Shepherd

Shepherds are holy warriors, battle sages who have dedicated their lives to the service of a goddess. They contract with outsiders who serve their deity to gain power in their sacred quests. Through their holy might, they herald a path to a brighter tomorrow, and seek to solve the problems that the world must face.

Class Skills

Shepherds gain Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (Nobility) and Knowledge (Religion) as class skills. 

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies

Shepherds are not proficient in heavy armor or two-handed weapons.

Shepherd Battle Artes

Shepherds learn to manipulate unique disciplines that run with divine power. Shepherds only choose two disciplines from the usual list, but gain the Elemental Flux and Veiled Moon disciplines.

Shepherds are charismatic leaders, and use Charisma rather than Intelligence as their initiatior modifier.

This ability alters Battle Artes.

Elemental Animus (Su)

At 2nd level, the shepherd can boost his elemental artes. He gains a pool of animus points each day equal to his Cha mod, which provide benefits to certain Elemental Flux maneuvers. The shepherd can spend up to 1 point +1 per 7 battle sage levels on any individual maneuver.

This replaces the 2nd-level bonus feat.

Domain (Su)

At 3rd level, the shepherd gains one of his goddess' granted domains. He treats his battle sage level-2 as his cleric level for the purposes of determining the domain's benefits and effects, and uses his Cha in place of Wis.

Once per day, the shepherd can reduce his Maneuver Pool by 1 for the remainder of the day to cast a spell granted by his domain. This spell may be of a level up to the highest-level Maneuver he can initiate.

This ability replaces Tactical Flanking and Improved Uncanny Dodge.

Armatus (Su)

At 6th level, the shepherd is granted the ability to fuse his body with a servant of his goddess, forming a union called an armatus. This functions as the spell lesser angelic aspect, except it loses the [good] alignment tag and has an aesthetic form similar to an appropriate outsider servant of the shepherd's goddess (e.g. a demon for Metafalssia, or an inevitable for Marya). In addition, the shepherd regains all spent animus points when he armatizes, and regains one point per round in combat while armatized. He does not regain animus points outside of combat.

The shepherd can armatize once per day at 6th level. At 12th level, this ability can be used twice per day and functions as angelic aspect. At 18th level, this ability can be used thrice per day and functions as greater angelic aspect. Once per day, the shepherd may reduce his Maneuver Pool by 2 to armatize one additional time.

This ability replaces Discipline Focus.