Spartan, Variant (5e Class)

Spartan Warriors can only be human. Military training began virtually at birth. Shortly after birth, mothers bathe their children in wine to determine if the child is strong. If the child survives, it is brought before the Gerousia by the child's father. The Gerousia then decides whether it will be reared or not. When spartan warriors die, marked headstones are only granted to soldiers that died in combat during a victorious campaign, or women who died, either in service of a divine office, or in childbirth.

Male spartan warriors begin military training at age seven, where they enter the agoge system. The agoge was designed to encourage discipline, physical endurance, and emphasize the importance of the spartan warrior state. Boys live in communal messes and, according to Xenophon whose sons attended the agoge, the boys were fed "Just the right amount for them never to become sluggish through being too full, while also giving them a taste of what it is not to have enough ... In addition, they were trained to survive in times of privation, even if it meant stealing." Besides physical and weapons training, the boys also study reading, writing, music, and dancing. Special punishments were imposed if boys failed to answer questions sufficiently laconically (briefly and wittily). It is said that spartan warrior boys are thrown together in an arena with weapons against a grizzly bear as a rite of passage.

The spartan warrior is an elite fighting force. They are usually part of a military, but are their own fighting unit. When spartan warriors leave the military, they may be welcomed back at any time up to a certain age, to continue serving. Once a spartan warrior has left the military, they usually settle down and watch over their families. If they do not do this, they usually protect towns anyway they can. They are expert swordsmen who strike with deadly accuracy, and are also great spear throwers. Their most important piece of equipment is their Aspis (spartan shield). Their shield is often used to block the mighty blows of opponents, and have even been used as mortal weapons, bashing enemies to their senses. Spartan Warriors are trained in only one place: the city-state of Sparta.

A spartan warrior, much like the fighter class, can be rolled in many different ways. The class shines a lot when using a Lance (reach weapons) or sword, and a shield. The spartan warrior focuses on combat with their specialized Dory, Xiphos, and Aspis. Those who model themselves on this spartan warrior's combine rigorous training with physical excellence to deal devastating blows. The spartan warrior favors the ways of the warrior, but they accept all other classes as long as they are neutral, chaotic, or lawful good. Once they get along with someone, they will fight to the death along the side of them. Combat: spartan warrior can act a few different ways in combat. They can take up a leadership role in a group with ease. They can also be a loyal fighting companion and stick by your side. Sometimes though, spartan warrior can explode and charge into battle without warning. They usually act one of two ways while fighting. They fight the enemy dealing damage, or they take the damage for their companions.

The spartan warrior is known to pray to gods of battle. There are few exceptions though. The spartan warrior usually prays before a long journey or great battle. Most spartan warrior worships Kord. Some Lawful spartan warrior worships Heironeous. Some neutral spartan warrior worships St.Cuthbert or Fharlanghn.

Quick Build

You can make a spartan warrior quickly by following these suggestions. First, Constitution should be your highest ability score, followed by either Strength or Charisma. A high Intelligence is also recommended, but not required. Second, choose either the Soldier or Outlander background.

Class Features

As a Spartan Warrior you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d10 per Spartan Warrior level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + Constitution modifier per Spartan Warrior level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: Spartan Warriors are proficient with Light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, shields
Weapons: Spartan Warriors are proficient with all simple and martial weapons.
Tools: none
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Skills: Choose two skills from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, and Survival.

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) chain mail or (b) leather armor, longbow, and 20 arrows or (c) Lance and a Shield
• (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial weapons
• (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) two handaxes
• (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
• If you are using starting wealth, you have 5d4 x 10 gp in funds.

You adopt a particular style of fighting as a spartan warrior your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can’t take a Fighting Style option more than once. Once, at the 1st level, and again at the 11th level, choose a fighting style.

Defense

While you are wearing armor or shield, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.

Protection

When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll.You must be wielding a shield.

Great Weapon Fighting

When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can re-roll the die and must use the new roll. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.

Master of the blade

When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and Shield, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

You have a limited well of stamina that you can draw on to protect yourself from harm. On your turn, you can use a bonus action to regain hit points equal to 1d10 + your spartan warrior level. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

At 2nd level, you are so adept at shield combat that you are able block nearly any non magical ranged attack by a physical weapon (arrow, spear, etc). Whenever a successful non-magical ranged attack is made against you, may roll a 1d10+spartan level that is the amount of damage you negate.

At 3rd Level you choose the path you want to fight down as a spartan warrior. The Path of Honor and the Path of Kings both are detailed at the end of the class description. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th levels.

It was common to see a spartan warrior knock back an opponent with their shield, and follow up with a fatal attack with their sword or spear. At 3rd level, you begin to use your shield offensively in combat. Whenever in melee combat, if an opponent misses an attack roll against you by 4 or more, you can use your reaction to make a attack roll with your shield to deal 1d8 damage + your damage modifiers for bludgeoning damage; this attack does not generate a critical hit. If the attack misses by less than 4 you can still shield bash, but you do so with disadvantage.

When you reach 4th level, and again at 6th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

At the 4th level, you can, as a bonus action, release a powerful shout to summon the spirits of ancient spartan warriors. This shout grants you a +2 bonus to AC and +2 to attack roll, and it lasts a number of rounds equal to 1 + your spartan warrior level. You can use this ability again after a short rest.

At the 5th level, the spartan can concentrate all his might on the opponents around him. You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. If this second attack results in kill, you are allowed one additional 5-foot step and a third melee attack as a bonus action. You may continue to do this as long as your attack results in a kill and you take no more than a 5-foot step between attacks. Your total movement this turn cannot exceed your maximum speed. Note that this is treated as an “Extra Attack” feature found in other classes.

At 5th level, the spartan warrior has become a local legend, with word of his exploits even reaching his home city. Your Heroic Presence, gained from level 3 spartan archetype auras, grants you a bonus to hit and influence range is now doubled (+2 attack bonus, +10 foot range).

It was common to see a spartan knock back an opponent with their shield and follow up with a fatal attack with their sword or spear. At level 9, you gain a +2 to damage while you have a shield, also after making a successful Shield Bash you may take another action to make a melee attack with your primary weapon. If the primary weapon has the thrown property, you may throw the weapon within the attack range it possesses.

Once king of the Spartans, he and his 300 stood at the hot gates many moons ago. Protecting the world of Hellenic culture down to the last man, in act of rage and might King Leonidas threw his spear at a faraway self proclaimed god-king. Scaring the face of this "god" for what short life he had left. At level 13 you gain the blessing of the hero-king Leonidas, any spear/javelin throw attack roll at long range doesn't impose disadvantage with a spear/ javelin thrown attack roll.

Specializing in the spear, Spartans would focus their attacks on critical areas to harm there opponent. Fighting in hoplite formations a Spartan would fight ferociously with well timed spear strikes in the heat of combat, while having his trusty shield on the ready. When level 17 receive a +1 bonus to armor and damage when in combat with your shield and spear in hand. Furthermore, whenever you are in melee combat, if your opponent misses an attack against you then your next attack against that opponent will generate a critical hit on a natural roll of 17-20.

At 20th level, you embody the power of the Gods. Your Strength and Constitution scores increase by 4. Your maximum for those scores is now 24.

You fight down the Path of Honor and you stand tall and are hard to knock down.

An Aura Of Heroes

Beginning at the 3rd level, you give off an aura of heroes that when in combat any ally within a range of 10 feet of you receives a +1 bonus to all melee attack rolls this also applies to you but only if have at least one ally within the range, if you have at least two allies in range change to +2 bonus to all melee attack rolls.

Stand your ground

Beginning at the 7th level, attackers gain disadvantage when attacking the spartan with a disarm or grapple, spartan must have a shield equipped. Also You can’t be charmed or frightened as long as you have a shield and you have an ally within your aura.

With It or On It

Beginning at the 10th level, you gain the power of your fallen heroes in battle. If you drop to 0 hit points, you cannot die outright in any case unless if someone hits you successfully while your down, and can make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. If you succeed, you drop to 5 hit point instead. Each time you use this feature after the first, the DC increases by 5. When you finish a short or long rest, the DC resets to 10.

Stand as one

Beginning at the 15th level, you can fight for yourself and also aid your team. When you hit a creature with a main hand melee weapon attack, gain another attack roll with your shield to deal 1d8 damage + your damage modifiers for bludgeoning damage. Applicable only on the spartan's active turn. This attack cannot critically strike, but gives your allies an opening. The next attack roll against the creature by an attacker other than you has advantage, if the attack is made before the start of your next turn.

We Are The Only Ones Who Give Birth To Men

Beginning at the 18th level, you attain the pinnacle of resilience in battle. At the start of each of your turns, you regain hit points equal to 2 + your Constitution modifier if you have no more than half of your hit points left. You don’t gain this benefit if you have 0 hit points.

You fight down the path to be a king and maybe even a king of the gods themselves.

The King Beginning

Beginning at the 3rd level, while wielding a shield, allies within 10 feet of you gain +1 AC if they are using a shield, and you gain +1 AC for each ally affected by this feature.

Remarkable Athlete

Beginning at the 7th level, you can add half your proficiency bonus (rounded up) to any Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution check you make that doesn’t already use your proficiency bonus. In addition, when you make a running long jump, the distance you can cover increases by a number of feet equal to your Strength modifier.

Royal blood

Beginning at the 10th level, the people around you know your royal blood, and you can talk your way around things and lie. You gain the skills Persuasion and Deception, and gain advantage on Charisma Checks.

Reach of a King

Beginning at the 15th level, you gain lunging attack. When you make a melee weapon an attack on your turn, you can increase your reach for that attack by 5 feet.

A King And The Monsters

Beginning at the 18th level, you are a well known king. Creatures and people of the world feel your presence. While wielding a shield, you gain resistance to all damage types, except psychic damage.

Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the spartan warrior class, you must meet these prerequisites: Strength 13 and Constitution 13

Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the spartan warrior class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple weapons, Martial weapons, and all armor, shields

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Classes