Houseruling for non casting classes to get special abilities

[DarkEternal]

Basically, since it is a high level campaign, I was considering giving our fighting classes some oomph to their attacks, since the casters are a bit out of their range now, just for fluff if anything else. From non casters, we have a fighter and a ranger(archery specialised), and I was thinking of giving them perhaps a school from Tome of Battle(not two like the actual classes from the book get), via some sort of a plan where a martial master trains them both to be able to gain such abilities.

Basically, I would choose a school that I think reflects them best(be it in personality, or the way they trained) and have the master teach them one of their schools. They would gain new attacks differently, basically, learning them by levelling up or training.

My question is, that while I guess any will do for the fighter of these schools from ToB, are there any abilities-schools one would suggest for the ranger, considering he specialised in ranged combat?

[Gray Mage]

Just a minor nitpick before I answer, but ToB classes get more than two schools, so I guess only one is kind of poor.
As for ranged schools, there isn't any on the book, so it'll have to be homebrewed. In the homebrew forum there are some pretty good ones, you should check it out.

[Jack Zander]

Basically, since it is a high level campaign, I was considering giving our fighting classes some oomph to their attacks, since the casters are a bit out of their range now, just for fluff if anything else. From non casters, we have a fighter and a ranger(archery specialised), and I was thinking of giving them perhaps a school from Tome of Battle(not two like the actual classes from the book get), via some sort of a plan where a martial master trains them both to be able to gain such abilities.

Basically, I would choose a school that I think reflects them best(be it in personality, or the way they trained) and have the master teach them one of their schools. They would gain new attacks differently, basically, learning them by levelling up or training.

My question is, that while I guess any will do for the fighter of these schools from ToB, are there any abilities-schools one would suggest for the ranger, considering he specialised in ranged combat?

If you want to give him something to do against spellcasters, consider giving him an attack that ignores all spell effects if he spends a full round action to fire only one shot from his bow. Basically he can "see" through the weaknesses in magical auras or find "holes" in wind walls and the like.

[DarkEternal]

If you want to give him something to do against spellcasters, consider giving him an attack that ignores all spell effects if he spends a full round action to fire only one shot from his bow. Basically he can "see" through the weaknesses in magical auras or find "holes" in wind walls and the like.

Well, it's more that I want to give them more actions, instead of using Rapid Shot(ranger) and Charge-full attack-slice and dice for fighter. They are a high level, so I was thinking of adding something supernatural to their abilities, just as the wizards-clerics of the group have where they are practically gods walking the planet.

[Jack Zander]

Well, it's more that I want to give them more actions, instead of using Rapid Shot(ranger) and Charge-full attack-slice and dice for fighter. They are a high level, so I was thinking of adding something supernatural to their abilities, just as the wizards-clerics of the group have where they are practically gods walking the planet.

The attack I suggested is in fact another action the ranger can use that would be much different than "I full attack" Or do you mean you want them to have attacks that don't deal damage but rather have some sort of effect?

Try giving the ranger a debilitating shot, where the arrow strikes a vital location and the character must make a Fort save (DC 10 + 1/2 level + Dex) or be stunned/sickened/etc for 1 or more rounds.

However, note that without the previous ability I suggested, a ranger won't even be able to hit the mages to begin with, if they are prepared well enough.

[Gray Mage]

Well, it's more that I want to give them more actions, instead of using Rapid Shot(ranger) and Charge-full attack-slice and dice for fighter. They are a high level, so I was thinking of adding something supernatural to their abilities, just as the wizards-clerics of the group have where they are practically gods walking the planet.

If you want them to be equal to the casters, you will probably need more than just ToB disciplines, although they are a good start, except for the lack of ranged options. I'd give the figther acess to more than one school, tho. To represent the trained combatant bit.

[DarkEternal]

If you want them to be equal to the casters, you will probably need more than just ToB disciplines, although they are a good start, except for the lack of ranged options. I'd give the figther acess to more than one school, tho. To represent the trained combatant bit.

Yeah, though it would be also a start for the roleplaying to see him go down that path. Like I said, it would be a bit different since he would gain new abilities with training and/or levelling, not just have them presented to him. I would refluff it as much as possible, but the idea is for them to have more options in a fight. They would probably gain access to a new school for fighting when they would find a new master-tutor that would train them.

[DarkEternal]

The attack I suggested is in fact another action the ranger can use that would be much different than "I full attack" Or do you mean you want them to have attacks that don't deal damage but rather have some sort of effect?

Try giving the ranger a debilitating shot, where the arrow strikes a vital location and the character must make a Fort save (DC 10 + 1/2 level + Dex) or be stunned/sickened/etc for 1 or more rounds.

However, note that without the previous ability I suggested, a ranger won't even be able to hit the mages to begin with, if they are prepared well enough.

Both are pretty good, and I'll certainly take(steal) them both for the ranged attacker's "school".

[Prime32]

I would grant two schools, with initiator level based on BAB. The result shouldn't be too different in power from the standard ToB classes.

For the ranger, Tiger Claw is probably the best fit (followed by Desert Wind and Shadow Hand) - some of its boosts work on ranged attacks. It would be a good idea to look up some homebrew schools though.

[Gray Mage]

Some ranged schools. Falcon's Eye;Iron Rain;Phoenix Feather
(http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143785)
Falling Star (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10707)
True Arrow (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48255)

[DarkEternal]

Some ranged schools. Falcon's Eye;Iron Rain;Phoenix Feather
(http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143785)
Falling Star (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10707)
True Arrow (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48255)


Thanks for that!