Editing Prestige Class: Bladebond
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The bladebond masters body, mind, weapon, and will. He devotes his strength and his life to the service of a master or an ideal he accepts as greater than himself. Some bladebonds become masters in their own right, but even one who becomes an emperor sees himself as a servant of some higher power. | The bladebond masters body, mind, weapon, and will. He devotes his strength and his life to the service of a master or an ideal he accepts as greater than himself. Some bladebonds become masters in their own right, but even one who becomes an emperor sees himself as a servant of some higher power. | ||
− | + | Most characters who become bladebonds aspire to the class from the beginning of their careers. Often, other bladebonds or elite military organizations train likely young men and women in the principles of service, the arts of war, and the purity of mind and body necessary to become a bladebond. Even those who do not qualify at the end often become powerful adventurers. | |
+ | A bladebond can be a lone adventurer, serving an ideal or attempting to fulfill a lifetime goal. Some bladebonds swear fealty to great lords and rise to become trusted bodyguards, warlords, or leaders in the lord's service. Fighters and defenders know the strenuous road a kensai must travel, and some tread that path. While it might be thought that a rogue would make a poor bladebond, such characters are not unheard of and can be deadly adversaries. | ||
'''Hit Die:''' d10. | '''Hit Die:''' d10. | ||
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:'''Alignment:''' Any lawful.<br> | :'''Alignment:''' Any lawful.<br> | ||
:'''Base Attack Bonus:''' +5.<br> | :'''Base Attack Bonus:''' +5.<br> | ||
− | :'''Skills:''' Concentration 5 ranks, | + | :'''Skills:''' Concentration 5 ranks, Intimidate 5 ranks, Survival 5 ranks.<br> |
:'''Feats:''' Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus (any weapon).<br> | :'''Feats:''' Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus (any weapon).<br> | ||
:'''Special:''' Must complete an oath of service (see below) to either an overlord or an ideal. | :'''Special:''' Must complete an oath of service (see below) to either an overlord or an ideal. | ||
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==Class Skills== | ==Class Skills== | ||
− | The bladebond’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local and Shadow) (Int), Survival (Wis), and Sense Motive (Wis | + | The bladebond’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local and Shadow) (Int), Survival (Wis), and Sense Motive (Wis). |
'''Skill Points at Each Level:''' 4 + Int Modifier. | '''Skill Points at Each Level:''' 4 + Int Modifier. | ||
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| 1 || +0 || +0 || +0 || +2 || [[Prestige_Class:_Bladebond#Signature_Weapon|Signature weapon]] | | 1 || +0 || +0 || +0 || +2 || [[Prestige_Class:_Bladebond#Signature_Weapon|Signature weapon]] | ||
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− | | 2 || +1 || +0 || +0 || +3 || | + | | 2 || +1 || +0 || +0 || +3 || Power surge |
|- | |- | ||
| 3 || +2 || +1 || +1 || +3 || | | 3 || +2 || +1 || +1 || +3 || | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 4 || +3 || +1 || +1 || +4 || | + | | 4 || +3 || +1 || +1 || +4 || Ki projection |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 5 || +3 || +1 || +1 || +4 || | + | | 5 || +3 || +1 || +1 || +4 || Withstand |
|- | |- | ||
| 6 || +4 || +2 || +2 || +5 || | | 6 || +4 || +2 || +2 || +5 || | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 7 || +5 || +2 || +2 || +5 || | + | | 7 || +5 || +2 || +2 || +5 || Ki projection |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 8 || +6 || +2 || +2 || +6 || | + | | 8 || +6 || +2 || +2 || +6 || Instill |
|- | |- | ||
| 9 || +6 || +3 || +3 || +6 || | | 9 || +6 || +3 || +3 || +6 || | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 10 || +7 || +3 || +3 || +7 || | + | | 10 || +7 || +3 || +3 || +7 || Ki warlord |
|} | |} | ||
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If the ritual is interrupted, it can be begun again at any time, but it must run for a full 24 hours for the signature weapon to be imbued. The bladebond pays the XP cost as soon as the ritual has been completed. | If the ritual is interrupted, it can be begun again at any time, but it must run for a full 24 hours for the signature weapon to be imbued. The bladebond pays the XP cost as soon as the ritual has been completed. | ||
− | A bladebond's signature weapon has a caster level equal to the character’s class level +10 | + | A bladebond's signature weapon has a caster level equal to the character’s class level +10. |
''Imbuing Double Weapons:'' A double weapon may be imbued, but both ends of the weapon must be paid for and imbued separately. | ''Imbuing Double Weapons:'' A double weapon may be imbued, but both ends of the weapon must be paid for and imbued separately. | ||
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|colspan="6" style="background:#efefef;font-size=9px;" | ** The XP cost presented here assumes that the weapon being imbued does not already have an enhancement bonus. If it does, the cost to imbue it with additional power is reduced. For instance, if a bladebond has a +1 longsword and wants to imbue it with the power to be a +3 longsword, he may do so by paying the difference in XP between creating a +1 weapon and a +3 weapon (360 minus 40, or 320 XP). | |colspan="6" style="background:#efefef;font-size=9px;" | ** The XP cost presented here assumes that the weapon being imbued does not already have an enhancement bonus. If it does, the cost to imbue it with additional power is reduced. For instance, if a bladebond has a +1 longsword and wants to imbue it with the power to be a +3 longsword, he may do so by paying the difference in XP between creating a +1 weapon and a +3 weapon (360 minus 40, or 320 XP). | ||
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</div></span> | </div></span> | ||
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*'''Power Surge (Ex):''' At 2nd level, a bladebond gains the ability to make a DC 15 Concentration check as a move action to focus his energy and spirit. If he succeeds, he gains +8 to his Strength for a number of rounds equal to one-half his class level. Each time after the first that a bladebond successfully uses this ability in a 24-hour period, the check DC increases by 5. | *'''Power Surge (Ex):''' At 2nd level, a bladebond gains the ability to make a DC 15 Concentration check as a move action to focus his energy and spirit. If he succeeds, he gains +8 to his Strength for a number of rounds equal to one-half his class level. Each time after the first that a bladebond successfully uses this ability in a 24-hour period, the check DC increases by 5. | ||
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− | + | *'''Ki Projection:''' At 4th level and higher, a bladebond adds one-half his class level (round down) to any Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, or Intimidate checks he makes. At 8th level and higher, the bladebond adds his full class level to such checks. | |
− | *'''Projection:''' At 4th level and higher, a bladebond adds one-half his class level (round down) to any Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, or Intimidate checks he makes. At 8th level and higher, the bladebond adds his full class level to such checks. | ||
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A target that realizes it has been fooled by a bladebond’s successful Bluff check gains a +10 bonus on any check or saving throw involving the bladebond's use of Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, or Intimidate against that target in the future. The bladebond can regain the creature’s trust by changing its attitude from unfriendly to friendly (see Influencing NPC Attitudes, page 72 of the Player’s Handbook).</div> | A target that realizes it has been fooled by a bladebond’s successful Bluff check gains a +10 bonus on any check or saving throw involving the bladebond's use of Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, or Intimidate against that target in the future. The bladebond can regain the creature’s trust by changing its attitude from unfriendly to friendly (see Influencing NPC Attitudes, page 72 of the Player’s Handbook).</div> | ||
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*'''Withstand (Ex):''' When a bladebond of 5th level or higher is forced to make a Reflex save to avoid damage from an area effect spell (such as a fireball), he can make a Concentration check instead of a Reflex save to resist taking full damage. If a bladebond has the evasion or improved evasion ability, those benefits apply on this Concentration check as well. | *'''Withstand (Ex):''' When a bladebond of 5th level or higher is forced to make a Reflex save to avoid damage from an area effect spell (such as a fireball), he can make a Concentration check instead of a Reflex save to resist taking full damage. If a bladebond has the evasion or improved evasion ability, those benefits apply on this Concentration check as well. | ||
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*'''Instill (Ex):''' Once per day, a bladebond of 8th level or higher may take a full-round action to make a Concentration check (DC 10 + target’s HD or character level) to impart some of his own ability into a willing ally he can touch. The bladebond then transfers some of his power to the ally: He subtracts up to 1 point per class level from his base attack bonus and/or any or all of his base save bonuses and transfers the same amount to the recipient. The bladebond regains the instilled power 1 hour later, when it transfers back out of the ally. If the ally dies before the instilled power is transferred back, the bladebond must make a Fortitude save (DC 5 + target’s HD or character level) or die as well. If he succeeds, he immediately gets his instilled powers back. | *'''Instill (Ex):''' Once per day, a bladebond of 8th level or higher may take a full-round action to make a Concentration check (DC 10 + target’s HD or character level) to impart some of his own ability into a willing ally he can touch. The bladebond then transfers some of his power to the ally: He subtracts up to 1 point per class level from his base attack bonus and/or any or all of his base save bonuses and transfers the same amount to the recipient. The bladebond regains the instilled power 1 hour later, when it transfers back out of the ally. If the ally dies before the instilled power is transferred back, the bladebond must make a Fortitude save (DC 5 + target’s HD or character level) or die as well. If he succeeds, he immediately gets his instilled powers back. | ||
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− | + | *'''Ki Warlord:''' When a bladebond attains 10th level, he gains great notoriety and becomes known as a ki warlord. Other bladebonds of the same alignment revere the ki warlord, and even those of differing alignments treat him with some measure of respect. If the ki warlord has an NPC master, this master likely assigns the ki warlord more responsibility and authority within his domain (perhaps giving him a castle, monastery, or military school). If the ki warlord serves a deity, that deity may take a personal interest in giving the ki warlord more responsibility, perhaps actually contacting the ki warlord directly or through intermediaries and making the deity’s wishes known. | |
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− | In addition to this added responsibility, | + | In addition to this added responsibility, a ki warlord gains some tangible benefits. He has the right to petition other (lower-level) members of the prestige class for assistance on adventures or in the fulfillment of his oath. As long as a ki warlord’s requests do not violate the other members’ own oaths of service or alignment, lower-level bladebonds have a responsibility to assist a ki warlord in any reasonable manner – such as providing food and shelter, access to minor resources, and other things another character might have to barter for. |
− | + | Ki warlords inspire those around them. When fighting within 30 feet of a ki warlord, allies gain a +1 morale bonus on Will saves, Concentration checks, and attack rolls. Lawful allies gain a +2 morale bonus on these checks.</div> | |
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==Oath of Service== | ==Oath of Service== | ||
− | A bladebond's oath of service must be upheld for the bladebond to continue advancing in levels. Typical oaths include swearing service to a powerful lord of the bladebond's alignment, to an organization with the same alignment and goals of the bladebond, to the bladebond's deity, or even to an idea or principle the bladebond upholds. | + | A bladebond's oath of service must be sworn in front of witnesses and must be upheld for the bladebond to continue advancing in levels. Typical oaths include swearing service to a powerful lord of the bladebond's alignment, to an organization with the same alignment and goals of the bladebond, to the bladebond's deity, or even to an idea or principle the bladebond upholds. |
These oaths are not trivial, and prospective bladebond who attempt to enter the prestige class with broad oaths or ones deliberately easy to fulfill find themselves spurned and cannot join the class at all, even if they meet the other requirements. | These oaths are not trivial, and prospective bladebond who attempt to enter the prestige class with broad oaths or ones deliberately easy to fulfill find themselves spurned and cannot join the class at all, even if they meet the other requirements. | ||
− | A bladebond who breaks his oath, for whatever reason, loses access to his bladebond special abilities and must | + | A bladebond who breaks his oath, for whatever reason, loses access to his bladebond special abilities and must receive an atonement spell from a cleric or druid of his alignment ro get them back and continue advancing in the bladebond class. A bladebond must also strictly adhere to his alignment. A bladebond who intentionally and seriously violates his alignment also breaks faith and endures the same negative effects. |
This dual requirement can pose a serious conundrum at times. If a lawful good bladebond swears service to a lord who then orders the bladebond to commit an evil act, the bladebond is caught between his oath and his alignment. He must violate one to fulfill the other, and either way he needs to atone. If the bladebond chooses his alignment, he can break his oath, gain atonement, and swear a new oath (often one relating to “correcting” his former lord). He can then advance as a bladebond again. If the bladebond chooses his lord, he changes alignment and must gain atonement from, in this case, an evil cleric. | This dual requirement can pose a serious conundrum at times. If a lawful good bladebond swears service to a lord who then orders the bladebond to commit an evil act, the bladebond is caught between his oath and his alignment. He must violate one to fulfill the other, and either way he needs to atone. If the bladebond chooses his alignment, he can break his oath, gain atonement, and swear a new oath (often one relating to “correcting” his former lord). He can then advance as a bladebond again. If the bladebond chooses his lord, he changes alignment and must gain atonement from, in this case, an evil cleric. | ||
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''DM Note:'' The idea of the oath of service does not exist to punish a player to chooses to roleplay a bladebond, but to challenge that player. The bladebond is a powerful prestige class, and the oath of service is one of the costs that goes along with it. You should work with the player to come up with an oath that fits into your campaign – one that provides the player with roleplaying opportunities and you with a hook you can use to motivate the entire party. | ''DM Note:'' The idea of the oath of service does not exist to punish a player to chooses to roleplay a bladebond, but to challenge that player. The bladebond is a powerful prestige class, and the oath of service is one of the costs that goes along with it. You should work with the player to come up with an oath that fits into your campaign – one that provides the player with roleplaying opportunities and you with a hook you can use to motivate the entire party. | ||
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