Order Swordmaster (3.5e Alternate Class Feature)

Author: Leziad (talk) Date Created: 20th December 2023 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Order Swordmaster

A peerless master of the way of the blade, the order swordmaster is a cavalier that eschews mounted combat to focus on her swordsmanship. While many of them are great champions or their order, they are also commonly seen as teachers, working either alone or as part of their order to train the next generation of swordsmen.

Class: Cavalier

Level: 1st-20th

Replaces: Weapon Proficiency, Mount, Cavalier’s Charge, Expert Trainer, Banner, Mighty Charge, Greater Banner, Supreme Charge

Benefit: A order swordmaster gains the following class features:

Class Skill: A order swordmaster adds acrobatics to her list of cavalier class skill.

Weapon Proficiency: Order swordmasters are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, the bastard sword and the estoc.

This replaces the cavalier’s weapon and armor proficiencies.

Sword Student (Ex): A 1st level order swordmaster gain Weapon Focus as a bonus feat, she must choose a weapon from the light blade or heavy blade weapon group. An order swordmaster's class level counts as fighter level for the purpose of meeting the prerequisites for feats. If the order swordmaster has the Weapon Finesse feat she may use it with any weapon with any weapons from the light blade or heavy blade weapon groups she has Weapon Focus.

This ability replaces mount.

Agility Training (Ex): At 3rd level an order swordmaster wearing armor reduces her armor check penalty by 1 and increases her armor's max dexterity bonus by 1. If she wears no armor and is carrying no more than a light load, she instead gain a +1 dodge bonus to her armor class. These bonuses increases by 1 for every 4 levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of +5 at 19th level).

This ability replaces cavalier’s charge.

Swordmaster's Stance (Ex): A 4th level order swordmaster is able to assume various stances while wielding a weapon from the light blade or heavy blade. She can assume a stance as a swift action, gaining the benefits of one of the swordmaster's stances she knows. The order swordmaster can maintain a stance for as long as her weapon is drawn. An order swordmaster knows two stance from the list below, plus an additional stance at 8th and 16th level.

Arcing Sweep Stance (Ex): The swordmaster’s blade rises and falls with the graceful sweeping arcs above her head. While maintaining this stance, the order swordmaster either gain a +1 shield bonus to AC if she is wielding a two-handed sword (which stacks with other shield bonuses), or a +2 dodge bonus to AC if she is wielding a one-handed or light sword while her other hand is empty. If the order swordmaster move more than half her speed in a round, she automatically drops out of this stance.

Cut and Thrust Stance (Ex): While maintaining this stance, the order swordmaster can deal either piercing or slashing damage while using a weapon from the light blade or heavy blade weapon group.

Defender Stance (Ex): The swordmaster's blade is able to cut through waves of opponents, waving between flesh and steel with ease. While maintaining this stance, the order swordmaster gain an additional attack of opportunity per round per 4 class levels she has. If the order swordmaster move more than half her speed in a round, she automatically drops out of this stance.

Low-Sword Stance (Ex): The swordmaster keeps her sword low, allowing her to surprise her opponent with rising strike and better attacks the legs. While in this stance, the swordmaster treats her weapon as a trip weapon and gain a +1 attack bonus on attacks of opportunity.

Mordstreich Stance (Ex): The swordmaster holds her sword with the blade, and strikes with the pommel or crossguard. While maintaining this stance, the order swordmaster is able to deal bludgeoning damage with weapons from the light blade and heavy blade weapon group.

This ability replaces expert trainer.

Weapon Training (Ex): At 5th level, an order swordmaster gains weapon training, just like a fighter. She must select light blades or heavy blades as her weapon group, and never gains another weapon group. Her bonuses with the selected group otherwise progress as though her fighter level were equal to her cavalier level.

This ability replaces banner and greater banner.

Challenging Stance (Ex): At 11th level, when the order swordmaster uses her challenge class feature, she may also assume one of her Swordmaster's Stance with the same swift action.

This ability replaces Mighty Charge.

Weapon Mastery (Ex): At 20th level the order swordmaster gains the Weapon Mastery of the fighter, except that she must select a weapon belonging to either the light blade or heavy blade weapon group.

This ability replaces Supreme Charge.

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