Best race overall for a fighter

[Eternalknight]

G'day all

Whereas my other 2 polls ask for melee and ranged fighters, this is for an all-round fighter. My opinion of the best all-round fighter race is the elf. The dwarf is good for melee, the halfling for ranged, but overall the elf would be my pick. Reason is the +2 Dex. It allows them to be good at ranged, and use weapon finesse (with a greater range of weapons thatn a halfling).

What do you think?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Dwarf. Humans make better fighters at low levels but once you get to high levels, that extra feat doesn't make too much of a difference.

On the other hand +2 con makes a big difference.

The dwarven save bonus against magic helps to make up for the fighter's weakness against mind effecting magic.

The dwarf's bonus to poison saves really helps whenever you face poison.

The dwarf's AC bonus against Giants comes in really handy when facing giants--and giants are one of the most common enemies PCs face (and cover all CRs)

Darkvision is also a very useful ability.

Dwarves are weak in the movement department but any fighter wearing heavy armor will be weak there too. 15 feet (dwarf in full-plate) isn't too much worse than 20 feet (other medium races in full-plate) and magic (boots of Striding and Springing) can make up for it anyway.

For ranged combat, dwarves are surprisingly effective. They can use mighty composite longbows (thus gaining the most out of their strength) and don't have a dex penalty. The only race that makes better archers is elves but the elvish con penalty is a real killer for any fighter--even a ranged one. Darkvision also helps here: dwarves and half-orcs are the only races that don't need light in order to engage in ranged combat.

Finally, the dwarf's favored class is fighter. This allows dwarves to add multiple multi-classes in order to fit the particular fighting role the dwarf desires without having to worry about taking experience penalties due to having more levels of fighter.

 

[Gez]

Look at the two other threads for a more complete reply. Basically, since only the Dwarf and Human show up in my Top List (Dwarf, Elf, Halfling and Human in distance, Dwarf, Half-Orc and Human in melee), I would vote Dwarf and Human as overall best.

 

[Malin Genie]

My reasons for picking halfling:

+2 AC (effectively; +1 due to DX bonus, +1 due to size)
+2 to hit with ranged weapons (or +3 with thrown)
No penalty to attack with melee weapons (-1 ST, +1 Size) OR
+2 attack bonus with a finesse weapon (+1 DX, +1 Size)
-2 damage on average, due to lower ST and smaller weapons
+1 to all saves, extra +2 vs fear
Skill bonuses (depending on subrace)
Low-light or darkvision (depending on subrace)

In melee, using a finesse weapon and power attack for 2 points, the halfling is even with a human fighter on attack and damage, but for +2 AC.

Obviously they make the best ranged weapon users with the above stats.

They are highly survivable, with best AC, no CN penalty, and good saves.

The low movement is the biggest drawback, but see above poster's analysis of dwarf as to why it's not so bad....

 

[Plane Sailing]

My vote goes for human because that extra feat is always useful - it gets you a step ahead in useful feat chains.

The penalty for slow movement shouldn't be underated - in any occasion where tactical movement is necessary, slow movement can be a real killer.

 

[Eternalknight]

My reasons for picking halfling:

+2 AC (effectively; +1 due to DX bonus, +1 due to size)
+2 to hit with ranged weapons (or +3 with thrown)
No penalty to attack with melee weapons (-1 ST, +1 Size) OR
+2 attack bonus with a finesse weapon (+1 DX, +1 Size)
-2 damage on average, due to lower ST and smaller weapons
+1 to all saves, extra +2 vs fear
Skill bonuses (depending on subrace)
Low-light or darkvision (depending on subrace)

In melee, using a finesse weapon and power attack for 2 points, the halfling is even with a human fighter on attack and damage, but for +2 AC.

Obviously they make the best ranged weapon users with the above stats.

They are highly survivable, with best AC, no CN penalty, and good saves.

The low movement is the biggest drawback, but see above poster's analysis of dwarf as to why it's not so bad....

My only problem with some of your reasonings is this:

Although they get use out of weapon finesse, they can only use it with tiny weapons, wheras an elf can use it with small and tiny weapons. Plus, a halfling gets -2 Strength penalty.

 

[Darklone]

Well humans

I disagree with the dwarf fighters. That slow movement is a real killer as long as you don't defend your position. Con bonus does not help that much either.

As for dwarves as ranged fighters: I consider it very bad style for them to use composite longbows. But well... 3rd edition didn't want to give them the shaft.

Halflings: Slow. less damage. They are cool, ok. But nothing else.

Human fighters OTOH ... Those extra skillpoints rock. The extra feat doesn't matter that much though. That's why I voted for humans. They simply don't have disadvantages and several versatile advantages.

As for darkvision or low light vision... Usually darkvision with it's ridiculous range of 30 or 60ft is useless for ranged combat. (since at a longer distance you don't see better than a fighter).

If you want a good ranged fighter, go with halfelves. No con penalty and lowlight vision plus spot bonus. And a level sorcerer with true strike really makes your day.

 

[Rashak Mani]

Dwarves +2 vs Spells and good Con and Cha penalty make him perfect for a fighter. Darkvision needless to say is a big bonus.

 

[Garmorn]

Human

I go with human. That first level feat puts you as much as 3 levels ahead of other fighters in the feat chains (but mostly on 2 levels). The extra four skill points at first level and then additional 1 per level is one skill maxed out that a fighter of a different race with the same stats won't even have. That can be quite important. If you don't go with fighter concept that requires skills it still alows a higher spot and or other important skill for the same state.

 

[Tom Cashel]

I see your point about humans, but...

DWARVES RULE!!!