[4e] Sword & Board Fighter Build Help

[Kyouju]

Ok, so I'm working on a 4th Edition Human Fighter, Sword and Board style.

I think I have a good build so far, but I'm hoping you guys might be able to tighten it up for me.

Here it is as it stands...


====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
Fighter, level 30
Human, Fighter, Pit Fighter, Demigod
Build: Guardian Fighter
Fighter Talents: One-handed Weapon Talent
Divine Spark: Divine Spark Strength
Divine Spark: Divine Spark Dexterity
Background: Baldur's Gate

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 28, Con 18, Dex 18, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 12.

Starting Ability Scores
Str 16, Con 12, Dex 12, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 10.


AC: 36 Fort: 39 Reflex: 34 Will: 32
HP: 222 Surges: 13 Surge Value: 55

TRAINED SKILLS
Intimidate, Athletics, Streetwise, Endurance.

FEATS
1: Toughness
1: Improved Initiative
2: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
4: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)
6: Action Surge
8: Human Perseverance
10: Stubborn Survivor
11: Armor Specialization (Scale)
12: Shield Specialization
14: Heavy Blade Opportunity
16: Reaping Blade
18: Marked Scourge
20: Action Recovery
21: Heavy Blade Mastery
22: Epic Resurgence
24: Martial Resolve
26: Blind-Fight
28: Robust Defenses
30: Daunting Challenge

POWERS
1, At-Will: Cleave
1, At-Will: Tide of Iron
1, At-Will: Reaping Strike
1, Encounter: Steel Serpent Strike
1, Daily: Lasting Threat
2, Utility: Unstoppable
3, Encounter: Dance of Steel
5, Daily: Dizzying Blow
6, Utility: Unbreakable
7, Encounter: Come and Get It
9, Daily: Thicket of Blades
10, Utility: Last Ditch Evasion
13, Encounter: Assured Strike (replaces Come and Get It)
15, Daily: Unyielding Avalanche (replaces Lasting Threat)
16, Utility: Giant's Stride
17, Encounter: Vorpal Tornado (replaces Assured Strike)
19, Daily: Reaving Strike (replaces Dizzying Blow)
22, Utility: Act of Desperation
23, Encounter: Fangs of Steel (replaces Steel Serpent Strike)
25, Daily: Ruthless Slaughter (replaces Unyielding Avalanche)
27, Encounter: Desperate Strike (replaces Dance of Steel)
29, Daily: Blade Storm (replaces Reaving Strike)

ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit, Climber's Kit, Razor Scale Armor +6, Shield of Defiance Heavy Shield (epic tier), Vorpal Longsword +6, Bracers of Mighty Striking (epic tier), Boots of Speed (epic tier), Gauntlets of Destruction (paragon tier), Horned Helm (paragon tier), Cloak of Displacement +5, Ring of Freedom of Movement (paragon tier), War Ring (paragon tier)

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======


Lemme know what ya think and any adjustments you guys would reccomend.

I have access to all the current WotC 4th Ed Sourcebooks and Dungeon & Dragon Magazines, so suggest from anywhere.

Thanks guys :smallsmile:

[Kurald Galain]

Ok. Are you playing this on level 30, or starting lower and planning ahead?

MP has lots of fun material for fighters. Use it!

Do you want to focus on damage, or on defense, or on stickiness? If the former, use two weapons. If not the former, don't take weapon focus.

Are you sure you don't want a multiclass feat in there somewhere? They're great at giving you more options.

Toughness is nice at first level (although still not really needed for fighters) but gets progressively irrelevant later on; I'd suggest retraining. Grab durable if nothing else. Also, human perseverance + stubborn survival seems rather redundant; although I'm aware that they stack, I'd recommend just taking the latter, and doing something else with my feats.

[Kyouju]

I'm starting at 1 and planning ahead, wanted to try out Character Builder.

I'm thinking a combination of Defense and Stickiness mostly.

So you reccomend retraining away Toughness later for Durable and since I'm not focusing for damage, dropping Weapon Focus, and taking either Stubborn Survival or Human Perseverence

Any suggestions on what to replace Weapon Focus and Human Perseverance with or when to retrain Toughness?

[Kurald Galain]

I'm thinking a combination of Defense and Stickiness mostly.
Okay. Come to think of it, I suggest you pick one of dexterity, wisdom or constitution as your secondary, and sticking with it. At present you end up boosting all three, that isn't really worth it. Furthermore, I suggest starting with an 18 in strength; as a human, you can easily afford that.



Any suggestions on what to replace Weapon Focus and Human Perseverance with or when to retrain Toughness?
Retrain? After level 3 or so; by then you should have enough hit points that 5 doesn't make that big a difference. Instead of weapon focus, I'd suggest a multiclass feat (e.g. MC avenger for a bunch of rerolls every combat; and it comes with a free skill, too). Instead of Perseverance I'd suggest looking over Martial Power and picking whatever sounds coolest. I'd also suggest taking Action Surge before Improved Initiative, because it really is that useful (and initiative is not a priority for a defender).

Incidentally, Martial Power also has a few at-will powers that might be useful (e.g. Brash Strike for a +2 to hit); you may find that Tide of Iron isn't all that necessary to your build, because with a good strength score you can always bull rush things if they really need pushing.

[Tehnar]

I think you should stick with toughness, but trade weapon focus and action surge for something else, like shield push, durable or weapon proficiency. Also since you plan on using heavy blades, and will pump dex up to 18 improved initiative seems kind of a wasted feat.

Also I would suggest: comeback strike (D1), passing attack (E1), sweeping blow(E3) and rain of steel (D5) as your powers. They are much stronger then those you picked.

But a lot of this depends on your group and your DM. If you have two leaders in your group and/or the DM sends monsters close to your level, then you can pretty much ignore the healing powers, since most encounters will be a cakewalk. On the other hand if you have only one leader, and the DM usually sends monster that are 4-6 higher in level then you, then you need any healing you can get your hands on, because you will get hit a lot. You also need a lot of hit too (even though you got the second best hit vs AC at heroic tier). Then I would suggest a leader multiclass, heavy blade opportunist, etc.

[Kyouju]

Ok, so I took the suggestions so far into account and came up with this...


====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
Fighter, level 30
Human, Fighter, Pit Fighter, Demigod
Build: Guardian Fighter
Fighter Talents: One-handed Weapon Talent
Divine Spark: Divine Spark Strength
Divine Spark: Divine Spark Dexterity
Background: Baldur's Gate

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 30, Con 17, Dex 18, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 12.

Starting Ability Scores
Str 18, Con 11, Dex 12, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 10.


AC: 42 Fort: 45 Reflex: 39 Will: 35
HP: 221 Surges: 14 Surge Value: 55

TRAINED SKILLS
Intimidate, Athletics, Streetwise, Endurance, Religion.

FEATS
1: Toughness
1: Action Surge
2: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
4: Blade Opportunist
6: Divine Bloodline
8: Durable
10: Stubborn Survivor
11: Armor Specialization (Scale)
12: Shield Specialization
14: Heavy Blade Opportunity
16: Reaping Blade
18: Marked Scourge
20: Action Recovery
21: Heavy Blade Mastery
22: Epic Resurgence
24: Martial Resolve
26: Blind-Fight
28: Robust Defenses
30: Daunting Challenge

POWERS
1, At-Will: Cleave
1, At-Will: Brash Strike
1, At-Will: Reaping Strike
1, Encounter: Passing Attack
1, Daily: Comeback Strike
2, Utility: Unstoppable
3, Encounter: Sweeping Blow
5, Daily: Rain of Steel
6, Utility: Unbreakable
7, Encounter: Come and Get It
9, Daily: Thicket of Blades
10, Utility: Last Ditch Evasion
13, Encounter: Assured Strike (replaces Come and Get It)
15, Daily: Unyielding Avalanche (replaces Comeback Strike)
16, Utility: Giant's Stride
17, Encounter: Vorpal Tornado (replaces Assured Strike)
19, Daily: Reaving Strike (replaces Rain of Steel)
22, Utility: Act of Desperation
23, Encounter: Fangs of Steel (replaces Passing Attack)
25, Daily: Marking Barrage (replaces Unyielding Avalanche)
27, Encounter: Desperate Strike (replaces Sweeping Blow)
29, Daily: Blade Storm (replaces Reaving Strike)

ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit, Climber's Kit, Razor Scale Armor +6, Shield of Defiance Heavy Shield (epic tier), Vorpal Longsword +6, Bracers of Mighty Striking (epic tier), Boots of Speed (epic tier), Gauntlets of Destruction (paragon tier), Horned Helm (paragon tier), Cloak of Displacement +5, Ring of Freedom of Movement (paragon tier), War Ring (paragon tier), Ring of Protection (paragon tier)
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======


Any further suggestions guys?

[Mando Knight]

Armor and Shield specialization don't stack. Replace Shield spec with Bastard Sword proficiency or a Martial Power feat.

[Kyouju]

Armor and Shield specialization don't stack. Replace Shield spec with Bastard Sword proficiency or a Martial Power feat.

Thanks Mando, I always forget about Feat Bonuses not stacking.

Well, I took your suggestion into account and some earlier ones about the stats and here's what I came up with this time...


====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
Fighter, level 30
Human, Fighter, Pit Fighter, Demigod
Build: Guardian Fighter
Fighter Talents: One-handed Weapon Talent
Divine Spark: Divine Spark Strength
Divine Spark: Divine Spark Dexterity
Background: Baldur's Gate

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 28, Con 14, Dex 24, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 13.

Starting Ability Scores
Str 16, Con 12, Dex 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 11.


AC: 42 Fort: 44 Reflex: 42 Will: 36
HP: 218 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 54

TRAINED SKILLS
Intimidate, Athletics, Streetwise, Endurance, Religion.

FEATS
1: Toughness
1: Action Surge
2: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
4: Blade Opportunist
6: Divine Bloodline
8: Stubborn Survivor
10: Acolyte Power
11: Armor Specialization (Scale)
12: Heavy Blade Opportunity
14: Onslaught of Enmity
16: Reaping Blade
18: Marked Scourge
20: Action Recovery
21: Heavy Blade Mastery
22: Mighty Enmity
24: Martial Resolve
26: Epic Resurgence
28: Martial Mastery
30: Robust Defenses

POWERS
1, At-Will: Cleave
1, At-Will: Brash Strike
1, At-Will: Reaping Strike
1, Encounter: Passing Attack
1, Daily: Comeback Strike
2, Utility: Unstoppable
3, Encounter: Sweeping Blow
5, Daily: Rain of Steel
6, Utility: Unbreakable (retrained to Wrath of the Divine at Acolyte Power)
7, Encounter: Come and Get It
9, Daily: Thicket of Blades
10, Utility: Last Ditch Evasion
13, Encounter: Assured Strike (replaces Come and Get It)
15, Daily: Unyielding Avalanche (replaces Comeback Strike)
16, Utility: Giant's Stride
17, Encounter: Vorpal Tornado (replaces Assured Strike)
19, Daily: Reaving Strike (replaces Rain of Steel)
22, Utility: Act of Desperation
23, Encounter: Fangs of Steel (replaces Passing Attack)
25, Daily: Marking Barrage (replaces Unyielding Avalanche)
27, Encounter: Desperate Strike (replaces Sweeping Blow)
29, Daily: Blade Storm (replaces Reaving Strike)

ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit, Climber's Kit, Razor Scale Armor +6, Shield of Defiance Heavy Shield (epic tier), Vorpal Longsword +6, Bracers of Mighty Striking (epic tier), Boots of Speed (epic tier), Gauntlets of Destruction (paragon tier), Horned Helm (paragon tier), Cloak of Displacement +5, War Ring (paragon tier), Ring of Protection (paragon tier), Baldric of Tactical Positioning (paragon tier)
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======


Keep the ideas coming please guys, I'm liking this build more and more.

[ViktorStronarm]

How important would Durable be to this type of build?

Is that one of those things that would depend on your party and DM, or is it something that is recommended every sword and board fighter take?

[Izmir Stinger]

How important would Durable be to this type of build?

Is that one of those things that would depend on your party and DM, or is it something that is recommended every sword and board fighter take?

It depends on party composition and the individual players' (and DM's) style. It's a "wait and see" kind of feat. If you are running out of Healing Surges before everyone else, take it the next time you get a feat. Otherwise, skip it. Its really hard to determine if you need more surges at design time.