[Build Advice] Fighter VMC Barbarian - Finding an alternative to Crane Style

Hey everyone, our table just started a new campaign and I've really wanted a character that was really difficult to put down. I already figured out the way I'd like to go about it, and already did play it for the first session. We have 3 sessions to make any changes to the builds / character ideas, and I'd like to see if there is any way for me to do this in a better fashion that might open up a feat slot.

Okay so with that being said here is the build that I have so far. It's worth noting that we are starting at level 3, but I'm okay if the build doesn't ramp up for a while.

Point Buy
I wanted to just be able to survive forever, but I didn't want to become a tank that dealt 0 damage. So, for the first time, I had to hardcore dump stats. I think I like his personality from the dumps though, so that's good.

Strength 16 (+3)
Dexterity 14 (+2)
Constitution 16 (+3) -racial-> 18 (+4)
Intelligence 7 (-2)
Wisdom 10 (+0)
Charisma 9 (-1)

I also have a "belt of +2 Constitution" effect from our homebrew automatic bonus progression so that is going to take my Con up to 20.

Half-Orc
+2 Constitution
Intimidating -> Shaman's Apprentice - Free Endurance Feat
Orc Ferocity - I wish I could trade this for Sacred Tattoo, but I need it for feat prerequisites
Darkvision -> Skilled - I wanted more skill ranks
Weapon Familiarity -> Dusksight -> While also being able to see at night

Why Fighter VMC Barbarian
Fighters and Barbarians, in my opinion, both had lots of things going for them when it came to being very difficult to put down. I had such a hard time deciding which one I wanted to go for, so I decided to attempt getting the best of both worlds.

Thanks to the Advanced Weapon and Armor Training, Fighters can get a respectable DR/- (Armored Juggernaut + Improved Stalwart + Armor Mastery) and all good saves by level 13 (Fighter's Reflexes (+Gloves of Dueling) + Armed Bravery (+Sash of the War Champion). Also, the Fighter has access to the Orc FCB which gives that bonus 2 Hit Points in the negative. Finally, the bonus feats are helping this build turn online as early as possible.

With VMC Barbarian, gaining Rage early on let's me grab Ferocious Tenacity, in my opinion one of the strongest options for this style of build. So long as I hold my rage rounds until I'm under 0, I have no excuse for dying in a fight. Uncanny Dodge at level 7 means I will never lose the Stalwart bonus again. Rage Power at 11 will be Guarded Life, to turn 11 points of damage taken below 0 into nonlethal damage (which will then be reduced to 0 from the DR 13/- we will have at that point.)

Trying to get around Improved Unarmed Strike
I was trying to find a way around having to take Improved Unarmed Strike, as this build is rather feat starved as is. So I came across this weird little thing.

wayfinders inlay with deep red sphere ioun stones can grant Improved Unarmed Strike as long as they are set in the wayfinder. DM allowed me to get a Magical Tattoo of a wayfinder and a cracked deep red sphere ioun stone which gives me the effects permanently.

Feat Path and Trait Choices

Combat Trait - Cautious Warrior (to boost Fighting Defensively by +1)
Race Trait - Cruel Rager (with the low number of Rage Rounds I have, if I can gain cycling through items, this give me a 25% chance to keep a round of rage each turn.
Faith Trait - Fate's Favored (picked it with the intention of eventually getting a stone of good luck but I can easily switch this one out)
Drawback - Infamous (story relevant)

House Feat - Power Attack (to stay relevant in damage)
House Feat - Combat Stamina
Optional Packet Feat - Ironhide (Feat prereqs and it was deemed minor enough)
Shaman's Apprentice - Endurance
Antihero - Diehard
Magic Tattoo Feat - Improved Unarmed Strike
Level 1 - Tenacious Survivor
Fighter 1 - Ferocious Tenacity (retrained at 3rd level when I got rage)
Fighter 2 - Dodge
Fighter 4 - Crane Style
Level 5 - Stalwart
Fighter 6 - Deathless Initiate
Fighter 8 - Weapon Focus (Falchion)
Level 9 - Fast Healer
Fighter 10 - Deathless Master
Fighter 12 - Deathless Zealot
Level 13 - Improved Stalwart
Fighter 14 - Greater Weapon Focus (Falchion)
Fighter 15 - Weapon Specialization (Falchion)
Level 17 - Extra Rage Power (Greater Guarded Life)
Fighter 18 - Greater Weapon Specialization (Flachion)
Fighter 20 - undecided

Equipment Choices

Falchion - Eventually adding keen will give us a 25% to crit, gaining a round of rage back thanks to Cruel Rager. It will also be a nice bump to damage by becoming a pseudo-crit fisher. I will try to get speed, courageous, and/or furious when WBL allows for it.

Full Plate - Best armor in town, with Armor Training, I can get pretty good Dex to this eventually as well. Going to +5 for sure, might get the Fortification line to stack up with Zealot making me almost Critical Hit proof.

Cord of Stubborn Resolve - Best way to get Rage Cycling from items as far as I know.

What this gives us once everything is online
-Hit point pool will be d10s + high Constitution bonuses (eventually +12)

-Compatibility with Heavy Armor will help keep AC respectable

-Once our HP falls below 0, Guarded Life will kick in and reduce damage by level. Deathless Initiate will also kick in and give us +2 untyped bonuses to Attack and Damage.

-If our HP falls too low (Constitution Score + 2/level [thanks to Fighter FCB]) and Guarded Life can't save us, we can use Ferocious Tenacity to reduce the damage down further.

-If we ever are dropped to death, we stay alive for 5 - 12 rounds thanks to Tenacious Survivor and can be healed back up for the cost of one negative level.

-Damage will be able to stay at a competitive level thanks to Weapon Training + Rage, Saves will be solid because of Fighter's Finesse and Armed Bravery Advanced Weapon Training.

It looks like you already have a build planned out, why are you asking for help?
Honestly, I hate the flavor of Crane Style in this build. I dislike having to do all of that cheese, getting Improved Unarmed Strike, Dodge, and Crane Style.

I'm looking for help bypassing the need for those feats. The main issue I'm having is finding a way to reduce the fighting defensively penalty down to a reasonable amount.

Other comments are acceptable and requested as well, any way to shave some feats off what is required to get off the ground and running. Thanks for your time.

Is there a reason you are going Fighter VMC Barbarian instead of Fighter (Viking)? Viking was reprinted in Ultimate Wilderness, but originally appears in People of the North. You could pick a different VMC that would suit the character better, or make use of the extra feats by not taking VMC.

The weapon/armor training might be the obvious reasons, I suppose.

Anyway, Shield Focus + Unhindering Shield might help with the Crane Style empty-handed issue, but you are kind of starved for feats with the VMC option.

I'd be tempted to build something like Fighter(Viking)/VMC Oracle (of Battle), find a way to get 1st level divine casting, and taking levels in Rage Prophet... Mmm, warpriest?

Is there a reason you are going Fighter VMC Barbarian instead of Fighter (Viking)? Viking was reprinted in Ultimate Wilderness, but originally appears in People of the North. You could pick a different VMC that would suit the character better, or make use of the extra feats by not taking VMC.

Thanks for the quick response.

While I did like how the Viking got Rage and Rage Powers built into the Archetype. I really didn't like how you gave up every class feature other than the Bonus Feats. Bravery is much better now that Armed Bravery exists, Armor Training is what helps boost the Fighter's DR/- thanks to Armored Juggernaut. Weapon Training is also a huge boon now because of the Advanced Weapon Training.

The other downside was that the Viking gave bonuses to Shields/Intimidation and I am going with a two-handed weapon and haven't the room for Intimidation stuffs...so I would be getting a lot of stuff I just wouldn't use.

Thanks for the quick response.

Anytime

While I did like how the Viking got Rage and Rage Powers built into the Archetype. I really didn't like how you gave up every class feature other than the Bonus Feats. Bravery is much better now that Armed Bravery exists, Armor Training is what helps boost the Fighter's DR/- thanks to Armored Juggernaut. Weapon Training is also a huge boon now because of the Advanced Weapon Training.

I thought considering you are getting free 'big six' items built into your character progression, things like save boosts and stat boosts wouldn't be such a big problem.

The other downside was that the Viking gave bonuses to Shields/Intimidation and I am going with a two-handed weapon and haven't the room for Intimidation stuffs...so I would be getting a lot of stuff I just wouldn't use.

Shield focus + Unhindering shield + Buckler makes the Viking archetype worth it for a two-handed weapon fighter. But I understand if you aren't devoting anything towards Intimidate.

I thought considering you are getting free 'big six' items built into your character progression, things like save boosts and stat boosts wouldn't be such a big problem.

I guess I didn't explain it enough, we still have to pay for the effects, they just don't take up the slots anymore - letting us take other stuff in the slots.

Shield focus + Unhindering shield + Buckler makes the Viking archetype worth it for a two-handed weapon fighter. But I understand if you aren't devoting anything towards Intimidate.

If it wasn't obvious btw, Crane Style was chosen because Fighting Defensively + Stalwart is what boosts the DR numbers to respectable amounts. The shield stuff could be used to buff AC, but I think with the DR from Stalwart, middle to high AC should be fine.

What about going the route of getting combat expertise and trying to reduce the penalties it gives? I know there's a trait that reduces the penalties by 1, so you could have +3 for only a -2.

Tengu have a thing that lets them count their claws as IUS feat I think.

What about going the route of getting combat expertise and trying to reduce the penalties it gives? I know there's a trait that reduces the penalties by 1, so you could have +3 for only a -2.

Tengu have a thing that lets them count their claws as IUS feat I think.

Combat Expertise is an option, the only thing is that with the current setup, starting at level 4, Fighting Defensively for this build is -2 for +5

-4/+2 base
-4/+3 cautious warrior trait
-4/+4 3 ranks in acrobatics
-2/+5 crane style

I won't even be using Crane Style at 4th though, it only becomes worth it when he gets Stalwart at 5th. Where it will be -2 to attack for DR 5/-.

I've just been trying to find a way to reduce the penalties of Fighting Defensively that are not Crane Style / the Madu Shield.

The Tengu thing is interesting for sure, that probably won't help here since so many of these feats require Half-Orc, but that is still good to know for future builds (I have an unarmored swordsman that might be switching over to Tengu now for that.)

Thanks for the response

You can also get Improved Unarmed Strike from a perfectionist shavtoosh.

You can also get Improved Unarmed Strike from a perfectionist shavtoosh.

Well that makes me feel a lot less bad about the cheesy strat. The difference is that the Tattoo only cost 700 gp. Yours has way more to it though which is nice. Either way, good find for future builds too.