PrC - Holy Voice (approved)


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Patlin

Explorer
[sblock]
Wik said:
EDIT: So, here's the new, updated, and improved PRC, as well as my revised introduction.

**

So, I had this written up months ago, and it just sort of slipped away. Now that Galwynn's going to hit 3rd level, I figured I should get this approved so I should know whether or not to take Extra Turning.

That, and I think it's a neat PrC for paladin PCs. Note that it's pretty much useable by LG and CG paladins only. I rewrote much of the flavour text, and tweaked some of the rules text, from earlier editions.

Anyways, I have one vote already, and I need some more. So, I'm bumping the thread, with a slightly cleaned-up PrC write-up (mostly just taking suggestions; I was going to add some spells to the spell list, but decided it might not be a good idea, since I've already had one yes vote, and changing the PrC after the fact might be bad form).

***


HOLY VOICE

Many deities grant powers to paladins, who serve as a weapon against their deity's enemies. Holy orders of Paladins quest against demons, undead, and abberations, whether it be in the name of Hyrag, Halina, or any of the other gods of the land.

However, some paladins are more than just dedicated to their holy patron. Some, for reasons unknown to them, feel a direct bond to their deity that transcends that typically felt by holy men. Some paladins instead become almost an avatar of their deity, someone infused with just a spark of divine will.

These paladins, referred to as Holy Voices, have been placed in the faith of their patron. No longer do they follow the precepts of their church; they are the will of their lord, on the mortal planes. While many churces resent the independance of Holy Voices, they do not question the ultimate source of the Voice's power.

Deities do not maintain many holy voices at once - the number of Holy Voices dedicated to any single deity at any one time is usually less than five. Instead, each deity makes use of his holy voices sparingly, sending them on quests that are sometimes beyond the reach of churches occasionally bogged-down by bureaucracy.

While Holy Voices can often hear their deity speak to them in (often cryptic) dreams, they do not have a direct link to their deity at all times. They can contact their deity through spells beyond the ken of most paladins, but are not the deity's mouthpiece by any stretch. In fact, many Holy Voices resent their deities at times, feeling that their god has placed too much responsibility on their mortal shoulders.

Holy Voices are seperate entities of their church, and often feel as if their powers and obligations override those of their god's church. In fact, subtle struggles between Holy Voices and church leaders occur all too often, with Holy Voices often pursuing a more active (and typically a little less "realistic") pursuit of their deity's goals on the material plane.

Holy Voices have always remained "behind the scenes", quietly pursuing their patron god's agenda. Hey are the brave knights of Hyrag who fight lone battles against a horde of orcs, or the noble warriors of Zephos who seek to bring peace to the dying on a battlefield, regardless of personal cost.

Curiously, Halina has never had a Holy Voice known to be connected to her.

Holy Voices are typically known only to senior members of the church; lay folk simply regard Holy Voices as lone followers of a deity.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements
Skills: Knowledge (Religion) 8 ranks, Concentration 5 ranks
Feat: Extra Turning
Special: Lay on Hands
Language: Celestial

Class Skills
The Holy Voice's Class skills are Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Knowledge (the planes), Knowledge (religion), Ride, Sense Motive, and Spellcraft.

Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier

Code:
Table:  Holy Voice
Level    BAB    Fort    Ref    Will    Special
1         +1     +2       +0     +0     Paladin Spells, Lay On Hands, Fearless Aura
2         +2     +3       +0     +0     Extra Domain
3         +3     +3       +1     +1     Morale Aura
4         +4     +4       +1     +1     Voice's Wrath
5         +5     +4       +1     +1     Healing Aura

Weapon and Armour Proficiencies: If the character is not already proficient, he receives proficiency in his deity's favoured weapon.

Paladin Spells: The character continues to gain spells as a paladin. Holy Voice levels count as paladin levels for determing the number of spells a paladin can cast per day, caster level, etc.

Lay on HandsHoly Voicelevels stack with paladins when determining the amount of hit points healed by the lay on hands ability.

Extra Domain: At 2nd level, the Holy Voice can select one domain granted by his deity. He gains one additional spell slot for each paladin spell level he has access to; this spell must be taken from this extra domain. Thus, a 5th level Paladin/2nd Level Holy Voice with the Healing Domain could cast Cure Light Wounds as a bonus Domain spell.
In addition, the character gains the listed Domain ability.
If the character already has domain spells (such as if he were a cleric), this bonus stacks with the Cleric's existing domains.

Fearless Aura: By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts as a standard action, the Holy Voice projects an aura that calms his allies. For a number of rounds equal to his Holy Voice level plus his charisma modifier, all allies that remain within 20 feet of the Holy Voice are immune to all fear effects.
Note that allies within the aura are immune to further fear effects; any fear effects that they suffered before the aura was activated still remain.

Morale Aura: By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts for the day as a standard action, the Holy Voice projects an aura that invigors his allies. All allies that remain within 30 feet of the Holy Voice receive a +1 morale bonus on melee attack rolls and damage rolls. This ability lasts for a number of rounds equal to the character's Holy Voice level plus his charisma modifier.

Voice's Wrath: By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts, the Holy Voice can make a single attack infused with a little bit of divine essence. He spends the Turn undead attempt as part of making a standard attack.
The Voice's Wrath attack is considered to be made by a Good weapon, for purposes of overcoming Damage Reduction. It has a +4 bonus to attack, and deals a number of points of extra damage equal to the Holy Voice's class level.
In addition, the attack deals +1d6 damage against Evil creatures.
A character cannot activate Voice's Wrath any round in which he is also making a smite attack.

Healing Aura: At 5th level, the Holy Voice is able to heal nearby allies. By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts as a free action, the Holy Voice can use his Lay on Hands ability on any willing target within 20 feet. Lay on Hands can be used as normal, with the exception that the Holy Voice does not need to physically lay hands on the target.
The Holy Voice can, if he so chooses, heal multiple targets with this ability, splitting up points from his Lay on Hands ability among all eligible targets.

Note: A character that takes levels in Holy Voice is still able to take levels in the Paladin character class.

(for those interested in the original PrC, here it is:)

[sblock]

HOLY GUARDIAN

Holy Guardians are paladins and, less often, clerics dedicated to one of the good deities of the land. Typically following gods such as Hyrag, Azwan, or Halina, they are exemplars of their deities virtues.
Holy Guardians radiate an aura of the divine about them, which they can use to aid their companions in the pursuit of their deity's goals on the material plane.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements
Alignment: Lawful Good
Skills: Knowledge (Religion) 8 ranks, Sense Motive 5 ranks
Special: Lay on Hands
Special: Turn Undead

Class Skills
The Holy Guardian's Class skills are Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Knowledge (the planes), Knowledge (religion), Ride, Sense Motive, and Spellcraft.

Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier

Code:
Table:  Holy Guardian
Level    BAB    Fort    Ref    Will    Special
1         +1     +2       +0     +0     Paladin Spells, Turn Undead, Lay On Hands 
2         +2     +3       +0     +0     Extra Domain
3         +3     +3       +1     +1     Fearless Aura
4         +4     +4       +1     +1     Extra Turning
5         +5     +4       +1     +1     Morale Aura
6         +6     +5       +2     +2     Extra Turning
7         +7     +5       +2     +2     Magical Aura
8         +8     +6       +2     +2     Extra Turning
9         +9     +6       +3     +3     
10       +10    +7       +3     +3     Healing Aura

Weapon and Armour Proficiencies: If the character is not already proficient, he receives proficiency in his deity's favoured weapon.
Spells: The character gains spells as a paladin. Paladin levels and Holy Guardian levels stack when determing caster level, spells learned each level, etc.
Turn Undead:All levels in Holy Guardian stack with levels in any other divine class that is capable of turning undead. Thus, a 5th level paladin/4th level Holy Guardian would cast spells as a 6th level cleric.
Lay on HandsHoly Guardian levels stack with paladins when determining the amount of hit points healed by the lay on hands ability.
Extra Domain: At 2nd level, the Holy Guardian can select one domain granted by his deity. He gains one additional spell slot for each spell level he has access to; this spell must be taken from this extra domain. Thus, a 5th level Paladin/2nd Level Holy Guardian with the Healing Domain could cast Cure Light Wounds as a bonus Domain spell.
In addition, the character gains the listed Domain ability.
If the character already has domain spells (such as if he were a cleric), this bonus stacks with the Cleric's existing domains.
Fearless Aura: By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts for the day as a free action, the Holy Guardian projects an aura that calms his allies. For a number of rounds equal to his Holy Guardian level plus his charisma modifier, all allies within 30 feet of the Holy Guardian are immune to all fear effects.
Extra Turning:At 4th, 6th, and 8th level, the Holy Guardian receives one additional use of Turn undead per day.
Morale Aura: By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts for the day as a free action, the Holy Guardian projects an aura that envigors his allies. All allies within 30 feet of the Holy Guardian receive a +2 morale bonus on melee attack rolls and damage rolls. This ability lasts for a number of rounds equal to the character's Holy Guardian level plus his charisma modifier.
Magical Aura: The character is able to cast a spell that effects a group of creatures instead of effecting usually one.
The character chooses a (beneficial) spell that usually effects only one target (whether it is "creature touched" or a creature within an area doesn't matter). The character spends a full round action, casts the desired spell, and expends one of his turn undead attempts for the day. Afterwards, all friendly characters within 30 feet of the character gain the effects of the spell.
Healing Aura:As a standard action, the character can expend one of his daily turn undead attempts and at least ten points of lay on hands to heal all friendly characters within 30 feet of him.
Each character within 30 feet heals a number of hit points equal to the number of points of lay on hands that the Holy Guardian spent.
For example, if the Holy Guardian spent twelve points of lay on hands, every character within the aura would heal 12 points of damage.

*********************

Any comments? Balanced, unbalanced, Crazy? [/sblock]
[/sblock]

Yes.
 

Wik

First Post
Awesome. Can some kind soul add it to our PrC list?

(now, I need to figure out how I can get Galwynn into this PrC by 5th level!)
 


B4cchus

Explorer
FWIW: he DOES get the domain ability
Extra Domain: At 2nd level, the Holy Voice can select one domain granted by his deity. He gains one additional spell slot for each paladin spell level he has access to; this spell must be taken from this extra domain. Thus, a 5th level Paladin/2nd Level Holy Voice with the Healing Domain could cast Cure Light Wounds as a bonus Domain spell.
In addition, the character gains the listed Domain ability.
If the character already has domain spells (such as if he were a cleric), this bonus stacks with the Cleric's existing domains.

The language can easily be picked up as a starting language with an int modifier of 1 or higher.
I still vote no but that is moot since it has already been approved.
 


Trouvere

Explorer
A few more comments:

B4cchus's point about starting bonus languages is one I hadn't considered - but at least Celestial is only available as a bonus language to humans and half-elves, among core races. (And Galwynn, as LEW's likely first Holy Voice, doesn't yet speak Celestial)

The PrC requires 8 ranks of Knowledge (religion), which makes me think the intention is for a character to take its first level of Holy Voice at level 6. But the feat Extra Turning is also required, which has the prerequisite 'ability to turn or rebuke creatures' which a paladin doesn't gain until 4th level, so no Extra Turning until level 6. So that would mean entry at level 7 for a straight paladin. A cleric/paladin could enter at 6.

A paladin who takes a level of another class can't go back to paladin (barring the non-core Devoted X feats). This PrC specifically allows a character to switch back and forth between paladin and Holy Voice levels. But it doesn't make clear whether taking a different class prevents further advancement in Holy Voice. As Holy Voice is a kind of super-paladin, I think that should be mentioned specifically, one way or another.

Finally, just to be clear - Holy Voice levels stack with Paladin levels for paladin spellcasting and for lay on hands. But they don't stack for smite evil, remove disease, mount advancement, or turn undead. Right?
 

Wik

First Post
Geez, you people. Get my hopes up, and then dash 'em. ;) Making a few minor tweaks:

Changed the "Gets the domain ability" to a "doesn't get a domain ability"

Trouvere - You pointed out something I hadn't noticed - namely, that Paladins get Turn Undead at 4th level, and not 3rd (stupid homebrew rules, always confusing me!). Something I sort of, um, forgot. Looks like Gal's still got a while before he's in this PrC. Unless Galwynn takes a level of Cleric, which is totally possible.

Addded Trouvere's "Paladin Stacking Levels" for clarity.

Clarified the Free Multi-Classing between Paladin and Holy voice.

Anyways, here's the edited version:

[sblock=Holy Voice]

HOLY VOICE

Many deities grant powers to paladins, who serve as a weapon against their deity's enemies. Holy orders of Paladins quest against demons, undead, and abberations, whether it be in the name of Hyrag, Halina, or any of the other gods of the land.

However, some paladins are more than just dedicated to their holy patron. Some, for reasons unknown to them, feel a direct bond to their deity that transcends that typically felt by holy men. Some paladins instead become almost an avatar of their deity, someone infused with just a spark of divine will.

These paladins, referred to as Holy Voices, have been placed in the faith of their patron. No longer do they follow the precepts of their church; they are the will of their lord, on the mortal planes. While many churces resent the independance of Holy Voices, they do not question the ultimate source of the Voice's power.

Deities do not maintain many holy voices at once - the number of Holy Voices dedicated to any single deity at any one time is usually less than five. Instead, each deity makes use of his holy voices sparingly, sending them on quests that are sometimes beyond the reach of churches occasionally bogged-down by bureaucracy.

While Holy Voices can often hear their deity speak to them in (often cryptic) dreams, they do not have a direct link to their deity at all times. They can contact their deity through spells beyond the ken of most paladins, but are not the deity's mouthpiece by any stretch. In fact, many Holy Voices resent their deities at times, feeling that their god has placed too much responsibility on their mortal shoulders.

Holy Voices are seperate entities of their church, and often feel as if their powers and obligations override those of their god's church. In fact, subtle struggles between Holy Voices and church leaders occur all too often, with Holy Voices often pursuing a more active (and typically a little less "realistic") pursuit of their deity's goals on the material plane.

Holy Voices have always remained "behind the scenes", quietly pursuing their patron god's agenda. Hey are the brave knights of Hyrag who fight lone battles against a horde of orcs, or the noble warriors of Zephos who seek to bring peace to the dying on a battlefield, regardless of personal cost.

Curiously, Halina has never had a Holy Voice known to be connected to her.

Holy Voices are typically known only to senior members of the church; lay folk simply regard Holy Voices as lone followers of a deity.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements
Skills: Knowledge (Religion) 8 ranks, Concentration 5 ranks
Feat: Extra Turning
Special: Lay on Hands
Language: Celestial

Class Skills
The Holy Voice's Class skills are Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Knowledge (the planes), Knowledge (religion), Ride, Sense Motive, and Spellcraft.

Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier

Code:
Table:  Holy Voice
Level    BAB    Fort    Ref    Will    Special
1         +1     +2       +0     +0     Paladin Spells, Lay On Hands, Fearless Aura
2         +2     +3       +0     +0     Extra Domain
3         +3     +3       +1     +1     Morale Aura
4         +4     +4       +1     +1     Voice's Wrath
5         +5     +4       +1     +1     Healing Aura

Weapon and Armour Proficiencies: If the character is not already proficient, he receives proficiency in his deity's favoured weapon.

Paladin Spells: The character continues to gain spells as a paladin. Holy Voice levels count as paladin levels for determing the number of spells a paladin can cast per day, caster level, etc. However, Holy Voice levels do not improve upon the number of times per week a Paladin can cast Remove Disease, a Paladin's Smite Attack, Paladin's Mount, or Turning Undead.

Lay on HandsHoly Voicelevels stack with paladins when determining the amount of hit points healed by the lay on hands ability.

Extra Domain: At 2nd level, the Holy Voice can select one domain granted by his deity. He gains one additional spell slot for each paladin spell level he has access to; this spell must be taken from this extra domain. Thus, a 5th level Paladin/2nd Level Holy Voice with the Healing Domain could cast Cure Light Wounds as a bonus Domain spell.
However, the Holy Voice does not benefit from the regular domain ability.
If the character already has domain spells (such as if he were a cleric), this bonus stacks with the Cleric's existing domains.

Fearless Aura: By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts as a standard action, the Holy Voice projects an aura that calms his allies. For a number of rounds equal to his Holy Voice level plus his charisma modifier, all allies that remain within 20 feet of the Holy Voice are immune to all fear effects.
Note that allies within the aura are immune to further fear effects; any fear effects that they suffered before the aura was activated still remain.

Morale Aura: By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts for the day as a standard action, the Holy Voice projects an aura that invigors his allies. All allies that remain within 30 feet of the Holy Voice receive a +1 morale bonus on melee attack rolls and damage rolls. This ability lasts for a number of rounds equal to the character's Holy Voice level plus his charisma modifier.

Voice's Wrath: By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts, the Holy Voice can make a single attack infused with a little bit of divine essence. He spends the Turn undead attempt as part of making a standard attack.
The Voice's Wrath attack is considered to be made by a Good weapon, for purposes of overcoming Damage Reduction. It has a +4 bonus to attack, and deals a number of points of extra damage equal to the Holy Voice's class level.
In addition, the attack deals +1d6 damage against Evil creatures.
A character cannot activate Voice's Wrath any round in which he is also making a smite attack.

Healing Aura: At 5th level, the Holy Voice is able to heal nearby allies. By spending one of his daily turn undead attempts as a free action, the Holy Voice can use his Lay on Hands ability on any willing target within 20 feet. Lay on Hands can be used as normal, with the exception that the Holy Voice does not need to physically lay hands on the target.
The Holy Voice can, if he so chooses, heal multiple targets with this ability, splitting up points from his Lay on Hands ability among all eligible targets.


Note: Holy Voice levels do not count as taking levels in another class, for purposes of a Paladin's multi-class restrictions. A 5th level Paladin/2nd Level Holy Voice can freely multi-class between both.
[/sblock]
 


Rystil Arden

First Post
I agree with B4cchus. I think the abilities are definitely not unbalanced in general, but since the core Paladin has nothing good from levels 16-20, a Paladin15/HolyVoice5 will be more-or-less strictly superior to a Paladin20, at essentially no cost (the feat is a no-brainer for a Holy Voice because it lets them use their Holy Voice Smite lots of times per day, on some days maybe even every single round they don't use a normal Smite (since doing both together is barred). This isn't overpowered, but it shows that the cost doesn't exist. Also, I know Galwynn didn't do it, probably due to lower than 12 Int (I didn't check), but if I had a 12 Int Paladin, I'd make Celestial her bonus language for sure. Humans, it is true, are one of the only races that can take that as a bonus language, but Humans are also one of the most common race choices for Paladins.

I vote NO as well, but I'm willing to immediately reverse that to a Yes (and thus override B4cchus's veto) if you put in some sort of requirement that is actually a real cost (heck, if the powers were boosted back a bit and the BAB was reduced to Cleric's, I'd allow it with the current prereqs. The single HD drop as the only thing it loses from Paladin simply isn't doing it for me).
 

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