User:Franken Kesey/Bodyguard (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
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Low - Moderate - Contents
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):
- New Level-Dependent Benefits (3.5e Variant Rule) (Transformational)
- Better Initiative (3.5e Variant Rule) (Supplemental)
- Meat Shield (3.5e Class) (rogue)
- Shieldmaster (3.5e Prestige Class) (fighter)
- Autoplate Pilot, Variant (3.5e Class) (rogue)
- 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
Items
+2Autoplate
Enchanted Tower Shield w/ +4Defending-Armor Spikes
Non-Enchanted Tower Shield w/ Armor Spikes
Progression
Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): 12Str, 8Dex, 19Con, 14Int, 8Wis, 10Cha (32 Point Buy)
- 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
Final progression: Meat Shield 8 / Shieldmaster 5 / Variant Autoplate Pilot 4 / Dwarven Defender 3
Ngao turns at 7th level, synergizing at 9th level, becoming optimal at 15th level
Highlights
At level 20 (buffed)
- Ability Scores: Str24, Dex18, Con40, Int24, Wis18, Cha18
- HP: 11d12+5d10+4d8+178(338){+3(feat)}[w/+40Defensive Stance]
- AC: 77-90(+0-13situational) = 10Base+4Dex+0(medium)+7Armor(autoplate+7)+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+2Guardian Upgrade+10variant.
- Speed: 20' (20' base)
- Run (feat): can run 5x speed (100')
- Reach: 5'
- Initiative: +17
- 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)
- Fast Healing: fast healing 8
Armor and Shields
Autoplate: +5AC, +8 max dex.
- +2 Autoplate:
- Guardian Upgrade: Your autoplate gains +2 AC and confers 20% fortification. Each round, it regains 5 hitpoints.
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
- Armored Spikes: 1d6 damage, 20/x2 crit
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
- Armored Spikes: 1d6 damage, 20/x2 crit
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.)
Situational AC & Saves
- 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.
- 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.
- Wide Load: The Tumble checks for anyone attempting to tumble through any space within the meat shield's threat range are now increased by the meat shield's class level. He is also treated as if he is one size larger for the purpose of opposed rolls on bull rush, grapple, overrun, and trip checks and for qualifying against special attacks that can only be used against opponents of a certain size category (such as improved grab or trample). In addition, the meat shield's stability and strength allow him to wield weapons one size larger than normal without penalty.
- 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.
- 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.
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!
Tactics
Limitations
Super slow, principle needs to be a ranged unit. 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 Meat Shield with Grey Guardian
Replace Meat Shield with Martial Aptitude Warblade: (see Warblade page)
- Gain the Army of One (3.5e Martial Discipline): taunt discipline
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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