Fighter
Fighters share an unparalleled mastery with weapons and armor, and a thorough knowledge of the skills of combat. They are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it defiantly in the face.
The quintessential soldier class. Fighters are the choice for characters focused on use of weapons and armour. Unlike other classes which balance magic and martial skill, fighters prioritize weapon techniques and combat skills. Some fighters use magic, but almost exclusively to empower their weapons.
Fighter Martial Archetype
Subclasses for fighters are broken up into “Archetypes”, the kind of soldier your character is. Is your character a leader of others, using strategy and issuing orders, or a lone knight who binds his weapon to his being with magic, orkatana wielding swordsman who was trained in a foreign land in ancient techniques.
Arcane Archer
An Arcane Archer studies a unique elven method of archery that weaves magic into attacks to produce supernatural effects. Arcane Archers are some of their most elite warriors among the elves. They stand watch over the fringes of elven domains, keeping a keen eye out for trespassers and using magic-infused arrows to defeat monsters and invaders before they can reach elven settlements. Over the centuries, the methods of these elf archers have been learned by members of other races who can also balance arcane aptitude with archery.
Using magic-infused bows combined with excellent technical skill.
Banneret
A banneret is a knight who inspires greatness in others by committing brave deeds in battle. The mere presence of one in a hamlet is enough to cause some orcs and bandits to seek easier prey. A lone banneret is a skilled warrior, but a banneret leading a band of allies can transform even the most poorly equipped militia into a ferocious war band.
A banneret prefers to lead through deeds, not words. As a banneret spearheads an attack, their actions can awaken reserves of courage and conviction in allies that they never suspected they had.
These fighters are leaders of men. Experienced in combat and battle-hardened, having earned respect for their achievements they can empower their allies by presence alone.
Battle Master
Those who emulate the archetypal Battle Master employ martial techniques passed down through generations. To a Battle Master, combat is an academic field, sometimes including subjects beyond battle such as weaponsmithing and calligraphy. Not every fighter absorbs the lessons of history, theory, and artistry that are reflected in the Battle Master archetype, but those who do are well-rounded fighters of great skill and knowledge.
Battle masters are the classic fighter. Using advanced weapon techniques.
Echo Knight
A mysterious and feared frontline warrior of the Kryn Dynasty, the Echo Knight has mastered the art of using dunamis to summon the fading shades of unrealized timelines to aid them in battle. Surrounded by echoes of their own might, they charge into the fray as a cycling swarm of shadows and strikes.
I have no idea what half this stuff it mentions means, but don’t let it limit you, the echos these fighters use could be the spirits of fallen ancestors or arcane power used to summon solid shadows!
Eldritch Knight
The archetypal Eldritch Knight combines the martial mastery common to all fighters with a careful study of magic. Eldritch Knights use magical techniques similar to those practiced by wizards. They focus their study on two of the eight schools of magic: abjuration and evocation. Abjuration spells grant an Eldritch Knight additional protection in battle, and evocation spells deal damage to many foes at once, extending the fighter’s reach in combat. These knights learn a comparatively small number of spells, committing them to memory instead of keeping them in a spellbook.
Psi Warrior
Barbarians who follow the Path of the Storm Herald learn instead to transform their rage into a mantle of primal magic that swirls around them. When in a fury, a barbarian of this path taps into nature to create powerful, magical effects.
These guys turn their emotions into storm powers. Wielding lightning or waves of frost.
Rune Knight
Rune Knights enhance their martial prowess using the supernatural power of runes, an ancient practice that originated with giants. Rune cutters can be found among any family of giants, and you likely learned your methods first or second hand from such a mystical artisan. Whether you found the giant’s work carved into a hill or cave, learned of the runes from a sage, or met the giant in person, you studied the giant’s craft and learned how to apply magic runes to empower your equipment.
Rune’s don’t have to specifically associated with giants. For example, Willyum Mcgrumple picture here, uses runes of wind passed down in the mcgrumple clan for generations.
Samurai
The Samurai is a fighter who draws on an implacable fighting spirit to overcome enemies. A samurai’s resolve is nearly unbreakable, and the enemies in a samurai’s path have two choices: yield or die fighting.
The samurai archetype doesn’t mean a japanese warrior, but the mindset and fighting style of one. A great example is “Bloody finder hunter Yura” from Elden Ring, pictured here. The european who learned swordsmanship in a distant lan and uses blades and stances considered alien to other warriors of his organiztion.