Lancer (Adept/Fighter)
With spear and shield, long hafted axe, or even just a single sword lancers rush across the field of battle, striking down foes with nearby allies in eager formation. When away from other lancers, they’re often seen as loners on the battlefield as they rush and strike and feign and retreat. So renowned are they, that their name describes a role in tales of the protagonist who seeks to lead and bucks authority.
Creating a Lancer
Lancer characters are more than just running around a battlefield with a polearm, even if that’s viewed as their primary mechanical distinction. They’re also focused, devoted, and curious. The reason they often buck against authority in literature and media is definitely something to explore.
Table: The Lancer
Level | Proficiency
Bonus | Features | Maneuvers
Known | Maneuver Degree | Technical Knacks | Haft Strike |
| 1st | +2 | Haft Strike, One With the Spear, Sanguine Knot | 2 | 1st | — | 1d4 |
| 2nd | +2 | Martial Traditions, Technical Knacks | 2 | 1st | 1 | 1d4 |
| 3rd | +2 | Fighting Style, Freelancer | 3 | 2nd | 2 | 1d4 |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Increase, Field Studies | 3 | 2nd | 3 | 1d6 |
| 5th | +3 | Extra Attack | 4 | 2nd | 3 | 1d6 |
| 6th | +3 | Flashing Steel, Lancer’s Leap | 4 | 2nd | 4 | 1d6 |
| 7th | +3 | Wind’s Ally | 5 | 3rd | 4 | 1d6 |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Increase, Legendary Lancer | 5 | 3rd | 5 | 1d8 |
Lancer Class Features
As a Lancer you gain the following class features.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per Lancer level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per Lancer level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Lance, Net
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Wisdom
Skills: Choose three from Animal Handling, Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Perception, and Stealth
One With the Spear
You are at one with spears, polearms, axes, and versatile weapons of all kinds. You may treat any glaive, halberd, pike, scythe, spear, trident, or weapon with the Versatile property as though it also has the Parrying property in addition to any other property it possesses.
In addition, your movement rate increases by 10ft so long as you are not wearing heavy armor, encumbered by weight, or carrying a bulky item.
Haft Strike
While wielding a weapon which benefits from one with the spear and using no other weapons you may make off-hand attacks with the haft or pommel of your weapon. Doing so follows all the normal rules of dual-wielding, but allows you to apply any magical bonuses from the weapon to your haft strike.
This damage begins at 1d4, but increases as you gain levels in the Lancer motif, growing to 1d6 at level 4 and 1d8 at level 8. The damage of your haft strike is bludgeoning.
Sanguine Knot
Also at level 1, you gain access to a pool of exertion equal to twice your proficiency bonus and the Sanguine Knot combat tradition. You gain two maneuvers at level 1 and additional maneuvers at levels 3, 5, and 7. Whenever you gain a level you may choose to replace a maneuver you know with a maneuver of a degree equal to or lower than the degree you are replacing.
Martial Tradition
At 2nd level, and again at 4th and 8th level, you learn a martial tradition of your choice.
Technical Knacks
Also at 2nd level you gain access to your first Technical Knack. This feature allows you to take Techniques from the Adept class or Soldiering Knacks from the Fighter Class. You gain additional technical knacks at 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th level.
Fighting Style
At 3rd level you gain access to a fighting style chosen from the following list:
- Dueling: When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.
- Great Weapon Fighting: When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.
- Mounted Combatant: While mounted you gain an expertise die on attack rolls against creatures that are Medium-sized or smaller and not mounted. In addition, you gain an expertise die on saving throws made to resist being unmounted.
- Two-Weapon Fighting: When you engage in two-weapon fighting you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the off-hand attack.
- Versatile Strength: When wielding a versatile weapon, increase the damage die by one step.
Freelancer
Also at 3rd level you begin tapping into the reputations that lancers have in a given region. As a result, choose one of the following options to represent your social impact.
- Dashing Rake: Many a lancer plays the part of the dashing rake, a suave and graceful sort occasionally mistaken for a fop. Whenever you attempt to make a Persuasion or Deception check you may always use your Strength modifier, and gain expertise when you do so.
- Rebellious Streak: Like most lancers you have a reputation for bucking authority and getting the job done, no matter what it takes. You gain expertise on Intimidation checks and may always use your Strength or Constitution when making them.
- Stone Soldier: Some lancers hold to traditions one might find in a palace guard or a monastery, and hold their cards close to their chest. Creatures have disadvantage on Insight checks made against you. In addition, you gain an expertise die on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.
Field Studies
At 4th level your knowledge increases based on topics you’ve learned in your adventures. Choose from the following options:
- Adventuring Knowledge: You gain proficiency in the Arcana, Culture, History, Nature, or Religion skill.
- Linguistic Experimentation: You gain proficiency in two languages you have been exposed to.
- Martial Training: You gain proficiency in the Acrobatics or Athletics skill, or in a cultural or rare weapon you have been exposed to.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Flashing Steel
At 6th level your reputation has begun to flourish for its own sake, and you may choose one of the following options to represent how it has grown. In addition, your maneuver DC increases by 1.
- Heroic Flair: Tales of your heroism spread before you. When you enter into a settlement you are treated by the populace as a wandering hero. People of modest means are eager to see you accommodated. You and your party no longer need to pay for Lifestyle Expenses and benefit from a moderate lifestyle. Additionally, you are likely to be approached by townsfolk with information relevant to your current goals, so long as you are open about your presence in the settlement. Sneaking or going Incognito negates these benefits.
- Military Garb: Your history of working with caravaneers, guards, sailors, and soldiers sees you welcomed in such social circles and circumstances. You gain a warm welcome from such characters in any situation except for antagonistic, and gain advantage on Deception and Persuasion checks against any caravaneer, guard, sailor, or soldier you meet.
- Villain’s Affront: Rumors of your villainy and violence abound, and people are justly terrified of it. When you enter a settlement, guards and soldiers go on alert as word of your presence spreads, people clear streets rather than risk offending you, and the underworld ripples in your wake. You gain advantage on Intimidation checks against any person in town with a CR lower than your level, and are likely to be approached by cultists and members of thieves guilds who may be willing to pay for your assistance.
Lancer’s Leap
Also at 6th level you may perform the Lancer’s Leap, a special combat maneuver that only lancers gain. This maneuver does not count against your maneuvers known, and can be used with any other maneuver. Once you have used the Lancer’s Leap you must complete a short or long rest before using it, again. If you spend 3 exertion points before a short or long rest, the use of this ability recharges.
Lancer’s Leap (1 point)
Lancer action
With the force of a thunderbolt you strike your target from above. When you glide, ride, leap, fall, or fly during your turn, you deal additional damage to the target of this attack equal to one haft die per 10ft of movement you take before making the attack. While you can use extra attack and off-hand attacks in the same round, the increased damage applies only to the first attack after moving.
Wind’s Ally
At 7th level your movement when jumping is no longer limited by your movement rate.
Legendary Lancer
At 8th level your reputation as a lancer has reached its pinnacle but your reputation can only grow from here. You gain a +1 bonus to your renown, 2 additional exertion, and you may choose one of the following options.
- Adept Lancer: Weapons which qualify for one with the spear become adept weapons in your hands, and brutal defense allows you to use your strength modifier to AC while wearing light or medium armor.
- Fighter Lancer: You immediately learn a new tradition and maneuver of your choice, neither of which count against your limit of maneuvers or traditions known.
