Fighter Agragate Damage

[Khaalis]

It has been discussed in our gaming group that a fighter cannot keep up in overall collateral damage with Rogues and Wizards of equivalent level (once hitting around 5th level), and this seems to be a serious issue. The most heavily trained killers are ot doing the most damage. They wanted to get a general opinion on this.

This is what the group came up with.

The idea was thrown out to increase the Warriors damage output to something close to the other classes by doing the following.

* Adding a +1 competence bonus per Fighter class level to all damage dealt. This damage is not doubled on a critical hit.

* At 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 18th level a Fighter increases their chances of threatening a critical strike by +1. (Thus a total increase of critical threats of +5.)

IF any class should be intricately familiar with how to get an opponents guard down, and know how to find vital openings - it should be the warrior.

This should bring the fighter more in line with the Damage that can be done by Rogues and Wizards of equivalent level.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

[Cabral]

Yeesh. Is all this on top of the Fighter's Bonus feats?

 

[hong]

Consider making up a few weapon styles that can be mastered, using the rules in OA for martial arts styles. Basically you specify a collection of feats and maybe skills to be taken, and once the character gets them all, she gets a special ability as a freebie.

Like this:

You have mastered the martial arts style of the "Storm of Blades" -- a hard form built around the use of the sword to deliver dazzling, scything blows.

Prerequisites: Weapon Focus (sword), Weapon Specialisation (sword), Dodge, Mobility, Expertise, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack, Combat Reflexes, 6 or more ranks in Concentration. The Weapon Focus and Specialisation feats must be taken with the same weapon type, chosen from one of the following: short sword, long sword, rapier, scimitar, bastard sword, two-bladed sword.

Benefit: Up to three times per day, you can take a five-foot step in the middle of a whirlwind attack, if you have not previously moved in your turn. This can potentially allow you to attack enemies that were not in range at the start of your turn. You can still only make one attack per opponent, and if your move takes you out of range of opponents that were previously within range, those opponents can’t subsequently be hit by your whirlwind attack. You must be wielding a sword with which you have Weapon Focus and Specialisation to make use of this ability.

 

[trentonjoe]

HOw do you figure fighters can't keep up with damage? I have always felt that high str fighters are the best damage machines.

I don't get the premise of your argument.

 

[graydoom]

A strong fighter with a big weapon can do just as much damage as rogues or wizards, and much more consistently too.

 

[trentonjoe]

A strong fighter with a big weapon can do just as much damage as rogues or wizards, and much more consistently too.

That is what I tried to say. Thank you for making it clearer.

 

[Artoomis]

With all the bonus feats a fighter gets, they need no more help.

There really is no excuse for fighter not doing the most damage. They've got everything they need to do so.

Of course, if they don't put their highest stat into strength, or use only daggers, etc., then they won't be the best fighters. A straight fighter should be extrememly effective in melee (a force to be feared), but a bit weak on defending themselves from magic (low saves).

 

[CRGreathouse]

Perhaps you'd have a legitimate point - on 16th level. As it stands, though, there's no reason to worry about fighters keeping up; they deal out at least as much as the other classes.

Perhaps, though, there's something at work here I don't see. Would you post your group's stats, as close as possible? Maybe then we'll see what's going on. Fighters are excellent at dealing damage; agaisnt a single foe, they almost always outshine wizards and clerics. Against Whirlwind or Great Cleave-able foes, they also do very well; they are also great against creatures who can't be sneak attacked.

Rogues can deal more damage against certain types of foes in certain tactical positions, but they can't stay in melee long, nor can they handle other foes. Clerics are better against undead and can sometimes emulate wizards in diect damage, but still don't have the reliability of fighters.