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View Full Version : (3.5) What should I take for my next level?



Coidzor
2009-09-22, 01:01 AM
See, I was trying originally for a horizon tripper/trapmonkey build but got a bit muddled due to forgetting when I was going into the class and one thing and another, and now I'm a Rogue 5/ Fighter 5 spiked chain tripper.

Pretty horrible, I know. But then again, I'm in a party with an elven barbarian, a druid who focuses on blasting and is actually pathologically scared of wildshaping, not one but two necromancers and one is a specialist wizard(at least she finally learned enervate though, but they both still have LAs, though actually obtaining zombie minions due to slaughtering a tribe of ogres has helped them be more useful), a gnome paladin, and a monk.

I've only got the EWP, Imp. Trip, Combat Reflexes line, and I think I actually need one or two feats from level-ups we glossed over while we were in a rush mid-session to finish something or another up in a dungeon rush. I'm going to recheck my character sheet after I post this and check my feat total.

I'm fairly decent as a tripper (only human) and I've got the skill thing down but we just leveled up at the end of last session and I'm looking over my character sheet and trying to remember if I even added in the feats and things for my 9th level.

There any PrCs which the first level would be especially useful to either my tripping ability or upping my sneak attack?

I recall hearing something about a feat called Stand Still which is recommended for spiked chain users, I think...

Edit: We're in the last dungeon of the campaign before I leave for a good while and we probably won't be continuing on with these characters.

The most I can probably do is change the last fighter level I took for another one as I wasn't even hit since we leveled so it's not like the hp from it made a difference.

Might be able to switch out the last rogue as well as I haven't gotten my sneak attack on either....

So I could get a Fighter 4/Rogue4/??? 1-2, probably.

I've got stats-wise:

STR 10 (+4 belt of giant strength) = 14
Dex 18 (+2 gloves) = 20
Con 14 (ish)
Int 14 (ish)
Wis 10
Cha 10

About as much as I could recall in an electronic format before we started up again after the summer break (right before entering the final dungeon) http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=136595

Kylarra
2009-09-22, 01:16 AM
Well, you should at least take the 6th level of fighter. Not because it's great, but because you never end fighter on an odd level.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#standStill

imperialspectre
2009-09-22, 01:22 AM
If you didn't actually put together the last level, retcon it to be something other than Fighter 5. Unless you've got Dungeoncrasher (do not want if you're building a tripper), there is no reason to take more than Fighter 4. Ever. Full stop.

Ideally, your build could be switched to something like Rogue 2/Ranger 3/Fighter 4/Horizon Walker 1, which would be half decent. If you can't get that, then at least make it Rogue 5/Fighter 4/Ranger 1 so you can get Knowledge (Geography) as a class skill. If you don't already have Endurance and think you can wait to go into Horizon Walker, go ahead and make it Rogue 5/Fighter 4/Ranger 3 so you can get Endurance as a bonus feat. Go Horizon Walker after that, and grab Steadfast Determination (from PHB2 to get CON to Will saves so you don't start cutting the party apart the first time you run into a vampire or mind flayer or half-competent caster.

Coidzor
2009-09-22, 02:02 AM
Right. So I have.

Feats: EWP: Spiked Chain, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Trip, Dodge, and Weapon Finesse...

Erm... 6 feats... My 4 levels of fighter give 3 bonus feats. Being human gives a feat. 1st level character feat. And then 3 feats from 3rd, 6th, and 9th character level, right?

So I think I'm one feat short for what I'd have had as a level 9 character?

I think I can just easily finagle the 5th level of fighter away, might need to negotiate reallocating 5th level of rogue, since he hasn't really double checked our levels and I haven't used anything from the last level up...

imperialspectre
2009-09-22, 01:26 PM
Rogue 4/Fighter 4/Ranger 2 isn't horrible (in your game, since nobody else is optimizing much) and lets you grab one more level of Ranger, then go into Horizon Walker.

Why do you have Dodge? Are you going for Karmic Strike or something?

Coidzor
2009-09-22, 03:02 PM
That was me sort of fumbling for a feat when I was put on the spot and I've used it enough that if I'd have to ask for feat retraining which I can't really do right now.

... My will save will go up by two if I take that feat mentioned which gives Con to Will Save. So I'd have a will save of 5 instead of 3.

Hmm...

What would you recommend for replacing dodge and/or taking instead of diehard? Last boss fight I was dropped to 0 hp so diehard would've benefited me if that damage roll had been a few higher.

Tyndmyr
2009-09-22, 03:26 PM
Improved Init is a good standby. Sometimes, going first makes a huge, huge difference. Not really a must-have feat, but it's a solid all-rounder that helps pretty much any build if you've got room for it.

If you're looking to boost saves, you can usually get a higher boost by changing which stat a save works off of than getting a flat +2 save, the X to x thread should have more details.

Starbuck_II
2009-09-22, 03:34 PM
I say needs more Blue. Add incarnum like a dip into Incarnate or two.

Gnaeus
2009-09-22, 03:36 PM
What books are available? Can you use Tome of Battle?

jiriku
2009-09-22, 03:51 PM
Given your current build, you might even consider Rogue 4/Fighter 6.

This gives you three empty feat slots which you could fill with Mobility, Spring Attack, and Whirlwind Attack. If you can persuade one of the wizards in your party to enlarge you, you could then use whirlwind attack to trip-and-strike every enemy within your 20 ft reach at your best attack bonus. And you could do this every round.

That's an impressive level of battlefield control given your party's current level of optimization.

PinkysBrain
2009-09-22, 04:01 PM
Fighter 4/Rogue X.

Any chance you can get the ACF from Dungeonscape to do half sneak attack damage against creatures immune to crits?

Coidzor
2009-09-22, 04:17 PM
Given your current build, you might even consider Rogue 4/Fighter 6.

This gives you three empty feat slots which you could fill with Mobility, Spring Attack, and Whirlwind Attack. If you can persuade one of the wizards in your party to enlarge you, you could then use whirlwind attack to trip-and-strike every enemy within your 20 ft reach at your best attack bonus. And you could do this every round.

That's an impressive level of battlefield control given your party's current level of optimization.

So that's why I took dodge... Hmm...

ericgrau
2009-09-22, 04:19 PM
I'd salvage it by continuing as a rogue like Pinky said, as a damage dealer + skillmonkey. You still trip when possible and take advantage of the juicy +4 to hit to boost your damage. Plus at least the feats, HP and full BAB from the fighter levels doesn't suck. Pump strength for AB, damage and trip modifier if possible. Enchant your spiked chain with damage enchantments at higher levels. Get a good sneak attack trigger like flanking, greater invisibility, winning initiative, a ring of blinking or etc. Being able to sneak attack more creatures is great, but even when you can't that strength and weapon damage will help.

EDIT, on the matter of whirlwind attack. Greater invisibility (or etc.) tripping whirlwind full max BAB sneak attack! Every monster is prone and in pain.

Coidzor
2009-09-22, 04:46 PM
Well, I'm either going to just trade out dodge for steadfast determination and take endurance and diehard or I'll go fighter 6 and get the whirlwind attack chain completed.

I'll be deciding that as I drive into town for the game tonight.

Thank you everyone. Especially the person who reminded me about Steadfast Determination. :smallbiggrin:

Probably not going to take Rogue 6 though, sorry.

So it's looking like Rogue 5/Fighter 4/Ranger 1/Horizon Walker 1 and taking the Underground terrain mastery.

or Rogue 5/Fighter 6 and getting enough stuff to whirlwind attack. Depends on whether I think he'll try mass enemies on us in this dungeon again...

desmond1323
2009-10-19, 01:52 PM
I resent that comment about being pathologically scared of wildshaping....it's only use to this point has been the HP regain, and that failed that one time when I got mashed by a maul into lovely boar paste.

And my blasting things has worked pretty well, don't you think?

Anyways...Reading this, and our own discussions, the enlarge person mass tripping idea sounds fun. I would definitely suggest continuing up with the trip build, as it's worked out pretty well in the long run...not to mention, your Rogue skills seem up to par these days despite the lack of specialty.