Prestige Classes

[Piccolo Daimoun]

I didn't know who else to turn to, so I thought I'd go here. What are some awesome prestige classes for a Fighter to aspire for?

http://www.dndonlinegames.com/view.php?id=58903

I've heard of something called a Weapon Master, but I'm very unsure of what that is, and have no citing for it.

Thanks for the help.

[Rem-13]

Your link isn't working.

Prestige classes are so numerous and varied that you can't just say 'fighter'. I'm sure blue can pull some prestige class out that can take advantage of a weakness in the rules and create an uber-fighter thats what he does, but really It depends on how you want to play it.

Do you want to specialize in a weapon? Dual-wield? Do you want to be able to bring down mages easily? Use magic with you melee abilities? Depending on your race there are race specific PrCs. Its really up to you. Here are a few i like though, and if you wanna know more ask.

Occult Slayer: a warrior who specialized in resisting, disrupting, & slaying
spellcasters

Outcast Champion: leader whose presence helps his allies, and who is dedicated to protecting them. Great for teams and fighters have high charisma which I always do. Have to be half-something though.

Exotic Weapon Master: Not at all like the weapon master. Lets you do tricks and 'special' moves with exotic weapons.

And more that I cant think off. I don't usually play classes that are the best stats wise, just interesting.

Heres the weapon master which I had in a text file.

WEAPON MASTER
The monk, the red avenger, the drunken master, and
the master samurai all harness ki energy as part of their
martial disciplines; they are not, however, the only
such persons to do so. Some pursue the study of ki by
mastering a single melee weapon. To unite this weapon
of choice with the body, to make them one, to use the
weapon as naturally and without thought as any other
limb, is the goal of weapon master.

Monks who follow this path may choose unarmed
attacks or the kama, nunchaku, siangham or the three-section staff as their weapon of choice.

In order to gain any of the special abilities of the
weapon master class, you must use your weapon of
choice. Once chosen, the weapon of choice cannot be
later changed.

This does not mean that, if your weapon of choice is
the longsword, you can only use the longsword you
owned when you first became a weapon master. The
only material requirement for the class is a masterwork
version of your weapon. It means you can use any
masterwork longsword and gain the benefits of the
weapon master.If you use any other weapon, you can use none of the
special abilities of the prestige class.

Hit Die: d10.
Requirements
To qualify to become a weapon master, a character
must fulfill all the following criteria:
Base Attack Bonus: +5.
Intimidate: 4 ranks.
Proficiency: With your weapon of choice.
Weapon: Masterwork weapon (unless unarmed).
Feats: Dodge, Mobility, Combat Reflexes, Expertise,
Weapon Focus, Whirlwind Attack, Dex 13+.

Class Skills
The weapon master’s class skills (and the key ability
for each skill) are: Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge
(weaponry) (Int), Listen (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis),
and Spot (Wis). See Chapter 4: Skills in the Player’s
Handbook for skill descriptions.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features

Ki Damage: After you score a hit with your weapon
of choice, you do not roll dice to determine the
damage. Instead, you figure the normal maximum
damage (not a critical hit) you can inflict with that
weapon and do that much damage to the target.
Assume you use a longsword, have a base attack bonus
of +7, and possess a 17 Strength. A longsword does 1d8
damage, so its maximum damage is 8 points. Your
Strength modifier is +3, so add that for a total of 11.
Additional damage, such as from using the Power
Attack feat (following all the rules for it normally) and
the sneak attack ability are determined normally; they
are not maximized. This ability cannot be used when
you roll a successful critical hit.

Increased Multiplier: Determine the standard
critical multiplier for your weapon of choice. With
this ability, you can increase that multiplier by +1.
For example, the longsword has a critical multiplier
of ×2. Using this ability, you can increase that multiplier
to ×3 (2+1=3) once per day at 2nd level. You
must declare the use of this ability before you roll
any damage dice.

SuperiorWeapon Focus: Stacking with any existing
Weapon Focus bonus, this adds an additional +1 to all
attack rolls with the weapon master’s weapon of choice.
Superior Combat Reflexes: This ability lets you
make a total number of attacks of opportunity in a
round equal to your Dexterity modifier plus your
Wisdom modifier.

Ki Critical: Gain the Improved Critical feat for
free. If you already possess this feat, add an additional
+2 to your weapon of choice’s threat range for
critical hits.

Ki Whirlwind: You can make a Whirlwind Attack
as a standard action rather than a full attack action.
Multiclass Note: Monk characters can freely multiclass
with this class. In other words, you can give your
monk PC a weapon master level, then return to the
monk class for your next level, take a weapon master
level after that, and so on.
CHAPTER 2: PRESTIGE CLASSES
39
Table 2–19: The Weapon Master
Class Base Fort Ref Will
Level Attack Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +1 +0 +2 +0 Ki damage 1/day/level
2nd +2 +0 +3 +0 Increased multiplier 1/day
3rd +3 +1 +3 +1 Superior Weapon Focus
4th +4 +1 +4 +1 Increased multiplier 2/day
5th +5 +1 +4 +1 Superior Combat Reflexes
6th +6 +2 +5 +2 Increased multiplier 3/day
7th +7 +2 +5 +2 Ki critical
8th +8 +2 +6 +2 Increased multiplier 4/day
9th +9 +3 +6 +3 Ki Whirlwind Attack
10th +10 +3 +7 +3 Increased multiplier 5/

[Piccolo Daimoun]

Ahh, sorry. Is the link working now?

The Weapon Master does look very interesting to me. Thank you for that.

If I were to describe what I'd like to do, it'd be something like this: I'd want to be able to get into a scrap with another melee attacker and thrash them. Basically, I want to specialize in being awesome in close quarters.

The good thing is the campaign has started yet, and I can rearrange things as I see fit.

[Blue]

I like the Kensai a bit better. They can imbue their chosen weapon with power to make it magical, up to a +10. They also have some really neat class abilities. Definitely a choice class to pick up as a fighter. But, like Tien says, it depends on your play style. With some more info, I could give you some of the best choices I know of, when it comes to power gaming. And I'm sure Tien could help with that too.

Of course, PrCs aren't the only way to go. Some of the best characters stick to one class. Or simply multiclass. A rogue/barbarian is a massive damage dealer with the ability to stick in the fight as well as a fighter, or monk. That's just an example, of course.

[Blue]

Here's a good choice, then. Pick Monk to start with, and make sure you get improved disarm. Most melee combatants are utterly fucked when they lose their weapon. Then pick up the Reaping Mauler PrC. Fighter's typically suck in grapple too, so you'll have even more of an advantage. Unlike most monks, don't worry so much about Wisdom and Dexterity and instead focus on Strength and Constituion, to make you harder hitting and boost your HP.

That should do it.

[Rem-13]

I got the dungeon magazine a while back that debuted Reaping Mauler. First thing I thought was "oh shit, this could kick a PC's ass". It will be fairly ineffective against more exotic monsters though.

[Blue]

True. But no prestige class can destroy anything in it's path. Even a Frenzied Berserker has his failings. However, a Reaping Mauler is pretty much the most effective weapon against a melee fighter, short of going Mage on him.

[Rem-13]

I'm not disagreeing. Still the Kensai has to be my favorite "beat em up" class, even though Im not a beat em up type of player.

[Blue]

Kensai is great. Concentration check DC 15 to gain 8 Str? Awesome. And the other abilities aren't anything to mock either.