Frontline Basher: Fighter vs. Barbarian vs. Paladin

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Well, there is a Sorcerer vs. Wizard Topic and I thought why not making some sort of poll about these fighting classes... For me this is the:
Fighter - He's for me the perfect class... He's strongest master of weapons... Pure Fighter... The perfect class, the toughest and the bad boy... If I could chose what to be my frontliner that definetely will be Dwarven Fighter...

 

Paladin:
+ Good fighter and can use lots of good magic and skills.
-Refuses rewards, can't multiclass without penalty.

Barbarian:
+ great fighter, pure skull-bashing machine, lots of hp, rage!
-well, he's stupid, only pure tank, conversation sucks, weak against control spells (although that can be helped)

Fighter:
+ Very good hp and attacks, lots of multiclassing possibilities, not stupid unlike the barbarian, very much skills, good all-round defences..
- Not much..

So, Fighter rules!

 

Barbarians don't have to be stupid and uncharismatic. Also, Barbarians and Fighters are both equally weak in terms of WILL saves, so there's no difference between the two there.
Fighters get more feats and so are a bit more skilled at combat, but Barbarians have more hit points, they can Rage and have numerous defences against being hit by traps and sneak attacks.
Fortunately, the two classes can combine nicely making the ideal warrior.

 

Front tanker: Barbarian level 20
Fighter level 10
This is the best Front tanker!

 

I agree with gaius

[ February 03, 2003, 14:11: Message edited by: Ancalìmon The Wise ]

 

Usually I play with a two or three characters, so my Frontline basher definitely will be:
- Fighter 15 - for obvious reasons
- Barbarian 8 - for the Rage :")
- Cleric 7 - many usefull spells and healing
At the end he'll be a machine for killing...\

If so Jadow, what's your point for not making Fighter 15/ Barbarian 15?

[ February 03, 2003, 14:19: Message edited by: Elan Morin Tedronai ]

 

I prefer pure fighter. When you get Cleave, Greater Clevae and Maximzed Attacks, and cast haste on him, he is alomst unbeatable

 

Well, personally I like the Paladin a lot. Good Savings and spellcasting can make tanking a whole lot easier. As for damage wise, you're not hearing any complaints from me. My Paladin can bash a very good amount...

 

Pure Fighters are definately good as combatants, but painfully boring. I have a single-classed Fighter right now, and he does his job but gods.. Boring as all hell.

 

To beef up my fighter's conversational skills and reflex saves I like to add a few rogue levels; the sneak attack is a nice bonus then too. When you do so on a later level that results in a couple of skill points that can boost up your conversation abilities like bluff/ intimidate/ diplomacy considerably. The feats iron will, concentration and bullheaded are a must for a fighter char.

I clearly prefer the lvl-4 to 6 fighter/ rest-barbarian as the ultimate frontliner; though a little weak on skills he's a formidable frontliner and despite his weakness in terms of will saves I'd like to point out that the barbarian's rage gives some resistance to mind affecting spells (+2 to will saves for 5 rounds). His fast movement and perceived low initiative make him attack fast and hit hard and first. A good reason to use that ability more frequent over the game and to concentrate the str-enhancing items on the other chars. The high str of the barb, when half-orc especially, suggests to use a two handed weapon such as a halberd, a greataxe or a greatsword. Anyway, a will save enhanceing/ spell immunity item is clearly useful for every fighter .... *hint* Spells help a lot to overcome will-save problems too.

Pallies are excellent fighters, and aasimar pallies don't even suffer a multiclass penalty. However, the lack of one level is a drawback. I played a pallies through the game and I found them inferior to fighters and barbs in terms of punch but clearly superior in terms of resistance and versatility.

[ February 03, 2003, 14:49: Message edited by: Ragusa ]

 

In a one on one, it really is quite equal. With maxed HP, the barb has 2 more hit points per level, plus the ability to add 2 MORE hit points per level through raging. That's 40 extra, say, for a level 10 barb. A paladin, however, can heal 40hp at that same level with an 18 charisma. The barb is usually going to have a better to-hit and damage, but the paladin equates that with a generally much higher AC [shield & some full plate vs. medium armor and dex - rage]. Not to mention, if the paladin can outlast the rage, the barb loses his hit point bonus, and, uh oh... he better be power attacking, and succeeding.

As far as my pick: Paladin x/Fighter 4, as I believe they are closely matched against eachother, and the paladin has, in addition, the ability to turn, heal, and much better saving throws.