You have Dwarven fighters and you have Dwarven melee specialists. The latter combine offense with defense and excel in both, and they are the best fighters the dwarves have to offer. They protect their kin from any threat, both magical and natural, with steel alone. They are usually good healers too, and can replace clerics in most occasions.

Race: Dwarf
Alignment: Any Lawful (neutral or good is best since it suits a Dwarven Defender better)

Starting stats:

Str 16
Dex 14
Con 16
Wis 10
Int 14
Cha 6

1. Fighter 1 Disc 4, Heal 4, Intimidate 2, Tumble 2
Luck of Heroes, Dodge
2. Fighter 2 Disc 5, Heal 5, Spellcraft 1
Mobility
3. Fighter 3 Disc 6, Heal 6, Intimidate 3
Toughness
4. Fighter 4 Disc 7, Heal 7, Tumble 3
Weapon Focus (rapier) Str 17
5. Fighter 5 Disc 8, Heal 8, Intimidate 4
6. Fighter 6 Disc 9, Heal 9, Tumble 4
Weapon Specialization (rapier), Expertise
7. Fighter 7 Disc 10, Heal 10, Tumble 5
8. Fighter 8 Disc 11, Heal 11, Spellcraft 2
Spring Attack Str 18
9. Dwarven Defender 1 Disc 12, Heal 12, Tumble 6
Whirlwind Attack, Defensive Stance
10. Dwarven Defender 2 Disc 13, Heal 13, Spellcraft 3
Defensive Awareness (1)
11. Dwarven Defender 3 Disc 14, Heal 14, Tumble 7
12. Dwarven Defender 4 Disc 15, Heal 15, Spellcraft 4
Improved Critical (rapier) Str 19
13. Dwarven Defender 5 Disc 16, Heal 16, Tumble 8
Defensive Awareness (2)
14. Weaponmaster 1 Disc 17, Heal 17, Spellcraft 5
Weapon of choice (rapier)
15. Weaponmaster 2 Disc 18, Heal 18, Tumble 9
Power Attack
16. Weaponmaster 3 Disc 19, Heal 19, Spellcraft 6
Str 20
17. Weaponmaster 4 Disc 20, Heal 20, Tumble 10
18. Weaponmaster 5 Disc 21, Heal 21, Spellcraft 7
Increased Multiplier (x3), Superior Weapon Focus, Cleave
19. Weaponmaster 6 Disc 22, Heal 22, Tumble 11
20. Weaponmaster 7 Disc 23, Heal 23, Spellcraft 8
Ki Critical Str 21
21. Fighter 9 Disc 24, Heal 24, Tumble 12
Great Strength I
22. Fighter 10 Disc 25, Heal 25, Spellcraft 9
Great Cleave
23. Fighter 11 Disc 26, Heal 26, Tumble 13
24. Fighter 12 Disc 27, Heal 27, Spellcraft 10
Great Strength II, Overwhelming Critical (rapier) Str 23
25. Fighter 13 Disc 28, Heal 28, Tumble 14
26. Fighter 14 Disc 29, Heal 29, Spellcraft 11
Epic Weapon Focus (rapier)
27. Fighter 15 Disc 30, Heal 30, Tumble 15
Great Strength III
28. Fighter 16 Disc 31, Heal 31, Spellcraft 12
Devastating Critical (rapier) Str 26
29. Fighter 17 Disc 32, Heal 32, Tumble 16
30. Fighter 18 Disc 33, Heal 33, Spellcraft 13
Epic Weapon Specialization (rapier), Epic Will
31. Fighter 19 Disc 34, Heal 34, Tumble 17
32. Fighter 20 Disc 35, Heal 35, Spellcraft 14
Armor Skin Str 27
33. Fighter 21 Disc 36, Heal 36, Tumble 18
Epic Prowess
34. Fighter 22 Disc 37, Heal 37, Spellcraft 15
Blindfight
35. Fighter 23 Disc 38, Heal 38, Tumble 19
36. Fighter 24 Disc 39, Heal 39, Spellcraft 16
Epic Reflexes, Improved Expertise Str 28
37. Fighter 25 Disc 40, Heal 40, Tumble 20
38. Fighter 26 Disc 41, Heal 41, Spellcraft 17
Knockdown
39. Fighter 27 Disc 42, Spellcraft 18
Epic Fortitude
40. Fighter 28 Disc 43, Spellcraft 20
Improved Knockdown Str 29

AC (naked) = 18 + 5 (dodge modifier from Dodge and Mobility feats, NWN doesn't take these into consideration on the character screen)
AB (with normal rapier, not enhanced): +44/+39/+34/+29

Damage (with normal rapier, not enhanced): 1-6 + 15 (crit 20-13/x3) + 2d6 massive damage on crit
Damage (with keen rapier, not enhanced): 1-6 + 15 (crit 20-10/x3) + 2d6 massive damage on crit

Saving throws:
Fortitude: 30 (+6 against spells)
Reflex: 25 (+6 against spells)
Will: 23 (+6 against spells)

This build is a pure melee build, and has both strong defense and offense. As you might have guessed, this built trusts on criticals and therefore will not excel when attacking undead or golems. His defensive capabilities (saving throws and AC) keep him safe in those situations, while he takes his enemies down doing normal damage, which is still an acceptable amount. This build gets 450-500 hp without reroll.

And a warning: This build is not flashy... it's sturdy and sober, and cannot perform any magic gizmos like breathing fire, stopping time and shapechange. He doesn't need it anyway

NOTE: If you think rapier is too munchkin, you can replace any feat that has (rapier) with another weapon.
NOTE: Get the best plate armor and shields, and make sure you have a Keen weapon)

Edited By Bromium on 10/12/07 19:18

Why not a few levels more of DwD and get DR? agreed. I understand, i think, why you went with so many fighter levels, and the 7 wm levels, but why only 5 defender? IMHO this is almost useless. You get no defender damage reduction, or things like that, which is why one would play a defender (for defense?), isnt it?

Oh, btw, if you were to take exotic, and specialize in dwarf waraxe (classic defender wpn, imo), with the *4 from wm you can get 130 dam per on crits, with that high str! hmm or was that my cleric/wm/ftr! Sorry, just had to point that out, cuz you said this build could replace a cleric!

peace