We recently started up campaign of Reign of Winter. The GM actually ran an introductory module for us, as he put it, the AP is 'quite challenging' and getting us to 2nd level would actually be something we might need.
Before I get into my build, I should probably describe our party a bit. Besides myself, we have:
Verminus Hunter/Witch (will focus on Witch)
Rogue (has said will not focus on combat, more on skills in between combat)
Cleric
Ranger (not sure which combat style, but we think she wants to do ranged)
We did talk a bit after the first session (module) and several of us came to the conclusion it would be a good idea to have 2nd front-liner. Even the Cleric, who could be one, is going towards the medium armor route with a 13 Str.
We did speak to our friend who plays the Ranger and asked what combat style she wants to do and she was leaning towards ranged. But after our discussion of needing a 2nd front-liner, she said she could be willing to go TWF. I did suggest there are other combat styles she could look at, as well.
The thing is I don't know if she really wants to play a melee Ranger as she's always been one to hang back for combats, doesn't like to get into the thick of it.
We have made do in other campaigns in not having quite a balanced party, but I will admit, having a 2nd front-liner would not only really benefit the party, but also would work well with my character.
Ok, should post my build now. As the subject line says, I am a straight Fighter (no archetype) that is going down the Tower Shield route using the Mobile feat-line and also Tower Shield Specialist. Here is my build:
Str. 18
Dex. 14
Con. 14
Int. 12
Wis. 10
Cha. 8
Trait: Armor (Shield) Expert (DM is allowing me to use a shield version for Armor Expert)
1st – Combat Reflexes, Shield Focus, Mobile Bulwark Style
2nd – Bodyguard
3rd – In Harm’s Way
4th – Mobile Fortress
5th – EWP: Fauchard
6th – Shield Brace
7th – Mobile Stronghold
8th – Tower Shield Specialist
9th – Improved Critical: Fauchard, AWT: Armed Bravery
10th – Tidal Swiftness
11th – Pin Down
12th – Stand Still
13th – Warrior Spirit, AWT: Fighter’s Reflexes
I understand this character is going to be more of a control Fighter than an all-out damage one. I did think about taking the High Guardian archetype, but didn't like the limit of Bodyguard and In Harm's Way for only my Obligation. Never mind it forced me to push out a couple feats later on.
Just looking for suggestions. One thing I am concerned about is will I be doing enough damage? Between my Str+Weapon Training+Weapon enhancement damage?
I know my character is really focused on control, but I also still want to deal enough damage to be worthwhile at higher levels.
I've debated on switching out the Bodyguard and In Harm's Way feats, one of them for a Power Attack. Originally I had a Nodachi instead of Fauchard, but felt the Reach would be worthwhile for the EWP feat.
Many of my feats are locked, like the Mobile line, Tower Shield Specialist, Shield Brace, Shield Focus, Combat Reflexes (doesn't have to be 1st level), but the others I am open to suggestions. And I really don't want to go to an archetype as I want to keep both Armor Training (actually this is a necessity) and Weapon Training.
Any help is appreciated!
Shield brace is not viable for a tower shield user - the shield's armor check penalty applies to attacks with the weapon, and while you'll be reducing that it's still going to be a huge penalty. 10 base, reduced by 1 by masterwork or 2 with darkwood, 3 by tower shield specialist, 1 + 1 per 4 levels for armor training, 1 more for armor expert - that's a -3 or -4 penalty when you get shield brace. Not as bad as I feared but still not workable.
On the plus side that gives you a couple of feats to play with. Advanced weapon training is a good pick at 5th level; the best option IMO is warrior spirit but you could get armed bravery then. Lunge can be useful, or you could get power attack. Advanced armor training has some useful options like steel headbutt on offence or armor specialization or armored sacrifice on defence. If your party is planning builds together there are teamwork feats to consider like outflank.
Shield brace is not viable for a tower shield user - the shield's armor check penalty applies to attacks with the weapon, and while you'll be reducing that it's still going to be a huge penalty. 10 base, reduced by 1 by masterwork or 2 with darkwood, 3 by tower shield specialist, 1 + 1 per 4 levels for armor training, 1 more for armor expert - that's a -3 or -4 penalty when you get shield brace. Not as bad as I feared but still not workable.
On the plus side that gives you a couple of feats to play with. Advanced weapon training is a good pick at 5th level; the best option IMO is warrior spirit but you could get armed bravery then. Lunge can be useful, or you could get power attack. Advanced armor training has some useful options like steel headbutt on offence or armor specialization or armored sacrifice on defence. If your party is planning builds together there are teamwork feats to consider like outflank.
I won't be wielding the Fauchard until 8th level, when my Tower Shield Specialist kicks in. Only reason I have Shield Brace at 6th level is because it's the closest slot I can put it without moving feats I don't want to move, both Mobile Fortress and Tower Shield Specialist. Those are the earliest I can take those feats per the prereq. and don't want to take them any later.
When Tower Shield Specialist kicks in at 8th level I will have a -2 penalty.
-1 Shield Expert
-2 Darkwood
-5 Armor Training (At this point I will have Sash of the War Champion which gives +4 to my Armor Training level)
Also, my DM has indicated he will allow me to purchase the Comfort enhancement equivalent for shields. He says he will write it up, but in the end it will accomplish around the same in giving at least a -1 to ACP. So that will drop the penalty to -1.
And since I will only be one level away from 9th at this point, of course when hit 9th, I will hit my next Armor Training level to knock my penalty to 0.
I have actually altered my feats a bit since making my post. I replaced Bodyguard at 2nd level with Power Attack and moved Stand Still to 3rd instead of In Harm's Way. I also took out Shield Brace at 6th and moved Tidal Swiftness there. However, Shield Brace is still key to my build and at 8th level I plan to use my Fighter re-training ability to put Shield Brace back in (for 6th level slot) and I may or may not take Tidal Swiftness at 10th. I'll see how its benefitting me/how much I need it.
I do like Warrior Spirit, but just don't have the room for it at 5th level with the other feats I want (need) to take. Maybe if I don't end up taking Tidal Swiftness again at 10th I will go with Warrior Spirit at 10th. Or put Armed Bravery there instead and have Warrior Spirit at 9th when flipping out a weapon group.
As the subject line says, I am a straight Fighter
Is that a hard requirement? Is the goal specifically to be an unarchetyped fighter?
There's not much wiggle room atm, except to say that you can buy proficiency with the Fauchard for just 1,500 GP (cracked Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun Stone) instead of taking the feat.
As the subject line says, I am a straight FighterIs that a hard requirement? Is the goal specifically to be an unarchetyped fighter?
There's not much wiggle room atm, except to say that you can buy proficiency with the Fauchard for just 1,500 GP (cracked Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun Stone) instead of taking the feat.
It's not so much it's my goal to be un-archetyped Fighter. It's just that most archetypes require you to switch out either Armor or Weapon Training, and I want to keep both. I've played several Fighters, but have always played one with an archetype so I've always lost either Armor or Weapon Training. Wanted to play a Fighter this time with both abilities.
I did think about trying the High Guardian archetype, as it doesn't require me to switch or Armor or Weapon Training, but found the drawbacks outweighed the benefits for me.
I did already debate on the Cracked Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun Stone, but I am just very leery relying on being able to wield my weapon via a magical means. If we are in a situation with anti-magic field I couldn't use my Fauchard. Of course I could have a back-up weapon (like a Nodachi), but then would lose access to my Improved Crit range.
I realize there a lot of 'must have' feats for my build, but I just figured I would throw it out there and see if there was anything I was missing or anything anyone could suggest that I haven't thought of.
I did already debate on the Cracked Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun Stone, but I am just very leery relying on being able to wield my weapon via a magical means. If we are in a situation with anti-magic field I couldn't use my Fauchard. Of course I could have a back-up weapon (like a Nodachi), but then would lose access to my Improved Crit range.
Right, right. But if you are in an anti-magic field then you're already screwed. It doesn't matter that you're no longer proficient because your stat belt, magic weapon, spell buffs, and four kinds of AC bonuses are all gone. Your priority is "run away from the anti-magic field", not "try to attack with severely gimped stats".
Tidal Swiftness is kind of a hard sell since you're effectively using two feats for it. You need to invest in Know: Planar which might be hard as you have few skill ranks, and 1 skill rank per level is worth one feat (Cunning).
If you switch out Tidal Swiftness, EWP, and retrain Stand Still later (the CMB check is really hard at higher levels) you have three more feats to spend.
I did already debate on the Cracked Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun Stone, but I am just very leery relying on being able to wield my weapon via a magical means. If we are in a situation with anti-magic field I couldn't use my Fauchard. Of course I could have a back-up weapon (like a Nodachi), but then would lose access to my Improved Crit range.Right, right. But if you are in an anti-magic field then you're already screwed. It doesn't matter that you're no longer proficient because your stat belt, magic weapon, spell buffs, and four kinds of AC bonuses are all gone. Your priority is "run away from the anti-magic field", not "try to attack with severely gimped stats".
Tidal Swiftness is kind of a hard sell since you're effectively using two feats for it. You need to invest in Know: Planar which might be hard as you have few skill ranks, and 1 skill rank per level is worth one feat (Cunning).
If you switch out Tidal Swiftness, EWP, and retrain Stand Still later (the CMB check is really hard at higher levels) you have three more feats to spend.
An anti-magic field was just one example, it's just being completely reliant on an item to use my main weapon. If something happens to the ioun stone (like if someone also tries to sunder, grab it or something else) then I would still be screwed. But as you can see, I like to look at worst case/more rare scenarios. :)
Even though we aren't going to be Pathfinders, my DM did say I could get access to an item equivalent to a Wayfinder, something to put the ioun stone in. Then I would keep it an unexposed area. So maybe I can get away with switching out EWP.
The reason I was going with Tidal Swiftness is my lower movement. I will have a 30' move, but was looking for something to get out ahead more quickly than that with my type of build. Dragon Style would be another good one, but that requires a second feat (Unarmed Strike). With Tidal Swiftness, that doesn't have any prereq feats, only a prereq. of dedicating 1 skill rank a level for 5 levels. Being a human Fighter and 12 Int, I will be getting 4 ranks a level.
And especially since I won't be able to get Boots of Striding & Springing, due to Boots of the Winterland will be basically a must for our campaign (Reign of Winter), I won't be able to increase my movement that way.
So what level would you recommend retraining out Stand Still? I was hoping to continue using that even later on. Does it become that difficult at higher levels? Of course I would need to pick and choose wisely with the creatures I would do so, but 'normal' enemies (i.e. not Huge or bigger, multi-legged creatures) I would think I should be ok?
An anti-magic field was just one example, it's just being completely reliant on an item to use my main weapon. If something happens to the ioun stone (like if someone also tries to sunder, grab it or something else) then I would still be screwed. But as you can see, I like to look at worst case/more rare scenarios. :)
Might have taken you too literal there, then. In addition to the Wayfinder solution there's also the option to implant it. Then it would be completely safe, although the process is reliant on a Cha check so you'd have to try a couple of times.
So what level would you recommend retraining out Stand Still? I was hoping to continue using that even later on. Does it become that difficult at higher levels?
Well, it's a straight CMB check that doesn't use a weapon. So your CMB check won't add Weapon Training or the weapon's enhancement bonus, and enemy CMD scales way faster than enemy AC. In addition to that you'll add the Power Attack penalty to the check.
The average CMD of a CR 10 creature is 32. You'd be expected to have a Strength of 22 at level 10, so you have a straight CMB of +13 (16-Power Attack). So a 10% chance of making it against a tough opponent.
You might have another +1 or +2 from spell buffs or so, but you get the picture.
An anti-magic field was just one example, it's just being completely reliant on an item to use my main weapon. If something happens to the ioun stone (like if someone also tries to sunder, grab it or something else) then I would still be screwed. But as you can see, I like to look at worst case/more rare scenarios. :)Might have taken you too literal there, then. In addition to the Wayfinder solution there's also the option to implant it. Then it would be completely safe, although the process is reliant on a Cha check so you'd have to try a couple of times.
So what level would you recommend retraining out Stand Still? I was hoping to continue using that even later on. Does it become that difficult at higher levels?Well, it's a straight CMB check that doesn't use a weapon. So your CMB check won't add Weapon Training or the weapon's enhancement bonus, and enemy CMD scales way faster than enemy AC. In addition to that you'll add the Power Attack penalty to the check.
The average CMD of a CR 10 creature is 32. You'd be expected to have a Strength of 22 at level 10, so you have a straight CMB of +13 (16-Power Attack). So a 10% chance of making it against a tough opponent.
You might have another +1 or +2 from spell buffs or so, but you get the picture.
Ok, thanks for your help. I think I'm just going to go ahead and discard Stand Still. Especially since reading it more closely in it only works against opponents that provoke in adjacent squares.