Partysan
2010-11-01, 10:02 AM
The Intercepting Blade
"There is no move without risk, no attack without an opening. Just let them open the door for you and boldy enter." - Mòrdômacâr, an Intercepting Blade and Weaponmaster of the Scorpion Clan
The Way of the Intercepting Blade is a reactive, passively agressive fighting style emphasising counters and defensive stances. An Intercepting Blade lures his opponent into attacking and then steps into the opening, unbalancing the opponent and making him vulnerable to a decisive counterattack.
Becoming an Intercepting Blade
This prestige class is predominantly adopted by martial adepts, usually Warblades, sometimes Swordsages or even Fighters with the Martial Study feat. Adepts who like to use the Diamond Mind, Iron Heart and Setting Sun schools will be the most likely to be drawn to this way of fighting.
Entry Requirements:
Base Attack: +5
Feats: Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Trip
Martial Maneuvers: at least 1 stance and 2 counters from two of the Diamond Mind, Iron Heart or Setting Sun schools
Intercepting Blade
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+2|Step In, Style Familiarity
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+3|Set Up
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+3|Follow Up
4th|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+4|Unbalance, Riposte
5th|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+4|Defensive Counterstance[/table]
Class Features
Class Skills (4+Int Modifier Skill Points per Level): Balance, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Listen, Martial Lore, Sense Motive, Swim, Tumble
Hit Die: d10
Abilities:
Step In: As long as you are in a Diamond Mind, Iron Heart or Setting Sun stance, any time you initiate a counter against an enemy action involving an attack roll, you may immediately initiate a trip attempt against that opponent.
Style Familiarity: Whenever you fight someone in melee, you can make a Martial Lore check to analyse his fighting style. You then recieve an insight bonus to attack rolls and AC against that opponent for the rest of the encounter. The bonus is +1 for a check result of 15 or below and another +1 for every 10 point above.
Set Up: You can choose to remain inactive in combat to concentrate on counterattacking. You may sacrifice a standard or move action of your current round to gain an additional immediate action which can only be used for initiating a counter.
Follow Up: Once per round when you succeed on a trip attempt you may initiate a strike maneuver on the attack you get from your Improved Trip feat.
Riposte: As long as you are in a Diamond Mind, Iron Heart or Setting Sun stance, opponents missing you in melee provoke an attack of opportunity from you.
Unbalance: Before you try to trip an opponent, make a balance roll against DC (15+enemy size modifier). If you succeed, the enemy is treated as one size smaller than he is for the purpose of the trip attempt.
Defensive Counterstance: As long as you are in a Diamond Mind, Iron Heart or Setting Sun stance, the penalty on attack rolls inflicted by your Combat Expertise feat does not apply on counter maneuvers and attacks of opportunity. Furthermore, you may expend any martial maneuver you have readied to make an extra attack of opportunity this round.
Maneuver Progression:
An Intercepting Blade learns new Maneuvers according to the following table. They can choose from the Diamond Mind, Iron Heart and Setting Sun schools.
Levels in Intercepting Blade are added to your Initiator level in one Martial Adept class of your choice.
{table=head]Level|Maneuvers Known|Maneuvers Readied|Stances Known
1st|
1|
0|
0
2nd|
0|
0|
0
3rd|
1|
1|
0
4th|
0|
0|
0
5th|
1|
0|
1[/table]
Annotations:
Well, that's it for now. Might be a tad powerful but is also very specialized.
The maneuver selection of the class will probably very easy, since there are some obvious synergies like Pearl of Black Doubt or Rapid Counter.
And, Yes, I stole the name from Jeet Kune Do, since I didn't have any better idea.
Thoughts? Tips?
"There is no move without risk, no attack without an opening. Just let them open the door for you and boldy enter." - Mòrdômacâr, an Intercepting Blade and Weaponmaster of the Scorpion Clan
The Way of the Intercepting Blade is a reactive, passively agressive fighting style emphasising counters and defensive stances. An Intercepting Blade lures his opponent into attacking and then steps into the opening, unbalancing the opponent and making him vulnerable to a decisive counterattack.
Becoming an Intercepting Blade
This prestige class is predominantly adopted by martial adepts, usually Warblades, sometimes Swordsages or even Fighters with the Martial Study feat. Adepts who like to use the Diamond Mind, Iron Heart and Setting Sun schools will be the most likely to be drawn to this way of fighting.
Entry Requirements:
Base Attack: +5
Feats: Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Trip
Martial Maneuvers: at least 1 stance and 2 counters from two of the Diamond Mind, Iron Heart or Setting Sun schools
Intercepting Blade
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+2|Step In, Style Familiarity
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+3|Set Up
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+3|Follow Up
4th|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+4|Unbalance, Riposte
5th|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+4|Defensive Counterstance[/table]
Class Features
Class Skills (4+Int Modifier Skill Points per Level): Balance, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Listen, Martial Lore, Sense Motive, Swim, Tumble
Hit Die: d10
Abilities:
Step In: As long as you are in a Diamond Mind, Iron Heart or Setting Sun stance, any time you initiate a counter against an enemy action involving an attack roll, you may immediately initiate a trip attempt against that opponent.
Style Familiarity: Whenever you fight someone in melee, you can make a Martial Lore check to analyse his fighting style. You then recieve an insight bonus to attack rolls and AC against that opponent for the rest of the encounter. The bonus is +1 for a check result of 15 or below and another +1 for every 10 point above.
Set Up: You can choose to remain inactive in combat to concentrate on counterattacking. You may sacrifice a standard or move action of your current round to gain an additional immediate action which can only be used for initiating a counter.
Follow Up: Once per round when you succeed on a trip attempt you may initiate a strike maneuver on the attack you get from your Improved Trip feat.
Riposte: As long as you are in a Diamond Mind, Iron Heart or Setting Sun stance, opponents missing you in melee provoke an attack of opportunity from you.
Unbalance: Before you try to trip an opponent, make a balance roll against DC (15+enemy size modifier). If you succeed, the enemy is treated as one size smaller than he is for the purpose of the trip attempt.
Defensive Counterstance: As long as you are in a Diamond Mind, Iron Heart or Setting Sun stance, the penalty on attack rolls inflicted by your Combat Expertise feat does not apply on counter maneuvers and attacks of opportunity. Furthermore, you may expend any martial maneuver you have readied to make an extra attack of opportunity this round.
Maneuver Progression:
An Intercepting Blade learns new Maneuvers according to the following table. They can choose from the Diamond Mind, Iron Heart and Setting Sun schools.
Levels in Intercepting Blade are added to your Initiator level in one Martial Adept class of your choice.
{table=head]Level|Maneuvers Known|Maneuvers Readied|Stances Known
1st|
1|
0|
0
2nd|
0|
0|
0
3rd|
1|
1|
0
4th|
0|
0|
0
5th|
1|
0|
1[/table]
Annotations:
Well, that's it for now. Might be a tad powerful but is also very specialized.
The maneuver selection of the class will probably very easy, since there are some obvious synergies like Pearl of Black Doubt or Rapid Counter.
And, Yes, I stole the name from Jeet Kune Do, since I didn't have any better idea.
Thoughts? Tips?