Alfryd
2007-07-15, 04:45 PM
.
You may or may not remember Majesty. If you don't, or if you never heard of it, this should give you some idea of what to expect:
http://www.cyberlore.com/majesty/story-wod.htm
This is intended as a pretty heavily back-loaded melee class, with an exponential power profile closer to what you'd expect of a primary caster than a conventional tank- weak at lower levels, a tiny God by the time you hit epic. It is not intended that anything else in the melee category would stand up to a Warrior of Discord by level 20, or even come close. Part of what balances this out, of course, is the likely XP drag you'll see from trying to ensure your character doesn't go insane.
Even so, I can't help but suspect the whole thing is more than a little unbalanced (-especially the bonus HP-) which, presumably, is why you're here.
(Note: The Paladin, Barbarian and Monk class restrictions mentioned below refer to those within the Majesty setting, but it's pretty applicable in general.)
Strength and Constitution are obviously important to WoDs, but Wisdom is also quite vital in order to resist the deranging effects of their transition, and Dexterity is mildly useful both for feats and to overcome their AC penalties.
Warrior of Discord
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral.
Hit Die: D12.
Class Skills
The Warrior of Discord's class skills, and key abilities for each, are Spot(Wis), Listen(Wis), Climb(Str), Jump(Str), Swim(Str), Intimidate(Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Ride(Dex) and Tumble(Dex).
Skill Points at first level: (2 + Int modifier) x4.
Skill Points at subsequent levels: 2 + Int modifier.
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Irruption (Frenzy)|Fort|Ref|Will|Bonus HP|Special
1|+1|n/a|+2|+0|+2|1|Madness, Corruption, Mark of Chaos
2|+2|n/a|+3|+0|+3|1d4|
3|+3|n/a|+3|+1|+3|1d4|
4|+4|n/a|+4|+1|+4|1d6|
5|+5|n/a|+4|+1|+4|1d6|Path of Chaos
6|+6/+1|-4 (-5)|+5|+2|+5|1d6|
7|+7/+2|-3 (-5)|+5|+2|+5|2d4|
8|+8/+3|-2 (-5)|+6|+2|+6|2d4|
9|+9/+4|-1 (-5)|+6|+3|+6|2d4|Lesser Clarity
10|+10/+5|+0 (-5)|+7|+3|+7|2d4|Path of Chaos
11|+11/+6/+1|+1/-4 (-5)|+7|+3|+7|2d6|
12|+12/+7/+2|+2/-3 (-3)|+8|+4|+8|2d6|
13|+13/+8/+3|+3/-2 (-3)|+8|+4|+8|2d6|
14|+14/+9/+4|+4/-1 (-3)|+9|+4|+9|2d6|
15|+15/+10/+5|+5/+0 (-3)|+9|+5|+9|3d6|Path of Chaos
16|+16/+11/+6/+1|+6/+1/-4 (-3)|+10|+5|+10|3d6|Clarity
17|+17/+12/+7/+2|+7/+2/-3 (-3)|+10|+5|+10|3d6|
18|+18/+13/+8/+3|+8/+3/-2 (-1)|+11|+6|+11|3d8|
19|+19/+14/+9/+4|+9/+4/-1 (-1)|+11|+6|+11|3d8|Path of Chaos
20|+20/+15/+10/+5|+10/+5/+0 (-1)|+12|+6|+12|3d10|Ultimate Clarity
[/table]
Class Features
Weapon and Armour Proficiency
The Warrior of Discord is proficient with Scythes, Flails, Sickles, Gauntlets, Morningstars, Tridents and Spiked Chains, light and medium armour. He automatically gains the Weapon Focus(Scythe) feat.
Mark of Chaos(Su)
The Warrior of Discord's body is magically rejuvenated and warped beyond all recognition.
* He is considered to be one size category larger than normal for his race, with 3 times the weight and 33% additional height. This confers a -1 penalty to hit and to AC, a -4 penalty to Hide checks, and a +4 bonus to grapple checks.
* The character suffers an additional -4 AC penalty, a -2 Dexterity penalty, and an additional -2 AC penalty when flanked, due to being clumsy and cumbersome. He gains a permanent +4 bonus to Strength and Constitution.
* Every time the Warrior of Discord gains a level, he acquires bonus Hit Points in addition to his normal hit dice and Constitution modifier. These bonus Hit Points are cumulative with each level. The total bonus for all levels may be rerolled whenever a new level is gained, if so desired.
The benefits of Mark of Chaos progress over time, while penalties are gradually diminished.
{table=head]Level|Str|Dex|Con|AC|Damage reduction
1+|+4|-2|+4|-4|0
9+|+6|+0|+6|-2|1/Lawful
16+|+8|+0|+8|+0|2/Lawful
20|+10|+0|+10|+0|4/
[/table]
The character acquires the Chaotic subtype for purposes of overcoming damage reduction and special vulnerabilities.
Madness(Ex)
A Warrior of Discord's transformation permanently unhinges his mind. He suffers a -6 penalty to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma scores, similar to a racial modifier. He cannot learn cross-class skills, or take any action which requires patience or concentration. However, he gains a +4 bonus on Will saving throws against mind-affecting magic or effects. (Intelligence scores are never reduced below 3, Wisdom below 2, or Charisma below 1 by Madness, regardless of prior values.)
* There is a 10% chance that any failed skill check will cause the character to become confused for 1 round. (This applies only to skill checks the character makes voluntarily against a previously fixed DC.) The character cannot Take 10 on skill checks.
* The character has difficulty communicating clearly, and any efforts at verbal or written expression run a 25% chance of being completely unintelligible. This imposes a -3 penalty to Bluff, Forgery and Diplomacy checks, or a 50% failure chance for spells with verbal components, language-dependant spells/effects, and any Perform checks involving writing, speech or song.
* A Warrior of Discord may only be Chaotic Neutral. Any attempt to take action that would trigger an alignment shift instead afflicts the character with confusion until such efforts cease. (Any form of magical or supernatural compulsion is immediately broken should it require the character behave in this fashion.) If the character was previously of a differing alignment, they automatically become Chaotic Neutral.
Every time the Warrior of Discord gains a level in the class, he must make a successful Will Save, (DC = character level + 2,) or lapse into permanent insanity (as per the spell.) The condition, moreover, is incurable except by loss of that level, (such as through death + resurrection, level drain, etc.) A fresh Will save can then be attempted when and iif the level is regained.
Any surplus XP at the time a level is taken is lost, but every 1000 XP expended in this fashion grants a +1 bonus to the character's Will save vs. insanity.
Corruption
There is a 50% chance that any level subsequently taken in another class will be converted to a Warrior of Discord level, regardless of the character's wishes on the matter. In addition, whenever a Warrior of Discord level is gained, through either level gain or conversion, there is a 10% chance that the character's highest existing cross-class level (if any are possessed,) will also be converted to the Warrior of Discord class.
There is a 50% chance that skill ranks gained from levels converted are kept, regardless of normal cross-class skill restrictions.
Lesser Clarity
At level 9, Madness penalties to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma diminish to -4 each. The character suffers confusion following failed skill checks only if the check was failed by 10 points or more.
Clarity
At level 16, penalties to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma due to Madness diminish to -2 each. The Corruption class feature no longer applies (unless desired, with each level.) Confusion no longer follows failed skill checks.
Ultimate Clarity
At level 20, the Warrior of Discord's alignment restrictions are loosened, and he no longer suffers confusion when attempting to change alignment. He may freely shift to any Chaotic alignment without ill effect, learn cross-class skills, and take actions that require patience or concentration, nor does he suffer a risk of permanent insanity from class levels. He is considered fully immune to mind-affecting spells or effects that attempt to control or influence behaviour.
Path of Chaos(Ex)
At level 5, the Warrior of Discord must choose a specialisation in one of four forms of development: Vitality, Terror, Instinct, or Carnage.
At level 15, he may choose a second Path, and at level 19, a third. At levels 5, 10, 15, and 19, the Warrior of Discord may choose a special ability from each of his chosen Paths.
The character may, if desired, forfeit selection of a special ability in exchange for a Bonus Feat from the following list:
Combat Reflexes, Endurance, Diehard, Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical, Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple, Stunning Fist, Iron Will, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Improved Sunder, Run, Shield Proficiency, Improved Shield Bash, Tower Shield Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Toughness, Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Defence, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialisation, Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialisation.
He must meet all normal prerequisites for such feats. The special abilities belonging to each category are detailed below.
Resurgent (Path of Chaos: Vitality) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord need only succeed on a Fort save to stabilise while unconscious. In addition, his maximum negative hit points before death match his current Constitution score + class levels (min. 10.) Having stabilised, the character regenerates 1 hit point per round until conscious.
At level 20, the character stabilises automatically, and regenerates (HP/round = Con bonus, min. 1) until at 0 HP.
Resilient (Path of Chaos: Vitality) (Su).
Any harmful spell or supernatural effect which allows a Fortitude save to wholly or partly negate it's effects has no effect on the character, provided he succeeds on the save.
At 10th level or above, he gains a +5 bonus on such saving throws, and a +5 bonus to saving throws against disease, poison or death effects.
At level 20, the character is considered immune to disease, poison or death effects.
Regeneration (Path of Chaos: Vitality) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord recovers health at the rate of 1 HP/round whenever he has less than half his full health. Regeneration is increased by 2 HP/round while he has 10 hit points or less. The ability does not function while unconscious.
At level 10, Regeneration functions while unconscious.
At level 14, Regeneration will also regrow lost limbs or body parts during rest.
At level 18, the character regenerates until at full health, enjoys double prior rates of regeneration, and has a 50% chance to ignore damage from critical hits, Sneak Attack, or any other damage that is dependant on vulnerability to criticals.
Ageless (Path of Chaos: Vitality) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord is no longer subject to either penalties or bonuses from advancing age, though he remains subject to any modifiers he may have already accrued. In addition, the character does not automatically die upon reaching Venerable Age. Instead, he must succeed on a Fort save each year, (DC = age in years - normally appointed age of death,) or accrue ability penalties as if he had advanced one age category. Should the character accrue penalties equivalent to Venerable Age, he then dies.
Primal Fear (Path of Chaos: Terror) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord may cause a single visible opponent to become Panicked. The target's Will save is made against an Intimidate check by the Warrior of Discord. This effect lasts for the duration of the encounter, but an additional Will save may be attempted each round to end the effect (save DC unchanged.) Should the save succeed by less than 5 points, the subject is Shaken for 1 round.
Primal Fear may be used as a free action once/round, but the same opponent may not be afflicted twice in 24 hours.
Aversion (Path of Chaos: Terror) (Su).
The character possesses a Gaze Attack that imposes a morale penalty of -1 to attack rolls and Will saving throws on any hostile creature.
At level 15 this penalty increases to -2/-2, and a -1 penalty to AC also applies.
Aversion may be negated typically for a Gaze attack, or a successful Will saving throw, (DC = 10 +1/2 class levels) negates the effect for 24 hours. Aversion doesn't function while the Warrior of Discord is unconscious or dead.
Cry Havok (Path of Chaos: Terror) (Su).
Cry Havok is a standard action that may be used once per day. The character must have at least 12 ranks in Intimidate to select this special ability.
All opponents within 10 feet + 5 feet/5 levels make a Will saving throw versus an Intimidate check by the Warrior of Discord. Depending on the Save result, differing effects apply (AC penalty is a morale modifier:)
{table=head]Save result|AC pen.|Duration|Special
Success, by >/= 5 points |0|n/a|Unaffected
Success, by 0-4 points |-1|1 round|
Failed, by < 5 points|-2|3 rounds|Shaken
Failed, by 6-10 points |-3|9 rounds|Panicked
Failed, by 11-15 points |-4|encounter + 3 rounds|3 rounds catatonic, panicked
Failed, by > 15 points |-5|permanent|Catatonic
[/table]
Catatonic characters are considered paralysed by fear. Catatonia may be treated as a disease and removed accordingly, but not by spells or abilities that counter paralysis.
Cry Havok is a mind-affecting sonic effect and may be negated accordingly. (It does not require that the subject understand the character, so any barriers on verbal communication do not apply.)
Mania (Path of Chaos: Terror) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord may apply a +2 circumstance bonus to all Charisma-based skill checks, provided the subject is a person and not an object or creature. Aditionally, Intimidate checks no longer worsen the subject's subsequent attitude toward you if you succeed on a check by 10 points or more.
Irruption (Path of Chaos: Instinct) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord can gain additional melee attacks whenever he sustains total damage of at least 20 HP+5 HP/level, (given BAB of at least +6, he may repeat each bonus attack permitted by higher BAB at a -5 penalty.) For purposes of this ability, 'total damage' refers to total HP lost since the character was last at full health or since his last Irruption ended, whichever is more recent. Healing and temporary HP reduce this total.
Consult the Irruption table above for bonus attacks permitted by level.
Irruption lasts for 3 rounds. Bonus attacks with Irruption are applied only during full attack, but may be freely alternated between primary or offhand weapons.
Bloodlust (Path of Chaos: Instinct) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord gains a +1 morale bonus to subsequent attack rolls and damage whenever he inflicts a critical hit. This benefit lasts for 3 rounds. Bonuses from multiple such criticals stack up to +5.
Atavism (Path of Chaos: Instinct) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord gains a +1 bonus to all Will saves. Any spell or effect which allows a Will saving throw to negate it's effects grants the character a further +3 bonus to his saving throw. In addition, the character gains 1 bonus skill point per Warrior of Discord level, which may be spent on class skills only.
At level 18, the Warrior of Discord becomes immune to fear effects and mind-affecting magic of any description.
Pathos (Path of Chaos: Instinct) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord gains a pet, selected at random. Roll 1d4 and consult the following table.
{table=head]Die roll|Animal Type|Benefit
1|Chicken|+1 to Will saving throws and Wis-based skill checks.
2|Starfish|+2 to Str-based skill checks.
3|Stick Insect|+3 to Cha-based skill checks involving animals.
4|Rock|+3 to Cha-based skill checks involving objects.
[/table]
The 'pet' has one hit point, tiny size, Int 1, and AC 10. It weighs 1 lb and may be carried in the character's inventory, (perhaps in a jar.) If it is killed, destroyed, or abandoned, the Warrior of Discord loses it's benefits and may roll randomly to acquire a new pet upon his next level, but the pet need not neccesarily accompany him on his travels.
The Warrior of Discord can freely communicate with animals of the same kind as his pet, however such conversations are usually limited to basic expressions of hunger, fear, and the like.
Chickens recall events up to one minute beforehand, and can describe them with some precision. Rocks do not communicate.
Frenzy (Path of Chaos: Carnage) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord may trigger an Irruption at will, subject to further penalty to all attacks made (see the Irruption special ability description above. Attack penalties apply to all attacks made while Irruption applies. Consult the table for extra attacks from Irruption, then apply the attack penalty listed for the character's level.)
You must select the Irruption special ability before you can learn Frenzy.
Rupture (Path of Chaos: Carnage) (Ex)
When wielding a weapon with which he has taken the Weapon Specialisation feat, the Warrior of Discord may ignore up to 4 points of any damage reduction an opponent may possess. In addition, the weapon's threat range is increased by 2 points (this benefit stacks with Improved Critical.)
If he has taken Greater Weapon Specialisation with the weapon in question, criticals deal 4 bonus damage.
Mortal Blow (Path of Chaos: Carnage)(Ex)
While wielding a melee weapon with which the Warrior of Discord has the Weapon Focus feat, whenever he inflicts a Critical Hit there is a percentile chance per class level that the opponent struck must make a Fort save (base DC = damage dealt) or die.
{table=head]Condition|% odds|Save DC
Level 4+|20%|-10
Level 10+|25%|-10
Level 12+|30%|-10
Level 14+|35%|-10
Level 16+|40%|-5
Level 18+|50%|+0
Level 20|60%|+5
Greater Weapon Focus|+5%|(+)+5
[/table]
There is a 50% chance that opponents killed in this fashion are rent asunder, and are not considered intact for purposes of raising.
Reaper (Path of Chaos: Carnage)(Ex)
The Warrior of Discord gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls and +4 bonus to damage during attacks granted by the Cleave or Great Cleave feats, provided the target of the attack belongs to a smaller size category than himself.
At level 18, attack and damage bonuses increase to +4/+8, and opponents of equal size category can be affected.
Ex-Warriors of Discord
A Warrior of Discord may never take levels as a Monk, Paladin or Barbarian, or shift to any non-Chaotic alignment. Doing so strips the character of any supernatural class features excepting Mark of Chaos, but he retains the Chaotic subtype, and may redeem supernatural class features at the cost of 100 XP/ level, when and if he resumes Chaotic alignment. Access in any form or fashion to his class' supernatural abilities precludes and revokes access to those of the Monk, Paladin, or Barbarian.
(Only a 20th-level Warrior of Discord with Ultimate Clarity may shift alignment.)
Shifting to Lawful alignment permanently strips a Warrior of Discord of all extraordinary and supernatural class abilties, with all attendant benefits or stigma, and drains 10,000 XP. Only BAB, feats, skill ranks and weapon proficiencies are retained during this alteration. Level loss cannot revoke the effect, but the character may, if desired, undergo the sacred ritual again to reclaim lost class features (the process is detailed below.)
Becoming a Warrior of Discord
The Warrior of Discord is considered a base class, but is normally only available as such to starting characters. While a Warrior of Discord may multiclass to the best of his abilities, it is not generally possible for characters with a differing base class to simply 'join the club.' It is, however, possible for characters with other class levels to undergo the sacred transformation ritual, substituting existing class levels for those as a Warrior of Discord.
A prospective candidate must be Chaotic, and must have suffered, or presently suffer, some form of madness or mental derangement, either magical or mundane in nature. (Merely being panicked, subject to a mind-affecting spell or charm, or severe stutter won't do, but confusion may suffice.) The typical candidate must be both willing, free and intelligible as a supplicant at the time.
Characters can be forced to undergo the ritual against their will, but this is very rare and invariably results in insanity. Even characters forced against their will must be Chaotic, or the ritual has no benefits and no class levels are exchanged.
If the High Priest deems a candidate worthy, the Cultists of the Temple of Fervus will perform the ritual, which costs 500 gold pieces in raw materials per level of the subject, (this cost may be borne by the temple.) The concoction administered to the subject provides a +4 Constitution bonus during the ceremony, and deals 2d8+1 HP of damage per level. If the candidate falls unconscious, he will stabilise naturally, providing he does not die.
The subject must make a Will save of DC matching half his character level (rounded up) or become permanently insane, (as described under Madness.) If the subject survives the experience, he may then trade in half his existing cross-class levels (rounding down, but at least 2) for equivalent levels in the Warrior of Discord class. The following conditions apply to the exchange:
* No feats, skill ranks, weapon or armour proficiencies may be derived from the Warrior of Discord levels gained. Instead, skills, feats, weapon and armour proficiencies from exchanged levels are kept. The character gains the Weapon Focus feat with one weapon of his choice, if he did not already possess it.
* Feats whose prerequisites are no longer met by the character's subsequent ability scores are lost. The feats are lost irrevocably, unless obtained from class levels which explicitly state such prerequisites may be ignored.
* All skills unlisted as Warrior of Discord class skills have their total ranks halved (rounding down.)
The character loses 1000 XP +500 XP/character level, and is rendered helpless until his Hit Points are fully restored 3 days after the transformation, during which he requires care and attention. This recuperation time cannot be expedited in any fashion. If a willing supplicant is rendered insane, the Cultists will likely kill the character at the end of this time (subjects forced to undergo the ritual are the exception to this rule, assuming a form of prior collusion.)
Subjects killed during the ritual or recuperation period may be raised normally, but automatically suffer permanent insanity (as per the spell.)
The ritual may be repeated as neccesary until as many levels as desired have been transferred to the Warrior of Discord class -desired by who, of course, is another question.
.
You may or may not remember Majesty. If you don't, or if you never heard of it, this should give you some idea of what to expect:
http://www.cyberlore.com/majesty/story-wod.htm
This is intended as a pretty heavily back-loaded melee class, with an exponential power profile closer to what you'd expect of a primary caster than a conventional tank- weak at lower levels, a tiny God by the time you hit epic. It is not intended that anything else in the melee category would stand up to a Warrior of Discord by level 20, or even come close. Part of what balances this out, of course, is the likely XP drag you'll see from trying to ensure your character doesn't go insane.
Even so, I can't help but suspect the whole thing is more than a little unbalanced (-especially the bonus HP-) which, presumably, is why you're here.
(Note: The Paladin, Barbarian and Monk class restrictions mentioned below refer to those within the Majesty setting, but it's pretty applicable in general.)
Strength and Constitution are obviously important to WoDs, but Wisdom is also quite vital in order to resist the deranging effects of their transition, and Dexterity is mildly useful both for feats and to overcome their AC penalties.
Warrior of Discord
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral.
Hit Die: D12.
Class Skills
The Warrior of Discord's class skills, and key abilities for each, are Spot(Wis), Listen(Wis), Climb(Str), Jump(Str), Swim(Str), Intimidate(Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Ride(Dex) and Tumble(Dex).
Skill Points at first level: (2 + Int modifier) x4.
Skill Points at subsequent levels: 2 + Int modifier.
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Irruption (Frenzy)|Fort|Ref|Will|Bonus HP|Special
1|+1|n/a|+2|+0|+2|1|Madness, Corruption, Mark of Chaos
2|+2|n/a|+3|+0|+3|1d4|
3|+3|n/a|+3|+1|+3|1d4|
4|+4|n/a|+4|+1|+4|1d6|
5|+5|n/a|+4|+1|+4|1d6|Path of Chaos
6|+6/+1|-4 (-5)|+5|+2|+5|1d6|
7|+7/+2|-3 (-5)|+5|+2|+5|2d4|
8|+8/+3|-2 (-5)|+6|+2|+6|2d4|
9|+9/+4|-1 (-5)|+6|+3|+6|2d4|Lesser Clarity
10|+10/+5|+0 (-5)|+7|+3|+7|2d4|Path of Chaos
11|+11/+6/+1|+1/-4 (-5)|+7|+3|+7|2d6|
12|+12/+7/+2|+2/-3 (-3)|+8|+4|+8|2d6|
13|+13/+8/+3|+3/-2 (-3)|+8|+4|+8|2d6|
14|+14/+9/+4|+4/-1 (-3)|+9|+4|+9|2d6|
15|+15/+10/+5|+5/+0 (-3)|+9|+5|+9|3d6|Path of Chaos
16|+16/+11/+6/+1|+6/+1/-4 (-3)|+10|+5|+10|3d6|Clarity
17|+17/+12/+7/+2|+7/+2/-3 (-3)|+10|+5|+10|3d6|
18|+18/+13/+8/+3|+8/+3/-2 (-1)|+11|+6|+11|3d8|
19|+19/+14/+9/+4|+9/+4/-1 (-1)|+11|+6|+11|3d8|Path of Chaos
20|+20/+15/+10/+5|+10/+5/+0 (-1)|+12|+6|+12|3d10|Ultimate Clarity
[/table]
Class Features
Weapon and Armour Proficiency
The Warrior of Discord is proficient with Scythes, Flails, Sickles, Gauntlets, Morningstars, Tridents and Spiked Chains, light and medium armour. He automatically gains the Weapon Focus(Scythe) feat.
Mark of Chaos(Su)
The Warrior of Discord's body is magically rejuvenated and warped beyond all recognition.
* He is considered to be one size category larger than normal for his race, with 3 times the weight and 33% additional height. This confers a -1 penalty to hit and to AC, a -4 penalty to Hide checks, and a +4 bonus to grapple checks.
* The character suffers an additional -4 AC penalty, a -2 Dexterity penalty, and an additional -2 AC penalty when flanked, due to being clumsy and cumbersome. He gains a permanent +4 bonus to Strength and Constitution.
* Every time the Warrior of Discord gains a level, he acquires bonus Hit Points in addition to his normal hit dice and Constitution modifier. These bonus Hit Points are cumulative with each level. The total bonus for all levels may be rerolled whenever a new level is gained, if so desired.
The benefits of Mark of Chaos progress over time, while penalties are gradually diminished.
{table=head]Level|Str|Dex|Con|AC|Damage reduction
1+|+4|-2|+4|-4|0
9+|+6|+0|+6|-2|1/Lawful
16+|+8|+0|+8|+0|2/Lawful
20|+10|+0|+10|+0|4/
[/table]
The character acquires the Chaotic subtype for purposes of overcoming damage reduction and special vulnerabilities.
Madness(Ex)
A Warrior of Discord's transformation permanently unhinges his mind. He suffers a -6 penalty to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma scores, similar to a racial modifier. He cannot learn cross-class skills, or take any action which requires patience or concentration. However, he gains a +4 bonus on Will saving throws against mind-affecting magic or effects. (Intelligence scores are never reduced below 3, Wisdom below 2, or Charisma below 1 by Madness, regardless of prior values.)
* There is a 10% chance that any failed skill check will cause the character to become confused for 1 round. (This applies only to skill checks the character makes voluntarily against a previously fixed DC.) The character cannot Take 10 on skill checks.
* The character has difficulty communicating clearly, and any efforts at verbal or written expression run a 25% chance of being completely unintelligible. This imposes a -3 penalty to Bluff, Forgery and Diplomacy checks, or a 50% failure chance for spells with verbal components, language-dependant spells/effects, and any Perform checks involving writing, speech or song.
* A Warrior of Discord may only be Chaotic Neutral. Any attempt to take action that would trigger an alignment shift instead afflicts the character with confusion until such efforts cease. (Any form of magical or supernatural compulsion is immediately broken should it require the character behave in this fashion.) If the character was previously of a differing alignment, they automatically become Chaotic Neutral.
Every time the Warrior of Discord gains a level in the class, he must make a successful Will Save, (DC = character level + 2,) or lapse into permanent insanity (as per the spell.) The condition, moreover, is incurable except by loss of that level, (such as through death + resurrection, level drain, etc.) A fresh Will save can then be attempted when and iif the level is regained.
Any surplus XP at the time a level is taken is lost, but every 1000 XP expended in this fashion grants a +1 bonus to the character's Will save vs. insanity.
Corruption
There is a 50% chance that any level subsequently taken in another class will be converted to a Warrior of Discord level, regardless of the character's wishes on the matter. In addition, whenever a Warrior of Discord level is gained, through either level gain or conversion, there is a 10% chance that the character's highest existing cross-class level (if any are possessed,) will also be converted to the Warrior of Discord class.
There is a 50% chance that skill ranks gained from levels converted are kept, regardless of normal cross-class skill restrictions.
Lesser Clarity
At level 9, Madness penalties to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma diminish to -4 each. The character suffers confusion following failed skill checks only if the check was failed by 10 points or more.
Clarity
At level 16, penalties to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma due to Madness diminish to -2 each. The Corruption class feature no longer applies (unless desired, with each level.) Confusion no longer follows failed skill checks.
Ultimate Clarity
At level 20, the Warrior of Discord's alignment restrictions are loosened, and he no longer suffers confusion when attempting to change alignment. He may freely shift to any Chaotic alignment without ill effect, learn cross-class skills, and take actions that require patience or concentration, nor does he suffer a risk of permanent insanity from class levels. He is considered fully immune to mind-affecting spells or effects that attempt to control or influence behaviour.
Path of Chaos(Ex)
At level 5, the Warrior of Discord must choose a specialisation in one of four forms of development: Vitality, Terror, Instinct, or Carnage.
At level 15, he may choose a second Path, and at level 19, a third. At levels 5, 10, 15, and 19, the Warrior of Discord may choose a special ability from each of his chosen Paths.
The character may, if desired, forfeit selection of a special ability in exchange for a Bonus Feat from the following list:
Combat Reflexes, Endurance, Diehard, Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical, Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple, Stunning Fist, Iron Will, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Overrun, Improved Sunder, Run, Shield Proficiency, Improved Shield Bash, Tower Shield Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Toughness, Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Defence, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialisation, Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialisation.
He must meet all normal prerequisites for such feats. The special abilities belonging to each category are detailed below.
Resurgent (Path of Chaos: Vitality) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord need only succeed on a Fort save to stabilise while unconscious. In addition, his maximum negative hit points before death match his current Constitution score + class levels (min. 10.) Having stabilised, the character regenerates 1 hit point per round until conscious.
At level 20, the character stabilises automatically, and regenerates (HP/round = Con bonus, min. 1) until at 0 HP.
Resilient (Path of Chaos: Vitality) (Su).
Any harmful spell or supernatural effect which allows a Fortitude save to wholly or partly negate it's effects has no effect on the character, provided he succeeds on the save.
At 10th level or above, he gains a +5 bonus on such saving throws, and a +5 bonus to saving throws against disease, poison or death effects.
At level 20, the character is considered immune to disease, poison or death effects.
Regeneration (Path of Chaos: Vitality) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord recovers health at the rate of 1 HP/round whenever he has less than half his full health. Regeneration is increased by 2 HP/round while he has 10 hit points or less. The ability does not function while unconscious.
At level 10, Regeneration functions while unconscious.
At level 14, Regeneration will also regrow lost limbs or body parts during rest.
At level 18, the character regenerates until at full health, enjoys double prior rates of regeneration, and has a 50% chance to ignore damage from critical hits, Sneak Attack, or any other damage that is dependant on vulnerability to criticals.
Ageless (Path of Chaos: Vitality) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord is no longer subject to either penalties or bonuses from advancing age, though he remains subject to any modifiers he may have already accrued. In addition, the character does not automatically die upon reaching Venerable Age. Instead, he must succeed on a Fort save each year, (DC = age in years - normally appointed age of death,) or accrue ability penalties as if he had advanced one age category. Should the character accrue penalties equivalent to Venerable Age, he then dies.
Primal Fear (Path of Chaos: Terror) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord may cause a single visible opponent to become Panicked. The target's Will save is made against an Intimidate check by the Warrior of Discord. This effect lasts for the duration of the encounter, but an additional Will save may be attempted each round to end the effect (save DC unchanged.) Should the save succeed by less than 5 points, the subject is Shaken for 1 round.
Primal Fear may be used as a free action once/round, but the same opponent may not be afflicted twice in 24 hours.
Aversion (Path of Chaos: Terror) (Su).
The character possesses a Gaze Attack that imposes a morale penalty of -1 to attack rolls and Will saving throws on any hostile creature.
At level 15 this penalty increases to -2/-2, and a -1 penalty to AC also applies.
Aversion may be negated typically for a Gaze attack, or a successful Will saving throw, (DC = 10 +1/2 class levels) negates the effect for 24 hours. Aversion doesn't function while the Warrior of Discord is unconscious or dead.
Cry Havok (Path of Chaos: Terror) (Su).
Cry Havok is a standard action that may be used once per day. The character must have at least 12 ranks in Intimidate to select this special ability.
All opponents within 10 feet + 5 feet/5 levels make a Will saving throw versus an Intimidate check by the Warrior of Discord. Depending on the Save result, differing effects apply (AC penalty is a morale modifier:)
{table=head]Save result|AC pen.|Duration|Special
Success, by >/= 5 points |0|n/a|Unaffected
Success, by 0-4 points |-1|1 round|
Failed, by < 5 points|-2|3 rounds|Shaken
Failed, by 6-10 points |-3|9 rounds|Panicked
Failed, by 11-15 points |-4|encounter + 3 rounds|3 rounds catatonic, panicked
Failed, by > 15 points |-5|permanent|Catatonic
[/table]
Catatonic characters are considered paralysed by fear. Catatonia may be treated as a disease and removed accordingly, but not by spells or abilities that counter paralysis.
Cry Havok is a mind-affecting sonic effect and may be negated accordingly. (It does not require that the subject understand the character, so any barriers on verbal communication do not apply.)
Mania (Path of Chaos: Terror) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord may apply a +2 circumstance bonus to all Charisma-based skill checks, provided the subject is a person and not an object or creature. Aditionally, Intimidate checks no longer worsen the subject's subsequent attitude toward you if you succeed on a check by 10 points or more.
Irruption (Path of Chaos: Instinct) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord can gain additional melee attacks whenever he sustains total damage of at least 20 HP+5 HP/level, (given BAB of at least +6, he may repeat each bonus attack permitted by higher BAB at a -5 penalty.) For purposes of this ability, 'total damage' refers to total HP lost since the character was last at full health or since his last Irruption ended, whichever is more recent. Healing and temporary HP reduce this total.
Consult the Irruption table above for bonus attacks permitted by level.
Irruption lasts for 3 rounds. Bonus attacks with Irruption are applied only during full attack, but may be freely alternated between primary or offhand weapons.
Bloodlust (Path of Chaos: Instinct) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord gains a +1 morale bonus to subsequent attack rolls and damage whenever he inflicts a critical hit. This benefit lasts for 3 rounds. Bonuses from multiple such criticals stack up to +5.
Atavism (Path of Chaos: Instinct) (Su).
The Warrior of Discord gains a +1 bonus to all Will saves. Any spell or effect which allows a Will saving throw to negate it's effects grants the character a further +3 bonus to his saving throw. In addition, the character gains 1 bonus skill point per Warrior of Discord level, which may be spent on class skills only.
At level 18, the Warrior of Discord becomes immune to fear effects and mind-affecting magic of any description.
Pathos (Path of Chaos: Instinct) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord gains a pet, selected at random. Roll 1d4 and consult the following table.
{table=head]Die roll|Animal Type|Benefit
1|Chicken|+1 to Will saving throws and Wis-based skill checks.
2|Starfish|+2 to Str-based skill checks.
3|Stick Insect|+3 to Cha-based skill checks involving animals.
4|Rock|+3 to Cha-based skill checks involving objects.
[/table]
The 'pet' has one hit point, tiny size, Int 1, and AC 10. It weighs 1 lb and may be carried in the character's inventory, (perhaps in a jar.) If it is killed, destroyed, or abandoned, the Warrior of Discord loses it's benefits and may roll randomly to acquire a new pet upon his next level, but the pet need not neccesarily accompany him on his travels.
The Warrior of Discord can freely communicate with animals of the same kind as his pet, however such conversations are usually limited to basic expressions of hunger, fear, and the like.
Chickens recall events up to one minute beforehand, and can describe them with some precision. Rocks do not communicate.
Frenzy (Path of Chaos: Carnage) (Ex).
The Warrior of Discord may trigger an Irruption at will, subject to further penalty to all attacks made (see the Irruption special ability description above. Attack penalties apply to all attacks made while Irruption applies. Consult the table for extra attacks from Irruption, then apply the attack penalty listed for the character's level.)
You must select the Irruption special ability before you can learn Frenzy.
Rupture (Path of Chaos: Carnage) (Ex)
When wielding a weapon with which he has taken the Weapon Specialisation feat, the Warrior of Discord may ignore up to 4 points of any damage reduction an opponent may possess. In addition, the weapon's threat range is increased by 2 points (this benefit stacks with Improved Critical.)
If he has taken Greater Weapon Specialisation with the weapon in question, criticals deal 4 bonus damage.
Mortal Blow (Path of Chaos: Carnage)(Ex)
While wielding a melee weapon with which the Warrior of Discord has the Weapon Focus feat, whenever he inflicts a Critical Hit there is a percentile chance per class level that the opponent struck must make a Fort save (base DC = damage dealt) or die.
{table=head]Condition|% odds|Save DC
Level 4+|20%|-10
Level 10+|25%|-10
Level 12+|30%|-10
Level 14+|35%|-10
Level 16+|40%|-5
Level 18+|50%|+0
Level 20|60%|+5
Greater Weapon Focus|+5%|(+)+5
[/table]
There is a 50% chance that opponents killed in this fashion are rent asunder, and are not considered intact for purposes of raising.
Reaper (Path of Chaos: Carnage)(Ex)
The Warrior of Discord gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls and +4 bonus to damage during attacks granted by the Cleave or Great Cleave feats, provided the target of the attack belongs to a smaller size category than himself.
At level 18, attack and damage bonuses increase to +4/+8, and opponents of equal size category can be affected.
Ex-Warriors of Discord
A Warrior of Discord may never take levels as a Monk, Paladin or Barbarian, or shift to any non-Chaotic alignment. Doing so strips the character of any supernatural class features excepting Mark of Chaos, but he retains the Chaotic subtype, and may redeem supernatural class features at the cost of 100 XP/ level, when and if he resumes Chaotic alignment. Access in any form or fashion to his class' supernatural abilities precludes and revokes access to those of the Monk, Paladin, or Barbarian.
(Only a 20th-level Warrior of Discord with Ultimate Clarity may shift alignment.)
Shifting to Lawful alignment permanently strips a Warrior of Discord of all extraordinary and supernatural class abilties, with all attendant benefits or stigma, and drains 10,000 XP. Only BAB, feats, skill ranks and weapon proficiencies are retained during this alteration. Level loss cannot revoke the effect, but the character may, if desired, undergo the sacred ritual again to reclaim lost class features (the process is detailed below.)
Becoming a Warrior of Discord
The Warrior of Discord is considered a base class, but is normally only available as such to starting characters. While a Warrior of Discord may multiclass to the best of his abilities, it is not generally possible for characters with a differing base class to simply 'join the club.' It is, however, possible for characters with other class levels to undergo the sacred transformation ritual, substituting existing class levels for those as a Warrior of Discord.
A prospective candidate must be Chaotic, and must have suffered, or presently suffer, some form of madness or mental derangement, either magical or mundane in nature. (Merely being panicked, subject to a mind-affecting spell or charm, or severe stutter won't do, but confusion may suffice.) The typical candidate must be both willing, free and intelligible as a supplicant at the time.
Characters can be forced to undergo the ritual against their will, but this is very rare and invariably results in insanity. Even characters forced against their will must be Chaotic, or the ritual has no benefits and no class levels are exchanged.
If the High Priest deems a candidate worthy, the Cultists of the Temple of Fervus will perform the ritual, which costs 500 gold pieces in raw materials per level of the subject, (this cost may be borne by the temple.) The concoction administered to the subject provides a +4 Constitution bonus during the ceremony, and deals 2d8+1 HP of damage per level. If the candidate falls unconscious, he will stabilise naturally, providing he does not die.
The subject must make a Will save of DC matching half his character level (rounded up) or become permanently insane, (as described under Madness.) If the subject survives the experience, he may then trade in half his existing cross-class levels (rounding down, but at least 2) for equivalent levels in the Warrior of Discord class. The following conditions apply to the exchange:
* No feats, skill ranks, weapon or armour proficiencies may be derived from the Warrior of Discord levels gained. Instead, skills, feats, weapon and armour proficiencies from exchanged levels are kept. The character gains the Weapon Focus feat with one weapon of his choice, if he did not already possess it.
* Feats whose prerequisites are no longer met by the character's subsequent ability scores are lost. The feats are lost irrevocably, unless obtained from class levels which explicitly state such prerequisites may be ignored.
* All skills unlisted as Warrior of Discord class skills have their total ranks halved (rounding down.)
The character loses 1000 XP +500 XP/character level, and is rendered helpless until his Hit Points are fully restored 3 days after the transformation, during which he requires care and attention. This recuperation time cannot be expedited in any fashion. If a willing supplicant is rendered insane, the Cultists will likely kill the character at the end of this time (subjects forced to undergo the ritual are the exception to this rule, assuming a form of prior collusion.)
Subjects killed during the ritual or recuperation period may be raised normally, but automatically suffer permanent insanity (as per the spell.)
The ritual may be repeated as neccesary until as many levels as desired have been transferred to the Warrior of Discord class -desired by who, of course, is another question.
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