War Saint (Warpriest/Paladin)

Warpiests are often found in the heat of battle, striking down foe and infidel alike. However, some are not content with their calling and seek a higher investiture of divine power. War saints are imbued, in part, with the powers of the chosen warriors of light–the paladin. As such, they conduct themselves according to a strict code as they strive to live the life of a true saint. Not above destroying powerful enemies of their sect, the war saint attempts to temper his penchant toward righteous wrath with mercy and justice. (Original Concept by Elghinn Lightbringer)

Primary Class: Warpriest.

Secondary Class: Paladin.

Alignment: Any good.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The war saint may select three paladin skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal warpriest class skills. The war saint gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 2 + Int modifier.

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

Blessings (Su): The war saint may choose the new Righteous Blessing.

Divine Grace (Su): At 3rd level, a war saint gains the paladin’s divine grace ability. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 3rd level.

Smite (Su): At 4th level, a war saint can focus his powers against his chosen foes. As a swift action, the war saint chooses one target within sight to smite. If this target is of his opposed alignment, the war saint adds his Charisma bonus (if any) to his attack rolls and adds his war saint level to all damage rolls made against the target of his smite. If the target of his smite is an outsider with the subtype corresponding to his opposed alignment, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per war saint level he possesses. Regardless of the target, smite attacks automatically bypass any DR the target possesses.

In addition, while smite is in effect, the war saint gains a deflection bonus equal to his Charisma modifier (if any) to his AC against attacks made by the target of the smite. If the smite targets a creature that's not of the war saint's opposed alignment, the smite is wasted with no effect.

The smite effect remains until the target of the smite is dead or the next time the war saint regains spells. The war saint can use this ability once per day, plus one additional time per day for every 4 levels beyond 4th (to a maximum of five times per day at 20th level). Using this ability consumes two uses of his fervor ability.

This ability replaces channel energy.

Aura of Courage (Su): At 6th level, a war saint gains the paladin’s aura of courage ability. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 6th level.

Divine Health (Su): At 9th level, a war saint gains the paladin’s divine health ability. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 9th level.

Aura of Resolve (Su): At 12th level, a war saint gains the paladin’s aura of resolve ability. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 12th level.

Shining Light (Su): At 15th level, a war saint can unleash a 30-foot burst of pure, white light as a standard action. Evil creatures within this burst take 1d6 points of damage for every two war saint levels and are blinded for 1 round. Evil dragons, evil outsiders, and evil undead are blinded for 1d4 rounds on a failed save. A Reflex save halves this damage and negates the blindness. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the war saint’s level + the war saint’s Charisma modifier. Good creatures within this burst are healed 1d6 points of damage per two war saint levels and receive a +2 sacred bonus on ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks for 1 round. A war saint can use this ability once per day at 15th level plus one additional time per day at 18th level. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 15th level.

Aura of the Elect (Su): At 18th level, a war saint becomes one step closer to obtaining sainthood. He gains DR 5/—, resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5, and darkvision 60 feet. If the war saint already has darkvision, its range increases by another 30 feet. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 18th level.

Aspect of the Saint (Su): At 20th level, a war saint is sanctified through the power of his god and is exalted as an example of righteous conviction. The war saint can channel an aspect of sainthood for 1 minute. After activating this ability, the war saint treats his level as his base attack bonus, his DR increases to 10/—, and he can move at his full normal speed regardless of the armor he is wearing or his encumbrance. In addition, he can activate a protective aura as a free action, surrounding himself with a nimbus of light having a radius of 20 feet. This acts as a double-strength magic circle against evil and as a lesser globe of invulnerability both as cast by a cleric whose level equal to the war saint's level. This ability replaces aspect of war.

Table: War Saint