Marshall Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Marshall Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
NeSoDak
06-12-07, 12:05 PM I currently have a Marshall build, that is going Outcast Champion.

I just leveled to sixth level.

Marshall5/OC1
Half-Elf
STR 14
DEX 10
CON 12
INT 14
WIS 8
CHA 17
Minor Aura's - Motivate DEX, CHA, INT
Major Aura's - Motivate Care, Urgency
plus from OC 1 - every ally within 30' gets my OC level in morale bonus to Will saves.

I'm maxed out in all Face Skills plus have at least one point into every Knowledge, and I currently know 17 languages. This character is designed to be the face of the party. However, I'm finding that when it comes to combat, other than the bonuses I give, I'm pretty ineffective. My feat is Noble Soul from Dragon Mag. I'm retraining my other feat, so I have two feats to work with. I don't think there is much I can do to become a damage dealer, but I am working with a couple of suggestions. One is to be a tank and Goad the opponent into attacking me, the other is to become a tripper, since I have a low BAB.

I'm open for suggestions, but what I'm looking for is a character that maintains the face of the party whithout becoming completely useless in combat. I'm not looking to take over a fighter spot, just someone who can help the other fighters in the group by maybe making it easier to hit the foe, or by taking damage away from other characters.

For roleplaying purposes, this character is not min/maxed. She is currently traveling in the "Shadowdark" of the Shield Lands and doesn't have access to any special AR or metaorg items. Also, she is going through a personality split: confused: (she is having a hard time dealing with the "Shadowdark" and has developed a second personality to handle it). Her goal, before entering the "Shadowdark" was to become a Commander in the Shield Lands army. Please keep these things in mind when making suggestions.

Thanks,
UMiskatonic
06-12-07, 12:15 PM I think the best you can do here is to get yourself a reach weapon, and help out as best you can. Often, that will mean aid another and flanking, instead of doing damage yourself.

Get all the armor and CON that you can, because another role you can fulfill is the guy who takes the damage.

You might do well with imp. feint, I imagine you have the bluff skill for it, and hitting flatfooted AC is generally easier.
Shaudius
06-12-07, 03:00 PM I have a similar build, I was originally going to go straight marhsall, but decided to go muttish. Outcast Champion Avenging Strike will help with the combat aspect of your character, but what you may consider is a level of cleric coupled with Power Attack and Divine Might, that extra 4(when you get a +2 Cha booster) damage on every hit will serve you well. Power Attack is also good when you're Avenging Striking as an Outcast Champion.

I know the Cleric thing isn't a feat, but it'd help with damage, same with two levels of Paladin for Divine Grace.

A level of Bard and then Snowflake Wardance and Extra Music(with some ranks in perform) may be good for the build.

Overall, one level of Cleric for a few of the divine feats(because with a high Cha you'll have a lot of turn attempts to burn) is a very good option.

Remember Outcast Champion is a 5 level prestige class so after 9th level you'll be able to take other classes, Bard, Paladin, or Cleric is what I recommend.

Shawn
Frumpkis
06-12-07, 07:20 PM I also have a marshall PC (started off with 1 level of rogue for the skill points, and then 1 level of swashbuckler for free Weapon Finesse; I'll most likely be mixing marshall and rogue the rest of the way, maybe a level of bard for Inspire Courage), and yeah, they're a hard class to build around. There really aren't any PrC's or feats that really stand out as suiting a marshall build.

Right now, my plan is to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency with the Quickblade Rapier (Open access weapon from Complete Adventurer) plus Improved Disarm at 3rd level. Quickblade rapier is a finessable weapon that allows trip attempts, plus gives a +2 bonus to disarm attempts. My guy's role in combat will mainly be to flank and aid another in attacking. When fighting spellcasters with low BAB, however, he will attempt to disarm them of their spell component pouches and holy symbols.

However, this is all just a vague outline. Of all my PC's, my marshall's progression has been the hardest to plan out.
Galvin
06-12-07, 07:31 PM I have the same build but with some paladin, his saves are sick, and with smites/VS I push out some nasty power attack damage.
Michigan
06-12-07, 09:28 PM I plan to pursue the Marshal class exclusivly, unless I can get access to the Furyondy Military metaorg and through it, the Tactical Soldier PrC.

The Marshal is basically a spell-less cleric in a fight, with the secondary BAB and HD. But, you get full access to weapons and armor... Armor is pretty much a feat free investment, so I suggest going the turtle route. With chainmail, heavy shield, and Dex 12 I've got an 18 AC at level one, which is very high, imho.

I plan to pick up feats like Sheildmate and Improved Shieldmate (MiniHB), which will further enhance my abilty to both turtle-up, and to help the others in the party. Putting myself into a flanking postion with the Rogue or Fighter aids my attack roll, aids their attack roll, and we can all pile on more damage thanks to Master of Tactics.

Bluff (feints), Aid Another, Fighting Defensivly, and so on and so forth are great too.

The chief thing to remember when playing a Marshal is that you don't get the glory... not yours.
want2know
07-27-07, 11:41 PM Complementary
Insight from RoD
Sociable Personality RoD
Urban tacking RoD
Add the Flank Arua
Pint_Glass_Crusader
07-28-07, 08:05 AM For my own Marshal, I got myself Improved Initiative, a high initative roll with "Grant Move Action" can really help those fighters who roll badly on initiative, getting them into full attack range early on.

I also got a damage boosting aura, as your aura can be changed as a swift action you can change it in response to an enemy action to a defensive aura, then back again on your initiative... again all the more reason to have Improved Initiative.
control freak
07-28-07, 09:45 AM leadership, get leadership its amazeing for high Cha marshals, i would recommend a bard cohort but its up to you

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
NeSoDak 06-12-07, 12:05 PM	I currently have a Marshall build, that is going Outcast Champion. I just leveled to sixth level. Marshall5/OC1 Half-Elf STR 14 DEX 10 CON 12 INT 14 WIS 8 CHA 17 Minor Aura's - Motivate DEX, CHA, INT Major Aura's - Motivate Care, Urgency plus from OC 1 - every ally within 30' gets my OC level in morale bonus to Will saves. I'm maxed out in all Face Skills plus have at least one point into every Knowledge, and I currently know 17 languages. This character is designed to be the face of the party. However, I'm finding that when it comes to combat, other than the bonuses I give, I'm pretty ineffective. My feat is Noble Soul from Dragon Mag. I'm retraining my other feat, so I have two feats to work with. I don't think there is much I can do to become a damage dealer, but I am working with a couple of suggestions. One is to be a tank and Goad the opponent into attacking me, the other is to become a tripper, since I have a low BAB. I'm open for suggestions, but what I'm looking for is a character that maintains the face of the party whithout becoming completely useless in combat. I'm not looking to take over a fighter spot, just someone who can help the other fighters in the group by maybe making it easier to hit the foe, or by taking damage away from other characters. For roleplaying purposes, this character is not min/maxed. She is currently traveling in the "Shadowdark" of the Shield Lands and doesn't have access to any special AR or metaorg items. Also, she is going through a personality split: confused: (she is having a hard time dealing with the "Shadowdark" and has developed a second personality to handle it). Her goal, before entering the "Shadowdark" was to become a Commander in the Shield Lands army. Please keep these things in mind when making suggestions. Thanks,
UMiskatonic 06-12-07, 12:15 PM	I think the best you can do here is to get yourself a reach weapon, and help out as best you can. Often, that will mean aid another and flanking, instead of doing damage yourself. Get all the armor and CON that you can, because another role you can fulfill is the guy who takes the damage. You might do well with imp. feint, I imagine you have the bluff skill for it, and hitting flatfooted AC is generally easier.
Shaudius 06-12-07, 03:00 PM	I have a similar build, I was originally going to go straight marhsall, but decided to go muttish. Outcast Champion Avenging Strike will help with the combat aspect of your character, but what you may consider is a level of cleric coupled with Power Attack and Divine Might, that extra 4(when you get a +2 Cha booster) damage on every hit will serve you well. Power Attack is also good when you're Avenging Striking as an Outcast Champion. I know the Cleric thing isn't a feat, but it'd help with damage, same with two levels of Paladin for Divine Grace. A level of Bard and then Snowflake Wardance and Extra Music(with some ranks in perform) may be good for the build. Overall, one level of Cleric for a few of the divine feats(because with a high Cha you'll have a lot of turn attempts to burn) is a very good option. Remember Outcast Champion is a 5 level prestige class so after 9th level you'll be able to take other classes, Bard, Paladin, or Cleric is what I recommend. Shawn
Frumpkis 06-12-07, 07:20 PM	I also have a marshall PC (started off with 1 level of rogue for the skill points, and then 1 level of swashbuckler for free Weapon Finesse; I'll most likely be mixing marshall and rogue the rest of the way, maybe a level of bard for Inspire Courage), and yeah, they're a hard class to build around. There really aren't any PrC's or feats that really stand out as suiting a marshall build. Right now, my plan is to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency with the Quickblade Rapier (Open access weapon from Complete Adventurer) plus Improved Disarm at 3rd level. Quickblade rapier is a finessable weapon that allows trip attempts, plus gives a +2 bonus to disarm attempts. My guy's role in combat will mainly be to flank and aid another in attacking. When fighting spellcasters with low BAB, however, he will attempt to disarm them of their spell component pouches and holy symbols. However, this is all just a vague outline. Of all my PC's, my marshall's progression has been the hardest to plan out.
Galvin 06-12-07, 07:31 PM	I have the same build but with some paladin, his saves are sick, and with smites/VS I push out some nasty power attack damage.
Michigan 06-12-07, 09:28 PM	I plan to pursue the Marshal class exclusivly, unless I can get access to the Furyondy Military metaorg and through it, the Tactical Soldier PrC. The Marshal is basically a spell-less cleric in a fight, with the secondary BAB and HD. But, you get full access to weapons and armor... Armor is pretty much a feat free investment, so I suggest going the turtle route. With chainmail, heavy shield, and Dex 12 I've got an 18 AC at level one, which is very high, imho. I plan to pick up feats like Sheildmate and Improved Shieldmate (MiniHB), which will further enhance my abilty to both turtle-up, and to help the others in the party. Putting myself into a flanking postion with the Rogue or Fighter aids my attack roll, aids their attack roll, and we can all pile on more damage thanks to Master of Tactics. Bluff (feints), Aid Another, Fighting Defensivly, and so on and so forth are great too. The chief thing to remember when playing a Marshal is that you don't get the glory... not yours.
want2know 07-27-07, 11:41 PM	Complementary Insight from RoD Sociable Personality RoD Urban tacking RoD Add the Flank Arua
Pint_Glass_Crusader 07-28-07, 08:05 AM	For my own Marshal, I got myself Improved Initiative, a high initative roll with "Grant Move Action" can really help those fighters who roll badly on initiative, getting them into full attack range early on. I also got a damage boosting aura, as your aura can be changed as a swift action you can change it in response to an enemy action to a defensive aura, then back again on your initiative... again all the more reason to have Improved Initiative.
control freak 07-28-07, 09:45 AM	leadership, get leadership its amazeing for high Cha marshals, i would recommend a bard cohort but its up to you