Another Game Another PC Please help Optimize My fighter

[JuliusCromwell]

Ok so I have a ECL 12 Game starting with a group of Friends
and Have taken up the Job

of Front-line Fighter

What I want is Do awesomely wield a Fauchard (or if some one has a Better Pole Arm)

I plan on Playing Fighter Normally not taking any Archetypes as i hear Pole-arm master is not that good.

My Main Problem is what Feats to Take and by that also what Race
cause i know I could go Human but i Fear I am missing out on other goodies from other races

Traits?? Not to sure

But I know i get 3 Feats at level one and then one every other level from class and character

Its 20 point buy and i was originally thinking of going Dex but it looks like i have put to much in to it to make it work

I want to Be able to take advantage of AoOs

I Chose Fauchard because its a reach weapon with 18(15 with keen) Crit range

[lemeres]

Ah, the call for reach has summoned me!

Lunge is definitely a priority come level 6.

lunge does not expand the area for your AoOs, and instead only expands attack range during your turn. But it is still great for set up.

Normally, when you attack first with a polearm, the enemy ends up 10' away. This is close enough for the enemy to take a 5' step (avoiding AoOs and letting them full attack).

But with lunge, you can attack from 15' away- the sweet spot. This means a normal enemy (human sized, or large but beasty types) will have to move 10' to reach you- that means a move action (thus they eat your AoO, and they can't full attack).

lunge also has its normal stated benefit- you can attack from 5' further away during your turn. With reach and a 5' step, this lets you full attack anything within 20'. That is about a move+attack from a dwarf. You can consider this a type of pseudo pounce (not as great for initial charge as a proper pounce, but more than enough when the two sides start to mix and brawl for the rest of the fight).

Note that the distance control is not that great against big, reachy stuff like giants... but hey- you have enough reach yourself that you aren't eating THE ENEMIES' AoOs. So still rather good.

And you are good on fauchard. Normally, i would say 'don't bother with an exotic weapon'... but since the crowd controlling effect of reach comes from the risk enemies face trying to cross you... making each hit more threatening is certainly good.

For race- half elves have an option to get exotic weapons (if you are going to spend a human feat on it anyway, you might as well grab low light vision and bonuses vs. enchantments). half orcs have an option that gives a bit (lets you threaten at close range; useful for cheeky casters that try to hide there when they cast to avoid AoOs; bites are nice since they can get 1.5x bonuses as your only natural weapon).

Archetypes- I tend to like the mutation warrior. It trades armor training (I know that was advanced armor trianing, but it never really wowed me) in order to give: mutagens (bonuses to str! More smashy is good.) and some discoveries (most notable- wings. It is min/level, but that is still enough to cover every fight in the day from the moment you get them).

[Scott Wilhelm]

I was just talking about this on another thread. My 3 favorite Pole Arms are Lucerne Hammer, Horsechopper, and Halberd. All 3 are Martial Weapons whereas the Fauchard is an Exotic Weapon.

Lucerne Hammer: 1d12, Piercing, Bludgeoning, Reach, and Brace.
Horsechopper: 1d10, Slashing, Reach, Tripping.
Halberd: 1d10 Slashing, Piercing, Tripping, Brace.

I like the Phalanx Soldier Archetype which lets you wield Polearm and Shield at level 3. And set a Brace Weapon to receive a Charge as an Immediate Action at level 5. You can also take Quickdraw so you can switch between weapons or use in Conjunction with Ready Pike to lull your opponents into thinking you aren't ready when you soooo are!

I like the Shield Slam Feat. Free Bull Rush with every Shield Bash. Then take Greater Bull Rush, giving all yoru allies Attacks of Oportunity with Every Bull Rush. Dip 3 levels in Inquisitor, and take Paired Opportunist, and you get Attacks of Opportunity whenever your Allies do. Take Harder they Fall, and no more Size limit on opponents you can Trip or Bull Rush. Take 2 more levels in Inquisitor, and you can put Bane on 1 of your Weapons, probably your shield. Flank your opponent with a Buddy, and Bull Rush him with your shield. When you take your AoO, make it another Shield Bash, triggering more AoOs looping for as long as your Combat Reflexes lasts.

Use a Reach Pole Arm and use your Shield to Bull Rush anyone away who gets too close to better tenderize him with your Lucerne Hammer. Great Cleave 10' opponents with your Pole Arm and Shield Slam Adjacent opponents.

Or 2 weapon Fight with Halberd and Shield. Make your Shield a Spiked Shield and take Hamatula Strike. Any hit with your Halberd or Shield gives you a free Grapple. Wear Armor Spikes so each Grapple does extra Damage. Releasing a Grapple is a Free Action so there is no reason why you can't skewer and Grapple your opponent with your Lucern Hammer, drawing them in for your Armor Spike Damage, skewer them again on your Spikes Shield, releasing them from your 'Hammer as a Free Action, then also use Shield Slam to Bull Rush them away again, triggering AoO's from GBR...

[lemeres]

Well, if we are looking at martial weapon polearms, then teh bardiche should be mentioned. Mostly since it is the closest to the fauchard- it is 19-20/x2.

Although I suppose it lacks trip... but trip always seems..... eeeehhhh..... particularly at higher levels where a bunch of things fly, have a bunch of legs, or just have a huge CMD in general.