Hulking Warlord (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
A big huge mass of muscle that uses improvised weapons to full value
References
Core Miniatures Handbook Complete Warrior Fiend Folio Dragon #313 MM2 Draconomicon
Game Rule Components
Takes advantage of the improvised weapon damage calculations from complete warrior.
Items
Whatever you would like to boost your strength.
Progression
Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): You can use whatever starting stats you choose but the best way to do this is point buy with an elite number. This gives you 32 points to use, put as many of them into strength as possible (get to 20) this leaves you with 6 points. Use these to ensure you have atleast 3 intelligence by the end of the build. This can be done by adding up all the negatives to INT and supplementing points as needed. This leaves us with STR 20 DEX 8 CON 8 INT 11 WIS 8 CHA 8 Use you're remaining 3 points either boosting INT the rest of the way to prevent to stupid a character, or to boost another stat before templates.
Race (Templates): You want to start as Human, this gives you a bonus feat at 1st level, You're also going to take Either Half-Minotaur or Half-Ogre depending on which you DM will allow. This increases STR by +12 putting you at 32 (approx.) This also gives you a +6 to CON, -2 to DEX, and -2 INT. Later on we will be taking 2 acquired templates as well, Half-Golem Brass (if you can pass the will save), and Wendigo (provided you pass the will save for half golem) These will boost our STR another +16 (48 total so far) along with another +6 to DEX, +8 to CON, -6 to INT, +2 to WIS, and -2 to CHA.
Starting Ability Scores: STR 32 (20+12) DEX 6 (8-2) CON 14 (8+6) INT 12 (14-2) WIS 8 CHA 8
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Feats | Class Features |
Special | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | ||||||
| 1st | Warblade 1 | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Power Attack, Cleave, Iron Will | Battle clarity (Reflex saves), weapon aptitude | Warblade Manuevers, Maintain atleast 1 Iron Heart stnace and Manuever at all times. |
| 2nd | Warblade 2 | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | - | Uncanny dodge | Warblade Manuevers, Maintain atleast 1 Iron Heart stnace and Manuever at all times. |
| 3rd | Warblade 3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Weapon Focus (choose a throwing weapon) | Battle ardor (critical confirmation) | Warblade Manuevers, Maintain atleast 1 Iron Heart stnace and Manuever at all times. |
| 4th | Warblade 4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | - | - | Warblade Manuevers, Maintain atleast 1 Iron Heart stnace and Manuever at all times. |
| 5th | Warblade 5 | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | - | Great Cleave | Warblade Manuevers, Maintain atleast 1 Iron Heart stnace and Manuever at all times. |
| 6th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 1 | +5 | +6 | +1 | +1 | Point Blank Shot | No time to think, Ability boost (Str +2) | - |
| 7th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 2 | +5 | +7 | +1 | +1 | - | Great swing, Ability boost (Str +2) | - |
| 8th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 2, Dragonslayer 1 | +6/+1 | +9 | +1 | +3 | - | Aura of courage, damage bonus | - |
| 9th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 3, Dragonslayer 1 | +6/+1 | +9 | +2 | +4 | Improved Initiative | Mighty rock throwing, Ability boost (Str +2) | - |
| 10th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 4, Dragonslayer 1 | +6/+1 | +10 | +2 | +4 | - | Mighty swing, Ability boost (Str +2) | Best time for Half-Golem |
| 11th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 4, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +7/+2 | +10 | +4 | +4 | - | Catch weapon, Really throw anything | - |
| 12th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 5, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +7/+2 | +10 | +4 | +4 | Rapid Shot | Ability boost (Str +2) | - |
| 13th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 5, Bloodstorm Blade 1, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +8/+3 | +12 | +4 | +4 | - | Returning attacks, Throw anything, Weapon aptitude | - |
| 14th | Warblade 5, War Hulk 5, Bloodstorm Blade 2, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +9/+4 | +13 | +4 | +4 | - | Martial throw, Thunderous throw | - |
| 15th | War Hulk 6, Warblade 5, Bloodstorm Blade 2, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +9/+4 | +14 | +5 | +5 | Choice of Feat | Sweeping boulder, Ability boost (Str +2) | Best time for Wendigo |
| 16th | War Hulk 7, Warblade 5, Bloodstorm Blade 2, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +9/+4 | +14 | +5 | +5 | - | Ability boost (Str +2) | - |
| 17th | War Hulk 8, Warblade 5, Bloodstorm Blade 2, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +9/+4 | +15 | +5 | +5 | - | Massive sweeping boulder, Toughness, Ability boost (Str +2) | - |
| 18th | War Hulk 9, Warblade 5, Bloodstorm Blade 2, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +9/+4 | +15 | +6 | +6 | Choice of Feat | Ability boost (Str +2),Toughness | - |
| 19th | War Hulk 10, Warblade 5, Bloodstorm Blade 2, Dragonslayer 1, Hulking Hurler 1 | +9/+4 | +16 | +6 | +6 | - | Massive swing, Toughness, Ability boost (Str +2) | - |
| 20th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Other Components
When you reach 64 STR, your light load is 119296 so you want a ball of metal that weighs as close to our light load as possible. (Before this point just use the heaviest object you can find) An 82in (6ft 10in) diameter sphere of lead coated with a 1/2in layer of brass weighs about 118,246.0 lbs. Now, figure that there is a hole somewhere with a fitting inside to grip this thing, that probably knocks off 40~ lbs so we will use 118,200 for out calculations. This comes out to do 594d6 per swing/throw. However this is an improvised weapon so we take a minor hit on our attack roll, but the trade off is worth it. (You can also wait till later and build a bigger ball)
Highlights
You strike with your ball of metal, either throwing it and bringing it back using returning throw, or simply using it in melee. Simple, hit things.
Munchkin-Size Me
Ok so now we are a gigantic killing machine, lets make ourselves pretty much invincible. Soulfire Enhancement from the book of exalted deeds (p. 112) - This armor's wearer is immune to all death spells, magical death effects, and energy drain, and any negative energy effects (such as from chill touch or inflict spells). We already have Regen 5, and heal from the only damage that can truly hurt us. Now we can basically only be killed still by letting things beat on us enough till we pass out and they trap us somehow (difficult with this huge strength but still possible) Using a belt of constant "Bite of the Werebear" can get you a +16 to your str and some natural weapons to boot. A ring of constant enlarge person can double your carry capacity increasing your maximum weapon weight. If you wait till these changes to make the ball then you can increase it to 3,817,472 (max i have been able to achieve easily) now to get the most out of this i would consult your DM, but you may be stuck with just a big heavy ball of lead up to the max diameter of your characters height.
Side Notes
<- overview of additional info about this build ->
Limitations
This build is slightly easy to counter if you DM is good enough, a force cage basically makes you useless or being knocked unconscious over and over (difficult but possible) High enough level creatures or NPCs can also incapacitate you, and you are particularly weak to will saves so dominate spells can be your undoing.
DM Counters
^^^