Front-liners

[Zelc]

If you can't use Stand Still, consider using Improved Trip instead. It won't be as good, but it should do the trick in most cases.

I don't think a Paladin is a good fit for the reach fighter. You need Dex for Combat Reflexes, and Paladins suffer from MAD enough as it is. Your main schtick relies on lots of feats and strength, which can be provided by a mix of Barbarian and Fighter. Consider snagging a couple of levels of Exotic Weapon Master and possibly going all 10 levels of Kensai. Add Mage Slayer and similar feats, and you can have a character that can contribute to the party even at higher levels.


If you want to make your DM hate you, play a Druid that spams Quill Blast, preferably maximized from a rod. It got nerfed in the Spell Compendium from its crazy-tacular power level in Complete Divine, but you're not using the SpC so . You may not be able to make enemies stick to you, but you'll make sure they won't be hitting anything or saving against any spells after something like a -10 penalty to those...

 

[moritheil]

Note that Stand Still is better when part of the classic Hold the Line + Stand Still + Combat Reflexes reach weapon combo.

If you want to make your DM hate you, play a Druid that spams Quill Blast, preferably maximized from a rod. It got nerfed in the Spell Compendium from its crazy-tacular power level in Complete Divine, but you're not using the SpC so . You may not be able to make enemies stick to you, but you'll make sure they won't be hitting anything or saving against any spells after something like a -10 penalty to those...

For pre-errata C. Div slime wave is the obscene spell. Kills massive dragons in one shot.

 

[Elethiomel]

Use a Small-sized spear (or other polearm of your choice) as a medium sized character. -2 penalty to attacks, damage drops a bit... but it becomes a one-handed weapon, and retains its reach.

No, it doesn't. You gain reach when you wield "a reach weapon sized for you". If you're medium, a small-sized spear is not a "reach weapon sized for you".

 

[roguerouge]

He's decided to focus on those abilities, but a lot of them won't apply for you. As I said, its a gestalt game, and he's taken levels in Crusader, Paladin, Fighter, Knight, and Cleric. Unfortunately, Knight is PHB II (guessing that'd be allowed along with Completes, but possibly not)

The PHBII is allowed, yes.

 

[Shin Okada]

If PHBII is allowed, Duskblade actually works well as a front-liner at med to higher levels. They start to wear Mithral Full-Plate. Combined with an Animated Shield they will have enough AC. Then, they can use tripping reach weapons such as Spiked Chain and can take Expertise (they use Int to cast spells) and Improved Trip. Now, they can cast "Stand" spell when they fail in an attempt to trip and tripped back.

They have slightly low HP total. But they indeed have 2 good saves and can cast various offensive and defensive spells. Having Resist Energy as a 1st level spell is great indeed.

 

[VanRichten]

Accidentally posted twice

 

[VanRichten]

If you like look at the shield feats that exist in the PHB II.

Shield Specialization - Pick a shield type and gain a +1 to Shield bonus when using that type.

Shield Ward (Prerequiste - Shield Specilization) - Gain your shield bonus vs Tough Attacks, Grapple Checks, Disarm Checks, Trip Attempts, Overrun Attempts, and Bull Rushes

Agile Shield Fighter - You can fight two handed with a shield and only suffer a -2 penalty.

Look at Improved Shield Bash and maybe even look at Bashing for the shield magical effect in the DMG.

This sets you up as a fighter who can fend off more than one foe at a time.

You can also consider Hold the Line feat which lets you set for any charge.

Combat Expertise because it leads to Improved Disarm.

You could also consider Combat Reflexes and then Improved Trip.

I would also look into some of the Knight Class as it definitely helps with defensive effects since that is what it sounds like you want. Someting more on the Defensive Tank role rather than the Offensive Tank roll.

With just the shield feats I turned a friends ordinary paladin into one of the 300 Spartans.

 

[Kat']

If PHBII is allowed, Duskblade actually works well as a front-liner at med to higher levels. They start to wear Mithral Full-Plate.

Careful. Duskblades don't suffer ASF from casting in medium armor, true, but they are not PROFICIENT with said armor. You gotta grab Medium Armor Proficiency from another class. And while you're at it, I find Improved Buckler Defense beats Animated Shields. Sure, costs a feat. But saves a lot of money.

 

[Folly]

I second the druid, simply because the wild enchant is so messed up. If you do not cheese any of the build. Druid -> Nature's Warrior -> Bit more druid (get 5th spell level and 12 hd wildshape) -> Warshaper.

The primary form that you use in this build is dire bear, since they have decent base AC and a huge strength. From NW you pick up the grapple trait(+4 grapple and constrict), the armor trait(+5 base Natural), and the fast healing trait(1 fast healing). For feats I would suggest getting Improved grapple either by burning the feats. Then also get Natural Spell, Minor Shapeshift, Practiced Spellcaster, and Multiattack if your DM allows.

For items, you acquire Belt of Strength, Wild Dragonhide Breastplate, and Wild Large Shield.
(your party helps you put your belt on after shifting)

Then you buff your 5 weapons (Unarmed, 2xClaw, Bite, 1 from Warshaper) with Greater Magic Fang.

The results at 12th:
+26/+21/+21/+21/+21 (multi attack will increase the secondaries by 3) +16 damage on primary and +9 on secondary (you do not have warshaper yet, but you have iterative on the unarmed. For reference refer to the Troll Hunter entry in the MM)

31 Standing AC (17+5NW+6Armor+3Shield) Ioun stone, barkskin, friendly cleric with shield of faith, higher bonus on the breastplate or shield can all increase this further.

12 temp hit points as a swift action at will and fast healing of 1

+35 grapple (+10 bab, +13 str, +4 size, +4 NW, +4 Improved Grapple)

You have 9 druid spellcasting levels.

HP 68+(12*ConMod)

This build avoid all of the cheese normally associated with druid builds. Further, It goes for a single concept (shifter archetype) and only uses core/complete sources. The best part of this build is that the next 5 level all either increase the builds offense or defense in significant ways. Also with more money invested you can further increase the base AC by another 9 (+5 armor and shield, Ioun stone) and you can increase hit and damage by 1 with karma beads (giving a cl 16 for GMF)

Edit: OK, maybe Minor Shapeshift is just a tad cheesy..... or maybe REALLY cheesy.

 

[Zelc]

Oooh, the PHBII is allowed.

Knight 3/Fighter X/Exotic Weapon Master 2 or 3 is a great build, especially with Stand Still. After turning all squares you threaten into difficult terrain, opponents can't take a 5' step. So, they often can't even MOVE, because if they do you'll use an AoO to trip/Stand Still them.