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JEntropy
2007-06-28, 10:01 AM
I have to reroll in one of the campaigns I'm in, and I figured I'd play a more martially-oriented character this time.

This being said, I don't want to play a PA'ing fighter/barbarian with a greataxe/sword. Powerful, but a been there, done that kinda thing.

I'm looking for something with a little more flair. I was considering playing a fighter who incorporates shield-bashing into combat (a la "300"), which would incorporate the shield feats from PHB 1&2, as well as the two-weapon fighting tree.

How viable/fun do you think this would be, and do you have any better suggestions?

*edit*

Not sure whether it matters, but I'll be starting off as an ECL 3. The DM has allowed all core, core2 and the complete series, but I can probably convince him to allow other material on a case-by-case basis.

Counterpower
2007-06-28, 10:05 AM
Ask your DM if you can use some of these (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/ruIuiKxNerFBCOi5fK8.html) feats. Some of those revolve around shield abilities and/or specialization.

I'm sure it'd be interesting. I can't really comment on "fun" since I really have no idea what you like to play. I would suggest ToB, but I'm not sure how to make a shield build work with it.......

warmachine
2007-06-28, 10:05 AM
Spiked chain Fighter with Improved Trip, Improved Disarm and Mage Slayer?

Dragonmuncher
2007-06-28, 10:10 AM
Could try Hexblade, Duskblade, or any of the ToB classes. They're all pretty neat, and martially oriented.


If you stay with straight fighter... hm, you could do a ranged weapon specialist. Maybe get a lot of special arrows?

Or just focus on different combat maneuvers- Grappling with armor spikes, bull rushing, disarming, sundering...

There's a whole line of feats designed to make a fighter more effective against mages.

You could do a monk/paladin combo and pull a Miko.

Nerd-o-rama
2007-06-28, 10:14 AM
TWFing fighters will always do less damage than two-handed power attackers, unless they have a large damage modifier per hit, like Sneak Attack. Although a shield bash TWFer will have a better AC than a two-hander without using the expensive and patently silly Animated shield. You'd gain considerable effectiveness from levels of ranger, rogue, or other classes that gain passive damage bonuses on each attack in a round. Fighter 18 might be an effective build with heavy application of high-level fighter feats from PHB2, culminating in Weapon Supremacy with your chosen one-hander.

If you want a flashy but effective melee monster in the vein of 300, I suggest using material from Tome of Battle, which basically has you doing flashy action movie moves that bring you into the realms of sorcerer effectiveness. However, that still encourages 2-handed Power Attacking for +a kajillion, really, since most "maneuvers" are standard action single attacks, and therefore not eligible for TWF or anything. You can get by with sword-and-boarding and still be a good damage-dealer, though.

Another possibility is a battlefield control fighter, a.k.a. Tripmonkey. A Glaive or Spiked Chain, high dex, Combat reflexes, and the right feats and tactics can shut down enemy meleeists completely.

EDIT: and oh yeah, Monkadin. That build requires a lot of tactical skill to be useful against anything but poorly played spellcasters, though. And unless you really <3 Deflect Arrows, you'll likely want to work in Power Attack and a two-hander in addition to your monkly tricks.

Catharsis
2007-06-28, 10:39 AM
If your party has enough damage-dealing potential, how about a defensive build? One of my favorites waiting on my shelf of unplayed builds is a Paladin of Freedom 4/Favored Soul 4/Pious Templar, a high Charisma, and the Feat Chain Shield Specialization (Hvy)/Shield Ward/Divine Shield (Divine Vigor is also very nice). This gives you a very good (unbuffed) to awesome (with Divine Shield) AC, a respectable Touch AC, immunity to Hold Person, Confusion etc, respectable defenses against Trip, Bull Rush etc., and best of all: High (Ref, Wil) to awesome (Fort) Saves, with Mettle as caramel syrup on top of that.

MeklorIlavator
2007-06-28, 10:59 AM
If you want, the knight might be a good class. It can actually tank, because of its abilities that force enemies toward it. It also would work well with the shield bash idea, as if you forcing thing to attack you, you most likely want a good AC.

Dragonmuncher
2007-06-28, 12:34 PM
Completely forgot about the Knight. That class always seemed pretty cool to me, and is definitely a different take on the standard melee fighter.