Melee Lockdown builds

[Zergrusheddie]

I know the basic Melee Lockdown build is, more or less, get to be Large, use a Reach Weapon, grab Improved Trip, and maybe take Stand Still with a few AoO feats. It's a very clever idea, but does it do any damage or is it just meant to keep the bad guys from getting to the soft underbelly of your teammates? Would it be possible to change the build to pick up Power Attack and Shock Trooper? It seems like you would liquidate anything as it tried to get within melee range.

Best of luck
-Eddie

[Lycanthromancer]

Actually, Stand Still pretty well sucks, since you don't get damage.

And there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to Shock-Trooper-Power-Attack on a trip; it's not like many people are going to miss your AC anyway when you're Gargantuan at higher levels (it's not like they'll miss your regular AC, even if you pump it way up).

Generally, your best bet for lockdown is either a psychic warrior or a ToB build (though there are other builds that are effective, but you have to jump through some hoops).

That, or a primary caster of some sort (but then, they can do everything).

[Eldariel]

You can hammer your opponents very efficiently on your own turn. Also, later on the feat "Defensive Sweep" ensures that you get an AoO if opponent doesn't move for actual damage (and "Overpowering Attack" ACF gets you double damage on that too).

Further, just about anything the opponent does (attacking, casting, all normally provoking actions) all provoke so you get a damaging AoO for every non-move action he takes.


That said, the main focus isn't dealing damage fast (although a feat-heavy build can easily fit Power Attack (and indeed, you should if only to guarantee sufficient DCs on the Reflex-saves; goes great with Deft Opportunist), Shock Trooper and Leap Attack for some basic damage options too). Indeed, a Fighter 20 can be a competent charger, tripper, dungeoncrasher, intimidator*, lockdownist and "mage killer" (that is, a character with the feats; not a character proficient at killing Mages, that's just asking too much) at the same time. Of course, most of that will take a while to reach as you have so many paths to pick feats for; point being that while focusing on an archetype yields the best results, there're enough feats to go around to be proficient in multiples of those given sufficient levels.

Also, being Large isn't needed, it just helps. 10' reach is already quite sufficient for most non-open areas (means you can cover 25' passages entirely) and the spell "Enlarge Person" is easily available for that tasty 20' reach.

[jcsw]

Some also use Knockback (Races of Stone), if your reach is long enough you can knock people to out of your reach, making them have to pass through your threatened area to get through again. You need powerful build/large size, but a Goliath's +1 LA is pretty worth it anyway.

Combo with Knock-down (Deities and Demigods). Trip *and* bull rush someone at the same time.

For the lulz, use spirit bear totem barbarian for improved grab. Free Trip, Bullrushes and Grapples on each attack!

[Dacia Brabant]

I had a question along similar lines that I may as well ask here: how viable would it be to do a mounted charger+lockdown build?

The one I'm working on is Knight 3/Crusader 4 (or combinations that net initiator level 5 for Devoted Spirit), which gives Thicket of Blades, Bulwark of Defense, Combat Reflexes, Stand Still and Mounted Combat using a lance and a heavy warhorse; basically you charge into a group of enemies, hopefully hitting one for big damage but not riding by, instead standing your ground where you effectively turn a 30'x30' area (55'x55' if you go large-size with a huge mount) into difficult terrain that threatens AoOs at any movement. This gets you a strong leadoff attack and locks down anything within a rather long reach so your allies can blast away, and you could always reel around for another charge if need be.

Does this work? Am I missing anything?