Rauthiss
2010-06-25, 01:11 PM
This was my entry in the last PrC Contest, and I figured I would give it its own thread, for commentary and such.
Spellslayer
http://imgur.com/FAnKB.jpg
(Image from http://jocarra.deviantart.com/gallery/#/dpjql4)
"Your Magic is nothing." - Blythe, a Spellslayer
The power of spellcasters is lauded throughout history. For a long time, warriors have questioned ways to defeat powerful wizard foes. However, a select few have realized that the best way to fight fire is with fire. These are the Spellslayers
BECOMING A SPELLSLAYER
Many spellslayers are multiclass fighter/wizards or Duskblades.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Spellcraft 11 ranks, Concentration 5 ranks
Feat: Improved Counterspell
Proficiency: Proficient with all Martial Weapons
Spellcasting: Able to cast 3rd level arcane spells
Class Skills
The Spellslayer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str)
Skills Points at Each Level: 4 + int
Hit Dice: d8
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spellcasting
1st|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+2|Resistance, Mage Slayer|-
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+3|Disrupting Strike|+1 existing arcane class level
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+3|Dispel Mastery|+1 existing arcane class level
4th|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+4|Advanced Counterspell|+1 existing arcane class level
5th|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+4|Antimage Aura|+1 existing arcane class level
6th|
+6|
+5|
+2|
+5|Greater Dispel Mastery|+1 existing arcane class level
7th|
+7|
+5|
+2|
+5|Counterburn|+1 existing arcane class level
8th|
+8|
+6|
+2|
+6|Dispelling Strike|+1 existing arcane class level
9th|
+9|
+6|
+3|
+6|Counterspell Feedback|+1 existing arcane class level
10th|
+10|
+7|
+3|
+7|Counterspell Rebound|+1 existing arcane class level[/table]
Weapon Proficiencies: Spellslayers gain no proficiencies.
Resistance: A spellslayer gains a bonus to all saves against arcane spells equal to his class level.
Mage Slayer: A spellslayer has Spell Resistance equal to 20 + his class level.
Disrupting Strike: Whenever a spellslayer of 2nd level or more causes damage to a spellcasting opponent, the DC of the concentration check to avoid losing the spell increases by the spellslayer's class level.
Dispel Mastery: A spellslayer of 3rd level or more adds Dispel Magic to his spell list as a 2nd level spell.
Advanced Counterspell: A spellslayer of 4th level or more can counterspell as an immediate action, without readying an action.
Antimage Aura: A spellslayer of 5th level or more projects an aura out to 60 ft. that prevents spellcasting. Any character within the area that the spellslayer does not specifically designate as unaffected by this ability must make a caster level check of DC 10 + the spellslayer's class level whenever attempting to cast an arcane spell or lose the spell to no effect.
Greater Dispel Mastery: A spellslayer of 6th level or more adds Greater Dispel Magic to his spell list as a 5th level spell.
Counterburn: Whenever a spellslayer of 7th level or more successfully counters a spell, The caster of the countered spell takes damage equal to the Spellslayer's class level.
Dispelling Strike: Whenever a spellslayer of 8th level or more successfully hits an opponent, he may, as a free action, cast Dispel Magic or Greater Dispel Magic, as a targeted dispel targeting the opponent or an object that opponent has on his person. (This includes any objects that opponent is holding.)
Counterspell Feedback: A spellslayer of 9th level or more furthers his mastery of counterspelling - Whenever he successfully counters a spell, the caster of the countered spell cannot cast spells for 1 round.
Counterspell Rebound: Whenever a spellslayer of 10th level or more successfully counters a spell, he may choose to cast the spell that was countered. The spell does not cause him to lose a spell slot, but finctions in all other ways as if the spellslayer cast it himself - caster levels, DCs, etc. are all based on the Spellslayer.
PLAYING A SPELLSLAYER
A spellslayer is meant to do one thing - defeat other spellcasters, through denial of their abilities. Since most of a spellslayer's abilities function on counterspelling, he will often choose a spellcaster and focus on nullifying them alone.
Combat: Spellslayers often choose to go toe to toe with spellcasters, approaching fearlessly thanks to their antimagic abilities, then attacking them while counterspelling defensive spells.
Advancement: Many spellslayers choose to stay on the path of the spellslayer once they have entered it, mainly because a number of their abilities are dependent on their class level. However, some choose to delve into other magic-fighting combinations, such as eldritch knight and spellsword.
Resources: Very few spellslayers cooperate, mainly because their abilities to fight other spellcasters also make them suited for fighting other spellslayers. However, small sects of them have been known to group on occasion to fight powerful mages.
SPELLSLAYERS IN THE WORLD
"It was useless! Everything I cast just slipped away!" - Mialee, an Elven Wizard
Spellslayers often choose to be mercenaries, their unique talents making them useful for any person who needs to face a spellcaster.
Daily Life: A general spellslayer's day consists of training in botht he sword and the spell.
Notables: Two notable spellslayers of the time are Blythe Nocturnus and Javier the Undaunted. Blythe is a ruthless assassin, hired by a number of thieves guilds to assure that they are not caught by spellcasters. His name has spread among the underworld. Javier, however, is a crusader that fights against liches the world over. He has made this his personal quest after having seen a church destroyed by a Lich, and will often face them in melee, taking full advantage of his resistance to their arcane magic.
Organizations: There are no formal spellslayer organizations.
NPC Reaction
Many NPCs view spellslayers as nearly invulnerable bastions of power, mainly because they can easily overpower spellcasters, often lauded for their power. The ability to negate magic has resulted in a stereotype of spellslayers as withdrawn, defensive people, more concerned about their own protection than defeating others.
SPELLSLAYERS IN THE GAME
Adding a spellslayer to a game will drastically reduce the power of spellcasters. Since nearly everything a spellcaster can do can be negated or reflected by a spellslayer, many of the fearsome spells become nothing more than tools to defeat the one who casted them.
Adaptation: The spellslayer, as given, is a highly generic prestige class, making adaptation very easy. Essentially, any spellcaster or abjurer who chooses to study swordplay may be introduced to the ideals of the spellslayer class.
Encounters: Spellslayers lend themselves to support roles in NPC encounters, assisting another, more threatening character by nullifying any extremely powerful attacks against them.
Sample Encounter
Spellslayers are very rarely active characters, often content to guard or protect something.
EL 13: Blythe Nocturnus is a spellslayer who has recently been hired to kill a noble that the PCs have been assigned to protect.
Blythe Nocturnus
LE Male Human Duskblade 8/Spellslayer 5
Init +1, Senses: Listen +1, Spot +1,
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Draconic, Orc
------------------------------------------------
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 21
hp 94 (13d8+26)
Fort +12, Ref +4, Will +11 (+5 to any save vs. Magic)
------------------------------------------------
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee
Base Atk +13/+8/+3, Grp +15
Atk Options +3 Rapier +19/+14/+9 (1d6+5, 15-20/x2)
Combat Gear +2 Rapier, +2 Scale Mail, +2 Light Shield
Spells Per Day: (6/10/9/7, DC 16+spell level)
Spells Known:
0: All Duskblade Spells
1: All Duskblade Spells
2: Dispel Magic, All Duskblade Spells
3: Dispelling Touch, Halt
Class Abilities
Armored Casting
Arcane Attunement, 9/day
Arcane Channeling
Swift Spell
Quick Casting
Spell Power
Resistance
Mage Slayer - SR 25
Disrupting Strike
Dispel Mastery
Advanced Counterspell
Antimage Aura (DC 15)
-----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 15, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 10
SQ
See Above
Feats
Combat Casting, Improved Counterspell, Improved Critical (Rapier), Battle Caster, Weapon Focus (Rapier), Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration
Skills
Concentration +18, Craft Arms and Armor +22, Decipher Script +22, Know (Arcana) +22, Know (Local) +11, Know (The Planes) +11, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +22
Possessions
+3 Rapier, +2 Scale Mail, +2 Light Shield, +2 Ring of Protection, +2 Cloak of Resistance, +4 Headband of Intellect, Wand of Invisibility, 500 GP
Spellslayer
http://imgur.com/FAnKB.jpg
(Image from http://jocarra.deviantart.com/gallery/#/dpjql4)
"Your Magic is nothing." - Blythe, a Spellslayer
The power of spellcasters is lauded throughout history. For a long time, warriors have questioned ways to defeat powerful wizard foes. However, a select few have realized that the best way to fight fire is with fire. These are the Spellslayers
BECOMING A SPELLSLAYER
Many spellslayers are multiclass fighter/wizards or Duskblades.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Spellcraft 11 ranks, Concentration 5 ranks
Feat: Improved Counterspell
Proficiency: Proficient with all Martial Weapons
Spellcasting: Able to cast 3rd level arcane spells
Class Skills
The Spellslayer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str)
Skills Points at Each Level: 4 + int
Hit Dice: d8
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spellcasting
1st|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+2|Resistance, Mage Slayer|-
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+3|Disrupting Strike|+1 existing arcane class level
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+3|Dispel Mastery|+1 existing arcane class level
4th|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+4|Advanced Counterspell|+1 existing arcane class level
5th|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+4|Antimage Aura|+1 existing arcane class level
6th|
+6|
+5|
+2|
+5|Greater Dispel Mastery|+1 existing arcane class level
7th|
+7|
+5|
+2|
+5|Counterburn|+1 existing arcane class level
8th|
+8|
+6|
+2|
+6|Dispelling Strike|+1 existing arcane class level
9th|
+9|
+6|
+3|
+6|Counterspell Feedback|+1 existing arcane class level
10th|
+10|
+7|
+3|
+7|Counterspell Rebound|+1 existing arcane class level[/table]
Weapon Proficiencies: Spellslayers gain no proficiencies.
Resistance: A spellslayer gains a bonus to all saves against arcane spells equal to his class level.
Mage Slayer: A spellslayer has Spell Resistance equal to 20 + his class level.
Disrupting Strike: Whenever a spellslayer of 2nd level or more causes damage to a spellcasting opponent, the DC of the concentration check to avoid losing the spell increases by the spellslayer's class level.
Dispel Mastery: A spellslayer of 3rd level or more adds Dispel Magic to his spell list as a 2nd level spell.
Advanced Counterspell: A spellslayer of 4th level or more can counterspell as an immediate action, without readying an action.
Antimage Aura: A spellslayer of 5th level or more projects an aura out to 60 ft. that prevents spellcasting. Any character within the area that the spellslayer does not specifically designate as unaffected by this ability must make a caster level check of DC 10 + the spellslayer's class level whenever attempting to cast an arcane spell or lose the spell to no effect.
Greater Dispel Mastery: A spellslayer of 6th level or more adds Greater Dispel Magic to his spell list as a 5th level spell.
Counterburn: Whenever a spellslayer of 7th level or more successfully counters a spell, The caster of the countered spell takes damage equal to the Spellslayer's class level.
Dispelling Strike: Whenever a spellslayer of 8th level or more successfully hits an opponent, he may, as a free action, cast Dispel Magic or Greater Dispel Magic, as a targeted dispel targeting the opponent or an object that opponent has on his person. (This includes any objects that opponent is holding.)
Counterspell Feedback: A spellslayer of 9th level or more furthers his mastery of counterspelling - Whenever he successfully counters a spell, the caster of the countered spell cannot cast spells for 1 round.
Counterspell Rebound: Whenever a spellslayer of 10th level or more successfully counters a spell, he may choose to cast the spell that was countered. The spell does not cause him to lose a spell slot, but finctions in all other ways as if the spellslayer cast it himself - caster levels, DCs, etc. are all based on the Spellslayer.
PLAYING A SPELLSLAYER
A spellslayer is meant to do one thing - defeat other spellcasters, through denial of their abilities. Since most of a spellslayer's abilities function on counterspelling, he will often choose a spellcaster and focus on nullifying them alone.
Combat: Spellslayers often choose to go toe to toe with spellcasters, approaching fearlessly thanks to their antimagic abilities, then attacking them while counterspelling defensive spells.
Advancement: Many spellslayers choose to stay on the path of the spellslayer once they have entered it, mainly because a number of their abilities are dependent on their class level. However, some choose to delve into other magic-fighting combinations, such as eldritch knight and spellsword.
Resources: Very few spellslayers cooperate, mainly because their abilities to fight other spellcasters also make them suited for fighting other spellslayers. However, small sects of them have been known to group on occasion to fight powerful mages.
SPELLSLAYERS IN THE WORLD
"It was useless! Everything I cast just slipped away!" - Mialee, an Elven Wizard
Spellslayers often choose to be mercenaries, their unique talents making them useful for any person who needs to face a spellcaster.
Daily Life: A general spellslayer's day consists of training in botht he sword and the spell.
Notables: Two notable spellslayers of the time are Blythe Nocturnus and Javier the Undaunted. Blythe is a ruthless assassin, hired by a number of thieves guilds to assure that they are not caught by spellcasters. His name has spread among the underworld. Javier, however, is a crusader that fights against liches the world over. He has made this his personal quest after having seen a church destroyed by a Lich, and will often face them in melee, taking full advantage of his resistance to their arcane magic.
Organizations: There are no formal spellslayer organizations.
NPC Reaction
Many NPCs view spellslayers as nearly invulnerable bastions of power, mainly because they can easily overpower spellcasters, often lauded for their power. The ability to negate magic has resulted in a stereotype of spellslayers as withdrawn, defensive people, more concerned about their own protection than defeating others.
SPELLSLAYERS IN THE GAME
Adding a spellslayer to a game will drastically reduce the power of spellcasters. Since nearly everything a spellcaster can do can be negated or reflected by a spellslayer, many of the fearsome spells become nothing more than tools to defeat the one who casted them.
Adaptation: The spellslayer, as given, is a highly generic prestige class, making adaptation very easy. Essentially, any spellcaster or abjurer who chooses to study swordplay may be introduced to the ideals of the spellslayer class.
Encounters: Spellslayers lend themselves to support roles in NPC encounters, assisting another, more threatening character by nullifying any extremely powerful attacks against them.
Sample Encounter
Spellslayers are very rarely active characters, often content to guard or protect something.
EL 13: Blythe Nocturnus is a spellslayer who has recently been hired to kill a noble that the PCs have been assigned to protect.
Blythe Nocturnus
LE Male Human Duskblade 8/Spellslayer 5
Init +1, Senses: Listen +1, Spot +1,
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Draconic, Orc
------------------------------------------------
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 21
hp 94 (13d8+26)
Fort +12, Ref +4, Will +11 (+5 to any save vs. Magic)
------------------------------------------------
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee
Base Atk +13/+8/+3, Grp +15
Atk Options +3 Rapier +19/+14/+9 (1d6+5, 15-20/x2)
Combat Gear +2 Rapier, +2 Scale Mail, +2 Light Shield
Spells Per Day: (6/10/9/7, DC 16+spell level)
Spells Known:
0: All Duskblade Spells
1: All Duskblade Spells
2: Dispel Magic, All Duskblade Spells
3: Dispelling Touch, Halt
Class Abilities
Armored Casting
Arcane Attunement, 9/day
Arcane Channeling
Swift Spell
Quick Casting
Spell Power
Resistance
Mage Slayer - SR 25
Disrupting Strike
Dispel Mastery
Advanced Counterspell
Antimage Aura (DC 15)
-----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 15, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 10
SQ
See Above
Feats
Combat Casting, Improved Counterspell, Improved Critical (Rapier), Battle Caster, Weapon Focus (Rapier), Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration
Skills
Concentration +18, Craft Arms and Armor +22, Decipher Script +22, Know (Arcana) +22, Know (Local) +11, Know (The Planes) +11, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +22
Possessions
+3 Rapier, +2 Scale Mail, +2 Light Shield, +2 Ring of Protection, +2 Cloak of Resistance, +4 Headband of Intellect, Wand of Invisibility, 500 GP