Base Classes as Prestige Classes

I'll be using this thread to convert base classes into prestige classes, as per what Unearthed Arcana did with the Bard, Paladin and Ranger.


Table of Contents

• Core Classes
  • Barbarian Redux: Frenzied Berserker
  
  
• Supplemental Base Classes
  • Archivist

[smallcaps]Frenzied Berserker[/smallcaps]

Requirements
To qualify to become a frenzied berserker, the character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

Base Attack Bonus: +5

Skills: Intimidate 8 ranks

Feats: Fearsome Visage & Sprint

Class skills
The frenzied berserkers' class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Survival (Wis) and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier

Alignment: Any non-lawful

Hit Die: D12

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the frenzied berserker.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A barbarian is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).

Rage (Ex): A frenzied berserker can fly into a rage a certain number of times per day. In a rage, a frenzied berserker temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Constitution, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but she takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase in Constitution increases the frenzied berserker’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the rage when her Constitution score drops back to normal. (These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are.)

While raging, a frenzied berserker cannot use any Charisma, Dexterity, or Intelligence based skills (except for Balance, Escape Artist, Intimidate, and Ride), the Concentration skill, or any abilities that require patience or concentration, nor can she cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. She can use any feat he has except Combat Expertise, item creation feats, and metamagic feats. A fit of rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) Constitution modifier. A frenzied berserker may prematurely end his rage. At the end of the rage, the frenzied berserker loses the rage modifiers and restrictions and becomes fatigued (–2 penalty to Strength, –2 penalty to Dexterity, can’t charge or run) for the duration of the current encounter (unless she is a 12th level frenzied berserker, at which point this limitation no longer applies; see below).

A frenzied berserker can fly into a rage only once per encounter. At 1st level she can use her rage ability once per day.

At 3rd level and every three levels thereafter, she can use it one additional time per day (to a maximum of six times per day at 13th level). Entering a rage takes no time itself, but a frenzied berserker can do it only during her action, not in response to someone else’s action.

Show of Strength (Ex): When the frenzied berserker makes a bluff or intimidate check, she may elect to apply her Strength modifier to the roll instead of using her Charisma modifier.

Damage Reduction (Ex): At 2nd level, a frenzied berserker gains Damage Reduction. Subtract 1 from the damage the frenzied berserker takes each time she is dealt damage from a weapon or a natural attack. At 5th level, and every three frenzied berserker levels thereafter this damage reduction rises by 1 point. Damage reduction can reduce damage to 0 but not below 0.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 3rd level, a frenzied berserker retains her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. If a frenzied berserker already has uncanny dodge from a different class, she automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead.

Greater Rage (Ex): At 6th level, a frenzied berserker’s bonuses to Strength and Constitution during his rage each increase to +6, and her morale bonus on Will saves increases to +3. The penalty to AC remains at –2.

Indomitable Will (Ex): While in a rage, a frenzied berserker of 9th level or higher gains a +4 bonus on Will saves to resist enchantment spells. This bonus stacks with all other modifiers, including the morale bonus on Will saves she also receives during his rage.

Tireless Rage (Ex): At 12th level and higher, a frenzied berserker no longer becomes fatigued at the end of her rage.

Mighty Rage (Ex): At 15th level, a frenzied berserker’s bonuses to Strength and Constitution during her rage each increase to +8, and her morale bonus on Will saves increases to +4. The penalty to AC remains at –2.


[sblock= Eyes of Fury Feat]Eyes of Fury [Genera]l
Your great skill (or appearance of great skill) causes enemies to doubt themselves in battle.
Prerequisite: Charisma 13, Intimidate 6 ranks
Benefit: Your stern gaze causes enemies that fail a Will save (10 + your Cha bonus) to become shaken for 1d4 rounds. This ability is an extraordinary gaze attack. You may use this ability as a free action against one opponent each round in melee combat.[/sblock]
[sblock=Sprint feat]Sprint [General]
You are capable of amazing bursts of speed.
Benefit: The character’s base speed increases by 10 feet in combat. This spontaneous bonus does not apply to long marches or standard adventuring speed. A single sprint lasts for a maximum number of rounds equal to your Constitution score. After that, you cannot sprint for 1d8 minutes.[/sblock]

When the frenzied berserker makes a bluff check, she may elect to apply her Strength modifier to the roll instead of using her Appearance modifier.

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Appearance should be Charisma surely? Skill names are capitalized.

silvermane said:

Appearance should be Charisma surely? Skill names are capitalized.

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Yes, it should be. Fixed.

[smallcaps]Archivist[/smallcaps]

Requirements
To qualify to become an archivist, the character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) 4 ranks, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 4 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 4 ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 4 ranks

Feats: Scribe Scroll, Divine Spell Mastery (Read Magic)

Spells: Able to cast 3rd level divine spells

Special: Must forsake having a patron deity

Class skills
The archivists' class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy, Gather Information (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Search (int) and Spellcraft (Int).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: D6

Class Features
See Heroes of Horror; pages 82 - 84.


[sblock=Divine Spell Mastery Feat]Divine Spell Mastery
You have a mystic connection with certain spells that you don't need to pray for them or prepare them from a prayerbook.
Prerequisite: Able to cast 1st level divine spells.
Benefit: Each time you take this feat, choose a number of spells equal to your Wisdom modifier that you already know. From that point on, you can prepare these spells without having to pray for them or reference a prayerbook.
Normal: Without this feat, you must pray for your spells if you revere a patron deity or prepare them from a prayerbook if you do not revere a patron deity.[/sblock]
[sblock= House Rule]Divine Spellcasters & Spell Preparation
Divine spellcasters that shirk all known pantheons and do not revere a patron deity must prepare spells from a Prayerbook (see Heroes of Horror; page 83).[/sblock]

Special: Must forsake having a patron deity

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Why? Archivists seem perfect for priests of Boccob, Vecna, or even Wee Jas. Is it because of the prayerbook aspect?


I like your Divine Spell Mastery feat. Totally yoinked!

Sound of Azure said:

Is it because of the prayerbook aspect?

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Yeah, I couldn't see any other way around it.