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   Anyone notice that the amazon kit that's listed in each of the handbooks
gets +3 to hit and damage under extremely rare circumstances (only if this,
that, and the other conditions are met) and that they get an absolutely
horrendous reaction from almost everyone?  To put it more succinctly, has
anyone noticed that the amazon kit is mildly unbalanced, and its abilities
are just plain silly?
   Thought so.  Well, here's my take on a much abused, misunderstood, and
underestimated group.

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Amazon Kit

Requirements:
   must be female
   Str 8, Dex 8, Con 8  (amazons are classically represented as physically
      fit as an entire group)
   Fighter: Str 13 (amazon warriors classically astound males with their
      strength, both in war an of arm).
   Ranger: Str 13, Dex 13, Con 14, Wis 14 (standard for Ranger).
   Paladin: Str 13, Con 9, Wis 13, Chr 17 (standard for Paladin, but
      stronger).
   Wizard: Int 13 (since most amazons follow warlike pursuits, it's not
      enough to be of average intelligence to become a wizard - either the
      amazon is above average, or she goes into more physical pursuits).
   Specialist: Int 13, plus School Requirements
   Bard: Dex 12, Int 13, Chr 15 (standard for the Bard).

Description:
      The Amazon is any strong, independant female from a matriarchal (or
   woman-ruled) culture.  In her culture, women are the dominant force,
   run the wars, hunt, and fulfill all positions of power.  Traditionally,
   Amazons are also superior horse-breeders and riders, excelling with
   spears, bows, and other horseback weapons.
      Men may be simply subservient (domesticated, if you will), slaves,
   a discreet, small part of amazon society (a nearby village of men from
   which the amazons take their duties), or entirely removed from the
   society (parthenogenesis, like in the novel Herland).  The extent of
   inequality for men is left up to the particular campaign, but keep in
   mind that throughout history, there are countless examples (with women,
   not men) of how brutal it can get - so don't feel limited.

Role:
      An Amazon is a female character who is completely unhindered by the
   fetters most societies place on women.  She is personally powerful, and
   views men (when she views them at all) as the inferior group.  A good
   way to handle this is to take any major philosophy of power or control
   and replace every "he", "men", "mankind", and so on with "she", "women",
   and "womankind".
      For example, during the european invasion of native american shores
   in the 1700s, there was a philosophy running around known as Manifest
   Destiny.  In it, mankind was destined to rule the world, and through it,
   the native americans, africans, and many others were viewed as obstacles,
   rather than people.  Substitute womankind into that and you've got
   amazonian europe.
      If you want another example, take the Christian bible and replace
   every 'he' with 'she' and every 'she' with 'he'.  Actually, this is an
   enlightening experience whether or not you're creating an amazon.
      The Amazon in a campaign is there to fit right in with the guys,
   except that the "guys" just don't understand her.  She is a very different
   viewpoint, a contrast against the background.  Note that in a realistic
   game, she may well get killed beyond the borders of her civilized state
   by the barbarians who treat their women in such horrible manner.  The
   Amazon is more suited to games in which the patriarchal system is not
   very bad, so that she presents more of an oddity and less of a demon.
      Warriors, of course, are the prototypical Amazons.  They serve as
   the soldiers, hunters, and providers for all of Amazonian society.  It is
   the warriors who defend the Amazon's society from those who would "fix"
   it.  The Paladin and Ranger fulfill two specific niches in this.
      Mages are far rarer in Amazonian societies than in others, because
   many who might have gone into magic in another society are drafted into
   the military instead.  But this does not mean they are less valued -
   indeed, it means that they are far more valued.  A wizard in Amazonian
   society is of the noble class, regardless of what she was before, and
   is often provided for in many other ways.
      The Bards are the story-tellers and entertainers of the Amazons, and
   are often also advisors, sources of history and information, and teachers
   among the Amazons, much like in male dominated societies.  Bards are
   almost never nobility, but they can often achieve startling heights of
   status.

Preferred Schools of Magic (Wizards):
      Conjuration/Summoning, and Invocation/Evocation for their obvious uses
   in combat and field battles.  In addition, Diviners often make good
   advisors and teachers, and Enchanters are often good diplomats.

Barred Schools of Magic (Wizards):
      In some Amazonian cultures (more idealistic, utopic ones), they may
   shun Necromantic spells, but more realistic cultures will have no more
   barring of it than a similar patriarchy.  Illusion, because of its
   uselessness to all but Bards and entertainers, is generally avoided.

Weapon Proficiency:
   Warrior & Bard:
         Required to select from bows, dagger/dirk, javelin, knife, spear,
      swords.  After the Amazon has had exposure to other cultures, she may
      learn to use other types of weapons.
   Wizard:
         Amazon Wizards may select from bows, dagger/dirk, javelin, knife,
      spear, staff.  This is contrary to the abilities of most wizards.

Nonweapon Proficiency:
   Bonus for all: Riding (Land-Based), Animal Training (Mount)
   Recommended: Animal Handling, Animal Lore, Armorer, Bowyer/Fletcher,
      Weaponsmith, Hunting, Running, Survival, Tracking

Equipment:
      An Amazon is limited in starting weapons to the lists under warrior's
   weapon proficiencies.  After the Amazon has been exposed to others, it
   is possible to buy others.
      In addition, the DM may wish to impose other equipment limitations,
   based on the culture of the world.  Traditional amazons, for example,
   wore only partial plate mail (half the weight, and provides AC 5).

Special Benefits:
   Warrior:
         Against anyone who is not prepared to fight the fierce Amazonian
      women warriors, an Amazon warrior gets +2 to hit, and +2 to damage.
      This benefit lasts until the opponent has "gotten the point".  With
      some particularly patriarchal types, this may last the entire combat,
      whereas with someone who is fairly open-minded, it may last for only
      a single attack.  It will affect warriors of any level.
   Wizard:
         Amongst her own people, an Amazon Sorceress is of the nobility,
      and will be treated as such.  Usually, this means a +3 to reaction
      modifiers among the noble class, being housed on request, and so on.
      As a general rule, it means that once the Amazon gets on her home
      territory, she has a lot of power.
   Bard:
         Although not as fierce as the Amazonian warriors, the bard is
      still a fair fighter, and gets a +1 bonus identical to the warrior's
      +2 bonus in combat against the ill-prepared.
         In addition, the Amazonian entertainer can often get lodging,
      food, and replaced equipment while on home territory, for a night's
      entertainment.

Special Hindrances:
      Outside their home culture, most Amazons are viewed with disdain or
   outright disgust; women are told to avoid them, and men fear them, all
   the more because the men can't understand WHY they fear a woman.  In
   particularly religious cultures, they may actually be seen as heretics,
   sinners, or even demons from the demonland.
      How this is handled is up to the individual DM, but generally an
   Amazon has a rough time because she doesn't (and indeed doesn't even
   know how to) act subservient to the male species.

Wealth Options:
   Standard.

Races:
   Any race may be an Amazon, although elves would seem the most inclined.

