How to build a rugby player PC?


Advice

Grand Lodge

How would you go about building a martial-ized rugby player? I am thinking that Grapple, Bull Rush, Overrun would all be strong options. I was initially thinking either Invulnerable Rager with some of those combat maneuvers would work, maybe throw in Throw Anything so you can chuck boulders at guys while running, OR tetori for the best damn tackler on the field (of battle).

I would love some advice on it. This character option has been sitting the shelf for about 3 years and I just havent found the perfect fit.


In a d20'ised Blood Bowl game which sadly failed early, I played a barbarian who used Improved Overrun. Worked & felt about right for as long as the game lasted.

Grand Lodge

Just Base Barbarian?
I was thinking that Manuver Master 3/ Brutal Pugalist could work out well.

Grab Improved Overrun and Improved Grapple. I think that a hobgoblin would probably work out best due to 2 bonuses in physical but maybe dwarf with Relentless trait would work out better.


We had a flowing monk wipe the floor with the enemy team playing blood pig in curse of the crimson throne. Probably pretty decent as a rugby player type, repositions and trips everywhere, basically just a circle of impassable terrain around them.


Sports rules are not my strong point. But in American football you have very different kinds of players depending on position. Is that different in rugby?

Because for some football positions I'd think that dodge, mobility and the like are top priority. And run.

Grand Lodge

Well tripping is definitely a penalty in rugby, its a gentleman's game. :-)

I am settling on Maneuver Master 3/ Lorewarden 7. I am going with Dwarf and selecting the adopted trait. Having him be adopted by the Great Tusk tribe of Ulfin and giving him the Relentless racial ability. Without magical equipment his bonus to overrun is +12. I think this works out pretty well.

I snagged Charge through, Spiked Destroyer, and combat reflexes as additional feats.

Edit: +13, I forgot about Weapon Training: Close


I think Tetori is the best fit here. Half-Orc would be my choice of race. The only skills you need are acrobatics and intimidate. Enforcer, Tiger Style, Tiger Claws, Power Attack, Rapid Grappler and Tiger Pounce should be good enough. You can use your Tiger Claws attack to bull rush and around when a Barbarian is getting pounce you can get Tiger Pounce which isn't as good but is better than nothing.


Rugby keeps moving. Lockdown effects, especially grapple would give the wrong feel IMO. There are plenty of rage powers which would fit but lorewarden is very nice for combat maneuvers, true. Have fun.

Grand Lodge

A rugger needs to be able to Hit, Run, Dodge, Catch, Pass, and charge through some sorry sucka, and Drink (I once played in a tournament where neither team had enough people able to play for the final so we determined the champion with a drinking contest).

I think focusing on Overrun is probably key, Taking Spiked Destroyer, Greater Overrun, and Charge through I can get 3 attacks on someone by running over them.

I have also grabbed Dodge and Mobility to help him while running around.

Grand Lodge

How does Overrun work with Prevoking AOO. If I Overrun someone using Charge through and choose to continue past after knocking them down and pummeling them for being in my way... do I provoke an AOO from them when I leave their threatened square?


Improved Overrun is pretty clear that your target does not get an AoO on you when you perform an overrun maneuver. An overrun maneuver explicitly includes moving thru the targets square when it is successful. So no.


Normally (outside of a charge) the movement is part of the overrun maneuver. A particular action either provokes or doesn't, so Improved Overrun should be sufficient to prevent an Attack of Opportunity. Changing this during a charge would fail the "similar situations are played similarly" smell test, so that should be safe too.

However, I'd still rule that a charge+overrun would provoke from creatures other than those being overrun if you move through any squares threatened by such creatures. Otherwise, there's nothing to stop someone from overrunning "invisible foes" to move all the time without provoking.

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