The Fighter... post Players Handbook II

[KarinsDad]

hard to perma-trip...the AoO incured by them standing back up happens before they stand, so you can't trip them then.

Karmic Strike, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Trip.

The difference between the Fighter and the Barbarian is that the Fighter is -4 AC, but the Barbarian is -4 AC and -4 to hit. If the Barbarian gets up from the ground, he goes right back down again quickly, either when he attacks the Fighter or when the Fighter gets in his full round attack. Plus, the Fighter gets to attack with his weapon for most of his attacks (he only loses one if he fails to trip) plus many of the Barbarian's attacks. The Barbarian only gets to attack with his weapon on his own attacks.

Granted, a Barbarian could take these feats as well, but it is more costly for the Barbarian.

So, the Fighter will be able to Power Attack or use other feats to gain even more of an edge. The Barbarian is still limited to 6 or 7 feats pre-epic levels.

 

[Victim]

Even with the PHB 2, there's still little reason to be a fighter 20 when you could be fighter 18/barbarian 2. But then the Barbarian gains Weapon Spec and Melee Mastery from Barbarian 16/Fighter 4. The way melee combat works, each class can reap significant benefits by dipping into the other.

I'm not sure how Tripping favors the fighter much. Trip checks are STR dependent, so the barbarian's mighty rage cancels the +4 from Improved Trip. Tripping would still be better than a normal attack, but the opposed check is dicey. Although most barbarians won't have the stats nor feats for it, Tripping could actually work better for them since it builds off the STR bonus from rage.

Similarly, a barbarian gets more out of Spring Attack (higher single hit 2 hander damage and faster movement) or opposed check manuevers since he can eek out a slighty higher attack bonus. He just won't usually have the feats to take them

 

[Malum]

the inability to think, reason, cast spells, trigger or use many magics would be the downfall of a 20th level Barbarian vs. 20th Fighter. The fighter may opt to turn inviso, fly as where the Barbarian once he goes nuts is a "what you see is what you get type"

Not to mention the Barb gets a + to str has +10 move and is hard to flank
the Fighter will have 11 more feats. I would take those 11 feats to the bank every time! No comp. Fighter takes it hands down.

And if you wanted to work it 10 Paladin/10 Fighter imo offers more than a 10 Barb/10 Fighter and this build makes a fun pc to roleplay a Paladin with spiked armor and a warflail more of a evil hunter killer and now with punch!

 

[shilsen]

In your opinion, is the fighter class sufficiently powered now after the release of the Players Handbook II? Has it returned to the days of 2nd edition when it was the undisputed king of melee?

Could a 20th level fighter, now defeat a 20th level barbarian, or even the vaunted 10th level Barb/10th level Frenzied Berserker

Assuming optimal build and appropriate equipment..

The question is significantly flawed. If you want to work out whether a particular class is "the king of melee", you need to work out how well it does against a wide variety of the monsters and opponents a PC encounters, rather than how well it fights another PC.

 

[kenobi65]

So damage wise, they are basically even with the Fighter getting a slight lead using one handed weapons.

A barbarian using a one-handed weapon? That's pure myth.

 

[Quartz]

How about Pal3 / Kt 4 / Ftr 3 / Div Cr 10? Give the character the Healing or Instinct domain. Although really you'd only take 1 level of Divine Crusader, then switch to another prestige class.

Oh yes, the Instinct domain, from another post on Enworld:

Instinct Domain Spells

1. True Strike
2. Owl's Wisdom
3. Discern Lies
4. Divination
5. True Seeing
6. Find the Path
7. Vision
8. Moment of Prescience
9. Foresight

True Strike, Foresight, and True Seeing being the real combat goodies there.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

why should a fighter and barbarian fight eachother when they work so well together... and a few levels of monk...

 

[Drowbane]

In your opinion, is the fighter class sufficiently powered now after the release of the Players Handbook II?

...Has it returned to the days of 2nd edition when it was the undisputed king of melee?

You seem confused, the Ranger was the undisputed king of 2e melee.

Could a 20th level fighter, now defeat a 20th level barbarian...

Sure, it could go either way.

...or even the vaunted 10th level Barb/10th level Frenzied Berserker

I doubt it, nobody out melees Frenzied Berserker...

 

[Endur]

A barbarian using a one-handed weapon? That's pure myth.

Hey, I had a barbarian with a one handed weapon. Well, ok, he was a myth named Con[an].

 

[Thanee]

You and your mages

What's wrong with mages?

Bye
Thanee