redking
2022-05-02, 08:02 AM
Silva Stormrage did a great job revising the Horned Harbinger for 3.5e, but perhaps went a little far. Here is a lite version.
The Horned Harbinger
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090324173861/forgottenrealms/images/thumb/7/75/Horned_Harbinger.jpg/367px-Horned_Harbinger.jpg
I always hated how the Horned Harbinger was so poorly written in Faiths and Pantheons. A class that is made for spellcasters that DOESN'T progress spell casting? I hopefully made it more useful with this update. Please tell me if I went overboard with some of the class features. I ignored the fluff from the class from Faith's and Pantheons because too many DM's would look at it as campaign specific and give them another reason to refuse it. (And DM's rarely approve homebrew anyway). This new class works really well with the Dread Necromancer (HoH), the Lord of the Uttercold and really any charisma based necromancer, as well as my own homebrew corpse crafter feats (Shameless Self promotion ftw!). See my sig for both
Becoming a Horned Harbinger
Entry Requirements
Skills:Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 5 ranks
Feats: Corpse Crafter, Skill Focus Knowledge (Religion)
Spell casting: Ability to cast animate dead.
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Hit Die: d8
Class Skills
The Horned Harbinger's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int),Ride (Dex), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier
b]Horned Harbinger[/b]
LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecialSpellcasting
1st
+0
+2
+0
+2 Bone Horns, Rebuke Undead, Death Domain, Animate Dead-
2nd
+1
+3
+0
+3 Death Watch, Improved Corpse Crafter + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
3rd
+2
+3
+1
+3 Desecrate, Bonus Feat-
4th
+3
+4
+1
+4 Create Undead, Ranged Animation + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
5th
+3
+4
+1
+4 Captain of Undeath-
6th
+4
+5
+2
+5 Greater Undead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
7th
+5
+5
+2
+5 Repeated Animation, Bonus Feat-
8th
+6
+6
+2
+6 Create Greater Undead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
9th
+6
+6
+3
+6 Perfect Undead-
10th
+7
+7
+3
+7 General of Undeath, Lichdom + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Horned Harbinger.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Horned Harbinger gain no proficiencies with armor or weapons.
Spells Per Day/ Spells Known: At each level except 1st, 5th and 9th, the Horned Harbinger the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class she belonged to before she entered the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that she adds the level of Horned Harbinger to the level of whatever other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly.
If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a Horned Harbinger, she must decide to which class she adds each level of Horned Harbinger for the purpose of determining spells per day.
Bone Horns (Ex): Horned Harbingers grow six short curved horns of bone from their skull, as if wearing a crown of bone. These horns are treated as a single natural weapon that deal 1d6 piercing damage and deals double damage on a charge.
Rebuke Undead (Su): The character can rebuke and command undead as a cleric of equal level to his Horned Harbinger levels. If the character already has rebuke undead then the character's Horned Harbinger levels stack with that ability.
Death Domain: Upon Adopting the Horned Harbinger class the character gains access to the death domain and its granted power. The character has an effective cleric level for the death domain's granted power equal to his caster level + Horned Harbinger level.
Animate Dead (Sp): The Horned Harbinger can use animate dead as a spell like ability 1/Day. His caster level for this ability is equal to his character level level + his charisma modifier.
Bonus Feat: At every level indicated in the table above the Horned Harbinger gains a bonus feat. They can be chosen from this list and the Horned Harbinger must meet any prerequisite in order to take the feat. Improved Turning, Extra Turning, Empower Turning, Quicken Turning, Tomb Tainted Soul, Any Corpse Crafter Feat, Any Leadership Feat, Undead Leadership, Weapon Focus (Bone Horns), Profane Lifeleach.
Death Watch (Su): Starting at 2nd level the Horned Harbinger can as an at will free action view the world as if he were using a death watch spell.
Improved Corpse Crafter (Ex): At 2nd level all other corpse crafter feats that directly increase animated undead stats have their effects increased by 50%. For example Nimble Bones would grant + 15 Movement Speed and + 6 Initiative while Destructive Retribution would remain unchanged.
Desecrate (Su): At 3rd level the Horned Harbinger generates an unholy aura that duplicates the effect of the Desecrate Spell. The range for this aura is 10ft/Horned Harbinger Level. If the character previously had an aura of desecrate add this one's range to the previous aura.
Create Undead (Sp): At 4th level once per day the Horned Harbinger can duplicate the spell Create Undead as a spell like ability. His caster level for this ability is equal to his character level + his charisma modifier.
Ranged Animation (Su): At 4th level any use of Animate Dead wether as a normal spell or spell like ability can animate any corpse within medium range (100ft + 10ft/Caster Level). If cast as a spell it still need to consume the material components.
Captain of Undead (Ex): At 5th level the Horned Harbinger's limit for controlling undead through Animate dead increase to six times his caster level. If the character was previously a Dread Necromancer then the limit becomes (6 + Cha Modifier) times his caster level. As well the Horned Harbinger's cap for controlling undead through his command undead ability is increased to 2 times his effective cleric level for rebuking.
In addition their animate dead SLA can now be used 3 times per day.
Greater Undead (Ex): At 6th level undead created by the Horned Harbinger gain unholy strength and endurance. All undead created by the Horned Harbinger gain 1 HP per HD.
Repeated Animation (Su): The Horned Harbinger is so adept at animating undead that he can now reanimate undead that have been destroyed. As long as there body is still in a condition to be animated the Horned Harbinger can spend 10gp of Onyx Gems per hd to reanimate any undead creature created through Animate Dead or Plague of Undeath. This Material Component must be payed regardless if the Horned Harbinger can normally ignore the material cost.
Create Greater Undead (Sp): Once per day the Horned Harbinger can duplicate the spell Create Greater Undead as a spell like ability. His caster level for this ability is equal to his character level + his charisma modifier.
Perfect Undead (Ex): At 9th level undead created by the Horned Harbinger gain further unholy strength and endurance. All undead created by the Horned Harbinger gain + 2 Strength and Dexterity as well as 1 HP/HD.
Also the HD cap for creating zombies and skeletons is removed and the Horned Harbinger can create zombies and skeletons of above 20HD.
This ability stacks with Greater Undead.
General of Undead (Ex): At 10th level the Horned Harbinger's limit for controlling undead through Animate dead increase to 12 times his caster level. If the character was previously a Dread Necromancer then the limit becomes (12 + Cha Modifier) times his caster level. As well the Horned Harbinger's cap for controlling undead through his command undead ability is increased to 5 HD per effective cleric level for rebuking.
Also the Horned Harbinger's Ability "Animate Dead" now duplicates the spell Plague of Undeath.
Additionally his create undead and create greater undead SLA's can now be used 3 times per day.
Lichdom (Ex): The Horned Harbinger gains the secrets to crafting a Phylactery and becoming a lich. The Horned Harbinger does not need the Craft Wonderous Item feat in order to craft the Phylactery and does not expend XP to craft it either. Once the Phylactery is crafter the Horned Harbinger completes an hour long ritual near a desecrate shrine to a death god or goddess or to death itself. After the ritual the Horned Harbinger emerges as a lich. The Horned Harbinger counts as animating himself for purposes of corpse crafter feats and other abilities. With DM permission he may select another undead template to become.
At the DM's digression they may select another undead template to animate themselves as which is equal to or weaker than the lich template.
Becoming a Horned Harbinger
Entry Requirements
Skills: Knowledge (The Planes) 8 ranks
Special: Must dedicate self to an undead planar entity or deity.
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Hit Die: d8
Class Skills
The Horned Harbinger's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int),Ride (Dex), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier (or 4+ Int modifier - see text)
LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecialSpellcasting
1st
+0 (or 1)
+2
+0
+2 Bone Horns, Rebuke Undead, Death Domain-
2nd
+1 (or 2)
+3
+0
+3 Death Watch, Animate Dead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
3rd
+2 (or 3)
+3
+1
+3 Bonus Feat+ 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
4th
+3 (or 4)
+4
+1
+4 Bonus Feat + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
5th
+3 (or 5)
+4
+1
+4 Captain of Undeath-
6th
+4 (or 6)
+5
+2
+5 Create Undead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
7th
+5 (or 7)
+5
+2
+5 Bonus Feat, Ranged Animation+ 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
8th
+6 (or 8)
+6
+2
+6 Create Greater Undead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
9th
+6 (or 9)
+6
+3
+6 Bonus Feat-
10th
+7 (or 10)
+7
+3
+7 General of Undeath + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Horned Harbinger.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Horned Harbinger gain no proficiencies with armor or weapons.
Spells Per Day/ Spells Known: At each level except 1st, 5th and 9th, the Horned Harbinger gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class she belonged to before she entered the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that she adds the level of Horned Harbinger to the level of whatever other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly.
If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a Horned Harbinger, she must decide to which class she adds each level of Horned Harbinger for the purpose of determining spells per day.
If the character has no spellcaster levels whatsoever (and thus cannot add spells per day or spells known), the base attack bonus of the Horned Harbinger instead becomes that of a Fighter of equal level (+1 at level 1, +2 at level 2, and so on). In addition, if the character has no spellcaster levels whatsoever, then skill points per level are 4 points per level instead of 2 points per level.
Bone Horns (Ex): As an immediate action, horned harbingers can extend six short curved horns of bone from their skull, as if wearing a crown of bone. These horns are considered natural weapons for the creature, collectively dealing 1d6 points of piercing damage. They do double damage when used as part of a charge. The bone horns can be retracted as an immediate action. Helmets, unless specially crafted for the horned harbinger, may obstruct the bone horns from extending.
Rebuke Undead (Su): The character can rebuke or command undead as a cleric of a level equal to his horned harbinger class level. If the character could already rebuke undead, these levels stack with that ability.
Death Domain: Upon adopting the horned harbinger class, the character gains access to the Death domain, described in the Player's Handbook, as well as the granted power of that domain. Levels in this prestige class stack with cleric levels for determining the effect of the granted power. If the horned harbinger has no cleric levels, only horned harbinger levels are used for the granted power.
Deathwatch (Ex): At will, a horned harbinger can view the world as if he were using a deathwatch spell.
Bonus Feat: At the indicated levels, a horned harbinger may take a bonus feat. These feats are drawn from the following list: Divine Vengeance, Empower Turning, Extra Turning, Heighten Turning, Quicken Turning, Leadership (undead cohorts only), Weapon Focus (bone horns), Greater Weapon Focus (bone horns), Improved Critical (bone horns), Improved Natural Attack, Corpsecrafter, Bolster Resistance, Deadly Chill, Destruction Retribution, Hardened Flesh, Nimble Bones.
Animate Dead (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, the character can east animate dead once per day as a spell-like ability. His caster level for this ability or casting animate dead as a spell is his horned harbinger level plus his Charisma bonus (if any), which stacks with any other class the character has which can cast animate dead. For example, a clr7/horned harbinger 2 with Charisma 13 casts animate dead as a 10th-level cleric, whether using this spell-like ability or casting the spell as a cleric. This caster level is also determines the maximum number of undead animated with animate dead that the horned harbinger can control (so a character with caster level 10 for this power could maintain control over 20 HD worth of undead). Beginning at 4th level he may use this ability twice per day.
Captain of Undead (Ex): At 5th level the Horned Harbinger's limit for controlling undead through Animate dead increase +2 times his caster level (for example, a wizard user of animate dead can normally control 4 times its caster level of animated dead. +2 is added to that, meaning that 6 times the caster level may be controlled). If the character was previously a Dread Necromancer with the Undead Mastery class feature, then the limit becomes (6+ Cha Modifier) times his caster level. As well the Horned Harbinger's cap for controlling undead through his command undead ability is increased to 2 times his effective cleric level for rebuking.
Create Undead (Sp): Beginning at 6th level, the character can cast create undead once per day. His caster level for this ability is the same as the caster level for his animate dead ability. The horned harbinger may cast animate dead instead of using his create undead spell-like ability, similar to an evil cleric spontaneously converting a prepared spell to an inflict wounds spell.
Ranged Animation (Su): At 7th level, any use of animate dead, whether as a normal spell or a spell-like ability, has a range of medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) instead of touch. In other words, the horned harbinger can use animate dead at a distance, without having to touch the corpses. If cast as a spell, the material components are still consumed but do not need to be placed on the corpses.
General of Undead (Ex): At 10th level the Horned Harbinger's limit for controlling undead through Animate dead increases an additional +6 times his caster level (for a total of +8). If the character was previously a Dread Necromancer with the Undead Mastery class feature, then the limit becomes (12+ Cha Modifier) times his caster level. As well the Horned Harbinger's cap for controlling undead through his command undead ability is increased to 5 HD per effective cleric level for rebuking.
---------------------------------
The original problem with this class is that it doesn't advance spellcasting at all, but the fluff strongly suggests this should be a spellcaster. This is a problem shared with the Dreadmaster, which was also introduced in the same product. The problem with that class was fixed here (https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Dreadmaster_(3.5e_Prestige_Class)). I work on making the bone horns viable, extending like cat claws (or Wolverine from Marvel) instead of causing characters to lose the head slot. I extend the list of feats to make using the horns viable, if that is how a player wants to play it.
Now non-casting entries are viable, as are caster entries. I would like to hear some opinions.
04/05/2022: I slightly changed the mechanics of Captain of Undead and General of Undead to make them more modular so they can be mixed and matched with other classes.
The Horned Harbinger
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090324173861/forgottenrealms/images/thumb/7/75/Horned_Harbinger.jpg/367px-Horned_Harbinger.jpg
I always hated how the Horned Harbinger was so poorly written in Faiths and Pantheons. A class that is made for spellcasters that DOESN'T progress spell casting? I hopefully made it more useful with this update. Please tell me if I went overboard with some of the class features. I ignored the fluff from the class from Faith's and Pantheons because too many DM's would look at it as campaign specific and give them another reason to refuse it. (And DM's rarely approve homebrew anyway). This new class works really well with the Dread Necromancer (HoH), the Lord of the Uttercold and really any charisma based necromancer, as well as my own homebrew corpse crafter feats (Shameless Self promotion ftw!). See my sig for both
Becoming a Horned Harbinger
Entry Requirements
Skills:Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 5 ranks
Feats: Corpse Crafter, Skill Focus Knowledge (Religion)
Spell casting: Ability to cast animate dead.
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Hit Die: d8
Class Skills
The Horned Harbinger's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int),Ride (Dex), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier
b]Horned Harbinger[/b]
LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecialSpellcasting
1st
+0
+2
+0
+2 Bone Horns, Rebuke Undead, Death Domain, Animate Dead-
2nd
+1
+3
+0
+3 Death Watch, Improved Corpse Crafter + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
3rd
+2
+3
+1
+3 Desecrate, Bonus Feat-
4th
+3
+4
+1
+4 Create Undead, Ranged Animation + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
5th
+3
+4
+1
+4 Captain of Undeath-
6th
+4
+5
+2
+5 Greater Undead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
7th
+5
+5
+2
+5 Repeated Animation, Bonus Feat-
8th
+6
+6
+2
+6 Create Greater Undead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
9th
+6
+6
+3
+6 Perfect Undead-
10th
+7
+7
+3
+7 General of Undeath, Lichdom + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Horned Harbinger.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Horned Harbinger gain no proficiencies with armor or weapons.
Spells Per Day/ Spells Known: At each level except 1st, 5th and 9th, the Horned Harbinger the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class she belonged to before she entered the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that she adds the level of Horned Harbinger to the level of whatever other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly.
If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a Horned Harbinger, she must decide to which class she adds each level of Horned Harbinger for the purpose of determining spells per day.
Bone Horns (Ex): Horned Harbingers grow six short curved horns of bone from their skull, as if wearing a crown of bone. These horns are treated as a single natural weapon that deal 1d6 piercing damage and deals double damage on a charge.
Rebuke Undead (Su): The character can rebuke and command undead as a cleric of equal level to his Horned Harbinger levels. If the character already has rebuke undead then the character's Horned Harbinger levels stack with that ability.
Death Domain: Upon Adopting the Horned Harbinger class the character gains access to the death domain and its granted power. The character has an effective cleric level for the death domain's granted power equal to his caster level + Horned Harbinger level.
Animate Dead (Sp): The Horned Harbinger can use animate dead as a spell like ability 1/Day. His caster level for this ability is equal to his character level level + his charisma modifier.
Bonus Feat: At every level indicated in the table above the Horned Harbinger gains a bonus feat. They can be chosen from this list and the Horned Harbinger must meet any prerequisite in order to take the feat. Improved Turning, Extra Turning, Empower Turning, Quicken Turning, Tomb Tainted Soul, Any Corpse Crafter Feat, Any Leadership Feat, Undead Leadership, Weapon Focus (Bone Horns), Profane Lifeleach.
Death Watch (Su): Starting at 2nd level the Horned Harbinger can as an at will free action view the world as if he were using a death watch spell.
Improved Corpse Crafter (Ex): At 2nd level all other corpse crafter feats that directly increase animated undead stats have their effects increased by 50%. For example Nimble Bones would grant + 15 Movement Speed and + 6 Initiative while Destructive Retribution would remain unchanged.
Desecrate (Su): At 3rd level the Horned Harbinger generates an unholy aura that duplicates the effect of the Desecrate Spell. The range for this aura is 10ft/Horned Harbinger Level. If the character previously had an aura of desecrate add this one's range to the previous aura.
Create Undead (Sp): At 4th level once per day the Horned Harbinger can duplicate the spell Create Undead as a spell like ability. His caster level for this ability is equal to his character level + his charisma modifier.
Ranged Animation (Su): At 4th level any use of Animate Dead wether as a normal spell or spell like ability can animate any corpse within medium range (100ft + 10ft/Caster Level). If cast as a spell it still need to consume the material components.
Captain of Undead (Ex): At 5th level the Horned Harbinger's limit for controlling undead through Animate dead increase to six times his caster level. If the character was previously a Dread Necromancer then the limit becomes (6 + Cha Modifier) times his caster level. As well the Horned Harbinger's cap for controlling undead through his command undead ability is increased to 2 times his effective cleric level for rebuking.
In addition their animate dead SLA can now be used 3 times per day.
Greater Undead (Ex): At 6th level undead created by the Horned Harbinger gain unholy strength and endurance. All undead created by the Horned Harbinger gain 1 HP per HD.
Repeated Animation (Su): The Horned Harbinger is so adept at animating undead that he can now reanimate undead that have been destroyed. As long as there body is still in a condition to be animated the Horned Harbinger can spend 10gp of Onyx Gems per hd to reanimate any undead creature created through Animate Dead or Plague of Undeath. This Material Component must be payed regardless if the Horned Harbinger can normally ignore the material cost.
Create Greater Undead (Sp): Once per day the Horned Harbinger can duplicate the spell Create Greater Undead as a spell like ability. His caster level for this ability is equal to his character level + his charisma modifier.
Perfect Undead (Ex): At 9th level undead created by the Horned Harbinger gain further unholy strength and endurance. All undead created by the Horned Harbinger gain + 2 Strength and Dexterity as well as 1 HP/HD.
Also the HD cap for creating zombies and skeletons is removed and the Horned Harbinger can create zombies and skeletons of above 20HD.
This ability stacks with Greater Undead.
General of Undead (Ex): At 10th level the Horned Harbinger's limit for controlling undead through Animate dead increase to 12 times his caster level. If the character was previously a Dread Necromancer then the limit becomes (12 + Cha Modifier) times his caster level. As well the Horned Harbinger's cap for controlling undead through his command undead ability is increased to 5 HD per effective cleric level for rebuking.
Also the Horned Harbinger's Ability "Animate Dead" now duplicates the spell Plague of Undeath.
Additionally his create undead and create greater undead SLA's can now be used 3 times per day.
Lichdom (Ex): The Horned Harbinger gains the secrets to crafting a Phylactery and becoming a lich. The Horned Harbinger does not need the Craft Wonderous Item feat in order to craft the Phylactery and does not expend XP to craft it either. Once the Phylactery is crafter the Horned Harbinger completes an hour long ritual near a desecrate shrine to a death god or goddess or to death itself. After the ritual the Horned Harbinger emerges as a lich. The Horned Harbinger counts as animating himself for purposes of corpse crafter feats and other abilities. With DM permission he may select another undead template to become.
At the DM's digression they may select another undead template to animate themselves as which is equal to or weaker than the lich template.
Becoming a Horned Harbinger
Entry Requirements
Skills: Knowledge (The Planes) 8 ranks
Special: Must dedicate self to an undead planar entity or deity.
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Hit Die: d8
Class Skills
The Horned Harbinger's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int),Ride (Dex), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier (or 4+ Int modifier - see text)
LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecialSpellcasting
1st
+0 (or 1)
+2
+0
+2 Bone Horns, Rebuke Undead, Death Domain-
2nd
+1 (or 2)
+3
+0
+3 Death Watch, Animate Dead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
3rd
+2 (or 3)
+3
+1
+3 Bonus Feat+ 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
4th
+3 (or 4)
+4
+1
+4 Bonus Feat + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
5th
+3 (or 5)
+4
+1
+4 Captain of Undeath-
6th
+4 (or 6)
+5
+2
+5 Create Undead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
7th
+5 (or 7)
+5
+2
+5 Bonus Feat, Ranged Animation+ 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
8th
+6 (or 8)
+6
+2
+6 Create Greater Undead + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
9th
+6 (or 9)
+6
+3
+6 Bonus Feat-
10th
+7 (or 10)
+7
+3
+7 General of Undeath + 1 Level of Existing Spellcasting Class
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Horned Harbinger.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Horned Harbinger gain no proficiencies with armor or weapons.
Spells Per Day/ Spells Known: At each level except 1st, 5th and 9th, the Horned Harbinger gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class she belonged to before she entered the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that she adds the level of Horned Harbinger to the level of whatever other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly.
If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a Horned Harbinger, she must decide to which class she adds each level of Horned Harbinger for the purpose of determining spells per day.
If the character has no spellcaster levels whatsoever (and thus cannot add spells per day or spells known), the base attack bonus of the Horned Harbinger instead becomes that of a Fighter of equal level (+1 at level 1, +2 at level 2, and so on). In addition, if the character has no spellcaster levels whatsoever, then skill points per level are 4 points per level instead of 2 points per level.
Bone Horns (Ex): As an immediate action, horned harbingers can extend six short curved horns of bone from their skull, as if wearing a crown of bone. These horns are considered natural weapons for the creature, collectively dealing 1d6 points of piercing damage. They do double damage when used as part of a charge. The bone horns can be retracted as an immediate action. Helmets, unless specially crafted for the horned harbinger, may obstruct the bone horns from extending.
Rebuke Undead (Su): The character can rebuke or command undead as a cleric of a level equal to his horned harbinger class level. If the character could already rebuke undead, these levels stack with that ability.
Death Domain: Upon adopting the horned harbinger class, the character gains access to the Death domain, described in the Player's Handbook, as well as the granted power of that domain. Levels in this prestige class stack with cleric levels for determining the effect of the granted power. If the horned harbinger has no cleric levels, only horned harbinger levels are used for the granted power.
Deathwatch (Ex): At will, a horned harbinger can view the world as if he were using a deathwatch spell.
Bonus Feat: At the indicated levels, a horned harbinger may take a bonus feat. These feats are drawn from the following list: Divine Vengeance, Empower Turning, Extra Turning, Heighten Turning, Quicken Turning, Leadership (undead cohorts only), Weapon Focus (bone horns), Greater Weapon Focus (bone horns), Improved Critical (bone horns), Improved Natural Attack, Corpsecrafter, Bolster Resistance, Deadly Chill, Destruction Retribution, Hardened Flesh, Nimble Bones.
Animate Dead (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, the character can east animate dead once per day as a spell-like ability. His caster level for this ability or casting animate dead as a spell is his horned harbinger level plus his Charisma bonus (if any), which stacks with any other class the character has which can cast animate dead. For example, a clr7/horned harbinger 2 with Charisma 13 casts animate dead as a 10th-level cleric, whether using this spell-like ability or casting the spell as a cleric. This caster level is also determines the maximum number of undead animated with animate dead that the horned harbinger can control (so a character with caster level 10 for this power could maintain control over 20 HD worth of undead). Beginning at 4th level he may use this ability twice per day.
Captain of Undead (Ex): At 5th level the Horned Harbinger's limit for controlling undead through Animate dead increase +2 times his caster level (for example, a wizard user of animate dead can normally control 4 times its caster level of animated dead. +2 is added to that, meaning that 6 times the caster level may be controlled). If the character was previously a Dread Necromancer with the Undead Mastery class feature, then the limit becomes (6+ Cha Modifier) times his caster level. As well the Horned Harbinger's cap for controlling undead through his command undead ability is increased to 2 times his effective cleric level for rebuking.
Create Undead (Sp): Beginning at 6th level, the character can cast create undead once per day. His caster level for this ability is the same as the caster level for his animate dead ability. The horned harbinger may cast animate dead instead of using his create undead spell-like ability, similar to an evil cleric spontaneously converting a prepared spell to an inflict wounds spell.
Ranged Animation (Su): At 7th level, any use of animate dead, whether as a normal spell or a spell-like ability, has a range of medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) instead of touch. In other words, the horned harbinger can use animate dead at a distance, without having to touch the corpses. If cast as a spell, the material components are still consumed but do not need to be placed on the corpses.
General of Undead (Ex): At 10th level the Horned Harbinger's limit for controlling undead through Animate dead increases an additional +6 times his caster level (for a total of +8). If the character was previously a Dread Necromancer with the Undead Mastery class feature, then the limit becomes (12+ Cha Modifier) times his caster level. As well the Horned Harbinger's cap for controlling undead through his command undead ability is increased to 5 HD per effective cleric level for rebuking.
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The original problem with this class is that it doesn't advance spellcasting at all, but the fluff strongly suggests this should be a spellcaster. This is a problem shared with the Dreadmaster, which was also introduced in the same product. The problem with that class was fixed here (https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Dreadmaster_(3.5e_Prestige_Class)). I work on making the bone horns viable, extending like cat claws (or Wolverine from Marvel) instead of causing characters to lose the head slot. I extend the list of feats to make using the horns viable, if that is how a player wants to play it.
Now non-casting entries are viable, as are caster entries. I would like to hear some opinions.
04/05/2022: I slightly changed the mechanics of Captain of Undead and General of Undead to make them more modular so they can be mixed and matched with other classes.