Which class ISN'T front loaded?

[rankarrog]

Confusion!

Could it be just me or is the threads name and the poll the opposite of each other?

I understand: "Which class ISN'T front loaded?" as "Who gives THE LEAST benefits for 1 level?" in opposite to the question of the poll which asks "Who gives MOST benefits for 1 level?"

 

[Archer]

You can use bardic music 1x/day for each bard level you have. If you spend some 20 skill points on perform then your one use per day is better than it was but it is hardly worth the cost. One level of bardic knowledge is like having one rank in use magic device.

Humans who have 3 or more classess will suffer an exp penalty if they take more than 2 levels of their non favored classes so one would usually stop after 2 levels of fighter at most as the 2nd level is almost as good as the first but the 3rd is worth less.

I think the thread title and the poll are misleading causing people to vote without reading carefully. That is the only explanation for votes for bard or druid.

My vote was for paladin but that's only for characters with high charisma. Divine grace is the equal of one feat for each point of charisma bonus. If you can get a charisma of 30 then you are golden. Rogue/Fighter/Monk/Barbarian/Cleric would be my other choices. Clerics can get 2 feats at 1st level but they lose a precious point of BAB.

 

[The Souljourner]

I didn't vote for fighter, but I strongly considered it. The feat that you can put towards just about anything is really really good. You don't know how many times I've considered taking just a couple levels of fighter simply for the feats. I mean, that's the equivalent of +6 levels for any other class, featwise. Monks, paladins, rangers, barbarians, they're all improved by taking 1, 2, or 4 levels of fighter. I haven't actually done it yet, but I strongly considered it. It can get you into a prestige class many levels earlier than you'd otherwise be able. No other class is as versatile with its first level abilities.

Monks have so many restrictions it's just about useless unless you're making a very specific type of character, and you lose a base attack bonus. Barbarian is nice, but then you have to make sure all your armor is medium or heavy mithril. Paladin is pretty much only useful for the bonuses to your saves, and you have to have a decent score in Charisma to use it, *and* be Lawful Good. Blah.

My point is, only the fighter is pure advantage with no strings. Other classes may have more benefit if you're in their narrow field of specialization, but anyone who's planning on being in melee will benefit from a level of fighter.

-The Souljourner

 

[telepox]

How the hell is the fighter currently considered the 2nd most front loaded class on the poll?

be a human and see how many feats you get at 1st level...

 

[twjensen]

fighters front loaded

First, a lot of people probably are voting the opposite or just plain random.

Second, fighters are *amazingly* front loaded because I get a buncha cool proficiencies in martial weapons and a nifty feat.

When I look to see if a class is front loaded I look at two things:

1) Do I want to take this at level 1, then abandon it forever?
Here I've got the Rogue, Paladin & Sorcerer topping the charts

2) Do I want to throw in a level of the class when my own class doesn't seem to be giving me enough kick for leveling?
Here I see the Ranger and Fighter being the best choices. All the sudden my wizard can wield a greatsword and gets a fighting feat to boot.

But now look at the cross section, can I take Ranger or Fighter at level 1 and abandon it forever for the same benefit? Very nearly. Factor in the 10 hit points and I'd say that's a win.

Would I take my 11th character level as my 1st sorcerer or rogue level? Probably not. I'd never be disabling traps, the +1D6 sneak is pathetic compared to the damage the other characters are dealing and 8 skill points just aren't going to make up the difference if I've been unskilled for 10 straight levels. Dabbling in sorcery seems equally pointless unless I'm already restricted from wearing armor.

So, the classes most likely to be abused by taking just 1 level for the front load are IMO:
Ranger
Fighter
Barbarian (kinda sneaks outta no-where but it gives many of the same bennies as fighter or ranger with a different flavor and some other coolness to go with it)
Rogue (for the wizard who wants to really spike some skills or the munchkin looking to meet pre-reqs)
Sorcerer (for the monk or barbarian)