User:Franken Kesey/Bodyguard (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Author: Franken Kesey (talk) Date Created: 2/6/2011 Status: ready for criticism Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Introduction

The ultimate party defender. Ngao is a mix of homebrew and published material.

This build uses fighter and rogue level material. The compleate list of homebrew articles is as follows (along with balence levels):

1. New Level-Dependent Benefits (3.5e Variant Rule) (Transformational)
2. Better Initiative (3.5e Variant Rule) (Supplemental)
3. Martial Aptitude Warblade (3.5e Alternate Class Feature)
4. Army of One (3.5e Martial Discipline) (fighter)
5. Shieldmaster (3.5e Prestige Class) (fighter)
6. Autoplate Pilot, Variant (3.5e Class) (rogue)
7. Combat Expertise, MS Variant (3.5e Feat) (rogue)
8. Dueling Shield (3.5e Equipment)

References

New Level-Dependent Benefits (3.5e Variant Rule)

Better Initiative (3.5e Variant Rule)

32 point buy

Items

+2Autoplate

Enchanted Dueling Shield w/ +4Defending-Armor Spikes

Locked Gauntlets

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): 12Str, 8Dex, 19Con, 14Int, 8Wis, 10Cha (32 Point Buy)

UA:Character Traits:

• Musclebound: +1 bonus on Strength-based skill checks and ability checks; and -2 penalty on Dexterity-based skill checks and ability checks.
• Hulking Brute: You may use Strength rather than Charisma for the purpose of intimidation checks.

UA:Character Flaws Flaws:

• UA:Shaky: take a −2 penalty on all ranged attack rolls.
• UA:Poor Reflexes: take a −3 penalty on Reflex saves.

Race: Mountain Dwarf

Starting Racial Traits: +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma

ECL	Class	Ability Scores						Class Features	Feats	Special
		Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
1st	Warblade 1	12	8	21	14	8	8	Battle clarity (Reflex saves), Battle clarity (Reflex saves)	Improved Shield Bash, Toughness, Tower Shield Proficiency
2nd	Warblade 2	13	9	22	15	9	9	Uncanny dodge
3rd	Warblade 3	13	9	22	15	9	9	Battle ardor (critical confirmation)	Endurance
4th	Warblade 4	14	10	24	16	10	10	—
5th	Shieldmaster 1	14	10	24	16	10	10	Concealing Shield (20%), Shield Fighting, Tower Bash	Diehard, Two-Weapon Fighting2
6th	Warblade 5	15	11	25	17	11	11	Bonus feat	Run1
7th	Warblade 6	15	11	25	17	11	11	Improved uncanny dodge	Variant Combat Expertise
8th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 1	16	12	27	18	12	12	Arcane Armorer (Novice), +1 Autoplate, Core Ignition
9th	Dwarven Defender 1	16	12	27	18	12	12	Defensive stance 1/day	Improved Initiative
10th	Shieldmaster 2	17	13	28	19	13	13	Powerful Arm, Shield Stance +1
11th	Shieldmaster 3	17	13	28	19	13	13	Concealing Shield (35%), Impact Shield, Tower Charge	Dodge
12th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 2	18	14	30	20	14	14	Expansion
13th	Dwarven Defender 2	18	14	30	20	14	14	Uncanny dodge	Sidestep Charge
14th	Dwarven Defender 3	19	15	31	21	15	15	Defensive stance 2/day
15th	Shieldmaster 4	19	15	31	21	15	15	Shield of the Heart, Shield Stance +2	Two-Weapon Defense
16th	Shieldmaster 5	20	16	33	22	16	16	Concealing Shield (50%), Evasion, Immediate Cover, Improved Shield Fighting	Improved Two-Weapon Fighting2
17th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 3	20	16	33	22	16	16	Upgrade	Mobility
18th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 4	21	17	34	23	17	17	+2 Autoplate, Progressive Design
19th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 5	21	17	34	23	17	17	Expansion	Spring Attack
20th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 6	22	18	36	24	18	18	Upgrade	Bulwark of Defense
bonus feat from Martial Aptitude Warblade class. bonus feat from Shieldmaster class.

Final progression: Warblade 6 / Shieldmaster 5 / Variant Autoplate Pilot 6 / Dwarven Defender 3

Ngao turns at 7th level, synergizing at 9th level, becoming optimal at 15th level

Highlights

At level 20 (buffed)

• Ability Scores: Str26, Dex18, Con42, Int24, Wis18, Cha18
• HP: 9d12+5d10+6d8+178(354){+3(feat)}[w/+60Defensive Stance]
• AC: 78-91(+0-13situational) = 10Base+4Dex+0(medium)+7Armor(autoplate+7)+10Shields(Dueling Shield+2 w/ +4defending armor spikes; Tower Shield+4)+4Shield Stance+6Defensive Stance+18Variant Combat Expertise+2Two-Weapon Defense+2Fighting Defensively+1Dwarven Defender+4Guardian Upgrade+10variant.
• Speed: 20' (20' base)
  • Run (feat): can run 5x speed (100')
• Reach: 5'
• Initiative: +21
• BAB: +0/+5/+5/-10/-15 ()
• Saves: fort+43, ref+25, will+20 (Con+16, Dex+4, Wis+4 (Martial Aptitude Warblade+5+2+2, Shieldmaster+4+4+1, Dwarven Defender+3+1+3, Variant Autoplate Pilot+5+2+2), +4DD(defensive stance), +6 variant, +7ref(Battle Clarity), -3ref(flaw))

Taunt

Army of One (discipline):

• 1st

1. Foe-Drawing Challenge: Strike — Enemy must move towards you.
2. Vanguard Feint: Strike — Make a feint using an Intimidate check.

• 2nd

1. Hero’s Challenge: Counter — Enemy must attack you instead of allies.
2. Push Back: Strike — Push all foes in reach back 5 feet.

• 4th

1. Menacing Challenge: Counter — Make an Intimidate check to block a foe's attack against an ally; enemy must move towards you.

• 5th

1. Golden Phalanx Defense: Stance — You gain a +1 bonus to AC for every enemy adjacent to you and may attack enemies flanking you.

Armor and Shields

Defensive Stance: +2Str, +4Con, a +2 all saves, +4 AC

Bulwark of Defense (replaces above): +4Str, +6Con, a +4 all saves, +6 AC

Autoplate: +5AC, +8 max dex.

• +2 Autoplate:
• Guardian Upgrade: Your autoplate gains +4 AC and confers 40% fortification. Each round, it regains 10 hitpoints.

Small Enchanted Dueling Shield w/ +4Defending-Armor Spikes: +6AC

• 1d6/1d6 damage, 20/x2 crit
  • Armored Spikes: 1d6 damage, 20/x2 crit
    • Shield Stance: +2 AC bonus

Small Tower Shield w/ Armor Spikes: +4AC

• 1d8 damage, 20/x2 crit
  • Armored Spikes: 1d6 damage, 20/x2 crit
    • Shield Stance: +2 AC bonus

Locked Gauntlets: provides a +10 bonus on any roll made to keep from being disarmed in combat.

Uncanny Dodge: a dwarven defender retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. (He still loses any Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.)

Improved Uncanny Dodge: a warblade can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the warblade by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target has warblade levels. If a character already has uncanny dodge (see above) from a second class, the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead, and the levels from the classes that grant uncanny dodge stack to determine the minimum level a rogue must be to flank the character.

Situational AC & Saves

Mountain Dwarves:

• Stability: A mountain dwarf gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground).
• +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison.
• +2 racial bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects.
• +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids.
• +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type. Any time a creature loses its Dexterity bonus (if any) to Armor Class, such as when it’s caught flat-footed, it loses its dodge bonus, too.

Shieldmaster:

• Tower Charge: A shieldmaster may perform a bull rush with a tower shield, gaining a +6 circumstance bonus to the bull rush thanks to the shield. You cannot use this feature if you are not proficient in tower shields.
• Shield of the Heart: He gains his shield bonus to touch AC against spells and spell-like abilities. In addition, so long as he has his shield bonus he gains a +2 insight bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities.

Variant Autoplate Pilot:

• Expansion:
  • Environmental Package: You gain the benefits of constant endure elements and water breathing spells and a +5 alchemical bonus to saves against poisons and diseases.
    • Alternatively, by committing 3 Energy to this Expansion, you gain the benefits of constant freedom of movement, endure elements and water breathing spells, immunity to poisons and diseases, and resist 15 acid, cold, electricity and fire. This secondary mode cannot be used by an autoplate pilot of less then 5th level.

Feats:

• Dodge: +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks from one opponent.
  • Mobility: +4 dodge bonus to AC against attacks of opportunity.
  • Sidestep Charge: +4 dodge bonus to AC against charge attacks.

Examples

Against a Merrow Ogre(6)-Barbarian(24)

Attack=56-61 (only rolls of 19 or 20 purchase)

• Large Sized:-1 attack
• Ability Scores: Str28, Dex10, Con20, Int10, Wis8, Cha6
  • Mighty Rage: +8Str, +8Con
  • Ability Items: +16Str, +10Con
    • Great Strength(2) (feat): +2Str
• BAB: +27/+22/+17/+12/+7/+2
• +10 weapon enchantment
• Weapon Focus Feats(2): +3 attack

Damage=164 (1st(40+6d6+2d6x3), 2nd(40+6d6+2d6x3))

• Str: 54
• Gnome Hooked Hammer: 2d6/1d8 (x3/x4)
  • Overwhelming Critical (feat): +2d6/+3d6 on a crit
  • +10 weapon enchantment
  • Weapon Specialization Feats(3): +8 damage
  • Greater Psionic Weapon: +4d6

Feats:

• Power Attack→Cleave→Great Cleave;
• Psionic Weapon→Greater Psionic Weapon; *Weapon Focus→Epic Weapon Focus;
• Improved Critical→Overwhelming Critical;
• Great Strength-Great Strength(2)

Total Damage/round:

• 164x.1=16.4 -8fast healing=8.4

Could last almost indefinitely against a creature 10 levels greater!

Limitations

Super slow, better if allies are ranged units - otherwise Ngao will not be able to keep up!!! It also takes a while for Ngao to get into the battle field, usally uses the first round to station himself.

Variants

Replace Variant Autoplate Pilot with Dualist

Replace Warblade with Grey Guardian

Replace Warblade with Meat Shield

Replace the New Level-Dependent Benefits (3.5e Variant Rule) with the below iteams:

• Ioun Stone, Pink: +2Con; 8,000
• Amulet of Health: +6Con; 36,000
• Manual of Bodily Health: +5Con; 137,500
• Headband of Intellect: +6Int; 36,000
• Belt of Great Prowess (3.5e Equipment): +6Str, +6Dex, +6Con; 112,500
• Bracers of Armor: +8AC; 64,000

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