Fighter

Description

---

The questing knight, the conquering overlord, the king's champion, the elite foot soldier, the hardened mercenary, and the bandit king - all are fighters. Fighters can be stalwart defenders of those in need, cruel marauders, or gutsy adventurers. Some are among the land's best souls, willing to face death for the greater good. Others are among the worst, with no qualms about killing for private gain, or even for sport. Fighters who are not actively adventuring may be soldiers, guards, bodyguards, champions, or criminal enforcers. An adventuring fighter might call himself a warrior, a mercenary, a thug, or simply an adventurer.

Most fighters see adventures, raids, and dangerous missions as their job. Some have patrons who pay them regularly. Others prefer to live like prospectors, taking great risks in hopes of the big haul. Some fighters are more civic-minded and use their combat skills to protect endangered people who cannot defend themselves. Whatever their initial motivations, however, fighters often wind up living for the thrill of combat and adventure.

Of all classes, fighters have the best all-around fighting capabilities (hence the name). Fighters are familiar with all the standard weapons and armours. In addition to general fighting prowess, each fighter develops particular specialties of his own. A given fighter may be especially capable with certain weapons, another might be trained to execute specific fancy maneuvers. As fighters gain experience, they get more opportunities to develop their fighting skills. Thanks to their focus on combat maneuvers, they can master the most difficult ones relatively quickly.

Fighters may be of any alignment. Good fighters are often crusading types who seek out and fight evil. Lawful fighters may be champions who protect the land and its people. Chaotic fighters may be wandering mercenaries. Evil fighters tend to be bullies and petty villains who simply take what they want by brute force.

Fighters come to their profession in many ways. Most have had formal training in a noble's army or at least in the local militia. Some have trained in formal academies. Others are self-taught - unpolished but well tested. A fighter may have taken up the sword as a way to escape the limits of life on the farm, or he may be following a proud family tradition. Fighters share no special identity. They do not see themselves as a group or brotherhood. Those who hail from a particular academy, mercenary company, or lord's regiment, however, share a certain camaraderie.

Human fighters are usually veterans of some military service, typically from more mundane parents. Dwarf fighters are commonly former members of the well-trained strike teams that protect the underground dwarven kingdoms. They are typically members of warrior families that can trace their lineages back for millennia, and they may have rivalries or alliances with other dwarf fighters of a different lineage. Elf fighters are typically skilled with the longsword. They are proud of their ability at swordplay and eager to demonstrate or test it.

Half-orc fighters are often selftaught outcasts who have achieved enough skill to earn recognition and something akin to respect. Gnome and halfling fighters usually stay in their own communities as part of the area militia rather than adventuring. Half-elves are rarely fighters, but they may take up swordplay in honour of the elven tradition.

Among the brutal humanoids, few can manage the discipline it takes to be a true fighter. The militaristic hobgoblins, however, produce quite a number of strong and skilled fighters.

The fighter excels in a straight fight, but they rely on others for magical support, healing, and scouting. On a team, it is their job to man the front lines, protect the other party members, and bring the tough opponents down. Fighters might not understand the arcane ways of wizards or share the faith of clerics, but they often recognize the value of teamwork.

In most adventuring parties, the fighter serves as a melee combatant, charging into the fray while their comrades support them with spells, ranged attacks, and other effects. Fighters who favour ranged combat can prove very deadly, though without other melee support, they can find themselves in front-line combat more often than they might prefer.

*Denotes modification from vanilla NWN.

Alignment Restriction: None

Hit Die: d10

Proficiencies: A Fighter is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light) and shields (including tower shields).

Skill Points: 3 + INT Modifier

Class Skills: All Knowledges, Barter, Bluff, Concentration, Craft Trap, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Discipline, Heal, Intimidate, Parry, Perform, Sense Motive, Taunt, Tumble

Primary Saving Throws: Fortitude

Base Attack Bonus: +1 / Level

Level Progression

---

• Bravery:
  • Starting at level 2, grants a Fighter a bonus to saves against Fear. Increases with Fighter level.
    level 2: +1
    level 8: +2
    level 14: +3
• Armor Training:
  • Starting at 1st level, a Fighter learns to be more maneuverable while wearing armor. Whenever he is wearing armor, he reduces the armor check penalty by 1 (to a minimum of 0, applied as a skill bonus to ACP skills). Every five levels thereafter (6th, 11th, and 16th), this bonuses increase by +1 each time, to a maximum –3 reduction of the armor check penalty
  • Starting at level 11 this also increases the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by his armor by 1 (Applied as a dodge bonus to AC). To a maximum of a +2 increase of the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed.
• Second Wind:
  • Starting at 5th level, once every 20 minutes a Fighter can gather his strength for a second wind. Preparing himself for the next fight. This ability heals the Fighter for 1d10 + the Fighter Level. Instant Cast.
• Charge:
  • Starting at 3rd level, once every 3 minutes a Fighter can charge into combat, granting them a 50% move speed increase, a +2 bonus to attacks and a -2 penalty to AC. This effect lasts for 1 round.
• Rally:
  • Starting at 9th level, once every 30 minutes a Fighter commands his allies, rallying them to his side and warning of coming threats. Those close by the Fighter gain a +1 Dodge bonus to AC and a +1 bonus to all saves for 3 rounds + 1 round for every 2 Fighter levels. At level 17, the cooldown reduces to once every 20 minutes.

Fighter Bonus Feats:

• New Fighter-only bonus feats: (these bonus feats require at least 7 levels of Fighter)
  • Shield Bash: Hit and daze for 1 round, instant cast. Deals 1d6 damage. DC is attack roll against Discipline. Usable once every 1 minute. Only usable with a shield equipped. A successful Discipline check versus a DC equal to the attack roll prevents this effect.
  • Vengeance: Daring any foes to strike him, the Fighter deals damage back to any who manages to land a hit. For 1 turn, anyone who strikes the Fighter will take 1d4 Piercing damage. Usable once every 5 minutes.
  • Bleeding Strike: Apply the Wounding property to your weapon for 5 rounds. Usable once every 2 minutes.
  • Fettering Blow: The Fighter presses the attack, overwhelming the opponent with a furious assault. This applies the effect of Slow for 2 rounds. Usable once every 5 minutes. A successful Reflex save versus a DC equal to the attack roll prevents this effect.
  • Epic Toughness (Normal requirements removed, cannot be taken until level 16)
  • Improved Whirlwind Attack (Normal requirements removed, cannot be taken until level 16)
  • Armor Skin (Normal requirements removed, cannot be taken until level 16)
  • Martial Mastery (Cannot be taken until level 18) - Allows the Fighter to choose one of the following fighting styles:
    • Whirling Frenzy: While dual-wielding, the Fighter has a 5% chance whenever dealing damage to an enemy for their next 3 attacks to attempt a melee touch attack on all nearby enemies. Each successful touch attack will deal 1d4 damage + their STR modifier.
    • Clustered Shots: Each time the Fighter successfully hits the same target with a ranged attack, they deal an additional +1 damage, stacking up to 6 times and lasting until they change target or the target dies.
    • Furious Focus: While using a two-handed weapon and in Power Attack stance, the first attack of each round ignores the Power Attack penalty to attack bonus. This does not work with Improved Power Attack.
    • Heroic Durability: While using a shield, the Fighter has a 10% chance whenever they take damage to gain DR 10/+2 for 3 rounds + 1 round / ½ their Constitution modifier, rounded down.