Advice on fighter build

[Athos710]

Alright, so I have the following other party members:
TWF Ranger, Sorcerer, Alchemist, Rogue/Ninja, Cleric

Right now we've all just hit Level 2. My Fighter character spends all his time in medium/heavy armor on the front line smashing heads and trying to keep the squishies safe in the back. However, for whatever reason, our party is kind of lacking in the skills department. We have 3 characters without any ranks in Perception *sigh*
So, I think I've come up with a way to help out. Note: This is NOT an optimized fighter build.

Starting point
Shoanti Human Fighter Level 1
STR 16
DEX 15
CON 14
INT 13
WIS 12
CHA 8
Fort +4
Ref +2
Wil +3
BAB +1
Feats: Fast Learner, Totem Spirit (Moon Clan), Weapon Focus (Longsword)
Traits: Giant Slayer, Carefully Hidden
Skills: 5 ranks

Level 4
Fighter 2/ Monk (Zen Archer) 2
+1 to Dex
Fort +8
Ref +6
Wil +6
BAB +3
Feats: Precise Shot (or Dodge), Perfect Strike (bow only), Improved Unarmed Strike, Toughness, Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Skills: 22 ranks

All levels go into Fighter starting at Level 5.

So, I gain access to Perception and the other Monk skills, 2 more skill ranks, get +3 to all saves, pick up some utility bow feats, the unarmed strike, and the Combat Reflexes I was going to take anyway. And a bow only flurry of blows I can't use while wearing armor.

I lose out on +1 to BAB, delay weapon and armor training by 2 levels, and miss ~4 HP (2 levels at D8 instead of D10 and the favored class benefit)

Thoughts?

[Wiggz]

My initial thoughts are that you're beating a square peg into a round hole. With enough work it can be done but the results are never pretty and the fit is never right. Almost every single character in your group is better equipped to take on the role of scout or skill monkey and gimping yourself when it comes to the limited role you're actually well-suited for just to be average at best in another seems to me to be a waste. It's a noble effort but it seems the time and energy would be better spent convincing the rest of the group to pull their weight.

Just my opinion.

[XMorsX]

I agree with Wiggz. You are a fighter, your roll is to smash heads as you say, leave the skill checks to the Ranger / Rogue / Alchemist. Also the 2lvl dip in zen archer is not good. Neither will make you a skill monkey, nor will it benefit you in combat.

The best route I can see you going is being an effective front-line combantant. Grab a buckler and use your sword even one-handed for utilizing the buckler AC or two-handed for increased damage. And your next feat should definately be Power Attack. After this Cleave and Great Cleave would make sense for some battlefield control. Other good feats to consider are Furious Focus, Lunge, Weapon Specialization, greater weapon focus/spec. Later you should aim for dazzing assault and the critical focus feat trees like Critical Versatility, Staggering and Stunning Critical, combining them with critical mastery. Or you could go for an intimidator, going for dazzling dissplay, shatter defences, cornugon smash, dreadful carnage and Deadly Stroke.

As far as archery is concearned, you only want a spare longbow and Deadly Aim for the times that you cannot fight your enemy in melee.

[nate lange]

the 2 previous comments are good advise- you're a fighter, be good at fighting...

that said, all you really need to do is switch out one of your traits for Eyes and Ears of the City (or some other one that makes perception a class skill with a +1 trait bonus) and you can just pick perception as one of your 2-4 skills you're keeping max ranks in. problem solved.

[ArmouredMonk13]

I agree with the previous posts, but am just going to add, try dipping sohei instead, and use a temple sword. Eventually, when you get mithral medium armor, you can flurry in it and get an extra attack with your weapon, a +1 to initiative, and you can always act in suprise rounds.

[Wolfsnap]

Fighters just don't make good skill monkeys, since they have a really small selection of class skills.

HOWEVER - if you plan to just focus on one or two skills, then go for an INT 13 or 14 fighter, use some of your favored class level bonuses for skill points, and you're golden. Otherwise you're better off playing a ranger or barbarian.

[Deylinarr]

do you need to "help out" long term or just need a shot in the arm? I agree with all above that your fighter will never be a good skill monkey but you might be able to find a 1-level dip that gives you a little help. Currently Ive got two multiclass fighters and seeing some decent synergies that might help in your situation....

- Archaeologist Bard: no BAB but 6 skill points, +2 on 2 saves, and the Luck ability is a minor self buff (with your CHA its only a few rounds). LOTS of class skills, automatic +1 on all knowledge skills w Bardic Knowledge.

- Inquisitor: no BAB but also 6 skill points, +2 on 2 saves, Judgment is a minor self-buff for 1 combat. LOTS of class skills including Perception, +1 on Knowledge to ID monsters (monster lore), +1 to Sense Motive and Intimidate (stern gaze). You can also pick up an Inquisition to get a few other kicks: I'm a big fan of Spellkiller since you get Disruptive (a 6th level fighter feat) for free which helps with the 'loss' of a bonus feat by dipping. Other good ones are Heresy or Conversion, either of which will allow you to use your +1WIS bonus on some "face" skills instead of your -1CHA.

None of these are going to make you a skill monkey but could give you a bit of a leg up with a few bells and whistles besides...

[StrangePackage]

Fast learner is a trap. Don't do it.

Would you really trade a feat for what amounts to an additional skill rank/level?

[Driver 325 yards]

You can make a stealthy fighter with perception. Actually, it is not a bad idea at all in my opinion. Finding Helen Campaign Trait should help. Human skilled ability should help. Taking the Alternative Human racial trait that give you skill focus at 1, 8, and... should help as well.

Taking a one level dip into Zen Archer for the saves, class skills and to pick up some archery feats makes sense as well if you are building an archer. No more than 1 or 2 level dip, however.

I will admit that some of the feats you select are terrible. You can't be a skill monkey. However, you can be really good a two or maybe three skills that would be helpful to your party. I am thinking stealth, perception and maybe UMD through Dangerously Curious.

[Sir Thugsalot]

Don't worry about skills; your ninja and ranger allies will have them coming out of their ears by 3rd level.