Beastskin Warrior (Brawler/Hunter)

Some primitive tribal warriors feel impossibly close to nature, forgoing man-made weapons in favor of learning to fight like animals. The divine powers of the natural world grant these warriors the magic to take on attributes of wild beasts, even transforming their bodies to appear more like them. (Original Concept by Noro)

Primary Class: Brawler.

Secondary Class: Hunter.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The beastskin warrior may select three hunter skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal brawler class skills. The beastskin warrior gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The beastskin warrior is proficient with all simple weapons plus the handaxe, short sword, and weapons from the close fighter and natural weapon groups. She is also proficient with light armor, but not with shields.

Beast Affinity (Su): At 1st level, a beastskin warrior forms a powerful affinity to one type of animal. He selects one of the following animals and gains its associated natural attack: bat (bite), bear (2 claws), bull (gore), falcon (2 talons), frog (bite), monkey (bite), mouse (bite), owl (2 talons), snake (bite), stag (gore), tiger (2 claws), wolf (bite). Once selected it cannot be changed. As a swift action, the beastskin warrior can manifest her natural attack, or end it as a free action. This natural attack is a primary attack and is similar to the brawler’s unarmed strike, including damage and its use with any iterative attacks or her brawler’s flurry ability. A beastskin warrior’s natural attacks are unaffected by the Improved Natural Attack monster feat or any similar feat that improve the damage of natural attacks. If the beastskin warrior increases or decreases in size, her natural attack damage is adjusted accordingly. This physical change is a polymorph effect. This ability replaces unarmed strike.

Feral Focus (Su): At 2nd level, a beastskin warrior gains a limited ability to change her shape into hybrid animal forms. This functions as the hunter’s animal focus class feature, except that the beastskin warrior always applies the animal aspect to herself, and there is no limit to this ability's duration. She can end this ability as a free action. A beastskin warrior may activate or end her beast affinity ability simultaneously with her feral focus.

When a beastskin warrior uses this ability, her body takes on cosmetic aspects of an animal, such as furry skin, longer nails, elongated teeth, and oddly colored eyes; these changes do not grant her any abilities other than what is stated in the animal focus, and end when she takes on a different aspect or ends the ability. This physical change is a polymorph effect, though the effects of the animal focus are not.

This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 2nd level and close combat mastery.

Improved Feral Focus (Su): At 5th level, a beastskin warrior gains the following additional benefits when using her feral focus ability. Any secondary attacks that are gained take a –5 penalty to their attack rolls and deal unarmed damage equal to her level –4.

Bat: gains bat wings with a fly speed of 20 feet (good), and her blind sense increases to 20 feet.

Bear: gains a primary bite attack, and Endurance as a bonus feat.

Bull: gains 2 secondary hooves attacks, and Improved Bull Rush as a bonus feat.

Falcon: gains a primary bite attack, and bird wings with a fly speed of 30 feet (average).

Frog: gains the amphibious special quality, and a swim speed of 20 feet.

Monkey: gains a bonus to all Acrobatics skill checks made to attempt high jumps or long jumps equal to her level, and a climb speed of 30 feet.

Mouse: gains a climb speed of 10 feet, a swim speed of 10 feet, and can use reduce person (self only) for a number of minutes per day equal to her level. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments.

Owl: gains low-light vision, darkvision 30 feet (+30 feet if she already has darkvision), and bird wings with a fly speed of 30 feet (average).

Snake: gains the grab special ability, and a poisonous bite (poison—injury; save Fort DC 10 + 1/2 the beastskin warrior’s level + her Con modifier; frequency1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Con; cure 1 save; usable once every 3 rounds).

Stag: gains 2 secondary hooves attacks, and Trample as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

Tiger: gains a primary bite attack, and the grab special ability.

Wolf: gains Improved Trip as a bonus feat, and deals 1 point of bleed damage with its bite attack.

This ability only affects the animal a beastskin warrior has chosen as her beast affinity. This ability replaces the bonus feats gained at 5th and 11th level.

Second Animal Focus (Su): At 8th level, a beastskin warrior gains the hunter’s second animal focus ability. A beastskin warrior’s improved feral focus has no affect on her second animal focus. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 8th level.

Multiattack (Ex): At 11th level, a beastskin warrior gains the Multiattack monster feat as a bonus feat, reducing the penalty to her secondary attack rolls to –2. This ability replaces knockout.

Greater Feral Focus (Su): At 14th level, a beastskin warrior gains the following gains the following additional benefits when using her feral focus ability.

Bat: her fly speed increases to 30 feet, and she can use echolocation for a number of minutes per day equal to her level. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments.

Bear: gains Improved Grapple as a bonus feat, and is treated as one size category a larger when attempting a grapple combat.

Bull: ignores difficult terrain when making a charge, and gains Charge Through as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

Falcon: gains Flyby Attack as a bonus feat, and her fly speed increases to 40 feet.

Frog: and she gains the grab special ability.

Monkey: gains the brachiation and tree leaper special abilities (see the Aboreal Creature template).

Mouse: gains a disease bite (Filth fever—injury; save Fort DC 10 + 1/2 the beastskin warrior’s level + her Con modifier; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves), and her climb and swim speeds increase to 20 feet.

Owl: gains a bonus to all Perception skill checks equal to her level, and her fly speed increases to 40 feet.

Snake: gains the constrict special ability (2d6 + Str modifier per round), and is able to spit her poison in a 10-foot line.

Stag: ignores difficult terrain when making a charge, and gains Greater Overrun as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

Tiger: gains the pounce and rake special abilities.

Wolf: gains a bonus to all intimidate skill checks equal to her level, and gains Greater Trip as a bonus feat.

This ability only affects the animal a beastskin warrior has chosen as her beast affinity, and has no affect on his second animal focus. This ability replaces the bonus feats gained at 14th and 20th level.

Table: Beastskin Warrior