Simple question...
Sash of the War Champion provides the following:
The wearer treats his fighter level as 4 higher than normal for the purpose of the armor training and bravery class features.
A Two-Weapon Warrior Fighter archetype has abilities that replace Armor Training. Does the +4 effective levels apply to these abilities? I wouldn't expect the sash to grant a new ability, but does it improve upon existing abilities?
At 3rd level, when a two-weapon warrior makes a full-attack with both weapons, he gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC against melee attacks until the beginning of his next turn. This bonus increases by +1 every four levels after 3rd.
This ability replaces Armor Training 1 and 2.
Improved Balance (Ex)
At 11th level, the attack penalties for fighting with two weapons are reduced by –1 for a two-weapon warrior. Alternatively, he may use a one-handed weapon in his off-hand, treating it as if it were a light weapon with the normal light weapon penalties.
This ability replaces Armor Training 3.
Perfect Balance (Ex)
At 15th level, the penalties for fighting with two weapons are reduced by an additional –1 for a two-weapon warrior. This benefit stacks with improved balance. If he is using a one-handed weapon in his off hand, treating it as a light weapon, he uses the normal light weapon penalties.
This ability replaces Armor Training 4.
For example, let's say you have a level 7 TWW-Fighter. He has Defensive Flurry, which at l7 is granting +2 Dodge. If the Sash raises his effective level for this ability, he would instead gain +3 dodge. (this doesn't seem too dangerous to me...)
Once again, I wouldn't expect the l7 fighter to gain the l11 ability by wearing the Sash, the question is whether or not the Sash would improve on the existing ability he already has.
No, it does not. :(
If this does not break the game, why not? Better this that creating a sash for each achetype that replace armor training :) Talk to this with your gm.
I believe the Sash only grants you effectively 4 levels of Fighter, but only if you have a level of Fighter plus 4 more levels in another class.
For example, a Fighter using the Sash would find little benefit unless he or she multi-classed into another class, at which point the Sash would become useful. A 10th level Fighter would find no use from the Sash, but a 6th level Fighter/4th level Rogue would.
HalfOrcHeavyMetal, it says nothing about being capped, so a level 6 fighter with it would have Armor Training and Bravery as a level 10 fighter.
House rules? Sure, it's not broken.
RAW? Nope, not allowed.
That's what I figured, thanks for the input.
Sorry, that was what I was trying to say. While the text has stated that you can use it to gain the effect of +4 Fighter Levels to certain abilities, I believe RAW is held to be that you cannot 'cheat' (And I use the term very, very loosely) the game by trying to add 'phantom' levels to your character in this fashion, but I will have to go and double-check the Errata as well.
Abilities that do not let you bypass your class levels if they are equal to your character level specifically say so, which this does not.
Examples: Magical Knack, Boon Companion
This item has no such language, and is meant for you to be able to get higher level abilities sooner. It's basically Monk's Robes, but for armor training and bravery.
Huh, I didn't think of it like that. In truth, it really does look like the Monk RObes, doesn't it? So effectively the Sash allows the wearing Character to count as a 4th level Fighter in terms of the Armor Training and Bravery, meaning that the wearer effectively gains Armor Training I and a +1 Will Save bonus against Fear.
It won't grant armor training or bravery class features, so you wouldn't actually get the abilities. If you had them though, it'd work.