Fighter Tiefling, build

[ZickZak]

Hi, I made this build strictly focusing on damage and I'd like you to comment on it. What's not allowed or what to improve. Thanks

Fighter, Two-Handed Warrior lvl 8, Tiefling
Str 20/+5
Dex 14/+2
Con 16/+3
Int 8/-1
Wis 12/+1
Cha 5/-3

Items:
+2 Weapon (+1, Ghost Touch)
Amulet of Nature Armor +1
O-Yoroi (AC 22)

Feats:
Fiendish Heritage (Oni-Spawn, Over-Sized Limbs)
Weapon Focus
Power Attack
Furious Focus
Arcane Strike
Exotic Weapon
Lunge
Greater Weapon Focus
Improved Critical

Traits:
Second Chance, +1 Will, +1 Armor (Warded Against Nature drawback)

Over-Sized Falcata
+17 / +9, 2d6+23 (17-20/x3)

(Perhaps Nodachi 1d10+23 15-20/x2 and going Human for two feats (Cleave? or something) might be a better option)

[Nickadeamous]

How do you plan on acquiring Arcane strike with no attributes high enough to take arcane classes?

[ZickZak]

Nickadeamous wrote:

How do you plan on acquiring Arcane strike with no attributes high enough to take arcane classes?

I have Alter Self racial spell, which scales with level and that's how I qualify for the Arcane Strike Feat. It's an Arcane spell, I hope.

[Domhnual]

A racial arcane spell such as Alter Self, or even the base Darkness spell with the standard Tiefling, that scales with level it does qualify you for the Arcane Strike Feat.

[Secret Wizard]

I think you are better off as Qipploth Spawn with the Mutant Warrior archetype... with Vestigial Wings, you can have a good bonus to fly with the corresponding discovery.

Other than that, I'd take Defender of the Society over Second Chance, +1 to AC is always good.

I don't think Falcata over Falchion is that much of a DPR boost to justify a feat. You should probably grab Iron Will, Dodge, Disruptive, etc. More utilities in place of so much damage.

Also, Armor of the Pit should be one of your feats! Saves you the need of the amulet of natural armor. You can then take an Amulet of Health, which means you can take a Belt of +STR/+DEX, saving you some $$$ for armor and weapons.

[ZickZak]

Secret Wizard wrote:

I don't think Falcata over Falchion is that much of a DPR boost to justify a feat. You should probably grab Iron Will, Dodge, Disruptive, etc. More utilities in place of so much damage

Falchion's 30% crit chance, Falcata 20%, but it does 1,5x damage compared. It just crits less often for more.

[Secret Wizard]

And you are spending a feat for that.

[lemeres]

Riving strike isn't a terrible option either. It makes anything you hit with arcane strike take a -2 to saves against spells. Your party members will appreciate that.

[Deighton Thrane]

Secret Wizard wrote:

And you are spending a feat for that.

Actually, working out the increased critical chance it's pretty much a 10% increase in critical damage over the Falchion, which isn't the greatest increase, but is very much in line with normal bonus from improved critical. Although I would probably go with what you suggested and keep the feat for iron will. It's ridiculous how often that feat has saved my PFS fighter, even stopping a few TPKs.

Edit - Actually, scratch that. Nodachi, not a Falchion. Still save the feat though.

[ZickZak]

Deighton Thrane wrote:

Actually, scratch that. Nodachi, not a Falchion. Still save the feat though.

Over-Sized Nodachi isn't an option for a medium character. As a standard size, it's very slightly behind the standard Falcata at the current level. At higher levels though, Falcata should be better.

[lemeres]

ZickZak wrote:

Deighton Thrane wrote:

Actually, scratch that. Nodachi, not a Falchion. Still save the feat though.

Over-Sized Nodachi isn't an option for a medium character. As a standard size, it's very slightly behind the standard Falcata at the current level. At higher levels though, Falcata should be better.

As a note- he has a trait that gives him extra damage if he uses large sized weapons. So the damage dice are better and there is also better static damage.

An large katana would be better...although I am unsure whether you can grab that without the exotic weapon proficiency (it has that same mechanic as bastard swords)

[Eigengrau]

I'd go Human, gain the extra feat for that, and drop Exotic weapon and just use the Nodachi. Possibly drop Furious Focus as well.

With the 2 extra feats I'd grab Pushing Assault & either Cleave or Weapon Specialization. With your Lunge & Pushing Assault you can stop 10ft out from enemy make your attacks, forgo the Power Attack damage and push your enemy back 5ft, then he'll have to spend a move action to get up to melee range again, negating his multiple attacks each round.

[Rodinia]

If you are trying to maximize damage output, don't sweat the small numbers (critical threat damage difference) and go for extra attacks each round! With your DEX 14 , Combat Reflexes gives you 3 possible AoOs each round. If you use a reach weapon like a bardiche [1-10 19x2] instead of your falcatta your average damage per hit will drop about one HP. You are also very likely to pick up the occasional extra attack, and sometimes up to three extra attacks. Your total damage output will probably be considerably higher. Even one AoO every few rounds more than compensates for the slightly reduced critical threat. At the same time you maximize damage you also increase your fighter's battlefield zone of control.

Even without Combat Reflexes, just switching to a bardiche would almost certainly output more damage over time than your current choice. You still get one AoO per round, which can effectively double your damage output from levels 1 through 5.

Also, you should replace the Weapon Focus feats with defensive feats like Iron Will and Toughness. Those will increase survivability a lot more than +2 to hit with your primary weapon.