I'm in the process of creating a 15th level NPC fighter for an upcoming game and was looking for advice on feats. Part of the backstory for this character is that he wields a family heirloom bastard sword, so I've chosen a lot of feats to make him good with it. He's a human so has 17 feats to choose from (if my math is correct) and so far have chosen the following ones:
Exotic Weapon Proficiency
Weapon Focus
Greater Weapon Focus
Weapon Specialization
Greater Weapon Specialization
Improved Critical
Power Attack
Combat Expertise
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Whirlwind Attack
Improved Initiative
So I still have 4 feats to choose from, but I'm not sure what feats to pick. I was thinking one of the critical effect feats but don't know if they're worth it.
If it helps here's the character's general concept: He's one of the strongest if not the strongest warriors in the kingdom, and he serves the king directly as a champion - so to speak - after accomplishing great feats on the battlefield. (Which is why I took whirlwind, since it seemed thematicall appropriate)
I'm in the process of creating a 15th level NPC fighter for an upcoming game and was looking for advice on feats. Part of the backstory for this character is that he wields a family heirloom bastard sword, so I've chosen a lot of feats to make him good with it. He's a human so has 17 feats to choose from (if my math is correct) and so far have chosen the following ones:
Exotic Weapon Proficiency
Weapon Focus
Greater Weapon Focus
Weapon Specialization
Greater Weapon Specialization
Improved Critical
Power Attack
Combat Expertise
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Whirlwind Attack
Improved Initiative
Improved Iron Will and Iron Will should definitely be taken. Toughness is a good feat mechanically and thematically. I guess that leaves Cleave.
Cleave
Toughness
Iron Will
Improved Iron Will
Great Cleave
Combat Reflexes
If you plan to Power Atack a lot with him, I definetly recommend Furious Focus from the APG. Power Critical can also be a huge help with your increased crit range.
If you plan to Power Atack a lot with him, I definetly recommend Furious Focus from the APG. Power Critical can also be a huge help with your increased crit range.
I wouldn't bother with furious focus because it only affects the first attack, and that attack will hit anyway most likely. I have a 14th level NPC fighter with a +29 to hit so his fighter will probably be in the same range. Now if Furious Focus affected the remaining attacks it would be more valuable.
Maybe Skill Focus Perception? It's really handy, and if he has max ranks, that +6 is definitely going to help. He should have at least 4 skill ranks per level (min Int 13 for Combat Expertise), 5 if he chooses skills over hit points for favored class, so he might actually have some skill points to use on Perception.
But in what capacity would the PCs fight him? Is he known for any tricks or special talents? There are A LOT of feats and feat trees out there, especially since this guy has Power Attack AND Combat Expertise, so he has lots of feat trees to choose from.
With a 17-20 crit range, 3 attacks per round, you might want a Critical Hit Effect feat or whatever they're called.
If you plan on using Spring Attack a lot, Vital Strike and Improved Vital Strike would up his damage per hit to 3d10+.
What does he use in his other hand when wielding the Bastard Sword? A shield? An offhand melee weapon? An offhand thrown weapon?
Wow, I didn't expect do get replies this late at night, but to clear some things up here's more information:
1. I'm only using feats from the corebook and APG.
2. He's not being designed as an antagonist; depending on the PCs actions throughout the campaign he may be a possible ally when they go to fight the BBEG and his demonic allies.
3. He uses a shield in his free hand.
From the replies so far it looks like Iron Will and Combat Reflexes would be good choices, so that leave 2 feats left. I like the idea of one of the critical hit feats and from that's available Staggering Critical looks the best, but it doesn't say what can cure the staggered condition so it may not be good after all.
I would drop Whirlwind Attack as well, as it's a poor feat.
This, or finish the Combat Expertise line and go for combate reflexes, improved trip and greater trip, lunge, and the iron will couple of feats.
Maybe a backup guisarme.
Might be stretching yourself a bit thin in terms of he will have started a lot of feat trees, but you could focus a bit on the shield and go TWF and Improved Shield Bash.
I don't know the specifics of that build, but the little reading I have done about it makes it sound really fun.
Wow, I didn't expect do get replies this late at night,
BTW, not for everyone is night. I'm Italian :D
If you plan to Power Atack a lot with him, I definetly recommend Furious Focus from the APG. Power Critical can also be a huge help with your increased crit range.I wouldn't bother with furious focus because it only affects the first attack, and that attack will hit anyway most likely. I have a 14th level NPC fighter with a +29 to hit so his fighter will probably be in the same range. Now if Furious Focus affected the remaining attacks it would be more valuable.
I disagree. I've DM'd against a lot of fighter builds so have a lot of actual play experience with it. If the enemies have high AC, Furious Focus a long with Haste makes a huge difference in still being able to connect your Power Attack hits. In a recent game the players were level 18 and fighting against a group with a defensive fighting level 18 Antipaladin. Having over 50 AC, being able to make even just the one attack with Furious focus provided a 20% greater chance with one powerful two handed attack to actually ht him. It made a big, big difference for the players.
According to the pathfinder faq at d20fpsrd.com, Vital Strike can no longer be used with Spring Attack. Aren't errata fun?
That sucks!!!
I disagree. I've DM'd against a lot of fighter builds so have a lot of actual play experience with it. If the enemies have high AC, Furious Focus a long with Haste makes a huge difference in still being able to connect your Power Attack hits. In a recent game the players were level 18 and fighting against a group with a defensive fighting level 18 Antipaladin. Having over 50 AC, being able to make even just the one attack with Furious focus provided a 20% greater chance with one powerful two handed attack to actually ht him. It made a big, big difference for the players.If you plan to Power Atack a lot with him, I definetly recommend Furious Focus from the APG. Power Critical can also be a huge help with your increased crit range.I wouldn't bother with furious focus because it only affects the first attack, and that attack will hit anyway most likely. I have a 14th level NPC fighter with a +29 to hit so his fighter will probably be in the same range. Now if Furious Focus affected the remaining attacks it would be more valuable.
By level 18 I expect to be able to hit a 50. That +29 did not even have full fighter levels, and it was NPC wealth. By the time flanking and caster buffs come in that feat won't be needed. It was also on 20 point buy IIRC.
How did you get an 18th level NPC up to 50 AC?
Exotic Weapon Proficiency
Weapon Focus
Greater Weapon Focus
Weapon Specialization
Greater Weapon Specialization
Improved Critical
Power Attack
Combat Expertise
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Whirlwind Attack
Improved Initiative
This is pretty close to the exact build I have for my PC in a Shackled City campaign. And I'm getting my butt handed to me on a regular basis. Granted, I've heard that Shackled City is a meat grinder, and maybe we're lucky that we're only on our 2nd TPK.
Whirlwind Attack was fun at lower levels when you could drop a mook with one hit, but at higher levels you need to drop opponents fast. You can't afford to chip away at them with one hit each. Combat Expertise is also nice in theory, but I'm often finding that I'm missing too much if I use this feat. Then again, it may be just the campaign.
As for additional feats for this build, I'd go with Improved Critical and some of it's supporting feats.
I'm in the process of creating a 15th level NPC fighter for an upcoming game and was looking for advice on feats. Part of the backstory for this character is that he wields a family heirloom bastard sword, so I've chosen a lot of feats to make him good with it. He's a human so has 17 feats to choose from (if my math is correct) and so far have chosen the following ones:
Exotic Weapon Proficiency
Weapon Focus
Greater Weapon Focus
Weapon Specialization
Greater Weapon Specialization
Improved Critical
Power Attack
Combat Expertise
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Whirlwind Attack
Improved InitiativeSo I still have 4 feats to choose from, but I'm not sure what feats to pick. I was thinking one of the critical effect feats but don't know if they're worth it.
If it helps here's the character's general concept: He's one of the strongest if not the strongest warriors in the kingdom, and he serves the king directly as a champion - so to speak - after accomplishing great feats on the battlefield. (Which is why I took whirlwind, since it seemed thematicall appropriate)
Drop Whirlwind Attack and Combat Expertise - this gives you 6 more feats. Iron Will/Improved Iron Will, Cleave/Great Cleave, Shield Focus, Greater Shield Focus. If you must keep Combat Expertise, drop Great Cleave. Get the weapon with the "Mighty Cleaving" property - which lets him potentially hew down three mooks as a standard action. I recommend a +4 mighty cleaving vorpal sword - he's the King's Champion and should be geared accordingly. Depending upon His Majesty's magical resources, the full stack of inherent bonus books - and the Advanced Simple template with the campaign's standard point buy is a must to represent his Studly Magnificence. ^_^
I'm not seeing "lunge" why hasn't it been suggested? Lunge is a good choice: -2 to AC and increase your reach by 5 foot -- nothing in it says you don't threaten adjacent squares and being able to strike from that little bit farther out is great.
I'm not seeing "lunge" why hasn't it been suggested? Lunge is a good choice: -2 to AC and increase your reach by 5 foot -- nothing in it says you don't threaten adjacent squares and being able to strike from that little bit farther out is great.
If AC penalty is an issue you can use Monkey Lunge from the Sargava companion book.