Another Dwarven Slayer PrC version

[Mjollnir]

Please tell me your opinions, but before let me say this: This Pr.C. might sound too powerful on a first, quick look; but consider her limitations in weapons and her poor Will saves

SLAYER Prestige Class

Dwarves are proud individuals and do not cope well with failure or personal loss. When a clan or family tragedy occurs, a Dwarf may be driven to take the Oath of the Slayer. He will seek death by hunting down and fighting a monstrous beast. Many achieve their wish to die at the hands of the foul creature, but some survive to fight more powerful and huge beasts until the day they meet their final destiny.

Hit Dice: d12
Requirements

Alignment: Chaotic good, Chaotic Neutral
Base Attack bonus: +4
Skills: Intimidate 7 ranks, Intuit Direction 5 ranks, Wilderness Lore 5 ranks
Feats: Martial Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus with Dwarven Waraxe, Dwarven Urgrosh or Greataxe
Race: Any dwarf, except Duergar and Derro.
Special: Rage ability
Class Skills
The class skills (and the key ability scores of each) are Climb (Str); Craft (Int); Intimidate (Char); Listen (Wis); Spot (Wis); Wilderness Lore (Wis)
Skill Points per Level: 2 + Int modifier
Class Features
Weapon and Armor: Slayers are proficient with the Slayer’s Prestige Class weapons: Dwarven Waraxe, Dwarven Urgrosh and Greataxe. They have consecrated their fighting style with these melee weapons and find the rest of them either too weak or too inappropriate to their goals in life. They may not use any kind of armor or shield as it interfere with their death search in combat (as they are tools to protect the warrior) and with their fast movement


Lvl Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Movement
1 +1 +2 0 0 Troll Slayer, Weapon Specialization Bonus feat , Runic Tattoo Armor +1 30’
2 +2 +2 +1 0 30’
3 +3 +3 +1 0 Giant Slayer, Runic Tattoo Armor +2 35’
4 +4 +3 +2 +1 35’
5 +5 +4 +2 +1 Runic Tattoo Armor +3 35’
6 +6 +4 +3 +1 Dragon Slayer 40’
7 +7 +5 +3 +2 Runic Tattoo Armor +4 40’
8 +8 +5 +4 +2 40’
9 +9 +6 +4 +2 Daemon Slayer, Runic Tattoo Armor +5 45’
10 +10 +6 +5 +3 45’

Troll Slayer: weapon gains the Trolls’ bane power.
Weapon Specialization Bonus feat: Slayer’s gain this feat only with one of her selected weapons (Dwarven Waraxe, Dwarven Urgrosh or Greataxe -only one of these).
Runic Tattoo: Beginning at 1st level the Slayer develops a Natural Armor with special runic tattoos along her body. These tattoos increase its hardness as the Slayer gains levels.
Giant Slayer: weapon gains the Giants’ bane power.
Dragon Slayer: weapon gains the Dragons’ bane power.
Daemon Slayer: weapon gains the Evil Outsiders’ bane power.

 

[Greybar]

Mjollnir,

I think you hit it with your design notes. The lack of armor (any armor!) is a serious blow indeed. The weapon limitation isn't as serious, though not being able to use any sort of missile weapon could be tough.

I'd suggest allowing light armor, to make a bit of a step down from the barbarian levels the expected character would get first.

Intuit Direction is a requirement but not a class skill?

I notice you're using non-standard save progressions. Given the other limitations of the class, I'd suggest using the standard "Good" progression for Fort and Reflex and the standard "Poor" progression for Will.

John

 

[The Proconsul]

You should be able to choose which bane effects your weapon gets. Maybe limit it to certain CRs (with the limit going higher with levels, of course). For example, even normal dwarves may live in the Underdark, and seek out foes other than trolls.

And I suppose these weird ##' entries signify the slayers improving speed?

 

[daTim]

This is from Warhammer I take it? I played one of these once, but I just used the Frenzied Bezerker PrC. I like you ideas though! The troll bane ability seems sort of unnecessary as you later get the Giant Bane ability, which includes Trolls.

Secondly, do the bane abilities apply to any weapon you wield, or just the one you have Weapon Specilization in?

Lastly, since that lack of armor is going to seriously hurt, instead of natural armor, why not give them Damage Reduction. +5 natural armor isnt going to help much when your AC is so low. Just a suggestion, overall I really like the PrC!

Edit: I would also set the Saves to standard ones. You might even consider giving them a high will, and low reflex to reflect not only their inconsideration for themselves in battle, but their indominatble will to their quest.

 

[Mjollnir]

Thank you all guys for your comments

Mjollnir,

I think you hit it with your design notes. The lack of armor (any armor!) is a serious blow indeed. The weapon limitation isn't as serious, though not being able to use any sort of missile weapon could be tough.

I'd suggest allowing light armor, to make a bit of a step down from the barbarian levels the expected character would get first.

Intuit Direction is a requirement but not a class skill?

I notice you're using non-standard save progressions. Given the other limitations of the class, I'd suggest using the standard "Good" progression for Fort and Reflex and the standard "Poor" progression for Will.

John

Considering this pr.cl. is a savage-like one and following the line from Warhammer I thought her natural armor could be enough. Of course, you can improve it with bracers, rings or other light weighted magic items
On the other hand maybe I made a mistake with the "Intuit Direction" skill, so it should be included as class skill.
I'll have to take a look on those standard Fort&Refl save progressions (Where?), but I considered doing one myself having a good Fort one, a decent, Refl one and a poor Will one

And I suppose these weird ##' entries signify the slayers improving speed?

That's it, Proconsul!

This is from Warhammer I take it? I played one of these once, but I just used the Frenzied Bezerker PrC. I like you ideas though! The troll bane ability seems sort of unnecessary as you later get the Giant Bane ability, which includes Trolls.

Secondly, do the bane abilities apply to any weapon you wield, or just the one you have Weapon Specilization in?

Lastly, since that lack of armor is going to seriously hurt, instead of natural armor, why not give them Damage Reduction. +5 natural armor isnt going to help much when your AC is so low. Just a suggestion, overall I really like the PrC!

Edit: I would also set the Saves to standard ones. You might even consider giving them a high will, and low reflex to reflect not only their inconsideration for themselves in battle, but their indominatble will to their quest.

Troll's bane at low levels, Giants (all) at medium levels. Character starts able to kill a single beast in her beginings and improves with experience.
Bane abilities may only be used with the weapon with Weapon Specialization.
If character may use some other protective magic items as I said above a Dmg reduction ability could overpower her, couldn't it?
As I said above I'll have to think about saves, but your comments help a lot. Keep on, please!

 

[Greybar]

I'll have to take a look on those standard Fort&Refl save progressions (Where?)

Good Save = 2 + (level/2)
Poor Save = 0 + (level/3)

John

 

[haiiro]

Lastly, since that lack of armor is going to seriously hurt, instead of natural armor, why not give them Damage Reduction. +5 natural armor isnt going to help much when your AC is so low. Just a suggestion, overall I really like the PrC!

On armor and DR: why not allow slayer levels to stack with barbarian levels for the purposes of determining DR (like sneak attack progression for other PrCs)?

 

[daTim]

Since you already have an alignment restriction, you might want to make the racial restriction to just "dwarves" I dont see why a different race of dwarves couldnt take this class had they been raised in normal dwarfdom etc etc. Just think of them as the D'rizzt of dwarves... wait, dont think of that. Anyway, it just seems redundant. I would either go with one or the other.

 

[Mjollnir]

On armor and DR: why not allow slayer levels to stack with barbarian levels for the purposes of determining DR (like sneak attack progression for other PrCs)?

Wouldn't it over-power this pr. cl.? C'mon, folk; tell me what u allthink on it. Thanks in advance!