Blade Master
Having used the various weapons of war throughout his/her career, the Blade Master has come to realize that a slashing blade offers the most versatility. With that knowledge came the desire to master the Blade and the various fighting forms that exist throughout the different kingdoms, with the goal of becoming one with the Blade.
A Blade Master is a traveling warrior, searching for different techniques in using a blade with the hope that one day he/she will master its use. Although they do not shun the use of other weapons (after all, there is wisdom in using weapons to satisfy specific needs: blunt weapons for skeletons and missile weapons for aerial creatures), the Blade Master, given a choice, will always use the Blade (the Blade Master’s weapon of choice).
Hit Die: d8
Requirements
To qualify to become a Blade Master, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
- Dexterity: 14
- Base Attack: +5
- Tumble: 5 ranks
- Feats: Dodge, Expertise, Improved Initiative, Mobility
- Special Restrictions: New feats must not improve weapons that do not do slashing damage, such as obtaining Weapon Finesse in club. Must forgo use of armor other than Light Armor. The Blade Master cannot have Weapon Specialization or Weapon Finesse because the goal is to focus on all blades. See the Weapon and Armor Proficiency section below for other restrictions.
| Level | Att | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Reflexive Defense, Bonus Feat |
| 2 | +2 | +0 | +3 | +0 | Improved Monkey Grip |
| 3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Sword Blocking (+1), Deflect Arrows |
| 4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Flat Blade, Bonus Feat |
| 5 | +5 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Evasion, Stunning Attack |
| 6 | +6 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Sword Blocking (+2), Ki Slash |
| 7 | +7 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Canny Defense, Bonus Feat |
| 8 | +8 | +2 | +6 | +2 | Reflex Attack |
| 9 | +9 | +3 | +6 | +3 | Deadly Strike, Improved Evasion, Sword Blocking (+3) |
| 10 | +10 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Crippling Strike, Improved Ki Slash, Bonus Feat |
Bonus Feat Choices: Bonus feats attained must be from this list: Alertness, Ambidexterity, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Death Blow, Dodge, Improved Disarm, Improved Sunder, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Prone Attack, Quick Draw, Sunder, Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Grace, Whirlwind Attack.
Class Skills
The Blade Master’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex*), Climb (Str*), Craft [Bladed Weapons Only] (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Jump (Str*), Knowledge [Hearth Wisdom] (Int), Knowledge [Streetwise] (Int), Knowledge [War] (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive [Combat Prediction and Decipher Strategy] (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex*).
* Your armor check penalty, if any, also applies.
Skill Points at Each Level: 3 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are features of the Blade Master prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Blade Masters are proficient with all slashing weapons. Note that exotic weapons that do slashing damage should be considered martial weapons with regard to the character being able to use them (the character will not require the exotic weapons feat for such slashing exotic weapons). Due to the dexterous movements involved, Blade Masters are restricted to Light Armor only.
As a downside to the extensive study of blades and the extreme preference for bladed weapons, any weapon that does not solely do slashing damage has restrictions. The Blade Master gives up any proficiencies in non-slashing weapons such as crossbows, daggers, and clubs. Future feats cannot provide proficiency in non-slashing weapons. Proficiency in types of armor other than Light Armor is also given up and may not be taken. If a Blade Master uses a non-slashing weapon, he gets a -2 attack penalty in addition to the regular penalty for using a weapon that the character is not proficient in.
Reflexive Defense: The Blade Master gains the extraordinary ability to react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to even be aware of it. This enables the Blade Master to retain his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even when caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. (He still loses any Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.) This ability does not require the Blade Master to have his/her weapon of choice.
Improved Monkey Grip: Treats medium weapons as light weapons when figuring penalties for two-weapon fighting. This only affects the off-hand weapon, and only makes it act like a lighter weapon for the calculation of the attack penalty. Normally, only off-hand weapons that are light have their penalties reduced by 2.
Sword Blocking: When the Blade Master reaches 3rd level, he grows so adept with his swords that he is able to use them defensively as well as offensively. During a battle, the Blade Master gains a +1 bonus to AC if holding two blades. When the character is only holding one weapon, the bonus is halved, rounded down. This increases every three levels (+2 at 6th, +3 at 9th).
Deflect Arrows: Once per round when the character would normally be hit with a ranged weapon, the character may make a Reflex saving throw against a DC of 20 (if the ranged weapon has a magical bonus to attack, the DC increases by that amount). The Blade Master uses his/her weapon of choice to accomplish this and can decrease the DC by an amount equal to the magical weapon bonus if the weapon used is magical. If the character succeeds, the character deflects the weapon. The character must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed. Attempting to deflect a ranged weapon doesn’t count as an action. Exceptional ranged weapons can’t be deflected.
Flat Blade: The Blade Master has so mastered his/her weapon of choice that he/she can do subdual damage instead of normal damage if he/she wishes. The Blade Master must indicate that he/she will attack with the flat of his/her weapon of choice, and if the attack hits and damage is allocated, then all the damage becomes subdual damage. (Insert stuff about undead)
Evasion: If a Blade Master makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, the Blade Master instead takes no damage. Evasion can only be used if the Blade Master is wearing light armor or no armor. It is an extraordinary ability and does not require the Blade Master to have a weapon of choice to perform.
Stunning Attack: The Blade Master can use this ability once per round, but no more than once per level per day. The Blade Master must declare he/she is using a stun attack before making the attack roll (thus, a missed attack roll ruins the attempt). A foe struck by a Blade Master’s slashing weapon is forced to make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + one-half the Blade Master’s level + Wisdom modifier). If the saving throw fails, the opponent is stunned for 1 round in addition to receiving normal damage. The stunning attack is a supernatural ability and can only be done using the character’s weapon of choice. This ability cannot be used on creatures more than one size larger than the Blade Master. Large creatures can be stunned by humans (medium), but not by halflings (small).
Ki Slash: The Blade Master is able to focus his/her Ki into his/her weapon of choice, enabling him/her to make a single slashing attack, no more than once every other round and no more than once per Blade Master level per day, at targets/opponents that would normally be beyond reach. As a result, consider the threat range of the character’s slashing weapon to now be 3x its normal range. For example, the threat range of a Long sword is now 15 feet instead of 5 while a Pole Arm would be 30 feet instead of 10.
Canny Defense: When not wearing armor, the Blade Master adds his Intelligence modifier (if any) to his Dexterity bonus to modify Armor Class while wielding his Blade. If caught flat-footed, without his Blade, or in another situation where the Dexterity bonus would be denied, he loses this bonus.
Reflex Attack: The Blade Master can no longer be caught flat-footed. He/she is able to attack when attacked even when caught flat-footed but does so at the end of the round. If the Blade Master is attacked by multiple attackers within the same round and is flat-footed, then the Blade Master can only counterattack against one character. If the Blade Master is attacked by multiple attackers within the same round and is not caught flat-footed, then the Blade Master can make a counterattack against each individual opponent, with a cumulative -2 penalty to attack for each opponent after the first one counterattacked. The Blade Master can only do this using his/her weapon of choice. Note: The Blade Master can only make a reflex attack after being the target of a melee attack.
Deadly Strike: By forgoing initiative (allow parrying/dodge? See DM) for one round (10 ticks with our system), the character places himself/herself in a position to better react to an attack and counterattack. As a result, when the Blade Master attacks, he/she increases the chance to hit and do critical damage. The Blade Master gains +1 to attack and increases the chance to do critical damage by a factor of 1 (e.g., if it took a 19-20 to do critical damage, it would now take 18-20). The Blade Master can only use this extraordinary ability with his/her weapon of choice, and the bonus only lasts for one combat encounter.
Improved Evasion: Like Evasion, but if the Reflex saving throw is unsuccessful and the spell normally deals half damage on a successful save, then the Blade Master takes only half damage instead of full damage.
Crippling Strike: By forgoing initiative (allow parrying/dodge? See DM) for one round (10 ticks in our system), the character places himself/herself in a position to better react to an attack and counterattack. As a result, when the Blade Master attacks, he/she increases the chance to hit and do critical damage. The Blade Master gains +2 to attack and increases the chance to do critical damage by a factor of 3 (e.g., if it took a 19-20 to do critical damage, it would now take 16-20). The Blade Master can only use this extraordinary ability with his/her weapon of choice, and the bonus only lasts for one combat encounter.
Improved Ki Slash: Same as Ki Slash except the Blade Master is now able to make two attacks per Blade Master level and the range is increased to x5. Additionally, if the Blade Master wishes to use this ability twice in a row instead of on every other round, he can, but it costs twice as much for consecutive slashes. So, GoofBall the Blade Master could attack with this feat every other round, 20 times in all. GoofBall could alternatively use Improved Ki Slash 10 consecutive times, the first attack costing 1 use and each subsequent attack costing 2 uses. GoofBall would still have one additional attack that could be used two rounds after the last slash or any time later that day.
New Feats: (Only available to the Blade Master)
Two-Weapon Grace
You fight exceptionally well with two weapons.
Prerequisites: Off-hand weapon is light, Ambidexterity, Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Benefit: Changes the penalty for your primary and off-hand weapon to 0.
Normal: With a light off-hand weapon and the Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats, your penalty would be -2 for both your primary and off-hand weapon.
Special: This feat only applies if the requirements are met and if both weapons are slashing weapons.