Streets&Turmoil
II- Fighting styles for Streets & Turmoil
Even inside the same combat system (boxing, karate, etc), there’s many different styles of fighting . I’ve tried to translate that for my D&D 5e Streets & Turmoil setting.
As it is far easier and less risky to take what already exists rather than homebrew everything from scratch, I’ve started with looking at the options already available. When I couldn’t find any, I’ve resorted to basic homebrewing, tinkering with the fighter class feature fighting styles and champion subclass battle maneuvers.
Slugger
The slugger isn’t about subtlety, his output his low, but when he do strikes, all of his body is committed to it.
New champion battle maneuver: Power Punch
When you make an unarmed melee attack on your turn, you can choose to have disadvantage. When you do so, add twice the superiority die to the attack’s damage roll.
Dirty boxing
Clinch holds, elbows, headbutts, eye gouge, bites and hidden weapons: anything goes in dirty boxing, less a style than a willingness to uses every possible means to achieve victory.
Okay, I just saw that the Tavern Brawler feat is exactly that… I’ll just rename it.
Unorthodox fighter
The strength of an unorthodox style resides in the fact that it’s something so rarely displayed that almost any opponent feels awkward against its practitioner.
New fighter’s fighting style:
When a creature makes a melee attack against you , it must make a wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature provokes an attack of opportunity, if you hit, add the superiority die to the attack’s damage roll.
I- Fighting styles for Streets & Turmoil
Even inside the same combat system (boxing, karate, etc), there’s many different styles of fighting . I’ve tried to translate that for my D&D 5e Streets & Turmoil setting.
As it is far easier and less risky to take what already exists rather than homebrew everything from scratch, I’ve started with looking at the options already available. When I couldn’t find any, I’ve resorted to basic homebrewing, tinkering with the fighter class feature fighting styles and champion subclass battle maneuvers.
Swarmer
Applying constant pressure, the swarmer wins with sheer volume instead of technique or power, not letting any breathing space for his adversary.
How to showcase that style:
- Barbarian class feature: reckless
- Barbarian, path of the berserker subclass feature: frenzy
- Monk Ki feature: flurry of blows
Evaluation: The swarmer is not a subtle style so that seems like a quick & easy fit.
Out-fighter
The opposite of the swarmer, the out-fighter do best while keeping his distance, using superior reach and quick feet.
How to showcase that style:
- Fighter, champion battle maneuver: lunging attack
- Fighter, champion battle maneuver: pushing attack
- Rogue, Scout subclass feature: skirmisher
- Monk, Ki feature: step of the wind
Evaluation: The opponent have the leisure the move back in range easily, this doesn’t seem to give a real edge at all. It definitely needs something more.
Homebrew: New fighting style (Fighter class feature):
Out-striking: +1 bonus to AC when the creature that targets you starts its turn at more than 5′. +1 bonus to attack rolls when targeted creature is at more than 5′.
Counterpuncher
A counterpuncher relies on good defense and waits for the opportunity to counter when his opponent exposes himself to attack.
How to showcase that style:
- Fighter, champion battle maneuver: riposte
- Monk, Ki feature: patient defense
Evaluation: That seems sufficient to me, riposte is a perfectly serviceable battle maneuver, even more so with a good AC.
X- Bestiary: Doppelgänger
The Bestiary: where I take monsters from the manual and explain them my way… (1)
In the aftermath of the Sycophants’ Plot, the trials (read gruesome torture) showed to the world the existence of the doppelgängers. The monsters had slowly replaced most of the entourage of the Last Emperor, leading to many damaging decisions in the City, as the Ruler hadn’t received wise counsel for quite some time.
While incapable of good counsel and not incredibly intelligent, the doppelgängers are crafty creatures in their own way. Here’s what we know about them:
- They’re capable of great bursts of activity (all very inefficient) if it helps them sit on their asses afterward.
- They never acknowledge failure but are quick to point the finger at someone else.
- They also excel at not being there.
- They can’t decide anything, ever, but will gladly takes credit for someone else’s idea/action.
- They don’t take part in any kind of debate, they have no opinions whatsoever, unless they can flatter some higher-up.
When you see all this, you can bet that you are not dealing with a human being, oh no, could anyone be so absolutely obnoxious? No no no. No! These shapeshifting, two-faced, selfish scumbags are mediocre at best at everything EXCEPT at finding themselves a perfectly parasitic way of life. They’ll bully or suck-up, cajole and accuse, murder even, all in order to obtain the most while doing the less (2).
- This one I dedicate to all the spineless fucks that, I wish, weren’t simply sad specimen of humanity.
- Doppelgängers kill people and steal their life, how come they are Neutral in the MM 5E? I say they are Lazy Evil.
IX- Bestiary: Galeb Duhr
The Bestiary: where I take monsters from the manual and explain them my way…
A Galeb Duhr typically come into existence, however briefly, in the aftermath of a brutal street fight that saw a lot of brick/pavement throwing. It’s supposed that the creature’s existence – formed from the very stuff that litters the street – is a defense mechanism set in motion by the ambient angst and the City’s magic.
Most of the time, the Galeb Dhur brutalize some of the nearby offenders and then simply resume its inert state. Sometimes though, it lingers and endangers until forcefully put to rest…
Weapons for Mean Streets!
In a place where murder is prohibited (always a good thing), wielding three-foot steel isn’t in vogue either (it’s illegal, to be clear). Fortunately (that’s debatable), many weapons are not so much frown upon by the agents of the Sanction. In most case, it’s because their “lethality” is seen as inferior.
Here’s some of them:
Simple Melee Weapons
Blackjack
Slungshot
Bludgeon/Club
Quarterstaff
Brass knuckles
Chain
Canestick
Shank
Pistol (1)
- That’s clearly a more lethal weapon but it is oddly accepted by the Sanction
