Question....

[DraconisRex]

Originally posted by Zoltan: 3rd edition sucks 2rd edition rules (still)

No. 2nd Ed rules were so totally unbalanced it wasn't even funny. You had to dual-weild as a fighter or cleric because sheilds were worthless.

And Kensai... I could rant all day on Kensai... And berserkers... And paladins were soooooooooo weak compared to fighters, berserkers and kensai...

And all those stupid rules about what character class you could be, or could not be... And all those racial restrictions... Especially how non-senseical they were. Let's see, an elf lives 700 years but can't get beyond 5th or 6th level spells despite a natural affinity for magic? Hello! Hello!

And druids were nearly unplayable unless they were half-elf multi-classes. Even then, they still sucked because of level progression limits on elfs.

And spells were so unbalanced, some mid-level spells were so tremendously stronger than higher level spells. And clerics got some huge damage spells at level 7, the wizard equivalent not happening until Level 9... Uck!

Rant, rant, rant... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[DraconisRex]

1st edition? Sorry, can't buy that either. Take the monk. In first edition, they were insanely powerful. In second edition, they were campaign imbalancers, but you could usually kill them off before 8th level if you worked at it... ::evil grin:: In 3rd ed, they're almost balanced. In fact, I've got more problems with the Ranger "dual-weild for free" issue. And I ::still:: kill monks on sight... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Or the "machine-gun missile spell." One for every odd level, w/o limit. Hmmmm.... Old Mordenkainen was what, level 40? Or the 23 HD fireball? Or swallowing a goldfish for the "identify" spell? WTF kind of material component was that? Yech!!! I could see that in a Polymorph to "Frat-boy" spell, but a serious mage?

[Willard]

Originally posted by Wolverine129h: OK....I started a new game with a fighter. I made my dexterity fairly high because I wanted to use the weapon finese. My question is...did i make a mistake by making my dexterity 16 instead of 20. I am using an elf and I plan on using chain mail for armor. Also...is it just me or does dual wielding suck..whenever I hit something it never does anymore than 4 damage. Ive tried using one rapier and one dagger and dual rapiers but neither seems to help much. Its kind of frustrating that I had to get a body gaurd for my FIGHTER.

Dual wielding does not suck... get the Ambidexterity, Two-Weapon Fighting, and Improved Two-Weapon Fighting if you are really that serious about it. I have those feats, and my Barbarian rocks dual wielding the Axe of Lost Ilask and the Flail of Destruction.... oh yeah baby! Around 24 damage each hit, around two hits every 1-3 seconds. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Of course, it does suck without the feats, so unless you are willing to spend those feats on dual wielding, then you might as well forget about it. I recommend starting out with a shield, then working your way up until you get to high enough level to successfully dual weild without large penalties.

[Tobbin]

Originally posted by DraconisRex: 1st edition? Sorry, can't buy that either. Take the monk. In first edition, they were insanely powerful. In second edition, they were campaign imbalancers, but you could usually kill them off before 8th level if you worked at it... ::evil grin:: In 3rd ed, they're almost balanced. In fact, I've got more problems with the Ranger "dual-weild for free" issue. And I ::still:: kill monks on sight... [img]smile.gif[/img] Or the "machine-gun missile spell." One for every odd level, w/o limit. Hmmmm.... Old Mordenkainen was what, level 40? Or the 23 HD fireball? Or swallowing a goldfish for the "identify" spell? WTF kind of material component was that? Yech!!! I could see that in a Polymorph to "Frat-boy" spell, but a serious mage?

Yeah, but any system that lets you have a Ranger that has magic user abilities as they level up without having to dual to magic user or multi-class sorceror to get the spells is ok in my book. Why can't a Ranger persue alchemistry in the woods? They have a lot of the ingredients already there in the first place. You are right on the nose about Monk though. That and when they added Psionics. Psionicists definitely had the upper hand as most NPC's did not have Psionics to defend with. You could walk up to an adventurer and not even know they were a psionicist and start going in to ream them one, and fall to your knees staggering under a mental attack. It seemed to take a LOT longer to level up too, making leveling that much more important/memorable.

[oldbittercraig]

why would a fighter want a higher DEX than STR?

Why not?

It all depends on your Character Concept. If you envision a Conan/Hercules type fighter, STR is the way to go. IF you are envisioning an Inigo Montoya/Madmartigan, maybe Dex is the way to go.

There are some mighty cool lighter armors in the game, which work in conjunction with a Dex Bonus greater than 1.

An ambidextrous finesse-trained Dual-Rapier wielding fighter can be every bit as deadly as 2hs carrying He-Man.

[WOLFGIR]

Just a little reflection here. If you choose high dexterity for a fighter, you should take feats that really boosts that attribute. Two weapon fighting, dodge, combat reflexes etc. However you will be limited to changeshirts, but you can of course make up for this with a heavy shield when you feel pressed.

Also, use a bow since dexterity will make you a sure shot with that one.
If you don´t like to do little damage remember that all weapons have limits vs different opponents. Skeletons and some undead take half damage from piercing weapons etc etc.

Keep a bludgoning weapon close to hands when thoose nasty skeletons comes swarming in the beginning. Undeads and constructs are immune to criticals and sneak attacks, so a rouge level with an additional D6 in sneak attack will only help vs most mundane creatures.

Also remember that heavy armours gives you a serious skill penalty to alot of skills, as do shields.

If you like to dual wield two weapons you should go with rapier/shortsword combo and get the magical weapons at the smith with some components and you will be a more dangerous dude. There is also a good Studded leather+2 around and that is better then the chainshirt+1 in perspectives argued above.

Since you are an elf, you can get one or two levels of wizard and learn the beatiful spell shield. Last not long but gives you a good and neede +7 deflection bonus to AC and helps with saves vs area effects like Fireball. Also you can use scrolls and learn spells to boost your combat abilities. Get some gloves of strength or do the Red Tiger subplot for a nice little gift...

Given, if you start out the way above, you will have to wait some levels to have the fruits of success, but you will have them!

Good luck and good fun playing!