what next?: a figher's future

[target]

I have a level 4 fighter who uses a guisarme, has weapon focus and specialization in it, improved trip, you get the idea. The world is high-magic, the fighter has two high level mages as parents, but didn't show much aptitude for magic. I'm somewhat at a loss as to where to go to next.

I like trippery in combat, but as we start fighting more powerful things, I suspect that's going to be less effective. There are lots of feats I could take -- do the spring attack chain, or cleave (probably a good idea anyway), but I'm looking for a little more flavor, or, failing that, some way to keep tripping people.

So, any thoughts? I've looked through the PrC's in the dmg and in the complete warrior, and I was pretty uninspired. Any good ideas about taking a fighter in a high magic world and giving him something to do besides swing his big stick at people?

-target

 

[ForceUser]

I have a level 4 fighter who uses a guisarme, has weapon focus and specialization in it, improved trip, you get the idea. The world is high-magic, the fighter has two high level mages as parents, but didn't show much aptitude for magic. I'm somewhat at a loss as to where to go to next.

I like trippery in combat, but as we start fighting more powerful things, I suspect that's going to be less effective. There are lots of feats I could take -- do the spring attack chain, or cleave (probably a good idea anyway), but I'm looking for a little more flavor, or, failing that, some way to keep tripping people.

So, any thoughts? I've looked through the PrC's in the dmg and in the complete warrior, and I was pretty uninspired. Any good ideas about taking a fighter in a high magic world and giving him something to do besides swing his big stick at people?

-target

Combat Reflexes is a must with a reach weapon. After that, Power Attack > Cleave > Great Cleave. Improved Initiative. Improved Disarm - with a heavy reach weapon you have a huge advantage disarming foes. Improved Critical, followed by Resounding Blow (from BoED).

With regard to finding something else to do besides "swinging a big stick," er, you're a fighter. That's all they do. However, if you want to be more versatile there's always multiclassing!

 

[target]

Combat Reflexes is a must with a reach weapon. After that, Power Attack > Cleave > Great Cleave. Improved Initiative. Improved Disarm - with a heavy reach weapon you have a huge advantage disarming foes. Improved Critical, followed by Resounding Blow (from BoED).

What does resounding blow do?

Also, a somewhat related rules question: if you don't get your full bonus to ac from dex because of your armor, do you still get that many attacks from combat reflexes?

- target

 

[Goblyn]

Also, a somewhat related rules question: if you don't get your full bonus to ac from dex because of your armor, do you still get that many attacks from combat reflexes?
- target

Yeah, you do. That limit only applies to Dex bonus to AC.

 

[ForceUser]

What does resounding blow do?

Awesome feat. My improved crit falchion fighter has this one. Here's the blurb:

RESOUNDING BLOW [GENERAL]
Your mightiest attacks cause your foes to tremble before you.
Prerequisites: Str 13, Power Attack, Intimidate 7 ranks.
Benefit: Whenever you deal a critical hit using a melee weapon with which you are proficient, your opponent must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 your character level + your Cha modifier) or cower for 1 round. A monk's unarmed strike is considered a melee weapon for purposes of this feat.
Special: A fighter may select Resounding Blow as one of her fighter bonus feats.

 

[kamosa]

Awesome feat. My improved crit falchion fighter has this one. Here's the blurb:

Fighter feats are just plain out of control. That's just silly.

 

[argo]

Consider 2 levels of Monk. For a cost of 1 point of BAB and 2 HP you get
- IAS for 1d6 damage: never have to worry about an opponent getting inside your reach and forcing you to drop your guisarme again! You may also consider taking TWF and bam! You can attack at both 5' and 10'. Plus it looks a lot more believable than a stupid spiked chain.
- +3 to all your saves.
- two bonus feats. At first level choose from Improved Grapple or Stunning Fist. At second level choose Combat Reflexes which, as others have said, is essential to your style.
- evasion
- more skill points (I assume you are human and I know you have at least Int 13, so thats minimum 6 skill points per level) chosen from a list that includes hide, move silent, diplomacy, sense motive, and tumble
- I don't know how good your Wis is, you probably just want to stick with armor. But you might be able to run the numbers and get an advantage with low-cost ability bosting items (the Cleric's used peripat of wisdom, etc)


After that you have some options. You could take more monk levels. If you go to level 4 you still only lose 1 point of BAB but gain +10 move (only good if you don't wear armor), 1d8 damage, and a couple of other benies. I wouldn't recomend more monk than that though. You might look for a PrC, though none come to mind right away.

But I recomend you eventually come back to Ftr for the Greater Weapon focus and Greater Weapon Spec. You defenatly want Power Attack though cleave depends on if your DM uses lots of mooks or not. You are already prety specalized versus humanoids but you still might want to consider Improved Disarm, a guisarme is a two handed weapon which gives you a +4 bonus on top of the feat's +4. Use your character feats for stuf like Improved Init, Blind Fight, or Iron Will (on top of the monk bonuses you will laugh in the face of wizards, laugh I say). I guarante the barbarian won't have feats like that, it's your advantage. The spring attack chain might be a good choice as well.

Hope that helps.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Any good ideas about taking a fighter in a high magic world and giving him something to do besides swing his big stick at people?

-target

To try a different tactic, what does he do out of combat?
looking to start training a few likely lads as a polearm mercenary troop?
offer to body guard for local noblity?
Serve as enforcer to a thieves guild?
Join and army, reserve or watch unit.
pledge his weapon in the service of a god ?
start/join a craft or merchant guild?
purchase an Inn to use as base and rumor control center?
raise horses? Train for sporting events or gladiator fights?
earn enough money to give a younger sister a dowry that would increase her standing?
Buy his parents a bigger farm?

 

[target]

To try a different tactic, what does he do out of combat?
looking to start training a few likely lads as a polearm mercenary troop?
offer to body guard for local noblity?

Well, he's part of a group that is on a secret mission for one of the local demigods. He worships the ground she walks on, but doesn't really have any short term goals. In the long term... he would like to see if it was possible to found a city actually run by humans instead of the demigods, and have it work out. The last people to try that ended up dead or worse, but it's at least a goal.

None of that really seems to have too much impact on short term goals. I had somewhat considered the leadership feat, but my dm doesn't really want to deal with cohorts, so that's out.

- target