“Today is not the day I die.”
– Alenna Rose, master marksman and sagittarius

The stars hold sway over all of us. As they revolve in the heavens, they bear witness to all manner of unusual events and epic sagas. Every so often, a being is born under a particularly propitious celestial arrangement. Such a child is sure to be destined for great things, and often turns to the path of the sagittarius.

A sagittarius is one who is marked by destiny to play some leading role in a story as yet unwritten. Master marksmen, a sagittarius can hit a target blindfolded that most archers would have trouble with normally. Placing their trust in serendipity, a sagittarius can achieve incredible feats of archery impossible to the mundane.

Blessed by the celestial signs, good fortune follows a sagittarius wherever they walk. They are knowledgable in the ways of the heavens, and can extract fragments of arcane power from what they read in the stars. The only question is whether a sagittarius will use her marked status in fate for good... or for evil.

Game Rule Information

Abilities: Dexterity and Wisdom are the most important abilities for a sagittarius. Dexterity increases her defence in combat, as well as helping her ranged attacks. Wisdom determines her supernatural and luck-based abilities, and is also valuable for her ranged combat. Constitution is important for a sagittarius that often gets embroiled in the middle of combat, and Intelligence provides her with additional skill points; always a valuable asset.

Starting Age: As paladin
Starting Gold: 6d4 x 10 gp (150 gp)

Alignment: Any
Hit Die: d8
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int
Class Skills: The sagittarius’ class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

All of the following are class features of the sagittarius.

Weapon and Armour Proficiencies: A sagittarius is proficient with all simple weapons as well as all martial ranged weapons. A sagittarius is proficient with light armour. She is not proficient with any kind of shield or medium or heavy armour.

Concurrence (Su): Each night, the sagittarius receives a blessing from the stars to guide her way on the coming day. She may select a single spell from the bard, druid, ranger, or wizard spell lists of no higher spell level than 1 + 1/4 of her sagittarius class level. She may not select a spell with a valuable material component. In addition, she may select a single skill on her class skill list, regardless of whether or not she has ranks in it.

On the coming day, she may use the selected spell as a spell-like ability once per day per point of her Wisdom modifier (minimum 1) up to a maximum of her class level. Her caster level for this ability is equal to her sagittarius level. The DC for any saving throw associated with the ability is equal to 10 + the spell level + her Wisdom modifier.

Although these spell-like abilities work very much like normal spells, there are some slight differences. They are gifts from the stars, and cannot be transmuted or modified by mortal minds. A sagittarius cannot apply metamagic effects to these spells. In addition, a concurrence does not allow a sagittarius to enter a prestige class or select a feat based on the ability to cast a specific spell.

In addition, on the coming day she gains a +1 luck bonus on skill checks involving her selected skill, +1 per four class levels. She can attempt such checks untrained. She may also choose to call upon the favourable concurrence for aid on a single check using the chosen skill. If she decides to do so, she gains a luck bonus on the skill check equal to her class level + her Wisdom modifier. Afterwards, this aspect of the concurrence ends.

At 1st level, a sagittarius may only receive a single concurrence each night. At 5th level, 9th level, 13th level, and again at 17th level, a sagittarius gains the ability to receive an additional concurrence. Each additional concurrence grants her a full complement of uses of a different spell-like ability, and a luck bonus on a different skill (as well as the potential to burn the luck bonus for the greater one-time bonus).

Elusive Target (Ex): A sagittarius is always alert to possible dangers. Whenever she is wearing light or no armour and is not encumbered, she may apply one point of her Wisdom modifier per class level to her armour class as a dodge bonus, up to a maximum bonus of her Dexterity modifier. This does not stack with similar abilities, such as the monk’s bonus to AC.

Serendipitous Shot (Ex): A sagittarius is blessed by fate. Their arrows always seem to find their mark, when another archer’s shot might go astray. A sagittarius adds one half her Wisdom modifier to her attack rolls, up to a maximum bonus of her Dexterity modifier. This does not stack with similar abilities such as the Zen Archery feat. 

Bonus Feats: At 2nd level, and again every 3 levels thereafter, a sagittarius gains a bonus feat she qualifies for from the following list: Acrobatic, Agile, Alertness, Athletic, Blind-Fight, Danger Sense, Dodge, Endurance, Far Shot, Fell Shot, Great Fortitude, Greater Psionic Shot, Hear the Unseen, Improved Initiative, Improved Mounted Archery, Improved Precise Shot, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Manyshot, Mobility, Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Psionic Shot, Quick Draw, Quick Reconnoiter, Rapid Reload, Rapid Shot, Return Shot, Shot on the Run, Skill Focus, Spring Attack. She may also choose from the luck feats from Complete Scoundrel and any feat that has Point Blank Shot as a prerequisite.

Extra Fortune (Su): At 2nd level, and again every 2 levels thereafter, a sagittarius gains a bonus luck reroll.

Destined Arrow (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, a sagittarius may expend a single luck reroll in order to reroll an attack roll.

Marksman Technique: Although a large portion of a sagittarius’ prowess stems from her destiny and good fortune, she is also an incredible marksman. At 3rd level, 7th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, she may select one of the following marksman techniques to add to her repertoire. She may not select a technique more than once.

Arcane Arrows: The sagittarius' expanded curriculum shows. Her ranged attacks ignore the effects of entropic shield and protection from arrows. In addition, they always penetrate damage reduction as if they were magical. Finally, she gains an arcane caster level equal to her class level. While this doesn't give her any spellcasting, her class levels stack with all other arcane spellcasting classes to determine her caster level in them. This also allows her to qualify for feats or prestige classes that require a particular arcane spellcaster level.

Assassin’s Shot: The sagittarius never risks poisoning herself when applying poison to a weapon. In addition, the save DC against any poison delivered through one of her attacks increases by one-half her Dexterity modifier (minimum +1).

Bonus Feat: The sagittarius may select a bonus feat from her bonus feat list in place of a marksman technique.

Called Shot: Whenever the sagittarius makes a ranged attack roll with a ranged weapon, she can choose to reduce the bonus on the attack roll by any value up to her Base Attack Bonus. She adds twice this value to her damage roll if the attack succeeds. This additional damage is precision-based, and does not apply against creatures without a discernable anatomy and any other creature immune to critical hits and sneak attacks. She may make a Dexterty check against the creature's Hit Dice in order to ignore this restriction. This does not stack with similar effects such as Deadly Aim.

Close Combat Shot: The sagittarius no longer provokes attacks of opportunity when she attacks with a ranged weapon.

Expert Ambusher: The sagittarius can take a full complement of actions in any surprise round she can act in.

Horizon Eye: The sagittarius can use a ranged weapon to one additional range increment than normally possible, and the penalties for range increments reduce to -1 per range increment.

Hunter of the Winds: The sagittarius' ranged attacks are considered siege weapons for the purposes of wind penalties. In addition, she can shoot through wind walls at no penalty.

Interceptor: The sagittarius can intercept a projectile with her ranged attacks. As an immediate action, she may use this ability whenever someone within one range increment shoots an arrow or a crossbow bolt. She immediately makes an opposed attack roll at her full Base Attack Bonus against the attacker's attack roll. If she succeeds, the projectile is intercepted and destroyed.

Master Fletcher: The sagittarius can craft magical ammunition, as if she possessed the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feat, and met all other requirements for the ammunition she wanted to make. Her caster level for ammunition she crafts is equal to her class level. She may choose to substitute the appropriate Craft check for the Spellcraft check.

Master of Serendipity: The sagittarius may apply one half her Wisdom modifier as a bonus to her damage rolls with ranged attacks.

Patient Hunter: If a sagittarius chooses to delay her turn or ready an action, her initiative count does not change in future rounds. If the saggitarius has not taken her action by the time her next turn comes around, the previous turn is still lost as normal. In addition, she halves the penalty on her Stealth check to remain hidden after sniping (-10 instead of -20).

Threatening Gaze: As a swift action, the sagittarius can mark a single creature within the first range increment of her wielded ranged weapon. The target is counted as flanked for the purposes of her allies until her next turn. In addition, she can make attacks of opportunity against that creature with her ranged attacks until the start of her next turn. The foe does not provoke attacks of opportunity from her for moving, but any other action that would normally provoke does so.

Elusion (Ex): Beginning at 4th level, the sagittarius is incredibly quick, in mind and body. Whenever she succeeds on the Reflex or Will saving throw against an effect that offers a Reflex or Will saving throw for half damage or partial effect, the sagittarius instead suffers no ill effect. A sagittarius loses this ability if she wears heavier than light armour or carries a medium or heavier load.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 6th level, a sagittarius can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.

If a sagittarius already has uncanny dodge from a different class she automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A sagittarius of 10th level or higher can no longer be flanked.

This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the character by flanking her, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target has sagittarius levels.

If a character already has uncanny dodge 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 rogue level required to flank the character.

Advanced Marksman: At 11th level, the sagittarius perfects her archery talents. She receives an upgrade to all present and future marksman techniques she learns, as described below.

Arcane Arrows: The sagtitarius' pierce illusions and penetrate enchantments. Every shot by the sagittarius carries with it a dispel magic effect which is activated upon a successful attack roll. On a confirmed critical hit, this effect is upgraded to a greater dispel magic (either the targetted dispel version on the target of the attack, or the area dispel version centered on the target of the attack).

Assassin's Shot: The sagittarius can apply poison to a weapon as a swift action. In addition, any poison she uses in conjunction with an attack deals 1 extra point of ability damage per die. For example, a poison which normally deals 2d4 Strength damage would instead deal 2d4+2 Strength damage.

Called Shot: If the sagittarius attempts the hardest shot possible with this ability (that is, she assumes a penalty on the attack roll equal to her Base Attack Bonus), she instead adds four times the penalty to her damage roll on the attack. Otherwise, this ability works exactly like the normal technique of the same name.

Close Combat Shot: The sagittarius gains a circumstance bonus on attack and damage rolls with a ranged attack against adjacent targets equal to one half her Dexterity modifier.

Expert Ambusher: The sagittarius can always act in the surprise round, even if she is the one being caught by surprise.

Horizon Eye: If the sagittarius posesses any ability such as sneak attack, sudden strike, or skirmish which deals precision-based damage to a target within 30ft., she increases the distance at which this ability can be used by 10ft. per point of her Dexterity bonus. In addition, she now takes no penalty on her range increments with ranged weapons. Finally, she can use ranged weapons to another additional range increment than normal.

Hunter of the Winds: The sagittarius' ranged attacks never take any penalties from wind, and can even be made in the area of a tornado. More impressively, the sagittarius learns to manipulate the air to her advantage. Whenever she makes a ranged attack, every square it passes through is affected as if by a gust of wind spell (no duration).

Interceptor: The sagittarius' interception talents improve. She can now intercept absolutely any projectile, including a thrown boulder, a siege weapon such as a ballista bolt, or even a magical ray. Even more astoundingly, if she scores a critical hit on the intercepting attack roll, the original projectile is redirected to target the attacker at the same attack bonus.

Master Fletcher: The sagittarius now crafts ammunition in half the time, and can make up to 2,000 gold worth of progress in a day. In addition, the cost of making ammunition is reduced by 25%, but this doesn't further modify the time it takes to craft.

Master of Serendipity: The sagittarius no longer automatically fails a ranged attack roll on a roll of a natural 1.

Patient Hunter: As a swift action, the sagittarius can increase her initiative score by her Dexterity modifier. This effect lasts until the end of the current encounter, and can be used multiple times. In addition, she no longer takes any penalty on her Stealth check to remain hidden after sniping.

Threatening Gaze: Whenever the sagittarius uses this ability, she can mark a number of enemies within range equal to her Dexterity modifier.

Improved Elusion (Ex): Beginning at 18th level, the sagittarius’ elusion class feature improves. She now only takes half damage or partial effect on a failed Reflex or Will saving throw if the effect allows.

Fateful Shot (Su): Beginning at 20th level, a sagittarius has unlocked the final gift to guide her along her destiny. Whenever she makes a attack roll, she may voluntarily give up all benefits of one of her concurrences for the rest of the day in order to declare the attack a fateful shot.

She may roll seven dice for the attack roll, and select the roll she likes the best as the result. The attack, if it hits, automatically threatens as a critical hit regardless of its result. Finally, the damage from the attack (and from any associated enchantments on the weapon or ammuniton) is maximized.

In order to sacrifice a concurrence for this ability, the sagittarius must still have at least one use of the granted spell-like ability remaining, and she cannot have invoked her heightened skill bonus granted by that concurrence.

Archetypes

Adept Archer

Proficiencies: Adept archers are proficient with simple weapons, as well as light armor. In addition, if this is this character's first level in any class, they may select a martial tradition of their choice.
This modifies weapon and armor proficiencies.

Combat Training (Ex): An adept archer is considered an Adept practitioner, gaining spheres and talents as appropriate. Adept archers use Wisdom as their practitioner modifier.
This replaces bonus feats.

Adept Concurrence: When the adept archer receives a concurrence, instead of choosing a spell to gain as a spell-like ability, they choose a combat sphere or talent they qualify for. They gain use of this sphere or talent until the next night when they receive their concurrence again, choosing the same or a new talent or sphere each time. At 8th and 16th level they may choose an additional sphere or talent to gain when they receive a concurrence.
This replaces the spell-like ability granted by concurrences. They still gain the skill benefits as normal.

Fateful Adept: When the adept archer uses Fateful Shot, they only need to have use of the heightened skill bonus for a concurrence they wish to sacrifice, they do not lose access to any combat talents for a sacrificed concurrence. However, when using Fateful Shot they only roll three dice for the attack.
This modifies Fateful Shot.