Results 1 to 12 of 12
-
2004-07-18, 05:41 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- California
- Gender
[Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
Light gleamed off the blade as it briefly flashed with holy power, slashing down in an arc that crashed against a darker, blood stained axe, whose orcish wielder staggered back a step from the impact. The human bearing that bright blade growled with a low fury, and his eyes were a disturbing sight: cat like pupils, surrounded by a molten gold color which was eerily reminiscent to that of a dragon’s eyes. “You’ll not harm these people!” behind him, several people were watching the fight with mixed fear and hope in their eyes.
The orc merely snarled in return, and swung his blade again, only to find it easily turned aside before the noble warrior lunged forward with a sudden surge of strength and speed, driving his blade into the slaver’s heart in one quick thrust, then letting the body drop as he spun to face the other slavers who had watch from the opposite side of the battle field. “Your leader is dead, those who surrender themselves now I will recommend for lenient treatment by the magistrate. Those who attempt to fight or flee I will sentence myself.” The body at his feet declared what sort of sentence that was likely to be.
The Holy Blades of Zagaroth are (usually non-dragon) warriors who have dedicated themselves to the ideals laid out by the draconic deity Zagaroth, which include nobility and a passionate sense of duty, tempered by wisdom and mercy, giving kindness and gentleness to the innocent, and bringing justice to the cruel and the evil. They do not shirk in either their duty to fight against evil, or to care for those in need. In return for this dedication, they are granted powers to aid them in defending those who need it, and to help them find the truth of a situation so they may act most appropriately as dispensers of justice.
Though he is a dragon, Zagaroth is not aloof from the affairs of other races as some other draconic deities tend to be. Instead, he encourages people from all races to strive to follow his ideals as best they can, and rarely chastises some one who fails when they have striven their best.
Hit Die: d10
Prerequisites:
Alignment: Lawful Good
Diplomacy: 4 ranks
Knowledge, Religion: 6 ranks
Knowledge, Arcane: 2 ranks
Sense Motive: 4 Ranks
Feats: Dragonfriend, Sacred Vow
BaB: +7
Languages: Draconic
Special: the ability to use Smite Evil at least once per day.
Class Features:
Weapon & armor proficiency: A Holy Blade is proficient in all simple & martial weapons, all armors, and small & large shields.
Skills: the following skills are class skills:
Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge(all), Listen, Profession, Ride, Sense Motive, Search, Spellcraft, Spot
Skill points: (4+int bonus) per level
Code:BAB Fort Ref Will Abilities 1. +1 +2 +0 +2 Dragonmark, Oath, Aura of Good, Smite Evil +1/day 2. +2 +3 +0 +3 Divine Grace 3. +3 +3 +1 +3 Holy Fervor 1/day 4. +4 +4 +1 +4 Exalted Feat, Truth Sense 5. +5 +4 +1 +4 Smite Evil +2/day 6. +6 +5 +2 +5 Zone of Truth, Holy Fervor 2/day 7. +7 +5 +2 +5 Greater Holy Fervor 8. +8 +6 +2 +6 Dragon Feat 9. +9 +6 +3 +6 Smite Evil +3/day, Holy Fervor 3/day 10.+10 +7 +3 +7 Pure Blade
The Holy Blade receives a Circumstance Bonus of +3 to all diplomacy checks when interacting with people who consider themselves allies or benificiaries of Zagaroth's church. (good aligned dragons, celestials, paladins, and most people who spend their lives focused on justice, such as a judge or policeofficer, woudl consider themselves allies, while most good aligned commonors would be benificiaries).
A circumstance penalty of -6 applies to all diplomacy to all who consider themselves active foes of Zagaroth or his church, but the Holy Blade also gains a +3 circumstance bonus to any intimidate checks made against the same.
These bonuses and penalties apply only to those who see the dragonmark, or otherwise know that the character is a Holy Blade.
Oath: Like a Paladin (which many Holy Blades are), a Holy Blade must adhere to a strict code of behavior. Failure to follow this code will lead to the loss of all class abilities:
A Holy blade may never commit an evil act (apply all the rules of a paladin who commits an evil act here)
A Holy Blade must always do his best to protect the innocent from harm.
A Holy Blade should temper punitive justice with both wisdom and mercy whenever feasible.
As an arbitrator of Justice, a Holy Blade is bound to settle civil disputes when asked of him by all parties involved, so long as there is no more appropriate authority around (such as a priest of a domestic deity for domestic troubles) and it would not cause a delay in an urgent quest. (Adventures like exploring an old ruined castle do not count as urgent unless there is a specific reason such as some one needing rescue, or a special spell to break a deadly curse, etc.)
A Holy Blade may not lie. Should circumstances force the holy blade to lie to protect others or otherwise more truly serve justice, the Holy Blade must present himself to high ranking officials in his church and explain the situation and serve penance as judged by his superiors. Failure to do so as soon as possible results in the loss of all class abilities until such a time as penance is achieved and an Atonement is made. As befits the wisdom of Zagaroth, "As soon as possible" means AFTER you finish your quest if delay means the potential endangerment of others.
Aura of Good: (Ex) The power of a Holy Blade’s aura of good (see the detect good spell) is equal to the Holy Blade's class level. This stacks with any other Aura of Good effect
Smite Evil:(Su) As part of an attack action, a Holy blade may Smite Evil 1 more time per day. This ability functions as the source of his perquisite Smite Evil ability does, and if he can use Smite Evil from more than one source, then he may choose which one to use as his qualifier when he takes this class. Example; A half-celestial Paladin can either add this Smite Evil to his Paladin Smite evils (stacking class levels) or may choose to make it so that he can Smite Evil as per his ability from being a Half-Celestial. An additional use of Smite Evil is granted at 5th and at 9th level.
Divine Grace:(Su) At 2nd level, a Holy Blade gains a bonus equal to his Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws. If a Holy Blade already has this ability, add +1 to all saving throws instead.
Holy Fervor:(Su) At 3rd Level, Once per day, while actively defending an innocent or helpless person, a Holy Blade gains a Sacred Bonus of +2 to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma. This lasts a number of rounds equal to his class levels in Holy Blade, but never any longer than the current battle. An Extra Use of this ability is gained at 6th and at 9th level. Activating this ability is a free action.
Exalted Feat: At 4th level, a Holy Blade may choose any exalted feat as a bonus feat. The Holy Blade must meet all prerequisites for the feat they select
Truth Sense:(Ex) From 4th level on, a Holy Blade gains a Competence bonus equal to his class level to Sense Motive and to Diplomacy.
Zone of Truth:(Sp) At 6th level, a Holy Blade gains the Ability to cast Zone of Truth a number of times per day equal to his Charisma Bonus (minimum 1). Caster Level is equal to his Character Level, and the save DC is 10 + Class Level +Charisma Modifier
Greater Holy Fervor:(Su) At 7th level, the bonuses from Holy Fervor increases to +4.
Dragon Feat: at 8th level, a Holy blade may select one of the following feats even if he does not normally qualify for them: Dragon Cohort, Dragon Familiar, Dragon Steed, Dragonsong. Note: if Dragon familiar or dragon Steed is chosen, add 1/2 class levels towards effective class levels of paladin or Wizard for determining the steed or familair's abilities, even if he has no levels in that class.
Pure Blade:(Su) The purity of the Holy Blade’s faith and will enables any weapon the Holy Blade is currently wielding to bypass the damage reduction of any creature with a subtype of [Evil]. For Example, a Holy Blade with a non-magical sword of normal steel could bypass the damage reduction of a Demon or a Devil because they have a subtype of [Evil], but an evil dragon doesn't have that subtype, so a magical blade would still be needed.
NOTES: much editing has occurred..
Now that Z got me thinking about the dragon eyes more, I've actually woudn up adding a lot fo text. That's what you get for making me think!
Divine grace will remain un-named, because the paladin's ability is un-named.
I was going to make Zone of truth be based of the normal spell level for DC, but then decided i LIKED the idea of an Epic Holy Blade having a kick-ass Zone of Truth ability, so took Zherog's suggestion and made it class-level based.
-
2004-07-18, 06:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Enterprise, Alabama
- Gender
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
Well for one:
A Holy Blade may not lie. Should circumstances force the holy blade to lie to protect others or otherwise more truly serve justice, the Holy Blade must present himself to high ranking officials in his church and explain the situation and serve penance as judged by his superiors.
For shield, maybe say Shield (not Tower shield)
Because if you have shield proficency it means all shields but tower usually anyway lol.
Not a bad class, I don't often play Lawful good but when I do I might steer toward this one.
-
2004-07-18, 08:11 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- California
- Gender
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
noted, cool, no major glaring bad things about the class then. :) Just minor wording issues, ic an lvie with that.
I take it you do nto think I shoudl add any of the other abilities I talked about at the end then?
-
2004-07-18, 09:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2004
- Location
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
Love the class, but I have a suggestion. Maybe give it a familiar so that you can get dragon familiar without having to be a wizard/paladin/Holy Blade. Plus, I love familiars, and this would be an awsome class if it allowed one to be decent in combat and have a familiar too.
Kire :)Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
You know, I may not be part of a fan club, but Hinjo sure rocks my socks.
-
2004-07-18, 09:38 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- California
- Gender
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
Hmmm, I know! A little variation on that idea...
There, how's that? Less powerful than what you suggested, but much the same flavor wise and restricts the familiar to being a dragon. It also allows a non-paladin HB (such as a celestial-human Fighter for example) to get a Steed.
-
2004-07-19, 12:57 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Earthfall
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Otherwise, it sounds pretty cool.Spoiler
Veeratar© Enhanced
MTI Avatar by Ceika. Now get on your face!
Professor AngelSword by FDL. Fascinating!
Berith AngelSword by Ceika.
Wicked Savior
Exile
Heart of Gold
Castles & Chemo - Granting a +4 to Saves vs. Cancer!
-
2004-07-19, 03:05 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- California
- Gender
-
2004-07-19, 11:34 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Gender
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
I'd think it would also give a circumstance bonus/penalty is some situations.
-
2004-07-20, 02:01 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- California
- Gender
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
hmmm, now there's a thought. I hadn't considered that.
as the the circumstance modifier, I think the appropriate skill descriptions should already cover that, based on the target's feelings towards you (friendly, hostile, etc) which could be set by those eyes (other paladins tend to default friendly, evil people tend to be default unfriendly or hostile). I'll let the Dm determine that.
Now to go edit the Dragonmark a bit.
-
2004-07-22, 01:56 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- California
- Gender
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
*bump*
:)
C'mon, anything more to say about it? Please?
-
2004-07-22, 03:52 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- Bensalem, PA
- Gender
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
Hi Zag. Just finished reading it. Overall, I enjoyed it. Specific comments below. ;)
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
I bolded the word "feat." I believe you mean "feet."
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Generally, I don't like relying on a DM to figure these things out, for two reasons. One, there are players who will abuse the DM and weasel every possible bonus from it; two, there are DM's who look to screw players and will never grant the bonus. *shrug* just my thoughts.
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
Originally Posted by Zagaroth
regarding healing: I wouldn't worry about it too much. A character has to give up something to get something. In this case, the paladin has to give up his Lay on Hands improving for the stuff in this class.
on Holy Fervor: It definitely is a useless ability in some circumstances. However, characters with this class might be better off not going on random dungeon delves, and instead focusing on areas that allow them to maximize their abilities.
Overall, I liked the class. It has good flavor as a slightly beefed up Paladin. They gain some nice abilities, but at the cost of other stuff.
John Ling
Frog God Games Lead Pathfinder Developer
Note: unless explicitly stated otherwise, opinions in my posts are my own and not those of Frog God Games.
-
2004-07-22, 07:09 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- California
- Gender
Re: [Screen Name] Holy Blades of Zagaroth
alrighty, I've tweaked it a bit more then. :) Thanks for the feedback Z!