Warrior

In the Wasteland, strength is the first language and violence is the only currency universally accepted. Warriors are the backbone of every settlement, the enforcers of every gang, the bulwark against every threat. They don't rely on tricks, technology, or arcane power — just steel, grit, and the unshakable conviction that they will not fall.

You are the Warrior. When the dust settles and the bodies are counted, you're still standing. You've taken hits that would kill lesser souls and walked away with scars to prove it. You don't need to be the smartest or the fastest — you just need to be the last one standing. And you always are.

Base Archetype (Levels 1-5)

Core Stats

Starting Equipment

• Heavy melee weapon or martial weapon of choice
• Medium or heavy armor and shield
• Survival kit (bedroll, flint, canteen, 3 days rations)

Level Progression (1-5)

Level 1: Combat Stance & Second Wind

• Combat Stance (At-Will, 1 Action): Choose one stance. You can switch stances as a 1-action activity. Only one stance can be active at a time.

  • Aggressive Stance: +2 to all damage rolls, -1 to Defense Value (DV).
  • Defensive Stance: +2 to Defense Value (DV), -2 to all damage rolls.
  • Balanced Stance: Gain +1 reaction per round (maximum 2 reactions).

• Second Wind (1 Action, 1/Short Rest): Heal yourself for 2d10 + your level in HP and gain temporary HP equal to your level. Usable even in combat.

• Bodyguard (Reaction): When an enemy within 5 feet of you attacks an ally within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to become the target of the attack instead. All damage and effects apply to you; the original target takes none. You must be able to see the attacker. Does not work against area-of-effect abilities, attacks from hidden/invisible creatures, or self-inflicted damage.

• Retaliation Strike (Reaction, END modifier/Short Rest, minimum 1): When you are hit by a melee attack from an enemy within 5 feet, you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against a different enemy within 5 feet of you. This attack uses your normal attack bonus and deals normal damage. You cannot target the enemy who hit you — this represents striking back at the swarm surrounding you, not trading blows with one opponent.

• Grit (Passive): When you are at or below half your maximum HP, reduce all incoming damage by your END modifier (minimum 1). The Wasteland doesn't kill you — it just makes you angrier.

Level 2: Weapon Specialization

Choose one weapon group (Heavy Melee, Light Melee, Ranged Projectile, Ranged Energy, Thrown, or Unarmed). You gain +1 to all damage rolls with weapons in that group. This bonus increases to +2 at Level 10 and +3 at Level 15.

Level 3: Extra Attack

Extra Attack: When you use 1 action to Strike, you make two attacks instead of one. The second attack does not incur the multiple attack penalty. If you use additional actions to Strike, those follow the normal multiple attack penalty (-3 for the second Strike action, -6 for the third, etc.). Extra Attack can only trigger once per turn.

Level 4: Attribute Improvement

Increase one attribute by +2, or two attributes by +1 each (maximum 20 before modifiers).

Level 5 Capstone: Unbreakable

Unbreakable (1/Long Rest, Passive Trigger): When you would be reduced to 0 HP, you instead drop to 1 HP and gain temporary HP equal to twice your level (10 temp HP at Level 5, 20 at Level 10, etc.). While you have this temp HP, you have advantage on all attack rolls and your Grit passive activates regardless of current HP. This ability recharges only after a long rest.

Skill Trees

Warriors have access to three skill trees, each costing AP to unlock features:

Combat Mastery (Offense-Focused)

• Power Strike (5 AP): Once per turn, deal an extra 1d6 damage on a hit.
• Cleave (10 AP, Requires Power Strike): When you drop an enemy to 0 HP with a melee attack, make a free melee attack against another enemy within reach.
• Devastating Critical (15 AP, Requires Power Strike): When you score a critical hit, roll all damage dice three times instead of twice.

Fortification (Defense-Focused)

• Armor Mastery (5 AP): Reduce all incoming physical damage by 2 (minimum 1).
• Shield Wall (10 AP, Requires Shield): As a reaction, grant +2 DV to an adjacent ally until the start of your next turn.
• Immovable Object (15 AP, Requires Armor Mastery): You cannot be forcibly moved (knocked back, pulled, etc.) against your will unless you choose to allow it.

Tactical Operations (Team-Focused)

• Rally Cry (5 AP, 1 Action, 1/Short Rest): All allies within 30 feet gain temporary HP equal to your MIG modifier + your proficiency bonus.
• Tactical Positioning (10 AP): Allies gain advantage on opportunity attacks against enemies you threaten.
• Commander's Presence (15 AP, Requires Rally Cry): Allies within 10 feet of you add your proficiency bonus to their initiative rolls.

Magic Relationship

Warriors have no innate magical ability. However, they can learn cantrips by spending 15 AP per cantrip. Cantrips use the Warrior's Might modifier for attack rolls and save DCs. Warriors cannot learn leveled spells unless they multiclass or take a specific Mastery Path.

Advanced Specializations (Levels 6-10)

Warriors who reach level 6 have mastered the fundamentals of combat. Now they choose how to excel: protecting allies as an unyielding Vanguard, unleashing primal fury as a Berserker, or commanding the battlefield as a Warlord.

System Notes:

• All characters gain 10 AP per level from levels 6-10
• Short rest: 8 hours
• Long rest: 1 week
• Bounded accuracy: maximum total bonus of +18
• 3-action economy per turn

Vanguard (Tank/Protector)

The Vanguard is a living shield, standing between allies and death. They draw aggro, absorb punishment that would fell lesser warriors, and turn their body into an impenetrable fortress. When a Vanguard plants their feet, entire armies break against them.

Prerequisites: Level 6, Warrior archetype

New Skill Tree Unlocked: Bulwark (shield techniques, damage reduction, area denial, taunt mechanics)

Level 6 Features

Shield Wall (Reaction) When an ally within 5 feet is attacked, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. If you are wielding a shield, you instead add your shield's bonus to their Defense Value against that attack.

Iron Skin (Passive) Your body has hardened from countless battles. You gain damage reduction equal to half your proficiency bonus (rounded down) against all physical damage (bludgeoning, piercing, slashing). At level 6, this grants DR 1; at level 9, DR 2.

Level 8 Features

Fortress Stance (2 Actions) You plant yourself and become an immovable defensive position. Spend 2 actions to enter Fortress Stance, which lasts until the start of your next turn. While in this stance:

• You and all allies within 10 feet gain +2 to Defense Value
• Choose one damage type (fire, cold, lightning, acid, poison, necrotic, radiant, psychic, or force) — you and allies within 10 feet gain resistance to that damage type
• You cannot move or be moved

This stance ends immediately if you move voluntarily or are knocked unconscious.

Level 10 Capstone Ability

Immovable Object (1/Long Rest) Once per long rest as 1 action (bonus), you can activate Immovable Object for 1 minute. While active:

• You cannot be moved, pushed, pulled, knocked prone, or teleported against your will
• You have advantage on all Fortitude saving throws
• When an enemy misses you with a melee attack, you can immediately make a free melee weapon attack against them (no action required)

This represents the pinnacle of defensive martial mastery — you become an absolute anchor point on the battlefield.

Berserker (Damage/Rage)

The Berserker channels raw, primal fury into devastating attacks. They trade defense for overwhelming offense, becoming a whirlwind of destruction in close combat. When a Berserker enters their rage, enemies learn the meaning of fear — those who stand before them rarely stand for long.

Prerequisites: Level 6, Warrior archetype

New Skill Tree Unlocked: Primal Fury (rage enhancements, intimidation in combat, brutal finishers, cleave attacks)

Level 6 Features

Rage (1 Action) You can enter a primal rage as 1 action. While raging, you gain the following benefits:

• +2 damage to all melee weapon attacks
• Advantage on all Might (MIG) checks and Might saving throws
• Resistance to physical damage (bludgeoning, piercing, slashing)
• You cannot cast spells or concentrate on spells while raging

Your rage lasts for 1 minute (10 rounds) or until you choose to end it as a free action. It ends early if you fall unconscious or if you don't attack a hostile creature or take damage since your last turn.

Uses: You can rage a number of times equal to your Endurance (END) modifier per short rest (minimum 1).

Level 8 Features

Reckless Strike (Passive Option) When you make a melee attack, you can choose to attack recklessly. If you do:

• You gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls you make during this turn
• Attack rolls against you have advantage until the start of your next turn

This represents throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of overwhelming offense.

Savage Critical (Passive) Your melee critical hits are extraordinarily brutal. When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon, you deal triple damage instead of the normal double damage.

Example: A normal hit deals 2d6+4 = 13 damage. A normal crit deals 26 damage. Your Savage Critical deals 39 damage.

Level 10 Capstone Ability

Deathless Fury (1/Long Rest, Conditional) Once per long rest, while raging, if you would be reduced to 0 hit points, you can make a DC 12 Endurance (END) saving throw. On a success, you drop to 1 hit point instead.

Each time you successfully use this feature during the same rage, the DC increases by 2 (DC 14, then DC 16, etc.). The DC resets when you begin a new rage.

This ability represents the berserker's refusal to fall while fury still burns in their veins.

Warlord (Tactical/Leadership)

The Warlord is a battlefield commander who turns the tide through strategy, not just strength. They coordinate allies, exploit openings, and orchestrate devastating combined attacks. A skilled Warlord multiplies their party's effectiveness, transforming a group of individuals into a precision war machine.

Prerequisites: Level 6, Warrior archetype

New Skill Tree Unlocked: Command (ally movement, coordinated attacks, formation bonuses, morale control)

Level 6 Features

Tactical Command (1 Action) As 1 action, choose one ally within 30 feet who can see or hear you. That ally can immediately use their reaction to either:

• Move up to half their speed without provoking opportunity attacks, OR
• Make one weapon attack

This represents your ability to direct allies into advantageous positions or create openings for additional strikes.

Battle Plan (Initiative Bonus) At the start of combat, before initiative is rolled, you can quickly bark orders to your allies. All allies who can hear you gain +2 to their initiative rolls for that combat.

Your tactical foresight allows your team to react faster than enemies expect.

Level 8 Features

Coordinated Strike (Passive) When you hit an enemy with a melee weapon attack, the next ally to attack that same target before your next turn gains advantage on their attack roll.

This represents your ability to create openings for allies to exploit.

Inspiring Leader (Short Rest Feature) During a short rest, you can give a rousing speech of 1 minute or longer. Choose up to 6 friendly creatures (including yourself) who can hear and understand you. Each creature gains temporary hit points equal to your level + your Presence (PRE) modifier.

These temporary hit points last until the next short or long rest.

Example: At level 8 with PRE +3, you grant 11 temporary HP to each recipient.

Level 10 Capstone Ability

Supreme Tactician (1/Long Rest) Once per long rest, at the start of your turn, you can execute a perfect tactical maneuver. Choose up to 3 allies within 60 feet who can hear you. Each chosen ally immediately takes one action of their choice as a free action (this doesn't use their reaction).

This is extraordinarily powerful and represents perfect battlefield orchestration — casting a spell, making attacks, using abilities, or repositioning all happen simultaneously at your command.

Game Master Note: This effectively grants 3 extra turns of actions distributed among your allies. Use this to turn the tide of the most critical battles.

Level 16: Unstoppable Force

Your momentum cannot be halted. Your melee attacks cannot be dodged with reactions (including opportunity attacks, parries, or defensive abilities). When you move through a space occupied by a hostile creature, you may force your way through — the creature takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage and you continue moving. You gain +1 to all attack rolls.

Level 17: Specialization Final Evolution

Vanguard — Unbreakable Shield

Your damage reduction from armor and abilities doubles. You can use your Shield Wall ability for free once per round without spending an action. Allies within 10ft of you gain half your damage reduction value as a bonus to their DV.

Berserker — Primal Fury

When you enter Rage, you immediately gain 3 actions instead of waiting until your next turn. Your Rage damage bonus increases by +3. While raging, you can make a single melee attack as a free action whenever an enemy misses you with a melee attack.

Warlord — Perfect Form

You can parry ranged attacks (not just melee). When you successfully parry an attack, you may immediately make a riposte attack as part of the same reaction. Your critical hit range increases by 1 (19-20 becomes 18-20, etc.).

Level 20 Apex Ability: Titan's Stand

Once per long rest (1 week)

For 1 minute, you embody the unstoppable force of the warrior's spirit. You become an immovable bastion of destruction.

Effects:

• You are immune to being moved against your will, knocked prone, stunned, paralyzed, or restrained
• At the start of each of your turns, you gain 30 temporary HP
• Your melee attacks deal an additional 3d6 damage
• Every melee attack you make automatically hits all enemy creatures within 5ft of your primary target (no additional attack roll needed)
• You have advantage on Might checks and saving throws
• Difficult terrain costs you no extra movement

Drawback: When Titan's Stand ends, you immediately gain 1 level of exhaustion. The weight of such power takes its toll.