Swallowtail Blademaster (Swashbuckler/Samurai)

The art of the sword is often thought of as one of strength. For others however, it becomes a matter of technique. Rather than focusing on overpowering the target with heavy, cleaving strikes, or shredding the target with a flurry of wild steel, the swallowtail blademaster uses quick flicks of the wrist to trick a trained opponent's muscle memory, leaving her enemy's vitals wide open for a swift precise strike. Considered by some as deceptive and dishonorable, the way of the swallowtail blademaster and their signature techniques require almost as much focus and precision from them to use as it does their victim to defend against it. Thus, few are there that can survive the technique. (Original Concept by Taco Man)

Primary Class: Swashbuckler.

Secondary Class: Samurai.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The swallowtail blademaster may select three samurai skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal swashbuckler class skills. The swallowtail blademaster gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The swallowtail blademaster is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, plus the katana, naginata, nodachi, and wakizashi. She is also proficient with light armor and with bucklers.

Swallowtail Finesse (Ex): At 1st level, a swallowtail blademaster gains an unparalleled expertise with his chosen weapons. At 1st level, the swallowtail blademaster selects either the katana, naginata, or nodachi. The swallowtail blademaster treats the selected weapon as a light or one-handed melee weapon for the purpose of any class feature, ability, or feat that has light or one-handed melee weapon as a requirement.

A swallowtail blademaster also gains the benefits of the Weapon Finesse feat with light or one-handed piercing melee weapons (including her selected weapon), and she can use her Charisma score in place of Intelligence as a prerequisite for combat feats. This ability counts as having the Weapon Finesse feat for purposes of meeting feat prerequisites. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces swashbuckler finesse.

Deeds: A swallowtail blademaster swaps seven deeds for the following deeds.

Deceptive Slash (Ex): At 1st level, a swallowtail blademaster can spend 1 panache point when she makes an attempt at a feint combat maneuver to roll 1d6 and add the result to the check. She can do this after she makes the roll, but before the result is revealed. If the result of the d6 roll is a natural 6, she rolls another 1d6 and adds it to the check. She can continue to do this as long as she rolls natural 6s, up to a number of times equal to her Dexterity modifier. This deed replaces the derring-do deed.

Returning Blade (Ex): At 1st level, as long as she has at least 1 panache point, the swallowtail blademaster can make an attack of opportunity at her highest attack bonus against any opponent she performs a successful feint against. If the attack is successful, she adds her swallowtail blademaster level to the damage roll of the attack. This deed replaces the opportune parry and riposte deeds.

Swift Blade (Ex): At 3rd level, as long as the swallowtail blademaster has at least 1 panache point, she is treated as having the Quick Draw feat with her selected weapon chosen with her swallowtail finesse ability. This deed replaces the kip-up deed.

Guarding Edge (Ex): At 7th level, as long as the swallowtail blademaster has her selected weapon chosen with her swallowtail finesse ability drawn and in hand, started and ended her turn in the same space, and has at least 1 panache point, she gains a +2 shield bonus to AC and CMD until the start of her next turn. This deed replaces the swashbuckler's grace deed.

Immovable Blade (Ex): At 15th level, if a swallowtail blademaster has started and ended her previous turn in the same space, as a swift action, she can spend 1 panache point to negate any attempt to knock her prone or forcibly move her, including any attempts to do so through mind-affecting or teleportation spells and effects. This deed replaces the swashbuckler's edge deed.

Tsubame Gaeshi (Ex): At 19th level, a swallowtail blademaster can expend 2 panache points to attempt a feint combat maneuver on a target within reach as a move action. If the feint is successful, she gains an attack of opportunity against the target at her highest attack bonus. If the attack is successful, she is automatically confirms a critical hit with attack. The swallowtail blademanster’s weapon critical multiplier is treated as x4 for the purpose of determining the damage of this attack, and she adds her Dexterity modifier to the total damage before adding any bonuses from Strength, damage from weapon abilities (such as flaming), precision damage, or other damage bonuses. This deed replaces the stunning stab deed.

Feinting Mastery Feats (Ex): At 2nd level, a swallowtail blademaster is skilled at making feints and adds her Dexterity modifier to all Bluff skill checks for the purpose of making feint combat maneuvers. In addition, the swallowtail blademaster 's expertise manifests in the form of bonus feats at 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. She can choose feats from the list of combat feats below, even if she does not have the normal prerequisites. The benefits of the swallowtail blademaster 's feinting mastery feats apply only when he wears light or no armor, and wields a light or one-handed melee weapon. She loses all benefits of her feint mastery feats when wearing medium armor, heavy armor, or wielding any other weapon. Once a swallowtail blademaster selects a bonus feat, it cannot be changed.

A swallowtail blademaster can choose from the following list whenever she gains a feinting mastery combat feat: Improved Feint, Reverse Feint, Wave Strike, Witty Feint. At 6th level, she adds Disengaging Feint and Greater Feint to the list of feats she can select. At 10th level she adds Disengaging Flourish and Disengaging Shot to the list of feats she can select. This ability replaces charmed life.

Swallowtail Training (Ex): At 5th level, a swallowtail blademaster gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with her selected weapon chosen with her swallowtail finesse ability. While wielding the selected weapon, she gains the benefit of the Improved Critical feat. The attack and damage bonuses increase by 1 for every four levels beyond 5th level (to a maximum of +4 at 17th level). Finally, her swallowtail blademaster levels stack with any fighter levels she possesses for the purposes of meeting the prerequisites for feats that specifically focus on her selected weapon, such as Weapon Specialization. This ability replaces swashbuckler training.

Swallowtail Mastery (Ex): At 20th level, when a swallowtail blademaster threatens a critical hit with he selected weapon chosen with her swallowtail finesse ability, that critical is automatically confirmed. Furthermore, the critical modifier of any selected weapon is increased by 1.

Table: Swallowtail Blademaster