Faerûnian Prestige Class : Battlerager
Dwarven battleragers, or kuldjargh ("axe idiots"), are legendary berserker warriors who can enter a battle frenzy through ritualistic singing. They are believed to have been touched by the dwarven gods of battle, who taught them that if they die in battle, they will return to Faerûn stronger than before as a just reward. Therefore, they have no fear of death. They are given to drinking, rowdy and boisterous singing, and drunken dancing. Battleragers command grudging, if fearful, respect within dwarven society, where they are known to have coined such philosophically complex dwarven maxims like "head first" and "if it moves, kill it." Most live short, glorious lives.
While enraged, a battlerager's face becomes distorted and twisted. His teeth grind together as spittle flies from his mouth and dribbles down his beard. His eyes enlarge, bulge, and become bloodshot. Charging into battle, he bellows forth his clan or holy war song, throwing his hammers and axes all the way, before cleaving his foes with his mighty dwarven waraxe. In short, he becomes almost unstoppable. Battleragers are often covered from head to toe in body art, from tattoos to brands to ritual scars. They prefer to wear spiked armor, and some of them ride specially trained boars into battle.
Battleragers are usually single classed barbarians before taking the prestige class, though multiclass barbarian/fighters are also common. Barbarians/rangers and barbarian/clerics (known as "vindicators") are not uncommon as well. Other multiclass combinations are almost unheard of.
The battlerager fills a particular niche in dwarf society and culture. He is a fearless and impulsive warrior, able to enter into an insane rampage. Battleragers are ruthlessly used by dwarf generals for their shock power against attacking armies. NPC battleragers often come from a familial clan made up predominantly of battleragers. These clans often form guilds or halls within dwarven society, though these "guilds" are often more akin to a family or fraternal order. Regardless, battlerager guilds are often located on the fringes of dwarven society, kept out of view and away from easily influenced dwarven children, who often hear of the kuldjarghs' fearlessness but rarely their folly. While heroic battle is honored in dwarven society and battleragers often excel in this, more often than not they also epitomize lives wasted in stupid rage, something most dwarves realize they cannot afford in a world filled with ores and goblins.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Battlerager, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Race: Dwarf
- Alignment: Any nonlawful.
- Skills: Intimidate 8 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 2 ranks, Perform (singing, any other) 2 ranks.
- Feats: Cleave, Endurance, Power Attack.
- Base Attack Bonus: 4.
- Special: Ability to rage.
Class Skills
The battlerager's class skills are Climb, Craft, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (religion), Listen, Perform, Ride, Survival, and Tumble.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the battlerager prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency:
Battleragers gain no proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields.
Rage (Ex): At 1st, 3rd, and 5th level, the battlerager gains another use of barbarian rage per day. If the battlerager has the ability to enter a greater rage, the extra rages granted by this ability are greater rages as well.
Gruff (Ex): Battleragers are known to be rude, uncouth, and violent. They suffer a -4 penalty on all Charisma ability
checks and Charisma-based skill checks, except for Intimidate checks. Battleragers receive a +2 bonus on all Intimidate checks.
Rock Gut (Ex): A battlerager's natural resistance to poison is stronger than most dwarves. At 1st level, his +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poisons increases to a +4 racial bonus.
Close-Quarter Fighting (Ex): At 2nd level, a battlerager gains the Close-Quarter Fighting feat.
Fearless (Ex): At 2nd level, a battlerager becomes immune to fear and similar effects. He also gains a +2 insight bonus on saves against all mind-affecting spells and effects.
Improved Unarmed Strike (Ex): At 3rd level, a battlerager gains the Improved Unarmed Strike feat.
Great Cleave: At 4th level, a battlerager gains the Great Cleave feat.
Reckless Offensive: At 4th level, a battlerager gains the Reckless Offensive feat.
Natural Armor (Ex): By 5th level, a battlerager's flesh has become so scarred and corded with muscle that he gains +2 natural armor.
| Battlerager | Hit Die: d12 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Rage 1/day, gruff, rock gut |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Close-Quarter Fighting, fearless |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Rage 2/day, Improved Unarmed Strike |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Great Cleave, Reckless Offensive |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Natural armor +2, rage 3/day |
Source: Races of Faerûn