Fencer, Variant (5e Class)

Creating a fencer

Dexterity should be your highest ability score followed by Intelligence and Strength.

Class Features

As a Fencer you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d6 per Fencer level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + Constitution modifier per Fencer level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor
Weapons: Simple and Martial Melee Weapons which deal Piercing or Slashing damage
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Strength
Skills: Perception, Acrobatics, Athletics, Investigation, Persuasion, and Stealth

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) Leather armor or (b) padded armor
• (a) rapier or (b) long sword
• (a) short sword or (b) 2 daggers
• (a) Explorer's pack or (b) dungeoneer's pack

Table: The Fencer

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Attrition Bonus Dice	Features
1st	+2	N/A	Nimble Attack, Fighting Style
2nd	+2	N/A	Precision Bonus (+2)
3rd	+2	N/A	Weapon Expertise, Lunging Strikes
4th	+2	N/A	Ability Score Improvement
5th	+3	N/A	Extra Attack
6th	+3	N/A	Status Improvement
7th	+3	1	Attrition Bonus
8th	+3	1	Ability Score Improvement
9th	+4	1	Precision Bonus (+4)
10th	+4	1	Mortal Strikes
11th	+4	2	Extra Attack (3), Attrition Bonus (2)
12th	+4	2	Ability Score Improvement
13th	+5	2	Weapon Expertise (1d12)
14th	+5	2	Status Improvement
15th	+5	3	Attrition Bonus (3)
16th	+5	3	Ability Score Improvement
17th	+6	3	Status Improvement
18th	+6	3	Precision Bonus (+6)
19th	+6	4	Ability Score Improvement, Attrition Bonus (4)
20th	+6	4	Extra Attack (4)

Nimble Attack

Starting at 1st level, you have trained yourself to make swift attacks. When wielding a weapon with only one hand, the first melee weapon attack you make each round strikes twice, adding a bonus die to its damage (if the attack has multiple damage dice, only add one). This bonus is applied after any additional dice for a critical hit. Rather than apply this bonus to the first attack you make, you may instead choose to attack another creature within 5 feet of you. If the attack would hit, it deals damage equal to the bonus damage.

Fighting Style

You adopt a particular style of fighting as your speciality. Choose one of the following options. You can’t take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose again.

• Defense: While wearing armour, you gain a +1 to AC.

• 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.

• Mobility: When you attack a creature, you don't provoke opportunity attacks from it for the rest of the turn.

Precision Bonus

At 2nd level, you have trained yourself to attack with the precision of a surgeon. When attacking with a melee weapon that you are proficient with, you gain a bonus +2 attack rolls made with that weapon.

This bonus increases to +3 when you reach 9th level in this class, and to +4 when you reach 18th level in this class.

Weapon Expertise

Starting at 3rd level, your expertise with your weapons improves their lethality. When making a melee weapon attack, you may replace the damage dice of that weapon with a d10 instead. Additionally, melee weapons you are proficient with are treated as if they have Finesse when you wield them. At 13th level, you can choose to apply both your Strength and Dexterity modifiers rather than only one to the damage of attacks made with a melee weapon you are proficient with.

Lunging Strikes

Starting at 3rd level, you can attack with blinding speed. After moving at least 10 feet in a straight line before attacking you may use your bonus action to give the first attack you make a +3 bonus to hit. Until the start of your next turn after doing so, if you have moved at least 10 feet in a straight line before your last attack this round, you gain +1 bonus to hit.  

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

The number of attacks increases to three when you reach 11th level in this class, and to four when you reach 20th level in this class.

Status Improvement

At 6th level and again at 14th and 17th level, you can choose to gain one of the following:

• +5 ft. speed
• proficiency in one skill
• +1 to either STR, DEX, or INT. You can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Attrition Bonus

At 7th level, you overwhelm your foes with a hail of blows. When you hit a melee attack against the same target consecutively, you add a number of bonus d6's to the damage dice of your weapon equal to the number of times you have hit that target. The maximum number of bonus dice increases by 1 at 11th, 14th, and 19th level. This bonus is applied after any additional dice for a critical hit. If you end your turn without attacking or attack another target, the bonus is lost.

Mortal Strikes

At 10th level, you can observe your foes for weaknesses to exploit. Once per round when you make an attack, you can make an Intelligence check (investigation) with a DC equal to the AC of the target, if you succeed, you can double the number of dice added by Attrition Bonus on that attack (possibly exceeding the normal maximum). This bonus is applied after any additional dice for a critical hit.

Ability Score Increase

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of you choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Multiclassing

Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the "old school" fencer class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 DEX

Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the "old school" fencer class, you gain the following proficiencies: rapiers; light armor

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