[3.5] Large Melee Character

[DustyBottoms]

Hey guys, I'm creating a melee character and looking for suggestions on what race to use for a Large size class (eventually gonna go War Hulk). I'd prefer to stay relatively tame as far as monster choices, but I'll hear basically anything. Allowed materials include Core, anything Complete or Races of ____. Preferably LA +2 or lower. Thanks!

[LOTRfan]

I would suggest Half-Ogre. It's LA +1 and can be located in Savage Species.

[Blueiji]

You could just play a medium race (Human would be good), and have Enlarge Person (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/enlargePerson.htm) cast on you and then made permanent (via the Permanency (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/permanency.htm) spell).

[DustyBottoms]

You could just play a medium race (Human would be good), and have Enlarge Person (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/enlargePerson.htm) cast on you and then made permanent (via the Permanency (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/permanency.htm) spell).

This is actually something I considered doing, or being a Goliath and doing that so I get a powerful build Large.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Half-Ogre (3.5 version) in Races of Destiny is +2 LA, and it's largely considered one of the more balanced large race choices.

Half-Minotaur from Dragon 313 is +1 LA, and considering it gives an advancement size increase (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/improvingMonsters.htm#sizeIncreases) (and actually calls out that chart in the Monster Manual for the bonuses you get), it's one of the most overpowered templates in the game. +12 Str for a +1 LA. If you just don't include the bonuses for increasing a size and only give it what's printed (Str +4, Con +2, Int -2, not bad) it's still well worth taking. Especially if you add it to something like Water Orc (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/elementalRacialVariants.htm#racesOfWater).

Permanency + Enlarge Person is definitely a possibility, unless your DM is a jerk and will make opponents try to dispel it. Get both spells at caster level 20, from someone who owns a Ring of Enduring Arcana for a total dispel DC of 35.

I'd go Fighter 6/ War Hulk 10/ whatever, get TWF and EWP: Kusari-Gama, with Knock-Down and Knock-Back. With the sweeping attacks that War Hulk grants, extra hits for Improved Trip that also hit multiple targets, AoOs for getting up from prone or moving which also hit multiple targets, and every hit triggering Knock-Back for Dungeoncrasher damage... Just sweep every opponent into a corner and then splatter them against the wall. Put Wrathful Healing from Enemies and Allies on your weapons, wear Gloves of the Balanced Hand and Armbands of Might.

[Callin]

I always wanted to try a melee class 5/ War Mind 5/ War Hulk x.

on topic. Go with the Half Ogre if you cant work out Half Minotaur.

[Mithril Leaf]

It's a shame Savage Species isn't on the table, because although it's got a plethora of broken choices, it's also got the anthropomorphic baleen whale, which is only a bit broken, and ideal for a build like this.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

I always wanted to try a melee class 5/ War Mind 5/ War Hulk x.

on topic. Go with the Half Ogre if you cant work out Half Minotaur.

War Hulk automatically disqualifies you for War Mind. War Hulk sets all of your Int- Wis- and Cha-based skills except Intimidate to 0 ranks permanently. War Mind requires Kn: Psionics.

[Urpriest]

War Hulk automatically disqualifies you for War Mind. War Hulk sets all of your Int- Wis- and Cha-based skills except Intimidate to 0 ranks permanently. War Mind requires Kn: Psionics.

Luckily, Warmind is not in Complete Warrior or Complete Arcane.

[TypoNinja]

Half-Ogre (3.5 version) in Races of Destiny is +2 LA, and it's largely considered one of the more balanced large race choices.

Half-Minotaur from Dragon 313 is +1 LA, and considering it gives an advancement size increase (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/improvingMonsters.htm#sizeIncreases) (and actually calls out that chart in the Monster Manual for the bonuses you get), it's one of the most overpowered templates in the game. +12 Str for a +1 LA. If you just don't include the bonuses for increasing a size and only give it what's printed (Str +4, Con +2, Int -2, not bad) it's still well worth taking. Especially if you add it to something like Water Orc (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/elementalRacialVariants.htm#racesOfWater).

Permanency + Enlarge Person is definitely a possibility, unless your DM is a jerk and will make opponents try to dispel it. Get both spells at caster level 20, from someone who owns a Ring of Enduring Arcana for a total dispel DC of 35.

I'd go Fighter 6/ War Hulk 10/ whatever, get TWF and EWP: Kusari-Gama, with Knock-Down and Knock-Back. With the sweeping attacks that War Hulk grants, extra hits for Improved Trip that also hit multiple targets, AoOs for getting up from prone or moving which also hit multiple targets, and every hit triggering Knock-Back for Dungeoncrasher damage... Just sweep every opponent into a corner and then splatter them against the wall. Put Wrathful Healing from Enemies and Allies on your weapons, wear Gloves of the Balanced Hand and Armbands of Might.

There's also a Half-Ogre from the DragonLance setting book that's only a +1.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

There's also a Half-Ogre from the DragonLance setting book that's only a +1.

The newer printing takes precedence, and Dragonlance is not even a D&D source, it's a d20 system like d20 Modern. Furthermore, most of those books are 3.0, and no longer valid if there's a 3.5 printing anywhere.

[TypoNinja]

The newer printing takes precedence, and Dragonlance is not even a D&D source, it's a d20 system like d20 Modern. Furthermore, most of those books are 3.0, and no longer valid if there's a 3.5 printing anywhere.

DragonLance is indeed an official source, Wizards even sells it on their site, the Dragonlance setting has ties to D&D as far back as TSR, and AD&D.

It never got a 3.5 update cause Wizards stopped caring and gave control back to Sovereign Press, but since it was never reprinted that would make 3.0 the current version.

But don't take my word for it, just look at the cover of the book.

http://www.tsrinfo.net/archive/3d/3d-cs.jpg

Note the text across the top Dungeons and Dragons. Not d20. Note that they can use that name without getting sued to hell and back.

WotC even keeps branded wallpapers around.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/dlcs_wall/DLCS_wp3_640x480.jpg

A Dragon Lance Campaign setting wallpaper, with the D&D logo, hosted on wizards.com. This must mean its 3rd party!

The legal text on the inside cover makes your claim that its D20 look even worse. Alas, I can't be bothered to transcribe it.

edit: It is however a campaign setting, so the argument could be made that it refers to a different species of half ogre specific to that world if one were so inclined. But it is most certainly a D&D source.

[animewatcha]

tl;dr Campaign setting is legal. Other books of dragonlance fall into 'ask your DM'.