Cleon
Legend
I'll rough out a Working Draft, then.
Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine
I'll rough out a Working Draft, then.
Cleon
Legend
Amazon Working Draft
Amazon (Template)
A tall female warrior.
Amazons are formidable warrior women who live in small, reclusive tribes with their children and subservient menfolk. There are amazon tribes of many humanoid races - human amazons are the most common, but the sages have recorded dwarf, elf, gnome or even halfling amazon tribes. In theory, any humanoid female could become an amazon, even a "monstrous" race like a bugbear or kobold. Only females are allowed to follow the ways of the amazon, but a worthy enough female warrior may be adopted into a clan following a period of initiation, training, and questing.
The basic unit of amazon society is the clan. Their culture is fiercely martial, with the most powerful warrior ruling as tribal queen. Each clan has fighting skills and tactics well suited to whichever environment they live in - horse archers for steppe amazons, longbow armed canoeists for island amazons, et cetera.
Amazons are exceptionally tall examples of their race. They tend to be handsome but hard-eyed, and may seem callous or cold-hearted.
The majority of amazons use the elite ability array. Those that do not usually fail to meet the harsh standards of amazon society and are banished. Such exiles are not allowed to rejoin their clan except under the most extraordinary circumstances.
Creating an Amazon
"Amazon" is a template that can be added to any humanoid female (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
An amazon uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: Same as base creature.
Hit Dice: Same as base creature.
Speed: Same as base creature.
Armor Class: Same as base creature.
Attack: An amazon retains all the attacks of the base creature and also gains an unarmed strike special attack (see below). The amazon retains any weapons or natural weapons possessed by the base creature. An amazon fighting without weapons uses its unarmed strike special attack or its primary natural weapon (if it has any).
Amazons are highly skilled in arms, they are proficient in light armour, shields, and all simple and martial weapons.
Full Attack: An amazon fighting without weapons uses either its unarmed strike special attack (see below) or its natural weapons (if it has any). If armed with a weapon, it usually uses the weapon as its primary attack.
Damage: An amazon's unarmed strike does damage as given in the table below, according to the amazon's size.
Size
Fine 1
Diminutive 1d2
Tiny 1d3
Small 1d4
Medium 1d6
Large 1d8
Huge 2d6
Gargantuan 3d6
Colossal 4d6
Special Attacks: An amazon retains all the special attacks of the base creature and gains the unarmed strike special attack described below.
Martial Training (Ex): Amazons are talented fighters. An amazon with levels in humanoid gains a base attack bonus equal to her humanoid Hit Dice. An amazon qualifies for feats as if she were a fighter of a level equal to her Base Attack Bonus. Amazons are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with medium armor, light armor and all shields (including tower shields). An amazon gains Improved Unarmed Strike and Weapon Focus (in 1 weapon) as bonus feats.
Unarmed Strike (Ex): An amazon has an unarmed strike ability equal to a 1st level monk. This stacks with unarmed strike from class levels in monk or other sources.
Special Qualities: An amazon retains all the special qualities of the base creature and gains those described below.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): An amazon can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
If an amazon gains uncanny dodge as a class ability she automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead (see the Rogue class in the Players' Handbook).
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Dex +2, Con +2, Cha +2.
Skills: Same as the base creature. Amazons gain a +4 racial bonus to Spot checks.
Feats: Amazons gain Improved Unarmed Strike and Weapon Focus (in 1 weapon) as bonus feats. The Weapon Focus is in one of the traditional weapons used by the amazon's society - usually spear, longsword, battleax, or composite shortbow.
Environment: Any, usually same as base creature.
Organization: Solitary, party (10-20 plus 1 leader of 5th-6th level, and 1 emezon cleric, adept or wizard of 1st-2nd level), expedition (20-50 plus 1-4 leaders of 5th-6th level, 1 captain of 7th-8th level, and 1-4 emezon clerics, adepts or wizards of 1st-2nd level) or clan (30-100 plus 4-8 leaders of 5th-6th level, 1 captain of 7th-8th level, 1 queen of 9th-12th level, 30-100 male 1st level warriors, 60-200 noncombatants, 2-5 emezon clerics, adepts or wizards of 1st-2nd level, and 1 emezon cleric or wizard of 2nd-5th level)
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature + 1.
Treasure: Standard.
Alignment: Same as the base creature.
Advancement: By character class.
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +2.
Sample Amazon
The following sample creature has gained the amazon template.
Amazon Heroine
4th level human fighter
Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 4d10+12 (34 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares); base speed 30 ft.
Armor Class: 18 (+3 Dex, +5 breastplate), touch 13, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+8
Attack: Masterwork spear +8 melee (1d8+8/×3) or cold iron battleaxe +7 melee (1d8+4/×3) or silver shortsword +6 melee (1d6+4/19-20) or unarmed strike +7 melee (1d6+4) or masterwork spear +8 ranged (1d8+4/×3) or masterwork composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) +8 ranged (1d8+4/×3)
Full Attack: Masterwork spear +8 melee (1d8+8/×3) or cold iron battleaxe +7 melee (1d8+4/×3) or silver shortsword +7 melee (1d6+4/19-20) or unarmed strike +7 melee (1d6+4) or masterwork spear +8 ranged (1d8+4/×3) or masterwork composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) +8 ranged (1d8+4/×3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Martial training, unarmed strike
Special Qualities: Uncanny dodge
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 12
Skills: 14 SPs
Feats: Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Unarmed Strike (B), Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (spear) (B), Weapon Specialization (spear)
Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary, party (10-20 plus 1 leader of 5th-6th level, and 1 emezon cleric, adept or wizard of 2nd-4th level), party (20-50 plus 1-4 leaders of 5th-6th level, 1 captain of 7th-8th level, and 1-4 emezon clerics, adepts or wizards of 2nd-4th level) or clan (30-100 plus 4-8 leaders of 5th-6th level, 1 captain of 7th-8th level, 1 queen of 9th-12th level, 30-100 emezon 1st level warriors, 60-200 noncombatants, 2-5 emezon clerics, adepts or wizards of 2nd-4th level, and 1 emezon cleric or wizard of 4th-8th level).
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: +2
Level Adjustment: —
This amazon is an elite human female 4th level fighter with the following ability scores before racial and template adjustments: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 10. Her 4th level ability advancement was placed in Strength.
Equipment: +1 breastplate, +1 cloak of resistance, masterwork composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) with 40 arrows, masterwork spear, cold iron battleaxe, silver shortsword, sunrod, potion of lesser restoration, potion of enlarge person, potion of shield of faith +2, oil of magic weapon, 2 potions of cure light wound, 45 gold pieces.
Originally appeared in Polyhedron Newszine #22 (Jan/Feb 1985)
Amazon (Template)
A tall female warrior.
Amazons are formidable warrior women who live in small, reclusive tribes with their children and subservient menfolk. There are amazon tribes of many humanoid races - human amazons are the most common, but the sages have recorded dwarf, elf, gnome or even halfling amazon tribes. In theory, any humanoid female could become an amazon, even a "monstrous" race like a bugbear or kobold. Only females are allowed to follow the ways of the amazon, but a worthy enough female warrior may be adopted into a clan following a period of initiation, training, and questing.
The basic unit of amazon society is the clan. Their culture is fiercely martial, with the most powerful warrior ruling as tribal queen. Each clan has fighting skills and tactics well suited to whichever environment they live in - horse archers for steppe amazons, longbow armed canoeists for island amazons, et cetera.
Amazons are exceptionally tall examples of their race. They tend to be handsome but hard-eyed, and may seem callous or cold-hearted.
The majority of amazons use the elite ability array. Those that do not usually fail to meet the harsh standards of amazon society and are banished. Such exiles are not allowed to rejoin their clan except under the most extraordinary circumstances.
Creating an Amazon
"Amazon" is a template that can be added to any humanoid female (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").
An amazon uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: Same as base creature.
Hit Dice: Same as base creature.
Speed: Same as base creature.
Armor Class: Same as base creature.
Attack: An amazon retains all the attacks of the base creature and also gains an unarmed strike special attack (see below). The amazon retains any weapons or natural weapons possessed by the base creature. An amazon fighting without weapons uses its unarmed strike special attack or its primary natural weapon (if it has any).
Amazons are highly skilled in arms, they are proficient in light armour, shields, and all simple and martial weapons.
Full Attack: An amazon fighting without weapons uses either its unarmed strike special attack (see below) or its natural weapons (if it has any). If armed with a weapon, it usually uses the weapon as its primary attack.
Damage: An amazon's unarmed strike does damage as given in the table below, according to the amazon's size.
Size
Fine 1
Diminutive 1d2
Tiny 1d3
Small 1d4
Medium 1d6
Large 1d8
Huge 2d6
Gargantuan 3d6
Colossal 4d6
Special Attacks: An amazon retains all the special attacks of the base creature and gains the unarmed strike special attack described below.
Martial Training (Ex): Amazons are talented fighters. An amazon with levels in humanoid gains a base attack bonus equal to her humanoid Hit Dice. An amazon qualifies for feats as if she were a fighter of a level equal to her Base Attack Bonus. Amazons are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with medium armor, light armor and all shields (including tower shields). An amazon gains Improved Unarmed Strike and Weapon Focus (in 1 weapon) as bonus feats.
Unarmed Strike (Ex): An amazon has an unarmed strike ability equal to a 1st level monk. This stacks with unarmed strike from class levels in monk or other sources.
Special Qualities: An amazon retains all the special qualities of the base creature and gains those described below.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): An amazon can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
If an amazon gains uncanny dodge as a class ability she automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead (see the Rogue class in the Players' Handbook).
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Dex +2, Con +2, Cha +2.
Skills: Same as the base creature. Amazons gain a +4 racial bonus to Spot checks.
Feats: Amazons gain Improved Unarmed Strike and Weapon Focus (in 1 weapon) as bonus feats. The Weapon Focus is in one of the traditional weapons used by the amazon's society - usually spear, longsword, battleax, or composite shortbow.
Environment: Any, usually same as base creature.
Organization: Solitary, party (10-20 plus 1 leader of 5th-6th level, and 1 emezon cleric, adept or wizard of 1st-2nd level), expedition (20-50 plus 1-4 leaders of 5th-6th level, 1 captain of 7th-8th level, and 1-4 emezon clerics, adepts or wizards of 1st-2nd level) or clan (30-100 plus 4-8 leaders of 5th-6th level, 1 captain of 7th-8th level, 1 queen of 9th-12th level, 30-100 male 1st level warriors, 60-200 noncombatants, 2-5 emezon clerics, adepts or wizards of 1st-2nd level, and 1 emezon cleric or wizard of 2nd-5th level)
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature + 1.
Treasure: Standard.
Alignment: Same as the base creature.
Advancement: By character class.
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +2.
Sample Amazon
The following sample creature has gained the amazon template.
Amazon Heroine
4th level human fighter
Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 4d10+12 (34 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares); base speed 30 ft.
Armor Class: 18 (+3 Dex, +5 breastplate), touch 13, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+8
Attack: Masterwork spear +8 melee (1d8+8/×3) or cold iron battleaxe +7 melee (1d8+4/×3) or silver shortsword +6 melee (1d6+4/19-20) or unarmed strike +7 melee (1d6+4) or masterwork spear +8 ranged (1d8+4/×3) or masterwork composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) +8 ranged (1d8+4/×3)
Full Attack: Masterwork spear +8 melee (1d8+8/×3) or cold iron battleaxe +7 melee (1d8+4/×3) or silver shortsword +7 melee (1d6+4/19-20) or unarmed strike +7 melee (1d6+4) or masterwork spear +8 ranged (1d8+4/×3) or masterwork composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) +8 ranged (1d8+4/×3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Martial training, unarmed strike
Special Qualities: Uncanny dodge
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 12
Skills: 14 SPs
Feats: Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Unarmed Strike (B), Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (spear) (B), Weapon Specialization (spear)
Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary, party (10-20 plus 1 leader of 5th-6th level, and 1 emezon cleric, adept or wizard of 2nd-4th level), party (20-50 plus 1-4 leaders of 5th-6th level, 1 captain of 7th-8th level, and 1-4 emezon clerics, adepts or wizards of 2nd-4th level) or clan (30-100 plus 4-8 leaders of 5th-6th level, 1 captain of 7th-8th level, 1 queen of 9th-12th level, 30-100 emezon 1st level warriors, 60-200 noncombatants, 2-5 emezon clerics, adepts or wizards of 2nd-4th level, and 1 emezon cleric or wizard of 4th-8th level).
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: +2
Level Adjustment: —
This amazon is an elite human female 4th level fighter with the following ability scores before racial and template adjustments: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 10. Her 4th level ability advancement was placed in Strength.
Equipment: +1 breastplate, +1 cloak of resistance, masterwork composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) with 40 arrows, masterwork spear, cold iron battleaxe, silver shortsword, sunrod, potion of lesser restoration, potion of enlarge person, potion of shield of faith +2, oil of magic weapon, 2 potions of cure light wound, 45 gold pieces.
Originally appeared in Polyhedron Newszine #22 (Jan/Feb 1985)
Last edited:
Shade
Monster Junkie
Cleon
Legend
I toyed with the idea of +4 Strength, but then I thought the "stock" amazon would have an elite ability array (15,14,13,12,10,8) and would probably put one of her three highest scores in Strength, for a base Strength of 13-15. A +2 racial bonus would be enough to put that at the Str 15 minimum.
Well, I'm OK with a +4. Then a non-elite amazon (13,12,11,10,9,8) will get Str 15+ as standard.
Come to think of it, we should give them +2 Dexterity as well.
I'm not seeing anything in the MCA4 version that says they have keener sight or faster reflexes than a normal human(oid).
Could you give a reason for giving them those bonuses. Apart from making them more like Xena, of course.
It'll need some work from the basic version. How's this:
Martial Training (Ex): Amazons are talented fighters. An amazon with levels in humanoid gains a base attack bonus equal to her humanoid Hit Dice, and qualifies for feats as if she were a fighter of a level equal to her humanoid Hit Dice plus any fighter levels she may possess. Amazons are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with medium armor, light armor and all shields (including tower shields). An amazon's intense training gives her Improved Unarmed Strike and Weapon Specialization (1 weapon) as bonus feats.
Cleon
Legend
Well, the original text says Amazons have Weapon Specialization.
Then again, their MCA4 incarnation all seem to be 4th+ level fighters who would be eligible for Weapon Specialization anyway.
I suppose we could change it so the amazon needs to have at least 4 Hit Dice to qualify for the bonus feat?
I'm also wondering about changing the fighter feat qualification to "An amazon qualifies for feats as if she were a fighter of a level equal to her Base Attack Bonus" rather than the current inelegant fighter + humanoid version.
e.g.:
Martial Training (Ex): Amazons are talented fighters. An amazon with levels in humanoid gains a base attack bonus equal to her humanoid Hit Dice. An amazon qualifies for feats as if she were a fighter of a level equal to her Base Attack Bonus. Amazons are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with medium armor, light armor and all shields (including tower shields). An amazon gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat, if she has a base attack bonus of +4 or higher she also gains Weapon Specialization (in 1 weapon) as a bonus feat.
Cleon
Legend
Oh, I've updated the Working Draft with +4 Str and +2 Dex bonuses and my latest version of the Martial Training.
Shade
Monster Junkie
I'd prefer to just leave it for the 4th-level amazons to take. They'll still qualify for it faster than any other non-single classed fighters, which is benefit enough methinks.
Good idea!
Shade
Monster Junkie
I'd prefer to just leave it for the 4th-level amazons to take. They'll still qualify for it faster than any other non-single classed fighters, which is benefit enough methinks.
Good idea!
