Partisan

Description

Partisans are driven by the strength of their convictions. They are soldiers for a specific cause, and derive power from the constancy and obduracy of their faith in that belief. However, their beliefs are not necessarily religions (though they can be). They are often secular in nature, whether it be a vendetta against slavers, a vision of justice for the lower classes, or a need to discover the most delicious food in all the lands.

Curiously, unlike paladins, partisans can change their ambitions with little impact to their effectiveness. The important thing is that they believe in something strongly enough for it to drive them towards making things better, or, at least, different. Partisans are agents of change, a force of stubborn enthusiasm to change the world to match their own beliefs.

Role: In combat, partisans are just as stubborn, often declaring themselves to be the center of any battle, and bringing the battle to them by force of will. They are remarkably durable, perhaps the equals of fighters in that regard, and often provide significant defenses for nearby allies. Partisans excel at breaking up defensive formations, and keeping enemies bogged down, unable to regroup.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d12

Starting Wealth: 250 gp

Bailiwick Skill: Reason

Natural Talent: At character creation, all characters get natural talent with their bailiwick skill, and one additional skill of their choice. Natural talent allows you to re-map a skill to use any ability score you wish, rather than the ability score it normally uses. You may not select a skill for natural talent that you cannot put ranks into (such as a bailiwick skill not available to your class). Natural talent skills never suffer an armor check penalty, even if the chosen ability modifier is STR or DEX.

Skill Ranks Per Level: 6 + Int modifier

Recommended Ability Score Priority: Wisdom (most class abilities), Strength (offensive power), and Constitution (more hit points to feed their regeneration) are all equally important ability scores for Partisans. Dexterity is only useful if the partisan chooses to wear medium or light armor, and helps with reflex saves. Intelligence is only useful for additional skill points. Charisma is only useful for role-playing purposes, and to assist with social skills.

Table: Partisan

Level	BAB	Fort	Refl	Will	Special
1st	+1	2	0	0	Calling, Intractable Ground
2nd	+2	3	0	0
3rd	+3	3	1	1
4th	+4	4	1	1
5th	+5	4	1	1
6th	+6/+1	5	2	2
7th	+7/+2	5	2	2
8th	+8/+3	6	2	2
9th	+9/+4	6	3	3
10th	+10/+5	7	3	3
11th	+11/+6/+1	7	3	3
12th	+12/+7/+2	8	4	4
13th	+13/+8/+3	8	4	4
14th	+14/+9/+4	9	4	4
15th	+15/+10/+5	9	5	5
16th	+16/+11/+6/+1	10	5	5
17th	+17/+12/+7/+2	10	5	5
18th	+18/+13/+8/+3	11	6	6
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	11	6	6
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	12	6	6

Class Abilities

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A partisan is proficient with all simple and martial two-handed weapons. A partisan is proficient with light armor, medium armor, and heavy armor, but no shields. While they can spend feats to gain access to additional weapons, they can never gain proficiency with any one-handed weapons or the great whip. They may also never gain proficiency with any shields.

Note that many of the partisan's abilities grant the equivalent of inclusive reach, and even ranged attacks, without the actual need for a weapon with reach. Players are encouraged to choose a weapon that they find cool or fun (and preferably both). The class features will take care of the rest.

Calling (Ex)

At 1st level, the partisan chooses one calling to better define their efforts for their cause. There are four callings:

• Dissident

The dissident calling is for those partisans who are eager to change the status quo, by steadfast and inexorable force. Dissidents are the toughest of the partisan callings, favoring a stronger defense over a more offensive approach.

• If this calling is chosen, the partisan can add their WIS modifier to their armor class (including flat-footed and touch AC's). This ability is acquired at 1st level, is always on, and requires no actions.
• At 5th level, a partisan with this calling chooses one energy type from the following list: fire, cold, electricity, acid, sonic, negative, and positive. As a swift action, the partisan can grant themselves ER versus this chosen energy type equal to their partisan level until the start of their next turn.

• At 10th level, the partisan may choose a second energy type from the list. When using the swift action to activate this ability, the partisan gains ER versus all chosen energy types equal to their partisan level until the start of their next turn.
• At 15th level, the partisan may choose a third energy type from the list. When using the swift action to activate this ability, the partisan gains ER versus all chosen energy types equal to their partisan level until the start of their next turn.
• At 20th level, the partisan may choose a fourth energy type from the list. When using the swift action to activate this ability, the partisan gains ER versus all chosen energy types equal to their partisan level until the start of their next turn.
• At 25th level, the partisan may choose a 5th energy type from the list. When using the swift action to activate this ability, the partisan gains ER versus all chosen energy types equal to their partisan level until the start of their next turn.
• At 30th level, the partisan may choose a 6th energy type from the list. When using the swift action to activate this ability, the partisan gains ER versus all chosen energy types equal to their partisan level until the start of their next turn.
• At 35th level, when the partisan uses a swift action to activate this ability, they gain ER versus all energy types, equal to their partisan level until the start of their next turn.

• Inquisitor

Inquisitors are perfectly content with the strength of their own convictions. Instead, they spend their time worrying about the strength of others' convictions. In combat, Inquisitors are gifted at weakening their opponents' defenses.

• Stable Beliefs: If this calling is chosen, the partisan adds their WIS modifier to their Reflex saving throws. This ability is is acquired at 1st level, always on, and requires no actions.
• Questions: At 5th level, the partisan with this calling can spend a swift action to make a Maneuver Offense check against an enemy within their Intractable Ground aura, versus a DC of that creature's Maneuver Defense. If it equals or exceeds this value, that creature suffers a -2 penalty to all of its saving throws until the start of the partisan's next turn. This is not a condition to which roles, such as heavies or threats, have partial immunity; it affects them as normal.

• At 10th level, when spending the swift action to activate Questions, the partisan may choose up to two different enemies within their Intractable Ground aura to affect.
• At 15th level, creatures who are affected by Questions suffer a -3 penalty to all saving throws (instead of -2).
• At 20th level, when spending the swift action to activate Questions, the partisan may choose up to three different enemies within their Intractable Ground aura to affect.
• At 25th level, creatures who are affected by Questions suffer a -4 penalty to all saving throws (instead of -3).
• At 30th level, when spending the swift action to activate Questions, the partisan may choose up to four different enemies within their Intractable Ground aura to affect.
• At 35th level, when spending the swift action to activate Questions, the partisan may target all enemies within their Intractable Ground aura.

• Samaritan

• Zealot

Epic Partisan

Table: Epic Partisan

Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special
21st	+21/+16/+11/+6	13	7	7
22nd	+21/+16/+11/+6	13	7	7
23rd	+22/+17/+12/+7	14	8	8
24th	+22/+17/+12/+7	14	8	8
25th	+23/+18/+13/+8	15	9	9
26th	+23/+18/+13/+8	15	9	9
27th	+24/+19/+14/+9	16	10	10
28th	+24/+19/+14/+9	16	10	10
29th	+25/+20/+15/+10	17	11	11
30th	+25/+20/+15/+10	17	11	11
31st	+26/+21/+16/+11	18	12	12
32nd	+26/+21/+16/+11	18	12	12
33rd	+27/+22/+17/+12	19	13	13
34th	+27/+22/+17/+12	19	13	13
35th	+28/+23/+18/+13	20	14	14
36th	Apotheosis!