Seeking Build advice on a War Master from Super Genius Games

[Tarondor]

I'm seeking to build a War Master from Super Genius Games to lead a pack of viking-like characters in a Kingmaker style game set in the Land of the Linnorm Kings (the GM calls it Jarlmaker). My fellow players want me to be the king, and so I decided that this would be a good way to support others in combat while still being able to fight pretty well.

My question, posed to those who know the class well, is this: Which ability scores should I emphasize? The War Master is such a versatile class that I've managed to build versions of my character that emphasize Strength and Intelligence, Strength and Wisdom or Strength and Charisma. Which build would be best? Which War Master Talents do you prefer? Which feat trees?

I'm leaning towards a high INT build with the Hero Point tree, but I'm not sure I'm satisfied with that.

[Caedwyr]

Do you know what classes the other players will be playing? It might help to choose your build based on what will work best with the party.

[Tarondor]

Mostly warriors. A paladin. No known casters yet.

[Caedwyr]

If there's lots of melee already in the party, my advice is to not attempt to compete with them. You won't do as much damage, and they'll continuously upstage you in their areas of expertise. Instead, I'd focus on a build that increases their effectiveness or offers them new tactical options. Also, if you are going to be using the kingdom rules from Kingmaker, I believe having a high Charisma is helpful for a leader in the kingdom-building mini-game, so you might want to take that into account when choosing what stats to focus on.

[Caedwyr]

You also might want to check with the GM to see if you are going to be allowed to select the Leadership feat. There's a number of nice Leadership enhancements available to the Warmaster that may make the Charisma build more attractive.

[Richard D Bennett]

GM says the Leadership feat is fine; however, there are already 6 PCs in the party, so we're beginning to push into very crowded combats.

On the other hand, a couple of dragons would fix that right up :)

[CommandoDude]

>Take Dragon as monster Cohort.

>Terrorize battlefield.

You'll hog the limelight, but damn you'll look good doing it.

[R. Hyrum Savage]

You could also see if he'll let you use this: Bullet Points: 2 Options for the Leadership Feat

:)

[Cathedralsquares]

I'd take the feat Flagbearer. I think that Coordinated Attacks and Hard March are two of the best talents before you get into leadership, but eventually you're going to be able to take all of them just by the sheer number you can have.

[Tarondor]

Hyrum, the GM is Bookkeeper, above. And we've already agreed to use the Bullet Points version of the Leadership feat.

[Richard D Bennett]

Tarondor wrote:

Hyrum, the GM is Bookkeeper, above. And we've already agreed to use the Bullet Points version of the Leadership feat.

Yup. One of the finest supplements I've ever spent a dollar on. I'm probably going to ask my Kingmaker GM if she'll let me use it in that game.

[R. Hyrum Savage]

I'll see if I can dig up the stats on my old war master character from a low-magic Kingmaker style game I played in before moving to Seattle. He was pretty effective as the "prince in exile" character working to reunite warring clans in an effort to kick out the Imperial occupiers.