Introduction:
Fighter is by far one of the most versatile classes in the game. The class is very flexible when it comes to the different builds you can come up with. It can be a ranged damage dealer. A weapon master who focuses on one singular weapon. A front line tank. A dexterous dual handed combatant who makes quick consecutive strikes. It can even be a combatant who carries around a huge two handed weapon! This is an overview of the base fighter's features and why you should consider playing one! Whatever martial role you have in mind, the fighter can help you fill it!
For starters the class comes out the box with martial weapon proficiency. This means that the class is able to wield such weapons like Long Swords, Kukris, Great Axes, Long Bows, Falchions, and so on. Right from the start. This is good because some of the best weapons in Pathfinder: Kingmaker are martial based. You also don't have to burn a feat to be proficient in them. Another huge advantage with the class is that it gets bonus feats. Unlike regular feats these are combat feats. The difference between regular feats and combat feats is that combat feats are more focused on things that have to do with combat. So, a feat that makes you more competent at hitting things, is a combat feat. A feat that improves your ability to disable an opponent in melee is also a combat for example.
Here is a list of combat feats that you can find in Pathfinder: Kingmaker:
Hopefully this list gives you an idea of what to expect from them. Furthermore, you get these feats starting at level one and at every even number thereafter. So, you go 1,2,4,6,8 - you get the idea. The amount of feats you get is why this class is so flexible. For instance, at level one, a ranged character can get Point Blank and Precise Shot. Meaning right from the start you have a competent ranged character. If you're a human you can pick another feat to increase your competency at ranged combat. Another thing to consider is that if you're rolling a DEX based character. You can get Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus(Long Sword), then Slashing Grace at level one. If you're a human that is. If you're not you can only get two feats. Still, this illustrates the point that feat hungry characters are much easier to build with the fighter class.
Another feature of the class is weapon training. Weapon training is very significant. As it gives you a permanent unique buff when using your trained weapon. This buff stacks with other bonuses as well. Basically, at level five you pick a weapon group that includes your favored weapon. You gain a plus one to both attack rolls and damage rolls. For every ninth, thirteenth, and seventeenth levels within the fighter class. The weapon training bonus increases by one. Finally at level twenty you become a master at your chosen weapon. This means that any attacks made with your weapon will automatically have their critical threats confirmed. The damage multiplier is also further increased by one as well. On top of that you also can not be disarmed when wielding your mastered weapon.
In addition to weapon training, the fighter can qualify for advanced fighter feats. These are gained at level nine. These advanced feats serve to grant bonuses when wielding your trained weapon. FriendlyMerchant provided a list of the feats. Here's the list!
If all of that doesn't sound nice. The fighter class also has a little something for heavy armor users as well. Under normal conditions, a heavy armor user is capped at 14 DEX. This means that they can not derive any bonuses to AC if DEX is above 14. Fighter alleviates this with armor training, which is gained at level three. Armor training increases the maximum dexterity bonuses that you can can derive from DEX by one. Every four levels after you gained armor training, the bonus increases by one, up to level fifteen. At level nineteenth the fighter gains armor mastery. Armor mastery gives DR 5/- whenever you're wearing heavy armor or using a shield. In addition to gaining more AC from DEX, armor training also reduces penalties that you'd incur from wearing heavy armor. Lastly, at seventh level, a fighter can run at normal speed even when wearing heavy armor. Pretty good stuff, huh!
Now, how do you build a fighter? With so many options and different ways. It is frankly quite overwhelming! Well! FriendlyMerchant has been kind enough to provide us with some basic builds to get you started!
For this next section FriendlyMerchant covers Aldori Duelist, Tower Shield Specialist, and Two Handed Fighter, while also giving us example builds!
Aldori Duelist:
The Aldori Duelist is a direct upgrade from the Base Fighter in many ways. It misses out on armor training though but makes up for it in quite a way. First thing, in addition to all the fighter proficiencies you get Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Dueling Swords for Free. And this isn't at the cost of one of your free feats. So you can still use those for whatever you want! Second, there's a new ability called Defensive Parry. At level three you get a +1 dodge bonus to AC against melee attacks whenever you make a full attack with a dueling sword and you get an additional +1 AC for every four levels past 3. So at level 19, that would be +5 dodge AC against Melee whenever you make a full attack with a dueling sword. Pretty good eh? It's not as spiffy as the extra DEX AC from armor training with a high DEX character, but it's good enough for now. It also misses out on a few bonus feats, dropping them at level 6, 8 and 10. Instead you get a few new features at level 6, 8, 10.
Level 6. Disarming: Makes it so you do damage to your opponent with your dueling sword when you succeed in a disarm roll. You just don't get to add your STR bonus to the attack. So for a +1 dueling sword, you do 1d8+1 damage if you successfully disarm an opponent. You might not use this if you don't want to use disarm. But it's makes the maneuver a little nicer.
Level 8. Steel Net: This is where the class really shines. When you fight defensively with a dueling sword, you reduce the attack penalty by 2 and you increase the dodge bonus by 2. So instead of -4 to your attack roll, you only get -2 to your attack roll. Instead of +2 dodge to your AC from fighting defensively. You get +4. If you have 3 points in mobility, it's +5 dodge instead of +3 dodge. On top of that, if you took the crane style feat, fighting defensively costs you nothing to your attack bonus. +6 dodge AC from fighting defensively with no penalty to your attack. Absolute Amazing!
Level 10. Counter Attack: Whenever you take damage from an enemy in melee range, you get an opportunity attack against that enemy. Makes a nice pair with combat reflexes feat and opportunist's boots.
How could you build an Aldori duelist? Here's an example using just 20 levels of fighter:
Two Handed Fighter:
Two handed fighter is the go to class if you want to use big weapons. You could build a base fighter to do that if you want. However, there are plenty of reasons you'd prefer this variant over base fighter. Unlike the base class, Two handed fighter doesn't get armor training and doesn't get a choice of weapon training. Instead of weapon training, the character gets Two-handed Weapon Training which applies to all Two-handed Weapons. Instead of Armor Training, the character gets strong grip from a life of chronic pole-arm use, this gives a +1 bonus to CMB/CMD for sunder and disarm roles at level 3 and an additional +1 bonus every four levels after 3. It's nice if you're using disarm or sunder. But I'd personally prefer Armor Training.
Now since Two handed fighter doesn't get Advanced Weapon training, it gets something else. Something that is quite impressive. Let's list those abilities
Level 3. Overhand chop: You get to add double your str bonus to single attacks with two handed weapons instead of just 1.5x.
Level 7. Backswing: You add double your str bonus to every attack after your first attack whenever you make a full attack.
Level 11. Piledriver: You can make a single attack. If that attack succeeds, you get to make a free trip or bullrush attempt. The free maneuver does not provoke AoO.
Level 15. Greater Power Attack: Enjoy doing double damage with power attack.
Level 19. Devastating Blow: You make a single attack at a -5 penalty. If it hits, the attack counts as a critical threat. That's great if you end up using a weapon with a high crit multiplier and want to see how much damage you end up doing in a single hit. Maybe trigger some teamwork feats like Seize the Moment and let your party AoO your enemy.
Here's an example of a Two handed fighter character:
Tower Shield Specialist:
Tower Shield Specialist is the class you pick when you just need a guy to stand there and distract your enemies for a bit while stacking AC fast. It's also the class you pick if you want to show Valerie that it's possible to hit things while holding on to a giant piece of wood while she raises her right arm. So tell me... Do you want to be Valerie?
TSS gets armor training just like Base Fighter so that's pretty nice. Instead of Bravery she gets Burst Barrier which adds +1 to your reflex save when you're using a tower shield. Instead of Weapon training she gets Tower Shield training at level 3 and every fourth level after. Pretty much just armor training but for tower shields. At level 5 and every fourth level after, she gets some new tower shield related feats
Level 5. Tower Shield Specialist: The -2 penalty to attack rolls from using big logs as shields disappears.
Level 9. Tower Shield Defense: Add your tower shield bonus against touch attacks.
Level 13. Total Cover: Can't be flanked while using a tower shield.
Level 16. Tower Shield Evasion: You get evasion when using a tower shield.
Level 20. Tower Shield Improved Evasion: Instead of Weapon Mastery, you get Improved Evasion when using a tower shield.
So let's talk about the Valerie build. But only using TSS levels:
Fighter is by far one of the most versatile classes in the game. The class is very flexible when it comes to the different builds you can come up with. It can be a ranged damage dealer. A weapon master who focuses on one singular weapon. A front line tank. A dexterous dual handed combatant who makes quick consecutive strikes. It can even be a combatant who carries around a huge two handed weapon! This is an overview of the base fighter's features and why you should consider playing one! Whatever martial role you have in mind, the fighter can help you fill it!
For starters the class comes out the box with martial weapon proficiency. This means that the class is able to wield such weapons like Long Swords, Kukris, Great Axes, Long Bows, Falchions, and so on. Right from the start. This is good because some of the best weapons in Pathfinder: Kingmaker are martial based. You also don't have to burn a feat to be proficient in them. Another huge advantage with the class is that it gets bonus feats. Unlike regular feats these are combat feats. The difference between regular feats and combat feats is that combat feats are more focused on things that have to do with combat. So, a feat that makes you more competent at hitting things, is a combat feat. A feat that improves your ability to disable an opponent in melee is also a combat for example.
Here is a list of combat feats that you can find in Pathfinder: Kingmaker:
>Agile Maneuvers
>Aldori Dueling Mastery
>Allied Spellcaster
>Arcane Armor Mastery
>Arcane Armor Training
>Arcane Strike
>Armor Focus
>Back to Back
>Bashing Finish
>Blind Fight
>Blinding Critical
>Bull Rush
>Cleave
>Cleaving Finish
>Clustered Shots
>Combat Expertise
>Combat Mobility
>Combat Reflexes
>Coordinated Defenses
>Cornugon Smash
>Crane Riposte
>Crane Style
>Crane Wing
>Critical Focus
>Critical Mastery
>Crushing Blow
>Dazzling Display
>Deadly Aim
>Defensive Combat Training
>Deflect Arrows
>Dirty Trick
>Disarm
>Dodge
>Double Slice
>Dragon Ferocity
>Dragon Style
>Dreadful Carnage
>Endurance
>Exhausting Critical
>Exotic Weapon Proficiency
>Fencing Grace
>Fury's Fall
>Great Cleave
>Greater Blindfight
>Greater Bull Rush
>Greater Dirty Trick
>Greater Disarm
>Greater Penetrating Strike
>Greater Shield Focus
>Greater Sunder Armor
>Greater Trip
>Greater Two Weapon Fighting
>Greater Vital Strike
>Greater Weapon Focus
>Greater Weapon Specialization
>Hammer the Gap
>Improved Blind Fight
>Improved Cleaving Finish
>Improved Critical
>Improved Initiative
>Improved Precise Shot
>Improved Two Weapon Fighting
>Improved Unarmed Strike
>Improved Vital Strike
>Intimidating Prowess
>Manyshot
>Missile Shield
>Natural Spell
>Outflank
>Penetrating Strike
>Piranha Strike
>Point Blank Master
>Point Blank Shot
>Power Strike
>Precise Shot
>Precise Strike
>Pummeling Bully
>Pummeling Charge
>Pummeling Style
>Rapid Shot
>Seize the Moment
>Shatter Defenses
>Shield Bash
>Shield Focus
>Shield Master
>Shield Wall
>Shielded Caster
>Sickening Critical
>Slashing Grace
>Staggering Critical
>Stunning Fist
>Sunder Armor
>Tandem Trip
>Tiring Critical
>Trip
>Two Weapon Fighting
>Vital Strike
>Weapon Finesse
>Weapon Focus
>Weapon Specialization
>Aldori Dueling Mastery
>Allied Spellcaster
>Arcane Armor Mastery
>Arcane Armor Training
>Arcane Strike
>Armor Focus
>Back to Back
>Bashing Finish
>Blind Fight
>Blinding Critical
>Bull Rush
>Cleave
>Cleaving Finish
>Clustered Shots
>Combat Expertise
>Combat Mobility
>Combat Reflexes
>Coordinated Defenses
>Cornugon Smash
>Crane Riposte
>Crane Style
>Crane Wing
>Critical Focus
>Critical Mastery
>Crushing Blow
>Dazzling Display
>Deadly Aim
>Defensive Combat Training
>Deflect Arrows
>Dirty Trick
>Disarm
>Dodge
>Double Slice
>Dragon Ferocity
>Dragon Style
>Dreadful Carnage
>Endurance
>Exhausting Critical
>Exotic Weapon Proficiency
>Fencing Grace
>Fury's Fall
>Great Cleave
>Greater Blindfight
>Greater Bull Rush
>Greater Dirty Trick
>Greater Disarm
>Greater Penetrating Strike
>Greater Shield Focus
>Greater Sunder Armor
>Greater Trip
>Greater Two Weapon Fighting
>Greater Vital Strike
>Greater Weapon Focus
>Greater Weapon Specialization
>Hammer the Gap
>Improved Blind Fight
>Improved Cleaving Finish
>Improved Critical
>Improved Initiative
>Improved Precise Shot
>Improved Two Weapon Fighting
>Improved Unarmed Strike
>Improved Vital Strike
>Intimidating Prowess
>Manyshot
>Missile Shield
>Natural Spell
>Outflank
>Penetrating Strike
>Piranha Strike
>Point Blank Master
>Point Blank Shot
>Power Strike
>Precise Shot
>Precise Strike
>Pummeling Bully
>Pummeling Charge
>Pummeling Style
>Rapid Shot
>Seize the Moment
>Shatter Defenses
>Shield Bash
>Shield Focus
>Shield Master
>Shield Wall
>Shielded Caster
>Sickening Critical
>Slashing Grace
>Staggering Critical
>Stunning Fist
>Sunder Armor
>Tandem Trip
>Tiring Critical
>Trip
>Two Weapon Fighting
>Vital Strike
>Weapon Finesse
>Weapon Focus
>Weapon Specialization
Another feature of the class is weapon training. Weapon training is very significant. As it gives you a permanent unique buff when using your trained weapon. This buff stacks with other bonuses as well. Basically, at level five you pick a weapon group that includes your favored weapon. You gain a plus one to both attack rolls and damage rolls. For every ninth, thirteenth, and seventeenth levels within the fighter class. The weapon training bonus increases by one. Finally at level twenty you become a master at your chosen weapon. This means that any attacks made with your weapon will automatically have their critical threats confirmed. The damage multiplier is also further increased by one as well. On top of that you also can not be disarmed when wielding your mastered weapon.
In addition to weapon training, the fighter can qualify for advanced fighter feats. These are gained at level nine. These advanced feats serve to grant bonuses when wielding your trained weapon. FriendlyMerchant provided a list of the feats. Here's the list!
If all of that doesn't sound nice. The fighter class also has a little something for heavy armor users as well. Under normal conditions, a heavy armor user is capped at 14 DEX. This means that they can not derive any bonuses to AC if DEX is above 14. Fighter alleviates this with armor training, which is gained at level three. Armor training increases the maximum dexterity bonuses that you can can derive from DEX by one. Every four levels after you gained armor training, the bonus increases by one, up to level fifteen. At level nineteenth the fighter gains armor mastery. Armor mastery gives DR 5/- whenever you're wearing heavy armor or using a shield. In addition to gaining more AC from DEX, armor training also reduces penalties that you'd incur from wearing heavy armor. Lastly, at seventh level, a fighter can run at normal speed even when wearing heavy armor. Pretty good stuff, huh!
Now, how do you build a fighter? With so many options and different ways. It is frankly quite overwhelming! Well! FriendlyMerchant has been kind enough to provide us with some basic builds to get you started!
DEX build
The good old Basher. DEX in case the feats get fixed. This build has no dumps because it doesn't need any! Can also get away with using medium armor due to high DEX. Weapon choice is up to the player.
Race: Human
Stats:
STR 14
DEX 17 + 2
CON 12
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 14
Skill points: Mobility, Persuasion, and Knowledge(World) (camp cook).
Feat selection:
1. Weapon finesse, Weapon Focus: Longsword, Slashing Grace (Weapon Focus: One handed Slashing, Slashing Grace. Longsword is an example of one-handed slashing. You can also go One handed Piercing, Fencing Grace.)
2. Two Weapon Fighting
3. Shield Bash
4. Double Slice
5. Outflank, Weapon Training: Heavy Blades
6. Improved Two Weapon Fighting
7. Dazzling Display
8. Shatter Defenses
9. Greater Weapon Focus, Advanced Weapon Training: Armed Bravery
10. Hammer the Gap
11. Shield Master
12. Greater Two Weapon Fighting
13. Bashing Finish, Advanced Weapon Training: Fighter's Tactics
14. Improved Critical: Longsword
15. Weapon Specialization: Longsword
16. Greater Weapon Specialization: Longsword
After 17. It doesn't matter that much as to what feats you take, though for this build Fighter's reflex is a good choice for the Advanced Weapon Training. Blind Fight and power attack are excellent choices for level 17 and 18 feats.
The Dex build can also be turned into a two-weapon build (no shields) by dropping the shield feats and taking all feats earlier that are possible to take earlier. In addition, you take Effortless Dual wielding as the level 5 Weapon Training and use two weapon focus weapons.
You can also go STR with this build.
STR 18
DEX 15
CON 14
INT 7
WIS 12
CON 14
Switch Weapon Finesse and Slashing Grace at level 1 with Shield Focus and Armor Focus. Two builds killed by one.
*The STR build has to make sure the MC has a +2 dex belt/gloves on for level 6 and a +4 dex belt/gloves on for level 12 so he can pick up the feats and use them. Not too hard to get if you rush Nazrielle's artisan questline. Have her make something for speed.
The good old Basher. DEX in case the feats get fixed. This build has no dumps because it doesn't need any! Can also get away with using medium armor due to high DEX. Weapon choice is up to the player.
Race: Human
Stats:
STR 14
DEX 17 + 2
CON 12
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 14
Skill points: Mobility, Persuasion, and Knowledge(World) (camp cook).
Feat selection:
1. Weapon finesse, Weapon Focus: Longsword, Slashing Grace (Weapon Focus: One handed Slashing, Slashing Grace. Longsword is an example of one-handed slashing. You can also go One handed Piercing, Fencing Grace.)
2. Two Weapon Fighting
3. Shield Bash
4. Double Slice
5. Outflank, Weapon Training: Heavy Blades
6. Improved Two Weapon Fighting
7. Dazzling Display
8. Shatter Defenses
9. Greater Weapon Focus, Advanced Weapon Training: Armed Bravery
10. Hammer the Gap
11. Shield Master
12. Greater Two Weapon Fighting
13. Bashing Finish, Advanced Weapon Training: Fighter's Tactics
14. Improved Critical: Longsword
15. Weapon Specialization: Longsword
16. Greater Weapon Specialization: Longsword
After 17. It doesn't matter that much as to what feats you take, though for this build Fighter's reflex is a good choice for the Advanced Weapon Training. Blind Fight and power attack are excellent choices for level 17 and 18 feats.
The Dex build can also be turned into a two-weapon build (no shields) by dropping the shield feats and taking all feats earlier that are possible to take earlier. In addition, you take Effortless Dual wielding as the level 5 Weapon Training and use two weapon focus weapons.
You can also go STR with this build.
STR 18
DEX 15
CON 14
INT 7
WIS 12
CON 14
Switch Weapon Finesse and Slashing Grace at level 1 with Shield Focus and Armor Focus. Two builds killed by one.
*The STR build has to make sure the MC has a +2 dex belt/gloves on for level 6 and a +4 dex belt/gloves on for level 12 so he can pick up the feats and use them. Not too hard to get if you rush Nazrielle's artisan questline. Have her make something for speed.
Ranged build
Race: Human
Stats:
STR 16 (for composite bows)
DEX 17 + 2
CON 11
INT 7
WIS 10
CHA 14
Feat Selection:
1. Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot
2. Weapon Focus: Longbow
3. Deadly Aim
4. Weapon Specialization: Longbow
5. Point Blank Master: Longbow, Weapon Training: Bows
6. Manyshot
7. Hammer the gap
8. Dazzling Display
9. Shatter Defenses, Advanced Weapon Training: Trained Initiative
10. Clustered Shots
11. Greater Weapon Focus: Longbow
12. Improved Precise Shot
13. Greater Weapon Specialization: Longbow, Your choice for Advanced Weapon Training
14. Improved Critical: Longbow
15. Critical Focus
16. Tiring Critical
17. Exhausting Critical
18. Blind Fight
19. Do whatever you want past here.
Race: Human
Stats:
STR 16 (for composite bows)
DEX 17 + 2
CON 11
INT 7
WIS 10
CHA 14
Feat Selection:
1. Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot
2. Weapon Focus: Longbow
3. Deadly Aim
4. Weapon Specialization: Longbow
5. Point Blank Master: Longbow, Weapon Training: Bows
6. Manyshot
7. Hammer the gap
8. Dazzling Display
9. Shatter Defenses, Advanced Weapon Training: Trained Initiative
10. Clustered Shots
11. Greater Weapon Focus: Longbow
12. Improved Precise Shot
13. Greater Weapon Specialization: Longbow, Your choice for Advanced Weapon Training
14. Improved Critical: Longbow
15. Critical Focus
16. Tiring Critical
17. Exhausting Critical
18. Blind Fight
19. Do whatever you want past here.
Aldori Duelist:
The Aldori Duelist is a direct upgrade from the Base Fighter in many ways. It misses out on armor training though but makes up for it in quite a way. First thing, in addition to all the fighter proficiencies you get Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Dueling Swords for Free. And this isn't at the cost of one of your free feats. So you can still use those for whatever you want! Second, there's a new ability called Defensive Parry. At level three you get a +1 dodge bonus to AC against melee attacks whenever you make a full attack with a dueling sword and you get an additional +1 AC for every four levels past 3. So at level 19, that would be +5 dodge AC against Melee whenever you make a full attack with a dueling sword. Pretty good eh? It's not as spiffy as the extra DEX AC from armor training with a high DEX character, but it's good enough for now. It also misses out on a few bonus feats, dropping them at level 6, 8 and 10. Instead you get a few new features at level 6, 8, 10.
Level 6. Disarming: Makes it so you do damage to your opponent with your dueling sword when you succeed in a disarm roll. You just don't get to add your STR bonus to the attack. So for a +1 dueling sword, you do 1d8+1 damage if you successfully disarm an opponent. You might not use this if you don't want to use disarm. But it's makes the maneuver a little nicer.
Level 8. Steel Net: This is where the class really shines. When you fight defensively with a dueling sword, you reduce the attack penalty by 2 and you increase the dodge bonus by 2. So instead of -4 to your attack roll, you only get -2 to your attack roll. Instead of +2 dodge to your AC from fighting defensively. You get +4. If you have 3 points in mobility, it's +5 dodge instead of +3 dodge. On top of that, if you took the crane style feat, fighting defensively costs you nothing to your attack bonus. +6 dodge AC from fighting defensively with no penalty to your attack. Absolute Amazing!
Level 10. Counter Attack: Whenever you take damage from an enemy in melee range, you get an opportunity attack against that enemy. Makes a nice pair with combat reflexes feat and opportunist's boots.
How could you build an Aldori duelist? Here's an example using just 20 levels of fighter:
You could even take the Basher build from the Base fighter change around your feat choices to to take advantage of some of the features of this class. Or maybe a dual dueling swords build. But I wanna do something a little different for fun. I'm just going to combine crane school with the class's ability to stack AC as high as I can without multiclassing while just using one dueling sword. At level 8, without accounting for gear, we should be able to get a +12 dodge bonus to AC against melee. That's pretty big.
You can use a Dex build and use agile dueling swords all game if you know where to look. But I wanna pretend I'm going in blind so I'm gonna go STR and I'm going to show you that one here. If you want to go dex, you know what to do. I'm going to go Human again for the extra feat. You could take another race if you wanted. Just delay some of the feats listed.
STR 19
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 13
CHA 14
Skill points : Mobility 3, Knowledge(World) maxed, Persuasion Maxed. Then whatever else you think you need.
Feats
1. Weapon Focus: Dueling Sword, improved unarmed strike, dodge
2. Crane Style
3. Dazzling Display
4. Outflank
5. Crane Wing, Weapon Training: Heavy Blades
7. Shatter Defenses
9. Combat Reflexes, Advanced Weapon Training: Armed Bravery
And as far as the concept goes the build is pretty much done. You just do the same type of thing we did with the base fighter for level 10-20. Just take the Greater weapon focus and weapon specialization feats, Improved Critical, Blind Fight, Power Attack, etc. and whatever else would look good for the build.
If you want to use this with Two weapon fighting, I recommend using the stat distribution we wrote down for the STR two weapon fighter build for the base fighter class. Replace Dazzling Display and Shatter Defenses with the appropriate Two weapon fighting feats. We're keeping Crane wing because it looks like it works with Two weapon fighting after a little bit of testing. You'll also need Double slice so delay combat reflexes until level 11 or drop Crane Wing if Owlcat patches it. At level 9, replace Armed Bravery with Effortless Dual Wielding.
You can use a Dex build and use agile dueling swords all game if you know where to look. But I wanna pretend I'm going in blind so I'm gonna go STR and I'm going to show you that one here. If you want to go dex, you know what to do. I'm going to go Human again for the extra feat. You could take another race if you wanted. Just delay some of the feats listed.
STR 19
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 13
CHA 14
Skill points : Mobility 3, Knowledge(World) maxed, Persuasion Maxed. Then whatever else you think you need.
Feats
1. Weapon Focus: Dueling Sword, improved unarmed strike, dodge
2. Crane Style
3. Dazzling Display
4. Outflank
5. Crane Wing, Weapon Training: Heavy Blades
7. Shatter Defenses
9. Combat Reflexes, Advanced Weapon Training: Armed Bravery
And as far as the concept goes the build is pretty much done. You just do the same type of thing we did with the base fighter for level 10-20. Just take the Greater weapon focus and weapon specialization feats, Improved Critical, Blind Fight, Power Attack, etc. and whatever else would look good for the build.
If you want to use this with Two weapon fighting, I recommend using the stat distribution we wrote down for the STR two weapon fighter build for the base fighter class. Replace Dazzling Display and Shatter Defenses with the appropriate Two weapon fighting feats. We're keeping Crane wing because it looks like it works with Two weapon fighting after a little bit of testing. You'll also need Double slice so delay combat reflexes until level 11 or drop Crane Wing if Owlcat patches it. At level 9, replace Armed Bravery with Effortless Dual Wielding.
Two handed fighter is the go to class if you want to use big weapons. You could build a base fighter to do that if you want. However, there are plenty of reasons you'd prefer this variant over base fighter. Unlike the base class, Two handed fighter doesn't get armor training and doesn't get a choice of weapon training. Instead of weapon training, the character gets Two-handed Weapon Training which applies to all Two-handed Weapons. Instead of Armor Training, the character gets strong grip from a life of chronic pole-arm use, this gives a +1 bonus to CMB/CMD for sunder and disarm roles at level 3 and an additional +1 bonus every four levels after 3. It's nice if you're using disarm or sunder. But I'd personally prefer Armor Training.
Now since Two handed fighter doesn't get Advanced Weapon training, it gets something else. Something that is quite impressive. Let's list those abilities
Level 3. Overhand chop: You get to add double your str bonus to single attacks with two handed weapons instead of just 1.5x.
Level 7. Backswing: You add double your str bonus to every attack after your first attack whenever you make a full attack.
Level 11. Piledriver: You can make a single attack. If that attack succeeds, you get to make a free trip or bullrush attempt. The free maneuver does not provoke AoO.
Level 15. Greater Power Attack: Enjoy doing double damage with power attack.
Level 19. Devastating Blow: You make a single attack at a -5 penalty. If it hits, the attack counts as a critical threat. That's great if you end up using a weapon with a high crit multiplier and want to see how much damage you end up doing in a single hit. Maybe trigger some teamwork feats like Seize the Moment and let your party AoO your enemy.
Here's an example of a Two handed fighter character:
For this one, I thought going elf would be fun. Not the best race for this class, but whatever. It gets Elven Curve blade as a martial weapon so I'm going to use Elven curve blades. Build might look like a little bit of a meme build, but it's all for fun. Don't forget to chug those enlarge potions.
STR 18
DEX 14
CON 12
INT 13
WIS 10
CHA 10
Feats
1. Weapon Focus, Combat Expertise
2. Trip
3. Fury's Fall
4. Outflank
5. Power Attack
6. Greater Trip
7. Dazzling Display
8. Shatter Defenses
9. Greater Weapon Focus
10. Weapon Specialization
11. Improved Critical
12. Greater Weapon Specialization
13. Cleave
14. Cleaving Finish
15. Combat Reflexes
16. Seize the Moment
17. Blind Fight
And take what you want for 18-20. You could delay weapon specialization and combat reflexes and seize the moment earlier. You can also take Tandem Trip if you want to to put the feat on another character or two. This isn't anywhere near as good as Tripviv, but whatever. It seems to work good enough here. You could also go Motherless Tiefling, change the stat distribution, and just use cloak of the winter wolf to auto trip. Again, not as good as dedicated trip builds, but it's decent enough for a single-class meme build.
STR 18
DEX 14
CON 12
INT 13
WIS 10
CHA 10
Feats
1. Weapon Focus, Combat Expertise
2. Trip
3. Fury's Fall
4. Outflank
5. Power Attack
6. Greater Trip
7. Dazzling Display
8. Shatter Defenses
9. Greater Weapon Focus
10. Weapon Specialization
11. Improved Critical
12. Greater Weapon Specialization
13. Cleave
14. Cleaving Finish
15. Combat Reflexes
16. Seize the Moment
17. Blind Fight
And take what you want for 18-20. You could delay weapon specialization and combat reflexes and seize the moment earlier. You can also take Tandem Trip if you want to to put the feat on another character or two. This isn't anywhere near as good as Tripviv, but whatever. It seems to work good enough here. You could also go Motherless Tiefling, change the stat distribution, and just use cloak of the winter wolf to auto trip. Again, not as good as dedicated trip builds, but it's decent enough for a single-class meme build.
Tower Shield Specialist is the class you pick when you just need a guy to stand there and distract your enemies for a bit while stacking AC fast. It's also the class you pick if you want to show Valerie that it's possible to hit things while holding on to a giant piece of wood while she raises her right arm. So tell me... Do you want to be Valerie?
TSS gets armor training just like Base Fighter so that's pretty nice. Instead of Bravery she gets Burst Barrier which adds +1 to your reflex save when you're using a tower shield. Instead of Weapon training she gets Tower Shield training at level 3 and every fourth level after. Pretty much just armor training but for tower shields. At level 5 and every fourth level after, she gets some new tower shield related feats
Level 5. Tower Shield Specialist: The -2 penalty to attack rolls from using big logs as shields disappears.
Level 9. Tower Shield Defense: Add your tower shield bonus against touch attacks.
Level 13. Total Cover: Can't be flanked while using a tower shield.
Level 16. Tower Shield Evasion: You get evasion when using a tower shield.
Level 20. Tower Shield Improved Evasion: Instead of Weapon Mastery, you get Improved Evasion when using a tower shield.
So let's talk about the Valerie build. But only using TSS levels:
We're just going to stack AC as much as possible. Because I'm dumping INT here, I'm going to go human because we need that extra feat. Besides, we want to be a better Valerie. So dump that INT! Don't worry too much about damage, that's what Ekun and Jubi are for.
STR 19
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 7
WIS 10
CHA 14
Feats
1. Improved Unarmed Strike, Dodge, Shield Focus
2. Crane Style
3. Weapon Focus
4. Outflank
5. Crane Wing [still not fixed]
6. Dazzling Display
7. Shatter Defenses
8. Crane Riposte
9. Greater Shield Focus
10. Armor Focus: Heavy Armor Focus
11. Blind Fight
And the AC has been stacked. The rest of the build is up to you.
STR 19
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 7
WIS 10
CHA 14
Feats
1. Improved Unarmed Strike, Dodge, Shield Focus
2. Crane Style
3. Weapon Focus
4. Outflank
5. Crane Wing [still not fixed]
6. Dazzling Display
7. Shatter Defenses
8. Crane Riposte
9. Greater Shield Focus
10. Armor Focus: Heavy Armor Focus
11. Blind Fight
And the AC has been stacked. The rest of the build is up to you.
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