Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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Here's a notion for the fighter discussion. This could be a class ability of the fighter, or it could be combat feat with a prereq of +16 BAB or so. As a class feature, fighter could gain it around 15th level or so:
Death Blow (Ex): As a standard action, a fighter may make a single attack with a weapon in which he has weapon training at a -5 penalty. If you hit, the target must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + BAB + weapon training bonus) or be slain. If the target saves, it suffers normal damage from the attack. This ability can be used once per day at 15th level, plus one additional use per level thereafter.
Creatures immune to critical hits cannot be slain with this feat. The use of this feat is not considered a death effect for the purpose of how it interacts with spells, immunities, etc.
Some comments:
1. I thought about tying it to the Devastating Blow feat, but I don't want to restrict it to THF.
2. I thought about tying the save to STR, but I don't want to limit it only to the STR fighters.
3. I thought about it giving the "vorpal" quality to you weapon, but didn't want the cross-rule confusion because "vorpal":
a. Only works with slashing weapons;
b. Only works on a natural 20; and,
c. Has no save.
So, thoughts?
Maybe I should organize the thoughts:
A. Should fighters be able to have a save-or-die attack?
B. Should it be limited use (like the monk's stunning fist or a paladin's smite evil) or anytime use?
C. Should it actually KILL the target, or just do some set amount of mega-damage (as PF has done with many SoD spells)?
D. Should the save be the traditional model (10 + 1/2 level + stat), or should we have some additional modifiers (BAB, feats, weapon training, enchantment of weapon, etc.).
Discuss.
I like it. My thoughts:
A. Wouldn't be game breaking.
B. Yes, as you have written is good.
C. I'd vote for some set amount of mega-damage to be inline with what SoD spells are with PF.
D. The save should probably follow the traditional model (10 + 1/2 level + stat mod) or even 15+ with the stat perhaps being Con so as not to favor melee or ranged. The save as you have written (DC 10 + BAB + weapon training bonus) starts out around 30 which is pretty high.