The Best Core only Warrior builds?

[Carfax]

What are some good Core only warrior builds?

By Core, I mean whats in the Players Handbook I and II, plus the DM guide..

Did the PHII make the 20th level fighter the most powerful melee type for Core only?

Or does he still trail behind the Barbarian?

Personally, I've always favored the fighter/paladin builds, with the most emphasis on fighter levels because you get a great number of feats, with many of the key abilities of the Paladin such as Aura of Courage, Divine Grace etc, making perfect warrior who has great offensive and defensive capabilities.

But a Fighter/Barbarian is very formidable in his own right aswell.

How does a Fighter/Paladin stack up against a Fighter/Barbarian in your eyes?

Just a few questions, but don't let them sidetrack you. I'm simply looking for suggestions for the ultimate Core only Warrior build..

Melee only please!

 

[monboesen]

Any core warrior build should include 4 levels of Rogue and 3 levels of Barbarian. The rest of the levels should be Fighter.

That nets you +2d6 sneak attack, +3 reflex save, evasion, improved uncanny dodge, fast movement, rage and +60 skill points for the price of three bonus fighter feats, delayed feat acces, 5 HP, -1 fortitude save and -1 BAB.

 

[monboesen]

Go along with a progression that looks about like this:

1: Rogue (for the massive skill boost)
2: Barbarian (for rage, speed and weapon proficiency)
3: Fighter (for armor proficiency, you wont be able to afford heavy armors before anyway).
4: Rogue
5: Rogue (for the sneak attack)
6: Barbarian (for the uncanny dodge)
7: Rogue (for the improved uncanny dodge)
8: Barbarian (to avoid multiclassing penalties later)
9+: Fighter (for the feats)

 

[Carfax]

But, wouldn't the rogue levels be rendered useless if you plan on using heavy or medium armor?

I was intending on going 12 Fighter and 8 Paladin.. The weapon specialization feat chain coupled with Divine Might should prove to be a nasty combination, and my saving throws would be excellent aswell.

But I wonder how a Fighter Paladin would hold up against a Fighter Barbarian.

BTW, I'm totally new to D&D so the questions I ask may sound n00bish at times..

 

[Jhaelen]

But, wouldn't the rogue levels be rendered useless if you plan on using heavy or medium armor?

I'm not exactly an expert regarding warrior builds, but I cannot think of a single thing that makes heavy armor worth wearing. It's just a long list of disadvantages (expensive, slow, skill penalties, unable to rest wearing it, etc. etc.). Besides there's always mithral plate.
To make matters worse, a high AC doesn't help all that much in D&D 3.5. Most foes will either hit you regardless, completely ignore you, make touch attacks, or cast spells on you.

 

[phindar]

I playing a Fighter/Barbarian right now and I'm pretty happy with the way its turning out, but a lot of that's feats more than class abs. (Though, I must say Uncanny Dodge has saved portions of my butt a few times against ambushing sneak attackers.) Rage is okay but I hardly ever use it. Fast Move is alright but I'm not really a mobility based fighter, I just pick the biggest, nastiest thing on the board, charge it and hit it as hard as I can for as long as I can. (In D&D, you can be a One-Trick Pony as long as its a good trick.)

Unless you're planning on being really feat heavy, I'd go more in Pallie. Your class abs will go off your class level, as do your spells.

 

[Bagpuss]

But, wouldn't the rogue levels be rendered useless if you plan on using heavy or medium armor?

Why? You are only really getting the rogue levels for the Sneak attack and uncanny dodge. The skills you can put into things like Listen and Spot so you don't get surprised. You can do all that in heavy armour. If you want Evasion you are restricted to a mithral breastplate however.

The fast movement from the barbarian is a bit of a waste however, until you can afford mithral full plate, but then you can't wear Adamantine and with no DR from the few Barbarian levels you took and the poor Hit Dice from the rogue levels it could hurt.

Sneak attack is handy but hardly reliable due to it being situational and lots of critters being immune to it. I question the value of the dip into the Rogue class myself. Being a rogue at first level for a "warrior" role in the party is likely to get you killed, and if you are filling the rogue role in the party and are dumping on Disable Device and Open Locks and the like, then you aren't going to be that popular either. You are +0 BAB at 1st level as well which limits some of the more obvious warrior feats you might want to take.

Best is an odd term, by best do you mean offensively (in melee or at range) and by that best damage or best chance to hit? Or best defensively, max hit points or maximum armour or decent saves or best flexibility?

Think about what role you need/want to play in the party and work from that.

 

[Bagpuss]

I'm not exactly an expert regarding warrior builds, but I cannot think of a single thing that makes heavy armor worth wearing.

At lower levels it's the cheapest way to get +3 onto your AC. (well that or a Tower Shield, which has it's own long list of drawbacks)

It's just a long list of disadvantages (expensive, slow, skill penalties, unable to rest wearing it, etc. etc.). Besides there's always mithral plate.

At higher levels it's DR3/- from Adamantine rather than Mithral.

To make matters worse, a high AC doesn't help all that much in D&D 3.5. Most foes will either hit you regardless,

It helps with the interactive attacks, even if their main attack is likely to hit.

completely ignore you,

And that's a bad thing? So long as you can still pound on them it's a good thing.

make touch attacks, or cast spells on you.

Well sure, but you don't depend on one form of defense.

 

[Legildur]

If you have the ability scores, I'm a big fan of the Ftr/Pal multiclass warrior for the immunity to fear, great saves, detect evil at will, and access to divine feats.

Other than that, a Bbr/Ftr can be a pretty devastating combination.

Haven't played around with Rangers, yet.

 

[phindar]

I think the obvious choice here is to go Barbarian/Paladin.