ORC SPEAR MASTER "Bring me my spear." Orc Spear Masters are the elite warriors of their kind, one of the few that survive to high levels of any kind. The name 'Spear Master' is a bit of a misnomer. Spear Masters are masters of a specific weapon style, and usually wield Spears due to their devotion of Gruumsh. But they can also be seen wielding the Battleaxe, Great Axe, Orc Double Axe, and Orc Shotput. Most are famous Orcs running their own training schools.
BECOMING AN ORC SPEAR MASTER Most Orcs attain this PrC by specializing in a specific weapon style, and actually surviving to see middle age or older. The Feat intensive build means most of them will also need Fighter levels.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Race: Orc
Feats: Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Critical, Overwhelming Critical, Power Attack, Weapon Focus, any one Style Feat
Skills: Intimidate 24 Ranks
BAB: +23
Class Skills The Orc Spear Master's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Local, War) (Int), Listen (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skills Points at Each Level : 4 + int
Hit Dice: d12
[b] Abilities[/b]
1. Style Maneuvers
2. Defensive Training
3. Enlightened Rage
4. Style Maneuvers
5. Defensive Training
6. Enlightened Rage
7. Style Maneuvers
8. Defensive Training
9. Enlightened Rage
10. Master
Weapon Proficiencies: An Orc Spear Master gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.
Style Maneuvers (Ex): At levels 1, 4, and 7 you get a special Maneuver used by your particular fighting style from the list below (Note the Style you choose at 1st Level cannot be changed and the maneuvers only work with that styles weapon of choice):
Harorox: Level1: At 1st level if you make a Charge Attack with a Battleaxe and hit successfully you automatically do maximum damage.
Level 4: At 4th level if you make a Full Attack with a Battleaxe you gain 2 additional strikes with it at your Highest BAB.
Level 7: At 7th level if you successfully confirm a critical hit with a Battleaxe, your opponent is considered to have Provoked an Attack of Opportunity and you gain an additional attack.
Pungrox: Level1: At 1st level when you make a Sunder attempt with a Greataxe you may ignore the objects Hardness.
Level 4: At 4th level if you Ready an Action to make an Attack with your Greataxe and are successful you do maximum damage.
Level 7: If you successfully confirm a Critical hit with a Greataxe, your opponent must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or be Denied his Dex Bonus to AC for 1d6 rounds.
Tveirox: Level1: From now on when using your Tveirox Style Feat, it only counts as one Attack of Opportunity, not two.
Level 4: Beginning at 4th level if you successfully confirm a critical with an attack with your Orc Double Axe, you automatically threaten a critical with the off hand weapon.
Level 7: If you successfully hit the same opponent more than three times with your Orc Double Axe you get a Disarm attempt as a Free Action. This does not provoke an Attack of Opportunity, and if you fail your opponent doesn't get a Disarm attempt in return.
Atgeirr: Level1: At 1st level if your opponents movement provokes an Attack of Opportunity and you hit successfully, you may make an opposed Strength Check to force him back into the square he started in. You get a +1 Bonus for every 5 points of damage your attack does, and your opponent can no longer move any more this round once your attack succeeds. You must be armed with a Longspear to use this ability.
Level 4: When successfully using your 1st level ability your opponents turn now ends completely and he can take no further actions, including Immediate, Swift, or Free Actions.
Level 7: At 7th level if you successfully hit with a Longspear when making an Attack of Opportunity, your opponent continues to bleed and loses 1d6 hit points per round until it receives a successful Healing Check (DC is damage done), or magical healing.
Rettageirr: Level1: At 1st level you gain the Benefits of the Hurling Charge Feat with Spears, however if you have the ability to make multiple attacks at the end of a Charge via an ability like Pounce you get to keep those attacks.
Level 4: At 4th level when you make a ranged attack with a Spear it is considered to be a Touch Attack.
Level 7: At 7th level all attacks you make with a Spear are considered touch attacks, and you gain a +4 Bonus to critical confirmation rolls with Spear attacks when you Charge.
Jarnknottr: Level1: At 1st level you gain the Ranged Disarm Feat, but you can make a Disarm attempt at the full Range of Orc Shot Put.
Level 4: At 4th level you gain the benefits of the Ranged Sunder Feat, but you still gain the Bonus to the Sunder attempt from Improved Sunder if yyou have that Feat.
Level 7: Whenever you successfully confirm a critical hit with an Orc Shot Put your opponent must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or be Stunned 1d3 rounds.
Defensive Training (Ex): At 2nd level you gain a +4 Dodge Bonus to Armor Class.
At 5th level you gain a +4 Competence Bonus to resist opposed Combat Checks (Grapple, Disarm, Trip, etc).
At 8th level there is a 50% chance you turn any successful critical hit into a normal hit instead.
Enlightened Rage (Su): At 3rd level you no longer take a Penalty to Armor Class when Raging.
At 6th level you also no longer takes penalties to Armor Class when using Frenzy, and you may use the Concentration Skill while Raging (you still can't use items or spells).
At 9th level you may use the Concentration Skill during Frenzy, and voluntarily end your Frenzy in the same manner as Rage. If you successfully make a Saving Throw against any spell/power/effect that allows a partial effect on a successful Save, you take no effect instead.
Master (Ex): At 10th level you gain significant Combat Bonuses when using the weapon of choice for your style (Battleaxe for Harorox, Greataxe for Pungroox, etc.). You gain a +8 Competence Bonus on all Opposed Combat Checks with it (Disarm, Trip, Sunder, etc), and your weapon gains a +8 Resistance Bonus to Saving Throws against effects targeting it while you hold it. In addition rolls of '1' are not automatically misses with that weapon. If the weapon is a Ranged Weapon you are considered to have the Far Shot Feat. If you have the Far Shot Feat the range is increased an additional amount equal to the Feat (i.e. with the Feat you gain double the normal range increment for thrown weapons, with this and the Feat you get quadruple).
PLAYING AN ORC SPEAR MASTER You are a sad old Orc. Your people waste themselves in eternal combat and throw their lives away uselessly. If they simply fought more intelligently and put more emphasis on skill and training as opposed to strength and rage they might win more fights. Even the more evil members of your profession know this is true, they just still believe in Gruumsh.
Combat: Your combat abilities will largely depend on what weapon you choose with this class. You generally build your fighting style around that weapon.
Advancement: Spear Masters are obsessed with perfecting their art and ensuring their secrets are passed down to new generations in order to protect Orc society.
Resources: Spear Masters are usually well respected members of Orc society. If they aren't current military, they still have ties to it by virtue of their training school (which most of them have). It would take a serious betrayal of society for an Orc Spear Master to lose his fame and following. Some Orcs would lay down their lives for one.
ORC SPEAR MASTERS IN THE WORLD "No one can challenge the master." Orc Spear Master are no fools. They've seen more of the world than most of their kind, and know how their race is perceived. they also know more of war than the rest of their people, and know that the means Orcs use to fight now are a losing proposition. Most know they can't really counter Gruumsh's influence entirely, but they do so by trying to convince their people to fight smarter not harder. None of them voice their opinions to even their closest students, not until their death bed when they reveal the truth in the hopes their work will be carried on.
Daily Life: Your daily life is spent training students if you have retired or on missions if you aren't. If you really dare, much of it is also spent subverting Orc society from within. You love your people, but know they need to mature past what they are now, or they will never be anything but savages.
Notables: Hoon (CN Male Orc Barbarian 20/Epic Barbarian 5/Orc Spear Master 5) is the lead practitioner of Pungrox Style among his tribe.
Organizations: Most Spear Master run their own training school. Many are either high level members of the Orc military or government, or have retired from such (but are still available in emergencies).
NPC Reaction Orc NPC's practically worship the Spear Masters. They're war heroes after all. Which of course means the other Humanoid races don't feel quite as kindly disposed towards them...
ORC SPEAR MASTERS IN THE GAME This class assumes you are either a war hero, or a wizened master who has risen above savagery, and now hopes to convert his people. Either one can make waves in a campaign.
Adaptation: This is probably best suited for serious campaigns.
Encounters: Spear Masters may be encountered only in the largest Orc cities (or perhaps running their own training center in remote areas), or in times of war leading the Orc forces.
Sample Encounter EL 30: The PC's have been hired to provide protection for a decorated Orc war hero by his tribe. Right from the beginning something seems wrong. Why would Orcs hire outsiders to guard one of their own, let alone a popular hero? And why does he seem to be...well, not the average Orc...
HoonCN Male Orc Barbarian 18/Fighter 2/Epic Barbarian 5/Orc Spear Master 5
Init +2,
Senses: Listen +9, Spot +9, Dark Vision 60'
Languages Orc, Common
------------------------------------------------
AC , touch , flat-footed (+2 Dex, +4 Dodge, )
hp 315 (30 HD), 435 Raging
Fort +23 (+26 Rage),
Ref +13,
Will +11 (+14 Rage)
Uncanny Dodge, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Indomitable Will
------------------------------------------------
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee Base Atk +25,
Grp +30 (+33 Raging)
Atk Options Tireless Greater Rage 6/day, Style Maneuvers (Pungrox), Enlightened Rage
Combat Gear-----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 20 (26 Raging), Dex 14, Con 18 (24 Raging), Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 7
SQ Light Sensitivity, Trap Sense +8, DR 6/-, Fast Movement, Defensive Training
Feats Advanced Pungrox Style, Cleave, Defensive Sweep, Great Cleave, Hold the Line, Improved Critical, Overwhelming Critical, Power Attack, Pungrox mastery, Pungrox Style, Weapon Focus, Combat Brute (B), Combat Reflexes (B), Improved Sunder (B)
Skills Bluff +6, Climb +14 (+17 Raging), Intimidate +24, Jump +14 (+17 Raging), Knowledge (Geography, History, Local, War) +3, Listen +9, Ride +11, Sense Motive +9, Spot +9, Survival +9, Tumble +7
PossessionsHarorox StyleYou prefer to use the Battleaxe as your weapon of choice.
Prerequisites: BAB +4, Power Attack, Cleave
Benefits: Whenever you successfully perform a Cleave attack with a Battleaxe you get a +4 Bonus on Critical confirmation rolls.
Advanced Harorox Styledes
Prerequisites: BAB +12, Harorox Style, Improved Bull Rush, Shock Troope
Benefits: When making a Bull Rush while wielding a Battleaxe you can make a regular damage attack as part of a Bull Rush. If the Bull Rush is successful they take normal Battleaxe damage.
Harorox Masterydes
Prerequisites: BAB +24, Advanced Harorox Style, Cometary Collision, Overwhelming Assault
Benefits: Successful Attacks you make as part of your Cometary Collision or Overwhelming Assault Feats automatically threaten a critical if the attacks were made with a Battleaxe and do maximum damage whether you are successful at confirmation or not.
Pungrox StyleYou prefer to use the Greataxe as your weapon of choice.
Prerequisites: BAB +4, Power Attack, Improved Sunder
Benefits: When performing a Sunder attack with a Greataxe you do an extra die of damage (i.e. 2d12 instead of 1d12).
Advanced Pungrox Styledes
Prerequisites: BAB +12, Pungrox Style, Combat Brute, Combat Reflexes
Benefits: When performing an Attack of Opportunity with a Greataxe you do an extra die of damage (i.e. 2d12 instead of 1d12).
Pungrox Masterydes
Prerequisites: BAB +24, Advanced Pungrox Style, Hold the Line, Defensive Sweep
Benefits: You automatically threaten a critical if you successfully hit an opponent with a Greataxe while using your Hold the Line Feat and do maximum damage whether you are successful at confirmation or not.
Tveirox StyleYou prefer to use the Orc Double Axe as your weapon of choice.
Prerequisites: BAB +4, Combat Reflexes, Two-Weapon Fighting
Benefits: If you successfully hit an opponent with your Orc Double Axe while making an Attack of opportunity you get another attack with the second end of the weapon at your usual bonuses. This counts as two of your available Attacks of Opportunity.
Advanced Tveirox Styledes
Prerequisites: BAB +12, Tveirox Style, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Two Weapon Pounce
Benefits: If you successfully hit and kill an opponent with your Orc Double Axe while using your Two Weapon Pounce Feat, you may make a 5 foot step and attack another opponent as if you had the Cleave Feat. This attack also gains the Charge Bonus.
Tveirox Masterydes
Prerequisites: BAB +24, Advance Tveirox Style, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Rend
Benefits: Whenever you successfully use your Two Weapon Rend Feat with your Orc Double Axe, you automatically do maximum damage without having to roll (i.e. if you normally did 1d8+2 for each weapon head and 1d6+3 for the rend, you do 29 points of damage), this includes confirmed criticals.
Atgeirr StyleYou prefer to use the Longspear as your weapon of choice.
Prerequisites: BAB +4, Short Haft, Combat Expertise
Benefits: You gain a +4 Competence Bonus to Attack rolls and a +2 Competence Bonus to Damage rolls when Fighting Defensively with a Longspear.
Advanced Atgeirr Styledes
Prerequisites: BAB +12, Atgeirr Style, Improved Trip, Spear Sweep
Benefits: You gain a +4 Competence Bonus to Trip Attempts with a Longspear while Fighting Defensively (this stacks with the Improved Trip Feat).
Atgeirr Masterydes
Prerequisites: BAB +24, Advance Atgeirr Style, Greater Spear Sweep, Multiple Spear Sweep
Benefits: When using your Multiple Spear Sweep Feat with a Longspear, you no longer take Penalties and make all rolls at your Highest BAB.
Rettageirr StyleYou prefer to use the Spear as your weapon of choice.
Prerequisites: BAB +4, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack
Benefits: When you successfully hit an opponent with a Spear while performing a Power Attack you do not take the penalty to critical confirmation rolls that you took on the attack roll. If the critical is successful you add double the penalty to the damage.
Advanced Rettageirr Styledes
Prerequisites: BAB +12, Rettageirr Style, Brutal Throw, Power Throw
Benefits: If you successfully confirm a critical hit with a Spear, you do x4 damage instead of x3.
Rettageirr Masterydes
Prerequisites: BAB +24, Advance Atgeirr Style, Overwhelming Assault, Powerful Charge
Benefits: If you successfully hit with a Spear when making a Charge Attack, you automatically threaten a critical hit and do maximum damage whether you confirm the critical or not.
Jarnknottr StyleYou prefer to use the Orc Shot Put as your weapon of choice.
Prerequisites: BAB +4, Point Blank Shot, Brutal Throw
Benefits: When successfully attacking an opponent at 30' or less with an Orc Shot Put you threaten a critical on a 17-20.
Advanced Jarnknottr Styledes
Prerequisites: BAB +12, Jarnknottr Style, Power Attack, Power Throw
Benefits: If you successfully confirm a critical hit on an opponent with an Orc Shot Put he must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or be Stunned 1d3 rounds.
Jarnknottr Masterydes
Prerequisites: BAB +24, Advance Jarnknottr Style, Penetrating Shot, Precise Shot
Benefits: If you successfully confirm a critical hit on an opponent with an Orc Shot Put and he is within 60' (the range for Stunning is now increased) he doesn't get to make a Save to avoid being Stunned as per your Advanced Jarnknottr Style Feat.
Short HaftYou are adept at refocusing the reach of your weapon
Prerequisites: Weapon Proficiency with any Reach Weapon.
Benefits: Once per round, you may change the reach of your weapon from it's normal Reach to 5 ft. as a Free Action.
Spear SweepYou may perform Trip attacks with the Spear or Longspear as if it were a weapon that allowed such.
Prerequisites: Improved Trip
Benefits: You may make a Trip attack with a Spear or Longspear in the same way you could with a Halberd.
Greater Spear SweepYour ability to trip up opponents with your Spear has improved.
Prerequisites: Improved Trip, Spear Sweep
Benefits: Your opponent no longer gets a Trip attempt if you fail a Trip Attempt with a Spear or Longspear. You get a +4 Circumstance Bonus to the Trip attempt with the weapon if your opponents Size Class is larger than yours, or he has a negative Dex penalty.
Multiple Spear SweepYou may trip multiple opponents with a spear now.
Prerequisites: Improved Trip, Spear Sweep, Greater Spear Sweep
Benefits: If you are surrounded by more than one opponent you may do a circling sweep with your Spear or Longspear and attempt to Trip all of them, but each trip attempt is your highest BAB with a cumulative -2 for every opponent you try to trip. For example if you have a +10 BAB, and try to Trip 4 Orcs, your first attempt is +8, the second +6, the third +4, and the fourth +2.