Kol Korran
2013-07-02, 10:28 AM
Hello folks! I hope to soon start playing in a new game, and require some assistance in matters of build and mechanics. I am fairly lousy with those, so help from the expert of the forum is appreciated.
The game is 3.5, based in Eberron, and uses most books (Though for my understanding Tome of Battle is probably not in play, assume that it's not.). I don't know the exact context of the game yet, but we'll start in some port city. My character is a lvl 1 shifter (beast hide elite and shifter ferocity due to flaw) ranger. In between adventures characters may pursue their own goals, and affiliations with organizations. My character will try to get acclaim by fighting in the city's arena, sort of gladiator style.
But I'm worried how to build my gladiator. A few points to consider:
1) I want both effectiveness and style, where style (cool factor) wins a bit over effectiveness. I want the look and the feel of a gladiator as well as being good, in combat, if not great.
2) I want to play up the angle of savagery and ferocity of this character. More wild fighting than tic-toc precise fight.
3) He needs to be useful for non-arena adventures foremost, to the arena second. And no, I do not know yet what sort of characters the other choose. Most likely He'll be one of the most important melee types if not THE melee type.
Current thoughts are to add a barbarian level at level 2 or 3, add power attack and/ or extra rage at levels 3 and 6, and when I can, go to Were touched master (Note the changes in the Errata to the final level ability score adjustments. I'm planning currently to take The wolf or Boar ancestry) taking extra shifter feats along the way. Currently my plan reaches Ranger 6/ Barbarian 1/ Were touch master 5...
My questions:
1) What sort of fighting style should I take with the ranger? The DM supplied a few more other than the basic two, and currenrtly I'm in between the following:
- Two weapons fighting. Mostly because I think it would be call to have the shifter attack 4 times in a round, and possibly a 5th with a wolf bite, attacking ferociously like storm of attacks. I have however heard a few times in the playground that this battle style is not that effective due to: different feats for different weapons, needing to invest money to upgrade two weapons, lesser effect of power attack, and less chances to hit. Still the idea very much appeals to to me. In my imagination it just looks awesome! If I'll be going that route, I would love to make a special arm guard, explained below.
- Dragon 326 listed the following alternative combat styles:
Strong-Arm ranger gains Power Attack, then Improved Sunder, then Great Cleave. Obviously for two weapon fighting, focused on being a heavy hitter. The main bonus here is the free power attack, freeing up a feat slot in my planning, but the Improved Sunder is somewhat lackluster. I doubt I would get along with other gladiators if I break down their weapons. (Not to mention I expect most of them to be already enchanted and made of special materials at this point)
- Legends and Lairs "Wildscape" d20 book lists the following:
Two-Handed Fighting:
2nd: Two-Handed Defense: when fighting with a two-handed weapon, the ranger gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC.
6th: Sweeping Attack: gains benefit of Whirlwind Attack feat when fighting with a 2-handed weapon.
11th: Ferocious Blow: A reverse combo of Combat expertise and Power Attack, take a -1 penalty to AC (max -5) to gain +2 damage per -1 to AC.
Now, with this style I'm still fighting with a two handed weapon, but the style feels more... free flowing, wild, fast paced kind of fighting. The +1 to AC is certainly nice, and the 6th level advantage of whirlwind feels great to the savage frothing shifter. But Are these enough?
So what do you think will serve me best mechanically? Flavor wise? Any ideas for other styles of such?
2) The Armguard.
I came up with the following picture for my shifter:
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk295/meir_8/Reshk4_zpsc427f87a.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/meir_8/media/Reshk4_zpsc427f87a.jpg.html)(Geth from Legacy of Dhakkan series)
As you can see, his right arm is covered from shoulder to fingers by a bladed metal arm guard/ gauntlet. In my imagination I see him striking with an axe (Or some other suitable weapon... are there any unique shifter weapons?) then blocking a blow with his arm guard (Like a shield, only it looks as if he's blocking it with his arm) and then using the same arm to slash with the blades (the offhand weapon) at his opponent. It seems like a wonderfully visually exciting way of fighting, quite fitting of a gladiator.
savage! I don't imagine this coming up at the start of the career, probaably at a later time, level 5-6 or more, But something to think of...
What I want to achieve is the following:
- The arm guard providing some protective properties (I'm thinking it serves as a shield? Which shield though?)
- I can also attack with it as an off hand weapon if I use the two weapons fighting style. (But having the same item be used for attack and defense requires an improved shield bash feat).
- alternatively can use the armed gauntlet to punch someone for bludgeoning damage (as armed gauntlet)
- Cannot be disarmed (Unless I'm... um... disarmed)
- The blades can be used in a grapple, as a light weapon.
- I can use the open hand to use weapons, such as throw throw axes or spears, or wield an off hand weapon. I thought maybe like a buckler, imposing a -1?
Checking the rules, I have a few problems though:
- It seems I can only have the arm blade function as either a light shield (1d4 damage spikes, +1 AC, can't hold a weapon). Or buckler (can hold a weapon, but can't have spikes on it). Idealy I'd love to treat this as a heavy shield with 1d6 blades that can be used as an off hand weapon. But I think that may be too much, or call for another "exotic weapon" feat, but He is really starved for feats.
- The need to expend another feat on it to use it for defense and offense at the same.
- How much does it cost? How do I even calculate that?!
I probably need to discuss this with the DM, but I'd love some suggestions about possible solutions to the idea.
3) Do you think I should take the next level as barbarian, and the 3rd as a second level of ranger. Or the other way around? Any general advice on the build are welcomed!
Thanks in advance,
Kol.
The game is 3.5, based in Eberron, and uses most books (Though for my understanding Tome of Battle is probably not in play, assume that it's not.). I don't know the exact context of the game yet, but we'll start in some port city. My character is a lvl 1 shifter (beast hide elite and shifter ferocity due to flaw) ranger. In between adventures characters may pursue their own goals, and affiliations with organizations. My character will try to get acclaim by fighting in the city's arena, sort of gladiator style.
But I'm worried how to build my gladiator. A few points to consider:
1) I want both effectiveness and style, where style (cool factor) wins a bit over effectiveness. I want the look and the feel of a gladiator as well as being good, in combat, if not great.
2) I want to play up the angle of savagery and ferocity of this character. More wild fighting than tic-toc precise fight.
3) He needs to be useful for non-arena adventures foremost, to the arena second. And no, I do not know yet what sort of characters the other choose. Most likely He'll be one of the most important melee types if not THE melee type.
Current thoughts are to add a barbarian level at level 2 or 3, add power attack and/ or extra rage at levels 3 and 6, and when I can, go to Were touched master (Note the changes in the Errata to the final level ability score adjustments. I'm planning currently to take The wolf or Boar ancestry) taking extra shifter feats along the way. Currently my plan reaches Ranger 6/ Barbarian 1/ Were touch master 5...
My questions:
1) What sort of fighting style should I take with the ranger? The DM supplied a few more other than the basic two, and currenrtly I'm in between the following:
- Two weapons fighting. Mostly because I think it would be call to have the shifter attack 4 times in a round, and possibly a 5th with a wolf bite, attacking ferociously like storm of attacks. I have however heard a few times in the playground that this battle style is not that effective due to: different feats for different weapons, needing to invest money to upgrade two weapons, lesser effect of power attack, and less chances to hit. Still the idea very much appeals to to me. In my imagination it just looks awesome! If I'll be going that route, I would love to make a special arm guard, explained below.
- Dragon 326 listed the following alternative combat styles:
Strong-Arm ranger gains Power Attack, then Improved Sunder, then Great Cleave. Obviously for two weapon fighting, focused on being a heavy hitter. The main bonus here is the free power attack, freeing up a feat slot in my planning, but the Improved Sunder is somewhat lackluster. I doubt I would get along with other gladiators if I break down their weapons. (Not to mention I expect most of them to be already enchanted and made of special materials at this point)
- Legends and Lairs "Wildscape" d20 book lists the following:
Two-Handed Fighting:
2nd: Two-Handed Defense: when fighting with a two-handed weapon, the ranger gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC.
6th: Sweeping Attack: gains benefit of Whirlwind Attack feat when fighting with a 2-handed weapon.
11th: Ferocious Blow: A reverse combo of Combat expertise and Power Attack, take a -1 penalty to AC (max -5) to gain +2 damage per -1 to AC.
Now, with this style I'm still fighting with a two handed weapon, but the style feels more... free flowing, wild, fast paced kind of fighting. The +1 to AC is certainly nice, and the 6th level advantage of whirlwind feels great to the savage frothing shifter. But Are these enough?
So what do you think will serve me best mechanically? Flavor wise? Any ideas for other styles of such?
2) The Armguard.
I came up with the following picture for my shifter:
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk295/meir_8/Reshk4_zpsc427f87a.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/meir_8/media/Reshk4_zpsc427f87a.jpg.html)(Geth from Legacy of Dhakkan series)
As you can see, his right arm is covered from shoulder to fingers by a bladed metal arm guard/ gauntlet. In my imagination I see him striking with an axe (Or some other suitable weapon... are there any unique shifter weapons?) then blocking a blow with his arm guard (Like a shield, only it looks as if he's blocking it with his arm) and then using the same arm to slash with the blades (the offhand weapon) at his opponent. It seems like a wonderfully visually exciting way of fighting, quite fitting of a gladiator.
savage! I don't imagine this coming up at the start of the career, probaably at a later time, level 5-6 or more, But something to think of...
What I want to achieve is the following:
- The arm guard providing some protective properties (I'm thinking it serves as a shield? Which shield though?)
- I can also attack with it as an off hand weapon if I use the two weapons fighting style. (But having the same item be used for attack and defense requires an improved shield bash feat).
- alternatively can use the armed gauntlet to punch someone for bludgeoning damage (as armed gauntlet)
- Cannot be disarmed (Unless I'm... um... disarmed)
- The blades can be used in a grapple, as a light weapon.
- I can use the open hand to use weapons, such as throw throw axes or spears, or wield an off hand weapon. I thought maybe like a buckler, imposing a -1?
Checking the rules, I have a few problems though:
- It seems I can only have the arm blade function as either a light shield (1d4 damage spikes, +1 AC, can't hold a weapon). Or buckler (can hold a weapon, but can't have spikes on it). Idealy I'd love to treat this as a heavy shield with 1d6 blades that can be used as an off hand weapon. But I think that may be too much, or call for another "exotic weapon" feat, but He is really starved for feats.
- The need to expend another feat on it to use it for defense and offense at the same.
- How much does it cost? How do I even calculate that?!
I probably need to discuss this with the DM, but I'd love some suggestions about possible solutions to the idea.
3) Do you think I should take the next level as barbarian, and the 3rd as a second level of ranger. Or the other way around? Any general advice on the build are welcomed!
Thanks in advance,
Kol.