Tank builds

pallandrome

First Post
Ok, I'm thinking of making a straight up hard to kill tank type character for a campaign I'm in. Sincle only the core classes are availible, I'm thinkin a Dwarven Pally is going to win, hands down. Great saves, and TONS of HP, as well as an easier time in full-plate+tower shield make for a good combo. Does anyone have any other ideas?
 

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Dwarven Pally? Why pick a Paladin with a Charisma penalty?

Dwarven Cleric would do better. For your domains, pick Travel and Destruction, so you get 30 ft. movement and a Smite attempt ... pick Extra Smiting for your feat, and enjoy laying down the smack.

Cheers, -- N
 

What level are you going to be playing at? I've always been tempted to play a dwarven Paladin/Fighter/Dwarven Defender character at some point - I think that would be one of the beefiest core-only tanks you could play. Fighter gets you the tower shield proficiency and a nice chunk of bonus feats, which are always great for a warrior-type. Straight paladins are way too feat-starved, IMO.
 

In the long run, the -2 to charisma is not that bad. The eventual -20 to lay on hands is cancelled out by the +20 to hp from the con bonus, and the one less divine vigor is cancelled out by the ability to wear full plate with no movement penalty, not to mention proficiency with the Dwarven Waraxe to go opposite of the tower shield, and darkvision besides.

-2 on charisma is easily overlookable in these circumstances.
 

SteelDraco said:
What level are you going to be playing at? I've always been tempted to play a dwarven Paladin/Fighter/Dwarven Defender character at some point - I think that would be one of the beefiest core-only tanks you could play. Fighter gets you the tower shield proficiency and a nice chunk of bonus feats, which are always great for a warrior-type. Straight paladins are way too feat-starved, IMO.

See, I'm of the opinion that if you are gonna go pally, go straight pally. one of their most powerful abilities, lay on hands, is totally reamed if you multiclass. I should be starting at lvl12, which gives me 5 feats. I plan on taking divine vigor as one of them, to offset the slowed movement rate.
 


A Tank isn't a Tank without firepower. Paladins are nice - but rangers are better.

1. More skill points.
2. Fighter BAB
3. Some bonus feat potential with TWF or Archery Chains
4. Track (so you can find your foes better)
5. Endurance as a "free" feat (really nice if you have ever been ambushed at night and a DM actually makes you take off your armor without the feat.
6. Good fortitude and reflex saves
7. Animal Companion

Unless you have a specific feat chain in mind, "conventional fighter" bites.


The barbarian is all about the rage - and is very one dimensional. Yeah, you get the nice str and con bonuses at a low level, but not much else is there in the class. Secondarily, the short term con boost leaves when your rage ends - which means you might kill the baddie, but the baddie's nearly fatal blow kills you shortly thereafter at mid/high levels (5th level and up).

Now, Paladins have some cool points to them, but the ranger can usually answer them. The main exception to that is if your DM lets you acquire Leadership as a paladin and get a really really cool dragon cohort mount. If that isn't happening - I think you are better off building with a ranger.

Dwarven Ranger - aka "slayer"; depending on what you fight - pound for pound is a whopper of a tank build - especially if you take "Favored enemy - Giant"
 

I would really have to say Dwarven Defender. The thing is dang near IMPOSSIBLE to kill if played right, but I don't know about the whole paladin thing. I would just go with fighter until you qualify for Dwarven Defender, then just continue to advance Dwarven Defender past the 10 levels in the DMG (yes, you can do that - it's written in there somewhere). Whenever you want a new feat or two, just take another level in fighter. By taking levels in Dwarven Defender instead of paladin, you get a bigger hit dice, better damage reduction, more Defensive Stances, etc. etc. True, you lose some healing ability and such, but with more DR, healing enters into it less and less. Just have your cleric focus healing on you, since you should be taking the most damage, and boom - you're a freaking tank.

On the issue of firepower, just be stereotypical dwarf and put a good score into Str with a dwarven waraxe. 1d10 damage, x3 critical, and the ability to use a tower shield with that? As a MARTIAL weapon? Priceless. For damage, just take Power Attack and Cleave. With Defensive Stance, you won't be moving much, so you might as well cut 'em down as they close in. Screw accuracy, I'd want to take crazy damage and deal crazy damage. Ooh, and since you'll need Endurance for Dwarven Defender anyway, you might as well take Diehard. THEN you'll be impossible to kill, but I just personally like the idea behind Diehard more than the feat itself.

If you want to send your AC into the ionosphere (that's REALLY high), take the Combat Expertise and get a Dwarven Waraxe of Defending. Of course, that might be overkill. Of course, Combat Expertise implies putting a 13 into Int, I think, so it's really your call. Come to think of it, while Combat Expertise is a good feat, you really have no use for Improved Disarm, Feint, or Trip, and I seriously doubt that you'll be putting much into Dex, so Whirlwind Attack is out. Your choice.

So yeah, I'd say just go for a dwarf fighter/dwarven defender (more defender than fighter); statwise, I'd reccommend medium-high Str, low Dex, very high Con, Int and Wis are up to you, and dump Cha. For feats, use what you like from the above reccommendations, but consider Improved Bull Rush and Overrun. That's just to complete the tank image. ;)
 

Gerion of Mercadia said:
The barbarian is all about the rage - and is very one dimensional. Yeah, you get the nice str and con bonuses at a low level, but not much else is there in the class. Secondarily, the short term con boost leaves when your rage ends - which means you might kill the baddie, but the baddie's nearly fatal blow kills you shortly thereafter at mid/high levels (5th level and up).

A good way not to get fatigued from raging is to play a Warforged.

I have a question are you looking to stand and take damage? or dish out damage in melee?

Cause if I know this I can point you to some builds or handbooks to help you out.
 

Nazhkandrias said:
... then just continue to advance Dwarven Defender past the 10 levels in the DMG (yes, you can do that - it's written in there somewhere).

That sounds like Epic Progression - you won't be able to take your eleventh level in DD until character level 21.

-Hyp.
 

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