View source for Swordsman (3.5e Prestige Class)

{{Author
|author_name=Idkwhatmynameis
|date_created=9/16/2016
|status=Pretty much done unless I start hating it.
|editing= Grammar and syntax only.
|balance=High
}}
{{3.5e Class Data
|summary= Specialists in the art of swordsmanship, whether with rapiers, longswords or mercurial greatswords.
|Length=5
|minlevel=4
|align=UNIQe95fef669a2cd64f-item-2--QINU
}}

==Swordsman==
[[File:800x1233_19866_Demonic_Swordsman_2d_fantasy_warrior_picture_image_digital_art.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Watch out for the pointy end.]]


{{quote 
|Your life. This blade will spill it. 
|orig=Dakkon Blackblade, Swordsman
}}
Every fantasy story needs a guy who's really good at wielding a sword. You're that guy.

===Becoming a Swordsman===
Becoming a swordsman pretty much comes down to owning a sword and training, whether through learning under an old mentor on a mountain, from a training manual which has been passed down for generations, or through simply going into battle and surviving.

{| class="dragon monstats" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|+ style="font-size: larger; white-space: nowrap;" | Entry Requirements
|-
! Base Attack Bonus:
| +4
|-
!Feats: 
| [[SRD:Weapon Focus|Weapon Focus (any bladed weapon)]],[[SRD:Power Attack|Power Attack]]
|-
|} 

{| class="zebra d20"
|+ <div>{{Anchor|Table: The Swordsman}}</div>
<p>Hit Die: d8</p>
|-
! rowspan="2" | Level
! rowspan="2" | [[BAB|Base<br/>Attack Bonus]]
! colspan="3" | [[SRD:Saving Throw|Saving Throw]]s
! rowspan="2" | Special
|-
! [[SRD:Saving Throw#Fortitude|Fort]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Reflex|Ref]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Will|Will]]
|- 
| 1st || +1 || +2 || +2 || +2
| class="left" | [[#Parry|Parry 1/encounter]], [[#Lead Blades| Lead Blades]], [[#Blade Trick| Blade Trick]], [[#Sword Mastery | Sword Mastery]]
|- 
| 2nd || +2 || +3 || +3 || +3
| class="left" | [[#Blade Trick|Blade Trick]], [[#Called Strike| Called Strike (arms, legs)]], [[#Bonus Feat|Bonus Feat]]
|- 
| 3rd || +3 || +3 || +3 || +3
| class="left" | [[#Parry | Parry 2/encounter]], [[#Sword Trance|Sword Trance]]
|- 
| 4th || +4 || +4 || +4 || +4
| class="left" | [[#Blade Trick| Blade Trick]], [[#Called Strike| Called Strike (head, torso)]],[[#Bonus Feat| Bonus Feat]]
|- 
| 5th || +5 || +4 || +4 || +4
| class="left" | [[#Parry| Parry 3/encounter]], [[#Sword Master| Sword Master]]
|- class="noalt"
| colspan="42" class="skill" |
'''Class Skills ([[Skill Points::6]] + [[SRD:Intelligence|Int]] modifier per level.)'''<br/>
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Autohypnosis Skill|Autohypnosis}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Balance Skill|Balance}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Climb Skill|Climb}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Concentration Skill|Concentration}} ([[SRD:Constitution|Con]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Craft Skill|Craft}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]),  
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Escape Artist Skill|Escape Artist}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Gather Information Skill|Gather Information}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Handle Animal Skill|Handle Animal}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Heal Skill|Heal}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Intimidate Skill|Intimidate}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Jump Skill|Jump}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Knowledge Skill|Knowledge}} (all skills, taken individually) ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Listen Skill|Listen}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Profession Skill|Profession}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Ride Skill|Ride}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Search Skill|Search}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Sense Motive Skill|Sense Motive}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Speak Language Skill|Speak Language}} (None), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Spot Skill|Spot}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Survival Skill|Survival}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Swim Skill|Swim}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Tumble Skill|Tumble}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Use Rope Skill|Use Rope}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]).
|}

====Class Features====

All of the following are class features of the Swordsman.

'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' A swordsman gains proficiency in all bladed weapons, simple, martial and exotic.

'''{{Anchor|Parry}} ([[Ex]]):''' At 1<sup>st</sup> level, you've learnt that getting hit hurts. As an immediate action, whenever you are about to be hit by an ability that requires an attack roll, you may make an opposed attack roll. If your attack roll is equal to or exceeds the attack's, you effectively parry the attack and take no damage or other associated effect. You may use this ability once per encounter at level one and an additional time at levels three and five.

'''{{Anchor|Lead Blades}} ([[Ex]]):''' Whenever you're wielding a bladed weapon and use the [[SRD:Power Attack|Power Attack]] feat, you may treat it as if you were wielding it with two hands.

'''{{Anchor|Blade Trick}} ([[Ex]]):''' Beginning at 1<sup>st</sup> level, you learn a wide variety of tricks that only someone with an unhealthy obsession would have time to practice. At 1<sup>st</sup>, 2<sup>nd</sup>, and 4<sup>th</sup> level, you may pick one of the following abilities:

''{{Anchor|Always in Hand}} ([[Ex]]):'' You may pick up and draw your weapon as a free action as long as it is within your reach.

''{{Anchor|Thrown Blade}} ([[Ex]]):'' You may throw your weapon as a ranged attack with a range of 30 feet. 

''{{Anchor|Pole Vault}} ([[Ex]]):'' You may ignore up to 10 feet of rough terrain while wielding a bladed weapon. Additionally, you gain a competence bonus to {{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Jump Skill|Jump}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]) checks equal to four times your class levels.

''{{Anchor|Just Like Butter}} ([[Ex]]):'' Whenever you're wielding a bladed weapon, you may ignore the [[SRD:Breaking and Entering|hardness]] of an object when striking it.

''{{Anchor|Flourish}} ([[Ex]]):'' When wielding a bladed weapon, you may make an {{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Intimidate Skill|Intimidate}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]) check as a move action once per round, gaining a bonus to the check equal to the enhancement bonus on the weapon.

''{{Anchor|Slow Fall}} ([[Ex]]):'' You gain the [[SRD:Monk|monk]] ability of the same name, with unlimited fall distance. 

''{{Anchor|Versatile Weapon}} ([[Ex]]):'' You may use a bladed weapon to deal piercing, slashing, blunt, and non-lethal damage; you choose which type of damage to deal when declaring an attack. 

'''{{Anchor|Sword Mastery}} ([[Ex]]):''' At 1<sup>st</sup> level, you may pick a specific type of bladed weapon, such as a longsword, gaining several abilities while wielding said weapon. At 1<sup>st</sup> level, you treat levels of swordsman as fighter; furthermore, your weapon gains an enhancement bonus equal to 1/3<sup>rd</sup> your character level. 

At 2<sup>nd</sup> level, you are treated as having [[SRD:Improved Disarm|Improved Disarm]], [[SRD:Improved Feint|Improved Feint]], [[SRD:Improved Trip|Improved Trip]], and [[SRD:Improved Sunder|Improved Sunder]] while wielding your chosen weapon.

At 3<sup>rd</sup> level, you are treated as having [[SRD:Greater Weapon Specialization| Greater Weapon Specialization]] while wielding your weapon.

At 4<sup>th</sup> level, you gain [[SRD:Improved Critical| Improved Critical]] while holding that weapon.

At 5<sup>th</sup> level, you gain [[SRD:Greater Weapon Focus|Greater Weapon Focus]] with that weapon.

You qualify as having these feats for any prerequisites. 

With a one hour training ritual, you may change which type of bladed weapon this ability applies to. This also changes what weapon your [[SRD:Weapon Focus| Weapon Focus]] and [[SRD:Weapon Specialization| Weapon Specialization]] apply to, assuming you have them.

'''{{Anchor|Called Strike}} ([[Ex]]):''' At 2<sup>nd</sup> level, you gain the ability to make called strikes. A called strike is a standard action that deals normal damage and has additional effects. The [[SRD:Saving Throw| Fortitude Save]] DC for any effect is equal to 10 + 1/2 [[SRD:Effective Character Level|Character Level]] + [[SRD:Strength|Str]]. At 2<sup>nd</sup> level, you have access to the following called strikes:

''{{Anchor|Arms}} ([[Ex]]):'' You may cripple your opponent's arms, causing them to take a &minus;2 penalty to attack rolls, skills involving arms, and giving them a 10% spell failure chance per class level for any spell that has somatic components.

''{{Anchor|Legs}} ([[Ex]]):'' You cripple your opponent's legs, halving their movement speed and preventing them from taking the [[SRD:Run|Run]], [[SRD:Withdraw|Withdraw]], and [[SRD:5-Foot Step|5-Foot Step]] actions.

At 4<sup>th</sup> level, you gain access to these called strikes:

''{{Anchor|Torso}} ([[Ex]]):'' You may force your opponent to move 10 ft/character level in any direction. If said creature hits a wall or other solid object, it takes 1d6 per 10 feet they would have otherwise moved.

''{{Anchor|Head}} ([[Ex]]):'' You cause your opponent to be your choice of [[SRD:Blinded|blinded]] for 1d4 rounds or [[SRD:Stunned|stunned]] for 1. 

'''{{Anchor|Bonus Feats}}:''' At 2<sup>nd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup> level, you may choose a bonus Combat Feat. If you are not using Tome, you may choose a Fighter Bonus Feat that you qualify for.

'''{{Anchor|Sword Trance}} ([[Ex]]):''' At 3<sup>rd</sup> level, you gain the ability to enter a meditative state where your fighting ability is truly unmatched. Entering a sword trance is a [[SRD:Action Types|move action]]. During a sword trance, you gain several benefits while wielding a bladed weapon. You gain a +4 bonus to [[SRD:Strength|Strength]] and [[SRD:Dexterity|Dexterity]], increase your reach by 5 feet, ignore all [[SRD:Damage Reduction|damage reduction]], and lastly, gain the ability to take a full attack action as a standard action. You may end your sword trance as a free action, and can be in sword trance for a total number of rounds equal to 4+your [[SRD:Strength|Strength modifier]] rounds per day. Each level of swordsman adds 2 rounds to the number of rounds you may sword trance.

'''{{Anchor|Sword Master}} ([[Ex]]):''' At 5<sup>th</sup> level, you no longer need to pick a weapon for your [[#Sword Mastery|Sword Mastery]] ability. It applies to any bladed weapon you wield. Additionally, any bladed weapon you wield has its critical multiplier increased by one (×2→×3, for example) and has its damage dice increased by two size categories.

====Playing a Swordsman====

'''Combat:''' In combat, you're the frontline of the frontline, as you always rely on getting up close and personal.

'''Advancement:''' Anything that makes you better at sticking your sword into people is desirable.

====Swordsmen in the World====

{{quote|Round One. Fight!|4=}}

Swordsmen follow battle. Whether they are wars, special missions, or heroic quests, they go where they can put their sword skills to the test.

'''NPC Reactions:''' NPCs that know that a character is a swordsman will usually treat them like any other adventurer, unless they are particularly interested in swordsmanship. Then they might challenge them to a duel, ask them to train them, or just pick a fight with them.




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