Campaign Design - Base Classes: Voják

Voják
(from Complete Warrior; originally the Samurai class)

Known for their matchless bravery and strict code of honor, the voják are the elite vyšotek soldiers of the šotek hive queens. The reputation of voják for being tenacious in combat often precedes them in battle, and their mere presence is often enough to make dishonorable enemies slink away in the darkness.

Abilities: Strength is of paramount importance to the sword-wielding voják, and Dexterity and Constitution help her survive in the midst of battle. Many of the voják's other class features depend upon Charisma - a voják's force of personality can make her enemies quake in fear.

Race: Vyšotek (Hobgoblin).
Alignment: Any lawful.
Hit Die: d10.
Luck Die: d4.

Class Skills

• Skill List: The voják's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft: Any (all skills taken individually) (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge: History (Int), Knowledge: Nobility and Royalty (Int), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis).
• Note: Because the Three Worlds campaign uses the Skills by Character house rule, the list of class skills given here is only included for the sake of completeness, and is not used by characters in the campaign setting.
• Skill Points at 1^st Level: (2 + Intelligence modifier) x 4.
• Skill Points at Each Additional Class Level: 2 + Intelligence modifier.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the voják:

• Base Attack Bonus: Good. A voják gains +1 base attack bonus per class level.


• Fortitude Base Save Bonus: Good. A voják gains a +2½ base Fortitude save bonus at first level, and an additional +½ base Fortitude save bonus per class level.


• Reflex Base Save Bonus: Poor. A voják gains +¹⁄₃ Base Reflex save bonus per class level.


• Will Base Save Bonus: Poor. A voják gains +¹⁄₃ base Will save bonus per class level.


• Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A voják is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with all types of armor, but not with shields.


• Daisho Proficiency (Ex): In melee combat, a voják favors the vardatch (almost always a masterwork crafted vardatch) and the butterfly sword (usually a masterwork butterfly sword). Many voják receive a set of these two blades from their hive queen to use in her service. Because a voják is trained in their use, she gains the feats Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Vardatch and Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Butterfly Sword as bonus feats.


• Two Swords as One (Ex): At 2^nd level, a voják has learned to wield the vardatch and butterfly sword together. She is treated as having the Two-Weapon Fighting feat when wielding a vardatch and butterfly sword even if she does not meet the prerequisites for that feat.


• Kiai Smite (Ex): Once per day, a voják of 3^rd level or higher can give a great cry during combat that invigorates her. When a voják shouts (a free action), her next attack gains a bonus on the attack roll and the damage roll (if any) equal to her Charisma bonus (minimum 1). As a voják gains levels, she can make a kiai smite more often.


• Iaijutsu Master (Ex): By 5^th level, a voják has become adept at iaijutsu, a fighting technique that concentrates on drawing her weapons and striking a foe in one fluid motion. She is treated as having the Quick Draw feat, but only when she draws her vardatch or butterfly sword.


• Staredown (Ex): At 6^th level, a voják becomes able to strike fear into her foes by her mere presence. She gains a +4 bonus on Intimidate checks and can demoralize an opponent as described in the Intimidate skill description in the Player's Handbook.


• Improved Initiative (Ex): At 8^th level, the voják has practiced iaijutsu techniques used in ritual duels between two voják, and she is able to anticipate when any enemy will attack. She now has the Improved Initiative feat.


• Mass Staredown (Ex): At 10^th level, a voják has sufficient presence that she can cow multiple foes. Using an Intimidate check, a voják can demoralize all opponents within 30 feet with a single standard action.


• Improved Two Swords as One (Ex): At 11^th level, a voják's prowess with the vardatch and butterfly sword improves. She is treated as having the Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat when wielding a vardatch and butterfly sword, even if she does not meet the prerequisites for the feat.


• Improved Staredown (Ex): At 14^th level, even a glance from the hard eyes of a voják is enough to give her foes pause. The voják can demoralize opponents within 30 feet as a move action, not a standard action.


• Greater Two Swords as One (Ex): At 16^th level, fighting with a vardatch and butterfly sword becomes second nature for a voják. She is treated as having the Greater Two-Weapon Fighting feat when wielding a vardatch and a butterfly sword, even if she does not meet the prerequisites for the feat.


• Frightful Presence (Ex): A 20^th-level voják's bravery, honor, and fighting prowess have become legendary. When the voják draws her blade, opponents within 30 feet must succeed on a Will save (DC 20 + voják's Charisma modifier) or become panicked for 4d6 rounds (if they have 4 or fewer Hit Dice), or shaken for 4d6 rounds (if they have from 5 to 19 Hit Dice). Creatures with 20 or more Hit Dice are not affected. Any foe that successfully resists the effect cannot be affected again by the same voják's frightful presence for 24 hours.

Voják

Level	Special
1st	Daisho proficiency
2nd	Two swords as one
3rd	Kiai smite 1/day
4th	-
5th	Iaijustu master
6th	Staredown
7th	Kiai smite 2/day
8th	Improved Initiative
9th	-
10th	Mass staredown
11th	Improved two swords as one
12th	Kiai smite 3/day
13th	-
14th	Improved staredown
15th	-
16th	Greater two swords as one
17th	Kiai smite 4/day
18th	-
19th	-
20th	Frightful presence

Ex-Voják: A voják must be of lawful alignment and dishonors herself if she ever willingly commits a chaotic act or violates the core principles of the voják code which are honor, loyalty, and courage. A voják who becomes nonlawful or violates the tenets of the voják code cannot gain new levels as a voják and loses all voják class features that depend on Charisma or Charisma-based checks. Minor embarrassments don't count, but major breaks with the code do. Acts that could lose a voják her status include disobeying an order from a superior officer or hive queen, fleeing in cowardice from an important battle, being caught in a major lie or other breach of integrity, and appallingly rude behavior. She can regain her class features and the ability to progress in the class if she atones for her violations (see the atonement spell in the Player's Handbook) assuming the hive queen they serve offers a chance at redemption. Some disgraced voják take levels in the ronin prestige class.

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