HD12 for Fighters?

[Erekose]

In my campaign I took the broad decision to limit HD to a maximum of D10 for character classes as I didn't feel that any class should have a higher HD than the Fighter class.

However, with the multitude of fighter-type prestige classes now available I wonder whether this is far enough to keep the class differentiated.

Would it be unbalancing to increase the HD for the Fighter class (and only the Fighter class) to D12?

It would also help to differentiate the Fighter from the other core fighter-type classes (paladin and ranger).

 

[Darklone]

Much talk

What did happen to the barbarian in your campaign?

I wouldn't change fighters... they are already the best melee machines around.

 

[Erekose]

I reduced the HD for Barbarians to D10 and by way of compensation the additional hit points they gain from raging are lost first (like other forms of temporary hps) rather than last.

No more "death by raging . . ."

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Well, "technically" speaking, Barbarians Rage Hit points are as tempory as the hit points gained from the endurance spell.
(They aren`t temporary at all - only the CON Bonus is)
And this is also a flavor issue: A Rage allows the Barbarian to fight even if he would be actually "dead". (And he is dead, if the Rage ends).


And for the question if it would be unbalancing: Probably. If it wasn`t, I think the game designers would have noticed it.

But it is also, to some extent, a flavor thing: A Fighter shines through technique (see his feats), a Barbarian through shere power and "hardness".

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[Dagredhel]

I for one am in agreement with you that the fighter's Hit Die type should an exclusive class feature. I favor d8 Hit Die for any core or PrC class that grants spellcasting ability. As for the barbarian with d12, I'd prefer to see the class eliminated as a core class entirely, and Rage converted into a fighter bonus feat. (I'd do the same with Favored Enemy, by the by.) In my (not really at all) humble opinion, a d12 Hit Die should be restricted to a very few PrC classes that really warrant it. The Dwarven Defender is one good example, and a Rager PrC (to emulate those mid to high level barbarian abilities if you do away with the core class) would be another.

 

[Crothian]

Actually, I think most spellcasters should have at most d6. Clerics and Druids having d8 is too much. Having only a select prestige classes get d12 would greatly improve these classes and make then unique in another way. The barbarian should be a varient fighter. Trade out some armor and weapon ability for better skill selection and points. The bonus feats of a fighter can be used to get rage. MotW has some great Rage feats that would make that even better.