So, I have this potentially great idea, CO.
We've all come up with a build of some sort before. Something that you just love to play. That character build or concept that had you looking forward to your session every week (or however often you play). You may only have one character that made you feel that way, or three, or ten. The point is, you really liked that character.
Let's have a thread and share those ideas.
Some simple guidelines:
1.) As this is Character Optimization, the build should be optimized to some degree.
2.) Please post a full level-by-level progression, and include tactics if anything specific was required to make the build work. (E.g. a battlefield controller who specialized in x.)
3.) Feel free to offer ideas to make the concept more fluid/"better," but as is typical for us; don't just say "That idea is terrible," but rather, "Did you consider this?"
4.) Want to post more than one build? Great! Please post each in a seperate post.
5.) Try to avoid abbreviations, just for the sake of those reading. Not everyone may know TWF is Two-Weapon Fighting, for example.
I'll get things started with my master archer, Caellian Nimtranae (along with an example of formatting, just as an idea):
Race: Elf
Alignment: Neutral Good (Worshipper of Ehlonna)
1. Fighter 1 - Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (Longbow) (Figher bonus)
2. Fighter 2 - Rapid Shot (Fighter bonus)
3. Fighter 3 - True Believer
4. Fighter 4 - Precise Shot (Fighter bonus)
5. Fighter 5
6. Fighter 6 - Manyshot (Fighter bonus), Improved Rapid Shot
7. Pious Templar 1
8. Pious Templar 2
9. Pious Templar 3 - Weapon Specialization (longbow) (Pious Templar bonus), Ranged Weapon Mastery (Piercing)
10. Order of the Bow Initiate 1
11. Order of the Bow Initiate 2
12. Order of the Bow Initiate 3 - Improved Precise Shot
13. Order of the Bow Initiate 4 - Greater Weapon Focus (longbow) (Order of the Bow bonus)
14. Order of the Bow Initiate 5
15. Order of the Bow Initiate 6 - Sharp-Shooting (Order of the Bow bonus), Woodland Archer
16. Order of the Bow Initiate 7
17. Order of the Bow Initiate 8
18. Order of the Bow Initiate 9 - Improved Initiative
19. Order of the Bow Initiate 10
20. Pious Templar 4 - Far Shot (Pious Templar bonus)
Why I liked it: Full base attack bonus, No base save was below +10, put out decent ranged damage, lots of fun to play for me.
What I would have changed: I would have made the character a fire elf, and used the Skilled City-Dweller variant to get Tumble and Gather Information as Fighter class skills.
Lirax Phae`Al (Shadowblade)
Alignment Lawful Evil (worshipper of Lolth, the spider queen)
1. Rogue 1 - Two Weapon Fighting (and lots of skill points
)2. Rogue 2
3. Swashbuckler 1 - Bonus: Weapon Finesse (elven(drow) thinblade) (Note: DM made it a martial weapon); Daring Outlaw
4. Swashbuckler 2
5. Swashbuckler 3
6 Drow Fighter (Drow of the Underdark) 1 - Bonus: Ambidexterity (note: my DM allowed me to use this feat, it does not exist in 3.5. If your doesn't you take Telling Blow); Craven
7. Drow Fighter (Drow of the Underdark) 2 - Bonus: Improved two - weapon fighting
8. Assassin 1
9. Assassin 2 - Improved Critical
10. Assassin 3
I'm at this point for now. From level 11 to 20 I plan going Dread Fang of Lolth. The class is very nice and since we are playing a drow campaign it fits the character.
How would I advance it: Pick Greater two weapon fighting on lvl 15. You can pick feats like Improved Initiative, Improved Toughness. Boost intelligence! Intelligence = damage (Insightful strike), bigger Death Attack DC (it's not useless as I thought, awesome role-play. We are an assassin after all :D). Use poisons.
Why I like it: Does lots and lots and lots of damage, fluff wise and fun to play. At level twenty you will have 5d6 Sneak attack and 5d6 Sudden Strike (quite the same)
as seen in
The Adventures of Fistbeard Beardfist
Ranger 2 / Monk 2 / Ranger 1 / Deepwarden 2 / Fist of the Forest 3 / Kensai 2
ACFs:
Passive Way Monk: Combat Expertise and Improved Trip as bonus feats
Strongarm Ranger: Power Attack as Combat Style Bonus Feat
Trap Expert: Trade Track for Trapfinding and Disable Device as a class skill.
Feats:
Great Fortitude
Power Attack
Poison Healer: Heal 5 + Constitution modifier hit points every time you successfully resist a poison.
Steadfast Determination: Use Constitution modifier in the place of Wisdom modifier for will saves. Also, a natural 1 on a fortitude save is not an automatic failure.
Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike
Snap Kick: Make an additional unarmed strike attack; all attacks that round take a -2 penalty.
Abilities:
Stonewarden: A Deepwarden may use his Constitution modifier in place of his Dexterity if his Constitution is higher. This bonus is lost in all situations that a Dexterity bonus would be lost under.
Fist of the Forest AC bonus: While unarmored, you gain a bonus to your Armor Class equal to your Constitution bonus (if any). See the monk class feature (PH 40).
Feral Trance: For the duration of the trance, you gain a +4 bonus to Dexterity and a +2 bonus on damage rolls with your unarmed strikes. You can also make one bite attack per round at your highest attack bonus whenever you attack as a full-round action.
The damage for this attack is 1d6 + your Str modifier, regardless of your size. A feral trance lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + your Con modifier. While in a trance, you cannot perform certain actions, and afterward you are fatigued. These restrictions are the same as those for the barbarian's rage class feature (PH 25-26).
Signature Weapon: A Kensai gains the ability to enchant his signature weapon and imbue it with power.
Power Surge: A Kensai may make a DC 15 concentration check as a move action in order to gain +8 to Strength for a number of rounds equal to one half his Kensai level. The DC increases by 5 each time he uses the ability within a 24 hour period.
Current weapon enchantments:
Unarmed Strikes: +2, Sizing, Eager, and Warning via amulet of Natural Attacks
How I would advance it: More levels in Kensai
What I like about it: It's a dwarf who can beat people up with his beard and heal from drinking alcohol. What's not to like?
Race: Non-Psionic Thri-Kreen (Shining South, and not assuming LA buyoff)
1. Monstrous Humanoid 1 - Deflect Arrow (Thri-Kreen bonus), Multiweapon Fighting
2. Monstrous Humanoid 2
3. Warblade 1 - Martial Stance, Punishing Stance
4. Warblade 2
5. Warblade 3
6. Warblade 4 - Steady Mountaineer
7. Bloodclaw Master 1
8. Bloodclaw Master 2
9. Bloodclaw Master 3 - Improved Critical (kukri)
10. Warblade 5 - Run (Warblade bonus)
11. Warblade 6
12. Warblade 7 - Improved Multiweapon Fighting
13. Warblade 8
14. Warblade 9 - Ironheart Aura
15. Warblade 10 - Stormguard Warrior
16. Warblade 11
17. Warblade 12
18. Bloodclaw Master 4 - Greater Multiweapon Fighting
19. Bloodclaw Master 5
Maneuvers and Stances
1 - Sudden Leap, Punishing Stance, Blood In The Water
2 - Action Before Thought, Wall Of Blades, Emerald Razor
3 - Leaping Dragon Stance
4 - Death From Above
5 - Iron Heart Focus, Dancing Blade Form
6 - Moment of Alacrity
7 - Swooping Dragon Stance, Quicksilver Motion
8 - Girallon Windmill Flesh Rip, Raging Mongoose
9 - Feral Death Blow
Why I like it: Stormguard Warrior + lots of touch attacks = lots of bonus damage next round. Blood In The Water + high threat range weapons = fair amount of bonus on attack/damage rolls.
+30 racial on jump checks + Leaping Dragon Stance + Run + Steady Mountaineer = 54 on jump checks for maneuvers before ranks and Strength bonus.
1.Swordsage(Tome of Battle): Sacred Vow, weapon Focus(unarmed)(Swordsage Class Feature), weapon Finesse(petal racial feat), Vow of Poverty(Flaw bonus from unearthed arcana), Shadow Blade(Flaw Bonus)
2.Battle Dancer(Dragon Compendium): Vow of Non-violence(VoP bonus)
3.Barbarian(Player's Handbook)(Spirit Lion Totem Variant): Two-weapon Fighting, pounce ability from spirit lion totem variant
4.Marshall(Miniatures Handbook): Knight of Stars(VoP bonus), Charisma to charge damage aura
5.Cleric(Player's Handbook)(dwarf and nobility Domains): Great fortitude(dwarf domain bonus)
6.Fighter(Player's Handbook): undecided feat, Stone Power(Fighter feat), Righteous Wrath(VoP bonus)
7.Fist of the Forest(Complete Champion)
8.Champion of Gwynharwyf(Book of Exalted Deeds):
Vow of Peace(VoP bonus), try to gain the Saint template from Book of Exalted Deeds this level(+2 LA)
9.Fighter: Underfoot Combat, Improved two-weapon Fighting(Fighter bonus)
10.Champion of Gwynharwyf: Nymph's Kiss(VoP bonus)
11.Champion of Gwynharwyf:
12.Champion of Gwynharwyf: Confound the Big Folk, Words of Creation(VoP bonus)
13.Champion of Gwynharwyf:
14.Champion of Gwynharwyf: Touch of Golden Ice(VoP bonus)
15.Champion of Gwynharwyf: Divine Might
Why I liked this build: Charisma, dexterity, and wisdom to my ac. Insane amounts of charging damage from a tiny unarmed flying flower fairy! Doesn't provoke Attacks of opportunity from big people, hilarious in combat situations. Roleplaying a non-violent insane fairy? Pricelss.