I applaud at the new options presented in PFRPG - but for fighting styles, we need more, IMO: Even with the new power attack, two-handed weapons are the way to go unless you deal extra damage. And IF you do, well, you take two-weapon fighting feats.
Many threads have discussed this - swoard&board petitions, threads dedicated at two-weapon fighting (which thankfully has improved a bit), even threads that cover damage reduction. Here, I want to present a whole set of additional feats to start a discussion in a common place. Only if we compare many fighting styles at once, we can evaluate OPTIONS against each other.
Here are some feats intended to balance fighting styles:
TWO WEAPON FIGHTING
Ambidexterity
You have trained hard, and have mastered the art of fighting with two weapons.
Prerequisite: Two-Weapon Fighting
Benefit: When fighting with two weapons, you get a +2 bonus on each melee attack you make.
SWORD AND BOARD
Shield Specialisation
as in PHB2. We could call it Shield Focus, though...
Shielded Fighting
You have learned to use your shield to full effect in battle.
Prerequisite: Shield Specialisation
Benefit: When fighting with a shield, you can take an immediate action to avert an melee attack directed at you. Roll d20 + your base attack bonus + your STR score + shield bonus. If the result is higher than the attack roll, that attack is averted. You must declare the use of this ability before you know if the attack roll was succesful.
Normal: You cannot avert attacks with your shield.
Improved Shielded Fighting
You have mastered the use of your shield in battle.
Prerequisite: Shield Specialisation, Shielded Fighting
Benefit: You can attempt to negate as many melee attacks from a single opponent directed at you as your base attack permits. Use your subsequently lower base attack bonus for later attempts.
Normal: You can make only one attempt to avert an attack.
Counterattack
By pushing your opponent's weapon aside, you gain a little momentum you can use for a powerful counterattack.
Prerequisite: Shielded Fighting
Benefit: If you have averted an attack with your shield, you get a +2 bonus on all attack rolls you make against this opponent on your next turn.
Normal: You don't get a bonus on attack rolls after averting an attack with your shield.
DAMAGE REDUCTION
Baffling Strike
Your attacks strike through the toughest skin.
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus (any)
Benefit: When attacking a creature with any weapon you have the Weapon Focus feat for, you can overcome up to 5 points of damage reduction except DR/- and DR/epic. You can take this feat multiple times. It's effects stack.
Normal: You cannot overcome damage reduction.
DEX-BASED FIGHTING
Improved Weapon Finesse
You know that as small as a weapon may be, the wounds it causes depend on where it is placed.
Prerequisites: Weapon Finesse
Benefit: You can apply your DEX bonus to damage rolls made with light melee weapons instead of you STR bonus. When your STR bonus to damage rolls is reduced (e.g., when fighting with weapon in your off-hand), your DEX bonus to damage rolls is reduced accordingly.
Normal: You apply your STR bonus to damage rolls.
ONE-HANDED FIGHTING
Fencing
Contrary to popular belief, you know that focussing on one weapon has its merits.
Prerequisites: -
Benefit: When fighting with a one-handed or light weapon, and carrying nothing in your off-hand, you gain a +1 bonus to all attack rolls and to your armor class.
Normal: You don't get a bonus on attack rolls or armor class when fighting with a one-handed or light weapon.
Riposte
And you were right - focus is the key.
Prerequisites: Fencing
Benefit: When fighting with a one-handed or light weapon, and carrying nothing in your off hand, you can make a special riposte attack as an immediate action if a melee attack directed at you misses. The riposte attack uses your highest base attack bonus. You cannot make a riposte attack in response to a missed attack of opportunity.
Normal: You cannot make a riposte attack.
Einhander
as in PHB2. Or similar feat that gives bonus to fighting defensively while fighting one-handed.
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I would rather have Ambidexterity be a feat that allows you to apply full strength mod to your off hand. 2 weapon fighters would do full strength with both weapons, and 2 handed weapon wielders could do 2X str by wielding with 2 hands.
This would be helpful for 2 handed weapon wielders also that way.
Contributor
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I would rather have Ambidexterity be a feat that allows you to apply full strength mod to your off hand. 2 weapon fighters would do full strength with both weapons, and 2 handed weapon wielders could do 2X str by wielding with 2 hands.
This would be helpful for 2 handed weapon wielders also that way.
Fakey, that's brilliant! I agree completely!
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I have been toying with some ideas to try and separate out the combat styles, etc.
One that I like is this: apply both Max Dex AND Armor Check Penalty to all Dex based rolls (including skills, save and ranged attacks).
This makes the tank-like full plate fighter not the best with the longbow (or Dex skills etc).
Quasi-historically, this makes sense (archers were lightly armored).
Game-balance wise, this further strengthens the niche for the "lightly armored ranged weapon guy", and bolsters the concept of multiple roles possible even within the fighter class.
I think this is what we're really after in 3.P: OPTIONS. Make more things possible (with trade-offs and balance).
In case the above is too harsh for the heavy armor people, another idea is to give some version of DR to half and full plate (to remove some of the sting of the Dex penalties everywhere). That concept is not fully fleshed out yet in my mind, however.
I would rather have Ambidexterity be a feat that allows you to apply full strength mod to your off hand. 2 weapon fighters would do full strength with both weapons, and 2 handed weapon wielders could do 2X str by wielding with 2 hands.
This would be helpful for 2 handed weapon wielders also that way.
Fakey, that's brilliant! I agree completely!
There is a feat in PFRPG beta that does the former part of this - Double Slice (look up the text, not the table). If it were not for this feat, I'd include BOTH effects in the same feat. TWF is, IMO, still far too feat-consuming to compete with 2HW.