High DR With a Bit of Combat Ability

[Draco_Lord]

Hi everyone, I am currently just playing around with a build idea, not sure when I would use it, but seeing if I can get some input on how to make it suite what I want to do.

So the premise is a character who is very hesitant to fight, mostly due to a desire to not see people hurt. It is more roleplay focused over anything else. He is willing to fight if he needs, but he would rather just be able to take damage and stop others from being hurt then anything else. That said, currently looking into barbarian builds, and using his rage as a kind of 'on button' for his aggressive would be fun to play out, so when he does snap he has the ability to do some damage.

I was thinking about trying to build towards the Stalwart feats and choosing the Invulnerable Rager Arch type to have some crazy DR, I want him to really be able to take a beating.

Going human, kind of need the feats at this point. With the build looking something like this.


Feats:
1st: Endurance
HB: Die Hard
3: Combat Expertise
5: Stalwart
7: Power Attack
9: Combat Reflexes
11: Improved Stalwart
13+: Not sure


Rage Powers:
1: Intimidating Galre
2: Animal Fury
3: Dragon Totem
4: Dragon Resistance
5: Dragon Wings
6: Come and Get Me
7+: Not Sure

[Geddy2112]

That looks like a good selection of powers and feats so far.

I suggest the flesh wound power, which can convert half of a hit to nonlethal(doubling your DR against it) once per rage. Energy resistance to all your non dragon elements helps with things that get past DR, such as damage spells. Guarded stance can be used to increase your stalwart AC if you don't want to fight defensively/take combat expertise penalties. Any of the powers that give immunity to a condition during a rage are also good picks so you can't be debuffed or harmed indirectly. Boasting taunt helps get people to attack you instead of your allies and syncs well with intimidating glare.

You might want a merciful weapon too, so you can KO people without really hurting them too much.

[Long_shanks]

Just spitballin' here.
A halfling with crane style and cautious fighter can fight defensively at -2 attack, +6 dodge AC, and can do so at pretty low level (level 3 with a dip in Master of many styles Monk). Now, it would probably be hard to fit all of this, plus stalwart, in a build, but it should be possible.

Halfling Monk master of many styles 1 / Barbarian X (I know, alignment restrictions).
1. Endurance
1Monk Crane style
3 Die hard
5 Stalwart
7 Cautious fighter
9 Power attack
11 Combat reflexes
13 Improved stalwart

It delays improved stalwart by a level because of the monk BAB and you are small. However, you would only incur a -2 penalty to attack to get your DR 10/ -, which is a pretty sweet deal.

[Draco_Lord]

That looks like a good selection of powers and feats so far.

I suggest the flesh wound power, which can convert half of a hit to nonlethal(doubling your DR against it) once per rage. Energy resistance to all your non dragon elements helps with things that get past DR, such as damage spells. Guarded stance can be used to increase your stalwart AC if you don't want to fight defensively/take combat expertise penalties. Any of the powers that give immunity to a condition during a rage are also good picks so you can't be debuffed or harmed indirectly. Boasting taunt helps get people to attack you instead of your allies and syncs well with intimidating glare.

You might want a merciful weapon too, so you can KO people without really hurting them too much.

I did not know about boasting taunt, that is a rather good ability to get, it does help my character take hits away from his allies rather nicely.


Just spitballin' here.
A halfling with crane style and cautious fighter can fight defensively at -2 attack, +6 dodge AC, and can do so at pretty low level (level 3 with a dip in Master of many styles Monk). Now, it would probably be hard to fit all of this, plus stalwart, in a build, but it should be possible.

Halfling Monk master of many styles 1 / Barbarian X (I know, alignment restrictions).
1. Endurance
1Monk Crane style
3 Die hard
5 Stalwart
7 Cautious fighter
9 Power attack
11 Combat reflexes
13 Improved stalwart

It delays improved stalwart by a level because of the monk BAB and you are small. However, you would only incur a -2 penalty to attack to get your DR 10/ -, which is a pretty sweet deal.

I have seen the halflings feats, but unfortunately I am not terribly interested in playing one. And honestly, when he is fighting defensively he will probably be happier not hitting people, building a weird PC is a couple of ways.

Though in terms of dipping, would an unbreakable fighter be worth it?

[Draco_Lord]

Guarded stance can be used to increase your stalwart AC if you don't want to fight defensively/take combat expertise penalties.

Actually this raises a question. Can I do this? Stalwart the feat gives total defense, fighting defensively, and CE as the only sources of dodge bonuses you can exchange for DR.

[Geddy2112]

Actually this raises a question. Can I do this? Stalwart the feat gives total defense, fighting defensively, and CE as the only sources of dodge bonuses you can exchange for DR.

Oh snap, you totally can't. It would still raise your AC though.

That said, do you want high AC to, or just the ability to get hit and not take damage? If you can't be hit, things might not attack you and instead attack your friends, unless you can taunt them over.

There is also the antagonize feat to try and get people to swing at you.

[Long_shanks]

I have seen the halflings feats, but unfortunately I am not terribly interested in playing one. And honestly, when he is fighting defensively he will probably be happier not hitting people, building a weird PC is a couple of ways.

Though in terms of dipping, would an unbreakable fighter be worth it?

No problem, friend. I didn't know about the stalwart feats before your post and it's the first thing that popped in my head.
As for the Unbreakable fighter, it's the best dip (aside from my monk :smallwink:); getting two feats for the price of one is often good. Getting two crappy prereqs feats you need in one go is stupid good. A couple level of fighter would be great for your build.

[Castilonium]

You could go with a tiefling paladin for incredible self-healing and saves. It won't have as much HP, DR, or damage as a barbarian, but has more AC and can easily soak up the same amount of damage over the course of a day, if not more. And it's way better against evil enemies.

1) The tiefling FCB for paladins adds +1 HP to Lay on Hands when self-healing.
1a) Get the Scaled Skin alternate racial trait for +1 natural armor to AC.
2) Get Fey Foundling (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/fey-foundling) to increase your self-healing more.

And you're pretty much done! Voila, an amazing tank build, fully online at level 2. You can boost up your self healing more by doing a few other things.

Greater Mercy (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/greater-mercy) feat. Gives you +1d6 more healing.
Bracers of the Merciful Knight (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/a-b/bracers-of-the-merciful-knight). Increases your Lay on Hands by 4 levels.
Variant Multiclass (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/character-advancement#TOC-Variant-Multiclassing) Cavalier with Order of the Star (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/cavalier/orders/paizo---cavalier-orders/order-of-the-star). At character level 7, add half your levels to your paladin level for the purpose of Lay on Hands. So your paladin levels are worth 1.5x.
Inheritor's Light (http://archivesofnethys.com/MagicWeaponsDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Inheritor%27s%20 Light), add 1 HP per die to Lay on Hands.

[Draco_Lord]

Oh snap, you totally can't. It would still raise your AC though.

That said, do you want high AC to, or just the ability to get hit and not take damage? If you can't be hit, things might not attack you and instead attack your friends, unless you can taunt them over.

There is also the antagonize feat to try and get people to swing at you.

I want to be able to take a lot of hits, not avoid them. So my focus is mainly on DR, though the self healing method below is an interesting way to go about it.

I wouldn't mind having an 'on' button either, basically a way to become more combat effective if I need too, which is why I was looking at barbarian since you an do a ton of damage with just rage and power attack.


No problem, friend. I didn't know about the stalwart feats before your post and it's the first thing that popped in my head.
As for the Unbreakable fighter, it's the best dip (aside from my monk :smallwink:); getting two feats for the price of one is often good. Getting two crappy prereqs feats you need in one go is stupid good. A couple level of fighter would be great for your build.

I might have to work it in, if only to save on feats, I am already finding this build rather feat intensive.


You could go with a tiefling paladin for incredible self-healing and saves. It won't have as much HP, DR, or damage as a barbarian, but has more AC and can easily soak up the same amount of damage over the course of a day, if not more. And it's way better against evil enemies.

1) The tiefling FCB for paladins adds +1 HP to Lay on Hands when self-healing.
1a) Get the Scaled Skin alternate racial trait for +1 natural armor to AC.
2) Get Fey Foundling (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/fey-foundling) to increase your self-healing more.

And you're pretty much done! Voila, an amazing tank build, fully online at level 2. You can boost up your self healing more by doing a few other things.

Greater Mercy (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/greater-mercy) feat. Gives you +1d6 more healing.
Bracers of the Merciful Knight (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/a-b/bracers-of-the-merciful-knight). Increases your Lay on Hands by 4 levels.
Variant Multiclass (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/character-advancement#TOC-Variant-Multiclassing) Cavalier with Order of the Star (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/cavalier/orders/paizo---cavalier-orders/order-of-the-star). At character level 7, add half your levels to your paladin level for the purpose of Lay on Hands. So your paladin levels are worth 1.5x.
Inheritor's Light (http://archivesofnethys.com/MagicWeaponsDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Inheritor%27s%20 Light), add 1 HP per die to Lay on Hands.

This is an interesting way to go about it, self healing would cover a lot of what this character is about, taking lots of damage, and with a higher ac the lesser attacks will at least miss. And combining challenge and smite would make for a fun nova button against anything evil.