The Vanguard S-Class Slayer Guild

The Vanguard is a newer guild that began exclusively as slayers and s-class slayers, but is quickly expanding to include other adventurers. They are leaders among leaders, commanders in battle whose brutal methods are looked to when a decisive victory is necessary. They also make remarkable scouts when called on to do so.

Lookout (Ex)

At 1st level, the slayer adds 1/2 her slayer level (minimum 1) to initiative checks.

Vanguard Style (Ex) [Guild Talent]

At 1st level, the slayer chooses scout or soldier. Once this choice is made, it can’t be changed.

Scout: The slayer gains Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat and can use slayer talents starting at 4th level to add her Dexterity modifier to the damage she deals with one melee finesse weapon in place of Strength for each talent she uses.

Soldier: The slayer gains proficiency with heavy armor.

For every 6 slayer levels she possesses, the armor check penalty of any heavy armor the slayer wears is reduced by +1.

Tactician (Ex) [Guild Talent]

At 2nd level, the slayer receives a teamwork feat as a bonus feat. She must meet the prerequisites for this feat.

Once per day as a standard action, the slayer can grant one of her teamwork feats to all allies within 30 feet who can see and hear her. Allies retain the use of this bonus feat for 3 rounds plus 1 round for every 2 levels the slayer possesses. Allies do not need to meet the prerequisites of this bonus feat. Whenever the slayer is able to select a new slayer talent, she can instead choose to gain an additional use per day of this ability.

Hard to Fool (Ex) [Guild Talent]

At 3rd level, the slayer can roll two dice while making a Sense Motive check, and take the better result. She must choose to use this talent before making the Sense Motive check.

The slayer can use this ability one additional time per day for every 5 slayer levels she possesses.

Fighter Training [Guild Talent]

At 5th level, the slayer counts 1/2 her total slayer level as her fighter level for the purpose of qualifying for feats. If she has levels in fighter, these levels stack.

Slayer’s Bond (Ex)

At 6th level, the slayer forms a bond with her fighting companions. As a move action, she can choose one of her current studied targets and grant half her studied target bonus against that target to all allies within 30 feet who can see or hear her. This bonus lasts for a number of rounds equal to the slayer’s Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). This bonus does not stack with any favored enemy or studied target bonuses possessed by her allies; they use whichever bonus is higher.

Ever Ready (Ex) [Guild Talent]

At 7th level, the slayer is never considered an unaware combatant and is always able to act in the surprise round.

The slayer is still flat-footed in the surprise round until she acts.

Foil Scrutiny (Ex) [Guild Talent]

At 9th level, the slayer is able to obscure her thoughts and intentions. She gains a +2 bonus on all Bluff and Disguise checks, as well as on Will saving throws to resist mindreading spells and effects (such as detect thoughts and discern lies).

Vanguard Training (Ex) [Guild Talent]

At 11th level, the slayer chooses evasion or slowing strike.

She gains the other option at 17th level, or she can select it as a slayer talent.

• Evasion: If the slayer makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. A helpless slayer does not gain the benefit of evasion.
• Slowing Strike*: An opponent damaged by the slayer‘s sneak attack has its speed halved for 1d4 rounds. A successful Fortitude saving throw negates this effect. Against creatures with multiple types of movement, the slayer must choose which movement type to affect. If the slayer affects a creature’s flight movement, its maneuverability is reduced by one step; if it’s airborne at the time, it falls unless it succeeds at a DC 10 Fly check. If the slayer targets a creature already affected by this ability, its speed and maneuverability are not further reduced; the slayer may either extend the duration of that effect by 1d4 rounds or choose another movement type to affect (keeping track of the duration of each affected movement separately).

Armored Swiftness (Ex) [Guild Advanced Talent]

At 13th level, the slayer can move at full speed in heavy armor. In addition, the maximum Dexterity bonus of any armor the slayer wears increases by +1 for every 6 class levels she has.

Swallow Reversal (Ex) [Guild Advanced Talent]

At 15th level, as an attack action, the slayer can make a single melee attack against her studied target at her highest base attack bonus. When attempting a swallow reversal, the slayer rolls two attack rolls and uses the highest result. If the attack is a critical threat, the slayer attempts to confirm the critical hit as normal. The slayer can use swallow reversal at will, but it can only be used against a given target once per day for each talent spent on it, up to 3 times each day per target.

Opportunist [Guild Advanced Talent]

At 19th level, once per round, the slayer can make an attack of opportunity against an opponent who has just been struck for damage in melee by another character. This attack counts as an attack of opportunity for that round.

Even if she has the Combat Reflexes feat, the slayer can’t use opportunist more than once per round.