OSR Class: Beetlefolk Defender (WIP)

Beetlefolk Defender*

Native to the Flowering Expanse, Beetlefolk tend to confine themselves to the territory of the Proletariat, rarely leaving its borders. Defenders can be found guarding larvae at the gigacacti root systems, patrolling the borders, or occasionally out on scouting missions. In the rarest of occurrences, a Beetle may leave and venture out into the world.

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Prime Attribute: Strength [13+]

HD: 1d8

AC (base): as Ringmail [13]

Armor/Shield Permitted: Any

Weapons Permitted: Any

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About The Class

Alignment: The vast majority of Beetlefolk are Lawful Good due to their eusocial nature as a species/race. However, occasionally some leave their clans for unknown reasons and venture out into the wider world seeking fortune, fame, or the like. These Beetles may be of any alignment. 

Magic Items: May use any magical items that fit their bodies. Use common sense. 

Charity: Beetles that retain contact with the Proletariat must send half of all earned treasure back to their clan as part of the public good. This restriction is never lifted. 

Armor: Due to their unique bodily proportions, Beetlefolk wishing to purchase armor from human or demi-human smiths will have to pay double or otherwise negotiate a fee. 

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Class Abilities

Natural Armor: A hard exoskeleton and fused wings lend Beetlefolk a natural armor that is 2 points better as starting AC than any other race.

Circularly Polarized Vision: Due to their unique ocular structure, Beetlefolk are highly resistant to illusions and blinding effects, granting them a 4 in 6 chance of either ignoring blinding magic or seeing through an illusion of any kind.

Insectoid Psyche: All Beetlefolk, and hence any Defender, have near-immunity to any attempts by another race to charm, mind control, or otherwise tamper with their minds. A Defender has a 5 in 6 chance of ignoring this completely at level 1, increasing by 5% per level. By 4th Level, a Defender is completely immune. 

Natural Shielding: On any turn, a Defender can take their action to turn their back to an opponent, granting  +1 AC vs. Missile Attacks. When in this position, a Beetlefolk Defender can not take a reaction. 

Beetle Horns (2nd): At 2nd Level, a Defender learns to use its horns more effectively in combat. On a successful horn attack, roll 1d6 damage. At base, 2 in 6 chance of goring an enemy, allowing a Defender to grapple and move with the opponent in any direction at 3/4 speed. This chance increases by 5% per level, capped at 90%. 

Many Arms, Many Weapons (5th): At 5th Level, a Defender becomes capable of holding two weapons of different types on one side of its body (i.e. a short bow and a sword), plus a shield on the other, negating the need to take a turn to switch weapons. 

Establish Brood-Clan (9th): At 9th Level, a Defender may return to the Proletariat and convene the political council and request to begin its own clan within a new Gigacactus. The new brood will start small with 1d12 new larvae and 1d6 Defenders. Each level after 9th, roll 1d20 to see how many new clan members have been born. Of this new number, 1 in 4 will be a Defender, rounded up. 

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Class Advancement Table

Level	Experience Points Required for Level	Hit Dice (d8)*	Saving Throw
1	0	1	13
2	2,000	2	12
3	4,000	3	11
4	8,000	4	10
5	16,000	5	9
6	32,000	6	8
7	64,000	7	7
8	128,000	8	6
9	256,000	9	5
10	350,000	9+2 hp	4
11	450,000	9+4 hp	3
12	550,000	9+6 hp	3
13	650,000	9+8 hp	3
14	750,000	9+10 hp	3
15	850,000	9+12 hp	2
16	950,000	9+14 hp	2
17	1,050,000	9+16 hp	2
18	1,150,000	9+18 hp	2
19	1,250,000	9+20 hp	2
20	1,350,000	9+22 hp	2
21+	+100,000 per level	+2 hp/level	2

*Advancement table uses the S&W Complete Paladin table