Looking for Farmer (scythe) build advice

[Herzog]

I need to come up with a character for next weeks game, and am looking for some advice on how to build him.

I started out with a concept, and I'm trying to make sure this one has a bit of a survival chance.

Basic background: Earth, 20 BC (so only humans allowed), with a little magic (spellcasters allowed but with limits to their spell selection) and little to no magic items (assume none available).

Books: almost everything by WotC, except Bo9S, MoI, ToM. No Dragon magazine.
No skilltricks allowed.

My previous two characters were a Bard and a Pouncing Scout/Ranger/Tempest. Therefore, I'm trying to stay away from those classes in my build.

My current idea is to play a 'farmboy'.
By that, I mean I want to create a fighter type with little to no armor, and whose main weapons are the Scythe and the Sickle. (and maybe other farm implements? like pitchfork or something?)

personality:shy and non-threatening but able to stand his ground in a fight.

For classes, I want to go for little or no spellcasting, I'm thinking Barbarian (for the rage), Fighter (for the feats) or possibly even Hexblade or something like that.

I'll start at lvl 10-12 (have to check with my DM, but other characters are all 11 or 12) and I'm looking for a build that will be interesting to play for lvl 10+ (not too interested in playability for lower levels)

Just rolled my stats (amazingly higher than usual for me):
18
15
13
13
13
13

So, what do you think? Which class(es) should I take? Any alternate class features I should consider? How can I survive fights best without armor? Which feats are appropriate (Improved Critical comes to mind since a Keen weapon seems unlikely, Power Attack seems a no-brainer)? How should I distribute my stats?

Any thoughts welcome (including: don't do it! but with alternative advice please)

 

[Herzog]

Did some searching, and for now I have come up with the following build:
Barbarian 12 (preparing for Champion of Gwynharwyf)

1 Power Attack, Righteous Wrath
3 Cleave
6 Great Cleave
9 Improved Critical (Scythe)
12 Knight of Stars

I'm considering the Alternate Class Features Whirling Frenzy (UA, increase str, ac, ref, get extra attack) and Ferocity (City Scape webenhancement, increase str, dex, immediate action to go into rage) but I'm not sure these rage variants would still allow me to qualify for Champion of Gwynharwyf and/or righteous wrath.

I'm also considering the ACF Streetfighter (City Scape Webenhancement, increase crit range by one on charge and against flat-footed foes. stacks with improved critical!, other charge related benefits at higher lvls, Replaces DR) but I'm not sure I would get the DR from the Champion of Gwynharwyf, or if it replaces that as well.

I'm also considering taking one or two levels of Fighter, for the bonus feats, although I'm not too sure about the feats I would take.
Combat Reflexes comes to mind, as does Improved Trip (although that would also require Combat Expertise, which I'm not really interested in)

I'm currently planning to take the 18 in STR, 15 in DEX, improve dex to 16 at lvl 4(for reflex and AC) improve con to 14 at lvl 8 (fort and hp), improve wis to 14 at lvl 12 (will save and spellcasting, if any), and probably increase STR at 16 and 20 (if I ever get to that) although increasing CHA at least 1 point would make sense considering the divine grace and smite evil abilities of the Champion of Gwynharwyf.

Any suggestions?

 

[HoboGod]

If you need more AC, you can put your highest stat in Dexterity, then take a level in Sleeping Tiger Monk (Unearthed Arcana Variant) for unarmored AC Bonus and Weapon Finesse instead of Stunning Fist. You'll lose out some damage, but your primary damage would be power attack anyway.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I feel the need to ask...if Book of Exalted Deeds is allowed, and you know for a fact that there will be little to no magic items... why not Vow of Poverty? This is the only sort of game it might actually be useful in.

 

[Herzog]

I get the unarmored AC, but weapon finesse? how is that going to help with a Scythe?
I would also be missing a point of Bab, AND I can't combine Monk with Barbarian, to say the least of Champion of Gwynharwyf.

Putting my highest stat in Dex is good advice though. Thank you.

 

[Herzog]

[MENTION=35909]StreamOfTheSky[/MENTION]: well, for several reasons:
1. because I'm not entirely sure it's allowed....
2. because it's cheesy (not that that has stopped me before)
3. because I won't be able to use the Scythe (since it's a martial weapon, and you're only allowed to use simple weapons)
4. because a sacred vow does not fit into my character background (but then, you wouldn't be able to tell from my info)

Good advice though! I might pick it up anyway if/when I get rid of the scythe as focal point of my character build....

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Forgot about the simple weapon issue... There really should be some sort of Scythe available as a simple weapon IMO. I don't think it's that cheesy even in a low magic game, but YMMV. And it's just that you're going to be exalted anyway and take a few exalted feats, so I figured why not go for VoP? If your DM allows it is of course important. You should check on that and about rage variants and qualifying for Righteous Wrath and the Champion class.

I did have a thought, not sure if it'd fit your concept. But being a decently charismatic Barb and exalted, Resounding Blow is cool, and you can make very nice barb builds centered around Intimidate. Intimidating Strike (PH2; offers an easy option for long duration shaken status), Imperious Command (Drow of the Underdark; anytime you demoralize, foe cowers for 1 rounds before being shaken), Terrifying Rage (C.Warrior; free ranged Intimidate with longer duration upon entering Rage), and Instantaneous Rage (C.Warrior; combined with previous and Imperious Command, actually lets you disrupt someone from attacking you) feats all can help to make you a very scary individual.

Another thought I had was to make a Soulknife farmer with the Dragon Mag feat to shape your mind blade as any weapon you're proficient with, so you can till the soil and harvest your crops with your mind!
(ie, make your mind blade into a scythe)
Unfortunately, no dragon mag allowed...

 

[HoboGod]

Whoops! I forgot weapon finesse doesn't work on scythes. I guess this would be more of a spiked chain alternative, not quite the farmboy's weapon of choice. Well, another option if you're using a scythe might be to take a two level dip in Passive Way Monk (also Unearthed Arcana). You'll get Combat Expertise and Improved Trip as monk bonus feats and having evasion is a great for barbarians.

 

[Herzog]

I've already send my DM an email with my ideas thus far. I hope he approves.

Resounding Blow looks interesting. I might take that as one of my later feats, or when I decide to jam in some fighter levels to get more feats.

Intimidating Rage etc. are kind of similar to Righteous Wrath and the Champion's 4th level ability Fearsome Fury, which is why I didn't consider them interesting, although I might change my mind should my DM not allow the BoED.

Instantaneous Rage also crossed my mind, but the Ferocity alternative class feature also has that, which is why it didn't make my list. Good to reconsider if I don't take that feature however.

The soulknife is setting inapropriate, even if we did allow dragon mag, although it WOULD allow me to take the Vow of Poverty.....

maybe something for another campaign.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Herzog]

[MENTION=90920]HoboGod[/MENTION]:
Better, but still:

I would also be missing a point of Bab, AND I can't combine Monk with Barbarian, to say the least of Champion of Gwynharwyf.