johnbragg
2013-12-06, 02:33 PM
"Theophilites"
1. What is a Theophilite? Theophilites (theophilus--ancient Greek "Beloved of God") are cleric-replacements in games with Tier 1-2 bans. Instead of the standard Cleric spell progression, Theophilites get domain spells only--one spell per spell level, from the Domain Spell Lists. They also get the Cleric's Turn Undead ability, and good will save.
2. Theophilite is designed to play as a gestalt class, usually either Warrior//Theophilite or Adept//Theophilite. Basically, limited divine spellcasting is added to a lower-tier class. Rogue//Theophilite is certainly an option, Paladin//Theophilite is a natural fit. I'm not 100% sure whether and how other gestalts would or should work, or if Tier 3 or 4 classes should have to trade off class features for Theophilite spell casting.
3. The nuts and bolts of the un-gestalted Theophilite class are copied from the NPC Commoner class--d4 HD, 1/2 BAB, 2 + Int skill points, one weapon, no armor. Add good Will save, Turn Undead and domain spells and you have the Theophilite base class.
Theophilite Gestalts:
Warrior//Theophilite. For the players who want to play your classic D&D Durkon-type cleric. The NPC Warrior class gives full BAB, d8 HD, good Fort save, martial weapons and all armor and shields; Theophilite adds divine spellcasting.
Theophilite//Adepts. Players who want something more like the traditional shaman/witch-doctor/medicine man/wise woman/fantasy witch can take the Adept NPC class, (d6 HD, 1/2 BAB, good Will save, simple weapons, no armor or shields) and add Turn Undead and domain spells.
I think most DMs would be okay with adding the Theophilite//Adept's domain spells to the Adept spell list. I'd also let Theophilite//Adepts use their bonus spells for high Wisdom for Adept or domain spells, as soon as they can cast the Domain spell. So a 3rd level Theophilite//Adept with a high Wisdom could cast invisibility at 3rd level instead of 4th.
Theophilite//Adept Spell Progression Table:
1 1+1
2 1+1
3 2+1 0+1
4 2+1 0+1
5 2+1 1+1 0+1
6 2+1 1+1 0+1
7 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1
8 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1
9 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1
10 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1
11 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
12 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
13 3+1 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
14 3+1 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
15 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
16 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
17 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
18 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
19 3+1 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
20 3+1 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
1. What is a Theophilite? Theophilites (theophilus--ancient Greek "Beloved of God") are cleric-replacements in games with Tier 1-2 bans. Instead of the standard Cleric spell progression, Theophilites get domain spells only--one spell per spell level, from the Domain Spell Lists. They also get the Cleric's Turn Undead ability, and good will save.
2. Theophilite is designed to play as a gestalt class, usually either Warrior//Theophilite or Adept//Theophilite. Basically, limited divine spellcasting is added to a lower-tier class. Rogue//Theophilite is certainly an option, Paladin//Theophilite is a natural fit. I'm not 100% sure whether and how other gestalts would or should work, or if Tier 3 or 4 classes should have to trade off class features for Theophilite spell casting.
3. The nuts and bolts of the un-gestalted Theophilite class are copied from the NPC Commoner class--d4 HD, 1/2 BAB, 2 + Int skill points, one weapon, no armor. Add good Will save, Turn Undead and domain spells and you have the Theophilite base class.
Theophilite Gestalts:
Warrior//Theophilite. For the players who want to play your classic D&D Durkon-type cleric. The NPC Warrior class gives full BAB, d8 HD, good Fort save, martial weapons and all armor and shields; Theophilite adds divine spellcasting.
Theophilite//Adepts. Players who want something more like the traditional shaman/witch-doctor/medicine man/wise woman/fantasy witch can take the Adept NPC class, (d6 HD, 1/2 BAB, good Will save, simple weapons, no armor or shields) and add Turn Undead and domain spells.
I think most DMs would be okay with adding the Theophilite//Adept's domain spells to the Adept spell list. I'd also let Theophilite//Adepts use their bonus spells for high Wisdom for Adept or domain spells, as soon as they can cast the Domain spell. So a 3rd level Theophilite//Adept with a high Wisdom could cast invisibility at 3rd level instead of 4th.
Theophilite//Adept Spell Progression Table:
1 1+1
2 1+1
3 2+1 0+1
4 2+1 0+1
5 2+1 1+1 0+1
6 2+1 1+1 0+1
7 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1
8 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1
9 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1
10 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1
11 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
12 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
13 3+1 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
14 3+1 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
15 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
16 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
17 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
18 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 1+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
19 3+1 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1
20 3+1 3+1 3+1 3+1 2+1 0+1 0+1 0+1 0+1