Hello fellow users,
I'm currently making a build based around battlefield control through the use of the intimidate skill. My inspiration has come from the Fear Handbook,
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3809, Vernon ('Vern') Karache. Thanks Caedrus
The DM has allowed the use of all first party books only and Dragon Magazines are allowed on his discretion. So far, this adventure will feature a four man level 20 party. I am, however, unaware what the other party members will play. On another note, the DM doesn't use any house rules with one exception. He doesn't care about alignment restrictions and keeps them secret from the other players. Therefore only he knows. The restrictions are still required for noted classes, prestige classes, and feats that require them. That being said, I'm playing an evil frostblood half orc, who prays to Hextor. The DM approved and he has said it's my responsibility to play it as such.
On to the build, I'm using the following books: Unearthed Arcana (UA), Complete Scoundrel (CS), Heroes of Horror (HH), Races of Destiny (RoDes), Book of Vile Deeds (BoVD), Dragon Magic (DM), Elder Evils (EE), Stormwrack (SW), and Complete Mage (CM). I'm using one trait, taking two flaws, one prestige class, and using two generic classes from UA and one trait from a Dragon Magazine. I'm using frostblood half orc (DM). I've yet to roll my ability scores but will be putting my highest score into charisma which will be reduced by two with base half orc stat adjustments.
Half-Orc Paragon 1/Expert 2/Warrior 2/Barbarian 1/Avenging Executioner 2/Scarlet Corsair 5/Marshal 1/Divine Magician Cleric 3/Dread Witch 1/Avenging Executioner 2My build is extremely feat reliant and 7 Standard feats from leveling isn't enough. With UA, I'm granted 2 feats from flaws and 2 feats from 2 levels of generic Expert class, and 2 feats from generic Warrior class. A friend told me that what I'm proposing with my build is cheese. I'll let my fellows be the judge. However, from my outlook, I'm giving up class features for my bonus feats to specialize which will leave me as a one trick pony.
Level/Feat Selection/Bonus to intimidate conferred:1/Menacing Demeanor (standard feat), Willing Deformity (First Flaw), Apprentice:Criminal (2nd Flaw)/+4 untyped, +3 untyped, +2 Competence
2/Unspeakable Vow (Expert bonus)/+2 Profane
3/Draconic Aura:Presence (Expert bonus), Abominable Form (standard feat)/+1 untyped (Scales with level due to dragonblood subtype), +2 Circumstance
4/Skill Focus: Intimidate (Warrior bonus)/+3 untyped
5/Persuasive (Warrior bonus)/+2 untyped
6/Imperious Command/intimidate causes cower for 1 round then shakens the next
9/Deformity Teeth (Standard), Improved Feint (Scarlet Corsair bonus)/+1 untyped
12/Frightful Presence/
14/Skill Focus:Diplomacy (Marshal bonus)/
15/Deformity Madness/
18/Unnatural Will (Dread Witch Bonus), Dread Tyranny (standard feat)/Strength added to intimidate
Total bonus to intimidate with feats: 23(26 With Scaled Draconic Aura)+Strength mod+Charisma mod
Level/Class and Character Features pertaining to intimidate/What it does1/Monstrous Mein, Abrasive (Trait), Unnatural Aura (Trait)/+4 Untyped intimidate, +1 untyped, +2 untyped
3/Abominable Form/Whenever an opponent sees you, they become shaken for a number of rounds equal to con mod if they fail their save
7/Bloody Blade, Sudden Strike +1d6/Causes opponents within 30' to become shaken if they fail their save after witnessing your sudden strike ability
8/Rapid intimidation/Intimidate (Demoralize) is a move action instead of a standard action
12/Frightful Presence/On attack or charge, shaken enemies within 30', who fail their save, for 1d6+cha mod rounds
13/Scourge of the Seas/Intimidate (Demoralize) affects opponents with 30' and does not stack with itself
14/Minor Aura:Charisma/add cha mod to your charisma checks and cha based skill checks (doubles Intimidate cha bonus, may also affect your Frightful Presence)
15/Deformity madness/-4 permanent to wisdom score that can't be heal, make you immune to mind-affecting spells and abilities, and may add up to half your HD to a single will save once every minute
18/Master of Terror/add 2 bonus for every Dread Witch level you have to Intimidate
20/Dread Blade/treat opponents with shaken, frightened, or panicked as flat-flooted for your ability to deal sudden strike damage
Total Bonus to Intimidate with class and character features: 9+Charisma mod
Class Skill Ranks: Intimidate class ranks 23 and Bluff 5 (at least for synergy). Total Intimidate score with ranks 25
Grand total Intimidate Score: Ranks 25(with Synergy)+26+9+Strength mod+Charisma mod x2=60+Strength+Charismax2. Assuming I roll fairly decent and get two 18s. After adding in racial adjustments and increasing Charisma with ability score increases granted from levels, I'm looking at 21 Str and 20 Cha. My grand total for intimidate skill would then look like: 75+1d20
This build seems pretty optimized in its one ability, however, I'm looking to see if I overlooked something and to make sure of its legality. I can alter the build by excluding the three levels of Divine Magician and one level of Dread Witch with something more optimal. With their exclusion, I'd lose my strength to intimidate and a class level bonus of 2 from Dread Witch which would drop my total to 68+1d20.
I thought of adding the Champion of Gwynharwyf for the raging intimidate, however, I'd be unable to due to my alignment. I've also looked into the Zhentarim Soldier web enhancement. Upon my own reading and interpretation, I think its abilities affects the social aspect of intimidate and not the demoralization aspect used in combat.
Combat: Whenever anything sees me, I have a chance to shaken them with Abominable Form. Once I charge into combat, Frightful Presence has a chance of escalating shaken into frightened. Assuming one or both have succeeded, my attacked followed by the charge would allow me to use my Bloody Blade ability since Dread Blade allows shaken or higher to be considered flat-footed. With a successful attack and damage dealt, Avenging Executioner would escalate those affected by shaken or frightened into frightened or panicked.
My second round of combat would consists of nearly the same pattern. If my party members haven't killed my charge target and further opponents have moved into my 30' range, I could demoralize as a move action (Rapid Intimidation), and cause current enemies and newcomers to become cowered (Imperious Command if failed save). Then with my standard action attack my current target and causes another escalation of fear if my attack is successful with Bloody Blade and Dread Blade synergy.
Equipment and Magic: I've yet to look at equipment or magic that would grant me bonuses to stat increases and skill bonuses. I know the Magic Item Compendium and Lists of Stuff (online handbook,
http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1068066) is a great place to start.
Thanks in advance for any comments, criticisms, questions, and advice. My apologizes if I've overlooked something rule wise and thanks for pointing it out.
