Life-Bonded Pilot (Mech Pilot Archetype)

Life-bonded pilots are usually androids, although specially modified mecha have been created to house other races as well. Life-bonding with one’s mech allows a greater level of control, but also puts the pilot at greater risk for it.

Life-bonded pilots can also become corporate mech pilots or scrappers. As corporate mech pilots, they ignore the additional organizational ties gained, but still gain the customizations. As scrappers, the life-bonded pilot still gains bonus feats at 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, and 19th level.

Fused Link (Su): Starting at 1st level, the life-bonded pilot forms a close bond with his mech. Whenever the hit points from his mech would be reduced to 0, the pilot can, as a free action, sacrifice any number of his own hit points. Each hit point sacrificed this way prevents 1 point of damage done to the mech (thus preventing the loss of the mech’s hit points), preventing the mech from being destroyed and rendered nonfunctional.

This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 1st level.

Shielded Meld (Ex): At 4th level, whenever the life- bonded pilot is fused with his mech, he gains a +2 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +2 circumstance bonus on his saving throws.

This ability replaces rejuvenation and the bonus feat gained at 5th level.

Dimension Drive (Sp): At 6th level, whenever the life- bonded pilot is fused with his mech, the life-bonded pilot can cast dimension door as a spell-like ability using his caster level. This ability only affects the fused life-bonded pilot and mech. The life-bonded pilot can use this ability once per day at 6th level, plus one additional time per day for every six levels beyond 6th.

This replaces the bonus feats at 9th and 13th level.

Greater Shielded Meld (Ex): At 12th level, whenever the life-bonded pilot is fused with his mech, he gains a +4 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +4 circumstance bonus on his saving throws.

This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 17th level.