Building my fighter for rappan athuk - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Building my fighter for rappan athuk

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
kidoh
Apr 14, 2008 11:15:34 So this campaign is killer and we already have had a near total PK and one PK already. I am at lvl 5 right now. We can use the PHB, DMG & non broken approved prestige classes. I am the tank. We are a very crafty group; ie we all took sign as a language to talk without alerting enemies AND we regularly use oil and torches to burn up bad guys. We also have already found the best treasure from the Oracle.

(Please do not metagame rappan athuk since I have been VERY GOOD and didn't look it up yet haha)

I have a little over 23k in gold to buy items. I use a regular great sword and a masterwork silver great sword. I am always shocked that we are still alive haha.

My stats/feats: Improved Inistive, Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus: Long Sword, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave. STR-19, DEX-16, CON-14, INT-14, WIS-8 (perma lowered), CHA-8 (perma lowered). balance- 5, climb- 11, jump- 10, swim- 8. 44 HP. AC 18 (ugh).

In the group we have a cleric that is not so good with undead, a monk, a summoning druid, a sorcerer, & a rogue. Basically, did I make my character okay and what should I be taking? As for items to be bought, anything out of the DMG is kosher otherwise if it is broken no way. I haven't played as much D&D as the rest of the other players nor have I ever played a fighter before! Thanks!
#2
ElfenLied
Apr 14, 2008 11:32:38 Feats: Get rid of Great Cleave, it only comes into play very rarely and is not worth a feat slot imho. Take Improved Disarm/Improved Trip or Weapon Specialization instead. Also, you fight with Great Swords, but you took Weapon Focus(longsword). Maybe you should consider retraining that one too.

Armor: What type of armor are you using? The most effective armor for you would be the Mithral FullPlate, taking full advantage of your +3 dex bonux. With a +1 Mithral FullPlate, which you can easily afford, you'll be at AC 22, and that's without taking into account shields or magical protection.

Weapons: You'll have to decide on a weapon and combat style, ultimately. 2-handed weapons take advantage of your high strength, while Sword+Shield increases your armor class significantly. Personally, I'd choose a 2-handed weapon, and buy a shield with the "dancing" special ability as soon as you have the money to spare. Once you've decided on your choice of weapons, get a +1 flaming version of it, preferably made either of cold iron or adamantine. Silver is bad, since it means -1 dmg, and you already have one just in case you meet monsters with DR/silver.

PrC: What race is your character? If you're a dwarf, you might take a look at dwarfen defender; it's a tank oriented PrC.
#3
kidoh
Apr 14, 2008 11:56:40 Oh I meant I took weapon focus: great sword.

Thank you for your advice! I am thinking a dancing shield would rock. I am a human for the extra feat.
#4
gilfalas_elaandrin
Apr 14, 2008 14:04:14 If your allowed to buy a weapon of your choice with magical enhancents get a +1 Screaming weapon. It adds a d6 sonic damage to every hit and sonic damage hits 99% of the monsters in the game, as opposed to fire damage which a great many are immune to.

Note that is a SCREAMING weapon, NOT Thundering.

ElfenLied is 100% on about the Mithril full plate and Dancing Shield if you can get it. Replace the useless Great Cleave with Two Weapon Fighting and get armor spikes on your armor. You can use them WITH your Greatsword as an off hand attack, just like you were two weapon fighting.

Replace Weapon Expertise with Exotic Weapon:Longaxe. With a dancing shield, Longaxe and Armor Spikes you have the best of almost all the combat advantages. As your next feat take 'Short Haft'. That then adds a reach weapon to the mix that you can use as a normal weapon as a swift action whenever you need to, if the enemy gets close.

Switch your weapon focus to the Longaxe and your set. You get the 1.5 x Str damage bonus on your 2H axe, you can use it as a reach weapon or normal at will, your getting full shield defense bonus, all while using 2 weapon fighting with your armor spikes.

Gets you good ac, and great offense with a lot of flexibility in combat style. The closer they get to you the more dangerous you become.
#5
indeterminate
Apr 14, 2008 14:16:00 So are the only prestige classes allowed those from the DMG? What counts as "nonbroken"? Can you use base classes from other books or are you stuck with PHB base classes? If you can use prestige classes from other books can you talk the DM into letting you use base classes that may be in those books?
#6
kidoh
Apr 14, 2008 16:08:05 oh yeah we can have non broken prestige classes. I'm not too sure of what he will and will not allow. He is allowing a shadow dancer? Idk what everyong else is doing character wise.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kidoh Apr 14, 2008 11:15:34	So this campaign is killer and we already have had a near total PK and one PK already. I am at lvl 5 right now. We can use the PHB, DMG & non broken approved prestige classes. I am the tank. We are a very crafty group; ie we all took sign as a language to talk without alerting enemies AND we regularly use oil and torches to burn up bad guys. We also have already found the best treasure from the Oracle. (Please do not metagame rappan athuk since I have been VERY GOOD and didn't look it up yet haha) I have a little over 23k in gold to buy items. I use a regular great sword and a masterwork silver great sword. I am always shocked that we are still alive haha. My stats/feats: Improved Inistive, Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus: Long Sword, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave. STR-19, DEX-16, CON-14, INT-14, WIS-8 (perma lowered), CHA-8 (perma lowered). balance- 5, climb- 11, jump- 10, swim- 8. 44 HP. AC 18 (ugh). In the group we have a cleric that is not so good with undead, a monk, a summoning druid, a sorcerer, & a rogue. Basically, did I make my character okay and what should I be taking? As for items to be bought, anything out of the DMG is kosher otherwise if it is broken no way. I haven't played as much D&D as the rest of the other players nor have I ever played a fighter before! Thanks!
#2 ElfenLied Apr 14, 2008 11:32:38	Feats: Get rid of Great Cleave, it only comes into play very rarely and is not worth a feat slot imho. Take Improved Disarm/Improved Trip or Weapon Specialization instead. Also, you fight with Great Swords, but you took Weapon Focus(longsword). Maybe you should consider retraining that one too. Armor: What type of armor are you using? The most effective armor for you would be the Mithral FullPlate, taking full advantage of your +3 dex bonux. With a +1 Mithral FullPlate, which you can easily afford, you'll be at AC 22, and that's without taking into account shields or magical protection. Weapons: You'll have to decide on a weapon and combat style, ultimately. 2-handed weapons take advantage of your high strength, while Sword+Shield increases your armor class significantly. Personally, I'd choose a 2-handed weapon, and buy a shield with the "dancing" special ability as soon as you have the money to spare. Once you've decided on your choice of weapons, get a +1 flaming version of it, preferably made either of cold iron or adamantine. Silver is bad, since it means -1 dmg, and you already have one just in case you meet monsters with DR/silver. PrC: What race is your character? If you're a dwarf, you might take a look at dwarfen defender; it's a tank oriented PrC.
#3 kidoh Apr 14, 2008 11:56:40	Oh I meant I took weapon focus: great sword. Thank you for your advice! I am thinking a dancing shield would rock. I am a human for the extra feat.
#4 gilfalas_elaandrin Apr 14, 2008 14:04:14	If your allowed to buy a weapon of your choice with magical enhancents get a +1 Screaming weapon. It adds a d6 sonic damage to every hit and sonic damage hits 99% of the monsters in the game, as opposed to fire damage which a great many are immune to. Note that is a SCREAMING weapon, NOT Thundering. ElfenLied is 100% on about the Mithril full plate and Dancing Shield if you can get it. Replace the useless Great Cleave with Two Weapon Fighting and get armor spikes on your armor. You can use them WITH your Greatsword as an off hand attack, just like you were two weapon fighting. Replace Weapon Expertise with Exotic Weapon:Longaxe. With a dancing shield, Longaxe and Armor Spikes you have the best of almost all the combat advantages. As your next feat take 'Short Haft'. That then adds a reach weapon to the mix that you can use as a normal weapon as a swift action whenever you need to, if the enemy gets close. Switch your weapon focus to the Longaxe and your set. You get the 1.5 x Str damage bonus on your 2H axe, you can use it as a reach weapon or normal at will, your getting full shield defense bonus, all while using 2 weapon fighting with your armor spikes. Gets you good ac, and great offense with a lot of flexibility in combat style. The closer they get to you the more dangerous you become.
#5 indeterminate Apr 14, 2008 14:16:00	So are the only prestige classes allowed those from the DMG? What counts as "nonbroken"? Can you use base classes from other books or are you stuck with PHB base classes? If you can use prestige classes from other books can you talk the DM into letting you use base classes that may be in those books?
#6 kidoh Apr 14, 2008 16:08:05	oh yeah we can have non broken prestige classes. I'm not too sure of what he will and will not allow. He is allowing a shadow dancer? Idk what everyong else is doing character wise.