Slave Gladiator (D&D class)

Any warrior can fight in the arena. The drow gladiator does so with style and flair, and lives for the thrill of combat and the roar of the crowds. Despite the name, some drow do train in this class.

The elite gladiators of House Drazhar are picked from the best drow and slave warriors. They must display remarkable speed and agility, as well as a talent for unorthodox weapons. They train in a wide variety of weapons and use their skills in the arena, on the battlefield and on slave raids. Some gladiators serve as bodyguards or companions to drow nobles, and are sometimes used as hitmen.

Accordding to House Drazhar legends, the first gladiator masters were a group of monks, each of whom specialized in one of the gladiator weapons listed below. In time, their teachings evolved into the gladiator fighting style.

Requirements

Requirements: Must be trained in a gladiator school.

Skills: Balance 4 ranks, Perform 4 ranks, Tumble 4 ranks.

Feats: Mobility, Combat Reflexes, Exotic Weapon (see list).

Features

Hit Die: d8.

Weapon and armour proficiencies: The gladiator is proficient with light armor and buckler. The gladiator is proficient with the weapons of her school. Each school has a different list of weapons (max of 8 or so). For bookkeeping, change your qualitying Exotic Weapon Proficiency to Exitoc Weapon Proficiency (Gladiator).

Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Healing (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Rope (Dex).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

10 level version. This is more monk-like which fits with the fluff. Flurry is versatile but ultimately gets fewer attacks than with the Two Weapon Fighting feat path. The reason I picked flurry is that it forces the gladiator to use the special gladiator weapons. With Two Weapon Fighting, the gladiator would have been able add other weapons to the mix.

Level  BAB   Fort  Ref  Will  Dmg   Spd   Arm Special
   1   +1     +0    +2   +0    d6    +0     +0 Special,Signature Weapon, Unarmed Strike, Versatility
   2   +2     +0    +3   +0    d6    +0    +0 Special, Evasion
   3   +3     +1    +3   +1    d6    +0    +0 Flurry
   4   +4     +1    +4   +1    d6   +0   +0 Special
   5   +5     +1    +4   +1    d6   +10   +1 Spring Attack
   6   +6     +2    +5   +2    d6   +10    +1 Special
   7   +7     +2    +5   +2    d6   +10    +1 Improved Evasion
   8   +8     +2    +6   +2    d6   +10    +1 Special
   9   +9     +3    +6   +3    d6   +10    +1 Greater Flurry
  10  +10     +3    +7   +3    d6   +10    +2 Special

Unarmed Strike: This is the same ability as the monk's Unarmed Strike and lets the gladiator strike with any part of her body at full Strength bonus. Like the nonk, the gladiator has no off hand.The damage is d6 for a Medium sized gladiator. This does not increase with level.

Defense: The Gladiator adds her Charisma bonus to her Dexterity bonus, but this is stil limited by armor. This ability works when wearing light or no armor. It works with a buckler but with shields. At level 5, the gladiator adds +1 to the maximum Dexterity bonus of and reduces the armor penalty by 1 (to a minimum of 0). This bonus increases to +2 at level 10.

Flurry of Strikes: The Gladiator gains an extra attack at her highest base bonus, but only when unarmed or using gladiator weapons. This replaces any benefit from Two Weapon Fighting or similar feats. You must make a Full Attack in order to use Flurry. This does not stack with monk Flurry of Blows or similar class features. You can attack with a double (gladiator) weapon, but in this case each end counts as a separate weapon (same as for monks).

"Greater Flurry: As Flurry, but a second attack.

Speed: Speed increase as monk but slower (same rate as scout).

Signature Weapon:' Gladiators are profiocient with a variety of exotic and versatile (cool) weapons. Every gladiator has one or more signature weapons for which she is known. At level one, the gladiator has two signature weapons. One of these is obviously the qualifying exotic weapon and the other must be picked from the school list. These weapons count as one weapon for the purpose of weapon specialization, focus and similar feats. At level 5 and 10, the gladiator can add another weapon this pool. You get bonus points if you come up with a cool name for you signature style, such as "Storm of blades".

Example: Cassius is a human slave gladiator. At level one, he is can pick weapon focus for this signaure weapons which are net and trident. At level 5, he can add a third weapon such as cestus (armor) which is useful in grapple or when he has thrown both his net and trident.

Versaility: The gladiator can inflict lethal or subdual damage with her gladiator weapons without penalty and can use them with her flurry ability."

Special: Select an ability from the list below:

Armor Defense: As the House Drazhar ability for Drow House Elite (attack with buckler arm with no penalty and keep shield bonus).

Gladiator Weapon Mastery: You gain a +4 (+2?) bonus to any opposed roll to trip or disarm an opponent or avoid this when you are using gladiator weapons. This stacks with feats such as Improved Trip and Improved Disarm.

Gladiator Weapon Finesse: You can use your Dexterity instead of Strength for attacks with gladiator weapons (even two-handed weapons).

Close Combat Throw: You can use a thrown weapon in a threatened square without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Hogtie:. You can tie a pinned opponent. This is the same as the Justicar class feature (Complete Warrior).

Improved Hogtie is not available, mostly because it's a bit boring and people want to see long, hot wrestling action.

Feat: Select one of the following feats (you must meet any prerequisite): Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Quickdraw, Weapon Focus (Gladiator Weapons), Whirlwind Attack, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Far Shot, Lightning Reflexes, Throw Anyting (CW).

Evasion: You gain the Evasion ability (similar to a monk or rogue). This ability works in no or light armor.

Improved Evasion: You gain the Improved Evasion ability (similar to a monk or rogue). This ability works in no or light armor.

Weapons

Weapons marked (x) are exotic. The gladiator must have proficiency in at least one of these exotic weapons in order to qualify for training. House Drazhar fight with bladse, chains and whips. These blades symbolize the House of the Sword Spider and the chain their slavery to Lolth. The whip is a favoured weapon of the goddess and is used to goad beasts and punish slave troops.

Net and trident removed for fluff reasons.

• Glaive: This long bladed weapon is used to keep the opponent at bay.
• Bastard sword": Used in two hands and are or in combination with a secondary weapon.
• Razorchain (x): This chain weapon is commonly used with thebastard sword. It is useful for attacking an opponent at range and tripping him. This is a one-handed spiked chain (light weapon, d6 damage, can be used at 5' and 10').
• Dagger: This light and versatile weapon can be thrown or used in grapple.
• Hydraknife (x): This Z-shaped bladed weapon is commonly used in pairs. It can be thrown as well as used in close combat. (one-handed, d6 damage, crit 18x, range 30). It is available in a variety of shapes, all of which have the same game effect. Desipte the name it is a fairly large weapon. (Thought; Reduce damage to d4, use a chakram, no melee though. This mean no new weapon which is nice).
• Armor: Used for showing off and as a weapon of last resort, a gladiator can strike with any part of her armor for d6 damage. Damage type depends on armor design, but can be piercing (spikes), slashing (bladed gauntlets) or bludgeoning (gauntlet or other part of armor). In game terms, use the bonuses from spikes or gauntlet.
• Flail: This chain weapon can be used to trip.
• "Whip (x):" This flexible weapon can be used to trip and disarm. Not that gladiator versatility allows the gladiator to inflict lethalor subdual damage, efectivel ignore the no damage against thick skinned opponents.

External links

• Hypertext d20 SRD Weapon table.