Optimizing Constitution/Concentration

[GimpLemons]

I'm wanting to make a character based around using Concentration abilities(Insightful Strike, Greater Insightful Strike, Save substitution, etc.)

I'm having trouble finding good sources on optimizing these two things.

Can anyone help me out or direct me towards some good sources?

[BowStreetRunner]

The Master +0 LA Race List III (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=1281.0) has a list of races with CON bonuses. For instance, a Dragonborn of Bahamut who was originally a Mongrelfolk with have a +6 CON with a +0 LA.

There is a [3.x] X stat to Y (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125732) bonus post that gives other uses for a good CON bonus. For instance the Steadfast Determination feat from PH2 allows you to use your CON instead of WIS bonus on WILL saves and you do not automatically fail FORT saves on a 1.

Edit: Oh, and I found THIS (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-153943.html), which might help too. :smallbiggrin:

[GimpLemons]

How did you find all of this so easily? Like what search method did you use? I'd like to be able to find this stuff on my own but I can't find any search engine for the threads/archives of this site.

Also thank you:D

[eggynack]

How did you find all of this so easily? Like what search method did you use? I'd like to be able to find this stuff on my own but I can't find any search engine for the threads/archives of this site.

Also thank you:D
Well, after awhile, you tend to know the names of the pages that you're looking for. If you google "x stat to y bonus," that page is the first result, and folks know about that page cause it gets linked a lot. It's also listed on the notable threads thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124685), so even if you don't hang around on optimization forums all the time, it's findable.

[BowStreetRunner]

How did you find all of this so easily? Like what search method did you use? I'd like to be able to find this stuff on my own but I can't find any search engine for the threads/archives of this site.

Part of it is just experience, pretty much as eggynack said. I already have a good idea what I'm looking for, since I've seen it before. Part of it is knowing how to use the advanced search features of things like Google. If you search for "CON Bonus" you get a ton of junk. Typing "3.5 CON Bonus" returns far more relevant results. But you can even search a specific site by typing "site:www.giantitp.com CON Bonus" which will give only results from within the Giant in the Playground domain.

It also helps that I used to take part in the World's Largest Trivia Contest (http://wprcfs.primate.wisc.edu/hamel/web/point.html) where a lot of the work was done through internet searches and you had to learn to be really good at searching since the organizer of the contest tried as hard as he could to 'internet-proof' the questions.

[Jigokuro]

Part of it is just experience, pretty much as eggynack said. I already have a good idea what I'm looking for, since I've seen it before. Part of it is knowing how to use the advanced search features of things like Google. If you search for "CON Bonus" you get a ton of junk. Typing "3.5 CON Bonus" returns far more relevant results. But you can even search a specific site by typing "site:www.giantitp.com CON Bonus" which will give only results from within the Giant in the Playground domain.

It also helps that I used to take part in the World's Largest Trivia Contest (http://wprcfs.primate.wisc.edu/hamel/web/point.html) where a lot of the work was done through internet searches and you had to learn to be really good at searching since the organizer of the contest tried as hard as he could to 'internet-proof' the questions.
Also: Bookmarks. I've got whole trees of links to D&D stuff marked.


To the original point, there is another option (in addition or in stead) of an item of continuous Undersong. It is a first level bard spell that lets you replace concentration checks with a perform(_) check. There are, I think, more items in general to boost concentration than perform, but there is a specific type of perform from complete warrior -perform(weapon drill)- that gets a bunch of bonuses from combat related feats like weapon focus. Best part: the flavor. Someone fire a lightning bolt at you? Slice it with your sword for half damage!:smallbiggrin:and/or:smallamused:

[navar100]

Obviously you'd want Skill Focus (Concentration) feat. The nice thing about it is it works with (Greater) Insightful Strike. The maneuver says you can't use feats that increase damage. Skill Focus does not increase damage.

[Fouredged Sword]

Also a spellcasters vest (I think I am getting that name right) will grant +lots to a concentration check 3/day.

It is intended for spellcasters, but Greater Insightful Strike is just begging for it and it works with ANY concentration check.