Agile, "Smart" Fighter Build

[backbeat]

The idea of a tactical fighter / Martial artist is pretty much captured perfectly by the Book of nine swords classes. I would look at those, and some of the tactical combat feats WOTC has put in pretty much every book.

 

[Darklone]

Nothing wrong with going straight fighter ...

You lose nothing by multiclassing with 3 levels swashbuckler and taking the Daring Warrior feat.

You'll get Weapon Finesse instead of 1.5 bonus feats and you have to take the feat above but you get skills, grace and insightful strike.

 

[Arabesu]

The problem I am finding with the smart/agile fighter builds are three fold:

1) MAD - a typical PA/str fighter really only needs strength and con. A smart/agile fighter needs dex/int/str/con in that order. And if you think you can get away with low str see below.

2) HUGE and larger creatures. Have one fight with one of these and have a bad day. The only option for most is MANY, MANY ranks in escape artist. Hope its on your list. Other tricks like bull rush and trip from a monster and you're going to get hosed. Weak str equals auto lose versus most of these creatures. Best invest in ring of freedom of movement...

3) immune to precise damage. Rogue and swash builds need it, oozes etc don't get it. Some tricks to get it vs undead are available, such as penetrating strike.

All in all smart/agile = highly variable, when your on your on, but when you not you have problems, whereas the str fighter is generally more consistent (but sometimes slightly less impressive if that makes sense).

 

[Felix]

Actually, I'd suggest Fighter/Barbarian.

Barbarian gives you the extra movement and the ability to put a lower score in Strength; this eases the burden of the MAD. You also get more and better skills. Uncanny Dodge rounds it out.

For the Fighter, this gives you a great way to take the Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack feat tree, while at the same time being able to take good feats like Combat Expertise, Iron Will, Power Attack and Cleave with the feats you get from gaining levels.

So a human 8th level Ftr6/Barb2 would have:

+8 BAB
40 movement
Rage
Uncanny Dodge
+8 Fort, +2 Ref, +2 Will base saves
6d10 + 2d12 HP
4 fighter bonus feats
Human bonus feat
3 Level feats​

Simply because he's studied how to rage doesn't mean he has to do it all the time. You could have a feat selection like:

Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Combat Expertise
Iron Will
Weapon Focus
Power Attack
Weapon Specialization​

Or something; play around with the levels to get the feel you're looking for. But you don't have to go far afield from the PHB to do a smart skilly warrior.

 

[avr]

Even if you don't use the Bo9S classes, there are feats in there you may find of interest. There's one which is similar to Weapon Finesse but replaces str bonus w/ dex bonus to damage (yes, you can get both). Martial study gives you one manoeuver per combat per feat devoted to it.

In the DMG there's the Duelist PrC. This is designed for your concept, I think.

 

[Destil]

Actually, I'd suggest Fighter/Barbarian.

Simply because he's studied how to rage doesn't mean he has to do it all the time. You could have a feat selection like:

Two words: Whirling Frenzy http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/classFeatureVariants.htm#rageVariantWhirlingFrenzy

... yeah it's slightly overpowered. It still fits the concept.

Also a Horse or Wolf totem barbarian could fit (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#barbarianVariantTotemBarbarian)

 

[Darklone]

Whirling Frenzy is balanced if you restrict the additional attack only to full attack actions. Otherwise it's to broken you can't see the pieces anymore.

One thing forgotten: Bbn2/ScoutX with Imp Skirmish and Spring Attack or perhaps Two Weapon Pounce (perhaps add Powerful Charge here) is an agile mobile fighter who dishes out ridiculous amounts of damage with either two weapons or a twohanded weapon. He's great with a polearm as well. For better BAB: Bbn2/Scout3/RgrX with Swift Hunter. Your hitpoints will be ok, your BAB one below maximum, you'll have +6d6 skirmish damage against anything at level 20... and you're a skillmonkey. You can even have a climb speed if you want.

 

[Seeten]

Swift Ambusher is AWFUL, by the way. Thought I'd let you know.

It doesnt do what you think it does.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Rogue 20 or rogue/swashbuckler with Daring Outlaw feat.

Or a tripping, spring attacking, combat reflexes, large-sized, spiked chain-wielding tin can.

 

[mikebr99]

Swift Ambusher is AWFUL, by the way. Thought I'd let you know.

It doesnt do what you think it does.

Why is it awful?
A 3rd Scout/1st Rogue qualifies for it. So a 3rd Scout/7th Rogue has his skirmish at 3d6 & +2AC, and sneak attack would be at 4d6.


Mike