The Dog Warrior

The dog warrior is an elite warrior from a tribe which practices an ancient form of honorable combat.

Quintessential Barbarian II  
Author Patrick Younts
Series Quintessential Series
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2004

Dog warriors wear special ceremonial sashes and carry with them a specially prepared arrow with a head made from a dogs jawbone, both of which serve to advertise his status as an elite fighter and to focus his will on the battlefield. At the beginning of a battle, the dog warrior impales one end of his sash in the ground, using the dogs jaw arrow, signifying that he will defend this chosen spot unto his death.

The dog warrior is a prestige class based around defensive abilities. Once he has planted his sash, he becomes an immovable object, a bastion against those who would do harm to his people and to those that he holds dear. Fearless and skilled in the arts of war, the dog warrior is a champion of his tribe and a guardian without equal. The dog warrior is based on the famed warriors of the Native American Cheyenne. It is the ideal prestige class for those Players who wish their characters to be honorable, fearless warriors and defenders of their people. The dog warrior is a difficult class to play, because of the nature of its class abilities but it can also be very rewarding.

Hit Die: d12.

Requirements

In order to qualify for the dog warrior prestige class, the character must meet or exceed all the following requirements.

Base Attack Bonus: +11.
Skills: Intimidate 13 ranks, Survival 7 ranks.
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Will To Live
Alignment: Any non-lawful.
Special: Must possess the ability to rage.

Class Skills

The dog warriors class skills (and the relevant abilities) are: Climb (Strength), Handle Animal (Charisma), Intimidate (Charisma), Jump (Strength), Listen (Wisdom), Ride (Dexterity), Sense Motive (Wisdom), Spot (Wisdom), Survival (Wisdom) Swim (Strength).
Skill Points: 4 + Intelligence bonus per level.

Dog Warrior
Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+2	+0	+2	Dog warrior
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+3	Fearless, Toughness
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+3	Damage reduction 3/-, Deflect Arrows
4th	+4	+4	+1	+4	Greater rage
5th	+5	+4	+1	+4	Rage, Wounded Animal
6th	+6	+5	+2	+5	Wolf warrior
7th	+7	+5	+2	+5	Damage reduction 5/-
8th	+8	+6	+2	+6	Tireless rage
9th	+9	+6	+3	+6	Tribal Champion
10th	+10	+7	+3	+7	Bear warrior, damage reduction 7/-

Class Features

All the following are class features of the dog warrior.

Weapon and Armour Proficiencies: The dog warrior is proficient with all simple and all martial weapons and is proficient with light and medium armour and with all shields, save the tower shield. Remember that a dog warrior loses his fast movement when wearing medium armour or carrying a medium or heavy load.

Dog Warrior (Ex): The dog warriors wear a 15 foot long ceremonial sash at all times, which is both a symbol of his status and a chain which he willingly bears. When in combat, as a move action, he can unwind a 10-foot length of his sash and impale it in the ground, using a special arrow tipped with a head carved from a dogs jawbone. Beginning immediately after he has planted his sash, he gains a +2 bonus to all attack rolls and damage rolls made with melee weapons and to Fortitude and Will saves. This bonus lasts throughout the combat, with no limit to the number of rounds it remains in effect. In order to gain the benefits of this ability, the dog warrior must remain within a 10-foot radius of the planted arrow and sash, both because the sash is still wrapped around his waist and, more importantly, to do otherwise is to dishonour the spirit of his tribe and ancestors. Since movement is at least partially restricted by his tether, he suffers a -2 circumstance penalty to all Reflex saves.

Should the dog warrior decide to disconnect himself from the sash and arrow before the battle is concluded, then all the benefits of this class ability are immediately lost. In addition, he suffers a -2 morale bonus to all attack and damage rolls, and to all saves, for the remainder of the battle and for one hour afterwards. Should another being destroy the tether, the dog warriors retains the bonuses of this class ability for a number of rounds equal to one + his Wisdom modifier, or until he moves outside the 10-foot radius of the area in which he planted the sash. Once the bonuses end, he does not suffer the morale penalty listed above.

Fearless (Ex): The dog warrior is an absolutely fearless defender of all he holds dear. Beginning at 2nd level, when he tethers his ceremonial sash, he gains absolute immunity to fear. In addition, all allies within a radius of 10 feet + 10 feet per point of the dog warrior’s Charisma bonus gain a +2 morale bonus to their own saves against fear; members if the dog warrior’s barbarian tribe or kingdom gain a +4 morale bonus to fear saves.

Toughness: The dog warrior is a hardened soldier, used to the pain and suffering of battlefield wounds. At 2nd level, he gains the Toughness feat for free.

Damage Reduction (Ex): The dog warrior’s body is hardened against the blades and arrows of those who would do him harm, or would harm what he is sworn to defend. At 3rd level, the dog warrior’s damage reduction increases to 3/-. If the dog warrior’s damage reduction is already 3/– or higher, then it increase by +1. At 7th level and 10th level, his damage reduction increases by an additional two points but only while the dog warrior’s sash is planted.

Deflect Arrows: The dog warrior knows that, in planting his sash, he allows himself to become an easy target for those cowards who would pelt him with arrows, rather than face him in honourable melee combat. In order to protect himself, he learns to hack arrows from the air with his weapons. At 3rd level, he gains the Deflect Arrows feat for free, even if he does not meet the normal feat requirements.

Greater Rage: Upon reaching 4th level, the dog warrior gains the greater rage ability, just as a barbarian does. This increases his Strength and Constitution bonus to +6 each when he enters a barbarian rage.

Rage: At 5th level, the dog warrior gains the ability to rage one additional time each day.

Wounded Animal: The dog warrior’s will to survive and to protect his people is so strong that he becomes an unstoppable force when enemies threaten to overwhelm him. At 5th level, the dog warrior gains the Wounded Animal feat for free but its benefits only apply when he has planted his sash.

Wolf Warrior: As the dog warrior grows in power and experience, his devotion to the holy path of the dog warrior grants him increased benefits. Beginning at 6th level, the dog warrior’s bonuses to attack and damage rolls increase to +3, as does his bonus to Fortitude and Will saves.

Tireless Rage: At 8th level and higher, the dog warrior no longer becomes fatigued at the end of his rage.

Tribal Champion: Those who take the oath of the dog warrior are feared by their enemies and greatly respected by those they are sworn to protect. At 9th level, the dog warrior gains the Tribal Champion feat for free, even if he does not meet the normal requirements.

Bear Warrior (Ex): When the dog warrior reaches the pinnacle of his devotion to his chosen path, he becomes a defensive fighter of unmatched capability. At 10th level, the dog warrior can increase his bonuses to attack rolls, damage rolls and to Will and Fortitude saves when he plants his sash to +4. In addition, at this point he becomes so practiced at maneuvering while tethered that he no longer suffers a penalty to his Reflex saving throws.

The Epic Dog Warrior

Hit Die: d12.
Skill Points Per Level: 4 + Intelligence bonus.
Bonus Feats: The dog warrior gains a bonus feat every three class levels.
Barbarian Rage: The dog warrior gains an additional use of rage every four class levels.
Damage Reduction: Every five levels, the dog warrior’s bonus to damage reduction while tethered increases by +1, to a maximum of 10/-.