Jade Throne (BETA)

[ErrantX]

Jade Throne

Galen Markos, a master of Jade Throne

The discipline of Jade Throne arose in the battling aristocracies of the world, where its nobles initially only practiced dueling styles that were of little use. When war would come, these nobles found that their abilities were sorely underprepared for the rigors of true combat, and from their roots in the arts of dueling and their subsequent training by masters of both combat and leadership; the Jade Throne style was born. While not a passive style, the true master of Jade Throne is a warrior without fear, walking gracefully within a furious melee as a king in his court. Regal and unflinching, a practitioner of Jade Throne owns any field of battle he walks upon, for it his court and here he rules. Masters of this artform are depicted throughout history as peerless swordsman who know no equal in the art of the duel.

Jade Throne practitioners are a diverse lot, but what sets them apart from their contemporaries is their invincible calm while fighting. The focus required to be a true lord in battle requires this unshakable discipline to be paramount, and requires them to focus solely on the foe after the foe he just conquered. This aggressive foresight means that the Jade Throne user focuses fully on his weapon, precluding him using a shield with this discipline. To this end, the associated skill for this discipline is Concentration, and its associated weapons are the rapier, longsword, bastard sword, greatsword, shortsword, and scimitar.

Author’s Note: All Jade Throne maneuvers and stances require that the initiator not be using any type of physical shield (including animated shields, but rings of force shield are allowed) due to the focus on offensive progression in this discipline.

[ErrantX]

Maneuver List

1st Level
Jade Zephyr’s Strike: Strike- Make a melee attack, then make an immediate 10ft movement.
Scything Strike: Strike- Make a melee attack on two adjacent enemies as a single attack.
Blade of Breaking: Strike- Make a melee attack against an opponent’s weapon without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Circular Stance: Stance- Flankers do not receive combat bonus against you when flanking.

2nd Level
Regal Blade: Boost- Add Concentration ranks as bonus damage to a single melee attack.
Rising Jade Strike: Strike- Make a Concentration check, strike does double damage.
Jade Barrier: Counter- Make a Concentration check to block an attack.

3rd Level
Dazing Attack: Strike- Make a melee attack, strike inflicts +2d6 points of damage and dazes enemy.
Strike of Defeat: Strike- Make a melee attack against a foe, deals additional damage based on current hit points.
Unfettered Movement: Stance- Gain an additional +10ft to base speed, +4 bonus to AC vs attacks of opportunity.

4th Level
Jade Zephyr’s Dance: Strike- Each successful melee attack allows the martial adept to move 10ft and make an additional attack.
Perseverance of Jade: Counter- Use Concentration in place of relevant save on saving throw.
Noble Blade: Boost- Add Concentration ranks as bonus damage to all attacks for the round.

5th Level
Jade Zenith Strike: Strike- Make a Concentration check, strike does triple damage.
Perfection of Jade: Temporarily overcome negative condition ailments.
Jade Duelist Attitude: Stance- Stance that adds +4 perfection bonus to both AC and Initiative.

6th Level
Final Blow: Make a melee attack; if foe is below 25% of maximum hit points, target is slain.
Blade of Perfection: Strike- Melee attack unerringly hits, inflicts maximum damage.
Jade Zephyr’s Fleetness: Boost- Add +30 ft to your movement for the round.

7th Level
Jade Battle Lord’s Strike: Strike- Make a full attack at a target at full base attack bonus for each attack with a +2 perfection bonus.
Jade Riposte: Counter- Make a Concentration check opposing an enemy’s attack roll, if successful, make an immediate counter attack.
Royal Blade: Boost- Add double your Concentration ranks as bonus damage to all attacks for the round.

8th Level
Descending Jade Strike: Strike- Make a Concentration check, strike does quadruple damage.
Riddle of Steel: Strike- Make a melee attack, strike inflicts an additional 6d6 points of damage and stuns target for 1d4 rounds.
Jade Majesty Stance: Stance- Enemies must make a Will save equal to your ranks in Concentration + Charisma modifier to attack you.

9th Level
Heavenly Blade of the Jade Empire: Strike- Make a melee attack, if successful, make a Concentration check; add three times your Concentration check’s result to your weapon damage and enemy is left paralyzed.

[ErrantX]

Maneuvers

1st Level

Jade Zephyr’s Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With swiftness born of skill, an initiate of the Jade Throne learns how to move through the battlefield as lord among warriors. The adept makes an attack against a foe, and if successful, he may make an immediate 10ft movement which does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Scything Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

The principles of the Jade Throne teach its adepts that every swing must be made with precision and excellence; no movement is wasted and no attack should fruitless. The adept may make a single attack against two adjacent enemies as a standard action using the same attack roll, resolving the attack separately as two attacks

Blade of Breaking
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

A Jade Throne adept knows that sometimes that to defeat the beast, you must remove its claws. By clashing blades with a foe to set their weapon vibrating, the adept then delivers a final smashing blow in an attempt to shatter it. The adept may make a sunder attempt against his foe’s weapon without provoking attacks of opportunity with a +4 bonus.

Circular Stance
Jade Throne (Stance)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

Practitioners of Jade Throne know that to be a lord amongst warriors, he must walk the path of battle alone, and they understand that often times that may be beset by all sides. By adopting the Circular Stance, the adept learns to defend himself from the predations of those who would think him outflanked. While in this stance, flankers do not receive any bonuses to hit the adept.

2nd Level

Regal Blade
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Target: You
Duration: Instant

An adept of the Jade Throne learns that in moments of precise focus, a single stroke of the blade can fell a potent enemy. For a single attack, the adept may add his ranks in Concentration as bonus damage to a single melee attack made during this turn.

Rising Jade Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With supreme focus, comes great insight into the workings of a foe’s defenses. When the moment is right, the adept releases his attack in a vicious upward swing. The adept makes a Concentration check in place of his normal attack roll (he may add any enhancement bonus from the weapon or feats that apply to the use of this weapon to this roll as well), and if this Concentration check equals or exceeds the target’s armor class, the attack deals double damage. If this check does not meet or exceed the target's armor class, then the attack fails and the adept misses.

Jade Barrier
Jade Throne (Counter)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

The focus required in battle allows the adept to anticipate incoming attacks. The adept may make a Concentration check opposing a single melee or non-magical ranged attack. If successful, the adept negates the attack.

3rd Level

Dazing Attack
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant, or one round
Saving Throw: Fortitude (partial)

The swiftness of the Jade Throne adept’s blade is a thing of terrific power, and by initiating this strike he demonstrates this potency. The adept makes a melee attack against a target, if successful this strike inflicts an additional 2d6 points of damage and upon a failed Fortitude save (save DC is 13 + Charisma modifier) dazes the opponent for one round.

Strike of Defeat
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

‘A dead foe is a foe that can trouble you no more,’ is an old adage of the Jade Throne adept. An injured foe is easy prey, but is still a foe nonetheless. By utilizing this swift executioner’s strike, the Jade Throne adept removes a potential threat and obstacle from his path. The adept makes an attack against a foe, if successful this strike deals additional damage determined by the state of the enemy’s health. If the enemy has more than 75% of his total health, this strike does no additional damage. If the foe has less than 75% health, this strike inflicts an additional 4d6 points of damage. If the foe has less than 25% of his total health, this strike inflicts an additional 8d6 points of damage.

Unfettered Movement
Jade Throne (Stance)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The Jade Throne adept is swift in battle and in his ability to go from one skirmish to the next to choose his next foe. By assuming this stance, the adept gains a +10ft bonus to his base speed and gains a +4 bonus to his armor class against attacks of opportunity.

4th Level

Jade Zephyr’s Dance
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 full round action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

The Jade Zephyr’s Dance allows the adept to step confidently through a battlefield, his blade leading the way in decisive sweeps as a gracefully as a ballroom dance. The adept may make a melee attack at his full attack bonus against a target, and if successful, he may move 10ft (the adept must move 10ft, and his movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity) to attack again. He may not make more attacks in a round that his maximum main-hand number of attacks, nor may he move farther than his normal maximum speed.

Perseverance of Jade
Jade Throne (Counter)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

The focus of battle that an adept of Jade Throne has allows him to react to danger before he actively knows it is present, his senses acknowledging peril before his mind would know of it. When made to make a saving throw, the adept may instead initiate this counter and make a Concentration check in its stead.

Noble Blade
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round

Jade Throne practitioners who know the Noble Blade may use their battle focus to add additional force to their strikes. The adept may add his ranks in Concentration to the damage of all of his melee attacks for the round.

5th Level

Jade Zenith Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

The focus of battle teaches that in a single hair’s breadth of time, a warrior may strike down a foe in a single blow. The adept makes a Concentration check (adding to this the enhancement bonus of his weapon and any weapon relevant feats that would apply) as an attack roll; if the result of this check equals or exceeds his target’s armor class, then his strike does triple damage. If this check does not meet or exceed the target's armor class, then the attack fails and the adept misses.

Perfection of Jade
Jade Throne
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

The supreme clarity of mind and focus of form allows an adept of Jade Throne of this skill to simply overcome any obstacle placed upon them, albeit for the short term. The adept calls upon his supreme will and focus and may delay any number of negative effects placed upon (not counting hit point damage, but counting ability damage, negative levels, poison, ability or attribute penalties, etc) through the use of this maneuver for a number of rounds equal to the adept's Charisma modifier. Negative effects end immediately upon the use of this maneuver.

Jade Duelist Attitude
Jade Throne (Stance)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The force of will that an adept of Jade Throne possesses is enough to protect him and guide his steps through battle, and his battle focus allows him to anticipate danger before it happens. By adopting this stance, the adept may add a +4 perfection bonus to his armor class (this applies to his touch and flat-footed armor class as well, but he loses this bonus if he is immobilized, helpless, or unconscious) and to his Initiative score.

6th Level

Final Blow
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

Mercy has a place on the battlefield, an adept of Jade Throne understands, as does the benefit of an honorable and swift death. By showing his enemy a merciful, swift death in battle, the adept may continue to his next victory while letting both keep their honor. The adept makes a melee attack against an injured foe, and if the foe is under 25% of his maximum hit points, the attack is treated as a coup de grace (without provoking attacks of opportunity). The attack does damage as normal, and the foe must make a Fortitude save with a DC equal to the damage inflicted. If the foe is above 25% of his maximum hit points, then this maneuver has no effect and normal damage is rolled. Adepts with this maneuver readied have keen senses in knowing where his enemy’s strength stands, and may make a Heal check as a free action (DC 20) to gauge if his opponent is capable of being finished by this maneuver.

Blade of Perfection
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

In an instant of perfect clarity, the adept finds his moment to strike true. The adept simply strikes the opponent with deadly swiftness, penetrating defenses as if they were not even there. This attack automatically hits its target, and always inflicts maximum damage. For the purposes of counters, treat this attack as if the adept had rolled a natural 20.

Jade Zephyr’s Fleetness
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round

The combat focus of a Jade Throne adept lends itself to the analogy of the coiled spring; when necessary, the spring can rapidly unfold and launch with incredible celerity. With this principle adapted to the royal court of battle, the adept may launch himself with alacrity across the field. The adept may add 30-ft to his base speed for one round as a circumstance bonus.

7th Level

Jade Battle Lord’s Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 full attack action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

Perfection in combat is the true goal of any adept of Jade Throne, and to become a true master of this discipline is to know how to strike perfectly with each and every attack. The adept initiating Jade Battle Lord’s strike must make a full attack against a target or targets, each attack using his full base attack bonus with a +2 perfection bonus instead of the reduction of iterative attacks.

Jade Riposte
Jade Throne (Counter)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: One attack
Duration: Instant

Within the focus of the adept’s mind, pathways to victory form with which he uses to sculpt and mold the outcome of the battle. When an enemy’s attack threatens to unravel these pathways, a supreme act of will can restore order to them. The adept makes a Concentration check opposing his enemy’s attack roll, if successful, he may make an immediate counter attack against that opponent with his full attack bonus.

Royal Blade
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round

As a true king of battle, the adept brings his mastery of Jade Throne to the battlefield to the despair of his foes. By initiating this maneuver, his show of majestic force proves his claim to power. The adept initiating this maneuver may add double his ranks in the Concentration skill as bonus damage to all melee attacks he makes for the round.

8th Level

Descending Jade Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With a downward swing of his blade, the Jade Throne adapt proves his mastery of the discipline by shattering the will of the enemy to fight. The adept makes a Concentration check in place of his normal attack roll (he may add any enhancement bonus from the weapon or feats that apply to the use of this weapon to this roll as well), and if this Concentration check equals or exceeds the target’s armor class, the attack deals quadruple damage. If this check does not meet or exceed the target's armor class, then the attack fails and the adept misses.

Riddle of Steel
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Fortitude (partial)

With a swift and deadly strike, the adept is capable of disabling a foe’s senses for a few moments, effectively eliminating the threat. The adept makes a melee attack against his opponent, if successful, the strike deals an additional 6d6 points of damage and stuns his opponent for 1d4 rounds on a failed Fortitude save (DC 18 + Charisma modifier). If this save is successful, the victim is instead dazed for one round.

Jade Mastery Stance
Jade Throne (Stance)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The fearsome glory of a master adept of the Jade Throne discipline causes him to appear as nothing less than a god of war incarnated in flesh and steel. While in this stance, any creature with an intelligence of 1 or higher must make a Will save equal to the adept’s ranks in Concentration plus his Charisma modifier to make an attack. If both the saving throw and the attack roll are successful, then the opponent is immune to this effect for 24 hours. If the attack roll misses after the successful saving throw, he must make another saving throw the next time he attempts to attack the adept. Only one attempt to overcome the awe-inspiring presence of the Jade Throne adept may be made per round by any one creature.

9th Level

Heavenly Blade of the Jade Empire
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 9
Prerequisites: 4 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Fortitude (partial)

The supreme technique of the Jade Throne, the adept who knows of it is the lord of all battlefields and marks his name amongst the legends of war. The adept makes a melee attack, if successful, then the adept makes a Concentration check, adding three times the result of this roll to his weapon’s damage. The target must then make a Fortitude save (DC 19 + Charisma modifier) to resist becoming paralyzed for 1d4 minutes. If the save is successful, the target is stunned for 1 round.

[ErrantX]

Jade Throne is BETA completed and ready for playtest and critique.

-X

[Devlin]

ur 9th level is a bit weak, maybe increase the fort save or if successful on concentration check add one man. of 3rd lv or lower to this attack. maybe 2nd lv. i say this because EF's 9th knock u out. IT stop anything. RH says fuck u to time

[ErrantX]

I disagree, its adding more damage than strike of perfect clarity. Ranks in Concentration alone would be 20 minimum, plus Con score plus d20 roll times 3. Average? 33 x 3 = 99. Strike of perfect clarity plus an additional effect.

[ErrantX]

Jade Throne is 100% up to date and current.

BETA COMPLETE

-X

[ErrantX]

Jade Duelist Stance is giving me pause for consideration.

Thoughts?

-X