Hey guys, so a couple friends and I are making lvl 20 martial front line combatants to duel each other (started out as a challenge and now it's just for fun) and we're going for optimization. The two people I'm going up against have a lot to do with Crits (One of them auto-confirms all rolls above 14 as critical hits) So I made an Armor Master (lvl 20 Crit Negation, awwww yeah) and am planning on just shrugging off attacks.
My issue with this is I'm giving up so much damage and hit potential for the awesome survivability. I'm running a Human, so pretty basic in terms of racial bonuses. Right now he's got adamantine full-plate, a heavy steel shield and a katana (taking the feat to wield one-handed). I plan to go the Vital strike route so I can stack extra damage on the one hit (both will have decent to ridiculous AC so I'd rather hit once and make it count).
I'd love some suggestions on further equipping my fighter. I'd like a focus on straight up defense and making that one hit HURT. (Looking at Impact right now). I chose the Katana but am not dead set on it, so that can be a different weapon.
Here's the stipulations:
150k gp to work with (-15k for adamantine armor)
Only items/enchantments that exist in the Pathfinder PRD (Base, Advanced, Ultimate Equipment).
Would LOVE something to enlarge myself with, I feel like that would stack with the impact enchantment.
Thanks for reading and any input you provide!
-Juggernaut pauldrons for enlarge and deadly juggernaut spell.
-Bracers of vengeance to help with melee damage on one opponent
-Ring of foe focus to increase your AC and survivability.
- cloak of displacement to help mitigate attacks, 20% miss chance
- jingasa of the Fortunate soldier to negate one critical hit or sneak attack.
- light, med., or heavy fortification on armor. For 25%, 50%, or 75% chance to negate.
How do you feel about guns? touch attack at close range. Cover yourself in pistols loaded with magically enhanced bullets and take quick draw to full attack. Maybe improved critical(pistol).
enchantment:
energy bursts(x4 multiplier)
it's unlikely - almost 10% chance with improved crit - but a critical with a quad-burst bullet: 4d8+4d6+12d10 *BOOM*
Guns would be interesting, but I think would ultimately not fit the feel of a rough and tumble fighter so much.
@Grizzly: I looked at the stuff you suggested. I love the pauldrons and the ring, and the bracers seem really cool, I like the extra damage and the flavor of the item.
All crit/sneak attack negation is unnecessary for me however, as being a lvl 20 Armor Master makes me immune to crits and SA while wearing my armor.
Any other suggestions for weapons? Was thinking maybe some sort of one handed piercing weapon to go with how he fights (hunkered down in a massive suit of armor with large shield at the front).
I liked seeing the numbers there, but it would appear that Holy only deals the extra damage to evil creatures. The two I plan to fight (only really using this character for the dueling) are both some form of neutral I believe.
For the same price though, (+2), I could have like flaming and frost. That's 2d6 per hit every time. Also wouldn't a crit double the damage of the katana so it'd be 14d6(1d6 Frost, 1d6 Flame, 8d6 Vital Strike, 2d6 normal, 2d6 extra crit damage)?