Best class for a combat-maneuver specialist

[MyTThor]

Tetori monk? Maneuver master? Lore Warden fighter?

Also, if you're going to build something focused around a single maneuver, which is the one to pick?

Edit: by which one to pick, I mean which specific maneuver is the best, just to be clear.

[Cledwyn the Steadfast]

Well, I'm having great success as a vanilla fighter. I'm currently 8th level, with Improved Disarm, Greater Trip, Combat Reflexes, and a +2 adamantine flail.

Recently I found myself face to face with three baddies. I started a full-attack. Used the first attack to trip Thug1 (at +22), used the AoO to disarm him before he hit the ground (also at +22), then used my iterative attack to trip his buddy (at +17), then used the AoO to disarm him (at +22).

I finished my turn with two out of three enemies flat on their backs with their weapons lying next to them.

There might be some fancy options for maneuvers out there, but frankly, it's not that hard to be decent. Click my name and check out my stats - I'm not exactly cheese-o-rama, yet very effective.

So don't sweat the details too much. :)

[Deadmanwalking]

MyTThor wrote:

Tetori monk? Maneuver master? Lore Warden fighter?

Also, if you're going to build something focused around a single maneuver, which is the one to pick?

Edit: by which one to pick, I mean which specific maneuver is the best, just to be clear.

Lore Warden. The flat bonus on top of weapon training is just ridiculous. And the free Combat Expertise on top of the normal complement of fighter Feats is icing on the cake.

And I believe Trip is usually considered best, if you want to focus on just one. Personally, I'd be inclined to focus on two that are useless against different sorts of targets, but that's just me.

[Joyd]

Also consider the Battle Oracle if you're going to just go for a single maneuver, especially if you're not starting at level 1. They (slowly) get the relevant feats for the cost of a single mystery and can reliably make themselves larger.

[sunbeam]

To me the barbarian is the best. I'm not sure if the tetori monk can beat them, but I'm thinking a lore warden comes up short.

This assumes of course our barbarian took the strength surge powers, as well... this and a handful of other rage powers are like natural spell was for druids as far as barbarians are concerned, why wouldn't you take it?

There might be a few spots along the way where the barbarian falls behind, but even if he doesn't come out as champ on combat maneuvers he most definitely is in the ball park.

And this is with nothing special, just that one rage power, no feats devoted to it, no special equipment.

(Of course let's face it, 75% to 80% of what people talk about on these boards concerning barbarians involves them rage cycling somehow to make those abilities usable more than once an encounter.)

[Wasum]

Joyd wrote:

Also consider the Battle Oracle if you're going to just go for a single maneuver, especially if you're not starting at level 1. They (slowly) get the relevant feats for the cost of a single mystery and can reliably make themselves larger.

That.

Without doubt the most effective CMB-build possible.

Maybe the only class that can beat the 50 CMB-mark without any problems, has 9th level spells and AMAZING revelations to make it unbelievable effective in combat. In addition to that the DPR is amazing as well - really amazing. Most other CMB'ler wont be able to compete there at all.

True is that it takes until level 7-10 until it gets better than other classes - until then you're more of an average buffer, healer and melee.

[james maissen]

MyTThor wrote:

Tetori monk? Maneuver master? Lore Warden fighter?

Also, if you're going to build something focused around a single maneuver, which is the one to pick?

Edit: by which one to pick, I mean which specific maneuver is the best, just to be clear.

Why focused around a single maneuver?

The maneuver master monk is great for being able to do many.

A build I like is a half-orc whip user that's fighter (lorewarden) 3 into Magus (hexcrafter) 9 that then would pick up monk3 (maneuver master) if the campaign went that long. It would initially be a trip build but being able to spell combat (via wand) a true strike each round and the reach of the whip let you get away with disarms, steals, and a little later sunders (the metal whip, forget the name, made adamantine) as needed.

-James

[Lornis]

Firstable, sorry for my english :D

I really like the Free Handed Fighter with the duellist prestige class from the player handbook. You've got a really good disarm maneuver.

[DCironlich]

I recommend the Fighter with the Cad archetype.

[c873788]

6 levels of Monk (Maneuver Master and Weapon Adept) coupled with either 3 or 7 levels of Lore Warden. Half Elf with the racial option to pick up the Double Chained Kama weapon proficiency from level 1. When you can afford it, pick up a +1/+2/+3 Dueling Double Chained Kama for massive CMB bonuses. You will have a very high CMB for both Tripping and Dirty Tricks (Blinding) as well as having reach on your trip attacks. Also pick up Serpent Style feat on the way and max out your Sense Motive skill to have a massive AC against 1 attack each round (even against touch attacks).