Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ithardin 03-28-07, 01:20 PM	I have finally broken down my prejudice against playing Halflings and am working on my first Halfling PC. However, I want to make a grappler, and I think there wouldn't be anything more embarrassing to an NPC villain then to get choked out by a Halfling. Obviously he'll only be able to grapple medium-sized, so I plan on making him a pesky combatant for the larger then medium baddies. Here is the build I have so far: “The Hound” Male Halfling STR: 14 (15@4th, 16@8th) DEX: 18 (19@12th, 20@16th) CON: 14 INT: 10 WIS: 8 CHA: 8 1. Rogue1 Two-Weapon Fighting 2. Fighter1 Weapon Finesse 3. Fighter2 Improved Unarmed Strike Improved Grapple-this feat is replaceable 4. Rogue2 5. Fighter3 6. Fighter4 Close-Quarters Fighting Clever Wrestling 7. Reaping Mauler1 Improved Grapple (RM Bonus Feat) Mobility (RM Bonus Feat) 8. Reaping Mauler2 9. Reaping Mauler3 Improved Two-Weapon Fighting 10.Reaping Mauler4 11.Reaping Mauler5 12.Fighter5 Underfoot Combat 13.Fighter6 Confound the Bigger Folk 14.Fighter7 15.Fighter8 Greater Two-Weapon Fighting Improved Toughness 16.Fighter9 My concerns (and why I have turned to my LG bruthas and sistahs) are: a. Improved Grapple is given as a bonus feat with Reaping Mauler...I need that +4 much earlier in the build to negate the -4 size penalty to grappling. Is it worth the redundancy? Are there suggestions for a different feat at 3rd level? b. Wisdom has been sacrificed so as to have a reasonable Strength score. Is gaining 1 point in Strength worth losing all that wisdom, especially with the RM saves being based on Wisdom (let alone will saves in general)? Thanks in general for all your thoughts, etc. Ian
King Kashue 03-28-07, 01:53 PM	Clever, but honestly, I think you're gonna end up at a sub-iconic level in combat, particularly if you're taking two levels of rogue hitpoints and a BAB hit...
Archwolf 03-28-07, 02:01 PM	I don't know if this will be an effective build, but most grappler builds use a level or two of monk, for the bonus feats like improved grapple, and they often involve a level of barbarian for the raging. You also might want to look at the Titan fighting or giant killer feats.
ithardin 03-28-07, 02:10 PM	Clever, but honestly, I think you're gonna end up at a sub-iconic level in combat, particularly if you're taking two levels of rogue hitpoints and a BAB hit... Would you suggest staying straight fighter and cross-classing the tumble & escape artist skill requirements for Reaping Mauler?
ithardin 03-28-07, 02:13 PM	I don't know if this will be an effective build, but most grappler builds use a level or two of monk, for the bonus feats like improved grapple, and they often involve a level of barbarian for the raging. You also might want to look at the Titan fighting or giant killer feats. With the new XP penalty now also applying to gold I am reluctant to splash a one level dip to get rage. I didn't consider Monk because I would have to take more then a couple of Monk levels to avoid the XP penalty. With Monk there is also the loss of BAB.
LachlarlanIII 03-28-07, 02:26 PM	Nevermind.
Jay_Ibero_911 03-28-07, 02:29 PM	Also, how do you plan to take down at least 3 medium or larger creatures with just your bare hands to qualify to reaping mauler without monk levels? You really need full bab and strength bonuses to pull this off...Something like this: Race:Halfling Alignment:Chaotic Good STR-16 (10)-2 DEX-14 (6)+2 CON-14 (6) INT-10 (2) WIS-8 (0) CHA-12 (4) Lv1(Barbarian)Extra Rage Lv2(Fighter)Power Attack Lv3(Fighter)Improved Unarmed Strike (Retrain to Dodge), Improved Grapple (Retrain to Exotic Weapon Proficiency Scorpion Claws) Lv4(Warmage)+1 STR Lv5(Barbarian) Lv6(Dragon Disciple)Reckless Rage Lv7(Dragon Disciple) Lv8(Dragon Disciple)+1 STR Lv9(Dragon Disciple)Clever Wrestling Lv10(Reaping Mauler)Improved Grapple, Mobility Lv11(Reaping Mauler) Lv12(Reaping Mauler)Elusive Target, +1 STR Lv13(Reaping Mauler) Lv14(Reaping Mauler) Lv15()Feat Warmage gives you the ability to cast fist of stone, which gives you a +6 enhancement bonus to strength for several things, including grapples. Rage is a MUST if you are even thinking about a small grappler. You do lose 2 bab from warmage and DD1, but that is compensated for with the +4 strength from the 2 dragon disciple levels. Dragon Disciple also gives you claws and bite, so you actually CAN try to defeat a few medium guys unarmed. Grapple check at 14th level=BAB+12 +11 Str +4 Improved Grapple + 4 Scorpion Claws +2 Adept Wrestling -4 Size=+29, which should be more than enough to handle most other medium creatures. Of course, with low Wis, the DC's for the reaping mauler abilities suck, but it's more important that you be able to hold the bad guy down to begin with. Leave the killing to the rest of the party.
ithardin 03-28-07, 03:13 PM	Huzzah! I knew my brethren & sisteren here on the boards would help out. Swanky use of the retraining rules Jay!
ithardin 03-28-07, 03:19 PM	Jay let's say I am never able to find access to Dragon Disciple, how would you compensate for it?
Jay_Ibero_911 03-28-07, 03:32 PM	Jay let's say I am never able to find access to Dragon Disciple, how would you compensate for it? Dragon Disciple is open access...
ithardin 03-28-07, 04:23 PM	Isn't it amazing how when you read Appendix 4 of the LGCS FROM THE BEGINNING instead of a cursory glance at the Open PrC list a couple pages later makes a world of difference? *smacks forehead*
ithardin 03-28-07, 05:02 PM	I may have made a mistake figuring things, but using heroforge to build him per your recommendation Jay I only have 3.5 ranks in tumble by 9th level, and 5 ranks in tumble is the req. for Reaping Mauler.
Jay_Ibero_911 03-28-07, 05:28 PM	I may have made a mistake figuring things, but using heroforge to build him per your recommendation Jay I only have 3.5 ranks in tumble by 9th level, and 5 ranks in tumble is the req. for Reaping Mauler. Ah..whoops. Yeah, just drop starting strength to 15 and boost int to 12. Then you can get your ranks in tumble, escape artist, and knowledge arcana.