Need an ECL 1 to 3 tank

[faceroll]

Constraints:
Only 1 class level, unless there are RHD, in which case you only get the RHD. ECL (RHD + LA or LA + class level) must be 3 or less.

No ToB.

Can't be really evil or undead, as there's a cleric of pelor in the party.

It has to be able to perform at the level of a human fighter to be a credible threat- that is, at least +6 to hit and an average of 11 damage per hit.

DR, an AC of 23+, 17+ HP and fast healing would all be ideal. Adamatine body warforged seems cool, but there are very few LA +1 templates I could put on it.

[Glimbur]

Consider Knight from PHB II. The main things about it are the Bulwark of Defense at level 3 and the Test of Mettle at level 4. Bulwark of Defense helps you control an area better, especially if you use a reach weapon. Test of Mettle next level actually draws attacks towards you... with some limitations to it.

Alternately, play a Psychic Warrior (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psychicWarrior.htm) and use Expansion and a reach weapon to threaten a large area. Then trip or stand still (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#standStill) to keep folks from getting past you so easily.

Human is nice for the feat, Warforged is nice for the DR. Fast Healing is difficult to get at such a low ECL, barring Feral from Savage Species.

[faceroll]

Consider Knight from PHB II. The main things about it are the Bulwark of Defense at level 3 and the Test of Mettle at level 4. Bulwark of Defense helps you control an area better, especially if you use a reach weapon. Test of Mettle next level actually draws attacks towards you... with some limitations to it.

Alternately, play a Psychic Warrior (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psychicWarrior.htm) and use Expansion and a reach weapon to threaten a large area. Then trip or stand still (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#standStill) to keep folks from getting past you so easily.

Human is nice for the feat, Warforged is nice for the DR. Fast Healing is difficult to get at such a low ECL, barring Feral from Savage Species.

Getting hit is the easy part, but surviving the hits is much harder. Reach, etc, is cool, but I may as well play a wizard or archer or something else that does that job better.

I'm thinking X feral mineral warrior, for +9 NA and 8/adamantine DR. Not sure for the base race, and that particular amalgamation of templates/races is not attractive.

[Ernir]

An ECL 3 tank with only one class level? Ick.

A Feral Mineral Warrior Water Orc Barbarian? Feral is in Savage Species, Mineral Warrior is in Underdark (and online (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20031003e)), Water Orcs are in Unearthed Arcana (and in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/elementalRacialVariants.htm#waterOrcs)).

[EvilJoe15]

Why no Evil? If there's a Cleric of the Burning Hate I don't see why it's a problem.

Phrenic Feral Half Minotaur Dragonborn Incarnate Warforged Lion Totem Barbarian 1

If you can manage to get undead allowed use this instead:
Evolved Phrenic Half Minotaur Necropolitian Dragonborn Incarnate Warforged Lion Totem Barbarian 1

The second is immune to nearly everything. It's nothing close to the Emerald Legion, but it's the best you can actually play.

[faceroll]

An ECL 3 tank with only one class level? Ick.

A Feral Mineral Warrior Water Orc Barbarian? Feral is in Savage Species, Mineral Warrior is in Underdark (and online (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20031003e)), Water Orcs are in Unearthed Arcana (and in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/elementalRacialVariants.htm#waterOrcs)).

The mental penalties are quite steep on that, though.
Given that the maximum HD I can start with will be 1, there's no reason not to pick up some LA. I don't plan on leveling.

I may just go with a warforged carrying a tower shield. That's 23 AC right there. Are there any LA +1 templates that would go well on that? Draconic, maybe? Incarnate construct + mineral warrior might do it.


Why no Evil? If there's a Cleric of the Burning Hate I don't see why it's a problem.

Phrenic Feral Half Minotaur Dragonborn Incarnate Warforged Lion Totem Barbarian 1

If you can manage to get undead allowed use this instead:
Evolved Phrenic Half Minotaur Necropolitian Dragonborn Incarnate Warforged Lion Totem Barbarian 1

The second is immune to nearly everything. It's nothing close to the Emerald Legion, but it's the best you can actually play.

That's not how templates work. :smallannoyed:

[Whammydill]

I would make a dwarf fighter, 1st level as the substitution level for the extra hp. Best armor and towershield you can get and go from there. Prioritize his constitution and you could have a high hp high armor tank on your hands.

With 20 con, a 1st level dwarf fighter with the toughness feat can have 20hp. Its simple and not in the cheese zone.

[EvilJoe15]

That's not how templates work. :smallannoyed:
So it seems... Just drop Dragonborn, and everything else fits.

[tyckspoon]

mm. The no ToB thing is a pain- an Adamantine Body Warforged Crusader is one of the toughest things you can make on one class level without resorting to outright exploding the game.
mm.. since you have some ECL to play with, you probably want to be looking at something like a Feral Mineral Warrior Dwarf Knight, which would get you DR 8/Adamantine, sizable bonuses to Str and Con, +9 natural armor (Feral applied first and then increased by Mineral Warrior), and (depending on how your DM interprets Feral/how strong he wants you to be) Fast Healing. Your Int will be completely scrapped, tho.

Edit: Ninjad while checking all the numbers. Is not big surprise.

[Ernir]

Pff. Intelligence is for small men with silly hats.

[The Glyphstone]

Pff. Int...int...smartniss iz fer liddle peepul wid big hats.

Fixed for you?:smallcool:

[Person_Man]

Saint is the most abusive +2 LA template I can think of. +2 Con, +2 Wis, +4 Cha, Fast Healing = 1/2 HD, DR (improves with HD), Circle of Protection, Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, Wis bonus to AC, Fire Resistance 10, Immunity to Acid, Cold, Electricity, and Petrification, and a bunch of other perks. Book of Exalted Deeds.

For your class level, I would go with Incarnate or Crusader, which tend to be the best low level tanks in the game.

[faceroll]

Saint is the most abusive +2 LA template I can think of. +2 Con, +2 Wis, +4 Cha, Fast Healing = 1/2 HD, DR (improves with HD), Circle of Protection, Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, Wis bonus to AC, Fire Resistance 10, Immunity to Acid, Cold, Electricity, and Petrification, and a bunch of other perks. Book of Exalted Deeds.

For your class level, I would go with Incarnate or Crusader, which tend to be the best low level tanks in the game.

Saint requires 5 or 6 HD doesn't it?

[EvilJoe15]

ECL 6. Which is why I said Phrenic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/phrenicCreature.htm). +2 LA with SR of 10+HD, and a s***ton of cool Psi-likes.