The Fighter Folio

The
Fighter Folio
A Class Reference Guide and New Fighter Options!
By Brian Berg and Mark A. Hart

Credits
Written by: Brian Berg and Mark A. Hart
Additional Content by: Sean Archer, Jason Owen Black, Rick Cox, Scott Fields, Matt Kimmel, Karlton Ray, Alex Riggs,
and Jordan Webb
Editing: Ismael Alvarez
Cover Design: Brian Berg
Layout: Brian Berg
Artwork: Cover © 2017 Lance Red. All rights reserved. Interior artwork by Jacob Blackmon, Storn Cook via Image
Portfolio ©Louis Porter, Jr. Design, Hopsy Graphic Art., Michael Scotta, Dean Spencer and Damon Westenhoffer.
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defined in the Open Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e) and are not Open Content.
Open Content: Except material designated as Product Identity, the contents are Open Game Content as defined in the
Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open
Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission from TPK Games.
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Published by Total Party Kill Games, LLC. 1st printing, June 1st, 2018.
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1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE FIGHTER FOLIO ................................................................................................................................................................ 4
FIGHTER FICTION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
FIGHTER CLASS FEATURES ................................................................................................................................................... 9
NEW FIGHTING STYLES ......................................................................................................................................................... 10
SECOND WIND .......................................................................................................................................................................... 11
ACTION SURGE ......................................................................................................................................................................... 11
MARTIAL ARCHETYPES .......................................................................................................................................................... 11
ABILITY SCORE IMPROVEMENT......................................................................................................................................... 12
EXTRA ATTACK ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12
INDOMITABLE .......................................................................................................................................................................... 12
FIGHTER STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ......................................................................................................................13
MARTIAL ARCHETYPES ......................................................................................................................................................... 14
ARCHER ............................................................................................................................................................................. 14
BRAWLER ........................................................................................................................................................................... 14
CHAMPION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 16
CORSAIR ............................................................................................................................................................................ 16
DEMON-BLOODED .........................................................................................................................................................17
DERVISH ........................................................................................................................................................................... 20
DUELIST ............................................................................................................................................................................. 21
DRAGOON.........................................................................................................................................................................22
DREADNAUGHT ............................................................................................................................................................. 23
ELDRITCH EXECUTIONER .......................................................................................................................................... 23
GHOST WARRIOR .......................................................................................................................................................... 24
GLADIATOR ...................................................................................................................................................................... 26
GUARDIAN ........................................................................................................................................................................ 28
GUNSLINGER ................................................................................................................................................................... 28
KNIGHT .............................................................................................................................................................................. 29
MASTER OF MANY BLADES ........................................................................................................................................ 30
MASTER THROWER ....................................................................................................................................................... 30
MISERICORDE ................................................................................................................................................................. 32
RAKE.................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
REACH SPECIALIST ........................................................................................................................................................ 33
RUNEBLADE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34
2

SAMURAI ........................................................................................................................................................................... 38
SELLSWORD ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39
SHIELD MASTER ............................................................................................................................................................ 40
TACTICIAN ....................................................................................................................................................................... 42
WEAPON MASTER .......................................................................................................................................................... 43
FIGHTER BACKGROUNDS ................................................................................................................................................... 44
BATTLE BORN ................................................................................................................................................................. 44
BLACKSMITH....................................................................................................................................................................46
BODYGUARD .................................................................................................................................................................... 47
BOUNTY HUNTER ...........................................................................................................................................................48
CONSCRIPT ....................................................................................................................................................................... 49
ELDRITCH LEGACY ........................................................................................................................................................ 50
GUARDSMAN ....................................................................................................................................................................51
JAILER ................................................................................................................................................................................. 52
MARINE .............................................................................................................................................................................. 53
OFFICER............................................................................................................................................................................. 54
REBEL .................................................................................................................................................................................. 55
SLAVE .................................................................................................................................................................................. 55
SQUIRE ............................................................................................................................................................................... 56
TOURNEY KNIGHT ......................................................................................................................................................... 57
VETERAN ........................................................................................................................................................................... 58
FIGHTER FEATS........................................................................................................................................................................ 60
FIGHTER BUILDS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 67
FIGHTER EQUIPMENT ............................................................................................................................................................71
NEW WEAPONS ................................................................................................................................................................ 71
NEW ARMORS...................................................................................................................................................................72
NEW EQUIPMENT........................................................................................................................................................... 74
MAGIC WEAPONS ........................................................................................................................................................... 74
MAGIC ARMOR ................................................................................................................................................................ 75
MISCELLANEOUS MAGIC ITEMS ............................................................................................................................... 76
MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS: ............................................................................................................................................... 77
TRICK SHOTS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 77
TRICK SHOT MECHANICS .......................................................................................................................................... 77
OPTIONAL RULE: CALLED SHOTS................................................................................................................................ 79
CALLED SHOT MECHANICS....................................................................................................................................... 79
CALLED SHOT FEATS .................................................................................................................................................... 81
3

Luckily for them, I’m writing sourcebooks to

Introduction expand on all the classes, and started with the
The fighter made his first appearance in Dungeons fighter class.
& Dragons as “The Fighting Man” as early as the
original Dungeons & Dragons game back in 1974.
Since then, the class has diversified tremendously, What is in this Book?
expanding on what a fighter is and what they This book is an in-depth look at the fighter class.
should be able to do, through many editions, spin- The Fighter Folio is your guide to the class, its
offs, and even in video games. abilities and an expanded look at new options.
The fighter class is a versatile, weapons-oriented We’ll talk you through all the class abilities and
warrior that fights using skill, strategy and tactics. leveling up your character. We’ll even show you
From that core concept, there have been many some tips on how to make you the best fighter that
variations of the fighter throughout the editions as you can be, whether through sheer combat
well. potential or a great roleplaying concept.
In 2nd edition, there were kits that let us play We’ll compile all the core rules and give you all of
various flavors of fighter. New to this edition were our expanded options. We’ve added numerous
the options of amazons, barbarians and cavaliers, new archetypes, weapons and armor, equipment,
just to name a few. These variant fighters had magic items and optional rules. All in the name of
more depth and options. These kits gave us more fun and expanding your options.
roleplaying depth. The fighter was beginning to be
more than just a fighting man. This is your game, take what you like and leave the
rest, but use this book for what it is, a great
Along came 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons, resource for everything related to the fighter class.
which revolutionized the game. 2nd edition had
given us kits and some new and interesting Let’s get going shall we?
proficiencies, but 3rd edition really allowed us to
crack open the mold and make our fighters
completely unique. They did this by use of feats.
Feats allowed fighters to return to the limelight.

Feats gave each fighter awesome special abilities
that the player chose for his particular character.
Players could play fighters and be worlds apart in
their function and play style. It was great to be a
fighting man with a wickedly edged weapon. Woe
to your enemies, you would cleave them down!
Returning back home to a more simplistic route,

5th edition Dungeons & Dragons grants fighters
some excellent capability but removed a lot of the
variation and excitement of player options. Simple
is fast and fun, but for those seeking depth, they
had to look elsewhere.
4

FIGHTER FICTION “Why do you fight?”
During my tenth summer, the Crown waged war

“All Must Give” with the Wilds, seeking to expand their borders.
The Crown sent out hundreds of battalions,
The sun was a burning orb, obscured by the smoky thousands of blades and bows under the White
aftermath of the skirmish. Through the rancid Star banner, sent to drive the godless goblins away.
black smoke, it looks like a heavy lidded eye, its Their forests and grasslands held all the resources
sensual gaze falling on the scene of blood and the Kingdom needed to continue to thrive.
death. The rocky terrain is littered with the broken
and dead, laid out in a tableau of destruction. King Haxe the Ambitious, as he was called then,
Screams of pain and terror echo off the rocks, sent his reserves to all of the surrounding farming
mingling with the rasp of steel on leather. communities on “recruitment and resupply”
missions. Each group was accompanied by a
Allendir kneels, blood staining his tabard. His Collector, who would determine what percentage
shield lies splintered at his side, a brutal axe buried of possessions each family could afford to donate
in the remains. His shield arm is clutched to his to the Crown.
side, blood bubbling through his fingers. He pants
and gags, his body wracked with convulsions. “When the stores run dry, all must give.” The
Collector repeated often as the farmers and
Ansarath’s blood, he thinks, having felt the kiss of tradesmen watched as their livelihood was
the poison on other occasions. A menacing figure stripped and sent to the capital.
approaches, short sword held at his side. Allendir
tries to tighten his nerveless fingers against the Being the second oldest son, I was among the
poison’s hold. His bloodied teeth clench and he “assets” my family could spare. My mother sobbed
lurches forward, attempting to stand and face his and begged the Collector to leave me. She offered
attacker. The dark figure plants his hobnailed the pitiful dowry her and my father had scraped
boot into the fallen fighter’s chest, sending him together for my sister’s upcoming betrothal. The
backwards to his knees. Collector refused the offer, saying it was vital to
the propagation of the kingdom.
The short sword’s bloody tip comes to rest on his
throat. Close up, he can see the blood of his fallen I, on the other hand, was ecstatic to be going. Me!
companions mingled with the foul paste of the A soldier! I had visions of defeating the Goblin
poison. King in hand to hand combat, standing victorious
as the masses of goblins and orcs threw down their
“Struggle if you must, but by now, the poison has crude weapons and knelt to the conqueror. I
you in its clutches. Give up, warrior. Your fight is imagined King Haxe placing a sheaf of medals on
over. Succumb to it, give yourself over, and the my chest, naming me a Knight of the White Star,
pain will end.” champion of the people, defender of the kingdom.
The voice is low and cool, a rancid hiss that fills How naive I was at that age!
him with impotent anger, urging him to go in into
the inevitability of death. What followed was years of sharpening blades,
fletching arrows, wiping shit off of boots, making
Allendir tries to speak, but his throat is clogged. meals and running messages. What else was there
Bile and blood well up, and with it a guttural growl for a skinny, uneducated farm boy to do?
as he tries again to stand.
I was designated a squire to Lord Damak LeMitt, a
“Why do you fight?” middle level noble and soldier of some repute. Lord
LeMitt had been known as the Defender of the
Wall during the Siege of Balasqua, having defeated
5

the besieging army’s commander atop a crumbling The figure shifts and the sun burns deep into Al’s
parapet. It is said that the battle was so brain. He groans and turns. Pain burns through
breathtaking and fierce, that fighters from both his many wounds. A sharp kick to his side rolls him
sides of the conflict stopped mid swing to watch. over. The shattered remains of his shield crunches
War wizards would launch their volleys of fire beneath him. Through sheer grit, he rolls over and
harmlessly into the air just so they could gets on his knees. Blood leaks from the chest
illuminate the sword fight. wound. It patters down on the broken wood like
falling rain…
The stories say that Lord Lemitt slew his enemy
with his broken blade, grasping the jagged steel in
his bare hands, plunging it into the chest of his
rival. Fountains of blood gushed out of the wound, Lord Damak LeMitt had spent the last fifteen years
raining down on the spectators closest to the wall, gambling and whoring away what fortune he was
a garish rain signaling the end of the siege. granted from The Crown. The stories left out the
fact that he was partially crippled, as the damage
The songs say that the enemy threw down their to his hands was too extensive even for the healers
weapons as one, submitting to Lord LeMitt, he to repair. On the best of days, he could use his cane
who slew their leader. Lord LeMitt, raised his to prod and swat his servants and retinue to
bleeding hands, ordering his own troops to lower efficiency. On the worst, he would sit and massage
their blades. He commanded they let the enemy the knotted scar tissue on his palm below his
leave, with a command never to return, lest they fingers, coating them with a thick substance that
meet the same end as their leader. smelled of pine trees.
The history books say that LeMitt carried the He had given up wearing his armor years past. He
corpse of his fallen enemy down the parapet stairs carried no blade or shield, as his damaged hands
reverently, laying the body in a cart for transport couldn’t grasp a hilt or a handle. He wore his cane,
to the dead man’s homeland. The amount of tears a polished black stick with a sharp iron spur at the
that were shed by LeMitt’s actions could have end, in place of a sword. When he wasn’t using it
watered a barren field. to keep balance or swinging it at an errant squire,
it was hanging ever present at his waist.
The Battle of Balasqua thrust LeMitt into the gaze
of the King, and elevated him from common In his advancing age, one of his favorite things to
enlisted man, to minor noble. LeMitt was a shining do is sit by a warm fire and sip on chilled wine.
beacon for the soldiers, showing that they too Tonight, he sat in a worn Tennise rocker by a
could be elevated in stature. The well written and stifling fireplace. His horn flagon had beads of
well placed stories and ballads of Damak LeMitt condensation pooling at its base. He rocked slowly,
did well to fan the flames of patriotism, and his cane tapping against the hearthstones softly.
enlistment increased greatly. His hands twitched, and I had learned enough in
my 2 seasons with him that they pained him. He
When I was told I was to be his squire, I pictured didn’t seem to be able to control the spasms, but
him as the stories did; strong, compassionate and his face never gave indication that he was
glorious. I met him almost two decades after the suffering.
Siege of Balasqua, and the truth couldn’t have
been further from the bard’s tales. The songs-- I sat at his feet, the soft whushing of the boar
bristle brush against the dress boots provided a
nice base of sound to the soft pattering of rain
outside. I looked up at Lord Damak fondly as he
“Do you think they’ll sing songs of your death?” patted my head with his knotted hand. He treated
Allendir opens his eyes. The dark shadow blots out me kinder than my own family ever did, and they
the smoky sun. His jaws clench uncontrollably as quickly faded to a distant memory. He had worked
the poison sends spasms through him. His muscles my mind as hard as he did my body, spending
scream in protest. nights learning letters and numbers. I struggled
with numbers, as they didn’t make much sense in
6

my head, but the letters came to me quickly. We I ran off to the taproom and returned with my
had finished up with a lesson, and sat enjoying the prize. Placing it on the stones next to his, I wrestled
warmth and the sounds of the storm. a chair over, so I could sit facing him. I sat down
and took a sip of the ale. It went down rough, as
“You know, boy, tomorrow is the anniversary of coarse as the brush I had abandoned moments
the Siege of Balasqua.” ago. I fought back a grimace and a gag. I hadn’t
gotten used to drinking anything but watered
I slowed my hands, listening closely. He never wine, yet.
talked about that day. Whenever he was a guest
anywhere, his speaker, Wesson, always told the “Do you know what the Crown’s motto is? Not
story of that day. Wesson, with his silver tones and what is stamped on the coins, but what words they
golden laughter, recited the stories and songs as truly stand by? When stores run dry-”
though he was there, but never strayed from what
everyone knew. The stories carried a measured “All must give.” I finished. I had heard it uttered
beat, hitting high notes and theatrical pauses, ones over and over by the Collector I traveled with. I
that Wesson had mastered years ago. actually heard the phrase quite often. Guardsmen
would say it when they were taking the money out
Sensing that he was waiting for me to say of drunkard’s pockets as they slept in the gutter.
something, I responded with a muttered “Truly, Soldiers would say it when they paid less than
sir?” asked for goods and services. When I was older, I
would hear it more frequently, whether it be
His scarred hand patted my head again, and his followed by cries of protest or the slap of hand to
rocking stopped. He took a long drink of his wine, face. Soldiers and mercenaries would abuse the
the cold rain of condensation falling on my head phrase and their rank, taking what they want in
as it did outside on the stones. the name of the Crown.
“Indeed, Allendir. Twenty years. By the By that time in my life, only the last part was
Primordials! Such a long time ago. I still remember spoken as a mantra, words that one must accept
that day. The sun baked the stench of death into when someone of greater strength takes what they
that small temple. Whenever a soft breeze crept want from you.
through the walls, it carried with it the sweet taste
of ripe meat. My men could barely stomach what But as a boy of twelve, sitting with the Defender of
little food they had, so they drank those monks out the Wall, the phrase came out proudly, a verbal
of wine quickly. The goblins were coming again, shield and promise of a noble sacrifice, used
we knew that. The dust storm kicked up from their against the vague menace of the goblin horde.
approach filled us with dread. There were less than
fifty men to man those walls, and almost all of “All must give. Yes.” LeMitt grunted softly, rolling
them were wounded in one way or another. Our the words around a mouthful of wine.
commander had taken an arrow to the eye, and his
cronies and bootlickers had fled in the night like “Do you truly know what it means, though? When
cowards. I was the highest ranking man there, the stores run dry, all must give.” He looked at me
barely a Lieutenant! Yet, they all looked to me as closely, watching as I turned the words over in my
though I was a General.” head.
He started his rocking slowly, and I realized I had “It means that everyone must give something.” I
put the boot brush down. I reached for it hastily, said, satisfied with my answer.
and he tapped me on the head.
“Yes, boy. It means that on the surface, but deep
“The boots can wait, Al. Have Hessie pull you a down, it means more. Much more. What if you
draw of ale, and grab a chair. It’s time for your first don’t have anything to give? No gold or crops to
life lesson.” contribute? What do you give then?”
7

I furrowed my brow, trying to see past the words

he was saying, to seek the truth of this lesson.
Only one thing to give.
“The night before the Siege, I considered following
the coward’s path. I knew we were doomed. The His life is leaking out, pouring down on the
goblins approaching outnumbered us four to one! shattered symbol of his life. Everything he had
Those green bastards were crafty and dangerous! given for the White Star.
They knew the land and how to use everything it
provided them. We were the usurpers, Allendir, His shield. The scarred wood etched with the
not them. We were the villains of their story, various campaigns he survived. The accolades
coming to steal their homes and possessions. The from the Crown.
King had his sights set on their land, and he was
going to do whatever it took to get it. Do you know The red triangle of Rey’Leyiar.
how many have died in this forsaken war?
Thousands! Tens of thousands! Boys like you, The cracked feather of Okne’s Stand.
foolishly dreaming of glory. Boys like I was. Fools
like those that looked to me for directions.” The iron spur from Lemitt’s cane, given before his
death.
His hands twitched and clenched in his lap. Sweat
beaded on his forehead. Al’s blood mixed with the dust and broken
memories. He had given everything he could in
“Battle isn’t a glorious, magical event, boy! It is pain defense of the White Star. He had won many
and death! You’ll be drenched in tears and shit battles in the name of King Haxe.
before you find yourself at the end of someone’s
blade. All must give! Pah! That phrase is a death The pain in his abdomen, the thick blood that
sentence to anyone sent to the front lines. After oozes out tells him that he is beyond healing. He
the Siege, only a handful of troops walked away won’t be leaving this forsaken land. He grips the
from that wretched temple, with scars visible and iron spur, grafted onto the bottom point of his
not.” shield. The jagged wood tears his hands.
His attacker stands next to him, barking orders to
He was agitated now, his normally calm voice a pack of goblins, who are already looting the dead.
starting to break its normal flow. His hand gripped
his cane, jabbing it towards me to accentuate his His soldiers. Friends and allies. People who
words. The iron spur at the bottom glinted in the followed him to this wasteland, to fight in his
firelight. shadow, to become a legend like he had become.
“I didn’t go to the wall to challenge their leader! I The words of the Collector echo in his mind one
went to face my death! I knew my death was all I last time. When the stores run dry.
had to give the Crown. By the Primordial’s blood, I
expected to capture a spear in the chest, not the He finds the strength to rise, one last time. He
crown of the goblin army! When that orc climbed grasps the edge of shield in both hands, lips
the parapet, I don’t remember sounding the alarm! peeling back from bloodied teeth. One last surge,
I didn’t marshal the troops! I fought with every and he launches himself at the figure as he turns.
ounce of my will to survive! I wasn’t going to let a His bloodshot eyes lock on the hollow of the man’s
stinking heathen run me through on some rotted throat, the exposed skin above the collar of his
wall! The King’s words rang through my head. All black armor.
must give! And I had one thing only to give!”
All must give.
8

FIGHTER CLASS Skill Choices

The fighter is really limited in skill choices, but
luckily in 5E D&D that’s less of a concern.
Remember, you get to use all the skills, you just
FEATURES won’t excel in them. Think about this for a

moment; proficiency for the first few levels only
means you’ll be adding a +2 bonus to your
As a fighter, you gain the following class features: proficient skills. If you have an 18 Strength, you are
already going to be decent at Strength-based skills,
so why not shore up some of your weak areas in
Hit Points skills? Also, don’t be afraid to go against the mold.
While everyone seems to think Perception is the
Hit Dice: 1d10 per fighter level most-used skill, if you are in a more roleplaying or
intrigue based game, try some Insight or History.
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution Don’t trap yourself in the “I’m only good for
modifier combat” mentality.
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your

Constitution modifier per fighter level after 1st
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in
A Plug For Fixed Hit Points addition to the equipment granted by your
As a GM, I love fixed hit points for players, and
background:
here’s why. As a player, nothing sucks more than
rolling a 1 or 2 on a d10 when you level up. Most
GMs have tons of house rules for fixing that sort  (a) chain mail or (b) leather armor,
of thing, but using the fixed hit points of 5E D&D longbow, and 20 arrows
clears that right up. There’s another reason why I  (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b)
think fixed hit points are important though-- two martial weapons
balance. If I’m designing an encounter, all things  (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) two
should really be equal. Monsters generally have handaxes
fixed hit points too. If your party’s fighter isn’t up  (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s
to par on hit points, it could really throw off an pack
encounter at early levels. You might even argue
that it works itself out in the end right? The law of
averages and all. But then, why not just use hit
Starting Gear
There’s some good options here for sure. Choose
point averages from the very beginning?
one item (a or b) from each list. You want to
maximize your offenses and defenses by getting
the best gear possible, but don’t leave yourself
Proficiencies weak in any area. A great AC isn’t worth much if
you don’t have a ranged weapon and your
Armor: All armor, shields opponents do.
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Fighting Style
Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Animal
You adopt a particular style of fighting as your
Handling, Athletics, History, Insight,
specialty. Choose one of the following options.
Intimidation, Perception, and Survival
You can’t take a Fighting Style option more than
once, even if you later get to choose again.
9

Level Proficiency Class Features

Bonus
1st +2 Fighting Style, Second Wind
2nd +2 Action Surge (One Use)
3rd +2 Martial Archetype
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement
5th +3 Extra Attack
7th +3 Martial Archetype Feature
9th +4 Indomitable (One Use)
11th +4 Extra Attack (2)
13th +5 Indomitable (Two Uses)
17th +6 Action Surge (Two Uses), Indomitable (Three Uses)
20th +6 Extra Attack (3)
Archery Protection
You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with When a creature you can see attacks a target other
ranged weapons. than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use
your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack
roll. You must be wielding a shield.
Defense
While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus
to AC. Two-Weapon Fighting
When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can
add your ability modifier to the damage of the
Dueling second attack.
When you are wielding a melee weapon in one
hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus
to damage rolls with that weapon. NEW FIGHTING STYLES
Great Weapon Fighting Gunfighting
When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack
you make with a melee weapon that you are You gain proficiency with firearms. You gain a +1
wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die bonus to all attack rolls made with firearms.
and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a
1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-handed or
versatile property for you to gain this benefit.
10

Hand To Hand Combat Always Use Second Wind!

Always. Show your cleric you care… It refreshes
Your unarmed damage increases to 1d6 plus your after every rest. It is 1d10 + your fighter level in hit
Strength modifier. You also gain a +1 bonus to points. Those are precious hit points that the cleric
attack rolls whenever you make an unarmed need not be healing you and can concentrate on
attack. buffing or keeping someone else alive, possibly
even doing something awesome on their turn
Mounted Combat themselves. All as a bonus action, so it won’t even

slow you down...
While you are mounted, you gain +1 on attack rolls.
If your mount takes the Dash action, opportunity
attacks against you and your mount gain
disadvantage until the end of your turn. Action Surge
Starting at 2nd level, you can push yourself beyond
Tensile Weapons your normal limits for a moment. On your turn,
you can take one additional action on top of your
You gain a +2 to hit with flexible weapons such as
the whip or flail. regular action and a possible bonus action.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a short

Thrown Weapons or long rest before you can use it again. Starting at
17th level, you can use it twice before a rest, but
You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls only once on the same turn.
with thrown weapons.
Always Use Action Surge!

Fight with Style and Flourish! Much like Second Wind, Action Surge is part of the
The fighting styles are a great addition to the 5E bread and butter of the fighter. You want to use
D&D game. They allow your fighter to have a this when advantageous though, pushing on to
slightly more unique voice in combat and feel finish off a foe in heroic fashion. What a great use
more stylized than every other existing fighter. for Second Wind! As cool as it is mechanically, this
The original choices are a bit limited, so we’ve is a great moment for you to also really roleplay
included a number of other options for you to your fighting prowess. What just happened? How
choose from as well. Fighting styles are often your and why did your fighter summon the power to
primary focus, but don’t always fall into that trap. push on and really lay into that bad guy? Don’t be
A fighter with a 20 Strength has very little problem a boring fighter!
hitting with his melee attacks, so you can always
take Defense or Archery to shore up some of your
Martial Archetype
weaknesses, increasing your overall effectiveness.
Second Wind At 3rd level, you choose an archetype that you

strive to emulate in your combat styles and
techniques.
You have a limited well of stamina that you can
draw on to protect yourself from harm. On your Choose an archetype detailed below. The
turn, you can use a bonus action to regain hit archetype you choose grants you features at 3rd
points equal to 1d10 + your fighter level. Once you level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level.
use this feature, you must finish a short or long
rest before you can use it again.
11

Be Buff and Stuff

You should be thankful. You’re a fighter. Fighters
gain more ability score improvement than any
other class in the game. Why you ask? Well,
because of feats. Feats are an optional rule in 5E
D&D, but I couldn’t imagine playing without
them. But that of course is entirely dependent
upon your GM and the play style of your group. So
don’t forget, as a fighter, you have a tremendous
amount of versatility here. Build your stats or buy
a feat with each ability score improvement. Often,
feats are worth more in effect than a simple stat
increase could provide, and many feats also
improve your ability scores as well. While you are
building your warrior of doom, don’t’ forget to
keep an eye peeled for those pesky weaknesses, of
which the fighter has plenty. Good thing you can
get lots of feats to get more skills, become
proficient in bad saves, etc. You are a hero right?
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice,
The Riddle of Steel instead of once, whenever you take the Attack
Choose wisely. Blue pill or the red pill? Your action on your turn.
martial archetype defines your fighter. It’s a very
important part of your character’s concept, and The number of attacks increases to three when you
the class’s soul if you will. Each has its benefits, reach 11th level in this class and to four when you
but you want to choose one that plays well to your reach 20th level in this class.
particular style and broadens the base of abilities
of the party. A great fighter archetype will lend
you abilities that shore up weaknesses in your
Stick and Move!
So I love that 5E D&D reduced the overall number
party, not just make you more powerful.
of attacks in the game. As a trade-off, your attacks
are more effective and likely to hit. Don’t forget to
move though! Remember, you can make any
Ability Score number of attacks during your movement, so

always be positioning yourself in the best spot and
be thinking of where you want to be next round!
Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 6th, 8th,
12th, 14th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase
Indomitable
one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can Beginning at 9th level, you can reroll a saving
increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As throw that you fail. If you do so, you must use the
normal, you can’t increase an ability score above new roll, and you can’t use this feature again until
20 using this feature. you finish a long rest.
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You can use this feature twice between long rests

starting at 13th level and three times between long WEAKNESSES
rests starting at 17th level.
REST
You absolutely need to have a moment of rest in-
Indubitably Indomitable between dangerous encounters. You may be able
Say that three times fast. If only you could use this to handle a lot of punishment, but sustained
ability three times. Until 13th level you can only use combat can be your demise. You need rest to
this once. Once, I say… Are you picking up what regain hit points and refresh some of your class
I’m putting down? Save this ability for those really abilities.
heinous crimes-against-humanity sort of saves.
Like the kind where you might be perma-borked if NON COMBAT ROLES
you fail. Don’t sweat the small stuff, because Fighter characters tend to be fairly one dimen-
lurking around that corner might be one nasty sional and not terribly well-suited for situations
bulb of eyes and stalks and he wants you for lunch. outside of combat. This can be changed with a
Good thing you saved this ability. Right? Right? few tweaks to your characters, but those that play
fighters really love to fight (and excel at it).
Fighter Strengths MOBILITY

The average fighter is designed to be able to stand
in one place and defend his allies from the hordes
and Weaknesses of combatants. He draws them to him and keeps

them occupied while the rest of the adventuring
party aids and supports him in combat.
Knowing yourself is just as important as knowing When facing a larger number of opponents, or
your enemy. The fighter is a class that allows fast-moving opponents, the fighter suffers. His
players to danse macabre on the battlefield, but armor can slow him down somewhat, and he has
they are not invincible. Let’s break the class down difficulty controlling the battlefield when there
a bit more shall we? are numerous opponents.
STRENGTHS
DAMAGE OUTPUT
You consistently deal more damage than other
classes. Your extra attacks are greater than any
other class, and your archetype abilities further
increase your ability to do significant amounts of
damage.
RESLIENCE
You take a beating and keep kicking. Fighters
wear the best of all armor and shields, have high
amounts of hit points and have the amazing
Second Wind class feature.
VERSATILITY
Again, more than most other classes, fighters can
be incredibly versatile combatants. Combined
with feat options, they become incredibly
dangerous and capable of handling many
situations with ease.
13

Martial Archetypes
RAIN OF DEATH
To the uninitiated, fighters are nothing but dumb At 15th level, your ranged attacks score critical hits
brutes—meat shields lacking any notion of on a natural attack roll of 19 or 20.
subtlety. True warriors, however, know the truth:
it takes more than raw strength to survive the
rigors of combat. Every warrior approaches battle DREAD ARROWS
with a different philosophy and with individual At 18th level, all your ranged attacks deal an
style. A truly successful fighter develops their own additional die of weapon damage (by
unique set of tactics. Thus, the martial archetype weapon/missile type).
you choose reflects your approach to fighting.
We’ve included a great number of additional
fighter archetypes for you to choose from.
ARCHER
Mastering the bow demands years of practice and
training; the best archers begin their education in
early childhood. In the skilled hands of an archer,
an arrow becomes like a living, thinking magical
instrument of death, striking enemies at long
distances and capable of punching through armor
with lethal efficiency. Swords, shields, spears, and
armor all have their place in battle, but it is the
archers who often determine the victor. At the
height of their skill, a practiced archer can rain
death on enemies without even seeing them,
filling the air with a hail of arrows in the span of a
few heartbeats.
QUICK SHOT
At 3rd level, you can rapidly fire off multiple
arrows each round. If you do not move during
your turn, you can make an extra attack with your
ranged weapon as a bonus action.
AIMED SHOT
At 7th level, you can take your time to line up a
perfect shot. You can choose not to move this turn
and gain advantage on your next ranged attack
roll.
PINPOINT ACCURACY
At 10th level, you gain advantage on all ranged
attack rolls made against targets you can see
within 30 feet.
14

must accept blows if you wish to deliver them. The

BRAWLER brawler learns to laugh at pain, accepting a hit to
earn a chance to land the knockout punch.
PUGILIST
At 3rd level, you are always considered armed with
a melee weapon. Your unarmed attacks deal 1d8
points of damage plus your choice of Strength or
Dexterity modifier. This damage increases to d10
at 10th level and d12 at 18th.
In addition, when you make an unarmed

opportunity attack against a provoking target, you
deal an additional +1d4 points of damage.
HAMMER FIST
At 7th level, whenever you deal a critical hit with
your unarmed attack, the target also must make a
Constitution saving throw with a DC equal to 8 +
your proficiency bonus + your Strength bonus or
fall prone.
In addition, your unarmed strikes count as magical

for the purpose of overcoming resistance and
immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
KNOCKOUT PUNCH
At 10th level, you can attempt to deliver a knockout
punch on an attack action. This punch strikes the
opponent so hard it could possibly knock them
unconscious. The target must make a Con-
stitution save equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus
and Strength bonus or become unconscious until
they can make a successful save. You cannot knock
out a target of larger size than yourself. You can
attempt this ability once per short rest, but you
gain an additional use at 15th and again at 18th
level.
HAND TO HAND MASTERY

At 15th level, add half your proficiency bonus as
bonus damage to all unarmed attacks. In addition,
your unarmed attacks deal critical hits on a roll of
When the brawler enters a fight, they need no 19 and 20.
sword or knife to defeat their enemies. They
always carry with them the weapons the gods STONEJAW
blessed all men with: fists. Calloused, hardened, At 18th level, you gain resistance to all bludgeon-
and brutal, the brawler’s fists split flesh, shatter ing damage, including magical weapons attacks.
bone, and pulverize organs with blinding speed
and devastating accuracy. At the same time, the
brawler learns the simple truth of combat: you
15

IMPROVED CRITICAL
CHAMPION Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd
level, your weapon attacks score a critical hit on a
roll of 19 or 20.
REMARKABLE ATHLETE
Starting at 7th level, you can add half your
proficiency bonus (round up) to any Strength,
Dexterity, or Constitution check you make that
doesn’t already use your proficiency bonus.
In addition, when you make a running long jump,

the distance you can cover increases by a number
of feet equal to your Strength modifier.
ADDITIONAL FIGHTING STYLE

At 10th level, you can choose a second option from
the Fighting Style class feature.
SUPERIOR CRITICAL
Starting at 15th level, your weapon attacks score a
critical hit on a roll of 18–20.
SURVIVOR
At 18th level, you attain the pinnacle of resilience
in battle. At the start of each of your turns, you
regain hit points equal to 5 + your Constitution
modifier if you have half or fewer of your
maximum hit points left.
You must have at least 1 hit point to use this

benefit.
CORSAIR
Among the ranks of warriors stand those rare The corsair fights at sea as if born to it, never
individuals considered elite. They possess happier or more in their element than when on a
exceptional talent and skill placing them above ship or in the water. Violent storms, slick decks,
their peers. Among these elite warriors are the and tossing seas bother them not at all. When
truly gifted—not simply the best in the kingdom, battle is joined, the corsair leaps into the fray with
but the best in their generation. These men and violent, relentless passion. Enemies learn to dread
women are known as champions. The champion the sound of the corsair’s maniacal laughter.
represents the pinnacle of the art of war, a titan of
the profession, honed in skill at arms and blessed SEA DOG
by preternatural strength and toughness. Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd
level, add half your proficiency bonus to your
weapon damage with light or finesse weapons and
pistols.
16

due to wind or rain. You also ignore difficult

terrain on ships.
DECK FIGHTER
At 15th level, your opponents never gain advantage
on attacks against you when you are aware of
them.
ONE WITH THE SEA

At 18th level, you are as capable an aquatic warrior
as any who has lived. When on a ship or in a body
of water, your weapon attacks score a critical hit
on an attack roll of 19 or 20.
If you are at sea when you begin dying, you gain

advantage on death saving throws. Also, while
dying when submerged underwater, you may
swim half your speed towards the nearest source
of air each round as a free action.
DEMON-BLOODED
The fury and savage power of demonkind surges
through the veins of the Demon-Blooded warrior.
Whether they or one of their ancestors made a
demonic bargain, fell under an abyssal curse, or
stumbled upon a demon-infused relic, this
ferocious fighter can call upon demonic power to
fuel their combat skills. In battle, the Demon-
Blooded warrior can unleash tremendous
strength, inhuman speed, and a number of other
supernatural tricks. Doing so, however, incurs a
In addition, add half your proficiency bonus to the
cost on their mind, body, and soul. Eventually, the
number of minutes you can hold your breath. You
dark powers demand a price for their blessings—a
also add a bonus equal to half your proficiency
price that must be paid.
bonus to any skill check related to operating a sea
vessel or swimming.
DEMONIC ASPECT
At 3rd level when you select this archetype, choose
MOBILE MASTER from one of three types of demonic aspects. Each
At 7th level, when wearing light or medium armor
aspect provides a different set of features you can
you suffer no penalties on Dexterity (Stealth)
call upon. Once you make this choice, you cannot
checks. You also suffer no penalties on Strength
change it. In addition, you suffer a number of side
(Athletics) checks made to swim.
effects and mutations as your humanity slowly
erodes and you become closer and closer to the
Also, when not wearing heavy armor, as a bonus
demon within.
action you can take the disengage action.
Brute. You gain advantage on Strength
(Athletics) skill checks. As an action, you can use
SEA LEGS your demonic essence to supercharge your
When you reach 10th level, you ignore any Strength, boosting your score by +4. The boost
penalties related to the motion of a ship you are lasts for up to 1 minute, after which you gain one
on, and any penalties related to stability or vision
17

You are instinctively drawn to the sight and

smell of fresh blood, so much so that you suffer
disadvantage on any Intelligence-based skill
checks while in the presence of blood.
TOUCH OF THE ABYSS

Beginning at 3rd level, you learn to speak abyssal.
You also gain proficiency in Intimidation, and gain
an additional bonus equal to your proficiency
bonus whenever you attempt to intimidate
another non-demonic creature.
When you reach 3rd level, your outward

appearance undergoes a metamorphosis and you
acquire a demonic physical trait. Work with your
GM to decide the nature of this change, or roll on
the table below. In general, you can camouflage or
hide this feature with proper apparel or a disguise,
but a perceptive individual stands a good chance
of noticing something unusual about your
appearance, even with casual observation.
D12 DEMONIC TRAIT

1 Vestigial tail
2 Small but noticeable horns grow from
your forehead
3 Skin takes on a slight blood-red tinge
4 Set of fangs
5 Forked tongue
6 Hooved feet
7 Enlarged brow
8 Exaggerated jaw
exhaustion level. This feature recharges after a
9 Abnormally long tapered fingers
short or long rest.
10 Coarse, boar-like hair sprouts from skin
You don’t know your own strength. Delicate,
11 Pupils turn red, gold, or other exotic color
breakable objects have a 20% chance of breaking
12 Hunched, over-developed shoulders
or shattering when you handle them.
Devourer. You gain resistance to poison, as well
as advantage on saving throws against poison- DEMONIC INFUSION
based effects and disease. As an action, you can use At 7th level, you gain another feature associated
your demonic essence to empower your with your demonic aspect, as described below.
Constitution, increasing your score by +4. The Brute. You are treated as a creature of two sizes
boost lasts up to 1 minute, after which you suffer larger for purposes of determining encumbrance,
one level of exhaustion. The hit points you gain carry and drag weight limits. If another creature
from this effect are temporary hit points. attempts a grapple or shove attack against you, you
You must consume twice as much food and are treated as a creature of one size category larger.
drink as a normal creature of your race and size. Devourer. When you focus on your sense of
Slayer. You gain advantage on initiative rolls. smell as an action, you can analyze a living
You can draw upon your demonic essence to boost creature’s scent and learn information about it.
your Dexterity score by +4. This boost lasts for up The target creature must be within 60 feet of you.
to 1 minute, after which time you gain one level of After breathing in the target creature’s scents, you
exhaustion. This feature recharges following a determine if that creature suffers from being
short or long rest. charmed, diseased, frightened, or poisoned
18

(including being intoxicated). You also know if the outsider for purposes of detect evil and good and
creature is below its current hit point maximum, the paladin’s Divine Sense feature.
although you cannot tell by how much. Although
this feature allows you to detect the presence of an ABYSSAL BLESSING
invisible living creature (i.e., not undead or When you reach 10th level, you gain an additional
constructs), it isn’t precise enough to eliminate the feature based on your demonic aspect, as
penalties for attacking an invisible target. described below.
Slayer. You do not need to sleep. If you spend 4 Brute. You can wield a two-handed weapon one-
hours performing only light activity such as handed without penalty. When wielding a weapon
walking or talking, you gain equal benefit as other with both hands, your damage increases by +2. You
creatures do from 8 hours of sleep. In addition, you are considered two sizes larger than you actually
can go twice as long without food or water as are when creatures attempt to grapple or shove
normal creatures without penalty. you.
Devourer. You become immune to poison and
At this point, your mortal nature has become disease. You gain one additional hit point per level,
forever tainted with demonic essence. Although and your hit point maximum cannot be decreased
your type does not change, you are treated as an under any circumstance.
Slayer. Your weapon attacks score a critical hit
on a roll of 19 or 20.
Your physical appearance changes to become more

demonic, to an extent that you cannot hide your
true nature. Roll on the Demonic Trait table to
determine this latest mutation.
CORRUPTED SOUL
Starting at 15th level, you can call upon your
demonic aspect twice between short or long rests.
By now, you have become more demon than

mortal. You gain vulnerability to radiant damage.
19

DERVISH are not wearing medium or heavy armor and move

The flash of steel, the blur of a swirling cloak, and at least 15 feet in a round. Any opportunity attacks
the whisper of flesh being sliced open. These are you provoke by movement suffer disadvantage.
your only warnings that you face a dervish. They
strike faster than the eye can track. Each blow TWO WEAPON MASTERY
comes from an unexpected angle. Your retaliation At 7th level, you can wield two finesse weapons,
comes too slow, cutting through empty space. even if those weapons are not light. In addition,
When you face a dervish, you face a phantom—a you may add your Dexterity modifier to damage on
phantom destined to kill you. the bonus attack.
WHIRLING DERVISH IMPROVED TWO-WEAPON MASTERY

At 3rd level, your speed increases by a number of At 10th level, your attacks become faster and
five foot squares equal to half your proficiency deadlier. Add half your proficiency bonus to
bonus (rounded down) while unarmored or Initiative and to damage when dual-wielding
wearing light armor. In addition, add half your finesse weapons while unarmored or wearing light
proficiency bonus to AC (rounded down) when you armor.
20

LIGHTNING REFLEXES everything else fades into oblivion, forgotten in the

At 15th level, you add a bonus equal to your moment. The dance of the duel offers them the
proficiency bonus on Dexterity saves when not best way to learn new tricks, hone combat skills,
wearing medium or heavy armor. and—most importantly—solidify their reputation
as the superior swordsman.
STORM OF FURY
At 18th level, you can make an attack with a finesse DUELIST’S DEFENSE
weapon as a reaction whenever you deal a critical At 3rd level, as a reaction, you add your Intelligence
hit, provided you are not wearing medium or heavy bonus to your AC against a single attack.
armor.
DUELIST’S CHALLENGE
At 7th level, you may issue a challenge against a
single target within 30 feet that you can see. That
DUELIST target must make a Charisma save (DC = 8 + your
proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier) or be
The duelist lives for the thrill of combat, but most forced to engage you in combat. You gain
of all, they thrive in seeking out and challenging advantage on melee attacks against that target, but
the most skilled foe on any battlefield. Once a all other foes (except your challenge target) gain
duelist engages with their latest nemesis, advantage on attacks against you. If your target
does not engage you (by making their save) or exits
combat, you may drop your challenge without
using an action. You may not change your
challenge. You regain this ability after finishing a
short rest.
RIPOSTE
At 10th level, when you use your Duelist’s Defense
ability and an opponent misses, you may make an
immediate attack against your attacker as part of
your reaction.
OPPORTUNE STRIKE
At 15th level, you learn how to identify and exploit
flaws in your enemies’ defenses. You gain
advantage on opportunity attack rolls and gain a
bonus to damage on opportunity attacks equal to
your Intelligence modifier.
PERFECT STRIKES
At 18th level, you have become a master
swordsman. You score critical hits on 19 and 20. In
addition, whenever you deal a critical hit, add +1d6
to the base damage. This extra damage is doubled
on the critical hit.
21

DRAGOON As a bonus action, you can make a high jump as

part of an attack action, a maneuver known as the
The dragoon is a master of polearms and spears, Dragoon Leap. If your attack after this leap hits,
trained from an early age to fight with polearms to you gain a +1d6 damage bonus, plus an additional
devastating effect. They perform amazing leaps +1d6 for every ten foot into the air you leap when
into the air, delivering devastating blows with striking with a polearm or spear.
their weapons as they land.
The dragoon is a powerful front-line fighter who As part of the Dragoon Leap, if you strike an
charges into the fray of combat without fear, opponent, instead of inflicting the extra damage,
decimating enemy ranks. you can attempt a shove attack to knock the target
prone. If you choose the shove attack, you gain
Some nations have trained elite forces comprised advantage on your Strength (Athletics) check.
entirely of the terrifyingly effective dragoon
warriors. Other civilizations teach the dragoon
weapon form in secret, allowing only those who
HOW FAR CAN I JUMP?
You can leap a number of feet equal to your
are truly worthy to master the leaping spear Strength score in feet as a running long jump, or 3
techniques. + your Strength modifier feet as a running high
jump.
POLEARM MASTERY
At 7th level, you gain either the Polearm Master,
Spear Mastery or Great Weapon Master feat
(choose one).
FALL MASTERY
At 10th level, you ignore the first 10 feet of falling
damage. You also gain resistance to falling damage
when not wearing heavy armor. In addition, if you
suffer no damage from a fall, you automatically
land on your feet. The amount of falling distance
you can ignore increases to 15 feet at 15th level, and
20 feet at 20th level.
TERMINAL VELOCITY
At 15th level, whenever you make a Dragoon Leap,
your polearm or spear attacks deal critical hits on
19 and 20.
COMET STRIKE
At 18th level, when not wearing heavy armor you
may declare a Dragoon Leap an automatic critical
hit. You can use this ability once, and can do so
again after finishing a long rest.
DRAGOON LEAP SYLVAN ELF SPEARMASTERS

At 3rd level, you gain advantage on all Strength
Wild elves often make use of the dragoon
(Athletics) checks made to jump when not wearing
archetype, but call themselves spearmasters,
heavy armor. In addition, you are always
wielding a spear with terrible ferocity instead of a
considered to be making a running jump, even
polearm.
when you do not move prior to making a jump.
22

Additionally, you automatically begin with one

DREADNAUGHT success whenever you must start making death
saves.
FEAR OF FAILURE
At 7th level, if an attack fails to damage you, you
may use your reaction to make a Strength
(Intimidate) skill check against a DC of 8 + your
opponent’s proficiency bonus + opponent’s
Wisdom modifier. If you are successful, that
opponent suffers disadvantage on all attacks made
against you until the end of their next turn.
IMPENETRABLE DEFENSES
At 10th level, you treat all critical hits as normal
hits while wearing heavy armor.
IMPROVED IMPENETRABLE DEFENSES

At 15th level, magical weapons no longer bypass
your damage resistances. In addition, you add your
Constitution bonus to all death saves.
UNYIELDING
At 18th level, when you suffer enough damage to be
reduced to 0 hit points, you may spend a reaction
to be reduced to 1 hit point instead.

ELDRITCH EXECUTIONER
The eldritch executioner is a slayer of magic users
and a hunter of witches. They despise those that
Clad head to toe in plates of steel, the dreadnaught wield magic, holding a deep-rooted hatred against
stands a veritable mountain of impenetrable such creatures and using it to temper the fire of
defense. When the dreadnaught charges onto the their attacks. The executioner learns how to
battlefield, the earth trembles beneath their identify and detect the arcane arts of the enemy,
armored feet. Faced with the inability to harm and a combination of training and sheer willpower
such a foe, their enemies often break and run in helps them to resist magic in all its sinister forms.
fear. The dreadnaught cannot be stopped, cannot
be resisted, and they shrug off all but the most
powerful of blows.
MAGE SLAYER
At 3rd level, you gain the ability to cast detect
magic at will as an action. In addition, you have
MOUNTAIN OF STEEL advantage on attacks against creatures able to cast
At 3rd level, while wearing heavy armor you reduce spells or use spell-like abilities. You also have
the damage you suffer from slashing, piercing, and advantage on saving throws to resist fear effects.
bludgeoning damage from nonmagical weapons
by an amount equal to your Constitution bonus.
23

beginning of their turn until they successfully

make the save.
DISPELLING TOUCH
At 18th level, you can cast dispel magic at will as
an action. After dispelling a spell effect, you gain
5 temporary hit points per level of spell effect
dispelled. These temporary hit points last for one
hour or until expended.

GHOST WARRIOR
The Ghost Warrior draws upon the collective
wisdom, knowledge, and experience of a choir of
ghosts. This choir remains bonded to them,
invisible and silent until summoned, offering
guidance until the warrior fulfills their destiny or
perishes in battle. Such a choir includes ancestral
spirits, as well as spirits of former protectors of
their clan and legendary warriors slain in combat—
and perhaps even an enemy or rival slain by their
hand. When the Ghost Warrior needs insight or
advice, they listen to these spirits and—if wise—
heed their counsel. In those moments where the
ghost warrior needs an edge against enemies, they
allow one of the spirits to possess their body. When
the time comes and the ghost warrior falls, then
they become part of another warrior’s choir,
continuing the cycle of life and death.
GHOSTLY CHOIR
RESIST BEDEVILMENT When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you
At 7th level, the eldritch executioner adds his gain a collection of spirits known as a choir. These
Wisdom bonus (min. +1) on all saving throws spirits, bound to you until your death, follow and
against magic effects as an aura for himself and watch over you. In times of danger or stress, you
allies within 15’. call upon one of these spirits to aid you. Each
spirit offers a different benefit, but each demands
HAMMER THE WITCHES a sacrifice in exchange for their help.
At 10th level, you deal +1d6 damage against any
spellcasting creature. In addition, you cast dispel Ghosts. You gain the services of four ghosts of
magic against your target as a free action your choice, which are described below under
whenever you deal a critical hit in combat. “Spirits.” Each spirit provides a different benefit;
some aid your attacks or defenses, while others
help you with ability checks or saving throws. You
SILENCING STRIKE can only benefit from one spirit per attack or
At 15th level, when you strike a spellcasting
action.
creature, it must make a Constitution saving
Under normal conditions (except as noted
throw with a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency
below), only you can see your choir or hear their
bonus + your Wisdom modifier or be unable to
voices. These spirits can, however, be detected by
perform the verbal components of any spell.
means of detect magic, and can be seen with a
Affected creatures gain a new save at the
24

gem of true seeing. The ghosts are not treated as the beginning of your turn you may reroll the
undead or any type of creature—they cannot be saving throw with advantage. If you succeed, the
attacked, harmed, exorcised, or banished. charm effect ends. If you fail, however, you suffer
Once you’ve gained a particular spirit’s benefit, 1 hit point per level of damage. This feature
you cannot call upon that same spirit again until continues until you break free of the charm or
after you’ve completed a short or long rest. drop to 0 hit points—you cannot voluntarily end
this feature.
Saving Throw. Some benefits provided by your
ghostly choir call for your target to make a saving Butcher. He bleeds your enemies of their
throw to avoid or resist the feature’s effects. vitality, granting it to you. You can invoke this
Calculate the saving throw DC as follows: spirit as a bonus action. Choose a number of
enemies equal to your proficiency bonus that you
Spirit save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
can see within 30 feet. Each target must make a
Wisdom modifier
Constitution saving throw or suffer 2 points of
necrotic damage. You regain half of this amount
THE SPIRIT PATH as temporary hit points.
At 3rd level, as long as you have at least one spirit
you have not invoked, you gain proficiency in two Summoning the butcher counts as invoking
skills chosen from History, Medicine, Religion, two of your spirit uses.
and Survival. If you have called upon all your
spirits, you lose this feature until you complete a Coward. He teaches you the value of fear and
short or long rest. caution. If you take the disengage action to move
away from an enemy, your speed increases by half
GHOSTLY COUNSEL for that round only.
When you achieve 7th level, as a free action you
Unlike the other spirits, you do not lose the
can call upon any one of your spirits to double
coward feature after using him. Instead, choose
your proficiency bonus in one skill of your choice,
one of your other ghostly choir. You instead lose
in place of the usual bonus that spirit provides.
that spirit’s feature until you complete a short or
long rest.
GREATER SPIRIT CHOIR
Starting at 10th level, add three additional spirits Crone. She peers a few moments ahead into
to your choir. At 18th level, you gain an additional your future and predicts what might happen.
three spirits. When an effect requires you to make a saving
throw, as a reaction you can draw on this spirit
RESURGENCE and have advantage on that saving throw. If you
At 15th level, you regain access to two spirits of
cannot take a reaction, you cannot call upon the
your choice if you have no spirits remaining to
crone.
call upon when you roll initiative.
Fallen Hero. He bolsters your reserves and
GHOSTS helps you overcome hopeless odds. When an
When you add a spirit to your choir, select from attack would drop you to 0 hit points, as a
those described below. Once you select a spirit, reaction you can summon this spirit. You remain
you cannot change it. If the GM allows, you can at 1 hit point, standing and conscious. If you take
change one of your spirits for another when you further damage that drops you to 0 hit points,
gain a new fighter level. you fall unconscious.
Baresark. His rage clouds your mind, blocking Healer. Her gentle touch alleviates pain and
your foe’s honeyed words. You do not summon staunches wounds. When you invoke the healer
this spirit, but rather he appears unbidden. If you as an action, you may expend a number of your
fail a saving throw against an effect that imposes available recovery hit dice equal to 1 plus 1
the charmed condition, each round thereafter at
25

additional die per five levels, as part of that Shield-Brother. As an action, you summon the
action. shield-brother. He protects your back and guards
against threats. A ghostly, flickering image of a
Alternatively, you can ask the spirit to infuse
shield-bearing warrior appears adjacent to you for
one of your allies within 30 feet that you can see
a number of rounds equal to your Wisdom
with the benefits of one of your recovery dice.
modifier (minimum of 1). As long as the ghost
Hunter. This spirit guides your step, allowing remains, treat your armor class as if you wielded a
you to move stealthily. Invoke this spirit as a shield.
bonus action to gain advantage on your next
Skald. She teaches you a rousing war cry to
Dexterity (Stealth) check.
rally your comrades. As an action, each ally within
Maiden. She grants you a burst of speed. When 30 feet who can hear you can either automatically
you draw on this spirit, you can take dash as a succeed at a death saving throw or remove one of
bonus action. the following conditions: charmed, frightened,
poisoned, or one level of exhaustion. You gain no
Mentor. He goads, cajoles, and pushes you benefit from this feature.
beyond your physical limits. Invoke this spirit as a
bonus action to gain advantage on your next Steed. A spectral horse appears at your side,
Strength or Constitution ability check. plainly visible. You can summon your spectral
steed as an action. Treat the mount as a riding
Monster. The ghost of a ferocious monster horse. The mount remains for up to one hour per
now grudgingly aids your cause. When you invoke level, or until you dismiss it as a bonus action,
the monster as an action, choose a number of whichever comes first. The mount only has 1 hit
enemy creatures within 30 feet that you can see, point.
to a maximum of your proficiency bonus. Each
creature must make a Wisdom saving throw or Storyteller. Her song or poem inspires you
become frightened for a number of rounds equal when you need it most. You gain +1d4 temporary
to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). hit points. These hit points last for one minute
and do not stack (use the greater value).
Old Hand. He tells you what you need to hear
after you’ve suffered a setback. When you call Unbound Slave. He grants desperate strength
upon this spirit as a bonus action, you can ignore to help you gain freedom. If you are immobilized
one condition you are suffering, or up to two or restrained, call on this spirit as a bonus action
levels of exhaustion, for a number of rounds to gain advantage on an ability or skill check to
equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). break free of that effect. This spirit cannot aid you
against petrification effects.
Protector. If an enemy creature attacks you
with advantage because you are surprised, you Vigilant. She stands watch you while you rest.
can draw on this spirit as a reaction to negate that You can invoke this spirit as an action. The spirit
advantage. You are no longer surprised, and the remains on watch for up to 8 hours, guarding an
attacker rolls his attack normally. area as described in the alarm spell. If the vigilant
sounds the alarm, only you hear it.
Rival. He infuses your attack with a ferocious
burst of power. You invoke this spirit as a bonus
action following a successful attack, thereby
granting you one additional weapon damage die.
The number of bonus damage dice increases to GLADIATOR
two when you reach 7th level, and then increases
to three dice when you reach 14th level. The exultation that fills the soul the moment
before combat begins. The feel of hot, bloody sand
beneath the feet. Most of all, the roar of the crowd.
26

The gladiator revels in these things, gaining may grant a d6 inspiration die to any ally within 30
strength from the palpable fear of their enemies feet. The ally may use the die as a bonus on any
and the adulation of the audience. For the attack roll, damage roll, or ability check, but must
gladiator, defeating their foe isn’t enough. The use it before your next turn. You regain all
gladiator must defeat that foe and look impressive expended inspiration dice following a short rest.
doing so. Winning a fight is just as much about
instilling fear in your enemies—showmanship—as
it is about tactics or weapon choice. INSPIRING CRITICAL
At 10th level, your bloody attacks further inspire
your allies. Your attacks with melee weapons deal
critical hits on 19 and 20, and when you deal a
critical hit, you may grant one of your inspiration
dice as part of that action to an ally within 30 feet.
VERSATILITY
At 15th level, you are a practiced combatant,
having fought many different foes and against a
wide array of combat styles. You may change your
combat style during a short rest, choosing a new
fighter combat style each time you do. You lose the
benefits of the previous combat style, but gain the
benefits of the new style.
SHOWMAN OF DEATH
At 18th level, you have mastered the art of
performing wild maneuvers in combat. You may
add your Charisma bonus (minimum +1) to either
attack or damage rolls with melee weapons. You
must choose which before making an attack roll.
CHARISMATIC FIGHTERS
From a game mechanic standpoint, most fighter
players often dump their lowest score into
Charisma. After all, what good does it do them? An
archetype like the Gladiator uses Charisma in
several ways, giving you a good reason to treat it as
something other than a dump stat.
From a story standpoint, it makes sense for a

GLADIATORIAL COMBAT fighter to possess good Charisma. After all, battles
At 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the are won or lost in the moment. An inspiring,
Performance skill. You also know how to fight charismatic warrior can turn the tide of combat,
with flash, and your showmanship confounds rallying troops when morale needs it most.
your enemies. When unarmored or wearing light Conversely, an uninspired leader can push troops
armor, you add your Charisma bonus (minimum into retreat or surrender even when victory seems
+1) to your AC. within their grasp. Numerous are the tales and
movies where a hero’s rousing speech changes the
INSPIRING COMBATANT course of battle!
At 7th level, you become so skilled at performance
combat that you inspire your allies. You gain a
number of inspiration dice equal to your Charisma
modifier (minimum of 1). As a bonus action, you
27

can. As a reaction, you can reduce the damage of

GUARDIAN
any attack against you or an adjacent ally that you
are aware of by an amount equal to your armor
class.
In any battle, look to where the fighting is fiercest
and there you will find the Guardian. By dint of
skill, determination, and indomitable willpower,
the Guardian stands as the focal point on the
battlefield, drawing attacks to them and away
GUNSLINGER
from allies. Any enemy foolish enough to ignore
the Guardian finds themselves punished for their
negligence.
GUARDIAN’S CHALLENGE
Beginning at 3rd level, you learn how to keep an
enemy’s focus on you instead of your allies. As an
action, you may challenge a creature within 30 feet
that can see you. That opponent suffers
disadvantage on any attack actions (including
casting spells that require an attack roll) if they
attack any target other than you for a number of
rounds equal to your proficiency bonus. A creature
can only be the subject of one challenge at a time.
Starting at 10th level, you may challenge two
creatures per use of this ability. Once you use this
ability, you must finish a short or long rest before
using it again.
STAGGERING BLOW
Beginning at 7th level, you can push your enemies
back when you strike them. Any time you deal
damage with a melee attack, you can also make a
shove attack, with advantage, against the target as
a bonus action.
THREATENING FOE The Gunslinger embraces that newest and most

At 10th level, when an opponent adjacent to you
exotic of weapons, the firearm. They understand
makes an attack against one of your allies, you may
the arcane science behind gunpowder, and they
make an opportunity attack against them.
appreciate the special care these weapons demand.
Given how few weapon smiths know anything
about guns, the Gunslinger learns how to craft and
AREA CONTROL repair these marvels of technology for themselves.
Beginning at 15th level, you have learned to control Other warriors, those who resist the inevitable,
the movement of enemies around you. You make often refuse to give guns the proper respect. Once
opportunity attacks at advantage. If a creature they encounter the Gunslinger—assuming they
subject to your Guardian’s Challenge provokes an survive, of course—they learn to respect both the
opportunity attack from you that attack does not weapon and its wielder.
count as your reaction for the turn.
GUNNER
BRACE YOURSELF At 3rd level, you gain proficiency with firearms.
At 18th level, you have become one with your In addition, you gain proficiency with Tinker’s
armor, and can use it to keep you safer than others
28

Tools, allowing you to craft firearms and their the beast’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls, as
ammunition. well as to any saving throws and skills it is
proficient in. Its hit point maximum equals its
LIGHTNING DRAW normal maximum or four times your fighter level,
At 7th level, you can draw or stow multiple whichever is higher.
firearms without spending an action. In addition,
you gain advantage on initiative checks when MOUNT ACTION ECONOMY
drawing a firearm. We purposely left the mount’s action economy out
of the rules. I think that it should be up to the
individual GM as to how that works. The
BLOOD AND BULLETS beastmaster ranger got a lot of flak for not “feeling”
At 10th level, after you attack once in a turn, you
right exactly because of this. Consult your GM on
can use a bonus action to gain advantage on your
what is best for your group.
next firearm attack made that same round.
In addition, whenever you have advantage on an KNIGHT’S CHALLENGE

attack roll with your firearm, you deal an At 7th level, as a bonus action, you can challenge a
additional die of base firearm damage. single target within 60’. Against this target, you
gain your Charisma bonus to attack rolls for 1
QUICK RELOAD minute. You must rest before using this ability
At 15th level, you can reload a firearm as a Use an again.
Object action.
CHARGING BLOW
DEADLY SHOT At 10th level, if you make a melee attack while
At 18th level, your attacks deal critical hits on 19- mounted against a non-mounted opponent and
20.

KNIGHT
Some warriors fight only for gold or for glory.
They fight without honor, absent thought to any
cause or banner. The knight, however, fights to
bring honor and glory to the liege lord they serve.
Guided by a code, blessed with privilege and
prestige, the knight serves battle as their liege
lord’s representative on the field of battle.
Whether charging on the back of a fearsome
steed or wading into melee on foot, the knight
stands among the ranks of elite soldiers.
KNIGHTHOOD
At 3rd level, you gain proficiency in Animal
Handling. In addition, add half your proficiency
bonus to Wisdom (Animal Handling) and
Intelligence (History) checks.
You gain a mount as an animal companion.

Choose a beast capable of being a mount that is
no larger than Large with a challenge rating of
1/4 or lower. Add half your proficiency bonus to
29

move at least 30 feet, you deal +1d8 weapon anything in your other hand, you gain a +1 bonus
damage on your next attack. to AC that round. When you wield a versatile
weapon with both hands, your attacks with that
BANNER weapon deal 2 additional points of damage for that
At 15th level, your name and banner are symbols of round. You can freely switch back and forth
hope and righteousness. This banner inspires and between turns.
empowers those around you to greatness. All allies
within 60 feet gain a bonus to attack rolls and SUDDEN SWITCH
saving throws equal to half your proficiency bonus Beginning at 10th level, you are able to switch
as long as you are not reduced to 0 hit points or between fighting one-handed and two-handed as
otherwise incapacitated. a free action, taking your opponent off guard.
When making an attack with a versatile weapon,
DAUNTLESS CHARGE you can change whether you wield it one-handed
At 18th level, whenever you make an attack while or two as part of the attack. If you do, and you use
mounted against a non-mounted opponent, and your Versatile Attacker class feature for that
move at least 30 feet, you gain advantage on your attack, you do not suffer disadvantage on the
next attack. In addition, your mounted attacks attack, but still gain the benefits of Versatile
score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. Attacker. Once this trick has been seen, it loses
much of its effectiveness, and so you can use it
only once per combat.
MASTER OF MANY BLADES

GREATER VERSATILE ATTACKER
At 15th level, when you use your Versatile Attacker
class feature to attack with a versatile weapon one-
Flexibility is an asset on the battlefield, and the handed, the target suffers disadvantage on all
ability to change tactics quickly on the battlefield attacks made against you until the beginning of
can mean the difference between life and death. It your next turn, rather than just the first. When you
is for this reason that some fighters choose to use your Versatile Attacker class feature to attack
focus specifically on versatile weapons, developing with a versatile weapon two-handed, the attack
separate fighting styles depending on whether the deals 2d6 additional points of damage, rather than
weapon is wielded in one hand or two, and 1d6.
switching between them at a moment’s notice.
VERSATILE CRITICAL
VERSATILE ATTACKER At 18th level, when wielding a versatile weapon in
Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd one hand, if you are holding nothing in your other
level, you learn how to use versatile weapons to hand, your attacks with the weapon score a critical
full effectiveness, capitalizing on the two different hit on a roll of 19 or 20. Alternatively, when
styles of combat they offer. Whenever you make an wielding a versatile weapon in both hands,
attack with a versatile weapon using only one whenever you score a critical hit, roll the damage
hand, if you are not holding anything in your other dice three times and add them together, rather
hand, you may choose to gain disadvantage on the than rolling them twice.
attack roll in order to impose disadvantage on their
next attack against you, until the end of their next
turn. Additionally, whenever you make an attack
with a versatile weapon using both hands, you
may choose to gain disadvantage on the attack roll
MASTER THROWER
in order to have the attack deal an additional 1d6 The Master Thrower dazzles their audience with
points of damage. feats of agility, twirling blades between fingers and
switching from throwing axes to throwing knives
FLOAT AND STRIKE with the skill of a stage magician. Once the
Starting at 7th level, as long as you are wielding a weapon leaves the Master Thrower’s hand, it
versatile weapon in one hand and not holding becomes like a living, seeking thing. It slices
30

through the air to strike the tiniest of targets with BLINDFOLDED

pinpoint accuracy. The Master Thrower litters the At 15th Level, your thrown attacks do not suffer
battlefield with the pin-cushioned remains of disadvantage if you are unable to see your target.
enemies—and they do it with elegant style. This does not negate cover. You must be within 30
feet and able to hear or otherwise be aware of any
COMBAT SUPERIORITY creature you cannot see, due to invisibility or
When you choose this archetype, you learn trick blindness.
shots that are fueled by special dice called deftness
dice.
Trick shots. You learn three Trick shots of your

choice, which are detailed under the "Trick Shots"
optional rules (see later section). Many Trick shots
enhance an attack in some way. You can use only
one trick shot per attack.
You learn two additional trick shots of your choice

at 7th, 10th, and 15th level.
Deftness Dice. You have four deftness dice, which

are d8s. A deftness die is expended when you use
it. You regain all your expended deftness dice
when you finish a short or long rest. You gain
another deftness die at 7th level and one more at
15th level.
Saving Throws. Some of your maneuvers require

your target to make a saving throw to resist the
trick shot’s effects. The saving throw DC is
calculated as follows:
Trick Shot Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus +

your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your choice)
AT ARM'S REACH
Through countless hours of practice, at 3rd level
you can unsheathe and throw small weapons in
one fluid motion.
BULLSEYE
At 7th level, when making a ranged attack with a
throwing weapon that has ether the light or
finesse weapon property, you extend their normal
and long ranges by 20 feet.
IMPROVED COMBAT SUPERIORITY

At 10th level, your deftness dice turn into d10s. At
18th level, they turn into d12s.
31

melee attack roll against that target. You can only

MISERICORDE use this feature against a single opponent per
encounter.
Warriors trained in this combat style favor speed, If your attack hits, on your next turn as an action
precision, and light weapons over brute force and you can select one of the following melee strike
slower, clumsier weapons. When they fight, the maneuvers against your nemesis. If this initial
Misericorde often wields long, thin blades attack misses, however, you cannot use a strike
designed to pierce gaps in an opponent’s armor. maneuver until after you hit with a standard melee
When they attack, they aim their strikes to weaken attack.
and fatigue the enemy, sapping that foe’s ability to
fight one splash of blood at a time. When the time You must be able to see your chosen nemesis in
comes for the coup de grace, the Misericorde order to identify his weaknesses.
delivers a quick, merciful killing strike.
Saving Throws. If one of your strike maneuvers
requires the target to make a saving throw to resist
the attack’s effects, determine the saving throw
DC as follows:
Special Attack save DC = 8 + your proficiency

bonus + your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your
choice)
STRIKE MANEUVERS
Launching a strike maneuver requires an action.
Each maneuver involves making an attack roll and
rolling damage against the target on a hit, but with
an added effect.
Blinding Strike. If you hit, your target must
make a Constitution saving throw or become
temporarily blinded. The creature can attempt
another saving throw at the end of each of its turns
to remove the blinded condition, or it can spend an
action to end the effect.
Brutal Strike. If you hit your target, you score an
additional weapon die of damage.
Delay Foe. If your attack hits, your target must
succeed at a Wisdom saving throw or its next turn
is delayed until last in the initiative order. After the
creature’s next turn, it returns to its original place
in the initiative order.
Demoralizing Display. If your attack hits, your
nemesis must succeed at a Charisma saving throw
or suffer disadvantage on its attacks until the end
FIND WEAKNESS of its next turn.
When you select this archetype at 3rd level, you gain Fatiguing Strike. If your attack hits, the target
the ability to identify flaws in a target’s armor, must make a Constitution saving throw or gain
combat style, or defenses. Select one enemy as one level of exhaustion. If you accept disadvantage
your nemesis for the combat. As an action, make on your attack roll and hit, you can instead inflict
your choice of an opposed Wisdom (Insight) or two exhaustion levels if the target fails the save.
(Perception) check against your nemesis. If you win Flawed Defense. Your nemesis loses any
the opposed roll, you gain advantage on your next Dexterity bonus to AC against your next attack.
32

Goading Strike. You can move your opponent 5

feet in any direction you choose. This forced
RAKE
movement does not provoke opportunity attacks
and cannot be used to maneuver your foe into When the rake enters combat, they observe one
dangerous terrain. rule above all others: never fight fair. The Rake
Hobbling Attack. If you hit, the creature must favors cunning and guile over brute strength. They
make a Constitution saving throw or have its speed use every dirty trick in their arsenal and take every
reduced by one-half. The creature can attempt possible advantage against the enemy, no matter
another saving throw at the end of each of its turns how dishonorable or underhanded. Honor,
to end this effect. decency, fairness, and fair play are wonderful
Painful Strike. If your attack hits, the target concepts, but the Rake has a far simpler goal in
must make a Constitution saving throw or else it mind: winning.
suffers disadvantage on your choice of Strength,
Dexterity, or Constitution saving throws and FEINT
ability checks until the end of the creature’s next Starting at 3rd level, you can make a feint as a
turn. Creatures that do not feel pain (e.g., bonus action. Make a Charisma (Deception) check
constructs and undead) are immune to this effect. against a creature. If successful, you gain
Vicious Wound. If your strike hits, your foe loses advantage on your next attack against that target.
one weapon die’s worth of damage from bleeding
at the start of each of its turns. The creature or one
LIAR’S TONGUE
of its allies can staunch the bleeding as an action.
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you
Creatures that don’t bleed, such as constructs and
gain proficiency with the Charisma (Deception)
undead, are immune to this effect.
skill. If you already have proficiency with this skill,
double your proficiency bonus when using it.
SHARP EYE
Starting at 7th level, you gain a bonus equal to half
RIPOSTE
your proficiency bonus to your Insight and
Beginning at 7th level, you can respond to a melee
Perception skills. In a combat situation, that bonus
attack with an attack. If a creature hits you with a
is doubled for any ability check using either skill.
melee attack, you can use your reaction to strike
back, making a standard attack, but adding your
IMPROVED CRITICAL Charisma modifier to both the attack and damage
At 10th level, your weapon attacks score a critical rolls.
hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
HARASS
DEVASTATING ASSAULT Beginning at 10th level, you can harass a creature
Starting at 15th level, as a bonus action, you can and keep it distracted. Each turn as a bonus action,
double either your Strength or Dexterity modifier you can choose a single creature within melee
to damage for every attack that round. This feature range. That creature loses its Dexterity bonus to
can be used once, and you regain spent uses after AC and on any saving throws it makes until the
finishing a short or long rest. start of your next turn.
OVERWHELMING STRIKE CRIPPLING STRIKE

Starting at 18th level, you ignore any damage Beginning at 15th level, whenever you deal melee
resistance your nemesis has to your weapon damage to a creature, it takes a penalty to its own
attacks. damage rolls equal to your Charisma modifier.
This penalty lasts until the start of your next turn.
This effect does not stack.
33

BEGUILING STRIKE MANEUVERING STRIKE

By 18th level you have learned how to leave your Beginning at 15th level, when you attack with a
foes bewildered with every hit you land. Whenever reach weapon, you can choose to make one of your
your damage a creature with a critical hit, it must attacks as a Maneuvering Strike, allowing you to
make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your maneuver your target. If the attack hits, it deals
proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier) or be damage as normal and also allows you to move the
stunned until the beginning of your next turn. target 10 feet. The target must remain within your
reach at all times during this movement. This
movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
REACH SPECIALIST FULCRUM FIGHTING

At 18th level, you are able to use the shaft of a
It is a maxim of combat that those who strike first reach weapon to put more power into your blows.
often strike last. The Reach Specialist epitomizes While wielding a reach weapon, whenever you hit
this philosophy. Armed with pike, spear, or similar a creature that is at least 5 feet away, you deal
pole arm, they stand at the ready, poised to strike, additional weapon damage equal to your
and await the enemy’s charge. When the enemy proficiency bonus.
dares come too close, the Reach Specialist lashes
out like a viper, striking the enemy first and,
hopefully, last. RUNEBLADE
FIRST STRIKE
Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd
level, you learn to use reach weapons to strike
opponents before they can strike you. Whenever a
creature first moves into your reach, as long as you
are wielding a reach weapon, you can make an
opportunity attack. Anything that would normally
prevent you from making an opportunity attack
(including if the creature used the disengage
action) also prevents you from making an
opportunity attack in this way.
PIERCING STRIKE
Starting at 7th level, as long as you are wielding a
reach weapon, you can make a special strike,
allowing you to attack two opponents with a single
strike. When taking the attack action, if you attack
an adjacent target and hit, apply the same attack
roll and damage against another creature adjacent
to the first one.
TACTICAL STEP
Beginning at 10th level, whenever a creature moves
adjacent to you, you can move 5 feet as a reaction.
This movement does not provoke opportunity
attacks.
34

In ancient times, humanity knelt at the precipice provides a different feature. The first runes are
of extinction. Lacking the innate talents enjoyed by described below.
elves, dwarves, and other creatures, humans faced Bound Blade. The sword is bonded to your soul.
a grim future in a cruel, hostile world. A powerful This bond exists until you die or the sword
being—a god, a titan, the first druid, a fallen angel, abandons you for disgracing it. You can call the
or perhaps an archdevil, forged a series of magic blade to your hand by speaking its name as an
blades and gave these mighty weapons to action. The sword appears in your hand the next
mankind’s surviving heroes. Each of these swords, round, regardless of distance separating you from
known as runeblades for the sigils etched into it, or what means are taken to restrain the blade.
their steel, possesses different powers. The heroes This feature recharges after you finish a long rest.
who wielded the first runeblades went on to carve Lore Rune. Your sword has observed centuries
their sagas across the pages of history. of epic events and has much to teach, whispering
its ancient knowledge into your mind. As long as
Although most runeblades have vanished or been the sword remains on your person, you are
destroyed, a handful yet survive. When fate or considered to have proficiency in your choice of
some hidden power intervenes, one of these Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion.
potent weapons finds its way into the hands of a
new hero. The warrior entrusted with a runeblade RESTRICTIONS AND TABOOS
faces a dangerous—and often brief—life, for he A runeblade carries a few restrictions and taboos
carries in his hands the power to change not only or rituals you must observe. If you disregard these,
his destiny, but the destiny of entire civilizations. you lose access to some or all the weapon’s runes.
Each blade possesses unique powers, and it is said If you push the sword too far with such disrespect,
that the runes provide magic to suit the individual it may abandon you. If this occurs, you lose the
wielding it. Whether these legends are true, one runeblade and thereafter become a fighter of a
cannot deny the raw power and deadly combat different archetype.
magic of a Runeblade wielder. The restrictions associated with being a
runeblade wielder are described below.
RUNEBLADE LEGACY Jealous Devotion. You may not own or wield
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you another magical sword. If you grip another
acquire a runed blade of a type of your choice. magical sword, the runeblade pulses an empathic
Work with your GM to determine how you came surge of jealous anger at you; if you disregard this
to possess the blade—was it a gift, a trophy taken warning, you lose access to the blade’s runes until
in battle, did you steal it, or did you find it? You and you discard the offending weapon. You can, if done
your GM should create a name for your weapon as with proper respect, own a magical weapon other
it is a unique magic item. than a sword. If you wield this weapon, it must
always be in your off-hand.
Owning a runeblade represents a serious Obsessive Care. You must care for your
commitment; there is no shortage of people and runeblade with religious devotion. Clean, sharpen,
monsters willing to murder you to possess this and oil the blade after every use. Purchase for it the
weapon. best scabbard gold can buy. Never use it for
mundane tasks such as chopping wood or
Each runeblade possesses sentience, a fact you whittling on sticks. Do not allow other people to
learn when the blade accepts you as its wielder. use the runeblade except under extreme
Once you accept the blade, you become bonded to circumstances.
it for life, or until you disgrace the weapon. Ongoing Legend. Once per level, commission a
bard to write a song, poem, or saga regarding your
FIRST RUNES runeblade. Provide her with your patronage and
Starting at 3rd level, your runeblade carries two support so she can perform her work across the
runes carved into its blade; all runeblades come land. The amount of gold you spend should be
with the same first two runes. As you gain levels, approximately 100 gp per character level, although
your blade acquires additional runes. Each rune your runeblade always appreciates greater
generosity on its behalf.
35

Punishment. If you ignore or otherwise Blade Ward. As an action, you can cast blade
disregard a taboo, a ritual, or one of the ward. At 10th level, you can activate this rune as a
expectations described above, the runeblade bonus action.
blocks your access to one of the highest-level runes Earth Rune. You can activate this rune as a
available to you. For each day you continue this bonus action. Upon so doing, you gain resistance
disrespect, you lose access to another of your to your choice of one of the following damage
highest-level runes. Should you lose access to all types: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder. This
available runes, you have disgraced your blade and benefit lasts up to 1 minute and recharges after a
it leaves your possession, at which point you must short or long rest. In addition, as long as this rune
either find a way to atone or become another remains in effect, you automatically stabilize if you
fighter archetype (most likely Champion). The GM fall to 0 hit points.
has final say as to what atonement might be At 10th level, you can gain two different
required, but it usually involves a major quest or resistances, or you can gain immunity to one
mission. damage type, as long as the rune remains active.
Taboos and Rituals. Your runeblade imposes a Eye of Night. As long as you grip the runeblade,
taboo on you, or requires you to perform a regular, you possess darkvision. You can see in dim light to
set ritual in its honor. To you, this taboo may make a range of 60 feet as if it were bright light, and you
little sense, but the blade expects you to observe can see in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t
these expectations. Here are a few suggestions, but discern color in darkness—you only see in shades of
feel free to create your own. gray.
At 10th level, the range of your darkvision
 Abstain from alcoholic beverages. extends to 90 feet.
 Donate a tithe of your wealth to a worthy Fire Rune. Flames wreath the blade upon your
cause. command as a bonus action. While ablaze, the
 If you draw the runeblade and fail to use it sword inflicts an extra 1d6 of fire damage to any
in battle, you must cut yourself for 2 hp of target it strikes and grants the bearer resistance to
damage to honor the weapon. cold damage. The flames last for up to 1 minute,
 Never cut your hair. although you can extinguish them as a bonus
 One day in seven, perform a purification action. The flames illuminate the surrounding area
ritual of fasting and meditation. with bright light in a 10-foot radius, with dim light
 Perform a purification ritual for your out to another 10 feet. This feature recharges after
runeblade at the end of the day (performed a short or long rest.
as part of a short or long rest). The extra fire damage increases to 2d6 at 5th
level, 3d6 at 10th level and 4d6 at 15th level.
 Remain chaste.
Frost Rune. When you activate this rune as a
 Select one creature type, including
bonus action, the sword inflicts an extra 1d6 cold
aberration, fiend, or undead. After you’ve
damage on a hit. In addition, you gain resistance to
used the runeblade against a creature of
fire damage as long as you grip the sword. This
that type, you must spend a bonus action
feature can be used once, lasts for up to 1 minute,
the round after the creature falls cleaning
and recharges following a short or long rest.
your sword.
At 10th level, the cold damage increases to 2d6, and
 Whisper a quick prayer each time you draw
at 15th level, this increases to 3d6.
or sheathe the runeblade.
Good Fortune Rune. Whenever you make an
 Compose a constantly evolving song, attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can
poem, or ballad to honor the best (and activate this rune to roll an additional d20. You can
worst) of your enemies. choose which of the two rolls to accept as the
result. You can use this feature once, and it
LEAST RUNES recharges after you finish a short or long rest.
In addition to the runes described above, at 3rd At 10th level, you can use this feature twice
level two additional runes appear on the weapon, before it needs to recharge.
chosen from the list below. Light Rune. As a bonus action, you can
command the blade to shed light equal to that of
the light spell. You can dismiss the light as a bonus
36

action. As an action, you can command the blade LESSER RUNES

to emit light as per the daylight spell. This can be At 7th level, the runeblade gains the Ensorcelled
done once, and recharges after a short or long rest. Blade and one additional rune, chosen from the list
At 10th level, this feature allows you to inflict an above or from those described here.
additional 1d6 of radiant damage upon each Ensorcelled Blade. All runeblades acquire this
successful hit, and at 15th level, this increases to 2d6 rune when you reach 7th level. The sword becomes
radiant damage. a magical weapon for purpose of overcoming
Lightning Rune. Upon command as an action, damage resistance and immunity to nonmagical
the sword unleashes a lightning bolt in a line 5 feet attacks and damage.
wide that extends from the sword tip to a target Mana Drinker. As an action, you can cast dispel
within 120 feet. Each creature caught in the line magic against one creature, object, or magical
must make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 4d6 effect within your sword’s reach. Use your choice
lightning damage on a failed save, and half as of Wisdom or Charisma as your ability check
much damage on a successful save. This feature against the magical effect’s DC (10 + the spell’s
can be used once, and recharges after a long rest. level). If your ability check succeeds, you end the
Staring at 10th level, this feature also recharges magical effect or remove it from the creature,
following a short rest. object, or area. Unlike the spell, you must make
Hunter’s Rune. As a bonus action, you can mark this roll for any level of effect you are trying to
an enemy creature for the combat, as described in terminate, not just those of 4th level and higher.
the hunter’s mark spell. You only gain the extra Night Rune. As a bonus action, your runeblade
damage when attacking with your runeblade. This creates a zone of darkness that extends in a 15-foot-
feature lasts up to 1 hour. radius sphere for up to 1 minute. The darkness
At 10th level, this feature lasts up to 8 hours. spreads around corners. Other creatures cannot
Portal Rune. You can make short-range see through this darkness, even if they possess
teleports as a bonus action, as described in the darkvision. Magical light does not illuminate this
misty step spell. This feature can be used once, and zone. You, however, can see through the darkness
recharges following a long rest. as if it wasn’t there. This feature can be used once,
At 10th level, this feature also recharges after a and recharges following a short or long rest.
short rest. Purifying Flame. With a touch of the blade, you
Shield Rune. So long as you wield the can eliminate poison or disease from yourself or
runeblade, you are considered to be wielding a another creature. When you activate this rune as
shield. If you already wield a shield, this rune an action, the blade becomes white-hot. The
provides no benefit. subject takes 1d8 of fire damage, but can then
At 10th level, you can cast the shield spell once reroll a saving throw to eliminate the poisoned
as a reaction. It recharges after a short or long rest. condition or a disease afflicting it. If the target fails
Skirmisher Rune. Upon activating this rune as a this saving throw, you can make one more
bonus action, you can take the Dash action. This attempt. At this time the creature takes 2d8 of fire
feature recharges after a short or long rest. damage, but rolls the saving throw with
At 10th level, your speed also increases by 10 feet advantage. If the target fails this saving throw,
as long as you carry the blade in hand. then this feature provides no benefit until after 24
Thunder Rune. When you activate this rune as hours. Once used, you must finish a long rest to
a bonus action and then attack, you imbue the recharge it.
runeblade with the effects of the thunderous Devourer of Souls. You can activate this rune as
smite spell. a bonus action and it remains in effect for up to 1
Wind Rune. As an action on your command, the minute. Each time you strike a target with the
sword unleashes gust of wind, as per the spell. This runeblade and inflict damage, you gain 6
feature recharges after a short or long rest. temporary hit points. As usual, temporary hit
At 10th level, you can cast fly once as an action. points do not stack. The temporary hit points last
This ability lasts up to 10 minutes and recharges until removed through damage or 1 hour after you
following a long rest. activate this rune, whichever comes first.
At 15th level, a hit against your nemesis grants you
9 temporary hit points.
37

GREATER RUNES weapon restricts how he can use other weapons

th
At 10 level, the runeblade gains two additional (he can’t own another magic sword) and in what
runes. You may select these runes from those fashion (he can only wield a different weapon in
described below, as well as from previous lists. his off-hand).
Bane. Choose one creature type from the
following: aberration, construct, dragon, fey, fiend,
giant, humanoid, monstrosity, or undead. Against
creatures of the chosen type, you do an additional
1d6 damage with your runeblade.
SAMURAI
You can select this rune multiple times; each time,
choose another creature type for the bane. The samurai is a militaristic servant of a great
Quick Strike. When you activate this rune as an leader, one who follows a strict code of adherence
action, you gain the benefits of the haste spell. The and is practiced in a number of martial and artistic
effect lasts up to 1 minute. This feature recharges doctrines. They live their lives by an honorable
following a long rest. code, which dictates how they live, fight and die.
Razor’s Edge. Your weapon attack with the Masters of the art of warfare, they blend the art of
runeblade scores a critical hit on a roll of 19-20. combat into a single, deadly function.
LEGENDARY RUNES
Upon achieving 15th level, select two more runes
your blade acquires, chosen from those described
below and any of the previous lists. None of the
options described below provide a magic weapon
bonus (i.e., +1, +2, or +3).
Bringer of Ruin. When you strike a creature of
good alignment with your runeblade, you inflict an
additional 2d6 damage.
Harbinger of Chaos. When you strike a creature
of lawful alignment with your runeblade, you
inflict an additional 2d6 damage.
Lawgiver. When you strike a creature of chaotic
alignment with your runeblade, you inflict an
Avenger. When you strike a creature of evil
alignment with your runeblade, you inflict an
DESIGN OPTIONS
If your campaign assumes that characters will
possess magic weapons with a plus to hit and
damage at a certain average level, then you should
allow the Runeblade Wielder to use the Ensorceled
Blade rune to make his weapon +1. Then, at 10th
level, he can use another of his runes to make the
weapon +2. Finally, at 15th level, he can use another
rune to make his weapon +3. This might help
reduce the sting a player may feel at not being able
to acquire a shiny magic sword as part of treasure
or some other reward.
Also as you may notice, the Runeblade Wielder

devotes himself entirely to his runeblade, and that
38

WAY OF THE WARRIOR gain a bonus of half your proficiency bonus to

rd
At 3 level, the samurai gains proficiency with the Wisdom saves.
katana. He can use longswords and katanas as
finesse weapons. Samurai also gain the optional BANNER
Honor statistic (see the DMG) and must hold At 15th level, the samurai’s name and banner are
loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion and honor symbols of hope and righteousness. This banner
as important, above all else. serves to inspire and empower those around the
In addition, choose one of the following samurai to greatness. All allies within 60’ gain +5
abilities: temporary hit points and a +1d4 bonus to attack
rolls. These benefits last for one hour or as long as
One Cut. As a bonus action, a samurai wielding the samurai is not reduced to 0 hit points,
a longsword (or katana) can make a single attack incapacitated or dead, whichever comes first.
with their weapon against two adjacent foes These bonuses do not stack with other bonuses to
within reach simultaneously. Use the single attack attacks or temporary hit points.
roll and damage against both targets.
Mounted Archer. You suffer no penalties for DEATHSTROKE
firing ranged weapons from the back of a mount. At 18th level, whenever the samurai attacks with a
Courtier. You gain a bonus equal to half of your shortsword, longsword, katana or bow, his
proficiency bonus on all Insight and Persuasion weapons deal critical hits on natural 18s, 19s and
skill checks. 20s.
KI POWERS SAMURAI CODE

At 7th level, the samurai has learned to harness his The code of the samurai is one of the balancing
ki, a vast reservoir of inner spiritual strength. factors of the archetype. GMs should make sure
Choose from one of the following powers: that characters are living true to their archetype’s
Kiai Strike. You can perform a kiai strike. When nature, and if not, ensure there are consequences.
doing so, you add your Charisma bonus to attack Other samurai will not stand for those tarnishing
and damage rolls. their reputation and bringing dishonor to their
Kiai Shout. You can perform a kiai shout. When name. This is not to say there may not be evil
you do, all enemies that can see and hear you samurai, rather that the code must be observed.
within 30 feet must succeed at a Wisdom save or Different factions of samurai may have varying
become frightened of you for a number of rounds codes as well. It’s not difficult to envision a faction
equal to your Charisma modifier. of lawful evil hobgoblin samurai.
Ki Awareness. You may enter a Ki Awareness
state as a bonus action. Entering this state allows
imposes disadvantage on all attacks against and
grants you advantage on Dexterity saves for one
round. SELLSWORD
Whichever ability you choose, you can use it once, The Sellsword has one goal—survival by any means
and you must finish a short or long rest to do so necessary. After all, if you don’t survive, you don’t
again. At 10th, 15th, and 18th level you can perform get paid. If you don’t get paid, then why risk your
that ability one additional time per rest. life in the first place? These tenacious warriors are
masters of pain, both in dealing it and
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR withstanding all their enemies can inflict. Few
At 10th level, the samurai’s code of honor is so souls have faced death more than a grizzled
strong he is much less likely to succumb to Sellsword. Those who oppose a Sellsword can see
mundane temptations and even magical their doom—a doom reflected in the gimlet eyes of
enchantments find it difficult to ensnare him. You a brutally efficient killer. Woe be upon those who
gain proficiency with Wisdom saves. If you are knowingly face such a foe.
already proficient with Wisdom saves, you instead
39

FEET IN BOTH WORLDS

At 3rd level, you gain proficiency in Survival and
your choice of Deception or Persuasion.
HARDER THAN ADVERTISED

At 7th level, after any paying adventure work you
can make either a DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion or
Deception) check to convince the patron to
increase the group's pay by 10%.
EVER READY
At 10th level, you gain advantage on initiative
checks. At 18th level, any time you would roll for
initiative instead treat it as if the roll was a natural
20.
CHEAT DEATH
At 15th level, when you roll a 1 on a death save it
only counts as one failure rather than two. When
you roll a 20 on a death save you regain your level
in hit points rather than just 1 hit point. In
addition, if an attack drops you to 0 hit points
without killing you outright, you can spend a
reaction to remain conscious until the end of your
next turn.
SHIELD MASTER

In the hands of a competent warrior, a shield often
proves the difference between life and death.
Wielded by a Shield Master, the shield becomes the
DIRTY FIGHTING ultimate form of both defense and offense. With
Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage shield on arm and weapon in hand, this highly
to one creature you hit with an attack as long as trained fighter alternates between striking their
you had advantage on the attack roll. Unlike a foes and blocking attacks. They weave in and out
rogue, you may use any weapon, and are not of combat, their shield an extension of their will
restricted to finesse or ranged weapons. and strength. The shield acts like a wall one
moment, turning aside blows and trapping
You don't need to have advantage on the attack if weapons, only to become a hammer in the next
another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, moment, slamming into foes like a battering ram.
that enemy isn't incapacitated, and you don't have
disadvantage on the attack roll. This archetype shares elements in common with
the Battle Master, including the use of Armament
The extra damage you cause with Dirty Fighting dice and special maneuvers.
increases as you increase your fighter level,
becoming 2d6 at 7th level, 3d6 at 10th, 4d6 at 15th, SHIELD MANEUVERS
and 5d6 at 18th. At 3rd level when you select this archetype, you
learn special shield maneuvers powered by
armament dice.
40

You gain your choice of three maneuvers, your Strength modifier. You do not need to wield
described below. These maneuvers take full a light weapon in your main hand.
advantage of the shield as both a tool of defense as
well as offense. You can only use one maneuver per ARMORER
round. When you reach 3rd level, you gain proficiency with
You gain two more maneuvers of your choice at artisan’s (smith) tools. In addition, when repairing
7th, 10th, and 15th level. Each time, you can also or fashioning a shield or piece of armor, add half
replace one maneuver you know with a different your proficiency bonus (round up) to your skill
maneuver. check.
Armament Dice. You have four d8 armament
dice. An armament die is expended when you use
it. You regain all spent armament dice following a IMPROVED PROTECTION
short or long rest. Also at 3rd level, if you chose the Protection fighting
Saving Throws. If one of these maneuvers calls style, the way it functions changes. As a reaction,
for a saving throw to resist the effects, use the you can force the attacker to reroll one weapon
following calculation to determine the saving attack that hits an ally adjacent to you. If you do
throw DC: not choose the Protection style, this has no
additional effect.
Maneuver save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus +
your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your choice) DEFENSIVE POSTURE
Beginning at 7th level, as a bonus action you can
SHIELD BASH select one opponent you can see. Your shield’s
Starting at 3rd level, you can make a shield bash armor bonus improves by +1 against that
attack as a bonus action as if you opponent’s weapon attacks. You must spend a
were attacking with your bonus action each round to gain this benefit, or to
off- hand. This attack apply it to a different opponent.
deals 1d4 points of In addition, when you make a shield bash attack
damage plus with your off-hand, add your Strength modifier to
the damage.
MANEUVERS
The Shield Master’s maneuvers are described in
alphabetical order.
Barrier Defense. As a reaction, expend an
armament die. If you are caught in a damaging
area effect, you receive advantage on your
Dexterity saving throw. In addition, subtract the
results of your armament die from any damage
you sustain.
Brutal Crush. If you hit an enemy with a shield
bash, expend an armament die. You inflict 1d6 plus
the armament die roll plus your Strength modifier
(minimum of 1) in bludgeoning damage.
Disarming Attack. When you hit a creature with
a weapon attack, you can expend one armament
die to attempt to disarm the target, forcing it to
drop one item of your choice that it's holding. You
add the armament die to the attack's damage roll,
and the target must make a Strength saving throw.
On a failed save, it drops the object you choose.
The object lands at its feet.
Defensive Wall. When an attacker damages you
with a ranged attack, you can use your reaction to
41

expend one armament die to reduce the damage by If you have the Protection fighting style, you can
the number you roll plus your shield’s Armor Class wait to see if the attack will hit before you perform
bonus, including any magical bonuses it provides. this maneuver. In addition, the amount of damage
Disruptive Swipe. Expend an armament die and you subtract equals double the results of your
make a shield bash against a creature maintaining armament die.
concentration on a spell. You inflict 1d6 plus your
Strength modifier in bludgeoning damage. The IMPROVED COMBAT SUPERIORITY
creature suffers disadvantage on its Constitution When you reach 10th level, your armament dice
saving throw to maintain concentration. turn into d10s. At 18th level, they turn into d12s.
Edge Strike. Make a shield bash against an In addition, whenever you hit with a shield bash
opponent and expend an armament die. You inflict attack, add your shield’s Armor Class bonus to the
1d4 plus the result of the armament dice roll plus damage inflicted.
your Strength modifier in bludgeoning damage. In
addition, your opponent must succeed at a
Constitution saving throw or become either RELENTLESS
blinded or deafened (your choice). This effect lasts At 15th level, when you roll for initiative and have
until the end of the target’s next turn. no armament dice left, you regain 1 armament die.
Insurmountable Defense. If you don’t move
during a round, you can use a bonus action to DAMAGE DEFLECTION
expend an armament die. Your Armor Class At 18th level, as a reaction you can reduce the
increases by that amount until the start of your amount of bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing
next turn. If you move during that time, you lose damage you suffer from an attack by an amount
this benefit. equal to your shield’s AC bonus plus your
Pinning Strike. You make a grapple check with proficiency bonus.
your shield against an opponent, but instead of
rolling a standard attack, make an opposed grapple
check against the target. Roll your armament die
and add it to this check. If you win, your opponent
loses the use of one of its limbs until you end the
TACTICIAN
grapple or it breaks free. Thus, the creature either
loses the use of its main weapon, or the use of its Battles are often won or lost before they ever
off-hand. If the creature held a shield in the pinned begin. A brutish thug or ignorant warrior charges
limb, it loses its shield bonus to Armor Class. If you into combat without regard to terrain or obstacles.
make any other shield attacks or use another of The Tactician, on the other hand, analyzes the
these maneuvers, the grapple automatically ends. battlefield, conducting the fight in their mind’s eye
Shield Slam. Make a shove attack against a before the action begins. Once combat is joined,
target as a bonus action. Roll an armament die. the Tactician adapts and adjusts to the changing
You inflict 1d6 plus your Strength modifier in tempo. By means of brain over brawn, the
bludgeoning damage. In addition, when you roll Tactician defeats their enemies, often before the
your opposed Strength (Athletics) check to knock first blow is struck.
your target prone or push it 5 feet away, add the
result of your armament die to your check. BRILLIANT STRATEGIST
Sweeping Shield. As an action, expend an At 3rd level, add your Intelligence modifier to all
armament die to make an attack roll against each initiative checks. A number of allies equal to your
of up to three enemies adjacent to you. Each hit Intelligence modifier within 60 feet of you also
does 1d6 plus your Strength bonus in bludgeoning gain a bonus equal to half your Intelligence
damage. modifier (rounded down, minimum +0).
Swift Block. As a reaction, use your shield to
block an enemy creature’s attack against you or an
adjacent ally. The attack suffers disadvantage. If
this attack hits, you may expend one armament die
and subtract the results of the roll from the
damage inflicted.
42

DECISIVE TACTICS
At 18th level, when you use your Action Surge
feature, you can instead grant the additional
action to any ally you can see within 60 feet.
CANNY FIGHTERS
Both the Tactician and the Duelist benefit from
having a high Intelligence score. Often, players
consider Intelligence a good “dump stat” during
character creation—how many fighters end up
with a score of 8 in this ability?
If you think about it, any fighter worthy of the

name should have at least average, if not above
average, Intelligence. Sure, your warrior may not
possess book smarts, but the best fighters enjoy a
measure of canny tactical acumen and battlefield
cunning. Next time you create a fighter, try playing
one with some brains!
WEAPON MASTER
The Weapon Master devotes their training to a

single weapon to the exclusion of all others. This
signature weapon becomes an extension of their
mind, body, and spirit, a true part of their soul.
Once the Weapon Master enters combat, their
COMMANDER’S CALL absolute dedication to their signature weapon
At 7th level, when you take the Help action, you
becomes apparent to enemies and allies alike.
can aid a number of allies within 60 feet equal to
Weapon Master and weapon cease to be distinct,
your Intelligence modifier.
separate entities. They bond, becoming a single—
and unstoppable—instrument of death.
DIRECTED ASSAULT
At 10th level, as a bonus action, you direct an ally
you can see within 60 feet to perform an attack
SIGNATURE WEAPON
At 3rd level, you forego the use of all other
action. That ally can take a single attack action or
weapons, choosing one weapon as your signature
move up to 15 feet on your turn. This movement
martial focus. Add half your proficiency bonus to
does not provoke opportunity attacks. If attacking,
all attack rolls with your signature weapon.
your ally gains a bonus to that attack roll equal to
Should you wield another weapon of any type, you
your Intelligence modifier (min. +0).
do so with disadvantage.
MARSHALL TROOPS In addition, any time an attack or effect would

At 15th level, any allies within 60 feet who can hear cause you to drop your weapon, you may choose
or see you gain an immediate saving throw to end to keep hold of it so long as you remain conscious.
any fear effect they currently suffer with a bonus
equal to your Intelligence modifier. In addition, a
number of allies equal to your Intelligence
PRACTICED DEFENSE
At 7th level, while wielding your signature
modifier may expend a recovery die as a reaction.
weapon, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
43

PERFECT CUT
At 10th level, you gain your signature weapon
bonus to damage as well as attack rolls. You deal
FIGHTER
critical hits on a roll of 19 and 20.
AWAKENED SOUL
BACKGROUNDS
At 15th level, you have forged a deep spiritual bond
with your weapon, investing a portion of your own
Battle Born
spiritual energy into the weapon. The chosen You were born, bred, and trained for combat. From
weapon awakens, becoming a magical +2 weapon. the earliest age, you learned how to fight, how to
kill, and how to survive. You survived the most
intense, brutal, and extreme training imaginable,
SUPREME WEAPON MASTERY all aimed at one purpose: to turn you into a war
At 18th level, your signature weapon deals critical machine. Whether your parents willingly gave you
hits on 18, 19 and 20 and an additional +2d6 over to the war masters upon your birth, or you
damage on critical hits. were sold as a slave into the legion, your life has
never been your own until now.
When creating a battle-born, collaborate with your

GM to create a suitable organization, order, or cult
responsible for raising and training you. You may
have belonged to a religious group, the king’s
secret army, a slave master who sells his soldiers to
the highest bidder, or a military unit controlled by
a secret society of mages. As a battle-born, you
fought and killed those who you were told were
your enemies, but you almost never understood
the reasons or the cause.
In designing your backstory, consider a few

questions. Do you know who your parents or
family were? Do you know where you came from,
and if so, where? Who was the most influential of
your trainers? Did this instructor treat you and
your fellow soldiers with strict discipline or harsh
cruelty? Describe the worst battle you fought in,
and come up with a few details about the other
soldiers who fought and died at your side.
Beyond your experiences during training and your

early battles, you should also consider how and
why your character earned (or took) his freedom.
Did you fulfill an oath or contract of service, were
you discharged due to wounds or trauma, or
perhaps one day you simply grew tired of the
killing and deserted? The method of your discharge
from service offers a few hints as to whether your
character is wanted as a deserter, a fugitive, or a
war criminal.
Now that your life encompasses more than endless

warfare, how well are you adjusting to “civilian”
44

life? What gaps do you suffer in your social skills D8 Personality Trait
and etiquette? How do you handle unusual 1 I detest soft living and a lull in the action; it
situations and interactions, especially those where makes me agitated and cranky.
violence is the wrong solution? Are you awkward 2 I approach every situation as if combat were
and withdrawn, or are you boisterous and imminent.
outgoing? 3 Humor is a difficult concept for me to
understand.
Answering these questions helps not only build 4 Death and I are old friends. Its approach brings
your backstory, but also helps enrich the campaign me no fear, but it makes me reckless.
as a whole. 5 I once strangled a monster with my bare hands
to save my comrades, and I won’t hesitate to do
Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Survival the same for my new allies.
Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools 6 Crowds make me nervous, and my hand never
Languages: One of your choice strays far from my weapon.
Equipment: An iron collar identifying your unit 7 After a life devoid of freedom, I want to
and designation, a memento taken from a experience every sight, smell, and sound for
vanquished foe (an ear, a rank insignia, a myself.
necklace, or a shred of a banner), a set of common 8 Lying is an art that eludes me, and I prefer to tell
clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp the blunt truth at all times.

Feature: Combat Sense D6 Ideal
You grew up on the field of battle, and as a result 1 Loyalty. You dedicate your life to your shield‐
you possess the exceptional ability to assess the mates, and you never abandon them. (Lawful)
surrounding terrain in the blink of an eye. Before 2 Freedom. My days of following orders blindly are
combat begins, if you have a round to study the over. I’ll never accept servitude again. (Chaotic)
local landscape you instinctively understand the 3 Justice. I want to liberate all slaves, making
best places to locate cover, you identify difficult certain no one ever experiences what I’ve
terrain, and you can make a Wisdom (Perception) experienced. (Good)
check to spot difficult-to-see potential hazards, 4 Duty. Our job is to obey our superiors and carry
such as quicksand, thin ice, and camouflaged pits. out their orders‐‐do not question those who
You also notice the best, most tactically command us. (Lawful)
appropriate ambush sites. 5 Might. I will use my skills and my strength to
wring what I want out of life, and damn the
Suggested Characteristics costs. (Evil)
With rare exception, battle-born live and die 6 Independence. I fight for my comrades, but I no
having never tasted freedom or independence. longer fight for anyone else’s cause. (Neutral)
They spend their lives from birth until death as
virtual slaves as part of a tightly interwoven D6 Bond
brotherhood (or sisterhood). As a result, most 1 One day, I will find my family and learn about
battle-born tend to obey orders instinctively, why they gave me away.
seldom questioning the reasons behind a 2 I seek to serve a worthy cause, to fight for my
command. The combination of brutal training, beliefs, and to make a true difference in the
indoctrination into the battle-born way of life, and world.
a constant diet of combat leaves the typical battle- 3 Those who imprison and enslave others must be
born intensely loyal, obedient to a fault, punished, regardless of the cost.
unflinchingly brave, and a complete and total child 4 Everything I do is in service to my comrades.
when it comes to social graces. Most battle-born They are my family and my world.
never have the chance to adapt to the civilian 5 A monster devastated my former unit, and I have
lifestyle, and those who do earn such a chance sworn vengeance against it.
often find it difficult to fit in. 6 During my time as a warrior, I committed terrible
deeds. If I am to know peace, I must atone for
those sins.

45

D6 Flaw end of the day, the ring of hammer on forge is the
1 I’m hopelessly awkward in social situations; I most comforting sound you can think of.
often say the wrong thing at the worst time.
2 Violence and conflict are how I solve challenges. I D8 Personality Trait
am the hammer, and every problem I see is a 1 I need to know how things work. I will have an
nail. unreachable itch until I figure it out.
3 Expressing myself often proves difficult, and I 2 I know, deep down, that I can do better work.
tend to keep to myself. 3 Let me tell you about my newest project...
4 When I see a nobleman or a slaver, I want to 4 I’ve seen that done, only better.
choke the life from their miserable bodies. 5 Here, let me show you what the most efficient
5 If you’ve never fought and bled in combat, your way to do this.
opinions are worthless. 6 I judge a man by the callouses on his hands and
6 I can’t get enough of life’s indulgences, the sweat on his brow.
pleasures, and vices. So much to experience, and 7 I treat my tools with reverence and respect. Only
so little time! a fool neglects the tools of his trade.
8 I would do anything to learn the secrets of the
smiths of old.
Blacksmith
D6 Ideal
War never changes. There are winners and losers.
Madmen and kings. Generals and pawns. They all 1 Perfection. My life’s goal is to one day craft the
require one thing in order to fight and die for their most magnificent item ever seen. (Any)
cause: quality craftsmanship. A handful of solid 2 Discovery. I adventure to learn the forgotten and
nails is just as important as a grip of razor sharp forbidden secrets of my craft. (Neutral)
arrowheads when victory is near. A solid lock or 3 Reputation. The work I perform must represent
iron gate can repel attackers just as effectively as a my skill. When you hold my work in your hands,
shield wall. One couldn’t defend the motherland you see the truth of who I am. (Lawful)
or conquer the infidels without your skills and 4 Comrades. The people at my side are more
hard work. important than any cause or mission.
5 Greed. I don’t work for anyone unless there’s a
Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, History benefit to me. (Evil)
Tool Proficiencies: Smith’s tools or artisan’s tools 6 Service. My skills, my craft, can save lives. All I
Equipment: A worn and comfortable set of want is the chance to do just that. (Good)
smith’s or artisan’s tools, a set of common
clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp D6 Bond
1 The brotherhood of the forge overshadows all.
Feature: Fixer Any craftsman asking for help will receive my aid,
By disassembling, tinkering and scrounging, you no questions asked.
can fix or make something that is serviceable, but 2 My master taught me everything I know. I work
not good looking. You can use this ability during a to honor him, and one day I’ll pass on what I’ve
long rest to repair or remove the Broken Condition learned.
from a weapon or piece or armor (see the broken 3 My hands shall forge the weapon that will
condition, pg. 53, Fifth Edition Options by TPK destroy those who took everything from me.
Games). 4 Proving I am the best at my craft drives my
ambition and keeps me awake at night.
Suggested Characteristics 5 The greatest blade ever forged haunts my
Whether you trained with the finest dwarven dream. I must find it and learn its secrets.
smiths or learned your trade from your father, you 6 The common folk have the right to defend
know that decently made equipment is vital to themselves, and I intend on giving them the
survival. You have an innate distaste for inferior means to do so.
craftsmanship, and can spot the difference
between sturdy work and cheap knock offs. At the
46

D6 Flaw 6 I’m comfortable around violence‐‐perhaps too

1 I won’t trust anything made by someone else. comfortable.
2 I am overly critical of anything anyone does that 7 Forgive me if I treat you like an ignorant child,
is different than I would do it. but it’s for your own good.
3 I would rather go into a battle unarmed instead 8 I never lower my guard, never relax, and it’s
of using subpar craftsmanship. killing me.
4 The sight of quality workmanship distracts me at
the worst possible times. D6 Ideal
5 People deserve the benefit of my knowledge and 1 Duty. You make an oath, you keep it. (Lawful)
experience, even if they don’t know it. 2 Sacrifice. I’d give my life if it means saving
6 I despise working for nobles and wealthy snobs someone important to me. (Good)
who don’t deserve my talent. 3 Daredevil. I’m only truly alive when my life is at
risk. (Neutral)
4 Redemption. My last charge died in my arms. It
Bodyguard 5
won’t happen again. (Good)
Pride. I’m the best at what I do, and that means
You were a bright, shining star when you started
everything to me. (Any)
your career in the city guard. Perhaps you stopped
6 Control. I have to be in control, and I have to call
a kidnapping attempt on the Prince Consort, or
the shots. (Lawful)
you were able to discover an imposter sent to

assassinate a high ranking official. Your
willingness to throw yourself into the line of fire D6 Bond
for those above your station caught the eyes of a 1 My charge’s life is the most important thing to
powerful employer. Now, you follow around your me in this world.
designated individual, watching every face and 2 I will surrender my last drop of blood for those
shadow for potential threat. whom I fight beside.
3 The good people of this world must be shielded
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Investigation from the evil ones.
Tool Proficiencies: Thieves’ tools 4 Sometimes, you must commit dark deeds to
Languages: Add one language that is considered a protect those under your care.
common language in your region or district 5 I’ve never let a bad guy escape before, and I
Starting equipment: Shackles, truncheon, a badge, don’t intend to start.
sigil, or tabard of rank and profession, common 6 Nothing stands in the way of me performing my
clothes, a deck of cards or set of knucklebones, and job.
a pouch containing 10 gp
Feature: Remembrance D6 Flaw
The tales of those lives you have saved still 1 I know what’s best for you, and I act in your best
reverberate through the halls of castles and interests, whether you wish it or not.
taverns alike. In any town that you are known, you 2 I don’t trust anyone or anything, even when I
can find a free meal or place to stay the evening. should.
3 My brusque manner and consuming focus comes
D8 Personality Trait across as rude at best.
1 It isn’t being paranoid if they really are out to kill 4 Regardless of situation, I usually see the darkest
you... and worst side it.
2 I approach every situation as a potential ambush 5 My instincts put me in the midst of danger.
or a trap. Eventually, it’ll cost me my life.
3 Being polite, kind, and considerate are simply 6 I enjoy pointing out your flaws and weaknesses.
not a part of my job description. It’s for your own good.
4 My presence makes people think twice before
acting, which is the whole point.
5 Better to intimidate those around you than invite
an attack.
47

instinct for the best tactic for extracting

Bounty Hunter information from a contact, be it through bribery,
intimidation, flattery, or outright lies. When you
Most of the time, the constables, sheriffs, and
question an individual regarding a target you are
watchmen of the world capture the bad guys and
hunting, be it a person or object, you know which
administer the necessary justice. From time to
skill stands the highest chance of success (typically
time, however, the worst, most despicable crooks
Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion, but other
and con men elude the authorities and run for
skills may work better in certain circumstances).
freedom. Left to their own, these scum almost
certainly commit more crimes and hurt more
Suggested Characteristics
people. That’s where you come in.
Your line of work often involves dogged, patient
legwork, including interrogating witnesses,
As a bounty hunter, you travel from town to
identifying tracks, gathering rumors and hints,
town and village to village in search of the
and uncovering local hiding spots. These long
worst of the worst. You track down and
periods of investigation are then punctuated
apprehend those criminals who’ve escape
by brief, explosive moments of pursuit and
justice. At the same time, you earn a living, so
violence. You’ve learned not to trust anyone, and
it’s a win-win sort of situation. If there are times
you’ve come to understand that every person--
where you end up capturing an innocent man,
good or bad--has a reason for what they do. Those
well, that’s not your problem, so long as you get
reasons may prove foolish or ignorant, but that
paid.
does not discount those motives.
Give consideration to your former life as a bounty
As a bounty hunter, you’ve learned that few
hunter. What started you in the profession, and
people respect you, and nobody likes it when you
what convinced you to get out? Did you have
show up. The crooks hate and fear you because
regular clients, or did you take whatever work
you represent imprisonment or worse. The
you could find? Which criminal proved the most
officials and law officers look down on you as
dangerous or challenging to hunt down? Did you
somehow corrupt and greedy. Nobody likes you,
work with a crew, or did you prefer to remain
but sooner or later, everyone needs your special
solo? You and your GM can discuss the campaign
services. Hate, fear, scorn, or disgust, none of
regions in which you served as a bounty hunter,
those feelings matter to you; the only thing that
and what sorts of criminals you typically
matters is getting paid for a job well done.
pursued. Perhaps you usually served the forces of
law and order, but at other times--when you
D8 Personality Trait
needed the coin--you might have worked for other
1 Everyone hides something, everyone lies, and
criminals or shady organizations who wanted
everyone holds some dark secret. The key is
people retrieved.
exploiting these simple truths.
2 I’m most comfortable when surrounded by
crooks, thieves, bastards, and killers.
Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Survival
3 My last job turned pear‐shaped right quick, and
Tool Proficiencies: Your choice of disguise kit,
now I’m the one who’s being hunted.
forgery kit, or thieves’ tools
Languages: One of your choice 4 I like to collect trophies and mementos of my
Equipment: A set of tools of your choice (disguise captures.
kit, forgery kit, or thieves’ tools), a set of manacles 5 I cultivate a gruff, unpolished, brutish attitude. It
or similar restraints, collection of wanted posters helps people underestimate me.
and bounty claims, a set of traveler’s clothes, and 6 Every bad guy has a tale to tell—I’ve heard them
a pouch containing 10 gp all. I don’t believe anybody’s sob story.
7 Whenever I stay in one place for too long I get
Feature: Bloodhound irritable.
You possess a special sense for locating refuges, 8 I don’t trust the city watch any more than I trust
hideouts, and sanctuaries to which escapees and the local thieves and cutthroats.
fugitives are likely to flee. You also have a good
48

D6 Ideal
1 Vengeance. Criminals killed my family and ruined
my old life. I won’t rest until I’ve tracked them
Conscript
You were volunteered for military duty, and not
down and hurt them. (Evil)
entirely with your consent.
2 Greed. Keep your morals and crusades to
yourself. I’m in it for the gold. (Evil)
Skills: Athletics, Survival
3 Daredevil. Life is best when I’m chasing someone
Tool Proficiencies: You gain proficiency in one type
down or beating someone up. (Chaotic) of gaming set and vehicles (land).
4 Justice. There are horrible, monstrous people on Equipment: Military uniform, short sword,
the loose, and they need to be hunted and wooden shield, leather armor, set of dice or deck of
punished. (Lawful) cards, set of common clothes.
5 Ambition. I aim to prove I’m the best at what I
do, even if it kills me. (Any) Feature: Battle Participant
6 Obligation. I keep my word and honor my While you were not as valued as a true soldier of
promises. (Lawful) the military, all who fought on your side recognize
you as one of their own.
D6 Bond
1 I’ve made a lot of enemies, and now they’re out D8 Personality Trait
for my blood. 1 I have the manners of a goat and the grace of an
2 Someone helped me escape a lifetime of crime ox… and I don’t give a crap.
by offering me a stark choice. I must provide the 2 I never wanted to be in combat, but now I find I
same chance to others. can’t get enough of it.
3 My job is to defend the law by going outside the 3 If there’s a way to get out of hard work, I’ll find
law when necessary. it.
4 I’ve learned many dark, dirty secrets, and I 4 Death doesn’t scare me—and that fact scares
intend on using those to my own advantage. the hell out of me.
5 The thrill of the chase and the excitement of the 5 Nobody appreciates my sense of gallows humor.
takedown keep me interested in life. 6 During the fight, I’m numb as a corpse. After it’s
6 After one too many bad investments and a loan all over, I shiver like a frightened cat.
from the thieves’ guild, I need to pay off my 7 I’ve seen so many people die that I have trouble
debtors… or else. remembering faces.
8 Complaining about bad food, stupid officers, and
D6 Flaw all my aches and misery keeps me sane.
1 I always assume you have a sinister ulterior
motive for everything you do. D6 Ideal
2 I’m a sucker for the sight of gold; I take stupid 1 Independence. Nobody gives me orders any
risks for the shiny stuff. more. Nobody. (Chaotic)
3 A fool and his money are soon separated. 2 Survival. The only way to survive is to make
Everything I earn goes to strong booze, good someone else suffer in your place. (Evil)
food, and warm companionship. 3 Loyalty. Trust in your shield mates is the only
4 I’d sell out my grandmother if it would save my thing keeping you alive. (Lawful)
life. 4 Greed. I’ll do anything you want, so long as
5 My bad temper lands me in trouble more times there’s coin involved. (Neutral)
than I care to admit. 5 Hope. If we stop the evil threatening our land,
6 I’m a great judge of character, and I always know others won’t have to sacrifice as we did. (Good)
when someone is lying to me. 6 Vengeance. Those who conscripted me and
destroyed my life must be punished. (Any)

49

D6 Bond introduction from your master, a set of common

1 I don’t know if my family lives or dies, but one clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp
day I will find them and return home to them.
2 I fight so other folks like me won’t have to. I fight Feature: Best of Both Worlds
for a better world. Thanks to your training in both the arcane arts and
3 Those who fight at my side are my brothers and in the field of martial endeavors, you fit into either
sisters, and the only ones worth dying for. world comfortably. Whether you need an audience
4 Let the cause be just. Let my life have meaning with a local mages’ guild, or you need a sit-down
before I die, bleeding and forgotten. with a band of mercenaries, you know the customs
5 Every victory brings me closer to earning a life to observe, the right way to interact with them,
free of blood, guts, and horror. and the best approach to take to get a hearing.
6 Someday, I’ll have my own mercenary company Outwardly, your personality subtly changes to fit
to command. with your surroundings, and your habits adjust
accordingly. You can gain audience with wizards,
D6 Flaw sorcerers, scholars, and their ilk when such
1 Nobles and officers are only worth one thing: worthies would otherwise ignore a warrior,
killing—assuming you can get away with it. gaining the chance to ask for information or a
2 Honor is for fools, dead men, and officers. favor from them. Likewise, you can demand to be
3 The scars on my body pain me by day; the scars heard by mercenaries, soldiers, and battle-
on my soul haunt me at night. hardened veterans who normally wouldn’t spare a
4 Deep down inside, I’m a coward. The day will moment for a magician, asking for a place to rest,
come when I’ll break and run. loan of equipment, or similar favors.
5 The sight of blood and guts makes me sick.
6 When someone barks orders at me, I obey Suggested Characteristics
without thinking about it. Although other warriors may scoff at your arcane
talents, or disdain your book-learning, you have
found the dual nature of your training a boon.
Eldritch Legacy Before the fight begins, you know what to look for
to identify enemy spellcasters and magical effects,
The martial tradition has always thrived in your
and you hold an appreciation for the power magic
family, and from an early age your parents
brings to the battle. Once combat begins, your
expected great deeds and epic accomplishments
instincts kick in and you fight with the same
from you. As you grew and learned, however, you
measure of skill as any of your more martial
revealed an entirely different sort of talent--you
brethren. The combination of training and
possessed the spark of magic within you.
education taught you the values of patience and
attention to detail.
Regardless whether your family felt

disappointment or pleasure at your newfound
D8 Personality Trait
ability, they invested in a grueling regimen of dual
1 I approach every fight as an intellectual
training. By day, weapons practice, armor practice,
challenge, a lesson waiting to be learned.
and endurance drills. By night, studying with an
2 I never lose my temper, so at times I come
arcane teacher to master the principles of magic.
across as cold and emotionless.
Through sheer perseverance and stubborn
3 Let me lecture you on what you did wrong and
determination, you survived your training and
how I would have done it better.
became something rare in the world. In combat,
4 My arcane abilities embarrass me, so I try to
you possess the power to slay your enemies with a
keep them a secret.
blade, but you also hold the power to defeat
5 Whenever another warrior mocks my education,
enemies with magic.
I want to teach him a lesson in humiliation.
6 No matter how useful it is, I’ll never fully trust
Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Perception
the arcane power flowing through me.
Languages: Two of your choice
7 I think there’s something wrong with me. I don’t
Equipment: A journal filled with entries about
know where my magic comes from...
magic and your discoveries, a letter of
50

8 I use big words and flowery speech so people
know how smart I am. Guardsman
You could be an employee of a small village’s police
D6 Ideal
force, or a shift boss at a guard station in a bigger
1 Knowledge. Without knowledge, we are but
city. You’ve walked your beat for years, fingers on
ignorant children alone in the dark. (Any)
the pulse of your city. Unlike a soldier or enlisted
2 Power. The strong must control the weak, and
man, you know the names of those you protect.
use every means possible to do so (Evil) They are more than just nameless ungrateful
3 Freedom. I swear never to use my talents to masses, they are your people.
serve another master. Each of us must follow
their own path. (Chaotic) Feature: Walking the Beat
4 Duty. My arcane gifts allow me to serve my Investigating crimes and talking to witnesses is
family and to fulfill my oaths. (Lawful) second nature to you. You know what topics to
5 Hope. The people of the land deserve protection, bring up to stir memories, or what topics to avoid
and they need someone who will fight on their to prevent fear from taking over. You are able to
behalf. (Good) get the information you desire from the person
6 Comrades. I only sacrifice my blood and my you are talking to.
treasure for those who fight at my side. (Neutral)
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Investigation
D6 Bond Tool Proficiencies: Thieves’ tools
1 Everything I do is to prove to my family I deserve Languages: Add one language that is considered a
their respect, no matter how much they fear my common language in your region or district
power. Starting equipment: Shackles, truncheon, a badge,
2 I watched my master get torn limb from limb. I sigil, or tabard of rank and profession, common
swear to avenge his death and destroy the clothes, a deck of cards or set of knucklebones, and
monster responsible. a pouch containing 10 gp
3 My family cursed me and disowned me because
of my gifts. I must find a way to return to their D8 Personality Trait
good graces. 1 With a smile or a wink, I greet everyone by their
4 I bear a strange arcane brand on my flesh. I need first name.
to find out where it came from and what it 2 I give everyone a nickname based on their
means. appearance.
5 There are others like me who are persecuted for 3 I collect people’s dirty secrets. You never know
their talents. I will seek them out and help them when the leverage will come in handy.
to control their gift. 4 Everybody has something to hide and everybody
6 The inquisitors will never stop hunting me for my lies.
past misdeeds, but somehow I will atone for 5 I’m more comfortable around thieves and
those crimes. murderers than ordinary folk.
D6 Flaw 6 There’s nothing wrong with accepting the
1 I take foolish risks at any chance to learn more occasional gift or bribe if it keeps the peace.
magic and to collect new magic items. 7 The only way to earn respect is to intimidate the
2 I’m not being arrogant‐‐I really am smarter than hell out of people.
you. 8 I go out of my way to keep calm, even in
3 Brute strength warriors don’t deserve my situations where everyone else has lost theirs.
respect, and I tell them so.
4 I’m too analytical, thinking and studying a D6 Ideal
problem when I should be killing it. 1 Respect. I’ve earned it, I deserve it, and I demand
5 If someone insults my worth, I must demonstrate people give it to me. (Lawful)
their error to them. 2 Law & Order. Upholding the law is the only way
6 Never trust another magician, even if he’s on anyone can live in peace. (Lawful)
your side. I know all their tricks.
51

3 Leverage. I know where the bodies are buried advantage on Persuasion checks when dealing

and I can use that information to get what I with other law enforcement officials.
want. (Evil)
4 Justice. Everyone deserves the protection of the
5
law, and I’ll make sure they receive it. (Good)
Loyalty. The world’s an evil place; you have your
Jailer
Some guards walk the streets, protecting civilians.
comrade’s back, no matter what. (Good)
You, on the other hand, keep watch over the
6 Connections. It isn’t what you know, but rather criminals those guards bring into custody. You
who you know, that keeps you alive. (Any) might be the toughest screw in a military prison,
or hold the keys to a constable’s holding cell.
D6 Bond Regardless, it is your duty to keep the prisoners
1 Everyone I know is under my protection, and I fed, safe and alive.
will make sure they stay safe.
2 Upholding the law is the only way to keep us Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Perception
safe. Tool Proficiencies: Thieves’ tools
3 The people at my side are the only ones I can Languages: Add one language that is considered a
trust. common language in your region or district
4 I will punish those who hurt me, no matter what Starting equipment: Shackles, truncheon, a badge,
laws I have to break to do so. sigil, or tabard of rank and profession, common
5 There’s only one person I hate worse than a clothes, a deck of cards or set of knucklebones, and
bully: someone who abuses their authority. a pouch containing 10 gp
6 Finding what makes people tick is the best way
to avoid trouble before it starts. Feature: Riot Breaker
Being in charge of the worst of the worst, you’ve
D6 Flaw seen hundreds of desperate men and women with
1 Whenever I meet someone new, my first instinct nothing left to lose. A desperate person cares
is to intimidate them. nothing for who they hurt, or even for their own
2 I don’t mind using my size and strength to get wellbeing. When facing a humanoid that is about
what I want. In fact, I kind of enjoy it... to commit an act of violence, you immediately gain
3 Trusting people, even my friends, is my biggest a Wisdom (Insight) check to notice.
challenge.
4 I’m uncomfortable around nobles and D8 Personality Trait
bureaucrats, and I make them uncomfortable in 1 I’ve gathered plenty of grim stories, and I love
return. sharing them—especially with the squeamish.
5 Once someone threatens me or my comrades, 2 Strong drink helps me forget the horrors I’ve
violence is my first instinct. witnessed.
6 I have perfected the art of cynicism to a whole 3 I’m not just ill‐mannered; I’m gloriously,
new level. unabashedly, horrifyingly uncouth!
4 I have a habit of collecting trinkets that don’t
Guardsman Variant: Constable belong to me.
You are a member of a police force in a small village 5 After all the pain and blood I’ve seen, nothing
or hamlet. You don’t have to deal with all the chaos truly bothers me anymore.
that comes with dealing with the seedy underbelly 6 Everyone has a breaking point, physically or
of a port town or city. Your biggest problem is mentally. I’ve an instinct for finding that point.
locking up the town drunk overnight so he can 7 I feel no compassion for anyone behind bars.
sober up. Who needs all that excess danger and They usually earn what they’ve got coming.
violence? 8 I detest nobles, the wealthy, and all those folk
too good to soil their clothing with hard work.
Variant Feature: Public Servant
When duty calls, you answer. Whenever someone D6 Ideal
needs a helping hand, you readily extend yours. 1 Wealth. Nobody has my interests at heart; it’s up
Your willingness to help anyone and everyone has to me to take what I can get out of life. (Neutral)
given you a sterling reputation. You gain
52

2 Liberation. I’ve made it my goal to liberate those Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival

who’ve been falsely imprisoned. (Good) Tool Proficiencies: Healer’s Kit, one type of Gaming
3 Justice. When you break the law, you deserve Set
punishment. It’s that simple. (Lawful) Equipment: A favored short weapon (e.g. dagger,
4 Power. If you can’t wield power over others and club, hook, razor, etc.), a trophy taken from a
revel in it, what’s the point of life? (Evil) defeated foe (roll or pick something appropriate
5 Freedom. Freedom is the only thing that makes from the trinkets table on pg 160-161 of the core
life worth living. (Chaotic) player’s book), a set of bone dice or a deck of cards,
6 Survival. Don’t get involved with lost causes and a set of common clothes, a belt pouch with 5 gp,
never fall for sob stories. Do your job, go home and a large canvas bag.
alive. (Neutral)
Variant Feature: Hardened Deckhand
D6 Bond Your years at sea have helped you learn how to
1 When surrounded by villainous scum, you’ve got take care of a ship and its crew. Your time as a
your mate’s back, no matter what. marine also make you invaluable in a ship’s
2 I’m determined to bring justice to those who defense. Your proud years of service earn you free
need it, whether they want it or not. passage on any military ship belonging to the
3 Keeping my freedom is more important to me country you served and many other commercial
than anything else. and passenger ships as well.
4 If someone falls under my jurisdiction, they’re
my responsibility to protect. D8 Personality Trait
5 If I give my word to do something, then by the 1 I have a sea chanty or a limerick for almost any
gods I keep my oath. situation.
6 A man died unjustly on my watch, and his last 2 I’ve got a lass in every port, and know the best
words haunt me. It won’t happen again. places to drink.
3 I spent time on a deserted island after a brutal
D6 Flaw storm. I picked up some tribal brands from the
1 I’ve witnessed too much cruelty and torture for locals, as a sign of their respect.
it to impress me anymore. 4 I use profane language as often as I can. I’ll even
2 Wide open spaces make me nervous and make some new words up if the situation calls
uncomfortable. for it.
3 Criminals are no better than animals, and they 5 I prefer to be barefoot whenever possible.
deserve no better treatment. 6 I don’t fit in with polite society, and I’m proud of
4 I expect the worst from the people I meet, and that fact.
I’m rarely disappointed. 7 A lack of action makes me grumpy and irritable.
5 There’s something invigorating about holding 8 People love my stories almost as much as I love
power over another person. telling them.
6 The threat of being cooped up, restrained, or
trapped leaves me shaking and sweating. D6 Ideal
1 Greed. I’m only in it for the reward. You want my
help? Show me the gold. (Evil)
Marine 2 Wanderlust. If we’re not going somewhere or
doing something, I’m miserable. (Any)
You served your country on the open seas. You’ve
3 Loyalty. You do anything necessary to protect
got a rolling gait, and a belaying pin that fits
your shipmates. (Good)
comfortably in your grip. You’ve fought off pirates
4 Duty. Once you give your oath, you keep it.
and all sorts of seafaring beasties in your time. The
(Lawful)
spray of salt water and the pitching decks of a ship
5 Freedom. We all deserve to live our lives as we
compose some of the best (or worst) years of your
see fit, and to spend it how we wish. (Chaotic)
life.
6 Comrades. Watch your shipmate’s back, but
steer clear of causes and crusades (Neutral)

53

D6 Bond militia and city guard will follow your orders as
1 I was given a gift from people in a faraway land. long as it doesn’t countermand their existing
It is more valuable to me than anything else I orders.
own.
2 Never leave one of your own behind. Never. D8 Personality Trait
3 First into the fight, last out is the credo by which 1 My uniform is always clean and freshly pressed,
I live. no matter what time of day.
4 There’s an entire world waiting to be discovered. 2 I have no use for people who refuse to carry
5 Live fast, play hard, drink plenty, for death is their weight, and I let them know it.
lurks around every corner. 3 Sometimes, you need to kiss a little ass if you
6 My shipmates are my family. They mean want to get ahead; that’s the way life works.
everything to me. 4 Whenever things get too peaceful, I get moody. I
yearn for a good fight.
D6 Flaw 5 I can’t afford to show fear, anxiety, or
1 I delight in embarrassing good, decent folk every uncertainty.
chance I get. 6 Relaxing is difficult for me, and it makes people
2 Once the action begins, I tend to leap first and around me uncomfortable.
not waste time with questions later. 7 I’m used to getting my way, or barking orders
3 There’s very little that a stout club or a sharp until I do.
sword can’t solve. 8 There’s no problem that can’t be solved with the
4 I’m not as brave or as bold as the stories I tell application of a little fear.
suggest.
5 I get into more trouble than I can handle after a D6 Ideal
few drinks too many. 1 Loyalty. Always support your brothers and sisters
6 My old wounds ache and my joints throb right in arms, no matter the cost. (Good)
before a fight. 2 Obligation. I owe a debt to honor those who
who’ve died for the mission. (Lawful)
3 Ambition. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to
Officer 4
further my career and my prosperity. (Evil)
Obedience. A soldier does what he’s told and
Unlike most of the enlisted rabble, you come from
fights when he must. Leave the morality and
a prestigious line of military men. Your name is
philosophy to someone else. (Lawful)
synonymous with valor and honor. There are
5 Independence. I served my time and per did my
buildings and halls named after your family, and
duty. Time to live my life the way I want to.
possibly even battle tactics and maneuvers. The
(Chaotic)
other soldiers look up to you with envy and
6 Family. Serving a cause and doing my duty brings
jealousy. They know the blood of heroes flows
honor and glory to my family. (Any)
through your veins, and they follow your
commands without a thought. Your family tree
blossomed with brilliant tacticians and leaders, D6 Bond
and you are no exception to that rule. 1 I am the first to lead a charge, or through a
breach.
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion 2 I lead by example; I would never expect my men
Languages: Two additional languages, one of a to do something I’m not willing to do.
close allied race, and the other of an enemy race 3 Those who fight at my side deserve everything
Equipment: Symbol of rank, military uniform, a from me, even my life.
long blade, a riding horse, and a beltpouch with 25 4 Even though they’re gone, I fight to honor the
gp memory of my unit.
5 Accomplishing the mission is everything, even if
Variant Feature: Authoritative Bearing. it requires painful sacrifices.
You are accustomed to being heeded by those in 6 I refuse to give up on my comrades or let them
your command and exude confidence and down.
charisma. Non-enlisted members, such as local

54

D6 Flaw 8 I’m good at manipulating and cajoling people to

1 I follow a rigid code of honor, and will not stray my way of thinking.
from it one bit.
2 I have no patience or sympathy for shirkers, D6 Ideal
cowards, or fools. 1 Change. In order for all to be happy, changes are
3 Even in social situations, I tend to give orders needed, and I am one who can help. (Good)
and expect them to be obeyed. 2 Insurrection. Tear down the statues, burn the
4 Only those who have served in the military flags. The future rises from the ashes of the old
deserve my respect. regime. (Chaotic)
5 I’m too important, too valuable, to risk on the 3 Freedom. Liberty should be available to all, not
front line of a fight. just those that can pay for it. (Good)
6 The best way to get ahead is to take credit, even 4 Justice. Too long have the rulers of this land
when it isn’t earned. grown fat, living off the suffering of others. The
time has come to punish them for their crimes.
(Lawful)
Rebel 5 Might Makes Right. Peace comes through unity.
Unity will come through blood, pain and fire.
You yearn to live life different from what your
(Evil)
governing body determines. Instead of bending
6 Glory. Our deeds will be remembered and
beneath the yoke of oppression, you fight against
celebrated long after we’ve passed. (Any)
them every single day. Whether you inspire others

through speeches and peaceful protest, or you
D6 Bond
incite the flames of passion as a revolutionary, you
do what you believe is best for the people. You 1 I proudly display the colors of the rebellion.
proudly proclaim yourself a member of a cause 2 I will go to any lengths to prove my loyalty...even
greater than yourself: a rebellion. martyrdom.
3 It isn’t enough to defeat your enemies—you
Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Persuasion must force them to admit they were wrong.
Tool Proficiencies: Healer’s Kit, one type of Gaming 4 I fight for those who can’t or won’t.
Set 5 We must speak out for those who have lost their
Equipment: Shortsword, a set of common clothes, voices. Silence is the betrayer of hope.
one gaming set of choice, belt pouch containing 10 6 If the laws fail to promote justice, they don’t
gp. deserve our respect.

Feature: Resistance Rabble Rouser D6 Flaw
You can tap into the rebellious pulse of society. It's 1 I will sacrifice anything in order to further the
easy to locate dissonant locals and gain their aid in cause… even innocents.
exchange for your help. 2 I will put myself in positions to suffer so I may
show my dedication to my cause.
D8 Personality Trait 3 I’m too important to die a meaningless, useless
1 I know what is right for my people, and will not death. My death must have meaning.
hesitate to speak against the oppression. 4 I’ll spill the blood of any despot.
2 I speak the praises of a great philosopher that 5 I can’t leave the status quo alone; if I see a house
has written a doctrine that should be adopted. of cards, I’m compelled to knock it over.
3 I will give my life for the cause. 6 Nobody shares my level of dedication to the
4 I cannot abide when a member of the peasantry cause, and I make sure everyone knows it.
is treated poorly in my presence.
5
6
Never trust those who wield power.
I would cheat, lie, steal, or murder to uphold my Slave
beliefs. You are human chattel, doomed to a life of
7 Years of fighting for lost causes has left me grueling labor and dangerous conditions. Maybe
weary and cynical. you were born into servitude or a member of the
lowest caste system. Perhaps your family sold you
55

into slavery to pay a debt, or you were taken as a 3 I try to live a life worthy of the freedom I have

prisoner of war. Despite all odds, you managed to now.
throw off the yoke of slavery and became an 4 Looking for a new place where everyone is free.
adventurer. 5 Being a slave has motivated me to become a
master.
Skills: Athletics, Survival 6 My friends are everything.
Languages: You speak your former master’s tongue
and gain one tool proficiency of your choice based D6 Flaw
on your form of labor 1 When faced with adversity that reminds me of
Equipment: A brass ring worth 5 gp, a letter of my trauma, I flee as quickly as possible.
freedom (real or forged), common clothes, one set 2 After living through slavery I feel justified in
of artisan tools (10 gp or less) treating no one with respect.
3 I still act like a slave: quiet, apologetic, and often
Feature: Blend In refusing eye contact.
Scars and markings, along with your ability to 4 The horrors I faced in my old life still haunt my
impersonate a slave’s demeanor means that you dreams.
can blend in with other slaves, or impersonate a 5 I have trouble getting close to people who have
slave with ease. never experienced slavery.
6 The brutal treatment I endured has made me
D8 Personality Trait cold and callous to suffering.
1 I hide my emotional scars behind an overly tough
bearing and aggressive attitude. SLAVE VARIANT: SERVANT
2 I am convinced that a life of hard labor has made You were sold like a slave but treated like a
me superior to almost everyone else. peasant. It’s not a terrible trade for a somewhat
3 I’ve faced death and destruction more than you cushier life. And sometimes servants are actually
can imagine. Because of this, I find humor where treated quite well depending upon the culture.
others find only despair.
4 My years of slavery makes me appreciate the Feature: Quiet Ears
sweet nectar of freedom all the more. Servants hear everything and that spy network is
5 A brutal life has made me both stoic and severe. yours. You know how to relate to other people who
6 I believe that wealthy or educated people are are owned. You quickly gain their trust and learn
fools. the rumors they know. You can gather
7 Freedom has made me wild and rebellious. information
8 I have a deep hatred for slavers and task
masters.

D6 Ideal
Squire
As a youth, you provided faithful, loyal service to a
1 My experiences have reinforced my ideal to treat
knight. You cared for his mount, kept his armor
everyone with dignity. (Good)
and weapons in good condition, and anticipated
2 I retain a respect for authority and hierarchy.
his needs before he made them known. In so
(Lawful)
doing, you learned how to identify a combatant’s
3 Never again will I call anyone master. (Chaotic)
skills, you learned to identify a coat of arms, and
4 Being weak created an unquenchable hunger for
you gained an appreciation for the knight’s code of
power within me. (Evil)
conduct.
5 I do not see any cause as worth fighting for.
(Neutral)
Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Performance
6 I just want to live my life free of the shackles of
Tool Proficiencies: Chess set and one type of
my past. (Any)
musical instrument

Equipment: A set of common clothes, metal polish,
D6 Bond
horse brush, a set of traveller's clothes and a belt
1 I fight against any enemy of freedom, real or
pouch with 10 gp
otherwise.
2 I seek vengeance upon those who wronged me.
56

Feature: Knightly Etiquette D6 Bond

Your knowledge of knights, highborn bloodlines, 1 I owe it to the knight who trained me to uphold
and the chivalric code provide you with a the code and prove my valor.
connection to noble families both famous and 2 The knight I served was a cruel, malicious lout. I
infamous. Merely by seeing a knight’s heraldic swear to redeem his misdeeds.
symbol you discern his known enemies, rivals, 3 People need a role model to look up to in these
allies, as well as his standing among other knights. dark times, and that’s what I’ll do.
You can leverage this knowledge to gain audience 4 Chivalry is dead, but I have committed my life to
with a knight, including imposing upon their reviving it.
hospitality. You can learn recent rumors about 5 A knight must protect the weak and defend the
upcoming tournaments, who’s in favor and who’s innocent.
fallen from favor, and where to go in search of 6 Service to my king or faith means everything to
glory and worthy challenges. me.

D8 Personality Trait D6 Flaw
1 I’ve paid my dues and mucked out my share of 1 I can’t stand being around the crude, unwashed,
stables. Time for someone to serve me for once. dim‐witted peasants of this land.
2 When it comes to knightly etiquette, I over‐ 2 My code forbids me from backing down from a
compensate to hide the truth of my lowborn challenge, even when I should.
birth. 3 My upbringing entitles me to privileges and
3 I’ll never fit in among the high and mighty, but I respect. That’s the natural order of things.
take great satisfaction in proving myself better 4 The code of chivalry is great, but I don’t do this
than they are. stuff for free. After all, armor and weapons cost
4 My family ranks among the most honorable and a lot of gold!
noteworthy in the land. I make sure everyone 5 Menial labor of any kind is beneath me.
knows it. 6 I judge people by the cut of their clothes and the
5 When someone insults you, kill them with quality of their upbringing.
obsequious kindness.
6 I defend my honor against every insult, real or
7
imagined.
A knight is only as good as his armor, his sword,
Tourney Knight
Members of noble families find themselves drawn
and his mount. I treat these better than I treat
to many avenues of life. Trade, diplomacy, war, or
most people.
even a life of hedonism. You found yourself pulled
8 I love insulting the wealthy and powerful and
down the avenue of Civilized Combat. You trained
having them thank me for the compliment.
with the best to battle other civilized warriors in

the Grand Melee or on the Jousting field. You travel
D6 Ideal
the country and throw your crest into the mix,
1 Chivalry. Upholding the code of chivalry is what
fighting for honor, glory, and the winner’s purse.
gives life its meaning. (Good)
2 Service. My oath to my leader means everything
Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Animal Handling
to me. I shall not break my word to him. (Lawful)
Languages: One of choice.
3 Family. My family sacrificed everything to make
Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a tabard or
me what I am, and I will repay their faith in me.
banner displaying your personal coat of arms, a
(Lawful)
scarf or flower or other token given to you by a lord
4 Power. The strong rule the weak. I refuse to be
or lady that signifies their courtly favor, and a
weak, regardless of the cost. (Evil)
purse containing 25 gp
5 Glory. A knight needs to prove his worth and
seek out the greatest challenges in life. (Any)
Variant Feature: Champion of Renown.
6 Noblesse Oblige. The highborn must use their
Your fame is well-known far and wide across the
power to defend the lower orders. (Good) lands. When you enter taverns, men and women
alike offer to buy you food and drink. You need
never pay for food or drink that costs below 5 gp.

57

D8 Personality Trait 5 Being arrogant and overconfident is what I do.

1 Why be humble when you truly are better than 6 Half the stories I tell are complete lies. Don’t ask
everyone else? me about the other half...
2 I’m a sucker for compliments and adoration.
3 I’d rather suffer torture than give up or walk
away from a challenge.
4 Let me tell you about the last tourney I won.
5 I’m not above a little bit of cheating if it helps me
to win.
6 Whenever I’m in a crowd, I can’t help but draw
attention to my exploits.
7 I’m the life of the party, and people can’t help
but love me.
8 Nothing else matters beyond being the best on
the field.

D6 Ideal
1 Glory. Whatever the cost, my name and my
deeds shall outlast me. (Any)
2 Revelry. I’m only in it for the booze, women, and
the adulation of the masses. Why else bother?
(Chaotic)
3 Honor. Upholding the family name and making
them proud mean everything to me. (Lawful)
4 Ambition. My great deeds bring me honor, fame,
wealth, and power. (Any)
5 Redemption. This path is the only chance for
greatness left to me. (Any)
6 Vengeance. I don’t care if I win or lose, only that
I get to humiliate and crush my rivals. (Evil)

D6 Bond
1 Chivalry to your rivals and your enemies proves
you are the better man.
Veteran
Whether home or abroad, you served your country
2 Absolute commitment, no matter the cause, is
or kingdom loyally. One of the lucky few, you
the only path to victory.
managed to survive your time of service and
3 I have an obligation to uphold a code of honor,
returned home. Maybe you were wounded and
and to model that code to others.
given a medical discharge, or decided not to sign
4 People need hope, and I carry an obligation to
your mark when reenlistment time came around.
provide that hope.
Whether you came back home a loyal soldier or a
5 Winning is the only thing that counts. Sometimes
disgruntled civilian, your time in the service marks
that means breaking a few rules...
you as a veteran.
6 One day, I will become a legendary knight,
remembered in song and story.
Did your patriotism and belief in the system

survive intact? Did you witness horrors and
D6 Flaw
atrocities that haunt your dreams? Were your
1 I can’t turn down a chance to compete and
sacrifices worth the overall mission?
prove I’m better than everyone else.
2 My pride forces me to accept challenges I should
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Intimidation
walk away from.
Tool Proficiencies: Healer’s Kit, one type of Gaming
3 Nobody insults my honor and gets away with it.
Set
4 I never back down from a fight. The odds be
damned.
58

Equipment: An insignia of rank, a trophy taken D6 Bond

from a fallen enemy (a dagger, broken blade, or 1 I live my life in honor of my fallen comrades.
piece of a banner), a set of bone dice or deck of 2 I am determined to correct my past mistakes.
cards, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch 3 I never stopped fighting for the values that
containing 10 gp motivated me in the first place.
4 I found that I have more domestic enemies then
Feature: Gratitude. I do foreign.
In a town or city with a friendly military presence, 5 I strive to use my military skills to benefit the
you can call upon some services and benefits community.
shown as thanks for your time enlisted. 6 I no longer wear the uniform I still conduct
myself with the same honor and pride.
When buying goods at a military supplier or
surplus store you can get a 10% discount. D6 Flaw
1 I find civilian life hard to take seriously and yearn
You can also request shelter or aid at a military for action.
installation of the same branch/force you served 2 The war never ended for me and I struggle with
in. the losses that I have endured.
3 I am repulsed by any form of cowardice‐
D8 Personality Trait especially my own.
1 I am a veteran and demand a certain level of 4 War changed me so dramatically that I no longer
respect, and if I don’t get it, I will respond with a fit in with my old life.
rude attitude. 5 I pride myself on being honest to the point of
2 I notice any number of personality flaws, and rudeness.
point out how it would have gotten you killed 6 I cannot tolerate disrespect towards my unit, flag
“back in the day.” or uniform.
3 If you haven’t bled for your country or fought for
something greater than yourself, then I view you
as beneath me.
4 Whatever you’ve gone through in your life can’t
ever compare to this one battle my company
was involved in.
5 You owe me, and all other soldiers, a debt for
our service.
6 I would bleed out my last drop of blood for you,
and expect you to do the same for me.
7 I drink the beer, then eat the glass.
8 I’m a loudmouthed bully who is first to criticize
and first to risk my life.

D6 Ideal
1 Power. If you can’t keep yourself alive, then you
don’t matter to me. (Evil)
2 Protection. The weak need someone to defend
them, no matter what. (Good)
3 Duty. The oath I swore when I put on the
uniform is as binding now as it was then. (Any)
4 Honor. I’m representing the flag and uniform
even now. (Lawful)
5 Excellence. I pride myself on performing my
duties to the best of my ability. (Any)
6 Brotherhood. I fight for my brothers and sisters
in arms, not some foppish king! (Chaotic)

59

“Cack. I hate chess. How does any of that help me?
FIGHTER FEATS I’m watching you but you’re watching me. Where
does it end?”
For the first time in a while, Sokol smiled without
Baracus shifted his weight to his back foot in malice or cruel intent. “With your edge.”
anticipation of the next round of attacks. He
winced at the burning sting of welts along his Baracus frowned. “My edge? What the hell does
chest—painful reminders courtesy of Sokol, the that mean?”
training master, to keep his shield in position.
“Your edge. That which separates you from
Baracus ignored the twinge of burning arm
warriors of similar talent. The knife’s edge elevates
muscles and sore shoulders. He tapped his short
you above others—that difference which, narrow
sword against the front of the shield to signal his
though it may be, keeps you alive. Warriors live and
readiness.
die by their edge, and so you must find yours.”
Sokol offered the ghost of a smile. The bastard
never seemed to sweat, never got out of breath.
What kind of inhuman monster didn’t sweat? The On the surface, a fighter of one archetype shares
master, armed only with a wooden training sword, much in common with another fighter of the same
stared at Baracus with unblinking eyes. Eyes that archetype. Certain weapon and armor
betrayed nothing of his intentions. This time, combinations are most advantageous for an
however, Baracus ignored the eyes and watched archetype, and certain combinations of ability
the master’s shoulders. He wouldn’t be caught off scores work better than others. Thus, feats
guard another time. The slightest twitch of those represent one of the best tools for differentiating
shoulders would signal… fighters from each other. A fighter’s feats choices
help define their edge—that something special
In the flicker of an eye, Sokol surged forward, separating them from warriors of like skill. The
pivoted around to Baracus’s flank, and lashed out following new feats are designed to give your
with the training sword. The flat of the wooden fighter their edge and to set them apart from their
blade smacked into Baracus’s neck with a meaty fellow warriors. When it comes to battle, the
THWAP. The impact slammed him off-balance and smallest of differences often lead to the greatest of
left him struggling to breathe for victories.
several agonizing moments.
Once he could breathe again, Armor Expert
Baracus shook his head in You know how to utilize your
frustration and wiped the armor to maximize its efficiency
sweat from his brow. “I didn’t in combat.
see your shoulders move. I  You treat your armor’s
purposefully didn’t pay maximum Dexterity modifier as
attention to your eyes, just so I +1 greater with this feat.
could watch your damn  While wearing any armor
shoulders.” you reduce the amount of
damage you take by 2 points.
The master nodded, his face This benefit stacks with that of
impassive. “I know. Never the Heavy Armor Mastery feat.
forget, while you anticipate
your enemy’s moves, he also
anticipates yours. It is like a game of
chess. Move. Counter-move.”
60

curative magic or the Medicine skill (DC 8

Axe Mastery + your proficiency bonus + either your
While wielding an axe, you deal death in wicked Strength or Dexterity modifier).
sprays of crimson.  You can blind an opponent by making a
 You gain +1 to hit and damage while bloody strike to your opponent’s face.
making attacks with any axe. Your attack suffers disadvantage. On a hit,
 If you reduce a foe to 0 hit points, you the target must make a Constitution
may make a second attack against another saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency
adjacent foe you threaten as a bonus bonus + either your Strength or Dexterity
action. modifier) or be blinded for 1d6 rounds.
 Once per round, when you deal a critical
hit with an axe, you deal an additional Bludgeoning Expertise
+1d8 points of damage.
Your attacks with two-handed bludgeoning
weapons are particularly brutal.
Barrage of Blows Prerequisite: Great Weapon fighting style
With mounting fury, you rain down a series of  Ignore a target’s resistance to bludgeoning
increasingly powerful blows on your foe. damage while attacking with a
bludgeoning weapon.
 After you strike and damage your target
with a melee weapon, ignore that target’s  If you attack with a bludgeoning weapon
AC bonus from any shield they carry until while having advantage, and both dice
the end of your next turn. rolls would result in a hit, you cause the
reduce the target’s movement by half
 Add a bonus to your melee damage dealt
until the end of your next turn.
equal to the number of successive times
you’ve struck the same target after the  On a critical hit dealt with a bludgeoning
first. This resets back to +0 after missing weapon, you knock your target prone if it
an attack against the target. is your size or smaller.
Battle Cry
You are capable of a fearsome primal scream
during combat that chills your enemies’ spines.
 As a reaction, you make a terrifying battle
cry. Allies within 60 feet gain a +1 bonus
on attack rolls and opponents that can see
and hear you must make a Wisdom saving
throw equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus
+ your Charisma modifier or become
frightened until the beginning of your
next turn. Once you use this, you must
finish a short or long rest to use it again.
Bloody Strikes
You know how to deal wicked bleeding wounds
to your enemies.
 You may choose to suffer a -5 penalty to
your attacks to cause those attacks to deal
+1d4 points of additional damage for the
next three rounds. The extra damage
ends if the target receives healing from
61

that also threatens the same target to

Bulwark make an opportunity attack against the
You are difficult to move against your will, and same foe using their reaction.
difficult to move past.  You may make an opportunity attack
 Your Constitution score increases by +1. against a target that has just attacked you
 You have advantage on Strength in melee as a reaction.
(Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics)
checks made to resist forced
movement, such as being shoved.
Dagger Mastery
 When an opponent enters a Your furious skill with small blades is uncanny.
space adjacent to your reach, as  When fighting with a dagger and you miss
a reaction, you can move up to 5 due to disadvantage, and if one of the two
feet, so that they are within your dice would have hit, you still deal damage
reach. If the opponent moves out equal to your Dexterity modifier.
of your reach after you move in  You increase the damage of all of your
this way, you may make an dagger attacks to 1d6.
opportunity attack against  If you successfully strike a grappled,
them, even if you have already incapacitated, or restrained creature with
used your reaction. a dagger attack, you deal an additional
+1d6 damage.
Cover Fire
You can lay down ranged attacks that put your
Death Dealer
enemies on the defensive. You know how to leave an opponent with
 You may make ranged attacks with wounds that they rarely recover from.
disadvantage with the sole intent of  When you reduce an opponent to zero hit
suppressing your target’s attacks. Until points, your damage is treated as 10 points
the start of your next turn, any targets greater for the purposes of determining
you attacked (regardless of if you hit) whether or not the target is killed
suffer disadvantage on their own ranged instantly.
attacks.  Targets reduced to 0 hit points
 You may make ranged attacks with automatically begin with one failed death
disadvantage to throw your opponent’s save.
defenses off-guard. Any targets you
attacked (regardless of if you hit) grant
advantage to melee attacks made against Escape Artist
them until the beginning of your next You are a nimble, slippery opponent, difficult to
turn. restrain or hold in place against your will.
 You may also lay down a hail of arrows in  You have advantage on saving throws and
a 30-foot by 30-foot area. Targets within ability and skill checks to avoid or escape
suffer no damage, but are unable to take attacks that impose the grappled or
reactions or opportunity attacks until the restrained conditions.
start of your next turn.
 You can stand from prone as a bonus
action instead of using half your
Create Opening movement.
 When squeezing through a smaller space,
You don’t wait for luck to come your way in you do not expend extra movement to do
combat, you make your own. so. In addition, you do not suffer
 When you hit an enemy with a melee disadvantage on attack rolls or Dexterity
weapon, you may use your bonus action saving throws while squeezing.
to create an opening and allow an ally
62

you from the area of effect, you suffer no

Fearsome Presence damage. This movement does not provoke
The sheer force of your presence fears enemies opportunity attacks.
with dread.  Even if you are surprised, you can still
 You gain proficiency in the Intimidate take reactions before your first turn in the
skill. combat.
 Instead of using Charisma, you can make  As a reaction, you can remove advantage
Intimidate checks with the higher of your from one attack made against you as long
Strength or Constitution bonus. as you are aware of the attacker.
 Enemies within 30 feet that can see you
and suffer the frightened condition must
treat you as a source of their fear (in
Iaijitsu
addition to the actual source). You are skilled at cutting down your enemies
before they can react.
Prerequisite: Dexterity 13 or higher
Flowing Charge  You gain a bonus to your initiative equal
You flow through combat like a river, to your proficiency bonus while wielding
unstoppable and unavoidable. a katana or wakizashi.
 You may move a number of squares up to  When you make an attack against a
the value of your proficiency bonus surprised creature or are the first to attack
without provoking opportunity attacks. within a round of combat, you gain
When leaving such a space that would advantage to melee attack rolls.
otherwise provoke an opportunity attack  If you hit a creature that has yet to act in
is treated as difficult terrain. combat, you inflict additional damage
 When you take the attack action, you can equal to your proficiency bonus.
move an additional 5 feet.
Master Archer
Gang up You can do things with arrows or bolts that
You know how to coordinate your allies in astonish other warriors.
combat. Prerequisite: Archery Fighting Style
 When attacking, your targets are  You do not suffer disadvantage when
considered flanked when you and an ally performing trick shots*.
attack from any two different sides of a  You can shoot small projectiles out of the
square. air. As a reaction, when you are holding a
 When an ally attacks an enemy with a loaded ranged weapon and are attacked,
melee weapon, you may use your reaction you can make a ranged attack as a
to allow another ally to move 10 feet reaction. If your attack roll is equal to or
directly towards that enemy. greater than your opponent’s ranged
 When you attack a flanked opponent in attack, you deflect the ranged attack
melee you also deal +1d4 points of targeting you.
damage.  You gain a +1 bonus to damage with all
ranged attacks made with bows or
crossbows.
Honed Reflexes *See later section on performing trick shots.
An uncanny sixth sense protects you from nasty

surprises and dangerous situations.
 If you are caught within the area of effect
Masterful Parry
of a harmful spell or other damaging You can parry your opponents’ attacks and then
effect, you can use your reaction to move strike when they least expect it. You gain the
up to 10 feet. If this movement removes following benefits.
63

 When you are the target of a melee attack,

as a reaction, you may make an attack roll
Push, Pull, Hook & Grab
with a held weapon. If the result of your Your weapon snakes out, bedeviling your
attack roll is greater than the result of the enemies, pushing and pulling them where you
attack roll made against you, the want them to go.
opponent’s attack misses.  When you make a grapple attack while
 If the result of your parrying attack roll is wielding a melee weapon, you gain
at least 5 greater than the result of the advantage on the roll.
attack roll made against you, you can  After successfully grappling an enemy
immediately make a melee attack as part with your melee weapon, you can move
of your parry against the creature that them a number of spaces equal to your
attacked you. Strength modifier, so long as they remain
adjacent to you. If you wield a reach
Piercing Expertise weapon, you can also move the target
onto a space within 10 feet that is not
You know how to stab where it will inflict the adjacent to you.
most pain and injury.  When you use a melee weapon to
Prerequisite: Duelist Fighting Style successfully hit a target, you can opt
 You ignore a target’s resistance to piercing restrain them until the start of your next
damage while attacking with a piercing turn rather than deal damage. The target
melee weapon. can try to break free with a Strength or
 If you attack with a piercing melee Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 + your
weapon while having advantage and both proficiency bonus + your choice of
dice rolls hit, the target suffers an Strength or Dexterity modifier). You
additional 1d6 damage on the following cannot restrain creatures larger than
round. yourself.
 On critical hits dealt with a piercing melee
weapon, the target gains one level of
exhaustion.
Relentless
Your indomitable will keeps you in the fight
beyond physical limits.
Powerful Draw  As a reaction, you can ignore one of the
You know how to squeeze every ounce of power following conditions for a number of
from the pull of your bow. rounds equal to your proficiency bonus:
Prerequisite: Str 13. charmed, frightened, paralyzed,
 When making ranged attacks with a bow, exhaustion, poisoned, or stunned. During
you may add half your Strength modifier that time, you ignore the effects of the
(rounded down, minimum of 1) to damage chosen condition. Once the number of
rolls. rounds ends, you suffer the normal effects
 When dealing a critical hit with a bow, of that condition until its effects end.
your target must also make a Dexterity  You gain advantage on all saving throws
saving throw (DC of 8 + your proficiency to resist being frightened.
modifier + your Strength modifier) or be  When damage reduces you to 0 hit points
knocked prone. Targets large size or and fails to kill you, as a reaction you may
larger gain advantage on the Dexterity choose to instead remain at 1 hit point.
saving throw. Alternatively, if the target is You cannot use this benefit again you
adjacent to a wall, you can restrain the have finished a long rest.
target by pinning them to the wall. The
target can avoid being restrained by
making a Dexterity save.
64

 Your Constitution score increases by 1, to

Ring the Bell, Crack the Shell a maximum of 20.
You possess a knack for finding—and exploiting—  When an adjacent ally is attacked, you
the weaknesses in even the most heavily armored may use a reaction to redirect the attack
foe. to yourself instead.
 As an attack action, you can make a melee  When an adjacent ally is the only target of
attack with disadvantage against an a harmful spell, you may use a reaction to
enemy. If both rolls would hit, the target redirect the spell to yourself.
must make a Constitution saving throw
(DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
Strength modifier) or become stunned
Secutor
until the start of your next turn. You are specialized in the use of the shortsword,
 If you have advantage on an enemy, your shield, and light armor, gaining the following
first melee attack against that foe does benefits when using only that equipment:
additional damage equal to your  You gain a +1 to attacks and AC when
proficiency bonus. wielding a short sword (gladius) and a
 If you score a critical hit on a target with a shield.
melee attack, you can also push the target  After an adjacent enemy moves away
back five feet. The target can be no more from you, you may use your reaction
than one size larger than you. move 10 feet directly towards it. This
movement does not provoke opportunity
attacks.
Retiarius
You are highly trained in the use of the trident,
net, and dagger.
Slashing Expertise
 If you are wielding a net and no shield, Your attacks with slashing weapons are
you gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class. exceptionally dangerous.
 You deal 1d8 damage with a trident. Prerequisite: Duelist or Great Weapon fighting
 You do not suffer disadvantage when you style
attack with a net.  You ignore a target’s resistance to slashing
 When you throw a net, you may also draw while attacking with a slashing weapon.
a dagger as a free action.  If you attack with a slashing weapon and
have advantage and both dice rolls would
result in a hit, you cause additional
Running Slash damage equal to your Dexterity modifier
You can rush across the battlefield and make a (minimum of 1).
quick slash against foes in your way.  On critical hits dealt with a slashing
 As part of a Dash action, you can make a weapon, the target suffers an additional
single melee attack against an adjacent +2d6 damage on the following round at
enemy during your movement. the start of their turn.
 Opportunity attacks for leaving
threatened squares suffer disadvantage
when targeting you if you also attacked
Stalwart Defense
that foe this round. In your hands, a shield or a weapon creates an
 You may move through enemy squares as impenetrable defensive wall.
though they were friendly.  As a reaction, select one enemy adjacent
to you that you are aware of. That enemy
cannot gain advantage on melee attack
Sacrificial Defender rolls against you until the start of your
You are able to leap to the defense of your allies, next turn.
shielding them from danger.
65

 You gain a number of hit points equal to its movement would ordinarily trigger
your proficiency bonus. When your such an attack. The target provokes an
proficiency bonus increases, your bonus opportunity attack even if it uses the
hit points increase as well. Disengage action to leave the chosen
 If you suffer a critical hit, you can use space.
your reaction to interpose your weapon or
shield to turn the critical hit into a normal
one. The interposed item gains the broken
Warlord's Commands
condition until you can repair it. You can inspire your allies to greater effect on the
battlefield.
Street Fighter Prerequisite: Charisma 13 or higher
 You may grant yourself and allies within
You’ve scrapped with the best of them and come 60 feet a +2 bonus to Initiative checks at
out standing. any time.
 Your unarmed attack damage die  As an action, you can grant an ally within
increases by one size (from 1 to 1d2, 1d2 to 60 feet advantage on their next attack roll.
1d3, 1d3 to 1d4, 1d4 to 1d6, for example).  As a reaction, you can grant all allies
 You gain resistance to bludgeoning within 60 feet (including yourself) a +1
damage. bonus on attack rolls against a target you
 Your AC increases by 1 against unarmed designate.
opponents.  When you are attacked with a melee
attack, you may use your reaction to allow
one ally to move 5 feet directly away from
Swashbuckler your attacker without provoking an
If there’s an opportunity to do something daring, opportunity attack.
dangerous, and impressive in a fight, you’ll take it.
 You receive three action dice that are d6s. Vengeance Is Mine
Whenever you make a Dexterity
(Acrobatics) or Strength (Athletics) check The sight of one of your comrades falling in battle
to move through combat, you may expend drives you into a frenzy.
one of these dice and add the result of the  If an ally you can see is reduced to 0 hit
roll to your skill check. You can decide points or is killed outright, you can use
whether to expend an action die after you your reaction to make a Dash action
roll the skill check. These dice increase to towards that ally.
d8s when you reach 10th level.  Alternatively, if an ally you can see is
 Your action dice recharge after a long rest. reduced to 0 hit points or is killed
 If you roll initiative for a fight but have no outright, you can use your reaction to
action dice remaining, you gain advantage make a melee attack with advantage
on your first Acrobatics or Athletics skill against an enemy within reach.
check of the combat.  If one or more of your allies you can see is
dying or incapacitated, add your
proficiency bonus to any damage you deal
Tactical Cunning with melee weapons.
Instinct, experience, and skill allow you to control
the flow of battle.
 Squares adjacent to you require two
squares of movement to non-allies.
 Each turn as a bonus action, you may
mark one adjacent space. Any enemy that
enters or leaves that space provokes an
opportunity attack from you, regardless if
66

Multiclassing: Rogue. With the rogue class you
FIGHTER BUILDS
When playing a fighter, there are more options at
can gain Sneak Attack, plus the ability to hide or
move as a bonus action, perfect for an archer.
hand than what to kill. There’s the questions of TANK

how, and why. The rest of your companions might Race: Note that defender means that you either
dismiss you as a meat shield, but there is a certain don’t allow your enemies to hit you, or can take
elegance to war. You are an artist, and the all their hits. That philosophy divides your races
battlefield your canvas. How will you paint your choices.
enemies’ demise? You can choose high Dexterity races such as
elves or halflings, or go for Constitution-based
Below you will find some of the commonly chosen ones such as dwarves. Hill dwarves in particular
fighter “builds,” but also some that you might not are great because of their added hit points and
have envisioned. Remember, sheer combat high Con scores. Half-orcs are a fair choice due to
effectiveness leads to one-sided characters that their +1 Con bonus, but more importantly their
have glaring weaknesses in other areas. Relentless Endurance racial ability. Variant
humans are also a solid choice, with less stat
Also, great as the fighter is, don’t be afraid to bonuses, but a bonus feat (be sure to consult your
multiclass. There are some great options to be had GM if this is allowed).
by adding a few other class levels to your build. Primary Statistics: Constitution (or Dexterity)
and Strength. You should either be able to
ARCHER withstand all the attacks brought against you or
Race: High elves are great choices for the +2 Dex, keep them from hitting you.
and a free cantrip never hurts, especially if you Fighting Style: Defense. The added AC bonus is
run out of ammo, or you want to use true strike. always there, making this a great choice.
Wood elves are also an excellent choice, as they Backgrounds: Caravan Specialist, City Watch,
give you a +2 Dex and some extra movement Gladiator, Guardsman, Knight, Knight of the
speed. Halflings should not be discounted either, Order, Soldier, Tourney Knight, Veteran.
granting a +2 Dex and the ability to reroll 1s, they Archetypes: Battlemaster, Dreadnaught, Knight.
become a very “lucky” archer capable of extreme Feats: Heavy Armor Master, Durable, Tough.
feats of skill. Variant humans are also a solid Equipment Choices: Heavy armor and shield.
choice, with less stat bonuses, but a bonus feat Use the most damaging one-handed weapon you
(be sure to consult your GM if this is allowed). can find.
Primary Statistics: Dexterity and Constitution. Multiclassing: Barbarian. Mixing an outstanding
You need to be able to use ranged weapons armor class with resistance to bludgeoning,
effectively and survive combats. piercing and slashing damage you suddenly
Fighting Style: Archery. The archery fighting become able to withstand great amounts of
style grants you a +2 to ranged attack rolls, punishment.
making it a simply fantastic choice. Dueling is a
great secondary fighting style when forced into DUELIST
melee (if you choose the Champion archetype). Race: The most effective duelists will use finesse
Backgrounds: Caravan Specialist, City Watch, weapons and have a high armor class. As such,
Clan Crafter, Cormanthor Refugee, Far Traveler, Dexterity-based races like elves and halflings are
Faction Agent, Folk Hero, Guardsman, Hillsfar an awesome choice. Variant humans are also a
Smuggler, Iron Route Bandit, Mercenary Veteran, solid choice, with less stat bonuses, but a bonus
Soldier, Urban Bounty Hunter. feat (be sure to consult your GM if this is
Archetypes: Arcane Archer, Archer, Champion. allowed).
Feats: Sharpshooter, Mobile. Primary Statistics: Dexterity. Dexterity will allow
Equipment Choices: Medium or light armor and you to maximize your combat effectiveness,
bow or crossbow. Always have a backup weapon damage and armor class.
in case you are threatened in melee. Better yet, Fighting Style: Dueling.
never allow yourself to get into melee combat.
67

Backgrounds: Dragon Casualty, Gladiator, Iron Multiclassing: Barbarian. The barbarian simply
Route Bandit, Marine, Mulmaster Aristocrat, makes for an excellent multiclass choice. The
Noble, Pirate, Sailor, Soldier, Tourney Knight, extra damage you can deal along with excellent
Waterdhavian Noble. damage resistance is too good to ignore.
Archetypes: Battle Master, Duelist, Misericorde,
Rake, Weapon Master.
Feats: Defensive Duelist, Lucky, Martial Adept,
PROTECTOR
Race: As a protector, you need to be able to
Elven Accuracy, Second Chance.
handle the damage thrown out at both you and
Equipment Choices: Light or medium armor and
your charge. As such, dwarves are awesome for
shield. Wield a rapier.
the Constitution. A stout halfling is a surprisingly
Multiclassing: Rogue, particularly moving
good protector, as they have both Con and Dex
towards the Swashbuckler archetype. Rakish
bonuses. Variant humans are also a solid choice,
Audacity allows you Sneak Attack nearly at will.
with less stat bonuses, but a bonus feat (be sure
to consult your GM if this is allowed).
GREAT WEAPON FIGHTER Primary Statistics: Constitution and Dexterity.
Race: Any race with a bonus to Strength will You need to be able to suffer the extra damage
make for an outstanding great weapon fighter. from additional incoming attacks redirected to
Mountain dwarves are an outstanding choice, you. Dexterity may help avoid some of them.
with a +2 Strength and Constitution. Fighting Style: Protection. You’ll be the cleric or
Dragonborn and half-orcs also have strong wizard’s best friend for life.
bonuses to Strength, and other useful combat Backgrounds: Caravan Specialist, City Watch,
abilities making them worthy choices. Variant Guardsman, Knight, Knight of the Order, Officer,
humans are also a solid choice, with less stat Soldier, Veteran.
bonuses, but a bonus feat (be sure to consult your Archetypes: Battle Master, Brawler,
GM if this is allowed). Dreadnaught, Knight, Samurai, Shield Master.
Primary Statistics: Feats: Alert, Observant, Sentinel.
Strength Equipment Choices: Heavy armor and
and shield. Use the most damaging one-
handed weapon you can find.
Constitution. Multiclassing: Paladin. Add in the
Being a great Defensive fighting style, smite and
weapon fighter is all about auras for some serious smack-down
dishing out vast amounts of and defense.
damage, but you also need to
be able to survive taking
damage.
TWO-WEAPON FIGHTER
Fighting Style: Great Race: Two-weapon fighting
Weapon Fighting or requires a high Strength or high
Tensile Weapons. Dexterity. If you want a Strength-
Backgrounds: Gladiator, based fighter, the half-orc is an
Knight, Knight of the outstanding choice for their critical
Order, Mercenary Veteran, hit abilities, while Dexterity-based
Outlander, Soldier, Tourney fighters should probably choose
Knight, Veteran. an elf. Variant humans are also
Archetypes: Battle Master, a solid choice, with less stat
Champion, Dragoon, Knight, Runeblade, bonuses, but a bonus feat (be
Samurai. sure to consult your GM if this is
Feats: Great Weapon Master, Savage Attacker, allowed).
Blade Mastery, Fell Handed, Orcish Fury. Primary Statistics: Strength (or Dexterity) and
Equipment Choices: Heavy armor and shield. Constitution. Dexterity is arguably a better
Use the most damaging one-handed weapon you choice than Strength for the AC synergy. You
can find. want to be able to deal as much damage as
possible while surviving your enemies’ attacks.
68

Fighting Style: Two-Weapon Fighting. mobile fighters. Also, eladrin also have the misty
Backgrounds: Caravan Specialist, Criminal, step racial ability, adding to combat mobility.
Gladiator, Iron Route Bandit, Marine, Mercenary Primary Statistics: Dexterity and Constitution.
Veteran, Pirate, Sailor, Soldier, Veteran. Dexterity will be key for keeping you out of
Archetypes: Champion, Dervish, Duelist, harm’s way and using finesse weapons.
Gladiator, Master of Many Blades, Samurai, Fighting Style: Defense, Dueling or Thrown
Sellsword, Weapon Master. Weapons. Defense helps you from being hit, but
Feats: Defensive Duelist, Dual Wielder, Savage dueling can help you deal damage. Thrown
Attacker, Blade Mastery. Weapons Style might allow you to be on the move
Equipment Choices: Medium armor with and still have a good close ranged attack.
strength-based melee weapons or light armor Backgrounds: Gladiator, Hillsfar Smuggler, Phlan
paired with a high Dexterity score and finesse Insurgent, Soldier, Spy.
weapons. Archetypes: Battle Master, Corsair, Dervish,
Multiclassing: Ranger, Rogue or Monk. The Gladiator, Rake, Scout.
ranger grants another fighting style and some Feats: Athlete, Charger, Mobile, Acrobat
archetypes can be greatly useful. As for the Equipment Choices: The mobile fighter generally
rogue, the addition of sneak attack makes for a needs light or medium armor. If you are a melee
potent two-weapon fighter. With the monk, the fighter, a finesse weapon suits you well along
ki abilities and flurry of blows become wickedly with a shield (like a buckler). If you choose to use
powerful, but only if you use a monk weapon. ranged weapons, use something light and fast,
with a fair range, like a shortbow.
Multiclassing: The barbarian is helpful at later
MOUNTED WARRIOR levels with the extra movement, but their extra
Race: Any race with a bonus to Strength will
damage is nice while you level up.
make for a good mounted warrior. Mountain
dwarves are an outstanding choice, with a +2
Strength and Constitution. Dragonborn and half- FINESSE FIGHTER
orcs also have strong bonuses to Strength, and Race: Without a doubt, a high Dexterity race is
other useful combat abilities making them key here. Elves and halflings make the greatest
worthy choices. Variant humans are also a solid finesse fighters.
choice, with less stat bonuses, but a bonus feat Primary Statistics: Dexterity and Constitution.
(be sure to consult your GM if this is allowed). You need Dexterity to be effective with finesse
Primary Statistics: Strength and Constitution. weapons and boosting your AC. Constitution is
You want to mow down your enemies and be able also helpful to keep you alive.
to survive their attacks. Fighting Style: Dueling or Two-Weapon Fighting.
Fighting Style: Mounted Combat. If your Dexterity is very high, Two-Weapon
Backgrounds: Caravan Specialist, Far Traveler, Fighting can allow you to deal great damage with
Folk Hero, Knight, Knight of the Order, Officer, your off-hand attack.
Soldier, Squire, Tourney Knight, Trade Sheriff. Backgrounds: Dragon Casualty, Gladiator, Iron
Archetypes: Knight, Samurai, Tactician. Route Bandit, Marine, Mulmaster Aristocrat,
Feats: Great Weapon Master, Mounted Noble, Pirate, Sailor, Soldier, Tourney Knight,
Combatant, Animal Handler Waterdhavian Noble.
Equipment Choices: Medium or heavy armor Archetypes: Champion, Corsair, Dervish, Duelist,
and shield. Use a lance for charging and a one- Misericorde, Rake, Weapon Master.
handed sword for head-lopping. Feats: Defensive Duelist, Blade Mastery, Acrobat
Multiclassing: Paladin for the win. Add another Equipment Choices: Light armor and shield
useful fighting style and smite from the back of a coupled with the rapier for the high damage
mount. output.
Multiclassing: Monk or rogue. Monks can allow
you the amazing attacks, but rogues grant sneak
MOBILE FIGHTER attack, which also stacks nicely with your finesse
Race: The wood elf is a fantastic choice for a
damage.
mobile fighter. They have a high Dexterity and an
increased movement rate, making them perfect
69

GUNFIGHTER HURLED WEAPON FIGHTER

Race: Races with a Dexterity bonus make the Race: Bugbear, Dragonborn, Mountain Dwarf,
best gunfighters. Elves and halflings make the Goliath, Half-Orc, Orc, Tortles and possibly even
best racial choices. Variant humans are also a Humans, Tritons or an Earth Genasi, though their
good choice, with less stat bonuses, but a bonus Strength scores are slightly less.
feat (be sure to consult your GM if this is Primary Statistics: Strength. You need to be able
allowed). to hurl a weapon with all your might.
Primary Statistics: Dexterity and Constitution. Fighting Style: Thrown Weapons.
Dexterity boosts your initiative, ranged attacks Backgrounds: Criminal, Entertainer, Gate
and AC while Constitution will keep you alive. Urchin, Gladiator, Iron Route Bandit, Mercenary
Fighting Style: Gunfighting. Veteran, Uthgardt Tribe Member, Soldier.
Backgrounds: Caravan Specialist, City Watch, Archetypes: Champion, Master Thrower.
Criminal, Iron Route Bandit, Mulmaster Feats: Dual Wielder, Elven Accuracy
Aristocrat, Noble, Pirate, Rebel, Soldier, Urban Equipment Choices: Typically medium armor
Bounty Hunter. plus a shield, along with a weapon like the
Archetypes: Gunslinger, Sharpshooter. handaxe, which has a fair range and damage.
Feats: Alert, Dual Wielder, Sharpshooter Multiclassing: In general, multiclassing hinders
Equipment Choices: Depending on your build, the abilities of the hurled weapon fighter.
any armor could work, plus a firearm (or two) of Barbarian does add extra damage when in rage, so
choice. that does allow for a little extra oomph.
Multiclassing: Artificer. You’ll have the best of
both worlds, crafting powerful firearm weapons
and knowing how to use them.
MARTIAL ARTIST
Race: Mountain dwarves, dragonborn and half-
orcs all make excellent martial artists thanks to
their Strength bonuses.
Primary Statistics: Dexterity and Constitution.
You need Dexterity to be effective with unarmed
attacks and boosting your AC. Constitution is
also helpful to keep you alive.
Fighting Style: Hand to Hand Combat.
Backgrounds: Black Fist Double Agent, Criminal,
Entertainer, Initiate, Iron Route Bandit,
Mercenary Veteran, Outlander, Secret Identity,
Soldier.
Archetypes: Brawler, Weapon Master.
Feats: Grappler, Martial Adept, Tavern Brawler
Equipment Choices: Light armor and either
monk weapons or no melee weapons at all, using
only your natural hand to hand attacks.
Multiclassing: Barbarian or Monk. Use
barbarian to gain extra damage and great
resistance to damage or monk to add a
tremendous number of unarmed options.
70

FIGHTER EQUIPMENT
New Weapons
New Simple
Melee Cost Damage Range Weight Properties
Weapons
Brass 1 gp 1d3 bludgeoning _ 1 lb. finesse
Knuckles
Cestus 5 gp 1d4 bludgeoning or _ 1 lb. finesse
piercing
Brass Knuckles: These close combat weapons are Cestus: The cestus is a tough glove that covers the
designed to be worn around the knuckles, wielders from forearm and fist designed for close
focusing the impact on the metal and thus combat. Metal plates cover cover the fingers and
creating a much greater impact with unarmed are frequently lined with wicked spikes along the
strikes. You can hold other objects while wearing back of the hands and wrists. The cestus also
brass knuckles, but cannot use them effectively, restricts hand dexterity and all related Dexterity-
suffering disadvantage on attack rolls and related based skill checks suffer disadvantage when
skill checks while wearing them. equipped.
New Martial Melee
Cost Damage Range Weight Properties
Weapons
Bec de Corbin 15 gp 1d10 ‐ 12 lb. Reach, two‐handed
(Crowbeak) bludgeoning
or piercing
Cutlass 15 gp 1d6 slashing ‐ 4 lb. finesse, light
Dagger, Dueling 10 gp 1d4 piercing ‐ 1 ½ lbs. finesse, special
or slashing
Dwarven Deepaxe 25 gp 1d8 piercing ‐ 4 lb. special, two‐handed
or 1d10
slashing
Elven Moonblade 50 gp 1d10 slashing ‐ 6 lb. finesse, two‐handed
Gladius 10 gp 1d6 piercing ‐ 2 lb. finesse, light
or slashing
Kukri 8 gp 1d6 slashing ‐ 2 lb. finesse, light
Mace, Heavy 8 gp 1d10 ‐ 8 lbs heavy, two‐handed
bludgeoning
Scizore 20 gp 1d10 piercing ‐ 3 lb. special
Spiked Chain 50 gp 1d8 piercing ‐ 10 lb. finesse, heavy, reach, special, two‐handed
and
bludgeoning
Bec de Corbin: The bec de corbin is a polearm that Cutlass: A slightly curved blade frequently used
ends with a hammer and curved blade resembling on ships. Its design lends itself well to chopping
a crow’s beak on the end. or stabbing. The hilt frequently comes equipped
71

with a basket-shaped guard, granting advantage piercing attacks. The blade is a staple of some
on all saves made against disarm attempts. militaries and gladiators.
Dagger, Dueling: This dagger is slightly longer Kukri: The kukri is a short blade with a forward-
and thicker than that of the typical dagger. It is leaning curve, designed to deal devastating
used in the off-hand to help ward off blows. If lacerations.
wielded in the off-hand, you may expend a
reaction to add half your proficiency bonus to Mace, heavy: The heavy mace is simply a two-
your AC against that attack. handed version of the standard mace, designed to
use great bludgeoning force to defeat even the
Dwarven Deepaxe: The dwarven deepaxe is a heaviest of armors.
heavy weapon designed for use in close quarters.
The axe blade is longer, one-sided, with a sharp Scizore: The scizore is a semi-circular cresent
spike affixed to the top and a long haft. This blade that is attached to metal encasing that fits
design allows the axe to quickly switch from a over the wielder’s fist and forearm. You may use
spear-like weapon to that of a heavy axe by your reaction to gain a +2 bonus to your AC
merely shifting your handhold. against an incoming attack. You gain advantage
on all saves against being disarmed.
Elven Moonblade: This crescent moon-shaped
blade allows trained wielder surprising fluidity for Spiked Chain: The spiked chain is a length of
a weapon of its size. Elven warriors spend chain with sharp spikes fused into its design. The
decades mastering its use. Non-elves must gain length of chain can be wielded as a finesse
proficiency, and few elves are willing to take the weapon, despite it being a heavy weapon. You
time or effort to train other non-elves in its use. can also fight two-handed with a spiked chain,
but it loses its reach when you do so.
Gladius: The gladius is a variation of the
shortsword, designed to allow slashing and
Martial Ranged Weapons Cost Damage Range Weight Properties

Bolt‐thrower 50 gp 2d6 piercing 30/120 20 lb. ammunition, loading
Greatbow 100 1d8 piercing 150/600 2 lb. ammunition, heavy, two‐
gp handed, special
Bolt-thrower: The bolt-thrower is an invention of capable of use for long and short shooting. If you
the dwarves, essentially a gear-cranked crossbow have a strength score of at least 16, you can use a
that fires a vicious metal spike. The bolt-thrower bonus action to steady yourself. While you are
has a poor range, but deals devastating wounds in steadied, your attacks with the great bow deal 2d6
close quarters. Each bolt weighs half a pound. piercing damage. You are no longer steadied if
you move, and if you do not have the required
Greatbow: This 6-foot tall bow is made of layered strength score, or fire without being steadied, you
elm rather than yew or ash, making it suffer disadvantage on your attack roll.
astonishingly stiff, large and strong, and equally
New Armors
LIGHT ARMOR
Type Cost AC Strength Stealth Weight
Armored Kilt 20 gp 11 + Dex modifier ‐ ‐ 10 lbs.
Hide Shirt 7 gp 12 + Dex modifier ‐ ‐ 8 lbs.
Hardened Leather 40 gp 12 + Dex modifier ‐ ‐ 18 lbs.
Leaf Armor 400 gp 12 + Dex modifier ‐ ‐ 20 lbs.
72

Armored Kilt: The armored kilt is like a traditional

kilt, but made of metal plates sewn together with Hardened Leather: Treated and shaped leather
leather. It affords more protection to another set armor on a base of wood strips, often stylized to
of armor. If worn by itself, it has a base AC of 11 + appear as musculature.
Dexterity modifier, but if worn in conjunction
with another set of armor, it adds a +1 AC and Leaf Armor: Leaf armor is a suit of leather armor
increases the armor type by one category. If worn composed of leaf-shaped pieces of leather,
with heavy armor, it has no additional effect. overlapping to create a stronger defense yet
maintaining flexibility.
Hide Shirt: Similar to a full suit of hide armor, this
shirt merely protects the wearer’s vital areas,
leaving the head and extremities exposed.
MEDIUM ARMOR
Breastplate, 200 gp 14 + Dex modifier (max 2) ‐ ‐ 12 lbs.
Partial
Gladiator, 50 gp 14 + Dex modifier (max 2) ‐ ‐ 15 lbs.
Piecemeal
Gladiator, 75 gp 15 + Dex modifier (max 2) ‐ Disadvantage 30 lbs.
Provocateur
Breastplate, Partial: This breastplate functions as types of armor (and lack thereof). One arm and
a standard breastplate, but it is open in the back leg might be plate armor with the other
and leather straps fit over the shoulders. This unarmored to maintain freedom of movement.
armor is very quick to don, taking only a single
action to put on or remove. However, that Gladiator, Provocateur: The provocateur is one of
flexibility comes at the cost of being less armored the best armors that gladiators wore, essentially a
when attacked from the rear. Attackers who breastplate, helm, manica and greaves. It is
attack from the rear face treat your AC as 4 less. surprisingly maneuverable for the amount of
defense it provides.
Gladiator, Piecemeal: The piecemeal gladiator
armor is a conglomeration of numerous other
HEAVY ARMOR
Stone Plate 1,800 gp 19 17 Disadvantage 80 lbs.
Stone Plate: Stone plate is constructed of flat armor is not intended to be easy to wear, nor
layers of rigid stone tied together with heavy flexible. It is designed to be nearly impenetrable
cords and all fitted on top of thick padding. The by most weapons.
SHIELDS
Buckler 5 gp +1 ‐ ‐ 5 lbs.
Tower 30 gp +3 ‐ Disadvantage 45 lbs.
Buckler: The buckler is small round shield shield, it does allow you to wield other items in
designed to be worn over the wrist and forearm. your hand.
While its defensive ability is lower than a typical
73

Tower: The tower shield is a massive shield, You gain a +1 to attack and damage rolls made with
covering the wielder nearly top to bottom in a this magic weapon.
tower of interposing hardened wood and leather.
As a reaction, the wielder may interpose the In addition, after damaging a creature, as a bonus
shield between themselves and harm, gaining action, you may speak the weapon’s command
half-cover (if applicable, ask your GM). word. Until the end of your next turn, attacks
made against that creature have advantage. The
Optional Rule: Shields and Reactions creature also loses all damage resistances until the
As an option, game masters can allow all shields end of your next turn.
to grant a bonus to Dexterity saves when
applicable. The wielder must use a reaction, but The weapon recharges this ability at the next
they gain their shield bonus to the relevant dawn.
Dexterity save. For example: An arrow fires out of
the wall from a trap at a character. They use their
reaction to gain a +2 bonus to their Dexterity save
Defensive Dagger
before rolling. Weapon (dagger), very rare (requires attunement
by a fighter)
When used alongside a one-handed melee weapon,
NEW EQUIPMENT you gain a +2 to your AC. If you have the Dueling
Fighting Style, you may use this dagger in your off
hand and still gain the bonus to damage granted
by your Dueling Fighting Style.
Whetstone
Made from a type of stones used to sharpen
slashing and piercing weapons like swords and Magebane
daggers, this specific piece is made to a form that Weapon (any melee weapon), legendary (requires
is easy to handle with a single hand while attunement by a fighter or barbarian)
attempting to use it. The whetstone is also
commonly used to help remove rust from some This weapon glows with ancient runes and glyphs
types of armors and weapons. when fighting arcane casters. Wielding this
weapon grants you a +3 to attack and damage rolls.
Spending 1 minute sharpening a single non- This weapon also deals an extra 2d6 damage to
magical weapon or up to 5 pieces of non-magical creatures that can cast arcane spells.
ammunition, during a short or long rest while
using a whetstone will grant that item a non- When attuned, the weapon holds up to 3 charges.
magical +1 bonus to damage rolls made while If a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see
using it for a period of 8 hours. This whetstone attempts to cast an arcane spell while you wield
has no effect on magical items on any kind. Magebane, you can expend a charge and use your
reaction to speak the weapon’s command word.
Doing so forces spellcaster to make a DC 18
FIGHTER MAGIC concentration check. On a failure, the spell is not

cast. Magebane’s charges are restored to full at
dawn.
ITEMS Additionally, wielding Magebane while attuned

grants you advantage on all saving throws made
against spells and magical effects, and spell attacks
MAGIC WEAPONS made against you have disadvantage.
Armor Breaker
Weapon (any bludgeoning weapon, battleaxe, or
greataxe), rare (requires attunement)
74

saving throw or become frightened for up to 1

Sanguine minute. This ability can be used once per short or
Weapon (any melee slashing or piercing), long rest.
legendary (requires attunement by a fighter or
vengeance paladin)
MAGIC ARMOR
A sinister mist rises from the blade. Wielding this
weapon grants you a +3 to attack and damage rolls. Armor of Folding, +2
When attuned, the weapon has 4 charges. Armor(plate), rare, requires attunement
When you hit a living creature with this weapon You have a +2 bonus to AC while wearing this
you may expend one or more charges to gain one armor. Additionally you can use a bonus action to
of the following effects: command the armor to plicate. Upon command
the armor begins to fold in on itself collapsing into
 You may treat your attack as if it was a a small dimensional space, it continues to fold
critical hit. (1 charge) until reaching the wearers hand whereupon it
 Add an additional 1d10 necrotic damage. wraps around a finger forming a bracer or torc.
You regain a number of hit points equal to
this damage. (2 charges) The wearer can also command the armor to unfold
as a bonus action. The entire folding or unfolding
Additionally, while attuned to this weapon, when process completes in 1 action.
you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed
outright, you may expend 4 charges to remain at 1
hit point instead. Shield of Folding, +2
Armor(any shield), rare, requires attunement
This weapon regains 1 charge whenever it is used
to deliver the killing blow to a living creature. This Upon inspection the shield resembles a large metal
weapon also regains 1d4 expended charges every bracelet on the wearer’s wrist. You have a +2 bonus
day at dusk. to AC while wielding this shield. When attuned,
you can use a bonus action to transform the shield
into a bracelet. Another bonus action turns it back
Weapon of Recant into a shield. The process is otherwise
Weapon (any simple ranged), uncommon (+1), instantaneous.
rare(+2), requires attunement
You gain an attack and damage bonus according Spell-quelling Armor

the rarity of the item. Once attuned the wielder Armor (any), very rare (requires attunement)
can mentally command the weapon as an action to
immediately appear in their hands. The weapon You have advantage on saving throws against spell
does not have to be in line of sight to be recanted. while wearing this armor.
In addition, this armor has 3 charges. As a bonus

Vicious Property action, you may expend on of these charges. Until
Weapon (any slashing weapon), rare (requires the end of your next turn, you have resistance to
attunement) damage caused by spells or similar magical effects.
The armor regains 1d3 expended charges every day
While wielding this weapon, your attacks deal an at dawn.
extra 1d8 damage. This extra damage is doubled on
a critical hit.
Additionally, as a bonus action after a successful

attack, you can force all enemies within 10 feet
who can see and hear you to make a DC 15 Wisdom
75

MISCELLANEOUS MAGIC ITEMS Fleetfoot Greaves

Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
Boots of Dodging
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement) While wearing these greaves you gain the
following benefits:
While wearing these boots, characters gain a +1
bonus to their AC and a +2 bonus to their  Your movement speed increases by 10 feet.
Dexterity saves.  You have advantage on Dexterity
(Acrobatics) checks.
 You can use your bonus action to perform
Bracers of the Wyrm a Dash action on your turn.
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
While wearing these bracers, you gain a +2 bonus Helm of True seeing
to attack rolls. In addition, the bracers have 4 Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
charges, which can be used for the following
benefits: While wearing this helm, you have truesight with
a radius of 120’.
 You can spend one charge to make an
additional attack as part of your attack Oil of Heroes
action. This functions as the haste spell,
and does not stack with that effect.
Wondrous item, uncommon
 You can spend 2 charges to make an
When applied to a weapon or up to 20 pieces of
opportunity attack if you have already
ammunition, this oil grants a +1 bonus to attack
used your reaction this turn.
and damage rolls for 1 hour. The oil is clear with a
small sliver of metal suspended within.
The bracers regain 1d4 expended charges at dawn.
Captain’s Helm Sniper’s Gloves

Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement by a
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
fighter or ranger)
This battle-worn helmet has 3 charges. While
While wearing these magical gloves, the normal
wearing this helm, as a bonus action, you can
range of a bow, crossbow, or firearm is doubled.
expend one or more charges to use one of the
following abilities:
Wine of Bacchus
 You can grant all allies within 30 feet who Potion, rare
can see and hear you a +1 bonus to attack
and damage rolls. This effect last for 1 A sprig of laurel floats in this deep purple liquid
minute (1 charge). that is always warm to the touch.
 Until your next turn, all allies within 30
feet of you who can see and hear you have For one hour after drinking this potion, you gain
advantage on all saving throws (1 charge). immunity to the poisoned condition and poison
 As a reaction, an attack made by a target damage. You also gain advantage on Wisdom
within 30 feet who can see and hear you is saving throws.
treated as a critical hit (3 charges).
The helmet regains 1d3 charges expended charges

daily at dawn.
76

must make a Constitution saving throw. On a
MISCELLANEOUS failure, the target becomes stunned until the end

of your next turn.
OPTIONS: Deflect Missiles

When hit with a ranged weapon you can use your
reaction to deflect or catch the missile. When you
TRICK SHOTS do so, the damage you take from the attack is
reduced by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your
level. If the damage is reduced to 0, you can catch
the missile if it is small enough for you to hold in
Some players may wish to take greater risks in
one hand and you have at least one hand free. If
combat in exchange for greater rewards. Trick
you catch a missile in this way, you can expend one
shots make combat much more dynamic, allowing
superiority die to make a ranged attack with the
for some exceptional feats of skill and heroic
weapon or piece of ammunition you just caught as
actions. We designed the trick shot rules to fit
part of the same reaction adding the superiority
within the established game mechanics, but to still
die to the attack roll. You make this attack roll with
allow for characters to do some outstanding things
proficiency regardless of your weapon
without unbalancing the game.
proficiencies.
TRICK SHOT MECHANICS

In order to perform a trick shot, a player must Relentless Volley
declare their trick shot attempt before making When you hit a creature with a ranged attack, you
their attack rolls. Once declared, the player suffers can expend one superiority die to throw an
disadvantage on the trick shot attack roll. An additional weapon with the same attack as the
attack roll suffering disadvantage already first. Resolve both attacks, and then add the
automatically fails as a trick shot attempt. superiority dice as extra damage. All damage dealt
by this ability is treated as one hit.
Acrobatic Throw
When you take a Disengage Action you may Deadeye
expend one superiority die to move through When making a ranged attack you may expend a
enemies of any size. You may then use a bonus superiority die to cause the attack to score a critical
action to make one ranged attack with a throwing hit on a roll of 18-20. This attack has no
weapon during the move, and add the superiority disadvantage if at Long Range. If you hit, add the
die to the damage. superiority die to the damage.
Two Birds, One Stone Ammo All Around Me

When you make a ranged attack with a throwing Spend a superiority die to treat any improvised
weapon you can expend one superiority die and weapon as a throwing weapon. You add your
attempt to hit a nearby target with the same proficiency bonus to these improvised throwing
attack. Choose another target within 15ft of the weapons. On hit add the superiority die to the
original target and compare the first attack roll. If damage.
successful roll the superiority die and the second
target takes that much damage.
Between the Eyes
Pummel Toss Expend a superiority die. On hit target must make
When you hit a creature with a ranged throwing a Dex saving throw or become blinded until the
attack you can expend one superiority die and add end of your next turn, also add the superiority die
it to the attack roll. This changes the damage type to damage.
to blunt, and if the target is Large or smaller, it
77

do not add your ability modifier to these attacks

In The Knee damage rolls, but you do add the superiority die as
When you hit a creature with a ranged throwing damage to one of the targets.
attack you can expend one superiority die and add
it to the damage roll. On hit the targets movement
is reduced by 10 feet until the creature regains at Disarming Throw
least 1 hit point. When making a ranged attack you may expend one
superiority die and add it to the attack roll. The
target must make a Strength saving throw,
Ranged Parry dropping what it is holding on a failure.
If an opponent makes a ranged attack against
anyone within your ranged weapon’s normal
range, you may expend a superiority die as a Pinning Shot
reaction to attempt to knock the missile from the When making a ranged attack roll you may expend
air. Add your superiority die to the targets AC. one superiority die to pin a target to any surface
within 5ft of them, add the superiority die to the
damage roll. If hit, the target must make a Strength
Hailstorm saving throw or becomes restrained.
You expend a superiority die to make a ranged
throwing attack verse two additional targets. You
78

OPTIONAL RULE: Example: Beleg Steelsong decides to make a called

shot to the vitals (+2 AC) against his target. Beleg
normally has a +7 bonus to attack rolls. He makes
CALLED SHOTS his first attack at disadvantage, rolling an 8 and a

13. His opponent, a troll, normally has an AC of
15. He fails the attack because he did not succeed
in his AC 17 called shot attempt, even though he
Some players and game masters might desire to would have hit the troll normally. On his next
include rules for called shots in their games. turn, he attempts another called shot to the troll’s
Called shots can give an element of flavor and arms (+2 AC). He rolls a 12 and a 17. Even with
heroic drama to combat. As we designed these disadvantage, he rolled a 19, beating the troll’s AC
rules, we attempted to give them the flavor desired and called shot AC bonus.
without overly unbalancing the effect. After all,
this is a game of randomness. Everyone gets lucky Optional Rule: If both attacks hit the target, but
rolls sometimes… even the monsters. you missed the increased AC of the called shot, you
do normal damage against the target as though
CALLED SHOT MECHANICS you made a normal attack (no special effect).
In order to perform a called shot, a player must
declare their called shot attempt and location
before making their attack rolls. Once declared, Arms/Wings (+2 AC)
the player suffers disadvantage on the called shot Arms are the manipulating limbs of a creature,
attack roll. An attack roll suffering disadvantage including tentacles. Wings are also considered to
already automatically fails as a called shot attempt. be arms for the purposes of a called shot.
Each called shot attempt also modifies a creature’s Save: Constitution

AC. If the attack roll succeeds, hitting the
monster’s modified called shot AC, the attacker Effect: On a failed save, any ability checks made
hits and deals damage normally, but also deals the using the wounded arm suffer disadvantage for
called shot effect. 1d4 minutes or until the creature receives healing.
A flying creature shot in the wing descends
Sometimes a save is called for. In such cases, the involuntarily if they fail their saving throw.
target must make a Constitution save equal to the
amount of damage inflicted. On a failed save, they Critical Effect: On a critical hit, if the target fails
suffer a penalty of some kind, or an additional their save, the attack severs an important muscle
effect. or tendon and the arm or wing becomes useless
unless healed with a lesser restoration or heal
Why Disadvantage? spell.
Let’s imagine for a moment that you are aiming for
the head of a goblin. You fire your arrow off at his Healing: When an effect requires healing, any rest
head, a harder target than hitting the ‘gobbo’ dead that allows you to regain hit points, curative
center in the chest. He shuffles a bit to the right, magic or potions also counts. Some effects
and you miss by a mere inch. require magic healing.
Had you fired dead center to the chest, that slight Chest (+0 AC)
movement might not have had any effect and you Called shots to the chest are aimed at the well-
would have nailed the goblin. Called shots are risk protected center of mass of a creature.
versus reward.
Save: Constitution
With this system, disadvantage represents the
challenge of aiming at a particular target, while the
AC bonus of specific targeted areas show the
relative difficulty of striking smaller targets.
79

Effect: A called shot to the chest deals no

additional damage, but causes the target to gain 1
Hand (+2 AC)
Hands include most extremities used for fine
level of exhaustion.
manipulation.
Critical Effect: On a critical hit the exhaustion
Save: Dexterity
levels increase to 1d3.
Effect: For 1d4 rounds, any attack rolls, ability
Ear (+4 AC) checks made using the wounded hand suffer
Ears are the organs used to hear. Creatures disadvantage, including attack rolls with two-
without visible ears are not susceptible to called handed weapons. Damage rolls do not gain any
shots to that location. benefit from Strength or Dexterity scores. If the
target is wielding a weapon or other held object,
Save: Constitution they must make a successful Strength or Dexterity
saving throw (target’s choice) or drop the held
Effect: A called shot to the ear deafens that ear for object.
1d4 minutes, and imposes disadvantage on
hearing-based Perception checks. A creature that Critical Effect: If the target fails their saving throw,
loses hearing in all ears is deafened until hearing is the hand is permanently damaged and the
returned by way of the lesser restoration spell or a resulting penalties also become permanent unless
similar effect. the target receives healing from a lesser
restoration or heal spell.
Critical Effect: On a failed save, the target is
permanently deafened unless healed with a lesser
restoration or heal spell.
Head (+2 AC)
Called shots to the head are tricky, as most
creatures show some skill at dodging attacks
Eye (+4 AC) aimed at their faces. Some creatures, such as
Eyes include whatever organs a creature uses to otyughs and purple worms, lack a proper head
see. At the Gamemaster's discretion, a called shot altogether. Creatures without heads are not
to the eye can also target sensory organs such as subject to the effects of a head shot.
antennae, potentially negating abilities like
blindsense. Generally, a creature can’t be blinded Save: Constitution
until it has lost all vision in all of its eyes. Creatures
with five or more eyes take no penalties from Effect: A called shot to the head leaves the target
called shots to their eyes until they’re blinded in stunned for 1 round. If a creature has more than
enough eyes to bring them down a single one head, it instead suffers disadvantage on its
functional eye, but can still be blinded in that eye next action on its turn.
by a critical hit or debilitating blow.
Critical Effect: If the target fails their saving throw,
Save: Dexterity they are instead stunned (or suffer disadvantage)
for 1d4 rounds.
Effect: A called shot to the eye causes disadvantage
on attacks and disadvantage on all sight-based
Perception checks for 1d4 rounds. If the creature
Heart (+4 AC)
A called shot to the heart represents an attempt at
only has one functional eye prior to the called shot,
a killing blow. A called shot to the heart can be
it is blinded for 1d4 rounds instead.
used for any small, likely fatal location on a
creature, such as the only weakness on an
Critical Effect: On a failed save against a critical hit,
unimaginably ancient red dragon.
the eye is lost or destroyed and they are considered
permanently blind in that eye unless sight is
Save: Constitution
returned with a lesser restoration spell.
80

Effect: A critical hit to the heart pierces the organ, addition, the target suffers the effects of critical
causing exhaustion and double damage. In damage.
addition, the target suffers damage each round
equal to the base damage dice inflicted until dead Critical Effect: If the target fails their save, they
or healed. In either case, stopping the damage suffer the above effects, but also suffer ongoing
requires either regeneration (spell or special damage equal to the base damage dice that
ability), magic healing that heals as many points of inflicted the wound each round until healed.
damage (from one or more sources) as the original
blow dealt, or a successful DC 20 Heal check that
takes 1d4 rounds to complete.
Vitals (+2 AC)
The vitals correspond to the abdomen on a
humanoid: critical organs not well-protected by
bone. Attacks on the vitals can also include
they lose half their maximum hit points and suffer
dastardly “low blows.” Vitals for non-humanoid
the ongoing damage as above.
creatures can include nearly any location that is
relatively hard to hit, poorly protected, and
Leg (+2 AC) debilitating if struck.
Legs are the ambulatory limbs of a creature,
including feet. Called shots to the leg have no Save: Constitution
special effect on creatures with five or more legs.
Effect: A called shot to the vitals leaves the target
Save: Strength or Dexterity (target’s choice) stunned for 1 round. While suffering from the
effects of this blow, the target cannot take the
Effect: A called shot to a leg halves the target Dash or Disengage action.
creature’s speed for 1d4 rounds if it has two or
fewer legs, and by 10 feet if it has more than two Critical Effect: If the target fails their save, the
legs. The speed penalty for hits on legs stack, but duration of the above effects are increased to 1d4
the creature’s speed cannot be reduced below 5 rounds.
feet per round. Additionally, any skill or ability
checks involving movement (such as Acrobatics or
Athletics checks) suffer disadvantage.

Called Shot Feats
their leg is permanently damaged and healing that
damage requires either regeneration (spell or Called Shot Mastery
special ability), magic healing that heals as many Prerequisite: Proficiency with Perception,
points of damage (from one or more sources) as the Dexterity 15 or higher.
original blow dealt, or a successful DC 20 Heal Your ability to land called shots is astonishing.
check that takes 1d4 rounds to complete.  You treat called shot penalties as two less
when performing called shots.
 If you miss a called shot, but both dice
Neck (+2 AC) would hit normally, you still deal normal
The neck makes for a difficult but rewarding damage to the target.
target. Injuries to the neck keep a creature from
speaking easily, and if blood vessels or the
windpipe are damaged, such injuries rapidly lead
to death. Creatures that lack vulnerable heads
generally can’t be attacked in the neck.
Effect: A called shot to the neck makes speaking

above a hoarse whisper impossible for 1d4 rounds.
Spells with verbal components suffer
disadvantage, and attempts to activate command-
word items suffer a 50% chance of failure. In
81

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the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non- Fighter Folio © 2018 Total Party Kill Games; Authors: Brian Berg, Mark A.
exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Hart.
Content.
82

SPELL CARDS!
ADVENTURES!
NEW CLASSES!
OPTIONAL RULES!
RACIAL SOURCEBOOKS!
DICE!
and much more!!!
www.totalpartykill.games

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The

By Brian Berg and Mark A. Hart

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Luckily for them, I’m writing sourcebooks to

Feats allowed fighters to return to the limelight.

Returning back home to a more simplistic route,

FIGHTER FICTION “Why do you fight?”

During my tenth summer, the Crown waged war

I furrowed my brow, trying to see past the words

FIGHTER CLASS Skill Choices

FEATURES won’t excel in them. Think about this for a

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your

Level Proficiency Class Features

Hand To Hand Combat Always Use Second Wind!

Mounted Combat themselves. All as a bonus action, so it won’t even

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short

Always Use Action Surge!

Second Wind At 3rd level, you choose an archetype that you

Be Buff and Stuff

Ability Score number of attacks during your movement, so

You can use this feature twice between long rests

Fighter Strengths MOBILITY

and Weaknesses of combatants. He draws them to him and keeps

must accept blows if you wish to deliver them. The

In addition, when you make an unarmed

In addition, your unarmed strikes count as magical

HAND TO HAND MASTERY

In addition, when you make a running long jump,

ADDITIONAL FIGHTING STYLE

You must have at least 1 hit point to use this

due to wind or rain. You also ignore difficult

ONE WITH THE SEA

If you are at sea when you begin dying, you gain

You are instinctively drawn to the sight and

TOUCH OF THE ABYSS

When you reach 3rd level, your outward

D12 DEMONIC TRAIT

Your physical appearance changes to become more

By now, you have become more demon than

DERVISH are not wearing medium or heavy armor and move

WHIRLING DERVISH IMPROVED TWO-WEAPON MASTERY

LIGHTNING REFLEXES everything else fades into oblivion, forgotten in the

DRAGOON As a bonus action, you can make a high jump as

DRAGOON LEAP SYLVAN ELF SPEARMASTERS

Additionally, you automatically begin with one

IMPROVED IMPENETRABLE DEFENSES

beginning of their turn until they successfully

From a story standpoint, it makes sense for a

can. As a reaction, you can reduce the damage of

THREATENING FOE The Gunslinger embraces that newest and most

In addition, whenever you have advantage on an KNIGHT’S CHALLENGE

You gain a mount as an animal companion.

MASTER OF MANY BLADES

through the air to strike the tiniest of targets with BLINDFOLDED

Trick shots. You learn three Trick shots of your

You learn two additional trick shots of your choice

Deftness Dice. You have four deftness dice, which

Saving Throws. Some of your maneuvers require

Trick Shot Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus +