Ancient Greek Athlete Class for Old-School Essentials

 

Athlete

Requirements: Strength 9, Constitution 13, Charisma 9

Prime Requisite: Constitution

Hit Dice: 1d10

Maximum Level: 14

Allowed Armor: None (nekkid)

Allowed Weapons: Javelin, discus, pankration (martial arts)

Languages: Greek

Athletes are the peak embodiment of human physique. They are beloved and honored by all, nobles, the demos, and (especially) licentious philosophers. Athletes compete in games and practice martial arts across the Greek world, often traveling far and wide. 

Level Progression                                                       Saving Throws

Level	XP	HD	AC O	Death	Wands	Para.	Breath	Spells
1	0	1d10	19	10	11	12	13	14
2	2,200	2d10	19	10	11	12	13	14
3	4,400	3d10	19	10	11	12	13	14
4	8,800	4d10	17	8	9	10	13	12
5	17,000	5d10	17	8	9	10	13	12
6	35,000	6d10	17	8	9	10	13	12
7	70,000	7d10	14	6	7	8	10	10
8	140,000	8d10	14	6	7	8	10	10
9	270,000	9d10	14	6	7	8	10	10
10	400,000	9d10+2*	12	4	5	6	7	8
11	530,000	9d10+4*	12	4	5	6	7	8
12	660,000	9d10+6*	12	4	5	6	7	8
13	790,000	9d10+8*	10	2	3	4	4	6
14	920,000	10d10+10*	10	2	3	4	4	6

*Modifiers for Constitution no longer apply.

Abilities

Combat: Athletes can only use weapons associated with the Olympic games, such as a discus and javelin, but also practice boxing, wrestling, and pankration (a martial arts combining both). The damage they might deal through their martial arts is found below.

Athletic Skills. Athletes can use the following skills with the chance of success shown below.

Scale sheer surfaces: A roll is required for each 100’ climbed. Failure results in the athlete plummeting to the ground.

Long jump: The athlete rolls for how far they are able to leap.

Equestrianism/Chariot driving: The chance given is for how successful the athlete is in attempting a stunt while driving a chariot or riding a horse. 

Inhuman Feat of Athleticism. An athlete can attempted to accomplish a feat of athleticism normally beyond human ability, which the athlete succeeds at with a 2-in-6 chance. The limits of this ability depend upon the situation; it may be used in combat as well as outside of combat. 

Martial arts. When fighting, whether boxing, wrestling, or engaging in pankration, athletes deal melee damage according to their level (plus Strength). Beginning at 4th level, the Athlete's use of martial arts counts as a magical weapon for purposes of affecting monsters.

Level Damage

1-3         1d6

4-7         1d8

8-11 1d10

12-14 2d6

Nekkid (Greek spelling, obv.): Athletes may not wear any or much clothing. Men must use a cord, string, or leather strip to obscure their glans penis in the kynodesme manner. Women must wear their hair down and skimpy, revealing tunics that, according to Pausaniaus “reaches to a little above the knee, and … bare the right shoulder as far as the breast.” Additionally, athletes may oil themselves to make it harder for blows to connect with their bodies, resulting in an armor class that scales with level as follows (just keep away from open flames).

Level AC

1-3         7

4-7         5

8-11 3

12-14 1

Sprint. Athletes can run up to 2x their encounter speed for 5 rounds per encounter. 

Marathon: Athletes can travel twice as many miles per day as normal.

Reaching 9th Level: Upon reaching 9th level, an athlete may open their own gymnasium in which to train novice athletes in the art of building their physiques and competing in games.

Athletic Skills Table

Level	Scale	Long Jump	Eq./Char.
1	87%	2d10+1	3-in-12
2	88	2d10+2	3-in-12
3	89	2d10+3	3-in-12
4	90	2d10+4	4-in-12
5	91	2d10+5	4-in-12
6	92	2d10+6	4-in-12
7	93	2d10+7	4-in-12
8	94	2d10+8	5-in-12
9	95	2d10+9	5-in-12
10	96	2d10+10	5-in-12
11	97	2d10+11	6-in-12
12	98	2d10+12	6-in-12
13	99	2d10+13	6-in-12
14	99	2d10+14	7-in-12