PDA

View Full Version : War Master, a fighter prestige class[3.5] PEACH



The Underlord
2011-08-16, 11:39 AM
War Master

Requirements
BAB +6
Profiency with all martial weapons
Weapon Specialization (Any)
Special You may not have any maneuvers known before taking this class.

Class Skills Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha) Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Points per level 4+ Int. modifier
Hit Die D12

{table=head]Level|Base Attack<br>Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special| Maneuvers known|Maneuvers Readied| Stances Known

1st|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+2|Fighter Progression, Improved Weapon Focus, Evasion|5|3|1

2nd|
+2|
+3|
+3|
+3|Improved Weapon Specialization, Bonus Feat (Greater Weapon Focus)|5|4|1

3rd|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+3|Greater Improved Weapon Focus, Bonus Feat (Greater Weapon Specialization), Mettle|6|4|2

4th|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+4|Greater improved Weapon Specialization, Master Weapon Focus |7|4|2

5th|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+4|Furious Blows, Master Weapon Specialization. Improved Evasion.|8|5|2[/table]
Weapon Proficiency
The war master gains proficiency with all exotic weapons

Class Features

Maneuvers
A war master begins his career with the knowledge of 5 martial maneuvers (found in the Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords). The disciplines available to him are Iron Heart, Stone Dragon, Tiger Claw, and White Raven.
Once a war master knows a maneuver, he must ready it before he can use it (see Maneuvers Readied, below). A maneuver usable by a war master is considered an extraordinary ability unless otherwise noted in its description. His maneuvers are not affected by spell resistance, and he does not provoke attacks of opportunity when he initiates one.

The war master learns additional maneuvers at higher levels, as shown on the table above. He must meet a maneuver’s prerequisite to learn it. See page 39 of the Tome of Battle to determine the highest-level maneuvers a war master can learn but use all (not half) of fighter levels when determining intiator level(example a Fighter 6/ War Master 1 would have initator level 7 not 4)

At ever war master level and at any even-numbered fighter level a war master can choose to learn a new maneuver in place of one he already knows. In effect, he loses the old maneuver in exchange for the new one. He can choose a maneuver of any level he likes, as long as he observe his restriction on the highest-level maneuvers he knows; a war master needs not replace the old maneuver with a maneuver of the same level. A war master can swap only a single maneuver at any given level.

Maneuvers Readied: A war master must choose which maneuvers to ready. The war master readies his maneuvers by meditating and exercising for 5 minutes. The maneuvers he chooses remain readied until he decides to mediate again and change them. The war master need not sleep or rest for any long period of time to ready his maneuvers; any time he spends 5 minutes in mediation, he can change his readied maneuvers.

The war master begins an encounter with all his readied maneuvers unexpended, regardless of how many times he used them since he chose them. When he initiates a maneuver, the war master expends it for the current encounter, so each of his readied maneuvers can be used once per encounter (unless he recovers them, as described below).

A war master can recover all expended maneuvers as a warblade does

A war master begins play with knowledge of one stance from any disciple open to him. He can choose an additional stance at war master level 3. Unlike maneuvers, stances are not expended, and the war master does not have to ready them. All the stances he knows are available to him at all times, and he can change the stance he currently uses as a swift action. A stance is an extraordinary ability unless otherwise stated in the stance description.

A war master can learn a new stance at even fighter levels in place of one he already knows.

Fighter Progression
You continue to gain bonus feats as a fighter as if your levels of war master were fighter levels(example A Fighter 6/ War Master 2 would have 5 fighter bonus feats) In addition war master levels stack with fighter levels for any prerequisites. You only gain the feats if you had fighter levels to begin with.
Bonus Feats
At 2nd level you gain Greater Weapon Focus even if you don't meet the prerequisites. At 3rd level you gain Greater Weapon Specialization even if you don't meet the prerequisites. If you already have those feats you instead gain a fighter bonus feat.
Improved Weapon Focus
The Weapon Focus feat now applies to all weapons you are proficient with. You count as having the feat with those weapons for any prerequisites. At 3rd level you can do the same with greater weapon focus.
Improved Weapon Specialization
At 2nd level the Weapon Specialiaztion feat applies to all weapons you are proficient with. At 4th level you may do the same with Greater Weapon Specialization.
Evasion
A War Master can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If he makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. A helpless war master does not gain the benefit of evasion.

Mettle
At 3rd level, the war master can resist magical and unusual attacks with great willpower of fortitude. If he makes a successful will or fortitude save against an attack that normally would have a lesser effect on a successful save (such as a spell with a saving throw entry of Will half or Fortitude partial), he instead completely negates the effect. An unconscious or sleeping war master does not gain the benefit of mettle
Master Weapon Focus
At 4th level you may add your bonus from Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Focus to your BAB in addition to the bonus from the feats.
Master Weapon Specialization
The Bonuses from Weapon Specialization and Greater Weapon Specialization each double(to +4 each) If you wield a two-handed weapon they each triple instead
Improved Evasion
This ability works like evasion, except that while the war master still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks henceforth he takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless war master does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.

Furious Blows
At 5th level a war master can use the full attack action as a standard action and at the end of a charge. If a war master uses the full round action, he gets an extra attack at his highest BAB.
Design notes
I desinged this to make the fighter better and be a universal weapon master, thus the exotice weapon proficeny and the Improved Weapon X. This makes the fighter better and he does not lose anything because of Fighter progression. The no manevuers known is so warblades can't take this class(since they can get fighter bonus feat)

change log
- added an extra maneuver and added the no maneuvers known requirment
-added Evasion, Improved Evasion and Mettle class features.
- made fighter progression so it only works if you are a fighter.

Hiro Protagonest
2011-08-16, 11:54 AM
Hey, nice PrC for my fighter 1/ warblade 5!

War Master
A samurai begins play with knowledge of one stance from any disciple open to him. He can choose an additional stance at war master level 3. Unlike maneuvers, stances are not expended, and the war master does not have to ready them. All the stances he knows are available to him at all times, and he can change the stance he currently uses as a swift action. A stance is an extraordinary ability unless otherwise stated in the stance description.

A war master samurai can learn a new stance at even fighter levels in place of one he already knows.

Wait, what?

The Underlord
2011-08-16, 11:57 AM
stupid copy and paste:smalltongue:

Alefiend
2011-08-16, 11:58 AM
thus the exotice weapon proficeny (sic) What exotic weapon proficiency? Also, exotics typically aren't worth the effort.

Also, what's that stuff at the end about samurai?

[EDIT] Dammit, Swiftmongoose, you ninja'd my samurai! :smalltongue:

The Underlord
2011-08-16, 12:00 PM
The war master gains proficiency with all exotic weapons
that exotic weapon proficiency?

Alefiend
2011-08-16, 12:04 PM
Ah, I see. That section of PrC description is usually devoted to "does not gain any weapon or armor proficiencies," so I overlooked it—I expected something in the chart.

The Underlord
2011-08-17, 10:44 PM
come on people peach!

The Underlord
2011-08-18, 12:02 PM
got rid of the maneuver requirements so warblades can use it.

Greenish
2011-08-18, 12:20 PM
Why does this PrC exist? It's basically fighter multiclassing into warblade, except bigger numbers instead of actual class features.

Also, if you're a fighter and already have Weapon Focus/Specialization for a certain weapon, new weapon proficiencies don't really help.

The Underlord
2011-08-18, 12:34 PM
Why does this PrC exist? It's basically fighter multiclassing into warblade, except bigger numbers instead of actual class features.

Also, if you're a fighter and already have Weapon Focus/Specialization for a certain weapon, new weapon proficiencies don't really help.
You can actually use exotic weapons with this class(from the weapon proficiency and the Improved Weapon X) Also it allows versatility with weapons for a fighter and the ability to use full attack as a standard action. It also has better saves than the warblade. But you are right that i should add more class features. edit i also just added evasion and mettle which is definitely a reason to take this class.

Roderick_BR
2011-08-18, 03:27 PM
Fighter Progression
You continue to gain bonus feats as a fighter as if your levels of war master were fighter levels(example A Fighter 6/ War Master 2 would have 5 fighter bonus feats) In addition war master levels stack with fighter levels for any prerequisites.
I'll point out that this pretty much says "skip 5 fighter levels whenever possible", as it gives you everything the fighter has, plus a few class features and maneuvers.

Worse, you can get 6 levels of warblade, that makes you count as fighter with 2 less levels, so you qualify for Weapon Specialization (as a 4th level fighter), so this makes more sense as a Warblade PrC, trading some Warblade class features for extra feats (that he already doesn't lack).

The idea is not bad, it's just that it just makes the Fighter even less relevant.

Hiro Protagonest
2011-08-18, 03:30 PM
I'll point out that this pretty much says "skip 5 fighter levels whenever possible", as it gives you everything the fighter has, plus a few class features and maneuvers.

Worse, you can get 6 levels of warblade, that makes you count as fighter with 2 less levels, so you qualify for Weapon Specialization (as a 4th level fighter), so this makes more sense as a Warblade PrC, trading some Warblade class features for extra feats (that he already doesn't lack).

The idea is not bad, it's just that it just makes the Fighter even less relevant.

You still need to dip fighter 1. Bow proficiency.

The Underlord
2011-08-18, 04:21 PM
i re-added the no maneuvers requirement so warblades couldnt just take it.
Why not make it a warblade prestige class? Because warblades are actually good and can do well in combat unlike the fighter which is very weak currently.

Greenish
2011-08-18, 04:48 PM
So, d12 HD, three good saves, Mettle, Evasion, extra attack, better than warblade maneuver progression and bonus feats coming out of your ears, do you think this'll fly with most DMs?

Yes, fighters are rather poor, and t1-2 casters will still be stronger than one with this PrC, but that's pretty much always going to be true. It's no excuse to try to adapt Lightning Warrior for melee.

The Underlord
2011-08-18, 05:55 PM
So, d12 HD, three good saves, Mettle, Evasion, extra attack, better than warblade maneuver progression and bonus feats coming out of your ears, do you think this'll fly with most DMs?

Yes, fighters are rather poor, and t1-2 casters will still be stronger than one with this PrC, but that's pretty much always going to be true. It's no excuse to try to adapt Lightning Warrior for melee.

A DM that understands the Tier system(ie casters are over powered and monks and fighters suck) probably would allow it because the character would have to be a fighter for 6 levels. A DM that thinks monks are awesome and ToB is overpowered and that casters are balanced wouldnt allow it.

Also i have never heard of Lightning Warrior before what book is it from?

Hiro Protagonest
2011-08-18, 06:13 PM
Also i have never heard of Lightning Warrior before what book is it from?

The Internet. It's so horribly weak though. The d20 hit die, full BAB, and all good saving throws are just a feeble attempt to make up for the lack of familiar and inability to specialize in a school of magic.

The Underlord
2011-08-18, 07:00 PM
is that sarcasm?

Hiro Protagonest
2011-08-18, 07:03 PM
is that sarcasm?

Absolutely not! :smalltongue:

Roderick_BR
2011-08-22, 08:53 AM
i re-added the no maneuvers requirement so warblades couldnt just take it.
Why not make it a warblade prestige class? Because warblades are actually good and can do well in combat unlike the fighter which is very weak currently.
I just think it's odd to make a PrC that is just plainly better than a base class in every aspect by giving what the base class already have, and then giving more thing. That's not how PrCs should work, it's just broken and disencourage playing the whole 20 levels *cough*like almost all wizard PrCs*cough*. I think the base class should just be fixed up.
Take fighter for example, you could just give him the Warblade's maneuver progression, and call it a day. Fighter would be a d10/heavy armor/all ranged martial/bonus feats class, while the warblade (if you do keep him) would just have those other class features (and if you want to keep only the fighter, turn those features into feats).
Then a PrC that forces you to choose between levels in it and the base class, yeah, would be good. Something like "this PrC allows you to advance in your manuevers' progression, but you trade your customizable bonus feats for a set of specific class features, as indicated here (...)"

An off-topic note: I think only the druid can get away with PrCs with full spellcasting progression, since they have a lot of other good class features that they lose if they PrC out of it. Any other classes loses close to nothing, and gain everything.

enderlord99
2011-08-22, 10:14 AM
is that sarcasm?

Sort of. More of a running gag, though.