Triple Stat Tripper (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction
Summary::Make use of Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma combined with turning into a giant to make massive trip checks.

Progression
Starting Ability Scores Assuming 32 Point Buy: Str 10 Dex 12 Con 14 Int 16 Wis 12 Cha 16

Race (Templates): Race::Human

Final progression: Final Class Progression::Factotum 3/Marshal 1/Warblade 2/War Mind 10/Warshaper 4

Items

 * +6 Belt of Giant Strength
 * +6 Headband of Intelligence
 * +6 Cloak of Charisma
 * +6 Paraipt of Wisdom
 * +5 Tome of Intelligence
 * +5 Tome of Charisma
 * +5 Sweeping "Living Chain" (a special spiked chain from the Miniatures Handbook)
 * Armbands of Might (MIC)
 * Pale Green Ioun Stone
 * Stone of Good Luck

Highlights

 * Adds Int to trip attacks at level 3 from Brains over Brawn
 * Adds Cha to trip attacks at level 4 from Motivate Strength Aura
 * Adds Int to reflex saves when not flat-footed (which uncanny dodge takes care of)
 * Increases Int every 4 levels for a total of 32 Int (+11)
 * Charisma ends up at 26-27 (+8)
 * Final trip is +75 (in sun giant form with augmented expansion): +4 (Improved Trip) +4 (Jotunbrud) +16 (Size) +20 (Strength) +2 (armbands of might) +1 (Pale Green Ioun Stone) +1 (Stone of Good Luck) +4 (Sweeping enhancement) +4 (Living Chain) +11 (Int from brains over brawn) +8 (Cha from motivate strength)
 * Strength is 37 (sun giant base) +4 (warshaper) +6 (item) +4 (expansion)
 * Compare to the Tarrasque, which has a +37 to oppose the trip: +16 (size) +17 (str) +4 quadrupedal.
 * You can get an extra +2 by using chain of personal superiority
 * You can get another +2 if you take the Stone Dragon stance: Stonefoot Stance (but you can't use thicket of blades at the same time).
 * Has a reach of 65ft. (Colossal sized in sun giant form, spiked chain, morphic reach)
 * Sweeping strike can allow you to make optimal use of your trip attacks.
 * You deal 8d6 + 20 damage per attack (average of 48) and you can add your Int mod (+11) a few times to the attack roll or damage roll each combat.

Tactics
Basically, you want to turn into a big nasty sun giant and use your spiked chain to trip every enemy within your reach. You don't deal much damage (although 8d6 + 20 per attack is nothing to sneeze at), but that doesn't matter too much because you provide very good zone control.

Further Optimization

 * Knock Down always helps a tripping build

Limitations

 * Typical meleer weaknesses (concealment, illusions, invisibility, etc.)

Variants

 * Replace the last 3 levels with Swashbuckler levels to get Int to damage. (exp penalty)
 * Replace the last 3 levels with Warblade levels to get a 11th IL warblade maneuver at level 19 and a 12th IL warblade stance at level 20. (exp penalty)
 * You may want to forgo Thicket of Blades if you do this in favor of the high level stance, which frees up two feats.
 * Replace the last 5 levels (all of the warshaper levels) for 5 factotum levels to have the ability to gain an extra standard action for 3 inspiration points.