From the ranks of the common folk, a hero sometimes arises who is neither a soldier, nor a sorcerer, but a man of his fists. Whether trained in a martial arts school, experienced in the bloodsports common in rowdy taverns, or master of the bar-room brawl, the pugilist lives by the fist. He never donned heavy mail or trained with a sword. Instead, he learned the art and practice of wrestling and bare-hand fighting. The haughty tyrant or blade-wielding bully underestimate him. He then rewards their hubris with a well-aimed fist to their sneering faces.
Pugilist
Requirement: Strength 9 or better.
Prime Requisite: Strength.
Class Build
(see the ACKS Player's Companion)
Hit Dice 1 (500XP): 1d6 hit dice.
Fighting 1b (500XP): as a thief; however:
- Armor selection remains at Narrow - leather armor or lighter.
- Weapon selection reduced from Broad to Restricted - club, dagger, sling, whip: 3 powers.
- Fighting styles: reduced to two weapons only: 1 power.
Thievery 2 (400XP): 5 skills traded into 5 powers.
XP for level 2: 1,400XP
Powers: 4 at level 1; 2 traded for powers at levels 2, 4, 9; 1 traded to levels 5 and 9; another 1 traded to levels 5 and 9.
So:
level 1: 4 powers
level 2: 1 power
level 4: 1 power
level 5: 2 power
level 9: 3 powers
Power progression:
Level 1:
Combat Trickery (Wrestling).
Fists of Iron: fist/fist attack routine at 1d3-1 each. At level 5, can harm creatures invulnerable to non-magical weapons (i.e. counts as a "magical" attack). Counts as 2 powers.
Legwork: as Blade-Dancing.
Level 2:
Fists of Iron 1d4-1/1d4-1
Level 4:
Fists of Iron 1d6-1/1d6-1
Level 5:
Swashbuckling (stacks with Blade-dancing); AC +1; total AC +2.
Also, as noted above, consider the pugilist's unarmed attacks as "Magical" for the purpose of harming monsters; no additional power cost (subsumed in Fists of Iron).
Level 7:
As noted above, the Legwork and Swashbuckling bonuess to AC increases to +2 each; no additional power cost (subsumed in Legwork). Total AC bonus +4.
Level 9:
Fists of Iron 1d8-1/1d8-1
Fighting Fury: at will, the character can enter a fighting fury. While furious, the character gains a +2 bonus to damage rolls and becomes immune to fear. However, the character cannot retreat from combat. Once it has begun, a fighting fury cannot be ended until combat ends. Counts as 2 powers.
Level 13:
As noted above, the Legwork and Swashbuckling bonuses to AC increases to +3 each; no additional power cost (subsumed in Legwork). Total AC bonus +6.
