Critique Mo2/Fi4/Wiz12

[Volomon]

Ok I'm looking for a critique on this build you can only use 3.5 Core PHB. I have to be the "tank" of the party, however I don't want to be a cookie cutter tank. I definitely don't want to get locked down as 100% fighter. So tell me what you would do to optimize yourself to "tank" yet be all around as uber as possible.

Right now I went with str 15 dex 18 con 17 int 15 wis 11 cha 14 this build is starting at level 3. I've grabbed combat reflexes, combat expertise, improved grapple, improved trip, extoic weapon pro (chain, spike).

My AC is 19 (really not sure this is enough but hoping if need be I can use combat expertise).

So help me build a unique character that can tank role and still beat bosses in a pinch.

 

[Dandu]

You fail at fighting and at casting spells.

Stats: str 18 dex 15 con 17 int 15 wis 14 cha 11

Fighter1/Wizard5/EK10/Wizard4 works better as a gish.

Use spells such as Mage Armor, Shield, Mirror Image, and Alter Self (Troglodyte) to get lots of AC/miss chance.

 

[Volomon]

Eldritch Knight? I think my DM is forcing me down to the bare minimum of PHB, I'll recheck tomorrow, but that might not work.

 

[Dandu]

So nothing but PHB material?

Bit of a Dickensian move.

Tanking doesn't really work well in DnD. Allow me to illustrate with an example: In WoW, tanks draw aggro and take damage. This is critical to the concept of tanking.

In core DnD, melee characters have no way of forcing enemies to attack them. This makes tanking unfeasible unless you're in a hallway facing enemies who cannot bypass the fighter any other way - a rather narrow set of circumstances.

If you cannot use DMG prestige classes, you may want to try making a melee bard.

 

[Volomon]

Ya we RP a bit not always indepth hardcore but using say Intimidation can say for instance fluster an opponent to take at least heed of your presence. In a pure tactical sense ya theres really no way to FORCE someone to attack you.

I have to be able to fulfill the HIGH AC role in the party, as if we did have a potential to lure an opponent, cause I think within the RP nature of the game this is possible not a sure bet but possible. I think I'd probably be able to use the DM book, just have to find out.

Are you sure the build I put out wouldn't be good enough to fight with? I figure with Enlarge and Improved grapple with Spiked Armor (1d8 as a Large Wep) I believe +4 (with more as I gain buffs) with grapple giving me +19 at 20 (minus magic items) I could pretty much grab and kill something I couldn't directly hit. With Improved trip and Haste I could trip three opponents and be able to get an AOO as they stand up with Combat Reflex I should be able to hit all three with a dex of 18 plus gaining +4 to make the hits against prone targets. Using spiked chain I could do these trips from 10ft away. With Evasion I could even possibly "tank" some damage spells with Lightning Reflexes helping out.

I honestly wouldn't know if it would work or not, because I rarely if ever get to play the player side of things.

 

[Dandu]

Are you sure the build I put out wouldn't be good enough to fight with? I figure with Enlarge and Improved grapple with Spiked Armor (1d8 as a Large Wep) I believe +4 (with more as I gain buffs) with grapple giving me +19

Note: a Bone Devil has a +19 grapple modifier. It has a CR of 9.

With Improved trip and Haste I could trip three opponents and be able to get an AOO as they stand up with Combat Reflex I should be able to hit all three with a dex of 18 plus gaining +4 to make the hits against prone targets.

What's your tripping mod at level 20? Is it enough to affect a Balor, or a Pit Fiend? How about a Barbed Devil, Horned Devil, or Marilith?

With Evasion I could even possibly "tank" some damage spells with Lightning Reflexes helping out.

Just buy a ring.

 

[Volomon]

Ok guess I'll find a way to bring that EK in, thanks for the help.

 

[Particle_Man]

Wouldn't it be simpler just to be a single-class cleric that fights a lot? I thought that this was the point behind CODzilla. You have the AC to tank, you have almost the hp of a fighter, and you have spells like Divine Might, etc., that can make you pretty fearsome in meelee.

 

[Dandu]

Some people want gishes. *shrug*

 

[Runestar]

A somewhat more unorthodox tank might consist of a wizard who uses summoned monsters to disable the foes. For example, at 5th lv, your wizard can bring in a huge centipede, which should be able to grapple and thus disable any foe on the battlefield, making it more "tankish" than a fighter can ever hope to be.