HammeredWharf
2014-01-27, 01:17 PM
Intro
Most of us have probably seen SOME homebrew Fighter alternatives. While many think Warblade is the Fighter fix we got, imagining a better Fighter is still an amusing thought exercise. So, I made this class, which should (IMO) fix many of the Fighter's problems. The design goals are following:
1. Bonus feats are a privilege, not a penalty and not real class features. Also, Weapon Specialization sucks and doesn't work as a gimmick, so this Fighter gets it for free.
2. No new mechanics with extensive lists and no references to non-core materials. This rewrite should be simple and core-only, because Fighter is a simple, core-only class.
3. The fighter is a highly trained, professional soldier. Her abilities should reflect that.
4. The fighter is a capable leader. She should be able to distinguish friend from foe (via Knowledge: Nobility), attend strategy meetings (via Knowledge: Geography) and know the details of many historical battles (via Knowledge: History).
5. The fighter is a guard. She should have Spot and Listen as class skills.
6. Unlike the Barbarian, the Fighter is a smart soldier, with a variety of special attacks at her disposal. She should benefit from Intelligence.
7. The fighter is a class, so there should be something interesting and/or unique about her.
8. Finally, the fighter shouldn't stumble around the battlefield, getting AoO:d constantly.
While I didn't have a particular tier goal in mind, I think my version of the Fighter is at least very high tier 4 and probably somewhere in the middle of tier 3. I tried to use precise language, but tell me if there's a gaping balance hole in this class. After all, English isn't my first language, so I can and do make mistakes.
Fighter
Alignment
Any.
Hit Die
d10.
Class Skills
The fighter’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Geography) (Int), Knowledge (History) (Int), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) (Int), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis) and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at 1st Level
(4 + Int modifier) ×4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level
4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the fighter. The fighter's class features are extraordinary abilities.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
A fighter is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light) and shields (including tower shields).
Table: The Fighter
Level
BAB
Fort/Will Saves:
Ref Save:
Special:
1
+1
+2
+0
Bonus Feat, Warfare Expertise
2
+2
+3
+0
Bonus Feat, Weapon Focus
3
+3
+3
+1
Battle Senses, Power Attack
4
+4
+4
+1
Bonus Feat, Weapon Specialization
5
+5
+4
+1
Coordinated Assault (Swift action, one attack)
6
+6
+5
+2
Bonus Feat, Special Training +2
7
+7
+5
+2
Tempered Blows
8
+8
+6
+2
Bonus Feat, Greater Weapon Focus, No Escape
9
+9
+6
+3
Aura of Resolve, Sizable Reputation I
10
+10
+7
+3
Bonus Feat, Greater Weapon Specialization, Special Training +4
11
+11
+7
+3
Aura of Resolve (20 ft), Swiftness
12
+12
+8
+4
Bonus Feat, Coordinated Assault (Immediate action, two attacks)
13
+13
+8
+4
Aura of Resolve (Reroll)
14
+14
+9
+4
Bonus Feat, Coordinated Assault (Free action), Sizable Reputation II
15
+15
+9
+5
Mental Bulwark
16
+16
+10
+5
Bonus Feat, Always Prepared
17
+17
+10
+5
Aura of Resolve (30 ft), Uncover Weakness
18
+18
+11
+6
Bonus Feat, Sizable Reputation III
19
+19
+11
+6
Coordinated Assault (Free action, three attacks, flat-footed)
20
+20
+12
+6
Bonus Feat, One Step Ahead
Bonus Feats
At 1st level, a fighter gets a bonus combat-oriented feat in addition to the feat that any 1st-level character gets and the bonus feat granted to a human character. The fighter gains an additional bonus feat at 2nd level and every two fighter levels thereafter (4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, and 20th). These bonus feats must be drawn from the feats noted as fighter bonus feats.
A fighter must meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat, unless otherwise specified.
Warfare Expertise
Warfare is a fighter's calling. By dedicating herself to the art of war, she gets bonuses to her social skills.
A fighter gets a competence bonus equal to her class level on her Knowledge (History), Knowledge (Geography) and Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) checks, Diplomacy checks made to boost the morale of her troops and opposed Diplomacy checks made to negotiate terms of peace and alliances during wartime. This bonus doesn't apply to influencing NPC attitudes.
Weapon Focus
At 2nd level and every five levels thereafter (7th, 12th, and 17th level), a fighter gains Weapon Focus as a bonus feat.
Battle Senses
A fighter can notice even the tiniest cracks in her opponent's attention and utilize them to move around the battlefield.
Starting at 3rd level, a fighter can use her Spot skill in place of Tumble to avoid attacks of opportunity.
Power Attack
At 3rd level, a fighter gains Power Attack as a bonus feat, even if she does not have the normal prerequisites for that feat. If she already has Power Attack, she can select another fighter bonus feat, instead.
Weapon Specialization
At 4th level and every five levels thereafter (9th, 14th, and 19th level), a fighter gains Weapon Specialization as a bonus feat.
Coordinated Assault
As a master tactician, a fighter can find just the right moment to punish her foes.
Starting at 5th level, a fighter can grant her allies an extra attack as a swift action. The fighter may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Int modifier. It affects one ally per fighter level. Each affected ally must be within 30 feet of the fighter and cannot benefit from this ability again until the beginning of her next turn.
Starting at 12th level, the fighter may use this ability as an immediate action. Furthermore, it grants each affected ally an extra attack per use, for a total of two attacks.
Starting at 14th level, the fighter may use this ability as a free action.
Starting at 19th level, this ability grants each affected ally an extra attack per use, for a total of three attacks. Additionally, creatures hit by one of these attacks are considered flat-footed until the beginning of their next turn.
Special Training
A fighter's training allows her to gain expert martial knowledge faster than anyone else.
Starting at 6th level, a fighter gains +2 to her base attack bonus for the purpose of fulfilling the prerequisites of fighter bonus feats. This bonus increases to +4 at 10th level.
Tempered Blows
Knowing exactly how and when to apply force, a fighter can deal powerful blows with relative ease.
Starting at 7th level, a fighter can ignore half of the penalty to melee attack rolls from Power Attack.
Greater Weapon Focus
Starting at 8th level and every five levels thereafter (13th and 18th level), a fighter gains Greater Weapon Focus as a bonus feat.
No Escape
Starting at 8th level, a fighter can use her superb martial skills to prevent foes from fleeing. To use this ability, the fighter must designate a single foe as a swift action. Until the end of the fighter's next turn, the designated foe must make an opposed BAB check against the fighter whenever they try to leave a square the fighter threatens. The fighter may add her intelligence modifier to her roll. If the target fails they immediately halt and lose the action they were performing.
Aura of Resolve
A fighter's resolve in unmatched and spreads to her allies.
Starting at 9th level, a fighter is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Each ally within 10 feet of her (including the fighter herself) gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear and mind-affecting effects.
Starting at 11th level, this ability affects allies within 20 feet of the fighter.
Starting at 13th level, it also allows allies within its range affected by fear or a mind-affecting effect to reroll their saving throw against that effect once as a free action.
Starting at 17th level, this ability affects allies within 30 feet of the fighter. Furthermore, the morale bonus and ability to reroll a failed save granted by this ability now apply to all will saves, mind-effecting or not.
This ability functions while the fighter is conscious, but not if she is unconscious or dead.
Sizable Reputation
Even if she's small, a famous fighter is big in her foes' eyes.
Starting at 9th level, a fighter is treated as one size larger whenever she is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check, if doing so is advantageous to her.
Starting at 14th level, she is treated as two sizes larger for the purpose of these checks.
Starting at 18th level, she is treated as three sizes larger for the purpose of these checks.
The fighter's space and reach remain those of a creature of her actual size. The benefits of this ability stack with other effects that change the subject's size category.
Greater Weapon Specialization
At 10th level and every five levels thereafter (15th and 20th level), a fighter gains Greater Weapon Specialization as a bonus feat.
Swiftness
An experienced fighter can easily change her position on the battlefield or perform physical feats most are incapable of.
Starting at 11th level, a fighter can take an extra move action during her turn.
Mental Bulwark
A fighter's mental discipline is absolute.
Starting at 15th level, a fighter is immune to all mind-affecting spells and effects.
Always Prepared
Using clever formations and tactics, a fighter can give her allies an edge in combat.
Starting at 16th level, all allied creatures within 60 feet of the fighter (including the fighter herself) gain a bonus to their Initiative equal to the fighter's Intelligence modifier.
Uncover Weakness
A fighter can skillfully strike at the weaknesses her foe's spells cover and utilize openings provided by her companions' magical support.
Starting at 17th level, a fighter gains an insight bonus to her attack rolls equal to the number of ongoing spells currently in effect on the object or creature multiplied by her Intelligence modifier.
One Step Ahead
A legendary fighter's intuition is never wrong. She can surprise the mightiest foes and quickly react to unthinkable surprises.
Starting at 20th level, a fighter's opponents are always treated as unaware of her when determining who gets a surprise round.
Most of us have probably seen SOME homebrew Fighter alternatives. While many think Warblade is the Fighter fix we got, imagining a better Fighter is still an amusing thought exercise. So, I made this class, which should (IMO) fix many of the Fighter's problems. The design goals are following:
1. Bonus feats are a privilege, not a penalty and not real class features. Also, Weapon Specialization sucks and doesn't work as a gimmick, so this Fighter gets it for free.
2. No new mechanics with extensive lists and no references to non-core materials. This rewrite should be simple and core-only, because Fighter is a simple, core-only class.
3. The fighter is a highly trained, professional soldier. Her abilities should reflect that.
4. The fighter is a capable leader. She should be able to distinguish friend from foe (via Knowledge: Nobility), attend strategy meetings (via Knowledge: Geography) and know the details of many historical battles (via Knowledge: History).
5. The fighter is a guard. She should have Spot and Listen as class skills.
6. Unlike the Barbarian, the Fighter is a smart soldier, with a variety of special attacks at her disposal. She should benefit from Intelligence.
7. The fighter is a class, so there should be something interesting and/or unique about her.
8. Finally, the fighter shouldn't stumble around the battlefield, getting AoO:d constantly.
While I didn't have a particular tier goal in mind, I think my version of the Fighter is at least very high tier 4 and probably somewhere in the middle of tier 3. I tried to use precise language, but tell me if there's a gaping balance hole in this class. After all, English isn't my first language, so I can and do make mistakes.
Fighter
Alignment
Any.
Hit Die
d10.
Class Skills
The fighter’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Geography) (Int), Knowledge (History) (Int), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) (Int), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis) and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at 1st Level
(4 + Int modifier) ×4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level
4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the fighter. The fighter's class features are extraordinary abilities.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
A fighter is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light) and shields (including tower shields).
Table: The Fighter
Level
BAB
Fort/Will Saves:
Ref Save:
Special:
1
+1
+2
+0
Bonus Feat, Warfare Expertise
2
+2
+3
+0
Bonus Feat, Weapon Focus
3
+3
+3
+1
Battle Senses, Power Attack
4
+4
+4
+1
Bonus Feat, Weapon Specialization
5
+5
+4
+1
Coordinated Assault (Swift action, one attack)
6
+6
+5
+2
Bonus Feat, Special Training +2
7
+7
+5
+2
Tempered Blows
8
+8
+6
+2
Bonus Feat, Greater Weapon Focus, No Escape
9
+9
+6
+3
Aura of Resolve, Sizable Reputation I
10
+10
+7
+3
Bonus Feat, Greater Weapon Specialization, Special Training +4
11
+11
+7
+3
Aura of Resolve (20 ft), Swiftness
12
+12
+8
+4
Bonus Feat, Coordinated Assault (Immediate action, two attacks)
13
+13
+8
+4
Aura of Resolve (Reroll)
14
+14
+9
+4
Bonus Feat, Coordinated Assault (Free action), Sizable Reputation II
15
+15
+9
+5
Mental Bulwark
16
+16
+10
+5
Bonus Feat, Always Prepared
17
+17
+10
+5
Aura of Resolve (30 ft), Uncover Weakness
18
+18
+11
+6
Bonus Feat, Sizable Reputation III
19
+19
+11
+6
Coordinated Assault (Free action, three attacks, flat-footed)
20
+20
+12
+6
Bonus Feat, One Step Ahead
Bonus Feats
At 1st level, a fighter gets a bonus combat-oriented feat in addition to the feat that any 1st-level character gets and the bonus feat granted to a human character. The fighter gains an additional bonus feat at 2nd level and every two fighter levels thereafter (4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, and 20th). These bonus feats must be drawn from the feats noted as fighter bonus feats.
A fighter must meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat, unless otherwise specified.
Warfare Expertise
Warfare is a fighter's calling. By dedicating herself to the art of war, she gets bonuses to her social skills.
A fighter gets a competence bonus equal to her class level on her Knowledge (History), Knowledge (Geography) and Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) checks, Diplomacy checks made to boost the morale of her troops and opposed Diplomacy checks made to negotiate terms of peace and alliances during wartime. This bonus doesn't apply to influencing NPC attitudes.
Weapon Focus
At 2nd level and every five levels thereafter (7th, 12th, and 17th level), a fighter gains Weapon Focus as a bonus feat.
Battle Senses
A fighter can notice even the tiniest cracks in her opponent's attention and utilize them to move around the battlefield.
Starting at 3rd level, a fighter can use her Spot skill in place of Tumble to avoid attacks of opportunity.
Power Attack
At 3rd level, a fighter gains Power Attack as a bonus feat, even if she does not have the normal prerequisites for that feat. If she already has Power Attack, she can select another fighter bonus feat, instead.
Weapon Specialization
At 4th level and every five levels thereafter (9th, 14th, and 19th level), a fighter gains Weapon Specialization as a bonus feat.
Coordinated Assault
As a master tactician, a fighter can find just the right moment to punish her foes.
Starting at 5th level, a fighter can grant her allies an extra attack as a swift action. The fighter may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Int modifier. It affects one ally per fighter level. Each affected ally must be within 30 feet of the fighter and cannot benefit from this ability again until the beginning of her next turn.
Starting at 12th level, the fighter may use this ability as an immediate action. Furthermore, it grants each affected ally an extra attack per use, for a total of two attacks.
Starting at 14th level, the fighter may use this ability as a free action.
Starting at 19th level, this ability grants each affected ally an extra attack per use, for a total of three attacks. Additionally, creatures hit by one of these attacks are considered flat-footed until the beginning of their next turn.
Special Training
A fighter's training allows her to gain expert martial knowledge faster than anyone else.
Starting at 6th level, a fighter gains +2 to her base attack bonus for the purpose of fulfilling the prerequisites of fighter bonus feats. This bonus increases to +4 at 10th level.
Tempered Blows
Knowing exactly how and when to apply force, a fighter can deal powerful blows with relative ease.
Starting at 7th level, a fighter can ignore half of the penalty to melee attack rolls from Power Attack.
Greater Weapon Focus
Starting at 8th level and every five levels thereafter (13th and 18th level), a fighter gains Greater Weapon Focus as a bonus feat.
No Escape
Starting at 8th level, a fighter can use her superb martial skills to prevent foes from fleeing. To use this ability, the fighter must designate a single foe as a swift action. Until the end of the fighter's next turn, the designated foe must make an opposed BAB check against the fighter whenever they try to leave a square the fighter threatens. The fighter may add her intelligence modifier to her roll. If the target fails they immediately halt and lose the action they were performing.
Aura of Resolve
A fighter's resolve in unmatched and spreads to her allies.
Starting at 9th level, a fighter is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Each ally within 10 feet of her (including the fighter herself) gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear and mind-affecting effects.
Starting at 11th level, this ability affects allies within 20 feet of the fighter.
Starting at 13th level, it also allows allies within its range affected by fear or a mind-affecting effect to reroll their saving throw against that effect once as a free action.
Starting at 17th level, this ability affects allies within 30 feet of the fighter. Furthermore, the morale bonus and ability to reroll a failed save granted by this ability now apply to all will saves, mind-effecting or not.
This ability functions while the fighter is conscious, but not if she is unconscious or dead.
Sizable Reputation
Even if she's small, a famous fighter is big in her foes' eyes.
Starting at 9th level, a fighter is treated as one size larger whenever she is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check, if doing so is advantageous to her.
Starting at 14th level, she is treated as two sizes larger for the purpose of these checks.
Starting at 18th level, she is treated as three sizes larger for the purpose of these checks.
The fighter's space and reach remain those of a creature of her actual size. The benefits of this ability stack with other effects that change the subject's size category.
Greater Weapon Specialization
At 10th level and every five levels thereafter (15th and 20th level), a fighter gains Greater Weapon Specialization as a bonus feat.
Swiftness
An experienced fighter can easily change her position on the battlefield or perform physical feats most are incapable of.
Starting at 11th level, a fighter can take an extra move action during her turn.
Mental Bulwark
A fighter's mental discipline is absolute.
Starting at 15th level, a fighter is immune to all mind-affecting spells and effects.
Always Prepared
Using clever formations and tactics, a fighter can give her allies an edge in combat.
Starting at 16th level, all allied creatures within 60 feet of the fighter (including the fighter herself) gain a bonus to their Initiative equal to the fighter's Intelligence modifier.
Uncover Weakness
A fighter can skillfully strike at the weaknesses her foe's spells cover and utilize openings provided by her companions' magical support.
Starting at 17th level, a fighter gains an insight bonus to her attack rolls equal to the number of ongoing spells currently in effect on the object or creature multiplied by her Intelligence modifier.
One Step Ahead
A legendary fighter's intuition is never wrong. She can surprise the mightiest foes and quickly react to unthinkable surprises.
Starting at 20th level, a fighter's opponents are always treated as unaware of her when determining who gets a surprise round.