Odd levels for fighters

[Ruvion]

Well, I should think the fighter just gains two ranks in one of the related skills, and class vs. cross-class wouldn't be concern.

So, what groups do we get here? Maybe:

Frontiersman (a fighter trained to protect roads and outposts from raiders): Knowledge (geography), Spot.

Interesting idea...but I think giving the Frontierman spot bonus would make that background a no brainer...at least for me. Skills that sees the most use are the most powerful skills in my book (and skills contributing to senses see constant use). Maybe changing spot to survival?

How about these new backgrounds?:

Mercenary (a shady sellsword that has seen more than a few scraps and lived to tell the tale): Bluff, Heal.
Poet Warrior (wise warrior philosopher that dwell on the mysteries of life and death): Perform, Sense Motive.
Thug (street savvy brawler): Hide, Knowledge (local).
Treasure Hunter (spelunking raider with curiosity for the hidden and forgotten): Knowledge (dungeoneering), Search.

[edit: added a few more backgrounds]

 

[Felon]

Interesting idea...but I think giving the Frontierman spot bonus would make that background a no brainer...at least for me. Skills that sees the most use are the most powerful skills in my book (and skills contributing to senses see constant use). Maybe changing spot to survival?

Or maybe giving every class a good skill. I guess it all has to balance out, but a fighter whose training is guarding a person or a place probably should get Spot.

How about this background ?:

Thug (street savvy brawler): Intimidate, Knowledge (local)

Sounds good, though I would exclude skills that a fighter can already treat as a class skill. One of the goals is to promote some flexibility. How about Hide? Thugs jump people.

 

[Ruvion]

Sounds good, though I would exclude skills that a fighter can already treat as a class skill. One of the goals is to promote some flexibility. How about Hide? Thugs jump people.

I was thinking more of a swaggering "cowbow" streetfighter rather than a mugger...but YMMV. Heheh.

 

[Szatany]

Does anyone have any house rules that provide a fighter with a benefit at those awkward odd levels--you know, where taking a level of barbarian or ranger seems to grow increasingly harder for many an impatient PC to resist?

In particular, has anyone experimented with providing a fighter with a feat every level?

I just made a version of fighter that has no empty levels. This might be of limited use to you because I plan on using this class in my campaign where any character can only advance to 10th level, so the fighter also has only 10 levels. But ideas I used with this class should be useful enough to port to fighter in your games. (You could, for example, change levels to 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th.)

Fighter

[U]Level  Special[/U]
3rd    Warrior
5th    Expert
7th    Veteran
9th    Warlord

Warrior - Every feat gained by warrior class that gives at least +4 bonus, now gives one more point.
Expert - Every feat gained by warrior class that applies to one type of weapon or armor, now applies to 2.
Veteran - Every feat gained by warrior class that gives at least +1 bonus, now gives one more point. This doesn't stack with warrior or warlord ability. This ability removes from the game Greater Weapon Focus and G.W.Specialization.
Warlord - Every feat gained by warrior class that gives at least +4 bonus, now gives two more points. This doesn't stack with warrior ability.

Example feats that are affected by fighter's abilities:
Warrior/Warlord:

• Improved Bull Rush
• Improved Disarm
• Improved Grapple
• Improved Initiative
• Improved Overrun
• Improved Sunder
• Improved Trip
• Mobility

Veteran:

• Dodge
• Weapon Focus
• Weapon Specialization
• Point Blank Shot
• Two-Weapon Defense

Expert:

• Exotic Weapon Proficiency
• Improved Critical
• Weapon Focus
• Weapon Specialization

Remeber that some feats can and will be affected by more than one ability. For example, Weapon Focus will improve thanks both to veteran and expert ability, thus becoming a feat that grants +2 bonus on all attack rolls with 2 different weapons.

 

[Joker]

What I have done is at 7th level and every 3 levels after that (10th,13th,16th and 19th) they get a tactical or weapon style feat if they meet the prerequisites.

 

[Kristivas]

Every class has been bumped up in my world.

I'd like to see some of the 'bumping' you've done to other classes as well, if possible.

 

[Kristivas]

I love the fighter class, and always have. My complaints are small in nature..

1. A fighter can become near to worthless outside of combat. If any additions should be made, it shouldn't be to the number of feas they gain. Maybe stronger feats at higher levels, but the number is not the problem. I think they deserve more skills. Not enough to even approach the awesome number a rogue has, but enough to add some flavor and usefulness to the class.

What I've considered so far is raising the fighter's base skills from 2 to 3. I know, it's an odd number, but it makes for a nice upgrade without overpowering the class. What I've also considered is allowing the fighter to choose 2 cross-class skills and consider them class skills. Obviously, there would be a limit on what skills could be chosen to not take away from other classes. This would allow customization, where you could make your pirate-type, your soldier-type, ect.

2. Their will saves. I just can't stand their terrible will saves. In movies, you see the heroic warrior shrugging off spells or pain from torture and using their will to withstand terrors and horridity. Getting the +2 from the Iron Will feat isn't much of a help and who's going to divert points from physical attributes to wis just for one (albeit important) save?

I don't have an answer for this, and maybe I'm the only one complaining. I usually end up M/C as a cleric for a few levels, as the spells and additional healing often come in handy anyway.

 

[The Serge]

Before I post suggestions/opinions, some clarification please.

Is this thread about adding abilities to the fighter class or is it a discussion as to whether or not the fighter class needs new abilities? It's hard to tell given how this discussions been going.

 

[Beholder Bob]

3rd Fearless
7th Melee Re-roll 1/day
9th Veteran Warrior
13th Blunt Blow 1/day
15th Melee Re-roll 2/day
17th Blunt Blow 2/day
19th Melee Re-roll 3/day
20th Blunt Blow 3/day

Blunt Blow (Ex): As a free action against a melee attack you perceive and receive your DEX mod AC against, roll to hit & subtract that total from the damage you take from a single melee attack.

Melee Re-roll (Ex): As a free action, re-roll either an attack roll or one of your weapon damage rolls. Only 1 re-roll allowed per attack.

Veteran Warrior (Ex): You gain +2 to resist: Feint, bull rush, overrun, disarm, & trip attack

Fearless (Ex): You may make Fortitude instead of Will saves against fear effects and spells.

BB

 

[smootrk]

Before I post suggestions/opinions, some clarification please.

Is this thread about adding abilities to the fighter class or is it a discussion as to whether or not the fighter class needs new abilities? It's hard to tell given how this discussions been going.

I think the original idea is to introduce new ideas for fighters because they had dead levels.

Due to the posts of some who had different opinions on the subject (basically not in favor of any changes or tweaks), some have felt (including myself) to justify or explain the rationale we held.

If you have ideas on this subject to tweak the fighter (fairly w/o breaking balance), please feel free to share.