Viking Warrior

The Viking Warrior is a fierce and relentless combatant, a master of axe and shield, and a survivor of the harshest lands.  Driven by a thirst for glory, a desire for renown, or simply the need to carve out a living in a brutal world, the Viking Warrior embodies the aggressive spirit of their people.  They stand ready to face any foe, be it man, beast, or monster, with unflinching courage and overwhelming force.

Viking Warriors are often driven by a sense of personal honor, the glory of battle, and the accumulation of wealth and renown. They are not mindless brutes, but skilled, tactical fighters who understand the ebb and flow of combat. They cherish their weapons, their comrades, and the sagas that record great deeds. A Viking Warrior’s presence can inspire their allies to new heights of bravery and strike fear into the hearts of their foes.

A Viking Warrior’s prime requisites are strength or constitution, chosen by the player character at creation; strength enhances their martial prowess, while constitution reflects their endurance and ability to withstand punishment.  A Viking Warrior must have at least a score of 14 in their prime requisite.  A Viking Warrior with a strength or constitution of 16-17 gains +5% to earned experience points, and a score of 18 gains +10%.  A Viking Warrior can use all weapons, armor and shields, and fights and saves as a fighter.

Axe Proficiency (Level 1): The Viking Warrior is exceptionally skilled with axes. When wielding any type of axe (hand axe, battle axe, throwing axe, two-handed axe), they gain a +1 bonus to their attack rolls and damage rolls. This bonus stacks with any strength bonus.

Berserkergang (Level 1): Once per day, as a bonus action, a Viking Warrior can enter a state of furious, controlled rage. For 3 rounds, they gain the following benefits:

• +2 bonus to attack rolls with melee weapons.
• +1 bonus to melee damage rolls.
• They are immune to fear effects, magical or otherwise, for the duration.
• Drawback: While in Berserkergang, they suffer a -1 penalty to their Armor Class due to their reckless ferocity. They cannot use this ability if wearing heavy, as it hinders the necessary freedom of movement.

Enduring Northman (Level 3):   Hardened by the harsh northern climate, the Viking Warrior gains a +2 bonus to all saving throws against cold-based effects (magical or environmental) and a +1 bonus to saving throws against effects that cause exhaustion or fatigue. They can also subsist on half the normal rations for up to one week.

Fearsome Roar (Level 5): Once per day, as an action, the Viking Warrior can unleash a primal, intimidating roar. All enemies within 30 feet who can hear them must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 14) or suffer a -1 penalty to their morale for 1d4 rounds (or flee if their morale breaks). This has no effect on creatures immune to fear.

Unstoppable Charge (Level 9): When a Viking Warrior successfully charges an enemy (moving at least 20 feet in a straight line before attacking), they gain a +2 bonus to their attack roll (this replaces the standard +1 for charging). If the attack hits, the enemy must make a difficult ability check against constitution or be pushed back 5 feet and lose their next action (if they are of equal or smaller size/HD than the Warrior). This ability can be used once per encounter.

Stronghold and Followers (Level 13): Upon reaching 13th level, a Viking Warrior may establish a stronghold, typically a hall, a fortified longhouse, or a coastal raiding camp. This stronghold will attract a number of loyal followers (as per standard Basic Fantasy RPG rules for a Fighter).