[3.5] Translating the concept into game terms

[Alberic Strein]

Hello everyone !

Could you please have a look at that guy ?
https://scontent-a-cdg.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1385219_225260460972507_1534589711_n.jpg

Looks awesome, no ?

(Ok, pretty bland in this drawing, blame my utter lack of digital drawing skills)

Well, I had the concept for this character for quite while, an enigmatic knight clad in black armor, tough as nails, which simply refuses to go down. Accompanied with trails of black smoke emitted from the armor, white breath slithering through his helmet and burning red eye shining behind his visor

Well, I've been completely unable to create him at a satisfactory level. I reworked the BG time and time again, from a raging undead barbarian to an animated armor, remnant of the last desire of a warrior as he laid dying, failing his mission/oath and whose iron will still lingers in his armor, passing by the normal human afflicted by a curse forcing him to be Lawful Evil, enforcing the alignment extremely rigidly. He can take neutral actions, killing bad guys, not warning a corrupt official that he is mistaking a few points in the contract he is having him sign, but he simply cannot take Chaotic/Good actions, he cannot break his word and cannot save children from a burning orphanage for free (Now if you manage to have him swear to help the party and the party goes orphan saving, it's another thing entirely)

My problem is that I simply can't seem to translate the character I'm imagining in game terms. Mechanically speaking :

Essential : Durability

DR ?
Quick Self-Heal ?
Regeneration ?
Lots of HP ?
Decent CA ?
Diehard ?

Totally optional though appreciated : Pure SOVIET DAMAGE

Power Attack!
Greatsword ?
Monkey-Grip Large Greatsword ?
Full BAB ?

Awesome but not necessary :

Spells ?
Rage ?
Abjurant Champion ?
Deathless Frenzy ?

I went through a number of combination of classes/PRCs/Races and still never got the resilience I was after.

Now to spice things up : I would really love to play that character, if possible, and my GM refuses ToB and most exotic races at his table. So yeah... Human, was human, or halfie.

Anybody got some leads ?

Ps : Discussing the difficulty of translating concepts into game terms is fine too. Or the difficulty of coming up with cool art for your concepts.:smalltongue:

[Equinox]

DR ?
Quick Self-Heal ?
Regeneration ?
Lots of HP ?
Decent CA ?
Diehard ?

Totally optional though appreciated : Pure SOVIET DAMAGE

Power Attack!
Greatsword ?
Monkey-Grip Large Greatsword ?
Full BAB ?


I'd go Crusader.

- The Steely Resolve ability, when combined with the Stone Power feat, is effectively DR.
- You have quick self-healing with Crusader Strike and Martial Spirit.
- Lost of HP? Check. Armor? Check. Full BAB? Check. Diehard? Check.

[Alberic Strein]

If only I could ! But no ToB for my GM...

(Nailed the issue nicely though)

[PraxisVetli]

If only I could ! But no ToB for my GM...

(Nailed the issue nicely though)

That blows. Next closest thing is Paladin, maybe multiclass as Cleric.
Unearthed Arcana does have the LE Paladin alternate, perhaps see if your DM will also allow the Armour as DR rules? otherwise there's feat progression that feeds into DR, I think its in Savage Species, but its expensive to do, not worthwhile IMO.

For Fast healing, there's epic feats, OR, Enemies and Allies has the +3 Wrathful Healling, as long as you're kickin *** and takin names, you've essentially fast healing.

Best I got for ya.


Though a touch into Knight may or may not be beneficial.

[Red Fel]

If only I could ! But no ToB for my GM...

(Nailed the issue nicely though)

Pity you can't do ToB, because the book also has a lovely race for you: the Reth Dekala.

Picture the torso, helmet and arms of a blackened suit of armor, floating on a pillar of green demonic flame. Lawful Evil warriors without compare, they now endure the torment of their demonic fire until they can complete the oath they made long ago, and slay the last of their living descendants.

Let me say that again. Cursed, immortal, outsider, lawful, evil, haunted flaming suits of armor. (Admittedly, there may be a level adjustment involved.)

Really a pity about ToB. That book does just about anything you want with a melee character.

[Fax Celestis]

I would go something more like Warforged Knight 4/Duskblade 1/Whirling Frenzy (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/classFeatureVariants.htm#rageVariantWhirlingFrenzy ) Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian 1*/Spellcarved Soldier (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050408b&page=8) 5~/Warforged Juggernaut 5^/Whatever you want 4

*Or other full BAB class. You might want Ranger for some skill points and Track, Fighter for a bonus feat, or something else.
~You need the Silver Tracery feat, but you don't need to take it at 1st level, surprisingly.
^You'll need to take Adamantine Body at 1st level to make this work, but it should be okay.

[PraxisVetli]

I would go something more like Warforged Knight 4/Duskblade 1/Whirling Frenzy (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/classFeatureVariants.htm#rageVariantWhirlingFrenzy ) Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian 1*/Spellcarved Soldier (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050408b&page=8) 5~/Warforged Juggernaut 5^/Whatever you want 4

*Or other full BAB class. You might want Ranger for some skill points and Track, Fighter for a bonus feat, or something else.
~You need the Silver Tracery feat, but you don't need to take it at 1st level, surprisingly.
^You'll need to take Adamantine Body at 1st level to make this work, but it should be okay.

Why Duskblade?

[Fax Celestis]

It's a full-BAB class that gives you the ability to cast arcane spells. Spellcarved Soldier's prereqs include "ability to cast first-level arcane spells" even though it doesn't advance spellcasting at all, and it also has a BAB +6 requirement, so Duskblade serves dual purpose in getting you in.

[Alberic Strein]

Thanks ! Anyway to make this work without being warforged ?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Warforged with Adamantine Body, Ranger 1/ Ardent 4/ Slayer 9/ Sanctified Mind 6, with Substitute Powers (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a). Include Thick-Skinned (SS) for +2 to his DR/Adamantine. Be sure to get Psionic Repair Damage (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/psionicRepairDamage.htm), Vigor, and Share Pain. Get a Psicrystal and use Share Pain on it so he takes half damage from all sources (then subtracts his DR), the Psicrystal's Hardness 8 reduces every instance of damage from Share Pain by that much regardless of the original attack's type. When he uses Vigor or Psionic Repair Damage he can share it with the Psicrystal just like any other power. Keep the psicrystal in a compartment on his person so opponents never have line of sight/effect to it and cannot target it directly or hit it with area effects. Be sure to get Practiced Manifester asap. The quick trait (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterTraits.htm#quick) can allow him to still have a speed of 30 ft. with Adamantine Body, pick up Improved Toughness if you don't like its drawback but you shouldn't need it.

If flaws (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterFlaws.htm) are available (more here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258440#30)) also get Psiforged from RoE and possibly Soulforged (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39584). Get Midnight Augmentation to use with Bestow Power so it's only 1 pp extra to augment it, once he can spend at least 5 pp on it he'll be restoring more pp than it costs to manifest. Get Persistent Power from the 3.0 Psionics Handbook (also here (http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/msrd/FutureOccupationsSkillsFeats.RTF)), it's still perfectly valid for 3.5 just like any other 3.0 items that weren't updated. That Midnight Augmentation + Bestow Power trick allows you to persist all of your buffs every day and still have your full powerpoint pool when you go adventuring. Don't forget to persist Mental Barrier! You can also hire an NPC manifester per the standard rates (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#spell) to use Psychic Chirurgery (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/psychicChirurgery.htm) to grant you additional powers known. The cost would be 1530 gp + (power level x 2500) gp + (power level x 500) xp per power. Later on you can get a willing participant to let you use Thieving Mindlink (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/mindlinkThieving.htm) on them to gain temporary knowledge of a power, then Psychic Chirurgery yourself to permanently learn it.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Thanks ! Anyway to make this work without being warforged ?

My build will work without being Warforged, though you would miss out on the efficiency Psionic Repair Damage. You could use Persistent Biofeedback or Inertial Barrier to get DR/-. Also try to pick up the power Strength of My Enemy to persist each day.

[Alberic Strein]

Coooooooooompletely forgot to warn that we weren't using Psionics.

My DM either dislikes them or doesn't feel confident in knowing their mechanics enough to allow them in the game. This consequently makes 3.0 material difficult to introduce xD

But the mere amount of... Cheese ? Is it still cheese if it's THAT awesome ? In that post made my jaw drop :smallbiggrin:

But... I don't know of a class or PrC named slayer:smallconfused:

So yeah, if I want to play a tough as nails creature it has to be a Warforged, huh... But how tough can we make a human ?

What about a fighter 4/barbarian (lion totem) into Hellreaver ? The PrC seems to have a pretty damn powerful healing option for when you're not killing evil outsiders !

Pounce (lion totem) and the shocktrooper combo should cater to most of our damage dealing needs, and we always have a rage option...

Aaaaaaaaaaand i'm getting sidetracked by damage again... Focusing on resilience, how can we make him unreasonably tougher ?

Also on rage, since we're pursuing resilience first and foremost, is Whirlwind Frenzy still so better than the vanilla Rage that we can trade it away without doubt ?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

But... I don't know of a class or PrC named slayer:smallconfused:

Slayer (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/slayer.htm) is the SRD version of the Illithid Slayer in XPH, since Illithids are proprietary.


Go Crusader 5/ Binder 1/ Hellreaver 5/ Crusader 9, bind Naberius for Fast Ability Healing, so when you use Heroic Sacrifice you'll heal the Con damage right back. You'll have the Crusader's delayed damage pool, healing maneuvers, swift-action healing from Divine Succor every round except the few when you use Heroic Sacrifice, and you'll still get 9th level maneuvers at 20th level. Make your Con score an odd number, when you use Heroic Sacrifice you take 2 Con damage, Fast Ability Healing gives you back one point immediately so it's back to an even number and the same ability modifier on the same round, and you'll never have to adjust your HP or Fort save based on a Con change from it.

For a durable race, go Dragonborn (https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060105b&page=1) Water Orc (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/elementalRacialVariants.htm#racesOfWater), possibly add Mineral Warrior (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20031003e) after Dragonborn if LA Buyoff (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm) is available. I'd get the Heart or Wings aspect from Dragonborn, though it will cost you a few feats in RotD to fly in medium or heavy armor. The Heart aspect with Entangling Exhalation in RotD will give you an amazing debuff to use when you don't have a useful maneuver granted. Note that if you go with the Wings aspect, Mineral Warrior removes any fly speed you have at the time you gain it, so as long as you get it before 6th level you'll still gain the fly speed.

[Fax Celestis]

Also on rage, since we're pursuing resilience first and foremost, is Whirlwind Frenzy still so better than the vanilla Rage that we can trade it away without doubt ?

Yup.

Standard rage: +4 Str, +4 Con, +2 Will, -2 AC, enter as free action
Whirling Frenzy: +4 Str, +2 AC, +2 Reflex, +1 attack per round, all attacks at -2 (cancelled by Str bonus, basically), enter as free action

There's also Ferocity (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a):
+4 Str, +4 Dex, -2 ranged attack rolls, can enter as immediate action

[Alberic Strein]

You got me convinced by a hefty amount.

Whirlwind Frenzy it is then ^^

Edit : Ah, the old Naberius/con damage combo ! Always the first thing we think of when we see some ability damage xD

But seriously, all those crusader levels... You're going to make me cry :smalleek: