We had a debate last night at the game about Fighters. It has long been Roger's contention that all Fighters rapidly start to look much the same as they increase in level, due to the relatively limited range of feats available. I dispute this. Therefore, I set out to create some different fighters, and can now present four fighters which I think go some way to proving the point.
These are each created using only the core rulebooks, with 25-point buy for stats, and the standard starting cash. Each retains a small amount of unspent money, and so hasn't allocated the full 27,000 gold for 8th level. It should also be noted that Telak is Gary's fighter in the current campaign, and is therefore the standard against which the others are judged.
Baralan
The scion of an ancient dwarven line, Baralan is a heavily armoured warrior. He focusses purely on melee combat, focussing on tricks rather than on causing lots of immediate damage, and using expertise and armour to avoid damage.
Dwarf Fighter 8
Ability Scores: Str 19, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 8
Skills: Climb +3, Craft (weaponsmith) +12, Intimidate +5, Jump +4, Ride +6
Feats: Combat Expertise, Greater Weapon Focus (flail), Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Iron Will, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (flail), Weapon Specialisation (flail)
Possessions: Amulet of Health +2, Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Flail +2, Full Plate +1, Heavy Steel Shield +1, Amulet of Natural Armour +1, Ring of Protection +1, Masterwork Light Crossbow, 2,572 gp
Combat Stats:
HP 98, AC 25/24/12, Init +1
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +3, Will +3
Melee: +16/+11 1d8+8 (Crit on 20)
Missile: +9 1d8 (Crit on 19-20)
Baralan typically enters combat with a trip attack, then follows this up with repeated melee attacks. Against powerful opponents, he uses Expertise extensively (to get AC 30!), while lightly armoured opponents suffer repeated Power Attacks.
Jadeel
A bounty hunter from the South, Jadeel is skilled in the use of two blades. Like Baralan, his focus is on melee, but he is also skilled with the longbow, and not averse to tracking an opponent at range.
Human Fighter 8
Ability Scores: Str 19, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9
Skills: Craft (bowyer) +5, Escape Artist +1, Ride +11, Survival +5.5
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (two-bladed sword), Greater Weapon Focus (two-bladed sword), Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Track, Two-weapon Defence, Two-weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (two-bladed sword), Weapon Specialisation (two-bladed sword)
Possessions: Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Two-bladed Sword +1 of Flame/+1 of Shock, Masterwork Mighty (+4) Composite Longbow, Full Plate +1, Cloak of Resistance +1, 1,850 gp
Combat Stats:
HP 74, AC 21/20/11, Init +6
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3
Melee: +13/+13/+8 (1d8+1d6+7/7/5 (Crit on 19-20)
Missile: +11/+6 1d8+4 (Crit x3)
Jadeel relies on his many attacks to weaken his opponents. At the next opportunity, he should increase his Dex to 17 and gain Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, for another off-hand attack.
Patromir
Patromir is the elven archer/finesse Fighter. Skilled with both sword and bow, he is more lightly armoured than the others, and does slightly less damage overall. However, he has the ability to punish foes far more effectively at range than the other characters, and he is quite lethal in melee combat due to his large critical threat range.
Elf Fighter 8
Ability Scores: Str 12, Dex 19, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 10
Skills: Knowledge (history) +3, Spot +5.5
Feats: Manyshot, Improved Critical (rapier), Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Rapid Shot, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (rapier)
Possessions: Elven Chain +1, Masterwork Light Steel Shield, Rapier +1 of Frost, Mighty (+1) Composite Longbow +1 of Frost, Ring of Protection +1, Cloak of Resistance +1, 1,871 gp
Combat Stats:
HP 74, AC 22/18/15, Init +4
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +4
Melee: +14/+9 1d6+1d6+2 (Crit on 15-20!)
Missile: +11/+11/+6 1d8+1d6+2 (Crit x3) or +9 2d8+2d6+4 (Crit of 4d8+2d6+8) (as a single attack action)
Patromir typically engages in missile fire for as long as possible, switching to melee weapon and shield at the last opportunity (as a free action, due to his Quick Draw feat).
Telak
Gary's character in the current campaign, Telak is the classic longsword-Fighter. He has lately developed some skill with the bow, and so is a dangerous all-round combatant.
Human Fighter 8
Ability Scores: Str 20, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha 10
Skills: Climb +3, Jump +1, Listen +4, Ride +5, Spot +5.5, Swim +2
Feats: Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (longsword), Improved Initiative, Iron WIll, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (longsword), Weapon Specialisation (longsword)
Possessions: Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Full Plate +1, Heavy Steel Shield +1, Longsword +1 of Flame, Mighty (+5) Composite Longbow +1 of Flame, 1,980 gp
Combat Stats:
HP 82, AC 22/22/10, Init +4
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +4
Melee: +15/+10 1d8+1d6+8 (Crit on 17-20)
Missile: +9/+4 1d8+1d6+6 (Crit x3)
Telak typically charges into combat, using his bow only if circumstances dictate this as the optimum choice.
Conclusion
Each of these fighters has a certain core of abilities. All four have Weapon Focus. Three have full plate armour, thre ehave Weapon Specialisation, three use shields, and three own Gauntlets of Ogre Power. However, they are distinctly different. Baralan will make heavy use of trip attacks and expertise, which is quite beyond the others. Patromir will use missile fire extensively, and in combat will rely on critical hits to make up for a relatively weak damage output. Jadeel uses the showy and difficult exotic weapon, while Telak is the classic fighter.
Truth be told, I think Baralan, Telak or Jadeel would make ideal Fighters for any group. They are all different, but fill much the same role. I think I might be hesitant to use Patromir as the only Fighter in the group, although he would fit the current group very well. But that's not really the point - these are four fighters that are reasonably distinct from one another. And all four are clearly distinct from the Barbarian, Ranger or Paladin of the group, even where they seem to step on the Fighting styles of other other classes.
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