Renowned Warrior [DRS]

“The road to success is paved by those who walked beside us, brothers in arms, comrades, and those loyal to our cause. Do not let your lofty heights and luxuries let you forget the dirt where this road began. Continue to lead those that would follow you with dignity and honor.”

A renowned warrior walking the path of the imperious leader gains a bonus on all Diplomacy checks equal to 1/2 their renowned warrior class level (minimum 1).

- Imperious Leader (Ex): At 1st level, once per round as a free action, the renowned warrior may empower one ally (other than themselves) who can see and hear them. The empowered ally gains a number of temporary hit points equal to the renowned warrior’s class level + the renowned warrior’s highest mental ability score (Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma). These temporary hit points last until the start of the renowned warrior’s next turn.

- Tactical Designation (Ex): At 4th level, when the renowned warrior empowers an ally with their imperious leader ability, that ally also gains a +2 circumstance bonus to one of the following, chosen when the ability is used: AC, ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, or skill checks. This bonus lasts until the start of the renowned warrior’s next turn.

- Coordinated Assault (Ex): At 8th level, the first time each round an ally empowered by the renowned warrior’s imperious leader ability succeeds on an attack roll against an enemy, that enemy is marked for 1 round. When an ally (other than the empowered ally which applied the mark) makes an attack roll against a marked enemy, they can choose to roll twice on their attack roll and take the better result. This removes the mark; the decision to remove the mark must be made before the attack roll is made.

- Grand Strategist (Ex): At 10th level, whenever the renowned warrior uses their imperious leader ability to empower an ally, they may empower an additional ally (including themselves).

“And I told him that I’d be there. Maybe he didn’t believe me, but the look on his face when he thought he would die, only for me to be right there. You never give up on your family and friends, and if you do that, they’ll never give up on you. Walk and stand proud for what you’ve accomplished and the heights others have achieved thanks to you.”

A renowned warrior walking the path of the warrior god gains a bonus on all Sense Motive checks equal to 1/2 their renowned warrior class level (minimum 1).

- Defiant Guard (Ex): At 1st level, whenever an ally within 10 feet would be targeted by an attack, as an immediate action the renowned warrior may move adjacent to that ally. When moving as part of this ability, the renowned warrior can not move a distance greater than their speed this way; this movement does not count against movement the renowned warrior took during their turn or their movement during their next turn. At 2nd level and every level thereafter, this ability’s range increases by +5 feet.

In addition, once per round as a free action that can be taken even if it is not the renowned warrior’s turn, the renowned warrior may intercept a single attack targeting an ally they are adjacent to (including after moving using this ability). If the renowned warrior intercepts an attack this way, they become the target of the attack (resolving the attack vs. the renowned warrior, even if they would be out of reach or range) and gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their AC against this attack, plus an additional 1 at 4th level and every 3 levels thereafter. The renowned warrior must choose to intercept an attack before the attack roll is made.

Note: The defiant guard ability allows the renowned warrior to intercept attacks (melee attacks, ranged attacks, spell attacks with an attack roll). This ability does not allow the renowned warrior to intercept spells (such as a hold person spell).

- Shrug It Off (Ex): At 4th level, when the renowned warrior uses their defiant guard ability to intercept an attack, the renowned warrior reduces any damage dealt by that attack by an amount equal to their renowned warrior level and adds 1/2 their renowned warrior level as a bonus on any saving throw(s) caused by that attack (such as a poison, additional effect caused by a ray spell, etc.).

Note: Shrug it off does not grant damage reduction and instead directly reduces the damage taken (after calculations such as damage reduction and energy resistance). For example, if a 5th level renowned warrior would take 13 damage after using their defiant guard ability and had DR 3/– from their adamantine full plate, the renowned warrior would first apply their damage reduction (reducing the damage to 10), and then reduce that damage by a further 5 with shrug it off, taking 5 damage.

- Giant’s Presence (Ex): At 8th level, when the renowned warrior uses their defiant guard ability to intercept an attack, the renowned warrior may choose one of the following (chosen after the triggering attack resolves):

• Make an attack of opportunity against the source of the triggering attack (this may be taken with a ranged weapon)
• Move closer to the source of the triggering attack (up to 10 feet + 5 feet per 2 renowned warrior class levels); the renowned warrior cannot move a distance greater than their speed this way
• Immediately move into the ally’s square (who the renowned warrior intercepted an attack for), allowing that ally to move into the renowned warrior’s previous space. Both the renowned warrior and their ally must be willing and able to move and the renowned warrior’s ally must be able to occupy their previous space. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity for either the renowned warrior or their ally and movement made this way does not count against the renowned warrior’s or their ally’s movement on their next turn.

- Stubbornness (Ex): At 10th level, the renowned warrior gains an additional immediate action each round which may only be taken to use the defiant guard ability and may intercept an additional attack each round.

“What is battle if not the culmination of your great work and effort, displayed in artful carnage to those who are not worthy, and a glorious clash of steel to those which might yet give you a new challenge. Take each new battle as a moment to reflect and polish yourself, the diamond in the rough, to shine brilliantly amongst the pantheon when you finally join them.”

A renowned warrior walking the path of the warrior god gains a bonus on all Intimidate checks equal to 1/2 their renowned warrior class level (minimum 1).

- Bold Declaration (Ex): At 1st level, as a free action when the renowned warrior’s turn would end, the renowned warrior may make a bold declaration of their prowess. The renowned warrior gains a +2 circumstance bonus to one of the following, chosen when the ability is used: AC, ability checks, attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, or skill checks. This bonus lasts until the end of the renowned warrior’s next turn.

Using this ability requires the renowned warrior to speak their choice aloud, such as declaring “I shall make a mighty strike next turn” or “I shall endure all of your foul magics” when gaining a bonus to attack rolls or saving throws respectively. A renowned warrior may perform a grand display rather than speak aloud (such as a nonverbal renowned warrior, or when in combat with an enemy without a shared language) to state their intentions; these grand displays are easily interpreted by any creature with an Intelligence score greater than 2\.

- Rising Heat of Battle (Ex): At 4th level, whenever the renowned warrior succeeds on a check benefitting from their most recent bold declaration bonus (such as a successful saving throw while benefiting from increased saving throws or an enemy’s attack missing the renowned warrior while benefiting from increased AC an attack missing the renowned warrior, etc.), their most recent bold declaration’s duration is extended for 1 additional round. Multiple successes can extend the duration cumulatively, but only for the most recently chosen bonus. If the renowned warrior would make a bold declaration for the same bonus, the duration for that bonus is reset. This can allow the renowned warrior, through continued success, to have bonuses to multiple bonuses from their bold declaration ability simultaneously.

Example: The renowned warrior declares they will “pierce through their enemies to their heart”, gaining a bonus on damage rolls. Until the end of their next turn, each time the renowned warrior successfully deals damage, the duration of this bold declaration would increase by 1 round. If the renowned warrior dealt damage 5 times, the bold declaration would last for 5 rounds (plus the initial duration). If the renowned warrior would attempt a new bold declaration for damage rolls, the previous duration is lost. If the renowned warrior uses their bold declaration to gain a bonus on AC, any increased duration would apply to their bonus to AC, not any other ongoing bonus gained from their bold declaration ability.

Note – Bold Declarations and Rising Heat of Battle out of Combat: The “spirit” of the bold declaration ability is that you are able to impress and perform in front of others, or at least to yourself. While it is intended that a renowned warrior could use the bold declaration ability out of combat (however practical loudly announcing your intentions every 6 seconds is), the rising heat of battle ability is not meant to allow a bold declaration bonus to persist when not acting in initiative or in active scenarios, subject to GM discretion. This is meant to discourage trying to accumulate and maintain long-running bonuses before entering a combat scenario.

- Promises to Keep (Ex): At 8th level, the bonus granted by bold declaration increases to +3.

- Grand Declaration (Ex): At 10th level, the renowned warrior may make two bold declarations at the end of their turn (rather than just one). The renowned warrior treats these two bold declarations as being their “most recent” declaration for the rising heat of battle ability, gaining additional rounds of duration separately.

The renowned warrior wades through impurities and emerges unscathed. Whenever the renowned warrior would attempt a saving throw against a curse, death, disease, mind-affecting, pain, or poison effect, the renowned warrior may roll twice and take the better result. If the renowned warrior succeeds on their saving throw against such an effect, they are immune to that effect (from that source) for 1 minute. If an effect would have reduced effects on a successful saving throw, this immunity also protects against such reduced effects.

Example: The renowned warrior is targeted by an aboleth’s dominate person spell-like ability. The renowned warrior may roll twice and take the better result on their saving throw, and if they succeed on their saving throw, the renowned warrior is immune to that aboleth’s dominate person spell-like ability for 1 minute. This immunity does not extend to another aboleth’s dominate person spell-like ability, nor the other mind-affecting abilities an aboleth may possess.

The renowned warrior gains a constant 10% miss chance against ranged attacks and melee attacks made by creatures not adjacent to the renowned warrior (typically due to reach). Thismiss chance improves to 20% at 8th level. If the renowned warrior benefits from another source of miss chance (such as concealment, lightning conditions, weather, etc.), the renowned warrior increases that miss chance by an additional 10% (to a maximum of 50%; increasing a miss chance this way does not grant total concealment). The renowned warrior loses this miss chance against a given attack if they are flat-footed, are denied their Dexterity bonus to their AC, or immobilized (and could not move, such as being stunned, grappled, etc.).

Whenever a ranged attack misses the renowned warrior (due to this miss chance or otherwise), the renowned warrior may immediately move 5 feet. This movement provokes attacks of opportunity as normal except from the source of the missed attack. The renowned warrior may use this ability to move a number of times each round using this ability equal to 2 + 1/2 their renowned warrior level.

The renowned warrior can gain one combat feat they qualify for as a bonus feat. Once per day, the renowned warrior may focus themselves as a move action to change the combat feat they selected with this warrior prowess to another combat feat they qualify for.

The renowned warrior gains the cavalier’s banner class feature, treating twice their renowned warrior class level as their cavalier level when determining its effects. When the renowned warrior's effective cavalier level is 14, the renowned warrior also gains the greater banner class feature. The renowned warrior can exchange the banner and greater banner features for a battle standard as normal.

The renowned warrior’s class levels do not stack with levels of another class which grant the banner class feature, and if the renowned warrior already possesses the banner class feature (or a similar feature), the renowned warrior must select a battle standard or may immediately swap their non-renowned warrior banner for a battle standard (the renowned warrior’s two banners must grant different benefits). The renowned warrior’s banner effectively grants two distinct benefits with a single banner (or may choose to present two separate banners); whenever the renowned warrior waves their banner (usually as a standard action), the renowned warrior may only grant the active benefit of a single banner (not both).

Note: A battle standard is an alternative banner benefit a cavalier may select when they gain the banner class feature. Additional battle standard choices are included in Section 3 – Other Class Features of this book, in addition to the battle standard choices originally printed in Chronicles of Legends.

The renowned warrior’s technique and form is so clean and precise that it helps those who observe their actions.

Once per round, whenever the renowned warrior succeeds on an attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, or after an attack misses the renowned warrior, the renowned warrior may choose one ally who can see them. The renowned warrior automatically succeeds on an aid another check for that ally, aiding their next attack roll, saving throw, skill check, or their ally’s AC respectively. The renowned warrior may aid another an ally at a distance when using this ability. An aid another bonus granted by this ability cannot have their effective duration extended, and only apply to the aided ally’s next attempt (such as not being extended by the Harrying Partners teamwork feat). At 7th level, the renowned warrior may provide an aid another bonus an additional time each round.

Feats, class features and other effects that improve the bonus the renowned warrior provides when using the aid another action are halved (minimum 1; add up the total increase and then halve, do not halve each increase). This includes effects that would change aid another's base bonus to be greater than 2, such as the helpful racial trait (Halflings of Golarion) effectively being a +2 increase to aid another's bonus, halved when used with exemplary form.

Reminder Note: The bonus from aid another applies to the aided creature’s next roll (attack, save, skill), or to the aided creature’s AC against the next attack made against them. The benefits of aid another lasts until the start of the aiding creature’s next turn.

While aid another bonuses stack from different sources, an aid another bonus from the same creature to the same type of roll does not stack. At 7th level, the renowned warrior could aid another two different allies for their attack rolls, but providing an aid another bonus to attack rolls twice, for the same ally, would not stack.

The renowned warrior treats any composite bow they wield as having the adaptive special weapon ability (Ultimate Equipment). In addition, the renowned warrior adds +10 feet to the range increment of any ranged weapon they wield (this increased range is added after any other increases to range, such as the distance special weapon ability).

In addition, the renowned warrior may focus themselves as a swift action, gaining one of the following horizon draws which may be expended as part of making a ranged attack. The renowned warrior must choose to expend a horizon draw before making their attack roll, and a horizon draw not used before the start of the renowned warrior’s next turn is lost.

- Grand Arc (Ex): Reduce any bonus AC from cover the target benefits from by 1, plus 1 per 3 renowned warrior levels. This horizon draw grants no benefits against total cover.
- Intense Focus (Ex): The renowned warrior gains a +1 circumstance bonus on their attack roll, but takes an equal penalty to their AC against attacks made by creatures other than the target of this attack. This penalty lasts until the start of the renowned weapon’s next turn. The bonus and penalty granted by this horizon draw each increase by +1 at 5th level and again at 9th level.
- Rippling Wake (Ex): Choose a single square between the renowned warrior and the target of their ranged attack (including the target’s closest square). Creatures in that square must succeed on a Reflex save or take damage equal to the weapon’s base damage, plus any ability score added to the renowned warrior’s damage rolls with that weapon (such as a composite longbow’s 1d8 damage plus the renowned warrior’s Strength). Creatures in squares chosen with this ability do not provide soft cover to the target of your attack. The renowned warrior may choose 1 additional square at 5th level and again at 9th level; if the renowned warrior chooses the same square more than once, instead of dealing damage multiple times, the Reflex DC is increased by +2. If a creature occupies multiple chosen squares (such as by being size Large), that creature must make a saving throw for each such chosen square.
- Sharpened Stinger (Ex): Your attack deals an additional +1d4 weapon damage. This additional die increases by 1 step for every 3 renowned warrior levels you possess (1d4 > 1d6 > 1d8 > 1d10). This additional damage die is treated as part of the weapon’s base damage and can be multiplied on a successful critical hit, increased by the Vital Strike feat, increases the damage dealt by the rippling wake horizon draw, etc.

At 10th level, whenever you would spend a swift action to gain a horizon draw benefit, you may choose to gain two horizon draws (two different or even the same horizon draw chosen twice). The renowned warrior may apply two horizon draws to the same attack, or apply each horizon draw to a different attack. However, the same horizon draw does not stack (such as not being able to apply the sharpened stinger horizon draw twice to the same attack).

Note: This warrior prowess is only usable with manufactured or natural ranged weapons. Ranged attacks generated by spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities do not qualify for any of the benefits granted by this warrior prowess.

Choose one subordinate the renowned warrior possesses. The renowned warrior’s class levels count as (and stack with) their non-renowned warrior class levels when determining the abilities and statistics of the chosen subordinate (this is in addition to any additional effective levels granted by the aligned class class feature). When determining their effective class level for the chosen subordinate, the renowned warrior’s effective class level cannot exceed their total character level.

In addition, as long as the renowned warrior’s chosen subordinate can see the renowned warrior, the chosen subordinate gains a +1 morale bonus on all attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws and skill checks. This bonus increases by +1 at 5th level and 9th level.

Note: Subordinates are controlled creatures, defined in Appendix: Subordinates of this book. GMs should allow players to select any class-granted companion as appropriate (such as animal companions, drakes, eidolons, familiars, phantoms, etc.).

Example: A renowned warrior with ranger levels could select their animal companion with this warrior prowess, adding their renowned warrior levels to their ranger level when determining their effective druid level for that companion.

Whether by determination or providence, the renowned warrior is warded against the mystic arts that would bring them harm. The renowned warrior gains a +1 insight bonus on saving throws against supernatural abilities, spells, and spell-like abilities, as well as a +1 insight bonus to their AC against supernatural abilities, spells, and spell-like abilities (such as ray or touch spells, magical touch attacks, etc.). These bonuses increase by +1 at 5th level and again at 9th level (maximum +3 at 10th level).

The renowned warrior’s weapons are imbued with mystic energy drawn from their unyielding will, mystic prowess, or higher faith. Any weapon the renowned warrior wields (including their unarmed strikes and natural attacks) gains a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls, allowing the weapon to bypass damage reduction as a magic weapon. If the weapon would already have an enhancement bonus, the renowned warrior instead increases that enhancement bonus by +1 for all purposes (to a maximum of +5). At 10th level, this ability can increase a weapon’s enhancement bonus to +6 and allows any weapon the renowned warrior wields to have a total modified bonus exceeding +10.

Normal: A weapon’s enhancement bonus cannot exceed +5 and a weapon’s modified bonus (enhancement bonus plus special ability bonus equivalents, including those from character abilities and spells) cannot exceed +10.

This ability does not allow a mystic wielder to craft a magic weapon whose total bonus exceeds +10, although they may use class features (including mystic wielder) to increase the total bonus beyond +10.

The renowned warrior may retrieve and consume potions, elixirs, and other consumables as a swift action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Whenever the renowned warrior consumes a beverage (potion, elixir, alcoholic drink, etc.), the renowned warrior gains a number of temporary hit points equal to 5 + their renowned warrior level. These temporary hit points last for 1 minute.

At 5th level, whenever the renowned warrior spends a standard, move, or swift action to consume a beverage, the renowned warrior may also do one of the following as a free action:

• Move up to 10 feet (this movement provokes attacks of opportunity as normal)
• Stand up from prone
• Draw, pick up, ready, or stow a weapon or shield

At 9th level, the renowned warrior may choose the following additional option:

• Make a single attack at the renowned warrior’s highest base attack bonus

The renowned warrior may not use the revelry warrior prowess to consume an alchemist’s extract or infusion faster than a standard action.

Note: The renowned warrior does not need to consume a substance with special properties. Simply using the swift action to drink from their water skin or canteen is sufficient. For the purposes of this warrior prowess, a consumable which targets the renowned warrior (and not their equipment, etc.) is a beverage, even if it would not be drunk (such as an alchemical beard oil targeting the renowned warrior could be used with the revelry warrior prowess).

Note: See Appendix: 3rd Party Compatibility.

The renowned warrior gains Blind-Fight as a bonus feat. If the renowned warrior already possesses Blind-Fight, the renowned warrior instead gains a single feat they qualify for which requires Blind-Fight as a prerequisite (such as Improved Blind-Fight). At 5th level, and again at 9th level, the renowned warrior gains a bonus feat which lists Blind-Fight as a prerequisite.

The renowned warrior may benefit from the Blind-Fight, Improved Blind-Fight, and Greater Blind-Fight feats when making ranged attacks (rather than only melee attacks).

In addition, the renowned warrior may spend a swift action to gain 5 feet of blindsense (or increase the range of any existing blindsense or blindsight they already possess by the same amount) until the start of their next turn. This increases by +5 feet at 5th level and 9th level.

The renowned warrior gains DR 1 / –, increasing by +1 at 5th level and again at 9th level. If the renowned warrior is wearing armor, this damage reduction increases by +1, and if wearing heavy armor, this damage reduction increases by a further +1. This damage reduction stacks with other sources of damage reduction (such as the barbarian’s damage reduction class feature, the damage reduction granted by the adamantine special material, or typed damage reduction such as a lycanthrope’s DR / silver).

In addition, the renowned warrior gains Endurance as a bonus feat. If the renowned warrior already possesses Endurance, the renowned warrior instead gains a single feat they qualify for which requires Endurance as a prerequisite (such as Diehard). At 5th level, and again at 9th level, the renowned warrior gains a bonus feat which lists Endurance as a prerequisite.

Special: The renowned warrior qualifies for any feat which lists Endurance as a prerequisite as though they met any ability score or racial prerequisites for that feat, but must still meet any other prerequisites (feats, base attack bonus, skill ranks, religious requirements, etc.). For example, the renowned warrior may qualify for the Deathless Initiate feat (Ultimate Combat), despite not being a half-orc or orc and even if their ability scores would be insufficient.

The renowned warrior’s back is to the sun, and footsteps trace the winds on their path forward. The renowned warrior gains a +10 feet bonus to each of their movement modes. At 5th level, and again at 9th level, this increases by an additional +10 feet (maximum +30 feet at 9th level). Reductions to the renowned warrior’s speed, such as when wearing armor heavier than light armor, still apply as normal.

In addition, whenever the renowned warrior moves, they may move through up to 5 feet of difficult terrain each round as if it were normal terrain. This allows the renowned warrior to take a 5-foot step into difficult terrain. At 5th level, and again at 9th level, the amount of difficult terrain the renowned warrior may move through each round increases by +5 feet (maximum 15 feet at 9th level). The effects of this warrior prowess stack with those provided by other similar effects (such as the Nimble Moves and Acrobatic Steps feats). The renowned warrior may similarly ignore an equal amount of terrain which would require additional movement to move through (such as the movement penalty imposed by a solid fog spell).

Special: A mounted renowned warrior with the windrunner warrior prowess may share its effects with their mount.