The gladiator is a sub-class of fighter,
or, more precisely, a sub-class of barbarian. Gladiators are ex-slaves,
who have learned to fight and survive in arena combat staged for the bloodthirsty
pleasure of their masters. Freed from bondage by arrangement with their
masters, or by having effected a successful escape from captivity, gladiators
use their considerable fighting skills in mercenary employment. Expect
an ex-slave to give his or her loyalty grudgingly, being not too quick
to trust or befriend others. Camaraderie among adventurers may be akin
to the bond between fighting partners in arena combat, and lead to a similar
bond among party members.
There are no requisite stats for the gladiator,
but they do receive an initial bonus of +2 Strength and +1 Dexterity. Gladiators
gain double dexterity armor class bonuses as per Barbarians, when non to
fairly bulky armor is worn. Bulky armor lowers their armor class bonuses
to normal. If a polearm is employed as a weapon, this class will
gain a -1 to effective AC as a shield would modify it (arena parrying skills).
Throwing weapons such as spears and axes have their effective range increased
by +1 when used by a gladiator.
All races may be gladiators. This class
begins it's adventuring career at 3rd level. They will be proficient
in 7 different weapons, though specialization is not available. New weapon
proficiency slots are gained as normal fighters. Beginning non-weapon proficiencies
for this class are; Survival cold, survival heat, fire building, and rope
use. 2 others may be chosen at character generation. Gladiators may scrounge
for items at half the percentage chance as a same level Bushi
(Oriental Adventures).
While this class is unlimited for all races,
human gladiators may not change class to magic users or clerics. Either
standard fighter training school or arena combat will suffice to train
the character up to 5th level, but only fighter training school can be
used thereafter.
Gladiators tend to worship nature icons
rather than deities. Usually the sun, moon, earth or sky are deified by
this group, normally having been denied religion in their youth. They may
opt to follow a particular deity, but will usually pick on that emulates
their original beliefs, (i.e. sun gods, earth gods, etc.).
Below is the gladiator experience point table. Experience for the first two levels are included in case of level drain.
Level
Experience Points
12 Sided Hit Dice
(1)
0-1900
1
(2)
1901-3800
2
3
3801-7500
3
4
7501-15000
4
5
15001-30000
5
6
30001-50000
6
7
50001-100000
7
8
100001-200000
8
9
200000 + per additional level beyond 9th
Starting hit points will be 10 +1d12,
plus any constitution hit point bonuses for 2 levels.
Human gladiators should use the Barbarian
roll up table in the Unearthed Arcana. Saving throws and THAC0 are the
same as for fighters.
