Berserker

The Berserker is a unique brand of warrior originally developed from various highlander clans, that focus on individual skill in war rather than military tactics. The Berserker emphasizes zealousness above all else, and uses fury to make up for any other weakness.

Hagraven, Eternal of stoicism and war, is father of the Berserker fighting style, and created it while still a mortal. After he became an Eternal he continued to rule his former clan from “the Dream.”

When the matter came before the Eternals about selecting a new ruler among them (known as the Eternal Flux), Hagraven elected instead to put his warriors to work. He began what came to be called the “Eternal Wars.” Because of his actions, war covered Altius and tens of thousands bled.

Bersserkers grew in numbers and dominated the battlefield with their unique and furious approach to warfare.

Berserker Class Stats

Note that these stats are not specifically used in Eternity TTRPG. Instead, these representative stats are meant to provide an overall idea of how the class plays. Definitions are provided below which do directly align with the Eternity TTRPG system.

Attack: the overall ability of the class to deal damage and set the tempo in a battle.

Defense: the innate ability of the class to reduce damage and negative effects taken, both from physical and magical attacks.

Intuition: represents skills such as perception, stealth, or sixth-sense abilities to help them avoid otherwise unforeseeable harm.

Magic: the innate ability of the class to manipulate the very fabric of Altius and The Dream, turning those powers to their will.

Special: not all unique "powers" are magical in nature, and some classes have magic-like, "special" abilities.

Quickness: the overall speed, mobility, and initiative of the class.

Utility: the ability of the class to bolster allies, debilitate enemies, or provide useful effects in various out-of-combat situations.

Versatility: the class' ability to adapt to any situation or environment, both in and out of combat.

Berserker Traits

Berserker Abilities

The following berserker ability descriptions provide summaries of their actual in-game effects.

Assault

“Charge” up to 3 enemies, as a Move Action. You are also immune to the “Charge” effect for 1turn. 

Death Strike

You deal damage to yourself, imbuing a deadly attack with rage to increase its hit chance. If this attack hits, you also heal Wisdom.

Decimate

This Ability allows you to know how much damage every enemy has taken, at all times. This Ability can only be used against targets who have already taken damage.

Make an with your main-hand Weapon for every damage the target has already taken.

Dual-Wield

You can equip two Weapons. Whenever you attack with your main- hand Weapon, you also attack with your off-hand Weapon.

Juggernaut

Move your normal Speed value, ignoring Speed debuffs, Daze, and any other effects that inhibit movement, for this turn.

Mania

At the end of every one of your turns, you have the chance to damage up to 3 enemies who were nearby you at any point during your turn. You can choose to continually maintain this Ability. 

Massive Demoralization

The next time you attack, even if that attack misses, you have the chance to give multiple nearby enemies lowered hit chance, for 1turn.

Mortal Throw

Throw your main hand and off-hand Weapons at increased range, with lowered hit chance. You can also move your partial Speed value before or after this attack. After you throw your Weapons, they return to you, even if the attack misses. 

Vengeance

This Ability can only be used when you drop to 0HP. Instant Action. Take an attack Action against the target who dropped you to 0HP. After your Action, you still drop to 0HP.

Wrath

Every time you attack or are attacked by an enemy, increase your hit chance against that target. You can choose to continually maintain this Ability. 

Berserker Playstyle

When it comes to combat, the berserker is an absolute offensive force, but often requires some kind of bolstering or healing from allies to sustain their attack. It's a fun experience to use "Assault" as your opener for a battle, charging into, and absolutely crippling a large swath of enemy forces.

If your initial attack is preceded by "Massive Demoralization," you can keep your berserker alive through your enemy's initial counterattack. From there, it's all "Death Strikes" and "Decimation" to slaughter your remaining foes.

In case you're fighting enemies who can attack from a distance, you have "Mortal Throw" at your disposal to close the gap while dealing damage, and "Juggernaut" to avoid any movement-impairing effects.

Finally, "Wrath" and "Mania" provide you with increased chances to deal damage (especially against multiple foes), giving you the edge as battle draws on. As a trump card, you can also use "Vengeance" to slay any enemy who manages to bring you down.

Berserker Lore

Hagraven was a son of the clan known today as the VanGraven clan of Iota. This was before the continent became an icy wasteland. He was a Berserker of the highest caliber – one of the warriors who developed the fighting style in early Altius. He was famed as a Dragon slayer, fighting them without support.

His name alone was sufficient to ward off other clans and even armies from the mainland of Altius. Among ancient heroes, he was a god. After Hagraven became an Eternal, his clan renamed themselves after their ascended son: Van (of) Graven (“of Hagraven”).

Hagraven is the Eternal of stoicism and war: all that he knew during his time as a mortal, those central pillars of his life. Hagraven has always believed that none should rule. He argued that the balance of existence was the purpose of existence. All mortals corrupt when given too much power.

When he was still a mortal among his warrior-clan of Iota, none had ruled. There were no laws. Each took what he needed, and supported his community. The notion of a leader only took place when facing larger, external threats to the clan: encroaching armies, disastrous weather, the curse of an Eternal. And the one chosen to lead was never made ruler. He or she only had power so long as the members of the clan allowed that power, and only for the duration of the need.

Such is the way now of the Berserker. More than a fighting style, "Berserker" is a way of life - a way of freedom. The more control kingdoms exert on their people, the more the Berserker fights back, in all manners of living.