Whirling Blade (3.5e Class)
Whirling Blade
The whirling blade is a terrifying opponent. He can wield melee weapons and he attacks so fast and so quickly that his blade is just a blur. Some powerful whirling blades are themselves just a blur, while others stand still in heavy armor, forming an impenetrable wall of death. However, Whirling Blades are not ranged warriors, as the name might suggest.
Making a Whirling Blade
The whirling blade is a very powerful fighting class. However, he has an unusually bad attack progression to compensate for his incredible attack count.
Abilities: The Whirling blade is heavily dexterity based; many of his abilities and attacks rely on it.
Races: Most races have members that enjoy this class. Elven whirling blades generally focus on incredible speed, while Dwarven whirling blades prefer to aim for standing still. in Intellectual races, however, scorn this class and look down upon it.
Alignment: Whirling blades can be any morality, however, they follow it zealously.
Starting Gold: 3d6×10gp (110gp)
Starting Age: Moderate.
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Special | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +2 | +0 | Extend Speed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +3 | +0 | Keen Eye | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | +2/+1 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Bonus Feat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th | +3/+2 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Speedy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5th | +3/+2/+1 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Arrow Cut | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6th | +4/+3/+2 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Standing Dodge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7th | +4/+3/+2/+1 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Greater Extend Speed, Bonus Feat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8th | +5/+4/+3/+2 | +6 | +6 | +2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9th | +5/+4/+3/+2/+1 | +6 | +6 | +3 | Overwhelming Blows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10th | +6/+5/+4/+3/+2 | +7 | +7 | +3 | Run or Stand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11th | +6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1 | +7 | +7 | +3 | Bonus Feat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12th | +7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2 | +8 | +8 | +4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13th | +7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1 | +8 | +8 | +4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14th | +8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2 | +9 | +9 | +4 | Shower of Swords | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15th | +8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1 | +9 | +9 | +5 | Bonus Feat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16th | +9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2 | +10 | +10 | +5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17th | +9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1 | +10 | +10 | +5 | Feinting Blur | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18th | +10/+9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2 | +11 | +11 | +6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19th | +10/+9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2/+1 | +11 | +11 | +6 | Bonus Feat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20th | +11/+10/+9/+8/+7/+6/+5/+4/+3/+2 | +12 | +12 | +6 | Intense Speed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Whirling Blade.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Whirling Blade is proficient with all martial melee slashing and bludgeoning weapons and light armor.
Extend Speed: Starting at 1st level, once per round, the Whirling Blade may make an additional attack up to his highest base attack bonus. If he does, he suffers 1 point of damage for each point of attack bonus used.
Keen Eye: Starting at 2nd level, the Whirling Blade gains the Improved Critical feat with any weapon he uses. The Whirling Blade also gains the Called Shot feat. In addition, when the Whirling Blade uses the Called Shot feat, he gains an additional 3 points of damage for each 1 point subtracted from his attack rolls as opposed to the normal 1 point of damage.
Speedy: Starting at 4th level, the Whirling Blade becomes faster and faster as he levels, gaining a +10 movement speed and an additional +10 movement speed every 4 levels thereafter.
Arrow Cut: Starting at 5th level, when targeted by a ranged attack (but not a ranged touch attack) the Whirling Blade may make a reflex save with a DC equal to the attack role of the attacker to cut the projectile out of the air. The DC increases by 5 for every projectile he attempts to cut in a turn. The Whirling Blade is treated as though he had the Deflect Arrows feat for the purposes of determining prerequisites for other feats and abilities.
Standing Dodge: Starting at 6th level, the Whirling Blade retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. This ability is the same as the Uncanny Dodge ability.
Greater Extend Speed: Starting at 7th level, the Whirling Blade may make an additional attack with an attack bonus up to his highest base attack bonus. If he does, he suffers 1 point of damage for each point of attack bonus used.. This ability stacks with Extend Speed, thus granting the Whirling Blade two additional attacks per round.
Overwhelming Blows: Starting at 9th level, the Whirling Blade can hit so quickly and so numerously that enemies become less and less able to see the attacks coming, and move appropriately. For every Whirling Blade attack that hits in a row after the fourth, the enemy takes a -1 to the dexterity bonus on his AC. This only works if you attack the same enemy. The attacks must be sequential and are reset at the end of every round.
Run or Stand: Starting at 10th level, the Whirling Blade must choose speed or stability. If he choosees speed, the character's base movement speed increases by 10 feet, plus 5 feet for every 2 levels thereafter, to a maximum of an additional 35 ft at 20th level. If he chooses stability, the character gain 20 additional hp, and his Hit Dice for all levels of Whirling Blade after the 10th level increase by one size.
Shower of Swords: Starting at 14th level, whenever the whirling blade would attack using a full round action, he may sacrifice any number of attacks to give an opponent within reach a cumulative -1 penalty to their armor class against him until the beginning of that opponent's next turn. These penalties may be distributed among multiple opponents.
Feinting Blur: Starting at 17th level, the attacks of the Whirling Blade become so numerous that they become confounding to the enemies at which they strike. Any enemy struck by at least 5 consecutive strikes must make a fortitude save DC equal to the Whirling Blade's level + 1/10 amount of damage dealt or become dazed for 2d4 rounds.
Intense Speed: Starting at 20th level, the Whirling Blade is able to move at inhuman speeds and appears to be in multiple places at once. Once per day, the Whirling Blade can create up to 1/3 his dexterity modifier in "copies" that have his complete stats, attacks, and abilities. These copies cannot move more than 10 feet away from each other and may not use the Intense Speed ability.
Bonus Feat: Starting at 3rd level and every fourth level thereafter, the Whirling Blade gains a bonus feat. A Whirling Blade may choose from the Fighter bonus feat list (the Whirling Blade must still meet the prerequisites for these feats) or one of the following feats: Acrobatic, Agile, Athletic, Deft Hands, Diehard, Endurance, Lightning Reflexes, Run, Toughness.
Epic Whirling Blades
| Level | Special |
|---|---|
| 21st | Reflex +1 |
| 22nd | Reflex +1 |
| 23rd | Bonus Feat |
| 24th | Reflex +1 |
| 25th | Reflex +1 |
| 26th | Bonus Feat |
| 27th | Reflex +1 |
| 28th | Reflex +1 |
| 29th | Bonus Feat |
| 30th | Reflex +1 |
4 + Int modifier skill points per level.
|}
Epic Whirling Blade Bonus Feat List: Armor Skin, Blinding Speed, Damage Reduction, Devastating Critical, Dire Charge, Energy Resistance, Epic Dodge, Epic Endurance, Epic Prowess, Epic Speed, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus, Epic Weapon Specialization, Exceptional Deflection, Improved Combat Reflexes, Improved Whirlwind Attack, Infinite Deflection, Overwhelming Critical, Reflect Arrows, Superior Initiative. In addition to the feats on this list, the Whirling Blade may treat any feat designated as a Fighter Bonus Feat, but not listed here, as being on his or her bonus feat list.
Playing a Whirling Blade
Religion: The whirling blade is likely to follow a religion devoutly and absentmindedly. When he remembers, he practices the rituals of his religion zealously, and far above and beyond the requirement. However, he often forgets to do so because he's caught up in the action.
Other Classes: Whirling blades do not approve of classes that require patience, but are fairly acceptant of other classes.
Combat: The whirling blade is very dangerous in close combat.
Advancement: Whirling blades have a large number of attacks, so they appreciate any opportunity to increase the damage they deal with those attacks.
Whirling Blades in the World
| “ | Those so-called heroes didn't even see me draw my sword. | ” |
| —Elbert von Cuthbert, Vampire Whirling Blade | ||
Whirling Blades are few and far between, and what complicates thing further is that they are near impossible to distinguish from a regular warrior or sometimes even a peasant outside of combat. Finding one is very rare, a treat for those looking, a frightening occurrence for those being hunted.
Daily Life: A whirling blade lives for thrills and seeks adventure. Though they can be highly intelligent, usually they will be dumb, and spend their time drinking in the bar.
Notables:Elbert von Cuthbert, count of the Castle of Spikes.
Organizations: Whirling blades have no official organizations. When they encounter each other, they may team up for a while, but eventually part ways again.
NPC Reactions: Whirling blades are a real treat to stumble upon, and they are treated as such. However, they are usually fairly dumb and are completely combat oriented, so social skills may be lacking.
Whirling Blade Lore
The order of The Storm was formed many years ago, by the warriors of the far east. It emphasized speed over power, finesse over power. They were nicknamed "Whirling Blades" by their enemies, because in truth, that is what they became; just a spinning blade. They were revered by those who knew them. However, they had many enemies. One day, the Mogri clan, their mortal enemies, donned their finest soldiers in their finest armor, and attacked in what became known as the Battle of the Blades. The Mogri's dragon armor had no chinks, no holes, no where for their strikes to land. The Mogri swept the battle, taking no prisoners. Shortly after the battle, a flood wiped out the Mogri, leaving none left alive. The Dragon Armor has been sought after many a time, and is only rumored to still exist. Characters with ranks in Knowledge (History) can research whirling blades to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.
| DC | Result |
|---|---|
| 5 | Whirling blades have fought in wars before. |
| 10 | Many battles have been turned by a few whirling blades slaughtering soldiers in the right place. |
| 15 | Whirling blades are often beaten with sturdy armor. |
| 20 | In the battle of the blades, an army of whirling blades was destroyed by a small force wearing dragon armor. |
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