So what's your basic character build/focus/theme?

[Outpost Omega 5]

I'm just curious as to what people are playing as the basic build for their character. Since I'm asking the question, I'll start off.

I'm playing a rogue centered around the trip ability. Obviously I've got Improved/Trip, Fury's Fall and Agile Maneuvers. I've also given my rogue shield proficiency for the AC bonus (given his high dexterity, he has the second highest AC of my team). I'm assuming Combat Reflexes goes without saying.

The idea is instead of my rogue making full round attacks, he provokes attack's opportunity to the benefit of all my front line character's, including my own rogue. This increases the overall number of attacks my party can make at their full attack bonus. Once when the enemy falls (watching those oversized monstrosities face plant is just glorious) and once again when they stand back up. The minus four AC penalty for being prone helps a lot too.

Clearly this requires the rest of the relevant portion of my team to have at least a 12 in dexterity and Combat reflexes to make the most of it, but done right, my rogue with only the middle grade Base Attack Bonus is arguably responsible for more damage the my fighter and barbarian. Of course, I make sure to add insult to injury by having my fighter and barbarian go town on the enemies while they're prone and suffering the minus four AC penalty. Backed by a bard's performance, they pretty much miss only a roll of natural 1.

Also, as a secondary benefit, since the enemy has spend a move action to stand back up (assuming they actually live that long under the beat down I'm giving them), they can't make full attacks of their own, limited to only a standard action.

[ptirodaktill]

The problemm with these teamworks feats is simple - if your rogue make a full attack and hit with all attacks per round, enemy die. If your 2H specialist crit, enemy die. Encounters HP fail behind your DPR in midgame and the further you go intro the game the least impact these AoO provide. Also Dex character will probably fight with reduced size and its highly unlikely that you can reach another enemy when one die. Also most martial builds can just solo the game past lvl 14 .
https://youtu.be/6CDqzfN7C8w?list=PLFtJu4TtcFPnV6YxZJL2igxH46zOuF7SF

[diogoqv83]

Just use your bag of tricks and do whatever. I recomend a dip level on vivissecshitssionist and a fauchard.

[Neo007]

Originally posted by ptirodaktill:

The problemm with these teamworks feats is simple - if your rogue make a full attack and hit with all attacks per round, enemy die. If your 2H specialist crit, enemy die. Encounters HP fail behind your DPR in midgame and the further you go intro the game the least impact these AoO provide. Also Dex character will probably fight with reduced size and its highly unlikely that you can reach another enemy when one die. Also most martial builds can just solo the game past lvl 14 .
https://youtu.be/6CDqzfN7C8w?list=PLFtJu4TtcFPnV6YxZJL2igxH46zOuF7SF

depends on difficulty, true solo is harder if you dont count buffs from team also

[Neo007]

my favourite build after trying different builds vanilla and with mods - unarmed mage with disciples

~at least 4rogue,2monk, and for remaining levels mostly sword saint (unarmed focus) for main, maybe touch of vivisectionist for additional sneak and mutagen.

best ac I've ever seen or built myself (crane style feats,combat expertise, int and wis to ac), he is both main damage and tank of the team surviveability is waaay more than any other vanilla companion or build I could get going and still most dps, his burst damage is phenomenal with spell strike and his sneak attack damage with flanking is pretty good too.

My remaining party varies but at least two healers, 1 mercenary healer either cleric/monk or warpriest sacred fist (1st disciple), and either a pummeler style monk with trip feats, for eventual trip attempt on each attack or (most recently) clone build of my main for "offtank" and additional dps - roleplayed as 2nd disciple or student of my main. Totally shreds most enemies. the rest of the party is Harrim as heal spammer, Amiri (cause Amiri) Octavia for missile spam and buffs or Jaethal for additional heal spam and somewhat lame off,off tank. Usually take mercenaries with companions (when not cloning my main build) and respec Jaethal or give her companion build from lvl 2 (couldnt make her inquisitor build viable on its own).

companions are almost necessary on hard and I think thats definitely the case on unfair.

I just stop short of full mercenary party with something like sylvan sorcerer and animal companions thats op but not very fun in my opinion.

[GunStarX]

I'm just playing a basic ranger archer with a dog pet for trips and tanking. I think it fits the setting fairly well, and there doesn't seem to be any archer companions. I now understand why they give you 2 archers immediately in wotr.

[Neo007]

Originally posted by GunStarX:

I'm just playing a basic ranger archer with a dog pet for trips and tanking. I think it fits the setting fairly well, and there doesn't seem to be any archer companions. I now understand why they give you 2 archers immediately in wotr.

There is a ranger companion... I think he's pretty cool, there are at least a couple companions you could respec to a bow or just change their weapon to range as their stats go with it even on their default class.

[asame_akio]

I decided to make a jack of all trades in a system that actively punishes you for not specializing. I think she turned out okay, though. Archeologist bard, one level of sorcerer dip for raisins. She’s a competent archer, controller, buffer, and an excellent skillmonkey.

[Jinzen]

Aldori Defender who eventually went rogue, represented by a muse touched Aasimar. Aldori Defender 14/ Rogue 4 so far. Dex based, dual wielding Duelling Swords, 2nd high stat Charisma for sweet talking outside of battles and the DazzlingDisplay feat line in battles. It's fun and actually so effective that i raised the difficulty two times.

Chapter 4 spoiler: I really enjoyed screwing over Jamandi Aldori and siding with House Surtova when i had the option. Nice fit for my Aldori breaking traditions character.

[GunStarX]

Originally posted by Neo007:

Originally posted by GunStarX:

I'm just playing a basic ranger archer with a dog pet for trips and tanking. I think it fits the setting fairly well, and there doesn't seem to be any archer companions. I now understand why they give you 2 archers immediately in wotr.

There is a ranger companion... I think he's pretty cool, there are at least a couple companions you could respec to a bow or just change their weapon to range as their stats go with it even on their default class.

I'm at level 9, so I either missed him or haven't came across him yet. Either way, going ranger is working out for my first time

[mbradtke]

after a lot playing around, i just went with hedwirg, the "main" hero of the game as main tank

[Cutlass Jack]

On my main run I went Swashbuckling pirate with a Freebooter/Thug build that used Menacing style.

Inspiring allies and demoralizing everyone else.

[Frostfeather]

My favorite is probably an Undead Bloodline Sorcerer in melee or as a main tank. Very tanky from early on, and makes great use of often underused cone, point blank AoE, and Necromancy spells.

That or an Empyreal Sorcerer, more for flavor than anything but still a very effective character.

[FunkyMonkey]

Slayer 6 / Vivisectionist X. DEX build and Slashing grace, Longsword two-handed, Menacing fighting style to get Power attack / Shatter defenses and later Cornugon smash with 10 or 12 STR score. I used the Vivi Discoveries on Enhance and Extend potion, Infusion and all the Preserve organs upgrades :D. Spells were just buffs (like shield). I went for full Witcher vibe. Really fun, and effective, while being thematic and not min-max-munchkin build.

[FunkyMonkey]

Originally posted by asame_akio:

I decided to make a jack of all trades in a system that actively punishes you for not specializing. I think she turned out okay, though. Archeologist bard, one level of sorcerer dip for raisins. She’s a competent archer, controller, buffer, and an excellent skillmonkey.

I once did a build that started with 2 levels of Divine hunter Paladin, then 8 levels of basic Bard and finished with 10 levels of EK. End result is a juiced up Bard with good AB and enough spellcasting to be an absolute CC monster or all the support you want while shooting everything in sight. Great fun.

[asame_akio]

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Originally posted by asame_akio:

I decided to make a jack of all trades in a system that actively punishes you for not specializing. I think she turned out okay, though. Archeologist bard, one level of sorcerer dip for raisins. She’s a competent archer, controller, buffer, and an excellent skillmonkey.

I once did a build that started with 2 levels of Divine hunter Paladin, then 8 levels of basic Bard and finished with 10 levels of EK. End result is a juiced up Bard with good AB and enough spellcasting to be an absolute CC monster or all the support you want while shooting everything in sight. Great fun.

I’ve got a somewhat similar build on a mercenary, though I stuck with a little more paladin, threw in the requisite monk dip, and no EK—I wanted to make a support tank, so I kept as much bardic performance as I could. Ended up as Bard 16/Divine Guardian 3/Scaled Fist 1. Lots of CHA synergy and some pretty ridiculous saves.