I like Chewbacca's build - that's very similar to the characters I enjoy using.
Rather than fighter, I tend to use Barbarian/Rogue. Lack of heavy armour isn't a problem since it allows you to have a higher dex/use medium armour (therefore similar AC to heavy armour types) but most importantly, the higher dex allows for some neat rogue skill bonuses.
Rage is nice, giving you more HP, a stronger fortitude and will save and substantially more damage, especially with a large 2 handed weapon.
The sneak attack is what makes this build really shine. Many rogues can creep up to an enemy, strike once for sneak attack damage, and then end up getting spanked due to being quite flimsy in toe to toe combat. This build lets you sneak around (keep hide and move silently high when you take the rogue levels), strike for the sneak attack and then be strong enough to finish the job without having to worry about running away and hiding again.
Take knockdown as soon as feasible - picture this - your enraged barbarian has a high strength/AB, you knock an enemy prone - your subsequent attacks in that round cause normal damage + sneak attack damage because the enemy is in a prone position, which eventually makes for some big numbers!
This build gives you an abundance of skill points (4+INT for barbarian, 8+INT for rogue, +1 if you are human) so lets you become a master of a great many skills. Keep intimidate maxed (you'll need this for when you turn epic
), don't worry about open locks too much (just take a couple of points) because a large weapon + high strength + power attack means nothing can really prevent you from opening it with force. Set/disable traps is nice so keep those moderately high, and pump discipline, tumble, move silently, hide and use magical device as high as you can. Any remaining points could go into lore/heal/spot/listen. UMD is cool because you essentially end up with a warrior that can use pretty much anything.
The piece de resistance for this build however comes into play when you become epic. I was sceptical at first about "Terrifying Rage" because I didn't fancy running into a pack of enemies and then having to chase after them all to finish the job as they fleed with terror. I as pleasantly surprised however when I discovered that the rage causes fear in the form of paralysis
. A save at which must be made at DC anywhere between 25-40+(!), which means that unless the enemy is immune to paralysis you will almost certainly succeed. A bunch of stunned enemies then allows you to
sneak attack to your hearts content. One particular battle in HoTU was extremely satisfying with this rage - defending a certain fortress was pretty much done single handed by running out the front gates and hearing nothing but "I need some help over here" and "he's too strong for me!" as they panicked and stood around helplessly
My final HoTU build was something like Barbarian 18/Rogue 9, which gave me a 5D6 sneak attack, combined with a +8 2D6 great sword with a further 2D6 elemental damage and a +15 strength bonus + power attack. Not many enemies can stand up to that kind of punishment.
[ 08-08-2005, 06:19 AM: Message edited by: Zink Whistlefly ]