Any more ways to improve bull rushing and tripping? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Any more ways to improve bull rushing and tripping? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lotus Crane
04-08-08, 11:36 PM Hey guys, mind helping me find more ways to improve the bull rushing and tripping ability of a warblade/fighter build I'm working on? Human with 2 flaws, currently looking at warblade 1/fighter 6.

Feats: Combat Expertise, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Trip, Knockdown, Power Attack, Shock Trooper, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization.
Other: Dungeon Crasher alternate class ability (Dungeonscape) which replaces 2 feats, the charging minotaur maneuver.

I realize that WFoc and WSpec don't necessarily contribute to bull rushing and tripping, but I figure I may as well try to qualify for Melee Weapon Mastery for the near future. And yes, Knockdown is technically 3.0 with no 3.5 update that I'm aware of, but it's being allowed at the moment.

The biggest thing I'm looking for are magic items or other equipment that grant bonuses to bull rush and trip attempts, or to Strength checks in general. I know some people are going to say to go for a Large race or one with Powerful Build, but unless one exists with LA 0, I'm not particularly interested; I don't think I can stomach losing the human bonus feat and falling a level behind.

I considered spiked chain, especially since later on I may try to squeeze in Combat Reflexes and Robilar's Gambit, but even for a primarily fighter build, I'm feat starved, and plus I'd like to guarantee a minimum of 10 damage per hit to always be able to activate Knockdown, so I was thinking of starting with a greatsword, and then later when my static damage bonuses total a minimum of +10, switch to scythe, using Weapon Aptitude to adjust the relevant feats.

If there aren't many (or even any) magic items that provide bonuses to bull rush and trip attempts or Strength checks, what would you price them at? The same as other skill boosters, bonus^2 *100 gp? Would that be for Str checks in general, or would I have to calculate the cost separately for a bull rush bonus and a trip bonus? How about a Str check equivalent of a circlet of persuasion, providing a bonus to all Str checks and Str-based ability checks, for a comparable cost?

Spells or psionics, particularly along the lines of enlarge person, whether permanent or not, probably wouldn't work too well, what with the need to spend a lot of time in urban settings. Besides chargining minotaur, are there any other warblade maneuvers I should consider for the future?
ibayboy
04-09-08, 04:48 PM Have a look at these weapon and armor properties from Magic Item Compendium...

Anchoring and Anchoring Gtr armor prop
Brutal Surge, Sweeping weapon prop and the Living Chain specific weapon

and these items...

Armbands of Might, Steadfast Boots, Rock Boots, Vanguard Treads, Brutes Gauntlets, and Helm of Battle
ToastedAmphibian
04-09-08, 05:55 PM Well, in addition to the size modifer there is a rather compelling reason to go large or goliath. "KnockBack" from races of stone. Anytime you hit with a powerattack, you can make a bullrush attempt for free. And you get whatever you powerattacked for added as a bonus to your strength check for the bullrush.

This works great with shocktrooper. Bull rush A into B, trip both, then use your bonus attacks from Improved trip to hit them both with power attack (While getting your +2 from charge and +4 for them being prone) to send them flying through teh air/skiding in the dirt. And, thanks to shocktrooper, you can knock them in any direction you like.

But, other possibilites:
Curling wave strike from stormwrack. You can use your IT attack to trip another target instead

Shield charge or highswordlowaxe both from CW if you decide to use either of thoes sets of weapons

Driving attack. Requiers percing mastery. As a full roud action you attack a target with a percing weapon. If you hit you get to make a free bullrush and use your dmg in place of your strenght bonus. You can also reduce how far they move by 10ft to ahve them fall prone where the bull rush stops.

Elusive target is another good one, but seems to be going opposite of your build, seeing as it requiers the mobility train. Its a nice feat though. Among other goodies, if someone makes an AoO on you and misses, you get to make a free trip attempt on them.
ciaran
04-09-08, 06:47 PM If there aren't many (or even any) magic items that provide bonuses to bull rush and trip attempts or Strength checks, what would you price them at? The same as other skill boosters, bonus^2 *100 gp? Would that be for Str checks in general, or would I have to calculate the cost separately for a bull rush bonus and a trip bonus? How about a Str check equivalent of a circlet of persuasion, providing a bonus to all Str checks and Str-based ability checks, for a comparable cost?

Check out Armbands of Might in Comp Adventurer. It grants a bonus to strength checks among other things.
Lotus Crane
04-09-08, 11:20 PM Thanks. Was there also supposed to be some item called "bracers of the giant" or "bracelet of the titan" or something that grants a pseudo-Powerful Build-like ability?

Edit: Never mind, found the strongarm bracers. No bonus to bull rushing and tripping though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lotus Crane 04-08-08, 11:36 PM	Hey guys, mind helping me find more ways to improve the bull rushing and tripping ability of a warblade/fighter build I'm working on? Human with 2 flaws, currently looking at warblade 1/fighter 6. Feats: Combat Expertise, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Trip, Knockdown, Power Attack, Shock Trooper, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization. Other: Dungeon Crasher alternate class ability (Dungeonscape) which replaces 2 feats, the charging minotaur maneuver. I realize that WFoc and WSpec don't necessarily contribute to bull rushing and tripping, but I figure I may as well try to qualify for Melee Weapon Mastery for the near future. And yes, Knockdown is technically 3.0 with no 3.5 update that I'm aware of, but it's being allowed at the moment. The biggest thing I'm looking for are magic items or other equipment that grant bonuses to bull rush and trip attempts, or to Strength checks in general. I know some people are going to say to go for a Large race or one with Powerful Build, but unless one exists with LA 0, I'm not particularly interested; I don't think I can stomach losing the human bonus feat and falling a level behind. I considered spiked chain, especially since later on I may try to squeeze in Combat Reflexes and Robilar's Gambit, but even for a primarily fighter build, I'm feat starved, and plus I'd like to guarantee a minimum of 10 damage per hit to always be able to activate Knockdown, so I was thinking of starting with a greatsword, and then later when my static damage bonuses total a minimum of +10, switch to scythe, using Weapon Aptitude to adjust the relevant feats. If there aren't many (or even any) magic items that provide bonuses to bull rush and trip attempts or Strength checks, what would you price them at? The same as other skill boosters, bonus^2 *100 gp? Would that be for Str checks in general, or would I have to calculate the cost separately for a bull rush bonus and a trip bonus? How about a Str check equivalent of a circlet of persuasion, providing a bonus to all Str checks and Str-based ability checks, for a comparable cost? Spells or psionics, particularly along the lines of enlarge person, whether permanent or not, probably wouldn't work too well, what with the need to spend a lot of time in urban settings. Besides chargining minotaur, are there any other warblade maneuvers I should consider for the future?
ibayboy 04-09-08, 04:48 PM	Have a look at these weapon and armor properties from Magic Item Compendium... Anchoring and Anchoring Gtr armor prop Brutal Surge, Sweeping weapon prop and the Living Chain specific weapon and these items... Armbands of Might, Steadfast Boots, Rock Boots, Vanguard Treads, Brutes Gauntlets, and Helm of Battle
ToastedAmphibian 04-09-08, 05:55 PM	Well, in addition to the size modifer there is a rather compelling reason to go large or goliath. "KnockBack" from races of stone. Anytime you hit with a powerattack, you can make a bullrush attempt for free. And you get whatever you powerattacked for added as a bonus to your strength check for the bullrush. This works great with shocktrooper. Bull rush A into B, trip both, then use your bonus attacks from Improved trip to hit them both with power attack (While getting your +2 from charge and +4 for them being prone) to send them flying through teh air/skiding in the dirt. And, thanks to shocktrooper, you can knock them in any direction you like. But, other possibilites: Curling wave strike from stormwrack. You can use your IT attack to trip another target instead Shield charge or highswordlowaxe both from CW if you decide to use either of thoes sets of weapons Driving attack. Requiers percing mastery. As a full roud action you attack a target with a percing weapon. If you hit you get to make a free bullrush and use your dmg in place of your strenght bonus. You can also reduce how far they move by 10ft to ahve them fall prone where the bull rush stops. Elusive target is another good one, but seems to be going opposite of your build, seeing as it requiers the mobility train. Its a nice feat though. Among other goodies, if someone makes an AoO on you and misses, you get to make a free trip attempt on them.
ciaran 04-09-08, 06:47 PM	If there aren't many (or even any) magic items that provide bonuses to bull rush and trip attempts or Strength checks, what would you price them at? The same as other skill boosters, bonus^2 *100 gp? Would that be for Str checks in general, or would I have to calculate the cost separately for a bull rush bonus and a trip bonus? How about a Str check equivalent of a circlet of persuasion, providing a bonus to all Str checks and Str-based ability checks, for a comparable cost? Check out Armbands of Might in Comp Adventurer. It grants a bonus to strength checks among other things.
Lotus Crane 04-09-08, 11:20 PM	Thanks. Was there also supposed to be some item called "bracers of the giant" or "bracelet of the titan" or something that grants a pseudo-Powerful Build-like ability? Edit: Never mind, found the strongarm bracers. No bonus to bull rushing and tripping though.