Heart of Oak (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Not all cavaliers find honor in battle on land - some take to the sea and fight with honor and courage atop the waves of the deep.

Class Skills

The heart of oak’s class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Geography) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Ship Bond (Ex)

The heart of oak enjoys a special link with ships in general and his own ship in particular. He gains several advantages while on a ship or other naval vessel (including small or improvised ones).

• He ignores difficult ground
• He does not lose his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class when climbing or balancing.
• He is not flat-footed the round after boarding a vessel.

The on heart of oak's own ship (a ship on which he has been stationed for one week or more) he also enjoys the following advantages.

• Whenever the ship fails a saving throw with the heart of oak on board, it can immediately make another one as a free action, using the heart of oak's save modifier. If this second saving throw succeeds, the ship is considered to have made its saving throw. This also applies to any jetties or other small craft based on the main ship. Multiple hearts of oak can all use this ability on the same ship.
• When the heart of oak's ship undergoes overhaul under his supervision, a process that takes at least one hour and needs 1/4 of the crew, it gains temporary hit points to it hull and propulsion equal to the heart of oak's hit points. These temporary hit points last ten days, and it is normal practice to renew this overhaul once a week and after each battle. Temporary hit points from different sources, including several heart of oaks using this ability, do not stack. A large ship with several hearts of oak on board might assign one to use this ability on a jetty or pinnacle instead of on the main ship.

This replaces Mount.

Oaken Charge (Ex)

At 3rd level, a heart of oak learns to make more accurate charge attacks while on a ship. The heart of oak receives a +4 bonus on melee attack rolls on a charge while on a ship (instead of the normal +2). In addition, the heart of oak does not suffer any penalty to his AC after making a charge attack while on a ship. This replaces Cavalier’s Charge.

Oak’s Steadiness (Ex)

At 4th level, the heart of oak can take 10 on Acrobatics, Climb, and Profession (Sailor) checks while on a ship, even in stressful situations. A heart of oak also learns to be more maneuverable while wearing armor. Whenever he is wearing armor (on land or sea), he reduces the armor check penalty by 1 for every 4 levels. This replaces Expert Trainer.

Mighty Oak Charge (Ex)

At 11th level, a heart of oak learns to make devastating charge attacks while on a ship. Double the threat range of any weapons wielded during a charge while on a ship. This increase does not stack with other effects that increase the threat range of the weapon. In addition, the heart of oak can make a free bull rush, disarm, sunder, or trip combat maneuver if his charge attack is successful. This free combat maneuver does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Supreme Oak Charge (Ex)

At 20th level, whenever the heart of oak makes a charge attack while on a ship, he deals double the normal amount of damage. In addition, if the heart of oak confirms a critical hit on a charge attack while on a ship, the target is stunned for 1d4 rounds. A Will save reduces this to staggered for 1d4 rounds. The DC is equal to 10 + the heart of oak’s base attack bonus.