Rogues ‘n Raiders – Bandits and Reavers
Overview:
Bandits and Reavers have been given a number of upgrades that make them tougher and more complex to deal with:
- Bandits now have perks that boost their attack and defense according to their levels in the weapon and armor skills. These perks are the NPC equivalents of the player’s Armsman, Barbarian, Overdraw, Agile Defender, Juggernaut and Shield Wall perks.
- Bandits can use special attacks that inflict injuries or other debilitating effects on opponents. Different bandit classes have access to different special attacks.
- Bandits use new combat styles, so they will make the most out of the equipment they have.
Bandit Classes:
The original bandit types have been modified, and new classes have been added for increased variety. Bandits are grouped into three tiers, according to how skilled they are. Bandits of all tiers can be encountered at any level, though they tend to be tougher to deal with at higher levels.
Tier 1 Bandit Classes
Warriors are fairly skilled fighters, but have no special abilities. They are usually equipped with melee weapons and light armor.
- Perk Bonuses: One-Handed Weapon Damage / Two-Handed Weapon Damage / Light Armor Protection
Defenders are more cautious than other bandits, preferring to hide behind their shields until an opportunity to attack presents itself.
- Perk Bonuses: One-Handed Weapon Damage / Shield Protection / Light Armor Protection
Archers prefer to engage enemies from afar with ranged weapons, but they can hold their own in a melee fight.
- Perk Bonuses: Ranged Weapon Damage / One-Handed Weapon Damage
- Skills: Armor Piercing Arrows
- Traits: Lightly Armored
- Penalties: Poor Protection
Mages are not as tough or proficient with weapons as their companions, but they can still present a challenge as they have a good understanding of magic and its applications in a fight.
- Perk Bonuses: Magicka Regeneration / Spell Cost Reduction
- Penalties: Hedge Mage
Tier 2 Bandit Classes
Berserkers can work themselves up into a fighting frenzy, which makes them extremely dangerous. A raging berserker can dish out a huge amount of damage, but becomes much easier to take down once the battle fury wears off.
- Perk Bonuses: One-Handed Weapon Damage / Two-Handed Weapon Damage
- Skills: Berserker Rage
- Traits: Lightly Armored
- Penalties: Exhaustion / Poor Protection
Brutes are slower than the average bandit, but they are also stronger. These warriors wear heavy armor and fight with two-handed weapons. Their power attacks can hurt even the most well protected opponents.
- Perk Bonuses: Two-Handed Weapon Damage / Heavy Armor Protection
- Skills: Crushing Blows
- Traits: Heavily Armored
- Penalties: Burdened
Tanks are the hardiest of bandits. They wear full sets of heavy armor, and carry shields for extra protection. Breaking through these warriors' defenses may prove difficult for the unprepared adventurer.
- Perk Bonuses: One-Handed Weapon Damage / Shield Protection / Heavy Armor Protection
- Traits: Heavily Armored
- Penalties: Burdened
Rogues are proficient in the use of both ranged and melee weapons. These bandits can be very dangerous, especially since they tend to target weakened and injured enemies.
- Perk Bonuses: Ranged Weapon Damage / One-Handed Weapon Damage
- Traits: Lightly Armored / Opportunistic
- Penalties: Poor Protection
Tier 3 Bandit Classes
Bloodletters are fierce swordfighters who enjoy killing their opponents slowly, wounding them fatally then leaving them to bleed to death.
- Perk Bonuses: One-Handed Weapon Damage / Two-Handed Weapon Damage
- Skills: Precise Blows
- Traits: Sadistic
- Penalties: Bully
Brawlers are vicious thugs who rely on their own strength and agility rather than on weapons. They fight unarmed, weakening their foes with a flurry of blows before moving in for the kill.
- Perk Bonuses: Unarmed Damage
- Skills: Pugilist
- Traits: Lightly Armored
- Penalties: Poor Protection
Bruisers are savage warriors who charge into battle with little regard for their own safety. They are usually equipped with warhammers and light armor.
- Perk Bonuses: One-Handed Weapon Damage / Two-Handed Weapon Damage
- Skills: Crushing Blows
- Traits: Bonebreaker
- Penalties: Reckless
Enforcers are often tasked by the gang leaders to keep the other bandits in line. These highly skilled warriors adapt their fighting style according to their opponent's equipment.
- Perk Bonuses: Shield Protection
- Skills: Precise Blows / Strategic Blows
- Traits: Lightly Armored / Adaptive
- Penalties: Restrained Blows / Poor Protection
Manhunters are expert marksmen who can take their opponents out swiftly with a few well-placed arrows. They are particularly efficient against unarmored enemies.
- Perk Bonuses: Ranged Weapon Damage / One-Handed Weapon Damage
- Skills: Armor Piercing Arrows / Manhunter
- Traits: Lightly Armored
- Penalties: Poor Protection
Ravagers are brutal, heavily armored warriors that can break down an opponent's defenses with savage blows from their axes.
- Perk Bonuses: One-Handed Weapon Damage / Heavy Armor Protection
- Skills: Crippling Blows
- Traits: Brawny / Hotheaded
- Penalties: Slow / Rash
Shadowblades are seasoned killers, skilled with bows and deadly in close combat. They can fade to near invisibility for short periods of time, making it harder for their opponents to hit them.
- Perk Bonuses: Ranged Weapon Damage / One-Handed Weapon Damage
- Skills: Blink
- Traits: Lightly Armored / Opportunistic
- Penalties: Poor Protection
Wildlings are poorly trained but fierce warriors. They can stun enemies with blows to the head, then follow up with stronger attacks.
- Perk Bonuses: One-Handed Weapon Damage / Light Armor Protection
- Skills: Poisoned Arrows
- Traits: Fierce
- Penalties: Untrained
Bandit Leaders
The Leaders of the bandit gangs are the toughest of them all. They have higher stats, better skills and better equipment. Bandit leaders can belong to any one of these classes – Berserker, Bloodletter, Bruiser, Brute, Enforcer, Ravager, Tank.
Reavers:
The Solstheim Reavers have received the same upgrades as the Skyrim bandits, with some differences to account for the fact that they are all Dark Elves:
- Reavers use traditional Dunmer armor (Bonemold and Chitin) instead of Nordic equipment like Steel Plate and Nordic Carved Armor.
- Certain classes are not present among the ranks of the Reavers (for example, Berserkers). Reavers can be Archers, Bloodletters, Enforcers, Mages, Manhunters, Rogues, Shadowblades or Warriors.
- Reaver bosses belong to one of these classes – Battlemage, Bloodletter, Brute, Enforcer, Tank.
Special Skills, Traits and Abilities:
Most bandits have special traits or abilities that improve or support their combat skills. These are usually restricted to specific classes. Some traits and abilities carry an inherent penalty.
Note: Some of these skills have different effects, depending on whether the Penalty System is enabled or not. Effects that are applied when the Penalty System is enabled are marked with PSE. Effects that are applied when the Penalty System is disabled are labeled PSD. If not specified, the effect is used both with and without the Penalty System.
Adaptive
- PSE - Enforcers switch tactics to adapt to their enemy's fighting style. They can inflict a variety of injuries to counter their opponent's choice of armor and weapons.
- PSD - Enforcer attacks have a chance to damage an unarmored opponent's Magicka, and an armored opponent's Stamina.
Armor Piercing Arrows
- Arrows fired by Archers and Manhunters have a chance to ignore part of their target’s Armor Rating.
Berserker Rage / Exhaustion
- A raging Berserker benefits from increased stamina regeneration, faster attacks, and a higher resistance to damage.
- Once their rage wears off, Berserkers are tired out and weakened, and take more damage from enemy attacks.
Blink
- Shadowblades can fade to near invisibility for short periods of time, making it harder for enemies to hit them.
Bonebreaker
- PSE - Bruisers hit hard enough that blocking their attacks can result in a broken arm.
- PSD - Bruiser attacks have a chance to damage an opponent's Stamina, even when blocked.
Brawny / Slow
- PSE - Ravagers are formidable foes, primarily due to their imposing size and brute strength. Armor will not reduce the chances of getting wounded by their attacks.
- PSD - Ravagers have a chance to ignore part of their opponent's Armor Rating with their attacks.
- Ravagers move and attack more slowly than other bandits.
Crippling Blows
- PSE - Ravagers' attacks have a chance to inflict crippling wounds that make it harder for their opponents to defend themselves. This effect can stack up to four times, after which hits cause bleeding instead.
- PSD - No effect.
Crushing Blows
- Brutes ignore part of their target's armor rating when power attacking with two-handed weapons.
Fierce / Untrained
- PSE - Wildlings can stun opponents with strong blows to the head, and inflict more serious injuries with their subsequent attacks. They also have a higher chance to injure unarmored opponents.
- PSD - Wildling attacks have a chance to damage an unarmored opponent's Magicka, and an armored opponent's Stamina.
- PSE - Wildlings lack the skill and training to take on well-armored enemies. Their attacks have poor armor penetration.
- PSD - No effect.
Heavily Armored / Burdened
- Tanks and Brutes resist part of the damage from bows, crossbows and one-handed weapons.
- Heavily armored enemies are slowed down by the weight of their equipment. Their movement and attack speeds are reduced, and power attacks cost them more stamina.
Hedge Mage
- Bandit Mages are naturally talented spellcasters, but they have never received any formal magic training. All of their spells are less powerful.
Hotheaded / Rash
- Getting wounded infuriates Ravagers and gives them an adrenaline boost. Enraged Ravagers have a chance to ignore part of their opponents' armor rating when attacking.
- Ravagers are more likely to make mistakes when enraged. As their health drops, they take more damage from melee and ranged attacks, and may be disarmed by weapon or shield bashes.
Lightly Armored / Poor Protection
- Many bandits sacrifice some protection in exchange for increased mobility and dexterity. Their power attacks cost less stamina.
- Lightly armored enemies get less protection from their armor.
Manhunter
- PSE - Manhunters will try to slow their opponents down with a leg injury, then weaken them with powerful shots to the chest. Once their targets are very low on health, Manhunters will finish them off with a shot to the head.
- PSD - No effect.
Opportunistic
- Ranged attacks by Rogues and Shadowblades have a chance to deal extra damage to injured opponents.
Poisoned Arrows
- Wildlings use arrows that deal little damage but explode on impact, releasing a cloud of poisonous gas.
Precise Blows
- PSE - Skilled fighters, like Enforcers and Bloodletters, can target an opponent's armor's weak spots. Wearing armor does not reduce the chances of getting wounded by these enemies.
- PSD - No effect.
Pugilist
- Brawlers knock the breath out of their enemies with powerful strikes to the torso, or disorient them with blows to the head. Their attacks can damage stamina or magicka, and may stagger or knock down an opponent whose stamina is almost depleted.
Reckless
- Bruisers prioritize offense to the detriment of defense. They take more damage from physical attacks, both melee and ranged.
Sadistic / Bully
- PSE - Bloodletters cripple their opponents with multiple injuries before delivering the killing blow. Once a Bloodletter has inflicted "Maimed", "Mauled" and "Critical Wound", their next special attack will sever their victim's arteries, which will bleed them to death if left untreated.
- PSD - Bloodletter attacks have a chance to deal more damage against opponents with low health.
- Bloodletters are used to fighting weaker opponents, but find themselves easily outmatched by skilled combatants. They take more damage from opponents with high levels in the One-Handed or Two-Handed skill.
Strategic Blows / Restrained Blows
- PSE - Enforcers often try to capture their enemies alive, rather than going straight for the kill. Their power attacks can inflict certain injuries even when they are blocked.
- PSD - No effect.
- PSE - Enforcers deal less damage when power attacking.
- PSD - No effect.