Beast Dancer Druid

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''Most Druids are able to tap into the magic of Leylines to take the shape of animals, but others feel how that magic flows through all living things and by focusing on that flow they learn to enhance and fight alongside their animal companion to a greater degree. The majestic movements between their animal companion and the Druid themselves has been compared to a dance, garnering these Druids the name of Beast Dancers.''

Class Skills

The Beast Dancer's class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (dance) (cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks Per Level: 4 + Int modifier.

This alters the Druid's base class skills.

Draped in Hides (Ex)

Although still prohibited from wearing metal armor, the Beast Dancer has spent most of their life using heavy animal hides and other natural materials such as wood and bark to both protect them from the elements as well as protect them in combat. Over time, training and living with these materials has allowed the Beaster Dancer to move more freely within them, causing her to take no penalties to movement for wearing medium armor that is not made of metal.

At 6th level, the Beast Dancer's comfort in heavier armor has grown even further. Anytime she is wearing light or medium armor that is not made of metal, reduce the armor check penalty by 1 (minimum 0).

Bonded Companion (Ex)

At 1st level, a Beast Dancer forms a bond with an animal companion. A Beast Dancer may begin play with any of the animals listed in Animal Choices. If the animal she wishes to make a bond with is not on the table, work with her GM to find an animal on the table that is closest and use it's stats. Unlike normal animals of its kind, an animal companion’s Hit Dice, abilities, skills, and feats advance as the Beast Dancer advances in level. If a character receives an animal companion from more than one source, her effective druid levels stack for the purposes of determining the statistics and abilities of the companion. Most animal companions would normally increase in size as the druid gains levels but Bonded Companions do not, instead they gain the ability to change size at-will (see below). If a Beast Dancer releases her companion from service, she may gain a new one by performing a ceremony requiring 24 uninterrupted hours of prayer in the environment where the new companion typically lives. This ceremony can also replace an animal companion that has perished.

This ability replaces Nature Bond.

Nature Training (Ex)

A Beast Dancer counts her total Beast Dancer level as both druid levels and ranger levels for the purpose of qualifying for feats, traits, and options that modify or improve an animal companion.

This ability replaces Nature Sense.

Woodland Stride (Ex)

Starting at 2nd level, a Beast Dancer and her Bonded Companion may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at their normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. Thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have been magically manipulated to impede motion, however, still affect them.

This ability alters Woodland Stride.

Hunter Tactics (Ex)

At 3rd level, the Beast Dancer automatically grants her teamwork feats to her Bonded Companion. The companion doesn’t need to meet the prerequisites of these teamwork feats.

This ability replaces Trackless Step.

Teamwork Feat

At 3rd level and every 3 levels thereafter, the Beast Dancer gains a bonus teamwork feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. The Beast Dancer must meet the prerequisites of the selected bonus teamwork feat.

Improved Empathic Link (Su)

At 4th level, the Beast Dancer gains an empathic link with her Bonded Companion. This functions like an empathic link with a familiar, except the Beast Dancer can also see through a companion’s eyes as a swift action, maintaining this connection as long as she likes (as long as the companion is within 1 mile) and ending it as a free action. The Beast Dancer is blinded while maintaining this connection.

This ability replaces Wild Shape.

Beast Dance (Su)

At 5th level, the Beast Dancer lives up to their title by truly being able to fight as one creature with their Bonded Companion. Whenever the Beast Dancer uses her Improved Empathic Link to see through her companion's eyes while within 30ft of her companion she can choose to start a Beast Dance. While under the effects of Beast Dance, the Beast Dancer and her companion act as is under the effect of the Haste spell and the Beast Dancer does not suffer the negative effects of being blinded. During a Beast Dance the Beast Dancer and her companion can take consecutive movement actions. This ability lasts a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + Wisdom modifier that do not need to be consecutive. If the Beast Dancer gets farther than 30ft from her companion while under the effects of Beast Dance the effect immediately ends and both become stunned for 1 turn.

At 12th level, while under the effects of Beast Dance, the Beast Dancer and her companion can make a full-attack action consecutively and each can take a 5ft step between each of their attacks (including the extra attack from Haste). These 5ft steps do not provoke attacks of opportunity.

At 15th level, while under the effects of Beast Dance, the Beast Dancer and her companion each count as having the Pounce ability.

Alter Companion Size (Su)

At 6th level, the Beast Dancer gains the ability to focus the magic of the Leylines that flow through their Bonded Companion to change its size. By spending a full-round action while touching their companion, the Beast Dancer can change their size up to one category larger or smaller than their starting size. Any barding or other gear worn by their companion changes size with them.

At 13th level, the Bonded Companion can change up to two size categories from their starting size.

Bonded Companions use regular size modifiers except with ability score modifiers, Bonded Companions use the below table to adjust their ability scores when changing size. Carrying capacity for larger and smaller creatures do not change from their normal rules. The damage dice based on size remains the same as well.

Hunter's Tricks

The Beast Dancer learns the use of hunter’s tricks, which typically grant a boon or bonus to the Beast Dancer or a nearby ally. At 7th level, she learns one trick, selected from this list. At 10th level, and every three levels thereafter, she learns another trick. A Beast Dancer can use these tricks a total number of times per day equal to 1/2 her level. Tricks are usually swift actions, but sometimes move or free actions that modify a standard action, usually an attack action. Once a trick is chosen, it can’t be retrained. A Beast Dancer cannot select an individual trick more than once.

Greater Empathic Link (Su)

At 14th level, the range of the Beast Dancer’s empathic link with her Bonded Companion increases to 10 miles. If the companion is within 1 mile, the Beast Dancer can communicate with it telepathically.