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.