Ranger-Flavor PrC: the Bloodhorn!

[Nifft]

"May the Horns of Cernunos run ever red with the blood of his foes!" -- Bjorn Wulfang

Cernunos is known by many names: the Horned Hunter, the Stormlord, the Thundering Stag, and the Blade of Fate are a few of them. His aspects include the Beastslayer (an Apollo-like slayer of monsters), the Caller of the Wild Hunt (central figure in a Mardi Gras-like social inversion celebration), and the Taker of the Yearling (red-eyed smokey demonic figure who spares only those who sacrifice others to his name). His obediences include:

* Pyres of worthy warriors at dusk
* Dedicated kill of an enemy (requires move-equivalent action immediately prior to delivering deathblow)
* The Wild Hunt: a yearly spring feast and celebration in which all are considered social equals
* Yearling Pyre: a yearly winter ceremony in which a number of foes of a community are bound within a huge wicker effigy of Cernunos (man-with-stag-horns aspect) and burned alive



The Bloodhorn

The Bloodhorns are consumate predators. They see their place as the natural top of Nature's food chain. Whether they choose to use their powers for good or evil -- or for neither -- is a choice left up to each individual. They draw upon their deity's power, which manifests itself in synergy with the power they draw from Nature.

Requirements:
- Alignment: Any Chaotic
- BAB: +6
- Feat: Track, Alertness
- Skill: Wilderness Lore 8 ranks, Spot 4 ranks, Listen 4 ranks
- Spells: Ability to cast 1st level Ranger spells
- Special: Must be recommeneded by an existing member and complete a quest for the sponsoring deity (Cernunos)


Class Benefits:
Hit Die: d8
BAB: as Fighter
Good Saves: Fort, Will
Bad Save: Reflex
Skill Points: 4 + Int bonus/level
Class Skills: Bluff, Climb, Disguise, Gather Information, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Intuit Direction, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Scry, Search, Sense Motive, Spot, Swim, Use Rope, Wilderness Lore


Abilities by Level:

    BAB   F / R / W   Spells      Special
1)  +1   +2  +0  +2   --          Subdual Proficency, Cernunos' Favor +1
2)  +2   +3  +0  +3   +1 Ranger   Bonus Spells 1, Faster Tracking -4
3)  +3   +3  +1  +3   +1 Ranger   Wilderness Stride, Cernunos' Favor +2
4)  +4   +4  +1  +4   +1 Ranger   Faster Tracking -3, Sneak Attack +1d6
5)  +5   +4  +1  +4   +1 Ranger   Bonus Spells 2, Trailblazing, Cernunos' Favor +3
6)  +6   +5  +2  +5   --           Faster Tracking -2
7)  +7   +5  +2  +5   +1 Ranger   Sneak Attack +2d6, Uncanny Tracking, Cernunos' Favor +4
8)  +8   +6  +2  +6   +1 Ranger   Bonus Spells 3, Faster Tracking -1
9)  +9   +6  +3  +6   +1 Ranger   Cernunos' Favor +5
10) +10  +7  +3  +7   +1 Ranger   Bonus Spells 4, Faster Tracking 0, Sneak Attack +3d6

Special Abilities:

* Bonus Spells (Ex): The Bloodhorn gains spells of the indicated level. These spells are considered part of his Ranger spell list.
1. Bane, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Doom, Entropic Shield, Faerie Fire, Magic Weapon, Obscuring Mist
2. Alter Self, Barkskin, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Darkvision, Endurance, See Invisibility, Scent
3. Call Lightning, Dispel Magic, Dominate Animal, Greater Magic Weapon, Locate Object
4. Chaos Hammer, Dimensional Anchor, Locate Creature, Scrying, Tongues, True Seeing

* Subdual Proficency (Ex): The Bloodhorn may make choose to do subdual damage without taking a -4 penalty on his attack roll.

* Cernunos' Favor (Su): The Bloodhorn chooses four Bloodhorn class skills. He may add a Divine bonus to these skill checks. The value of the Divine bonus is the value listed.

* Sneak Attack (Ex): The Bloodhorn learns to target vital areas. A Bloodhorn who chooses to do subdual damage with his weapon applies all Sneak Attack damage as subdual damage as well.

* Faster Tracking (Ex): The Bloodhorn may track at full speed with the listed penalty (in place of the normal -5 penalty).

* Woodland Stride (Su): As the Druidic class ability.

* Trailblazing (Ex): The Bloodhorn may create a quicker trail for his companions. One companion per Bloodhorn level may travel at full speed through

* Uncanny Tracking (Ex): The Bloodhorn can track a trail which has been masked by magic, including Pass Without Trace and a Druid's Trackless Step ability, albeit with a -10 penalty.

 

[Crothian]

This class is really easy to get into. A ranger only looses one feat, and it's a feat most Rangers would not mind taking.

However, the class itself is not that powerful and actually might be seen as weak. I like that it continues spellcasting and the bonus spells to the list, nice touch.

 

[mmu1]

If being able to cast 1st level Ranger spells is a requirement, then the Track feat requirement is kind of redundant...

How does Subdue Foe work? Normally, you can't make subdual sneak attacks with weapons that do normal damage, but the fact he can do subdual damage with normal weapons without the -4 penalty makes me wonder how you intended that?

In any case, I've never been a big fan of the whole "He can sneak attack, but only with a ranged weapon / only doing subdual damage / only jumping on left leg and chanting" business... Especially in this case - he's learned to really hit where it hurts, but only with non-lethal weapons? He just can't hit in the same spots with a club as he can with a sap? I think it'd be perfectly fine if he just got +2d6 or so of regular sneak attack, but maybe with the ability to do subdual damage with it with any weapon?

Either that, or make "subdue foe" some sort of increased proficiency with non-lethal weapons like Bolas, Nets and Mancatchers? Maybe give him bonus feats that'll get him the Improved Disarm chain?

Finally, I only looked at it briefly, but aren't some of those Bonus Spells (Endure Elements caught my eye) already on the Ranger spell list?

Regardless, seems very good for a world-specific PrC.

 

[Nifft]

With the standard PHB Ranger, some would argue that 4 levels of Ranger are a sacrifice.

Since I use the Monte Cook Ranger, someone taking this PrC will miss out on many Bonus Feats and lose a few Skill Points.

As to the class being easy to get into: yeah, that's how I prefer the PrCs. Not over powered, but also not something you have to plan for from day you're born.

Now, a Lawful PrC might have stricter requirements -- but this is for consumate Chaotics.

-- Nifft

 

[Nifft]

How does Subdue Foe work? Normally, you can't make subdual sneak attacks with weapons that do normal damage, but the fact he can do subdual damage with normal weapons without the -4 penalty makes me wonder how you intended that?

Just like Sneak Attack, but it does subdual damage. This represents the Bloodhorn's headbutt, knee-to-the-groin style of fighting. It works even if the character is using a normal weapon to do normal damage.

Finally, I only looked at it briefly, but aren't some of those Bonus Spells (Endure Elements caught my eye) already on the Ranger spell list?

Surprisingly enough, Endure Elements is NOT on the Ranger spell list!

Regardless, seems very good for a world-specific PrC.

Thanks. It's intended to replace the Bloodhound (from MotW) with something less silly and more mechanically useful.

-- Nifft

 

[Crothian]

Since I use the Monte Cook Ranger, someone taking this PrC will miss out on many Bonus Feats and lose a few Skill Points.

As to the class being easy to get into: yeah, that's how I prefer the PrCs. Not over powered, but also not something you have to plan for from day you're born.

Ah, using Monte's version does change things a bit with what is sacrificed and such.

Have you thought about also including a spot and listen require of 4 ranks or so? It doesn't have to be very high but I think it reinforces the Alertness prerequite, makes the class a little tougher to get into, but really doesn't take much for Monte's Ranger to get.

Do you have any write up on the class itself, not the rules but description?

 

[mmu1]

Surprisingly enough, Endure Elements is NOT on the Ranger spell list!

I was thinking of Resist Elements, which is a 1st level Ranger spell... Which they have to be able to cast to get into the PrC. I think it'd be better to change it to something a little more useful.

By the way, I think that from now on, I'll start using your House Rules threads for communication about our games, the response rate is much better than in the Yahoo group.

 

[Nifft]

mmu1: Good point. Replaced with Detect Magic.

Crothian: I'm working on it. Here's the web page for my Recognized Religions & Pantheon, which has a bit of information on Cernunos:

http://klimt.cns.nyu.edu/~fishman/DnD/religion.html

-- Nifft

 

[Nifft]

Updated! See above.

-- Nifft