The Quintessential Barbarian
The Quintessential Barbarian cover
| Author | Robert Schwalb |
| Series | Quintessential Series |
| Publisher | Mongoose Publishing |
| Publish date | 2003 |
| Pages | 128 |
| ISBN | 1-903980-92-5 |
| OGL Section 15 | qbbn |
The material below is open game content
Standards
Standards are the banners soldiers use as a rallying point, to recognise commands by the position of a standard and to inspire heroic acts of bravery by its symbolic significance. Most medieval and renaissance settings also use standards to denote houses and significance in the upper echelons of nobility. Barbarians, however, view them as something more than a simple device of war. They represent a sign of divine favour a symbol made manifest of the gods' will. If a standardbearer falls in combat, the gods may have retracted their blessings. Hence, standards are not just a symbol of might, they sometimes are the core of courage.
Construction of a standard is a simple affair, although many armies employ intricately crafted pieces to reflect wealth and honour. Usually these devices consist of a wooden pole with a cross-section fixed in place, from which drapes a piece of cloth bearing a symbol of some sorts. In primitive cultures, skulls, hides and even crucified humanoids may hang in place of the banner.
Wielding a standard in combat is difficult as it often requires two hands to hold. Most come equipped with a sharp spike at the bottom to provide stability or to plant the standard into the ground. Setting a standard into the ground requires a standard action provoking an attack of opportunity. These devices rarely carry a magical element and instead rely upon the symbolic significance they represent to the people who fight for its cause. Although lacking in magical powers, characters within 30 feet of a non-magical banner receive a +1 morale bonus to all saves against fear effects by dint of the rallying qualities associated with standards of meaningful purpose.
Despite the value of standards to adventures, the true power of a standard is in its use in battle, especially by hordes. If a banner or standard is present in combat, all combatants within 60 feet receive a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls. In addition, all within line of sight of the standard receive a +1 morale bonus to all saving throws against fear effects. Hordes react differently to these symbols than other parties of adventurers, for the horde leader gathers them for an explicit purpose. The standard functions as a reminder of the purpose and lends a sense of gravitas to the struggle at hand.
