Extra fighter abilities at odd levels

[Huw]

Here's my idea about how to keep fighters interesting at odd levels. I know it's been covered numerous times before, but I'd still like people's opinions.

3rd level: Specialist training. The fighter adds one additional skill to their class skill list. The available trainings and associated skills are: Officer training (Diplomacy), Field Surgeon training (Heal), Guard training (Spot), Guerrilla training (Survival). The fighter can pick an additional specialist training at 7th level

5th level: Initiative bonus (+1). This increases by one every four levels, e.g. +2 at 9th, +3 at 13th, +4 at 17th

Worthwhile, too weak or too much?

Thanks for reading

Hugh

 

[TheRelinquished]

I like where you've gone with this, but I think it could be modified a bit. Fighters don't get many skill point as is, and don't get to max many out, even with their short class skill list.

Perhaps instead of giving them the opportunity to improve a skill, they should have a bonus to a skill based on their experiences. So instead of getting a new class skill they would get something like a +2 bonus to the fields you mentioned. Then at later levels, those bonuses increase to +4. I think I'd start out with these:

Specialist Training:
At level 3, the fighter may choose to gain a +2 experience bonus to a skill from the list below. This bonus increases to +4 at level 9. The fighter may choose an additional skill to specialize in at level 7.
Commander: Diplomacy checks
Field Medic: Heal checks
Watchman: Spot checks
Scout: Survival checks

I also think you could tack on a couple of additional skill bonus opportunities. Perhaps ones for Bluff, Gather Information, and Listen. Maybe, Gambler (Bluff), Reconaissance (Gather Information), and Sentinel (Listen).

I'm not to keen on the Initiative bonus, since that seems too much like a barbarian thing to me, but I understand your aim. It's really just too far into feat territory if you ask me. Improved Initiative, and all.

But if it were reduced to a +2 max then I think you'd have room for more skill bonuses:

Specialist Training:
At 3rd level, the fighter may choose to gain a +2 experience bonus to a skill from the list below. This bonus increases to +4 at 9th level, and to +6 at 17th level. The fighter may choose an additional skill to specialize in at levels 7 and 13.
Commander: (Diplomacy)
Field Medic: (Heal)
Watchman: (Spot)
Scout: (Survival)
Gambler (Bluff)
Reconaissance (Gather Information)
Sentinel (Listen)

Fast Response:
At 11th level, the fighter gains a +1 bonus to his initiative. This bonus increases to +2 at 15th level.

So that's my two cents. If this is ironed out well enough I might just jank it for my campaigns. ^_^

 

[smootrk]

Adding to this line of thinking....

A fighter could be given bonuses based upon background or heritage.
Knight - riding bonus
Archer - range bonus (decrease to extreme range penalties)
Polearm/Pikeman - Defensive bonuses / charge bonus / defense vs. charge bonus
Commander - Diplomacy / Bonus to Leadership feat effects (like # troops)

these are some ideas but ultimately I like the concept of additional abilities at those odd levels but they ought to be non-combat bonuses based upon history/background/training because Fighters get tons of combat options anyway. It also makes a good way for different fighters to differ from each other based upon their background.

See also this thread. It goes in a couple of directions addressing this topic.. just ignore the bickering in-between actual ideas.
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=138792&page=1&pp=40

 

[Hodgie]

This may end up overpowering depending on how useful skills are in your games, but seeing as they aren't the crux of the fighter and fighters don't have many skill points to begin with...

I think you could give them the +2 bonus and make the skill a class skill. Give it to them at 3, 7, 11, 15, 19. Then give them +1 init at 5, 9, 13, 17. It is a pretty big bump, but I still don't think people will go straight fighter when PrCs are around.