Torger
2008-03-09, 06:58 PM
Alright, this is my first kick at the cat for a prestige class. Useful feedback appreciated. All others need not apply.
The Serial Killer
Madness does not always begin with a howl. Sometimes, it's the soft foice in the dead of the night asking, "Hey... Is there room in your head for one more?"
The serial killer stalks through dark alleys, peering warily at the shadows and guided by unheard voices. They possess a seemingly uncanny ability to hit where it hurts the most, and take a strange delight in feeling the last pulses of life drain out of their victims. Their paranoia, innate stealth, and murderous urges make them the bane of law enforcement officials, and a boon to those who might control them. Although they lack the staying power of more martial people in combat, they are quick to strike, specializing in surprise attacks, ambushes, and other forms of sneak attacks, usually leaving their victim a lifeless corpse.
HD: d6
Requirements:
Alignmant: Any non-lawful, non-good.
Skills: Diplomacy +4 or Intimidate +4, Hide +8, Move Silently +8
Special: Int 13+, Cha 13+. Must have suffered Wisdom damage, mental abuse, or some other form of madness-inducing affliction. Must have comitted a premeditated murder.
Class Details:
Class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha), and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 6+ Int Modifier
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 0 0 2 2 Sneak Attack +1d6, Maddening Whispers
2 1 0 3 3 Descent into Madness, Obsession
3 2 1 3 3 Paranoia +1, Sneak Attack +2d6
4 3 1 4 4 Schadenfreude, Death Attack
5 3 1 4 4 Enduring Madness, Sneak Attack +3d6
6 4 2 5 5 Decisive, Paranoia +2
7 5 2 5 5 Sneak Attack +4d6, Grim Resolve +1
8 6 2 6 6 Unobtrusive, Mad Certainty
9 6 3 6 6 Paranoia +3, Sneak Attack +5d6
10 7 3 7 7 Insanity, Grim Resolve +2
Sneak Attack: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name. The extra damage dealt increases by +1d6 every other level (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th). If a Serial Killer gets a sneak attack bonus from another source the bonuses on damage stack. Furthermore, levels of Rogue (or similar) stack with levels of Serial Killer for determining whether or not a character with Uncanny dodge or a similar ability receives precision damage.
Maddening Whispers: The Serial Killer begins to take counsel from his own growing madness. These voices – personifications of his budding insanity – advise him in behaviors, helping him get closer to his victims. At first level, the Serial Killer gains +1 to all Charisma-based skills and checks.
Descent into Madness: The Serial Killer begins to behave rashly, subtracting one from all Wisdom-based skills and checks. However, his deepening madness gives him a new resolve. He adds +1 to all saving throws.
Obsession: The Serial Killer gains the use of the Urban Tracking feat, allowing him to use Gather Information to locate a target in an urban environment, much as a ranger might track in a wilderness environment.
Paranoia: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't following you. At third level, the Serial Killer adds +1 to his initiative checks. He adds an additional +1 at sixth level, and another at ninth.
Schadenfreude: At 4th Level, the Serial Killer begins to take a grim satisfaction in the pain and suffering of others. He heals one hitpoint per class level held upon each successful critical hit. Further, he gains the benefit of the Bless spell for a number of rounds equal to his Serial Killer level.
Death Attack: If a Serial Killer studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (player’s choice). While studying the victim, the Serial Killer can undertake other actions so long as his attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the Serial Killer or recognize the Serial Killer as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the Serial Killer’s class level + the Serial Killer’s Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim is rendered helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 1 round per level of the Serial Killer. If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the Serial Killer has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds.
If a death attack is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the Serial Killer does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before he can attempt another death attack.
Enduring Madness: The Serial Killer gains the power of the Endurance Feat.
Decisive: Once the Serial Killer has resolved to end the life of one of his victims, he wastes no time on cogitation or second-guessing. He can, once per day, increase his initiative score by one for every three Serial Killer levels he possesses, striking swiftly and brutally.
Grim Resolve: As his madness deepens, and he begins to revel in the joy of the kill, the Serial Killer becomes more skilled at dispatching his foes. He gains a +1 insight bonus to the Saving Throws on his Death Attack at seventh level. This bonus increases to +2 at 10th level.
Unobtrusive: At 8th level, a Serial Killer can use the Hide skill even while being observed. A Serial Killer can, so long as there are shadows within 10 feet, hide himself from view in the open without having anything to actually hide behind. He is a master of remaining unobserved as he stalks his target, though he cannot hide in his own shadow.
Mad Certainty: So sure is he in the face of his madness, that the Serial Killer gains an insight bonus equal to half his Serial Killer Levels on all saves vs. Mind-influencing effects and compulsions. Furthermore, he may make a saving throw against such effects that normally do not allow a save.
Insanity: The Serial Killer is totally consumed by his madness. He subtracts one from his Wisdom score. However, once per day, you can see and act with the clarity of true madness: Make a death attack instantly, without study.
The Serial Killer
Madness does not always begin with a howl. Sometimes, it's the soft foice in the dead of the night asking, "Hey... Is there room in your head for one more?"
The serial killer stalks through dark alleys, peering warily at the shadows and guided by unheard voices. They possess a seemingly uncanny ability to hit where it hurts the most, and take a strange delight in feeling the last pulses of life drain out of their victims. Their paranoia, innate stealth, and murderous urges make them the bane of law enforcement officials, and a boon to those who might control them. Although they lack the staying power of more martial people in combat, they are quick to strike, specializing in surprise attacks, ambushes, and other forms of sneak attacks, usually leaving their victim a lifeless corpse.
HD: d6
Requirements:
Alignmant: Any non-lawful, non-good.
Skills: Diplomacy +4 or Intimidate +4, Hide +8, Move Silently +8
Special: Int 13+, Cha 13+. Must have suffered Wisdom damage, mental abuse, or some other form of madness-inducing affliction. Must have comitted a premeditated murder.
Class Details:
Class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha), and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 6+ Int Modifier
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 0 0 2 2 Sneak Attack +1d6, Maddening Whispers
2 1 0 3 3 Descent into Madness, Obsession
3 2 1 3 3 Paranoia +1, Sneak Attack +2d6
4 3 1 4 4 Schadenfreude, Death Attack
5 3 1 4 4 Enduring Madness, Sneak Attack +3d6
6 4 2 5 5 Decisive, Paranoia +2
7 5 2 5 5 Sneak Attack +4d6, Grim Resolve +1
8 6 2 6 6 Unobtrusive, Mad Certainty
9 6 3 6 6 Paranoia +3, Sneak Attack +5d6
10 7 3 7 7 Insanity, Grim Resolve +2
Sneak Attack: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name. The extra damage dealt increases by +1d6 every other level (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th). If a Serial Killer gets a sneak attack bonus from another source the bonuses on damage stack. Furthermore, levels of Rogue (or similar) stack with levels of Serial Killer for determining whether or not a character with Uncanny dodge or a similar ability receives precision damage.
Maddening Whispers: The Serial Killer begins to take counsel from his own growing madness. These voices – personifications of his budding insanity – advise him in behaviors, helping him get closer to his victims. At first level, the Serial Killer gains +1 to all Charisma-based skills and checks.
Descent into Madness: The Serial Killer begins to behave rashly, subtracting one from all Wisdom-based skills and checks. However, his deepening madness gives him a new resolve. He adds +1 to all saving throws.
Obsession: The Serial Killer gains the use of the Urban Tracking feat, allowing him to use Gather Information to locate a target in an urban environment, much as a ranger might track in a wilderness environment.
Paranoia: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't following you. At third level, the Serial Killer adds +1 to his initiative checks. He adds an additional +1 at sixth level, and another at ninth.
Schadenfreude: At 4th Level, the Serial Killer begins to take a grim satisfaction in the pain and suffering of others. He heals one hitpoint per class level held upon each successful critical hit. Further, he gains the benefit of the Bless spell for a number of rounds equal to his Serial Killer level.
Death Attack: If a Serial Killer studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (player’s choice). While studying the victim, the Serial Killer can undertake other actions so long as his attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the Serial Killer or recognize the Serial Killer as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the Serial Killer’s class level + the Serial Killer’s Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim is rendered helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 1 round per level of the Serial Killer. If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the Serial Killer has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds.
If a death attack is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the Serial Killer does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before he can attempt another death attack.
Enduring Madness: The Serial Killer gains the power of the Endurance Feat.
Decisive: Once the Serial Killer has resolved to end the life of one of his victims, he wastes no time on cogitation or second-guessing. He can, once per day, increase his initiative score by one for every three Serial Killer levels he possesses, striking swiftly and brutally.
Grim Resolve: As his madness deepens, and he begins to revel in the joy of the kill, the Serial Killer becomes more skilled at dispatching his foes. He gains a +1 insight bonus to the Saving Throws on his Death Attack at seventh level. This bonus increases to +2 at 10th level.
Unobtrusive: At 8th level, a Serial Killer can use the Hide skill even while being observed. A Serial Killer can, so long as there are shadows within 10 feet, hide himself from view in the open without having anything to actually hide behind. He is a master of remaining unobserved as he stalks his target, though he cannot hide in his own shadow.
Mad Certainty: So sure is he in the face of his madness, that the Serial Killer gains an insight bonus equal to half his Serial Killer Levels on all saves vs. Mind-influencing effects and compulsions. Furthermore, he may make a saving throw against such effects that normally do not allow a save.
Insanity: The Serial Killer is totally consumed by his madness. He subtracts one from his Wisdom score. However, once per day, you can see and act with the clarity of true madness: Make a death attack instantly, without study.