Gladiators are fun. This might be biased but having a big beef stick get a bunch of weird weapon proficiency and be able to perform and have more skill points than a fighter, rad. There's decent progression to Arena Champion Gladiator is good for a Knight style tank who gets people's attention while also being a big ol hit stick .

Role: DPS Tank

Characteristics: A warrior using awe inspiring performance in combat

Source: Dark Sun 3

Game Rule Information

The Gladiator has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Strength, Charisma, and Constitution are what you need to be turbo successful as a gladiator, High dex is recommended as well

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d12

Starting Gold: 5d4 x 10

Class Skills

The Gladiator's class skills are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex)

Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Gladiator.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Gladiator is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor and shields (except tower shields).

Gladiatorial Performance: Once per day per gladiator level, you can use your talents to affect enemies and allies. Each ability requires both a minimum gladiator level and a minimum number of ranks in the Perform skill to qualify.

Starting a gladiatorial performance effect is a standard action unless otherwise stated. Some effects require concentration, which means you must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability.

Combat Stance: A gladiator with 3 or more ranks in Perform can assume a combat stance, showing off to spectators and displaying a warning to opponents. You receive a +2 competence bonus to AC against the first attack made against you within 5 rounds after assuming the stance. At 6th level combat stance can be assumed as a move action, and at 12th level as a swift action.

Martial Display: A gladiator with 3 or more ranks in Perform can entertain the crowd and intimidate enemies with a display of unarmed attacks or weapon prowess. You receive a +2 competence bonus to the first attack roll you make within 5 rounds after ending the martial display. At 6th level martial display can be assumed as a move action, and at 12th level as a swift action.

Team Strike: A gladiator with 3 or more ranks in Perform can distract an enemy so an ally can exploit a vital spot when making a melee attack. Team strike can only be used against an enemy you threaten with a melee weapon. The ally must act on the same initiative as you or before your next turn to gain the benefit of team strike. The ally receives a +1 bonus to hit and inflicts an additional 1d4 points of damage on the next melee attack against the target. If the enemy moves out of your threat range before your ally attacks, the ally does not receive the benefits of team strike. Creatures immune to sneak attack damage and critical hits are immune to team strike. At 7th level and every six levels thereafter these bonuses increase by +1 to attack and +1d4 to damage (+2 attack and +2d4 damage at 7th, +3 attack and +3d4 at 13th, +4 attack and +4d4 at 19th).

Taunt: A gladiator of 3rd or higher level with 6 or more ranks in Perform can demoralize enemies by verbal ridicule. Enemies must be within 30 feet of the gladiator and capable of hearing you, and you must be able to see your enemies. Each enemy affected suffers a –1 morale penalty to attack and damage rolls, and a –1 morale penalty on saving throws versus charm and fear effects. The effect lasts as long as enemies hear your taunts and for 5 rounds thereafter. At 8th level and every six gladiator levels thereafter, the penalties increase by 1 (–2 at 8th, –3 at 14th and –4 at 20th). Taunt is a mind‐affecting ability.

Shake Off: A gladiator of 6th or higher level with 9 or more ranks in Perform can try to end a mind‐affecting effect in play on himself or an ally. You shake your head violently to clear your mind, or slap an ally to bring her back to her senses. The recipient of the shake off can reroll a single failed save or opposed skill check (with the same DC as the failed roll) to end a mind‐affecting effect. If there is no save or check to avoid the mind‐affecting effect, the effect ends automatically,

Trick: A gladiator of 9th or higher level with 12 or more ranks in Perform can temporarily confuse an adversary through the use of ploy and deception. The creature to be tricked must be within 30 feet, able to see and hear you. You must also be able to see the creature. You make an opposed Bluff check (vs. Sense Motive) as a move action. If the creature succeeds on the opposed roll, you cannot attempt to trick that creature again for 24 hours. If its roll fails, the creature becomes dazed (unable to act, but can defend normally) for 1 round. For every three gladiator levels attained beyond 9th, you can target one additional creature with a single use of this ability (two at 12th level, three at 15th, four at 18th).

Chant: A gladiator of 12th or higher level with 15 or more ranks in Perform can start a chant. The chant boosts the gladiator or an ally’s abilities, granting a +2 competence bonus to AC, skill checks and saving throws. To be affected an ally must be within 30 feet of you. For every three levels attained beyond 12th, you can affect one additional creature within 30 feet (two creatures at 15th level, three at 18th). Combat chant is a mind‐affecting ability which lasts as long as you chant and for 5 rounds thereafter.

Threatening Glare: A gladiator of 15th or higher with 18 or more ranks of Perform can panic enemies with his mere gaze. Creatures within a 30 feet radius that can see you must make a Will Save (DC 10 + half your class level + your Charisma bonus). On failing, creatures with less HD than you are affected as if under the effects of a fear spell for 5 rounds. Those with equal to or more than your HD become shaken for 5 rounds. If the creature succeeds on the save you cannot attempt to affect that creature again for 24 hours. Threatening Glare is a mind–affecting gaze affect.

Dragon’s Fury: A gladiator of 18th or higher level with 21 or more ranks in Perform can enter a trance‐ like state in which his full offensive gladiatorial potential is unleashed. You are immune to fear effects, receive a +4 competence bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls, and an additional attack per round made at your highest base attack bonus. In addition, you gain two temporary hit points per class level. Dragon’s fury lasts for 10 rounds.

Mercy: At 1st level, you suffer no penalty to attack rolls when attacking with a weapon to inflict nonlethal damage.

Exotic Weapon Proficiency: At 1st, 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th level, you receive Exotic Weapon Proficiency as a bonus feat.

Improved Unarmed Strike: At 2nd level you recieve Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat.

Arena Guile: Starting at 2nd level, you add one‐half your gladiator level (round down) as a bonus to all Bluff and Sense Motive checks that relate directly to melee combat.

Improved Feint: You are adept at deceiving your opponents. At 3rd level, you gain Improved Feint as a bonus feat.

Uncanny Dodge Ex: At 4th level, you retain your Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if you are caught flat‐ footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, you still lose your Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. If you already have uncanny dodge from a different class, you automatically gain improved uncanny dodge (see below) instead.

Armor Optimization: At 5th level, 10th, 15th, and 20th level, choose one of the following benefits which applies whenever you are wearing any armor you are proficient with:

• +1 bonus to AC.

• –1 armor check penalty.

• +1 maximum Dexterity bonus.

• Armor is treated as one category lighter (e.g. medium armor is treated as light armor).

Each time this feature is gained, you must choose a different benefit

No Mercy: Beginning at 6th level, you can perform a coup de grace as a standard action rather than a full‐ round action.

Improved Uncanny Dodge Ex: At 8th level and higher, you can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack you by flanking you, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than you have gladiator levels. If you already have uncanny dodge (see above) from a second class, the levels from all classes that grant uncanny dodge stack to determine the minimum level a rogue must be to flank you.

Parry Ex: Beginning at 14th level, once per round you can forfeit an attack to attempt to parry an incoming melee attack. The forfeited attack has to be the one with your highest base attack bonus. If wielding two weapons, the parry must be made using your primary weapon. You make an opposed attack roll with a –5 penalty against your attacker roll. If you succeed, the attack is parried and you suffer no damage or ill effects related to the attack, including touch attacks used to deliver spells.

Superior Feint: Beginning at 15th level, you can make a Bluff check to feint in combat as a free action, but only once per round.

Improved Parry: As parry (see above), except you no longer suffer a –5 penalty to your opposed attack roll.

Table 1-1: Gladiator Progression

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+2	+2	+0	Gladiatorial performance, mercy, exotic weapon proficiency
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+0	Arena guile, improved unarmed strike
3rd	+3	+3	+3	+1	Improved feint
4th	+4	+4	+4	+1	Uncanny dodge
5th	+5	+4	+4	+1	Armor optimization, exotic weapon proficiency
6th	+6/+1	+5	+5	+2	No mercy
7th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+2	—
8th	+8/+3	+6	+6	+2	Improved uncanny dodge
9th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+3	Exotic weapon proficiency
10th	+10/+5	+7	+7	+3	Armor optimization
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+7	+3	—
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+8	+4	—
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+8	+4	Exotic weapon proficiency
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+9	+4	Parry
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+9	+5	Armor optimization, superior feint
16th	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+10	+5	—
17th	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+5	Exotic weapon proficiency
18th	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+11	+6	—
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+11	+6	Improved parry
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+12	+6	Armor optimization