Stalwart
by Jamie BatyAC9 47
Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 9d8+18 (58 hp)
Initiative: +4 (+4 Dex)
Speed: 25 ft. (5 squares) in hide armour; base speed 35 ft.
Armour Class: 17 (+4 Dex, +3 hide armour), touch 14, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+11 (+15)
Attack: Large Greatclub +11 melee (2d8 +7)
Full Attack: Large Greatclub +11/+6 melee (2d8 +7)
Space/Reach: 5 ft. /5 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Powerful Build
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 8, Cha 6
Skills: Balance +3, Climb +6, Hide +1, Jump +4, Listen +1, Spot +1, Swim +7
Feats: Athletic, Endurance, Improved Grapple, Improved Unarmed Strike
Environment: Any hills, mountains
Organisation: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: None
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: by character class
Level Adjustment: +1
Stalwarts are a race of tall (about 7 feet), muscular humanoids, obsessed with the idea that they are physically superior to other races. They are quite unrefined and brutish.
To test its superiority, a stalwart will challenge any group of humanoids of similar stature (5-9 feet) it meets to appoint a champion for a physical competition of their choice. These competitions vary but can include boxing, wrestling, archery, running, jumping, arm-wrestling, rock-throwing, log-balancing or swimming. If the stalwart wins, it will demand a tribute of half the opposing group's nonmagical wealth. If it loses, it will serve them for one month in any way that does not involve danger. If the humanoids refuse the challenge (or to pay UP if they lose) the stalwart becomes increasingly angry and will eventually attack.
Stalwarts speak Common and any other local languages. Some have the ability to speak Giant, Goblin, Dwarf, Orc or Sylvan.
Combat
Stalwarts prefer contests of physical prowess to actual combat. If angered or attacked, they will fight with greatclubs. They rarely concede defeat.
Stalwarts are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, though they prefer more natural and rustic weapons. They are proficient with light and medium armours as well, but again preferring rustic types over metal based armours. They are not proficient with shields.
Powerful Build (Ex): The physical stature of a stalwart lets him function in many ways as if he were one size category larger. Whenever a stalwart is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the stalwart is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A stalwart is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature's special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A stalwart can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject's size category.
Stalwarts as Characters
A stalwart's favoured class is barbarian. Fighters are often found among them as well. A few stalwarts have been drawn to the monk class as a way to perfect themselves not only in the physical sense, but also in the mind. Stalwarts generally dislike rogues, who sneak around too much rather than fight, and they rarely take to spellcasting classes as it draws focus away from physical competition. The rare stalwart cleric may take two of the following domains: Protection, Strength, or War.