How do you build a core-only spiked chain user?

[Timely Drought]

3 core books only, fighter preferably but any full BAB or better than 3/4 BAB multiclass will do. Spiked chain weilder. Must be effective at all levels, though getting worse at high levels is inevitable for a non-caster...

30 point build. Favored weapon enhancement suggestions at various levels welcome.

Meant to be a battlefield control type (tripping etc), damage dealing is secondary but still important, so str based over dex preferable.

 

[Thanee]

Human Fighter
Str 16, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 8
(all level up ability points go into Str)

1st EWP (spiked chain)
1st Combat Expertise
1st Improved Trip
2nd Combat Reflexes
3rd Power Attack
4th Cleave
6th Weapon Focus (spiked chain)
6th Weapon Specialization (spiked chain)
8th Greater Weapon Focus (spiked chain)
9th Iron Will
10th Improved Disarm
12th Greater Weapon Specialization (spiked chain)
12th Blind-Fight

Bye
Thanee

 

[Timely Drought]

Thanks. What tripping tactics should this character use? Go full combat expertise unless he cant hit with touch attack? Does getting up from prone cause an AoO that can be used to trip?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Getting up from prone provokes an AoO, but it is resolved while the character is still prone. Accordingly, you get a +4 bonus on your attack roll (actually, the target is at -4 to AC) but you can't trip him with it.

 

[Timely Drought]

Getting up from prone provokes an AoO, but it is resolved while the character is still prone. Accordingly, you get a +4 bonus on your attack roll (actually, the target is at -4 to AC) but you can't trip him with it.

You can't trip because he's still prone at the moment you make the attack, right? You can still disarm etc with that AoO?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

You can't trip because he's still prone at the moment you make the attack, right? You can still disarm etc with that AoO?

Correct.

 

[Thanee]

What tripping tactics should this character use? Go full combat expertise unless he cant hit with touch attack?

Combat Expertise and Power Attack are only used, if needed.

Combat Expertise when you need the AC and Power Attack when you hit easily, or need the damage to punch through DR.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

If you want to add some multiclass fun, here are two decent options:

1) Barbarian for the obvious Str boost with Rage (check with your DM, whether he allows trip attacks while raging).

2) 1-2 levels of Wizard (specialist transmuter) for Enlarge Person and Shield (buy a lesser metamagic rod of extend for extra duration).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Infiniti2000]

I would swap the 3rd and 4th with the two 6th. The weapon focus will be more useful IMO because it will lead to hits more often. PA is not as useful at lower level because you don't hit as much anyway.

 

[Thanee]

PA not so much (altho with Improved Trip and a 2H weapon PA is not so bad at low levels), but Cleave is very useful. But yeah, that would also work, I think both options are about equal.

Bye
Thanee