How do you do THF justice?

[ErgonomicCat]

I'm getting a bit tired of seeing every DPS build be a TWF build. I understand why - I play TWF in PnP for just that reason - bonuses apply to each attack, more chances to trip, etc. But I don't care.

I want to play a THF. And I don't want to be a Warforged Barbarian (I have one of those). So how do you build a good THF?

My current plan is to take an Elf to level 20 with a Falchion. It looks good on paper, but I'm not an end-game player, so I'm looking for advice from people who have been there.

My current plan

Level 20 Lawful Good Elf Male
(20 Fighter)
Hit Points: 362
Spell Points: 0
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 8
Will: 5

16/12/16/8/8/8 (28 pt build - 32 point would go to str and int, with the expectation of getting a +1 int tome).

Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Handed Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Critical
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Handed Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Stunning Blow
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Handed Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Cleave
Feat: (Selected) Least Dragonmark of Shadow
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Superior Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Shadow
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Quick Draw


I don't really know if the dragonmarks are worthwhile, but I had tons of feat, and I can't see how displacement can be a bad idea....

Enhancements would be Kensai, Toughness, Str, Elf Falchion, others as needed.

Thoughts on it? Is there a better path? Will I still be disappointed at the end game?

Is it worth putting all my points in to UMD? Or should I pick balance/jump mix instead?

[Angelus_dead]

Thoughts on it? Is there a better path? Will I still be disappointed at the end game?

The main competition for elf falchion is warforged falchion. The elf is +2 attack +2 damage, while the WF is -3 attack +6 damage. So, which one turns out to be better depends on the enemy AC... however, a Kensei fighter is generally going to have super-high attack rolls regardless. And of course the WF hitpoints and immunities allow him to stay in combat longer.

[Tanka]

The main competition for elf falchion is warforged falchion. The elf is +2 attack +2 damage, while the WF is -3 attack +6 damage. So, which one turns out to be better depends on the enemy AC... however, a Kensei fighter is generally going to have super-high attack rolls regardless. And of course the WF hitpoints and immunities allow him to stay in combat longer.

What he said.

Also; WF are popular non-AC Sally tanks. The more DPS you can pump out, the less chance of aggro switching more than it now does.

Max out Haste Boost, get as many HP as possible, pump your saves and max Str. If you opt to take the various glancing blow proc rate bump Enhancements, you'll see those numbers improve even more.

[DagazUlf]

Don't forget the WF hate-generation enhancements, too.