[3.P]When all you have is a hammer...

[Mr. Anon Omys]

Salutations, Playgrounders.

I come before you today with a build request inspired by the adage half stated in the title. Build me a character who has only a hammer. I would prefer a 1-20 build focused on drawing as many options as possible from a hammer, all books allowed. Bonus points if the build includes a way of making things look like nails.

Thank you in advance, all those who spend even a yoctosecond considering a possible build.

[Feralventas]

Well, with melee weapons, an easy go-to is the Tome of Battle. Your weapon won't be a heavy influence on your maneuver's effects, though many of them are based on Damage as normal +xd6. On the other hand Maneuvers like Elder Mountain Hammer make me thing that the Stone Dragon school of maneuvers is for you.

Warblade should suit your needs in that case.

The usual set-ups for a hammar-wielding warrior like Power Attack and Cleave aren't a bad investment if you mean to emphasize it, but you might also look into Crafting feats to put that hammer to creative use as much as destructive. Pathfinder has rules for non-magical crafting if you want to play a non-'caster and your DM won't allow Initiator level in place of class level.

Bounding Hammer for thrown weapon combat (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/bounding-hammer-combat)

Hammer the Gap (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/hammer-the-gap-combat) because puns.

Thunder and Fang (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/thunder-and-fang-combat) if you are willing to consider wielding something With your hammer and investing in several other feats.

[kardar233]

Waterga Ironstorm (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19871346/Tome_of_Battle:_Build_Compendium&post_num=584#338393254), the Warmace-wielding Stormguard Warrior extraordinaire sounds right up your alley.

[Soranar]

When all you have is a hammer, get another one

Race: jungle dwarf
Alignment: must be Lawful Good

STATS (32 pts)

STR 16 (main stat)
DEX 8 (dump)
CON 16
INT 14
WIS 16
CHA 6 (dump)

1 Barbarian (Lion totem, for pounce) weapon focus: warhammer
2 Ranger
3 Ranger iron will
4 Ranger
5 Ranger
6 Ranger open feat
7 Ranger
8 Battlesmith
9 Ranger open feat
10 Ranger
11 Hammer of Moradin
12 Hammer of Moradin open feat
13 Hammer of Moradin
14 Ranger
15 Ranger open feat
16 Ranger
17 Deepwarden
18 Deepwarden open feat
19 Warblade
20 Warblade

abilities: GTWF without a DEX requirement, CON bonus replaces DEX for AC, WIS added to damage with warhammers (you have to craft them yourself though), Warhammers get 1.5 times your STR to damage even in the off hand, you can throw your warhammers and they gain the returining ability, pounce

no xp penalty

couldn't think of anything to finish it with so 2 levels of Warblade to complete the build (with initiator level 10, it's the most efficient time to dip)

Personally I always trade a ranger's animal companion for the urban companion (the animal companion is just too fragile to survive at higher levels) gives you a nice scout

[Telonius]

Literally, only a hammer, no other items whatsoever? Too bad Light Hammer is a martial weapon, or this would be one of the few times where Vow of Poverty could actually help you out significantly. Any chance of getting the requirement handwaved, or refluff a Mace into a hammer? Otherwise you could get a level of Drunken Master to use regular hammers as improvised weapons without penalty.

[Slipperychicken]

+1 Flying Sizing Morphic Spellblade(disintegrate) Riverine Hammer. Now your hammer serves as transportation for the entire party. Make it an Item Familiar which commands you to destroy things indiscriminately. Add every non-plus enhancement you can find, and try to get that one curse that makes it the only weapon you can draw (as the -2 Cursed Sword).


Give the item a massive Ego score and periodically cast illusions on you to make everything appear to be nails of varying sizes and shapes and/or go berserk and hammer everything while shouting about carpentry. Bonus points if this is what the character would do anyway.


Your Hammer can also turn Colossal++ (any size you wish) and fly around on its own, smashing buildings into the ground and breaking you out of jail if you ever wind up there.