First and foremost this build is designed to be usable in the OC and MOTB. It however is ALSO a *power build* (..and its pretty much tweaked to its maximum potential). With respect to its power build feature, it offers just about as high a final attack number as you can get with "spell buffs", and *without* buffing. For the OC and MOTB, the character level progression is designed to work with the modules - i.e. the build is playable at any level.
For levels 1-18 this character acts like a standard fighter with full armor, shield, and one-handed weapon, but with some additional "perks" as levels increase. These "perks" include the ability to *actually* knockdown opponents, increasing damage potential regardless of which weapon is used, increasing hit-points as character level increases (and a marginal gain in fortitude saves), increasing AC thats *stackable*, the occasional use of a fire cone spell, and several *useful* immunities at character level 15. Additionally will saves are considerably higher with this character than a similar "fighter only" build. Finally, you can look forward to having a fairly *DIFFERENT* character to play at higher levels.
For level 19-30 this character acts differently than a standard fighter. At this point in the build you "ditch" the armor and the shield and go STEALTH. Initially the character's Hide and Move Silently skills will be a little weak, but for most opponents in MOTB its useful (..provided you leave your companions at a distance or simply use the command to stay at their location). Of course within just a few levels the character's Stealth ability will be much higher and eventual comparable, (excepting Dexterity modifier bonuses), to a pure Rogue of the same level. The specific attack sequence for this build depends on the opponent(s) and the character's level, but for the most part is exactly the same as a rogue-like character with sneak attacks. Additionally, at this point the choice of weapon changes for a number of reasons (to a Scythe).
..until character level 24-26 the sequence is:
Hide, Knockdown, Attack.. "rinse an repeat" as is most effective. If the opponent can't be knocked down (due to an immunity or a massive size difference) then cut short your attacks and hide again, always trying to attack from the "rear".
..at character level 24-26(+) it changes yet again depending on if the opponent is a magic caster or a melee'er:
Magic Caster - (its likely its the same sequence as above). Hide, Knockdown, Attack.. though usually attack until you have killed that opponent (unless there are multiple tough opponents).
Melee'er - Hide, Disarm/Improved Disarm, (disarm again if a two-weapon opponent or a ranged attacker that switches to a melee weapon), Knockdown, pickup weapons (if they aren't placed in your inventory), Hide, Knockdown, Attack.. "rinse and repeat" the Hide and Knockdown sequence until opponent is dead. Note that the "disarm" component is of course only applicable if the opponent is wielding a weapon. Melee'er in this instance includes *any* weapon wielding opponent including Rogues, Magic Casters that might use a weapon they have, and even Ranged Attack weapons.
Final Comments:
Do NOT underestimate the power of high Stealth! (..its considerably better than most AC builds, because of course AC builds are still subject to getting hosed by Magic Casters.) In combination with Knockdown and Disarm its *nearly* unbeatable (when used properly). In testing with the "Battle of the Builds" module this character and attack method (operated by a real human being) would rarely fail to overcome *any* opponents in the build. There were of course some finesse points with some opponents:
Extremely high AC opponents (like Black Dragon, Lord of the Mountain, and Immortal Treent), would take some time for certain buffs to wear-off and the character would benefit from casting True Strike spells (typically from scrolls).
(Note that as far as spell buffing is concerned: your ONLY spell is True Strike. Moreover you won't need it against most opponents, so the tedium of "buffing is largely absent as is worrying about a spell breach. Additionally, this spell will *likely* be casted from a scroll you have scribed (while wearing a charisma modifier of +3 or better) - so spend some time with some blank scrolls and scribe at *least* 30 True Strikes for your inventory. Remember its only a 1st level scroll and so the price for scribing is overall quite low. Finally, unlike most spells True Strike's duration does not increase with level (..so there is no real "penalty" to having only one Sorcerer level).)
Against *most* casters this build was actually EASY. The exception was a Necromaster, and then only when casting VampiricFeast AND failing the save.
..with that out of the way, lets see the build -
