qid int64 1 74.7M | question stringlengths 12 33.8k | date stringlengths 10 10 | metadata list | response_j stringlengths 0 115k | response_k stringlengths 2 98.3k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14,511 | Is there any software for mac to create this particular 3d histogram:
given a matrix of value?
I've tried with Numbers but it doesn't have 3d histograms. | 2011/05/20 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/14511",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/1114/"
] | [Grapher](http://guides.macrumors.com/Grapher) is probably the app you are looking for. It is already installed on your Mac by default. | [LibreOffice](http://libreoffice.org/) (~ [OpenOffice](http://www.openoffice.org/) ~ [NeoOffice](http://www.neooffice.org)) to give some free office applications. |
14,511 | Is there any software for mac to create this particular 3d histogram:
given a matrix of value?
I've tried with Numbers but it doesn't have 3d histograms. | 2011/05/20 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/14511",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/1114/"
] | Gnuplot mught be ablo to do this. I've seen pictures where something like this is done:
 | [R Studio](http://rstudio.org/) (the wonderful IDE for [R](http://cran.r-project.org/bin/macosx/)) can do this. It's the kind of the thing it was meant to do really. Free, open source and, IMO, easier to grasp than Octave (and free, wherease Matlab is most definitely not). You'll likely want the [RGL addon](http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/moac/students/peter_cock/r/3d_bar_chart) to do a 3D plot.
[There's a StackOverflow question that deals with how you go about plotting the 3D histogram in R](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2405575/how-does-one-plot-a-3d-stacked-histogram-in-r). |
14,511 | Is there any software for mac to create this particular 3d histogram:
given a matrix of value?
I've tried with Numbers but it doesn't have 3d histograms. | 2011/05/20 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/14511",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/1114/"
] | You can do things like that in [MatLab](http://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab/) or the free clone [Octave](http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/download.html). There's a script [here](http://daily-notes.net/2011/02/17/matlab-3d-histogram-and-surface-plot/). | [R Studio](http://rstudio.org/) (the wonderful IDE for [R](http://cran.r-project.org/bin/macosx/)) can do this. It's the kind of the thing it was meant to do really. Free, open source and, IMO, easier to grasp than Octave (and free, wherease Matlab is most definitely not). You'll likely want the [RGL addon](http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/moac/students/peter_cock/r/3d_bar_chart) to do a 3D plot.
[There's a StackOverflow question that deals with how you go about plotting the 3D histogram in R](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2405575/how-does-one-plot-a-3d-stacked-histogram-in-r). |
14,511 | Is there any software for mac to create this particular 3d histogram:
given a matrix of value?
I've tried with Numbers but it doesn't have 3d histograms. | 2011/05/20 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/14511",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/1114/"
] | Microsoft Excel works for this sort of graph as well. | [LibreOffice](http://libreoffice.org/) (~ [OpenOffice](http://www.openoffice.org/) ~ [NeoOffice](http://www.neooffice.org)) to give some free office applications. |
14,511 | Is there any software for mac to create this particular 3d histogram:
given a matrix of value?
I've tried with Numbers but it doesn't have 3d histograms. | 2011/05/20 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/14511",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/1114/"
] | [Mathematica](http://www.wolfram.com/mathematica/) is able to do this. | Gnuplot mught be ablo to do this. I've seen pictures where something like this is done:
 |
14,511 | Is there any software for mac to create this particular 3d histogram:
given a matrix of value?
I've tried with Numbers but it doesn't have 3d histograms. | 2011/05/20 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/14511",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/1114/"
] | [Mathematica](http://www.wolfram.com/mathematica/) is able to do this. | Microsoft Excel works for this sort of graph as well. |
22,607 | Is it possible to grow tomatoes as a pot plant? In the limited space I have I can afford pot of maximum depth = 12 cm and diameter = 12 cm. what size pot will be ideal to start with?
In India what would be the best time to plant them and how can I take care of it at later stages?
Sun is not that harsh is winters here - temperature ranges 5-35 degree centigrade, average day temperature would about 24 degree centigrade.
Plant will be placed outdoors and will get all sunlight all through the day. | 2015/12/16 | [
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/22607",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/users/13562/"
] | I know you've said you only have space for a 12" pot, but if you can find any way to accommodate a larger one, you've got a better chance of success. 30 centimeters would be closer to the size recommended for container-grown tomatoes. I've personally had some success with a 20 centimeter pot. Anything you can do to get closer to that 30 centimeter mark is going to give you a better chance of success.
When you buy your tomato plants or seeds, look for a dwarf variety. If you want the plant to look compact (more like a decorative plant), you should look for a dwarf *determinate* variety. If you don't mind a sprawling, viney plant that needs to be trellised, you can consider a dwarf *indeterminate* variety. This might work, for example, if this outdoor space is a balcony, and you could afix the tomato plant to the balcony railing as it grows.
Here in the US, many of the common dwarf determinate plants have names with the word 'patio' or 'balcony' right in them (Patio Dwarf, Patio Princess, Balcony, etc.). Stupice is another that is frequently recommended for pots. Sweet Baby Girl is a dwarf indeterminate cherry tomato that is also easy to find here. I'm not sure which, if any, of these are available where you live, but you should be able to find that information locally. | That's a small pot, and definitely not ideal. I recommend as much larger of a container as you can manage, even if you have to sacrifice drainage to make room. However, you can grow some kinds of tomatoes in small pots (but the harvest may be modest). I've grown Galapagos Island (Solanum cheesmaniae) tomatoes in a foam cup, which produced four fruits indoors before I transplanted them. I've also had fruits on some tomatoes descended from the hybrid variety called Grape. However, there are probably much better-adapted varieties for your purposes.
You'll need to make sure you water it a lot, though, if it's outside (especially if it's hot and dry where you live). It might be worth making a miniature self-watering container. You might try varieties like Micro Tom or Tumbling Tom. I'm not sure if they're heat or drought tolerant, though.
Another thing about small containers is that the plants may need to be fertilized more often.
I'm not sure about India's climate and seasons, personally, but hopefully someone else will answer that. |
22,607 | Is it possible to grow tomatoes as a pot plant? In the limited space I have I can afford pot of maximum depth = 12 cm and diameter = 12 cm. what size pot will be ideal to start with?
In India what would be the best time to plant them and how can I take care of it at later stages?
Sun is not that harsh is winters here - temperature ranges 5-35 degree centigrade, average day temperature would about 24 degree centigrade.
Plant will be placed outdoors and will get all sunlight all through the day. | 2015/12/16 | [
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/22607",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/users/13562/"
] | That's a small pot, and definitely not ideal. I recommend as much larger of a container as you can manage, even if you have to sacrifice drainage to make room. However, you can grow some kinds of tomatoes in small pots (but the harvest may be modest). I've grown Galapagos Island (Solanum cheesmaniae) tomatoes in a foam cup, which produced four fruits indoors before I transplanted them. I've also had fruits on some tomatoes descended from the hybrid variety called Grape. However, there are probably much better-adapted varieties for your purposes.
You'll need to make sure you water it a lot, though, if it's outside (especially if it's hot and dry where you live). It might be worth making a miniature self-watering container. You might try varieties like Micro Tom or Tumbling Tom. I'm not sure if they're heat or drought tolerant, though.
Another thing about small containers is that the plants may need to be fertilized more often.
I'm not sure about India's climate and seasons, personally, but hopefully someone else will answer that. | One of my best tomato seasons was when I was living in an apartment with a balcony that got sun about 4 hours a day. I grew 6 plants: 3 in each of two 18" pots. They were some variety of "patio tomatoes". That was in 1989. I didn't match the dozen dozen tomatoes I got that year until last year in my 4'X4' planting bed. However, this year a had one cucumber plant that yielded 100 cucumbers. |
22,607 | Is it possible to grow tomatoes as a pot plant? In the limited space I have I can afford pot of maximum depth = 12 cm and diameter = 12 cm. what size pot will be ideal to start with?
In India what would be the best time to plant them and how can I take care of it at later stages?
Sun is not that harsh is winters here - temperature ranges 5-35 degree centigrade, average day temperature would about 24 degree centigrade.
Plant will be placed outdoors and will get all sunlight all through the day. | 2015/12/16 | [
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/22607",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/users/13562/"
] | That's a small pot, and definitely not ideal. I recommend as much larger of a container as you can manage, even if you have to sacrifice drainage to make room. However, you can grow some kinds of tomatoes in small pots (but the harvest may be modest). I've grown Galapagos Island (Solanum cheesmaniae) tomatoes in a foam cup, which produced four fruits indoors before I transplanted them. I've also had fruits on some tomatoes descended from the hybrid variety called Grape. However, there are probably much better-adapted varieties for your purposes.
You'll need to make sure you water it a lot, though, if it's outside (especially if it's hot and dry where you live). It might be worth making a miniature self-watering container. You might try varieties like Micro Tom or Tumbling Tom. I'm not sure if they're heat or drought tolerant, though.
Another thing about small containers is that the plants may need to be fertilized more often.
I'm not sure about India's climate and seasons, personally, but hopefully someone else will answer that. | As an anecdotical answer, here's what happened to a slightly smaller undrained pot Φ~=80mm, h~=90mm. I had intended to transfer it to a larger proper pot but that never happened. The red thing is a 0.5 liter beer can for scale. The height of the plant is H~=500mm and the diameter of the fruit is d~=9mm. It is turning yellow now so I expect it to at very best double in diameter before ripening.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rv7Cd.jpg) |
22,607 | Is it possible to grow tomatoes as a pot plant? In the limited space I have I can afford pot of maximum depth = 12 cm and diameter = 12 cm. what size pot will be ideal to start with?
In India what would be the best time to plant them and how can I take care of it at later stages?
Sun is not that harsh is winters here - temperature ranges 5-35 degree centigrade, average day temperature would about 24 degree centigrade.
Plant will be placed outdoors and will get all sunlight all through the day. | 2015/12/16 | [
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/22607",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/users/13562/"
] | I know you've said you only have space for a 12" pot, but if you can find any way to accommodate a larger one, you've got a better chance of success. 30 centimeters would be closer to the size recommended for container-grown tomatoes. I've personally had some success with a 20 centimeter pot. Anything you can do to get closer to that 30 centimeter mark is going to give you a better chance of success.
When you buy your tomato plants or seeds, look for a dwarf variety. If you want the plant to look compact (more like a decorative plant), you should look for a dwarf *determinate* variety. If you don't mind a sprawling, viney plant that needs to be trellised, you can consider a dwarf *indeterminate* variety. This might work, for example, if this outdoor space is a balcony, and you could afix the tomato plant to the balcony railing as it grows.
Here in the US, many of the common dwarf determinate plants have names with the word 'patio' or 'balcony' right in them (Patio Dwarf, Patio Princess, Balcony, etc.). Stupice is another that is frequently recommended for pots. Sweet Baby Girl is a dwarf indeterminate cherry tomato that is also easy to find here. I'm not sure which, if any, of these are available where you live, but you should be able to find that information locally. | One of my best tomato seasons was when I was living in an apartment with a balcony that got sun about 4 hours a day. I grew 6 plants: 3 in each of two 18" pots. They were some variety of "patio tomatoes". That was in 1989. I didn't match the dozen dozen tomatoes I got that year until last year in my 4'X4' planting bed. However, this year a had one cucumber plant that yielded 100 cucumbers. |
22,607 | Is it possible to grow tomatoes as a pot plant? In the limited space I have I can afford pot of maximum depth = 12 cm and diameter = 12 cm. what size pot will be ideal to start with?
In India what would be the best time to plant them and how can I take care of it at later stages?
Sun is not that harsh is winters here - temperature ranges 5-35 degree centigrade, average day temperature would about 24 degree centigrade.
Plant will be placed outdoors and will get all sunlight all through the day. | 2015/12/16 | [
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/22607",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/users/13562/"
] | I know you've said you only have space for a 12" pot, but if you can find any way to accommodate a larger one, you've got a better chance of success. 30 centimeters would be closer to the size recommended for container-grown tomatoes. I've personally had some success with a 20 centimeter pot. Anything you can do to get closer to that 30 centimeter mark is going to give you a better chance of success.
When you buy your tomato plants or seeds, look for a dwarf variety. If you want the plant to look compact (more like a decorative plant), you should look for a dwarf *determinate* variety. If you don't mind a sprawling, viney plant that needs to be trellised, you can consider a dwarf *indeterminate* variety. This might work, for example, if this outdoor space is a balcony, and you could afix the tomato plant to the balcony railing as it grows.
Here in the US, many of the common dwarf determinate plants have names with the word 'patio' or 'balcony' right in them (Patio Dwarf, Patio Princess, Balcony, etc.). Stupice is another that is frequently recommended for pots. Sweet Baby Girl is a dwarf indeterminate cherry tomato that is also easy to find here. I'm not sure which, if any, of these are available where you live, but you should be able to find that information locally. | As an anecdotical answer, here's what happened to a slightly smaller undrained pot Φ~=80mm, h~=90mm. I had intended to transfer it to a larger proper pot but that never happened. The red thing is a 0.5 liter beer can for scale. The height of the plant is H~=500mm and the diameter of the fruit is d~=9mm. It is turning yellow now so I expect it to at very best double in diameter before ripening.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rv7Cd.jpg) |
22,607 | Is it possible to grow tomatoes as a pot plant? In the limited space I have I can afford pot of maximum depth = 12 cm and diameter = 12 cm. what size pot will be ideal to start with?
In India what would be the best time to plant them and how can I take care of it at later stages?
Sun is not that harsh is winters here - temperature ranges 5-35 degree centigrade, average day temperature would about 24 degree centigrade.
Plant will be placed outdoors and will get all sunlight all through the day. | 2015/12/16 | [
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/22607",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com",
"https://gardening.stackexchange.com/users/13562/"
] | One of my best tomato seasons was when I was living in an apartment with a balcony that got sun about 4 hours a day. I grew 6 plants: 3 in each of two 18" pots. They were some variety of "patio tomatoes". That was in 1989. I didn't match the dozen dozen tomatoes I got that year until last year in my 4'X4' planting bed. However, this year a had one cucumber plant that yielded 100 cucumbers. | As an anecdotical answer, here's what happened to a slightly smaller undrained pot Φ~=80mm, h~=90mm. I had intended to transfer it to a larger proper pot but that never happened. The red thing is a 0.5 liter beer can for scale. The height of the plant is H~=500mm and the diameter of the fruit is d~=9mm. It is turning yellow now so I expect it to at very best double in diameter before ripening.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rv7Cd.jpg) |
43,222,052 | **What I have:**
1. AWS API gateway setup as a proxy (/{proxy+})
2. A custom Auth function which authorizes the incoming request for this proxy setup.
3. The custom auth function is passing the additional information I want to pass along to the request via the "context" object, like so:
{
"principalId": "yyyyyyyy",
"policyDocument": {
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Action": "execute-api:Invoke",
"Effect": "Allow|Deny",
"Resource": "some arn"
}
]
},
"context": {
"customInfo1": "hello",
"customInfo2": "world"
}
}
**What I need:**
1. I need to pass the custom information passed in the context object above into custom headers into the request as it passes along to the target function.
**What I know:**
1. If this wasn't a proxy, I could have used a mapping template to get the desired result. | 2017/04/05 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/43222052",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/4058222/"
] | First you set JAVA\_HOME variable in system environment variables.
Means MyComputer Properties => Advanced System settings => Environment variables => System Variables add new variable, variable name JAVA\_HOME and value jdk installation path like C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0\_79 | Its written there
>
> Ensure that you have installed a JDK (not just a JRE) and configured your JAVA\_HOME system variable to point to the according directory.
>
>
> |
43,222,052 | **What I have:**
1. AWS API gateway setup as a proxy (/{proxy+})
2. A custom Auth function which authorizes the incoming request for this proxy setup.
3. The custom auth function is passing the additional information I want to pass along to the request via the "context" object, like so:
{
"principalId": "yyyyyyyy",
"policyDocument": {
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Action": "execute-api:Invoke",
"Effect": "Allow|Deny",
"Resource": "some arn"
}
]
},
"context": {
"customInfo1": "hello",
"customInfo2": "world"
}
}
**What I need:**
1. I need to pass the custom information passed in the context object above into custom headers into the request as it passes along to the target function.
**What I know:**
1. If this wasn't a proxy, I could have used a mapping template to get the desired result. | 2017/04/05 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/43222052",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/4058222/"
] | First you set JAVA\_HOME variable in system environment variables.
Means MyComputer Properties => Advanced System settings => Environment variables => System Variables add new variable, variable name JAVA\_HOME and value jdk installation path like C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0\_79 | You need to install Jdk in the system and mention the path in studio by clicking the following File->Project Structure->SDK location -> JDK location |
43,222,052 | **What I have:**
1. AWS API gateway setup as a proxy (/{proxy+})
2. A custom Auth function which authorizes the incoming request for this proxy setup.
3. The custom auth function is passing the additional information I want to pass along to the request via the "context" object, like so:
{
"principalId": "yyyyyyyy",
"policyDocument": {
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Action": "execute-api:Invoke",
"Effect": "Allow|Deny",
"Resource": "some arn"
}
]
},
"context": {
"customInfo1": "hello",
"customInfo2": "world"
}
}
**What I need:**
1. I need to pass the custom information passed in the context object above into custom headers into the request as it passes along to the target function.
**What I know:**
1. If this wasn't a proxy, I could have used a mapping template to get the desired result. | 2017/04/05 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/43222052",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/4058222/"
] | First you set JAVA\_HOME variable in system environment variables.
Means MyComputer Properties => Advanced System settings => Environment variables => System Variables add new variable, variable name JAVA\_HOME and value jdk installation path like C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0\_79 | Go to File->Other Settings->Default Project Structure->SDKs. Then change or set the JDK home path. |
43,222,052 | **What I have:**
1. AWS API gateway setup as a proxy (/{proxy+})
2. A custom Auth function which authorizes the incoming request for this proxy setup.
3. The custom auth function is passing the additional information I want to pass along to the request via the "context" object, like so:
{
"principalId": "yyyyyyyy",
"policyDocument": {
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Action": "execute-api:Invoke",
"Effect": "Allow|Deny",
"Resource": "some arn"
}
]
},
"context": {
"customInfo1": "hello",
"customInfo2": "world"
}
}
**What I need:**
1. I need to pass the custom information passed in the context object above into custom headers into the request as it passes along to the target function.
**What I know:**
1. If this wasn't a proxy, I could have used a mapping template to get the desired result. | 2017/04/05 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/43222052",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/4058222/"
] | First you set JAVA\_HOME variable in system environment variables.
Means MyComputer Properties => Advanced System settings => Environment variables => System Variables add new variable, variable name JAVA\_HOME and value jdk installation path like C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0\_79 | Go through the steps and and check if jdk is configured if not do so....
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/FIYEO.png) |
8,130,382 | I Have created a bar chart in a 2007 .xls file, but the data labels cannot be resized. When you go to the "format Data Labels" and then click on alignment, the Autofit and Internal Margin option is grayed out. Anyone know why? | 2011/11/15 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/8130382",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/471448/"
] | **Short version:** It is greyed out for chart text, because it the option doesn’t apply.
**Long version:**
This is because on a chart, chart text do need to use margins, rather you can you can just move the text., and set its X and Y position. For example take the Chart Title, if you want more space to the left, just click and drag the title to the right. If you want the chart title to be bigger you just set a larger font, you have complete control over the title, as well as all other text on that chart, axis titles, legends, data labels, etc.
Internal margins are meant to be used when you don’t have complete control take for example text in a shape. If you insert a shape in your workbook, and add text to it, you cannot just pick the text up and move it to the right if you want more space on the left, so you can set the margin. | Here's a trick that worked for me:
My problem was: I added more text to the axis title and it was too long for it's original shape so some text went into second line.
My solution: I type the complete text somewhere else, copy the text, double click on the axis title and delete the original text -- the cursor would still be there -- now insert the copied text. Done! They are all in one line! |
8,130,382 | I Have created a bar chart in a 2007 .xls file, but the data labels cannot be resized. When you go to the "format Data Labels" and then click on alignment, the Autofit and Internal Margin option is grayed out. Anyone know why? | 2011/11/15 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/8130382",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/471448/"
] | **Short version:** It is greyed out for chart text, because it the option doesn’t apply.
**Long version:**
This is because on a chart, chart text do need to use margins, rather you can you can just move the text., and set its X and Y position. For example take the Chart Title, if you want more space to the left, just click and drag the title to the right. If you want the chart title to be bigger you just set a larger font, you have complete control over the title, as well as all other text on that chart, axis titles, legends, data labels, etc.
Internal margins are meant to be used when you don’t have complete control take for example text in a shape. If you insert a shape in your workbook, and add text to it, you cannot just pick the text up and move it to the right if you want more space on the left, so you can set the margin. | Manually insert a textbox into the bar chart and type in the label that way. It's annoying and labor-intensive, but it works. |
8,130,382 | I Have created a bar chart in a 2007 .xls file, but the data labels cannot be resized. When you go to the "format Data Labels" and then click on alignment, the Autofit and Internal Margin option is grayed out. Anyone know why? | 2011/11/15 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/8130382",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/471448/"
] | **Short version:** It is greyed out for chart text, because it the option doesn’t apply.
**Long version:**
This is because on a chart, chart text do need to use margins, rather you can you can just move the text., and set its X and Y position. For example take the Chart Title, if you want more space to the left, just click and drag the title to the right. If you want the chart title to be bigger you just set a larger font, you have complete control over the title, as well as all other text on that chart, axis titles, legends, data labels, etc.
Internal margins are meant to be used when you don’t have complete control take for example text in a shape. If you insert a shape in your workbook, and add text to it, you cannot just pick the text up and move it to the right if you want more space on the left, so you can set the margin. | Partial solution to resize label to a single line: Data labels in a chart will often wrap themselves, when you dont want them to. They would often seem better in a vertical single line above the graph item. Reset them to one single line by editing the text in the label, deleting the Excel imposed return, and replace it with a space. The line, and label box, will resize to fit a single line. However because you have "manually interfered with the lable, it will no longer update for changing graph data. You would have to double click each lable then reset it. Most annoying. |
8,130,382 | I Have created a bar chart in a 2007 .xls file, but the data labels cannot be resized. When you go to the "format Data Labels" and then click on alignment, the Autofit and Internal Margin option is grayed out. Anyone know why? | 2011/11/15 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/8130382",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/471448/"
] | **Short version:** It is greyed out for chart text, because it the option doesn’t apply.
**Long version:**
This is because on a chart, chart text do need to use margins, rather you can you can just move the text., and set its X and Y position. For example take the Chart Title, if you want more space to the left, just click and drag the title to the right. If you want the chart title to be bigger you just set a larger font, you have complete control over the title, as well as all other text on that chart, axis titles, legends, data labels, etc.
Internal margins are meant to be used when you don’t have complete control take for example text in a shape. If you insert a shape in your workbook, and add text to it, you cannot just pick the text up and move it to the right if you want more space on the left, so you can set the margin. | A way around it is to make the chart area big. The data label boxes will resize to fit the words in one line. Then make the chart small (not the chart area).
 |
8,130,382 | I Have created a bar chart in a 2007 .xls file, but the data labels cannot be resized. When you go to the "format Data Labels" and then click on alignment, the Autofit and Internal Margin option is grayed out. Anyone know why? | 2011/11/15 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/8130382",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/471448/"
] | Here's a trick that worked for me:
My problem was: I added more text to the axis title and it was too long for it's original shape so some text went into second line.
My solution: I type the complete text somewhere else, copy the text, double click on the axis title and delete the original text -- the cursor would still be there -- now insert the copied text. Done! They are all in one line! | Manually insert a textbox into the bar chart and type in the label that way. It's annoying and labor-intensive, but it works. |
8,130,382 | I Have created a bar chart in a 2007 .xls file, but the data labels cannot be resized. When you go to the "format Data Labels" and then click on alignment, the Autofit and Internal Margin option is grayed out. Anyone know why? | 2011/11/15 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/8130382",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/471448/"
] | Partial solution to resize label to a single line: Data labels in a chart will often wrap themselves, when you dont want them to. They would often seem better in a vertical single line above the graph item. Reset them to one single line by editing the text in the label, deleting the Excel imposed return, and replace it with a space. The line, and label box, will resize to fit a single line. However because you have "manually interfered with the lable, it will no longer update for changing graph data. You would have to double click each lable then reset it. Most annoying. | Manually insert a textbox into the bar chart and type in the label that way. It's annoying and labor-intensive, but it works. |
8,130,382 | I Have created a bar chart in a 2007 .xls file, but the data labels cannot be resized. When you go to the "format Data Labels" and then click on alignment, the Autofit and Internal Margin option is grayed out. Anyone know why? | 2011/11/15 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/8130382",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/471448/"
] | A way around it is to make the chart area big. The data label boxes will resize to fit the words in one line. Then make the chart small (not the chart area).
 | Manually insert a textbox into the bar chart and type in the label that way. It's annoying and labor-intensive, but it works. |
54,481,542 | I host a popular website and want to store certain user events to analyze later. Things like: clicked on item, added to cart, removed from cart, etc. I imagine about 5,000,000+ new events would be coming in every day.
My basic idea is to take the event, and store it in a row in Postgres along with a unique user id.
What are some strategies to handle this much data? I can't imagine one giant table is realistic. I've had a couple people recommend things like: dumping the tables into Amazon Redshift at the end of every day, Snowflake, Google BigQuery, Hadoop.
What would you do? | 2019/02/01 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/54481542",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/10918876/"
] | I would [partition](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/ddl-partitioning.html#DDL-PARTITIONING-DECLARATIVE) the table, and as soon as you don't need the detailed data in the live system, detach a partition and [export](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/backup-dump.html) it to an archive and/or aggregate it and put the results into a data warehouse for analyses. | We have similar use case with PostgreSQL 10 and 11. We collect different metrics from customers' websites.
We have several partitioned tables for different data and together we collect per day more then 300 millions rows, i.e. 50-80 GB data daily. In some special days even 2x-3x more.
Collecting database keeps data for current and last day (because especially around midnight there can be big mess with timestamps from different part of the world).
On previous versions PG 9.x we transferred data 1x per day to our main PostgreSQL Warehouse DB (currently 20+ TB). Now we implemented logical replication from collecting database into Warehouse because sync of whole partitions was lately really heavy and long.
Beside of it we daily copy new data to Bigquery for really heavy analytical processing which would on PostgreSQL take like 24+ hours (real life results - trust me). On BQ we get results in minutes but pay sometimes a lot for it...
So daily partitions are reasonable segmentation. Especially with logical replication you do not need to worry. From our experiences I would recommend to not do any exports to BQ etc. from collecting database. Only from Warehouse. |
45,732 | Here's the scenario: I screwed something and that caused some real harm. Now another person could just tell me, “Dude, you screwed X and this caused this and this harm," but instead he will try to be supe- diplomatic and vague to “not hurt my feelings.”
I’d like to tell him, “Dude, stop that diplomacy and prettification — I can take the ugly truth, whatever it is.”
Is there a widely recognized idiom for conveying that message? | 2011/10/20 | [
"https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/45732",
"https://english.stackexchange.com",
"https://english.stackexchange.com/users/623/"
] | "Tell (or Give) it to me straight". | Consider:
>
> Just give me the unvarnished truth, please.
>
>
>
(This is admittedly used more in written communication.) |
45,732 | Here's the scenario: I screwed something and that caused some real harm. Now another person could just tell me, “Dude, you screwed X and this caused this and this harm," but instead he will try to be supe- diplomatic and vague to “not hurt my feelings.”
I’d like to tell him, “Dude, stop that diplomacy and prettification — I can take the ugly truth, whatever it is.”
Is there a widely recognized idiom for conveying that message? | 2011/10/20 | [
"https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/45732",
"https://english.stackexchange.com",
"https://english.stackexchange.com/users/623/"
] | "Tell (or Give) it to me straight". | Also, you could deny being *thin-skinned* (or assert that you are *thick-skinned*). |
45,732 | Here's the scenario: I screwed something and that caused some real harm. Now another person could just tell me, “Dude, you screwed X and this caused this and this harm," but instead he will try to be supe- diplomatic and vague to “not hurt my feelings.”
I’d like to tell him, “Dude, stop that diplomacy and prettification — I can take the ugly truth, whatever it is.”
Is there a widely recognized idiom for conveying that message? | 2011/10/20 | [
"https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/45732",
"https://english.stackexchange.com",
"https://english.stackexchange.com/users/623/"
] | "Tell (or Give) it to me straight". | * **Be honest.**
Or, a little less tersely:
* **Be honest with me.** |
45,732 | Here's the scenario: I screwed something and that caused some real harm. Now another person could just tell me, “Dude, you screwed X and this caused this and this harm," but instead he will try to be supe- diplomatic and vague to “not hurt my feelings.”
I’d like to tell him, “Dude, stop that diplomacy and prettification — I can take the ugly truth, whatever it is.”
Is there a widely recognized idiom for conveying that message? | 2011/10/20 | [
"https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/45732",
"https://english.stackexchange.com",
"https://english.stackexchange.com/users/623/"
] | Consider:
>
> Just give me the unvarnished truth, please.
>
>
>
(This is admittedly used more in written communication.) | Also, you could deny being *thin-skinned* (or assert that you are *thick-skinned*). |
45,732 | Here's the scenario: I screwed something and that caused some real harm. Now another person could just tell me, “Dude, you screwed X and this caused this and this harm," but instead he will try to be supe- diplomatic and vague to “not hurt my feelings.”
I’d like to tell him, “Dude, stop that diplomacy and prettification — I can take the ugly truth, whatever it is.”
Is there a widely recognized idiom for conveying that message? | 2011/10/20 | [
"https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/45732",
"https://english.stackexchange.com",
"https://english.stackexchange.com/users/623/"
] | Consider:
>
> Just give me the unvarnished truth, please.
>
>
>
(This is admittedly used more in written communication.) | * **Be honest.**
Or, a little less tersely:
* **Be honest with me.** |
49,254,088 | I publish my exe and activate auto updates.
But when I compile the exe, there is an error:
>
> Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State Error An
> error occurred while signing: Failed to sign
> bin\Debug\app.publish\myapp.exe. SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd
>
>
>
So I couldn't publish.
When I try to uncheck "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" the error is gone
but I couldn't install the package because Windows doesn't allow and the Windows Defender SmartScreen blocks my app because there's no certificate.
I have to add a certificate from "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" but now it gives the "SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd" error.
How can I solve this problem? | 2018/03/13 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/49254088",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/995221/"
] | I had to change the Signature Algorithm to sha1RSA from sha256RSA | I encountered the same error message when migrating an old ClickOnce project from VS2018 to VS2017. It seems my VS2018 was using an old version of SignTool.
I found (and succeeded with) a tip to change registry key HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows to make Windows to use newer SDK (in my situation SDK v8.1A was the most recent).
The original tip can be found here: <https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/a39b9f82-aaec-4bbd-8cb2-3cade50796ba/an-error-occurred-while-signing-failed-to-sign-bindebugapppublishprogramexe-signtool-error> (scroll down to answer by nikidimi) |
49,254,088 | I publish my exe and activate auto updates.
But when I compile the exe, there is an error:
>
> Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State Error An
> error occurred while signing: Failed to sign
> bin\Debug\app.publish\myapp.exe. SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd
>
>
>
So I couldn't publish.
When I try to uncheck "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" the error is gone
but I couldn't install the package because Windows doesn't allow and the Windows Defender SmartScreen blocks my app because there's no certificate.
I have to add a certificate from "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" but now it gives the "SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd" error.
How can I solve this problem? | 2018/03/13 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/49254088",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/995221/"
] | I had to change the Signature Algorithm to sha1RSA from sha256RSA | Go to the myapp.csproj file, which is the project file, and search for 'SignManifests' PropertyGroup, change the value to false, and the error disappears. This worked for me. |
49,254,088 | I publish my exe and activate auto updates.
But when I compile the exe, there is an error:
>
> Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State Error An
> error occurred while signing: Failed to sign
> bin\Debug\app.publish\myapp.exe. SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd
>
>
>
So I couldn't publish.
When I try to uncheck "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" the error is gone
but I couldn't install the package because Windows doesn't allow and the Windows Defender SmartScreen blocks my app because there's no certificate.
I have to add a certificate from "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" but now it gives the "SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd" error.
How can I solve this problem? | 2018/03/13 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/49254088",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/995221/"
] | I did just the opposite as Stefano - changed it from sha256RSA to sha1RSA - and then it allowed me to publish without the error.
Just changing the signature algorithm may do the trick. | I encountered the same error message when migrating an old ClickOnce project from VS2018 to VS2017. It seems my VS2018 was using an old version of SignTool.
I found (and succeeded with) a tip to change registry key HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows to make Windows to use newer SDK (in my situation SDK v8.1A was the most recent).
The original tip can be found here: <https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/a39b9f82-aaec-4bbd-8cb2-3cade50796ba/an-error-occurred-while-signing-failed-to-sign-bindebugapppublishprogramexe-signtool-error> (scroll down to answer by nikidimi) |
49,254,088 | I publish my exe and activate auto updates.
But when I compile the exe, there is an error:
>
> Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State Error An
> error occurred while signing: Failed to sign
> bin\Debug\app.publish\myapp.exe. SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd
>
>
>
So I couldn't publish.
When I try to uncheck "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" the error is gone
but I couldn't install the package because Windows doesn't allow and the Windows Defender SmartScreen blocks my app because there's no certificate.
I have to add a certificate from "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" but now it gives the "SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd" error.
How can I solve this problem? | 2018/03/13 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/49254088",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/995221/"
] | I encountered the same error message when migrating an old ClickOnce project from VS2018 to VS2017. It seems my VS2018 was using an old version of SignTool.
I found (and succeeded with) a tip to change registry key HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows to make Windows to use newer SDK (in my situation SDK v8.1A was the most recent).
The original tip can be found here: <https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/a39b9f82-aaec-4bbd-8cb2-3cade50796ba/an-error-occurred-while-signing-failed-to-sign-bindebugapppublishprogramexe-signtool-error> (scroll down to answer by nikidimi) | Go to the myapp.csproj file, which is the project file, and search for 'SignManifests' PropertyGroup, change the value to false, and the error disappears. This worked for me. |
49,254,088 | I publish my exe and activate auto updates.
But when I compile the exe, there is an error:
>
> Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State Error An
> error occurred while signing: Failed to sign
> bin\Debug\app.publish\myapp.exe. SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd
>
>
>
So I couldn't publish.
When I try to uncheck "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" the error is gone
but I couldn't install the package because Windows doesn't allow and the Windows Defender SmartScreen blocks my app because there's no certificate.
I have to add a certificate from "Sign the ClickOnce manifest" but now it gives the "SignTool Error: Invalid option: /fd" error.
How can I solve this problem? | 2018/03/13 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/49254088",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/995221/"
] | I did just the opposite as Stefano - changed it from sha256RSA to sha1RSA - and then it allowed me to publish without the error.
Just changing the signature algorithm may do the trick. | Go to the myapp.csproj file, which is the project file, and search for 'SignManifests' PropertyGroup, change the value to false, and the error disappears. This worked for me. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | This may seem kind of obvious, but I use a scanning technique. I like to look at the next 10-20 feet, look up on all sides, look down, and then look up. It's a lot like driving, scan your mirrors, then your environment, then your dash or whatever you need to, and then repeat. It does take mental purpose, so you will have to train yourself.
I like to scan ahead, look up at one area, say my right, scan, and then look to the left. Mostly it is second nature. | I hike with my feet slightly turned upwards against the direction they are moving. This prevents stubbing or anything abrupt and lets me get a firm grip on the firmament whether I see it or not. Also, after some thought, I tend to place my foot from the back-outside to front-inside and let it settle a bit until I feel it catch and then apply weight; for places with loose or jagged terrain, or simply where I want to move with the ground that is really helpful for me.
Personally rather than scan, I sort of observe, which lets me see beneath and above, then too I listen since a lot of snakes I can hear or catch their motion visually.
To me the ground really isn't overly concerning, if I can see the challenges in general, and don't have to be concerned with the nitty-gritty of minor debris than I am golden. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | The trick to be able memorize the immediate trail ahead of you and pick your footfalls several steps before you get to them.
It's the same as offroad driving. You can't see over your hood, and hanging out your window only lets you see one side of your vehicle. You have to memorize the features on the ground ahead and know where your wheels are so you can avoid those features when they disappear from view.
The same can be done while hiking. While you have your head up enjoying the scenery, make mental notes of the trail ahead, if you know where you're feet are, then you can learn to step over obstacles and avoid trip hazards without having to look down and watch your feet the whole time. | >
> How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down?
>
>
>
When I am walking in a city such as NYC or Las Vegas, I do not look down. I am looking right and left for cars, people and dark alleys. But I think you are correct when in the wild to look down more than other places. As Cody Lundin says foot placement is very important. When stepping on rocks, up and over logs, in and out of mudholes and through high grass, you just have to know where you are placing your feet. There is only one way to know, you travel slowly and deliberately and do not place your feet in any spot that you have not looked at first.
Sure, that means cutting your speed down but I do not see any other way. We hike in pairs so that the front guy checks the ground out and generally only looks 15 to 20 ft ahead. He is clearing the way for the guy behind him who scans the trees and listens, getting an overview. Depending on where you are of course we do not relax and smell the coffee until we reach the destination. If you want to look around and enjoy nature, stop! We never do that moving. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | I find this is something I do when I can't see much of the scene in front of me at once. This is normally because I'm not far from the person in front of me. Therefore, my advice is: walk in front. Or, leave a big gap between you and the person in front of you. This is perhaps somewhat antisocial, but personally I quite like to walk alone about half the time. It lets me focus on my surroundings a bit more. | I hike with my feet slightly turned upwards against the direction they are moving. This prevents stubbing or anything abrupt and lets me get a firm grip on the firmament whether I see it or not. Also, after some thought, I tend to place my foot from the back-outside to front-inside and let it settle a bit until I feel it catch and then apply weight; for places with loose or jagged terrain, or simply where I want to move with the ground that is really helpful for me.
Personally rather than scan, I sort of observe, which lets me see beneath and above, then too I listen since a lot of snakes I can hear or catch their motion visually.
To me the ground really isn't overly concerning, if I can see the challenges in general, and don't have to be concerned with the nitty-gritty of minor debris than I am golden. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | The trick to be able memorize the immediate trail ahead of you and pick your footfalls several steps before you get to them.
It's the same as offroad driving. You can't see over your hood, and hanging out your window only lets you see one side of your vehicle. You have to memorize the features on the ground ahead and know where your wheels are so you can avoid those features when they disappear from view.
The same can be done while hiking. While you have your head up enjoying the scenery, make mental notes of the trail ahead, if you know where you're feet are, then you can learn to step over obstacles and avoid trip hazards without having to look down and watch your feet the whole time. | Ha ha. You can't. At least not off a leveled surface. I've struggled with this too. If I look down I miss the views; if I look up I trip. So I look ahead for a place to stop and enjoy. Then I march on, eyes on the rocks and detritus in the trail, until I reach my looky place. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | This may seem kind of obvious, but I use a scanning technique. I like to look at the next 10-20 feet, look up on all sides, look down, and then look up. It's a lot like driving, scan your mirrors, then your environment, then your dash or whatever you need to, and then repeat. It does take mental purpose, so you will have to train yourself.
I like to scan ahead, look up at one area, say my right, scan, and then look to the left. Mostly it is second nature. | I find this is something I do when I can't see much of the scene in front of me at once. This is normally because I'm not far from the person in front of me. Therefore, my advice is: walk in front. Or, leave a big gap between you and the person in front of you. This is perhaps somewhat antisocial, but personally I quite like to walk alone about half the time. It lets me focus on my surroundings a bit more. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | I find this is something I do when I can't see much of the scene in front of me at once. This is normally because I'm not far from the person in front of me. Therefore, my advice is: walk in front. Or, leave a big gap between you and the person in front of you. This is perhaps somewhat antisocial, but personally I quite like to walk alone about half the time. It lets me focus on my surroundings a bit more. | seems to me if you're hiking for distance, then watching where you're going is really important; but if you're there to see, listen, smell, etc., just slow down. Animals don't move quickly, they pause, look around, smell, listen, then move on. Birds are always looking around for threats & food. Slowing down is good- you may not cover a lot of ground, but it will be a richer experience. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | I find this is something I do when I can't see much of the scene in front of me at once. This is normally because I'm not far from the person in front of me. Therefore, my advice is: walk in front. Or, leave a big gap between you and the person in front of you. This is perhaps somewhat antisocial, but personally I quite like to walk alone about half the time. It lets me focus on my surroundings a bit more. | Ha ha. You can't. At least not off a leveled surface. I've struggled with this too. If I look down I miss the views; if I look up I trip. So I look ahead for a place to stop and enjoy. Then I march on, eyes on the rocks and detritus in the trail, until I reach my looky place. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | seems to me if you're hiking for distance, then watching where you're going is really important; but if you're there to see, listen, smell, etc., just slow down. Animals don't move quickly, they pause, look around, smell, listen, then move on. Birds are always looking around for threats & food. Slowing down is good- you may not cover a lot of ground, but it will be a richer experience. | Ha ha. You can't. At least not off a leveled surface. I've struggled with this too. If I look down I miss the views; if I look up I trip. So I look ahead for a place to stop and enjoy. Then I march on, eyes on the rocks and detritus in the trail, until I reach my looky place. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | I find this is something I do when I can't see much of the scene in front of me at once. This is normally because I'm not far from the person in front of me. Therefore, my advice is: walk in front. Or, leave a big gap between you and the person in front of you. This is perhaps somewhat antisocial, but personally I quite like to walk alone about half the time. It lets me focus on my surroundings a bit more. | >
> How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down?
>
>
>
When I am walking in a city such as NYC or Las Vegas, I do not look down. I am looking right and left for cars, people and dark alleys. But I think you are correct when in the wild to look down more than other places. As Cody Lundin says foot placement is very important. When stepping on rocks, up and over logs, in and out of mudholes and through high grass, you just have to know where you are placing your feet. There is only one way to know, you travel slowly and deliberately and do not place your feet in any spot that you have not looked at first.
Sure, that means cutting your speed down but I do not see any other way. We hike in pairs so that the front guy checks the ground out and generally only looks 15 to 20 ft ahead. He is clearing the way for the guy behind him who scans the trees and listens, getting an overview. Depending on where you are of course we do not relax and smell the coffee until we reach the destination. If you want to look around and enjoy nature, stop! We never do that moving. |
8,581 | Every time I go walking or hiking, I generally spend most of my time looking down to make sure I don't step on a snake or hole or dog poop. I don't do it consciously, it just happens. Obviously, I miss out on a lot of birds and small animals up in the trees and I'd like to see how other people cope with the urge to avoid obstacles and just enjoy their surroundings.
How can I go walking and hiking without constantly looking down? | 2015/06/19 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/8581",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3066/"
] | This may seem kind of obvious, but I use a scanning technique. I like to look at the next 10-20 feet, look up on all sides, look down, and then look up. It's a lot like driving, scan your mirrors, then your environment, then your dash or whatever you need to, and then repeat. It does take mental purpose, so you will have to train yourself.
I like to scan ahead, look up at one area, say my right, scan, and then look to the left. Mostly it is second nature. | Ha ha. You can't. At least not off a leveled surface. I've struggled with this too. If I look down I miss the views; if I look up I trip. So I look ahead for a place to stop and enjoy. Then I march on, eyes on the rocks and detritus in the trail, until I reach my looky place. |
17,970 | (I clearly didn't format my prior question appropriately so I'll rephrase things).
Do MTG Core sets contain new (never before seen) cards? Or is it just cards for the prior year's expansion set?
Assuming that there are new cards, how does this compare with the ratio of old to new cards available in expansion sets? | 2014/06/22 | [
"https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/17970",
"https://boardgames.stackexchange.com",
"https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/users/3243/"
] | Core sets do contain new cards, but at a lower ratio than typical expansions. This [article](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Magic_2014/Changes#Cards_added_to_Magic_2014) indicates that about half (112/249) the cards in Magic 2014 were new, while the rest were reprints. I would guess that the ratio will be about the same for Magic 2015.
By comparison, in [Theros](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Theros#Reprinted_cards), out of 249 cards, there were 12 reprints, and 5 functional reprints (nearly identical functionality, but a different card name). | ### Core sets have been discontinued, so they don't contain any cards.
In 2021, [core sets were discontinued](https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Core_set), with Dungeons and Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms being released in the publication slot that would have seen M22 released. Similarly, in 2022, no core set was scheduled for release, either; the game's developers have stated that their Jumpstart product was sufficient to meet the needs of introducing new players to the game.
As such we can say that, moving forward, the Core Set will contain both no reprints and no new cards, since it doesn't contain any cards, since it doesn't exist. |
17,970 | (I clearly didn't format my prior question appropriately so I'll rephrase things).
Do MTG Core sets contain new (never before seen) cards? Or is it just cards for the prior year's expansion set?
Assuming that there are new cards, how does this compare with the ratio of old to new cards available in expansion sets? | 2014/06/22 | [
"https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/17970",
"https://boardgames.stackexchange.com",
"https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/users/3243/"
] | In response to your specific need, **there will be very few cards in Magic 2015 that existed in any set since Magic 2014** and even then it'll be a limited overlap. This is simple pragmatism on Wizard's part; if half the cards in the new set are already in even the new players' hands, then people aren't as interested in the set. So if you're looking for cards that don't exist in *your* collection, you should be fine.
A lot of the "reprints" will actually be from old sets like *Mirrodin* (for example, Darksteel Citadel is back, and we can expect to see a lot of the old Convoke cards from original *Ravnica: City of Guilds*), and you will never have seen them before. So you should get a good sample of new blood for your collection.
On the other hand, if you want *definite* new blood, getting a booster box of *Theros* or another "Fall set" would be a more reliable way to go.
Hope that helps.
---
**Some Background Detail on Core Sets and new Cards:**
[Historically, there was a shift in 2009, when the set Magic 2010 was released.](https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles)
Up to that point, core sets were basically "Standard enablers". Their job was to provide a set of cards to allow players to build basic decks for the main 2-year rotating format, which would then be "powered" by the main mechanics of the "Expert" sets. They also acted as an intro product to the game, but this was fundamentally a secondary role. The main evidence of this focus was the fact that Core Sets didn't provide any new cards, and little to no new art, which meant that they were generally a hodge-podge of cards with no unifying theme, a poor limited environment and (generally) a lower power level.
Magic 2010 changed this by saying "Look, this is the product that lays out what Magic *is*", not just what it's doing this year. We're going to have the Magic rings, the Necromancers, the wacky Goblin hijinks, the Fireballs, and **if a card we want for it doesn't exist, we will make it exist**. Note that this is the inverse to the expert set's dictum "If an existing card **will fit with our theme**, we should put it in".
As Hao shows, this leads to the Core Set having a limited number of new cards. But it's also meant that the reprints they pull in are better chosen, and generally chosen with an eye to new players seeing new cards.
The set is also far more "draftable", which I would argue is the best way of gaining value from your booster packs. I've been regularly drafting newbie 2014 on Magic Online, and it's a blast. | ### Core sets have been discontinued, so they don't contain any cards.
In 2021, [core sets were discontinued](https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Core_set), with Dungeons and Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms being released in the publication slot that would have seen M22 released. Similarly, in 2022, no core set was scheduled for release, either; the game's developers have stated that their Jumpstart product was sufficient to meet the needs of introducing new players to the game.
As such we can say that, moving forward, the Core Set will contain both no reprints and no new cards, since it doesn't contain any cards, since it doesn't exist. |
216,152 | After a few weeks of using El Capitan seemingly random messages started appearing blank. Viewing the messages in the Google web interface showed that they were not blank.
Restarting the app usually fixes it.
I deleted all my emails (by deleting mail folder ~/Library/Mail) and started again - and it was OK for about a week - and now it's started doing it again. Rebuilding mailboxes doesn't help.
I found links around the web to cases of this back in 2010/2011 - like this
<https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2364054>
But it appeared to go unsolved.
Is this just a bug in El Capitan - and is there a solution? | 2015/11/17 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/216152",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/92222/"
] | You could try to delete the whole Mail folder here:
~/Library/Mail
and delete the mail preferences files in
~/Library/Preferences
Then reconfigure the Mail. This will of course delete emails which are only saved locally. Instead of deleting you could of course close the app and move the files to another location for backup.
I've seen the same issue happening. The problem occured after switching the mail server. I had tried everything I could think of like rebuilding the mail box, deleteting the mailbox indexes, renaming mail boxes, force re-downloading the emails, re-adding the email account. The only thing that worked was deleting what i mentioned above. | Most mail issues can be reduced to a specific fault with a little troubleshooting.
Open the connection doctor window in Mail.app and see if you can determine one specific mail host with issues.
Then set up a new user account with only that mail account and enable logging. At that point, you will know if you have a networking issue, a problem with one computer or a problem with one mail provider and your specific mail client.
Then you can decide to work with support for that mail provider, document the failure here with specific error messages and/or determine that you have a temporary issue that clears up over time due to capacity or temporary networking issues / delays / one host. |
216,152 | After a few weeks of using El Capitan seemingly random messages started appearing blank. Viewing the messages in the Google web interface showed that they were not blank.
Restarting the app usually fixes it.
I deleted all my emails (by deleting mail folder ~/Library/Mail) and started again - and it was OK for about a week - and now it's started doing it again. Rebuilding mailboxes doesn't help.
I found links around the web to cases of this back in 2010/2011 - like this
<https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2364054>
But it appeared to go unsolved.
Is this just a bug in El Capitan - and is there a solution? | 2015/11/17 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/216152",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/92222/"
] | I have this problem infrequently. Quitting and restarting mail.app fixes it and just takes a second. Another quick and dirty solution is to click on email forward which will let you see the email contents right away. | Most mail issues can be reduced to a specific fault with a little troubleshooting.
Open the connection doctor window in Mail.app and see if you can determine one specific mail host with issues.
Then set up a new user account with only that mail account and enable logging. At that point, you will know if you have a networking issue, a problem with one computer or a problem with one mail provider and your specific mail client.
Then you can decide to work with support for that mail provider, document the failure here with specific error messages and/or determine that you have a temporary issue that clears up over time due to capacity or temporary networking issues / delays / one host. |
216,152 | After a few weeks of using El Capitan seemingly random messages started appearing blank. Viewing the messages in the Google web interface showed that they were not blank.
Restarting the app usually fixes it.
I deleted all my emails (by deleting mail folder ~/Library/Mail) and started again - and it was OK for about a week - and now it's started doing it again. Rebuilding mailboxes doesn't help.
I found links around the web to cases of this back in 2010/2011 - like this
<https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2364054>
But it appeared to go unsolved.
Is this just a bug in El Capitan - and is there a solution? | 2015/11/17 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/216152",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/92222/"
] | This is an old question but I landed here from a search; one thing that works for me sometimes when other solutions listed here don't is to move the email in question to a different account. The contents usually become visible immediately. You can then move it back (if you want to) and it will remain visible. | Most mail issues can be reduced to a specific fault with a little troubleshooting.
Open the connection doctor window in Mail.app and see if you can determine one specific mail host with issues.
Then set up a new user account with only that mail account and enable logging. At that point, you will know if you have a networking issue, a problem with one computer or a problem with one mail provider and your specific mail client.
Then you can decide to work with support for that mail provider, document the failure here with specific error messages and/or determine that you have a temporary issue that clears up over time due to capacity or temporary networking issues / delays / one host. |
47,470,891 | If I want to persist the users' login such that they do not have to re-login even after, say 1 year of inactivity, then is storing a permanent access token as good as storing the password directly (perhaps hashed), since the (permanent) access token would essentially be the "alternative password"? | 2017/11/24 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/47470891",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/6599478/"
] | Storing an access token is surely safer than storing the password directly, but let's see why:
1. An attacker can only get this token, but not the original password. This is better, because passwords are often reused on other sites, and/or can reveal password schemes. ➽ Make sure the token is random and not derrived from the password.
2. The token is not just another password. While passwords choosen by a user are often weak, a token is very strong. They are so strong, that brute-forcing is impractical. ➽ Generate random, long enough tokens, they should be at least 20 characters a-z,A-Z,0-9. | Is better to store an access token than storing the password or the hashed password (can always try brute force to find the password) and I think you should give a token a lifetime. |
47,470,891 | If I want to persist the users' login such that they do not have to re-login even after, say 1 year of inactivity, then is storing a permanent access token as good as storing the password directly (perhaps hashed), since the (permanent) access token would essentially be the "alternative password"? | 2017/11/24 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/47470891",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/6599478/"
] | Generally speaking, yes. **But**, with a lot of caveats.
A long, random token, *generated by a CSPRNG* (this is very important, there are different ways to generate "random" strings and not all of them are really random), is stronger than a password - yes. However, the way you intend to use this token means that it is effectively a password by itself, and that means the same criteria applies:
* It can't be permanent.
A key property of passwords is that they are not constants and users can change their passwords when stolen, or otherwise over time. Any kind of token should be no different, except that it should be automatically changed (rotated) by your application, on regular intervals.
* It MUST be hashed!
(with a strong algorithm: bcrypt, scrypt, Argon-2I, PBKDF2; anything else is plain wrong)
Don't ever store user passwords in plain-text format, anywhere. Even if it is guaranteed that the user doesn't use this password on any other site, a plain-text password means that anybody who gets their hands on the database (even for a brief time), can hijack user accounts.
You have a responsibility to protect your users not only from "hackers", but from yourself as well.
* Don't store it in a cookie, even if hashed or encrypted.
The way you've worded the question implies that you would do something like this. Cookies are not a secure location to store passwords of any kind. *Temporary, short-lived tokens* - sure, but not passwords.
It looks like you're trying to design your own authentication protocol, which is not an easy thing to do. It may be easy to make it work, but that's about 5% of the job; there's just too many details to consider. And all of this, for the tiny benefit of saving the minor inconvenience of a user typing-in their password once in a while - people are used to this; it's not worth the security risks.
In case you are hell-bent on providing long-lived logins, I would recommend using an existing authentication protocol. Every such protocol uses on cryptographic signatures, avoiding reliance on user passwords altogether and thus eliminating all of the above problems almost entirely.
Personally, I would just allow the so-called "social logins" - via Facebook, Google, Twitter. You wouldn't have to handle passwords at all, and anybody can login with a single click of a button. | Is better to store an access token than storing the password or the hashed password (can always try brute force to find the password) and I think you should give a token a lifetime. |
47,470,891 | If I want to persist the users' login such that they do not have to re-login even after, say 1 year of inactivity, then is storing a permanent access token as good as storing the password directly (perhaps hashed), since the (permanent) access token would essentially be the "alternative password"? | 2017/11/24 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/47470891",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/6599478/"
] | Storing an access token is surely safer than storing the password directly, but let's see why:
1. An attacker can only get this token, but not the original password. This is better, because passwords are often reused on other sites, and/or can reveal password schemes. ➽ Make sure the token is random and not derrived from the password.
2. The token is not just another password. While passwords choosen by a user are often weak, a token is very strong. They are so strong, that brute-forcing is impractical. ➽ Generate random, long enough tokens, they should be at least 20 characters a-z,A-Z,0-9. | Although the answer is yes, but it also depends on the place you are storing the token. And you might want to auth the user with XSRF/CSRF token as well along with the token.
But storing token is better than storing password. |
47,470,891 | If I want to persist the users' login such that they do not have to re-login even after, say 1 year of inactivity, then is storing a permanent access token as good as storing the password directly (perhaps hashed), since the (permanent) access token would essentially be the "alternative password"? | 2017/11/24 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/47470891",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/6599478/"
] | Generally speaking, yes. **But**, with a lot of caveats.
A long, random token, *generated by a CSPRNG* (this is very important, there are different ways to generate "random" strings and not all of them are really random), is stronger than a password - yes. However, the way you intend to use this token means that it is effectively a password by itself, and that means the same criteria applies:
* It can't be permanent.
A key property of passwords is that they are not constants and users can change their passwords when stolen, or otherwise over time. Any kind of token should be no different, except that it should be automatically changed (rotated) by your application, on regular intervals.
* It MUST be hashed!
(with a strong algorithm: bcrypt, scrypt, Argon-2I, PBKDF2; anything else is plain wrong)
Don't ever store user passwords in plain-text format, anywhere. Even if it is guaranteed that the user doesn't use this password on any other site, a plain-text password means that anybody who gets their hands on the database (even for a brief time), can hijack user accounts.
You have a responsibility to protect your users not only from "hackers", but from yourself as well.
* Don't store it in a cookie, even if hashed or encrypted.
The way you've worded the question implies that you would do something like this. Cookies are not a secure location to store passwords of any kind. *Temporary, short-lived tokens* - sure, but not passwords.
It looks like you're trying to design your own authentication protocol, which is not an easy thing to do. It may be easy to make it work, but that's about 5% of the job; there's just too many details to consider. And all of this, for the tiny benefit of saving the minor inconvenience of a user typing-in their password once in a while - people are used to this; it's not worth the security risks.
In case you are hell-bent on providing long-lived logins, I would recommend using an existing authentication protocol. Every such protocol uses on cryptographic signatures, avoiding reliance on user passwords altogether and thus eliminating all of the above problems almost entirely.
Personally, I would just allow the so-called "social logins" - via Facebook, Google, Twitter. You wouldn't have to handle passwords at all, and anybody can login with a single click of a button. | Although the answer is yes, but it also depends on the place you are storing the token. And you might want to auth the user with XSRF/CSRF token as well along with the token.
But storing token is better than storing password. |
47,470,891 | If I want to persist the users' login such that they do not have to re-login even after, say 1 year of inactivity, then is storing a permanent access token as good as storing the password directly (perhaps hashed), since the (permanent) access token would essentially be the "alternative password"? | 2017/11/24 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/47470891",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/6599478/"
] | Storing an access token is surely safer than storing the password directly, but let's see why:
1. An attacker can only get this token, but not the original password. This is better, because passwords are often reused on other sites, and/or can reveal password schemes. ➽ Make sure the token is random and not derrived from the password.
2. The token is not just another password. While passwords choosen by a user are often weak, a token is very strong. They are so strong, that brute-forcing is impractical. ➽ Generate random, long enough tokens, they should be at least 20 characters a-z,A-Z,0-9. | Generally speaking, yes. **But**, with a lot of caveats.
A long, random token, *generated by a CSPRNG* (this is very important, there are different ways to generate "random" strings and not all of them are really random), is stronger than a password - yes. However, the way you intend to use this token means that it is effectively a password by itself, and that means the same criteria applies:
* It can't be permanent.
A key property of passwords is that they are not constants and users can change their passwords when stolen, or otherwise over time. Any kind of token should be no different, except that it should be automatically changed (rotated) by your application, on regular intervals.
* It MUST be hashed!
(with a strong algorithm: bcrypt, scrypt, Argon-2I, PBKDF2; anything else is plain wrong)
Don't ever store user passwords in plain-text format, anywhere. Even if it is guaranteed that the user doesn't use this password on any other site, a plain-text password means that anybody who gets their hands on the database (even for a brief time), can hijack user accounts.
You have a responsibility to protect your users not only from "hackers", but from yourself as well.
* Don't store it in a cookie, even if hashed or encrypted.
The way you've worded the question implies that you would do something like this. Cookies are not a secure location to store passwords of any kind. *Temporary, short-lived tokens* - sure, but not passwords.
It looks like you're trying to design your own authentication protocol, which is not an easy thing to do. It may be easy to make it work, but that's about 5% of the job; there's just too many details to consider. And all of this, for the tiny benefit of saving the minor inconvenience of a user typing-in their password once in a while - people are used to this; it's not worth the security risks.
In case you are hell-bent on providing long-lived logins, I would recommend using an existing authentication protocol. Every such protocol uses on cryptographic signatures, avoiding reliance on user passwords altogether and thus eliminating all of the above problems almost entirely.
Personally, I would just allow the so-called "social logins" - via Facebook, Google, Twitter. You wouldn't have to handle passwords at all, and anybody can login with a single click of a button. |
15,094,021 | I'm just writing the planning for an iPhone app I'm making to manage your repositories on GitHub. This is for a University assignment.
Can I OAuth from Objective-C and how would it work? Would it just be a 'Login with GitHub' button to load an in-built browser or would it be a username / password combo?
Am I able to get the resulting token back from this and store it using Core Data until the user forcibly logs out? | 2013/02/26 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/15094021",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/941446/"
] | You definitely can - it's possible to either go through GitHub's web based authentication flow, or use their 'non web application' alternative. Both are detailed [here](http://developer.github.com/v3/oauth/#create-a-new-authorization).
However, a number of developers have already created GitHub API libraries for various languages, including [this one for Objective-C](https://github.com/owainhunt/uagithubengine) that is listed on GitHub's own libraries page. You may find it a lot easier, and you could always modify it (and hopefully contribute your changes back!) if you need to do things that the library doesn't support. | You can have a look at the authentication code I'm using in iOctocat: <https://github.com/dennisreimann/ioctocat>
Under the hood I'm using AFNetworking with its OAuth2 extension, which makes most of the communication very easy. The custom stuff the app is doing can be found here:
<https://github.com/dennisreimann/ioctocat/blob/master/Classes/GHBasicClient.m>
Hope this helps you :) |
86,667 | I've been hired at a smallish company to be the sole sysadmin. I'm supposed to take over, among other things, responsibility for Active Directory. I've had a look at the current setup, suggested a few improvements and said I'd need a dedicated administrative account within the Domain Admins group with an explanation of why I'd need it and what it would be used for.
Bossman gets visibly worried and asks if I'd also have access to a file share with some confidential employee documents. "Not explicitly, but being the administrator I could grant myself the necessary permissions", I explain. Bossman says I need to figure out some sort of process to make sure any administrative tasks get supervised by a manager.
I honestly find this approach quite offensive. I can understand I'm new and he doesn't know me, but he hired me to do precisely THIS job and I am after all an experienced system administrator with excellent references!
**Does anyone have any experience working in such an environment? Should I get worried about my future here? How can I get my boss to trust me with the tools I need to do my job?**
Please note I don't work for a government/defense/security contractor, there's currently no legislation requiring me to be supervised and the company does not handle PII except for that of it's employees. | 2017/03/10 | [
"https://workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/86667",
"https://workplace.stackexchange.com",
"https://workplace.stackexchange.com/users/65865/"
] | I basically agree with [jbh's answer](https://workplace.stackexchange.com/a/86669/19325), but would go a bit further.
Your attitude should be "I'm a professional sysadmin. I use only the minimum privileges necessary to do my job and keep things working. I will be able to deal with problems sooner if I don't need a manager to supervise me. However, I understand I'm new here and it will take time for you to learn to trust me."
Embrace the supervision. Design a configuration and a set of protocols that ensure you cannot do the actions that worry your boss without a manager supervising you. Suggest that they should have an outside consultant review the configuration and protocols to check they do what you say they do. Of course, you can have absolutely no involvement in selecting the consultant.
Keep a log of your activities, including every time you request a manager, and when the manager was in fact available. Do you need to do any of the supervised activities on an emergency basis outside working hours? If so, suggest there should be an on-call manager to supervise you.
Included in your reporting to your manager the cost of the supervision in terms of delays in solving urgent problems.
One of two things will happen. Either you will very rarely need supervision, and it will be unimportant, or it will collapse under its own weight. I don't think sitting watching a sysadmin at work is going to be a fun and interesting activity for the typical manager. | You've just told your new boss that your position comes with some business risks/liabilities that he didn't know about. It might be that these are necessary liabilities that enable you to do your job, but all your boss is aware of right now is the risk. You need to show him the benefit - tell/show him how the value you add to the company by having those permissions outweighs the risk that it carries.
If your boss is not convinced, you may have to make do with having what you may view as unnecessary supervision for a time. If this is the case, I would not make any efforts to circumvent the supervision. Make every effort to show yourself to be trustworthy and above-board. Ideally, your boss will see that supervision is not needed for certain tasks. If not, you can bring it up after an appropriate amount of time (as a new hire I'd probably wait at least 90 days) and see if your boss agrees that the supervision is not an effective use of everyone's time. |
31,089,134 | When I try to create a new ASP.NET Empty Web Site in Visual Studio Premium 2013 on my windows 8.1 machine, I get the following error message:
Configuring IIS Express failed with the following error:
Unable to acces the IIS metabase. You do not have sufficient privilege to acces IIS web sites on your machine.
I am aware questions about this error have been asked all around the web numerous times and I have tried every solution I came upon so far, but nothing has worked. I have reinstalled Visual Studio, I have reinstalled IIS several times (and included all options), I have obviously run Visual Studio as administrator and I have navigated to C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\config\Export and clicked "Continue" on the popups I got (for permission to access the folders).
I am completely out of ideas and sincerely hope that one of you can help me with my problems, thanks. | 2015/06/27 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/31089134",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/4725248/"
] | [Here](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms162169.aspx) is a resource for SMO programming, perhaps you will find what you need in the guide.
I must admit though, administering SQL Server from managed code is not something I would recommend unless your product is aimed at administering SQL Server. Alternatively look at doing this from Powershell and then controlling your scripts/cmdlets from your managed application.
[Here](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff878391.aspx) is another resource with a list of cmdlets for managing SQL Server Availability Groups.
Finally [Get Help SQL Server Powershell](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc281939.aspx) | It differs whether are we moving DB on primary replica or Secondary.
Below mention are the steps for both the replicas...
1.) Primary Replica:-
Detach DB from all the secondary replicas AG
Detach DB from the primary replica AG
Issue ALter DB T-SQL command for the DB which needs to be moved.
Copy the db files to the new destination.
Attach the DB back on primary replica AG
Attach the DB back on all Secondary replicas AG
2.) Secondary replica:-
Take a full backup of DB.
Take a t log backup of DB
detach the DB from the AG
restore DB using backup created earlier and restore to destination location.
Attach the DB back to AG |
5,980 | Is it possible to use SharePoint object model to enumerate all sites in an application to determine what the base site definition is? (and also to know if the site was provisioned from a template?)
thx | 2010/10/05 | [
"https://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/questions/5980",
"https://sharepoint.stackexchange.com",
"https://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/users/1317/"
] | You can iterate your site collections and examine every SPWeb to discover WebTemplate, WebTemplateId and Configuration.
These values match the template and configuration used to create the site (aka web in API). You can then compare that against the site definitions found in SharePoint root (14 hive if u wish) in the respective ONET.XML files and webtemp\*.xml files.
<http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.sharepoint.spweb_members.aspx>
In SP2007 there was **no** way to discover if your site was provisioned by a site definition template or a template file (STP). Since STP files are now retired (for site templates anyway) in favor of WSP files, I would assume that its still impossible to see this. | To add to Anders answer, you can get the name through the API, too in 2010 and 2013.
Use [SPWeb.GetAvailableWebTemplates](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.sharepoint.spweb.getavailablewebtemplates%28v=office.12%29.aspx). Another SharePoint.stackexchange.com thread has [a great example of using the API](https://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/questions/5667/which-site-template-is-a-site-using) through PowerShell. |
4,784,722 | 
I have an excel sheet that shows the height-weight acceptable by underwriting class (insurance). I would like to load it into a relational database table with the following columns - underwriting\_class, height and weight. Is there a way to do the transformation thru' SQL | 2011/01/24 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/4784722",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/251946/"
] | Hey Robert, not sure if this is what is causing it, but in Example 1 it looks like you are trying to use a string literal on the JPG name, but if so, the @ symbol needs to be outside the quotes...
>
> @"good morning" // a string literal
>
>
> | It looks like you are only passing the filename of the photo to upload. Are you using a library that will read the actual photo contents from disk? If not, you'll need to do that yourself and write the contents to the request.
The format for writing the photo contents to the request will depend on the expectations of the API you are writing to (multi-part, etc.). |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | Taking a level or two of fighter is a mark of desperation for feats.
Taking more just doesn’t make sense; a feat per level is weak, but if you desperately need feats it can be the right choice. A feat every other level is worthless.
I’m going to answer based on pure fighter, but only after the caveat that I’m taking this as an arbitrary restriction that I would never recommend holding to.
The Defender Role
-----------------
This is a concept from 4e, where fighters and other Defender classes could meaningfully protect allies and punish enemies for ignoring them.
3.5 does not have any such concept. If you are big, hardy, impossible to hit, with tons of HP, *enemies will ignore you and go straight for the real threats*. You have almost no way of stopping them from doing it; only magic does that at all well. Tripping is the best bet you have, but it’s not great.
Alternate Class Features, Variant Classes, Substitution Levels
--------------------------------------------------------------
Alternate class features are the only hope here; otherwise, there really is nothing that the fighter has to offer. I suppose you’d get Weapon Supremacy just to say you had.
### Dungeoncrasher
This ACF from *Dungeonscape* replaces your 2nd-level and 6th-level bonus feats with the ability to deal **massive** damage by slamming people into walls with Bull Rush.
### Zhentarim Soldier
These substitution levels from the [*Champions of Valor* web supplement](https://web.archive.org/web/20211001135255/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a) gives you Skill Focus (intimidate) at Fighter 3, extends the duration of the demoralize effect of Intimidate at Fighter 5, and allows you to demoralize as a swift action at Fighter 9. This costs nothing (excepting that you have to keep taking fighter levels, which as discussed is actually a very *high* cost), and the 9th-level one is actually good.
Between these two, you can almost justify 9 levels of fighter, since the swift-action demoralize is a fairly solid ability. Or, would be if everything and its brother didn’t ignore Fear effects...
Tactics
-------
Fighters have access to three good tricks, more or less. As a pure fighter, you might as well attempt to do all of them, and maybe toss in some other ideas.
### Charging
Barbarians do it better, but it is what it is. Wants Power Attack, Shocktrooper (*Complete Warrior*), Leap Attack (*Complete Adventurer*), and Battle Jump (*Unapproachable East*). Really, really wants at least one level of barbarian and warblade, but whatever. Lance is the weapon of choice if you go mounted, otherwise any two-handed weapon is best. Using a lance kind of pigeonholes you into not tripping, so just going with the trip weapons is probably better.
### Dungeoncrashing
Only available with the ACF, this mostly relies on Bull Rush, so Power Attack and Improved Bull Rush are necessary. Shocktrooper (*Complete Warrior*) is crucial for the directional Bull Rushes (you can angle people as you push them), while Knockback (*Races of Stone*) allows you to Bull Rush on every attack rather than as a standard action. Weapon doesn’t matter for Bull Rush.
### Intimidating
Only viable with the Zhentarim Soldier levels, and even then, a disturbingly large selection of foes will outright ignore it. Wants Imperious Command (*Drow of the Underdark*), as well as the Never Outnumbered skill trick (*Complete Scoundrel*). Max ranks in Intimidate, don’t completely dump Charisma.
With the Fighter 9 replacement from Zhentarim Soldier, lets you spend a swift action on the first round to attempt to demoralize everyone you threaten, and if successful leaves them cowering for 1 round. Cowering opponents are *extremely* vulnerable, so this is a **really** good trick when it works. After the first round, you can continue to use swift actions to demoralize, but only against single targets.
Unfortunately, Imperious Command requires Cha 15. Unless you roll for stats, and roll absurdly well, that’s just not going to happen until very late in the game, because Cha is your least, or at best second-least, important ability score. The only thing it improves is your Intimidate check, which is mostly about your ranks and bonuses from other sources, not your Cha.
Also, *Tome of Battle* has a new mechanic for Intimidate, called Duel of Wills. It’s a thing you can just choose to do, for free, at the start of combat. Since you’re pumping Intimidate and most don’t, you get some free bonuses, though they are small and fleeting. Still, free.
### Initiating
Martial Study and Martial Stance from *Tome of Battle* are fighter bonus feats. You’re limited to only three of the former, which sucks, but there are some *great* options.
Obviously, you would be massively better off just taking levels of crusader or warblade.
For maneuvers, *shadow walk* would be awesome, *iron heart surge* and *white raven tactics* are excellent, *charging minotaur strike* fits in well with dungeoncrashing, etc. *Defensive rebuke* is one of the very-few true aggro-drawing abilities in the game. There are more. For stances, *thicket of blades* makes it **much** harder to get around your attacks of opportunity, and that is *really* important, because your true purpose here is...
### Tripping
The bread and butter of any lockdown build. Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip are necessary; [Knock-down](https://www.d20srd.org/srd/divine/divineAbilitiesFeats.htm#knockDown) and [Stand Still](https://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#standStill) are solid choices. You need a weapon with both reach and tripping ability: the guisarme or spiked chain are your best options.
This is how you really lock down a fight. Intimidate’s a nice trick when it works, but it often won’t, and charging and/or dungeoncrashing are usually much more about damage than they are controlling the battlefield.
Tripping means anyone who wants to get past you, has to do it very carefully. You can trip on your attacks of opportunity, which tends to prompt another attack of opportunity when they get up—the AoO happens *before* they actually get up, though, so trippping at that point has no effect and they still can get up afterwards.
Races
-----
You want to be big and strong, but you don’t want to be stupid because you need that Int 13 for Combat Expertise. Two levels of barbarian would get you around that, and massively improve your life, but oh well. At least it ensures you’ll have skill points for Intimidate and Jump.
Also, when you’re taking levels in a class as weak as fighter, level adjustment may be worthwhile. It’s usually awful, but maybe LA +1 can get us something good...
### Goliath
Oh yeah, it can. Goliaths are from *Races of Stone*, and have both LA +1 and the Powerful Build ability, treating them as a size category larger for a lot of purposes (mostly everything except space and reach, which is a shame but oh well). That means +4 on Bull Rush and Trip checks, and slightly higher damage. The +4 is the important bit.
They also get +4 Strength, −2 Dexterity, and +2 Constitution. The −2 Dexterity definitely *does* hurt, but it’s rare to make more than 2-3 attacks of opportunity in a round, so you can survive it. The +4 Strength and +2 Constitution are big helps, though the Constitution is misleading because you also have one fewer level to get HP from.
Mountain Movement, the ability to always count as running for jumps, is also useful to you. It will allow you to trigger Leap Attack much more easily. If you can get it, though you probably can’t without a warblade dip, *sudden leap* would also benefit.
### Half-minotaur
From *Dragon* vol. 313, this LA +1 template makes you *actually* Large, which means you get space and reach, which are very, very good for improving your threatened area.
Ability scores are Strength +4, Constitution +2, and Intelligence −2. Again, the hit to Intelligence hurts, but probably even less than Dexterity: you just need to make 13. Even if you start with Int 14 and put your +1 there, you can probably work with it.
Since this is a template, it can be applied to any of your other good choices. Going LA +2 as a half-minotaur goliath is interesting, but probably a bad idea.
### Dragonborn warforged
Dragonborn is an LA +0 template from *Races of the Dragon*, which is cool because, hey, no LA. It also replaces the majority of your racial features, with the exceptions of ability score changes, subtypes, and movement modes. The subtype thing is important.
The dragonborn applies +2 Constitution, −2 Dexterity. Again, the Dexterity hurts.
What do we get for it? A few random things, nothing too special, but we get to choose a Draconic Aspect. Heart and Mind are worthless (a weak breath weapon or minor bonuses to select Will saves), but the third option is **Wings**. This is the correct choice; a fighter tends to have really, really big problems getting into the air, and this straight-up solves that problem.
Meanwhile, the race you choose usually doesn’t matter that much, since you don’t get to keep much of it. The warforged race is an exception, because most of their racial features *aren’t* features of the race, but rather of their Living Construct subtype, which Dragonborn lets them keep. It’s cheesy as hell, but you’re a freaking single-classed fighter, it’s OK.
Warforged offer a smorgasbord of immunities (poison, sleep, paralysis, disease, nausea, sickened, fatigue, and exhaustion) that *will* make your life better. It also means you don’t have to eat, drink, or sleep, which is nice. And you get +2 Constitution, while losing on −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma—two ability scores, but your two least important.
Combined, you’re looking at all those immunities, flight, −2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma.
And you could throw half-minotaur on there for +4 Strength, −2 Dexterity, +6 Constitution, −2 Intelligence, −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma, as well as Large size and some other minor benefits. This is probably your best choice.
### Human
Just saying, it’s viable. Think you have more than enough feats? Guess again; you’re going to need everything you can get. True, though, things you can’t get from feats—like size and flight—are more useful.
Conclusion
==========
Half-minotaur dragonborn warforged fighter 20, with the Dungeoncrasher ACF and Zhentarim Soldier substitution levels. The penalties to Dex and Int mean some awkward choices on ability scores; you may hold off on Combat Reflexes until later, when you can get some *gloves of dexterity* to make better use of it. Late game, even the 36,000 gp for the +6 version is quite affordable.
A 26 PB might be (base) 14 in each of Str, Dex, and Con, and then 15 in Int, while leaving 8 in Wis and Cha. Having −2 to Will saves (and Intimidate checks, but that matters less) is bad here, but you don’t have a lot of option. The solution I’m using will be Steadfast Determination from *Player’s Handbook II*, to switch Will to using Constitution. At 32 PB, I’d push Cha to 14, for something like this (after racial mods):
* Str 18
* Dex 12
* Con 20
* Int 13
* Wis 6
* Cha 12
Not exactly amazing for LA +1, but we have a lot of requirements. As it is, we’re going to have to stick 1 into Cha from levels, **and** get a *amulet of charisma +2*, before we can get Imperious Command.
Other ability score bonuses should go to Strength.
If you are literally stopping at 12th, it may be worthwhile to just dump either Dex or Cha and give up on either Combat Reflexes or Imperious Command. Dumping Cha is the better choice, though it makes less use of your few unique features.
Anyway, we are a Large Monstrous Humanoid, with lots of immunities, and from level 1 can glide. At level 6, that will become flight. The LA does not count towards that, sadly.
We get 3 skill points per level. Intimidate, Jump, and, I don’t know, Handle Animal can be our skills. Cross-class ranks in Balance, Tumble, or Use Magic Device might be better, maybe.
All of your tricks are weak at the beginning of the game; you only get one AoO, your Intimidate ranks are barely beating your penalty to Cha and you can’t get Imperious Command, and dungeoncrash doesn’t really shine until Fighter 6. Still, the Fighter 2 version of dungeoncrash is solid enough, so that’s probably where you start:
1. LA +1, Power Attack
2. Improved Bull Rush
3. Dungeoncrasher I
4. Skill Focus (Intimidate), Endurance—you are literally immune to everything the Endurance feat helps with. See if you can get the DM to waive it as a requirement for Steadfast Determination, it would help massively.
5. Combat Expertise
6. Extended Demoralize, Never Outnumbered (skill trick)
7. Dungeoncrasher II, Steadfast Determination
8. —
9. Improved Trip
10. Swift Demoralize, Imperious Command, absolute last level where fighter gets anything meaningful
11. Knockback
12. —
13. Shock Trooper, Combat Reflexes
14. —
15. Knock-down
16. Martial Study (*foehammer*)
17. Martial Stance (*thicket of blades*)
18. —
19. Leap Attack
20. —
Yes, you get nothing at 20th level. Sorry.
For equipment, I recommend:
* *+1 guisarme*, 4,309 gp—it reaches, it trips, it’s everything you want without burning another feat on a spiked chain.
* *masterwork spiked gauntlet*, 305 gp—just so you *can* attack inside your reach, if necessary.
* *+1 full plate*, 3,650 gp—you have heavy armor proficiency and your Dex is meh. So you want this. Unfortunately, dragonborn flight doesn’t work in heavy armor. Hopefully between a literally-pointless Endurance feat and the *tooth of Savnok* (see below), your DM can see their way to ignoring that limitation, at least for you. If not, you have to go with a *+1 chain shirt* (a breastplate is garbage; lots of penalties for just +1 more armored AC—not worth it). Eventually, you will be able to afford *+1 mithral full plate*, solving the problem.
* *tooth of Savnok*, 2,000 gp—eliminates the movement penalties from armor. You’re required to never take off any armor you wear, but with the Endurance feat, you never have to. Only relevant if you get wear medium or heavy armor, which really should only be full plate, which as noted you might not be able to use. (*Tome of Magic*)
* *amulet of charisma +2*, 4,000 gp—to enable Imperious Command, sadly.
* *belt of battle, giant’s strength +2*, 16,000 gp—**extra actions**. Also, bonuses to initiative and Strength. (*Magic Item Compendium*, both for *belt of battle* and the rules that allow it to also have +2 enhancement to Strength)
* *third eye clarity*, 3,000 gp—prevent or remove a lot of nasty effects, including daze and stun. (*Magic Item Compendium*)
* *anklet of translocation*, 1,400 gp—quick, cheap mobility. You need it. (*Magic Item Compendium*)
That’s about 35,000 gp. You have 36,000 gp for 9th-level WBL, so that works out pretty well. Other good options include a *belt of healing* or *scout’s headband*. The *fearsome* armor property from *Drow of the Underdark* is a bit wasted on you (you already have swift-action intimidate, so the move-action version isn’t that useful), but +5 to intimidate isn’t awful. Getting *gloves of dexterity* would be nice but you neither have the money nor the feats.
Also, be sure to keep abreast of [the usual answers to the typical problems](https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?187851-3-5-Lists-of-Necessary-Magic-Items) that your Living Construct subtype and/or wings don’t already cover. | I feel like a lockdown build with a spiked chain is probably your best bet. Maybe some anti-caster feats in case you run up against them, and the like. It's hard for enemies to get to your allies when they can't leave their squares, after all.
Coincidentally, there's a [build](http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1123606) I saw a long time ago where someone took a straight fighter and made such a thing. It works really well at keeping enemies controlled. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | I feel like a lockdown build with a spiked chain is probably your best bet. Maybe some anti-caster feats in case you run up against them, and the like. It's hard for enemies to get to your allies when they can't leave their squares, after all.
Coincidentally, there's a [build](http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1123606) I saw a long time ago where someone took a straight fighter and made such a thing. It works really well at keeping enemies controlled. | For battlefield control, as others suggest, a vanilla Fighter will be most useful with a spiked chain and Improved Trip. Add to this Combat Reflexes (and decent DEX).
Make sure you have access to Enlarge Person (a potion in a Glove of Storing) or whatever), which doubles your threat range - for a spiked chain you cover 20' radius, which makes it quite difficult to avoid AoO (and being tripped, you get extra +4 against Medium creatures while enlarged).
But damage is good
------------------
Also, consider focusing on damage anyway. With proper coordination of effort (buff spells from the Cleric and Wizard) Fighter is actually an effective killing machine (yes, I know about Tiers, feel free to downvote). You will need:
* a falchion (for its critical threat range), either keen or with Improved Critical, Power Critical (CW, +4 to confirm threats)
* Power Attack
* all typical weapon focuses and specializations
* Boots of Speed (for more movement, +1 to attack rolls and an extra attack at full bonus; enabled as a free action)
* buff spells increasing your attack bonus (Greater Heroism, Recitation etc.) - coordinate with the rest of the party; so you can transfer that to damage via Power Attack if necessary
* Belt of Giant Strength (the stronger, the better)
* some special means of quick movement (like Anklet of Translocation [MIC] - 10', a swift action; Bolt Shirt [MIC], 60', a move action)
* invest remaining feats in improving saving throws
Example 9th level Fighter:
[Average damage for full round attacks](http://www.distanceeducationconsultants.com/ddcalc.php?strength=22&dexterity=10&BAB=9&btohit=0&btodam=0&dr=0&w1dmg=5&w1rng=3&w1mult=2&w1enh=2&w1bonus=0&pw1=&w2dmg=4.5&w2rng=2&w2mult=2&w2enh=0&w2bonus=0&pw2=&weaponwield=twohanded&pa=true&patype=3.5&haste=true&hastetype=3.5&focusw1=true&gfocusw1=true&specw1=true&impcritw1=true&sneakattack=0d6&charge_mult=1&Ilove=Macy&button1=CALCULATE)
[Average damage for charging](http://www.distanceeducationconsultants.com/ddcalc.php?strength=22&dexterity=10&BAB=9&btohit=0&btodam=0&dr=0&w1dmg=5&w1rng=3&w1mult=2&w1enh=2&w1bonus=0&pw1=&w2dmg=4.5&w2rng=2&w2mult=2&w2enh=0&w2bonus=0&pw2=&weaponwield=twohanded&pa=true&patype=3.5&haste=true&hastetype=3.5&focusw1=true&gfocusw1=true&specw1=true&impcritw1=true&sneakattack=0d6&charge=true&charge_mult=1&single=true&Ilove=Macy&button1=CALCULATE)
Those include base STR of 18, increased to 20 at levels 4 and 8, gauntlets of ogre power (4000), falchion +2 (8375) and boots of speed (12000), leaving 11625 for armor and other items.
In a party I DM, there's been a build like this (from level 10, now it's 19th) and there is no way I could ever let anything with less than DR 10 or some damage immunities to withstand a full round of attacks from the Fighter (it doesn't have to kill - for a CR corresponding to the fighter level it usually means more than 50% of the opponent's hit points, making it easy to finish for others).
Obviously I can avoid it, but with clever tactics my PCs usually use, it means I can use less of the opponents potential or I need to focus on eliminating the Fighter first. Either way, it seems like something you're looking for.
I'd like to emphasize that for the Fighter to work well (the same goes for the spiked chain build, we have one in a party where I play another low-tier class - a Scout), you need to coordinate with other characters. I find it more satisfying to coordinate a party of less than optimal characters to reach a result at least as good as a group of optimized superheroes. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | It probably won't be the way you *want* it done, but
A Fighter Can Do What You Want
==============================
Seriously, as per KRyan's [answer](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/a/45602/8610), having to play a fighter who *stays* a fighter when other players are playing a cleric (who casts spells), a wizard (who casts spells), and a rogue (who has class features and important skills, including the class skill Use Magic Device) is... unfortunate. That fighter's game is fundamentally different from everyone else's, and it's just not as interesting. (And while I know that a good role-player can *role-play* a sandwich, this is primarily a mechanical discussion. A good DM will totally make the fighter's life interesting *narratively.*)
*If he does* nothing *else* the fighter can protect the party, but *not* by taking hits for hits party members (that's usually a prestige class's job, like, for example, the acceptable-for-3-levels devoted defender (*SF* 13-14)) and *not* by forcing foes to fight him (e.g. by employing the the subpar feat Goad (*MH* 26), which even when used successfully allows the foe too many options).
No, instead the fighter protects the party by keeping his friends reasonably close and making the area he threatens *so* big and *so* dangerous that foes suffer horribly for *existing* nearby. Here's how.
Race & Ability Scores
---------------------
The character needs the feats so he starts human (but see Size, below), and if using the elite array has ability scores of Str 14, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 8, increasing Dexterity at levels 4, 8, and 12.
Size
----
The character needs to be at least Large. The character needn't be this way *all* the time, but he needs to be able to become so in combat without wasting actions.
* Load into a ready-drink helm (*Dragon* #294 80-1) (150 gp; 2 lbs.) 3 *potions of enlarge person* [trans] (*PH* 226-7) (1st-level spell at caster level 1) (50 gp; 0.1 lbs.) and maybe--if allowed1 and available2--an emergency *potion of giant size* [trans] (*CAr* 109) (7th-level spell at caster level 19) (6,650 gp; 0.1 lbs.). The helm holds 6 potions in pairs;3 the character can take a free action to drink 1 or both potions in a pair and take a move action to switch to a different pair of potions.
* Have a Wiz20 cast on the character the 8th-level Sor/Wiz spell *polymorph any object* [trans] (*PH* 263), adventuring thereafter as a firbolg (*MM2* 101-2), war troll (*MM3* 181), or whatever's allowed and awesome that permits the character to continue to meet his feats' prerequisites. This costs only 1,600 gp, but, as a merely permanent effect, remains vulnerable to the spell *dispel magic* [abjur] (*PH* 223) *et al.* Purchase an arcane *scroll of polymorph any object* (*DMG* 241) (3,000 gp; 0 lbs.) in case the effect is dispelled.
Weapon
------
The rope dart (*Dragon* #319 73) (3 gp; 4 lbs.) is an exotic finesse-able two-handed weapon with a 15 ft. reach that can strike adjacent foes. [Large creatures with reach weapons threaten vast areas.](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/movementPositionAndDistance.htm#bigandLittleCreaturesInCombat) The character uses it.
The character's rope dart incorporates the weapon modification wand chamber (*Du* 30, 34) (100 gp; 0 lbs.). No, I don't know how. O, *and*, from *Complete Scoundrel* 109-10, the character has 2 boot blades (each 4 gp; 0.5 lbs.), 2 elbow blades (each 4 gp; 1 lb.), 2 knee blades (each 20 gp; 2 lbs.), and 2 sleeve blades (each 4 gp; 1 lb.)--also all with wand chambers. No, the character might not need them all *yet*, but he will.
Feats
-----
The character takes the following feats at the listed levels:
1. Combat Reflexes (*PH* 92), Combat ExpertiseB (*PH* 92), Improved TripB (*PH* 96).
2. Exotic Weapon Proficiency (rope dart (*Dragon* #319 73))B (*PH* 94)
3. Supernatural Instincts (*FC2* 85)
4. Close-quarters FightingB (*CW* 97)
5. *(No feat available.)*
6. Occult OpportunistB (*Dragon* #340 87), Power Attack (*PH* 98)
7. *(No feat available.)*
8. Martial Study (Crusader 1 or Crusader 2 Devoted Spirit maneuver)B (*ToB* 31-2)
9. Mage Slayer (*CAr* 81)
10. Martial Stance (Crusader 3 Devoted Spirit maneuver thicket of blades [stance] (*ToB* 61))B (*ToB* 32)
11. *(No feat available.)*
12. Clever OpportunistB (*DrU* 49), Close-quarters Defense (*Dragon* #309 110)
With this combination of feats, foes within the character's threatened area can't cast defensively *via* the feat Mage Slayer and provoke an attack of opportunity for making a dumb decision as normal *via* the feat Combat Reflexes *and* also provoke an attack of opportunity when...
* employing a supernatural ability (e.g. a dragon's breath weapon) *via* the feat Supernatural Instincts;
* starting a grapple *versus* the character--even if the foe possesses a special ability like improved grab--*via* the feat Close-quarters Fighting;
* attempting to turn or rebuke undead, casting a spell modified by the feat Quicken Spell (*PH* 98) or a spell with a casting time of 1 swift action, dismissing a spell, and redirecting an active spell *via* the feat Occult Opportunist;
* attempting *any* movement--possibly even movement taken while making a Tumble skill check, although this is point is hotly debated--*via* the stance thicket of blades; and
* attempting to move into the character's space, making an unarmed attack *versus* the character, starting a grapple with the character, attempting to bull rush the character, attempting to sunder the character's weapon, and attempting to sever the character's silver cord with a *silver sword*,4 even if the foe has an ability that normally prevents attacks of opportunity due to that action, *via* the feat Close-quarters Defense, but the character takes such an attack of opportunity at a -10 penalty to the attack rolls.
Thus, while a foe is in the character's threatened area, nearly every significant action a foe takes except standard and full attacks provokes an attack of opportunity from the character. Upon that provocation, the character makes a trip attempt. If successful, the character makes a free attack *versus* the tripped foe *via* the feat Improved Trip.
### Alternatives
The feat Close-quarters Fighting isn't absolutely necessary--it's an *extremely* situational feat and one that probably means the character's boned anyway. Throwing oneself in the Otyugh Hole (*CS* 151-2) (3,000 gp; 0 lbs.) for the feat Iron Will (*PH* 97) therefore meeting the prerequisites of the feat Hardened Criminal (*City of Stormreach* 95) *may* allow the character to take 10 on Use Magic Device skill checks--ask the DM. I'd allow it for such a character.
Further, it's unlikely that any but the most generous DM will permit all of the listed feats, no matter how much the character needs them. Here are alternatives.
The feats Knock-down (*DD* 51) and Stand Still (*XPH* 51) aren't especially useful for this build but *are* options. Consider them if the listed feats are unavailable.
Once the DM sees the character in play he may realize the best foe for the character is a mirror monster who made similar choices. If that happens, upon gaining levels, the character puts 8 additional skill points into the skill Perform (dance) (eventually having 5 ranks) and, instead of the feat Clever Opportunist, takes the feat Elusive Dance (*Dragon* #333 88). The character's mobility and tactical options will suffer without the feat Clever Opportunist, but he can then reach his mirror foe without incident. In fact, the feat Elusive Dance is so useful against this build it might be worth it for each party member to have 5 ranks in the skill Perform (dance) so each can benefit from the feat *via* a *wand of heroics* [trans] (*SpC* 113) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.) should the character should fall under a foe's control.
Finally, the feats Animal Devotion (*CC* 54) and Travel Devotion (*CC* 62) are awesome, the former for its versatility (including the, albeit limited, ability to fly) and the latter for movement as a swift action (while the character's swift action is often better spent--see below--it remains a good trick). Also, rearranging skill points allows the character at level 12 to take the feat Planar Touchstone (*PlH* 41).
Skills
------
At level 9 the character has 48 skill points, which are spent in the following ways:
* Knowledge (arcana) [cc], as a prerequisite for the feat Occult Opportunist, gets 10 skill points therefore 5 ranks.
* Perform (dance) [cc] gets 2 skill points therefore 1 rank; see above. Alternately, either pick a skill trick for which the character qualifies (I like Nimble Stand (*CS* 88), y'know, for irony) *or* spend skill points on the skill Balance to eventually get 5 ranks.
* Spellcraft [cc], as a prerequisite for the feat Occult Opportunist, gets 10 skill points therefore 5 ranks.
* Tumble, a class skill *via* the alternative class feature skilled city dweller from "Cityscape, Part 1: Urban Class Features" at the expense of the skill Ride, gets 12 skill points therefore 12 ranks.
* Use Magic Device [cc] gets 12 skill points therefore 6 ranks.
The feat Hyena Tribe Hunter (*ShS* 20) permits the character to take the feat Improved Trip without meeting the feat's prerequisites, allowing the character to make Intelligence a dump stat. This is ill-advised. Skills are important for this character.
Equipment
---------
According to Table 5-1: Character Wealth by Level (*DMG* 135), the character has 36,000 gp at level 9. Beg the cleric and wizard to purchase group items; the character needs every copper piece.
* *+1 spell storing* (*DMG* 225) *riverine* (*Sto* 128) *rope dart* (16,303 gp; 4 lbs.). *Note:* If necessary add the weapon special *sizing* (*MIC* 43) (5,000 gp; 0 lbs.). The special material riverine is an indulgence, but never again worrying about a broken rope dart is important for peace of mind. *And* it looks like an awesome laser whip.
* A *wand of wraithstrike* [trans] (*SpC* 243) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* This assumes the DM uses the *Rules Compendium*'s change that activating a spell completion or spell trigger item incorporating a spell with a casting time of 1 swift or immediate action takes that action to complete; if not, the character suffers greatly.
* Used wands (*MIC* 227), if available. Examples include the...
+ *wand of bite of the wererat* [trans] (*SpC* 28) *et al.* modified by the feat Extend Spell (*PH* 94) (2nd-level spell modified to 3rd-level at caster level 5) (225 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* While *wererat* is a fantastic 1st-turn buff spell--granting 3 extra attacks of opportunity *via* the +6 enhancement bonus to Dexterity, a +3 enhancement bonuses to natural armor, a +2 enhancement bonus to Constitution, and a natural bite attack--the others are pretty good, too.
+ *wand of champion of Kord* [trans] (*Dragon* #342 53) (4th-level spell at caster level 10) (600 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* Among other benefits, the target gains a sacred bonus equal to his caster level to trip attempts.
+ *wand of heroics* [trans] (*SpC* 113) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* See above.
+ *wand of mindless rage* [ench] (*SpC* 142) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* The wizard should cast this spell considering the *wand*'s horrible saving throw (Will DC 13), but the spell's *so* hilarious *versus* this build.
+ *wand of valiant spirit* [div] (*MoI* 106) (4th-level spell at caster level 7) (420 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* Among other benefits, the caster gains a +2 insight bonus to Strength *checks* (hence the opposed Strength check needed for trip attempts), and making a Use Magic Device skill check (DC 21+) to emulate the meldshaping class feature of an incarnate (*MoI* 21), if successful, *should* allow the character to increase the bonus by investing essentia he doesn't have into the spell, just like Lidda uses turn undead attempts she doesn't have to use the magic chalice (*PH* 86)--ask the DM.
+ *wand of wingbind* [evoc] (*SpC* 240) (4th-level spell at caster level 7) (420 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* The depressing saving throw (Ref DC 16) makes the spell better cast by the wizard, but sometimes one must fight the air elemental (*MM* 95-8) alone.
* Means of striking incorporeal foes (e.g. ghostblight (*CAd* 121) (100 gp; 0 lbs.) and a weapon capsule retainer (*CAd* 120-1) (100 gp; 0 lbs.) *et al.*, ghostoil (flask) (*AE* 32, 34) (50 gp; 1 lb.)).
* A masterwork tool (*PH* 129, 130-1) (50 gp; 1 lb.) for the skill Use Magic Device and either a *circlet or persuasion* (*DMG* 252) (4,500 gp; 0 lbs.) or a custom item granting a +5 circumstance bonus to Use Magic Device skill checks (*DMG* 285) (2,500 gp; 0 lbs.).
Spend remaining funds on armor and inexpensive Armor Class bonuses, items to improve the character's saving throws, and maybe items providing enhancement bonuses to Strength and Dexterity if the *bite* spells are unavailable. If funds remain, improve the character's mobility and, perhaps, utility (e.g. *hand of the oak father* (*MIC* 109) (5,000 gp; 1 lb.)).
Playing the Character
=====================
*Turn 1:* Take a free action to drink the *potion of enlarge person* from the fantasy beer-hat. Take a move action to draw the rope dart. Take a swift action to enter the stance thicket of blades. Take another move action to reposition or a standard action to make a trip attempt.
*Between Turns:* When a foe within somewhere between 15 ft. and 30 ft. does something, the foe'll provoke an attack of opportunity. Trip the foe then hit him while he's down. Do that a bunch of times.
*Turn 2+:* Take a swift action to make a Use Magic Device skill check (DC 20) to activate the *wand of wraithstrike*. Success means using the feat Power Attack for maximum and making touch attacks to make trip attacks then making follow-up touch attacks for damage (remember the rope dart is a *two-handed* weapon), while failure means probably not using the feat Power Attack and making touch attacks to make trip attacks then follow-up attacks for damage.
That's all the character does.
Such a character is a battlefield terror. I don't know how many DMs have *actually* had a PC at the table who specialized in tripping, but having DMed such a PC for nearly a year, I can say making monsters threatening is hard when they fall all over themselves trying the fight the PCs. It's... *undignified.* As the PC's gained levels, his reputation's meant many of the campaign's monsters have invested in skill tricks that let them stand up without provoking attacks of opportunity. Boss monsters sometimes take the feat Elusive Dance, too, as that's really, for many creatures, the only defense against a dedicated tripper except being incorporeal, *sometimes* flying,5 and--amusingly--just sitting down (the seated foe can't be tripped as he's not standing, takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class *versus* melee attacks and gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class *versus* ranged attacks according to Table 8-6: Armor Class Modifiers (*PH* 151), and instead attacking the *chair* becomes a thing--which is hilarious).
*Note:* There's a small category of creatures probably most DMs won't let the character trip (e.g. giant centipedes, oozes, snakes). I allow creatures to be tripped unless the creature's description says the creature's immune. I think of *I trip the creature* as shorthand for *I make the creature unable to effectively maneuver until it regains its appropriate combat position* (e.g. "I flip the centipede onto its back," "I fold the ooze onto itself," "I tie the snake into a knot"), *and* I avoid making DM calls based on illustrations (saying a creature can't be tripped because the *drawing* of it makes that *seem* impossible is just not something I do), but I'd not badmouth a DM who ruled differently. Talk to the DM.
---
1. Normally, personal spells aren't available as potions because a spell brewed into a potion must be one that "targets one or more creatures" (*PH* 89).
2. A Wu Jen 7 / Master Alchemist (*Mag* 34) 7 can brew a *potion of giant size* if the DM has house ruled potions of personal-range spells can be brewed
3. Fill the remaining slots with potions the character needs to survive or win (e.g. a *potion of beastland ferocity* [ench] (*SpC* 25) (1st-level spell at caster level 1) (50 gp; 0.1 lbs.)).
4. It was in article about githyanki (*MM* 127-8); *they* care about silver cord severing.
5. Creatures that are flying but who possess lousy maneuverability (e.g. dragons) can be tripped, and they're pretty boned when they are (*RC* 145). Making the DM learn the flying rules is sort of mean, though. | I feel like a lockdown build with a spiked chain is probably your best bet. Maybe some anti-caster feats in case you run up against them, and the like. It's hard for enemies to get to your allies when they can't leave their squares, after all.
Coincidentally, there's a [build](http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1123606) I saw a long time ago where someone took a straight fighter and made such a thing. It works really well at keeping enemies controlled. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | I feel like a lockdown build with a spiked chain is probably your best bet. Maybe some anti-caster feats in case you run up against them, and the like. It's hard for enemies to get to your allies when they can't leave their squares, after all.
Coincidentally, there's a [build](http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1123606) I saw a long time ago where someone took a straight fighter and made such a thing. It works really well at keeping enemies controlled. | Playing a "tanking" fighter requires some skill. Some people mistakenly believe that tanking in 3.5 is a question of being so threatening to the opposition that they must choose to attack you in preference to anyone else. That's how it works in some systems, but not 3.5. There, the thing you need to understand is that tanking is less a matter of damage output or even defensive capabilities than it is of proper positioning and the ability to immobilize an opponent before it can position itself to attack your more vulnerable teammates.
With respect to positioning, most sophomore players understand the need for the tank to stand at a chokepoint and/or right next to ranged offensive player, forcing the opposition to come into range of your melee attacks rather than expending your own actions seeking them out.
Fewer know the tactic of readying move actions to intersect with the path of moving opponents during their own turns, and then using the resulting attack of opportunity to immobilize them in the middle of their own move, while they are still far away from their intended target. This is effectively what a linebacker does in a game of American football.
Immobilizing is essentially any action that can end an opponent's action movement before it is complete. The most common of these are trips, grapples, stuns, and entangles, but there are many other less commonly imposable conditions that can do the same thing.
**IMMOBILIZING**
***Trip*** is the go-to-tactic for most tanks. It is an attack form that can be executed on an attack of opportunity. Size and strength are important for trips, so it is a tactic that plays to the fighter's strengths. Its also one of the few immobilizing tactics that isn't foiled by Freedom of Movement effects, unlike grapples. It is of rapidly diminishing use against larger and stronger opponents, but these opponents are more vulnerable to massive-damage attacks than smaller opponents are, so usually the better choice with them is a "kiting" retreat-and-attack by spells and precision damage than a "stand and tank" tactic. The Combat Expertise-Improved Trip feat chain is preferred for this tactic, as it lets you get in damaging licks as well as immobilize, but its actually not strictly necessary; just being as big and strong as you can be is more important.
***Grapple*** is also a good tactic against those who are vulnerable to it -- which is mostly the same opponents that trip works on, but grapple is effectively useless if they have Freedom of Movement. Strong fighters don't really need to do much or any optimization to be good grapplers. Grappling has the drawback of rendering you as well as your enemy vulnerable, but this is less of a concern because a tank is generally near friendlies, unlike striker-types who have to go behind enemy lines to reach soft rearguard targets. Fighters automatically get proficiency in armor spikes (which clerics do not get), which is a huge, always-ready advantage in grappling. Every tank-type should be wearing spiked armor whether they plan to initiate grappling or not, and in the endgame should enchant those armor spikes.
***Entangle*** is often also a viable choice, most easily through the use of a net, but there are some limited-use magic items a fighter can use that also impose this condition. Nets are exotic weapons, but their use is a matter of touch attacks, so a full-BAB strong fighter can often make good use of them even without investing in proficiency. Their more serious drawback is that each can really only be attempted for use once per encounter. Also, nets and all other entangle attacks are foiled by Freedom of Movement.
***Stun*** is often overlooked, and it shouldn't be. First, you don't actually need monk levels to take the Stunning Fist feat, although its often a good idea for a tank to have a few levels of monk anyway. You can use Stunning Fist as an AoO. If you need those feats elsewhere, having one of your weapons given the Stunning enhancement is a good idea, even if its your heavy shield or a gauntlet. A successfully stunned opponent stops moving. Like most conditions, stun can be prepared for and countered, but most opponents will not have done so.
There are a number of other conditions, like nausea or cowering, that can halt movement, and these can be exploited with certain builds (for instance, the much-maligned Samurai class can be built to be very effective against non-fear-resistant opponents).
**SENSES AND INITIATIVE: THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF NOT BEING FLAT FOOTED**
No character ever wants to be flat footed more than it is absolutely unavoidable, but tanks are in a weird position. Tanks, which need less mobility than strikers, are more dependent on heavy armor and so less vulnerable when flat footed. But they also are more dependent on being able to do Attacks of Opportunity, so while a flatfooted tank is less vulnerable than most other characters, he is also generally more useless.
Obviously, anything that ups a tank's initiative is desirable. But this is an issue that goes beyond initiative, because you are flat footed against any opponent you can't see. This is a serious issue when the character types you are most often protecting your teammates from are built for stealth! Fighters don't get Spot or Listen and often have very bad Wisdom.
There are some ways around this. The Combat Form feat chain is great for tank builds. Once you get Combat Awareness at level 12+ you get a short-range Blindsight that cuts the concealment away from enemy stealth-rogues and invisible magic users. Bye-bye flat foot, bye-bye miss chance, I am not going to miss you when you are gone. Unfortunately a pure fighter build is not going to get the most out of this, since you really need sensory skills to pinpoint enemies that aren't standing right next to you; best to take some levels of monk, ninja, ranger or rogue to bolster you in that department.
If you don't like the Combat Form chain, seriously consider a one-handed-weapon with light/heavy shield build. First, you can really use the extra defense and plethora of shield enhancements that shield will give you over the course of your career. You don't need to be -- and generally should not be -- a heavy damage dealer, so a one handed weapon is okay. But also, you can put the wonderful-when-needed-but-expensive-and-often-useless Blindsighted weapon enhancement on your shield and use it to protect your charges without burning +2 worth of often-not-needed enhancements on the primary weapon you will be using all the time!
There is a lot more to say on this topic, but I'm currently out of time. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | Taking a level or two of fighter is a mark of desperation for feats.
Taking more just doesn’t make sense; a feat per level is weak, but if you desperately need feats it can be the right choice. A feat every other level is worthless.
I’m going to answer based on pure fighter, but only after the caveat that I’m taking this as an arbitrary restriction that I would never recommend holding to.
The Defender Role
-----------------
This is a concept from 4e, where fighters and other Defender classes could meaningfully protect allies and punish enemies for ignoring them.
3.5 does not have any such concept. If you are big, hardy, impossible to hit, with tons of HP, *enemies will ignore you and go straight for the real threats*. You have almost no way of stopping them from doing it; only magic does that at all well. Tripping is the best bet you have, but it’s not great.
Alternate Class Features, Variant Classes, Substitution Levels
--------------------------------------------------------------
Alternate class features are the only hope here; otherwise, there really is nothing that the fighter has to offer. I suppose you’d get Weapon Supremacy just to say you had.
### Dungeoncrasher
This ACF from *Dungeonscape* replaces your 2nd-level and 6th-level bonus feats with the ability to deal **massive** damage by slamming people into walls with Bull Rush.
### Zhentarim Soldier
These substitution levels from the [*Champions of Valor* web supplement](https://web.archive.org/web/20211001135255/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a) gives you Skill Focus (intimidate) at Fighter 3, extends the duration of the demoralize effect of Intimidate at Fighter 5, and allows you to demoralize as a swift action at Fighter 9. This costs nothing (excepting that you have to keep taking fighter levels, which as discussed is actually a very *high* cost), and the 9th-level one is actually good.
Between these two, you can almost justify 9 levels of fighter, since the swift-action demoralize is a fairly solid ability. Or, would be if everything and its brother didn’t ignore Fear effects...
Tactics
-------
Fighters have access to three good tricks, more or less. As a pure fighter, you might as well attempt to do all of them, and maybe toss in some other ideas.
### Charging
Barbarians do it better, but it is what it is. Wants Power Attack, Shocktrooper (*Complete Warrior*), Leap Attack (*Complete Adventurer*), and Battle Jump (*Unapproachable East*). Really, really wants at least one level of barbarian and warblade, but whatever. Lance is the weapon of choice if you go mounted, otherwise any two-handed weapon is best. Using a lance kind of pigeonholes you into not tripping, so just going with the trip weapons is probably better.
### Dungeoncrashing
Only available with the ACF, this mostly relies on Bull Rush, so Power Attack and Improved Bull Rush are necessary. Shocktrooper (*Complete Warrior*) is crucial for the directional Bull Rushes (you can angle people as you push them), while Knockback (*Races of Stone*) allows you to Bull Rush on every attack rather than as a standard action. Weapon doesn’t matter for Bull Rush.
### Intimidating
Only viable with the Zhentarim Soldier levels, and even then, a disturbingly large selection of foes will outright ignore it. Wants Imperious Command (*Drow of the Underdark*), as well as the Never Outnumbered skill trick (*Complete Scoundrel*). Max ranks in Intimidate, don’t completely dump Charisma.
With the Fighter 9 replacement from Zhentarim Soldier, lets you spend a swift action on the first round to attempt to demoralize everyone you threaten, and if successful leaves them cowering for 1 round. Cowering opponents are *extremely* vulnerable, so this is a **really** good trick when it works. After the first round, you can continue to use swift actions to demoralize, but only against single targets.
Unfortunately, Imperious Command requires Cha 15. Unless you roll for stats, and roll absurdly well, that’s just not going to happen until very late in the game, because Cha is your least, or at best second-least, important ability score. The only thing it improves is your Intimidate check, which is mostly about your ranks and bonuses from other sources, not your Cha.
Also, *Tome of Battle* has a new mechanic for Intimidate, called Duel of Wills. It’s a thing you can just choose to do, for free, at the start of combat. Since you’re pumping Intimidate and most don’t, you get some free bonuses, though they are small and fleeting. Still, free.
### Initiating
Martial Study and Martial Stance from *Tome of Battle* are fighter bonus feats. You’re limited to only three of the former, which sucks, but there are some *great* options.
Obviously, you would be massively better off just taking levels of crusader or warblade.
For maneuvers, *shadow walk* would be awesome, *iron heart surge* and *white raven tactics* are excellent, *charging minotaur strike* fits in well with dungeoncrashing, etc. *Defensive rebuke* is one of the very-few true aggro-drawing abilities in the game. There are more. For stances, *thicket of blades* makes it **much** harder to get around your attacks of opportunity, and that is *really* important, because your true purpose here is...
### Tripping
The bread and butter of any lockdown build. Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip are necessary; [Knock-down](https://www.d20srd.org/srd/divine/divineAbilitiesFeats.htm#knockDown) and [Stand Still](https://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#standStill) are solid choices. You need a weapon with both reach and tripping ability: the guisarme or spiked chain are your best options.
This is how you really lock down a fight. Intimidate’s a nice trick when it works, but it often won’t, and charging and/or dungeoncrashing are usually much more about damage than they are controlling the battlefield.
Tripping means anyone who wants to get past you, has to do it very carefully. You can trip on your attacks of opportunity, which tends to prompt another attack of opportunity when they get up—the AoO happens *before* they actually get up, though, so trippping at that point has no effect and they still can get up afterwards.
Races
-----
You want to be big and strong, but you don’t want to be stupid because you need that Int 13 for Combat Expertise. Two levels of barbarian would get you around that, and massively improve your life, but oh well. At least it ensures you’ll have skill points for Intimidate and Jump.
Also, when you’re taking levels in a class as weak as fighter, level adjustment may be worthwhile. It’s usually awful, but maybe LA +1 can get us something good...
### Goliath
Oh yeah, it can. Goliaths are from *Races of Stone*, and have both LA +1 and the Powerful Build ability, treating them as a size category larger for a lot of purposes (mostly everything except space and reach, which is a shame but oh well). That means +4 on Bull Rush and Trip checks, and slightly higher damage. The +4 is the important bit.
They also get +4 Strength, −2 Dexterity, and +2 Constitution. The −2 Dexterity definitely *does* hurt, but it’s rare to make more than 2-3 attacks of opportunity in a round, so you can survive it. The +4 Strength and +2 Constitution are big helps, though the Constitution is misleading because you also have one fewer level to get HP from.
Mountain Movement, the ability to always count as running for jumps, is also useful to you. It will allow you to trigger Leap Attack much more easily. If you can get it, though you probably can’t without a warblade dip, *sudden leap* would also benefit.
### Half-minotaur
From *Dragon* vol. 313, this LA +1 template makes you *actually* Large, which means you get space and reach, which are very, very good for improving your threatened area.
Ability scores are Strength +4, Constitution +2, and Intelligence −2. Again, the hit to Intelligence hurts, but probably even less than Dexterity: you just need to make 13. Even if you start with Int 14 and put your +1 there, you can probably work with it.
Since this is a template, it can be applied to any of your other good choices. Going LA +2 as a half-minotaur goliath is interesting, but probably a bad idea.
### Dragonborn warforged
Dragonborn is an LA +0 template from *Races of the Dragon*, which is cool because, hey, no LA. It also replaces the majority of your racial features, with the exceptions of ability score changes, subtypes, and movement modes. The subtype thing is important.
The dragonborn applies +2 Constitution, −2 Dexterity. Again, the Dexterity hurts.
What do we get for it? A few random things, nothing too special, but we get to choose a Draconic Aspect. Heart and Mind are worthless (a weak breath weapon or minor bonuses to select Will saves), but the third option is **Wings**. This is the correct choice; a fighter tends to have really, really big problems getting into the air, and this straight-up solves that problem.
Meanwhile, the race you choose usually doesn’t matter that much, since you don’t get to keep much of it. The warforged race is an exception, because most of their racial features *aren’t* features of the race, but rather of their Living Construct subtype, which Dragonborn lets them keep. It’s cheesy as hell, but you’re a freaking single-classed fighter, it’s OK.
Warforged offer a smorgasbord of immunities (poison, sleep, paralysis, disease, nausea, sickened, fatigue, and exhaustion) that *will* make your life better. It also means you don’t have to eat, drink, or sleep, which is nice. And you get +2 Constitution, while losing on −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma—two ability scores, but your two least important.
Combined, you’re looking at all those immunities, flight, −2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma.
And you could throw half-minotaur on there for +4 Strength, −2 Dexterity, +6 Constitution, −2 Intelligence, −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma, as well as Large size and some other minor benefits. This is probably your best choice.
### Human
Just saying, it’s viable. Think you have more than enough feats? Guess again; you’re going to need everything you can get. True, though, things you can’t get from feats—like size and flight—are more useful.
Conclusion
==========
Half-minotaur dragonborn warforged fighter 20, with the Dungeoncrasher ACF and Zhentarim Soldier substitution levels. The penalties to Dex and Int mean some awkward choices on ability scores; you may hold off on Combat Reflexes until later, when you can get some *gloves of dexterity* to make better use of it. Late game, even the 36,000 gp for the +6 version is quite affordable.
A 26 PB might be (base) 14 in each of Str, Dex, and Con, and then 15 in Int, while leaving 8 in Wis and Cha. Having −2 to Will saves (and Intimidate checks, but that matters less) is bad here, but you don’t have a lot of option. The solution I’m using will be Steadfast Determination from *Player’s Handbook II*, to switch Will to using Constitution. At 32 PB, I’d push Cha to 14, for something like this (after racial mods):
* Str 18
* Dex 12
* Con 20
* Int 13
* Wis 6
* Cha 12
Not exactly amazing for LA +1, but we have a lot of requirements. As it is, we’re going to have to stick 1 into Cha from levels, **and** get a *amulet of charisma +2*, before we can get Imperious Command.
Other ability score bonuses should go to Strength.
If you are literally stopping at 12th, it may be worthwhile to just dump either Dex or Cha and give up on either Combat Reflexes or Imperious Command. Dumping Cha is the better choice, though it makes less use of your few unique features.
Anyway, we are a Large Monstrous Humanoid, with lots of immunities, and from level 1 can glide. At level 6, that will become flight. The LA does not count towards that, sadly.
We get 3 skill points per level. Intimidate, Jump, and, I don’t know, Handle Animal can be our skills. Cross-class ranks in Balance, Tumble, or Use Magic Device might be better, maybe.
All of your tricks are weak at the beginning of the game; you only get one AoO, your Intimidate ranks are barely beating your penalty to Cha and you can’t get Imperious Command, and dungeoncrash doesn’t really shine until Fighter 6. Still, the Fighter 2 version of dungeoncrash is solid enough, so that’s probably where you start:
1. LA +1, Power Attack
2. Improved Bull Rush
3. Dungeoncrasher I
4. Skill Focus (Intimidate), Endurance—you are literally immune to everything the Endurance feat helps with. See if you can get the DM to waive it as a requirement for Steadfast Determination, it would help massively.
5. Combat Expertise
6. Extended Demoralize, Never Outnumbered (skill trick)
7. Dungeoncrasher II, Steadfast Determination
8. —
9. Improved Trip
10. Swift Demoralize, Imperious Command, absolute last level where fighter gets anything meaningful
11. Knockback
12. —
13. Shock Trooper, Combat Reflexes
14. —
15. Knock-down
16. Martial Study (*foehammer*)
17. Martial Stance (*thicket of blades*)
18. —
19. Leap Attack
20. —
Yes, you get nothing at 20th level. Sorry.
For equipment, I recommend:
* *+1 guisarme*, 4,309 gp—it reaches, it trips, it’s everything you want without burning another feat on a spiked chain.
* *masterwork spiked gauntlet*, 305 gp—just so you *can* attack inside your reach, if necessary.
* *+1 full plate*, 3,650 gp—you have heavy armor proficiency and your Dex is meh. So you want this. Unfortunately, dragonborn flight doesn’t work in heavy armor. Hopefully between a literally-pointless Endurance feat and the *tooth of Savnok* (see below), your DM can see their way to ignoring that limitation, at least for you. If not, you have to go with a *+1 chain shirt* (a breastplate is garbage; lots of penalties for just +1 more armored AC—not worth it). Eventually, you will be able to afford *+1 mithral full plate*, solving the problem.
* *tooth of Savnok*, 2,000 gp—eliminates the movement penalties from armor. You’re required to never take off any armor you wear, but with the Endurance feat, you never have to. Only relevant if you get wear medium or heavy armor, which really should only be full plate, which as noted you might not be able to use. (*Tome of Magic*)
* *amulet of charisma +2*, 4,000 gp—to enable Imperious Command, sadly.
* *belt of battle, giant’s strength +2*, 16,000 gp—**extra actions**. Also, bonuses to initiative and Strength. (*Magic Item Compendium*, both for *belt of battle* and the rules that allow it to also have +2 enhancement to Strength)
* *third eye clarity*, 3,000 gp—prevent or remove a lot of nasty effects, including daze and stun. (*Magic Item Compendium*)
* *anklet of translocation*, 1,400 gp—quick, cheap mobility. You need it. (*Magic Item Compendium*)
That’s about 35,000 gp. You have 36,000 gp for 9th-level WBL, so that works out pretty well. Other good options include a *belt of healing* or *scout’s headband*. The *fearsome* armor property from *Drow of the Underdark* is a bit wasted on you (you already have swift-action intimidate, so the move-action version isn’t that useful), but +5 to intimidate isn’t awful. Getting *gloves of dexterity* would be nice but you neither have the money nor the feats.
Also, be sure to keep abreast of [the usual answers to the typical problems](https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?187851-3-5-Lists-of-Necessary-Magic-Items) that your Living Construct subtype and/or wings don’t already cover. | For battlefield control, as others suggest, a vanilla Fighter will be most useful with a spiked chain and Improved Trip. Add to this Combat Reflexes (and decent DEX).
Make sure you have access to Enlarge Person (a potion in a Glove of Storing) or whatever), which doubles your threat range - for a spiked chain you cover 20' radius, which makes it quite difficult to avoid AoO (and being tripped, you get extra +4 against Medium creatures while enlarged).
But damage is good
------------------
Also, consider focusing on damage anyway. With proper coordination of effort (buff spells from the Cleric and Wizard) Fighter is actually an effective killing machine (yes, I know about Tiers, feel free to downvote). You will need:
* a falchion (for its critical threat range), either keen or with Improved Critical, Power Critical (CW, +4 to confirm threats)
* Power Attack
* all typical weapon focuses and specializations
* Boots of Speed (for more movement, +1 to attack rolls and an extra attack at full bonus; enabled as a free action)
* buff spells increasing your attack bonus (Greater Heroism, Recitation etc.) - coordinate with the rest of the party; so you can transfer that to damage via Power Attack if necessary
* Belt of Giant Strength (the stronger, the better)
* some special means of quick movement (like Anklet of Translocation [MIC] - 10', a swift action; Bolt Shirt [MIC], 60', a move action)
* invest remaining feats in improving saving throws
Example 9th level Fighter:
[Average damage for full round attacks](http://www.distanceeducationconsultants.com/ddcalc.php?strength=22&dexterity=10&BAB=9&btohit=0&btodam=0&dr=0&w1dmg=5&w1rng=3&w1mult=2&w1enh=2&w1bonus=0&pw1=&w2dmg=4.5&w2rng=2&w2mult=2&w2enh=0&w2bonus=0&pw2=&weaponwield=twohanded&pa=true&patype=3.5&haste=true&hastetype=3.5&focusw1=true&gfocusw1=true&specw1=true&impcritw1=true&sneakattack=0d6&charge_mult=1&Ilove=Macy&button1=CALCULATE)
[Average damage for charging](http://www.distanceeducationconsultants.com/ddcalc.php?strength=22&dexterity=10&BAB=9&btohit=0&btodam=0&dr=0&w1dmg=5&w1rng=3&w1mult=2&w1enh=2&w1bonus=0&pw1=&w2dmg=4.5&w2rng=2&w2mult=2&w2enh=0&w2bonus=0&pw2=&weaponwield=twohanded&pa=true&patype=3.5&haste=true&hastetype=3.5&focusw1=true&gfocusw1=true&specw1=true&impcritw1=true&sneakattack=0d6&charge=true&charge_mult=1&single=true&Ilove=Macy&button1=CALCULATE)
Those include base STR of 18, increased to 20 at levels 4 and 8, gauntlets of ogre power (4000), falchion +2 (8375) and boots of speed (12000), leaving 11625 for armor and other items.
In a party I DM, there's been a build like this (from level 10, now it's 19th) and there is no way I could ever let anything with less than DR 10 or some damage immunities to withstand a full round of attacks from the Fighter (it doesn't have to kill - for a CR corresponding to the fighter level it usually means more than 50% of the opponent's hit points, making it easy to finish for others).
Obviously I can avoid it, but with clever tactics my PCs usually use, it means I can use less of the opponents potential or I need to focus on eliminating the Fighter first. Either way, it seems like something you're looking for.
I'd like to emphasize that for the Fighter to work well (the same goes for the spiked chain build, we have one in a party where I play another low-tier class - a Scout), you need to coordinate with other characters. I find it more satisfying to coordinate a party of less than optimal characters to reach a result at least as good as a group of optimized superheroes. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | Taking a level or two of fighter is a mark of desperation for feats.
Taking more just doesn’t make sense; a feat per level is weak, but if you desperately need feats it can be the right choice. A feat every other level is worthless.
I’m going to answer based on pure fighter, but only after the caveat that I’m taking this as an arbitrary restriction that I would never recommend holding to.
The Defender Role
-----------------
This is a concept from 4e, where fighters and other Defender classes could meaningfully protect allies and punish enemies for ignoring them.
3.5 does not have any such concept. If you are big, hardy, impossible to hit, with tons of HP, *enemies will ignore you and go straight for the real threats*. You have almost no way of stopping them from doing it; only magic does that at all well. Tripping is the best bet you have, but it’s not great.
Alternate Class Features, Variant Classes, Substitution Levels
--------------------------------------------------------------
Alternate class features are the only hope here; otherwise, there really is nothing that the fighter has to offer. I suppose you’d get Weapon Supremacy just to say you had.
### Dungeoncrasher
This ACF from *Dungeonscape* replaces your 2nd-level and 6th-level bonus feats with the ability to deal **massive** damage by slamming people into walls with Bull Rush.
### Zhentarim Soldier
These substitution levels from the [*Champions of Valor* web supplement](https://web.archive.org/web/20211001135255/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a) gives you Skill Focus (intimidate) at Fighter 3, extends the duration of the demoralize effect of Intimidate at Fighter 5, and allows you to demoralize as a swift action at Fighter 9. This costs nothing (excepting that you have to keep taking fighter levels, which as discussed is actually a very *high* cost), and the 9th-level one is actually good.
Between these two, you can almost justify 9 levels of fighter, since the swift-action demoralize is a fairly solid ability. Or, would be if everything and its brother didn’t ignore Fear effects...
Tactics
-------
Fighters have access to three good tricks, more or less. As a pure fighter, you might as well attempt to do all of them, and maybe toss in some other ideas.
### Charging
Barbarians do it better, but it is what it is. Wants Power Attack, Shocktrooper (*Complete Warrior*), Leap Attack (*Complete Adventurer*), and Battle Jump (*Unapproachable East*). Really, really wants at least one level of barbarian and warblade, but whatever. Lance is the weapon of choice if you go mounted, otherwise any two-handed weapon is best. Using a lance kind of pigeonholes you into not tripping, so just going with the trip weapons is probably better.
### Dungeoncrashing
Only available with the ACF, this mostly relies on Bull Rush, so Power Attack and Improved Bull Rush are necessary. Shocktrooper (*Complete Warrior*) is crucial for the directional Bull Rushes (you can angle people as you push them), while Knockback (*Races of Stone*) allows you to Bull Rush on every attack rather than as a standard action. Weapon doesn’t matter for Bull Rush.
### Intimidating
Only viable with the Zhentarim Soldier levels, and even then, a disturbingly large selection of foes will outright ignore it. Wants Imperious Command (*Drow of the Underdark*), as well as the Never Outnumbered skill trick (*Complete Scoundrel*). Max ranks in Intimidate, don’t completely dump Charisma.
With the Fighter 9 replacement from Zhentarim Soldier, lets you spend a swift action on the first round to attempt to demoralize everyone you threaten, and if successful leaves them cowering for 1 round. Cowering opponents are *extremely* vulnerable, so this is a **really** good trick when it works. After the first round, you can continue to use swift actions to demoralize, but only against single targets.
Unfortunately, Imperious Command requires Cha 15. Unless you roll for stats, and roll absurdly well, that’s just not going to happen until very late in the game, because Cha is your least, or at best second-least, important ability score. The only thing it improves is your Intimidate check, which is mostly about your ranks and bonuses from other sources, not your Cha.
Also, *Tome of Battle* has a new mechanic for Intimidate, called Duel of Wills. It’s a thing you can just choose to do, for free, at the start of combat. Since you’re pumping Intimidate and most don’t, you get some free bonuses, though they are small and fleeting. Still, free.
### Initiating
Martial Study and Martial Stance from *Tome of Battle* are fighter bonus feats. You’re limited to only three of the former, which sucks, but there are some *great* options.
Obviously, you would be massively better off just taking levels of crusader or warblade.
For maneuvers, *shadow walk* would be awesome, *iron heart surge* and *white raven tactics* are excellent, *charging minotaur strike* fits in well with dungeoncrashing, etc. *Defensive rebuke* is one of the very-few true aggro-drawing abilities in the game. There are more. For stances, *thicket of blades* makes it **much** harder to get around your attacks of opportunity, and that is *really* important, because your true purpose here is...
### Tripping
The bread and butter of any lockdown build. Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip are necessary; [Knock-down](https://www.d20srd.org/srd/divine/divineAbilitiesFeats.htm#knockDown) and [Stand Still](https://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#standStill) are solid choices. You need a weapon with both reach and tripping ability: the guisarme or spiked chain are your best options.
This is how you really lock down a fight. Intimidate’s a nice trick when it works, but it often won’t, and charging and/or dungeoncrashing are usually much more about damage than they are controlling the battlefield.
Tripping means anyone who wants to get past you, has to do it very carefully. You can trip on your attacks of opportunity, which tends to prompt another attack of opportunity when they get up—the AoO happens *before* they actually get up, though, so trippping at that point has no effect and they still can get up afterwards.
Races
-----
You want to be big and strong, but you don’t want to be stupid because you need that Int 13 for Combat Expertise. Two levels of barbarian would get you around that, and massively improve your life, but oh well. At least it ensures you’ll have skill points for Intimidate and Jump.
Also, when you’re taking levels in a class as weak as fighter, level adjustment may be worthwhile. It’s usually awful, but maybe LA +1 can get us something good...
### Goliath
Oh yeah, it can. Goliaths are from *Races of Stone*, and have both LA +1 and the Powerful Build ability, treating them as a size category larger for a lot of purposes (mostly everything except space and reach, which is a shame but oh well). That means +4 on Bull Rush and Trip checks, and slightly higher damage. The +4 is the important bit.
They also get +4 Strength, −2 Dexterity, and +2 Constitution. The −2 Dexterity definitely *does* hurt, but it’s rare to make more than 2-3 attacks of opportunity in a round, so you can survive it. The +4 Strength and +2 Constitution are big helps, though the Constitution is misleading because you also have one fewer level to get HP from.
Mountain Movement, the ability to always count as running for jumps, is also useful to you. It will allow you to trigger Leap Attack much more easily. If you can get it, though you probably can’t without a warblade dip, *sudden leap* would also benefit.
### Half-minotaur
From *Dragon* vol. 313, this LA +1 template makes you *actually* Large, which means you get space and reach, which are very, very good for improving your threatened area.
Ability scores are Strength +4, Constitution +2, and Intelligence −2. Again, the hit to Intelligence hurts, but probably even less than Dexterity: you just need to make 13. Even if you start with Int 14 and put your +1 there, you can probably work with it.
Since this is a template, it can be applied to any of your other good choices. Going LA +2 as a half-minotaur goliath is interesting, but probably a bad idea.
### Dragonborn warforged
Dragonborn is an LA +0 template from *Races of the Dragon*, which is cool because, hey, no LA. It also replaces the majority of your racial features, with the exceptions of ability score changes, subtypes, and movement modes. The subtype thing is important.
The dragonborn applies +2 Constitution, −2 Dexterity. Again, the Dexterity hurts.
What do we get for it? A few random things, nothing too special, but we get to choose a Draconic Aspect. Heart and Mind are worthless (a weak breath weapon or minor bonuses to select Will saves), but the third option is **Wings**. This is the correct choice; a fighter tends to have really, really big problems getting into the air, and this straight-up solves that problem.
Meanwhile, the race you choose usually doesn’t matter that much, since you don’t get to keep much of it. The warforged race is an exception, because most of their racial features *aren’t* features of the race, but rather of their Living Construct subtype, which Dragonborn lets them keep. It’s cheesy as hell, but you’re a freaking single-classed fighter, it’s OK.
Warforged offer a smorgasbord of immunities (poison, sleep, paralysis, disease, nausea, sickened, fatigue, and exhaustion) that *will* make your life better. It also means you don’t have to eat, drink, or sleep, which is nice. And you get +2 Constitution, while losing on −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma—two ability scores, but your two least important.
Combined, you’re looking at all those immunities, flight, −2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma.
And you could throw half-minotaur on there for +4 Strength, −2 Dexterity, +6 Constitution, −2 Intelligence, −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma, as well as Large size and some other minor benefits. This is probably your best choice.
### Human
Just saying, it’s viable. Think you have more than enough feats? Guess again; you’re going to need everything you can get. True, though, things you can’t get from feats—like size and flight—are more useful.
Conclusion
==========
Half-minotaur dragonborn warforged fighter 20, with the Dungeoncrasher ACF and Zhentarim Soldier substitution levels. The penalties to Dex and Int mean some awkward choices on ability scores; you may hold off on Combat Reflexes until later, when you can get some *gloves of dexterity* to make better use of it. Late game, even the 36,000 gp for the +6 version is quite affordable.
A 26 PB might be (base) 14 in each of Str, Dex, and Con, and then 15 in Int, while leaving 8 in Wis and Cha. Having −2 to Will saves (and Intimidate checks, but that matters less) is bad here, but you don’t have a lot of option. The solution I’m using will be Steadfast Determination from *Player’s Handbook II*, to switch Will to using Constitution. At 32 PB, I’d push Cha to 14, for something like this (after racial mods):
* Str 18
* Dex 12
* Con 20
* Int 13
* Wis 6
* Cha 12
Not exactly amazing for LA +1, but we have a lot of requirements. As it is, we’re going to have to stick 1 into Cha from levels, **and** get a *amulet of charisma +2*, before we can get Imperious Command.
Other ability score bonuses should go to Strength.
If you are literally stopping at 12th, it may be worthwhile to just dump either Dex or Cha and give up on either Combat Reflexes or Imperious Command. Dumping Cha is the better choice, though it makes less use of your few unique features.
Anyway, we are a Large Monstrous Humanoid, with lots of immunities, and from level 1 can glide. At level 6, that will become flight. The LA does not count towards that, sadly.
We get 3 skill points per level. Intimidate, Jump, and, I don’t know, Handle Animal can be our skills. Cross-class ranks in Balance, Tumble, or Use Magic Device might be better, maybe.
All of your tricks are weak at the beginning of the game; you only get one AoO, your Intimidate ranks are barely beating your penalty to Cha and you can’t get Imperious Command, and dungeoncrash doesn’t really shine until Fighter 6. Still, the Fighter 2 version of dungeoncrash is solid enough, so that’s probably where you start:
1. LA +1, Power Attack
2. Improved Bull Rush
3. Dungeoncrasher I
4. Skill Focus (Intimidate), Endurance—you are literally immune to everything the Endurance feat helps with. See if you can get the DM to waive it as a requirement for Steadfast Determination, it would help massively.
5. Combat Expertise
6. Extended Demoralize, Never Outnumbered (skill trick)
7. Dungeoncrasher II, Steadfast Determination
8. —
9. Improved Trip
10. Swift Demoralize, Imperious Command, absolute last level where fighter gets anything meaningful
11. Knockback
12. —
13. Shock Trooper, Combat Reflexes
14. —
15. Knock-down
16. Martial Study (*foehammer*)
17. Martial Stance (*thicket of blades*)
18. —
19. Leap Attack
20. —
Yes, you get nothing at 20th level. Sorry.
For equipment, I recommend:
* *+1 guisarme*, 4,309 gp—it reaches, it trips, it’s everything you want without burning another feat on a spiked chain.
* *masterwork spiked gauntlet*, 305 gp—just so you *can* attack inside your reach, if necessary.
* *+1 full plate*, 3,650 gp—you have heavy armor proficiency and your Dex is meh. So you want this. Unfortunately, dragonborn flight doesn’t work in heavy armor. Hopefully between a literally-pointless Endurance feat and the *tooth of Savnok* (see below), your DM can see their way to ignoring that limitation, at least for you. If not, you have to go with a *+1 chain shirt* (a breastplate is garbage; lots of penalties for just +1 more armored AC—not worth it). Eventually, you will be able to afford *+1 mithral full plate*, solving the problem.
* *tooth of Savnok*, 2,000 gp—eliminates the movement penalties from armor. You’re required to never take off any armor you wear, but with the Endurance feat, you never have to. Only relevant if you get wear medium or heavy armor, which really should only be full plate, which as noted you might not be able to use. (*Tome of Magic*)
* *amulet of charisma +2*, 4,000 gp—to enable Imperious Command, sadly.
* *belt of battle, giant’s strength +2*, 16,000 gp—**extra actions**. Also, bonuses to initiative and Strength. (*Magic Item Compendium*, both for *belt of battle* and the rules that allow it to also have +2 enhancement to Strength)
* *third eye clarity*, 3,000 gp—prevent or remove a lot of nasty effects, including daze and stun. (*Magic Item Compendium*)
* *anklet of translocation*, 1,400 gp—quick, cheap mobility. You need it. (*Magic Item Compendium*)
That’s about 35,000 gp. You have 36,000 gp for 9th-level WBL, so that works out pretty well. Other good options include a *belt of healing* or *scout’s headband*. The *fearsome* armor property from *Drow of the Underdark* is a bit wasted on you (you already have swift-action intimidate, so the move-action version isn’t that useful), but +5 to intimidate isn’t awful. Getting *gloves of dexterity* would be nice but you neither have the money nor the feats.
Also, be sure to keep abreast of [the usual answers to the typical problems](https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?187851-3-5-Lists-of-Necessary-Magic-Items) that your Living Construct subtype and/or wings don’t already cover. | It probably won't be the way you *want* it done, but
A Fighter Can Do What You Want
==============================
Seriously, as per KRyan's [answer](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/a/45602/8610), having to play a fighter who *stays* a fighter when other players are playing a cleric (who casts spells), a wizard (who casts spells), and a rogue (who has class features and important skills, including the class skill Use Magic Device) is... unfortunate. That fighter's game is fundamentally different from everyone else's, and it's just not as interesting. (And while I know that a good role-player can *role-play* a sandwich, this is primarily a mechanical discussion. A good DM will totally make the fighter's life interesting *narratively.*)
*If he does* nothing *else* the fighter can protect the party, but *not* by taking hits for hits party members (that's usually a prestige class's job, like, for example, the acceptable-for-3-levels devoted defender (*SF* 13-14)) and *not* by forcing foes to fight him (e.g. by employing the the subpar feat Goad (*MH* 26), which even when used successfully allows the foe too many options).
No, instead the fighter protects the party by keeping his friends reasonably close and making the area he threatens *so* big and *so* dangerous that foes suffer horribly for *existing* nearby. Here's how.
Race & Ability Scores
---------------------
The character needs the feats so he starts human (but see Size, below), and if using the elite array has ability scores of Str 14, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 8, increasing Dexterity at levels 4, 8, and 12.
Size
----
The character needs to be at least Large. The character needn't be this way *all* the time, but he needs to be able to become so in combat without wasting actions.
* Load into a ready-drink helm (*Dragon* #294 80-1) (150 gp; 2 lbs.) 3 *potions of enlarge person* [trans] (*PH* 226-7) (1st-level spell at caster level 1) (50 gp; 0.1 lbs.) and maybe--if allowed1 and available2--an emergency *potion of giant size* [trans] (*CAr* 109) (7th-level spell at caster level 19) (6,650 gp; 0.1 lbs.). The helm holds 6 potions in pairs;3 the character can take a free action to drink 1 or both potions in a pair and take a move action to switch to a different pair of potions.
* Have a Wiz20 cast on the character the 8th-level Sor/Wiz spell *polymorph any object* [trans] (*PH* 263), adventuring thereafter as a firbolg (*MM2* 101-2), war troll (*MM3* 181), or whatever's allowed and awesome that permits the character to continue to meet his feats' prerequisites. This costs only 1,600 gp, but, as a merely permanent effect, remains vulnerable to the spell *dispel magic* [abjur] (*PH* 223) *et al.* Purchase an arcane *scroll of polymorph any object* (*DMG* 241) (3,000 gp; 0 lbs.) in case the effect is dispelled.
Weapon
------
The rope dart (*Dragon* #319 73) (3 gp; 4 lbs.) is an exotic finesse-able two-handed weapon with a 15 ft. reach that can strike adjacent foes. [Large creatures with reach weapons threaten vast areas.](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/movementPositionAndDistance.htm#bigandLittleCreaturesInCombat) The character uses it.
The character's rope dart incorporates the weapon modification wand chamber (*Du* 30, 34) (100 gp; 0 lbs.). No, I don't know how. O, *and*, from *Complete Scoundrel* 109-10, the character has 2 boot blades (each 4 gp; 0.5 lbs.), 2 elbow blades (each 4 gp; 1 lb.), 2 knee blades (each 20 gp; 2 lbs.), and 2 sleeve blades (each 4 gp; 1 lb.)--also all with wand chambers. No, the character might not need them all *yet*, but he will.
Feats
-----
The character takes the following feats at the listed levels:
1. Combat Reflexes (*PH* 92), Combat ExpertiseB (*PH* 92), Improved TripB (*PH* 96).
2. Exotic Weapon Proficiency (rope dart (*Dragon* #319 73))B (*PH* 94)
3. Supernatural Instincts (*FC2* 85)
4. Close-quarters FightingB (*CW* 97)
5. *(No feat available.)*
6. Occult OpportunistB (*Dragon* #340 87), Power Attack (*PH* 98)
7. *(No feat available.)*
8. Martial Study (Crusader 1 or Crusader 2 Devoted Spirit maneuver)B (*ToB* 31-2)
9. Mage Slayer (*CAr* 81)
10. Martial Stance (Crusader 3 Devoted Spirit maneuver thicket of blades [stance] (*ToB* 61))B (*ToB* 32)
11. *(No feat available.)*
12. Clever OpportunistB (*DrU* 49), Close-quarters Defense (*Dragon* #309 110)
With this combination of feats, foes within the character's threatened area can't cast defensively *via* the feat Mage Slayer and provoke an attack of opportunity for making a dumb decision as normal *via* the feat Combat Reflexes *and* also provoke an attack of opportunity when...
* employing a supernatural ability (e.g. a dragon's breath weapon) *via* the feat Supernatural Instincts;
* starting a grapple *versus* the character--even if the foe possesses a special ability like improved grab--*via* the feat Close-quarters Fighting;
* attempting to turn or rebuke undead, casting a spell modified by the feat Quicken Spell (*PH* 98) or a spell with a casting time of 1 swift action, dismissing a spell, and redirecting an active spell *via* the feat Occult Opportunist;
* attempting *any* movement--possibly even movement taken while making a Tumble skill check, although this is point is hotly debated--*via* the stance thicket of blades; and
* attempting to move into the character's space, making an unarmed attack *versus* the character, starting a grapple with the character, attempting to bull rush the character, attempting to sunder the character's weapon, and attempting to sever the character's silver cord with a *silver sword*,4 even if the foe has an ability that normally prevents attacks of opportunity due to that action, *via* the feat Close-quarters Defense, but the character takes such an attack of opportunity at a -10 penalty to the attack rolls.
Thus, while a foe is in the character's threatened area, nearly every significant action a foe takes except standard and full attacks provokes an attack of opportunity from the character. Upon that provocation, the character makes a trip attempt. If successful, the character makes a free attack *versus* the tripped foe *via* the feat Improved Trip.
### Alternatives
The feat Close-quarters Fighting isn't absolutely necessary--it's an *extremely* situational feat and one that probably means the character's boned anyway. Throwing oneself in the Otyugh Hole (*CS* 151-2) (3,000 gp; 0 lbs.) for the feat Iron Will (*PH* 97) therefore meeting the prerequisites of the feat Hardened Criminal (*City of Stormreach* 95) *may* allow the character to take 10 on Use Magic Device skill checks--ask the DM. I'd allow it for such a character.
Further, it's unlikely that any but the most generous DM will permit all of the listed feats, no matter how much the character needs them. Here are alternatives.
The feats Knock-down (*DD* 51) and Stand Still (*XPH* 51) aren't especially useful for this build but *are* options. Consider them if the listed feats are unavailable.
Once the DM sees the character in play he may realize the best foe for the character is a mirror monster who made similar choices. If that happens, upon gaining levels, the character puts 8 additional skill points into the skill Perform (dance) (eventually having 5 ranks) and, instead of the feat Clever Opportunist, takes the feat Elusive Dance (*Dragon* #333 88). The character's mobility and tactical options will suffer without the feat Clever Opportunist, but he can then reach his mirror foe without incident. In fact, the feat Elusive Dance is so useful against this build it might be worth it for each party member to have 5 ranks in the skill Perform (dance) so each can benefit from the feat *via* a *wand of heroics* [trans] (*SpC* 113) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.) should the character should fall under a foe's control.
Finally, the feats Animal Devotion (*CC* 54) and Travel Devotion (*CC* 62) are awesome, the former for its versatility (including the, albeit limited, ability to fly) and the latter for movement as a swift action (while the character's swift action is often better spent--see below--it remains a good trick). Also, rearranging skill points allows the character at level 12 to take the feat Planar Touchstone (*PlH* 41).
Skills
------
At level 9 the character has 48 skill points, which are spent in the following ways:
* Knowledge (arcana) [cc], as a prerequisite for the feat Occult Opportunist, gets 10 skill points therefore 5 ranks.
* Perform (dance) [cc] gets 2 skill points therefore 1 rank; see above. Alternately, either pick a skill trick for which the character qualifies (I like Nimble Stand (*CS* 88), y'know, for irony) *or* spend skill points on the skill Balance to eventually get 5 ranks.
* Spellcraft [cc], as a prerequisite for the feat Occult Opportunist, gets 10 skill points therefore 5 ranks.
* Tumble, a class skill *via* the alternative class feature skilled city dweller from "Cityscape, Part 1: Urban Class Features" at the expense of the skill Ride, gets 12 skill points therefore 12 ranks.
* Use Magic Device [cc] gets 12 skill points therefore 6 ranks.
The feat Hyena Tribe Hunter (*ShS* 20) permits the character to take the feat Improved Trip without meeting the feat's prerequisites, allowing the character to make Intelligence a dump stat. This is ill-advised. Skills are important for this character.
Equipment
---------
According to Table 5-1: Character Wealth by Level (*DMG* 135), the character has 36,000 gp at level 9. Beg the cleric and wizard to purchase group items; the character needs every copper piece.
* *+1 spell storing* (*DMG* 225) *riverine* (*Sto* 128) *rope dart* (16,303 gp; 4 lbs.). *Note:* If necessary add the weapon special *sizing* (*MIC* 43) (5,000 gp; 0 lbs.). The special material riverine is an indulgence, but never again worrying about a broken rope dart is important for peace of mind. *And* it looks like an awesome laser whip.
* A *wand of wraithstrike* [trans] (*SpC* 243) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* This assumes the DM uses the *Rules Compendium*'s change that activating a spell completion or spell trigger item incorporating a spell with a casting time of 1 swift or immediate action takes that action to complete; if not, the character suffers greatly.
* Used wands (*MIC* 227), if available. Examples include the...
+ *wand of bite of the wererat* [trans] (*SpC* 28) *et al.* modified by the feat Extend Spell (*PH* 94) (2nd-level spell modified to 3rd-level at caster level 5) (225 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* While *wererat* is a fantastic 1st-turn buff spell--granting 3 extra attacks of opportunity *via* the +6 enhancement bonus to Dexterity, a +3 enhancement bonuses to natural armor, a +2 enhancement bonus to Constitution, and a natural bite attack--the others are pretty good, too.
+ *wand of champion of Kord* [trans] (*Dragon* #342 53) (4th-level spell at caster level 10) (600 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* Among other benefits, the target gains a sacred bonus equal to his caster level to trip attempts.
+ *wand of heroics* [trans] (*SpC* 113) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* See above.
+ *wand of mindless rage* [ench] (*SpC* 142) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* The wizard should cast this spell considering the *wand*'s horrible saving throw (Will DC 13), but the spell's *so* hilarious *versus* this build.
+ *wand of valiant spirit* [div] (*MoI* 106) (4th-level spell at caster level 7) (420 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* Among other benefits, the caster gains a +2 insight bonus to Strength *checks* (hence the opposed Strength check needed for trip attempts), and making a Use Magic Device skill check (DC 21+) to emulate the meldshaping class feature of an incarnate (*MoI* 21), if successful, *should* allow the character to increase the bonus by investing essentia he doesn't have into the spell, just like Lidda uses turn undead attempts she doesn't have to use the magic chalice (*PH* 86)--ask the DM.
+ *wand of wingbind* [evoc] (*SpC* 240) (4th-level spell at caster level 7) (420 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* The depressing saving throw (Ref DC 16) makes the spell better cast by the wizard, but sometimes one must fight the air elemental (*MM* 95-8) alone.
* Means of striking incorporeal foes (e.g. ghostblight (*CAd* 121) (100 gp; 0 lbs.) and a weapon capsule retainer (*CAd* 120-1) (100 gp; 0 lbs.) *et al.*, ghostoil (flask) (*AE* 32, 34) (50 gp; 1 lb.)).
* A masterwork tool (*PH* 129, 130-1) (50 gp; 1 lb.) for the skill Use Magic Device and either a *circlet or persuasion* (*DMG* 252) (4,500 gp; 0 lbs.) or a custom item granting a +5 circumstance bonus to Use Magic Device skill checks (*DMG* 285) (2,500 gp; 0 lbs.).
Spend remaining funds on armor and inexpensive Armor Class bonuses, items to improve the character's saving throws, and maybe items providing enhancement bonuses to Strength and Dexterity if the *bite* spells are unavailable. If funds remain, improve the character's mobility and, perhaps, utility (e.g. *hand of the oak father* (*MIC* 109) (5,000 gp; 1 lb.)).
Playing the Character
=====================
*Turn 1:* Take a free action to drink the *potion of enlarge person* from the fantasy beer-hat. Take a move action to draw the rope dart. Take a swift action to enter the stance thicket of blades. Take another move action to reposition or a standard action to make a trip attempt.
*Between Turns:* When a foe within somewhere between 15 ft. and 30 ft. does something, the foe'll provoke an attack of opportunity. Trip the foe then hit him while he's down. Do that a bunch of times.
*Turn 2+:* Take a swift action to make a Use Magic Device skill check (DC 20) to activate the *wand of wraithstrike*. Success means using the feat Power Attack for maximum and making touch attacks to make trip attacks then making follow-up touch attacks for damage (remember the rope dart is a *two-handed* weapon), while failure means probably not using the feat Power Attack and making touch attacks to make trip attacks then follow-up attacks for damage.
That's all the character does.
Such a character is a battlefield terror. I don't know how many DMs have *actually* had a PC at the table who specialized in tripping, but having DMed such a PC for nearly a year, I can say making monsters threatening is hard when they fall all over themselves trying the fight the PCs. It's... *undignified.* As the PC's gained levels, his reputation's meant many of the campaign's monsters have invested in skill tricks that let them stand up without provoking attacks of opportunity. Boss monsters sometimes take the feat Elusive Dance, too, as that's really, for many creatures, the only defense against a dedicated tripper except being incorporeal, *sometimes* flying,5 and--amusingly--just sitting down (the seated foe can't be tripped as he's not standing, takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class *versus* melee attacks and gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class *versus* ranged attacks according to Table 8-6: Armor Class Modifiers (*PH* 151), and instead attacking the *chair* becomes a thing--which is hilarious).
*Note:* There's a small category of creatures probably most DMs won't let the character trip (e.g. giant centipedes, oozes, snakes). I allow creatures to be tripped unless the creature's description says the creature's immune. I think of *I trip the creature* as shorthand for *I make the creature unable to effectively maneuver until it regains its appropriate combat position* (e.g. "I flip the centipede onto its back," "I fold the ooze onto itself," "I tie the snake into a knot"), *and* I avoid making DM calls based on illustrations (saying a creature can't be tripped because the *drawing* of it makes that *seem* impossible is just not something I do), but I'd not badmouth a DM who ruled differently. Talk to the DM.
---
1. Normally, personal spells aren't available as potions because a spell brewed into a potion must be one that "targets one or more creatures" (*PH* 89).
2. A Wu Jen 7 / Master Alchemist (*Mag* 34) 7 can brew a *potion of giant size* if the DM has house ruled potions of personal-range spells can be brewed
3. Fill the remaining slots with potions the character needs to survive or win (e.g. a *potion of beastland ferocity* [ench] (*SpC* 25) (1st-level spell at caster level 1) (50 gp; 0.1 lbs.)).
4. It was in article about githyanki (*MM* 127-8); *they* care about silver cord severing.
5. Creatures that are flying but who possess lousy maneuverability (e.g. dragons) can be tripped, and they're pretty boned when they are (*RC* 145). Making the DM learn the flying rules is sort of mean, though. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | Taking a level or two of fighter is a mark of desperation for feats.
Taking more just doesn’t make sense; a feat per level is weak, but if you desperately need feats it can be the right choice. A feat every other level is worthless.
I’m going to answer based on pure fighter, but only after the caveat that I’m taking this as an arbitrary restriction that I would never recommend holding to.
The Defender Role
-----------------
This is a concept from 4e, where fighters and other Defender classes could meaningfully protect allies and punish enemies for ignoring them.
3.5 does not have any such concept. If you are big, hardy, impossible to hit, with tons of HP, *enemies will ignore you and go straight for the real threats*. You have almost no way of stopping them from doing it; only magic does that at all well. Tripping is the best bet you have, but it’s not great.
Alternate Class Features, Variant Classes, Substitution Levels
--------------------------------------------------------------
Alternate class features are the only hope here; otherwise, there really is nothing that the fighter has to offer. I suppose you’d get Weapon Supremacy just to say you had.
### Dungeoncrasher
This ACF from *Dungeonscape* replaces your 2nd-level and 6th-level bonus feats with the ability to deal **massive** damage by slamming people into walls with Bull Rush.
### Zhentarim Soldier
These substitution levels from the [*Champions of Valor* web supplement](https://web.archive.org/web/20211001135255/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a) gives you Skill Focus (intimidate) at Fighter 3, extends the duration of the demoralize effect of Intimidate at Fighter 5, and allows you to demoralize as a swift action at Fighter 9. This costs nothing (excepting that you have to keep taking fighter levels, which as discussed is actually a very *high* cost), and the 9th-level one is actually good.
Between these two, you can almost justify 9 levels of fighter, since the swift-action demoralize is a fairly solid ability. Or, would be if everything and its brother didn’t ignore Fear effects...
Tactics
-------
Fighters have access to three good tricks, more or less. As a pure fighter, you might as well attempt to do all of them, and maybe toss in some other ideas.
### Charging
Barbarians do it better, but it is what it is. Wants Power Attack, Shocktrooper (*Complete Warrior*), Leap Attack (*Complete Adventurer*), and Battle Jump (*Unapproachable East*). Really, really wants at least one level of barbarian and warblade, but whatever. Lance is the weapon of choice if you go mounted, otherwise any two-handed weapon is best. Using a lance kind of pigeonholes you into not tripping, so just going with the trip weapons is probably better.
### Dungeoncrashing
Only available with the ACF, this mostly relies on Bull Rush, so Power Attack and Improved Bull Rush are necessary. Shocktrooper (*Complete Warrior*) is crucial for the directional Bull Rushes (you can angle people as you push them), while Knockback (*Races of Stone*) allows you to Bull Rush on every attack rather than as a standard action. Weapon doesn’t matter for Bull Rush.
### Intimidating
Only viable with the Zhentarim Soldier levels, and even then, a disturbingly large selection of foes will outright ignore it. Wants Imperious Command (*Drow of the Underdark*), as well as the Never Outnumbered skill trick (*Complete Scoundrel*). Max ranks in Intimidate, don’t completely dump Charisma.
With the Fighter 9 replacement from Zhentarim Soldier, lets you spend a swift action on the first round to attempt to demoralize everyone you threaten, and if successful leaves them cowering for 1 round. Cowering opponents are *extremely* vulnerable, so this is a **really** good trick when it works. After the first round, you can continue to use swift actions to demoralize, but only against single targets.
Unfortunately, Imperious Command requires Cha 15. Unless you roll for stats, and roll absurdly well, that’s just not going to happen until very late in the game, because Cha is your least, or at best second-least, important ability score. The only thing it improves is your Intimidate check, which is mostly about your ranks and bonuses from other sources, not your Cha.
Also, *Tome of Battle* has a new mechanic for Intimidate, called Duel of Wills. It’s a thing you can just choose to do, for free, at the start of combat. Since you’re pumping Intimidate and most don’t, you get some free bonuses, though they are small and fleeting. Still, free.
### Initiating
Martial Study and Martial Stance from *Tome of Battle* are fighter bonus feats. You’re limited to only three of the former, which sucks, but there are some *great* options.
Obviously, you would be massively better off just taking levels of crusader or warblade.
For maneuvers, *shadow walk* would be awesome, *iron heart surge* and *white raven tactics* are excellent, *charging minotaur strike* fits in well with dungeoncrashing, etc. *Defensive rebuke* is one of the very-few true aggro-drawing abilities in the game. There are more. For stances, *thicket of blades* makes it **much** harder to get around your attacks of opportunity, and that is *really* important, because your true purpose here is...
### Tripping
The bread and butter of any lockdown build. Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip are necessary; [Knock-down](https://www.d20srd.org/srd/divine/divineAbilitiesFeats.htm#knockDown) and [Stand Still](https://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#standStill) are solid choices. You need a weapon with both reach and tripping ability: the guisarme or spiked chain are your best options.
This is how you really lock down a fight. Intimidate’s a nice trick when it works, but it often won’t, and charging and/or dungeoncrashing are usually much more about damage than they are controlling the battlefield.
Tripping means anyone who wants to get past you, has to do it very carefully. You can trip on your attacks of opportunity, which tends to prompt another attack of opportunity when they get up—the AoO happens *before* they actually get up, though, so trippping at that point has no effect and they still can get up afterwards.
Races
-----
You want to be big and strong, but you don’t want to be stupid because you need that Int 13 for Combat Expertise. Two levels of barbarian would get you around that, and massively improve your life, but oh well. At least it ensures you’ll have skill points for Intimidate and Jump.
Also, when you’re taking levels in a class as weak as fighter, level adjustment may be worthwhile. It’s usually awful, but maybe LA +1 can get us something good...
### Goliath
Oh yeah, it can. Goliaths are from *Races of Stone*, and have both LA +1 and the Powerful Build ability, treating them as a size category larger for a lot of purposes (mostly everything except space and reach, which is a shame but oh well). That means +4 on Bull Rush and Trip checks, and slightly higher damage. The +4 is the important bit.
They also get +4 Strength, −2 Dexterity, and +2 Constitution. The −2 Dexterity definitely *does* hurt, but it’s rare to make more than 2-3 attacks of opportunity in a round, so you can survive it. The +4 Strength and +2 Constitution are big helps, though the Constitution is misleading because you also have one fewer level to get HP from.
Mountain Movement, the ability to always count as running for jumps, is also useful to you. It will allow you to trigger Leap Attack much more easily. If you can get it, though you probably can’t without a warblade dip, *sudden leap* would also benefit.
### Half-minotaur
From *Dragon* vol. 313, this LA +1 template makes you *actually* Large, which means you get space and reach, which are very, very good for improving your threatened area.
Ability scores are Strength +4, Constitution +2, and Intelligence −2. Again, the hit to Intelligence hurts, but probably even less than Dexterity: you just need to make 13. Even if you start with Int 14 and put your +1 there, you can probably work with it.
Since this is a template, it can be applied to any of your other good choices. Going LA +2 as a half-minotaur goliath is interesting, but probably a bad idea.
### Dragonborn warforged
Dragonborn is an LA +0 template from *Races of the Dragon*, which is cool because, hey, no LA. It also replaces the majority of your racial features, with the exceptions of ability score changes, subtypes, and movement modes. The subtype thing is important.
The dragonborn applies +2 Constitution, −2 Dexterity. Again, the Dexterity hurts.
What do we get for it? A few random things, nothing too special, but we get to choose a Draconic Aspect. Heart and Mind are worthless (a weak breath weapon or minor bonuses to select Will saves), but the third option is **Wings**. This is the correct choice; a fighter tends to have really, really big problems getting into the air, and this straight-up solves that problem.
Meanwhile, the race you choose usually doesn’t matter that much, since you don’t get to keep much of it. The warforged race is an exception, because most of their racial features *aren’t* features of the race, but rather of their Living Construct subtype, which Dragonborn lets them keep. It’s cheesy as hell, but you’re a freaking single-classed fighter, it’s OK.
Warforged offer a smorgasbord of immunities (poison, sleep, paralysis, disease, nausea, sickened, fatigue, and exhaustion) that *will* make your life better. It also means you don’t have to eat, drink, or sleep, which is nice. And you get +2 Constitution, while losing on −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma—two ability scores, but your two least important.
Combined, you’re looking at all those immunities, flight, −2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma.
And you could throw half-minotaur on there for +4 Strength, −2 Dexterity, +6 Constitution, −2 Intelligence, −2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma, as well as Large size and some other minor benefits. This is probably your best choice.
### Human
Just saying, it’s viable. Think you have more than enough feats? Guess again; you’re going to need everything you can get. True, though, things you can’t get from feats—like size and flight—are more useful.
Conclusion
==========
Half-minotaur dragonborn warforged fighter 20, with the Dungeoncrasher ACF and Zhentarim Soldier substitution levels. The penalties to Dex and Int mean some awkward choices on ability scores; you may hold off on Combat Reflexes until later, when you can get some *gloves of dexterity* to make better use of it. Late game, even the 36,000 gp for the +6 version is quite affordable.
A 26 PB might be (base) 14 in each of Str, Dex, and Con, and then 15 in Int, while leaving 8 in Wis and Cha. Having −2 to Will saves (and Intimidate checks, but that matters less) is bad here, but you don’t have a lot of option. The solution I’m using will be Steadfast Determination from *Player’s Handbook II*, to switch Will to using Constitution. At 32 PB, I’d push Cha to 14, for something like this (after racial mods):
* Str 18
* Dex 12
* Con 20
* Int 13
* Wis 6
* Cha 12
Not exactly amazing for LA +1, but we have a lot of requirements. As it is, we’re going to have to stick 1 into Cha from levels, **and** get a *amulet of charisma +2*, before we can get Imperious Command.
Other ability score bonuses should go to Strength.
If you are literally stopping at 12th, it may be worthwhile to just dump either Dex or Cha and give up on either Combat Reflexes or Imperious Command. Dumping Cha is the better choice, though it makes less use of your few unique features.
Anyway, we are a Large Monstrous Humanoid, with lots of immunities, and from level 1 can glide. At level 6, that will become flight. The LA does not count towards that, sadly.
We get 3 skill points per level. Intimidate, Jump, and, I don’t know, Handle Animal can be our skills. Cross-class ranks in Balance, Tumble, or Use Magic Device might be better, maybe.
All of your tricks are weak at the beginning of the game; you only get one AoO, your Intimidate ranks are barely beating your penalty to Cha and you can’t get Imperious Command, and dungeoncrash doesn’t really shine until Fighter 6. Still, the Fighter 2 version of dungeoncrash is solid enough, so that’s probably where you start:
1. LA +1, Power Attack
2. Improved Bull Rush
3. Dungeoncrasher I
4. Skill Focus (Intimidate), Endurance—you are literally immune to everything the Endurance feat helps with. See if you can get the DM to waive it as a requirement for Steadfast Determination, it would help massively.
5. Combat Expertise
6. Extended Demoralize, Never Outnumbered (skill trick)
7. Dungeoncrasher II, Steadfast Determination
8. —
9. Improved Trip
10. Swift Demoralize, Imperious Command, absolute last level where fighter gets anything meaningful
11. Knockback
12. —
13. Shock Trooper, Combat Reflexes
14. —
15. Knock-down
16. Martial Study (*foehammer*)
17. Martial Stance (*thicket of blades*)
18. —
19. Leap Attack
20. —
Yes, you get nothing at 20th level. Sorry.
For equipment, I recommend:
* *+1 guisarme*, 4,309 gp—it reaches, it trips, it’s everything you want without burning another feat on a spiked chain.
* *masterwork spiked gauntlet*, 305 gp—just so you *can* attack inside your reach, if necessary.
* *+1 full plate*, 3,650 gp—you have heavy armor proficiency and your Dex is meh. So you want this. Unfortunately, dragonborn flight doesn’t work in heavy armor. Hopefully between a literally-pointless Endurance feat and the *tooth of Savnok* (see below), your DM can see their way to ignoring that limitation, at least for you. If not, you have to go with a *+1 chain shirt* (a breastplate is garbage; lots of penalties for just +1 more armored AC—not worth it). Eventually, you will be able to afford *+1 mithral full plate*, solving the problem.
* *tooth of Savnok*, 2,000 gp—eliminates the movement penalties from armor. You’re required to never take off any armor you wear, but with the Endurance feat, you never have to. Only relevant if you get wear medium or heavy armor, which really should only be full plate, which as noted you might not be able to use. (*Tome of Magic*)
* *amulet of charisma +2*, 4,000 gp—to enable Imperious Command, sadly.
* *belt of battle, giant’s strength +2*, 16,000 gp—**extra actions**. Also, bonuses to initiative and Strength. (*Magic Item Compendium*, both for *belt of battle* and the rules that allow it to also have +2 enhancement to Strength)
* *third eye clarity*, 3,000 gp—prevent or remove a lot of nasty effects, including daze and stun. (*Magic Item Compendium*)
* *anklet of translocation*, 1,400 gp—quick, cheap mobility. You need it. (*Magic Item Compendium*)
That’s about 35,000 gp. You have 36,000 gp for 9th-level WBL, so that works out pretty well. Other good options include a *belt of healing* or *scout’s headband*. The *fearsome* armor property from *Drow of the Underdark* is a bit wasted on you (you already have swift-action intimidate, so the move-action version isn’t that useful), but +5 to intimidate isn’t awful. Getting *gloves of dexterity* would be nice but you neither have the money nor the feats.
Also, be sure to keep abreast of [the usual answers to the typical problems](https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?187851-3-5-Lists-of-Necessary-Magic-Items) that your Living Construct subtype and/or wings don’t already cover. | Playing a "tanking" fighter requires some skill. Some people mistakenly believe that tanking in 3.5 is a question of being so threatening to the opposition that they must choose to attack you in preference to anyone else. That's how it works in some systems, but not 3.5. There, the thing you need to understand is that tanking is less a matter of damage output or even defensive capabilities than it is of proper positioning and the ability to immobilize an opponent before it can position itself to attack your more vulnerable teammates.
With respect to positioning, most sophomore players understand the need for the tank to stand at a chokepoint and/or right next to ranged offensive player, forcing the opposition to come into range of your melee attacks rather than expending your own actions seeking them out.
Fewer know the tactic of readying move actions to intersect with the path of moving opponents during their own turns, and then using the resulting attack of opportunity to immobilize them in the middle of their own move, while they are still far away from their intended target. This is effectively what a linebacker does in a game of American football.
Immobilizing is essentially any action that can end an opponent's action movement before it is complete. The most common of these are trips, grapples, stuns, and entangles, but there are many other less commonly imposable conditions that can do the same thing.
**IMMOBILIZING**
***Trip*** is the go-to-tactic for most tanks. It is an attack form that can be executed on an attack of opportunity. Size and strength are important for trips, so it is a tactic that plays to the fighter's strengths. Its also one of the few immobilizing tactics that isn't foiled by Freedom of Movement effects, unlike grapples. It is of rapidly diminishing use against larger and stronger opponents, but these opponents are more vulnerable to massive-damage attacks than smaller opponents are, so usually the better choice with them is a "kiting" retreat-and-attack by spells and precision damage than a "stand and tank" tactic. The Combat Expertise-Improved Trip feat chain is preferred for this tactic, as it lets you get in damaging licks as well as immobilize, but its actually not strictly necessary; just being as big and strong as you can be is more important.
***Grapple*** is also a good tactic against those who are vulnerable to it -- which is mostly the same opponents that trip works on, but grapple is effectively useless if they have Freedom of Movement. Strong fighters don't really need to do much or any optimization to be good grapplers. Grappling has the drawback of rendering you as well as your enemy vulnerable, but this is less of a concern because a tank is generally near friendlies, unlike striker-types who have to go behind enemy lines to reach soft rearguard targets. Fighters automatically get proficiency in armor spikes (which clerics do not get), which is a huge, always-ready advantage in grappling. Every tank-type should be wearing spiked armor whether they plan to initiate grappling or not, and in the endgame should enchant those armor spikes.
***Entangle*** is often also a viable choice, most easily through the use of a net, but there are some limited-use magic items a fighter can use that also impose this condition. Nets are exotic weapons, but their use is a matter of touch attacks, so a full-BAB strong fighter can often make good use of them even without investing in proficiency. Their more serious drawback is that each can really only be attempted for use once per encounter. Also, nets and all other entangle attacks are foiled by Freedom of Movement.
***Stun*** is often overlooked, and it shouldn't be. First, you don't actually need monk levels to take the Stunning Fist feat, although its often a good idea for a tank to have a few levels of monk anyway. You can use Stunning Fist as an AoO. If you need those feats elsewhere, having one of your weapons given the Stunning enhancement is a good idea, even if its your heavy shield or a gauntlet. A successfully stunned opponent stops moving. Like most conditions, stun can be prepared for and countered, but most opponents will not have done so.
There are a number of other conditions, like nausea or cowering, that can halt movement, and these can be exploited with certain builds (for instance, the much-maligned Samurai class can be built to be very effective against non-fear-resistant opponents).
**SENSES AND INITIATIVE: THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF NOT BEING FLAT FOOTED**
No character ever wants to be flat footed more than it is absolutely unavoidable, but tanks are in a weird position. Tanks, which need less mobility than strikers, are more dependent on heavy armor and so less vulnerable when flat footed. But they also are more dependent on being able to do Attacks of Opportunity, so while a flatfooted tank is less vulnerable than most other characters, he is also generally more useless.
Obviously, anything that ups a tank's initiative is desirable. But this is an issue that goes beyond initiative, because you are flat footed against any opponent you can't see. This is a serious issue when the character types you are most often protecting your teammates from are built for stealth! Fighters don't get Spot or Listen and often have very bad Wisdom.
There are some ways around this. The Combat Form feat chain is great for tank builds. Once you get Combat Awareness at level 12+ you get a short-range Blindsight that cuts the concealment away from enemy stealth-rogues and invisible magic users. Bye-bye flat foot, bye-bye miss chance, I am not going to miss you when you are gone. Unfortunately a pure fighter build is not going to get the most out of this, since you really need sensory skills to pinpoint enemies that aren't standing right next to you; best to take some levels of monk, ninja, ranger or rogue to bolster you in that department.
If you don't like the Combat Form chain, seriously consider a one-handed-weapon with light/heavy shield build. First, you can really use the extra defense and plethora of shield enhancements that shield will give you over the course of your career. You don't need to be -- and generally should not be -- a heavy damage dealer, so a one handed weapon is okay. But also, you can put the wonderful-when-needed-but-expensive-and-often-useless Blindsighted weapon enhancement on your shield and use it to protect your charges without burning +2 worth of often-not-needed enhancements on the primary weapon you will be using all the time!
There is a lot more to say on this topic, but I'm currently out of time. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | It probably won't be the way you *want* it done, but
A Fighter Can Do What You Want
==============================
Seriously, as per KRyan's [answer](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/a/45602/8610), having to play a fighter who *stays* a fighter when other players are playing a cleric (who casts spells), a wizard (who casts spells), and a rogue (who has class features and important skills, including the class skill Use Magic Device) is... unfortunate. That fighter's game is fundamentally different from everyone else's, and it's just not as interesting. (And while I know that a good role-player can *role-play* a sandwich, this is primarily a mechanical discussion. A good DM will totally make the fighter's life interesting *narratively.*)
*If he does* nothing *else* the fighter can protect the party, but *not* by taking hits for hits party members (that's usually a prestige class's job, like, for example, the acceptable-for-3-levels devoted defender (*SF* 13-14)) and *not* by forcing foes to fight him (e.g. by employing the the subpar feat Goad (*MH* 26), which even when used successfully allows the foe too many options).
No, instead the fighter protects the party by keeping his friends reasonably close and making the area he threatens *so* big and *so* dangerous that foes suffer horribly for *existing* nearby. Here's how.
Race & Ability Scores
---------------------
The character needs the feats so he starts human (but see Size, below), and if using the elite array has ability scores of Str 14, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 8, increasing Dexterity at levels 4, 8, and 12.
Size
----
The character needs to be at least Large. The character needn't be this way *all* the time, but he needs to be able to become so in combat without wasting actions.
* Load into a ready-drink helm (*Dragon* #294 80-1) (150 gp; 2 lbs.) 3 *potions of enlarge person* [trans] (*PH* 226-7) (1st-level spell at caster level 1) (50 gp; 0.1 lbs.) and maybe--if allowed1 and available2--an emergency *potion of giant size* [trans] (*CAr* 109) (7th-level spell at caster level 19) (6,650 gp; 0.1 lbs.). The helm holds 6 potions in pairs;3 the character can take a free action to drink 1 or both potions in a pair and take a move action to switch to a different pair of potions.
* Have a Wiz20 cast on the character the 8th-level Sor/Wiz spell *polymorph any object* [trans] (*PH* 263), adventuring thereafter as a firbolg (*MM2* 101-2), war troll (*MM3* 181), or whatever's allowed and awesome that permits the character to continue to meet his feats' prerequisites. This costs only 1,600 gp, but, as a merely permanent effect, remains vulnerable to the spell *dispel magic* [abjur] (*PH* 223) *et al.* Purchase an arcane *scroll of polymorph any object* (*DMG* 241) (3,000 gp; 0 lbs.) in case the effect is dispelled.
Weapon
------
The rope dart (*Dragon* #319 73) (3 gp; 4 lbs.) is an exotic finesse-able two-handed weapon with a 15 ft. reach that can strike adjacent foes. [Large creatures with reach weapons threaten vast areas.](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/movementPositionAndDistance.htm#bigandLittleCreaturesInCombat) The character uses it.
The character's rope dart incorporates the weapon modification wand chamber (*Du* 30, 34) (100 gp; 0 lbs.). No, I don't know how. O, *and*, from *Complete Scoundrel* 109-10, the character has 2 boot blades (each 4 gp; 0.5 lbs.), 2 elbow blades (each 4 gp; 1 lb.), 2 knee blades (each 20 gp; 2 lbs.), and 2 sleeve blades (each 4 gp; 1 lb.)--also all with wand chambers. No, the character might not need them all *yet*, but he will.
Feats
-----
The character takes the following feats at the listed levels:
1. Combat Reflexes (*PH* 92), Combat ExpertiseB (*PH* 92), Improved TripB (*PH* 96).
2. Exotic Weapon Proficiency (rope dart (*Dragon* #319 73))B (*PH* 94)
3. Supernatural Instincts (*FC2* 85)
4. Close-quarters FightingB (*CW* 97)
5. *(No feat available.)*
6. Occult OpportunistB (*Dragon* #340 87), Power Attack (*PH* 98)
7. *(No feat available.)*
8. Martial Study (Crusader 1 or Crusader 2 Devoted Spirit maneuver)B (*ToB* 31-2)
9. Mage Slayer (*CAr* 81)
10. Martial Stance (Crusader 3 Devoted Spirit maneuver thicket of blades [stance] (*ToB* 61))B (*ToB* 32)
11. *(No feat available.)*
12. Clever OpportunistB (*DrU* 49), Close-quarters Defense (*Dragon* #309 110)
With this combination of feats, foes within the character's threatened area can't cast defensively *via* the feat Mage Slayer and provoke an attack of opportunity for making a dumb decision as normal *via* the feat Combat Reflexes *and* also provoke an attack of opportunity when...
* employing a supernatural ability (e.g. a dragon's breath weapon) *via* the feat Supernatural Instincts;
* starting a grapple *versus* the character--even if the foe possesses a special ability like improved grab--*via* the feat Close-quarters Fighting;
* attempting to turn or rebuke undead, casting a spell modified by the feat Quicken Spell (*PH* 98) or a spell with a casting time of 1 swift action, dismissing a spell, and redirecting an active spell *via* the feat Occult Opportunist;
* attempting *any* movement--possibly even movement taken while making a Tumble skill check, although this is point is hotly debated--*via* the stance thicket of blades; and
* attempting to move into the character's space, making an unarmed attack *versus* the character, starting a grapple with the character, attempting to bull rush the character, attempting to sunder the character's weapon, and attempting to sever the character's silver cord with a *silver sword*,4 even if the foe has an ability that normally prevents attacks of opportunity due to that action, *via* the feat Close-quarters Defense, but the character takes such an attack of opportunity at a -10 penalty to the attack rolls.
Thus, while a foe is in the character's threatened area, nearly every significant action a foe takes except standard and full attacks provokes an attack of opportunity from the character. Upon that provocation, the character makes a trip attempt. If successful, the character makes a free attack *versus* the tripped foe *via* the feat Improved Trip.
### Alternatives
The feat Close-quarters Fighting isn't absolutely necessary--it's an *extremely* situational feat and one that probably means the character's boned anyway. Throwing oneself in the Otyugh Hole (*CS* 151-2) (3,000 gp; 0 lbs.) for the feat Iron Will (*PH* 97) therefore meeting the prerequisites of the feat Hardened Criminal (*City of Stormreach* 95) *may* allow the character to take 10 on Use Magic Device skill checks--ask the DM. I'd allow it for such a character.
Further, it's unlikely that any but the most generous DM will permit all of the listed feats, no matter how much the character needs them. Here are alternatives.
The feats Knock-down (*DD* 51) and Stand Still (*XPH* 51) aren't especially useful for this build but *are* options. Consider them if the listed feats are unavailable.
Once the DM sees the character in play he may realize the best foe for the character is a mirror monster who made similar choices. If that happens, upon gaining levels, the character puts 8 additional skill points into the skill Perform (dance) (eventually having 5 ranks) and, instead of the feat Clever Opportunist, takes the feat Elusive Dance (*Dragon* #333 88). The character's mobility and tactical options will suffer without the feat Clever Opportunist, but he can then reach his mirror foe without incident. In fact, the feat Elusive Dance is so useful against this build it might be worth it for each party member to have 5 ranks in the skill Perform (dance) so each can benefit from the feat *via* a *wand of heroics* [trans] (*SpC* 113) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.) should the character should fall under a foe's control.
Finally, the feats Animal Devotion (*CC* 54) and Travel Devotion (*CC* 62) are awesome, the former for its versatility (including the, albeit limited, ability to fly) and the latter for movement as a swift action (while the character's swift action is often better spent--see below--it remains a good trick). Also, rearranging skill points allows the character at level 12 to take the feat Planar Touchstone (*PlH* 41).
Skills
------
At level 9 the character has 48 skill points, which are spent in the following ways:
* Knowledge (arcana) [cc], as a prerequisite for the feat Occult Opportunist, gets 10 skill points therefore 5 ranks.
* Perform (dance) [cc] gets 2 skill points therefore 1 rank; see above. Alternately, either pick a skill trick for which the character qualifies (I like Nimble Stand (*CS* 88), y'know, for irony) *or* spend skill points on the skill Balance to eventually get 5 ranks.
* Spellcraft [cc], as a prerequisite for the feat Occult Opportunist, gets 10 skill points therefore 5 ranks.
* Tumble, a class skill *via* the alternative class feature skilled city dweller from "Cityscape, Part 1: Urban Class Features" at the expense of the skill Ride, gets 12 skill points therefore 12 ranks.
* Use Magic Device [cc] gets 12 skill points therefore 6 ranks.
The feat Hyena Tribe Hunter (*ShS* 20) permits the character to take the feat Improved Trip without meeting the feat's prerequisites, allowing the character to make Intelligence a dump stat. This is ill-advised. Skills are important for this character.
Equipment
---------
According to Table 5-1: Character Wealth by Level (*DMG* 135), the character has 36,000 gp at level 9. Beg the cleric and wizard to purchase group items; the character needs every copper piece.
* *+1 spell storing* (*DMG* 225) *riverine* (*Sto* 128) *rope dart* (16,303 gp; 4 lbs.). *Note:* If necessary add the weapon special *sizing* (*MIC* 43) (5,000 gp; 0 lbs.). The special material riverine is an indulgence, but never again worrying about a broken rope dart is important for peace of mind. *And* it looks like an awesome laser whip.
* A *wand of wraithstrike* [trans] (*SpC* 243) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* This assumes the DM uses the *Rules Compendium*'s change that activating a spell completion or spell trigger item incorporating a spell with a casting time of 1 swift or immediate action takes that action to complete; if not, the character suffers greatly.
* Used wands (*MIC* 227), if available. Examples include the...
+ *wand of bite of the wererat* [trans] (*SpC* 28) *et al.* modified by the feat Extend Spell (*PH* 94) (2nd-level spell modified to 3rd-level at caster level 5) (225 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* While *wererat* is a fantastic 1st-turn buff spell--granting 3 extra attacks of opportunity *via* the +6 enhancement bonus to Dexterity, a +3 enhancement bonuses to natural armor, a +2 enhancement bonus to Constitution, and a natural bite attack--the others are pretty good, too.
+ *wand of champion of Kord* [trans] (*Dragon* #342 53) (4th-level spell at caster level 10) (600 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* Among other benefits, the target gains a sacred bonus equal to his caster level to trip attempts.
+ *wand of heroics* [trans] (*SpC* 113) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* See above.
+ *wand of mindless rage* [ench] (*SpC* 142) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* The wizard should cast this spell considering the *wand*'s horrible saving throw (Will DC 13), but the spell's *so* hilarious *versus* this build.
+ *wand of valiant spirit* [div] (*MoI* 106) (4th-level spell at caster level 7) (420 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* Among other benefits, the caster gains a +2 insight bonus to Strength *checks* (hence the opposed Strength check needed for trip attempts), and making a Use Magic Device skill check (DC 21+) to emulate the meldshaping class feature of an incarnate (*MoI* 21), if successful, *should* allow the character to increase the bonus by investing essentia he doesn't have into the spell, just like Lidda uses turn undead attempts she doesn't have to use the magic chalice (*PH* 86)--ask the DM.
+ *wand of wingbind* [evoc] (*SpC* 240) (4th-level spell at caster level 7) (420 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* The depressing saving throw (Ref DC 16) makes the spell better cast by the wizard, but sometimes one must fight the air elemental (*MM* 95-8) alone.
* Means of striking incorporeal foes (e.g. ghostblight (*CAd* 121) (100 gp; 0 lbs.) and a weapon capsule retainer (*CAd* 120-1) (100 gp; 0 lbs.) *et al.*, ghostoil (flask) (*AE* 32, 34) (50 gp; 1 lb.)).
* A masterwork tool (*PH* 129, 130-1) (50 gp; 1 lb.) for the skill Use Magic Device and either a *circlet or persuasion* (*DMG* 252) (4,500 gp; 0 lbs.) or a custom item granting a +5 circumstance bonus to Use Magic Device skill checks (*DMG* 285) (2,500 gp; 0 lbs.).
Spend remaining funds on armor and inexpensive Armor Class bonuses, items to improve the character's saving throws, and maybe items providing enhancement bonuses to Strength and Dexterity if the *bite* spells are unavailable. If funds remain, improve the character's mobility and, perhaps, utility (e.g. *hand of the oak father* (*MIC* 109) (5,000 gp; 1 lb.)).
Playing the Character
=====================
*Turn 1:* Take a free action to drink the *potion of enlarge person* from the fantasy beer-hat. Take a move action to draw the rope dart. Take a swift action to enter the stance thicket of blades. Take another move action to reposition or a standard action to make a trip attempt.
*Between Turns:* When a foe within somewhere between 15 ft. and 30 ft. does something, the foe'll provoke an attack of opportunity. Trip the foe then hit him while he's down. Do that a bunch of times.
*Turn 2+:* Take a swift action to make a Use Magic Device skill check (DC 20) to activate the *wand of wraithstrike*. Success means using the feat Power Attack for maximum and making touch attacks to make trip attacks then making follow-up touch attacks for damage (remember the rope dart is a *two-handed* weapon), while failure means probably not using the feat Power Attack and making touch attacks to make trip attacks then follow-up attacks for damage.
That's all the character does.
Such a character is a battlefield terror. I don't know how many DMs have *actually* had a PC at the table who specialized in tripping, but having DMed such a PC for nearly a year, I can say making monsters threatening is hard when they fall all over themselves trying the fight the PCs. It's... *undignified.* As the PC's gained levels, his reputation's meant many of the campaign's monsters have invested in skill tricks that let them stand up without provoking attacks of opportunity. Boss monsters sometimes take the feat Elusive Dance, too, as that's really, for many creatures, the only defense against a dedicated tripper except being incorporeal, *sometimes* flying,5 and--amusingly--just sitting down (the seated foe can't be tripped as he's not standing, takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class *versus* melee attacks and gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class *versus* ranged attacks according to Table 8-6: Armor Class Modifiers (*PH* 151), and instead attacking the *chair* becomes a thing--which is hilarious).
*Note:* There's a small category of creatures probably most DMs won't let the character trip (e.g. giant centipedes, oozes, snakes). I allow creatures to be tripped unless the creature's description says the creature's immune. I think of *I trip the creature* as shorthand for *I make the creature unable to effectively maneuver until it regains its appropriate combat position* (e.g. "I flip the centipede onto its back," "I fold the ooze onto itself," "I tie the snake into a knot"), *and* I avoid making DM calls based on illustrations (saying a creature can't be tripped because the *drawing* of it makes that *seem* impossible is just not something I do), but I'd not badmouth a DM who ruled differently. Talk to the DM.
---
1. Normally, personal spells aren't available as potions because a spell brewed into a potion must be one that "targets one or more creatures" (*PH* 89).
2. A Wu Jen 7 / Master Alchemist (*Mag* 34) 7 can brew a *potion of giant size* if the DM has house ruled potions of personal-range spells can be brewed
3. Fill the remaining slots with potions the character needs to survive or win (e.g. a *potion of beastland ferocity* [ench] (*SpC* 25) (1st-level spell at caster level 1) (50 gp; 0.1 lbs.)).
4. It was in article about githyanki (*MM* 127-8); *they* care about silver cord severing.
5. Creatures that are flying but who possess lousy maneuverability (e.g. dragons) can be tripped, and they're pretty boned when they are (*RC* 145). Making the DM learn the flying rules is sort of mean, though. | For battlefield control, as others suggest, a vanilla Fighter will be most useful with a spiked chain and Improved Trip. Add to this Combat Reflexes (and decent DEX).
Make sure you have access to Enlarge Person (a potion in a Glove of Storing) or whatever), which doubles your threat range - for a spiked chain you cover 20' radius, which makes it quite difficult to avoid AoO (and being tripped, you get extra +4 against Medium creatures while enlarged).
But damage is good
------------------
Also, consider focusing on damage anyway. With proper coordination of effort (buff spells from the Cleric and Wizard) Fighter is actually an effective killing machine (yes, I know about Tiers, feel free to downvote). You will need:
* a falchion (for its critical threat range), either keen or with Improved Critical, Power Critical (CW, +4 to confirm threats)
* Power Attack
* all typical weapon focuses and specializations
* Boots of Speed (for more movement, +1 to attack rolls and an extra attack at full bonus; enabled as a free action)
* buff spells increasing your attack bonus (Greater Heroism, Recitation etc.) - coordinate with the rest of the party; so you can transfer that to damage via Power Attack if necessary
* Belt of Giant Strength (the stronger, the better)
* some special means of quick movement (like Anklet of Translocation [MIC] - 10', a swift action; Bolt Shirt [MIC], 60', a move action)
* invest remaining feats in improving saving throws
Example 9th level Fighter:
[Average damage for full round attacks](http://www.distanceeducationconsultants.com/ddcalc.php?strength=22&dexterity=10&BAB=9&btohit=0&btodam=0&dr=0&w1dmg=5&w1rng=3&w1mult=2&w1enh=2&w1bonus=0&pw1=&w2dmg=4.5&w2rng=2&w2mult=2&w2enh=0&w2bonus=0&pw2=&weaponwield=twohanded&pa=true&patype=3.5&haste=true&hastetype=3.5&focusw1=true&gfocusw1=true&specw1=true&impcritw1=true&sneakattack=0d6&charge_mult=1&Ilove=Macy&button1=CALCULATE)
[Average damage for charging](http://www.distanceeducationconsultants.com/ddcalc.php?strength=22&dexterity=10&BAB=9&btohit=0&btodam=0&dr=0&w1dmg=5&w1rng=3&w1mult=2&w1enh=2&w1bonus=0&pw1=&w2dmg=4.5&w2rng=2&w2mult=2&w2enh=0&w2bonus=0&pw2=&weaponwield=twohanded&pa=true&patype=3.5&haste=true&hastetype=3.5&focusw1=true&gfocusw1=true&specw1=true&impcritw1=true&sneakattack=0d6&charge=true&charge_mult=1&single=true&Ilove=Macy&button1=CALCULATE)
Those include base STR of 18, increased to 20 at levels 4 and 8, gauntlets of ogre power (4000), falchion +2 (8375) and boots of speed (12000), leaving 11625 for armor and other items.
In a party I DM, there's been a build like this (from level 10, now it's 19th) and there is no way I could ever let anything with less than DR 10 or some damage immunities to withstand a full round of attacks from the Fighter (it doesn't have to kill - for a CR corresponding to the fighter level it usually means more than 50% of the opponent's hit points, making it easy to finish for others).
Obviously I can avoid it, but with clever tactics my PCs usually use, it means I can use less of the opponents potential or I need to focus on eliminating the Fighter first. Either way, it seems like something you're looking for.
I'd like to emphasize that for the Fighter to work well (the same goes for the spiked chain build, we have one in a party where I play another low-tier class - a Scout), you need to coordinate with other characters. I find it more satisfying to coordinate a party of less than optimal characters to reach a result at least as good as a group of optimized superheroes. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | Playing a "tanking" fighter requires some skill. Some people mistakenly believe that tanking in 3.5 is a question of being so threatening to the opposition that they must choose to attack you in preference to anyone else. That's how it works in some systems, but not 3.5. There, the thing you need to understand is that tanking is less a matter of damage output or even defensive capabilities than it is of proper positioning and the ability to immobilize an opponent before it can position itself to attack your more vulnerable teammates.
With respect to positioning, most sophomore players understand the need for the tank to stand at a chokepoint and/or right next to ranged offensive player, forcing the opposition to come into range of your melee attacks rather than expending your own actions seeking them out.
Fewer know the tactic of readying move actions to intersect with the path of moving opponents during their own turns, and then using the resulting attack of opportunity to immobilize them in the middle of their own move, while they are still far away from their intended target. This is effectively what a linebacker does in a game of American football.
Immobilizing is essentially any action that can end an opponent's action movement before it is complete. The most common of these are trips, grapples, stuns, and entangles, but there are many other less commonly imposable conditions that can do the same thing.
**IMMOBILIZING**
***Trip*** is the go-to-tactic for most tanks. It is an attack form that can be executed on an attack of opportunity. Size and strength are important for trips, so it is a tactic that plays to the fighter's strengths. Its also one of the few immobilizing tactics that isn't foiled by Freedom of Movement effects, unlike grapples. It is of rapidly diminishing use against larger and stronger opponents, but these opponents are more vulnerable to massive-damage attacks than smaller opponents are, so usually the better choice with them is a "kiting" retreat-and-attack by spells and precision damage than a "stand and tank" tactic. The Combat Expertise-Improved Trip feat chain is preferred for this tactic, as it lets you get in damaging licks as well as immobilize, but its actually not strictly necessary; just being as big and strong as you can be is more important.
***Grapple*** is also a good tactic against those who are vulnerable to it -- which is mostly the same opponents that trip works on, but grapple is effectively useless if they have Freedom of Movement. Strong fighters don't really need to do much or any optimization to be good grapplers. Grappling has the drawback of rendering you as well as your enemy vulnerable, but this is less of a concern because a tank is generally near friendlies, unlike striker-types who have to go behind enemy lines to reach soft rearguard targets. Fighters automatically get proficiency in armor spikes (which clerics do not get), which is a huge, always-ready advantage in grappling. Every tank-type should be wearing spiked armor whether they plan to initiate grappling or not, and in the endgame should enchant those armor spikes.
***Entangle*** is often also a viable choice, most easily through the use of a net, but there are some limited-use magic items a fighter can use that also impose this condition. Nets are exotic weapons, but their use is a matter of touch attacks, so a full-BAB strong fighter can often make good use of them even without investing in proficiency. Their more serious drawback is that each can really only be attempted for use once per encounter. Also, nets and all other entangle attacks are foiled by Freedom of Movement.
***Stun*** is often overlooked, and it shouldn't be. First, you don't actually need monk levels to take the Stunning Fist feat, although its often a good idea for a tank to have a few levels of monk anyway. You can use Stunning Fist as an AoO. If you need those feats elsewhere, having one of your weapons given the Stunning enhancement is a good idea, even if its your heavy shield or a gauntlet. A successfully stunned opponent stops moving. Like most conditions, stun can be prepared for and countered, but most opponents will not have done so.
There are a number of other conditions, like nausea or cowering, that can halt movement, and these can be exploited with certain builds (for instance, the much-maligned Samurai class can be built to be very effective against non-fear-resistant opponents).
**SENSES AND INITIATIVE: THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF NOT BEING FLAT FOOTED**
No character ever wants to be flat footed more than it is absolutely unavoidable, but tanks are in a weird position. Tanks, which need less mobility than strikers, are more dependent on heavy armor and so less vulnerable when flat footed. But they also are more dependent on being able to do Attacks of Opportunity, so while a flatfooted tank is less vulnerable than most other characters, he is also generally more useless.
Obviously, anything that ups a tank's initiative is desirable. But this is an issue that goes beyond initiative, because you are flat footed against any opponent you can't see. This is a serious issue when the character types you are most often protecting your teammates from are built for stealth! Fighters don't get Spot or Listen and often have very bad Wisdom.
There are some ways around this. The Combat Form feat chain is great for tank builds. Once you get Combat Awareness at level 12+ you get a short-range Blindsight that cuts the concealment away from enemy stealth-rogues and invisible magic users. Bye-bye flat foot, bye-bye miss chance, I am not going to miss you when you are gone. Unfortunately a pure fighter build is not going to get the most out of this, since you really need sensory skills to pinpoint enemies that aren't standing right next to you; best to take some levels of monk, ninja, ranger or rogue to bolster you in that department.
If you don't like the Combat Form chain, seriously consider a one-handed-weapon with light/heavy shield build. First, you can really use the extra defense and plethora of shield enhancements that shield will give you over the course of your career. You don't need to be -- and generally should not be -- a heavy damage dealer, so a one handed weapon is okay. But also, you can put the wonderful-when-needed-but-expensive-and-often-useless Blindsighted weapon enhancement on your shield and use it to protect your charges without burning +2 worth of often-not-needed enhancements on the primary weapon you will be using all the time!
There is a lot more to say on this topic, but I'm currently out of time. | For battlefield control, as others suggest, a vanilla Fighter will be most useful with a spiked chain and Improved Trip. Add to this Combat Reflexes (and decent DEX).
Make sure you have access to Enlarge Person (a potion in a Glove of Storing) or whatever), which doubles your threat range - for a spiked chain you cover 20' radius, which makes it quite difficult to avoid AoO (and being tripped, you get extra +4 against Medium creatures while enlarged).
But damage is good
------------------
Also, consider focusing on damage anyway. With proper coordination of effort (buff spells from the Cleric and Wizard) Fighter is actually an effective killing machine (yes, I know about Tiers, feel free to downvote). You will need:
* a falchion (for its critical threat range), either keen or with Improved Critical, Power Critical (CW, +4 to confirm threats)
* Power Attack
* all typical weapon focuses and specializations
* Boots of Speed (for more movement, +1 to attack rolls and an extra attack at full bonus; enabled as a free action)
* buff spells increasing your attack bonus (Greater Heroism, Recitation etc.) - coordinate with the rest of the party; so you can transfer that to damage via Power Attack if necessary
* Belt of Giant Strength (the stronger, the better)
* some special means of quick movement (like Anklet of Translocation [MIC] - 10', a swift action; Bolt Shirt [MIC], 60', a move action)
* invest remaining feats in improving saving throws
Example 9th level Fighter:
[Average damage for full round attacks](http://www.distanceeducationconsultants.com/ddcalc.php?strength=22&dexterity=10&BAB=9&btohit=0&btodam=0&dr=0&w1dmg=5&w1rng=3&w1mult=2&w1enh=2&w1bonus=0&pw1=&w2dmg=4.5&w2rng=2&w2mult=2&w2enh=0&w2bonus=0&pw2=&weaponwield=twohanded&pa=true&patype=3.5&haste=true&hastetype=3.5&focusw1=true&gfocusw1=true&specw1=true&impcritw1=true&sneakattack=0d6&charge_mult=1&Ilove=Macy&button1=CALCULATE)
[Average damage for charging](http://www.distanceeducationconsultants.com/ddcalc.php?strength=22&dexterity=10&BAB=9&btohit=0&btodam=0&dr=0&w1dmg=5&w1rng=3&w1mult=2&w1enh=2&w1bonus=0&pw1=&w2dmg=4.5&w2rng=2&w2mult=2&w2enh=0&w2bonus=0&pw2=&weaponwield=twohanded&pa=true&patype=3.5&haste=true&hastetype=3.5&focusw1=true&gfocusw1=true&specw1=true&impcritw1=true&sneakattack=0d6&charge=true&charge_mult=1&single=true&Ilove=Macy&button1=CALCULATE)
Those include base STR of 18, increased to 20 at levels 4 and 8, gauntlets of ogre power (4000), falchion +2 (8375) and boots of speed (12000), leaving 11625 for armor and other items.
In a party I DM, there's been a build like this (from level 10, now it's 19th) and there is no way I could ever let anything with less than DR 10 or some damage immunities to withstand a full round of attacks from the Fighter (it doesn't have to kill - for a CR corresponding to the fighter level it usually means more than 50% of the opponent's hit points, making it easy to finish for others).
Obviously I can avoid it, but with clever tactics my PCs usually use, it means I can use less of the opponents potential or I need to focus on eliminating the Fighter first. Either way, it seems like something you're looking for.
I'd like to emphasize that for the Fighter to work well (the same goes for the spiked chain build, we have one in a party where I play another low-tier class - a Scout), you need to coordinate with other characters. I find it more satisfying to coordinate a party of less than optimal characters to reach a result at least as good as a group of optimized superheroes. |
45,581 | I need to build a tank for a party limited to the classic four: cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard. He should have following abilities:
1. Prevent other party members from harm in direct martial confrontation
2. Thriftily spend HP while drawing the focus of foes, to ease the party healer's job
3. Kill or lock down at least one enemy per encounter
All three goals are contradictory to each other. I put them in order of priority. I would be pleased to trade off points in a lower priority in favor of improving a higher one.
The second and the third tasks have pretty obvious ways to be achieved. But I could not find useful traits or skills that would help to hold off foes from weak party members. Enemies can always ignore moderate damage from me (I'm not a damage dealer) and pass by me to attack other party members.
The Fighter has a great access to feats, I can take several chains of them. They would be of use to my personal offensive and defensive abilities but not for protecting others.
Most source books are allowed.
Party is moderate about power playing. In fact I'm the only one who is concerned.
Yes, it has to be a fighter. The classes are set by game master. He have a nice background story for them and create module for them specially. 9-12 levels. Just normal party, rogue, wizard, cleric and fighter. | 2014/08/06 | [
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/45581",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com",
"https://rpg.stackexchange.com/users/8208/"
] | It probably won't be the way you *want* it done, but
A Fighter Can Do What You Want
==============================
Seriously, as per KRyan's [answer](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/a/45602/8610), having to play a fighter who *stays* a fighter when other players are playing a cleric (who casts spells), a wizard (who casts spells), and a rogue (who has class features and important skills, including the class skill Use Magic Device) is... unfortunate. That fighter's game is fundamentally different from everyone else's, and it's just not as interesting. (And while I know that a good role-player can *role-play* a sandwich, this is primarily a mechanical discussion. A good DM will totally make the fighter's life interesting *narratively.*)
*If he does* nothing *else* the fighter can protect the party, but *not* by taking hits for hits party members (that's usually a prestige class's job, like, for example, the acceptable-for-3-levels devoted defender (*SF* 13-14)) and *not* by forcing foes to fight him (e.g. by employing the the subpar feat Goad (*MH* 26), which even when used successfully allows the foe too many options).
No, instead the fighter protects the party by keeping his friends reasonably close and making the area he threatens *so* big and *so* dangerous that foes suffer horribly for *existing* nearby. Here's how.
Race & Ability Scores
---------------------
The character needs the feats so he starts human (but see Size, below), and if using the elite array has ability scores of Str 14, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 8, increasing Dexterity at levels 4, 8, and 12.
Size
----
The character needs to be at least Large. The character needn't be this way *all* the time, but he needs to be able to become so in combat without wasting actions.
* Load into a ready-drink helm (*Dragon* #294 80-1) (150 gp; 2 lbs.) 3 *potions of enlarge person* [trans] (*PH* 226-7) (1st-level spell at caster level 1) (50 gp; 0.1 lbs.) and maybe--if allowed1 and available2--an emergency *potion of giant size* [trans] (*CAr* 109) (7th-level spell at caster level 19) (6,650 gp; 0.1 lbs.). The helm holds 6 potions in pairs;3 the character can take a free action to drink 1 or both potions in a pair and take a move action to switch to a different pair of potions.
* Have a Wiz20 cast on the character the 8th-level Sor/Wiz spell *polymorph any object* [trans] (*PH* 263), adventuring thereafter as a firbolg (*MM2* 101-2), war troll (*MM3* 181), or whatever's allowed and awesome that permits the character to continue to meet his feats' prerequisites. This costs only 1,600 gp, but, as a merely permanent effect, remains vulnerable to the spell *dispel magic* [abjur] (*PH* 223) *et al.* Purchase an arcane *scroll of polymorph any object* (*DMG* 241) (3,000 gp; 0 lbs.) in case the effect is dispelled.
Weapon
------
The rope dart (*Dragon* #319 73) (3 gp; 4 lbs.) is an exotic finesse-able two-handed weapon with a 15 ft. reach that can strike adjacent foes. [Large creatures with reach weapons threaten vast areas.](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/movementPositionAndDistance.htm#bigandLittleCreaturesInCombat) The character uses it.
The character's rope dart incorporates the weapon modification wand chamber (*Du* 30, 34) (100 gp; 0 lbs.). No, I don't know how. O, *and*, from *Complete Scoundrel* 109-10, the character has 2 boot blades (each 4 gp; 0.5 lbs.), 2 elbow blades (each 4 gp; 1 lb.), 2 knee blades (each 20 gp; 2 lbs.), and 2 sleeve blades (each 4 gp; 1 lb.)--also all with wand chambers. No, the character might not need them all *yet*, but he will.
Feats
-----
The character takes the following feats at the listed levels:
1. Combat Reflexes (*PH* 92), Combat ExpertiseB (*PH* 92), Improved TripB (*PH* 96).
2. Exotic Weapon Proficiency (rope dart (*Dragon* #319 73))B (*PH* 94)
3. Supernatural Instincts (*FC2* 85)
4. Close-quarters FightingB (*CW* 97)
5. *(No feat available.)*
6. Occult OpportunistB (*Dragon* #340 87), Power Attack (*PH* 98)
7. *(No feat available.)*
8. Martial Study (Crusader 1 or Crusader 2 Devoted Spirit maneuver)B (*ToB* 31-2)
9. Mage Slayer (*CAr* 81)
10. Martial Stance (Crusader 3 Devoted Spirit maneuver thicket of blades [stance] (*ToB* 61))B (*ToB* 32)
11. *(No feat available.)*
12. Clever OpportunistB (*DrU* 49), Close-quarters Defense (*Dragon* #309 110)
With this combination of feats, foes within the character's threatened area can't cast defensively *via* the feat Mage Slayer and provoke an attack of opportunity for making a dumb decision as normal *via* the feat Combat Reflexes *and* also provoke an attack of opportunity when...
* employing a supernatural ability (e.g. a dragon's breath weapon) *via* the feat Supernatural Instincts;
* starting a grapple *versus* the character--even if the foe possesses a special ability like improved grab--*via* the feat Close-quarters Fighting;
* attempting to turn or rebuke undead, casting a spell modified by the feat Quicken Spell (*PH* 98) or a spell with a casting time of 1 swift action, dismissing a spell, and redirecting an active spell *via* the feat Occult Opportunist;
* attempting *any* movement--possibly even movement taken while making a Tumble skill check, although this is point is hotly debated--*via* the stance thicket of blades; and
* attempting to move into the character's space, making an unarmed attack *versus* the character, starting a grapple with the character, attempting to bull rush the character, attempting to sunder the character's weapon, and attempting to sever the character's silver cord with a *silver sword*,4 even if the foe has an ability that normally prevents attacks of opportunity due to that action, *via* the feat Close-quarters Defense, but the character takes such an attack of opportunity at a -10 penalty to the attack rolls.
Thus, while a foe is in the character's threatened area, nearly every significant action a foe takes except standard and full attacks provokes an attack of opportunity from the character. Upon that provocation, the character makes a trip attempt. If successful, the character makes a free attack *versus* the tripped foe *via* the feat Improved Trip.
### Alternatives
The feat Close-quarters Fighting isn't absolutely necessary--it's an *extremely* situational feat and one that probably means the character's boned anyway. Throwing oneself in the Otyugh Hole (*CS* 151-2) (3,000 gp; 0 lbs.) for the feat Iron Will (*PH* 97) therefore meeting the prerequisites of the feat Hardened Criminal (*City of Stormreach* 95) *may* allow the character to take 10 on Use Magic Device skill checks--ask the DM. I'd allow it for such a character.
Further, it's unlikely that any but the most generous DM will permit all of the listed feats, no matter how much the character needs them. Here are alternatives.
The feats Knock-down (*DD* 51) and Stand Still (*XPH* 51) aren't especially useful for this build but *are* options. Consider them if the listed feats are unavailable.
Once the DM sees the character in play he may realize the best foe for the character is a mirror monster who made similar choices. If that happens, upon gaining levels, the character puts 8 additional skill points into the skill Perform (dance) (eventually having 5 ranks) and, instead of the feat Clever Opportunist, takes the feat Elusive Dance (*Dragon* #333 88). The character's mobility and tactical options will suffer without the feat Clever Opportunist, but he can then reach his mirror foe without incident. In fact, the feat Elusive Dance is so useful against this build it might be worth it for each party member to have 5 ranks in the skill Perform (dance) so each can benefit from the feat *via* a *wand of heroics* [trans] (*SpC* 113) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.) should the character should fall under a foe's control.
Finally, the feats Animal Devotion (*CC* 54) and Travel Devotion (*CC* 62) are awesome, the former for its versatility (including the, albeit limited, ability to fly) and the latter for movement as a swift action (while the character's swift action is often better spent--see below--it remains a good trick). Also, rearranging skill points allows the character at level 12 to take the feat Planar Touchstone (*PlH* 41).
Skills
------
At level 9 the character has 48 skill points, which are spent in the following ways:
* Knowledge (arcana) [cc], as a prerequisite for the feat Occult Opportunist, gets 10 skill points therefore 5 ranks.
* Perform (dance) [cc] gets 2 skill points therefore 1 rank; see above. Alternately, either pick a skill trick for which the character qualifies (I like Nimble Stand (*CS* 88), y'know, for irony) *or* spend skill points on the skill Balance to eventually get 5 ranks.
* Spellcraft [cc], as a prerequisite for the feat Occult Opportunist, gets 10 skill points therefore 5 ranks.
* Tumble, a class skill *via* the alternative class feature skilled city dweller from "Cityscape, Part 1: Urban Class Features" at the expense of the skill Ride, gets 12 skill points therefore 12 ranks.
* Use Magic Device [cc] gets 12 skill points therefore 6 ranks.
The feat Hyena Tribe Hunter (*ShS* 20) permits the character to take the feat Improved Trip without meeting the feat's prerequisites, allowing the character to make Intelligence a dump stat. This is ill-advised. Skills are important for this character.
Equipment
---------
According to Table 5-1: Character Wealth by Level (*DMG* 135), the character has 36,000 gp at level 9. Beg the cleric and wizard to purchase group items; the character needs every copper piece.
* *+1 spell storing* (*DMG* 225) *riverine* (*Sto* 128) *rope dart* (16,303 gp; 4 lbs.). *Note:* If necessary add the weapon special *sizing* (*MIC* 43) (5,000 gp; 0 lbs.). The special material riverine is an indulgence, but never again worrying about a broken rope dart is important for peace of mind. *And* it looks like an awesome laser whip.
* A *wand of wraithstrike* [trans] (*SpC* 243) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* This assumes the DM uses the *Rules Compendium*'s change that activating a spell completion or spell trigger item incorporating a spell with a casting time of 1 swift or immediate action takes that action to complete; if not, the character suffers greatly.
* Used wands (*MIC* 227), if available. Examples include the...
+ *wand of bite of the wererat* [trans] (*SpC* 28) *et al.* modified by the feat Extend Spell (*PH* 94) (2nd-level spell modified to 3rd-level at caster level 5) (225 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* While *wererat* is a fantastic 1st-turn buff spell--granting 3 extra attacks of opportunity *via* the +6 enhancement bonus to Dexterity, a +3 enhancement bonuses to natural armor, a +2 enhancement bonus to Constitution, and a natural bite attack--the others are pretty good, too.
+ *wand of champion of Kord* [trans] (*Dragon* #342 53) (4th-level spell at caster level 10) (600 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* Among other benefits, the target gains a sacred bonus equal to his caster level to trip attempts.
+ *wand of heroics* [trans] (*SpC* 113) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* See above.
+ *wand of mindless rage* [ench] (*SpC* 142) (2nd-level spell at caster level 3) (90 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* The wizard should cast this spell considering the *wand*'s horrible saving throw (Will DC 13), but the spell's *so* hilarious *versus* this build.
+ *wand of valiant spirit* [div] (*MoI* 106) (4th-level spell at caster level 7) (420 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* Among other benefits, the caster gains a +2 insight bonus to Strength *checks* (hence the opposed Strength check needed for trip attempts), and making a Use Magic Device skill check (DC 21+) to emulate the meldshaping class feature of an incarnate (*MoI* 21), if successful, *should* allow the character to increase the bonus by investing essentia he doesn't have into the spell, just like Lidda uses turn undead attempts she doesn't have to use the magic chalice (*PH* 86)--ask the DM.
+ *wand of wingbind* [evoc] (*SpC* 240) (4th-level spell at caster level 7) (420 gp/charge; 0 lbs.). *Note:* The depressing saving throw (Ref DC 16) makes the spell better cast by the wizard, but sometimes one must fight the air elemental (*MM* 95-8) alone.
* Means of striking incorporeal foes (e.g. ghostblight (*CAd* 121) (100 gp; 0 lbs.) and a weapon capsule retainer (*CAd* 120-1) (100 gp; 0 lbs.) *et al.*, ghostoil (flask) (*AE* 32, 34) (50 gp; 1 lb.)).
* A masterwork tool (*PH* 129, 130-1) (50 gp; 1 lb.) for the skill Use Magic Device and either a *circlet or persuasion* (*DMG* 252) (4,500 gp; 0 lbs.) or a custom item granting a +5 circumstance bonus to Use Magic Device skill checks (*DMG* 285) (2,500 gp; 0 lbs.).
Spend remaining funds on armor and inexpensive Armor Class bonuses, items to improve the character's saving throws, and maybe items providing enhancement bonuses to Strength and Dexterity if the *bite* spells are unavailable. If funds remain, improve the character's mobility and, perhaps, utility (e.g. *hand of the oak father* (*MIC* 109) (5,000 gp; 1 lb.)).
Playing the Character
=====================
*Turn 1:* Take a free action to drink the *potion of enlarge person* from the fantasy beer-hat. Take a move action to draw the rope dart. Take a swift action to enter the stance thicket of blades. Take another move action to reposition or a standard action to make a trip attempt.
*Between Turns:* When a foe within somewhere between 15 ft. and 30 ft. does something, the foe'll provoke an attack of opportunity. Trip the foe then hit him while he's down. Do that a bunch of times.
*Turn 2+:* Take a swift action to make a Use Magic Device skill check (DC 20) to activate the *wand of wraithstrike*. Success means using the feat Power Attack for maximum and making touch attacks to make trip attacks then making follow-up touch attacks for damage (remember the rope dart is a *two-handed* weapon), while failure means probably not using the feat Power Attack and making touch attacks to make trip attacks then follow-up attacks for damage.
That's all the character does.
Such a character is a battlefield terror. I don't know how many DMs have *actually* had a PC at the table who specialized in tripping, but having DMed such a PC for nearly a year, I can say making monsters threatening is hard when they fall all over themselves trying the fight the PCs. It's... *undignified.* As the PC's gained levels, his reputation's meant many of the campaign's monsters have invested in skill tricks that let them stand up without provoking attacks of opportunity. Boss monsters sometimes take the feat Elusive Dance, too, as that's really, for many creatures, the only defense against a dedicated tripper except being incorporeal, *sometimes* flying,5 and--amusingly--just sitting down (the seated foe can't be tripped as he's not standing, takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class *versus* melee attacks and gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class *versus* ranged attacks according to Table 8-6: Armor Class Modifiers (*PH* 151), and instead attacking the *chair* becomes a thing--which is hilarious).
*Note:* There's a small category of creatures probably most DMs won't let the character trip (e.g. giant centipedes, oozes, snakes). I allow creatures to be tripped unless the creature's description says the creature's immune. I think of *I trip the creature* as shorthand for *I make the creature unable to effectively maneuver until it regains its appropriate combat position* (e.g. "I flip the centipede onto its back," "I fold the ooze onto itself," "I tie the snake into a knot"), *and* I avoid making DM calls based on illustrations (saying a creature can't be tripped because the *drawing* of it makes that *seem* impossible is just not something I do), but I'd not badmouth a DM who ruled differently. Talk to the DM.
---
1. Normally, personal spells aren't available as potions because a spell brewed into a potion must be one that "targets one or more creatures" (*PH* 89).
2. A Wu Jen 7 / Master Alchemist (*Mag* 34) 7 can brew a *potion of giant size* if the DM has house ruled potions of personal-range spells can be brewed
3. Fill the remaining slots with potions the character needs to survive or win (e.g. a *potion of beastland ferocity* [ench] (*SpC* 25) (1st-level spell at caster level 1) (50 gp; 0.1 lbs.)).
4. It was in article about githyanki (*MM* 127-8); *they* care about silver cord severing.
5. Creatures that are flying but who possess lousy maneuverability (e.g. dragons) can be tripped, and they're pretty boned when they are (*RC* 145). Making the DM learn the flying rules is sort of mean, though. | Playing a "tanking" fighter requires some skill. Some people mistakenly believe that tanking in 3.5 is a question of being so threatening to the opposition that they must choose to attack you in preference to anyone else. That's how it works in some systems, but not 3.5. There, the thing you need to understand is that tanking is less a matter of damage output or even defensive capabilities than it is of proper positioning and the ability to immobilize an opponent before it can position itself to attack your more vulnerable teammates.
With respect to positioning, most sophomore players understand the need for the tank to stand at a chokepoint and/or right next to ranged offensive player, forcing the opposition to come into range of your melee attacks rather than expending your own actions seeking them out.
Fewer know the tactic of readying move actions to intersect with the path of moving opponents during their own turns, and then using the resulting attack of opportunity to immobilize them in the middle of their own move, while they are still far away from their intended target. This is effectively what a linebacker does in a game of American football.
Immobilizing is essentially any action that can end an opponent's action movement before it is complete. The most common of these are trips, grapples, stuns, and entangles, but there are many other less commonly imposable conditions that can do the same thing.
**IMMOBILIZING**
***Trip*** is the go-to-tactic for most tanks. It is an attack form that can be executed on an attack of opportunity. Size and strength are important for trips, so it is a tactic that plays to the fighter's strengths. Its also one of the few immobilizing tactics that isn't foiled by Freedom of Movement effects, unlike grapples. It is of rapidly diminishing use against larger and stronger opponents, but these opponents are more vulnerable to massive-damage attacks than smaller opponents are, so usually the better choice with them is a "kiting" retreat-and-attack by spells and precision damage than a "stand and tank" tactic. The Combat Expertise-Improved Trip feat chain is preferred for this tactic, as it lets you get in damaging licks as well as immobilize, but its actually not strictly necessary; just being as big and strong as you can be is more important.
***Grapple*** is also a good tactic against those who are vulnerable to it -- which is mostly the same opponents that trip works on, but grapple is effectively useless if they have Freedom of Movement. Strong fighters don't really need to do much or any optimization to be good grapplers. Grappling has the drawback of rendering you as well as your enemy vulnerable, but this is less of a concern because a tank is generally near friendlies, unlike striker-types who have to go behind enemy lines to reach soft rearguard targets. Fighters automatically get proficiency in armor spikes (which clerics do not get), which is a huge, always-ready advantage in grappling. Every tank-type should be wearing spiked armor whether they plan to initiate grappling or not, and in the endgame should enchant those armor spikes.
***Entangle*** is often also a viable choice, most easily through the use of a net, but there are some limited-use magic items a fighter can use that also impose this condition. Nets are exotic weapons, but their use is a matter of touch attacks, so a full-BAB strong fighter can often make good use of them even without investing in proficiency. Their more serious drawback is that each can really only be attempted for use once per encounter. Also, nets and all other entangle attacks are foiled by Freedom of Movement.
***Stun*** is often overlooked, and it shouldn't be. First, you don't actually need monk levels to take the Stunning Fist feat, although its often a good idea for a tank to have a few levels of monk anyway. You can use Stunning Fist as an AoO. If you need those feats elsewhere, having one of your weapons given the Stunning enhancement is a good idea, even if its your heavy shield or a gauntlet. A successfully stunned opponent stops moving. Like most conditions, stun can be prepared for and countered, but most opponents will not have done so.
There are a number of other conditions, like nausea or cowering, that can halt movement, and these can be exploited with certain builds (for instance, the much-maligned Samurai class can be built to be very effective against non-fear-resistant opponents).
**SENSES AND INITIATIVE: THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF NOT BEING FLAT FOOTED**
No character ever wants to be flat footed more than it is absolutely unavoidable, but tanks are in a weird position. Tanks, which need less mobility than strikers, are more dependent on heavy armor and so less vulnerable when flat footed. But they also are more dependent on being able to do Attacks of Opportunity, so while a flatfooted tank is less vulnerable than most other characters, he is also generally more useless.
Obviously, anything that ups a tank's initiative is desirable. But this is an issue that goes beyond initiative, because you are flat footed against any opponent you can't see. This is a serious issue when the character types you are most often protecting your teammates from are built for stealth! Fighters don't get Spot or Listen and often have very bad Wisdom.
There are some ways around this. The Combat Form feat chain is great for tank builds. Once you get Combat Awareness at level 12+ you get a short-range Blindsight that cuts the concealment away from enemy stealth-rogues and invisible magic users. Bye-bye flat foot, bye-bye miss chance, I am not going to miss you when you are gone. Unfortunately a pure fighter build is not going to get the most out of this, since you really need sensory skills to pinpoint enemies that aren't standing right next to you; best to take some levels of monk, ninja, ranger or rogue to bolster you in that department.
If you don't like the Combat Form chain, seriously consider a one-handed-weapon with light/heavy shield build. First, you can really use the extra defense and plethora of shield enhancements that shield will give you over the course of your career. You don't need to be -- and generally should not be -- a heavy damage dealer, so a one handed weapon is okay. But also, you can put the wonderful-when-needed-but-expensive-and-often-useless Blindsighted weapon enhancement on your shield and use it to protect your charges without burning +2 worth of often-not-needed enhancements on the primary weapon you will be using all the time!
There is a lot more to say on this topic, but I'm currently out of time. |
46,665,588 | I am getting this error when executing a `GRANT` statement on my Aurora DB instance in AWS:
>
> The MySQL server is running with the --read-only option so it cannot execute this statement
>
>
>
My user is not read-only though, so why is this happening? | 2017/10/10 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/46665588",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/492336/"
] | It turned out to be a silly mistake, but posting it anyway in case anyone else has the problem:
I was accessing the replica instance by mistake - I had copied the endpoint for the replica, and it is read-only apparently. So if you have this problem, verify that you are connecting to the Primary Instance or best of all the DB Cluster endpoint.
**Edit:** According to @Justin's answer we definitely should use DB Cluster:
>
> You need to connect to the cluster, rather than an instance. This is because instances seem to take a turn to be the readers and writers.
>
>
> | You need to connect to the **cluster**, rather than an **instance**. This is because instances seem to take a turn to be the readers and writers. |
10,928,673 | I have **Galaxy tab 10.1 inch** and I have made app and test on it, it works fine.
Now my question is will this app work on Galaxy 7 inch, Galaxy 7.7 inch, Galaxy note and Galaxy 8.9 inch
here is the details of these devices:
**(My Device) Galaxy tab 10.1 inch -->** 800 x 1280 pixels, 10.1 inches (~149 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 8.9 inch**--> 800 x 1280 pixels, 8.9 inches (~170 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 7.7 inch** --> 800 x 1280 pixels, 7.7 inches (~196 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 7 inch** --> 600 x 1024 pixels, 7.0 inches (~170 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy Note** --> 800 x 1280 pixels, 5.3 inches (~285 ppi pixel density)
Please tell me for which device I have to make layouts again and what will be the folder names for drawable and layout | 2012/06/07 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/10928673",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/1858792/"
] | for Galaxy 7 inch --> 600 x 1024 pixels, 7.0 inches (~170 ppi pixel density) you can make layout folder with name "layout-large-mdpi-1024x600"....but for other device i am also unable to sort correct | As long as you are using relative layout mechanisms, it wil be ok. If you want to test it yourself, you can start your application in emulators using different screen sizes. There is also a Galaxy Tab Emulator. |
10,928,673 | I have **Galaxy tab 10.1 inch** and I have made app and test on it, it works fine.
Now my question is will this app work on Galaxy 7 inch, Galaxy 7.7 inch, Galaxy note and Galaxy 8.9 inch
here is the details of these devices:
**(My Device) Galaxy tab 10.1 inch -->** 800 x 1280 pixels, 10.1 inches (~149 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 8.9 inch**--> 800 x 1280 pixels, 8.9 inches (~170 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 7.7 inch** --> 800 x 1280 pixels, 7.7 inches (~196 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 7 inch** --> 600 x 1024 pixels, 7.0 inches (~170 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy Note** --> 800 x 1280 pixels, 5.3 inches (~285 ppi pixel density)
Please tell me for which device I have to make layouts again and what will be the folder names for drawable and layout | 2012/06/07 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/10928673",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/1858792/"
] | for Galaxy 7 inch --> 600 x 1024 pixels, 7.0 inches (~170 ppi pixel density) you can make layout folder with name "layout-large-mdpi-1024x600"....but for other device i am also unable to sort correct | read
[Multiple Screen Resolution Support](http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html) |
10,928,673 | I have **Galaxy tab 10.1 inch** and I have made app and test on it, it works fine.
Now my question is will this app work on Galaxy 7 inch, Galaxy 7.7 inch, Galaxy note and Galaxy 8.9 inch
here is the details of these devices:
**(My Device) Galaxy tab 10.1 inch -->** 800 x 1280 pixels, 10.1 inches (~149 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 8.9 inch**--> 800 x 1280 pixels, 8.9 inches (~170 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 7.7 inch** --> 800 x 1280 pixels, 7.7 inches (~196 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy 7 inch** --> 600 x 1024 pixels, 7.0 inches (~170 ppi pixel density)
**Galaxy Note** --> 800 x 1280 pixels, 5.3 inches (~285 ppi pixel density)
Please tell me for which device I have to make layouts again and what will be the folder names for drawable and layout | 2012/06/07 | [
"https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/10928673",
"https://Stackoverflow.com",
"https://Stackoverflow.com/users/1858792/"
] | for Galaxy 7 inch --> 600 x 1024 pixels, 7.0 inches (~170 ppi pixel density) you can make layout folder with name "layout-large-mdpi-1024x600"....but for other device i am also unable to sort correct | Found answer myself: In order to support maximum devices, we can try to make a general layout which fits for all device, there may be minor trade offs, but one can live with that. We can make such a layout by using Relative Layout as much as possible, if there comes a situation where you can not handle multiple device support, we can try handling it with code at run time, but in such a manner, that it runs on all device.
complete answer is here
[Layout for 720\*1280 devices](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/13660452/layout-for-7201280-devices/13660963#13660963) |
186,858 | I'm a complete beginner with regard to Blender video editing. I'm watching an instructional video. To play the vid, he hits the play button. Well, I haven't got a play button. Now what?
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SEtaT.png) | 2020/07/18 | [
"https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/186858",
"https://blender.stackexchange.com",
"https://blender.stackexchange.com/users/101439/"
] | On the bottom where you see a video clip symbol and then words that say, "Sequencer," it's normally set to the Timeline panel where you would see a play button, but it's right now set to the "Video Editor" panel. Just click on the video clip icon in the bottom left corner and choose "timeline" in the "animation" section. Then the play button will appear.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/g6cWj.png)
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/qEfbh.png)
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/XU6sq.png) | Press the `space bar` to start playback.
Then press it again to stop.
No need to use the mouse. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | Don't persist in doing anything that hurts.
As commented, if you show us the passage in question we might be able to suggest a strategy. | The best advice is, of course, to not cause any further damage to your fingers. The object is to discover what the source of the pain and attempt to alleviate the pain. One definitely does not want to aggravate an injury if it exists. It could be that the pain is caused by developing stronger muscles; that is normal. Pianists are much like athletes in that respect. The pain could also be caused by other factors.
I have a specific example of my own personal pain that was alleviated by better technique. I would get terrible cramps in my left wrist when playing the first movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Piano Sonata. The left hand (my weaker hand) must maintain a tremolo in the bass for most of the movement. The solution was to work on playing without letting my left hand get tense. The tension was the cause of my pain. It was more of a mental fete to keep the left hand relaxed. But, gradually, the pain subsided and I was able to play without pain. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | In my piano lessons I was told the story in which famous composer Schumann permanently damaged his fingers by performing excessive stretching exercises:
>
> (...) that Schumann damaged his finger by using a mechanical device that held back one finger while he exercised the others—which was supposed to strengthen the weakest fingers
>
>
>
(From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Schumann))
This story (I really see it as a story, I think it's historically unproven) was told to me to teach me the following things:
* Every piano player knows the situation that your fingers seem too weak or not stretched enough, that's normal on every skill level.
* It's not possible to force rapid performance boosts, especially not by enduring physical pain. Controlled practice with patience is all you can do.
* Respect your hands! Yes, you can practice finger strength or range with the right exercises, but if there is any risk in damaging/hurting them, stop. | If it truly only hurts slightly, and you're otherwise able to perform the required stretch, then try continuing that way. If the discomfort lessens, that's a good sign; if it grows worse, it's a bad sign: at the very least you need a break from practicing that music, or that passage, and possibly to change what you're doing.
If you're not able to perform the music properly, then your stretch is insufficient. It will not increase, just from trying. It could be that just throwing yourself at the stretch will increase your span by, say, millimeter over time. If you need seven millimeters, that's not nearly enough. (If you're still a child or young adult, not yet fully grown, you have a chance that way.)
It's not advisable to persist in something that hurts, in a situation where the goal is not attainable in that manner.
In the pursuit of a musical instrument, there are some pains along the way, due to the body adjusting to the stresses of acquiring new skills. There are some good pains and there are some bad ones; you have to learn to "play it by ear".
Any sudden, sharp pain is a sign to stop. So is pain that is trending for the worse day over day.
Regarding stretching, do not apply external forces to try to make your reach bigger. If the discomfort you're experiencing is just from your hand's own effort at stretching, that is a lot less dangerous than if you start forcing your fingers into stretched positions using your other hand, or some sort of tool. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | Since we can't see the score, and we don't know exactly what you are trying to do, it's hard to answer this, except by saying:
**Whatever you are doing, it is the wrong technique to play the piece, so stop doing it before you injure your hands permanently.** | If it truly only hurts slightly, and you're otherwise able to perform the required stretch, then try continuing that way. If the discomfort lessens, that's a good sign; if it grows worse, it's a bad sign: at the very least you need a break from practicing that music, or that passage, and possibly to change what you're doing.
If you're not able to perform the music properly, then your stretch is insufficient. It will not increase, just from trying. It could be that just throwing yourself at the stretch will increase your span by, say, millimeter over time. If you need seven millimeters, that's not nearly enough. (If you're still a child or young adult, not yet fully grown, you have a chance that way.)
It's not advisable to persist in something that hurts, in a situation where the goal is not attainable in that manner.
In the pursuit of a musical instrument, there are some pains along the way, due to the body adjusting to the stresses of acquiring new skills. There are some good pains and there are some bad ones; you have to learn to "play it by ear".
Any sudden, sharp pain is a sign to stop. So is pain that is trending for the worse day over day.
Regarding stretching, do not apply external forces to try to make your reach bigger. If the discomfort you're experiencing is just from your hand's own effort at stretching, that is a lot less dangerous than if you start forcing your fingers into stretched positions using your other hand, or some sort of tool. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | >
> It slightly hurts when I do so
>
>
>
Huge cue! You should never ever insist with something that hurts and that could damage you in any way. If somebody recommends some kind of exercise, but when you do it, it hurts, the exercise just isn't right, or you are not doing it right, or the exercise doesn't work for you. Either way, you should never go through pain to achieve anything.
So, shortly:
>
> I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
>
>
>
No. | If it truly only hurts slightly, and you're otherwise able to perform the required stretch, then try continuing that way. If the discomfort lessens, that's a good sign; if it grows worse, it's a bad sign: at the very least you need a break from practicing that music, or that passage, and possibly to change what you're doing.
If you're not able to perform the music properly, then your stretch is insufficient. It will not increase, just from trying. It could be that just throwing yourself at the stretch will increase your span by, say, millimeter over time. If you need seven millimeters, that's not nearly enough. (If you're still a child or young adult, not yet fully grown, you have a chance that way.)
It's not advisable to persist in something that hurts, in a situation where the goal is not attainable in that manner.
In the pursuit of a musical instrument, there are some pains along the way, due to the body adjusting to the stresses of acquiring new skills. There are some good pains and there are some bad ones; you have to learn to "play it by ear".
Any sudden, sharp pain is a sign to stop. So is pain that is trending for the worse day over day.
Regarding stretching, do not apply external forces to try to make your reach bigger. If the discomfort you're experiencing is just from your hand's own effort at stretching, that is a lot less dangerous than if you start forcing your fingers into stretched positions using your other hand, or some sort of tool. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | Don't persist in doing anything that hurts.
As commented, if you show us the passage in question we might be able to suggest a strategy. | Since we can't see the score, and we don't know exactly what you are trying to do, it's hard to answer this, except by saying:
**Whatever you are doing, it is the wrong technique to play the piece, so stop doing it before you injure your hands permanently.** |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | Don't persist in doing anything that hurts.
As commented, if you show us the passage in question we might be able to suggest a strategy. | Sadly, some piano music simply can't be played as written with small hands without some modification. If you're trying to play certain pieces by, say, Liszt or Rachmaninoff (two famously large-handed performers - seriously, they still make plaster casts of their hands so you can compare to an average human - they're enormous), you may not be able do as wide a spread as they could, and so some music they wrote may be physically beyond your capability. There are exercises you can do to increase your hand span, but they can only take you so far. You may find you need to roll chords rather than play all the notes at once, or even omit or transpose some notes if your hands cannot reach them all. Many publishers include suggested variations for small hands on some difficult passages. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | Don't persist in doing anything that hurts.
As commented, if you show us the passage in question we might be able to suggest a strategy. | >
> It slightly hurts when I do so
>
>
>
Huge cue! You should never ever insist with something that hurts and that could damage you in any way. If somebody recommends some kind of exercise, but when you do it, it hurts, the exercise just isn't right, or you are not doing it right, or the exercise doesn't work for you. Either way, you should never go through pain to achieve anything.
So, shortly:
>
> I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
>
>
>
No. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | >
> It slightly hurts when I do so
>
>
>
Huge cue! You should never ever insist with something that hurts and that could damage you in any way. If somebody recommends some kind of exercise, but when you do it, it hurts, the exercise just isn't right, or you are not doing it right, or the exercise doesn't work for you. Either way, you should never go through pain to achieve anything.
So, shortly:
>
> I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
>
>
>
No. | The best advice is, of course, to not cause any further damage to your fingers. The object is to discover what the source of the pain and attempt to alleviate the pain. One definitely does not want to aggravate an injury if it exists. It could be that the pain is caused by developing stronger muscles; that is normal. Pianists are much like athletes in that respect. The pain could also be caused by other factors.
I have a specific example of my own personal pain that was alleviated by better technique. I would get terrible cramps in my left wrist when playing the first movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Piano Sonata. The left hand (my weaker hand) must maintain a tremolo in the bass for most of the movement. The solution was to work on playing without letting my left hand get tense. The tension was the cause of my pain. It was more of a mental fete to keep the left hand relaxed. But, gradually, the pain subsided and I was able to play without pain. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | Don't persist in doing anything that hurts.
As commented, if you show us the passage in question we might be able to suggest a strategy. | Never do something that is causing pain. If your hand cannot do the "stretch" you may have to shift. Is the stretch for a chord or a single note run?
I would like to add to this that in general it is a good ideal to stretch before playing as a warm up. But never to the point of pain. We all have to deal wit our individual physical limits. Perhaps in time your body will adjust to get the reach it needs but if it's a far reach then probably not. Pain is different than discomfort. Many players experience a feeling of awkwardness as beginners but eventually get comfortable with the instrument and the demands it places on the body. But pain usually means injury and once you injure tendons, joint cartilage etc. they will scar up and that typically reduces mobility. Stretch gently as a warm up and see how it progresses. Never force you hand beyond its range of motion. |
95,886 | I'm currently playing a piece which requires big stretches of large intervals across the keyboard. It slightly hurts when I do so, and I am wondering if I should continue to practise like this.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6cfvl.png)
My piano teacher suggests fingerings with a combination of 3 1 and 2 1 in the L.H. | 2020/03/04 | [
"https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/95886",
"https://music.stackexchange.com",
"https://music.stackexchange.com/users/66647/"
] | In my piano lessons I was told the story in which famous composer Schumann permanently damaged his fingers by performing excessive stretching exercises:
>
> (...) that Schumann damaged his finger by using a mechanical device that held back one finger while he exercised the others—which was supposed to strengthen the weakest fingers
>
>
>
(From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Schumann))
This story (I really see it as a story, I think it's historically unproven) was told to me to teach me the following things:
* Every piano player knows the situation that your fingers seem too weak or not stretched enough, that's normal on every skill level.
* It's not possible to force rapid performance boosts, especially not by enduring physical pain. Controlled practice with patience is all you can do.
* Respect your hands! Yes, you can practice finger strength or range with the right exercises, but if there is any risk in damaging/hurting them, stop. | Never do something that is causing pain. If your hand cannot do the "stretch" you may have to shift. Is the stretch for a chord or a single note run?
I would like to add to this that in general it is a good ideal to stretch before playing as a warm up. But never to the point of pain. We all have to deal wit our individual physical limits. Perhaps in time your body will adjust to get the reach it needs but if it's a far reach then probably not. Pain is different than discomfort. Many players experience a feeling of awkwardness as beginners but eventually get comfortable with the instrument and the demands it places on the body. But pain usually means injury and once you injure tendons, joint cartilage etc. they will scar up and that typically reduces mobility. Stretch gently as a warm up and see how it progresses. Never force you hand beyond its range of motion. |
15,896 | I am planning to do the Laugavegur Trek in Iceland this summer (rain and snow can be expected) and need to buy a tent. I read a few articles on what to consider while buying a tent and got confused because there are so many variables. So I decided to write my requirements here and see if someone can give me an advise.
My budget is 100-150 euros (100-160 USD) maximum. I know its not a lot of money and I would get what I pay for but I would like to use the tent for many years **if possible**.I like to go trekking or camping once or twice a year in the mountains during summer time. So light snow and medium to heavy showers can be expected.
1. The most confusing thing for me is the water resistance level. I am
not sure what ratings I need. May be some one with actual experience can help.
Is 2000 mm good enough or should I go for a higher number like 5000 mm. The problem
is that some tents are rated 2000 mm while other in the same price
group are rated 3000 to 5000 mm. So I don't know which one to buy. Is the importance given only to resistance level or is there a quality concern.
2. What happens if I buy a good brand with lower water resistance (2000mm) will it be good enough for my requirements or i need a higher level?
I am looking for some practical advice. What actually matters while you are facing heavy showers or does a high water resistance level actually help if its occasional camping or how important is it to have a storage compartment etc.
I found a really good tent with floor resistance of 3000mm and top resistance of 2000 mm but I can't find any reviews for it online. Then there is another option for 1/3rd the price with almost similar specifications. So I don't know how the price cut affects the performance.
I don't want to spend hundreds of euros buying a really awesome tent while the same purpose (of occasional camping) can be served by a cheaper option. | 2017/04/18 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/15896",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/6545/"
] | I'm going to answer your question about **water column**, which is generally given in XY millimeters.
This might sound surprising, but generally you can almost ignore the values given by the tent manufacturers. Why?
* How waterproof a tent is doesn't only depend on 2000 vs 5000mm of potential water pressure, but also about **its shape**. Meaning certain types of tents (e.g. when the fabric is at a steeper angle) will need a lot less water resistance to be essentially waterproof than, say, a tarp that is installed horizontally.
And because you can't often properly compare the different tent shapes, it can be very hard to compare waterproofness.
My advice: Go to your trusted local outdoor store, explain them your requirements and your limitations (money, ...) and they will give you some good suggestions on what you could buy.
---
You might want to look into different variables that will affect your enjoyment of the tent a lot more that how many mm of water column its fabric can withstand.
* **Weight** is a huge issue in tents, especially when you plan on carrying them (trekking). The problem here is that the lighter the tent, the more expensive it gets - and with 100-150 Euros you won't get far...
* **Size** matters. Not everyone has the same requirements here, so think about how much room you need to feel comfortable. Also think about how many ppl you want to bring, how big your packs are, if you want to be able to cook inside (only do this with the right equipment!), etc. Of course bigger means heavier, so there is a tradeoff here...
* How **sturdy** it is will mainly define how many seasons/outings your tent will be usable... Judging this can be very hard though, so I suggest you search for reviews online or (again) ask your local outdoor store for advice. Sturdiness will of course also mean your tent can withstand wind and weather better/longer.
* The **shape** or your tent will have a big impact on size-per-weight and on the tents stability. Very generally speaking: dome tents are the most stable but heaviest, tunnel tents are often the lightest (for their size). | Waterproofing is one of the most important things to the average camper, so an reasonable quality, inexpensive tent will stay dry through mild rains and occasional thunderstorms, and if the tent is stored properly and only used a few days a year, that waterproofing should last at least several years. Just make sure you know how to set it up properly, and don't let your body or your gear come in contact with the wet tent walls because either of those mistakes will cause a waterproof tent to leak (explained at [Does touching the tent outer wall from the inside make it leak?](https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/9226/does-touching-the-tent-outer-wall-from-the-inside-make-it-leak/9606#9606)).
What is nearly always sacrificed in inexpensive tents is weight. They will use fiberglass or thick metal poles where expensive tents will use flexible, lightweight aluminum. The fabric will be a durable nylon or polyester, not the latest, lightest silnylon. A smaller tent is the easiest way to cut weight while saving money.
An inexpensive tent is not necessarily less durable than an expensive one. As I said above, weight is nearly always sacrificed to keep a tent's cost down. But there are plenty of inexpensive durable materials. Dedicated backpacking tents are made with keeping weight down as a priority, often at the expense of durability. So a modestly priced tent can last for years of moderate use.
Inexpensive vs Dirt Cheap.
The cheapest tents will wear out fast and may leak when you buy them. Within a few trips, you risk broken zippers, ripped material, and torn seams. Stay away inexpensive brands with no reviews or recommendations.
So the trick is to figure out which inexpensive brands still have good quality. I'd suggest asking anyone you know who camps what brand they use. Ask at stores dedicated to hiking and camping. And read reviews of a variety of tents and brands, not just what you think you want. Your priorities should be a tent small and light enough to easily carry and a tent with good waterproofing. Other features are nice to have, but not essential. |
15,896 | I am planning to do the Laugavegur Trek in Iceland this summer (rain and snow can be expected) and need to buy a tent. I read a few articles on what to consider while buying a tent and got confused because there are so many variables. So I decided to write my requirements here and see if someone can give me an advise.
My budget is 100-150 euros (100-160 USD) maximum. I know its not a lot of money and I would get what I pay for but I would like to use the tent for many years **if possible**.I like to go trekking or camping once or twice a year in the mountains during summer time. So light snow and medium to heavy showers can be expected.
1. The most confusing thing for me is the water resistance level. I am
not sure what ratings I need. May be some one with actual experience can help.
Is 2000 mm good enough or should I go for a higher number like 5000 mm. The problem
is that some tents are rated 2000 mm while other in the same price
group are rated 3000 to 5000 mm. So I don't know which one to buy. Is the importance given only to resistance level or is there a quality concern.
2. What happens if I buy a good brand with lower water resistance (2000mm) will it be good enough for my requirements or i need a higher level?
I am looking for some practical advice. What actually matters while you are facing heavy showers or does a high water resistance level actually help if its occasional camping or how important is it to have a storage compartment etc.
I found a really good tent with floor resistance of 3000mm and top resistance of 2000 mm but I can't find any reviews for it online. Then there is another option for 1/3rd the price with almost similar specifications. So I don't know how the price cut affects the performance.
I don't want to spend hundreds of euros buying a really awesome tent while the same purpose (of occasional camping) can be served by a cheaper option. | 2017/04/18 | [
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/15896",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com",
"https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/6545/"
] | I'm going to answer your question about **water column**, which is generally given in XY millimeters.
This might sound surprising, but generally you can almost ignore the values given by the tent manufacturers. Why?
* How waterproof a tent is doesn't only depend on 2000 vs 5000mm of potential water pressure, but also about **its shape**. Meaning certain types of tents (e.g. when the fabric is at a steeper angle) will need a lot less water resistance to be essentially waterproof than, say, a tarp that is installed horizontally.
And because you can't often properly compare the different tent shapes, it can be very hard to compare waterproofness.
My advice: Go to your trusted local outdoor store, explain them your requirements and your limitations (money, ...) and they will give you some good suggestions on what you could buy.
---
You might want to look into different variables that will affect your enjoyment of the tent a lot more that how many mm of water column its fabric can withstand.
* **Weight** is a huge issue in tents, especially when you plan on carrying them (trekking). The problem here is that the lighter the tent, the more expensive it gets - and with 100-150 Euros you won't get far...
* **Size** matters. Not everyone has the same requirements here, so think about how much room you need to feel comfortable. Also think about how many ppl you want to bring, how big your packs are, if you want to be able to cook inside (only do this with the right equipment!), etc. Of course bigger means heavier, so there is a tradeoff here...
* How **sturdy** it is will mainly define how many seasons/outings your tent will be usable... Judging this can be very hard though, so I suggest you search for reviews online or (again) ask your local outdoor store for advice. Sturdiness will of course also mean your tent can withstand wind and weather better/longer.
* The **shape** or your tent will have a big impact on size-per-weight and on the tents stability. Very generally speaking: dome tents are the most stable but heaviest, tunnel tents are often the lightest (for their size). | Waterproof. Use parifin. Candle wax. Dissolve in dry cleaning fluid. Just enough to dissolve overnight in it. Shake several times. Paint on with brush. Nothing better except for long life use white bees wax. 1 coat will do. High wind go with a dome tent I think is best. A tent fly over tent is a big help. |
227,403 | The bobblehead feature which shakes user avatars only does so when scrolling *down* the page. When scrolling up, the avatars do not bobble. I paid good unicoins for this! | 2014/03/31 | [
"https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/227403",
"https://meta.stackexchange.com",
"https://meta.stackexchange.com/users/189912/"
] | This is not a physical question, but a legal one.
As commentators in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Bobblehead Doll War have noted1 (emph. added),
>
> The **very act of creating** a bobblehead doll out of an individual's likeness **sufficiently distorts** the likeness beyond a mere literal depiction to create the intended **comic** effect characteristic of bobblehead dolls.
>
>
>
According to this legal scholar, the actual movement is irrelevant. The *making* of a bobblehead alone is funny in and of itself. Please laugh now.
In addition, the article argues that a bobblehead is an, albeit untraditional, medium of expression that is protected under the First Amendment to the US Constitution. And that is just lawyer-speak for "When it comes to bobbleheads, we can do whatever we please."
---
1William T. Gallagher, *Strategic Intellectual Property Litigation, the Right of Publicity, and the Attenuation of Free Speech: Lessons from the Schwarzenegger Bobblehead Doll War (and Peace)*, Santa Clara Law Review, Vol. 45, 2005, Page 595 | *This answer may be recorded for quality control purposes*
Consider asking this question on [Physics Stack Exchange](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/posts/227403/edit), which discusses bobblehead-physics related issues rather than unicorns.
Though to be a good sport, I will give you a link-only answer to the [Second Law of Thermodynamics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics) and [Perpetual Motion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion) which it states is impossible as a result. |
6,099 | Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
I've tried doing some research, and as it's a threshold for whether the signal is sent through a neuron or not, it sounds a lot like ReLU. However, I can't find a single article confirming this. Or is it more like a step function (it sends 1 if it's above the threshold, instead of the input value)? | 2018/04/18 | [
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/questions/6099",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/users/15107/"
] | The thing you were reading about is known as the [action potential](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_potential). It is a mechanism that governs how information flows within a neuron.
It works like this: Neurons have an electrical potential, which is a voltage difference inside and outside the cell. They also have a default resting potential, and an activation potential. The neuron tends to move towards the resting potential if it is left alone, but incoming electric activations from dendrites can shift its electric potential.
If the neuron reaches a certain threshold in electric potential (the activation potential), the entire neuron and its connecting axons goes through a chain reaction of ionic exchange inside/outside the cell that results in a "wave of propagation" through the axon.
TL;DR: Once a neuron reaches a certain activation potential, it electrically discharges. But if the electric potential of the neuron doesn't reach that value then the neuron does not activate.
>
> Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
>
>
>
IIRC neurons in different parts of the brain behave a bit differently, and the way this question is phrased sounds as if you are asking if there is a specific implementation of neuronal activation (as opposed to us modelling it).
But in general behave relatively similar to each other (Neurons communicate with each other via neurochemicals, information propagates inside a neuron via a mechanism known as the action potential...) But the details and the differences they cause could be significant.
There are various [biological neuron models](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_neuron_model), but the [Hodgkin-Huxley Model](http://neuronaldynamics.epfl.ch/online/Ch2.S2.html) is the most notable.
Also note that a general description of neurons don't give you a general description of neuronal dynamics a la cognition (understanding a tree doesn't give you complete understanding of a forest)
But, the method of which information propagates inside a neuron is in general quite well understood as sodium / potassium ionic exchange.
>
> It (activation potential) sounds a lot like ReLU...
>
>
>
It's only like ReLU in the sense that they require a threshold before anything happens. But ReLU can have variable output while neurons are all-or-nothing.
Also ReLU (and other activation functions in general) are differentiable with respect to input space. This is very important for backprop.
This is a ReLU function, with the X-axis being input value and Y-axis being output value.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vD7Ut.png)
And this is the action potential with the X-axis being time, and Y being output value.[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/EsnF7.png) | The answer is **We do not know**. Odds are, we will not know for quite a while. The reason for this is we cannot understand the "code" of the human brain, nor can we simply feed it values and get results. This limits us to measuring currents of the input and output on test subjects, and we have had few such test subjects that are *human*. Thus, we know almost nothing about the human brain, including the activation function. |
6,099 | Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
I've tried doing some research, and as it's a threshold for whether the signal is sent through a neuron or not, it sounds a lot like ReLU. However, I can't find a single article confirming this. Or is it more like a step function (it sends 1 if it's above the threshold, instead of the input value)? | 2018/04/18 | [
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/questions/6099",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/users/15107/"
] | The brains of mammals do not use an activation function. Only machine learning designs based on the perceptron multiply the vector of outputs from a prior layer by a parameter matrix and pass the result statelessly into a mathematical function.
Although the spike aggregation behavior has been partly modeled, and in far more detail than the 1952 Hodgkin and Huxley model, all the models require statefulness to functionally approximate biological neurons. RNNs and their derivatives are an attempt to correct that shortcoming in the perceptron design.
In addition to that distinction, although the signal strength summing into activation functions are parametrized, traditional ANNs, CNNs, and RNNs, are statically connected, something Intel claims they will correct with the Nirvana architecture in 2019 (which places into silicon that which we would call layer set up in Python or Java now.
There are at least three important biological neuron features that make the activation mechanism more than a function of a scalar input producing a scalar output, which renders questionable any algebraic comparison.
* State held as neuroplastic (changing) connectivity, and this is not just how many neurons in a layer but also the direction of signal propagation in three dimensions and the topology of the network, which is organized, but chaotically so
* The state held within the cytoplasm and its organelles, which is only partly understood as of 2018
* The fact that there is a temporal alignment factor, that pulses through a biological circuit may arrive via synapses in such a way that they aggregate but the peaks of the pulses are not coincident in time, so the activation probability is not as high as if they were temporally aligned.
The decision about what activation function to use has largely been based on the analysis of convergence on a theoretical level combined with testing permutations to see which ones show the most desirable combinations of speed, accuracy, and reliability in ctheonvergence. By reliability is meant that convergence on the global optimum (not some local minimum of the error function) is reached at all for the majority of input cases.
This bifurcated research between the forks of practical machine learning and biological simulations and modeling. The two branches may rejoin at some point with the emergence of spiking - Accuracy
- Reliability (completes) networks. The machine learning branch may borrow inspiration from the biological, such as the case of visual and auditory pathways in brains.
They have parallels and relationships that may be exploited to aid in progress along both forks, but gaining knowledge by comparing the shapes of activation functions is confounded by the above three differences, especially the temporal alignment factor and the entire timing of brain circuits which cannot be modeled using iterations. The brain is a true parallel computing architecture, not reliant on loops or even time sharing in the CPU and data buses. | The answer is **We do not know**. Odds are, we will not know for quite a while. The reason for this is we cannot understand the "code" of the human brain, nor can we simply feed it values and get results. This limits us to measuring currents of the input and output on test subjects, and we have had few such test subjects that are *human*. Thus, we know almost nothing about the human brain, including the activation function. |
6,099 | Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
I've tried doing some research, and as it's a threshold for whether the signal is sent through a neuron or not, it sounds a lot like ReLU. However, I can't find a single article confirming this. Or is it more like a step function (it sends 1 if it's above the threshold, instead of the input value)? | 2018/04/18 | [
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/questions/6099",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/users/15107/"
] | The answer is **We do not know**. Odds are, we will not know for quite a while. The reason for this is we cannot understand the "code" of the human brain, nor can we simply feed it values and get results. This limits us to measuring currents of the input and output on test subjects, and we have had few such test subjects that are *human*. Thus, we know almost nothing about the human brain, including the activation function. | My interpretation of the question was 'what activation function in an artificial neural network (ANN) is closest to that found in the brain?'
Whilst I agree with the selected answer above, that a single neuron outputs a dirac, if you think of a neuron in an ANN as modelling the output firing rate, rather than the current output, then I believe ReLU might be closest?
<http://jackterwilliger.com/biological-neural-networks-part-i-spiking-neurons/> |
6,099 | Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
I've tried doing some research, and as it's a threshold for whether the signal is sent through a neuron or not, it sounds a lot like ReLU. However, I can't find a single article confirming this. Or is it more like a step function (it sends 1 if it's above the threshold, instead of the input value)? | 2018/04/18 | [
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/questions/6099",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/users/15107/"
] | The thing you were reading about is known as the [action potential](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_potential). It is a mechanism that governs how information flows within a neuron.
It works like this: Neurons have an electrical potential, which is a voltage difference inside and outside the cell. They also have a default resting potential, and an activation potential. The neuron tends to move towards the resting potential if it is left alone, but incoming electric activations from dendrites can shift its electric potential.
If the neuron reaches a certain threshold in electric potential (the activation potential), the entire neuron and its connecting axons goes through a chain reaction of ionic exchange inside/outside the cell that results in a "wave of propagation" through the axon.
TL;DR: Once a neuron reaches a certain activation potential, it electrically discharges. But if the electric potential of the neuron doesn't reach that value then the neuron does not activate.
>
> Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
>
>
>
IIRC neurons in different parts of the brain behave a bit differently, and the way this question is phrased sounds as if you are asking if there is a specific implementation of neuronal activation (as opposed to us modelling it).
But in general behave relatively similar to each other (Neurons communicate with each other via neurochemicals, information propagates inside a neuron via a mechanism known as the action potential...) But the details and the differences they cause could be significant.
There are various [biological neuron models](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_neuron_model), but the [Hodgkin-Huxley Model](http://neuronaldynamics.epfl.ch/online/Ch2.S2.html) is the most notable.
Also note that a general description of neurons don't give you a general description of neuronal dynamics a la cognition (understanding a tree doesn't give you complete understanding of a forest)
But, the method of which information propagates inside a neuron is in general quite well understood as sodium / potassium ionic exchange.
>
> It (activation potential) sounds a lot like ReLU...
>
>
>
It's only like ReLU in the sense that they require a threshold before anything happens. But ReLU can have variable output while neurons are all-or-nothing.
Also ReLU (and other activation functions in general) are differentiable with respect to input space. This is very important for backprop.
This is a ReLU function, with the X-axis being input value and Y-axis being output value.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vD7Ut.png)
And this is the action potential with the X-axis being time, and Y being output value.[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/EsnF7.png) | The brains of mammals do not use an activation function. Only machine learning designs based on the perceptron multiply the vector of outputs from a prior layer by a parameter matrix and pass the result statelessly into a mathematical function.
Although the spike aggregation behavior has been partly modeled, and in far more detail than the 1952 Hodgkin and Huxley model, all the models require statefulness to functionally approximate biological neurons. RNNs and their derivatives are an attempt to correct that shortcoming in the perceptron design.
In addition to that distinction, although the signal strength summing into activation functions are parametrized, traditional ANNs, CNNs, and RNNs, are statically connected, something Intel claims they will correct with the Nirvana architecture in 2019 (which places into silicon that which we would call layer set up in Python or Java now.
There are at least three important biological neuron features that make the activation mechanism more than a function of a scalar input producing a scalar output, which renders questionable any algebraic comparison.
* State held as neuroplastic (changing) connectivity, and this is not just how many neurons in a layer but also the direction of signal propagation in three dimensions and the topology of the network, which is organized, but chaotically so
* The state held within the cytoplasm and its organelles, which is only partly understood as of 2018
* The fact that there is a temporal alignment factor, that pulses through a biological circuit may arrive via synapses in such a way that they aggregate but the peaks of the pulses are not coincident in time, so the activation probability is not as high as if they were temporally aligned.
The decision about what activation function to use has largely been based on the analysis of convergence on a theoretical level combined with testing permutations to see which ones show the most desirable combinations of speed, accuracy, and reliability in ctheonvergence. By reliability is meant that convergence on the global optimum (not some local minimum of the error function) is reached at all for the majority of input cases.
This bifurcated research between the forks of practical machine learning and biological simulations and modeling. The two branches may rejoin at some point with the emergence of spiking - Accuracy
- Reliability (completes) networks. The machine learning branch may borrow inspiration from the biological, such as the case of visual and auditory pathways in brains.
They have parallels and relationships that may be exploited to aid in progress along both forks, but gaining knowledge by comparing the shapes of activation functions is confounded by the above three differences, especially the temporal alignment factor and the entire timing of brain circuits which cannot be modeled using iterations. The brain is a true parallel computing architecture, not reliant on loops or even time sharing in the CPU and data buses. |
6,099 | Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
I've tried doing some research, and as it's a threshold for whether the signal is sent through a neuron or not, it sounds a lot like ReLU. However, I can't find a single article confirming this. Or is it more like a step function (it sends 1 if it's above the threshold, instead of the input value)? | 2018/04/18 | [
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/questions/6099",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/users/15107/"
] | The thing you were reading about is known as the [action potential](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_potential). It is a mechanism that governs how information flows within a neuron.
It works like this: Neurons have an electrical potential, which is a voltage difference inside and outside the cell. They also have a default resting potential, and an activation potential. The neuron tends to move towards the resting potential if it is left alone, but incoming electric activations from dendrites can shift its electric potential.
If the neuron reaches a certain threshold in electric potential (the activation potential), the entire neuron and its connecting axons goes through a chain reaction of ionic exchange inside/outside the cell that results in a "wave of propagation" through the axon.
TL;DR: Once a neuron reaches a certain activation potential, it electrically discharges. But if the electric potential of the neuron doesn't reach that value then the neuron does not activate.
>
> Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
>
>
>
IIRC neurons in different parts of the brain behave a bit differently, and the way this question is phrased sounds as if you are asking if there is a specific implementation of neuronal activation (as opposed to us modelling it).
But in general behave relatively similar to each other (Neurons communicate with each other via neurochemicals, information propagates inside a neuron via a mechanism known as the action potential...) But the details and the differences they cause could be significant.
There are various [biological neuron models](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_neuron_model), but the [Hodgkin-Huxley Model](http://neuronaldynamics.epfl.ch/online/Ch2.S2.html) is the most notable.
Also note that a general description of neurons don't give you a general description of neuronal dynamics a la cognition (understanding a tree doesn't give you complete understanding of a forest)
But, the method of which information propagates inside a neuron is in general quite well understood as sodium / potassium ionic exchange.
>
> It (activation potential) sounds a lot like ReLU...
>
>
>
It's only like ReLU in the sense that they require a threshold before anything happens. But ReLU can have variable output while neurons are all-or-nothing.
Also ReLU (and other activation functions in general) are differentiable with respect to input space. This is very important for backprop.
This is a ReLU function, with the X-axis being input value and Y-axis being output value.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vD7Ut.png)
And this is the action potential with the X-axis being time, and Y being output value.[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/EsnF7.png) | My interpretation of the question was 'what activation function in an artificial neural network (ANN) is closest to that found in the brain?'
Whilst I agree with the selected answer above, that a single neuron outputs a dirac, if you think of a neuron in an ANN as modelling the output firing rate, rather than the current output, then I believe ReLU might be closest?
<http://jackterwilliger.com/biological-neural-networks-part-i-spiking-neurons/> |
6,099 | Does the human brain use a specific activation function?
I've tried doing some research, and as it's a threshold for whether the signal is sent through a neuron or not, it sounds a lot like ReLU. However, I can't find a single article confirming this. Or is it more like a step function (it sends 1 if it's above the threshold, instead of the input value)? | 2018/04/18 | [
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/questions/6099",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com",
"https://ai.stackexchange.com/users/15107/"
] | The brains of mammals do not use an activation function. Only machine learning designs based on the perceptron multiply the vector of outputs from a prior layer by a parameter matrix and pass the result statelessly into a mathematical function.
Although the spike aggregation behavior has been partly modeled, and in far more detail than the 1952 Hodgkin and Huxley model, all the models require statefulness to functionally approximate biological neurons. RNNs and their derivatives are an attempt to correct that shortcoming in the perceptron design.
In addition to that distinction, although the signal strength summing into activation functions are parametrized, traditional ANNs, CNNs, and RNNs, are statically connected, something Intel claims they will correct with the Nirvana architecture in 2019 (which places into silicon that which we would call layer set up in Python or Java now.
There are at least three important biological neuron features that make the activation mechanism more than a function of a scalar input producing a scalar output, which renders questionable any algebraic comparison.
* State held as neuroplastic (changing) connectivity, and this is not just how many neurons in a layer but also the direction of signal propagation in three dimensions and the topology of the network, which is organized, but chaotically so
* The state held within the cytoplasm and its organelles, which is only partly understood as of 2018
* The fact that there is a temporal alignment factor, that pulses through a biological circuit may arrive via synapses in such a way that they aggregate but the peaks of the pulses are not coincident in time, so the activation probability is not as high as if they were temporally aligned.
The decision about what activation function to use has largely been based on the analysis of convergence on a theoretical level combined with testing permutations to see which ones show the most desirable combinations of speed, accuracy, and reliability in ctheonvergence. By reliability is meant that convergence on the global optimum (not some local minimum of the error function) is reached at all for the majority of input cases.
This bifurcated research between the forks of practical machine learning and biological simulations and modeling. The two branches may rejoin at some point with the emergence of spiking - Accuracy
- Reliability (completes) networks. The machine learning branch may borrow inspiration from the biological, such as the case of visual and auditory pathways in brains.
They have parallels and relationships that may be exploited to aid in progress along both forks, but gaining knowledge by comparing the shapes of activation functions is confounded by the above three differences, especially the temporal alignment factor and the entire timing of brain circuits which cannot be modeled using iterations. The brain is a true parallel computing architecture, not reliant on loops or even time sharing in the CPU and data buses. | My interpretation of the question was 'what activation function in an artificial neural network (ANN) is closest to that found in the brain?'
Whilst I agree with the selected answer above, that a single neuron outputs a dirac, if you think of a neuron in an ANN as modelling the output firing rate, rather than the current output, then I believe ReLU might be closest?
<http://jackterwilliger.com/biological-neural-networks-part-i-spiking-neurons/> |
253,303 | The touch icon files used in Safari are stored on a mac in the folder ~/Library/Safari/Touch Icons, and each file in a .png file, with what seems to be an arbitrary name.
By swapping an image in this folder, I can change the image displayed in Safari in the bookmarks bar. However, I can't do the same for the bookmarks without an image already in the folder.
Does anyone know how Safari names these files, and how it connects a bookmark to this image? | 2016/09/18 | [
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/253303",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com",
"https://apple.stackexchange.com/users/201879/"
] | As of watchOS 4, you have a few options for accessing the Now Playing screen:
* Set the Dock Ordering setting for the Dock (Watch App on iPhone > Dock) to **Favorites** and choose the Now Playing "app" as one of your Favorites
* Add the Now Playing complication to a watch face (unfortunately, it's only available for Complication sections that are big enough to show the title of what's playing)
I actually included this in a roundup of [things I think should work with Siri on the Apple Watch but don't](https://medium.com/@gohnjanotis/siri-stuff-that-should-work-on-watchos-but-doesnt-476fbedd7fb0). | Update the wake screen setting to show the last used app.
Go to General > Wake Screen > On Screen Wake show Last app on the iPhone App.
You can choose from options include session, 8 minute, 1 hour, always.
Now the watch always wakes up to the now playing screen. |
323,957 | It took me a long while to discover you could flip sun visors down (duuh) but I never find anything there
Is there ever anything there? | 2017/12/30 | [
"https://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/323957",
"https://gaming.stackexchange.com",
"https://gaming.stackexchange.com/users/4961/"
] | Boosts regarding having twins take effect at birth.
I have no external references for this. I usually have 10-15 pregnant woman but only one pet for twin boost. I switch that pet around among all my women for lots of babies.
**Updated answer as of May 5, 2018:**
The latest patch made it so that your dweller needs to have the twins pet equipped **before** she is ready to give birth. Same with the stat boost. It is no longer possible to combine +X stat bonus pet with +% twins bonus pet with the same dweller. | According to [The Fallout Shelter FAQ](https://github.com/therabidsquirel/The-Fallout-Shelter-FAQ/wiki/*5.-Breeding#52) by therabidsquirel, after [much experimentation and debate](https://en.reddit.com/r/foshelter/comments/67hvqx/1_special_or_75_twins_pet_for_legendary_dwellers/dgqlbcy/) on the /r/foshelter subreddit:
>
> Equipping the pet on a female dweller both for conception (the dance and sex) and for when she becomes ready to give birth (the moment the pregnancy icon appears) will give her a chance at twins or even triplets. Swapping one pet out for conception is easy enough, but if you only have one pet and multiple pregnant women it will be harder to ensure each has the pet equipped the moment they become ready to give birth. The easiest method I can think of doing so would be staggering conception for each woman by a minute or so, recording the order, and then swapping the pet between them in three hours when they'll be ready.
>
>
>
At the moment of birth, you can swap the pet out for another, such as a Child SPECIAL pet. |
117,131 | We currently have a 'global catch all exceptions' section in our application. When an uncaught exception is thrown, the stack trace is displayed and the application continues running.
More often than not, this leaves the state of the application invalid going forward. Especially with NullReferenceExceptions, and threading exceptions being the cause.
I decided to have the application log the exception in the 'global' section and shutdown and restart. This was met with criticism from management - who asserted that the user should choose to select whether or not to restart under these conditions, since it never shut down before. (*Though I tried my best to explain that the issue was allowing the app to continue running in the first place)*.
I am looking for things to watch out for now, and specific approaches I can take to handle code that is now allowed to continue to run while in an invalid state. | 2011/10/31 | [
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/117131",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/users/23890/"
] | Gee this sounds familiar.
I was once the manager for a group that had a large application which had a few unhandled exceptions that were eventually caught be a global catch-all-and-display-the-world-has-ended handler. By default this used to allow the application to keep running.
Your point about application state in this case is the same one I made: the application should not continue running because its internal state is unknown, and most likely suspect (after all that's how an exception came to be raised in the first place).
I wanted the application modified so that the user could save data and then the application would exit - no opportunity to continue. This was met by fierce resistance, mainly from developers who argued that it had continued for a long time and there had been minimal damage - just lots of complaints. In the end I had to back down - the user was allowed to continue but dialogs were changed to strongly suggest to users that they should exit and restart. I still think this was wrong.
In then end, every exception that is seen needs to be analysed to find the underlying cause, and appropriate fixes, code changes, or whatever need to be applied so that exceptions don't happen - or if they do they are caught as part of normal program flow and locally handled.
(Sometimes, sadly, exceptions are propagated out of things like libraries. One of the rules I was taught a long, long time ago was: "do not ever rely on exceptions for normal program flow". It seems this is not always regularly practiced any more.)
I feel your pain - but in the end, the principle is a simple one and you should be sticking to it: When the last chance exception handler is fired, things are really sick. The program should exit. Doing otherwise gives users the misleading impression that they can continue working, but internally the program has an unknown or broken state. Continuing to work only leads to things getting progressively worse. In the end this translates into loss of customer satisfaction. Customers are also pissed off by a program that raises an exception and exits - if there is unsaved program state you should try and save it, perhaps in a manner that makes it clear that what is saved may not be reliable. At least you reduce the chance of data loss. But continuing to operate... bad bad move. You have to choose the lesser of 2 evils. | I can understand the point that your application managers are trying to make, that simply shutting down or restarting immediately upon encountering an unexpected error can confuse a user. You always want to give the user information about what happened and if possible give them a choice on how they would like to handle it.
You may also want to try and localize the problem to a particular component that may perhaps be reloaded or re-synced so as to prevent other working areas of the application from needing to be brought down?
On the other hand, if by them continuing to work and possibly corrupting persisted data which could cause future problems for themselves or others, OR if this bad or corrupted data needs manual intervention to clean up in some way then you have a case for shutting the application down as soon as possible. Just make sure that it is informative and graceful (... as graceful as an application crash could possibly be :)
Perhaps your efforts are better focused on stabilizing the application to where unexpected exceptions occur far less, and expected exceptions occur far greater. |
117,131 | We currently have a 'global catch all exceptions' section in our application. When an uncaught exception is thrown, the stack trace is displayed and the application continues running.
More often than not, this leaves the state of the application invalid going forward. Especially with NullReferenceExceptions, and threading exceptions being the cause.
I decided to have the application log the exception in the 'global' section and shutdown and restart. This was met with criticism from management - who asserted that the user should choose to select whether or not to restart under these conditions, since it never shut down before. (*Though I tried my best to explain that the issue was allowing the app to continue running in the first place)*.
I am looking for things to watch out for now, and specific approaches I can take to handle code that is now allowed to continue to run while in an invalid state. | 2011/10/31 | [
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/117131",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/users/23890/"
] | I can understand the point that your application managers are trying to make, that simply shutting down or restarting immediately upon encountering an unexpected error can confuse a user. You always want to give the user information about what happened and if possible give them a choice on how they would like to handle it.
You may also want to try and localize the problem to a particular component that may perhaps be reloaded or re-synced so as to prevent other working areas of the application from needing to be brought down?
On the other hand, if by them continuing to work and possibly corrupting persisted data which could cause future problems for themselves or others, OR if this bad or corrupted data needs manual intervention to clean up in some way then you have a case for shutting the application down as soon as possible. Just make sure that it is informative and graceful (... as graceful as an application crash could possibly be :)
Perhaps your efforts are better focused on stabilizing the application to where unexpected exceptions occur far less, and expected exceptions occur far greater. | Its definitely best practice to shutdown the application which has thrown an unhandled exception. Under Winforms in .NET, there used to be a dialog which popped up and gave you a big warning with the option to continue running. But since I think .NET 3.5 that continue option is no longer there and you are forced to shutdown the app.
Whether you then restart the application automatically is up to you - I have seen this done by some other major software like browsers.
The dialog for our 'global' catch all exception handler displays the stack trace plus other information (machine name, time, error message, current user name, etc) in a textbox which can be copied to the clipboard. A button is available to email support with the information (button is named 'Send Error Report'). In my experience, the user probably won't bother informing you of it happening unless they are given an easy way like this to email you. And writing the exception details to a log file, while still necessary, won't be of much use to the developer until you get access to file or to the machine. |
117,131 | We currently have a 'global catch all exceptions' section in our application. When an uncaught exception is thrown, the stack trace is displayed and the application continues running.
More often than not, this leaves the state of the application invalid going forward. Especially with NullReferenceExceptions, and threading exceptions being the cause.
I decided to have the application log the exception in the 'global' section and shutdown and restart. This was met with criticism from management - who asserted that the user should choose to select whether or not to restart under these conditions, since it never shut down before. (*Though I tried my best to explain that the issue was allowing the app to continue running in the first place)*.
I am looking for things to watch out for now, and specific approaches I can take to handle code that is now allowed to continue to run while in an invalid state. | 2011/10/31 | [
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/117131",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/users/23890/"
] | I can understand the point that your application managers are trying to make, that simply shutting down or restarting immediately upon encountering an unexpected error can confuse a user. You always want to give the user information about what happened and if possible give them a choice on how they would like to handle it.
You may also want to try and localize the problem to a particular component that may perhaps be reloaded or re-synced so as to prevent other working areas of the application from needing to be brought down?
On the other hand, if by them continuing to work and possibly corrupting persisted data which could cause future problems for themselves or others, OR if this bad or corrupted data needs manual intervention to clean up in some way then you have a case for shutting the application down as soon as possible. Just make sure that it is informative and graceful (... as graceful as an application crash could possibly be :)
Perhaps your efforts are better focused on stabilizing the application to where unexpected exceptions occur far less, and expected exceptions occur far greater. | Depending on the situation there's an answer I used once: If something goes haywire but it's not a certain fatality I reset the document name--if the work gets corrupted it wouldn't overwrite the original. It was only intended to allow them time for a graceful exit. |
117,131 | We currently have a 'global catch all exceptions' section in our application. When an uncaught exception is thrown, the stack trace is displayed and the application continues running.
More often than not, this leaves the state of the application invalid going forward. Especially with NullReferenceExceptions, and threading exceptions being the cause.
I decided to have the application log the exception in the 'global' section and shutdown and restart. This was met with criticism from management - who asserted that the user should choose to select whether or not to restart under these conditions, since it never shut down before. (*Though I tried my best to explain that the issue was allowing the app to continue running in the first place)*.
I am looking for things to watch out for now, and specific approaches I can take to handle code that is now allowed to continue to run while in an invalid state. | 2011/10/31 | [
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/117131",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/users/23890/"
] | Gee this sounds familiar.
I was once the manager for a group that had a large application which had a few unhandled exceptions that were eventually caught be a global catch-all-and-display-the-world-has-ended handler. By default this used to allow the application to keep running.
Your point about application state in this case is the same one I made: the application should not continue running because its internal state is unknown, and most likely suspect (after all that's how an exception came to be raised in the first place).
I wanted the application modified so that the user could save data and then the application would exit - no opportunity to continue. This was met by fierce resistance, mainly from developers who argued that it had continued for a long time and there had been minimal damage - just lots of complaints. In the end I had to back down - the user was allowed to continue but dialogs were changed to strongly suggest to users that they should exit and restart. I still think this was wrong.
In then end, every exception that is seen needs to be analysed to find the underlying cause, and appropriate fixes, code changes, or whatever need to be applied so that exceptions don't happen - or if they do they are caught as part of normal program flow and locally handled.
(Sometimes, sadly, exceptions are propagated out of things like libraries. One of the rules I was taught a long, long time ago was: "do not ever rely on exceptions for normal program flow". It seems this is not always regularly practiced any more.)
I feel your pain - but in the end, the principle is a simple one and you should be sticking to it: When the last chance exception handler is fired, things are really sick. The program should exit. Doing otherwise gives users the misleading impression that they can continue working, but internally the program has an unknown or broken state. Continuing to work only leads to things getting progressively worse. In the end this translates into loss of customer satisfaction. Customers are also pissed off by a program that raises an exception and exits - if there is unsaved program state you should try and save it, perhaps in a manner that makes it clear that what is saved may not be reliable. At least you reduce the chance of data loss. But continuing to operate... bad bad move. You have to choose the lesser of 2 evils. | Its definitely best practice to shutdown the application which has thrown an unhandled exception. Under Winforms in .NET, there used to be a dialog which popped up and gave you a big warning with the option to continue running. But since I think .NET 3.5 that continue option is no longer there and you are forced to shutdown the app.
Whether you then restart the application automatically is up to you - I have seen this done by some other major software like browsers.
The dialog for our 'global' catch all exception handler displays the stack trace plus other information (machine name, time, error message, current user name, etc) in a textbox which can be copied to the clipboard. A button is available to email support with the information (button is named 'Send Error Report'). In my experience, the user probably won't bother informing you of it happening unless they are given an easy way like this to email you. And writing the exception details to a log file, while still necessary, won't be of much use to the developer until you get access to file or to the machine. |
117,131 | We currently have a 'global catch all exceptions' section in our application. When an uncaught exception is thrown, the stack trace is displayed and the application continues running.
More often than not, this leaves the state of the application invalid going forward. Especially with NullReferenceExceptions, and threading exceptions being the cause.
I decided to have the application log the exception in the 'global' section and shutdown and restart. This was met with criticism from management - who asserted that the user should choose to select whether or not to restart under these conditions, since it never shut down before. (*Though I tried my best to explain that the issue was allowing the app to continue running in the first place)*.
I am looking for things to watch out for now, and specific approaches I can take to handle code that is now allowed to continue to run while in an invalid state. | 2011/10/31 | [
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/117131",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com",
"https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/users/23890/"
] | Gee this sounds familiar.
I was once the manager for a group that had a large application which had a few unhandled exceptions that were eventually caught be a global catch-all-and-display-the-world-has-ended handler. By default this used to allow the application to keep running.
Your point about application state in this case is the same one I made: the application should not continue running because its internal state is unknown, and most likely suspect (after all that's how an exception came to be raised in the first place).
I wanted the application modified so that the user could save data and then the application would exit - no opportunity to continue. This was met by fierce resistance, mainly from developers who argued that it had continued for a long time and there had been minimal damage - just lots of complaints. In the end I had to back down - the user was allowed to continue but dialogs were changed to strongly suggest to users that they should exit and restart. I still think this was wrong.
In then end, every exception that is seen needs to be analysed to find the underlying cause, and appropriate fixes, code changes, or whatever need to be applied so that exceptions don't happen - or if they do they are caught as part of normal program flow and locally handled.
(Sometimes, sadly, exceptions are propagated out of things like libraries. One of the rules I was taught a long, long time ago was: "do not ever rely on exceptions for normal program flow". It seems this is not always regularly practiced any more.)
I feel your pain - but in the end, the principle is a simple one and you should be sticking to it: When the last chance exception handler is fired, things are really sick. The program should exit. Doing otherwise gives users the misleading impression that they can continue working, but internally the program has an unknown or broken state. Continuing to work only leads to things getting progressively worse. In the end this translates into loss of customer satisfaction. Customers are also pissed off by a program that raises an exception and exits - if there is unsaved program state you should try and save it, perhaps in a manner that makes it clear that what is saved may not be reliable. At least you reduce the chance of data loss. But continuing to operate... bad bad move. You have to choose the lesser of 2 evils. | Depending on the situation there's an answer I used once: If something goes haywire but it's not a certain fatality I reset the document name--if the work gets corrupted it wouldn't overwrite the original. It was only intended to allow them time for a graceful exit. |
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