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This is kind of related to the discussion I started in the Finesse thread, but I wanted to keep it separate.
I don't truly believe that Strength-Based fighters are unimaginative, but I seem to have a bias against them. I guess I've seen the old Power Attack/Cleave combo once too often.
For some reason I thought it might be humorous to see what other people would come up with for a really unimaginative fighter build. What does the generic fighter look like? Is there such a thing?
So I thought I'd open the floor and ask anyone who cares to take part: how would you design the least interesting 7th level fighter ever? 15 point buy, normal WBL. Other than that, go nuts - or don't, as the case may be. :P Feel free to comment on what makes straight Fighters cool/lame along the way.
Power attack >> Weapon Focus >> Weapon Specialization >> Greater Weapon Focus >> Greater Weapon Specialization
A generic and dull fighter is one who has a single action in combat: "I hit it with my weapon." If all you do is emphasize your ability to hit stuff hard, you're a culprit.
However, if you mix it up by adding critical feats, combat maneuvers, skirmish abilities (vital strike, cleave), teamwork feats, etc. then you've stepped outside of the vanilla fighter.
Lets see, to be really boring he should have nothing to do each turn than make the same attack over and over and over again.
Feats should give bland but useful boni:
Dwarfen Fighter 7
1 Power Attack
1 Toughness
2 Weapon focus
3 Dodge
4 Weapon Specialization
5 Iron Will
6 Shield Focus
7
Str 14
Dex 13
Ko 14+2
Int 10
We 12+2
Ch 8-2
Hm.
Human, for starters.
Stats:
13 STR 17+2
5 DEX 14
5 CON 14
-4 INT 7
0 WIS 10
-4 CHA 7
Full-plate wearing guy with a big greatsword.
Hm. His Int and Cha at 7 may have already made him too interesting.
Hm.
Human, for starters.
Stats:
13 STR 17+2
5 DEX 14
5 CON 14
-4 INT 7
0 WIS 10
-4 CHA 7Full-plate wearing guy with a big greatsword.
Hm. His Int and Cha at 7 may have already made him too interesting.
to build off of Ice titan's base
at level 7Falchion rather than great sword
Traits:
killer
Heirloom weapon: falchion now enchanted
feats:
power attack
furious focus
weapon focus (falchion)
weapon spec(falchion)
Toughness
Dodge
man any thing else and he becomes interesting
even shield of swings means he may choose to do something like make a decision about whether to hit hard or get an AC bonus.
And don't forget the monosyllabic name! Og, Thok or just "Grunt" should do nicely.
I'm Bob the Barbarian!
Chaotic Neutral.
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to build off of Ice titan's base
at level 7
Falchion rather than great swordTraits:
killer
Heirloom weapon: falchion now enchantedfeats:
power attack
furious focus
weapon focus (falchion)
weapon spec(falchion)
Toughness
Dodgeman any thing else and he becomes interesting
even shield of swings means he may choose to do something like make a decision about whether to hit hard or get an AC bonus.
No no no - Falchions are far too interesting! He might actually crit with it! In fact, greatswords may even be too interesting. I think that this guy has to be in full plate with a shield and a longsword to have achieved true banality.
No no no - Falchions are far too interesting! He might actually crit with it! In fact, greatswords may even be too interesting. I think that this guy has to be in full plate with a shield and a longsword to have achieved true banality.
But the person making the unimaginative fighter would find the best DPR build from the DPR olympics and follow it regardless of what the camapaign was about. kind of like folks following the "best spec" in a MMO.
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Human Fighter
Stats:
10 STR 18 (+2 Human bonus applied)
3 DEX 13 (14 at Level 4)
3 CON 13
3 INT 13
0 WIS 10
-4 CHA 7
Traits:
Reactionary (+2 Init)
Heirloom weapon: Guisarme
Feats:
Dodge
Mobility
Combat Expertise
Improved Trip
Spring Attack
Whirlwind Attack*
Weapon Focus*
Combat Reflexes*
(*The last 3 feats are up to personal preference, to be taken in whatever order and any of them could easily be substituted with Improved Initiative or another feat.)
Greataxe, no crit range and it's big. sword and board fighters might be tempted to shield bash, can't have that.
Oh he's got to hate non-human's. And spellcasters.
1. find a Human.
2. Name him Thaco.
3. Max out strength to 18.
4. Put remainder in Con.
5. Drop charisma to raise dex slightly.
6. Throw on the heaviest armor you can find.
7. Grab a battle axe and shield start swinging.
feats:
power attack
cleave
weapon focus
weapon specialization
furious focus
toughness
shield focus
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Human Fighter
Stats:
10 STR 18 (+2 Human bonus applied)
3 DEX 13 (14 at Level 4)
3 CON 13
3 INT 13
0 WIS 10
-4 CHA 7
Traits:
Reactionary (+2 Init)
Heirloom weapon: Spear
Feats:
Weapon Focus: Spear
Brutal Throw**
Exotic Weapon Prof: Net
Quick Draw
Weapon Specialization: Spear
Weapon Focus: Net
Hurling Charge**
-Unselected Feat-
(**3.5E Feats)
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1. find a Human.
2. Name him Thaco.
3. Max out strength to 18.
4. Put remainder in Con.
5. Drop charisma to raise dex slightly.
6. Throw on the heaviest armor you can find.
7. Grab a battle axe and shield start swinging.feats:
power attack
cleave
weapon focus
weapon specialization
furious focus
toughness
shield focus
See, this man has the right idea! Although... oh, I see you have Furious Focus in there. Gee, I dunno - that just sounds wrong. I mean, "focus" is certainly clinical and lacking in flavor, but "furious"? Whoa there, big fellah! Let's not get carried away here! That implies some emotional motivation behind the die rolling, and motivation leads to backstory, and backstory is, of course, FAR too interesting.
See, this man has the right idea! Although... oh, I see you have Furious Focus in there. Gee, I dunno - that just sounds wrong. I mean, "focus" is certainly clinical and lacking in flavor, but "furious"? Whoa there, big fellah! Let's not get carried away here! That implies some emotional motivation behind the die rolling, and motivation leads to backstory, and backstory is, of course, FAR too interesting.1. find a Human.
2. Name him Thaco.
3. Max out strength to 18.
4. Put remainder in Con.
5. Drop charisma to raise dex slightly.
6. Throw on the heaviest armor you can find.
7. Grab a battle axe and shield start swinging.feats:
power attack
cleave
weapon focus
weapon specialization
furious focus
toughness
shield focus
1-7 perfect
I suggest chain over plate armor, plate is usualy decorated.
for feats:
Toughness
Endurance
Iron will
Athletic
Quickdraw
Self-Sufficient
Blind-fighting
I think this build avoids the maximum of choices. Athletic and Self-S minimize reliance on other party members, mitigating the need to talk to them. Endurance means you never need to remove your armor. Other feats were largely chosed to make it easier for Sir Blando to just attack and attack.
Mind you a fighter with all the defensive feats, save bonuses, CMD help, etc might not be that bad to play. Would not always hit hard but you stick to the baddies like a social disease. You annoy them to death.
Alternately one could drop wisdom to the campaign minimum, do not take Iron Will get Charmed in the first encounter and not even have to roll the attacks.
~will
Power attack at least gives you a "Go for it all or play it safe" mechanic to consider. You can get much blander.
STR: 17 +1 @4th level
DEX: 14
CON: 16
INT: 7
WIS: 12
CHA: 5
Level 1: Iron will
Fighter 1: Weapon focus: Dwarven waraxe
FIghter 2: Dodge
Level 3: Improved Iron Will
Fighter 4 Weapon specialization Dwarven waraxe.
Level 5 Toughness
Fighter 6 Shield focus
Level 7: Shield Specilization
-sword and board and not a bad tank: just blander than all get out. He does nothing but stand there and swing for the same damage every time.
Power attack at least gives you a "Go for it all or play it safe" mechanic to consider. You can get much blander.
No. You just write down your power attack modified attributes and then never not power attack.
I do this, as do many people in my group. >>;
Hmmm. . . I guess my definition of "boring" is minimal options. I guess the most boring thing you can do is take the full defense action a lot. . .
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Dwarf Fighter
Str 18 (7) (+1 level) (+2 stat booster)
Dex 10 (0)
Con 18 (10) (+2)
Int 7 (-4)
Wis 12 (2) (+2)
Cha 8 (0) (-2)
1 Ironhide (+1)
1B Toughness
2B Shield Focus
3 Improved Natural Armor (+2)
4B Shield Specialization (Heavy Shield)
5 Improved Natural Armor (+3)
6B Covering Defense
7 Improved Natural Armor (+4)
I thought "Improved Natural Armor" was a monster feat?
Monster Feats
Most of the following feats apply specifically to monsters, although some player characters might qualify for them (particularly Craft Construct).
Improved Natural Armor
This creature's hide is tougher than most.Prerequisites: Natural armor, Con 13.
Ironhide
Your skin is thicker and more resilient than that of most of your people.Prerequisites: Con 13; dwarf, half-orc, or orc.
Benefit: You gain a +1 natural armor bonus due to your unusually tough hide.