Core-Only Melee Builds?

[Enix18]

Myself and a few friends decided to start up a new D&D campaign recently, and as soon as things were finalized I eagerly set about making my character. I had everything put together for Dorian Vane, the Warblade attack-of-opoortunity king / tripper extraordinaire, when the DM had to go and make a terrible decision.

Apparently, we're only using core rulebook material now. (It would have been nice to know that before...)

Unfortunately, this has pretty much turned me off the idea of playing a melee focused character. I don't just want to be a generic warrior with a bunch of generic warrior bonus feats, but I've never really seen anything more interesting than that in classes like the fighter when only core rules are allowed.

Thus do I beseech they, Playground: are there any interesting, effective builds for melee characters that are core-only?

I don't need to be absurdly powerful, since the spellcasters in the party probably won't be well optimized (i.e. not optimized at all), but I want to be able to do something more interesting than saying "I attack it with my sword" every round.

So, do you think you guys can help? Are there any good core-only melee builds?

[AslanCross]

1. Spiked chain tripper is entirely doable, even without Stand Still.
2. If you want less cheese, you can use a guisarme and armor spikes and still be able to attack adjacent enemies.
3. If all else fails, Barbarian.

Is d20srd material (Including its variant rules) counted as core?

[mobdrazhar]

Why not Shapeshift Druid with Barbarian dip?

[Shades of Gray]

inb4 Horizon Tripper.

Horizon Tripper.
(http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80415)
Called it.

[AslanCross]

Why not Shapeshift Druid with Barbarian dip?

Shapeshifter is from PHB2, which isn't core.

[mobdrazhar]

Shapeshifter is from PHB2, which isn't core.

sorry... meant wildshape

[Lans]

Have you looked at the druid? Otherwise multiclass as much as possible. 3 Rogue/2 Fighter/2 Ranger/2Barbarian be an orc, not half full on orc.

[ClockShock]

{{Scrubbed}}

[PinkysBrain]

Tripper has already been mentioned ... Sir Didymus also works okay, small race Paladin with Spirited Charge (Paladin just to get a mount which can survive some hits).

[Coidzor]

Well, are you opposed to gishing it up? Between sorcerer casting leading to specialization and exacerbating being levels behind the devoted casters in terms of acquiring new spell levels (1 level due to the sorcerer handicap, 1-2 levels for fighter/ranger/paladin[yay sorcadin], 1 level for Eldritch Knight, so 3-4 caster levels behind and 2-3 spell levels behind), you're not going to be in risk of stealing their thunder.

Or, you could go with the maxim "Go Team Cleric!"

[Enix18]

Well, are you opposed to gishing it up? Between sorcerer casting leading to specialization and exacerbating being levels behind the devoted casters in terms of acquiring new spell levels (1 level due to the sorcerer handicap, 1-2 levels for fighter/ranger/paladin[yay sorcadin], 1 level for Eldritch Knight, so 3-4 caster levels behind and 2-3 spell levels behind), you're not going to be in risk of stealing their thunder.

Or, you could go with the maxim "Go Team Cleric!"

To this and the previous suggestion of a Druid/Barbarian I'm going to have to say no. I've done the melee Cleric and the battle Sorcerer before, but I've never actually played a pure non-spellcaster, so that's really what I want to try.


inb4 Horizon Tripper.

Horizon Tripper.
(http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80415)
Called it.

Beautiful! Just beautiful! Haven't finished reading through the whole thing, but it looks like a very promising build.

[bobspldbckwrds]

play a conjuration specialist wizard, who summons what he wants done. grapplers, trippers, battlefield control, they are all at your fingertips.

but i assume you are wanting a more traditonal melee type.

there is always doing a bardbarian, and sing a jaunty tune as you hack their screaming corpse-to-be to pieces.

orcish druids and rangers are nice, and bonus on the ranger is that you can do strength based two weapon fighting.

as far as core prestige classes go, there is EK for the bardbarian, horizon walker is nice for defenses, if srd is allowed racial paragon classes bear a glance.

[Saint GoH]

The Horizon tripper is, IMHO, the only worthwhile "build" using core-only. Certain Bardbarian builds can be fun, or just straight barbarian.

Basically if no one else plays a wizard, cleric, or druid you can be any single classed melee and be on par with the rest of the group. As soon as a caster enters the fray a Core only melee will be quickly reduced to a blubbering idiot.

[Eldariel]

Well, Barbarian 14 (or Barb 12/Fighter 2)/Sorcerer 2/Dragon Disciple 4 isn't terrible far as pure physical stats are concerned. And it gets some more independence (like Wings and Blindsense) if you go Dragon Disciple 9, though then you lose out on a lot more BAB than you'd necessarily want to (going down to mere 16 really hurts your Power Attack).

I mean, Horizon Tripper is great far as versatility is concerned, but Barbarian gets some more pure damage and some handy abilities; you can picked Mounted Combat line and Spirited Charge for ~300 points on level 20 with True Strike-imbued To Hit chance (though you should be able to PA for full and still hit AC 40 with just a buff stack, but that relies on your allies). Of course, it doesn't nearly hold up to anything you can do with Polymorph-line but outside that it performs quite well damage-wise and still has room for Improved Trip and Combat Reflexes.


Really, with Core melee you generally want:
- Two-Hander
- Power Attack
- Improved Trip
- Spirited Charge (+ Leadership) [or some other source of Mount; mounted charge with a lance + Spirited Charge is the only efficient way to approach and deal damage in Core at higher levels]

AS that involves you getting Combat Expertise, that's about it for the worthwhile feats you can take in Core (EWP: Spiked Chain is another worthwhile option), you should just skip on the rest. Pick Weapon Focus in the empty slot, I suppose, or Improved Sunder for the one time you face a Hydra, or Improved Bull Rush for the cliffhanger fight. Just some small bonuses to something. With class levels, just take as many useful class features as you can fit. Which involves Barbarian, Ranger and PrCs.

[Elfin]

The Horizon Tripper is usually the way to go, though you can do decently with just taking barbarian, two-handing, and Power Attacking. As for Dragon Disciple, though, I've never understood it; you can either take 10 levels to get all the abilities of half-dragon...or you can just be a half-dragon for only 3 LA.

[Human Paragon 3]

OK, this one is gonna sound weird, but hear me out.

Bard 1/Figther 2/Bard 6/Eldritch Knight 10, using the fighter levels for mounted combat feats, weapon and armor profs, and ride ranks.

The build is basically an inspiring, mounted charger. Take perform oratory for inspiring speaches. You won't be an all-powerful caster, but you will have some great buffs (self and otherwise) and spirited charge is the biggest damage source available in core. Focus on Str and Cha. As a bonus, you can cast Mount and/or Phantom Steed when you happen to be horseless.

[Enix18]

Alright, it looks like I'll probably be going with Horizon Walker. However much I'll miss my Warblady goodness, that build definitely provides enough versatility to be effective and entertaining.

I'd like to give our a hearty thanks to everyone who replied for their suggestions. As always, I'm glad I can count on the Playground. :smallsmile:

[Elfin]

{{scrubbed}}

[MeeposFire]

{{scrubbed}}

You forgot about uranium katanas.

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

A great core-only melee build is a Barbarian/Ranger with a spiked chain. I played one and it was a little underpowered but a lot of fun.

[Elfin]

You forgot about uranium katanas.

...So I did.

I'm truly ashamed.

[gorfnab]

You might find some more Core Only builds here: Core Compositions (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=8146.0).
Here is my variant Horizon Tripper from that thread.


Variant Horizon Tripper

Human
1. Ranger - Weapon Finesse, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Kusari-Gama (DMG page 144), B: Track
2. Ranger - B: Two Weapon Fighting
3. Fighter - Combat Expertise, B: Improved Trip
4. Barbarian
5. Ranger - B: Endurance
6. Barbarian - Combat Reflexes
7. Horizon Walker
8. Horizon Walker
9. Horizon Walker - Improved Two Weapon Fighting
10. Horizon Walker
11. Horizon Walker
12. Horizon Walker - Greater Two Weapon Fighting
13. Horizon Walker
14. Horizon Walker
15. Horizon Walker - Dodge
16. Horizon Walker
17. Fighter - B: Mobility
18. Fighter - Spring Attack
19. Fighter - B: Whirlwind Attack
20. Shadowdancer (or something else, Hide in Plain Sight is an okay capstone though)

[MeeposFire]

...So I did.

I'm truly ashamed.

You should be:smalltongue:. Now I am going back to my essentials/rest of 4e argument again...oh and about banning ToB...

[Elfin]

{{scrubbed}}

[dgnslyr]

{{scrubbed}}

[CycloneJoker]

If you want to play an actual, effective melee character, play CoDzilla. Or PsyWar, if you count SRD as core.

[CycloneJoker]

{{scrubbed}}

[Myth]

Are you OK with having full casting on top of great melee capability?

Yes: be a Druid or Cleric

No: Are you OK with partial casting?

Yes: Be a Paladin2/Sorcerer x/Eldritch Knight y

No: You want to play wtih no casting at all huh?

Yes: Roll a Pounce Barbarian (in the SRD).

Avoid anything but a 2 level dip in Fighter. Avoid Dwarven Defender. Avoid Paladin for anything but a 2 level dip. Avoid Battle Sorcerer. Avoid riding anything that is not an animal companion/Paladin mount. These are all traps.

[Coidzor]

Pounce is from Complete Champion, so that's out with Core-only or SRD sources.

[Myth]

Man I though the Lion Totem Barbs got that? Guess I was wrong... :smallredface:

[The Glyphstone]

Man I though the Lion Totem Barbs got that? Guess I was wrong... :smallredface:

It's Spirit Lion Totems that get Pounce. A different source with a similar name.

[MeeposFire]

Wrong lion totem barbarian.

EDIT: NinjAAAAAAAAAAAAD!