Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mucknuggle 03-01-04, 05:30 PM	I've decided to get my battlefield control wizard a friendly "little" cohort to help him push around his enemies. Here is what I have come up with so far 1 - Half-giant from the "In the Works" preview (link (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040215a&page=3) ) 2 - Half-minotaur template from Dragon #313 3 (1) - (Wolf Totem) Barbarian 1 - Wolf Berzerker 4 (2) - (Wolf Toem) Barbarian 2 - Improved Trip 5 (3) - Fighter 1 - Improved Shield Bash, Shield Charge 6 (4) - Fighter 2 - Power Attack 7 (5) - Psychic Warrior 1 - Improved Bull Rush 8 (6) - Psychic Warrior 2 - Improved Sunder, Pushback 9 (7) - Psychic Warrior 3 10 (8) - Psychic Warrior 4 11 (9) - Psychic Warrior 5 - Combat Brute, Weapon Focus (Heavy Shield)* 12 (10) - Psychic Warrior 6 - Weapon Specialization (Heavy Shield) 13 (11) - Psychic Warrior 7 - 14 (12) - Psychic Warrior 8 - Shock Trooper, feat Continue Psychic Warrior to Level 20. That's all I've planned out so far as the cohort will probably be starting at level 9. I'm planning on taking some Psionic feats, Shock Trooper and possibly Large and in Charge in the remaining levels. Anything that you would change or do you have any suggestions for how to finish it off? All WotC material is allowed and available. 3rd party stuff is good if ok'd by the DM, so if you like some cool 3rd party thing, feel free to post about it. I'll be back later tonight to finish off the build and reply to any posts. Thx a bunch, Here's another build that I just came up with that uses weapons other than a shield. Which do you prefer? 1 - Half-giant from the "In the Works" preview (link ) 2 - Half-minotaur template from Dragon #313 3 (1) - (Wolf Totem) Barbarian 1 - Wolf Berzerker 4 (2) - (Wolf Toem) Barbarian 2 - Improved Trip 5 (3) - Exoticist 1 – Combat Reflexes, Dodge 6 (4) - Exoticist 2 - Power Attack 7 (5) - Psychic Warrior 1 - Improved Bull Rush 8 (6) - Psychic Warrior 2 - Improved Sunder, Stand Still 9 (7) - Psychic Warrior 3 10 (8) - Psychic Warrior 4 11 (9) - Psychic Warrior 5 - Combat Brute, Weapon Focus (Spiked Chain)* 12 (10) - Psychic Warrior 6 - Weapon Specialization (Spiked Chain) 13 (11) - Psychic Warrior 7 - 14 (12) - Psychic Warrior 8 - Shock Trooper, Karmic Strike 15 (13) - Psychic Warrior 9 16 (14) - Psychic Warrior 10 17 (15) - Psychic Warrior 11 – Mobility, Sidestep 18 (16) - Psychic Warrior 12 19 (17) - Psychic Warrior 13 20 (18) - Psychic Warrior 14 – Elusive Target, feat I didn't double check the feat requirements for either build, so any errors are the result of me rushing. Sorry. Muck
Quijin 03-01-04, 05:41 PM	THere was a bull rushing thread i started a little bit ago, it was pretty good, try searching for "Combat Brute" and "Shock Trooper". I dont know if u are gonna trip, but there is a feat from the "races of Power" Dragon Magazine, when u charge using a gore attack and u succeed, u can make a trip attempt as a free action without the opponent getting a chance to trip u back. Another one from the "Warrior Classes" Dragon, was when u rage, u get a bonus on Bull Rush Attempts. Check them out, if i get a chance, ill see if i can copy them onto the thread -Quijin:tiphat:
MikeN 03-01-04, 08:23 PM	I'd look at Snow Savant's Spiked Chain/Shield tripping build and take some crib notes... Half-Giant/Half-Minotaur is really broken. I'm not sure Dragonlance counts as WotC material, but Half-Giant/Half-Minotaur/White Dragonspawn is more broken still. I'm pretty sure FR would be allowed, so we may be able to use the Mineral Warrior Temp as well for some extra cheese... Half-Giant/Half-Minotaur/White Dragonspawn/Mineral Warrior ECL: 4 (heh)
PhaedrusXY 03-01-04, 10:37 PM	I will probably use this Devoted Defender build as a cohort for the next wizard that I play in a game: Wears light armor (or no armor) and no shield, can be any race (didn't include human bonus feat). Fights with a guisarme and his feet. You could throw in the Jotunbrud feat also, if it's allowed in your game and he's human, to give him bonuses on his Trip attempts. Or since your a wizard and he's your cohort, you could just enlarge or polymorph him. ;) monk3/ftr2/Shou5/DD10 1 monk1 IUS (m), Stunning Fist (m), Dodge 2 monk2 Combat Reflexes (m), Evasion 3 monk3 Still Mind, Combat Expertise 4 Ftr1 Improved Trip (bonus) 5 Ftr2 Wpn Focus: Unarmed Strike (bonus) 6 Shou1 Alertness 7 Shou2 Mobility (bonus) 8 Shou3 9 Shou4 Karmic Strike*, Spring Attack (bonus) 10 Shou5 Martial Flurry 11 DevotedDefender1 12 DD2 Improved Disarm 15 DD5 Power Attack 18 DD8 Improved Sunder 20 DD10 BAB +19, Saves: Fort +17, Refl +14, Will +7 HD 3d8+7d10+10d12 Benefits: Martial Flurry, +3 enhanced dodge bonus, 2d6 unarmed damage, Still Mind, Stunning Fist, all Devoted Defender abilities Shou=Shou Disciple from Unapproachable East, DD=Devoted Defender from Sword and Fist. Edit: Had to rearrange some feats. :blush: *I don't own Complete Warrior, but I think a Devoted Defender should be able to use this on people whom attack his charge and he steps in front of the blow for.
nihility 03-01-04, 10:45 PM	Maybe I'm missing something here, but according to the Shou Disciple text in UE, the Shou Disciple needs to meets the feat's requirements when selecting a bonus feat. Doesn't Weapon Specialization require Fighter 4th level?
PhaedrusXY 03-01-04, 10:48 PM	Originally posted by nihility Maybe I'm missing something here, but according to the Shou Disciple text in UE, the Shou Disciple needs to meets the feat's requirements when selecting a bonus feat. Doesn't Weapon Specialization require Fighter 4th level? Hmm... you might be right. I figured since it was on their bonus feat list, that they could take it without 4 fighter levels. But it does say you need to meet the prereqs. Oh well, just swap it for something else. It doesn't hurt the build any, really. He's built for defending, not dishing out alot of damage. How is Karmic Strike worded? Does it say "anyone who successfully attacks you" or "anyone who damages you in melee"? If it's the latter, then the Devoted Defender could use it on people who successfully attack his charge and he takes the damage for. That could be... interesting.
Mucknuggle 03-01-04, 10:58 PM	Originally posted by PhaedrusXY How is Karmic Strike worded? Does it say "anyone who successfully attacks you" or "anyone who damages you in melee"? If it's the latter, then the Devoted Defender could use it on people who successfully attack his charge and he takes the damage for. That could be... interesting. "against an opponent that hits you in melee."
PhaedrusXY 03-01-04, 11:03 PM	Originally posted by Mucknuggle "against an opponent that hits you in melee." Then it should work! That would make for a great bodyguard ability! Not only can he step in front of you to take the blow, but he gets to hit the guy who dared to take a stab at his charge! Sorry if I'm hijacking your thread, but I had this idea for a bodyguard build a bit ago and this seemed like the natural place to post it. If you enlarge the guy so he has reach without using a reach weapon, Grappling Block would also be a great feat for him. I guess he wouldn't really need that if using Karmic Strike, though. Edit: Bah, meanliar figured out the Karmic Strike/Grappling Block/Devoted Defender trick a month ago. :D
Mucknuggle 03-02-04, 06:35 AM	I don't mind the hijacking of my thread, I love discussion. How about commenting on the builds that I made?
HoshiAdam 03-02-04, 09:11 AM	Unless the Psychic Warrior psionic abilities are important to you, you might consider taking 2 levels of Exotic Weapon Master in your second build, for Exotic Flurry and Exotic Trip (another +2 bonus to trip). Or, if you want to take 3 levels of it and Stunning Fist, you could use your spiked chain to stun people.
Nuggo 03-02-04, 01:47 PM	Just a quick question. What book in the Wolf Totem Barbarian in? I can't seem to find it anywhere to check it out. Thanks! Nevermind, found it here: http://www.wizards.com/default.aspx=dnd/ex/20040206a&page=2
Snow Savant 03-02-04, 04:30 PM	Hi Muck! :) I don't have much time to post anymore, so I'll throw something quick out at you. Keeping your Half-Giant/Half-Minotaur Cohort theme (+2 ECL), try this build that emphasizes a baseline front-liner with a high BAB and a focus on bodyguarding and extra weapon capabilities. All your voluntarily chosen feats should build up to the bullrush-friendly feats such as Shock Trooper, Imp. Shield Bash, and Combat Brute. The Samurai level gives you Bastard Sword capability/prowess, which is good because a bullrusher should be a Sword-n-Board combatant (due to Shield Bashing, etc.). The Shield use will help with the DevDef abilities as well. The EWM levels will help you make your Bastard Sword "trip-capable" in addition to making your Power Attacks something to *really* fear. I prefer this build over the Psychic Warrior because you really, really need a high BAB in order to accomplish your objectives. And the better HD are mandatory for a bodyguard anyway. I'll let you deal with the RP ramifications of the ex-Samurai alignment change. :P No soften the blow, just say you converted from LG to NG ... no big deal ... Ex-Samurai1 / Fighter2 / Barbarian(Wolf Totem)2 / DevotedDefender3 / ExoticWeaponMaster3 That's 11 levels + 2 ECL = 13 Levels. Stick to your emphasis on bullrushing and be sure to cast a lot of spells like Web, Grease, Wall of Fire, etc. Giving your Cohort some neato objectives to shove his poor victims into. :smirk: Hope this helps. And I hope school is going well for you as well! If you like this idea and want some additional ideas for progression for the last 7 levels, just holler. XO, Snow :cloud9:
PhaedrusXY 03-02-04, 06:34 PM	Originally posted by Mucknuggle I don't mind the hijacking of my thread, I love discussion. How about commenting on the builds that I made? Well, both builds look powerful but I don't own the Complete Warrior, and so don't really know what all those feats from it do. I've looked through it, and have a general idea about most of them, but I don't really feel qualified to offer much advice. I'm also a fan of taking a "normal" race and making it powerful through the use of classes, feats, and magic. I am not so much into throwing on templates and making a big monster. It can be fun, and every now and then I might consider using something like that, but not usually. I normally play humans, or at least a PHB race, even if the DM is very liberal in what he or she will allow. I do like githzerai though. :smirk: I also am not sure what the benefit of having this cohort will be compared to one with levels of Devoted Defender. The Defender seems more like a bodyguard, whereas the guy you're making just seems like a big, hulking butt kicker. There is nothing wrong with that, and he certainly can do some area control via trips and bull rushing, but he can't jump in and take a hit for you. As a wizard, I'd rather have a bodyguard that can do that.
Funny Slaughter 03-03-04, 04:40 AM	psychic warrior would give the cohort the ability to become bigger by itself, not bad with his innate abilities. anyhow, just as a sidenote, a half-giant can use some psionic feats like standstill without a psionic class if i interpret his bonus-powerpoint entry correctly. stand still is mandatory no matter what classes you take then. gs Funny
Mucknuggle 03-03-04, 08:00 AM	Cool build Snow. I'm not so sure that the DM would allow it though. How would you finish that one off? Take 7 more levels of Devoted Defender? How would you make it without the Samurai level (it's the OA one right?)? And school is going very well. My university applications have all been sent out, and I am enjoying my Spring Break doing the tons of homework that my profs have decided to give me ;).