Self-Sufficient Melee Classes?

[Zergrusheddie]

I was wondering today what were the most self-sufficient classes in the game. Obviously, the first few choices that popped into my head were Druid and Clerics because they can heal, create food/water, and can buff themselves to the point that no one else matters. However, what are some self-sufficient melee classes?

Best of luck.
-Eddie

[Demons_eye]

Warblade and Crusader come to mind

[Saph]

Paladin and ranger? Both can use Wands of CLW, which makes them pretty self-sufficient. As long as you only fight things that deal HP damage you can keep going pretty much forever.

Warblade and Crusader can't self-heal as easily, but are better at throwing off other types of attacks.

[Nidogg]

I psionics are allowed (Cos they usually arent) then Elans spring to mind due to their natural Power point reserve and the ability to live, indefinitly off power points.

[Optimystik]

Psychic Warriors don't need to eat or drink (Sustenance) and can heal themselves (Body Adjustment.) Elan Psywars can live forever and never eat thanks to Repletion, as can Psiforged.

[Draz74]

Paladin and ranger? Both can use Wands of CLW, which makes them pretty self-sufficient. As long as you only fight things that deal HP damage you can keep going pretty much forever.

Warblade and Crusader can't self-heal as easily, but are better at throwing off other types of attacks.

Crusaders are pretty dang good at self-healing, actually.

Ranger definitely has an edge on self-sufficiency where wilderness survival is concerned, of course.

[Kaiyanwang]

Crusaders are pretty dang good at self-healing, actually.

IIRC, (paradoxically?) better in-combat. Out of combat, only if you bend the rules in a "that rabbit was looking me wrong" manner...

[Vizzerdrix]

Shadowsmiths can make their own gear on the fly. Healing and mobility are a bit of a problem, but you'll have 10 levels to figure something out.

umm... Feral template and a few of the aberrant feats maybe?

[JoshuaZ]

IIRC, (paradoxically?) better in-combat. Out of combat, only if you bend the rules in a "that rabbit was looking me wrong" manner...

It sort of makes sense as some sort of adrenaline rush.

[Kaiyanwang]

It sort of makes sense as some sort of adrenaline rush.

We have different views about HP (I don't like extraordinary DS healing) but I like the idea of the crusader saying what you said after killing the rabbit, near a "" druid.

"Sorry for the rabbit. Was an adrenaline rush".

Anyway, Vizzerdrix raised a good point: we talked about healing, but what about equipment?

[Thalnawr]

Anyway, Vizzerdrix raised a good point: we talked about healing, but what about equipment?

The warblade with Weapon Proficiency - Ice Cream Scoop...

[Darklord Xavez]

Rangers are rather self-sufficient at slightly higher levels. They can wield magic items such as a wand of cure light wounds because of their divine spellcasting, they can prepare a few minor healing spells, they are good in the outdoors, and they have survival and heal as class skills. In addition, their animal companion can provide extra melee support. The ranger is probably one of the best classes.
-Xavez
Even better: A warforged ranger.

[Tinydwarfman]

Rangers are rather self-sufficient at slightly higher levels. They can wield magic items such as a wand of cure light wounds because of their divine spellcasting, they can prepare a few minor healing spells, they are good in the outdoors, and they have survival and heal as class skills. In addition, their animal companion can provide extra melee support. The ranger is probably one of the best classes.
-Xavez
Even better: A warforged ranger.

I hope you mean in core for self sufficiency.

[Optimystik]

Elan Psywar with Soulbound Weapon. Immortality without needing food/drink, self-healing, and you automatically get a scaling weapon. Call Armor lets you nab gear from all over the multiverse, plus your other powers let you buff yourself to the nines.

[Vizzerdrix]

Anyway, Vizzerdrix raised a good point: we talked about healing, but what about equipment?

Huzzah! I contributed in a positive manner ^_^

Anyways,

Item Familiar feat/ Ancestral Relic: A masterwork potion belt turned in to a healer's belt, monks belt, etc. Just keep stacking belts onto this one belt until you've covered all your bases with one feat. Just don't loose it! An item familiar belt will allow you to dump skill points into Craft: Alchemy and make healing salves and dither bombs at a rapid pace for healing and damage. Tanglefoot bags, smoke sticks and thunder stones grant a bit of battlefield control.

Kensai: Hmm... is their any drain life enchantments? Something that restores HP instead of adding temporary HP?

Monk: A poo class, but it gets you scaling damage and an AC boost. I could see a dip if you must be self sustaining from level 1.

Wildshape ranger: All the versatility you'd ever want. Damage and AC boosts, and I think you can heal if you turn into a vivisecter (aberrant wildshape) by eating organs. Yum, kidney pies!

Monk-2/ Fighter-2 /Pyrokinetisist-6/ Shadowsmith-10 warforged should be self sustaining enough to get through most situations I'd think.

[AslanCross]

There are a whole bunch of magic items that allow a character to be 'self-sufficient,' but I guess relying on magic items doesn't really make one self-sufficient.

Let me list them here anyway:
-Everlasting Rations (Enough food for a medium character's daily intake)
-Survival Pouch (Lots of nifty tools here. And it gives you food as well.)
-Field Provisions Box (The more I think about this, the more I envision it as an everlasting pizza.)
-Replenishing Skin (Fills up with clean water.)
-Ioun Stone (Can't remember which one)
-Quori Embedded Component (can't remember what it's called). Kalashtar or Inspired only.

[Draz74]

Factotum can be pretty self-sufficient. Especially with Vow of Poverty?

Warlock can be a melee class. With the ability to create any magic item, it can indirectly be self-sufficient.

[Vizzerdrix]

There are a whole bunch of magic items that allow a character to be 'self-sufficient,' but I guess relying on magic items doesn't really make one self-sufficient.

Not unless you can create them yourself, I'd assume.


Nice list of gear btw.

[Rezby]

Factotum can be pretty self-sufficient. Especially with Vow of Poverty?

Warlock can be a melee class. With the ability to create any magic item, it can indirectly be self-sufficient.

A Factotum could be even more self-sufficient if it doesn't take Sacred Vow and Vow of Poverty and instead takes Craft Wondrous Item and another Craft Feat. Just make anything you don't already have as a class skill.

ALternatively throw a level for Feral, fast healing, you're good.

EDIT: On the whole, Factotums are pretty self-sufficient on their own.

[Bibliomancer]

Factotum can be pretty self-sufficient. Especially with Vow of Poverty?

Warlock can be a melee class. With the ability to create any magic item, it can indirectly be self-sufficient.

I thought that it can USE any magic item with the deceive magic ability. I don't think that acts as a prerequisite for item creation.

Are you thinking of artificer? They're almost as competent as a cleric in melee (ie, far better than any 'built for melee' class outside of the ToB, and probably better than most of the possibilities from said supplement).

[Tinydwarfman]

I thought that it can USE any magic item with the deceive magic ability. I don't think that acts as a prerequisite for item creation.

Are you thinking of artificer? They're almost as competent as a cleric in melee (ie, far better than any 'built for melee' class outside of the ToB, and probably better than most of the possibilities from said supplement).

No, they're two different abilities. Imbue Item specifically states you can create any magic item.

[Zergrusheddie]

Sadly, most of the ideas presented here are just ways of melee characters emulating magic. Makes me cry for melee

[Thurbane]

Binder/Knight of the Sacred Seal isn't bad...various vestiges allow you to summon full plate, a magic maul and give you fast healing (and the ability to heal everyone in your party up to full out of combat).

[Gametime]

Binder/Knight of the Sacred Seal isn't bad...various vestiges allow you to summon full plate, a magic maul and give you fast healing (and the ability to heal everyone in your party up to full out of combat).

Especially if the online vestige is allowed. You can summon your own comrades out of thin air more or less indefinitely.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Not unless you can create them yourself, I'd assume.


Nice list of gear btw.

Warlock12/Chameleon2. Ultimate item crafter. Use floating feat to replicate any given Item Creation feat to create any given item you want.

[Optimystik]

Sadly, most of the ideas presented here are just ways of melee characters emulating magic. Makes me cry for melee

To quote the Horadrim: "Might and magic are two spokes of the same wheel. In lacking one, you lack both."

Yes, Knight of the Sacred Seal is an amazing melee class, especially paired with a melee-centric vestige like Savnok.

Incarnum Blade is fun too.

[Cyclocone]

Would a Neraph Sorcerer count if he polymorphs into a planetar and beats people up?