Kahuna Burger
First Post
So I got to thinking about how hard it is in the d20 system to not kill people. This inevitably led to the following feat and PrC. It just happens.
IMPROVED SUBDUAL [GENERAL]
Benefit: When using a weapon you are proficient with, you may deal subdual damage by taking a -2 penalty on your attack roll if using a slashing weapon, or no penalty if using a bludgeoning weapon. You may add any extra damage available to you from a feat or class feature when dealing subdual damage.
Normal: A character dealing subdual damage with a weapon not designed for it takes a -4 penalty on his attack roll, and certain extra damage, such as sneak attack cannot be dealt in such an attempt.
Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his bonus feats.
THE MERCIFUL PrC
Hit Die: d8
Requirements
To qualify to become a merciful, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
Alignment: Any nonevil
Skills: Heal 8 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks
Feat: Improved Subdual
Class Skills
The merciful’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis) and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
BAB as fighter
Will save good.
Specials
1st Bonus feat, Subdual bonus, Last resort, spells 0,—,—,—
2nd Lesser geas 1,—,—,—
3rd Stunning strike 2,0,—,—
4th Mark of justice, Bonus feat 3,1,—,—
5th Weakening critical, Fog mind 3,2,0,—
6th Geas 3,3,1,—
7th Bonus Feat 3,3,2,0
8th Baleful polymorph 3,3,3,1
9th Mercy to all 3,3,3,2
10th Bonus feat, Binding 3,3,3,3
Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the merciful prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The merciful is proficient with all bludgeoning weapons, both melee and ranged as well as nets and whips.
Bonus feats: At first, 4th, 7th and 10th level, the merciful gains a bonus feat chosen from the following list: Improved disarm, Improved grapple, Improved sunder, Improved trip, Improved unarmed strike, Negotiator, Persuasive. He does not need to meet the normal prerequisites for the feats.
Subdual bonus: The merciful gains a subdual damage bonus to all attacks equal to his wisdom modifier, if any, plus one for every three levels in the Merciful class.
Last resort: The merciful swears an oath never to deal lethal damage unless there is no recourse. Any merciful who deals lethal damage either through physical attacks or spells to a sentient creature susceptible to subdual damage loses all the benefits of the merciful prestige class for 24 hours. The merciful must hew to the spirit as well as letter of this oath, for instance, using a spell or attack to incapacitate an enemy so that the merciful’s companion could coup de grace him would be just as bad as using lethal damage himself.
Spells: The merciful has the ability to cast a small number of divine spells. To cast a spell, the merciful must have a Wisdom score of at least 10 + the spell’s level, so a merciful with a Wisdom of 10 or lower cannot cast these spells.
Merciful bonus spells are based on Wisdom, and saving throws against these spells have a DC of 10 + spell level + the merciful’s Wisdom modifier. When the merciful gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Wisdom score for that spell level. The merciful’s spell list appears below. The merciful has access to any spell on the list and can freely choose which to prepare, just as a cleric. The merciful prepares and casts spells just as a cleric does (though a merciful cannot spontaneously cast cure or inflict spells).
Lesser Geas: Beginning at 2nd level, the merciful gains spell-like abilities which give him the option of punishing wrongdoers without killing them. He is able to impose a Lesser Geas on any sentient creature once per day. This ability is as the spell of the same name, except that the recipient must voluntarily accept the geas. The merciful is permitted to make any bargains or threats necessary to procure this acceptance, but it cannot be magically forced such as by a suggestion, command or domination.
Stunning strike: At level three, the merciful gains the ability to declare a stunning attack with any weapon he can deal subdual damage with. This ability otherwise works as the Stunning Fist feat and can be used once per day per merciful level.
Mark of justice: This spell like ability can be used once per day and is subject to the same restrictions as Lesser Geas.
Weakening critical: When the merciful has scored a critical hit, before the damage is rolled, he may instead chose to deal one point of temporary strength damage for each die of subdual damage that would have been done.
Magic suppression: At 5th level, the merciful can incapacitate and negotiate with even spell casters. As a full round action equivalent to a coup de grace, he can bring an unconscious foe to the staggered condition, with the additional restriction that they cannot use any spells, or spell like or supernatural abilities. They attempt to do so, they return to the unconscious condition. This condition is eliminated if the foe’s hit points again exceed their subdual damage. This ability can be used once per day for each three levels the merciful has attained.
Geas: The spell like ability may be used once a day in place of lesser geas and is subject to the same restrictions.
Baleful polymorph: This spell like ability can be used once per day and is subject to the same restrictions as Lesser Geas.
Mercy to all: At 9th level, the merciful gains the ability to deal subdual damage even to those creatures normally immune to it. If the subdual damage exceeds the creature’s hit points it is reduced to zero strength until it receives whatever form of healing is effective on it.
Binding: This spell like ability can be used once per day and is subject to the same restrictions as Lesser Geas.
Merciful spell list:
1st level: Comprehend Languages, Daze Person, Fog Cloud, Sanctuary, Zone of Truth
2nd level: Calm Emotions, Create Food and Water, Enthrall, Suggestion
3rd level: Atonement, Discern Lies, Hold Monster, Solid Fog, Tongues
4th level: Break Enchantment, Commune, Guards and Wards, Waves of Fatigue
IMPROVED SUBDUAL [GENERAL]
Benefit: When using a weapon you are proficient with, you may deal subdual damage by taking a -2 penalty on your attack roll if using a slashing weapon, or no penalty if using a bludgeoning weapon. You may add any extra damage available to you from a feat or class feature when dealing subdual damage.
Normal: A character dealing subdual damage with a weapon not designed for it takes a -4 penalty on his attack roll, and certain extra damage, such as sneak attack cannot be dealt in such an attempt.
Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his bonus feats.
THE MERCIFUL PrC
Hit Die: d8
Requirements
To qualify to become a merciful, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
Alignment: Any nonevil
Skills: Heal 8 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks
Feat: Improved Subdual
Class Skills
The merciful’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis) and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
BAB as fighter
Will save good.
Specials
1st Bonus feat, Subdual bonus, Last resort, spells 0,—,—,—
2nd Lesser geas 1,—,—,—
3rd Stunning strike 2,0,—,—
4th Mark of justice, Bonus feat 3,1,—,—
5th Weakening critical, Fog mind 3,2,0,—
6th Geas 3,3,1,—
7th Bonus Feat 3,3,2,0
8th Baleful polymorph 3,3,3,1
9th Mercy to all 3,3,3,2
10th Bonus feat, Binding 3,3,3,3
Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the merciful prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The merciful is proficient with all bludgeoning weapons, both melee and ranged as well as nets and whips.
Bonus feats: At first, 4th, 7th and 10th level, the merciful gains a bonus feat chosen from the following list: Improved disarm, Improved grapple, Improved sunder, Improved trip, Improved unarmed strike, Negotiator, Persuasive. He does not need to meet the normal prerequisites for the feats.
Subdual bonus: The merciful gains a subdual damage bonus to all attacks equal to his wisdom modifier, if any, plus one for every three levels in the Merciful class.
Last resort: The merciful swears an oath never to deal lethal damage unless there is no recourse. Any merciful who deals lethal damage either through physical attacks or spells to a sentient creature susceptible to subdual damage loses all the benefits of the merciful prestige class for 24 hours. The merciful must hew to the spirit as well as letter of this oath, for instance, using a spell or attack to incapacitate an enemy so that the merciful’s companion could coup de grace him would be just as bad as using lethal damage himself.
Spells: The merciful has the ability to cast a small number of divine spells. To cast a spell, the merciful must have a Wisdom score of at least 10 + the spell’s level, so a merciful with a Wisdom of 10 or lower cannot cast these spells.
Merciful bonus spells are based on Wisdom, and saving throws against these spells have a DC of 10 + spell level + the merciful’s Wisdom modifier. When the merciful gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Wisdom score for that spell level. The merciful’s spell list appears below. The merciful has access to any spell on the list and can freely choose which to prepare, just as a cleric. The merciful prepares and casts spells just as a cleric does (though a merciful cannot spontaneously cast cure or inflict spells).
Lesser Geas: Beginning at 2nd level, the merciful gains spell-like abilities which give him the option of punishing wrongdoers without killing them. He is able to impose a Lesser Geas on any sentient creature once per day. This ability is as the spell of the same name, except that the recipient must voluntarily accept the geas. The merciful is permitted to make any bargains or threats necessary to procure this acceptance, but it cannot be magically forced such as by a suggestion, command or domination.
Stunning strike: At level three, the merciful gains the ability to declare a stunning attack with any weapon he can deal subdual damage with. This ability otherwise works as the Stunning Fist feat and can be used once per day per merciful level.
Mark of justice: This spell like ability can be used once per day and is subject to the same restrictions as Lesser Geas.
Weakening critical: When the merciful has scored a critical hit, before the damage is rolled, he may instead chose to deal one point of temporary strength damage for each die of subdual damage that would have been done.
Magic suppression: At 5th level, the merciful can incapacitate and negotiate with even spell casters. As a full round action equivalent to a coup de grace, he can bring an unconscious foe to the staggered condition, with the additional restriction that they cannot use any spells, or spell like or supernatural abilities. They attempt to do so, they return to the unconscious condition. This condition is eliminated if the foe’s hit points again exceed their subdual damage. This ability can be used once per day for each three levels the merciful has attained.
Geas: The spell like ability may be used once a day in place of lesser geas and is subject to the same restrictions.
Baleful polymorph: This spell like ability can be used once per day and is subject to the same restrictions as Lesser Geas.
Mercy to all: At 9th level, the merciful gains the ability to deal subdual damage even to those creatures normally immune to it. If the subdual damage exceeds the creature’s hit points it is reduced to zero strength until it receives whatever form of healing is effective on it.
Binding: This spell like ability can be used once per day and is subject to the same restrictions as Lesser Geas.
Merciful spell list:
1st level: Comprehend Languages, Daze Person, Fog Cloud, Sanctuary, Zone of Truth
2nd level: Calm Emotions, Create Food and Water, Enthrall, Suggestion
3rd level: Atonement, Discern Lies, Hold Monster, Solid Fog, Tongues
4th level: Break Enchantment, Commune, Guards and Wards, Waves of Fatigue
