Abdiel Tirimas
First Post
I've seen a lot of these done before, and all of them seem terrible. No real benefits, or grossly unbalanced in terms of abilities. So, I went ahead and made my own version, using the class creation schematics with CP (Class point) system. Tell me what you think. By the way, my version of Blademaster/Master of Blades is not just about having a giant sword and being beastly, it is more about being agile, deadly and unstoppable. The inspiration came from my current character. Lv. 7 Drythari fighter, uses two longswords. He's more based about dodging hits and then hitting really hard with high chance of critical. The development allows for it to be a mixture of combat and interaction, that sets them into an interesting role to play as. My DM and I went through and neatened up some areas, made it more unified and not... well, unbalanced.
And this being my first post... Good Day all! Good to be part of the forum.
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Master of Blades
The master of blades, or blademaster, has spent his life honing the sword. The way of his path is to improve his art, to further pour his soul into the swing of his swords. Some are soldiers that find the lore of the blade is the true call of their heart, others are born with the feel of steel as the most natural thing in the world. They wander to perfect themselves, a mixture of grace and power that leaves allies impressed and enemies in pieces.
A blademaster can be of any alignment, as the call of sword can come from any walk of life. Good masters of blades travel and do their part to fight beside the cause of light, defending the weak and improving themselves all the while. Evil followers of the art quench their swords upon any that should strike their fancy and show no remorse to use their skill to selfish ends. Lawful align themselves with a cause, rigidly staying their course, while chaotic shift from place to place, consumed with wanderlust.
The style of each Blademaster varies, depending on their specific proficiency with weapons, their personal preference. The most common are a single bastard sword, or single or dual long swords. Each of these has a style associated with it, and its own advantages.
Many Blademasters prefer magic weapons, drawing upon the arcane or divine to further bless their skills and enhance their deadly art. The drive of a Blademaster leads them across many lands, and as their skills grow, so does their reputation. This reputation can lead some to fear them, others to hail them as heroes. Wherever they go, their names are whispered.
Hit Die: D10
Requirements: To qualify to become a Blade Master, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
• Alignment: Any
• Race: Any
• Base Attack: +8
• Combat Expertise
• Weapon Focus with the Weapons of their style
• Combat Reflexes
• If two weapon style, must have Two Weapon Fighting
• Must have a Masterwork of each weapon associated with style.
Restrictions:
• A Blademaster may only use armor that is considered light. This includes mithril medium armor, but it must be masterwork, or it cannot be used without the loss of all benefits of the Blademaster’s abilities.
• A blademaster is proficient with all slashing weapons and any weapons previously known, but may only use its special abilities with its preferred style.
• If a blademaster gains a level in any other class, and then wish to return to the Lore of the blade, they must gain two levels in Blademaster to begin gaining new abilities.
• To gain levels in Blademaster past 3rd, must have already forged, or must forge their own weapon, or have weapons he will always use, and name them. These must be masterwork. If their named weapon(s) break, they must forge a replacement, or find an equally important weapon.
• A blademaster may never use a shield.
• A blademaster may never gain the leadership feat, as they wander their life and do not call up armies to them, nor others to follow their path. The call of the blade must find each person alone.
Class Skills: Balance (Dex.), Climb (Str.), Craft (Int.) (Bladed weapons), Diplomacy (Cha.), Gather Information (Cha.), Knowledge (History, War) (Int.), Spot (Wis.), Listen (Wis), and Tumble (Dex.)
Skill Points: The Blade Master gains 3 + INT modifier skill points per level.
Abilities:
Shared-
• Quick Draw: A blademaster is treated as automatically having quick draw, given their devotion to their swords.
• Whispered Name: At 1st level, a blademaster chooses a name for themselves, that represents their persona. This name becomes their reputation, granting a +1 on intimidate, diplomacy, sense motive and bluff. These bonuses increase by +1 per two levels of blademaster, to a max of +4. Example: Lightning’s Call, Shadow’s Bane, Ghost Blade.
• Uncanny Dodge: At 3rd level, a blademaster can no longer be caught flat footed, or flanked.
• Evasion: At 5th level, 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 that Blade Master to have a weapon of choice to perform.
• Legendary Blade: At 9th level, a Blademaster has attained an almost supernatural reputation, and his aging ceases for as long as he wanders the Path of the Blade. Age still accrues, and when his time is up, he dies.
Bonus Feats- At 1st and 7th levels, a Blademaster may choose one of these bonus feats if he meets the requirements for it: Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Critical, Improved Disarm, Improved Two Weapon Fighting, Greater Two Weapon Fighting, Greater Two Weapon Defense
Two Sword Style (Short, Long or Bastard Swords) :
• Balanced Hands: At second level, a master of blades has become fully adjusted to using his off hand and can fight with no penalties for his attack rolls and full strength on both hands.
• Lore of Twin Blades: At second, fifth and seventh level, the Blademaster gains a +1 on attack and damage rolls, stacking to a max of +3.
• Sword as a Shield: At fourth level, while fighting with both blades, gain +1 shield bonus to AC, or +2 if fighting defensively. If the master has two weapon defense, this bonus increases to +2, and fighting defensively to +3.
• Dance of Swords: At sixth level, the blademaster that uses two swords can use his full attack option, and instead of only a 5 foot step, gain a 10 foot step before and afterwards if has spring attack, allowing him to move in a swift pattern across the field
• Flurry of Blades: At eighth level, the blademaster grows more efficient at attacking swiftly. While using his named weapons, you may make an extra strike with your main hand, at a -5 penalty to your full attack bonus, and an extra on the off hand weapon with another -5.
Single Sword Style (Long, Bastard, or Great sword):
• Unrivaled Edge: While wielding their preferred weapon, the blademaster gains a +1 to their STR stat, and a +2 at seventh level.
• Lore of Steel Tower: At second, fifth and seventh level, the Blademaster gains a +1 on attack and damage rolls with their preferred weapon, this stacks to a max of +3.
• Sword as a Shield: At fourth level, the Blademaster has become a dance of death, the bastard sword wielded in one hand or two, at the user’s discretion. The master is proficient at using the sword to deflect attacks and gains a shield bonus of +1, or +2 if fighting defensively.
• Swift Return: At sixth level the master is capable of reversing an enemy’s strike, allowing them a single attempt to roll and parry the strike. The roll is a STR check vs. the enemy’s attack roll. They may use the Swift Return once per day per three levels of Blademaster.
• Whirling Blade: At eighth level a Blademaster’s preferred sword is an extension of his body, moving effortlessly through the air and flesh alike. The Blademaster can use his max attacks with his max attack bonus -4, once per day per three levels, and still gain a move action.
Two Weapon Style:
Cla BAB Fo Re Wi Special
1 +1 +1 +2 +0 Quick Draw, Bonus Feat, Whispered Name
2 +2 +1 +3 +1 Balanced Hands
3 +3 +2 +3 +2 Uncanny Dodge, Lore of Twin Blades
4 +4 +2 +4 +2 Sword as a Shield, Whispered Name +2
5 +5 +3 +4 +3 Evasion, Lore of Twin Blades
6 +6 +3 +5 +3 Dance of Swords, Whispered Name +3
7 +7 +4 +5 +4 Bonus Feat, Lore of Twin Blades
8 +8 +4 +6 +4 Flurry of Blades
9 +9 +5 +6 +5 Legendary Blade, Whispered Name +4
10 +10 +6 +7 +5
Table: The Blade Master: Single Bastard Sword
Clas BAB For Ref Wil Special
1st +1 +1 +2 +0 Quick Draw, Bonus Feat, Whispered Name
2nd +2 +1 +3 +1 Unrivaled Edge
3rd +3 +2 +3 +1 Uncanny Dodge, Lore of Steel Tower
4th +4 +2 +4 +2 Sword as a Shield, Whispered Name +2
5th +5 +3 +4 +2 Evasion, Lore of Steel Tower
6th +6 +3 +5 +3 Swift Return, Whispered Name +3
7th +7 +4 +5 +3 Bonus Feat, Lore of Steel Tower, Unrivaled Edge +2
8th +8 +4 +6 +4 Whirling Blade
9th +9 +5 +6 +4 Legendary Blade, Whispered Name +4
10th +10 +6 +7 +5
And this being my first post... Good Day all! Good to be part of the forum.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Master of Blades
The master of blades, or blademaster, has spent his life honing the sword. The way of his path is to improve his art, to further pour his soul into the swing of his swords. Some are soldiers that find the lore of the blade is the true call of their heart, others are born with the feel of steel as the most natural thing in the world. They wander to perfect themselves, a mixture of grace and power that leaves allies impressed and enemies in pieces.
A blademaster can be of any alignment, as the call of sword can come from any walk of life. Good masters of blades travel and do their part to fight beside the cause of light, defending the weak and improving themselves all the while. Evil followers of the art quench their swords upon any that should strike their fancy and show no remorse to use their skill to selfish ends. Lawful align themselves with a cause, rigidly staying their course, while chaotic shift from place to place, consumed with wanderlust.
The style of each Blademaster varies, depending on their specific proficiency with weapons, their personal preference. The most common are a single bastard sword, or single or dual long swords. Each of these has a style associated with it, and its own advantages.
Many Blademasters prefer magic weapons, drawing upon the arcane or divine to further bless their skills and enhance their deadly art. The drive of a Blademaster leads them across many lands, and as their skills grow, so does their reputation. This reputation can lead some to fear them, others to hail them as heroes. Wherever they go, their names are whispered.
Hit Die: D10
Requirements: To qualify to become a Blade Master, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
• Alignment: Any
• Race: Any
• Base Attack: +8
• Combat Expertise
• Weapon Focus with the Weapons of their style
• Combat Reflexes
• If two weapon style, must have Two Weapon Fighting
• Must have a Masterwork of each weapon associated with style.
Restrictions:
• A Blademaster may only use armor that is considered light. This includes mithril medium armor, but it must be masterwork, or it cannot be used without the loss of all benefits of the Blademaster’s abilities.
• A blademaster is proficient with all slashing weapons and any weapons previously known, but may only use its special abilities with its preferred style.
• If a blademaster gains a level in any other class, and then wish to return to the Lore of the blade, they must gain two levels in Blademaster to begin gaining new abilities.
• To gain levels in Blademaster past 3rd, must have already forged, or must forge their own weapon, or have weapons he will always use, and name them. These must be masterwork. If their named weapon(s) break, they must forge a replacement, or find an equally important weapon.
• A blademaster may never use a shield.
• A blademaster may never gain the leadership feat, as they wander their life and do not call up armies to them, nor others to follow their path. The call of the blade must find each person alone.
Class Skills: Balance (Dex.), Climb (Str.), Craft (Int.) (Bladed weapons), Diplomacy (Cha.), Gather Information (Cha.), Knowledge (History, War) (Int.), Spot (Wis.), Listen (Wis), and Tumble (Dex.)
Skill Points: The Blade Master gains 3 + INT modifier skill points per level.
Abilities:
Shared-
• Quick Draw: A blademaster is treated as automatically having quick draw, given their devotion to their swords.
• Whispered Name: At 1st level, a blademaster chooses a name for themselves, that represents their persona. This name becomes their reputation, granting a +1 on intimidate, diplomacy, sense motive and bluff. These bonuses increase by +1 per two levels of blademaster, to a max of +4. Example: Lightning’s Call, Shadow’s Bane, Ghost Blade.
• Uncanny Dodge: At 3rd level, a blademaster can no longer be caught flat footed, or flanked.
• Evasion: At 5th level, 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 that Blade Master to have a weapon of choice to perform.
• Legendary Blade: At 9th level, a Blademaster has attained an almost supernatural reputation, and his aging ceases for as long as he wanders the Path of the Blade. Age still accrues, and when his time is up, he dies.
Bonus Feats- At 1st and 7th levels, a Blademaster may choose one of these bonus feats if he meets the requirements for it: Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Critical, Improved Disarm, Improved Two Weapon Fighting, Greater Two Weapon Fighting, Greater Two Weapon Defense
Two Sword Style (Short, Long or Bastard Swords) :
• Balanced Hands: At second level, a master of blades has become fully adjusted to using his off hand and can fight with no penalties for his attack rolls and full strength on both hands.
• Lore of Twin Blades: At second, fifth and seventh level, the Blademaster gains a +1 on attack and damage rolls, stacking to a max of +3.
• Sword as a Shield: At fourth level, while fighting with both blades, gain +1 shield bonus to AC, or +2 if fighting defensively. If the master has two weapon defense, this bonus increases to +2, and fighting defensively to +3.
• Dance of Swords: At sixth level, the blademaster that uses two swords can use his full attack option, and instead of only a 5 foot step, gain a 10 foot step before and afterwards if has spring attack, allowing him to move in a swift pattern across the field
• Flurry of Blades: At eighth level, the blademaster grows more efficient at attacking swiftly. While using his named weapons, you may make an extra strike with your main hand, at a -5 penalty to your full attack bonus, and an extra on the off hand weapon with another -5.
Single Sword Style (Long, Bastard, or Great sword):
• Unrivaled Edge: While wielding their preferred weapon, the blademaster gains a +1 to their STR stat, and a +2 at seventh level.
• Lore of Steel Tower: At second, fifth and seventh level, the Blademaster gains a +1 on attack and damage rolls with their preferred weapon, this stacks to a max of +3.
• Sword as a Shield: At fourth level, the Blademaster has become a dance of death, the bastard sword wielded in one hand or two, at the user’s discretion. The master is proficient at using the sword to deflect attacks and gains a shield bonus of +1, or +2 if fighting defensively.
• Swift Return: At sixth level the master is capable of reversing an enemy’s strike, allowing them a single attempt to roll and parry the strike. The roll is a STR check vs. the enemy’s attack roll. They may use the Swift Return once per day per three levels of Blademaster.
• Whirling Blade: At eighth level a Blademaster’s preferred sword is an extension of his body, moving effortlessly through the air and flesh alike. The Blademaster can use his max attacks with his max attack bonus -4, once per day per three levels, and still gain a move action.
Two Weapon Style:
Cla BAB Fo Re Wi Special
1 +1 +1 +2 +0 Quick Draw, Bonus Feat, Whispered Name
2 +2 +1 +3 +1 Balanced Hands
3 +3 +2 +3 +2 Uncanny Dodge, Lore of Twin Blades
4 +4 +2 +4 +2 Sword as a Shield, Whispered Name +2
5 +5 +3 +4 +3 Evasion, Lore of Twin Blades
6 +6 +3 +5 +3 Dance of Swords, Whispered Name +3
7 +7 +4 +5 +4 Bonus Feat, Lore of Twin Blades
8 +8 +4 +6 +4 Flurry of Blades
9 +9 +5 +6 +5 Legendary Blade, Whispered Name +4
10 +10 +6 +7 +5
Table: The Blade Master: Single Bastard Sword
Clas BAB For Ref Wil Special
1st +1 +1 +2 +0 Quick Draw, Bonus Feat, Whispered Name
2nd +2 +1 +3 +1 Unrivaled Edge
3rd +3 +2 +3 +1 Uncanny Dodge, Lore of Steel Tower
4th +4 +2 +4 +2 Sword as a Shield, Whispered Name +2
5th +5 +3 +4 +2 Evasion, Lore of Steel Tower
6th +6 +3 +5 +3 Swift Return, Whispered Name +3
7th +7 +4 +5 +3 Bonus Feat, Lore of Steel Tower, Unrivaled Edge +2
8th +8 +4 +6 +4 Whirling Blade
9th +9 +5 +6 +4 Legendary Blade, Whispered Name +4
10th +10 +6 +7 +5
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