Heavy Duty Fighter [Archive] - Wizards Community

Heavy Duty Fighter [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Majick
06-04-07, 12:58 PM I am thinking about making a fighter that uses pretty much all his feats on 'defensive' abilities, such as Exotic Armor Proficiency (Battle Plate) and Shield Specialization some of the more useful Combat Focus feats from that feat tree.

I was just wondering what feats anyone could suggest to improve my AC, damage reduction, ability to resist stuff etc. while wearing heavy armor and using a big shield?

Note: No Tower Shields, no Mountain Plate, no magic, no classes, no races, JUST FEATS (although psionic feats are ok [i know there are some that require focus])

Also, as a part of this idea... thoughts on effectiveness?
Spellfire_junkie
06-04-07, 01:02 PM Well, Combat Expertise is a must. Also, since it's a prerequisite for one of the Combat Focus feats, take Dodge!
jaelis
06-04-07, 01:05 PM Sidestep Charge is pretty good. And the feat that lets you use your Con bonus for Will saves, I forget the name. Armor specialization and shield ward, of course.
Evicmar
06-04-07, 01:05 PM combat expertise
Improved combat expertise
dodge
deflective armor
heavy armor optimization
greater heavy armor optimization

Just as a start

You may also want to look at improved shield bash so you retain the AC of your shield when you bash with it.
Orenmir
06-04-07, 01:14 PM ...the feat that lets you use your Con bonus for Will saves, I forget the name.

Steadfast Determination.

Endurance is a prereq, I think -- but it is valuable feat for all Fighters (or any class, for that matter) with low wisdom and high constitution. Just ask my Fighter with 10 wis and 18 con -- +4 to will is much better than 0!
Majick
06-04-07, 01:15 PM Excellent start - keep em coming, this is all good stuff

Another note: Shield Bash and it's various incarnations are not necassary, purely defensive stuff is what i need ;)

Also... Improved Combat Expertise?
jaelis
06-04-07, 01:18 PM Takes away the -5 limit on the CE penalty, you're just limited by BAB. Makes you dang hard to hit when you don't want to be.
Evicmar
06-04-07, 01:27 PM Also... Improved Combat Expertise?

Complete Warrior page 100
Evicmar
06-04-07, 01:34 PM There aren't that many defencive feats to fill a 20 level fighter. You may want to consider a prestige class with defencive stance. Dwarven defender or defender of sealteil. Also some levels of knight for the come fight me ability is a nice use of the AC.
BlackFiend
06-04-07, 01:43 PM You may not like it, but the Elusive target feat is as sweet as can be for the mobile, defensive individual. Including a tactic that, not only is it difficult to be hit while flanked...they will more than likely hit their ally instead of you. (Cause Overreach?)

Elusive Target is a supreme tactical feat. But there are other "tactical" feats of similar vein. Karmic Strikes, for instance. You also have some of the defensive throwing type feats in Complete Warrior. if they miss you, they get thrown on their ear into a wall, type feats.

For your concept, look heavily into these and tilt your char towards them.
lint trap
06-04-07, 03:55 PM Cumbrous Dodge from Savage Species combined with Tireless from PGtF is a good combo - +2 dodge vs. everybody. And if your DM is a chump, it'll work with the aforementioned Elusive Target.
Kalarus
06-04-07, 07:35 PM No other feats immediately spring to mind, but regarding effectiveness...
I hope you also have a way of making sure people attack you, else a non-hurting walking block of AC is something you can just circumvent to go for more dangerous opponents. Be careful not to overdo it.
LoneStranger
06-04-07, 07:44 PM I know this is not exactly what you were looking for but for armor enchantments don't forget Heavy Fortification. On those rare times when you get a critical hit scored on you that effective takes it away (100% of a critical becoming a normal hit).

As far as feats go it's pretty much been covered with the specializations and optimizations and so on.

Mind if I ask what race you were planning on playing as this fortress? Also why no Mountain Plate?

Oh almost forgot, don't forget to fight defensively, another armor bonus right there.
Spellfire_junkie
06-04-07, 08:15 PM Stupid question but, does fighting defensively stack with the bonus to AC from Combat Expertise?
Malek2991
06-04-07, 09:42 PM Yes the bonuses/penalties for CE and fighting defensively do stack. The rule was quoted from somewhere in another thread.

In Complete Psionic there is a feat Invest Armor which allows you to expend your psionic focus to add 3 to your Armor's Armor bonus as an immediete action.
Big_Mac
06-05-07, 10:15 AM Do not forget to get 5 ranks in tumble. That makes your fight defensively better by 1.
Phantomcrossing
06-05-07, 07:33 PM Armor Specialization from Players Handbook II grants DR 2/- with a specific type of armor.
Majick
06-06-07, 01:35 AM A list of stuff i have put together so far - feel free to suggest more you know of that would benefit a defensive fighter.

A list of defensive feats for fighters

Players Handbook

Blind-Fight
Combat Expertise
Deflect Arrow
Diehard
Dodge
Endurance
Exotic Armor/Shield Proficiency
Great Fortitude
Iron Will
Lightning Reflexes
Mobility
Mounted Combat (situational based on mount)
Snatch Arrow
Toughness
Two-Weapon Defense

Players Handbook 2

Active Shield Defense
Armor Specialization
Elusive Attack
Indomitable Soul
Melee Evasion
Robilar’s Gambit (situational based on high AC)
Shield Specialization
Shield Ward
Steadfast Determination
Combat Focus
Combat Stability
Combat Defense
Combat Vigor
Combat Awareness

Heroes of Battle

Block Arrow (require shield)
Mounted Mobility (situational based on mount)
Shield Wall (require ally with shield adjacent)

Complete Adventurer

Combat Intuition
Dive for Cover
Hear the Unseen

Complete Warrior

Clever Wresting
Close Quarters Fighting
Eyes in the Back of your Head
Faster Healing
Greater Two-Weapon Defense
Hold the Line
Improved Buckler Defense
Improved Combat Expertise
Improved Toughness
Improved Two-Weapon Defense
Phalanx Fighting

Races of Stone

Battle Hardened (racial)
Deflective Armor (psionic)
Earth Sense
Energize Armor (psionic)
Focuses Shield (psionic)
Greater Heavy Armor Optimization
Heavy Armor Optimization
Heavy Lithoderm (racial)
Invest Armor (psionic)
Shielded Axe (style)
Stoneback (situational)
Titan Fighting (racial)
Tunnel Fighting (situational)
Tunnel Riding (situational)

... Who was the one that said there WEREN'T ENOUGH DEFENSIVE FEATS TO FILL A FIGHTERS FEAT LIST??? :D
Majick
06-06-07, 08:04 AM Seriously... no one has anymore?
Father Dale
06-07-07, 12:13 PM I like Shield Specialization/Shield Ward for the tank type build.

It lets you add your shield bonus to touch AC and to resist most combat maneuvers (grapples, trips, disarms, etc..)

i.e. with these feats a +4 heavy shield would give a +7 to touch AC and to resist grapples, trips, disarms, etc.. Thats pretty significant.

Also the Combat Focus feats are pretty good. Take Combat Focus, Combat Stability, and Combat Vigor. Then, when you enter the Combat Form, you get a +4 to will saves, +8 to resist disarms, grapples, trips, etc.., and fast healing 4. Together with Shield Ward and possibly defensive stance, those bonuses become very significant.

All these feats are in PHB II.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Majick 06-04-07, 12:58 PM	I am thinking about making a fighter that uses pretty much all his feats on 'defensive' abilities, such as Exotic Armor Proficiency (Battle Plate) and Shield Specialization some of the more useful Combat Focus feats from that feat tree. I was just wondering what feats anyone could suggest to improve my AC, damage reduction, ability to resist stuff etc. while wearing heavy armor and using a big shield? Note: No Tower Shields, no Mountain Plate, no magic, no classes, no races, JUST FEATS (although psionic feats are ok [i know there are some that require focus]) Also, as a part of this idea... thoughts on effectiveness?
Spellfire_junkie 06-04-07, 01:02 PM	Well, Combat Expertise is a must. Also, since it's a prerequisite for one of the Combat Focus feats, take Dodge!
jaelis 06-04-07, 01:05 PM	Sidestep Charge is pretty good. And the feat that lets you use your Con bonus for Will saves, I forget the name. Armor specialization and shield ward, of course.
Evicmar 06-04-07, 01:05 PM	combat expertise Improved combat expertise dodge deflective armor heavy armor optimization greater heavy armor optimization Just as a start You may also want to look at improved shield bash so you retain the AC of your shield when you bash with it.
Orenmir 06-04-07, 01:14 PM	...the feat that lets you use your Con bonus for Will saves, I forget the name. Steadfast Determination. Endurance is a prereq, I think -- but it is valuable feat for all Fighters (or any class, for that matter) with low wisdom and high constitution. Just ask my Fighter with 10 wis and 18 con -- +4 to will is much better than 0!
Majick 06-04-07, 01:15 PM	Excellent start - keep em coming, this is all good stuff Another note: Shield Bash and it's various incarnations are not necassary, purely defensive stuff is what i need ;) Also... Improved Combat Expertise?
jaelis 06-04-07, 01:18 PM	Takes away the -5 limit on the CE penalty, you're just limited by BAB. Makes you dang hard to hit when you don't want to be.
Evicmar 06-04-07, 01:27 PM	Also... Improved Combat Expertise? Complete Warrior page 100
Evicmar 06-04-07, 01:34 PM	There aren't that many defencive feats to fill a 20 level fighter. You may want to consider a prestige class with defencive stance. Dwarven defender or defender of sealteil. Also some levels of knight for the come fight me ability is a nice use of the AC.
BlackFiend 06-04-07, 01:43 PM	You may not like it, but the Elusive target feat is as sweet as can be for the mobile, defensive individual. Including a tactic that, not only is it difficult to be hit while flanked...they will more than likely hit their ally instead of you. (Cause Overreach?) Elusive Target is a supreme tactical feat. But there are other "tactical" feats of similar vein. Karmic Strikes, for instance. You also have some of the defensive throwing type feats in Complete Warrior. if they miss you, they get thrown on their ear into a wall, type feats. For your concept, look heavily into these and tilt your char towards them.
lint trap 06-04-07, 03:55 PM	Cumbrous Dodge from Savage Species combined with Tireless from PGtF is a good combo - +2 dodge vs. everybody. And if your DM is a chump, it'll work with the aforementioned Elusive Target.
Kalarus 06-04-07, 07:35 PM	No other feats immediately spring to mind, but regarding effectiveness... I hope you also have a way of making sure people attack you, else a non-hurting walking block of AC is something you can just circumvent to go for more dangerous opponents. Be careful not to overdo it.
LoneStranger 06-04-07, 07:44 PM	I know this is not exactly what you were looking for but for armor enchantments don't forget Heavy Fortification. On those rare times when you get a critical hit scored on you that effective takes it away (100% of a critical becoming a normal hit). As far as feats go it's pretty much been covered with the specializations and optimizations and so on. Mind if I ask what race you were planning on playing as this fortress? Also why no Mountain Plate? Oh almost forgot, don't forget to fight defensively, another armor bonus right there.
Spellfire_junkie 06-04-07, 08:15 PM	Stupid question but, does fighting defensively stack with the bonus to AC from Combat Expertise?
Malek2991 06-04-07, 09:42 PM	Yes the bonuses/penalties for CE and fighting defensively do stack. The rule was quoted from somewhere in another thread. In Complete Psionic there is a feat Invest Armor which allows you to expend your psionic focus to add 3 to your Armor's Armor bonus as an immediete action.
Big_Mac 06-05-07, 10:15 AM	Do not forget to get 5 ranks in tumble. That makes your fight defensively better by 1.
Phantomcrossing 06-05-07, 07:33 PM	Armor Specialization from Players Handbook II grants DR 2/- with a specific type of armor.
Majick 06-06-07, 01:35 AM	A list of stuff i have put together so far - feel free to suggest more you know of that would benefit a defensive fighter. A list of defensive feats for fighters Players Handbook Blind-Fight Combat Expertise Deflect Arrow Diehard Dodge Endurance Exotic Armor/Shield Proficiency Great Fortitude Iron Will Lightning Reflexes Mobility Mounted Combat (situational based on mount) Snatch Arrow Toughness Two-Weapon Defense Players Handbook 2 Active Shield Defense Armor Specialization Elusive Attack Indomitable Soul Melee Evasion Robilar’s Gambit (situational based on high AC) Shield Specialization Shield Ward Steadfast Determination Combat Focus Combat Stability Combat Defense Combat Vigor Combat Awareness Heroes of Battle Block Arrow (require shield) Mounted Mobility (situational based on mount) Shield Wall (require ally with shield adjacent) Complete Adventurer Combat Intuition Dive for Cover Hear the Unseen Complete Warrior Clever Wresting Close Quarters Fighting Eyes in the Back of your Head Faster Healing Greater Two-Weapon Defense Hold the Line Improved Buckler Defense Improved Combat Expertise Improved Toughness Improved Two-Weapon Defense Phalanx Fighting Races of Stone Battle Hardened (racial) Deflective Armor (psionic) Earth Sense Energize Armor (psionic) Focuses Shield (psionic) Greater Heavy Armor Optimization Heavy Armor Optimization Heavy Lithoderm (racial) Invest Armor (psionic) Shielded Axe (style) Stoneback (situational) Titan Fighting (racial) Tunnel Fighting (situational) Tunnel Riding (situational) ... Who was the one that said there WEREN'T ENOUGH DEFENSIVE FEATS TO FILL A FIGHTERS FEAT LIST??? :D
Majick 06-06-07, 08:04 AM	Seriously... no one has anymore?
Father Dale 06-07-07, 12:13 PM	I like Shield Specialization/Shield Ward for the tank type build. It lets you add your shield bonus to touch AC and to resist most combat maneuvers (grapples, trips, disarms, etc..) i.e. with these feats a +4 heavy shield would give a +7 to touch AC and to resist grapples, trips, disarms, etc.. Thats pretty significant. Also the Combat Focus feats are pretty good. Take Combat Focus, Combat Stability, and Combat Vigor. Then, when you enter the Combat Form, you get a +4 to will saves, +8 to resist disarms, grapples, trips, etc.., and fast healing 4. Together with Shield Ward and possibly defensive stance, those bonuses become very significant. All these feats are in PHB II.