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Fighters United: How an All-Fighter D&D Party Could Change the Battlefield

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Ah, the Fighter—a cornerstone of Dungeons & Dragons. Reliable, versatile, and devastating in combat, Fighters are often the glue holding together wildly diverse adventuring parties. But what fighterhappens when your entire group decides to don plate armor, shoulder greatswords, and shout, “We’ll settle this the old-fashioned way”? Let’s dive into the exciting possibilities, challenges, and sheer chaos of playing an all-Fighter party. Check out our video on this subject here.


The Challenges of an All-Fighter Party

At first glance, running a game with nothing but Fighters might seem like asking for trouble, but the obstacles are half the fun:

  1. Magic Deficit: Fighters are amazing in melee or ranged combat, but they lack inherent access to spells. Without magical utility or healing, you’ll need to think creatively about solving puzzles, traversing magical barriers, or keeping everyone standing after a dragon’s breath.
  2. Skill Gaps: Most Fighters don’t excel at skills like Arcana, Insight, or Stealth (depending on your build). This can make social or investigative parts of the game more challenging unless the players invest in proficiencies and backgrounds that shore up these gaps.
  3. Group Identity: How do you differentiate each member of a class that can feel straightforward? Without variety, the party risks feeling one-dimensional—but fear not, subclasses to the rescue!

Why an All-Fighter Party Works

Once you embrace the challenges, the sheer awesomeness of an all-Fighter lineup becomes clear:

  1. Subclasses for Days: From the magic-infused Eldritch Knight to the tactical mastermind Battle Master, there’s no shortage of options to make each Fighter feel unique. You can even flavor overlapping subclasses differently—two Champion Fighters might be one a gladiator and the other a knightly duelist.
  2. Durability: With high hit points, heavy armor, and Second Wind to boot, Fighters are notoriously hard to kill. An all-Fighter group has a lot of staying power, even without healing magic.
  3. Flexibility: Fighters may lack spells, but they can adapt to almost any combat situation. With proper equipment and creativity, they can hold their own in almost any encounter.
  4. Pure Combat Glory: If you’re here for high-octane fights, this party is the stuff of legend. Imagine synchronized Action Surges or a line of Fighters holding a choke point while raining down attacks. It’s cinematic.

One-Session Adventure Ideas for an All-Fighter Party

1. The Pit King’s Gauntlet
The group enters a brutal tournament where only Fighters are allowed to compete. They’ll face rival Fighters in one-on-one duels, elaborate group battles, and skill challenges like jousting or weapon crafting. Between matches, intrigue brews as the Fighters discover the tournament master has rigged the games for political gain.

2. Hold the Line
The Fighters are hired to defend a mountain pass against an invading force. It’s all about strategy and execution as wave after wave of enemies assaults their barricade. The party can set traps, plan ambushes, and make tough calls about when to stand firm or retreat.

3. The Forgotten Forge
Deep in a dungeon, the Fighters find an ancient forge capable of crafting legendary weapons. To claim it, they must fight their way through constructs, rival mercenaries, and an elemental guardian. Along the way, they must solve mechanical puzzles without relying on magic, proving that brute force isn’t the answer to every problem… or is it?


Campaign Ideas for Fighter Fanatics

1. The Brotherhood of Steel
The party forms an elite mercenary company, hired by kings and commoners alike to handle their dirty work. The campaign focuses on battlefield tactics, political intrigue, and camaraderie. Over time, the group may gain a reputation, attract rivals, and even build a keep to serve as their base of operations.

2. The Old Ways
In a world where magic is outlawed, Fighters are the champions of civilization. The party works to maintain peace in a society that despises wizards, sorcerers, and even clerics. They might clash with underground magic-users or question whether the anti-magic laws are truly just.

3. The Unbroken Vanguard
When an ancient prophecy foretells a world-ending battle, the Fighters are recruited by an order dedicated to preparing for it. As the campaign progresses, the group undergoes rigorous training, retrieves powerful relics, and takes on ever-more-dangerous foes to hone their skills. The climax? Leading armies in a massive battle against an apocalyptic threat.


Final Thoughts

An all-Fighter party isn’t just about swinging swords and rolling for damage. It’s a celebration of strategy, resilience, and raw determination. With clever planning and a touch of creativity, you can overcome the challenges of a spell-free group and craft a tale that’s as epic as the Fighters themselves. So, gather your steel, polish your armor, and get ready to prove that magic is overrated—your blades will carve out your legend.

Thanks for reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!!

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Ted Adams

The nerd is strong in this one. I received my bachelors degree in communication with a specialization in Radio/TV/Film. I have been a table top role player for over 30 years. I have played several iterations of D&D, Mutants and Masterminds 2nd and 3rd editions, Star wars RPG, Shadowrun and World of Darkness as well as mnay others since starting Nerdarchy. I am an avid fan of books and follow a few authors reading all they write. Favorite author is Jim Butcher I have been an on/off larper for around 15 years even doing a stretch of running my own for a while. I have played a number of Miniature games including Warhammer 40K, Warhammer Fantasy, Heroscape, Mage Knight, Dreamblade and D&D Miniatures. I have practiced with the art of the German long sword with an ARMA group for over 7 years studying the German long sword, sword and buckler, dagger, axe and polearm. By no strecth of the imagination am I an expert but good enough to last longer than the average person if the Zombie apocalypse ever happens. I am an avid fan of board games and dice games with my current favorite board game is Betrayal at House on the Hill.

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