How good is this build

[Howler Dagger]

So yeah, here is my build. It focuses on battlefield control and tripping everything.
Race: Water Orc
Stats:
Str 19
Dex 16
Con 16
Int 10
Wis 12
Cha 6
Levels: Wolf Totem Barbarian 6

Feats:
Flaw bonus: EWP: spiked chain
Level 1 abberation blood (http://dnd.savannahsoft.eu/feat-8-aberration-blood.html)
Level 2 Bonus: Improved trip
Level 3: inhuman reach (http://dnd.savannahsoft.eu/feat-1617-inhuman-reach.html)
Level 6: Combat Reflexes

So with this i have a trip modifier of +9 (+6 BAB, +4 STR, -1 IR), i can make 5 trips per round, 2 on my turn with a full attack, and 3 from AoO at anybody within 20 feet.

So my question is, how effective would this be at tripping, and battlefield control in general?

[Incanur]

Seems solid. Technically, you have a trip to hit of +9 and a trip modifier of +8. Both of those increase by 2 during a rage. Maybe dip into crusader for Thicket of Blades.

[Howler Dagger]

also, im considering taking this (http://dnd.savannahsoft.eu/feat-498-curling-wave-strike.html) feat at level 9, is it worth it?

[Incanur]

It's kind of cool, but be careful about specializing too much. Tripping either doesn't work or doesn't accomplish anything against a variety of foes.

[HunterOfJello]

Find out if your DM will allow LA buyoff. If they do, then it would definitely be worth it to grab the Quasi-Lycanthrope template. You can find it on the wotc website. The template gives DR 10/Silver, gains the Shapechanger subtype, and can do a minor and usually useless transformation.

Howevier, the transformation and subtype are extremely useful for entering the Warshaper Prestige Class. If you go into that PrC then in 3 levels you'll gain +4 Str, +4 Con, another 5 feet of reach, immunity to stunning and critical hits, and a decent natural attack.

~

My only critique of the current build is to ask, what else can the character do other than trip people? If you decide not to go into the Warshaper PrC then it would be worth it to go into the Fighter class for a level to gain Power Attack for the extra damage. You skipped Combat Expertise to get into tripping better at a low level, but since the build lacks Combat Expertise and Power Attack, you're missing out on the extra damage and extra AC that many low level characters make good use of.

What's your plan for levels 7+ ?

[Flickerdart]

If your DM allows LA buyoff, the Goliath's Powerful Build is superior to the Water Orc's better stats, since you get counted as Large for tripping purposes, and Mountain Rage makes you Large when raging.

[Howler Dagger]

What book is warshaper from? That template definently looks interesting. My plan for 7+ was going to be planned based on feedbackk from this thread.

[HunterOfJello]

What book is warshaper from? That template definently looks interesting. My plan for 7+ was going to be planned based on feedbackk from this thread.

Complete Warrior

[Howler Dagger]

yeah, looking at warshaper now it seems like it definently would be worth it, and the requirements are easy if i use that template. Also, are goliaths humanoid? because for abberation blood you need to be humanoid. I orignally was going for Hal-Giant, but realised it was a giant, not humanoid.

[faceroll]

I'd drop two levels of barbarian for two levels of fighter. Pick up power attack & knockdown.


also, im considering taking this (http://dnd.savannahsoft.eu/feat-498-curling-wave-strike.html) feat at level 9, is it worth it?

I would get knockdown instead.


It's kind of cool, but be careful about specializing too much. Tripping either doesn't work or doesn't accomplish anything against a variety of foes.

What else is a barbarian to specialize in?


If your DM allows LA buyoff, the Goliath's Powerful Build is superior to the Water Orc's better stats, since you get counted as Large for tripping purposes, and Mountain Rage makes you Large when raging.

I'd rather put feral, mineral warrior, or half-minotaur on. Those are all worth the +1 LA, even if you cannot buy it off.

[Flickerdart]

I'd rather put feral, mineral warrior, or half-minotaur on. Those are all worth the +1 LA, even if you cannot buy it off.
Those three templates are all kinds of problematic though. Many DMs will have issues with them.

[Howler Dagger]

I assume this (http://dnd.savannahsoft.eu/feat-3189-knock-down.html) is the knockdown you are talking aboout? It says it is from 3.0 so im not sure if my DM would allow that.

[faceroll]

I assume this (http://dnd.savannahsoft.eu/feat-3189-knock-down.html) is the knockdown you are talking aboout? It says it is from 3.0 so im not sure if my DM would allow that.

You can also find it under the hospices of the SRD:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/divine/divineAbilitiesFeats.htm#knockDown

[Incanur]

What else is a barbarian to specialize in?

Pouncing on people for 100+ damage. Or even more while mounted, if pounce and Spirited Charge work together.

[Curmudgeon]

It's kind of cool, but be careful about specializing too much. Tripping either doesn't work or doesn't accomplish anything against a variety of foes.
+1 to this. You've got no counter for ranged attacks. You'll also be in trouble whenever a Rogue decides to mess with you. They'll Tumble up to you (so no AoOs) and when you try to trip them, they can use a Balance check to resist the attempt (see Complete Adventurer). Skill ranks can increase much faster than your trip modifier.

[Incanur]

Uncanny dodge and the fact that rogues have a d6 hit die makes me doubt they'll be a huge worry. Thicket of Blades arguably stops tumble from being a way to avoid attacks of opportunity.

You might want to consider the feat Stand Still as alternative to tripping if you're all about battlefield control.

[Daftendirekt]

How is everybody forgetting about the +4 from Improved Trip? +6 BAB +4 STR +4 Improved Trip = 14

[mootoall]

If you're going for real optimization, add on the Dragonborn template, to boost your Constitution, lose your light sensitivity, and gain some wings so you can trip fliers. You lose one AoO from Combat Reflexes, but it's probably worth it.

[jguy]

Trip doesn't include BAB. It is modified by strength, size, and feats. Grapple uses BAB

[Daftendirekt]

Very true. Never done much tripping myself. Well, in that case, 4 STR + 4 Improved Trip = 8.

[Killer Angel]

Damage is good: don't wait too much for Power Attack.
Also, you should be fine with Gauntlets of Might (basically, +2 on all str based checks, thus including trip, and small bonuses on PA).