D&D 3E/3.5 3.5 newbie help: High melee damage output builds

[Tyrantangel]

Hi, as the title says I'm fairly new to the game and brand spanking new to 3.5. I just got into a group, and we've finished our 'tutorial' encounters, so this week will be the start of the real deal. We have a 5 man group, and as stated in my title, my focus is mainly high melee damage output. This is going to be a relatively long campaign, so planning into the high teens, twenties is definitely preferred.

My starting role I chose was a Barbarian, I have a decent idea of some solid feats and etc, but I really can't say what would be 'optimal'. To keep in mind, I'll be taking moderate damage.

I'm all up for dual classing, in fact I'm quite fond of the idea, since playing a single class can be sort of dull. Basically, I'd like some input on very solid damage out put builds, from what I know all books are available for use. Some house rules that I know that are in effect:
- Weapon specialization feats have been generalized to 6 categories: 2h/1h piercing, bludgeoning and slashing respectively.
- Role playing is a factor in the game, and with my lenient DM, if you can provide a solid argument to support a slight bending of a general rule if the role playing factor is valid.

If you could list classes and feats for the build, I'd much appreciate it.

 

[Sekhmet]

What race are you, and did you use the Barbarian Whirling Frenzy variant?

[sblock]
1 Barbarian - Lion Totem alt. class feature, Destructive Rage feat
1 Fighter - Power Attack
2 Fighter - Cleave, Exotic Weapon Prof. Spiked Chain
3 Fighter -
4 Fighter - Headlong Rush
1 Berserk - Leap Attack
1 Psy Warrior - Pick Expansion
Next 10 levels Frenzied Berserker - Battle Jump, Imp. Sunder, Combat Brute

Top it off with something like Warshaper or Bear Warrior.

Typical first round of combat is Charging -> Leap Attack with a Spiked Chain or another reach weapon of your choice (you'd need Imp. Unarmed for a different reach weapon, though).
Lion Totem gets you Pounce, which allows you to full attack at the end of a charge.

Power Attack as much as you can sacrifice.

If you choose to use a different Reach weapon, make sure to pick up a Large one, instead of a Medium sized one. The extra reach when you use Expansion is just hilarious (20'-30' around you is threatened, so you get those delicious attacks of opportunity).

For a slightly different build strategy, drop the charging (Leap Attack, Headlong Rush, Battle Jump) for the Whirlwind chain, and just Whirlwind every round.
Spiked Chain allows you to trip attempt anything you hit with Whirlwind, which is everything in a 30' radius, at your full base attack bonus.[/sblock]

 

[Dandu]

Well, in Being Bane: A Guide to Cracking Small Men, a guide for the modern barbarian, there are builds that make great use of Leap Attack, Shock Trooper, and Combat Brute to really mess people up.

Here's an idea:

Barbarian 2/Fighter8/Frenzied Berserker 10
Feats
1: Power Attack
1: Extra Rage
2: Improved Trip (Wolf Totem alternate class bonus feat)
3: Endurance
3: Improved Sunder (Ftr bonus feat)
4: Improved Bull Rush
6: Leap Attack
6: Shock Trooper (Ftr bonus feat)
9: Steadfast Determination
10: Combat Brute (Ftr bonus feat)
12: Mad Foam Rager
15: Knock Down
18: Reckless Rage

Spirit Lion Totem alternate class feature (Complete Champion) trades Barbarian Fast Movement for Pounce, which allows you to make a full attack on a charge. Using the Wolf Totem alternate class in the UA (available on the SRD as well) allows you to trade Uncanny Dodge for Improved Trip.

 

[Tyrantangel]

Yea I guess I did leave out some important details. I decided on half-orc, mainly because of the strength bonus, and make it easier to take up multiple classes and keep the xp deduction to a minimum. I didn't know what that even was until I did a quick search, looks attractive. I'm going to speak with my DM about it, and ask if I can switch into it. Considering we just started, I doubt he will mind.

All in all I greatly appreciate the responses I've been getting via posts and pms. Also, since I am a beginner, if there's any advice to be had feel free to enlighten me

 

[BENINHB]

Especially as a Barb HP and a Miss Chance are going to be better at keeping you alive than AC. Magic Items that help with those are more important on your list of things to buy than AC boosters.

 

[Rakusia]

also dex is more important than str. dex auto ups ur armor/dodge chance. and ur ranged. if u take the weapon finess feat depending on your weapon choices u can use it instead of ur strength when using melee weapons as well. id suggest you multi class to rogue after a few levels. ranger would also me good as u could choose the two weapon track to get extra attacks. think one attack consists of a swing of each hand. and as far as a dm that will ignore certain rules if you can rp the reasoning.


this is a big house rule. one of the first ones that my group accepted. normally in dnd if you duel weild you get a penalty for using an off hand. but we went with the philosaphy that if im a warrior who has trained his entire life to use weapons specifically one handed swords and has picked a path in life that makes him take to using two weapons wouldnt he have trained to be equally able to use them in either hand?

 

[Andion Isurand]

Here's something to look at:

Wood Elf = +2 Str, +2 Dex, -2 Con, -2 Int

"Arctic" Template = +2 Con, -2 Cha (Dragon 306) is optional
Quick Trait (-1 HP/HD for +10 speed) is optional
Skilled City Dweller ACF (trade Ride for Tumble) is optional

° Prerequisite for Frenzied Berserker
°° Prerequsite for Revenant Blade

--------------------------------------------

01/ FLEET OF FOOT (1st level only feat) (from Players Guide to Faerun)
02/ Power Attack° (Fighter bonus feat)
03/ DESTRUCTIVE RAGE°
04/ TWF°° (Ranger bonus feat)
05/ Cleave° (Fighter Bonus feat)
06/ INTIMIDATING RAGE°
09/ IMPROVED TWF
12/ BLADE BEARER OF THE VALENAR°°
15/ WEAPON FOCUS (DOUBLE SCIMITAR)°°
18/ GREATER TWF

--------------------------------------------

1 lvl Ranger
(Elf Ranger Substitution @ 1st lvl from Races of the Wild) for extra skill points... put 5 ranks in Balance
(Arcane Hunter ACF from Complete Mage)

1 lvl Fighter

1 lvl Barbarian
(Spiritual Lion Totem Variant in Complete Champion)
(Whirling Frenzy Variant in Unearthed Arcana)

+1 lvl Ranger
+1 lvl Fighter
+1 lvl Barbarian (Wolf Totem ACF from Unearthed Arcana is optional)
10 lvls Frenzied Berserker (from Complete Warrior)
4 lvls Revenant Blade (from Player's Guide to Eberron pg. 142)

+20/+17/+07/+07 = Base Scores @ lvl 20

--------------------------------------------

add the 5th Revenant Blade lvl @ lvl 21

You start out a bit squishy, and can rely on ranged attacks, but as you progress you can shift towards melee as you approach frenzied berserker.

As you approach epic, you can hold onto whatever 2hander you got going for yourself, and switch to to the double scimitar as you see fit.

Essentially, at 21st level you can treat each end of a double scimitar as a 2-handed weapon... getting 1.5x strength to dmg and 2 for 1 Power Attack... which is actually a 4 for 1 power attack due to Frenzied Berserker.

But yeah, not exactly a good fit for a first time 3.5 player, but it was a fun build to write.

Then, if you can manage to fit in the Favored Power Attack feat... then you have a 5 for 1 power attack situation going against Arcanists as your Favored Enemy.

 

[John Blackwood]

I like Rogue/Barbarian with power attack and cleave. Some people might argue that a barbarian can't be sneaky though. I think a barbarian can be as sneaky as you want, you just need to play a personality that fits.

Sneak attack with a 2 handed weapon and rage is nice.

 

[Dandu]

Conan was a sneaky barbarian, iirc.