Melee Build Advice

[Charwoman Gene]

I am attempting to start playing Living Greyhawk again. I need to create a new character, and while I am a decent roleplayer and a good GM, my min-maxing is terrible. I'm looking to build a straightforward "big dumb fighter" to really dish out melee damage while being durable. Interesting combat tactics would be a plus.

My gut instinct is to Just go straight fighter, greatsword, and Weapon spec line of feats. Anyone have any other suggestions? Barbarian levels? Nifty feats? Prestige classes?

 

[Nifft]

1/ Barbarians are awesome, particularly at 1st level.

2/ Weapon Specialization is a waste for a two-handed fighter, unless you can use it to get Melee Weapon Mastery.

3/ Power Attack, Cleave, Weapon Focus. These are what is best in life.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Why is it a waste?

I'm also looking at going up the levels, what are good higher level ideas for melee?

 

[otto_the_enchanter]

If you want durable, Dwarven barbarian is the way to go. Dwarven constitution bonus plus d12 hit die plus (I believe it's level 5) barbarian DR/- = very durable.

If you go the way of bonus feats (fighter) and multiclass enough to gain 'stunning fist' and 'improved unarmed strike' theres a feat you can take called phoenix child. When you are between -1 and -10, you may give up one stunning fist for the day and be brought up to 0 and i'm pretty sure consciousness.

 

[Nifft]

Why is it a waste?

Because there are better uses for a Feat, and there are better choices for two-to-four of your levels.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

You won't be terrible as a single class fighter, but you will be a little behind the power curve if you aren't very careful with your feat selection so that they all work together at once. Of course, that's not necessarily a problem as long as you don't play up (LG slang for playing a character in adventures set for higher level characters--for instance playing your 4th level character in the version of a mod designed for 6th level characters (average party level or APL 6)).

So, suggestions:

1. The single classed fighter with a greatsword.
Half-orc
Str 18, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 6 (If you'd rather not be so dumb and uncharismatic, drop the Con to 14 and increase Int or Cha as you desire. You can also drop the dex to 10 without hurting yourself too much).
1. Weapon Focus Greatsword, Power Attack, Cleave
2. Improved Bull Rush
3. Iron Will
4. Weapon Specialization: Greatsword
6. Shock Trooper, Improved Toughness
8. Melee Weapon Mastery (Slashing)
9. Improved Critical: Greatsword
10. Greater Weapon Focus: Greatsword
12. Greater Weapon Specialization: Greatsword, Improved Sunder
14. Combat Brute
15. Slashing Fury

The character gets a few nifty options with his tactical feats, but generally, just dishes out lots of damage to his enemies.

Another possibility:
Single classed barbarian:
1. Power attack
3. Cleave
6. Weapon Focus
9. Improved Crit
12. Improved Toughness

A little multiclassing can also help this out. The basic mutliclass is Barbarian/Fighter
1. Bbn: Power Atk
2. Bbn 2
3. Bbn 2/Ftr 1: Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Cleave
4. Bbn 2/Ftr 2: Improved Bull Rush
6. Bbn 2/Ftr 4: Weapon Specialization: Greatsword, Extra Rage
8. Bbn 2/Ftr 6: Melee Weapon Mastery slashing
9. Bbn 2/Ftr 7: Shock Trooper
10: Bbn 2/Ftr 8: Greater Weapon Focus: Greatsword
12: Bbn 2/Fighter 10: Imp crit Greatsword, whatever you want
14. Bbn 2/Fighter 12: Greater Weapon Spec. Greatsword
15. Bbn 3/Ftr 12: Slashing Fury

Etc. For a differently flavored fighter, you could start out with 2-5 levels of Knight instead.

You could also reverse the order of the mix and end up Bbn 11/Fighter 4 or Bbn 9/Fighter 6 instead. Or, you could add ranger levels though since you'll probably be wearing heavy armor, they don't do much for you other than skill points and track.

Add in prestige classes, and there's almost an infinite variety of powerful builds, but the barbarian/fighter is probably the one everyone is measured against.

 

[Jack99]

1. The single classed fighter with a greatsword.....

How does a halforc get 3 feats at first level?

 

[Particle_Man]

What books are you allowed? And is it 34 point buy?

Because if you want a *really* durable fighter type, you could try Crusader from Book of 9 Swords. They are like the energizer bunny.

Otherwise, Barbarian does "big dumb fighter" pretty well. Fighter does "Tactics" fighting pretty well. So you can mix the classes to suit your taste.

But if you just want one or two tactics and otherwise want to be the meelee monster:

Half-orc Barbarian:

1. Power Attack
3. Cleave
6. Improve Bull Rush
9. Shock Trooper
12. Improved Sunder
15. Combat Brute
18. Iron Will

or if you want a few more things to do:

Half-Orc Fighter (max out Jump! take at least 13 dex)

1. Power Attack
1. Cleave
2. Improved Bull Rush
3. Iron Will
4. Improved Sunder
6. Shock Trooper
6. Combat Brute
8. Dodge (you need 13 dex for this, btw)
9. Mobility
10. Weapon Focus (GS)
12. Elusive Target
12. Weapon Spec. (GS)
14. G Weapon Focus (GS)
15. Improved Toughness
16. G Weapon Spec. (GS)
18. Improve Crit (GS)
18. Leap Attack (hence the Jump skill)
20. Great Cleave

I left the weapon-specific stuff until later, on the off chance you find a very cool magical glaive or something like that.

 

[Caliban]

What books are you allowed? And is it 34 point buy?

Because if you want a *really* durable fighter type, you could try Crusader from Book of 9 Swords. They are like the energizer bunny.

It's Living Greyhwalk, so 28 point buy, nothing from Bo9S.

 

[RigaMortus2]

It's Living Greyhwalk, so 28 point buy, nothing from Bo9S.

Don't be hating!