Duelist (5e Class)

**The Duelist**

Two armies are facing one another, with countless casualties, brutality, and overall carnage. A woman with a rapier jumps on the heads of one side's soldiers and quickly makes a magical barrier around herself and the enemy commander. Nobody can hurt or help either of them, as she quickly kills the commander, running off, ending the war in just a single swift strike.

As expected from a class called Duelist, a Duelist is a warrior who excels in one-on-one duels, with swift strikes, stances, and magic to aid them in said duels. They have the ability to make them and their opponent immune to damage from others, allowing them to duel in peace, without interference.

They are masters of combat, and excellent for eliminating key targets, without having to deal with all of the minions that might be stopping them. A Duelist only needs two things; A blade, and an opponent.

## **Playing a Duelist**

As a Duelist, you are a swift master of the blade and multiple stances. Your stance that you choose affects how your fighting style will be, either defensive, offensive, or insanely agile, but your stance does not change one fact: You are one of the scariest forces on the battlefield, and each and every one of your opponents should realize that.

## **Creating a Duelist**

### **Requirements**

**Alignment:** Any Lawful

**Starting Age:** Moderate

**Race:** As it's very hard to learn proper swordplay without some sort of society, most Duelists come from races with society. However, they might be able to anyways, in rare occurrences, such as if they meet a swordmaster willing to teach them.

#### **Class Features**

As a Duelist, you gain the following class features.

#### **Hit Points**

**Hit Dice:** 1d8 per Duelist level

**Hit Points at 1st Level:** 8 + Constitution modifier

**Hit Points at Higher Levels:** 1d8 (or 5) + Constitution modifier per Duelist level after 1st

#### **Proficiencies**

**Armor:** Light armor, Medium armor

**Weapons:** Simple and Martial Weapons

**Tools:** One Gaming Set or Artisan's Tools

**Saving Throws:** Dexterity, Charisma

**Skills:** Choose 3 from Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, Performance, Persuasion.

#### **Equipment**

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

* Rapier
* (*a*) a Gaming Set or (*b*) a set of Artisan's Tools
* (*a*) Chain shirt or (*b*) Leather armor
* (a) a second rapier or (b) a hand crossbow
* (21) gold

Or you may start with 6d4x10 (121) gold and no equipment

### **Dueling Points**

As a Duelist, you use your sheer energy, willpower, and knowledge of the blade itself to allow you to overpower your opponent. These are reflected as Dueling Points. Your level reflects how much of these you have, shown on the Duelist table.

You can restore them from either taking a short or long rest and spending at least 30 minutes of that time strategizing about blade work. Another way to restore them is to get a critical hit with a weapon or dealing a killing blow to a creature of significant threat. (Dm's discretion) In doing so will restore 1 of your Dueling Points.

You start off with three skills that use Dueling Points: Balestra, Parry, and Riposte.

##### **Balestra**

For one Dueling Point, you can make an additional strike to the same target or a target that's within 10 ft. of where you are, with your blade. If the target is 10 ft. away, you can make a guarded 5 ft. "hop" over to them. This hop must be calculated in your movement action, and while you "hop" you are under the effects of a disengage action for the "hop". (You can only use Balestra after an attack action)

##### **Parry**

For one Dueling Point, when a target attacks you, as a reaction you can add your dexterity or strength modifier (depends on which is higher) to your Armor Class, for that attack.

##### **Riposte**

For one Dueling Point, When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against the creature who missed you.

#### **Priority**

Naturally, starting at 1st level, when you roll initiative. As a personal surprise action, you can move up to half of your walk speed or use a bonus action and attack a target if one is close enough. If you kill a target this way, you gain one Dueling Point. (This does not count towards your turn or actions on your initiative roll. In addition, this also comes into effect after a surprise round. Ex. Surprise round, then Priority, then Turn order on initiative.)

#### **Wolf Stance**

Beginning at 2nd level, for one dueling point, you can use your bonus action to go into Wolf Stance for 1 minute or until you change stances/dispel it. Wolf Stance adds your dexterity or strength modifier, depending on which is higher, a second time to your damage roll. In addition, you gain advantage on all Strength checks.

#### **Finesse Bonus**

Starting at 2nd level, any weapon you use that has the *Finesse* property deals an added 1d4 Force damage. At 5th level, this increases 1d6, at 10th level, 1d8, at 15th, 1d10, and at 20th, 1d12. You can only trigger this once per target per turn. Later at 15th level, now every time you hit a target you can apply your Finesse Bonus, instead of once per target per turn. (E.g. if you use Balestra and hit a different target than the first you can use this on both, but not if you hit the same.)

#### **Dueling Style Archetype**

Beginning at 3rd level, you choose one of the three Dueling styles: Sabre, Epee, or Foil.

#### **Ability Score Increase**

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

#### **Turtle Stance**

At 5th level, for one dueling point, as a bonus action, you can go into Turtle Stance. In Turtle Stance, you reduce all damage done to you by (charisma modifier)d4, for 1 minute or until you change stances/dispel it. However, damage you deal does half instead. In addition, you gain advantage on all Constitution checks.

#### **Dent de Loup**

Starting at 6th level, when you're in Wolf Stance, for one Dueling Point, you can unleash an attack that adds 2d(dex/str mod) to the damage. (e.g. if you have a 1d4 weapon, +2 Dexterity, and +5 strength, this will do 1d4+1d10 damage, taking from Strength as it's higher and forming it to a real die, not counting other bonuses like Finesse Bonus.) After the attack, you swap to Turtle Stance. (This takes an attack action to perform)

#### **Lame de Tortue**

Beginning at 6th level, when you're in Turtle Stance, for one Dueling Point, you can unleash an attack that adds (your Armor Class) to the attack as force Damage. Any and all buffs to your AC, such as spells or magic items, are included for this value. After the attack, you swap to Wolf Stance. (This ability's damage is not affected by turtle stance￼'s half damage flaw) (This takes an attack action to perform)

#### **Extra Attack**

Starting at 8th level, you get another attack per turn. This also allows you to use two Balestras per turn, provided you do it right after each attack. (e.g. you can't attack once, do two balestras, then move and use your other attack.)

#### **Eagle Stance**

Starting at 9th level, you can, for two Dueling Points, you can use your bonus action to go into Eagle Stance. In Eagle Stance, your movement speed is increased by your Dex modifier x 10, and you ignore difficult terrain. Additionally, you gain advantage on any check that would involve dodging, fleeing, or movement in general. This lasts for 1 minute or until you change stances/dispel it.

#### **Greve de L'Aigle**

Beginning at 10th level, when you're in Eagle Stance, for 3 Dueling Points, you can deal 4 half-damage strikes to any target within your range. (e.g. if you have a 1d8 weapon it'd be 1d4, if you had 2d6 it'd be 2d3 rounded to the nearest die so 2d4 another example 1d10 turns into 1d5 rounded to 1d6) Modifiers such as Dexterity and Finesse Bonus are not affected by the halving. After the attack, you swap to either Wolf or Turtle stance. You choose which to swap to. (This takes an attack action to perform)

#### **Dueling Glove**

At 11th level, once per long rest, you can challenge any target that's within 60 ft. of you to a duel. You must make an Intimidation check, against their own Intimidation check. If you succeed, then nobody else can hurt or affect you and the target for 4 turns, but you and the target can't hurt or affect anyone else. This ends early if one of you are knocked unconscious or killed. At 20th level, you can use this twice per long rest, and you roll you intimidation check as if you had expertise in the skill.

#### **Chevauchement**

At 13th level, swapping stances with any of the 4 stance-swapping attacks (such as Greve de L'aigle) keeps your bonuses from the previous stance, but does not increase the time. Additionally, for one Dueling Point, you can remove the flaw from turtle stance during its duration. (e.g. if you swap from wolf to turtle, you'll have 3 turns of wolf and 3 of turtle and with the additional, it would lose the half damage flaw.)

#### **Tiger Stance**

Starting at 13th level you can now use stances without the use of a bonus action for 1 Dueling Point, in addition whenever you spend a Dueling Point, the next attack against you has disadvantage. (This ability cannot stack, ex. 2 dueling points does not mean double disadvantage.) Your attacks can deal 1D12 instead of your normal weapon damage for 1 additional Dueling Point. After combat, this ability takes a short or long rest to return. If you attempt to use this ability without a short or long rest it will still work, however, you will gain a point in exhaustion.

#### **Apply Finesse**

At 14th level, anything that you wield, weapon or not, is counted as having the *Finesse* property, as long as you are using it.

#### **Deux Competences**

Starting at 14th level, for two Dueling Points as a bonus action, you can apply Two of any of the stances at once for 5 turns. (Except Lion Stance) Using Stance-changing attacks with this effect on does, not swap stances. You can cancel this by either changing into Lion Stance or just dispelling it. (This would remove the flaw from Turtle stance while in use)

#### **Improved Riposte**

Starting at 15th level, whenever you parry a melee attack, you can attack the target that you parried the attack of. Additionally, Riposte allows you to make two melee attacks instead of one.

#### **Bear Stance**

Also at 15th level, for 3 Dueling Points, you can go into Bear Stance. In Bear Stance, you take half damage as if you were in rage however, enemies have advantage on their attacks against you and your armor is absorbed into you during this stance. Turning your AC to 10+Dex+Con modifier. In addition, you deal 1d10+con modifier damage along with your weapon damage. You can only be in one other Stance while in Bear Stance. This stance lasts for 1 minute or until you change stances/dispel it.

#### **Extra Attack**

Starting at 16th level, you get a third attack per turn. This also allows you to use three Balestras per turn, provided you do it right after each attack. (e.g. you can't attack once, do three Balestras, then move and use your other attack.)

#### **Trois Competences**

At 17th level, for 4 Dueling Points, you can use your bonus action to activate any 3 Stances at once (Except Lion). You can only cancel this from it being dispelled, and any stance-changing skills will not change your stance. (This ability removes the flaw in the turtle Stace when active. You can also use bear without its limit one stance flaw.)

#### **Grève D'ours**

Starting at 18th level, when you are in Bear Stance as a bonus action and for 3 Dueling Points, you can do one full multi-attack of 3 attacks dealing the collected damage that you have halved while in Bear Stance, as slashing damage. In addition, the enemy must roll a Constitution saving throw to take half of 1d6 to their AC modifier or full on a fail. (This ability cannot drop their ac past 10 and this only lasts till the end of the encounter.) This attack allows you to switch to any stance except Lion Stance. e.g (If you have taken 50 damage halved by Bear Stance to 25 before you use this attack. Your attacks deal the remainder that was halved. So your attacks deal a straight 25 damage each attack on hit. Note, this damage is only for the multi-attack and refreshes your damage pool.) (E.g Once you use the attack, the 25 damage does not stay for continuous stacking. It will reset to 0 after the attack either hits or misses.)

#### **Lion Stance**

Finally, at 20th level, you for 4 Dueling Points, can go into Lion Stance. In Lion Stance, you gain 1d12 x your Dexterity or Strength modifier (whichever is higher) of temporary hit points and the ability of reach with your weapon(s) up to 5ft x your Dex or strength modifier, (whichever is higher). In addition, your damage becomes true damage. (Damage that cannot be resisted, immuned, or halved in any way.) Also, your attack modifier is doubled for 1 minute. You cannot be in any other Stance with this stance active, if you're in another stance on activation of this one, they will be dispelled. This ability also drops any lingering durations of stances. You must take a short or long rest before you can use this ability again.

## **Sabre Style**

The fighting style of the Sabre revolves around using your brute strength to defeat your opponent, exerting dominance over their weaponry with your own.

#### **Dominance**

Starting when you choose this style at 3rd level, you can add an extra +1 damage to attack rolls, based on how much higher your Strength stat (Not modifier) is compared to your opponents, to a maximum of +6 damage. Criticals affect this modifier.

#### **Crushing Blow**

Beginning at 7th level, for 2 Dueling Points, your next attack on a target will decrease their AC by 1d4 for an hour. This feature cannot make a target's AC lower than 10. At 20th level, this increases to 1d6.

#### **Disarming Parry**

Beginning at 10th level, for 3 Dueling Points, when you parry you can force a Strength competition between you and the target you parried. If you win the check, then the target is disarmed of their weapon, which is thrown (Your Strength Modifier) x 5 feet away.

#### **Wolf's Best Friend**

Starting at 16th level, when you're in Wolf Stance, every attack you do gives you a free Balestra, and you can spend a Dueling Point to instead attack a third time instead of a second time, with Balestra.

## **Epee Style**

The fighting style of the Epee relies more on being defensive, not allowing strikes to pierce your powerful armor, and striking an opponent when they try to attack you.

#### **Defense Master**

At 3rd level, when you choose this style, you gain proficiency with Heavy armor and ignore any disadvantages to Stealth checks they would add.

#### **Critical Defense**

At 7th level, when you make a critical hit, all attacks on you until the end of your next turn do half damage. Additionally, if an opponent crits you, they do regular damage, instead.

#### **Armored Weapon**

Starting at 10th level, all of your attacks add a percentage of your armor class to them. (This is similar to ability modifiers; AC - 10 / 2, making 14 AC be +2 to attacks.)

#### **Turtle's Best Friend**

Starting at 16th level, when you're in Turtle Stance, every melee attack that targets you deals half of it's damage to the original attacker, even if it fails to hit your AC.

## **Foil Style**

The fighting style of the Foil relies entirely on speed, with your blade moving fast as lightning.

#### **Electric Speed**

Starting at 3rd level, you can never be slowed by any effects that don't involve disabling your legs. Additionally, for every 5 feet of your movement speed before an attack, you add +1 lightning damage to your attack. (This calculation only comes into effect once combat has started. this includes the surprise round. Or also in secret attacks with calculated movement [Dm's discretion] )

#### **Critical Speed**

At 7th level, for 2 Dueling points, you can double your movement speed for two turns. Additionally, as a reaction, you may use this ability to move half your movement to avoid an attack or AOE ability's range.

#### **Charm Equals Agility**

At 10th level, your Charisma modifier is added to your Dexterity score, to a max of 25.

#### **Blade Spark**

At 16th level you have mastered the way of the sword, while in Eagle stance during your priority ability you can, for 2 Dueling points, Lance your full movement threw enemies in a 5ft line dealing the full movement of your electric speed ability plus half your movement in lightning damage additional to the attack of priority. All enemies in the line must make a Dexterity saving throw of DC(10+dex mod+ proficiency) if successful they take half. Additionally, lightning damage, if it kills an enemy will chain to another within 10ft of the first dealing half and continues if that one dies as well. This cannot hit a target that is already being hit by the ability. This ability can only be used again after a long rest. E.g (if your priority attack damage was 1d4 and your movement in eagle stance was 50ft you would deal 1d4+10+25 lightning damage) (10 being calculated from electric speed)