Author Topic: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?  (Read 16710 times)

Offline McLuvin

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(3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« on: March 28, 2012, 11:08:42 PM »
Is it As good as a a fighter can be?

As you guys (and ladies) can tell, I am a noob. So when you critique this please go easy.... 

With that in mind I was limited with the material I was able to use. The books we are allowed to use are: DMG, PHB, MM, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, Players Guide to Faerun, and the Spell Compendium. Everyone was at lvl 10 when I joined. 

The DM informed me that the forgotten realms have pockets of no magic zones and other areas where spells may have a completely different outcome. When I started to look at the group and what classes it was constructed of, it was hard for me to choose. For the most part this game is still in the dark and Not knowing much. It was made of a Druid, Monk, and a Rouge. I figured a fighter would fit and be the "tank." 

So here's my build:

Ranger 1 / Fighter 8 / PDK 2

STR-18
DEX-13
CON-18 (has +2 from LVL)
INT- 13
WIS- 14 
CHA- 10

Feats:
Combat expertise 
Dodge
Improved Crit
Leadership
Mounted combat
Ride-by attack
Power attack 
Weapon focus
Weapon specialization
track

Class feats:
Wild empathy 
Favored enemy 
Heroic shield
Rallying cry
Inspiring courage

Gear:
Great sword w/ shocking burst
Dagger
Mithral Full Plate
Mithral heavy shield - Animated 
Ring of protection - +2
Amulet of Natural Armor - +2

Many are asking why the ranger. A friend said to do so to get more points for skills. IDK.... 

I want to be something useful to the group and I figured this was best. Please help!
“Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” – Patton (1970)

Offline Solo

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2012, 11:15:47 PM »
Have you considered 3 levels of Ranger, 2 of Fighter, and some of Barbarian?
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Offline McLuvin

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2012, 11:59:44 PM »
By doing that what does that give me?
“Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” – Patton (1970)

Offline kitep

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2012, 12:09:57 AM »
Ranger 1 / Fighter 8 / PDK 2

What's PDK?

Offline thurmin

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2012, 12:25:11 AM »
A druid can hold the fighter role, and you have a monk and rogue. Have you thought of a cleric or wizard? The druid has the healing covered, so perhaps a wizard would work?

Not sure how firm you are on playing a warrior, but if you are wanting a big ole warrior, then what style are you looking for? Big ole sword wielding baddie, or perhaps a nimble warrior that wields 2 weapons and dishes out the damage? Perhaps you are looking for tricks in your play, helping to control the battlefield for your party members?

Having said that, one of my favorites is Fighter 4/Warblade on.

Having said that, look here: http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Fighters%27_Handbook_By_Dictum_Mortuum_(3.5e_Optimized_Character_Build)
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Offline Craiconn

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2012, 12:28:04 AM »
For the most part, Fighter stops being a valuable class after Level 2.  Those 2 levels give you 2 Fighter feats in a row.  Look at the awfulness of Fighter from then on:

Ftr3
Ftr4 - Feat
Ftr5
Ftr6 - Feat
Ftr7
Ftr8 - Feat

All you get, class feature-wise, is 3 linear-growth feats in 6 levels.

It's crucial as a "tank", that you get valuable class-features at EVERY LEVEL by cross-classing your build.

Regards,
Craig

Offline Solo

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2012, 12:37:19 AM »
By doing that what does that give me?
More skills, TWF, Rage, etc?
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Offline kitep

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2012, 03:17:55 AM »
I'm not totally sure of the terminology, but I assume a "tank" is someone who can stand there and take a lot of damage?  With dealing damage being nice, but secondary?

If true, you might want to go with adamantine armor instead of mithril.  Adamantine full plate gives you DR 3/- (see DMG, pg 283 - it's shortly before the Mithril stuff)

Why is the shield made of mithril?

May want to consider being a dwarf, so you don't get any movement penalties from the heavy or medium armor.

You may want to pick up a wand of Cure Light Wounds (750gp) for between fights healing.  Since it's a ranger spell, you can use it (and if you decide against ranger, the druid can use it on you, or you can put 1 point in the Use Magic Device skill)

Good luck!

Offline zugschef

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #8 on: March 29, 2012, 03:29:42 AM »
For the most part this game is still in the dark and Not knowing much. It was made of a Druid, Monk, and a Rouge. I figured a fighter would fit and be the "tank."
the druid is going to be the best "tank" there's ever going to be... and since you guys still don't have an arcane caster i'd go with a sorcerer (going into mage of the arcane order) or ideally a wizard.

Offline kitep

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2012, 03:51:57 AM »
Great sword w/ shocking burst

I'm not a fan of any of the "burst" stuff.  I'd probably go with a +2 shocking great sword instead, or even a +3 great sword.

FYI: you're probably better off with +1 to hit & damage vs +1d6 to damage.  It's counter-intuitive, and I'm not sure I remember all the reasons why.  It's also a bit hard to explain, but if you want me to, I'll try.  That said, I'd probably keep the shock (not the burst), just because I like the picture in my head better  :)

Or maybe have a +1 shocking sword and spend the 10,000gp savings on other things.  Belt of Giant Str +2 (which adds +1 to-hit & damage) and an amulet of health +2 (extra 11 hp) and you still have 2,000gp left.

Note: you already have an amulet.  You can add "of health +2" to it for base cost instead of the times 1.5 cost listed in the DMG for stacking magic in an item.  This is a change made in the magic item compendium.  I know it's not listed in the books you're allowed, but this is a rule change, not an item (the amulet of health itself is in the DMG).  The change applies only to "common" enchantments (namely the stat boosting ones), not all enchantments.  But of course, you should check with your DM, and not try to slide one past him.




Offline McLuvin

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2012, 04:30:31 AM »

PDK = Purple Dragon Knight
« Last Edit: March 29, 2012, 06:10:15 AM by McLuvin »
“Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” – Patton (1970)

Offline weenog

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2012, 04:31:16 AM »
Oh crap.  Your party is druid, worthless, and situationally worthless, and you're thinking of plugging more worthless into it.  Cut the poor druid some slack, he's got enough on his plate trying to do the job of three people while keeping the two who aren't pulling their weight from getting themselves killed.

Your "tank" is going to fail and die.  Whether or not you accept the legitimacy of the role, fighter can't do it.  You'd be better off adding a cleric if you wanted to stand on the front line and soak up punishment.  Cleric can actually recover health when he loses it, can protect himself from losing it with certain defensive buffs, has better base saves, and is a better attacker when you account for things like the Divine Power spell.

It looks like what your party really could use, though, is a wizard... specifically a specialist transmuter.  Buff up the monk -- he's no good on his own, but if he's enlarged, flying, and mage armored he'll be... slightly less crummy.  Paralyze or blind enemies, or force them to balance precariously -- the rogue will appreciate getting more sneak attack opportunities.  Haste your homeboys and slow your foes.  And remember that you can use schools of magic other than your specialist school.

If you do opt to go with an arcanist, stay away from the sorcerer.  It's too easy to screw up because the choices are mostly final.  With a wizard, at least if you pick the wrong spells to know, you can learn more with money for scrolls and time to write in your book.
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Offline ImperatorK

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #12 on: March 29, 2012, 04:53:17 AM »
Maybe before we start looking down on other PCs in OPs group we first learn something more about the groups power level? Playing a Druid or a Monk doesn't automatically make you the best or the worst. And for all we know a Fighter/PDK, if done decently, can be overpowered in OPs group.
OP, tell us some more about your group. Are they optimizing? Are their PCs any good? How does your DM run things? This kind of stuff.
Magic is for weaklings.

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Offline McLuvin

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #13 on: March 29, 2012, 06:05:04 AM »
the druid is going to be the best "tank" there's ever going to be... and since you guys still don't have an arcane caster i'd go with a sorcerer (going into mage of the arcane order) or ideally a wizard.
[/quote]

My first choice was going to be some type of caster but I was kind of turned away when the DM told me that there are pockets to where magic either doesn't work at all or it may have a complete different effect on the target. I would have to roll checks to see what would happen. A matter of fact I was looking at a sorcerer or wizard.

« Last Edit: March 29, 2012, 06:13:26 AM by McLuvin »
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Offline ImperatorK

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #14 on: March 29, 2012, 06:10:25 AM »
Wild magic isn't everywhere. It's rare enough that you shouldn't avoid caster classes just because of it.
Magic is for weaklings.

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Offline Nunkuruji

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #15 on: March 29, 2012, 10:31:43 AM »
If your DM is putting you through the Cormyr, Shadowdale, Anauroch series, then yeah, there are significant chunks of Dead/Wild Magic.


Offline sirpercival

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #16 on: March 29, 2012, 10:32:44 AM »
Play an Initiate of Mystra?
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Offline muktidata

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #17 on: March 29, 2012, 10:38:24 AM »
I agree with Cleric. You'll get to do what you want to (trade blows with the evil guys), but you can hit harder than a barbarian or fighter (with that source material available) and cast utility spells (like freedom of movement, dispel, etc) and even heal if you absolutely have to. 11 is a good level to come in at. You don't need to take any prestige classes with Cleric. Here's the handbook.

If at all possible, see if you can go the Divine Metamagic (CDiv) Persistant Spell route. You use your turn undead attempts to fuel metamagic feats and end up with two to three spells that are 24/hr/day. I say two to three because you don't have a lot of material opened up. Make sure to try and score the Undeath and Planning domains. Anyway, the cleric handbook should cover most of what you're looking for. As just a general tip, when fighting in melee, always use a reach weapon if possible.
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Offline McLuvin

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #18 on: March 29, 2012, 11:58:26 AM »
Play an Initiate of Mystra?

This is just a feat for a cleric correct? Or is that it's own class?

Also to question you guys.... So many have said to roll a cleric or wizard but can you build a good mix between the two? Or are clerics good enough by them selves? I don't like to be upfront hitting more behind casting or buffing or healing (if I must).
« Last Edit: March 29, 2012, 12:12:24 PM by McLuvin »
“Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” – Patton (1970)

Offline TenaciousJ

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Re: (3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?
« Reply #19 on: March 29, 2012, 12:02:04 PM »
It's a feat and it will help immensely if you're afraid of dead magic zones.
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