Flickerdart
2012-09-19, 11:03 PM
Disciple of the Crossroads
"A man who walks along a single path is a fool, for he has turned away away from every other."
Master Parak, disciple of the crossroads
The world is full of secrets - martial techniques, supernatural insights and exotic styles that, however briefly, allow their users to rise above and beyond their normal capabilities. While to a casual observer, they may be multitudinous in variation, their fundamental similarities allow one with the right mindset to move beyond their superficial differences and achieve a power that is far greater.
Disciplines
This prestige class deals with abilities such as Rage or Bardic Music. There are many abilities such as these, and they will be referred to with the blanket term Disciplines. In order to qualify as a Discipline, an ability must possess the following qualities:
Gained as a class feature at level 1 of a base character class
Usable a limited number of times per day, with more uses gained as the character gains more levels
Must improve (in terms of the bonus it gives, or extra abilities it confers) simply by taking more levels in the character class
Is not a spell slot, power point reserve or similar ability, nor does it exclusively modify spells, powers or similar abilities
For instance, Turn Undead is not a Discipline, because it does not gain additional uses from more levels in cleric, Stunning Fist and Killoren Smite are not Disciplines because they are not class features, and Wild Shape is not a Discipline because it is not gained at first level. Rage is a Discipline (since it can be acquired by a 1st level barbarian and gets more uses with more gains barbarian levels) even if it's gained from another class such as half-orc paragon.
Thus, the following abilities qualify as Disciplines (if I am forgetting any, let me know):
Rage
Bardic Music
Knight's Challenge
Smite Evil/Good/Chaos/Law/Opposition
Hexblade's Curse
Totem Shape
Resistance to Energy
Hit Die: d8
Entry Requirements
Skills: 8 ranks in any Wisdom based skill, 2 ranks Concentration
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Class Features: Ability to use any two Disciplines at least twice a day each
{table=head] Level | BAB |Fort | Ref | Will | Special
1st | +1 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Walker of many paths, harmonious warrior
2nd | +2 | +0 | +0 | +3 | One as many, indiscriminate warrior
3rd | +3 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Many as one, bonus feat
4th | +4 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Momentum cascade
5th | +5 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Pierce the veil[/table]
The disciple of the crossroads' class skills (4+Int modifier per level) are the skills that were already class skills for the character prior to taking the first level of this class.
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Disciples of the crossroads do not gain proficiency with any armour or weapons.
Walker of Many Paths: Even a novice disciple of the crossroads has learned many techniques, and he continues to develop them. A disciple of the crossroads gains a bonus use of each of his Disciplines per level in this class, and disciple levels count when determining the effects of his Disciplines and for the purposes of gaining more advanced versions of the Discipline. Additionally, the disciple may continue to advance in the classes that granted him his Disciplines, and does not suffer any consequences to his Disciplines for being an ex-class member.
Harmonious Warrior: A disciple of the crossroads has learned to move smoothly from one discipline to another. He may use a Disciplines even if another Discipline's ongoing effect would prevent him from doing so (but not if he unable to use it for any other reason).
One as Many: As the disciple of the crossroads continues to contemplate his powers, he begins to erase the artificial boundaries between them. A 2nd level or higher disciple may use a daily use of a Discipline as though it was the daily use of another Discipline.
Indiscriminate Warrior: The disciple of the crossroads has gone beyond the tenets of his original training. At 2nd level, he gains the ability to use a Discipline on a target that could not normally be affected by it, so long as it could be affected by another of his Disciplines.
Many as One (Ex): At 3rd level, the disciple of the crossroads has grown more familiar with using his abilities, and has begun combining them into new fighting styles. As part of the same action used to activate one of his Disciplines, he may activate another. The total amount of Disciplines he may activate in this way is equal to his class level. When used this way, the benefits of the Disciplines stack.
Bonus Feat: At 3rd level, the disciple of the crossroads has learned to find equilibrium between his abilities. He may select any feat that has access to a Discipline as a prerequisite (such as Extra Rage) provided that he meets all the prerequisites for the feat.
Momentum Cascade (Ex): At 4th level, the disciple of the crossroads learns to push the advantage, unleashing a torrent of successively more powerful techniques. Whenever he uses a Discipline, any subsequent use of the Discipline in the encounter has its numeric effects and duration increased by 1, after all other modifiers. This increase is cumulative up to your class level, but uses of the same Discipline do not stack when used this way. For instance, a paladin making his second Smite attempt of the encounter will gain an extra +1 to attack and damage, and also gain the Smite's bonus to attack and damage (including the bonuses from Momentum Cascade) on his next attack. Should he choose to make his next attack a Smite as well, he would not benefit from the attack and damage bonuses of the previous Smite, but his bonuses from Momentum Cascade would increase to +2.
Pierce the Veil (Su): A 5th level disciple of the crossroads has passed beyond the distinctions made between different styles. By spending two uses of Disciplines, he may activate a Discipline ability that he does not possess. His effective level for this ability is equal to his character level minus five. He does not actually possess the ability, however, and can neither use it as a prerequisite nor benefit from One as Many, Many as One or Walker of Many Paths in conjunction with it.
"A man who walks along a single path is a fool, for he has turned away away from every other."
Master Parak, disciple of the crossroads
The world is full of secrets - martial techniques, supernatural insights and exotic styles that, however briefly, allow their users to rise above and beyond their normal capabilities. While to a casual observer, they may be multitudinous in variation, their fundamental similarities allow one with the right mindset to move beyond their superficial differences and achieve a power that is far greater.
Disciplines
This prestige class deals with abilities such as Rage or Bardic Music. There are many abilities such as these, and they will be referred to with the blanket term Disciplines. In order to qualify as a Discipline, an ability must possess the following qualities:
Gained as a class feature at level 1 of a base character class
Usable a limited number of times per day, with more uses gained as the character gains more levels
Must improve (in terms of the bonus it gives, or extra abilities it confers) simply by taking more levels in the character class
Is not a spell slot, power point reserve or similar ability, nor does it exclusively modify spells, powers or similar abilities
For instance, Turn Undead is not a Discipline, because it does not gain additional uses from more levels in cleric, Stunning Fist and Killoren Smite are not Disciplines because they are not class features, and Wild Shape is not a Discipline because it is not gained at first level. Rage is a Discipline (since it can be acquired by a 1st level barbarian and gets more uses with more gains barbarian levels) even if it's gained from another class such as half-orc paragon.
Thus, the following abilities qualify as Disciplines (if I am forgetting any, let me know):
Rage
Bardic Music
Knight's Challenge
Smite Evil/Good/Chaos/Law/Opposition
Hexblade's Curse
Totem Shape
Resistance to Energy
Hit Die: d8
Entry Requirements
Skills: 8 ranks in any Wisdom based skill, 2 ranks Concentration
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Class Features: Ability to use any two Disciplines at least twice a day each
{table=head] Level | BAB |Fort | Ref | Will | Special
1st | +1 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Walker of many paths, harmonious warrior
2nd | +2 | +0 | +0 | +3 | One as many, indiscriminate warrior
3rd | +3 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Many as one, bonus feat
4th | +4 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Momentum cascade
5th | +5 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Pierce the veil[/table]
The disciple of the crossroads' class skills (4+Int modifier per level) are the skills that were already class skills for the character prior to taking the first level of this class.
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Disciples of the crossroads do not gain proficiency with any armour or weapons.
Walker of Many Paths: Even a novice disciple of the crossroads has learned many techniques, and he continues to develop them. A disciple of the crossroads gains a bonus use of each of his Disciplines per level in this class, and disciple levels count when determining the effects of his Disciplines and for the purposes of gaining more advanced versions of the Discipline. Additionally, the disciple may continue to advance in the classes that granted him his Disciplines, and does not suffer any consequences to his Disciplines for being an ex-class member.
Harmonious Warrior: A disciple of the crossroads has learned to move smoothly from one discipline to another. He may use a Disciplines even if another Discipline's ongoing effect would prevent him from doing so (but not if he unable to use it for any other reason).
One as Many: As the disciple of the crossroads continues to contemplate his powers, he begins to erase the artificial boundaries between them. A 2nd level or higher disciple may use a daily use of a Discipline as though it was the daily use of another Discipline.
Indiscriminate Warrior: The disciple of the crossroads has gone beyond the tenets of his original training. At 2nd level, he gains the ability to use a Discipline on a target that could not normally be affected by it, so long as it could be affected by another of his Disciplines.
Many as One (Ex): At 3rd level, the disciple of the crossroads has grown more familiar with using his abilities, and has begun combining them into new fighting styles. As part of the same action used to activate one of his Disciplines, he may activate another. The total amount of Disciplines he may activate in this way is equal to his class level. When used this way, the benefits of the Disciplines stack.
Bonus Feat: At 3rd level, the disciple of the crossroads has learned to find equilibrium between his abilities. He may select any feat that has access to a Discipline as a prerequisite (such as Extra Rage) provided that he meets all the prerequisites for the feat.
Momentum Cascade (Ex): At 4th level, the disciple of the crossroads learns to push the advantage, unleashing a torrent of successively more powerful techniques. Whenever he uses a Discipline, any subsequent use of the Discipline in the encounter has its numeric effects and duration increased by 1, after all other modifiers. This increase is cumulative up to your class level, but uses of the same Discipline do not stack when used this way. For instance, a paladin making his second Smite attempt of the encounter will gain an extra +1 to attack and damage, and also gain the Smite's bonus to attack and damage (including the bonuses from Momentum Cascade) on his next attack. Should he choose to make his next attack a Smite as well, he would not benefit from the attack and damage bonuses of the previous Smite, but his bonuses from Momentum Cascade would increase to +2.
Pierce the Veil (Su): A 5th level disciple of the crossroads has passed beyond the distinctions made between different styles. By spending two uses of Disciplines, he may activate a Discipline ability that he does not possess. His effective level for this ability is equal to his character level minus five. He does not actually possess the ability, however, and can neither use it as a prerequisite nor benefit from One as Many, Many as One or Walker of Many Paths in conjunction with it.