Life was always tough growing up, and they say tough times make tougher folk. Your family, or lack there of, was squalid and barely had the means to support it's self. As you grew, you came to realize you could earn much more coin and recognition to boot as a Prizefighter, Pugilist or Fist-Fighter. And so as you continued your traveling ways, moving from town to town prizefighting in bar-room dives, make shift pits and cages, anywhere that would put food on the table and a roof over your head and let you fight.
Maybe you’ve just always had a propensity for violence? You enjoy the feel of split skin and warm blood pouring down your face. You enjoy the roar of the crowd. You enjoy the pressure and the pain. You love it all.
Who were you? What deeds did you commit, good or bad? How do you overcome your bloodied and violent history to be part of something bigger- something better- than senseless and brutal violence, or do you relish in the brutality?
You have no qualms about dishing out efficient and aggressive violence. You do it for money, you do it for safety, you do it for the sheer joy of the fight, however, you’ve come to realize that senselessness of fighting just for the pleasure of it or, at the very least, you’re recognizing that you can only continue this life for so long before your body ceases to meaningfully function. You’re looking for a way out or you are on the run looking for a life of penance or riches. What is your goal?
- Skill Proficiencies: Their rough and tumble lifestyles and hard work ethic typically teaches you to be physically fit and aware. They also tend to be intimidating, as the mental mind games fighters play with their opponents is important.
Choose two from: Athletics, Perception, Intimidation, and Survival.
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose from: Playing Cards or Dice, and one Tool Kit of your choice.
- Languages: You also have a strong grasp of insults, slurs, and cursing in most languages and have a certain fondness for languages that are structured to embrace fighting words.
Choose one language of your choice, but it is encouraged to pick a language you can find an acceptable roleplay reason for, such as one known for harsh fighting words or military phrases like Goblin, Orcish, or Dwavern. - Equipment: A weapon such as Brass Knuckles or another improvised weapon, a backpack, common clothes; an athletic outfit including blood stained boxing shorts and a hemp-hewn walkout coat with your last name on it. A set of playing cards or dice, a coin purse with a small amount of gold and some change (20 GP), along with some old boxing gloves that no longer fit you as a trinket. Your training and sparring gear including your wraps, mouthguard and headgear for you and one other person.
Every Fist Fighter has their own style; and you are no different. Many great fighters of the past have set great precedents followed by the folk who come after them, and many other fighters break into their own mold. Roll on a table below or choose one - or create your own idea - for your fighting style.
| d8 | Fighting Stlye |
|---|---|
| 1 | Brawler |
| 2 | Technical Fighter |
| 3 | Submission Specialist |
| 4 | Kickboxer |
| 5 | Martial Artist |
| 6 | Wrestler |
| 7 | Dirty Fighter |
| 8 | Magi-Fist |
At the DM's discretion, you can find a place to ply your trade in most any civilized place — Whether through legitimate or illegal venues. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform for that night. In addition, your fighting pride makes you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you.
As you are used to scouring the far ends of town for sparing partners and opponents, you have advantage on Perception checks when searching for other Pugilists and Fist Fighters; at the DM's discretion.
Suggested Characteristics
Underground Fighters are shaped by lives of violence, intentional or otherwise. They tend to be driven either by a need to survive (Earning gold or just fighting off rivals) or by a burning desire to mash someones face in — and maybe get some payback on somebody who has bested them in one way or another. They also tend to be solid and dependable hard workers. They are not simple brutes, Fist-Fighters take pride in their art and put great effort into practicing their form and technique.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m polite, but don't mistake my kindness for weakness. |
| 2 | Whenever I come to a new place, I collect local rumours and eye up the competition. |
| 3 | I’m haunted by memories of fighting. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind. |
| 4 | I’m full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my fighting experience relevant to almost every combat situation. |
| 5 | I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 6 | I enjoy being strong and like breaking things. |
| 7 | I have a crude sense of humor. |
| 8 | I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Protector. I hate to see the little guy getting pushed around. (Good) |
| 2 | Justice. I never put someone on the ground if they don't deserve it. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. It's what keeps you alive, and I will have it no matter the cost. (Evil) |
| 5 | You win some, and you lose some. That's the nature of all things. (Neutral) |
| 6 | The way one carries themselves - in the ring and out of it - defines who they are. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would still lay down my life for the people I worked with. |
| 2 | Someone saved me from a being chopped liver. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind. |
| 3 | My honor is my life. |
| 4 | I idolize a warrior of the old tales and wish to be like them. |
| 5 | I’ll never forget the crushing I suffered or the foe who dealt it. |
| 6 | I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | The monstrous challenger I faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear |
| 2 | I have little respect for anyone who is not proven to defeat me |
| 3 | My boss/owner was a wicked soul who dealt horrible punishments. I cower at authority. |
| 4 | My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. |
| 5 | I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. |
| 6 | I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong. |