The earliest instance of Fighters getting unique mechanics?

[OgreBattle]

By that I mean giving non-magic users their own resource mechanic to fiddle with for special moves and not just going through at-will "I attack/grapple" actions.

An earlier-than-3e edition of D&D had "kiai" as a daily power for samurai to hit things extra hard but I'm not sure which one did that. Did earlier editions have "Ki" for monks too?

[Orca]

Not ki points, no. Monks did have a bunch of once/day moves from their first introduction (pre-AD&D) though, 3e didn't invent that.

Psionics was an option in AD&D for anyone - fighters included.

[shlominus]

By that I mean giving non-magic users their own resource mechanic to fiddle with for special moves and not just going through at-will "I attack/grapple" actions.

An earlier-than-3e edition of D&D had "kiai" as a daily power for samurai to hit things extra hard but I'm not sure which one did that. Did earlier editions have "Ki" for monks too?

you're thinking of the samurai kit in 2nd edition's "complete fighters handbook".

The samurai and ronin are able to focus their vital energies to increase their Strength score temporarily. Once per day per experience level, the samurai or ronin can increase his Strength to 18/00. This lasts for one full round, and must be preceded by a loud kiai shout (making it impossible for him to summon this strength silently or stealthily). For that one round, all his hit probability, damage adjustment, weight allowance, maximum press, open doors, and bend bars/lift gates rolls and functions are calculated as if his Strength were 18/00.

[kzt]

There was the old ability to rapidly obliterate low level opponents from AD&D 1st, if that is the kind of thing you are asking about.

[nockermensch]

There was the old ability to rapidly obliterate low level opponents from AD&D 1st, if that is the kind of thing you are asking about.

I have no idea of how old these actually are, but I own Rules Cyclopedia and fighters there have this and several other "Options".

Notably lacking from all these options is a resource mechanic, which was what OgreBattle asked for.

[Korwin]

By that I mean giving non-magic users their own resource mechanic to fiddle with for special moves and not just going through at-will "I attack/grapple" actions.

An earlier-than-3e edition of D&D had "kiai" as a daily power for samurai to hit things extra hard but I'm not sure which one did that. Did earlier editions have "Ki" for monks too?

Definitly not the earliest.
But Anima has one, where you expend Ki/Chi and you get it relativly fast back. And you can build your own moves (including teleporting to the enemy and carving them up).

[MisterDee]

I'd need to check the Rules Cyclopedia and I don't have the time now, but OD&D had Fighters' Options.

[Blicero]

Arneson's home OD&D games apparently had some sort of "chop till you drop" cleave-esque setup for fighters going on. I don't think it was ever official, though(?), and I'm not sure when he introduced it.

[DrPraetor]

http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/201 ... thout.html

is what Frank's Dad used to run when he and I were kids.

It had something called "Fighter Abilities", but as I recall they were more like feats than like a resource mechanic - although they included various opportunity-type stuff, which is a resource mechanic if viewed from the right angle.

[RelentlessImp]

I guess Warrior classes getting Strongholds and followers for reaching level X doesn't count?