Whirling Blade (3.5e Class)

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Whirling Blade

Rating:	9.5 out of 20
Power:	1 out of 5 by 1 user
Wording:	3 out of 5 by 1 user
Formatting:	3.5 out of 5 by 1 user
Flavor:	2 out of 5 by 1 user
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Status:	Getting more done
Editing:	Constructive edits welcome

Contents 1 Whirling Blade 1.1 Making a Whirling Blade 1.1.1 Class Features 1.1.2 Epic Whirling Blades 1.1.3 Playing a Whirling Blade 1.1.4 Whirling Blades in the World 1.1.5 Whirling Blade Lore

[edit] Whirling Blade

The whirling blade is a terrifying opponent. He can wield melee weapons and he attacks so fast and so quickly that his blade is just a blur. Some powerful whirling blades are themselves just a blur, while others stand still in heavy armor, forming an impenetrable wall of death. However, Whirling Blades are not ranged warriors, as the name might suggest.

[edit] Making a Whirling Blade

The whirling blade is a very powerful fighting class. However, he has an unusually bad attack progression to compensate for his incredible attack count.

Abilities: The Whirling blade is heavily dexterity based; many of his abilities and attacks rely on it.

Races: Most races have members that enjoy this class. Elven whirling blades generally focus on incredible speed, while Dwarven whirling blades prefer to aim for standing still. in Intellectual races, however, scorn this class and look down upon it.

Alignment: Whirling blades can be any morality, however, they follow it zealously.

Starting Gold: 3d6×10gp (110gp)

Starting Age: Moderate.

Table: The Whirling Blade

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+2	+0	Extend Speed
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+0	Keen Eye
3rd	+2/+1	+3	+3	+1	Bonus Feat
4th	+3/+2	+4	+4	+1	Speedy
5th	+3/+2/+1	+4	+4	+1	Arrow Cut
6th	+4/+3/+2	+5	+5	+2	Overwhelming Blows
7th	+4/+3/+2/+1	+5	+5	+2	Bonus Feat
8th	+5/+4/+3/+2	+6	+6	+2
9th	+5/+4/+3/+2/+1	+6	+6	+3	Standing Dodge
10th	+6/+5/+4/+3/+2	+7	+7	+3	Run or Stand
11th	+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1	+7	+7	+3	Bonus Feat
12th	+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2	+8	+8	+4
13th	+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1	+8	+8	+4	Greater Extend Speed
14th	+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2	+9	+9	+4	Shower of Swords
15th	+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1	+9	+9	+5	Bonus Feat
16th	+9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2	+10	+10	+5
17th	+9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1	+10	+10	+5	Feinting Blur
18th	+10/+9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2	+11	+11	+6
19th	+10/+9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1	+11	+11	+6	Bonus Feat
20th	+11/+10/+9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2	+12	+12	+6	Intense Speed
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Tumble (Dex), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Balance (Dex), Concentration (Con).

[edit] Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Whirling Blade.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Whirling Blade is proficient with all martial melee slashing and bludgeoning weapons (including those that can be used as thrown weapons) and all armor(heavy, medium, and light).

Speedy: A whirling blade becomes faster and faster as he/she levels, gaining a +10 movement speed every 4 levels.

Keen Eye: This ability reduces the penalty for called shots by 1/2 the Whirling Blade levels of the character (minimum of 1. If the character is in combat, they must make a DC 15 concentration check in order to see the spot and strike it accurately. This can potentially reduce the targets AC if you call an unarmored area.

Bonus Feat: Every fourth level starting with the third level, the whirling blade gets a bonus feat. The feat can be any Fighter bonus feat, provided that it can be used while holding a one-handed close combat weapon and without a shield, ranged weapon, or mount. As well, the feat may be any of the following: Acrobatic, Agile, Athletic, Deft Hands, Endurance, Diehard, Lightning Reflexes, Run, Fleet of Foot, Toughness.

Overwhelming Blows: A Whirling Blade can hit so quickly and so numerously that enemies become less and less able to see the attacks coming, and move appropriately. For every Whirling Blade attack that hits in a row, the enemy takes a -1 to the dexterity bonus on his AC. This only works if you attack the same enemy. The attacks must be sequential and are reset at the end of every turn

Standing Dodge: While standing still, the character may use their full dodge bonus to armor class, even while wearing heavy armor.

Run or Stand: When the whirling blade reaches level 10, you must choose speed or stability. If you choose speed, their base movement speed increases by 10 feet, plus 5 feet for every 2 levels thereafter, to a maximum of an additional 35 ft at 20th level. If you choose stability, they gain 20 additional hp, and their Hit Dice for all levels of whirling blade after 10th gain 2 more sides (normally become 10-sided).

Extend Speed: Once per hour, the character may make an additional attack with an attack bonus up to his base attack bonus. If he does, he takes a point of unpreventable nonlethal damage per point of attack bonus.

Arrow Cut: If targeted by a projectile, the Whirling blade may make a reflex save with a DC equal to the attack role of the shooter/thrower to cut the projectile out of the air. The DC increases by 5 for every projectile he attempts to cut in a turn. This can be treated as the deflect arrows feat for the purpose of gaining infinite deflect (or cut, in the Whirling Blade's case)

Greater Extend Speed: Once per round, the character may make an additional attack with an attack bonus up to his base attack bonus. If he does, he takes two points of unpreventable nonlethal damage per point of attack bonus. This ability does not replace Extend Speed.

Shower of Swords: Whenever the whirling blade would make several melee attacks during the same action, he may sacrifice any number of attacks to give an opponent within reach a cumulative -1 penalty to armor class against him until the beginning of that opponent's next turn. These penalties may be distributed among multiple opponents.

Feinting Blur: The attacks of the Whirling Blade become so numerous that they become confounding to the enemies at which they strike. Any enemy struck by at least 5 consecutive strikes must make a fortitude save DC Whirling Blade's level + number of strikes landed consecutively + 1/10 amount of damage dealt or feint for 2d4 rounds.

Intense Speed: at 20th level, the Whirling Blade has become unbelievably fast. He moves so fast he can be in two places at once. The Whirling Blade can create up to 1/3 his dexterity modifier in "copies" who have your complete stats, attacks, and abilities. However, these copies cannot move more than 10 feet away from each other.

[edit] Epic Whirling Blades

Table: The Epic Whirling Blade

Level	Special
21st	Reflex +1
22nd	Reflex +1
23rd	Bonus Feat
24th	Reflex +1
25th	Reflex +1
26th	Bonus Feat
27th	Reflex +1
28th	Reflex +1
29th	Bonus Feat
30th	Reflex +1

3 + Int modifier skill points per level. |}

Epic Whirling Blade Bonus Feat List: Armor Skin, Blinding Speed, Damage Reduction, Devastating Critical, Dire Charge, Energy Resistance, Epic Dodge, Epic Endurance, Epic Prowess, Epic Speed, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus, Epic Weapon Specialization, Exceptional Deflection, Improved Combat Reflexes, Improved Whirlwind Attack, Infinite Deflection, Overwhelming Critical, Reflect Arrows, Superior Initiative. In addition to the feats on this list, the fighter may treat any feat designated as a Fighter Bonus Feat, but not listed here, as being on his or her bonus feat list.

[edit] Playing a Whirling Blade

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

Religion: The whirling blade is likely to follow a religion devoutly and absentmindedly. When he remembers, he practices the rituals of his religion zealously, and far above and beyond the requirement. However, he often forgets to do so because he's caught up in the action.

Other Classes: Whirling blades do not approve of classes that require patience, but are fairly acceptant of other classes.

Combat: The whirling blade is very dangerous in close combat.

Advancement: Whirling blades have a large number of attacks, so they appreciate any opportunity to increase the damage they deal with those attacks.

[edit] Whirling Blades in the World

“	Those so-called heroes didn't even see me draw my sword.	”
—Elbert von Cuthbert, Vampire Whirling Blade

Whirling Blades are few and far between, and what complicates thing further is that they are near impossible to distinguish from a regular warrior or sometimes even a peasant outside of combat. Finding one is very rare, a treat for those looking, a frightening occurrence for those being hunted.

Daily Life: A whirling blade lives for thrills and seeks adventure. Though they can be highly intelligent, usually they will be dumb, and spend their time drinking in the bar.

Notables:Elbert von Cuthbert, count of the Castle of Spikes.

Organizations: Whirling blades have no official organizations. When they encounter each other, they may team up for a while, but eventually part ways again.

NPC Reactions: Whirling blades are a real treat to stumble upon, and they are treated as such. However, they are usually fairly dumb and are completely combat oriented, so social skills may be lacking.

[edit] Whirling Blade Lore

The order of The Storm was formed many years ago, by the warriors of the far east. It emphasized speed over power, finesse over power. They were nicknamed "Whirling Blades" by their enemies, because in truth, that is what they became; just a spinning blade. They were revered by those who knew them. However, they had many enemies. One day, the Mogri clan, their mortal enemies, donned their finest soldiers in their finest armor, and attacked in what became known as the Battle of the Blades. The Mogri's dragon armor had no chinks, no holes, no where for their strikes to land. The Mogri swept the battle, taking no prisoners. Shortly after the battle, a flood wiped out the Mogri, leaving none left alive. The Dragon Armor has been sought after many a time, and is only rumored to still exist. Characters with ranks in Knowledge (History) can research whirling blades to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (History)

DC	Result
5	Whirling blades have fought in wars before.
10	Many battles have been turned by a few whirling blades slaughtering soldiers in the right place.
15	Whirling blades are often beaten with sturdy armor.
20	In the battle of the blades, an army of whirling blades was destroyed by a small force wearing dragon armor.

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