STEELBLOODED

[The Hive Mind]

The steelblooded hero often finds him- self falling into the life of a mercenary, as often aiding rebels as he does the armies of the Night Kings. When it becomes obvious that his powers go beyond simple skill or training, however, most steelblooded recog- nize that they have been chosen by Aryth to defend her with strength of arms, and forsake any allegiance they once had to the Shadow in the north. His natural affinity for weapons makes him an excellent warrior and trainer.

Level Ability
1 Bonus feat
2 Offensive tactics +1
3 Strategic blow (DR 3)
4 Skilled warrior
5 Bonus feat
6 Strategic blow (DR 6)
7 Offensive tactics +2
8 Skilled warrior
9 Strategic blow (DR 9)
10 Bonus feat
11 Offensive tactics +3
12 Strategic blow (DR 12)
13 Skilled warrior
14 Untouchable
15 Bonus feat
16 Strategic blow (DR 15)
17 Offensive tactics +4
18 Skilled warrior
19 Untouchable
20 Bonus feat

Bonus Feat: At 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th level, the steelblooded gains his choice of one of the following bonus feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialization, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization. The steelblooded must meet all of the prerequisites for these feats as normal except for the requisite fighter levels; instead of the required fighter level, the steelblooded must have a BAB equal to the fighter level required.

Offensive Tactics: When the steelblooded uses the full attack action, he gains the listed bonus to either his first attack roll of the round or to all damage rolls for the round. The steelblooded must choose whether to apply his bonus to attack or damage at the beginning of the round before any rolls are made.

Strategic Blow: The steelblooded learns to take advantage of the weak points in his opponents' defenses, even those that seem immune to harm. He may ignore the listed amount of damage reduction when making melee attacks.

Skilled Warrior: Each time this ability is gained, the steelblooded may choose one of the following attack actions that imposes a penalty to attack rolls: fighting with weapons with which he is not proficient, fighting defensively, fighting with two weapons, or making an attack in a grapple. The steelblooded may thereafter perform the chosen attack action while only suffering half the normal penalty. Each attack action may only be chosen once.

Untouchable: At 14th level, whenever the steelblooded performs a special attack action that would normally provoke an attack of opportunity, he does not provoke (such as when initiating a grapple, attempting to disarm a weapon, and so on). At 19th level, the steelblooded never provokes attacks of opportunity due to movement or for performing any action, standard action, or full-round action that would normally provoke.