Viking Fighter build concept.


Advice


I'm planning out a Viking build for when my group does Wrath of the Righteous, or whenever I can play one in Society, whichever comes first. Would like opinions on this setup.

Dorf
10>16
10>14
12>16
10>12
12>12
8>6

>Level one: power attack, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword)
>Level two: Shield Focus.
>Level three: improved bull rush.
>Level four: Intimidating Prowess. (+1 dex)
>Level five: Lesser Beast Totem.
>Level six: Beast Totem.
>Level seven: Two Weapon Fighting. (+1 dex)
>Level eight: Improved Shield Bash.
>Level nine: Shield Slam.
>Level ten: Greater Beast Totem.
>Level eleven: Shield Master.
>Level twelve: Weapon Focus (Bastard Sword). (+1 str)
>Level thirteen: Dazzling Display.
>Level fourteen: Shatter Defences.
>Level fifteen: Raging Vitality.
>Level sixteen: Greater Bull Rush. (+1 str)

Does this look good? Should I put more focus on rage powers? Which ones?


I like the shield focus. Vikings used shields. They used swords with a very restrictive grip that couldn't possibly be held in two hands, certainly not anything that could be called bastard sword. The hand was supposed to fit snuggly, and could if desired be braced against the large, blocky pommel to get extra leverage. Here's an image.


Duilin wrote:

I like the shield focus. Vikings used shields. They used swords with a very restrictive grip that couldn't possibly be held in two hands, certainly not anything that could be called bastard sword. The hand was supposed to fit snuggly, and could if desired be braced against the large, blocky pommel to get extra leverage. Here's an image.

It is very possible that OP meant he was playing the Fighter Archetype rather than a full blown viking of yore. Of course, the archetype itself is supposed to be a classic viking but it doesn't force the player into it. Regardless, the player could wield a morningstar and call it an ulfberht because he just wants morningstar stats with the visuals of of a sword. Lets not forget that vikings employed axes and spears as well.

The name "Dorf" is easily turned into "Dwarf," my cohort Dorf is constantly called Dwarf. It also not very viking sounding but thats not a problem if you're not playing a classic viking. If you are then I suggest adding a second syllable to really sell the viking. OF course single viking names exist but Sven is is clearly viking while Dorf is questionable. A single syllable option could be Dorve while two could be Arndorf.

IIRC Wrath of The Righteous is the campaign that uses mythic rules so your feats might be changed to better ones. Another option to consider is the Ulfen Guard though this prestige class focuses on being a guard more than a rage machine.


From the stats that looks like it actually is a dwarf. In which case the bastard sword prof. feat is an odd choice - they'd have free proficiency in the dwarven waraxe which has equivalent stats.

There's a 9-level gap between getting intimidating prowess and dazzling display, with no other intimidate feats or rage powers in the build. Kind of a waste. Putting in WF at level 1 in place of EWP, dazzling display at level 4 in place of intimidating prowess and maybe getting intimidating prowess or skill focus (intimidate) later would work better. Mythic dazzling display is definitely something to aim for.

Once you have pounce you'll want improved TWF, as soon as you can get the dex 17.


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Spermy The Cat wrote:
I'm planning out a Viking build for when my group does Wrath of the Righteous, or whenever I can play one in Society, whichever comes first. Would like opinions on this setup.
With the Fighter[Viking] archetype being updated in Ultimate Wilderness (2017), it's now pretty decent: rage is delayed from 4th (as it was in the original People of the North) to 5th, but the -3 level penalty has been dropped. They remain, however, stuck with the Fighter's class skills list, and getting only 2/level -- which really sucks. They're a bit of an underperformer at low-level (when lack of rage compares them poorly versus a "real" barbarian. The archetype's major benefits are an eventual swift-action intimidate, and a escalating shield bonus to AC. Both of these should be exploited to get the most out of the class.
Quote:

Dorf

10>16
10>14
12>16
10>12
12>12
8>6
Assuming dwarf, that's 22pt-buy, unless you'd meant for cha to be bottomed out entirely at a 5.
Quote:

>Level one: power attack, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword)

>Level two: Shield Focus.
>Level three: improved bull rush.
>Level four: Intimidating Prowess. (+1 dex)
>Level five: Lesser Beast Totem.
>Level six: Beast Totem.
>Level seven: Two Weapon Fighting. (+1 dex)
>Level eight: Improved Shield Bash.
>Level nine: Shield Slam....(snip_

* You can't attack using claws and manufactured weapons with the same limbs.

* Unless you're a dex-rager archetype barbarian, you're going to need Raging Vitality a lot earlier than 15th level to avoid sudden cases of the deads.

== == ==

Str: 14
Dex: 14
Con: 15 (PFS-legal 20pt-buy Ulfen human)
Int: 7
Wis: 14
Cha: 12

Traits: Affable, Accelerated Drinker
01 Slayer1 [Bounty Hunter], EWP:Falcata, Fast Learner(favored class:fighter)*
02 Fighter1 [Viking], [feat:Weapon Focus(Falcata)]
03 Fighter2 [Fearsome(Intimidate=move action)][feat:Taldan Duelist], Cunning*

...Gets 4 skills/level as an Int 7 whose favored class is only gaining 1 per level after the penalties! --Are there "stronger" choices? Undoubtedly. But we're doing this purely for the lulz.

...Bucklers become AC+2 items.

...The Bounty Hunter dip provides Acrobatics, Perception, and Sense Motive (among others) as class (in addition to Diplomacy from a trait with a +2 bonus), lets us throw nets, bolas, and other hilarity without penalty (how cool is that?) as well as providing the Studied Target feature (which we'll use during the haggling-before-combat-breaks-out-phase to apply a +1 att/dmg bonus to our likely opponent). Having Studied Target and Weapon Focus while NOT having Power Attack means that the 14 strength attack-bonus is equivalent to a build with an 18 strength but without Weapon Focus, or a starting 20 who always Power Attacks but is without Weapon Focus.

04 Fighter3 [Shield Defense+1], Con>16

...Buckler is now an AC+3 item before magic.

05 fighter4 [feat:Shield Focus], Power Attack
06 fighter5 [Berserker(acquire rage)]

...Buckler is now an AC+4 item before magic.

...6th level is dangerous, as we do not yet have Raging Vitality. Tactics: carry a masterwork bardiche or fauchard for off-turn AoOs and reach, then drop it and quick draw the blade for two attacks when crowded.

07 fighter6 [feat:Unhindered Shield], Raging Vitality

...The buckler's AC bonus now applies even if we use that arm to attack or steady a polearm, and there is no longer a -1 attack penalty for attacking with the arm.
...Raging Vitality prevent "sudden death" due to loss of rage temporary hitpoints if you go unconscious.

08 fighter7 [Shield Defense+2], Str>15

...Buckler is now an AC+5 item before magic.

09 fighter8 [feat:Improved Critical:falcata], Critical Focus or FEAT(g)

Weapons: +1/Furious falcata (add Cruel when you hit Viking 10th and can Intimidate as a swift action), +1/Adaptable hornbow

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