Steel Vanguard Master
"Trust only in your steel and your skill. People will always disappoint you."
Prerequisite: Fighter, Steel Vanguard Student featYou are a swordmaster of renown and an expert in the famous Steel Vanguard style. This style is based on the use of large, heavy swords such as the greatsword and the falchion. Few can match your skill and lethality with a two-handed sword.
Some combat styles are associated with specific schools, academies, or regions; the Steel Vanguard technique is not one of these styles. It was developed centuries ago in the mercenary companies that served the empires of old. Countless variations and embellishments have been added to the style over time. Currently, the mercenaries known as the Steel Vanguard practice the style, and dozens of distinct regional styles have their roots in the base style.
As a famed swordmaster, you might be sought out by students who want to learn your techniques or by challengers eager to earn a name by besting a warrior of your skill. How you deal with such challenges is up to you. Between adventures, you might run a training school, teach at a famous academy as a visiting instructor, tutor young nobles, or take on an apprentice for a time. When adventure calls again, you set aside your lessons and once again use the martial skills you have honed over years of fighting.
STEEL VANGUARD MASTER PATH FEATURES
Steel Challenge (11th level): Whenever an enemy misses you with a melee attack, you can mark that enemy as a free action. The mark lasts until the end of the enemy's next turn.Vanguard Action (11th level): When you spend an action point to make an attack, you gain a +4 bonus to attack rolls for that attack against enemies marked by you.
Great Weapon Defense (16th level): You gain a +2 shield bonus to AC while wielding a two-handed heavy blade.
Rush of SteelSteel Vanguard Master Attack 11
You attack with a long, looping slash of your heavy weapon, then step forward and reverse your grip to strike another enemy from a different direction.
Encounter ✦ Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Close burst 1
Primary Target: Each enemy in the burst you can see
Primary Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage.
Effect: You shift 1 square and make a melee secondary attack.
Secondary Target: One creature other than the primary target
Secondary Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage.
Vanguard DefenseSteel Vanguard Master Utility 12
Keeping your mighty weapon in constant motion, you blend parries and threatening sweeps into an active defense.
Daily ✦ Martial, Stance
Minor Action Personal
Effect: Until the stance ends, you gain a +2 power bonus to AC, and at the end of each of your turns while you are conscious, each enemy adjacent to you is marked until the end of your next turn.
Cruel FlourishSteel Vanguard Master Attack 20
Sensing that your enemy is vulnerable, you follow up a successful attack with a quick, devastating strike.
Daily ✦ Martial, Reliable, Weapon
Free Action Melee weapon
Trigger: You hit an enemy with a close or a melee attack
Target: The enemy you hit
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage, and the target is dazed and takes ongoing 10 damage (save ends both).
Published in Martial Power 2, page(s) 28.