Hey everyone, I’ve got a concept for a custom class and am still working my way through the Class Warfare book. Any ideas from veteran content-creators are welcome, as this is my first rodeo.
The “Warder” is a warrior archetype that I am building to be a defensive swordsman. Think Geralt of Rivia (Witcher/ Wilzdimin) or Taleon (Shadow of Mordor).
In the first draft, I have:
D8 damage,
10+constitution for HP
Load is 10+STR
Before I go any further, I am building this class around defensive longsword fighting; pirouettes, parries, and cuts. For the starting move, I am thinking something along the lines of:
For the first draft starting moves I have:
Armored:
Ignore the Clumsy armor tag
Iron Gaze:
You glare at an upstart individual in a baleful manner. Roll+CHA, on a 7-9, they choose one:
-Do what you say
-Back away cautiously, then flee
-Lay down arms and surrender
-Attack you
*On a 10+, you also take +1 Forward against them. *On a miss, they do as they please and you take -1 Forward against them.
“Vigilant”: Roll+STR to Defend, rather than Roll+CON
On a 6, block the attack, but your footing is compromised, granting the next enemy attack +1 Forward
-On a 7-9, you are locked with the enemy. No others may assist the combat, enemy or ally. Take +1 Forward
-On a 10+, masterfully manipulate the enemy blade, take +2 Forward in combat.
-On a 12+, counterattack and deal damage+1d4
Still working on Advanced Moves, but they will focus on similar flavors. Any suggestions? Do the Starting Moves seem balanced?
Vigilant doesn’t work. You’re not just changing what stat they roll to Defend, you’re changing what what it does. There’s no hold, no “as long as you stand in defense” clause. Instead, it resolves itself more-or-less instantly.
That might be OK, but don’t say it’s “Defend. Come up with a different specific trigger. Like, “when you parry your enemy’s weapon with your own, roll +STR.”
Leave the miss result unstated (i.e. GM makes a hard move). Even if you really want to specify a result on a miss (and you might… if your goal is to make this move more reliable/less dangerous), never say that enemies get +1 forward to attack you. The GM never rolls, so that sort of thing is meaningless.
I’m not sure how Iron Gaze fits into the theme you’ve described. I’d look at the Blade Dancer moves from Class Warfare instead.
The idea behind Iron Gaze is a dedicated bodyguard’s ability to strike fear into another through a gaze, as well as giving them a utility ability both in and out of combat. I’ll rework vigilant and put up v1.5 momentarily.
“Vigilant” 1.5
When engaged in melee with one or more enemies, roll+DEX.
-On 10+, hold 3
-On 7-9, hold 2
-On a miss, hold 1, but the enemy has compromised you in some manner.
Spend a Hold to perform a maneuver that achieves one of the following results:
-Create an advantage. You or an ally may take +1 Forward while exploiting it.
– Disengage from melee with one foe.
– Throw off the effects of being confused, stunned, or enchanted.
– Upon a parry, immediately counterattack 1d4 damage
Does that seem a better fit?
Maybe? What do you want the move to be about? The name “Vigilant” doesn’t seem to match up with the things you spend hold on. And those things don’t seem to be about defense. I suggested the Blade Dancer moves because you described “pirouettes, parties, and cuts.” But you seem more interested in the defender/bodyguard aspect, so maybe play with that more?
Regarding Iron Gaze, maybe the Fighter’s Seeing Red move would be a better model? Possibly with a different trigger (“When some fool is about to start something, roll +CHA…”). As-is, it’s stepping hard on the paladin’s toes and making I am the Law feel less special.
For a Bodyguard type character with Class Warfare I would start at looking at:
Arminger
Defender
Gorgon