Hi Community !
I need your wisdom and advices about a build I'm on : plain simple human fighter with an (probably) oversized ominous greatsword (for Intimidate build)
First thoughts about feats only. Abilities dont matter for now.
As a human, I went for Focused Study alternate racial ability.
1: Defiant Luck
Weapon Focus : Greatsword
Skill Focus : Intimidate
2: Power Atk
3: Furious Focus
4: Wpn Specialization : Greatsword
5: Hurtful
6: Cornugon Smash
7: Advanced Armor Training (feat) : Master Armorer
Advanced Armor Training : Armored Juggernaut
8: Impr Critical : Greatsword
Skill Focus : (to be chosen)
9: Advanced Weapon Training (feat) : Defensive Wpn Training
Advanced Weapon Training : Armed Bravery
10: Gr Wpn Focus : Greatsword
11: Inexplicable Luck
Advanced Armor Training : Armor Specialization
12: Gr Wpn Specialization : Greatsword
13: Advanced Weapon Training (feat) : Fighter's Reflexes
Advanced Weapon Training : Trained Initiative
13 first levels are good for now :-)
I read guide but few are about Armor and Weapon Training (too recent ?)
Warrior spirit is the top advanced weapon training - you don't always get a round to buff, but sometimes you do and it's not like your fighter has anything else to do then - but otherwise that looks pretty good for a simple, stompy human fighter.
Since you're already going for an Intimidate build, and since you already have the prerequisites: DREADFUL CARNAGE.
Why intimidate 1 person when you could intimidate all the people ... with a Free Action!
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couple of things to think about-
What happens when you get blinded or fight invisible foes? These will come up, more often than most think, or you may be forced to fight in the dark.
my suggestions-
Drop the weapon specializations, you can do better for feats than +2 damage. (namely, Iron will, step up/following step, blind fight all come to mind as better choices.)
Furious focus- I would drop this as well, unless you are intended to make use of Vital Strike as your go to. (which is fine) Otherwise, your first attacks will be hitting most of the time anyway.
you will likely get more use out of warrior spirit than the +AC boost. (example- giving your weapon Bane "whatever we are fighting")
A 1 level dip in brawler gains you martial flexibility, you can easily use this to grab AWT (item master) and start casting spells.
Thanks all for your feedback
@avr : True. Not every fight but I can have a round to prepare. I delayed Warrior Spirit to have a better enhancement bonus. Bane is cheap though
@MrCharisma : we rarely trigger "when you drop a enemy to 0 hp" conditions. Usually we start dropping an enemy, others are to be dropped in one or two rounds. Maybe with a summoned monster (happens from time to time)
@rorek55 : True also. Took Wpn Spe as usual I'd say.
I was about to drop Furious Focus.
And was thinking about Divine Fighting Technique : Greatsword Battler but I will need the Vital Strike chain ?
BOOST. YOUR. WILL. SAVE.
Then boost it again.
Advanced Weapon Training : Armed Bravery is about boosting Will save (+5 base)
I aim at WIS 13 (so +1) or soCloak of Resistance (up to +5) is usually a top priority for me
... not counting Race and traits.
With half orc (Sacred Tattoo and Fate's Favored) I can get +2
TOTAL : up to +13 in Will save
I can say I'm ready... and if not I got a team and spellcasters that boost melee even to immunity to mind affecting effects if required
Thanks for warning :-)
If you're looking to boost your saves, a CRACKED PALE GREEN PRISM IOUN STONE gives a +1 Competence bonus to either saves or attack rolls. It's 4,000gp, so it's cheaper than upgrading your cloak to +4.
Well according to THIS TABLE a +13 Will save at level 13 gives you a 65% chance of success against the average CR:13 enemy.
So take that as you will.
+13 will save is an average save of 23/24 @ 13th level. I still would strongly advocate for Iron Will/Improved Iron Will and a wisdom improving item.
True... but not what I wrote : final Will save will be +16 (ie. +13 OVER base Will Save) :-)
Sure I can invest on Iron Will (and might do)
In the end, I'm to be a fighter. Let's say I get to +30 Will... great but expensive and I may not be doing my job due to low feat investment in fighting.
Makes sense ?
Anybody else thinking that strayshift might have had a recent run of unfortunate events after failed will saves?
Count me in !
One PC in group had a mutation warrior with 4 arms evolution, 2 axes and one pick ... and a +2 Will save (no cloack, neg WIS, etc...)
DM did just what any DM would do with his nightmare : charms and controls about every time.
He killed 2 PC (with pick each time) and almost killed mine (going from full HP to -2 in one row)
When he died, all PC agreed raise dead was way too expensive...
I'm curious as to why you don't have intimidating prowess or why no one else suggested it. I wonder if its just bad but it would seem that it is better than skill focus at lower levels and you can just stack skill focus to make your intimidate even better.
As for the big sword, throwing in EWP Bastard Sword should allow you to put an Effortless Lace on it and allow you to wield it easier than a large Greatsword and do more damage. There is also the Iron Grip Gauntlets to help with oversized weapons.
Being a hard hitter is fun and all, but what about when the enemy decides to ignore you? As you are already pretty good and going intimidate why not replace a feat with antagonize? Make that Harpy or Dragon come see you so you can smack em!
@Thunderlord, they get skill focus via a human racial feature which gives 3 skill focus feats in place of the usual 1 bonus feat - at L1, L8 & L15 IIRC. Swapping it for intimidating prowess isn't an option unless they drop all 3 skill focus feats.
Meanwhile, I am surprised no one suggested Dazzling Display, Shatter Defenses, Intimidating Confidence (Intimidate all threatened enemies on a free action on a confirmed crit), Undaunted Bravery, 2-H weapon trick (for take 10 in intimidate), etc.
Really, there are so many intimidation feats.
If I may be so bold, I think you might have answered your own question there. How many feats does someone want to spend on this?
Warrior Spirit is huge. Would definitely take that over a lot of stuff. I'll parrot what a few others said. Get Blindfight and Iron Will for sure. Unhindering Shield is also a great feat.
Imo, Defiant Luck and Inexplicable Luck are kinda awful feats. Too little bang for buck. Would rather take Intimidating Prowess and maybe stuff like the Step Up chain. Consider instead stuff like Cut and Smash from the Air.
I'm curious as to why you don't have intimidating prowess or why no one else suggested it. I wonder if its just bad but it would seem that it is better than skill focus at lower levels and you can just stack skill focus to make your intimidate even better.
As for the big sword, throwing in EWP Bastard Sword should allow you to put an Effortless Lace on it and allow you to wield it easier than a large Greatsword and do more damage. There is also the Iron Grip Gauntlets to help with oversized weapons.
'cause I just forget to include it in first posts :-)
But I had it in mind after.I discovered Effort Lace yesterday for another build (2WF ranger, I'll post later about it). Good suggestion with Large BS ! Thx
Warrior Spirit is huge. Would definitely take that over a lot of stuff. I'll parrot what a few others said. Get Blindfight and Iron Will for sure. Unhindering Shield is also a great feat.
Imo, Defiant Luck and Inexplicable Luck are kinda awful feats. Too little bang for buck. Would rather take Intimidating Prowess and maybe stuff like the Step Up chain. Consider instead stuff like Cut and Smash from the Air.
These Luck saved my a** a few times with other char. True they are 1/day only.
I was not aware of Unhindering Shield. Good pick, it opens opportunities.
For another Trait, you can take Lessons of Chaldira/Second Chance if you want a reroll on a saving throw. It's really, really not worth a feat.