Help building a "tough" character

[Zzyzx]

Source for Stone Power feat?

Knight would be interesting. Very different flavor than barbarian.

 

[blargney the second]

Stone Power is in the Book of Nine Swords.

 

[Nifft]

I'd like to second (or tenth) Crusader + Stone Power + Devoted Spirit. The damage you can suck up and "dissipate" (for lack of a better word) is staggering -- as in, anyone else would have been staggered 10 rounds ago

Cheers, -- N

 

[EvilGM]

Feat: Steadfast Determination (prereq: Endurance) +Con to Will saves and a natural 1 on Fort saves isn't auto failure.

 

[Dross]

I wonder how often I would use the feat Diehard?

It seems dangerous to plan on frequently dropping to negative hp.

Diehard is probably better at lower levels, where damage usually does not take you through the 0 to -10 HP range in one go. The hight your level, the more likely it is someone will do 30+ HP damage and you go strait to dead.
It does however fit within the concept you described.

You could also make yourself harder to hit. Combat Expertise, PHBII sheild feats, adamantium armour (if not a barbarian) might also be useful. plus as always, magical items.

 

[Wish]

I second the recommendation of Steadfast Determination. I'd also look into picking up mettle somehow. The usual way is either pious templar or hexblade. Not sure what other options are available now.

Pious templar of some god of endurance or suffering might work (whatever fits your campaign world).

 

[Dagredhel]

Two things immediately spring to mind:

The first is Barbarian with the "Implacable" alternative class feature (replacing the standard rage):

Implacable
(DR330 p84)

Resilient Rage – You gain +4 bonus to Dexterity
and Constitution, a +2 bonus on Will saves, and
a +1 bonus to your Damage Reduction (DR 1 /
— if you do not have any yet).
Greater Resilient Rage – When you are in a
Resilient Rage, you gain a +6 bonus to Dexterity
and Constitution, a +2 bonus on Will saves, and
a +2 bonus to your Damage Reduction (i.e., at
13th level, goes from
DR 3 / — to DR 5 / —).
Mighty Resilient Rage – When you are in a
Resilient Rage, you gain a +8 bonus to Dexterity
and Constitution, a +2 bonus on Will saves, and
a +3 bonus to your Damage Reduction (i.e.,
goes from DR 5 / — to
DR 8 / —).

I think you can combine that with the Boar Totem variant (UA p48), trading Fast Movement, Uncanny Dodge/Improved Uncanny Dodge, and Trap Sense for Diehard (only) when raging at 1st, +2 rounds to rage at 3rd, and +1 DR at 7th.

The second is to consider Psychic Warrior (or even Egoist, despite the poor HD.) Choosing the right powers could add plenty to a character's toughness. And the Elan race has that Resilience racial ability to burn power points instead of hit points (at a 1:2 ratio.)

 

[Klaus]

Try the Survivor PrClass in Savage Species. Prerequisite is "your highest save bonus must be lower than your character level". Over the course of three levels you gain several abilities to escape death.

Other suggestions include:
- Improved Toughness (+1 hp/level)
- Steadfast Determination
- Endurance (if only to sleep in armor and not be fatigued)
- Roll With It (Savage Species)

 

[Zzyzx]

Implacable
(DR330 p84)

Resilient Rage – You gain +4 bonus to Dexterity
and Constitution, a +2 bonus on Will saves, and
a +1 bonus to your Damage Reduction (DR 1 /
— if you do not have any yet).
Greater Resilient Rage – When you are in a
Resilient Rage, you gain a +6 bonus to Dexterity
and Constitution, a +2 bonus on Will saves, and
a +2 bonus to your Damage Reduction (i.e., at
13th level, goes from
DR 3 / — to DR 5 / —).
Mighty Resilient Rage – When you are in a
Resilient Rage, you gain a +8 bonus to Dexterity
and Constitution, a +2 bonus on Will saves, and
a +3 bonus to your Damage Reduction (i.e.,
goes from DR 5 / — to
DR 8 / —).

I think you can combine that with the Boar Totem variant (UA p48), trading Fast Movement, Uncanny Dodge/Improved Uncanny Dodge, and Trap Sense for Diehard (only) when raging at 1st, +2 rounds to rage at 3rd, and +1 DR at 7th.

These seem very interesting, very close to the flavor I was seeking. It seems like an odd kind of a "cold rage" that focuses less on "walloping" the other guy and more (selfishly, perhaps) on saving your own skin.