rogue/fighter greatsword, cleave question

[Vigilark]

thinking about making a rogue/fighter that wields a greatsword (feel free to criticize this idea, I'm new to the game and don't want to reroll AGAIn haha). My question is, should I take power attack and cleave? I understand that greatswords damage more than one opponent. Cleave causes much greater damage though right? I'm starting off at level 1 rogue of course and trying to figure out what feats I should take. It's human. Thanks for any input. This game has really been hard to learn in terms of character development and I have a lot of experience with Neverwinter Nights, which it reminds me of as far as rules go.

[mezzorco]

While some of your strikes cause glancing blows (a bit of damage to all nearby enemies), a cleave attack does more than regular damage to them and glancing blow damage on top of that.
So, if you intend to do massive damage you should take power attack, cleave and great cleave. Like in NWN, power attack is +10 damage on two handed weapons.

Your build idea is particularly flavourful and could work well, depending on level split, feats taken and armor type you'll decide to wear. Sorry but I can't help with that right now.

Just one thing. If I were you, I'd tend towards falchions given their crit profile

[Vigilark]

k, thanks for the feedback.

Anyone know if I can open locks, disable traps in heavy armor? I'm guessing sneak suffers from it right?

[Uska]

k, thanks for the feedback.

Anyone know if I can open locks, disable traps in heavy armor? I'm guessing sneak suffers from it right?

correct plus you loose evasion but if you stick with 1 level of rogue you wont have that anyways.

[mezzorco]

k, thanks for the feedback.

Anyone know if I can open locks, disable traps in heavy armor? I'm guessing sneak suffers from it right?

Heavy armor has no impact on open locks and disable device, you'll be as good as if wearing light armor.
I strongly advice you to go heavy armor and benefit from defender tree. Grab stalwart stance and its improvements for tasty defenses, +10% run speed, +20% hp and either +6 STR or +6 CON.

As for sneaking, heavy armor provides a penalty between -4 and -6, while light armors give you between -0 and -1. It's a hit, but not such a huge penalty.
You can still sneak around quite effectively, just remember you need a bit more investment via itemizing.

The biggest hit to your open lock, hide and move silently skills will be that you aren't dex-based, so you're loosing at least another 5 points compared to a dex rogue.
Just make your best to be as sneaky as you can and I think you'll be fine.

Anyway, I think such a build will spend very little time sneaking, just whirl around that blade!

[unbongwah]

Anyone know if I can open locks, disable traps in heavy armor? I'm guessing sneak suffers from it right?

http://ddowiki.com/page/Armor_check_penalty

Search, Disable, and Open Lock are not affected by ACP. Other physical skills inc. stealth are.

[Lorianus]

Do you want to play more like a fighter that can also do traps: Good defense standing in the front line holding the mobs aggro. Or more like a rogue wielding a Greatsword backstab style: Good sneak attack damage and hitting mobs in the back while others have aggro? (of course the more rogish style can do traps too) Your build should fit your playstyle. If you want to use light armor/evasion I would splash paladin levels for better saves, with only a medium reflex save heavy armor (magical resistance rating) is better then evasion imho.

[unbongwah]

thinking about making a rogue/fighter that wields a greatsword (feel free to criticize this idea, I'm new to the game and don't want to reroll AGAIn haha).

Right now ftrs aren't in a great spot. Both barbs and pallies will out-DPS and outsurvive a ftr (barbs due to free self-healing, pallies due to high saves, LoHs, and Cure spells). So unless your heart is set on ftr, you might want to consider those classes instead.