eftexar
2013-09-23, 10:47 PM
One of the most frustrating things in D&D homebrew is creating classes, races, etc. around certain concepts from level 1. Many concepts, such as Dragon Riders, are, sadly, almost impossible to play from the start.
While I'm still brainstorming on Dragon Riders from level 1, here I'd like to discuss the issue of incorporeal undead. More specifically, ghosts. Ghostwalk is the only supplement that aids players in their ghostly adventures, but they don't work in most campaigns and, frankly, I don't like some of the ways it handles things.
I'm going to present some ideas below and I'd like to know what the playground thinks. As long as the LA for a creature with the following traits, features, and abilities wouldn't be higher than +1, or even a weak +2, then I've done what I set out to accomplish.
Without further ado, I present:
Living Dead Template/Subtype
The living dead subtype can be applied to any creature of the undead type. It's features, and traits, are used in place of those normally constituting the undead type.
Features
A living dead derives its hit die, base attack bonus, saving throws, and skill points from the class(es) it selects (unless it has racial hit die; then refer to the undead type).
Traits
Don't possess a Constitution Score.
Darkvision out to 60ft.
Uses charisma for concentration checks, fortitude saves, and for their hit points gained each level.
Immune to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, fear and morale effects, and death effects. Not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage or drain, energy drain, fatigue, or exhaustion.
Living dead are not subject to massive damage. They fall inert, or rather unconcious, and are helpless until restored to at least 1 hit point. At -10 hit points they are destroyed.
Healed by negative energy and damaged by positive. Ressurection and True Ressurection can return a willing living dead creature, that has been destroyed, to the living. See their description(s) for more details.
Can be raised or ressurected, similar to a living creature may, by any spell that can animate, or create, undead. This functions as detailed for the Ressurection spell, but without any level, or constitution, loss.
Even though the living dead do not need to eat, sleep, or breath, they can still benefit from consumables, such as potions or a Heroes Feast spell, and must still rest to recover spells per day (or other dailies requiring rest).
Livind dead possess a +4 turn resistence. Turning and rebuking effects are less effective against them.
Fade Away (Su)
A limited number of rounds per day, equal to 3 + her [race/class] HD/level + her charisma bonus (if any), the [race/class] can become partially incorporeal. Entering, or exiting, this state is an immediate action.
Whilst in this state she gains a deflection bonus, equal to her charisma bonus (if any), to her AC and can phase through corporeal objects and creatures. She must end her turn in a legal space or be shunted out, taking 1d6 damage per 5ft, to the nearest available. It should be assumed this ability also affects any objects, and equipment, carried by the [race/class]. Creatures, except for her own familiar(s) or animal companion(s) carried or mounted by her, are not capable of becoming partially incorporeal with her.
While I'm still brainstorming on Dragon Riders from level 1, here I'd like to discuss the issue of incorporeal undead. More specifically, ghosts. Ghostwalk is the only supplement that aids players in their ghostly adventures, but they don't work in most campaigns and, frankly, I don't like some of the ways it handles things.
I'm going to present some ideas below and I'd like to know what the playground thinks. As long as the LA for a creature with the following traits, features, and abilities wouldn't be higher than +1, or even a weak +2, then I've done what I set out to accomplish.
Without further ado, I present:
Living Dead Template/Subtype
The living dead subtype can be applied to any creature of the undead type. It's features, and traits, are used in place of those normally constituting the undead type.
Features
A living dead derives its hit die, base attack bonus, saving throws, and skill points from the class(es) it selects (unless it has racial hit die; then refer to the undead type).
Traits
Don't possess a Constitution Score.
Darkvision out to 60ft.
Uses charisma for concentration checks, fortitude saves, and for their hit points gained each level.
Immune to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, fear and morale effects, and death effects. Not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage or drain, energy drain, fatigue, or exhaustion.
Living dead are not subject to massive damage. They fall inert, or rather unconcious, and are helpless until restored to at least 1 hit point. At -10 hit points they are destroyed.
Healed by negative energy and damaged by positive. Ressurection and True Ressurection can return a willing living dead creature, that has been destroyed, to the living. See their description(s) for more details.
Can be raised or ressurected, similar to a living creature may, by any spell that can animate, or create, undead. This functions as detailed for the Ressurection spell, but without any level, or constitution, loss.
Even though the living dead do not need to eat, sleep, or breath, they can still benefit from consumables, such as potions or a Heroes Feast spell, and must still rest to recover spells per day (or other dailies requiring rest).
Livind dead possess a +4 turn resistence. Turning and rebuking effects are less effective against them.
Fade Away (Su)
A limited number of rounds per day, equal to 3 + her [race/class] HD/level + her charisma bonus (if any), the [race/class] can become partially incorporeal. Entering, or exiting, this state is an immediate action.
Whilst in this state she gains a deflection bonus, equal to her charisma bonus (if any), to her AC and can phase through corporeal objects and creatures. She must end her turn in a legal space or be shunted out, taking 1d6 damage per 5ft, to the nearest available. It should be assumed this ability also affects any objects, and equipment, carried by the [race/class]. Creatures, except for her own familiar(s) or animal companion(s) carried or mounted by her, are not capable of becoming partially incorporeal with her.