HEROIC

STUNTS
by Lizard

Introduction Using Heroic Stunts

The world of D20 gaming is replete with hun- Stunts are, in many ways, similar to Feats.
dreds, perhaps thousands, of amazingly cool- The difference is that they are not something the
sounding feats which most gamers would love to character can do at will, or a limited number of
have their character pull off at just the right times per day. Rather, a character must expend
moment...but when push comes to shove and feat- an Action Point and specify which stunt he is
picking time comes, the exotic and interesting performing.
feats are most often passed over in favor of the Some stunts may only be attempted following
tried-and-true. Why? Because as cool as it might a specific action for example, Pin requires a
be to kick a gun out of someones hand and grab successful hit with a piercing weapon.
it, something like Power Attack, Cleave, or one of In general, a stunt may be attempted only
the many +2 to 2 skills feats will come into play when the character could normally act, or imme-
far more often. The cold calculus of campaign diately following the specified action. A mod-
practicality trumps coolness. icum of logic must also be applied if a charac-
No more! ter would not reasonably be able to perform a
This document introduces a new concept to particular stunt due to being bound or otherwise
D20 Heroic Stunts! By the expenditure of an restrained, or due to having a non-humanoid
Action Point, your character can attempt the kind body shape, or some other reason, the GM is free
of cool moves often seen in action movies or TV to disallow it.
shows, without having had to select a feat to allow Since Ordinaries do not have action points,
him to do it. By default, any Heroic Stunt can be they may not use stunts.
tried if the character meets the prerequisites,
though there are options to restrict this if desired.
Modern: Heroic Stunts is copyright 2005 Lizard. All text in this book is designated as open game content. You may not dis-
tribute this PDF without permission of the author. d20 Modern is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro,
Inc., and is used with permission. Wizards of the Coast is a registered trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro,
Inc., and is used with permission.

Requires the use of the d20 Modern Roleplaying Game, published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
 Modern D20
Limiting Stunts
Heroic Stunts are supposed to be sudden, dra-
matic moves that show of a heros prowess and
skill in a spectacularly cool way. They should not
become routine or repetitive, even if the charac-
ter has Action Points to spare. The following two
rules are suggested for limiting Heroic Stunts:
Stunts may be attempted only once every
1d4 rounds per character. After a stunt is
performed, roll 1d4 to find the number of
rounds until the next one can be per-
formed. (Thus, a lucky character might
pull off several in a row, while an
unlucky one might not get in more than
one a fight.)
The same stunt cannot be used twice in
the same fight by anyone. Once one per-
son has performed Flanking Duck, for
example, neither his allies nor his ene-
mies can imitate it at least not until the
next fight.
A Game Master may also wish to limit how
many stunts any character can attempt, in order
to preserve some niche protection and not let
every PC do everything. To some extent, prereq-
uisites do this Foot Flip, for example, requires
Improved Disarm, which most PCs will not
have. Still, if a more structured set of limits is
desired, the Game Master may allow a character
to attempt any stunt, but, once he has performed
it, this becomes one of his signature stunts. He
may perform that one at any time, pursuant to the
limits above, but may not add another signature
stunt for 2 levels. (Thus, he gains one signature
stunt every other level.) If he wishes to perform
a non-signature stunt, it will cost two Action
Points to do.
Describing Stunts
Players and Game Masters should not dully
note which stunt they are performing and then
tepidly manuever some figures on a map. These
stunts are designed to evoke classic action-
movie tropes from Errol Flynn to Jackie Chan,
and the exact action taken should be fully
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heroic stunts
described. The Game Master may wish to give a
small (no more than +2) bonus to a relevant roll
or check if a stunt is described in a particularly
evocative or original way; likewise, he may
penalize a character who offers nothing beyond
the bare essential of description.
Stunt Descriptions
Stunts are very similar to feats. Each stunt is
described as follows:
Stunt Name
Brief description
Prerequisites: Any requirements which the
character must meet before attempting the stunt.
Examples are Dexterity 16, base attack bonus
+5, Intimidate 6 ranks, and so on.
Description: Describes the stunt and presents
all necessary rules for resolving it.
Notes: Any additional notes, rules, or options
which might apply.
The Stunts!
Acrobatic Rebound
You can bounce back from a fall in a spectac-
ular manner
Prerequisites: Dexterity 17, Tumble 8 ranks
Description: When falling, you may grab
any protrusion a flagpole, a ledge, or a clothes-
line, for example, spin around it, and use your
momentum to carry you upwards! You may trav-
el up against as far down as you fell before grab-
bing and spinning. If there is a safe spot at the
top of your upward arc, or anywhere en route,
you may land on it by making a DC 20 Tumble
check.
Adrenaline Surge
You can demonstrate tremendous non-combat
strength.
Prerequisites: None
Description: In times of crisis, humans are
known to be able to tap into inner reserves of
strength. Whether or not this is related to high
 Modern D20
levels of gamma-ray activity remains indetermi-
nate. In any event, when the chips are down, this
stun allows you to become far stronger for a very
brief time. You gain a +10 bonus to strength for
purposes of lifting something, holding some-
thing, escaping from something or breaking
something, but not for purposes of combat or
damage this bonus in no way adds to attack,
grapple, or damage rolls. The bonus lasts for
1+your normal (not including the bonus from
this stunt, but including all other relevant bonus-
es) Strength modifier rounds, long enough to
snap ropes, toss a minivan off a pregnant woman
pinned beneath it, or hold back an angry troll
long enough for the hapless orphans in its path to
skedaddle. After this ability is used, you will
become fatigued for 1d6 rounds.
Special: Constructs, oozes, undead and other
such beings may not perform this stunt. Only
corporeal, mortal, beings may do so.
Arrow Stab
Youve all seen the movie.
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus with bow, base
attack bonus +5
Description: This stunt can only be per-
formed by someone who has a bow ready for
combat use (and a supply of arrows). He may
make a melee attack using the arrow in hand, at
his full attack bonus, against any enemy he
threatens. This does not provoke an attack of
opportunity, although firing the bow will (if the
enemy survives the initial stab). An arrow wield-
ed as a melee weapon does its normal damage
plus any Strength bonus to damage. This stunt
offers no chance of breaking the arrow, realism
be damned.
Badass Brandish
You show off your weapon skill in a way
which terrifies your foes.
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus and Weapon
Specialization in chosen weapon, base attack
bonus +8
Description: You may perform some amaz-
ing stunt with a specific weapon, either during
combat (in which case it requires a standard
action) or outside of combat (in which case it
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heroic stunts
takes 5 to 10 seconds). Such stunts include slic-
ing a candle in half with a katana, spinning an
assault rifle rapidly and then blowing away a
small object seemingly without aiming, shooting
a hole in a playing card as it drifts to the ground,
or whirling a massive greatsword as if it were a
rapier. You should describe the stunt as flamboy-
antly as possible. No matter the exact nature of
your actions, the message conveyed is clear
You are one baaaad [censored] who theyd better
not mess with. All who witness this and fail a
Will save of DC 15+your Charisma bonus may
make only a move or an attack action on their
next turn, and you gain a +4 circumstance bonus
on your next Intimidate check against all who
saw this maneuver, whether or not they made
their Will save.
Barrel Shot
You can damage an enemys gun with an
amazing shot.
Prerequisites: Dexterity 16, Point Blank
Shot, Dead Aim, Far Shot, base attack bonus +15
Description: This type of trick shooting must
be seen to be believed. Anyone witnessing it will
either be very impressed or will consider it an
uncanny fluke. You can take a full attack action
to fire a bullet into the barrel of an enemys gun,
damaging it greatly all future attacks made
with that weapon suffer a -4 equipment modifier
until the gun can be repaired.
Blinding Strike
You may temporarily blind a foe.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +10
Description: By dint of a quick pair of fin-
gers to the eyes, a fistful of sand or the sudden
wrapping of a towel around your foes head, you
may blind him for 1d4 rounds unless he makes a
Reflex save with a DC of 15+your dexterity
bonus. The exact manuever should be described
in detail, and the Game Master may give bonus-
es for a particularly imaginative and plausible
blinding action.
Chassis Ride
You can cling to the bottom of a moving vehi-
cle!
 Modern D20
Prerequisites: Strength 15, Dexterity 15,
Tumble 4 Ranks
Description: When you are about to struck
by a car, truck, train, or other vehicle which has
some clearance beneath it, you may spend an
Action Point to duck under the car instead and
grab on to the chassis. This grants you full cover
against all attacks save those coming from street
level. You can move along the chassis at 5
round, though you must make a DC 15 Strength
check to do so. This can enable you to, for exam-
ple, crawl under a fast moving truck, and then
clamber around to the back door (where you
would then most likely break in).
You can remain clinging for a number of
rounds equal to your strength bonus.
Cliffhanger
You can partially negate a failed jump or bal-
ance check.
Prerequisites: Balance 6 ranks, Jump 6
ranks, Tumble 6 ranks
Description: If you fail any jump, balance, or
tumble check which would result in you taking
falling damage (for example, failing to leap a
chasm or walk along a narrow girder on a con-
struction site), you may use this heroic stunt to
grab something a ledge, an outcropping of
rock, the edge of a beam, a root and hang on.
From this point, youre on your own. Pulling
yourself back up is a Strength check (DC 15),
though someone else can help you. Each round
you hang there, you must make a Strength check
(DC 10) to hang on, though the GM may modify
this based on the circumstances a higher DC if
youre being buffeted by strong winds, for exam-
ple, or a lower DC if youve got an especially
stable place to hang onto.
Disastrous Miss
You can cause an enemy to strike an ally with
a ranged weapon.
Prerequisites: Dexterity 17, Combat
Reflexes, Dodge, Tumble 8 ranks or Jump 8
ranks
Description: There are few things as satisfy-
ing as having your enemies do your job for you.
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heroic stunts
If you are between one enemy and another, you
may cause an attacking enemy to strike his ally
if he misses you. You step suddenly to the side
and expose your foe to the shot. This stun may be
performed only if the attack has missed you and
if the new target is directly in the line of fire. The
attacker uses the same attack roll as he used
against you, so this ability is only helpful if the
potential target has a lower defense value than
you do.
Fear Is For Lesser Men
You can summon hidden reserves of courage.
Prerequisites: Iron Will
Description: While other men give in to their
fears and flee from danger, you can regain your
resolve after only a brief moment of quaking in
your boots. One round after you have become
frightened, panicked, shaken or afraid, you may
use this stunt to negate the effect entirely, return-
ing to the fray with full vigor!
First Strike
You seize the moment in combat to surprise
your enemies with a sudden attack!
Prerequisites: Dexterity 15
Description: Use this heroic stunt at the
beginning of a combat round. For the duration of
that round, you are first in the initiative order.
This can be vital if, for example, you need to cast
a spell ahead of an enemy mage or strike at a
weakened, but still deadly, foe before he can hit
a victim.
If two or more people wish to use this stunt in
the same round, the character with the highest
Dexterity wins; if there is a tie, determine the
winner randomly. All others move at their nor-
mal initiative and do not spend an action point.
Flanking Duck
You can cause opponents to hit each other
instead of you.
Prerequisites: Combat Reflexes, Dodge,
Tumble 6 ranks or Jump 6 ranks
Description: Whenever you are flanked, you
may forego your normal action to duck in such a
way as to force your opponents to strike each
 Modern D20
other instead of you. After an opponent has
scored a successful attack on you, but before
damage is dealt, you may use this stun to duck
down or sideways or leap suddenly straight up,
so that your opponents blade or fist or club
strikes the person directly opposite him. Damage
is rolled normally, but sneak attack damage is
ignored.
The stunt can only be attempted if your cur-
rent (adjusted for armor) Dexterity bonus is +1
or greater.
Foot Flip
You can flick a weapon from the floor into
your hand.
Prerequisites: Dexterity 15, Quick Draw
Description: If theres a weapon near you on
the floor, it will soon be in your hand! As a move
action, you can target any dropped weapon with-
in your reach. By dexterous foot action, the
weapon will be flipped up into your waiting grip,
ready to fire or swing at a foe.
Force Back
You attack so ferociously that your foe must
retreat.
Prerequisites: Strength 15, Dexterity 15,
Mobility, Weapon Focus with weapon being
used
Description: When you attack an opponent,
your rapid blows and sudden lunges leave him
little choice but to back away or be slaughtered.
When this stunt is used, its effects last for 1+Dex
bonus rounds, beginning in the round it is acti-
vated. During that time, your opponent must
choose, each round, whether to accept a -4 cir-
cumstance penalty to Defense or to take a 5 step
away from you, if possible. If it is not possible to
move back, the foe may attempt to move to the
side. If the foe is forced to the brink of a
precipice, the edge of a field of molten lava, or
the perimeter of an electric fence, they must
make a Reflex save (DC 15+your dexterity mod-
ifier) to choose the -4 to Defense; otherwise,
over the brink they go! (This might be a good
time for them to use the Cliffhanger stunt.)
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heroic stunts
This ability may be used only in one-on-one
melee combat, where you threaten only one foe
and he only threatens you. It may not be used
against foes more than one size category larger
than yourself.
Gruesome Slaughter
You dispatch foes in a horrific manner,
demoralizing your enemies.
Prerequisites: Intimidate 5 ranks, base attack
bonus +5
Description: If you use this stunt on the same
round in which you kill a foe with a melee
weapon, you have killed him in an exceptionally
gory and grisly fashion, splattering internal
organs, blood, and shards of bone across the
room. Such a painful demise has the effect of
shocking witnesses all who see it and who are
on the same side as the mutilated foe must make
a Will save at a DC equal to 10+your ranks in
Intimidate. Those who fail the save suffer a -2
circumstance modifier to attack rolls and
defense. Anyone who makes the save by 5 or
more is enraged by your casual cruelty and gains
a +1 circumstance bonus to attack and defense.
Im Not Left Handed
You can vary your fighting style to confound
your foes.
Prerequisites: Improved Feint, Weapon
Focus with current weapon, base attack bonus +5
Description: Part of being a skilled warrior is
knowing how to read your opponent to antici-
pate his feints, thrusts, and parries. Knowledge
of the fighting styles of the world is essential if
you recognize someone as using the techniques
of a particular school of fencing or kendo, you
can adjust your own moves to compensate. This
stunt allows you to perform a sudden, stunning,
shift of style, catching your opponent totally
unawares. It may only be performed after three
or more rounds of combat with the same oppo-
nent, and requires a successful feint check. If the
check is successful and this stunt is performed,
your opponent is immediately put off guard. He
must fight defensively for the next 1d4+1
rounds, and you gain a +2 on any checks to dis-
arm or trip him for the same period.
 Modern D20
Special: An opponent who meets the qualifica-
tions and has an action point to spend may perform
this stunt himself, in response this is an exception
to the normal rules regarding use of the same stunt
in the same fight. If this response is successful, the
effects of both are cancelled, and combat proceeds
normally.
Improvised Cover
You can garb some handy object to deflect bul-
lets, arrows, knives and so on.
Prerequisites: Dexterity 15, Spot 5 Ranks,
base attack bonus +1
Description: When in a fight where there are
many loose objects around (for example, in a
restaurant, factory floor, convention dealers room
or seedy pub), you may use this stunt to grab some
item (a plate, a serving tray, a fire extinguisher)
and deflect an incoming ranged attack. This must
be done after the attack roll but before the damage
roll. The grabbed item is invariably damaged or
destroyed by the attack, or knocked out of your
hand, but you are spared all damage. You may
block any number of attacks in a round, but each
use costs you an action point.
Using this stunt requires limits you to only tak-
ing a single action on your next turn.
This stunt may not be used more than two
round in succession unless the character moves at
least 10. (There are only so many convenient
objects in arms reach!)
This stunt may not be taken as a Feat.
Just Scratched Me
A seemingly painful hit is reduced in severity.
Prerequisites: Toughness
Description: You are tough enough that an
otherwise deadly blow turns out to be somewhat
less lethal than it first appeared. After a critical hit
is scored, the character may use this stunt to turn
the critical back into a normal hit. This must be
done before the damage is rolled.
Mostly Dead
You can take an action when you have been left
for dead by your foes.
Prerequisites: Constitution 15, Toughness
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heroic stunts
Description: Beloved of both action heroes
and hockey-masked slashers, this Heroic Stunt
allows you to suddenly surge back to life after
being reduced to negative hit points (but not more
than -10!). You arise with 1 hit point. This is done
on your normal initiative, and is a free action fur-
thermore, so is standing up again. You may then
act normally. If your foes had determined you
were dead or dying, they are considered flat-foot-
ed with regard to you only that is, they lose their
Dexterity bonus to Defense when you attack them,
but not anyone else, and so on.
If combat ends and you are still alive, you drop
down to -9 hit points and stabilize.
Pin
You can impale someones arm to the wall with
a swift stroke!
Prerequisites: Strength 15, Weapon Finesse,
base attack bonus +1
Description: This stunt can only be used fol-
lowing a successful attack with a piercing weapon.
The weapon must do at least 1 point of damage to
the target, and the weapon must be no smaller than
Tiny relative to the target. (That is, if a halfling
using a halfling-size dagger may not attempt to pin
a storm giant!) . Further, the target must be within
5 feet of some surface with a hardness of less than
4 +the attacking characters Strength modifier (so
a character with a Strength of 17 can attempt to pin
someone to a material of Hardness 7 or less).
If this stunt is used, the weapon has impaled a
limb or extremity, such as a hand, arm, or tentacle.
This is extremely painful and immediately does
1d2 points of Dexterity damage. The attacker may
choose to let go (leaving the weapon stuck in the
limb) or retain their grip on the weapon. If the lat-
ter, they may not attack again with the hand hold-
ing the weapon and suffer a -2 circumstance mod-
ifier to Defense against all attacks except those
made by the pinned target.
A target who is pinned loses use of the pinned
limb and cannot move more than slightly. He may
not cast spells with a somatic component and is
considered to be grappled by the attacker. He may
attempt to grapple with the person pinning them in
order to shove them away, or he may simply tear
free from the pinning weapon. The latter requires
 Modern D20 heroic stunts

two checks a Will save (DC 15) to muster the Retaliatory Disarm
courage needed, and a Strength check (DC 10+1
You can snatch a weapon from a foe and turn it
per point of damage inflicted by the attack). If both
on him instantly.
are successful, the character has torn free, suffer-
Prerequisites: Dexterity 15, Improved
ing 1d4 points of temporary Dexterity damage and
Disarm, base attack bonus +5
1d6 points of slashing damage.
Benefit: Not only can you dexterously smash a
If the attacking character release his grip on the
weapon from an opponents grasp, you can pluck
weapon, the pinned character can use a free limb
it from the air and turn it back on him! If you dis-
(if he has one) to remove the weapon. This
arm a foe and grab his weapon (using the normal
requires a Strength check at a DC of 10+the hard-
disarm rules), you may immediately attack him
ness of the material into which the weapon has
with it at your normal attack bonus. You must drop
been plunged. If the check is successful, the char-
whatever weapon (if any) that you are currently
acter takes 1d2 points of additional slashing dam-
holding in order to do this, of course.
age.

Rear Strike Unwilling Shield

You may grab a nearby foe and use him as a
You can suddenly strike at an opponent behind
shield!
you.
Prerequisites: Strength 15, Improved Grapple
Prerequisites: Dexterity 13, Dodge, base
attack bonus +6 Benefit: When you are targeted with a ranged
attack, you may immediately make a grapple
Benefit: When you are flanked, you may spec-
attempt against any for (or, in theory, ally) within
ify one of the people flanking you to be behind
5 feet. If this succeeds, you grab the foe and spin
you. When making a full attack action, you may
him in front of you, so that he takes the damage.
then use one of your attacks to suddenly flip your
The unwilling shield is denied any Dexterity or
shotgun over your shoulder or whirl your katana
dodge bonuses to Defense, but retains other
behind you or otherwise attack your target without
bonuses. Damage, including criticals but exclud-
turning around. This attack is so surprising that
ing sneak attack damage, is dealt normally.
the opponent loses any dodge or dexterity bonuses
to Defense. This maneuver is especially fun when used
against automatic weapon fire. It is often good to
This ability can also be used against someone
have some quip prepared for when you toss away
sneaking up on you. If you make a Listen check,
the lifeless body of your former foe.
catch his reflection in a mirror via a Spot check, or
otherwise are aware of him without him being Worthy Foe
aware of you, you may use this stunt and gain an
You ignore lesser opponents in your path.
additional +2 circumstance bonus to hit.
Prerequisites: Dodge, Mobility
Ranged Disarm Benefit: In any fight, you may designate one
You can shoot a gun from someones hand. opponent to be a worthy foe, and approach him
Prerequisites: Precise Shot, Weapon Focus to do battle without regard to the feeble minions
with firearm, base attack bonus +5 with which he surrounds himself. His CR must be
at least equal to your level and must also be the
Benefit: As an attack action, you can disarm a
highest, or tied for highest, of all opponents in the
target within 30 by shooting the weapon they are
current fight. Once this foe is so designated, you
holding. The target must make a Fortitude save
may move towards him at full speed without suf-
(DC 15+1/point of damage done) in order to keep
fering attacks of opportunity from those in your
a hold on the weapon. No damage is done directly
path. You may not attack or take any other actions
to the target. This is a very impressive bit of fancy
until the opponent is within your threatened
gunplay and adds a +2 circumstance bonus to
squares.
Intimidate checks for the next round.

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