I use all of the above plus the chance to use called shots as a standard action (not a full round), to let martial to do a little debuff if they want (when they have to move too much to make a full attack).
I give monks the chance to spend 1 ki to consider BAB = HD for one round (for a simple full attack with more accuracy than a flurry or a called shot and move).
Advanced rogue talent that let the character flank with himself if he succed an acrobatics check against enemy CMD as part of the attack action.
Pounce as a 8° level fighter feat (that, with the chance to make full attack and move half speed anyway, is useful when you want to charge but not essential to a fighter build).
This has been discussed before, loads of times in 200 page threads. Even all those suggestions have been mentioned with some varying levels of success.
For the most part, it's been concluded that martials will never be as powerful as spellcasters because spellcasters have many more options for solving problems. This isn't necessarily a terrible thing as we've had games that tried to make spellcasters and martials on the same level with some bland results. However, you can make martials more fun and viable by offering more options and quality of life changes.
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I have to agree that there's a massive imbalance in magic and mundane, mostly because problems that can be solved by mundane methods can often also be solved by magical ones, which is not true in reverse. So the issue, like Cyrad mentioned, is giving mundane things to do.
I mean you could tone down magic a bit, make them specialize more, cap spell levels to...6th level spells, but even 3-4th level spells are pretty crazy with what they can accomplish.
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The only answer you are ever going to have where everybody agrees everyone else is equal is to make all character identical.
Anything less, somebody is going to point and scream, "why can he do something I can't."
Melee characters are better at flat out killing things. They can do so an unlimited number of times per day. They never need worry about running short of attacks to do so.
Generally they do so while enjoying the benefits of better AC and more hit points.
There's a current thread on this already
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2qwe4?House-rules-against-Linear-Warriors
what are the specific things a caster can do that a martial cannot replicate in any way shape or form
Cast spells that reshape reality to their whim.
The only answer you are ever going to have where everybody agrees everyone else is equal is to make all character identical.
Anything less, somebody is going to point and scream, "why can he do something I can't."
Melee characters are better at flat out killing things. They can do so an unlimited number of times per day. They never need worry about running short of attacks to do so.
Generally they do so while enjoying the benefits of better AC and more hit points.
They can't do it an unlimited number of times per day, because hit points are still a resource.
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They can't do it an unlimited number of times per day, because hit points are still a resource.
Martials tend to have a higher AC and more hit points. Some martials also have far better saves and the ability to evade damage. Yes: you can build a character that is capable of standing in the middle of a battlefield all day while taking little to no damage.
If your avoiding taking damage, hit points are not an issue. If you cannot avoid taking damage, the casters tend to fall down first.
Martials tend to have a higher AC and more hit points. Some martials also have far better saves and the ability to evade damage. Yes: you can build a character that is capable of standing in the middle of a battlefield all day while taking little to no damage.
They can't do it an unlimited number of times per day, because hit points are still a resource.
Your DM is doing it wrong, then. Martials have more HP and better AC than casters, but they will take more damage without caster support.
And a Commoner is only UMD'ing his way to caster status if he has unlimited WBL and easy access to magic shops with a wide selection.
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Martials tend to have a higher AC and more hit points. Some martials also have far better saves and the ability to evade damage. Yes: you can build a character that is capable of standing in the middle of a battlefield all day while taking little to no damage.
They can't do it an unlimited number of times per day, because hit points are still a resource.Your DM is doing it wrong, then. Martials have more HP and better AC than casters, but they will take more damage without caster support.
A martial built to survive will take little damage and heal himself. UMD is not always a requirement for this, depending on class and build.
And a Commoner is only UMD'ing his way to caster status if he has unlimited WBL and easy access to magic shops with a wide selection.
You omitted the statement above mine that I was responding to.
in any way shape or form.
Any martial can carry a selection of scroll/wands for usage in a pinch. He's not going to stand and cast all day, but does not need to do so. UMD means you have options when needed.
Hint: For incorporeal creatures, I know quite a few players that have low-levels characters with Ghost Salt arrows. No magic required.
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Miss Chance, mobility, and saves have far more to do with survivability than AC or HP.
AC = miss chance. 95% miss chance. It also stacks with concealment/displacement granted by item or potion.
Bad new for you on saves. Martial classes tend to have better. Sometime much, much better. Monks and Paladins blow casters out of the water on saving throws. Barbarians can have even higher saves than a monk with a two level paladin dip.
One of my personal favorites is their ability to very quickly remove themselves from losing battles. Once martials get into battle with a lot of creatures they're pretty generally fight or die unless the martial is faster.
One thing I will grant you.
Caster's are better at surviving by running away.Is that what you mean by unequal? You want martial characters to be better at running away?
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AC is only miss chance on normal attacks. Several spells will target touch, often much lower, and several spells can be used to negate dex bonuses.
Not all martials have low touch. All casters have a lower BAB.
The spells negating Dex bonuses are either avoidable or allow saving throws. I doubt Mr. Barbarian with a 30+ save is going to give an opponent a second change to realize their mistake.
Is your complaint that only ~half the martial classes don't completely blow casters out of the water on save? If so you're not pushing for equality. You're pushing for superiority.
Caster's have exactly two advantages over melee.
- If wizards or clerics know what is coming they can tailor their spell list (Sorcers & Oracles, not so much).
- They can run away.
When it comes to standing and fighting an unknown opponent. Your martial players not only deal the damage, they give the caster's time to do their job.
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Nice sarcasm, but you missed the best part. Losing fight means death for a martial. Not so much for a caster. Yeah they can run away. They can run away and return 8 hours later with a new arsenal of spells tailored to blowing the crap out of whatever they fight.
That's not sarcasm. Right now the focus of your argument is: casters are better because they can run away.
You hit something with a stick. You get to target AC, CMD, and the occassional fort save.
I hit something for an average of 400 points of damage a round. Every round. My target falls down dead. No saving throw. Does it matter what I targeted?
Magic users target AC, flat footed AC, touch AC, CMD, and all saves. They can bypass any elemental resistance and all forms of DR.
Not all at once. You have to know what you are fighting. What its weaknesses are. And, you need to have the right spells prepared to take advantage of that knowledge.
Easy if your playing Schrodinger's wizard. Not easy when you have to write your spells down in advance.
In every way a competent magic user that flees a fight can return with every inch of his character fully tailored to defeating this one creature. He can do this each and every single day.
A martial can buff more and more and more. But his abilities come from his class and his feats. And those can't be changed on a day to day basis.
A well built martial does not need to. He's knows what defense he's opposing and prepares for it. Am I aiming for AC? I make sure my attack bonuses are high enough to hit any AC. That simple.
No different than a caster that focuses on raising the DC of one type of spell.|
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In every way a competent magic user that flees a fight can return with every inch of his character fully tailored to defeating this one creature. He can do this each and every single day.
Yep. Your complaining about inequality because casters are better at running away.
On the other hand. 4TH LEVEL INCORPOREAL. How many martial builds do you see with ghost touch? Oh just about... BARBARIAN. With has very solid defenses all around but generally very little versatility. Get outside of his range and wait for him to lower rage.
In PFS, in my area.
I see quite a few fourth level characters with Ghost Salts. It's considered standard equipment. They point and laugh if you don't have ghost salt arrows by fourth or 5th level. Too many wraiths and shadows to go without.
The smart barbarian won't rage until he's ready to hit you. Why would he rage before then? Or, he can just pull out his strength bow and shoot you.
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Dilema: Either he's already raging and has epic saves, or the caster can surprise him with some save or sucks. If he's always got them up he runs out of rage real fast. If not, enjoy the save or suck cause your saves suck now.
Either the encounter was in range or the barbarians turn or not.
If in range: attack and rage.
If not: ready action.