CHAPTER S : PRESTIGE CLASSES
TEMPEST
The tempest is the point of calm within a whirling barrier of deadly blades. Poets use colorful terms such as dancer to describe the movement of a tempest and her two blades, but mastery of this fighting style is not about dancing . Nor is it about impressing anyone-least of all poets . The tempest focuses on learning the ultimate secrets of two-weapon fighting for a single purpose-the destruction of her enemies. Typically hardy individualists, tempests rarely learn their skills through any sort of formal training. Instead, they master their art though constant application of its disciplines and experimentation on their foes. Similarly, no matter how famous tempests become, it's rare for them to take on students . Their art, they say, is one that can be learned but never taught. This prestige class is open to all classes and races . Though tempests are rare, every humanoid race has boasted at least a few. Elves make for nimble, clever tempests whose dexterity works to their advantage . Dwarves, perhaps because they favor heavy armor and heavy weapons, are the least likely characters to become tempests . Even members of the smaller races can find the tempest's path appealing . Hit Die : dio .
Requirements
To qualify as a tempest, a character must fulfill the following criteria. Base Attack Bonus : +9 . Feats : Ambidexterity, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Two-Weapon Fighting, and Weapon Finesse (any) or Weapon Focus (any) .
Class Skills
The tempest's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Wilderness Lore (Wis) . See Chapter 4 of the Player's Handbook for skill descriptions . Skill Points at Each Level : 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The following are class features of the tempest prestige class . Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Tempests gain no weapon or armor proficiencies . Improved Two-Weapon Fighting : Beginning at 1st
TABLE 5-17 : THE TEMPEST Class Base Fort Level Attack Bonus Save 1 st +1 +2 2nd +2 +3 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
+3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +10
+3 +4 +4 +5 +5 +6 +6 +7
Ref Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3
Will
Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3
level, a tempest can fight with two weapons as if she had the Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat when she is wearing light armor or no armor. She loses this ability when fighting in medium or heavy armor, or when using a double weapon (such as a two-bladed sword) . Off-Hand Parry: At 2nd level, the tempest gains Off Hand Parry as a bonus feat. As she gains tempest levels, her AC bonus from this feat increases, rising to +4 at 4th level and to +6 at 6th level . Greater Two-Weapon Fighting : At 5th level, a tempest can fight with two weapons as if she had the Greater Two-Weapon Fighting feat when she is wearing light armor or no armor. She loses this ability when fighting in medium or heavy armor, or when using a double weapon (such as a two-bladed sword) . Absolute Ambidexterity: Beginning at 8th level, the tempest's attack penalties for fighting with two weapons lessen by 2 when she is wearing light armor or no armor . Thus, if she fights with a light weapon in her off hand, she suffers no penalties on her attack rolls for
Special Improved Two-Weapon Fighting Off-Hand Parry +2 Off-Hand Parry +4 Greater Two-Weapon Fighting Off-Hand Parry +6 Absolute ambidexterity Supreme two-weapon fighting
