The Martial Techniques

Following are what I call Martial Techniques. These are abilities exclusively for martial classes, all of which resemble spells in a way, but instead of spell slots, a character spends actions, attack options and reactions to execute them. Most of these offer damage or some utility, but the idea is to give the martial classes a bit of versatility, to even the playing field of available options for all character classes in the game. As always, new classes have been accounted for. In addition to the known Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, and Rogue, these abilities will also be accordingly available to the new classes of Blood Hunter, Commoner, Guardian, and Warlord. The Paladin, Ranger or Inquisitor may show up occasionally too.

Usage. So how do these work? Read these abilities as though they are spells, but pay close attention to the Effectuation Cost, which is the "price" one needs to pay to perform the technique in question, and to the weapon type. Not all techniques can be performed by any weapon. A differentiation has been made between Bludgeoning (B), Piercing (P) and Slashing (S) damage, and a technique can only be made when holding a fitting weapon.

Effectuation Cost. Many of these techniques make use of martials' ability to attack more than once per round. If a technique states it costs two attacks, that means the technique can be performed once per turn by surrendering at least two of your available attacks, and performing the technique once. This then takes your action, as if casting a spell. If the price is an action + bonus action, is simply takes both the action and bonus action for that turn.

Duration. Any technique with concentration requires the martial character to concentrate on the ability, but allows them to perform it by paying the respective Effectuation Cost on each of their turns. Do note, the concentration save DC for Martial Techniques is not 10, but 5. This is because martial fighters would not need to focus non-stop on their spell like a caster, but rather needs to only focus on what they are doing whenever they use the ability again, making it easier for them to keep their focus.

Power Increase Because these techniques do offer quite a bit of power, and because many require Multiattack to even be used, they have been divided into four categories of strength, and will become respectively available to martial classes at levels 5, 10, 15 and 20.

Alchemical Weapon

5th level Technique

• Classes: Blood Hunter, Commoner, Fighter, Monk, Rogue, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks and your bonus action the first time you use this ability, or your action + bonus action as Rogue
• Range: Weapon Range
• Weapon Type: Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing (Melee)
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
• Limitations: This technique requires proficiency with Alchemist's Tools. Additionally, playing around with acid and flames is not safe. Every round your weapon is affected that you do not spend both attacks performing this technique, you must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or burn for 2d6 damage of the used type of alchemy. Lastly, buying the materials to create any of the available concoctions costs 5gp for each usage.

Well, I'm no tinkering genius, but I do have some tricks up my sleeve.

You have grown as a warrior, and can now combine your knowledge of alchemy and your skill with your weapon to perform new, deadlier feats and add some elemental flair to your attacks. You choose one of the options below each time you use this technique. You can only have one of the options active at any given time.

• Acid. You coat your weapon using a unique form of acid not harmful to your armament. While the weapon is coated, all your attacks deal an additional 1d4 acid damage. The acid leaves marks on any material it touches.
• Fire. You pour an oil out over your weapon and ignite it, lighting your armament on fire. You attacks deal an additional 1d4 fire damage and can light unattended objects on fire.
• Poison. You cover your weapon with a simple but effective poison. Any enemy that take 15 or more damage from a single attack must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 10 + half your level (rounded down) or become sickened. If an attack made with this weapon deals 20 or more damage at once, the target is poisoned instead. An affected creature can make another Constitution saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success. It lasts at most 1 minute.

After a minute passes, the acid becomes inert, the oil burns away, or the poisonous effects fade away. Your weapon returns to normal.

Cleave

5th level Technique

• Classes: Barbarian, Blood Hunter, Fighter, Monk, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks
• Range: Self (5-foot cone)
• Weapon Type: Slashing (Melee)
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Limitations: None

I'll cut through the horde, clean and clear. I just can't miss!

You grip your weapon with both hands, then slash it through the cone in front of you with all the strength you can muster. Make a Strength check. On a 1-5, the attack fails and you deal 5 damage to all creatures within range. On a 6-19, you deal your weapon damage + 1d8 slashing damage to all creatures within range. On a 20 or higher, you deal 30 to all creatures within range.

Concussive Blows

5th level Technique

• Classes: Barbarian, Blood Hunter, Commoner, Guardian, Fighter, Monk, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks
• Range: Weapon Range
• Weapon Type: Bludgeoning (Melee)
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Limitations: None

This one always reminds me of ringing a church bell.

You strain the arm holding your weapon, and swing at one target within range two times in quick succession. Make two attacks against the target. All damage dealt with this technique is halved. If one attack hits, the target is stunned for one turn. If both attacks hit, they are paralyzed for one turn instead.

Feint

5th level Technique

• Classes: All Martial Classes
• Effectuation Cost: 20 feet of movement for your current turn
• Range: 5 feet
• Weapon Type: Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing
  (Melee & Ranged)
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Limitations: None

Move like a ghost across the battlefield. Always in sight, yet always out of reach.

This technique can only be used when multiple creatures are within 5 feet of you. You cannot target an ally with either the feint or the real attack.

You move swiftly towards one of the creatures within range, drawing your weapon as if to strike them. Instead you swing around to attack a different target within range. Make an attack with advantage against your real target. This attack may trigger your Sneak Attack as Rogue. When making this attack, you may move 5 feet away from your real target after you finish the attack.

When you use this ability, the fake target may immediately use their reaction to make an attack of opportunity against you with disadvantage. If they miss that attack, you may use your bonus action to attack them the same Feint that turn too, though you do not roll with advantage against this target.

Aerial Ace

10th level Technique

• Classes: Barbarian, Blood Hunter, Guardian, Fighter, Ranger, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks
• Range: Self (10-foot and 20-foot cone)
• Weapon Type: Slashing (Melee)
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Limitations: This attack is straining on your muscles. You can only perform it once every three turns.

Push them back! Throw them over! Take them down!

You slash your blade through the air in front of you with great force, cutting through those nearby you and flinging a wave of air forward that pushes people people back. All creatures in a 10-foot cone in front of you must make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC of 10 + half your martial level (rounded down) or take 3d10 slashing damage. A creature that critically fails their saving throw is also dazed for 1 minute. All creatures in a 20-foot cone must make a Strength saving throw as the air thrown by your blade hits into them. On a failure, they are pushed back 10 feet, take 1d10 falling damage and are knocked prone. On a success, a creature is only knocked back 10 feet and suffers no additional effect.

A creature within 10 feet of you is affected by both abilities, meaning they make the Strength saving throw and the Dexterity saving throw.

Armor Crush

10th level Technique

• Classes: All Martial Classes and Paladin
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks
• Range: Weapon Range
• Weapon Type: Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing (Melee)
• Duration: Up to 1 minute or until repairs are done
• Limitations: The effect of this technique does not stack. Attacking a creature with this technique after they already suffer the effect has no additional benefits. Any armor that gets magically repaired or mended cannot be affected again until 1 minute has passed.

You think that thin sheet of metal can protect you? I've trained for days. Years. Just to kill wannabe warriors like you. Now stand still, and I'll make this fast.

This attack only works on opponents with medium or heavy armor, or creatures with similar hard armor, such as a carapace or shell.

You slam, slash or thrust your weapon directly into the brunt of your opponent's armor. Make an attack against a target within range. Any damage you deal is halved. On a hit, you damage the armor of your target. A target wearing medium or heavy armor suffers a -2 to their AC until their armor has been repaired. A creature with natural armor that can regenerate instead suffers the effect for 1 minute.

Blinding Puncture

10th level Technique

• Classes: Blood Hunter, Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks and a bonus action (attack + bonus action for the Rogue)
• Range: Weapon Range
• Weapon Type: Piercing (Melee & Ranged)
• Duration: Up to 1 minute
• Limitations: A creature can only be affected by this ability once per long rest.

Lights out, kid.

You stab a target of your choice right in their optics. Make an attack against the target. Ranged attacks are made with disadvantage. Any damage you deal is halved. On a hit, the creature is blinded for 1 minute. A blinded creature can make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 10 + half your martial level (rounded down) at the end of each of their turns. Creatures with truesight make this save with advantage. If you critically hit the target, you puncture the creature's eye, maiming it. On a success, the creature regains their sight. A creature with a maimed eye can only regain it through powerful healing. This technique cannot trigger Sneak Attack as a Rogue.

Hard Impact

10th level Technique

• Classes: Barbarian, Commoner, Guardian, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks and a bonus action
• Range: Weapon Range
• Weapon Type: Bludgeoning (Melee & Ranged)
• Duration: Up to 1 minute
• Limitations: A creature can only be affected by this ability once per long rest.

Your nonsense has been giving me a headache. Here's what that feels like.

You swing your blunt weapon around twice before delivering a targeted attack meant to destabilize a creature. Make an attack against a target within range. Any damage you deal is halved. On a hit, the creature is dazed for 1 minute. A dazed creature can make a Wisdom saving throw with a DC of 10 + half your martial level (rounded down) at the end of each of their turns. If you critically strike, the creature gets no additional saving throws. On a success, they snap out of it. Alternatively, if you are using a sling, you shoot a pellet right between your target's eyes, intended to daze. All mechanics function the same way.

Shaken Condition

• A shaken creature cannot willingly move closer to the source of the condition.
• The creature has disadvantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Decapitation

15th level Technique

• Classes: Barbarian, Blood Hunter, Guardian, Fighter, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks
• Range: 5 feet
• Weapon Type: Slashing (Melee & Ranged)
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Limitations: This attack takes great precision and weighs heavy on your muscles. You cannot perform this technique more than once per minute.

OFF WITH HER HEAD! THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, WRITE THAT DOWN!

Drawing on your own great strength, you swing your blade in front of you, right through an enemy. The target makes a Dexterity saving throw with a DC of 10 + half your martial level (rounded down). On a failure, they take 7d10 slashing damage and immediately gain 3 Blood Stacks. On a success, the creature takes half as much damage and gains 1 Blood Stack. If the creature fails the Dexterity saving throw by 5 or more and has less than 50 hit points left, you can choose to cut off either a limb or its head. If you cut its head off, it dies immediately.

You cannot use Bloody Execution on the same turn you use Decapitation.

Guillotine

15th level Technique

• Classes: All Martial Classes
• Effectuation Cost: Your action and your movement for each turn you keep the grapple. If you let go, the technique ends.
• Range: 5 feet
• Weapon Type: Piercing and Slashing (Melee)
• Duration: Concentration, until the target breaks free
• Limitations: This technique can only be performed while dual wielding, or with a weapon enchanted with the Vorpal Weapon spell. You can only do this once per minute.

A structured strike is better than a hasty hit. Take your time.

Depending on the weapons you are holding, you slash both weapons either downward in in a cross onto your opponent, or cut upward in a cross into your opponent. Alternatively, you throw your arms around the sides of the body of your opponent, and cut into their back. Regardless of your style for Guillotine, you force the target to make a Dexterity saving throw with disadvantage.

On a failure, the target takes 6d10 slashing or piercing damage (your choice) and is pierced through, grappled and impaled on your weapons. This damage will always leave a creature with at least 1 hit point. On a success, the creature takes half as much damage, but avoids being grappled.

Grappling. The grappled creature is effectively incapacitated. They can only use their action to to try to resist and break free from your hold on them, making a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check against your own roll. Both you and the target choose which skill you prefer.

While the grapple persists, you can use your action on your turn to deal either an additional 3d10 slashing or piercing damage, or force the target prone and deliver a deadly strike.

Guillotine Cleave. If you choose to deliver the strike, you lay the target prone on the ground and make an attack with both weapons, aiming directly for the neck. If this attack hits and the target has less than 60 hit points, it is immediately dead. Alternatively, you can switch your aim, cutting off two limbs following the same conditions.

Perforation

15th level Technique

• Classes: Blood Hunter, Guardian, Fighter, Monk, Rogue, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks, or your action + bonus action as Rogue
• Range: Weapon Range
• Weapon Type: Piercing (Melee & Ranged)
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Limitations: This attack takes great precision and weighs heavy on your muscles. You cannot perform this technique more than once per minute.

My spear is the one that will pierce your body!

You wield your sharp weapon readily and steadily, and thrust it forward into a target within range. The target makes a Dexterity saving throw with a DC of 10 + half your martial level (rounded down). On a failure, they take 5d10 piercing damage and immediately gain 5 Impalement Stacks. On a success, the target takes half as much damage and gain 3 Impalement Stacks. If the target fails the saving throw by 5 or more, you cut a hole deep in their body, causing them to be incapacitated for 1 turn.

You cannot use Shattering Steel on the same turn you use Perforation.

Shattering Slam

15th level Technique

• Classes: Barbarian, Guardian, Fighter, Monk, Warlord
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks
• Range: Weapon Range (15-foot radius)
• Weapon Type: Bludgeoning (Melee)
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Limitations: This attack takes great precision and weighs heavy on your muscles. You cannot perform this technique more than once per minute.

Hit hard. Hit once.

You draw all your strength into the arm that holds your weapon, and slam down on the ground with great force, causing a shockwave. All creatures in a 15-foot radius of where you hit must make a Strength saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 4d10 bludgeoning damage and is dazed for 1 turn.

If you use this technique to slam down on a prone creature, that creature makes the saving throw with disadvantage. On a failure, they take 7d10 bludgeoning damage and are paralyzed for 1 minute. All the other effects from Shattering Slam still happen. The paralyzed creature can make another saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success.

A Thousand Cuts

20th level Technique

• Classes: All Martial Classes
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks + your bonus action + your movement that turn
• Range: Self (10-foot radius)
• Weapon Type: Piercing (Melee & Limited Ranged)
• Duration: Over the course of 1 turn
• Limitations: This technique requires precision, patience, and great strength or agility. You can only perform this technique 5 times per long rest, and only once every 5 rounds.

You must be swift as the coursing river. That you may be faster than anyone else.

You calm yourself and find a center of limitless patience and flawless speed within yourself, holding your piercing weapon still in your hands as you root yourself to the ground. Then you unleash a flurry of cuts to your surroundings.

You make 16 attacks against any targets with range. All attacks are made with disadvantage. For each hit, the target takes 1d10 piercing damage and gains one Impalement Stack. You can target the same target with multiple attacks, or attack other creatures within range freely. Any target hit with at least 2 attacks begins to bleed and has their movement halved for 5 rounds. You cannot use this ability on a ranged weapon with the Loading property, though you can stab them with an arrow or bolt all the same.

Blunt Force

20th level Technique

• Classes: All Martial Classes
• Effectuation Cost: 2 attacks + your bonus action + your movement that turn
• Range: Weapon Range
• Weapon Type: Bludgeoning (Melee & Ranged)
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Limitations: This technique requires patience, accuracy and great strength or agility. You can only perform this ability 5 times per long rest, and only once every 5 rounds.

With all the force of a great typhoon. To hit hard enough to break the unmovable object.

You calm yourself and find a center of immaculate precision and endless strength within yourself, holding your bludgeoning weapon steadfast in front of you as you remain still where you are. Then you perform an unavoidable, dooming uppercut on a creature within range. Alternatively, if using a sling, you can fire a sling bullet with tremendous force.

Make a melee attack against a target with double advantage (you roll 3d20 and take the highest outcome). On a hit, the target takes 10d10 bludgeoning damage and must make a Constitution saving throw. If the target has less than 300 hit points remaining, the saving throw is with disadvantage. On a failure, the creature is knocked unconscious and is incapacitated for 1 minute. Should the initial damage bring the target to 0 hit points, you can choose to have them fall to 1 hit point instead. If the target succeeds the saving throw, they are stunned for 5 rounds. They get no additional saving throws.

Alternate Strike. When you use this technique, you can instead opt to not knock the creature unconscious, but rather knock them away. All the same rules and effects apply, but the target makes a Strength saving throw instead of the Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature is knocked 150 feet in a direction of your choosing and is stunned for 5 rounds. If they succeed, they are knocked 50 feet and are stunned for 2 rounds. Should they collide with terrain, they take an additional 5d10 bludgeoning damage.

Storm of Blades

20th level Technique

• Classes: All Martial Classes
• Effectuation Cost: All your attacks + your movement each turn you keep it going
• Range: Self (20-foot line)
• Weapon Type: Slashing (Melee)
• Duration: Concentration, up to 5 rounds
• Limitations: This technique requires precision, patience, accuracy and great strength or agility. You can only perform this technique 5 times per long rest. After the technique ends in any way you cannot perform it again for 5 rounds.

With all the strength of a raging fire. So that you may become the unstoppable force.

You calm yourself and find a center of absolute control and perfect agility within yourself, holding your slashing weapon prepared at the side your body as you ready your body to move. Then you begin to slash and sever everything close to you as you roll across the battlefield in a whirlwind of blades.

You begin to spin while swinging you blade(s) around yourself with perfect control. Every round this technique is active, you may move up to 20 feet in any direction with any type of movement you have access to. You can move through another creature's space when you use this technique. Any creature in the path of the 20-foot line you move through must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, they take 5d10 slashing damage and gain 3 Blood Stacks. On a success, they take half as much damage and gain 1 Blood Stack.

Any creature 5 feet next to the line you move across must also make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, they take 2d10 slashing damage and are knocked prone. On a success they take half as much damage and are not knocked prone.

All damage dealt with this technique against creatures that are prone is doubled.

While you are spinning, you have +5 to your AC and all opportunity attacks against you are made with disadvantage.

If you stop spinning to perform any action other than this technique on your turn, the technique ends and cannot be used again for 5 rounds. This also happens if your concentration is broken.