Best and cheapest ways to boost character's strength

[Sebacore]

I'm looking for some ways to boost a character's strength without breaking the bank. Currently the character has a strength of 14. The normal choices of Belt of Orge Strength and such are available, I'm just unsure if its better to start off buying lesser ones, +2, and then upgrading later or trying to get a +6 to start. At the moment there is about 100,000gp to be used.

Any thoughts?

[Alexander Kilcoyne]

Barbarian level dip?

Definitely go for bonuses earlier and upgrade. But if your character is also dependent on dexterity, you may want to hold out for the perfection belt that gives +2 to two or more stats (not got rulebooks on me so not sure if its two stats or three).

[Sangalor]

Sebacore wrote:

I'm looking for some ways to boost a character's strength without breaking the bank. Currently the character has a strength of 14. The normal choices of Belt of Orge Strength and such are available, I'm just unsure if its better to start off buying lesser ones, +2, and then upgrading later or trying to get a +6 to start. At the moment there is about 100,000gp to be used.

Any thoughts?

If you have one level of spontaneous arcane spellcasting, you could go into dragon disciple. They gain medium bab, +7/10 levels of spellcasting, str+4, con+2, int+2 and other gimmicks. Though it has a big impact on your character, it certainly is "cheap" ;-)

[Kieviel]

Be an alchemist, they can get up to a +8 alchemal bonus to Str at later lvls ;-)

[Ice Titan]

Sebacore wrote:

I'm looking for some ways to boost a character's strength without breaking the bank. Currently the character has a strength of 14. The normal choices of Belt of Orge Strength and such are available, I'm just unsure if its better to start off buying lesser ones, +2, and then upgrading later or trying to get a +6 to start. At the moment there is about 100,000gp to be used.

Any thoughts?

Getting a +4 is usually good enough. That runs about 16,000gp.

+6 is nice, but that's for higher levels. +4 is good enough for an entire campaign.

[Mike Schneider]

Half-orc barb1/cler1/fighX with h/o trait that lets him rage for +6 for a round or three, and the Strength domain for Enlarge Person (which also makes his weapon bigger). Having a 26 STR at 2nd is not impossible even in Society.

[godsDMit]

Personally, Id rather not get enlarged, unless its a matter of speed and/or reach. The extra dmg is not worth the penalty to your AC in my opinion.

[Mike Schneider]

Huh? Enlarge with initial d10 or 2d6 2H weapon is -1 AC for +~5.5 dmg -- that's a good differential.

Back to the OP: a Belt of Physical Might granting +6 STR and +6 CON or DEX (choose one) is 90k.

[Gorbacz]

Mike Schneider wrote:

Huh? You charge for a -2 AC and +2 att. See people charge all the time.

Enlarge w/greatsword is -1 AC for +~5.5 dmg + reach & more potential AoOs & cleaves.

1 bad guy 1
2 bad guy 2
Y you, enlarged
w weapon threat

xxx2xx
xxxx1x
xxYYxx
xxYYxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxx

You can cleave 2 after dropping 1 -- neat.

Actually, Enlarge is -2 AC (-1 for size inc, -1 for Dex decrease) and -1 to hit.

On a brighter note, PF Cleave doesn't require you to drop the target in order to cleave.

[Mike Schneider]

You're not -1 to hit (except with ranged weapons) with Enlarge because STR increase offsets the size increase.

Quote:

On a brighter note, PF Cleave doesn't require you to drop the target in order to cleave.

Then Great Cleave + Enlarge got way better.

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Mike Schneider wrote:

You're not -1 to hit (except with ranged weapons) with Enlarge because STR increase offsets the size increase.

Quote:

On a brighter note, PF Cleave doesn't require you to drop the target in order to cleave.

Then Great Cleave + Enlarge got way better.

Not really - it requires at least 3 adjacent opponents, which is not going to come up all the time.