Connorsrpg
Adventurer
Here is one archetype I have been working on.
Yes, it did appear as a link on this thread: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?452131-5-Fighter-Archetypes&p=6621102#post6621102.
I am posting here b/c:
1. It was a link (and I have learnt not a lot of people follow those
).
2. It was alongside 4 other archetypes, making specific feedback hard to sift through.
3. I have altered some of these archetypes since gaining some feedback.
4. That thread devolved into an analysis on 'my style of gaming' and 'what 5E is or is not about'.
Given there has been the big discussion re fighter archetypes (http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...mments-on-Fighter-Subclasses-Lacking-Identity), hopefully now there is wider recognition that the fighter 'archetypes' are rules-based. I don't mind this, but i also don't mind more concept-based PCs. I think there is room for both, and even archetypes that combine the two.
I have developed 5 subclasses. Some rely on mechanics similar to or as complicated as the Battlemaster (on purpose). This is one of those - the brutal. It is here for the mechanic, (though is partially conceptual too). This one will suit players that like mechanics like Savage Worlds (with 'raises') and the AGE system (with stunts). It was actually created at the request of one of my players. It will not suit everyone (or even many) and it is the one archetype that relies a lot upon some of our House Rules. I have tried to expand on those below, but further Q's welcome.
Please read. Specific feedback (other than "you can do this with a battlemaster" to which I refer you to the links above) welcome. Thanks.
BRUTAL
You punish your foes with heavy strikes or swift maneuvers that move your enemies around the battlefield. You rely on hitting hard and those with little protection or ability to avoid your strikes, are in for a lot of punishment. Targets with low ACs do not want to face Brutal Fighters. Other titles that may be used for this archetype include: Gladiator, Reaver.
Although many Brutal Fighters adopt two-handed weapons, their stunts work equally well with one-handed weapons and dual-wielders. To truly embrace this concept, one should not get too attached to their weapons, as you can maximise your destruction by breaking and hurling them.
The following feats are popular with Brutal Fighters: Charger, Great Weapon Master, Mobile, Savage Attacker, Tough.
RAISES & STUNTS
The Brutal Fighter mechanic relies upon the mechanic of 'Raises'. (This is an idea from the Savage Worlds RPG that drove a lot of the development of our B&B system). As a Brutal Fighter you achieve 1 Raise when your weapon attack roll beats a target's AC by 5 or more. You gain an extra Raise for every 5 points difference between the target's AC and your attack roll.
Raises are then 'spent' to perform Stunts. (This idea is adapted from Dragon Age RPG and a system we trialed in place of our Critical Charts). Stunts occur immediately, as part of the Attack action. (They are not saved and you do not need to keep track of them). Certain Stunts require more than one Raise for them to be performed. You can split your Raises across multiple stunts. For example, if you score 2 Raises on one hit, you can perform a stunt requiring 2 Raises OR apply 2 Stunts requiring a single Raise each.
Unlike a lot of other class features and fighter maneuvers that are limited to once per turn, or can only be performed on your turn, Stunts can be performed any time you hit with a weapon. So, in effect, if you roll well, you could perform several Stunts per turn.
If you score Raises on a critical hit, you roll the critical hit as normal, and then choose between the critical result or perform the appropriate amount of Stunts. You do not benefit from both.
STUNTS
Beginning at 3rd level when you take this archetype, you can perform any of the following stunts when you get the associated amount of Raises.
Devastating Strike. This cannot be used with a weapon that has the Ammunition property. For every raise, you can choose to have your weapon take a weapon grade break. (With the first grade, the weapon gains the Fragile quality. Each grade thereafter the weapon takes a cumulative -1 damage penalty until repaired. If a weapon reaches -5 damage it is destroyed permanently). For each grade of breakage that you inflict on your weapon, you deal an extra weapon die of damage for this attack. Any damage penalties to the weapon take effect after the devastating strike. (See the Fragile weapon quality in the En5ider article As Good As His Blade).
Extra Damage. For every raise, you add +1 to the damage of your attack (up to a total maximum equal to your Constitution modifier; minimum of +1).
Knock Back. For every raise you can knock a Large or smaller creature that you hit 5ft away from you. Weapons with any of the ammunition, finesse or light qualities require an extra raise to knock targets back.
Knock Prone. With 2 raises, you knock a creature of size Large or smaller prone. If you are wielding a weapon with the trip property, you can perform this stunt with 1 less raise. Targets with four or more legs or a stable body shape may require extra raises. (See the En5ider article As Good As His Blade for the trip property).
Resounding Blow. With a raise you can leave the target of your attack reeling. The next attack to target the same creature you hit is made with advantage, so long as it is made before the creature's next turn.
CLEAVING STRIKE
Also at 3rd level you gain this feature. Once during your turn when you take the Attack action and drop a target to 0 hit points with a melee weapon attack with a weapon that does not have the finesse or light property, you can use your bonus action to repeat the same attack against another creature within reach. This second attack deals half damage.
REMARKABLE ATHLETE
Gained at 7th level. Same as the Champion feature (PHB p72).
ADVANCED STUNTS
At 10th level, you can also perform the following stunts:
Follow-Up Attack. If you score 2 raises, you can make another immediate attack with the same weapon and the same bonuses against a different target. For this attack, any melee weapon has the thrown property with a range of 15/30 if you wish to hurl your weapon at another target.
Invigorating Strike. For each raise, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier.
Frenetic Attack. On a raise, you can also take the Dash, Dodge or Disengage action.
MASTER STUNTS
At 15th level, you can also perform the following stunts:
Foe Shield. On a raise with a melee attack, you maneuver 1 creature of your Size or smaller and within 5ft of you into such a position that the next attack made against you before the start of your next turn,must target this creature. This does not include attacks from the creature acting as your 'shield'.
Partial Critical. On a raise, you can deal a partial critical. (This feature relies on our House Rules Critical charts. Roll 1d10 and use the first column of the relevant critical chart.. If using standard criticals, bump this to 2 raises and treat as normal critical).
Stunning Strike. For 2 raises, the target of your attack is stunned until the start of your next turn. If you are wielding a weapon that deals bludgeoning damage, you only require 1 raise for this stunt.
LETHAL
At 18th level your Raises are measured in increments of 4, not 5. In addition you can apply the effects of both Stunts and criticals if you score both in a round.
Yes, it did appear as a link on this thread: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?452131-5-Fighter-Archetypes&p=6621102#post6621102.
I am posting here b/c:
1. It was a link (and I have learnt not a lot of people follow those

2. It was alongside 4 other archetypes, making specific feedback hard to sift through.
3. I have altered some of these archetypes since gaining some feedback.
4. That thread devolved into an analysis on 'my style of gaming' and 'what 5E is or is not about'.
Given there has been the big discussion re fighter archetypes (http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...mments-on-Fighter-Subclasses-Lacking-Identity), hopefully now there is wider recognition that the fighter 'archetypes' are rules-based. I don't mind this, but i also don't mind more concept-based PCs. I think there is room for both, and even archetypes that combine the two.
I have developed 5 subclasses. Some rely on mechanics similar to or as complicated as the Battlemaster (on purpose). This is one of those - the brutal. It is here for the mechanic, (though is partially conceptual too). This one will suit players that like mechanics like Savage Worlds (with 'raises') and the AGE system (with stunts). It was actually created at the request of one of my players. It will not suit everyone (or even many) and it is the one archetype that relies a lot upon some of our House Rules. I have tried to expand on those below, but further Q's welcome.
Please read. Specific feedback (other than "you can do this with a battlemaster" to which I refer you to the links above) welcome. Thanks.
BRUTAL
You punish your foes with heavy strikes or swift maneuvers that move your enemies around the battlefield. You rely on hitting hard and those with little protection or ability to avoid your strikes, are in for a lot of punishment. Targets with low ACs do not want to face Brutal Fighters. Other titles that may be used for this archetype include: Gladiator, Reaver.
Although many Brutal Fighters adopt two-handed weapons, their stunts work equally well with one-handed weapons and dual-wielders. To truly embrace this concept, one should not get too attached to their weapons, as you can maximise your destruction by breaking and hurling them.
The following feats are popular with Brutal Fighters: Charger, Great Weapon Master, Mobile, Savage Attacker, Tough.
RAISES & STUNTS
The Brutal Fighter mechanic relies upon the mechanic of 'Raises'. (This is an idea from the Savage Worlds RPG that drove a lot of the development of our B&B system). As a Brutal Fighter you achieve 1 Raise when your weapon attack roll beats a target's AC by 5 or more. You gain an extra Raise for every 5 points difference between the target's AC and your attack roll.
Raises are then 'spent' to perform Stunts. (This idea is adapted from Dragon Age RPG and a system we trialed in place of our Critical Charts). Stunts occur immediately, as part of the Attack action. (They are not saved and you do not need to keep track of them). Certain Stunts require more than one Raise for them to be performed. You can split your Raises across multiple stunts. For example, if you score 2 Raises on one hit, you can perform a stunt requiring 2 Raises OR apply 2 Stunts requiring a single Raise each.
Unlike a lot of other class features and fighter maneuvers that are limited to once per turn, or can only be performed on your turn, Stunts can be performed any time you hit with a weapon. So, in effect, if you roll well, you could perform several Stunts per turn.
If you score Raises on a critical hit, you roll the critical hit as normal, and then choose between the critical result or perform the appropriate amount of Stunts. You do not benefit from both.
STUNTS
Beginning at 3rd level when you take this archetype, you can perform any of the following stunts when you get the associated amount of Raises.
Devastating Strike. This cannot be used with a weapon that has the Ammunition property. For every raise, you can choose to have your weapon take a weapon grade break. (With the first grade, the weapon gains the Fragile quality. Each grade thereafter the weapon takes a cumulative -1 damage penalty until repaired. If a weapon reaches -5 damage it is destroyed permanently). For each grade of breakage that you inflict on your weapon, you deal an extra weapon die of damage for this attack. Any damage penalties to the weapon take effect after the devastating strike. (See the Fragile weapon quality in the En5ider article As Good As His Blade).
Extra Damage. For every raise, you add +1 to the damage of your attack (up to a total maximum equal to your Constitution modifier; minimum of +1).
Knock Back. For every raise you can knock a Large or smaller creature that you hit 5ft away from you. Weapons with any of the ammunition, finesse or light qualities require an extra raise to knock targets back.
Knock Prone. With 2 raises, you knock a creature of size Large or smaller prone. If you are wielding a weapon with the trip property, you can perform this stunt with 1 less raise. Targets with four or more legs or a stable body shape may require extra raises. (See the En5ider article As Good As His Blade for the trip property).
Resounding Blow. With a raise you can leave the target of your attack reeling. The next attack to target the same creature you hit is made with advantage, so long as it is made before the creature's next turn.
CLEAVING STRIKE
Also at 3rd level you gain this feature. Once during your turn when you take the Attack action and drop a target to 0 hit points with a melee weapon attack with a weapon that does not have the finesse or light property, you can use your bonus action to repeat the same attack against another creature within reach. This second attack deals half damage.
REMARKABLE ATHLETE
Gained at 7th level. Same as the Champion feature (PHB p72).
ADVANCED STUNTS
At 10th level, you can also perform the following stunts:
Follow-Up Attack. If you score 2 raises, you can make another immediate attack with the same weapon and the same bonuses against a different target. For this attack, any melee weapon has the thrown property with a range of 15/30 if you wish to hurl your weapon at another target.
Invigorating Strike. For each raise, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier.
Frenetic Attack. On a raise, you can also take the Dash, Dodge or Disengage action.
MASTER STUNTS
At 15th level, you can also perform the following stunts:
Foe Shield. On a raise with a melee attack, you maneuver 1 creature of your Size or smaller and within 5ft of you into such a position that the next attack made against you before the start of your next turn,must target this creature. This does not include attacks from the creature acting as your 'shield'.
Partial Critical. On a raise, you can deal a partial critical. (This feature relies on our House Rules Critical charts. Roll 1d10 and use the first column of the relevant critical chart.. If using standard criticals, bump this to 2 raises and treat as normal critical).
Stunning Strike. For 2 raises, the target of your attack is stunned until the start of your next turn. If you are wielding a weapon that deals bludgeoning damage, you only require 1 raise for this stunt.
LETHAL
At 18th level your Raises are measured in increments of 4, not 5. In addition you can apply the effects of both Stunts and criticals if you score both in a round.
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