Crusading Berserker (Warpriest/Barbarian)

Holy wars must be fought by someone. Most often, paladins and warpriests roam the battlefields shouting their holy cries of war, but the crusading berserker is the most frightening zealot of them all. Possessed by a divinely imbued fury, the crusading berserker sets aside his deity’s common blessings to channel the righteous (or unrighteous) aspect of his god’s wrath. While a crusading berserker can be meek and amiable when off the battlefield, once he enters battle, he transforms into a horrific symbol of a holy killing machine. (Original Concept by Bardess)

Primary Class: Warpriest.

Secondary Class: Barbarian.

Alignment: The crusading berserker must have one alignment aspect in common with his chosen deity. For example, a crusading berserker worshiping a Chaotic Good deity could have any good alignment or any chaotic alignment. A crusading berserker can otherwise have any alignment.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The crusading berserker may select three barbarian skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal warpriest class skills. The crusading berserker gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The crusading berserker is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and the favored weapon of his deity. He is also proficient with light armor, medium armor, and with shields (except tower shields). If the crusading berserker worships a deity with unarmed strike as its favored weapon, the crusading berserker gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat.

Sacred Weapon (Su): The crusading berseker adds furious and furyborn to the list of weapon special abilities he can use to enhance his sacred weapon.

Shield Expert (Ex): At 1st level, a crusading berserker gains Shield Focus as a bonus feat. At 4th level, a crusading berserker gains Shield Wall as a bonus feat. This ability replaces heavy armor proficiency.

Furious Fervor (Su): At 2nd level, a crusading berserker can channel the divine power of his deity to unleash his rage against enemies of the faith. He can also use this ability to quickly cast spells that aid in his struggles. A crusading berserker can rage for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his Constitution modifier + 2 for each level after 1st he possesses. This functions as the barbarian rage class feature, treating the crusading berserker’s class level as his barbarian level. For the purpose of attacks made while raging, the crusading berserker’s base attack bonus from his crusading berserker class levels is equal to his crusading berserker level. For all other purposes, such as qualifying for a feat or a prestige class, the crusading berserker uses his normal base attack bonus.

While raging, as a swift action, a crusading berserker can expend 1 round of rage per spell level to cast any one warpriest spell he has prepared. When cast in this way, the spell can target only the crusading berserker, even if it could normally affect other or multiple targets. Spells cast in this way ignore somatic components and do not provoke attacks of opportunity. The crusading berserker does not need to have a free hand to cast a spell in this way, but can do so only while he’s in a rage. This ability replaces fervor.

Bonus Feats: This is exactly like the warpriest ability of the same name, except that the crusading berserker can select Extra Rage as a bonus feat. In addition, a crusading berserker can choose a rage power in place of a bonus feat. The crusading berserker must meet the prerequisites for any rage power he selects.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 5th level, a crusading berserker gains the barbarian’s uncanny dodge ability. This ability replaces channel energy.

Sacred Shield (Su): This ability functions like the warpriest’s sacred armor ability, except that is applies to the crusading berserker’s shield instead. The crusading berserker can enhance his shield with any of the following armor special abilities: arrow deflection, bashing, determination, energy resistance (normal, improved, and greater), fortification (heavy, light, or moderate), ghost touch, and spell resistance (13, 15, 17, and 19). Adding any of these special abilities replaces an amount of bonus equal to the special ability's base cost. For this purpose, energy resistance counts as +2, improved energy resistance counts as +4, and greater energy resistance counts as +5. Duplicate abilities do not stack. The shield must have at least a +1 enhancement bonus before any other special abilities can be added. This ability cannot be applied to a suit of armor.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 8th level, a crusading berserker gains the barbarian’s improved uncanny dodge ability. This ability, greater fervor, indomitable will, and tireless fervor replace blessing.

Greater Fervor (Ex): At 11th level, a crusading berserker gains the barbarian’s greater rage ability, except that it applies to his furious fervor. In addition, the crusading berserker may cast spells using furious fervor even when he’s not raging.

Indomitable Will (Ex): At 14th level, a crusading berserker gains the barbarian’s indomitable will ability.

Tireless Fervor (Ex): At 17th level, a crusading berserker gains the barbarian’s tireless rage ability, except that it applies to his furious fervor.

Aspect of Fury (Ex): At 20th level, a crusading berserker gains the barbarian’s mighty rage dodge ability, except that is applies to his furious fervor. He can also move at his full normal speed regardless of the armor he is wearing or his encumbrance. In addition, for the purpose of his attacks while using furious fervor, the crusading berserker’s base attack bonus from his crusading berserker levels is equal to his crusading berserker level. For all other purposes, such as qualifying for a feat or a prestige class, the crusading berserker uses his normal base attack bonus.

Table: Crusading Berserker