Oh my dear god.<br/><br/>Please, in the name of mittens, tell me I didn't just read all of this?<br/><br/>>.><br/><br/>Srsly though, fighters have been sort of eclipsed by other classes for a long time.  (Since at least 2nd edition, Clerics were fighters with healing spells, basically).<br/><br/>The real trick is, playing the character and being inventive enough to make up the difference.<br/><br/>I do sort of agree that splitting between ranged and melee abilities is sort of lackluster, more oft than not, especially since fighters tend to be the meat shields for the party.  But in a group that doesn't have much range, and perhaps does have more melee (other melee) it would be more justified to start training your ranged abilities...but I'd probably do that by taking a level in another class...<br/><br/>Dunno.  I'll shut up now.  :D