D&D 3E/3.5 3.5 Min/Maxed Two-Handed Weapon Damage Machine with the flavor of a Samurai

[Corwin the Confused]

Any other suggestions for a two-handed weapon damage machine?

 

[Jeremy]

As the Dragon clan is basically based on his fighting style, you could do a Dragon clan build that works pretty well with a little samurai and a little fighter.

1-5 samurai and/or fighter
6-15 swordmaster*

Feats**: way of the dragon, daisho technique, daisho specialization, togashi's technique, greater two weapon fighting, offhand weapon expert, and prereq's

You can fill out the last 5 levels with Iaijutsu master levels if you want to add the dueling/reading opponents flavor.

*Another Dragon Clan prestige class from the Rokugan campaign setting, focusing more on the fighting style than aiding spell casters. It's major benefit is bonuses to hit, damage, and AC when fighting with katana and wakizashi while in light or no armor.

**Way of the Dragon- +2 dodge bonus while dual wielding k&w and lightly armored, RCS
Daisho Techique- Exotic Prof Katana, Ambi, TWF while dual wielding k&w and lightly armored, RCS
Daisho Specialization- specialization with either k or w while dual wielding k&w and lightly armored, RCS
Toghashi's technique- improved two weapon fighting while dual wielding k&w and lightly armored, RCS (lower base attack req)
Offhand weapon expert- full strength mod for offhand instead of half, Quintessential Fighter

If you are looking for a straight dualist who doesn't dual wield...

I'd say go Lion or Crane style instead. Crane especially lends itself to Iaijutsu mastery which given the number of smackdowns revolving around it you can imagine is rife for Min/Max'ing.

 

[DMauricio]

Hrmm Using only the core books and the splatbooks

Musashi as a 20th level character

using say:

str 17
dex 18
con 17
int 14
wis 16
cha 14

human fighter:
1st level (F1): focus (greatsword), ambidexterous, two weapon fighting
2nd leve (F2)l: monkey grip (greatsword)
3rd level (F3): improved initiative
4th level (F4): dodge (increase str to 18)
6th level (F6): expertise, power attack

then take 5 rogue levels :
8th level (R2): (increase dex to 19)
9th level (R3): quicker than the eye

then back to fighter till 20th:
12th level (F7): mobility (increase dex to 20)
13th level (F8): weapon specialisation (greatsword)
15th level (F10): spring attack, skill focus (bluff)
16th level (F11): (increase int to 15)
17th level (F12): improved critical (greatsword)
18th level (F13): off hand parry
19th level (F14): whirlwind attack
20th level (F15): increase int to 16

Possibly switch prestige classes for fighter levels (though I'd be tempted not to)

Take as many levels in bluff and sense motive as possible (as well as disguise, intimidate)

Possibly even take a barbarian level or two instead of fighter levels.


just my $0.02

 

[Corwin the Confused]

I just can't stomach the idea of "MY MUSASHI" having levels of rogue. I do not want him to be sneeky. I want him to be the best two-handed weapon fighter. Are there any more suggestions on feats for this Fighter?

 

[Aelryinth]

Also in your build, Supreme Mobility, as a superior version of Mobility, would qualify as Mobility as a Virtual feat...you dont need to take it, I'd have to rule.

The Crane style is a duelling style, and in a duel will dominate. However, outside of a duel, the Lion style would tear it apart. +2 TH vs armor/Nat armor as a stacking feat? Who needs weapon spec! The only creatures it wouldn't work against would be courtiers and monks...and in duels, suprise suprise. Way of the Lion is just hideously strong.

==Aelryinth

 

[Sabaron]

I just can't stomach the idea of "MY MUSASHI" having levels of rogue. I do not want him to be sneeky. I want him to be the best two-handed weapon fighter.

Musashi? Are you sure you're talking about Musashi? This character sounds more like Sasaki Kojiro. Kojiro had the giant two handed sword; Musashi pioneered two weapon fighting. And Musashi was sneaky. If you want a non-sneaky, two-handed wielding Musashi, you don't want Musashi, you want Kojiro.

edit: adding something constructive

Wouldn't Musashi also have a few levels in Ranger? Think about it; he travels all over the place and lives off the land, plus it guarantees you that two weapon style that characterizes Musashi. 3.5e Ranger levels provide him with the skills he needs for the parts of his character that don't involve killing things, without giving him "dishonorable" Rogue levels.

 

[LuYangShih]

I would not trust the validity of what was written about Musashi, considering he is the one who wrote the books containing his exploits. I think most of what is presented about the man is in fact folklore and fantasy. He would hardly be the first historical figure to create a myth for himself. Still, as to the matter of the topic itself, I think if you want a min-maxed two handed sword wielder, you should make a Frenzied Berserker. If you want an accurate representation of what Musashis character was presented as in the books, you would be better off going with a multiclass of Fighter/Rogue.

 

[warpmind]

I don't understand the Headband of Intellect thing. To qualify for Expertise you must have Int 13+, but it has to be your actual stat, not buffed by any means. AFAIK you can't use buffs to reach stat values that enable the acquisition of feats, or to get more skill points when a level is gained.

 

[Aelryinth]

You can use stat buffers to qualify for feats.

The only problem is, if you lose the stat buff, you can't use the feat and anything that relies on it.

In Enemies and Allies, the Iconic PC Regdar, the fighter, uses a Headband of Intellect +4 to qualify for Expertise with his base Int of 9.

In Epic level games, its ASSUMED you are using stat buffing magic items to qualify for many of the feats...it's almost impossible to gain the reqs for some of the feats without doing so.

==Aelryinth

 

[Ranger REG]

Wouldn't Musashi also have a few levels in Ranger? Think about it; he travels all over the place and lives off the land, plus it guarantees you that two weapon style that characterizes Musashi. 3.5e Ranger levels provide him with the skills he needs for the parts of his character that don't involve killing things, without giving him "dishonorable" Rogue levels.

I wouldn't say he has taken a level of the ranger class. I'm sure it is possible to live off the land without being a ranger by just taking the Survival skill.

While I have not read the book, but currently watching a Japan-produced Taiga Drama (a maxi-series, one hour every week) based on that book, among other resources, he can live off on radish and occasionally the hospitality of lords.