Maho-Tsukai
2011-01-11, 09:39 PM
I posted this class up a while back. While the cloistered cleric certainly covers the "non-martial" cleric nich it dose not seem to really capture the typical "cloth wearing priest" archtype that is ever present in many different stories and media. Thus, I set out to create a class that could model the "cloth-wearing priest" who uses the sermon and psalm to covert enemies to the faith rather then the mace and a strong arm which are preferred by most clerics.
However, I also did not want it to be "the cloistered cleric with a different name" and thus while it's similar to a cloistered cleric in some regards I, with input from others here on the playground, decided to make this class one that aims to be much more versatile then a cleric or even a cloistered cleric yet at the same time is not a wizard or archivist. The priest thus is a sort of middle ground between the cloistered cleric and archivist. He's just as squshy as an archivist is but makes himself different by trading the archivist's ability to snatch from other lists for more traditional divine powers such as Turn/Rebuke, domain acsses and getting the whole cleric list much like a cloistered cleric or cleric. However, unlike the cleric/cloistered cleric he gets greater versatility in return for being weaker in other regards, being able to trade prepared spells for domain spells on the fly and getting 5 domains to chose from over the course of 20 levels.
I fully intend this class to be a powerful tier 1 and ideally it's balance level should be around that of a cleric, cloistered cleric or druid. However, as of now, I am not sure if it's at that level and hence I have re-posted it here to get help putting it on the same level as a cleric/cloistered cleric, druid or at least a level that would make the class an acceptable addition to any games with other Tier 1 classes present in the eyes of most DMs.'
Also, whole fluff is nice, this is not the final entry and while the original post of this class included fluff for time's sake this one will not since this thread is created merely to work out crunch. When the crunchy is where I want it I will make a final post/entry for this class. Thus, the same is applied to grammar. I know my grammar in this may be painful in some areas but I already know that so it need not be pointed out. Grammar issues can be fixed once the crunch of the class is where I want it to be.
So, here is the bare bones/no fluff version of the class as it stands:
__________________________________________________ _______________
Class Features
Alignment: While a Priest can be of any alignment, if a Priest worships a deity his alignment must within one step of his deity's alignment, just the same as a cleric.
Hit Die: d4
Starting Gold: As Wizard
Class Skills: Bluff(Cha), Concentration(Con), Craft(Int), Diplomacy(Cha), Heal(Wis), Knowledge(All Skills taken individually)(Int) Profession(Wis), Spellcraft(Int)
Skill Points at first level: (6+ Int Modifier) x4
Skill Points at each additional level: 6+ Int Modifier
Proficiencies: Priests are proficient with the club, dagger, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, and quarterstaff, but not with any type of armor or shield.
The Priest
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th| 9th
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Aura, Spontaneous Domain Casting, Turn/Rebuke Undead, Domains, Lore, Divine Magician|3|1
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3||4|2|-
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3||4|2|1|-
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4||5|3|2|-|-
5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Bonus Domain|5|3|2|1|-|-
6th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5||5|3|3|2|-|-|-
7th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5||6|4|3|2|1|-|-|-
8th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+6||6|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-
9th|
+4|
+3|
+3|
+6||6|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-
10th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Zone of Consecration/Desecration|6|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-
11th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7||6|5|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-
12th|
+6/+1|
+4|
+4|
+8||6|5|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-
13th|
+6/+1|
+4|
+4|
+8||6|5|5|4|4|3|2|1|-|-
14th|
+7/+2|
+4|
+4|
+9||6|5|5|4|4|3|3|2|-|-
15th|
+7/+2|
+5|
+5|
+9|Bonus Domain|6|5|5|5|4|4|3|2|1|-
16th|
+8/+3|
+5|
+5|
+10||6|5|5|5|4|4|3|3|2|-
17th|
+8/+3|
+5|
+5|
+10||6|5|5|5|5|4|4|3|2|1
18th|
+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+11||6|5|5|5|5|4|4|3|3|2
19th|
+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+11||6|5|5|5|5|5|4|4|3|3
20th|
+10/+5|
+6|
+6|
+12|Turn/Rebuke Outsiders|6|5|5|5|5|5|4|4|4|4[/table]
Spellcasting: A Priest casts divine spells drawn from the Cleric spell list. Like a cleric, a priest dose not need to learn spells or keep them in a spellbook. He automatically has access to all spells on the cleric spell list of all spell levels which can cast and when he gains the ability to cast a new level of spells he automatically gains access to all the spells on the cleric spell list of that level. Unlike a Cleric, a priest dose not gain domain spell-slots. Rather, he casts his domain spells in a different manner described later.
Also, while a cleric uses wisdom as his casting stat a priest instead uses charisma. Thus, to cast a spell a Priest must have a charisma score of at least 10+ the spell's level. In addition, the DCs for a Priest's spells are equal to 10+ the spell's level + his Cha modifier. A priest receives bonus spells for a high charisma as a wizard dose for a high intelligence. A Priest prepares and re-gains his spells in the same manner as a cleric. However, unlike most divine casters who can freely cast in any kind of armor, a priest's brand of divine magic is such that his spells suffer from spell failure when he dawns any kind of armor in the exact same manner arcane spells do.
Unlike a cleric, who uses a holy symbol for many of their spells, a priest, in place of a holy symbol, uses a special staff as a holy symbol for all spells which would require one. These staffs are non-magical and have both the same stats and price as a standard, mundane quarterstaff. In addition, the staff is topped with a gem, skull or other kind of "cap" that has his deity's holy symbol imprinted somewhere upon it with glowing, divine energy. This is merely cosmetic and has no in-game effects. As for the rest of the staff, there is no difference between it and a standard, mundane staff In addition, if a priest ever acquires a magic staff that he can use that staff can be used in place of this mundane staff so long as he somehow affixes the "cap" with his deity's holy symbol to the top of the staff.(No craft check is needed to do this since this is more a flavor-based ability.) A priest who worships no deity uses the same exact rules for this staff as one who dose, the only difference being a cosmetic one: the staff "cap" of a godless priest has no holy symbol inscribed uppon it.
Aura: A Priest radiates an aura of his alignment in the exact same manner as a cleric of his class level dose.
Spontaneous Domain Casting: While a priest gains domains he dose not gain domain spell slots as normal. Rather, as appose to preparing his domain spells in spell slots like a cleric he instead can chose to "lose" a prepared spell to spontaneously cast a spell from any of his domains that has a level less then or equal to that of the lost spell. He can also spontaneously cast a domain spell under the effect of a metamagic feat but to do so the prepared spell he chose to lose to cast said domain spell must be of a level equal to or more then the level that domain spell would be if prepared with the metamagic feat the priest wishes to apply to it. The priest can only cast a domain spell under a metamagic feat if he actually possesses the metamagic feat that he wants to apply to said spell.(So priest could not spontainously cast a chill of the grave spell as if it where prepared with the fell animate feat if he dose not actually possess the fell animate feat himself.)
This ability can be used to cast spells from any domain you have, including the bonus domains this class grants you as well as bonus domains you may receive from other methods.(Such as taking levels in a PrC that grants a bonus domain(s) such as the contemplative PrC or taking a PrC that grants a "prestige" domain like the Dracolyte.)
Turn/Rebuke Undead A Priest gains the ability to turn or rebuke undead as a cleric of the same class level as him, depending on his alignment. A good Priest turns undead while an evil one rebukes undead. A neutral priest chose whether or not he turns or rebukes undead at 1st level and once the choice is made he can never change it. This ability can be used a number of times per day equal to 1+ the Priest's Cha modifier. This ability is treated in the same manner as a Cleric's Turn/Rebuke power and thus any PrC class which advances a cleric's turn/rebuke undead ability also advances a priest's.
Domains: At 1st level a Priest chose two cleric domains his deity can provide him and gains access to both the granted power and spells of those domains. If he has no deity he may chose domains which are in line with his cause or ideal and gain access to their granted powers and spells.
Lore: A Priest, due to his long time spent in study has vast knowledge. This ability is identical to the bard's bardic knowledge class feature, using the priest’s class level in place of bard levels.
Bonus Domains: At level 4 and 16 Priest gains access to an additional domain, obtaining both the granted power of that domain and gaining access to it's spells. If he worships a deity it must be a domain which that deity grants. If his deity has less then 4 domains once you run out of domains your deity offers he may chose a domain that is thematically associated with his deity despite not being a domain normally available to his/her followers.
Divine Magician: At 1st level and every level at which a Priest obtains access a new spell level a priest may chose one spell from the wizard/sorc list of that level. The Priest adds that spell to his cleric spell list. The spell chosen cannot be appose to the priest's alignment.(So a good aligned priest could not chose any [evil] spell and vice-versa.) Any PrC which advances "spells known" dose not advance this ability.(So a Priest 10/contemplative 10 would only have gained a divine magician spell of levels 1-5.)
Zone of Consecration/Desecration At level 10th the Priest is so powerful that he becomes a source of positive(or negative) energy. At level 12 and every level after, the Priest radiates a zone of positive or negative energy that is centered on him. This zone is treated as if if it where under the effects of a consecrate or desecrate spell and has the same area of effect of the spell consecrate(or desecrate if this ability mimics that spell.) Whether this zone acts as desecrate or consecrate is dependent on the priest's alignment.
A good aligned priest will always treat this zone as if it where under the effects of a consecrate spell while an evil aligned priest treats this zone as if it where under the effects of the spell desecrate. Neutral priests use their ability to turn/rebuke instead of their alignment to determine what spell this zone is treated as being under. A neutral priest who turns undead treats it as under the effects of a consecrate spell while a neutral priest who rebukes undead treats the zone as if it where effected by the desecrate spell.
This zone is always present but is not visible to the naked eye. Only spells which can detect evil, negative energy and magical effects, as well as items that mimic these spells can allow a person to see this zone. The priest, however, can see this zone without the aid of such spells since he himself is the source of it. He dose not see it at all times, however, but rather he when he wants to see it and can "turn on" and "turn off" his ability to see said zone whenever he wants as a free action at will.
Turn/Rebuke Outsiders: At level 20 a Priest is an avatar of his deity's power and thus gains the power to turn(or rebuke) outsiders. At level 20, a good priest can use his turn undead ability to instead turn evil outsiders and an evil priest can use his rebuke attempts to rebuke evil outsiders. However, a priest dose not lose his ability to Turn/Rebuke undead. A neutral priest turns evil outsiders if he turns undead and rebukes evil outsiders if he rebukes undead. Unlike the planar turning feat this ability only effects evil outsiders. Good or neutral outsiders cannot be rebuked using this power. This power is not a separate form of turning/rebuking but rather an alternate use of the turn/rebuke power a priest obtains at 1st level. Thus, using this ability costs a turn/rebuke attempt from the same uses/day of his turn/rebuke undead power.
__________________________________________________ _______________
So, dose anybody have any ideas on how to get this to what I want it to be?
However, I also did not want it to be "the cloistered cleric with a different name" and thus while it's similar to a cloistered cleric in some regards I, with input from others here on the playground, decided to make this class one that aims to be much more versatile then a cleric or even a cloistered cleric yet at the same time is not a wizard or archivist. The priest thus is a sort of middle ground between the cloistered cleric and archivist. He's just as squshy as an archivist is but makes himself different by trading the archivist's ability to snatch from other lists for more traditional divine powers such as Turn/Rebuke, domain acsses and getting the whole cleric list much like a cloistered cleric or cleric. However, unlike the cleric/cloistered cleric he gets greater versatility in return for being weaker in other regards, being able to trade prepared spells for domain spells on the fly and getting 5 domains to chose from over the course of 20 levels.
I fully intend this class to be a powerful tier 1 and ideally it's balance level should be around that of a cleric, cloistered cleric or druid. However, as of now, I am not sure if it's at that level and hence I have re-posted it here to get help putting it on the same level as a cleric/cloistered cleric, druid or at least a level that would make the class an acceptable addition to any games with other Tier 1 classes present in the eyes of most DMs.'
Also, whole fluff is nice, this is not the final entry and while the original post of this class included fluff for time's sake this one will not since this thread is created merely to work out crunch. When the crunchy is where I want it I will make a final post/entry for this class. Thus, the same is applied to grammar. I know my grammar in this may be painful in some areas but I already know that so it need not be pointed out. Grammar issues can be fixed once the crunch of the class is where I want it to be.
So, here is the bare bones/no fluff version of the class as it stands:
__________________________________________________ _______________
Class Features
Alignment: While a Priest can be of any alignment, if a Priest worships a deity his alignment must within one step of his deity's alignment, just the same as a cleric.
Hit Die: d4
Starting Gold: As Wizard
Class Skills: Bluff(Cha), Concentration(Con), Craft(Int), Diplomacy(Cha), Heal(Wis), Knowledge(All Skills taken individually)(Int) Profession(Wis), Spellcraft(Int)
Skill Points at first level: (6+ Int Modifier) x4
Skill Points at each additional level: 6+ Int Modifier
Proficiencies: Priests are proficient with the club, dagger, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, and quarterstaff, but not with any type of armor or shield.
The Priest
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|0lvl|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th|6th|7th|8th| 9th
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Aura, Spontaneous Domain Casting, Turn/Rebuke Undead, Domains, Lore, Divine Magician|3|1
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3||4|2|-
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3||4|2|1|-
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4||5|3|2|-|-
5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Bonus Domain|5|3|2|1|-|-
6th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5||5|3|3|2|-|-|-
7th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5||6|4|3|2|1|-|-|-
8th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+6||6|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-|-
9th|
+4|
+3|
+3|
+6||6|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-|-
10th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Zone of Consecration/Desecration|6|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-|-
11th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7||6|5|4|4|3|2|1|-|-|-
12th|
+6/+1|
+4|
+4|
+8||6|5|4|4|3|3|2|-|-|-
13th|
+6/+1|
+4|
+4|
+8||6|5|5|4|4|3|2|1|-|-
14th|
+7/+2|
+4|
+4|
+9||6|5|5|4|4|3|3|2|-|-
15th|
+7/+2|
+5|
+5|
+9|Bonus Domain|6|5|5|5|4|4|3|2|1|-
16th|
+8/+3|
+5|
+5|
+10||6|5|5|5|4|4|3|3|2|-
17th|
+8/+3|
+5|
+5|
+10||6|5|5|5|5|4|4|3|2|1
18th|
+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+11||6|5|5|5|5|4|4|3|3|2
19th|
+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+11||6|5|5|5|5|5|4|4|3|3
20th|
+10/+5|
+6|
+6|
+12|Turn/Rebuke Outsiders|6|5|5|5|5|5|4|4|4|4[/table]
Spellcasting: A Priest casts divine spells drawn from the Cleric spell list. Like a cleric, a priest dose not need to learn spells or keep them in a spellbook. He automatically has access to all spells on the cleric spell list of all spell levels which can cast and when he gains the ability to cast a new level of spells he automatically gains access to all the spells on the cleric spell list of that level. Unlike a Cleric, a priest dose not gain domain spell-slots. Rather, he casts his domain spells in a different manner described later.
Also, while a cleric uses wisdom as his casting stat a priest instead uses charisma. Thus, to cast a spell a Priest must have a charisma score of at least 10+ the spell's level. In addition, the DCs for a Priest's spells are equal to 10+ the spell's level + his Cha modifier. A priest receives bonus spells for a high charisma as a wizard dose for a high intelligence. A Priest prepares and re-gains his spells in the same manner as a cleric. However, unlike most divine casters who can freely cast in any kind of armor, a priest's brand of divine magic is such that his spells suffer from spell failure when he dawns any kind of armor in the exact same manner arcane spells do.
Unlike a cleric, who uses a holy symbol for many of their spells, a priest, in place of a holy symbol, uses a special staff as a holy symbol for all spells which would require one. These staffs are non-magical and have both the same stats and price as a standard, mundane quarterstaff. In addition, the staff is topped with a gem, skull or other kind of "cap" that has his deity's holy symbol imprinted somewhere upon it with glowing, divine energy. This is merely cosmetic and has no in-game effects. As for the rest of the staff, there is no difference between it and a standard, mundane staff In addition, if a priest ever acquires a magic staff that he can use that staff can be used in place of this mundane staff so long as he somehow affixes the "cap" with his deity's holy symbol to the top of the staff.(No craft check is needed to do this since this is more a flavor-based ability.) A priest who worships no deity uses the same exact rules for this staff as one who dose, the only difference being a cosmetic one: the staff "cap" of a godless priest has no holy symbol inscribed uppon it.
Aura: A Priest radiates an aura of his alignment in the exact same manner as a cleric of his class level dose.
Spontaneous Domain Casting: While a priest gains domains he dose not gain domain spell slots as normal. Rather, as appose to preparing his domain spells in spell slots like a cleric he instead can chose to "lose" a prepared spell to spontaneously cast a spell from any of his domains that has a level less then or equal to that of the lost spell. He can also spontaneously cast a domain spell under the effect of a metamagic feat but to do so the prepared spell he chose to lose to cast said domain spell must be of a level equal to or more then the level that domain spell would be if prepared with the metamagic feat the priest wishes to apply to it. The priest can only cast a domain spell under a metamagic feat if he actually possesses the metamagic feat that he wants to apply to said spell.(So priest could not spontainously cast a chill of the grave spell as if it where prepared with the fell animate feat if he dose not actually possess the fell animate feat himself.)
This ability can be used to cast spells from any domain you have, including the bonus domains this class grants you as well as bonus domains you may receive from other methods.(Such as taking levels in a PrC that grants a bonus domain(s) such as the contemplative PrC or taking a PrC that grants a "prestige" domain like the Dracolyte.)
Turn/Rebuke Undead A Priest gains the ability to turn or rebuke undead as a cleric of the same class level as him, depending on his alignment. A good Priest turns undead while an evil one rebukes undead. A neutral priest chose whether or not he turns or rebukes undead at 1st level and once the choice is made he can never change it. This ability can be used a number of times per day equal to 1+ the Priest's Cha modifier. This ability is treated in the same manner as a Cleric's Turn/Rebuke power and thus any PrC class which advances a cleric's turn/rebuke undead ability also advances a priest's.
Domains: At 1st level a Priest chose two cleric domains his deity can provide him and gains access to both the granted power and spells of those domains. If he has no deity he may chose domains which are in line with his cause or ideal and gain access to their granted powers and spells.
Lore: A Priest, due to his long time spent in study has vast knowledge. This ability is identical to the bard's bardic knowledge class feature, using the priest’s class level in place of bard levels.
Bonus Domains: At level 4 and 16 Priest gains access to an additional domain, obtaining both the granted power of that domain and gaining access to it's spells. If he worships a deity it must be a domain which that deity grants. If his deity has less then 4 domains once you run out of domains your deity offers he may chose a domain that is thematically associated with his deity despite not being a domain normally available to his/her followers.
Divine Magician: At 1st level and every level at which a Priest obtains access a new spell level a priest may chose one spell from the wizard/sorc list of that level. The Priest adds that spell to his cleric spell list. The spell chosen cannot be appose to the priest's alignment.(So a good aligned priest could not chose any [evil] spell and vice-versa.) Any PrC which advances "spells known" dose not advance this ability.(So a Priest 10/contemplative 10 would only have gained a divine magician spell of levels 1-5.)
Zone of Consecration/Desecration At level 10th the Priest is so powerful that he becomes a source of positive(or negative) energy. At level 12 and every level after, the Priest radiates a zone of positive or negative energy that is centered on him. This zone is treated as if if it where under the effects of a consecrate or desecrate spell and has the same area of effect of the spell consecrate(or desecrate if this ability mimics that spell.) Whether this zone acts as desecrate or consecrate is dependent on the priest's alignment.
A good aligned priest will always treat this zone as if it where under the effects of a consecrate spell while an evil aligned priest treats this zone as if it where under the effects of the spell desecrate. Neutral priests use their ability to turn/rebuke instead of their alignment to determine what spell this zone is treated as being under. A neutral priest who turns undead treats it as under the effects of a consecrate spell while a neutral priest who rebukes undead treats the zone as if it where effected by the desecrate spell.
This zone is always present but is not visible to the naked eye. Only spells which can detect evil, negative energy and magical effects, as well as items that mimic these spells can allow a person to see this zone. The priest, however, can see this zone without the aid of such spells since he himself is the source of it. He dose not see it at all times, however, but rather he when he wants to see it and can "turn on" and "turn off" his ability to see said zone whenever he wants as a free action at will.
Turn/Rebuke Outsiders: At level 20 a Priest is an avatar of his deity's power and thus gains the power to turn(or rebuke) outsiders. At level 20, a good priest can use his turn undead ability to instead turn evil outsiders and an evil priest can use his rebuke attempts to rebuke evil outsiders. However, a priest dose not lose his ability to Turn/Rebuke undead. A neutral priest turns evil outsiders if he turns undead and rebukes evil outsiders if he rebukes undead. Unlike the planar turning feat this ability only effects evil outsiders. Good or neutral outsiders cannot be rebuked using this power. This power is not a separate form of turning/rebuking but rather an alternate use of the turn/rebuke power a priest obtains at 1st level. Thus, using this ability costs a turn/rebuke attempt from the same uses/day of his turn/rebuke undead power.
__________________________________________________ _______________
So, dose anybody have any ideas on how to get this to what I want it to be?