Lv. 1 with 27 AC.

[Vulgosh]

Kolbod with 20 dex, chain mail, Large steel sheild, size, natural armor, fighting defensively, combat experties, and dodge. ( I know its only against one opponet, and only in combat.

[Droodle]

Wouldn't the 20 dex Kobold be better off in studded leather or a masterwork chain shirt?

[Vulgosh]

Wouldn't the 20 dex Kobold be better off in studded leather or a masterwork chain shirt?

Well for the master work shirt you proabaly need to be over level 1 before you get enough money. But I have forgoten the max dex for chain mail.

[Arbitrarity]

And you have -5 to hit.

[Vulgosh]

And you have -5 to hit.

Be a fighter or cleric.

[Jasdoif]

Wouldn't the 20 dex Kobold be better off in studded leather or a masterwork chain shirt?

Masterwork armor only decreases the armor check penalty; max dex isn't affected.

Be a fighter or cleric.

I dunno, that -5 to hit at first level sounds like a really bad idea for those classes at 1st level. What's the cleric going to do, cast summon monster I and hope the monster scores a crit in its single round?

[Seffbasilisk]

Here come the swarm of two-word responses

Nat 20.
Magic Missile.
Brilliant Energy.
Pit Trap.
Climb Check.
Jump Check.
Swim Check.
Repel Metal
Shocking Grasp.
Ethereal Creature.

[bosssmiley]

(in the spirit of the above post):

Spoiler

Show

Big magnet.

[martyboy74]

Here come the swarm of two-word responses

Nat 20.
Magic Missile.
Brilliant Energy.
Pit Trap.
Climb Check.
Jump Check.
Swim Check.
Repel Metal
Shocking Grasp.
Ethereal Creature.

Responses (N/A means no good response):

N/A
It deals a whole 1d4 points. If they actually deal enough to kill you, they're out of spells
First level character
N/A
Rope
Take off the chainmail, climb, put it back on
Ditto
First Level (and reality)
N/A, slight Magic Missile-ness
First Level


For the record, I also think that this is an extremely silly character.

[melchizedek]

The problem with any high AC build is that, while it can stay alive, it isn't actually useful. This build in particular can do almost nothing besides stay alive. (This would depend slightly on class choices, but really, it wouldn't matter much.) Congratulations, you've created a character that other people have no reason to want to attack. After all, it can't hit them, and they can't hit it. They might as well just ignore it.

And, unless I'm missing something, how does a 1st level kobold have both combat expertise and dodge?

[Indon]

The problem with any high AC build is that, while it can stay alive, it isn't actually useful. This build in particular can do almost nothing besides stay alive. (This would depend slightly on class choices, but really, it wouldn't matter much.) Congratulations, you've created a character that other people have no reason to want to attack. After all, it can't hit them, and they can't hit it. They might as well just ignore it.

Take Shock Trooper at level 3, then at least you can get some impressive charges, and hey, you're still well-defended.

And, unless I'm missing something, how does a 1st level kobold have both combat expertise and dodge?

I would assume either a level of Fighter, or a flaw.

[Foolosophy]

Take Shock Trooper at level 3

BAB 6 req....

[lord_khaine]

check the math, +5 armor, +2 dex, +1 nat armor, +1 size, +1 dodge, +1 size,
+1 expertice and +2 fighting defensive gives 24 in ac.
you forgot the max dex bonus of the chain mail.

swich the chain mail for a chain shirt, stop fighting defensive and you could get avay with 23 in ac, for only -1 to hit at first lv.

[Indon]

BAB 6 req....

Then either take it at level 6, or be the best level 3 character ever.

Shock Trooper has Power Attack as a prereq anyway, iirc, so you'd have to take that first.

[Behold_the_Void]

If it's a fighter it can have two feats, but that just means it's useless as it can't hit anything. Remember, you have to be attacking to fight defensively and use Combat Expertise. Speaking of which, Combat Expertise does not allow you to exceed your BAB, which would be 1. And as a Kobold, your strength is piss poor so you're likely sporting a -2 or so to hit, and won't do any damage anyway.

[Diggorian]

I dont believe that fighting defensive and Combat Expertise can be used together. Checked the FAQ, couldnt find anything on it. From the description of the feat, fighting defensive is what ya do if ya dont have Expertise. They're the same concept but one does it better with the feat.

If I'm Orc NPC facing Cocky Kobold, after I miss badly with my crusty axe I'm going to grapple half pint. Draw an AoO, sure, but he's got so many minuses I'll risk it. Then serve up some knuckle sandwich, extra hairy.

[ArmorArmadillo]

You're a Kobold, maxed out for Combat? I like your Gumption!

[Aquillion]

You could accomplish as much by playing a level 1 large, heavy rock. Nobody will be able to kill you, but who cares?

[Indon]

You could accomplish as much by playing a level 1 large, heavy rock. Nobody will be able to kill you, but who cares?

Yes, but nobody has to roll the kobold places.

I mean, I envision the pin cushion to be a pretty good scout. "Hey, we need to get the relic out of the infested cave. We could send in the rogue... hey, Kobold, how fast can you run?"

Sprinting grants an AC bonus, if I recall.

[Vulgosh]

The problem with any high AC build is that, while it can stay alive, it isn't actually useful. This build in particular can do almost nothing besides stay alive. (This would depend slightly on class choices, but really, it wouldn't matter much.) Congratulations, you've created a character that other people have no reason to want to attack. After all, it can't hit them, and they can't hit it. They might as well just ignore it.

And, unless I'm missing something, how does a 1st level kobold have both combat expertise and dodge?

This character idea is most likely going to be just an Npc, but the idea is that the kolbod is a first level fighter.

[Miles Invictus]

Unless Sprint != Run, you actually lose your Dex bonus to AC. Without the Run feat, anyway.

Also, I thought Combat Expertise replaced Defensive Fighting/Total Defense. (Don't know if that's RAW, but it makes more sense.)

[Vulgosh]

Alright for the attack problem you cuold either wait until level 2 or replace one of the feats for weapon finess, for the grapple problem buy spiked armor and for the cost and max dex problem how about studded leather (suggested earlier.)

[Indon]

Unless Sprint != Run, you actually lose your Dex bonus to AC. Without the Run feat, anyway.

Oh, man. I'm confusing D&D and Battletech again, I guess... ("What do you mean I can't have Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Gauss Rifle?")

[Darrin]

Wouldn't it be easier to just take a LA 0 Tiefling/Aasimar, 1 level of Sorcerer, Precocious Apprentice (Alter Self), and then change into a Dwarf Ancestor? High dex, studded leather/chain shirt, and a heavy shield would get you an AC of 38.

[Fourth Tempter]

Wouldn't it be easier to just take a LA 0 Tiefling/Aasimar, 1 level of Sorcerer, Precocious Apprentice (Alter Self), and then change into a Dwarf Ancestor? High dex, studded leather/chain shirt, and a heavy shield would get you an AC of 38.

Alter Self is limited by Hit Dice. You would need five of them to Alter Self into a Dwarf Ancestor.

[Matthew]

I dont believe that fighting defensive and Combat Expertise can be used together. Checked the FAQ, couldnt find anything on it. From the description of the feat, fighting defensive is what ya do if ya dont have Expertise. They're the same concept but one does it better with the feat.

They stack in 3.5, but they didn't used to in 3.0. I cannot find anything explicitly allowing it in the SRD or FAQ, but nor can I find anything specifically prohibiting it. Given that both are Dodge Bonuses and take place as part of an Attack Action, though, there's no reason why they wouldn't.

This topic has reared it's head time and time again. Armour Class 27 at Level 1 is no big deal, especially when you cannot even hit anything. An Elf with Dexterity (+2), a Mail Shirt (+4), a Heavy Shield (+2) and Total Defence (+4) has an Armour Class of 22 without any Feats. There are builds much cheesier than this out there...

[elliott20]

they do stack.

according to the RAW, dodge bonuses always stack. And since fighting defensively and combat expertise both offer that kind of bonus, they stack.

But from another way of looking at it, consider this:

fighting defensively and full defense are mentalities. They are tactics that ANYONE can use, not just a fighter with combat expertise.

Combat expertise, on the other hand, is a feat and that means it requires special training to use. It is a specially trained tactic and technique.

As such, while the mechanical purpose and end result is similar, the source of it is different.

Also, if you don't let them stack, you punish the people who pick combat expertise. At least, until they hit level 2-3.

[SpikeFightwicky]

Kolbod with 20 dex, chain mail, Large steel sheild, size, natural armor, fighting defensively, combat experties, and dodge. ( I know its only against one opponet, and only in combat.

As has been pointed out, the math is off because chain mail max dex is +2. Here's a more cost effective and efficient way to maximize him (assuming lvl 1 Fighter, or lvl 4 warrior - both are CR 1... warrior is the better option overall with more HP and BaB as both are proficient with all armor and shields) without giving hideous penalties:

Studded Leather: +3
Dex: +5
Size: +1
Natural Armor: +1
Tower Shield: +4
Combat Expertise: +1
Dodge: +1
Total: 26 AC, with a -3 to attack

Better option?:

Studded Leather: +3
Dex: +5
Size: +1
Natural Armor: +1
Tower Shield: +4
Sield Spec: +1
Total: 25 AC, with a +5 to attack with weapon finesse and a light or rapier weapon, or 27 AC +1 to attack fighting defensively (if a 4th level warrior, attack bonus is +10, +6 fighting defensively)

[Person_Man]

Here's a superior Kobold melee build:

Level 1 Barbarian

Use the variant racial rules for kobolds (get 2 claws and a bite attack)

Use Ferocity rage variant (+4 Str and +4 Dex when in Rage) or Whirling Frenzy (extra attack).

Use Pounce variant from Complete Champion (sacrificing Fast Movement for it).

Feats: Touch of Golden Ice: Evil enemies must Save or take 1d4 Dex damage whenever you hit them with a natural weapon. Dragon Tail (gain tail attack), you need to take a Flaw though.

Your AC will be decent. You'll make 4 or 5 attacks, including a full attack at the end of a charge.

At high levels, follow the Power Attack tree, remembering that Power Attack applies to all natural weapons. Stay in full BAB classes. Buy grafts or use class abilities/spells to get more natural attacks. Take Improved Multi-Attack so that your secondary natural attacks have a -0 modifier.

Deadly from low levels, staying competitive in any setting up until the time your full caster friends get spells that can kill you or stop you in one round.

You don't need high AC if your enemies are dead. You just need respectable AC and hit points. No combat should last more then 1 round per enemy divided by the number of PC's.

[SpatulaOfDoom]

Counters to your kobold

Level 1 human barbarian with improved grapple grabs your kobold and strangles him to death.

Level 1 Orc barbarian with 22str 26 when raging and the reckless offense feat and a flaw for weapon focus. +11 to attack normaly +13 when charging. He may still have a harder time hitting you than you hitting him but it'll be a one shot kill if he does and you'll probably have to hit him 3 or more times to take him down (small size, -4 str, and Str obviously isn't your primary stat)