The Tough Hero is a basic class in Empire's Veil that embodies characters with exceptional physical toughness and resilience. These heroes have high Constitution scores and excel in enduring damage and withstanding adverse conditions. The Tough Hero gains access to talents from the Damage Reduction, Energy Resistance, and Unbreakable talent trees.

The Damage Reduction talent tree allows the Tough Hero to shrug off a portion of damage from melee and ranged weapons. With each talent selection, they increase their damage reduction, becoming increasingly resistant to physical harm.

The Energy Resistance talent tree enhances the Tough Hero's resilience against specific energy types. By selecting talents like Acid Resistance, Cold Resistance, Electricity Resistance, Fire Resistance, and Sonic/Concussion Resistance, they gain the ability to ignore a certain amount of damage from those energy sources.

The Unbreakable talent tree further emphasizes the Tough Hero's durability. Talents like Remain Conscious allow them to continue functioning when they would normally be unconscious and dying, while Robust grants additional hit points based on their Tough Hero level. Second Wind allows the Tough Hero to spend an action point to recover hit points, and Stamina enhances their recovery rate.

Throughout their progression, the Tough Hero gains bonus feats that reinforce their toughness and resilience. These feats offer options such as improved combat abilities, increased fortitude, and enhanced endurance.

In summary, the Tough Hero class in D20 Modern is a physically resilient character capable of enduring and shrugging off damage. With talents focused on damage reduction, energy resistance, and unbreakable resilience, they excel in surviving dangerous situations and enduring harsh conditions. Their bonus feats further enhance their toughness and fortitude, allowing them to specialize in specific aspects of their enduring capabilities.

Starting Feats

In addition to the two feats all characters get at 1st level, a Tough hero begins play with the Simple Weapons Proficiency feat.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Tough hero.

Talents

At 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level, the Tough hero selects a talent from the following talent trees. Some trees have a set order that must be followed, while others provide a list to choose from. As long as the hero qualifies, he or she can select freely from any and all talent trees. No talent can be selected more than once unless expressly indicated.

Damage Reduction Talent Tree

The Tough hero has an innate talent to ignore a set amount of damage from most weapons, but not from energy or special attack forms (which may or may not exist, depending on the campaign). Before the hero can select a talent from this tree the hero must have previously selected at least one talent from the Energy Resistance or Unbreakable Talent Tree.

Damage Reduction 1/—: The Tough hero ignores 1 point of damage from melee and ranged weapons.

Prerequisite: One other talent from either the Energy Resistance Talent Tree or the Unbreakable Talent Tree.

Damage Reduction 2/—: The Tough hero ignores an additional 1 point of damage from melee and ranged weapons (DR 2/— total).

Prerequisites: Damage reduction 1/—, one other talent from either the Energy Resistance Talent Tree or the Unbreakable Talent Tree.

Damage Reduction 3/—: The Tough hero ignores an additional 1 point of damage from melee and ranged weapons (DR 3/— total).

Prerequisites: Damage reduction 1/—, damage reduction 2/—, one other talent from either the Energy Resistance Talent Tree or the Unbreakable Talent Tree.

Energy Resistance Talent Tree

The Tough hero is particularly resistant to certain kinds of deadly energy effects. These talents can be selected in any order.

Acid Resistance: The Tough hero ignores an amount of acid damage equal to his or her Constitution modifier.

Cold Resistance: The Tough hero ignores an amount of cold damage equal to his or her Constitution modifier.

Electricity Resistance: The Tough hero ignores an amount of electricity damage equal to his or her Constitution modifier.

Fire Resistance: The Tough hero ignores an amount of fire damage equal to his or her Constitution modifier.

Sonic/Concussion Resistance: The Tough hero ignores an amount of sonic or concussion damage equal to his or her Constitution modifier.

Unbreakable Talent Tree

The Tough hero is particularly resilient thanks to the following talents.

Remain Conscious: The Tough hero gains the ability to continue to perform actions when he or she would otherwise be considered unconscious and dying. When the Tough hero’s hit points reach –1, the hero can perform as though he or she were disabled, making either an attack action or a move action every round until the hero reaches –10 hit points (and dies) or the hero’s hit points return to 1 or higher. The hero can choose to succumb to unconsciousness if he or she thinks that doing so might prevent him or her from taking more damage.

Robust: The Tough hero becomes especially robust, gaining a number of hit points equal to his or her Tough level as soon as he or she selects this talent. Thereafter, the hero gains +1 hit point with each level of Tough he or she gains.

Second Wind: The Tough hero can spend 1 action point to gain a second wind. When the hero does this, he or she recovers a number of hit points equal to his or her Constitution modifier. This talent does not increase the Tough hero’s hit points beyond the character’s full normal total.

Stamina: The Tough hero recovers twice as fast as normal. So, the hero recovers 2 hit points per character level per evening of rest, 2 points of temporary ability damage per evening of rest, and awakens in half the normal time after being knocked unconscious.

Prerequisite: Robust.

Bonus Feats

At 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th level, the Tough hero gains a bonus feat. This feat must be selected from the following list, and the Tough hero must meet any prerequisites.

Alertness, Athletic, Brawl, Confident, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Brawl, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Feint, Knockout Punch, Power Attack, Streetfighting, Toughness, Vehicle Expert.