Battle Ascendant
In the swarming carnage of a battlefield, surrounded by the bodies of his fallen comrades, a warrior is forced to surpass his limits. If he is to survive, he must become something more than mortal, an apotheosis of skill at arms that cannot be equaled.
This state of mind, of transcendent ability and focus, is called Battle Ascendancy, and is said to be a channeling of the spirits of ancient war-gods through mortal flesh. Rarely is the experience described in the same way by men who have undergone it. Some say that a cold, black fury overtakes them, much like a berserker’s rage. Others claim a state of martial nirvana, a oneness of the mind and body in perfect harmony. Then there are tales of men who are possessed by the savagery of a demon, slaying all before them without heed and becoming unstoppable machines of slaughter.
Legends speak of single men killing thousands by their own hand, leading their armies to triumph through miracles of battle-prowess, yet these men are not Battle Ascendants. A man my find the state in times of utter need, when he is pushed to the edge and all hope of victory has vanished, but this is only the beginning of the journey, for a true Battle Ascendant is a god upon the field of war, an unstoppable terror that cannot be stood against. They are masters of mind, soul, and body, turning all three into one supremely-lethal weapon. Armies scatter at the approach of such warrior, for a Battle Ascendant has reached the uttermost pinnacle of martial skill. He is able to stand against gods and cosmic forces with his transcendental mastery of war.
Only the greatest, most puissant warriors to have ever lived have even a chance to become Battle Ascendants. The path to Battle Ascendancy is one through the soul of the warrior. All weakness must be purged, and universal secrets, about both oneself and the nature of warfare, must be mastered.
Battle Ascendants come from all martial backgrounds and fight with all manner of weapons or styles, and indeed must be masters of their art in every form, able to effortlessly wield any weapon with skill to make gods envious. Yet though they are skilled with all weapons, each Battle Ascendant has one combat form that they are known for, and their ability in that discipline is the stuff of myth and saga.
Prerequisites:
Base Attack Bonus: +50
Skills: Martial Lore 53 Ranks
Feats: Epic Weapon Focus, Epic Weapon Specialization, Greater Critical, Greater Critical Multiplier, Weapon Mastery, Weapon Supremacy, [Greater Power Attack, Uncanny Power Attack] OR [Perfect Two Weapon Fighting, Uncanny Two Weapon Fighting] OR [Improved Manyshot, Sure Shot]
Special: The character must not possess Divine Rank
Hit Dice: d12
Base Attack Bonus: Full
Skill Points: 4+Intelligence Modifier
Skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Heal, Jump, Listen, Martial Lore, Search, Sense Motive, Spot, Survival, Tumble, Use Rope
Initiator Level: Full
1 Bonus Feat
2 Transcendent Edge
3 Reverie of War
4 War God
5 Bonus Feat
6 Battle Mastery
7 Superior Critical
8 Martial Lord
9 Reaping the Slaughterous Harvest 1/day
10 Bonus Feat
11 Superior Critical Multiplier
12 Battle Supremacy
13 Ten Thousand Years of Battle
14 Messiah of War
15 Bonus Feat
16 Martial Titan
17 Threatening Critical
18 Battle Ascendancy
19 Reaping the Slaughterous Harvest 2/day
20 Bonus Feat
Bonus Feat: At 1st level, 5th level, and every five levels thereafter, a Battle Ascendant gains a bonus feat off the list of Fighter Bonus Feats.
Transcendent Edge: At 2nd level, a Battle Ascendant gains a bonus to hit equal to ½ his class level and a bonus to damage equal to his class level.
Reverie of War: At 3rd level, a Battle Ascendant gains a Competence Bonus to his Armor Class equal to his Class Level.
War God: At 4th level, a Battle Ascendant gains the War Portfolio, even though he is not a god. He uses his Class Level in place of his Divine Rank to determine the benefits.
Battle Mastery: At 6th level, a Battle Ascendant refines their chosen style. They gain one of the following benefits based on which suite of feats they used to qualify for Battle Ascendant.
- Abandon Blow: A Battle Ascendant fighting with a two-handed weapon may take a maximum penalty on attack rolls when using Power Attack equal to double his Base Attack Bonus.
- Blade Tempest: A Battle Ascendant fighting with multiple weapon adds +1d6 damage per class level to all attacks.
- Arrow Storm: A Battle Ascendant fighting with a ranged weapon may make 2 Manyshot attacks as a Standard Action.
Superior Critical: At 7th level, a Battle Ascendant’s Critical Threat Range with all weapons is quadrupled.
Martial Lord: For a number of rounds per day equal to his Class Level, an 8th level or higher Battle Ascendant may maximize all dice rolls in combat. Note: these rounds need not be used consecutively.
Reaping the Slaughterous Harvest: At 9th level (and every ten levels thereafter) a Battle Ascendant may enter a state of godlike martial skill. This state last for a number of rounds equal to his Class Level. While Reaping the Slaughterous Harvest, a Battle Ascendant may move his speed as a Swift Action and may take two full attacks in a single Full Attack Action.
Superior Critical Multiplier: At 11th level, a Battle Ascendant’s Critical Multiplier with all weapons is quadrupled.
Battle Supremacy: At 12th level, a Battle Ascendant becomes a paragon of his chosen style. Their ability from Battle Mastery improves as follows:
- Sacrificial Blow: A Battle Ascendant fighting with a two-handed weapon may take a maximum penalty on attack rolls when using Power Attack equal to four times his Base Attack Bonus.
- Blade Sirocco: A Battle Ascendant fighting with multiple weapons adds +1d12 damage per class level to all attacks.
- Arrow Gale: A Battle Ascendant fighting with a ranged weapon may make 4 Manyshot attacks as a Standard Action.
Ten Thousand Years of Battle: A 13th level Battle Ascendant is nearly impossible to kill. All his Hit Dice become d20s.
Messiah of War: A 14th level Battle Ascendant gains the Double War Portfolio, using his Class Level as his Divine Rank to determine the benefits.
Martial Titan: A 16th level Battle Ascendant may become invincible for a number of rounds per day equal to his Class Level. During this time, he cannot be harmed by any effect, nor do the effects take affect when he leaves the Martial Titan state. Note: these rounds need not be used consecutively.
Battle Ascendancy: An 18th level Battle Ascendant has transcended the abilities of gods. In his chosen style, he has no equal anywhere in the multiverse. His ability with that style improves as follows:
- Oblivion Blow: A Battle Ascendant fighting with a two-handed weapon may take a maximum penalty on attack rolls when using Power Attack equal to his total Attack Bonus.
- Blade Holocaust: A Battle Ascendant fighting with multiple weapons adds +2d10 damage per class level to all attacks.
- Arrow Cataclysm: A Battle Ascendant fighting with a ranged weapon may make a number of Manyshot attacks as a Standard Action equal to his Base Attack Bonus divided by 5.