Damage dealing fighter?

[Marimmar]

Improved Trip is really a great idea
Since with Improved Trip, it can`t backfire

Improved Trip only allows for an extra attack after a successful Trip, it doesn't protect you from countertrips.

~Marimmar

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Well, for one thing, stop Monkey-Gripping that Greatsword. If you can still hit consistently with that -2 to hit, use it for Power Attack and get +4 damage.

Take one level of Sorceror. Four True Strike/Power Attacks per day will make you considerably more impressive. You don't even have to take off your armor.

After that level of Sorceror, stick with Fighter until level 12 for GWF and GWS. An extra +1/+2 is always handy.

Greatsword's got a good critical range, and your damage seems pretty impressive already. Pick up Improved Critical at the first opportunity.

Since you've already got three feats invested in that Greatsword (and I'm advising you to pick up two more), see if you can build towards Kensei. The extra critical range and the various Ki abilities will give you even more oomph. (Save your Ki Critical ability for your True Strike/Power Attack combo.)

What kind of Greatsword is he wielding? The way I'm suggesting you build him up, he's better off with more pluses instead of more special abilities-- even if you don't need the extra to-hit, you can feed it into Power Attack for more damage.

On the other hand, Throwing and Returning give you some reach if you're not able to reach your opponent immediately. If you start running out of good feats to take, Point Blank Shot and Far Shot extend your reach considerably.

 

[Camarath]

Well, for one thing, stop Monkey-Gripping that Greatsword. If you can still hit consistently with that -2 to hit, use it for Power Attack and get +4 damage.

I do not believe the character is using the Greatsword one handed I believe that the character is using a Large scaled (i.e. a Large Creature's) Greatsword in two hands and that the DM has house ruled the use of Money Gripple to allow weapons to be used as if they were one size smaller than they are. If I am wrong Terraism would you please correct me?

 

[Terraism]

I do not believe the character is using the Greatsword one handed I believe that the character is using a Large scaled (i.e. a Large Creature's) Greatsword in two hands and that the DM has house ruled the use of Money Gripple to allow weapons to be used as if they were one size smaller than they are. If I am wrong Terraism would you please correct me?

Nope, you're not wrong. That's exactly the case - it's a huge sword. The house-rules for Monkey Grip were there to update it to the 3.5 weapon sizing rules.

Marrimar - as the usual DM, I know exactly where you're coming from. However, this is a case where we do dungeon crawling, and nothing but. We hadn't been min-maxing up to this point, but as of this last weekend, when two 3rd level PCs were pitted against three wraiths, with no way to escape, we decided we'd better start. The DM believes in eeking the most out of the tactical aspect of the game, so... this is more of a "bring us up to par with what we're already dealing with" than anything. The only reason we survived the wraith fight was sheer luck - two of them failed their saves versus Control Undead.

 

[questionmark]

i dont know how attaining magic items works in you world but i would recomend this.

get a mecurial greatsword of speed. That coupled with improved crit. your dm's monsters will tremble at the sight of the fighter. your threat range would be 19-20 X4. you could have a chance to crit every other round. then start pumping your strength stat and get those nifty weapon specializations you could easily break the 50 pt massive damage rule(if your group uses it) wich means your fighter will be a terror to behold.

Watch out though becuase now that you are a juggernaught of death you will be atacked alot so get that con score up so you can take alot of punishment.

this is not viable at level 4 but it is something you can work towards as you progress though the levels.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Consider wearing a buckler and pick up Combat Expertise. Then you can instantly transition between a high defense mode (buckler + expertise, monkey-grip fav weapon) and two-handed power attacking mode.

You'll still suffer a -1 penalty from wielding a weapon while wearing a buckler.

I hope by "instantly transition" you mean "from round to round".

AR

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Nope, you're not wrong. That's exactly the case - it's a huge sword. The house-rules for Monkey Grip were there to update it to the 3.5 weapon sizing rules.

In that case, disregard that portion of my advice-- my concern was both the penalty to hit, and that using the sword one-handed was robbing you of glorious, glorious Power Attack damage.

Everything else still seems more or less valid.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

In that case, disregard that portion of my advice-- my concern was both the penalty to hit, and that using the sword one-handed was robbing you of glorious, glorious Power Attack damage.

Everything else still seems more or less valid.

Since he already has Monkey Grip, it is to late now, but even in his case, it isn`t worthwile from a min/max point of view.
Average damage of a Huge Greatsword (2d8, -2 to hit penalty): 9 points.
Average damage of a Large Greatsword (2d6, no to hit penalty): 7 points.
Everage damage of a Large Greatsword with Power Attack +2 (2d6+4, -2 to hit penalty): 11
Not figured in: Strength Bonus, Feat cost.

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Since he already has Monkey Grip, it is to late now, but even in his case, it isn`t worthwile from a min/max point of view.
Average damage of a Huge Greatsword (2d8, -2 to hit penalty): 9 points.
Average damage of a Large Greatsword (2d6, no to hit penalty): 7 points.
Everage damage of a Large Greatsword with Power Attack +2 (2d6+4, -2 to hit penalty): 11
Not figured in: Strength Bonus, Feat cost.

My original point was, feat or not, he should put both hands back on that sword. Since he was using the sword two-handed anyway (and could only do so because of the feat), my advice on that point was more or less irrelevant.

Besides, shouldn't the proper damage for a Huge Greatsword be 3d6, so that the character is only losing roughly half a hit point of damage per strike? That's what the table reads in my DMG.

 

[Jubilex]

My original point was, feat or not, he should put both hands back on that sword. Since he was using the sword two-handed anyway (and could only do so because of the feat), my advice on that point was more or less irrelevant.

Besides, shouldn't the proper damage for a Huge Greatsword be 3d6, so that the character is only losing roughly half a hit point of damage per strike? That's what the table reads in my DMG.

You are right, 1d12 or 2d6 improve to 3d6 with increased size.

Monkey Grip doesn't look bad, especially when you can Power Attack...