Vanguard

Rowan the priest was still gone, and the yet-unhealed wounds of the group testified to that fact. Foe before them, blades unsheathed, they charged at the physically superior foe.

Do’Zakarr’s black mane was nearly rigid with the black blood of still-healing cuts, which began opening even as he dodged the stone giant's four clawed hands. Raising his dented spear, half broken and battle-worn, he deflected a mighty strike from the beast. Cado meanwhile moved around the creature’s side and loosed an arrow that drove through stone, nearly severing an arm at the shoulder. Apparently the beast could feel pain after all, as it loosed furious shrieks that echoed in the bloodying halls.

Terror gripped the party as brands deflected in raging sparks off of hard obsidian, only to be returned with heartfelt blood leaving their own bodies. Blood spattered across the room as Sanctus flew forward, his greatsword spinning out of his hands in whistling arcs. Dropping the bow and unsheathing his own blade in an instant, Cado shouted and leaped forward in a frenzy, decapitating the gargoyle before it could finish off Sanctus.

Vanguard 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.

Vanguard Traits

Vanguard Abilities

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

Assault

Effectively “Charge,” but target up to 3 enemies, and with much lower hit chance.

Bulwark

Attack with lowered hit chance, with the tradeoff of increased Defenses for 1turn.

Claymore

Continually gain Strike Bonus against one target, each turn, without limits.

Combat Mobility

Move 1 space per turn as an Instant Action.

Intimidating Presence

Chance to continually Taunt up to 3 enemies in Weapon Range.

Piercing Strike

Attack with increased hit chance, with the tradeoff of lowered Defenses for 1turn.

Quick Switch

Switch your equipped weapon/ shield to another, as an Instant Action.

Range Mastery

Increases your Range with melee weapons and ranged weapons.

Retribution

Chance to counterattack enemies who attack you.

Rush

Move with increased Speed, with the tradeoff of lowered Defenses for 1turn.

Vanguard Play Style

When it comes to combat, vanguards are all about attack capabilities, options to defend allies, and impressment movement around the battlefield for advantageous positioning. Vanguards can focus on any of these areas in great detail, or utilize abilities and critical options as the need for each arises.

For attacking, "Range Mastery" provides an increase in range of attacks for both melee and ranged weapons, allowing you to attack enemies while remaining beyond reach of their attacks. "Piercing Strike" gives you additional hit chance at the temporary expense of lowered defenses, and "Claymore" allows you to increase your hit chance against a single target every turn, with no limit on how much that hit chance builds up.

For defending, "Bulwark" is an attack that you make with lowered hit chance but that provides you with extra defenses for a turn. You also have "Retribution" to counterattack enemies, and "Intimidating Presence" to potentially force enemies to attack you, rather than your allies.

You also have numerous abilities that function as attacking effects in some cases and defending in others, though they all fall under the general category of "movement advantages." "Combat Mobility" is the single most useful ability for any vanguard, giving you the option to move extra space(s) per turn, before or after attacking, or otherwise. "Rush" lets you move additional distance on your turn, at the expense of having lowered defenses for a turn. "Assault' lets you "Charge" multiple enemies all at once for the chance to Daze them, with a lowered hit chance.

And lastly, "Quick Switch" is sort of the all-around vanguard ability that enables you to fight and function for best effect in virtually any circumstance. This ability allows you to switch weapons/ to a weapon and shield on your turn, as an Instant Action, which enables you to fight in melee range one moment, only to instantly loose arrows at distant enemies in the next.

Vanguard Lore

Just as a rescue effort was launched to free the prisoners, a piece of the cavern ceiling broke inward, and a large figure dropped into the pool of water.

Moonlight streamed down, revealing the form of a massive muscle-cut black body with tremendous claws. It began scooping up prisoners in its massive claws, and devouring them. Combat ensued.

Cado launched arrow after arrow straight into its body while Do’Zakarr and Sanctus charged with their blades. Ryu dropped from the ceiling to slice with his daggers directly into the monster’s back. Do’Zakarr was knocked unconscious by a swipe from the beast, though it was finally brought down. The city people were saved, and shortly thereafter the city was re-conquered. For a time, all was well…