Warrior

Pugilist - by B. Kellestine ©2020 v1.1

Summary Pugilist, brawler, martial artist - these are all different names for the same path of training. Warriors who specialize in fighting with any one of the number of unarmed styles of Imarel, focusing their personal energy - whether they call it Prana, Chi, Ki, or anything else - to devastating effectiveness on the battlefield. Pugilists may wield no weapons in combat, and wear only light armor with the exception of gloves and footwear, which may be heavy or even powered armor. Pugilists may learn any unarmed style, including the normally class-restricted ones, provided a willing teacher is available to them.

Class Skills Fury of Blows

A pugilist is a fierce opponent in combat, having spent their life dedicated to a particular style of unarmed combat. As such, they begin play with an unarmed style at adept without having to expend EP. This unarmed style is their primary style; though they may learn others, this style is the one they devote their life to, and gain the most benefit from. Further, pugilists choose either Hard style combat (combat that focuses on force of blows) or Soft style combat (combat that focuses on non-resistive evades, redirection, and throws.). All styles contain elements of both, with some favoring one or the other.

A Pugilist gains one additional attack per round when using unarmed strikes, as well as a bonus +10% to-hit. When attacking unarmed, not only are they treated as armed against armored opponents due to their rigorous physical conditioning, but they may also hit enemies with their bare fists as if using magical weapons, including even spectral beings.

Personal Focus

Due to being one with their mind, body, and spirit, Pugilists can perform preternatural feats depending on the style they have chosen.

Hard Style: Up to three times a day, a Pugilist who has chosen to specialize in Hard style combat may perform physical feats, such as running at double speed, jumping exceptionally high, or breaking hard objects such as wood, stone, or even metals. The base success for these feats is 50% + 5% for each rank in their primary unarmed style.. Further, a Pugilist who studies a hard style gains a 60% base chance of blocking up to one attack per round, and gains a -5% AR for each rank in their primary unarmed style. Finally, they recieve a +5% bonus to the success rate of Cripple, Maim, Knockout and Submission.

Soft Style: Three times a day, a pugilist practising soft style may perform feats of mental or spiritual acuity, including things such as ignoring physical pain, entirely resisting fear or charm effects, and seeing through illusions, or piercing sorcerous defenses. The chance to succeed at these feats is 50% + 5% for each rank in their primary unarmed style. A roll is made in addition to standard MD checks when applicable. Further, a master of soft style has a base evasion of 60%, and gains a -5% MD for each rank in their primary unarmed style. Finally, they recieve a +5% bonus to the success rate of Stunning Strike, Knockout, Immobilize, and Incapacitation.

Devastating Blow

Pugilists have dedicated their lives to perfecting their martial form. As such, they develop techniques to quickly dispose of enemies and end conflicts with little effort. Though these attacks are not assured to succeed, when they do not they are still likely to cause at very least a great deal of pain or discomfort. While powerful, these attacks may only be attempted once per day.

Hard Style: Five Point Palm Technique : A Hard-Style Pugilist may attempt a fierce, destructive strike that can instantly cause severe internal damage, broken bones, or even instant death. By sacrificing all of their attacks, the warrior may make a single, powerful blow that has a 60% chance +5% for each rank in their primary unarmed skill to instantly kill an enemy. If this killing blow does not succeed or the target is powerful enough to be completely immune to such an attack, they instead suffer a critical hit that causes internal bleeding that resulting in 2 less attacks per round (minimum 1), -25% to-hit, block, and evasion rolls for the remainder of the combat scenario.

Soft Style: Ten-Thousand Needles : A Soft-Style Pugilist may attempt a series of fast, sharp strikes to pressure points. The warrior makes all of their attacks, but if at least 1 hits then there is a 60% chance +5% for each rank in their primary unarmed skill to instantly kill an enemy. If this killing blow does not succeed or the target is powerful enough to be completely immune to such an attack, they instead find themselves incapacitated for 1d3+1 rounds, unable to take any action but a single block.

Note: A Paragon Pugilist who has progressed to at least Master rank in their primary style may opt to learn a blended style of their primary unarmed combat style. If they spend 12 EP, they gain partial benefits of the other style. Though a master of Hard/Soft Blended styles can use both Hard and Soft style Personal Focus and Devastating blow abilities, they still may only draw from those talents 3 times per day and one time per day respectively. Further, they do not gain the bonuses to Cripple, Submission, Evade, etc. for the second style.