as much Strength as nearly possible?

[ohako]

I got onto this kick, because, well, why not?

How high can you push Strength while still being a sorta-useful party member?

Here's what I got:
1. sor 1/barb 4/dragon disciple 10/sor 2/barb 3
this gets you spells to get an enhancement or size bonus to Strength
rage to get a morale bonus to Strength (and a competence bonus 1/rage with the strength surge rage power)
dragon disciple to get you level-up bonuses to Strength
2. Eldritch Heritage (abyssal)
this gets you double sorcerer claws and bite
and an inherent bonus to Strength
3. Stats: Str 18, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 16
4. So, at 12th level, you've got a Strength of 27, and you can rage, and you can enhance with a belt or straight bull's strength.

yeah, I could throw on some alch in order to get alchemical bonuses to Strength, but that would mean I'd need a non-terrible Int, and both Int and Cha on a melee character: no good.

Note I'm not trying to boost damage as high as it can go, I'm specifically trying to boost straight Strength. I figure if this character falls to half hit points, he can shout, 'Behold my true power!' and use form of the dragon with a moment of clarity for, you know, a size bonus to Strength.

What other ideas or powers could I shoehorn onto this silliness to get Strength even higher? Or, failing that, is there a better way to get a higher Strength without sacrificing overall 'effectiveness'?

[prototype00]

Hmm,

Base 20 Str
Belt +6 Str
Druid Huge Elemental WS +8 Str
Orc bloodline via eldritch heritage (need non-terrible charisma) +6 inherent bonus to str
+4 Bonuses from level increases

So 44 Str? Thats a +17 bonus to strength. Semi-doable on a Druid with decent charisma.

prototype00

Edit: Ah, amusing. At that strength, you are stronger than the Tarrasque (41).

Ah right, technically you can get the above with just 8 levels in druid with shaping focus. For the other 12, you can be a barbarian. Greater rage gives a +6 morale bonus to strength, so 50? A nice even +20 to strength. Cthulhu is slightly stronger than you at 56, but really, he is 10 CR higher than you are.

[Imbicatus]

prototype00 wrote:

Hmm,

Base 20 Str
Belt +6 Str
Druid Huge Elemental WS +8 Str
Orc bloodline via eldritch heritage (need non-terrible charisma) +6 inherent bonus to str
+4 Bonuses from level increases

So 44 Str? Thats a +17 bonus to strength. Semi-doable on a Druid with decent charisma.

prototype00

Edit: Ah, amusing. At that strength, you are stronger than the Tarrasque (41).

Ah right, technically you can get the above with just 8 levels in druid with shaping focus. For the other 12, you can be a barbarian. Greater rage gives a +6 morale bonus to strength, so 50? A nice even +20 to strength. Cthulhu is slightly stronger than you at 56, but really, he is 10 CR higher than you are.

52 with a +4 or higher courageous weapon.

[ohako]

So, a huge elemental with a fancy greatsword? That's interesting.

Hmm, where does my own example go?

base 20
belt +6
rage +4
abyssal heritage +6
dragon disciple +4
form of the dragon II +6
bonuses from level increases +4

uh...yeah, that's 50 right there. more with a courageous, oh AoMF, I guess

a sorcerer/barbarian is possibly going to go armorless (savage), and a courageous weapon can boost the bonus from naked courage! that's kinda neat.

[Fomsie]

20 Base Strength
4 Level Ups
6 Belt
6 Greater Rage
6 Inherent Improved Eldritch Heritage: Orc
6 Size Greater Eldritch Heritage: Orc (Grow Large)
4 Dragon Disciple (Count as Level Up and stack)
2(3?) +4 Courageous, Furious weapon

54(55?) total

Barbarian 11
Bard 1
Dragon Disciple 8

[Thomas Long 175]

20 Base
5 Level
6 Inherent: Orc Improved Eldritch Heritage
4 Morale
8 Size
4 Alchemic
6 Enchancement
4 Strength
3 (enhancement to morale) Courageous

60 Strength

Barbarian 6
Druid 4
Alchemist 4
Bard 1
Draconic Disciple 5

BAB 15

Saves (Base)
Fort 16
Reflex 11
Will 12

Basic spell casting in 3 classes. Great reach. Go natural attack with 2 slams, gore, bite, claw, claw.

[haruhiko88]

Don't forget the bonus from a possible moment of greatness spell to double any morale bonus for just a moment. At least for the builds that can cast it.

[Kobold Catgirl]

1. Be an orc.
2. Get Orc Bloodline.
3. ???
4. SMASH!!!

[Renegadeshepherd]

Are these barbs in here using rage or urban barb rage? Could get another +2 out this or free up some levels depending on the answer.

[Quandary]

If you are a Tarrasque, you definitely want Orc Bloodline, because that makes you stronger than other Tarrasques.

[Humphry B ManWitch]

Half orc,
barbarian 6 (mad dog archetype)
Hunter 3 (companions gain teamwork feats)
Alchemist 2 (rage chemist)
Mammoth rider 9

Feats of import
Skill focus Survival
Eldrich heritage Orc bloodline
improved Elderich heratage Orc bloodline
Warleaders Rage (Orc book)
Amplified Rage (Teamwork) +4 strenght while witin 30 ft
Raging vitality (+2con)
Power attack

Have your Gargantuan Raging Pouncing Saber toothed tiger rip everyone apart with is STR of 60 or so (you have about 45 by then)

Build requirements
STR 14+
DEx Dump Stat
Con 15+
Int 11+
Wis 11+
Cha 13+

[EDIT]

ok so

STR
Level +5
Rage +4
Amplified rage +4
Mutagen +6
Enhancement +6 (Belt)
Orc Bloodline +6
total +31

Con

Rage +4
Amplified Rage +4
Raging vitality +2
Enhancement +2 (ion Stone?)
total +12

Companion can rage when you do
it gets +8 Str +8 Con

[Magda Luckbender]

There's a Sorcerer/Dragon Disciple build somewhere on these forums that pumps strength up to 60 or so. Sorry, I can't find the link.

[Thomas Long 175]

If it doesn't have to be the character.

Standard Summoner

Quadruped 20

61
14
3 Level
8 standard bonus
6 enhancement
6 inherent (orc bloodline)
16 (huge size)
6 Size bonus (shrinks you back to large ironically)
+2 Attribute Increase

Please note, you've only spent 20 points of the possible 35, and 3 of the creature's feats. Plenty for it to take iron will, power attack, pounce, and plenty of natural attacks and armor.

Congrats you've a standard melee with pounce, strength out the wazoo, a self touch that will last 1 round giving +5 attack damage and will save before the combat.

*Put 6 attributes in charisma to qualify for eldritch heritage

[Fomsie]

Thomas Long 175 wrote:

20 Base

5 Level
6 Inherent: Orc Improved Eldritch Heritage
4 Morale
8 Size
4 Alchemic
6 Enchancement
4 Strength
3 (enhancement to morale) Courageous

60 Strength

Barbarian 6
Druid 4
Alchemist 4
Bard 1
Draconic Disciple 5

BAB 15

Basic spell casting in 3 classes. Great reach. Go natural attack with 2 slams, gore, bite, claw, claw.

What shape ability are you using to get a +8 size bonus as a level 4 (or effectively 8 with the feat) druid?

Thomas Long 175 wrote:

Standard Summoner

Quadruped 20

61
14
3 Level
8 standard bonus
6 enhancement
6 inherent (orc bloodline)
16 (huge size)
6 Size bonus (shrinks you back to large ironically)
+2 Attribute Increase

Size bonuses don't stack, I believe.

Magda Luckbender wrote:

There's a Sorcerer/Dragon Disciple build somewhere on these forums that pumps strength up to 60 or so. Sorry, I can't find the link.

What I came up with was;

Barbarian 1
Sorcerer 13
Dragon Disciple 4
Alchemist 2 (Rage Chemist)

Dual Talent Human with Str and Cha getting the +2
Starting Stats: 20, 10, 14, 10, 7, 14 after mods
Level Ups 4 str, 1 cha

20 Base
4 Level Up
4 Dragon Disciple
6 Inherent (Eldritch Heritage Abyssal)
6 Enhancement (Belt)
4 Rage
6 Alchemical
10 Size (Form of the Dragon 3)
2 +2(+4) Courageous, Furious Amulet of Mighty Fists

So 62? (Though I would personally probably use levels of Eldritch Knight instead of the extra Sorcerer and 2nd level of Alchemist, sacrificing 2 strength in favor of better HP and BAB, if the plan is to be a Dragon form combatant)

Also a change to my previous attempt;

20 Base Strength
5 Level Ups
6 Belt
6 Greater Rage
6 Inherent Improved Eldritch Heritage: Orc
6 Size Greater Eldritch Heritage: Orc (Grow Large)
4 Dragon Disciple (Count as Level Up and stack)
6 Alchemical
2(3) +4(6) Courageous, Furious weapon

61(62) total

Barbarian 11
Bard 1
Dragon Disciple 6
Alchemist 2 (Rage Chemist)

This was keeping in line with the OPs stated intent of having an overall viable character with extremely high strength. He becomes a Rage pouncing monstrosity with a massive weapon and something like +59 damage per attack and 399 HP when raging.

[Duncan888]

Semi related what do u think about a druid 12 sorc 1 barb 2 dd 5
Maybe useing eld heritage.

Can a huge earth elemental use a wp? If so how do u carry it around when ur not in elemental form?

[MrRed]

A bit late so just some unpolished ideas:

Magic jar into an antropomorphic animal (spell). The strongest animal I found with a quick survey is the great white whale with base strength 50. With atropomorphic animal you can still cast.

Now add the mentioned tricks/ boni like enhancement (e.g. belt+6), morale (e.g. greater rage from barbarian +6, +X from courageous amulett), alchemical bonus (e.g. alchemist +6), inherant (e.g. wishes +5, unsure whether orc bloddliens would count), ad nauseam as before. Easy to get 70-80. While you are a colossal whale with arms which might make social interactions tricky, you can cast alter self etc. to get normal sized again (rules wise, I think you can keep your strength...)

BTW: If you want to break the game you now easily cast blood moneyed wishes...

[Sir Thugsalot]

Strength is overrated. Watch:

Thomas Long 175 wrote:

20 Base

5 Level
6 Inherent: Orc Improved Eldritch Heritage
4 Morale
8 Size
4 Alchemic
6 Enchancement
4 Strength
3 (enhancement to morale) Courageous

60 Strength

Barbarian 6
Druid 4
Alchemist 4
Bard 1
Draconic Disciple 5

BAB 15

....in raw terms, this 20th-level character is 15(BAB)+25(STR) = +40 to hit.

A straight-class 20th level fighter with WF/GWF and wearing Gloves of Dueling to augment Weapon Training in his main weapon by (probably) +4 (with WT in two other weapons). Add in the BAB differential and it's a difference of +11 attack bonus, or 22 of that 60 STR -- meaning the fighter only needs to manage STR:38 to be comparable.

So, fighter starts with a 17 in STR (cost 5 preracial-bump build points), advances it five times + Tome for a 23, Belt+6 for 29, Righteous Might out of a spellstoring bauble for 37, and a few other buffs and tricks for an easy 40 or more.

Then add in auto-confirmation for crits and +1 to crit multiplier from Weapon Mastery (meaning even the weakest fighter with an extended-threat weapon will be auto-confirming a massive-damage swat on 30% of attacks).

[Fomsie]

Sir Thugsalot wrote:

Strength is overrated.

....in raw terms, this 20th-level character is 15(BAB)+25(STR) = +40 to hit.

A straight-class 20th level fighter with WF/GWF and wearing Gloves of Dueling to augment Weapon Training in his main weapon by (probably) +4 (with WT in two other weapons). Add in the BAB differential and it's a difference of +11 attack bonus, or 22 of that 60 STR -- meaning the fighter only needs to manage STR:38 to be comparable.

So, fighter starts with a 17 in STR (cost 5 preracial-bump build points), advances it five times + Tome for a 23, Belt+6 for 29, Righteous Might out of a spellstoring bauble for 37, and a few other buffs and tricks for an easy 40 or more.

Then add in auto-confirmation for crits and +1 to crit multiplier from Weapon Mastery (meaning even the weakest fighter with an extended-threat weapon will be auto-confirming a massive-damage swat on 30% of attacks).

Congratulations, you seem to have completely missed the point of the posts here, as the OP specifically asked for the "highest strength" and not the most damage or what have you. So, yay, you proved that strength is not the only relevant aspect to combat, yet utterly ignored the purpose of the thread.

[Leonardo Trancoso]

Synthesist with all evolution point on ability increase and size + scroll of form of dragon III = 70 str

Edit: synthesist 18 barb 1 alch 1

[Thomas Long 175]

Fomsie wrote:

Thomas Long 175 wrote:

20 Base

5 Level
6 Inherent: Orc Improved Eldritch Heritage
4 Morale
8 Size
4 Alchemic
6 Enchancement
4 Strength
3 (enhancement to morale) Courageous

60 Strength

Barbarian 6
Druid 4
Alchemist 4
Bard 1
Draconic Disciple 5

BAB 15

Basic spell casting in 3 classes. Great reach. Go natural attack with 2 slams, gore, bite, claw, claw.

What shape ability are you using to get a +8 size bonus as a level 4 (or effectively 8 with the feat) druid?

Thomas Long 175 wrote:

Standard Summoner

Quadruped 20

61
14
3 Level
8 standard bonus
6 enhancement
6 inherent (orc bloodline)
16 (huge size)
6 Size bonus (shrinks you back to large ironically)
+2 Attribute Increase

Size bonuses don't stack, I believe.

Magda Luckbender wrote:

There's a Sorcerer/Dragon Disciple build somewhere on these forums that pumps strength up to 60 or so. Sorry, I can't find the link.

What I came up with was;

Barbarian 1
Sorcerer 13
Dragon Disciple 4
Alchemist 2 (Rage Chemist)

Dual Talent Human with Str and Cha getting the +2
Starting Stats: 20, 10, 14, 10, 7, 14 after mods
Level Ups 4 str, 1 cha

20 Base
4 Level Up
4 Dragon Disciple
6 Inherent (Eldritch Heritage Abyssal)
6 Enhancement (Belt)
4 Rage
6 Alchemical
10 Size (Form of the Dragon 3)
2 +2(+4) Courageous, Furious Amulet of Mighty Fists

So 62? (Though I would personally probably use levels of Eldritch Knight instead of the extra Sorcerer and 2nd level of Alchemist, sacrificing 2 strength in favor of better HP and BAB, if the plan is to be a Dragon form combatant)

Also a change to my previous attempt;

20 Base Strength
5 Level Ups
6 Belt
6 Greater Rage
6 Inherent Improved Eldritch Heritage: Orc
6 Size Greater Eldritch Heritage: Orc (Grow Large)
4 Dragon Disciple (Count as Level Up and stack)
6 Alchemical
2(3) +4(6) Courageous, Furious weapon

61(62) total

Barbarian 11
Bard 1
Dragon Disciple 6
Alchemist 2 (Rage
...

First one is an oops. Barb 2, Druid 8

2nd one. Huge size does not grant a size bonus. It is an untyped bonus for taking the huge size evolution. So it stacks with the size bonus

[StreamOfTheSky]

Leonardo Trancoso wrote:

Synthesist with all evolution point on ability increase and size + scroll of form of dragon III = 70 str

Edit: synthesist 18 barb 1 alch 1

I assume you're including Enlarge Person applied and Eldritch Heritage for the Orc bloodline. But yeah, I would expect Synthesist, especially a Half-Elf one, to sport the highest end-game strength.

[Sir Thugsalot]

Fomsie wrote:

Congratulations, you seem to have completely missed the point of the posts here, as the OP specifically asked for the "highest strength" and not the most damage or what have you. So, yay, you proved that strength is not the only relevant aspect to combat, yet utterly ignored the purpose of the thread.

Oh, deary me...but I simply must squeeze some fun out of this massively-redundant thread my eyeballs unavoidably glanced upon, given that "highest strength???" is one of the oldest requests in gaming. Why, a search would reveal the archives positively stuffed with prior threads, wouldn't it now?

It is simultaneously painful and schadenfreude-laden to watch a player haplessly plod along this well-trod path with, invariably, a build utterly lacking in any kind of positive-RP-experience personality and which cannot hold its own with stock CRB classes enjoying their 20th-level capstones.

So, happy to highlight the deficiencies whenever possible.

(No charge.)

[Hawktitan]

12 sorc / 6 DD / 1 barb / 1 alch

20 - base
5 - level
4 - DD
6 - Inherent
6 - Enhancement
10 - Size
4 - Morale
4 - Alchemy

59

And the build is pretty coherent too.

[N. Jolly]

Sir Thugsalot wrote:

Oh, deary me...but I simply must squeeze some fun out of this massively-redundant thread my eyeballs unavoidably glanced upon, given that "highest strength???" is one of the oldest requests in gaming. Why, a search would reveal the archives positively stuffed with prior threads, wouldn't it now?

It is simultaneously painful and schadenfreude-laden to watch a player haplessly plod along this well-trod path with, invariably, a build utterly lacking in any kind of positive-RP-experience personality and which cannot hold its own with stock CRB classes enjoying their 20th-level capstones.

So, happy to highlight the deficiencies whenever possible.

(No charge.)

Who said this character was seeing play? It's a thought experiment for fun. Not like new material doesn't get released that the older threads might not have taken into account.

But I apologize for taking up your time, I'm sure there's some children's balloons you feel the need to pop somewhere else.

And yeah, it really feels like Synth is going to take this home for sustainable high strength.