Master at Arms • Spear Sentinel • Written and Created by Aeryn “Blackdirge” Rudel Editing/Proofreading John Ball Playtesting Andy Paras, Dwight Hulse, John Ball, Monsterbait, Salanis Illustrations Jesse Mohn Graphic Design & Layout Erik Nowak Sample file Reference to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material. Blackdirge Publishing, and the Blackdirge Publishing logo are trademarks of Aeryn Rudel. All rights reserved. Dungeons & Dragons and Wizards of the Coast are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the United States and other countries and are used with permission. ‘d20 System’ and the d20 System logo are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the United States and other countries and are used with permission. The following is designated as Open Game Content: all rules and stat blocks (but not the proper names of characters and places or their backgrounds). To be clear, the Master at Arms property is CLOSED. None of the character names, backgrounds, place names, stories, or any other part of the Master at Arms product is open content. Published by Blackdirge Publishing, ©2007 p u b l i s h i n g Master at Arms • Spear Sentinel • than the “sexier” swords and axes that feature so prominently in fantasy literature today. Ranseur So let’s take a closer look at the ranseur. It’s a reach weapon, does respectable damage, and what’s better, it allows you to use the disarm action with a +2 bonus on the attempt. That’s a pretty Spear Sentinel good package for a martial weapon. One other thing players might overlook about the ranseur is the fact that you don’t need the Improved Disarm feat to disarm Historical Perspective effectively. Because the ranseur has reach, you don’t provoke The ranseur (sometimes called a runka or rawcon) is a an attack of opportunity with a disarm attempt against Medium- type of polearm featuring a spear-point with a cross hilt affixed sized foes – they can’t reach you to make one! Of course, like to its base. Often this cross hilt is crescent-shaped, giving the all reach weapons, the ranseur can be problematic in certain ranseur an appearance similar to a trident. The ranseur typically situations, like tight dungeons and thick forests. measures between six and eight feet in length, with a weight at The abilities of the spear sentinel prestige class are drawn or around eight pounds. The ranseur likely evolved from other, from the ranseur’s historical use, as well as its features as a similar pole weapons, such as the partisan and spetum. d20 weapon. Over the shoulder is a nod to the formation tactics Unlike the spetum and partisan, the projecting hilts of the utilized by medieval armies, where a polearm wielder would ranseur are not sharpened. They are used to hold an opponent often fight over and around his fellows within pike hedges and at bay or entangle his weapon rather than inflict further damage phalanxes. Ranseur rush and push back can be traced back to upon him. A skilled ranseur wielder can disarm a foe by accounts of ranseur wielders using the projecting prongs of their catching his weapon between the central spear-point and one weapons to hold back and even pin down an enemy. Finally, of the projecting cross hilts, applying pressure via a twist of the weapon breaker and cleaving disarm simply expand upon and ranseur’s shaft. Fragile weapons, such a sword blades, can even diversify the ranseur’s ability to disarm a foe. be broken in this manner. The ranseur can also be used to pull The general flavor of the prestige class – its “guard” theme – mounted opponents from the saddle by hooking a rider’s armor I took from the ranseur’s use as a ceremonial weapon, especially or clothing with the projecting prongs of the weapon. among royal guards at court through the 17th century. The ranseur was popular throughout European battlefields Although one of the class requirements for the spear sentinel in the 15th century and was used in much the same way as is membership in a new guild, it can easily be discarded. DMs other pole weapons, such as the halberd, spetum, glaive,Sample and who file do not wish to incorporate the Spearwatch Guild into their pike. Phalanxes were the most common formation for polearm campaign can utilize the spear sentinel without any changes. wielders, and ranseur users were no exception to this. The long reach of the ranseur, and the tightly packed formations in which Class Overview it was used, gave its wielders a powerful defense against cavalry When nobles, politicians, and other persons of significant and even heavy infantry. social stature require expert protection, they will invariably seek Like most polearms, the ranseur disappeared from out a member of the Spearwatch Guild. The guild’s reputation the battlefield toward the end of the sixteenth century. The for supplying professional and highly effective bodyguards is prominence and improved reliability of firearms made such renowned. Each member of the Spearwatch Guild, called a weapons obsolete, and they were quickly abandoned. The spear sentinel, is an expertly trained warrior skilled in the use ranseur, however, was retained as a ceremonial weapon, and of the ranseur. This weapon, although archaic, provides each could be seen at court up through the seventeenth century. spear sentinel with a wide array of options when dealing with a threat, including non-lethal alternatives. Design Notes The majority of spear sentinels begin their careers as Here’s something to try the next time you and your group fighters, with the occasional paladin or motivated warrior get together to game. Ask all of your players to describe what a rounding out the ranks. Rangers, although rare, are not unheard ranseur looks like (without peeking at the PHB). I’d be surprised of, and can be found in a few of the more remote Spearwatch if one in four could do it. I know I wouldn’t have been able to guild houses. The chaotic bent of the barbarian class makes before I started researching the weapon for this product. it unsuitable for spear sentinels, and there have only been a This is precisely the problem with most polearms. Despite handful of barbarians to join the guild in its entire history. how useful they can be, polearms just don’t get much press Humans and half-elves are the most common race among when compared to swords, axes, and other “kewl” weapons. spear sentinels, although a fair number of dwarves and lawfully And that’s really a shame because historically, many battles aligned half-orcs can be found among guild members. Although were waged and won with polearms. Perhaps even more so the Spearwatch Guild welcomes prospective spear sentinels 2 Master at Arms • Spear Sentinel • SPEAR SENTINEL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Hit Die: d10 Base Attack Bonus: +5 Class Skills: Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Feats: Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Weapon Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Profession Focus (ranseur) (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spot (Wis) Skills: Diplomacy 2 ranks, Listen 2 ranks, Spot 2 ranks Skill points at each level: 2 + Int modifier Special: Membership in the Spearwatch Guild Alignment: Any non-chaotic Base Attack Fort Ref Will Fighter Feat Level Bonus Save Save Save Special Advancement 1st +1 +2 +0 +0 Over the Shoulder, Ranseur Rush +1 level 2nd +2 +3 +0 +0 Bonus Feat, Improved Disarm +1 level 3rd +3 +3 +1 +1 Weapon Breaker, Pinning Strike +1 level 4th +4 +4 +1 +1 Bonus Feat, Push Back +1 level 5th +5 +4 +1 +1 Cleaving Disarm +1 level from all races, few meet the guild’s standards. Certain races accuracy. When using the ranseur the spear sentinel subtracts possessing a disposition contrary to the guild’s aims are unlikely his spear sentinel level from the AC bonus granted to an enemy to join, or even dissuaded from doing so. because of cover. NPC spear sentinels can usually be found guarding Ranseur Rush (Ex): The projecting hilt of the ranseur important people. They often work in pairs, but occasionally allows the spear sentinel to use his weapon to initiate a bull larger groups can be found guarding nobles or those simply rush action without having to move into his opponent’s wealthy enough to afford the guild’s stiff fees. AlthoughSample rare, square. file He must first make a successful melee attack with his rogue, evil spear sentinels are not unheard of. Those that turn ranseur against his opponent (inflicting normal damage), and away from the guild are shunned, and sometimes even hunted if successful, he can attempt to push his opponent back per the down and executed, especially if their actions could impugn the bull rush rules. reputation of the guild in any way. Bonus Feat: At 2nd and 4th level, a spear sentinel may Class Features choose a bonus feat from the list of feats available to fighters. This is in addition to the feats that a character of any class Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A spear sentinel is normally gets from advancing levels. The character must still proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all types of meet any prerequisites for these bonus feats, including levels of armor, but not with shields. fighter for the Weapon Specialization, Greater Weapon Focus, Fighter Feat Advancement: At each spear sentinel level and Greater Weapon Specialization feats. the character is considered to have gained one level of fighter Improved Disarm (Ex): The spear sentinel receives for the purposes of qualifying for specific fighter feats, such as Improved Disarm as a bonus feat at 2nd level.