I need some help

[Mushroom]

 I need some help with a new character in a 16th level campaign that could possible hop into epics(We plan to fight Jubilex this saturday). I'm itching for a new character, one who can survive damn near anything. However, as much as I'd like to play a caster, my DM gives the boot to primary casters. If I choose a caster, chances are I'll be targeted allot. This leaves me for a martial character(as I dislike stealth) in the 'Tank', as much as people say it suck, end of the spectrum. Any help would be appreciated

All 3.5 and un-updated material is fine, we also tend to exclude any errata(though I can run it by the DM if it benefits me )
Stats are random roll, if these rolls are bad, I can use a 90-something point buy
We have a Houserule that should be noted: We can stack all kinds of bonuses, such as enhancement and the like.
Unfortunately, we have tons of home brewed shit that is horrifically overpowered, such as our warlock, who does 190 damage with a single edb, and our pally/customdragonriderprc who gets an adult+ silver dragon. I'd like to be able to keep up with them
Cheese is fine, my DM let me play a kobold once 
I'd like to play a Dwarf, as they are flavorful and get some good tank PrC(I could probably run the Mineral warrior template for free)

[mans0011]

Be a psy warrior. They are cool and VERY powerful. Or Druid. Damn... 16 HD forms are so delicious.

[Mushroom]

my DM gives the boot to primary casters. If I choose a caster, chances are I'll be targeted allot

[Sinfire Titan]

We have a Houserule that should be noted: We can stack all kinds of bonuses, such as enhancement and the like.

................................
Incarnate or Totemist.



End of thread. Seriously, do you have any idea how high you can get those numbers? You would literally have the ultimate number machine in terms of skills, attacks, damage, and saves. The only ones who can rival your power are full casters, and you said they tend to get the hose.

[sonofzeal]

Out-of-the-box, Crusaders are one of the most durable classes around.  A Desert Dwarf has no Cha-penalty, and will make a pretty darn solid Crusader, with a possible entry to Deepstone Sentinal.  Note that all Stone Dragon maneuvers require you to be in contact with the ground, so if your party expects to spend most of its time in the air (entirely feasible but by no means necessary) then you'll be in trouble.

Alternatively, do something like Lockdown 2.0.  If you want to keep the Dwarvenness, then Dwarven Defender is not actually all that bad for this - you lose some feats but gain way better Will save, better HP, DR, Uncanny Dodge, AC bonus, and the option to use Defensive Stance for extra Strength/saves/AC/hp/etc.  Just don't be afraid to drop your stance early and bite the -2 Str penalty, if the enemies outmaneuver you.  That, or pick up one of the many ways to get Dimension Door x/day.  An "immobile" Dwarven Defender 'porting all over the battlefield will ruin a lot of people's day.

[Mushroom]

Incarnate or Totemist.

I love the MOI classes and tried playing one earlier in the campaign, but my DM shot me down. He claimed he didn't have a firm enough understanding and experience with MOI



I personally thought of Crusader, as they are well known as arguably the best basic tank in the game. Although, I must admit I've never played one and wouldn't have any idea on what feats and PrC's to take.

I also forgot this in the OP, I'm allowed two flaws.

[Sinfire Titan]

Gah! That's irritating. I'll PM you an explanation sometime tomorrow. Show it to him.

[Mushroom]

Gah! That's irritating. I'll PM you an explanation sometime tomorrow. Show it to him.

Thanks allot




I wanna have a backup plan in case the Incarnum is still kicked. I was thinking of trying to get Deepwarden for that great Con mod to AC ability. If I can get a high enough AC(though I'll probably grab a cloak of major displacement to help), should I grab feats like Karmic Strike?

[sonofzeal]

I wanna have a backup plan in case the Incarnum is still kicked. I was thinking of trying to get Deepwarden for that great Con mod to AC ability. If I can get a high enough AC(though I'll probably grab a cloak of major displacement to help), should I grab feats like Karmic Strike?

Please note that, officially, "Max Dexterity Bonus" of armor still applies, even though you're using Con instead.  The ability's intended to let low-dex dwarves wear light armor without sacrificing AC, not for getting ludicrous AC by pumping Con mod sky-high.  That said, Deepwarden is still an entirely respectable class.  You get some nice things, good Will being one of them.  It's just not the humdinger it seems to be at first.

[Mushroom]

I wanna have a backup plan in case the Incarnum is still kicked. I was thinking of trying to get Deepwarden for that great Con mod to AC ability. If I can get a high enough AC(though I'll probably grab a cloak of major displacement to help), should I grab feats like Karmic Strike?

Please note that, officially, "Max Dexterity Bonus" of armor still applies, even though you're using Con instead.  The ability's intended to let low-dex dwarves wear light armor without sacrificing AC, not for getting ludicrous AC by pumping Con mod sky-high.  That said, Deepwarden is still an entirely respectable class.  You get some nice things, good Will being one of them.  It's just not the humdinger it seems to be at first.

  Is that so? I must have interpreted it wrong then. Hmmm, getting a high AC is going to be difficult then.

[Bryan_0697]

WAR WEAVER - maybe even bard/ sublime chord based.

you start at 16th level so you get all your goodies right away.

Take words of creation, song of the heart, inspirational boost and go to town with 4 buff spells (heroism, greater etc) and Inspirecourage/dragonfire inspiration since they all stack!

You could even be pretty mean yourself, with all those buffs, slippers of battledancing, crystal echoblade (harmonizing) and bladeweave active.

Haunting melody is cool too. What DM wouldn't allow a bard/warweaver? bad ones...

[Rebel7284]

Dragonborn Mongrelfolk Mineral Warrior.

Ranger 3/ Stoneblessed [Dwarf] 3/First of the Forest 1/Deepwarden 2/7 Free levels.

Trade the redundant Ranger feat for Dragon Tail for a free natural attack.
Don't remember the feats and skills off the top of my head but in the end you have fucking amazing AC.
Optionally take entangling exhilation for battlefield control.

[Negative Zero]

If you want to stay alive, the second prestige class http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ei/20030418a <=here is incredible. It's an Epic Prestige Class, but you did say that you might get into epic.

[sonofzeal]

You could also consider the "Death Delver" from Heroes of Horror.  Most of the class is pretty mediocre, but hte capstone is nine lives of the cat.  First nine things that kill you, don't; doesn't matter what they are, whether it's ability damage or death effects or Scythe-crit or Dragon breath, if it was going to kill you then instead you go to -1 and stable (and it grants Diehard as a bonus feat, so you're still kicking too).  Maybe not the most optimized thing ever, but pretty darn badass, and you can probably find some great Masochism synergy or get mileage off of some otherwise-suicidal strategy.  It's only nine times, so you don't want to over-exploit it, but talk to your DM and see if it can be recharged via conventional Rez magic in your downtime.

[ninjarabbit]

wildshape ranger5/master of many forms10/fighter1

[Lycanthromancer]

Don't completely ignore AC, but don't pump it up, either. Boost your saves, get rerolls, and get stackable miss-chances, instead. After all, miss chances can negate nat-20s, whereas AC can't.

You might want to check this out. It's an ECL 12 psywar that can (with a bit of finagling) take out critters far above his CR (including casters).

If his natural type is changed to Outsider (through a feat or an LA 0 race, such as neraphim) he can easily get astral projection via morphing into a garden-variety nightmare (it's a really nasty garden, apparently), which is, essentially, a 1-up mushroom.

[Kuroimaken]

I'm going to suggest Binder. It's a VERY versatile class, able to do next to everything at least decently if you play it right, including but not limited to tanking. AND at level 16 you have pretty much all Vestiges available already. Also, if your DM likes the opportunity to homebrew away, he can MAKE you horribly overpowered vestiges! 

[jameswilliamogle]

I'm going to suggest Binder. It's a VERY versatile class, able to do next to everything at least decently if you play it right, including but not limited to tanking. AND at level 16 you have pretty much all Vestiges available already. Also, if your DM likes the opportunity to homebrew away, he can MAKE you horribly overpowered vestiges! 

+1.

[mans0011]

Psychic Warrior is not a full casting class in the same sense that other casting classes are. Swiftblade is good for tanking, too. You lose caster levels but you are a blender. What do you mean by casters get hosed?

[Bozwevial]

Psychic Warrior is not a full casting class in the same sense that other casting classes are. Swiftblade is good for tanking, too. You lose caster levels but you are a blender. What do you mean by casters get hosed?

As Lycanthromancer demonstrated, if you know what you're doing, the Psychic Warrior is a very potent class. Swiftblade is also somewhat silly.

I think he means that his DM tends to target full casters a lot more than he targets other characters. Which is understandable.