Hammer and Board "Tank" type char (gestalt)

[Rylar]

There will soon be a new player in my gestalt game. He told me he wants to use a hammer and shield. He also wants low to no magic. I'm trying to put together some possible build for him to look at when he comes over tomorrow to build his character. I made a ranger/fighter two weapon/bull rush focused character. For the other example I'd like to build a highly resilient character. Obviously he still needs some damage output as to not be completely ignored. The character should be race neutral and use a Hammer and Shield.

Stat array is 18-13. Starting off at level 2.

My first thought is paladin. Self heals are a plus and high saves help in the resilience.

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

He may want low to no magic, but the big question is are you running any particular differences from a standard campaign? and Low to no magic in what area? that he does not want to use magic items, or that he wants the character to have none to low magical qualities.

That said when it comes to sword and board types, a Paladin's smite is the answer to practically any DR situation, if he uses the power with discretion. Given the answer to the above question this option may be out. If the only issue is the paladin's spells, there are archetypes that remove the Paladin's spellcasting ability. (this also closes off casual wand use.)

[Matt2VK]

I'd suggest a Slayer using the Slayer talents for the Ranger's Weapon & Shield Combat Style.

This should give you everything you've requested with being resilient, decent damage, good skill ranks, and no magic. Being able to use the Shield for both offence and defense helps out with the damage and the AC.

Very quick build tossed together for you.
Race: Human for the extra Feat & skills or Dwarf for the great saves and dark vision.
1) Study Target +1, Track, Feat: 2-Weapon Fighting
2) Slayer Talent-Ranger Combat Style: Improved Shield Bash
3) Sneak Attack +1D6, Feat: Weapon Focus
4) Slayer Talent: Trap Finding (If party needs it, otherwise Rogue's Weapon Training)
5) Study Target +2, Feat: Iron Will (Steel Soul if Dwarf) to help with saves.
6) Slayer Talent-Ranger Combat Style: Shield Master or Improved Shield Bash (suggest taking Imp Shield Bash at 7th)

Your stat array, you mean 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13?
Want to make sure cause that seems a bit OP to me. If so, I'd go -
18 STR 17 DEX 16 CON 14 INT 15 WIS 13 CHA
with minor adjustments depending on racial stat bumps.

[thelizardwizard]

paladin/bloodrager

warrior of holy light paladin
spelleater bloodrager-

tons of self healing, good hp, good saves,

[Rylar]

Drahliana-
Low casting capabilities. a level 4 spellcaster like paly/ranger should be fine. Especially since he will add to his options slowly. He just doesn't want to be overwhelmed with too many options at once.

Matt-
Thanks, but I am looking for a build that doesn't include shield bashing as the other build I've got has it.

Yes, it's a strong stay array. We like the overpowered games.

thelizardwizard-
It feels like paladin/bloodrager should go together well, but I cant seem to get it to mesh. Raging also drops AC which leaves me asking why is he using a shield... So far this is the best I've come up with too.

[thelizardwizard]

take the celestial bloodline?

or, take the abyssal/infernal, and have him constantly fighting Against the urges of bloodline.

[Dilvias]

Rylar wrote:

Drahliana-

Low casting capabilities. a level 4 spellcaster like paly/ranger should be fine. Especially since he will add to his options slowly. He just doesn't want to be overwhelmed with too many options at once.

Matt-
Thanks, but I am looking for a build that doesn't include shield bashing as the other build I've got has it.

Yes, it's a strong stay array. We like the overpowered games.

thelizardwizard-
It feels like paladin/bloodrager should go together well, but I cant seem to get it to mesh. Raging also drops AC which leaves me asking why is he using a shield... So far this is the best I've come up with too.

You can take shield focus, saving shield and greater shield focus with weapon and shield style. Or take Deceiving, Menacing or Underhanded instead.

Ranger is better if you know the what enemy you will be facing, Slayer is better if you will be facing a variety of opponents. Both stack well with Paladin (Good Reflexes, 6+Int skill points, wide variety of class skills). If you want no magic, you can go fighter/slayer, which gives you access to fighter only feats and Weapon/Armor training abilities.

[avr]

A shield for the AC alone isn't amazing. I don't know whether you used my suggestion of the Upsetting Shield style for the last one, but let's try another for the tanky guy, Mobile Bulwark. MB requires tower shield proficiency so we're looking at a Paladin // Fighter. I'd make the paladin side Oathbound: Oath of Vengeance, again leaving the fighter un-archetyped for all those feats.

Feats:
1: Shield Focus
1 (bonus): Mobile Bulwark Style
2 (bonus): Weapon Focus (warhammer)
3: Power Attack
4 (bonus): Weapon Spec. (warhammer)
5: Mobile Fortress
(weapon training hammers +1)
6 (bonus): Lunge
7: Mobile Stronghold
8 (bonus): Greater Weapon Focus (warhammer)
9: Fortified Armor Training
(weapon training hammers +2, trade second for AWT (Warrior Spirit))
10 (bonus): Advanced Weapon Training (Armed Bravery)

There's more feats devoted to damage there because you're starting from a weaker position than two-weapon fighting. The Mobile Bulwark feats provide quite a bit of defence, and not just to the tank alone.

[My Self]

Perhaps an Investigator//Fighter. Investigator has alchemy, which is a fairly tame sort of magic, but it also has archetypes that drop alchemy, so that's a non-issue. You could even just choose to not use alchemy, and only have it as a back up ability (just prepare a bunch of Cure Light Wounds for yourself?) It comes with two good saves that you don't have already, a nice flat hit/damage boost to melee attacks (1/2 your level!), a useful +1d6 save booster, and some skills to round you out. Mutagen will make you much tougher, if you decide to pick it up. If you're willing to shell out for it, you could go STR/INT (Instead of STR/DEX) by picking up Artful Dodge.

Primalist Bloodrager with the Destined bloodline and Animal Totem rage power chain will be able to pull together a pretty high AC.

[Matt2VK]

Have you taken a look at the Unchained Monk?
With that Stat Array, you can make a powerful unchained monk.

Human
18+2 STR 15 DEX 17 CON 14 INT 16 WIS 13 CHA
1) Feat: Weapon Focus: Unarmed Stike, Bonus Feat: Dodge, Stunning Fist, Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike.
2) Bonus Feat: Combat Reflexes
3) Feat: Dragon Style
4) Ki Power: Bark Skin
5) Feat: Dragon Ferocity, Style Strike: Flying Kick
6) Ki Power: Furious Defense, Bonus Feat: Mobility
7) Feat: Skill Focus Stealth
8) Ki Power: Insightful Wisdom
9) Feat: Hellcat Stealth. Style Strike: Spin Kick

You have mobility, good damage, health (D10), and decent skills. If you put points into stealth, at level 9 with Hellcat Stealth, you can attempt to stealth in while moving (works good with Flying Kick).
Ki Powers give you access to lots of extra goodies, which can introduce the player to spell like abilities.

AC is decent but not that good...unless you can get him buffed with Mage Armor. Either by a friendly wizard or a wand with Mage Armor in it. If wands are easy to come by in your world, might try talking him into putting skill points into UMD for a Wand of Mage Armor and a Wand of Long Strider. Both very good long duration buff spell for him.

[My Self]

This could be merged with your other thread.