Overview: The Armsman is called by many names- Sword-scholar, Kensai and the Weapon Master. He is a breed of warrior who trains his body, his mind and his soul into union with his weapon. These Warriors are united by one principle, stated well by the Kenrei sage Sung Su: “Superiority upon the field of battle lies within the self, not without”
The Armsman seeks within himself the power to destroy his enemies. The Champion may use pretty ideals as a crutch and the Soldier may depend on guile and deceit, but the Armsman’s means are the purest - he needs only himself and the steel he bears to win the battle, to win all wars.
Role-playing notes: There are those that say that all steel, be it in keen blade or cruel hammer, has a song. The Armsmen say that it can be made to sing death and devastation by one with the skill and the will to do so.
As an Armsman, you are an artist of battle and a scholar of steel. It is your gift to play the song of the death to those who oppose you. It is your task to know every piece and portion of your weapon, every cruel inch of metal and wood.
Some Armsmen are quiet scholars of the blade while others are boisterous braggarts always itching for the next duel. There are Armsmen seek nothing but excellence with his weapons while there exist Armsmen who seek knowledge of their weapon by knowing all and everything about the world.
But all possess the same talent, the same deadly dedication to their craft bend to one and the same end: complete and utter victory.
SUB-CLASS FEATURES: A first level Armsman automatically receives the following abilities at no cost to build:
-STUDENT OF STEEL
You learn the Critical Strike Feat at no cost in build. In addition, you can choose a Weapon Type (based on proficiency) and a Fighting Style (Great Weapon, Weapon and Shield, Dual-Weapon or Einhander Weapon) – You inflict an additional 2 damage with your Critical strikes when using that specific weapon and fighting style. Once the choice is made, you may not change it. You may annotate this on your sheet as the following (making substitutions as necessary): Dual Blade Specialization, Mace and Shield specialization or Great Pole-arm Specialization.
-WALL OF BLADES
You gain the Parry feat or the Block feat. You may use the parry feat to block ranged attacks upon you by invoking Expert Parry.
The following Sub-class features can only be gained when the Character reaches the required level and has learned the required feats, skills and/or spells.
Level 2: Whirlwind of Pain
Requires: Critical Strike and Cripple Limb
Once per period, an Armsman can perform an audacious feat of martial skill: he can imbue one of his critical strikes or his Cripple Limbs with a whirlwind effect, thereby striking all creatures within his weapon’s reach. At 10th level, an armsman can imbue a Knock Back or a Cripple Limb with the whirlwind effect instead.
Level 4: Challenge the Worthy
Requires: Challenging Strike and Pierce/Batter Shield
After performing Challenging Strike upon an enemy, the Armsman can perform an Expert Critical Strike or an Expert Pierce/Batter Shield. This second attack must be performed no later than 10 seconds after the Challenging Strike was landed.
Level 6: Flurry of Blows
Requires: Expertise in a Weapon Style and Expertise in a Weapon
Once per period, an armsman invoke a “Flurry of Blows” upon a single target. He can then perform five consecutive “Expert Critical Strikes”. These five strikes must all be done within the span of a minute and all against the same target.
Level 8: Deadly Defense
Requires: Parry feat or Dodge feat
After performing a dodge, block or a parry against an enemy, you can find a hole in his defenses to exploit. You can invoke an Expert Critical Strike within 10 seconds of the defense. This is especially devastating when coupled with the Einhander Mastery weapon style because you can invoke two “Expert Crits”.
Level 10: Master the Mystery of Steel
Requires: Weapon Master and Style Master
The armsman has finally become one with his weapon. When he fights in his favored fighting style and with his favored weapon, the weapon he wields cannot be sundered. After performing ten regular (and successful) melee attacks upon an enemy, he may immediately perform an “Expert Critical Strike” with his next strike.