Creative fighting in D&D...

[Arravis]

I'm beginning a new campaign soon (well, already started, but my first time playing in it, not DMing ) where I'm playing a fighter that has average strength, but is a dextrous swordsman. I normally play casters (when I'm not DMing), so I don't have alot of experience with melee based characters. When I play a caster, I tend to use spells in unusual and creative ways and I'm looking for something similar with a fighter, but I'm not sure how feasable that is.

He's using a rapier and has the weapon finesse feat. I'd like the character to use unusual and odd tactics in combat, I am not just looking for a list of feats I should get as I level. Simply things that I can start to do in regular gameplay right away. Anyway, I was curious what you guys would recommend . Thanks!

 

[333 Dave]

Disarming might be possible, but it's been a while since I looked at those rules, check them out. Other than that there's not much a rapier wielding fighter can do without me giving you a list of feats you should take .

 

[arwink]

Keep in mind that you get climb as a class skill and that it is usually easier to cut through a thatch roof than try to cut through a locked door

 

[infax]

You can look at feinting (PHB, p. 64, under bluff). Not an excellent tactic as it is now, but an interesting change. Check, of course, the uses for tumbling (not a class skill for the fighter, but a must have skill, if you have spare skill points invest here!).

For creative fighting, you can consider the use of some slightly different weapons as backup. Personally, I find the Net a useful weapon.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Try to use your terrain as much as possible. What can you climb? What can you swing from? Is there anything you can throw at your enemy or put between you? Can you push them into/off of something?

Try to keep in mind things that should normally be in the places you're adventureing and ask the DM if they're there. Sure, you're master of the rapier, throw a rock at the guy just out of spite. Pick up a stick and use it as a club. And if you ever get a chance to fight in a kitchen, make it a story you'll tell for years (boiling pots, skewers, knives, the list just keeps going).

 

[Chimera]

What about taking a level or two of Rogue for the skills and abilities? Sneak attack might be a good flavoring. You'd be able to take some Bluff and Tumble skills, etc. You could take Hamstring or Arterial Strike as well.

 

[Voadam]

Poisons

 

[Fenes 2]

Think about some dirty tricks - marbles or caltrops to spice up a fight, or hinder pursuers, a cloak to throw over an enemy's head, some liquid or powder to throw into the opponents eyes, torches to keep others at bay, coupled with flammable liquids, the old chandelier-rope-cut-trick, both used as an elevator as well as an attack, the classic "stick your knife into the curtain and slide down" manoever. Perhaps take a whip as a secondary weapon and use it to disarm or snatch items. Rope is always nice, as a means to scale up or down, or as a make-shift trap. Keep an eye out for the enviroment - rugs make good tripping attacks when pulled out under the enemies, tapestries can be dropped on enemies, furniture can be kicked toward others, or used in battle. If your DM allows it you could try for cuts to your opponents clothes, making them drop their pants (attack an item/sunder?).

 

[Delemental]

See if you can get a copy of "Path of the Sword" by Fantasy Flight. They have a section for 'Schools of Combat', which are fighting styles that you learn as your character advances (you spent some time in training and a small amount of xp to learn various maneuvers). I'm almost positive there's at least one school appropriate for your style of character.

I think most people are assuming you are wanting to go with an Errol Flynn, Three Musketeers-style of fighter (this is what most people see when they contemplate the 'dextrous rapier-wielder' archetype). If this is the case, I suggest renting a bunch of the old classic swashbuckler films and watching them to pick up things you like. Then talk to your DM about your ideas and how you can make it work in game. Do you like the idea of fighting with whatever's lying around? Then your DM will have to come up with rules for dual-wielding a rapier and a baguette. Want to do lots of acrobatics and swinging from chandeliers? Review the Tumble rules (I also think that Path of the Sword has a section on flashy combat moves like this).

Another possible approach could be to play your fighter as one who is obsessed with precision in combat. He disdains the greatsword-swinging brute, in favor of placing the point of his sword just so ("I have punctured your appendix, scum. Enjoy your lingering death.") A lot of this style could be played by simply the way you describe combat. It's not "I attack the orc," it's "I attempt to pierce the orc's liver." Since D&D doesn't use hit locations, you lose a little bit of the flavor, but there are rules for damage to specific areas. You could also use combat maneuvers like Trip and Disarm (picking up appropriate feats as you go).

The suggestion of one or two levels of rogue is a good one. It doesn't mean you have to be thief-like, or even sneaky. Put your skill points in Bluff and Tumble. The sneak attack doesn't have to be a backstab or low blow; you trip your opponent, then strike while they're down, doing your sneak attack damage to represent you carving your initials into their left ventricle.

Now, if you want a really flashy, showy fighter, how about one or two levels of bard? You get a lot of the same useful skills, plus a tiny bit of magic (0-level spells like Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, and Dancing LIghts add panache, and Mending makes sure you look good both before and after the fight). Take "sword-dancing" as your Perform skill, and wow your enemies even as you slaughter them!

 

[Arravis]

I think "precision" style swordsman is what I'm looking for. I like the idea of rogue levels as well, the sneak attack damage fits well with the idea of stricking a particularly vital area.

I appreciate all the advice, I think I'll use it all . I don't want to go too far with the acrobatics end of things, since we do have an acrobat-rogue in the party and I don't want to step on his toes. Precision and elegance are definately what I'm looking for mostly .