Fighter Alternatives

[kayn99]

So I was looking for different substitutions to the fighter and found the Thug in the Unearthed Arcana. So not having all the sources at my finger tips; are there any other ones out there? Please list them and the source, even if it is a dragon magazine.

Kayn

 

[Diggus Rex]

Warblades from Tome of Battle can completely take the fighter's place and succeed where the base class may lack.

Players Handbook 2 features knights which bridge the gap between fighters and paladins nicely. They seem like a lawful counterpart to Barbarians too IMO.

Swashbucklers give a roguey feel to fighter, found in Complete Warrior. From the same book, Hexblades add an arcane touch.

 

[sukael]

Warblades from Tome of Battle can completely take the fighter's place and succeed where the base class may lack.

They're also fairly obviously about twice as strong as a core fighter is. Mind you, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, since it takes the melee-er out of the "low man on the totem pole" position...

Players Handbook 2 features knights which bridge the gap between fighters and paladins nicely. They seem like a lawful counterpart to Barbarians too IMO.

I'd recommend using the knight, personally.

Swashbucklers give a roguey feel to fighter, found in Complete Warrior.

They're also called the "three level base class", as higher level swashbuckler abilities are seen as not really worth it.

From the same book, Hexblades add an arcane touch.

Also a little weak, though not as much as the swashbuckler.

 

[Darklone]

Swashbuckler: Get Daring Outlaw and 3 rogue levels... that's nearly the only way how to really enjoy that class after level 3 Full sneak attack progression baby!

Still, there are many alternative class features, e.g. in Complete Mage and PHB2 that make Swashies fun.

 

[kayn99]

Iguess what I am looking for is more a long the lines of alternative class features for fighters. I know about the complete mage and PHB2; I was hoping to find others.

Kayn

 

[backbeat]

There is another list of alternate class features in Complete Champion. I didn't specifically look at the fighters though.

 

[Shazman]

Well, there's hit and run from Drow of the Underdark - give up heavy armor for + 2 to initiative and dex to damage to flat-footed opponents within 30 feet. There are three in PHB II - overwhelming attack, coutnerattack, and I think some sort of parry. There are racial fighter substitution levels for warforged, half-elves, dwarves, and raptorans ( I think) from the (Races of) books. There is also dungeoncrasher from Dungeponscape that let's you get extra damage when bullrushing opponents against walls and makes it easier to break down doors. There may be some in Complete Mage and Complete Champion, but I don't have those books. That's all I can think of right now.

 

[rowport]

If you can dig up a copy, Dragon #310 from a couple of years ago had several alternate Fighter classes, like the "Exoticist" (built around exotic weapons), a light-armor fighter, and some others (an Archer, I think?).

 

[blargney the second]

Warblades from Tome of Battle can completely take the fighter's place and succeed where the base class may lack.

Warblades are much more like barbarians than fighters.

 

[Beckett]

Dragon Magic has one for fighters and other heavy armor users. You give up heavy armor proficiency and instead grow a thick hide (which I think counts as an armor bonus and not natural armor). You can shed it at any time, and it'll grow back in about a day. The armor bonus is based on how many class levels you have of a class that would have Heavy Armor Proficiency. Additionally, you gain energy resistances.

Everything else I can think of has been mentioned.