Fighter: The Fishing Warrior
Many fighters use swords, axes, spears, and many other weapons to battle their foes on the fields of combat. But some fighters feel better with a rod and reel in their hands. Fishing warriors have honed their skills of fishing to the point that they can translate those skills into combat potential. When these fighters aren't controlling their enemies on the battlefield, they can be found fighting a different battle on the side of a river, lake, or ocean, aiming to reel in fish and sea monsters alike.
Fishing Warrior Features
| Fighter Levels | Features |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Fisherman's Lifestyle, Cast a Line |
| 7th | Fisherman's Stamina |
| 10th | Fishing Weapon Improvement, Weighted Hook |
| 15th | Tighten the Line |
| 18th | Fishing Weapon Improvement, Hook Line & Sinker |
Fisherman's Lifestyle
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, your knack for fishing becomes more prominent as you embrace the fisherman's lifestyle. You gain the following benefits:
- Choose one of the following weapons: The battle rod, the filleting blade & fishing harpoon, or the fishing bow. You have proficiency in any of your weapon choices with their stats detailed in this subclass. These weapons receive improvements at 10th level and at 18th level.
- You gain tool proficiency in the tackle box, a box that contains baits, hooks, and other fishing related tools. More information is detailed at the end of this subclass.
- You also gain advantage on wisdom (survival) checks when determining different types of fish.
Cast A Line
Beginning at 3rd level, you are able to apply fishing tactics to not only fishing, but combat as well.
- You gain stamina points, which are used to reel in your quarry. Your stamina points are equal to your fighter level x 5. You regain all expended stamina points after a short or long rest.
- When you land a bite while fishing or hit a creature with your fishing weapon's special attack, you can use a bonus action to instead hook the creature. While the creature is hooked, both you and the creature are unable to move any further than the current length of line or reel. You and the creature may approach each other, but doing so shortens the length of the line further.
- Once hooked, as a bonus action, you can force the creature to make a strength check against your own strength check. If you roll higher than theirs, you expend the appropriate amount of stamina points and reel them in 10 feet closer to you and deal 1 point of piercing damage. If the creature rolls higher than you, they remain where they are but you still expend the appropriate amount of stamina points. The amount of stamina points needed to reel in a creature is dependent on their size and challenge rating, detailed at the end of this subclass.
- You can still attack while hooked, even if it is against other creatures. The hook is removed and returned to you when you make an attack against the hooked creature, you use a bonus action and 1 stamina point to remove it, you run out of stamina points, or if the creature uses an action to make a dexterity check against your cast a line save DC to remove it themselves.
Cast a Line Save DC
Battle Rod
| Cost | Damage | Weight | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14gp | 1d8 bludgeoning | 2 lb. | Versatile (1d10), Special |
Special: Equipped with a fishing hook on a line and reel. Can be used to make a ranged attack. It has a range of 30/120 feet and deals 1d4 piercing damage. After the attack hits or misses, the hook can be reeled in as a bonus action.
Filleting Blade
| Cost | Damage | Weight | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9gp | 1d6 slashing | 2 lb. | Finesse, Light |
Fishing Harppon
| Cost | Damage | Weight | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2gp | 1d6 piercing | 2 lb. | Light, Thrown (Range 30/120), Special |
Special: The harpoon is attached to a strong rope. After the harpoon's ranged attack hits or misses, the harpoon can be pulled back in as a bonus action.
Fishing Bow
| Cost | Damage | Weight | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24gp | 1d6 piercing | 2 lb. | Ammunition (Range 80/320), Two-handed, Special |
Special: The fishing bow has a single hooked arrow, attached with a fishing line to a reel on the bow. Can be used in place of a normal arrow when making an attack, has a range of 30/120 feet and deals 1d6 piercing damage. After the attack hits or misses, the hooked arrow can be reeled in as a bonus action.
Fisherman's Stamina
Starting at 7th level, your training against strong ocean tides and cold rivers have strengthened your body’s durability. You gain the following benefits:
- When you use your second wind feature or use hit dice to recover health points, you regain stamina points equal to half of the hit points recovered, rounded down.
- You gain cold resistance, a swimming speed equal to your walking speed, and are able to hold your breath underwater for 1 hour.
Fishing Weapon Improvement
Starting at 10th level, the range of your special attacks for your weapons increase to 40/160 feet. Further more, all stamina points needed to reel in a creature or target, per size, is decreased by 3 point, with a minimum of 1 point.
Weighted Hook
Starting at 10th level, you begin making your fishing hooks with a sturdier material. Anytime you use your chosen weapons’ special attack, the battle rod’s damage die increases to 1d6, the harpoon’s range attack increases to 1d8, or fishing bow’s hooked arrow increases to 1d8.
Tighten the Line
Starting at 15th level, you have learned techniques to secure your hook in your target, making it harder for them to escape. Anytime while your hook is attached to your target during Cast a Line, you can use a bonus action to impose disadvantage on your target if they contest against your strength roll to reel them in and if they attempt to remove the hook. The hook’s damage from a successful reel-in is also increased to 3 piercing damage. This disadvantage and increased damage lasts 1 minute and ends early if the hook is removed. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all uses at the end of a long rest.
Fishing Weapon Improvement
Starting at 18 level, the range of your special attacks for your weapons increase even further, increasing to 50/200 feet. Further more, all stamina points needed to reel in a creature or target, per size, is decreased again by 3, minimum of 1 point.
Hook, Line, & Sinker
Starting at 18th level, your fishing skills allow you to have great accuracy and control over your targets. As a bonus action, before using Cast a Line, you can choose to have advantage to hit your target with your weapon’s special attack. If you hit, they immediately become hooked and you gain advantage on your strength contests to reel your target in. This effect lasts until the hook is removed. Additionally, if you reel your target into at least 20 feet of you and then land an attack on them, they must make a strength saving throw against your cast a line save DC. On a fail, they become prone until the start of their next turn. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and regain all expended uses after a long rest.
Rules of Fishing
Stamina Points
Anytime you are either fishing or using your Cast a Line feature in combat, stamina points are needed in order to reel your target in closer to you. When you use a bonus action to contest your target with strength checks, you expend stamina points, regardless of a success or fail. If you do not have any stamina points, you are unable to use Cast a Line. If you are currently hooked into a target and run out of stamina points, you automatically unhook from your target. Stamina points expended are determined by both the size and challenge rating of the target (or rarity of the fish), determined on the tables below.
| Size | Stamina Points |
|---|---|
| Tiny | 1 |
| Small | 1 |
| Medium | 5 |
| Large | 15 |
| Huge | 30 |
| Gargantuan | 50 |
| Challenge Rating/Fish Rarity | Stamina Points |
|---|---|
| 0-1 (Common) | +0 |
| 2-4 (Uncommon) | +1 |
| 5-7 (Rare) | +5 |
| 8-11 (Very Rare) | +10 |
| 12+ (Legendary) | +15 |
Tool: Tackle Box
The tackle box is a tool that is used to store hooks, bait, and other tools useful for fishing and gear upkeep. With the help of your DM, you can decide what baits you can use to help lure certain fish or monsters while fishing, such as worms for fish or a lump of fresh meat for certain types of monster, making them easier to find. Different hooks and lures may also prove useful and luring different creatures, giving you advantages on landing a fish or monster.
Fish Into Food
When you catch any fish during your fishing outings, you may choose to turn into food for you and your fellow adventurers. Whenever you have any fish, you can use a wisdom (survival) check in order to properly fillet the fish. The following table shows how many rations can be made with a successful wisdom (survival) check
| Fish Size | Wisdom (Survival) DC | Rations Produced |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tiny | 3 | 1 |
| 1 Small | 5 | 2 |
| 1 Medium | 10 | 4 |
| 1 Large | 15 | 6 |
| 1 Huge | 20 | 8 |
| 1 Gargantuan | 25 | 15 |
Helpful Tips for the DM
While a player is using this subclass, think how certain situations can be played out. For example, if your player rolls a nat 1 during a strength contests, perhaps the hooks becomes unhooked or if their target rolls a nat 20, they instead move away 10 feet. When they are fishing, perhaps one too many nat 1s and their fishing weapon suffers damage or even potential breaks. Regarding the tackle box tool, discuss how different hooks or bait could make it easier or harder for your player to land their catches. When it comes to the fishing gear itself, perhaps your player could use different types of materials to help enhance their weapons abilities. Perhaps cave fisher's filament can be used to help strengthen your battle rod's line. Maybe the tooth of a dragon could give your fishing harpoon elemental properties. Making the hooked arrow with adamantine metal could help with targets weak to it. If your players are looking to help strengthen their fishing gear over time, perhaps you could give fun or interesting ways to do so. With enough thought and communication, you can make it a more enjoyable and fair experience for all your fishing warriors!
Created by u/TopHatNinja49. Inspired on random day of fishing with later ideas inspired by u/king-starman's Fisherman's Conclave Ranger subclass.
Art Credit: Dwarf Fisherman created by Brenda van Vugt