Help needed from gurus for a dwarven defender character.

[karateka]

Hello everybody.
I am joining a new campaign that has been ongoing for a while and I need to create a character. I decided on a dwarven defender. His character level is 17. I talked with my DM and he allows quintessential dwarf and quint fighter. All feedback very much welcome. I never played a character of such high level before so I am novice to the issue. Thanks in advance.

 

[CRGreathouse]

What stat generation method is used? How much equipment can you choose -- standard baseline, or something else? Are there limits on the most expensive item? What are others plaing as?

I think that a generally good class combination for you would be Fighter 7/Dwarven Defender 10. I don't have the Quint books, so I can't give advice there.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Fighter 4/Paladin 3/ Dwarven Defender 10

Fighter 4 to specialize in whatever you want. Paladin and DD b/c they kick butt.

 

[karateka]

I rolled my stats with 4d6 drop lowest and they are quite high. I don't have the exact numbers in fromt of me but they were something like 18, 17, 15... 12 being lowest
As for equipment, my DM said it could be sorted out easily. If you think there are any must have equipments I would be glad if you posted them. In the generation progress, my main weakness is the feats I should choose so help in that category would be most welcome.

 

[CRGreathouse]

How long do you expect to play the campaign (level-wise)?

 

[The Souljourner]

If you're starting at 17, you're probably going epic, right? Check out the epic level handbook for feats you'll want to take and plan accordingly. For example, you need Spring Attack to get Mobile Defense (allows you to take 5' steps while in defensive stance).

See if your DM will allow the general feats from Savage Species. There's one called Roll With It that gives you DR 2/- and can be taken multiple times. You could theoretically have DR 16/-. That's pretty damn awesome.

I personally like Paladin 2/Fighter 4/Templar 1/DD 10. Then fill out the rest of your levels with Templar.

Feats to look at: Blind Fight (great feat, read it thoroughly), Close Quarters Combat (from Sword and Fist, helps to stop annoying improved grab cheese), Expertise (more AC is always good), spring attack (as mentioned above, needed for mobile defense)

Also, if you're planning on going epic, you'll probably want the 18 in Con, and put all your stat raises into it as well. There are some *damn* cool epic feats that require 25 con, such as Fast Healing 3, Damage Reduction 3/-, etc.

Boots of striding and springing are probably a must. Dwarves are just too darn slow. Armor of heavy fortification is also a must... keeps the random death factor away to some extent (is it just in my campaigns where DMs tend to roll multiple criticals in the same round against the same character?)

Good luck to you. I'm starting a level 6 dwarf on his way to DD, so check out the other thread discussing exactly builds at low levels.

-The Souljourner

 

[karateka]

Thanks for all replies, especially to the Souljourner.
And could someone give the details for the feat Roll with it. TIA

 

[shilsen]

And could someone give the details for the feat Roll with it. TIA

Prerequisite: Con 20, Toughness

Benefit: Gaind DR 2/-. This applies in addition to any DR you have from other sources. DR cannot reduce damage taken to less than 0.

Special: May take this feat multiple times

 

[The Souljourner]

You're welcome. Like I said, I'm starting a dwarven defender too, and so I've done a lot of research and thinking about it. Here's a couple more thoughts - the paladin DD requires Charisma to be good, which is difficult when you already need good strength and con and 13+ dex. (I suppose you could have a dwarven defender with mediocre con, but it just seems so wrong). Straight fighter DDs mke for better damage dealers, but I really like paladin/templar for the saves and mettle, not to mention free weapon specialization.

See if your DM will allow you to freely multiclass between paladin and fighter. They allow it in Forgotten Realms, and most of the game designers have said that the multiclass restriction is really just for flavor, and I think allowing a paladin to multiclass with his race's favorite class is perfectly in flavor. Dwarves have more fightery paladins, halflings have more rogue-ish paladins, etc.

Good luck! Hope you love your character as much as I do. I can't wait to start telling the rest of my party what wimps they are

-The Souljourner