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Rangers are often seen as warriors of the wild, studying animals, surviving off the land, and becoming one with the environment around them, all the while protecting them from those who would seek to destroy it. Among these nature lovers are those who have delved so deep into the nature, behaviors, and culture of a specific animal that they have become one of them. Enter the apex warrior–a champion of the wild who has attained the pinnacle of natural ferocity, wild intuition, and skill with natural weapons by living among the species to which he has developed an affinity for. He has seamlessly fused the survival instincts, wilderness training, and skill with natural weapons inherent in his chosen species with combat training of a devious, unrelenting guerilla fighter. By utilizing stealth, behaviors, and survival techniques learned from the very animals themselves, the apex warrior is one to be feared if encountered in the wilderness realms of the world.
Primary Class: Ranger.
Secondary Class: Fighter.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Dice: d10.
Bonus Skills and Ranks: The apex warrior may select three fighter skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal ranger class skills. The apex warrior gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.
Table: Apex Warrior
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
The apex warrior is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with light and medium armor, and with shields (except tower shields). If the apex warrior selects the ursine species affinity, he is also proficient with heavy armor.
Affinity Traits (Ex)
An apex warrior exhibits the traits of his species affinity. At 1st level, and again at 4th level and every four levels thereafter, an apex warrior can select one trait according to his chosen affinity (see Species Affinities). Affinity traits can only be used while wearing medium armor or lighter. This ability replaces favored enemy and improved evasion.
Species Affinities (Ex/Sp)
At 1st level, an apex warrior must choose a species affinity. Once chosen, it cannot be changed. He gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Handle Animal and wild empathy checks with animals of his species affinity, and he can communicate with them as if using a continual speak with animals spell-like ability. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces wild empathy.
Combat Style Feats
This is exactly like the ranger’s ability of the same name, except that the apex warrior must select either the Natural Weapon style below or a combat styles listed in his species affinity. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces combat style feats.
Natural Weapon Style: If the apex warrior selects natural weapon style, he can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat: Aspect of the Beast, Improved Natural Attack#, Rending Claws*, and Weapon Focus. At 6th level, he adds Eldritch Claws and Vital Strike to the list. At 10th level, he adds Multiattack# and Improved Vital Strike to the list. (*Advanced Player’s Guide, #Bestiary)
Apex Powers (Su)
At 3rd level, and every three levels thereafter, apex warrior may select one apex power according to his species affinity Apex powers (or advanced powers) can only be used while wearing medium armor or lighter. This ability and advanced powers replace the ranger’s spellcasting ability.
Hunter's Bond (Ex)
This is exactly like the ranger ability of the same name, except that an apex warrior must choose the animal companion bond. He must select a bear (ursine affinity), a cheetah, leopard, lion or tiger (feline affinity), a dog, hyena, or wolf (canine affinity), or a faerie dragon, pseudodragon, or Small drake (draconic affinity) as his animal companion, according to his species affinity.
Greater Species Affinity (Ex)
At 5th level, an apex warrior gains a +2 insight bonus on wild empathy checks with animals of his species affinity, and he may use wild empathy to duplicate an Intimidate check rather than a Diplomacy check. In addition, he can influence lycanthropes and magical beasts related to his species affinity with wild empathy, if their Intelligence score is 1 or 2, or they do not possess an Intelligence score. For example, an apex warrior with the canine affinity could influence a werewolf or a blink dog with this ability. Once the apex warrior chooses the type of creature, it cannot be changed. This ability replaces evasion.
Advanced Powers
At 12th level, and every three levels thereafter, an apex warrior can choose an advanced power in place of an apex power, according to his species affinity.
*All MultiClass Archetypes (MCAs) and related material are products of MultiClass Productions.
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