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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sammael" data-source="post: 2242434" data-attributes="member: 4475">A player in my campaign is soon going to finish his progression as a Complete Warrior kensai (he is currently rgr 1/ftr 4/kensai 8), and asked me if I could find a 5-level PrC for him to play until (if?) he hits the epic levels. After thorough research, I discovered that I couldn't find anything in WotC books - and I own a whole bunch of them. Before turning to 3rd party books, I checked the net and found a number of blademaster classes; however, most of them focus on the unarmored, light-weapon-wielding characters, whereas my player's character is clad in mithral full plate and wields a bastard sword. When all else fails, turn to creativity, I guess. Here's the class I cooked up for him, and I'd like to hear at least a few opinions on whether it is balanced or not. I borrowed some elements from the PrCs I found on the net, and some from the 3.0 version of weaponmaster (found in Sword and Fist).Note that I use the weapon groups rule variant in my campaign. Wherever I refer to "heavy blades," it pretty much means "any weapon from the following group: bastard sword, falchion, fullblade, greatsword, khopesh, longsword, or saber." Tactics is also a new skill, but it doesn't have any significance in relation to the class, so feel free to ignore it.BLADEMASTERHit Die: d10RequirementsTo qualify to become a blademaster, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.Base attack bonus: +8Feats: Cleave, Combat Expertise, Improved Critical (heavy blades), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (heavy blades)Special: Must have defeated a worthy opponent (of at least equal HD/levels) in single combat, using a heavy blade as a weapon.Class Skills:The blademaster’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Tactics (Wis).Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int Modifier.[CODE]Level    BAB    Fort    Ref    Will    Special1    +1    +0    +2    +0    Masterful parry, restrained strike2    +2    +0    +3    +0    Critical strike 1/day, deflect maneuver3    +3    +1    +3    +1    Blade rush4    +4    +1    +4    +1    Critical strike 2/day5    +5    +1    +4    +1    Devastating strike, grand master of blades[/code]CLASS FEATURESBlademaster levels stack with fighter levels (if any) for the purpose of determining whether the character is qualified to take Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialization, or Weapon Specialization as feats. The character must have at least one level of fighter to partake in this benefit, and he may only apply those feats to the heavy blades weapon group.The blademaster is not restricted in the use of other weapons in any way, but all listed class features apply only when the blademaster is wielding a heavy blade (bastard sword, falchion, fullblade, greatsword, khopesh, longsword, or saber).Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Blademasters do not gain any additional weapon or armor proficiencies.Masterful Parry (Ex): Blademasters are intimately familiar with various fighting styles associated with the heavy blades weapon group. Against an opponent wielding a heavy blade, the blademaster gains a dodge bonus to AC equal to his class level.Restrained Strike (Ex): As a renowned swordsman, the blademaster often has to train novice warriors in the use of blades. Because he needs to teach his lessons without killing or injuring trainees, he learns how to control his blade better and divert his deadly blows to leave nothing but bruises. The blademaster can choose to deal nonlethal damage with every strike he makes without taking the usual -4 penalty on the attack roll. Critical Strike (Ex): A blademaster’s accuracy is legendary. At 2nd level, he may declare any successful attack to be a critical threat, or any critical threat to be an automatic critical hit, once per day. He gains an additional use of this ability at 4th level.Deflect Maneuver (Ex): A blademaster regards his blade as a natural extension of his body. Beginning at 2nd level, the blademaster gains a +2 bonus against disarm and sunder attacks, or +4 against an opponent wielding a heavy blade.Blade Rush (Ex): The blademaster can make his opponents move back under the power of his mighty blows. Every time a blademaster makes a successful strike, he may initiate a bull rush (as if he had used the bull rush special attack). Unlike a regular bull rush, initiating a blade rush does not provoke an attack of opportunity. If the blademaster moves with the opponent, this counts against his normal movement for the round. Devastating Strike (Ex): The blademaster can focus his skill to maximize his blade’s damage once per round, but at a cost of defense. After making a successful attack roll (but before rolling for damage), the blademaster can declare a devastating strike. Instead of rolling for weapon damage, he inflicts maximum base damage for his blade type. For example, a longsword-wielding blademaster would inflict 8 points of base damage, while a blademaster with a fulblade would inflict 16 points of damage. Only the weapon’s base damage is maximized. After using the devastating strike, the blademaster suffers a penalty to Armor Class until his next turn, as he regains composure after the mighty blow. The penalty depends on the weapon’s base damage die: 1d8 or 2d4 (-2); 1d10 (-3); 1d12 or 2d6 (-4); 2d8 (-5).Grand Master of Blades (Ex): By 5th level, the blademaster’s skill is widely recognized. He may add his class level as a bonus on all Diplomacy and Intimidate rolls. Additionally, if he has the Leadership feat, he may add his class level as a bonus to his leadership score.</blockquote>

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