Post/Author/DateTime	Post
maxfschr1 05-08-04, 07:39 PM	My idea is to take around 12-14 levels in fighter and 6-8 levels in barbarian. I am committed to the idea of the classes and the race. Some of this is for roleplaying and some for personal preference purposes, but im trying to figure out how to make the best of this character. Like feat trees? equipment? splatbook feats? stuff like that. Here's his stuff, rough sketch since the first session is wednesday: Str - 18 Dex - 15 Con - 17 Cha, Int, & Wis - Being handled separately for a purpose. They are, in reality, all 8s and 10s, but they are being adjusted. Too long of a story to explain. Feats: Two Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (Longsword) Weapons: Longsword/Shortsword, Shortbow Armor: Hasn't been decided yet, but will be fighter-worthy. I figure that once I get his "fighting skills" up, otherwise known as desperately exploring all the good feat trees and what not haha, I will get some rage abilities and stuff to augment his damage and effectiveness. This ISNT for min/max purpose, but to maximize the potential of THIS character idea. Tell me what ya think? Any ideas?
PhoenixInferno 05-09-04, 02:25 AM	If you have access to Unearthed Arcana, I would try to take the Whirling Barbarian variant - it makes more sense for an elf-barbarian to be like that - it also nets you an extra attack, which is always nice.
The Lone Drow 05-09-04, 03:09 AM	Str - 18 Dex - 15 Con - 17 for an elf? How did you manage 19 for Con? I think it's more along the lines of: Str - 18 Dex - 17 Con - 15 right? Since you're not working with PrC's, nor do you want min/maxing, I'm taking this only from the 3.5 SRD. Anyhow... B1 - Fast movement, Rage 1/day, more skills B1/F1 - FEAT (TWF) B1/F2 - FEAT (WFocus: Longsword), FEAT (Power Attack) B1/F3 - +1 Dex B2/F3 - Uncanny Dodge B2/F4 - FEAT (Improved TWF), FEAT (WSpecialization: Longsord) B3/F4 - Trap Sense +1 B4/F4 - +1 Dex, Rage 2/Day B5/F4 - Improved Uncanny Dodge. FEAT (Improved Critical) B5/F5 - B5/F6 - FEAT (Greater TWF) B5/F7 - FEAT (Combat Reflexes), +1 Con B5/F8 - FEAT (Greater WFocus) B5/F9 - B5/F10 - FEAT (Cleave) B5/F11 - +1 Str, FEAT (Improved Initiative) B5/F12 - FEAT (Greater WSpecialization) B6/F12 - Trap Sense +2 B7/F12 - DR 1/- B8/F12 - +1 Str, Rage 3/day Hope that helps. :cool:
The Lone Drow 05-09-04, 03:36 AM	Oh, and I like the scimitar better than the longsword. :D
argorond 05-09-04, 04:17 AM	Lone drow doesnt he get exp minus with your combo, elfs favored class is wizard.
maxfschr1 05-09-04, 12:38 PM	I have never multi-classed with unfavored core classes or without a human, so im not quite sure hw the XP penalties work. It isnt every time you switch classes right? So, if I went back and forth from barbarian and fighter, then XP penalty wouldnt grow would it? Does it not apply when im getting fighter levels, if thats where I start?.... Also, isnt there some new feat, mabe in unearthed arcana, that allows you to get a new or additional favored class? About the stats: For this campaign, we just got a set number of points that we distributed however within our characters stats. THats a reason why my Int and Cha are quite low. DM did this as a means of helping us out a little since we are only a 3 PC party. Well anyway, keep the suggestions coming. I think I am going to try to take all the class levels at once, meaning either 12 fighter then 8 barbarian, or vice versa. My reasoning for this, is to make the class advancement realistic. Personally, I cant really find justification for why someone would be jumping back and forth all the time from fighter or barbarian. Usually I would have no problem with this, but im trying to get as much into the roleplaying and story of this guy as I can. Keep em coming. weapons, feats, skills, items, anything..
ZenRanger 05-09-04, 02:14 PM	you suffer XP penalties when you have one or more classes more than one level apart - i.e. Elf figher4/barb8 would suffer penalties unless it were adjusted to figher6/barb6, and in order to continue leveling up without suffering penalties you must alternate each level. of course the class doesnt count if its your favored class... if you played a wild elf your favored class would be barbairian, and you wouldnt have to suffer such penalties. also, i think the idea of switching between fighter and barbairian is pretty reasonable, they're both similar martial characters, it just reflects that perhaps your character is a little more formal in his martial schooling than the typical barbairian. IMHO fighter levels are great at low level, but start to lose their value at high level. getting weapon specialization at 4th level rocks, but getting more combat feats than you know what to do with at 15-20th level isnt as good as greater rage, tireless rage, and damage reduction. if i were you i'd go with fighter4 or 6/barb 14 or 16, but thats just me, i dont want to ruin your character concept too much. it might be worth it to start of weilding a bastard sword, and at a little bit higher level, once you get the TWF feats, grab 2 Sun Swords (bastard swords that can be weilded as if they were short swords) then you'll be dealing 1d10 + whatever with each attack and no extra penalties for bigger weapons. and of course power attack, improved critical, weapon focus, and weapon specialization are all nice. extra rage and extended rage from masters of the wild arent too bad.
The Lone Drow 05-09-04, 02:30 PM	Originally posted by argorond Lone drow doesnt he get exp minus with your combo, elfs favored class is wizard. He could always be a half-elf. :D
Sang-Drax 05-09-04, 06:00 PM	I'd use a 2-handed weapon (I personally like falchions for elves. Reminds me of Haldyr's sword in The Two Towers Movie) and go for the Combat Brute/Shock Trooper tree. With a lot of hit points and feats, you could as well get Karmic Strike. These feats are all from Complete Warrior. Another good option is Power Lunge from Sword & Fist. Roll With It (Savage Species) is also a good choice for a barbarian. Cya
The Lone Drow 05-09-04, 11:25 PM	Originally posted by ZenRanger if you played a wild elf your favored class would be barbairian, and you wouldnt have to suffer such penalties. also, i think the idea of switching between fighter and barbairian is pretty reasonable, they're both similar martial characters, it just reflects that perhaps your character is a little more formal in his martial schooling than the typical barbairian. Perfectly put ZenRanger. Barbarians and Fighters are pretty much linked, specially if your character is one born in the woods who decides to study whilst maintaining his barbarian upbringing and personality. I really like the falchion too, and if you decide to use it it'll leave a lot of the feat slots free. That will allow you to switch for a more barbaric outlook, gaining the greater rage and indominable will. On the other hand I like the greater weapon focus and greater weapon specialization bonuses you get for being a fighter. Unless you want to be a raging freak, I'd go with the fighter. For skills, well, you can only really choose very few, and out of the very few you should choose even less. All you really have going for you is str, dex and con. So: Climb, Jump, Ride and Swim. That's it. Maybe pick a few languages on your way.
The Lone Drow 05-09-04, 11:47 PM	Also, the wild elf does provide the cover needed not to lose xp. Thanks ZenRanger. :D
maxfschr1 05-10-04, 12:16 AM	Well I do agree with the argument toward the switching back and forth between Fighter and Barbarian. However, I dont think my DM will go for the whole Wild Elf thing. But, if I swap them out well enough, it shouldnt be a problem for XP penalties anyway. My DM wants me to act as the party leader. For this reason, and since this PC is not Min/Max, I was shooting for somewhat of a Maximus character from Gladiator. Not the baddest ass on the field, but close, and with the swagger of leadership out of the ass (thanks to the DM adjusting the low Cha, it wont be THAT big of a problem). Think I can still pull of this mildly civilized viewpoint with Barbarian levels? I was thinking about putting in something about how the emotional aspect of the fighter was what garnered the barbarian levels, rather than upbringing or anything of the sort. I dont know. Think the whole character idea could work? Well, I think I am going to go ahead and stick with the TWF, mostly because that's just how I see elves and I like the TWF tress with TW defense and stuff. I also just looked closely at the COmbat Brute and Shock Trooper for the first time, very nice! Definately could find a million ways to incorporate those. Anyway, anything else you have, keep it coming. I am little pertrubed by a part-barbarian wielding a longsword and shortsword, but maybe later on some heavy magic long and short will be bad ass enough. Thanks.
Mommy was an Orc 05-10-04, 12:33 AM	Wild Elf favored class is sorcerer... Originally posted by ZenRanger if you played a wild elf your favored class would be barbairian, and you wouldnt have to suffer such penalties.
pawsplay 05-10-04, 04:40 AM	Obviously, Bar 10/Fig 10 would avoid the xp issue entirely. As for weapons, I'd suggest two shortswords. You sacrifice an average of one point of damage. The benefit is each weapon-related Feat does double duty... Weapon Focus (shortsword), Weapon Specialization (shortsword), and Improved Critical (shortsword) all applying. Alternatively, go with two one-handed weapons, eat the the larger TWF penalty, and still benefit from your Feats working on both weapons. TWF with two different weapons is typically sub-optimal unless 1) you are a straightup Fighter, at least for quite a few levels, or 2) you prefer to avoid Feats specific to one weapon, such as Weapon Focus, and instead work on Feat trees
Sang-Drax 05-10-04, 05:51 AM	Keep in mind, however, that you can't power attacking using two light weapons (like short swords). Wielding two weapons, in a way or another, shouldn't be a way to maximize your power attack potencial. Since you don't want a min/maxed character, however, power attacking with one weapon (say, a longsword) could be useful when you can't full attack. Try also taking a look at the combat style feats in Complete Warrior. "Bear Fang" is a really cool feat even though I don't think it's that great. I think it's perfect for a barbaric role, though.
The Lone Drow 05-11-04, 02:08 AM	Originally posted by Mommy was an Orc Wild Elf favored class is sorcerer... Spot on. The aquatic elf gets favored class fighter. I knew there was one! :) Monters Manual v3.5 - p.103: Aquatic Elf +2 Dex, -2 Int Aquatic Subtype Swim speed of 40 ft. Gills: Aquatic elves can survive out of the water for 1 hour per constitution point. Superior low-light vision: four times as much as humans, twice as much as elves. Favored class: Fighter. I'd still go for the Half-Elf with 18 Str, 17 Dex and 15 Con. And if you're gonna go look at books like Complete Warrior, take a PrC!!! :D
pawsplay 05-11-04, 04:38 AM	Keep in mind, however, that you can't power attacking using two light weapons (like short swords). Power attacking with TWF tends to be a losing technique, mathematically speaking.