Epic Prestige Classes

GUARDIAN PARAMOUNT

The guardian paramount is an extraordinary bodyguard, a protector of others who is skilled in preventing harm to his charge. He often places himself in danger, taking the brunt of attacks meant for the person he is protecting. He displays unparalleled prowess in defending his charge, keeping her from harm and returning her to health should she be injured.

Guardian paramounts most often come from the ranks of rogues, rogue/fighters, and rogue/clerics, Rogue/wizards, sorcerers, and druids rarely answer the call to defend, because their martial skills are not up to the demands of such work.

The guardian paramount is a valued member of society, a mercenary willing to accept the dangers of attack in exchange for payment. Most guardian paramounts work independently, although some belong to the Order of the Shield (see Chapter 6). It is fairly uncommon to have a guardian paramount as part of an adventuring group, although a wizard or a sorcerer may employ one or recruit a guardian paramount as a cohort.

Hit Die: d10.
Requirements
To qualify to become a guardian paramount, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Base Attack Bonus: +15.

Skills: Spot 13 ranks.

Feats: Alertness, Lightning Reflexes.

Epic Feats: Blinding Speed, Superior Initiative.

Special: Uncanny dodge, evasion.

Class Skills

The guardian paramount’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), and Spot (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.


Table: The Guardian Paramount
Level Special
1st
 Bonus feat, uncanny dodge enabler 3/day
2nd
 Evasive preceptor 1/day
3rd
 Protective aura 1/day
4th
 Bonus feat, uncanny dodge enabler 4/day
5th
 Adjust probability 2/day, evasive preceptor 2/day
6th
 Call back 1/day, protective aura 2/day
7th
 Bonus feat, uncanny dodge enabler 5/day
8th
 Evasive preceptor 3/day, adjust probability 3/day
9th
 Protective aura 3/day
10th
 Bonus feat, uncanny dodge enabler 6/day

Class Features
The following are class features of the guardian paramount prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A guardian paramount is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all armor, and shields.

Bonus Feats: The guardian paramount gets a bonus feat at 1st level and an additional bonus feat every three levels thereafter. These bonus feats must be selected from the following list: Bulwark of Defense, Combat Archery, Damage Reduction, Dexterous Fortitude, Dexterous Will, Epic Dodge, Epic Fortitude, Epic Reflexes, Epic Reputation, Epic Skill Focus, Epic Speed, Epic Toughness, Epic Trapfinding, Epic Will, Exceptional Deflection, Fast Healing, Great Dexterity, Improved Combat Reflexes, Improved Sneak Attack, Improved Spell Resistance, Infinite Deflection, Legendary Climber, Lingering Damage, Mobile Defense, Perfect Health, Reflect Arrows, Self-Concealment, Sneak Attack of Opportunity, Spellcasting Harrier, and Uncanny Accuracy.

Uncanny Dodge Enabler (Ex): The guardian paramount must have the uncanny dodge class feature to qualify for the prestige class, so at a minimum the guardian paramount has the extraordinary ability to retain his or her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. It is possible that the character has higher-level aspects of the uncanny dodge ability. Whatever the level of uncanny dodge attained by the character, the guardian paramount can extend the features of his or her uncanny dodge ability to include any one creature he or she designates within 5 feet of him or her (he or she can designate a creature or change designations as a free action once per round). The guardian paramount can extend his or her uncanny dodge ability three times per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day every three levels thereafter.

Evasive Preceptor (Ex): The guardian paramount must have the evasion class feature, which allows the character to take no damage from an area attack with a successful Reflex save. He or she may also have improved evasion, though this is not a prerequisite. The character can extend evasion or improved evasion to include any one creature he or she designates within 5 feet of him or her. The guardian paramount can extend his or her evasion ability once per day at 2nd level, plus one additional time per day every three levels thereafter.

Protective Aura (Sp): Starting at 3rd level, the guardian paramount can use a special form of shield other once per day, plus one additional time per day every three levels thereafter. When a guardian paramount creates a protective aura, the transferred wounds are dealt to the guardian paramount as subdual damage, not normal damage, as with the shield other spell. Otherwise, the guardian paramount’s protective aura functions like the shield other spell cast by an 8th-level cleric.

Adjust Probability (Ex): On reaching 5th level, the guardian paramount gains the ability to affect probability twice per day, plus one additional time per day per three levels thereafter. The guardian paramount can force a reroll of one attack roll, check, or saving throw that another creature within 25 feet-friend or enemy-just made. The guardian paramount can find out whether the attack roll, check, or save would have succeeded before using this ability. The recipient must take the second roll, whether it’s better or worse than the original roll. The use of this ability takes place outside the normal initiative order, but the paramount guardian can’t use it if he or she is flat-footed or unable to see the situation resulting in the roll. The guardian paramount must decide whether to reroll as soon as the result of the attack roll, check, or save is known.

Call Back (Sp): On reaching 6th level, the guardian paramount gains the ability to return a dead creature that he or she has previously used any of his or her other class abilities on back to life, as if he or she had cast true resurrection as a 20th-level cleric. The character can use this ability once per day, plus one additional time per day every six levels.