Corsair ~ Novel Class

In the boundless realms of Sayarii, where the sail rules the sand, sea and sky the Corsair stands as a master of all terrains. Whether navigating the ever-changing winds above, the shifting sands below, or the unpredictable currents of the sea, a Corsair is the linchpin of any expedition. With a keen eye for navigation, an unbreakable bond with their crew, and a sword arm trained for the chaos of elemental combat, the Corsair is the epitome of versatility and skill.

As a Corsair, you may find yourself as a Marine, specializing in the art of nautical warfare; a Navigator, charting the unexplored expanses of Sayarii; a Sailmaster, in tune with the wind, tides, and even the flow of sand; or a Master-in-Line, commanding the respect and morale of your crew. The path of the Corsair is as limitless as the skies, as deep as the oceans, and as expansive as the Sayarii'an deserts.

Corsairs are not just sailors; they are elemental champions, equally adept at mastering the skies in their Cadence Windrunners, conquering the deserts in the rugged Jahazi Sandskiffs, and ruling the seas in traditional sailing vessels. Whether it's a Kelpri Corsair deftly navigating a windrunner through a skyward storm or a seasoned veteran leading a crew across the treacherous sands of the Bara Kusini, Corsairs are the epitome of elemental mastery.

Class Features

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d10 per Corsair level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per Corsair level after 1st
   

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light armor, medium armor
• Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
• Tools: Navigation tools
• Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
• Skills: Choose three from Navigation (Wis), Seamanship (Int), Acrobatics (Dex), and Command (Cha)
   

Equipment

Grappling Hook

Ziraya Harness

The ziraya is a multifaceted item, deeply ingrained in the lives and traditions of Corsairs from various backgrounds. Primarily serving as a safety harness, its much more; it's a symbol of community, identity, bonds, trust, and even love. The ziraya is a tradition of the Seaborn whose function, custom and symbolism was inherited by the Corsairs, for whom Seaborn make up a formidable percentage of the ranks. 

• Material: Layers of wrapped fabric around the waist and legs, with a (minimum) metal ring attached at the front and back, some ziraya host up to 9 rings, though some of these may be decorative.
• Function: Primarily serves as a safety harness for Corsairs during their elemental voyages.
• Cultural Significance:
  • Identity Marker: The ziraya is worn as a mark of identity among Corsairs, serving both a functional and symbolic role. In fact a symbolic non-functional forms of the harness called Zawadiya are often worn in formal social settings to signify membership, and denote rank in the corsair community. Sayarii Navies use ziraya to signify rank and post. The ziraya is the mark of a professional corsair, be it navy, merchant or pirate alike.   
  • Diverse Traditions: Different styles and wraps exist, reflecting the cultural backgrounds of various groups. For example, the Seaborn have their own unique style, as do the Kelpri and Mchanga Pwanii Corsairs.
  • Marital Tradition: Another seaborn tradition, the ziraya also plays a role in Corsair wedding ceremonies. Couples are bound together with a ship's safety chain or a symbolic representation of it during their first dance, signifying their union and shared journey ahead.
     

Tactical Insight

1st-level Corsair feature

During ship-to-ship combat, your keen understanding of naval tactics comes to the fore. As a bonus action, you can assess the battlefield and confer with your crew, granting the following benefits when aboard a sailing vessel:

Initiative Bonus: In any ship-to-ship combat session, when announced, your vessels crew gains a +1 bonus to initiative rolls. This bonus is cumulative for each Corsair aboard, up to a maximum of +5. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses after a long rest.

Nautical Prowess

2nd-level Corsair feature

Your mastery of naval tactics and combat allows you to push beyond your normal limits for a brief moment:

Extra Ship Action: You can take an additional ship action that could be used for adjusting sails, changing the rudder position, or any other action related to controlling or repairing the ship. This action can be combined with the actions of other crew members to achieve more complex maneuvers.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again. Starting at 13th level, you can use it twice before a rest, but only once on the same turn.

Nautical Disciplines

At 3rd level, you choose a discipline that embodies your role and expertise within the crew. Choose Marine, Master Navigator, Sailmaster, or Master-in-Line, all detailed at the end of the class description. The discipline you select shapes your abilities and grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level.

Sea Legs

5th-level Corsair feature

Your extensive experience on ships has honed your agility and ability to navigate the hazards of a ship's deck with ease. You gain the following benefits:

Sure-Footed: While on a ship, you ignore the penalties associated with difficult terrain and gain advantage on Dexterity saving throws. This allows you to maintain your normal movement speed even in challenging conditions.

Rope Swing: As a bonus action while on a ship, you can use a grappling hook, ropes, rigging, or similar fixtures to swing to a different point on the ship within your movement speed. This movement doesn't provoke opportunity attacks and must end on a solid surface, or overboard/fall.

Shipmaster's Call

9th-level Corsair feature

As a seasoned leader at sea, your voice and commands inspire your crew to push beyond their limits. You can use this feature to grant a morale boost to your crew members. When you do so, choose a number of crew members within sight up to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). Each of those crew members gains an inspiration die, a d6.

Once within the next 10 minutes, the crew member can roll the inspiration die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw they make. The crew member can wait until after they roll the d20 before deciding to use the inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

The Shipmaster's Call die changes when you reach certain levels in this class. The die becomes a d8 at 12th level, a d10 at 16th level, and a d12 at 20th level.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 6th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Fighting Style

As a Corsair, you adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can't take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose again.

Archery
You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.

Dueling
When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons or shield, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Gunner
You gain proficiency with firearms, allowing you to add your proficiency bonus to attacks made with firearms. Additionally, you can craft ammunition at half the cost and repair damaged firearms.

Elemental Mastery
Choose one elemental type (water, sand, or sky). You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls when fighting in your chosen environment.

Vessel Combat
When on a vessel (ship, sand skiff, or airship), you gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and AC, and advantage using deck mounted ballista and cannons. 

Naval Disciplines

Marine

The Marine Discipline is tailored for Corsairs who specialize in elemental combat, be it on the high seas, the roaring winds of the sky, or the shifting sands of the . These warriors are the first to engage  in elemental ship-to-ship combat, boarding actions across sea, sand and the void of sky. Skilled in close-quarters combat, they navigate the unpredictable conditions of these elemental battlefields with unparalleled agility and poise. Their resilience is the stuff of legends, often turning the tide of battle simply by their presence. A Marine is not just a fighter; they are a symbol of the indomitable spirit of elemental mastery, inspiring courage in their crew and striking fear into the hearts of their enemies.

Marine's Grit (3rd Level)

• Gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws.
• You can use Second Wind as a bonus action on your turn to regain hit points equal to 1d10 + your Corsair level. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
   

Boarding Specialist (7th Level)

• Gain advantage on Acrobatics checks for climbing and boarding checks.
• When you successfully board an enemy ship, you can make a melee attack as a bonus action. This is inspired by the Fighter's Action Surge but limited to specific condition
   

Additional Fighting Style (10th Level)

At 10th level, you can choose a second option from the Fighting Style class feature.

Archery
You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.

Dueling
When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons or shield, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Gunner
You gain proficiency with firearms, allowing you to add your proficiency bonus to attacks made with firearms. Additionally, you can craft ammunition at half the cost and repair damaged firearms.

Elemental Mastery
Choose one elemental type (water, sand, or sky). You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls when fighting in your chosen environment.

Vessel Combat
When on a vessel (ship, sand skiff, or airship), you gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and AC.

Marine's Valor (15th Level)

• When you or an ally within 10 feet is subjected to an effect that allows a saving throw, you can use your reaction to grant advantage on that saving throw. 
   

Master of Boarding (18th Level)

• When boarding an enemy ship, you and allies within 30 feet can't be slowed by difficult terrain and have advantage on the first attack roll during the boarding action.

Navigator

Corsairs who follow the Navigator discipline are the intellectual backbone of any crew. With an uncanny ability to read maps, understand celestial cues, and sense elemental currents, they guide the ship through the most treacherous of terrains. While Sailmasters focus on sails, speed, and tack, Master Navigators are experts in cartography, landmarks, and intuitive location sensing.

Intuitive Cartographer (3rd-level) 

• You gain proficiency in Wisdom Saving Throws
• You gain advantage on Navigation checks and can add twice your Wisdom modifier to these checks. Your innate sense of location and understanding of maps make you an invaluable asset for navigation.
   

Shipwright's Expertise (7th-level)

• You gain advantage on checks related to ship repair and maintenance. Your role complements that of the Sailmaster, focusing on the structural integrity of the ship.
   

Knot Mastery (10th-level)

• You can perform an additional ship action in a round. Whether steering, adjusting a line, or trimming a sail, you can do it with exceptional speed and efficiency.
   

Master of Tides (15th-level)

• You can use your action to give your crew advantage on any ship-related checks for a limited time. Your commands resonate with the crew, boosting their performance in crucial moments.
• When at the helm, your piloting skills make your ship harder to hit, +2 to the ships AC when you are actively at the helm, and any enemies attempting to board, make boarding checks at disadvantage. 
   

Combat Savvy (18th-level)

• You gain a bonus (proficiency bonus) to your AC and attack rolls while on a ship. Your understanding of the ship's movement allows you to anticipate enemy actions, making you a formidable opponent in ship-to-ship combat.
• When you successfully board an enemy ship, you can make a melee attack as a bonus action. This is inspired by the Fighter's Action Surge but limited to specific conditions (can not be used in conjunction with Rope Swing).