Battlerager to be? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Battlerager to be? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
IH8Halflings
08-31-04, 07:21 AM Hey folks.
I started playing this character with no real goal for him, just something to take up the fighter slot for my party, so this is a bit of a mess. I thought at first of destroying my opponents weaponry, so I was heading towards the Combat Brute tactical feat. But then I thought being a Battlerager might be cool. So I started building towards that. And now it's really a mess. I'd still like to go with a Battlerager though, if there's any way to save it and still make it a useful character. Plus, I was unsure of where to take it after the 5 levels of Battlerager were done. Any help with direction and equipment would be great.

I'm currently using a MW Greataxe, a Longbow +1, and a Battleaxe +1, Full Plate +1.

Str 18
Dex 14
Con 18
Int 15
Wis 12
Cha 8

01 Ftr1 Weapon Focus(Greataxe), [Power Attack]
02 Ftr2 [Cleave]
03 Ftr3 Improved Sunder
04 Ftr4 [Weapon Specialization(Greataxe)]
05 Bbn1
06 Bbn2 Endurance
07 Brg1
08 Brg2 [Close-quarter Fighting]
09 Brg3 Lightning Reflexes, [Improved Unarmed Strike, ]
10 Brg4 [Great Cleave, Reckless Offensive]
11 Brg5
12 ??? Iron Will
mostholycerebus
08-31-04, 07:45 AM Personally, I think the Battle Howler fits the old 2e Battlerage concept better. Badaxe games put out a dwarve mini-splatbook called Heroes of High favor: Dwarves. I don't like most of the HoHF books, but the dwarve one was very good. It has a 10 level Battlerager PrC that is pretty neat. They get improved rage, mettle, DR and bonus feats. They can wear no armor, but get +1 to AC for every mele opponent that threatens their space. Neat class, I thought. All you would need to qualify is Iron Will and Toughness.
potsick
08-31-04, 12:04 PM What level are you currently at?

What are the other characters your adventuring with?

Does the party need a tactical type fighter or just a huge damage dealing high hitpoint type fighter?

Your obviously a Dwarf so have you looked at the 2 level Deep Warden (Races of Stone) dip to get a Constitution to your armor class. Depending on what level your at it may be possible to do. It really makes a dwarven fighter or barbarian that much better.
IH8Halflings
08-31-04, 05:52 PM What level are you currently at?

What are the other characters your adventuring with?

Does the party need a tactical type fighter or just a huge damage dealing high hitpoint type fighter?

Your obviously a Dwarf so have you looked at the 2 level Deep Warden (Races of Stone) dip to get a Constitution to your armor class. Depending on what level your at it may be possible to do. It really makes a dwarven fighter or barbarian that much better.

I thought I mentioned it, but I guess I didn't. Right now I'm 6th level. So in the build I posted I'm finishing up my 2nd Barbarian level. I think the role that party needs most is the high damage dealing combatant, but I would like to have a somewhat tactical advantage. I'm travelling with a halfling sorcerer, a halfling druid, a half nymph paladin, a drow rogue, and another character that WAS a human monk (it died). So I don't know what that's coming back into play as.
I do not have RoS, as does no one else in the group, but was thinking about picking it up. All other WoTC product is usable. Thanks again for any help.
potsick
08-31-04, 07:04 PM How about something like:

FTR 4/Bbn 2/Battlerager 5/Dwarf Paragon 3/Dwarven Defender 6

Can't take credit for this build really, it's core is around on a number of threads. The dwarf paragon class (Unearthed Arcana) gives you a boost to five dwarf abilities over three levels, including stone cunning and a +2 increase to your constitution.

6 levels of Dwarven Defender will net you improved uncanny dodge, Damage reduction 3/-, Trap sense +1 and 3 Defensive stances a day.

This guy/gal turns out to be the iconic dwarf character. Good at attacking and defending. Since you are wearing full plate you are obviously not concerned with the mobility aspect of the barbarian and so the dwarven defender makes a good last PRC.

Try to get the Furious enhancement to your great axe, which is a +2 enhancement that increases your rage by one step. This means that every time you rage your stats go up like greater rage. Also look at the Berserker ability (Unapproachable East pg.54) for a +1 enhancement or the +2 Mettaline enhancement (FR Underdark book) which allows you to change your weapon to any metal you want each round as a standard action, I don't need to tell you what bennefit a Adamantine weapon would be to your sunder or a silver weapon when fighting Lycanthropes etc.

Feats might need tweeking but this is the general idea:

01 Ftr1 Weapon Focus(Greataxe), [Power Attack]
02 Ftr2 [Cleave]
03 Ftr3 Improved Sunder
04 Ftr4 [Weapon Specialization(Greataxe)]
05 Bbn1
06 Bbn2 Endurance
07 Brg1
08 Brg2 [Close-quarter Fighting]
09 Brg3 Toughness, [Improved Unarmed Strike, ]
10 Brg4 [Great Cleave, Reckless Offensive]
11 Brg5
12 Dwarf Paragon 1 Dodge
13 DP 2
14 DP 3 (Get +2 to COn at this level)
15 DD 1 Improved Bull Rush
16 DD 2
17 DD 3
18 DD 4 Shock Trooper
19 DD 5
20 DD 6

Hope this is some help.
IH8Halflings
09-01-04, 07:20 AM Great suggestions, I'm looking into them. There's really only one small detail that, unfortunately, is going to make me forego the Dwarven Defender route: alignment. Right now I'm chaotic good. Battlerager requires any nonlawful and DD requires you to be lawful. Which creates a conflict obviously, and I'm quite sure my DM wouldn't allow me to make that shift without making me lose benefits from Battlerager. Unless I can think of a way out of it, it's a no go.
scrollreader
09-01-04, 08:31 AM Fighter 4/Bbn 2/Battlerager 5/Dwarf Paragon 3/Deepwarden 5

This lets you do away with those pesky alignment problems, lets you add con to AC instead of dex, gives you stubborn mind (like slippery mind, but more flavorful), improved uncanny dodge and a beefy d12 HD and +1 BAB. Finish out with a Combat Prc of your choice, preferably one with a good one level buy in. Personally, I'd see if your Dm will let you take the Mineral Warrior Template as soon as possible, since it fits so well. (and is just nice, in general).

As for feats ... IIRC, there's a weapon style feat that lets you get a free attack with armor spikes when full attacking with a greataxe. Which is always good, and flavorful, in this case as well. I'd take this in preference to a tactical feat, but that's just my opinion. Endurance is required for Deepwarden. Improved toughness can be used to make your massive number of hitpoints truly obscene. Extra Rage or some of the other rage feats may or may not be useful, depending on your play style. You might also want to look at Dwarven Armor Profieciency, or Heavy Armor Optimization, if you want a higher AC. This is a dwarf with full BAB and LOTS of HP. Which is what dwarves are all about. :D

Also, yes, I think you should get Races of Stone, or at least browse through it. Not just for the deepwarden (though it rocks) but for that Dwarvencraft Adamantine Greataxe you know you want. And some other dwarven coolness contained there-in.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
IH8Halflings 08-31-04, 07:21 AM	Hey folks. I started playing this character with no real goal for him, just something to take up the fighter slot for my party, so this is a bit of a mess. I thought at first of destroying my opponents weaponry, so I was heading towards the Combat Brute tactical feat. But then I thought being a Battlerager might be cool. So I started building towards that. And now it's really a mess. I'd still like to go with a Battlerager though, if there's any way to save it and still make it a useful character. Plus, I was unsure of where to take it after the 5 levels of Battlerager were done. Any help with direction and equipment would be great. I'm currently using a MW Greataxe, a Longbow +1, and a Battleaxe +1, Full Plate +1. Str 18 Dex 14 Con 18 Int 15 Wis 12 Cha 8 01 Ftr1 Weapon Focus(Greataxe), [Power Attack] 02 Ftr2 [Cleave] 03 Ftr3 Improved Sunder 04 Ftr4 [Weapon Specialization(Greataxe)] 05 Bbn1 06 Bbn2 Endurance 07 Brg1 08 Brg2 [Close-quarter Fighting] 09 Brg3 Lightning Reflexes, [Improved Unarmed Strike, ] 10 Brg4 [Great Cleave, Reckless Offensive] 11 Brg5 12 ??? Iron Will
mostholycerebus 08-31-04, 07:45 AM	Personally, I think the Battle Howler fits the old 2e Battlerage concept better. Badaxe games put out a dwarve mini-splatbook called Heroes of High favor: Dwarves. I don't like most of the HoHF books, but the dwarve one was very good. It has a 10 level Battlerager PrC that is pretty neat. They get improved rage, mettle, DR and bonus feats. They can wear no armor, but get +1 to AC for every mele opponent that threatens their space. Neat class, I thought. All you would need to qualify is Iron Will and Toughness.
potsick 08-31-04, 12:04 PM	What level are you currently at? What are the other characters your adventuring with? Does the party need a tactical type fighter or just a huge damage dealing high hitpoint type fighter? Your obviously a Dwarf so have you looked at the 2 level Deep Warden (Races of Stone) dip to get a Constitution to your armor class. Depending on what level your at it may be possible to do. It really makes a dwarven fighter or barbarian that much better.
IH8Halflings 08-31-04, 05:52 PM	What level are you currently at? What are the other characters your adventuring with? Does the party need a tactical type fighter or just a huge damage dealing high hitpoint type fighter? Your obviously a Dwarf so have you looked at the 2 level Deep Warden (Races of Stone) dip to get a Constitution to your armor class. Depending on what level your at it may be possible to do. It really makes a dwarven fighter or barbarian that much better. I thought I mentioned it, but I guess I didn't. Right now I'm 6th level. So in the build I posted I'm finishing up my 2nd Barbarian level. I think the role that party needs most is the high damage dealing combatant, but I would like to have a somewhat tactical advantage. I'm travelling with a halfling sorcerer, a halfling druid, a half nymph paladin, a drow rogue, and another character that WAS a human monk (it died). So I don't know what that's coming back into play as. I do not have RoS, as does no one else in the group, but was thinking about picking it up. All other WoTC product is usable. Thanks again for any help.
potsick 08-31-04, 07:04 PM	How about something like: FTR 4/Bbn 2/Battlerager 5/Dwarf Paragon 3/Dwarven Defender 6 Can't take credit for this build really, it's core is around on a number of threads. The dwarf paragon class (Unearthed Arcana) gives you a boost to five dwarf abilities over three levels, including stone cunning and a +2 increase to your constitution. 6 levels of Dwarven Defender will net you improved uncanny dodge, Damage reduction 3/-, Trap sense +1 and 3 Defensive stances a day. This guy/gal turns out to be the iconic dwarf character. Good at attacking and defending. Since you are wearing full plate you are obviously not concerned with the mobility aspect of the barbarian and so the dwarven defender makes a good last PRC. Try to get the Furious enhancement to your great axe, which is a +2 enhancement that increases your rage by one step. This means that every time you rage your stats go up like greater rage. Also look at the Berserker ability (Unapproachable East pg.54) for a +1 enhancement or the +2 Mettaline enhancement (FR Underdark book) which allows you to change your weapon to any metal you want each round as a standard action, I don't need to tell you what bennefit a Adamantine weapon would be to your sunder or a silver weapon when fighting Lycanthropes etc. Feats might need tweeking but this is the general idea: 01 Ftr1 Weapon Focus(Greataxe), [Power Attack] 02 Ftr2 [Cleave] 03 Ftr3 Improved Sunder 04 Ftr4 [Weapon Specialization(Greataxe)] 05 Bbn1 06 Bbn2 Endurance 07 Brg1 08 Brg2 [Close-quarter Fighting] 09 Brg3 Toughness, [Improved Unarmed Strike, ] 10 Brg4 [Great Cleave, Reckless Offensive] 11 Brg5 12 Dwarf Paragon 1 Dodge 13 DP 2 14 DP 3 (Get +2 to COn at this level) 15 DD 1 Improved Bull Rush 16 DD 2 17 DD 3 18 DD 4 Shock Trooper 19 DD 5 20 DD 6 Hope this is some help.
IH8Halflings 09-01-04, 07:20 AM	Great suggestions, I'm looking into them. There's really only one small detail that, unfortunately, is going to make me forego the Dwarven Defender route: alignment. Right now I'm chaotic good. Battlerager requires any nonlawful and DD requires you to be lawful. Which creates a conflict obviously, and I'm quite sure my DM wouldn't allow me to make that shift without making me lose benefits from Battlerager. Unless I can think of a way out of it, it's a no go.
scrollreader 09-01-04, 08:31 AM	Fighter 4/Bbn 2/Battlerager 5/Dwarf Paragon 3/Deepwarden 5 This lets you do away with those pesky alignment problems, lets you add con to AC instead of dex, gives you stubborn mind (like slippery mind, but more flavorful), improved uncanny dodge and a beefy d12 HD and +1 BAB. Finish out with a Combat Prc of your choice, preferably one with a good one level buy in. Personally, I'd see if your Dm will let you take the Mineral Warrior Template as soon as possible, since it fits so well. (and is just nice, in general). As for feats ... IIRC, there's a weapon style feat that lets you get a free attack with armor spikes when full attacking with a greataxe. Which is always good, and flavorful, in this case as well. I'd take this in preference to a tactical feat, but that's just my opinion. Endurance is required for Deepwarden. Improved toughness can be used to make your massive number of hitpoints truly obscene. Extra Rage or some of the other rage feats may or may not be useful, depending on your play style. You might also want to look at Dwarven Armor Profieciency, or Heavy Armor Optimization, if you want a higher AC. This is a dwarf with full BAB and LOTS of HP. Which is what dwarves are all about. :D Also, yes, I think you should get Races of Stone, or at least browse through it. Not just for the deepwarden (though it rocks) but for that Dwarvencraft Adamantine Greataxe you know you want. And some other dwarven coolness contained there-in.