Fighter

Some take up arms for glory, wealth, or revenge. Others do battle to prove themselves, to protect others, or because they know nothing else. Still others learn the ways of weaponcraft to hone their bodies in battle and prove their mettle in the forge of war. Lords of the battlefield, fighters are a disparate lot, training with many weapons or just one, perfecting the uses of armor, learning the fighting techniques of exotic masters, and studying the art of combat, all to shape themselves into living weapons. Far more than mere thugs, these skilled warriors reveal the true deadliness of their weapons, turning hunks of metal into arms capable of taming kingdoms, slaughtering monsters, and rousing the hearts of armies. Soldiers, knights, hunters, and artists of war, fighters are unparalleled champions, and woe to those who dare stand against them.

<php>echo “<b>Hit Dice:</b>”;</php> d10
<php>echo “<b>Alignment:</b>”;</php> Any
<php>echo “<b>Armor Proficiencies:</b>”;</php> All armor and shields
<php>echo “<b>Weapon Proficiencies:</b>”;</php> All simple and martial weapons
<php>echo “<b>Skill Points/Level:</b>”;</php> 2 + Int
<php>echo “<b>Class Skills:</b>”;</php> Athletics (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Perception (Wis), Trade (Int), Warfare (Int)

<php>echo “<b>Bonus Feat:</b>”;</php> At 1st level and every odd level thereafter, the fighter gains a bonus combat or maneuver feat. A fighter must meet the prerequisites before taking the feat.

<php>echo “<b>Combat Presence (Ex):</b>”;</php> In combat, it’s dangerous to ignore a fighter. At 1st level, whenever the fighter makes a melee attack against an enemy, whether the attack hits or misses, the fighter can choose to mark that target. The mark lasts for 1 round. While a target is marked, it takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls when making any attack that doesn’t include the fighter as a target. A creature can be subject to only one mark at a time. A new mark supersedes a mark that was already in place.

<php>echo “<b>Combat Superiority (Ex):</b>”;</php> A fighter is skilled at locking down a foe in combat. At 2nd level, whenever the fighter strikes an enemy with an attack of opportunity, that enemy stops moving and cannot move until the end of its turn. The target can still be moved forcefully, such as with a bull rush.

<php>echo “<b>Armor Training (Ex):</b>”;</php> A fighter’s rigorous training allows him to be more maneuverable while armored. Whenever the fighter is wearing armor, he reduces the armor check penalty by 1 (to a minimum of 0) and increases the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by his armor by 1. Every eight levels thereafter (10th and 18th), these bonuses increase by +1 each time, to a maximum –3 reduction of the armor check penalty and a +3 increase of the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed.

<php>echo “<b>Weapon Specialization (Ex):</b>”;</php> Through extensive training and experience, a fighter can increase his effectiveness with a chosen weapon group. Upon attaining this ability, the fighter selects a weapon group. He gains a +2 bonus on attack and damage rolls when using a weapon from the selected weapon group.

<php>echo “<b>Combat Style:</b>”;</php> Fighters are familiar with various forms of melee combat, and are able to adapt to almost any situation in battle. At 6th level and every four levels thereafter, the fighter can choose one of the following abilities:

• <php>echo “<i>Battlestrider (Ex):</i>”;</php> The fighter gains +10 ft. to his land speed, and deals double damage on his first successful attack when performing a charge action.
• <php>echo “<i>Disruptive (Ex):</i>”;</php> Opponents that start their turn within the fighter’s threatened area treat all the squares that the fighter threatens as difficult terrain, and the DC to cast defensively within the fighter’s threatened area increases by an amount equal to half the fighter’s base attack bonus.
• <php>echo “<i>Guardian (Ex):</i>”;</php> When using a shield, the fighter and any adjacent allies gain damage reduction equal to half of the shield’s armor bonus (minimum of 1).
• <php>echo “<i>Multispecialist (Ex):</i>”;</php> The fighter may choose a second weapon group for which he gains weapon specialization in.
• <php>echo “<i>Reaper (Ex):</i>”;</php> When wielding a two-handed melee weapon, the fighter gains a +4 bonus on melee damage rolls against bloodied foes.
• <php>echo “<i>Sentinel (Ex):</i>”;</php> The fighter gains a +4 bonus on his initiative checks and combat maneuver defense.
• <php>echo “<i>Stalwart (Ex):</i>”;</php> The fighter gains a +2 bonus on attack rolls, damage rolls, AC, and saving throws while bloodied.
• <php>echo “<i>Tactician (Ex):</i>”;</php> The fighter gains a +4 bonus to his combat maneuver bonus, as well as a +4 bonus on damage rolls with attacks of opportunity.
• <php>echo “<i>Unrelenting (Ex):</i>”;</php> When making a full attack action, each attack that connects grants the fighter a cumulative +1 bonus on attack rolls until the end of his turn.

<php>echo “<b>Battle Hardened (Ex):</b>”;</php> As fighters gain experience on the battlefield, they become accustomed to the fast pace and gruesome sights of battle. At 8th level, the fighter gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks and saving throws against fear effects. These bonuses increase to +4 at 16th level.

<php>echo “<b>Weapon Mastery (Ex):</b>”;</php> The fighter furthers his skill with his chosen weapon group. At 12th level, the fighter gains an additional +2 bonus on attack and damage rolls when using a weapon from the selected weapon group. This bonus stacks with the bonus from the weapon specialization feature.

<php>echo “<b>Weapon Grandmastery (Ex):</b>”;</php> The fighter becomes unmatched in skill with his chosen weapon group. At 20th level, any weapon the fighter wields from his chosen weapon group has its critical damage multiplier increased by one, and the fighter cannot be disarmed while wielding a weapon from that group.