Home Brewed PRC: Master of Combat

[Sun Wukong]

Master of Combat

The Master of Combat is a professional warrior who wishes to seek out and master the best combat manoeuvres and styles to master a balance between sheer power, speed, finesse, and cunning. A Master of Combat can harry his opponents with an accurate barrage of blows, and switch his combat style to keep his opponent off-balance and never knowing what to expect next. A Master of Combat has not focused on using any specific weapon and this allows them great flexibility to meet every challenge that comes ahead.


Hit Dice: d10
BAB: High

Proficiencies: None

Saves: High: Fortitude, Will, Low: Reflex

Skill Points: 4 + Int modifier
Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Lore: (All), Parry, Taunt, Tumble

Requirements: BAB of 6, Power Attack (13 STR), Weapon Finesse, Combat Expertise (13 INT), Combat Focus (13 WIS).

Level progression:
1: (Bonus Feat)
2: 1d6 Sneak Attack
3: (Bonus Feat),
4: Combat Vigor
5: (Bonus Feat), Improved Weapon Finesse
6: 2d6 Sneak Attack
7: (Bonus Feat)
8: Combat Awareness
9: (Bonus Feat)
10: Combat Insight, 3d6 Sneak Attack, Combat Strike

List of Bonus Feats: Awesome Blow, Backstab, Battle Howl, Blinding Strike, Brutal Strike, Chiontar Seagull, Deadly Defense, Dire Charge, Disarm, Expose Weakness, Feint, Improved Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Knockdown, Improved Power Attack, Improved Whirlwind Attack, Knockdown, Low Blow, Northlander Hewing, One Weapon, Powerful Charge, Sembian Fencing, Shield Bash, Shield Charge, Shield Slam, Whirlwind Attack

Improved Weapon Finesse: A character with this feat is adept at using medium and large weapons subtly and effectively, allowing him to make melee attack rolls with his dexterity modifier instead of strength (if his dexterity is higher than his strength). This feat does not allow the character to use medium or large sized weapons with other abilities that require light or tiny weapons.


Icon suggestions:

= Master of Combat

= Improved Weapon Finesse


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Whether you want to focus on making a strength or dexterity based warrior, I think this PRC could offer both paths something. It could let someone have their greatsword swinging dexterity and intelligence based character. Additionally, because rogues already do pretty much everything that rogues need to do by default, the rogue based PRCs often do not grant much unless they offer that Hide in Plain Sight ability. Thus I think this PRC could offer rogues something that they actually lack, and you could even do a two-handed sneak rogue.

Oh, and part of me just loves the idea of having warriors that do not have wisdom as an absolute dump stat, because it could be replaced with the combination of positive constitution modifier and Steadfast Determination.


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And you can use the two above icons for something else, if this PRC never sees the light of day.

[Khazrak]

This is pretty much the sort of thing I was talking about in the Master of the Longsword thread, yeah. Looks and feels like a souped up fighter, but requires four feats and 3 above average stats.

Maybe remove 2-3 extra bonus feats from the progression? So that it's more on par with a Fighter / Divine Champion. Say, the level 5 bonus feat and level 9 bonus feat. Maybe remove the 3rd sneak attack die at 10?

I'd reduce its hit die to d8 to compensate for two high saves. That, or swap Will (or Fort) with Reflex - both high Fort and Will is REALLY good.

If you don't change it from its current state, it's got high BAB, 2 good saves (will/fort), d10 HD, 4+ INT skills, 5 free bonus feats, 4 OTHER bonus feats that you don't choose (but are very nice), and 3d6 sneak attack, as well as the potential to finesse a medium or 2H weapon. Read: too powerful.

But the general idea is good, and goes in line with previous classes/PRCs (such as Divine Champion being a little better than a regular fighter).

And if some of the abilities in the other thread were made into feats, they'd definitely fit well with the list of bonus feats here.

Also: I definitely think something like Agile Maneuvers from Pathfinder should be implemented for NWN2, adjusting Disarm, Knockdown, and similar combat maneuver feats.

[Sun Wukong]

If you don't change it from its current state, it's got high BAB, 2 good saves (will/fort), d10 HD, 4+ INT skills, 5 free bonus feats, 4 OTHER bonus feats that you don't choose (but are very nice), and 3d6 sneak attack, as well as the potential to finesse a medium or 2H weapon. Read: too powerful.

I am not so sure about it. It requires that three of the character's ability scores are at least 13 and the PRC requires 4 feats to qualify. Some of these required feats will be dead feats depending on the build that gets used. The list of bonus feats is certainly interesting, but it is likely that you will just end up taking feats that you missed due to the earlier PRC feat requirements. The 3d6 sneak attack is nice, but it is something entirely situational. Without Epic Precision it is 0d6 sneak attack dice against any target with critical hit immunity, and without Feint or HiPS you need to flank, and thus the application of it is limited.

As for the potential to two-hand a medium or large weapon, the Combat Insight granted at level 10 does help a great deal, but you would still do more damage as a pure strength based build. Rogue 11/Assassin 9/Master of Combat could be interesting but you only get two attacks in the sneak attack flurry. If you go for two-weapon fighting, you will kind of want to have over-sized two-weapon fighting and you are starting to be rather low on feats. The build is fun, I give you that, but you could be a far better sneaker with some daggers.

[Hoihe]

Anything that makes swordfighting more graceful over BASH BASH BASH is good.

[Khazrak]

I don't know... Tiefling Rogue 11 / Assassin 9 / Master of Combat 10 isn't terrible. Could still dual-wield daggers or the like. Still gets Epic Precision. Adds INT to damage, not STR. Not terrible - 14d6 sneak with death attack, dual-wielding. BAB of 8 (rogue)+6(assassin)+10(MoC)=24. Could go Rogue 12 / Assassin 8 instead, or Rogue 10 / Assassin 10.

You are right about the STR/WIS requirement though. Said tiefling would need to start with 13/18/10/18/13/6. But it's very doable. There may be better class combos, but it's super, super doable - and the bonus feats you get are at the pace of a fighter's, and the high will save is neat.

It's a good class though - maybe needs minor tweaking. AT LEAST, I'd bump the HD to d8.

Edit: Interesting thought... The aforementioned build could forego weapon focus and use a scimitar and a kukri instead of two kukris. Interesting? Not broken by any means, but cool. Or a warhammer and a kukri, or you name it.

[Ambaryerno]

I don't get the SA, (seems every time I read a Class proposal, they try to find a way to work in SA dice) and I feel like something else would be a better fit. And THREE Ability requirements sounds unusually steep, and considering the everything in the progression is built on DEX/WIS, having Power Attack in there as a requirement is completely at odds with the rest of the class.

[Khazrak]

Sneak attack is effectively what you wanted with Coup de Grace. If it's gonna be this loaded with abilities, requiring multiple stats is fine to me.

[Ambaryerno]

Except SA is a LOT more powerful, (also, SA doesn't affect KD'ed characters) and I presume this would stack with Rogue SA.

As for the ability requirements, the problem is PA and STR comes across as completely arbitrary, as it doesn't fit what the rest of the class is doing. WIS and INT work with the feats on the progression (Combat Insight and the Combat Focus-based feats). If there's going to be a third ability requirement, DEX would make MUCH more sense.

[Khazrak]

Power Attack goes in line with the use of a 2H weapon finesse. Plus you can power attack with it, and since it's two-handed, you deal extra damage - something a DEX build would need help with. It's not bad.

[Ambaryerno]

If you wanted to PreReq Finessing a 2Her off a particular feat, I'd honestly say Monkey Grip would thematically be more appropriate (I'd recently had a thought of a feat for Finesse 2H using that as a PreReq. Call it Leveraged Grip, which is pretty much how you'd ACTUALLY finesse a 2H weapon, anyway; front hand fulcrum, rear hand lever. One reason I prefer a longsword with a longer grip when practicing WMA).

[Diamore]

I like the idea's premise, but this is the way I would arrange it.

Master of Combat
Hit Dice: d10
BAB: High

Proficiencies: None

Saves: High: Fortitude, Will, Low: Reflex

Skill Points: 3 + Int modifier
Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Lore: (All), Parry, Taunt, Tumble

Requirements: BAB of 6, Power Attack (13 STR), Weapon Finesse, Combat Expertise (13 INT), Combat Focus (13 WIS).

Level progression:
1: Combat Vigor
2: (Bonus Feat)
3: Combat Awareness (Style Feat)
4: (Bonus Feat),
5: Improved Weapon Finesse
6: (Bonus Feat) Flourish (As per Duelist)
7: Combat Insight
8: (Bonus Feat)
9: Combat Strike (Style Feat)
10:(Bonus Feat) Flourish (As per Duelist)

If its a Fighter+ class HP should stay 1D10. 10 feats and 3D6 sneak with all lores and increased skills is a stretch though.

Style based feats are mutually exclusive for the most part, so picking those up allow for an increased versatility without sacrificing specialisation or directly improving effectiveness.

The Flourish ability (or A Thousand Blades...) makes more sense as a damage boost for the class.

[Ambaryerno]

I like the idea's premise, but this is the way I would arrange it.

Master of Combat
Hit Dice: d10
BAB: High

Proficiencies: None

Saves: High: Fortitude, Will, Low: Reflex

Skill Points: 3 + Int modifier
Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Lore: (All), Parry, Taunt, Tumble

Requirements: BAB of 6, Power Attack (13 STR), Weapon Finesse, Combat Expertise (13 INT), Combat Focus (13 WIS).

Level progression:
1: Combat Vigor
2: (Bonus Feat)
3: Combat Awareness (Style Feat)
4: (Bonus Feat),
5: Improved Weapon Finesse
6: (Bonus Feat) Flourish (As per Duelist)
7: Combat Insight
8: (Bonus Feat)
9: Combat Strike (Style Feat)
10:(Bonus Feat) Flourish (As per Duelist)

If its a Fighter+ class HP should stay 1D10. 10 feats and 3D6 sneak with all lores and increased skills is a stretch though.

Style based feats are mutually exclusive for the most part, so picking those up allow for an increased versatility without sacrificing specialisation or directly improving effectiveness.

The Flourish ability (or A Thousand Blades...) makes more sense as a damage boost for the class.

Isn't Flourish only for Piercing?

I'd also suggest a compromise of restricting finesse to 2Hers that it makes the most sense for. IE the lighter ones such as swords and poles and excluding the axes and maces (IE the Qualifying Weapons on the PrC version of MotLS).

[Khazrak]

Depending on the model, certain axes and maces COULD be wielded with finesse. IRL there's one African axe that definitely qualifies as a finesse weapon. Link!

I'd rather err on the side of seeing more weapons being finesse weapons than err on not enough cool weapons being so myself. Might as well allow any 2H / 1H.

[Sun Wukong]

I like the idea's premise, but this is the way I would arrange it.

Hidden: show

Master of Combat
Hit Dice: d10
BAB: High

Proficiencies: None

Saves: High: Fortitude, Will, Low: Reflex

Skill Points: 3 + Int modifier
Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Lore: (All), Parry, Taunt, Tumble

Requirements: BAB of 6, Power Attack (13 STR), Weapon Finesse, Combat Expertise (13 INT), Combat Focus (13 WIS).

Level progression:
1: Combat Vigor
2: (Bonus Feat)
3: Combat Awareness (Style Feat)
4: (Bonus Feat),
5: Improved Weapon Finesse
6: (Bonus Feat) Flourish (As per Duelist)
7: Combat Insight
8: (Bonus Feat)
9: Combat Strike (Style Feat)
10:(Bonus Feat) Flourish (As per Duelist)

If its a Fighter+ class HP should stay 1D10. 10 feats and 3D6 sneak with all lores and increased skills is a stretch though.

Style based feats are mutually exclusive for the most part, so picking those up allow for an increased versatility without sacrificing specialisation or directly improving effectiveness.

The Flourish ability (or A Thousand Blades...) makes more sense as a damage boost for the class.

I just put Lore: All, so that this PRC could just seek ways of martial fighting from whatever source... But yeah, some of the Lore skills do not quite make much sense even with that in mind.

[Ambaryerno]

I like the idea's premise, but this is the way I would arrange it.

Hidden: show

Master of Combat
Hit Dice: d10
BAB: High

Proficiencies: None

Saves: High: Fortitude, Will, Low: Reflex

Skill Points: 3 + Int modifier
Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Lore: (All), Parry, Taunt, Tumble

Requirements: BAB of 6, Power Attack (13 STR), Weapon Finesse, Combat Expertise (13 INT), Combat Focus (13 WIS).

Level progression:
1: Combat Vigor
2: (Bonus Feat)
3: Combat Awareness (Style Feat)
4: (Bonus Feat),
5: Improved Weapon Finesse
6: (Bonus Feat) Flourish (As per Duelist)
7: Combat Insight
8: (Bonus Feat)
9: Combat Strike (Style Feat)
10:(Bonus Feat) Flourish (As per Duelist)

If its a Fighter+ class HP should stay 1D10. 10 feats and 3D6 sneak with all lores and increased skills is a stretch though.

Style based feats are mutually exclusive for the most part, so picking those up allow for an increased versatility without sacrificing specialisation or directly improving effectiveness.

The Flourish ability (or A Thousand Blades...) makes more sense as a damage boost for the class.

I just put Lore: All, so that this PRC could just seek ways of martial fighting from whatever source... But yeah, some of the Lore skills do not quite make much sense even with that in mind.

That's why I'd suggested an actual Lore: Martial skill, even if it doesn't exist in PnP, because that would make much more sense than cramming it under one of the other Lore options.

And TBH, this thread and MotLS could stand to be combined since the two concepts are both trying to accomplish the same thing. Or combine elements of both classes.