Path of The Bruiser

A large half-orc warrior battles with a large werewolf in the middle of a dark, forsaken forest. He has the monster's jaw gripped tightly in one hand and striking the werewolf relentlessly with thunderous force. Each blow concaving the chest of the beast as it struggles in vain against its attacker's onslaught.

A massive Goliath towers above a battlefield of corpses, gripping the face of an armor-clad warrior. 

 

 

Bruiser Stack

Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level, when you deal bludgeoning or force damage when taking the attack action or extra attack, are dealt bludgeoning or force damage, you store the energy into Bruiser Stacks. You can store a number of Bruiser Stacks equal to your proficiency bonus. (Bonus Action attacks do NOT store bruiser stacks.)

Bruiser Techniques

Bruiser Techniques are various skills employed by these unarmed experts to better exploit their enemies' weaknesses in close quarters combat. Some of these techniques are solely meant to cause more harm, where others are used to control their opponent in the heat of battle. During your rage you may have a total of Bruiser Stacks equal to your proficiency bonus and all unspent stacks are lost when the rage ends.

1. Iron Grip: When attempting to grapple or restrain a creature or are forced to contest an opponent during such action, you may use your action (Or reaction if contested and cannot use a technique next turn) to expend '1 Bruiser Stack' and impose disadvantage on the opponent.
2. Forceful Bash: If you have a creature grappled (Not restrained), you may use your bonus action and expend '1 Bruiser Stack' to automatically deal 1d4+Str mod. against your opponent. This becomes 2d4 at level 10.
3. Grave Interception: When you are targeted for a ranged attack while you have a creature grappled, you may use your reaction (Techniques cannot be used next turn) and expend '1 Bruiser Stacks' to force the attack to target the grappled creature instead. You must use this feature before the outcome is determined, (Before the attack roll is made.)
4. Heaving Throw: If you are grappling a creature your size or smaller, you may use your action and expend '2 Bruiser Stacks' to throw the creature. The size of the creature depends on how far you may throw them. Throwing a creature deals 2d4 Bludgeoning damage and knocks them prone. If they hit another creature, that creature has to make a Dexterity Saving throw or take 1d4 bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. DC depends on size of creature thrown.
   • Same size = 10 ft., any size smaller and add 5 ft. for each size smaller.
   • DC = 10 +2 for each size larger. If 3 sizes larger, target automatically fails and damage becomes 2d4.
5. Crushing Vice: If you have a creature your size or smaller restrained using any part of your body (Chains and rope does not count), you may use your action and expend '2 Bruiser Stacks' to crush the creature, dealing 2d4+Str. Mod. bludgeoning damage (Or force damage if unlocked by Unarmed Expert, this does not grant Stacks). This increases to 4d4 at level 10.
6. Adrenal Surge: Once per Rage, you may use your Bonus Action and expend 'Any number of Bruiser Stacks' and gain xd4 Temporary hit points. X = Number of stacks used and all temporary HP gained this way are lost when the rage ends.

Indomitable Will

Starting at level 6, when angered, your willpower has become otherworldly. During your rage you have advantage on all Saving Throws when being held against your will or influenced by others. If you are already affected in such a way, if you enter your Rage on your turn, you may reattempt the Saving Throw even if you attempted it already (This additional roll does not grant advantage). You must take the new roll.

If you fail a saving throw while raging, you may expend 3 Bruiser stacks to succeed instead. You can only succeed using this feature once per long rest.

Level 10: Unbridled Strikes

Starting at level 10, when you deal damage to a creature with your unarmed strikes, you can choose to deal the standard Bludgeoning damage or instead deal Force damage.

Level 3: Unarmed Expert

Through grueling extensive training, Bruisers have learned to inflict devastating damage without weapons. Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level, you are proficient with unarmed strikes and your unarmed strikes deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage and gain the "Nick" Mastery feature. This effect increases by one damage die at levels 6, 10 and 14. Your unarmed strikes are also considered melee weapons for the sake of class abilities. Your unarmed Strikes also gain the "Reach" Property at level 10.

While raging you have advantage on attack rolls made against creatures you are grappling or hanging onto.

Level 14: Apex Evolution

When you reach 14th level in this class, your sheer prowess and rage transform you into a devastating weapon on the battlefield, a mortal monstrosity that leaves your foes quivering in fear. When you rage for the first time in combat, you grow one size larger. This transformation lasts for 30 seeconds (5 rounds) or if your rage ends early. You can only use this feature once per long rest or you expend 5 bruiser stacks to use it again.