Weaponmaster class?

[TheOddGoblin]

I'm not sure if I've seen one, or maybe it would be best served by using a Fighter, but what would be the best way to build a character who's aim is to be a master of many/all weapons? I know that economically speaking, enchanting a bunch of weapons isn't ideal, but the image of a warrior walking into.battle with 10+ weapons strapped to his person, and being adept in all of their use, is just plain attractive to me. What would be the most ideal way to make such a character?

[Amir Hiram]

Fighter could be a good choice fluff-wise, but I personally think Barbarian is a better choice mechanically. The fighter specializes in a few groups of weapons whereas the Barbarian gets his/her power from raw strength scores, rage powers, and other things that affect all weapons they use.

I would probably consider making an intelligent Barbarian (12-14 INT) who carries around different weapons for different situations. This wouldn't mean mastering the use of all weapons so much as being very prepared. The enemy is bringing a shield to bear? Whip out that bardiche and chop it to bits! Archers are on the hill, firing down on you from above? Strap your belt of mighty hurling on and throw some chakrams at them! The swordsman in front of you is known to be a master of fair combat? Toss a net over him, then use a reach weapon to stab him while he's down!

It's not quite the same as your concept, but your concept - mastering ALL weapons - is difficult to manage mechanically. Going for someone whose fighting style is very flexible but still very effective is a close second.

[Torbyne]

A human or half human of any fighter archetype can take martial versatility and martial mastery to apply weapon feats to weapon groups. Still not a master of all weapons but you can be a master of 10+ kinds of swords or the like.

[TheOddGoblin]

Can Weapon Versatility/Mastery be applied than one type(ie: swords, axes, polearms) or can it only be taken once? Because that seems perfect for this concept if combined with the Barbarian as Amir describes him.

[Amir Hiram]

"Prerequisites: Fighter level 4th, human.

Benefit: Choose one combat feat you know that applies to a specific weapon (e.g., Weapon Focus). You can use that feat with any weapon within the same weapon group.

Special: You may take this feat more than once. Each time it applies to a different feat."

So, yes, it can be taken more than once. You need four levels of Fighter first, but that gets you Weapon Specialization anyway. The trouble is it Martial Versatility only applies to one specific weapon group at a time, and only to one feat at a time; so, if you wanted Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization to apply to all polearms, you need Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization in one polearm, and then two feats spent on Martial Versatility for each feat.

So, your build may look like:

Weapon Focus: Glaive
Weapon Specialization: Glaive
Martial Versatility (Weapon Focus: Glaive)
Martial Versatility (Weapon Specialization: Glaive)

Which would then allow you to apply Weapon Focus and Weapon Spec to all polearms.

Alternatively, you could go straight Fighter and wait until level 16 to get Martial Master ( http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/racial-feats/martial-mastery-combat-human ).

[Torbyne]

But martial mastery is late game and only one weapon group.

[Amir Hiram]

Torbyne wrote:

But martial mastery is late game and only one weapon group.

Precisely. So, you're best off either focusing on being "The world's best <X>", where <X> equals "swordsman" or "pikeman" or "axeman" or what-have-you, or using a class other than Fighter and focusing on having a flexible combat style (I.E.: Not being a one-trick pony).

Alternatively, talk to your GM and show him the Martial Versatility / Martial Mastery feats, go over your concept, and ask him if you can design a Fighter archetype based around this idea. Hell, your GM may even let you play a non-human version of this if you can make a good case.

[Imbicatus]

The best option for martial versatility is to pick your weapon feats in a weapon that belongs to multiple weapon groups to maximize your options. There is a lot of overlap between light blades, close, monk, and throwing groups, it.s not hard to pick a weapon that will give you two to three groups to work with.

[Kobold Catgirl]

I think the best solution is to house rule an archetype, as Raphaele said. All hate for the fighter's mechanics aside, it's the best fit for this concept, and that's what matters.

Alternatively, just don't take Weapon Focus or anything and focus on combat feats that aren't specific to weapon type. Either take an archetype that replaces the Weapon Training ability or just apply it as efficiently as possible.

So, for instance, you'd be taking feats like Dodge, Throw Anything, and Improved Shield Bash. It's not perfect, but at least you aren't wasting much. And hey, you do save feats on specialized training!

[TheOddGoblin]

His main focus would be swords, axes, and spears. Ranged would be throwing shortspears/javelins and throwing axes, and melee would be a combo of axe and sword for closer opponents, such as fighting multiple opponents, and against single foes it would be either large axe or reach polearm with trip(depending on whether he needs something with a bite to chop them down quickly or keep them at bay with a longer weapon)

Atleast that's image I have in mind for him.

[Amir Hiram]

Hm...

If you want to houserule something, may I point you to an archetype that simply introduces a new weapon group? Meet the Corsair, a Fighter focused on a new weapon group called Pirate Weapons! http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/fighter/archetypes/paizo---fig hter-archetypes/corsair

This is actually one of my favorite weapon groups because you can have a fairly effective two-weapon-fighter that uses a hand crossbow and a cutlass at the same time.

In short, this archetype introduces a new weapon group, if a small one, and then provides a few abilities for it. You could probably convince your DM to let you make a new weapon group for your character and make it an archetype. Couple that with the Martial Versatility feats, select a weapon that will cover multiple weapon groups (as Imbicatus suggested), and you have a nice range of weaponry that you'll have Weapon Focus and Weapon Spec in.

[TheOddGoblin]

The more I think on it, I've decided to stick to a single weapon "type". In his case I'm.thinking Dwarven longaxe for reach, Greataxe(or possibly Orc Double-axe?) for normal combat or twin battleaxes/dwarven-waraxes for closer combat, and then for ranged combat he uses throwing axes. I'm debating whether to have him be human or dwarf, maybe a human raised by dwarves would work?

[Amir Hiram]

Human or dwarf works fine. He could be a human from the Land of the Linnorm Kings, or perhaps he's just a forester's son (and thus the first "weapon" he ever held was a woodcutting axe). If you choose dwarf, you get good flavor, too, but of a more stereotypical variety.

Axes is a very good choice, though. You have a good variety of weapons with multiple uses available to you. You can TWF, use two-handed weapons, throwing weapons... The trouble is pretty much everything you use is Slashing, so be ready to deal with piercing/bludgeoning DR in some way.

[Imbicatus]

Dwarven Maulaxe has bludgeoning, and picks are in the axe group. Those will get you around any dr issues. If you go the martial versatility route, make sure you choose the throwing axe as your weapon, as it will give you access to everything in the axe and thrown groups. That will give you light hammers, spears, and the sling too.

[Umbranus]

Despite what was said in my opinion the fighter is the only full bab class I would not recommend.
One of the best is the bloodrager because, being an arcane caster, he can get arcane strike lessening the problem of having to enchant multiple weapons.
For the same reason I could see the magus with his arcane pool. Even is that means that you can't use spell strike/combat with all weapons they all got their benefit.

A totally different option is monk of the empty hand. He treats all weapons as improvised and as such benefits from abilities tied to improvised weapons with whatever he uses. The surprise weapon trait is one of those.

[TheOddGoblin]

I'm not really wanting him to be a spellcaster though k could possibly see the Bloodrager working for the concept, maybe half levels in Fighter, the rest as Bloodrager, so he has minor buffs, but his primary focus is combat with his myriad axes.

Maulaxe as his primary weapon, battleaxe and pick as back-up to that, and throwing axes/light hammers for ranged.

I'm thinking Dwarf might be his best bet for race?

[Imbicatus]

There are pluses and minuses to both. Martial Versatility is a human only feat. But humans don't have weapon familiarity, so they would need to spend an EWP feat on the maulaxe.

[TheOddGoblin]

On second thought, it would be an Urgrosh instead of maulaxe. Gives me less worry about two-weapon-fighting feats not seeing use.

I don't mind spending the feat for proficiency, to allow me the versatility feats.

[Amir Hiram]

If it were me, I'd actually avoid TWF since you're going to be spending at least two more feats than the average fighter already, especially if you splash dip into Bloodrager (not a bad choice). Your character will be stretched for feats no matter how you go about this, though.

If you want to use Martial Versatility, then you go Human Fighter. If you don't mind it, go Dwarf Fighter. Splash levels in Barbarian, Ranger, Rogue, or Bloodrager as you please. Choose and plan smartly.

My personal suggestion: Focus on feats that work with all weapons you have (and Power Attack, even though that technically does not work with thrown throwing axes). So, you'll be getting Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization as well as Power Attack - generic fighter stuff - and then combine all that with Martial Versatility. Afterwards, consider picking up maneuver focused feats (if you have the intelligence), Combat Reflexes with feats that enable its use (such as Greater Trip, actually), more weapon based feats (if you go pure Fighter), Barbarian rage feats (if you go Barbarian for a fair distance)... You have a lot of options available to you that will affect almost all your weapons. Also consider going Barbarian for the Pounce stuff, since Pounce is always amazing. Oh, and you'll want Quick Draw since you'll be changing weapons frequently, at least IMO. You may want to talk to your DM about allowing a houserule that lets you put your weapons away for free with Quick Draw, too, since I doubt your character would want to just drop his beautiful axes to the ground.

For equipment, remember that you'll want a - I forget the name, a Belt of Mighty Hurling or something? - to maximize your ability to kill stuff with your throwing axes. You'll want a reach weapon, a one-hander, and a set of throwing axes all enchanted; and don't forget to bring a shield, just in case.

[TheOddGoblin]

As of right now, the set up is looking like the following. Level 8 character, Human Fighter(not sure on archetype) 4/Bloodrager(Arcane bloodline) 4

I'm thinking two-weapon fighter archetype unless there's one that would be a better choice.

[Azten]

Not the best for fighters, but how about Weapon Champion? Be sure to read the Archetype Packages sidebar.

[TheOddGoblin]

3rd Party stuff isn't allowed unfortunately.