Input on my Charisma Fighter [Archive] - Wizards Community

Input on my Charisma Fighter [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Alpha_Nerd
10-07-06, 11:21 PM Every time I try to play a character I always end up talking, it's just who I am, so I decided to break down and play a charisma character. This is what I've come up with so far, and I was hoping yall could critique my build before I start the grind.

Human

STR 16
DEX 12
CON 14
INT 8
WIS 8
CHA 15

1 Bard 1: Improved Initiative, Power Attack
2 Bard 1/Hexblade 1
3 Bard 2/Hexblade 2: Practiced Spellcaster, Inspirational Boost, Critical Strike
4 Bard 2/Hexblade 2 CHA 16
5 Bard 3/Hexblade 2 Cure Light Wounds
6 Bard 3/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1 Divine Might
7 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1 Bladeweave, Mirror Image
8 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 1 CHA 17
9 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 2 Battle Caster
10 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Discple 3
11 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 4
12 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 5 Improved Toughness CHA 18
13 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Discple 6
14 Bard 4/Hexblade 3/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 6
15 Bard 4/Hexblade 3/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 7 Feat yet to be determined

The basic concept of the build is to use bard spells such as Mirror Image and Bladeweave to supplement my fighting while I use my Charisma to boost Saves and damage with Divine Might . Battle Caster is at 9 because I figure by that time I should have some kind of access to Mithril Fullplate. My AC will be good with the natural armor from disciple and an animated shield, but nothing to brag about. My hitpoints will be good until about 12-13 where I pick up improved toughess and the +2 con where they get considerably better.
paigeoliver
10-07-06, 11:43 PM You may want to consider a half-elf Hexblade/Marshall/Outcast Champion. It would only lose a single BAB over it's entire career, would have incredible saves, be a good fighter and bring a variety of passive buffs to the party.

Try 2 Marshall, 3 Hexblade, 5 Outcast Champion, then go back and do 2 more Marshall, that brings you to level 12. From there pick a fighting prestige class, or advance hexblade 3 more levels.

Your build puts 15 levels in assorted caster classes, yet never gets a spell above 2nd level, and the second level spells are Bard spells. Your base attack never rises above cleric BAB and is below it at some levels.

The Marshall and Outcast Champion Auras will be just as good as those second level spells, won't require you to use up actions to use them, and will result in a much more effective character.

There are a lot of ways to make an effective high charisma fighter character, but most of them don't include spellcasting. You have to look at warrior type classes that use charisma for other things, Hexblade, Paladin, Marshall, and Outcast Champion are the primary ones to look at.
Mommy was an Orc
10-08-06, 12:29 AM There are a lot of ways to make an effective high charisma fighter character, but most of them don't include spellcasting. You have to look at warrior type classes that use charisma for other things, Hexblade, Paladin, Marshall, and Outcast Champion are the primary ones to look at.

Wildrunner, from Races of the Wild, also synergizes really well with this - the high charisma character is going to have lots of screams and they're free actions to use. At 4th level, you start making opponents shaken. If you have a 22 Charisma, that's 9 attempts per day, enough for 3 screams per battle in a 3 combat mod.

Sure, the DC won't be that great if you only have 4 levels of it, but charging your foe and screaming 3 times in his face - eventually a lot of 1s will show up. Not to mention, Wildrunner nicely makes up for the physical sacrifices you'll make to emphasize Charisma that much.
gomeztoo
10-09-06, 05:06 AM You could also hold off a bit and wait to see whether Knight (from PHBII) makes it into the campaign. It also uses charisma for some powers, iirc (though not very vital).
As to dragon disciple: it works wlel with hexblade. However, in my experience looks matter, and as a dragon disciple most NPCs will treat you as a freak at best, no matter the Cha. Not that you can't get your way or get liked, but you'll get your way despite of being a dragon disicple, not because of it.
If you DO decide to go dragon disciple, come to Verbobonc, and see my char Nesalia... she has uses for a charismatic speaker.

Gomez
ezreal2001
10-10-06, 07:36 PM Every time I try to play a character I always end up talking, it's just who I am, so I decided to break down and play a charisma character. This is what I've come up with so far, and I was hoping yall could critique my build before I start the grind.

Human

STR 16
DEX 12
CON 14
INT 8
WIS 8
CHA 15

1 Bard 1: Improved Initiative, Power Attack
2 Bard 1/Hexblade 1
3 Bard 2/Hexblade 2: Practiced Spellcaster, Inspirational Boost, Critical Strike
4 Bard 2/Hexblade 2 CHA 16
5 Bard 3/Hexblade 2 Cure Light Wounds
6 Bard 3/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1 Divine Might
7 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1 Bladeweave, Mirror Image
8 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 1 CHA 17
9 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 2 Battle Caster
10 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Discple 3
11 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 4
12 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 5 Improved Toughness CHA 18
13 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Discple 6
14 Bard 4/Hexblade 3/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 6
15 Bard 4/Hexblade 3/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 7 Feat yet to be determined

The basic concept of the build is to use bard spells such as Mirror Image and Bladeweave to supplement my fighting while I use my Charisma to boost Saves and damage with Divine Might . Battle Caster is at 9 because I figure by that time I should have some kind of access to Mithril Fullplate. My AC will be good with the natural armor from disciple and an animated shield, but nothing to brag about. My hitpoints will be good until about 12-13 where I pick up improved toughess and the +2 con where they get considerably better.

Any reason your not hunting the "Snowflake War Dance" feat from Frostburn?

I think it's limited, but you may be able to weasel it through a metaorg or a special mission.
jstorrie
10-13-06, 05:57 PM I can't advise you try to make a melee build that dips into three different 3/4 BAB classes. You'd have a hell of a time hitting anything.

Paladin/Marshal/Divine Crusaders make excellent Cha-focused characters, given that they can play face, melee tank, and backup healer all at once.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alpha_Nerd 10-07-06, 11:21 PM	Every time I try to play a character I always end up talking, it's just who I am, so I decided to break down and play a charisma character. This is what I've come up with so far, and I was hoping yall could critique my build before I start the grind. Human STR 16 DEX 12 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 8 CHA 15 1 Bard 1: Improved Initiative, Power Attack 2 Bard 1/Hexblade 1 3 Bard 2/Hexblade 2: Practiced Spellcaster, Inspirational Boost, Critical Strike 4 Bard 2/Hexblade 2 CHA 16 5 Bard 3/Hexblade 2 Cure Light Wounds 6 Bard 3/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1 Divine Might 7 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1 Bladeweave, Mirror Image 8 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 1 CHA 17 9 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 2 Battle Caster 10 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Discple 3 11 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 4 12 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 5 Improved Toughness CHA 18 13 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Discple 6 14 Bard 4/Hexblade 3/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 6 15 Bard 4/Hexblade 3/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 7 Feat yet to be determined The basic concept of the build is to use bard spells such as Mirror Image and Bladeweave to supplement my fighting while I use my Charisma to boost Saves and damage with Divine Might . Battle Caster is at 9 because I figure by that time I should have some kind of access to Mithril Fullplate. My AC will be good with the natural armor from disciple and an animated shield, but nothing to brag about. My hitpoints will be good until about 12-13 where I pick up improved toughess and the +2 con where they get considerably better.
paigeoliver 10-07-06, 11:43 PM	You may want to consider a half-elf Hexblade/Marshall/Outcast Champion. It would only lose a single BAB over it's entire career, would have incredible saves, be a good fighter and bring a variety of passive buffs to the party. Try 2 Marshall, 3 Hexblade, 5 Outcast Champion, then go back and do 2 more Marshall, that brings you to level 12. From there pick a fighting prestige class, or advance hexblade 3 more levels. Your build puts 15 levels in assorted caster classes, yet never gets a spell above 2nd level, and the second level spells are Bard spells. Your base attack never rises above cleric BAB and is below it at some levels. The Marshall and Outcast Champion Auras will be just as good as those second level spells, won't require you to use up actions to use them, and will result in a much more effective character. There are a lot of ways to make an effective high charisma fighter character, but most of them don't include spellcasting. You have to look at warrior type classes that use charisma for other things, Hexblade, Paladin, Marshall, and Outcast Champion are the primary ones to look at.
Mommy was an Orc 10-08-06, 12:29 AM	There are a lot of ways to make an effective high charisma fighter character, but most of them don't include spellcasting. You have to look at warrior type classes that use charisma for other things, Hexblade, Paladin, Marshall, and Outcast Champion are the primary ones to look at. Wildrunner, from Races of the Wild, also synergizes really well with this - the high charisma character is going to have lots of screams and they're free actions to use. At 4th level, you start making opponents shaken. If you have a 22 Charisma, that's 9 attempts per day, enough for 3 screams per battle in a 3 combat mod. Sure, the DC won't be that great if you only have 4 levels of it, but charging your foe and screaming 3 times in his face - eventually a lot of 1s will show up. Not to mention, Wildrunner nicely makes up for the physical sacrifices you'll make to emphasize Charisma that much.
gomeztoo 10-09-06, 05:06 AM	You could also hold off a bit and wait to see whether Knight (from PHBII) makes it into the campaign. It also uses charisma for some powers, iirc (though not very vital). As to dragon disciple: it works wlel with hexblade. However, in my experience looks matter, and as a dragon disciple most NPCs will treat you as a freak at best, no matter the Cha. Not that you can't get your way or get liked, but you'll get your way despite of being a dragon disicple, not because of it. If you DO decide to go dragon disciple, come to Verbobonc, and see my char Nesalia... she has uses for a charismatic speaker. Gomez
ezreal2001 10-10-06, 07:36 PM	Every time I try to play a character I always end up talking, it's just who I am, so I decided to break down and play a charisma character. This is what I've come up with so far, and I was hoping yall could critique my build before I start the grind. Human STR 16 DEX 12 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 8 CHA 15 1 Bard 1: Improved Initiative, Power Attack 2 Bard 1/Hexblade 1 3 Bard 2/Hexblade 2: Practiced Spellcaster, Inspirational Boost, Critical Strike 4 Bard 2/Hexblade 2 CHA 16 5 Bard 3/Hexblade 2 Cure Light Wounds 6 Bard 3/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1 Divine Might 7 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1 Bladeweave, Mirror Image 8 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 1 CHA 17 9 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 2 Battle Caster 10 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Discple 3 11 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 4 12 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 5 Improved Toughness CHA 18 13 Bard 4/Hexblade 2/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Discple 6 14 Bard 4/Hexblade 3/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 6 15 Bard 4/Hexblade 3/Cleric of Kelanan 1/Dragon Disciple 7 Feat yet to be determined The basic concept of the build is to use bard spells such as Mirror Image and Bladeweave to supplement my fighting while I use my Charisma to boost Saves and damage with Divine Might . Battle Caster is at 9 because I figure by that time I should have some kind of access to Mithril Fullplate. My AC will be good with the natural armor from disciple and an animated shield, but nothing to brag about. My hitpoints will be good until about 12-13 where I pick up improved toughess and the +2 con where they get considerably better. Any reason your not hunting the "Snowflake War Dance" feat from Frostburn? I think it's limited, but you may be able to weasel it through a metaorg or a special mission.
jstorrie 10-13-06, 05:57 PM	I can't advise you try to make a melee build that dips into three different 3/4 BAB classes. You'd have a hell of a time hitting anything. Paladin/Marshal/Divine Crusaders make excellent Cha-focused characters, given that they can play face, melee tank, and backup healer all at once.