Ability Tank (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
This build allows you to add your ability score modifiers to your AC, melee damage, and saves; while greatly boosting your ability scores as you level.
References
Players Handbook, Complete Warrior, Complete Champion, Book of Exalted Deeds and http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page
Game Rule Components
Items
No magic items are used in this build. The Forsake Magic class feature of the Forsaker Prestige Class and the Vow of Poverty both prohibit this build from using magic items.
Progression
Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): 25 point buy system; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12
Race: Human
Starting Racial Traits: Medium size, base land speed 30 feet, 1 extra feat at 1st level, 4 extra skill points at 1st level and 1 extra skill point at each additional level, any favored class.
| Level | Class | Str | Dex | Con | Int | Wis | Cha | AC | Base Attack Bonus |
Attack | Saving Throws | Required Feats | Class Features |
Vow of Poverty | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | ||||||||||||||
| 1st | Monk 1 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +4 exalted) | +0 | +1 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Vow of Poverty | AC Bonus, Bonus feat, flurry of blows, unarmed strike | AC bonus +4 |
| 2nd | Monk 1/Paladin 1 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +4 exalted) | +1 | +2 | +6 | +4 | +4 | Aura of good, detect evil, smite evil 1/day | Bonus exalted feat | |
| 3rd | Monk 1/Paladin 2 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 17 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +5 exalted) | +2 | +3 | +7 | +4 | +4 | Divine grace, lay on hands | AC bonus +5, endure elements | |
| 4th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 1 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 17 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +5 exalted) | +3 | +5 | +9 | +4 | +4 | Weapon Finesse | Exalted strike +1 (magic), bonus exalted feat | |
| 5th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 2 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 17 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +5 exalted) | +4 | +6 | +10 | +5 | +4 | Grace | Sustenance | |
| 6th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 19 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +6 exalted, +1 deflection) | +5 | +7 | +10 | +5 | +4 | Insightful Strike | AC bonus +6, deflection +1, bonus exalted feat | |
| 7th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 21 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +2 Con, +6 exalted, +1 deflection) | +6 | +8 | +14 | +8 | +5 | Great Fortitude, Improved Unarmed Strike, Power Attack | AC Bonus, Feral trance 1/day, Fast movement, primal living | Resistance +1, ability score enhancement +2 |
| 8th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 23 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +2 Con, +1 Cha, +1 natural armor, +6 exalted, +1 deflection) | +7 | +9 | +14 | +10 | +5 | AC bonus, unarmed strike | Natural armor +1, mind shielding, bonus exalted feat | |
| 9th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 1 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 24 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +2 Con, +1 Cha, +1 natural armor, +7 exalted, +1 deflection) | +8 | +10 | +16 | +12 | +7 | Ability bonus+1, fast healing 1, forsake magic, SR 10+CL, magic destruction points, damage reduction 1/-, fast movement +5 | AC bonus +7 | |
| 10th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 2 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 24 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +2 Con, +1 Cha, +1 natural armor, +7 exalted, +1 deflection) | +9 | +13 | +17 | +13 | +8 | Ability bonus +1, Recuperating Coma, Bonus Feat | Exalted strike +2 (good), damage reduction 5/magic, bonus exalted feat | |
| 11th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 3 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 28 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +3 Con, +2 Cha, +3 natural armor, +7 exalted, +1 deflection) | +10 | +14 | +19 | +14 | +9 | Ability bonus +1, tough defense, DR 2/-, fast move +10, puncture DR | Ability score enhancement +4/+2 | |
| 12th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 4 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 30 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +3 Con, +2 Cha, +3 natural armor, +8 exalted, +2 deflection) | +11 | +15 | +20 | +15 | +10 | Ability bonus +1, energy resistance 5 | AC bonus +8, deflection +2, greater sustenance, bonus exalted feat | |
| 13th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 5 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 30 (+1 Dex, +1 Wis, +3 Con, +2 Cha, +3 natural armor, +8 exalted, +2 deflection) | +12 | +16 | +23 | +16 | +11 | Ability bonus +1, fast healing 2, DR 3/- | Resistance +2, energy resistance 5 | |
| 14th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 6 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 31 (+2 Dex, +1 Wis, +3 Con, +2 Cha, +3 natural armor, +8 exalted, +2 deflection) | +13 | +18 | +24 | +18 | +12 | Ability bonus +1, fast movement +15, slippery mind | Exalted strike +3, freedom of movement, bonus exalted feat | |
| 15th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 7 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 39 (+2 Dex, +2 Wis, +4 Con, +3 Cha, +8 natural armor, +8 exalted, +2 deflection) | +14 | +19 | +24 | +19 | +14 | Ability bonus +1, DR 4/-, tough defence x2 | AC bonus +9, ability score enhancement +6/+4/+2, damage reduction 5/evil | |
| 16th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 8 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 41 (+3 Dex, +2 Wis, +4 Con, +3 Cha, +8 natural armor, +9 exalted, +2 deflection) | +15 | +20 | +25 | +21 | +15 | Ability bonus +1, evasion | Natural armor +2, bonus exalted feat | |
| 17th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 9 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 41 (+3 Dex, +2 Wis, +4 Con, +3 Cha, +8 natural armor, +9 exalted, +2 deflection) | +16 | +22 | +26 | +22 | +16 | Ability bonus +1, fast healing 3, DR 5/-, fast movement +20 | Exalted strike +4, resistance +3, regeneration | |
| 18th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 10 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 43 (+3 Dex, +2 Wis, +4 Con, +1 Cha, +8 natural armor, +10 exalted, +3 deflection) | +17 | +23 | +27 | +23 | +17 | Ability bonus +1, energy resistance 10 | AC bonus +10, deflection +3, true seeing, bonus exalted feat | |
| 19th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 10/Duelist 1 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 50 (+4 Dex, +3 Wis, +5 Con, +1 Int, +4 Cha, +10 natural armor, +10 exalted, +3 deflection) | +18 | +24 | +29 | +27 | +18 | Dodge, Mobility | Canny defense | Ability score enhancement +8/+6/+4/+2, damage reduction 10/evil |
| 20th | Monk 1/Paladin 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fist of the Forest 1/Battle Dancer 1/Forsaker 10/Duelist 2 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 52 (+4 Dex, +4 Wis, +5 Con, +2 Int, +4 Cha, +10 natural armor, +10 exalted, +3 deflection) | +19 | +26 | 29 | +28 | +19 | Improved reaction +2 | Exalted strike +5, energy resistance 15, bonus exalted feat | |
Other Components
The Initiate of Honor, Acolyte of Honor and Master of Honor exalted feats work very well for this build and its role as a tank.
Highlights
This build generates a high AC and saves, with good hp and plenty of defensive special qualities.
Munchkin-Size Me
At 9th-level and 10th-level, prestige class into Duelist, and at 11th-level prestige class into Fist of the Forest instead of Forsaker for those three levels. At 11th-level pay a spellcaster for his or her spellcasting services to perform either a Ritual of Unlearning or Ritual of Vitality on you to become a winged centaur of legend (centaur/winged template/monster of legend template). After the transformation you'll have +18 Strength, +14 Dexterity, +14 Constitution, +6 Wisdom, Charisma +4; base land speed 50 feet, fly speed 70 ft.; +8 natural armor bonus, and some useful special abilities. Then begin the build again. If you do this, you don't need to prestige class into Duelist at all. Once you are transformed and are a 1st-level Monk/2nd-level Paladin/3rd-level Swashbuckler/2nd-level Fist of the Forest/10th-level Forsaker; Continue to level into Forsaker or start prestige classing into Warhulk.
Limitations
This build incorporates some 3.0 material. You'll need the GM's approval for this build.
DM Counters
Only allow 3.5 material or rule that in addition to a Forsaker being forbidden from using spellcasting, spell-like abilities, or magic items; a Forsaker is forbidden from using supernatural abilities.
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