Stalwart Feat

[skurnald]

Hey guys, I have made a half orc barbarian, going the invulnerable rager route and am currently lvl 5 in the campaign I am in, trying to max my damage reduction and I was reading the stalwart feat regarding getting up to a bonus of 5. Looking at the fighting defensively, combat expertise and full defense, I fail to see how a bonus of 5 is possible. I would like to figure this out as once I get to the level I can take Improved stalwart, I would like to get the most out of these two feats as possible. Best I can see is going full defence, I get +4 to ac, which becomes +4 DR. Otherwise if I actually want to attack I can only get +2 to DR. Any ideas as to how I would get that 5 points, or even better how I can get those 5 points and still be able to attack? Thanks.

[grarrrg]

Throwing this out (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?332378-PF-Barbarian-with-Max-DR) there.

There is plenty of disagreement on whether the Dragon Totem line _actually_ increases your DR, or only increases your DR for purposes of Dragon Totem bonuses.
As far as that build goes, adding a level of Brawler (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/brawler) to side-step needing INT for Combat Expertise is handy.
If you find yourself with more CHA than INT then Swashbuckler (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/swashbuckler) can be worth a look towards getting Combat Expertise.


stalwart feat regarding getting up to a bonus of 5. Looking at the fighting defensively, combat expertise and full defense, I fail to see how a bonus of 5 is possible.

Combat Expertise (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/combat-expertise-combat) can get you up to a +6 Dodge actually (capped at 5 DR due to Stalwart of course).
You get a +1 to start, and an extra +1 for every 4 Bab.
Level 20 = 20 Bab
20/4 = 5
+1 (base) +5 (bab) = +6 bonus.

Combat Expertise is usually better than Fighting Defensively anyway.

[Sacrieur]

Get 3 ranks in Acrobatics. (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/skills/acrobatics.html#acrobatics) This will give you a +6 bonus when using total defense and a +3 when fighting defensively.

The dodge feat (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/dodge-combat---final) can get you an extra +1.

I don't know of anything else that could get you higher, personally (except Combat Expertise, already mentioned above).

[grarrrg]

There are also a few Class/PrC abilities that would help boost Stalwart, but you're probably better off taking more Barbarian than you are any of these.
Swashbuckler _15_ swaps the bonus/penalty of Fighting Defensively to -2 to-hit +4 AC
Duelist _7_ gives (up to) an extra +3 AC when Total Defense or Fighting Defensively
Aldori Swordlord PrC _4_ (the most plausible of the bunch) reduces the to-hit penalty of Fighting Defensive and Combat Expertise by 1 (and by another 1 at level _8_)
The Aldori Swordlord archetype _7_, when using a Full Round action to Fight Defensively swaps the bonus/penalties -2/+4


Yeah, other than dipping Brawler 1 for "no INT Expertise" (and maybe Unbreakable Fighter 1 for the feat boost) I would stick with Barbarian.

[The Random NPC]

Crane Wing Style (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/crane-style-combat-style) also grants a +1 Dodge bonus, while dropping the penalty for Fighting Defensively to -2.

[Mehangel]

Agile Defense (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/3rd-party-feats/tripod-machine/combat-feats---3rd-party---tripod-machine/agile-defense-combat) is a third-party feat which will grant a dodge bonus to ac as your BAB progresses..

[grarrrg]

Crane Wing Style (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/crane-style-combat-style) also grants a +1 Dodge bonus, while dropping the penalty for Fighting Defensively to -2.

Oh, forgot about that part of Crane Style.
Crane Riposte (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/crane-riposte-combat) drops the Fighting Defensively penalty down to just -1
Between Crane Style/Riposte and the Acrobatics bonus you can get Fight-Def down to -1/+4, which is pretty solid.
The default suggestion of "Master of Many Styles Monk for 2 levels" won't work here, as your base is Barbarian, so there's the alignment conflict.
And while Unarmed Fighter can get you Imp. Unarmed and Crane Style, it doesn't help with getting Riposte....

Still, using Unarmed Fighter to get a -2/+4 Fighting Defensive is decent option.

[Yanisa]

Oh, forgot about that part of Crane Style.
Crane Riposte (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/crane-riposte-combat) drops the Fighting Defensively penalty down to just -1
Between Crane Style/Riposte and the Acrobatics bonus you can get Fight-Def down to -1/+4, which is pretty solid.
The default suggestion of "Master of Many Styles Monk for 2 levels" won't work here, as your base is Barbarian, so there's the alignment conflict.
And while Unarmed Fighter can get you Imp. Unarmed and Crane Style, it doesn't help with getting Riposte....

Still, using Unarmed Fighter to get a -2/+4 Fighting Defensive is decent option.

How about Martial Artist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-archetypes/martial-artist) Master of Many Styles 2 level dip? That gets rid of any alignment problems.

[grarrrg]

How about Martial Artist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-archetypes/martial-artist) Master of Many Styles 2 level dip? That gets rid of any alignment problems.

Both replace Perfect Self at 20, so are not able to be combined.

Despite the potential to significantly boost Fighting Defensively with Crane Style, do remember that Stalwart already requires Endurance/Die Hard. Dipping a Fighter archetype for 1 level can get you 2 of these feats, but it's a matter of how many feats do you want to spend on this?

My recommendation remains Unbreakable Fighter 1/Brawler 1/Barbarian ++ and using Combat Expertise.

[skurnald]

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate the info.