I'm building a whip fighter and in torn between whirlwind attack and combat patrol. Both will allow me to hit things within 30 ft once enlarged, but I'm blasted if I can decide if offense is better or smacking people when they try to do things would work out more in my favor. I'm planning on using it with Stunning Assault and the hobgoblin intimidate chain, Dex build.
Thoughts?
|
Neither is probably your best option. Go for Combat Reflexes + Whip Mastery and use your massive threatened area to make AoOs which can be Trips/Grapples/Repositions during your off-trun and use your turn for regular iteratives or maneuvers. Combat Patrol is robbing you of your action, and Whirlwind attack is too much feat investment when you are already spending several feats on making whips work.
How about passive aggressive?
Beat me to it!
I was planning on skipping the mastery feats all together, actually. As long as she didn't use the whip while being threatened, she doesn't need them. That frees up those feats for other things.
And looking again at the feats, I couldn't use the hobgoblin chain and either option anyways. All three require full-round actions. I'm thinking of combining Whirlwind Attack and Enforcer instead. I do plan on Combat Reflexes and trips/disarms as well.
*edit *
Although, if I don't use Combat Patrol, I need Imp. Whip mastery for the threatened range bump. Crap shticks!
Deal any damage or deal lethal damage? Cause I wasn't really thinking about doing lethal that much, actually.
Ok, so minimum Imp whip mastery then.
Here's my lineup so far (no particular order):
1)Combat reflexes (32dex so far)
2)Combat expertise
3)Whip mastery
4)Imp whip mastery
5)Imp disarm
6)Imp trip
7)Greater trip
8)Gang up (easy flanking! Yea!)
9)Hobgoblin discipline (saves are good)
10)Weapon focus- whip
11)Dodge
12)Mobility
13)Spring attack
14) Whirlwind attack (with below)
15) Stunning assault (with above)
16) Power attack
17) Weapon finesse
18) Enforcer
19)Imp weapon focus
20) Weapon specialization-whip
Enlarged she threatens 20 ft, strikes out to 30 ft, hits everyone within range once at full BAB to stun (DC30 Fort) and free intimidate. Using +5 vicious merciful whip two-handed at +38 for 4d6+31 non-lethal.
Is good? Could it be gooder? :-)
*edit *
Oops! Forgot the penalties for PA and SA. +27 when using those feats. 4d6+13 damage without PA
Watch your pre-reqs. Whip mastery required weapon focus, and improved needs +5 BAB.
Lore Warden Fighter might be a good archetype for you, free Combat Expertise at 2nd, and a bonus to CMB.
I did state no particular order. Those aren't level numbers, I was just keeping track. :-)
I considered that archetype, but I decided on unbreakable instead. I like the immunity to mind-effects (no Dominate for you!) and it fits the theme I'm working on better. 20th level BBEG build, working with a host of lower level hobgoblin fighters, which is why I was also considering Terrifying Display chain as well.
Oh look at that, you did state no order. My bad.
If you are building a BBEG with a bunch of goons, you might want to consider some teamwork feats. Give the goons outflank and falchions, to give your BBEG tons of AoO which can be used to disarm or trip. Give them Outflank and Paired Opportunists to make sure those AoO hit.
So, this is a Hobgoblin?
Yup
no lunge?
spring attack probably isn't going to be that useful.
I wouldn't go for either combat reflexes or whirlwind, there are better choices, how about tandem trip?
I agree about Spring Attack, and I can see an objection to Whirlwind, but wouldn't go for Combat Reflexes with a 20ft threaten and 11+ AoO?? You're gonna have to explain that reasoning!
Oh look at that, you did state no order. My bad.
If you are building a BBEG with a bunch of goons, you might want to consider some teamwork feats. Give the goons outflank and falchions, to give your BBEG tons of AoO which can be used to disarm or trip. Give them Outflank and Paired Opportunists to make sure those AoO hit.
Yeah, version 1.0 had those teamwork feats in there, since I'm a big fan of them. But I kept finding other feats I wanted more or would work better and they slowly got trimmed out. I'm going to put together a couple of comparative lists tomorrow and see how they synergize. Just too damn tired right now, been a long day...