Epic Dwarven Defender - What feat?

[The Souljourner]

I generally find that if one person rushes up to the enemies, they tend to try and surround the guy and hack him to pieces. Now maybe they'll run up to a guy, miss a lot, bounce off his damage reduction some, and move on to easier targets... that's very true. However, for guys like that, you don't really need to use the stance. The stance is for the big boss. the guy who hits so often he's power attacking.... against these guys, you're probably not going to need to move at all.

So against a bunch of guys who are useful to cleave, you're not going to bother with the stance. Agains the big bad against whom cleave is just crap, you use the stance.

I can get both. It's not like it's a one or the other. The real question is whether or not a 5' step per round is necessary. Against guys with reach, absolutely. And that's perhaps the strongest argument. How many large (tall) or bigger creatures are we likely to see at high levels - a ton. If these guys take a 5' step back, I'm screwed in the stance.

I may have just convinced myself to get mobile defense.

James - very cool idea... the problem is that as an 8th level psychic warrior, I only get 1 3rd level power, and it pretty much has to be improved biofeedback. And going up to 9th level psychic warrior loses me a fighter feat and an attack bonus... I just don't think it's worth it, given that my waraxe will generally be at +5 to hit and +6 to average damage over the claws (assuming focus and specialization in both).

Still, if I had another 3rd level power, that would probably be the one I would choose.

-The Souljourner

 

[The Iron Mark]

Take the Reach power from the Mind's Eye. Why don't you also use a Spiked Chain? 15' reach(with Reach active) and a 5' step is very nice.

 

[The Souljourner]

Reach is cool. Definitely will pick that one up. The problem with reach weapons is that I don't want to give up my shield. As party tank, I want the best AC possible. Although I have to admit, having 15' reach would be pretty damn cool.

-The Souljourner

 

[Seule]

I currently usually recommend Penetrate Damage Reduction (or whatever it's called... +2 effective on weapons against damage reduction) for a first feat for fighter types. Fighting something epic that you can't effect because your weapon is only +5 really really sucks. One of the golems has a +6, with a CR of something like 23, so it's great against a level 21 party that frequently can't hurt it, particularly with magic immunity.
Increasing your own damage reduction is also a very strong choice, as it can't be bypassed in the same way. The Dwarven Defender (10Ftr/11DwD) in my game is taking those two in that order, followed by a bunch more Damage Reduction feats at higher levels. I'll never be able to hurt him with damage, once he's higher level.

--Seule

 

[The Souljourner]

Yeah, I've been eyeing that one as well. I don't know though, doing damage probably isn't my main objective... if I can do a little by just pounding over damage reduction, that's probably ok, as long as the rest of my party can do some decent damage.

On a related topic... what is up with the epic ki strike ability? It gives you +1 to your effective Ki strike... why would you EVER take that instead of this penetrate damage reduction feat? One is just way better than the other.

-The Souljourner

 

[Endur]

My Epic Dwarven Defender

My Epic Dwarven Defender will take:

Mobile Defense as the first feat. Being able to move while in the Defensive Stance will be HUGE.

Bulwark of Defense (more powerful Defensive Stance) as the second feat.

The third (and all remaining feats) will be Damage Reduction.

By Level 30, my DR will be: 27/-
By level 40, my DR will be: 54/-

Dwarven Defenders are TOUGH.

Tom

 

[Endur]

For non-epic feats, I like:

Endurance, Toughness, Dodge: Have to have them.

Mobility, Spring Attack: Necessary for Mobile Defense

Close Quarters Fighting: Great against the Improved Grab Monsters

Power Attack: Essential at high levels (level 12+)


Weapon Focus: Another +1 to hit
Weapon Specialization: Another +2 to damage
Improved Critical: More Critical Hits
Power Critical: One Critical Axe Hit Every Day

Cleave + Great Cleave: Not a necessity, but nice flavor for a fighter type swarmed by lower levels types. Dwarven Defenders are generally so tough that they can be swarmed by a horde and don't need to worry about whether or not they have cleave.

Good luck with the Psy Warrior. That will be interesting. My current Dwarven Defender is a Paladin/Dwarven Defender. I think next time I'll try a pure fighter/Dwarven Defender as my Paladin never had enough feats. (Lots of flavor, but not many feats).

Tom

I'm starting in a campaign at 20th level, going epic. I am creating a dwarven defender - F2/PsyWar8/DD10, and I'm wondering what you guys think I should take for my first epic feat when I hit 21st level. My inclination is fast healing or mobile defense, but there may be something I've overlooked.

Here's the breakdown of feats I'm thinking to take for the first 20 levels:

I get 7 for character levels and 4 from PsyWar, plus a free Specialization, plus two from fighter levels, 14 total.

EW Prof: Dwarven Waraxe (DWA)
Focus: DWA
Spec: DWA (free with PsyWar)
Endurance
Toughness
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack (these last two eventually for prereq of Mobile Defense)
Power Attack
Cleave
Great Cleave
Extend Power (for imp. bio feedback)
Speed of Thought
Speed of Thought (I hate slow-ass dwarves)

Plan for powers: improved biofeedback is the major reason I'm taking Psychic Warrior, the rest is just gravy.

Fast healing works damn well with imp biofeedback, since I essentially get double duty out of the healing. However, being able to move in defensive stance would be pretty damn nice as well. What do you guys think?

-The Souljourner

 

[Victim]

Yeah, I've been eyeing that one as well. I don't know though, doing damage probably isn't my main objective... if I can do a little by just pounding over damage reduction, that's probably ok, as long as the rest of my party can do some decent damage.

On a related topic... what is up with the epic ki strike ability? It gives you +1 to your effective Ki strike... why would you EVER take that instead of this penetrate damage reduction feat? One is just way better than the other.

-The Souljourner

Penetrate DR can only be taken once. So the level 21 monk takes Penetrate DR at level 21 and strikes as +5. Then he keeps taking Imp. Ki Strike, and someday he'll be able to damage monsters.

 

[The Souljourner]

Endur - Close Quarters Fighting rocks! I can't believe I never saw that before. Damn. I'm definitely taking that... I've been thinking that getting grappled is my one big weakness.

I was thinking about going Paladin as well, but like you said, not enough feats. Psychic Warrior is great, because all I lose is 2 BAB, and I gain a bunch of cool powers and still get feats. In fact, a PsyWar 8 / fighter 2 actually gets two *more* feats than a fighter 10 (counting the weapon specialization at psywar 6 as 1). You can't beat that

Victim.. ahh I see. Yeah, I guess after taking PDR, you gotta take ki strike. That sucks.

-The Souljourner

 

[Endur]

Loss of 2 BAB is not so bad since you are starting at level 20. My character started at level 1, so lower BAB would mean entering Dwarven Defender at 11 instead of 9, and also having to go two additional levels before getting an iterative attack.

But for epic, your iterative attacks are capped at 4, so BAB is not so important.

I was thinking about going Paladin as well, but like you said, not enough feats. Psychic Warrior is great, because all I lose is 2 BAB, and I gain a bunch of cool powers and still get feats. In fact, a PsyWar 8 / fighter 2 actually gets two *more* feats than a fighter 10 (counting the weapon specialization at psywar 6 as 1). You can't beat that

-The Souljourner