Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ridley's Cohort" data-source="post: 1899110" data-attributes="member: 545">I mostly agree, Scion.  I do think you rather exagerate the prerequisites and costs.Certainly a middling level fighter could gain signficant advantage from this tactic with a 14 Dex -- comon enough because of the Dex 13 prereq for Dodge/Mobility/SA.Power Attack and Cleave are common for characters with a lot of fighter levels.  Combat Reflexes is attractive for those who use reach weapons -- there is a strong synergy with Cleave and Power Attack (two-handed weapon).  Those three feats are meaty and popular.  There only question mark is on Great Cleave.  Note that Greave Cleave does synergize with Reach weapons and  Mobility/Spring Attack because it is easier to secondary and tertiary victims.So what are the in combat costs for doing this tactic?  I would use a 2nd level spell for d3 1st level critters.  So that is a 1 round action plus a 2nd level spell for an average of 2 attacks at full BAB.If we are talking about a low-mid or mid level Fighter, that approximately doubles his offensive punch on average.  Sometimes more.  Sometimes less.Why do this?  What is the optimal opponent?You are a Wizard or Druid who is facing a creature with strong SR and energy resistances.  Demons.  Devils.The Wizard is burning a 2nd level slot against a creature where his 2nd level spells are pretty weak.  Demons and Devils tend to have fire resistance.Similar story for the Sorceror.  The Sorceror can also cast spontaneously and is likely to have low level slots to burn.The Druid has a similar problem but his low levels spells do not have any offense at all and his wildshaping may have to contend with DR.  The Druid does not have to prepare for this tactic as SNA is spontaneous.  He is less likely to have the metamagic feats to help punch through against a magic hardened target.Whether the AoO+Cleave trick is useful for you depends a lot on your campaign.  In 1e/2e/3e campaigns, we found that pouring all your resources into keeping the Big Fighter with his Big +n Sword happy and healthy was the only consistent and practical means to defeat demons and devils.  This is just a variation on the theme of superbuffing the fighter because your spells suck against your DM's favorite BBEG.In summary...Costs: A standard reach fighter build + Great Cleave.  Low levels spells.  Spellcaster twiddles thumbs for one round.Benefit:  Fighter's offense is roughly doubled for the round.In other words, if I have the right set up, the spellcaster is using a lowish level spell as a means to trade his round of actions in order to double the potency of the fighter.  If the fighter is in the right place at the right time, that is a VERY good deal.</blockquote>

Verification