My Favorite Characters, part 3

[Mercurial]

I've been working on a melee-centric character for a while now, trying to find the right combination of backstory and optimization and I've finally hammered out the fine details.

The character in question is a Pathfinder Society member (for role-play purposes). He attended a special combat school sponsored by the Society we've recently added to our campaign that teaches a philosophy of mental focus to enhance combat abilities - its a sort of template for melee types who take 1 level of Urban Barbarian, an Extra Rage feat and the trait Berserker of the Society. For a character with a Constitution of 14, that equals 15 rounds of Rage each day and a wide variety of specialized rage options through the Focused Rage class feature. For role-play purposes we don't treat it as Rage, but rather a mental focus which takes its toll on the body. After that initial level they 'graduate', going on to become whatever they might wish - Paladins, Rangers, Fighters, Barbarians, you name it.

This character in particular goes straight Lore Warden Fighter. He's stoic, brusque and dedicated to his task. Although an ardent scholar when it comes to researching local history or potential threats, he has little patience for diplomacy, politics or manipulations. In the party he serves as the primary melee combatant, tactical leader and an occaisional font of knowledge concerning the larger world. The party has a Bard that serves as a the group's face, which leaves him free to serve as her advisor and muscle.

When designing a character there are a couple of things I always take into account - first I don't generally make the character with any expectations of having access to specific magic items, so I try to plan for as many eventualities as I can rather than assuming a crutch will be provided. Secondly, I don't build with an eye towards level 20 domination... the character has to be effective and fun at any level, including the lowest ones.

Human 1st level Barbarian (Urban Barbarian) / 19th level Fighter (Lore Warden)

Attributes: (24 point buy)
STR - 16 (+2 racial bonus, +1 at 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th level)
DEX - 16
CON - 14
INT - 13 (+1 at 20th level)
WIS - 10
CHA - 7

Traits:
Berserker of the Society (+3 rounds of Rage)
Threatening Defender (Combat Expertise penalty lessened by 1)

Feats/Abilities:
1st (B1) Power Attack, Extra Rage, Focused Rage (Ex), Crowd Control (Ex)
2nd (F1) Cleave
3rd (F2) Dodge, Combat Reflexes, Combat Expertise
4th (F3) Maneuver Mastery +2 (Ex)
5th (F4) Mobility, Spring Attack (swap Cleave for Whirlwind Attack)
6th (F5) Weapon Training +1 (Ex)
7th (F6) Lunge, Exotic Weapon Profeciency: Fauchard
8th (F7) Maneuver Mastery +4 (Ex), Know Thy Enemy - standard action (Ex)
9th (F8) Improved Trip, Tripping Strike
10th (F9) Weapon Training +2/+1 (Ex)
11th (F10) Weapon Focus: Fauchard, Greater Weapon Focus: Fauchard
12th (F11) Manuever Training +6 (Ex), Hair's Breadth (Ex)
13th (F12) Critical Focus, Staggering Critical
14th (F13) Weapon Training +3/+2/+1 (Ex)
15th (F14) Sickening Critical, Critical Mastery
16th (F15) Manuever Mastery +8 (Ex)
17th (F16) Furious Focus, Stunning Critical, Know Thy Weakness - swift action (Ex)
18th (F17) Weapon Training +4/+3/+2/+1 (Ex)
19th (F18) Weapon Specialization: Fauchard, Greater Weapon Specialization: Fauchard
20th (F19) Know Weakness (Ex)

Skills:
Climb* (+1 at 1st level)
Perception* (+1/level after 1st)
Swim* (+1 at 1st level)
Acrobatics* (+1/level after 1st)
Survival* (+1 at 1st level)
Knowledge: Nature* (+1/level after 1st)
Ride* (+1 at 1st level)
Knowledge: Planes* (+1/level after 1st)
Stealth (+1 at 1st level)
Knowledge: Arcana* (+1/level after 1st)
Linguistics* (+1 at 1st level)
Knowledge: Local* (+1/level after 1st)

* - Class skill

I've written the character with the presumption that I'll be able to gain access to a Keen weapon one way or another (despite my earlier claims) - if there was reason to believe that would not be an option there would be a slight switching of the feats at 7th and 9th level, essentially swapping out Exotic Weapon Profeciency for Improved Critical: Bardiche and the Focus/Specialization feats would be changed as well to accomodate the switch. Weapon Training would progress Polearms/Close/Bows/Heavy Blades - the choice of Close weapons would be to benefit the spiked gauntlet that is worn to allow for attacks of opportunity within 5'.

Now this character has truly awesome combat potential, especially for those who understand how to use his various abilities. The most important is how best to utilize a reach weapon and whirlwind attack. Remember that when making a Whirlwind attack you can make a 5' step during its execution, greatly broadening the number of targets you can engage - doubly so once you add Lunge to the mix. In our last combat scenario this character at 5th level defeated 8 level 3 warriors in two rounds. He made 15 attacks in those 2 rounds, hitting on 8 and dealing enough damage with each blow to slay his target.

Another thing to weigh carefully is the versatility of Focused Rage. You have the option to invoke the traditional Rage, or to add +4 to Strength or Dexterity or Constitution without suffering the AC penalty. In those instances you do not gain the Will bonus to save but nor are you prohibited from using any skills while under the effects of the Rage. Raising your Dexterity instead of Strength for instance, would increase your AC by 2, improve your initiative by 2, increase the number of your attacks of opportunity each round by 2 and inmprove your Reflex saves by 2. There are circumstances where that would be much more useful than a traditional rage.

This is one of my favorite characters - just wanted to share.

[AkaKageWarrior]

Nice build!

A couple of questions, though:

"Remember that when making a Whirlwind attack you can make a 5' step during its execution"
Really? Because it's stated as a full-attack action, not a full round action.

"You have the option to invoke the traditional Rage"
Wow, just found: "instead she may". amazing!

What about AC? No heavy armor, no shield!

[Gignere]

Just a quick comment, you mentioned that you like building characters independent of gear. However, you pick up EWP: Fauchard and Weapon focus and specialization with it. That makes the build pretty damn gear dependent.

If you don't have a magic mart how the hell are you guaranteeing yourself a +3 or more fauchard at high levels?

I like the idea of starting with Urban Barbarian dip, synergizes fairly well with the Lore Warden.

If I was building a similar character I would probably start with Combat Reflexes and hold off on getting power attack later. I find at low levels you generally kill more stuff with AoOs with a reach weapon than anything else.

I would also build it using half elf to get favored class in both barbarian and fighter. Also with low light vision you can later pick up Moonlight Stalker (thank you Str Ranger for showing us this combo)

I would also take desperate battler, and big game hunter instead of the weapon focus and specialization feats. This way you will get similar bonuses with any melee weapons you pick up.

Also to AkaKageWarrior, using a reach weapon and having combat expertise helps in the AC department.