Get your dukes up! Mythological Figures has another exemplary boxer today, a heavyweight champion and pioneering athlete honored in the International Boxing Hall of Fame: Peter Jackson!
No, not that Peter Jackson, although this one does kind of hail from that corner of the world! Born in Christiansted on Saint Croix (in what is today the U.S. Virgin Islands) in 1861, he became a deckhand at the age of 14 and caught the notice of a man named Larry Foley when he quelled a mutiny with nothing more than his bare hands. Peter made Australia his home where Jack Dowridge (a prominent boxer in Queensland) took to training him, and in 1886 he won the Australian heavyweight title (knocking out Tom Lees in the 30th round) after which he traveled to America and Britain to more athletic success until his retirement in 1899. All told Peter Jackson fought in 105 bouts, losing only 5 times.
Design Notes: Peter Jackson was famed for his footwork and technical skill so he’s getting all the fighting-talenty bits we can throw at him, and while I wanted to work in proficiency in Performance (he was also an actor in a touring production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin) there wasn’t a good way to fit it in so we’ll have to settle for a positive Charisma modifier. On the “talented technical boxer” side he’s got Mobility, he’s attacking four times a round, he’s dealing decent damage while doing it—mission accomplished. Let’s do the numbers! The DMG rubric came in at 5.25, the Blog of Holding at 6.5, averaging and rounding out at challenge rating 5.
Armor Class 16 (Wisdom)
Hit Points 71 (6d10+4d8+20)
Speed 50 ft.
Saving Throws Str +6, Con +6
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +5, Insight +7, Perception +7; navigator’s tools +4, vehicles (water) +7
Senses passive Perception 17
Languages Danish, English
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Background: Nautical. Peter is able to acquire passage on a sailing ship for him and his allies free of charge. He has no control over the ship’s route, departure, or return, and although no coin is required he and his companions do have to help crew the vessel.
Action Surge (1/Short Rest). Once on his turn, Peter can take an additional action on top of his regular action and a possible bonus action.
Feat: Mobility. Peter can Dash through difficult terrain without requiring additional movement. Whenever he makes an attack against a creature, he doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks from that creature until the end of his turn.
Fighting Style: Unarmed. After successfully grappling a creature, Peter can deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage to it. Whenever he hits a creature he is grappling with a melee attack he deals an extra 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
Ki (4 Points/Short Rest). Peter can spend ki points to fuel various ki features.
Maneuver Master (4d8 Maneuver Dice/Short Rest). Peter can expend a maneuver dice to perform a single maneuver with an attack.
Open Hand Technique. Whenever Peter hits a creature with one of the attacks granted by a bonus action or expending ki, he can impose one of the following effects on that target:
Second Wind (1/Short Rest). On his turn, Peter can use a bonus action to regain 1d10+6 hit points.
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. Peter attacks twice when he takes the Attack action.
Martial Arts. If attacking with unarmed strikes Peter can use his bonus action to attack a third time, or his bonus action and 1 ki to Flurry of Blows (attacking a third and fourth time).
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) bludgeoning damage, or 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage if striking two-handed.
REACTIONS
Deflect Missile. Peter can spend his reaction to strike a missile when he is hit by a ranged weapon attack, reducing its damage by 12 (1d10+7). If he reduces the damage to 0, he can catch the missile if it is small enough for him to hold in one hand and he has at least one hand free. If Peter catches a missile in this way, he can spend 1 ki point to make a ranged attack with the weapon or piece of ammunition he just caught, as part of the same reaction (+7 to hit, range 20/60 ft., minimum 1d6+3 damage).
Slow Fall. Peter can use his reaction when he falls to reduce any falling damage he takes by 20.
No, not that Peter Jackson, although this one does kind of hail from that corner of the world! Born in Christiansted on Saint Croix (in what is today the U.S. Virgin Islands) in 1861, he became a deckhand at the age of 14 and caught the notice of a man named Larry Foley when he quelled a mutiny with nothing more than his bare hands. Peter made Australia his home where Jack Dowridge (a prominent boxer in Queensland) took to training him, and in 1886 he won the Australian heavyweight title (knocking out Tom Lees in the 30th round) after which he traveled to America and Britain to more athletic success until his retirement in 1899. All told Peter Jackson fought in 105 bouts, losing only 5 times.
Design Notes: Peter Jackson was famed for his footwork and technical skill so he’s getting all the fighting-talenty bits we can throw at him, and while I wanted to work in proficiency in Performance (he was also an actor in a touring production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin) there wasn’t a good way to fit it in so we’ll have to settle for a positive Charisma modifier. On the “talented technical boxer” side he’s got Mobility, he’s attacking four times a round, he’s dealing decent damage while doing it—mission accomplished. Let’s do the numbers! The DMG rubric came in at 5.25, the Blog of Holding at 6.5, averaging and rounding out at challenge rating 5.
Peter Jackson
Medium humanoid (human), fighter 6 (battlemaster)/monk (open hand) 4Armor Class 16 (Wisdom)
Hit Points 71 (6d10+4d8+20)
Speed 50 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
12 (+1) | 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) | 11 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) |
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +5, Insight +7, Perception +7; navigator’s tools +4, vehicles (water) +7
Senses passive Perception 17
Languages Danish, English
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Background: Nautical. Peter is able to acquire passage on a sailing ship for him and his allies free of charge. He has no control over the ship’s route, departure, or return, and although no coin is required he and his companions do have to help crew the vessel.
Action Surge (1/Short Rest). Once on his turn, Peter can take an additional action on top of his regular action and a possible bonus action.
Feat: Mobility. Peter can Dash through difficult terrain without requiring additional movement. Whenever he makes an attack against a creature, he doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks from that creature until the end of his turn.
Fighting Style: Unarmed. After successfully grappling a creature, Peter can deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage to it. Whenever he hits a creature he is grappling with a melee attack he deals an extra 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
Ki (4 Points/Short Rest). Peter can spend ki points to fuel various ki features.
- Flurry of Blows. Immediately after Peter takes the Attack action on his turn, he can spend 1 ki point to make two unarmed strikes as a bonus action. After Peter uses Flurry of Blows, until the end of his turn his speed increases by 10 feet and his movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
- Patient Defense. Peter can spend 1 ki point to take the Dodge action as a bonus action on his turn.
- Step of the Wind. Peter can spend 1 ki point to take the Disengage or Dash action as a bonus action on his turn, and his jump distance is doubled for the turn.
Maneuver Master (4d8 Maneuver Dice/Short Rest). Peter can expend a maneuver dice to perform a single maneuver with an attack.
- Counter. Peter uses his reaction to make a melee attack against a creature that misses him with a melee attack, dealing 1d8 additional damage on a hit.
- Feint. Peter can use his bonus action to feint against one creature within 5 feet. He has advantage on his next attack roll against that creature as long as it before the end of his turn. On a hit he deals 1d8 additional damage.
- Lunge. Peter increases his reach by 5 feet for one attack, dealing 1d8 additional damage on a hit.
Open Hand Technique. Whenever Peter hits a creature with one of the attacks granted by a bonus action or expending ki, he can impose one of the following effects on that target:
- It must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or is knocked prone.
- It must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw. If it fails, Peter can push it up to 15 feet away.
- It can’t take reactions until the end of Peter’s next turn.
Second Wind (1/Short Rest). On his turn, Peter can use a bonus action to regain 1d10+6 hit points.
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. Peter attacks twice when he takes the Attack action.
Martial Arts. If attacking with unarmed strikes Peter can use his bonus action to attack a third time, or his bonus action and 1 ki to Flurry of Blows (attacking a third and fourth time).
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) bludgeoning damage, or 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage if striking two-handed.
REACTIONS
Deflect Missile. Peter can spend his reaction to strike a missile when he is hit by a ranged weapon attack, reducing its damage by 12 (1d10+7). If he reduces the damage to 0, he can catch the missile if it is small enough for him to hold in one hand and he has at least one hand free. If Peter catches a missile in this way, he can spend 1 ki point to make a ranged attack with the weapon or piece of ammunition he just caught, as part of the same reaction (+7 to hit, range 20/60 ft., minimum 1d6+3 damage).
Slow Fall. Peter can use his reaction when he falls to reduce any falling damage he takes by 20.
