CHAPTER 5
PRESTIGE CLASSES
Melee Sneak Attack (Ex): +1d6 points of damage against from a great distance and holding the high ground against all comers. flat-footed opponents in melee, or against targets Uli is Adaptation: With their racial archery prowess, elves could flanking. Creatures that do not have a discernible anatomy have a similar prestige class that isn’t tied to the mountains. To or that are immune to extra damage from critical hits are immune to sneak attacks. create such a class, you could replace the Climb and Mountain Warrior requirements with other skill or feat requirements, Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—speak with animals (burrowand likewise replace the adept climber and strike from above ing mammal only, duration 1 minute). class features with class features you create yourself. AlternaGnome Traits: Gnomes have a +1 racial bonus on attack tively, you could remove the Mountain Warrior requirement rolls against kobolds and goblinoids. Gnomes have a +4 and call the prestige class the “elven treetop archer.” racial bonus to Armor Class against giants. Hit Die: d8. *Gnomes have a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against illusions. Mobile Fighting (Ex): Uli gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC Requirements To qualify to become a cragtop archer, a character must until the beginning of her next turn in any round when she fulfill all the following criteria. moves 5 feet or more. Base Attack Bonus: +6. Possessions: +1 chain shirt, +1 rapier, gloves of Dexterity +2, amulet Skills: Climb 10 ranks, Spot 5 ranks, Survival 5 ranks. of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1. Feats: Far Shot, Mountain Warrior*. *New feat described in Chapter 6.
CRAGTOP ARCHER
Vilmaka Keeneye Kalagiano, a cragtop archer
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Illus. by F. Vohwinkel
In times of peace, the cragtop archer hunts across the deep Class Skills mountain canyons, felling animals too canny for other huntThe cragtop archer’s class skills (and the key ability for ers to approach. In times of war, the cragtop archer fights each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), from a ridgeline, raining arrows down on her foes from Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Prohundreds of yards away and winning battles from seemfession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), ingly impossible distances. and Swim (Str). See Chapter 4 of the Player’s Handbook for skill descriptions. Cragtop archers train their eyes and minds to Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier. find targets at great distances, and to quickly compensate for wind, movement, and other Class Features factors that affect shots of such difficulty. All of the following are class features of the cragtop Few warriors can match the cragtop archer prestige class. archer’s ability to hold higher ground Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Cragagainst a group of enemies. top archers gain no proficiency with any Human, goliath, and weapon or armor. half-elf rangers comprise Adept Climber (Ex): A cragtop archer most of the small number of does not lose her Dexterity bonus to Armor cragtop archers that patrol Class while climbing. the northern ranges, but other Farsight (Ex): A cragtop archer enjoys races and classes occasionally great visual acuity. She suffers only join their ranks. Fighters, half the normal penalty on her Spot especially those with a checks because of distance (–1 level of rogue or ranger, per 20 feet of distance, rather make excellent cragtop archers. than –1 per 10 feet). In addiRogues typically prefer to sneak tion, a cragtop archer takes close to their foes rather than train only half the normal penalty as cragtop archers, and spellcasters on ranged attacks per range rarely have the martial expertise required for the class. increment (–1 per range increNPC cragtop archers are often ment, rather than –2). encountered at a distance; PCs Strike From Above (Ex): will see their arrows long before Beginning at 2nd level, a cragtop the arrows’ origin becomes appararcher gains a +2 bonus on damage ent. While most cragtop archers are rolls when making a ranged attack content to wander the mountains and from higher ground than her target. hunt for their tribes, in times of war a Arcing Shot (Ex): A cragtop cragtop archer is a useful ally. Teams of archer of 3rd level or higher can fire cragtop archers often function as artila high, arcing shot to gain greater range lery for mountain warbands, striking foes with her projectile weapon. Any time the
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