Fighter Essentials

[Klaus]

Class Acts: Fighter Essentials

The fighter serves as the foundation on which many parties stand. As the reliable presence who holds fast in the face of adversity, the fighter is a constant and dependable ally who carries heroes through dungeons and ruins, encounter after encounter, without complaint. The fighter's lasting popularity originated in the class's ease of use. A new player could figure out the fighter's function and rules with little trouble. With the 4th Edition fighter, ease of use remains, but it hides a deeper complexity that can enrich playing these characters.

The article lists all four current fighter builds (Battlerager, Greatweapon, Guardian and Tempest), the playstyles each build favors, the pros and cons of each build, ability score suggestions, power selection guidelines and tactics. At the end of the article are new Heroic and Paragon feats and two new Paragon Paths.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the article. Clear, to the point and very comprehensive. The feats are generally good (Shield-users will like the Stout Shielf feat, which adds the shield bonus to Fortitude, and a lot of characters will like the feat that lets you use Wis for initiative instead of Dex).

 

[Shroomy]

My eyes were immediately drawn to the feat for Small fighters who wield versatile weapons, +2 to AC and Reflex.

 

[Nifft]

My eyes were immediately drawn to the feat for Small fighters who wield versatile weapons, +2 to AC and Reflex.

It doesn't match the one in the table (which only mentions +1 to AC & Reflex), so there's a 50% chance you'll be disappointed with the final article.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Cadfan]

Balance wise, they should give the full +2. I know its going from no shield to functional heavy shield in one step, but its not unfair. A small character using a longsword in two hands is dealing 1d8 damage. Add in a shield, and other than a missing shield slot, the character is on par with a medium size shield using fighter.

 

[Nifft]

My eyes popped at Agile Superiority (dex instead of wis bonus on OAs), as the feat every heavy blade Fighter will want, and a great reason for Dragonborn to love heavy blades.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Obryn]

Balance wise, they should give the full +2. I know its going from no shield to functional heavy shield in one step, but its not unfair. A small character using a longsword in two hands is dealing 1d8 damage. Add in a shield, and other than a missing shield slot, the character is on par with a medium size shield using fighter.

Absolutely, agreed.

Although I'll note that I threw together a Halfling Tempest-style fighter using a pair of Drow Long Knives on a lark this weekend, and it was a surprisingly solid character. The Deft Hurler style on top of it made him pretty amazingly formidable, IMO.

-O

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

The shield feat looks like something for my Dragonborn Warlord/Fighter.
Agile Superioty looks like something for my Human Fighter/Cleric (=Paladin)
We'll see when I can afford to take them.

Overall, interesting, but it didn't tell me much new. I found the warning about Close Bursts and marks interesting, but so far I have never been in a situation where using Close Bursts to mark every enemy I could was not a good idea. Of course, I can usually rely on a good leader, I am playing a Guardian Fighter, and I have an encounter utility power that grants me a +2 bonus to my defenses until the end of my next turn.

The think I am still not sure about is whether using Come and Get it/Warriors Urging and then spending an action point for another burst attack is a good idea or not - you lose an opportunity to keep the enemies marked, but you will never get a better opportunity to use your burst power that effectively!

 

[drothgery]

My eyes were immediately drawn to the feat for Small fighters who wield versatile weapons, +2 to AC and Reflex.

Cue gnome swordmages and halfling charisma paladins taking one fighter multiclass feat to qualify for this .

 

[Shroomy]

It doesn't match the one in the table (which only mentions +1 to AC & Reflex), so there's a 50% chance you'll be disappointed with the final article.

Cheers, -- N

True, but isn't the general rule that if a chart conflicts with text, go by the text?

 

[Kez Darksun]

It doesn't match the one in the table (which only mentions +1 to AC & Reflex), so there's a 50% chance you'll be disappointed with the final article.

Cheers, -- N

Wasn't the guideline for discrepancies like that text before table?

As far as the contents of the article, I was pleased to see the Rapier/Parrying Dagger based paragon path. I'd been thinking of trying to make a character like that without using a Rogue, so that was perfect timing.