The lanzknecht are elite mercenaries with superior versatility in combat and an unmatched style. Originally called Landsknecht, which in some languages means something like “servant of the land”, they’ve become known as lanzknecht due to their long pikes. On the battlefield, a unit of lanzknechte consists of pikemen, zweihänders, halberdiers, riflemen, and crossbowmen working together in a symphonic synergy.
The pikemen are specialized in taking control of the combat with their long-reaching polearms. And if the enemy manages to break through the line of pikemen, they will surely be decimated by the zweihänders and halberdiers just waiting for them. All the while, riflemen and crossbowmen provide support from the flanks, peppering the enemy with their bolts and bullets.
Their versatility makes them ideal both on the battlefield and smaller skirmishes and in peace-time, it’s not unusual to see a lanzknecht traveling the lands, looking for work.
Level 3 Lanzknect
Attributes Increase two by 1
Characteristics Health +5
Professions and Languages You speak another language or add a martial profession to your list of professions.
Knecht’s Got Style! You gain a set of noble’s clothing. While wearing such clothes or similar attire, you make attack rolls in social situations with 1 boon.
Two-handed Fighter You make attacks with two-handed weapons with 1 boon.
Lanzknecht Talent Choose one lanzknecht talent from the list below.
Level 6 Lanzknect
Characteristics Health +5
Break Formation While wielding a two-handed melee weapon, you make attack rolls to disarm, charge, knockdown, or shove with 1 boon.
Lanzknecht Talent Choose one lanzknecht talent from the list below.
Level 9 Master Lanzknect
Characteristics Health +5
Coolheaded You make challenge rolls to resist being frightened with 1 boon.
Master Lanzknecht You make attack rolls with two-handed melee and ranged weapons with 1 boon.
LANZKNECHT TALENTS
Battlefield Superiority While wielding a weapon with a reach of +1 or more, you have a +1 bonus to Defense. Your attacks with such weapons deal 1d6 extra damage.
Doppelsöldner You can use a triggered action on your turn to reload a weapon that has the reload property. Also, you gain an extra triggered action that can only be used for free attacks.
Overwatch While you have a firearm or crossbow loaded and ready and a creature you can see within medium range moves or attacks, you can use a triggered action to make a free attack against the creature.
Pikeman If you are wielding a weapon with reach +1 or more and a creature you can see makes an attack within your reach, you can use a triggered action to make a free attack against the creature.
Take ‘Em Out! While wielding a two-handed weapon, you deal +1d6 extra damage with any attack that is part of a charge or a free attack. You can choose to make the attack roll with 1 bane to deal an additional +1d6 extra damage.
Zweihänder You Ignore the cumbersome trait of heavy weapons you wield. Also, when you wield a two-handed weapon and use a Melee Attack Option (Shadow, page 50), you reduce the number of banes imposed on your roll by 1.