Combat Tricks
I’ve been reading through the latest Pathfinder RPG alpha ruleset. While I am for the most part impressed, I cannot help but feel that your changes do not sufficiently address, and perhaps even exacerbate, the power imbalances that I and many others feel exist between the martial classes (such as the Fighter, Barbarian, Monk, etc) and casters. In particular, I wish to offer up the following ideas for the Fighter class, in hopes of possibly inspiring others:
Design Theories: One of the latest ideas for rebalancing the classes in 3.5 (with the Tome of Battle and Complete Scoundrel) and 4e for rebalancing martial classes has been the inclusion of “Maneuvers”, or sets of powerful, interchangeable, limited-use abilities that are similar to spells but…well…non-magical in nature. Aside from the increased tactical variety the mechanics add, they may also be conveniently contrasted with spells for the purpose of ensuring that everyone has something to contribute. I think it would quite easily possible to add a sort of limited version of these to 3.5-style classes without 1) seriously compromising the flavor or compatibility of the original versions, 2) stretching physics or game play to the point where it becomes excessively unbelievable, anime-like, or MMORPG-like. I submit the following example:
Fighter (my version):
The fighter is granted BAB, feats, skill points, and hit points as normal for the class in the PathfinderRPG alpha release. However, instead of or perhaps in addition to (a limited version of ?) the Armour/Weapon training they learn to use a number of special, limited-use Combat Tricks.
Fatigue Points: The rationale, in my mind, is that some actions are so taxing or take so much care and concentration that they can only be conducted intermittently. A fighter (or possibly other martial class) gains access to Combat Tricks much as a sorcerer learns spells; that is, they gain a limited number of tricks known based on fighter level and may choose to use any one of them spontaneously. I never DID come up with a suggested tricks-known table. *shrug* To power these abilities, the Fighter gains a pool of “fatigue points” at about 4th level or so equal to something like 2/3 the Fighter level, rounded down. After these are exhausted the fighter simply cannot concentrate clearly enough to conduct any more…until he or she has rested. There are three levels of combat tricks, which each cost a number of fatigue points equal to their level. A first-level trick requires the expenditure of one point, a second-level trick costs two points, etc. Combat Tricks are all immediate actions unless otherwise stated, do not provoke attacks of opportunity, and cannot be disrupted like spells or spell-like abilities. Most are used as part of attack actions. Saving throws, where appropriate, are equal to the 10 + one-half the trick-user’s fighter level + the user’s DEX modifier.
Sample Level 1 Tricks:
1) Energy-Assault: With proper training and care, a warrior can learn to make better use of weapons enchanted to inflict energy damage (such as flaming burst, frost, or shocking weapons). This trick causes an additional status effect if the next attack hits. The exact effect is dependent upon which energy type is used.
Fire: If the attack hits, the Victim must make a reflex save or catch fire. (1d6 fire damage per round; victim may make a reflex save each round to end the effect, or end it automatically by using an action to smother it)
Cold: A living victim takes 2 points of strength damage (no save)
Lightning: A living victim must make a fortitude save or be dazed for one round.
Unholy: A good-aligned victim must make a fortitude save or be sickened for 3 rounds.
Holy: An evil victim must make a reflex save or be blinded for one round.
Sonic: The victim must make a fortitude save or be deafened for 3 rounds.
2) Unexpected Lunge: The fighter may move 5-feet to an unoccupied square during or in response to actions in another person’s turn. This does not provoke attacks of opportunity. While this trick may be used to move a fighter out of melee range in some cases, a foe is entitled to adjust movement in response (provided the foe has unspent movement left at that point) and can re-aim ranged attacks at the fighter as normal.
3) Combat Leadership: The fighter offers a suggestion on how best to attack a group of enemies based on his or her extensive battle experience. Allies who comply gain a +1 insight bonus to attack and damage rolls for 3 rounds.
4) Press: Through a series of cunning attacks, the fighter attempts to draw an opponent who is distracted by combat with other foes into an untenable defensive stance. This trick is begun as part of an attack or full attack action, which takes place as normal. However, after the attack is initiated (regardless of whether it succeeds) if the victim chooses to target any individual in the combat besides the fighter with any ability, the fighter gains a +3 circumstance bonus to attack and damage rolls against that victim. These bonuses last for one round, but may be re-applied at any point in the three rounds after the initiating attack if the victim chooses to target anyone other than the fighter with an attack or ability. Foes who are immune to flanking are also immune to this trick.
Sample Level 2 Tricks:
1) Heroic Save: Carefully gauging a battle, a skilled warrior using this trick rushes forward in an attempt to push an ally out of the way of danger. If an ally within 10 feet is hit by any standard melee, ranged, or ray attack, the fighter may opt to try to use this trick. The fighter moves to any space adjacent to the ally in question (provoking attacks of opportunity), at which point the ally may choose to accept or resist the fighter’s aid. If the ally accepts, the fighter makes a combat maneuver roll. Should this roll exceed the original attack roll against the fighter’s ally, then the attack is automatically considered a miss but the ally is forced into a prone position. If the ally chooses to resist, the attack goes through as normal, the ally remains standing, and the fatigue points remain spent.
2) Fight Enchantment: Through intensive physical and mental training, a fighter who uses this trick learns to delay the onset of certain deleterious effects. A fighter may use this trick when failing a save against any mind-affecting ability, or any other magic or supernatural effect causing blindness, paralysis, stunning, dazing, confusion, or petrification so long as a saving throw is allowed. When used, the effect in question is delayed for 1 round after which the fighter is subject to the full normal effect. This trick cannot be used against abilities that do not allow saving throws.
3) Blind Opponent: A fighter using this trick attempts to debilitate an enemy by attacking their eyes. The fighter must be able to make a number of attacks in a single round equal to the number of eyes possessed by the opponent. The fighter takes a –5 penalty to attacks, and must hit at least once within a single round for every eye possessed by the enemy. Damage is dealt as normal. If these attacks succeed, the victim must make a reflex save or become permanently blinded. (This condition may be cured as normal with a Remove Blindness/Deafness spell, Heal, Restoration, Regeneration, etc). Non-living creatures and those without eyes are immune to this ability.
4) Cunning Drive: Through a set of sly attacks, a fighter attempts to force opponents to tire themselves by making them dodge about. Once activated, this trick lasts for the rest of the encounter. During this period, every time a victim is attacked twice by the fighter they must make a fortitude save or become fatigued for one round.
Sample Level 3 Tricks:
1) Battlestorm: Through a titanic exertion of will and energy, a highly skilled fighter may temporarily speed his or her movements in battle. This replicates the effects of the Haste spell, and lasts a maximum of 5 rounds. After this duration has expired the fighter becomes fatigued for the rest of the encounter.
2) Barrier of Steel: The fighter attempts to hold a location by weaving a clever network of strikes around those who approach nearby. Once activated, this trick lasts 5 rounds. Opponents may enter or exit the fighter’s threatened area as normal. However, to move from one square threatened by the fighter to another, they must succeed at a combat maneuver check. Failure ends that movement action (or 5-foot step). Furthermore, this trick allows the fighter to take an attack of opportunity each time an opponent leaves a threatened square, provided that the fighter has sufficient attacks of opportunity. (Normally, movement inside a foe’s threat range constitutes one single opportunity).
3) Finishing Blow: Against a hindered opponent, a highly skilled warrior is capable of leveling a particularly lethal strike. This trick may only be used against a prone opponent. Unlike other combat tricks, this requires a standard action, and provokes attacks of opportunity. The fighter makes a single attack against the downed opponent at a –7 penalty. If this hits, the blow is automatically considered a critical hit, which applies even against opponents not normally subject to critical hits. If not dispatched by the damage, a living foe must make a fortitude save or perish.
