Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zuur 12-31-06, 07:26 PM	Hi All, This is a character I'm about to play starting at 3rd level. The concept was a "combat tactician", which in my little world panned out to be a spiked-chain wielding finesse-warrior-gish with a bit of AoO goodness and just a hint of ToB.. Any comments on ways to improve this build before I get started would be most appreciated: The character is a Human with the following stats: Str: 14 Dex: 16 Con: 15 Int: 14 Wis: 10 Cha: 6 L B e A C v B L 1 1 0 Swashbuckler 1 (Weapon Finesse, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Deft Opportunist, Combat Casting) 2 1 0 Human Par 1 3 2 0 Fighter 1 (EWP: Spiked Chain, Power Attack) 4 2 1 Wizard 1 (Combat Exp, Karmic Strike) 5 3 2 Human Par 2 (Expert Tactician) 6 4 2 Fighter 2 (Mobility) 7 5 3 Human Par 3 8 6 4 Abj Champ 1 (Elusive Target) 9 7 5 Abj Champ 2 (Arcane Strike) 10 8 5 Crusader 1 11 9 6 Abj Champ 3 12 10 7 Abj Champ 4 (Sidestep) 13 11 8 Abj Champ 5 14 12 8 JPM 1 15 13 9 JPM 2 (Rolimbar's Gambit) 16 14 10 JPM 3 17 15 11 JPM 4 18 16 12 JPM 5 (Defensive Sweep) 19 17 12 JPM 6 20 18 13 JPM 7 I've gained an extra few feats in here for the following reasons: Weapon Finesse is a bonus from Swashbuckler. +2 feats at 1st level from two flaws (as per the Unearthed Arcana) +1 feat at 4th for an additional wizard flaw, being not having a familiar. +1 feat at 4th from the Wizard Variant (as per the Unearthed Arcana - no scribe scroll, but an additional fighter feat) I've also "delayed" a feat from 6th level to 8th level for Elusive Target so I meet the pre-req's (our DM allows this in small portions). I've left the last Human Paragon level (also Unearthed Arcana) as late as possible so I can make use of its skill selection and bolster things like Tumble to 10 ranks. Crusader is taken at level 10 so that he starts with an IL of 5, giving him access to Thicket of Blades and Defensive Rebuke to start with. Also so he's got access to 3rd level spells for Repelling Shield at the same time. I've also gone for a specialist wizard and used the additional Focused Specialist option to get lots of spells to make Arcane Strike worth while. This does mean that It's a level later than normal before I can actually cast non-abjuration spells.. I had thoughts of throwing a level of Warblade in around 12th in order to get the pre-req's for Stormguard Warrior, but the extra (mostly wasted) feat as a pre-req makes it hardly worth it. (???) I know there would be a lot to be gained from being a good tripper, but I decided not to spread myself too thin - trying to be good at everything when "everything" requires feats is a little hard without going 20 levels of Fighter.. I'm still not sure on the JPM at the end there either. Apart from the Spell & Maneuvers I've mentioned, I don't have too many other plans.. ideas in this area would be good too :) (I usually go with psionics, so am pretty new to both ToB & spells - please feel free to point out the "obvious" choices for me too!!) Thoughts?
Zuur 01-01-07, 05:37 AM	:bump:
PhoenixInferno 01-01-07, 09:39 AM	Arcane Strike is redundant with JPM's Arcane Wrath - in fact, its inferior.
boombrakh 01-01-07, 09:47 AM	I dont own it so i cant check it atm so I might be wrong, but I thought the UA said you only get a maximum of two flaws.
fnord 01-01-07, 11:36 AM	I dont own it so i cant check it atm so I might be wrong, but I thought the UA said you only get a maximum of two flaws. He only has 2 flaws. Swashbuckler gives Weapon Finesse as bonus feat.
Kuroi Kenshi 01-01-07, 01:32 PM	Arcane Strike is redundant with JPM's Arcane Wrath - in fact, its inferior.Ehh I don't think it's that simple. Arcane Wrath only applies to a single attack. Arcane Strike applies to all attacks for 1 round. I think Wrath is nicer for when you use a martial strike or a single-hit charge. But Arcane Strike is nicer if you're full attacking or can generate lots of AoO's per round. Also Arcane Strike is a free, rather than a swift action. So you can cast Wraitstrike with Arcane Strike if you really needed to, but not with Arcane Wrath. Or you can double up both strikes if you really need it. And what level of spellslot you use also varies the relative effectiveness of each ability. EDIT: Oh yeah, for the build, if the difference in strength and dex are going to remain low (or if you plan to use polymorph forms with higher strength than dex - firbolg, for example), weapon finesse may not be necessary. In that case it'd be better to drop the swashbuckler level for a later extra level in JPM and bump down your crusader level to meet PrC requirements. Furthermore you shouldn't be having too many issues with hitting people, since trip attacks are touch attacks, and hitting people on AoOs will be easy with Deft Opportunist, and hitting tripped opponents is also easy. If you do plan to go for cranked dex, making successful trip attempts will be harder, so it might be good to pick up Stand Still from the XPH to hinder opponents trying to move in on you or your team that you can't reasonably trip.
PhoenixInferno 01-01-07, 02:10 PM	Ehh I don't think it's that simple.Which is true, but I wouldn't want to be out there trading full attacks if I could avoid it.
Kuroi Kenshi 01-01-07, 05:17 PM	Given this guy is a spiked chain using, karmic strike + side step + robilar's gambit build, you won't necessarily be "trading" full attacks though.
Zuur 01-04-07, 03:47 AM	Hey - thanks for the response; I'm just getting back to it now as I've been sitting on an island in the sun for 3 days.. unfortunately my tent lacked an internet connection :( I dont own it so i cant check it atm so I might be wrong, but I thought the UA said you only get a maximum of two flaws. Quite right, plus it suggests a maximum of 1 every 5 levels (with good reason and subject to the DM (like everything else)).. The third feat came at 4th level and is from one of the Dragon mags (wizard with no familiar). This is probably pushing the limits of flaws a bit, but it's okay with the DM (although I can't see myself getting any more in).
Zuur 01-04-07, 03:53 AM	Arcane Strike is redundant with JPM's Arcane Wrath - in fact, its inferior. As Kuroi Kenshi says, Arcane Strike is more bang for your buck if you have lots of attacks or AoO's, which I'm going for. I think the only time I'd use Arcane Wrath is when I was only doing a single attack anyway and would probably only use a 1st level spell with it as it doesn't scale as well.. Also I wouldn't get Wrath until much later, and probably won't play him that far past 20th level.. That said, if there's a better feat to squash in there, it might be worth dropping.. Oh, and I hadn't notices that Wrath was a swift action - cheers Kuroi Kenshi :)
Zuur 01-04-07, 04:03 AM	Oh yeah, for the build, if the difference in strength and dex are going to remain low ... Nope, planning to leave Strength at 14 and go all out for Dex. If you do plan to go for cranked dex, making successful trip attempts will be harder, so it might be good to pick up Stand Still from the XPH to hinder opponents trying to move in on you or your team that you can't reasonably trip. I had this one in there in place of Sidestep, but we've been using "Combat Maneuvers" from the Book of Iron Might recently, (rules for doing a huge variety of things which aren't really powerful enough to be a feat) - unfortunately named given the recent ToB, but very cool and generally well balanced. I've made a similar "Maneuver" to the Stand Still feat from this which isn't quite as powerful but good enough to pass up the feat for.. :) Cheers for your insight :)