How do I get the Constrict ability? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How do I get the Constrict ability? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RealSorceror
07-16-07, 12:58 PM I'll be making a Barbarian Rogue (bonus feat varient) with the Deepspawn feat in Lords of Madness. This means I'll have two tentacle attacks.

So clearly, a character who fights with tentacles and Improved Grab (from Barb varient) is just begging to have a Constrict attack. Most of the classes that come to mind (such as Binder and Geomancer) just don't mesh well with this build at all.
I can take templates if need be, but I'd prefer a prestige class or feat. Playing an actual monster is pretty much out of the question. And of course, any tips for increasing my reach and grapple would be appreciated.

Thanks muchly (this thread is also posted on the Character Optimization Board).
blood_of_the_ancient
07-18-07, 09:51 PM Tentacles. Heh heh.
BrutishCelt
07-19-07, 03:37 AM [Extended reach] from the Savage Species p34 increases your tentacle reach by 5 feet.

[Multiattack] from the MM1 p304 will reduce your penalties with the extra attacks to -2, and [Improved Multiattack] will negate the penalty entirely.

The "Reaping Mauler" PrC from Complete Warrior p75 doesn't give you a constrict attack, but it does give you extra grapple goodness for crushing the life from your foes. Plus, it's only 5 levels, and the capstone ability is like a death attack - grapple for three rounds, Fort save or die.

Hope that helps ya.
blood_of_the_ancient
07-19-07, 08:04 AM On a much less sleepy note, take two levels of swordsage. Start at level 7+, take 2 levels. Gives you two stances, there's a Stone Dragon one for 3rd level stances that gives you constrict.
bobothechimp
07-19-07, 09:02 AM ToB to the rescue!

You could simply purchase a Stone Dragon Belt for 3000 gp, then take the feat Martial Stance: Crushing Weight of the Mountain. You gain a constrict attack that deals 2d6 + 1 1/2 times your strength modifier.
InkBlot
07-19-07, 02:45 PM Buying a Stone Dragon Belt isn't necessary. You just need to have a single stone dragon maneuver to qualify for crushing weight of the mountain. You could just as easily get a stone dragon maneuver by taking the Martial Study feat or dipping a single level of any martial adept class.

To clarify for those who haven't read up on the Tome Of Battle (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/953787200) -- If you don't have any levels in a martial adept class, then your effective initiator level is equal to 1/2 your character level. Since crushing weight of the mountain is a 3rd level stance, you have to have an initiator level of 5 to learn it. In other words, somebody without any levels in a martial adept class would have to be 10th level in order to learn crushing weight of the mountain.
RealSorceror
07-19-07, 03:01 PM Thanks Inkblot. I wasn't aware I'd need to wait that long to take those feats. Looks like I'd be better off just taking levels in Warblade.

Most of the character build is down. Also, thanks to Inhuman Reach and Extended Reach, I can now attack and snatch people from 10ft away. Lol.

I'm thinking that Warshaper would be great for this character, but I'm not sure how to get the shapechange prereq. I was thinking maybe a level of Primeval from Frostburn would do it.
bobothechimp
07-19-07, 07:49 PM You don't need to take the feats or the class levels! That's the beauty of buying the belt!
Genetic
07-19-07, 08:27 PM To get warshaper, you could be a changeling.
blood_of_the_ancient
07-19-07, 10:31 PM Aye, but you can lose a belt. I lose mine all the time. And I don't have a DM, and worse yet, evil enemies, seeking to cripple me.
RealSorceror
07-20-07, 09:58 AM You don't need to take the feats or the class levels! That's the beauty of buying the belt!
Allow me to elaborate:

1) The character is an orphan, and has no money. The only reason she levels up is because she lives in a Necropolis, which is a Nuetral Evil society in this case. The gedos of this city aren't exactly safe for homeless kids (or anyone else).

2) Warbalde works just fine for this character. I like d12 HD and full BAB for a grappler. After 5 levels of Warblade, I'll just drop the class and move on.

3) Did I mention the thing about the no money? I could steal a belt, but what are the chances of it being a magic item with these exact maneuvers? Pretty bad.
RealSorceror
07-20-07, 10:02 AM To get warshaper, you could be a changeling.
The character's parents are a human vampire and a half-elf outsider. I don't know how I'd get a Changeling out of that. ;)
neilthrun
07-20-07, 06:27 PM PERHAPS BEAR WARRIOR?
nothing freakier than a bear/tentacle monster.
BrutishCelt
07-21-07, 01:36 AM The downside to the bear warrior is that until you get some warshaper levels, you lose your tentacles and any other "normal" [I'm using the term loosely here] physical aspects when you change into bear form.

Now, I just might have to make some displacer owlbears to throw at my unsuspecting PCs. . .

*cue thunder and maniacal laughter*
InkBlot
07-21-07, 01:55 AM What did you want to get out of Warshaper? A Psychic Warrior (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPsychicWarrior.html) (or War Mind (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicWarMind.html), which uses the same power list (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicWarriorList.html)) can do some pretty neat (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#bite-of-the-wolf) transformation (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#claws-of-the-beast) tricks (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersDtoF.html#expansion).

If you use psionics, simply remember the golden rule: you can't spend more power points than your manifester level.
RealSorceror
07-23-07, 10:50 AM What did you want to get out of Warshaper? A Psychic Warrior (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPsychicWarrior.html) (or War Mind (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicWarMind.html), which uses the same power list (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicWarriorList.html)) can do some pretty neat (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#bite-of-the-wolf) transformation (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#claws-of-the-beast) tricks (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersDtoF.html#expansion).

If you use psionics, simply remember the golden rule: you can't spend more power points than your manifester level.
Well, I am taking those abberation feats, and psionics go hand in hand (or other alien appendage) with abberations. 'Course, Warshaper does get immunity to criticals...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RealSorceror 07-16-07, 12:58 PM	I'll be making a Barbarian Rogue (bonus feat varient) with the Deepspawn feat in Lords of Madness. This means I'll have two tentacle attacks. So clearly, a character who fights with tentacles and Improved Grab (from Barb varient) is just begging to have a Constrict attack. Most of the classes that come to mind (such as Binder and Geomancer) just don't mesh well with this build at all. I can take templates if need be, but I'd prefer a prestige class or feat. Playing an actual monster is pretty much out of the question. And of course, any tips for increasing my reach and grapple would be appreciated. Thanks muchly (this thread is also posted on the Character Optimization Board).
blood_of_the_ancient 07-18-07, 09:51 PM	Tentacles. Heh heh.
BrutishCelt 07-19-07, 03:37 AM	[Extended reach] from the Savage Species p34 increases your tentacle reach by 5 feet. [Multiattack] from the MM1 p304 will reduce your penalties with the extra attacks to -2, and [Improved Multiattack] will negate the penalty entirely. The "Reaping Mauler" PrC from Complete Warrior p75 doesn't give you a constrict attack, but it does give you extra grapple goodness for crushing the life from your foes. Plus, it's only 5 levels, and the capstone ability is like a death attack - grapple for three rounds, Fort save or die. Hope that helps ya.
blood_of_the_ancient 07-19-07, 08:04 AM	On a much less sleepy note, take two levels of swordsage. Start at level 7+, take 2 levels. Gives you two stances, there's a Stone Dragon one for 3rd level stances that gives you constrict.
bobothechimp 07-19-07, 09:02 AM	ToB to the rescue! You could simply purchase a Stone Dragon Belt for 3000 gp, then take the feat Martial Stance: Crushing Weight of the Mountain. You gain a constrict attack that deals 2d6 + 1 1/2 times your strength modifier.
InkBlot 07-19-07, 02:45 PM	Buying a Stone Dragon Belt isn't necessary. You just need to have a single stone dragon maneuver to qualify for crushing weight of the mountain. You could just as easily get a stone dragon maneuver by taking the Martial Study feat or dipping a single level of any martial adept class. To clarify for those who haven't read up on the Tome Of Battle (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/953787200) -- If you don't have any levels in a martial adept class, then your effective initiator level is equal to 1/2 your character level. Since crushing weight of the mountain is a 3rd level stance, you have to have an initiator level of 5 to learn it. In other words, somebody without any levels in a martial adept class would have to be 10th level in order to learn crushing weight of the mountain.
RealSorceror 07-19-07, 03:01 PM	Thanks Inkblot. I wasn't aware I'd need to wait that long to take those feats. Looks like I'd be better off just taking levels in Warblade. Most of the character build is down. Also, thanks to Inhuman Reach and Extended Reach, I can now attack and snatch people from 10ft away. Lol. I'm thinking that Warshaper would be great for this character, but I'm not sure how to get the shapechange prereq. I was thinking maybe a level of Primeval from Frostburn would do it.
bobothechimp 07-19-07, 07:49 PM	You don't need to take the feats or the class levels! That's the beauty of buying the belt!
Genetic 07-19-07, 08:27 PM	To get warshaper, you could be a changeling.
blood_of_the_ancient 07-19-07, 10:31 PM	Aye, but you can lose a belt. I lose mine all the time. And I don't have a DM, and worse yet, evil enemies, seeking to cripple me.
RealSorceror 07-20-07, 09:58 AM	You don't need to take the feats or the class levels! That's the beauty of buying the belt! Allow me to elaborate: 1) The character is an orphan, and has no money. The only reason she levels up is because she lives in a Necropolis, which is a Nuetral Evil society in this case. The gedos of this city aren't exactly safe for homeless kids (or anyone else). 2) Warbalde works just fine for this character. I like d12 HD and full BAB for a grappler. After 5 levels of Warblade, I'll just drop the class and move on. 3) Did I mention the thing about the no money? I could steal a belt, but what are the chances of it being a magic item with these exact maneuvers? Pretty bad.
RealSorceror 07-20-07, 10:02 AM	To get warshaper, you could be a changeling. The character's parents are a human vampire and a half-elf outsider. I don't know how I'd get a Changeling out of that. ;)
neilthrun 07-20-07, 06:27 PM	PERHAPS BEAR WARRIOR? nothing freakier than a bear/tentacle monster.
BrutishCelt 07-21-07, 01:36 AM	The downside to the bear warrior is that until you get some warshaper levels, you lose your tentacles and any other "normal" [I'm using the term loosely here] physical aspects when you change into bear form. Now, I just might have to make some displacer owlbears to throw at my unsuspecting PCs. . . cue thunder and maniacal laughter
InkBlot 07-21-07, 01:55 AM	What did you want to get out of Warshaper? A Psychic Warrior (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPsychicWarrior.html) (or War Mind (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicWarMind.html), which uses the same power list (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicWarriorList.html)) can do some pretty neat (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#bite-of-the-wolf) transformation (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#claws-of-the-beast) tricks (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersDtoF.html#expansion). If you use psionics, simply remember the golden rule: you can't spend more power points than your manifester level.
RealSorceror 07-23-07, 10:50 AM	What did you want to get out of Warshaper? A Psychic Warrior (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPsychicWarrior.html) (or War Mind (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicWarMind.html), which uses the same power list (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicWarriorList.html)) can do some pretty neat (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#bite-of-the-wolf) transformation (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#claws-of-the-beast) tricks (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersDtoF.html#expansion). If you use psionics, simply remember the golden rule: you can't spend more power points than your manifester level. Well, I am taking those abberation feats, and psionics go hand in hand (or other alien appendage) with abberations. 'Course, Warshaper does get immunity to criticals...