WARRIOR-FIGHTER KIT

Gladiator

Description:  The gladiator is a showman-warrior from a society where public 
combat competitions are popular sport.  The gladiator is a professional warrior 
with some emphasis on versatility and showmanship and flair as well as brutal 
efficiency.  The appearance of these strong, capable warriors appeals to 
different circles within the crowd.  Some professional Gladiators are loved for 
their mastery and artful use of weapons, others for the brutality they employ to 
crush the life from their opponents.  Professional Gladiators are at the 
pinnacle of their field, having learned the arts of flashy combat and spending 
considerable time and effort on becoming the best.  In some ways, Gladiators 
represent the dreams and difficulties of the lives in cultures where they are 
popular.  The harshness of daily life is seen reflected in the dangers that 
Gladiators face every time they enter the arena.  The ability to overcome 
adversity and to earn glory and riches are the very same things the common 
citizen can dream about, and in the days leading up to their arena matches they 
are considered celebrities, with their prominence usually growing in direct 
proportion to the amount of money bet on their matches.  They are shown off at 
parties given in their honor, and it is not unusual to find children's drawings 
of their favorite gladiators on the city walls and in back alleys.  The names of 
some are spoken with a reverence usually reserved for kings.

Requirements:  Gladiators can be of any alignment, but in addition to standard 
Fighter requirements a Gladiator must have Charisma and Dexterity scores of at 
least 13.  Gladiators may be humans, half-orcs, half-elves, half-ogres, dwarves, 
or tieflings.

Weapons & Armor:  Gladiators can wear any armor and use any type of shield, 
though they most often wear light armor to enable them freedom of movement.

Gladiators do not become proficient in the use of individual melee weapons; 
instead, they learn the use of Narrow and Broad Weapon Groups (at a reduced 
cost, as described under Special Benefits).  a Gladiator cannot begin play with 
proficiency in any missile fire device, though hurled weapons may be known 
(also, see Special Hindrances).

Special Benefits:  Gladiators may train free of charge in their home city as 
long as he or she is not currently being sought for any crimes in that city and 
as long as there is a gladiator at the arena at least 2 levels higher than his 
or her own level.  In addition, they gain an array of special abilities that 
relate their combat abilities and showmanship.

Arena Acting:  This ability allows a Gladiator to feign weakness in combat to 
trick his or her opponent, requiring a successful Charisma check.  If actually 
fighting in an arena situation, a Gladiator gains a +1 bonus to this check for 
every three levels of experience (rounding up), while it is halved if a 
Gladiator attempts to use it against another Gladiator (who is often wise to the 
tricks used in Arena Acting).  If the check is successful, the Gladiator has 
been able to fake a weakness that he or she does not really possess (e.g., that 
his or her left side is overexposed or that his or her weapons are unfamiliar).  
If the enemy attacks the Gladiator's assumed weakness, the PC can attack his or 
her foe with a +3 bonus to hit and damage for the first round of combat, 
reflecting the surprise that the target feels upon realizing that he or she has 
been duped.  Arena Acting can only be used once against any given opponent; 
thereafter, the enemy is far more cautious in his or her attacks.  Using Arena 
Acting applies a penalty of +1d6 to the Gladiator's initiative roll.

Armor Optimization:  Gladiators are trained to fight with little in the way of 
armor protection, often no more than a buckler or one or two sections of 
piecemeal armor.  They therefore learn a great deal about defensive positioning 
and narrowly avoiding blows when in light armor.  Hence, a Gladiator wearing 
studded leather or lighter armor (or equivalent piece armor granting no better 
than AC 7) can improve his or her armor class by 1 for every five levels 
(rounding up; e.g., +1 at 1st-5th level, +2 at 6th-10th level), in addition to 
his or her Dexterity bonus and any other adjustments.

Attacks of Opportunity:  As a standard Fighter.

Continuous Conditioning:  As a standard Fighter, save that a Gladiator is more 
able to focus his or her training.  As a result, instead of rolling 2d10 and 
adding to each of Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution each time a Gladiator 
gains a level, he or she assign his or her six ten-sided dice as desired.  Thus, 
a Gladiator might choose to apply 5d10 to Strength, 1d10 to Constitution, and 
nothing to Dexterity at 2nd level, and then a different combination at 3rd 
level.  In any event, no more than 6d10 can be rolled at each level, and the 
number of dice assigned to each stat must be decided before dice are rolled.

Massage:  This ability allows a Gladiator to help partners maintain their form 
longer during matches.  By applying this therapy between matches, a Gladiator 
ensures that the muscles of the subject remain loose and relaxed, essential for 
good combat.  Any Gladiator who receives Massage in between bouts gains +2 to 
Endurance proficiency checks during the next hour.  This ability can only be 
used on others.

Specialization:  As a standard Fighter, but a Gladiator who wishes to begin with 
Specialization in a weapon can begin with one Narrow Group proficiency (see 
Weapons Expertise) and Skilled Specialization in one weapon.  They cannot gain 
Specialization or proficiency in other weapons until later.

Strike to Injure:  A Gladiator is a consummate warrior who is skilled at maiming 
and injuring his or her opponents in a variety of ways, not always involving 
lethal force.  As a result, any time a Gladiator hits an opponent by a margin of 
10 or more, the target must save vs. petrification (modified by the difference 
between the Gladiator's level and the target's level) or suffer one of the 
following effects:

d10 roll		Effect
  1-2		Scarred (-2 to Charisma if scar not covered or disguised)
  3-4		Crippled (movement halved and -2 attack roll penalty until wound 
		healed)
  5-6		Vital organs hit (weapon damage doubled)
  7-8		Bleeding wound (internal or external, lose 1 hp/round for 1d6 
		rounds)
  9-10		Dazed (dizzy for 1d12 rds, +2 to be hit, lose DEX bonuses, further 
		hits force DEX check or fall over)

This need not be declared as an action and is an automatic function of a 
Gladiator's weapons training and skill in flashy fighting techniques and vital 
spots, but normally it only applies against basically humanoid targets of up to 
size L.  It is possible, however, for a Gladiator to spend a weapon or non-
weapon proficiency slot to learn the anatomy and weak points of a single size H 
creature or a non-humanoid creature of any size (up to size H) and thereby gain 
the ability to Strike to Injure such foes.

Style Specialization:  As a standard Fighter, except a Gladiator is first and 
foremost a melee combatant who fights alone and cannot learn any mounted or 
missile-oriented styles.

Unarmed Expertise:  Gladiators are highly skilled in unarmed combat, reducing 
the speed factor of their weaponless attacks by 1 for every four levels of 
experience (rounding up), to a minimum of 0.  They are able to ignore the 
'weapons in defense' rule and therefore do not suffer any special penalties when 
fighting a creature with a weapon when they themselves are unarmed.  

When attacking with their bare hands, Gladiators can use their Unarmed Expertise 
to inflict 1d4 points of damage plus one point per three levels of experience 
(rounding down) with a successful attack roll, in addition to their Strength 
bonus (if any).  In addition, if the attack roll is 5 or more higher than that 
needed to score a hit (or a natural 20 in any event), the target must save vs. 
paralyzation or be stunned for 1d6 rounds.  Creatures more than twice the 
Gladiator's body weight cannot be stunned and suffer only half damage from the 
Gladiator's blows.  Half of the damage inflicted by these blows is only 
temporary and will be healed immediately if the target spends a full turn at 
rest.  A Gladiator who learns the Brawling Style Specialization can substitute 
this unarmed attack for a standard punching attack, and he or she can apply 
Punching specialization bonuses to hit and damage for this special unarmed 
attack.

Gladiators can also become highly skilled in the more usual realms of unarmed 
combat if they elect to spend slots on Punching and Wrestling Specialization.  
When attempting to learn such specialization, it takes them only one-half the 
normal amount of time to learn and they gain a +20% bonus to their chance of 
success.  In addition, by making a 'called shot' (including the usual penalties 
of -4 to hit and +1 to initiative) with a punching or wrestling attack they can 
choose the result of their attack on the Punching/Wrestling chart (e.g., a 
Combination, Headlock, or Bear hug), regardless of the result of their attack 
roll.  They can also roll to hit normally and apply any 'chart bonus' that might 
accrue based on their level of specialization.

Weapons Expertise:  Gladiators train in a wide variety of weapons, and as a 
result their non-proficiency penalty with melee weapons is reduced to -1 to hit 
and damage (though they still cannot gain multiple attacks with non-proficient 
weapons).  In addition they can learn Narrow Group proficiency with melee 
weapons at a cost of one weapon proficiency slot and Broad Groups at a cost of 
two slots; hence, they never become proficient in individual melee weapons.  
This benefit does not apply to missile weapon groups (see Special Hindrances).  
When training for new melee weapon group proficiency, a Gladiator gains a +10% 
bonus to the chance of success.

When fighting with a weapon, a Gladiator's habitually flashy combat style 
results in automatic use of the Display Weapon Prowess proficiency (other 
Gladiators are immune to this effect).  In addition, when wielding a weapon in 
which he or she is specialized, a Gladiator adds a bonus to his or her 
proficiency score equal to his or her level of specialization.  If a Gladiator 
chooses to spend an entire round using Display Weapon Prowess rather than 
attacking (as per the normal use of the proficiency), he or she can add an 
additional bonus equal to one-third his or her level (rounding up).  Creatures 
who fail their morale check when confronted with a Gladiator's flashing blades 
must immediately flee at least 10' from the Gladiator and will attempt to keep 
that distance for the remainder of the combat, seeking out other opponents if 
possible or fleeing in panic if the Gladiator is the only available combatant, 
and suffer a -1 penalty to all die rolls if within 10' of the Gladiator for the 
remainder of the battle.  The ability automatically fails if the Gladiator has 
been struck by his or her opponent previously during the encounter.

Finally, Gladiators are experts at parrying and similar combat maneuvers.  When 
they Parry for a full round, a Gladiator gains the normal AC bonus but also 
gains an additional +1 bonus vs. device-launched missiles, +2 vs. hurled 
weapons, and +3 vs. melee attacks.  When rolling to hit for a Block, Disarm, 
Expert Disarm, or similar maneuver (DM's discretion), a Gladiator gains a +2 
bonus to hit, doubled to +4 if his or her opponent is not a Warrior (note that 
against other Gladiators he or she gains no bonus).

Special Hindrances:  Because Gladiators are trained to prolong combat rather 
than going for the quick kill, they suffer a -1 penalty to all damage rolls 
(minimum of 1 point per hit).  As a Gladiator gradually becomes more acclimated 
toward the lethal combat usually seen in the adventuring life, this penalty 
tends to disappear.  Each time a Gladiator gains a level, he or she has a chance 
equal to 5% times the new level (e.g., 10% upon reaching 2nd, 15% at 3rd) to be 
able to overcome this ingrained habit to pull their blows slightly and negate 
this damage penalty.

For the obvious reason that missile weapons are considered hazardous to crowds 
(as well as arena managers), Gladiators receive almost no instruction in the use 
of missiles.  Hence, Gladiators suffer a -2 penalty to hit with missile weapons, 
and this penalty is cumulative with non-proficiency penalties.  In addition, for 
a Gladiator to become proficient in a missile weapon or weapon group including 
missile weapons (either missile fire devices or hurled missiles) requires double 
the normal amount of weapon proficiency slots.  If a Gladiator does not pay this 
extra cost for 'dual-purpose' weapons or weapon groups (i.e., weapons usable in 
melee or as missiles), he or she is considered proficient in such weapons only 
for melee use; if using them as missiles, he or she is considered non-
proficient.

Gladiators focus on individual combat, particularly one-on-one duels.  As a 
result, they are less expert at fighting large groups than are other Fighters.  
Thus, they do not gain the ability to engage in a Heroic Fray.  They also 
project an image of dedication to their particular art of single combat, rather 
than battlefield leadership, and as a result they gain none of the usual 
Stronghold benefits of other Fighters, though a Gladiator can of course build a 
stronghold or fortress if he or she wishes.  Likewise, they can gain only half 
the normal number of henchmen allowed for their Charisma.

Gladiators love the adulation of the crowds, and their general mannerisms 
reflect this.  Hence, Gladiators tend to have a notable air about them; that is, 
they are very recognizable in a crowd.  If a Gladiator is involved in any sort 
of situation where he or she might attempt to go incognito, he or she will have 
a very hard time escaping notice unless his or her appearance is magically 
disguised.  Gladiators must also spend at least 10% of all earnings must be 
spent on special equipment, training materials, lessons and contacts from other 
warriors that they may meet (to learn new tricks to use in the arena), and 
publicity and promotion of themselves and their fighting career.  Despite their 
efforts at self-promotion, Gladiators have little time or inclination for social 
graces and tend to be gruff and direct in their manner and very unrefined, and 
thus they incur a -1 reaction penalty.

Gladiator PCs are generally from areas outside the main campaign area, and so 
may need to spend proficiency slots to learn the local language.  They may not 
begin play with the Reading/Writing proficiency, though this may be gained 
later.  Gladiators begin play little in the way of wealth or equipment.  They 
can choose any single melee weapon at no cost (a gift from their trainers), but 
gain only 1d4+1 x 10 g.p. with which to make their other purchases.

Finally, a Gladiator focuses so much on the study of combat that they gain only 
half the normal number of non-weapon proficiency slots (rounding down) and gain 
new slots only every four levels.  In addition, all of a Gladiator's initial 
non-weapon proficiency slots must be spent on the Preferred Proficiencies listed 
below or for Style Specialization or learning special creature types for use of 
the Strike to Injure ability.

Bonus Proficiencies:  Display Weapon Prowess, Endurance
Preferred Proficiencies:  Animal Care, Animal Handling, Animal Lore, Animal 
Training, Armor Optimization, Armorer, Blind-fighting, Charioteering, Drinking, 
Etiquette, Gaming, Immovability, Instant Stand, Prone Fighting, Tactics, 
Tumbling, Weapon Improvisation, Weaponsmithing
Forbidden Proficiencies:  Agriculture, Boat Building, Boating, Fishing, Mining, 
Seamanship, Tunneling