Pious Barbarian (Barbarian 28 / Champion of Torm 10 / Rogue 2)

[unifiedworld]

I could only find one other build with these classes and this level split: https://world-of-greyhawk.github.io/builds/data/build228702.html. My build has +2 strength -1 constitution, takes discipline instead of spellcraft and goes for bastard swords (katanas will work just fine, too) vs. the other build’s dwarven waraxe (arguably, a larger critical range is better in a Dev. Crit. build). His build is a dwarf rather than a half-orc, so he gets an extra skill compared to mine. He gets Blind Fight and Toughness instead of Knockdown and a Great Strength feat.

Why did I bother with exotic weapons instead of just majoring in scimitars? Swordflight (the module this build was made for) has some nice unique exotic weapons (one can cast flame weapon twice per day, for example). Also, in Swordflight, there are plenty of enemies who are immune to critical hits so getting more base damage (bastard sword has +2 average base damage compared to a scimitar and +1 average damage compared to a longsword) is not a bad idea. In other environments, players may choose to opt for the Blind Fight feat in place of Weapon Proficiency Exotic and may major in scimitars instead for the greater critical range.

Compared to a representative Barbarian28/Bard2/RDD10 build (of which there are too many to consider!), Max’s HOOD build,  my build actually only lags behind in strength by 4 points, which I think is fairly impressive considering that I don’t get RDD levels. However, where my build shines is in the saving throws: 34/23/20 with Evasion on top of that, though Max does have Spellcraft to make up most of the difference in saves when it comes to spells. The other nice thing about my build is that it has space to fit Taunt.

Anyway, I think it’s hard (or maybe impossible) to beat RDD builds when we’re making melee toons, but I tried to make something at least worthy of consideration as an alternative. I have way too many RDD builds as it is, and sometimes I want to try something different for a change (again talking specifically about melee builds).

If someone wanted to add Spellcraft to this build, Rogue could be changed to Bard and (if the player is willing to suffer through most of the build with no Tumble AC) the levels could be changed to Barbarian 29 / CoT 10 / Bard 1. That would allow for an extra point of damage reduction from the 29th Barbarian level.

This build does get 15/- damage reduction.

One thing the build lacks is Armor Skin, which could be added based on player preferences. I don’t really know which feat to cut for Armor Skin, which is also why I didn’t add it. (Note: Mighty Rage doesn’t give -2AC like Greater Rage does so in a way it’s similar to getting Armor Skin but it provides more uptime for Terrifying Rage buffs as well as higher bonuses. Also, this build has some damage reduction, perhaps making AC a lower priority than usual.)

Taking exactly two CoT levels in pre-epic gives +1 fortitude +1 reflex compared to taking only one. So if one wanted to get Armor Skin (or any other epic feat) in place of Weapon Proficienty Exotic, that would be the cost.

Is this a build you would consider playing?

Best,

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Barbarian(28), Rogue(2), Champion of Torm(10), Half-Orc

STR: 19 (28)
DEX: 9
CON: 16 (21)
WIS: 8
INT: 12
CHA: 6

Half-Orc: (Darkvision)
01: Barbarian(1): Armor Proficiency Heavy
02: Barbarian(2): {Uncanny Dodge I}
03: Barbarian(3): Weapon Proficiency Exotic
04: Barbarian(4): STR+1, (STR=20)
05: Barbarian(5)
06: Barbarian(6): Weapon Focus: Bastard Sword
07: Barbarian(7)
08: Barbarian(8): STR+1, (STR=21)
09: Barbarian(9): Knockdown
10: Barbarian(10)
11: Barbarian(11)
12: Barbarian(12): STR+1, Improved Critical: Bastard Sword, (STR=22)
13: Barbarian(13)
14: Barbarian(14)
15: Barbarian(15): Power Attack
16: Barbarian(16): STR+1, (STR=23)
17: Barbarian(17)
18: Champion of Torm(1): Cleave
19: Champion of Torm(2): Great Cleave
20: Barbarian(18): STR+1, (STR=24)
21: Champion of Torm(3): Great Strength I, {Smite Evil}, (STR=25)
22: Rogue(1)
23: Champion of Torm(4): Overwhelming Critical: Bastard Sword
24: Barbarian(19): CON+1, Terrifying Rage, (CON=17)
25: Champion of Torm(5)
26: Champion of Torm(6): Devastating Critical: Bastard Sword
27: Barbarian(20): Great Constitution I, (CON=18)
28: Champion of Torm(7): CON+1, (CON=19)
29: Champion of Torm(8): Epic Weapon Focus: Bastard Sword
30: Barbarian(21): Great Constitution II, (CON=20)
31: Champion of Torm(9)
32: Champion of Torm(10): CON+1, Epic Damage Reduction I, (CON=21)
33: Barbarian(22): Epic Damage Reduction II
34: Barbarian(23)
35: Barbarian(24): Epic Damage Reduction III
36: Barbarian(25): STR+1, Mighty Rage, (STR=26)
37: Rogue(2): {Evasion}
38: Barbarian(26)
39: Barbarian(27): Great Strength II, (STR=27)
40: Barbarian(28): STR+1, Epic Prowess, (STR=28)

Hitpoints: 648
Skillpoints: 203
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 34/20/23
Saving Throw bonuses: Traps: +5
BAB: 30
AB (max, naked): 43 (melee), 30 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane items only): 17/28
Spell Casting:
Alignment Changes: 0

Disable Trap 1(2), Discipline 43(52), Intimidate 43(41), Open Lock 1(0), Taunt 43(41), Tumble 40(39), UMD 32(30)

01: Discipline(4), Intimidate(4), Taunt(4), Save(8),
02: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(10),
03: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(12),
04: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(14),
05: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(16),
06: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(18),
07: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(20),
08: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(22),
09: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(24),
10: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(26),
11: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(28),
12: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(30),
13: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(32),
14: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(34),
15: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(36),
16: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(38),
17: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(40),
18: Discipline(1), Save(42),
19: Discipline(1), Save(44),
20: Discipline(1), Intimidate(3), Taunt(3), Save(42),
21: Discipline(1), Save(44),
22: Disable Trap(1), Intimidate(1), Open Lock(1), Tumble(25), UMD(25),
23: Discipline(1), Save(2),
24: Intimidate(3), Taunt(4),
25: Discipline(3),
26: Discipline(1), Save(2),
27: Discipline(1), Intimidate(3), Taunt(3),
28: Discipline(1), Save(2),
29: Discipline(1), Save(4),
30: Discipline(1), Intimidate(3), Taunt(3), Save(2),
31: Discipline(1), Save(4),
32: Discipline(1), Save(6),
33: Discipline(1), Intimidate(3), Taunt(3), Save(4),
34: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(6),
35: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Taunt(1), Save(8),
36: Save(13),
37: Tumble(15), UMD(7),
38: Discipline(1), Intimidate(2), Taunt(2),
39: Discipline(2), Intimidate(2), Taunt(1),
40: Discipline(2), Intimidate(1), Taunt(2),

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