Dwarven Defender... 7th level class?

[ruleslawyer]

Souljourner:

Your suggested build is excellent, IMHO. Ftr4/Pal2/Templar 1/DD X is an excellent idea. If there's any chance you'll go epic, I'd take three more levels of templar and finish DD; it scales nicely into epic levels.

I agree with Gez: Any class that doesn't grant +1 BAB is useless for your character concept, IMHO.

Incidentally, there is one bit of cheese that I can recommend (and that would work with your overall character concept): If you can burn a feat on Cosmopolitan (FR) or some similar feat that turns a cross-class skill into a class skill, I might recommend taking a level of warrior skald (Races of Faerun, p.186-188) either instead of templar or during your DD progression. Warrior skald gives you good Fort and Reflex saves and all bardic music abilities for which you have sufficient ranks to qualify. Since you'll have run out of DD levels before you hit 20th, this may be a worthwhile option.

 

[Andion Isurand]

ok -- here is a possible build

/////////////// Possible Progression /////////
( find a deity with a good favored MELEE weapon)

1 Ranger
2 Paladin
2 Fighter

1 Templar
1 Devoted Defender
10 Dwarven Defender
3 Devoted Defender

epic Dwarven Defender

///////////////////////////////////////////////////

lvl 20 base scores

+20 BAB // +21 Fort // +7 Ref // +10 Will

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

After 5th level, you will need:

Alertness, Endurance, Toughness, Weapon Focus ( deity's melee weapon )

Knowledge (religion): 8 ranks; Search: 4 ranks; Sense Motive: 4 ranks; Spot 4 ranks;

For your 6th level character feat, you will need to take Dodge:
( although this feat can be rearranged with Toughness )

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

Notes:

The first level of Templar still gives you Weapon Specialization.
( with that deity's melee weapon you chose )

 

[Andion Isurand]

Like the ruleslawyer mentioned earler...

the cosmopolitan feat (FR) may work well for you, especially since dwarven defender doesn't have many class skills.

I would pick the Tumble skill for this feat....
so when you perform defensive combat actions...
( Fighting Defensively & All-Out Defense )...

...the dodge bonus to AC you get when doing so improves based on your ranks in tumble.

( although you will have to wait until level 9 to get this feat using my build ) -- ( and if you are playing FR, my build causes you to lose a 1st-level only feat anyway)

 

[THEBIGLOU]

For all the wise guys who nixed the Barbarian idea... I actually played this character in living Greyhawk and he was brutally powerful. The difference is that I started at 1st level. I did not notice the part of how you are starting at 6th. Rage is uber powerful at low levels, especially when combined with cleave and it stacks with Bull's strength and endurance for later level.

Now I agree if you are starting at 6th level it is probably not you best choice because you will lose your ability to rage at 8th level when you go DD.

The boots are a great idea!!! Now all you need is a dwarven thrower

BIGLOU

 

[Particle_Man]

Kingdoms of Kalamar Player's Guide has a core class called the Gladiator. You get max. BAB and a free exotic weapon proficiency at 1st level (Urgosh or Dwarven War-Ax, I guess). And this is not just a d20 class, but an official D&D one.

 

[Pax]

Re: ok -- here is a possible build

/////////////// Possible Progression /////////
( find a deity with a good favored MELEE weapon)

1 Ranger
1 Paladin
1 Fighter
1 Paladin
1 Fighter

1 Templar
1 Devoted Defender
10 Dwarven Defender
3 Devoted Defender

Except, by core rules, you cannot do that. REad the rules on Ex-Paladins (not that I like 'em, or even think they're needed, but ... they ARE there).

Your third level, as a Fighter, triggers the Ex-Paladin level. You cannot then return to Paladin.

 

[Andion Isurand]

Got it right now, thanks Pax.

 

[Endur]

MY DD Build for Living Greyhawk

My Dwarven Defender for Living Greyhawk went through the following progression.

Paladin (1-6)
Fighter (7)
DD (8- 17?)
Once I get to 17, my last three levels will probably be another fighter level and two Templar levels (or maybe all three fighter levels).

If you are doing 28 point buy, there are issues with being a Paladin/DD:
i.e.
4 stats need 6 points each
Dex 14 (need dodge)
chr 12 (divine grace)
str 14 (want to hurt the enemy)
con 16 (I'm a dwarf)

leaves you 4 points for int + wisdom
Since I went with 6 levels of Paladin, I want to be able to cast spells, so 4 points into wisdom and 0 points into int (skill points are really hurting).

Level-ups go into str, since its the most important stat for combat (to hit, to damage, to grapple, other special attacks).

As a level 6 Paladin, I received a special mount and a decent smite bonus. A critical hit with a battleaxe on a smite is just awesome.

The problem with this character is that you are very good at taking a hit (high ac, high hit points), but you don't do a lot of damage (assuming one handed weapon + shield) unless you have serious magic buffing going on. Also, skills (other than combat) suck.

For feat selection, I went with the three pre-reqs (dodge, toughness, endurance), lightning reflexes (the one low saving throw), close quarters fighting (for grapples), and I'm not sure what's next (probably Power Attack and Divine Might or Improved Critical and Power Critical).

Tom

 

[Endur]

Dexterity 13+ is necessary for DD

Actually, DD's require a dex of 13+. Dodge is a pre-req feat, so if your dex isn't at least a 13, you can't get into the PRC.

Intelligence is only necessary if you want to qualify for other PRCs (blasted skill requirements).

I think I've decided, I'm going to go 4 fighter, 2 paladin, and 1 templar before going into dwarven defender. Taking Roll With It (SS) twice, to start off with DR 4/-. I love that he'll be immune to fear, it works perfectly with the character concept I'm going for. I did drop a decent stat into Charisma to get some benefit out of Divine Grace, but it's not like I really need Intelligence or Dexterity anyway. mmm... Dwarven Stone Armor...

 

[Malin Genie]

Obviously it's not what you are looking for for your character, but given that you are unable to move, I find that Defensive Stance works really well for Clerics. They gain a Str bonus (which helps with touch attacks if mothing else) a Con bonus (which pushes the already high hp of a dwarven cleric even higher,) an AC bonus (ditto) and if you're spellcasting, the lack of movement isn't as much of an issue as for a fighter.

A Clr10(Moradin) / DwD1 can also Divine Power / Righteous might to become temporarily a powerhouse with Reach (and AFAIK the Stance Str bonus stacks with Divine Power and Righteous Might...)