Gladiator

## Flavor

This class represents almost the entirety of fame in Redoubt. Poor and rich alike will usually treat you positively as you bring light into their life simply by your existence. While gladiators are a dime a dozen in Redoubt, you are one of the few who's masters have spent the money, time, and connections to train you. This decision wasn't taken lightly - you were exceptional. Men are often thrown into a ring to fight, but a true gladiator can rally and inspire them into action. Men are cut down like dogs but a true gladiator can fight through that pain and turn it to his advantage. Some men know how to use a weapon but the ring is random and a weapon is anything that can give you an advantage. While your start your career knowing and benefiting from the power and endurance of the Stone Dragon school of fighting, any martial academy would love to have you represent their fighting style. You can open doors where it would be closed for many others. This is the rarest PC class in Redoubt (Closely followed by the unheard of Penitent).

### Class Features

**Class Skills**: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Perform, Sense Motive, Tumble
**Skill Points at Each Additional Level: (4 + Int)**

**Weapon and Armor Proficiencies:** The gladiator is proficient with all weapons, all armor, all shields (including tower shields and exotic shields), and any improvised weapons that he's utilizing.
**Maneuvers:** You begin your career with knowledge of one martial maneuver. The only discipline available to you is Stone Dragon. At 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th level a gladiator may retrain one of his maneuvers for another he qualifies for. At 1st level the gladiator can only recover his maneuvers by resting for five minutes after a battle.
**Steely Resolve:** Your training has taught you that you are capable of sustaining far more blows than most people realize. When an opponent strikes you, the injury does not immediately affect you. You have a delayed damage pool that allows you to forestall the effects of many injuries. This functions exactly like the crusader ability except that your delayed damage pool can only hold an amount of damage equal to your gladiator level.
**Furious Counterstrike:** This works exactly as the crusader ability of the same name.
**Inspire:** Once per day he can rally whatever pawns have been thrown into the arena with him into fighting beyond what they are capable of. Using words, battle grunts, or whatever the gladiator is known for as inspiration all allies gain a +1 morale bonus to hit, damage, and saves against fear. The effects last for as long as the gladiator continues or up to five rounds afterwards. If the gladiator gets knocked unconscious the morale benefit ends immediately. This effect is based off a perform skill related to inspiring speechs, songs, or a combination of them (epics, storytelling, rally cries). At 7 ranks, the bonus increases to +2 and can be used twice a day. At 11 Ranks, 3/day and +3. 17 Ranks, 4/day, +4. 23 ranks, 5/day, +5.
**Win the Crowd:** During any combat in which a crowd is present or in the gladiator pits, a gladiator may attempt to win the crowd in the first round of combat. This performance is purely theatrical, provokes attack of opportunities, and requires the whole round to complete much as a summon monster spell. During this time he only pays attention to the crowd, walking around as if he owns the place. Taking damage does not stop this but being disabled in some fashion does. If the check is 10 or below, the gladiator receives a +1 competence bonus to hit. 11 - 15, +2. 16 - 25, +3. 26 - 30, +4. 31 - 35, +5. 36 or greater +6.
**Grit:** At 3rd level a gladiator keeps his feet when lesser men would have fallen. All eyes are on him and his confidence in his abilities allows him to continue. A gladiator adds his charisma bonus (if any) to his fortitude saves.
**Famed Weapon:** At 4th level, the gladiator becomes associated with a weapon. He gains the weapon focus feat with this weapon. In addition he gains the benefit of the improved critical feat with that weapon.
**Advanced Learning:** At 5th level a gladiator picks a second discipline. He now has access to that discipline.
**Pain Brings Clarity**: At the end of any turn in which you take damage from your delayed damage pool, you may use an immediate action to recover all expanded maneuvers.
**Steal the Kill:** Beginning at 12th level, the Gladiator can make an attack of opportunity against an opponent who has just been struck for damage in melee by another character.