First, some background. I'm a 4th level Human Fighter (Longsword and Shield). I have 24 AC and do 1D8+3 damage. My main roll in the group is a protector. I'm basically a human wall that does moderate damage. I also have high charisma and act as my group's intimidate/bluff/diplomacy guy. I am CN and not a very nice person (I'm a bit of a drunk, a lecher, and a bully). I should note that we are only using feats/spells/skills from the core rulebook as this is quite limiting.
Ok, so I'm actually level 6, but I've been holding 2 levels in reserve (I haven't applied the last 2 levels yet). This is why I'm here today. My sole purpose right now is to be unkillable and talk to NPCs. At my current level I'm doing both of those very well and I see very little room for improvement on those fronts.
So basically, I'm bored and I don't know what to do. Can anyone suggest any feats that are good for defenders? Or should I start multi-classing? I've been thinking a lot about that. But what would I take levels in? Cleric, just be able to buff/heal myself. Ranger, just to be a little better in combat? Wizard, just to have a few tricks up my sleeve? I just don't know where to go from here.
Hmmm... Core Rulebook only is pretty limiting.
I was going to suggest taking Cavalier levels in Order of the Cockatrice to go the Dazzling Display route, and take the Antagonize feat because it's flavorful and awesome.
Is your GM absolutely not flexible on allowing material from other books? (I've never had to deal with those kind of limits so I honestly don't even know what material comes from what book.)
Combat Reflexes gets you into Stand Still.
Weapon Focus opens up Dazzling Display which would allow you to intimidate a crowd.
Hmmm... Core Rulebook only is pretty limiting.
I was going to suggest taking Cavalier levels in Order of the Cockatrice to go the Dazzling Display route, and take the Antagonize feat because it's flavorful and awesome.
Is your GM absolutely not flexible on allowing material from other books? (I've never had to deal with those kind of limits so I honestly don't even know what material comes from what book.)
Unfortunately I'm the only one in our group with any Role-play experience. The GM wanted to keep us limited to the Core for simplicity's sake. We took an informal vote and such as the outcome. I'm not complaining (I play a Fighter because I don't have hours to spend looking through books an memorizing spells). But I feel like I could be doing a wider variety of things or at least have more options.
Combat Reflexes gets you into Stand Still.
Weapon Focus opens up Dazzling Display which would allow you to intimidate a crowd.
Standstill is what I took at lvl 4 and it was the last thing I felt I NEEDED to have. My group is so full of efficient killers that I felt something like Dazzling Display was (mostly) unnecessary/unhelpful.
What we're really missing right now is a thief or a trickster, but my INT is only 10 and I'm pretty loud in my heavy armor.
shield focus is always handy
Weapon focus as others have suggested
Really though - Core only limits fighters FAR more than just about anyone else as they're so feat dependant.
Already took Weapon Focus.
Shield Focus is ok, but at 24 AC, one more point feels like a waste of a level.
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shield focus is always handy
Weapon focus as others have suggested
Really though - Core only limits fighters FAR more than just about anyone else as they're so feat dependant.
Already took Weapon Focus.
Shield Focus is ok, but at 24 AC, one more point feels like a waste of a level.
The higher your AC - the more benefit you get out of getting it even higher. (so long as you can get people to swing at you)
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RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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Eh, a solid AC is really maintained by keeping yourself at 20+level. The shield feats may be "meh" now but you can get your AC to the point that even high level baddies need 18s to hit you.
It sounds to me like your deeper problem is that you're not having fun. First of all you damage is pretty sad for a fighter 4 - I presume you have a 16-17 strength? No weapon specialization? Weapon spec and weapon training(at fighter 5) will immediately give you a +3 damage bump. Try to get a magic weapon (really by level 6 you should have a +1 weapon) and Power Attack, and suddenly your damage is a much more respectable d8+11, with about a +10/+5 to hit or so. You wouldn't be breaking DPR records but at least you'll contribute.
Get yourself a strength belt as soon as you can as well. If your GM is being super tight with magic items as well as core-only, you're kind of in a bad way. Remember that you can do combat maneuvers even without the "Improved" feats - your AC is good enough that the fact they provoke is a minor issue. You can use that to mix up your combat.
First of all you damage is pretty sad for a fighter 4 - I presume you have a 16-17 strength? No weapon specialization? Weapon spec and weapon training(at fighter 5) will immediately give you a +3 damage bump. Try to get a magic weapon (really by level 6 you should have a +1 weapon) and Power Attack, and suddenly your damage is a much more respectable d8+11, with about a +10/+5 to hit or so.
I don't do a ton of damage, because I don't need to. The rest of the group slaughters pretty hard. We needed a human wall, so that's my role. My Str is 15 and I'm fine with it. I have a 1D8+1 longsword and Weapon Focus: Longsword. I honestly don't remember ever hearing about Weapon Specialization and Weapon Training -- both look good (not sure how I overlooked those), but more damage isn't really what the group needs. We need more variety so we have options when we come across enemies that we can't simply pummel to death.
As far as combat and encounters, I think you could do worse than picking up the Weapon Focus -> Dazzling Display route and adding in Skill Focus (Intimidate) and Persuasive for good measure. Take Intimidating Prowess, and your intimidate goes even higher.
Dazzling Display just makes it even more fun. (Complicated sword kata): "Sure you wanna do that, pardner?"
You could also pick up Leadership. Your cohort could be your Caiden-worshipping drinking buddy, and your followers would be a rotating stable of admirers and ex-lovers who occasionally do favors for you.
Also, even if you're not using the downtime/organization rules from UCAM, you could ask your GM what it would take to let you set up some kind of organization or to buy a house or castle to live in.
I've already taken Persuasive and I love it.
I'm still not sold on Dazzling Display. I'm not really sure how it would help. Up to this point the group hasn't run into too many encounters that could have been ended by Intimidate (unless there's more to Intimidate than I'm understanding). Diplomacy seems way more useful, but has a Human Fighter I only speak common...
Leadership really piques my interest. My character is definitely the kind of self-absorbed ass that would expect (and get off on) having people follow/serve him. Any suggestions on where to look if I wanted to read up on Leadership and explore that option a little more?
all the feats are in the SRD.
Are you saying you haven't read the standard player's guide? Weapon Spec has been a core option of the fighter since 1980.
==Aelryinth
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If you have a str of 15 how are you doing 1d8+1? Should be +2.
At level 4 wh as t did you put your +1 ability into?
What feats and stats look like now?
You should look at both weapon specialization and power attack. The way to maintain being a front line target is to be a threat. If they ignore you at least your hurting them for it.
Power attack aslo opens up bull rush so you can later push them around the field and into walls.
If you want AC feat then go dodge > shield focus.
I honestly recommend multi classing as either barbarian or Ranger after 5 as they both add more then a fighter does.
Just my 2 cents
What are you set on sticking to? Your longsword? Your shield? Some more specifics about your current build would help, such as your race, ability scores, and current feats. What is the rest of your party playing, and what are their specialties? For now I will assume that you are sticking with fighter and a shield.
Can you afford, and do you have the mean to buy a magic scimitar? I suggest retraining WF: longsword then maybe pick up Weapon Specialization and/or Power Attack. You're at the point where a fighter should begin to bypass other full-BAB classes in terms of straight weapon skill.
Save up for a breastplate or full plate if you haven't already, then save your pennies for enhancements to your armor and shield.
Save up for a belt to increase your Strength. Does it seem like a lot of saving up for magic items? Thats part of being a martial.
You are focused on Charisma skills. OK. Decide on one that will be your primary. You might as well have one that is maxed out. In the long haul, while Bluff and Intimidate might be more fun for a CN character, Diplomacy might be the wise choice. But that also depends strongly on how the GM runs the game. If you haven't already, drop a point into skills like Climb, Ride and Swim. You never know when a situation will come up!
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Part of being a good "tank" is to be an effective threat to your opponents. If you are tough to hit and aren't much of a threat, why would your opponents waste their attacks on you?
Weapon specialization is the obvious choice. Leadership will allow you to play a companion that might have some interesting skills (rogue?) or spells.
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First of all you damage is pretty sad for a fighter 4 - I presume you have a 16-17 strength? No weapon specialization? Weapon spec and weapon training(at fighter 5) will immediately give you a +3 damage bump. Try to get a magic weapon (really by level 6 you should have a +1 weapon) and Power Attack, and suddenly your damage is a much more respectable d8+11, with about a +10/+5 to hit or so.I don't do a ton of damage, because I don't need to. The rest of the group slaughters pretty hard. We needed a human wall, so that's my role. My Str is 15 and I'm fine with it. I have a 1D8+1 longsword and Weapon Focus: Longsword. I honestly don't remember ever hearing about Weapon Specialization and Weapon Training -- both look good (not sure how I overlooked those), but more damage isn't really what the group needs. We need more variety so we have options when we come across enemies that we can't simply pummel to death.
with that damage the first DR enemy you find will completely ignore you and attack your squishy wizard/archer. Since you will do 0 damage it will take your AOs and laugh. "Tanking" in pthfinder usually is don trough the use of reach. Having said that is always good you have good damage
Not: How you dont know about Weapon Specialization? Is the poster child feat of the fighter! Anyway Weapon training is a Fighter´s class feature you will get at level 5
Since you're looking to branch out, and have no real need for damage, you can pretty much rely on Weapon Training to give you your damage edge. You might swap out for a Bastard Sword or Dwarven Waraxe if you find a magic one - you can use your 8th level retraining to swap Weapon Focus over, or just out entirely.
You may want to pick up Power Attack just so you can dig into Improved Bull Rush or Sunder - both decent ways to contribute while tanking. Also, you might want a second look at Dazzling Display. You mentioned your group deals a lot of damage - if they also take a lot, or have trouble healing what they do take, then making all the enemies shaken for a round or two can significantly reduce the overall damage your group takes (plus it hits saves for any casters you have, and stacks with fear spells/abilities).
Don't get locked down into Combat feats - use your general ones for whatever comes to mind. If you're really lacking a thiefy type, you can even take Skill Focus to master some task, whether Disable Device, or Perception to search (rarely an under-funded skill in most groups), or even Stealth. Your armor training will keep reducing the penalties.
I'd do some dipping...Depending on your stats,3 levels of rogue only gives up 1 pt of base attack and provides you with a wealth of out of combat options and sneak attack dmg for flanking in combat + evasion.
3 levels of cleric is the same base attack and provides you with domain powers heals and buffs...