Fighter needs more depth [Archive] - Wizards Community

Fighter needs more depth [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Orenmir
05-09-07, 10:44 PM I'm looking to add a prestige class to my half frost giant, 8th level fighter.

Str - 21
Dex - 13
Con - 18
Int - 10
Wis - 10
Cha - 12
Alignment - Neutral

He's an outstanding hack and slasher, but I'd like to give him some more depth. Magic use would be intriguing. Occult Slayer sounds interesting; so does Spirit Speaker because of the charisma-based spells (but I can't seem to much info online).

Any suggestions on a fun, intriging, or challenging prestige class to add? Many thanks.
Flay Crimsonwind
05-09-07, 11:53 PM Well you wont find info online about occult slayer, cause it's not legal to post it. It's in Complete Warrior, I believe, and it's cool indeed for an anti-spellcaster class. Is that what you're hunting for? Anti-magic? Cause then I'd suggest the mage slayer feats from Complete Arcane.

And one note to forever take to heart; Never, and I do mean NEVER take more than two levels of fighter if you can absolutely help it AT ALL! The third level alone is a total waste, and it just gets worse from there. Try to build with as few "dead levels" (levels with no features or overall benefit). Never take more than two fighter levels, and only for those two feats.
Orenmir
05-10-07, 06:55 PM Thanks for the advice. I'll probably never start a character as a fighter again. Not that I don't like them. Quite the contrary. But, you're right about higher levels. This is why I want to add a prestige class. I'm just looking for suggestions of fitting classes that I should consider to make this character more interesting.

Any suggestions?
Orenmir
05-11-07, 06:24 PM Are fighters THAT useless nowadays? Please, can anyone suggest a PrC? As far as which direction I want to take the charatcer... ANY, as long as it is more interesting than hacking and slashing all the time, and it fits my abilities well.

And Flay, speaking of books... I'll be sure to check out Occult Slayer in the Complete Warrior. Does the recenly released Complete Champion have any PrCs I should consider? If so, which ones? Also, which book is Spirit Speaker in?

Thanks again.
nepence
05-12-07, 12:27 AM What sort of flavor are you looking for? What sort of feats have you taken?

And, yes, fighters are that useless nowadays.
JLaurHughes
05-12-07, 12:46 AM I think fighters are more useful than everyone seems to believe, but I'm in a minority around these boards because there are more people who find the class too weak to be useful for more than a 2-4 level dip.

As far as PrC's Look into Tactical Soldier or the War Hulk from the Miniature's Handbook. 4 skill points in sense motive is not a bad tradeoff when you consider what you(and that rogue in your party) are gaining. Flank an opponent from any square(you're at point a and you designate point b right beside yourself, as your flanking point, the rogue steps into that spot and gains the bonus of his/her sneak attack). You're more than a hack and slash now, you're a tactician.
Bob Loblaw
05-12-07, 12:51 AM Fighters are viable at all levels of play in some games. They are pathetic after 2nd level in some games. They do well up to 10th level in others. There is no blanket that can cover all games. Play whatever character works in your campaign.

As for where to take your character, what do you mean by more depth? Simple multiclassing can accomplish many things. Taking just a few levels of cleric can do wonders. You can really branch out with the domains available as well as the spell list. Cleric would also help your will save. Rogue can add some interesting skills to your set. It will improve your reflex save as well. Consider one level of sorcerer gives you some decent spells, a better will save, and a familiar to improve your spot and listen checks. You can consider Battle Sorcerer so you can still cast spells in armor, your hit points don't suffer much, and your base attack doesn't get hit too bad either.
Orenmir
05-13-07, 12:14 AM Hey, many thanks for all the responses and questions. Let me try to address them all...

As far as the "flavor" I'm looking for, and what I mean by "more depth" -- Right now, the charatcter is rather one-dimensional. He can kick the snot out of most anything coming his way, granted magic isn't involved. I'd like to add a PrC to help overcome that weakness and make him more fun to play when encounters occur that don't feed directly into his one dimension (hacking and slashing). Something that involves spell use or magic resistance or a useful companion. That's why I initially looked at Occult Slayer (for the magic resistance) and Spirit Speaker (for the charisma-based spell use and companion).

War Hulk looks tempting; but then again, it would be just amplifying my current one dimension (hacking and slashing), and not addressing magic resistance or spell casting.

Tactical Soldier sounds intriguing; but, I couldn't find much info yet. Can you tell me more about it, or at least let me know what book it's in?

Oh, and somebody asked which feats I have taken:
Weapon Focus
Weapon Specialization
Imprved Initiative
Dodge
Run
Endurance
Power Attack
Cleave
Improved Critical

Once again, thanks for all the help.
JLaurHughes
05-13-07, 07:52 AM Tactical Soldier sounds intriguing; but, I couldn't find much info yet. Can you tell me more about it, or at least let me know what book it's in? Miniature's Handbook
Crichton
05-13-07, 08:10 AM If you want variety then look at complete adventurer or complete mage. Personally, I don't think you'll be able to really add much spell casting on the fly to a character such as yours. You might want to consider adding skills or tactical feats instead of magic. Or look at Complete psionic.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Orenmir 05-09-07, 10:44 PM	I'm looking to add a prestige class to my half frost giant, 8th level fighter. Str - 21 Dex - 13 Con - 18 Int - 10 Wis - 10 Cha - 12 Alignment - Neutral He's an outstanding hack and slasher, but I'd like to give him some more depth. Magic use would be intriguing. Occult Slayer sounds interesting; so does Spirit Speaker because of the charisma-based spells (but I can't seem to much info online). Any suggestions on a fun, intriging, or challenging prestige class to add? Many thanks.
Flay Crimsonwind 05-09-07, 11:53 PM	Well you wont find info online about occult slayer, cause it's not legal to post it. It's in Complete Warrior, I believe, and it's cool indeed for an anti-spellcaster class. Is that what you're hunting for? Anti-magic? Cause then I'd suggest the mage slayer feats from Complete Arcane. And one note to forever take to heart; Never, and I do mean NEVER take more than two levels of fighter if you can absolutely help it AT ALL! The third level alone is a total waste, and it just gets worse from there. Try to build with as few "dead levels" (levels with no features or overall benefit). Never take more than two fighter levels, and only for those two feats.
Orenmir 05-10-07, 06:55 PM	Thanks for the advice. I'll probably never start a character as a fighter again. Not that I don't like them. Quite the contrary. But, you're right about higher levels. This is why I want to add a prestige class. I'm just looking for suggestions of fitting classes that I should consider to make this character more interesting. Any suggestions?
Orenmir 05-11-07, 06:24 PM	Are fighters THAT useless nowadays? Please, can anyone suggest a PrC? As far as which direction I want to take the charatcer... ANY, as long as it is more interesting than hacking and slashing all the time, and it fits my abilities well. And Flay, speaking of books... I'll be sure to check out Occult Slayer in the Complete Warrior. Does the recenly released Complete Champion have any PrCs I should consider? If so, which ones? Also, which book is Spirit Speaker in? Thanks again.
nepence 05-12-07, 12:27 AM	What sort of flavor are you looking for? What sort of feats have you taken? And, yes, fighters are that useless nowadays.
JLaurHughes 05-12-07, 12:46 AM	I think fighters are more useful than everyone seems to believe, but I'm in a minority around these boards because there are more people who find the class too weak to be useful for more than a 2-4 level dip. As far as PrC's Look into Tactical Soldier or the War Hulk from the Miniature's Handbook. 4 skill points in sense motive is not a bad tradeoff when you consider what you(and that rogue in your party) are gaining. Flank an opponent from any square(you're at point a and you designate point b right beside yourself, as your flanking point, the rogue steps into that spot and gains the bonus of his/her sneak attack). You're more than a hack and slash now, you're a tactician.
Bob Loblaw 05-12-07, 12:51 AM	Fighters are viable at all levels of play in some games. They are pathetic after 2nd level in some games. They do well up to 10th level in others. There is no blanket that can cover all games. Play whatever character works in your campaign. As for where to take your character, what do you mean by more depth? Simple multiclassing can accomplish many things. Taking just a few levels of cleric can do wonders. You can really branch out with the domains available as well as the spell list. Cleric would also help your will save. Rogue can add some interesting skills to your set. It will improve your reflex save as well. Consider one level of sorcerer gives you some decent spells, a better will save, and a familiar to improve your spot and listen checks. You can consider Battle Sorcerer so you can still cast spells in armor, your hit points don't suffer much, and your base attack doesn't get hit too bad either.
Orenmir 05-13-07, 12:14 AM	Hey, many thanks for all the responses and questions. Let me try to address them all... As far as the "flavor" I'm looking for, and what I mean by "more depth" -- Right now, the charatcter is rather one-dimensional. He can kick the snot out of most anything coming his way, granted magic isn't involved. I'd like to add a PrC to help overcome that weakness and make him more fun to play when encounters occur that don't feed directly into his one dimension (hacking and slashing). Something that involves spell use or magic resistance or a useful companion. That's why I initially looked at Occult Slayer (for the magic resistance) and Spirit Speaker (for the charisma-based spell use and companion). War Hulk looks tempting; but then again, it would be just amplifying my current one dimension (hacking and slashing), and not addressing magic resistance or spell casting. Tactical Soldier sounds intriguing; but, I couldn't find much info yet. Can you tell me more about it, or at least let me know what book it's in? Oh, and somebody asked which feats I have taken: Weapon Focus Weapon Specialization Imprved Initiative Dodge Run Endurance Power Attack Cleave Improved Critical Once again, thanks for all the help.
JLaurHughes 05-13-07, 07:52 AM	Tactical Soldier sounds intriguing; but, I couldn't find much info yet. Can you tell me more about it, or at least let me know what book it's in? Miniature's Handbook
Crichton 05-13-07, 08:10 AM	If you want variety then look at complete adventurer or complete mage. Personally, I don't think you'll be able to really add much spell casting on the fly to a character such as yours. You might want to consider adding skills or tactical feats instead of magic. Or look at Complete psionic.