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I'm just looking for some feedback on the build. only Core, APG and AA are allowed. and the stalwart feat from UC.
Barb 1 (Invulnerable Rager)
Human (Heart of the Wilderness)
STR-20 (18+2)
DEX-14
CON-15
INT-13
WIS-10
CHA-7
AC-17 (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +2 dex)
HP-15 (12+2+1)
Fort-+4
Ref-+2
Will-+0
Feats
Endurance
Diehard
Traits
Threatening Defender-Reduce combat expertise penalty by 1
Rich Parents-900 starting gold
Sword Scion-+1 to hit with longsword
Equipment
MW Cold Iron Longsword +8 (1d8+5)19-20x2
MW Madu (Shield)fight defensively with a –2 penalty instead of the normal–4, reduce Combat Expertise by 1 (minimum –1)
The plan is to take combat expertise at 3 and stalwart at 5. That would give me DR 7/- at lvl 5, doubled vs nonlethal.
Prerequisite: Diehard, Endurance, base attack bonus +4.
Benefit: While using the total defense action, fighting defensively action, or Combat Expertise, you can forgo the dodge bonus to AC you would normally gain to instead gain an equivalent amount of DR, to a maximum of DR 5/—, until the start of your next turn. This damage reduction stacks with DR you gain from class features, such as the barbarian's, but not with DR from any other source. If you are denied your Dexterity bonus to AC, you are also denied this DR.
What feedback are you looking for? I think your build is going to be strong at low level and weaker as it gets higher.
Why are you trying to stack damage reduction using a shield when you could quite easily just use a two handed reach weapon and fight defensively and still have the same dr.
If your going to use a shield you miggt as well just take twf and shield bash and get a decent ac on top of your dr. I just can't see the build needing to use a shield that often or even then dr 7 at level five is good but not awesome.
Hmm, interesting. I'm not sure you can fight defesively and use combat expertise at the same time.
However, i'm also not sure it matters as the build is moderate. Dr 7/- is good but not great and its a little one dimensional, some fights it will keep you alive and perhaps make you be avoided due to the npc's not scratching you, forcing them to favour other targets but in other fights it may not even come into play and its damage will be sub par for a barbarian.
Like i said interesting but not astounding.
DR 7 at level 5 sounds pretty good to me, especially piled onto a barbarian's Con bonus.
The thing about DR is that as you level, you take more hits per round, so even though you're dealt a ton of damage by let's say, level 10, it's more than likely from a number of hits, so the DR really adds up. At least that's been my experience. Great for a tank who's taking hits from multiple foes. It's also good against fireballs and things that a Dodge bonus and better AC in general won't help with.
Er, dr is better against fireballs how?
Dr 7/- at level five is good, but it depends on the encounter. Against many lower cr opponents it may negate most if not all of their damage but then a decent ac would do a similar job, against energy damage it is useless but the dodge bonus to ac at least helps with touch ac, against one large opponent it could be great or poor depending on weather its onr big attack or several small ones. I think building up to twf with or without improved shield bash is a good plan as the only glaring problem is lower overall damage than a standard martial build.
Overall i'd rate it about equal to a standard two handed barbarian overall since its swapping killy for anti killy., slightly lower than either a reach weapon pounce monster or a full twf/shield build. Adding in twf and pounce could easily make up for the damage however but its to hit will still be lower.
As the only one in a party of 6 without spells im mostly focused on tanking, and high AC tanks are boring
nothing wrong with that, take a look at ways to avoid fatigue and have a chat with your gm about bolstered resiliance. Consider paladin over barbarian as you will not notice the damage loss so much or fighter for weapon training to mitigate the to hit losses, even ranger with the sword and shield style and favoured enemy would probably perform better. The main reasons being, paladins can afford to have their shield just sitting there doing nothing due to smite or both the fighter and the ranger have a built in to hit/damage advantage as well as feats to dedicate to the shield.
I'm sure it could be more optimal but tbh i'm just nit picking at a perfectly viable build that will play ok, if your happy with it then its ready.
Use Sun Zhu's Motto a strong offense is the best defense, at least true for mook's Be an invulnrable barbarian with a greatsword.