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Zaydos
2013-10-01, 09:24 AM
Protean Hunter:
This was originally made for a Base Class entry way back in August/September 2012, but I'm finally getting around to reposting it. Hope you enjoy.

Many rely on martial skill alone in battle, but some take this study beyond sheer skill alloying it to a mystical understanding of their very form which allows them to twist and change their nature with every moment. These are the disciples of the Protean Hunter, a warrior who is never the same for two instances, and who dances not only with the interchange of swords but forms as well.

Thought to have originally been invented by dopplegangers this discipline has always been rare, and was never codified and taught in the Temple of 9 Swords.

-I'm being lazy with fluff right now-

Gaining this discipline: A swordsage or crusader (as well as homebrew initiating classes at the DM's discretion) can, at 1st level, trade access to one of their normal disciplines for Protean Hunter.

Associated Skill: Autohypnosis.
Discipline Weapons: Natural Weapons, unarmed strikes.
Special: Unless otherwise noted all maneuvers of the Protean Hunter style are Supernatural in nature.

Maneuvers by Level:
1st:
Blood Forged Claws: Strike; grow 2 claws to attack target.
Legs of the Goat: Boost; Reshape your legs to allow for powerful leaps.
Metabolism Control: Stance; resist metabolic attacks based on your Autohypnosis.
Shed Fist: Strike; Use natural weapon as a thrown weapon.

2nd:
Draconic Spittle: Strike; release elemental breath weapon.
Scorpion Sting Strike: Strike; natural weapon becomes piercing and poisonous.

3rd:
Reveal the True Form: Strike; force shapeshifter into natural form.
Striking Acid Claw: Strike; natural weapon becomes acidic, ignoring armor and natural armor.
Wavecrester's Stance: Stance; gain gills and swim speed.

4th:
Distorting Blow: Strike; attack weakens target softening him to further blows.
Vine Burst: Boost; gain 2 extra natural weapons until end of turn.

5th:
Dragon's Destructive Bellow: Strike; release a powerful breath weapon.
Predator's Form: Stance; grow larger gaining increased damage with natural weapons.
Storm of Blood: Strike; make full attack with natural weapons as thrown weapons.

6th:
Morphic Resilience: Counter; replace Fort or Ref saving throw or AC with an Autohypnosis check.
Stone Sovereign's Skin: Counter; harden skin gaining DR and natural armor till your next turn.

7th:
Arms of the Octopus: Boost; gain 4 extra natural weapons till end of turn.
Twist the Natural Form: Strike; cause target's form to twist dealing extra damage and inflicting penalties.

8th:
Devastating Draconic Exhalation: Strike; breath weapon attacks area.
Font of Vitae: Stance; gain fast healing.
World-Render's Mighty Furor: Boost; natural weapons grow more massive and their critical changes to 18-20/x3 till end of turn.

9th:
Rend the Perfect Form: Strike; twist target's body to a point that they cannot survive.

1st Level:
Blood Forged Claws:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: Standard.
Range: Melee attack
Target: 1 creature
Claws burst from your hands as you bring them both down onto the same creature. You gain 2 claw attacks dealing 1d6 damage if medium sized (1d4 for small, 1d8 for large) until the end of your turn and may make 2 claw attacks against the same creature as part of this strike. If the first attack reduces their HP to a point where they fall unconscious or die, you do not get to make the second attack.

Legs of the Goat:
Protean Hunter (Boost)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: Swift.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: 1 round.
Your legs shift, bones reshaping for increased stability and leaping. Until the start of your next turn you gain a +8 bonus to Jump and Balance checks and a +4 bonus to avoid Trip and Bull Rush attempts.

Shed Fist:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: Standard
Range: See below
Target: 1 creature
As part of this strike you make an attack while shedding a copy of your attacking implement made of hardened slime; this slime vanishes immediately upon impact. You make an attack with one of your natural weapons or unarmed strikes as a thrown weapon with a 30-ft range increment. Unlike most thrown weapons you may choose to add your Strength modifier to hit instead of your Dexterity modifier.

2nd Level:
Draconic Spittle:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: Standard
Range: 15-ft
Area: 15-ft cone
Saving Throw: Reflex halves.
You transform your throat into that of a dragon, synthesizing the powers of their fundamentalis through sheer force of will. When you initiate this strike you unleash a 15-ft cone of energy, dealing 2d6 + Initiator level damage of either Fire, Cold, Electricity, or Acid chosen when this maneuver is initiated.

Scorpion Sting Strike:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: Standard.
Range: Melee attack
Target: 1 creature
Your natural weapon transforms, a deadly spike rising forth, dripping with venom. As part of this maneuver make a single melee attack with one of your natural weapons or an unarmed strike. It deals piercing damage in addition to whatever damage types it would normally deal, and deals +2d6 damage and inflict a poison with an initial and secondary damage of 1d4 Strength damage. A successful Fort save (DC 12 + your Constitution modifier) resists the poison, although like with most poisons a second save must be made 1 minute later against the secondary damage.

3rd:
Reveal the True Form:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 3
Initiation Action: Standard.
Range: Melee attack
Target: 1 creature
You charge your attack with power to force a creature into its natural form. As part of this maneuver make a single melee attack. If you hit you deal +3d6 damage and the target must make a Will save (DC 13 + your Constitution modifier) or revert to its natural form, immediately ending any effects which alter its shape either through polymorph, changing its size, growing extra arms, or other physical alterations. If the effect is a continuous ability (has no duration) it is merely suppressed for 1 minute.

Striking Acid Claw:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 3
Prerequisite: 1 Protean Hunter Maneuver.
Initiation Action: Standard.
Range: Melee attack
Target: 1 creature
Your natural weapon transforms into a semi-liquid acidic form. As part of this maneuver make a single melee attack with a natural weapon or unarmed strike. Treat this attack as a touch attack and if it hits you deal an extra 1d6 + Initiator level acid damage.

4th:
Distorting Strike:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 4
Prerequisite: 2 Protean Hunter Maneuvers.
Initiation Action: Standard.
Range: Melee attack
Target: 1 creature or unattended object
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial.
Duration: 1 round.
You charge your attack with metamorphic force which twists your target weakening their defenses. As part of this strike make a single melee attack. If you hit the target takes damage as normal and suffers 4 points of Strength damage and loses any damage reduction or hardness they possess until the end of your next turn. A successful Fortitude save (DC 14 + your Con modifier) reduces the Strength damage to 2.

Vine Burst:
Protean Hunter (Boost)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 2 Protean Hunter maneuvers
Initiation Action: Swift.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: End of turn.
Vine-like tentacles burst from your form allowing you extra attacks against your foes. Until the end of this turn you gain 2 tentacles which can be used as secondary natural weapons dealing 1d6 (+1/2 Str) damage if you are medium sized (1d8 for large, 1d4 for small).

5th:
Dragon’s Destructive Bellow:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Protean Hunter maneuvers.
Initiation Action: Standard
Range: 30-ft
Area: 30-ft cone
Saving Throw: Reflex halves.
You transform your throat into that of a dragon, going as far as to synthesize a draconis fundamentalis. When you initiate this strike you unleash a 30-ft cone of energy, dealing 7d6 + Initiator level damage of either Fire, Cold, Electricity, or Acid chosen when this maneuver is initiated.

Storm of Blood:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Protean Hunter maneuvers.
Initiation Action: Full-round
Range: See below
Target: 1 or more creatures.
As part of this strike you make an attack while shedding a copy of your attacking implements made of hardened slime; this slime vanishes immediately upon impact. You may make a full-attack consisting of only natural weapons and unarmed strikes using them as thrown weapons with a 50-ft range increment. Unlike most thrown weapons you may choose to add your Strength modifier to hit instead of your Dexterity modifier.

6th:
Morphic Resilience:
Protean Hunter (Counter)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Protean Hunter maneuvers
Initiation Action: Immediate.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Your body twists and reshapes itself momentarily resisting attempts to harm it. You may only activate this maneuver when you would have to make a Fort or Ref save or are being attacked. If you are being attacked replace you AC with the result of your Autohypnosis check. If you are making a saving throw roll an Autohypnosis check instead and use that result for your saving throw; a natural 1 is not an automatic failure on this check. You must use this maneuver before you make the saving throw or know the result of the attack against you.

Stone Sovereign’s Skin:
Protean Hunter (Counter)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Protean Hunter maneuvers
Initiation Action: Immediate.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: See below
Your skin grows rocky and hard, like that of an elemental of the earth. Your natural armor increases by 5 (treat a creature with no natural armor as having +0) and you gain DR 10/- until the beginning of your next turn.

7th:
Arms of the Octopus:
Protean Hunter (Boost)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 3 Protean Hunter maneuvers
Initiation Action: Swift.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: End of turn.
Cephalopodan tentacles burst from your form allowing you extra attacks against your foes. Until the end of this turn you gain 4 tentacles which can be used as secondary natural weapons dealing 1d6 (+1/2 Str) damage if you are medium sized (1d8 for large, 1d4 for small).

Twist the Natural Form:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 3 Protean Hunter maneuvers.
Initiation Action: Standard.
Range: Melee attack
Target: 1 creature or unattended object
You charge your weapon with transformative powers, causing it to weaken and cripple those you strike. As part of this maneuver make a single melee attack, if you hit your attack does +8d6 damage and the target must make a Fort save (DC 17 + your Constitution modifier) or have their shape twisted giving them a -4 penalty to Str, Dex, and Con for 10 minutes. Incorporeal creatures are immune to this effect. An object struck by this strike has its form twisted into a shape unusable for its intended purpose, held objects and magic items are allowed a save, but they revert to their original form after 10 minutes; artifacts are unaffected. This maneuver will not completely destroy a wall, though it may weaken its structural integrity.

8th:
Devastating Draconic Exhalation:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Protean Hunter maneuvers.
Initiation Action: Standard
Range: 60-ft
Area: 60-ft cone
Saving Throw]/b]: Reflex halves.
You transform your throat and head into that of a dragon, synthesizing a draconis fundamentalis even as you exhale the powerful breath for which they are known. When you initiate this strike you unleash a 60-ft cone of energy, dealing 1d6 damage per initiator level of either Fire, Cold, Electricity, or Acid chosen when this maneuver is initiated.

[b]World Devourer’s Mighty Furor:
Protean Hunter (Boost)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Protean Hunter maneuvers
Initiation Action: Swift.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: End of turn.
Your body seems to grow larger and more monstrous as a bestial carapace seems to form across your back and your natural weapons grow farm more deadly. Until the end of this turn your natural weapons deal damage as if you were one size category larger than you are (this is not an actual size change), and their normal critical is changed to 18-20/x3; they may still be otherwise modified with keen or other effects.

9th:
Rend the Perfect Form:
Protean Hunter (Strike)
Level: 9
Prerequisites: 4 Protean Hunter maneuvers.
Initiation Action: Full-round action.
Range: Melee attack
Target: 1 creature or unattended object
You charge your weapon with transformative powers, causing it to twist the shape of whatever you strike leaving only broken remains. As part of this maneuver make a single melee attack, if you hit the target’s form is twisted completely reducing them to -10 hp and killing them (this is not a death effect) unless they succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 19 + Constitution modifier). Even if they succeed the attack deals +10d6 damage and their shape twists giving them a -4 penalty to Str, Dex, and Con for 10 minutes. Incorporeal creatures are immune to this effect. An object struck by this strike has its form twisted so thoroughly as to be utterly destroyed, held objects and magic items are allowed a save; artifacts are unaffected.

Stances:
Metabolism Control:
Protean Hunter (Stance)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: Swift.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: Stance.
Your mastery over your own form allows your body to shift slightly to resist metabolic effects. You gain a bonus to saves versus Poison, Disease, Paralysis, and Petrification effects based on your ranks in Autohypnosis.

RanksBonus
1-5 +2
6-10 +4
11-15 +6
16-20 +8
21+ Immunity


Wavecrester’s Stance:
Protean Hunter (Stance)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Protean Hunter maneuver
Initiation Action: Swift.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: Stance.
Your body shifts and becomes smooth and streamlined, even as gills grow alongside your throat. While in this stance you gain a swim speed equal to your base land speed and the ability to breathe water as easily as air.

Predator's Form:
Protean Hunter (Stance)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Protean Hunter maneuvers
Initiation Action: Swift.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: Stance.
Your body enlarges slightly and toughens, claws, fangs, and tails growing sharper, larger, and more dangerous than before. While in this stance your natural weapons deal damage as if you were two size categories larger than you actually were. This is a size changing effect.

Font of Vitae:
Protean Hunter (Stance)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Protean Hunter maneuvers
Initiation Action: Swift.
Range: Personal
Target: You.
Duration: Stance.
Your body is always repairing itself, reknitting muscle and bone and restoring that which is lost. While in this stance you gain Fast Healing 5 and can regrow lost limbs and body parts with 8 hours of rest.

Zaydos
2013-10-01, 09:25 AM
Feats, PrCs, Overflow, etc

Protean Aptitude
Your body is yours to control, changing and adapting to the situation at hand. Your skill at controlling your very form aids you in combat and outside of it.
Prerequisites: Access to at least one Protean Hunter stance.
Benefits: Whenever you enter a Protean Hunter stance select one skill based on Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, or one of Autohypnosis, Control Form, Listen, Search, or Spot. You gain a +2 bonus to that skill until you change stances once more.