Apex (3.5e Class)

Author: Franken Kesey (talk) Date Created: 02/21/19 Status: Fin Editing: Clarity edits only please

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4

Other,

"Rage" is not in the list (Prepared Arcane Spellcasting, Spontaneous Arcane Spellcasting, Prepared Divine Spellcasting, Spontaneous Divine Spellcasting, Arcane Spellcasting, Divine Spellcasting, Prepared Spellcasting, Spontaneous Spellcasting, Alternate Magic, Psionics, ...) of allowed values for the "Class Ability" property.

,

"Wildshape" is not in the list (Prepared Arcane Spellcasting, Spontaneous Arcane Spellcasting, Prepared Divine Spellcasting, Spontaneous Divine Spellcasting, Arcane Spellcasting, Divine Spellcasting, Prepared Spellcasting, Spontaneous Spellcasting, Alternate Magic, Psionics, ...) of allowed values for the "Class Ability" property.

Full

Apex

An Apex is at the top of the food-chain. Able to shapechange into a wild beast and dominate the battlefield. An apex melds rage with a select few empowered beast forms.

Making an Apex Predator

Muscles and guts — that’s all you need. Like a druid an apex begins adapting to nature, but decides to focus on the carnal over the mystical focusing on shape changing, and raging like a barbarian. Starting off as a large-sized creature or possessing rage as a racial ability has benefits, as such the following races are prone to taking this class: Dodaem, Gigas, Kuklop, Riesfrit, Ruk, Skandar & Sol-duhvaan.

Abilities: Str & Con.

Alignment: Any non-lawful.

Starting Gold: 2d4×10 gp (50 gp).

Starting Age: Moderate.

Table: The Apex

Hit Die: d10

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Total Primal Ability Changes
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+0	+2	Animal Companion, Carnal Nature, Wild Empathy	—
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+3	Rage (1/day), Trackless Step, Woodland Stride	—
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+3	Beast Form (Animal), Uncanny Dodge	+2Str, +2Con
4th	+4	+4	+1	+4	Bonus Feat	+2Str, +2Con
5th	+5	+4	+1	+4	Rage (2/day)	+4Str, +4Con
6th	+6/+1	+5	+2	+5	Beast Form (Enlarged)	+6Str, +6Con, -2Dex
7th	+7/+2	+5	+2	+5	Bonus Feat, Improved Uncanny Dodge	+6Str, +6Con, -2Dex
8th	+8/+3	+6	+2	+6	Rage (3/day)	+6Str, +6Con, -2Dex
9th	+9/+4	+6	+3	+6	Beast Form (2nd Animal)	+6Str, +6Con, -2Dex
10th	+10/+5	+7	+3	+7	Bonus Feat	+8Str, +8Con, -2Dex
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+3	+7	Rage (Hulking), DR 2/—	+8Str, +8Con, -2Dex
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+4	+8	Beast Form (New Creature)	+8Str, +8Con, -2Dex
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+4	+8	Bonus Feat	+8Str, +8Con, -2Dex
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+4	+9	Rage (4/day)	+8Str, +8Con, -2Dex
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+5	+9	Beast Form (2nd Creature), DR 3/—	+10Str, +10Con, -2Dex
16th	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+5	+10	Bonus Feat	+10Str, +10Con, -2Dex
17th	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+10	Rage (5/day)	+10Str, +10Con, -2Dex
18th	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+6	+11	Beast Form (Apex)	+12Str, +12Con, -4Dex
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+6	+11	Bonus Feat, DR 4/—	+12Str, +12Con, -4Dex
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+6	+12	Rage (Mighty)	+14Str, +14Con, -4Dex
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Autohypnosis (Wis), Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Control Shape (Wis), Escape Artist (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex).

Class Features

Weapon & Armor Proficiency: Apexs are proficient with all simple weapons. Apexs are proficient with light & medium armor, but not with shields. Apexs are prohibited from using metal armor and shields (they lose all abilities of this class if they do). In beast forms (see below), apexs are proficient with their natural weapons.

Animal Companion (Ex): An apex may begin play with a animal companion. At 5th, an apex can select a stronger animal from the 4th-level druid list (improving again at 9th (7th-level list), 13th (10th) & 17th (13th)).

Carnal Nature: An apex has many animalistic features. An apexs can communicate with all animals & gain a +2 class bonus on Cha-based checks against animals. He also gains a +2 bonus to Balance, Climb, Control Shape, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Survival, Swim & Tumble. Additionally he gains a +15’ increase to his base land speed, a climb speed of 20’ & a swim speed of 30’.

• Animal Armor (Ex): An apexs gain natural armor in all forms, providing them with +3 natural armor bonus. At 4th & every 3 after, this bonus increases by +2 (max +15).
• Animal Ally (Su): At 3rd, an apex can call for an animal ally (treat like summon nature's ally III) 2/day. An apex can only call for animals. At 6th & every 3 after, the spell level increases by 1 (i.e., summon nature's ally V at 9th). At 6th, this can be done 3/day.
• Heightened Senses (Ex): At 3rd, an apex gains darkvision 60’ & scent, & a +4 bonus to Listen & Spot.

Wild Empathy (Ex): An apex can improve the attitude of an animal (treat like wild empathy).

Rage (Ex): At 2nd level, an apex can fly into a rage a certain number of times per day. In a rage, an apex temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Str, a +4 bonus to Con, & a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but he takes a –2 penalty to AC. The increase in Con increases the apex’s HP by 2 points per level, but these HP go away at the end of the rage when his Con score drops back to normal. (These extra HP are not lost first the way temporary HP are.) While raging, an apex cannot use any Cha-, Dex-, or Int-based skills (except for balance, escape artist, intimidate, ride & tumble), the concentration skill, or any abilities that require patience or concentration, nor can he cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. He can use any feat he has except combat expertise, item creation feats, & metamagic feats. A fit of rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) Con modifier. An apex may prematurely end his rage. At the end of the rage, the apex loses the rage modifiers & restrictions & becomes fatigued (–2 penalty to Str, –2 penalty to Dex, can’t charge or run) for the duration of the current encounter.

An apex can fly into a rage only once per encounter. At 2nd, he can use his rage ability 1/day. At 5th, 8th, 14th & 17th, he can use it +1/day. Entering a rage takes no time itself, but an apex can do it only during his action, not in response to someone else’s action.

At 11th level, as a full-round action while raging he can choose to increase in size category one step (must already be raging). This makes the normal changes, but the strain of the hulk form causes 1 point of Constitution drain every 2 rounds. This counts as a normal use of rage for all other purposes. This can be used while in any beast form.

At 20th, when raging an apex's bonuses to Str & Con increase to +8 & Will saves to +4. The penalty to AC remains at –2.

Trackless Step (Ex): At 3rd level, an apex leaves no trail in natural surroundings and cannot be tracked. He may choose to leave a trail if so desired.

Woodland Stride (Ex): At 2nd level, an apex may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. However, thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have been magically manipulated to impede motion still affect his.

Beast Form (Su): At 3rd level, an apex selects one animal form, this is his “primal form”. This animal must be of equal size to the base creature’s size, HD can’t exceed the apex’s HD+4, and must have a natural weapon attack. The apex becomes the animal physically, but does not take any of its abilities, HD, etc., instead, using his own. The apex can only change into this type of animal. An apex can change as a standard action. This functions similarly to the druid's wild shape ability. In beast form, apexs gain a primary claw attack, dealing 1d6+Str modifier in damage, & secondary bite attack 1d8+Str modifier. On a full attack action, apexs can make two claw attacks & a bite attack, following all normal rules for multiple natural attacks.

An apex can maintain this form for 1 round/Con modifier +3 per day. At 6th & every 3 after, an apex can maintain his shapechange for +3 more rounds. The rounds do not have to be consecutive. The apex gains the shapechanger subtype.

An apex, while in any beast form, gain a +2 Str & Con. At 5th & every 5 after, an apex gets an additional +2 Str & Con. All only applies while in a beast form. (See above table for total ability changes from stat increase and improved sizes.)

If an apex select an animal with uncommon natural attacks (i.e., snake or octopus), one type of attack is 1d6+Str and another is +1d8+Str.

If an apex select an animal that can fly, they have a fly speed (good) of 50'.

• Pounce: At 4th, an apex can pounce when in a beast form.
• Improved Grab: At 5th, if an apex in a beast form hits with a claw or bite attack, they deal normal damage & can attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
• Enlarged Form: At 6th, the apex’s primal form increases to one size larger than his base form. At 6th level, the apex can change what his primal form is to an animal one size category larger (this decision is irreversible). This size increase grants a +2 Str & Con, & +4 special attacks; but -2 Dex, -1 AC/attack rolls & -4 hide penalties; also grants +5' of reach. The apex's natural weapons in primal forms gain one size increase to their damage die. An apex only applies this to his primary form (not later secondary forms).
• Secondary Animal Forms: At 9th, an apex can select one more animal to become (with the same requirements, but cannot be larger than base form). An apex can change from his natural form to a beast form or beast form to beast form.
• New Type: At 12th & 15th, an apex can select one creature of any creature type to become (with the same requirements).
• Apex Form: At 18th, the apex’s primal form increases to two size larger than his base form (instead of one). This size increase makes the normal changes to ability scores, etc. The apex's natural weapons in primal form gain another one size increase to their damage die.

• Unlike all other forms, an apex can reduce size one step (to one size larger than base form) as a full-round action when in apex form (same action to transform back).
• Additionally while in apex form, the apex gains an added attack outside normal progression (+10/+5/-1).
• Note: At 18th level, an apex has four forms: a primal animal(1) 2 sizes larger than base; one second animal(2) & two other(3-4) forms equal to base.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 3rd level, an Apex retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. If an apex already has uncanny dodge from a different class, he automatically gains improved uncanny dodge (see below) instead.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 7th level and higher, a barbarian can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the barbarian by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target has barbarian levels. If a character already has uncanny dodge (see above) from a second class, the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead, and the levels from the classes that grant uncanny dodge stack to determine the minimum level a rogue must be to flank the character.

Bonus Feat: At 2nd level, an apex gains improved unarmed strike & track as bonus feats. At 3rd & every 2 after, an apex receives a fiend, fury or monstrous bonus feat that he meets the prerequisites for.

Damage Reduction (Ex): At 11th level, an apex gains Damage Reduction 2/—. At 15th & 19th, this increases by 1.

Ex-Apexs

If an apex becomes a pacifist or grants mercy to an enemy they lose rage abilities (including fury feats). He retains all the other benefits of the class. An apex can atone by killing a random creature unprovoked.

If an apex uses metal armor or shields, they lose all abilities of this class. They regain class features, after one day of not using metal armor and shields.

Campaign Information

“

Might is Right!

”

Playing a Apex

Religion: Due to their independent nature, most apexs oppose religion. However, there are a few packs of apexs who swear fealty to lower deities (esp. Chaotic).

Other Classes: Most apexs can be found in the extremes of nature or the fringes of society. Yet, on rare occasions, they can be found in fight-houses in cities. Most other classes give an apex a wide berth, but warrior and mercenary based classes tend to align with them.

Combat: Apexs are brawlers, they usually take their first turn shape-changing and getting into a rage – then dominate the battle field. They commonly will attack the strongest opponent first.

Advancement: Apexs synergize with rage and wildshape based classes.

Apex Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (Nature) can research apexs to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (Nature)

DC	Result
5	Apexs are beast-like brawlers.
10	Apexs can shapechange into an animal.
15	Apexs have evolved their bodies to be able to use the forces of nature and self to transform into powerful monstrous forms.
20	Specific info on an apex.

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