(3.X D&D) A throwback to 2e?

[Shpadoinkle]

So if you're not familiar with 2e, I'll fill you in a bit- here, the warrior classes (fighter, ranger, and paladin) got extra attacks as they leveled up. Unlike in 3.x, though, these attacks were made at the same THAC0 (2e's BAB) as thier normal attacks. A level 11 fighter with 5 slots (Weapon Grandmastery, basically 2e's equivalant of the Weapon Supremacy feat) in, say, longswords would be getting three attacks per round with a longsword, all at full THAC0.

How much would it change the balance if 3e fighters got a feat or ability like this (being able to take a move action and still get all of thier attacks at full BAB?)

[Frosty]

So if you're not familiar with 2e, I'll fill you in a bit- here, the warrior classes (fighter, ranger, and paladin) got extra attacks as they leveled up. Unlike in 3.x, though, these attacks were made at the same THAC0 (2e's BAB) as thier normal attacks. A level 11 fighter with 5 slots (Weapon Grandmastery, basically 2e's equivalant of the Weapon Supremacy feat) in, say, longswords would be getting three attacks per round with a longsword, all at full THAC0.

How much would it change the balance if 3e fighters got a feat or ability like this (being able to take a move action and still get all of thier attacks at full BAB?)

Not too much at the high end. At the higher ends of optimization, people usually find ways to get Pounce to be able to do a full-attack on the charge, which is similar to your proposed ability. However, with no iterative penalties, it'd just mean that your melee types do more damage.

See, the thing is, most melee types don't hurt for damage...they hurt for OPTIONS...

[Kaiyanwang]

I don't think is a bad idea. Depending on the power level of the campaign, you could need to delay the number of attacks increase per level.. but overall, a move + 3 attacks at max at high level is not bad.

Be careful in the adaptation of high level monsters to this. Example: how would you modify the Balor?

IIRC, Trailblazed did something similar.

[Irreverent Fool]

Not too much at the high end. At the higher ends of optimization, people usually find ways to get Pounce to be able to do a full-attack on the charge, which is similar to your proposed ability. However, with no iterative penalties, it'd just mean that your melee types do more damage.

See, the thing is, most melee types don't hurt for damage...they hurt for OPTIONS...

Higher end? You mean 1-level dips into Lion Spirit Totem Barbarian?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Higher end? You mean 1-level dips into Lion Spirit Totem Barbarian?

Don't forget Whirling Frenzy to get an extra attack!

[Matthew]

Sounds like a good idea, though it may end up making fighter a desirable "dip" class to obtain the feat. There are two problems to address: 1) The problem of underpowered melee classes relative to casters is pretty widespread in D20/3e, so it is not just the fighter that needs "fixing" in that regard, but a system wide problem that needs to be addressed. 2) The relative power curves are less important to some people than the lack of predefined options to make combat interesting, ala Tome of Battle.