High Threat Range (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

The basic idea is to build a, level-by-level, functional class with the maximum possible threat range. Each level taken by this build is an actual playable level. A players can choose this build and play it throughout any campaign. The class is optimized with a
Rapier (PHB p.120) and build around a Drow (MM p.103) race. Each player can make the proper adjustments and take this array to any race with any weapon he or she prefers. Though any changes made to this build’s core won't guarantee the right advancement and
smooth play of this character.

References

The following resources were used to create this character build

DandWiki.com
Player’s Handbook 3.5e
Unearthed Arcana
Feats AEG (Alterac Entertainment Group)
Ultimate Feats
Book of Vile Darkness
Monster Manual 3.5e
Complete Warrior

Game Rule Components

Starting Stats

I usually start campaigns with a Legendary Point Buy System at 64 points.

This gives players the following scores:
18 18 16 16 14 14

For the particular build i'm arranging the scores as follows, plus the race’s score adjustments:

Ability	Score	Race
			4th	8th	12th	16th	20th
STR	14	14	14	14	14	14	14
DEX	18	20	21	22	23	24	25
CON	16	14	14	14	14	14	14
INT	18	20	20	20	20	20	20
WIS	16	16	16	16	16	16	16
CHA	14	16	16	16	16	16	16

Class Selection

We are going to use the rule Gestalt Character as presented in Unearthed Arcana (p.72).

Gestalt Characters

In this high-powered campaign variant, characters essentially take two classes at every level, choosing the best aspects of each. The process is similar to multiclassing, except that characters gain the full benefits of each class at each level. if the two classes you choose have aspects that overlap (such as Hit Dice, attack progression, saves, and class features common to more than one class), you choose the better aspect. The gestalt character retains all aspects that don’t overlap.
The gestalt character variant is particularly effective if you have three or fewer players in your group, or if your players enjoy multiclassing and want characters with truly prodigious powers. This variant works only if every PC in the campaign uses it, and it results in complicated characters who may overwhelm newer players with an abundance of options.

Building A Gestalt Character
To make a 1st-level gestalt character, choose two standard classes. (You can also choose any of the variant classes, though you can’t combine two versions of the same class.) Build your character according to the following guidelines.

Hit Dice
Choose the larger Hit Die. A monk/sorcerer would use d8 as her Hit Die and have 8 hit points (plus Constitution modifier) at 1st level, for example.

Base Attack Bonus
Choose the better progression from the two classes.

Base Saving Throw Bonuses
For each save bonus, choose the better progression from the two classes. For example, a 1st-level gestalt fighter/wizard would have base saving throw bonuses of Fortitude +2, Reflex +0, Will +2—taking the good Fortitude save from the fighter class and the good Will save from the wizard class.

Class Skills
Take the number of skill points gained per level from whichever class grants more skill points, and consider any skill on either class list as a class skill for the gestalt character. For example, a gestalt barbarian/bard would gain skill points per level equal to 6 + Int modifier (and have four times this amount at 1st level), arid can purchase skills from both the barbarian and bard lists as class skills.

Class Features
A gestalt character gains the class features of both classes. A 1st-level gestalt rogue/cleric, for example, gets sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding, 1st-level cleric spells, and the ability to turn or rebuke undead. Class- and ability-based restrictions (such as arcane spell failure chance and a druid’s prohibition on wearing metal armor) apply normally to a gestalt character, no matter what the other class is.

A gestalt character follows a similar procedure when he attains 2nd and subsequent levels. Each time he gains a new level, he chooses two classes, takes the best aspects of each, and applies them to his characteristics. A few caveats apply, however.

Class features that two classes share (such as uncanny dodge) accrue at the rate of the faster class. Gestalt characters with more than one spellcasting class keep track of their spells per day separately. A gestalt character can’t combine two prestige classes at any level, although it’s okay to combine a prestige class and a regular class. Prestige classes that are essentially class combinations-such as the arcane trickster, mystic theurge, and eldritch knight-should be prohibited if you’re using gestalt classes, because they unduly complicate the game balance of what’s already a high-powered variant. Because it’s possible for gestalt characters to qualify for prestige classes earlier than normal, the game master is entirely justified in toughening the prerequisites of a prestige class so it’s available only after 5th level, even for gestalt characters.

The classes that we are going to use in this is a combination of Fighter (PHB p.37) and Swashbuckler (CW p.11), This enables us to take the requirements for two prestige classes, the Disciple of Dispater (BoVD p.60) and Weapon Master (a modified version of Kensei from Oriental Adventures Campaign Setting)

Feats

We are going to use a variant rule, found in Unearthed Arcana (p. 91), Character Flaws.

Flaws are like the flip side of feats. Whereas a feat enables a character to be better than normal at performing a task (or even to do something that normal characters can’t), a flaw restricts a character’s capabilities or imposes a penalty of some sort. A player may select up to two flaws when creating a character. After 1st level, a character cannot take on additional fl aws unless the DM specifically allows it (for examples of times when doing this might be appropriate). Each flaw a player selects entitles his character to a bonus feat. In other words, when you create a character, if you select two flaws, you can also take two bonus feats beyond those your character would be normally entitled to.

Unlike traits (Unearthed Arcana p.86), flaws are entirely negative in their impact on a character’s capabilities. Each of the flaws described here has a specific game effect. The flaws chosen below are the best choice for this build. A player may changes the default flaws enlisted below.

Murky-Eyed
Your vision is obscured.
Effect: In combat, every time you attack an opponent that has concealment, roll your miss chance twice. If either or both results indicate that you miss, your attack fails.

Shaky
You are relatively poor at ranged combat.
Effect: You take a –2 penalty on all ranged attack rolls.

Other feats will be implemented from the following books:

Player’s Handbook 3.5e
Feats AEG (Alterac Entertainment Group)
Ultimate Feats
Book of Vile Darkness

Starting Equipment

The only mandatory equipment for this build is a Rapier (PHB p.120) weapon. With the right modifications you can also change the base weapon for this build’s progression.

Progression

ECL	Class Gestalt	BAB	Saving Throws			Feats	Bonus Feat (Fighter)	Bonus Feat (Weapon Master)	Special	Flaws/Feats
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Fighter/Swashbuckler 1	+1	+2	+0	+0	Dexterous Dodge	Weapon Focus (Rapier)	-	Weapon Finesse (Rapier)	Improved Initiative, Two Weapon Combination
2nd	Fighter/Swashbuckler 2	+2	+3	+0	+0	-	Combat Expertise	-	Grace +1	-
3rd	Fighter/Swashbuckler 3	+3	+3	+1	+1	Superrior Finesse (Rapier)	-	-	Insightful Strike	-
4th	Fighter/Swashbuckler 4	+4	+4	+1	+1	-	Mobility	-	-	-
5th	Fighter/Swashbuckler 5	+5	+4	+1	+1	-	-	-	Dodge Bonus +1	-
6th	Fighter/Swashbuckler 6	+6	+5	+2	+2	Improved Two-Weapon Fighting	Twin Weapon Fighting	-	-	-
7th	Fighter/Weapon Master 1	+7	+7	+2	+4	-	-	-	Weapons Bond, Masters Damage	-
8th	Fighter/ Weapon Master 2	+8	+8	+2	+5	-	Weapon Specialization (Rapier)	Improved Critical (Rapier)	-	-
9th	Fighter/ Weapon Master 3	+9	+8	+3	+5	Disciple of Darkness	-	-	Armor Mastery Medium	-
10th	Fighter/ Weapon Master 4	+10	+9	+3	+6	-	Lightning Draw (Rapier)	-	Masters Defense +1	-
11th	Fighter/ Weapon Master 5	+11	+9	+3	+6	-	-	-	Increase Multiplier	-
12th	Fighter/ Weapon Master 6	+12	+10	+4	+7	Greater Two-Weapon Fighting	Power Attack	Assassin	-	-
13th	Fighter/ Weapon Master 7	+13	+10	+4	+7	-	-	-	Masters Critical	-
14th	Fighter/Disciple of Dispater 1	+14	+11	+4	+8	-	Weapon Mastery (Rapier)	-	Device Lore	-
15th	Fighter/ Disciple of Dispater 2	+14	+11	+5	+8	Master Assassin	-	-	Iron Hews	-
16th	Fighter/ Disciple of Dispater 3	+16	+12	+5	+9	-	Elite Weapon Mastery (Rapier)	-	Rusting Grasp	-
17th	Fighter/ Disciple of Dispater 4	+17	+14	+7	+11	-	-	-	Iron Power +1	-
18th	Fighter/ Disciple of Dispater 5	+18	+15	+8	+12	Improved Weapon Specialization (Rapier)	Bonded Weapon (Rapier)	-	Summon Erinyes	-
19th	Fighter/ Disciple of Dispater 6	+19	+15	+8	+12	-	-	-	Greater Iron Hews	-
20th	Fighter/ Disciple of Dispater 7	+20	+16	+9	+13	-	Improved Weapon Focus	-	Iron Skin	-
21th	Fighter/ Disciple of Dispater 8	+21	+16	+9	+13	Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting	-	-	Iron Power +2	-

Side Notes

This build can have an amazing critical of 3-20/x4 (with critical hits automatically confirmed)
and damage equal to 1d8 + 9 + DEX + INT

Limitations

This build is limited in critical attacks and damages. Any encounter with immunity to criticals or heavy fortification armor will make this character advance with old school fighting rules.

DM Counters

A campaign dedicated with undead and heavy armored opponents will make a deadly challenge for a player with this build

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