Ebon Knight [3.5 Base Class] PLEASE PEACH

[Empedocles]

This is my 2nd attempt at a homebrew class (see my signature to PEACH the first :smallbiggrin:) and what I'm going for here is a sort of dark knight that still has utilitarian powers and options for the player to draw upon. I ran out of ideas for aspects, so if anyone wants to help me with that I'd appreciate it. I recognize that this class doesn't have the best scaling...sorry :smalleek:

The Ebon Knight is a warrior who draws his power from the shadows around him, but can still battle on par with the mightiest of knights. Ebon knights are rare in the world and greatly reviled, although not all are utterly evil.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKJPb04odck/Tz9Tbb4QHrI/AAAAAAAAF3o/6IHSKusgYkM/s1600/kekai_kotaki_full.jpg


HD: D10
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4+Int. Modifier)x4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4+Int. Modifier
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The ebon knight is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light and medium armor, and shields (but not tower shields).
Alignment: Any non-good.
Abilities: Strength and constitution are important for an ebon knight, as he is a front line fighter. He also benefits from a high dexterity score, since he can't use heavy armor. Wisdom augments most of his class abilities.
List of Class Skills: Bluff, Climb, Disguise, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (the planes), Move Silently, Spot, Swim, and Use Magic Device.


{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special

1st|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+0|
Dark Soul I

2nd|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+0|
Bonus Feat

3rd|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+1|
Lesser Shadow Body 1/day

4th|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+1|
Bonus Feat

5th|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+1|
Dark Soul II

6th|
+6|
+5|
+2|
+2|
Lesser Shadow Body 2/day

7th|
+7|
+5|
+2|
+2|
Bonus Feat

8th|
+8|
+6|
+2|
+2|
Additional Aspect

9th|
+9|
+6|
+3|
+3|
Shadow Body 1/day

10th|
+10|
+7|
+3|
+3|
Dark Soul III

11th|
+11|
+7|
+3|
+3|
Bonus Feat

12th|
+12|
+8|
+4|
+4|
Shadow Body 2/day

13th|
+13|
+8|
+4|
+4|
Dark Magic

14th|
+14|
+9|
+4|
+4|
Dark Will

15th|
+15|
+9|
+5|
+5|
Dark Soul IV

16th|
+16|
+10|
+5|
+5|
Greater Shadow Body 1/day

17th|
+17|
+10|
+5|
+5|
Additional Aspect

18th|
+18|
+11|
+6|
+6|
Greater Dark Magic

19th|
+19|
+11|
+6|
+6|
Greater Shadow Body 2/day

20th|
+20|
+12|
+6|
+6|
Dark Soul V|[/table]


Dark Soul: This ability is the core ability of the ebon knight. It allows him to (as a swift action) assume an "aspect of shadow." At 1st level, the ebon knight can select 1 aspect. At 5th level, and every 5 levels after, the power of his selected aspect grows. At 8th and 17th level, he can select a 2nd and 3rd aspect, respectively. He is counted as being 5 levels lower for the purposes of determining the power of each of these aspects. Assuming any aspect gives an ebon knight a +5 bonus to Hide checks. A list of aspects can be found below. An aspect lasts for 2 rounds+the ebon knights level.

Aspect of the Hunger in the Shadows: This ability turns the ebon knight into an empty vacuum of shadow. Once per round as a standard action, he can attempt to drain away the shadows of an enemy within 30 ft. The enemy makes a Will save (DC 10+the ebon knight's wisdom modifier+1/2 his ebon knight levels), and if he fails, he takes 1d4+his wisdom modifier points of constitution damage. At 5th level the range increases to 60 ft., at 10th level the damage increases to 1d6+his wisdom modifier, at 15th level the save DC increases to 10+the ebon knight's wisdom modifier+his class levels, and at 20th level the constitution damage increases to 1d8+his wisdom modifier.

Aspect of the Dark Champion: This aspect makes the ebon knight into a deadly warrior who wields the shadows like a weapon, not a cloak to hide behind. It can be used as a move action. This aspect grants him a +4 bonus to Strength and a +4 bonus to dexterity. While the aspect lasts however, he takes a -2 penalty to constitution, as the shadows feed off of him. At 5th level, this ability can be activated as a swift action. At 10th level, the bonus to dexterity increases to +6. At 15th level, the penalty to constitution disappears. At 20th level, the bonus to strength increases to +6.

Aspect of the Shadow Dancer: As a standard action, an ebon knight can assume some of the qualities of a fellow warrior of shadow: the shadow dancer. He gains the ability to move from a shadow he is currently standing in to any other shadow he can see. At night this ability does not function. If an enemy is facing him, an ebon knight cannot shadow hop into his shadow, but if the enemy is flat-footed he can. The shadow hop cannot move the knight more then 60 ft. At 5th level, this ability becomes only a move action. At 10th level, he can use this ability to move up to 120 ft. At 15th level, he can use this ability at night, but only at a cost: each time he activates it, he takes a temporary -2 penalty to constitution. At 20th level this ability becomes an immediate action.

Bonus Feat: At the specified levels, the ebon knight receives a bonus feat of his choice. He must meet all of the prerequisites.

Lesser Shadow Body: At 3rd level, once per day as a standard action, the ebon knight can turn himself into partial shadow. This has the same effects as a blink spell, and lasts for 1 round+his wisdom modifier (if positive). He gains an additional usage of this ability at 6th level.

Shadow Body: At 9th level, the ebon knight can, once per day as a standard action, wreath himself in even more extensive darkness. He gains the benefits of a blink spell and you extend a sphere of darkness (as the spell) 30 ft. This ability lasts for 1 round+his wisdom modifier (if positive). This ability is separate from the lesser and greater shadow body abilities. Using one does not count as a daily usage for another.

Greater Shadow Body: Starting at 16th level, once per day as a full round action, the ebon knight can gain the benefits of an ethereal jaunt spell. It lasts for 1 round+his wisdom modifier.

Dark Magic: At 13th level, the ebon knight can select any wizard/sorcerer spell of 6th level or lower to use as a spell like ability twice per day. At 18th level he can select a second spell, this time of 8th or lower level, but he can only use this spell-like ability once per day.

Dark Will: At 14th level, the ebon knight's mind becomes part of shadow. He gains a +8 bonus to all mind-affecting spells.

[Idhan]

I think some sort of darkvision ability early on would be appropriate. (Maybe a scaling ability that eventually includes the ability to see through magical darkness)

I think that the Dark Magic spell-likes need a caster level. Personally I'd just say caster level = class level, but you do need to specify that.

I suppose there's a little concern that you could use a sorcerer/wizard spell-like with an expensive material component or xp cost as a spell-like ability to evade that, like taking limited wish, but maybe casting limited wish once per day without xp costs at level 18 isn't exactly game breaking.

[Empedocles]

I think some sort of darkvision ability early on would be appropriate. (Maybe a scaling ability that eventually includes the ability to see through magical darkness)

Definitely true...I'll throw that in there. Thanks :smallsmile:


I think that the Dark Magic spell-likes need a caster level. Personally I'd just say caster level = class level, but you do need to specify that.

Good point. I kind of suck at little things like that.


I suppose there's a little concern that you could use a sorcerer/wizard spell-like with an expensive material component or xp cost as a spell-like ability to evade that, like taking limited wish, but maybe casting limited wish once per day without xp costs at level 18 isn't exactly game breaking.

I considered limiting it to spells with the "Darkness" descriptor, but frankly I like the way it is now more. And yeah, 1/day limited wish with no xp cost isn't exactly a game breaker for a melee fighter.