Swordtalker Prestige Class

[ralphmelton.livejournal.com]

This should be considered a draft until this line disappears. Feel free to leave comments, though.

In the archipelago of Taleyn, the creation of magic weapons has been raised to a high art. The finest weaponsmiths in Taleyn are the swordtalkers, who have perfected their craft through magical discipline and through experience with the weapons they make. These swordtalkers develop a deep rapport with all weapons, particularly the weapons they forge that gives them legendary powers.

Prereqs:
Feat: Craft Magic Arms and Armor
Skills: Craft (weaponsmith) 8 ranks
Special: must make a magic weapon of a type with which he is proficient, without any assistance.

Hit die: d6. (Despite being a more knowledge-oriented craft, smithing takes a lot of hard work.)
Class skills: Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Profession (Wis), Diplomacy (Cha).
Skill points per level: 2 + Int modifier.
BAB: 3/4 level (as cleric)
Good saves: Will

Special powers:

Swordtalking: the swordtalker may speak with any weapon with which he is proficient for one minute per swordtalker level. Topics of conversation can include the weapon's creation, former wielders, and noteworthy battles in which it was used. This ability may be used once per day.

Improved weapon enchantment: each level of swordtalker adds two to the swordtalker's caster level for weapon enchantment and the spell greater magic weapon.

Sword cunning: the swordtalker develops a deep understanding of weapons that he has made. This allows him to use them more effectively in combat. When using a weapon he has made, the swordtalker receives a competence bonus of +1. This bonus increases to +2 at level 4, +3 at level 7, and +4 at level 10.

Rebuke blades: As a standard action, the swordtalker may rebuke or command weapons with which he is proficient with as an evil cleric rebukes or commands undead, using his swordtalker level as the cleric level.
Each +1 of a weapon's bonus counts as a hit die for turning purposes; a non-magical weapon counts as 1/2 hit die. A rebuked weapon is at a -2 to hit for 10 rounds; a commanded weapon may not be used to attack at all for 10 rounds. The swordtalker may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier. The swordtalker may take the Extra Turning feat to increase the number of times he can use this ability by 1.

Resist domination: the swordtalker receives a bonus equal to his swordtalker level to Will saves to resist domination by an intelligent weapon with which he is proficient.

Sword lore: Beginning at level 2, the swordtalker's knowledge of weapons is so complete that he has a chance of knowing the secrets of any weapon with which he is proficient. This operates like the bardic lore ability, but the swordtalker uses his Craft(Weaponsmith) skill instead of the bard's level. This is an extraordinary ability.

Harmonious weaponcraft: At level 5, the swordtalker gains the ability to understand a weapon with which he is proficient so thoroughly that he can find ways to enchant it more cheaply by bringing forth the natural aptitudes of the weapon. The swordtalker makes a Craft (weaponsmith) check, with a DC of 20 + 3 times the modified bonus (enhancement bonus plus special ability bonus equivalents) of the weapon. If this check is successful, the swordtalker learns one potential for the weapon to be improved at half the normal cost in GP, experience points, and time. (This potential is determined by the GM. If determined randomly, there's a 70% chance of a +1 improvement to the enhancement bonus, and a 30% chance of a medium special ability.)
Once the swordtalker has learned of a potential enchantment for a weapon, he cannot learn any other potential until that enchantment has been made on the weapon.
Once the swordtalker has failed to learn a potential for a weapon, he may never again use harmonious weaponcraft with that weapon.

Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special
1	+0	+0	+0	+2	Swordtalking, improved weapon enchantment, sword cunning +1, rebuke blades, resist domination
2	+1	+0	+0	+3
3	+2	+1	+1	+3
4	+3	+1	+1	+4	Sword cunning +2
5	+3	+1	+1	+4	Harmonious weaponcraft
6	+4	+2	+2	+5
7	+5	+2	+2	+5	Sword cunning +3
8	+6	+2	+2	+6
9	+6	+3	+3	+6
10	+7	+3	+3	+7	Sword cunning +4