Boosting Will saves for a Barbarian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Boosting Will saves for a Barbarian [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tafkamhokie
04-26-05, 06:06 PM The primary bruiser in the party is a 9th level barbarian/fighter type whose total Will save modifier is +0.

He is viscious in melee, but a sitting duck for things like Hold Person, Color Spray, Hideous Laughter, Dominate Person, etc.

Is there any way to boost only your will save that is more cost effective than a Cloak of Resistance (which affects all your saves)?

If there were some way to boost his will save by +5 (but did nothing for Reflex or Fortitude), that would be far more valuable to him than something that boosted every save by +2 or +3.

He's got about 10,000 gp to spend, but a Cloak of Resistance +3 (while better than nothing), just does not quite have the boost I'm looking for.
rilem
04-26-05, 06:10 PM Crystal Mask of Mindarmor (PsiHndbk) gives a +4 bonus to Will saves.

What feats/stats does he have? Iron Will and (if he's half-orc) Focused Rage from RoD could help a lot.

Also the Champion of Gynharff or Holy Liberator, Occult Slayer, etc.

Finally, cast protection from evil on the guy -- blocks all mind control.
thorian
04-26-05, 08:51 PM At 9th level, the party caster could cast Superior Resistance (Savage Species) to give his Barbarian friend a +6 resistance bonus to saves for 1 hour per caster level. If that is too high of a spell level, Major Resistance gives a +3 bonus, and is only a 2nd level spell.

The Iron Will feat gives +2 to will saves.

The Cumbrous Will (Savage Species) feat gives +6 to will saves, but the character is shaken after its use, but that is better than being dominated, charmed, afraid, etc.

Those 3 options give an additional +14 to will saves.

Another option is for the Barb to consider levels of Occult Slayer (Complete Warrior).
imneuromancer
04-27-05, 08:52 AM I have been looking at the Outcast Champion (Races of Destiny). One of its abilities is to give a +1 to WILL saves per level, and it radiates to your allies who are up to 30' away.

OC also has full BAB, d10 hit points, and some nifty abilities. Also, it is extremely easy to meet the requirements for it.

OC is not the most optimized combat PrC ever, but if it overcomes a weakness of the party, then it may be more effective than a +5 to hit
Votan
04-27-05, 09:34 AM I second the idea of classes with a good will save. Pious Templar does a nice job with a barbarian but there is that pesky true believer feat that really needs to be planned (or a psion with psychic reformation needs to be contacted).

Occult Slayer is the gold standard for making a fighter or barbarian better at resisting mind control. At level 5 it becomes immune to most will save issues but that might be a while coming.
Rundor The Mighty
12-01-05, 06:48 PM :bump: Grok, senator barbarian of the GukMuk people voted to have this topic bumped from deletion after being Hold Person + Coup de Graced way, way too many times.
Deckeon
12-01-05, 07:00 PM he's screwed - go make a cleric. Pretend Divine Power is actually "raging".
karga909
12-01-05, 10:56 PM I second focused rage from Races of Destiny if he's a half-orc.

If human, maybe a one-level dip into human paragon, although that will lower attack and hp.

Or of course you could take a level dip into hexblade for the +2 will, full BAB and d10 HD. You'd pretty much be wasting the hexblade ability. I'm guessing you have no charisma. If you do, another level or so in hexblade gives you arcane resistance (+Cha to spell and spell-like saves).
Surreal
12-01-05, 11:16 PM :bump: Grok, senator barbarian of the GukMuk people voted to have this topic bumped from deletion after being Hold Person + Coup de Graced way, way too many times.

Just get Improved Initiative. Who needs a will save when they're dead? (warning: actual results may vary :D)
Anor
12-02-05, 02:45 AM I second focused rage from Races of Destiny if he's a half-orc.

Do you mean Channeled Rage? This is a great feat to take for the Barbarian, specially the Frenzied Berserker who must make that DC 20 save when Frenzy must stop.

Another cool feat is Heroic Destiny, which gives you a d6 to add to the attack, skillcheck or save once per day. Could also be worth it! It not only let you boost that important WILL save, it may also help you hit that dragon before it fumes on you again.
Boshi
12-02-05, 07:07 AM Take a level of hexblade?

Full BaB, good will saves and a nice curse ability ain't bad...
runestar
12-02-05, 07:56 AM Is it possible to craft a custom items that grants save bonus to only 1 save? Or what an item that grants immunity to mind-affecting effects?
beezly
12-02-05, 08:30 AM A custom continuous Protection from Evil Item (w/o the defense bonus, as the DM might make it broken) would run you 2k
Apocron
12-02-05, 08:36 AM Yeah doesn't protection from evil stop evil characters from charming and dominating you?

Personally I was wondering if there is an item that just grants you immunity to mind affecting spells? I have an ogre who's will save is actually into the negative because of his terrible mental stats.
BarbeChenue
12-02-05, 09:46 AM Third Eye of Conceal (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#conceal)

Third Eye of Conceal
While worn, a third eye conceal protects the wearer from view by all devices, powers, and spells that detect, inf luence, or read emotions or thoughts. This power protects against all mind-affecting powers and effects as well as information-gathering by clairsentience powers or effects (except for metafaculty); this item affects the wearer as if he enjoyed the benefit of the psionic mind blank power.

Strong telepathy; ML 15th; Craft Universal Item, psionic mind blank; Price 120,000 gp.
aod318
12-02-05, 02:13 PM Pick up Blooded, Iron Will and Cumbrous Will. All set.
Opps, I see someone has already mentioned this. Where is the delete button?
Rundor The Mighty
12-02-05, 07:19 PM Pick up Blooded, Iron Will and Cumbrous Will. All set.
Opps, I see someone has already mentioned this. Where is the delete button?

Bullheaded, while only for dwarfs and humans, is better then blooded. Unless of course you ARE an elf or halfling barbarian.

Bullheaded + Iron Will + Cumberous will = +10 will save and not shaken from cumberous.

A vest +3, paltry +2 will from levels, 12 wisdom score either normal or 8-10 wisdom +2-4 from items is another +1, and +2 will from raging = 8. Add it all together and you have 16 will save, 18 while raging.

If you are half-orc then take off the bullheaded feat (-2 will) but add the channeled rage feat from races of destiny, with an 18 strength +2 from half orc you get a +5 strength modifier for +5 will for a total of 19. In rage +2 strength modifier and an additional +2 will spells a 23 will save. Nasty.

That should cover up will saves pretty good for either dwarf, human, or half orc barbarians.

Oh and if you can take flaws and/or are human the feat mageslayer gives you +1 to will save if you have a feat to spare.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tafkamhokie 04-26-05, 06:06 PM	The primary bruiser in the party is a 9th level barbarian/fighter type whose total Will save modifier is +0. He is viscious in melee, but a sitting duck for things like Hold Person, Color Spray, Hideous Laughter, Dominate Person, etc. Is there any way to boost only your will save that is more cost effective than a Cloak of Resistance (which affects all your saves)? If there were some way to boost his will save by +5 (but did nothing for Reflex or Fortitude), that would be far more valuable to him than something that boosted every save by +2 or +3. He's got about 10,000 gp to spend, but a Cloak of Resistance +3 (while better than nothing), just does not quite have the boost I'm looking for.
rilem 04-26-05, 06:10 PM	Crystal Mask of Mindarmor (PsiHndbk) gives a +4 bonus to Will saves. What feats/stats does he have? Iron Will and (if he's half-orc) Focused Rage from RoD could help a lot. Also the Champion of Gynharff or Holy Liberator, Occult Slayer, etc. Finally, cast protection from evil on the guy -- blocks all mind control.
thorian 04-26-05, 08:51 PM	At 9th level, the party caster could cast Superior Resistance (Savage Species) to give his Barbarian friend a +6 resistance bonus to saves for 1 hour per caster level. If that is too high of a spell level, Major Resistance gives a +3 bonus, and is only a 2nd level spell. The Iron Will feat gives +2 to will saves. The Cumbrous Will (Savage Species) feat gives +6 to will saves, but the character is shaken after its use, but that is better than being dominated, charmed, afraid, etc. Those 3 options give an additional +14 to will saves. Another option is for the Barb to consider levels of Occult Slayer (Complete Warrior).
imneuromancer 04-27-05, 08:52 AM	I have been looking at the Outcast Champion (Races of Destiny). One of its abilities is to give a +1 to WILL saves per level, and it radiates to your allies who are up to 30' away. OC also has full BAB, d10 hit points, and some nifty abilities. Also, it is extremely easy to meet the requirements for it. OC is not the most optimized combat PrC ever, but if it overcomes a weakness of the party, then it may be more effective than a +5 to hit
Votan 04-27-05, 09:34 AM	I second the idea of classes with a good will save. Pious Templar does a nice job with a barbarian but there is that pesky true believer feat that really needs to be planned (or a psion with psychic reformation needs to be contacted). Occult Slayer is the gold standard for making a fighter or barbarian better at resisting mind control. At level 5 it becomes immune to most will save issues but that might be a while coming.
Rundor The Mighty 12-01-05, 06:48 PM	:bump: Grok, senator barbarian of the GukMuk people voted to have this topic bumped from deletion after being Hold Person + Coup de Graced way, way too many times.
Deckeon 12-01-05, 07:00 PM	he's screwed - go make a cleric. Pretend Divine Power is actually "raging".
karga909 12-01-05, 10:56 PM	I second focused rage from Races of Destiny if he's a half-orc. If human, maybe a one-level dip into human paragon, although that will lower attack and hp. Or of course you could take a level dip into hexblade for the +2 will, full BAB and d10 HD. You'd pretty much be wasting the hexblade ability. I'm guessing you have no charisma. If you do, another level or so in hexblade gives you arcane resistance (+Cha to spell and spell-like saves).
Surreal 12-01-05, 11:16 PM	:bump: Grok, senator barbarian of the GukMuk people voted to have this topic bumped from deletion after being Hold Person + Coup de Graced way, way too many times. Just get Improved Initiative. Who needs a will save when they're dead? (warning: actual results may vary :D)
Anor 12-02-05, 02:45 AM	I second focused rage from Races of Destiny if he's a half-orc. Do you mean Channeled Rage? This is a great feat to take for the Barbarian, specially the Frenzied Berserker who must make that DC 20 save when Frenzy must stop. Another cool feat is Heroic Destiny, which gives you a d6 to add to the attack, skillcheck or save once per day. Could also be worth it! It not only let you boost that important WILL save, it may also help you hit that dragon before it fumes on you again.
Boshi 12-02-05, 07:07 AM	Take a level of hexblade? Full BaB, good will saves and a nice curse ability ain't bad...
runestar 12-02-05, 07:56 AM	Is it possible to craft a custom items that grants save bonus to only 1 save? Or what an item that grants immunity to mind-affecting effects?
beezly 12-02-05, 08:30 AM	A custom continuous Protection from Evil Item (w/o the defense bonus, as the DM might make it broken) would run you 2k
Apocron 12-02-05, 08:36 AM	Yeah doesn't protection from evil stop evil characters from charming and dominating you? Personally I was wondering if there is an item that just grants you immunity to mind affecting spells? I have an ogre who's will save is actually into the negative because of his terrible mental stats.
BarbeChenue 12-02-05, 09:46 AM	Third Eye of Conceal (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#conceal) Third Eye of Conceal While worn, a third eye conceal protects the wearer from view by all devices, powers, and spells that detect, inf luence, or read emotions or thoughts. This power protects against all mind-affecting powers and effects as well as information-gathering by clairsentience powers or effects (except for metafaculty); this item affects the wearer as if he enjoyed the benefit of the psionic mind blank power. Strong telepathy; ML 15th; Craft Universal Item, psionic mind blank; Price 120,000 gp.
aod318 12-02-05, 02:13 PM	Pick up Blooded, Iron Will and Cumbrous Will. All set. Opps, I see someone has already mentioned this. Where is the delete button?
Rundor The Mighty 12-02-05, 07:19 PM	Pick up Blooded, Iron Will and Cumbrous Will. All set. Opps, I see someone has already mentioned this. Where is the delete button? Bullheaded, while only for dwarfs and humans, is better then blooded. Unless of course you ARE an elf or halfling barbarian. Bullheaded + Iron Will + Cumberous will = +10 will save and not shaken from cumberous. A vest +3, paltry +2 will from levels, 12 wisdom score either normal or 8-10 wisdom +2-4 from items is another +1, and +2 will from raging = 8. Add it all together and you have 16 will save, 18 while raging. If you are half-orc then take off the bullheaded feat (-2 will) but add the channeled rage feat from races of destiny, with an 18 strength +2 from half orc you get a +5 strength modifier for +5 will for a total of 19. In rage +2 strength modifier and an additional +2 will spells a 23 will save. Nasty. That should cover up will saves pretty good for either dwarf, human, or half orc barbarians. Oh and if you can take flaws and/or are human the feat mageslayer gives you +1 to will save if you have a feat to spare.