GiTP Prestige Class Contest LI: Um... What?

[Amechra]

il Bravazzo



My good sir, I don't need two hands to fillet you like a fish.

A new fighting style is making the rounds amongst the noblemen and women of the Southern courts; focusing on footwork and defence over brute force, it allows even the lightest noble fop to defend themselves. Of course, there are those who have adopted the style and have pushed it to its limits; they pick fights to practice their techniques, earning them them the derogative title "bravazzos" (braggarts). The name has stuck, and, braggarts or no, no one can doubt the prowess of a Bravazzo in combat.

BECOMING A BRAVAZZO
While many are Southern courtiers, the practice is in no way restricted to such men and women of high standing; as those cities are trading hubs, the style is beginning to grow more common elsewhere.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Bab: +5
Skills: Balance 6 ranks, Tumble 6 ranks
Feats: Combat Panache^PHBII, Combat Reflexes, Dashing Duelist
Class Features: Grace +1, Riposte +1d6/+1
Special: Must have been tutored in the art of Scherma, a form of one-weapon fighting.

Spoiler

Show

Dashing Duelist [Fighter]
You have become well traveled, blending your skills as a skirmisher with your swashbuckling training.
Prerequisites: Grace +1, Riposte +1d6, Battle Fortitude +1, Cha 15
Benefits: Your Scout and Swashbuckler levels stack for the purposes of your Grace, Battle Fortitude, and Riposte class features. Additionally, if you ever gain Insightful Strike, you may choose to use your Charisma modifier instead of your Intelligence modifier for the purposes of that class feature.
Special: A character with this feat and 8 ranks in Bluff qualifies for the Combat Panache feat, regardless of how many ranks they have in Intimidate or Perform. A Scout may take this as one of their Bonus Feats.

Class Skills
The Class Name's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Perform (Oratory, Weapon Drill) (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex)
Skills Points at Each Level: 6 + int

Hit Dice: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+0	+2	+0	Il Duello, Savvy Duelist, Spada Solo
2nd	+2	+0	+3	+0	Desvio (+3/-3), Fancy Footwork
3rd	+3	+1	+3	+1	Scandiaglio
4th	+4	+1	+4	+1	Desvio (+4/-2), Gaining the Measure
5th	+5	+1	+4	+1	Ala Mazza
6th	+6	+2	+5	+2	Desvio (+5/-1), Passato Sotto
7th	+7	+2	+5	+2	Balleta
8th	+8	+2	+6	+2	Desvio (+6/-0), Force Duel
9th	+9	+3	+6	+3	Stocatta
10th	+10	+3	+7	+3	Esecuzione, Infinite Braggadocio

Weapon Proficiencies: A Bravazzo gains no new Weapon or Armor proficiencies.

Il Duello (Ex): One of the reasons Bravazzos are so disliked is their remarkable skill at holding the... attention of others. Any creature under the effect of her Sneering Glower tactical maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from her whenever they attack any creature other than the Bravazzo; when making this attack, she adds her Charisma modifier to her attack roll as a morale bonus. In addition, the Bravazzo may use Sneering Glower as a Swift action.

Savvy Duelist (Ex): Despite her new training, a Bravazzo is a skirmisher at heart, relying on her dexterity and wits to avoid being hurt. Her levels in Bravazzo and Scout stack for the purposes of Her Riposte class feature.

Spada Solo (Ex): A Bravazzo's entire fighting style revolves around wielding a weapon in one hand and nothing in the other; she gains Einhander^PHBII as a bonus feat, and may use her Dexterity modifier in place of her Strength modifier when determining the damage dealt by weapons that benefit from Weapon Finesse.

Desvio (Ex): It's important not to block blows head on; instead, lightly deflect them and move with the blows.
At 2nd level, a Bravazzo benefiting from the Narrow Profile tactical maneuver decreases the penalty to attack rolls and bonus to AC due to Fighting Defensively to -3 and +3, respectively. At 4th level, this improves to -2 and +4; at 6th level, to -1 and +5. Finally, at 8th level, this improves to +0 and +6.

Fancy Footwork (Ex): Fighting truly comes down to positioning, and the ability to move to a new position without losing your head.
A 2nd level Bravazzo applies the bonus from the Off-Hand Balance tactical maneuver to Balance checks and Bluff checks made while Feinting, as well as Tumble checks. In addition, as long as she is Fighting Defensively, she may increase the bonus from Off-Hand Balance by the Dodge bonus to AC from that action.
Finally, she may use the Fortuitous Tumble tactical maneuver against any creature that attacks her, regardless of whether the attack was successful or not.

Scandiaglio (Ex): Students of Scherma are taught to test their opponent's defenses with a series of quick strikes before committing themselves to the assault.
At the beginning of each of a Bravazzo of 3rd level or higher's turns, she may make a melee touch attack with a light or one-handed weapon at her full BAB as a free action. If this attack hits, it deals no damage; instead, the Bravazzo may apply the benefits of Riposte against that creature until the beginning of her next turn, regardless of whether or not that creature has made any attacks against her.
If she would already benefit from Riposte against that creature, this touch attack instead deals her Riposte damage and she may use Sneering Glower against that creature as part of the attack.

Gaining the Measure (Ex): In Scherma, running away is referred to as "retreating forever", and practitioners are generally taught how to close the distance.
Any time a creature under the effects of a Bravazzo of at least 4th level's Sneering Glower takes an action that would provoke an attack of opportunity from her, she may move up to her base land speed as an Immediate action, as long as this movement would place that creature within her threat range. She may then make an attack of opportunity.
Additionally, if a creature under the effects of her Sneering Glower takes a 5ft step to leave the Bravazzo's threat range, she may immediately make a 5ft step to follow them, regardless of whether or not she has already taken her 5ft step or has taken a Move Action this round.

Ala Mazza (Ex): A Scherma practitioner doesn't care whether they face one opponent or six; they can hold all of them off on equal footing.
At 5th level, a Bravazzo may have a number of creatures under the effects of Sneering Glower at once equal to their Charisma modifier (min. 1), rather than just one. If using Sneering Glower against an additional creature would place her over her limit, the creature who was under the effect the longest is freed.
If she uses Fortuitous Tumble to force one creature under the effects of her Sneering Glower to attack another creature under the effects of Sneering Glower, the second creature takes a penalty to their AC against the attack equal to your Charisma modifier, and takes additional damage from the attack equal to your Riposte damage.

Passato Sotto (Ex): As any Gnome or Halfling could tell you, there's an opening under your opponent's attacks. A Scherma practitioner learns how to slide underneath weapon attacks to strike at tender armpits or a dragon's soft underbelly.
At 6th level, a Bravazzo benefitting from Off-Hand Balance that successfully makes a Tumble check to avoid an attack of opportunity may make an attack of opportunity against her attacker. If the attack is successful, she may, as a swift action, force that creature to repeat that attack of opportunity against another creature within their reach; this attack is considered by other effects to be forced by Fortuitous Tumble.

Balleta (Ex): One of Scherma's more difficult techniques is a strange feinting, hopping lunge which few creatures are truly prepared for.
At 7th level, a Bravazzo may forgo the free touch attack from Scandiaglio to instead Feint as a free action. In addition, she gains the following benefits during any round in which she successfully Feints:

• Her reach is increased by 5' whenever she makes an attack against a creature denied their Dexterity bonus to AC.
• She benefits from Riposte against any creature denied their Dexterity bonus to AC.
• She may make an additional 5' step that round.

Force Duel (Ex): Unlike most of the other techniques learned by Bravazzos, this is not apart of Scherma; rather, it's a method they've figured out for themselves. Otherwise, who would accept a duel with them?
At 8th level, a Bravazzo learns how to perform a special feint consisting of curses and taunts rather than clever misdirection. If this Feint is successful, any creature affected by it suffers from the effects of a nonmagical Mindless Rage effect in addition to the normal effects of the Feint. They do not receive a Will save to negate the effects; however, it only lasts until the beginning of the Bravazzo's next turn.
This special Feint is, however, more difficult to pull off than a normal Feint. First of all, the Bravazzo and her victim must share a language, or otherwise be able to understand each-other; in addition, she suffers a -4 penalty against any creature she has no prior knowledge of. However, she receives a +4 bonus against any creature she knows well; her insults are more... on the nose.

Stocatta (Ex): There are few wounds less pleasant than being stabbed through the gut; Scherma practitioners prefer to aim for such targets. As long as a Bravazzo of 9th level wields a light or one-handed weapon in one hand and holds nothing in the other, any successful attack they make against a creature denied their Dexterity bonus to AC automatically threatens and confirms a critical hit.

Esecuzione (Ex):Traditionally, a Scherma duel is ended by the death of one of the participents; the esecuzione is the traditional method of delivering this killing blow. A Bravazzo of 10th level may, once per encounter, perform a Coup de Grace with a light or one-handed against a creature denied their Dexterity bonus to AC; however, the Fortitude save against dying is made against DC 10 + Bravazzo Level + Dexterity modifier. If the creature is currently under the effects of the Bravazzo's Sneering Glower, then apply her Charisma bonus as a penalty to this save.

Infinite Braggadoccio (Su): A Bravazzo's ego has become so titanic that it overpowers the resistance of lesser beings. The penalty to attack rolls from Sneering Glower now applies to all contested rolls that creature makes against the Bravazzo. In addition, her Riposte damage is no longer precision damage, and her Sneering Glower ignores immunity to fear and mind-affecting abilities; creatures that would otherwise be immune gain a +4 bonus to their check.

PLAYING A BRAVAZZO
You're a badass and you know it; get into fights and then brag about them to your friends and enemies. If that means more fights, well that's fine with you!
Combat: A Bravazzo is ultimately a battlefield controller; by punishing enemies that attack their allies, they draw attacks to themselves. And, thanks to their strong defensive benefits, they can punish anyone who dares attack them. They do their best when they can tag enemies with Sneering Glower and when they Fight Defensively; they lose out on much of their power if their opponents are immune to fear or precision damage.
Advancement: A Bravazzo is a solid fighter, and should proceed accordingly; going back and taking more levels of Scout or Swashbuckler is always a good idea if you're stumped on where to go next.
Resources: Bravazzos don't have any organizations of their own; however, they tend to get employed as mercenaries or bodyguards for members of the nobility.

BRAVAZZOS IN THE WORLD
"I have never met such an ill-mannered man in my life! Why, did you hear what he called my wife?"
"Why not challenge him to a duel, then?"
"I'm angry, not suicidal."

Never underestimate how well a charismatic fighter can cover up their little... indiscretions.
Daily Life: There will, ideally, be a lot of fighting, boozing, and stealing the hearts of men and women alike. It is a good idea to have a good practice session every morning, though. Keeps the body from locking up at inconvenient times (like in the middle of a fight).
Notables: Shialara di Loretzia (LE Star Elf Swashbuckler 2/Scout 4/Bravazzo 6) is a borderline serial killer, what with the massive number of duels she's fought over the most trifling slight. If it weren't for her family, she would have hung by now. Handsome Jack Cuttler (CG Human Scout 2/Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 1/Bravazzo 2), also known as The Masked Nobleman, learned Scherma on diplomatic visit to the Southern princedoms; now he disguises himself and fights the corrupt government of his homeland as a masked vigilante.
Organizations: If you go down to the decadent cities of the South, there are countless instructors who would be willing to train you in Scherma. Some of them even do so legally.

NPC Reaction
Initially, your average NPC will be wary of the Bravazzo; they will quickly calm down if their fears are allayed. And they'll just as quickly try to kick you out of town if they confirm them.

BRAVAZZOS IN THE GAME
One thing to keep in mind is that Bravazzos end up effectively having a really high AC. However, most of this bonus is a Dodge bonus, so it should be easy enough to get around without introducing monsters that will always hit the rest of the party.
Adaptation: If your setting has a set of decadent cities with a vaguely Renaisance Italy vibe, then this class will fit in just fine. If not, it will fit in well anywhere you'd normally stick a duelist or swashbuckler. If the Swashbuckler is inappropriate to your game, you don't have to worry about this class.
Encounters: A Bravazzo can be anything from the hot-headed nobleman that challenges one of the party members to a duel over a perceived slight to a warlady leading attacks against the party's allies from the frontline.

Sample Encounter
Give an example of how one might encounter a member of this PrC.
EL x: Give the encounter level and description of a sample member of this class and a stat block for him/her.


Name
alignment/Gender/Race/Levels
Init +0, Senses: Listen +, Spot +,
Languages
------------------------------------------------
AC , touch , flat-footed ()
hp ( HD)
Fort +, Ref +, Will +
------------------------------------------------
Speed ft. ( squares)
Melee
Base Atk +, Grp +
Atk Options
Combat Gear
Spells Prepared
Supernatural Abilities
-----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str , Dex , Con , Int , Wis , Cha
SQ
Feats
Skills
Possessions