Tiger Style Master
by Ohad ShahamMany of the proud Rakasta of Mystara are accomplished warriors. Different tribes and cultures of rakasta support varied styles of combat methods and martial arts. Non is more exotic or hard to learn than the Tiger Style, an advanced martial method that takes advantage of the racial traits of the noble Rakasta.
Becoming an Tiger Style MasterThe Tiger style requires the use of claws or claw-like weapons. An initiate must find a rakasta master to help him make his claws into the deadliest weapons in the world. Only those of the highest discipline and inner power can hope to unleash the tiger within. While most come from a rakasta monastic order, other races might wish to learn the elegant and deadly art of the Tiger Style, if they find one who will teach them.
Entry Requirements:
Skills: Jump 8 ranks
Feats: Proficient with War Claws (or any other claw-like weapon), Dodge, Weapon focus (claw-like weapons), Combat Reflexes
Special: Flurry of Blows as a class ability
Class Features:
Hit Dice: d10
Weapon and Armour: Gains none
Class Skills: (4+int bonus/level) Balance, Climb, Concentration, Escape Artist, Handle Animal, Heal, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Tumble.
| Saves | |||||
| Lvl | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +0 | Flurry of Claws; AC bonus +1 |
| 2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +0 | Crouching Tiger, Clever Claw-work |
| 3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Tiger's Rend 1d6 |
| 4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Claw of Power, Slow Fall 20ft |
| 5 | +5 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Greater Flurry, Tiger's Pounce |
| 6 | +6 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Tiger's Rend 2d6 |
| 7 | +7 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Slow Fall 40ft |
| 8 | +8 | +6 | +6 | +2 | AC bonus +2 |
| 9 | +9 | +6 | +6 | +3 | Tiger's Rend 3d6 |
| 10 | +10 | +7 | +7 | +3 | ClawMaster, Slow Fall (any distance) |
Flurry of Claws At 1st level, the natural claws or any claw weapon used by the Tiger Style Master is considered a special monk weapon and may be used while using the flurry of blows ability.
AC bonus: When not wearing armour, the Tiger Style Master gains an AC bonus as indicated. This bonus stacks with the similar bonus from the monk class.
Crouching Tiger: The Tiger Style Master learns how to fight very low, getting to almost a prone position and rising back with ease. You gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC against melee attacks when using the "fight defensively" option or combat expertise.
Clever Claw Work: When fighting with natural claws or with claw weapons, the Tiger Style Master interchanges blows with jabs and slashes. He can choose the type of damage (piercing, slashing or bludgeoning).
Tiger's Rend: Your faster-than-lightning hacks are extremely dangerous. Whenever you use Flurry of Claws and score two consecutive hits on the same target, add 1d6 slashing damage to the second attack. This damage increases with level as noted.
Slow Fall: This is identical, and stacks with, the monk ability of the same name.
Claw of Power: The claws you wield have been honed to perfection. Starting at 4th level, you may use the damage of your unarmed attack instead of your claw attack (whichever is higher). Your claws and claw-like weapons are considered both natural weapons and manufactured weapons for the sake of applying for feats. In addition, any Ki strike ability you might have also enhances your claw attacks.
Greater Flurry: A Tiger Style Master gains this ability at 5th level. The extra attack applies for Flurry of Claws as well.
Panther's Pounce: When making a charge attack, a 5th level Tiger Style Master can attempt a running jump as part of the charge action. If he clears its opponent height he can use a full attack (which can be flurry of blows/claws). Only the first attack gains the _2 bonus from the charge.
Claw Master: The most powerful Tiger Style Masters can rip the heart right out of their enemy's chest. Once a day, he can spend a full round in the infamous death leopard stance (provoking attacks of opportunity). At the end of the round, if the stance was not interrupted by a successful attack, the Tiger Style Master bashes through the opponents chest with a claw or claw weapon. If the attack hits the target takes normal damage and must also take a fortitude save (DC10+1/2 damage taken). Aberrations, Elementals, Plants Undead and creatures without living hearts (or those with more than one) are immune to this effect.
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New Weapon: War Claws (Kasa)
Exotic light weapon
War Claws (Kasa); Cost 45gp; damage 1d4 (crit x2); weight 2lb (pair); slashing
War claws are made of 3 or 4 powerful, 3-inch hooked blades ingeniously embedded in a tough leather glove. They can be worn on top of a rakasta's natural claws (making them martial weapons for rakasta) but can also be worn by other humanoids with some skill. War claws are hard to disarm, giving a +4 circumstance bonus on rolls made to avoid being disarmed.
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Sample Encounter (CR 12)
Sachssa of the Silent Roar
Female Rakasta
HD 2d8+10d10+12; hp 79;
Init +3; Spd 30 ft/x4;
AC 19 (+3 dex, +4 armour, +2 misc), touch 19, flat-footed 14;
Base Atk/Grapple +11/+18;
Full Atk +17/+12/+7
-One-handed (1d6+5;19-20/x2, War Claw);
-with Flurry of Claws +15/+15/+15/+10/ +5 ((1d6+5;19-20/x2, War Claw)
+2d6 Tiger's Rend
AL LN; SV Fort +11, Ref +11, Will +7;
Str 17(+3), Dex 16(+3), Con 12(+1), Int 8(-1), Wis 13(+1), Cha 8(-1);
Skills: Balance¹ +5, Climb¹ +5, Escape Artist¹ +5, Handle Animal +2, Intimidate¹ +9, Jump¹ +16, Listen¹ +6, Sense Motive¹ +3.
Feats: Dodge, Mobility, Improved Critical(War Claw), Deflect Arrows, Power Attack, Weapon Focus(War Claw), Weapon Specialisation(War Claw), Power Critical(War Claw), Bonus monk feats: Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple, Combat Reflexes
Equipment: Bracers of Armour +4, 2 War Claws +2