I've never regretted taking iron will as a fighter.
Never.
In fact I generally take it at level 1 almost as a gospel truth (to use a phrase from my old stomping grounds).
I've never regretted taking iron will as a fighter.
Never.
In fact I generally take it at level 1 almost as a gospel truth (to use a phrase from my old stomping grounds).
You used to stomp on the gospel??? :-O
;-)
Iron Will sounds like the way to go. Heck, a fighter has enough feats you can get the Improved versions of the +2 Save Feats; I bet those re-rolls will be handy!
I've never regretted taking iron will as a fighter.
Never.
In fact I generally take it at level 1 almost as a gospel truth (to use a phrase from my old stomping grounds).
I've never regretted passing iron will as a fighter.
Never.
But I suspect that says a lot about our gaming style. We rarely play the levels where there are very many dramatic Will-based effects (like dominate person) and even when we do, it's surprising how often the fighter types are NOT targeted by such effects.
I guess we just evolved differently than everyone else when we TPK'd due to poor Will saves. In other groups, players started jacking up their low will saves to prevent it from happening again. In our group, the GMs became more wary about using such effects as it would prematurely end their games.
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Dazzling Display is pretty highly effective. My wife plays a fire oracle with Dazzling Display and SF: Intimidate. At 5th level she regularly makes all foes shaken for 4-5 rounds right off the bat, every encounter. The higher Intimidate skill gets you longer duration. The question is: would you rather have maybe an extra round of actions toward the end of an encounter (because you don't have to stop to reapply Dazzling Display), or would you rather have a +2 on Will saves (that might not come up that often, but when it does, might be critical)?
I've never regretted taking iron will as a fighter.
Never.
In fact I generally take it at level 1 almost as a gospel truth (to use a phrase from my old stomping grounds).
I've never regretted passing iron will as a fighter.
Never.
But I suspect that says a lot about our gaming style. We rarely play the levels where there are very many dramatic Will-based effects (like dominate person) and even when we do, it's surprising how often the fighter types are NOT targeted by such effects.
I guess we just evolved differently than everyone else when we TPK'd due to poor Will saves. In other groups, players started jacking up their low will saves to prevent it from happening again. In our group, the GMs became more wary about using such effects as it would prematurely end their games.
I imagine you are right. We don't hold back (but then the DC's tend to be "par" for level too -- the GM generally doesn't jack it up) so we don't expect the GM to hold back either on those spells. That said we are as a group pretty well versed in different tactics to use to handle most such spells too and how the orders are followed (to a degree).
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A successful Dazzling Display basically gives all your opponents a -2 on all d20 rolls for 1 or more rounds. The 'area' is a 30ft radius, but in many cases that's gonna' be the whole room. Since you've already got that, you probably know how often it 'hits' or not for you - if you took it just as a 'gateway Feat' then use it - a lot! It's a great combat opener.
Statistically speaking a +5 increase to your Intimidate = +1 round of effect on your Dazzling Display (in some case increase a fail - zero rounds, to a 1 round success). Since it effects all the bad guys rolls, your spellcaster friends will love you for this (an extra -2 to save against their spells? Nice.), as will anyone the bad guys subsequently miss by 1 or 2 on the attack die...
On the other hand, if you've been trying it and it's not doing much, or if you're failing a lot of critcal Will saves, then caution and Iron Will may be the way to go.
Intimidating Prowess, of course, doesn't only work with Dazzling Display... and sometimes a well-timed threat is a win without ever needing to resort to combat.
We are starting a 3rd level pathfinder game and I'm going to be playing a Fighter, straight class all the way. I'm gonna be human and the feats I've choose so far are: Weapon Focus(Falchion), Dazzling Display, Power Attack, Cleave. My 5th feat I am having trouble making the decision between Intimidating Prowess, and Iron Will. My relevant stats are Str 19, Wis 14, Chr 12.
What would help alot is to know if Dazzling Display is effective at all? I know +2 on Will saves is a big boost for my worst save and that helps, alot. So I guess it all comes down to if the +3 to +6 bonus at higher levels for intimidate checks is worth +2 in will saves?
I consider Iron Will one of the most vital feats a Fighter can take. Ditto for Improved Iron Will, so you don't get hosed by bad dice luck. Dazzling display might be ok, esp with a Rogue in the party, but there are better feats you can take.
Okay I think I'm gonna stick with my first impulse which is Intimidating Prowess. It actually fits the character better anyways. Thanks for all the helpful insight.
If you have access to the 3.5 material there was a location you could "get" as part of your treasure called an Otyugh Hole -- this location can give you iron will and counts as 3,000 gp.
And some magical stat booster for wisdom would be a good idea.
That would be nice, but for the moment we are playing pathfinder core only. We're not even getting our 3k starting gold, just random base gold, and regional starting equipment because we are still playing in FR. I actually rolled low with only 160 GP, barely had enough for armor and sleeping gear, my weapon is MW from region luckily.
Iron Will is a very solid investment. Pathfinder core only? If you go to d20pfsrd, you can check out my Fighter Guide for Pathfinder core stuff or click here. You'll want to check out the Bruiser section, with the Dazzling Display/Shatter Defenses build.
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If you are in combat it is almost guaranteed you will have something buffing your saves (Good Hope, Prayer, Bard-Awesomeness). This is the reason to have Iron Will. Taking your sorry will save with a 50% or less success rate (with buffs) and adding 10% chance for success and eventually a re-roll (when you take Improved Iron Will) if you fail will be enormously helpful.