Essa Subclass — Fighter

Oathbound

Support / Defender

The Oath is not a promise. It is a contract with the Essa itself.

Archetype: Oath-bound defender and healer

The Oathbound made a commitment at the moment of Rig activation — a specific, stated, and binding principle. The Essa heard it. The Rig is calibrated to it. Every time you act in alignment with your Oath, the Rig generates Resonance — free fuel for Mend and Defense Techniques. But the Oath is real. Break it and the Rig inverts. Everything that healed now damages.

In the World

The Covenant Rig is a Full Rig — complete Essa-integrated armor. The resonance housing visibly pulses when Resonance is generated. Allies can see it. Enemies can see it. The Empire can see it. Licensed Covenant Rigs require Oath disclosure in writing at registration. Many Oathbound do not register. The licensing fee for disclosing a binding moral principle to an imperial bureaucracy is considered by most practitioners to be offensive.

Key Mechanic: Resonance Pool

Resonance generates by honoring the Oath: +2 when you prevent an ally from reaching 0 HP, +1 for healing at 25% HP, +1 for stabilizing dying allies, +2 for meaningful Oath sacrifices. Resonance persists between encounters. Spend 2 Resonance = free Mend or Defense Technique (base effect, no Feedback Save).

Essa Interaction

Standard vial + Feedback Save for vial-paid Techniques. Resonance-paid Techniques have no Feedback Save. Forge Rig Burn Buffer: 2/SR at Tier 1–2 (Full Rig housing). Oath Inversion at Level 10: breaking the Oath converts Resonance to Dissonance and inverts all Mend/Defense Techniques.

Techniques

Character Level34/6 unlocked

Showing 4 of 6 techniques

MD1MendL3

Restore

1 vial or 2 Resonance

Restore EP × 1d8 HP to yourself or one creature you touch. No Feedback Save when paid with Resonance.

MD2MendL3

Stabilize

1 vial or 2 Resonance, Bonus Action

One creature at 0 HP within 30 ft: stabilized for EP hours. Enhancement: restore EP × 1d4 HP (regains consciousness).

D1DefenseL3

Barrier

1 vial or 2 Resonance (Action/Reaction)

Force shielding EP × 8 + CON HP. Resonance version: no Feedback Save.

D2DefenseL3

Absorb

1 vial or 2 Resonance + 1 Channel Slot (Reaction)

Reduce incoming damage by EP × 1d10. Excess becomes temp HP. No Feedback Save with Resonance.

D4DefenseL5🔒 locked

Ward

1 vial or 2 Resonance, Bonus Action

Barrier on a distant ally within 30 ft. HP = EP × 6 + CON. Enhancement extends to additional targets.

MD3MendL5🔒 locked

Purge

1 vial or 2 Resonance

Remove EP conditions from one creature you touch. Poisoned, Blinded, Frightened, Paralyzed, Stunned — each costs 1 EP.

Class Features

Covenant RigLevel 3

Full Essa-integrated armor suit. Resonance housing pulses visibly when Resonance is generated. Burn Buffer: 2/SR. Permanently calibrated to your Oath.

Oath Binding (Rule Break)Level 3

Declare a specific, observable Oath at Level 3. Honoring it generates Resonance. Resonance persists between encounters. 2 Resonance = free base Mend or Defense Technique, no Feedback Save.

Resonance PoolLevel 3

Max 6 at L3–9; 8 at L10–16; 10 at L17+. Resonance sources: +2 prevent ally reaching 0 HP, +1 heal ally at ≤25% HP, +1 stabilize dying ally, +1 take damage for ally, +2 meaningful Oath sacrifice (GM call). Persists between encounters.

WardLevel 5

Bonus Action. One ally within 30 ft: Barrier HP = EP × 6 + CON. Can pay with Resonance (2 Resonance, no Feedback Save).

PurgeLevel 5

Remove EP conditions from one creature you touch. Eligible: Poisoned, Blinded, Deafened, Frightened, Paralyzed, Stunned. Each condition costs 1 EP.

Oath FortitudeLevel 7

Advantage on saves against effects that force you to break your Oath (Charm, Fear, Compel, Dominate). Restore on ally at 0 HP: +1 Resonance on top of normal generation.

Restore MasteryLevel 10

Restore heals +PB additional HP per activation. Resonance-paid Restore also heals one additional target at half amount, no extra cost.

Oath InversionLevel 10

If you deliberately break your Oath: Resonance converts to Dissonance. All Mend Techniques deal damage. All Defense Techniques harm allies. Resolves on Long Rest + penance.

Clear BurnLevel 13

Remove 1 Burn level from yourself or one creature you touch. T2 clears Burn 1, T3 clears Burn 2. Or spend 3 Resonance. No Feedback Save.

Oath ResilienceLevel 15

Burn Buffer +1/SR (stacks with Rig Tier). While at Resonance 3+: cannot be reduced below 1 HP (1/LR). Resonance reduces by 2 when triggered.

Absolute OathLevel 18

Resonance max increases to 12. Barrier and Absorb as Reactions now cost 1 Resonance (not 2). Preventing ally from reaching 0 HP generates +4 Resonance (doubled). Oath Inversion max duration: 1 hour.

Apex CalibrationLevel 18

Burn Buffer 6/SR. Resonance has no maximum — at Resonance 10+, all allies within 30 ft have resistance to force damage.

Level Progression

Level	Features	Channel Slots	Rig Tier	Resonance Max
3	Covenant Rig, Oath Binding, Resonance Pool, Barrier, Absorb, Restore, Stabilize	2	T1	6
5	Ward, Reinforce, Purge, Leap, Rig Tier 2	3	T2	6
7	Sense Intent, Root, Oath Fortitude	3	T2	6
9	Rig Tier 3	4	T3	6
10	Restore Mastery, Oath Inversion	4	T3	8
13	Rig Tier 4, Clear Burn	5	T4	8
15	Pulse Strike (Inversion), Oath Resilience	5	T4	8
17	Rig Tier 5	6	T5	10
18	Absolute Oath, Apex Calibration	6	T5	12+

fighteressa subclassfull rigsupporthealervialsresonance