Witch Hunter
(Oriental Adventures variant, p. 54)
Witch hunters combine magical training with combat expertise to battle the spiritual forces of evil in the world. Ghosts and other evil spirits, demons and oni, and practitioners of black magic are the witch hunters' sworn enemies, and they bring unique abilities and expertise to bear in combating these foes.
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Alignment: Any Nonevil
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 10 ranks or , Knowledge (Shadowlands) 10 ranks
Feats: Track
Spells: Able to cast magic circle against Taint or magic circle against evil.
Special: Must have been selected by another witch hunter, and trained under that mentor before entering the prestige class.
Hit die
d8
Skill points
4 + Int
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Witch hunters are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor.
Spells per Day: A witch hunter continues her magical training as well as practicing the techniques of the hunter. At 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 10th level, the character gains new spells per day and spells known as if she had also gained one level in her spellcasting class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit of the spellcasting class. For example, if Kuni Osari, a 3rd-level shugenja/4th-level ranger/1st-level witch hunter, gains a level in witch hunter, she gains new spells as if she had risen to 4th level in shugenja, but uses the other witch hunter aspects of level progression such as attack bonus and save bonus. If she next gains a level of shugenja, making her a 4th-level shugenja/4th-level ranger/2nd-level witch hunter, she gains spells as if she had risen to 5th level in shugenja.
Detect Evil (Sp): At will, the witch hunter can use detect evil as a spell-like ability. In the featured campaign setting of Rokugan, witch hunters use detect Taint instead.
Kami's Grace: A witch hunter applies her Charisma modifier (if positive) as a bonus on all saving throws.
Smite Evil (Su): Once per day, a witch hunter of 2nd level or higher may attempt to smite an evil opponent with one normal melee attack. She adds a +4 bonus on her attack roll and deals 2 extra points of damage per class level. If the witch hunter accidentally smites a creature that is not evil, the smite has no effect but it is still used up for that day.
In the featured campaign setting of Rokugan, witch hunters smite Shadowlands opponents instead. A Shadowlands opponent is a monster with the Shadowlands descriptor or a character with a Taint score.
Aura of Courage (Ex/Su): Beginning at 3rd level, a witch hunter is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Allies within 10 feet of the witch hunter gain a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects. Granting the morale bonus to allies is a supernatural ability.
Bonus Feats: At 4th, 6th, and 10th level, a witch hunter gains the bonus feats Power Attack, Cleave, and Great Cleave. If the witch hunter already has one of these feats at the time she gains it as a bonus feat, she gains no special benefit. If the witch hunter does not have the prerequisite Strength score, she can only use the feats against evil opponents (or Shadowlands opponents, in Rokugan).
Resist Evil Magic (Ex): At 8th level, a witch hunter gains a specialized spell resistance equal to 20 + her class level. This spell resistance applies only to evil spells or spells cast by an evil creature. In Rokugan, this spell resistance applies only to spells cast by maho-tsukai or other characters with the Shadowlands Taint, as well as spells and spell-like abilities used by Shadowlands monsters.
Advancement
Level | BAB | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Spells per Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Detect evil, kami's grace | |
2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Smite evil | +1 level of existing class |
3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Aura of courage | |
4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Bonus feat: Power Attack | |
5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +4 | +1 level of existing class | |
6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Bonus feat: Cleave | |
7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +5 | +1 level of existing class | |
8th | +8 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Resist evil magic | |
9th | +9 | +6 | +3 | +6 | +1 level of existing class | |
10th | +10 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Bonus feat: Great Cleave | +1 level of existing class |
Class skills
Skill name | Key ability | Trained only | Armor check penalty |
---|---|---|---|
Alchemy | Int | ||
Climb | STR | ||
Concentration | CON | ||
Craft | INT | ||
Heal | WIS | ||
Hide | DEX | ||
Intuit Direction | Wis | ||
Jump | STR | ||
Knowledge (arcana) | INT | ||
Knowledge (local) | INT | ||
Knowledge (religion) | INT | ||
Knowledge (Shadowlands) | INT | ||
Listen | WIS | ||
Move Silently | DEX | ||
Profession | WIS | ||
Scry | Int | ||
Search | INT | ||
Sense Motive | WIS | ||
Spellcraft | INT | ||
Spot | WIS | ||
Swim | STR | ||
Use Rope | DEX | ||
Wilderness Lore | Wis |