[3.5] Warduke

[Thurbane]

Was just curious, how would you stat up Warduke (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6b/19/65/6b1965758953ef457257fbca28c30713.jpg) with 3.5 stats, to optimize him as a melee type?

Dungeon 105 (https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/brief-history-warduke) made him a Fighter 18:


AC: 34, HP: 318, S 32, I 13, W 15, D 16, Cn 28, Ch 20. His original sword +1 (flames on command) became a +3 anarchic flaming burst human bane bastard sword, and his other possessions were statted out as a dagger of venom, +3 moderate fortification adamantine ceremonial spiked half-plate, +5 bashing heavy steel shield, Warduke’s helm, amulet of health +6, gauntlets of giant strength +6, boots of speed, ring of protection +3, and a fearsome eye fiendish graft (from Fiend Folio, pg. 210).

I think he'd be more interesting, and viable, as a ToB initiator. Lets assume elite array (8,10,12,13,14,15), 18th level and NPC WBL/gear (130,000gp).

For the sake of simplicity, please avoid optional rules like gestalt, flaws etc.

Cheers - T

[smasher0404]

So some initial thoughts:

The Dungeon Magazine version had him one-handing a bastard sword (and thus will be taking the Exotic Weapon Proficiency), so I'd consider taking 2 levels in Ronin PrC (Complete Warrior) to get Banzai Charge (a weaker form of Shock Trooper that stacks with Shock Trooper). Grabbing Shock Trooper alongside this makes Warduke a fairly competent charge based build. That makes it fairly important that Warduke is competitive with initiative (so that they can actually make a charge), Improved Initiative and an Eager (Arms & Equipment Guide) weapon (taking off the Human Bane part of his Bastard Sword since the odds of the party being mostly human is fairly small) gives him a +6 bonus (alongside a positive modifier from the array).

Stack on top of that Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush and Shock Trooper (The first two being requirements for the third).

Since you already have Sneak Attack (due to Ronin), an investment into the Craven feat(Champions of Ruin) makes for a nice damage bonus for the feat investment (provided you are planning to run Warduke with some Mooks for flanking, or Warduke manages to win initiative). It also plays a bit into the Heartstone part of his backstory from "Quest for the Heartstone", by making his more inner fears more easily expressed mechanically.

For flavor reasons, I'd shift his alignment from Chaotic Evil (which is what the Dungeon Magazine statblock had) to Neutral Evil (better aligned with being previously aligned with a Paladin, and then for an organization associated with Devils).

[PrismCat21]

Was just curious, how would you stat up Warduke (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6b/19/65/6b1965758953ef457257fbca28c30713.jpg) with 3.5 stats, to optimize him as a melee type?

I think he'd be more interesting, and viable, as a ToB initiator. Lets assume elite array (8,10,12,13,14,15), 18th level and NPC WBL/gear (130,000gp).

I found a picture of Warduke's stats and build, but I have no idea from where it came.
https://us.v-cdn.net/5019558/uploads/editor/ec/r7srz2t9nts6.jpg

I agree with Initiator levels. I'd make him a mix of Warblade and Crusader with enough fighter levels for special fighter feats and ACF's. With a focus on Warblade

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Keep the printed ability scores (which include his enhancement bonuses). The target is CR 20, he doesn't have spellcasting so he should have 20 levels.

Fighter 9/ Warblade 10/ Fighter 1 in that order.
Zhentarim Soldier substitution levels (reflavored as needed), dead levels features, dungeoncrasher ACF.

His Fighter 10 bonus feat at 20th level should be Weapon Supremacy (PH2). Include Imperious Command (DotU) and the Never Outnumbered skill trick. Add the Fearsome property to his armor (DotU version, it's more recent than MIC). Also give him Dreadful Wrath (PGtF) and/or Frightful Presence (Draconomicon), and if he has any spare feats Ability Focus (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsterFeats.htm#abilityFocus) for those and/or the fiendish eye is pretty good.

Update his fiendish eye graft's DC, it should be 10 + 1/2 HD + Cha bonus, plus any other bonuses.