So, with the new upgrade to the paladin class, we can all agree that the paladin has stopped sucking. However, the fighter is still down in the dumps.
So here's my main suggestion:
Fighters should get special things from feats. At a certain fighter level, they should get bonuses tacked onto their abilities. For instance, let's take Improved Trip.
Improved Trip
Blah-blah-blah, description.
Special: On a successful trip attempt, a fighter does 1d6 + his CMB bonus points of damage. This bonus damage improves by +1d6 for every three fighter levels he has.
Toughness
Blah-blah-blah.
Special: A fighter gains +1 additional hit point per fighter level.
And so on, particularly with the "Improved Combat Maneuver" feats.
So, with the new upgrade to the paladin class, we can all agree that the paladin has stopped sucking. However, the fighter is still down in the dumps.
So here's my main suggestion:
Fighters should get special things from feats. At a certain fighter level, they should get bonuses tacked onto their abilities. For instance, let's take Improved Trip.
Improved Trip
Blah-blah-blah, description.Special: On a successful trip attempt, a fighter does 1d6 + his CMB bonus points of damage. This bonus damage improves by +1d6 for every three fighter levels he has.
Toughness
Blah-blah-blah.Special: A fighter gains +1 additional hit point per fighter level.
And so on, particularly with the "Improved Combat Maneuver" feats.
I do like the idea; however, I would take it even further - make these special maneuver options Fighter-only feats much in the same way that Weapon Specialization is. With the number of feats everyone has now, having bonus feats is less of a benefit in and of itself. Giving an array of special feats available with those bonus feats can put a little more sparkle back into the Fighter's ability set.
Also, I've heard a great many complaints about the Fighter's lack of ability to intercept (ie, tank) enemies and just general combat-control. These, too, could be made into feats, possibly with a Fighter level X requirement to give the Fighters options and boosts without changing their class features any. It might cut into the PHB2 Knight's territory, but, hey, we're talking about making a core class better to fulfill its intended versatility.
Since Monte Cook is consulting on this project I thought it'd be ok to mention that his second book of his house rules (The Book of Experimental Might II) have a lot of suggestions for feats with FIGHTER only boosts. Basically every class can take the martial feat, but if you take it as a fighter then you get a little extra.
So, with the new upgrade to the paladin class, we can all agree that the paladin has stopped sucking. However, the fighter is still down in the dumps.
So here's my main suggestion:
Fighters should get special things from feats. At a certain fighter level, they should get bonuses tacked onto their abilities. For instance, let's take Improved Trip.
Improved Trip
Blah-blah-blah, description.Special: On a successful trip attempt, a fighter does 1d6 + his CMB bonus points of damage. This bonus damage improves by +1d6 for every three fighter levels he has.
Toughness
Blah-blah-blah.Special: A fighter gains +1 additional hit point per fighter level.
And so on, particularly with the "Improved Combat Maneuver" feats.
It's a lovely idea, but it adds a lot of job to do, and to do well, for our buddy Jason :D
He should list a second version of EVERY feat fighter-version. Painful, I suppose... And a lot of things to memorize for DM and players.
Fighters don't need the bigger numbers that PF beta gave them. They need special abilities, counterattacks and defenses that allow them to survive the "supernatural" battles. Something alike the high-level roguish abilities :)