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In last week’s article we looked at things to consider when playing an exotic weapon master. This time, we present three sample exotic weapon masters. You can use them in your campaign as allies or (with a few changes) enemies of your player characters.
Cade Underbough
 Lithe and muscular, this halfling is clad in leather armor and carries a bow longer than he is tall. His skin is deeply tanned and weather-beaten and his dark brown eyes are devoid of pity. His wears his long black hair in a ponytail.
Cade is a skilled outdoorsman who spends his time patrolling the deep woods surrounding the small halfling village of Woodcombe. Much beloved by those he protects, Cade is an indefatigable protector who severely punishes anyone how threatens or harms one of his charges. He has a particularly hatred for orcs who commonly raid Woodcombe, particularly in the winter months. Cade is a man of few words: he measures a man by the worth of his actions, not his intentions.
Cade Underbough CR 9
Male halfling fighter 1/ranger 2/rogue 5/exotic weapon master* 1
*Prestige class described in Complete Warrior
CG Small humanoid (halfling)
Init +4; Senses Listen +9, Spot +10
Languages Common, Halfling, Orc
AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 19; Dodge, uncanny dodge
(+1 size, +4 Dex, +3 armor, +1 shield)
hp 57 (9 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +3; +2 against fear
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee mwk short sword +10/+5 (1d4+1/19-20)
Ranged +1 flaming composite greatbow +14/+9 (1d8+2 plus 1d6 fire/x3) or
+1 flaming composite greatbow +12/+12/+7 (1d8+2 plus 1d6 fire/x3) with Rapid Shot
Base Atk +7; Grp +4
Atk Options Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, close-quarter ranged combat, favored enemy orcs +2, sneak attack +3d6
Combat Gear potion of cat’s grace, potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of shield of faith +3
Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
SA close-quarter ranged combat, favored enemy orcs +2, sneak attack +3d6
SQ halfling traits, trap sense +1, trapfinding, wild empathy +1 (-3 magic beasts)
Feats Dodge, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (composite greatbow), Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Track, Weapon Focus (composite greatbow)
Skills Balance +14, Climb +14, Craft (weaponsmithing) +4, Escape Artist +12, Hide +18, Intimidate +2, Jump +10, Knowledge (nature) +3, Listen +9, Move Silently +16, Ride +5, Spot +10, Tumble +14
Possessions combat gear plus +1 leather armor, +1 flaming composite greatbow (+1 Str bonus) with 20 arrows, masterwork short sword, cloak of resistance +1
Close-Quarter Ranged Combat (Ex) When using a greatbow Cade doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity.
Hook "This is my territory; explain yourself or be gone!"
Cade Underbough had the following ability scores before racial adjustments and Hit Dice ability score increases: Str 14, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Combat: Cade prefers to strike from range using his composite greatbow, Point Blank Shot and sneak attack to deadly effect. If he is forced into melee his close-quarter ranged combat ability allows him to continue using his bow without provoking attacks of opportunity. If facing obviously dangerous opponents he drinks his potion of cat’s grace (+4 Dex, +2 on initiative checks, +2 on Reflex saves, and +2 on attack rolls with ranged weapons) and potion of shield of faith (+3) (+3 deflection bonus to AC). He hates orcs and attacks them in preference to all other opponents.
Ellennan of St Cuthbert
Of medium height but stocky build, this human woman is clad in full plate and carries a heavy steel shield and bastard sword. She wears her flaxen hair closely cropped. Her weary, grey-blue eyes seem wise beyond her years.
Ellennan is a devout follower of St. Cuthbert, rooting out evil and wrongdoers wherever she finds them. She nurtures a particular hatred of fiends and evil clerics after her home temple was devastated in a surprise attack by followers of Erythnul who fought with fiendish aid. She now travels the civilized lands hunting down those complicit in the attack. Ellennan is a proud, but modest, woman who prefers to work alone or in a small group of like-minded individuals. She does not fear death but is terrified of failure.
Ellennan of St Cuthbert CR 7
Female human paladin 2/fighter 4/exotic weapon master* 1
*Prestige class described in Complete Warrior
LG Medium humanoid (human)
Init -1; Senses Listen +3, Spot +3
Aura moderate good
Languages Common
AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 21
(-1 Dex, +9 armor, +3 shield)
hp 45 (7 HD)
Fort +12, Ref +4, Will +8
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee +1 bastard sword +12/+7 (1d10+6/19-20)
Ranged javelin +6/+1 (1d6+3)
Base Atk +7; Grp +10
Atk Options Power Attack, show off
Special Actions lay on hands 4 points/day
Combat Gear potion of bull’s strength, potion of cure moderate wounds, 2 potions of protection from evil
Abilities Str 16, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14
SA show off, Smite evil 1/day (+2 attack, +2 damage)
SQ detect evil, divine grace
Feats Alertness, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Weapon Specialization (bastard sword)
Skills Craft (weaponsmithing) +3, Heal +6, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (nobility) +1, Knowledge (religion) +2, Listen +3, Ride +4, Sense Motive +3, Spot +3
Possessions combat gear plus, +1 full plate, +1 heavy steel shield, +1 bastard sword, 2 javelins, healer’s kit, silver holy symbol, everburning torch, vial of antitoxin
Show Off (Ex) As a standard action, Ellennan can make an Intimidate check against a single opponent within 30 ft. that can see her. If the result exceeds the opponent’s modified level check (see page 76 of the Player’s Handbook) her opponent becomes shaken (-2 penalty on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws) for 1 round. See the exotic weapon master exotic weapon stunt class feature, page 30 of Complete Warrior for more information
Hook "Those who are evil must repent or die."
Ellennan had the following ability scores before Hit Dice ability score increases: Str 15, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Combat: Ellennan is a passionate opponent of evil. In combat she prefers to battle evil clerics, demons, and other outsiders. She is a formidable and implacable foe, never resting until her enemies lie dead. When combat begins she uses her show off exotic weapon stunt to intimidate the most dangerous-looking foe before engaging it in melee combat. If battling spellcasters or evil outsiders she drinks a potion of protection from evil (+2 deflection bonus to AC and saves, see PH 266 for additional effects) before attacking. She does not grant mercy to evil opponents.
Brottor Ungart
Stocky and muscular, this hirsute dwarf carries himself with wary confidence. He has thick bushy eyebrows and a long, intricately plaited beard that covers much of his face.
Brottor is a practical, no-nonsense warrior given to acts of extreme bravery when the madness of battle is upon him. Born into the clan stronghold of Thor-Dilak, he initially trained as a weaponsmith; service in Thor-Dilak’s militia, however, better suited his fiery personality. Even in the militia, challenges were rare—the lands surrounding Thor-Dilak having long fallen under the control of the dwarves. Wanderlust and the desire to crush the ancient enemies of the dwarven race have conspired to force him from his native Hold. He now travels the world hunting for nests of evil humanoids to destroy.
Brottor Ungart (Raging) CR 7
Male dwarf barbarian 2/fighter 4/exotic weapon master* 1
*Prestige class described in Complete Warrior
CG Medium humanoid (dwarf) Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +6, Spot +0
Languages Common, Dwarf, Orc
AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 18; Combat Expertise, +4 dodge against giant type creatures, uncanny dodge,
(+2 Dex, -2 class, +6 armor, +2 shield)
hp 68 (7 HD)
Fort +14 (+16 against poison), Ref +4, Will +4; +2 against spells and spell-like effects
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee+1 spiked chain +12/+7 (2d4+9) or
mwk cold iron dwarven waraxe +10/+5 (1d10+6/x3)
Ranged throwing axe +9/+4 (1d6+4)
Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with spiked chain)
Base Atk +7; Grp +11
Atk Options Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Trip +6, +1 on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids, exotic reach, rage 1/day (7 rounds)
Combat Gear 2 oil of magic weapon, potion of cure moderate wounds, 2 potions of enlarge person, potion of fly, silversheen
Abilities Str 19, Dex 14, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 6
SA +1 on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids, exotic reach, rage 1/day (7 rounds)
SQ dwarf traits fast movement
Feats Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), Improved Trip, Weapon Focus (spiked chain), Weapon Specialization (spiked chain)
Skills Balance +2, Climb +4, Craft (weaponsmithing) +4, Intimidate +8, Jump +5, Listen +6
Possessions combat gear plus +1 breastplate, +1 buckler, +1 spiked chain, masterwork cold iron dwarven waraxe, 4 throwing axes, cloak of resistance +1
Exotic Reach (Ex) When wielding a spiked chain, Brottor may make an attack of opportunity against a foe that provokes such an attack even if the foe has cover (but not total cover).
Skills Brottor has a +2 racial bonus on Appraise and Craft checks related to stone or metal items.
Hook "Feel the taste of my steel!"
When not raging Brottor has the following changed statistics:
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 20
hp 54 (7 HD)
Fort +12 (+14 against poison), Ref +4, Will +2; +2 against spells and spell-like effects
Melee+1 spiked chain +10/+5 (2d4+6) or
mwk cold iron dwarven waraxe +8/+3 (1d10+3/x3)
Ranged throwing axe +9/+4 (1d6+2)
Grp +9
Abilities Str 15, Con 15
Skills Climb +2, Jump +3
Brottor Ungart had the following ability scores before racial adjustments and Hit Dice ability score increases: Str 15, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Combat: Brottor generally fights in one of two ways. If he is raging, he throws caution to the wind attempting to deal as much damage as possible to his foe. When he is not raging, he is more circumspect fighting defensively (+4 AC, -4 on attack rolls) to boost his armor class. He uses his +1 spiked chain in preference to his other weapons unless his opponent seems resistant to it. If forced to fight with his masterwork cold iron dwarven waraxe, he coats it with an oil of magic weapon (+1 on attack rolls and damage) and wields it two-handed.
He attempts to trip his opponents whenever possible, combining Combat Reflexes and exotic reach, to limit their mobility. When fighting multiple weak foes or a single large opponent (such as a giant) he drinks a potion of enlarge person (Large, Reach 10 ft. [20 ft. with spiked chain], +2 Str, -2 Dex, -2 AC, +1 on attack rolls, +1 damage, spiked chain 2d6 points of damage, dwarven waraxe 2d8 points of damage).
Feedback
Any additional advice you would include for this prestige class? Let us know, at dndfeedback@wizards.com.
About the Author
Creighton Broadhurst is a member of Living Greyhawk’s Circle of Six and a mad-keen World of Greyhawk fan. His hobbies include trying to complete his original Temple of Elemental Evil campaign (most adventurers daring that dangerous locale do not survive) and clearing up the devastation left by his two-year-old son (who delights in wielding exotic toys to bizarre and deadly effect).
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