Base Requirements

• Races: Any
• Sub-Classes: Any Rogue
• Ability Requirements: Aim 13
• Alignments: Any
• Starting Cash: By class

Weapon Proficiencies

• Weapon Slots: By class
• Bonus Weapon Proficiencies: none
• Required Weapon Proficiencies: Any Blade
• Allowed Weapons: By class, plus Blade Broad Group
• Allowed Armors: By class

Non-Weapon Proficiencies:

• Non-weapon Slots: By class
• Available Categories: By class, plus Martial
• Bonus Non-weapon Proficiencies: Display Weapon Prowess, Blind-Fighting, Juggling, Two-weapon Style
• Required Proficiencies: none
• Recommended Proficiencies: Athletics, Blacksmithing, Bowyer/Fletcher, Dancing, Dark Sense, Disguise, Display Weapon Prowess, Dodge, Intimidation, Local History, Poetry, Style Analysis, Sword Swallowing, Throwing, Tumbling, Weapon Improvisation, Weapon Sharpening, Weaponsmithing
• Forbidden Proficiencies: none

Overview: Blades are master artisans with bladed weapons. Everyone has seen a Blade in action at fairs and carnivals. They are the knife throwers who pop balloons while blindfolded and swallow slender sabers such as those used by lawless pirates on the high seas.

Blades also perform amazing displays of weapon skill and control as they flash various weapons all about their bodies with deadly precision. Oriental Blades are perhaps the most skilled at this particular art form. Using weapons such as the three-piece rod, nunchaku, or the katana, Oriental Blades put on amazing displays of rapid weapon movement, including offensive and defensive spins, katas, and ritual dances. Occidental Blades are also impressive, as they rapidly spin short swords, quarterstaves, or sickles about them.

Besides rapid displays of weapon skill, Blades also perform slow, elegant dances, involving incredibly precise movement and timing. These dances include thrusts, lunges, leaps, graceful arcs, etc. If there is a showy way to wield, throw, or perform with a weapon, a Blade knows how to do it better than anyone.

Description: To complement their entertainment image as mysterious and fearsome men, Blades often dress in black garb, even going so far as to wear masks, facial wraps, or black headgear. Their weapons are always kept in perfect condition and highly polished for maximum effect during a performance. A man dressed in solid black, flashing gleaming silver blades, is truly an awesome sight.

Role-Playing: Blades have great reputations as the most deadly weapon masters in the land. This is generally far from the truth. Any warrior is more skilled than most Blades at successfully attacking opponents. Blades don’t understand offensive and defensive weapon maneuvers, nor do they know the locations of vital body parts. Blades can be effective in many combat situations, however, as they use flash and flare to enhance their attacks.

Imagine what an orc would think if it was trapped in a cavern with only two exits and a man blocking each. One man (a warrior) wears plate mail and is calmly holding a long sword; the other (a Blade) is dressed in solid black studded leather armor and is grasping a halberd. Both men advance upon the hapless orc, but the Blade begins rotating his halberd in an ever-quickening offensive spin, demonstrating masterful control of his weapon. Which opponent will the orc choose?

Blades are valuable aids to any party, as their amazing displays can have significant effects upon the resolve and morale of opponents. For every Blade who leads an adventurous life, there is another who serves in the role of assassin. Blades make perfect killers, as they know how to climb walls, cast wizard spells, and use any weapon they choose. Furthermore, Blades can use their performing personae to gather information and even get themselves invited to perform within the homes of their victims.

Special Abilities:

• Weapons Display: By whirling a weapon about, a Blade can affect the morale and courage of others. Any successful use of the Display Weapon Prowess proficiency lowers the morale score of all enemies by 2 (this is in addition to the morale check forced by normal use of the proficiency) and inspires allies, giving a +1 bonus to allies’ attack rolls. The display must occur for a full round without interruption. During this time, any successful attack upon the Blade, or failed saving throw by the Blade, disrupts the display.
  This type of Weapons Display may be used only once per encounter; the effects of the display last for one round per level of the Blade.
• Trick Throw: When making a called shot with any ranged weapon, the blade reduces the attack penalty by 1 for every 5 levels (round up). Because Blades throw weapons blindfolded, they extend the Blind-Fighting proficiency to include hurled weapons and missile weapons (to a maximum range of 30 feet).
  When a Blade tries to catch small weapons that are thrown at him, the attack roll (see the Juggling proficiency) is made using the Blade’s level as a bonus.
• Defensive Spin: A defensive spin is a specialized form of parrying in which the Blade whirls his weapon to create a deadly shell about his body. A Blade may not attack during any round in which he is performing a defensive spin. The Blade’s Armor Class is lowered by half the Blade’s level (round fractions up) during this maneuver. In addition, any creature that makes a melee attack on the Blade must roll a successful saving throw vs. paralyzation or suffer damage equal to half the Blade’s level. A defensive spin may be used only once per combat; it lasts for a maximum number of rounds equal to the Blade’s Fitness score. A successful hit upon the Blade disrupts his concentration and ends the defensive spin.

Special Disadvantages:

• Blades, regardless of class, may not use any written magic items (neither spell scrolls, nor protection scrolls, nor magical tomes).

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