Psion Prestige Class : Diamond Warrior
By Scott Brocius and Mark A. Jindra
The diamond warriors are an order that consists mainly of psychic warriors, though some psions are members. The order concentrates their fighting style on unarmed attacks and mobility, and they spend long hours training their minds and bodies to achieve this end.
It's not certain how long this group has existed, and its goals are unknown, but when they do appear, they have a specific task. They take specific items, help travelers in combat, disrupt ceremonies and cause people to be late for appointments. They usually appear in multiples of eight, but a lone diamond warrior has been seen on occasion. Those that hunt them speculate the diamond warriors have a base on the Astral Plane, but this has not been confirmed.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Diamond Warrior, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Jump 6 ranks, Tumble 6 ranks.
- Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Inertial Armor, Psionic Charge, Speed of Thought.
- Base Attack Bonus: +5.
- Manifesting: Ability to manifest a 3rd-level psychic warrior power.
- Special: Must be selected by a current diamond warrior to join the order.
Class Skills
The diamond warrior's class skills are Autohypnosis, Balance, Climb, Concentration, Escape Artist, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Profession (any), Sense Motive, Spot, Swim, and Tumble.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the diamond warrior prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Diamond warriors gain no proficiency in any armor or weapons, though they retain any knowledge gained from former classes.
Power Points: With the exception of 1st, 5th, and 9th levels, diamond warriors gain power points every level as though they gained a level of psychic warrior. Diamond warriors do not gain bonus power points.
Powers Discovered: With the exception of 1st, 5th, and 9th levels, diamond warriors discover powers as though they gained a level of psychic warrior. Powers are chosen from the psychic warrior power list. Their effective manifester level is increased by one for each level of the prestige class.
Psionic Combat: Diamond warriors do not gain any psionic attack or defense modes. (Characters do not forget previously discovered attack and defense modes).
0-Level Powers: Diamond warrior levels count toward the level of psychic warrior for determining the number of free manifestations per day of 0-level powers.
Armor Restriction: A diamond warrior can wear armor only at the cost of his mobility special abilities. The only special abilities that continue to function while in armor are Diamond Body, Diamond Soul, and Teleport. Evasion and Uncanny Dodge are negated by armor.
Unarmed Attacks: The diamond warrior gains both the normal base attack bonus and the unarmed base attack bonus when using unarmed strikes. Their unarmed strikes follow the standard attack pattern for extra attacks each round and not the monk's unarmed strike pattern. For example, a 7th-level psychic warrior with 6 levels of diamond warrior has a base attack bonus of +5 for psychic warrior, +4 for diamond warrior, and an additional +2 if he uses an unarmed attack. With a weapon, his final attack bonus is +9/+4, but with unarmed attacks, it is +11/+6/+1.
Crystal Mask: The order rewards its members with special crystal masks. At 1st level, they receive their choice of either the crystal mask of deception or the crystal mask of doubt. At 5th level, they receive a second mask and the crystal mask of darkvision is added to their choices. At 9th level, they receive a third mask, and the crystal mask of shifting is added to their choices. They should never trade or sell these masks since doing so would disgrace them in the eyes of the order.
Unarmed Damage: As a diamond warrior increases in levels, so does the damage he does with his unarmed strikes. If the diamond warrior has monk levels, treat each diamond warrior level gained as an additional monk level for determining unarmed damage.
Improved Inertial Armor: The diamond warrior gains the Improved Inertial Armor feat.
Speed of Thought: The diamond warrior gains the Speed of Thought feat.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): The diamond warrior focuses his mind to enhance his perception of the world around him. This allows him to retain his Dexterity bonus to AC when caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. He still loses his Dexterity bonus when immobilized. Starting at 8th level, the diamond warrior's perception has improved to the point he can no longer be flanked. This denies those with the sneak attack ability to use the ability against him unless they are 4 levels higher.
Evasion (Ex): Starting at 4th level, the diamond warrior's agility has improved to the point that he can avoid some magical or psionic attacks. If an attack allows a Reflex save for half damage, the diamond warrior takes no damage on a successful save.
Diamond Body (Su): The diamond warrior becomes immune to all forms of poison due to an increased control of his metabolism.
Diamond Soul (Su): The diamond warrior gains power resistance equal to 10 + his character level.
Teleport (Sp): A diamond warrior can manifest the teleport power for free once per day. The diamond warrior can manifest teleport as though they have the power on their list of known powers. He can manifest the power even if he does not meet the minimum stat or class requirements.
| The Diamond Warrior | Hit Die: d8 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Unarmed BAB | Unarmed Damage Medium- size/Small | PP/day | Special | Powers |
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +1 | 1d6/1d4 | -- | Improved inertial armor, crystal mask | -- |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | 1d8/1d6 | see text | Speed of thought, uncanny dodge | +1 level psychic warrior |
| 3rd | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | 1d8/1d6 | see text | Improved inertial armor | +1 level psychic warrior |
| 4th | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | 1d10/1d8 | see text | Speed of thought, evasion | +1 level psychic warrior |
| 5th | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +2 | 1d10/1d8 | -- | crystal mask | -- |
| 6th | +4 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +2 | 1d10/1d8 | see text | Improved inertial armor, diamond body | +1 level psychic warrior |
| 7th | +5 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +2 | 1d12/1d10 | see text | Speed of thought | +1 level psychic warrior |
| 8th | +6 | +6 | +6 | +6 | +2 | 1d12/1d10 | see text | Uncanny dodge | +1 level psychic warrior |
| 9th | +6 | +6 | +6 | +6 | +3 | 1d12/1d10 | -- | Speed of thought, crystal mask | -- |
| 10th | +7 | +7 | +7 | +7 | +3 | 1d12/1d10 | see text | Diamond soul, teleport | +1 level psychic warrior |
| Note: The diamond warrior does not gain any bonus psychic warrior feats when they gain a level. | |||||||||
The Diamond Warrior Mask
A diamond warrior always wears a clear crystal mask to distort his facial features. The order adds facets to the mask surface to further enhance this distortion. Many of these masks are empowered, as well, and diamond warriors have developed several different kinds of masks to help with various tasks. These masks are quite rare and generally not available on the open market since diamond warriors do not sell or trade them openly.
Crystal Mask of Deception: When worn, the crystal mask of deception grants the wearer the benefits of the conceal thoughts power.
Manifester Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, conceal thoughts; Market Price: 1,500 gp; Weight: 1 lb.
Crystal Mask of Doubt: Any creature that enters melee combat with the wearer of the crystal mask of doubt must make a Will save (DC 14) or suffer a -1 morale penalty due to the shifting visage created by the crystal mask of doubt. This Will save is taken only once per combat.
Manifester Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, demoralize; Market Price: 1,500 gp; Weight: 1 lb.
Crystal Mask of Darkvision: When worn, the crystal mask of darkvision grants the wearer the benefits of the darkvision power.
Manifester Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, darkvision; Market Price: 8,000 gp; Weight: 1 lb.
Crystal Mask of Shifting: While worn, upon activation, this crystal mask manifests the plane shift power. It has the ability to do this once per day. The wearer and up to 7 other creatures can join hands to travel together.
Manifester Level: 14th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, plane shift; Market Price: 40,000 gp; Weight: 1 lb.
Epic Diamond Warrior
Although it is uncertain what percentage of the diamond order is comprised of epic diamond warriors, some speculate that achieving epic status is reserved for only the greatest warriors.
Those diamond warriors that reach epic levels are assigned a solo mission by the order. The mission varies for each individual, but it is designed to test the warrior's wits, courage, and martial prowess. Upon successful completion of the mission, they are awarded the crystal mask of shadows. These masks are rare within the order, and if one is ever lost, the order makes every effort to retrieve it.
Hit Die: d8.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Powers: The epic diamond warrior does not discover any additional powers after 10th level unless he selects the Spell Knowledge feat. The epic diamond warrior's manifester level increases by 1 three levels in a row after 9th before skipping a level in a continuing progression. The epic diamond warrior's number of power points per day does not increase after 10th level.
Bonus Feats: The epic diamond warrior gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic diamond warrior bonus feats) every 3 levels after 8th.
Epic Diamond Warrior Bonus Feat List: Armor Skin, Damage Reduction, Devastating Critical, Dire Charge, Epic Endurance, Epic Leadership, Epic Prowess, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus, Epic Weapon Specialization, Exceptional Deflection, Improved Combat Reflexes, Improved Manifestation, Improved Stunning Fist, Improved Whirlwind Attack, Infinite Deflection, Legendary Commander, Legendary Rider, Legendary Wrestler, Overwhelming Critical, Penetrate Damage Reduction, Reflect Arrows, Spellcasting Harrier, Storm of Throws, Superior Initiative, Uncanny Accuracy. In addition to the feats on this list, the epic diamond warrior may select any fighter or psychic warrior bonus feat not listed here. As noted in the Epic Feats section of the Epic Level Handbook, epic diamond warriors learn "psionically flavored" versions of feats, as appropriate.
| CL | Special | Manifester Level |
| 11th | Bonus feat | +1 |
| 12th | -- | +1 |
| 13th | -- | -- |
| 14th | Bonus feat | +1 |
| 15th | -- | +1 |
| 16th | -- | +1 |
| 17th | Bonus feat | -- |
| 18th | -- | +1 |
| 19th | -- | +1 |
| 20th | Bonus feat | +1 |
Crystal Mask of Shadows: This smooth crystal mask distorts the wearer's features by using an ever-shifting, swirling pattern of smoke within the crystal. On command, the crystal mask of shadows allows the character to use the shadow body power for up to 1 hour per day. The duration of the shadow body need not be consecutive minutes.
Manifester Level: 16th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, shadow body; Market Price: 185,000 gp; Weight: 1 lb.
Source: Web