Essa Subclass — Fighter

Edge Knight

Striker — Single Target

Precision instrument. One target. One outcome.

Archetype: Single-target precision terminator

The Edge Knight is a precision instrument. Where the Essa Knight throws force like a hammer, you place it like a scalpel. The Precision Gauntlet channels more efficiently, runs cooler, and has no broadcast components. Your T1 Glow vials hit above their tier — that is your edge. Everyone else burns expensive vials to match what you get from the cheap ones.

In the World

Precision Gauntlets are a minority design. Most Gauntlet engineers optimize for output ceiling. Precision engineers optimize for floor. At Level 5, Efficient Burn makes a 25 gp T1 vial output like a T3. Empire Scan reads the Precision Gauntlet as lower tier than it actually performs.

Key Mechanic: Efficient Burn

When you activate a Technique using a T1 Glow vial, treat EP as equal to your Proficiency Bonus for damage and effect calculations. Feedback DC does not increase — still DC 10. You get T3-equivalent output at T1 price and risk.

Essa Interaction

Standard vial + Feedback Save system. Efficient Burn is the defining departure: T1 Glow outputs as if EP = PB at Level 5 (PB = +3). At Level 10, Finishing Protocol extends Efficient Burn to T2 Flare. At Level 18, Apex Calibration extends it to T1, T2, and T3.

Techniques

Character Level33/6 unlocked

Showing 3 of 6 techniques

S1StrikeL3

Pulse Strike

1 vial (any tier)

Weapon attack. Hit: +EP × 1d8 force (T1 with Efficient Burn = PB × 1d8 at Level 5+). Enhancements push, add dice.

S5StrikeL3

Bleed

1 vial (T2 min), Concentration

Weapon attack. Hit: target takes EP × 1d4 force at start of each of their turns for EP rounds. Stack with Root for lockdown.

D1DefenseL3

Barrier

1 vial (Action) or 1 vial + 1 Channel Slot (Reaction)

Force barrier EP × 8 + CON HP. T1 Efficient Burn: PB × 8 + CON HP.

M3MobilityL5🔒 locked

Step

1 vial (T2 min)

Teleport up to EP × 10 ft to an unoccupied space you can see. No opportunity attacks.

SN3SenseL7🔒 locked

Profile

1 vial (T2 min)

Learn target's Rig tier, vials carried, current Burn level, active Techniques, visible Modifications.

C2ControlL15🔒 locked

Root

1 vial (T2 min)

One creature within 60 ft cannot move for EP rounds. CON save negates. Repeat save each turn.

Class Features

Precision Gauntlet RigLevel 3

Gain a Precision Gauntlet Rig (Tier 1). Smaller form factor. Empire Scan reads it as lower tier than it performs.

Rig CurrentLevel 3

Every weapon attack deals +CON modifier bonus force damage. Always on. Free.

Efficient Burn (Rule Break)Level 3

T1 Glow Techniques treat EP as equal to your Proficiency Bonus for damage/effect only. Feedback DC stays DC 10. Burn risk unchanged.

Iron OverchargeLevel 5

Once per turn, one weapon attack deals +1d6 force. No vial.

Rig Tier 2Level 5

Precision Gauntlet advances: 2 Modification Slots, Burn Buffer 1/SR.

Precision DampenerLevel 7

1/short rest: When you fail a Feedback Save while using Pulse Strike or Bleed, treat it as a success. No Burn. No damage.

Finishing ProtocolLevel 10

Attacking a Rooted, Blinded, or Bleeding target: Pulse Strike deals +1 damage die per EP. Efficient Burn now applies to T2 Flare as well.

Rig LockLevel 10

Reaction (Channel Slot only, no vial): Force a creature within 30 ft to make a CON save when they activate a Technique. On failure, Technique fires but produces no effect. 1/short rest.

Piercing CalibrationLevel 15

Pulse Strike and Bleed ignore force damage resistance. Creatures immune to force instead treat your Techniques as if they had resistance.

Signature StrikeLevel 18

1/long rest. One Pulse Strike without a vial — Precision Gauntlet generates the charge internally. Damage: PB × 4d8 force. Auto-applies Bleed for PB rounds. Costs 1 Burn. No Feedback Save.

Apex CalibrationLevel 18

Burn Buffer 4/SR. Efficient Burn applies to T1, T2, and T3 vials. Bleed Feedback Saves cost 0 Burn on failure (force damage still applies).

Level Progression

Level	Features	Channel Slots	Rig Tier	Burn Buffer
3	Precision Gauntlet, Rig Current, Efficient Burn, Pulse Strike, Bleed, Barrier	2	T1	1/SR
5	Iron Overcharge, Step, Leap, Rig Tier 2	3	T2	1/SR
7	Overload, Profile, Precision Dampener	3	T2	1/SR
9	Rig Tier 3	4	T3	2/SR
10	Finishing Protocol, Rig Lock	4	T3	2/SR
13	Rig Tier 4	5	T4	3/SR
15	Piercing Calibration, Root	5	T4	3/SR
17	Rig Tier 5	6	T5	4/SR
18	Signature Strike, Apex Calibration	6	T5	4/SR

fighteressa subclassgauntletstrikersingle targetvials