Barb Arcane Slayer Advise [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barb Arcane Slayer Advise [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
OrcoMoro
01-31-06, 12:41 PM I'm trying to create a build where I get the high damage of the Barb, but can shrug off or inflict back damage from spells against me. I was looking into some kind of Human barb/hexblade/Occult Slayer mix but wasn't sure how to best optimize the leveling, feats and skill selection. I'm open to other Prc suggestions as well, but please keep Warshaper out of any build you might think up, my DM is highly against any build which incorporates that Prc.
rilem
01-31-06, 01:37 PM Funny Slaughter has offered up a couple good Barbarian anti-casters — he was a big fan of the Runescarred Berserker, which is tailor-made for the concept (Bbn + Antimagic Field). He also offered a chain-tripper (PalofFreedom2/Marshal1/WolfTotemBbn2/OccultSlayer5) with some pretty good defensive and caster-disrupting tactics. That would work equally well with a Hexblade.

A Totem Rager might be another good choice — some great damage potential, and you can use soulmelds to avoid the usual Wizard tricks. Check out Tleixu Ghola's Incarnum thread for stuff.
Lord Likk
01-31-06, 02:06 PM it'll make you immune to spells with saves if you have a decent charisma. then there's the mage slayer feat,which is basically an epic feat if you don't have casting. may i suggest brb1/ftr2/pal2/hex2/occult slayer5/runescarred berzerker until you get the best ability, then frenzied berzerker3 or 4 or 5 to fill it out?
PhaedrusXY
01-31-06, 02:17 PM There is a link to a "Mage Killer" thread in my sig, and in that thread you can find links to older, similiar, threads.
OrcoMoro
01-31-06, 02:23 PM Well according to my DM he is limiting certain prestiges to certain regions, so apparently I cannot have both hexblade and occult. In fact here is a list of prestiges available.

All Regions
* Arcane Trickster
* Devoted Defender
* Divine Crusader
* Divine Oracle
* Dungeon Delver
* Eldritch Knight
* Elemental Savant
* Hierophant
* Horizon Walker
* Reaping Mauler
* Spellsword
* Thief Acrobat

Tuireadh
* Nature's Warrior
* Occult Slayer
* Rage Mage
* War Chanter

Now some of these are prestiges he has modified for his campaign so they names are odd. I'm just gonna avoid those for now. Given this new list anyone have any intersting ideas?
OrcoMoro
01-31-06, 03:09 PM After looking over my restrictions I guess the best course of action would probably be to go straight Barb with 5 lvls of Occult Slayer. Now the question now is What feats should I focus on. I have been toying with the idea of going two-weapon fighting with monkey grip, but I'm not sure if the feat costs are worth it.
GaffeR
01-31-06, 03:54 PM Another possible option (if you can swing UA) is the Paladin of freedom 3/Barb 2. You'd be immune to the "oh so despised" compulsion effects.

I'd probly advise against the whole TWF thing. As far as feats go past the pre-reqs, i'm a big fan of the combat brute/shock trooper/leap attack combo. Mage Slayer is also a must for this sorta build. EWP (X) is a good lead in to Exotic weapon master, since you already have weapon focus (my vote goes to the bastard sword or the spiked chain, to threaten max squares).

H. Weapon Focus (Bastard sword)
1. EWP (Bastard sword)
3. Power Attack
6. Improved Bull Rush
9. Improved Sunder
12. Combat Brute
15. Shock Trooper
18. Leap Attack

Barb 2/Paladin of Freedom 3/Exotic Weapon Master* 2/Occult Slayer 5/X 8
*EWM Stunts: Flurry of Strikes, Uncanny Blow
rilem
01-31-06, 04:28 PM TWF is an especially poor choice for an Occult Slayer, which uses a specific bonded weapon to deal extra damage. You might get away with using a double weapon — but even then you're saddled with the usual TWF problems.

I'd go PaladinofFreedom/bbn/OS, too. Or Barbarian/ChampionofGwynharrf.

Are incarnum classes allowed?
OrcoMoro
01-31-06, 04:35 PM I'm not sure if I'm familiar with the combo you stated, I've looked over each of those feats and can see where some cross over lays but I'm not sure if I grasp what is to be desired from it.
PhaedrusXY
01-31-06, 04:41 PM Well according to my DM he is limiting certain prestiges to certain regions, so apparently I cannot have both hexblade and occult. In fact here is a list of prestiges available.Hexblade isn't a PrC. So core classes are limited to certain regions too? This sounds complicated. :P

How about Ex-Monk2/Ranger3/Barb2/OS5/HorizonWalker6? Take the Sun School Tactical feat, and use readied actions to Dimension Door next to mages and smack them when they try to cast. Stunning Fist is nice, but if you're planning to totally dump Wisdom, you might take Improved Grapple instead. Even if you take Stunning Fist, Improved Grapple is a good choice for a later feat.

A RP justification for that alignment switch is pretty easy. An orphan, abandoned at a monestary as an infant, wanders into the wilderness as a young man and lives there for some time. He gets into a fight with a mage of some kind, and develops a hatred of them that is so intense that he goes into fits of rage sometimes. :P
Lord Likk
01-31-06, 04:45 PM hexblade is a base class, so you should be able to take it. if you're dm's limiting non-core base classes too, i'll tell you straight up that hexblade will add more to your build than occult slayer, and for less lvls. if you disagree, you're underestimating the power of having double your cha mod to saving throws. when i say it makes you immune to spells with saves, i've seen it in action and i'm serious. besides perhaps the spellwarped template or playing an awakened golem, there is no better way to defend yourself against magic.
Mr. Dog
01-31-06, 04:47 PM Well according to my DM he is limiting certain prestiges to certain regions, so apparently I cannot have both hexblade and occult. In fact here is a list of prestiges available.

*snip*

Hexblade is a base class, not a prestige class.
That said, a lawful evil Hexblade 3/monk 2/Paladin of Tyranny 3/Occult Slayer X/Whatever else you wanna X is a good, resistant to spellcasting build.

Dex and Wis to AC, Charisma to saves (twice vs spells and spell-like abilities), Evasion and mettle, bonus feats, etc.

And a BAB of +7 at level eight.
OrcoMoro
01-31-06, 05:01 PM Let me clarify the reason why I can't have Hexblade and Occult. According to his campaign only Elves can be Hexblades (which I know are a class not a Prc). And the Occult Slayers Prc is only available to a region in his world where there are no elves. Sorry for the confusion.
Squidmaster
02-01-06, 12:08 PM Hey guys, I'm the DM of OrcoMoro's game. To make things easier, go to the Classes (http://www.themosmillers.org/faithsandempires/classes.html) page on the campaign website and take a look around. This is an ancient world style game. There are no monks. Hexblades come from a particular militant order in the elven wood, and a few other classes have restrictions as well, like paladin and favored soul. There is also a comprehensive prestige class list broken down by region at the bottom of the Classes page.
PhaedrusXY
02-01-06, 01:16 PM Looks like an interesting campaign. I'd still reccommend something like Barb2/Ranger3/HorizonWalker6/OccultSlayer5 (not necessarily in that order). Even if you can't make an attack immediatly afterwards, being able to Dimension Door every 1d4 rounds (Planar terrain) is invaluable if you're trying to fight spellcasters using melee. Immunity to Fatigue is also nice (Desert terrain). It lets you sleep in heavier armor than normal, and you don't have to worry about suffering penalties if your rage runs out in the middle of combat. Taking Extra Rage and a fighter level or two might also be a good idea. And the underground terrain will get you Darkvision.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
OrcoMoro 01-31-06, 12:41 PM	I'm trying to create a build where I get the high damage of the Barb, but can shrug off or inflict back damage from spells against me. I was looking into some kind of Human barb/hexblade/Occult Slayer mix but wasn't sure how to best optimize the leveling, feats and skill selection. I'm open to other Prc suggestions as well, but please keep Warshaper out of any build you might think up, my DM is highly against any build which incorporates that Prc.
rilem 01-31-06, 01:37 PM	Funny Slaughter has offered up a couple good Barbarian anti-casters — he was a big fan of the Runescarred Berserker, which is tailor-made for the concept (Bbn + Antimagic Field). He also offered a chain-tripper (PalofFreedom2/Marshal1/WolfTotemBbn2/OccultSlayer5) with some pretty good defensive and caster-disrupting tactics. That would work equally well with a Hexblade. A Totem Rager might be another good choice — some great damage potential, and you can use soulmelds to avoid the usual Wizard tricks. Check out Tleixu Ghola's Incarnum thread for stuff.
Lord Likk 01-31-06, 02:06 PM	it'll make you immune to spells with saves if you have a decent charisma. then there's the mage slayer feat,which is basically an epic feat if you don't have casting. may i suggest brb1/ftr2/pal2/hex2/occult slayer5/runescarred berzerker until you get the best ability, then frenzied berzerker3 or 4 or 5 to fill it out?
PhaedrusXY 01-31-06, 02:17 PM	There is a link to a "Mage Killer" thread in my sig, and in that thread you can find links to older, similiar, threads.
OrcoMoro 01-31-06, 02:23 PM	Well according to my DM he is limiting certain prestiges to certain regions, so apparently I cannot have both hexblade and occult. In fact here is a list of prestiges available. All Regions * Arcane Trickster * Devoted Defender * Divine Crusader * Divine Oracle * Dungeon Delver * Eldritch Knight * Elemental Savant * Hierophant * Horizon Walker * Reaping Mauler * Spellsword * Thief Acrobat Tuireadh * Nature's Warrior * Occult Slayer * Rage Mage * War Chanter Now some of these are prestiges he has modified for his campaign so they names are odd. I'm just gonna avoid those for now. Given this new list anyone have any intersting ideas?
OrcoMoro 01-31-06, 03:09 PM	After looking over my restrictions I guess the best course of action would probably be to go straight Barb with 5 lvls of Occult Slayer. Now the question now is What feats should I focus on. I have been toying with the idea of going two-weapon fighting with monkey grip, but I'm not sure if the feat costs are worth it.
GaffeR 01-31-06, 03:54 PM	Another possible option (if you can swing UA) is the Paladin of freedom 3/Barb 2. You'd be immune to the "oh so despised" compulsion effects. I'd probly advise against the whole TWF thing. As far as feats go past the pre-reqs, i'm a big fan of the combat brute/shock trooper/leap attack combo. Mage Slayer is also a must for this sorta build. EWP (X) is a good lead in to Exotic weapon master, since you already have weapon focus (my vote goes to the bastard sword or the spiked chain, to threaten max squares). H. Weapon Focus (Bastard sword) 1. EWP (Bastard sword) 3. Power Attack 6. Improved Bull Rush 9. Improved Sunder 12. Combat Brute 15. Shock Trooper 18. Leap Attack Barb 2/Paladin of Freedom 3/Exotic Weapon Master* 2/Occult Slayer 5/X 8 *EWM Stunts: Flurry of Strikes, Uncanny Blow
rilem 01-31-06, 04:28 PM	TWF is an especially poor choice for an Occult Slayer, which uses a specific bonded weapon to deal extra damage. You might get away with using a double weapon — but even then you're saddled with the usual TWF problems. I'd go PaladinofFreedom/bbn/OS, too. Or Barbarian/ChampionofGwynharrf. Are incarnum classes allowed?
OrcoMoro 01-31-06, 04:35 PM	I'm not sure if I'm familiar with the combo you stated, I've looked over each of those feats and can see where some cross over lays but I'm not sure if I grasp what is to be desired from it.
PhaedrusXY 01-31-06, 04:41 PM	Well according to my DM he is limiting certain prestiges to certain regions, so apparently I cannot have both hexblade and occult. In fact here is a list of prestiges available.Hexblade isn't a PrC. So core classes are limited to certain regions too? This sounds complicated. :P How about Ex-Monk2/Ranger3/Barb2/OS5/HorizonWalker6? Take the Sun School Tactical feat, and use readied actions to Dimension Door next to mages and smack them when they try to cast. Stunning Fist is nice, but if you're planning to totally dump Wisdom, you might take Improved Grapple instead. Even if you take Stunning Fist, Improved Grapple is a good choice for a later feat. A RP justification for that alignment switch is pretty easy. An orphan, abandoned at a monestary as an infant, wanders into the wilderness as a young man and lives there for some time. He gets into a fight with a mage of some kind, and develops a hatred of them that is so intense that he goes into fits of rage sometimes. :P
Lord Likk 01-31-06, 04:45 PM	hexblade is a base class, so you should be able to take it. if you're dm's limiting non-core base classes too, i'll tell you straight up that hexblade will add more to your build than occult slayer, and for less lvls. if you disagree, you're underestimating the power of having double your cha mod to saving throws. when i say it makes you immune to spells with saves, i've seen it in action and i'm serious. besides perhaps the spellwarped template or playing an awakened golem, there is no better way to defend yourself against magic.
Mr. Dog 01-31-06, 04:47 PM	Well according to my DM he is limiting certain prestiges to certain regions, so apparently I cannot have both hexblade and occult. In fact here is a list of prestiges available. snip Hexblade is a base class, not a prestige class. That said, a lawful evil Hexblade 3/monk 2/Paladin of Tyranny 3/Occult Slayer X/Whatever else you wanna X is a good, resistant to spellcasting build. Dex and Wis to AC, Charisma to saves (twice vs spells and spell-like abilities), Evasion and mettle, bonus feats, etc. And a BAB of +7 at level eight.
OrcoMoro 01-31-06, 05:01 PM	Let me clarify the reason why I can't have Hexblade and Occult. According to his campaign only Elves can be Hexblades (which I know are a class not a Prc). And the Occult Slayers Prc is only available to a region in his world where there are no elves. Sorry for the confusion.
Squidmaster 02-01-06, 12:08 PM	Hey guys, I'm the DM of OrcoMoro's game. To make things easier, go to the Classes (http://www.themosmillers.org/faithsandempires/classes.html) page on the campaign website and take a look around. This is an ancient world style game. There are no monks. Hexblades come from a particular militant order in the elven wood, and a few other classes have restrictions as well, like paladin and favored soul. There is also a comprehensive prestige class list broken down by region at the bottom of the Classes page.
PhaedrusXY 02-01-06, 01:16 PM	Looks like an interesting campaign. I'd still reccommend something like Barb2/Ranger3/HorizonWalker6/OccultSlayer5 (not necessarily in that order). Even if you can't make an attack immediatly afterwards, being able to Dimension Door every 1d4 rounds (Planar terrain) is invaluable if you're trying to fight spellcasters using melee. Immunity to Fatigue is also nice (Desert terrain). It lets you sleep in heavier armor than normal, and you don't have to worry about suffering penalties if your rage runs out in the middle of combat. Taking Extra Rage and a fighter level or two might also be a good idea. And the underground terrain will get you Darkvision.