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

Author: Franken Kesey (talk) Date Created: 2/6/2011 Status: incompleate Editing: don't touch it!

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Introduction

The ultimate party defender. X 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. Meat Shield (3.5e Class) (rogue)
4. Shieldmaster (3.5e Prestige Class) (fighter)
5. Autoplate Pilot, Variant (3.5e Class) (rogue)
6. Combat Expertise, MS Variant (3.5e Feat) (rogue)

References

New Level-Dependent Benefits (3.5e Variant Rule)

Better Initiative (3.5e Variant Rule)

32 point buy

Game Rule Components

Items

Antimagic Armor

Enchanted Tower Shield w/ +4Defending-Armor Spikes

Non-Enchanted Tower Shield w/ Armor Spikes:

Locked Gauntlets

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): 12Str, 8Dex, 19Con, 14Int, 8Wis, 8Cha (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	Meat Shield 1	12	8	21	14	8	6	Constant Vigilance, Intercession, Oath of Service, Power of the Body	Dodge, Improved Shield Bash, Toughness
2nd	Meat Shield 2	13	9	22	15	9	7	Mobile Defender, Unbreakable	Tower Shield Proficiency
3rd	Meat Shield 3	13	9	22	15	9	7	Share The Pain, Status Report
4th	Meat Shield 4	14	10	24	16	10	8	Defilade, Guardianship	Diehard
5th	Shieldmaster 1	14	10	24	16	10	8	Concealing Shield (20%), Shield Fighting, Tower Bash	Two-Weapon Fighting1
6th	Meat Shield 5	15	11	25	17	11	9	Binding Oath	Endurance
7th	Meat Shield 6	15	11	25	17	11	9	Provoke
8th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 1	16	12	27	18	12	10		Variant Combat Expertise
9th	Dwarven Defender 1	16	12	27	18	12	10	Defensive stance 1/day
10th	Shieldmaster 2	17	13	28	19	13	11	Powerful Arm, Shield Stance +1	Run
11th	Shieldmaster 3	17	13	28	19	13	11	Concealing Shield (35%), Impact Shield, Tower Charge
12th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 2	18	14	30	20	14	12		Mobility
13th	Dwarven Defender 2	18	14	30	20	14	12	Uncanny dodge
14th	Dwarven Defender 3	19	15	31	21	15	13	Defensive stance 2/day	Two-Weapon Defense
15th	Meat Shield 7	19	15	31	21	15	13	Repelling Attacks, Wide Load (1)
16th	Meat Shield 8	20	16	33	22	16	14	Resilient	Spring Attack
17th	Shieldmaster 4	20	16	33	22	16	14	Shield of the Heart, Shield Stance +2
18th	Shieldmaster 5	21	17	34	23	17	15	Concealing Shield (50%), Evasion, Immediate Cover, Improved Shield Fighting	Improved Two-Weapon Fighting1, Sidestep Charge
19th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 3	21	17	34	23	17	15
20th	Variant Autoplate Pilot 4	22	18	36	24	18	16		Quick Draw
from the Shieldmaster from the Variant Autoplate Pilot class

Final progression: Meat Shield 8 / Shieldmaster 5 / Variant Autoplate Pilot 4 / Dwarven Defender 3

Turns at 7th level, synergizing at 9th level, becoming optimal at ___ level

Highlights

At level 20 (buffed)

• Ability Scores: Str24, Dex18, Con40, Int24, Wis18, Cha16
• HP: 11d12+5d10+4d8+178(338){+3(feat)}[w/+40Defensive Stance]
• AC: 73 = 10Base+1Dex+0(medium)+8Armor(Full Plate Armor+8)+12Shields(two Tower Shield+8, 1 w/ +4defending armor spikes)+4Shield Stance+4Defensive Stance+19Combat Expertise, MS Variant (3.5e Feat)+2Two-Weapon Defense+2Fighting Defensively+1Dwarven Defender+10variant.
• Speed: 20' (20' base)
  • Run (feat): can run 5x speed (100')
• Reach: 5'
• Initiative: +21
• BAB: +0/+5/+5/-10/-15 ()
• Saves: fort+40, ref+40, will+23 (Con+15, Dex+4, Wis+4 (Meat Shield+6+3+6, Shieldmaster+4+4+1, Dwarven Defender+3+1+3, Variant Autoplate Pilot+4+1+1), +2DD, +6 variant, -3ref(flaw), Resilient(sustitute Ref w/ Fort)
• Attacks of Opportunity: 4/round
• Fast Healing: fast healing 8
• DR: 3/-

Armor and Shields

Antimagic Armor: +8AC, +1 max dex.

Enchanted Tower Shield w/ +4Defending-Armor Spikes: +8AC

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

Non-Enchanted 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.

Evasion:

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.)

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.

Meat Shield:

• Defilade: enemies no longer have a bonus to hit when flanking him, and the meat shield cannot be successfully sneak attacked unless the attacker is at least four levels higher than himself.

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.

Tactics

<- How does the build function in combat? What are the common actions one pulls off in a round? ->

Limitations

<- conditions of when this build works, and, if needed, tricks for the DM (provided they allow this build) to keep the abuse to a minimum. -> ->

Variants

Replace Variant Autoplate Pilot with Dualist

Replace Meat Shield with Grey Guardian

Replace Meat Shield with Martial Aptitude Warblade:

Gain the Army of One (3.5e Martial Discipline): taunt discipline

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