Battle Master

Battle Master is an Archetype of the Fighter Class available to players during Character Creation. It is the second rarest type of Fighter in The Old World, but also one of the oldest, dating back to at least the Age of Imperium. Battle Masters rely on technique rather than raw strength in Combat, using carefully controlled attacks to keep their enemies on the defensive and command the battlefield (see https://www.dndwiki.io/subclasses/battle-master).

Battle Masters excel in single Combat, drawing on their vast repertoire of maneuvers to create and exploit weaknesses in their foe's defense, but they are also highly effective leaders in larger engagements. A Battle Master has an answer for nearly any tactical situation and can greatly strengthen their allies by directing and coordinating their attacks. Their strategic skills are unmatched by any other tradition and, given time, they can devise a plan to bring down nearly any adversary.

Many Battle Masters begin their training as children, leaving their families to train at the prestigious dueling academies of Eisen and Vodacce or apprentice to an established master. Others, however, are self-taught, honing their techniques through years of Combat experience. In ancient Latium, they were highly prized as gladiators, a role they continue to fill in the bloody arenas of Alderac and Ifri. Most modern Battle Masters, however, make their living as mercenaries, serving as elite bodyguards and enforcers for wealthy patrons. Perhaps the most famous example are the Varangians, towering black-clad warriors from Mennavjar and Sarmion who have guarded the king of Hellada since antiquity.

Battle Masters are subject to the following variant rules:

• When a Battle Master uses their "Disarming Strike" maneuver, they may catch the disarmed item as a free Action if they are adjacent to the target and have a free hand;
• A Battle Master may use their "Evasive Footwork" maneuver as a Reaction as follows: when another creature makes a melee attack against the Battle Master, they may expend one superiority die and roll it, adding the result to their AC for that attack;
• When a Battle Master uses their "Lunging Attack" maneuver, they increase their reach by 5 ft. for all melee weapon attacks until the end of their turn, rather than for a single attack, and may add the result of their superiority die to the damage of any one attack they make in that turn;
• When a Battle Master uses their "Rally" maneuver, the number of temporary Hit Points the target gains is dependent upon their Fighter Level as follows: 1st-2nd Level: HP = 1d8 + Fighter Level, 3rd-6th Level: HP = 2d8 + Fighter Level, 7th-9th Level: HP = 3d8 + Fighter Level, 10th-14th Level: HP = 4d10 + Fighter Level, 15th-17th Level: HP = 5d10 + Fighter Level, 18th-20th Level: HP = 6d12 + Fighter Level
• A Battle Master may use their "Parry" maneuver to potentially cause an attack to miss, rather than to reduce its damage, by expending one superiority die to add their DEX modifier to their AC for that attack, or their STR modifier if they are holding a shield, as a Reaction. If the attack misses the Battle Master gains temporary Hit Points equal to the superiority die roll;
• A Battle Master must spend their Bonus Action in order to use their "Trip Attack" maneuver.