Complete Warrior⁚ A Guide to Combat in Dungeons and Dragons 3.5
The Complete Warrior is a Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 sourcebook that provides a comprehensive guide to combat, offering detailed information on character classes, prestige classes, combat maneuvers, feats, spells, and magic items. It also includes new races and combat-focused rules, making it a valuable resource for players and Dungeon Masters alike.
Introduction
In the realm of Dungeons and Dragons 3.5, combat is the heart of the game. It’s where characters test their mettle, wield their skills, and shape the narrative of their adventures. While the core rulebooks provide a solid foundation for combat, the “Complete Warrior” sourcebook delves deeper, offering an expansive exploration of the tactical and strategic aspects of combat in D&D 3.5. This comprehensive guide, penned by Andy Collins, David Noonan, and Ed Stark, empowers players and Dungeon Masters alike to elevate their combat encounters to new levels of depth and excitement.
The Complete Warrior is more than just a collection of rules and options; it’s a philosophical exploration of how combat unfolds in the D&D universe. It encourages players to think beyond simple dice rolls and embrace the complexities of positioning, strategy, and character synergy. The book delves into the psychology of combat, analyzing the motivations of both players and monsters, and fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamics that drive encounters.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of D&D 3.5 or a new player eager to dive into the world of combat, the Complete Warrior offers something for everyone. It provides a wealth of new options for character development, expands the scope of combat tactics, and offers a treasure trove of resources for Dungeon Masters to create unforgettable and engaging combat experiences. Join us as we embark on a journey through the Complete Warrior, exploring its intricacies and discovering how it can enrich your D&D adventures.
Combat Mechanics
The Complete Warrior delves into the intricate mechanics of combat in D&D 3.5, providing a deeper understanding of the rules and offering new options for players and Dungeon Masters. The book explores various aspects of combat, including initiative, movement, attacks, and damage, offering insightful explanations and unique twists on traditional mechanics.
One key area where the Complete Warrior shines is in its exploration of combat maneuvers. These actions, ranging from grappling and tripping to disarming and bull rushing, add a layer of tactical depth to combat encounters. The book provides detailed descriptions of each maneuver, including the prerequisites, benefits, and limitations, empowering players to choose maneuvers that best suit their characters’ strengths and combat styles.
Furthermore, the Complete Warrior introduces new combat options, such as the “Combat Expertise” feat, which allows characters to gain bonuses to their attack rolls and damage rolls when using combat maneuvers. It also introduces the “Improved Initiative” feat, granting a significant bonus to initiative, allowing characters to strike first in combat. These new feats and options provide players with greater flexibility and encourage them to experiment with different combat strategies.
The Complete Warrior also explores the role of armor class, highlighting its importance in determining a character’s ability to withstand attacks. The book provides detailed information on various types of armor, including their benefits and drawbacks, allowing players to make informed decisions about their characters’ defensive capabilities.
Character Classes
The Complete Warrior provides a comprehensive overview of the existing character classes in D&D 3.5, offering detailed insights into their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. The book also introduces a new character class, the “Bear Warrior,” designed specifically for players who crave a close-combat, melee-focused role in the game. The Bear Warrior is a powerful class that specializes in physical combat, wielding heavy armor and weapons while relying on its raw strength and resilience to overcome its enemies.
The Bear Warrior class features a unique set of abilities, such as “Rage,” which grants the Bear Warrior increased strength and resistance to damage, and “Wild Strike,” which allows the Bear Warrior to deliver powerful attacks with a bonus to damage. The class also has access to various combat maneuvers, allowing it to control the battlefield and overwhelm its opponents. Players who choose to play as a Bear Warrior will find themselves at the forefront of combat, leading the charge and engaging in brutal melee combat.
The Complete Warrior offers players a chance to delve deeper into the intricacies of each character class, exploring their unique abilities and potential roles in combat. The book provides detailed descriptions of each class’s hit points, armor class, saving throws, skill points, and special abilities, offering players a complete picture of their chosen class and its capabilities; It also provides guidelines for customizing each class, allowing players to create characters that reflect their unique playstyles and preferences;
Prestige Classes
The Complete Warrior offers a selection of prestige classes specifically designed to enhance combat prowess. These classes provide players with specialized abilities and combat options, allowing them to further refine their chosen combat roles. Prestige classes in The Complete Warrior are not merely a collection of powerful abilities; they introduce unique themes and playstyles, demanding dedication and strategic planning from players.
Among these specialized classes, the “Bladesinger” stands out, focusing on a unique blend of magic and martial combat. Bladesingers excel at weaving potent magic spells into their swordplay, combining the precision of a warrior with the versatility of a mage. The “Bear Warrior,” mentioned earlier, also features a prestige class, the “Bear Warrior” prestige class. This progression allows players to further develop their raw strength and resilience, turning them into ferocious and unstoppable warriors.
The Complete Warrior’s prestige classes encourage players to explore diverse combat strategies, allowing them to become true masters of their chosen combat roles. These classes offer a powerful path for players who seek to specialize in a specific combat style, enhancing their effectiveness and allowing them to become formidable warriors. Each prestige class comes with its own unique set of requirements and challenges, ensuring that players must dedicate themselves to mastering their chosen path before achieving the pinnacle of combat prowess.
Combat Maneuvers
The Complete Warrior introduces a variety of new combat maneuvers, expanding the tactical possibilities in D&D 3.5. These maneuvers, often requiring a specific feat or ability, offer characters a chance to disrupt enemies, gain an advantage in battle, or even deal a decisive blow. The maneuvers go beyond simple attacks, introducing a layer of strategic depth to combat encounters.
One such maneuver is the “Disarm,” allowing characters to attempt to knock a weapon from an enemy’s grasp, leaving them vulnerable. Another maneuver, “Trip,” aims to bring an opponent to the ground, potentially incapacitating them and making them an easier target. These maneuvers are not merely a means to gain an advantage; they introduce a new dimension to tactical combat, requiring players to think strategically and adapt to the ever-changing flow of battle.
The Complete Warrior’s combat maneuvers are not limited to simple attacks or defensive actions. They also provide opportunities for creative and innovative combat strategies. For example, the “Grapple” maneuver allows characters to engage in close-quarters grappling, potentially pinning an enemy and preventing them from attacking. The “Dirty Trick” maneuver, on the other hand, focuses on less-than-honorable tactics, allowing characters to hinder their opponents with sand, mud, or even smoke, creating tactical advantages in the chaos of battle. These maneuvers offer a unique blend of strategic depth and combat versatility, encouraging players to think beyond traditional attack and defense strategies.
Feats
Feats in D&D 3.5 represent a character’s specific skills and abilities beyond their class features. The Complete Warrior expands on this system, introducing a wealth of new feats specifically designed to enhance a character’s combat prowess. These feats offer a variety of benefits, from boosting a character’s attack and defense capabilities to granting them access to powerful combat maneuvers or even granting them unique abilities related to specific weapons or fighting styles.
One such feat is the “Improved Disarm,” which allows characters to more effectively knock weapons from their enemies’ hands. Another feat, “Improved Trip,” enhances a character’s ability to bring opponents to the ground, making them vulnerable to attacks. These feats cater to characters who specialize in grappling, allowing them to gain a significant advantage in close-quarters combat. Additionally, “Improved Grapple” allows characters to hold their enemies even more securely, making it harder for them to break free;
The Complete Warrior also introduces feats that focus on specific combat styles, such as “Weapon Finesse,” allowing characters to use Dexterity instead of Strength for certain weapon attacks, and “Two-Weapon Fighting,” allowing characters to wield two weapons effectively. These feats open up new tactical possibilities for characters, allowing them to tailor their combat skills to their preferred fighting style and build a unique and effective character.
Spells
The Complete Warrior delves into the realm of magic and how it can be applied to enhance combat effectiveness. It provides a collection of new spells specifically designed to give warriors an edge in battle, offering a variety of effects that range from bolstering allies to crippling foes. These spells are not limited to traditional spellcasters; even warriors with limited access to magic can learn and utilize these powerful tools.
One such spell is “Blade Barrier,” which creates a wall of razor-sharp blades that can be used to block enemy attacks or to deliver a devastating strike. Another spell, “Burning Hands,” inflicts fire damage on multiple enemies, making it ideal for crowd control or dealing heavy damage to a group of foes. “Haste,” a spell that grants increased speed and action efficiency, can be invaluable to warriors, allowing them to act more frequently and strike with greater ferocity.
The Complete Warrior also introduces spells that focus on specific combat tactics, such as “Disrupting Strike,” which weakens an enemy’s defenses, and “Entangle,” which immobilizes a foe, making them vulnerable to attacks. These spells offer a strategic advantage in battle, allowing warriors to exploit enemy weaknesses and control the flow of combat.
Magic Items
The Complete Warrior goes beyond simple weapons and armor, offering a plethora of magical items designed to enhance a warrior’s combat capabilities. These items are not mere trinkets; they are powerful tools that can turn the tide of battle, providing a significant advantage in even the most challenging encounters. These items are carefully crafted to complement a warrior’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to tailor their equipment to their specific fighting style.
For those who rely on brute force, there are enchanted weapons that deal increased damage, such as the “Vorpal Sword,” which can instantly sever an enemy’s head with a critical hit, and the “Greatsword of Justice,” which grants its wielder a bonus to strength and damage rolls. For those who prefer a more tactical approach, there are items that enhance their skills, such as the “Cloak of Displacement,” which grants the wearer a chance to avoid attacks entirely, and the “Ring of Mind Shielding,” which protects against mind-affecting spells and effects.
The Complete Warrior also presents items that provide unique benefits, such as the “Boots of Speed,” which grant the wearer increased movement speed, and the “Amulet of Health,” which enhances the wearer’s constitution and hit points. These items can significantly improve a warrior’s survivability and effectiveness in combat, making them invaluable assets in any adventure.
New Races
The Complete Warrior expands the world of Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 by introducing new playable races, each with unique traits and abilities that cater to different combat styles. These races offer players fresh perspectives and strategic options, adding depth and diversity to any campaign. Whether you seek a fierce warrior or a cunning strategist, these new races provide unique avenues for character development and roleplaying.
One notable addition is the “Aasimar,” a race of celestial beings with a radiant aura that grants them resistance to certain types of damage and allows them to use divine powers in combat. Another is the “Tiefling,” a race with a pact with devils, granting them inherent magical abilities and resistances, making them formidable spellcasters or melee combatants. For those seeking a more grounded approach, the “Half-Elf” race offers a balanced blend of human and elven traits, making them versatile warriors capable of excelling in various roles.
These new races add a layer of complexity and intrigue to character creation, allowing players to explore new avenues of roleplaying and combat. They offer unique advantages and disadvantages, forcing players to make strategic choices about their character’s strengths and weaknesses, leading to diverse and engaging gameplay experiences.
Where to Find the PDF
Obtaining a PDF copy of the Complete Warrior for Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 edition can be achieved through various online platforms and resources. Many websites dedicated to roleplaying games and D&D specifically offer free downloads of the book, allowing players and Dungeon Masters to access its content without any cost. These websites often provide a digital copy of the Complete Warrior in PDF format, readily available for download.
Additionally, online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay offer both physical and digital copies of the Complete Warrior. While physical copies may be more expensive, digital versions are often available at a lower price point, allowing players to access the book’s content conveniently.
It’s important to ensure that the source you choose is reputable and provides a legal copy of the Complete Warrior. Be cautious of websites that offer downloads without proper licensing, as they may contain illegal copies or malware.