Thoughts on Reach Weapon+Combat Reflexes+Lunge (for a martial type)

[Rerednaw]

While reach weapon+Combat Reflexes+Lunge sounds great on paper...just wondering what the thoughts were on how practical it is.

Does it come up often in Society play compared to what I have seen, i.e. Power Attack builds?

[BigNorseWolf]

Rerednaw wrote:

While reach weapon+Combat Reflexes+Lunge sounds great on paper...just wondering what the thoughts were on how practical it is.

Does it come up often in Society play compared to what I have seen, i.e. Power Attack builds?

I know reach + combat reflexes is insanely useful in pfs, for the large number of times you're ambushed and things run up to you.

[MrSin]

I've seen it used with a lot of success in PFS and in most normal games I've been in.

Rerednaw wrote:

Does it come up often in Society play compared to what I have seen, i.e. Power Attack builds?

Can you define a power attack build? Power attack is just one feat after all.

[The Fox]

Having played a dextrous halfling glaive-wielding paladin with combat reflexes in a home game, I can tell you it is a fun build. Especially when you add things like Improved Trip or Improved Disarm.

However.

It requires spacious combat settings. Oftentimes, combats in PFS feel cramped to me. Remember, that reach weapons use the same rules for cover that ranged weapons use. So other pathfinders might be getting in your way a lot.

Also note that Lunge only affects attacks on your turn, so it does not increase your threatened area.

Still, it is enjoyable enough as a build that I can recommend it. You just need to be thinking very tactically all the time. Make the Ready action your go-to standard action of choice.

[Rerednaw]

Argh why do they move a question about society play out of the society forum? ;)

Anyway, thanks for the input. The situation of mobs running up to me just has not happened that often. Usually the foes have been ranged or with reach themselves. In the few times where the mobs have charged me, they usually had cover which didn't provoke. So I was wondering if the modules I played were more of a fluke.

[TarkXT]

No, it's no fluke. It's a very very powerful style in the action advantage it grants you.

Just think, if they're not running up to you they have to run around you. With Lunge you can happily force them to engage you or just eat full attacks anyway.

If foes do have reach then you've successfully managed to avoid taking an AoO from them and don't lose the momentum by not attacking first and electing to 5ft. shift in.

[strayshift]

I have a Lucerne Hammer wielding Two-Handed Weapon Fighter/Armoured Hulk Barbarian who uses precisely this combination. Throw in Rage and Enlarge and you have a 'zone of SEVERE hurt! where you can full attack (allied to the Armoured Hulk's movement rate increase this means you are more mobile too).

HOWEVER I do enjoy a healthy tactical partnership with a Warhammer/Shield Dwarf Cleric who has an amazing A.C. and is willing to take some of the heat in order to let me hurt things. Armour Class is the principle weakness here (no shield, lunge, rage, enlarged = -6 on my AC!) plus you need room to manoeuvre.

Look at your party balance, who else is in the front line? Is the first question I would ask.

Oh, and there is also the Quick Reflexes Rage Power - which may, or it may not, stack with Combat Reflexes, as your DM.

[Rerednaw]

MrSin wrote:

I've seen it used with a lot of success in PFS and in most normal games I've been in.

Rerednaw wrote:

Does it come up often in Society play compared to what I have seen, i.e. Power Attack builds?

Can you define a power attack build? Power attack is just one feat after all.

Typically they follow the 2 handed fighter builds (from the guide to class guides).

[The Fox]

strayshift wrote:

Oh, and there is also the Quick Reflexes Rage Power - which may, or it may not, stack with Combat Reflexes, as your DM.

No reason they shouldn't stack. Two different sources. Two-Weapon Fighting stacks with haste and with extra attacks from high BAB, for example.

[Reynard_the_fox]

Remember that potions of Enlarge Person go for 50gp a pop, which means at higher levels you can guzzle them like soda pop if you want. There's also the Combat Patrol feat if you'd like.

[Nicos]

Rerednaw wrote:

MrSin wrote:

I've seen it used with a lot of success in PFS and in most normal games I've been in.

Rerednaw wrote:

Does it come up often in Society play compared to what I have seen, i.e. Power Attack builds?

Can you define a power attack build? Power attack is just one feat after all.

Typically they follow the 2 handed fighter builds (from the guide to class guides).

If you are a martial (particularly a fighter) and you have reach weapon + combat reflexes + lunge you still want power attack if your idea is to do serious damage.

[Magda Luckbender]

Reynard_the_fox wrote:

Remember that potions of Enlarge Person go for 50gp a pop, which means at higher levels you can guzzle them like soda pop if you want. There's also the Combat Patrol feat if you'd like.

Nope, I'm under the impression that in PFS play potions of Enlarge Person cost 250 gp. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've had to pay on several occasions.

@OP: Yes, this is a strong and effective build. The core is Combat Reflexes, 14+ DEX, and Power Attack. That combination alone has a lot of win. Here's a post about how to maximize your AoOs and generally be most effective with this approach.

[MrSin]

Magda Luckbender wrote:

Nope, I'm under the impression that in PFS play potions of Enlarge Person cost 250 gp. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've had to pay on several occasions.

Potion Prices. Pretty sure its a first level wizard/sorcerer spell.

[Gauss]

Enlarge Person is a level 1 spell and at caster level 1 a potion costs 50gp. If you paid 250gp then either it was caster level 5 or the price was atypical.