Interesting fighter builds

[Storminator]

The key to an interesting fighter is giving yourself fun things to do. Being the ultimate at one particular style doesn't cut it, as you keep doing the same trick over and over.

Human Ftr
Level Feats
1     PBS, Quick Draw, Rapid Shot
2     TWF
3     Power Attack    
.
.
.

Then get a buckler and a longsword and a set of daggers. Now you can use sword and board style, TWF, 2H fighting, and thrown weap style at will. After 3rd level you can start picking up the more stylish feats like Combat Exp. and the Improveds that follow.

Then you have a whole mess of interesting options.

PS

 

[TheYeti1775]

Deep Gnome Fighter

I played a Deep Gnome Fighter in a FR game.
He was pure fighter too.

He wielded a Heavy Pick +2, Flaming.
Add to the fact he was even short by Gnome Standards. 2'10"

That X4 is awesome when dealt from something under 3ft tall.
They never see it coming.

 

[Zephyrus]

A note, just FYI... Grey Elves are actually in the Monster Manual and Dragon Desciple in the DMG.

That asside.... you could always have a but of fun with: Exotic Weapon Prof: Whip, Two Weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse. Then find or commision yourself a pair of magical whips with the Shocking and Thundering properties.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I ran a Paladin who used the weapons of her upbringing as a peasant fisher who eventually apprenticed as a mason. As a peasant, she could not carry a sword. Instead, she used the Maul, Great Pick, Net and sling, depending on situation. A fighter with any of these could get pretty nasty. I also ran a dwarven ranger with 2 picks, just like the Chainmail mini. Lotsa fun. Once again, a fighter with this could get nasty.

I'm currently running an Indiana Jones based pc who uses a barbed whip (same stats as dagger-whip). He's a nice 2nd line combatant, tripping and disarming opponents for the front line fighters to whup up on.

Sitting in my stock of NPCs is a gladiator (Ftr/Bard) with 2 shields & Datsana (armored sleeves- stack with shields). He uses Improved Unarmed Combat, Expertise, Improved Trip, Improved Disarm & Improved Shield Bash- he's Specialized in Shield Spikes as a weapon. His armor AND his shields are spiked, and enchanted with the Bashing enchantment (and some other stuff, like Shocking Burst, etc). Since each shield protects a different side of the body, he gets the AC bonus from both. (I'm thinking about reworking him as a ranger, though.) Nasty!

I ran a Gnome Ftr/Mage who took many levels in alchemy. He wasn't much for the front line, but his acids and firebombs were VERY useful.

 

[der_kluge]

Oh, we're using C&C rules... so, yea, we're talking kind of basic here. Well, it's C&C with some 3.5 extensions, like feats and other things.

I think I'm going to go with a female fighter, who tries to pass herself off as a man. Either she's hiding, or trying to fit into a man's world. Not sure which angle I want to go with.

 

[Zephyrus]

not familiar with the C&C rules your refering to ... maybe I'm just missing something.

Anyways. a Female Fighter as you described might do well with the Pike fighter I described earlier. The premise of a 'reach' weapon to keep people at a distance and making up for with speed what they might lack in strength (mans world etc...).

Follow up Combat Reflexes with Weapon Focus and Dodge. As a semi-dexterous fighter Full plate is prolly out. The ability to be move around (dodge mobility spring attack) provoking opponents into charging her where she dices them up with AoO. If the reach weapon you've chosen can disarm or Trip (or maybe pick an exotic reach weapon instead of Weapon Focus at 1st).

Things like that would play up the technique oriented fighter which would help hide her (assuming average or poor <for a fighter> str) lack of physical power. In a manner, in a Man's world. Girls fight dirty!

 

[painandgreed]

I ran a straight hack & slash game and one of the players came up with "Meat Grinder" which was a take off of pro-wrestling turned pit fighter. High Str and Dex with Spiked Chain and Combat Reflexes. He also had a face mask, high intimidate and would give pro-wrestler like monologes to the monsters.

"Whoever DARES mess with the Meat Grinder, is going to get GROUND" *Growls and rips off shirt*

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Since you're using C&C rules, I'd focus on the specialization rules as the main differential, though that does define the fighter by the weapon used.

I've seen a few crossbow specialists. Then there's the perennial dagger-based fighter. I think most fighters are thought of as melee front-liners, so any character based on ranged weapons is a step in a different direction.

 

[sukael]

Get a pair of large spiked shields and take Two-Weapon Fighting and Improved Shield Bash.

It's not sword and board... it's board-x2!

Plus then you can always pull the "You can't hurt me! I'm unarmed!" line on Lawful Evil enemies.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Plus then you can always pull the "You can't hurt me! I'm unarmed!" line on Lawful Evil enemies.

I have a warrior-type that had Two-weapon Fighting, Improved Shield Bash, but had his off hand be an open fist [Improved Unarmed Strike]. Started as two levels in Ranger, then two levels in monk, went ex-monk to take one level in barbarian (for exactly the reason you imagine), then went straight fighter for all the feats to get weapon focus and weapon specialization for shield bash. Had an adamantine large shield (with the bashing enhancement, with a cold iron shield spike with ghost touch.

I always could say I was unarmed with complete honesty. Plus, I took Stunning Fist and Deflect Arrow for my 1st and 2nd level monk feats, so with my open hand I got the auto-deflect on an incoming arrow. Stunning Fist attempts per day improves by character level (albeit slower than straight monk) so I got more and more stun attempts as he got better.

Grabbed Quickdraw as a Fighter feat eventually which allowed be to use my open hand to quickly draw whatever special DR-bypassing material he might need... or a vial of silversheen to polish up either the shield or shield spike for creatures that need silver weapons.

I know the point is to put out interesting builds using just he Core rules. But if you can swing it, try to get Shield Charge and Shield Slam. Fantastic combo of feats for a shield basher.