General Prestige Class : Lasher
The lasher prestige class uses the whip as an extension of herself. A whip in the hands of a lasher is like unto a live thing, obeying the character's every command. Lasher training goes far beyond simple exotic weapon proficiency, and not all who take up the discipline survive to its end. Lashers prefer to use a whip or a whip dagger (exotic weapons, both). Their ability with the whip makes them deadly warriors to be reckoned with.
Fighters, ex-paladins, rangers, ex-druids and barbarians are drawn to the art of the lash, which transforms an interesting tool into a deadly weapon. Rogues, monks, and bardic lashers find the understated profile of a whip a plus in many of their activities. Sorcerers, wizards, and clerics are least likely to be drawn to the art of the lash.
As NPCs, lashers are individuals who love to display the crack and snap of their whip skills. Though they consider the use of the whip an art form, they recognize it is a martial art used primarily for combat.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Lasher, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Rope Use 2 ranks, Craft (leatherworking) 2 ranks.
- Feats: Weapon Focus (Whip), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Whip).
- Base Attack Bonus: +5.
- Special: The lasher must own a whip or whip dagger. Usually, a lasher owns both types of whip (and, if wealthy enough, mighty versions of both types).
Class Skills
The lasher's class skills are Balance, Craft, Escape Artist, Intimidate, Jump, Spot, and Use Rope.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A lasher's weapon training focuses on the whip. Lashers are proficient with no armor and no shields.
Whip Sneak Attack: If a lasher catches an opponent unable to defend himself effectively from her attack anywhere within range (up to 15 ft.), she can use a whip or whip dagger to strike a vital spot for extra damage (a lasher does not gain a sneak attack with other weapons). Any time the lasher's target would be denied his Dexterity bonus to AC (whether he actually has a Dexterity bonus or nor), the lasher's attack deals +1d6 points of damage. This extra damage increases by a +1d6 points every fourth level (+2d6 at 5th level, and +3d6 at 9th level). Should the lasher score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. This ability stacks with any other sneak attack ability. With a regular whip (but not a whip dagger), the lasher can make a sneak attack that deals subdual damage instead of normal damage (see Wound below).
A lasher can only sneak attack living creatures with discernible anatomies - undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Additionally, any creature immune to critical hits is similarly immune to sneak attacks. Also, the lasher must also be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach a vital spot. The lasher cannot sneak attack while striking at a creature with concealment or by striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach. If a lasher gets a general sneak attack bonus from another source (such as rogue levels), the bonuses to damage stack.
Close Combat: At 1st level, the lasher can attack an opponent in a threatened square with a whip or whip dagger and not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Wound: At 1st level, a lasher can use a normal whip to deal regular damage to an opponent, instead of subdual damage, at her option. This allows the lasher to inflict damage on creatures with an armor bonus of +1 or better or a natural armor bonus of +3 or better. If using the whip to deal subdual damage, it deals no damage to creatures with a +1 or more armor bonus or +3 or more natural armor (as usual). Lashers using a whip dagger always deal regular damage to opponents.
Whip Lash: The lasher can make attacks of opportunity with his whip or whip dagger against foes within 5 feet as if it were a melee weapon.
Improved Trip: At 2nd level, the lasher gains the Improved Trip feat, if using a whip or whip dagger to perform the trip. She need not have taken the Expertise feat, normally a prerequisite, before this.
Third Hand: At 2nd level, a lasher's precision with the whip or whip dagger allows her to use it almost like a third hand - a third hand at the end of a flexible 15-foot-long arm - as a standard action. Depositing a lashed object into your hand is a move-equivalent action. Note: A lasher generally uses a normal whip to perform abilities granted by third hand, because a whip dagger deals its damage to the object or individual grasped, while a regular whip does not. Sometimes, this is not a problem, especially if the item grasped has hardness, but other times inflicting damage by using third hand is a bad idea. Thus, most lashers carry two whips. A lasher successfully performs a task if her attack roll equals or exceeds the DC for a given task:
- Punch a button, snuff a candle flame, flick a coin lying along the ground, etc. as a move-equivalent action. Range 15 feet, DC 15.
- Retrieve an unattended object of up to 20 pounds, and deposit into your offhand as a move-equivalent action. Range 15 feet, DC 20.
- Firmly wrap the end of your whip around a pole, spike, or other likely projection up to 15 feet away as a move-equivalent action. The DC is 22. If used to wrap around a projection at the top of a wall, reduce the DC to climb the wall by 5. If the point of attachment is optimal on a ceiling fixture, you could swing over a chasm of up to 25 feet wide. You can also wrap items heavier than 20 pounds, but you cannot automatically flick them into your off hand (but you could drag them). You can unwrap the end of your whip from the entangled object as a free action.
- When the victim of a precipitous fall, you can give up your Reflex save in an attempt to use your whip to snag a likely projection, pillar, rafter, etc., within 15 feet of the edge of the pit, cliff, bridge, etc. Generally, an unattached item (such as a statue, table, etc.) must weight twice as much as you for you to arrest your fall, otherwise you merely pull it after you). You may attempt to snag a friend or foe standing near the edge of the precipice as you fall. You make a ranged touch attack against another creature's AC (the friend does not apply his Dexterity bonus while an unwilling friend or a foe applies their Dexterity modifier to AC), If you hit, you wrap your whip around the target, who must make a successful Strength check against DC 20 to arrest both you and himself. An unsuccessful Strength check sends both you and your target into the precipice. You can unwrap the end of your whip from the entangled object as a free action.
Crack of Fate: Ar 3rd level, a lasher can take one extra attack per round with a whip or whip dagger. The attack is at the lasher's highest base attack bonus, but each attack (the extra one and normal ones) suffers a -2 penalty. The lasher must use the full attack action to use crack of fate.
Lashing Whip: At fourth level, the lasher adds a +2 damage bonus to her whip and/or whip dagger. If using a whip, she adds +2 subdual damage or +2 regular damage, at her option. If the lasher has already gained weapon specialization from another class (fighter, for example), the damage bonus stacks.
Improved Disarm: At 6th level, the lasher gains the Improved Disarm feat, if using a whip or whip dagger to perform the disarm action. She need not have taken the Expertise feat, normally a prerequisite, before this. If the lasher successfully disarms a foe, she can attempt use her third hand ability to deposit the weapon of up to 20 pounds in her off hand if she makes the appropriate check, as a move-equivalent action. Treat the lasher's whip as a Medium-size weapon for purposes of disarming an opponent.
Stunning Snap: A lasher can use a whip or whip dagger to stun a creature instead of inflicting subdual or normal damage. The lasher can use this ability once per round, but no more than once per level per day. The lasher must declare she is using a stun attack before making an attack roll. (A missed attack roll ruins the attempt.) A foe struck by a whip or whip dagger must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + the lasher's level + Strength modifier), in addition to receiving normal damage (subdual or standard). If the saving throw fails, the opponent is stunned for one round. A stunned character cannot act and loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, while attackers get a +2 bonus on attack rolls against a stunned opponent. Constructs, oozes, plants, undead, incorporeal creatures, and creatures immune to critical hits cannot be stunned by the lasher's stunning attack.
Crack of Doom: At 8th level, a lasher can take two extra attacks per round with a whip or whip dagger. This ability supersedes crack of fate (the abilities do not stack). The attack is at the lasher's highest base attack bonus, but each attack (the extra one and normal ones) suffers a -4 penalty. The lasher must use the full attack action to use crack of doom
Death Spiral: At 10th level, the lasher gains transcendental understanding of her whip or whip dagger. Once per day she can spin the whip over her head with supernatural speed. All foes within a 15-foot radius of the lasher must make a Reflex save against a DC equal to the lasher's attack roll. Opponents who fail are stunned for 1d4+1 rounds. Stunned opponents must make a successful Fortitude save (DC 18) or become helpless for 1d4-l rounds (minimum 1 round). Allies (as selected by the lasher) in range are spared the effects of the death spiral The death spiral is a supernatural ability.
| Lasher | Hit Die: d10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Whip sneak attack +1d6, close combat, wound, whip lash |
| 2nd | +2 | +0 | +3 | +0 | Improved trip, third hand |
| 3rd | +3 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Crack of fate |
| 4th | +4 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Lashing whip |
| 5th | +5 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Sneak attack +2d6 |
| 6th | +6 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Improved Disarm |
| 7th | +7 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Stunning snap |
| 8th | +8 | +2 | +6 | +2 | Crack of doom |
| 9th | +9 | +3 | +6 | +3 | Sneak attack +3d6 |
| 10th | +10 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Death spiral |
Source: Sword and Fist