The art of the sword is often thought of as one of strength. For others however, it becomes a matter of technique. Rather than focusing on overpowering the target with heavy, cleaving strikes, or shredding the target with a flurry of wild steel, the swallowtail blademaster uses quick flicks of the wrist to trick a trained opponent's muscle memory, leaving her enemy's vitals wide open for a swift precise strike. Considered by some as deceptive and dishonorable, the way of the swallowtail blademaster and their signature techniques require almost as much focus and precision from them to use as it does their victim to defend against it. Thus, few are there that can survive the technique. (Original Concept by Taco Man) Primary Class: Swashbuckler. Secondary Class: Samurai. Alignment: Any. Hit Dice: d10. Bonus Skills and Ranks: The swallowtail blademaster may select three samurai skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal swashbuckler class skills. The swallowtail blademaster gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The swallowtail blademaster is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, plus the katana, naginata, nodachi, and wakizashi. She is also proficient with light armor and with bucklers. Swallowtail Finesse (Ex): At 1st level, a swallowtail blademaster gains an unparalleled expertise with his chosen weapons. At 1st level, the swallowtail blademaster selects either the katana, naginata, or nodachi. The swallowtail blademaster treats the selected weapon as a light or one-handed melee weapon for the purpose of any class feature, ability, or feat that has light or one-handed melee weapon as a requirement. A swallowtail blademaster also gains the benefits of the Weapon Finesse feat with light or one-handed piercing melee weapons (including her selected weapon), and she can use her Charisma score in place of Intelligence as a prerequisite for combat feats. This ability counts as having the Weapon Finesse feat for purposes of meeting feat prerequisites. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces swashbuckler finesse. Deeds: A swallowtail blademaster swaps seven deeds for the following deeds.
Feinting Mastery Feats (Ex): At 2nd level, a swallowtail blademaster is skilled at making feints and adds her Dexterity modifier to all Bluff skill checks for the purpose of making feint combat maneuvers. In addition, the swallowtail blademaster 's expertise manifests in the form of bonus feats at 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. She can choose feats from the list of combat feats below, even if she does not have the normal prerequisites. The benefits of the swallowtail blademaster 's feinting mastery feats apply only when he wears light or no armor, and wields a light or one-handed melee weapon. She loses all benefits of her feint mastery feats when wearing medium armor, heavy armor, or wielding any other weapon. Once a swallowtail blademaster selects a bonus feat, it cannot be changed. A swallowtail blademaster can choose from the following list whenever she gains a feinting mastery combat feat: Improved Feint, Reverse Feint, Wave Strike, Witty Feint. At 6th level, she adds Disengaging Feint and Greater Feint to the list of feats she can select. At 10th level she adds Disengaging Flourish and Disengaging Shot to the list of feats she can select. This ability replaces charmed life. Swallowtail Training (Ex): At 5th level, a swallowtail blademaster gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with her selected weapon chosen with her swallowtail finesse ability. While wielding the selected weapon, she gains the benefit of the Improved Critical feat. The attack and damage bonuses increase by 1 for every four levels beyond 5th level (to a maximum of +4 at 17th level). Finally, her swallowtail blademaster levels stack with any fighter levels she possesses for the purposes of meeting the prerequisites for feats that specifically focus on her selected weapon, such as Weapon Specialization. This ability replaces swashbuckler training. Swallowtail Mastery (Ex): At 20th level, when a swallowtail blademaster threatens a critical hit with he selected weapon chosen with her swallowtail finesse ability, that critical is automatically confirmed. Furthermore, the critical modifier of any selected weapon is increased by 1. Table: Swallowtail Blademaster
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