Post/Author/DateTime	Post
neilthrun 03-22-06, 09:49 PM	Hey, I'm going to be playing a one shot in a few weeks( actually a couple different one shots), and wanted to get some opinion on this character. The focus is to be mostly as a damage dealer, moderate tank, and have good stealth and skill capabilities. Also, I want to inclue Ghost Face Killer, be human, and use double sword. I'm not sure on stats yet, so I'm going to be wary of anything that requires 15+ in 5 stats and such. Anyway, heres the build so far. Almost any book is allowed, between our group we've got nearly all WoTC books and some 3rd party. Urban Ranger is from UA, and I'm assuming the DM will allow the rangers TWF to apply to double weapons. Stat priority Str, Int, Con, Wis, Dex, Cha. At least for this build. 1 Urban Ranger1-Improved Iniative, EWP(Double Sword), Urban Tracking 2 Fighter 1-WF(Double Sword) 3 Urban Ranger2-Insightfull Reflexes, TWF 4 Urban Ranger3 Endurance 5 Fighter 2-Power Attack 6 Ghost Face Killer-Improved Toughness 7 GFK 2 8 GFK 3 9-Exotic Weapon Master-Flurry of strikes, Staggering Strike 10 GFK 4 I end up with 4 attacks at (assuming 16 strength) 13/11/11/6 if I counted correctly.
jstorrie 03-22-06, 11:41 PM	Staggering Strike is based on Sneak Attack, not Sudden Strike (which GFK has). If you want Staggering Strike, you'll need to dip Rogue as well. Have you considered going Half-Orc instead, and taking Menacing Brute as well? Menacing Brute's 5th-level intimidation abilities synergizes very well with Ghostface Killer's Frightful Attack, and Menacing Brute also gives Sneak Attack, so you could go URgr3/Ftr2/MB3/EWM1/GFK1 to start, then take the next two levels of MB and finish GFK - or skip on EWM if you are sold on Frightful Cleave. I am not sold on using a double sword with Ghostface Killer, and I think you might be better served with a spiked chain. URgr1/Ftr4/MB3/EWM1/GFK1 would be the build I'd advise in that case, progressing the same as above. The importance of the spiked chain is that you can't simply flank to get your sudden strikes and frightful attacks - you need to deny your enemy's AC, likely by using your ghost step ability, which you don't have many uses of. Accordingly, when you do ghost step you want to catch as many people as possible in one attack, which the additional reach of a spiked chain allows. Dipping Blackguard at some point later in your career for Divine Might and Aura of Despair may also serve you well, and I would plan any 20-level build accordingly, whether you are going with Menacing Brute or not - Divine Might gives you another source of damage to boost your TWF-ing, and Aura of Despair makes it more difficult for foes to save against your Staggering Strikes and Frightful Attacks. You'll get a die of sneak attack out of it as well, so you could conceivably use that sneak attack to qualify for Staggering Strike and delay taking that feat until CL12.
Thanatos42 03-23-06, 12:10 AM	Staggering Strike is based on Sneak Attack, not Sudden Strike (which GFK has). If you want Staggering Strike, you'll need to dip Rogue as well. Actually, there's a blurb on page 8 under the ninja entry that clearly states that sudden strike is the same as sneak attack for the purposes of qualifying for PrC's, feats, etc. As far as the double sword goes, I just wonder why? For flavor reasons? Although there's rules governing using a double weapon when two-weapon fighting, so I don't forsee there being any problems with it. If you stick with the sword, there's some interesting class features of the exotic weapon master that you could make use of.
Blade2718 03-23-06, 01:38 AM	Enchant both sides of your two-bladed sword with wounding. Con damage will make fights go faster.