[3.5e] Indirectly Optimizing a Fighter - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

[3.5e] Indirectly Optimizing a Fighter

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
realmarkp
Feb 20, 2009 15:25:53 I'm DMing a campaign and I'm fairly new at it. Although I've played D&D for quite some time and I know when a character is under powered. So, one of the players is a Dwarven fighter. Hes fairly new to the game and is really struggling to keep up with the damage of the other players. I don't want him to lag behind everyone else because of his inexperience but I also don't want to single him out by magically giving him strength bonuses, etc.

What should I do to indirectly help him boost his character. He doesn't want to Tank, he wants to be a big damage dealer.

One idea I'm toying around with is by having him captured and experimented on by [insert evil mage here]. By doing this, he somehow (I havn't worked out the details) gains the first level of the half-dragon template (Giving him mad +str bonuses). I'm hoping this would push him into pursuing this template and getting the upgraded bonuses (all the way up to +8str). This is just one idea.

Ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Link to Half-Dragon Template:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20030912a

EDIT: I'm open to rolling my own template too. Maybe something dwarf related, like stone ancestry, etc.
#2
carnivore
Feb 20, 2009 15:30:56 try this:

look here:
Half-Dragon template progression Class

then try this:

1/2 Dragon(Gold) Dwarf

Fighter 1

Attributes(32pt buy + halfdragon Dwarf(Str +8, Con +4, Int +2)
22 Str(14 +8 racial)
16 Dex
20 Con(15+4 racial +1 lvl)
14 Int(12 +2 racial)
12 Wis
6 Cha(8 -2 racial)

Feats:
Combat Expertise
Imp Trip

extras:
+4 Natural Armor
+1d6 Bite, and 1d4 Claw
6d8 Cone(30') of Fire 1/day(Ref DC 16 = 1/2 damage)

BAB +1 +6 Str= +7 Attack Bonus... can easily make Melee touch attacks at this level... attacks Prone opponents @+12 with Warhammer

Full Attack =

Warhammer + Bite(Trip attack) (Warhammer wack on the head follow up) + Claw(Trip Attack)(Warhammer wack on the head follow up, if possible)

Trip check: +6 Str +4 Imp Trip = +10 +1d20 vs opponent Str or Dex check

also Defensively this character is very good as well ...

AC 27 (base 10 +1 Dex +9 Armor +3 Shield +4 Natural Armor)

5400gp equipment:
2500gp +1 Fullplate(+8 Armor,+1 max dex)
1257gp +1 Darkwood heavy shield(+3 shield to AC)

3757gp spent .... 1643gp left
312gp Masterwork Warhammer(+1 to hit)
1000gp +1 Cloak of Resistance(+1 resistance to all saves)

remember:
TRIP
You can try to trip an opponent as an unarmed melee attack. You can only trip an opponent who is one size category larger than you, the same size, or smaller.

Making a Trip Attack: Make an unarmed melee touch attack against your target. This provokes an attack of opportunity from your target as normal for unarmed attacks.

If your attack succeeds, make a Strength check opposed by the defender’s Dexterity or Strength check (whichever ability score has the higher modifier). A combatant gets a +4 bonus for every size category he is larger than Medium or a –4 penalty for every size category he is smaller than Medium. The defender gets a +4 bonus on his check if he has more than two legs or is otherwise more stable than a normal humanoid. If you win, you trip the defender. If you lose, the defender may immediately react and make a Strength check opposed by your Dexterity or Strength check to try to trip you.

Avoiding Attacks of Opportunity: If you have the Improved Trip feat, or if you are tripping with a weapon (see below), you don’t provoke an attack of opportunity for making a trip attack.

Being Tripped (Prone): A tripped character is prone. Standing up is a move action.

Prone: The character is on the ground. An attacker who is prone has a
#3
phaedrusxy
Feb 20, 2009 18:37:12
EDIT: I'm open to rolling my own template too. Maybe something dwarf related, like stone ancestry, etc.

Try the mineral warrior.
#4
realmarkp
Feb 20, 2009 20:22:57 Mineral Warrior might be just up his alley. Thanks for that suggestion.
#5
Endarire
Feb 21, 2009 14:19:12 Though it's much info to digest, Battle Jump (Unapproachable East 42) is a marvelous start as well as other info from Little Red Raiding Hood.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 realmarkp Feb 20, 2009 15:25:53	I'm DMing a campaign and I'm fairly new at it. Although I've played D&D for quite some time and I know when a character is under powered. So, one of the players is a Dwarven fighter. Hes fairly new to the game and is really struggling to keep up with the damage of the other players. I don't want him to lag behind everyone else because of his inexperience but I also don't want to single him out by magically giving him strength bonuses, etc. What should I do to indirectly help him boost his character. He doesn't want to Tank, he wants to be a big damage dealer. One idea I'm toying around with is by having him captured and experimented on by [insert evil mage here]. By doing this, he somehow (I havn't worked out the details) gains the first level of the half-dragon template (Giving him mad +str bonuses). I'm hoping this would push him into pursuing this template and getting the upgraded bonuses (all the way up to +8str). This is just one idea. Ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks. Link to Half-Dragon Template: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20030912a EDIT: I'm open to rolling my own template too. Maybe something dwarf related, like stone ancestry, etc.
#2 carnivore Feb 20, 2009 15:30:56	try this: look here: Half-Dragon template progression Class then try this: 1/2 Dragon(Gold) Dwarf Fighter 1 Attributes(32pt buy + halfdragon Dwarf(Str +8, Con +4, Int +2) 22 Str(14 +8 racial) 16 Dex 20 Con(15+4 racial +1 lvl) 14 Int(12 +2 racial) 12 Wis 6 Cha(8 -2 racial) Feats: Combat Expertise Imp Trip extras: +4 Natural Armor +1d6 Bite, and 1d4 Claw 6d8 Cone(30') of Fire 1/day(Ref DC 16 = 1/2 damage) BAB +1 +6 Str= +7 Attack Bonus... can easily make Melee touch attacks at this level... attacks Prone opponents @+12 with Warhammer Full Attack = Warhammer + Bite(Trip attack) (Warhammer wack on the head follow up) + Claw(Trip Attack)(Warhammer wack on the head follow up, if possible) Trip check: +6 Str +4 Imp Trip = +10 +1d20 vs opponent Str or Dex check also Defensively this character is very good as well ... AC 27 (base 10 +1 Dex +9 Armor +3 Shield +4 Natural Armor) 5400gp equipment: 2500gp +1 Fullplate(+8 Armor,+1 max dex) 1257gp +1 Darkwood heavy shield(+3 shield to AC) 3757gp spent .... 1643gp left 312gp Masterwork Warhammer(+1 to hit) 1000gp +1 Cloak of Resistance(+1 resistance to all saves) remember: TRIP You can try to trip an opponent as an unarmed melee attack. You can only trip an opponent who is one size category larger than you, the same size, or smaller. Making a Trip Attack: Make an unarmed melee touch attack against your target. This provokes an attack of opportunity from your target as normal for unarmed attacks. If your attack succeeds, make a Strength check opposed by the defender’s Dexterity or Strength check (whichever ability score has the higher modifier). A combatant gets a +4 bonus for every size category he is larger than Medium or a –4 penalty for every size category he is smaller than Medium. The defender gets a +4 bonus on his check if he has more than two legs or is otherwise more stable than a normal humanoid. If you win, you trip the defender. If you lose, the defender may immediately react and make a Strength check opposed by your Dexterity or Strength check to try to trip you. Avoiding Attacks of Opportunity: If you have the Improved Trip feat, or if you are tripping with a weapon (see below), you don’t provoke an attack of opportunity for making a trip attack. Being Tripped (Prone): A tripped character is prone. Standing up is a move action. Prone: The character is on the ground. An attacker who is prone has a
#3 phaedrusxy Feb 20, 2009 18:37:12	EDIT: I'm open to rolling my own template too. Maybe something dwarf related, like stone ancestry, etc. Try the mineral warrior.
#4 realmarkp Feb 20, 2009 20:22:57	Mineral Warrior might be just up his alley. Thanks for that suggestion.
#5 Endarire Feb 21, 2009 14:19:12	Though it's much info to digest, Battle Jump (Unapproachable East 42) is a marvelous start as well as other info from Little Red Raiding Hood.