"OK. Make a Will Save." POOF! Go the Fighter and Rogue

[Christian]

I don't think there's anything wrong with taking feats or using other methods to counter your weaknesses. Every class in D&D has its blind spots, and you can't expect enemies never to take advantage of them.

What are these 'poor saves' everyone keeps talking about?

Oh, yeah. I guess I've been playing a Monk for too long.

 

[Shin Okada]

As a nasty DM, I always try to let PCs roll for their weakest save. Blindness/Deafness (Fort) to wizards, Animate Rope/Web to Clerics, Hold Person to Fighters, etc. So that is not just a problem of fighter type, if your DM is nasty enough, IMHO.

There are a lot of "save or helpless" spells. That is why any spell casters with more than average wits always prepare some amount of spells which save people from those spells. Say, Freedom of Movement, Remove Paralysis, Remove Blindness/Deafness, Break Enchantments, and the most useful Dispel Magic.

You say fighters cannot go beyond 8th level. But if fighters of your party are killed or otherwise incapacitated so often, your entire party should be annihilated vary soon anyway. In DnD, PCs are expected to work as a team.

 

[Xarlen]

I'd have to agree with Shin. Where are your comrads and spells of Break Enchantment, Dispels and Removals? Can they not atleast brew some potions?

 

[MutantHamster]

The obvious solution there is that the fighter class should be used (i do this for maximum eficiency) to beef up attacks and hp for your other class levels. Any primary classing char can take a level in fighter when they're fealing weak, more hp, more BAB, and ocasionally, another feat. Think about it
Fighter/Druid-Tribesman
Fighter/Wiz or Sorc-Warrior Mage
Fighter/Rouge-Thug
Fighter/Bard-Anyone who wastes XP in Bard is gonna die
Fighter/Monk-Same as above
Fighter/Barbarian-same as above
Fighter/Cleric-Templar
Fighter/Paladin-Crusader
Fighter/Ranger-Woodsy Type Person you get the idea

So you see billy, being a fighter is about gaining a bunch of weapon proficiencies and making any class more butkickey.

 

[James McMurray]

Fighter/Bard-Anyone who wastes XP in Bard is gonna die
Fighter/Monk-Same as above
Fighter/Barbarian-same as above

Fighter/Bard: Bladesinger (without the prestige class)
Fighter/Monk: Unarmed master
Fighter/Barbarian: Primal warrior

Sure, the bard is a bit underpowered in combat, but monk and barbarian certainly don't automatically deserve to die, nor should any of those classes be considered a waste of XP.

 

[Dave Blewer]

I have to agree that there are no illegitimate multiclass options - and that is one of the true wonders of the 3E system...

 

[MutantHamster]

Yes there are. You do have alignment restrictions.

 

[James McMurray]

True, but none of the combinations you poo-pooed on involve that. Even then there's nothing stopping you from being a monk/barbarian, you'll just lose some cool abilities.

 

[MutantHamster]

What? you mean the ones that dont exist?

 

[Darkness]

I play mostly wizards, and they have the same kind of thing, only for Fortitude saves. It sucks getting blindness cast on you.

Or slay living!