Colossal Swordsman (DnD Optimized Character Build)
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The following build was originally presented by Voxen:
- Half-Giant Psychic Warrior (Expanded Psionic Handbook) +
- Titan Bloodline (major) (Unearthed Arcana) +
- Monkey Grip feat (published in 3.5 in Weapons of Legacy)
The general idea of this build is to stack the benefits of a Half-Giant's Powerful Build ability, the Use Oversized Weapon ability of the titan bloodline, and Monkey Grip, which would let a medium sized character wield a Gargantuan greatsword, dealing 6d6 damage; or 4d8 and 3d8, respectively, when dual-wielding a Gargantuan bastard sword and a Huge bastard sword (Monkey Grip does not apply to an off-hand weapon).
Coupled with the psychic warrior's expansion power, a melee fighter could could increase two size categories, dealing 12d6 damage with a Colossal+ greatsword, or 8d8/6d8 dual-wielding as above.
--Voxen 23:12, 24 October 2006 (MDT) revised 23:40, 28 November 2006 (MST)
[edit] Why This Build Breaks Down
- One of the biggest misconceptions is that Monkey Grip stacks with powerful build (Ex). Both abilities specify that the character can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger than you. Neither powerful build (Ex) nor Monkey Grip actually change the character's size. A medium creature with either powerful build or Monkey Grip is still a medium creature, so having both abilities still only allows a Medium creature to wield Large weapons.
- The titan's oversized weapon (Ex) only applies to warhammers.
- The titan's oversized weapon (Ex) only removes the -2 penalty for using inappropriately sized weapons. The titan (or the character with the titan bloodline) must still use both hands to wield an oversized warhammer.
- oversized weapon (Ex) overlaps with powerful build (Ex) for the same reason powerful build (Ex) and Monkey Grip overlap. However, Monkey Grip and oversized weapon (Ex) can be used together, because they provide different benefits. However, powerful build (Ex) is still better than both of them combined.
An alternative is to ditch the titan bloodline and use Wield Oversized Weapon in the Complete Warrior, but you have to be epic level. With expansion (Medium to Huge), powerful build (Huge to Gargantuan), and Wield Oversized Weapon (Gargantuan to Colossal) you've got a colossal weapon wielder.
A yet another alternative is to go with six levels of wu jen (Complete Arcane), three levels of swashbucker (Complete Warrior), eight levels of eldrich knight, using either half-giant or goliath (Races of Stone), the feat Practiced Spellcaster (Complete Arcane), and the spell giant size (Complete Arcane), and at ECL 18 you can be Gargantuan wielding a Colossal weapon with a BAB of +14. Two more levels of eldritch knight, and you can be Colossal wielding a Colossal+ weapon with a BAB of +16. —Sledged 22:34, 27 October 2006 (MDT)
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