Ultimate Phalanx Soldier

[Humphry B ManWitch]

What do you think of this build for an AP
25 point buy no buy downs

Race Dwarf
Abilities : STR 16, DEX 14, CON 16, INT 13, WIS 14, CHA 8
Traits: Adopted(Halflings); Helpful, Armor Expert

1st: Fighter(Phalanx Soldier Archetype) Feat:Power Attack, Cleave
2nd: Fighter, Stand Firm, Feat: Goblin Cleaver,
3rd: Fighter,Phalanx Fighting, Feat: Improved Shield Bash
4th: Fighter, Feat: Great Cleave
5th: Fighter, Ready Pike, Feat: Orc Hewer
6th: Fighter, Feat: Combat Reflexes
7th: Fighter, Deft Shield, Feat: Dodge
8th: Fighter, Feat: Mobility
9th: Fighter, Shield Ally, Feat: Bodyguard
10th: Fighter, Feat: Spring Attack
11th: Fighter, Feat: Dazing Assault
12th: Fighter, Feat: Strike Back
13th: Fighter, Feat: Giant Killer
14th: Fighter, Feat: Cleave Through
15th: Fighter, Irresistible Advance, Feat: Cleaving Finish
16th: Fighter, Feat: Improved Cleaving Finish

Equipment required,
Large Spiked Bashing Shield+1
+5 Benevolent Mithral Breastplate
+1 Adamantine Bardiche
Boots of jumping and springing
Belt of Physical Might (Str + Dex)

Wand of Enlarge Person..

Specialized in being enlarged. Better then whirlwind attack because its a standard action.

while enlarged can starst of by standing next to Squishy Casters Spring attacks to the closest Enemy using Cleave and Dazing Assault to attack all opponents threatened by a polearm using enlarged Dwarf, using the Shield to bash closer opponents. then springs back to protect the Squishy casters. (also removing himself from the area for area of effect spells)

[Humphry B ManWitch]

I was hoping someone might help me pick this apart.

[Saigo Takamori]

I see one problem: save. You got nothing here to make your will good, wich hurt... especially when dwarve got the beautifull steel soul feat. You should try to get it sooner.

[Humphry B ManWitch]

I could swap it for cleaving finish.. i am not sure how useful cleaving finish would be? as anything that is gigantic or bigger is probably not going to have lots of minions running around for me to cleave.

[Humphry B ManWitch]

wow after reading cleaving finish i think ill keep that..

[AndIMustMask]

note: level ~9 is when the really killer spells and gribblyness comes into play--consider shoring up your defenses (particularly saves) at or before then.

i see shield feats, but no shield master? with a +1 defending guardian/+5 heavy fortification shield you can bash someone and get an ADDITIONAL +5 to your AC, or +5 to your saves (or divvied up between them). not to mention shield bashing makes for a sound melee option if you're using a reach weapon in the other hand via phalanx soldier's level 3 ability.

also, it looks as if you plan to stick adjacent to an ally--if you're separated, a good number of your feats suddenly become useless. watch out for CC spells or effects that separate you.

[Nicos]

I woudl change dodge for Iron will, you are already using a shield after all and no amount of AC will help you if you are paralized/stunned/charmed.

[Humphry B ManWitch]

need dodge for spring attack chain. to get back to defend my Squishy

the shield is certainly for bashing. as the polearm is for reach.

[AndIMustMask]

note: by RAW shield master removes ALL attack penalties when shield bashing. so feel free to power attack and or combat expertise with it--while it's obviously not INTENDED to work that way, they haven't gotten off their bums to change it, so why not take advantage?

[Nicos]

AndIMustMask wrote:

note: by RAW shield master removes ALL attack penalties when shield bashing. so feel free to power attack and or combat expertise with it--while it's obviously not INTENDED to work that way, they haven't gotten off their bums to change it, so why not take advantage?

Most likely because the game have a DM.

[Humphry B ManWitch]

lol yeah the game i will be playing will have a ruling council of very knowledgeable DM's that know which rules are broken and fix them acordingly

[Humphry B ManWitch]

there is no way i could fit in shield master if i want to be spring attacking, bodyguarding, cleave attacking with Dazing Assault.

that would require "Shield slam" and "two weapon fighting" maybe if it went over 16th level

[Wasum]

I'd get rid of cleave.

Its nice in fights you'd win anyway but worthless if your enemy have a alight idea of tactics.