Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ralis 04-17-07, 09:32 AM	Okay. I've been looking and I'm having a hard time planning out my character for LG. At the moment It looks like I'll be playing a pure fighter, as I don't have any 3.5 books and don't see an advantage in multiclassing or prestige class. Human Fighter Str 14 dex 14 con 14 int 14 wis 10 cha 10 Feats: Power attack Cleave Weapon Focus : glaive Skills Climbing 4 intimitate 4 knowledge local(cc) 1 Handle animal 2 ride 4 Swim 4 So far the only plans I've made is taking Great Cleave when my bab is high enough, along with short haft (or shorten grip) I might take one level of rogue, but that would only be for the +2 to my reflex save, as well as the 10 skill points to put into spot and listen. (as class skills)
Redfist 04-17-07, 11:07 AM	Cleave is an ok feat at low levels and not as commonly used at higher levels. Great Cleave would be even less used at higher levels - I'd avoid that one. I'd also work on your attributes differently. For example, unless you need a lot of skills, I don't see why you are taking a 14 INT. Having an INT of 13 gets you ready for Combat Expertise.
bitznarf 04-17-07, 11:32 AM	Okay. I've been looking and I'm having a hard time planning out my character for LG. At the moment It looks like I'll be playing a pure fighter, as I don't have any 3.5 books and don't see an advantage in multiclassing or prestige class. Well, there is actually a great benefit to be had by multiclassing as a fighter type, this includes taking a PrC (or 3). Don't get me wrong, a straight fighter type can be quite as effective as well, there is just less gravy in the build. Normally. Human Fighter Str 14 dex 14 con 14 int 14 wis 10 cha 10 Feats: Power attack Cleave Weapon Focus : glaive Skills Climbing 4 intimitate 4 knowledge local(cc) 1 Handle animal 2 ride 4 Swim 4 So far the only plans I've made is taking Great Cleave when my bab is high enough, along with short haft (or shorten grip) I might take one level of rogue, but that would only be for the +2 to my reflex save, as well as the 10 skill points to put into spot and listen. (as class skills) You may want to take a look at this thread for reference. It has some great stuff in it, including a nearly straight fighter build that works, as seems to be your goal. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=772733 One note, if you are going to be taking feats like short haft you are legally required per the RPGA/LGCS rules to own the source book that the rule comes from.
Sieylianna 04-17-07, 12:45 PM	I'd try and get your starting strength to at least 15, so you will have a 16 with your 4th level stat bump. The points could come from Dex (if you plan to wear heavy armor), Int (if you don't plan on combat expertise) or either of Wis or Cha. (Wis would be my last choice). Ed
zoinks69 04-18-07, 12:31 AM	Okay. I've been looking and I'm having a hard time planning out my character for LG. At the moment It looks like I'll be playing a pure fighter, as I don't have any 3.5 books and don't see an advantage in multiclassing or prestige class. Human Fighter Str 14 dex 14 con 14 int 14 wis 10 cha 10 Feats: Power attack Cleave Weapon Focus : glaive Skills Climbing 4 intimitate 4 knowledge local(cc) 1 Handle animal 2 ride 4 Swim 4 So far the only plans I've made is taking Great Cleave when my bab is high enough, along with short haft (or shorten grip) I might take one level of rogue, but that would only be for the +2 to my reflex save, as well as the 10 skill points to put into spot and listen. (as class skills) While there's nothing wrong with straight fighter -- just about any class never has a problem of "too many feats and not enough choices" -- I'd suggest considering how your PC will look at level 5, 10, 15 (or whatever). 1. Can I damage everything? This means a. hitting it and b. giving it a good smack so you aren't ignored in favor of the tasty casters. 2. Can I survive attacks? Via AC or lots of HP. 3. Can I make my saves? Will save would be most critical, but a straight fighter is really going to be hurting for all saves -- you're going to be expected to at least hit Fort and not doing it (and usually dying) hurts the team if you're the only tank type. Decide what it is you want your PC to do -- if you want to dish melee damage, give yourself 18 (or at minimum 16) strength. If you want to be an archer...give yourself 18 strength still (doing more damage but hitting less often at low levels pays off later on when you want to punch through DR with your 18 shots a round). If you want to be a skills guy (which your current stats are really set up for), go for a rogue level first (for a ton of skill points) and make sure everyone knows you are not quite a front line fighter. I'd definitely suggest looking into multiclassing...even if it's only one level of barbarian. For a fighter type there's no better feat than RAGE (in fact it's not even a feat ;) The big benefits are: Getting "goodies" at every level (as opposed to a fighter that gets a feat every other level besides 1) and saves stacking. Other options that you'd have to build toward -- Pious Templar, Occult Slayer, Exotic Weapon Master and so on. Some of the good stuff is race-specific for dwarf or elf, but either is a fine option (dwarf for tank, elf for archer).
Eric Anondson 04-18-07, 02:07 AM	You have a reach weapon with a +2 Dex modifier. Consider strongly Combat Reflexes early and maybe Hold the Line ASAP afterwards. You will have three available attacks of opportunity every round. Backed up with Power Attack and Cleave and you can become a menace on the battlefield. Close Quarters Fighting (Complete Warrior) will help for when those big monsters try and Improved Grab you... and there will be many. One of the best all around feats out there for melee combat types, IMO. Do keep in mind a dip into barbarian, the ability to Rage gives extra Strength from which you can make your Power Attacks more likely to hit as well as hurt more when you do hit. Then consider Extra Rage (Complete Warrior) to be able to rage at least three times in a day. The extra hit points from the Con bonus, improved Fort, and improved Will save from rage are also nothing to sneeze at. Afterall, a straight fighter going 15 levels will have a "dead" level at 15th in there as fighters only get bonus feats on even levels after 1st level. A dip into barbarian is not a bad call to fill that dead spot.
Ralis 04-18-07, 09:58 AM	Thank you, Eric. I think your the only person on that thread that gave me some solid advice instead of just attacking how I already made my char. I already have one AR done with my fighter so I'm kinda stuck with what I have. Yes I was already looking at combat reflexes, but my only question is, from my understanding even with a reach weapon, I don't threaten the full range of my glaive. Will "Hold the Line" give me that thread for AoO? (I know I need to get my hands on some the 3.5 books, even if its only PHB 2)
Timlagor 04-18-07, 11:38 AM	Get some Armour Spikes to threaten close in. Glaives are ok but with 14 Int (which I would take if taking 13 for Expertise) you reallly ought to take Combat Expertise and Improved Trip/Disarm: guisarmes are better than glaives because the damage die is almost completely irrelevant in the long term and tripping is worth much more anyway. (and it's just so much better if the charging Orcs can't get closer than 10' with their falchions) Complete Warrior is probably a better investment for a Fighter player but if you're planning on making more characters PHB2 is probably a good choice. I think MIC will become the most important book to own once it hits the campaign so I recommend budgetting for that (if budgetting is an issue for you)
Eric Anondson 04-18-07, 11:38 AM	Yes I was already looking at combat reflexes, but my only question is, from my understanding even with a reach weapon, I don't threaten the full range of my glaive. Will "Hold the Line" give me that thread for AoO?Short Haft (PHB2) will allow you to attack inside the glaive's reach. It allows you, as a swift action, to draw in your reach weapon, effectively ending the reach so that you can attack adjacent squares. If you want to threaten in that gap without losing the reach look at armor spikes. Hold the Line (Complete Warrior) grants the AoO when an enemy enters your threatened squares, normally you get your AoO when an enemy leaves your threatened squares. This is quite helpful to get an AoO on a Large creature that has natural reach that charges you. You will fight more Large-sized creatures with reach the higher in APLs you go... ogres, trolls, giants, and more. Oh, and consider Improved Critical if you decide to keep the glaive and if you have feats to spare. Expanding that threat range will be very nice.
Reylance 04-18-07, 01:48 PM	Your character's starting stats and feats (though with longsword for WF) are exactly the same as my first LG character, created nearly seven years ago! I started mostly fighter, but ended up going the spellsword route to make use of my starting Intelligence. Several profitable paths exist for such a character. They include the aforementioned Combat Expertise-Improved Trip and Combat Reflexes-Hold the Line combinations. If you take a level of rogue, then taking Staggering Strike at 9th level is strongly recommended. Many players feel that taking levels in other classes helps to improve the character, especially one or two levels of barbarian. I found the feat Cleave to quickly lose its usefulness, and dropped it on all my characters. I'd at least take a look at some prestige class options the next time you're at the local game store or bookstore. Pure fighters often take the prestige classes Holy Liberator, Pious Templar, and Occult Slayer. However, if you stay pure fighter, then you'll want to look at the Weapon Specialization chain, including Melee Weapon Mastery from PHBII. With WF, GWF, WS, GWS, and MWM, you will add +4 to hit and +6 to damage with your weapon at 12th level.