Arkhandus
First Post
Hmm. I don't think most of WD's suggestions quite fit what you're after (or aren't really optimal at all for what you're after; like a rogue/duelist that doesn't focus on flanking-two-weapon-fighting-barrage-of-sneak-attacks).
Also, since I dunno what edition you're using, keep in mind that Improved Critical and Keen do not stack in 3.5.
With the books you're allowed, I'd have 3 different suggestions.
1) Take 1 level of Sorcerer as part of your build and get a Lesser Metamagic Rod of Quicken Spell, or whatever it's called, with True Strike as one of your spells known. Then Quicken a True Strike each round (I think 3 times a day is the rod's limit) and full-power-attack. This is assuming you start above level 1, otherwise, it really won't be worth it for a while.
2) Consider using a Spiked Chain as a two-handed reach weapon and go the "I trip you, get a free attack from Improved Trip, and then wait to attack-of-opportunity you as well when you try to stand up" route. It's cheesy and overused, but since you are drastically limited in what books you can use and you want a one-massive-hit-per-round build, this is probably one of the better options available to you. It's more like 2 big hits per round, since the AoO is part of the point, but no matter. This build involves high Str and high Dex, with Combat Reflexes as one of your feats.
3) With your sadly poor selection of books for this kind of build, your best bet is to go with a Goliath (from Races of Stone) and probably be a Barbarian 1/Fighter X or maybe, possibly, just Monk X. But I don't have the PHB 2 so I can't check for myself to see if the Monk stuff in there is really worthwhile for your character as opposed to the Fighter stuff combined with the higher Base Attack and various feats of a Fighter. Your weapon of choice should probably be a Maul or a Greatsword, increased in size to Large (you should be able to use it that way as a Goliath, with their Powerful Build trait; a Large Greatsword in 3.5 deals 3d6 damage, but I don't recall what a Maul's damage is in 3.5 so I don't know if it'd be dealing 2d8 or 3d6 damage).
Being a Goliath will give you a level adjustment, but you'll be stronger and be able to wield these larger, more damaging weapons. Important feats to gain, beyond the obvious ones, would be Mounted Combat and Spirited Charge. Improved Sunder is probably good for you too, to destroy an opponent's weapon so they're less effective against you while you beat on them. Get yourself a heavy warhorse or the like, take some ranks in Ride, equip the mount with a war saddle, and proceed to charge at enemies willy-nilly for lots of damage each time (you can use a weapon two-handed while mounted with a DC 5 Ride check, guiding the mount with your knees). A lance won't be any good for you; your Large Maul or Large Greatsword will deal more damage normally, and the same damage when charging on a mount.
I don't recall if Goliaths belong to the Humanoid type or the Giant type, but if they're Humanoids, it would behoove you to dip 1 level into Cleric and take the Strength Domain (and probably the War Domain or somesuch as your second domain), to cast Enlarge Person on yourself once per day as a domain spell. Again, I don't recall if Goliaths are Humanoids in type, but if not, then this level dip doesn't help.
Anyway, take a look at the feats and Fighter stuff in the Player's Handbook II, and also the feats in Complete Warrior and Complete Adventurer. You'll probably find a few to help out.
Also, since I dunno what edition you're using, keep in mind that Improved Critical and Keen do not stack in 3.5.
With the books you're allowed, I'd have 3 different suggestions.
1) Take 1 level of Sorcerer as part of your build and get a Lesser Metamagic Rod of Quicken Spell, or whatever it's called, with True Strike as one of your spells known. Then Quicken a True Strike each round (I think 3 times a day is the rod's limit) and full-power-attack. This is assuming you start above level 1, otherwise, it really won't be worth it for a while.
2) Consider using a Spiked Chain as a two-handed reach weapon and go the "I trip you, get a free attack from Improved Trip, and then wait to attack-of-opportunity you as well when you try to stand up" route. It's cheesy and overused, but since you are drastically limited in what books you can use and you want a one-massive-hit-per-round build, this is probably one of the better options available to you. It's more like 2 big hits per round, since the AoO is part of the point, but no matter. This build involves high Str and high Dex, with Combat Reflexes as one of your feats.
3) With your sadly poor selection of books for this kind of build, your best bet is to go with a Goliath (from Races of Stone) and probably be a Barbarian 1/Fighter X or maybe, possibly, just Monk X. But I don't have the PHB 2 so I can't check for myself to see if the Monk stuff in there is really worthwhile for your character as opposed to the Fighter stuff combined with the higher Base Attack and various feats of a Fighter. Your weapon of choice should probably be a Maul or a Greatsword, increased in size to Large (you should be able to use it that way as a Goliath, with their Powerful Build trait; a Large Greatsword in 3.5 deals 3d6 damage, but I don't recall what a Maul's damage is in 3.5 so I don't know if it'd be dealing 2d8 or 3d6 damage).
Being a Goliath will give you a level adjustment, but you'll be stronger and be able to wield these larger, more damaging weapons. Important feats to gain, beyond the obvious ones, would be Mounted Combat and Spirited Charge. Improved Sunder is probably good for you too, to destroy an opponent's weapon so they're less effective against you while you beat on them. Get yourself a heavy warhorse or the like, take some ranks in Ride, equip the mount with a war saddle, and proceed to charge at enemies willy-nilly for lots of damage each time (you can use a weapon two-handed while mounted with a DC 5 Ride check, guiding the mount with your knees). A lance won't be any good for you; your Large Maul or Large Greatsword will deal more damage normally, and the same damage when charging on a mount.
I don't recall if Goliaths belong to the Humanoid type or the Giant type, but if they're Humanoids, it would behoove you to dip 1 level into Cleric and take the Strength Domain (and probably the War Domain or somesuch as your second domain), to cast Enlarge Person on yourself once per day as a domain spell. Again, I don't recall if Goliaths are Humanoids in type, but if not, then this level dip doesn't help.
Anyway, take a look at the feats and Fighter stuff in the Player's Handbook II, and also the feats in Complete Warrior and Complete Adventurer. You'll probably find a few to help out.
