BRONZE HOPLITE
Salorras Paragon: Bronze Hoplite · Base path: Armsman (Fighter) A Pathfinder 1e prestige class for the master soldiers of the Bronze Regiment — the elite six hundred of the starborn Thryon Bral’Ar.
The bronze hoplites are by common account the most fearsome warriors of Asmeda and among the most renowned in all of Salorras. These veteran soldiers make up the Bronze Regiment — the elite army of six hundred serving Thryon Bral’Ar, sovereign of the Starborn Brotherhood. Every inhabitant of Salorras has heard at least one folk tale of the Bronze Regiment and the valor of its hoplites in the Demonic Wars.
These consummate warriors are trained in the moral principles and martial techniques of Thryon, though many of them were once legionaries of the Arma Legions — the national army of the city-state Tarratyi — before resigning to join the Bronze Regiment. Why the regiment is held strictly to six hundred hoplites is not known; some say it symbolizes a vow Thryon Bral’Ar made in his dark past, when he still followed The Weapon.
An aspiring bronze hoplite must prove their worth in battle before “earning” a place among the six hundred. Even then they are reckoned a raw newcomer in the eyes of the regiment’s veterans, who say one “must defend six hundred times against the spear of The Weapon” to perfect the art of war. Through the harshest training, a bronze hoplite hones their combat skill to incomparable heights — drilling until they find the optimal handling of their chosen arms, and never stopping until they touch perfection in the techniques they already command.
The role of a bronze hoplite in Salorras is, one might say, purely heroic. Baptized in “blood and steel” though they are, they keep in their hearts the morality taught them by Thryon Bral’Ar, the starborn countryman of most of the regiment. Historically the hoplites of the Bronze Regiment have given selfless aid in many of humanity’s battles, always standing as defenders of the weak and the innocent. The regiment’s seat lies in the city-state of Tarratyi, but its phalanxes — and even lone hoplites — often campaign on far-flung missions wherever the world has need of them, at the command of the regiment’s marshal, Keolan Róa’Sath, who in turn usually receives his orders from the starborn Thryon Bral’Ar.
In matters of faith, most bronze hoplites hold faithful to the word and will of Thryon, sovereign of the starborn. They yearn fervently to live to see the day this ancient warrior — who has cast out the world’s outer threats so many times — is raised into the ranks of the gods.
Almost without exception, bronze hoplites come from the ranks of the fighter, those whose temperament is governed by vigor, a high sense of honor and justice, and deep altruism. Such characters are sadly rare — all the rarer for also being seasoned warriors. Warriors who lack this character are not accepted by the Bronze Regiment, and hoplites whose temperament is somehow corrupted enter a process of “atonement,” or else are cast from the regiment forever.
Hit Die: d10.
Requirements
To qualify to become a bronze hoplite, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any non-evil and non-chaotic.
Base Attack Bonus: +6.
Feats: Greater Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization (with the same chosen weapon), plus at least one combat-style feat reflecting how the character fights — Two-Weapon Fighting, or a comparable style of archery, shield-and-weapon, single-weapon, or two-handed-weapon fighting.
Special: The character must prove their martial prowess in single combat against a warrior of the Bronze Regiment. The victor takes one of the six hundred chosen seats of the regiment, while the loser leaves the regiment for at least two years, until they prove their worth again. A new member must then train for three months in the martial and religious virtues of the starborn Thryon Bral’Ar.
Class Skills
The bronze hoplite’s class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
The Bronze Hoplite
| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Chosen weapon, called shot, improved combat style |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Bonus feat, fatal strike 1/day |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Increased multiplier 1/day |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Bonus feat, fatal strike 2/day, superior weapon focus |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Combat style mastery, increased multiplier 2/day |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Bonus feat, fatal strike 3/day, keen critical |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Increased multiplier 3/day |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +2 | +2 | Bonus feat, fatal strike 4/day, superior weapon specialization |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +3 | +3 | Increased multiplier 4/day |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +3 | +3 | Bonus feat, combat style perfection, fatal strike 5/day |
Class Features
All of the following are features of the bronze hoplite prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency. A bronze hoplite is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all armor (light, medium, and heavy), and with shields (except tower shields).
Chosen Weapon. When a character first becomes a bronze hoplite, they designate the single weapon for which they hold Greater Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization. Unless noted otherwise, every bronze hoplite class feature functions only while the hoplite wields this chosen weapon. Once made, the choice cannot be changed; if the character holds Greater Weapon Focus for more than one weapon, they pick only one to be their chosen weapon here.
Bonus Feats. At 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th level, a bronze hoplite gains a bonus combat feat (from the fighter bonus feat list). The hoplite must meet the prerequisites for any feat chosen. This reflects the relentless drill of the regiment.
Called Shot (Ex). Bronze hoplites are born fighters who command the weapons they trained on so completely that they always find the vulnerable spot. While wielding their chosen weapon, a hoplite gains a +4 competence bonus on rolls made to confirm a critical hit.
Improved Combat Style (Ex). At 1st level a bronze hoplite’s fighting style sharpens through grueling practice. The hoplite improves the combat style they entered the class with, to the first of three escalating tiers:
- If the hoplite fights with two weapons, they gain Improved Two-Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat, even if they do not meet its normal prerequisites.
- For any other style (archery, shield-and-weapon, single-weapon, or two-handed-weapon fighting), the hoplite gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls with their chosen weapon while fighting in that style.
A hoplite benefits from this feature with only one combat style, chosen when they enter the class; it cannot later be changed. If the hoplite already possessed the improved expression of their style on entry, this feature grants no further benefit at this tier.
Fatal Strike (Ex). From 2nd level on, the blows a bronze hoplite lands can easily prove fatal — their command of the chosen weapon is such that a true hit deals its utmost. Once per day, on a successful attack with the chosen weapon, the hoplite may declare a fatal strike and deal the maximum result of that weapon’s damage dice without rolling. Extra damage from other sources (such as sneak attack) is not maximized by this feature, and it cannot be used on a critical hit. The hoplite gains an additional daily use at 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th level (to a maximum of five per day).
Increased Multiplier (Ex). Bronze hoplites are renowned for the “cleanness” of their strikes — many a witness has seen a great comrade fall dead from a single cut delivered by a hoplite. Beginning at 3rd level, once per day the hoplite may increase the critical multiplier of their chosen weapon by ×1 (a ×2 weapon becomes ×3, a ×3 weapon becomes ×4, and so on). The player must declare its use after confirming a critical hit but before rolling damage. The hoplite gains an additional daily use at 5th, 7th, and 9th level (to a maximum of four per day).
Superior Weapon Focus (Ex). At 4th level the hoplite’s accuracy with their chosen weapon surpasses ordinary mastery, granting a +1 bonus on attack rolls with that weapon. This stacks with Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Focus.
Combat Style Mastery (Ex). At 5th level the hoplite reaches a still higher pitch of technique, advancing their combat style to the second tier:
- A two-weapon hoplite gains Greater Two-Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat, even without meeting its prerequisites.
- For any other style, the attack-roll bonus from Improved Combat Style increases to +2.
To benefit, the hoplite must wield a chosen weapon for which they hold Superior Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization. If they already possessed the greater expression of their style, this feature grants no further benefit at this tier.
Keen Critical (Ex). At 6th level, taught by the finest warriors of Asmeda, the hoplite brings the danger of their strikes to its height. They gain Improved Critical with their chosen weapon as a bonus feat. If they already have Improved Critical with that weapon, instead the weapon’s threat range gains an additional +2 (this does not stack further with itself, and as with all threat-range increases is figured before doubling). This benefit applies only while wielding a chosen weapon for which the hoplite holds Superior Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization.
Superior Weapon Specialization (Ex). At 8th level the hoplite’s chosen weapon deals devastating wounds, granting a +2 bonus on damage rolls with that weapon. This stacks with Weapon Specialization and Greater Weapon Specialization.
Combat Style Perfection (Ex). At 10th level the hoplite attains the summit of their art, advancing their combat style to its third and final tier:
- A two-weapon hoplite’s off-hand technique becomes flawless: they no longer take any penalty on attack rolls for fighting with two weapons.
- For any other style, the attack-roll bonus from the combat-style line increases to +3.
To benefit, the hoplite must wield a chosen weapon for which they hold Superior Weapon Focus and Superior Weapon Specialization (the class features above).
Ex-Bronze Hoplites
If a bronze hoplite violates the codes of order and morality taught by the Bronze Regiment, they enter a process of atonement until they make peace with themselves. A hoplite who does not conform within a reasonable time is cast from the regiment and never readmitted.
Should this happen, the character loses none of the class features this prestige class grants — they were earned purely by personal effort. A hoplite may be a devotee of the starborn Thryon Bral’Ar, but the starborn cannot grant their faithful any priestly power or ability. Even so, a starborn who aims at divine ascension grows in power with the passing of time, as they gather faithful who converge upon the doctrine they are building.