My new Sand Giant Warblade - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

My new Sand Giant Warblade

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
guest919208287
Mar 15, 2012 13:16:45 Hello,

We are starting a new campaign soon with monstrous races allowed. Looking through the monster manuals I came across the sand giant. With a Level Adjustment of +4, this still seems to be very unbalanced.

Benefits: Blur at will, 15th level caster, Large size, six starting feats for giant levels, +11 natural armor, immunity to fire, str +16, dex +10, con +10, wis +6, cha +2, BAB +11, 15d8 HD, 40 ft speed, fort +9, ref +5, will +5. Also has a couple minor spell like abilities(meld into stone, statue).

Weaknesses: Large size, vulnerable to cold, small amount of class skills

I see this as a great start for any build, and it doesn't seem right that at basically level 4 I would have +11 BAB. Please explain if I am not understanding this right, because maybe the 15d8 HD affects my level?

The relevance is I'm thinking of going with a Warblade melee build that also focuses on tripping/grappling/AoO based on the large size of the sand giant and the six feats I can apparently start out with. So please help with some tripping/grapple suggestions.

I don't know the makeup of the rest of my group, but there will be at least one cleric and one more front line guy.

Ideas so far include improved trip, inhuman reach(prereq: aberrant blood), combat reflexes, exotic wep(spiked chain), mage slayer, weapon finesse.

I love the warblades and how they work, so if it came to warblade or tripper, I would choose warblade, but they should work fine together I think.

Also, we have someone starting at +7 LA, so adding a template at +1, 2 or 3 would be something I would consider, and I have looked at the half elemental template already. Is there a good template for getting DR?

Most all 3.5 books are in play, notable ommisions are complete champion and scoundrel, dungeon and dragon mags, and any web enhamcements are not allowed because we dont own them.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

#2
draco1119
Mar 15, 2012 13:48:04
I see this as a great start for any build, and it doesn't seem right that at basically level 4 I would have +11 BAB. Please explain if I am not understanding this right, because maybe the 15d8 HD affects my level?
Also, we have someone starting at +7 LA, so adding a template at +1, 2 or 3 would be something I would consider, and I have looked at the half elemental template already. Is there a good template for getting DR?

Your Sand Giant starts off with 15 Racial HD and an LA of +4. That means that you have 15 levels in "Giant" before you start play, and the LA brings you to a 19th level character starting out. I'd be willing to bet that the player looking at the +7 LA didn't look at the racial HD, either. Or, like you, didn't understand what they do.
#3
guest919208287
Mar 15, 2012 14:07:59 I had a feeling this was the case, back to the drawing board for race. Any suggestions for a good tripping/grappling warblade?
#4
draco1119
Mar 15, 2012 14:43:09
I had a feeling this was the case, back to the drawing board for race. Any suggestions for a good tripping/grappling warblade?

Goliath (LA +1 in Races of Stone) Brb2/WarbladeX with the Mountain Rage ACF, or a Half-Giant (LA+1 in Expanded Psionics Handbook) with PsyWar8/WarbladeX. If you use the Half-Giant, be sure to get Expansion as one of your powers, since it increases your size.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 guest919208287 Mar 15, 2012 13:16:45	Hello, We are starting a new campaign soon with monstrous races allowed. Looking through the monster manuals I came across the sand giant. With a Level Adjustment of +4, this still seems to be very unbalanced. Benefits: Blur at will, 15th level caster, Large size, six starting feats for giant levels, +11 natural armor, immunity to fire, str +16, dex +10, con +10, wis +6, cha +2, BAB +11, 15d8 HD, 40 ft speed, fort +9, ref +5, will +5. Also has a couple minor spell like abilities(meld into stone, statue). Weaknesses: Large size, vulnerable to cold, small amount of class skills I see this as a great start for any build, and it doesn't seem right that at basically level 4 I would have +11 BAB. Please explain if I am not understanding this right, because maybe the 15d8 HD affects my level? The relevance is I'm thinking of going with a Warblade melee build that also focuses on tripping/grappling/AoO based on the large size of the sand giant and the six feats I can apparently start out with. So please help with some tripping/grapple suggestions. I don't know the makeup of the rest of my group, but there will be at least one cleric and one more front line guy. Ideas so far include improved trip, inhuman reach(prereq: aberrant blood), combat reflexes, exotic wep(spiked chain), mage slayer, weapon finesse. I love the warblades and how they work, so if it came to warblade or tripper, I would choose warblade, but they should work fine together I think. Also, we have someone starting at +7 LA, so adding a template at +1, 2 or 3 would be something I would consider, and I have looked at the half elemental template already. Is there a good template for getting DR? Most all 3.5 books are in play, notable ommisions are complete champion and scoundrel, dungeon and dragon mags, and any web enhamcements are not allowed because we dont own them. Any help is greatly appreciated.
#2 draco1119 Mar 15, 2012 13:48:04	I see this as a great start for any build, and it doesn't seem right that at basically level 4 I would have +11 BAB. Please explain if I am not understanding this right, because maybe the 15d8 HD affects my level? Also, we have someone starting at +7 LA, so adding a template at +1, 2 or 3 would be something I would consider, and I have looked at the half elemental template already. Is there a good template for getting DR? Your Sand Giant starts off with 15 Racial HD and an LA of +4. That means that you have 15 levels in "Giant" before you start play, and the LA brings you to a 19th level character starting out. I'd be willing to bet that the player looking at the +7 LA didn't look at the racial HD, either. Or, like you, didn't understand what they do.
#3 guest919208287 Mar 15, 2012 14:07:59	I had a feeling this was the case, back to the drawing board for race. Any suggestions for a good tripping/grappling warblade?
#4 draco1119 Mar 15, 2012 14:43:09	I had a feeling this was the case, back to the drawing board for race. Any suggestions for a good tripping/grappling warblade? Goliath (LA +1 in Races of Stone) Brb2/WarbladeX with the Mountain Rage ACF, or a Half-Giant (LA+1 in Expanded Psionics Handbook) with PsyWar8/WarbladeX. If you use the Half-Giant, be sure to get Expansion as one of your powers, since it increases your size.