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Geiger Counter
2010-03-17, 07:32 PM
I tried to make this class before, but it sucked so I’m starting again from scratch. Males can join this PrC too and are known as Stewards of the stone serpent. Joining this PrC should mean acting as a servant to whatever deity or powerful fiend has petrification in their portfolio, in Eberron this would be the Dealkry who breed the gorgons, medusas, gargoyles, basilisks and cockatrices. The words “stone serpent” should be replaced by the name of whatever entity would be suitable for your campaign.

HANDMAIDEN OF THE STONE SERPENT

Hit Die: d4.
Requirements
To qualify to become a handmaiden, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Spells: Ability to cast flesh to stone and stone skin spontaneously.
Class Skills
The handmaiden’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int) and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Handmaiden of The Stone Serpent
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells

1st|+0|+0|+0|+2|Imporved Stoneskin, Medusa Form|

2nd|+1|+0|+0|+3|Medusa Form, Venom|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

3rd|+1|+1|+1|+3|Mass Petrify, Medusa Form|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

4th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Stone Tell|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

5th|+2|+1|+1|+4|Reactive Statue|+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class[/table]
Class Features
All the following are Class Features of the handmaiden prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Handmaidens gain proficiency with the shortbow and longbow.
Spells per Day/Spells Known: When a new handmaiden level is gained except the first, the character gains new spells per day and spells known as if she had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class in which she could cast the required spells with before she added the prestige class level. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class in which she could cast the required spells with before she became a handmaiden, she must decide to which class she adds each level of handmaiden for the purpose of determining spells per day.
Improved Stone Skin: A handmaiden can cast an improved version of the spell only when cast upon herself. She can now cast this spell without diamond dust. Using the spell stone skin now has the additional effect of giving all her possessions the look but not the properties of stone granting her a +8 hide bonus while against a stone background. While a handmaiden is under the affects of her stone skin spell she can hold herself so still she appears to be a statue as an extraordinary ability. An observer must succeed on a DC 20 Spot check to notice the handmaiden is really alive.
Medusa Form (Su): At her first level a handmaiden can take on the appearance of a medusa and revert back to her normal form as a standard action. Her skin becomes scaly gaining +1 natural armor, her eyes become snakelike granting her darkvision out 60 feet (if she already had darkvision it’s range is increased 60 feet) and she grows a mane of snakes which give her a 1d4 bite attack. Antimagic fields cause her to revert to her natural form and true seeing can reveal it. At her second and third levels her natural armor in this form is increased by 1.
Venom (Su): At her second level, while in Medusa form her snakes become magically poisonous, dealing 1d10 points of temporary Constitution damage immediately and another 1d10 points of temporary Constitution damage 1 minute later. Each instance of damage can be negated by a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 her caster level + her Cha modifier).
Mass Petrify: At her third Level a handmaiden can cast flesh to stone as if it were a mass spell, affecting one creature per spell level, no two of which can be more than 30 feet apart.
Stone Tell (Sp): At her forth level a handmaiden can cast the spell stone tell as a spell like ability. She can use it a number of times a day equal to one third her castor level rounding down. She can use this ability to talk to creatures that have been petrified.
Reactive Statue (Sp): At her fifth level a handmaiden can cast statue as a spell like ability at will (Self Only). When a creature would normally petrify her she can automatically activate statue and negate the effect while maintaining the appearance of the petrifying effect’s success.

Rainbownaga
2010-03-17, 07:47 PM
Haven't read it in its entirety, but a full spellcasting class with negligable entry requirements that has a heap of bonuses seems a little overpowered.


Edit: Particularly mass petrify. Free chain on stone to flesh is pretty crazy.

sreservoir
2010-03-17, 08:01 PM
Haven't read it in its entirety, but a full spellcasting class with negligable entry requirements that has a heap of bonuses seems a little overpowered.


Edit: Particularly mass petrify. Free chain on stone to flesh is pretty crazy.

difficult for prepareds.

Lysander
2010-03-17, 08:49 PM
Right now there's no reason not to take it if you're a sorcerer. There needs to be some cost or trade off. Maybe force them to give up two schools of magic other than transmutation?

Temotei
2010-03-17, 08:53 PM
Imporved Stoneskin

Hehe. :smallamused:

Geiger Counter
2010-03-17, 08:53 PM
She now doesn't gain spellcasting at her first level.

Rainbownaga
2010-03-17, 09:51 PM
Is her ability to cast stoneskin and statue on her allies supposed to be buffed as well, or are the bonuses supposed to be for self-only? I can understand them being either from a fluff perspective, and sharing is always to be encouraged, i guess.


What seems weird is that AMF stops her from changing forms rather than returning her to her default form, suggesting that she has two 'base forms' like a lycanthrope.

Now that it's a partial spontaneous caster I can't really complain about power levels anymore. the powers are useful but don't appear to be overpowered (repeated castings of stoneskin could get a bit silly, however, particularly if she gets free use when casting it on others).

Geiger Counter
2010-03-17, 10:01 PM
Is her ability to cast stoneskin and statue on her allies supposed to be buffed as well, or are the bonuses supposed to be for self-only? I can understand them being either from a fluff perspective, and sharing is always to be encouraged, i guess.

Thanks for pointing that out, updated.


What seems weird is that AMF stops her from changing forms rather than returning her to her default form, suggesting that she has two 'base forms' like a lycanthrope.

I just set it up like that because it's the same for the changeling but now that you mention it yes she would have two "true" forms.