1st Time Warforged Fighter Needs Advice [Archive] - Wizards Community

1st Time Warforged Fighter Needs Advice [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord_Zzyzx
05-31-07, 04:02 PM I am sure this has been much discussed in the past. However, I am new to Eberron and haven't played a fighter in 10 yrs, let alone a warforged character. With that said I am looking for feat and skill suggestions for a fighter that will use a longsword and a medium to large shield. Also, if someone has found a more effective class/weapon combo I am absolutely open to suggestions. This build will be to sole front line in a 4 character party so I can't totally sacrifice defense to go gonzo on damage and to hit capability. Also the DM is very liberal about builds as he figures that anything we field he can field against us. Lastly, the party is opting for a chaotic neutral alignment (more or less) so I am unencumbered by goodie-goodie restrictions (ie can take the dirty fighting feat) but not able to do paladins and the like.
Broxigar
05-31-07, 05:12 PM I'd recommend taking a bastard sword instead of a longsword to go with your shield, after getting the exotic weapon proficiency feat. That way you can still have the shield for increased defense, but a bastard sword is almost as good as a greatsword. Also, I think the larger bastard sword would suit a warforged more than a smaller longsword.
PiccaloJr
05-31-07, 05:42 PM I've suggested it before and I'll do it again cause it's COOL DANG IT!
^_^
Check out the Dungeon Crasher Variant in Dungeonscape.
NICE dmg boost.
Balseraph
05-31-07, 07:06 PM From memory, isn't the armblade warforged component a bastard sword?
Admittedly it isn't hard to just use another weapon as the base, but I think I recall it being a bastard sword in the ECS.
(Book is in the other room, it's cold out there, sue me! :P)
Phantomcrossing
05-31-07, 09:59 PM Fighter...hmm...warforged...hmm....

Okay. Lets do this, 1st Level Feat: Adamantine Body, start play with the armor equivalent of full plate and DR 2/Adamantine. A nice thing to have in the earlier levels.

1st Level Fighter Bonus Feat: Improved Shield Bash. Retain Shield bonus to AC on a shield bash. This works nicely. Make the sheild bash your primary, followed up by your slam at only a -5 penalty.

2nd level Fighter Bonus Feat: Shield Specialization (improve bonus to armor when using shields by 1)

3rd Level Feat: Agile Shield Fighter: Reduce Two weapon penalties when fighting with shield to -2/-2, Use longsword, shield, and a slam at a -5 penalty. 1d8+str, 1d6+1/2str, and 1d4+1/2str.

Heavy shield is a +2, +3 with Shield Specialization. Armor Bonus is +8. Before dex that's an AC of 21. Though Adamantine Body limits your max dex of 1, so assuming you have at least a 12 in dex, you'll have a 22 AC by second level and a 21 at first. Though at first you'll only have your longsword and then your slam at a -5 penalty.

Here's where you start having some fun.

4th Level Fighter Bonus feat: Jaws of Death, an Additional Natural Attack with 1d6 bite. You're unlikely to hit with this on a normal basis, but its nice to have, and a nice build up for what's to come.

By around this point you should have obtained a Battlefist component, made your Slam a nice 1d6+1/2str+2.

6th Level Fighter Bonus Feat: Second Slam. Get a second Slam attack.

6th Level Feat: Multiattack (reduce penalty to fighting with multiple weapons to -2).

Now, not calculating your strength modifier or magics. By this level you have a +6 Bab. Longsword attacks at +4/-1, Shield at +4, Slam at +2, Bite at +0, and a second slam at -2.
2 sword hits, 1 shield, 2 slams, 1 bite. 6 attacks in a full attack. Masterwork quality, magics, and other matters aside, this is good.

You're a warforged who is a flurry of destruction and defense...but it gets better.

8th Level Fighter Bonus Feat: Heavy Armor Optimization: Increase your bonus from your body by 1, reduce your armor check penalty by 1.

9th Level Feat: Greater Heavy Armor Optimization: Gain another 1 to your armor bonus to AC, and reduce your armor check penalty by 2.

Increase your abilities as necessary. This build should help you be a strong defender while still being able to output damage.

Not counting magical equipment you have a 24 AC and a nice layout of opportunities.

I would definitely suggest getting a battle-fist for this build. You'll be hard to bring down. Not as trixie as some other fighter builds, but it may work out well. You'll tank quite nicely...well, you'll be a tank, you won't tank...After this point, you can take a feat from Races of Eberron which grants you immunity to critical hits and sneak attacks, you could throw it into the build earlier if you wish. Drop the shield fighting feats beside shield specialization if you think that'll fit better. Replace your heavy shield with a Tower shield and fight with the Longsword and Natural attacks. With the Tower Shield you'll have a 26 AC by this point, though at the cost of a -1 on attack rolls even with proficiency in the tower shield.
Arcane Guyver
06-01-07, 02:29 AM The only problem I see with the build above is with 'Heavy Armor Specialization' and 'Greater Heavy Armor Specialization.' A warforged doesn't have an armor check penalty; they DO have an unnamed penalty on various skill checks, however. Very similar, except that the penalty isn't multiplied when a warforged attempts to make a Swim check.
The_wizard_Tim
06-01-07, 11:31 AM I would go with barbarian. Why you may ask well try no penalties from rage! you get cool bonuses from it with out the side effects..
Lord_Zzyzx
06-01-07, 01:41 PM Wow. Thanks. That is a great build.
If the adamantine confers DR can that be improved through feats?
Also, from a logistical standpoint, if you have a battle fist, a sword, and a sizable shield, how can you use all three in the same round?

I thought about a barbarian or a monk but they didn't fit the backstory well. Also I may be way off on this but aren't barbarians distrustful of magic? I wouldn't want to limit my ability to use magic items in a land that is inherently magical. We are moving away from our Ravenloft campaign partly to be able to freely use magic.
Der_Berserker
06-01-07, 02:13 PM @Phantomcrossing: Is it allowed to take Multiattack at Level 6? The Warforged doesn't fulfill the Prerequisite (Three or more natural attacks) i think. He has two natural attacks (one slam and one bite attack). At 6th level, he has - following the rules for level advancement PHB p. 58 - first to choose the feat for a character of 6th level and then the fighter bonus feat. But Second Slam (the fighter bonus feat) qualifies for Multiattack. Unfortunately its the wrong order.

Or am i wrong?
paleface
06-01-07, 03:12 PM @Phantomcrossing: Is it allowed to take Multiattack at Level 6? The Warforged doesn't fulfill the Prerequisite (Three or more natural attacks) i think. He has two natural attacks (one slam and one bite attack). At 6th level, he has - following the rules for level advancement PHB p. 58 - first to choose the feat for a character of 6th level and then the fighter bonus feat. But Second Slam (the fighter bonus feat) qualifies for Multiattack. Unfortunately its the wrong order.

Or am i wrong?

Doesn't a Bite + 2 Slams = 3 Natural Attacks?
paleface
06-01-07, 03:13 PM Which books are these feats found in?
Der_Berserker
06-01-07, 05:38 PM @Paleface: Races of Eberron

Yes, 3 natural attacks with Jaws of Death and Second Slam, right.

The Problem(?):

The character reaches level 6. First he has to choose the feat for level 6, than the fighter bonus feat (Second Slam). Second Slam resp. the third natural attack is the prerequisite for Multiattack, but you has to take it before Multiattack.
PiccaloJr
06-02-07, 03:51 PM Wow. Thanks. That is a great build.
If the adamantine confers DR can that be improved through feats?
Also, from a logistical standpoint, if you have a battle fist, a sword, and a sizable shield, how can you use all three in the same round?

Yep. Check the main eberron book pg 55. It's the Improved Damage Reduction feat.

I thought about a barbarian or a monk but they didn't fit the backstory well. Also I may be way off on this but aren't barbarians distrustful of magic? I wouldn't want to limit my ability to use magic items in a land that is inherently magical. We are moving away from our Ravenloft campaign partly to be able to freely use magic.

Well it depends on the DM and their interpretation of how Barbarian "works/thinks" in general. Some DMs have them, as you said, wary of magic. It just depends on how your DM wants to handle it. If he lets you just take a 1 level dip for Rage. You don't get exhausted afterwards and it'll bump your damage output. Down side though is it slows your fighter progress. Choice is yours.
^_^
gelalshawr
06-02-07, 04:04 PM The only problem I see with the build above is with 'Heavy Armor Specialization' and 'Greater Heavy Armor Specialization.' A warforged doesn't have an armor check penalty; they DO have an unnamed penalty on various skill checks, however. Very similar, except that the penalty isn't multiplied when a warforged attempts to make a Swim check.

Adamantine Body has an armor check penalty of 5 I think, don't have my ECS on me so I could be a bit off, but it's similar to the ACP for full plate
Phantomcrossing
06-02-07, 08:59 PM I think there may be a better Improved DR feat in Savage Species.
Der_Berserker
06-03-07, 06:42 AM Am i right with the Multiattack/Second Slam problem resp. the order of taking the feats? I'm interested in because a warforged in our group has the same "problem". I wrote above as we agreed, but is it also correct?
Phantomcrossing
06-03-07, 11:51 AM In all honesty. If you're taking them at the same level, (second slam and multi-attack) who gives a flying ****?

Who I ask you? Who?

I can meet the skill prereqs for a feat when I level up by doing my skills first....though in all honesty I always do skills last because I hate doing skills. The only thing that matters is how your group usually runs games and the rules.

It boils down to what the house rules are, who the DM is, what he will allow, or even care about. This build can be switched up a little and these issues resolved. Its not an absolute, it was off the top of my head, its made to be toyed and tinkered with. Scarilly enough though, i just realized I built that off the top of my head, without consulting any books...holy crap I need to get some sun.
Der_Berserker
06-03-07, 01:18 PM Right. Everbody can do it as he wants =). I wanted only to know if it is possible or not following the rules as written.

Sun? You are happy, here is no sun...

Greetings,
Berserker
chromeraven
06-03-07, 03:24 PM Am i right with the Multiattack/Second Slam problem resp. the order of taking the feats? I'm interested in because a warforged in our group has the same "problem". I wrote above as we agreed, but is it also correct?

A character can gain a feat at the same level at which he or she gains the prerequisite.

Seems pretty straightforward to me.
Rerecros
06-03-07, 06:34 PM I say screw shield bash/agile shield fighter, and get a towershild.
Phantomcrossing
06-04-07, 07:00 AM Or you could grab a Hide shield from Sandstorm and keep on bashing, its base is a +3 armor bonus.
Cifer
06-04-07, 07:50 AM Adamantine Body has an armor check penalty of 5 I think, don't have my ECS on me so I could be a bit off, but it's similar to the ACP for full plate
Not quite. The plating gives you a penalty on a lot of things where ACP would normally apply to, but it is not an ACP itself. That's important to understand because it means wizards could get adamantine plating without trouble because of their non-proficiency (they wouldn't, because of their spell failure, but that's something else).

I would go with barbarian. Why you may ask well try no penalties from rage! you get cool bonuses from it with out the side effects..
On the other hand side, you now need more dexterity because you shouldn't use adamantine plating unless you wish to lose your speed bonus and the other practical stuff barbarian offers.
Lord_Zzyzx
06-04-07, 03:35 PM So were I to take a tower shield instead of a smaller-size shield am I compromising shield bash capabilities? Conversely, if I am allowed to still make shield bashes does the damage go up as I would be hitting my opponent with a car door instead of a trash can lid?
Phantomcrossing
06-04-07, 07:19 PM Tower Shields cannot be used to make a shield bash attack. If you choose to use it, you should not take Agile Shield Fighter or Improved Shield Bash. If you want a still good mundane shield without the drawbacks of the Tower shield, go with the Hide Shield in Sandstorm. If you go with the Hide Shield, it grants a +3 shield bonus on its own. It comes down to what you want to do.

I did this build to be a defensive while still potently offensive build, any changes you think will help are ultimately up to you.
ChristopherGroves
06-04-07, 09:27 PM There are a couple of very effective cannonical Warforged fighter-ish builds.

Barb (lion variant - complete champion) 1 / Fighter 4 / Warforged Juggernaught 5 ... finish however, maybe Frenzied Berserker
- you're a pounce charger ... full attack on a charge

Fighter 6 (dungeoncrasher sub levels from dungeonscape) / Warforged Juggernaught 5 ... if you can, finish with Warmind (Expanded Psionics)
- Psionics are nice for healing, expansion, etc.
- Dungeoncrasher makes you a pretty awesome bull-rusher
Lord_Zzyzx
06-06-07, 12:39 PM I have heard a lot about the juggernaut PrC. Is it really worth it?

Also, if I go full damage potential (not concentrating on using shields etc.) should I take weapon focus/weapon specialization/power attack.
LoneStranger
06-08-07, 01:58 AM I agree about the string of feats leading to Weapon Supremacy especially for the Bastard Sword, since the armblade is a +1 Bastard Sword.

As far as some of the other feats discussed:

Armor Optimization feats I'm not sure about, better off checking with the DM on that one. Also for armor specialization.

Shield specialization is a very good one to take.

Adamantine Body, yes.

Improved Fortification is nice, no more crit damage period.

Improved Damage Reduction can be nice too.

Jaws of Death, eh not so much, at least I don't think so.

Improved Resiliency, lose the ability to take nonlethal damage.

If you are going to go with Juggernaut don't worry about the feats that let you ignore certain types of damage since the prestige class gives that to you anyway. As for the tower shield vs heavy shield I'd say heavy shield, overall easier to work with and opens up shield bashes if you want.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord_Zzyzx 05-31-07, 04:02 PM	I am sure this has been much discussed in the past. However, I am new to Eberron and haven't played a fighter in 10 yrs, let alone a warforged character. With that said I am looking for feat and skill suggestions for a fighter that will use a longsword and a medium to large shield. Also, if someone has found a more effective class/weapon combo I am absolutely open to suggestions. This build will be to sole front line in a 4 character party so I can't totally sacrifice defense to go gonzo on damage and to hit capability. Also the DM is very liberal about builds as he figures that anything we field he can field against us. Lastly, the party is opting for a chaotic neutral alignment (more or less) so I am unencumbered by goodie-goodie restrictions (ie can take the dirty fighting feat) but not able to do paladins and the like.
Broxigar 05-31-07, 05:12 PM	I'd recommend taking a bastard sword instead of a longsword to go with your shield, after getting the exotic weapon proficiency feat. That way you can still have the shield for increased defense, but a bastard sword is almost as good as a greatsword. Also, I think the larger bastard sword would suit a warforged more than a smaller longsword.
PiccaloJr 05-31-07, 05:42 PM	I've suggested it before and I'll do it again cause it's COOL DANG IT! ^_^ Check out the Dungeon Crasher Variant in Dungeonscape. NICE dmg boost.
Balseraph 05-31-07, 07:06 PM	From memory, isn't the armblade warforged component a bastard sword? Admittedly it isn't hard to just use another weapon as the base, but I think I recall it being a bastard sword in the ECS. (Book is in the other room, it's cold out there, sue me! :P)
Phantomcrossing 05-31-07, 09:59 PM	Fighter...hmm...warforged...hmm.... Okay. Lets do this, 1st Level Feat: Adamantine Body, start play with the armor equivalent of full plate and DR 2/Adamantine. A nice thing to have in the earlier levels. 1st Level Fighter Bonus Feat: Improved Shield Bash. Retain Shield bonus to AC on a shield bash. This works nicely. Make the sheild bash your primary, followed up by your slam at only a -5 penalty. 2nd level Fighter Bonus Feat: Shield Specialization (improve bonus to armor when using shields by 1) 3rd Level Feat: Agile Shield Fighter: Reduce Two weapon penalties when fighting with shield to -2/-2, Use longsword, shield, and a slam at a -5 penalty. 1d8+str, 1d6+1/2str, and 1d4+1/2str. Heavy shield is a +2, +3 with Shield Specialization. Armor Bonus is +8. Before dex that's an AC of 21. Though Adamantine Body limits your max dex of 1, so assuming you have at least a 12 in dex, you'll have a 22 AC by second level and a 21 at first. Though at first you'll only have your longsword and then your slam at a -5 penalty. Here's where you start having some fun. 4th Level Fighter Bonus feat: Jaws of Death, an Additional Natural Attack with 1d6 bite. You're unlikely to hit with this on a normal basis, but its nice to have, and a nice build up for what's to come. By around this point you should have obtained a Battlefist component, made your Slam a nice 1d6+1/2str+2. 6th Level Fighter Bonus Feat: Second Slam. Get a second Slam attack. 6th Level Feat: Multiattack (reduce penalty to fighting with multiple weapons to -2). Now, not calculating your strength modifier or magics. By this level you have a +6 Bab. Longsword attacks at +4/-1, Shield at +4, Slam at +2, Bite at +0, and a second slam at -2. 2 sword hits, 1 shield, 2 slams, 1 bite. 6 attacks in a full attack. Masterwork quality, magics, and other matters aside, this is good. You're a warforged who is a flurry of destruction and defense...but it gets better. 8th Level Fighter Bonus Feat: Heavy Armor Optimization: Increase your bonus from your body by 1, reduce your armor check penalty by 1. 9th Level Feat: Greater Heavy Armor Optimization: Gain another 1 to your armor bonus to AC, and reduce your armor check penalty by 2. Increase your abilities as necessary. This build should help you be a strong defender while still being able to output damage. Not counting magical equipment you have a 24 AC and a nice layout of opportunities. I would definitely suggest getting a battle-fist for this build. You'll be hard to bring down. Not as trixie as some other fighter builds, but it may work out well. You'll tank quite nicely...well, you'll be a tank, you won't tank...After this point, you can take a feat from Races of Eberron which grants you immunity to critical hits and sneak attacks, you could throw it into the build earlier if you wish. Drop the shield fighting feats beside shield specialization if you think that'll fit better. Replace your heavy shield with a Tower shield and fight with the Longsword and Natural attacks. With the Tower Shield you'll have a 26 AC by this point, though at the cost of a -1 on attack rolls even with proficiency in the tower shield.
Arcane Guyver 06-01-07, 02:29 AM	The only problem I see with the build above is with 'Heavy Armor Specialization' and 'Greater Heavy Armor Specialization.' A warforged doesn't have an armor check penalty; they DO have an unnamed penalty on various skill checks, however. Very similar, except that the penalty isn't multiplied when a warforged attempts to make a Swim check.
The_wizard_Tim 06-01-07, 11:31 AM	I would go with barbarian. Why you may ask well try no penalties from rage! you get cool bonuses from it with out the side effects..
Lord_Zzyzx 06-01-07, 01:41 PM	Wow. Thanks. That is a great build. If the adamantine confers DR can that be improved through feats? Also, from a logistical standpoint, if you have a battle fist, a sword, and a sizable shield, how can you use all three in the same round? I thought about a barbarian or a monk but they didn't fit the backstory well. Also I may be way off on this but aren't barbarians distrustful of magic? I wouldn't want to limit my ability to use magic items in a land that is inherently magical. We are moving away from our Ravenloft campaign partly to be able to freely use magic.
Der_Berserker 06-01-07, 02:13 PM	@Phantomcrossing: Is it allowed to take Multiattack at Level 6? The Warforged doesn't fulfill the Prerequisite (Three or more natural attacks) i think. He has two natural attacks (one slam and one bite attack). At 6th level, he has - following the rules for level advancement PHB p. 58 - first to choose the feat for a character of 6th level and then the fighter bonus feat. But Second Slam (the fighter bonus feat) qualifies for Multiattack. Unfortunately its the wrong order. Or am i wrong?
paleface 06-01-07, 03:12 PM	@Phantomcrossing: Is it allowed to take Multiattack at Level 6? The Warforged doesn't fulfill the Prerequisite (Three or more natural attacks) i think. He has two natural attacks (one slam and one bite attack). At 6th level, he has - following the rules for level advancement PHB p. 58 - first to choose the feat for a character of 6th level and then the fighter bonus feat. But Second Slam (the fighter bonus feat) qualifies for Multiattack. Unfortunately its the wrong order. Or am i wrong? Doesn't a Bite + 2 Slams = 3 Natural Attacks?
paleface 06-01-07, 03:13 PM	Which books are these feats found in?
Der_Berserker 06-01-07, 05:38 PM	@Paleface: Races of Eberron Yes, 3 natural attacks with Jaws of Death and Second Slam, right. The Problem(?): The character reaches level 6. First he has to choose the feat for level 6, than the fighter bonus feat (Second Slam). Second Slam resp. the third natural attack is the prerequisite for Multiattack, but you has to take it before Multiattack.
PiccaloJr 06-02-07, 03:51 PM	Wow. Thanks. That is a great build. If the adamantine confers DR can that be improved through feats? Also, from a logistical standpoint, if you have a battle fist, a sword, and a sizable shield, how can you use all three in the same round? Yep. Check the main eberron book pg 55. It's the Improved Damage Reduction feat. I thought about a barbarian or a monk but they didn't fit the backstory well. Also I may be way off on this but aren't barbarians distrustful of magic? I wouldn't want to limit my ability to use magic items in a land that is inherently magical. We are moving away from our Ravenloft campaign partly to be able to freely use magic. Well it depends on the DM and their interpretation of how Barbarian "works/thinks" in general. Some DMs have them, as you said, wary of magic. It just depends on how your DM wants to handle it. If he lets you just take a 1 level dip for Rage. You don't get exhausted afterwards and it'll bump your damage output. Down side though is it slows your fighter progress. Choice is yours. ^_^
gelalshawr 06-02-07, 04:04 PM	The only problem I see with the build above is with 'Heavy Armor Specialization' and 'Greater Heavy Armor Specialization.' A warforged doesn't have an armor check penalty; they DO have an unnamed penalty on various skill checks, however. Very similar, except that the penalty isn't multiplied when a warforged attempts to make a Swim check. Adamantine Body has an armor check penalty of 5 I think, don't have my ECS on me so I could be a bit off, but it's similar to the ACP for full plate
Phantomcrossing 06-02-07, 08:59 PM	I think there may be a better Improved DR feat in Savage Species.
Der_Berserker 06-03-07, 06:42 AM	Am i right with the Multiattack/Second Slam problem resp. the order of taking the feats? I'm interested in because a warforged in our group has the same "problem". I wrote above as we agreed, but is it also correct?
Phantomcrossing 06-03-07, 11:51 AM	In all honesty. If you're taking them at the same level, (second slam and multi-attack) who gives a flying ****? Who I ask you? Who? I can meet the skill prereqs for a feat when I level up by doing my skills first....though in all honesty I always do skills last because I hate doing skills. The only thing that matters is how your group usually runs games and the rules. It boils down to what the house rules are, who the DM is, what he will allow, or even care about. This build can be switched up a little and these issues resolved. Its not an absolute, it was off the top of my head, its made to be toyed and tinkered with. Scarilly enough though, i just realized I built that off the top of my head, without consulting any books...holy crap I need to get some sun.
Der_Berserker 06-03-07, 01:18 PM	Right. Everbody can do it as he wants =). I wanted only to know if it is possible or not following the rules as written. Sun? You are happy, here is no sun... Greetings, Berserker
chromeraven 06-03-07, 03:24 PM	Am i right with the Multiattack/Second Slam problem resp. the order of taking the feats? I'm interested in because a warforged in our group has the same "problem". I wrote above as we agreed, but is it also correct? A character can gain a feat at the same level at which he or she gains the prerequisite. Seems pretty straightforward to me.
Rerecros 06-03-07, 06:34 PM	I say screw shield bash/agile shield fighter, and get a towershild.
Phantomcrossing 06-04-07, 07:00 AM	Or you could grab a Hide shield from Sandstorm and keep on bashing, its base is a +3 armor bonus.
Cifer 06-04-07, 07:50 AM	Adamantine Body has an armor check penalty of 5 I think, don't have my ECS on me so I could be a bit off, but it's similar to the ACP for full plate Not quite. The plating gives you a penalty on a lot of things where ACP would normally apply to, but it is not an ACP itself. That's important to understand because it means wizards could get adamantine plating without trouble because of their non-proficiency (they wouldn't, because of their spell failure, but that's something else). I would go with barbarian. Why you may ask well try no penalties from rage! you get cool bonuses from it with out the side effects.. On the other hand side, you now need more dexterity because you shouldn't use adamantine plating unless you wish to lose your speed bonus and the other practical stuff barbarian offers.
Lord_Zzyzx 06-04-07, 03:35 PM	So were I to take a tower shield instead of a smaller-size shield am I compromising shield bash capabilities? Conversely, if I am allowed to still make shield bashes does the damage go up as I would be hitting my opponent with a car door instead of a trash can lid?
Phantomcrossing 06-04-07, 07:19 PM	Tower Shields cannot be used to make a shield bash attack. If you choose to use it, you should not take Agile Shield Fighter or Improved Shield Bash. If you want a still good mundane shield without the drawbacks of the Tower shield, go with the Hide Shield in Sandstorm. If you go with the Hide Shield, it grants a +3 shield bonus on its own. It comes down to what you want to do. I did this build to be a defensive while still potently offensive build, any changes you think will help are ultimately up to you.
ChristopherGroves 06-04-07, 09:27 PM	There are a couple of very effective cannonical Warforged fighter-ish builds. Barb (lion variant - complete champion) 1 / Fighter 4 / Warforged Juggernaught 5 ... finish however, maybe Frenzied Berserker - you're a pounce charger ... full attack on a charge Fighter 6 (dungeoncrasher sub levels from dungeonscape) / Warforged Juggernaught 5 ... if you can, finish with Warmind (Expanded Psionics) - Psionics are nice for healing, expansion, etc. - Dungeoncrasher makes you a pretty awesome bull-rusher
Lord_Zzyzx 06-06-07, 12:39 PM	I have heard a lot about the juggernaut PrC. Is it really worth it? Also, if I go full damage potential (not concentrating on using shields etc.) should I take weapon focus/weapon specialization/power attack.
LoneStranger 06-08-07, 01:58 AM	I agree about the string of feats leading to Weapon Supremacy especially for the Bastard Sword, since the armblade is a +1 Bastard Sword. As far as some of the other feats discussed: Armor Optimization feats I'm not sure about, better off checking with the DM on that one. Also for armor specialization. Shield specialization is a very good one to take. Adamantine Body, yes. Improved Fortification is nice, no more crit damage period. Improved Damage Reduction can be nice too. Jaws of Death, eh not so much, at least I don't think so. Improved Resiliency, lose the ability to take nonlethal damage. If you are going to go with Juggernaut don't worry about the feats that let you ignore certain types of damage since the prestige class gives that to you anyway. As for the tower shield vs heavy shield I'd say heavy shield, overall easier to work with and opens up shield bashes if you want.