This build was originally going to be a fighter/ranger/bard that focused on getting a high taunt skill. Unfortunately I couldn't find a combination of those classes that was sufficiently powerful, hence I decided to swap the ranger levels for rogue levels. Thanks to the bard buffs, the build has an impressive AC for a STR build and though a 40 AB is low, the bard buffs, curse song and taunt combine to give this build effective combat abilities. The build has critical hits and sneak attacks with crippling strike to devastate opponents with no sneak attack immunity and the high strength and epic weapon specialization give it some bite against the critical hit immune. On top of its melee capabilities, it also has a high UMD, the bardic ability to use mage scrolls and wands and good trap setting abilities. It does have a weakness against other spell casters, however it has silence and greater dispel to help a bit. The build has a good skill set, I selected a skill distribution that should do well in most settings, but I left the level distribution in such a way that the rogue skills can be nearly maxed out if desired. While he doesn't have stealth ability, improved invisibility should still let the build prove a good scout. This build should do best in no to mid magic settings.
Advantages
-Level 17 Bard Song and Curse Song. Coupled with taunt he can decrease an opponents AC by 11 points and increase his own by 5 points. -High Taunt skill. A 56 should be good enough to taunt most opponents. -Level 6 Bard spells. He has 4/5/5/5/3/3/1 spell slots. Since he wears armor so he has to use still spells a good deal. -High UMD. He can use equipment meant for other classes. -Good Trap setting ability. He can use traps to augment his damage. -Good base damage per hit. Buffed, with a mundane scimitar he has 32+1D6 base damage. -7D6 sneak attack with crippling strike. With improved knockdown he can land sneak attacks fairly regularly. The strength sapping ability of crippling strength can help significantly against STR heavy monsters. -Improved Evasion and an okay relfex save. He'll still fail some of his saves, so improved evasion helps. -Good AC.
Disadvantages
-Mediocre Hitpoints. 400 hitpoints is pretty good for this class mix, but it is kind of low. -Mediocre will and fortiude saves. An extended clarity will help with the will save, but he needs help against death magic. -XP penalty. From levels 16-22 and levels 36-39, the build will have a 10% XP penalty.
Raucous Raider
Race Human
Alignment Any Non-Lawful
Base Attributes STR 16 DEX 8 CON 14 INT 14 WIS 8 CHA 15
Final Level Distribution Bard 17 Fighter 10 Rogue 13
Attribute Bonuses All 10 bonuses go to Strength
Feats Level 1: Knockdown, Toughness Level 2: Weapon Focus (Scimitar) Level 3: Curse Song Level 4: Blind-Fight Level 6: Still Spell Level 8: Weapon Specialization (Scimitar) Level 9: Improved Knockdown Level 12: Lingering Song Level 15: Extend Spell Level 18: Improved Critical (Scimitar) Level 21: Epic Weapon Focus (Scimitar) Level 22: Epic Weapon Specialization (Scimitar) Level 24: Epic Skill Focus (Taunt), Epic Prowess Level 26: Armor Skin Level 27: Great Charisma I Level 29: Improved Evasion Level 30: Great Strength I Level 33: Great Strength II Level 36: Great Strength III Level 39: Great Strength IV, Crippling Strike
Final Attributes STR 30 DEX 8 CON 14 INT 14 WIS 8 CHA 16
Final Saves (vs. Spells) Fortitude 20 (29) Reflexes 22 (31) Will 18 (27)
Hitpoints 400 (maximum every level)
AB and Damage
(no buffs, normal scimitar) 40/35/30/25 16+1D6 (+7D6 Sneak Attack) (15-20 X2)
(+12 to STR, Bard Song, War Cry, Keen Edge, Greater Magic Weapon, normal Scimitar, Haste) 55/50/45/40 27+1D6 (+5 Bludgeoning, +7D6 Sneak Attack) (12-20 x2)
Maximum AB: 66 (Efective 77 with Taunt and Curse Song)
AC (mundane full plate, mundane tower shield) 30 (+4 to dexterity, +5 full plate, +5 ring of protection, +5 amulet of natural armor, +5 boots of the sun soul, +5 Tower Shield, Mage Armor, Haste, Bard Song) 67 (Effective 69 with curse song)
Skillpoint Distribution Level 1: C 4, DT 4, S 4, ST 4, Tu 4, U 3, Save 21 Level 2: C 1, D 5, Save 20 Level 3: C 1, D 1, P 1, Sp 3, Ta 6, Tu 1, Save 14 Level 4: C 1, D 1, Save 17 Level 5: C 1, D 1, Save 20 Level 6: D 1, P 3, Sp 5, Ta 3, U 5, Save 10 Level 7: DT 5, S 6, ST 5, Tu 5 Level 8: C 1, D 2, Save 2 Level 9: ST 1, U 4, Save 8 Level 10: D 2, P 3, Sp 5, Ta 4, U 1 Level 11: C 2, DT 3, S 2, ST 2, Tu 2 Level 12: D 2, Ta 2, Tu 3 Level 13: C 2, DT 3, S 3, ST 3 Level 14: C 1, D 2, Ta 2, Save 2 Level 15: DT 1, S 1, ST 1, U 5, Save 5 Level 16: D 2, P 3, Sp 5, Ta 2 Level 17: DT 2, S 2, ST 2, Tu 5 Level 18: C 3, D 2, Ta 2 Level 19: C 1, U 4, Save 6 Level 20: D 2, P 3, Sp 5, Ta 2, U 1 Level 21: C 4, D 1 Level 22: D 1, Save 4 Level 23: D 1, Save 8 Level 24: D 1, Save 12 Level 25: D 1, Save 16 Level 26: D 1, Save 20 Level 27: D 1, Sp 5, Ta 7, Tu 10, U 4 Level 28: C 3, DT 3, S 3, ST 2 Level 29: DT 1, S 1, U 5, Save 4 Level 30: D 3, Sp 5, Ta 3 Level 31: D 1, P 2, Ta 1, Tu 3 Level 32: D 1, Ta 1, Tu 2, U 3 Level 33: DT 3, S 3, ST 2, Tu 1, U 1, Save 1 Level 34: D 2, Sp 3, Ta 2, U 1 Level 35: D 1, P 3, Sp 2, Ta 1 Level 36: ST 6, Tu 3, Save 2 Level 37: D 2, P 4, Ta 2, Tu 1 Level 38: D 1, P 5, Ta 1 Level 39: ST 4, Save 7 Level 40: D 2, P 5, Sp 5, Ta 2
Spells
Level 0: Cure Minor Wounds, Daze, Flare, Light, Resistance
Level 1: Balgaran's Iron Horn, Expeditious Retreat, Grease, Mage Armor, Protection from Alignment
