Developing new paladin PrCs for Piratecat's game: come see the result! (updated 1/28)

[Piratecat]

Contest time? I have a problem, and you folk maybe able to help.

Here's the problem: Two of the PCs in my game are paladins. One of them (Malachite) has just finished his 10th level of Hunter of the Dead and is turning 17th level. The other (Mara) is pure paladin and has a warhorse, and is turning 16th level. Both are about to level, and both are interested in starting a prestige class or a Legendary Class (here or here) that is something other than pure paladin.

Interestingly, both paladins have recently met an avatar of their deity Aeos (God if the Sun, the Forge, Craftsmen, and metalworking; patron of music and the arts.) Both players want to use this vision of their God as a springboard to transform their characters in different directions. So far both paladins have been focused on the sun-based and martial aspects (or undead-slaying focus) of the religion. They'll probably want to continue this general martial focus, so I doubt either of them will suddenly take up levels in bard, but otherwise there's a fair amount of slack in what is creatively possible.

In addition to working on this myself, I'd love to see what ideas you guys can come up with! I'm looking for:

- ideas for what general "themes" a class related to the God of the sun might have (ex: The Risen, a paladin that is ascending towards becoming a celestial)

- suggestions for existing/published prestige classes that are cool and might fit either PC

- suggestions for any existing Legendary Classes that might roughly fit or which can be tweaked

- ideas for making a custom PrC, anything from out-of-context cool abilities to possible power listings to wholly developed classes!

- ideas for custom Legendary classes, including the theme and any sample powers that might be gained (ex: ability to critical an undead one time per day per power level). I don't need Quest requirements for the Legendary class unless you think it's fun to provide it. I do need any cool power ideas that you think up.

Important: short (3- or 5-level) prestige classes are far more useful to me than 10-level classes. As the PCs are already high level, they'd never be able to finish a regular PrC.

So, I'll truly appreciate any suggestions! I'll even make this a contest if I can think of a cool prize, but until then any help you can offer me would be useful. At the very least, I'll gladly steal your ideas and build lots of crunchy game stuff around them.

Thanks!

 

[las]

Heres a ruf scech that can be deflupt a little more.
(Sorry my spell is not were it should be.)

Ceeper of the Light.

Level/Spechel
1 Power of the Sun
2 Combat Sense +2
3 Bringer of the light
4 Combat Sense +4
5 Eternal light

Power of the Sun (Su): You add you Cha mod to AC as a dodge bonus. You only get this bonus when you are with in some sort of light.

Combat Sense (Ex): A ceeper of light of at least 2nd level may designate a single opponent in combat. Against that opponent, the ceeper of the light gains a +2 insight bonus at AC and a +2 insight bonus on attack rolls. At 4th level, these bonuses increase to +4.

Bringer of light (Su): You now have the ability to exchange you paliden spells into a beam of searing light. You do 2d4 for each level of spell you sack as well as 1d4 per level of this class (this damage is doubled verses undead). This ability has a range of 30ft. and is a ranged attack

Eternal light (Su): You can give u a palidin spell to make nibus of light around you. This nimbus alows you to fly 5ft off the ground (and move at half you normal speed). Give off light like a light spell. and deals 1d8 points of damage per level of the spell that was givin up to any one not of you faith (this is in afet in a 5ft raduse around you).

Needs alittle work. Its HD might be a d12. Its good save should be as the palinds. Any you could make the Pteps conutem to that Charteter. O and the will gain spells per day at every level.

Dose that give you some ideas.

 

[Nail]

Concidering their level, talents, and character history, it seems like the PrCs shouldn't be new at all, but rather extensions of what they already are. After all, we've only got 3 levels to play with. Why not simply extend the existing PrCs? (For just Malachite, obviously.)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, it's not in the core rules. Big deal! Use the extra levels as sort of "pre-Epic" levels of the PrC.

Baring that wonderful, brilliant idea of mine , I'd be tempted to go with the essense of each character for the PrC concept. From my myopic view-point, that would be:

• 
  Malachite: Piercing Clarity
  Mara: Brilliant Beauty

And as for powers? Well, for starters they should get:

Commanding Presence (Su): Once per day per point of Cha mod, the character may TALK IN BOLD PURE WHITE, ALL CAPS. This causes all onlookers to make a Will save (DC = 10 + 1/2 class level + Cha mod) or start typing "Cool!" or "Best. Post. Ever." on the nearest available keyboard.

 

[d20Dwarf]

Might I humbly suggest Path of Faith? It should be shipping next week sometime, so I'm not sure if you can get it in time. Of course, not being around the office anymore, I can't guarantee anything.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Erm, I tried my best, but I just did it now, I hope you can find use of some of its abilities. (Note that Sons/Daughters of Aeos have the same HD/BAB/Saves/Skills but different ability progressions, Requisites need some work since I wasn't sure what Malachite/Mara had in feats and I wanted them both to qualify)

Sons and Daughters of Aeos

Hit Dice: d10

Requisites:
BAB: 15+
Ability to turn/rebuke undead
Special: Must have made direct contact with a representative of Aeos (or in Malachite and Mara's case, Aeos himself)

Fighter BAB
Saves: Fortitude Good, Reflex Poor, Will Good
Skill List: As Paladin

Son of Aeos
1-Positive Energy Mastery, Forge of Aeos, Improved Detection
2-Blessing of the Forge
3-Blinding Light
4-Renewal of the Sun
5-Transcendance

Positive Energy Mastery: A Son of Aeos may count his prestige levels ontop of his paladin (and other classes) for the purposes of Turning Undead. Furthermore, he gains 1 extra Turning attempt per Son of Aeos level per day.
Improved Detection: A Son of Aeos has his Detect Evil and Undead (if he has it) ability double in range.
Forge of Aeos (su): A Son of Aeos, may, at will as a free action (but once per round), expend a single turning attempt to imbue his weapon temporarily, making all his attacks deal an extra +3d6 holy damage versus undead for the round.
Blessing of the Forge (su): A Son of Aeos may, at will as a standard action, expend 2 turning attempts to grant himself and up to 1/ally per level within 30 feet of himself to gain a +3 Divine bonus to their armor class versus metal weapons and to saves versus fire for 3+Charisma mod rounds.
Blinding Light (su): A Son of Aeos may, at will as a standard action, expend three turning attempts to replicate a Sunburst spell at a spellcaster equal to half his total character level.
Renewal of the Sun (su): A Son of Aeos, may, at will as a standard action, expend three turning attempts to replicate a Heal spell (except the ability must be used on the same round).


Daughter of Aeos
1-Positive Energy Mastery, Music of the Heavens, Improved Detection
2-Protection of the Forge
3-Healing Light
4-Rekindle the Flame
5-Transcendance

Positive Energy Mastery: A Daughter of Aeos may count her prestige levels ontop of her paladin (and other classes) for the purposes of Turning Undead. Furthermore, she gains 1 extra Turning attempt per Daughter of Aeos level per day.
Improved Detection: A Daughter of Aeos has her Detect Evil and Undead (if she has it) ability double in range.
Music of the Heavens (su): A Daughter of Aeos may, at will as a free action, expend a single turning attempt to channel the sounds of an angelic chorus within a 60 ft. of herself hear. This causes anyone within it benefitting from a bardic song ability to gain twice the bonus they normally would gain. This effect lasts for 3+Charisma bonus rounds. Furthermore, all who listen to this ability gain a +6 divine bonus on any Craft or Perform checks made within the next hour.
Protection of the Forge(su): A Daughter of Aeos may, at will as a free action, expend two turning attempts to receive a +3 holy bonus to AC and saves for herself, and her mount if she has one. Furthermore, undead attacking her or her mount in melee must make a will save (DC 10+Daughter of Everlasting Light level+Charisma Modifier) to attack her, as per the spell Sanctuary (except Mara can attack without canceling this ability). This lasts for 3+Charisma Modifier rounds.
Healing Light (su): A Daughter of Aeos may, at will as a standard action, expend three turning attempts to grant all allies (including herself) within a 30 ft. radius a Fast Healing of 5 while within the range of her aura. This ability lasts for 3+Charisma bonus rounds.
Rekindle the Flame (su): A Daughter of Aeos may, at will as a full round action, expend six turning attempts to replicate a True Ressurection spell upon anyone who has been dead less than 3 rounds.

Transcendence: Upon reaching 5th level, a Son or Daughter of Aeos type becomes Native Outsider with the Good descriptor. Furthermore, he/she gains a Damage Reduction of 20/+1 and is constantly surrounding by a Protection versus Evil spell. He/She also gains a +4 circumstance bonus when dealing with followers and servants of Aeos. When a 5th level Son or Daughter of Aeos finally dies of old age (or after being dead for more than a year), he/she serves Aeos in their afterlife as a Solar.
(Probably already reserved for the two )

-Change this last ability to something else if you think its unappropriate (I know Tao already has it), perhaps Greater Aspect of the Deity (Defenders of the Faith) 1/day?

Edit-Edited in the fact that most abilities were supernatural abilities, whoops, suppose you would need that. Corrected some balance issues.

 

[Capellan]

Like Sollir, this is something I just knocked together in the last hour, so the balance could be way off. The flavour text definitely needs a lot of work: will come back later and wax lyrical about the "true, unblemished light of Aeos".

Incandescent Knight (InK)

A Paladin who dedicates themselves to embracing the true teachings of Aeos can in time reach a level of understanding where they become a living embodiment of the God's own divine light.


Requirements:
Alignment: Lawful Good
Base Attack Bonus: +8
Feats: Extra Turning
Skills: Knowledge (Religion) 6 ranks, Concentration 6 ranks
Other: Smite Evil class ability, immunity to disease, must have uncovered a conspiracy or deception directed against the Church of Aeos

(Personally, I wouldn't allow this for anyone under 12th level. That's not an issue here, of course, but I just though I'd mention it ... it's the main reason for the "DM approval" criteria of uncovering a conspiracy)

Benefits:
Base Attack Bonus: +1 per level
Hit Dice: d10
Saves: Will good; Fort & Ref poor
Skill Points: 2 + Int Mod
Class Skills: Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Ride (Dex)
Weapons & Armour: no new proficiencies

Granted Abilities by Level
1) Clarity
2) Undiminished Light
3) Revelation
4) Purification
5) Incandescence

Spellcasting: (Sp) at each new level of the prestige class, the Incandescent Knight gains new spells per day as if they had also gained a level in a spellcasting class they belonged to before joined the prestige class. They do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have, except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If the character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an Incandescent Knight, they must decide to which class they will add the new level for purposes of determining spells per daycontinues to gain spells

Turn Undead: (Su) levels of Incandescent Knight stack with all other classes for the purpose of determining the character's ability to Turn Undead.

Clarity: (Ex) admittance to the status of Incandescent Knight signifies not only the character's exemplary conduct and but also their insight and wisdom. All Incandescent Knights receive a +2 bonus to Diplomacy and Sense Motive checks. This bonus increases to +4 at 3rd level, and +6 at 5th.

Undiminished Light: (Sp) the Incandescent Knight becomes a physical embodiment of Aeos' light. They may create a daylight effect once per day per class level, as a 9th level caster.

Revelation: (Su) At 3rd level, Aeos grants the Incandescent Knight the ability to pierce any darkness, and - at times - even the ability to see through the most cunning magical deceptions. The Knight becomes immune to all forms of darkness - magical or otherwise - seeing at all times as if in the bright light of day (physical barriers still block the Knight's vision, however). Additionally, once per day, they may act as if they have true seeing. The true seeing effect lasts for 1 hour.

Purification: (Su) Once per day, the Knight may channel the pure light of Aeos into the afflicted body of another. The recipient is immediately purged of all diseases or poisons, and is additionally subject to the effects of a restoration. Purification requires a full-round action to use and provokes an attack of opportunity.

Incandescence: (Su) The divine touch of Aeos imbues the Knight's mortal form with amazing resilience. They gain energy resistance (fire, lightning and cold) of 10, are immune to all forms of poison, and additionally enjoy damage resistance of 20/+1. Their type changes to Outsider.

 

[kingpaul]

Re: Developing new paladin PrCs for Piratecat's game: come help!

Contest time? I have a problem, and you folk maybe able to help.

Might I humbly suggest the Legendary Class that I created for FFG's contest, the Divine Weapon?

 

[kingpaul]

Re: Developing new paladin PrCs for Piratecat's game: come help!

- suggestions for existing/published prestige classes that are cool and might fit either PC

Another thought is Knight of the Pale. Its a 10 level PrC (I know, you aren't looking for those) that Monte Cook came out with in his Book of Hallowed Might.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

This may or may not be relevant but right now the Emerald Order is still the bastard step child of the Church of Aeos.

What if the Emerald Order was to gain its own Patron? Possible a lesser or intermediate level God who works for Aeos.

He could make his appearance by approaching Sir Malachite requesting that he be the first to follow Aeos through him. You could then create an extension of the Hunter of the Dead PrC called something like the Emerald Order.

Just a thought since in my opinion Mara and Sir Malachite are two very different Paladins and I do not think they should be doing anything remotely similar while the Emerald Order is still technically on the outs with the man church.

 

[Waylander the Slayer]

The PrCs that i have found useful in this instance and can be tweeked might be the Knight Channeler (able to enhance their abilities via channeling holy energy etc. The class is very balanced and the player has the option of which channels to pick up at different levels from Librum Equitis(not sure if it was in 1 or 2 ).

The Order of Silver (from Secrets and Societies - a book well worth the money - the paladin specializes in fighting outsiders),and also the Mithril Knight (found in Mithril - city of the Golem). There is also the order of iron and gold out there though I am not sure what publications they are in. Both the classes mentioned above are well worth considering and could definitely fit the characters well with some adjustments.