Class: Unfettered

The Unfettered
									Maneuvers
Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special	AC Bonus	Speed Bonus	Sneak Attack	Max Token Pool	Maneuvers Known	Max Maneuver Level
1	+0	+0	+2	+1	Style Choice	+0	+5 ft.	+0d6	1	2	1st
2	+1	+0	+3	+2	Evasion, Combat Reflexes	+1	+10 ft.	+0d6	2	3	1st
3	+2	+1	+3	+2	Uncanny Dodge	+2	+10 ft.	+0d6	3	5	2nd
4	+3	+1	+4	+2		+3	+10 ft.	+1d6	3	6	2nd
5	+3	+1	+4	+3		+3	+15 ft.	+1d6	4	8	3rd
6	+4	+2	+5	+3	Parry	+4	+15 ft.	+1d6	5	9	3rd
7	+5	+2	+5	+4		+5	+15 ft.	+1d6	6	11	4th
8	+6/+1	+2	+6	+4		+6	+20 ft.	+2d6	6	12	4th
9	+6/+1	+3	+6	+4		+6	+20 ft.	+2d6	7	14	5th
10	+7/+2	+3	+7	+5	Unfettered Talent	+7	+20 ft.	+2d6	8	15	5th
11	+8/+3	+3	+7	+5		+8	+25 ft.	+2d6	9	17	6th
12	+9/+4	+4	+8	+6	Unfettered Talent	+9	+25 ft.	+3d6	9	18	6th
13	+9/+4	+4	+8	+6		+9	+25 ft.	+3d6	10	20	7th
14	+10/+5	+4	+9	+6	Unfettered Talent	+10	+30 ft.	+3d6	11	21	7th
15	+11/+6/+1	+5	+9	+7		+11	+30 ft.	+3d6	12	23	8th
16	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+7	Unfettered Talent	+12	+30 ft.	+4d6	12	24	8th
17	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+8		+12	+35 ft.	+4d6	13	26	9th
18	+13/+8/+3	+6	+11	+8	Unfettered Talent	+13	+35 ft.	+4d6	14	27	9th
19	+14/+9/+4	+6	+11	+8		+14	+35 ft.	+4d6	15	29	9th
20	+15/+10/+5	+6	+12	+9	Unfettered Talent	+15	+40 ft.	+5d6	15	30	9th

 

Unfettered

Aeowyn, iconic unfettered

"I'll take speed and grace over brute strength and toughness anyday."

The unfettered's approach to combat is, at first glance, unorthodox: lightly armored and lightly armed, she appears to be more at home amidst rogues or nobles than front-line fighters. Once the fray is joined, however, she demonstrates very quickly that her place is assured: through unmatched mobility, a willingness to take risks, and a generally infuriating playful attitude towards combat, she engages and disengages her foes with an almost distant feeling.

Unfettered are combatants focused on somewhat unusual methods that ultimately allow them to gain the upper hand on more "traditional" fighters.

This class is the "paper" component in the RPS melee theory. Thus, an unfettered should be able to defeat an equal-level and equal-geared defender, while be beaten by an equal einhander. This is accomplished through extreme mobility options, denying defenders the ability to attack them, while harrying them.

Game Rule Information

Unfettered have the following game statistics.

Force Alignment: None.

Force Resistances: None.

Abilities: Unfettered require different ability scores, dependent upon their focus. Speed unfettered rely upon Dexterity; grace unfettered rely upon Intelligence; and panache unfettered rely on Charisma. Ultimately, all three of these abilities are important to an unfettered.

Hit Die: d8.

Class Skills: The unfettered's class skills are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Initiative (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Martial Lore (Int), Perform (Cha), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Per), and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int.

Alignment: Any.

Starting Age: Simple.

Starting Gold: 4d4 x 10gp.

Favored By: None.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the unfettered.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An unfettered is proficient with all simple and martial melee weapons, simple ranged weapons, and light armor. She is proficient with bucklers, but no other shields.

AC Bonus: The unfettered gains the listed bonus as a dodge bonus to AC. The unfettered only benefits from this dodge bonus while unarmored or wearing light armor, and using no heavier shield than a buckler.

Speed Bonus: The unfettered gains the listed bonus as a bonus to her movement speed. An unfettered in armor heavier than light or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.

Sneak Attack: The unfettered has the sneak attack ability, with the listed dice as bonus damage. While an unfettered does not have any bonus damage dice prior to fourth level, she benefits from abilities that key off of making a sneak attack, even if she adds no dice to her damage for doing so.

Style Choice: At first level, the unfettered selects her choice of styles with which to approach the general unfettered theory of combat. Choose from one of the abilities below.

• Speed: You focus on movement and mobility, never letting yourself get tied down. You can add your Dexterity modifier to attack and damage rolls when wielding a one-handed melee weapon, and your access to maneuvers is keyed off of your Dexterity. You add your Dexterity modifier to the maximum size of your speed token pool. Whenever you take movement on someone else's turn, you gain a speed token if one such token was not spent on the action.
• Grace: You focus on gracefulness and cunning, knowing just where to put yourself each moment. You can add your Intelligence modifier to attack and damage rolls when wielding a one-handed melee weapon, and your access to maneuvers is keyed off of your Intelligence. You can add your Intelligence modifier to your AC, in place of your Dexterity modifier (which is still lost in situations where you would have lost your Dex mod). You add your Intelligence modifier to the maximum size of your grace token pool. Whenever you take an action that causes an attack or spell effect to miss you (be it a maneuver, your parry ability, or some other ability), you gain a grace token if one such token was not spent on the action.
• Panache: You focus on "buckling your swash" and playfulness, keeping your enemies on their toes with taunts and bravado. You can add your Charisma modifier to attack and damage rolls when wielding a one-handed melee weapon, and your access to maneuvers is keyed off of your Charisma. You can add your Charisma modifier to your AC, in place of your Dexterity modifier (which is still lost in situations where you would have lost your Dex mod). You add your Charisma modifier to the maximum size of your panache token pool. Whenever you use a special combat option (such as trip, disarm, or the like) and are successful, make an attack for which you can apply your sneak attack damage, or inflict a status ailment on a creature, you gain a panache token if one such token was not spent on the action.

Speed Token Pool: One aspect - and for some, the most important - of your combat style is being fleet of foot. Whenever you move at least ten feet, you gain a speed token at the end of that action. If you move more than ten feet, you gain an additional token for each ten feet moved, to a maximum of your Dexterity modifier or one-half your initiator level, whichever is lower (min 1).

Grace Token Pool: Agility is one thing, but maintaining fluid motion on the battlefield is entirely another. Grace is a measurement of your ability to put yourself in the right place at the right time. Whenever a creature attacks you and misses, if the result of the attack roll was higher than your flat-footed AC, you gain a number of grace tokens after that action equal to the amount by which you were missed, to a maximum of your Intelligence modifier or one-half your initiator level, whichever is lower (min 1).

Panache Token Pool: Causing on-lookers to say "wow!" as you perform acrobatics in combat is one way to put your opponent off their guard, or use your presence of personality to confound your foes, is one way to win the day. Whenever you use a Strength-, Dexterity-, or Charisma-based skill in combat, with a DC of at least 10 + your initiator level (if the check is opposed, your opponent must have HD at least equal to your level), you gain a panache token for every point by which you exceed the check's DC, to a maximum of your Charisma modifier or one-half your initiator level, whichever is lower (min 1).

Unfettered Talent: At 10th level, every two levels thereafter, the unfettered's ability to manipulate combat to her advantage improves. Choose one of the abilities below.

• Agile: Whenever you gain at least one grace token, you gain an additional one, to the normal maximum possible. You can take this talent multiple times; its effect stacks.
  • Fly Like A Butterfly: Increase your dodge bonus to AC by +1. You can take this talent multiple times; its effect stacks. (Prerequisites: Agile)
    • Sting Like A Bee: On your turn, as a free action, you may convert a number of grace tokens up to your Intelligence modifier into any combination of speed tokens and panache tokens. This effect does not trigger abilities that grant extra tokens for gaining tokens. (Prerequisites: Agile, Fly Like A Butterfly)
  • Grace Specialization: The maximum grace tokens you can gain at once is now limited by your Intelligence modifier or your initiator level, whichever is lower. (Prerequisites: Agile)
  • Improved Uncanny Dodge: You gain improved uncanny dodge. (Prerequisite: Agile)
• Expanded Style: Choose a style you do not have. You gain the benefits of that style; as a swift action on your turn, you may select which of your ability scores you use for attack and damage rolls and AC, of the styles you have access to (that is, you cannot stack your ability scores to attack, damage, and AC). You can take this talent twice; each time you do, it applies to a different style.
  • Switch Hitter: When you change the ability score you use to determine your bonuses to attack rolls, damage rolls, and AC, you gain a token related to the ability score from which you switched (so if you were using Dexterity and switch to Intelligence, you gain a speed token, and an extra one if you have mobile). If you have multiple swift actions, you can only benefit from this ability once per round. (Prerequisites: Expanded Style twice)
• Mobile: Whenever you gain at least one speed token, you gain an additional one, to the normal maximum possible. You can take this talent multiple times; its effect stacks.
  • Fleet of Foot: Increase your speed bonus by +5 feet. You can take this talent multiple times; its effect stacks. (Prerequisites: Mobile)
    • Can't Touch This: On your turn, as a free action, you may convert a number of speed tokens up to your Dexterity modifier into any combination of grace tokens and panache tokens. This effect does not trigger abilities that grant extra tokens for gaining tokens. (Prerequisites: Mobile, Fleet of Foot)
  • Improved Evasion: You gain improved evasion. (Prerequisite: Mobile)
  • Speed Specialization: The maximum speed tokens you can gain at once is now limited by your Dexterity modifier or your initiator level, whichever is lower. (Prerequisites: Mobile)
• Parry Ranged: You can use your parry ability to parry ranged and firearm attacks (this also allows you to parry ranged attacks used for Force effects).
  • Parry Forces: You can use your parry ability to parry Force effects that target you that allow a saving throw. You make a normal parry roll, while the Force-user makes a Force-user check. If you succeed, you gain a dodge bonus to the save equal to one-half your initiator level. (Prerequisites: Parry Ranged)
• Presence: Whenever you gain at least one panache token, you gain an additional one, to the normal maximum possible. You can take this talent multiple times; its effect stacks.
  • Dirty Fighting: Increase your sneak attack damage by +1d6. You can take this talent multiple times; its effect stacks. (Prerequisite: Presence)
    • Dirty Dancing: On your turn, as a free action, you may convert a number of panache tokens up to your Charisma modifier into any combination of grace tokens and speed tokens. This effect does not trigger abilities that grant extra tokens for gaining tokens. (Prerequisites: Presence, Dirty Fighting)
  • I Know That Trick: Choose one special combat option, such as trip, disarm, or similar. You gain a dodge bonus to your AC against such attacks equal to your initiator level. (Prerequisites: Presence)
  • Panache Specialization: The maximum panache tokens you can gain at once is now limited by your Dexterity modifier or your initiator level, whichever is lower. (Prerequisites: Presence)
• Tricks Up My Sleeve: Choose one of your token pools. The maximum size of that token pool increases by +2. You can take this talent multiple times; each time you do, you can choose to either improve an already-improved token pool, or a different one.
• Feat: An unfettered may take a bonus feat in place of a talent.

Maneuvers

Like all initiator classes, the unfettered uses maneuvers.

All maneuvers cost their level in at least one token type. Some maneuvers, however, require multiple token types: some require two, while others require all three. In general, the more powerful a maneuver is, the more token types it requires: maneuvers that require more token types are reflective of the synergies found in the methods of the unfettered, thus revealing the true strengths of this approach to combat. In the maneuver list that follows, the required token type(s) will be indicated in some fashion.

...at some point, the basic rules for how these things function should probably be typed down somewhere. I'll get to it one day, honest.

Maneuver List

The following is the unfettered maneuver list.

1st-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Bounding Somersault	Full	Grace / Speed	Move up to half your speed and attack one target, if hit, move up to half your speed and target is prone.
Confounding Strike	Standard	Grace / Panache / Speed	Attack opponent; if succeed, apply sneak attack damage, and target confused for one round.
Deft Dodge	Reaction	Grace	Gain +1 dodge bonus to your AC against one attack.
Flourish	Move	Panache	Gain +1d6 sneak attack damage on your next attack.
Quickstep	Swift	Speed	Gain +10 ft. bonus to movement speed on your next move action.
Suddenly, Cartwheel	Reaction	Panache / Speed	Make a tumble check against attack roll; if succeed, move 10 feet and gain +4 dodge bonus to AC against attack.
Twirling Blow	Standard	Grace / Panache	Attack opponent; if succeed, daze target for one round, move to a square adjacent to target.

 

2nd-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Confounding Dodge	Reaction	Grace / Panache	Gain a +4 dodge bonus to AC against one melee attack; if miss, move to any open square adjacent to the attacker.
Corkscrew Dive	Move	Grace / Speed	Move half speed, cause adjacent enemy at either beginning or end of move to take -4 on attack rolls until your next turn.
Defensive Roll	Reaction	Grace	When attacked, make a Reflex save against damage dealt to reduce damage taken.
Featherblow	Swift	Panache	Your next attack is resolved against target's touch AC.

 

3rd-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Scurry	Immediate	Speed	Move up to your base speed.
With A Smile	Standard	Grace / Panache / Speed	Attack target; if succeed, target considers you an ally for one round (counts as a confusion effect).

 

4th-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Sudden Pounce	Full	Speed / Grace / Panache	Make a charge attack, followed by a full attack. Your sneak attack damage applies to each attack.

 

5th-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Foo	Bar	Speed / Grace / Panache	Foobar.

 

6th-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Sudden Sidestep	Reaction	Speed / Grace	Move out of the way of an incoming offensive action.

 

7th-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Foo	Bar	Speed / Grace / Panache	Foobar.

 

8th-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Foo	Bar	Speed / Grace / Panache	Foobar.

 

9th-Level Unfettered Maneuvers
Maneuver Name	Action	Tokens	Effect
Checkmate	Standard	Speed / Grace / Panache	Automatically hit a flat-footed target, target gains doom, stunned, and confusion statuses.

 

Design Notes

This, uh... this is the last class in the triad that began with the development of the melee class theory, a few years back. The unfettered has never been written in the style intended/implied by the system, and since the standardization of melee class mechanics, unfettered have - more than ever - required an update.

And by update, I mean a write-up.

First, though, we have to figure out what this thing does. That's always the fun part. Since this class is a fundamental building block of other classes, as well as being a cornerstone of how melee combat is balanced, the unfettered's balance is very, very crucially important. Without it, there will never actually be any balance in the melee classes (defender v. einhander, defender wins).

So... how do we accomplish this.

I like the idea of tokens. But that's too similar to the defender. Slots are cool, but that's the einhander's bag. Honestly, we're out of options here: it's got to be one or the other, or an entirely new resource (AoOs, anybody? Karateka design is still awesome).

How do you win a fight without focusing on weapons or armor? This is a lot more complicated than it sounds, and responding to that question with "speed" is, I think, missing the point. The unfettered needs more - a lot more - to even begin having a chance to survive, much less thrive and actually serve its purpose (beating the defender).

At the moment... I am envisioning a multiple-resource system. That is, there are multiple things that the unfettered does, and thus has different resources associated with them. Think of this kinda... kinda like the akashic, which has the three different categories of things to deal with. Unfettered would have three different token types, and their maneuvers would require certain ones. More awesome maneuvers would require combinations of tokens.

After all, the purpose of tokens and token gain is intended to enforce a particular playstyle. By giving unfettered multiple token types they need to worry about, so long as the token gain methods are synergistic in some fashion, we can enforce the idea that they move all over the place.

...yes. The more I write this idea, the more I think I really, really like it.

The token types...

• Speed: These tokens represent movement, getting around the field quickly and also reacting quickly. You gain these through movement. These are the IH harrier-inspired abilities.
• Grace: These tokens represent avoidance, either through parrying or dodging attacks, and generally being a PITA for people to deal with. You gain these through defense. These are the original unfettered parry abilities.
• Panache: These tokens represent style, either screwing with your opponent through taunts, or doing things like swinging from chandeliers. The hardest and riskiest tokens to gain, you generally gain them through skill use in combat. These are... abilities that fill out their maneuver list, I guess.

This is interesting, because the unfettered is starting to reflect the third token pool type: the "many cups" model. I think this was subconscious. Also, I like threes. Yay.

PRESENT PRIMARY CONCERN: Seriously, token gain off of defense? Might as well call this class "defender light," FFS.

New Design Concept

The three token system right now is very messy and difficult to take seriously. It's a logistical nightmare, honestly.

Looking at what's written up, maneuver-wise, it seems that this system could be vastly simplified. Instead of using tokens, we use the combo concept from some MMOs - one ability "sets up" another, with increasing power and such as each part of a combo is performed.

I really like the pyramidal scheme the unfettered has so far, building up to an ability that takes tokens from each of the three subsets to do something massive and nifty. We'd need to retain that.