Elemental Guardsman

Requirements

Base Attack Bonus: +3

Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) (8 ranks), Spellcraft (8 ranks), Concentration (8 ranks)

Feats: Superior Elemental Focus

Spells: Ability to cast third level divine spells. Must have an elemental focus and the ability to sense elements as a shugenja.

Special: Must be invited to join the Elemental Legion by the Council of Masters

Summary

The Tsunami Legion sweep across the battlefield, the power of Water guiding them unerringly to their foe. The Firestorm Legion smite their foolhardy opponents with the cleansing power of fire. With the kami of air on their side, the Hurricane Initiates hover high above the battlefield, delivering a deadly message with the voice of the storm itself, and the fury of the earth echoes in the battle cry of the Avalanche Guard.

These are the Elemental Guardsmen, the feared battle shugenja of the Phoenix. While most followers of the kami Shiba are devout pacifists, the guard are the exception. They recognize the need to be prepared for war and know well the power of magic as a weapon. They are the avenging hand of the Council of Masters, and though they may not be the most seasoned warriors in Rokugan, their expertise in magic more than compensates.

Those who would stand against the Phoenix stand against the Elemental Guard, and the kami stand with them. Beware

Role: Spell DPS

Characteristics: Master Shugenjas that have achieved mastery over their chosen element.

Source: Rokugan Campaign Setting

Game Rule Information

The Elemental Guardsman has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Wisdom for your shugenja magic, Dexterity and Constitution as your standard caster stats to focus on

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d6

Starting Gold: N/A

Class Skills

The Elemental Guardsman's class skills are Alchemy (Int), Concentration (Con), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (Riddles) (Int), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Scry (Int), Search (Int), Spellcraft (Int) and Spot (Wis)

Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Elemental Guardsman.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Elemental Guardsman is proficient with whatever they were already proficient with prior to taking levels in this class.

+1 Caster Level: An Elemental Guardsman continues his more general study of the kami as a shugenja as well as focusing upon this more exclusive domain to elemental mastery. Thus, when a new Elemental Guardsman level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in the spellcasting he belonged to before he added the Elemental Guardsman prestige class. He does not however, gain any other benefits a character of that class would have gained.

Spells Known: These are bonus divine spells, gained as a shugenja normally gain new spells. These spells must be selected from the guardsman's focus element. These spells are not added to the number of spells the guardsman can cast; they are an addition to total spells known.

Greater Element Focus: At first level the Elemental Guardsman gains a greater mastery of his chosen element. He may Sense elements as a standard action rather than a full round action. The Elemental Guardsman's caster level is considered to be one higher when casting spells of his focus element (this does not give the guardsman access to spells he could not access otherwise cast). An elemental guardsman does not face the usual restrictions of multi-classing shugenja, and can return to the shugenja class freely after taking levels of this prestige class. Depending on their title, elemental guardsmen are considered to be in a different elemental legion: Avalanche Guard (Earth), Firestorm Legion (Fire), Hurricane Initiates (Air), or Tsunami Legion (Water)

Spells per Day: At 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th level the guardsman gains new spells per day as if he had gained a level in a divine spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. He does not, however gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of controlling or rebuking undead, metamagic or item creation feats, hit points beyond those he receives from the prestige class, and so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one divine spellcasting class before he becomes an elemental guardsman, he must decide to which class he adds each increased level of spellcasting.

Elemental Prodigy: At 3rd level all spells of the elemental guardsman focus element gain a +2 bonus to their save DC and a +2 bonus to caster level checks to beat a creature's spell resistance. Unfortunately, this benefit comes at a cost. All spells not related to the guardsman's focus element have their save DC and caster level checks to beat a creature's spell resistance by 2.

Elemental Mastery: At 10th level, the Elemental Master is considered to be a complete master of his chosen element. All spells related to his Element Focus are now considered to be innate abilities. He may use Sense Elements as a move equivalent action when sensing his focus element.

Table 1-1: Elemental Guardsman Progression

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day
						1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
1st	+0	+2	+0	+2	+1 Caster Level, greater elemental focus	+1	—	—	—	—
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	+1 Caster Level	+1	+1	—	—	—
3rd	+2	+3	+1	+3	Elemental Prodigy	—	+1	+1	—	—
4th	+3	+4	+1	+4	+1 Caster Level	—	—	+1	+1	—
5th	+3	+4	+1	+4	+1 Caster Level	—	—	—	+1	+1
6th	+4	+5	+2	+5	—	+1	—	—	—	+1
7th	+5	+5	+2	+5	+1 Caster Level	+1	+1	—	—	—
8th	+6/+1	+6	+2	+6	+1 Caster Level	—	+1	+1	—	—
9th	+6/+1	+6	+3	+6	—	—	—	+1	+1	—
10th	+7/+2	+7	+3	+7	Elemental Mastery	—	—	—	+1	+1