With +0 WIS and poor Will save progression, Iron Will won't save you. Otherwise looks fine for a non-optimized character.
Generally, the fighter is pretty difficult to optimize as a class. It's solid in a group of non-optimizers, and can make a decent dip but you won't get the same mileage without multiclassing.
My 2 cp anyway.
@Serterstas: Are traits used in the campaign? If yes, I recomment Defender of the Society and the will save option of Deathtouched.
My actual recommendation would be for a Headband of Vast Intelligence to help with the character's skill point problem. Outside of combat this fighter is dead weight. Raising int by 2 and adding 1 skill at full ranks helps a lot.
If your other suggestions are adhered, the character has the option of getting temporary skill ranks via Warrior Spirit -> Training enchantment -> Versatile Training.
Also, it would be better to spend 4k on the belt, and take Cunning, then to spend the gold on a headband and the feat on Greater Weapon Focus (+2 damage vs. +1 to int-based skills). The AWT feat into Versatile Training would be even better, but prevent the Training trick (which can also grant e.g. the ability to fly via Item Mastery -> Flight Mastery).
Also it takes Warrior's Spirit from +2 2/day to +4 4/day.
3/day and 5/day, respectively, as WT's pool is 1+weapon training bonus.
A Fighter without Cut From the Air? Despicable.
At level 9, you could have Smash From the Air, too.
I would do stats like this
Str 16(Human +2 bumps it up to 18, untyped at 4 and 8 to 20)
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 12
Cha 8
Use the alternate human racial Heart of the Fey instead of Skilled. (+1 Reflex and Will Save, Low Light Vision and Perception as a Class Skill[WHY DONT FIGHTERS GET PERCEPTION AS A CLASS SKILL])
Ring of Protection +1 for 2,000gp.Amulet of Natural Armor +1 for 2,000gp.
+2 Full Plate armor for 5,650gp.
+2 heavy steel shield for 4,170gp.
Cloak of Resistance +3 for 9,000gp.
+1 scimitar for 2,315gp.
The remaining gold...
The offensive choice would be a Belt of Giant Strength +2 for 4k gold.
This is mostly good I think. I wouldn't buy the gloves of dueling. Don't skew your build towards offense or defense too heavily. I prefer a more balanced approach although a failed Will Save could kill your whole party. Get the belt and up the Scimitar to a +2. Throw in a Quick Runner's Shirt for 1,000 gp too. Make your weapon Silversheen for 750 gp and grab a +1 Composite Longbow or Sling with the rest of your cash.
If this game doesn't go past 9th level, I would ditch the Shield Focus feats because your AC is already going to be super overkill(CR+3 enemies are already missing you 50% of the time).
Like others have said Warrior Spirit and Armed Bravery are must haves. This means one of your feats needs to be the Advanced Weapon Training(Feat). Armor Specialization(Fullplate) is the best bang for buck for Advanced Armor Training.
Power Attack is a must because you have a lot of redundant attack power. Without counting buffs
+9 BAB
+6 STR
+2 Weapon
+2 Weapon Training
+2 Weapon Focus/Greater
=21 total unbuffed vs CR 12 average AC which is 27. You hit on a 6. If you use Warrior Spirit to Bane your weapon and give it +1 you hit on a 3.
Consider also the Intimidate Package
Intimidating Prowess
Cornugon Smash
Hurtful
Power Attack, hit, intimidate, Swift Action attack again. Very very strong combo but doesn't work on mind affecting immune targets so keep that in mind.
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Consider the monster creation table from the bestiary for standard stats for CR. As level 9 you can expect to face monsters somewhere in the CR6-12 range. Look at the number, those are the benchmarks you want to hit. If we look at level, you need to be able to hit AC23, defend against a +17 attack, and save against DC18 effects. Against the big bad, you need to be able to hit AC27, defend against a +21 attack, and save against DC21 effects.
Another good thing to look at for benchmarks is the automatic bonus progression from pf unchained, as this gives you the developers' ideas of what basic magic items you should have for your level. According to this, at level 9 you should have a +2 weapon, +2 armor, +2 resistance item, +1 deflection, +1 natural armor, and two +2 stat items.
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Consider the monster creation table from the bestiary for standard stats for CR. As level 9 you can expect to face monsters somewhere in the CR6-12 range. Look at the number, those are the benchmarks you want to hit. If we look at level, you need to be able to hit AC23, defend against a +17 attack, and save against DC18 effects. Against the big bad, you need to be able to hit AC27, defend against a +21 attack, and save against DC21 effects.
That table assumes a party of unoptimized PCs with stuff like TWF Fighters with low Dex, cRogues, Wizard casting fireball, cMonks and other trap options.
If you'll properly build your PC to actually be a viable combatant, these numbers are laughably low.
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Consider the monster creation table from the bestiary for standard stats for CR. As level 9 you can expect to face monsters somewhere in the CR6-12 range. Look at the number, those are the benchmarks you want to hit. If we look at level, you need to be able to hit AC23, defend against a +17 attack, and save against DC18 effects. Against the big bad, you need to be able to hit AC27, defend against a +21 attack, and save against DC21 effects.
That table assumes a party of unoptimized PCs with stuff like TWF Fighters with low Dex, cRogues, Wizard casting fireball, cMonks and other trap options.
If you'll properly build your PC to actually be a viable combatant, these numbers are laughably low.
If that is your experience, then I'm guessing you play with a GM that adds the advanced template to everything, consistently uses high CR enemies for your level, or builds their own npcs and ignores the creation guidelines. The published bestiary monsters are built around these numbers. They definitely fluctuate, but tend to be within a couple points of the listed ranges. We can only make recommendations for the base game, I have no idea what your home brew may be like.
It is certainly possible to optimize numbers in pf1 to be much higher than this table, but without something to compare to, I have no idea what those numbers actually mean.
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Consider the monster creation table from the bestiary for standard stats for CR. As level 9 you can expect to face monsters somewhere in the CR6-12 range. Look at the number, those are the benchmarks you want to hit. If we look at level, you need to be able to hit AC23, defend against a +17 attack, and save against DC18 effects. Against the big bad, you need to be able to hit AC27, defend against a +21 attack, and save against DC21 effects.
That table assumes a party of unoptimized PCs with stuff like TWF Fighters with low Dex, cRogues, Wizard casting fireball, cMonks and other trap options.
If you'll properly build your PC to actually be a viable combatant, these numbers are laughably low.
If that is your experience, then I'm guessing you play with a GM that adds the advanced template to everything, consistently uses high CR enemies for your level, or builds their own npcs and ignores the creation guidelines. The published bestiary monsters are built around these numbers. They definitely fluctuate, but tend to be within a couple points of the listed ranges. We can only make recommendations for the base game, I have no idea what your home brew may be like.
It is certainly possible to optimize numbers in pf1 to be much higher than this table, but without something to compare to, I have no idea what those numbers actually mean.
I'm a GM. Yes, we exist. Who would have thought?
Throwing these numbers at players who have even a moderate level of system mastery and optimization results in walkover encounters. I'm not even talking about twinking out, I'm talking about elementary no-brainer stuff, like having a Fighter starting with STR 20 and going greatsword+DPR feats. If somebody actually breaks out the cool stuff, these benchmarks fly out of the window and you're left with having to build encounters around the capabilities of the party, ignoring the CR and the example values.
Ring of Protection +1 for 2,000gp.Amulet of Natural Armor +1 for 2,000gp.
+2 Full Plate armor for 5,650gp.
+2 heavy steel shield for 4,170gp.
Cloak of Resistance +3 for 9,000gp.
+1 scimitar for 2,315gp.
The remaining gold...
The offensive choice would be a Belt of Giant Strength +2 for 4k gold.This is mostly good I think. I wouldn't buy the gloves of dueling. Don't skew your build towards offense or defense too heavily. I prefer a more balanced approach although a failed Will Save could kill your whole party. Get the belt and up the Scimitar to a +2. Throw in a Quick Runner's Shirt for 1,000 gp too. Make your weapon Silversheen for 750 gp and grab a +1 Composite Longbow or Sling with the rest of your cash.
Out of all the equipment that I suggested, this is the only piece of gear this fighter won't replace. The gloves of dueling are an end-game, best in slot piece of equipment for a fighter.
I won't deny the Gloves of Dueling are probably the best item in the game for Fighters, but "End Game" is exactly the reason I wouldn't get it in this case. OP mentioned that the game will begin and end 9th level so there likely won't be all that much in equipment to be gained so we can't fill in the blanks by overstatting into offense. My suggestions were mostly geared towards being able to survive and contribute in a broad variety of situations and making sure their saves won't make them a liability.
First off, don't play a fighter if you want versatility.
The class simply doesn't have the skill access or spell access. Fighters take damage, occupy terrain, and deal really good damage. You can usually milk out competence in a few social skills depending on whether you go int tertiary or cha tertiary.
Realistically you're already not going to be pushing the envelope on raw damage by choosing scimitar/shield. It can still be a fun and effective build, but you're going to creep dangerously close to the lower end of damage as your build doesn't do the shield bash/twf chains that help keep sword and board competitive.
Instead of focusing on STR you may want to consider focusing on DEX. There are a couple of ways to get DEX to damage and that would allow you to boost both your damage and your defenses with one stat. It would also boost your reflex saves as well as your AC. A straight fighter gets armor training so this actually works well for a fighter. You can either stick with the scimitar and use dervish dance, or use an elven thorn blade and go with slashing grace. For your stats I would suggest STR 13, DEX 20 (both level bonuses), CON 14, INT 10 WIS 12 and CHA 10.
For race consider going half elf instead of human. Doing so will allow you to pick up exotic weapon proficiency elven thorn blade without using a feat. It also gives you a+2 bonus vs enchantments and a +2 to perception. It also give you low-light vision and you can trade out multitalented for darkvision. Since you are not dumping INT you will still end up with more skill points.
For feats go with weapon finesse, weapon focus, weapon specialization, greater weapon focus, power attack, improve critical, and whatever feat you want for DEX to damage. Also keep Iron will as you now have enough other bonuses to will saves to actually make it worthwhile. Don’t bother with Improved Initiative as you already have a good DEX. At this point you could go with the stand still line, but will want agile maneuvers to allow you to use DEX instead of STR for CMB. But this character is actually fairly mobile so other options exist.
Your best bet on armor is going to be a +2 mithral breastplate. A Belt of incredible dexterity +4 is also going to be something you should have. Also take a +1 amulet of natural armor, +1 ring of protection and a +2 cloak of resistance. Get a +2 enchantment on your weapon and that will leave you 5k and change for the rest of your equipment.
At this point your AC is 27 (18 for touch), you have +10 fort save, +12 reflex save +10 will save (+12 vs enchantments). Your attacks will be +19/+14 doing 1d6+19 with a 15-20 critical range. Your Initiative will be +7 and your speed will be 30.
Throwing these numbers at players who have even a moderate level of system mastery and optimization results in walkover encounters. I'm not even talking about twinking out, I'm talking about elementary no-brainer stuff, like having a Fighter starting with STR 20 and going greatsword+DPR feats. If somebody actually breaks out the cool stuff, these benchmarks fly out of the window and you're left with having to build encounters around the capabilities of the party, ignoring the CR and the example values.
I know I'm being a contrarian jerk, but a greatsword Fighter with starting STR 20 is not a good example of someone with a moderate level of system mastery. Ruining your point buy and going for the highest damage dice instead of a reach weapon are mistakes that new players do.
You are forgetting to factor in armor training. That raises the maximum DEX bonus to +7. So the DEX belt increases his AC, and his chance to hit, his damage, his reflex save, and his Initiative. He also has three unspent feats and if he uses them for the still line feat chain he will have combat reflexes. STR on this build only increases his carrying capacity. Con will increase his HP and fortitude saves, but that is about all. The DEX belt gives a lot more than the STR & CON does.
If he is going to play a single classed fighter and stay with the scimitar dervish dance works better than slashing grace. The scimitar is not a weapon that can normally be finessed, but dervish dance takes care of that.
If he is going to stick with the scimitar going half elf would allow him to take dual minded to get another +2 to Will saves. At this point if he wants to go with the Stand Still line, he may want to pick up a +1 Keen Scimitar instead of going with improved critical. The ironic part about this build is that the his saves are actually reversed. Where a fighter normally has weak will and reflex saves those are acutally his strongest.
don't play a fighterThe OP is committed to playing a single-class Fighter.
Realistically you're already not going to be pushing the envelope on raw damage by choosing scimitar/shield.And he's committed to scimitar.
I'm aware, my post was more about tempering OP's expectations. If you chase out of combat versatility too hard with a fighter you stop being able to combat particularly well.
While wills saves are important that is not something my build is neglecting. If he goes with the half elf and takes dual minded his bas will save is 12, and he gets an additional +2 bonus vs enchantments. That is higher than a lot of 9th level caster at this level. This character’s weakness is not will saves, and trying to get it higher is pushing it into the realm of diminishing returns.
The best way to keep a character like this up is to avoid taking damage. Extra HP are nice, but again not the most effective way to keep the character up. +2 CON is going to give him an extra 9 HP and+1 fortitude save. The additional 2 DEX is going to reduce the chance of him being hit by 5% including vs touch attacks like rays. It also gives him a 5% better chance of taking half damage from a lot of spells. 5% less chance does not seem like a lot, but considering the number of attacks the typical character faces in the course of a game it is significant. The bonus on fortitude save is actually more important, but in the end DEX gives more band for the buck, especially for this build.
Instant death favors Fort/Will saves vs Reflex/AC. Fort also represents a bunch of nasty stuff that might make him unable to do his job as a Fighter.
Half Elves with the Dual Minded racial trait are a strong choice. If Iron Will is something you want for the Human Build, Half Elf Dual Minded is basically 100% better since it stacks with the Half-Elf bonus vs Enchantment.
Fortitude save is normally more important than reflex save, but that is not all that DEX is giving this build. It also boosts his chance to hit and damage, and gives him a better chance of going first. Being able to take down a spell caster before they can cast makes the save a moot point. The extra DEX does not guarantee that the character goes first, but it does increase the chance of that happening. Weighing the benefits of +1 fortitude save and 9 HP vs. +1 to hit , +1 to damage, +1 AC (including touch), +1 reflex save, +1 Initiative, and +1 on DEX based skills, I have to go with DEX.
Like I said before Will saves have already been taken care of. A +12 or higher bonus to a save at 9the level is pretty decent.
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A Tanky Fighter level 9
Alright.
HD: 9d10 BAB +9/4 Fort +6 Ref +3 Will +3 <--- Base things at 9th Level for a fighter as well as Armor Training 2, Bravery +2 and Weapon Training 2.
Since it sounds like you went the route of human and your new it sounds as well I'll keep everything to the Core Book to help. Later on, if you like the game branching out into the other books.
The Stats you have Currently are
20 Str 14 Dex 16 Con 7 Int 11 Wis 8 Cha
A Good Solid brute style character Something you might want to consider is a two-handed fighter instead of a Scimitar Warrior.
Anyway with these stats you have the base following
HD 9d10+27 Melee: +14/+9, Ranged +11/+6, Fortitude +9, Reflex +5, Will +3,Armor training 2 & Bravery+2
Feats [Brute Build]
H- Endurance
1- Toughness (Breaks down to an extra HP per level, for a Total of +9HP)
1F- Weapon Focus [Falchion]
2F- DieHard
3- Athletic (Can be Switched out for Skill Focus -Intimidate if you want to amp up causing fear)
4F- Weapon Specialization [Falchion]
5- Great Fortitude (additional +2 Fortitude)
6F- Vital Strike
7- Dazzling Display
8F- Improved Critical
9- Critical Focus
Weapon training: Heavy Blades +2, Light Blades +1
A Regular Falchion will be set at +17/+12 2d4+11/15-20 x2 Critical, with a +4 To Confirm a Critical
As for Gear 46,000GP
Primary Weapon: +1 Shocking Falchion [Cost: 8,375 GP] this will add an additional +1 To hit above and to it's base damage, as well as 1d6 Electrical Damage.
Main Armor: +4 Mithril Breast Plate [Cost: 20,200 GP]
{This gives you a +10 Armor Bonus, Max Dex: +5, Armor Check Penalty: -0, Weight 15Lb's and is considered Light armor, so your speed isn't reduced, and while a bit high for the level your at, the Gm shouldn't find it too imbalancing}
Belt Of Giant Strength +2 [Cost: 4,000 GP, bringing your strength to 22]
Cloak Of Resistance +2 [Cost: 4,000 GP, adds a +2 to all your Saves]
Amulet Of Natural Armor +1 [cost: 2,000: Grants a +1 Natural Armor Bonus]
Ring Of Protection +1 [Cost: 2,000: Grants a +1 Deflection Bonus]
Brooch of Shielding [Cost: 1,500: Prevents up to 101 Points of damage from magical missile before becoming Inert]
Handy Haversack [Cost: 2,000: Best backpack ever, It can hold up to 80Lb's of items, but only weighs 5Lb's]
Then comes basic Gear: a belt pouch, a blanket, a flint and steel, rope, soap, torches (10), trail rations (7 days), and a waterskin. Which comes to 8 GP
Leaving you with 1,917 Gold.
As for Skills: Intimidate +10 [9 Ranks, +3 For Class Skill Bonus, -2 Charisma] After a Successful Hit you can as a Free Action roll an Intimidate check against all foes within 30ft of you, that can see you.
If you take Skill focus instead of Athletics, Add +3 To intimidate for a total of +13
The DC to intimidate creates is 10+HD-/+ Wis Mod of the enemies. So it won't always work, but the higher you roll the longer the enemies take penalties to attack you.
For a Class Bonus, I would add an additional 9 HP
Which would bring you to a Total of 9d10+45 [Which if your going PFS would mean you have 103 Hit Points]
Your Armor Class would also be 24 (Touch: 13, Flat: 22)
When Going all out your Falchion would read this way
+1 Shocking Falchion: +16 (4d4+22 +1d6 Electrical/15-20 S) On a Crit 6d4+44 +1d6 Electrical Damage