Master of Staves

From Irongate 3E: http://users.chariot.net.au/~mhedges/irongate3e

Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1^st	1	2	2	0	Simple Weapon, Staff Deflection
2^nd	2	3	3	0	Staff Sweep, Staff Reach
3^rd	3	3	3	1	Powerful Staff, Vaulting Staff
4^th	4	4	4	1	Staff Rush, Intercepting Staff
5^th	5	4	4	1	Defensive Staff, Lightning Sweep

The bandit grinned to himself as he led is group of five warriors into the village. Easy pickings he though as he stared at the frightened faces of the villages. He drew his sword with deliberate slowness and looked about him. “Perhaps you had best bring all your valuables to me, before my men and I cut you all into little pieces.” The bandits smirked at each other, another easy haul. But then the silence was broken.

“Be on your way! There is nothing for you here.” The voice sounded confident and resolute. The bandit leader raised his sword and looked around him. He was expecting to see a village warrior armed and armoured. Instead he saw a middle aged man wearing clothes and seemingly leaning on a staff for support.

“What did you say?” the bandit ask the man. “You heard – move on.” The bandit leader almost spat his reply “Or what? You’ll call me names”. The other bandits laughed at this. The man walked forward toward the bandit leader then with a lightning fast lunge swung his staff, smashing it hard against the bandit’s knee.The bandit leader had though his opponent out of range and was clearly unprepared for the attack. The other bandit yelled and attacked.

With deft moves the villager blocked and parried their thrusts and swings, smashing the end of his staff into the bandit’s exposed faces and legs. One by one the bandits fell to the ground, unconcious or dead. With a final crack the bandit leader’s nose was spilt often and he fell to the ground. His last thought was of a villager leaning on a staff.

The simple wooden staff is one of the most common weapons to be found and one of the cheapest. It is also one of the most underestimated weapons. In the hands of a truly skilled user it is a potent and versatile weapon, able to keep opponents at a distance and off balance.

The Master of Staves is an expert of the full use of the staff as a weapon. They learn how to keep opponents off balance, how to vault over attackers, and maximise the power to their weapon.

Many is the knight who underestimated an opponent armed with the simple staff. But some have found to their dismay that the staff wielded by a skilled user is easily a match for the sword and other traditional weapons of war.

Masters of the Stave are often former Monks, Warriors, and Fighters. A number are also wizards, sorcerers and rogues and there is even a few clerics and druids.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements

Base Attack Bonus: +5

Feats: Weapon Focus (Staff)

Class skills

The Master of Stave’s class skills (and key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Jump (Str), Tumble (Dex).

Skill points at each level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: Master of Staves are proficient with light armour but not shields. They gain no additional weapon proficiency. Note that armour check penalties for armour heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Pocket and Tumble.

Simple Weapon (Ex): The staff is a simple weapon. As a result a master can wield it easily as a double weapon gaining two attacks. The master receives the two weapon fighting feat for free, but it only applies to using the staff. Note: for optimal double weapon usage, the master might elect to take the feat Ambidexterity.

Deflecting Staff (Ex): With uncanny speed the master can use either end of the staff to deflect opponents blows. The master can select one opponent he is currently in melle with and will receive a +1 dodge bonus to AC for that opponent. This stacks and acts in the same way as the Dodge feat.

Staff Sweep (Ex): The master can trip opponents more easily using his staff to great effect. The master is not subject to being tripped himself, when he makes a trip attempt. Additionally the master gains a +2 circumstance bonus to the opposed roll for the trip, due to the extra leverage the staff provides.

Staff Reach (Ex): The staff is longer than the sword, but shorter than a polearm. The master can use the staff as a reach weapon but receives a -2 to attack roles when it is used in this manner.

Powerful Staff (Ex): The master learns to maximise the force of his double weapon, using accuracy, speed and timing to maximise its impact on opponents. The master gains the Weapon Specialisation feat for the staff. If the master already has this feat for the staff, then they may add an additional +1 point of damage to attacks.

Vaulting Staff (Ex): The master can use his staff for vaulting to assist in jumping. The master adds a +4 circumstance bonus to all running jump checks.

Staff Rush (Ex): The master may make a bullrush against two adjacent opponents because of the length of the staff. Opposed rolls are performed for each opponent individually.

Intercepting Staff (Ex): The master can use his staff to intercept incoming arrows and missle weapons. The master gains the Deflect Arrows feat for free, but may only use it when wielding a staff in two hands. If the master already has this ability, then he gains a +2 circumstance bonus to his Reflex saving throw to resolve the interception.

Defensive Staff (Ex): When performing the total defense action, the staff master adds a +2 circumstance bonus to AC, making a total of +6 to AC.

Lightning Sweep (Ex): The master can make trip attacks on all opponents standing adjacent to him in melee. This is requires a full attack action. All trip attacks are resolved individually. If you have the Improved Trip feat then the attack allowed by that feat is applied to the last of the attacks you make.