Gaestatae

A warrior society, the Gaestatae are a class of Celtic spear-masters. While trained in the sword like their kin, these individuals are much more effective with spears and shields. They have learned to imitate the Romans’ formation fighting and work much better as a cohesive unit than most Celts.

The driving motivation for this is their mercenary status. Gaestatae serve whoever hires them. Unlike most soldiers-for-hire, they exhibit fanatical loyalty during their term of service. They will fight each other when commanded and have even been known to fight their own families in deadly combat if their paymasters call for it. Consequently, they are paid very well. Most Gaestatae can retire at any time on their earnings.

Gaestatae organize themselves into small bands that eschew individual glory. They work as a unit and bind themselves together so as to be a
more effective fighting force.

Requirements: Base Attack Bonus +3, Forsake Clan (see below),

Hit Die: d10

Skill Points per Level: 2 + Intelligence Modifier

Class Skills: Craft, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Jump

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Gaestatae are proficient with all spears, Light Armor, and Shields.

Special Restriction Forsake Clan: Gaestatae must forswear their tribal and familial ties while they serve. Until they quit the band, their loyalty must be solely to the its current master. This vow takes the form of a Lesser Geis (levels 1-4) and (Major Geis Levels 5-10). Such breaking of faith usually results in the expulsion of the character from the band. Additionally, he or she will be unable to join any other Gaestatae bands that learn of the breach, to say nothing of the shame of breaking a Geis.

Gaestatae Class Features
Level	Attack	Fort	Ref	Will	Class Features
1	+1	+2	+0	+0	Formation Fighting Feat
2	+2	+3	+0	+0	Call of Nature’s Fury Feat
3	+3	+3	+1	+1	Bonus Feat
4	+4	+4	+1	+1	Stand Firm
5	+5	+4	+1	+1	Bonus Feat
6	+6/+1	+5	+2	+2	Devout Discipline
7	+7/+2	+5	+2	+2	Bonus Feat
8	+8/+3	+6	+2	+2	Wall of Spears
9	+9/+4	+6	+3	+3	Bonus Feat
10	+10/+5	+7	+3	+3	Flight of Wooden Doom

Class Features:

Formation Fighting (Ex): Gaestatae receive the Formation Fighting Feat. Their discipline and training allows them to benefit from its effects.

Call of Nature’s Fury (Ex): The character gains this Feat for free. It can be taken multiple times, so its effects are cumulative with any previous incarnations of the Feat the character has.

Stand Firm (Ex): The character has become very disciplined with his or her spear. The Gaestatae may now double the Critical Threat Range for his or her weapon when readying it against a Charge.

Devout Discipline (Ex): Gaestatae who reach this level of dedication benefit from a +2 Class Bonus to Will Saves.

Wall of Spears (Ex): Gaestatae of this level are extremely dangerous when fighting in a formation. Not only do they gain the benefits of the formation (+1 Attack Rolls, +3 to AC), they can inflict more damage on those foolish enough to charge them. When readying his or her spear against a charge while in formation, the character gains an extra Attack of Opportunity against all creatures entering his or her Threat Range. Further, the character has a +2 Synergy Bonus to hit all opponents attacking the formation and an additional +3 Synergy Bonus to damage. The Gaestatae simply is able to react well enough to find the foe’s weaknesses or to direct him or her onto the spears of the character’s mates.

Flight of Wooden Doom (Ex): The character has become so proficient with the spear that all attacks made with it double the normal Critical Threat Range including ranged attacks.