Gyrfalcon
2006-03-24, 05:54 AM
Alright, having evoked the name of the divine fruit in the title, I welcome you to my attempt at creating a prestige class. :)
A little bit of explanation for the prestige class before I launch into the actual aspects of the class. I'm about to take part in a homebrew campaign with a new group (yays), and part of my character's backstory is that he's a member of a tribal society, based mostly on the Tauren from Warcraft. Part of the race's belief system is centered around a person known as the Chosen One, who is born again and again to lead his people, dies, and is reincarnated with little or no memory of his past lives. Thus, each time the Chosen One dies, the tribal minotaurs (my term for them to avoid the copyright fairies) search for a new Chosen One to lead them. Through a series of trials and tests, they winnow through the candidates and find the new Chosen One.
As you might expect, my character happens to be one of those who might be the Chosen One. ;) Anyway, I looked through the D20 source material available on the D20srd looking for a prestige class that exemplifies the idea of a holy protector and warrior. And yes, I think one of the first things people will tell me is multi-class to Paladin... or I should be a Paladin from the get go. I'd agree, but my Cleric is the group's only source of healing at the moment, so instead what I looked for was a class that would allow continued level advancement while also increasing my combat effectiveness a bit, as I'm also one of the group's two primary tanks. (The rest of the party is a fighter or ranger, a rogue, a mage and a bard. So as one of the only two possibly heavy armor wearers, I'm going to be in the front a lot.)
However, looking through the SRD, there are only three prestige classes for clerics, and none for paladins. The Hierophant is obviously meant for clerics or druids, but you have to be level 13 to get into it, and it doesn't really fit my character. The Mystic Theurge is meant for mage/cleric characters so they can cast spells as level 15 mages/clerics rather then level 10 mages/clerics. The Loremaster is technically possible for a cleric, but looks to be more mage-based, and again, doesn't fit the character concept I'm trying to fill.
So here's my attempt to mix together the abilities. My goal was to make a class that mixes some of the features of fighters, paladins and clerics together to make an effective prestige class that isn't horribly overpowered. Please tell me what you think of it.
[hr]
Chosen of the Tribes
A holy warrior who comes but once a generation, rising again and again throughout the history of the Tribes to lead the People. Each generation, the Tribes search for the Chosen, who is reincarnated without the knowledge of his past lives. Through a grueling series of trials, those who aspire for the position are separated from the true Chosen, until at last he stands alone.
Prerequisites:
BAB: +5
Skills: Knowledge (Religion): 8 ranks, Heal: 4 ranks
Must be able to cast divine spells
Alignment: Must be any Good
Must pass the Trials to become a Chosen (requires DM’s aid, anywhere from one to eight trials, testing the aspirant’s faith, martial skills, wisdom and empathy)
Hit Die: d8
Class Skills: Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (int)
{table]
Level
Base Attack
Fort
Ref
Will
Special
1
+0
+2
+0
+0
Smite Evil 1/day
2
+1
+3
+0
+0
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class, Sight of the Ancients
3
+2
+3
+1
+1
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class, Divine Grace
4
+3
+4
+1
+1
Aura of Courage
5
+3
+4
+1
+1
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class, Smite Evil 2/day
6
+4
+5
+2
+2
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
7
+5
+5
+2
+2
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
8
+6
+6
+2
+2
9
+6
+6
+3
+3
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10
+7
+7
+3
+3
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class, Smite Evil 3/day, Aid of the Ancients 1/week
[/table]
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Chosen gain proficiency with martial weapons and light, medium and heavy armor if he did not already possess them. Note that this does not supersede other class restrictions that may apply. (Example: druids may not wear metal armor still.)
For the purposes of turning, Lay on Hands and other abilities, Chosen levels are added to the base class. (So a Paladin 5/Chosen 1 would turn as a 3rd level Cleric and be able to Lay on Hands like a 6th level Paladin)
Smite Evil (Su)
Once per day, a Chosen may attempt to smite evil with one normal melee attack. He adds his Charisma bonus (if any) to his attack roll and deals 1 extra point of damage per Chosen level. If the Chosen accidentally smites a creature that is not evil, the smite has no effect, but the ability is still used up for that day. If the character already possesses the ability to Smite Evil, the number per day from the Chosen is added to his previous ability.
The Chosen gains the ability to Smite Evil 1/day at 1st level, 2/day at 5th level, and 3/day at 10th level
Sight of the Ancients (Su)
I need to add this in once I get a hold my DM again. From what I recall, it's mostly roleplaying fluff that has no real impact on combat... it allows you to see ethereal objects and spirits that are normally not visible, but it is disrupted if you take hostile action, hostile action is taken against you, or even if you're jostled too hard. So it's mostly roleplaying fluff. (Which isn't bad! It just means this isn't a combat ability.)
Divine Grace (Su)
At 3rd level, a Chosen gains a bonus equal to his Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws. If the Chosen already receives the benefit of Divine Grace from another class, such as the Paladin class, his saves change so that his Will save matches his Fortitude save for the levels of Chosen. (So where at Level 10 he would receive +7/+3/+3, he instead receives +7/+3/+7)
Aura of Courage (Su)
Beginning at 4th level, a Chosen is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Each ally within 10 feet of him gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects.
This ability functions while the Chosen is conscious, but not if he is unconscious or dead. If the Chosen already possesses an Aura of Courage, the effect is enhanced: Each ally within 10 feet of him is immune to fear (magical or otherwise).
Aid of the Ancients: Once a week, the Chosen can call on the spirits of his ancestors, summoning a ghostly incarnation of a previous Chosen to his aid. The summoned Chosen lasts 1 round / level. The ghost of the Chosen has an ECL of -2 to your current level, and gains levels as the Chosen does as he gains greater access to his past memories of that life.
[hr]
My basic goal is to allow clerics, paladins and fighter/clerics to enter this class around level 5-7, depending on progression. (A cleric would be eligible at level 7, a paladin at level 5, and a fighter/cleric at level 6)
For Clerics, you gain some useful paladin abilities such as Aura of Courage, Divine Grace and Smite Evil, and you gain most of your spellcasting progression. For Paladins, you gain some enhancements to your current abilities.
Once I think up eight good trials (and assuming I haven't fled in shame as this PrC is flamed for being ever-so-munckiny) I'll add those into the prerequisites for the class. If you do like the class, you can modify the name from 'Chosen of the Tribes' to 'Chosen of (insert diety)', and it should work equally well. Remove Sight of the Ancients and modifying Aid of the Ancients should make the class workable for most religious organizations.
Please tell me what you think of the class, and what changes you would make.
Possible steps to reduce the class's power:
Reduce the HD to d8 - this is more of a reduction for paladins then clerics.
Reduce the HD to d6 - definite reduction for paladins, reduction for clerics, and doesn't really fit the class... but less HP does make you more vulnerable.
Remove the Bonus Feats at levels 3, 7, 9. Remove the Leadership bonus feat. (or some combination of these)
Remove the Aura of Courage or Divine Grace ability
All of the above :P ;D Though at that point, I'd just modify the Eldritch Knight class and change the arcane spell caster level progression to divine and call it good.
One note: I possess only the basic book set - Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual. I also possess a few supplements such as the MM2, Manual of the Planes and the like, but nothing like the Book of Exalted Deeds, where I'm sure there's some cleric and paladin prestige classes. So please limit suggestions for feats or classes to look at to sources that are freely available or are from the basic books. Thanks!
Edit #1 - Spelling mistake corrected
Edit #2 - Added 'Alignment must be any good to prerequsites and removed spellcaster progression at 1st level
Edit #3 - Changed HD from D10 to D8, Removed Leadership, Removed Bonus Feats, Removed spellcaster progression at 4th and 8th levels.
Edit #4 - Changed BAB progression to 3/4, moved Divine Grace from 2nd Level to 3rd Level
A little bit of explanation for the prestige class before I launch into the actual aspects of the class. I'm about to take part in a homebrew campaign with a new group (yays), and part of my character's backstory is that he's a member of a tribal society, based mostly on the Tauren from Warcraft. Part of the race's belief system is centered around a person known as the Chosen One, who is born again and again to lead his people, dies, and is reincarnated with little or no memory of his past lives. Thus, each time the Chosen One dies, the tribal minotaurs (my term for them to avoid the copyright fairies) search for a new Chosen One to lead them. Through a series of trials and tests, they winnow through the candidates and find the new Chosen One.
As you might expect, my character happens to be one of those who might be the Chosen One. ;) Anyway, I looked through the D20 source material available on the D20srd looking for a prestige class that exemplifies the idea of a holy protector and warrior. And yes, I think one of the first things people will tell me is multi-class to Paladin... or I should be a Paladin from the get go. I'd agree, but my Cleric is the group's only source of healing at the moment, so instead what I looked for was a class that would allow continued level advancement while also increasing my combat effectiveness a bit, as I'm also one of the group's two primary tanks. (The rest of the party is a fighter or ranger, a rogue, a mage and a bard. So as one of the only two possibly heavy armor wearers, I'm going to be in the front a lot.)
However, looking through the SRD, there are only three prestige classes for clerics, and none for paladins. The Hierophant is obviously meant for clerics or druids, but you have to be level 13 to get into it, and it doesn't really fit my character. The Mystic Theurge is meant for mage/cleric characters so they can cast spells as level 15 mages/clerics rather then level 10 mages/clerics. The Loremaster is technically possible for a cleric, but looks to be more mage-based, and again, doesn't fit the character concept I'm trying to fill.
So here's my attempt to mix together the abilities. My goal was to make a class that mixes some of the features of fighters, paladins and clerics together to make an effective prestige class that isn't horribly overpowered. Please tell me what you think of it.
[hr]
Chosen of the Tribes
A holy warrior who comes but once a generation, rising again and again throughout the history of the Tribes to lead the People. Each generation, the Tribes search for the Chosen, who is reincarnated without the knowledge of his past lives. Through a grueling series of trials, those who aspire for the position are separated from the true Chosen, until at last he stands alone.
Prerequisites:
BAB: +5
Skills: Knowledge (Religion): 8 ranks, Heal: 4 ranks
Must be able to cast divine spells
Alignment: Must be any Good
Must pass the Trials to become a Chosen (requires DM’s aid, anywhere from one to eight trials, testing the aspirant’s faith, martial skills, wisdom and empathy)
Hit Die: d8
Class Skills: Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (int)
{table]
Level
Base Attack
Fort
Ref
Will
Special
1
+0
+2
+0
+0
Smite Evil 1/day
2
+1
+3
+0
+0
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class, Sight of the Ancients
3
+2
+3
+1
+1
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class, Divine Grace
4
+3
+4
+1
+1
Aura of Courage
5
+3
+4
+1
+1
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class, Smite Evil 2/day
6
+4
+5
+2
+2
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
7
+5
+5
+2
+2
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
8
+6
+6
+2
+2
9
+6
+6
+3
+3
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10
+7
+7
+3
+3
+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class, Smite Evil 3/day, Aid of the Ancients 1/week
[/table]
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Chosen gain proficiency with martial weapons and light, medium and heavy armor if he did not already possess them. Note that this does not supersede other class restrictions that may apply. (Example: druids may not wear metal armor still.)
For the purposes of turning, Lay on Hands and other abilities, Chosen levels are added to the base class. (So a Paladin 5/Chosen 1 would turn as a 3rd level Cleric and be able to Lay on Hands like a 6th level Paladin)
Smite Evil (Su)
Once per day, a Chosen may attempt to smite evil with one normal melee attack. He adds his Charisma bonus (if any) to his attack roll and deals 1 extra point of damage per Chosen level. If the Chosen accidentally smites a creature that is not evil, the smite has no effect, but the ability is still used up for that day. If the character already possesses the ability to Smite Evil, the number per day from the Chosen is added to his previous ability.
The Chosen gains the ability to Smite Evil 1/day at 1st level, 2/day at 5th level, and 3/day at 10th level
Sight of the Ancients (Su)
I need to add this in once I get a hold my DM again. From what I recall, it's mostly roleplaying fluff that has no real impact on combat... it allows you to see ethereal objects and spirits that are normally not visible, but it is disrupted if you take hostile action, hostile action is taken against you, or even if you're jostled too hard. So it's mostly roleplaying fluff. (Which isn't bad! It just means this isn't a combat ability.)
Divine Grace (Su)
At 3rd level, a Chosen gains a bonus equal to his Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws. If the Chosen already receives the benefit of Divine Grace from another class, such as the Paladin class, his saves change so that his Will save matches his Fortitude save for the levels of Chosen. (So where at Level 10 he would receive +7/+3/+3, he instead receives +7/+3/+7)
Aura of Courage (Su)
Beginning at 4th level, a Chosen is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Each ally within 10 feet of him gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects.
This ability functions while the Chosen is conscious, but not if he is unconscious or dead. If the Chosen already possesses an Aura of Courage, the effect is enhanced: Each ally within 10 feet of him is immune to fear (magical or otherwise).
Aid of the Ancients: Once a week, the Chosen can call on the spirits of his ancestors, summoning a ghostly incarnation of a previous Chosen to his aid. The summoned Chosen lasts 1 round / level. The ghost of the Chosen has an ECL of -2 to your current level, and gains levels as the Chosen does as he gains greater access to his past memories of that life.
[hr]
My basic goal is to allow clerics, paladins and fighter/clerics to enter this class around level 5-7, depending on progression. (A cleric would be eligible at level 7, a paladin at level 5, and a fighter/cleric at level 6)
For Clerics, you gain some useful paladin abilities such as Aura of Courage, Divine Grace and Smite Evil, and you gain most of your spellcasting progression. For Paladins, you gain some enhancements to your current abilities.
Once I think up eight good trials (and assuming I haven't fled in shame as this PrC is flamed for being ever-so-munckiny) I'll add those into the prerequisites for the class. If you do like the class, you can modify the name from 'Chosen of the Tribes' to 'Chosen of (insert diety)', and it should work equally well. Remove Sight of the Ancients and modifying Aid of the Ancients should make the class workable for most religious organizations.
Please tell me what you think of the class, and what changes you would make.
Possible steps to reduce the class's power:
Reduce the HD to d8 - this is more of a reduction for paladins then clerics.
Reduce the HD to d6 - definite reduction for paladins, reduction for clerics, and doesn't really fit the class... but less HP does make you more vulnerable.
Remove the Bonus Feats at levels 3, 7, 9. Remove the Leadership bonus feat. (or some combination of these)
Remove the Aura of Courage or Divine Grace ability
All of the above :P ;D Though at that point, I'd just modify the Eldritch Knight class and change the arcane spell caster level progression to divine and call it good.
One note: I possess only the basic book set - Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual. I also possess a few supplements such as the MM2, Manual of the Planes and the like, but nothing like the Book of Exalted Deeds, where I'm sure there's some cleric and paladin prestige classes. So please limit suggestions for feats or classes to look at to sources that are freely available or are from the basic books. Thanks!
Edit #1 - Spelling mistake corrected
Edit #2 - Added 'Alignment must be any good to prerequsites and removed spellcaster progression at 1st level
Edit #3 - Changed HD from D10 to D8, Removed Leadership, Removed Bonus Feats, Removed spellcaster progression at 4th and 8th levels.
Edit #4 - Changed BAB progression to 3/4, moved Divine Grace from 2nd Level to 3rd Level