front-liner for a new campaign.

[green slime]

There seems to be this funny notion that only PCs can be played intelligently, and DMs are seemingly incapable of devising clever strategies to challenge the party.

I have heard of wizards played so carefully that they were hit only 3 times over 10 lvs. But not everyone is capable of such a feat, nor does it appear dependent on the party having a fighter.

Unless I have the DM's personal assurance that he will never target the wizard, I feel it best to just assume that the wizard will be a key target each battle and make preparations accordingly to deal with this. There is nothing stopping the OP from playing a high AC sword+shield fighter and calling himself a tank. Just bear in mind his limitations and don't start complaining when he realizes that he can't really do anything to protect the other players from harm if such an issue ever arises.

You seem to be strongly misconstruing what I was stating. Obviously, intelligent foes, and those who know who the PCs are, will target the wizard, precisely because they understand what a threat they really are. Higher level wizards will to some degree be more obviously such. Indeed, there is something to be said about being obviously a wizard, as that in itself may dissuade others from attacking in the first place (for example low level bandits will avoid ambushing a party of obviously battle-hardened adventurers)

I was merely trying to make the point, that in low level combat, the obvious assumption one would make in general, is not that one in every four of a ragtail outfit marching through the wilderness is a wizard or sorcerer... and then try to pin that tag on the least armoured of the group.

Of course, this particular detail, is, as is often the case, campaign specific.

All that changes of course, if the group has attained any level of noteriety or reknown in their local area in which they are operating.

I was not complaining about NPCs acting intelligently, indeed, I expect such, but I absolutely detest DMs playing the NPCs as if they were omnipotent. There are DMs that fail to understand the difference.

YMMV.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I have to ask, they "suggested" a front-liner....who's doing the Rogue stuff? Or do they expect to "cover" the rogue's main roles with the cleric summoning things to set off potential traps and you to be a big bruiser who just smashes locks? A Warlock might be able ot be the party face...maybe...

Umm, for good melee classes, Dragon Shaman is fine, as many have said. Barbarian will force people to pay attention to you, no battlefield control required. A few levels in Pal or Hexblade is nice for magic protection, if you have some charisma bonus. A ranger may be the best idea, trying to seemlessly blend melee for tanking with the ability ot switch to ranged attacks if the casters start making the front-line inhospitable to life.

No matter what you do, with all the mages and quasi-mages running around, anything that gives several good saves, +(stat) to saves, Evasion, or Mettle to be a good main class or dip. Maybe even just go Monk. If you do, be sure to use CChampion's alt class feature to get an aligned (good or evil, and +1d6) strike instead of ki strike (magic). Also be sure to pick up Improved Natural Attack, so you do respectable damage. If you feel monk is too weak, add some cheese with Ex- Lion Totem Barbarian 1 (for pounce -- ie, flurry on almost every round).

 

[milo]

I would stick with a fighter. On a 28 point buy go with
str 16 (10)
dex 14 (6)
con 14 (6)
int 14 (6)
wis 8
cha 8

At 2nd level with a human you can have Exotic Weapon prof:spiked chain, combat reflexes, combat expertise, and improved trip. Next level pick up focus, then specialization at 4th. You can stop a couple people a round from just running past and eventually work your way to spring attack and whirlwind. Your comrades will probably want to keep a prot from evil on you to keep dominate from being a bad day at later levels and to help with your low AC. With non magical breastplate you will only be looking at 17.

At higher levels you could get glamered armor to look like a wizard while the casters have glamered robes/armor to look like they are wearing full plate.

 

[Runestar]

Weapon focus and spec...?

One reason why I don't quite like the chain-tripper (effective as it may be) is that tripping and AoOs (especially multiple AoOs/round) are notorious for really bogging down the game. It can be quite disruptive when the fighter keeps interrupting your turn with "I make an AoO, use it to trip and follow up with an extra attack".

Still, I suppose if you are dead set on a fighter, I would recommend snow savant's Gatling chain tripper build.

Fighter-20: The "Gatling Chain Gun" Tripper (Snow Savant)
(http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=163005)

 

[blargney the second]

One reason why I don't quite like the chain-tripper (effective as it may be) is that tripping and AoOs (especially multiple AoOs/round) are notorious for really bogging down the game.

Wow, that's totally not my experience. I've found they speed things up because monsters die a lot faster when trippers are around.

 

[Kurashu]

A good rogue/fighter type is a swift hunter with a one level dip into barbarian for pounce if you go two weapon fighting. Scout 4/Wildshape Ranger 16 is another awesome build that is skillsy as well.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've had lots of fun with Polearm-equipped warriors lately, especially with all of the wonderful feats that have popped up in the sourcebooks, especially the PHB2 and DCv1.

Usually, I go with a high-Dex PsyWar, OA Samurai or Fighter (often with some Monk levels*) because of all the Feats, then work into Kensai. I've also gone the other way from Monk into the other classes.

*The Monk levels (and certain Feats) let you FoB with a polearm. So does the Shou Disciple and the Sohei (sort of), neither of which requires Monk levels.

Want something unusual?

I'm also just started using a Sorcerer who is running around in Scale Mail and Shield with a Maul- AC19, baby! So far, so good- he's using spells without Somatic components, and will eventually take Still Spell to expand his repertoire. (Because of campaign rules & party composition pressures, he's going to have to be more magely than I originally intended, so he'll be less of a warrior than I wanted him to be.) http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=239192

Of course, if you're using the Psionic rules, you probably don't need to go that route...