 that extra feat a human gets may be pretty important.

Personally I'd say barbarian or vow of poverty monk (have to be human to do this at first level).

Depending on the size of the arena and beginning locations for the fight, an archer build would do very well, you could probably drop many opponents before they get within tripping/grappling range. :D
lonewolf
05-18-05, 02:31 PM Orc Babarian1/Fighter4 for a start

Fight witha a glaive and take feats in this order:
lvl1: Dodge
lvl2: Combat Expertise
lvl3: Karmic Strike, Combat Reflexes
lvl5: Mobility
lvl6: Spring Attack

Important Item: Tower Shield
Use it against all ranged attackers for full cover until you get close enough to sunder the bow.
VanRiper
05-18-05, 02:48 PM Currently, books are pretty wide-open. Where is warforged from again? For size - think Rome's colliseum (sp) and the standard rules are that you start 5 feet apart. However, you can put in the challenge a different distance - the challengee may reject or accept the adapted request, whereas they have to accept a normal challenge or go down the ladder.
cvazi
05-18-05, 03:16 PM halfling (though if you can swing it, take goblin) druid with a wolf companion. Feat(mounted combat).

Use your mount for cover (ride check DC??), and if your mount *is* hit, use mounted combat to negate the attack. Pack some healing/magic fang, and go to town on the opponent.
MisterH
05-18-05, 03:22 PM My personal opinion lies in a decent idea I had a while ago, it deals a decent amount of damage, and it starts picking up pace early on. This build uses the Elven Thinblade(a 1-handed exotic weapon that you can weapon finesse).

Elf
Swashbuckler 3
Fighter 3
Exotic Weapon Master 1
Champion of Corellon Larethian 3

From there you can go anywhere, but you'll be adding Intelligence, Dexterity and 2x Strength to the damage with your weapon.

Good luck.
VanRiper
05-18-05, 03:40 PM Thanks MisterH - very interesting :)

Cvazi: as posted in the 1st post - no spellcaster types allowed - so no druid unfortunately.
Khazra Reborn
05-18-05, 04:04 PM The problem is, whats effective at all levels...i'd usually say psychiic warrior but thats not avialable.
I was looking at another thread & apparently a warforged (eberron) monk with the adamantine body feat still get's its monk abilities...making for an obscene AC from level 1!! can't be bad..although you may find mithral body more appropriate.
cvazi
05-18-05, 04:34 PM Thanks MisterH - very interesting :)

Cvazi: as posted in the 1st post - no spellcaster types allowed - so no druid unfortunately.

oops, I was too focused on the (free) mount and I forgot those things cast spells. . .

and no supernatural either. . . well I guess Soulknife warforged with all his money spent on alchemical fire and tanglebags is out. . .

How about gobo-fighter, w/ wolf/horse mount

feats mounted combat and skillfocus ride work your way up the mounted archery tree after that
Ashlan
05-18-05, 05:19 PM If you want to go mounted, try Paladin 5/Beastmaster 1/Halfling Outrider 10/Beastmaster 2-5 (there is a paladin variant in CW without spells if you can't have any). As long as you take the Devoted Tracker feat (from CAdv) your mount gets bonuses as a level 15 paladin and 18 Druid at level 20 (this build is commonly called Supermount and there is a thread about it here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=382372) ).

Ash
VanRiper
05-18-05, 08:56 PM The rules and arenas are still evolving - but the current arena rules say no mounts -sorry for not mentioning that earlier :) I'll have to ask about Eberron - the warforged idea sounds good.
lostone
05-19-05, 08:09 AM Currently, books are pretty wide-open. Where is warforged from again? For size - think Rome's colliseum (sp) and the standard rules are that you start 5 feet apart. However, you can put in the challenge a different distance - the challengee may reject or accept the adapted request, whereas they have to accept a normal challenge or go down the ladder.Warforged are in Eberron, however they are also in Monster Manual 3 (at least a Scout version is, lighter version of a warforged).

Well if you start 5ft away the ranged idea is out.

And whoever posted that adamantine body warforged get monk abilities sounds completely wrong. The adamantine body is equivalent of wearing full plate armor as skin, if you're wear full plate armor you lose the monk ac, wisdom to ac, and most other combat abilities except for damage and (maybe) flurry IIRC.

Nevertheless they are still fun at higher level when they deal more damage.

Another good reason to play a warforged is they get a slam attack, so if you are disarmed or your weapon gets sundered you can still pound them for 1d6 lethal damage per round.

Another option to look at if Eberron is allowed is the Shifter race. Shifter barbarian could be pretty effective. I don't recall if their shifting to their more feral form is considered supernatural or extraordinary though :D
VanRiper
05-19-05, 09:46 AM Thanks for the ideas everyone :)

Oh, in case this has sparked any interest for people in playing, here's the web site:

http://www.rpol.net/game.cgi?gi=10070&gn=DnD+3.5:+The+Gladitorium&date=1116437493
lostone
05-19-05, 09:50 AM Darn...I gave up too many good ideas. I don't like the layout of that website so I hadn't explored, all I had seen was the epic level arena (http://www.rpol.net/game.cgi?gi=668). The builds on that one are so out of my league I didn't feel there was a point to competing :).

I may have to in this low level one, let me know what things you decide on so I don't duplicate characters.
solbergb
05-19-05, 10:59 AM At all levels in absence of magic and versus humaniod opponents grappling works awfully well.

It's possible to get nearly unbeatable AC vs normal attacks under those circumstances via combat expertise+heavy armor but not unbeatable touch attacks.

Even if you don't grapple as a rule you will need strong defenses against it. Improved Grapple, full BAB, high strength, rage and close quarters combat being some of the best options.

Some kind of mobile archer build might work ok too, as something different from the barbarians and monks (the monks will need to exit monk pretty soon, since many of their abilities are supernatural)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
VanRiper 05-18-05, 02:04 PM	I'm in a one on one gladiator PBEM game. The rules are that you have to start at level 1 (ECL 1) and only non-casters/manifesters can apply. Currently, no supernatural or spell-like abilities as well. 200 gold to start. Obviously, my initial choices are quite limited, but I was wondering what the CO board has to say about optimizing someone who could take out any non-caster in single combat. It seems that most people are either going for grappling monk builds or half-orc raging greatsword wielding barbarian builds so far. Any ideas?
lostone 05-18-05, 02:17 PM	Are you limited to any specific books? Warforged are a cool race for melee builds, although at level 1 that extra feat a human gets may be pretty important. Personally I'd say barbarian or vow of poverty monk (have to be human to do this at first level). Depending on the size of the arena and beginning locations for the fight, an archer build would do very well, you could probably drop many opponents before they get within tripping/grappling range. :D
lonewolf 05-18-05, 02:31 PM	Orc Babarian1/Fighter4 for a start Fight witha a glaive and take feats in this order: lvl1: Dodge lvl2: Combat Expertise lvl3: Karmic Strike, Combat Reflexes lvl5: Mobility lvl6: Spring Attack Important Item: Tower Shield Use it against all ranged attackers for full cover until you get close enough to sunder the bow.
VanRiper 05-18-05, 02:48 PM	Currently, books are pretty wide-open. Where is warforged from again? For size - think Rome's colliseum (sp) and the standard rules are that you start 5 feet apart. However, you can put in the challenge a different distance - the challengee may reject or accept the adapted request, whereas they have to accept a normal challenge or go down the ladder.
cvazi 05-18-05, 03:16 PM	halfling (though if you can swing it, take goblin) druid with a wolf companion. Feat(mounted combat). Use your mount for cover (ride check DC??), and if your mount is hit, use mounted combat to negate the attack. Pack some healing/magic fang, and go to town on the opponent.
MisterH 05-18-05, 03:22 PM	My personal opinion lies in a decent idea I had a while ago, it deals a decent amount of damage, and it starts picking up pace early on. This build uses the Elven Thinblade(a 1-handed exotic weapon that you can weapon finesse). Elf Swashbuckler 3 Fighter 3 Exotic Weapon Master 1 Champion of Corellon Larethian 3 From there you can go anywhere, but you'll be adding Intelligence, Dexterity and 2x Strength to the damage with your weapon. Good luck.
VanRiper 05-18-05, 03:40 PM	Thanks MisterH - very interesting :) Cvazi: as posted in the 1st post - no spellcaster types allowed - so no druid unfortunately.
Khazra Reborn 05-18-05, 04:04 PM	The problem is, whats effective at all levels...i'd usually say psychiic warrior but thats not avialable. I was looking at another thread & apparently a warforged (eberron) monk with the adamantine body feat still get's its monk abilities...making for an obscene AC from level 1!! can't be bad..although you may find mithral body more appropriate.
cvazi 05-18-05, 04:34 PM	Thanks MisterH - very interesting :) Cvazi: as posted in the 1st post - no spellcaster types allowed - so no druid unfortunately. oops, I was too focused on the (free) mount and I forgot those things cast spells. . . and no supernatural either. . . well I guess Soulknife warforged with all his money spent on alchemical fire and tanglebags is out. . . How about gobo-fighter, w/ wolf/horse mount feats mounted combat and skillfocus ride work your way up the mounted archery tree after that
Ashlan 05-18-05, 05:19 PM	If you want to go mounted, try Paladin 5/Beastmaster 1/Halfling Outrider 10/Beastmaster 2-5 (there is a paladin variant in CW without spells if you can't have any). As long as you take the Devoted Tracker feat (from CAdv) your mount gets bonuses as a level 15 paladin and 18 Druid at level 20 (this build is commonly called Supermount and there is a thread about it here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=382372) ). Ash
VanRiper 05-18-05, 08:56 PM	The rules and arenas are still evolving - but the current arena rules say no mounts -sorry for not mentioning that earlier :) I'll have to ask about Eberron - the warforged idea sounds good.
lostone 05-19-05, 08:09 AM	Currently, books are pretty wide-open. Where is warforged from again? For size - think Rome's colliseum (sp) and the standard rules are that you start 5 feet apart. However, you can put in the challenge a different distance - the challengee may reject or accept the adapted request, whereas they have to accept a normal challenge or go down the ladder.Warforged are in Eberron, however they are also in Monster Manual 3 (at least a Scout version is, lighter version of a warforged). Well if you start 5ft away the ranged idea is out. And whoever posted that adamantine body warforged get monk abilities sounds completely wrong. The adamantine body is equivalent of wearing full plate armor as skin, if you're wear full plate armor you lose the monk ac, wisdom to ac, and most other combat abilities except for damage and (maybe) flurry IIRC. Nevertheless they are still fun at higher level when they deal more damage. Another good reason to play a warforged is they get a slam attack, so if you are disarmed or your weapon gets sundered you can still pound them for 1d6 lethal damage per round. Another option to look at if Eberron is allowed is the Shifter race. Shifter barbarian could be pretty effective. I don't recall if their shifting to their more feral form is considered supernatural or extraordinary though :D
VanRiper 05-19-05, 09:46 AM	Thanks for the ideas everyone :) Oh, in case this has sparked any interest for people in playing, here's the web site: http://www.rpol.net/game.cgi?gi=10070&gn=DnD+3.5:+The+Gladitorium&date=1116437493
lostone 05-19-05, 09:50 AM	Darn...I gave up too many good ideas. I don't like the layout of that website so I hadn't explored, all I had seen was the epic level arena (http://www.rpol.net/game.cgi?gi=668). The builds on that one are so out of my league I didn't feel there was a point to competing :). I may have to in this low level one, let me know what things you decide on so I don't duplicate characters.
solbergb 05-19-05, 10:59 AM	At all levels in absence of magic and versus humaniod opponents grappling works awfully well. It's possible to get nearly unbeatable AC vs normal attacks under those circumstances via combat expertise+heavy armor but not unbeatable touch attacks. Even if you don't grapple as a rule you will need strong defenses against it. Improved Grapple, full BAB, high strength, rage and close quarters combat being some of the best options. Some kind of mobile archer build might work ok too, as something different from the barbarians and monks (the monks will need to exit monk pretty soon, since many of their abilities are supernatural)