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upho
2016-07-31, 04:22 PM
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- Pathfinder Prestige Class -

http://res.cloudinary.com/upho/image/upload/c_scale,w_440/v1469988037/Narprestr_k8crk6.png
The narprestr is a field commander and necromancer, a merciless warlord combining
martial prowess with the magic of the evil she prays to. By awakening her slain foes
to undeath, her army of walking corpses grows as she continues her unholy crusade.

The narprestr is a martial initiator who practices the vile art of necromancy, creating a dread horde of undead warriors and leading them into battle. Most narprestrs start as harbingers or warlords, but some also begin as rubato bards or antipaladins.

This prestige class was originally made for a home brew campaign setting largely based on Scandinavian mythology (narprestr means “corpse-priest” in Old Norse), where it is used to represent certain NPC villains of the Heldrangar order (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?396711-Daudreider-Mounted-initiating-quot-Hellknight-Black-Seraph-Knight-ish-quot-PRC) who have fallen from the laws of Death (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hel_(location)) to the evil of necromancy and worship of the goddess Hel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hel_(being)). This version has been adapted to be less setting-dependent and more suitable also for PCs.

In short, the class aims to portray a more martial necromancer than the typical cleric or wizard, and gains very limited spontaneous divine spellcasting and eventually undead creation spells as SLAs once per day, along with progressing martial disciple prowess.

The narprestr PrC has the following mechanical goals:

Combine effective necromancy and martial initiation, elements otherwise difficult to combine.
Enable a divinely empowered evil commander of undead minions, mixing limited divine casting with martial maneuvers, and teamwork abilities with offensive power.
Balanced to Tier 3.

Especially the narprestr class' alignment and worship entry requirements are only to be regarded as suggestions. The evil alignment requirement is suitable for most fantasy settings incorporating the traditional D&D stance on the creation of undead as an inherently evil form of magic, exclusive promoted by wholly evil entities with the death and/or undeath domain (such as Golarion), but may be less suitable in a setting with a different take on necromancy and/or alignments. Likewise, the non-lawful alignment requirement only reflects the prestige class' original purpose - to represent powerful fallen knights corrupting the otherwise uncompromisingly lawful Heldrangar Order - and are of course less suitable in a setting or campaign which doesn't include the Heldrangar Order or a similar organization.

As these requirements are not needed for the narprestr to function as intended, a GM can safely exchange or remove them to fit with the setting as long as other components (such as the death/undeath domain requirement) remain, for example to allow for a lawful good or unaligned narprestr in a setting with a different stance on necromancy or one which has no alignment related mechanics at all. In case such an adaption would also suggest a change of the default death or undeath domain, the GM should only make certain the narprestr gains access to a similarly suitable list of domain spells, most importantly including animate dead.





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Requirements
Alignment: Chaotic evil or neutral evil.*
Feat: Black Seraph Style (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EPARqt5jpie03MIXStgFrNK_si6g218bjT4TFbcizPY/edit) or Cursed Razor Style (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EPARqt5jpie03MIXStgFrNK_si6g218bjT4TFbcizPY/edit), one damnation feat (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/damnation-feats) (see also “Special” below).
Skills: Intimidate 5 ranks or Spellcraft 5 ranks; Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks.
Maneuvers: Ability to initiate maneuvers of the Black Seraph (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/disciplines-and-maneuvers/black-seraph-maneuvers), Cursed Razor (http://pathminder.github.io/martial-disciplines/cursed-razor/) or Unquiet Grave (https://pathminder.github.io/martial-disciplines/unquiet-grave/) disciplines.
Special: Must worship a chaotic or neutral evil entity with the death (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/domains/paizo---domains/death-domain) domain or undead (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/domains/paizo---domains/death-domain/undead) subdomain. The entity must be able to grant spells, and the evil outsider associated with the damnation feat must be in its service.*
*These are dependent on setting and not mechanically vital components, please see "Concept, Mechanical Goals and Setting Adaptions" above.


Skills
The narprestr's class skills are Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcane), Knowledge (martial), Knowledge (planes), Knowledge (religion), Sense Motive, Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device.

Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.


Class Progression



Spells per Day


Level
BAB
Fort
Ref
Will
Special
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th



1

+0

+1

+0

+1
Dread domains (Bleeding Touch or Death’s Kiss), maneuvers, spells, stances known

1+1

-

-

-

-

-



2

+1

+1

+1

+1
Channel negative energy 1d6, shepherd of undead

2+1

0+1

-

-

-

-



3

+2

+2

+1

+2
Dark command

2+1

1+1

-

-

-

-



4

+3

+2

+1

+2
Dread domains (1st level power of second domain)

3+1

2+1

0+1

-

-

-



5

+3

+3

+2

+3
Channel negative energy 2d6, charnel troops

3+1

2+1

1+1

-

-

-



6

+4

+3

+2

+3
Dread domains (Tyrannical Strike)

3+1

3+1

2+1

0+1

-

-



7

+5

+4

+2

+4
Awaken the slain (create undead)

4+1

3+1

2+1

1+1

-

-



8

+6

+4

+3

+3
Channel negative energy 3d6, shepherd of undead (initiative)

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

0+1

-



9

+6

+5

+3

+5
Dread domains (second power of second domain)

4+1

4+1

3+1

2+1

1+1

-



10

+7

+5

+3

+5
Awaken the slain (create greater undead), commander of dread legions

5+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

0+1



Hit Die: d8



Weapon and Armor Proficiency
The narprestr gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.


Maneuvers
At every even-numbered level, a narprestr gains a new maneuver known she qualifies for from one of her narprestr disciplines: Black Seraph, Cursed Razor, Unquiet Grave and one other discipline previously available to her, chosen at 1st level. She may also immediately retrain previously gained maneuvers of other disciplines, thereby also replacing those disciplines if she gains additional levels in the class originally granting the replaced disciplines. She adds her narprestr levels to her initiator level to determine her total initiator level and her highest-level maneuvers known.

At levels 3rd, 6th and 9th, a narprestr gains an additional maneuver readied per day (see table below), and at 2nd, 5th, and 8th levels she may exchange a known maneuver for a different maneuver that she qualifies for.

A narprestr treats any Black Seraph, Cursed Razor or Unquiet Grave discipline weapon she wields as a holy symbol, and she can use channel energy and cast narprestr spells while doing so (without the need of a free hand).


Stances Known
At 3rd and 8th level a narprestr learns a new martial stance from one of her narprestr disciplines. She must meet the stance's prerequisites to learn it.


Narprestr Maneuvers and Spells Known



Maneuvers

Spells Known


Level
Known
Readied
Stances
0th
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th



1

0

0

0

3

1+1

-

-

-

-

-



2

1

0

0

3

2+1

1+1

-

-

-

-



3

0

1

1

3

2+2

1+1

-

-

-

-



4

1

0

0

4

2+2

1+1

1+1

-

-

-



5

0

0

0

4

3+2

2+1

1+1

-

-

-



6

1

1

0

4

3+2

2+1

1+1

1+1

-

-



7

0

0

0

4

3+2

2+2

2+1

1+1

-

-



8

1

0

1

5

4+2

3+2

2+1

1+1

1+1

-



9

0

1

0

5

4+2

3+2

2+2

2+1

1+1

-



10

1

0

0

5

4+2

3+2

3+2

2+1

1+1

1+1




Spells
A narprestr may cast a small number of divine spells drawn from the cleric/oracle (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/spell-lists-and-domains/spell-lists---cleric) spell list. To cast a narprestr spell, she must have an initiation ability score of at least 10 + the spell's level. Bonus spells (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/basics-ability-scores/ability-scores#TOC-Abilities-and-Spellcasters) are based on her initiation ability score, and saving throws against her narprestr spells have a DC of 10 + spell level + her initiation modifier. She casts spells just as an oracle (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle#TOC-Spells) does, including the ability to replace a narprestr spell with a new spell at every even-numbered level, beginning at 4th level. 0th level spells, or orisons, may be cast at-will from her spells known (see the tables above for spells per day and spells known). The caster level of her narprestr spells is equal to her initiator level. If the character qualified for this class using Martial Training feats, her spellcasting is Charisma-based.


Dread Domains (Su)
A narprestr gains access to the domain spells of two of the domains granted by the entity she worships, of which one must be either the death (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/domains/paizo---domains/death-domain) domain or the undead (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/domains/paizo---domains/death-domain/undead) subdomain, and the other chosen at 1st level. She can cast one domain spell per day of each spell level she knows, in addition to her normal allotment of spells per day. She also gains one domain spell known from either of her domains, in addition to her normal spells known, at the levels indicated in the table above. She may cast her domain spells using either her normal spell slots or her domain slots.

In addition, a narprestr gains the 1st level power of the death or undead domain (Bleeding Touch or Death’s Kiss), and at 4th level, she gains the 1st level power of her second domain. At 6th level, she gains the Tyrannical Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/domains/paizo---domains/law-domain/tyranny) power from the tyranny domain (even though she is not lawful), and at 9th level, she gains the second power of her second domain. For the purpose of determining the effectiveness of her domain powers, she treats her initiator level as her effective cleric level and uses her initiation modifier instead of her Wisdom modifier.


Channel Negative Energy (Su)
At 2nd level, a narprestr gains channel negative energy, dealing 1d6 + her initiation modifier points of damage when she channels to harm living creatures, and healing the same amount of damage, plus additional points equal to her initiator level when she channels to heal undead creatures, also healing herself as if she was undead. The damage dealt or healed increases with +1d6 at 5th and 8th level. She otherwise treats her initiator level as her cleric level for the purpose of determining the DC of her channel energy, the power of any channeling feats, and any other abilities related to channel energy. She may channel energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her initiation modifier.


Shepherd of Undead (Su)
At 2nd level, a narprestr gains Command Undead (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/command-undead---final) as a bonus feat, treating her initiator level as her cleric level, and she gains a +2 bonus to the DC when she attempts to control undead creatures (through the Command Undead feat or any other ability). Any mind-affecting effects created by her may affect any allied undead creature as if it was of its original (living) creature type, if she so chooses. If the undead creature is in her control, this also applies to mind-affecting effects created by her allies.

In addition, during one encounter per day, the narprestr and any undead creatures she controls gain a profane bonus equal to half her initiation modifier to attack rolls and to AC against creatures cursed or demoralized by her. She must decide whether to use this ability when initiative is rolled. At 8th level, this bonus also applies to initiative rolls.


Dark Command (Su)
At 3rd level, whenever a narprestr initiates a martial strike, as a move action she may channel energy or cast a standard action narprestr spell with a level equal to or less than the level of the strike initiated. The spell can only be cast on herself or an ally within her melee reach. Once per encounter, she may use this ability on a creature within her melee reach, targeting either an undead creature she controls with a spell with a range of personal, or a cursed or demoralized enemy with a targeted spell (treating her melee reach as her natural reach for spells with a touch attack).


Charnel Troops
At 5th level, a narprestr gains one teamwork feat (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/teamwork-feats) of her choice and Charnel Soldiers (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/charnel-soldiers) as bonus feats, and she is not limited to mindless undead when using Charnel Soldiers, but may also grant a teamwork feat she knows to any intelligent undead creatures she controls. She must meet the prerequisites of these feats as normal.


Awaken the Slain (Ex), (Sp)
At 7th level, a narprestr gains Undead Master (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/undead-master) as a bonus feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. Once per day, she may cast create undead (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/create-undead) as a spell-like ability to create an intelligent undead creature, but only from the remains of a creature killed by her or by an undead creature she controls (caster level equal to her initiator level). At 10th level, she may choose to instead cast create greater undead as a spell-like ability, with the same limitations.


Commander of Dread Legions (Su)
At 10th level, a narprestr gains an additional +2 bonus to the DC when she attempts to control undead. When she channels energy to heal, the targets gain the effects of protection from good (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/p/protection-from-good) (caster level equal to her initiator level).

In addition, she can teach a stance of the Black Seraph, Cursed Razor or Unquiet Grave discipline she knows, plus a corresponding style feat she knows, to any intelligent undead creature created and controlled by her. To do so, she must practice with the undead creature for 8 hours, after which the creature can adopt the stance and gains the feat as a bonus feat, without having to meet prerequisites. The stance she teaches must be of a level no higher than half that of the highest-level maneuver she knows. The creature keeps these benefits even if no longer in the narprestr’s control.




Google Doc found here. (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KpFDJl-962ZXUWRi_L9vi_UhjvtlF83YfNKVxM78tkk/edit?usp=sharing)

http://res.cloudinary.com/upho/image/upload/c_scale,w_200/v1469986455/Hel_symbol_skull_mu3xbt.png
Any advice/praise/critique/suggestions/ideas are most appreciated!


The Path of War (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war)/Path of War: Expanded (http://dreamscarred.com/product/path-of-war-expanded/) team at Dreamscarred Press (http://dreamscarred.com/)
Vikings! For their cool, odd and extremely flavorful RL mythology. (Not for the stupidly complex grammatical rules of their language...)
The narprestr illustration was created from “warped” elements made by Alchemy (http://www.alchemyengland.com/?id_lang=1), Anne Stokes (http://www.annestokes.com/), ArenaNet (https://www.arena.net/) and me. The "Hel skulls" and symbols were created by me.
Everyone posting!





2016-09-01: Made a few minor formatting corrections, added harbinger as common starting class.
2016-08-03: Added notes on entry requirements to the concept & goals section, and marked the related items in the requirements section.
2016-07-31: Created thread.




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upho
2016-07-31, 04:24 PM
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Coming soon!

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