Through a select, worthy few shines the power of the divine. Called crusaders, these noble souls dedicate their swords and lives to the battle against evil. Knights, crusaders, and law-bringers, crusaders seek not just to spread divine justice but to embody the teachings of the virtuous deities they serve. In pursuit of their lofty goals, they adhere to ironclad laws of morality and discipline. As reward for their righteousness, these holy champions are blessed with boons to aid them in their quests: powers to banish evil, heal the innocent, and inspire the faithful. Although their convictions might lead them into conflict with the very souls they would save, crusaders weather endless challenges of faith and dark temptations, risking their lives to do right and fighting to bring about a brighter future.
The crusader is an archetype of the cleric class.
Prerequisites
Must be of a good alignment and worship a Good-aligned god or goddess.
Martial Prowess
A crusader’s base attack bonus increases by one step (from 3/4 BAB to full BAB). Also increases crusader’s hit dice from d8 to d10.
This ability replaces cantrips, spells, and MP pool gained at 1st level. crusaders do not gain any spells or spellcasting ability, do not have a caster level, and cannot use spell trigger and spell completion magic items until 4th level.
Weapon Focus
At 1st level, a crusader gains Weapon Focus with her deity’s favored weapon as a bonus feat.
This ability replaces spell proficiency.
Smite Evil (Su)
Once per day, a crusader can call out to the powers of good to aid her in her struggle against evil. As a swift action, the crusader chooses one target within sight to smite. If this target is evil, the crusader adds her Charisma modifier (if any) to her attack rolls and adds her cleric level to all damage rolls made against the target of her smite. If the target of smite evil is an outsider with the evil subtype, an evil-aligned dragon, or an undead creature, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per level the crusader possesses. Regardless of the target, smite evil attacks automatically bypass any DR the creature might possess.
In addition, while smite evil is in effect, the crusader gains a deflection bonus equal to her Charisma modifier (if any) to her AC against attacks made by the target of the smite. If the crusader targets a creature that is not evil, the smite is wasted with no effect.
The smite evil effect remains until the target of the smite is dead or the next time the crusader rests and regains her uses of this ability. At 4th level, and at every three cleric levels thereafter, the crusader may smite evil one additional time per day to a maximum of seven times per day at 19th level.
This ability replaces faith.
Lay On Hands (Su)
Beginning at 1st level, a crusader can heal wounds (her own or those of others) by touch. Each day she can use this ability a number of times equal to half her cleric level plus her Charisma modifier. With one use of this ability, a crusader can heal 1d6 hit points of damage for every two cleric levels she possesses. Using this ability is a standard action, unless the crusader targets herself, in which case it is a swift action. Despite the name of this ability, a crusader only needs one free hand to use this ability.
Alternatively, a crusader can use this healing power to deal damage to undead creatures, dealing 1d6 points of damage + 1d6 for every two levels the crusader possesses after 1st. Using lay on hands in this way requires a successful melee touch attack and doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity. Undead do not receive a saving throw against this damage. Lay on Hands can be used by deific order abilities and faith talents that require channel energy.
This ability replaces channel energy.
Sense Evil (Su)
At 1st level, at will, a crusader can, as a move action, concentrate on a single item or individual within 30 feet and determine if it is evil, with a successful Sense Motive skill check. The DC for an item is equal to 10 + the caster level of the item. The DC for an individual is equal to 10 + the CR of the creature.
This ability replaces sense alignment.
Aura of Resolve (Su)
At 2nd level, a crusader emits a protective aura that grants the crusader and allies within 20 ft. a +2 sacred bonus to Will saves.
This ability replaces a faith talent gained at 2nd level.
Divine Grace (Su)
At 2nd level, a crusader applies her Charisma modifier (if positive) as a bonus on all saving throws. If the character is ever able to add her Charisma modifier to her saves through use of another ability (for example, the dark knight’s dark blessing), she may only add her Charisma modifier once to her saves.
This ability replaces divine combat.
Blessing (Su)
At 4th level and every three levels thereafter, a crusader gains a blessing as a paladin of the same level.
This ability replaces blessing of the faithful.
Spells
Beginning at 4th level, a crusader gains the ability to cast paladin spells, which are drawn from the paladin spell list. A crusader begins play with 1 1st level paladin spell of her choice. Each time a character attains a new cleric level, she gains one spell of her choice to add to her list of spells. The free spell must be of spell levels she can cast. Like most spellcasters, a crusader can find or purchase scrolls with spells to add to her repertoire. Unlike other spellcasters, a crusader wearing armor does not affect her spellcasting ability.
To learn or cast a spell, the crusader must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level (Cha 11 for 1st-level spells, Cha 12 for 2nd-level spells, and so forth). The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a crusader’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the paladin’s Charisma modifier. In addition, a crusader gains additional MP for having a high attribute (Charisma—see Table: Bonus MP per Day (by Spell Level) on the MP System page).
Table: 1/2 MP Chart
| Level | MP | Spell Level |
|---|---|---|
| 4th | 1 | 1st |
| 5th | 2 | 1st |
| 6th | 3 | 1st |
| 7th | 4 | 2nd |
| 8th | 5 | 2nd |
| 9th | 6 | 2nd |
| 10th | 7 | 3rd |
| 11th | 8 | 3rd |
| 12th | 10 | 3rd |
| 13th | 12 | 4th |
| 14th | 14 | 4th |
| 15th | 16 | 4th |
| 16th | 19 | 4th |
| 17th | 22 | 4th |
| 18th | 25 | 4th |
| 19th | 29 | 4th |
| 20th | 33 | 4th |
Through 3rd level, a crusader has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, her caster level is equal to her cleric level – 3.
Divine Health (Ex)
At 5th level, a crusader is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magical diseases, including mummy rot.
This ability replaces clear mind.
Divine Bond (Su)
Upon reaching 7th level, a crusader forms a divine bond with her god. This bond can take one of two forms. Once the form is chosen, it cannot be changed.
The first type of bond allows the crusader to enhance her weapon as a standard action by calling upon the aid of a celestial spirit for 1 minute per cleric level. When called, the spirit causes the weapon to shed light as a torch. At 7th level, this spirit grants the weapon a +1 enhancement bonus. For every three levels beyond 7th, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 19th level. These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon bonuses to a maximum of +5, or they can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: axiomatic, brilliant energy, defending, disruption, flaming, flaming burst, holy, keen, merciful, shining, shining burst and speed. Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property’s cost (see Table: Melee Weapon Special Abilities). These bonuses are added to any properties the weapon already has, but duplicate abilities do not stack. If the weapon is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any other properties can be added. The bonus and properties granted by the spirit are determined when the spirit is called and cannot be changed until the spirit is called again. The celestial spirit imparts no bonuses if the weapon is held by anyone other than the crusader but resumes giving bonuses if returned to the crusader. These bonuses apply to only one end of a double weapon. A crusader can use this ability once per day at 7th level, and one additional time per day for every four cleric levels beyond 7th, to a total of four times per day at 19th level.
If a weapon bonded with a celestial spirit is destroyed, the crusader loses the use of this ability for 30 days, or until she gains a level, whichever comes first. During this 30-day period, the crusader takes a –1 penalty on attack and weapon damage rolls.
The second type of bond allows a crusader to gain the service of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed to serve her in her crusade against evil. This mount is usually a heavy horse or a yellow chocobo (for a Medium crusader) or a pony (for a Small crusader), although more exotic mounts, such as a boar, camel, or dog are also suitable. This mount functions as a beastmaster’s animal companion, using the cleric’s level as her effective beastmaster level. Bonded mounts have an Intelligence of at least 6.
In addition to horses, a crusader may select (at the GM’s discretion) some less ordinary creatures.
Once per day, as a full-round action, a crusader may magically call her mount to her side. This ability is the equivalent of a spell of a level equal to one-third the crusader’s level. The mount immediately appears adjacent to the crusader. A crusader can use this ability once per day at 7th level, and one additional time per day for every four cleric levels thereafter, for a total of four times per day at 19th level.
At 11th level, the mount gains the celestial creature simple template and becomes a magical beast for the purposes of determining which spells affect it.
At 15th level, a crusader’s mount gains spell resistance equal to the crusader’s level + 11.
Should the crusader’s mount die, the crusader may not summon another mount for 30 days or until she gains a cleric level, whichever comes first. During this 30-day period, the crusader takes a –1 penalty on attack and weapon damage rolls.
This ability replaces prayer and divine spellcasting.
Aura of War Revelry (Su)
Starting at 14th level, the crusader begins to emit an aura that bolsters his combat prowess when he receives damage. Whenever the crusader receives damage in combat, he gains a +2 morale bonus to weapon attack and weapon damage rolls for one round. This bonus increases to +3 at 16th level, +4 at 18th level, and to +5 at 20th level. Whenever he takes damage in combat, allies within 20 feet of the crusader gain a morale bonus equal to half the bonus this ability grants to him.
This ability replaces devotion.
True Healer (Su)
At 17th level, when a crusader uses lay on hands, she can choose to reroll any 1s or 2s when determining how much damage she heals.
This ability modifies true channeler.
Holy Champion (Su)
At 20th level, a crusader becomes a conduit for the power of her god. Her DR increases to 10/evil. Whenever she casts healing spells or uses lay on hands to heal a creature, she heals the maximum possible amount. In addition, any weapon the crusader wields is considered Good aligned for purposes of bypassing damage reduction, dealing an additional 1d6 points of holy damage against all evil opponents and an additional 2d6 points of holy damage against evil undead.
This ability replaces the deific capstone at 20th level.
