Blame Grugg and Shield Wolf for this. ESPECIALLY Shield Wolf.

(This should be obvious, but do NOT take seriously.)

Beard Master


Prerequisites: Worn a beard for at least 1/3 of their life. Has never voluntarily shaved their beard. Keeps beard maintained, though not neccessarily orderly, whenever possible.

The Beard Master can come from any walk of life. The Way of the Beard turns away no race, class, or alignment. Any person that begins to realize true nature of the Beard can become a Beard Master.

Adventures: Most Beard Masters started out as adventureres, and continue on after joining the Bearded Order. Those who weren't often take up adventuring, seeking life experience to further their walk along The Way of the Beard.

Characteristics: A Beard Master's most important anything is thier Beard. It is ALWAYS applicable.

Alignment: Previous alignments do not matter. Upon gaining first level, Beard Masters become Beard Aligned on the law axis. Beard Masters may be Bearded Good, Bearded Neutral, or Bearded Evil.

Religion: Beard Masters have no universal religion. The way of the Beard is philosophical and spiritual, not divine. This does not preclude the possibility of divine beards.

Races: Any race that can meet the prerequisites can become a Beard Master

Other Classes: Beard Masters are treated indifferently by all classes except clerics, who believe them heathens and blasphemers. An individual cleric and beard master may still be able to work together.

Role in Combat: In combat, the Beard Master is primarily a primary combatant, their Beard abilities granting them superior bonuses at higher levels.



Lvl BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 - +0 +2 +2 +2 Beard Modifier, Beard Alignment, Way of the Beard: Acolyte, Beard Weapons I
2 - +1 +3 +3 +3
3 - +2 +3 +3 +3 Beard Armor I, Way of the Beard: Novice
4 - +3 +4 +4 +4
5 - +3 +4 +4 +4 Beard Weapons II, Beardic Knowledge
6 - +4 +5 +5 +5
7 - +5 +5 +5 +5 Beard Armor II, Way of the Beard: Journeyman
8 - +6 +6 +6 +6
9 - +6 +6 +6 +6 Beard Armor III
10 - +7 +7 +7 +7 Way of the Beard: Master

Class Skills: Class Skills: Balance, Climb, Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Knowledge: Way of the Beard, Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Swim, Tumble

Skill Points/Level: 4 + BEARD modifier

Hd: d8 + BEARD modifier.


Class features

Way of the Beard: Beard Master's work their whole life to gain understanding of the path they have chosen. As they progress along the Way of the Beard, their further understanding of that path unlocks new abilities within them. An acolyte gains the Bearded alignment, as well as first stage beard weapons. Acolytes also gain an invisible stat, with a modifier of 1/2 the sum of their Charisma mod and Wisdom Mod. This number is known as their Beard Modifier, and affects many of their class abilities. Novices, having begun to unlock the beardly power within them, gain a +2 beardly bonus to Fortitude saves, and 3 damage reduction whenever they are in beardly armor. As Journeyman, they gain +2 beardly bonus to reflex saves, and their damage reduction improves to five. At Master level, having achieved cosmc beardly understanding, damage reduction improves to seven, and a Beard Master no longer ages and is immune to aging effects, though they still die when their time is up.

Beard Weapons: At first level, a Beard Master's beard becomes a magical weapon, taking the form of any simple or martial melee weapon the Beard Master is proficient with, except for two-handed weapons or reach weapons. Its damage and critical are typical for its type, and it does magic damage in addition to regular damage type for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. At fifth level, the Beard Master's beard gains a reach of 15 feet and is treated as a reach weapon when attacking more than 5 feet away. At ninth level, a Beard Master can add spikes to his beard weapon, regardless of type, and gain an additional +2 piercing damage.

Beard Armor: At third level, a Beard Master has moved sufficiently along the Way of the Beard to gain further control over their beards, allowing them to shape it into any light armor. It grants protection equal to armor of its type, and offers no AC penalties or spell failure chance. At seventh level, it may take the form of any medium armor. The same bonuses apply, with the addition that speed penalties incurred by armor ar halved. At ninth level, a Beard Master's beard make take the form of heavy armor. All previous bonuses apply, with the addition that a Beard Master may choose to add spikes to their armor, even if normally not allowed.

Beardic Knowledge: At level 5, a Beard Master has gained sufficient status in the Order and contacts as to know things others of their station wouldn't. A Beard Master may make a Beardic Knowledge check in place of a Gather Information check using their Knowledge: Way of the Beard ranks. They may also substitute this for any Knowledge check, but at a -10 penalty.


Other

Multiclassing: Beard Master's may multiclass, so long as they retain and maintain their beard sufficiently.

Ex-Beard Masters: Any Beard Master who voluntarily shaves their beard loses all class abilities associated with the Beard Master, and may never again take a level in it. A Beard Master whose beard is taken from them, by accident or enemy design, loses all class abilities until they are able to regrow their beard to a suficient standard without the aid of their abilities. They also lose 1000 xp per Beard Master level. A successful Will save will halve the amount.

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So yeah. Will edit for typos and such as I go.

What does anyone think?

I am literally cracking up at BEARD Modifier.

I approve.