Ravager[]
Description: To many, the Ravager represents the consummate barbarian—a savage, nearly invincible warrior who fights with unrivaled ferocity. Menacing in attitude and appearance, he has piercing eyes, rippling muscles, and a keen hair-trigger temper that intimidate friends and foes alike. But despite his fierce demeanor, the Ravager can be just and honorable, adhering to a rigid code of ethics.
Requirements: Standard.
Homeland Terrain: Any. Mountains, Jungle, Swamp, and Plains are the most common.
Role: Culled from the strongest and most bloodthirsty members of their tribes, Ravagers serve as bodyguards and manhunters, trained to kill with weapons as well as their bare hands. So violent is their reputation, Ravagers are even feared by their fellow tribesmen, who consider them unpredictable and perhaps mentally unbalanced.
Such distrust is unwarranted. Ravagers do not attack without provocation. They are outraged by injustice, dishonesty, and cowardice, and rarely employ their fighting skills for personal gain. They defend the innocent, protect the weak, and seek vengeance against the corrupt. A strong sense of pride is perhaps their biggest flaw; he who insults or offends a Ravager may pay with his blood, if not his life.
In many barbarian societies, Ravagers are considered the personal property of the leaders. They are bound to obey the leader's every com- mand and may even be traded to other tribes. Ravagers often resist such servitude, abandoning their homelands for the life of a nomad. Other Ravagers are nomadic by nature, leaving their homelands for years at a time to explore the outworld.
The Ravager's companions find him loud, passionate, and brutal, quick to make war and scornful of negotiation. He is contemptuous of civilization and has no patience for intellectuals. He considers hygiene the province of the weak; he takes pride in his mud-caked skin, his filthy loincloth, and his greasy hair. He speaks his mind, even when his words sting; a person asking the Ravager his opinion should be prepared for a blunt response.
The Ravager's mood swings are dramatic, even frightening. One moment, he may return a wounded bird to its nest; the next, he may fly into a rage because he has is placed his axe. He smashes trees with his fists and screams at the top of his lungs, then dissolve into laughter if a companion trips and falls.
Secondary Skills: Fire-maker, Hunter, Crude Weaponsmithing.
Weapon Proficiencies: Recommended: Battle axe, hand axe, dagger, club, spear. A Ravager will not become proficient in any type of thrown or missile weapon. (A spear is acceptable, as it can be used at close range.)
Nonweapon Proficiencies:
- Recommended: Alertness*, Danger Sense*, Blind-fighting, Endurance, Weapon Improvisation*, Crude Weaponsmithing*.
- Barred: Artistic Ability, Dancing, Crude Bowyer/Fletcher*, Musical Instrument, Wild Fighting* (the Ravager's ability to become enraged, explained below, includes benefits like those associated with this proficiency).
Economic System: Animal products barter. Wealth Options: The Ravager begins with 3d4 gp worth of animal products.
Armor and Equipment: Normally, Ravagers won't use thrown or missile weapons, as they feel that long-distance combat is unworthy of a warrior. Though Ravagers will carry shields, they refuse to don armor of any type, considering it cowardly and a tacit admission of fear. Typically, they wear nothing more than fur loin cloths or short tunics made of light animal skin. In cold or rainy climates, they may wear leather or fur garments for protection, but such gaaments don't grant bonuses to their natural Armor Class.
Special Benefits[]
Enhanced Natural Armor: The Ravager has a natural Armor Class of 9. His AC improves as he increases in level, as shown on Table 24.
| Ravager Level | Armor Class |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | 7 |
| 3-4 | 6 |
| 5-6 | 5 |
| 7-8 | 4 |
| 9-11 | 3 |
| 12-14 | 2 |
| 15-17 | 1 |
| 18+ | 0 |
Become Enraged (Bonuses): A Ravager may work himself into a fighting frenzy, increasing his effectiveness in combat. To use this ability, he must spend one round doing nothing but building up his rage; he chews on his shield, stomps his feet, and growls like a bear. At the end of this round, he saves vs. death magic. If the throw succeeds, he becomes enraged. If the save fails, he cannot work himself into a sufficient frenzy. He can make additional attempts for up to 10 consecutive rounds; on the 11th round, the attempt automatically succeeds.
A Ravager remains enraged for a number of rounds equal to his Constitution. If he refrains from melee combat for two consecutive rounds, either by choice or circumstance, he loses his rage; he may continue to fight normally. He may also voluntarily end his rage at any time.
An enraged Ravager acquires the following benefits, which persist until his rage ends:
- He gains +2 on his attack and damage rolls.
- He gains a 22 bonus to Armor Class (to a maximum of AC 0).
- All attackers suffer a —1 penalty to their damage rolls.
- He gains +2 to all saves vs. charms or mental-based attacks.
Weaponless Combat: When attacking with bare hands, the Ravager inflicts damage as if attacking with a club (1d6 hp damage against small and medium opponents, 1d3 hp damage against large opponents).
Special Hindrances[]
Become Enraged (Penalties): A Ravager suffers the following penalties when enraged:
- An enraged Ravager must choose a particular opponent as his primary target. Once combat begins, he can't change opponents until his primary target escapes or is slain. If he changes opponents, the Ravager automatically loses his rage.
- When his rage ends, the Ravager must make another save vs. death magic. If the save succeeds, he suffers no ill effects from the rage. If the save fails, he immediately becomes exhausted. He endures the following penalties until he rests for one full hour: He can't become enraged, voluntarily or involuntarily; he suffers a —2 penalty to attack rolls, and his base movement is reduced to 12.
Involuntary Rage: Certain events may cause the Ravager to lose his temper and become enraged involuntarily. Typical events:
- The Ravager is insulted or offended.
- A beloved friend or animal dies unexpectedly.
- He hears news of an enemy's victory, an ally's treachery, or a spouse's unfaithfulness.
- A favorite weapon or piece of equipment is lost, stolen, misplaced, or damaged.
The DM and player may add other events. When the DM decides that a triggering event has occurred, the Ravager clenches his fists, grinds his teeth, and growls, thereby warning his companions a state of rage is imminent; they have 1d4 rounds to hide or otherwise prepare themselves. At the end of 1d4 rounds, he saves vs. death magic. If the save succeeds, the Ravager suppresses his anger, and nothing happens. If the save fails, he flies into a rage, acquiring all benefits associated with a voluntary rage described above. The involuntary rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to the Ravager's Constitution. Unlike a voluntary rage, an involunatary rage won't end prematurely; it lasts a Constitution score's worth of rounds, regardless of circumstance.
The Ravager directs his rage at whoever insulted him, gave him the bad news, or harmed his companion; he attacks relentlessly. If he kills his victim, he continues his rage against the nearest innocent bystander (perhaps a fellow PC). If no victim or bystander is available, he directs his rage at the nearest inanimate object. His companions may attempt to restrain him until the rage subsides. When the rage ends, he make another save vs. death magic to check for exhaustion, as described above.
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