Holy Hunter (3.5e Prestige Class)

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A Ranger devoted to the eradication of evil 6

Holy Hunter

“	I hate all your rules and regulations, but I hate evil more.	”
—Daesonne Shadowbane, Human Holy Hunter

Sometimes fighting evil requires a warrior with capabilities beyond that of a religious organization's normal champions. In such circumstances, these organization turn to the holy hunters. A holy hunter is typically a ranger who, while not drawn to the strict regulations of religious orders, feels that their war against evil is one worth waging. They are called upon by temples and churches plagued with particularly potent enemies, or trapped in particularly sticky circumstances -- the sorts of circumstances where the more restrictive moral code of clerics and paladins would just get in the way.

Becoming a Holy Hunter

The typical Holy Hunter is an individual who considered (and perhaps pursued some) training as a member of a holy office, then decided the life of a ranger was better suited to his personality and convictions. In addition to more traditional ranger builds, rangers with the Sword of the Arcane Order feat may find the prestige class particularly appealing, as well.

Entry Requirements  

Alignment:	Neutral Good or Chaotic Good only. A Lawful Good character may take this prestige class, but he immediately becomes Neutral Good or Chaotic Good as a result (without any resulting penalty to previous class abilities for no longer being lawful)..
Base Attack Bonus:	6.
Race:	Any.
Skills:	Survival (4 ranks), Knowledge (Religion) (2 ranks).
Feats:	Track.
Special:	Combat Style class ability, Any "Smite" class ability (e.g. Smite Evil, Smite Undead, etc)

Table: The Holy Hunter

Hit Die: d10

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+2	+2	Smite Evil 1/day, Ordained Prey, Celestial Companion, Armor Expert
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+3	Divine Combat, Righteous Pursuit, +1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd	+3	+3	+3	+3	Strength of Conviction (frightened); Holy Focus (+2/-1)
4th	+4	+4	+4	+4	Favored Enemy: Evil (+1), Evasion, +1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th	+5	+4	+4	+4	Smite Evil 2/day, Convincing Martyr
6th	+6/+1	+5	+5	+5	Holy Focus (+4/-2), +1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+5	Synchronized Spellcasting, Improved Divine Combat
8th	+8/+3	+6	+6	+6	Favored Enemy: Evil (+2), +1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+6	Holy Focus (+6/-3), Armor Master
10th	+10/+5	+7	+7	+7	Smite Evil 3/day, Strength of Conviction (panicked), +1 level of existing spellcasting class
Class Skills (6 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (dungeoneering)(geography)(nature)(religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Use Rope (Dex).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Holy Hunter.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A holy hunter is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, but is restricted to light and medium armor, plus shields (except tower shields).

Spellcasting: At every other level, beginning with the second, the holy hunter gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If he had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a holy hunter, he must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Smite Evil (Su): Once per day, the holy hunter may attempt to smite evil with one normal melee attack. He adds his Charisma bonus (if any) to his attack roll and deals 1 extra point of damage per holy hunter level. This damage stacks with favored enemy bonuses. If he accidentally smites a creature that is not evil, the smite has no effect, but the ability is still used up for that day. He gains a second daily smite evil use at level 5, and a third at level 10.

If the holy hunter has the smite evil ability from another class, the smite evil uses gained from holy hunter levels are in addition to these other uses. Also, holy hunter levels stack with levels from other classes that grant the smite evil ability for the purpose of determining the extra damage dealt by smite evil attempts.

If a holy hunter had a different Smite class ability (such as Smite Undead) before becoming a holy hunter, he may choose to gain additional uses of this particular Smite ability whenever he would gain a smite evil use as a holy hunter, instead. He may also simply choose to gain the Smite Evil ability, instead of gaining additional uses of this other Smite class ability.

Ordained Prey: Because of their religious service, holy hunters often find themselves facing the same sorts of enemies over and over again. At first level the holy hunter may substitute any of his existing favored enemies for choices from the following: undead, aberrations, dragons, monstrous humanoids, or evil outsiders. For example, a ranger who chose goblins as his first favored enemy and orcs as his second favored enemy might, upon becoming a holy hunter, choose instead to have his first favored enemy be undead, and his second be evil outsiders. Any ordained prey substitutions can only be made when taking the first level of holy hunter. Ordained prey substitutions do not affect the favored enemy class ability in any way, other than determining the target of this ability.

Celestial Companion (Ex): In order to provide an appropriate companion in the fight against evil, the holy hunter's animal companion gains the celestial template. If he does not yet qualify for an animal companion because of insufficient levels as a ranger or other animal companion-granting class, then he does not gain the celestial companion ability until that time. Holy hunter levels stack with levels from other animal companion-granting classes for the purpose of qualifying for an animal companion, as well as determining the animal companion's abilities.

Armor Expert: A holy hunter's continued training with nearby paladins and other holy warriors allows him to grow more comfortable in armor than other rangers. The holy hunter maintains the use of his ranger combat style, even while wearing medium armor.

Divine Combat Style (Ex): The holy hunter learns to adapt his combat style to the demands of his new role.

ARCHERY: The holy hunter gains Ranged Smite as a bonus feat (This does not have to be Smite Evil. See above conversation). If he already has this feat, he may choose another archery-related feat for which he qualifies.

TWO-WEAPON FIGHTING: The holy hunter may subtract his Charisma modifier (if any) from the related TWF penalties on any attack against an evil target (min 0 penalty).

TWO-HANDED FIGHTING: If the holy hunter does not already have the Power Attack feat, he is treated as having this feat when attacking evil targets. Furthermore, when using Power Attack against evil targets, the holy hunter may choose to distribute up to half (rounded down) of the penalties associated with the feat to his AC and/or saves, instead of attack rolls. For example, a holy hunter taking a -6 penalty with a power attack could choose to take a -1 penalty to AC, -2 to saves (all saves are affected), and a -3 to attack rolls. This still does not allow the holy hunter to take a penalty larger than his base attack bonus.

SWORD AND BOARD: If the holy hunter does not already have the Improved Shield Bash feat, he is treated as having this feat when attacking evil creatures. Furthermore, any evil target hit by his shield bash must make a Reflex save of DC 10+ CHA modifier, or be considered flat-footed against the next attack that targets him.

Righteous Pursuit (Ex): Because the holy hunter has studied evil in depth, he has learned to predict its movement through more than just tracks on the ground. When tracking a creature he knows to be evil, he may make a sense motive check, as well as a survival check, taking the higher of the two. In addition, the penalties for all tracking are reduced as if he had the ranger's swift tracker ability.

Strength of Conviction (Ex): The holy hunter's enemies are taken aback by the great and certain hatred he holds for them. When the holy hunter makes a successful melee or ranged attack, his target must make a Will save of DC 10+ WIS mod + holy hunter level or be frightened for 1 round. If the target is evil, they take an additional 1d6 damage for that round. The holy hunter may use this power a number of times a day equal to his Wisdom modifier.

At level 10, targets who fail their Will save become panicked for 1 round, instead. If the target is evil, they take an additional 2d6 damage for that round.

Holy Focus (Su): Holy hunters have the ability to focus their attention on the task at hand, even in the midst of battle. Choose a target. The holy hunter gains a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls when attacking this target. These bonuses stack with any bonuses gained from Smite or Favored Enemy abilities. In addition the holy hunter gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC and a +2 bonus on all saves against attacks from the target. However, because the holy hunter is so focused on the target, he is vulnerable to attacks from elsewhere. Thus, he takes a -1 penalty to attack and damage rolls against any other enemy, as well as a -1 penalty to AC and saves on attacks from other enemies.

The holy hunter may use this ability a number of rounds per day equal to 3 + CHA modifer (if any). These rounds do not need to be consecutive. As he advances in skill, the strength of a holy hunter's holy focus increases, as do the penalties associated with it. He may use holy focus for a +4 bonus (with -2 penalties) at level 6, and a +6 bonus (with -3 penalties) at level 9.

Unlike many of the holy hunter's other abilities, the target of Holy Focus does not have to be evil. Instead, Holy Focus represents a divine blessing on aspects of his ranger training, such as his favored enemy ability, that allow him to target particular enemies for more damage.

Favored Enemy: Evil (Ex): The holy hunter gains a +1 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Spot, Search, Sense Motive, and Survival checks against evil creatures. He also gains a +1 bonus to damage rolls against such creatures. These bonuses stack with those granted by smite evil and favored enemy abilities, but, again, only apply against evil creatures.

At level 8, these bonuses increase to +2.

Evasion (Ex): The holy hunter gains the Evasion class ability.

Convincing Martyr (Ex): As much as the holy hunter wants to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies, sometimes it's best to let them think they've won ... at least temporarily. As a free action, immediately following a successful attack against him, the holy hunter may fall prone and appear dead, without provoking attacks of opportunity. Any enemy wishing to know if the holy hunter is truly dead or not must make a spot check against an opposed DC of 10 + WIS mod + holy hunter level. Any enemy who fails the spot check will not attempt to attack the holy hunter while he appears to be dead, though they may take other reasonable actions (such as a wild animal trying to eat the holy hunter) at the DM's discretion.

While on the ground, the holy hunter suffers from all the penalties associated with the prone condition. Getting up is also a free action, but it provokes an attack of opportunity from any enemy with line of sight who would gain an attack of opportunity under normal circumstances. Enemies who cannot see the holy hunter, however, will not know he has gotten up, and thus gain no attack of opportunity.

The holy hunter may use the Convincing Martyr ability an unlimited amount of times per day; however, any enemies who has already seen the holy hunter fake death in this way will get a +10 bonus to their next spot check to perceive if he is dead or not. Each additional attempt to use convincing martyr against the same enemy will grant the the enemy an additional +10 bonus.

Like Holy Focus, the target of convincing martyr does not need to be evil.

Synchronized Spellcasting: Choose INT, WIS, or CHA. The holy hunter may now use this ability for all of his spell casting, divine or arcane.

Improved Divine Combat (Ex): The holy hunter continues to hone his combat style for the work of a holy hunter.

ARCHERY: A holy hunter automatically confirms critical hits against evil targets, and he provokes no attacks of opportunity for evil opponents when using a bow.

TWO-WEAPON FIGHTING: Once per encounter, a holy hunter may take a move action, then still make a full-round attack action, as long as he targets an evil opponent.

TWO-HANDED FIGHTING: A holy hunter may subtract his CHA modifier from the DR of any evil target, where applicable, before determining damage dealt.

SWORD AND BOARD: Once per encounter, if a holy hunter successfully hits an evil target with a shield bash, he may immediately attempt a bull rush, trip, or overrun as a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. He may also choose to forgo any damage from the attack in order to add his shield's enhancement to AC as a bonus to the bull rush, trip, or overrun check.

Armor Master: Continued training with paladins or other holy warriors grants the holy hunter proficiency with heavy armor, if he does not already have it. The holy hunter may now use his ranger combat styles even while wearing heavy armor. In addition, the holy hunter adds half his wisdom modifier (min 1) to the dexterity bonus of any armor he wears, and subtracts half his wisdom modifier (min 1) from the armor penalties associated with his armor (min 0).

Ex-Holy Hunter

A Holy Hunter who willingly commits evil loses any supernatural abilities, as well as his divine combat abilities. He can regain these after performing a proper atonement.

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