Okay, the Stonelord is pretty much regarded by everybody (where I've seen it mentioned anyway) as very flavorful but kinda... wonky. Just a bunch of 1/day abilities crammed into ten levels. Well, I've been looking at it, and I came to the realization that it doesn’t take very much to make it a little more competitive with other dorfish options.
So here is my take on the Stonelord. If anybody has some more changes that would make things more streamline, or more content to jam in there feel free to speak up.
Stonelord
Hit Die: d8
Requirements:
Race: Dwarf
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Craft (Stoneworking) 6 ranks, Speak Language (Terran)
Feats: Improved Toughness
Special: The character must undergo an arduous ritual involving immersion in sacred loam, long fasting periods deep underground, and the ingestion of 1,000 gp worth of powdered gemstones. The gem type chosen is then the stonelord’s totem gem, and she must carry that type of stone with her at all times to access the spell-like abilities she gains as a stonelord.
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|+1|+2|+0|+0| Earth’s Blood
2nd|+2|+3|+0|+0| Stone Power 1/day
3rd|+3|+3|+1|+1| Stone Shape
4th|+4|+4|+1|+1| Stone Power 2/day
5th|+5|+4|+1|+1| Meld into stone
6th|+6|+5|+2|+2| Stone Power 3/day
7th|+7|+5|+2|+2| Stone Tell
8th|+8|+6|+2|+2| Stone Power 4/day
9th|+9|+6|+3|+3| Earthquake
10th|+10|+7|+3|+3|Stone Power 5/day
[/table]
Class Skills:
Climb (str), Concentration (con), Craft (int), Knowledge (geography) (int), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (int), Profession (wis), Spot (wis), and Survival (wis).
Skill points at each level: 4 + Int modifier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Stonelords gain no proficiencies.
Earth’s Blood (Sp): Once per day per class level, a stonelord can take a standard action to heal her own wounds using a clump of mud. This ability heals 1d8 hit points per stonelord level.
Stone Power: Starting at second level, a stonelord gains access to a variety of special abilities. A stonelord can use her stone power abilites once per day, increasing by one use per day at every even-numbered level. These abilities share usage (e.g. a 6th level stonelord can use Earthgrip three times a day, or Earthgrip, Gravity, and Earth's Strength). Unless otherwise noted, the stonelord uses her class level as caster level for these effects (the save DCs are Constitution-based). Using one of these abilities is a standard action unless otherwise noted.
Stone Power Abilities:Spoiler
Earthgrip (Sp): A stonelord can use hold monster on any target touching the ground. If the opponent is waterborne, the stonelord cannot affect the creature with the spell.
Earth Magic (Su): A spell cast by a stonelord under the effects of this ability (assuming she can cast spells) is considered maximized as if prepared with the Maximize Spell feat, althought the spell’s level is unaffected. The spell’s level cannot be higher than the class level of the stonelord. Using this ability is a free action.
Earth’s Endurance (Sp): A stonelord can use this ability to grant herself a boost to her Constitution score as if she were affected by a Bear’s Endurance spell for 1 hour.
Earth’s Strength (Sp): A stonelord can use this ability to grant herself a boost to her Strength score as if she were affected by a Bull’s Strength spell for 1 hour.
Earth Power (Su): Once per day, all melee attacks made in a single round by a stonelord with this ability gain a +2 bonus on the attack roll and deal an extra 2d6 points of damage on a successful hit. These bonuses increase based on the stonelords class level: 6th level, +3 and 3d6; 10th level, +4 and 4d6. Using this ability is a free action.
Soften Earth and Stone (Sp): A stonelord can use soften earth and stone as the spell.
Earth Shadows (Su): A stonelord can use this ability to create a figment of a Medium earth elemental that appears in a flanking position adjacent to the stonelord’s opponent for 1 round. This ability allows the stonelord to make flanking attacks (+2 to hit, can make a sneak attack if such an ability is available) against that opponent during that round. Using this ability is a free action.
Gravity (Sp): A stonelord can use a slow effect (as the spell).
Stoneskin (Sp): A stonelord using this ability can give herself the benefit of a stoneskin spell (caster level equal to the stonelord’s class level). The character must provide the material component as if she were actually casting the spell.
Summon Earth Elemental (Sp): A stonelord using this ability can summon an earth elemental as if she had cast a summon monster spell. The size of the summoned earth elemental depends on the stonelord’s class level, as follows: 1st-3rd, Small; 4th-6th, Medium; 7th-9th, Large; 10th, Huge.
Stone Shape (Sp): Once per day, a stonelord of 3rd level or higher can use a stone shape effect (caster level equal to the stonelord’s class level).
Meld into stone (Sp): Once per day per class level, a stonlord of 5th level or higher can use a meld into stone effect (caster level equal to the stonelord’s class level).
Stone Tell (Sp): Once per day, a stonelord of 7th level or higher can speak with stone as if she had cast stone tell (caster level equal to the stonelord’s class level).
Earthquake (Sp): Once per day, a stonelord of 9th level or higher can use an earthquake effect (caster level equal to the stonelord’s class level).
Stonelord Change log:Spoiler
Changed earth’s Blood from Once per day to Once per day per class level.
I changed Stone Power from selecting a special ability from a list at every even level (each usable once a day), to the stonelord having access to all of those abilities starting at 2nd level only limited a number of times per day equal to the number of times Stone Power shows up on the table (e.g. Stone Power 1/day at 2nd level, Stone Power 4/day at 8th).
Bumped up the skill points per level to 4, up from 2.
Changed the skill Knowledge (Any) to Knowledge (Geography). Fluffy
Removed Earth’s Shadows andPut in its place Soften Earth and Stone.
Improved Earth’s Power to scale with level.
Added Knowledge (dungeoneering) to class skills.
Replaced Endurance with Improved Toughness in the requirements.
Added Earth's Shadows back to Stone Power list.
Followed Jiriku's advice and buffed up the healing from Earth's Blood.
