Lionheart: Weapon Master

Lionhearts often find themselves outnumbered, in the middle of a swarm of enemies, so they use every advantage they can to face insurmountable odds. Lionhearts often go down in legend along with their chosen weapon. Becoming one with this weapon allows the lionheart to preform extraordinary feats with it. Lionhearts learn a variety of unique offensive and support abilities.

Stamina

When becoming a lionheart, you gain stamina points. These stamina points represent the lionheart's ability to summon your inner power, and push yourself harder than before in combat. Stamina points can be used to preform weapon arts.

Stamina points=(fighter level/2)+ constitution modifier) minimum 1 point

Chosen Weapon

The lionheart chooses a weapon and bonds with it. This weapon becomes their chosen weapon. The lionheart can preform weapon arts with only this weapon. The bonding process occurs during a short rest, and the weapon must pass all of the following qualifications.

• The chosen weapon must be a melee weapon
• The lionheart must have proficiency with the chosen weapon
• The chosen weapon can be used on paired weapons, however both must be wielded to preform weapon arts
• The lionheart must have wielded it to some effect in at least 3 battles (must deal damage to an enemy creature)

Should the lionheart lose or chose to bond with another weapon, the bond on the previous weapon disappears.

Weapon Art: Tornado Strike

The lionheart swings their weapon around in a circle, spinning their body adding to the strike's force. The lionheart must be using their chosen weapon(s). All creatures within the chosen weapon's range are affected. This weapon art expends 1 stamina point. Damage is (chosen weapon's damage)+1d4. At 10th level this bonus becomes +1d6. At 18th level this bonus becomes +1d8.

The one of the following effects can be added if the lionheart has unlocked them.

Courageous Weapon Master

When outnumbered in battle, the lionheart receives the following benefits. These benefits are only applied once per battle.

• The lionheart gains +1d4 temporary life points
• The lionheart adds +1d4 to initiative
• The lionheart gets advantage on their attack with their chosen weapon

 

Weapon Art: Rending Strike

A strike aimed at your target's weapon or armor. This attack expends 1 stamina point. This attack does not deal damage. If the attack hits the target creature, the lionheart can choose to one of the following effects.

• The lionheart strikes the target creature's armor, reducing their AC by 1d2
• The lionheart strikes the target creature's weapon, reducing their damage roll by 1d2

If the target is not wearing armor or wielding a weapon, this attack does nothing.

Overexertion

Only when the lionheart is out of stamina, they can pull every last ounce of energy out of themselves, using a bonus action to restore 1 point of stamina. This puts an immense burden on the lionheart, reducing his speed by 1/3, reducing his attack dice by 1d4, and any taken damage is increased by 1d4. This effect lasts until a the lionheart takes a long rest.

This ability is only usable once. The lionheart requires a long rest to use this ability again.

Weapon Art: Quickdraw

The lionheart makes an impossibly fast attack, at an attacking creature. The following conditions must be met to use this weapon art.

• The creature must be attacking with a melee weapon
• The lionheart must be within attacking range of the creature
• The lionheart's weapon must be sheathed

The lionheart makes their attack roll at disadvantage. The damage is a basic attack. If the lionheart's attack hits the creature, its attack is interrupted. This weapon art expends 3 stamina points.

Opportunistic Defense

When the lionheart dodges or parries and rolls a 18 or higher, they can immediately counter attack with their chosen weapon. This attack is a basic attack, weapon arts or other skills cannot be used. Using a counter attack  expends 2 stamina points. 

Weapon Art: Surging Strike

The lionheart picks a target creature in their dash range, and runs to attack them, they can target a different creature within half of their movement range, and attack it. This process can be repeated until no new targets are in range, or the lionheart runs out of stamina. This weapon art expends 2 stamina, and 1 stamina for every additional attack. 

Weapon Art: Vengeful Strike

The lionheart stores up damage that they have recieved, and uses it to strengthen their next attack. This weapon art expends 4 stamina points. The damage boost that the lionheart receives is (damage taken since last turn/2)+1d8.

Hysterical Strength

If reduced to 0 hit points, the lionheart can refuse to fall unconscious by using all his remaining stamina(minimum 5), the hp of the lionheart is 1 and it cannot be reduced until after the lionheart's next turn. The die of the lionheart's next attack with their chosen weapon is 3 damage rolls of the chosen weapon. The lionheart gains 3 levels of exhaustion and falls unconscious at the end of battle. This ability can only be used once, requiring a long rest and 24 hours in between uses.