Snowsmasher (3.5e Prestige Class)

Snowsmasher

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Contents 1 Snowsmasher 1.1 Becoming a Snowsmasher 1.1.1 Class Features 1.1.2 Monstrous Spider Mount 1.1.2.1 Class Features 1.1.3 Ex-Snowsmashers 1.2 Campaign Information 1.2.1 Playing a Snowsmasher 1.2.2 Snowsmashers in the World 1.2.3 Snowsmasher Lore 1.2.4 Snowsmashers in the Game

[edit] Snowsmasher

“	The snows are cold and lonely, however, I always have Jar'rin to keep me company.	”
—Káln Kréshil, Valenal Snowstormer, Kréshil Tamer's Manuscript

The Snowsmashers are cavalry who ride fierce mounts. They typicaly wield something to stab from the back of their mounts, along with a shorter weapon to deal with any foes while on the ground.

[edit] Becoming a Snowsmasher

Snowsmashers are typicaly northerners who have four to five levels in Snowstormer, and have also befriended a wolf. They ride around on their mounts, smashing in enemies faces.

Entry Requirements

Base Attack Bonus:	Anyone aspiring to be a Snowsmasher mush have a Base Attack Bonus of +4.
Class Restriction:	To become a Snowsmasher, you must have at least one level in Snowstormer.
Special:	To become a Snowsmasher, you must befriend a Wolf, Riding Lizard or Young Dragon to the point where they will let you ride on them.

Table: The Snowsmasher

Hit Die: d10

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+2	+0	+0	Mounted Combat, Special Mount
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+0	Alertness, Cold Resistance +5
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+1	Cone of Cold
4th	+4	+4	+1	+1	Perfect Rider +2
5th	+5	+4	+1	+1	Chill Blade
6th	+6	+5	+2	+2	Perfect Rider +4, Master Rider
7th	+7	+5	+2	+2	Freezing Blade
8th	+8	+6	+2	+2	Cold Resistance +10
9th	+9	+6	+3	+3	Blind Fight
10th	+10	+7	+3	+3	Mass Cure Moderate Wounds, Mass Bull's Strength
Class Skills (6 + Int modifier per level) Climb(Str), Craft(Int), Handle Animal(Cha), Hide(Dex), Intimidate(Cha), Jump(Str), Knowledge(Geography)(Int), Knowledge(Nature)(Int) Listen(Wis), Move Silently(Dex), Ride(Dex), Search(Int), Sense Motive(Wis), Spot(Wis), Survival(Wis), Tumble(Dex).

Table: The Epic Snowsmasher

Level	Special
11th	Epic Toughness
12th
13th	Great Constitution
14th
15th	Bonus Feat
16th	Epic Speed
17th
18th	Great Strength
19th
20th	Bonus Feat

[edit] Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Snowsmasher.

Alertness: At the 2nd Level, A Snowsmasher gains +2 to all Listen and Spot checks.

Blind Fight(Ex): In melee, every time you miss because of concealment, you can reroll your miss chance percentile roll one time to see if you actually hit. An invisible attacker gets no advantages related to hitting you in melee. That is, you don’t lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class, and the attacker doesn’t get the usual +2 bonus for being invisible. The invisible attacker’s bonuses do still apply for ranged attacks, however. You take only half the usual penalty to speed for being unable to see. Darkness and poor visibility in general reduces your speed to three-quarters normal, instead of one-half.

Chill Blade:(Ex) At the 5th level, a Snowsmasher gets +2d6 cold damage to every attack.

Chosen Mount: Upon becoming a Snowsmasher, a character gets a mount that only he can ride. He can communicate telepathically with this mount, causing it to react differently than other mounts. The creature is treated like a permanant version of a paladin's mount, and is intelligent and can speak, understand and read any languages that his rider can. It is no longer an animal, but is now ridden as a creature of Intelligence3 or Intelligence equal to the rider, whichever is higher.

Cold Resistance(Ex): At level 2, Snowsmashers ignore the first 5 damage from cold based attacks. This increases by 10 at level 8. These effects stack with other magical effects and armor protection against cold.

Cone of Cold(Sp): At the 3rd level, a Snowsmasher may create an area of extreme cold, extending outward in a 60ft. cone from his outstretched hand. It drains heat, causing 1d6 points of cold damage per caster level, the caster level is equal to his character level.

Epic Speed: At the 16th level, and every 10 levels afterword, a Snowsmasher's speed increases by 30 feet. This benefit does not stack with increased speed granted by magic items or nonpermanent magical effects.

Epic Toughness: At the 11th level, and every 10 levels afterword, a Snowsmasher gains +30hit points.

Freezing Blade(Ex): At the 7th level, a Snowsmasher gets another +3d6 cold damage to every attack.

Great Constitution: At the 13th level, and every 10 levels afterword, a Snowsmasher's Consitution increases by 1 point.

Great Strength: At the 18th level, and every 10 levels afterword, a Snowsmasher's Strength increases by 1 point.

Mass Bull's Strength(Sp): At the 10th level, a Snowsmasher can cast the Mass Bull's Strength spell 5 times per day. The caster level is equal to his character level.

Mass Cure Moderate Wounds(Sp): At the 10th level, a Snowsmasher can cast the Mass Cure Moderate Wounds spell 5 times per day. The caster level is equal to his character level.

Master Rider(Ex): At 6th level, the Snowstormer does not suffer penalties to AC due to charging while mounted on a monstrous spider, and only takes half of the normal penalty to ranged attacks due to being mounted.

Mounted Combat: Once per round when your mount is hit in combat, a Snowsmasher may attempt a Ride check (as a reaction) to negate the hit. The hit is negated if his Ride check result is greater than the opponent’s attack roll. (Essentially, the Ride check result becomes the mount’s Armor Class if it’s higher than the mount’s regular AC.)

Perfect Rider(Ex): At the 4th level, the Snowsmasher gains a +2 competence bonus to Ride checks when riding his special mount. This increases to a +4 competence bonus at 6th level.

Bonus Feats: The epic Snowsmasher gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic Snowsmasher feats) every 5 levels after level 10.

Epic Snowsmasher Bonus Feat List: Armor Skin, Combat Archery, Damage Reduction, Devastating Critical, Dire Charge, Distant Shot, Energy Resistance, Epic Endurance, Epic Leadership, Epic Prowess, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus, Epic Weapon Specialization, Exceptional Deflection, Improved Combat Reflexes, Improved Manyshot, Improved Stunning Fist, Improved Whirlwind Attack, Infinite Deflection, Instant Reload, Legendary Commander, Legendary Rider, Legendary Wrestler, Overwhelming Critical, Penetrate Damage Reduction, Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting, Reflect Arrows, Spellcasting Harrier, Storm of Throws, Superior Initiative, Swarm of Arrows, Two-Weapon Rend, Uncanny Accuracy.

[edit] Monstrous Spider Mount

Wolf mounts have the following game statistics.

Table: The Monstrous Spider Mount

Hit Die: d10

Rider’s Level	Size	HD	Natural Armor	Special
1st	M	2	+0	Wolf Traits, Unbreakable Pack Bond
2nd	M	4	+0	Evasion, Share Spells
3rd	L	6	+1	Uncanny Dodge, Shout 3/day
4th	L	8	+1	Fast Movement +10ft
5th	L	8	+2	Wolf Bonus Feat
6th	L	10	+2	Fast Movement +20ft
7th	L	10	+3	Slippery Mind
8th	L	12	+3	Fast Movement +30ft
9th	L	12	+4	Wolf Bonus Feat
10th	L	14	+4	Improved Evasion
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per hit die) Climb (Str), Spot (Wis), Hide (Dex), Move Silently (Dex), Jump (Dex) and Use Rope (Dex).

[edit] Class Features

All the following are class features of the Wolf mount.

Wolf Traits: The wolf mount must either be a wolf, not a dog, which have different stats. Use the base statistics for a wolf of the mount’s kind, but make the following changes.

Hit Dice: The number of d10 Hit Dice that the wolf mount has (this replaces its normal Hit Dice). A wolf mount has a good base attack bonus and good Fortitude and Reflex saves. Treat the wolf as a character with class levels equal to the wolf’s HD. A wolf mount gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice. The wolf mount has 2+ Intelligence modifier skill points per Hit Die, but must train for one hour a day with the Snowsmasher in order to gain these skill points.

Natural Armor: The number noted here is an improvement to the wolf’s existing natural armor bonus.

Attacks: The wolf mount can make multiple attacks with his bite attack as if it where a manufactured weapon, with a -5 penalty to each extra attack.

Size: Upon bonding, the wolf mount is Medium size. When 3rd level is gained by a wolf’s rider, he grows one size to Large.

Type: The wolf mount’s type changes from animal to magical beast (augmented animal).

Ability Scores: The wolf mount’s ability scores are chosen using the elite array, replacing the 2 and the 6 with the rider’s Intelligence and Charisma scores, which the wolf mount shares. The racial ability score adjustments, Armor Class and attack modifiers and bite damage due to size for the monstrous spider mount are shown on Table: Wolf Adjustments by Size.

Optionally a DM may allow their player to roll 4 sets of 4d6 discarding the lowest die and arrange the results among the wolf mount’s Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom scores.

Table: Wolf Adjustments by Size

Size	Str	Dex	Con	AC/Attack	Bite Damage
Tiny	-8	+6	+0	+2	1d3
Small	-4	+6	+0	+1	1d4
Medium	+0	+6	+2	+0	1d6
Large	+4	+6	+2	-1	1d8
Huge	+8	+6	+2	-2	2d6

Unbreakable Pack Bond (Su): The wolf mount shares a bond with her rider that transcends the physical. The mount assumes the rider’s alignment. If a Snowsmasher dies, the wolf mount dies instantly as well. If the wolf mount dies the rider must attempt a Fortitude saving throw of DC 25. If the saving throw is failed, the Snowstormer loses 2 hit points per spider rider level. She will then go into a rage for 1d12 + (her Constitution modifier) rounds as if she was a 1st level barbarian.

At all times, the monstrous Snowsmasher and rider can communicate empathetically and telepathically, see out of each others eyes, and can locate each other as if by the locate creature spell.

The Snowstormer automatically passes Ride checks to attack while mounted and to control his mount in battle when mounted on his wolf, and has full control over his wolf’s speed at all times. The Snowsmasher and his wofl share the same initiative, which is rolled using their highest initiative bonus (The rider’s or the wolf’s).

Shout (Sp): 3 times per day at 3rd level, the wolf mount can emit an ear-splitting yell that deafens and damages creatures in its path. Any creature within the area is deafened for 2d6 rounds and takes 5d6 points of sonic damage. A successful save negates the deafness and reduces the damage by half. Any exposed brittle or crystalline object or crystalline creature takes 1d6 points of sonic damage per caster level (maximum 15d6). An affected creature is allowed a Fortitude save to reduce the damage by half, and a creature holding fragile objects can negate damage to them with a successful Reflex save. It's cast as a cone-shaped burst with a range of 30ft.

Fast Movement (Ex): At 4th level, the monstrous spider mount’s land and climb speeds increase by +10ft. At 6th level, the bonus to the monstrous spider mount’s speed increases by an additional +10ft and increases again at 8th level by another +10ft.

Wolf Bonus Feat: The wolf mount may select a bonus feat from the following list: Improved Critical (bite), Ability Focus, Acrobatic, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Stealthy and Weapon Focus (bite).

Evasion (Ex): If the wolf mount makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the wolf mount is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless wolf mount does not gain the benefit of Evasion.

Share Spells (Ex): At the Snowsmasher’s option, she may have any spell (but not any spell-like ability) she casts upon himself also affect him wolf mount. The wolf mount must be within 5 feet of her at the time of casting to receive the benefit. If the spell or effect has a duration other than instantaneous, it stops affecting the wolf mount if he moves farther than 5 feet away and will not affect the wolf again, even if it returns to the Snowsmasher before the duration expires. Additionally, the Snowsmasher may cast a spell with a target of “You” on his wolf mount (as a touch range spell) instead of on himself. A Snowsmasher and his wolf can share spells even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the companion’s type [magical beast (augmented animal)].

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): The wolf mount retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.

Slippery Mind (Ex): If a wolf mount with slippery mind is affected by an enchantment spell or effect and fails his saving throw, he can attempt it again 1 round later at the same DC. he gets only this one extra chance to succeed on his saving throw.

Improved Evasion (Ex): This ability works like Evasion, except that while the wolf mount still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks he henceforth takes only half damage on a failed saving throw. A helpless wolf mount does not gain the benefit of Improved Evasion.

[edit] Ex-Snowsmashers

If a Snowsmasher's Specialized mount is killed, he looses all Snowsmasher abilities, feats and bonuses, and can no-longer continue leveling in Snowsmasher. All levels in Snowsmasher are replaced in levels in Snowstormer if his mount dies.

[edit] Campaign Information

[edit] Playing a Snowsmasher

Combat: A Smasher will usually charge in and keep the enemies separated and disorganized. He will also serve in killing off smaller enemies in single charges.

Advancement: Most Snowsmashers have one or more levels in Snowstormer, and lean towards both the fighter and ranger aspects of that class.

Resources: In most Valenal militias, Snowstormers, Snowblades, Barbarians and Fighters provide infintry; Snowsmashers provide cavalry; Snowstormers, Snowcloaks, rouges and rangers provide recon and ranged support; Warmages, sorcerers and clerics provide the spells.

[edit] Snowsmashers in the World

“

Blood and Bones assunder!

”

Any Valen could become a Snowsmasher, however, few do. It takes developing a bond with an animal that has the intelligence of a human, and

NPC Reactions: Most NPCs have great amounts of respect for Snowsmashers. They are one of the most disciplined classes in the north. Most people know of Snowsmashers, but have never seen one personaly.

[edit] Snowsmasher Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge(Geography) can research Snowsmashers to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

<-the appropriate skills->

DC	Result
11	Snowsmashers ride wolves and lizards.
16	Some very respected Snowsmashers ride dragons.
21	Snowsmashers can communicate Telepathically with their mounts.
26	A Snowsmasher can change mounts immediatly after their mount falls in battle, however, if they take to long, they loose the ability to be Snowsmashers.

[edit] Snowsmashers in the Game

This section needs a more complete description. For more information please look here

Snowsmashers are the knights of the north, guards and warmongerers on the tundra.

Adaptation: Anyone who rides a wolf or a dragon could level in this class.

Sample Encounter: <-DM placement for NPC of this class->

EL whatever: <-Encounter scenario and character info on sample NPC including stat block. The CR of the NPC is typically the same as the EL for the encounter->

''Note: Encouter will be finished after playtesting.

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