Ideas for 20th level character?

[00Machado]

I have the opportunity to play in a short campaign beginning at 20th level.

I've never played a character of that level in any edition before, but specifically with regard to 3.5, I'm looking for suggestions.

Below are my "design goals", so to speak.

Something that's easy to stat up
Something that's easy to run during game time
Minimal (ideally zero) amount of time investment to learn rules beyond what's already in the three core books. I realize I may need to know some stuff from the Epic Level Handbook, but I don't want to have to learn the epic spell system for example, so I probably won't play a Wizard. Sorceror has some appeal since I like spellcasters, but again, less is more when it comes to the mechanical aspects of this character.

Currently I'm thinking a rogue would be the simplest to stat up.

What are your thoughts?

 

[FalcWP]

Well, obviously, it depends on what sort of character you'd like to play. You mentioned a rogue, but, of course, there are numerous types of rogue. The following advice is based on a rogue going with melee combat (one of my personal favorites), and I'll try to stick to the stuff that's quickest and easiest to put together.

The first rule is this: Do not take the 20th level of rogue. It doesn't add anything.

A few levels of fighter are always good for Rogues - 4 levels will get you an extra attack and three feats. Personally, I really like the Rogue 16/Fighter 4 for a simple, PHB-only build.

It may be worth it to grab three levels of Complete Warrior's Swashbuckler as well, or instead of some of the fighter levels. The first level of Swashbuckler nets you Weapon Finesse for free, and the third lets you add your Intelligence modifier to damage, both handy for many rogues. Rogue 13/Fighter 4/Swashbuckler 3 and Rogue 15/Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 2 are both nice using this.

Honestly, those are about the simplest combos I can think of.

 

[Herobizkit]

'Straight' Rogues are painfully boring, IMO. Personally, I think a Monk/Rogue build with a lead-in to Duelist could be hella fun and effective.

 

[blargney the second]

Easy to stat up and easy learning curve? Warlock or Scout/Ranger. Honestly, they're really straightforward.

 

[moritheil]

I can't in good conscience let someone go into Epic as a rogue without pointing out that LOTS of NPC enemies will be immune to sneak attack. A mithral buckler of fortification is only about 102k and completely negates your main class feature in combat.

IMO straight Druid is simplest to play in epic, and it manages to remain reasonably powerful when compared with all but exotic powergaming builds.

 

[Arkhandus]

Hm. My advice would be to go with a Swordsage or Warblade, from the Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords, and just avoid the more complicated maneuvers. The martial adepts run similarly to spellcasters but also similarly to fighters. Instead of preparing a bunch of spells or having slots of varying levels, you just learn around 1-2 dozen maneuvers and about half a dozen stances, plus some very basic class features.

Gives a fair number of options but doesn't have to be complicated. The Tome of Battle has a description of Swift and Immediate actions (page 44) to explain how they work, which is fairly simple. At epic levels you could just multiclass into Bloodstorm Blade, a prestige class from the ToB. Epic Skill Focus could be taken at 21st-level to boost Concentration, for more damage with the Greater Insightful Strike maneuver. Or take Combat Expertise and Improved Trip (or Improved Disarm) later for synergy with the Warblade class features.

Ex.
Human Warblade 20
Stats: Emphasize Strength, followed by Dexterity and Constitution, then Intelligence and Wisdom
Human Feat: Power Attack
Character Level Feats: Cleave, Weapon Focus (Greatsword), Weapon Specialization (Greatsword), Melee Weapon Mastery (Slashing) *from Player's Handbook II* (or Adaptive Style from ToB otherwise), Vital Recovery, Greater Weapon Focus (Greatsword), Greater Weapon Specialization (Greatsword) *replace with Point Blank Shot if planning to enter the Bloodstorm Blade prestige class at 21st-level*
Warblade Feats: Ironheart Aura, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Combat Reflexes

Class Features: Int bonus added to Reflex and various combat tactics, a few bonus feats, access to almost every Fighter-exclusive feat (as per a Fighter of level -2), Uncanny Dodge, Improved Uncanny Dodge, and can have two stances active simultaneously
Maneuvers: *1st-level* Moment of Perfect Mind, *2nd-level* Emerald Razor, *5th-level* Pouncing Charge, Dancing Mongoose, *6th-level* Greater Insightful Strike, Manticore Parry, *7th-level* Finishing Move, *8th-level* Adamantine Hurricane, Lightning Throw, Raging Mongoose, *9th-level* Time Stands Still, Strike of Perfect Clarity, Mountain Tombstone Strike
Readied Maneuvers: 7 (probably Moment of Perfect Mind, Dancing Mongoose, Pouncing Charge, Raging Mongoose, Time Stands Still, Strike of Perfect Clarity, and Mountain Tombstone Strike)
Stances: Punishing Stance, Stance of Clarity, Dancing Blade Form, Prey on the Weak
Active Stances: 2 (probably Punishing Stance and Dancing Blade Form)

Gear: Probably a magic greatsword of speed, magic mithral full plate armor (since it counts as medium armor when mithral), items to boost Str, Dex, Con, and Int, a ring of protection +5, a cloak of resistance +5, winged boots, and helm of teleportation. Or something like that.
Tactics: Pouncing Charge to run up and beat the snot outta stuff right away, then Raging Mongoose to beat on them some more on the same turn, then Time Stands Still followed by Dancing Mongoose to beat on them a heck of a lot more on your second turn, then Strike of Perfect Clarity for a big hit on the third turn, and Mountain Tombstone Strike on the fourth turn just to make anything left standing cry about all the Constitution its just lost. Standard action atack with swift action to recover maneuvers, then rinse and repeat.

 

[moritheil]

Heh. I considered Bo9S but if he doesn't want to learn epic magic (much simpler/shorter) then I doubt he'll want to learn the Initiator Level system. Oh well.



In terms of minimal effort to stat, you could play some monster. A deva has 12HD and LA+8, making it 20th level right out of the box. Assign your own stats instead of the average, spend your money, customize feats, and you're set!

 

[Quartz]

How about Ftr 2 / Mk 2 / Kt 5 / Pal 3 / Divine Crusader 10? Or, more simply, Ftr 4 / Mk 2 / Pal 14?

Both are tanks with a modicum of spellcasting.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Heh. I considered Bo9S but if he doesn't want to learn epic magic (much simpler/shorter) then I doubt he'll want to learn the Initiator Level system. Oh well.

In terms of minimal effort to stat, you could play some monster. A deva has 12HD and LA+8, making it 20th level right out of the box. Assign your own stats instead of the average, spend your money, customize feats, and you're set!

Also has the advantage of 'feeling' very high level, and allows you to play a distinctive character.

I'd suggest a Fighter 20 - even with only Core feats you can come up with a decent tank, and with a two handed battleaxe you'll be dishing out serious melee damage.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

(Half-Orc?) Rogue 12/Fighter4/Barbarian4.
Take Extra Rage Feats and Weapon Focus, Specialization and Melee Weapon Mastery in whatever weapon you prefer. If you don't go Half-Orc, Two-Weapon Fighting might be an idea, though relying on Strength for to-hit and damage might be more effective.

Rely on Rage primarily when you fight unsneakable foes.

Consider getting a (Cold Iron?) Holy Weapon (possibly Evil Outsider Bane), and a Admantine Construct Bane and a Undead Bane weapon.

Don't hesitate to buy custom magic items (if the DM permits) to get a +5 bonus to Search/Disable Device/Open Lock, if you can't max enough of your skills, and you expect to need these. Circle of Persuasion is nice to get some extra boost to charisma skills.