Dnd 3.5 - The Hunt for the Holy Grail.

[paradox26]

Not sure if it would be relevant to your character choice, Dusk Raven, but in the 2E Ravenloft Van Richten's Guide to the Ancient Dead, it says that there are different stages of mummy. The first stage, for recently created mummies, they could be mistaken for mortals, as they have yet to start to decay. And the wrappings are able to be removed. At least according to Van Richten. I think early stage liches may be the same, but I haven't read that Guide in some time.

[samduke]

How much is a Greathorn Minotaur Hammer? I ask because there is no listed price in MMV.

Yup no listed price, the closest is the Goliath great hammer, but it does not have the same crit range, but it at least has a price

[Rilem]

WIP for Sir Anger, Ghost Fighter/MotUH

Background in progress as well, but the general idea right now is a commander who led a failed invasion of the city long ago and has been rattling around making trouble ever since.


Cheese potential: Given at-will telekinesis, it needs to be mentioned that I'm not planning on throwing 17 greatswords at a time. This guy will be good at pushing people around and breaking things and that's about it. He might hurl his own weapon at some point but that's just the 1. (If I could throw a cow, I would, but I don't think it's possible.)

Spoiler: Background

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There aren’t many reminders of one of the darkest periods in _____’s history, when the Night Legions sacked the city and held it for years before being driven out by the same church that runs things now.

There are the trophies, of course, and a few forgotten black altars hidden behind the walls of the citadel. And, far below the water at the bottom of a chasm underneath a collapsed bridge, there are the remains of Captain Caborn Hollis.

Hollis, when he lived, was a loyal soldier of the Legion and completely assured of its victory against the forces of light. So he remained guarding the bridge, as he was ordered to, even as others abandoned the citadel as the crusaders pressed in. He never heard the invocation that shattered the stone beneath him, sending him toppling into the abyss.

His consciousness returned some time later — he’s not sure how long. More shocking than viewing his own corpse was the realization that the Legion had been driven out. He still refuses to accept it — that defiance be the animating force behind his undeath — and for years has kept up a solitary war against the invaders of his city.

For the most part, it’s been a pretty unsuccessful war, confined to smashing holy sites, moaning frightfully and occasionally tossing a sentry off a parapet. Other guards have seen him, a visage in ectoplasmic armor (or sometimes the real thing) and have dubbed him “Sir Anger,” the citadel’s resident ghost. This makes him even more furious.

[namo]

I assume Ghost is an allowed template?

If so

The ghost also gains a manifestation ability plus one to three other special attacks as described below.

do they gain 1, 2 or 3 special attacks? Or is it a roll?

edit: darn, I hadn't refreshed the page, someone just started a Master of the Unseen Hand

[Rilem]

do they gain 1, 2 or 3 special attacks? Or is it a roll?

Savage Progressions (which is what I used in the MotUH guy), spells it out more clearly: It gives 1 lesser power (selected from a list) at 2nd level and then either a greater power (from a different list) or 2 lesser ones at level 4.

[AvatarVecna]

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[samduke]

I assume Ghost is an allowed template?

okay I checked and the (MM p117) Ghost Lvl +5 please use this as the srd is not always accurate
as for the The ghost also gains a manifestation ability plus one to three other special attacks as described below : portion just roll a random 1d3 and choose - or I will just pick 1 of them at random.

Can I have a (un)dead parrot as a familiar?
Just kidding, though it would be perfect for a Pythonesque game.

having looked at the possible familiars that could be I found Parrot MMI p278 - okay sure it can be (UN)dead

Savage Progressions (which is what I used in the MotUH guy), spells it out more clearly: It gives 1 lesser power (selected from a list) at 2nd level and then either a greater power (from a different list) or 2 lesser ones at level 4.

I am not a fan of savage progression or how Savage Species lays out many of the monsters into levels
Please Do Not Use It.

[Rilem]

I am not a fan of savage progression or how Savage Species lays out many of the monsters into levels
Please Do Not Use It.

No problem, sheet now updated with LA+5 Ghost

(1d3)[1] Ghost Powers (Telekinesis, obviously)

[Infernally Clay]

I accept Deathknight as LA+5 , you will need to convert that damage reduction 15/+1 to I believe it is
DR 10/magic
notation the Undead Followers: portion you would not benefit from as it is a leadership effect - which I have banned.

the Summon Mount (Su): will follow the same rules as the paladins special mount rule - except you are evil ( No nightmares as mounts sorry)

That's fine by me. I wasn't going to use it anyway. Too much bookkeeping. :P

[namo]

(1d3)[2] ghost abilities

[Psycho Ban]

Well, in that case... to give an example of how edgy this character is... while her given name is Meridith, in her earlier years as a necromancer, she often insisted on being called Merideath. I was going to have it so that she's now embarrassed by that name, and much of her edgy rebellious teen phase... but perhaps for this campaign, she's still like that, perhaps even worse. After all, if a 18th-level necromancer wishes to be addressed as "Lady Merideath Darkblossom, Witch of Death and Decay," most people are not going to do otherwise. The more powerful you are, the more people will let you be a goofball.

...Speaking of character peculiarities, Lady Darkblossom would like to be able to use magic of some sort to still look human. I don't know if Alter Self will accomplish that for an undead. Disguise self may work, but her flesh would still feel... "dry, withered, and powdery," as a Necropolitan. Assuming anyone tried to touch her, anyway. And I'm not sure how easily I could get those spells as Dread Necromancer, anyway. Not sure what other options I've got, though... anyone have suggestions? Whether for magic, or undead creatures capable of looking human, or at least semi-alive? Yes, Vampire is the obvious choice, but that LA...

Vampire Spawn?

[Dusk Raven]

Vampire Spawn?

Problem with that is a) VS' are usually enslaved to a full vampire, and b) they have a level adjustment of -, and I think this is because upon becoming a vampire spawn, a creature loses all racial and class abilities and can't get new ones. In any event, creatures with no level adjustment (as opposed to 0) are not allowed in this game. Nor are creatures with a level adjustment, although I have no idea what monsters would have that. Never seen a negative LA outside of the LA-assignment threads, which I wish we were using since official LAs, especially for evil creatures, tend to be overinflated. Or so I've read.

[Rilem]

Curst seem to have ok skin, though it’s very pale, and just +3LA. The madness and spell vulnerability hurt, though.

[paradox26]

Don’t forget to look at the Curst’s stat penalties too Rilem. They are substantial.

[Rilem]

Oh yeah, they’re a mess. Never mind. If all you want is good skin tone it might be best try to get Disguise Undead on your spell list, pick up Living Masks (ghostwalk) or just invest in Disguise ranks; with a good Cha and maybe a level dip you could get that modifier up there.

[Lioslaith]

I don’t think we are trying to hide what we are in the least. Now if that’s an individual character thing no worries but in terms of the party and the game we aren’t try to integrate with “normal” society.

[Auranghzeb]

Necropolitan Muckdweller (Serpent Kingdoms, Monstrous humanoid LA 0) built entirely around the craven feat to unlive eternally as a coward! Would that work?

[Psycho Ban]

Probably a stupid question, but can the items we deduct from our starting gold be enchanted, assuming we also pay for the enchantment?

[samduke]

Probably a stupid question, but can the items we deduct from our starting gold be enchanted, assuming we also pay for the enchantment?

So if you buy a Longsword, you can enchant it, at cost. Not every item can be enchanted though

[Goby]

Bring on the monty

Well, this is not what I was expecting when I first saw the thread title. But I love it, it’s even better than I thought.

Now to see about all the crazy options for undead templates, and whether I can find an idea that will work. Always wanted to play a vampire, but wow that LA. Still, there’s gotta be some fun low-op builds out there for undead.

Question, what churches exist in this setting? Thinking undead characters might have some connections to the divine. Do we know what religion is sending forces against us?

Spoiler: Die rolls

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3: (4d6b3)[14]
4: (4d6b3)[12]
5: (4d6b3)[15]
6: (4d6b3)[13]
7: (4d6b3)[13]

[namo]

Spoiler: rolls

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I may change my plans and do a Bard.

[samduke]

I don’t think we are trying to hide what we are in the least. Now if that’s an individual character thing no worries but in terms of the party and the game we aren’t try to integrate with “normal” society.

you the undead are definitely not hiding what you are, and you definitely are not trying to be one with the normal population

Well, this is not what I was expecting when I first saw the thread title. But I love it, it’s even better than I thought.

Now to see about all the crazy options for undead templates, and whether I can find an idea that will work. Always wanted to play a vampire, but wow that LA. Still, there’s gotta be some fun low-op builds out there for undead.

Question, what churches exist in this setting? Thinking undead characters might have some connections to the divine. Do we know what religion is sending forces against us?

well when it comes to the template itself I am less concerned about it being low to mid OP and more concerned about any class level combinations that could become something more than mid OP.

Churches there is but only 1 church that you need worry about, and it be the one you the undead plan to assault ect. as undead any connection to the divine would not really be needed, so if you are some sort of undead cleric/paladin ect that needs to worship some sort of deity then just stick with the standard ones listed in the PHB/DMG

what religion is out to rid the world of undead - >tongue in cheek< The church of Caerbannog

[Lioslaith]

Is anyone building a “converter”? Something that makes undead? That would be fitting punishment for an organization bent on wiping out our kind. Make them undead.

[samduke]

Is anyone building a “converter”? Something that makes undead? That would be fitting punishment for an organization bent on wiping out our kind. Make them undead.

LOL I thought I covered that in the little bit of background -

A few of you have gotten together to seek out the head of the local church and to turn them into one of you at all costs.

[Psycho Ban]

Rolling for ghost abilities.

(1d3)[2]

Horrific appearance and telekinesis.

[Burning Spear]

Hi Sammy

Spoiler: Rolls

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Ouch, lol, damn random rolls :D

Pharao Lady Sobek-Nepheru
(her nickname is "Lady So-Ne", but only by people she allows and are familiar with her)

Nutshell:
Ex-Pharao, after her son took the throne when he was old enough, she kept advising him, although enemy priests conspired against her untill they managed to kill her, when her diety decided to grant her "life" again. She's kept herself to the shadows of society, keeping an eye out on her family and their ongoings.
When her lair was interfered with for the 12th time, she'd had enough of grave robbers and looters, she's decided a proactive stance was needed. She's taken her funerary chariot and bought herself 2 fresh warhorses, her weapons of choice, and made contact with some of the other undead she is aware of that reside near her tomb.

They city-state her son ruled over was old. Thernak-Tripolis was located around an oasis large enough to support a full city-state.

She adheres to both Hathor and Isis, and mixes the two belief systems into a blend of one, her ethics dictate that she protect her direct family, which she has done so over the years she has existed, she uses divinations to ascertain her priorities of her adversaries and how to combat them. She adamantly tries to balance life, even in death, or undeath as some say, but her wrath is stormy.

She sees the ability to transform into a living Bison as a gracious gift from Hathor, that even when she's undead, she still can experience the beauty of the natural world for some periods of time every day, she enjoys grazing incognito with the herds of Bison that frequent her area, and she makes sure they are not harassed to much by marauding monsters intent on eating her herds. She sees the herds of Bison as an extention of her family.
Recently she has taken up a hobby of sorts, in the last hundred or so years she has started delving into nature and natural phenomena, so as to better serve the herds of Bison and other wildlife in her area.

Pharao-Lady Sobek-Nepheru died at the hands of assassins when her temple didn't agree with the machinations of the church of "...", it wasn't directly proven to be so, but there were a lot of indirect pieces of proof that implied that the rival church of "..." was at least indirectly responcible.

One of her extended family members, an uncle of her son's wife, was a high member of the church of Anubis, and he was a simple Necropolitan, as were several other priests that were involved in her revivication.

Spoiler: Master Anubis-Aemon-Suhr, High Priest of Anubis

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Lvl 15-17 to be able to cast Create Undead to make a Mummy

had had several dreams telling him, by both visions what he interprets as directly from both Sebek and Anubis, how to go about and make a mummy, one that walks, and he was lead to a site where he found a scroll which contained the arcane ritual to make just such. He and several lower ranking clerics of both Anubis and Sebek did the embalming of her body as was directed by the scripture on the scroll, this was 340 years ago.
She has meanwhile killed a lot of interlopers together with the few undead priests (they are the lesser priests of several religions, Anubis, Sebek/ Sobek, Osiris, Nephthys and Zoser all of them Necropolitans) that reside in her city, but mainly she is left alone unless they can't handle it, then she comes and dishes out a storm.
The undead that reside nearby her domain, see her as their Pharao, and treat her as the Undead Pharao, whilst the living one resides and rules over the living population.

Pharao Lady Sobek-Nepheru
Female N. Mulan Human Mummy , Level 14 (+4), Init 4, HP 168/168, DR 5/-, Speed 20
AC 33, Touch 13, Flat-footed 31, Fort 13, Ref 13, Will 20, Base Attack Bonus 9.5/ 4.5
Hathor's Horn, (vs Orcs +20/+15, 3d6+11), 1 reroll/day Short Sword +2, Luck Blade, Orc Bane, Spellblade - Command Undead +18/+13 (1d6+9, 19-20/×2)
Charging (+2 to hit/ -2 ac, +2d6 Dam) Lance +1 +17+12 (1d8+11, 20/x3)
Javelin (10) +16 (1d6+7, 20/x2)
"Pharaonic Scales of Ma'at" ++ Banded mail +2 (+10 Armor, +2 Dex, +10 Natural, +1 Misc)
Abilities Str 25, Dex 14, Con -, Int 18, Wis 28, Cha 18
Condition None


Lady So-Ne Bison Form
Female N. Bison (Mulan Human) , Level , Init 0, HP 168/168, Speed 40
AC 25, Touch 11, Flat-footed 25, Fort 16, Ref 11, Will 20, Base Attack Bonus 9.5/ 4.5
Magic Horns +14/+9 (1d8+12, 20/x2)
Banded mail +4 (+10 Armor, -1 Size, +2 Deflect, +4 Natural)
Abilities Str 23, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 28, Cha 18
Condition None

Mummified Creature +4 LA
Str +8, Int –4 (minimum 1), Wis +4, Cha +4
Str) 12 +8= 20
Dex) 13 +1= 14
Con) -
Int) 16 -4= 12 +2= 14 +4 Tome= 18
Wis) 15 +4= 19 +1= 20
Cha) 13 +4= 17 +1= 18

Hathor (Bison)
Domains: Family/ Fate/ Moon
Isis (Giant Eagle)
Domains: Family/ Magic/ Storm/ Water
+ Balance/ Oracle
Fav. Wpn; Short Sword

Spoiler: Level Progression

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1) Militant Rogue 1 Bab +3/4, 1/3, 2.5/ 1/3
Feats:
Mil.R1) Chariot Combat
1) Godsight
H) Able Learner

2) Cleric *(Cloistered) 1 +1/2, 2.5, 1/3, 2.5 (Domains: Knowledge, Family, Storm)
Caster lvl 1
Skillpoints: 8+4 (+4 Human) x4= 52

3) Human Paragon 1 +3/4, 1/3, 1/3, 0.5
3 Feat: Improved Turning
Adaptive Learning: Know. Religion
Skillpoints: 4+4+1= 9

4) Human Paragon 2, +1? +3/4, 1/3, 1/3, 0.5
Caster Lvl 2
Feat: Scorpion's Resolve
Skillpoints: 9

5) Human Paragon 3, +2? +3/4, 1/3, 1/3, 0.5
Caster Lvl 3
Skillpoints: 9

6) Militant Rogue 2 +3/4, 1/3, 0.5/ 1/3
6 Feat: Skillfocus - Know. Religion
Mil.R2) Chariot Sideswipe
Skillpoints: 8+4+1= 13

7) Militant Rogue 3 +3/4, 1/3, 0.5/ 1/3
Skillpoints: 13

8) Militant Rogue 4, +1? +3/4, 1/3, 0.5/ 1/3
Feat: Mil.R4) Chariot Charge
Skillpoints: 13

9) Divine Oracle 1 +1/2, 1/3, 1/3, 0.5 (Domain: Oracle)
Caster Lvl 4
9 Feat: Close-Quarters Fighting
Skillpoints: 2+4+1= 7

10) Fighter 1 +1 0.5, 1/3, 1/3
Feat: Rideby Attack
Skillpoints: 2+2+1= 7

11) Contemplative 1 +1/2, 1/3, 1/3, 0.5 (Domain: Balance)
Caster lvl 5
Skillpoints: 2+4+1= 7

12) Glorious Servitor 1, +1? +3/4, 1/3, 1/3, 0.5
12 Feat: Lifesense
Skillpoints: 2+2+1= 7

13) Glorious Servitor 2 +3/4, 1/3, 1/3, 0.5
Skillpoints: 2+2+1= 7

14) Glorious Servitor 3 +3/4, 1/3, 1/3, 0.5
Skillpoints: 2+2+1= 7

Skillpoints: total 164
+4 Mummified Cr.

Bab:
1.5 + 1 + 7= +9.5/ +4.5

Further Level Advancement:
15) Glorious Servitor 4, Ft) Scorpion's Sense, Tremor sense 10/20 Ft(class +1 Str)
16) Evolved Undead +1 (+2 Str/ +2 Cha, Fast Healing 3, Greater Dispel Magic or Greater Invisibility)
17) Fighter 2?, +1 Wisdom Ft) Dodge
18) Divine Oracle 2 Ft) Sidestep Charge
19) Gen. Expert 1? Ft) Practiced Spellcaster
20) Gen. Expert 2?, +1 Wis Ft)
21) Divine Oracle 3 E.Ft

Spoiler: Items

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450,000 gp
Gauntlets of Giant Str +4 (16.000)
Necklace of Wisdom +6 (36.000)
Wildling Clasp (4.000) (for necklace)
= 56.000
Ring of Greater Energy Resistance Fire (30) (44.000) and Anticipation (9.000)= 53.000
Ring of Positive Protection (36.000) and See Invis (22.500)= 48.500
=101.500
"Hathor's Horn" Short Sword of Luck, Bane - Orcs (No wishes, 22,060 +10.000)= 32.060, Spellblade - Command Undead (6.000)
Lance +1 Charging (8.310)
=46.370
"Pharaonic Scales of Ma'at": Banded Mail, +4, Nimble +1, Stamina (Greater, 8.000), Called (2.000), Commander (2.000), Balancing, Improved (11.250) Agility (4.000), Blueshine (1.500)= 25.000 +17.500 +11.250= 53.750


Efficient Quiver (of Ehlona), (1.800)
=61.550
==259.420
Tome of Clear Thought, (110.000) (+4)
==369.420
Tome of Understanding (55.000) (+2)
==424.420
Sandals of Tracklessness (11.000)
Vest of Steady Spellcasting (2.500)
==437.920

Chariot with Scythes, (400)
2 Light Warhorses (300)
Comp. Longbow, Mw, Str 26 (1.200)
Javelins (10)
= 1.910
==439.830
Leaves
=10.170
Bag of Holding Type I 15 lb. 250 lb. 30 cu. ft. (2,500)
Leaves
= 7.670 gp
Courtier’s Outfit (30)
= 7.640 gp
Wildling Clasp (4.000) (for Armour)
= 3.640

100 Platinum
2 Blue Fire Opals at 1000 Gp each
3 Pearls at 100 Gp each
35 Gold
50 Silver
4x ruby dust (worth 50 gp)

4x Vial of unholy water
4x 25 gp worth (5 pounds) of silver dust

Spoiler: Saves Calculation

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1/3, 2.5/ 1/3
2.5, 1/3, 2.5

1/3, 1/3, 0.5
1/3, 1/3, 0.5
1/3, 1/3, 0.5

1/3, 0.5/ 1/3
1/3, 0.5/ 1/3
1/3, 0.5/ 1/3

1/3, 1/3, 0.5
0.5, 1/3, 1/3
1/3, 1/3, 0.5
=
6, 6.1/3, 6.8/12

1/3, 1/3, 0.5
1/3, 1/3, 0.5
1/3, 1/3, 0.5
=
1, 1, 1.6/12
==
7, 7.1/3, 10.2/12

[samduke]

just to remind players I am not allowing the savage progression style for monsters
IE
1st 1d12
2nd 2d12
3rd 2d12

you can pick a race and or a single template, which needs to get you to the undead type status
after that classes/prc's are pretty much open.

noticing a few thoughts towards necropolitans, ghosts, maybe a vampire - looking interesting so far

[Burning Spear]

Are saves/ Bab fractional ? Is int gain retroactive?
Is int loss later also retroactive? Or not?

Also, another thought,

If undead, and one has a polymorph or shapechange ability, like a Glorious Servitor or Druid (or Mage's Polymorph spell)
does the undead status port with the newly changed shape?
Like, as my Glorious Servitor I want to change into a Bison, would my mummy stay on the bison's stats?
Do I need feats for that or something?

[Frendle]

This looks great.

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[samduke]

Are saves/ Bab fractional ? Is int gain retroactive?
Is int loss later also retroactive? Or not?

Also, another thought,

If undead, and one has a polymorph or shapechange ability, like a Glorious Servitor or Druid (or Mage's Polymorph spell)
does the undead status port with the newly changed shape?
Like, as my Glorious Servitor I want to change into a Bison, would my mummy stay on the bison's stats?
Do I need feats for that or something?

I did not specify fractional bab or saves

Normally I would say skill points are retro, but if somehow you lose int along the way, then you should adjust appropriately

The characters are required to be undead, if polymorph or some other causes a type change, then I am forced to go with not allowing the change.

Research what you may need, it is not my job to do such