Templar (3.5e Class)

Author: Tarkisflux (talk) Co-Authors: ThunderGod Cid Date Created: July 2012 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Templar

The power of my deity flows through me, and will cut you down should you cross me.

“

Nobody is more dangerous than he who imagines himself pure in heart, for his purity, by definition, is unassailable.

”

Every religion has clerics, those tasked with performing the duties of the religion. Many also have faithful members who leave their homes to travel distant lands, spreading the word of their god or pantheon. Given the inherent danger of most settings, these preachers need to either be combat-capable themselves or have someone next to them who is. This is where a templar comes in. Templars are ordained warriors tasked with spreading the faith and defending the faithful, while also beating down the foes of a deity.

Templars are the militant arm of their church and/or cause. They are often guards of sacred places, dispatched away from the temples as agents of higher powers, or simply wander to share the virtues of their philosophy and ideal with others. Initially able and zealous warriors combining martial abilities with the power of their deity, they eventually become an active sword or shield for their deity, with high levels of offensive prowess and devastating crowd control. Whether as a bodyguard or a support character, they often find themselves in the ranks of adventuring parties who can make use of the talents.

A templar generally exemplifies a particular ideology of life, and associated nomenclature may depend on the side with which he aligns himself. A good templar, for instance, might assume the title of paladin while those who embrace evil are often known as blackguards and those who serve neutrality are called gray wardens. What truly differentiates these characters are the vows that they swear to uphold.

Making a Templar

Tome of Prowess

This class is designed to be compatible with the Tome of Prowess rules. Any class abilities that have different rules under Tome of Prowess will be marked by a ToP: label.

Templars are often on the front lines, attempting to spread the word of their deity or knock some sense into the heads of unbelievers and enemies.

Primary Abilities: Templars value Charisma greatly, as it allows them to better convince those they encounter of the importance of their deity and provides force to their spells. They also value Strength as it allows them to beat up those who steadfastly refuse to believe and get in the way of the templar's work.

Secondary Abilities: Constitution is often the third most important ability for a templar, as it allows them to stand longer in the fray.

Races: Any. Every race that has deities has templars to spread their teachings.

Alignment: Any, though a templar may only select a deity who allows worshipers of the templar's alignment. Conversely, a templar of a specific deity is limited to only those alignments which would be allowed by the deity for a follower. Templars without a patron deity may select any alignment they like.

Starting Gold: 3d10×10 gp (165 gp).

Starting Age: Moderate.

Table: The Templar

Hit Die: d10

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spells
		Fort	Ref	Will		0	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
1st	+1	+2	+0	+2	Avenger of the Faith (Primary), Code of Conduct, Spells	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+3	Divine Vow (Once Vowed), Vow of Piety (1 Domain)	3	—	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+3	Avenger of the Faith (Secondary)	3	2	—	—	—	—	—
4th	+4	+4	+1	+4	Divine Vow (Once Vowed)	3	2	—	—	—	—	—
5th	+5	+4	+1	+4	Avenger of the Faith (Primary)	3	3	2	—	—	—	—
6th	+6/+1	+5	+2	+5	Divine Vow (Once Vowed) Arms of the Faithful	3	3	2	—	—	—	—
7th	+7/+2	+5	+2	+5	Avenger of the Faith (Secondary)	3	3	3	2	—	—	—
8th	+8/+3	+6	+2	+6	Divine Vow (Twice Vowed), Vow of Piety (2 Domains), Inquisitor	3	3	3	2	—	—	—
9th	+9/+4	+6	+3	+6	Avenger of the Faith (Primary) Divine Vow (Twice Vowed)	3	3	3	2	—	—	—
10th	+10/+5	+7	+3	+7	Divine Vow (Twice Vowed)	3	3	3	3	2	—	—
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+3	+7	Avenger of the Faith (Secondary)	3	3	3	3	2	—	—
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+4	+8	Divine Vow (Twice Vowed), Sustained by Faith	3	3	3	3	2	—	—
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+4	+8	Avenger of the Faith (Primary)	3	3	3	3	3	2	—
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+4	+9	Divine Vow (Thrice Vowed), Vow of Piety (3 Domains)	4	3	3	3	3	2	—
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+5	+9	Avenger of the Faith (Secondary), Undying Faith (as raise dead)	4	4	3	3	3	2	—
16th	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+5	+10	Divine Vow (Thrice Vowed)	4	4	4	3	3	3	2
17th	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+10	Avenger of the Faith (Primary)	4	4	4	4	3	3	2
18th	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+6	+11	Divine Vow (Thrice Vowed), Undying Faith (as resurrection)	4	4	4	4	4	3	3
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+6	+11	Avenger of the Faith (Secondary)	4	4	4	4	4	4	3
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+6	+12	All Things Are Possible	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Appraise (Int), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) (religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str).
Class Skills, Tome of Prowess Variant (6 per level, ×4 at 1st level) Affability (Cha), Appraisal (Int), Athletics (Con), Cultures (Cha), Endurance (Con), Healing (Cha), Intimidation (Cha), Jump (Str), Psychology (Int), Thaumaturgy (Cha).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the templar.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A templar is automatically proficient with simple and martial weapons, all forms of armor, and all shields.

Spells: A templar cast divine spells, which are drawn from the list below and supplemented by their deity's domains (see Vow of Piety). His caster level for these spells is equal to his class level. The save DCs for these spells are equal to 10 + the spell's level + his Charisma modifier. A templar must have a charisma score of at least 10 + the spell's level in order to cast the spell.

A Templar know all of the spells on his class list, and may cast any of them without preparation so long as he has an appropriate spell slot available and an charisma score of at least 10 + the spell's level. His maximum available slots per day are determined by his class level (as seen on Table: The Templar), and he gains bonus slots from his charisma score.

In order to receive their spell slots, the templar must pray for 1 hour without interruption in a place free from distractions or noise. At the end of this time, he receives his spell slots. After praying, the templar cannot pray again until one whole day (24 hours) has passed.

A templar’s spells are more for utility than combat efficacy, either allowing him to better solve problems through non-violent means or enhancing his combat abilities past even their already formidable limits.

0th— create water, cure light wounds, detect magic, guidance, inflict light wounds, light, purify food and drink, read magic, resistance

1st— aid, bless, cure moderate wounds, detect chaos/evil/good/law (opposing alignments only), deathwatch, divine favor, find temple^SpC, inflict moderate wounds, protection from chaos/evil/good/law (opposing alignments only), remove fear, rhino’s rush^SpC, shield of faith, zone of truth

2nd— align weapon, augury, brand heretic, calm emotions, consecrate, cure serious wounds, delay poison, divine mount, inflict serious wounds, lesser restoration, mass cure light wounds, mass inflict light wounds, prayer, remove blindness/deafness, shield other, status

3rd— air walk, atonement, commune, cure critical wounds, greater dispel magic, inflict critical wounds, glyph of warding, knight's move^SpC, magic circle against chaos/evil/good/law (opposing alignments only), mass cure moderate wounds, mass inflict moderate wounds, remove curse, remove disease, speak with dead

4th— death ward, discern lies, dismissal, divination, freedom of movement, harm, heal, holy sword (or unholy sword), mass cure serious wounds, mass inflict serious wounds, mark of justice, restoration

5th— banishment, break enchantment, contact other plane (own deity only), dispel chaos/evil/good/law (opposing allignments only), mass cure critical wounds, mass inflict critical wounds, raise dead, righteous might

6th— binding, greater glyph of warding, heroes’ feast, mass heal, quest (willing creatures only), refuge, soul bind, word of recall

Avenger of the Faith: A templar trains himself in multiple forms of combat, so as to serve as both the weapon and shield of their church or ideals. At first level, they choose a primary combat form (see Avenger of the Faith Styles) and gain its initial abilities. They gain the the second set of abilities from this style at 5th level, the third set at 9th level, the fourth set at 13th level, and the fifth and final set at 17th level.

At 3rd level, a templar chooses a secondary style and gains its initial abilities. They gain the the second set of abilities from this style at 7th level, the third set at 11th level, the fourth set at 15th level, and the fifth and final set at 19th level.

Code of Conduct (Ex): Like any other character, a templar does what he must to uphold the duties given to him by an organization of which he is a part, even if that organization is as loose as his alignment group. But let’s face it; sometimes even the good and honorable knight may want to lie about his identity or consort with unscrupulous characters in order to root out the evil, demonic cult. And evil knights can be obsessed with battle, honor, and battling with honor. A templar is not specifically prohibited from acts that lie outside of their alignment or run counter to their deity's wishes. Many aspire to these things and most follow them, but not all do so and no templar is punished for being found slightly wanting. Templars who actively displease or betray their deity may still be stripped of their powers and dismissed, however.

Divine Vow (Su): A templar’s code is somewhat variable; different deities and philosophies extol different virtues that a templar must try to uphold. But more than that, each templar is permitted to extol these virtues in slightly different ways. The vows a templar makes are a representation of his personal or religious code, and determine which aspects he attempts to uphold most strongly. These vows grant him extraordinary powers (the nature of which vary based on the vows he takes). These are detailed in the section on divine vows below.

A templar may swear a new vow every even level. At 2nd level, when a templar swears a new vow they may only gain one rank 1 vow of their choice. They may not advance a vow beyond rank 1 at this time.

Beginning at 8th level, when a templar swears a new vow they may reaffirm one vow for which they already possess the rank 1 ability, in order to gain the rank 2 ability. A vow that has been reaffirmed in this way is known as "twice vowed." Instead of reaffirming a rank 1 vow, they may instead select two new vows at rank 1. They may not advance a vow beyond rank 2 at this time.

Beginning at 14th level, when a templar swears a new vow they may reaffirm any other vow for which they already possess the rank 2 ability, in order to gain the rank 3 ability. A vow that has been reaffirmed in this way is known as "thrice vowed." Instead of reaffirming a rank 2 vow, they may instead select a new vow to gain both the rank 1 and rank 2 benefits, or they may select two new rank 1 vows.

Vow of Piety: When you prepare your spells, you may also prepare one of your deity's domains. The spells of a prepared domain are added to your list of spells known, and you may cast them so long as you have a slot of the appropriate level remaining. You also gain access to the associated domain power, using your class level to determine any relevant variables. When you next prepare spells you may choose to gain a different domain from among those offered by your deity. If you do so, you lost access to the spells and power of the previously prepared domain, and instead gain access to the spells and powers of the new domain.

At 8th level you may prepare two domains at a time, gaining access to all sets of spells and powers for as long as they remain prepared.

At 14th level you may prepare three domains at a time.

Arms of the Faithful (Ex): At sixth level a templar gains Craft Magic Arms and Armor as a bonus feat. When crafting any magic items with this feat, they are treated as having access to the spells of the war domain in addition to those on their class list. If they already possess Craft Magic Arms and Armor, they may select another item creation feat for which they qualify.

Inquisitor (Su): An eighth level templar can detect the alignments of any creature that he can see as a swift action. He instantly gains all information about their alignment as if he had spent three rounds concentrating on them with the appropriate spells. If the creature is warded, the templar may make a caster level check against the warding spell to gain the information if such a check is allowed by the ward.

In addition, all the templar’s attacks are automatically considered aligned (good or evil, lawful or chaotic, etc. based on his alignment) for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.

Sustained by Faith (Ex): An eleventh level templar gains everything they need to live from their relationship with their deity. They no longer need to eat, drink, or breathe. They can still do these things if they want to, of course.

Undying Faith (Su): Fifteenth level templars are extremely difficult to kill. The templar may elect to gain the benefit of a raise dead spell at any time within 1 minute of being killed. If they do, their return is announced by a powerful flash of light (as a daylight spell) for 1 round. Instead of the normal level loss, they instead suffer 2 points of Charisma burn. Once used, they may not return from the dead in this way for 24 hours; a templar who dies twice in a day will need someone else to bring them back to continue their work.

At eighteenth level, this ability improves to offer the benefit of a resurrection spell instead, though the templar only returns with half of their maximum hit points.

All Things Are Possible (Sp): The prayers of a twentieth level templar are taken very seriously. Once per day they may cast miracle as a spell-like ability, though they must still spend experience points if the effect would require them from a spellcaster casting it.

Ex-Templars

A templar who wishes to pursue other classes is welcome to do so. There are no multiclassing restrictions against the templar.

A templar who willingly leaves his faith or who is cast out loses all spells, spell-like, and supernatural abilities, as well as any ability stemming from one of their vows. They may return to the faith if a ranking member casts an atonement for them. They may also pursue a new faith entirely. They must still find a member of the faith to atone them, however. When joining a new faith in this way, the templar loses all of their old vows. They may swear a new one each day until they have reached the level allotted them based on their level.

Avenger of the Faith Styles

As there are many different vows that a templar can swear, so to are there different combat styles that they may practice. A templar selects one of these styles as their primary style and another as a secondary. They are both then advanced as the templar gains levels.

Charger

A charger is a very straightforward templar. They see their foes, and they run or ride out to meet them. This generally leads to the defeat of their foes.

1. Knight Errant (Ex): A charger needs to reach his foes in order to strike them down. You may charge up to three times your normal base speed when you make a charge as a full-round action. If you would only be limited to a partial charge, you may move twice your base speed as part of that action. You may make 1 turn up to 90 degrees as part of your charge action, though you must still travel at least 10 feet in a straight line immediately before you attack a target. Additionally, you are not required to move to the closest space to your opponent during a charge, and may make your charge attack when your opponent is in any of your threatened spaces. This does allow you to take a charge attack while running past an opponent, but this movement would provoke attacks of opportunity as normal.
2. Cataphract (Ex): When charging, you may make a full attack with a weapon in your primary hand. If you destroy an effect in your path, render a charged opponent unconscious or dead, or otherwise clear the way forward while charging you may continue the charge along the same path (following all normal restrictions as they apply) up to your full allowed distance. If you have any remaining attacks, you may make them against those in your way along this additional distance as if they were your intended charge target. You may not make a full-attack when you perform a partial charge, however. This benefit also applies while you are mounted.
3. Charge of Necessity (Su): While charging or running, you gain the benefit or air walk for the round, until the start of your next turn. If you do not continue running or charging at the start of the next round, you instead fall to the ground under the effect of feather fall. If you begin a fall from other circumstances you do not benefit from this effect. This benefit also applies while you are mounted.
4. Charge of Destruction (Ex): In addition to charging foes, you can also charge barriers and zones of magic. If you make an attack against a physical object or barrier and your attack roll is greater than it's AC + it's hardness, a 10' cube of it is lost as if it had been disintegrated (force effects are treated as if they had a hardness of 30 for the purposes of this attack). If you make an attack roll against a magic effect in a space, your attack duplicates the effect of a targeted greater dispel magic, and your dispel check is equal to your attack roll. This benefit also applies while you are mounted.
5. Charge of Glory (Su): When you kill a foe with an attack while charging, they are destroyed utterly as if they had been immolated or disintegrated. Further, while charging or running you may leave behind a blade barrier as you leaves each space. The wall need not be continuous, and may have as many or as few breaks in it as you desire. This wall deals 15d6 points of damage, has a save DC of 16 + the templar's Charisma modifer, and dissipates at the start of your next turn. This benefit also applies while you are mounted.

Harrier

Templars who follow the harrier path frustrate the efforts of foes by interrupting and directing their attacks.

1. Vanguard (Ex): While wielding a reach weapon, you threaten adjacent spaces and may attack adjacent enemies as if you were not wielding a reach weapon. Additionally, you may wield a two-handed polearm reach weapon at the same time as you wield a small or larger shield in your off hand, gaining the shield's benefit. When you do so, you still deal damage with the weapon as though it was wielded in two hands.
2. Focused Offensive (Ex): You may focus your attention on a specific target within your threatened area for 1 round as a swift action. For the next round, if this target makes an attack not directed at you you may make an attack against them. If you attack deals damage to the target, they automatically fail their attempted attack. These attacks are not attacks of opportunity and occur in place of them. You may use an attack of opportunity instead of these bonus attacks if you wish. Your stance makes this obvious, and they are aware of the consequences of not attacking you if they can see you.
3. Warding Thrust (Su): Any time you strike with a two-handed weapon, you may attempt to force the target back as a free action. The target must then succeed on a DC 10 + half templar level + Cha mod reflex save or they are thrown back 1 square per five points of damage dealt, plus any reach you have with your weapon, and then fall prone. If they are unable to move the full distance, they suffer 1d6 points of damage per square they could not move. Against the target of a focused offensive, any damage you have dealt to them within the last round in response to their attacking other creatures may be added together to determine the total distance they are thrown back, should you elect to force them at any point.
4. Resounding Thrust (Su): As a standard action, you may target any or all creatures or objects within a cone extending out to Close range (25' plus 5' per 2 class levels) plus any reach you have from your weapon with a melee attack. Roll a single attack roll and compare it to the AC of each target. If the roll would hit them, they take damage and suffer effects as if you had hit them with a normal melee attack.
5. Divine Offensive (Su): You may immediately make an attack against anyone in your threatened area who makes an attack that is not directed at you, even if they are not the target of your focused offensive. These attacks are not attacks of opportunity and occur in place of them. You may use an attack of opportunity instead of these bonus attacks if you wish. You may also select the target of your focused offensive out to Close range (25' plus 5' per 2 class levels) plus any reach you have from your weapon. For the purposes of attacking them when they make an attack that is not directed at you, your reach is considered equal to your target selection range.

Herald

A herald is a shining beacon of the strength of their patron or philosophy. While they generally do so with protective and restorative auras, they are eventually capable of showing the terrible might of their beliefs as well.

1. Aura of Vitality (Su): As a swift or move action, you may radiate a protective divine aura. All designated creatures within Close range (25 ft, +5 feet per 2 class levels) of you when you activate the aura gain its benefits until the start of your next turn. You must have line-of-effect to a creature to designate them, however. You may also exclude yourself from the effect if you prefer. There is no limit to the number of times per day that a herald may create a dine aura.
   Creatures benefiting from your protective aura gain temporary hit points equal to your class level or your charisma modifier, whichever is higher. These temporary hit points last until used or 1 day has passed, and they do not stack with additional exposure to the aura or with any other source of temporary hit points.
2. Aura of Sanctuary (Su): Creatures benefiting from your protective aura also gain the effects of the sanctuary spell. If a warded creature takes an offensive action, the sanctuary effect is only broken for them. The effect may be restored next round as long as they remain within range of you when your aura is renewed, however. If a creature attacks any warded creature and successfully saves against the sanctuary effect, they are considered to have saved against it for all creatures protected by your aura. Further, they need not make any additional saves against the sanctuary effect of your aura for 24 hours, and ignore it even if you continue to renew it during that time.
3. Aura of Protection (Su): Creatures benefiting from your protective aura are protected by a protection from X spell, where X is any alignment descriptor opposed to your own. Characters with a Neutral alignment may select an opposed alignment. You may change the alignment protected against whenever your aura is renewed.
4. Aura of Assistance (Su): You may add the benefits of one personal or touch range spell of level 2 or less that you currently benefit from to your protective aura. A creature who is not a legal target for the spell may not gain the benefit of it from your aura, however.
5. Otherworldy Aura (Su): As a standard action, you can project an otherworldly aura of divine might. You may project this aura in addition to your protective aura, but you must spend both actions to do so. When you project this aura, every creature within close range must make a will save or cower for 1 round. Creatures that are immune to fear are instead dazed for 1 round on a failed save.

Protector

Protectors understand a simple truth about the world and faith: when faced with throngs of unbelievers or the enemies of your deity, it's important to stand your ground. Which they do quite admirably.

1. Hardline Stance (Ex): You may enter a hardline stance as a move action, and may maintain it additional rounds as a swift action. While holding a hardline stance you are treated as if you had readied an attack against any foe's movement within the spaces you threaten. There is no limit to the number of attacks you can make against moving opponents in this way, and you may make an attack against a foe for each space moved. These attacks are not attacks of opportunity and occur in place of them. You may use an attack of opportunity instead of these bonus attacks if you wish. You may only take a 5' step each round you maintain a hardline stance, regardless of the mode of movement. Moving farther through a movement mode causes you to leave the stance, but you do not lose the stance if moved by an outside event such as falling or a creature's ability, or if you move instantaneously via magic.
2. Hardline Emanations (Su): While holding a hardline stance you gain reach as if they were one size larger (small and medium are considered to be the same size category for these purposes). Additionally, if you are carrying a shield the emanations may provide cover to creatures targeted by any attack or spell that passes through a space you threaten at your discretion.
3. Dividing Aegis (Su): While holding a hardline stance you may create a force effect that breaks line of effect across your threatened spaces as a free action on your turn. This break must be a straight line that passes from one side of your threatened area to the opposite side and passes through yourself. It can be maintained for as long as you maintains your hardline stance, but it may only be changed on your turn.
4. Hardline Lock (Su): While holding a hardline stance, your threatened spaces may also block teleportation effects as with a dimensional lock. A creature that exits your threatened area remains affected by this until the start of their next turn. Your shield bonus to AC is added to your caster level for the purposes of overcoming spell resistance with this effect. Additionally, you are treated as readied against the use of any ability blocked by dimensional lock while you maintain your hardline stance, and may strike creatures who attempt to use such abilities as if they had moved.
5. Mirrored Aegis (Su): When your dividing aegis would block a spell, spell-like, or supernatural effect targeted at those past you as a result of it's line of effect interruption, you may choose to instead absorb the effect into your aegis. You may only have one effect absorbed at a time, and if you absorb a second effect the first drains away immediately. As a standard action you may release a captured effect at a valid target of your choosing. This released effect has the same numeric effects as when it was originally cast. If not used within a number of additional rounds equal to your shield bonus to AC (minimum 0), it simply drains away. The effect also drains away immediately if you leave your hardline stance.

Divine Vows

“

So many vows, they make you swear and swear. Defend the King, obey the King. Obey your father. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. What if your father despises the King? What if the King massacres the innocent? It's too much. No matter what you do, you’re forsaking one vow or another.

”

A templar formulates his personal code of conduct around a set of oaths that he makes and bind himself to in the everlasting covenant between himself and whatever power to which he swears allegiance. These vows give him tremendous power and serve to differentiate one templar from another, while not necessarily limiting him to one form of play. Initially, a templar may only select new vows to make and new ideals to uphold. As he gains levels, the templar is able to renew vows, essentially swearing upon the same vow again. This reaffirmation of his faith and dedication to that vow results in further powers related to that particular oath. Of course, since no one is perfect, breaking these vows does not necessarily result in the loss of class features.

Unless otherwise noted, the default saving throw for any effects related to the paladin's earthly vows is 10 + ½ the templar's class level + his Charisma modifier.

Vow of Charity

“

A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.

”

• First: Once per round on your turn you may aid another as a free action.
• Second: Once per round when you are targeted by a spell with an effect beneficial to you, you may allow another creature within Close Range to also gain the benefits of that spell. The spell must also be beneficial to the creature you wish to share it with (interpreted at the DM's discretion), or the sharing fails.
• Third: An ally within Close range of you may use your spell slots to cast a spell of an equivalent or lower spell level, so long as you possess the minimum charisma score to use the slot yourself. Your ally may use this slot to cast any spell that they have prepared or that they know (in the case of spontaneous casters), using your slot instead of their own. Your ally may also cast spells from your spell list, even if they would not normally be capable of casting divine spells. Anyone casting a spell in this fashion uses their own attributes, feats, and character level to determine the effects and DC of the spell. They do not need to meet the minimum charisma score requirement for a particular spell level cast from your list, but they must be of a sufficient level that they would be able to use the spell slot were they a templar of the same level.

Roleplaying Ideas: Perhaps your church decrees that its members must give aid to others, or maybe you give out of the goodness of your heart. You are the quintessential selfless knight, giving to others without necessarily thinking of your own gains. There are times when you may give up more important things than money; the truest sacrifice a templar can make is to offer their own life in the service of their cause.

Vow of Clemency

“

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

”

• First: Whenever you deal lethal damage with a weapon or spell, you may freely opt to deal nonlethal damage instead without suffering a penalty to attack or damage rolls.
• Second: You may automatically stabilize any creature within Close range of yourself. Additionally, you may keep them from being killed outright through hit points or ability damage. If a creature within Close range would reach -10 hit points or 0 in an attribute, you may instead set them to -9 hit point or 1 in the attribute, whichever is more appropriate. Creatures who are saved from reaching 0 in an ability score are rendered unconscious for 24 hours, though you may rouse them as a standard action at any time before that. You must be aware of a creature to use this ability.
• Third: You may administer healing or other status restoration effects to creatures who have been dead for less than 1 hour as if they were still alive. If you would heal a creature in such a way that they would not be dead, they recover from that condition without penalty.

Roleplaying Ideas: A good templar may see legitimacy in the concept of defeating enemies in a non-fatal fashion, but it's just as possible that you may simply need to capture them so as to transport them to a more grisly fate.

Vow of Confrontation

“

In the name of the church, I declare your life forfeit.

”

• First: When you deal damage to a creature with an alignment component opposed to your own, you add your templar level to the damage. A lawful good templar, for example, would add this damage to chaotic or evil creatures. Neutral creatures are considered opposed to creatures with no neutral portion of their alignment. You may suppress this bonus damage at-will.
• Second: Any weapon you wield gains the benefits of an alignment related weapon ability. Chaotic templars grant the anarchic property, lawful templars grant the axiomatic property, good templars grant then holy property, and evil templars grant the unholy weapon property. If you would qualify for multiple properties, you gain them both. If you qualify for only 1 property, you may gain that one or select one from your neutral alignment axis. If you do not qualify for any property, you may select one.
• Third: Any foe who suffers additional damage from your alignment related weapon properties must also succeed on a Fortitude save or die. You may suppress this effect at will, and may not combine this with any other strike that would inflict a status condition. A creature that makes their save suffers normal damage from the strike and is immune to this effect until the start of your next turn. If the creature would only suffer additional damage from one weapon property, they gain a +4 bonus to this save. If you are a Neutral templar, the target gains an additional +2 on their save. This is a [Death] effect.

Roleplaying Ideas: You don't back down in the face of your enemy, don't stomach the foes of your faith, and do what you can to quickly remove them from the world. It doesn't really matter what the rest of the world thinks about the plan.

Vow of Conquest

“

Only by breaking a man's spirit can you truly call him your subject.

”

• First: A successful melee attack you make against an opponent forces them to make a Fortitude save or be fatigued. This ability cannot be used to confer exhaustion on a creature that is already fatigued and cannot be used more than once per round on the same target.
• Second: Your melee attacks now deal 1 point of Wisdom damage.
• Third: Your melee attacks confer one negative level.

Roleplaying Ideas: You are the representative of a regime seeking to manipulate the faith and agendas of others, with your duty being to persuade the less open-minded folk to come around to seeing things from your perspective. The church seeks lands and the establishment of a theocracy, and their inquisitors are charged with destroying the will of the conquered.

Vow of Greed

“

I did it for the gold. Your village needing help was just a coincidence.

”

• First: As a standard action, you may detect metals and minerals as a Rod of Metal and Mineral Detection for 1 round. After this time you must wait 5 minutes before acting in this fashion again.
• Second: You can steal the health from those you harm, and recover hit points equal to the damage you deal to a living creature in melee or your class level, whichever is less. This healing cannot restore you beyond your normal hit point total.
• Third: Once per round when a spell is targeted on another creature within Close range of you, you may also gain the effects of that spell. A spell leeched in this fashion has the same duration (if applicable) for you as it does for the other recipient, but if it ends prematurely for the recipient it does not end for you. This ability is only useable at the moment the spell is cast, but does not grant you any particular knowledge of what spell is being cast. You must be a valid target for the spell; if you are not this ability is not considered expended. You can even use this ability to teleport along with a caster; if you do so you appear in the space next to them instead of in the same space.

Roleplaying Ideas: While religions often place Greed among their sins, they are less specific about simply knowing when to take what you're due. The church loves money and various assorted shiny things, and has its knights seek to recover either wherever possible (by scrupulous methods as often as not). Or perhaps covetousness and greed is more specific to you, and the church merely puts up with it because they like having badasses who do things for them.

Vow of Loyalty

“

If by my life or death I can protect you, I will.

”

• First: Once per round you may intercept an attack, spell, or supernatural effect that specifically targets a creature adjacent to you. When you do this, you become treated as the intended recipient of the attack or effect. You must declare this before an attack roll is made against the target and before the target has made any saves against the effect.
• Second: Once per round as a free action, you may teleport to a space adjacent to any ally within Close Range (25 feet + 5 ft./2 levels) of you. This provokes attacks of opportunity.
• Third: You may designate one creature adjacent to you as protected as a free action on your turn. So long as you remain adjacent to them and don't designate a different creature, you grant them full cover and block line of effect from anyone other than yoruself. You may still intercept attacks for other adjacent allies as normal, however, and if you use your ability to teleport to a nearby ally you bring the protected creature with you as well.

Roleplaying Ideas: Whether it's guarding a cleric of the church or some other less individually capable VIP, you protect them with your body and your life.

Vow of Perseverance

“

He will never eat. He will never sleep. He will never stop.

”

• First: You no longer suffer penalties to your base movement speed caused by wearing medium or heavy armor. Secondly, you do not suffer the fatigued or exhausted conditions directly. An effect that would normally cause you to be fatigued is reduced to having no effect, while an effect that would normally cause you to become exhausted is instead reduced to fatigued. Should you be exhausted again while suffering fatigue from a previous exhaustion, that still stacks to exhausted as normal.
• Second: You don't get tired, no longer needing to sleep 8 hours or trance for 4 hours in a night and instead being sufficiently rested after a single hour. You have no sense of the outside world during this time and are treated as unconscious, though you can be roused in the same way as any sleeper would be. This does not affect the schedule on which you regain spells, and any other classes you possess must still meet any other rest requirement, but it does allow them to craft things twice as quickly (if they have sufficient spells available in the case of magical items) or perform other downtime tasks in half as much time. Further, you gain immunity to any natural or magical effect that would cause you to lose consciousness, aside from the dying condition.
• Third: Once per round, you can elect to not be affected by an attack, ability, or other effect that would cause you to die or be transformed into an inanimate form. You may do so even if you have already failed a save against the ability or been successfully hit by the attack. You ignore all parts of it when you ignore it in this fashion.

Roleplaying Ideas: A good templar may work tirelessly for the advancement of a city or group, while an evil one might work tirelessly for their own. He can sleep when he wants to, or when he's dead.

Vow of Perfidy

“

You didn't take my advice. Didn't I tell you not to trust anyone?

”

• First: You gain Bluff as a class skill, and any effect that would interfere with your ability to lie has a 50% chance to not affect you at all. This is rolled before spell resistance and saving throws.
• Second: You are shielded by a constant nondetection effect with a caster level equal to your class level. If you successfully block a detect spell, you may provide instead provide a false reading for the caster of the divination if you wish.
• Third: You are able to mimic other templars, down to gaining the benefits of vows that they receive. You gain the once vowed and twice vowed ability of one vow that you do not already possess; by meditating without interruption for 8 hours, you may change which vow you possess the abilities of.

Roleplaying Ideas: Deceitful churches employ deceitful templars, able to disguise themselves and assume the mantles of other churches and knightly orders. In order to protect the secrets of your faith, you have sworn to become such a templar.

Vow of Purity

“

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

”

• First: You gain immunity to all poisons and diseases (even those of magical nature).
• Second: You gain immunity to [Mind-Affecting] effects cast by those whose alignments are oppose yours. Neutral creatures are considered opposed to creatures with no neutral portion of their alignment.
• Third: As a move action useable at will, you may purge your system of any negative condition affecting you including: ability penalties (such as from ray of enfeeblement, touch of idiocy, etc.), ability burn, ability damage, ability drain, blindness, confusion, dazing, dazzling, deafness, entanglement, exhaustion, fatigue, fascination, fright, level drain, shaken, panicked, cowering, nausea, paralysis, sickness, stunning, uncenteredness and any other condition that this list does not include but the DM deems permissible.. If you are unable to take a move action but are still conscious, you may purge yourself of one negative effect as a 1-round interruptable action.

Roleplaying Ideas: You keep a clean body, and a clean soul. And maybe you force everyone to try to live that way as well...

Vow of Resilience

“

Uncompromising men are easy to admire.

”

• First: You become immune to the shaken and frightened conditions, and only suffer the penalties of the shaken condition if you happen to become panicked. Against [Fear] effects that do not result in one of the above conditions, you gain a +4 bonus on your saves.
• Second: You can prevent yourself from losing consciousness or dying as a result of hit point loss for 1 round, no matter how low your hit point total falls. You may gain this protection as a swift or immediate action, and it automatically activates in any round you use an ability from your Avenger of the Faith styles.
• Third: Once per round as a free action you may revive a dead ally within Medium range in order to allow them to keep fighting. This ability lasts until the ally takes damage again, suffers a condition that would kill them, or until the beginning of your next turn. You may revive an ally multiple times with this ability, but may not return them to life permanently without suitable magic.

Roleplaying Ideas: Open to cliches galore. You are the sole survivor of a group of knights slaughtered by some great opponent. Your experience in the horrors of war has seen you lose many comrades, but hardened your body and soul in the face of imminent danger.

Vow of Taint

“

Watch yourself. You might catch something.

”

• First: If an ally within Close range is afflicted by a harmful condition listed below (death and dying do not count) that could also affect you, you may take a move action to take that condition from them and instead apply it to yourself: ability penalties (such as from ray of enfeeblement, touch of idiocy, etc.), ability burn, ability damage, ability drain, blindness, confusion, dazing, dazzling, deafness, entanglement, exhaustion, fatigue, fascination, fright, level drain, shaken, panicked, cowering, nausea, paralysis, sickness, stunning, uncenteredness and any other condition that this list does not include but the DM deems permissible.
• Second: You may suppress the effects of one of the above negative status effects currently imposed on yourself. While suppressing it in this fashion, you suffer no penalties for it. You may suppress an effect or select a new effect to suppress once per round as a free action on your turn.
  Additionally, you may spread your suppressed condition to an enemy struck with a melee attack, forcing them to make saving throws as needed to avoid contracting the same ailment. If they make their save, they are immune to this effect until the start of your next turn. You may not apply this effect when your attack would deliver another status effect. If the ailment stacks, such as negative levels, you may apply it to a target additional times in later rounds.
• Third: Taint oozes off of you, even when you're otherwise clean. On a successful attack, you may force the target to make a save or become Nauseated for 1 round. If they make their save, you may not attempt to nauseate them again until the start of your next turn. You may not apply this effect when your attack would deliver another status effect, either with the above ability or another spell, feat, or similar feature.

Roleplaying Ideas: Evil power can only be contained by the body and will of good's greatest servants, or harnessed by the most ambitious and ruthless of tyrants.

Vow of Truth

“

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.

”

• First: You may radiate a Zone of Truth for 1 round by concentrating as a standard action. This is a supernatural ability useable at will.
• Second: You may not be compelled to lie or be untruthful to your faith. If a spell would cause you to act against a known adherent to your faith or philosophy (including alignment), break a vow, or lie you may instead state that you are unable to commit such an act and perform no actions for the round. If the effect would end following the completion of the compulsion, as in suggestion, it is automatically discharged and ended at the start of your next turn. Otherwise you gain a new save against the effect, with a +4 bonus.
• Third: You are constantly under the effects of a true seeing spell. This is a supernatural ability.

Roleplaying Ideas: Dishonesty really sticks in your craw, and you like to rattle the saber against those who would use treachery and subterfuge. For without truth, how can anything ever be accomplished in the world?

Vow of Valor

“

Cowards die a thousand times before their deaths, whilst the brave man dies but once.

”

• First: You respond quickly to the threat of a charge. If a charge attack is ever declared against you, you may declare a charge against the opponent charging you as an immediate action. You gain all normal charge benefits on this action. You and the opponent charging meet at the midpoint of your charges, regardless of your respective speeds.
• Second: Your valor allows you to stand in the face of adversity when others can not. As a swift or immediate action (or as a free-action in any round you use an ability from your Avenger of the Faith styles) you can become rooted to a space unless you elect to move from it. If you are falling or sinking, you immediately cease at your current elevation. Should you allow yourself to fall in later rounds, you suffer falling damage from your new position. Your position can be changed, however, but it requires substantial effort. You gain a bonus equal to twice your templar level on any check or save to resist falling, losing your footing, or being forcibly moved to another space. This protection lasts until the beginning of your next turn. You may take move actions normally while this effect is active.
• Third: Your fearlessness is terrifying in its own right. On a successful attack, you may force the target to make a save or become Frightened for 1 round. If they make their save, they are immune to this effect until the start of your next turn. You may not apply this effect when your attack would deliver another status effect.

Roleplaying Ideas: You are one of those hardcore zealots who throw themselves at the enemy, striking fear deep into their hearts. It's hard for enemies to fight someone who doesn't fear death.

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