Chapter 1: Characters

The classes in D&D 5th edition are rather specialised, all of them requiring some form of dedicated training, a very specific history, or a particular event to allow characters to access the abilities of this class. While this works wonderfully for the standard fantasy roster, it isn't quite so great if you want to run a campaign where such specificity isn't plausible.

In d20 Modern, the system is rather different; there are 6 basic character classes, each based on one of the 6 ability scores (which are shared with D&D). As you might imagine, these classes don't give any abilities which couldn't feasibly be gained through natural aptitude with a particular ability.

To give players the option for more specific learning, advanced classes are introduced, which provide the more niche skills characters may acquire.

The Strong Hero

The Strong Hero uses their Strength score to best advantage. Taking a level in this class demonstrates physical training for overall strength and power. Strong Heroes excel at hand-to-hand and melee combat, as well as at other activities that best utilize physical power.

A Strong Hero might be a bodybuilder or an athlete who concentrates on the power aspect of sports. They may be quietly intimidating or robustly boisterous. They might be as gentle as they are large or a lout and a bully

Advanced Class

At 3rd level, choose an Advanced Class. The Advanced Class you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level.

On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the advanced class you choose.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Extra Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Reckless Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can throw aside all concern for defence to attack with fierce desperation.

When you make your first attack on your turn, you can decide to attack recklessly. Doing so gives you advantage on weapon attack rolls during this turn, but attack rolls against you have advantage until your next turn.

Strong Back

Beginning at 6th level, your carrying capacity (including maximum load and maximum lift) is doubled, and you have advantage on Strength checks made to push, pull, lift, or break objects.

Extreme Exertion

Starting at 6th level, you gain the uncanny ability to strain your muscles past their normal strength.

When the you make a Strength-based ability check or saving throw, you can use a bonus action or reaction to gain advantage on the roll. You can do this after the roll is made but before any of the roll's effects occur.

Remarkable Athlete

Starting at 9th level, you can add half your proficiency bonus (round up) to any Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution check you make that doesn’t already use your proficiency bonus.

In addition, when you make a running long jump, the distance you can cover increases by a number of feet equal to your Strength modifier.

Brutal Critical

Beginning at 9th level, you can roll one additional weapon damage die when determining the extra damage for a critical hit.

This increases to two additional dice at 13th level and three additional dice at 17th level.

Demolition

Beginning at 11th level, your melee attacks deal double damage to objects. In addition, you double your proficiency bonus on Strength (Athletics) checks made to break something.

Supreme Grip

Starting at 13th level, you have incredible technique and hand strength allowing you to maintain a powerful grasp on objects others would struggle with. When you are wielding a weapon with the versatile property, you always treat them as if you were wielding them in two hands, and you ignore the disadvantage imposed by the heavy property of weapons with which you are proficient.

Additionally, you can wield a weapon with the Two-Handed property in a single hand, but doing so imposes disadvantage on any attack rolls you make with it, and a -2 penalty to damage rolls you make with it.

Furthermore, you have advantage on ability checks and saving throws made to avoid dropping a held object or being disarmed.

Legendary Exertion

At 14th level, your ability to strain your body past it’s limits improves further. When the you make a Strength-based ability check or saving throw, you can use a bonus action or reaction to automatically succeed on the roll. You can do this after the roll is made but before any of the roll's effects occur.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Supreme Smash

At 20th level, you may now add your full proficiency bonus to all melee weapon damage rolls.

Examples Of Fast Heroes

Athletes who employ speed and grace instead of raw power, stunt people, pilots, professional drivers, law enforcement or military professionals who concentrate on using ranged weapons, and agents on either side of the law who employ stealth and sleight of hand all fall within the scope of the Fast Hero.

Class Features

As a fast hero, you gain the following class features.

Fast Movement

Your base movement speed increases by 5 feet. At 6th level, this speed bonus increases to 10 feet. At 13th level, this speed bonus increases to 15 feet.

Evasive Footwork

Opportunity attacks against you are made with disadvantage.

Cunning Action

Starting at 2nd level, your quick thinking and agility allow you to move and act quickly. You can take a bonus action on each of your turns in combat. This action can be used only to take the Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Ready action.

Redirect Attack

At 2nd level, when a creature misses you with an attack, you can use your reaction to force that creature to repeat the same attack against another creature (other than itself) of your choice within 5 feet of you with disadvantage.

Advanced Class

At 3rd level, choose an Advanced Class. The Advanced Class you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the advanced class you choose.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Extra Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the attack action on your turn.

Uncanny Dodge

Starting at 5th level, when an attacker that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack’s damage against you.

Dodge Roll

Beginning at 6th level, when a creature attempts an attack against you which misses, or you succeed on a Dexterity saving throw, you can move up to half your speed as a reaction. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.

Instinctive Reaction

Beginning at 9th level, your reflexes are honed to a fine point. You have advantage on initiative rolls. In addition, if you are surprised at the beginning of combat and aren’t incapacitated, you can act normally on your first turn.

Additionally, you can use your bonus action to focus on reacting to changes on the battlefield, allowing you to take two reactions this round instead of one. When you do so, you may immediately take the Ready action as part of the same bonus action.

Elegant Maneuver

You complete difficult manoeuvres with practiced ease.

Starting at 9th level, you can use a bonus action to gain advantage on the next Dexterity (Acrobatics) or Strength (Athletics) check you make on your turn.

Evasion

Beginning at 11th level, when you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Rapid Strike

Starting at 13th level, you learn to trade accuracy for swift strikes. If you have advantage on a weapon attack against a target on your turn, you can forgo that advantage to immediately make an additional weapon attack against the same target as a bonus action.

Opportunist

Starting at 14th level, when an ally is within 5 feet of an opponent, and the ally hits the target with an attack, you can make an attack against that opponent as a reaction.

Elusive

Beginning at 17th level, you are so evasive that attackers rarely gain the upper hand against you. No attack roll has advantage against you while you aren’t incapacitated.

Improved Redirect Attack

Beginning at 17th level, when you use your Redirect Attack feature, the attack no longer has disadvantage.

Incredible Reflexes

When you reach 20th level, you have become adept at laying ambushes and quickly escaping danger. You can take two turns during the first round of any combat. You take your first turn at your normal initiative and your second turn at your initiative minus 10. You can’t use this feature when you are surprised.

The Tough Hero

The Tough Hero uses their Constitution score to best advantage. Taking a level in this class provides improved health and physical stamina. Better hit points, good fortitude, and the ability to shrug off some amount of damage combine to define the Tough Hero. A Tough hero might be built like a truck or possess a great amount of endurance. They can take a lot of physical punishment, rarely get sick, and are often is hard to move.

A Tough Hero can be stubborn or single-minded, may feel protective of others, and usually succeeds because they stay in the contest long after the competition has crumbled. They are often steadfast and confident to a fault.

Untiring

You are especially hardy and can keep working for hours. Beginning at 2nd level, you have advantage on saves to avoid exhaustion.

Advanced Class

At 3rd level, choose an Advanced Class. The Advanced Class you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the advanced class you choose.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Extra Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Fortitude

Beginning at 5th level, when you finish a short or long rest, you gain temporary hit points equal to your level + your Constitution modifier.

Damage Reduction

Beginning at 6th level, bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage that you take from non-magical sources is reduced by an amount equal to your Constitution modifier.

Steel Gut

Your determination allows you to shrug off effects that would otherwise harm you. Starting at 6th level, when you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Constitution saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Pull Through

You cling to life, even on the brink of death. Beginning at 9th level, when you make a death saving throw that would result in your death if failed, you have advantage

Improved Resilience

Starting at 11th level, you can use your Resilience feature again after finishing a short or long rest.

Energy Resistance

Starting at 13th level, when you take acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage, you can use your reaction to gain resistance against the triggering damage type until the start of your next turn.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Payback

Starting at 13th level, when you take damage from a creature, you can use your reaction to gain advantage on attacks against that creature until the end of your next turn.

Remain Conscious

Beginning at 14th level, when you are reduced to 0 hit points, you may continue to act until you fail a death saving throw. While at 0 hit points, your speed is halved, and you cannot use bonus actions or reactions.

Bulwark

Your hardiness reaches incredible levels. Beginning at 17th level, your Damage Reduction feature now applies to all damage you take. Additionally, you can spend an action or bonus action bracing for damage. Until the start of your next turn, your Damage Reduction feature reduces incoming damage by 2 times your Constitution modifier. If you move, this effect ends.

Survivor

At 20th level, you attain the pinnacle of resilience in battle. At the start of each of your turns, you regain hit points equal to 5 + your Constitution modifier if you have no more than half your hit points left. You don’t gain this benefit if you have 0 hit points.

The Smart Hero

The Smart Hero uses their Intelligence score to best advantage. Taking a level in this class demonstrates educational training in an academic or technical subject. Learning and reasoning powers combine to define the Smart Hero.

A Smart Hero might be brainy or bookish. They may possess uncanny reasoning skills or the ability to puzzle their way out of any situation. They’re bright, quick-witted, and possessed of a great deal of knowledge - or at least the ability to gather that knowledge if they so choose.

Advanced Class

At 3rd level, choose an Advanced Class. The Advanced Class you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the advanced class you choose.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Extra Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Subject Analysis

Beginning at 5th level, your analytical skills improve further. As an action, you analyze one creature or object that you can see within 60 feet of you, and you learn whether the creature or object has any damage immunities, resistances or vulnerabilities and what they are. The next successful attack you make against the target is a critical hit.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

You may use this feature without expending any uses when you spend one minute or more observing a creature or object.

Additionally, you have advantage on any checks to determine the function of a technological or magical device.

Exploit Weakness

At 6th level, you can use a bonus action to assess a creature’s weaknesses. You use your Intelligence bonus instead of your Strength or Dexterity bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls against this creature for 1 minute as you spot weaknesses in its physiology or fighting style.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Polymath

Starting at 6th level, you can study in preparation for completing a task. If you spend half an hour or more researching a given skill, you can add your proficiency bonus to the next skill check you make using that skill. To conduct this research, you must have access to suitable research materials, either in the form of written material or internet access.

Improved Trick

At 11th level, you can target up to three creatures with your Trick. Additionally, you may use your Trick as a bonus action.

Quick Mind

Beginning at 13th level, your sharp wit allows you to act quickly. You add your Intelligence modifier to your Initiative bonus.

Intuitive Communication

Beginning at 13h level, you are usually able to understand speech and writing even if you don’t speak the language. When you read or hear a language you do not know, you can make an Intelligence (Investigation) check to try to understand the message. The DC for the check depends on the situation: DC 10 if the language is in the same lingual group as your language, DC 15 if the language is unrelated to any of your known languages, and DC 20 if the language is unique or ancient. On a success you understand the general meaning of the message, but this ability in no way simulates being able to converse or fluently read and write in a given language.

Improved Plan

At 14th level, when you make a Plan, each creature included in the plan gains two of the listed benefits. Each benefit is activated separately.

Improved Exploit Weakness

Beginning at 17th level, when you use your Exploit Weakness feature, it applies to each creature you can see or have seen in the last minute. Additionally, the duration of your Exploit Weakness feature increases to 10 minutes, and there is no longer a limit to your usage of this feature.

Master Plan

At 20th level, when you make a Plan, each creature included in the plan gains all three of the listed benefits. Each benefit can be activated separately.

The Dedicated Hero

The Dedicated Hero uses their Wisdom score to best advantage. Taking a level in this class demonstrates a focus on willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition. Sense of self and devotion of purpose, as well as keen senses and a greater ability to analyse information combine to define the Dedicated Hero.

A Dedicated Hero might be insightful or understanding, or they might be perceptive or possessed of wisdom beyond her years. They may be alluring or fascinating. They might be devoted to a cause, an ideal, or a faith that’s bigger than themself while still possessing an unshakable confidence in their own abilities

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Extra Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Intuition

Starting at 5th level, you have a special insight into dangerous situations. When you use this ability make a Wisdom check. On results of 20 or above, ask the Game Master three questions from the following list. On results of 10 or above, ask the Game Master two questions from the following list. On results below 10, ask the Game Master one question from the following list.

• What happened here recently?
• What is about to happen?
• What here is useful or valuable to me?
• Who’s really in control here?
• What here is not what it appears to be?
• What is the most dangerous thing in this situation?
• What’s my best way in?
• What’s my best way out?
• Are there any dangers I haven’t noticed?
• What’s the biggest threat?

With the Game Master’s permission, you can ask a question that is not on the list, as long as it is along similar lines. The Game Master can qualify their answer in any way they like, but must provide as honest an answer as possible.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Teamwork

Your skills can really make your allies shine. At 6th level, when you use the Help action, you can choose one ally within 60 feet of you that is allied with you. That creature may make one weapon attack with its reaction, provided that it can see or hear you.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Expertise

At 9th level, choose two of your skill proficiencies. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.

Rapport

Beginning at 9th level, your connection with others allows you to better aid them. When you use the help action, the creature you aid also adds your Wisdom modifier to their next ability check or attack roll.

Awareness

At 11th level, your perception of the world around you is almost supernatural. You have advantage on initiative rolls and cannot be surprised

Cool Under Pressure

Beginning at 13th level, nothing can shake your confidence in a task in which you are skilled. Whenever you make an ability check that lets you add your proficiency bonus, you can use an action, bonus action, or reaction to treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.

Unshakeable

At 14th level, you have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.

Improved Teamwork

You excel at getting people to work together as a unit. Beginning at 16th level, when you use you Teamwork feature, you can choose two allies within 60 feet of you rather than one.

Additionally, as a bonus action, select up to five allies within 60 feet of you who can see or hear you. They can use their reactions to immediately take actions. Once you use this ability, you cannot use it again until you complete a long rest.

Superior Intuition

At 20th level, you have advantage on any Wisdom checks when using your Intuition feature.

Additionally, your Danger Sense feature applies even when you are blinded or deafened, and you gain blindsight to a range of 30 feet. If you already have blindsight, increase its range by 30 feet.

The Charismatic Hero

The Charismatic Hero uses their Charisma score to best advantage. Taking a level in this class demonstrates a facility for connecting with others, developing proficiency at influencing their actions, and improving your ability to win their support through debate, compromise, or seduction. Personal magnetism, applied interaction techniques, and a touch of charm combine to define the Charismatic Hero.

A Charismatic Hero might be charming or engaging; they might be strikingly handsome or possessed of a great personal magnetism. They may be alluring or fascinating. Whether captivating or compelling, they are definitely appealing on a number of different levels.

Favor

Beginning at 2nd level, when talking to another character, you may attempt to gain a favor from them. By spending 1 minute or more talking to a character, you can ask them for a favor. To do so, make a Charisma (Persuasion) check, with a DC set by the GM, as appropriate for your relationship with that character. Generally, a the DC should be about 10 for a friendly character, about 15 for a neutral character, and about 20 for an unfriendly character.

If you are successful, that character will provide the favor, provided it causes them no harm. Once you have used this ability, you cannot use it again until you have finished a long rest.

At 9th level you can use this feature twice between rests, and at 17th level you can use it three times between rests.

Taunt

Starting at 2nd level, you gain the ability to undermine a target’s confidence. You may use your bonus action to taunt a creature. The creature must have an Intelligence score of at least 6, and be able to see and hear you. The creature must make a Wisdom saving throw with a DC of 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier. On a failed save, the target has disadvantage on its next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw.

Advanced Class

At 3rd level, choose an Advanced Class. The Advanced Class you choose grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the advanced class you choose.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Extra Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Font of Inspiration

Beginning when you reach 5th level, you regain all of your expended uses of Inspiration when you finish a short or long rest.

Bolstering Inspiration

Beginning at 6th level, your inspiring presence bolsters your allies. Whenever a creature rolls an Inspiration die granted by you, they gain temporary hit points equal to the Inspiration die roll + your Charisma modifier.

Captivate

Starting at 11th level, when you use your Charm ability successfully, you can choose the render the creature unaware of its surroundings while you continue to hold its attention.

As long as the creature is charmed by you, you become the target’s sole focus. The target pays no attention to anyone else. This focusing of the target’s attention allows other characters to take actions of which the captivated target is unaware. The target has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to perceive anything other than you, and attacks against the target have advantage until the effect ends.

Additionally, you may now use your Charm feature against up to 3 creatures at once, though a separate Charm action is required for each creature you wish to charm.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Dazzle

At 13th level, you gain ability to dazzle and distract at a moment’s notice. When a creature makes an attack against you, you can spend your reaction to add your Charisma modifier to your AC for the attack.

To apply this bonus, the creature must have an Intelligence score of at least 6, and be able to see and hear you.

Snap Out of It

You are exceedingly good at helping others overcome mental effects. At 14th level, you may use your action to speak to an ally within 60 feet that is Charmed or Frightened, ending either of those conditions on the target.

At the GM's discretion, this ability may be used to end other conditions, as long as the source of the condition is a psychological or magical effect.

Improved Taunt

Starting at 17th level, your ability to fluster your targets with insults improves.

When a creature you can see fails on an attack roll, ability check or saving throw, you can use your Taunt action as a reaction against that creature.

Additionally, when a creature fails it’s saving throw against your Taunt they suffer disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws until the end of their turn.

Superior Inspiration

At 20th level, when you roll initiative and have no uses of Inspiration left, you regain one use.

Alternate Abilities

The following are alternate abilities meant to optionally replace certain class or advanced class abilities. These make use of the wealth and reputation systems, and are good for GMs that want the wealth and reputation systems to have a wider impact on gameplay. Some of these abilities work significantly better than their original versions when using the wealth or reputation systems. For example the alternative "Royalties" features for the Personality advanced class work much better than the base version when using the Wealth system.

Charismatic Hero

Art

Source Material

"d20 Modern" role-playing game by Wizards of the Coast.

Built heavily upon "d20 Modern 5e Conversion" by Edward Wilson.