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Oops, you are correct about Manticore Parry and natural attacks. As that decision was obviously based on an incorrect understanding of the rules, I believe it should be allowed to change it to something that does work - namely Scorpion Parry, which works almost the same way but doesn't have that clause about natural attacks. Alternatively, after seeing Manticore Parry fail, I then use Wall of Blades. Same end result either way, the attack misses.

I specifically asked about sunder attempts and maneuvers before even starting to build this character, as recent matches indicated that pretty much anything that did not have a way to deal with sundering would stand no chance, and I got this reply: "Attacks on held or worn equipment count as attacks on the wearer."

Fool's Strike actually doesn't seem to care about the kind of attack it's used against - instead of changing the target while keeping the attack the same, it simply says the attacker rolls damage and takes that much damage.

The judgment of a player who has many many more rules to keep track of for many other characters as well, and all of this in his spare time, should not override things that would be blatantly obvious to the character who has used this technique in battle countless times with his life depending on it.

Regardless, Wall of Blades specifically states it can be used after learning the result of the attack, so I can use that after Manticore Parry fails. This would not change any of my later actions and would make the attack miss.

Sunder is "a melee attack with a slashing or bludgeoning weapon". It is not an alternate attack form, it is a normal attack that happens to target equipment rather than the wearer. With TL's ruling that attacks on equipment count as attacks on the wearer for the use of abilities dependent on such things, it works.

Yes, I neglected to factor in your DR.

I'm here, I'm here...

So are you going to admit defeat, JJ, or do you still want the ruling? (If you do, what exactly do you want?)

Yeah, I'm out. Good fight.

To Doug: I totally agree with you on sunder rules, my only defenseof that is that it's in the books( however, since when has that meant something ISN'T broken, haha). Thats why I never took improved sunder. I never meant for that to be a primary method of attack, your character happened to just be too good for regular attacks, so I tried something new.

As far as multicounter goes, if they made the stance for 2 counters, there it is, I see no reason to make a feat for more. I had larger forms with more attacks, but there was no use since they ALL get deflected, I didn't bother trying. If one or two a round come back, I could still maybe get 3 or 4 on you, however with up to 6 getting turned back, not much of a chance.

Regardless, your build is great. Lots of good combinations of feats, stances, and maneuvers.

I'd gladly fight anyone else willing, or even love to watch someone try to take on Douglasm.

-JJ

P.S. As far as the other counter that would've negated te sunder anyways when manticore parry failed, are you allowed to make 2 counters against ONE attack, even with the Stance you mentioned or Multicounter?

I've noticed that sundering items has become, if not a dominant tactic, certainly an often-used one in these duels, simply because of the vastly more vulnerable nature of those items.

However, for those willing to spend some extra gold, it may be possible to avoid the issue entirely. If your items are slotless - let's say a group of small magical gems, for example - then is there any reason you can't simply swallow them? The items still have line of effect to you, but not to anything else, and anyone wanting to sunder one has to go through you to do it.

This does make the items more expensive (2x cost for slotless), but since many epic items already combine multiple properties, the cost isn't quite as bad as it sounds. For instance: Bracers of Supreme Armor (+10 armor, +5 natural armor, +5 deflection, +5 insight) would cost ~344k (100k + 1.5*50k + 1.5*50k + 1.5*62.5k) Slotless, they would cost 525k, only about a 50% increase.

Obviously weapons and armor can't be "internalized" this way, but those are, IIRC, already less vulnerable to sundering. As a final note, if going this route, make one of your items a Ring of Sustenance. Nobody wants to deal with having their gear routinely pass through their system. :P