Beastfighter

Beastfighter is a class in ADOM.
Beastfighters are melee-orientated fighters that specialise in Unarmed fighting. As they gain levels, Beastfighters' to-hit and damage ratings rise greatly whilst fighting unarmed. While they share this trait with Monks, the to-hit and damage penalties that Beastfighters receive when fighting with weapons are far more severe; thus, unlike Monks, Beastfighters pretty much need to fight unarmed. Also, while Monks get more increases on the number of faces on the damage die when fighting unarmed, Beastfighters get more generous increases to final damage scores.

The life of a Beastfighter is generally a simple one — sell all weapons and shields found, don't bother with magic, and just punch most enemies encountered. While Beastfighters might have some difficulties in the early game, once they have advanced many levels their performance in melee combat becomes awesome; by level 20-25, they should have little trouble tearing apart even steel golems with their bare hands. While they are generally inept with magic (unless they acquire Concentration as well as Literacy), Beastfighters can take advantage of their typically high Dexterity scores to use missiles to soften up more hazardous foes.

As far as race-class combinations go, Orcs tend to make outstanding Beastfighters as they have the Find weakness skill — critical for Beastfighters, especially since they have trouble fighting with slaying weapons — and superior physical attributes. Dark Elves also make surprisingly good Beastfighters due to their knowledge of the skill. Gnomes and Humans advance levels quickly, so these can also become surprisingly good Beastfighters. As for Trolls, though their stellar starting attributes give them the best prospects in the early game, their very slow leveling means they may not fare as well in the late game.

Basic Information Edit

Base/Typical Stats Edit

The base stats for grown up male Beastfighters are tabulated below; female characters will have approximately -1 Strength and +1 Dex, and young characters have slightly less Strength, Learning and Willpower. These stats were generated using the method described on the Talk:Archer page; except with star sign factored in. Variations of +/- 5 to each stat will usually exist; or even more if the question system is skipped.

Beastfighters tend towards excellent Dexterity, Toughness and Strength scores. These are balanced by small penalties to Willpower, Charisma, Mana and Appearance.

Starting Skills Edit

Crowning Gifts Edit

• Boots of the divine messenger
• Bracers of war
• Cloak of Oman
• Nature's Companion (double chance)
• Preserver

No weapons for Beastfighters, unsurprisingly (unless they are granted a racial crowning gift). Beastfighters do get some very coveted crowning gifts — including the bracers of war, Preserver and Nature's Companion. The boots may also be quite desirable, especially since Beastfighters' level 18 class power gives a suitable alternative to seven league boots anyway.

Special Abilities Edit

Class Abilities Edit

• Unarmed fighting: Beastfighters get significant bonuses to to-hit and damage in unarmed combat each time they level up. Unlike with Monks, becoming burdened or worse does not negate these bonuses.
  • Additionally, Beastfighters get an increased critical hit rate when fighting animals in unarmed combat. This bonus has been estimated to be around 20%^[1].

• Ineptness with weapons: Beastfighters do not get to-hit or damages bonuses from Strength or tactics whilst using weapons or shields.

• Martial arts bonuses: Beastfighters get increases in speed and DV upon raising certain numbers of levels.

• Illiteracy: Like Barbarians, Beastfighters always start out illiterate regardless of starting Learning score. The only exceptions are those who are educated in Literacy as part of their race — i.e. High, Gray and Mist Elves.

• Heir gift: vigilant light furs of protection (typical stats: [+0, +5])

Class Powers Edit

• Level 6: Gains poison resistance
• Level 12: Gains stun resistance
• Level 18: Base movement energy cost is reduced to 700. This stacks with the effects of seven league boots.
• Level 25: Gains the power to summon 2d2 cave bears and silver wolves, for the cost of one Mana point. This also trains Mana, though (similarly to necromancy).
• Level 32: Can swap position with hostile monsters (using the ':s' command)
• Level 40: Landing a critical hit on an opponent has a small chance to stun them. This seems to work on any opponent — including balors and their master.
• Level 50: Gains +6 to both Strength and Toughness

Starting Gear Edit

Among their other starting items, all Beastfighters bring a lot of food to the Drakalor Chain — several pieces of fresh meat, apple(s) and melon(s).

1. ↑ http://adomguides.blogspot.ie/2009/03/guide-to-being-beastfighter-by-molach.html