Replacing subterfuge and trickery with guile and bravado, the Venturer is a versatile swashbuckler who steps out of the shadows, trading subtlety for martial prowess.

Class Features Modifications

Lose: Rogue Talents, Sneak Attack

Rogues with the Venturer variant gain the following class features:

Bonus Feats: At 1st level, and at every even level thereafter, a venturer gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement (meaning that the venturer gains a feat at every level). These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as Combat Feats, sometimes also called “fighter bonus feats.”

Upon reaching 4th level, and every four levels thereafter (8th, 12th, and so on), a venturer can choose to learn a new bonus feat in place of a bonus feat he has already learned. In effect, the venturer loses the bonus feat in exchange for the new one. The old feat cannot be one that was used as a prerequisite for another feat, prestige class, or other ability. A venturer can only change one feat at any given level and must choose whether or not to swap the feat at the time he gains a new bonus feat for the level.

A venturer's class levels do not count as fighter levels for the purposes of qualifying for fighter-only bonus feats.

Surprise Attack (Ex): If a venturer can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from his attack, he can strike suddenly for a sure hit.

The venturer gains an insight bonus on his attack roll anytime his target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the venturer flanks his target. This insight bonus is +1 at 1st level, and increases by +1 every two venturer levels thereafter. Ranged attacks can count as surprise attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.

A venturer cannot surprise attack while striking a creature with concealment.

Author's Note: This is an expanded version of the "feat rogue" variant from Unearthed Arcana, which gave up sneak attacks for fighter bonus feats. Surprise Attack doesn't give a damage bonus like Sneak Attack does, but hiting more often (and using it on crit-immune enemies) makes up for the loss (mathematically, total damage output is nearly identical). This class variant is for roguish, self-sufficient adventurers who have many skills but rely on real combat skill rather than dirty fighting and blatant trickery - think an Indiana Jones type.

Additional Ratings
Balance:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 14 Votes )
Utility:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 15 Votes )
Clarity:	1 2 3 4 5 ( 14 Votes )