Menacing Brute

[Ardantis]

What would you do with a Menacing Brute?

From Races of Destiny, the Menacing Brute is a 5-level PrC for Half-Orcs only. Built on a fighter chassis (but with 4 skills/lvl and some useful in-class), you get the following unusual/unrelated bonuses:

An intimidating stare, one level of sneak attack, a bonus to confirm crits, a mass fear ability after each kill, and a really weird power to find nonmagical items in the garbage by searching for a while.

What the heck do you do with that?

Anyone? Anyone?

EDIT: Races of Destiny page 123

[Darrin]

An intimidating stare, one level of sneak attack, a bonus to confirm crits, a mass fear ability after each kill, and a really weird power to find nonmagical items in the garbage by searching for a while.


The Imperious Command/Never Outnumbered stuff has been pretty well covered by Shneeky's Takahashi no Onisan (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=153726). Adding Menacing Brute on top of his Samurai chassis should work fairly well.

Making an Example (Ex): Looks like a Bag of Rats combo waiting to happen.

Resourceful Search (Ex): That's... very interesting. Shax (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148101) has a variety of non-magical items under 200 GP that could lead to quite a bit of shenanigans...

Aboleth Mucus (20 GP): Fort save DC 19 or suffocate (die).

Blister Oil (15 GP): Apply multiple doses to a net/lasso for Xd4 untyped damage (no maximum cap) on a failed Fort save DC 15.

Chaos Flask (100 GP): Any poison in the game just a Wis check away. Or diamond dust for raise dead/revivify. Or Golden Desert Honey for standard-action summons.

Eggshell Grendade (10 GP): Ranged touch attack to blind (no save).

Explosive Pack (200 GP): Make a good impression at a fancy dress party.

Shapesand (100 GP): Make a waterskin... or shovel... or mechanus gear armor... or acid... or poison... or explosives... out of sand!

Tempo Bloodspike (150 GP): Extra move action whenever you need it.

[FMArthur]

Honestly it just sounds like it's all for that 5th level ability, the 30ft-AoE save-or-cower when you kill.

It's similar to the Avenging Executioner's own 5th level ability, which Frightens on a failed save and Shakens on a successful one. AE also gets to render all foes within 30ft Shaken for up to 5 rounds every time it scores a Sudden Strike, treats fear-afflicted enemies as qualifying for Sudden Strike damage and lets you make Intimidate checks as a move action. Overall I think AE's better, but if you want you can pour 10 levels into getting them both for the insurance.

But honestly I'm not sure taking either is really all that useful for fear optimization. The only real important part of melee fear is the ability to make actual AoE Intimidate checks to trigger Imperious Command. Samurai gets those at some late level, but Scarlet Corsair and Dread Pirate can each do it at their 5th level. Just leaving 5 levels for your fear trick and diversifying the character's options from there seems more helpful.

[Cieyrin]

But honestly I'm not sure taking either is really all that useful for fear optimization. The only real important part of melee fear is the ability to make actual AoE Intimidate checks to trigger Imperious Command. Samurai gets those at some late level, but Scarlet Corsair and Dread Pirate can each do it at their 5th level. Just leaving 5 levels for your fear trick and diversifying the character's options from there seems more helpful.

I wouldn't totally discount it, as Half-Orcs get plenty of exclusive Intimidate boosts, this being one of them. Half-Orc Paragon for Monstrous Mien, Menacing Demeanor and this get Imperious Command/Never Outnumbered going that much faster. Combine with Zhentarim Fighter for a Half-Orc you wouldn't like to see when he's angry. :smallwink:

Demoralizing Stare and Extended Intimidation are nice boosts to both halves of making good use of Intimidate as well, which is just a nice perk.

[Ancient Mage]

Hmmm, It is a rather bizarre class. Perhaps if you were to find another class that has fear effects built into it, you could then get double fear from your attacks? Samurai/Menacing Brute/Exemplar of Intimidation perhaps?

-Ancient Mage

[Cieyrin]

Hmmm, It is a rather bizarre class. Perhaps if you were to find another class that has fear effects built into it, you could then get double fear from your attacks? Samurai/Menacing Brute/Exemplar of Intimidation perhaps?

-Ancient Mage

Not sure what you mean by that last bit (Exemplar PrC?) but Barbarian or Zhentarim Fighter work just fine for making use of the class, plus Half-Orc Paragon. Zhentarim Fighter/Half-Orc Paragon/Menacing Brute/Executing Avenger can play nicely together.

[Amphetryon]

Menacing Brute pairs amusingly well with Outcast Champion, from the same splatbook. Barbarian 2/Half-Orc Paragon 3/Menacing Brute 5/Outcast Champion 5/Ravager 5 could be interesting on a tribal chief.