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Character Maximizing (ZIP 26 Kb)
Extract:
Min-Max Your Character
· Character Strategies
· Guidelines by Class
· Combat Calculations
Character Strategies
These are general rules, ways to think about building a min-maxed character.
Accentuate the Positive
You rely most heavily on your character’s strengths. Any feat, skill, magic item, or skill that accentuates a strength is good.
Fighter types: Weapon Focus (+1 with a weapon. Be sure it’s a long-term weapon.)
Archers: Point Blank Shot
Spellcasters: Spell Focus (better with schools whose spells usually allow saves)
A bonus on a roll you make a lot is more important than a bonus on a roll that you don’t make as often.
Small vs. Medium-size Characters
Being small can be an advantage, if you swing the balance of good and bad factors in your favor.
Small Advantages
+1 attack
+1 AC
+4 Hide
Small Disadvantages
-2 Str (-1 attack & damage in melee)
smaller weapons (roughly -1 damage)
slow
A Small character isn’t great in melee (though Weapon Finesse works great for a halfling). The AC bonus and ranged attack net bonus are nice for spellcasters, and the melee and speed penalties aren’t so bad.
Multiclassing
Picking the right class combinations can give you important benefits and cover your weaknesses.
Accentuate the positive: Classes with the same high points are good together (such as fighter
and ranger).
Share drawbacks: Monk and wizard go well together because neither wants to wear armor. Sorcerer and paladin go together nicely because each requires a good Charisma.
CYA (“Cover your backside”): A level of fighter helps make up for a wizard’s weaknesses (low Fortitude save, low hp, weak weapon skills).
Dip for nice class features: A level of monk gives you evasion. A level of cleric gives you healing.
CYA (“Cover Your Backside”)
The way for villains to defeat a mighty fighter is not to fight him. Taking him out with hold person or other attacks that circumvent AC and hit points is the way to defeat the character with high AC and hit points. Covering your soft parts can help. Here are four examples by class.
Clerics: Defensively, clerics are the strongest characters, but a level of bard or rogue can give you better Reflex saves and a handful of useful skills.
Fighters: Cloaks of resistance improve your saving throws. Boots of springing and striding improve your speed. Iron Will improves your Will saves.
Rogue: A level of fighter gives you better attacks, great weapon skills, more hit points, better Fortitude saves, and an extra feat.
Wizards: Bracers of health improve your Con and hit points.
Guidelines by Class
Want to be a barbarian?
· Choose half ore (+2 Strength is +1 attack and damage on all melee attacks—that’s better than any bonus feat you could choose as a human and easily outweighs -2 Int and Cha, which you won’t care about).
· Put your best ability score in Strength, your second best in Dex. Do not have a Constitution penalty.
· Multiclassing? Consider taking two levels of rogue for the skill points and evasion or one level of fighter for the bonus feat.
Want to be a cleric?
· Choose human (Unlike other classes, you can’t afford to have a bad-Charisma. Use your bonus feat to take weapon focus)
· Put your best ability score in Strength, your second best in Wisdom. Do not have a Constitution penalty. Don’t worry about Dexterity, your heavy armor will negate a big bonus anyway.
· Multiclassing? Don’t. It’s probably not worth losing a level of cleric spells.
Want to be a druid?
· Choose halfling (+1 AC and +1 attack for size and +2 Dex easily makes up for the -2 Strength penalty)
· Put your best ability score in Dexterity, your second best in Wisdom. Avoid having a penalty in Charisma. Since you can’t wear good armor, you are going to want to have a good Dex.
· Multiclassing? Don’t. It’s probably not worth losing a level of cleric spells.
Want to be a fighter?
· Choose half orc (+2 Strength is +1 attack and damage on all melee attacks–that’s better than any bonus feat you could choose as a human and easily outweighs -2 Int and Cha, which you won’t care about)
· Put your best ability score in Strength, your second best in Con. Avoid having a penalty in Dexterity, but beyond that don’t worry about it. Your heavy armor will negate a big Dex bonus anyway.
· Multiclassing? Consider taking a level of cleric for the healing spells.
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