CRANE BUSHI

More elegant than the most refined of the other samurai, more expressive of their honor, devoted to perfection in everything, Crane bushi are at once very similar to and very different from other samurai.  Though not all of them are poets, artists, or courtiers, each and every Crane bushi has a capacity for attention to detail that serves them well in combat.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Die: d10.

Class Skills

The Crane bushi’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Jump (Str), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) x 4.

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Table: The Crane bushi

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Crane bushi.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Crane bushi is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with light armor.  Crane bushi are not proficient with any shields.

Way of the Crane: A Crane bushi relies upon his weapon first and foremost, and his deadly ability to strike quickly and decisively in battle. The use of shields is antithetical to the Crane bushi way of combat.  The Crane bushi loses access to all class features, and all abilities and benefits dependent on class features, while using or benefiting from a shield.

If the Crane bushi strays from the Way of the Crane (as evinced by taking levels in any other classes), he does not lose his abilities gained, but cannot thereafter gain levels in Crane bushi.  He is still subject to the prohibition against using or benefiting from a shield.

Bonus Feats: At levels indicated on the table above, a Crane bushi gets a bonus combat-oriented feat in addition to the feat that any 1st-level character gets and the bonus feat granted to a human character. These bonus feats must be drawn from the feats noted as Fighter bonus feats. A Crane bushi must still meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat, including ability score and base attack bonus minimums.  Crane bushi levels count as fighter levels for the purposes of the Weapon Specialization and Greater Weapon Focus feats.

Quick Draw: At second level, a Crane bushi gains the Quick Draw feat, if he does not already have it.

Improved Initiative: At third level, a Crane bushi gains the Improved Initiative feat, if he does not already have it.

Sudden Strike (Ex): At 5th level, the bushi learns the famous "sudden strike" Crane technique. When attacking a flat-footed enemy at the start of combat, the bushi gains a bonus to his attack roll equal to half his Crane bushi levels.

Void Strike (Ex): The bushi now learns the famous "void strike" Crane technique. When Power Attacking a flat-footed enemy at the start of combat, the bushi may choose to take an additional penalty to his attack roll equal to half his Crane bushi levels.  This allows him to go beyond the normal limit of his base attack bonus.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 7th level, a Crane bushi can react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He 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.

One Strike, Two Cuts (Ex): A Crane bushi of sufficient level can forgo his normal iterative attacks to instead make a full attack action that consists of two attacks aimed at the same enemy, at his highest base attack bonus.  If the first attack hits, the second hits automatically - no attack roll is needed.

Striking Crane (Ex): At 14th level, a Crane bushi applies his Void Strike and Sudden Strike techniques against any opponent denied a dexterity bonus against him, whether from being flat-footed or due to any other reason.

Undeniable Speed (Ex): At 16th level, a Crane bushi gains a bonus to Initiative equal to one fourth his bushi levels. This bonus stacks with Initiative bonuses from other sources, such as Improved Initiative.

Frightful Presence (Ex): A 20th-level Crane bushi is so attuned to violence that the mere threat of it causes his enemies to doubt themselves. When the Crane bushi draws or visibly prepares to draw his weapon (such as by putting a hand on a hilt), opponents within 30 feet who are aware of the action must succeed on a Will save (DC 20 + Crane bushi's Cha modifier) or become panicked for 3d6 rounds (if they have 5 or fewer Hit Dice,) or shaken for 3d6 rounds (if they have greater than 5 Hit Dice.) Any foe that successfully resists the effect cannot be affected by the same Crane bushi's frightful presence for 24 hours.