Feat Selection, suggestions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Feat Selection, suggestions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Crash169
12-14-07, 07:57 PM Barb2/Fighter5

Str 18 Dex 14 Con 18 int 13 Wis 13 Cha 12
Notable Items : Healing belt, Gauntlets of ogre strength +2, +1 Adamantine Maul of Mageslaying, 5 Potions of enlarge person, Hewards handy haversack, +1 Chain Shirt.

Human - Dodge
Flaw - Combat Expertise
1 Barb - Power Attack
2 Barb - Imp. Trip (Wolf Totem)
3 Fight - Cleave, Combat Reflexes
4 Fight - Karmic Strike
5 Fight -
6 Fight - Imp. Bullrush, Shock Trooper
7 Fight -
8 Fight - Bonus Feat
9 Warblade? - Feat
10 ?
11 ?
12 ? - Feat
13 ?
14 ?
15 ? - Feat
16 ?
17 ?
18 ? - Feat
19 ?
20 ?

Weaknesses:
Will saves and Reflex Saves: I was thinking of dipping into warblade to get the maneuver, moment of perfect mind, along with the one that helps Reflex saves. The Occult slayer PrC and a cloak of resistance might help too.
Dreadfully low AC when using Heedless Charge and Karmic Strike: I figure that my AC is far beyond saving, I'd rather work on my strengths rather than trying to improve my AC. Any Suggestions?

Okay, so this is where I'm stuck. I've had so much fun playing this build thus far, especially in the last two levels using the shock trooper feat.

I need help selecting my upcoming feats and classes/PrC's. All Books are allowed.

I have my eyes on these Feats: Combat brute, Imp. Sunder, Mobility, Elusive Target, Dungeon Crasher (Retrain second level fighter feat), Righteous Wrath, Destructive rage, Intimidating Rage, Leap attack, Iron will, Mageslayer.

Classes: Frenzied Berserker, Warblade, Crusader, Bear Warrior, Occult Slayer..

Insight:
Elusive target would be my one and only defensive savior. With the ability to negate power attack I would have a much better chance surviving going toe to toe with the big guns, especially because power attack is my DMs way of other brutes solving my character.
Combat Brute would help me do some more damage by synergizing with Shock Trooper.

All books are allowed.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Surgo
12-14-07, 11:03 PM Dreadfully low AC when using Heedless Charge and Karmic Strike: I figure that my AC is far beyond saving, I'd rather work on my strengths rather than trying to improve my AC. Any Suggestions?
You got it right. Don't attempt to fix your AC. Seriously, stop trying. You have Shock Trooper and those other AC-sacking feats, and you are going to use them.

A high AC is actually going to make you worse for the party anyway because it just gives an incentive for the enemy to pick a squishier target. By virtue of your somewhat higher hit points you are a slightly better choice to be the one taking direct damage, so you might as well let yourself actually be a target instead of a speedbump.

And for the love of some higher power, unless there is some prerequisite I forgot, get rid of Dodge. That feat completely blows. Besides that you're doing pretty good on feat choices, picking the ones that "scale" decently as long as they aren't prerequisite. Maybe pick up Combat Brute and Leap Attack. Leap Attack is pretty cool, and is as good as you'll find in a feat anyway. Elusive Target's negation of Power Attack is okay, but where you're going soon monsters are going to stop fighting you in melee and start casting save-or-suck spells or spell-like abilities. Get yourself that Cloak of Resistance +5 asap. It's almost criminal that you don't have it by this point.
Shiftkitty
12-14-07, 11:44 PM I'm not big on doing "builds", probably because I haven't been a PC very often, usually being DM, LIKE FOR THE PAST 24 YEARS!!! But for my two and a half cents' worth (adjusted for inflation), I like Great Cleave, especially if you're at the point where you're doing massive hurtitude. If the dice are liking you, you become a lawn mower.
Surgo
12-15-07, 12:26 AM Great Cleave is a horrible feat choice. The chance of you being in a position where you can actually drop more than one opponent at the same time is so low to be almost nonexistant.
Killer_Rabbit
12-15-07, 12:32 AM You can get something like greater cleave, or improved cleave or something from taking a level in frenzieds beserker that allows you to move 5 ft before making your next cleave attack.
Crash169
12-15-07, 03:03 AM And for the love of some higher power, unless there is some prerequisite I forgot, get rid of Dodge. That feat completely blows. Besides that you're doing pretty good on feat choices, picking the ones that "scale" decently as long as they aren't prerequisite. Maybe pick up Combat Brute and Leap Attack.

It's a prerequisite for karmic strike actually. I don't know why though, using karmic strike lowers AC, while dodge is obviously meant to boost AC. All in all, it's a prerequisite feat and I only chose it because it is required.

Right now I'm stuck. I'm not sure if I should Focus on offensive feats and classes like Combat Brute and Frenzied Berserker, or go on the defense with something like Elusive target and Occult Slayer.

Like you said, the opponents are getting tougher and less melee oriented. I think I need to round him out a bit more, work on my weaknesses.

Elusive target is very appealing, but I'm sure that once the DM starts realizing that power attack isn't working on me he'll just start blasting me with touch spells and Will Save spells.

You can get something like greater cleave, or improved cleave or something from taking a level in frenzieds beserker that allows you to move 5 ft before making your next cleave attack.

Cleave is enough. Great cleave is sub-optimal considering you have to place yourself in the middle of enemies to be able to use it's benefits. With my ac the way it is, I have to be careful with where I place myself on the battlefield.

Any other suggestions? You guys are great help.
Shiftkitty
12-15-07, 10:47 AM Ah, I forgot about your lousy AC. My gang likes the toe-to-toe action, so they'll stage-dive right into the fray. It's all or nothing for these guys. Ranged attacks cost ammunition so they use them very sparingly*, and you get more drinks (if you survive) with a great HTH story. I wish they would have taken Barbarian as classes. They would have fit my mental image of their characters better.

*Yeah yeah, they value their ammo more than their own lives. But they're having fun and I'm not out to teach them any lessons. If they want to take a chance on the roll of the dice, that's what it's all about. If they think they can do it, I let them go for it.
Crash169
12-15-07, 12:03 PM Ah, I forgot about your lousy AC. My gang likes the toe-to-toe action, so they'll stage-dive right into the fray. It's all or nothing for these guys. Ranged attacks cost ammunition so they use them very sparingly*, and you get more drinks (if you survive) with a great HTH story. I wish they would have taken Barbarian as classes. They would have fit my mental image of their characters better.

*Yeah yeah, they value their ammo more than their own lives. But they're having fun and I'm not out to teach them any lessons. If they want to take a chance on the roll of the dice, that's what it's all about. If they think they can do it, I let them go for it.

Well it also depends on the DM. If the DM likes to send a tonne of cannon fodder before a battle, great cleave can be quite fun and entertaining. Not to mention a feat worth taking. Or maybe if I was playing in a War based campaign. I'm not though, and the DM doesn't really throw us cannon fodder too often.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Crash169 12-14-07, 07:57 PM	Barb2/Fighter5 Str 18 Dex 14 Con 18 int 13 Wis 13 Cha 12 Notable Items : Healing belt, Gauntlets of ogre strength +2, +1 Adamantine Maul of Mageslaying, 5 Potions of enlarge person, Hewards handy haversack, +1 Chain Shirt. Human - Dodge Flaw - Combat Expertise 1 Barb - Power Attack 2 Barb - Imp. Trip (Wolf Totem) 3 Fight - Cleave, Combat Reflexes 4 Fight - Karmic Strike 5 Fight - 6 Fight - Imp. Bullrush, Shock Trooper 7 Fight - 8 Fight - Bonus Feat 9 Warblade? - Feat 10 ? 11 ? 12 ? - Feat 13 ? 14 ? 15 ? - Feat 16 ? 17 ? 18 ? - Feat 19 ? 20 ? Weaknesses: Will saves and Reflex Saves: I was thinking of dipping into warblade to get the maneuver, moment of perfect mind, along with the one that helps Reflex saves. The Occult slayer PrC and a cloak of resistance might help too. Dreadfully low AC when using Heedless Charge and Karmic Strike: I figure that my AC is far beyond saving, I'd rather work on my strengths rather than trying to improve my AC. Any Suggestions? Okay, so this is where I'm stuck. I've had so much fun playing this build thus far, especially in the last two levels using the shock trooper feat. I need help selecting my upcoming feats and classes/PrC's. All Books are allowed. I have my eyes on these Feats: Combat brute, Imp. Sunder, Mobility, Elusive Target, Dungeon Crasher (Retrain second level fighter feat), Righteous Wrath, Destructive rage, Intimidating Rage, Leap attack, Iron will, Mageslayer. Classes: Frenzied Berserker, Warblade, Crusader, Bear Warrior, Occult Slayer.. Insight: Elusive target would be my one and only defensive savior. With the ability to negate power attack I would have a much better chance surviving going toe to toe with the big guns, especially because power attack is my DMs way of other brutes solving my character. Combat Brute would help me do some more damage by synergizing with Shock Trooper. All books are allowed. Any help would be much appreciated!
Surgo 12-14-07, 11:03 PM	Dreadfully low AC when using Heedless Charge and Karmic Strike: I figure that my AC is far beyond saving, I'd rather work on my strengths rather than trying to improve my AC. Any Suggestions? You got it right. Don't attempt to fix your AC. Seriously, stop trying. You have Shock Trooper and those other AC-sacking feats, and you are going to use them. A high AC is actually going to make you worse for the party anyway because it just gives an incentive for the enemy to pick a squishier target. By virtue of your somewhat higher hit points you are a slightly better choice to be the one taking direct damage, so you might as well let yourself actually be a target instead of a speedbump. And for the love of some higher power, unless there is some prerequisite I forgot, get rid of Dodge. That feat completely blows. Besides that you're doing pretty good on feat choices, picking the ones that "scale" decently as long as they aren't prerequisite. Maybe pick up Combat Brute and Leap Attack. Leap Attack is pretty cool, and is as good as you'll find in a feat anyway. Elusive Target's negation of Power Attack is okay, but where you're going soon monsters are going to stop fighting you in melee and start casting save-or-suck spells or spell-like abilities. Get yourself that Cloak of Resistance +5 asap. It's almost criminal that you don't have it by this point.
Shiftkitty 12-14-07, 11:44 PM	I'm not big on doing "builds", probably because I haven't been a PC very often, usually being DM, LIKE FOR THE PAST 24 YEARS!!! But for my two and a half cents' worth (adjusted for inflation), I like Great Cleave, especially if you're at the point where you're doing massive hurtitude. If the dice are liking you, you become a lawn mower.
Surgo 12-15-07, 12:26 AM	Great Cleave is a horrible feat choice. The chance of you being in a position where you can actually drop more than one opponent at the same time is so low to be almost nonexistant.
Killer_Rabbit 12-15-07, 12:32 AM	You can get something like greater cleave, or improved cleave or something from taking a level in frenzieds beserker that allows you to move 5 ft before making your next cleave attack.
Crash169 12-15-07, 03:03 AM	And for the love of some higher power, unless there is some prerequisite I forgot, get rid of Dodge. That feat completely blows. Besides that you're doing pretty good on feat choices, picking the ones that "scale" decently as long as they aren't prerequisite. Maybe pick up Combat Brute and Leap Attack. It's a prerequisite for karmic strike actually. I don't know why though, using karmic strike lowers AC, while dodge is obviously meant to boost AC. All in all, it's a prerequisite feat and I only chose it because it is required. Right now I'm stuck. I'm not sure if I should Focus on offensive feats and classes like Combat Brute and Frenzied Berserker, or go on the defense with something like Elusive target and Occult Slayer. Like you said, the opponents are getting tougher and less melee oriented. I think I need to round him out a bit more, work on my weaknesses. Elusive target is very appealing, but I'm sure that once the DM starts realizing that power attack isn't working on me he'll just start blasting me with touch spells and Will Save spells. You can get something like greater cleave, or improved cleave or something from taking a level in frenzieds beserker that allows you to move 5 ft before making your next cleave attack. Cleave is enough. Great cleave is sub-optimal considering you have to place yourself in the middle of enemies to be able to use it's benefits. With my ac the way it is, I have to be careful with where I place myself on the battlefield. Any other suggestions? You guys are great help.
Shiftkitty 12-15-07, 10:47 AM	Ah, I forgot about your lousy AC. My gang likes the toe-to-toe action, so they'll stage-dive right into the fray. It's all or nothing for these guys. Ranged attacks cost ammunition so they use them very sparingly, and you get more drinks (if you survive) with a great HTH story. I wish they would have taken Barbarian as classes. They would have fit my mental image of their characters better. Yeah yeah, they value their ammo more than their own lives. But they're having fun and I'm not out to teach them any lessons. If they want to take a chance on the roll of the dice, that's what it's all about. If they think they can do it, I let them go for it.
Crash169 12-15-07, 12:03 PM	Ah, I forgot about your lousy AC. My gang likes the toe-to-toe action, so they'll stage-dive right into the fray. It's all or nothing for these guys. Ranged attacks cost ammunition so they use them very sparingly, and you get more drinks (if you survive) with a great HTH story. I wish they would have taken Barbarian as classes. They would have fit my mental image of their characters better. Yeah yeah, they value their ammo more than their own lives. But they're having fun and I'm not out to teach them any lessons. If they want to take a chance on the roll of the dice, that's what it's all about. If they think they can do it, I let them go for it. Well it also depends on the DM. If the DM likes to send a tonne of cannon fodder before a battle, great cleave can be quite fun and entertaining. Not to mention a feat worth taking. Or maybe if I was playing in a War based campaign. I'm not though, and the DM doesn't really throw us cannon fodder too often.