Which full BAB class has the most useful non-attack actions?

[sengmeng]

I was thinking about making a character who wields a dancing weapon and an animated shield, so most of the time their hands would be completely free in the middle of combat, and while it would be funny to have them just stand there, there's definitely more interesting things to do. A paladin or ranger could be casting spells, a fighter could glare jealously at the paladin and ranger (or he could center his build around grappling and ground and pound while his weapon fights someone else...?), and a barbarian could do... barbarian stuff? Tome of Battle probably opens up the best options, but I've never played using it and I wouldn't understand what you're saying if you talk about it. Dancing weapons attack based off your BAB, so it's full BAB classes I'd like to hear about, thanks.

[Jormengand]

Paladins can take the Sword of the Arcane Order and Battle Blessing feats to cast spells off the wizard/sorcerer list and then reduce them either full action to standard action or standard action to swift action with no slot adjustment, which allows you to, say, summon a monster each turn while also firing off an attack spell (or actual paladin spell for healing or buffing). Mystic Fire Knight substitution levels give you a bonus spell slot of each spell level at the cost of a hit point and pretty much nothing else. You can use From Smite To Song if you want to ramp up the "Appears to do nothing" angle, but unfortunately this is incompatible with SotAO and MFK unless you beg your DM to let you have two patron deities.

[heavyfuel]

Warblade and Crusader can execute maneuvers and have stances. Grabbing "Improved Unarmed Strike" or having a Spiked Gauntlet can help you there

Rangers have their animal companion and some skills that can be used in combat.




Paladins can take the Sword of the Arcane Order and Battle Blessing feats to cast spells off the wizard/sorcerer list and then reduce them either full action to standard action or standard action to swift action with no slot adjustment

Doesn't work though.

For starters, Sword of the Arcane Order is Forgotten Realms only, so if it's not that, it's straight out (besides DM fiat)

And also, the feats say:


You can use your paladin and ranger spell slots to prepare Wizard spells


You can cast most of your paladin spells faster than normal

Nothing in SotAO indicates your spells are paladin spells. In fact, they're explicitly "wizard spells", which aren't covered by Battle Blessing.

It's - at best - a stretch, and it's definitely "ask your DM" territory

[Nifft]

Barbarian 3 can take Trap Killer (from Dungeonscape), which allows your Barbarian to function as a Rogue. However, "disarming" a trap is an attack roll, so maybe that doesn't qualify.

Duskblade gets spells from level 1, which tends to be useful, but the list is rather small.

[heavyfuel]

Duskblade gets spells from level 1, which tends to be useful, but the list is rather small.

That's a good one. He can loose the Dancing Sword and then cast spells for the rest of the fight. Duskblades get few spells, but a bunch of spells per day

[Cosi]

Cleric.

I'm only half kidding.

If you insist on a class that gets full BAB naturally, it's probably Mystic Ranger with Sword of the Arcane Order. You're a gimp Wizard with full BAB, which isn't terrible.

[BowStreetRunner]

Have you considered maybe having a couple more weapons and attacking? Dancing weapons can't make AoO so you at least want something for those circumstances. Even if you just have a pair of spiked gauntlets, that's a good option to keep. Don't give up your AoO.

A gauntlet of infinite blades would give you unlimited daggers to throw at your opponents.

If what you are good at is attacking...well, more attacking can't be bad, can it? :smallbiggrin:

[flappeercraft]

Barbarian
Duskblade gets spells from level 1, which tends to be useful, but the list is rather small.

Second this, probably the best choice. If Divine Power counts then I would say Cloistered Cleric.

[Thurbane]

Fochlucan Lyricist? (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050107a&page=2) :smalltongue:

[Jormengand]

And also, the feats say:





Nothing in SotAO indicates your spells are paladin spells. In fact, they're explicitly "wizard spells", which aren't covered by Battle Blessing.

It's - at best - a stretch, and it's definitely "ask your DM" territory

Because the terms "Paladin spell" and "Wizard spell" aren't clearly-defined, it's somewhat reasonable to allow SotAO and battle blessing to work together. Even if they don't, then you can use an autoquickened paladin spell and follow it up with a standard-action wizard spell, which isn't exactly awful.

[Quertus]

Well, it's easy to argue that a Cleric with boosted caster level and Divine Power is a "greater than full BAB" class with awesome non-attack actions. Totally break the mold, and do this on an RSoP.

Arcane Spellcaster into Tainted Sorcerer, using boosted caster level and Divine Power shenanigans is also near the top of the list.

However, why not use those actions to draw more Dancing weapons?