Bad Wolf
2021-09-11, 01:48 AM
Disclaimer: I'm not the best at optimization, so there's always the chance I was horribly wrong.
So, as most people know, the Hellbred race from Fiendish Codex II has this nifty little racial trait:
Evil Exception (Ex): Regardless of alignment or class restrictions, a hellbred can cast spells with the evil descriptor and never gains negative levels while wielding evil magic items, such as unholy weapons or demon armor. This ability does not shield a hellbred from losing access to class features if he violates a class's code of conduct.
Which opens up a lot of options in the roleplaying department. And as they have Paladin as a favored class, this makes things fun to plan out. So what can we do with this?
Corrupt Spells: So, corrupt spells are available to any caster who prepares spells, arcane or divine. While paladins don't have a code of conduct that prevent them from casting opposite-aligned spells, they don't have evil spells on their list in the first place so it's moot. Theoretically there's nothing stopping a Paladin from preparing a corrupt spell, such an act would probably make them fall pretty quickly. However with a Hellbred, it seems like you can cast corrupt spells all day along as long as you act LG.
Unfortunately, most corrupt spells have really evil spell components, like human hearts or brains or souls. So even if the act of casting the spell itself is fine, merely possessing those components could be grounds for falling. Also your DM might hit you over the head with the Book of Exalted Deeds if continually cast Mordenkainen's Boot of Puppy-Kicking.
Evil Magic Items: Grab an unholy longsword, get some demon armor, and go to town slaying evil (with evil)! Caveat: Probably better to find evil weapons rather than create them, as giving money to your foes so they can make items for you is probably a no-no when it comes to conduct. But the BoED has an astral deva that sells demon parts to "dubious" buyers to finance charity, so this might be acceptable.
Exalted Feats: Now, it wouldn't be fun to just slap a coat of Evil paint without also getting some Good in it. The BoED states that only good characters who have "the highest moral standards can acquire exalted feats". Depending on your view, a Hellbred paladin wielding a soul-drinking sword and wearing demonic armor might fail that, no matter their LG alignment. But how fun would that be? The various Vow feats aren't that great, but they make an amusing addition to our little Helladin. There's also the Fist of Raziel - anyone feel like Smiting Evil with an unholy weapon that also acts as holy at the same time?
Anyone else got any ideas on making our paladin more evil/good aligned?
So, as most people know, the Hellbred race from Fiendish Codex II has this nifty little racial trait:
Evil Exception (Ex): Regardless of alignment or class restrictions, a hellbred can cast spells with the evil descriptor and never gains negative levels while wielding evil magic items, such as unholy weapons or demon armor. This ability does not shield a hellbred from losing access to class features if he violates a class's code of conduct.
Which opens up a lot of options in the roleplaying department. And as they have Paladin as a favored class, this makes things fun to plan out. So what can we do with this?
Corrupt Spells: So, corrupt spells are available to any caster who prepares spells, arcane or divine. While paladins don't have a code of conduct that prevent them from casting opposite-aligned spells, they don't have evil spells on their list in the first place so it's moot. Theoretically there's nothing stopping a Paladin from preparing a corrupt spell, such an act would probably make them fall pretty quickly. However with a Hellbred, it seems like you can cast corrupt spells all day along as long as you act LG.
Unfortunately, most corrupt spells have really evil spell components, like human hearts or brains or souls. So even if the act of casting the spell itself is fine, merely possessing those components could be grounds for falling. Also your DM might hit you over the head with the Book of Exalted Deeds if continually cast Mordenkainen's Boot of Puppy-Kicking.
Evil Magic Items: Grab an unholy longsword, get some demon armor, and go to town slaying evil (with evil)! Caveat: Probably better to find evil weapons rather than create them, as giving money to your foes so they can make items for you is probably a no-no when it comes to conduct. But the BoED has an astral deva that sells demon parts to "dubious" buyers to finance charity, so this might be acceptable.
Exalted Feats: Now, it wouldn't be fun to just slap a coat of Evil paint without also getting some Good in it. The BoED states that only good characters who have "the highest moral standards can acquire exalted feats". Depending on your view, a Hellbred paladin wielding a soul-drinking sword and wearing demonic armor might fail that, no matter their LG alignment. But how fun would that be? The various Vow feats aren't that great, but they make an amusing addition to our little Helladin. There's also the Fist of Raziel - anyone feel like Smiting Evil with an unholy weapon that also acts as holy at the same time?
Anyone else got any ideas on making our paladin more evil/good aligned?