Storm Blade (Swashbuckler/Sorcerer)

The storm blade possesses a magical affinity towards lightning, and uses that to bridge disparate mystical powers within herself and to strike foes down with her sword. (Original Concept by Lindley Court)

Primary Class: Swashbuckler.

Secondary Class: Sorcerer.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The storm blade selects three sorcerer skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal swashbuckler class skills. The storm blade gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The storm blade is proficient with all simple weapons, and with light armor, but not with shields.

Sparking Panache (Su): This is exactly like swashbuckler’s panache ability, except that the storm blade possesses an affinity to storms and electricity. Whenever the storm blade deals electricity damage equal to her storm blade level + her Charisma modifier (minimum 1) against a single opponent, she regains 1 panache point. This damage can be from her weapon, deeds, or spell-like abilities. This is in addition to any other methods of regaining panache.

Stormborn Deeds: A storm blade’s blood is infused with magical energies that grant her deeds similar to the powers of the stormborn bloodline. The storm blade swaps seven swashbuckler deeds with the following stormborn deeds.

Thunderstaff (Sp): At 1st level, a storm blade can spend 1 point of panache to touch a weapon as a standard action, granting it the shock property for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 her storm blade level (minimum 1). At 9th level, a storm blade can confer the shocking burst property instead. This deed replaces the derring-do deed.

Stormchild (Ex): At 3rd level, a storm blade can spend 1 panache point to gain resist electricity 5 and resist sonic 5, and treat wind effects as being one step less severe for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 her storm blade level (minimum 1). At 9th level, the storm blade treats wind effects as being two steps less severe and gains blindsense 60 feet against concealment from natural or magical fog, mist, or weather effects while this deed is in effect. This deed replaces the menacing swordplay deed.

Livewire (Su): At 7th level, a storm blade can gain access to an alternate sorcerer bloodline of her choice. At 7th level, she can spend 1 point of panache to gain a single use of any 1st-level bloodline power of her choice. At 11th level, she can spend 1 point of panache to cast a single spell from another bloodline of her choice once per day. This spell must be of a level equal to or less than the level of her stormborn magic spells. At 15th level, she can spend 1 point of panache to gain a single use of any 3rd-level bloodline power of her choice. At 19th level, she can spend 2 points of panache to gain a single use of any 9th-level bloodline power of her choice. This deed replaces the targeted strike deed.

Thunderbolt (Sp): At 11th level, a storm blade can spend 1 panache points to call down a stroke of lightning to strike from above in a 5-foot-radius cylinder 60 feet high. The thunderbolt inflicts 1d6 points of damage per storm blade level; half of this damage is electricity and half is sonic. A Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 the storm blade’s level + the storm blade’s Charisma modifier) halves this damage. Creatures failing their saves are deafened for 1 round. A storm blade can use this deed once per day. This deed replaces the bleeding wound deed.

Ride the Lightning (Sp): At 15th level, as a full-round action, a storm blade can spend 1 panache point to become a living lightning bolt and move in a straight line up to 10 times your speed. The storm blade does not provoke attacks of opportunity while moving in this way. Creatures or objects in the storm blade’s path are affected as by her your thunderbolt deed. Creatures do not block the storm blade’s movement but solid barriers do unless they are reduced to 0 hit points. This deed can be used once per day for a number of rounds equal to her storm blade level. This deed replaces the perfect thrust deed.

Adaptive Surge (Su): At 19th level, a storm blade can spend all her remaining panache to replace his stromborn magics and stormborn deeds (thunderstaff, stormchild, thunderbolt, ride the lightning, and storm lord) with the spells and powers of another bloodline of her choice. This change requires 1 minute and remains until she rests to regain her panache. She does not have access to her stormborn magic or deeds while this change is in effect. She must wait one week before she can use this deed again. If a bloodline power has a daily use of 3 + her Charisma modifier, the storm blade must spend 1 point of panache to gain one use of the power for a number f rounds equal to 1/2 her storm blade level. If a bloodline power is usable only once per day, or increases in daily uses as she gains levels (twice per day, three times per day, etc.), she must spend 1 panache point and may only use the power once per day. This deed replaces the cheat death deed.

Storm Lord (Ex): At 19th level, a storm blade becomes one with the storm within. The storm blade can spend 2 panache points to gain immunity to deafness, stunning, and wind effects, and gain blindsight 120 feet against concealment from natural or magical fog, mist, or weather for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 his storm blade level. Alternatively, once per day, when attacked with an electricity or sonic effect, the storm blade can spend 2 panache points as an immediate action to forgo her saving throw and absorb the energies of the attack, healing 1 point of damage for every 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise have dealt. This deed replaces the stunning stab deed.

Stormborn Magic (Sp): Starting at 2nd level, a storm blade learns to cast spells from the stormborn bloodline as a spell-like ability. At 2nd level, a storm blade can cast shocking grasp twice per day. At 6th level, a storm blade can cast gust of wind twice per day. At 10th level, a storm blade can cast lightning bolt once per day. At 14th level, a storm blade can cast shout once per day. At 18th level, a storm blade can cast overland flight once per day. The storm blade uses her storm blade level as her caster level for the purpose of these spell-like abilities. This ability replaces charmed life.

Bonus Feats: This is exactly like the swashbuckler ability of the same name, except that the storm blade can select any of the following feats from the stormborn bloodline as a bonus feat: Deadly Aim, Dodge, Enlarge Spell, Far Shot, Great Fortitude, Point Blank Shot, Skill Focus (Fly), Wind Stance.

Table: Storm Blade