The Meatshield

[hcobb]

What do you use for a "front rank" character?

How about something like:

ST 9, DX 13(10), IQ 10, MA 6
Very Fine Javelin(1d+1), Rapier(1), Very Fine Dagger(1d+1)
Small Shield(1+1), Chainmail(3)
Detect Traps, Knife, Pole Weapons, Remove Traps, Shield, Shield Expertise, Sword

Very Fine Javelin $400 3.0#
Small Shield $30 10.0#
Rapier $40 1.0#
Very Fine Dagger $200 0.2#
Chainmail $200 30.0#
Large bag $10 1.0#
flint and steel $5 0.2#
4* Torch $4 2.0#
2* Rations $10 2.0#
2* Waterskin $6 2.0#
55* Silver coins $55 0.55# (Should actually be 11 pounds)

Totals $1k, 51.95# (5.77xST)

He takes off his gloves as per ITL 73 to remove the traps the party's petite perceptive pea-green pythoness points out for him. (The extra memory point for Detect Traps is for his evade, not spot rolls.)

[larsdangly]

Once you get a little money and an extra stat point (so, 3-4 sessions of play in):

ST 10
DX 14(10)
IQ 9
Talents: Sword, shield, shield expertise, etc.
Fine plate + small shield = 8 pts armor
Saber: 2d-2 damage

[hcobb]

The chain mail is pushing him right to the edge. If he gets plate he has to leave the shield behind.

Note that he has to choose between backpack and two quarts of water. His most obvious advancement is more DX.

[Shostak]

n.b. Javelins would not qualify for Very Fine +2 damage.

[RobW]

Yes, the low-ST low-IQ armor-wearing-until-adjDX-is-11-or-even-10 figure is the standard starting tank in our group.

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by larsdangly

... IQ 9
Talents: Sword, shield, shield expertise, etc.

Perhaps you need to use my tftcalc to ensure that your characters have the attributes for the talents you suggest?

https://www.hcobb.com/tft/tftcalc.html

I'd love to see a PDF form that also automated gear, but I don't think anybody has permission to do this yet.