payback build?

[CyberThread]

What sort of builds come from the combat theory of sustain a hit and making them pay back in damage ** monster swings, does damage but gets 1d6 in thorn damage for attacking you **

and what sort work on

**monster swings and misses, you get to attack in return when not your turn**

[HaikenEdge]

What sort of builds come from the combat theory of sustain a hit and making them pay back in damage ** monster swings, does damage but gets 1d6 in thorn damage for attacking you **

and what sort work on

**monster swings and misses, you get to attack in return when not your turn**

Doesn't Jack B. Quick do this?

[ahenobarbi]

**monster swings and misses, you get to attack in return when not your turn**

Rolimbrar's gambit (PHbII) or Carmis Strike (Complete Warrior?) will work for that one.

[GoodbyeSoberDay]

Karmic Strike and Robilar's Gambit allow you to take AoOs when an opponent hits and attacks you, respectively.

A more literal reading of the OP's first request suggests that anyone who hits you automatically takes damage. There are a variety of spells which achieve this, including Acid Sheath (SpC) and Fire Shield (SRD). In general, arcane Gishes can achieve this the most easily, since they're usually trying to be in melee, and there's a bunch of (oft-mediocre) spells that achieve what you're getting at.

Worth noting is Heart of Fire though. Fifth level, hours/level for various little buffs, but you can discharge it with a swift action to give you rounds/level fire shield. Outside of persistent spell, that's the best way I can find to give automatic damage on a hit.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Jack B. Quick (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=6944.0) - every time he gets attacked, he makes six swings in return.

[Averis Vol]

I really like the concept behind jack be quick, so I'm going to second (Third? Fourth?) it.

[titans4ever]

Going crusader with a splash of warblade is another way to go. You splash into warblade to gain easier access to ironheart aura and stormguard warrior feats. You use all the AoP feats and thicket of blades to help boost combat rhythm or channel the storm to increase to hit and damage on your turn.

I honestly don't remember which board I got this build from but had it stashed to make some players cry when they face him later on. You can also take out the feat stone power and move the warblade levels around to gain access to stormguard warrior and robilar's gambit earlier for increased damage earlier.

Stomguard Crusader
Build Stub: Human Crusader 16 / Warblade 4 (Crusader 8 / Warblade 1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2)

Feats:
Human: Combat Reflexes
1: Stand Still
3: Extra Granted Maneuver
6: Stone Power
9: Ironheart Aura
12: Stormguard Warrior
15: Robilar's Gambit
18: Defensive Sweep (PHB2)

Maneuvers in Italics are later swapped out.

Crusader 1: Charging Minotaur (SD 1), Crusader's Strike (DS 1), Douse the Flames (WR 1), Leading the Attack (WR 1), Stone Bones (SD 1) + Martial Spirit (DS 1, Stance)
Crusader 2: Iron Guard's Glare (DS 1, Stance)
Crusader 3: Foehammer (DS 2)
Crusader 4: Swap Leading the Attack -> Battle Leader's Charge (WR 2)
Crusader 5: White Raven Tactics (WR 3)
Crusader 6: Swap Stone Bones -> Defensive Rebuke or Revitalising Strike (DS 3)
Crusader 7: Divine Surge (DS 4)
Crusader 8: Swap Charging Minotaur -> White Raven Strike (WR 4) + Thicket of Blades (DS 3. Stance)
Warblade 1: Iron Heart Surge (IH 3), Moment of Perfect Mind (DM 1), Wall of Blades (IH 2) + Punishing Stance (IH 1, Stance)
Crusader 9: Radiant Charge (DS 5)
Crusader 10: Swap Crusader's Strike -> Flanking Maneuver (WR 5)
Warblade 2: Lightning Recovery (IH 4)
Crusader 11: Order Forged From Chaos (WR 6)
Crusader 12: Swap Douse the Flames -> Rallying Strike (DS 6)
Warblade 3: Iron Heart Focus (IH 5)
Crusader 13: Clarion Call (WR 7)
Crusader 14: Swap Foehammer -> White Raven Hammer (WR 8) + Immortal Fortitude (DS 8, Stance)
Warblade 4: Dancing Blade Form (IH 5, Stance)
Crusader 15: Strike of Righteous Vitality (DS 9)
Crusader 16: Swap Battle Leader's Charge -> War Master's Charge (WR 9)


What makes it good?

This build is a good example of a leap-frogging pattern, acquiring Thicket of Blades as fast as possible before alternating between 2 Crusader levels and additional Warblade levels to allow for cherry picking of maneuvers.

It sacrifices the Improved Trip of the pure Crusader build and a slightly slowed maneuver progression so as to add in a smattering of useful warblade maneuvers and the powerful Stormguard Warrior feat. This feat is added on the existing Crusader strategy of pinning down your opponent and then creating a lose-lose situation for them - any attacks they provoke from Robilar's Gambit can now be sacrificed for bonuses to attacks and damage with Channel the Storm. Furthermore, you can spend a round charging up Combat Rhythm and then use Stand Still to prevent an opponent moving away from you - virtually guaranteeing that they will be on the receiving end of the hefty bonuses you're accumulated.

Put simply, compared to the straight Crusader build it trades a small amount of battlefield control capability for a significant increase in damage dealing ability.