Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad
Thank you all for your welcome and thoughtful advice and analysis.
I went with Great Cleave and Knock Prone for this level. I unfortnately was unable to read many of your responses until after I had to choose.
Knock Prone is from KOK Player's Guide - knocks opponant prone on a critical hit unless they make a fort save at 10 + damage done, which means they pretty much cannot make the save. I plan on getting my greatsword keened, putting the crit range at 15-20 with the improved critical, so this feat will probably come in handy.
Great Cleave was more of a role playing choice than a strategy one, though it has already come in handy. We are currently going up against Giants, and when their young attacked en mass (equal to ogres) I was able to sweep the field with Great Cleave. Very satisfying.
I think next time I get a feat, close quarters fighting will be a likely candidate, though Improved Rage may win out. I have a lot stacked into that Great Sword, so a grapple will significantly reduce my effectiveness. If I can get an AOO off before a grapple, I will have a decent chance of preventing the grapple with the bonus from the damage done (and a chance of knocking the attacker prone before the grapple goes off, with a crit). Combat reflexes is a possibility, particularly with my high Dex, however our DM is fairly tactical in nature, and the players rarely get an AOO off (except during a grapple, and usually not then since the opponant has improved grab often).
The point about armor is well taken, and I am aware of the issue. I have a 21 AC right now (Armor 3, Armor enchantment 2, Ring of protection 1, dex 5 with gloves of dex helping that). This goes down to 17 with a power lunge and a rage. I hope to get some mithril breastplate enchanted, which will increase my AC a bit. I also hope to get a magic item that provides some natural armor protection. Dodge is a possibility still, even if I do not pursue the feat chain all the way through (since mobility and spring attack would be used rarely, with me being on the front line).
The question about the imrproved critical is a moot point. Suffice it to say it involved an earlier glitch and compromise, but it worked out fine in this particular campaign. Don't worry about it, it is not relevant to this discussion.
Sunder is still an interesting possibility, and one I have seriously considered. It certainly matches the role-playing behind this character. However, my fellow players would get quite disturb if I started smashing the magic weapons on our opponants. In addition, the round of damage to the opponant that would have been done is often the critical damage in the round (particularly since we seem to be going up against small packs of tough Giants right now, and busting one weapon instead of damaging the opponant would not often change the course of the battle for the better). I still may take it, I just need to think about it some more.
Extra Rage is also an interesting possibility I had not earlier considered. With a 22 strength, and then Bulls' strength, Rage, a greatsword wielded in two hands, and power lunge, I have often a nasty +23 to attack, 2d6+23 damage (crit on 17-20, which also knocks opponant prone, and on a 15-20 after I get Greatsword keened) in the first round of combat (which usually starts with me - improved initiative and high dex - charging into an opponant with power lunge and no AOO since the opponant has not acted yet). That's an average of 30 points damage, 39 with full power attack, 60 + prone on a crit, and 78 + prone on a full power attack crit. This tactic leaves me pretty vulnerable to retaliation in the first round, since I have a nasty -4 to my AC from the charge and rage, but it often drops the opponant I am in melee range with (also triggering a Cleave and possibly a Great Cleave), making it worth it. I will have to think about improved rage.
Iron Will is, in my opinion, better dealt with by purchasing a magic item that improves my will save by +3. I believe such an item would cost about 1800 gp or so. I think the money is better spent than a feat.
Someone mentioned a prestige class track. I don't intend to take a prestige class with this character (nor will this character ever be in an Epic campaign).
Blingfight doesn't look like a great option yet. Fighting in magical darkness or against invisible melee opponants has not been much of an issue so far, and of course normal darkness is no problem with the Half-orc darkvision.
Thanks again for all the help. Feel free to continue the discussion without me. I will not have the option to choose another feat for a while now, since the game is going to go on hiatus in a couple weeks for likely 3 months.
I went with Great Cleave and Knock Prone for this level. I unfortnately was unable to read many of your responses until after I had to choose.
Knock Prone is from KOK Player's Guide - knocks opponant prone on a critical hit unless they make a fort save at 10 + damage done, which means they pretty much cannot make the save. I plan on getting my greatsword keened, putting the crit range at 15-20 with the improved critical, so this feat will probably come in handy.
Great Cleave was more of a role playing choice than a strategy one, though it has already come in handy. We are currently going up against Giants, and when their young attacked en mass (equal to ogres) I was able to sweep the field with Great Cleave. Very satisfying.
I think next time I get a feat, close quarters fighting will be a likely candidate, though Improved Rage may win out. I have a lot stacked into that Great Sword, so a grapple will significantly reduce my effectiveness. If I can get an AOO off before a grapple, I will have a decent chance of preventing the grapple with the bonus from the damage done (and a chance of knocking the attacker prone before the grapple goes off, with a crit). Combat reflexes is a possibility, particularly with my high Dex, however our DM is fairly tactical in nature, and the players rarely get an AOO off (except during a grapple, and usually not then since the opponant has improved grab often).
The point about armor is well taken, and I am aware of the issue. I have a 21 AC right now (Armor 3, Armor enchantment 2, Ring of protection 1, dex 5 with gloves of dex helping that). This goes down to 17 with a power lunge and a rage. I hope to get some mithril breastplate enchanted, which will increase my AC a bit. I also hope to get a magic item that provides some natural armor protection. Dodge is a possibility still, even if I do not pursue the feat chain all the way through (since mobility and spring attack would be used rarely, with me being on the front line).
The question about the imrproved critical is a moot point. Suffice it to say it involved an earlier glitch and compromise, but it worked out fine in this particular campaign. Don't worry about it, it is not relevant to this discussion.
Sunder is still an interesting possibility, and one I have seriously considered. It certainly matches the role-playing behind this character. However, my fellow players would get quite disturb if I started smashing the magic weapons on our opponants. In addition, the round of damage to the opponant that would have been done is often the critical damage in the round (particularly since we seem to be going up against small packs of tough Giants right now, and busting one weapon instead of damaging the opponant would not often change the course of the battle for the better). I still may take it, I just need to think about it some more.
Extra Rage is also an interesting possibility I had not earlier considered. With a 22 strength, and then Bulls' strength, Rage, a greatsword wielded in two hands, and power lunge, I have often a nasty +23 to attack, 2d6+23 damage (crit on 17-20, which also knocks opponant prone, and on a 15-20 after I get Greatsword keened) in the first round of combat (which usually starts with me - improved initiative and high dex - charging into an opponant with power lunge and no AOO since the opponant has not acted yet). That's an average of 30 points damage, 39 with full power attack, 60 + prone on a crit, and 78 + prone on a full power attack crit. This tactic leaves me pretty vulnerable to retaliation in the first round, since I have a nasty -4 to my AC from the charge and rage, but it often drops the opponant I am in melee range with (also triggering a Cleave and possibly a Great Cleave), making it worth it. I will have to think about improved rage.
Iron Will is, in my opinion, better dealt with by purchasing a magic item that improves my will save by +3. I believe such an item would cost about 1800 gp or so. I think the money is better spent than a feat.
Someone mentioned a prestige class track. I don't intend to take a prestige class with this character (nor will this character ever be in an Epic campaign).
Blingfight doesn't look like a great option yet. Fighting in magical darkness or against invisible melee opponants has not been much of an issue so far, and of course normal darkness is no problem with the Half-orc darkvision.
Thanks again for all the help. Feel free to continue the discussion without me. I will not have the option to choose another feat for a while now, since the game is going to go on hiatus in a couple weeks for likely 3 months.
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