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gallagher
2010-03-16, 04:43 PM
ok, so i posed the idea to my DM: a water orc half minotaur. this is a level 11 party, so a level 10 fighter2/warblade1/barbarian7 (warblade is for tumble) shouldnt be a problem. turns out, my DM, who wanted us to be powerful seeing as we are heroes, doesnt want me to be that strong (the plus 16 STR was a bit daunting) so i offered to be a human. then he offered to allow it, but i would only get the half-minotaur powers when i am raging.

i have been thinking about it, and i offered the idea that i only gain the large size when i am raging, as well as the gore attack. he said he would think about it, and if i can get some support behind the idea (a la you guys) then it would show him how it is not so broken (especially compared to our level 11 sorceror, who is a blaster)

so really, i was hoping that you guys could show some support for this idea, or really if you guys have other ideas i am open to them, too, becuase making me as strong as possible is important, being the only fighter

and for those interested:

our party me (the melee big man), a sneaky mcthief rogue, a DMM cleric, and a blaster sorceror

my attributes and feats 32 point build, so 18 STR, 15 put into int so it goes to 13, 12 DEX, 12 CON, 8 WIS, and 8 CHA. i get 2 bonus points for level 4 and 8, so those go to strength. with 4 from being minotaur, and 12 more when i am raging (8 large size and 4 for rage) assuming my idea goes through, would put me at 36 without magic when raging, and 24 when not.

i get 7 feats for being a fighter 2, 4 for levels, 1 for human. i have 5 set, as extra rage, combat expertise, improved trip, EWP scorpion chain (the slashing version, i think its called that, more on that later though) and knockdown. i have 2 left, if nobody has any good ideas those are going into gaining more stances.

and now, for my slashing version of the spike chain
so this is where my big guy earns his bread. i have to spend money on it being +1, and i am putting the whirling ability put on it. that gives me a whirling attack 3x per day. being a trip build, this will just knock everyone down with free trip attempts, because a chain is 2 handed and i will automatically be doing at least 11 damage if i hit (a large spike chain is 2d6 as i recall, and my strongarm bracers make it huge, so thats what, 2d8?)

whatever the damage, it doesnt matter, because i need to do at least 10, and will be doing at least 9 if i dont magically boost my strength just from strength alone. with a potion of enlarge person, i do 10 minimum, and will have +12 bonus to trip medium sized creatures from being huge and raging, so i pretty much just win out on that one. the rogue then just takes advantage of having combat reflexes and high dex.

so if anyone has any ideas for more magical additions to my chain, i would love to hear it. i get 66000 gp, and 6k is going into strongarm bracers and then i am buying a mithral chain shirt. everything else is to make me a better fighter.



anyway, that is my character. so any help is appreciated, and any options to try and put forth to make me stronger is also appreciated

Tinydwarfman
2010-03-16, 04:47 PM
What a quintessential party. I would tell you to get some better trip feats, but I cam afraid you would shut down and be untouchable by all melee. You said you're the only fighter. What is the DMM cleric doing?

gallagher
2010-03-16, 04:53 PM
some edits that i forgot to add:
i am going spirit lion totem barbarian, to gain pounce. this is actually major and i dont know why i forgot this.
strongarm bracers cost 6000, and a mithral chainshirt costs 1100, so i have 58900 gp left to spend. i will see about magically boosting either my constitution for more rounds to rage, or my strength to just hit harder, after i figure out how much my chain will cost.

at +1 whirling, it is whatever the masterwork chain costs plus 8000. so really, i have alot of options here.

is there any other gear that i should look at?

gallagher
2010-03-16, 04:54 PM
What a quintessential party. I would tell you to get some better trip feats, but I cam afraid you would shut down and be untouchable by all melee. You said you're the only fighter. What is the DMM cleric doing?

to be honest, i am not sure. i have never played a cleric, and he said that he is using divine metamagic, but is working mostly with buffs. that is the best i can do right now, seeing it is exam week and most people are unreachable. the game starts after spring break, so in a week and a half

Quirp
2010-03-16, 05:05 PM
Ask your Sorcerer playing guy what he likes to throw around (fire, acid, lightning, .....)and try to get some resistance against that.
For feats you just have to take Combat Reflexes and perhaps you could look into Improved Critical and Power Attack.
I think your group has to be careful (especially you and the cleric)to not outshine the sorcerer, but that depends on the kind of game you are running.

gallagher
2010-03-16, 05:09 PM
Ask your Sorcerer playing guy what he likes to throw around (fire, acid, lightning, .....)and try to get some resistance against that.
For feats you just have to take Combat Reflexes and perhaps you could look into Improved Critical and Power Attack.
I think your group has to be careful (especially you and the cleric)to not outshine the sorcerer, but that depends on the kind of game you are running.

how in gods good earth did i forget power attack as a figher class.......

and he likes fireballs...

Pluto
2010-03-16, 05:11 PM
i have been thinking about it, and i offered the idea that i only gain the large size when i am raging, as well as the gore attack. he said he would think about it, and if i can get some support behind the idea (a la you guys) then it would show him how it is not so broken (especially compared to our level 11 sorceror, who is a blaster)
Since you have a limited skill list and no spells, I wouldn't worry about balance. The Cleric can summon angels, the Rogue can do any number of interesting things at a given time and the Sorcerer can... well... do whatever he's taken spells to do.

If anything, I think the DM should worry about him if he's strictly a blaster -- if that's the case, he's probably going to find himself with too small a niche to feel relevant for much of the game. If he isn't strictly a blaster, I wouldn't worry about your Barbarian overshadowing him. (Bluffs, Charms, Teleports, Telekinesis, Creation spells, Summoning, Polymorphs, etc. all give a character more out-of-combat times to shine than you're going to have.



Anyway. Feats.

A Reach build and no Combat Reflexes? Or Stand Still (not everything can be tripped, especially at level 11)?

Quirp
2010-03-16, 05:13 PM
A ring of fire resistance or something similiar could improve your survivability then.
1. Charge your enemies
2. Trip all of them and soften them up with your Imp. Trip follow-up attacks
3. Let the Sorcerer throw a fireball at you
4. Profit and look awesom doing it

AbyssKnight
2010-03-16, 05:40 PM
The easy way to balance half-minotaur is to ignore the line about getting all the benefits of Large size in addition to what the template gives you.

Tinydwarfman
2010-03-16, 05:42 PM
What would that reduce Half-Minotaur to? I thought it was already included.

gallagher
2010-03-16, 05:50 PM
What is the point of combat reflexes if when I am large, my dexterety bonus is zero?
Since you have a limited skill list and no spells, I wouldn't worry about balance. The Cleric can summon angels, the Rogue can do any number of interesting things at a given time and the Sorcerer can... well... do whatever he's taken spells to do.

If anything, I think the DM should worry about him if he's strictly a blaster -- if that's the case, he's probably going to find himself with too small a niche to feel relevant for much of the game. If he isn't strictly a blaster, I wouldn't worry about your Barbarian overshadowing him. (Bluffs, Charms, Teleports, Telekinesis, Creation spells, Summoning, Polymorphs, etc. all give a character more out-of-combat times to shine than you're going to have.



Anyway. Feats.

A Reach build and no Combat Reflexes? Or Stand Still (not everything can be tripped, especially at level 11)?

jiriku
2010-03-16, 06:02 PM
Goliath with the 1st level barbarian racial substitution level gains large size when raging. You will notice that the internet is not exactly on fire with people buzzing about how goliath barbarians are teh pwnzZ0r.

In a single round, a human barbarian 1/druid 10 with fast wild shape can cast bite of the weretiger, wild shape into a dire lion, activating enhance wild shape, rage, and have 43 strength with 5 attacks and pounce. He could do this without any gear. Said druid would then proceed to curbstomp your half-minotaur repeatedly.

A level 3 wizard with a sling can cast protection from arrows and levitate and toss rocks at you from 80 feet up in the air until you die, and there is nothing you could do to stop him.

I can think offhand of about 20 monsters in MM1 that could be used to create challenging encounters for you out of the box, with no need for extra work on your DM's part. Swarms, oozes, flyers, and incorporeal creatures all come to mind right away.


P.S. In the party as it already stands, your DM would sh!t his pants if the sorcerer ever figured out what happens when you cast polymorph to turn a rogue into a 12-headed hydra that can make 12 sneak attacks per round. If he still won't allow your half-minotaur, play something weaker and start feeding optimization advice to the other players. Once their characters have shredded enough encounters to reset your DM's conception of "power", and overshadowed your weaker character with their godliness, bring up the half-minotaur again. It will look far less threatening when the DM realizes what beasts the other party members already are.

Pluto
2010-03-16, 06:05 PM
What is the point of combat reflexes if when I am largeMore AoO's means more control over who gets to stab/bite your Rogue buddy in the face.
And y'know... more attacks.
Being large and having a reach weapon, you can expect to get those extra attacks almost every round.

my dexterety bonus is zero?
That's what magic items are for.

(Actually, I have no idea what's going on with your ability scores. Are those, except Int, the values before modifications? Do they change when you rage? And doesn't Half-Minotaur make you ineligible for Enlarge? Or am I making that last bit up?)

gallagher
2010-03-16, 09:28 PM
Ok, what about magical equipment? Are there any other additions to my chain, or any fun things to buy, as I have about 50k to spend

gallagher
2010-03-16, 10:48 PM
More AoO's means more control over who gets to stab/bite your Rogue buddy in the face.
And y'know... more attacks.
Being large and having a reach weapon, you can expect to get those extra attacks almost every round.

That's what magic items are for.

(Actually, I have no idea what's going on with your ability scores. Are those, except Int, the values before modifications? Do they change when you rage? And doesn't Half-Minotaur make you ineligible for Enlarge? Or am I making that last bit up?)except int, those are before modifying. Rage gives me con and strength. Large size gives me 8 strength 4 constitution but -2 sex and -1 ac due to size. Half Minotaur itself gives me 4 strength 2 con 2 wisdom but takes away 2 int and cha IIRC

Tinydwarfman
2010-03-16, 11:00 PM
except int, those are before modifying. Rage gives me con and strength. Large size gives me 8 strength 4 constitution but -2 sex and -1 ac due to size. Half Minotaur itself gives me 4 strength 2 con 2 wisdom but takes away 2 int and cha IIRC

Wow, didn't know you were using the book of erotic fantasy in your games, that changes everything! :smalltongue:

gallagher
2010-03-17, 01:11 AM
Wow, didn't know you were using the book of erotic fantasy in your games, that changes everything! :smalltongue:whoops, didn't catch that. My phone has auto correct.

Speaking of which, would that be determined by a dexterity modifier?

absolmorph
2010-03-17, 01:33 AM
Wait, isn't large size supposed to make you better at that?

Soonerdj
2010-03-17, 01:34 AM
Ask your Sorcerer playing guy what he likes to throw around (fire, acid, lightning, .....)and try to get some resistance against that.
For feats you just have to take Combat Reflexes and perhaps you could look into Improved Critical and Power Attack.
I think your group has to be careful (especially you and the cleric)to not outshine the sorcerer, but that depends on the kind of game you are running.

Actually I am the Sorcerer so allow me to enlighten you as to what I am doing. Every damage spell I have picked is [Fire], with one exception. I did it so if the DM thinks I'm too strong he can throw some rings of fire resist on the enemies and (stealthily) reduce my damage done without decreasing the numbers I roll. Oh and Fireballs are overrated, Orb spells on the other hand are where it is at.

That and I'm using Incantatrix i.e. when I decided to (rarely) shine I'll be able to though I don't intend to do all the work myself when I have willing allies (read: BSF's) willing to get hit in place of me. I.e MM is what I focus on but not what I HAVE to do every round. Sorcerers are strong enough without it.

Oh and Gallagher Half Minotaur template is (+4 Str, +2 Con, +2 Wis, -2Int) so when Large you do indeed lose 2 Dex

Soonerdj
2010-03-17, 01:47 AM
to be honest, i am not sure. i have never played a cleric, and he said that he is using divine metamagic, but is working mostly with buffs. that is the best i can do right now, seeing it is exam week and most people are unreachable. the game starts after spring break, so in a week and a half


Who is playing this one, I know that you are the Minotaur and I'm the Sorc. Is Baker playing the buffcaster and T playing the Rogue. Because I'm pretty sure T would never play a Buff Cleric ever.

gallagher
2010-03-17, 09:48 AM
Who is playing this one, I know that you are the Minotaur and I'm the Sorc. Is Baker playing the buffcaster and T playing the Rogue. Because I'm pretty sure T would never play a Buff Cleric ever.
well there's your answer. You know he would never ever ever play a prepared caster. And yes, baker is the cleric

gallagher
2010-03-18, 01:42 AM
Ok, so I figure that I am also putting brash on my chain. It allows me t rage for 3 extra rounds per rage.

Now as I see it, I want to try and fit frenzied berserker as soon as I can. I get to take one flaw, so is it possible to take it as a fighter 2 spirit lion totem barbarian 4 and then go into frenzied berserker, or do I need to cut extra rage? I should I go fighter 4 barb4?

gallagher
2010-03-18, 10:22 AM
i sot of just realized how early i added that last part, and i wanted some feedback. i think right about now would be a better time for that than early in the AM's

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 10:42 AM
Well looking at it you need 4 feats to qualify for this class. Those feats are Cleave, Power Attack, Destructive Rage, and Intimidating Rage. You gain (by 6) 3 feats from levels, 1 from Human, and 1 from Flaws which is enough if you are willing to pass on some of the others that make your build at low levels however I am assuming that you want to keep Exotic Weapon Prof: Spike Chain and Combat Reflexes and Improved Trip as well which requires two levels in Fighter.

Any other Feats you wanted to add to this build? Improved Trip or otherwise. Because if you devote all you feats to it you should easily qualify by Level 6 (earliest level you can take it.)

Also you better not hit me when you run out of enemies, my character is not one to take lightly to that.

gallagher
2010-03-18, 11:02 AM
Well looking at it you need 4 feats to qualify for this class. Those feats are Cleave, Power Attack, Destructive Rage, and Intimidating Rage. You gain (by 6) 3 feats from levels, 1 from Human, and 1 from Flaws which is enough if you are willing to pass on some of the others that make your build at low levels however I am assuming that you want to keep Exotic Weapon Prof: Spike Chain and Combat Reflexes and Improved Trip as well which requires two levels in Fighter.

Any other Feats you wanted to add to this build? Improved Trip or otherwise. Because if you devote all you feats to it you should easily qualify by Level 6 (earliest level you can take it.)

Also you better not hit me when you run out of enemies, my character is not one to take lightly to that.
i need knockdown to have this build work, so i guess i am taking two more levels of fighter. also, seeing as i never sunder, i will have to talk with Jim abuot subbing that out fo the more useful feat, Extra Rage

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 11:06 AM
Just remember the Errata out for the feat


p. 7, Knockdown
Insert to end of Benefit:
Use of this feat cannot be combined with Improved Trip to generate an extra attack, and successful use of this feat does not grant an extra attack through the Cleave or Great Cleave feats.

Insert may into “you may make a trip attack as a free action.”
After “whenever you deal 10 or more points of damage to your opponent in melee” insert: with a single attack

gallagher
2010-03-18, 11:45 AM
Just remember the Errata out for the featso does it still hold that if i am not attempting a trip, but i do 10 or more damage to any single character, that i get a free trip attempt?

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 11:51 AM
so does it still hold that if i am not attempting a trip, but i do 10 or more damage to any single character, that i get a free trip attempt?

Correct you just don't get the free attack that the Improved Trip gives you normally when you succeed on a trip attempt.

I.e you get
Attack - (10 damage)
Knockdown Trip (Free)

Not
Attack (10)
Knockdown (Free)
Improved Trip regular melee attack (free)

Comes from this:

Improved Trip [General]
Prerequisites
Int 13, Combat Expertise.

Benefit
You do not provoke an attack of opportunity when you attempt to trip an opponent while you are unarmed. You also gain a +4 bonus on your Strength check to trip your opponent.

If you trip an opponent in melee combat, you immediately get a melee attack against that opponent as if you hadn’t used your attack for the trip attempt.

gallagher
2010-03-18, 11:59 AM
Correct you just don't get the free attack that the Improved Trip gives you normally when you succeed on a trip attempt.

I.e you get
Attack - (10 damage)
Knockdown Trip (Free)

Not
Attack (10)
Knockdown (Free)
Improved Trip regular melee attack (free)

Comes from this:
that is totally OK. slightly less awesome, but it still is the direction i want to be going, anyway. T said he is going to be a small/tiny character that does attacks of opportunity out the wazoo. i am getting a special saddle or something so he can ride on my shoulder. if you have seen Small Soldiers, think Punch-it and Scratch-it. Think of all the attacks of opportunity!!! i am thinking that he will probably takes levels of assassin or something that will give him the good use of poisons

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 12:07 PM
that is totally OK. slightly less awesome, but it still is the direction i want to be going, anyway. T said he is going to be a small/tiny character that does attacks of opportunity out the wazoo. i am getting a special saddle or something so he can ride on my shoulder. if you have seen Small Soldiers, think Punch-it and Scratch-it. Think of all the attacks of opportunity!!! i am thinking that he will probably takes levels of assassin or something that will give him the good use of poisons

Look into getting him some good exotic weapons. Additionally don't you mean Master Blaster, I believe that sets the trope for smart little man riding big stupid one. Also of note is you should remind him how frenzied barbarian works. Specifically these two parts:

In addition,
if she suffers damage from an attack, spell, trap, or
any other source, she automatically enters a frenzy at the
start of her next action, as long as she still has at least one
daily usage of the ability left. To avoid entering a frenzy
in response to damage, the character must make a successful
Will save (DC 10 + points of damage suffered
since her last action) at the start of her next action.
And this part:

During a frenzy, the frenzied berserker must attack
those she perceives as foes to the best of her ability.
Should she run out of enemies before her frenzy expires,
her rampage continues. She must then attack the nearest
creature (determine randomly if several potential
foes are equidistant) and fight that opponent without
regard to friendship, innocence, or health (the target's or
her own).

gallagher
2010-03-18, 12:12 PM
Look into getting him some good exotic weapons. Additionally don't you mean Master Blaster, I believe that sets the trope for smart little man riding big stupid one. Also of note is you should remind him how frenzied barbarian works. Specifically these two parts:

And this part:
i had to take a moment to prevent myself from overworking the censors...

ok, now that i am myself not entering a state of frenzy, how would it be reasonable to work around this? my first thought is to suggest a maxed out UMD, with a few wands of dominate and suchlike spells. that was part of the original plan, because i thought you just attacked enemies first and when they all die THEN you start attacking thoseclosest. maybe some invisibility/greater invisibility potions so i cant see him on my shoulder, and a wand of fly so he can stay way up where i cant get at him.

also, are there ways to gain sneak attack die from a ranged weapon?

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 12:24 PM
You do attack enemies first, I think you should be concerned with running out considering you are a Half-minotaur Tripper with Frenzy / Rage / and a dude taking AoO on your shoulder.

Though ways to combat killing everyone around you when they are dead.

1. Never take damage: Good luck on this being a melee character and all and being large when raging.

2. Have Will saves high enough to be able to stop / not initiate a frenzy when sneezed upon: Well 2 ways to do this. A one level dip into warblade gives you the Counter Moment of Perfect Mind which allows you to use a Concentration check in place of a save. At ECL 10 that gives you a 13 + Con will save 1/2rounds or the Steadfast Determination from PHBII which lets you add your con to Will saves.

3. Things for us avoid being hit: I feel bad for Baker but I have Celerity -> Dimension Door on my guy and you mentioned stuff for T.

As far as Sneak Attack die on a ranged weapon just read the class feature

Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.

gallagher
2010-03-18, 12:42 PM
baker is a cleric. hold person is on his spell list. i just hope that jim isnt going to be a prick and have little guerrilla warfare sneaky things that will hit me for a small amount of damage, i frenzy, they disappear, only to reappear when my frenzy ends and do the same thing until i am out of frenzies or yuo guys are out of spells.

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 12:48 PM
I do have an idea, give T keys to some Masterwork Adamantine Shackles and only unlock them when enemies are around.

They are only a DC 28 Strength check to break through but I'm sure if we went the extra mile and spent some gold we could afford Adamantine ones that have a higher DC.

gallagher
2010-03-18, 01:00 PM
I do have an idea, give T keys to some Masterwork Adamantine Shackles and only unlock them when enemies are around.

They are only a DC 28 Strength check to break through but I'm sure if we went the extra mile and spent some gold we could afford Adamantine ones that have a higher DC.

i do have lots of money to spare... can we make them only unlock with a secret command word that only he knows?

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 01:04 PM
i do have lots of money to spare... can we make them only unlock with a secret command word that only he knows?

By RAW I have no idea, but Rule 0 trumps all. That and it is the kind of thing that isn't really that broken, more just a handy work around of a possibly annoying class feature.

gallagher
2010-03-18, 01:38 PM
By RAW I have no idea, but Rule 0 trumps all. That and it is the kind of thing that isn't really that broken, more just a handy work around of a possibly annoying class feature.

that, and if ever need be, i can use the handcuffs as a means of ignoring damage reduction. heck, i could use them to make that sundering feat that i have to take for frenzied berserker useful.

whats that? the door is locked and the party rogue cant make the high dc?

...one round later...

looks like i just sundered the door.

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 01:45 PM
I mean that is what Destructive Rage does, I'm really getting what you mean by getting DR or getting better at destroying things by wearing manacles.

gallagher
2010-03-18, 01:50 PM
I mean that is what Destructive Rage does, I'm really getting what you mean by getting DR or getting better at destroying things by wearing manacles.
i meant overcome hardness, from the manacles being adamantine.

what is the strength check to break adamantine manacles? im writing that dreadful paper at the library i told you about, and dont have time to flex my google-fu

Soonerdj
2010-03-18, 01:55 PM
i meant overcome hardness, from the manacles being adamantine.

what is the strength check to break adamantine manacles? im writing that dreadful paper at the library i told you about, and dont have time to flex my google-fu

Well you work on your final, I have no idea on the Manacles though. The SRD special materials page really doesn't address the issue. Anyone else know? Sorry for using the boards like an IM service :P