Martial Archetype
Comments from the Finger: For reasons having to deal with the MHPPHB lineup, the Palm and I decided to combine the best elements of our Brawler and Pugilist subclasses into one perfect punch-boy. Enjoy!
Comments from the Finger: For reasons having to deal with the MHPPHB lineup, the Palm and I decided to combine the best elements of our Brawler and Pugilist subclasses into one perfect punch-boy. Enjoy!
Brawler
Brawlers use their bare fists and raw force as their first and best weapons in combat. Such warriors come from tough stock—prize fighters, outlanders, bouncers, and veterans—and have learned to hone their bodies into implements of war. Wherever a brawler goes, bruised and broken bodies follow. It doesn’t matter whether they’re tossing thugs around a tavern or going toe-to-toe with a red dragon, brute force always comes out on top.
Brawling
Starting at 3rd level, you’ve mastered a brutal, bloody-knuckle style of combat. You are proficient in improvised weapons, and treat one-handed improvised weapons as if they had the Thrown (range 20/60) property.
Additionally, while you are unarmed or wielding an improvised weapon, and you are not wearing medium or heavy armor, you gain the following benefits:
Additionally, while you are unarmed or wielding an improvised weapon, and you are not wearing medium or heavy armor, you gain the following benefits:
- You can use your Strength instead of your Dexterity when determining your AC.
- Your unarmed strikes and improvised weapons deal improved damage, and improve as you gain levels in this class, as shown on the table below.
Fighter Level Damage
3rd 1d6
5th 1d8
11th 1d10
17th 1d12
Brute Force
Also at 3rd level, you can maneuver your opponents to gain a ruthless edge in combat. When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike or a melee attack using an improvised weapon, you can use your bonus action to grapple the target or deal an additional 1d6 damage.
This damage increases as you gain higher levels in this class. At 5th level, the additional damage you deal increases to 1d8 damage, at 11th level it increases to 1d10 damage, and at 17th level, it increases to 1d12 damage.
Imposing Physique
Starting at 7th level, you learn to speak more with your prodigious muscles instead of your words. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill, and you can use your Strength bonus instead of your Charisma bonus for Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Additionally, your capacities for carrying, lifting, pushing, and pulling are doubled.
Haymaker
At 10th level, you can put all your force into one blow. When you use the Attack action on your turn to make an unarmed strike, you can choose to forgo any additional attacks you could make with your action to make single, devastating blow. For each attack you would give up in this way, you can add two additional damage dice to the attack’s damage roll. This attack is treated as magical for the purposes of bypassing damage resistance and immunity.
3rd 1d6
5th 1d8
11th 1d10
17th 1d12
Brute Force
Also at 3rd level, you can maneuver your opponents to gain a ruthless edge in combat. When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike or a melee attack using an improvised weapon, you can use your bonus action to grapple the target or deal an additional 1d6 damage.
This damage increases as you gain higher levels in this class. At 5th level, the additional damage you deal increases to 1d8 damage, at 11th level it increases to 1d10 damage, and at 17th level, it increases to 1d12 damage.
Imposing Physique
Starting at 7th level, you learn to speak more with your prodigious muscles instead of your words. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill, and you can use your Strength bonus instead of your Charisma bonus for Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Additionally, your capacities for carrying, lifting, pushing, and pulling are doubled.
Haymaker
At 10th level, you can put all your force into one blow. When you use the Attack action on your turn to make an unarmed strike, you can choose to forgo any additional attacks you could make with your action to make single, devastating blow. For each attack you would give up in this way, you can add two additional damage dice to the attack’s damage roll. This attack is treated as magical for the purposes of bypassing damage resistance and immunity.
Owlbear Wrestler
Starting at 15th level, you’ve learned how to pin down even the most towering foes. You gain advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks made to grapple creatures of Large size and smaller and you can attempt to grapple creatures of any size category.
Heavyweight Champion
Starting at 18th level, your blows are able to rattle even the greatest of foes. Once on each of your turns when you deal damage to a creature with an unarmed strike or an improvised weapon, you can choose to shatter their resolve. You gain resistance to any damage that creature deals to you until the beginning of your next turn.
Changelog:
12/12/20: Brute Force: Scaling wording changed for clarity
Haymaker: Reworded for clarity
12/12/20: Brute Force: Scaling wording changed for clarity
Haymaker: Reworded for clarity
