Dwarven Defender builds?

[Legildur]

Has the optimal build for a Dwarven Defender changed after the release of Races of Stone? Or even Complete Warrior?

A previous thread about Dwarven Defenders can be found here, but seems to be 3.0 based because of the references to Templar (now Pious Templar in CW):

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46611

After looking at the Deepwarden's (RoS) 2nd level Stonewarden ability (allows the person to substitute their Con bonus in place of their Dex bonus to Armor Class), I couldn't help but think that this would make a very nice addition to the Dwarven Defender.

However, Deepwarden requirements are tough for a Fighter or Paladin base. You need BAB +5, Endurance, and 5 ranks in Climb, Heal, Jump, Knowledge (dungeoneering), and Survival. Deepwarden's gain Track as a bonus feat at 1st level, which is redundant when the best way to qualify would be to take 3 levels of Ranger (which gives you Track and Endurance).

Dwarven Defender requires BAB +7, Lawful Good, Dodge, Endurance, and Toughness.

If you take the Racial Substitution level of Dwarf Fighter from Races of Stone, you get Knowledge (dungeoneering) as a class skill and Axe Focus (Weapon Focus for all axes). But that still doesn't help with Heal and Survival, which means as cross class skills the earliest you could qualify for DW is 7th level.

I think I worked out you can make a Ftr6/EWM1/DW2/DDX if you had 14+ Int.

The level of Exotic Weapon Master (requires 3 ranks Craft (weaponsmithing) and Weapon Focus (exotic weapon)) can get you Uncanny Blow (apply double strength bonus to damage when wielding one-handed exotic weapon in two hands) and saves taking the dead Ftr 7 level.

Anyone else got ideas? I'm primarily looking to stick with the PHB, DMG, CW, CD and RoS books as we don't use FR, Eberron etc.

<edit: fixed some problems with link>

 

[Legildur]

<bump>

Or a Ftr4/Pal3/DW2/DDX would also be workable, with the Pal levels giving you Heal as a class skill. But that still doesn't overcome the Survival skill qualification issue for Deepwarden, and it is an expensive build as Cha is no longer a dump stat (need Con, Str, 13 Dex for Dodge, 14 Int for skill points, and Cha).

 

[Brain]

I like the idea of Stonewarden into Dwarven Defender also.

For getting into DD asap while still getting the level 2 stonewarden ability, I'd say 1 ranger/4 fighter to start, then 2 SW, then into DD. The ranger level is just for the skill points and BAB, but makes it much easier to get into SW.

If your DM allows the racial paragons from Unearthed Arcana, take a look at Dwarf Paragon. Full BAB and class skills include 4 of the 5 that are required for stonewarden (not heal though). Only 2+int for skill points might be a problem. 3rd level of it gives con+2. I donno, just an idea.

 

[Legildur]

Yeah, the Ranger level is great for qualifying for the Deepwarden class 2 levels earlier, but it just bites that you get the Track feat twice as a bonus (Ranger 1 and Deepwarden 1).

And I certainly don't want the 2nd level of Ranger as the Combat Style doesn't really help the Dwarven Defender role - at least not how I envisage it. Though I guess that there is no reason why you couldn't have an archer or 2-wpn fighting based DD.

Maybe Rgr3/Ftr2. The Rgr3 gives you the Endurance feat (for DW and DD), but you can't use the Combat Styles in medium or heavy armor - which would seem to be the mainstay of the DD class.

UA stuff is not an option, but a good suggestion. For better or for worse our group sticks with straight up WotC stuff - and none of the setting material.