Fighter Question

[Kristivas]

I'm designing a fighter, and trying to find a way to go. He'll be a gladiator-type (one-on-one arena fights, maybe some specialty matches tossed in), but will also be the party's main line of tanking. So, the question is...

Should I go..
2 Handed Weapon?
2 Weapons (dual weild)?
Sword and Shiled?

Can you suggest feats and PrCs for the build you suggest?

 

[IcyCool]

I'm designing a fighter, and trying to find a way to go. He'll be a gladiator-type (one-on-one arena fights, maybe some specialty matches tossed in), but will also be the party's main line of tanking.

I've always wanted to play a trident and net gladiator type fighter. There's even a style feat in Complete Warrior for it. Sadly, most folks with play either a two-weapon fighter (for oodles of attacks), or a two-handed weapon fighter (for the big damage). The only sword and boarders I tend to see are paladins (using divine feats for a shield boost).

If you want to go the traditional gladiator route, I'd suggest light armor, with breastplate for the only medium armor option. Then go Trident and Shield, Trident and Net, or Sword and Shield. Invest in things that would help you take down opponents, like bolas and tanglefoot bags (I used these to great effect on my party in an anti-magic field last session). Give yourself a good ranged option, keep the better mobility from lighter armor, and go for one of the more exotic weapons/combos. People don't go to see Bob the Sword mow down people with his greatsword. But Bob the Spike and his whirling spiked chain of death, that's more of a crowd draw and pleaser.

 

[Shadeus]

Some more info about the character would be nice, like his/her race and stats. Also who else is in the party.

As for type of fighter, it really depends on some of the above info. If you are the only fighter in the party, then sword & board is the way to go. Grab a shield and do damage where you can. Get a 13 Dex, full plate, tower shield and a one-handed sword. You could get Dodge to improve your AC more. I'd recommend Combat Expertise too to further increase you AC but that requires a 13 Int. So you are looking at AC 23 (24 w/ Dodge) with all non-magical equipment. You can easily pump up those number though with magic.

The problem is you don't hit very often as well.

Two-handed fighting is the way to go to deal out some serious damage, but you give up in the AC dept. Pick up power attack for more goodness.

The only PrC I would recommend is the dwarven defender for defense.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I'd go down the expertise route - disarm and trip. Strikes me as very gladiatorial. Disarm does get a sizable bonus from 2 handed weapons.

You could mix up the styles. Avoid focusing on one weapon. Take Quickdraw and change weapons mid combat. It's not 'optimal', but I tried it and found it fun. Just need a high enough strength to carry them all.

Shield + 2 weapon fighting can be good. Take improved shield bash and you won't lose your AC bonus. It's swings and roundabouts as to whether 2 weapons and a buckler is better. IMO a hard one to call.

Hope any of that helps.

 

[Kristivas]

Some more info about the character would be nice, like his/her race and stats. Also who else is in the party.

Human, and I got pretty lucky with stats.

14
16
11
18
13
15

I hadn't assigned them yet, obviously. Was waiting to see where I'd end up with character creation. We're going to be creating level 10 characters and getting right into a mid-high end campaign. I still have my 2 points to assign from 4th and 8th level.

Other party members... I know one is going to be a healer, druid or cleric. I think we have a caster.. one guy wants to play a barbarian.. and two others undecided. Hope that helps.

 

[Coredump]

Kingdoms of Kalamar Players Guide has an actual Gladiator class. You might want to check it out if you get a chance.

 

[melkorspawn]

If you go a disarm/trip route, I'd say go for a flail. It's a relatively flashy weapon, you get a +2 to disarm attacks, you can use it to trip opponants, and you still have the three fighting options, flail and shield, heavy flail, or by burning a fighter feat on exotic weapon proficiency or oversized two weapon fighting, either taking up a dire flail or two regular flails.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

OK I'd recommend one of the following:

A. Str 18, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 11

B. Str 16, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 13, Wis 15, Cha 11

C. Str 18, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 15

The first is offensively focused. With an 18 strength, you'll hit hard and often even if you go sword and board.... as long as you remember to focus your equipment at least partially towards offense. The high strength also helps you get the most out of feats like Improved Trip.

The second is more defensively focussed. You still hit pretty well, but you have more hit points and don't hit quite as hard.

The third is begging to be multiclassed with 2-3 levels of Paladin.

As far as style goes, I would actually recommend going with one of the following:

A. Heavy shield and one-handed weapon--trident, longsword, warhammer, battle axe, light flail, or dwarven waraxe/bastard sword.

The advantage of this setup is that you have a good all around AC and you can ramp it up whenever you need to with Combat Expertise. (A tower shield is just like putting two points into Expertise all the time except that you can't turn it off when you need to hit).

B. buckler and one-handed weapon as above.

The advanatage of this setup is that you still get the AC benefits of a shield (and if you multiclass with paladin, you can still benefit from divine shield) but you can eschew that bonus in favor of the two handed power attack damage bonus when hitting hard is more important than AC.

Plus, trident and buckler is very gladiatorish. (Carrying a net in the buckler hand--who needs profiency; it's a touch attack--would also help you in the role of sole party tank since you would be able to prevent enemies from moving around you with a strength check).

Human, and I got pretty lucky with stats.

14
16
11
18
13
15

I hadn't assigned them yet, obviously. Was waiting to see where I'd end up with character creation. We're going to be creating level 10 characters and getting right into a mid-high end campaign. I still have my 2 points to assign from 4th and 8th level.

Other party members... I know one is going to be a healer, druid or cleric. I think we have a caster.. one guy wants to play a barbarian.. and two others undecided. Hope that helps.

 

[B4cchus]

OK I'd recommend one of the following:
A. Str 18, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 11
B. Str 16, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 13, Wis 15, Cha 11
C. Str 18, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 15

You lost me there. Why are you investing a 15 in int/wis instead of dex. Dex is by far more important for such a fighter since it not only improves ac, but also gives you initiative! and in my book winning initiative counts as getting an extra round of attack.

 

[Jhulae]

You lost me there. Why are you investing a 15 in int/wis instead of dex. Dex is by far more important for such a fighter since it not only improves ac, but also gives you initiative! and in my book winning initiative counts as getting an extra round of attack.

If a fighter is going to be in heavy armor (and why not, because he's got the proficiency), dex is *not* that important.

Initiative isn't all that important either and you can always get improved initiative as a feat.

However, fighters don't have 1) many skill points which a high Int will get them, or 2) a good will save, which a high Wisdom will help with.