how would you build Achilles? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

how would you build Achilles?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
drordod
Sep 10, 2010 11:26:29
so he could really be like in the stories?
#2
Gavinfox
Sep 10, 2010 15:50:15 Warblade 20 or Crusader 20 or a mix of Warblade and Crusader. In the stories, he gets injured all the time, but it never slows him down one bit, which could totally be Warblade (with high hit points) or Crusader (with that delayed damage thing), but a midlevel cleric spell (the one that does a huge wave of water) ruins his day, which is pretty much as it should be for a tier 3 meleeist.
#3
ObsidianConspiracy
Sep 10, 2010 19:30:52 Achilles gets most of his prowess from martial skill, so Sword and Board Warblade. Stone dragon (That all three get) really reflects his indomitability, and Iron heart is martial prowess. Avoid Tiger claw, since it's not really his style, and maybe some Diamond Mind to show how good he could land precise strikes?
#4
Gavinfox
Sep 11, 2010 4:41:14 Uh, he's a Spear and Board character who uses a spear that is too big for other people to weild normally. So I guess he needs Powerful Build somehow, cause the feat that lets characters wield large weapons totally sucks... there's an item that does it, but the only armor Achilles wore were a Cuirass, Greaves, Helmet, and Shield.

Is there any feat to wield a decent sized shield with any spear that's bigger than a shortspear anywhere?
#5
aelryinth
Sep 11, 2010 14:00:01 Achilles' legendary ability comes from his invulnerability. Simply put, you can't hurt him unless you shoot him in the heel.

If you're invulnerable, you can do all kinds of crazy stuff that wouldn't work normally. penalties to AC and TH are indifferent if you can just rage or whatever them away.

That's what Achilles is...a very powerful warrior because he doesn't ever have to worry about defense. Unless the tarrasque bites his heel, he'll kill the tarrasque.

Now, if you're talking about the movie troy, you're on your own.

==Aelryinth
#6
Gavinfox
Sep 11, 2010 14:32:34 Fyi, in the stories, he is visibly INJURED all the time, it just never affects him... so it's more "infinite hit points" style invulnerability.
#7
ObsidianConspiracy
Sep 11, 2010 21:44:06
Fyi, in the stories, he is visibly INJURED all the time, it just never affects him... so it's more "infinite hit points" style invulnerability.

Now we're talking mythology and legends. I studied classical civilisations as a course, despite being a scientist myself, thought variance would be a good idea. Anyway, we had to compare stories/accounts and variants. And Achilles in some actually could not be hurt, he was more like Siegfried in those stories, whereas in others he was regularly hurt horribly, and just walked through it. In one version he wields a flail, in others he's sword and board, and others spear and board.

So, really what we should be asking is WHICH story is he referring to, which version, reprint ect.

And also, invincibility, could it be done with a cleric and/or wizard build?
#8
phoenix00
Sep 11, 2010 22:35:50 Warblade with Mineral Warrior. (Do not ever use the burrow aspect). He has good damage reduction, good physical stats, and he likes to go on the offensive. The damage reduction of is enough to protect him for his opponents are all either Gritty (level 1 to 5) or Heroic/Pulp (levels 6 to 10); (I am ignoring things such as chargers focusing on pounce).
#9
steelblue
Sep 12, 2010 3:13:11 Master of Nine. For sure Crusader for a few levels with the Stone Power feat - hit him and it just makes him mad. All schools open except Shadow Hand, but probably emphasize Desert Wind, Iron Heart and Stone Dragon. Homer described him as by far the fastest man in the Greek army, to the point that they gave him the grand prize for a footrace before the race was run, even though he didn't actually participate. He's assuredly a spear and board character, as historically those were the only weapons available at the time, although not an oversized spear wielder... he supposedly used the spear of Peleus, which is described as a beefy spear, being originally made for a centaur, but not such that nobody else could use it. Those items scream Desert Wind. Iron Heart and Stone Dragon should cover the legend of invulnerability nicely. Add some raging tricks or dungeoncrasher to represent his overpowering strength and presence in battle if you want, and you've got your build.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 drordod Sep 10, 2010 11:26:29	so he could really be like in the stories?
#2 Gavinfox Sep 10, 2010 15:50:15	Warblade 20 or Crusader 20 or a mix of Warblade and Crusader. In the stories, he gets injured all the time, but it never slows him down one bit, which could totally be Warblade (with high hit points) or Crusader (with that delayed damage thing), but a midlevel cleric spell (the one that does a huge wave of water) ruins his day, which is pretty much as it should be for a tier 3 meleeist.
#3 ObsidianConspiracy Sep 10, 2010 19:30:52	Achilles gets most of his prowess from martial skill, so Sword and Board Warblade. Stone dragon (That all three get) really reflects his indomitability, and Iron heart is martial prowess. Avoid Tiger claw, since it's not really his style, and maybe some Diamond Mind to show how good he could land precise strikes?
#4 Gavinfox Sep 11, 2010 4:41:14	Uh, he's a Spear and Board character who uses a spear that is too big for other people to weild normally. So I guess he needs Powerful Build somehow, cause the feat that lets characters wield large weapons totally sucks... there's an item that does it, but the only armor Achilles wore were a Cuirass, Greaves, Helmet, and Shield. Is there any feat to wield a decent sized shield with any spear that's bigger than a shortspear anywhere?
#5 aelryinth Sep 11, 2010 14:00:01	Achilles' legendary ability comes from his invulnerability. Simply put, you can't hurt him unless you shoot him in the heel. If you're invulnerable, you can do all kinds of crazy stuff that wouldn't work normally. penalties to AC and TH are indifferent if you can just rage or whatever them away. That's what Achilles is...a very powerful warrior because he doesn't ever have to worry about defense. Unless the tarrasque bites his heel, he'll kill the tarrasque. Now, if you're talking about the movie troy, you're on your own. ==Aelryinth
#6 Gavinfox Sep 11, 2010 14:32:34	Fyi, in the stories, he is visibly INJURED all the time, it just never affects him... so it's more "infinite hit points" style invulnerability.
#7 ObsidianConspiracy Sep 11, 2010 21:44:06	Fyi, in the stories, he is visibly INJURED all the time, it just never affects him... so it's more "infinite hit points" style invulnerability. Now we're talking mythology and legends. I studied classical civilisations as a course, despite being a scientist myself, thought variance would be a good idea. Anyway, we had to compare stories/accounts and variants. And Achilles in some actually could not be hurt, he was more like Siegfried in those stories, whereas in others he was regularly hurt horribly, and just walked through it. In one version he wields a flail, in others he's sword and board, and others spear and board. So, really what we should be asking is WHICH story is he referring to, which version, reprint ect. And also, invincibility, could it be done with a cleric and/or wizard build?
#8 phoenix00 Sep 11, 2010 22:35:50	Warblade with Mineral Warrior. (Do not ever use the burrow aspect). He has good damage reduction, good physical stats, and he likes to go on the offensive. The damage reduction of is enough to protect him for his opponents are all either Gritty (level 1 to 5) or Heroic/Pulp (levels 6 to 10); (I am ignoring things such as chargers focusing on pounce).
#9 steelblue Sep 12, 2010 3:13:11	Master of Nine. For sure Crusader for a few levels with the Stone Power feat - hit him and it just makes him mad. All schools open except Shadow Hand, but probably emphasize Desert Wind, Iron Heart and Stone Dragon. Homer described him as by far the fastest man in the Greek army, to the point that they gave him the grand prize for a footrace before the race was run, even though he didn't actually participate. He's assuredly a spear and board character, as historically those were the only weapons available at the time, although not an oversized spear wielder... he supposedly used the spear of Peleus, which is described as a beefy spear, being originally made for a centaur, but not such that nobody else could use it. Those items scream Desert Wind. Iron Heart and Stone Dragon should cover the legend of invulnerability nicely. Add some raging tricks or dungeoncrasher to represent his overpowering strength and presence in battle if you want, and you've got your build.