With the exception of a select few, the many realms of Veneon are built on conflict. Conflict with the creatures that stalk the realms, conflict with adjacent realms and their armies, and even conflict with the environmental hazards of any given realm. Due to this life of near-constant threats, anyone, trained or otherwise, can find themselves having no choice but rely on violence to stay alive. While some commit themselves to learning the secrets of magic and others train diligently with weapons, a select few have little option but rely on instinct and a natural talent for brawling to fight off the dangers they face.
Brawlers are a melee-focused martial class that relies on their powerful fists, improvised weapons, and devastating throws to overpower their enemies. As combat rages on, they build up momentum which allows them to perform powerful techniques, usually determined by their speciality.
The Brawler
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Feature | Scrimmage Damage | Maximum Momentum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +2 | Scrimmage | 1d6 | — |
| 2 | +2 | Momentum, Brawlers Form | 1d6 | 5 |
| 3 | +2 | “You’re Not Going Anywhere” | 1d6 | 5 |
| 4 | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d6 | 5 |
| 5 | +3 | Extra Attack, Pinning Grapple | 1d6 | 6 |
| 6 | +3 | Brawlers Form Feature | 1d8 | 6 |
| 7 | +3 | Sucker Punch | 1d8 | 6 |
| 8 | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d8 | 7 |
| 9 | +4 | Endless Endurance | 1d8 | 7 |
| 10 | +4 | Brawlers Form Feature | 1d8 | 7 |
| 11 | +4 | Extra Attack | 1d8 | 8 |
| 12 | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d10 | 8 |
| 13 | +5 | Hot Start | 1d10 | 8 |
| 14 | +5 | Brawlers Form Feature | 1d10 | 9 |
| 15 | +5 | Uncapped Strength | 1d10 | 9 |
| 16 | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d10 | 9 |
| 17 | +5 | Street Smart | 1d12 | 10 |
| 18 | +6 | Brawlers Form Feature | 1d12 | 10 |
| 19 | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 1d12 | 10 |
| 20 | +6 | Sheer Strength | 2d8 | Unlimited |
Hit Points
Hit Points: 1d12 per Brawler level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 12 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d12 (or 7) + your Constitution modifier per Brawler level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light Armour, Medium Armour, Heavy Armour
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Flail, Maul, Warhammer
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Skills: Choose two from Athletics, History, Intimidation, Insight, Medicine and Perception
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) any martial weapon or (b) two simple weapons
- (a) Leather armour or (b) Chain mail
- (a) A mace or (b) 4 Javelins
- (a) A dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
Scrimmage
At 1st level, your combat strategy consists of violent brawling. This has given you mastery in unarmed strikes and Scrimmage weapons, which are improvised weapons and melee weapons that deals bludgeoning damage.
You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or wielding a Scrimmage weapon:
- You add your proficiency bonus to your unarmed strikes and attacks made with a Scrimmage weapon.
- You can roll a D6 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike or Scrimmage weapon. This die changes as you gain Brawler levels, as shown in the Scrimmage Damage column of the Brawler table.
- If you make a successful grapple against a creature, you may use your bonus action to throw the creature 10ft. If you do, and the creature would impact a surface, creature, or medium or smaller sized object, they take damage equal to your Scrimmage Damage + Str modifier. In addition, if the thrown creature would impact a target creature, the target creature must make a Dex saving throw (DC = 8 + PB + Str modifier) or the damage is shared equally between both creatures. If they succeed, they avoid the thrown creature and take no damage.
Momentum
At 2nd level, you learn to build up Momentum as you fight, through sustained combat.
When you make a successful unarmed strike, attack with a Scrimmage weapon, or throw, against a creature, you gain a point of Momentum.
Momentum can be spent to perform unique actions, as detailed in your chosen Brawlers Form. If you end your turn without making an attack roll, grappling a creature, throwing a creature, spending Momentum or taking damage, you lose all Momentum.
Your Brawler level determines the maximum number of Momentum you can have, as shown in the Maximum Momentum column of the Brawler table.
Brawlers Form
When you reach 2nd level, you find a Scrimmage style that suits your messy brawling method. Your Brawlers Form grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, 14th and 18th level.
“You’re Not Going Anywhere”
At 3rd level, you learn to predict when an enemy is going to try and flee, and can take measures to stop this. While unarmed or wielding a Scrimmage weapon, for the purposes of opportunity attacks, your reach is 10ft. If you use your reaction to make an opportunity attack, you must move to within 5ft of the creature and either make an attack or attempt to grapple the creature, provided you are able to.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your 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.
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.
Pinning Grapple
At 5th level, you learn to incorporate pinning into your grapples. While you are grappling a creature, you can use your bonus action to restrain the creature. You can do this a number of times equal to your PB. You regain all uses upon completing a short or long rest.
Sucker Punch
At 7th level, honourable tactics mean nothing when survival is on the line. When you make an unarmed strike or an attack with a Scrimmage weapon and the target creature hasn’t had a turn yet, you make the attack with advantage. If the attack hits, it is considered a critical hit.
Endless Endurance
At 9th level, pain is a motivator to fight harder and kill faster. When you take damage from an attack, spell, or ability, you gain 1 Momentum.
Hot Start
At 13th level, you can jump start your own flow of combat. If you start your turn with 0 Momentum, you can use your bonus action to gain 1 Momentum.
Uncapped Strength
At 15th level, your body is made for brawling and you surpass your limitations. Your Strength and Constitution scores are no longer capped at 20.
Street Smart
At 17th level, your mind is as quick and reactive as your body. You gain proficiency in Dexterity and Wisdom saving throws. In addition, you gain a +5 to initiative.
Sheer Strength
At 20th level, your powerful strikes are insurmountable for most creatures. When you make a successful attack with your unarmed strike or Scrimmage weapon, if the target creature is size large or smaller, they are pushed 5ft.
Brawlers Forms
Brawlers are instinctual and impulsive in their fighting style. This mean what may come naturally to one brawler could feel impractical to another. A brawler can learn to lean into their personal strengths in the form of a Brawlers Form. This also determines the method in which they take advantage of the momentum they build in battle. You can find 4 currently available archetypes below.
Crushing Brawler
| Level | Crushing Feature |
|---|---|
| 2nd | Crush & Release, Master Grappler |
| 6th | Size Doesn’t Matter |
| 10th | Dragged Movement |
| 14th | Slams & Twists |
| 18th | Catch & Throw |
Crush & Release
(2nd-level Crushing feature)
At 2nd level, you forgo the usual throws used by Brawlers to instead focus on crushing your enemies in your arms. While grappling a creature, you can use an action to squeeze them and then release them. The creature takes damage equal to your Scrimmage Damage plus your Str modifier and is dropped prone within 5ft. You gain a point of Momentum.
Master Grappler
(2nd-level Crushing feature)
At 2nd level, you are highly skilled with grapples and can overpower many foes. When a creature attempts to grapple you, you may spend 1 Momentum and choose to roll either Acrobatics or Athletics and if you are successful, you instead grapple the creature.
Size Doesn’t Matter
(6th-level Crushing feature)
At 6th level, you learn how to grapple creatures beyond your size. When making a grapple attempt on a creature, you may increase the size limitation of your grapples by 1 size category for every 2 Momentum you spend. For example, a medium sized Crusher may spend 2 Momentum to grapple a large creature or 4 Momentum to grapple a huge creature.
Dragged Movement
(10th-level Crushing feature)
At 10th level, you learn how to move at full speed while wrangling your foes. While you are grappling a creature, you may expend 1 momentum to move your normal speed with the grappled creature, instead of the usual half speed.
Slams & Twists
(14th-level Crushing feature)
At 14th level, you learn the best ways to inflict damage on your enemy without losing hold of them. As an action, you can expend 3 Momentum to deal damage equal to your Scrimmage Damage plus your Str modifier to a creature you are grappling.
Catch & Throw
(18th-level Crushing feature)
At 18th level, you can make quick decisions about who to grapple and who to send away. When a creature makes an attack against you than misses, you can use your reaction to expend 4 momentum and make a grapple attempt against the creature. If you successfully grapple the creature, you may expend an additional 2 Momentum to throw the creature 20ft as per the Scrimmage feature.
Hurling Brawler
| Level | Hurling Feature |
|---|---|
| 2nd | Pitching Arm, Unstable Landing |
| 6th | Fastball Special |
| 10th | Endless Pursuit |
| 14th | Stunning Sling |
| 18th | Quick Throw |
Pitching Arm
(2nd-level Hurling feature)
At 2nd level, you have the skill to maximise your throws with devastating potential. You may increase the distance you throw a grappled creature by 10ft per 3 Momentum you spend.
Unstable Landing
(2nd-level Hurling feature)
At 2nd level, you know how to throw a creature to cause maximum damage. When you throw a grappled creature, they take damage equal to your Scrimmage Damage for every 10ft thrown. For example, a creature thrown 30ft would take 3x Scrimmage Damage.
Fastball Special
(6th-level Hurling feature)
At 6th level, you learn to safely throw your allies in powerful team-up attacks. As an action, you can expend 4 momentum and target a willing ally creature within 5ft. The ally creature is thrown up to 30ft and can use its reaction to make a melee weapon attack with advantage, against a creature within 5ft of the target destination. If the attack hits, the creature takes additional damage equal to your Scrimmage Damage and is knocked prone. If the attack misses, the ally creature take 1d6 bludgeoning damage and falls prone.
Endless Pursuit
(10th-level Hurling feature)
At 10th level, you learn how to keep up with the enemies you’re throwing around. You can expend Momentum to increase your move speed by 10ft per 1 Momentum spent, up to a maximum of 3 Momentum.
Stunning Sling
(14th-level Hurling feature)
At 14th level, you learn to skilfully throw creatures in ways that deal temporary, severe damage. When you throw a creature, as per the Scrimmage feature, you may expend 6 Momentum to also stun the creature until the end of its next turn.
Quick Throw
(18th-level Hurling feature)
At 18th level, you learn to fully optimise your throws. When you take the attack action, you can swap out a weapon attack with a throw, no longer needing to grapple the target first.
Scrapping Brawler
| Level | Scrapping Feature |
|---|---|
| 2nd | The One Vs The Many, Redirect Foes |
| 6th | Share The Hurt |
| 10th | Alert Fighting |
| 14th | Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop |
| 18th | Legendary Brawler |
The One Vs The Many
(2nd-level Scrapping feature)
At 2nd level, you learn to handle multiple opponents at one time. At the beginning of your turn, you gain 1 Momentum for each hostile creature within 5ft.
Redirect Foes
(2nd-level Scrapping feature)
At 2nd level, you learn to weaponize your enemies against each other. When a creature within 5ft makes a melee attack roll and misses, you can use your reaction to expend 3 Momentum and have the creature make the same attack with advantage against a different creature within reach of the attack.
Share The Hurt
(6th-level Scrapping feature)
At 6th level, you find a preference for sharing your attacks around. When you make an attack roll or grapple check against a creature you haven’t already attacked this turn, you may expend 2 Momentum to gain advantage on the roll.
Alert Fighting
(10th-level Scrapping feature)
At 10th level, you see combat in a new light and can focus on multiple threats. When you make a successful attack with a Scrimmage weapon, you may expend 4 Momentum to immediately throw the weapon at a creature within 25ft in a ranged weapon attack. The weapon does not need the light property to be used in this attack.
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
(14th-level Scrapping feature)
At 14th level, you know how to push past failed attacks and gain renewed motivation. When you make an attack with an unarmed strike or a Scrimmage weapon and miss, you gain a bonus to your next attack equal to your PB.
Legendary Brawler
(18th-level Scrapping feature)
At 18th level, your prowess in combat is legendary and you can battle as such. After another creature finishes its turn in combat, you can expend 6 Momentum to make an attack roll against a creature within reach.
Slugging Brawler
| Level | Slugging Feature |
|---|---|
| 2nd | Improvised Fighter, Ricochet |
| 6th | Adrenaline Rush |
| 10th | Splintering Weaponry |
| 14th | Crushing Blow |
| 18th | Onslaught Of Weaponry |
Improvised Fighter
(2nd-level Slugging feature)
At 2nd level, you gain the skills needed to weaponize everything around you. While wielding an improvised weapon, you can spend 1 Momentum to swap the damage type between bludgeoning, slashing and piercing.
Ricochet
(2nd-level Slugging feature)
At 2nd level, you know how to perfectly throw an object to hit multiple enemies. As an action, you can expend 2 Momentum and make a ranged weapon attack with a size tiny object you are holding. The range of this attack is 25ft and it deals damage equal to your Scrimmage Damage plus Str. For an additional 2 Momentum, you can target an additional creature within 10ft of the original target. This can stack up to a maximum of 4 targets.
Adrenaline Rush
(6th-level Slugging feature)
At 6th level, the thrill of a devastating attack can be intoxicating. When you land a critical hit with a Scrimmage weapon you gain 4 Momentum.
Splintering Weaponry
(10th-level Slugging feature)
At 10th level, your attacks are so devastating they can splinter your weapons from their impact. When you hit a creature with an improvised weapon you can expend 4 Momentum to destroy the weapon and deal an additional 2d6 piercing damage.
Crushing Blow
(14th-level Slugging feature)
At 14th level, you can manhandle the environment around you in dangerous ways. As an action, you can expend 6 Momentum to throw a size medium or large object up to 25ft. Creatures within 5ft of the target location must succeed a Dex saving throw (DC = 8 + PB + Str modifier) or take damage equal to twice your Scrimmage Damage plus Str and are knocked prone. If they succeed, they take half damage and are not knocked prone.
Onslaught Of Weaponry
(18th-level Slugging feature)
At 18th level, you fully lean into your affinity for Scrimmage weapons. As a bonus action, you can expend 2 Momentum and make an attack with a Scrimmage weapon.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading! This is the first of a few full classes that will be released for Veneon. I wanted this to be a martial class that felt fun, and thematic, and was always able to be building to something cool! Too many martial classes have 1 or 2 uses of their ‘cool’ stuff and then have to just go back to swinging until they rest and that can feel really disappointing, especially as your parties wizard is blasting off an endless supply of diverse spells! Hopefully, the Brawler class has made some progress towards making melee classes just as dynamic and engaging as a caster.
If you want to see the creative process live you can join me and the community on Twitch or Discord.
Thank you for reading and may your next session be filled with glory!
Veneon Reforged 
Leave a comment