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A paladin is the quintessential champion against all that is evil. However, some choose to focus their wrath upon demons, devils, daemons, and other evil outsiders. The merciless crusader is constantly on the lookout for malicious fiendish insurgence into the world, and when found, faces it with swift and unwavering defiance. Their divine judgment and other god-granted powers enable merciless crusaders to recognize the signs of outsider manipulation and possession and stand toe-to-toe with these evil fiendish entities. (Original Concept by Gadgeteer Smashwidgit)
Primary Class: Paladin.
Secondary Class: Inquisitor.
Alignment: Any good.
Hit Dice: d10.
Bonus Skills and Ranks: The merciless crusader may select three cleric skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal paladin class skills. The merciless crusader gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The merciless crusader is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, light, and medium), and with shields (except tower shields).
Righteous Judgment (Su): At 1st level, a merciless crusader gains the inquisitor’s judgment ability, but it only functions against evil creatures. If the merciless crusader targets a creature that is not evil, the judgment is wasted with no effect. This ability replaces smite evil.
Monster Lore (Ex): At 2nd level, a merciless crusader gains the inquisitor’s monster lore ability, except that she adds her Charisma modifier to her Knowledge checks instead of her Wisdom modifier. This ability and track replace lay on hands.
Track (Ex): At 2nd level, a merciless crusader gains the inquisitor’s track ability.
Alignment Channel (Su): At 4th level, a merciless crusader gains the ability to channel energy as a cleric and can channel energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. However, whenever a merciless crusader uses channel energy, she can only affect outsiders that possess the good or evil subtype. Instead of the normal channel energy effect, the merciless crusader’s channel energy heals good outsiders or harms evil outsiders. A merciless crusader’s channel energy has no effect on other creatures, including undead or other living creatures that are not outsiders of the indicated subtype. The amount of damage healed or dealt and the DC to halve the damage is otherwise unchanged. This ability is similar to the Alignment Channel feat with the evil subtype selected. The merciless crusader may choose the Alignment Channel feat multiple times one of her regular feats as normal, but it applies to a new alignment subtype. A merciless crusader cannot choose good as one of the alignment subtypes. In addition, the merciless crusader can select the new Channel Energy feat as a regular feat. This ability replaces channel positive energy.
Crusader’s Bond (Sp): This is exactly like the paladin’s divine bond, except that the merciless crusader must choose to bond with her weapon and can add any of the following weapon properties: anarchic, anchoring, axiomatic, bane (humanoid or outsider only), conductive, greater bane (humanoid or outsider only), holy, keen, nullifying, planar, and speed. The greater bane weapon property functions like the bane weapon property, but it consumes an amount of bonus equal to +4 and deals 4d6 points of extra damage to the selected creature type. Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property's cost as normal.
Divine Sanction (Ex): Starting at 5th level, a merciless crusader gains special training to aid him in his fight against evil. The merciless crusader may choose either the Shield or Two-Handed Weapon style of training.
If the merciless crusader chooses the shield style of training, she gains the following benefits at the indicated levels.
At 5th level, a merciless crusader gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls when making a shield bash. These bonuses increase by +1 every four levels beyond 5th. With a full-attack action, a merciless crusader may alternate between using his weapon or his shield for each attack. This action does not grant additional attacks or incur penalties as two-weapon fighting does.
At 11th level, a merciless crusader can use her shield to protect herself from ranged touch attacks and effects. She gains a +1 bonus on Reflexsaves against them while employing a light shield, +2 while employing a heavy shield, and +3 while employing a tower shield. In addition, once per round when the merciless crusader would normally be hit with a ranged touch attack (including rays and similar magical effects), she may deflect it so that she take no damage from it. Her shield suffers the full effects of the spell or effect, if applicable.
At 17th level, as a swift action, a merciless crusader may designate one square adjacent to her. She may designate two squares if using a heavy shield or three squares if using a tower shield, but these squares must be contiguous. Enemies in these squares cannot flank the merciless crusader and do not count for flanking with other creatures. This effect lasts until she moves from her position or uses another swift action to change the affected squares.
If the merciless crusader chooses the two-handed weapon style of training, she gains the following benefits at the indicated levels.
At 5th level, a merciless crusader can wield a two-handed melee weapon in one hand with a –2 penalty on attack rolls while doing so. The weapon must be appropriately sized for her, and it is treated as one-handed when determining the effect of Power Attack, Strength bonus to damage, and the like.
At 11th level, as a swift action, a merciless crusader may choose one creature within her line of sight. Until the end of her turn, that target’s reach is treated as if it were 5 feet shorter with respect to reaching the merciless crusader, and this reduction increases by 5 feet for every three levels beyond 11th.
At 17th level, when the merciless crusader uses Power Attack with a two-handed melee weapon, the bonus damage from Power Attack is doubled (+100%) instead of increased by half (+50%).
This ability and verdict of exorcism replace the paladin’s spellcasting.
Holy Anathema (Su): At 6th level, when a merciless crusader pronounces judgment on an evil outsider, she adds her Charisma bonus (if any) to her attack rolls made against the target. This ability replaces the mercy gained at 6th level.
Verdict of Exorcism (Su): At 8th level, a merciless crusader using judgment can unleash the verdict of exorcism on a creature. When she does, her judgment ends, but the creature is dazed for 1 round (Will negates); if the creature is possessed, the possessing entity must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 merciless crusader level + merciless crusader’s Charisma bonus), or be exorcised and never again allowed in that same body.
Second Judgment (Ex): At 9th level, whenever a merciless crusader uses her judgment ability, she selects two different judgments, instead of one. This only consumes one use of her judgment ability. As a swift action, she can change one of these judgments to another type. This ability replaces the mercy gained at 9th level.
Crusader’s Blessing (Su): At 11th level, a merciless crusader can expend a use of her judgment ability as a swift action to grant herself and all allies within 10 feet the Dazzling Assault, Greater Cleave, and Power Attack feats, even if they do not meet the prerequisites. The effects last for 1 minute. Evil creatures gain no benefit from this ability. This ability replaces aura of justice.
Holy Conviction (Su): At 12th level, a merciless crusader can apply holy anathema against any evil creature while judgment is in effect. Holy conviction counts as one judgment when applied against her second judgment or third judgment abilities. At 18th level, a merciless crusader can also choose to include holy slayer as part of her holy conviction. If she chooses to do so, holy conviction counts as two judgments when applied against her third judgment ability. This ability replaces the mercy gained at 12th level.
True Sight (Su): At 14th level, a merciless crusader can use true seeing as a spell-like ability number of minutes per day equal to 1 per merciless crusader level. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments. This ability replaces aura of faith.
Holy Slayer (Ex): At 15th level, a merciless crusader learns to focus her judgment. Whenever a merciless crusader uses her judgment ability against an evil outsider, she must select one type of judgment. She is treated as if she were 3 levels higher for the purposes of determining the bonus granted by this judgment. Unlike other types of judgment, the one enhanced by this ability cannot be changed for the remainder of the judgment. Every two levels above 15th, her level is treated as 1 higher for the purposes of determining the bonus granted by this judgment, up to a maximum of 5 levels at 19th level. This ability replaces the mercy gained at 3rd and 15th level.
Third Judgment (Ex): At 18th level, whenever a merciless crusader uses her judgment ability, she selects three different judgments, instead of just two. This only consumes one use of her judgment ability. As a swift action, the inquisitor can change one of these judgments to another type. This ability replaces the mercy gained at 18th level.
Holy Judgment (Su): At 20th level, a merciless crusader can call holy judgment down upon a foe during combat. Whenever a merciless crusader uses her judgment ability against an evil outsider, the merciless crusader can invoke holy judgment on a foe as a swift action. Once declared, the merciless crusader can make a single melee (or ranged attack, if the foe is within 30 feet) against the target. If the attack hits, it deals damage normally and the target must make a Fortitude save or die. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the merciless crusader's level + the merciless crusader's Charisma modifier. Regardless of whether or not the save is made, the target creature is immune to the merciless crusader's holy judgment ability for 24 hours. If a merciless crusader uses holy judgment against an evil creature that is not an outsider, the target is instead paralyzed for 2d6 rounds if it fails its Fortitude save. Once this ability has been used, it cannot be used again for 1d4 rounds.
Code of Conduct: A merciless crusader never suffers an evil outsider to live if it is in her power to destroy it. Banish fiends she cannot kill. Purge the evil from those possessed by fiends. The merciless crusader must also follow the paladin’s code of conduct as it relates to her alignment.
Table: Merciless Crusader
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