Need help designing a 9th Level combat monster

[Daermon]

I hope this is in the right forum. I new here, so please take pity on me.

I've discovered that my GM and I are playing two different games in his Forgotten Realm's Campaign. Apparently, I was under the impression we were playing a character-driven game. Unfortunately, we're playing a combat-oriented game that is all about being the biggest bad-ass possible. I discovered this quite by accident after suffering my second character death within three sessions of my first character dying.

This isn't too much of a problem, because my friends are more than happy to play in all of my games, even when one or two of them don't like them so much. The least I can do is return the favor.

The real problem comes from the fact that I have no clue how to get the biggest bang for my buck out of 3.5 and I'm a little leery of having another PC die.

I need a character who is a combat monster. Melee combat, to be precise. See, we already have a Psion, Druid, Cleric and Arcane Archer. So I need something that can take some damage and dish alot of it out.

I have the 3.5 PHB, all of the 3E Oriental Adventures material (except Way of the Thief), the Midnight handbook, Expanded Psionics and all four Complete books. I have been assured I can use all of this material, as well as any possible PC race imaginable from the MM. I'd like to be good at grapples, but I need something secondary or I will get owned.

Help. Please and thank you.

 

[Jdvn1]

Welcome to the boards!

What level character?
What are your stats? (Assuming you roll them or have them given to you -- it could be point buy)
Standard starting gold?

 

[Jack Simth]

Elan Psychic Warrior. Mostly for laughs, but you get many fighter bonus feats (4, at 9th, not counting the four character level feats you get - should make you a pretty decent grappler) but with d8 hit dice, the 23 base PP's, 2 bonus PP's from Elan, and the Elan's Resiliance ability, your warrior can shrug off 50 points of damage with a single immediate action in combat (more, if you have a high Wis), as well as not needing to carry rations around (repletion), and the ability to up your saves for a short time (also an immediate action - just make it before you roll the save, and you should be fine) by +4. As the Elan abilities are Su, no AoO's for using them, no counterspelling, and no concentration needed.

 

[Daermon]

Welcome to the boards!

Thanks!

What level character?

9th

What are your stats? (Assuming you roll them or have them given to you -- it could be point buy)

Standard random roll. So far I have a 17, 15, 13, 11, 10, 10. I haven't assigned them yhet. I've designed three characters off these stats and they're just coming up short (at least in comparison to the other PCs).

Standard starting gold?

Yep. 36,000 GP

 

[Daermon]

Elan Psychic Warrior. Mostly for laughs, but you get many fighter bonus feats (4, at 9th, not counting the four character level feats you get - should make you a pretty decent grappler) but with d8 hit dice, the 23 base PP's, 2 bonus PP's from Elan, and the Elan's Resiliance ability, your warrior can shrug off 50 points of damage with a single immediate action in combat (more, if you have a high Wis), as well as not needing to carry rations around (repletion), and the ability to up your saves for a short time (also an immediate action - just make it before you roll the save, and you should be fine) by +4. As the Elan abilities are Su, no AoO's for using them, no counterspelling, and no concentration needed.

Cute. Psionic Lion Charge should definately be taken, huh?

My biggest problem is the Feat selection. I looked at a build similar to that, and I was just coming up short on my Feats.

Considering an Unarmed combatant primarily, so with Psionic Lion Charge I was considering Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple, Power Attack, Earth's Embrace and Flying Kick. At the same time I'd at the very least like Weapon Focus (maybe twice for when I need to actually use a weapon) and (Greater) Psionic Fist. The hardest part about that build is having a high Intelligence for the Grapple combined with the desire for Dex, Strength and Con being at healthy levels for front-line fighters.

Should I consider at least 1 level of Monk for a build like this, or should I stay away from multiclassing in favor of higher BAB?

My GM has a habit of sending 16th level werewolves at our party combined with some high-level assassins and such.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I recently put together a Sor1/Mnk4/Dragon Disciple 4 as a grappler.

Enlarge Person as a Sorcerer spell, focus on Str over Dex. Improved Grapple, Leap Attack, Power Attack, and Flying Kick; you do fairly good two-handed damage with a quarterstaff.

If Savage Species is allowed, check out the Drd1, Sor/Wiz2 spell Lion's Charge, and get a wand; for 750gp (crafted by a druid), you get 50 charges of 1 minute Pounce.

Monk levels give you free IUS and Imp Grapple without needing a 13+ Dex. Dragon Disciple gives good hit dice, natural armor, and Str boosts.

-Hyp.

 

[Nellisir]

I don't have time at the moment, but if you really want to go unarmed combat, I'd take a very hard look through Way of the Open Hand. What's the DM's standing on feats that require Void Use?

Cheers
Nell.

 

[Jdvn1]

9th

... I can't believe I missed that.

Standard random roll. So far I have a 17, 15, 13, 11, 10, 10. I haven't assigned them yhet. I've designed three characters off these stats and they're just coming up short (at least in comparison to the other PCs).

Maybe we could tweak your designs?

As far as the Psychic Warrior -- I prefer the Fighter/Psychic Warrior mix. You get an extra feat out of it, and a better BAB.

You didn't list the Draconomicon as an available book, but if you can, go for Sense Weakness. Great feat. Especially if you decided to go Monk. Warforged Monks are really good too, but you probably can't use that either. Druid/Warshaper/Nature's Warrior is a strong mix and gives you some decent spellcasting.

Two-Weapon Fighters can get really powerful -- I like double weapons since you can decide to Power Attack and switch up to 2-handed weapon. You can put Improved Buckler Defense (Complete Warrior feat) on that so you can benefit from a shield bonus too.

Why do you want to grapple?

 

[Daermon]

I don't have time at the moment, but if you really want to go unarmed combat, I'd take a very hard look through Way of the Open Hand. What's the DM's standing on feats that require Void Use?

Cheers
Nell.

When I asked that very question, he asked me how my character went from Rokugan to the Realms.

I told him it's the Realms. He accepted that.

 

[Daermon]

... I can't believe I missed that.
Maybe we could tweak your designs?

Unfortunately, I got sick of looking at all of them and deleted them. All I have is a bare bones sheet with the stats.

As far as the Psychic Warrior -- I prefer the Fighter/Psychic Warrior mix. You get an extra feat out of it, and a better BAB.

That sounds good. I was halfway considering Monk 1/Fighter 8 since it gives two extra Feats and a decent BAB. I'm tempted to take a Psychic Warrior, but my first character was one and every other character in this game is a magic user. I want to see if I can compete with spells/psionics.

You didn't list the Draconomicon as an available book, but if you can, go for Sense Weakness. Great feat. Especially if you decided to go Monk. Warforged Monks are really good too, but you probably can't use that either. Druid/Warshaper/Nature's Warrior is a strong mix and gives you some decent spellcasting.

Well, any book is more or less available, provided someone owns a copy. None of us have one.

Two-Weapon Fighters can get really powerful -- I like double weapons since you can decide to Power Attack and switch up to 2-handed weapon. You can put Improved Buckler Defense (Complete Warrior feat) on that so you can benefit from a shield bonus too.

My last three D&D character have been Two-Weapon fighting (to the tune of 'Kung-Fu Fighting', no less) and I'm trying to stay away from old habits.

Why do you want to grapple?

Well, one reason is to do something different. I've never played a successful grappler before. The second reason is because everyone in this game is a magic user of some type or another (and half of them are as good in melee - if not better - than a Fighter would be at comparable levels), that I want to be as bare bones as it is possible to get in D&D and still be a contender. And I like playing underdogs.