How viable is the max-CON fighter?

[On Puget Sound]

In my Seattle group (alas, across the country now) we had a dwarf with 20 CON and 14 STR. He did get a bit of a reputation for missing a lot, but took it in good humor, and he was VERY hard to hurt. As GM, I decided that any intelligent foe whom he missed twice in a row would start ignoring his mark figuring he was not really a threat, which was both good (because sometimes he hit) and bad (because sometimes the baddies got to the squishies).

Once he got a +1 weapon, traded his axe for a sword, and reached 2nd level all of sudden he could HIT! +3 all at once makes a big difference and he was much happier. And since he also picked up Boundless Endurance at level 2, he became even more unkillable. I have no idea whether he could have remained competitive at mid or high level play, but at level 1 he felt gimped and at level 2 like the star of the show.

 

[DracoSuave]

Actually, your Combat Challenge really isn't your stickiness. Your Combat Superiority is your stickiness. It keeps people from getting away from you easily. That allows you to use Wisdom in addition to your Strength.

Now STR + CON is obviously the most powerful combination, but a S16, C18, W14 Dwarf is as sticky as an 18/18/12 Warforged.

- Marty Lund

ComSup does nothing to keep monsters -off- your party. It'll stop a move, but it does nothing against artillery (shift/shoot) and shift/charge is mighty.

And once they -start- attacking that guy, a bad CC won't dissuade them from continuing the pain on a vulnerable opponent.

 

[Nail]

... but a S16, C18, W14 Dwarf is as sticky as an 18/18/12 Warforged.

Err?

Depends on yer DM, mate.

In most games I play, DMs go out of their way to avoid OAs. Given that, a high wisdom fighter isn't getting much. The 18/18/12 Warforged is better.