EDIT: Added combat reflexes in early This is mainly a request for feedback. I'm trying my hand at a build and I think this looks pretty good, but it's very helpful to have people poke holes in it Half-Orc Rogue-10/Fighter-9/Barb-1 Role: This PC fills the following roles: recon (sneak), locksmith, toe-to-toe damage dealer. Weapon: 2-handed polearm like a glaive (if you're crafting) or ranseur (if you're not crafting). Pros: greater cleave with a 2-H weapon. Decent sneak damage. Fills the need for a locksmith and recon expert. Whirlwind and Crippling strike late game. Should work well paired with a wizard who can distract the mobs effectively (this is another char I have to work on). One level of Barb early on is mainly to help party survival at the first few levels. Cons: The good stuff comes really late. Lots of mediocre feats working towards WW at level 18. Crippling strike doesn't come until level 20. This is fine if you really need a separate locksmith and recon guy who can hold his own through most of the campaign, but other builds could bring you these feats much earlier. STR should be 18 to start. Unfortunately everything else should be high too with the exception of WIS and CHR. High INT for skills, CON for HP and DEX for AC (min INT is 15 because of -2 half-orc penalty - I'll need more for skill points, min DEX is 13 but you'll want the medium armor bonus). So in other words, this isn't a point-buying build =P Weapon focus should be on a good two-hander to get the strength bonus. Here's the progression. If you have more INT than I did put some points in spot and/or listen. Key: pwr_att="power attack", wea_foc="weapon focus", mobil="mobility", wea_spe="weapon specilization", spr_att="spring attack", imp_crt="improved ciritcal", com_exp="combat expertise", grt_wf="greater weapon focus", ww_att="whirlwind attack", crp_stk="crippling strike", com_ref="combat reflexes" Code: level class points tumble hide move open disable search feat bonus stat 1 Rogue (lots) 4 4 4 4 4 4 com_ref 2 Barb 6 1 1 1 3 Rogue 10 1 2 2 1 1 2 pwr_att Str+1 4 Fighter 4 1 1 cleave 5 Fighter 4 1 1 grt_clv 6 Rogue 10 1 3 3 1 2 wea_foc 7 Fighter 4 1 1 8 Rogue 10 1 2 2 1 3 1 Str+1 9 Fighter 4 1 1 wea_spe dodge 10 Rogue 10 1 2 2 1 2 2 11 Fighter 4 1 1 12 Rogue 10 1 2 2 1 2 2 mobil Str+1 13 Fighter 4 1 1 spr_att 14 Rogue 10 1 2 2 1 2 2 15 Fighter 4 1 1 com_exp 16 Rogue 10 1 2 2 1 2 2 Str+1 17 Fighter 4 1 1 ww_att 18 Rogue 10 1 2 2 1 2 2 imp_crt 19 Fighter 4 1 1 20 Rogue 10 1 2 2 1 2 2 crp_stk Str+1
You still need a face character. More sneak attack dice make weapon specialisation and strength irrelevant. Halfling Rogue1/Barbarian1/Rogue18 (50% increase in movement range) Strong Int/Dex/Cha weak Str/wis/con You now have skill points for appraise,bluff e.t.c. push dexterity through roof (gauntlets +6) and wear best bracers wizard friend can make at time [uncanny dodge] Follow two weapon fighting/improved two weapon fighting/weapon finesse root and add quick draw so you can shoot at flat footed targets when none within 5' step range
A second level of Barbarian will do you more good than the 9th level of Fighter, especially if you can fit it in early.
@Pygmy: yes, the DEX/finesse route is another option. I haven't tried that with TWF (would love to work out a monk (+rogue? +ranger?) kama flurry build). In this case I wanted a sturdier melee type that can stand up in the front lines and fill the other roles (locksmith/recon). I generally prefer fairly compact parties (4 or so). Another PC will have to act as the social butterfly (TBD). Possibly a wizard with one level rogue and lots of int to boost a minimal set of social skills. @Daryk: I originally considered 2 Barb, but in this case I would be sacrificing an early bonus feat for earlier uncanny dodge (what a 2nd level barb gets). The great cleave is very nice at level 5, but it's effectiveness will depend on how my BAB and damage works out. I think I only get sneak damage for my first attack, so it may be that standard cleave is as effective as greater cleave. I'll have to see how this all works with equipment and buffs. My original approach was a build with 4 fighter feats early to get weapon feats, and then equal measures of barb and rogue. Rage could then be used consistently and the two classes have a number of synergies. Fighting style would be a crucial choice given the limited feats.
@sonofliberty: I think (hope) I managed to avoid that. The half orc favored class is Barb, so that doesn't count towards xp penalties. The build always keeps fighter and rogue within one class of each other, leading with rogue to try and keep the few stats maxed.
A wizard with one starting level of rogue sounds like a bad idea if you ask me..... 1. You don't qualify for craft wandrous items/rods/rings/and staves until 1 level after you gain the feats you're intended to spend on them. 2. Unless you do every Fedex quest you won't even have Sleep until after Welkwood Bog 3. Tasha's Hideous Laughter,Web etc arrive at 6000xps for example I think you'll need some nasty random encounters to reach 6000 xps prior Lareth with a 4 person party I am experimenting with a monk 1-conjurorX in a three person party [no one around to rescue him/her] - not great success as craft wandrous item is nerfed at level 3 and of 10000xps earned to post Lareth 4000xps are required to buy-off monk level.....
Hmm.. I think you're right. Without a secondary spell slinger, losing that first level is too costly. I was contemplating skipping crafting and exploting the meta-game (e.g. weapon focus on things I know I'll find). I'm not sure I want to nerf myself that particular way yet My party will still need a cleric and a wizard. The cleric will serve also as a tank. I'm not sure I can turn either of these two into social butterflies, so my fourth might be a bard or another rogue. Haven't played a bard in a while...
Last time I ran into him (7.1NC) I think he was invisible. I can't remember what the problem was exactly...
Okay, I got to get to work on a faceman. Something different. I would almost consider a Paladin if they didn't stifle the RP so much...
Okay, I'm still working on this... I'm thinking of swapping in combat reflexes at first level since this guy will be using a polearm of some kind (Glaive or Ranseur depending on crafting abilities of the party). This means I'll drop the greater weapon focus which is a good trade I think. Any advice is always welcome for anyone who likes to hack builds =)
