[3.5] A "Mech" Character

[Dralnu]

Let's say I want to make a fantasy "mech" type of character that's playable from the low levels and onwards. I know that the race should be warforged, but what classes would best emulate general mech attributes? I'm thinking stuff like Armored Core, Transformers, Gundam, whatever. Not sure about whether I want to be melee or ranged yet, just curious about the build ideas out there in general first.

[erikun]

I know that the warforged can have arm swords, arm crossbows, and wings at least. You can make them Brilliant Energy if you need them to be "lasers", although that will make them impractical against a lot of enemies. You can take a feat for adamantine body armor. I'm not sure what else you're looking for, although I'm sure there is a gnomish riding harness for medium-sized humanoids if you're looking at going that direction.

[Tvtyrant]

Adamant Warforged and then go for the Warforged Juggernaut prc. If your not adverse to LA you could always go with a Warforged Charger and then go into Juggernaut.

[WinWin]

Depends on what you mean by mech. Robots are easily reproduced as golems or warforged.

If you want a living suit your character can plug into, the symbiotic template may be what you are looking for.

[Dralnu]

I know of the Adamantine Body feat but where can I find the other warforged related feats / equipment? I like the sound of arm swords! I'll look into the juaggernaut too.

I basically want to make a mech themed character that's good from level 1 and up. I'm not sure what kind of mech yet though. I'd prefer no heavy LA. I like the idea of tanking, pewpewing, turning larger, transforming, not all in the same build necessarily, just typical mech stuff. Not necessarily with a gnome pilot inside, though that idea is also intriguing.

I remember reading a post of someone saying you can make a good Transformer with a Psion build which got me wondering what type of mech builds are floating around.

[Kaje]

Warforged Urban Druid. You are now a Transformer.

[Thurbane]

If you can grab Alter Self somehow (Tattooed Monk etc.), you can transform into any Construct of 5HD or less within 1 size category. There was an entry in a recent Iron Chef thread (Drunken Master) who put this to great effect.

[Yukitsu]

Kensai. You can enchant your fists as throwing, returning and flaming.

[Jallorn]

You'll want to pick up Magic of Eberron, there's a few nice warforged things in there. Including, I think, a wand holder arm thing.

[Endarire]

Here's an alternative approach. Be a Warforged Psion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm) (Shaper) who makes astral construct power armor (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=10279.0).

You can do mechy stuff like shooting 'lasers' (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/energyMissile.htm), hovering (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/levitatepsionic.htm), or transforming (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/metamorphosis.htm).

If things get hairy, you can split damage (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/sharepain.htm), do a full area scan (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/trueseeingpsionic.htm), repair (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/repairdamagepsionic.htm), or even warp (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/teleportpsionic.htm) or phase out (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/planeshiftpsionic.htm) of there!

And if you believe in twisted pacifism, you can add some sting (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/minorcreationpsionic.htm) to your hugs.

There are many (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179726) resources to augment your constructs.

And you're a smart fighter who uses his construct's (power armor's) actions for a physical beatdown and his own actions for whatever he wants!

[tahu88810]

Here's an alternative approach. Be a Warforged Psion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm) (Shaper) who makes astral construct power armor (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=10279.0).

You can do mechy stuff like shooting 'lasers' (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/energyMissile.htm), hovering (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/levitatepsionic.htm), or transforming (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/metamorphosis.htm).

If things get hairy, you can split damage (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/sharepain.htm), do a full area scan (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/trueseeingpsionic.htm), repair (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/repairdamagepsionic.htm), or even warp (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/teleportpsionic.htm) or phase out (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/planeshiftpsionic.htm) of there!

And if you believe in twisted pacifism, you can add some sting (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/minorcreationpsionic.htm) to your hugs.

There are many (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179726) resources to augment your constructs.

And you're a smart fighter who uses his construct's (power armor's) actions for a physical beatdown and his own actions for whatever he wants!

Combine this with levels in artificer, and you can become a mobile weapons platform, too.

[Soren Hero]

Depends on what you mean by mech. Robots are easily reproduced as golems or warforged.

If you want a living suit your character can plug into, the symbiotic template may be what you are looking for.

symbiotic template. plz elaborate

[BridgeCity]

You should take a look at the Dragonmech books. They are all about creating and controlling collosal and bigger steampunk mechs, and have rules for steam powered battle suits etc. There is even a class called the Steamborg, where every few levels you replace part of your own body with a steam-powered mechanical part to improve yourself.

Some of the stuff needs a little tweaking, but it is easy to do.

If you don't have access to them drop me a PM.

[Deth Muncher]

You should take a look at the Dragonmech books. They are all about creating and controlling collosal and bigger steampunk mechs, and have rules for steam powered battle suits etc. There is even a class called the Steamborg, where every few levels you replace part of your own body with a steam-powered mechanical part to improve yourself.

Some of the stuff needs a little tweaking, but it is easy to do.

If you don't have access to them drop me a PM.

I was actually just about to suggest this. YES. Do this. You either pilot a Mecha, start becoming a Mecha, or at the very least get Mk. 1 Power Armor...er, I mean, Power Armor (sorry, 40k moment), and I think it's got options to attach weapons to it a la Warforged.