(3.5) Is it As good as a a fighter can be?

[sirpercival]

Play an Initiate of Mystra?

This is just a feat for a cleric correct? Or is that it's own class?

Yes, it's a feat for clerics of Mystra (PGtF page 81).  It allows you to make a caster-level check to cast spells in a dead magic zone or antimagic field, as well as giving you some fantastic spells on your list.

If you can manage to get the Complete Divine Web Enhancement allowed, you could then take Dweomerkeeper, which is an absolutely amazing prestige class, one of the best in the game (and is based on what was originally a PrC of the same name for Clerics of Mystra in the 3.0 FR book Faiths and Pantheons).

[The_Laughing_Man]

The DM informed me that the forgotten realms have pockets of no magic zones and other areas where spells may have a completely different outcome.

If you want to be effective also in dead magic and wild magic zones then use Shadow Weave Magic [feat]. Shadow Weave works normally in both of those areas. The prereq is a bit of a turn-off for wizards but hey.. You might also want to look at Shadow Adept prc for 1 level dip.

In any case your party needs some more casters. Note that conjurers can also fill the 'tank' role with their summons.

Don't worry about your noobness. I think these boards are quite friendly for beginners. Just ask questions and you'll surely will have a ton of advice.

[StreamOfTheSky]

In order to be the "best" Fighter, you need Champions of Valor, Dungeonscape, Drow of the Underdark, and possibly Complete Champion.

The game is FR, do you think you could get the Zhentarim Soldier allowed, even though you didn't list Champions of Valor as a useable source?  It's information freely available as a downloadable pdf (with a few other things in it) here.

If you cannot get that allowed, and dungeoncrasher, hit and run fighter, and C.C. variants are all also out of bounds...don't be a Fighter.  Sorry, but the allowed sources are anemic to making a good fighter, albeit VERY helpful for making a spellcaster.  FR sourcebooks are like a giant orgasm of spellcaster love, AND you get spell compendium!

[McLuvin]

In order to be the "best" Fighter, you need Champions of Valor, Dungeonscape, Drow of the Underdark, and possibly Complete Champion.
 

In short scrap my fighter and and roll a cleric / wizard or some sorts?

[StreamOfTheSky]

I guess.  It sucks, believe me.  But the sources list, it just isn't friendly to an already subpar class.  Have to scrap it for a later game that's more favorable.  As someone who like playing rogues and martial artists/monks but insists on being capable in a fight, it's a pain I know all too well.

[Gavinfoxx]

Yea, roll a Cleric of Mystra specced out to work fine in antimagic areas.

http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=10104.0  Read that, too.

[Halinn]

In order to be the "best" Fighter, you need Champions of Valor, Dungeonscape, Drow of the Underdark, and possibly Complete Champion.

The game is FR, do you think you could get the Zhentarim Soldier allowed, even though you didn't list Champions of Valor as a useable source?  It's information freely available as a downloadable pdf (with a few other things in it) here.

If you cannot get that allowed, and dungeoncrasher, hit and run fighter, and C.C. variants are all also out of bounds...don't be a Fighter.  Sorry, but the allowed sources are anemic to making a good fighter, albeit VERY helpful for making a spellcaster.  FR sourcebooks are like a giant orgasm of spellcaster love, AND you get spell compendium!

That's just silly. All you need is the Tome of Battle

[linklord231]

It's also definitely worth asking which version of Persistent Spell [metamagic] your group is using.  The one in PGtF is +6 spell levels, but the one in FRCS is only +4.  Officially, the one in PGtF is the correct one because it was published later, but there's no harm in asking. 

[Endarire]

I echo the sentiment of "Get Tome of Battle on the allowed sources list if you can."  In this case, a LN Human Cloistered Cleric of Mystra3/Church Inquisitor1/Crusader1/Ruby Knight Vindicator5/Contemplative3/Ruby Knight Vindicator+5/Cloistered Cleric+2 seems to get you want you want.

-You can tank through Crusader maneuvers and the Crusader stance Thicket of Blades.
-You can cast and persist spiffy Cleric buffs.  You can cast spiffy heals and plane shifts.  With Initiate of Mystra, you can even cast these spells in a no-magic zone!
-If you feel like it (and your GM allows Unapproachable East), you can go Hood to some degree.  That is the best "Fighter" archetype there is, because she's fast, damaging, long-reaching, and versatile.

[StreamOfTheSky]

In order to be the "best" Fighter, you need Champions of Valor, Dungeonscape, Drow of the Underdark, and possibly Complete Champion.

The game is FR, do you think you could get the Zhentarim Soldier allowed, even though you didn't list Champions of Valor as a useable source?  It's information freely available as a downloadable pdf (with a few other things in it) here.

If you cannot get that allowed, and dungeoncrasher, hit and run fighter, and C.C. variants are all also out of bounds...don't be a Fighter.  Sorry, but the allowed sources are anemic to making a good fighter, albeit VERY helpful for making a spellcaster.  FR sourcebooks are like a giant orgasm of spellcaster love, AND you get spell compendium!

That's just silly. All you need is the Tome of Battle

Then you're not actually a Fighter class anymore.  It's certainly the best solution.  But to actually make a Fighter, you need the sources I named.  Some people don't want to do the maneuver spam thing.  I love ToB and even I have to admit when my current warblade spends every battle pumping out the same strike maneuvers, then refreshing, then repeating...it gets really stale.  That the strikes have their own unique qualities or even built in flavor makes it harder to give fluff variance the way you can general melee attacks.

[linklord231]

Well, you gotta admit Warblade does have more variety than "full attack!" every round. 

[Halinn]

Well, you gotta admit Warblade does have more variety than "full attack!" every round.

So does the Fighter. Sometimes it's "charge!"

[StreamOfTheSky]

Like I said, it's more an issue of fluff.  You have more freedom with generic attacks to describe as you like.

And maneuvers also don't mix well (read: at all) with combat maneuvers.  A "full attack" or "charge" could include tripping, grappling, or one of the lesser options.  It can't be with a martial strike maneuver unless that strike specifically is utilizing said option, like Disarming Strike or any setting sun throw.

[Kasz]

Party lacks an arcane caster and you're scared of random magic zones? Don't fear them... embrace them... own them...Wild Mage!

I love the wild mage but yeah it's not efficient or anything, can be fun though.

Anyway if you're sold on melee, Crusader / Warblade are better than a fighter. You'll not get bored and you'll be more useful than the rogue/monk whilst helping the rogue/monk.

[linklord231]

Wait, does SRD count?  I vaguely recall something about Forgotten Realms as being explicitly "psionics are not magic", which means they would function in wild/dead magic zones.  A King of Smack build would probably be viable, and is similar in play style to what you initially wanted to play.

[McLuvin]

Wait, does SRD count?  I vaguely recall something about Forgotten Realms as being explicitly "psionics are not magic", which means they would function in wild/dead magic zones.  A King of Smack build would probably be viable, and is similar in play style to what you initially wanted to play.

I spent a lot I time into the psions. I liked what I saw but the DM said no because that was a whole other type of... "force" (sorry don't know what t call it). He said it was another effect that would change the game and he would have to be accountable or when it came to monsters. So he shot me down.

[littha]

Wait, does SRD count?  I vaguely recall something about Forgotten Realms as being explicitly "psionics are not magic", which means they would function in wild/dead magic zones.  A King of Smack build would probably be viable, and is similar in play style to what you initially wanted to play.

I spent a lot I time into the psions. I liked what I saw but the DM said no because that was a whole other type of... "force" (sorry don't know what t call it). He said it was another effect that would change the game and he would have to be accountable or when it came to monsters. So he shot me down.

Basically he couldn't be bothered reading the psionics rules?

[WarlockLord]

DM laziness has slain more psions than all the monsters combined.

[muktidata]

What does a Fighter need from CC? I get the Imperious Command and Z Soldier and Dungeon Crasher staples, but what's in CC?

[Halinn]

What does a Fighter need from CC? I get the Imperious Command and Z Soldier and Dungeon Crasher staples, but what's in CC?

A barbarian dip for pounce, or a cleric dip for devotions.