Building a Sea Reaver

[gnomersy]

Hi guys. Well I've been feeling a hankering to play a Pirate campaign when we finish our current one so I wanted to build a character just in case. Stat block is 16+2(race), 16, 16, 14, 12, 11. Planned race is Human.

Class is Barbarian with the Sea Reaver archtype(although considering switching this since it doesn't get you all that much.)

Currently thinking of using a trident&shield but not sure if I should try to go down the twf tree and then grab the shield bash stuff or if that would cost too many feats?

Any suggestions on how to make this work and how to give him more combat ooomph?

[gnomersy]

Well based on what I've read twf with a shield will soak up all the feats up until level 12(plus one for power attack). Which is problematic but I can't really see any two handed weapons that look suitably pirate themed.

Also I'm not sure the character could afford to toss the AC bonus without having any of the benefits of the other Barb archetypes. Then again maybe I could pick up some AC from the rage powers that I could buy with the surplus feats?

Any opinions on 2handed weapons that would suit a pirate?

[Jaryn Wildmane]

Just use a scimitar, you can still wield it two handed for extra damage.

[Muser]

Sea Reaver with a dip in Unbreakable Fighter would be a cool combo. You get two useful feats and all armor proficiencies as well.

For a piratey two-handed weapon I'd suggest anything hooked with a pole. Harpoon, bec-de-corbin, etc. A reach weapon is pretty good at protecting you from needless harm before you get some real armor or enough HP.

[gnomersy]

Muser wrote:

Sea Reaver with a dip in Unbreakable Fighter would be a cool combo. You get two useful feats and all armor proficiencies as well.

For a piratey two-handed weapon I'd suggest anything hooked with a pole. Harpoon, bec-de-corbin, etc. A reach weapon is pretty good at protecting you from needless harm before you get some real armor or enough HP.

Oooh that definitely is a cool combo. Although I do wonder about whether I'd want to pick up heavier armor or not on a pirate just thematically.

As for a reach weapon ... personally I've never really cared for them I always feel like they just cause trouble with the inability to hit anything up close but it might be worth giving a shot again.

[Gates]

I've been swapping between my boarding pike and greataxe on my urban/invulnerable guy in this campaign.

[blackbloodtroll]

Have you consider a Dervish Dance build?

[gnomersy]

Urgh Dervish dancing Barbarian Pirate? Just the idea makes me cringe to be honest. If I was going to Dervish Dance a pirate it would probably be with a fighter or a bard and the theme would be very different.

[blackbloodtroll]

You take the name of the feat much too seriously.

It is simply a finesse based attack style.

Think Dread Pirate Roberts.

[gnomersy]

blackbloodtroll wrote:

You take the name of the feat much too seriously.

It is simply a finesse based attack style.

Think Dread Pirate Roberts.

I'm aware but it suits a swashbuckling type pirate much more than a gritty brutish one which is what I'm aiming for.

Accommodating it would require an entire change of build to either Urban Barb. or a Fighter with the feats to make use of his off hand via the style feats. And since it would kind of kill my character vision I'm afraid to say it's not an option for this character.

[galahad2112]

The weapon of choice is the cutlass. Really, it's just a re-skinned scimitar, but then again, ALL of the weapons are pretty generic.

[Muser]

gnomersy wrote:

Muser wrote:

Sea Reaver with a dip in Unbreakable Fighter would be a cool combo. You get two useful feats and all armor proficiencies as well.

For a piratey two-handed weapon I'd suggest anything hooked with a pole. Harpoon, bec-de-corbin, etc. A reach weapon is pretty good at protecting you from needless harm before you get some real armor or enough HP.

Oooh that definitely is a cool combo. Although I do wonder about whether I'd want to pick up heavier armor or not on a pirate just thematically.

As for a reach weapon ... personally I've never really cared for them I always feel like they just cause trouble with the inability to hit anything up close but it might be worth giving a shot again.

Sigh, sorry, I meant to write that only use a reach weapon initially, since light armor and a strength build is not a good idea for an up-close combat kind of guy/gal. When/if you get better proficiencies than light, pick up a two-handed axe or the like.

[blackbloodtroll]

How about a "Sea monster" of a man build? Perhaps a focus on natural weapons?

If you want to go for the Net focus, there are a number of feats to utilize the Net. I suggest using the Snag Net.

[Derwalt]

Two handed pirate weapon? Falchion! ...Google picture search it if you don't believe me :)

[blackbloodtroll]

Damn, how could I forget the iconic falchion?

Yes, do it.

Still keep a number of nets with you.
Nets are freaking awesome.