Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Aeodahn Nov 22, 2013 18:20:17	So the character is going to be dual wield, and likely will be using 2 dwarven waraxe's. The character is a Dwarf so that proficiency comes free. I understand dual wield is not optimal but my last dozen characters have wielded the big stick. Looking to change it up, so within those confines I'm looking for some guidance.   I have a few ideas so far: - I will include barbarian for Lion totem for pounce.   -  I think scout would be a good idea for skirmish, I am likely to be the only frontline combatant so rogue sneak attacks might    be difficult to pull off.   -  the swift hunter feat sounds great, and taking levels in ranger gives me the 2 weapon fighting feats free and without investing in dex which is nice. Also being able to apply skirmish to favored enemies helps since my DM loves his undead.   - I have tossed around the use of a couple fighter levels, martial rogue levels to capitalize on feats though I'm not really sure if this is worth it?   - I think I will move into Deepstone Sentinel at some point.     So. The character, as stated in the title, is a gestalt. He will dual wield dwarven waraxes and he will be some variety of dwarf. Those are the only 3 requirements here. The other ideas were just that... ideas. Class selection is open to suggestion, though I'd prefer to stay away from attack casting. Buff casting I'm relatively ok with on this one...however, the more melee-centric, the better. I'm terrible at optimizing, so I beg for help. Really looking for imput on what classes to take, and more importantly the right way/order to take them to maximize here. The campaign is a 'worlds largest dungeon' type, but the DM says he has put his own twist on it and there will be some major RP moments as well.   **ALL BOOKS ARE OPEN, AS IS DRAGON MAG AND 3RD PARTY STUFF =). The character begins play at level 1, but the campaign is intended to go into epic levels... we just need to live long enough lol. I do not know what the other characters are playing, it was requested that we not share that info. Dm is having a bit of fun with this one apparently.**
#2 StevenO Nov 22, 2013 19:55:38	I guess if you're going with two dwarven waraxes then Oversized TWF is going to be a must.  You probably don't want the additional penalty for wielding two one-handed weapons.  If you want a bit of honesty, if I'm going to do a "dual weilding" dwarf I'd actually go with the Urgrosh just because it has a lot more versatility even if it doesn't do quite as much base damage; this even allow me to forgo that Oversized TWF feat which really isn't all that great.
#3 Andarious-Rosethorn Nov 22, 2013 22:02:01	Your general concept of a Pouncing Swift Hunter's not a bad one for melee damage, it has reach, it doesn't have to rely on Power Attack (but can gain benefit from it) and it can get around most of the percision damage issues enherant in Skirmish.   I would probably build Barbarian 1, Scout 4, Ranger 15. Melee prc's are not going to help you much if you're doing Swift Hunter as it won't advance your Skirmish or Favored Enemy counts, which are kind of key to your funcitoning in melee. Before you commit to Barbarian at all however consider that you can get Pounce via a level 2 Ranger spell, which is cheap enough to put into a wand.   Don't forget that Power Attack will work with a pair of one handed weapons, and you can also use feats like Favored Power Attack to improve your returns. The most important thing for your Skirmish damage to be effective is to be sure to take the most common (crit immune) enemies you can as favored enemies. I like Arcane Hunter at level 1, Undead at 5, and for the next couple it varies a lot by game. In some games for example Humanoid (Psionic) will be valuable, in other's Outsider (Evil) may be better, Dragon may even be good but in most cases Arcane Hunter has you covered (since most dragons can cast arcane spells). It can be very specific to the campaign, if you know for example it ends in your party going up against The Tarrasque you'll want Magical Beasts as a favored enemy.   Finally, don't be afraid to just put both hands on one weapon from time to time. If a foe has Damage Reduction that you can't bypass, or has some retributive effect on hit, or even just a very high AC you will likely get better returns from a single weapon with two hands.   I'm not sure your GM's wise to allow Swift Hunter into a Gestalt game, or to not at least nerf it so that it only gives you the ability to deal Skirmish damage and Favored Enemy damage to crit immune favored enemies. Since he's done so, probably going to want to build the second half as a full caster. Wu-Jen gets Giant size which is hilarious for you, but you have plenty of options. If you don't want to be a caster at all, then just run straight Barbarian on your "B side" and a classic Scout 3, Ranger 1, Scout +1, Ranger ... build on your A side. Actually seeing as you don't really need the BAB from the Ranger levels you could cut out early on Ranger and do heavy Scout, probably 2 Ranger levels anda  pair of Gloves of the Balanced Hand would be enough, especially with all the awesome stuff you'd get out of being a Scout. Alternative to Barbarian is just about any of the Tome of Battle Classes, two of which can get Pounce by level 9.
#4 Maat_Mons Nov 22, 2013 21:50:54	If the game is going to be entirely inside a dungeon, dark dwarf (Dragonlance Campaign Setting, p14) would be nice for the 120-foot darkvision.     It's been so long since I really looked at ranger that I forgot they don't even gain two-weapon fighting at 1st level.  If you want to dual-wield right away, you might have to have that dex score.
#5 Krusk Nov 23, 2013 7:32:39	That actually sounds pretty solid. Maybe something like    Lion barb 1/Fighter 2/rogue 2/Deepwarden 2/Barbarian 13 (or other prestige classes) on one "side" and scout/ranger swift hunter build on the other. Ranger 5/Scout 15.   Basic tactic of jump on people and do boat loads of damage.
#6 RogerWilco Nov 26, 2013 18:11:02	A few things that could help: 3 Levels of Stoneblessed (Goliath) + 1 level of Barbarian with the Goliath ACF for Mountain Rage. (maybe with Extra Rage) Steadfast Endurance feat Deepwarden 2 for Stone Warden Charging: Rampaging Bull Rush, Dungeon Crasher, Shock Trooper, Knockback, probably with some levels of Fighter. Maybe some levels of Battlerager, and even some levels of Rogue with the goliath ACF.   Basically you become a dwarf that "Hulks out" when raging and charging in doing tons of damage. high Str, High Con and you're good to go.