How different are Fighters from common soldiers/warriors?

[Jester David]

Fighters are often described as better than infantry, your rank-and-file soldiers.

This was true in 3e (which had the warrior NPC class) and 4e (which used different rules for NPCs giving PCs an edge). But in 1e and 2e, NPC soldiers were either fighters or level 0 commoners (and thus mechanically equal to the pig farmer).


How different should a first level fighter be from a common soldier?

 

[The Human Target]

Very.

 

[KirayaTiDrekan]

I like the 3.5 NPC classes, but I really like something somebody posted over on the WotC forums about limiting them to 5th level. 20th level warriors and commoners never made sense to me, despite 3.5 being my favorite edition. Limiting them to 5th level makes so much sense its one of those "Derp, why didn't I think of that years ago" kind of things.

So, yeah, Fighters are officers and elite special forces. Warriors are grunts.

 

[ExploderWizard]

As far back as the original game goes, a starting fighter was a veteran with all that this implies. He/she has been battle tested and seen action. Every level thereafter added to this capability over the ordinary man. A 4th level fighter was a hero because he/she could fight with the power of 4 ordinary men alone.

So IMHO, 1st level fighters have always been a cut above untested mook troops.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

A common soldier (level 0) is just a Fighter who hasn't hit level 1 yet, but a Fighter 1 doesn't really have much in the way of class features, so it would just mean less than (10 + Con modifier) Hit Points and no Second Wind. Possibly, it could also mean no Fighting Style yet.

 

[Minigiant]

A common soldier or warrior is a war cleric who can't cast spells.

A fighter to me has more focus on fighting. They trained more. It is not just experience. Experience is experience. The thing that separates a fighter from a warrior, paladin, or even ranger is the fighter spend more time training fighting so 90% or what he learns is combat related.

Common soldier is to fighter as casual gamer is to hardcore gamer.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I think 5e's answer to this might be kind of elegant:

Apprentice Levels.

A town guard or a common footsoldier is probably a level 1-3 Fighter. A "true fighter" is just higher level.

Similarly, a hedge wizard or a witch doctor might be a level 1-3 wizard or cleric. More levels, more power!

Level 1-3 Artificer = Eberron Magewright?

But perhaps this is just my fondness for apprentice levels leaking through.

 

[Quickleaf]

Fighters are often described as better than infantry, your rank-and-file soldiers.

This was true in 3e (which had the warrior NPC class) and 4e (which used different rules for NPCs giving PCs an edge). But in 1e and 2e, NPC soldiers were either fighters or level 0 commoners (and thus mechanically equal to the pig farmer).

How different should a first level fighter be from a common soldier?

What about BD&D?

The BD&D Rules Compendium differentiates 1st-level Fighters from the other types of "men" (berserkers, dervishes, brigands, buccanneers, nobles, nomads, and traders) in just two ways:

• Better armor and weapons allowed
• Lance Attack and Set Spear vs. Charge maneuvers (limited to fighters, demihumans, mystics)

Later on the gap widens when the high-level Fighter gets:

• Option to own land and attract followers (or gain Paladin/Avenger powers)
• Multiple attacks
• More maneuvers: Smash, Parry, and Disarm.

So BD&D's answer to your question would be: Fighters have superior armaments and specialized training letting them do things common soldiers cannot. They also have untapped potential to rise to heights of leadership most soldiers wouldn't dream of.

 

[Ahnehnois]

Very little. I look at the warrior class or its conceptual space as being for non-professional or temporary combatants (which are likely the majority of most fighting forces). Militiamen, conscripts, medieval rent-a-cops, and the like. Anyone who fights for a living and is successful at it should be a fighter.

 

[ExploderWizard]

What about BD&D?

The BD&D Rules Compendium differentiates 1st-level Fighters from the other types of "men" (berserkers, dervishes, brigands, buccanneers, nobles, nomads, and traders) in just two ways:

• Better armor and weapons allowed
• Lance Attack and Set Spear vs. Charge maneuvers (limited to fighters, demihumans, mystics)

Lets not forget the actual attack & save tables!!

Regular men use the "Normal man" values on the attack and saving throw matrix.

1st level fighters use the 1st-3rd values.