Making Characters from Level 1 - Core Books Only

[Dmitri]

So my "warrior" playing experience is limited - haven't really done one since 2e. I want to explore, in this thread, viable builds that are thematic and untwinked in core only materials for the Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, and Barbarian. Stuff that would be playable from level 1, without excessive planning (I want to be able to grow the character organically). I am using a 32 point build, and I do not want a character who is 18-16-14-8-8-8 or anything like that. Figuring on no more than one 8, probably none. Ideas?

So far I am thinking of:

Ranger w/TWFing with Unarmed Strike and a longsword or battleaxe
Fighter w/lots of options (Combat Expertise, Imp Disarm, Imp Trip, Power Attack, etc.)
Paladin w/ Mounted Combat tree and Power Attack

[Rincewind]

For the ranger, I think two-weapon fighting with two shortswords would work well. I think splashing a bit of Rogue after you get two-weapon fighting is also great there, as adding sneak attack damage to that is a major ouch. I'd keep the unarmed strike for the monks- they'll be better at it anyway, and they can take two weapon fighting feats too to get an extra attack with their bare hands (odd, I know, but it's specifically mentioned in the rules errata). But a stealthy ranger/rogue could be devastating- both classes get Hide and favor high dex, so your target could be dead before they realize they're under attack. This could also work with a fighter/rogue combo, but fighters don't get hide as a class skill so it's trickier.

For fighters, disarm and trip are both fun, but can be of limited use at times. Still, my monk had fun with the trip part, heh. Being a dwarf helps there, for resistance to the counter-trip attempt.

If the paladin is doing mounted combat, he should think about taking some feats for using a lance. They can be pretty devastating when you can actually use them. But you really only get one shot per battle at something like that, and often you can't do it at all. A halfling paladin on a war dog might have better luck there due to much better maneuverability and greater ease of taking the mount with you in dungeons. Yes, this probably made you laugh. But it would WORK, darn it.

[Tomas]

I assume you aren't trying to make the "best" build possible, from an ultimate power point of view.

I like the Ranger with unarmed strike and TWF. Nice picture of him in combat. Does a gauntlet count as a weapon? It would save a feat.

A mounted character is only really useful in the right campaign setting, though a small character on a war dog would work.

I like Halberd as a weapon. It does slashing or piercing, it can be set against a charge, and it can be used to trip. Also the damage is good, 1d10.

Tom

[Dmitri]

Spiked gauntlet makes the Ranger armed and increases to a d4 for damage - like dual wielding a dagger with your offhand, except that you can two hand when needed with the main weapon, a longsword or battleaxe, or if a dwarf a dwarven waraxe.

If I did the pally, he would be a gnome on a wardog or something like that - the halfling is cool and all, but I was thinking that using a gnome would be cool sometime.

Fighter is the hardest one for me, cause I just don't know what to do with him - but I want to come up with a different idea than a crowd control wizard, or a buffing (insert caster class here) or what I normally play.

[Tomas]

Well then, be a Ranger or a fighter and take general feat(s) at first level. You don't have to decide the rangers path until second level and a fighter get so many feats you can allow the game to choose for you.

Tom

[grond]

OK, that is twice now that the computer has decided to send me to previous page in mid typing.

Ideas

1- Dex based fighter with low strength and weapon finesse, stick with light weapons to help out against grapple which he will be lousy at. Has high AC and attack bonus for consistent hitting, but has lower damage. Wide range of possible feat selections, limited only in the power attack area.

2- Tripping barbarian. High strength of the barb works well with this across all levels, but not against all foes.

3- Fighting net, any full BAB class. Fighting nets are amazing. helps ranger hit with 2 weapon fighting, helps anyone hit with power attack.

4- Paladin with a halberd. Historical sentiment (yes paladins were real, and I'm sure though open to correction that they favored the halberd or partisan, another pole arm designed for versatile use)

Done, took me 3 tries but I'm done. I've done it.

[grond]

For Dmitri to consider; whenever in discusion we compare the sorcerer to the wizard, the wizard is always the caster with an answer to every odd sort of problem, since they can learn a much wider variety of spells, while the sorcerer is focussed on being very reliable at one thing. A comparison of the fighter to the other combat classes is basically the same. The fighter has enough options that he can function like your crowd control wizard, eating up attacks of opportunity to help others get around in combat safely, or providing a flanking opportunity for the rogue, or anyone else who benefits from it. The other classes are better at "raw power", fighters are good for exploiting simple weaknesses in a large variety of enemies.
Also remember that the fighter doesn't need special feats for some of the equipment out there to be tremendously useful. Sometimes it isn't how he is built, as much as how he is played that matters.
And for allocating points, I try to put 14 in con, and get 13 at the least in strength, dex and int since that is the minimum for the three starter feats. a 12 in wisdom is nice, which leaves 8 points to distribute if you leave charisma at an 8. Or if you are OK with 4 8s you could have 2 18s. . .

[Dmitri]

Well, at this point it is down to the Ranger or Fighter - I like still having some reasonable skill selection with the Ranger... using a 15,14,14,14,14,8 and Human he gets 9 skill points per level... and can still take Combat Expertise and either Power Attack or Imp Disarm or Imp Trip at first level.