D&D 3.x D and D 3.5 optimized tank

Genesist · Apr 25, 2011

By the way Dandu, I've seen you on the forums before, you always give good advice, thanks for helping. Or should I say tanks for helping... bad pun.

Dandu · Apr 25, 2011

Genesist said:
I can't remember where this was, but there was an official ruling that it is not limited like dex.

If it exists, it'll have to be in the errata. Anything in the FAQ counts as advice because Skip Williams tends to be a little... schizophrenic when it comes to rules answers.

RUMBLETiGER · Apr 25, 2011

Are Templates options? if so, what sort of Level adjustment is reasonable? You'd miss out on the HP, but a few grant some serious AC, or DR, or SR, or somesuch. For example, Mineral Warrior from Forgotten Realms Underdark grants +3 natural AC, DR 8/Adamantine, +4 CON, and some other abilities. all for a +1 LA. The +4 CON may make up for the 1 level loss of Hp over a few levels.

What seems to be missing from your build, as mentioned already, is any sort of Spell resistance or other options for avoiding enemy casters. You mentioned magic items not being an option, is this in a low magic/no magic campaign? Why are magic items not an option?

Dandu · Apr 25, 2011

Forsaker grants SR if I'm not mistaken, but given that there's an entire school of magic dedicated to giving SR the finger...

Jacob Marley · Apr 25, 2011

Genesist said:
I can't remember where this was, but there was an official ruling that it is not limited like dex.

In Living Greyhawk it was restricted to your Max Dex Bonus; I don't remember any other rulings via FAQ or Errata (Did they release any errata for Races of Stone?). That said, it is not restricted when building a character using the HeroForge program - not that that is an official source or anything.

Pergentile · Apr 25, 2011

RUMBLETiGER said:
Are Templates options? if so, what sort of Level adjustment is reasonable? You'd miss out on the HP, but a few grant some serious AC, or DR, or SR, or somesuch. For example, Mineral Warrior from Forgotten Realms Underdark grants +3 natural AC, DR 8/Adamantine, +4 CON, and some other abilities. all for a +1 LA. The +4 CON may make up for the 1 level loss of Hp over a few levels.

What seems to be missing from your build, as mentioned already, is any sort of Spell resistance or other options for avoiding enemy casters. You mentioned magic items not being an option, is this in a low magic/no magic campaign? Why are magic items not an option?

That is a NICE template (Cheese it with Feral?), but he said only core rulebooks, black and white stuff, so a Faerun template would most likely be off-limits. The Forsaker class is a "I HATE MAGIC! FUUUUU!" class. It also gives you STACKING +11 Spell resistance, which you ADD to any other form of spell resistance you have. Fairly decent for a specialized one-trick pony, but not optimal for a tank.

@ OP: Forsaker WOULD be good if you used other synergies with it, like Vow of Poverty, but only for 3 levels, or five.
IIRC, about 360k will get you +5 permanent, un-dispel-able inherent bonus to your Constitution score. This is a huge chunk of your characters wealth, but it doesn't keep you from magic, which is by far the most powerful force in D&D.
It might not be optimal, but Outsider HD give all good saves, d10 HD, good skill points and are generally packaged with DR, SR and give you access to monstrous feats, some of which are VERY nice.

Genesist · Apr 25, 2011

That template that you posted looks very nice. I personally don't use templates much because I don't have a good understanding of LA. My DM is schizophrenic about some rules, that being one of them. Vow of poverty could be a nice addition, but I'm definitely not set on forsaker. I'm willing to use any books that are WoTc. Personally I like dragon magazine, but I know a lot of people automatically disapprove stuff from there. Also no anthropomorphic baleen whale cheese

. According to my DM a +1 LA means every levels you don't get a level, ex: by level 10 you're level 5, that's way more than 1 level's health so obviously I'm missing something?