Closet_Skeleton
2005-12-17, 10:15 AM
This was my third attempt to make a priestige class along these lines of a scary adrenalin junky swordsman. I have no idea of whether it's balanced in any way and would like to know what people think.
The Sword Demon
Some people fight for a justice or honour, some people fight for freedom. The Sword Demon is one who fights simply to fight. These bloodthirsty adrenalin junkies are said to fight like demons on the battlefield, or at least like a man possessed.
Hit Dice: d8
Good Saves: Fortitude
Base Attack Bonus: Good
Requirements
To qualify to become a Sword Demon, a character must fulfil all the following criteria.
Base Attack Bonus: +7
Skills: Intimidate 5 ranks, Sense Motive 2 ranks.
Feats: Dodge, Combat Expertise, Cleave, Power Attack.
Alignment: Any non-good non-lawful, but usually CE
Class Skills
The Sword Demon’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Iaijutsu Focus (Cha)*, Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int Modifier
*unavailable in most campaigns/under most DMs
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Sword Demon prestige class.
Weapons and Armour Proficiency: Sword Demons gain no proficiency with any weapons or armour.
Battlesense: The Sword Demon has the extraordinary sense the flow of combat around him. He never looses his dexterity bonus to AC when caught flat-footed. In addition he gains a dodge bonus to AC as shown on the table (class level/2 rounded up –2). This AC bonus is restricted as though it was a Dex bonus by the Maximum Dex bonus of any suit of armour the Sword Demon is wearing. If the character already has the uncanny dodge class feature from another class he gains improved uncanny dodge as well.
Supreme Cleave: At 1st level, the Sword Demon can take a 5 ft. step between attacks when using the Cleave or Great Cleave feat, if he has not otherwise moved in that round. This ability can be used once per round and counts as the Sword Demon’s 5-foot move for the round.
Aura of Fear: At 2nd level, the Sword Demon’s obvious murderous intentions inspire fear in those around him. Anyone within 10 feet of him must pass a will save against fear (DC 10 + the Sword Demon’s class level + the Sword Demon’s charisma modifier) or become shaken for as long as he is within the radius. A character that succeeds his save is immune to this power for the rest of the day.
Fight like a madman: At 3rd level, the Sword Demon’s urge to kill defies common sense. He adds his class level to any saving throws against fear effects.
Monster Strength: At 4th level, the Sword Demon becomes able to make almost supernatural feats of physical strength. He may choose to make a special effort on any strength-based check (excluding attack roles) or melee damage roll and gain a +4 bonus on such checks and damage rolls for that entire round. When wielding a weapon two-handed he uses 1.5 times the normal bonus if increasing the damage. He may use this ability 3 + his constitution modifier times per day. At 8th level this ability increases to a +8 bonus.
Blood Fiend: At 5th level, the Sword Demon’s blood lust becomes so great that he becomes more terrifying the more he kills. Every time the Sword Demon kills a creature he gains a cumulative +1 bonus to the save DCs of all his special attacks. The bonuses disappear if the Sword Demon remains outside of combat for more than 5 minutes.
Aura of Terror: At 7th level, the radius of the Sword Demon’s aura of fear extends by 5 feet and anyone that fails their save is frightened as well as shaken.
Manslayer: At 10th level the Sword Demon becomes such a master of killing that any humanoid with a HD of lower that ½ the Sword Demon’s HD –2 that the Sword Demon strikes must make fortitude saves v.s. death (DC 10 + the Sword Demon’s HD + the Sword Demon’s strength modifier) or die. Creatures that would normally be immune to death from massive damage are immune to this effect.
Ex-Sword Demons
A Sword Demon who becomes good or lawful loses the Aura of Fear, Fight like a Madman, Blood Fiend, Aura of Terror and Manslayer abilities and becomes unable to progress any further in this class until he receives an atonement spell.
The Sword Demon
Some people fight for a justice or honour, some people fight for freedom. The Sword Demon is one who fights simply to fight. These bloodthirsty adrenalin junkies are said to fight like demons on the battlefield, or at least like a man possessed.
Hit Dice: d8
Good Saves: Fortitude
Base Attack Bonus: Good
Requirements
To qualify to become a Sword Demon, a character must fulfil all the following criteria.
Base Attack Bonus: +7
Skills: Intimidate 5 ranks, Sense Motive 2 ranks.
Feats: Dodge, Combat Expertise, Cleave, Power Attack.
Alignment: Any non-good non-lawful, but usually CE
Class Skills
The Sword Demon’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Iaijutsu Focus (Cha)*, Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int Modifier
*unavailable in most campaigns/under most DMs
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Sword Demon prestige class.
Weapons and Armour Proficiency: Sword Demons gain no proficiency with any weapons or armour.
Battlesense: The Sword Demon has the extraordinary sense the flow of combat around him. He never looses his dexterity bonus to AC when caught flat-footed. In addition he gains a dodge bonus to AC as shown on the table (class level/2 rounded up –2). This AC bonus is restricted as though it was a Dex bonus by the Maximum Dex bonus of any suit of armour the Sword Demon is wearing. If the character already has the uncanny dodge class feature from another class he gains improved uncanny dodge as well.
Supreme Cleave: At 1st level, the Sword Demon can take a 5 ft. step between attacks when using the Cleave or Great Cleave feat, if he has not otherwise moved in that round. This ability can be used once per round and counts as the Sword Demon’s 5-foot move for the round.
Aura of Fear: At 2nd level, the Sword Demon’s obvious murderous intentions inspire fear in those around him. Anyone within 10 feet of him must pass a will save against fear (DC 10 + the Sword Demon’s class level + the Sword Demon’s charisma modifier) or become shaken for as long as he is within the radius. A character that succeeds his save is immune to this power for the rest of the day.
Fight like a madman: At 3rd level, the Sword Demon’s urge to kill defies common sense. He adds his class level to any saving throws against fear effects.
Monster Strength: At 4th level, the Sword Demon becomes able to make almost supernatural feats of physical strength. He may choose to make a special effort on any strength-based check (excluding attack roles) or melee damage roll and gain a +4 bonus on such checks and damage rolls for that entire round. When wielding a weapon two-handed he uses 1.5 times the normal bonus if increasing the damage. He may use this ability 3 + his constitution modifier times per day. At 8th level this ability increases to a +8 bonus.
Blood Fiend: At 5th level, the Sword Demon’s blood lust becomes so great that he becomes more terrifying the more he kills. Every time the Sword Demon kills a creature he gains a cumulative +1 bonus to the save DCs of all his special attacks. The bonuses disappear if the Sword Demon remains outside of combat for more than 5 minutes.
Aura of Terror: At 7th level, the radius of the Sword Demon’s aura of fear extends by 5 feet and anyone that fails their save is frightened as well as shaken.
Manslayer: At 10th level the Sword Demon becomes such a master of killing that any humanoid with a HD of lower that ½ the Sword Demon’s HD –2 that the Sword Demon strikes must make fortitude saves v.s. death (DC 10 + the Sword Demon’s HD + the Sword Demon’s strength modifier) or die. Creatures that would normally be immune to death from massive damage are immune to this effect.
Ex-Sword Demons
A Sword Demon who becomes good or lawful loses the Aura of Fear, Fight like a Madman, Blood Fiend, Aura of Terror and Manslayer abilities and becomes unable to progress any further in this class until he receives an atonement spell.