A little help, please... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A little help, please... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sudo_Nym
02-24-04, 12:30 AM Recently, I posted a Wizard/Sentinal of Bharrai/Archmage, and got some excellent advice (thanks, while I'm on the subject). Anyway, my problem is twofold.

First, how do I equip him? I'd like to increase his power as a wizard, of course, but I'd also like to increase his power in bear form, as well. If I could get some advice to make him a better caster and better bear meleeist, I'd really appreciate it. If needed, the thread I posted the build to is here. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=2645300#post2645300)

Also, the party I'm in lacks a tank- our fighter is going archer, so the cleric is making due. The DM may allow me a cohort with taking the Leadership feat (although I won't be allowed followers, and I'll have to limit myself to PHB races). So I thought it would be good to pick up a fighter to do some real tanking. If anybody has a good build, and would like to share it, I'd appreciate it. I can figure out feats to help in the campaign myself, but some good class combos would be helpful- I was thinking Human Fighter/Dragonslayer, but something tells me that that could be done better.

Thanks for help in the afformentioned post, and for any help here, in advance.

Edit: Forgot to mention, I have the PHB, SRD, Sword and Fist, Draconomicon, BoED, BoVD, and Fiend Folio, and ability score generation is the default array.
ksbsnowowl
02-24-04, 12:40 AM 3.0 or 3.5?

For the tank cohort you could look at the meriad of Trip builds on this board. Even if you don't go for trip, a reach weapon with combat reflexes makes for a great tank that can hamper enemy movements. Maybe a disarm/trip combo build would be good?

If you use 3.5 a decent base for a trip build using the normal races is a dwarven fighter that perhaps goes into Dwarven Defender. The racial stability bonus helps with counter-trips.
Sudo_Nym
02-24-04, 12:58 AM We play 3.5, although 3.0 stuff is alright if its easily convertable. I like the idea of a trip/disarmer- he can tank, and prevent anyone from getting past him. Due to roleplaying concerns, and the nature of my character, dwarf is probably not a good choice. All things considered, its probably going to have to be human or half-elf. I'm thinking Heavy Flail- it doesn't have reach, but it can trip and gives a disarm bonus, and doesn't require an Exotic Weapon Proficiency like the Spiked Chain does.
Mr.Citrus
02-24-04, 01:03 AM a trick one of my friends thought of should create the ultimate tank combo in theroy, (only if your dm allows it of course) have your cohort be a devoted defender from S&F. have him set up with some trip/chain feats and you have the ultimate tank cohort. he will have a d12 hit die and even if the person he is defending is attacked or hit, he can switch places and soak the damage. (somone please correct me if this class has been errated, i can't remeber)
PhaedrusXY
02-24-04, 01:38 AM Depending on how your friend's cleric is built, he might be ok as a tank. A cleric that is built specifically to be a tank in the hands of a player who knows how to use it is quite powerful, at least as powerful as most fighter builds.

As for the cohort, I think devoted defender is a good idea. I think focusing on battlefield control is also a good idea. You might want to consider having a defender that has a couple of monk levels and uses a polearm. He can use his unarmed strike to threaten the area right next to him and stun people, and be a polearm fighter otherwise. He'll also get a few bonus feats that will come in handy. I'd pick Stunning Fist and Combat Reflexes.

I'd probably go Monk2/Palladin4/DevotedDefenderX. Progression would be as so:

1 monk1 IUS (m), Stunning Fist (m), Alertness, Combat Expertise (h)
2 monk2 Combat Reflexes (m), Evasion
3 Pal1 Improved Trip
6 Pal4 Wpn Focus: Guisarme
7 DD1
9 DD3 Improved Disarm
12 DD6 Power Attack
15 DD9 Divine Might
18 ?

I don't know what a good jumping off point is for Devoted Defender, but since it has good Fort and Reflex saves, and this character will be adding Charisma to them and has Evasion, it might not be a bad idea to take it pretty far, in any case.

You could also take TWF so he can make his normal attacks with the guisarme and also try stunning people with a kick as an off-hand attack, but your DM might let him swap out unarmed and armed attacks anyway, without doing that. He also might be one of those that doesn't think you should be able to fight with a two-hander and a kick as an off-hand attack.

I don't know what you should take later, maybe someone else can come up with some good suggestions. The worst thing about this build is that it is pretty stat intensive, I think. Hopefully it's not so bad that you can't use it. You need Int13, and decent Con and Cha, and of course Str is always good. And to get much use out of Combat Reflexes, a decent Dex. Wis doesn't matter too much, even though it has both monk and pall levels, because he'll be wearing armor and only have 1st level spells.
MikeN
02-24-04, 02:40 AM I built a simple Monk/Templar(Kossuth)/Shou Disciple as a cohort for a spellcaster I played. He was a half-ogre with flaming spiked chain (Kossuth's favored weapon). I called him "Tiny" as my character was a short little elf and he was an 8 1/2 foot giant...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sudo_Nym 02-24-04, 12:30 AM	Recently, I posted a Wizard/Sentinal of Bharrai/Archmage, and got some excellent advice (thanks, while I'm on the subject). Anyway, my problem is twofold. First, how do I equip him? I'd like to increase his power as a wizard, of course, but I'd also like to increase his power in bear form, as well. If I could get some advice to make him a better caster and better bear meleeist, I'd really appreciate it. If needed, the thread I posted the build to is here. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=2645300#post2645300) Also, the party I'm in lacks a tank- our fighter is going archer, so the cleric is making due. The DM may allow me a cohort with taking the Leadership feat (although I won't be allowed followers, and I'll have to limit myself to PHB races). So I thought it would be good to pick up a fighter to do some real tanking. If anybody has a good build, and would like to share it, I'd appreciate it. I can figure out feats to help in the campaign myself, but some good class combos would be helpful- I was thinking Human Fighter/Dragonslayer, but something tells me that that could be done better. Thanks for help in the afformentioned post, and for any help here, in advance. Edit: Forgot to mention, I have the PHB, SRD, Sword and Fist, Draconomicon, BoED, BoVD, and Fiend Folio, and ability score generation is the default array.
ksbsnowowl 02-24-04, 12:40 AM	3.0 or 3.5? For the tank cohort you could look at the meriad of Trip builds on this board. Even if you don't go for trip, a reach weapon with combat reflexes makes for a great tank that can hamper enemy movements. Maybe a disarm/trip combo build would be good? If you use 3.5 a decent base for a trip build using the normal races is a dwarven fighter that perhaps goes into Dwarven Defender. The racial stability bonus helps with counter-trips.
Sudo_Nym 02-24-04, 12:58 AM	We play 3.5, although 3.0 stuff is alright if its easily convertable. I like the idea of a trip/disarmer- he can tank, and prevent anyone from getting past him. Due to roleplaying concerns, and the nature of my character, dwarf is probably not a good choice. All things considered, its probably going to have to be human or half-elf. I'm thinking Heavy Flail- it doesn't have reach, but it can trip and gives a disarm bonus, and doesn't require an Exotic Weapon Proficiency like the Spiked Chain does.
Mr.Citrus 02-24-04, 01:03 AM	a trick one of my friends thought of should create the ultimate tank combo in theroy, (only if your dm allows it of course) have your cohort be a devoted defender from S&F. have him set up with some trip/chain feats and you have the ultimate tank cohort. he will have a d12 hit die and even if the person he is defending is attacked or hit, he can switch places and soak the damage. (somone please correct me if this class has been errated, i can't remeber)
PhaedrusXY 02-24-04, 01:38 AM	Depending on how your friend's cleric is built, he might be ok as a tank. A cleric that is built specifically to be a tank in the hands of a player who knows how to use it is quite powerful, at least as powerful as most fighter builds. As for the cohort, I think devoted defender is a good idea. I think focusing on battlefield control is also a good idea. You might want to consider having a defender that has a couple of monk levels and uses a polearm. He can use his unarmed strike to threaten the area right next to him and stun people, and be a polearm fighter otherwise. He'll also get a few bonus feats that will come in handy. I'd pick Stunning Fist and Combat Reflexes. I'd probably go Monk2/Palladin4/DevotedDefenderX. Progression would be as so: 1 monk1 IUS (m), Stunning Fist (m), Alertness, Combat Expertise (h) 2 monk2 Combat Reflexes (m), Evasion 3 Pal1 Improved Trip 6 Pal4 Wpn Focus: Guisarme 7 DD1 9 DD3 Improved Disarm 12 DD6 Power Attack 15 DD9 Divine Might 18 ? I don't know what a good jumping off point is for Devoted Defender, but since it has good Fort and Reflex saves, and this character will be adding Charisma to them and has Evasion, it might not be a bad idea to take it pretty far, in any case. You could also take TWF so he can make his normal attacks with the guisarme and also try stunning people with a kick as an off-hand attack, but your DM might let him swap out unarmed and armed attacks anyway, without doing that. He also might be one of those that doesn't think you should be able to fight with a two-hander and a kick as an off-hand attack. I don't know what you should take later, maybe someone else can come up with some good suggestions. The worst thing about this build is that it is pretty stat intensive, I think. Hopefully it's not so bad that you can't use it. You need Int13, and decent Con and Cha, and of course Str is always good. And to get much use out of Combat Reflexes, a decent Dex. Wis doesn't matter too much, even though it has both monk and pall levels, because he'll be wearing armor and only have 1st level spells.
MikeN 02-24-04, 02:40 AM	I built a simple Monk/Templar(Kossuth)/Shou Disciple as a cohort for a spellcaster I played. He was a half-ogre with flaming spiked chain (Kossuth's favored weapon). I called him "Tiny" as my character was a short little elf and he was an 8 1/2 foot giant...