Planning an AoO Machine

[iamtheend]

I figure I should just make a thread and just explain what I plan on doing with my character. People on here obviously have a ton of experience and know a lot more than I do on the subject. Any help would be very appreciated.

My DM is running a Gestalt Campaign and will allow us to use races that have at most a +1 level adjustment without the adjustment. I have chose to make a Goliath and use the Unearthed Arcane variant class of Warrior (so I can get Tumble as a class skill) and Psychic Warrior. I'm allowed to take 2 flaws at level 1 and I plan on making an AoO melee machine.

If I'm correct I'll have 28 feats total in a 20 level career. Being a Goliath I am able to hold Large size weapons without penalty due to Powerful Build Feature. The best choice it seems is to use a Large Spiked Chain and go to town.

I am allowed any publishing from official sources I guess you would call it (including Dragon Magazine) and an exception on 3rd party as long as the DM allows it. I tried to pull the Aberition Blood/Inhuman reach feats but my DM thought that would be too broken.

Question is what are some of the best feats that I should consider for my character and if possible at which levels should I take them?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

The other thread already has some staple advice, so I'll just add...

Thicket of Blades stance (Tome of Battle), to help make sure enemies can't avoid your AoOs.

Elusive Target feat (C.Warrior) is all-around awesome for negating power attack and making enemies hit each other. But it also has the "Cause Overreach" tactic to let you trip foes who miss you with their AoOs you provoke by moving. They aren't actually AoOs, just free attacks. IMO that makes them even better, as you're not expending AoOs on all of that tripping goodness. Obviously works best if you have Improved Trip for the +4 and the free followup attack (also doesn't cost an AoO).

Also look at the Stormguard Warrior tactical feat (ToB, again). You can use combat rhythm for your attacks during your turn. Even with all your penalties for defensive fighting, you can probably hit touch AC to set up for a scary next round (for each touch, you do +5 damage to that target the next round, presumably including AoOs). Perhaps more importantly, Channel the Storm gives a massive bonus for every time you could take an AoO but choose not to.

I think doing a bit of Warblade and possibly a Crusader dip (or just buy Thicket of Blades with feats, but you seem like you'll be feat starved) is a good idea.

Of course, Hold the Line is always awesome. I like Defensive Throw, but the pre-reqs are stiff. If you're teaming with a rogue or any other melee glass cannon PC, consider Backstab (dragon mag; crystalkeep feat index). When you're flanking an enemy, any time he's foolish enough to attack [not you], it provokes an AoO from you. In fact, the melee rogue would do well to pick up the feat, too. That way the enemy's screwed no matter what he does.

EDIT: Regarding race, Goliath is nice, but possibly over rated. Consider your options carefully. A Human can use Enlarge Person, a Goliath can't (Monstrous Humanoid, he needs tattoos of Expansion, which are MUCH more expensive). So, barring the Barbarian substitution level, it's actually easier fo the human to obtain a 10 ft natural reach. On top of that, Magic Item Compendium has Strong Arm Bracers. For 6000 gp, they let you use weapons one size larger at no penalty. And they explicitly do not stack with powerful build. Think carefully whether or not that +1 level adjustment's really worth it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Re: race

I've run a few of AoO-happy, polearm-using monks- human, anthro-animals, and githzerai. Of those, the githzerai & anthros were the most fun. Despite the LAs, those +6 Dex mods made a world of difference.

After all, there are many more Str modifiers in the game than ones for Dex...

Your AC & initiative will benefit as well.

Re: class

Look into PsyWar if you don't go Goliath. The Expansion power gets you the additional reach & base damage...plus an additional boost beyond that.

 

[iamtheend]

I was planning on using Expansion and having the weapon grow to a Large size category. I had no idea there were rules for a Goliath (Monstrous Humanoid) so he couldn't grow bigger. I had planned on using Animal Affinity to boost my Dex after I grew big to make up for the Dex modifier being lowered.

I hadn't considered tactical feats mainly because of Dodge and Mobility being prerequisites but the benefits that were described seemed pretty great.

I am definitely planning on taking Exploit Adjustment in order to negate people 5 foot stepping toward me.

I originally wanted to use a Glaive with a feat that allowed me to hit adjacent targets and also take the knock-down feat. I would do enough damage and gain the bonus to tripping from Improved Trip and powerful build to usually overcome anyone I hit. From that point on I slam them hard again when they stand up and wait for them to try and move toward me and send them on the ground again.

I am on the wire on Spiked Chain over Glaive.

EDIT:
Expansion
Psychometabolism
Level: Psychic warrior 1
Display: Olfactory
Manifesting Time: 1 standard
action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Power Points: 1
106
CHAPTER 5
POWERS
This power causes instant growth,
doubling your height, length, and
width and multiplying your weight
by 8. This increase changes your size
category to the next larger one. You
gain a +2 size bonus to Strength, a –2
size penalty to Dexterity (to a minimum
effective Dexterity score of 1),
a –1 size penalty on attack rolls, and a
–1 size penalty to Armor Class due to
your increased size.
If your new size is Large or larger,
you have a space of at least 10 feet and
a natural reach of at least 10 feet (see
Table 7–1, page 314 of the Monster
Manual). This power doesn’t change
your speed. If insuffi cient room is
available for the desired growth, you
attain the maximum possible size
and can make a Strength check (using
your increased Strength score) to
burst any enclosures in the process.
If you fail, you are constrained without
harm by the materials enclosing
you—you cannot crush yourself to
death by increasing your size.
All your equipment, worn or carried,
is similarly expanded by this
power. Melee and projectile weapons
deal more damage (see Table 2–2,
page 28 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide).
Other psionic or magical properties
are not affected by this power. Any
affected item that leaves your possession
(including a projectile or
thrown weapon) instantly returns
to its normal size. This means that
thrown weapons deal their normal
damage (projectiles deal damage
based on the size of the weapon that
fired them). Multiple effects that
increase size do not stack, which
means (among other things) that
you can’t use a second manifestation
of this power to further expand
yourself.
Augment: You can augment this
power in one or more of the following
ways.
1. If you spend 6 additional power
points, this power increases your size
by two size categories instead of one.
You gain a +4 size bonus to Strength,
a –4 size penalty to Dexterity (to a
minimum effective Dexterity score of
1), a –2 size penalty on attack rolls, and
a –2 size penalty to Armor Class due to
your increased size.
2. If you spend 6 additional power
points, you can manifest this power
as a swift action instead of a standard
action.
3. If you spend 2 additional power
points, this power’s duration is 1
minute per level rather than 1 round
per level.

This power doesn't specify the target having to be "Humanoid" at least I don't see it. So is this an exception?

 

[HoboGod]

Some obvious ones not mentioned, Deft Opportunist for the attack bonus, Mobility to increase the likelihood of Cause Overreach, Robiar's Gambit for when they try to hit you.

A not so obvious one, Defensive Opportunist and Graceful Edge so that if you fight defensively with your standard action, your more important AoOs will not suffer and fighting defensively grants you shield bonus.

 

[iamtheend]

My original plan for Goliath Glaive AoO Expansion dude.

Not sure if these are house rules but using the Warrior from Unearthed Arcane I'm allowed either Fighter Bonus Feats or Barbarian abilities/feats on my bonus feats from Warrior. This is the source for that we're using at the bottom of page 2 D&D Unearthed Arcana Based CLASS Trinity

I am allowed to use Dastana's and I plan on using a Chain shirt so I am able to wear them. Uncanny Dodge ensures my safety with Light Armor for the most part.

8th Level I'm not so sure what to pick for feats. I am looking for any help on what to take out, put in, and where to put it for level advancement. If something isn't legal please point it out. As far as I know everything for Fighter Bonus feats or the Warrior Bonus feats is in the correct spot and I am taking the Improved Natural Armor/Heavy Lithoderms on correct levels too.

[FONT=&quot]Flaws: Improved Trip(Murky-eyed), Knock-down(Pathetic -2 Cha)[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Combat Expertise, Near and Far (3rd party feat that allows me to hit adjacent enemies), Uncanny Dodge[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Deft Opportunist, Combat Reflexes[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Heavy Lithoderms (+1 AC)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]4. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Canny Opportunist, Exploit Adjustment[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]5. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Weapon Focus[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]6. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Improved Combat Reflexes, Improved Natural Armor (+1 AC)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]7. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]-- [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]8. [/FONT][FONT=&quot](Warrior Bonus Feat), (Psychic Warrior Bonus Feat)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]9. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Improved Natural Armor (+1 AC)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]10. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Weapon Specialization[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]11. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Melee Weapon Mastery (Slashing)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]12. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Damage Reduction (2/- at this point), Improved Natural Armor (+1 AC)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]13. [/FONT][FONT=&quot] --[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]14. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Slashing Flurry, Greater Weapon Focus[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]15. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Improved Natural Armor (+1 AC)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]16. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Defensive Sweep[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]17. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Greater Weapon Specialization[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]18. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Weapon Supremacy[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]19. [/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]20. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Greater Combat Reflexes, Pounce (Barbarian Complete Champion variant ability)[/FONT]

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

This power doesn't specify the target having to be "Humanoid" at least I don't see it. So is this an exception?

Yes. That's why I said Goliaths require the expansion power. It works for them, enlarge person does not.

Some obvious ones not mentioned, Deft Opportunist for the attack bonus, Mobility to increase the likelihood of Cause Overreach, Robiar's Gambit for when they try to hit you.

A not so obvious one, Defensive Opportunist and Graceful Edge so that if you fight defensively with your standard action, your more important AoOs will not suffer and fighting defensively grants you shield bonus.

Mobility: Actually required for Elusive Target anyway.
Deft Opportunist: Was mentioned in previous thread.
Robilar's Gambit: As above.
Defensive Opportunist: As above.

Graceful Edge: What's this do? Give a shield bonus? You can always just get a (animated) shield if needed...

 

[iamtheend]

Yes. That's why I said Goliaths require the expansion power. It works for them, enlarge person does not.

I was confused by what you wrote about Tattoo's. With Psychic Warrior the first power I plan on getting is Expansion and then on 3rd level augment it so it will last 10 mins per level.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Besides the aforementioned Deft Opportunist, I got enough use from Hold the Line and Stand Still to consider them fairly essential to this kind of PC.

Depending on the PC, I may also take Power Att/Cleave/G-Cleave.


As for weapon choice, I favor polearms over the chain, typically the glaive to save a feat or an exotic one for more damage or what have you.

 

[HoboGod]

Was mentioned in previous thread,

Previous thread? Hmmm, I'm out of the loop. I think it'll lurk back into the shadows.