The Focused Hunter
In Pathfinder, barbarian is more or less synonymous with uncontrollable rage, and, to a lesser extent, hulking brutes with too much muscle. But fantasy media (and history, for that matter) is full of examples of barbarians who are quick and lithe. Today’s archetype is designed to demonstrate that you don’t need to be a brute just to be a barbarian.
New Barbarian Archetype
The Focused Hunter
Rather than relying on raw power and overwhelming anger, some barbarians use cold animal cunning and predatory instincts to gain an advantage in combat. These warriors slip into a hyper-focused trance, in which all that they are aware of is themselves and their chosen prey.
Predatory Focus (Ex): Rather than giving in to mindless rage, a focused hunter can enter a sort of transcendental state of pure animalistic focus, allowing them to tune out everything but combat. At 1st level, she can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + her Constitution modifier. At each level after first, the number of rounds per day that she can use this ability increases by 2. Temporary increases to Constitution, such as those gained from spells like bear’s endurance, do not increase the total number of rounds per day that she can use this ability. A focused hunter can activate her predatory focus ability as a free action.
While using this ability, the focused hunter gains a +4 bonus to her Dexterity score, as well as a +2 dodge bonus to AC, and a +1 competency bonus on all saving throws. The focused hunter can end the effect as a free action. Once she does so, she suffers a -2 penalty to AC for a number of rounds equal to twice the number of rounds that she used the ability. If a focused hunter falls unconscious, the effect immediately ends.
This ability replaces the rage class feature.
Rage Powers: A focused hunter gains rage powers as normal for a barbarian. The effects of her rage powers apply while she is using her predatory focus ability, instead of while she is raging.
Ambush Predator (Ex): Beginning at 7th level, a focused hunter gains a +2 competence bonus on initiative checks. Additionally, on the first round of combat, the focused hunter gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls. At 10th level, and every three levels thereafter (13th, 16th, and 19th level), the bonus on initiative checks increases by an additional +2, and the bonus on attack and damage rolls during the first round of combat increases by an additional +1.
This ability replaces the damage reduction class feature.
Greater Focus (Ex): At 11th level, when a focused hunter uses her predatory focus ability, the bonus to her Dexterity score increases to +6, the dodge bonus to AC increases to +3, and the competency bonus to her saving throws increases to +2.
This ability replaces the greater rage class feature.
Tireless Focus (Ex): Beginning at 17th level, a focused hunter no longer suffers a penalty to AC at the end of using her predatory focus class feature.
This ability replaces the tireless rage class feature.
Supreme Focus (Ex): At 20th level, when the focused hunter uses her predatory focus ability, the bonus to her Dexterity score increases to +8, the dodge bonus to AC increases to +4, and the competency bonus to her saving throws increases to +3.
This ability replaces the mighty rage class feature.