wayfare
2010-10-11, 11:17 AM
Hey all. In the spirit of Halloween, I thought It might be fun to make a class for dead characters. Any critiques are welcome, and if you've had a similar idea, you should post it too!
So, here is my attempt "The Honored Dead"
The Fluff
The Honored Dead are those rare individuals with true faith and purpose that extends beyond life. These exemplars are truly dedicated to a cause, and when their time upon the mortal world is brought to a close divine power may intervene to create one of the Honored Dead.
The Honored Dead is a spirit returned to its body by a Divine agent. The Dead agrees to serve as a champion upon the material plane for the chance to live again and directly serve a higher power. In return he is granted a strange version of unlife -- not truly undead, sustained by divine will rather than negative energy, the Honored Dead walks through the ages supporting his God and champining causes throught the realm.
Any character with truly strong faith can become one of the Honored Dead. Some return as honored dead after being resurrected, while others rise by divine will alone, climbing out of graves or rising from gore-spoilt battlefeilds with no discernable cause.
Rarely, when a Raise Dead or Resurrection attempt goes wrong, a creature similar to one of the Honored Dead is created. Known as a Hateful Revenant, this creature is a vessel of divine power and pure rage, sworn to make an end to the deity that spawned it. In addition to all the Powers possessed by the Honored Dead, a Hateful Revenant can detect the presence of Divine Spellcasters within (Charisma Modifier) miles. The Revanant has an Inescapable Craving for despair, which it satisfies by attacking clerics of it's Godly nemesis.
The Stuff
Honored Dead
Requirements:
Concentration: 6+
Character must openly and ardently worship a god
Character must have died in pursuit of a cause matching his alignment
Hit Die: d12
The Honored Dead
{table=head]Level|Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Invocations
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Revenant Rising; Eternal Rejuvenation|1 Least
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Divine Hand|2 Least
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3|Supernal Endurance; Channeled Invocation (+2)|2 Least; 1 Lesser
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Wrathful Hand|2 Least; 2 Lesser
5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Channeled Invocation (+4)|2 Least; 2 Lesser; 1 Greater[/table]
The Honored Dead is a unique prestige class that effectively allows you to raise yourself from the dead, once. You can only take this class when dead. Doing so results in the loss of your highest level, as if you had been Raised. You then immediatly gain 1 level of Honored Dead, and are restored to "life."*
(*Thanks to GodGoblin for this idea)
Level 1: Revenant Rising
Upon death, the character is visited by a messenger or avatar of his deity, and given the option of walking the world again. If the character accepts, he becomes one of the honored dead, an undying agent of the divine on the mortal plane.
The character gains qualities similar to that of an undead creature, with some important differences.
1) The character is not tied to the negative energy plane, but directly to the power of a deity. Positive and negative energy effects are reduced by half with respect to the character -- cure light wounds will still heal one of the Honored Dead, but will only heal half the normal amount.
2) The character can be turned by clerics with at least one alignment component opposed to his own. This effect functions identically to the turn undead ability, save that it will never result in the destruction of the Honored Dead.
The Honored Dead gains all other characteristics of corporeal undead (immunity to critical hits, all hit dice converted to d12s, loss of Constitution score etc.)
Level 1: Eternal Rejuvenation
When an honored dead is created, he is given a physical symbol of his deity’s power. This symbol functions as an anchor to the material plane for the Honored Dead, housing his soul if his body is destroyed.
If the Honored Dead is reduced to 0 hp, his body crumbles to dust but his soul is stored in the anchor. Each hour the Honored Dead remain in his anchor allows him to regain 1 hit point. Once all HP is restored, a physical entity must hold the anchor and invoke the characters name. This is a ritual similar to Resurrection (though with half the cost), save that any character with Knowledge (Religion) 12 ranks can make the attempt, as can any Cleric of 6th level or higher.
Care must be taken with the anchor, for any person in possession of the item possesses great power over the Honored Dead. A person holding the Anchor can communicate with the Honored Dead at any distance and can manifest spell effects upon the Honored Dead as if he were touching him. A cleric holding the Anchor can turn the Honored Dead regardless of alignment. A cleric with an opposed alignment who holds the anchor can instantly destroy the Honored Dead with a single turn undead attempt (no roll needed) regardless of range.
The Anchor is always an item of tiny or smaller size, with a Hardness of 15 and 20 Hit Points. The shape it takes usually depends of the God who invested in the Dead -- Gods of War may imbue a weapon as an anchor, While a god of Flame may grant the Dead a blazing ruby pendant. Horns are popular with all deities -- reminding the character of the call her heard past death.
If the anchor is destroyed, the Honored Dead can no longer use Invocations. If the Honored Dead dies with a destroyed anchor, he returns as spirit to his Gods home plane.
Level 2: Divine Hand
The Honored Dead is a vessel for divine power, his very touch anathema to the unrighteous. Once each round the Honored Dead can make a melee touch attack that inflicts 1d6/level damage to an opponent. This damage gains an alignment descriptor chosen by the Honored Dead when this power is gained. This descriptor must match the alignment of the God the character worships.
Level 3: Supernal Fortitude
Those chosen to champion a divine cause even beyond death represent a significant investment for the gods who choose to create such servitors. The Honored Dead is sheltered by his creators hand, adding his Charisma Bonus to all saving throws, and gaining Charisma modifier hp per Honored Dead Level.
Level 3: Channeled Invocation
The Honored Dead can channel mystic energy through his Anchor to infuse his art with divine power. If the Honored Dead Holds his anchor while using an invocation, the Honored Dead adds 2 to the DC of any saves against his invocation.
At level 5, divine wrath spills into the invocations the Honored Dead manifests. While holding his anchor, the Honored Dead adds 4 to the DC of his invocations while using the anchor.
Level 4: Wrathful Hand
When using the Divine Hand class feature, the Honored Dead now inflicts 1d8/level damage. An opponent with an alignment opposed to the damage type must make a fortitude save or be struck blind for 1 round.
Invocations
At level 1 the Honored Dead gains access to 1 Least Invocation
At level 2 the Honored Dead gains access to a second Lesser Invocation
At level 3 the Honored Dead gains access to 1 Lesser Invocation
At level 4 the Honored Dead gains access to a second Lesser Invocation
At level 5 the Honored Dead gains access to 1 Greater Invocation
Thanks for any input!
--Wayfare
List of Invocations
Least Invocations
Detect Opposition
Least, 2nd
You can detect entities with at least one alignment component opposed to your own as per Detect Good.
Divine Utterance
Least, 2nd
Your words effect a target as a Command spell. Targets with fewer hit dice than you are also Dazed for (1 round/2 levels).
Empowering Mantle
Least, 2nd
Single target gains the benefits of Aid and +2 to damage for 1 minute.
Final Word
Least, 2nd
You channel divine power into a shout, harming your foes and stilling their tongues. Opponents within 15 feet take 1d8 + Charisma sonic damage and are Silenced for 1 round/level. A successful fortitude save halves the damage and negates the silence effect.
Sheltering Hand
Least, 2nd
You conceal yourself in the shadow of your patron deity's power, gaining the effects of Sanctuary. While this effect is active, you also gain +10 to Hide checks.
So, here is my attempt "The Honored Dead"
The Fluff
The Honored Dead are those rare individuals with true faith and purpose that extends beyond life. These exemplars are truly dedicated to a cause, and when their time upon the mortal world is brought to a close divine power may intervene to create one of the Honored Dead.
The Honored Dead is a spirit returned to its body by a Divine agent. The Dead agrees to serve as a champion upon the material plane for the chance to live again and directly serve a higher power. In return he is granted a strange version of unlife -- not truly undead, sustained by divine will rather than negative energy, the Honored Dead walks through the ages supporting his God and champining causes throught the realm.
Any character with truly strong faith can become one of the Honored Dead. Some return as honored dead after being resurrected, while others rise by divine will alone, climbing out of graves or rising from gore-spoilt battlefeilds with no discernable cause.
Rarely, when a Raise Dead or Resurrection attempt goes wrong, a creature similar to one of the Honored Dead is created. Known as a Hateful Revenant, this creature is a vessel of divine power and pure rage, sworn to make an end to the deity that spawned it. In addition to all the Powers possessed by the Honored Dead, a Hateful Revenant can detect the presence of Divine Spellcasters within (Charisma Modifier) miles. The Revanant has an Inescapable Craving for despair, which it satisfies by attacking clerics of it's Godly nemesis.
The Stuff
Honored Dead
Requirements:
Concentration: 6+
Character must openly and ardently worship a god
Character must have died in pursuit of a cause matching his alignment
Hit Die: d12
The Honored Dead
{table=head]Level|Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Invocations
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Revenant Rising; Eternal Rejuvenation|1 Least
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Divine Hand|2 Least
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3|Supernal Endurance; Channeled Invocation (+2)|2 Least; 1 Lesser
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Wrathful Hand|2 Least; 2 Lesser
5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Channeled Invocation (+4)|2 Least; 2 Lesser; 1 Greater[/table]
The Honored Dead is a unique prestige class that effectively allows you to raise yourself from the dead, once. You can only take this class when dead. Doing so results in the loss of your highest level, as if you had been Raised. You then immediatly gain 1 level of Honored Dead, and are restored to "life."*
(*Thanks to GodGoblin for this idea)
Level 1: Revenant Rising
Upon death, the character is visited by a messenger or avatar of his deity, and given the option of walking the world again. If the character accepts, he becomes one of the honored dead, an undying agent of the divine on the mortal plane.
The character gains qualities similar to that of an undead creature, with some important differences.
1) The character is not tied to the negative energy plane, but directly to the power of a deity. Positive and negative energy effects are reduced by half with respect to the character -- cure light wounds will still heal one of the Honored Dead, but will only heal half the normal amount.
2) The character can be turned by clerics with at least one alignment component opposed to his own. This effect functions identically to the turn undead ability, save that it will never result in the destruction of the Honored Dead.
The Honored Dead gains all other characteristics of corporeal undead (immunity to critical hits, all hit dice converted to d12s, loss of Constitution score etc.)
Level 1: Eternal Rejuvenation
When an honored dead is created, he is given a physical symbol of his deity’s power. This symbol functions as an anchor to the material plane for the Honored Dead, housing his soul if his body is destroyed.
If the Honored Dead is reduced to 0 hp, his body crumbles to dust but his soul is stored in the anchor. Each hour the Honored Dead remain in his anchor allows him to regain 1 hit point. Once all HP is restored, a physical entity must hold the anchor and invoke the characters name. This is a ritual similar to Resurrection (though with half the cost), save that any character with Knowledge (Religion) 12 ranks can make the attempt, as can any Cleric of 6th level or higher.
Care must be taken with the anchor, for any person in possession of the item possesses great power over the Honored Dead. A person holding the Anchor can communicate with the Honored Dead at any distance and can manifest spell effects upon the Honored Dead as if he were touching him. A cleric holding the Anchor can turn the Honored Dead regardless of alignment. A cleric with an opposed alignment who holds the anchor can instantly destroy the Honored Dead with a single turn undead attempt (no roll needed) regardless of range.
The Anchor is always an item of tiny or smaller size, with a Hardness of 15 and 20 Hit Points. The shape it takes usually depends of the God who invested in the Dead -- Gods of War may imbue a weapon as an anchor, While a god of Flame may grant the Dead a blazing ruby pendant. Horns are popular with all deities -- reminding the character of the call her heard past death.
If the anchor is destroyed, the Honored Dead can no longer use Invocations. If the Honored Dead dies with a destroyed anchor, he returns as spirit to his Gods home plane.
Level 2: Divine Hand
The Honored Dead is a vessel for divine power, his very touch anathema to the unrighteous. Once each round the Honored Dead can make a melee touch attack that inflicts 1d6/level damage to an opponent. This damage gains an alignment descriptor chosen by the Honored Dead when this power is gained. This descriptor must match the alignment of the God the character worships.
Level 3: Supernal Fortitude
Those chosen to champion a divine cause even beyond death represent a significant investment for the gods who choose to create such servitors. The Honored Dead is sheltered by his creators hand, adding his Charisma Bonus to all saving throws, and gaining Charisma modifier hp per Honored Dead Level.
Level 3: Channeled Invocation
The Honored Dead can channel mystic energy through his Anchor to infuse his art with divine power. If the Honored Dead Holds his anchor while using an invocation, the Honored Dead adds 2 to the DC of any saves against his invocation.
At level 5, divine wrath spills into the invocations the Honored Dead manifests. While holding his anchor, the Honored Dead adds 4 to the DC of his invocations while using the anchor.
Level 4: Wrathful Hand
When using the Divine Hand class feature, the Honored Dead now inflicts 1d8/level damage. An opponent with an alignment opposed to the damage type must make a fortitude save or be struck blind for 1 round.
Invocations
At level 1 the Honored Dead gains access to 1 Least Invocation
At level 2 the Honored Dead gains access to a second Lesser Invocation
At level 3 the Honored Dead gains access to 1 Lesser Invocation
At level 4 the Honored Dead gains access to a second Lesser Invocation
At level 5 the Honored Dead gains access to 1 Greater Invocation
Thanks for any input!
--Wayfare
List of Invocations
Least Invocations
Detect Opposition
Least, 2nd
You can detect entities with at least one alignment component opposed to your own as per Detect Good.
Divine Utterance
Least, 2nd
Your words effect a target as a Command spell. Targets with fewer hit dice than you are also Dazed for (1 round/2 levels).
Empowering Mantle
Least, 2nd
Single target gains the benefits of Aid and +2 to damage for 1 minute.
Final Word
Least, 2nd
You channel divine power into a shout, harming your foes and stilling their tongues. Opponents within 15 feet take 1d8 + Charisma sonic damage and are Silenced for 1 round/level. A successful fortitude save halves the damage and negates the silence effect.
Sheltering Hand
Least, 2nd
You conceal yourself in the shadow of your patron deity's power, gaining the effects of Sanctuary. While this effect is active, you also gain +10 to Hide checks.