Batman Fans: How would you design him in DND 3.5?

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I'm thinking that Batman would have levels in monk, fighter, and rogue.
However, I doubt that he is "Lawful", so he only progressed to a certain point as monk before changing alignment.

Just because I like to argue this little point... I'd say Batman is Lawful Good... he is everyone's favorite caped "Crusader." *grin*

Lawful Good, “Crusader”: A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. She combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. She tells the truth, keeps her word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished.

But, 'tis a minor detail...

 

[mr_outsidevoice]

I think we might have to wait for Complete Adventurer to come out before we can give this a go. Jack of All Trades feat has Batman written all over it.

Fighter/Rogue/Monk is probably the best bet.

Let us presume he is 20th level. 6 levels in monk, to max out bonus feats and give him slow fall. 8 levels in Rogue so Improved Uncanny Dodge is in his arsenal. Leaving 6 levels in Fighter for 4 Bonus Fighter feats. His first level in progressing should be Rogue for maximum skill tweaking.

16 feats.
Improved Unarmed (Monk)
Stunning Blow(Monk)
Combat Reflexes(Monk) This makes more sense than Deflect missle to me. He tends to jump out of the way of missles than catch them.
Improved Disarm(Monk) This was a tough choice, could easily be argued that Trip is a better choice.
Investigator
Weapon Focus (unarmed)
Weapon Specialization(Unarmed)
Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Batarang)
Weapon Focus (Batarang)
Weapon Specialization(Batarang)
Point Blank Shot
Ranged Disarm
Dodge
Mobility
Combat Reflexes
Power Attack

If Jack-of-All-Trades exists for 3.5, I would replace Power Attack for it.
Skills, at least 5 Ranks in all class skills that give synergy bonuses.

Equipment, how would you outfit him?
A varaiation of Hewards Handy Haversack as his belt.
Lots of alchemical items and one-shot magic items.
Bottle of Air.
The possibilities boggle the mind here.

We may have to take him into Epic.

 

[The_Universe]

I guess so, but we can try and have fun nonetheless, hehe.

As a little note, I would like to keep it within WotC published material. While other publisher are just as good, I would like to keep it "standard".

I'm thinking that Batman would have levels in monk, fighter, and rogue.
However, I doubt that he is "Lawful", so he only progressed to a certain point as monk before changing alignment.

In terms of physical attributes, I would fathom he is akin to Captain America, peak human, so probably 18s in STR, DEX, and CON and no higher (although you can get higher every 4th level with the stat increases, I believe he sunk those into INT, WIS, and CHA, hehe).

For feats, some ideas:

Iron Will
Great Fortitude
Lightning Reflexes
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack

If you read the description of Lawful Good in the PHB, you'll see it's referred to as the "Crusader." As in caped crusader. If you read through it, you'll see how easily it fits nearly every version of Batman, with the possible exception of Frank Miller's.

I'd stat him out as a 20th level human male Rogue/Monk, possibly with fighter levels making up some of the difference, but probably just with those two.

As is plain by the beginning of this post, I'd say he's Lawful Good, since he doesn't dislike or oppose the law. He sees himself mroe like a safety net, catching those criminals who slip through the hands of the law. He is an instrument of Justice in the truest sense, and lives my such a strict personal code that I can't see calling him anything but Lawful Good.

Mr. Outsidevoice seems have a good jump on statting him. I could certainly accept that. I'd add bolas to the equipment list. And bat-shaped shuriken.

 

[ironmani]

If you read the description of Lawful Good in the PHB, you'll see it's referred to as the "Crusader." As in caped crusader. If you read through it, you'll see how easily it fits nearly every version of Batman, with the possible exception of Frank Miller's.

I dont thinks he fully "lawful" yes he has a heavy slant towards lawfulness, but he will fight dirty when he needs to, lie to anyone and everyone, and will leave his partners out to dry because "they need to be better if they are going to work for him." I feel he's a more netural good than lawful. He will do what ever he needs to do to complete the job, even if it means lying to friends, because for him the ends justify the means. In the latest issue of Batman Superman, he bluffed Darkside by threating to destroy Apokolips. Darkside gave in because he knew Batman wasnt one to make empty bluffs. That doesnt sound like the actions of a "lawful" character.

 

[Nebt Bhakau]

No prestige classes? I'd give him at least a few levels of Watch Detective (from Masters of the Wild).

Maybe my memory is just faulty, but does anyone else recall an episode of the animated series where Batman was fighting a ninja, and he blocked a thrown knife with his arm?

Bruce Wayne Technique

Prerequisites: Dex 13.
Benefit: You must have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to use this feat. Once per round when you are attacked with a ranged weapon, you may block it with your forearm. You must declare your intent to use this feat after the attack roll is made. You take normal damage from the weapon. The weapon becomes lodged in your forearm and requires a DC 20 Heal check to remove. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed.
Special: A fighter may take Bruce Wayne Technique as one of his bonus fighter feats.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I have sort of toyed with the idea that he's some kind of Rogue/Monk, with a level or two of Ranger in there (or at the very least, with the Urban Tracking feat and lots of ranks in Gather Information).

Batman is, pretty much in all of his incarnations, very much a throwback to the "pulp" heroes. As such, he tends to be a jack-of-all-trades, IMO. I'd say that Doc Savage fits this mold (multiclassed), as would the Phantom and other characters of that sort.

As for what sorts of levels of each class he might have, I guess that depends on which "incarnation" you're playing. A 50s Batman would probably play up the Rogue and/or Ranger qualities ("The World's Greatest Detective"), while the Dark Knight version would probably have several levels of Fighter or Monk.

For a fantasy setting, you might even give him a couple of levels of Wizard, to reflect his abilities to create/invent/cobble together "those wonderful toys." In a D20 Modern (or similar) setting, probably a couple of levels of some sort of Tech class.

 

[Incenjucar]

Batman's a bard. It's just that his bardic music is based off of Perform (Breaking Bones).

 

[Nareau]

I agree with Mr. Outsidevoice on the levels. I think Batman should be 20th level, to reflect that he's a superhero. And probably 18 Str, 18 Dex, 20 Con, 20 Int, 16 Wis, 16 Cha.

He's gotta have the monk levels for the unarmed combat and the wisdom bonus to armor. Rogue for the skill points and sneak attack. And fighter for the feats and high HP.

As a DM, I'd allow him to take ranks in Alchemy as though it were a class skill for all of his classes. I'd also max out Hide, Move Silently, Intimidate, Spot, Search, etc.

I'd go with the "Dark Knight Returns" version, because I think that's the most interesting one.

Probably give him a Heward's Handy Haversack, but in belt form. Also, I'd probably let him make several specific "potions" using the Craft: Alchemy skill instead of the Brew Potion feat.

He'd probably have a magic cloak that grants him bonuses to Hide, Move Silently, and Intimidate. Magic armor (enchanted clothes?) that doesn't interfere with his monk's Wis bonus to AC. Maybe some enchanted gloves that allow him to do monk unarmed damage, in addition to 2d6 slashing damage. Definately an Amulet of Protection (big yellow symbol on his chest).

Anyone want to tackle the Batmobile or the Batcave?

Spider

 

[Frostmarrow]

I agree with Mr. Outsidevoice on the levels. I think Batman should be 20th level, to reflect that he's a <i>super</i>hero. And probably 18 Str, 18 Dex, 20 Con, 20 Int, 16 Wis, 16 Cha.

He's gotta have the monk levels for the unarmed combat and the wisdom bonus to armor. Rogue for the skill points and sneak attack. And fighter for the feats and high HP.

As a DM, I'd allow him to take ranks in Alchemy as though it were a class skill for all of his classes. I'd also max out Hide, Move Silently, Intimidate, Spot, Search, etc.

I'd go with the "Dark Knight Returns" version, because I think that's the most interesting one.

Probably give him a Heward's Handy Haversack, but in belt form. Also, I'd probably let him make several specific "potions" using the Craft: Alchemy skill instead of the Brew Potion feat.

He'd probably have a magic cloak that grants him bonuses to Hide, Move Silently, and Intimidate. Magic armor (enchanted clothes?) that doesn't interfere with his monk's Wis bonus to AC. Maybe some enchanted gloves that allow him to do monk unarmed damage, in addition to 2d6 slashing damage. Definately an Amulet of Protection (big yellow symbol on his chest).

Anyone want to tackle the Batmobile or the Batcave?

Spider

Nice stuff. Too much magic for me - but you are totally right on Bats stats. Batman is not made with a measly 32 points. He is only human, but he is as super as humans can possibly get.

 

[Darklone]

Grim Tales has a lot of stuff that really fits Batsy better than a core PHB class combination (like Deflect Bullets). But I agree that UMD is his biggest toy. And he has resources like hell.

He's definitely at least bordering Epic.