Feat every level...

[RisnDevil]

I am kicking around the idea of using the idea posted earlier in the forum, about granting a feat at every level, but I have a problem with that, the fighter. This would seemingly strip the fighter of uniquness/usefulness, so I ask, what should be done to change the rules/fighter to balance this out? I also use the Weapon Groups alternate rule from Unearther Arcana.

I am thinking, that first of all, Fighters should be the ONLY people with heavy armor proficiency, and all shield proficiencies, but what classes should be limited to what then?

Also, I am kicking around the idea of automatically giving the Fighter any Tactical or Weapon Style feats he qualifies for automatically.

Other than that, I don't know what to do, and I am not sure that that is enough. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Crothian]

I give a feat every level and I didn't change a thing. THe fighter still gets plenty of feats and having three more feats at 4th level then everyone else is still very useful for the fighter.

 

[IronWolf]

As one that plays in Crothian's game, I agree with him, I wouldn't cripple another class just to do the feat every level thing. The fighter will still get his bonus feats and be ahead of everyone else when it comes to feat progression. Getting a feat at every level really lets you play with different feats and pick ones up that ordinarily get passed by. By removing some of the core class proficiencies I think you would end up working your way right back to the way it is now since say the cleric needs to use a feat to be able to use the plate armor he aspires to wear.

 

[Nellisir]

I did the following in my summer campaign:
- I gave a feat every level except 4th;
- Characters got a racial transformation at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th level - these were mostly taken from Dawnforge, and I figured them at a feat and a half;
- Ability bonuses were made a feat with cumulative level requirements.

Things I learned:
- Everyone takes an ability adjustment whenever possible. I'm going back to a automatic +1/X levels system;
- Transformations are cool;
- A feat every level is cool.

Re: fighters - a rising tide floats all boats, as they say. The fighter will still have more feats than anyone else. It sounds like there are plenty of martial feats available in your campaign.

If you really want to mix things up, I gave fighters d12 hit points and a bonus technique style from the Book of Iron Might. Every few levels they get another technique in their style, in addition to their bonus feats.

Cheers
Nell.

 

[IronWolf]

If you really want to mix things up, I gave fighters d12 hit points and a bonus technique style from the Book of Iron Might. Every few levels they get another technique in their style, in addition to their bonus feats.

I think this is a better way to boost any perceived slight one may think the fighters get by a feat every level for everyone. By not taking away from the other classes you are able to maintain the reason for going to a feat every level. (of course, I think the fighters will do just fine and wouldn't do much of anything to treat them differently).

 

[Kisanji Arael]

Every fifth level, fighters get to advance the damage they do do with one type (short blades, long blades, axes, bows, etc) by one die type. They decide every time where this goes. Every fourth level, they get +1 to damage with one specific weapon. only low-level testing, up to tenth. Set feats to every third. Should be fine.

 

[The Lost Muse]

I ran a 3.0 campaign where I gave feats out every level, and it didn't really impact balance too much; as others have pointed out, the Fighter still gets more feats. The only downside is that any classed opponents also should have a feat every level, so they take a little longer to stat out.

 

[Aus_Snow]

I am kicking around the idea of using the idea posted earlier in the forum, about granting a feat at every level

Interesting. I wouldn't worry about the fighter (especially as others who've done what you're intending to do say the class doesn't suffer for it).

I've recently decided to up the feat count to 1 at 1st, 3rd, 5th etc. I know it's only related, not directly relevant. Oh well, no harm done, eh? Note also that this way, a straight fighter gets a feat every single level.

I give a feat every level and I didn't change a thing.

...nothing at all? I mean, you play exactly out of the core rules, as written, no more and no less? .... other than the feat thing, I mean.

 

[the Jester]

More feats = more cool.

In my low-magic game I'm giving a feat at every odd level. So far- up to 3rd level for the guys at the top of the xp heap- it's working out very well.

 

[Nellisir]

By not taking away from the other classes you are able to maintain the reason for going to a feat every level. (of course, I think the fighters will do just fine and wouldn't do much of anything to treat them differently).

Yeah, I couldn't quite articulate this last night. If you think fighters are going to be underpowered, then improved them -- don't penalize everyone else. If nothing else, it's easier to tinker with one class than ten or so.

I should also mention I bumped up hit points for rogues, bards, rangers, sorcerers, and wizards in this campaign, so the d12 for fighters wasn't an isolated thing. (poor BAB = d6; average BAB = d8; good BAB = d10; good BAB + pure combat class = d12)

Cheers
Nell.