The idea behind this barbarian is high AC, DR, and a lot of intimidation tactics in combat. Here's what I have so far.
Barbarian 19 (Invulnerable Rager and Urban Barbarian archetypes)/Rogue 1 (Thug archetype)
I figured the increased DR progression of Invulnerable Rager, combined with no AC penalty (and possible Dex increase) from an Urban Barbarian's controlled rage would make a good combination, so the character would be more like a local brute in a city or town.
I have the Thug level dig at 15th-level, for the Frightening class feature that lets me upgrade the shaken condition to frightened basically anytime I deal non-lethal, as well as gain sneak attack.
Given I wouldn't gain much of anything, I'm also wondering if there are other dips that would be great for this build. And if I should go more Invulnerable Unchained Barbarian and drop the Urban archetype) because some of the rage powers are just better defensively (especially Increased Damage Reduction)
Feat-wise, I'm looking at:
1st: Bludgeoner (to deal nonlethal damage with his Earth Breaker, as well as bite attack when raging)
3rd: Power Attack
5th: Enforcer (free demoralize when dealing nonlethal damage)
7th: Cornugon Smash (free demoralize when hitting with Power Attack; so two free demoralize checks when combining Power Attack and non-lethal damage)
9th: Hurtful (free attack as swift action after demoralizing an opponent)
11th: Dreadful Carnage (intimidate everyone in 30 feet when downing an opponent, which could work in conjunction with Hurtful)
13th: Furious Focus (eliminate that Power Attack penalty with the first attack)
15th: Intimidating Prowess (add Str to Intimidate checks)
17th: Combat Reflexes (get AoO against anyone that runs away from him; great combined with Enforcer, Thug's Frightening class feature, and Hurtful feat)
19th: Accomplished Sneak Attacker
There are obviously more feats that I'd like (some to take earlier than currently listed), but sadly barbs are very feat-starved as is.
Rage Powers are more up in the air and need filling out; but I do have the following in mind thus far:
2nd: Animal Fury
4th: Penetrating Bite
6th: Greater Animal Fury
Take URogue to 4 for Disorienting Injury, and with Cornugon Smash and Cruel Enchant on your weapon, you'll debuff their attacks by -8. That's a really sizeable bonus to your AC right there, and you only lose 1 BAB from the 4 lvl Dip in Rogue.
You really do get quite a bit in the first 4 lvls of Rogue, it's probably one of the best-kept secrets in the game.
to heck with non-lethal, slaughter 100 innocents and take Innocent Blood and double the demoralize penalty!
Take URogue to 4 for Disorienting Injury, and with Cornugon Smash and Cruel Enchant on your weapon, you'll debuff their attacks by -8. That's a really sizeable bonus to your AC right there, and you only lose 1 BAB from the 4 lvl Dip in Rogue.
You really do get quite a bit in the first 4 lvls of Rogue, it's probably one of the best-kept secrets in the game.
Hmm... would rely on me making a sneak attack to work though. The evasion, uncanny dodge, and rogue talents are enticing though. Might even let me delegate a couple feats to Extra Rage Power by placing a current combat feat as a Combat Trick. Then Brutal Beating from Thug would allow me to sicken them for a couple rounds as well! I'll consider it.
to heck with non-lethal, slaughter 100 innocents and take Innocent Blood and double the demoralize penalty!
I'm not looking to make this guy chaotic evil.
it can be a redemption arc!
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one- I would take hurtful at 5, and cornugon smash at 7. This way you get an extra attack sooner.
I also suggest not going to heavily into non-lethal
I concur that 4 levels of rogue would probably work well for you, I'd dip rogue at level 13-17.
Here is why-
You are spending two feats on it, and these two feats do not improve your combat prowess. You could instead spend them on getting other feats sooner, OR, you could spend them on combat expertise and stalwart/improved stalwart feats for ALL THE DR.
You can take intimidating glare as a barbarian rage power.
Which you could then use in conjunction with vital strike line if you wanted.
Here are two feat lines I'd recommend-
you should go with human for the build.
first-
1. Intimidating Prowess, power attack
3- Hurtful
5- free
7- Cornugon smash
9- Combat reflexes
11- Dreadful Carnage
13- Accomplished Sneak attacker (?)
15-
second-
1. Intimidating Prowess, power attack
3- Hurtful
5- Furious Focus
7- Vital strike
9- Cornugon Smash
11- Combat Reflexes
13- Improved Vital Strike
15- Dreadful Carnage
Rage powers (chained, as I am not familiar with unchained)
in no particular order-
Intimidating Glare
Superstition
Reckless Abandon
Internal Fortitude
Witch Hunter
Spell Sunder
Come and Get me
Stalwart, however, requires Endurance and Diehard, meaning I'd have to sink in 3 feats (before Stalwart), two of which wouldn't really improve combat ability. Besides, didn't roll the Int for Combat Expertise.
I'm also pretty committed to making this a non-human character and having the non-lethal stuff for in-character reasons.
Stalwart, however, requires Endurance and Diehard, meaning I'd have to sink in 3 feats (before Stalwart), two of which wouldn't really improve combat ability. Besides, didn't roll the Int for Combat Expertise.
If you take 1 level of UNBREAKABLE FIGHTER you get the prerequisites for Stalwart. Just a thought.
Also my Bloodrager took a level of Brawler to get Combat Expertise without having 13 INT (I also got Improved Unarmed Strike and 4 uses of Martial Versatility, which is pretty amazing - especially since I now have all the "Improved <Combat Maneuver>" feat prerequisites).
It might be more dipping than you want to do (which is fair) but it's an option.
Oh, or a level in GREEN KNIGHT CAVALIER gets you Endurance and Diehard AND a couple of other things ... but it comes with more restrictions, so it depends on your character concept.
Hmm... would rely on me making a sneak attack to work though. The evasion, uncanny dodge, and rogue talents are enticing though. Might even let me delegate a couple feats to Extra Rage Power by placing a current combat feat as a Combat Trick. Then Brutal Beating from Thug would allow me to sicken them for a couple rounds as well! I'll consider it.
There are a lot of ways to make SnA work even without investing into feats like Shatter Defenses, the easiest being to have a reliable Flanking buddy. Alternatively you can attack from GInvis (either train UMD or get potions), or successfully ambush a FF target in the Surprise Round.
Take URogue to 4 for Disorienting Injury, and with Cornugon Smash and Cruel Enchant on your weapon, you'll debuff their attacks by -8. That's a really sizeable bonus to your AC right there, and you only lose 1 BAB from the 4 lvl Dip in Rogue.
You really do get quite a bit in the first 4 lvls of Rogue, it's probably one of the best-kept secrets in the game.
Hmm... would rely on me making a sneak attack to work though. The evasion, uncanny dodge, and rogue talents are enticing though. Might even let me delegate a couple feats to Extra Rage Power by placing a current combat feat as a Combat Trick. Then Brutal Beating from Thug would allow me to sicken them for a couple rounds as well! I'll consider it.
to heck with non-lethal, slaughter 100 innocents and take Innocent Blood and double the demoralize penalty!I'm not looking to make this guy chaotic evil.
You could go dreamthief if you didn't want to mess with sneak attack. Either Hatred for free power attack, +2st -2dex, and a weapon size bump on your first attack every round, or Anger for +2 to hit +1/2 level to damage after taking a move action to designate someone as your target.
There are a lot of ways to make SnA work even without investing into feats like Shatter Defenses, the easiest being to have a reliable Flanking buddy. Alternatively you can attack from GInvis (either train UMD or get potions), or successfully ambush a FF target in the Surprise Round.
Just a note: GREATER INVISIBILITY isn't usually available as a potion. Potions can only be 1st, 2nd or 3rd level spells, and the only classes that get this spell as a 3rd level spell are the (pre-unchained) Summoner and the Medium.
If your group allows pre-unchained summoners then you could buy these potions from a 7th level Summoner for 1,050gp each and they would last 7 rounds.
If your world has Mediums in it you could buy these potions from a 10th level Medium for 1,500gp and they would last for 10 rounds.
Either way you need to find sufficiently high level caster who knows this spell (they're both spontaneous casters) and who has thr Brew Potion feat.
I wouldn't count on that being easily available.
(Wands work fine though)
I'm also pretty committed to making this a non-human character and having the non-lethal stuff for in-character reasons.
For some reason unbeknownst to me, nobody ever recommends the Training weapon enchantment around here... I think it's a great way of getting a combat feat, especially if that feat isn't a prerequisite for other feats. So just put Training (Bludgeoner) on your Earth Breaker and you're all set for non-lethal damage.
technically raw, any large city would have a few of these potions in stock.
Maybe.
If your GM doesn't allow the chained Summoner or Occult classes then they wouldn't. Since those are 2 of the most common things prohibited at tables it's worth noting.
I'm not saying they won't be available, just that you shouldn't assume they will.
7th: Cornugon Smash (free demoralize when hitting with Power Attack; so two free demoralize checks when combining Power Attack and non-lethal damage)
This seems like a waste. You can't stack (as in advance to frighten) multiple demoralize effects so the only time it's worth having two attempts is if you've failed the first. But retrying the check has a +5 DC increase, so it's more sensible to just boost your skill bonus by taking Intimidating Prowess rather than trying twice.
Hmm... would rely on me making a sneak attack to work though.
In addition to the ways to secure SA already mentioned, the oft-forgotten Shadows of Fear is worth bringing up in your case.
Compared to Shatter Defenses it requires just one feat instead of three. And while Shatter Defenses is a three-hit combo to get sneak attack (demoralize, flat-footed, SA) Shadows of Fear is just a two-hit combo (demoralize, SA) so it can be done without full-attacking as you have Hurtful.