Moon Vanguard

*"This Stake can cause a blast that will instantly purify you at the atomic level. What can you do against this specimen of the moon's most advanced weaponry?"*

*-Enar Nanbu, Moon Vanguard*

If you want to play a mecha musume, the Moon Vanguard's for you!

Original Thread

## Moon Vanguard

It's a well-known fact that in the past there's been numerous mighty empires that reached great levels of advancement only to crumble due to some catastrophe, most of their knowledge lost except for some relics and artifacts, that today's scholars struggle to even begin to understand.

The Moon Empire isn't one of them. The Moon Empire has held up for centuries if not millennia, reaching great heights in all fields of knowledge. Having long abandoned their place of origin to mysterious alternate dimensions that can only be accessed by their own artifacts or gap manipulators specialists, the Moon Empire stands stronger than ever, and not even the gods dare to meddle in their affairs (those that do without request have a considerable chance of ending up sealed or worst). However they're not very keen on interaction with the outside world. Very few mortals (and even immortals) have ever managed to set foot on their private plane, and inevitably were quickly and efficiently expelled.

Seemingly an utopia, the Moon Empire however keeps a strong and ready military force divided in several sections. Among those sections is the Moon Vanguard, who wear mighty armors and wield fearsome weapons containing advanced technologies that baffle the greatest smiths and artificers of the other races. Working on a basis of "nano technology" as the lunarians call it, those Nano Armors bond to the wearer and evolve with them, being self-sustainable and virtually indestructible. This allows a Moon Vanguard to operate long periods of time away from the Moon Empire, and some tell of "sleeping" or ever-wandering Moon Vanguards that have been in a plane for centuries pursuing some unknown agenda. The deeds they can perform are nothing short of legendary, flying at supersonic speed, accurately hitting targets from miles away, laying waste to whole areas in the blink of an eye.

Exceptionally, the Moon Empire seems willing to share Nano Armor with non-lunarians, impure members of other races that are willing to pledge their loyalty to them, so they do the dirty, nasty work that isn't appropriate for such a "civilized" race as the lunarians. Or not. In several occasions the Moon Empire has been known for gifting Nano Armors to neutral parties, or even their enemies. Their objectives by doing this are never clear, but who are we to question the race that seems to have managed to resist entropy for this long? Regardless of who or what they fight for, Nano Armor possessors are usually known as Moon Vanguard, heralding the will of the lunarians outside of their private plane.

#### MAKING A MOON VANGUARD

**Abilities:**
Your key ability depends on what combat style your pursue. Strength will be key for melee Moon Vanguards, while Dexterity will be more important for ranged ones. Depending on your chosen martial school, you may also want to focus in one of your mental scores.

**Races**:
One would expect for lunarians to compose the majority of Moon Vanguards, but surprisingly most of the ones reported in history are from other races. Among those sit humans, elves, orcs, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, goblins, even giants, celestials, and infernals have been known to don a Nano Armor for their cause.

**Alignment**:
Just as with race, Moon Vanguards come in all kinds of alignment. Good Moon Vanguards use their abilities to protect the innocent in a land, while evil ones use them to unleash bloody carnage whatever to gain power or simply for their sick amusement. Chaotic Moon Vanguards usually become mercenaries-adventurers of sorts, testing their Nano Armor limits all the time, while lawful ones inevitably become key figures of their faction.

**Starting Gold**: 4d4x10 (100gp)

**Starting Age**: Young

**Hit Dice**: d6

### Skills and Proficiencies

* D&D 3.5
* Pathfinder
 4 skill points + Int per level, quadruple at first level.
**Class Skills:** Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Concentration, Craft (Any), Diplomacy, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge (Any), Listen, Move Silently, Perform (Any), Profession (any), Search, Sense Motive, Spot, Spellcraft, Tumble, Use Magic Device, Use Rope

 4 skill points + Int per level.
**Class Skills:** Acrobatics, Appraise, Bluff, Craft (Any), Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Knowledge (Any), Perception, Perform (Any), Profession (any), Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Stealth, Use Magic Device

**Proficiencies**: All weapons and armor granted by class features, and one simple weapon of their choice
**Martial Disciplines**: Any two from: Ace Pilot, Burning Justice, Into the Danger Zone, Gun Maniac, Internet Explorer, Border of Life, Crystalized Silver, Dream Battle, Love-Colored Magic, Lunatic Princess, Doll Judgment, Plain History, Septete for the Dead, Mysterious Millennium, Drunken Demon, Riverside View, Chinese Star, Divine Battlefield (if you have Divine Ranks), Ancient Temple

### Nano Armor

Such is the advanced technology of the lunarian that they learned how to miniaturize massive systems of mechas into elegant suits of armor. The Nano Armor grants the same bonus as a Real Robot or Super Robot. Use your Moon Vanguard level to determine the kind of robot your nano armor  can emulate, including Arsenal Options (your Moon Vanguard levels can count as either Real Pilot or Super Pilot levels, or any combination of those two classes). The Nano Armor doesn't hinder you in any way, since the plates are connected by flexible force fields that grant full protection without sacrificing any mobility!  It follows all base mecha rules except as noted here.

Mecha scale is converted to regular scale (remember 5 mu in mecha scale correspond to 5 feet in normal scale), and it obviously doesn't have an escape pod either. You cannot wear Nano Armor of a size smaller than your own, but if it's bigger, you simply count as that size while inside it (all standard size bonus and penalties, and no, that doesn't include ability score or natural armor changes by default).

Damage dealt to you is first absorbed by your armor and only then to your HP. Successful critical hits deal the multiplied damage to the nano armor and normal damage to you. If your armor is reduced to 0 HP, it falls apart and you lose all its bonus, including any in-built weapons, except for Arsenal equipment which you can still use.  Status conditions  affect you normally, except for any ones that would demand you to breathe it, as the Nano Armor always  grants you a breathable atmosphere and a permanent Endure Elements effect regardless of your environment.

Your Nano Armor takes your armor slot (but you can still wear and benefit from pilot clothing under it), but otherwise you can still wear and benefit from other magic items underneath normally. It comes with advanced self-repair systems that allow it to fully recover HP, energy and ammo with 1 hour of no activity every 24 hours. During this self-repair time you can also choose to convert your Arsenal to another combination of valid options. If the Nano Armor had been reduced to 0 HP it will however demand 2d12 hours of no activity to fully recover. Donning or removing Nano Armor is a standard action thanks to its automation. You can choose for its weapons to be retrieved or not when you don it. Advanced ID systems mean only you can use your own Nano Armor, including its Arsenal. Lunarians aren't very keen on other races getting their cool toys.

### Features

#### Pilot Maneuvers

A Moon Vanguard picks two schools to learn maneuvers from (see chart above). If you're piloting a bigger mecha while wearing Nano Armor, you use only the bigger mecha's DR/save bonus/arsenal/special abilities/HP/AC bonus, although you can still use Nano Armor maneuvers/stances and overdrive (if you picked Ancient Temple, the youkai-forged blades magically form on the bigger mecha however). Moon Vanguard Initiator level is equal to her Moon Vanguard level plus half other levels, and she can only learn maneuvers of a level no bigger than half (IL+1). Whenever a Mecha school refers to Pilot level, use your initiator level instead. Nano Armor weapons can be "retrieved" inside as a move action, in which case they cannot be used, which is useful both for showing peaceful intentions, or using Plain History maneuvers. Making them usable again is another move action.

Those maneuvers and stances can only be used while you're wearing your Nano Armor and with its weapons.

At the start of your turn you can choose to recover any of your expended maneuvers as a free action by expending energy equal to its level squared. You can recover multiple maneuvers at the start of your round this way if you have enough energy. Entering a stance also demands expending energy equal to its level squared. This overrides the rule for pilot schools that you need to spend energy to use them but don't need to recharge them, as well as the pilot rule for entering stances.

At 4th level, and every even-numbered level afterwards, the Moon Vanguard can swap one of her older maneuvers with a new one she qualifies for from one of her two schools (the new one doesn't need to be of the same level of the older one).

In addition, the Moon Vanguard counts as a Pilot class for qualifying for Pilot feats.

#### Spirited

Starting at second level of Moon Vanguard now increases the max number of spirit points of the player by 5 (including the first level). In addition the player learns one spirit, and whenever "Spirit" appears on the table she learns one more. She can count herself as either a Super Pilot or Real Pilot for determining her primary spirit affinity.

Spirits can be used as a free action at the beginning of your turn by paying their cost in spirit points (before you take any other action). You need to meditate for 5 minutes to recover your spirit points. You can use multiple spirits in a turn, but only once each kind of spirit. Spirits that trigger in a condition, such as valor and alert, last 1 minute and then are lost if they are not triggered by the end of the duration.

#### Favored Maneuver

At 3rd level, pick one of your known maneuvers. That maneuver has an  iniator level of 1 higher than normal whenever you use it. At 8th level and every 6 levels thereafter, you gain another favored maneuver, and increases the bonus to your existing favored maneuvers by 1.

You may change your favored maneuvers whenever you gain another level in Moon Vanguard. You can use your Favored Maneuvers even if you've lost your Nano Armor.

#### Overdrive System

At 4th level 1/day the Moon Vanguard can push her Nano Armor mechanisms to the max as a move or swift action, entering an Overdrive. You fully recover one of the following-Energy, Weapons Ammo, Nano Armor HP or Spirit points. Overdrive lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3+highest stat mod. While in Overdrive your speed, reach and weapon range change to mecha scale, including the ability to attack everybody inside a 5 mu (30 feet by 30 feet) square simultaneously. At the end of the duration your Nano Armor's energy drops to zero and it cannot regain energy by any means for 1 minute as it cooldowns for the great effort.

At 8th level and every 4 levels thereafter you can use this ability an additional time per day.

#### Bonus Feat

At 5th, 9th, 15th and 18th levels you gain a bonus feat from the this Pilot feats list.

#### Miniaturize

Whatever instant energy-matter conversion or self-fold-able-dimensions, Lunarian nanotechnology knows no limits! At 7th level you can now compact your armor into a diminutive object you can easily carry around  and conceal, which can then be quickly transformed back into its normal self. You can don or remove your Nano Armor as a move or swift action.

#### Advanced Overdrive

At 11th level as an immediate action by expending two uses of Overdrive System you can enter an Advanced Overdrive. It works as an Overdrive, except you recover two resources instead of just one and you gain any one [Pilot] feat you qualify for of your choice the duration. At its end, your armor automatically Miniaturizes and you need to wait 5 minutes for it to cooldown so you can use it again.

You may use Advanced Overdrive with a single use of Overdrive System if it's your last use remaining for the day.

#### Quick Reconfiguration

*The ability to quickly upgrade in the mid of combat is the sign of a great Moon Vanguard*

Lunarian technology is extremely advanced, even capable of adapting to unexpected conditions in an almost organic way.  At 13th level 1/day as a swift or move action you can instantly change your Nano Armor and respective arsenal options to any other valid set of choices. At 18th level you can use this 2/day.

#### Final Form

At 20th level pick a specific set of Nano Armor options, including an Arsenal Set. You can now change into this form trough Quick Reconfiguration without expending uses of that ability, and while on it you gain a +2 bonus to three ability scores of your choice, picked when this ability is gained. You can also choose a Martial Stance you know, and when you enter your Final Form you automatically enter that stance on top of your regular stance without need of expending energy. When you exit Final Form you exit that extra stance as well.

Moon Vanguard Feats

### Star Lotus Ship

**Prerequisites**: Moon Vanguard level 4

**Benefit**: You can now also customize your nano-armor as if it was a battleship, although only up to huge. In this case your nano-armor forms as a flying transport (where others may ride) and you control it by standing directly on top like a boss, still benefiting from its protections. You can step out from the nano-armor ship as a move action and leave it operational, hovering in the same position, but cannot control it until you take your place on it again as another move action, benefiting from the protections once more. If you miniaturize it, anything it was carrying drops below. At 12th Moon Vanguard level you may grow the battleship to gargantuan. At 18th level to Colossal.

Your Nano Armor can also work as any multiclass combination of super/real robot and battleship.