Is there any way being really creative with feats and spells to overcome 1/2 Bab as a front line in higher level? I was thinking about the scarred witch doctor and thinking about how it could still be attacky at high level despite 1/2 bab however I don't want extensive dips, maybe one level or two max.
I'd be willing to spend pretty much as many feats as was necessary to mae this possible
If you are of high enough level, there is always the Transform spell.
Use lots of touch attack spells?
I want to use a weapon, and I don't want to lose spell casting through transform, as that defeats the purpose of being a witch
I would start with magic -- bull's strength or a belt of giant strength (or cat's grace or a belt of incredible dexterity plus the Weapon Finesse feat), a magic weapon with the highest enhancement bonus you can get, a stone of good luck, and the ioun stone that boosts attack rolls.
For feats, go with Weapon Focus and add Weapon Finesse if (as is likely) your dexterity modifier is higher than your strength modifier.
If you want to keep up your spellcasting and are not too worried about hexes, you could always take a level as a fighter and then go into the Eldrith Knight prestige class. The net result of doing that is full BAB for your fighter and Eldritch Knight levels at the cost of two levels of spellcasting.
I could go prehensile hair... I don't mind natural attacks
A scarred witch doctor with the strength patron gets some serious combat buff spells like divine favour and righteous might which would help make you a melee combatant. by level 10 you can have Divine favour +2 to hit and damage, Divine power +3 to hit and damage and +1 attack, and righteous might for +1 to hit, +2 damage, +1 ac, +1 size weapon damage, reach, and damage reduction. So your bab of 5 becomes +11/+11 before your normal bonuses.
... and I just noticed it may be possible to have Righteous might and giant form active at the same time as ' might is not listed as a polymorph effect. if so at level 12 you can get +6 more strength and lots of other bonuses.
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A natural attack build is probably your best bet, either using polymorph spells (alter self can get you natural attacks) or picking Tiefling or another race with claws.
Oh, here's an idea - go Half-Orc, take a level in Draconic sorcerer or Arcane Duelist Bard, and then go dragon disciple! You get claws to go with your bite, you can opt to boost your witch casting, and you can take "Extra Hex" as many times as you want to.
A scarred witch doctor with the strength patron gets some serious combat buff spells like divine favour and righteous might which would help make you a melee combatant. by level 10 you can have Divine favour +2 to hit and damage, Divine power +3 to hit and damage and +1 attack, and righteous might for +1 to hit, +2 damage, +1 ac, +1 size weapon damage, reach, and damage reduction. So your bab of 5 becomes +11/+11 before your normal bonuses.
... and I just noticed it may be possible to have Righteous might and giant form active at the same time as ' might is not listed as a polymorph effect. if so at level 12 you can get +6 more strength and lots of other bonuses.
I can't remember the wording but I think the polymorph rules prevent other size changing effects.
Don't forget the Fate's Favored trait, it gives you an extra +1 from Divine Favor.A scarred witch doctor with the strength patron gets some serious combat buff spells like divine favour and righteous might which would help make you a melee combatant. by level 10 you can have Divine favour +2 to hit and damage, Divine power +3 to hit and damage and +1 attack, and righteous might for +1 to hit, +2 damage, +1 ac, +1 size weapon damage, reach, and damage reduction. So your bab of 5 becomes +11/+11 before your normal bonuses.
I missed that one nice addition. :)
Alrighty, I actually think casters can totally get into melee and tear it up.
So, things to take:
- Arcane Strike
- Fate's Favored (Trait)
- You will want a decent +str belt
- Amulet of Mighty Fists
You could attempt to use manufactured weapons, but your low BAB will always hold you back because the lack of iteratives, so your best best is to go with natural attacks. You will also want to focus on Undead Anatomy, Monstrous Physique, and Form of the Dragon so you can still cast spells. You can try for witch, but they don't have these as base spells, you are far better off using Sorcerer + Dragon disciple.
So, lets look at a lvl 11 build:
Human Martial Artist+Master of Many Styles Monk 1, Sorcerer (Draconic) 4, Dragon Disciple 6
Str: 22 (+4 dragon disciple, +1 4th, +1 8th, +2 belt)
Dex: 16 (+2 belt)
Con: 18 (+2 dragon disciple, +2 belt)
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Cha: 18 (+2 human, +2 headband)
At level 11 you will have an effective CL of 8. The go-to spell will be Monstrous Physique II, an I like the mighty four-armed Gargoyle. Lets assume you are in that form during combat.
HP: 127 (1d8 + 4d6 + 6d12 + 44con + 11 favored class + 11 toughness)
BAB: +6/+1
AC: (10, +3 dex, +2 ring, +
CMB: +12 CMD: 25
Fort:+13 Ref:+11 Will:+12
Energy resistance to whatever your dragon bloodline is.
Feats:
Human: Dodge,1: Improved Unarmed Strike(Monk), Dragon Style(Monk), Stunning Fist(Monk), Crane Style,3: Weapon Focus: Claw, 5: Feral Combat Training, 7: Dragon Ferocity, Bloodline Feat: Power Attack, 9: Crane Wing, 10: Bloodline Feat Toughness, 11 Crane Riposte
Items: (82k WBL)
Belt of Physical Perfection +2 (16,000),Headband of Alluring Charisma +4 (16,000),Amulet of Mighty Fists +1 (5,000),Ring of Protection +2 (8,000)
Cloak of Resistance +3 (9,000),This leaves 28,000 for whatever else you might want.
Four Armed Gargoyle Form:
Assume Mage Armor is cast. (form grants +4 Strength, –2 Dexterity, +4 natural armor)
AC: 29 (10, +2 natural armor from Draconic Bloodline, +2 natural armor from Dragon disciple (they stack), +4 size bonus to nat armor, +4 AC from mage armor, -1 size, +2 dex, +2 ring, +4 fighting defensively)
Attack Bonus: +13 (+6 BAB, -1 Size, +1 AoMF, +8 Str, -1 Fighting Defensively(crane), claws will get +1 (focus))
DEFENSE
AC 29, touch 17, flat-footed 23
Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +12
OFFENSE
Speed: 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)
Melee: bite +13 (1d8+9), 4 claws +14 (1d6+13), gore +13 (1d4+9)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rend (1d6+9)
by level 10 you can have Divine favour +2 to hit and damage, Divine power +3 to hit and damage and +1 attack, and righteous might for +1 to hit, +2 damage, +1 ac, +1 size weapon damage, reach, and damage reduction. So your bab of 5 becomes +11/+11 before your normal bonuses.
... and I just noticed it may be possible to have Righteous might and giant form active at the same time as ' might is not listed as a polymorph effect. if so at level 12 you can get +6 more strength and lots of other bonuses.
Divine favor and divine power both give luck bonuses... as such I do not believe you can use them together.
Same with righteous might and giant form not stacking size bonuses.
Why do you want to melee with a witch?
If you're going to bother having full spell progression you should be casting spells or hexing every round. Leave sword swinging to the fighter and barbarian. If you even have a chance to hit it, it will probably be dead and steamrolled long before you get a whack at it.
by level 10 you can have Divine favour +2 to hit and damage, Divine power +3 to hit and damage and +1 attack, and righteous might for +1 to hit, +2 damage, +1 ac, +1 size weapon damage, reach, and damage reduction. So your bab of 5 becomes +11/+11 before your normal bonuses.
... and I just noticed it may be possible to have Righteous might and giant form active at the same time as ' might is not listed as a polymorph effect. if so at level 12 you can get +6 more strength and lots of other bonuses.
Divine favor and divine power both give luck bonuses... as such I do not believe you can use them together.
Same with righteous might and giant form not stacking size bonuses.
Oops you sir are correct. My bad.
Greater Heroism. Monstrous physique. Greater magic weapon. Bulls strength or similar enhancement. Shield spell + 2handed weapons. These are how you match a fighter. Im actually playing a rift warden wizard right now who is doing amazingly with it. Just remember you will never have the iterative attacks so at higher levels focus less on full attacking and more on moving/vital striking. You can get insane strength scores with very little effort.
Can I ask what you want to do with this character and why your a witch using a martial weapon?
Overcoming 1/2 or 3/4 BAB usually involves a number of buffs and/or using natural attacks to make a number of a attacks at a higher BAB.
This is more theory craft than anything else, but I appreciate the advice guys, I may actually do this eventually. Aside from vital strike is there any other way to get more bang for your buck out of a standard action attack?
load yourself with +damage. 2 handed weapon 18 str base wizard buffed at level 5 can do -
+6 str
+3 bulls str
+1 monstrous physique or alter self both medium
+2 arcane strike
+1 weapon
+3 power qttack
damage dice +16
swinging at
+7 Str
+2 bab
+1 weapon
-1 power attack.
+2 heroism (if needed)
9 or 11
compared to fighter 18 base str +2 belt
+7 str
+1 weapon training
+2 weapon specialization
+6 power attack
+1 weapon
damage dice +17
+6 bab
+5 str
+1 weapon training
+1 weapon focus
+1 weapon
-2 power attack.
+12
you both have similar hit and damage. albeit yours is nova and his is lasting but you have other spells in addition to this. the higher the levels go the more things sway in your favor. id say level 5 is the beginning of a 'fighter' wizards career.