Idea for a Fighter Substitue

[maggot]

I had an idea for a fighter substitute that addresses some problems with the 3.5 fighter.

The combat specialist.

Skill points: 2+Int
Class skills: as fighter
Saves: as fighter (Good fort, poor will and ref)
Weapons/Armor prof: as fighter
BAB: +5 per 4 levels.

As in

Level - Bab
1 - +1
2 - +2
3 - +3
4 - +5
5 - +6/+1
6 - +7/+2
7 - +8/+3
8 - +10/+5
9 - +11/+6/+1
10 - +12/+7/+2
11 - +13/+8/+3
12 - +15/ +10/+5
13 - +16/+11/+6/+1
14 - +17/+12/+7/+2
15 - +18/+13/+8/+3
16 - +20/+15/+10/+5
17 - +21/+16/+11/+6/+1
18 - +22/+17/+12/+7/+2
19 - +23/+18/+17/+8/+3
20 - +25/+20/+15/+10/+5

This gives good reason to take multiple levels of fighter and follow it through to the end, and it also makes the class easier for beginners to play.

But it seems kind of weak at low levels. I don't want to give out +1 BAB at 1st because then everyone would cherry pick the class. Any other options?

 

[Pssthpok]

Look at Monte's Arcana Unearthed. Ritual Warrior = nice.

 

[Crothian]

WEll, seeing that different people have different problems with the fighter you might start with what exaclt the fighter fails at and how this fixes that.

 

[Sadrik]

No feats for this class? Just a ridiculous BAB?

Fighter problems:
Is not powerful enough at upper levels.
The mid to high level areas don’t offer enough to warrant continuing to advance.
Too easy to multi-class into it for a couple of levels for the feats and then pop out.
Has no flavor.

I like your proposal btw.

Just giving them more of everything enhances some of the problems that the fighter has. It would allow easier multi-classing because improved BAB. It fixes the, "Not powerful enough at upper levels" but the multi-classing problems become compounded.

How about going with the weapon specialization theme fighters have?
Use the improved BAB for just the weapon they are specialized in. In addition to the improved BAB with the specialized weapon they also get a damage bonus with it that escalates with levels (+1 at 1st through +5 at 20th). They select one weapon at first level. They could select the weapon specialization feat to get an additional weapon. That could work.

You could then make the BAB be +2 at first level without it being cherry picked. It also would not effect getting into PrCs too quickly.

The attack bonus with the specializes weapon would be like this:
1 - +2
2 - +3
3 - +4
4 - +5
5 - +7/+2
6 - +8/+3
7 - +9/+4
8 - +10/+5
9 - +12/+7/+2
10 - +13/+8/+3
11 - +14/+9/+4
12 - +15/ +10/+5
13 - +17/+12/+7/+2
14 - +18/+13/+8/+3
15 - +19/+14/+9/+4
16 - +20/+15/+10/+5
17 - +22/+17/+12/+7/+2
18 - +23/+18/+13/+8/+3
19 - +24/+19/+18/+9/+4
20 - +25/+20/+15/+10/+5

And the damage bonus with the specialized weapon would be:
1-4 +1
5-8 +2
9-12 +3
13-16 +4
17-20 +5

 

[Felnar]

Fighter problems:
....
Has no flavor.

so true

 

[GreatLemur]

The Fighter gets a giant load of bonus feats with which you're supposed to come up with your own flavor. That's a hell of a lot better than the inflexible power sets of classes like the Ranger, Druid, Barbarian, and Paladin.

 

[Mista Collins]

Fighter problems:

Has no flavor.

So not true. Flavor doesn't from class in my opinion, it comes from the roleplayer. I think the fighters I have created have all had flavor.

A mounted warrior with ranks in diplomacy and the leadership feat who has focused his talents in starting a school/training program for local peasants to learn the art of war. (Thus allowing them to protect themselves from the evils that seem to haunt the area).

A female fighter who focus is the spiked chain. A very intellictual fighter who doesn't focus on killing firts, but tripping, disarming, sundering to prevent those who she fights from harming those in her party. Has a little fetish with chains and manacles.

A male fighter who's specialty is archer (not melee). Focusing all his bonus feats on the archery feats instead of power attack and things like that. Put his skill points into listen and spot. He had very sharp eyes and keen ears and was quick on the draw.

Flavor comes from what you do with the class, not what the class does with you. I don't think the fighter class needs to be changed one bit.

 

[Sadrik]

You guys are all getting hung up on that one statement "has no flavor" dont.

Its debatable.

The OP would probably like feedback on his or her idea rather than on my one comment.

Or better yet feedback on my post.

 

[Mista Collins]

The OP would probably like feedback on his or her idea rather than on my one comment.

And my feedback was given (with justification towards what some people see as a problem) as seen below...

I don't think the fighter class needs to be changed one bit.

 

[Felnar]

the problem i see is:
fighters arent even the best at fighting, and thats all they can do...

Maggot, i agree that more BAB would help, but i think extra BAB shouldnt start at such low levels. the four level dip shouldnt be any better than its already is.