High Damage Reduction - Stalwart Defender Tank Build

[Nosta1300]

I never played a Tank and want to Give it a Try and found the - Stalwart defender PRC and would like to Build around the Idea of having very High DR / -

I also Know of Stalwart Feats and would like to include them

I am how ever unsure of my Base class. On one hand Invulnerable Rager Barbarian would give me a good amount of DR. how ever I do want to be good with a pole arm to create a zone of nope as well.

If I Went Invulnerable rager I'd go 8 levels of that to net me DR 4 /-

I am also thinking going fighter and picking up some DR from the one armor mastery ability (This would also give me more feats)

[Secret Wizard]

Remember Unchained Barbarian gives you higher DR than Invulnerable Rager.

Fighter gives a good amount of DR, sure, but here's the thing about Fighter... it's better than the Stalwart Defender PrC if you go full Fighter.

But, in both cases... remember the DR from other classes does not stack with Stalwart Defender's PrC.

If you'd like, I could share a pretty good Fighter tank build.

[Cavall]

With investment of levels both fighter and barbarian will exceed the PRC. And given that it takes levels to even reach a PRC the conversation of levels happening later on is moot.

I personally think you should take secret wizard up on the offer of seeing a fighter build as frankly for AC, DR and still having options left over for offense the fighter is a strong contender.

[Nosta1300]

Secret Wizard wrote:

Remember Unchained Barbarian gives you higher DR than Invulnerable Rager.

Fighter gives a good amount of DR, sure, but here's the thing about Fighter... it's better than the Stalwart Defender PrC if you go full Fighter.

But, in both cases... remember the DR from other classes does not stack with Stalwart Defender's PrC.

If you'd like, I could share a pretty good Fighter tank build.

sure That'd be nice o.o

[Secret Wizard]

So here's an idea:

Let's say Human for s@$+s and giggles.

Alternate racial traits: Replace your Bonus Feat with Mixed Heritage for Heart of Fey (+1 Will/Reflex, low light vision, Knowledge (nature) as a class skill.

Traits: Defender of the Society (+1 AC), Indomitable Faith (+1 Will)

20 PB: S16+2 D14 C15 I12 W10 CH7

Feats:

LV1. Cunning (+1 Skill Rank per level)

LV1 Bonus Feat. Power Attack

LV2 Bonus Feat. Shield Focus (buckler)

LV3. Advanced Armor Training (Armored Juggernaut for DR)

LV4 Bonus Feat. Unhindering Shield (use bucklers + 2H weapons simultaneously)

LV4 Pip. +1 CON

LV5 Feature. Weapon Training (to taste, pick whichever has the 2H weapon you want to use, my favorite is Axes because they give you Survival and Climb as Versatile Training skills)

LV5. Advanced Weapon Training (Versatile Training for more skills)

LV6 Bonus Feat. Combat Reflexes (more attacks of opportunity)

LV7. Cut from the Air (destroy missiles)

LV8 Bonus Feat. Stand Still

LV8 Pip. +1 STR

LV9 Feature. Weapon Training (replace it with Advanced Weapon Training: Armed Bravery for higher bonuses to Will saves all around)

LV9. Smash from the Air

LV10 Bonus Feat. Advanced Weapon Training (Fighter's Reflexes, for better Ref saves)

LV11. Pin Down (in combination with Stand Still, prevents enemies from escaping your grasp)

SO WHAT DID WE DO:

We created a 2H wielder that has: scaling DR (with adamantine armor works best), can destroy incoming spells and missiles (even if they are not directly directed at the Fighter), can prevent enemy movement (with Stand Still and Pin Down), has great saves all around, and has a good number of skills to play with (2 base + 1 INT + 1 Cunning + 1 Skilled + 2 Versatile Training, for a total of 7 skills per level).

Regarding AC, it'd be a balance between DEX and armor bonuses. Full-Plate + 14 DEX is +11 AC thanks to Armor Training I.
Once you get to Armor Training II, you have the option of: getting a Belt that increases DEX to have +12 AC, or replacing Armor Training II with Advanced Armor Training: Armor Specialization for a scaling bonus to AC.

Once you get Fortified Armor, you can get the Secured Armor feat to reduce crits even more.

Also, notice this build can use Bucklers without penalty, so you can be an AC ball.

[Scott Wilhelm]

If you were a Half Elf, you could take the Arcane Training Alternate Racial Trait, and that lets you use any Sorcerer or Wizard Wand (Arcanist).

Purchase a Wand of Blur, and you enjoy a 20% Miss Chance on top of your high AC from Heavy Armor and Shield and your DR. A Wand of Blink would be more expensive, but would give you a 50% Miss Chance.

If you were an Eldritch Guardian Fighter, you could have a Protector Familiar that would give you an extra +2 AC through the Bodyguard Feat, and it would protect you starting at Level 5 through Shield Other. You could then start healing your Familiar with a Wand of Infernal Healing.

If you dip a level in Inquisitor, the Judgement Ability can give you Fast Healing.

So, without too much shennanigans, you could have a Miss Chance, a high AC, Shield Other, DR, and Fast Healing!