Balanced "corky" type character help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Balanced "corky" type character help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Demoyn
07-08-07, 09:37 PM I currently have a dwarven fighter that I was attempting to cork with. After reading the other threads, I've decided that I don't want to take him full-cork, and I'd like to get your advice on where to go with him.

Currently he is:

Dwarven fighter 5

Str 17
Dex 12
Con 16
Int 10
Wis 12
Cha 6

Axe focus (dwarf racial substitution level 1)
Dodge
Titan Fighting
Shield Specialization (heavy)
Weapon Specialization (Dwarven Waraxe)

He currently has a standing AC of 24, a +10 to hit, and he deals 1d10+6 damage.

At level 6 I'll get two feats, so this is a good time to set him on a path for the rest of his career. Right now he's moderately balanced, but I can't ever afford to get combat expertise, but I really enjoy the thought of being mostly defensive (he's balanced because I was already aware that he'd have to be a threat to be a true tank). So... what are your opinions?
clannagh
07-08-07, 09:46 PM exotic weapon master levels and pious templar levels if he has gendwar as a diety are both worth considering
Banor
07-09-07, 10:11 AM I think Power attack is a must if you want to keep your "threat" level high. Otherwise your damage output might be too low for the monsters to even care about you :) Shield Ward might be a good idea for your second feat
Demoyn
07-09-07, 10:13 AM Sheild ward was on my most wanted list even before I posted this. Also, I've been giving a lot of thought to taking power attack (level 6) and exotic weapon master (level 7).
GeorgeFHarris
07-09-07, 10:51 AM Sheild ward was on my most wanted list even before I posted this. Also, I've been giving a lot of thought to taking power attack (level 6) and exotic weapon master (level 7).

Power attack should be the first or second feat that a (non-TWF) Fighter takes. With Weapon Focus possibly out-weighing it, if you are sure what weapon your fighter (Pal/Brb/Rng/etc) will be using for their career.

GH
Demoyn
07-09-07, 11:04 AM Not quite. Without exotic weapon master, taking power attack for a sword and board fighter isn't worth it. The mathematics speak volumes. Even when wielding a two-handed weapon there are plenty of occasions when power attack is more detrimental than beneficial. Most people don't do the math, they just look at the damage potential, but over an entire combat you often LOSE total damage output by having power attack.

Now, before a debate starts, I did NOT say that power attack isn't a good feat. I did not even suggest that I wouldn't take it. I've just done the math, and the math says that power attack is an overrated feat.
LachlarlanIII
07-09-07, 11:23 AM When I read that title, I thought you were going to try and make a character based on Corky Romano...
Demoyn
07-09-07, 12:18 PM No, that's my other thread... the one where I'm making a half-orc barbarian.
GrahamWills
07-09-07, 12:34 PM Curious -- how did you manage to get access to the racial substitution level before playing your first adventure? Is there a card or something that allows it?

I had to take two levels of barbarian to get enough meta-org points to allow it when I wanted a similar character, so I'm curious as to how you managed it? Is there a special rule in your region or something?
CdrcJsn
07-09-07, 01:57 PM Curious -- how did you manage to get access to the racial substitution level before playing your first adventure? Is there a card or something that allows it?

You can get a level 1 substitution feature by retraining.

Pretty much how everyone has to do it because you have to play at least one mod to join a metaorg or get an AR.
solbergb
07-09-07, 02:17 PM Not quite. Without exotic weapon master, taking power attack for a sword and board fighter isn't worth it.

It is when you sling the shield and whale away on the monster that was ignoring you because of your medeocre damage.

Just because you normally sword+board doen't mean you can't switch modes when it is required. Nearly every fighter is going to run into a situation where he needs less defense and more offense. Use the shield where defense is better. Sling it and 2-power attack when that's better.
localjester
07-09-07, 02:18 PM How about Deepwarden to crank that AC up?
Demoyn
07-09-07, 02:26 PM Deepwarden won't crank the AC up because my dex is already maximized for full plate (and will be again remaxed when I get mithril, due to gloves of dex). Don't forget that there's errata which states that your con modifier is capped by the dex cap.
Demoyn
07-09-07, 02:28 PM Curious -- how did you manage to get access to the racial substitution level before playing your first adventure? Is there a card or something that allows it?

I had to take two levels of barbarian to get enough meta-org points to allow it when I wanted a similar character, so I'm curious as to how you managed it? Is there a special rule in your region or something?

The other respondant is correct. I retrained into racial sub level 1 when I was leveling up to 5th level.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Demoyn 07-08-07, 09:37 PM	I currently have a dwarven fighter that I was attempting to cork with. After reading the other threads, I've decided that I don't want to take him full-cork, and I'd like to get your advice on where to go with him. Currently he is: Dwarven fighter 5 Str 17 Dex 12 Con 16 Int 10 Wis 12 Cha 6 Axe focus (dwarf racial substitution level 1) Dodge Titan Fighting Shield Specialization (heavy) Weapon Specialization (Dwarven Waraxe) He currently has a standing AC of 24, a +10 to hit, and he deals 1d10+6 damage. At level 6 I'll get two feats, so this is a good time to set him on a path for the rest of his career. Right now he's moderately balanced, but I can't ever afford to get combat expertise, but I really enjoy the thought of being mostly defensive (he's balanced because I was already aware that he'd have to be a threat to be a true tank). So... what are your opinions?
clannagh 07-08-07, 09:46 PM	exotic weapon master levels and pious templar levels if he has gendwar as a diety are both worth considering
Banor 07-09-07, 10:11 AM	I think Power attack is a must if you want to keep your "threat" level high. Otherwise your damage output might be too low for the monsters to even care about you :) Shield Ward might be a good idea for your second feat
Demoyn 07-09-07, 10:13 AM	Sheild ward was on my most wanted list even before I posted this. Also, I've been giving a lot of thought to taking power attack (level 6) and exotic weapon master (level 7).
GeorgeFHarris 07-09-07, 10:51 AM	Sheild ward was on my most wanted list even before I posted this. Also, I've been giving a lot of thought to taking power attack (level 6) and exotic weapon master (level 7). Power attack should be the first or second feat that a (non-TWF) Fighter takes. With Weapon Focus possibly out-weighing it, if you are sure what weapon your fighter (Pal/Brb/Rng/etc) will be using for their career. GH
Demoyn 07-09-07, 11:04 AM	Not quite. Without exotic weapon master, taking power attack for a sword and board fighter isn't worth it. The mathematics speak volumes. Even when wielding a two-handed weapon there are plenty of occasions when power attack is more detrimental than beneficial. Most people don't do the math, they just look at the damage potential, but over an entire combat you often LOSE total damage output by having power attack. Now, before a debate starts, I did NOT say that power attack isn't a good feat. I did not even suggest that I wouldn't take it. I've just done the math, and the math says that power attack is an overrated feat.
LachlarlanIII 07-09-07, 11:23 AM	When I read that title, I thought you were going to try and make a character based on Corky Romano...
Demoyn 07-09-07, 12:18 PM	No, that's my other thread... the one where I'm making a half-orc barbarian.
GrahamWills 07-09-07, 12:34 PM	Curious -- how did you manage to get access to the racial substitution level before playing your first adventure? Is there a card or something that allows it? I had to take two levels of barbarian to get enough meta-org points to allow it when I wanted a similar character, so I'm curious as to how you managed it? Is there a special rule in your region or something?
CdrcJsn 07-09-07, 01:57 PM	Curious -- how did you manage to get access to the racial substitution level before playing your first adventure? Is there a card or something that allows it? You can get a level 1 substitution feature by retraining. Pretty much how everyone has to do it because you have to play at least one mod to join a metaorg or get an AR.
solbergb 07-09-07, 02:17 PM	Not quite. Without exotic weapon master, taking power attack for a sword and board fighter isn't worth it. It is when you sling the shield and whale away on the monster that was ignoring you because of your medeocre damage. Just because you normally sword+board doen't mean you can't switch modes when it is required. Nearly every fighter is going to run into a situation where he needs less defense and more offense. Use the shield where defense is better. Sling it and 2-power attack when that's better.
localjester 07-09-07, 02:18 PM	How about Deepwarden to crank that AC up?
Demoyn 07-09-07, 02:26 PM	Deepwarden won't crank the AC up because my dex is already maximized for full plate (and will be again remaxed when I get mithril, due to gloves of dex). Don't forget that there's errata which states that your con modifier is capped by the dex cap.
Demoyn 07-09-07, 02:28 PM	Curious -- how did you manage to get access to the racial substitution level before playing your first adventure? Is there a card or something that allows it? I had to take two levels of barbarian to get enough meta-org points to allow it when I wanted a similar character, so I'm curious as to how you managed it? Is there a special rule in your region or something? The other respondant is correct. I retrained into racial sub level 1 when I was leveling up to 5th level.