Gladiators!

Ahhh the Gladiator, a marvel of hand to hand combat. Most Gladiator's spend their entire lives training for Gladiatorial confrontations. They are extremely resilient people and are perhaps the most highly skilled warriors in all Vastonia. They fear only defeat, for it shall bring them death. Most gladiator's shun heavy armors because of the bulkiness, thus slowing them from making critical reactions. Gladiators can effectively wield a huge multitude of weaponry, being proficient with any and all common melee weapons. You can find gladiators throughout Vastonia usually within any arena dedicated to combat. Two of the more famous Gladiatorial arena's are found in Veldstone and Gladius, thousands of Vastonian's travel here to watch these fearless warriors fight for their lives. You can find some of Vastonia's more uncommon races within these unforgiving walls of death. Being forced into gladiatorial combat drives most of them into a state of evilness. Some of course are sheer fighting machines choosing this life as a way to make ends meet or perhaps as a legal way to kill.

Class Requirements: The Gladiators prime requisite is strength but other high attributes are also desired. To become a Gladiator one must have a minimum strength of 13 and a Dexterity and constitution score of not less than 12. Gladiators can be of any alignment but are typically evil in their intentions. Gladiators prefer the use of savage weaponry in combat; gaff's, shrade swords, spiked maces, large warhammers etc. and gain a special damage bonus according to this preferred weapon that must be chosen at first level (see below).

General Info: Gladiators use a twelve sided die (1D12) for hitpoint determination unlike most other warrior classes. Thus reflecting their resilience in combat. Enslaved Gladiators start with little or no money (92% of them), while freelancers start with 5d6 x 10 gp, 5 weapon proficiency slots and 2 non-weapon proficiency slots. They then receive 1 WP slot every 3 levels and 1 NWP every 5 levels. Bonus proficiencies include; endurance, alertness.

Class Restrictions: Can never be dual class or multi class.

Combat Bonuses: All Gladiators are proficient with all common melee weapons throughout the land (DM's option). They receive a +1 bonus to damage/ level with one specific weapon. This is the weapon in which the Gladiator has initially chose to specialize in, thus being their preferred weapon of combat. This weapon gives them the standard specialization bonuses of +3 to hit and +3 to damage, but also gives them a +1 to damage for each level beyond 3rd level. Eg a 7th level Gladiator using a preferred weapon "say a great hammer of war" would receive a +3 to hit and a +7 to damage.

Special Advantages: Gladiators may choose to be specialized in three weapons or double specialize with two unlike other warrior classes in Vastonia who are limited to two weapon specialization's or one double specialization.

Special Disadvantages: 92% of all starting PC Gladiators are considered slaves, either beginning confined to a premise or on the run from their owners.

Experience Table