Warforged Juggernaut

**mediocresurgeon** · 03-29-2010, 05:36 PM

The developers have only made two specific comments on the Warforged Juggernaut presteige enhancement line: that they will have one, and that it will count as a barbarian prestige enhancement line if the warforged is a barbarian. I am glad to hear that one is in development, and wish to speed up the process by submitting my own draft of this iconic prestige class. This submission would not be mutually exclusive with the Ravager, Frenzied Berserker, or Occult Slayer prestige enhancement lines since it contains no abilities similar to or overlapping with the other paths.

3.5e Eberron Warforged Juggernaut Class Features:

Originally Posted by Construct Perfection

Immunity to nonlethal damage
No longer subject to extra damage from critical hits
Immunity to all mind-affecting spells
Immunity to death effects and necromancy effects
No longer subject to ability damage or ability drain

Analysis:
Most characters run around with immunities to critical hits and death effects, but immunity to curses (necromancy) would be very nice for several raids. Warforged rarely take ability score damage (usually just from wraiths and the troglodytes in Tower of Despair), but not having to worry about these enemies would be a plus. As an interesting note, the redundant fortification (100% base, +100% heavy fortification item) might have some interesting in-game repercussions, like being able to drink the +2 Int yugoloth potion without negative side effects, and a certain monk attack whose name escapes me.

Originally Posted by Charge-Related Class Features

Expert Bull Rush
Powerful Charge
Charge Bonus
Extended Charge
Superior Bull Rush
Greater Powerful Charge

Analysis:
I'm going to skip the details on exactly what each one of these abilities does, but it should be pretty clear to everyone that a warforged juggernaut has a pretty nasty charge and knockback ability. This could be incorporated as a minotaur-like charge ability, where a warforged juggernaut moves in a straight line, ignores impacts with enemies (moves through them as though they were incorporeal) and knocks them down and backwards if it moves through their spaces. (If you don't know what I am talking about, go fight some minotaurs.)

Originally Posted by Armor Spikes

At 1st level, a warforged juggernaut grows armor spikes and gains proficiency in their use as a weapon. These adamantine armor spikes deal 1d6 points of piercing damage on a successful grapple attack. While the spikes cannot be removed, they can be affected by spells like any other weapon. At 4th level, the damage these armor spikes deal increases to 1d8.

Analysis:
Since grappling does not every occur in DDO, armor spikes could instead deal damage to enemies when the warforged juggernaut is struck in melee.

4e Eberron Warforged Juggernaut Path Features:

Originally Posted by Warforged Juggernaut Path Features

Charging Action
Charging Strike
Construct Perfection
Unstoppable

Analysis:
The functionality on the warforged juggernaut abilities charged a little bit (Construct Perfection no longer grants blanket immunities, but instead shortens the duration of any hostile effect on the warforged juggernaut), but the basic charge-and-destroy tactic is still the primary theme of the class.

Originally Posted by Warforged Juggernaut Powers

Ruinous Onslaught:
Ruinous Onslaught is a attack a warforged juggernaut can use while charging. It does additional damage and dazes the enemy.
Inexorable Momentum:
Inexorable Momentum lets the warforged juggernaut ignore difficult terrain and through enemy squares.
Crag of Steel:
Crag of Steel is a stance that inflicts automatic damage against adjacent enemies, grants blanket damage resistance to all attacks, and near-immunity to enemy attacks which cause you to move (pushes, pulls, and slides).

Analysis:
The central theme of these attacks is very similar to the 3.5e attacks--maximizing one's ability to crash through enemy forces to break up their formations. Inexorable Momentum could be an activated ability which lets you charge through enemy squares and ignore slippery surfaces. Crag of Steel could be a stance which lets you ignore knockback attacks (like the ones giants and minotaurs have) and deals damage to enemies when they strike you (a "guard" effect).

Proposed Warforged Juggernaut Prestige Enhancement Line

Originally Posted by Warforged Juggernaut I

Available to Warforged Level 6
Cost: 4 Action Points
Spent: 16 Action Points
Requires all of: Adamantine Body, Power Attack, Warforged Power Attack I
You have dedicated yourself to becoming an engine of destruction. You gain +50% Fortification and immunity to death effects and necromancy (as Deathward spell). You grow adamantine armor spikes, granting you immunity to slippery surfaces and dealing 1d6 peircing damage to enemies when you are struck with a melee weapon.

Originally Posted by Warforged Juggernaut II

Available to Warforged Level 12
Cost: 2 Action Points
Spent: 42 Action Points
Requires all of: Warforged Juggernaut I, Warforged Power Attack II
You relish the act of running headlong into your enemies and driving them before you. You have +75% fortification and immunity to enemy attacks which knock you back. Your armor spikes improve, dealing 1d8 piercing damage to enemies when you are struck with a melee weapon. Your training allows you to crash through enemy lines.

Warforged Juggernaut II: Unstoppable
Usage: Active
Cost: 0 Action Points
Cooldown: 3 Seconds
You are able to trample over enemies and knock them back like a minotaur.

Originally Posted by Warforged Juggernaut III

Available to Warforged Level 18
Cost: 2 Action Points
Spent: 66 Action Points
Requires all of: Warforged Juggernaut II, Warforged Power Attack III
You are the ultimate embodiment of mechanical strength and prowess. You are immune to harmful mind-affecting enchantments and enemy attacks which knock you down. Your armor spikes receive a damage bonus equal to your strength modifier.

**Ghoste** · 03-29-2010, 05:39 PM

I like it.

Death to all Fleshlings!!!

**Roman** · 03-29-2010, 05:47 PM

Been speculating on this as well. Planning to TR my old CritII barb to a pure warforged fighter in anticipation of this pre. Would just be such a fun combo I think.

**sirdanile** · 03-29-2010, 06:01 PM

I think you should split the fortification up so it's 25% each tier, slide immunity to slippery surfaces back to tier 2 or 3, while tier 3 seems decent I think that compared to the other two adding 10 extra guard damage alone doesn't add up to a tier 3 prestige enhancement.

**mediocresurgeon** · 03-29-2010, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Failedlegend

Mostly agreed except it should be Immune to all HARMFUL mind-affecting spells

Thanks for pointing that out.

Originally Posted by Failedlegend

also barb are traditionally medium armor wearers so Adam Body doesn't really make sense

"Wasting" a feat on Adamantine Body on a feat-starved barbarian would definitely be a sacrifice, and reason enough not to make Warforged Juggernaut mutually exclusive with barbarian PrEs.

Originally Posted by sirdanile

I think you should split the fortification up so it's 25% each tier

The way it is written, a Warforged Juggernaut will get 100% fortification at level 12. Most people wear a Minos Legens at level 11 (and you can get a 75% fortification accessory RR WF at level 5), so I'd rather not push the fortification back any further.

Originally Posted by sirdanile

slide immunity to slippery surfaces back to tier 2 or 3, while tier 3 seems decent I think that compared to the other two adding 10 extra guard damage alone doesn't add up to a tier 3 prestige enhancement.

I tried to match immunity to slippery surfaces to the acquisition of armor spikes, since it's the spikes granting the immunity to slippery surfaces. Also, making a guard based off of your strength score has the potential to be very powerful (though it is actually the only DPS increase this PrE currently has). Still, you might be right about the 3rd tier being somewhat weak...

**Failedlegend** · 03-29-2010, 06:21 PM