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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Vicar In A Tutu" data-source="post: 1914410" data-attributes="member: 26968">I'm thinking of starting a new campaign (Return to the temple of elemental evil, actually), and want to give "intelligent" fighters a boost (Intelligent fighters defined as fighters who allocate points to Int in order to get Expertise and related feat-chains). I agree with some of the other posters on this board that the Fighter loses out on higher levels, the feat-chains are maxed out too early (in addition, there are simply too few feat-chains in the PHB for a fighter to fully customize his character, IMHO). In my gaming group, Expertise fighters are regarded as being underpowered. Sure, Improved Disarm and Improved Trip can be a true pain in the arse, but it all boils down to how much damage the fighter can deliver. Players prefer the two-handed, power attacking fighter (especially in 3.5 with the new power attack rules for two-handed weapons). The archer is also a common choice, so is the sword-and-shield (I tend to include shield-boosting feats in my campaign, of the type "Shield Focus: +1 shield bonus with chosen type of shield and -1 armor check penalty". Intelligent fighters are rare in my campaign. These new feats should boost expertise-type fighters. I would appreciate advice on balancing issues (the feats are supposed to be strong, however, they are of course not supposed to be unbalanced). Note that I have houseruled the Dodge feat so that it adds a straight +1 Dodge bonus to AC (instead of giving a +1 bonus only against a single opponent, the player often forgot to use the Feat and I often forgot to consider it when checking whether the player was struck or not).      Improved Whirlwind Attack Prereq: As Whirlwind attack, plus Superior Expertise (from Oriental Adventures) and a +8 or higher base attack bonus Benefit: If you make a 5-foot adjust after using Whirlwind Attack, you may make an additional attack against an opponent now within reach that you did not attack with your Whirlwind Attack. This attack is at your highest base attack bonus and uses up one your attacks of opportunity for the round. Superior Whirlwind Attack Prereq: As Whirlwind Attack, plus Improved Whirlwind Attack and a +12 or higher base attack bonusBenefit: You gain a +2 Dodge bonus to your AC and a +2 bonus to your Reflex save after using a Whirlwind Attack. These bonuses last until your next round. The following feats (stolen from a prestige class ability of the same name in Oriental Adventures) may be extremely powerful against the right opponent (fullplate, large shield fighter), but is it unbalanced?"Moving the shadow" (suggestions for a proper name and description is much appreciated)Prereq: Expertise, Superior Expertise (from Oriental Adventures), Dodge, Mobility, Dex 13+, Int 13+, base attack bonus +8 or higher. Benefit: You gain a Dodge bonus to your AC equal to half the armor check penalty (if any) of the opponent striking you. "Improved Moving the Shadow" Prereq: As Moving the Shadow, except base attack bonus +16 or higher. Benefit: You gain a Dodge bonus to your AC equal to the full armor check penalty (if any) of the opponent striking you. This feat does not stack with Moving the Shadow. I'm particularly uncertain about this new feat chain for fencing fighters. Too strong, too weak or too cumbersome?Riposte Prereq: Int 13+, Expertise, Weapon Finesse, +4 base attack bonus or higher.Benefit: If an opponent rolls a 1, 2 or 3 on the attack roll and misses you in melee combat, you may make an attack of opportunity against that opponent. You may only use this feat with a weapon eligable for the Weapon Finesse feat (light weapons, rapier, etc). This feat can only be used once per round, even if you can make more than one attack of opportunity in a round.Improved Riposte Prereq: Int 13+, Expertise, Weapon Finesse, Riposte, +8 base attack bonus or higherBenefit: As riposte, only the numbers are extended to 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.Greater Riposte Prereq: Int 13+, Expertise, Weapon Finesse, Riposte, Improved Riposte, +12 base attack bonus or higherBenefit: Your riposte attacks gain a +4 competence bonus. Superior Riposte Prereq: Int 13+, Superior Expertise, Expertise, Weapon Finesse, Riposte, Improved Riposte, Greater Riposte, +16 or higher base attack bonusBenefit: There is no restriction on the number of times in a round that can make riposte attacks. In addition, the riposte attacks are no longer counted as Attacks of Opportunity, they are instead treated as free attacks at your highest base attack bonus.</blockquote>

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