Bear Warrior PrC? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Bear Warrior PrC?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
merrshaulk
Dec 10, 2008 5:43:18 Just saw this in CW, and thought "Hey, that looks cool" (Expecially in combination with the Wendigo race from Bastards and Bloodlines, and DM permission to call it "Wolf Warrior"). Anyone have any ideas on how to min/max the hell out of it? I can see this guy being pretty powerful with a double weapon, leap attack and two-weapon rend.
#2
thegodhead
Dec 10, 2008 5:55:40 Since it turns you into a bear (no thumbs), you can't really use a double weapon with it.

Thumbs: They are important.
#3
zendu
Dec 10, 2008 6:03:14 Primevil is probably better IIRC. As far as that goes, so is druid. That said, there is a weapon in MotW that you could use without thumbs. I'm sure there's something similar in SS, which is almost 3.5... then again, CW is barely 3.5 itself.
#4
merrshaulk
Dec 10, 2008 8:00:53 Ok, fair enough. I'm still rather enamoured with the unarmed barbarian idea... How about Monk 1/Barbarian 4 or so/Fist of Forest 1/Deepwarden 2/Frostrager5/xxx7? So I lose the whole bear thing, but eh. That, with a few items (Monk's belt, Gauntlets of the Talon, Bones of Li Peng) as well as a few feats (Power Attack, Leap attack, Imp Natural Attack, Snap Kick, Superior Unarmed Strike, etc.) is getting 4d8 from an unarmed strike, before raging/stunning fist/power attack come in to play. That's gotta hurt (explanation: Combination of the items and Sup Unarmed Strike gets me the Unarmed Strike of a 20th level monk, Imp Natural Attack moves that up by one on the scale of hurt, and Unarmed Damage from FoF does that again.. I -think- all of that stacks).. Considering all the add-ons I get from Frostrager (One-two punch, rend, Frostrage), this guy is packing some serious heat
#5
zendu
Dec 10, 2008 8:33:13 That xxx 7 could still fit bear or primeval. Your build seems a little MAD: you need Str, Con out the wazzu, int (deepwarden is hard to qualify for) and wis for AC.

xxx 7 could be deepwarden levels, deepwarden is a better class than many realize.

Although.....since our CON score is through the roof, what about Kensai 7?
#6
terronus
Dec 10, 2008 12:42:11 http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2502.0

Check out the last bit myself and ninjarabbit discussed. I'm a big fan of the bear warrior, and if you really want to optimize it, you should take levels from psychic warrior for expansion. One of the best builds I've played was posted by ninjarabbit in the same thread:

barbarian4/psi-warrior2/warmind5/bearwarrior5/warshaper2/fistoftheforest2

Basic ideas from yours truly (again, from the same thread):

Tactics: Keep up an augmented 10min/lvl expansion. You only qualify for awesome blow (pre. 15) if expanded, likewise snatch and rend. Grip of Iron and Force Screen are probably the only other powers you will ever use (expansion is #1 priority). Manifester armor will help you get an extra use out of this /day. Also, if you can get an extra manifester level, you can augment to double expansion for 10min/ML and stomp around as a gargantuan bear at later levels.

Alternatively, you could take combat reflexes and mage slayer instead of snatch and rend to make sure almost no one casts a spell around you if you don't feel like it!

Depending on how your DM rules on animal item slots (and whether or not bearform should be treated like wildshape. If it is, you can skip half orc for another race since you lose the +2 Str), you'll want to spend some money on wilding clasps.

Lastly, make sure you spend a couple weeks in an otyugh hole. Iron will and extend rage are invaluable for 6k.

This is mostly copy-pasted, but you can follow the link to see the feats and stuff.
#7
thegodhead
Dec 10, 2008 18:49:04 Knockback>>>>>>>>>>>>>Awesome Blow.

Basically they put awesome in front of the wrong one.
#8
arkat
Dec 27, 2008 18:38:16
That said, there is a weapon in MotW that you could use without thumbs. I'm sure there's something similar in SS, which is almost 3.5... then again, CW is barely 3.5 itself.

There's "Gauntlets of Man" in Savage Species which allow a pawed animal to have "thumbs" and thus use things that require them (like a great sword).

I'm having trouble figuring out what the "MotW" source is though. Do you mean "Races of the Wild?" If so, I found no weapon in there that can be used by thumbless creatures.
#9
ronin_zardoz
Dec 27, 2008 19:09:45 Opposable: Even a creature that lacks the proper
hands for weapon use can wield an opposable weapon.
This enchantment creates one or more thumblike projections
on the weapon. These artificial “thumbs” fold
around the appropriate limb of the wielder to allow
proper use. To wield an opposable weapon, a creature
must be corporeal, have limbs, have proficiency with the
weapon, and be able to stand without the limb(s) that
wield the opposable weapon.
Caster Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and
Armor, greater magic fang; Market Price: +1 bonus.

This is from MotW [masters of the wild], a magic weapon enhancement. :P I think a DM could easily allow this since it's quite costly.
#10
arkat
Dec 27, 2008 22:45:33 Ahhh...MotW = Masters of the Wild = old 3.0 splat book. No wonder I didn't recognize it. I haven't pulled it out in many years!

Thanks!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 merrshaulk Dec 10, 2008 5:43:18	Just saw this in CW, and thought "Hey, that looks cool" (Expecially in combination with the Wendigo race from Bastards and Bloodlines, and DM permission to call it "Wolf Warrior"). Anyone have any ideas on how to min/max the hell out of it? I can see this guy being pretty powerful with a double weapon, leap attack and two-weapon rend.
#2 thegodhead Dec 10, 2008 5:55:40	Since it turns you into a bear (no thumbs), you can't really use a double weapon with it. Thumbs: They are important.
#3 zendu Dec 10, 2008 6:03:14	Primevil is probably better IIRC. As far as that goes, so is druid. That said, there is a weapon in MotW that you could use without thumbs. I'm sure there's something similar in SS, which is almost 3.5... then again, CW is barely 3.5 itself.
#4 merrshaulk Dec 10, 2008 8:00:53	Ok, fair enough. I'm still rather enamoured with the unarmed barbarian idea... How about Monk 1/Barbarian 4 or so/Fist of Forest 1/Deepwarden 2/Frostrager5/xxx7? So I lose the whole bear thing, but eh. That, with a few items (Monk's belt, Gauntlets of the Talon, Bones of Li Peng) as well as a few feats (Power Attack, Leap attack, Imp Natural Attack, Snap Kick, Superior Unarmed Strike, etc.) is getting 4d8 from an unarmed strike, before raging/stunning fist/power attack come in to play. That's gotta hurt (explanation: Combination of the items and Sup Unarmed Strike gets me the Unarmed Strike of a 20th level monk, Imp Natural Attack moves that up by one on the scale of hurt, and Unarmed Damage from FoF does that again.. I -think- all of that stacks).. Considering all the add-ons I get from Frostrager (One-two punch, rend, Frostrage), this guy is packing some serious heat
#5 zendu Dec 10, 2008 8:33:13	That xxx 7 could still fit bear or primeval. Your build seems a little MAD: you need Str, Con out the wazzu, int (deepwarden is hard to qualify for) and wis for AC. xxx 7 could be deepwarden levels, deepwarden is a better class than many realize. Although.....since our CON score is through the roof, what about Kensai 7?
#6 terronus Dec 10, 2008 12:42:11	http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2502.0 Check out the last bit myself and ninjarabbit discussed. I'm a big fan of the bear warrior, and if you really want to optimize it, you should take levels from psychic warrior for expansion. One of the best builds I've played was posted by ninjarabbit in the same thread: barbarian4/psi-warrior2/warmind5/bearwarrior5/warshaper2/fistoftheforest2 Basic ideas from yours truly (again, from the same thread): Tactics: Keep up an augmented 10min/lvl expansion. You only qualify for awesome blow (pre. 15) if expanded, likewise snatch and rend. Grip of Iron and Force Screen are probably the only other powers you will ever use (expansion is #1 priority). Manifester armor will help you get an extra use out of this /day. Also, if you can get an extra manifester level, you can augment to double expansion for 10min/ML and stomp around as a gargantuan bear at later levels. Alternatively, you could take combat reflexes and mage slayer instead of snatch and rend to make sure almost no one casts a spell around you if you don't feel like it! Depending on how your DM rules on animal item slots (and whether or not bearform should be treated like wildshape. If it is, you can skip half orc for another race since you lose the +2 Str), you'll want to spend some money on wilding clasps. Lastly, make sure you spend a couple weeks in an otyugh hole. Iron will and extend rage are invaluable for 6k. This is mostly copy-pasted, but you can follow the link to see the feats and stuff.
#7 thegodhead Dec 10, 2008 18:49:04	Knockback>>>>>>>>>>>>>Awesome Blow. Basically they put awesome in front of the wrong one.
#8 arkat Dec 27, 2008 18:38:16	That said, there is a weapon in MotW that you could use without thumbs. I'm sure there's something similar in SS, which is almost 3.5... then again, CW is barely 3.5 itself. There's "Gauntlets of Man" in Savage Species which allow a pawed animal to have "thumbs" and thus use things that require them (like a great sword). I'm having trouble figuring out what the "MotW" source is though. Do you mean "Races of the Wild?" If so, I found no weapon in there that can be used by thumbless creatures.
#9 ronin_zardoz Dec 27, 2008 19:09:45	Opposable: Even a creature that lacks the proper hands for weapon use can wield an opposable weapon. This enchantment creates one or more thumblike projections on the weapon. These artificial “thumbs” fold around the appropriate limb of the wielder to allow proper use. To wield an opposable weapon, a creature must be corporeal, have limbs, have proficiency with the weapon, and be able to stand without the limb(s) that wield the opposable weapon. Caster Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, greater magic fang; Market Price: +1 bonus. This is from MotW [masters of the wild], a magic weapon enhancement. :P I think a DM could easily allow this since it's quite costly.
#10 arkat Dec 27, 2008 22:45:33	Ahhh...MotW = Masters of the Wild = old 3.0 splat book. No wonder I didn't recognize it. I haven't pulled it out in many years! Thanks!