A friend of mine asked me to help him come up with a character design for a Hulking Hurler that isn't just a 1 trick pony, sucking at melee combat, and who is fully playable as an actual effective PC, not a hypothetical damage monster. As I was working on it, I basically realized that I was building The Hulk. Thus, in honor of The Avengers, I give you my take on The Incredible Hulk.
Books Required:
Races of Stone, Dungeonscape, Miniatures Handbook, Dragon Magazine 355, SRD. Also, LA Buyoff is assumed.
Variants Used:
Bear Totem Barbarian (Barbarian, Complete Champion)
Dungeon Crasher (Fighter, Dungeonscape)
Chaos Monk Class (Dragon Magazine 355)
Overwhelming Attack Style (Monk, SRD)
Goliath Racial Substitution Level (Barbarian, Races of Stone)
Bruce Banner was once a friendly, helpful Goliath. Having always gotten along well with the Gnomish people living near his village, he eventually began to work with the little folk, assisting them in their labs, using his natural size and strength to move equipment and supplies. However, one day, a tragic accident occurred. The gnomes were searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humanoids have. Then an accidental overdose of a mysterious alchemical substance altered his body chemistry. And now when Bruce Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. He must now find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.
Bruce Banner, Goliath Barbarian 1/Chaos Monk 2/Fighter 6/Hulking Hurler 3/War Hulk 8
LEVEL 1: Fling Enemy
Chaos Monk 1: Improved Unarmed Strike, Power Attack
Chaos Monk 2: Improved Bull Rush
LEVEL 3: Brutal Throw
Fighter 1: Knockback
LEVEL 6: Power Throw
Fighter 4: Weapon Focus (Any Thrown)
LEVEL 9: Point Blank Shot
LEVEL 12: Cleave
LEVEL 15: Multigrab
LEVEL 18: Reckless Rage
+11 BAB and the Flailing Strike ability from Chaos Monk (basically it's Flurry of Blows, but you roll 1d4-1 to determine how many extra hits you get) mean that he is still a force to be reckoned with in melee, punching 3-6 times each round.
However, his REAL strength lies in his ability not just to punch things, but to slam them around a bit.
STRATEGY BY LEVEL BREAKDOWN:
Bruce begins with the ability to Rage (thus becoming Large due to his Goliath heritage), Flailing Strike for up to 3 additional hits, and Grapple them for free with Improved Grab. Of course meaning once they’re grabbed, the Hulk can pummel them into oblivion.
By level 5, the Hulk has developed the beginnings of his most brutal combo. Obviously all of the above is still applicable, but now, you have Knockback and Dungeoncrasher (part 1). That means if he power attacks someone with his fist, it automatically triggers a free bull rush attempt. If they’re successfully bull rushed into a wall or other solid object, they then take 4d6 + STR*2 damage.
Level 6, all of the above remains true, and now the Hulk can also trigger the Bull Rush/Dungeoncrasher combo by using Power Throw on the enemies he flings.
Level 9, Dungeoncrasher is upgraded, now doing 8d6 + STR*3 to those who are bullrushed.
By level 15, having gained more control over his rage, the Hulk can now punch 2 different enemies, grab and grapple both of them (with a -10 penalty, but c’mon…), and then fling them at some other unfortunate bastards who happen to be lurking nearby.
And finally, because I was curious…assuming an 18 strength, belt of strength +6, reckless rage feat, and a +5 Tome of Strength…here’s the Hulk's
HYPOTHETICAL MAX THROWING DAMAGE (using Overburdened Heave from Hulking Hurler)
STRENGTH: 18 + 4 (Goliath) + 5 (Levels)+ 6 (Mountain Rage) + 6 (Belt of Strength) + 16 (War Hulk) + 2 (Reckless Rage) + 5 (Tome) = 62
CARRYING CAPACITY = 346 *4*4*4*4 = 88,576 lbs maximum medium load
DAMAGE OF AN 88,576 OBJECT = (88,576 – 400)/20 = 441+5 = 456 d6s.
FINAL DAMAGE: 456d6 + 31, with a +42 to hit.
So, he can throw 3-6 punches for roughly 1d6+36 each, not counting Power Attack. He can also fling enemies into other enemies. Anyone he power attacks, punches or throws, is flung backwards. If they hit a wall, they take 8d6+93 damage. And if all else fails, he can just lob an 88,000 pound object and one shot a dragon.
