Good Power-Gaming Build?

[Spems]

What is a good Power-Gaming build?

My DM suggested that we play as Half Dragons and we all agreed. They are insane. +8 str, +2 con, +2 int, +2 cha, better hd bite etc etc. But level adjustment +3. I wanted to start at level 1 ( I always have wanted to, but the other players insist that the higher starting level the better), but the other players voted level 6. This isn't a super high level, but it surely isn't level 1. In EVERY game I've played I love starting weak, modest, and working my way up. I sometimes hack or cheat on video games, but I usually mod it to my liking.

My DM also gave us 3 bonus feats. That's Half Dragon, level 6, 3 bonus feats. Weay too strong for my liking (to start I mean).

I originally wanted to be a Kensai (the Fighter variant) with a Katana, and then it switched to a Rogue, then to a Rogue/Fighter, then a Ranger, then a Cleric, and back to Ranger. I LOVE Rangers, but I've never been able to play one from level 1, only starting at level 4, and that was getting the feel of it. I can't decide what to be.

The problem is I want to play a Ranger, but not from such a high level... I want to work into it. I want to really get into my character before we start getting up there.

This campaign is looking to be a massacre style game... not what I'm looking for. At least not yet. I'm new to D&D and I want to experience the aspects of D&D as a role playing game, not a slasher/fragfest. So I have to play through this one so that the other players will burn out on showers of blood and we can get a level 1 game goin.

So, I might as well take advantage of this and make really send some heads flying. What would a good melee build be with extra feats, and insane strength? I'm thinking Mongrelfolk as the base race for the +4 con.

I heard the spiked chain tripper really wipes em out.

Any suggestions?

 

[Arkhandus]

Sounds like not the group/campaign for you, maybe?

Anyway.... I guess a rogue 4/ranger 2 with maximum Strength, using TWF feats. Or rogue 5/ranger 1 to start, and taking the Multiattack and Improved Natural Attack feats from the Monster Manual. Maybe also the Improved Natural Armor feat from that same book. Do lots of damage with claw/claw/bite flanking sneak attacks. Unless you start as a straight Ranger 6, it'll be several levels before you'd really get more out of Two-Weapon Fighting than you would out of your half-dragon natural weaponry, anyway.

If Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords is available in the group, take 1-2 levels of Swordsage at first, or just take one copy of the Martial Study feat and one copy of the Martial Stance feat, to gain Shadow Blade Technique and the Island of Blades stance. The latter feat requires one copy of the former, and Island of Blades allows you and allies to flank enemies just by having an ally adjacent to the same opponent.

The feat route for that is probably better for you, unless your PC has high Wisdom and plans on using light armor (2nd-level Swordsage gives an AC bonus like the Monk's, but useable in light armor, and without any level-based improvements to it). If going the Swordsage route, then also pick up the Burning Blade maneuver, for extra damage in 1 round each battle.

If you focus on Ranger levels (after taking your 5th level of Rogue, if not starting with Rog5) when advancing in levels, then at some point you might get use out of Power Attack. Not sure if it'd be worthwhile to start with, though.

 

[Darklone]

Half-dragons... you get 6 character levels in addition to the LA?

Any simple twohanded melee build with Power Attack and perhaps a reach weapon will do.

If you are stuck with melee and want a ranger, get a Scout3/Ranger3 (with high Con!) and Swift Hunter, go TWF, get Improved Skirmish and head for ITWF and Two Weapon Pounce at Ranger 6. Take Dual Strike for the few occasions when you have to go for standard actions and still want to add 4d6 skirmish damage.

Spiked Chain tripper: It's good but with such a strong group you're likely to encounter monsters that noone can trip... huge strong things.

If Bo9s is allowed: Warblade or Swordsage.

 

[Kat']

Half-Dragon is BAD. This LA +3 just isn't worth it. Sure, you get awesome Str bonus, but that's pretty much everything, and it doesn't justify +3 LA. Heck, if you want that kind of charater, play an evil character and take the Lolth's Touched template, it gives you an insane +6 STR and +6 CON for a mere +1 LA. Or if you're tanking, take Mineral Warrior template. DR 8/adamantine for +1 LA is just way too good.

"Good powergaming" is as wide an expression as "Player character". Would you be more specific?

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

As a note, if you look in the template chart at the end of Savage Species, you'll see that it lists the base half-dragon template as +2, with +1 for dragon type...which raises the question of possible higher LA dragon types, or, as my DM in a no-holds-barred epic game let me, no dragon type.

Half-dragon's nice for melee types, but yeah, it is a bit pricey.

Brad