Charisma-based Melee/Stealth Classes

[kardar233]

I'm building a gestalt character for a PbP, who will be filling the role of the party "face" as well as his sneaking/hitting. He's starting out as a CE Warblade/Rogue, and I'm wondering what melee or stealth-based classes synergize with a high-CHA character like him. He's a talker and a sneaker and a Power Attacking Shock Trooper, and I'm wondering how to use that score.

Non-core is by DM approval, but it's worth a shot if the stuff is good.

[tyckspoon]

Nothing, really, especially if you don't have reasonably free access to the D&D canon; there's a lot of little bits that can use Cha, but they're scattered all over the place (and half of them rely on having Bardic Music.) The most generically useful one I can think of would be the Gauntlets of Heartfelt Blows out of the Dragon Compendium, which add your Cha mod as fire damage to melee attacks.

[Hirax]

This thread will give you some useful things to do with high charisma, but I'm drawing blanks on cha to melee or stealth off the top of my head. There is a feat that causes cha to replace wis for will saves, though.
edit: here it is: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125732

[Ryu_Bonkosi]

Take a level of Human Paragon or Factotum+Able Learner and Grab Iaijutsu Focus mixed with a Gnomish Quickblade and your favorite method of flat-footing your opponent (Acrobatic Backstab is pretty helpful) and there's your damage. Granted you will have to get this all past your DM who might shoot down the Iaijutsu Focus and/or the Quickblade but if he doesn't you will be doing some pretty reliable melee damage.


EDIT: Also check out this thread: X stat to Y bonus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125732)

[Lonely Tylenol]

A one-level dip into Battledancer gives you your CHA bonus to AC as a dodge bonus, but requires that you not wear medium or heavy armor. (Source: Dragon Compendium)

A two-level dip into Paladin gives you your CHA bonus to all saves. (This is equally true for Paladins of Freedom, Tyranny and Chaos.) (Source: PHB)

Slippers of Battledancing give you +10 movement speed, and add your CHA bonus to attack and damage rolls if you move 10 feet beforehand. (Source: PHBII)

As mentioned here, Gauntlets of Heartfelt Blows add your CHA bonus as fire damage to your attacks. (Source: Dragon Compendium)

Those are the easy ones.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Arcane Duelist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20030224a) would be my first choice, either take only three or four levels or get all ten. Its Dexterous Attack ability has some silly interactions with two-handed Power Attack.

[Draz74]

I'm surprised Spellthief hasn't been mentioned. Bard can work too, although it's not great for multiclassing into at higher levels.

[Ashentears]

Marshall (Heroes of Battle, also in the web preview) is always good for a one level dip to add your Charisma to Dex checks, initiative and skills.

The free Skill Focus: Diplomacy isn't terrible for a party face either.

[Godskook]

Ascetic Mage + Swordsage 2 dip nets you Cha to AC.

If you take significant bardic levels, snowflake wardance from Frostburn adds Cha to attack rolls(on *top* of your normal stat*) with 1-handed slashing melee weapons.

[Malkav]

This should have no trouble getting DM approval.
Paladin of ______ 2/Ranger 8/Shadowdancer 10

Always have Entangle for Ranger spells and face rape them. The key to this build is face raping. You must face rape.

[Person_Man]

Binder. All of his Save DC's are Charisma based. Each of his vestiges are geared toward a different trick or role. For example:

Naberius gives you at will Disguise Self, at will Command once every 5 rounds, bonuses to Diplomacy and Bluff, the ability to "rush" Diplomacy checks with a greatly reduced penalty, and fast healing of ability damage (which allows you to use drugs, certain vile feats, and Hellfiare Warlock effectively).

Malphas gives you at will Invisibility once every 5 rounds, Poison Use, a couple dice of Sudden Strike, and an infinitely replaceable crow that you can use for scouting (and a variety of other minor tricks like setting off traps and infiinite healing).

[Feytalist]

I bet we all wish now that Dashing Swordsman actually existed.

[Veyr]

I bet we all wish now that Dashing Swordsman actually existed.
Oh, but it does. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29882)

[Feytalist]

Oh, but it does. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29882)

I... groaned.

And then went back and read it again.

And then lol'd.

[Aemoh87]

Arcane Duelist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20030224a) would be my first choice, either take only three or four levels or get all ten. Its Dexterous Attack ability has some silly interactions with two-handed Power Attack.

Amazing melee power! How this class never made it off the site and into a splat blows my mind.

[Elric VIII]

My vote is for Paladin of Slaughter 4. This nets you Divine Grace and Rebuke Undead. Use that to power Divine Might for free action Cha to attack (in addition to your normal attack stat) or Divine Vigor for +10 move speed and 2/level temp hp for 1 min/Cha mod.

[Hiro Protagonest]

Oh, but it does. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29882)

It also exists (with slightly different mechanics) here (http://oots.wikia.com/wiki/Dashing_Swordsman).

[Veyr]

Those feat requirements are abysmal, though.