Inhuman AoO-er (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
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References[edit]
- Player's Handbook
- Player's Handbook II
- Tome of Battle
- Complete Warrior
- Complete Adventurer
- Lords of Madness
Game Rule Components[edit]
Race and Templates[edit]
- Human
Classes[edit]
- Fighter 6/Crusader 14
Feats[edit]
- Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain
- Weapon Finesse
- Aberration Blood
- Combat Reflexes
- Inhuman Reach
- Combat Expertise
- Improved Trip
- Dodge
- Karmic Strike
- Robilar's Gambit
- Defensive Sweep
- Deft Opportunist
Spells, Powers, Items[edit]
- Manual of Quickness in Action +5
- Gloves of Dexterity +6
- Strongarm Bracers
Progression[edit]
ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Special |
---|---|---|---|
1st | Fighter | Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), Weapon FinesseB, Aberration BloodB | |
2nd | Fighter | Combat ReflexesB | |
3rd | Fighter | Inhuman Reach | |
4th | Fighter | Combat ExpertiseB | |
5th | Fighter | ||
6th | Fighter | Improved TripB, Dodge | |
7th | Crusader | Maneuvers, Furious Counterstrike, Steely Resolve 5 | |
8th | Crusader | Thicket of Blades stance, Defensive Rebuke maneuver, Indomitable Soul | |
9th | Crusader | Karmic Strike | Zealous Surge |
10th | Crusader | Steely Resolve 10 | |
11th | Crusader | ||
12th | Crusader | Robilar's Gambit | Smite 1/day |
13th | Crusader | ||
14th | Crusader | Steely Resolve 15 | |
15th | Crusader | Defensive Sweep | |
16th | Crusader | Die HardB | |
17th | Crusader | ||
18th | Crusader | Deft Opportunist | Steely Resolve 20 |
19th | Crusader | Mettle | |
20th | Crusader |
Highlights[edit]
The combination of a Spiked Chain and the Inhuman Reach feat gives this character a reach of 20 feet, with the ability to attack any square within his reach. This character is focused on severely disrupting enemy combatants by causing almost EVERYTHING they do to provoke an attack of opportunity.
Here's a list of everything that provokes an attack of opportunity within this monster's 20' 15' reach(You have a reach of 5' normally, you get a reach of 10' with the inhumane reach feat, the spiked chain only adds +5' to doubles your reach (as per the reach section on pages 149 and 150 of the Player's Handbook). For more get a pair of Strongarm bracers for for 6,000 from the Magic Item Compendium.):
- Moving, even 5' steps or the withdraw action (Thicket of Blades stance)
- Not moving (Defensive Sweep)
- Attacking me (Robilar's Gambit)
- Attacking me and hitting (Karmic Strike)
- Attacking anyone but me (Defensive Rebuke maneuver)
Thanks to Improved Trip, I can trip and follow up with another attack on any AoO. Getting up from prone because they were tripped provokes ANOTHER attack of opportunity, which allows me to send them right back down again!
While using both Karmic Strike and Robilar's Gambit at the same time leaves me quite vulnerable, the fact that I'm a Crusader tends to compensate for that fact. Many Devoted Spirit maneuvers allow for large quantities of healing, such as Strike of Righteous Vitality, and the Furious Counterstrike ability of the Crusader means that taking damage gives bonuses to my own attack and damage.
The main downside of all this is that having arms 6' long tends to disturb people. That's aberrant feats for you.
When assigning starting ability scores, make sure you put at least a 16 in Dexterity, and use all your level-based ability boosts on Dex. This, when combined with a +5 tome and a +6 item, raises your Dexterity to 32, which gives you 11 attacks of opportunity a round- 10 more than normal.
- You still need Strength for damage and tripping people.
1
Munchkin-Size Me[edit]
Using the Stand Still feat from the Expanded Psionics Handbook instead of Deft Opportunist would allow you to stop people from moving at all, in addition to repeatedly tripping them.
- To really munchkin-size this build you need some way to increase your size for extra reach, more damage and easier tripping.
Adding a level of Artificer lets you boost up UMD to use and even make scrolls, such as Enlarge, and you can improve your chain with nice infusions, such as (Personal Weapon enhancement (bane)).
Or you could take Goliath from Races of Stone to increase size of your weapon and reach.
Also, you could take the Backstab feat (from dragon magazine, DR340 p86) which allows an attack of opportunity every time an enemy you flank attacks someone other than you.
Don't forget about improved combat reflexes (Epic level handbook)
Get the local wizard to cast Enlarge Person on you for extra reach
Two levels of the Cobra Style Monk ACF will net you Dodge and Mobility as free feats- plus better saves, unarmed damage, etc.
(edited to inform users that one cannot provoke standing up while prone. Why because the target is STILL PRONE until he stands up,)
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