Brute (3.5e Class)
Brute
Brutes are often cruel, not often sober brawlers that use their muscle and what little skill they pick up from fighting to get by. Some are thugs, others bar-room fighters, but all are destructive and violent.
Making a Brute
Brutes work well in combination with healers, who further increase their staying power, and skilled characters, because brutes are lacking in such things. Against enemies that have staying power similar to his own, coupled with high enough damage output, he is outmatched, but against enemies with less staying power, or less damage per strike, especially unarmed ones, he thrives. As he progresses in levels he learns to use his environment to his advantage.
Abilities: Key abilities are strength for fighting, and constitution for surviving the Brute's suicidal fighting style. Dex is important for a higher AC.
Races: Savage humanoids of all types, humans, half-orcs, and dwarves are all prime candidates for a brute.
Alignment: Any non-lawful. Brutes learn the trade the hard way, growing up in criminal streets and rowdy bars, and participating in the goings on of both.
Starting Gold: 2d4×10 gp (25gp).
Starting Age: Simple
Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Special | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Fort | Ref | Will | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st | +0 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Brute Strike 1d6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd | +1 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Improved Grapple | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd | +2 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Brute Strike 1d8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Improved Bullrush | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +1 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6th | +4 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Brute Strike 1d10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th | +5 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Blinding Spittle 2/day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8th | +6/+1 | +6 | +2 | +2 | Slamming Bullrush | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9th | +6/+1 | +6 | +3 | +3 | Brute Strike 2d6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10th | +7/+2 | +7 | +3 | +3 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11th | +8/+3 | +7 | +3 | +3 | Bring it on! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12th | +9/+4 | +8 | +4 | +4 | Brute Strike 2d8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13th | +9/+4 | +8 | +4 | +4 | Wreck the Place | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14th | +10/+5 | +9 | +4 | +4 | Blinding Spittle 4/day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15th | +11/+6/+1 | +9 | +5 | +5 | Brute Strike 2d10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +5 | +5 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +5 | +5 | Using Your Head | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18th | +13/+8/+3 | +11 | +6 | +6 | Brute Strike 3d8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19th | +14/+9/+4 | +11 | +6 | +6 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20th | +15/+10/+5 | +12 | +6 | +6 | Brute Strike 3d10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) |
Class Features
Brutes use their mighty fists, dirty fighting, and amazing endurance to dominate in melee. However, their preference of fists over weapons leaves them at a disadvantage. All of the following are class features of the Brute.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Brutes are proficient with no weapons, armor, or shields.
Brute Strike (Ex): When brutes attack with their fists, they do much more damage than other folk, even monks. However, they still provoke attacks of opportunity just like anyone else. This can be used while grappling. Dice are for medium Brutes, adjust as necessary. A Brute who takes the Improved Unarmed Combat feat can make an unarmed strike without provoking attacks of opportunity, but only does normal damage when doing so.
Improved Grapple: A 2nd level brute gains improved grapple as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.
Improved Bullrush: A 4th level Brute gains improved Bullrush as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.
Blinding Spittle (Ex): A Brute of 7th level or more can launch blinding spittle at any opponent within 20 feet. With a successful ranged tough attack (at a -4 penalty), he spits his stomach acid into the target's eyes. An opponent who fails a reflex save (DC 10+Brute's Con modifier+ Brute's class level)is blinded until he or she can rinse away the spittle. This attack has no effect on creatures that don't have eyes or don't depend on vision. Blinding Spittle is usable twice per day at level 7 and four times a day at level 14.
Slamming Bullrush: The Brute may incorporate one Brute strike, provoking attacks of opportunity as normal, into a bullrush attempt.
Bring it on!: The brute adds a morale bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to the number of enemies that threaten him in melee.
Wreck the Place: When a Brute is grappling or bullrushing and adjacent to a wall, piece of furniture, or other obstacle, he can smash his grappled opponent into said obstacle, dealing a brute strike normally, but dealing damage as if his strength modifier were thrice what it is. This may damage the obstacle as the DM sees fit.
Using Your Head: A brute can make a swift headbutt against an adjacent enemy, dealing 2d8 damage and provoking no attacks of opportunity. In addition, the enemy is stunned for 1 round. This can only be used once per encounter.
Ex-Brutes
Brutes who become lawful can no longer advance as brutes, but retain all class features. An Ex-Brute who becomes non-lawful can continue advancing as a Brute
Epic Brute
Level | Special | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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21st | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22nd | Blinding Spittle 6/day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23rd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24th | Brute Strike 4d8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25th | Fighter Bonus Feat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
26th | Brute Strike 4d10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
28th | Blinding Spittle 8/day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
29th | Brute Strike 4d12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30th | Fighter Bonus Feat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 + Int modifier skill points per level. |
Half-Orc Brute Starting Package
Weapons: none.
Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 4 + Int modifier.
Skill | Ranks | Ability | Armor Check Penalty |
---|---|---|---|
Feat: .
Bonus Feats: .
Gear: .
Gold: .
Playing a Brute
Religion: Brutes are not the most pious people in the world, but they often worship gods of strength, battle, drink, and chaos. They often worship Kord, Erythnul, and Gruumsh. They almost never worship lawful gods or gods of magic.
Other Classes: Brutes get along well with rogues, who's mentality and abilities both complement their own. They do not get along well with righteous or scholarly types, like Paladins, Wizards, and especially most Clerics, who are both.
Combat: Brutes wade into melee immediately, acting as a tank and an offensive component. They will often catch enemies by surprise, but the planning ends there. Against single opponents, they try to grapple it.
Advancement: Brutes will want feats like Power Attack that let them do more damage, and Improved Toughness that let them shrug off blows. While beginning with no proficiencies, a brute may want to take the proficiency feats for armor and ranged weapons. Brutes may want to take levels in Barbarian, and prestige classes that suit Barbarians are also attractive to Brutes.
Brutes in the World
“ | The only reason men use swords is 'cause they is stupid. | ” |
—Bolluk, Orc Brute |
Brutes are found in Pubs and fight clubs of civilized lands, as well as everywhere in the savage lands.
Daily Life: Brutes typically spend the day looking for a good fight. They will gravitate towards fight clubs in which bets are held, with the intent of betting on themselves.
Notables: .
Organizations: Brutes of the savage lands have no affiliation with each other, but multiple brutes in civilized lands will congregate in fight clubs, both underground and overt, both illegal and sanctioned.
NPC Reactions: Most refined npcs, especially monks, will view Brutes as inferior folk whose only skill is being over-muscled. Skilled characters like rogues will interpret the Brute's lack of subtlety as incompetence. Both these types will eat their words any time the Brute has a chance to show off his impressive skills.
Brute Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (local) can research Brutes to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.
DC | Result |
---|---|
5 | This man is a bar fighter. He's rather well-muscled, even abnormally so. |
10 | The mean streets and lawless lands can produce strong men that can kill only with their mighty fists, called Brutes |
15 | These men may seem stupid, but they pick up certain tricks in their long history of fights. |
20 | Info on the specific brute. |
Brutes in the Game
Brutes can have quite a reputation in the area for their tendency to start fights. NPC brutes can often be found in bars and pubs, trashing them.
Adaptation: .
Sample Encounter: .
EL : .
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