[3.5]Help me build The Hulk

[Joe Eskimo]

I need help making a hulk-like character. Probably someone with rage, expansion and a way to get into the war hulk prc even if only while the expansion power is manifested.
Thanks!

[doko239]

It's Pathfinder, but this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238107) thread has some fun stuff in it :smallbiggrin:

[togapika]

Might look into the Master Chymist alchemist prestige class from pathfinder. Turns your altered form from mutagen into an actual alternate person...

[Kuulvheysoon]

Strongheart Halfling Expert 2/Stoneblessed (Goliath) 3/Barbarian X/Frenzied Berserker X.

Taking the Mountainous Rage Barbarian ACF make you change your size category (while raging) to Large.

Because he is Small sized, he doesn't qualify for Warhulk in his normal form, and thus also doesn't have No Time To Think. When he rages, however, he becomes Large, qualifies for the PrC, and gains all abilities, including No Time To Think.

So when he's not raging, he can use all his 'Banner skills', but when he's raging... he is RAGING.

[Lateral]

Strongheart Halfling Expert 2/Stoneblessed (Goliath) 3/Barbarian X/Frenzied Berserker X.

Taking the Mountainous Rage Barbarian ACF make you change your size category (while raging) to Large.

Because he is Small sized, he doesn't qualify for Warhulk in his normal form, and thus also doesn't have No Time To Think. When he rages, however, he becomes Large, qualifies for the PrC, and gains all abilities, including No Time To Think.

So when he's not raging, he can use all his 'Banner skills', but when he's raging... he is RAGING.

That's exactly what I was thinking. (Well, except you forgot about... y'know, actually having Warhulk levels.)

[eggs]

Strongheart Halfling Expert 2/Stoneblessed (Goliath) 3/Barbarian X/Frenzied Berserker X.
Is that the generic class, or is there something tricky going on?

[Lateral]

Is that the generic class, or is there something tricky going on?
...No, the NPC class. The generic classes aren't really meant to be used with normal classes.

[Slipperychicken]

For a full-time Hulk, the Half-Minotaur (+1 LA, Dragon mag 313) template gives like 12 str, 6 con, and a size boost to large. Most of that comes from the fact that the writers didn't bother to look at the MM size-advancement table which they referenced in the template.


To be a bit harder to kill outright, Troll-Blooded (feat. Dragon 319, gives regen 1) can be helpful.

[Joe Eskimo]

Strongheart Halfling Expert 2/Stoneblessed (Goliath) 3/Barbarian X/Frenzied Berserker X.

Taking the Mountainous Rage Barbarian ACF make you change your size category (while raging) to Large.

Because he is Small sized, he doesn't qualify for Warhulk in his normal form, and thus also doesn't have No Time To Think. When he rages, however, he becomes Large, qualifies for the PrC, and gains all abilities, including No Time To Think.

So when he's not raging, he can use all his 'Banner skills', but when he's raging... he is RAGING.

Leaning towards this. And Lateral's right. You forgot the warhulk levels. :smallbiggrin:
Also PF's master chymist seems to get it right.

[Lateral]

How closely do you want to stick to the Hulk, exactly? If it's supposed to be a direct expy of Bruce Banner, you'd want Human Expert 2/Stoneblessed 3/Barbarian 2/War Hulk 10/Frenzied Berserker 3 seems appropriate. If it's just supposed to be a guy who becomes a hulking monster when he rages, then you'd be best off as something more along the lines of a Goliath Barbarian 3/Fighter 2/War Hulk 10/Frenzied Berserker 4. That way, you get War Hulk earlier, and plus you can get Dungeoncrasher for lots of bonus damage with Knockback. Combine that with Spirit Lion Totem (for Pounce), Wolf Totem (for free Improved Trip) and Knock-Down for more fun.

[Zonugal]

If you were operating in E6 this would be pretty easy.

You didn't give any specifics but how about a non-traditional approach to the Hulk like this:

Male Middle-Aged Half-Fiend 1* Illumian Human Paragon 1/Wizard 3/Human Paragon 2
Stats: Str 10, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9
Troll-Blooded [1st], Toughness [Flaw], Rapid Regeneration [Flaw], Scribe Scroll [W1], Pain Mastery [HP2], Involuntary Rage [3rd], Arcane Strike [6th]

Now you don't qualify for Involuntary Rage or Pain Mastery in your typical form but the moment you cast Bear's Endurance upon yourself you start the transformation.

Bear's Endurance unlocks Involuntary Rage & Pain Mastery, but our stats are still pretty mundane.
Stats: Str 10, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9

Now we cast Alter Self (this is where that one level in the savage progression of Half-Field is so important as it throws the outsider template on Bruce) and turn into a Dwarven Ancestor. Large size and +18 natural armor is really nice (it also opens up feats like Awesome Blow & such later down the road). But because Alter Self doesn't alter physical stats we still have:
Stats: Str 10, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9

Next we cast Fist of Stone, as to pump that strength by some points.
Stats: Str 16, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9

Now remember Bruce is a Illumian and he'll have chosen to have his Illumian word be Aeshkrau. That new 16 in strength now affords us a bonus 1st, 2nd & 3rd level spell.

From here you can kind of go where you want but Fist of Stone lasts a minute so you are granted a 1st, 2nd & 3rd level spell during the period effectively for free. Be it from Enlarge Person to Heroism you can start stacking a lot of nice buffs this way.

But this is only half of the build. Once you suffer a flat 50 points of damage & recover (this is honestly the hardest part, but a build like above should have somewhere near 42 on average with 54 after Bear's Endurance, but regeneration 2/fire & acid means you can recover if you have time) you trigger Involuntary Rage & Pain Mastery putting your stats at:
Stats: Str 22, Dex 10, Con 24, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9

You gain a bonus 1st & 2nd level spell and are starting to upgrade yourself. A build like this should try to find a way to get any type of curing spell available (as to handle the 50 points of damage), but now you can begin stacking the affects of Involuntary Rage & Pain Mastery. Each time you survive a strike of 50 points of damage or higher you gain +6 Str, +4 Con & -2 AC (resulting in more bonus spells).

So literally the longer you fight (and the angrier you get) the stronger you become.

So this build can function as Bruce Banner (it's still a full casting Wizard) but can also become the Hulk (be it a bit slower than a Barbarian build).

[Howler Dagger]

Male Middle-Aged Half-Fiend 1* Illumian Human Paragon

Are Illumians humans?

[Roguenewb]

That's the best build there, the e6 one. Thats amazing at capturing the feel.

[Lateral]

Are Illumians humans?

Yup.

[Zonugal]

That's the best build there, the e6 one. Thats amazing at capturing the feel.

Actually using the E6 variant things get really crazy.

Just start throwing on Improved Natural Armor, Toughness, Roll With It and Rapid Regeneration.

You will have an unbreakable force short of standard mage-based tactics (negative levels, mental ability drain, ect...).

[DrMike105]

I think War Weaver would give you what you want. Only include yourself in your tapestry. On turn one you can pop off an Enlarge Person, Bull's Strength, Haste, Protection From X, and...I dunno...Mending, or any other combination of five spells all in one turn. You won't like him when he's angry.

[Kuulvheysoon]

How closely do you want to stick to the Hulk, exactly? If it's supposed to be a direct expy of Bruce Banner, you'd want Human Expert 2/Stoneblessed 3/Barbarian 2/War Hulk 10/Frenzied Berserker 3 seems appropriate. If it's just supposed to be a guy who becomes a hulking monster when he rages, then you'd be best off as something more along the lines of a Goliath Barbarian 3/Fighter 2/War Hulk 10/Frenzied Berserker 4. That way, you get War Hulk earlier, and plus you can get Dungeoncrasher for lots of bonus damage with Knockback. Combine that with Spirit Lion Totem (for Pounce), Wolf Totem (for free Improved Trip) and Knock-Down for more fun.

That's indeed why I picked expert - it's for representing Generic Scientist Type (also, that was you can get UMD as a Class Skill). I chose Strongheart Halfling so as to get the most drastic size increase.

Apparently, I missed the part where the OP requested War Hulk levels (as it stands, HalfHulk gets +8 when he rages (2 size increases plus +4 for rage)).

Lateral's (first) build looks excellent instead of my build, by the way. Definitely make sure to nab Leap attack/Pouncebarian, though.

[Joe Eskimo]

If you were operating in E6 this would be pretty easy.

You didn't give any specifics but how about a non-traditional approach to the Hulk like this:

Male Middle-Aged Half-Fiend 1* Illumian Human Paragon 1/Wizard 3/Human Paragon 2
Stats: Str 10, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9
Troll-Blooded [1st], Toughness [Flaw], Rapid Regeneration [Flaw], Scribe Scroll [W1], Pain Mastery [HP2], Involuntary Rage [3rd], Arcane Strike [6th]

Now you don't qualify for Involuntary Rage or Pain Mastery in your typical form but the moment you cast Bear's Endurance upon yourself you start the transformation.

Bear's Endurance unlocks Involuntary Rage & Pain Mastery, but our stats are still pretty mundane.
Stats: Str 10, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9

Now we cast Alter Self (this is where that one level in the savage progression of Half-Field is so important as it throws the outsider template on Bruce) and turn into a Dwarven Ancestor. Large size and +18 natural armor is really nice (it also opens up feats like Awesome Blow & such later down the road). But because Alter Self doesn't alter physical stats we still have:
Stats: Str 10, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9

Next we cast Fist of Stone, as to pump that strength by some points.
Stats: Str 16, Dex 10, Con 20, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9

Now remember Bruce is a Illumian and he'll have chosen to have his Illumian word be Aeshkrau. That new 16 in strength now affords us a bonus 1st, 2nd & 3rd level spell.

From here you can kind of go where you want but Fist of Stone lasts a minute so you are granted a 1st, 2nd & 3rd level spell during the period effectively for free. Be it from Enlarge Person to Heroism you can start stacking a lot of nice buffs this way.

But this is only half of the build. Once you suffer a flat 50 points of damage & recover (this is honestly the hardest part, but a build like above should have somewhere near 42 on average with 54 after Bear's Endurance, but regeneration 2/fire & acid means you can recover if you have time) you trigger Involuntary Rage & Pain Mastery putting your stats at:
Stats: Str 22, Dex 10, Con 24, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 9

You gain a bonus 1st & 2nd level spell and are starting to upgrade yourself. A build like this should try to find a way to get any type of curing spell available (as to handle the 50 points of damage), but now you can begin stacking the affects of Involuntary Rage & Pain Mastery. Each time you survive a strike of 50 points of damage or higher you gain +6 Str, +4 Con & -2 AC (resulting in more bonus spells).

So literally the longer you fight (and the angrier you get) the stronger you become.

So this build can function as Bruce Banner (it's still a full casting Wizard) but can also become the Hulk (be it a bit slower than a Barbarian build).

Aye this is a great build for E6. Takes some time to get things started though, but really shows the unlimited strength the hulk could have.

[Joe Eskimo]

How closely do you want to stick to the Hulk, exactly? If it's supposed to be a direct expy of Bruce Banner, you'd want Human Expert 2/Stoneblessed 3/Barbarian 2/War Hulk 10/Frenzied Berserker 3 seems appropriate. If it's just supposed to be a guy who becomes a hulking monster when he rages, then you'd be best off as something more along the lines of a Goliath Barbarian 3/Fighter 2/War Hulk 10/Frenzied Berserker 4. That way, you get War Hulk earlier, and plus you can get Dungeoncrasher for lots of bonus damage with Knockback. Combine that with Spirit Lion Totem (for Pounce), Wolf Totem (for free Improved Trip) and Knock-Down for more fun.

Oh, he doesn't have to be Bruce Banner. So he'll probably be a human ex-monk 2/stoneblessed 3/barbarian 2/war hulk 10/frenzied berserker 3. Probably chaotic neutral.