| Michael Faires-McClellan |
Hi! New to PF after a couple of years off from 4e.
For all its many issues, this is one area where I think 4e really got it right. At least on the combat side - still has the lack of skills.
Fighters are sticky - they have an ability called Combat Challenge. Opponents attacked by a fighter have to pay attention to the fighter.
If "marked" by a fighter, attacks that do not include the fighter are at a -2.
If "marked" by a fighter, any attack that doesn't include the fighter provokes an AoO.
Even a 5ft shift provokes an AoO if they are "marked".
Fighters get to add their Wis to AoO, and movement-provoked AoO cancel the movement if it hits.
This addresses the mobility issue by going at from the other side. It also gives the Fighter a shtick of their own - they are melee combatants that cannot be ignored.
Now, on the downside - this does nothing for Archer builds, but it seems like there are lots of other options for that.