Gladiator (prestige class)

Gladiator
Book source	Knights of the Old Republic pg

Gladiators at Large

Though the most violent forms are officially banned in the Republic and on most civilized planets, gladiatorial combat remains an entertaining and lucrative combination of business and entertainment. In more civilized locales, such contests are held using nonlethal weapons-such as blasters on stun-with strict rules, resulting in a fight more like a sparring match than lethal combat. However, a more dangerous form of the sport f lourishes in underground matches and on the wilder planets of the galaxy. For instance, cantinas on the planet Taris host gladiator contests as entertainment, allowing spectators to gamble on the results. The contests might be to the death, but they are more often fought until one side is unconscious or unable to continue.

The gladiators have diverse backgrounds. Some are former soldiers looking to make a few credits using the only skills they have. Others are thrill seekers looking for fame and notoriety, as well as money. Still others have been captured, forced to fight and are looking to escape. The best of these fighters eventually go on to become professiona ls that are extremely good fighters and incredibly dangerous both in the arena and on the streets.

Examples of Gladiators in Star Wars

Bendak Starkiller, Twitch.

Class Rules & Traits

The Gladiator
Level	BAB	Class Features
1st	+1	Defense bonuses, talent
2nd	+2	Unflinching (1/encounter)
3rd	+3	Talent
4th	+4	Unflinching (2/encounter)
5th	+5	Talent
6th	+6	Unflinching (3/encounter)
7th	+7	Talent
8th	+8	Unflinching (4/encounter)
9th	+9	Talent
10th	+10	Unflinching (5/encounter)

Requirements

To qualify to become a gladiator, a character must fulfill the following criteria.

Minimum Level: 7th.

Minimum Base Attack Bonus: +7.

Feats: Improved Damage Threshold, Weapon Proficiency (advanced melee).

Hit Points

At each level, gladiators gain 1d10 hit points + their Constitution modifier.

Force Points

Gladiators gain a number of Force points equal to 6 + one-half their character level (rounded down) at 1st level and every time they gain a new level in this class. Any Force points left over from previous levels are lost.

Defense Bonuses

At 1st level, you gain a +4 class bonus to your Reflex Defense and a +2 class bonus to your Fortitude Defense.

Talents

At every odd-numbered level (1st, 3rd, 5th, …), you select a talent from any of the following talent trees. You must meet the prerequisites (if any) of the chosen talent. No talent can be selected more than once unless expressly indicated. Click on the links to learn more about a given talent tree or talent.

Talent Tree	Talents
Armor Specialist	Armor Mastery, Armored Defense, Improved Armored Defense, Juggernaut, Second Skin, Shield Expert
Awareness	Acute Senses, Expert Tracker, Improved Initiative, Keen Shot, Reset Initiative, Uncanny Dodge I, Uncanny Dodge II, Weak Point
Gladiatorial Combat	Brutal Attack, Call Out, Distracting Attack, Exotic Weapons Master, Lockdown Strike, Multiattack Proficiency (exotic), Personal Vendetta, Unstoppable

Unflinching

At 2nd level your training as a gladiator has made you very difficult to intimidate or deter. Once per encounter, you may add your gladiator level to your Fortitude Defense (and damage threshold) or Will Defense until the start of your next turn as a reaction; you choose which defense to apply the bonus to when you use the ability, but you must declare the use of this feature before you know the outcome of the effect tarrgeting you. At each even-numbered class level thereafter, you gain one additional use of this ability per encounter.

Gladitorial Combat Circuit

Gladiatorial combat and formalized duels are popular spectator sports in much of the galaxy, particularly the Outer Rim planets and planets outside Republic control. Whether they are f ights to the death, or the more common fight to first blood or unconsciousness, these displays of combat attract spectators far and wide, particularly over secured video links. Profits are generated through ticket sales, but more money comes from gambling. Promoters secure both the combatants and the profits taken on the contest.

     The size and type of arena varies by planet, and most permanent facilities employ a number of regulars to fight among themselves, or against challengers from other worlds. Some contestants travel from arena to arena and world to world, following an informal circuit of legitimate and underground facil ities. The legality of such combat varies drastically from planet to planet.

     One of the better-known dueling arenas is run by Ajuur the Hutt through the Upper City Cantina on the planet Taris. Through much of this era, Ajuur can be found arranging battles, no matter the state of the planet, or who is in charge of it. He pays well for skilled combatants, and is willing to take a chance on newcomers. For most battles, he sticks to the laws of Taris. However, he arranges fights to the death if he believes it might bring in enough credits to be worth the risk.

Crowd Response

Crowds of spectators at a gladiatorial contest or duel can have a noticeable influence on the outcome of the event. Positive crowd responses give bonuses, and negative responses result in penalties to combatants. A character can attempt to gain crowd support through his or her actions, mannerisms and combat prowess. Likewise, they can lose support through unpopular moves or poor fighting skills.

     Crowd attitudes follow the same attitude steps as the Persuasion skill. At the start of a contest, the Gamemaster determines the attitude of the crowd toward each participant, supporting some while opposing others. Their attitude shifts when a character is reduced to 0 hit points or the bottom of the condition track, or in response to combatant actions and attempts to sway the crowd.

     To sway a crowd, a participant must make a DC 25 Persuasion check, with applicable adjustments for the crowd’s current attitude as specified for the Persuasion skill. If successful, the crowd moves one step in the fighter’s favor. Gamemasters can apply other modifiers to the crowd response DC for additional circumstances, such as a favorite champion, hated opponent, or partisan crowd.

     Characters reducing an opponent to 0 hit points or the bottom of the condition track also move the crowd one step in their favor.

     Crowd response grants a bonus or penalty to one attack each round to each combatant. Characters whom the crowd regards as helpful gain a +2 morale bonus. Those regarded as friendly gain a +1 morale bonus instead. Indifferent grants no bonus or penalty. Unfriendly gives a −1 morale penalty, and hostile results in a −2 morale penalty.